NATO hails Kandahar progress but attacks continue

KANDHAR: Kandahar is rocked by explosions and gunfire most nights but military commanders say that NATO leaders meeting this weekend can be told that the tactics in southern Afghanistan are working.

The bustling city that is the spiritual home of the Taliban has been flooded with troops. Combat outposts and heavily-fortified police stations have been built and there is a constant stream of convoys and patrols on the streets.

US commanders talk of a more co-ordinated approach to security with their Afghan counterparts while hundreds of millions of dollars are being poured in to the city to shore up its dilapidated infrastructure and improve daily life.

In rural areas around Kandahar, too, village elders who just a few months ago were afraid to be even seen working with the government are now participating in “shuras” or local council meetings to make their

Blast kills five Afghans, three NATO soldiers die

KABUL: A suicide bomber killed five people in a crowded bazaar in a remote Afghan town on Friday, police said, as NATO announced the deaths of three soldiers.

The bomber was on foot and detonated explosives strapped to his body near the leader of a local council, Rahmatullah Turkistani, killing five civilians and injuring the official, a police commander told AFP.

Another 21 people were hurt in the blast in Khwaja Sabzposh district in northern Faryab province, provincial police chief Abdul Khalil Andarabi said.

The apparent target was Turkistani, chairman of the Faryab provincial council, he said.

Separately, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said three foreign soldiers were killed — two on Thursday and one on Friday — fighting insurgents in the south.

Southern Afghanistan is the heartland of the Taliban insurgency,

Center, provinces playing with fire, says LHC

Staff Report

LAHORE: Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the Lahore High Court has remarked that center and provinces have been playing with fire with no idea of its consequences.

He made these remarks while hearing a petition challenging the delay made by the government in holding local government elections.

The petition was filed by Local Council Association (LCA) against the postponement of local government elections.

Justice Saeed said if the government did not change its attitude, he won’t hesitate to give a proper verdict in this case.

The deputy attorney general sought adjournment of the case so that he could seek guidance from the federal government. On this, Justice Saeed said this attitude is not appropriate. SAMAA

Sargodha mourns suicide attack

SARGODHA: A complete strike is being observed in Sargodha against yesterday’s suicide blast whereas angry protestors took procession against the incident.

Different organizations announced three-day mourning and a protest rally also took out from Imambargah block 19. The protestors burnt tyres and demanded immediate arrest of culprits.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened across the district. A three-member investigation team headed by SP Investigation Habib Shah has been constituted to probe the incident. One person was killed and 20 wounded in a suicide blast occurred on Sunday.

LB polls schedule to be announced before Aug 22: Punjab govt

LAHORE: Punjab government has assured Lahore High Court that schedule for local bodies election will be announced before August 22.

Additional advocate general Punjab on behalf of Punjab government during hearing of petitions filed by local council association and former Nazims against delay in local bodies elections made the assurance.

The petitions stated that delay in local bodies elections is an open violation of constitution. The lawyer of government in today’s hearing informed the court that 17-member committee has been constituted for the arrangements of local bodies polls and date will be announced before next hearing.

Lahore High Court Advocate General To Assist In Plea Against LBs Amend

Lahore High Court has summoned Advocate General Punjab on March 9 to assist the case challenging local bodies system and appointment of administrators.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard the case filed by Local Council Association. Advocate Fawad Chaudhry argued in the court that amendments in the local bodies system was against Article 140-A of the constitution.
He added that bureaucracy has been imposed on Pakistan instead of democracy, while the constitution did not allow anti-democratic laws.

Suicide Bomb In Northern Iraq, 4 killed

BAGHDAD: Police and health officials in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar say a suicide bomber killed a local council member and three of his guards.

A police officer in the city says the leader of the local council was driving in a nine-vehicle convoy when a suicide bomber walked up to the convoy and blew himself up Monday.

A doctor at a local hospital confirmed the account. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Tal Afar is about 90 miles (150 kilometers) east of the Syrian border, in Ninevah province. Insurgents frequently staged bombings there in past years.

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Suicide Bomb In Northern Iraq, 4 killed was first posted on December 21, 2009 at 5:59 pm.