Barrister Sultan Mehmood to join PPP

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Azad Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, has decided to join Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Trend Pk learnt on Monday.

Sources said that he will join PPP within the next 48 hours and his party, Peoples Muslim League, will be merged with PPP as well. Trend Pk

Pak, Lanka ties friendly: Qureshi

Staff Report

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are close and friendly.

During a television interview in Colombo on Sunday, he disclosed that Pakistan International Airline services from Pakistan to Sri Lanka would be resumed from March 2011. Trend Pk

Quake jolts northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR: A moderate earthquake of 5.0 magnitude jolted northwest Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan on Thursday but there were no immediate reports of casualties, an official said.

The quake struck at 2:27 pm (0927 GMT) with its epicentre in the Hindu Kush mountain range, meteorological department chief Arif Mehmood told AFP.

Tremors were felt in several cities in northwestern province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its capital Peshawar, he said.

Pakistan was hit by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005 that killed more than 73,000 people and left about 3.5 million homeless, mainly in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr Imran Farooq’s neighborhood – Trend Pk VIDEO

Sara Mehmood visits neighborhood of Dr Imran Farooq. (November 06, 2010)

Dr Imran Farooq’s neighborhood – Trend Pk VIDEO

Sara Mehmood visits neighborhood of Dr Imran Farooq. (November 06, 2010)

Dr Imran Farooq’s neighborhood – Trend Pk VIDEO

Sara Mehmood visits neighborhood of Dr Imran Farooq. (November 06, 2010)

Pakistan-India talks run into extra-time

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan urged India to work in unison and share intelligence to counter terrorism at key talks that ran into extra time late Thursday in a quest to revive the stalled peace process.

A scheduled news conference was delayed more than six hours with both sides locked in talks well after nightfall, trying to craft a joint statement, one
diplomatic official said on condition of anonymity.

“They”re still up there because they”re trying to work out some common ground. They”re trying to work out a joint statement,” the official said.

S.M. Krishna met Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari in a series of talks in the heavily guarded “Red Zone” that is home to government and diplomatic missions.

India, Pakistan to take process of trust building forward

ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan had what they called a prolonged discussions aimed at paving the way for serious, comprehensive and sustained dialogue on issues of mutual interest and concerns.

Indian Minister for External Affairs, S M Krishna and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a press briefing after holding a comprehensive meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.

The briefing had to be delayed for six hours because what Krishna said that ‘the nature of the discussion we had was such that it could not be concluded on time’.

“India is committed to being a sincere partner in the effort to establish peaceful and progressive relationship between India and Pakistan,” the Indian External Minister asserted, reiterating that India desires peaceful, stable and prosperous Pakistan.

To a question regarding Indian involvement in Balochistan unrest, Krishna said: “This was mentioned in Sharm al-Shaikh, where the two prime ministers met. We have been waiting for some evidence being provided by Pakistan of Indian involvement. If credible evidence or any evidence is provided to the government of India of our involvement, India will certainly look into it.”

Shah Mehmood replying to the same question said, the issue of destabilization in Balochistan and Brahamdagh Bugti was raised during the meeting with his Indian counterpart. He demanded of the Indian government to cancel the Indian passport held by Brahamdagh Bugti.

The Indian External Minister said there has been an increase in infiltration across the line of control, particularly in 2008 and 2009 and government of India has been monitoring these infiltrations.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi reacted to it by saying, ‘infiltration is not he policy of Pakistan or any intelligence agency of Pakistan.’ He said he told the Indian delegation to deal firmly with the individuals who cross over; Pakistan would cooperate.

He said that DGMOs could have taken up the issue of infiltration, if any, during their weekly interaction, saying it is the only appropriate way to tackle the issue.

Regarding investigation into Mumbai attacks, S M Krishna said all evidence has been given out to Pakistan including the leads provided by Richard Headley and ‘I am going back with the assurance coming from the highest level of the political leadership of the country.’ He said he is pleased that the Foreign Minister Qureshi has assured him to bring all the perpetrators of Mumbai attack to justice.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the matter said that ‘we should allow the judicial process to take its time in undertaking the due course.’

Replying to a query on human rights violations by Indian government in parts of occupied Kashmir, the Indian External Affairs Minister said: “We have an institution to monitor human rights violation besides NGOs. The state government and appropriate human rights agencies will certainly take up any violation that takes place there.”

Earlier, S M Krishan said the two foreign ministers had a cordial exchange of views on a number of issues including the current state of bilateral relations, keeping in view the mandate given to them by their respective prime ministers.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said relations between Indian and Pakistan have been complex. “Let’s not forget the difficulties, let’s not forget history and impediments that have come between us. Today we are democracies which engage. We are politicians who believe in dialogue. We will never come to dead ends.”

Time extended for Pak-India FM talks

ISLAMABAD: The joint press conference of Pakistans foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his visiting Indian counterpart S M Krishna has been delayed till evening as the time was increased further for the ongoing bilateral talks between two sides.

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Time extended for Pak-India FM talks

Oil falls below $75 as equities hurt confidence

SINGAPORE: Oil prices fell below $75 a barrel Thursday in Asia as falling global stock markets dragged down the confidence of crude investors.

See the original post here:
Oil falls below $75 as equities hurt confidence

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