Azhar hopeful ahead of ODI series against England

LONDON: Not many are giving Pakistan much chance in their One-day International (ODI) series against England despite the visitors’ convincing showing in the recently-concluded four-Test contest.

Pakistan came back from 1-2 down in the Test series, thumping England by ten wickets in the fourth and final Test here at The Oval last Sunday to square the series 2-2.

The tourists, shepherded by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, could have even won the series had they not squandered a sizeable first innings lead in the third Test at Edgbaston.

Pakistan could rise to number in Tests after drawing the series but it’s a different story for them in the 50-over format.

While England are currently counted among the best teams in the ODIs, Pakistan’s stocks in the two white-ball formats has plummeted in recent years.

That’s why when they take the field at Rose Bowl in Southampton on August 24 for the series-opening one-dayer against England, not many would be betting on the green team.

But ask Azhar Ali, who has taken the team’s command from Misbah, and he will tell you that England will be taking Pakistan for granted at their own peril.

Azhar, Pakistan’s ODI captain, said that The Oval triumph has boosted the team’s morale and will propel the players to give their best in the one-day series.

”Yes, the team’s performance in the Test series especially in the last match at The Oval has really lifted our morale for the one-day series,” Azhar told ‘The News’ before catching a flight to Dublin where Pakistan will play a two-match ODI series against Ireland later this week.

But Azhar was quick to add that the team will have to make quick adjustments especially against a top-class team like England.

“One-day is a different format and England are a very strong one-day team which is why we will have to be fully ready to give our best in the series,” said Azhar.

Azhar, who has scored 1249 runs from 33 ODI appearances, said that his players will take a leaf out of the Test side’s book to boost their chances in the ODI series.

“Our Test squad played with a lot of self-belief against England which was the primary reason why we drew the series,” he said.

“I’m confident that the ODI team will also play with the same self-belief and I think that’s a really important feeling that you must have going into any series.”

Azhar, 31, agrees that the higher-ranked England will start as the favourites to win the series but added that Pakistan will give the home team a run for its money.

“If we play up to our potential then this I going to be a very competitive series,” he said.

Pakistan will play the next four ODIs at Lord’s, Nottingham, Leeds and Cardiff before ending their marathon English sojourn with a Twenty20 International at Old Trafford on September 7.

â€"Originally published in The News

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Rs10 million cheque handed over to Sabri?s family

KARACHI: On behalf of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, minister for social welfare Shamim Mumtaz on Tuesday handed over a cheque of Rs 10 million to the family of slain qawwal Amjad Sabri at his residence.

Amjad Sabri’s mother, children and younger brother were present on the occasion.

Talking to media persons, the provincial minister said that Amjad Sabri was a world renowned qawwal and his absence would always be felt.

She said that there was no substitute of a human life but the amount provided by the Sindh government to the bereaved family would be utilised for the education, health and other expenditures of Sabri’s children. She added that the Sindh government had fulfilled one of its promises by providing monetary assistance on the directions of the chief minister.

Mumtaz said that on the directives of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari, the process of establishing an institute named after Shaheed Amjad Sabri was also in progress which would be materialised very soon. The minister further said the Sindh government was also ready to provide Amjad Sabri’s wife with a job, and in case if she didn’t want to opt for it, the job opportunity could be availed by any brother of the late qawwal. 

She said the investigation into the murder of the internationally acclaimed artiste was in progress and some of the culprits had been arrested by law enforcement agencies, adding that the names of the arrested suspects could not be disclosed due to the sensitivity of the case.

She assured the Sabri family of full moral as well as legal support in the case, adding that the Peoples Lawyer Forum had also promised to provide legal support in the Sabri murder case.

Talking to the media, Amjad Sabri’s brother thanked the Sindh government and the PPP leadership. He hoped that the Sindh government would also materialise other promises.

â€"Originally published in The News

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Husband kills wife in Karachi over alleged love affair

KARACHI: A husband on Wednesday allegedly killed his wife in an apparent honour killing.

Accused Rahim Dad cut his wife?s neck with a sharp object at Bara Qabristan area, SITE Town.

Police arrested Rahim and recovered the weapon used to commit the murder, police said.

The accused confessed to have killed his wife over suspicion, police said.

?My wife had relations with another man,? he said, adding the he had complained to the police about it. ?I murdered her last night after a heated argument,? he confessed.

Police has registered an FIR and is investigating the incident.

Honour killings in the country are on the rise. The most recent case which made headlines is of UK citizen Samia Shahid who was killed in Jhelum allegedly by her first husband while she was visiting family in Pakistan in July this year.

Social media sensation Qandeel Baloch was killed by his brother in July this year for her provocative videos and bold statements.

According to independent group Human Rights Commission Pakistan 1000 honour killings took place in Pakistan last year.

 

 

 

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Govt, Opposition reach consensus over law to probe Panama Leaks

ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition on Tuesday reached an understanding to bring a new law to probe corruption, including the Panama Leaks, but a deadlock on the terms of reference (ToRs) persisted.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah in his chamber.

“We have reached an understanding with the leader of the opposition on coming up with a new law to investigate corruption including the disclosures contained in the Panama Papers,” said Ishaq Dar while talking to media persons after meeting with Khursheed Shah.

He said for the past 60 years, a single law had been in operation, which was deemed ineffective by the Supreme Court. He said the government and the opposition had requested Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to play the role of mediator between the government and the opposition. “We are trying to convene a meeting of the parliamentary committee as soon as possible so that talks on a new law to probe the PanamaLeaks could be started,” he added.

The minister said the draft of the new law would be made public following a meeting of the members of the parliamentary committee with the speaker.

Ishaq Dar said that in order to investigate corruption, there was a need to strengthen the law. Dar further said that the government would try to call a meeting in connection with the ToRs as soon as possible.

Khursheed Shah said that during the meeting, discussions were made on the ToRs on which the inquiry will be conducted into the PanamaLeaks. He said there was an understanding on the issue of new law but disagreement on the process how to conduct the investigation. He said that after holding consultations with Aitzaz Ahsan, the schedule for a meeting on ToRs would be finalised.

â€"Originally published in The News

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US urges better dialogue between Pakistan and India

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday said it encourages greater dialogue and counter-terrorism cooperation between Pakistan and India, urging Islamabad to do ?the utmost to prevent terrorists from carrying out acts of terror?.

Responding to a question regarding Pakistan?s offer to India for talks and latter?s response, State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told media that the dialogue process between New Delhi and Islamabad is not only for the good of both the countries and the region but also for the benefit of the United States.

?It?s important that Pakistan do the utmost to prevent terrorists from carrying out acts of terror ? not just in Pakistan, but elsewhere in the region,? he said, adding that the US would encourage any effort for greater collaboration and dialogue between Pakistan and India.

Pakistan's Foreign Office on Monday wrote a letter to formally invite India for talks on the Kashmir issue that has been the main bone of contention between two neighbours for decades.

According to the Foreign Office, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry has written a letter to his Indian counterpart and invited him to visit Pakistan for talks on Kashmir.

"The Foreign Secretary called in the Indian High Commissioner this afternoon (15 August 2016) and handed over a letter addressed to his Indian counterpart, inviting him to visit Pakistan for talks on Jammu and Kashmir dispute that has been the main bone of contention between India and Pakistan," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The letter highlights the international obligation of both countries, India and Pakistan, to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, it said.

