After 36 years, PFUJ factions agree on merger move

ISLAMABAD: The representatives of all the three factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists have agreed to unite all the groups.

According to a press release, the decision was taken at a meeting of the Reunification Committee held here today. The committee consists of senior journalists IA Rahman, Hussain Naqi, M. Ziauddin, Nasir Zaidi, Khawar Naeem Hashmi and Idrees Bakhtiar. The representatives of the three factions, Afzal Butt, Pervaz Shaukat and Idrees Bakhtiar, signed a memorandum of understanding to unite the three factions. Rana Azeem and Amin Yusuf were also taken on board on phone.

The matter will be taken to the respective Federal Executive Council of the various factions for final approval by August 25. The Reunification Committee will again meet on Aug 30 to announce the final decision and suggest the future strategy of unification.

The meeting was also attended by senior journalists Farooq Faisal Khan, Khursheed Abbasi, Mazhar Abbas, Arshad Ansari, Shafiq Awan and Nisar Abbas, who also contributed their valued suggestion for resolving the disputes.

It is for the first time that after a long period of 36 years, the various factions of PFUJ sat together and resolved to unite the journalist organizations in the interests of working journalists and freedom of the Press.

PTI to quit assemblies after Eid if demands not met

 

ISLAMABAD: The core committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) here on Wednesday formally decided to quit the National Assembly (NA) and the provincial assemblies after Eidul Fitr, if scientific voter verification was not held for the four NA constituencies in a month.
Under Chairman Imran Khan, the forum met here and discussed the future political course in the backdrop of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s proposed drive against the government. The core committee was sharply divided on siding with the “guest” from Canada and coming out of the National and KP assemblies, it was learnt.

Quite surprisingly, the release issued by the PTI Media Cell missed out to mention any political aspect of the meeting. However, sources told The News that difference of opinion was clearly witnessed during the deliberations.

It has been learnt that Dr Qadri was unhappy with the PTI leadership for its cold-shouldered response to his homecoming. And this was reflected in his statement before the media on Monday night that he was grateful to some leaders of the PTI for their support to him. He skipped the name of anyone, even Imran Khan.

“The PTI is reluctant to publicly announce support to Dr Qadri, as it may entail a massive fallout in case he decided to go back to Canada, as he had done earlier,” a senior PTI leader maintained. Another reason was the public perception that Dr Qadri enjoyed the backing of some invisible forces in his anti-government campaign.

He pointed out it was for these reasons that the core committee and even Imran had declared in categorical terms that his party was not joining any grand alliance – a reference to Dr Qadri and the Chaudhrys of Gujrat.

“The democratic credentials of PTI can suffer immensely in case it went public in support of Pakistan Awami Tehreek of Dr Qadri,” he noted. Sources revealed that Imran met Dr Qadri and PML leaders in London recently. They claimed during the meeting Imran indicated his willingness to support Dr Qadri. However, strong resistance within the PTI about openly supporting him forced Imran to hold back his supporters from joining the PAT workers on the streets welcoming their leader’s return from Canada.

A founding member and a former central vice president of PTI, Akbar S Babar, told this correspondent that the test of the PTI’s present ambivalent policy towards PAT will come when Dr Qadri announces his final showdown at the D-Chowk in Islamabad. He felt that the PTI has found itself in political no-man’s land. Instead of focusing on delivering in the KP and making an impact in the NA, the PTI, he alleged, had wasted precious time to consolidate the electoral gains made in 2013 elections.

Babar, who remained the lead PTI opinion maker according to Imran until developing differences on alleged internal corruption and lack of accountability in late 2011, said that if Imran thought that by joining hands with Dr Qadri and remnants of the PML-Q he would be the next natural choice to run the country, he might have another rude awakening.

Babar predicted that Imran’s next biggest political rival would be Dr Qadri whose claim to the lion’s share in the next political set-up based on sacrifices to remove the present government would be challenged by the PTI.

Meanwhile, PTI’s information secretary has pointed out that Imran has demanded the prime minister to announce Rs6 billion aid for the IDPs as soon as possible. This is essential if a human catastrophe is to be avoided, says a PTI release.

The PTI core committee expressed grave concern over the human misery of the IDPs from the NWA. She said Imran had informed the core committee that he had asked the PTI Razakars to mobilise and help the Imran Khan Foundation in their massive relief effort already underway.

England hold firm after Bell loss

LONDON: England kept Sri Lanka at bay after losing dangerman Ian Bell in the first Test at Lord´s on Thursday.

