Under a security wrap, Mohali becomes city of detours

MOHALI: The tiny north Indian city of Mohali has suddenly become a city of detours with thousands of fans streaming in from all over India and neighbouring Pakistan for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final between the arch-rivals.

Strapping Punjab Police personnel, resplendent in their red-blue turban, were busy all day diverting every vehicle which strayed anywhere near the 28,000-seater stadium without a parking sticker.

For a match that would draw, among others, prime ministers of both the countries and a bevy of politicians, industrialists and celebrities, an unprecedented security blanket has been thrown around the venue.

With so much riding on the contest between the neighbours who have fought in three wars since their 1947 independence, the elite Special Protection Group and the National Security Guard have also been deployed in and around the stadium.

Local media reported anti-aircraft guns were being placed in strategic locations, while a water canon was spotted outside gate number four to prevent any potential demonstration, like the one that took place on Monday.

Busloads of Punjab Police personnel were being rushed in and 1500 of them were deployed in and around the team hotel in Chandigarh alone.

“Colleagues told me more than 2000 police personnel have been drawn from all over Punjab,” said Gurpreet Singh after frisking a visitor and recovering a cigarette packet which he threw in a basket.

Some 50 sniffer dogs were roaming inside the stadium and the journalists had to vacate the place by 1600 IST (1030 GMT) on Monday to facilitate a lockdown.

Before that, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men opted for a light practice session but their Pakistani counterparts surprised many by taking the day off.

Only skipper Shahid Afridi turned up for the pre-match news conference and said the team wanted to take a break.

“We have put in a lot of effort and today’s off was absolutely necessary to save ourselves for tomorrow,” said the all-rounder.

Dhoni and his colleagues went through their paces, the highlight being Sachin Tendulkar’s batting practice using a granite slab.

On the verge of his 100th international century, Tendulkar had the slab placed at short of length where bowlers pitched it and the batsman practised back-foot shots, including the pull and the upper-cut, while some of the police personnel fished out their mobile phones and took pictures.

Visitors continued to pour in and with a considerable number of Pakistani fans crossing over to India through the Wagah border post but Mohali and Chandigarh are struggling to accommodate them.

78 kidnapper gangs operate in Quetta: DIG

Staff Report

QUETTA: Total 78 kidnapper gangs are operating in the city and the police have succeeded to bust many of them while arresting their members with many other criminals, it has been said by the Deputy Inspector General (operations) of Quetta on Sunday.

The DIG (operations), Hamid Shakil held a combined press conference with the DIG (investigations),Wazir Khan Nasir, in CCPO office Quetta.

Hamid Shakil informed the journalists that the police have captured, during last two months, 35 members of the kidnapper gangs with 150 other criminals and seized a large quantity of explosives, motor cycles and other vehicles.

He added while replying to a question that during the month of Muharam-ul-Haram, the law and order will be maintained at any cost in the city and the Shiite Ulema, Shiite Conference and others are being consulted with to make it

Army supports democracy: PM Gilani

Staff Report

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that army is pro democratic and there is no need to worry over Shahbaz Sharif’s meeting with the army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

While inaugurating a liver transplant centre at Shaikh Zayed hospital Lahore, PM Gilani said the journalists that Pakistan army is supporting the democracy in the country.

“To differ is the part of democracy and we welcome the criticism of opposition parties,” he added while answering a question regarding statement of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the Opposition Leader in the Parliament.

PM Gilani said that there is no political prisoner.

Gilani said that despite of the destruction caused by flood, the budget on education and health would not be decreased and every effort was being made to strengthen these sectors.

Prime Minister

Work on Thar coal project to begin soon: Pervez Ashraf

Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said Saturday that the government has decided to further step up work on Thar coal project as the import of oil for power generation has become unbearable.

He was addressing a press conference along with MNA Rubina Saadat Kaimkhani after attending the 10th meeting of Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB) at Chief Minister House. Advisor to CM Waqar Mehdi was also present on the occasion. He said that in oil equivalent terms, Thar coal reserves are larger than the combined oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Iran and 68 times more than Sui gas field reserves and can generate 100,000 megawatts of electricity for next 200 years. Giving details of the decisions at the meeting, the Minister said that the Federal Ministry of Water & Power will establish dedicated wing in Ministry to exclusively deal with infrastructure development for Thar and seek international financing for it as per the decision of the Council of Common Interest. Pervez Ashraf said that media team will be taken to Thar coal site after Eid so that the journalists can themselves see the progress there and he also pointed out that coal gasification project will enable Pakistan to earn carbon credits.