Meanwhile, Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control are protesting the Indian atrocities in the occupied territory.

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Govt, Opposition reach consensus over law to probe Panama Leaks

ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition on Tuesday reached an understanding to bring a new law to probe corruption, including the Panama Leaks, but a deadlock on the terms of reference (ToRs) persisted.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah in his chamber.

?We have reached an understanding with the leader of the opposition on coming up with a new law to investigate corruption including the disclosures contained in the Panama Papers,? said Ishaq Dar while talking to media persons after meeting with Khursheed Shah.

He said for the past 60 years, a single law had been in operation, which was deemed ineffective by the Supreme Court. He said the government and the opposition had requested Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to play the role of mediator between the government and the opposition. ?We are trying to convene a meeting of the parliamentary committee as soon as possible so that talks on a new law to probe the PanamaLeaks could be started,? he added.

The minister said the draft of the new law would be made public following a meeting of the members of the parliamentary committee with the speaker.

Ishaq Dar said that in order to investigate corruption, there was a need to strengthen the law. Dar further said that the government would try to call a meeting in connection with the ToRs as soon as possible.

Khursheed Shah said that during the meeting, discussions were made on the ToRs on which the inquiry will be conducted into the PanamaLeaks. He said there was an understanding on the issue of new law but disagreement on the process how to conduct the investigation. He said that after holding consultations with Aitzaz Ahsan, the schedule for a meeting on ToRs would be finalised.

?Originally published in The News

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Amir Liaquat proudly breaks push-ups record of Sindh sports minister

KARACHI: Renowned TV host, Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain on Tuesday broke the record of 50 push-ups by Sindh Minister for Sports, Mohammad Bux Mahar.

Hussain in a video did 64 push-ups, breaking the record of the provincial minister with a clear margin.

The video shows renowned TV host smiling after having broken the record. It also features a phrase 'WAZEER BANAYE GA KIA?' (Would you instate me as a minister?).

Earlier, Mahar had dared his counterpart in Punjab to match his 50-pushup record. In a video circulating on various platforms, Mahar did 50 pushups in less than 40 seconds.

Setting the bar at 50, he challenged the Punjab sports minister to show if he was fit enough.

Responding to the challenge, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry said that indulging in personal challenges did not suit elected representatives who should instead be promoting public competitions.

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MQM ends sit-in against workers arrest in Karachi

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday night ended its sit-in against arrest of party activists in Karachi saying the party would soon announce protests.

The law enforcers on Tuesday night raided office of a political party in Karachi's Gulistan e Jauhar area and rounded up five people from there.

MQM said the raid was conducted at its sector office. Party leaders and workers staged a protest sit-in outside Shahrah e Faisal police station, demanding release of arrested activists.

The protest forced closure of a track of Karachi's main thoroughfare leading to Jinnah International Airport from Drigh Road, resulting in formation of long queues of vehicles.

Meanwhile, police also deployed water cannons at the site of the demonstration.

The party, however, ended the sit-in after several hours. MQM leader Kunwar Naveed Jameel said that the Rabita Committee (RC) would soon announce protests against workers' arrest.

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Interior ministry decides to deport blacklisted US citizen

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has decided to deport blacklisted US citizen Mathew Barrett who had returned to Pakistan earlier this month despite being expelled from the country in 2011 on suspicion of spying.

Sources privy to the matter told Geo News on Tuesday that a court?s permission would also be sought for Barrett?s deportation, adding that an order from the interior ministry has been received by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing a press conference last week had declared that while Barrett was not a spy but he would be deported from the country.

The Interior Minister acknowledged that while Barrett was blacklisted he was issued a visa by the Pakistani consulate in Houston.

He added that action was being taken against the officials who had issued a visa to Matthew Barrett.

Barrett, a 33-year-old Alabama native, was deported from Pakistan in 2011 after being detained near a sensitive installation.

Earlier this month, FIA along with Islamabad Police conducted a raid at a guest house and detained Barrett who had been expelled from Pakistan in 2011 on suspicion of spying.

The raid was conducted after it was learned that the US citizen had returned to Pakistan.

Two officials at the Islamabad Airport were also suspended for allowing Barrett to enter the country when his name was on the blacklist.

 

 

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Hillary Clinton names White House transition team

WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton on Tuesday announced the formation of a transition team to handle the transfer of power at the White House if the Democratic candidate is elected to succeed President Barack Obama.

Ken Salazar, a former secretary of the interior and Colorado senator, will head the team as part of the traditional preparations ahead of the November 8 elections, her campaign said.

"Once Hillary Clinton makes history by being elected as the nation´s first woman president, we want to have a turnkey operation in place so she can hit the ground running right away," Salazar said in a statement.

Republican candidate Donald Trump named New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in May to head his transition team.

The transition teams have been funded by the federal government since 2010, enabling them to set up office space in Washington and operate as not-for-profit organizations.

Besides Salazar, Clinton´s team includes former Obama national security adviser Tom Donilon; Neera Tanden, a longtime Clinton adviser who heads the liberal Center for American Progress; former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm; and Maggie Williams, director of Harvard´s Institute of Politics and a former Clinton campaign manager.

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Interior ministry decides to deport blacklisted US citizen

ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry has decided to deport blacklisted US citizen Mathew Barrett who had returned to Pakistan earlier this month despite being expelled from the country in 2011 on suspicion of spying.

Sources privy to the matter told Geo News on Tuesday that a court’s permission would also be sought for Barrett’s deportation, adding that an order from the interior ministry has been received by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing a press conference last week had declared that while Barrett was not a spy but he would be deported from the country.

The Interior Minister acknowledged that while Barrett was blacklisted he was issued a visa by the Pakistani consulate in Houston.

He added that action was being taken against the officials who had issued a visa to Matthew Barrett.

Barrett, a 33-year-old Alabama native, was deported from Pakistan in 2011 after being detained near a sensitive installation.

Earlier this month, FIA along with Islamabad Police conducted a raid at a guest house and detained Barrett who had been expelled from Pakistan in 2011 on suspicion of spying.

The raid was conducted after it was learned that the US citizen had returned to Pakistan.

Two officials at the Islamabad Airport were also suspended for allowing Barrett to enter the country when his name was on the blacklist.

 

 

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Madonna celebrates birthday in Cuba

HAVANA: Madonna celebrated her 58th birthday Tuesday in Havana, dancing to Cuban beats during a night on the town and drawing crowds as she toured the city.

The Material Girl's visit got a write-up in the Cuban Communist party's official newspaper, Granma, which reported that she "toured different city squares to start the first day of her visit, which will last until Wednesday."

It said the US pop superstar was in Cuba with her eldest daughter, Lourdes, a 19-year-old model whose father is Cuban dancer and fitness trainer Carlos Leon.

American photographer Steven Klein and stylists B. Akerlund and Andy Lecompte are traveling with them, it said.

 

The news site Cubadebate said Madonna was planning a "big party" Tuesday with the "rhythms and flavors" of Cuba.

Madonna is the latest in a string of US celebrities to visit Cuba since its historic rapprochement with long-time enemy the United States was announced in December 2014.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Usher, Paris Hilton, and Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian have all toured the Caribbean island recently.

