News

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President in trouble for inaction on CoD: Nawaz

2010-01-29T18:37:00.002+05:00

Updated at: 1556 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010
PESHAWAR: The leader of PML-N Mian Nawaz Sharif said President Asif Zardari disappointed us by not implementing Charter of Democracy (CoD) and it also created problems for him.

Addressing a press conference here, Nawaz Sharif said country is facing through critical phase and revolutionary measures are needed. He said principles are necessary for the success of democracy and one should follow it first before anyone else.

Sharif urged the government to accept supremacy of constitution and decisions of court. He also demanded to provide good governance to the public as it is in the interest of the country.

POL prices likely to go up by Rs4/ liter

2010-01-29T18:36:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 1219 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The petroleum product prices are likely to increase by Rs.1.50 to Rs.4 per liter.

The sources told Geo News that new prices will be implemented from February 1 according to monthly review policy.

Due to increase in prices in international market, it is expected that POL prices will go up by Rs.1.50 per liter to Rs.4 per liter.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority(OGRA) will announce the new pirces, sources added.

Australia beat Pakistan four times in a row

2010-01-29T18:35:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 1711 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010
PERTH: Pakistan once again showed disappointing performance against Australia being defeated in the fourth consecutive One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.

Chasing a difficult target of 278 runs, the entire Pakistan team collapsed for a mere 142 in 37.5 overs, giving Australia a 135-run big-margin victory.

Australia are leading the five-match series 4-0 with one ODI remaining and they are aiming for another whitewash after making a clean sweep in the three-Test series.

Pakistan were in trouble right from the beginning with losing opener Salman Butt (nought) in the very first over and later Younis Khan (6) when they were on just 14.

Kamran Akmal also went for 17 and then captain Mohammad Yousuf for 10, Pakistan were reeling at 39 for four.

Later, young batsmen Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam added 60 valuable runs for the fifth wicket before Fawad was run out for 21.

Umar Akmal made 38 , the highest score of the Pakistan innings, with two fours and a six. He was bowled by Ryan Harris who on his next delivery got Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Shahid Afridi came at the crease and started hitting every ball, hammering two towering sixes and three magnificent fours. He made 29 off just 10 balls and threw away his wicket in his usual fashion.

Then, Australian bowlers wiped off the tail to achieve their fourth successive victory.

Harris again emerged as the most successful bowler , bagging five wickets for 19, his second consecutive five-wicket haul.

Pakistan were set a difficult target of 278 runs by Australia in the fourth One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.

Winning the toss, Australian captain Ricky Ponting decided to bat first and his team made 277-8 in the allotted 50 overs.

Pakistan were looking a better team this time with an improved fielding and their bowlers bowled quite well to dismiss four Aussie batsmen for 110 runs in 22 overs.

However, Cameron White and Michael Hussey came to their rescue and they took the score to 159 before White went on 44.

When James Hopes was bowled by Mohammad Asif for 16 and Australia were 190 for six then Nathal Hauritz joined Hussey and both blasted a brisk partnership of 80 runs from just 56 balls.

Hussey made 67 off 75 balls with four boundaries while Hauritz was more aggressive to smash four sixes and a four. He remained unbeaten on 53, which he made from 39 balls.

For Pakistan, fast bowler Asif was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 42 runs while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

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Cabinet okays 8 rental power projects

2010-01-28T07:26:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 2158 PST, Wednesday, January 27, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday awarded approval to start 8 rental power projects in line with the recommendations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Moreover, the cabinet rejected 5 rental projects and decided to review 6 others.

Following the meeting, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said ADB had made 11 recommendations in its report, which were approved by the cabinet.

He further said that work on the approved projects would immediately get underway, which is expected to complete by June this year.

These projects will help generate 1,156 mega watts electricity, while legal aspects of 6 other projects will be reviewed.

Ashraf pointed out that these 8 projects will result in 6.1 percent increase in power tariff and this hike would have gone to 9.9 percent if all 14 projects have got the approval. He said old IPPs will be replaced by the new projects.

He said the government wants these plants to run on gas, but lack of availability in the international market has stopped the process.

