ANP assembly member hurt in Peshawar blast

PESHAWAR: The member of NWFP Assembly belonged to Awami National Party (ANP) and eight others have been injured in a blast occurred at Dalazak road in Momin Town area here on Wednesday. According to police sources, the bomb was planted in a motorbike that went off with a huge bang injuring NWFP assembly Alam Zeb Khan and other eight people. The injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital where six reported in a critical condition. The blast damaged the car of Alam Zeb Khan and nearby buildings. Bomb disposal squad have reached the scene and collected the remains of explosives. Central secretary general of ANP Zahid Khan has confirmed the reports of Alam Zeb Khan injury and said he is out of danger.

PM dismissed three ambassadors at large including Pirzada


ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has dismissed three ambassadors at large on Wednesday.

Geo News correspondent Rauf Kalasara quoting well placed sources said that Prime Minister Gilani has dismissed three ambassadors at large on immediate basis and a notification has been issued in this connection.

The dismissed ambassadors at large are Hameed Qidwai, renowned lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada and Ehsanullah.

Profit taking at KSE erodes 24 points

KARACHI: Profit taking at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) eroded 24 points from benchmark KSE-100 Index which closed at 5,735 on Monday. According to market analysts, investors went for profit taking after one week’s improvement in stock prices witnessed throughout the last week. However, market remained somewhat stable due to investors buying in oil and gas and banking sector. OGDC remained ahead of all shares in terms of volume which gained paisas 5 to close at Rs50.05. NBP slipped Rs2.41 to close at 63.27.

Awaiting Pakistan’s reply: India

NEW DELHI: Indian Interior Minister, P Chidambaram has said that Pakistan’s reply, relating to the Mumbai attacks information and evidences, was awaited. Indian TV reported that the Interior Minister, Chidambaram saying that no country in the world was free from terrorism. He said that India had shared the evidences of the Mumbai attacks with over 100 countries, but no reply has thus far been received from Pakistan relating to the information provided.

DCC urges India to answer queries raised in FIA report

ISLAMABAD: The Defence Coordination Committee of Cabinet on Monday observed that without substantial evidence from India it will be exceedingly difficult to complete the investigation and proceed with the case. The meeting which lasted for over four hours, was attended by three services chiefs, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, Federal Ministers for Defence, Information, and Foreign Affairs; Advisers to Finance, Foreign Affairs and Interior and concerned secretaries. In the meeting held at PM House, the committee was briefed on the progress on the inquiry based on information provided by Indian authorities concerning the Mumbai attacks. Committee decided that on the basis of inquiry conducted by FIA, the case should be registered and further investigation be carried out so that the perpetrators of the heinous crime, wherever they may be, are brought to justice in accordance with the law of the land. The meeting acknowledged that inquiry had been conducted professionally and endorsed the recommendations of the Interior Ministry to proceed with the registration of the case. The meeting however, observed that without substantial evidence from India it will be exceedingly difficult to complete the investigation and proceed with the case. In order to complete the investigation the questions which are arising from the inquiry carried out by the FIA need to be answered by the Indian authorities. These will be communicated to the Indian authorities shortly.

Miandad also responsible along with PCB for conflict: PCB

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt said that in the conflict between Javed Miandad and the PCB, the board and Miandad both can be blamed. These views were expressed by the PCB chairman while addressing at his first news conference in Islamabad since he assumed the charge as the chairman. He said that if the Pakistani cricketers including Mohammad Yousuf leave the Indian Cricket League they would be taken back in the national team. Ijaz Butt said that the Oval Test conflict took place due to Pakistan team management’s unawareness of the rules. He said that the Senate standing committee and media would be apprised of details of the corruption during the previous regime of the PCB.

Iraq predicts OPEC may further cut crude production

SINGAPORE: World oil traded lower in Asia on Monday after OPEC member Iraq predicted the cartel will announce further production cuts in a market struggling with weak demand. New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, fell six cents to 40.11 dollars a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for March eased 25 cents to 45.96 dollars a barrel. Iraq's oil minister at the weekend predicted that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plans more output reductions. "In March, OPEC will convene and there will be an intention for more production cuts to shore up prices and encourage production from non-OPEC members," Hussein al-Shahristani said, according to his close adviser Falah al-Amiri. OPEC last week signalled it would consider more output cuts in a bid to bolster prices. Since last July, when oil prices hit records above 147 dollars a barrel, prices have tumbled because of weaker demand in a slowing global economy, analysts say. OPEC announced production cuts totalling 4.2 million barrels per day late last year but David Johnson, an oil analyst with Macquarie Securities, said 2.75 billion barrels have so far been cut in practice. He said he does not see cuts exceeding four billion barrels. "I don't think they can do much more than that," Johnson said. Oil prices are stuck in the 40 to 45 dollar range, balanced between expectations for OPEC's next moves and poor demand reflected in economic data such as Friday's US unemployment figures, he said. The United States Labor Department reported that the country's unemployment rate surged in January to 7.6 percent, its highest since 1992.

ndian president’s convoy helicopter escapes from disaster

NEW DELHI: An accident was averted at the Mumbai airport early Monday morning, after an air plane and a helicopter were cleared for take off and landing at the same time. Reports suggest the helicopter was part of President Prathibha Patil's convoy. Indian Airlines flight IC 866 aircraft was given a clearance by the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) for a take off at the same time as that of the helicopter. The aircraft was already rolling on the runway when the pilot saw the helicopter approaching. A crash was averted after the pilot immediately aborted the take off. Confirming the incident, Indian Airlines officials said, "All the 148 passengers on board the IA flight are safe."