US citizens are still officially banned from traveling to Cuba as tourists under the embargo Washington has maintained on Havana since the 1960s.

But President Barack Obama's administration has loosened travel restrictions, enabling more Americans to make the trip under permitted categories such as "cultural exchanges."

 
 

 

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Madonna celebrates birthday in Cuba

HAVANA: Madonna celebrated her 58th birthday Tuesday in Havana, dancing to Cuban beats during a night on the town and drawing crowds as she toured the city.

The Material Girl's visit got a write-up in the Cuban Communist party's official newspaper, Granma, which reported that she "toured different city squares to start the first day of her visit, which will last until Wednesday."

It said the US pop superstar was in Cuba with her eldest daughter, Lourdes, a 19-year-old model whose father is Cuban dancer and fitness trainer Carlos Leon.

American photographer Steven Klein and stylists B. Akerlund and Andy Lecompte are traveling with them, it said.

 

The news site Cubadebate said Madonna was planning a "big party" Tuesday with the "rhythms and flavors" of Cuba.

Madonna is the latest in a string of US celebrities to visit Cuba since its historic rapprochement with long-time enemy the United States was announced in December 2014.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Usher, Paris Hilton, and Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian have all toured the Caribbean island recently.

US citizens are still officially banned from traveling to Cuba as tourists under the embargo Washington has maintained on Havana since the 1960s.

But President Barack Obama's administration has loosened travel restrictions, enabling more Americans to make the trip under permitted categories such as "cultural exchanges."

 
 

 

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England?s Finn out for a month

LONDON: England fast bowler Steven Finn is set to be out of action for at least a month after suffering a hamstring injury, it was announced Tuesday.

The Middlesex quick suffered the left hamstring tear just two balls into his second-innings spell against Pakistan in the fourth Test at The Oval on Sunday and has been let out of England’s squad for the upcoming five-match one-day international series.

Finn, 27, is not expected to play international cricket again this season.

But the 6ft 7in veteran of 35 Tests and 65 ODIs, is aiming to be involved in County Championship action in September.

"Middlesex and England bowler Steven Finn has sustained a left hamstring tear," said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement issued Tuesday.

"He is anticipated to be available in approximately four weeks.

"The 27-year-old will start a rehabilitation programme with Middlesex and England, and is aiming to play a part in Middlesex’s Championship campaign in September."

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PTI to approach SC over Panama Papers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan announced on Tuesday that his party would approach Supreme Court over the issue of Panama Papers.

Talking to newsmen in Islamabad, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a beneficiary of Shamrock Corporation and his children were not the only one owning offshore companies.

“Shamrock Corporation’s revelation was mentioned in World Bank’s report. $0.3 million were transferred to corporation’s account”.

He said that the evidence of money laundering would be presented in the court, adding that corruption was destroying Pakistan.

Imran Khan said that his popularity was not on the decline.

“When we go to Lahore then our popularity would be clear to everyone”, he added.

He claimed that no political party could match the popularity of PTI in the country at present.

PTI chairman said that he would soon unearth another alleged scandal of Nawaz Sharif.

Responding to a recent statement of Narendra Modi, he said that Indian Prime Minister was wrong in saying that situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir was tense.

He said that Nawaz Sharif should act like a prime minister and take a strong stance against Modi’s statement.

Imran further said that the world’s silence over the atrocities being committed by Indian forces was regretful.

Leaked confidential documents spanning over nearly 40 years that spell out the extensive use of tax havens by politicians, world leaders, and celebrities to launder money and evade taxes through one of the most secretive companies the Panamaian law firm Mossack Fonseca, had taken the world by storm.

Many Pakistanis have also been named in their revelations.

The prime minister has been under pressure since documents released as part of the Panama Papers data leak showed his children owned several off-shore companies and used them to buy properties in London. He denies wrongdoing, as do his children.

The leak of documents has captured global attention, uncovering among other things the use of off-shore businesses by wealthy individuals and corporations worldwide.

While such off-shore companies are often not illegal per se, their use spurs suspicions of illegal activity, such as money-laundering, corruption, and tax evasion.

 

 

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DG Rangers calls on Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad

KARACHI: Director General Sindh Rangers, Major General Bilal Akbar called on Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan on Tuesday at the Governor House.

During the meeting the two discussed matters related to peace and security and the national action plan (NAP). Both expressed resolve to continue the Karachi Operation till the last terrorist has been eliminated.

Governor Sindh lauded the sacrifices of the paramilitary force and law enforcement agencies and stressed that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

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Harry Potter 'Cursed Child' producers crack down on scalpers

LONDON: Tickets for London stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" are in such high demand that asking prices are reaching thousands of pounds (dollars), but producers are warning buyers to be beware.

Holders of about 60 tickets bought from touts, or scalpers as they are known in the United States, or through resale websites have been refused entry so far because producers are barring resold tickets. The eighth story in the Harry Potter franchise is sold out through December 2017 at London's Palace Theatre.

One resale website recently listed a single ticket for 6,200 pounds ($8,000). Producers say they are doing their utmost to combat high prices on the secondary market and that tickets resold online, through newspapers or through resale websites will be void for entry.

"From the outset accessible pricing has been of paramount importance to us. We have already been able to identify and refuse entry to a significant number of people who purchased tickets through resale sites and will continue to track down touts and refuse entry to anyone who has knowingly bought a ticket from a tout through the secondary market," the play's producers said in a statement.

"Staff at the Palace Theatre refuse entry for tickets that they are able to identify as re-sold," they added.

Harry Potter fans don't like the sky-high prices, but some can see why some people are willing to pay them.

"I've never seen a piece of play like this ever, so I can understand why people would pay that kind of money. I don't necessarily agree with it but it's been out of this world, absolutely," one fan told reporters.

"Wimbledon centre court tickets were cheaper than 'Harry Potter'," commented one man, referring to the annual tennis championship in England.

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," is set 19 years after the events of the last book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," and is a marathon affair running over five hours and split into two parts.

In August, a new batch of 250,000 tickets for performances through to December 2017 sold out in a day. However there is an online lottery every Friday in which 40 tickets are released for the following week.

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Girl, parents drown in Kunhar river in latest selfie deaths

PESHAWAR: An 11-year-old girl drowned on Tuesday after falling into a river in northern Pakistan while attempting to take a selfie and her parents also died trying to save her, officials said.

The drownings occurred in the Kunhar river that flows through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, at a hilly tourist spot in Beesian village, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Islamabad.

The deep, rocky and fast flowing river is popular for white-water rafting.

"The girl, Safia Atif, was trying to take a selfie along the river when she slipped and fell," local police official Arshad Khan told AFP, explaining the incident was witnessed by other tourists.

Safia?s mother Shazia Atif then jumped in to save her daughter but was swept away.

"Seeing both his wife and daughter drowning, the father Atif Hussain also jumped in to rescue them but he met a similar fate," Khan added.

"The dead bodies of the mother and daughter have been recovered while we are still looking for the body of Hussain," he added.

He said the parents were doctors from Punjab province and had taken their family to the area on holiday. They are survived by a nine-year-old daughter and six-year-old son who witnessed the event.

"Both of them are in the protective custody of the local administration and they will be handed over to their family members when they arrive," he said.

