Paris police arrest more veiled women

PARIS: Paris police on Monday arrested two veiled women and several other people protesting in front of Notre Dame cathedral against France’s new ban on wearing full-face niqab veils in public.

Pressure mounts for Hosni Mubarak’s trial

CAIRO: Two months after he was ousted, president Hosni Mubarak was facing on Monday increasing pressure to be brought to justice over alleged corruption and violence against protesters.

Syrian students rally for slain protesters

DAMASCUS: Syrian students rallied in Damascus on Monday to express solidarity with protesters killed over the weekend, as the army moved in on the flashpoint town of Banias.

Yemeni opposition rejects Gulf plan

SANAA: Yemen’s opposition rejected on Monday a Gulf Arab initiative for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down, because it appears to offer him immunity from prosecution, while Saleh himself welcomed the plan.

19 killed, dozens wounded in Iraq bombings

FALLUJA: Two bombs exploded near a crowded market in the Iraqi city of Falluja on Monday, killing six people and injuring two dozen, while two roadside bombs in Diyala province killed 10, security and hospital sources said.

PM Yousuf Raza Gilani announces improved career structure for doctors, paramedics

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday announced in the National Assembly an improved career structure for doctors and health professionals.

Making a policy statement in the National Assembly, the prime minister said the new career structure will de-link health professionals from the basic scales.Last week, the young doctors of Islamabad hospitals called off their strike on the assurance of the Federal Secretary, Health, Nargis Sethi, that their demands would be met next week.

The prime minister announced the formation of a committee at the federal level, headed by the health secretary and comprising representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Establishment Divisions to workout further details. “The committee will submit its report within 15 days,” he added.

The PM also gave an assurance that services of contract medical officers would be regularised in accordance with the law.He hoped that the health professionals will now devote all of their energies towards services to the people.

Judiciary to will remove ZAB trial stigma, hopes Sardar Latif Khan Khosa

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa has said he is hopeful that the judiciary will play its role in removing the stigma it has been facing after the judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Khosa stated this while addressing a seminar organised by the PPP Overseas workers here on Monday.

FIA accused of Moonis Elahi media trial

LAHORE: PML-Q leaders Kamil Ali Agha and Ch Zaheer have strongly reacted against a “media campaign” of FIA Director Zafar Qureshi against Moonis Elahi and claimed that despite using negative tactics he could not recover even Rs five from Moonis during his 14-day remand.

Taliban in NWA vow to ‘protect’ schools

MIRAMSHAH: The Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Taliban in North Waziristan on Monday vowed not to allow anyone to target the educational institutions in the tribal region and assured male and female students of cooperation in continuing their studies. Ahmadullah Ahmadi, a spokesman for Hafiz Gul Bahadur, said they always supported male and female education in the tribal region and provided full security to their schools.

FIA submits challan against Moonis Elahi

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency on Monday submitted the challan against PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi in the NICL scam, declaring him guilty of opening bogus accounts.

Shoaib Suddle says he has evidence of missing containers

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Shoaib Suddle, will present before the Supreme Court heaps of invoices which do not contain signatures of Customs officials at three important Afghan check posts, confirming that these officials connived in the massive missing containers scam.

France implements ban on full veil

PARIS: France’s ban on full-face veils, a first in Europe, went into force on Monday, making anyone wearing the Muslim niqab or burqa in public liable to a fine of 150 euros ($216) or lessons in French citizenship.

MQM denies any militant wing

ISLAMABAD: Senior MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari has categorically stated that the Muttahida does not have any militant wing and made it clear on Monday that his party would not offer any kind of support to any criminal, including the target killers, even if such a person had blood relations with any leader of the party.

Nobody’s life is being protected, says Chief Justice

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Balochistan chief secretary to appear before the court to explain as to what measures had been taken to protect the lives and property of the people in the province.

Raza Rabbani briefs PM Gilani on HEC’s devolution

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday reiterated that all political parties and stakeholders should be regularly consulted to develop a consensus in the implementation process as well.

Pakistan cricket team visits National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan cricket team on Monday visited the National Assembly and received a warm welcome when the players arrived at Prime Minister’s Visitors Gallery in the National Assembly.

President Asif Ali Zardari dismisses US report

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has dismissed growing criticism in Washington about Pakistan’s war on terror, claiming that some members of the Congress and the US media have little understanding of the situation in his country.

US will not leave Afghanistan, says Cameron Munter

ISLAMABAD: The United States on Monday called for a policy of ‘renewal’ with Pakistan, in the aftermath of ‘acute problems,’ saying that now it was time to look into “opportunities in the future, not problems of the past”.