England, after losing the toss, were 195 for four at tea on the first day with Bell having fallen early in the second session for 56. But Joe Root and debutant Mooen Ali, both 43 not out, repelled Sri Lanka with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand so far worth 75.

England had struggled to 98 for three at lunch after debutant opener Sam Robson, captain Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance had all fallen cheaply in the morning session.

But Bell, in his 99th Test, was unbeaten on 41 and looking in excellent touch. Shortly after lunch, he drove left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for six to complete a 69-ball fifty also including seven fours. But he was out soon afterwards when, hitting across the line, he was lbw to seamer Shaminda Eranga although Sri Lanka had to challenge Australian umpire Paul Reiffel´s original not out decision before Bell was finally on his way.

Ali, one of three debutants in the England side, began cautiously but the left-hander found his form in slog-sweeping Herath for six.

Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to field in the first of this two-match series against an England side playing their first Test since suffering a 281-run defeat by Australia in Sydney that condemned them to a 5-0 Ashes loss in January.

Although the sunny blue skies above Lord´s suggested ideal batting conditions, the pitch was a greener-looking one than usually associated with the ´home of cricket´ at this time of year. Mathews´s decision yielded a quick reward as England lost both their openers inside the first half hour.

Australia-born Robson, playing on his Middlesex home ground, fell for one when he was drawn forward by a full-length Nuwan Pradeep delivery that took the outside edge and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, diving to his right, held a fine catch. And 14 for one became 22 for two when Cook exited for 17, the left-hander bottom-edging an intended cut off Nuwan Kulasekara into his stumps.

Ballance, promoted to number three in only his second Test, was on one as Bell, taking over the number four slot from the exiled Kevin Pietersen, walked in.

Bell demonstrated his class by easing first-change Eranga through the covers for four with a textbook drive.And the Warwickshire batsman also dealt well with Mathews, Sri Lanka´s fourth seamer, by cover-driving and straight driving the all-rounder for elegant boundaries.

Ballance looked less assured but the Zimbabwe-born left-hander brought up a fifty stand with Bell when he clipped Pradeep off his pads for four.

However, Ballance´s 73-minute innings ended when, to Pradeep´s fifth ball back, he drove flat-footedly and was caught behind for 23 to leave England 74 for three. (AFP)

US drones hit Miranshah after six-month gap

 

PESHAWAR: After a gap of almost six months, the US drone strikes resumed in Miranshah of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Wednesday, the latest attack killing six suspected militants. It was the first strike by the CIA-operated spy planes after December 25, 2013 in the North Waziristan tribal region.
In the second strike, six missiles were fired on Danday Darpakhel area of Miramshah. There were no reports of casualties till the filing of this report. Official and local tribal sources said the first drone fired two missiles and hit a mini-truck in Tabi Tolkhel village, eight kilometres northwest of Miranshah, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan, along the Afghan border.

“According to intercepts of the militants, six people were killed and some others injured in the drone strike on the mini-truck in Tabi village on the Miranshah-Ghulam Khan Road,” a local administration official said.

Pleading anonymity, he said a large number of armed people reached the spot after the drone disappeared.The militants reportedly retrieved the bodies of the slain men and shifted them to an unknown location.

Official sources in Miranshah said that four among the six killed in the drone attack were Uzbek militants and two were members of the so-called Punjabi Taliban.

On December 25, 2013, the drone had fired four missiles and struck a mud-house in the Qutabkhel village, located two kilometres east of Miranshah, and killed four people, two of them reportedly Arab, one Punjabi and another a local tribal militant.

Tribesman in the area saiddrone strikes in Pakistan after the Pakistan government started peace negotiations with the local Taliban in late January 2014.However, now when the talks have almost fizzled out after the recent devastating Taliban attack on the airport in Karachi, the government is reportedly preparing to launch a military operation in North Waziristan.

Abdullah Bahar Mehsud, a senior Pakistani Taliban commander and spokesman for commander Shehryar Mehsud group that claims to represent the faction of Hakimullah Mehsud and having links with Uzbek militants, told this correspondent on phone that the Karachi airport assault was a joint work of the Pakistani Taliban and Uzbek militants.

“It was our joint operation in which our Uzbek brothers played an important role. I can’t tell you about the nature of support they provided us but in operations like the Karachi airport, one group provides fighters while another arranges finances for weapons and explosives,” he said.