The incident was confirmed by other administration officials and family members of the deceased.

One official said the government had put up signs warning people not to go near the river.

"Each year around a dozen people drown here," he said requesting not to be named.

"This is a tourist spot and people usually come here for picnic and most of them are outsiders who have no idea about the depth of the river," he said.

So-called "selfie deaths" have surged with the global rise of smartphones.

On July 5, Peruvian police recovered the body of a South Korean tourist under a waterfall in the Amazon jungle, days after he fell in while taking a photo of himself.

A week earlier a 51-year-old German tourist plunged 200 metres (650 feet) to his death while posing for a photo on a mountainside at Peru?s top archaeological site, Machu Picchu.

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Girl, parents drown in Kunhar river in latest selfie deaths

PESHAWAR: An 11-year-old girl drowned on Tuesday after falling into a river in northern Pakistan while attempting to take a selfie and her parents also died trying to save her, officials said.

The drownings occurred in the Kunhar river that flows through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, at a hilly tourist spot in Beesian village, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Islamabad.

The deep, rocky and fast flowing river is popular for white-water rafting.

"The girl, Safia Atif, was trying to take a selfie along the river when she slipped and fell," local police official Arshad Khan told AFP, explaining the incident was witnessed by other tourists.

Safia’s mother Shazia Atif then jumped in to save her daughter but was swept away.

"Seeing both his wife and daughter drowning, the father Atif Hussain also jumped in to rescue them but he met a similar fate," Khan added.

"The dead bodies of the mother and daughter have been recovered while we are still looking for the body of Hussain," he added.

He said the parents were doctors from Punjab province and had taken their family to the area on holiday. They are survived by a nine-year-old daughter and six-year-old son who witnessed the event.

"Both of them are in the protective custody of the local administration and they will be handed over to their family members when they arrive," he said.

The incident was confirmed by other administration officials and family members of the deceased.

One official said the government had put up signs warning people not to go near the river.

"Each year around a dozen people drown here," he said requesting not to be named.

"This is a tourist spot and people usually come here for picnic and most of them are outsiders who have no idea about the depth of the river," he said.

So-called "selfie deaths" have surged with the global rise of smartphones.

On July 5, Peruvian police recovered the body of a South Korean tourist under a waterfall in the Amazon jungle, days after he fell in while taking a photo of himself.

A week earlier a 51-year-old German tourist plunged 200 metres (650 feet) to his death while posing for a photo on a mountainside at Peru’s top archaeological site, Machu Picchu.

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Changes in NAP in light of changing ground realities

KARACHI: The Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif  on National Affairs, Irfan Siddiqui said on Tuesday that in light of changing ground realities changed would also be made to the National Action Plan (NAP).

While addressing a seminar in Karachi on the occasion of the 55th Death Anniversary of Moulvi Abdul Haq at the Federal Urdu University, Siddiqui lauded the appointment of Lt. General (retired) Nasir Janjua as the head of the National Action Plan implementation committee.

Siddiqui added, that Pakistan has been facing terrorism for the last 15 years and that Islamabad tried to hold a dialogue with the terrorists but the results were not achieved.

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Indian finance minister not to attend Saarc ministers meeting in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India will not send its finance minister Arun Jaitley to attend a meeting of Saarc ministers in Islamabad next week, Indian media reported on Tuesday.

According to the reports, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das will represent India at the Saarc Finance Ministers' meeting instead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make the final decision in this regard, which will be followed by a formal announcement.

The Saarc meeting will be held during August 25-26. It will focus on finding ways and means to accelerate process of regional cooperation for non starter South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).

However, hopes for any major breakthroughs are quite bleak at a time when political tension between nuclear rivals Pakistan and India remains high in the context of growing atrocities by Indian forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir in recent weeks.

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Finance Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting at the Finance Division to review the arrangements for the upcoming Saarc meeting, according to the Finance Ministry?s statement issued on Saturday.

Rajnath Singh, who was in Islamabad for an overnight stay to represent his country in the Saarc Interior/Home Ministers Conference earlier this month, left for New Delhi early on the day of the conference, skipping the last session.

While addressing the meet, Rajnath Singh had said, "There should be no glorification or eulogising of terrorists as martyrs."

"There are no good terrorists or bad terrorists. Terrorism is terrorism," Rajnath Singh had said.

After Rajnath's remarks, Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan hitting out at the Indian Home Minister said torturing innocent children and unarmed civilians was terrorism.

He said suppressing freedom struggle was against fundamental human rights.

?No country could crush freedom struggle in the guise of terrorism?, Interior Minister said.

Highly-placed diplomatic sources, later on, told The News that Rajnath raised the issue of calling Burhan Muzaffar Wani as a ?martyr? by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and came out with a straight threat to Pakistan. 

After losing war of words with Pakistan Interior Minister, Rajnath left for India.

 

 

 

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Indian finance minister not to attend Saarc ministers meeting in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India will not send its finance minister Arun Jaitley to attend a meeting of Saarc ministers in Islamabad next week, Indian media reported on Tuesday.

According to the reports, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das will represent India at the Saarc Finance Ministers' meeting instead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make the final decision in this regard, which will be followed by a formal announcement.

The Saarc meeting will be held during August 25-26. It will focus on finding ways and means to accelerate process of regional cooperation for non starter South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).

However, hopes for any major breakthroughs are quite bleak at a time when political tension between nuclear rivals Pakistan and India remains high in the context of growing atrocities by Indian forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir in recent weeks.

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Finance Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting at the Finance Division to review the arrangements for the upcoming Saarc meeting, according to the Finance Ministry’s statement issued on Saturday.

Rajnath Singh, who was in Islamabad for an overnight stay to represent his country in the Saarc Interior/Home Ministers Conference earlier this month, left for New Delhi early on the day of the conference, skipping the last session.

While addressing the meet, Rajnath Singh had said, "There should be no glorification or eulogising of terrorists as martyrs."

"There are no good terrorists or bad terrorists. Terrorism is terrorism," Rajnath Singh had said.

After Rajnath's remarks, Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan hitting out at the Indian Home Minister said torturing innocent children and unarmed civilians was terrorism.

He said suppressing freedom struggle was against fundamental human rights.

“No country could crush freedom struggle in the guise of terrorism”, Interior Minister said.

Highly-placed diplomatic sources, later on, told The News that Rajnath raised the issue of calling Burhan Muzaffar Wani as a “martyr” by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and came out with a straight threat to Pakistan. 

After losing war of words with Pakistan Interior Minister, Rajnath left for India.

 

 

 

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BLOG: There are no medals for push-ups

The Sindh Minister for Sports Muhammad Bux Mahar captured the attention of all and sundry; not only in Sindh but with his recent push-up challenge he is also on the radar in Punjab.

However in his province sports facilities are in dire straits. In Ghotki, sportsmen protested on Tuesday against the state of the Daharki stadium which is inundated and parts of it look more like a garbage dump.

In Hyderabad the hockey stadium was the site of a carnival. Authorities were oblivious until Geo News highlighted the issue and the administration awoke from its slumber. Even then, the Ferris Wheel and carnival set up stands as is.

It hasn’t been a year since the â€" recently renamed â€" Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium in Karachi had new AstroTurf installed at a cost of Rs. 50 million. The stadium was the site of a ‘dog show’ and the turf was being trampled not by doggy paws but the treads of motorbikes.