Sheikh Mujib’s killers executed

2010-01-28T07:25:00.003+05:00

Updated at: 0347 PST, Thursday, January 28, 2010
DHAKA: Bangladesh executed five convicted killers of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Wednesday, officials at a Dhaka prison said.

Mujib and most of his family were killed in 1975 in a revolt by young army officers. One of his two surviving daughters, Sheikh Hasina, is now the country’s prime minister.

The executed ex-officers were identified as Major Bazlul Huda, Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Faruk Rahman, Lieutenant Colonel Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan and army lancer AKM Mohiuddin.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected appeals by the five convicted men against their death sentences, removing the last legal barrier to their execution. Within hours, legal and government officials told reporters outside Dhaka central prison the executions had been carried out.

“The executions have finally pulled the curtain down on one of history’s most gruesome killings,” chief state attorney Mahbube Alam said. Six other former officers convicted in their absence were never caught and another died abroad.

Nearly a thousand people gathered outside the prison in Old Dhaka. Dozens of ruling Awami League supporters were present, holding banners with slogans saying: “Justice at last” and “Do not bury them in Bangladeshi soil”.

Coffins for the five had been taken into the jail on Wednesday evening. The prison was surrounded by heavily armed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) troops and police. The families of the convicts had been called during the day by the prison authorities. Mahsuza Pasha, sister of one of the convicts — Bazlul Huda — told media she had said goodbye to her brother, a former army officer.

“My brother is a martyr,” she said, adding “We haven’t been given justice. I was allowed to see my brother one last time today.” The trial of Mujib’s killers began only after Hasina was first elected prime minister in 1996. The process was slow because of legal complications and came to a halt after her rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, came to power in 2001.

After assuming office for a second term in January last year, Hasina vowed to complete the trial of those accused over her father’s death as soon as possible. She and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, survived the 1975 killings because they were abroad at the time. Their mother, three brothers and many relatives were killed.

Bearish spell continues as KSE sheds 63 points

2010-01-28T07:25:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 1929 PST, Wednesday, January 27, 2010
KARACHI: The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) remained under selling pressure on Wednesday as stocks ended close to 9,600 psychological level.

The local bourse was positive in the opening, however, heavy selling in banking and energy sectors changed the direction towards red zone.

Investors avoided taking new positions amid continuous rupee devaluation against dollar.

The KSE-100 index lost 63 points to close at 9,603 points.

Total market turnover decreased to 145 million shares, while Lotte Pak was witnessed as the volume leader with a loss of Rs0.37/share to close at Rs10.72.

Meanwhile, parallel KSE-30 index closed at 10,038 points with a loss of 109 points.

Market experts expect a correct phase near the level of 9,500 points.

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Shazia murder case: 3-day police remand for accused

2010-01-27T07:00:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 1757 PST, Tuesday, January 26, 2010
LAHORE: A local court on Tuesday granted three-day police remand to Chaudhry Naeem Advocate arrested in connection with Shazia murder case.

Chaudhry Naeem Advocate, the main accused in Shazia murder case, was presented in the court amid tense environment created by lawyers that also threatened media.

The accused produced before the Cantt court on Tuesday. The relatives of Shazia and large number of lawyers were presented at this occasion.

The lawyers blamed media for creating hype about the case and tried to stop them to cover the event. On the other hand, the relatives of Shazia were expelled from the court.

Earlier, additional district and session judge Shafiqur Rehman has granted the interim bail to Chaudhry Naeem’s wife and sister-in-law till February 3 and directed the police authorities to submit record. Chaudhry Naeem’s son had already got the interim bail.

Five Taliban officials removed from sanctions list: UN

2010-01-27T06:59:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 0608 PST, Wednesday, January 27, 2010
UNITED NATIONS: A UN Security Council panel said Tuesday it has removed five top Taliban officials from its list of individuals subjected to sanctions imposed over their links with Al-Qaeda.

A statement said the panel on Monday "approved the deletion (de-listing) of the five entries" from its blacklist of individuals subjected to a travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo.

The move coincided with an announcement by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that he would press for Taliban names to be removed from the UN blacklist at a major conference on Afghanistan in London Thursday.

