Police, strikers clash in Brazil World Cup host city

SAO PAULO: Brazil´s World Cup preparations endured a rough Friday, as police clashed with striking subway workers in Sao Paulo, massive traffic jams snarled the mega-city and fans booed the national team.

The scuffle in the metro station and a separate anti-government protest that gathered 3,000 people raised fears of more unrest when Brazil and Croatia open the World Cup in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Police fired tear gas and swung batons to beat back picketing strikers inside a central station after commuters tried to enter.

The strike, affecting millions of commuters, will continue for a third day Saturday after the workers´ union and their employers failed to reach a deal on a pay raise.

Across town, meanwhile, demonstrators blocked the street in front of the Central Bank in a peaceful protest organized by the Force Union against the economic policies of President Dilma Rousseff.

"Our problem is not with the national team. We will cheer for them. But on October 5, we will send Dilma Rousseff to hell," said union leader Paulo Pereira da Silva, referring to the upcoming presidential election.

The subway strike caused headaches for fans who attended Brazil´s labored 1-0 victory against Serbia in the team´s final friendly in Sao Paulo´s Morumbi stadium.

Sections of the crowd jeered the team led by Barcelona star Neymar as it struggled to find the net against the Serbians.

"Our players are ready to accept criticism when they don´t play well," said manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose team is under massive pressure to deliver a record sixth World Cup trophy.

While Brazil played at Morumbi Friday, the first World Cup game will be played in the city´s new Corinthians Arena, which is awaiting safety clearance to operate at full capacity, highlighting the authorities´ struggle to be ready for the tournament.

Officials are hard-pressed to resolve the metro strike because the subway will be the main link to the arena for legions of fans.

With three of five metro stations disrupted by the strike, bumper-to-bumper traffic stretched as much as 251 kilometers (155 miles) as the subway system´s 4.5 million users turned to cars or buses amid torrential rain.

"I´m going to have to return home. I can´t get to work like this," said Pedro Henrique Rodrigues, a 28-year-old pastry factory worker who stood in a massive bus line.

Who peddles ideas about clash of institutions, SC asks govt

 

ISLAMABAD: Justice Jawwad S Khawaja has observed banners against the court were hanged when it took up the missing persons case. He said these banners were like explosives, which could cause an irreparable loss.
He remarked, “The government should tell who is out to undermine the national institutions. If the government fails to detect negligence and inefficiency, then it will cause an immense loss.” He further asked the government to reveal the elements spreading the ideas of clash between institutions in the society.

He observed, “Institutions don’t do their job and when the court does the job, then banners are hanged against it. It was a surprising thing for us that it was not in the knowledge of the interior secretary and DG IB who had hanged these banners.”

He remarked, “We don’t want to review the whole matter but the facts should be revealed to the nation. We had given the order and why all the institutions, including the army, have not implemented it. It is beyond comprehension as to why the institutions are not providing information.”

The court ordered the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to investigate the vilification campaign launched against Justice Khawaja and file the report on Wednesday (today).

He gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the case of Sultan Shah and 35 missing persons case here on Tuesday who were picked up from the Malakand internment center.

At the start of the hearing, the AGP appeared in the court and presented a secret reply about the 35 missing persons. Through this reply, the court was requested to hold an in-camera hearing of this case.

The court remarked, “We cannot conduct an in-camera hearing of this case. But we will want that if someone wants to give a briefing, we will get the courtroom vacated. We want to work but our matters are not clear.”

The justice remarked: “The DG IB and interior secretary are either incompetent or negligent. The AGP should assist. Whosoever has to conduct an investigation should do it. We only want a reply. The government can get the matter investigated by anyone, including ISI, if it wills so but the facts should be told to us.”

The report regarding the missing person, Sultan Shah, was filed in the court. The court remarked matters, including Mohabbat Shah and the hanging of banners, will be heard. The AGP should assist the court. The hearing of the case was adjourned till today.

Who peddles ideas about clash of institutions, SC asks govt

 

ISLAMABAD: Justice Jawwad S Khawaja has observed banners against the court were hanged when it took up the missing persons case. He said these banners were like explosives, which could cause an irreparable loss.
He remarked, “The government should tell who is out to undermine the national institutions. If the government fails to detect negligence and inefficiency, then it will cause an immense loss.” He further asked the government to reveal the elements spreading the ideas of clash between institutions in the society.

He observed, “Institutions don’t do their job and when the court does the job, then banners are hanged against it. It was a surprising thing for us that it was not in the knowledge of the interior secretary and DG IB who had hanged these banners.”

He remarked, “We don’t want to review the whole matter but the facts should be revealed to the nation. We had given the order and why all the institutions, including the army, have not implemented it. It is beyond comprehension as to why the institutions are not providing information.”

The court ordered the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to investigate the vilification campaign launched against Justice Khawaja and file the report on Wednesday (today).

He gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the case of Sultan Shah and 35 missing persons case here on Tuesday who were picked up from the Malakand internment center.

At the start of the hearing, the AGP appeared in the court and presented a secret reply about the 35 missing persons. Through this reply, the court was requested to hold an in-camera hearing of this case.

The court remarked, “We cannot conduct an in-camera hearing of this case. But we will want that if someone wants to give a briefing, we will get the courtroom vacated. We want to work but our matters are not clear.”