While the Pakistan Hockey Federation claims it had been given assurances the event in Karachi would take place off the field, there were no assurances sought in in Hyderabad where the stadium was given away to host a carnival for a measly Rs. 5000/day (approx $50).

Besides cricket other sports in Pakistan have been neglected for long. That is why cricketers are stars who are idolized, while most Pakistanis would not even be able to identify other sportsmen representing the country.

After the Pakistani test match captain dropped and did ten push-ups after securing a century and the team delivered the same after winning the match, push-ups suddenly were all the rage. Everyone all over Pakistan was dropping and doing push-ups.

Did you notice, it was the ‘cricketers’ who started the fad, not the boxers, not the hockey players, not the squash players, not the tennis players nor the swimmers, not even Mr. Pakistan, it was the cricketers.

The young sports minister in Sindh has already retracted his push-up challenge and clarified that it was a friendly offer not just for his counterpart in Punjab but for all sports ministers across the country.

Here’s a challenge for all our sports ministers, either clean up the stadiums that look more like garbage dumps, ban the use (or abuse) of sports facilities for weddings, carnivals and the likes, or since the nation is already push-up crazy; register it as a recognized sport because at present there are no medals for doing the most push-ups.

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Three killed in Greek tourist boat crash

ATHENS: Three people were killed on Tuesday when a speedboat and a wooden tourist vessel collided near a popular Greek holiday island, the coastguard said.

Three people were also hurt in the crash off the island of Egina, officials said.

"We saw over 8-9 people in the sea... some were swimming, others were unconscious, dead," a witness told Greece's Mega broadcaster.

Another witness told Skai radio that the motorboat had sliced the launch in two.

"I saw a little girl... being given CPR but she was not responding," he said.

The nationalities of the victims have not yet been disclosed.

The two vessels were carrying 20 people in total, the coastguard said.

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Cricket: England drop Vince for Pakistan ODIs

LONDON: England dropped struggling batsman James Vince for their one-day international series against Pakistan, it was announced Tuesday.

But they have recalled fit-again Durham duo Ben Stokes and Mark Wood into a 15-man squad which also features a call-up for Vince´s Hampshire team-mate Liam Dawson, yet to make his ODI debut.

Vince failed to score a Test 50 after making his debut against Sri Lanka earlier this season and the recent Pakistan series saw the Hampshire captain manage just 158 runs in seven innings at an average of 22.

Meanwhile fast bowler Steven Finn was not included after injuring his hamstring during England´s 10-wicket defeat by Pakistan in last week´s fourth Test at The Oval.

England one-day captain Eoin Morgan has been included despite not playing since breaking a finger batting for Middlesex on July 26.

Stokes has been sidelined with knee and calf injuries this season while Wood has undergone two ankle operations since last playing for England in a Test against Pakistan in Dubai in October.

Spin bowler Dawson made an impressive international debut against Sri Lanka at his Southampton home ground in July, taking three wickets in England´s eight-wicket win.

The five-match one-day series against Pakistan starts in Southampton on August 24.

 

England squad

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire,wkt), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire, Liam Plunkett(Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)

 

England v Pakistan ODI Fixtures

Aug 24: 1st ODI, Southampton

Aug 27: 2nd ODI, Lord´s

Aug 30: 3rd ODI, Trent Bridge

Sep 01: 4th ODI, Headingley

Sep 04: 5th ODI, Cardiff

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NRL's annual profit doubles at Rs7.68bln

KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the country?s largest oil marketing company, on Monday reported a 50 percent increase in its net profit at Rs10.27 billion for the year ended June 30 owing to decrease in the company?s cost of sales.

The oil marketing company earned Rs6.93 billion during the previous year, said its notice issued to the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

PSO also announced a final cash dividend of Rs7.5 a share, which is in addition to already paid interim cash dividend of five rupees per share.

The company posted earnings per share (EPS) of Rs37.81 for the fiscal 2015/16 as compared to Rs25.53 EPS for 2014/15.

The result is according to market expectations. The firm?s cost of sales amounted to Rs655.10 billion in the period under review, down 26 percent as against Rs890.17 a year earlier. 

Gross profit of the PSO remained at Rs22.86 billion as against Rs22.92 billion.   Analyst Mubashir Anis Silat at Elixir Securities said gross profit was lower than the estimates because of the lowering inventory gains. 

?Inventory gains for the quarter are estimated to have clocked in at Rs600 million, which was offset by higher than estimated other income attributable to a higher quantum of penal markup income,? Silat said.

In FY16, gross sales of the company stood at Rs906.20 billion, down 19 percent from Rs1.114.41 trillion recorded during the previous year. After sales tax deduction, net sales came at Rs677.96 billion as compared to Rs913.09 billion.

Other income of the company declined to Rs12.79 billion in the period under review as compared to Rs13.93 billion a year ago.

Earnings for the last quarter clocked in at Rs20.9/share, up 48 percent year on year, relative to a loss of Rs7.8/share in the previous quarter. Similarly, the company booked a profit after tax of Rs5.7 billion in the fourth quarter of FY16 as compared to a net loss of Rs2.1 billion in the preceding year.?Originally published in The News

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Sukkur athletes do push-ups in garbage filled playground, draw attention to crumbling sports facilities

GHOTKI: Local athletes on Tuesday protested the crumbling state of the Daharki Ground by doing push-ups?a precedent set by the newly appointed Sindh sports minister.

The athletes pointed out that the new sports minister should get playgrounds in his hometown cleaned instead of challenging Punjab with push-ups. Currently piles of garbage ply the Daharki Ground.

Sardar Mohammad Bux Mahar had challenged his Punjab counterpart on Monday to match his 50 pushups in less than 40 seconds record.

Responding to the challenge, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry said that indulging in personal challenges did not suit elected representatives who should instead be promoting public competitions.

Speaking to Geo News Talal Chaudhry deflected the personal fitness challenge to instead tallying which province had more sports facilities and to see which province was promoting sports more than the other.

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Water contamination affects 2000 in New Zealand

WELLINGTON: About 2,000 residents in Havelock North in New Zealand?s North Island have fallen ill with gastroenteritis caused by possible contamination of the town's water supply,

After testing the local water supply, Civil Defence personnel walked door to door to hand out information to residents explaining how to deal with the bacteria the council has confirmed as campylobacter, local media said.

Schools in the area have been closed since the outbreak, and many students were infected by the stomach bug, which causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever.

The local hospital has been inundated with sick people and many of the staff have also fallen ill.

"This has been a dramatic event for us as a community. Many of our families have been affected. We'll be really grateful when this is all over," said Infectious Disease Specialist, Andrew Burns.

The water supply has been chlorinated and residents have been advised to boil water. The council is investigating to determine whether campylobacter in the water was caused by animal faeces.

"If we don't find the source then we have choices, we have two choices, one is continuing long-term treatment or abandoning that site for the collection of water," said Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule.

New Zealand media reported on Tuesday that 22 people remained in hospital, two in a critical condition.

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Four hardened criminals nabbed by SIU in Karachi

KARACHI: The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Sindh Police on Tuesday arrested four members of a banned outfit wanted for murder, extortion, armed robberies and kidnappings in the southern metropolis.

