Lahore: Allotment of land for police stations cancelled

LDA had allotted the land on the request of the police department for nine police stations. Out of these police stations, land of only Samanabad Police Station is under the possession of PHA while 8 police stations have already been established on the remaining land.

However, LDA has cancelled the allotment of these police stations’ land and has suggested the government to construct libraries and hospitals on these locations.

According to DIG Operations Ghalam Mahmood Dogar, an application has been forwarded again for the allotment of land to three police stations while another application would also be forwarded for the allotment of land to the remaining police stations.

He said that several police stations in the city are in dilapidated condition.

JUI-F federal ministers send resignations to PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD: The hopes for reconciliation between Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have been ended apparently as the remaining federal ministers of JUI-F have sent their resignations to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday.

JUI-F’s ministers Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman and Rehmatullah Kakar sent their resignations to PM Gilani today.

Maulana Fazal-ur- Rehman is Federal Minister for Tourism and Rehmatullah Kakar is Federal Minister for Housing.

Maulana Fazal told while talking to TrendPK that their decision, to quit the government, is final and they have sent their resignations through fax, postal service and by hand to the Prime Minister, but the PM House is still denying it.

The spokesman of the Prime Minister’s House has said that till last night they did not receive the

Leaders battle for deal to boost OSCE powers

Leaders battle for deal to boost OSCE powers

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

ASTANA: OSCE member states were Thursday battling to thrash out a compromise on an action plan that would bolster the clout of the trans-Atlantic security group after its first summit in over a decade.

World leaders at the summit, hosted by Kazakhstan in its glitzy new capital Astana, have acknowledged the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’s reactions to prevent conflicts in Europe and the ex-USSR have slowed in recent years.

But the 56 member state group operates by consensus, meaning any single country could torpedo a final communique and framework for action that diplomats hope will define its future role.

“I hope that in the remaining moments we can agree a declaration and overcome the differences,” Kazazkh President Nursultan Nazarbayev told the

US to Handover 5 F-16 jets to Pakistan Today

Second consignment of 5 United States F-16 fighter jets will arrive in Pakistan on Saturday.

Out of 18 jets, that US promised to deliver by the end of this year, 3 fighter planes have been already given to Pakistan while 5 will come today and the remaining 10 will be handed over by the end of December.

Five F-16 will land at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad.

Senior officials of Pakistan Air force would be present at Shahbaz Airbase on the arrival of these planes.

Sources said that arrival of these 5 F-16 jets were scheduled in September but due to flood it had been delayed.

12 children killed as van plunges into ravine in Muzaffarabad

Staff Report

MUZAFFARABAD: At least twelve children were killed as a school van fell in a deep ravine in Muzaffarabad, SAMAA learnt Tuesday.

The van was carrying 30 children.

According to sources, the van plunged near Hatian Dupatta in River Jehlum, after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

The dead bodies of twelve children have been recovered; more casualties are feared.

“Driver and three children were rescued,” said police.

Rescue teams and divers are engaged in searching for the remaining children.

A month ago, a bus plunged into River Jehlum, leaving 40 people dead. The incident was due to overspeeding. SAMAA

Sialkot tragedy: JIT completes boys’ lynching investigation

Staff Report

SIALKOT: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Sialkot’s two brothers’ killings has completed its investigation, DIG Mushtaq Sakhera, the team’s head, informed on Sunday.

Sakhera disclosed, during a press briefing in Sialkot, that seventeen out of eighteen culprits have been apprehended by authorities; the investigation team found involvement of ten policemen in the incident.

He added that four policemen have been declared absconders; the remaining six have surrendered. He said the statements of the arrested policemen have been recorded.

Sakhera, replying to a question about former Sialkot DPO, Waqar Ahmed Chohan, said that Chohan was put under house arrest before the other policemen involved in the case were arrested.

“The investigation of the murder of Bilal, who was allegedly killed in the firing of two brothers, would be held

US Troops Unlikely to Resume Combat Duties in Iraq

It would take “a complete failure” of the Iraqi security forces for the U.S. to resume combat operations there, the top American commander in Iraq said as the final U.S. fighting forces prepared to leave the country.