The justice remarked: “The DG IB and interior secretary are either incompetent or negligent. The AGP should assist. Whosoever has to conduct an investigation should do it. We only want a reply. The government can get the matter investigated by anyone, including ISI, if it wills so but the facts should be told to us.”

The report regarding the missing person, Sultan Shah, was filed in the court. The court remarked matters, including Mohabbat Shah and the hanging of banners, will be heard. The AGP should assist the court. The hearing of the case was adjourned till today.

Political parties clash leaves three injured in Karachi

KARACHI: A clash took place between the activists of two political parties in North Nazimabad area of the metropolis, injuring three workers, Geo News reported.

According to the police, the incident took place near Five Star roundabout located in North Nazimbad area over the matter of removal of banners. The baton-wielding activists from both the political parties stormed at each other, resultantly three workers sustained injuries.

The police fired aerial shots to disperse the activists after which the situation returned to normalcy.

Nawaz must end clash among institutions: Altaf

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must come forward and play his role in ending clash among the institutions.

He said that if there were any harm to democracy, they all would be responsible for this.Altaf made an appeal to the prime minister to play a constructive role in steering Pakistan out of crises.

“Mian Nawaz Sharif holds an important post. Pakistan is facing internal and external challenges. The situation demands that he should not waste time and take into confidence the lawmakers in the National Assembly and Senate to build a consensus to tackle internal challenges being faced by the nation. He can also convene an all parties’ conference for this purpose”, Altaf said in a statement released from London.

“In this crisis, the prime minister should not desert the nation. He must come forward and lead the nation. We have got this democracy after rendering enormous sacrifices”, he said.Altaf added that he had made this appeal because Pakistan’s security and survival was at stake.

“Mian Nawaz Sharif is the prime minister of Pakistan. The person who holds this post must be responsible and generous,” the MQM chief added.“Our country is economically weak and needs foreign aids for its survival. We need national solidarity, unity and harmony among people and good relations among the institutions,” he said.Altaf said that prime minister and colleagues should pay attention to his recommendations.

Rival groups’ clash leaves 17 dead in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: A fierce clash between two rival groups has killed 17 persons in North Waziristan in the past three days, Geo News reported on Saturday.

According to the official sources, the violent clash between Pipli and Madakhel groups over disputed land is continuing for the past three days in data Khel Tehsil of North Waziristan. Due to the dispute, 17 persons have so far lost their lives while 14 others got injured.

Both the groups are fearlessly using missile, tanks, rockets and other automatic weapons against each other.

Tension has gripped the area due to which the local residents are migrating to other safer areas.

Rival groups’ clash leaves 17 dead in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: A fierce clash between two rival groups has killed 17 persons in North Waziristan in the past three days, Geo News reported on Saturday.

According to the official sources, the violent clash between Pipli and Madakhel groups over disputed land is continuing for the past three days in data Khel Tehsil of North Waziristan. Due to the dispute, 17 persons have so far lost their lives while 14 others got injured.

Both the groups are fearlessly using missile, tanks, rockets and other automatic weapons against each other.

Tension has gripped the area due to which the local residents are migrating to other safer areas.

Anti-Obama protesters clash with police in Manila

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  AP Police train their fire hose at protesters as the latter try to force their way closer to the U.S. Embassy for a rally against next week's visit of U.S. President Barack Obama, in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, 
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  AP Police and protesters clash on Wednesday in Manila, Philippines as the latter try to force their way closer to the U.S. Embassy for a rally against next week's visit of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Police armed with truncheons, shields and a fire hose clashed on Wednesday with more than 100 left-wing activists who rallied at the U.S. Embassy in Manila to oppose a visit by President Barack Obama and an expected security pact that would increase the American military presence in the Philippines.

Riot policemen blocked the flag-waving activists near the heavily fortified embassy compound but the protesters slipped past them, sparking a brief scuffle in view of motorists stuck in traffic.

The police sprayed water on the protesters from a fire truck to push them away. A police officer was punched in the face in the melee but no arrests were made. Some of the protesters carried paper U.S. flags with the message - “Obama, not welcome.”

Mr. Obama arrives in Manila on Monday for an overnight stop after visiting Japan, South Korea and Malaysia on an Asian trip in which he is expected to reassure allied nations enmeshed in long-running territorial disputes with an increasingly assertive China.

The United States and the Philippines, which are treaty allies, have been scrambling to overcome differences to finalize a new security accord in time for Mr. Obama’s visit.

The accord would allow more U.S. troops, aircraft and ships to be temporarily stationed in selected Philippine military camps as a counterweight to China and as a standby disaster-response force. About 500 American soldiers have been based in the southern Philippines since 2002 to provide anti-terrorism training and intelligence to Filipino troops battling al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Islamabad: armed clash leaves two dead, five injured

ISLAMABAD: At least two people were killed and five others sustained bullet injuries in armed clash between two groups here on Tuesday night, Geo News reported.

Police said exchange of fire took place within the limits of Bara Kahu police station. The dead and injured have been shifted to hospital.

Student groups clash at BZU in Multan

MULTAN: A clash between two student groups at the Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) left five injured here on Tuesday.

A large contingent of the police entered the university to bring the situation under control. The clash began when an altercation took place between the two student groups outside the university library.


There were reports of aerial firing as the student groups were seen hitting each other with wooden sticks.

The university administration has announced that action will be taken against those students found to be involved in the clash.