The operation was carried out in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal are of the city. Among those detained include Syed Kashif Ali, Syed Alam, Azhar Hussain and Abdul Adeel.

According to SSP SIU Farooq Awan the accused were would adorn police uniforms when carrying out their criminal activities.

The SSP told journalists that the accused were planning to kidnap a prominent personality when they were apprehended and had also prepared the suicide bomber to take out former Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada.

Outlining their modus operandi, Awan said, the criminals would monitor advertisements on websites and select their victims by identifying their details from the internet.

The SIU raiding team recovered 2 Light Machine Guns and one AK-47 assault rifle from the accused.

Hardened Terrorists

SSP Faroor Awan further told journalists that Kashif Ali had formed the militant outfit Jundullah in 2007 and Abu Sufyan alias Muawiya was the leader of that group. Awan added, that Jundullah was involved in multiple terrorist activities.

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Turkish police raid Istanbul courthouses, more officers detained

ISTANBUL: Turkish police raided the country's biggest courthouse and two other halls of justice in Istanbul on Monday, detaining dozens of judicial personnel as part of their investigation into last month's attempted military coup.

The raid on the Palace of Justice, which has hosted some of Turkey's most important trials, was a powerful symbol of a post-coup crackdown that has purged Turkey's military, law-and-order, education and justice systems since the failed putsch.

Plain clothes police officers held the arms of the detainees as they escorted them out of the building and into waiting cars. Warrants had been issued for 173 judicial staff, of whom 136 were detained in the raid, the state-run Anadolu agency said.

More than 35,000 people have been detained, of whom 17,000 have been placed under formal arrest, and tens of thousands more suspended since the July 15 putsch, which authorities blame on US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers.

President Tayyip Erdogan demands the United States extradite Gulen, and the purge is straining relations with Western allies who Turkish officials say appear more concerned by the crackdown than the failed coup that killed 240 people, mostly civilians.

Police were searching offices at the main courthouse in Istanbul's Caglayan district as well as at two other courthouses on the European side of the city, Anadolu said. The homes of those being detained were also being searched, it said.

In the crackdown since the abortive coup, more than 76,000 civil servants, judges and security force members have been suspended and nearly 5,000 dismissed, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday.

Western officials are concerned the purge will impact stability in the NATO member and a key partner in their war on Daesh (Islamic State) in neighboring Iraq and Syria. Turkish officials counter they are confronting a major internal threat.

With tensions rising with the West, Turkey has sought to normalize relations with Russia, sparking concerns Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin might use their detente to pressure Washington and the European Union.

Also at risk is a deal with the EU on helping stem the flow of migrants into Europe, under which Turkey pledged to stop people leaving its shores and readmit those who crossed into the bloc illegally from Turkey.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Monday's German newspaper Bild that Turkey could walk away from its promises if the EU fails to grant Turks visa-free travel to the bloc in October.

"It can't be that we implement everything that is good for the EU, but that Turkey gets nothing in return," he told Bild.

Extradite him

In keeping with Erdogan's tough line on Gulen, Yildirim told reporters there would be no compromise apart from "this chief terrorist coming to Turkey and being prosecuted," according to Anadolu agency.

Turkish officials say they have handed over documents to U.S. officials concerning Gulen. Washington has been cautious, saying it needs clear evidence before he can be extradited. A U.S. Department of Justice team is due in Turkey this month.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies any role and condemned the coup bid. Turkish officials describe a network of his followers inside state institutions masterminding the putsch.

Erdogan's critics say he could use the purge to crack down broadly on dissent. A top U.N. rights official last week warned against a "thirst for revenge".

A court in the western city of Izmir has imposed a ban on reporting the statements of suspects and anonymous witnesses in the coup investigation, Turkey's broadcasting authority RTUK said on Sunday.

It said the ban, applying to all media, was taken to ensure that the investigation was sound and conducted in secrecy. Newspapers and broadcasters have given extensive coverage of statements from detained military officers since last month.

In another arrest, a prosecutor in eastern Turkey, who had been suspended under the coup investigation, was detained as he tried to cross the border into Syria on Sunday night, a Turkish government official said.

He said Ekrem Beyaztas, chief prosecutor in Erzurum province, was detained by border guards in Kilis province. There was a warrant for his detention.

"Our initial assessment is that he was trying to reach PYD-controlled parts of northern Syria in an attempt to seek protection," the official said referring to Syria's main Kurdish party, which Turkey considers a terrorist group because of its ties to Kurdish militants in Turkey.

"In recent weeks, runaway coup plotters have been trying to leave Turkey via routes traditionally used by the PKK to smuggle militants and weapons in and out of the country," he said.

Two fugitive staff colonels accused of involvement in the coup were detained in the central Turkish city of Konya along with one person helping to hide them, Anadolu said. They were flown to Istanbul for questioning.

It said one of the officers was accused of commanding soldiers to open fire on protesters on Istanbul's Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul and the other of ordering a raid on the state broadcaster TRT on the night of the coup.

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Some arrests made in connection to Quetta Attacks: Chaudhry Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that suspects had been arrested in connection to the Quetta Attack.

Speaking at the National Assembly, Nisar revealed that some fingerprints had been obtained from the scene of the blast however, these belonged to a victim and not the terrorist himself. 

Nisar further said that a boy was made out to be a suspect but in reality, he had nothing to do with the attack. He stated that the pictures obtained from the scene of the blast had also not been fruitful in identifying the attacker. Chaudhry Nisar further revealed that the head of the suspect was found but it could not be identified due to the condition it was in and no advancements could be made in the DNA of the suspect as well. 

Addressing the Mathew Barret issue, Chaudhry Nisar said that an investigation was being carried out regarding how the American had been issued a visa in 24 hours. Nisar said that Mathew had obtained the visa on account of the negligence of the visa officer. 

He further stated that police had arrested Mathew for roaming in a prohibited area. Nisar said that the FIR that was registered against Mathew did not mention anything related to spying. 

Talking about the National Action Plan committee, Nisar said that it would ensure implementation on the plan and revealed that it had been decided to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers in the next couple of days. 

 

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NAP implementation: PM Nawaz Sharif to call meeting next week: sources

ISLAMABAD: A meeting presided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss matters related to the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) is expected to be held next week, sources reported.

According to sources, PM Nawaz Sharif has decided to call chief ministers to the meeting to discuss NAP.

Earlier this week Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had provided briefing on NAP.

According to reports he had said the points mentioned in NAP are a direct responsibility of the provinces. Implementation of NAP is the combined responsibility of the federal and provincial governments, he had said.

He had also said in the briefing that four points in NAP are related to the Interior Ministry and that PM Nawaz Sharif would require reports from the provinces related to NAP.

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NAP implementation: PM Nawaz Sharif to call meeting next week: sources

ISLAMABAD: A meeting presided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss matters related to the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) is expected to be held next week, sources reported.

According to sources, PM Nawaz Sharif has decided to call chief ministers to the meeting to discuss NAP.

Earlier this week Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had provided briefing on NAP.

According to reports he had said the points mentioned in NAP are a direct responsibility of the provinces. Implementation of NAP is the combined responsibility of the federal and provincial governments, he had said.

He had also said in the briefing that four points in NAP are related to the Interior Ministry and that PM Nawaz Sharif would require reports from the provinces related to NAP.

