Banking services at POs mulled over

ISLAMABAD: The Privatization Commission mulled over commencing the banking services at post offices, Geo News reported Friday.

The Privatization Commission Board held a meeting with Federal Minister for Privatisation Naveed Qamar in chair.

The meeting also discussed over the appointment of an advisor for technical assistance in this connection and decision was made that expressions of interest will be invited for the purpose.

The commission will focus on the welfare of the employees and the government employees will be given benefit under Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme.

The federal minister said the agreements with Sindh and Punjab governments for the transfer of the PTCL assets will be signed within a week.

Arrested accused not accomplice of Baitullah Mehsud: Shahi

KARACHI: The president Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh Shahi Syed has said none can occupy even an inch of land sans police consent.

He said it is unethical to link the arrested ANP worker to banned Baitullah Mehsud.

Rain spell in Sindh ends: Met Deptt

ISLAMABAD: The spell of downpours has come to an end in Sindh, according to Meteorological Department. However, light drizzle is expected at some places in the next 12 hours.

The dry weather ix expected to prevail in other parts of the country.

During the last 24 hours, it rained with thunderstorm in most parts of Sindh and some areas in Southern Punjab, which was recorded at 19mm in Bahawalpur, 8mm in Bahawalnagar, 2mm in Faisalabad, 6mm in Mithi, 3mm in Garhi Dopattta, 4mm in Khanpur, 17mm Hyderabad, 13mm in Badin and 5mm in Karachi.

The Met Department said the expected maximum temperature in various cities are 37 centigrade in Islamabad, 40 in Lahore, 36 in Karachi, 38 in Quetta, 38 in Peshawar and 37 centigrade is expected in Muzaffarabad.

8 militants killed in Swat clashv

SWAT: Eight militants were killed during exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Swat whereas a house of militant commander has been destroyed.

According to sources, eight militants were killed in exchange of fire between security forces and militants during search operation in Dagay and Zowara areas of tehsil Kabal of Swat.

Security forces demolished a house of militant commander in tehsil Barikot. Swat media center announced relaxation in curfew till 6:00 pm in Khawazakhela, Dareshkhela, Bedara, Madeen and Shangla. In tehsil Maidan of Dir, curfew has been relaxed till 8:00 pm, Dir media center said.

Mian Channu blast death toll rises to 20

MIAN CHANNU: The death toll in Mian Channu bomb blast has soared to 20 persons and 65 were injured in the incident in Chak-129 near Mian Channu on Monday.

The rescuers were still trying to recover the people trapped in debris as several houses were collapsed due to the impact of the blast.

DPO Health Khaniwal has confirmed that seven persons were killed and over 50 were injured in the incident. Nine dead bodies including a woman and seven children were shifted to tehsil headquarter hospital in Mian Channu.

The injured were being transferred to the hospitals in Khaniwal and Multan due to lack of space in Mian Channu tehsil hospital.

Angry mob pelted stones at the policemen when they reached to the place of the incident.

According to the sources rocket shells have been found from the rubble.

The blast occurred at house of a man Riaz, DPO Khaniwal Kamran Khan earlier said. The explosives stored in the house were detonated and caused the blast, he opined. The impact of the blast destroyed around 25 houses in the area, he added.

Local volunteers reached to the place of the blast after the incident and started rescue work to retrieve the people trapped under the rubbles of the caved in houses.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister YOusuf Raza Gilani have condemned the incident and ordered probe of the blast.

Mian Channu blast toll rises to 11

KHANIWAL: The death toll of Mian Channu blast has reached to 11 as two more blast victims died in the hospital.

Dozens were injured in the blast as rescue operations are underway. Rockets, bombs and other explosives have been recovered from the blast site.

According to sources, blast took place at a house of Hafiz Riaz where children were gathered for religious education. Several houses destroyed in the blast as many people still trapped under the rubble. Rescue operations are underway at incident site.

Dr. Naeem of tehsil headquarter hospital has confirmed the killing of nine people including seven children, a woman and a man. DCO Khaniwal said the situation is unclear.

Police sources said the blast formed a big crater at the scene. The injured were rushed to hospital among which 12 reported in a critical condition.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned the blast and called inquiry report.

Nine tribesmen killed in clash with militants

GHALANAI: Nine tribesmen were killed in fighting with the militants in Mohmand tribal region on Saturday. According to reports, nine tribesmen were killed in tribal Lashkar’s battle with militants in Pampokh area of tehsil Anbar in Mohmand tribal Agency. Three militants were also reported killed in the fighting. A tribal force with strength of 300 to 400 tribesmen was formed last week in tehsil Anbar to fight the militants in the region. The force had arrested several militants and handed them over to the Political Administration.

Good governance necessary for stable institutions: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the stability of democratic institutions is impossible without good governance, for which a good system of justice is necessary- the system which deliver justice independently without pressure. Addressing the National Judicial Conference on Saturday, the Chief Justice said that the new judicial policy will provide a roadmap for timely and inexpensive justice. He urged the judges for early settlement of the cases without unnecessary dragging.

2 children among 5 die of gastro in Nawabshah

NAWABSHAH: Five people including two children and a woman were dead from gastro disease while dozens of people were admitted to hospital.