With a major military milestone in sight, Gen. Ray Odierno said in interviews broadcast on Sunday that any resumption of combat duties by American forces is unlikely.

“We don’t see that happening,” Odierno said. The Iraqi security forces have been doing “so well for so long now that we really believe we’re beyond that point.”

President Barack Obama plans a major speech on Iraq after his return to Washington, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity on Sunday because details were being finalized.

The speech will come shortly after Obama returns to the White House on Aug. 29 from his Martha’s Vineyard vacation.

About 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in the country until the end of 2011 to serve as a training and assistance force, a dramatic drawdown from the peak of more than 170,000 during the surge of American forces in 2007.

U.S. involvement in Iraq beyond the end of 2011, Odierno said, probably would involve assisting the Iraqis secure their airspace and borders.

While Iraq forces can handle internal security and protect Iraqis, Odierno said he believes military commanders want to have the U.S. involved beyond 2011 to help Iraqis acquire the required equipment, training and technical capabilities.

He said Iraq’s security forces have matured to the point where they will be ready to shoulder enough of the burden to permit the remaining 50,000 soldiers to go home at the end of next year.

If the Iraqis asked that American troops remain in the country after 2011, Odierno said U.S. officials would consider it, but that would be a policy decision made by the president and his national security advisers.

Odierno’s assessment, while optimistic, also acknowledges the difficult road ahead for the Iraqis as they take control of their own security, even as political divisions threaten the formation of the fledgling democracy.

South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, who’s on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he hopes “we will have an enduring relationship of having some military presence in Iraq. I think that would be smart not to let things unwind over the next three or five years.”

It would take “a complete failure” of the Iraqi security forces for the U.S. to resume combat operations there, the top American commander in Iraq said as the final U.S. fighting forces prepared to leave the country.
With a major military milestone in sight, Gen. Ray Odierno said in interviews broadcast on Sunday that any resumption of combat duties by American forces is unlikely.

“We don’t see that happening,” Odierno said. The Iraqi security forces have been doing “so well for so long now that we really believe we’re beyond that point.”

President Barack Obama plans a major speech on Iraq after his return to Washington, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity on Sunday because details were being finalized.
The speech will come shortly after Obama returns to the White House on Aug. 29 from his Martha’s Vineyard vacation.
About 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in the country until the end of 2011 to serve as a training and assistance force, a dramatic drawdown from the peak of more than 170,000 during the surge of American forces in 2007.
U.S. involvement in Iraq beyond the end of 2011, Odierno said, probably would involve assisting the Iraqis secure their airspace and borders.
While Iraq forces can handle internal security and protect Iraqis, Odierno said he believes military commanders want to have the U.S. involved beyond 2011 to help Iraqis acquire the required equipment, training and technical capabilities.
He said Iraq’s security forces have matured to the point where they will be ready to shoulder enough of the burden to permit the remaining 50,000 soldiers to go home at the end of next year.

Butt replaces Afridi as Pakistan Test captain‎

ISLAMABAD: Opening batsman Salman Butt has been named Pakistan’s captain for the remaining Tests in England following Shahid Afridi’s surprising decision to retire from Tests after the defeat against Australia at Lord’s.

The rest is here:
Butt replaces Afridi as Pakistan Test captain‎

Butt named captain for rest of England tour

ISLAMABAD: Opening batsman Salman Butt has been named Pakistan’s captain for the remaining Tests in England following Shahid Afridi’s surprising decision to retire from Tests after the defeat against Australia at Lord’s.

Read more from the original source:
Butt named captain for rest of England tour

PU receives 30 more degrees

LAHORE: Higher Education Commission (HEC) sent 30 more degrees of parliament members to Punjab University for verification. Now the number of degrees sent for verification has been reached to 119.

According to Punjab University spokesman, university has sent back 217 degrees out of 314 to HEC after scrutiny. Eight degrees declared vague whereas the remaining degrees will be verify within a week time.

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