Abdullah Bahar said they were working with their Uzbek brothers and there would be more devastating attacks in the near future. “The government will forget the Karachi attack after we carry out other attacks on them,” he threatened.

Blame-game unleashed after Karachi disaster

ISLAMABAD: If Nero fiddled while Rome burned, the Pakistani leaders play blame-games as terror strikes. The attack on the Karachi airport on Sunday night granted them another opportunity to settle scores with each other.
There is neither any likelihood of introspection nor any head will be rolled for negligence. There is nobody to lead by example. They are instead interested in making an example of each other through verbal onslaught.

Ironically, all those gunning at each other have been in the government at the provincial/federal level and failed to preempt the terrorist attacks. But when it comes to teaching others, they turn out to be Socrates.

The terrorists struck at the airport exposing the inefficiency of the government at the international level. Already, several foreign airlines have either closed down or suspended operations in Pakistan; the latest attack may serve yet another blow to the country.

The Taliban chose to attack the airport of Pakistan’s biggest commercial hub, Karachi, a turbulent city where better law and order has become a distant dream. In February this year, the Wall Street Journal quoting police officials had revealed that one-third of Karachi was under the control of Taliban, a report the government denied in a routine manner.

This is a story of the city where private security guards outnumber the police. There are 27,000 police officials (majority recruited on political basis), a figure in contrast with the numbers of private guards, 55,000. Earlier, a US diplomatic cable revealed that a political party’s militant wing has more members than the city police.

The IG Sindh on Monday absolved himself of any responsibility for the airport attack and instead demanded appreciation for doing his best with a limited number of cops.

The Sindh Information Minister, Sharjeel Memon, has saved the provincial government from any blame saying that the airport was a subject of the federal government as if the Sindh government has set a very good example of law and order in Karachi that remained closed for a couple of days after the arrest of MQM leader Altaf Hussain in London.

The Karachiites were in panic soon after the news broke about the arrest, fearing the development in London would have a snowball effect in Karachi. Instead of taking care of citizens, the top government functionaries started to take the lead in running away from their offices.

The chief secretary, home secretary and prosecutor general Sindh were the first to leave the Secretariat and their guards were seen gunning at the commoners to vacate their exit path, according to Imdad Soomro, The News correspondent who was present there at that time. Soomro himself couldn’t reach his home and had to spend three days with a friend somewhere else due to the road blockade.

Living to its reputation, the PTI leadership didn’t miss this opportunity of indulging in blame-game as if Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been declared a model province in terms of law and order. Imran has condemned the attack and lambasted the federal government for failing to establish its writ.

Almost a year ago, terrorists broke into the Dera Ismail Khan Jail to take away some of their detained colleagues, other than slaughtering some prisoners who belonged to a minority sect. Before the PTI government, the Bannu jail was attacked in a similar fashion when the ANP was at the helm of affairs. Imran Khan had then demanded the resignation of the incumbent government. However, he called for introspection and vowed to fix the responsibility after the DI Khan jail break.

A commission was set up to investigate the incident that submitted its report in December last year which was also partly released. No action has been taken yet. The report also disclosed that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was passed on the intelligence about the likely attack on the jail but he didn’t care to read it, let alone taking preemptive measures. This is another story that the army had taken some steps; nevertheless the incident could not be avoided.

In contrast to the PTI’s outcry over the Karachi attack and condemnation of the federal government, the PML-N reacted outright differently after the DI Khan jail break. No statement was issued to settle score with the PTI government for its negligence. Instead, a senior government official privately admitted the eroding writ of the state, no matter the venue fell in provincial or federal government’s jurisdiction. A minister, while commenting on the jail break, had then said: “Taliban wanted to attack there and they did. Had they planned it for Adiala Jail, nobody could have stopped them there as well.”

This honest admission was a grim reminder of the weakening state and the government’s pessimistic approach towards tackling it. Earlier, terrorists had attacked the GHQ in 2009. It was carried out six months after the Punjab Police’s Special Branch had conveyed a report about it. The police had intercepted an explosive-laden truck in Dera Ghazi Khan and also recovered a USB from the driver wherein the TTP had chalked out a plan of targeting different vital installations and the GHQ was one of them.

Maulana Ahmed Ludhyanvi and Malik Ishaq were airlifted by the army from Multan and Rahimyar Khan for negotiating with the terrorists as they were affiliated with their splinter groups.

