DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 8 October 2008, Wednesday, 8 Shawwal 1429
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Altaf seeks APC to solve problems collectively
‘Reports about MQM MNAs taking oath as federal ministers baseless’
Man kills father, mother, nephew
Woman, son-in-law killed
5 injured in three Lahore blasts (more)
College, school blown up, cops kidnapped in Swat (more)
‘Pakistan cannot overcome insurgency without US support’ (more)
Nato claims killing 60 militants in Afghanistan (more)
Altaf seeks APC to solve problems collectively

Keeping in view the present crucial situation of the country and acts of suicide bombing and terrorism, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Founder and Chief Altaf Hussain has demanded an All-Parties Conference (APC) to bring the country out of the crisis and take all the leaders into confidence.

Hussain made this demand while addressing MQM Rabita Committee members, MNAs and MPAs who arrived at the MQM International Secretariat in London. This was disclosed to The News on Tuesday by MQM Rabita Committee member Mustafa Azizabadi. He said that a marathon session was held and Hussain expressed deep concern over suicide attacks. The MQM chief also said the country was passing through a very critical phase and asked MQM MNAs and MPAs to meet PM Yousuf Raza Gilani. He said that all political parties, including the PML-N, should be taken into confidence as early as possible.

The MQM chief made a humble appeal to Nawaz Sharif and asked the latter to shun all differences and back President Asif Ali Zardari up “at this critical moment.” Hussain also held a separate meeting with National Reconstruction Bureau Chairman Dr Asim Hussain. Dr Asim was informed that the APC was the need of the hour and it should be convened as early as possible.

Altaf said that President Zardari should be given a message that he could not run the government alone and all the parties should be taken into confidence. Dr Asim attended the birthday of Altaf Hussain on behalf of President Zardari. He assured him that all parties will be taken into confidence to get the country out of the crisis.

Azizabadi said that the issue of MQM MNAs taking oath in the federal cabinet was yet to be finalised.

‘Reports about MQM MNAs taking oath as federal ministers baseless’

Reports appearing in the media on Wednesday about the oath-taking of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNAs as federal ministers are totally baseless and unfounded, MQM Rabita Committee Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar told The News. “We are surprised to see such stories appear on the electronic media,” he said, adding that “in line with the desire of President Asif Ali Zardari,” some ministers would join the federal cabinet.

Man kills father, mother, nephew

A young man, said to be mentally retarded, stabbed to death his father, mother and a nephew over a petty dispute at their residence in Gulberg police area on Tuesday.

Nusrat Shah stabbed to death his father, 80-year-old Nisaar Ahmed, his mother 75-year-old Zakia Khatoon, and his nephew Sanaan at their house in Block-17, Samanabad.

Shah’s older brother Nadeem said that he had separated from his family after marriage since his younger brother, Nusrat Shah, was mentally retarded and his behaviour was unbecoming. On various occasions, Nadeem said, Shah took out a dagger and attempted to kill Nadeem, due to which the latter left his family, while Shah continued to live with his parents. His nephew Sanaan came to his grandparents’ house a few months before and started staying there after he obtained admission at the Government Commerce College for studies and also for helping his parents.

On Tuesday afternoon, Shah came to the house and started disputing with his parents after they refused to give him money for drugs. Suddenly, Shah became angry, picked up a knife from the kitchen and tried to kill his mother. When Ahmed tried to rescue his wife, Shah attacked him too, and when Sanaan tried to save his grandparents, Shah stabbed him as well before fleeing the house.

Later, one of Sanaan’s friends visited the house and found the door open. He entered the house and found all three people lying in a pool of blood. He immediately called Nadeem on his cellphone and informed him about the situation. Nadeem immediately reached the house and informed the police who shifted the bodies to a hospital.

Residents of the area said that Shah was mentally retarded and used to fight with the elders and beat up children playing in the locality. They said that they heard the shouts and screams on that fateful day but thought it might be yet another dispute in the family. This time around, however, Shah ended up killing his parents and nephew.

The police registered an FIR on the complaint of Nadeem. They are now searching for Shah.

Woman, son-in-law killed

A woman and her son-in-law were killed in the Manghopir police limits. The police suspect that honour killing was the motive behind the double-murder.

The victims were identified as 40-year-old Riasat Bibi, and 30-year-old Farooq Rehman. They two were tortured after being shot thrice in the head. The incident was reported in Pakhtoonabad.

The police said that on April 3 Mohammed Rehman had come to the police station and registered a complaint, saying that his wife, Riasat, had illicit relations with her son-in-law, Farooq, and that the two had run away from home while Rehman himself was at work. An FIR was lodged. On Tuesday evening, both Riasat Bibi and Farooq were found dead. The police suspect that they were killed by Rehman. A case was reported and investigation is under way.

road accident: A six-year-old boy, identified as Muhammad Sami, was killed and his father, 30-year-old Nisar, was injured in a road accident in the Azizabad police limits on Tuesday.

5 injured in three Lahore blasts

LAHORE: Three low-intensity bomb explosions in three juice shops on the Shalimar Road, Garhi Shahu, injured five people, including two children, on Tuesday night here.

The home-made explosive devices were planted in Rehman, Chinno and Dasco juice corners. The first bomb exploded in Chinno Juice Corner at around 10:20 pm, creating panic among the people. Shopkeepers immediately pulled down shutters. And then the other two blasts followed.

The explosions severely damaged the shops where bombs were planted, also smashing windscreen of a vehicle of the bomb disposal squad. The bombs' intensity could be felt within a radius of one kilometre.

