‘Ali Baba 40 thieves joined govt to rob country: Shahbaz

Talking to the media, the chief minister said that the Ali Baba 40 thieves are now planning to grab billions of rupees of EOBI, adding that accused of NICL, Punjab Bank, rental power and Hajj scandals were also active now. He stated that no corruption would be tolerated in the Punjab. He stated that PM Gilani and Raza Rabbani wanted to transfer ministries to the provinces but some non-democratic elements were creating hurdles.

He said that the federation owe Rs 70 billion to the provinces.

The CM also test-drove the vehicles to be provided under the yellow cab scheme. He selected green colour for the scheme cabs. Shahbaz also directed the representative of the company to improve the quality of the vehicles.

Mukhtar for resolving differences with MQM, Fazal

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said on Thursday that the government has no danger and the angered coalition partners will soon be happy and a part of the government.

Mukhtar said that the government is taking MQM’s demands regarding RGST seriously.

He further said all angered partners would be taken into confidence before doing anything and differences with Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and MQM will soon be resolved.

The minister said that a Chinese company will cooperate with Pakistan in making dams here. TrendPK

Sanaullah eyes mid-term polls to remove "corrupt govt."

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab’s Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the mid-term election is a constitutional way to get rid of this government, which is eyeing on corruption.

Speaking to the media outside Punjab Assembly today, he said, “Our objections to the appointment of NAB’s new chairman are based on principles; good work of a controversial person too becomes controversial.”

He admitted that the appointment of Saif ur Rehman as NAB chairman was also controversial, which was correctly raised by the then opposition.

The provincial law minister said that Pakistan is not moving forward due to corruption, while Federal Law Minister Babar Awan and Governor Salmaan Taseer are trying to weaken the coalition government. SAMAA

Israel hints Jerusalem compromise in peace talks

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM: Israel’s defence minister said on Wednesday the Jewish state would be willing to hand over parts of Jerusalem in peace talks with the Palestinians to be launched by U.S. President Barack Obama.

A flare-up of violence in the occupied West Bank and a deadlock over Jewish settlements there loom as potential deal-breakers for Obama, who will host Middle East leaders for dinner at the White House in Washington.

Obama brought Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas together for face-to-face negotiations after months of U.S.-mediated indirect talks. But

he faces deep skepticism about his chances of success.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s rare comments about the need to partition Jerusalem, which is at the heart of the conflict, could signal a softening of Netanyahu’s long-stated refusal to divide

Pakistan economy to suffer prolonged flood damage

ISLAMABAD: Floods have ravaged Pakistan’s economy, the prime minister said on Wednesday, with massive job losses and soaring inflation expected to hurt a nation whose stability is vital to the U.S. war against militancy.

Briefing the cabinet on the worst floods to hit impoverished Pakistan, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani expressed concerns over food security due to the prolonged damage to agriculture and said the social impact of the disaster was “serious”.

“The floods have inflicted damage to the economy which may, by some estimates, reach $43 billion, while affecting 30 percent of all agricultural land,” he said. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, with cotton the main cash crop, and the sector is one of the biggest sources of employment.

Facing the prospect of long-term economic pain inflicted by the floods, Pakistan hopes the Internation Montery

Pak deficit to rise to 6-7pc due to floods: PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s budget deficit is expected to climb to 6-7 percent of gross domestic product in the fiscal year 2010/2011 as a result of floods, the prime minister said on Wednesday.

“The budget deficit before the flood crisis was estimated to reach 4.5 percent of GDP. Now it is estimated to be as much as 6-7 percent of the GDP,” Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told the cabinet.

Gilani said the disaster would hit the economy hard.

“The floods have inflicted damage to the economy which may by some estimates reach $43 billion, while affecting 30 percent of all agricultural land,” he said.

Pakistan’s budget deficit for the fiscal year 2009/10 (July-June) was 6.3 percent of GDP, the Finance Ministry said on its website on Tuesday.

This compared with a deficit of 5.2 percent in fiscal year 2008/09.

The monsoon floods have affected

KP Education Minister extends vacations

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: The provincial Education Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Hussain Babuk has extended summer vacations till September 20, due to the flood Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

He told SAMAA on Saturday that flood victims would not be asked to leave school buildings forcibly till they get alternate residences.

The minister said that at the moment, government schools are providing thousands of IDPs with shelter. SAMAA

Over 20 workers of outlawed outfits arrested in Karachi

KARACHI: More than 20 workers of outlawed religious outfits were arrested during overnight raids of special investigation unit and CID in different areas, Karachi Police chief Wasim Ahmad told Geo News.

Wasim Ahmad said crack down launched against banned religious organizations after killing of Sindh Assembly member Raza Haider. He said solid proofs have been found regarding killing of Haider, which hinted that network of outlawed organizations Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e- Sahaba involvement in the assassination of Raza Haider.

CCPO Karachi said foolproof security arrangements will be made for the namaz-e-Janaza of Raza Haider as intelligence reports said that terrorists could target funeral prayers.

Pakistani HC in India calls on Malik

ISLAMABAD: Shahid Malik, Pakistani High Commissioner in India, has called on Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik here on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

Issues pertaining to current status of progress into Mumbai attacks’ probe and Indian demands on various other issues came under discussion during meeting, interior ministry sources said.

The meeting also witnessed discussion over progress following Pakistan’s visit by Indian External Affairs Minister P. Chidambaram.

Sipah-e-Sahaba, TTP plan Haider’s murder: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said the outlawed sectarian outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba and Tehrik-e-Taliban are involved in Raza Haider murder.

Talking to media outside Parliament House, Malik said Raza was at the hit list of terrorists at and was informed about the threat to his life.

Interior minister said that MQM has warned against a suicide attack during funeral prayers of MQM leader Raza Haider.

He said the network of Sipah-e-Sahaba and Tehrik-e-Taliban will be eliminated and added that Rangers have been deployed in sensitive areas of the city for maintenance of law and order.

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