While the Karachi airport is a subject of the Defence Ministry, the minister in-charge has been found nowhere on the scene. He could have made no difference had he even been on the forefront. This incident is another example of intelligence failure. Our agencies have got more important assignments than tackling terrorism. While we are fighting each other, terrorists are playing havoc with the country.

Shahbaz Sharif takes notice of 10-year old girl’s murder after rape

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday taking notice of rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Muzaffar Garh, ordered the District Police Officer (DPO) to submit report in the case.

The Chief Minister also ordered for the immediate arrest of the culprits.

Earlier, a girl, aged only 10, was raped and strangled to death this morning in Muzaffar Garh.

Dispute should end after Geo apology: PPC

CHAKWAL: Pakistan Press Council Chairman Shafqat Mahmood Abbasi has said that apology and regret are the two things that amount to a big punishment and these two things are very significant in an Islamic society and the civilized countries.

Addressing the concluding session of the two-day journalism training workshop of the CPDI, he said while Geo News has sought apology and regretted committing a mistake then the dispute should end.

The Press Council chairman said the media itself prepares its code of conduct and it is acknowledged that the media is not free of moral and social values. Parliament is a supreme institution and is also bound by certain rules and regulations. He said that journalists have won press freedom with much struggle and has not been gifted by any ruler.

The chairman said the press freedom allowed in Pakistan is not granted to the media even in India, which is the biggest democracy of the world. He said while a vibrant media and independent judiciary are necessary for a strong democracy, media suffers greatest danger from within. He said the media should hold internecine talks. He said the print media in Pakistan is very responsible and the electronic media is only 12 years old and requires to be made more responsible. Shafqat said the law of right to information in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will strengthen the media. He expressed hope that the situation of the media will improve.

Nawaz chairs meeting to discuss situation arising after Alatf’s arrest

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday chaired a high level meeting to discuss situation arising after the arrest of MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London.

Sources said that speaking at the meeting the prime minister said that the arrest of Mr Hussain was a legal affair and the government was extending its “legal and moral assistance” in this regard.

He told the meeting that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad had assured him that law and order would be maintained in Karachi.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan briefed the meeting about the government strategy to maintain law and order in Karachi.

He said that the federal government would extend cooperation to the Sindh government to maintain peace in the city.

Afghan Taliban free US soldier after five years

PESHAWAR: The Afghan Taliban on Saturday confirmed to have freed US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, they had abducted in June 2009 from Afghanistan, in exchange of their top Taliban commanders.

“Yes our talks finally proved successful for prisoners’ swap. We returned our valued guest to his countrymen and they released our people, including the top five commanders held in Guantanamo Bay since 2002,” a senior Taliban commander told The News on phone from somewhere in Afghanistan.

Pleading anonymity, he said talks for prisoners’ swap had been going on for the past several weeks. He didn’t mention the name of the country but said a brotherly Muslim country, having sympathies with the Taliban, played an important role in bringing together the Taliban and US officials to help exchange each others’ prisoners.

The Taliban commander said Bowe Bergdahl had mostly been held in the tribal areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan after what he termed his ‘dramatic’ kidnapping from Afghanistan’s Paktika province in June 2009.

“After the deal was finalised, Bowe was taken to Ali Sher town of Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province by the third party and delivered to Americans. We don’t know further what happened to him,” the Taliban commander said.

According to the Taliban, they had informed Bergdahl a few days ago about his likely release but he didn’t believe as before this he was once handed over to members of the Quetta Shura or council, the decision-making body of the militants, for his scheduled release in exchange for the five commanders two years ago when they started peace talks with US in Qatar.

“The talks at that time failed and he was again handed over to his captors and that’s why he didn’t trust when was told about his likely release,” he recalled.

He claimed Bergdahl has made several friends among the Taliban but his suffering began when his close friend and senior Taliban commander, Maulvi Sangeen Zadran was killed in a US drone attack in North Waziristan tribal region last year.

“He was actually kidnapped by the militants of Maulvi Sangeen and that’s why the late commander would love him and take care of him,” the Taliban commander said.

Before his release, the Taliban claimed he was given a traditional Afghan turban as a gift.

“It is war in which they kill us and we kill them but we did whatever we could to make him happy and return with good memories,” the Taliban commander said.

The Taliban commander claimed they finally got back their five prisoners including Mulla Fazal Akhund, Noorullah Noori, Abdul Haq Waseeq, Khairullah Khairkhwa and Mohammad Nabi in exchange for the US soldier.

“We initially demanded the release of these people. They arrived in Qatar and joined their families,” he said.