"It sounded like a thunderstorm. Who knows what happened?" said Abdul Ghafoor, a businessman, who was passing through. "It was a huge boom followed by smoke and complete darkness," a shopkeeper said.

Another shopkeeper said the first explosion almost deafened him for more than ten minutes. The area plunged into darkness shortly after the explosion and smoke filled the sky over the site, he added.

The shopkeepers hid themselves behind walls in the shops, while the people outside started running to save their lives. Many families also rushed to the spot to get information about their relatives, who had come for shopping.

Shortly after the explosions, police cordoned off the area and asked the people to get back because of their concerns of other blasts. They evacuated the area and sealed it off as ambulances rushed in. All roads leading to the crime scene were restricted for all kinds of traffic.

Ambulances from various organisations, including Rescue 1122 and Edhi, also converged at the site to dispatch the injured to hospitals. The officials of bomb disposal squad scanned the shops and vehicles with a searchlight. An official of the squad said the explosive devices were planted in two juice corners and a hairdresser shop.

The SP Civil Lines Suhail Sukhera rushed to the blast site after the first explosion. Later, DIG Investigation, SSP Operations and other officers also arrived at the scene. SP Suhail Sukhera said it was premature to say anything about the explosive devices, which apparently looked like time devices. He said the timely closure of the shops saved many lives, as the other two blasts could have been more devastating if the shops had been opened.

A police officer, requesting anonymity, said the juice corners, consisting of small cabins, were used for dating. The shopkeepers reportedly had received threats from unidentified persons, who had shown their reservations over the activities going on in the cabins.

A shopkeeper claimed to have seen the two suspects after the explosions and told the police that he might help in drawing their sketches. Two youths served as helpers at Chinno Juice Corner and two children were among the five injured persons. The injured were rushed to two hospitals where condition of one of the five persons was stated to be critical.

 College, school blown up, cops kidnapped in Swat

MINGORA: In another big blow to educational activities in Swat, militants on Tuesday blew up two historic education institutions in the valley.

Sources said the Excelsior College and Sangota Public School were blown up in the evening. The militants also claimed to have captured four persons, including two policemen, in the restive valley. Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan, however, claimed to have kidnapped two police and two Frontier Corps personnel.

However, police said two cops, a mess manager and sweeper of the Excelsior College, were kidnapped by the militants. Security forces also fired shells at Taghak, Totano Bandai and Kala Killay areas of Kabal tehsil. A mortar shell hit a house, injuring a lady, Hussan Zeba.

In Khwazakhela, a woman injured in Monday's shelling by the security forces, died on Tuesday. The residents of Alamganj, Landy, Wakilabad and Waliabad areas of Khwazakhela blocked the Mingora-Khwazakhela Road for three hours in protest against civilian casualties due to the security forces shelling.

 ‘Pakistan cannot overcome insurgency without US support’

ISLAMABAD: The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production was held at the Parliament House here on Tuesday.

Subsequent to the meeting, the electronic media reported statements attributed to Secretary Defence, Kamran Rasool that should to be viewed in proper perspective. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Shireen Mizari gave a presentation to the committee during which she made certain policy recommendations.

In his comments, the Secretary Defence pointed out that these were impractical. These suggestions included the following: a) Send back all Afghan refugees. b) Private Sector be encouraged to set up industries in FATA. c) The border of Afghanistan may be sealed.

Dr Mizari stated that United States of America was not an ally but a hostile state and our policies should be reviewed accordingly. In response, the secretary defence said that the USA was an ally and we were heavily dependent on US support and assistance.

He further stated that without this support, it was not possible for us to overcome the insurgency. The secretary defence pointed out that Pakistan was already in dire economic straits and its credit rating was at a low level. In these circumstances, any hostile action on our part were not recommended.

Dr Shireen Mazari also made an assertion that US planes were "flying all over Pakistan air space" and were free to hit targets in Pakistan. The secretary defence stated that this was not true. She later modified her statement and said US aircraft flew over Pakistan. The secretary responded that aircraft from all over the world overfly Pakistan territory with Pakistan's permission and the US is no exception.

Nato claims killing 60 militants in Afghanistan

KABUL: Afghan and international forces announced on Tuesday that they had killed nearly 60 militants in two days as the battle against Taliban-led extremists continued. With the insurgency growing more deadly since the October 7, 2001 US-led invasion, the Afghan government reiterated it would welcome peace talks.

Forty-three militants were killed in heavy fighting in the southern province of Zabul on Sunday after an Afghan and international patrol came under attack from several directions, the US-led coalition said.

The soldiers responded, including with air power. "Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed 43 militants in Qalat district, Zabul province, on October 5," it said. Police in Helmand claimed separately that 15 Taliban fighters were killed in the volatile Nad Ali district late on Monday after international and Afghan forces came under attack. A Taliban spokesman said there had been no losses to its forces during the fighting and it was impossible to independently verify what had happened in the remote area, which is off-limits to most outsiders. Meanwhile, a civilian was killed on Tuesday when a Nato soldier fired a warning flare that deflected off a vehicle and hit the victim, the deployment said.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS
Altaf condemns Bhakkar blast
Man killed in road accident
Rapists still at large
Dacoits loot over Rs15m, injure security guard
ANP holds religious party responsible for miseries of Pakhtoons (more)
20 killed in Bhakkar suicide attack (more)
4 militants killed in Darra (more)
6 militants in ‘militia uniforms’ killed (more)
S. Arabia brokering Kabul-Taliban talks (more)

TODAY'S NEWS, BUT 10 YEARS OLD

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