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Chief of Army Staff confirms death sentences of 11 terrorists

 RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday confirmed death sentences awarded to 11 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offenses related to terrorism, including killing of DIG Fayyaz Sumbal and ASI Raza Khan of Balochistan Police and Inspector Kamran Nazir of ISI at Quetta.

According a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan Army, the terrorists also include those involved in sectarian killings, kidnapping and slaughtering of civilians and personnel of Frontier Constabulary and killing of Major Abid Majeed of Pakistan Army. They planned and executed a number of attacks on Law Enforcement Agencies and Armed forces of Pakistan. They were also involved in destruction of Schools and communication infrastructure. These convicts were tried by military courts. 

Details of terrorists: 

Zia Ul Haq S/O Wali Khan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in suicidal attacks which caused death and injuries to a large number of civilians. The convict was also involved in attacking Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death of Deputy Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Sumbal, Assistant Sub Inspector Raza Khan, several other police officials and Inspector Kamran Nazir of Inter Services Intelligence. He was also involved in sectarian killings. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 12 charges and awarded death sentence.

Fazal e Rabbi S/O Fazal Ghafoor: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in slaughtering and killing of civilians. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of Maj Abid Majeed and injuries to several soldiers. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 4 charges and awarded death sentence.

Muhammad Sher S/O Zaray: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in killing of civilians. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. The convict also destroyed a Girls Middle School. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Umer Zada S/O Gul Rehman: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 3 charges and awarded death sentence. 

Latif Ur Rehman S/O Saif Ur Rehman: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in kidnapping and killing personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of soldiers. The convict was also in possession of fire arms and explosives. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Muhammad Adil S/O Muhammad Akbar Jan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in kidnapping and slaughtering soldiers of Frontier Constabulary. The convict was also involved in destruction of  Police Station Matta. He was also in possession of fire arms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Israr Ahmed S/O Abdul Rahim Jan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also involved in destruction of a Girls Primary School and a hotel of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 4 charges and awarded death sentence.

Abdul Majeed S/O Khona Moula: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He also destroyed a hotel of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 3 charges and awarded death sentence.

Hazrat Ali S/O Fazal Rabi: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in planting Improvised Explosive Devices and killing of civilians. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on
5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Mian Said Azam S/O Mian Said Jaffar: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also involved in destruction of Girls Schools. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Qaiser Khan S/O Habib Khan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in killing of civilians and destruction of communication infrastructure. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 2 charges and awarded death sentence. 

 

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Chief of Army Staff confirms death sentences of 11 terrorists

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday confirmed death sentences awarded to 11 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offenses related to terrorism, including killing of DIG Fayyaz Sumbal and ASI Raza Khan of Balochistan Police and Inspector Kamran Nazir of ISI at Quetta.

According a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan Army, the terrorists also include those involved in sectarian killings, kidnapping and slaughtering of civilians and personnel of Frontier Constabulary and killing of Major Abid Majeed of Pakistan Army. They planned and executed a number of attacks on Law Enforcement Agencies and Armed forces of Pakistan. They were also involved in destruction of Schools and communication infrastructure. These convicts were tried by military courts. 

Details of terrorists: 

Zia Ul Haq S/O Wali Khan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in suicidal attacks which caused death and injuries to a large number of civilians. The convict was also involved in attacking Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death of Deputy Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Sumbal, Assistant Sub Inspector Raza Khan, several other police officials and Inspector Kamran Nazir of Inter Services Intelligence. He was also involved in sectarian killings. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 12 charges and awarded death sentence.

Fazal e Rabbi S/O Fazal Ghafoor: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in slaughtering and killing of civilians. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of Maj Abid Majeed and injuries to several soldiers. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 4 charges and awarded death sentence.

Muhammad Sher S/O Zaray: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in killing of civilians. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. The convict also destroyed a Girls Middle School. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Umer Zada S/O Gul Rehman: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also in possession of explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 3 charges and awarded death sentence. 

Latif Ur Rehman S/O Saif Ur Rehman: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in kidnapping and killing personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death of soldiers. The convict was also in possession of fire arms and explosives. He admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Muhammad Adil S/O Muhammad Akbar Jan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in kidnapping and slaughtering soldiers of Frontier Constabulary. The convict was also involved in destruction of  Police Station Matta. He was also in possession of fire arms and explosives. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Israr Ahmed S/O Abdul Rahim Jan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also involved in destruction of a Girls Primary School and a hotel of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 4 charges and awarded death sentence.

Abdul Majeed S/O Khona Moula: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He also destroyed a hotel of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 3 charges and awarded death sentence.

Hazrat Ali S/O Fazal Rabi: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in planting Improvised Explosive Devices and killing of civilians. He was also involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on
5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Mian Said Azam S/O Mian Said Jaffar: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in attacking Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also involved in destruction of Girls Schools. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 5 charges and awarded death sentence.

Qaiser Khan S/O Habib Khan: The convict was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He was involved in killing of civilians and destruction of communication infrastructure. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was tried on 2 charges and awarded death sentence. 

 

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Pakistan?s Olympics medal vacuum continues

Pakistan?s Olympics dream ended when athlete Najma Parveen exited the competition after failing to qualify for the main round of women?s 200m race on Monday. She finished at the 70th spot out of 72 athletes.

Najma was the last ray of hope for the country after all other six athletes from Pakistan?s meager seven-member contingent failed to advance in Rio Olympics.

Earlier, Judoka Shah Hussain Shah on whom the nation had pinned hopes for a medal was defeated by Ukrainian Artem Bloshenko in the second round of men?s 100kg Judo event.

Minhal Sohail, the first ever Pakistani female shooter to compete in the Olympics, was also eliminated from the games after she finished 28th out of 51 in 10m distance shooting competition.

Swimmer Haris Bandey had finished last among 50 participants who took part in the men?s 400m freestyle competitions.

Pakistan?s top swimmer Lianna Swan had finished 64th out of 88 swimmers in the 50m freestyle heats last Friday.

Athlete Mehboob Ali, who a few months back had equalled national record in the 400m race with a timing of 46.75, clocked 48.37 seconds to end 46th out of 53 athletes at Rio Olympics.

Pakistan?s flag bearer and shooter Ghulam Mustafa Bashir had also failed to qualify for the finals when he fell well short of the qualification score in the 25m rapid fire pistol competitions.

Pakistan has not won an Olympics medal for 24 years now. The country?s contingent at Rio Olympics is also the smallest ever in its history. There are more officials in the contingent than athletes: 17 officials compared to just seven athletes.

This was also the first time Pakistan?s hockey team failed to qualify for the Olympics.

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China launches 'hack-proof' communications satellite

China on Tuesday launched the world's first quantum satellite, which will help it establish "hack-proof" communications between space and the ground, state media said, the latest advance in an ambitious space program.

The program is a priority as President Xi Jinping has urged China to establish itself as a space power, and apart from its civilian ambitions, it has tested anti-satellite missiles.

The Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, or QUESS, satellite, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the remote northwestern province of Gansu in the early hours of Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency said.

"In its two-year mission, QUESS is designed to establish 'hack-proof' quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground," it said.

"Quantum communication boasts ultra-high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor duplicated," it added. "It is hence impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the information transmitted through it."