According to Taliban sources, Mulla Fazal Akhund, who belongs to the Kakar tribe and is from Derawad in the central Urozgan province, was the Taliban army chief at the time of his capture.

Mulla Fazal was reportedly leading his fighters in northern Afghanistan where he surrendered to Uzbek warlord General Abdur Rasheed Dostum on condition that he won’t be handed over to the US.

Gen Dostum later handed over him and several hundred other Taliban prisoners to the US reportedly after taking money from the Americans. Noorullah Noori, who hails from Ghazni province, was the governor of Balkh province, while Khairullah Khairkhwa served as Afghanistan’s interior minister during the Taliban rule and also remained the governor of Herat province.

He belongs to Spin Boldak village in Kandahar province sited near the Pakistani border town of Chaman. Abdul Haq Waseeq was the deputy Taliban intelligence chief when he was captured. He belongs to Paktia province. Similarly, Mohammad Nabi was an important military commander when the Taliban were in power. He belongs to the Haqqani network.

Egypt presidential election campaign opens after bombings

CAIRO: Campaigning opens Saturday in Egypt for a May election likely to be won by the ex-army chief who deposed the elected president, after deadly bombings underscored tensions ahead of the vote.

The May 26-27 presidential poll, meant to restore elected rule following the July overthrow of Islamist Mohamed Morsi, is widely seen as a done deal that will place former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in power.

His only rival, Hamdeen Sabbahi, came third in the 2012 election which Morsi won, and faces a groundswell of support for Sisi since the ouster of the divisive Islamist leader.

Sabbahi says he represents the ideals of the 2011 uprising that overthrew veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.

But more than three tumultuous year later, many voters yearn for a self proclaimed strong leader such as Sisi to restore stability.

Sisi, reviled by Morsi´s Islamist supporters, has vowed to stamp out a surge in militant attacks such as the two bombings on Friday that killed a policeman in the capital and a soldier in the Sinai Peninsula.

If he wins, he will restore a line of military men at the helm of the country that was briefly interrupted by the civilian Morsi´s year in power.

Morsi´s Muslim Brotherhood and the militants are expected to increase protests and attacks should Sisi win, despite the widest crackdown on Islamists in decades. At least 1,400 people, mostly Islamists, have been killed in street clashes, including hundreds on August 14 alone, while thousands have been jailed and placed on trials.

Khan energized after extended break from boxing

LAS VEGAS: Amir Khan is hungrier than ever to step back into the ring, saying he didn´t want to come off the longest break of his career against an easy opponent.

The 27-year-old Briton will end a 12-month hiatus on Saturday when he moves up in weight to face American Luis Collazo in a non-title fight at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. "I fight everyone," Khan says. "Collazo is a mixture of a boxer and a fighter. He is slick and he knows how to fight. I am a similar style so that is what is going to make this fight exciting."

Khan and Collazo´s 12-round welterweight fight is on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana 147-pound (67 kg) world title fight. "He is going to give it 100 percent and he is in great shape," Khan said at a news conference. "He will be bigger than me on the night of the fight and at times I will have to dig deep.”

Size and weight will be crucial for Khan in his first welterweight bout. “Trained my way up. I have not ate my way up to this weight. I trained my way up to this weight," Khan said, adding that he´s more comfortable at 147 pounds because he doesn´t have to starve himself to get down to 140 ahead of Friday´s weigh-in. "I feel so much stronger and happier at this weight," he said. "That seven pounds makes a big difference and I have kept all my power and speed."

Khan´s last fight was in April of last year when he won a 12-round decision over Julio Diaz in Sheffield, England.

Just over a month later, Khan got married and now the couple are expecting a baby. After the win over Diaz, Khan took four months off from boxing to spend time with his bride.

Khan (28-3, 19 knockouts) says the time away was good for him mentally and physically. "My body needed a break," he said.

Khan, who turned pro in 2005 after winning a silver medal for Britain in the Athens Olympics, is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport always willing to go toe-to-toe with his opponent. "I am the most exciting fighter in the world," Khan said. "My hand speed is explosive. When I go into the ring I give it my all, and I have been in with the best."

Before the break, Khan was also one of the busiest fighters, especially for the first six years of his pro career.

When he did finally return to the gym eight months ago it was a little different because instead of focusing on an upcoming fight, he just worked on conditioning and fine-tuning his craft. "I had to work on my own style and on things by myself," Khan said. "This training camp has gone really well. I have been working really hard. Even though I haven´t been in the ring in the last 12 months, I have been in the gym training for eight months."

