Three arrested in Pakistan over US man's abduction

Police say they have arrested three people suspected of belonging to the gang that abducted a 70-year-old American development expert in Pakistan earlier this month.

Pakistan mounts operation against Karachi killings

Pakistan police and paramilitary rangers have launched a major operation in the biggest city Karachi to quell bloodshed that has claimed more than 100 lives in the past week, officials said Wednesday.

Pakistan, China ties are unique: Hina Rabbani Khar

Islamabad : Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who is on a visit to Beijing, has said Pakistan and China enjoy a unique relationship and dialogue was an ongoing process between the two countries.

Talking to mediapersons on arrival in Beijing, Khar said the leadership of both countries had invested immensely for the enhancement of existing strong bonds of friendship.

Khar arrived late Tuesday evening on a two-day visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

She said President Asif Ali Zardari was carrying forward the ties to new heights by frequently visiting China, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also paid several visits, she added.

She pointed out that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Pakistan in December last year was historic as it helped in further enhancing the bilateral relations.

The foreign minister said the visit of Premier Wen played an important role in further deepening the the strong relationship.

Khar said: "The relationship strongly exists among peoples and governments of two countries and now we want to commensurate these ties with trade, economic and investment cooperation."

Target killers, extortionists asked to leave Karachi: Rehman Malik

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that target killers and extortionists will not be forgiven and that both will be punished equally.

Pak, US share common objectives in region: President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari in a meeting with the US delegation on Tuesday said that Pakistan and United States shared common objectives in the region for stabilizing peace.

PM Gilani calls for taking US-Pakistan relations beyond anti-terror fight

ISLAMABAD: Senator Carl Levin, Chairman Armed Services Committee called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here Tuesday in which the Senator underlined the importance of bringing back US-Pakistan relations on even keel because both the countries were fighting a common enemy.

President appoints Akhtar Buland as new AGP

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari has appointed Akhtar Baland Rana , the new Auditor General of Pakistan.

He was working in BPS-22 in Audit and Accounts Group.

PM Gilani calls Cabinet meeting today over Karachi situation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has convened the meeting of federal cabinet today (Wednesday) to discuss law and order situation at Karachi in detail.

General Kayani directs best medical facilities for soldiers

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Tuesday visited Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Tuesday and met the officers and soldiers who had sustained injuries involving loss of limbs during active operations.

Zardari urges regional solutions to regional problems CA countries envoys call on President

ISLAMABAD: A delegation comprising ambassadors of the central Asian countries called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.

PAC declares FBR performance unsatisfactory

ISLAMABAD: Special Committee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has termed the performance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) unsatisfactory saying FBR should rectify its administrative matters within a month.

ECC imposes levy on LPG

ISLAMABAD: Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved to impose levy of Rs 10 to Rs12 per kilogram on indigenous production of liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

Fake degree: EC orders registration of case against MPA

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission (EC) has rejected the appeal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa MPA Khalifa Abdul Qayyum in fake degree case and ordered to register a case against him.

President, PM issued notices in Mehran base attack case

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the country’s top political and military leadership in the Mehran base attack case.

Hazare sticks to August 30 deadline for passage of bill

NEW DELHI: Indian activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday stuck to his August 30 deadline for passage of anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill and asked his supporters to intensify the protest by blocking the houses of Parliamentarians if government failed to do so.

Addressing his supporters after nearly a break of 40 hours, Hazare, who entered the second week of his fast, accused government of betraying all along the civil society on the issue of a strong Lokpal Bill.

Merging FRs into settled areas: Recommendations sent to Ministry

PESHAWAR: Final recommendations have been sent to ministry of SAFRON for merging FRs into settled areas.

Governor Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK) Barrister Masood Kausar will give special briefing to the president and prime minister this month on merging FRs into settled areas.

PML-N threatens to move SC on non-devolution of profit earning departments to provinces

ISLAMABAD: Deadlock persists between PML-N and PPP on non handing over of fit earning departments to the provinces in respect of the ministries devolved to them under 18th amendment and PML-N has threatened to move Supreme Court on this matter.

Aitzaz sees no harm in deploying army in Karachi

LAHORE: Key member of Pakistan Peoples Party and former president Supreme Court Bar Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan favored army’s deployment in violence-hit Karachi and it is not unconstitutional.

UAE embassy hosts iftar dinners

ISLAMABAD: The UAE embassy in Pakistan with the collaboration of UAE charities mainly Red Crescent Authority organized series of extended iftari programs in the holy month of Ramadan in different cities of Pakistan especially Islamabad and Rawalpindi, right from the first of Ramadan.

Zia Mohyeddin calls on President

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) Zia Mohyeddin Tuesday called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Farzana signs MoU for provision of scholarship worth $100,000 for BISP beneficiary families

BEIJING: Pakistan and China here Wednesday signed a cooperative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the friendship and exchanges between the people of two countries. The MoU was signed by the Federal Minister and the Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Madame Farzana Raja and Secretary General of China Foundation for Peace and Development (CFPD) Dr. Xu Zhensui. Mr. Masood Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to China was also present on the occasion.

CDA team to trap aggressive monkeys

ISLAMABAD: An aggressive monkey attack in sector G-6 of the federal Capital leaves seven children injured and is still in Islamabad to make more victims.

Karachi back to normalcy after MQM’s day of mourning

KARACHI: Shops, markets and petrol pumps of the city are being opened after a day’s closure due to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) day of mourning on Tuesday.

Pak police officer wins ‘International Women Police Peace Award 2011’

NEW YORK: United Nations has decided to confer “International Women Police Peace Award 2011” to Pakistani woman police officer upon her fantabulous performance in UN Peace Mission.

Citizens of Karachi move towards KPK for celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr

PESHAWAR: Citizens of Karachi have started moving towards their native towns in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa for celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr due to poor law and order conditions in Karachi.

FIR registered against NATO tankers’ torching

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has registered a case against the unidentified people who torched 19 NATO oil supply tankers yesterday near Dasht Tehsil of Mastung in Quetta.

Altaf thankful to workers for peaceful mourning day

KARACHI: Chief, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain paid his deep gratitude to the people of Karachi particularly traders, transporters, industrialists, religious clerics, civil society and political parties for observing a peaceful day of mourning across the country against the bloodshed of innocents in Karachi.

Zafar Baloch wants British, American govts to ban Altaf’s entry

KARACHI: PPPP, Karachi leader, Zafar Baloch has demanded of the British and American governments to declare Altaf Hussain as a terrorist and ban his entry in their country.

Pak, US share common objectives in region: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari in a meeting with the US delegation on Tuesday said that Pakistan and United States share common objectives in the region for stabilizing peace.

Zardari hosts Iftaar dinner for Muslim countries’ ambassadors

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari hosted Iftaar dinner for the ambassadors of the Muslim countries here at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.