The satellite will enable secure communications between Beijing and Urumqi, Xinhua said, referring to the capital of China's violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang, where the government says it is battling an Islamist insurgency.

"The newly-launched satellite marks a transition in China's role - from a follower in classic information technology development to one of the leaders guiding future achievements," Pan Jianwei, the project's chief scientist, told the agency.

Quantum communications holds "enormous prospects" in the field of defense, it added.

China insists its space program is for peaceful purposes, but the US Defense Department has highlighted its increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing activities aimed to prevent adversaries from using space-based assets in a crisis.

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Rawalpindi stabbing attacks: Police arrest wrong person for the third time

RAWALPINDI: Police for the third time arrested the wrong person in the Rawalpindi stabbing attacks case.

No direct link of the accused Jamal has been established in the case, police said. The accused is being interrogated in police custody.

Earlier police had arrested two more people in the case but later released them claiming that one of them was a drug addict and the second was seeking medical treatment.

A mysterious group in the city stabs women after dark. Since February this year 32 attacks on women have taken place. Among the victims one has died.

All of the attacks took place in the limits of Morgah police station, in areas which include Kot Kalian and Rabia Bungalows.

In the latest attack on August 7 he reportedly stabbed a nurse to death and injured two others.  

Around 25 women were injured with a knife-like object in the first three weeks of February this year.

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Terror bid foiled: Suspected suicide bomber caught in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Counter terrorism Department (CTD) on Tuesday arrested a suspected suicide bomber from Peshawar.

According to the CTD, the terrorist identified as Rehmanullah was arrested from Bacha Khan Chowk.

The CTD officials recovered a 2-kg improvised explosive device (IED) from the suspect.

The terrorist belongs to a banned organisation, the officials said, adding that the arrested suspect received suicide bombing training.

Peshawar is one of the sensitive areas of Pakistan due to its proximity to the Pak-Afghan border, where an operation was launched today to stop infiltration of terrorists from across the border.

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Terror bid foiled: Suspected suicide bomber caught in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Counter terrorism Department (CTD) on Tuesday arrested a suspected suicide bomber from Peshawar.

According to the CTD, the terrorist identified as Rehmanullah was arrested from Bacha Khan Chowk.

The CTD officials recovered a 2-kg improvised explosive device (IED) from the terrorist.

The terrorist belongs to a banned organization, the officials said, adding that the arrested suspect received suicide bombing training.

Peshawar is one of the sensitive areas of Pakistan due to its proximity to the Pak-Afghan border, where an operation was launched today to stop infiltration of terrorists from across the border.

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Boat with 80 on board capsizes in River Indus, two killed

RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least two children were killed on Tuesday when a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized in the River Indus near Jamaluddin Wali area.

Their bodies have been recovered, police said.

Rescue services reached the spot and saved 75 passenger, police said, while one girl is missing.

The boat was on its way from Rojhan to Banglacha.

 

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Voting for Azad Kashmir presidential elections underway

MUZAFFARABAD: Polling began for Azad Jammu and Kashmir presidential elections in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

The polling started at the Lodging Hall of the AJK legislative assembly before noon and will end at 3 PM.

Pakistan People?s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have both fielded their candidates for the post of presidency. PPP have nominated Chaudhry Latif Akbar while the PML-N have nominated former delegate Masood Khan for the presidential elections.

Seven members of the Kashmir Council and 48 members of the Azad Kashmir legislative assembly will vote for the new President.

Last month, PML-N won a landslide victory in the general elections in the province. PML-N candidate Raja Farooq Haider Khan was elected as the prime minister.

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Operation started along Pak-Afghan border to stop terrorist infiltration: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: An operation has been launched along the Pak-Afghan border to stop infiltration of terrorists from the other side, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ISPR said that the operation has been initiated to keep check on cross the border movement and additional contingents of army were deployed in Raj Gul valley of Khyber Agency.

?An Operation has been launched along Pak-Afghan border to reinforce troops deployment in Rajgal Valley to effectively check and guard against terrorists movement along high mountains and all weather passes in Khyber Agency,? the ISPR statement read.

An Operation has been launched along Pak-Afghan border to reinforce troops deployment in Rajgal valley to... https://t.co/Z5EBufsO0I

? ISPR (@ISPR_Official) August 16, 2016

Moreover, security forces today destroyed five suspected militant hideouts in Tirah Valley.

According to Additional Secretary Defence Major General Abid Nazir, the construction of the Torkham gate has already been completed. Travel documents have been declared necessary for crossing the border, he added.

Several institutions such as National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), customs etc are actively monitoring movement across the border. CCTV cameras have also been installed on the border.

In July, the Daesh (Islamic State) group´s leader in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hafiz Saeed, was killed in a US strike in the border region between the two countries.

In July, tensions and skirmishes on Torkham border had flared up upon installation of a gate from the Pakistani side along the border to stop militants crossing over from Afghanistan.

 

 

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Ranveer Singh recreates SRK's 'Tu meray Samney' song from the 90s

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh is a self-proclaimed Shahrukh Khan fan. The actor is known for his livewire personality and his love for the Bollywood industry.

Ranveer, who is currently vacationing in Switzerland, visited the Alps and could not resist the opportunity to recreate SRK’s famous song ‘Tu mere saamne’ from the movie Darr which had also been shot in Switzerland by Yash Chopra.

Posting the short video clip on his Instagram page, he captioned it ‘had to be done’. The video has gone viral and has garnered a lot of views attracting not only his fans, but fans of SRK as well as Shahrukh himself.

The actor took to Twitter to express his surprise and pleasure at the actor’s attempt and wrote “@RanveerOfficial woke up & saw Darr song, thot ‘o wow I can dance’ till I realised it was u my man. Dont know Tujhe dekhoon ke pyaar karoon!”

 

HAD to be done! @iamsrk @iam_juhi @yrfhttps://t.co/2M8Cqw2MfF

â€" Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) August 14, 2016

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Operation started along Pak-Afghan border to stop terrorist infiltration: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: An operation has been launched along the Pak-Afghan border to stop infiltration of terrorists from the other side, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ISPR said that the operation has been initiated to keep check on cross the border movement and additional contingents of army were deployed in Raj Gul valley of Khyber Agency.

“An Operation has been launched along Pak-Afghan border to reinforce troops deployment in Rajgal Valley to effectively check and guard against terrorists movement along high mountains and all weather passes in Khyber Agency,” the ISPR statement read.

An Operation has been launched along Pak-Afghan border to reinforce troops deployment in Rajgal valley to... https://t.co/Z5EBufsO0I

â€" ISPR (@ISPR_Official) August 16, 2016

Moreover, security forces today destroyed five suspected militant hideouts in Tirah Valley.

According to Additional Secretary Defence Major General Abid Nazir, the construction of the Torkham gate has already been completed. Travel documents have been declared necessary for crossing the border, he added.

Several institutions such as National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), customs etc are active monitoring movement across the border. CCTV cameras have also been installed on the border.

In July, the Daesh (Islamic State) group´s leader in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hafiz Saeed, was killed in a US strike in the border region between the two countries.

In July, tensions and skirmishes on Torkham border had flared up upon installation of a gate from the Pakistani side along the border to stop militants crossing over from Afghanistan.

 

 

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