In July, 2012, Khan lost to Danny Garcia in a fight for the World Boxing Council super lightweight crown.

It was his second straight defeat, following a controversial loss to Lamont Peterson. A rematch with Peterson was scuttled when Peterson failed a pre-fight drug test. "Every time I´ve been knocked down I got back up again," Khan said. "I have been stopped on my feet but that is just boxing. I´ve never been knocked out."

Collazo stood on the podium at Thursday´s news conference and said Khan is in for a surprise in his first fight as a welterweight. "Welcome to the welterweight division," said Collazo.

Collazo (33-5, 18 KOs) grew up selling drugs on the streets of Brooklyn. He turned pro in 2000 and won his first world title five years later. He also compiled an impressive 97-7 record as an amateur. "You´re going to see the best Collazo you have ever seen," said Collazo who has been with his trainer, Nirmal Lorick, since he was 12.

Saturday´s undercard also features a non-title super lightweight fight between Americans Adrien Broner and Carlos Molina. (AFP)

Residents protest after death from toxic material kills 9 DI Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Residents protested against the local administration after nine people were killed from toxic material at a Sugar Mill here.

On Friday, nine people were killed after they inhaled toxic fumes from a water canal flowing from the sugar mill. After the funeral prayers of the deceased, residents protested outside the sugar mill and broke the main gate. Protesters entered the mill and set fire to a tractor. Police used tear gas and baton charged the protestors to disperse them.

Assistant Commissioner Irfanullah Mehsud said compensation would be announced for the families of the deceased. Police have lodged a case and arrested seven people including the General Manager of the sugar mill.

60 militants dead after major attack on Afghan army post

 

KABUL: Afghan forces repulsed an assault by hundreds of militants, many from across the border, officials said on Wednesday, in the biggest clashes since the presidential election almost four weeks ago.
NATO air support was called in to help beat back the attack that left 60 militants and at least five Afghan soldiers dead at an army base near the porous border on Monday night. “A group of terrorists and foreign fighters numbering about 500... launched a big operation targeting army posts in Zirok district of Paktika province,” the Afghan defence ministry said in a statement.

It said the militants were trying to score a high-profile victory after failing to mount a significant attack on polling day despite threatening to target voters, election officials and security forces.

The Afghan National Directorate of Security, the country’s intelligence agency, said 300 fighters from the Haqqani network, which is allied to the Taliban, and other insurgents were involved.

“Haqqani and foreign fighters along with suicide attackers carried out an assault on the night of April 28 to capture a military base in Zirok district,” it said. “As a result of a counter-attack by government forces backed by coalition air force, 60 members of the Haqqani group and other foreign fighters were killed and a large number injured.”

The Haqqani network is blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, including bombings of the US and Indian embassies in Kabul. A Haqqani source in Pakistan confirmed Monday’s incident to AFP. “Allied forces and the Afghan army retaliated to the assault and killed 60 fighters,” he said.

“The fighters left and took with them 40 bodies of their colleagues and 12 Afghan soldiers who were alive.” The Haqqani source said the bodies of 20 militants were with the Afghans and a message had been sent offering to exchange the captured soldiers for them. Afghan officials said only one soldier had been taken hostage

BISP chief may quit after rift with secretary

ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairman Anwar Baig is likely to tender his resignation within a couple of days after severe administration crisis in multi-billion project, ‘The News’ has learnt reliably.

According to sources privy to Mr Baig, the powerful secretary of BISP has taken over the affairs of the multi-billion programme asking the junior staff not to engage with the chairman.Sources said the rift between the two top officials has jeopardized the future of 5.5 million families benefiting from Rs70 billion poverty alleviation programme.

This situation has put the entire BISP staff in a dilemma whether to follow the orders of the influential secretary or the chairman who was appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.Sources said no policy decision had been taken regarding the crucial affairs related to BISP for the last few weeks owing to complete breakdown of communication between the chairman and the secretary.

Sources said the foreign donors were also concerned over the internal crisis in the mega project.BISP is a flagship poverty alleviation programme which is partially funded by the international donors. An amount of Rs70 billion had been allocated for the programme for the financial year 2012-13 to provide cash assistance to 5.5 million families, which constitutes almost 18 percent of the entire population. The programme is aimed at covering almost 40 percent of the population below the poverty line.

