British press slams "brainless" student protestors

LONDON: British papers were Thursday mostly scornful of students who broke into Prime Minister David Cameron’s party headquarters during a turbulent protest against a threefold hike in tuition fees.

The activists who stormed 30 Millbank, home of the Conservative party, scored an own-goal by shifting debate from the coalition government’s plans to the limits of protest, according to the majority of the nation’s newspapers.

Around 50,000 demonstrators took to London’s streets on Wednesday with a small group breaching a surprised and undermanned police line to break into the six-storey tower block.

The Times ran with the headline “thuggish and disgraceful,” quoting Metropolitan Police chief Paul Stephenson, while the Sun splashed “brainless” across its front page, a jibe at the so-called “yobs” and unprepared police.

The right-leaning Daily Mail led with

PM takes notice of Karachi killings, MQM announces one-day mourning

MQMs Rabta Committees meeting in Karachi and London is underway at same time to discuss the law and order situation in the city. On the other hand, PM Gilani has directed the Sindh government to take all possible steps to contain violence in the metropolitan. MQM has announced one day mourning over the killing of innocent people in targeted killing incidents during last few days.
PM Gilani telephoned Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad, CM Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Interior Minister Zulfikar Mirza and directed them to take proper and timely steps to control the situation in Karachi. The PM was of the view that Governor Sindh, CM Sindh, Federal Interior Minister and Sindh Interior Minister should sit together and figure out the solution to establish peace in the city.
MQM Rabta Committee has strongly condemned the incident of firing at Sheh Shah in which 12 people were killed. MQM has announced one day mourning. In the meeting, issues of unabated violence in the city and separation from government came under discussion.

KESC announces rise in power outages

Adding miseries to Karachiites’ woes, Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has announced to increase the power outages across the metropolitan due to shortage of gas.
According to KESC spokesperson, the decision to the effect has been taken in the wake of the closure of Kadi Vari Gas Field for maintenance by Sui Southern Gas Company.
The closure would cause a shortage of 70 million cubic feet gas to KESC, which would result in lengthy outages in the city. The spokesman added that initially the gas supply has been suspended for 16 hours; however, the loadshedding could be extended to another day if the supply remained short. Gas shortage would cause an 8 hour power breakdown in industrial as well as residential areas.

Oil, ghee prices go up in Karachi

Staff Report

KARACHI: After sugar, prices of cooking oil and ghee have witnessed a fresh increase in the metropolitan city of Karachi.

At wholesale markets, cooking oil is now selling at Rs. 103 per kilogram, while ghee is available at Rs. 109 per kilogram. In retail markets, prices of cooking oil and ghee have jumped to Rs. 106 and Rs. 112 per kg. respectively.

Meanwhile, oil and ghee companies argued that new containers of oil and ghee could not reach Pakistan from foreign countries. This caused a gap in demand and supply, resulting in an increase in prices. SAMAA

Karachi shut down after Imran Farooqs murder

Several cities of Sindh including Karachi have come to a near standstill following the killing in London of Imran Faroof, an exiled leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
MQM supporters have gathered in Karachi to mourn Imran Farooq, who was stabbed outside his home on Thursday afternoon. The situation in Karachi is tense, with most shops, restaurants and schools closed. Some vehicles were torched and shots fired late on Thursday. Police and paramilitary troops have been deployed on the city’s main streets to maintain order.
Last month, more than 80 people were killed in clashes in the city after the assassination of another MQM politician.
The murder investigation has meanwhile been taken over by the UK Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit, SO15. Although no-one has yet been arrested over the stabbing of Farooq, the working assumption at this stage is that it was politically motivated.

Ijaz Butt to meet ICC chief in London

ISLAMABAD: PCB chairman Ijaz Butt will meet ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat in London on Wednesday in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal which rocked world cricket recently.

Lorgat told a private TV channel that there is a “zero-tolerance” policy for corruption in cricket and any player involved in wrong-doing will be strictly punished.

He said it was not possible to say at this juncture what action will be taken against any player involved in match-fixing. “It would be premature to say what action will be taken,” he added.

Corruption in cricket will not be tolerated under any circumstances. However, many players are innocent and all are not involved in match-fixing, he said.

The ICC Chief said the world body was expecting that the investigation would be over by the weekend.

“We’re busy with the Metropolitan Police and hopefully before the

Indus in high flood at Kotri

Staff Report

KOTRI: The Indus River is constantly in high flood at Kotri, according to the Flood Forecasting Division.

The water inflow has been recorded at 910, 000 cusecs against the outflow of 896, 500 cusecs.

Similarly, the Indus River continues to remain in high flood in Guddu and Sukkur as well.