Maiden official delegation after Mumbai attacks leaves for India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s maiden official delegation is leaving for India today, following Mumbai attacks, which would be attending Saarc Economic Council meet there. The four-member delegation headed by Commerce Secretary, Salman Ghani is leaving here for attending Saac Economic Council meet in New Delhi. Talking to Geo News here, federal commerce secretary said that the Pakistani delegation, attending the Saarc Economic Council two-day meet beginning February 10, comprises of commerce joint secretary, officials of the Foreign Office and Federal Board of Revenue. Salman Ghani said that the matters relating to non-tariff free trade without any barriers and boosting economic interactions among the Saarc countries would be focused. The recommendations of this Council would be presented in the Saarc commerce ministers’ meeting in Colombo slated at the end of this month. Salman Ghani is expected to meet his Indian counterpart also during tour over there.

Two charged with arson, Australian wildfires death toll rises to 130

SYDNEY: Two people have been charged with arson after wildfires raged through southeastern Australia at the weekend, killing at least 130 and destroying more than 700 homes, police said Monday. A 31-year-old man accused of lighting a major blaze that burnt through about 200 hectares (495 acres) of bush land in Peats Ridge on the New South Wales central coast was due in court Monday after spending the night in a jail cell. A 15-year-old boy who allegedly set off an explosive that started a small scrub fire in the Blue Mountains near Sydney on Sunday was released on bail after being charged and will appear in court next month. Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has said that this could not be called anything but murder. Australia finally deployed army to control the fire sprawling on an area of 3,000 square kilometer, which is nearly three-times more than the Hong Kong area. Police have confirmed the death toll thus far at 130 all of them in Victoria state, while thousands have been evacuated.

Kashmir not on Holbrooke's agenda on trip to India

WASHINGTON: Reiterating that Kashmir was never part of US special envoy Richard Holbrooke's portfolio, the US has said he will travel to India as part of his mission to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. "India is an important country in the region and has interest in Afghanistan. And he wants to hear from the Indian government in terms of how we can all better contribute to peace and stability in Afghanistan," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters here. Holbrooke will visit Pakistan, Afghanistan and India after a security conference in Germany this week, and "he'll stay there as long as he feels he needs to," Wood said. The envoy left for London Wednesday on Way to Munich. "Then from there he will head to Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, in that order," he said, adding that Holbrooke told him "in essence this is an orientation trip". Holbrooke, well known for his role in brokering the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995 to end the armed conflicts in Bosnia, was named by Obama Jan 22 as special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mumbai probe going in right direction: Ban Ki-moon


ISLAMABAD: Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon Wednesday expressed his satisfaction over Pakistan’s investigations into Mumbai attacks.

Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here, he urged Pakistan to cooperate with India in its probe into the Mumbai incident.

On the occasion, the Prime Minster said Pakistan is against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and those who commit criminal acts outside the country will also be brought to justice.

Ban Ki-moon described the Kashmir standoff as the most important issue of South Asia and appreciated Pakistan’s role in war on terror.

PM Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan is committed not to allowing use of its territory for terrorist activities.

The UN Chief termed the PM’s statement issued two days ago regarding formation of legislation for bringing to trial even those elements who perpetrate crimes outside Pakistan. However, the Prime Minister on the occasion said he had discussed this with the Interior Minister who had informed that an Act already exists in this regard.

Kashmir solidarity day being observed today

ISLAMABAD: Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed today (Thursday) across Pakistan as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir with full zeal and fervour, featuring large public rallies, seminars, T.V shows, human chains and many others events to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. The day is a regular annular event being marked to support the indigenous freedom struggle of the people of occupied Kashmir, their right to plebiscite promised to them by the United Nations as well as to condemn Indian aggression on the held valley, its illegal occupation, its tyrannical rule and atrocities done against the innocent people. The day is a public holiday in the country and all government offices, banks, educational institutions and businesses remain closed. Banners have been put up in bazaars and streets to express solidarity with the Kashmiris. The day began with special prayers for the Kashmir cause at mosques. Rallies and processions are being organised in the federal and provincial capitals, divisional, district and Tehsil headquarters across the country.

UNHCR senior official kidnapped, driver killed in Quetta

QUETTA: A senior official of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been kidnapped here on Monday. According to initial reports, unknown persons opened fire on the car of head of UNHCR Balochistan John Solecki as soon as he left the home for office. Syed Hashim Raza, the driver of Solecki has been killed in the incident whereas attackers abducted John Solecki. Senior police officials have reached the scene after the incident. Police have cordoned off the area and launched search operation for the recovery of the UNHCR official. Meanwhile, the spokesman of UNHCR said investigations are underway about the reports of kidnapping. Security has beefed up at the offices of UN and foreign NGO’s after the incident.