PoL price surge: MQM stages walkout from NA, SA

The members of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged walkout from both the National Assembly (NA) and Sindh Assembly (SA) over inflation and fuel price hike on Wednesday.
Earlier today, MQM leaders protested, in the NA, against the prevalent inflation in the country. After a strong condemnation inside the assembly, all members of MQM boycotted the session and walked out from the Parliament.The limit has been crossed and if government fails to control the ongoing price hike then some other decision will be taken, the MQM leaders said while talking to the journalists after the walkout.
The MQM leaders also announced the boycott of the Assembly session till the withdrawal of PoL price surge notification. Interestingly, the MQM members got back to the SA after the PPP members held negotiations with them.

MQM stages walkout from NA to protest against price hike

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The members of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walkout from the National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday.

Earlier today, Mutahida Qaumi Movement’s leaders protested, in the National Assembly, against the ongoing general price hike row in the country.

After a strong condemnation inside the assembly, all members of MQM boycotted the session and walked out from the Parliament.

“The limit has been crossed and if government fails to control the ongoing price hike then some other decision will be taken,” the MQM leaders said while talking to the journalists after the walkout. Trend Pk

Dunya News torture case: FIR yet to be lodged

Even after 24 hours of torturing of Dunya News team by the LDA guards, police have failed to lodge an FIR while they also released the main character of the whole story, Major (R) Suhaib during the late hours of night.
Yesterdayc an LDA school teacher came to the LDA plaza with her reinstatement order issued by the honorable Lahore High Court but as soon as she reached LDA office she was tortured miserably by the guards. Upon covering the incident the guards also tortured Dunya News team, including producer, cameraman and driver. Not only this but they also snatched the camera from the cameraman and broke it completely. On this occasion the journalists handed over the incharge of the guards to the police but the police made lame excuses to lodge an FIR and till late at night they did not register the first investigation report of the incident. Even after the medical report of senior producer of Dunya News Taha Siddiqui which declares one of his ribs broken, the police are not prepared to register an FIR.
According to the police sources, the brother of the accused is a lawyer and the lawyers community threatened the police of coming with bailiff to get the accused released from the police custody, therefore the police could not lodge an FIR against Major Suhaib.
On the other hand LDA has taken its request for an FIR against Dunya News unconditionally in order to pressurize the organization.

Iran: Hundreds of Pakistanis enslaved illegally

It has been learnt that hundred of Pakistanis are incarcerated in Begar Camps in Iran, Dunya News reported on Sunday.
Sadiq Hussain, a young lad who escaped from one of such camps in Iran, has reached his home town Jahanian (near Multan) where he told the journalists that two women Rukhsana and Bashiraan arranged his meeting with Kahdim Hussain and Khurram, residents of Sialkot, who received 0.2 million rupees from him for sending him abroad. Later he got unconscious after some drugs were injected into his body. When he regained his consciousness, he found himself in a jungle and later found that he was near the Iranian city of Jaishak. Sadiq also said that there were hundreds of people inside the begar camp including a large number of women. He said that he was kept in the camp for 14 days while millions of rupees were transferred into the accounts of those running the illegal camp. Those who did not comply were killed and thrown into the sea.
Sadiq has appealed from the authorities for security.

10 ministries be exterminated by January, 2011: PM

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that 10 federal ministries would be exterminated by January, 2011. He added that the government does not want a confrontation with the judiciary. Nothing would happen on 13th October, he said.
Talking to journalist in Islamabad the Prime Minister said that judiciary wants democracy to nourish and flourish. He said that those who dream and prophecy of the dismissal of government, would be disappointed. Situation is not disappointing like that of 1980s and 1990s, he added. Prime Minister expressed the governments desire to see the institutions develop and gain strength. He further said that he does not enjoy the power of appointing chairman NAB. PM told that he counseled with Raza Rabbani on the issue who briefed him that chairman NAB is not a constitutional designation; in fact its the prerogative of the President to appoint chairman NAB. PM also told the journalists that the government is patronizing meritocracy and the promotions given to the officers today are symbolic of this stance.

ST announces three days of mourning

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sunni Tehreek (ST) has announced three days of mourning over the suicide blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine where ten people were martyred and more than 80 others wounded.

While talking to the journalists after the blasts, ST leaders Shakeel Qadri said that the nation knows who is behind such terrorist activities. SAMAA

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