According to the FFD, water inflow at Guddu Barrage is at 576, 300 cusecs while outflow is at 564, 600 cusecs.

At Chashma and Kalabah, Indus is in low flood. SAMAA

Arrest in England-Pakistan ‘match-fixing’ probe

LONDON: British police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers following newspaper allegations of match-fixing in the ongoing cricket Test between England and Pakistan.

The News of the World alleged that some members of the Pakistan team were involved in a scam in the fourth and final Test at Lord’s.

“Following information received from the News of the World we have arrested a 35-year old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers,” a spokesman for London’s Metropolitan Police told a foreign news agency.

News of the World, Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, alleged that two Pakistan bowlers delivered three blatant no-balls.

The weekly tabloid said it gave 150,000 pounds to a middle man who correctly told them in advance precisely when the deliveries would be bowled.

The newspaper published

Tension deepens as 12 more killed in last 5 hours

KARACHI: The rising tension has further deepened in metropolitan city of Karachi.

The violent incidents remained continued unabated across city as twelve more persons have been shot dead while 43 have been injured, including two women, during last five hours in separate incidents of targeted killing, taking the tally to 74 since Monday, Geo News reported.

Many a unidentified miscreants, appeared on streets and roads after the evening fell, continued their barbaric rule thought Wednesday night featuring setting ablaze of markets, vehicles, aerial firing and shooting dead innocent people, officials said.

A total of 12 people were gunned down within last five hours in Korangi, Orangi, Liaquatabad, Samanabad, Pirabad, Baloch Colony, Risala Road, Pak Colony and Johar Morh.

The spate of incidents of setting properties on fire being witnessed in many areas all the nightlong.

Unknown miscreants set on fire 12 carpet and garments shops located in Iran Shopping Center in Bufferzone locality.

Over one dozen garments shops were set ablaze in two cloth markets in Paposh Nagar locality while 19 furniture shops were set on fire near PIDC Furniture Market.

A Container Trawler in Liaquatabad, a roadside hotel in Bufferzone, three other shops and more than 12 pushcarts were set ablaze near Metropolitan Department.

Meanwhile, police and rangers have claimed rounding up 15 suspected men during a joint search operation from separate parts in Karachi. Heavy cache of arms was also recovered from their possession, officials said.

Most localities across metropolis remained echoed with fierce firing sound all the day on Wednesday while some others wore battlefield look.

MQM’s reported activist Arshad Hussain was shot in Gulbahar Colony who succumbed to injuries on way to hospital, party sources told Geo News.

Two persons were gunned down in Bukhari Colony while two more corpses were found from Star Ground near Iqbal Market of Korangi Town, who had allegedly been gunned down.

Unknown armed assailant killed three men in Zia Colony in Korangi Town while one person was injured.

Meanwhile, one among 18 injured persons, namely Abdul Rehman, succumbed to injuries at JPMC.

Two men were shot and killed in Qasba and Machar Colonies, mounting the targeted killing tally to 73 within last three days while over 200 have been wounded.

A total of 25 wounded persons, including two women, were shifted to Qatar Hospital in Korangi – all had sustained injuries in Qasba and Ali Garh Colonies while 17 injured persons from same localities were taken to JPMC.

Most parts of Qasba and Ali Garh Colonies have worn look of battlefield for last three days, trapping residents within premises of their houses for fear of unabated shootouts.

Also, three houses have been set ablaze in two colonies, meanwhile, police and rangers claimed to have arrested 15 suspects and seized heavy cache of arms from them during a joint search operation, officials said.

Armed men set Sultanabad Furniture Market on fire

KARACHI: The spate of incidents of setting properties on fire being witnessed in many areas all the nightlong in Karachi on Wednesday, Geo News reported.

Armed miscreants set ablaze Furniture Market located in Sultanabad locality after resorting to indiscriminate firing.

According to fire fighting sources, fire fighter could not make possible their arrival at the fiery site after they received information due to intense firing in area.

However, six fire tenders reached on the spot and started rescue activities but 15 shops had been completely burnt to aches by the time fire was brought under control.

Meanwhile, unknown miscreants set on fire 12 carpet and garments shops located in Iran Shopping Center in Bufferzone locality.

Over one dozen garments shops were set ablaze in two cloth markets in Paposh Nagar locality while 19 furniture shops were set on fire near PIDC Furniture Market.

A Container Trawler in Liaquatabad, a roadside hotel in Bufferzone, three other shops and more than 12 pushcarts were set ablaze near Metropolitan Department.

Rangers and Police contingents arrived on the scenes but were simply helpless just like a common man.

Next Page »