LAHORE

THE Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the counsel for a blasphemy accused to file a separate petition for her acquittal.

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PESHAWAR: At least 27 militants including two important commanders have been killed in a security forces operation in Tirah Valley, Geo News reported Friday.

According to the FC sources, at least two hideouts, three tunnels and 19 vehicles used by the extremists, have been destroyed in the action.

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PESHAWAR: Governor NWFP Awais Ahmed Ghani Friday said the basic reason for instability in the region is the unrest in Afghanistan, and that weapons from Afghanistan are arming the militants in Pakistan.

Addressing a seminar organized by Employers Federation of Pakistan at Governor House Peshawar, Awais Ghani said successes are being achieved against militants in the province and in a year?s time a visible change will dawn in NWFP but a total normalcy will be restored to the province in three years? time.

He said assistance from the Federation is being availed for the revival of industries and reconstruction in the province.

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WASHINGTON: The US unemployment rate rose in September to 9.8 percent as 263,000 jobs were cut, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The report on nonfarm payrolls, seen as one of the best indicators of economic momentum was far worse than expectations for a loss of 175,000 jobs and could hurt chances of a sustainable recovery from recession.

The number of job cuts rose sharply after a revised loss of 201,000 in August.

The jobless rate of 9.8 percent was in line with expectations.

The goods-producing sector lost 116,000 jobs in September including 64,000 in manufacturing. Even worse, the services sector shed 147,000 jobs with 39,000 of those in retailing.

Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the figures showed the number of unemployed persons has increased by 7.6 million to 15.1 million, and the unemployment rate has doubled to 9.8 percent, according to the Labor Department.

The latest official data showed the US economy contracted at a 0.7 percent pace in the second quarter, nearly emerging from the recession that slashed output by 6.4 percent in the first quarter.

Most economists expect growth to return in the third quarter but say the recovery could fade without job growth.

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ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Ammad Khan Friday said the drone attack is not sole mechanism to eliminate the terrorists and there wouldn”t be drone attacks in Balochistan.

He said the government is alive of the situation and taking effective measures against the terrorists and militant elements.

He was speaking in the Upper House of the Parliament in response on different points of orders and concerns showed by Senators about possibility of drone attacks in Balochistan.

Referring to nuclear assets, he said, “The nuclear assets are in save hands and we have the mechanism to stop proliferation.”

He further said the Kashmir issue is a core issue between Pakistan and India and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also took up the matter with his Indian counterpart in a recent meeting.

“The Kashmir issue is not being sidelined,” he added.

Earlier, Senator Mir Hasil Bazenjo warned of drone attacks in Balochistan and said, if Quetta is attacked then Islamabad would also not be safe.

From quite some time we are listening to rumours of drone attacks in Balochistan, he said and alleged, the government could not satisfy the people on such statements and news reports.

He mentioned to report of New York Times and high level meetings at State department and nailed this notion that Mulla Omar or members of Taliban Shura were based in Quetta and Balochistan.

He demanded of the government to summon the US ambassador to Foreign Office and inquire about any such decision by the US government.

He said Quetta is not Tora Bora. It is residential area and the government should take effective and immediate steps to address this issue.

Senator Raja Zafarul Haq described this situation as ”horrifying” and said, the situation was even getting complicated.

He claimed there have been contradictions in the government stance and asked them to stop this dichotomy. “We feel, the government has dual understanding internally and abroad.”

Senators Kulsoom Perveen and Ismail Buledi said, US was making excuses for drone attacks in Balochistan. “No Taliban leader or Shura member reside in Balochistan. US may be wanting to get hold of Gwadar port or intrude Balochistan to disturb Iran.”

“Both these acts would prove to be dangerous,” he added.

Kalsoom Parveen, a Senator from Balochistan also expressed great concern about the news of US drone attacks in Balochistan province to hunt down Taliban chief Mullah Umer.

Senator Raza Rabbani said that the nation would not allow drone attacks in Balochistan and the concern of the Upper House of the Parliament should be conveyed to US authorities.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said that neither the Taliban nor the Al-Qaede chief is in Balochistan province. He said the Foreign Office should summon US envoy in Pakistan and lodged a protest with them.

Senator Ismail Bulehdi strongly condemned the possible drone attacks in Balochistan and the news of Mullah Umer and Osama bin Laden’’s presence there.

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LAHORE: Nine more candidates have filed papers for contesting by-polls for NA 123, pushing the total number of candidates in the run to 23.

The last date for filing nomination papers is October 3.

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Karachi

Residents of Madina Colony in Baldia town Thursday captured one of the three robbers, who had entered the house of a local person for c

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KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza has ordered CCPO Karachi to launch an inquiry into the incident of Baldia Town in which police provided protection to the decoit, arrested others and manhandled the Geo News team.

The provincial minister directed the police to mend their attitudes and refrain from misusing authority.

He also directed the IG Sindh and DIG Training to adopt measures for imparting proper training to the police officials and personnel.

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No. 134! Neither it is an omen nor something reminiscent of ?No. 54, the house with the bamboo door?, the famous old English song that even Punjabis w

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ISLAMABAD: Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani has said the Americans have shared no evidence with his country about the presence of Taliban leader Mu

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