The Nation : Politics News

Bomber unleashes mayhem in packed Charsadda market

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

CHARSADDA � At least 32 people were killed and 100 others wounded in a suicide car bomb blast at congested Farooq-e-Azam Chowk here on Tuesday.
The blast was so severe that it damaged signboards and several vehicles including two buses. It jolted the entire city of Charsadda and smashed windowpanes of the nearby buildings.
The injured were shifted to District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital Charsadda and Peshawar. Dr Manzoorullah of DHQ Hospital told journalists that at least 24

US says no intention to seize Pak N. arms

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

WASHINGTON: The United States has given the assurance that it has no intention of seizing Pakistan's nuclear weapons or material, saying it has confidence in the county's ability to protect its nuclear programmes.
"The US has no intention of seizing Pakistani nuclear weapons or material," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said when questioned about an American magazine article that the Obama administration wants Pakistan to let Washington help secure its weapons in a

Zardari suspected of graft in submarine sale: Report

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

PARIS ( DPA) � Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is suspected of having received millions of dollars in kickbacks from the 1994 sale of three French submarines to the Pakistani Navy, the daily Liberation reported Tuesday.
In addition, investigators believe that the non-payment of the full amount of the agreed kickbacks may have led to the deaths of 11 French nationals in a 2002 terror attack in the city of Karachi.
In the report, Liberation says it acquired documents that

Obama mulling five options for Afghanistan

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

WASHINGTON � US President Barack Obama and his senior advisers will consider five strategies for Afghanistan and Pakistan at their next meeting on Wednesday, administration officials said.
Obama and his advisers will consider an Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, including recommendations on strategy and troops level recommended by General Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in Afghanistan, ABC News reported on Tuesday.
During his Oct. 30 meeting with the Joint Chiefs of

Work on NRO beneficiaries' list afoot

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday directed all its regional offices to prepare a list of the cases in which the accused had secured relief under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), sources in the department informed on Tuesday.
The orders to Regional Accountability Bureaus in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar were gave direction that details of all those who had availed relief under NRO be prepared and the same should be sent to the

SC verdict on Dogar's plea today

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � During the course of hearing on two petitions filed by Justice (Retd) Abdul Hameed Dogar, challenging the July 31 verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan, his counsel Naeem Bokhari Advocate once again sought the permission of the apex court to challenge the status of incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Briefing media persons about the hearing of the case held in chamber of Justice Ghulam Rabbani, who reserved verdict for Wednesday (today)

Waziristan will be tougher than Kashmir: Taliban

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

PESHAWAR (Reuters/AFP) � Taliban militants vowed to fight a tough, protracted guerrilla war against the army on Tuesday.
The army went on the offensive in South Waziristan on October 17, aiming to root out Taliban militants behind a wave of violence in urban areas.
The militants have responded with intensified attacks in towns and cities since the offensive was launched, killing several hundred people. Soldiers have been advancing into the militant heartland from three

Resolution declares NWFP war-torn

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

PESHAWAR (APP) � The NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday presented a resolution in a representative jirga of business community of Peshawar held at Chief Minister House that was unanimously endorsed.
In the light of the resolution and recommendations of industrialists and business community, the federal government has been urged to declare the province as war ragged and approved a package for the business community, otherwise they will be free in their

IGP denies while TheNation stands by

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � A spokesman of the Islamabad Police has issued following denial to TheNation�s story titled �Fake encounter to save IGP?�
�It is incorrect that police had arrested the person few days ago. There is no pressure on any police officer to formulate any script to uphold these appointments or image. No conspiracy has been hatched whatsoever. Live courage has shown from the scene of crime that it took about more than one hour to defuse around 8-1/2 kg explosives attach to

Bomb explodes in Quetta

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

QUETTA (APP) � A bomb placed near Quetta-Karachi Highway in Mian Ghundi area, Quetta went off here on Tuesday at about 2:00pm, however, no loss of life or property could be occurred.
Police sources told this news agency that unidentified militants had placed the bomb along roadside in Mian Ghundi area which exploded. They maintained that no loss of life or property could take place as there was no traffic on the road at the time when the explosion occurred.
The police have

PM assures free and fair polls in G-B

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

SKARDU (APP) � Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday assured holding of free, fair and transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and said ensuring level-playing field by the government encouraged all political parties to run for the polls.
Addressing a large public gathering organised by Pakistan People�s Party here at Police Ground, the PM termed it �his government�s success for encouraging participation of all political parties in the polls that once boycotted the

2 teams of US Congressmen due today

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � Two American delegations of Congressmen are visiting Pakistan from (today) Wednesday, sources informed TheNation Tuesday.
Sources said a delegation comprising of eight people including Congressmen headed by John F Tierney would arrive Pakistan today (Wednesday). The Congressmen will hold meetings with politicians and office-bearers.
Another American delegation will arrive tomorrow (Thursday). When contacted Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Basit

Zardari chooses Ghari Khudabakhsh as last abode

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � Struggling head-on to surmount a plethora of challenges, President Asif Ali Zardari has been contemplating about his future to the extent of even choosing his last abode, TheNation has reliably learnt on Tuesday.
According to sources close to the President, Asif Zardari has been brainstorming for some time whether it should be Ghari Khudabakhsh or Madina (Saudi Arabia) for his last resting place.
The sources were of the view that President Zardari has actually

CNG stations stay out of business

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD - All Pakistan CNG Station Owners Association observed strike on Tuesday in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and from Attock to Jehlum, which created numerous problems for the motorists.
The CNG association is protesting against the government�s decision to close gas refilling stations for two days a week under its �Gas Load Management Programme 2009-10�. The association has turned down the government�s plan and announced to observe systematic strike in various cities of Punjab

Parliament House under threat

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD - Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza rushed into meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani following receiving anonymous letter containing a threat of attack on Parliament House a few days back, Parliamentary sources informed TheNation on Tuesday.
The sources further informed that the anonymous letter addressed to the Speaker National Assembly contained a threat of possible attack on the Parliament House in near future if the ongoing operation against