President Zardari visit to Turkey a landmark in Pakistan-Turkey brotherly relations

ISLAMABAD: Former Foreign Secretary, Najmuddin Sheikh termed President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Turkey as another landmark in Pak-Turk brotherly relations and said it will help further strengthen bilateral relations and trace new venues of cooperation.

Pakistan Wants US to Stop Drone Strikes

Pakistani and American officials say Pakistan has demanded the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency halt unmanned drone strikes against militants in the country.

Mohali match improved Pak-India ties: PM Yousuf Raza Gilani

Islamabad:  The cricket World Cup semifinal match between India and Pakistan in Mohali has proved to be a catalyst for improving ties between the two countries, says Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Cricket : UAE government lift ban on Mohammad Asif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani fast bowler Mohammed Asif, who was banned to enter in UAE due to possessing illegal drugs, has been cleared after three years.

PM Gilani rewards Pakistan cricketers

ISLAMABAD – The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani announced Rs one million for each Pakistan team player on good performance in the recently-concluded World Cup, during a reception hosted in honour of Pakistan cricket team here at PM House on Monday.

Javed Miandad refuses to be batting coach: Intikhab Alam

Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam has said the West Indies tour will provide opportunity to young players to show their talent.

ISI chief meets CIA head and leaves Washington

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's ISI chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha held an important meeting with the CIA chief on Monday but apparently cut short his visit and was leaving the US capital on Monday night.

Shahid Afridi vows better show in Windies

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi has said that Pakistan cricket team would demonstrate better performance in the upcoming West Indies (WI) tour as the players are playing cricket with confidence.
Afridi in a private news channel interview admitted mistakes that he and his team committed in semi-final of the World Cup, saying the mistakes done in the match let his team down.

Resting Umar Gul is a good move: Wasim Akram

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed Shahid Afridi over his demand for a batting coach, saying than an experienced expert can help the national team improve its performance with the bat.

Supreme Court rejects petitions against HEC devolution

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court  on Tuesday dismissed all petitions against the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The apex court added that the regulatory body will function till the government amends the presidential ordinance upon which HEC was formed.
A petition was filed earlier by Professor GA Miana through the ministry of law and parliamentary affairs.
The Attorney General (AG) informed the apex court that the government was still undecided on the issue of the dissolution of HEC. He also assured the court that all stake holders will be taken into consideration before taking any such decisions.
According to the AG, a legal draft has been prepared regarding HEC and will be tabled in the parliament soon.

Supreme Court adjourns NRO hearing till April 14

Supreme Court on Tuesday refused the repeated appeal by the Additional Attorney General K.K Agha to allow Dr Khalid Ranjha to counsel the case for federation in place of Kamal Azfar,

Economy has stabilised: President Asif Ali Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday brushed aside all bleak economic scenarios being made by international donor organisations and opposition parties, asserting instead that the country’s economy had “stabilised”.

FIA director fears for his life in NICL scam

ISLAMABAD: Additional Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Zafar Ahmad Qureshi, who is investigating the high profile Rs5 billion National Insurance Company Limited scam, has submitted in the Supreme Court that he is being continuously harassed by PML-Q leadership and after his retirement, he would be at the mercy of the politicians against whom he has proceeded in performance of his official duties.

MQM ready for significant role in Punjab politics: Farooq Sattar

LAHORE: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement is ready to play a significant role in politics of the Punjab, Deputy Convener Rabitta Committee Dr Farooq Sattar said on Monday. Addressing a press conference, he said the oppressed people of the Punjab were taking the MQM as the third option.

Petition to remove Musharraf from Presidents list

LAHORE High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Monday overruled the Registrar s Office s objection to a constitutional petition moved by former President Rafiq Tarar, seeking the court order for removal of Pervez Musharraf s name from all the public and official record wherein he (Musharraf) was described as the President of Pakistan.

Public Accounts Committee orders action against ex-controller Sindh House

KARACHI – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Sindh Assembly on Monday wrote a letter to the Governor of Sindh and Chief Minister to take action against former controller of Sindh House Islamabad, Ali Sajjad, against his alleged irregularities in different heads and his failure to produce record of amount spent without approval of competent authorities.

CM Shahbaz Sharif to reward top three districts

CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday said that all the energies should be utilised for achieving the targets and timely completion of development projects.