The rift started when BISP Secretary Rab Nawaz made a payment of Rs2.6 million to an NGO owned by a US-national without approval of the scrutiny committee just a few days after assuming his post. The company chairman, however, said it was a Pakistani company registered with SECP and it had nothing to do with US. He said the company accomplished its task of conducting spot checking and holding surveys in 66 districts of the country and its work was approved by BISP but the payment of over Rs 220 million was pending since last June 2013 because of ongoing infighting in BISP.

The powerful secretary had also immediately removed an honest internal auditor who had unearthed the corruption of Rs150 million in award of a consultancy contract worth Rs2.63 billion.

The BISP chairman took strict notice of the irregularities and sought explanation from Rab Nawaz. However instead of giving any explanation, Rab Nawaz ordered the entire BISP staff not to engage with the chairman.

When contacted, BISP Chairman Enver Baig confirmed the rift and said he would request the prime minister to intervene for the future of 5.5 million families who are living below the poverty line.

The matter even came to the attention of Parliament where three ruling party MNAs and one legislator of Muttahida Quomi Movement (MQM) moved separate calling attention notices. However even the parliamentary notice could not improve the situation in BISP as sources said the secretary is backed by a group of very influential bureaucrats and a powerful cabinet member who are supporting the secretary despite his tainted past.

Sources said the issue had become a test case for the prime minister who would have to decide soon whether to allow Grade-20 bureaucrats to run the affairs of the government or let the politicians control their respective departments and be answerable for their performance.

Sources said the incumbent BISP secretary was removed twice by the PML-N’s Punjab government for dismal performance and negligence.

First he was removed from the post of the Punjab Irrigation and Power Secretary after he was found guilty of negligence during devastating floods of 2010 by a judicial commission constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The commission had not only recommended immediate removal of Rab Nawaz from the post but also asked for inquiry against him after he was found responsible for loss of hundreds of lives and of property worth tens of billions of rupees.

The report of the commission concluded that the officer had failed to meet the monumental challenge of two floods in the River Indus during the 2010 monsoon, causing widespread devastation. But the officer of the powerful District Management Group again managed to get the prize posting in the province as secretary energy. However, he could not satisfy the fast-paced chief minister with his performance in the energy sector and was subsequently removed for failing to initiate any new power project in the province.

Despite repeated calls and messages on his mobile phone for last five days, Rab Nawaz did not respond to The News for his version.However talking to this correspondent earlier this month, the BISP secretary denied committing any irregularity. He said the payment of Rs2.7 million was released on merit. He said the service provider had submitted his bill six months ago but the scrutiny committee never met nor examined his case.

“So I asked the service provider to hold a presentation in the presence of the committee members and when no one objected to the performance of the said service provider, I directed them to release the payment,” he said.

Referring to the transfer of the internal auditor, Rab Nawaz said the officer had completed his five-year tenure so he was transferred. He also claimed that there were certain audit paras against him.

The secretary added that he was asked to work in BISP on the basis of his past experience with poverty reduction programmes in Pakistan and abroad and with foreign funding agencies.When asked about the reports that he was removed twice in Punjab over poor performance, Rab Nawaz denied these reports and said that it was a matter of official record if someone would bother to check. And as far his integrity and repute was concerned, that could easily be verified from anyone in the offices he previously served.

He was asked about the reports that the Flood Enquiry Tribunal had held him responsible for poor management of the flood, he replied that Punjab government had not agreed to the commission’s findings and therefore, no action was initiated against him.

About the institutional issues in BISP, the secretary said that no proper rules had been framed in BISP to define the roles and guide the work of various offices. Once the rules were framed, there would be no issue in proper working of BISP, he said.

Baby safe after crawling across busy US street

BRIGHAM CITY: Police say a baby found crawling across a busy four-lane street in the U.S. after his 7-year-old sister took him out of his crib is safely back home.

The driver who rescued the 1-year-old boy Friday evening returned him to his mother and called police in Brigham City, Utah.

The unidentified mother told police she was resting and had put the infant in a crib to sleep.

Police say her daughter took the baby out to play and he somehow got out of the backyard.

They say the baby crawled less than a block when he was found in the lane closest to the sidewalk.

Police say charges are unlikely, but the case has been turned over to the Division of Child and Family Services. (AP)

Baby safe after crawling across busy US street

BRIGHAM CITY: Police say a baby found crawling across a busy four-lane street in the U.S. after his 7-year-old sister took him out of his crib is safely back home.

The driver who rescued the 1-year-old boy Friday evening returned him to his mother and called police in Brigham City, Utah.