Karzai hopes to win Western support at the London talks for a plan to offer money and jobs to persuade Taliban fighters to lay down their weapons.

The five officials removed from the UN list are Abdul Wakil Mutawakil, who was foreign minister under the now ousted Taliban regime; Faiz Mohammad Faizan, a former deputy commerce minister; Shams-US-Safa, a former foreign ministry official; Mohammad Musa, a deputy planning minister; and Abdul Hakim, a former deputy frontier affairs minister.

A Western diplomat said the five were now believed to be "moderate Taliban officials" with whom Karzai could start a dialogue.

The UN blacklist had been established under UN Security Council Resolution 1267, adopted in October 1999 for the purpose of overseeing implementation of sanctions imposed on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan for its support of Osama bin Laden's extremist network.

Under the resolution, UN member states are required to impose travel bans, an asset freeze and an arms embargo on any individual or entity associated with Al-Qaeda, bin Laden and/or the Taliban.

To that end, a Security Council sanctions panel, chaired by Austria since January 1, 2009, maintains a list of individuals and entities linked to the two extremist groups.

Austria said the list contains some 500 names, including 142 linked to the Afghan extremist group.

KSE sheds 23 points amid panic selling

2010-01-27T06:58:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 1846 PST, Tuesday, January 26, 2010
KARACHI: Heavy selling grabbed the local bourse on Tuesday as KSE-100 index was unable to maintain the 9,700 psychological level.

Market started the day in green zone as benchmark index moved in a positive direction after making double peak, but eventually became a victim of prevailing bearish spell before closing time.

The index depleted by 23 points again, with volumes reaching 161 million shares as stocks ended at 9,666 points.

Investors preferred selling in energy stocks despite impressive financial results by FFBL.

Yesterday’s FIPS data reveals that foreign investors were offloading their investments, which has contributed towards negative market sentiment.

FFBL was crowned as the volume leader, down by Rs0.12/share to close at Rs32.12.

Meanwhile, junior KSE-30 index closed at 10,147 points with a loss of 25 points.

“SBP is expected to disclose monetary policy stance on January 31, 2010 where market principles suggest that their will be no rate cut,” said a market expert adding, result season is in full swing which may change the dimensions of the index.

Pakistan’s 3rd successive defeat hands Aussies series win

2010-01-27T06:57:00.001+05:00

Updated at: 1705 PST, Tuesday, January 26, 2010
ADELAIDE: Pakistan’s series of failures still continues as they lost the five-match series to Australia, being beaten in the first three consecutive One-day Internationals.

However, Pakistan showed a good fighting spirit chasing a difficult target of 287 runs in the third ODI here at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday and at one time it was looking as they can achieve it. But they were all out for 246 runs as Australia won the match by 40 runs.

First, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam set the tempo adding 85 runs for the fifth wicket stand and later Shahid Afridi and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan made 58 for the seventh wicket partnership.

Umar Akmal top scored with 59 runs while Shahid Afridi smashed 40 off 29 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Other main scorers were opener Salman Butt (34), middle-order batsman Fawad Alam (33) and allrounder Rana Naved (33).

The most successful bowler for Australia was seamer Ryan Harris, who captured five wickets for 43 runs, while spinner Clinton McKay bagged three for 48.

Harris, who replaced injured Peter Siddle in this match, was later adjudged the man-of-the-match.

Shane Watson and spinner Nathan Hauritz took one wicket each.

Earlier, Australia batted first after winning the toss and amassed 286 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Opener Shuan Marsh and vice-captain Michael Clarke were the main scorers with 83 and 80 runs, respectively while Michael Hussey (49), opener Shane Watson (33) and Cameron White (28) also made significant contributions to their team’s huge total.

Captain Ricky Ponting was the only batsman to be dismissed for a nought.

For Pakistan, seamers Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul claimed two wickets each while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and fast bowler Mohammad Asif took one wicket each.

Pakistan made two changes against one by Australia. They brought in Mohammad Asif, recovered from his hand trouble, to replace Mohammad Aamer who is out with the groin injury,. They also got Fawad Alam in for Shoaib Malik.

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