He urged the divisional commissioners, district coordination officers and the departments concerned to spare no effort for the purpose. He said he would review the pace of development projects after three weeks and the chief secretary after every 10 days. He said the administration and departments concerned of the first three districts showing best performance in transparency, high quality and timely completion of projects would be encouraged at a special function and the chief secretary should evolve a course of action in this regard.

The chief minister was addressing a meeting held to review the pace of implementation on annual development programmes, special packages for big cities and mega development projects in southern Punjab at the Chief Minister s Secretariat here on Monday.

3 killed, 13 injured in Kurram Agency blast

PARACHINAR: Three persons were killed and 13 others sustained injuries when a passenger van hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kannaki village in upper part of Kurram Agency early Monday, official and tribal sources said.

Karachi : 2 killed in road accidents

In two separate tragedies, the lives of a Class VI student and a young man were cut short on Monday.

Peshawar : 3 extremists, ASI killed in Police encounter

PESHAWAR: At least three extremists and an ASI killed and policeman sustained injuries during a Police-Extremists’ encounter in Karkhanao market of Peshawar hereon Monday.

India to release 15 Pakistan nationals

JAMMU; To give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations, India is releasing 15 Pakistani nationals — including militants and people held for crossing the border — who have completed their jail terms.

Cricket : Preparations started for expected Indian, Lankan cricket teams' tour

Rawalpindi : The preparations have been started for the expected tours of Indian and SriLankan cricket teams to Pakistan.In this regard, a high level delegation of Pakistan Cricket team on Monday

Massive irregularities in house-count reported from Urban areas of Sindh

Mirpur Khas, Sindh : MNA Mir Munawar Ali Talpur has said that they are receiving a large number of complaints that massive irregularities are being committed in house-count as the process is being conducted in different ways in urban and rural areas.

Election Commission revises by-election schedule for Senate seat to be held on April 27

Karachi : Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Justice  Hamid Ali Mirza has revisedthe remaining stages of by-election to a general seat in Senate from Sindh,

World Bank says aid spending should target conflict

Karachi : The World Bank is recommending a major difference in the way aid is spent. A quarter of the world's population live in states affected by conflict. In a report released Monday,

Book on energy crises in Pakistan launched

Islamabad :  Oxford University Press launched its latest publication ‘Energy Crises in Pakistan: Origins, Challenges and Sustainable Solutions’, written by Muhammad Asif.

Hockey : India, Pakistan talk hockey again

New Delhi : India and Pakistan are talking hockey again. They had been doing it at regular intervals in the past too but the only difference is that this time the talks have centred around matches on either side of the border.

Extortionists injure four traders in Nawabshah

Nawabshah : Traders here went on a shutter-down strike on Monday to protest against extortionists, who opened fire on four shopkeepers for not paying the demanded sum.

23 injured as two groups fight near Mirpurkhas

Mirpurkhas/ Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Sindh : On an issue of payment regarding livestock selling, at least 23 persons got injured when a quarrel between Marri and Lanjwani tribes broke out onMonday.

All Pakistan CNG Association calls for indefinite strike in Punjab from April 13

ISLAMABAD : All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNG) has decided to go on indefinite strike in Punjab from Wednesday (April 13) against anti CNG policy of the Government,

Cricket Digicel, sponsor of West Indies launches 2011 series against Pakistan, India

Kingston :  Digicel, sponsor of West Indies Cricket, officially launched DigicelSeries 2011 with a gala event at Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. The glitzy red carpet affair, which also incorporated premiere of Fire in Babylon, saw representatives from West Indies Cricket Board, past and present legends, Colin Croft, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Caribbean businessmen and officials.

Media Monitoring System at Public Complaint Centre in offing

Karachi, April 12 (PPI): In order to ensure timely action on news items and reports on media, especially pertaining to police accesses and misuse of powers, arrangements are underway to launch a Media Monitoring System at the Public Complaint Centre.

Karachi target killings: Three political activists gunned down

Karachi : Three activists of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) were gunned down in Mehmoodabad area here on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka believes in market oriented policies help increase export trade

Karachi : Sri Lanka Consul General D W Jinadasa says since signing Free Trade Agreement FTA between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2005 there has been 70 percent growth in business. However, trade volume still stands at $300 million per annum which is a diminutive figure as compared to available potential.

National Assembly assured new transformers to reduce transmission losses

Islamabad : National Assembly was assured on Tuesday by Water & Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar that new transformers, being planned to procure, will help lower transmission losses and improve power

Pakistan to release 89 Indian fishermen

KARACHI: In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan has decided to release 89 Indian fishermen languishing in various jails of the country.