The unidentified mother told police she was resting and had put the infant in a crib to sleep.

Police say her daughter took the baby out to play and he somehow got out of the backyard.

They say the baby crawled less than a block when he was found in the lane closest to the sidewalk.

Police say charges are unlikely, but the case has been turned over to the Division of Child and Family Services. (AP)

US says it is watching events after attack on Hamid Mir

WASHINGTON: The US has said it is watching developments in Pakistan after the attack on Geo TV journalist Hamid Mir as it launched an annual press freedom campaign.

“On the expected blockage of Geo TV, we’re aware of these reports and also aware of the reports that the government has sent a reference to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to stop Geo TV transmission. We’re continuing to follow events,” US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

“We continue to wish Hamid Mir a speedy recovery and to call on the government of Pakistan to bring all those responsible for these attacks on the media to justice,” Ms Psaki said in response to a question.

Pakistan’s defence ministry has filed a complaint with the country’s media regulatory authority seeking cancellation of Geo TV’s licence after Mir’s brother accused “certain elements” in the ISI spy agency and its chief of orchestrating the attack, a charge denied by the military.

With world press freedom day around the corner on May 3, the state department launched its third annual ‘Free the Press’ campaign in New York.

“Beginning on Monday and all of next week, we will highlight emblematic cases of imperilled reporters and media outlets that have been targeted, oppressed, imprisoned or otherwise harassed because of their professional work,” Ms Psaki said.

Police nab 40 suspects after Delhi colony blast

KARACHI: Police rounded up more than 40 suspects after bomb blast that killed six people in Delhi colony, Geo News reported.

Police team led by SP Saddar Salman Hussain and Frere ASP Shahla Qureshi conducted targeted operation in the area and detained more than 40 suspects.

SP Salman said there were reports of presence of the accused involved in the Friday’s blast. The suspects have been shifted to Frere police station for interrogation.

Israel strikes Palestine after PLO, Hamas announce unity agreement

GAZA: Israel launched an air strike on Wednesday on the northern Gaza Strip, wounding four people, medical officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the attack, which came two days after militants in the Palestinian enclave launched rockets into southern Israel.

There was no immediate word on the identities of those wounded in the air strike, launched just after Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization announced a unity agreement in Gaza City.

China frees Japan ship after $28 mn paid in 1930s row

SHANGHAI: China on Thursday released a seized Japanese ship after its owner paid $28 million in compensation, a court said, in a business dispute dating to the 1930s which underlines tensions between the countries.

The Shanghai Maritime Court announced Saturday it had impounded a large freight vessel owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in accordance with the law, as the Japanese company had failed to pay a Chinese firm.

But the case had political overtones given uneasy ties between the two Asian giants, which are locked in a territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea.

"The court has delivered a ruling at 8:30 am on April 24, 2014, to lift the detention of the Baosteel Emotion ship," the court said in a statement.

Mitsui had "fulfilled its obligations" by paying compensation and additional court costs of around $390,000, the court said. It did not name the Chinese party awarded the compensation.

Japan had lodged a formal diplomatic protest over the seizure and warned it could "intimidate Japanese companies doing business in China".

Japanese media suggested the seizure of the ship was meant to underline China´s growing assertiveness before US President Barack Obama´s arrival in Tokyo on Wednesday on the first leg of an Asian tour.

Tokyo believes that the seizure undermines a 1972 joint communique that normalised ties between Japan and China, in which Beijing agreed to renounce any demands for war reparations.

China replied that the case was a civil matter and had nothing to do with war reparations.

The ship seizure comes as a set of lawsuits related to wartime forced labour have also been filed in China against Japanese corporations.

Mitsui´s predecessor chartered two ships from a company called Chung Wei, now referred to by mainland China as Zhongwei, in 1936.The ships were reportedly commandeered by the Imperial Japanese Navy and were sunk during World War II, media reports said.

A compensation suit was brought against Mitsui by the descendants of the founder of the Chinese company, and in 2007 a Shanghai court ordered Mitsui to pay compensation.

Mitsui said in a statement on Monday that it had been seeking an out-of-court settlement after China´s supreme court rejected its appeal in 2011, but the vessel was "suddenly" impounded.

The ship was expected to depart China later on Thursday, Japan´s Kyodo news agency said.

The Baosteel Emotion, designed to carry ore, was docked at Majishan island off Shanghai, according to Chinese media reports. (AFP)