According to hospital sources, 40 people including children and women were admitted in various wards of the People’s Medical college here on Sunday.

All these people belonging to the areas of Goth Pannu Jamali, Allah Warayu Jamali and Ali Akbar Jamali were suffering from gastro.

As per the relatives of the affected people, five people including two children and a woman were passed away just in the village.

Meanwhile, EDO Health Jaji Shah Kazmi said that a doctors’ team has been sent to the affected village.

Mangla Dam generation machines terminate operations

LAHORE: All machines at Mangla Dam have been closed because of technical fault that deprived several areas of Azad Kashmir, Mirpur Khas and upper Punjab from electricity.

According to sources, the overall shortfall of electricity across the country has now reaches to 3700 to 4,000 Megawatts.

Managing Director PEPCO Tahir Basharat Cheema while talking to Geo News said closure of machines created shortfall of 1100 MW due to which power supply to Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Mirpur Khas, Jehlum, Azad Kashmir and other areas remained suspended till the evening.

He said the teams of Wapda and PEPCO are working together to remove the fault and restore power supply in effected areas as soon as possible.

Chairman Wapda Shakeel Durrani had took the notice of situation and ordered high level inquiry. Raghib Ali Shah will head the inquiry and present the report within two days.

Meanwhile, PEPCO has claimed that electric supply has been restored in 40 percent areas and efforts are underway for complete restoration.

CNG Association calls strike in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: CNG Association has announced to keep CNG stations closed on June 30 across NWFP province.

Chairman CNG Association Ghayas Paracha said the decision to hold one day’s strike on June 30 was made to register protest against what he said over billing by Sui Northern Gas Company (SNGC) and severing of gas connections by the company.

He said all the CNG stations located between Malakand Agency and Peshawar will remain shut for one day.

Curfew clamped Malakand Agency

SWAT: Curfew has been imposed in Malakand Agency as operation is going on against militants.

Security forces regained the control of Kalel Kandao and Kokarai areas and established check posts. Sources said militants’ positions in different areas of tehsil Maidan of Lower Dir shelled with heavy artillery from Timergirah. Two persons were killed and three injured when a mortar shell hit a house in Maidan area.

Operation in Upper Dir, 3 Militants Killed

DIR: Three militants were killed and many others injured in a joint operation by the security forces and a tribal Lashkar in Dogg Darra area of Upper Dir region.

A tribal Lashkar has surrounded the militants for last three weeks in Dogg Darra, Dir Bala and Ghazigyi areas, sources said.

The security forces have continued sporadic shelling at the positions of militants in tehsil Maidan of Lower Dir.

The local authorities have announced curfew break from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm in Lower Dir.

Curfew Eases in Parts of Swat, Dir Lower

SWAT: Curfew relaxation has been announced in different parts of Swat and Dir Lower as operation “ Rah-e-Rast” continued in Malakand Division.

According to Swat media center, curfew will be relaxed from 9:00 am till 3: pm in Shangla, Maidan and Khawaza Khela areas of Swat and in Dir Lower, curfew relaxed from 6: 00 am to 8:00 pm tehsil Maidan and Adeenzai.

Meanwhile, forces shelled militants’ strongholds in Swat’s tehsil Charbagh, Kabal and upper parts. Two houses and four shops of local commanders were demolished in Mulla Baba and Banar areas of Mingora.

On the other hand, one foreign militant was killed and three injured in a clash between national lashkar and militants in Ghazigai area of Dir Upper. People are migrating towards safer places and a camp has been set up in Malakand University Sharangal. Security forces from Timergira pounded militants’ hideouts in tehsil Maidan.

6 killed in US drone Attack in South Waziristan

PESHAWAR: Six people were killed and several others hurt in a US drone missile attack in South Waziristan on Tuesday.

According to sources, US drones fired three missiles at a house in a village of tehsil Ladha, a stronghold of Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud. Six people were killed and several others injured in the attack. Security operation is underway in the area against militants.

Qari Zainuddin Mehsud Shot Dead In DI Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A gunman shot dead Qari Zainuddin, a rival commander of Baitullah Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday morning.A close aide of Qari Zainuddin while confirming the killing of Qari Zainuddin claimed that he was shot dead by Gulbadeen Mehsud who was managed to flee from the scene. Gulbadeen is a resident of Makeen area. Another associate of Qari Zainuddin sustained injuries in the incident. Qari Zainuddin had recently given stat .

In Lahore Sarfraz Naeemi Killed in Blast

LAHORE (Nasarullah Malik): Renowned religious scholar and principal of Jamia Naeemia Lahore Dr Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi among three people were killed in a suicide attack at his seminary here Friday, reports ARY NEWS.

The blast that apparently was a suicide attack occurred following the Jumma prayer in the seminary situated at Garhi Shahu area of the metropolis.

According to preliminary reports, the blast was occurred in the office of Dr Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, the principle of one of the largest religious seminary of the city. Naeemi was present in his office at the time of the blast, says an eyewitness.

The blast was as powerful as it completely destroyed the offices building and also damaged the nearby installations of the seminary.

Rescuers and law enforcement personnel have arrived at the scene and the injured were being rushed to Mayo Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital and other nearby hospitals.