ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday night called on President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency and discussed a host of issues including the power outages in Karachi and other parts of the country.

The meeting took serious notice of the frequent power breakdowns in Karachi and the failure of the utility to meet the challenge particularly in the wake of rains the other day.

Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President advised the government to take appropriate action immediately to streamline the working of the Karachi Electric Company and make it respond to the challenges.

Following the Presidential advice relevant authorities were instructed to take immediate action.

Accordingly a show cause notice was issued to the utility late in the night as to why action should not be taken against it under the law.

The KESC was informed that strict action will be taken against it that may also include the action to take over the management of the utility for its consistent failure in meeting its obligations.

The President also briefed the Prime Minister on his meeting in Raiwind with PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif in which the two parties agreed to reform the Constitution in accordance with the Charter of Democracy and purge it of the 17th Constitutional Amendment.

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LAHORE

THE office-bearers of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) visited different hospitals on Tuesday in connection with the PMA announcem

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HYDERABAD: A detainee in Hyderabad Central Jail (HCJ) has shot injured his fellow prisoner over personal enmity here on Wednesday, Geo news said.

According to details, Detainee Mola Baksh fired other detainee Ali Hasan two bullets, leaving him critical wounded who is under treatment at jail hospital.

Mola Baksh bribed jail authorities to obtain arms within HCJ premises, sources revealed adding, ?Mola Baksh shot other prisoner to take revenge of his father?s murder?.

It is pertinent to mention that the Haji Abdul Karem, the father of Mola Baksh, was shot dead within the limits of Sindh High Court (SHC) as he arrived there for a trial of a case two years ago.

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PARIS: The Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has said that we are ready to carry out fresh investigation into killing of eleven French engineers in bombing, provided France government hands Pakistan concrete evidences regarding involvement of our intelligence agencies into slaying.

In an interview with French T.V channel following his meeting to French counterpart here, Rehman told media issue of murder of French engineers that took place in 2002 came under discussion during meeting.

He said we clearly informed French government that concrete evidences over the involvement of Pakistan?s intelligence agencies would make us able to launch fresh investigation into incident.

Meanwhile, French Interior Ministry said in its statement released following meeting, France assured Pakistan its all out support in war on terror.

A former French intelligence official had earlier alleged Pakistan intelligence agencies to have hands in killing of French engineers in bombing over unpaid commission in formation of sub-marines for Pakistan, statement further added.

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ISLAMABAD: The staff of Supreme Court showed up at former president Pervez Musharraf?s farm house to deliver the SC notice summoning him before the court on July 29 but the staff present at the farm house refused to receive the notice.

The 14-member bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan hearing the case of judges appointment served notice on the former president which his staff refused to receive from SC staff at Pervez Musharraf?s farm house in Chak Shahzad.

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An unbeaten 106 from Shoaib Malik helps Pakistan build a 366-run lead over Sri Lanka with two days left of the third and final Test in Colombo.

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Controversial unmanned aircraft strikes against targets in Pakistan’s restive tribal region are not working, the country’s prime minister has told the Obama administration’s point man for the region.

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Karachi

Enraged power consumers resorted to protests again on Tuesday after prolonged power outages in their areas.

Meanwhile the Karach

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LONDON: Andrew Flintoff insists only a “very, very serious” injury would stop him firing England’’s bid to regain the Ashes from Australia.

Flintoff was named man of the match after a second-innings five-wicket haul in England’’s dramatic second Test victory over Australia at Lord’’s.

The 31-year-old’’s performance came despite the pain of a persistent knee problem, which has put his fitness for the third Test at Edgbaston in doubt.

But Flintoff, who last week announced his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the series, is determined to go flat out for the remaining three Tests.

Flintoff told in a radio programe: “The good thing was I bowled a lot of overs and kept my pace up.

“I”d be lying if I said I”m not a little bit sore but I was confident when making the announcement that I was retiring from Test cricket that I had four to go, and now it’’s three.

“It”d have to be something very, very serious not to play in the next three Test matches.”

Although his Lord’’s performance showcased Flintoff’’s ability, he added that he would not be tempted to go back on his retirement decision.

“There are no thoughts of changing my mind,” he said. “The things I am going through to get on the cricket field I can do short term but I won”t be able to do it much longer.”

Flintoff, speaking at the launch of his own charity, the AF Foundation, which seeks to raise money for children’’s rehabilitation and physiotherapy units, added: “It was a team effort. It was nice to get the plaudits on the final day and get a few wickets but I think everyone at some point contributed.”

With three Tests to go and only a 1-0 lead, he also warned England not to rest on their laurels.

He said: “It is nice with a lot of people congratulating you but we can”t be complacent, we have only won one Test match.

“We have still got three to go and, knowing them (Australia), they are going to come back hard. We”ll just have to go that little bit harder.”

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LAHORE

THE office-bearers of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) visited different hospitals on Tuesday in connection with the PMA announcem

More: continued here