30 arrested in Karachi on extortion charges: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that a ministerial committee has been constituted to prevent extortion in Karachi.

In a statement in the Upper House today (Tuesday), Malik has claimed that 30 people have been arrested in Karachi on charges of extortion.

His statment came after trade bodies observed a shutter-down strike in the metropolis against the rising incidents of extortion.

“No revengeful act will be initiated against anyone. Only real culprits will be punished,” he said.

On the other hand, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) withdrew its bill seeking weapon-free country.

Federal Law Minister Dr. Babar Awan, on the occasion said, the bill has some legal misfits which will be tabled in Senate after a thorough review.

Later, opposition parties staged a token walkout from Senate to express solidarity with missing persons while, MQM staged a walkout in protest against the rising incidents of extortion in Karachi. TrendPK

Awan confirms Rs. 223.90 mln grant for bar associations, councils

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has confirmed that his ministry had released Rs223.90 million in grant for various bar associations and bar councils during the last financial year.

In a written reply to the Upper House, he said: “Punjab’s bar associations received Rs 87.50 million in grant during 2009-10. Bar associations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got Rs33.50 million. Balochistan’s bar associations received Rs46.20 million. Sindh’s bar associations Rs10.6 million and bar associations of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan obtained grants of Rs20 million.”

In addition, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) was given Rs20 million and Bar Councils of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received Rs10 million each. Trend Pk

Troops kill 15 militants in Orakzai Agecny

Staff Report

ORAKZAI AGENCY: Security forces backed by helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts in different parts of Upper Orakzai Agency, killing 15 terrorists.

According to sources, helicopter gunships targeted suspected militant positions in Khadizai, Sekaram and Merandi areas.

At least 15 militants were killed and 10 other wounded in the bombing.

In addition three militant hideouts were also destroyed in the shelling. SAMAA

Karachi violence: ANP submits adjournment motion in Senate

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party (ANP) has submitted an adjournment motion in the Upper House against the latest killing spree that took 37 lives in Karachi.

The adjournment motion was moved by Haji Muhammad Adeel, Zahid Khan and Afrasyab Khattak of ANP.

“Had the government deployed army to supervise the by-election in Karachi, this bloodbath would have been averted,” it said.

The motion said that unilateral election is called selection, not election.

In addition, it called for a debate on the role of government and Election Commission in Sunday’s by-election in Karachi. SAMAA

New Zealand rule out Pakistan trip

WELLINGTON: New Zealand cricket chiefs on Monday backed the idea of fund raising matches for flood-ravaged Pakistan but ruled out the prospect of the Black Caps travelling there.

Reports from Pakistan indicated New Zealand had offered to play there to raise funds for flood victims, but New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said his message to the Pakistan Cricket Board had been misconstrued.

“At no point did we offer that the Black Caps would be touring as they certainly won’t be playing there this year,” Vaughan said.

“But it would be nice to think that in a cricket-loving country such as Pakistan that cricket could play a part in alleviating some of the suffering that is going on there.”

International cricket came to an abrupt end in Pakistan in March last year after a terror attack on the touring Sri Lankan team in

Rain forecast for Punjab, Kohat, Kashmir

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Meteorological Department on Monday has predicted rain with lightening in some parts of Islamabad, Upper Punjab, Kohat, Hazara Division and Kashmir during next 24 hours.

According to Met office, hot and dry weather expected in various parts of country. Some parts of Upper Punjab and Kashmir had received rain with lightening during last 24 hours.

59 millimeter was the heaviest rain recorded on Sunday. SAMAA

Lightening kills 17 in Upper Dir

UPPER DIR: Lightening in Garkoi village of Asheeray Dara has killed at least 17 people and damaged 60 houses, Geo News reported quoting local sources.

20 missing in China landslide: report

BEIJING: At least 20 people were missing Monday after a rain-triggered landslide buried parts of a north China village, while rising waters threatened to overrun numerous lakes and rivers including the Yangtze.

The landslide engulfed nine homes in Muzhu village in Shaanxi province late Sunday, a local news agency reported, saying that 20 people were missing and believed buried under the debris.

The local government was scrambling to organise search and rescue operations, while the exact toll was still being compiled, the report said.

China is facing some of its worst floods in over a decade as water levels in lakes and rivers — including the Yangtze, the nation”s longest river — have exceeded danger levels, the civil affairs ministry said Sunday.

According to state media, water levels in the upper reaches of the Yangtze have already surpassed those of 1998, when over 4,150 people were killed and 18 million evacuated in China”s worst flooding in recent memory.

The massive water flow on the Yangtze also poses the biggest challenge to the Three Gorges Dam since the dam part of the world”s largest hydroelectric project was completed in 2006, the China Daily newspaper said.

With heavy rains forecast Monday along the upper reaches of the river, flood pressures on downriver lakes such as Dongting and Poyang — where water levels were already near warning marks — were expected to rise, the ministry warned.

At least 146 people have died and 40 were still missing from rain-induced disasters since the start of July in 11 Chinese provinces, mostly along the Yangtze, the ministry said last week.

As of July 13, 567 people have been killed and 251 have gone missing in floods nationwide this year, with economic losses nearing 116 billion yuan (17 billion dollars), the ministry said earlier.

16 killed in Kurram convoy attack

PARACHINAR: A convoy of vehicles travelling to Peshawar was attacked by gunmen in Parachinar in Upper Kurram tribal region killing 16 persons.

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16 killed in Kurram convoy attack

Religious parties stage anti-Israel protests

LAHORE: Religious parties including Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal Group (JUI-F) and Tanzim-e-Islami Tuesday staged protest demonstrations in front of Lahore Press club to condemn the Israeli forces’ brutal attack on humanitarian aid ship Freedom Flotilla.

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Religious parties stage anti-Israel protests

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