PESHAWAR: NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain Sunday said that Shuhada Trust will be established with the financial help of philanthropists with an aim to support the victims of terrorism.

Talking to media during his visit to the bomb blast site, the Minister said the fight against terrorism will be carried on till the last breath.

He said the blast victims will be provided the monetary help soon. Recommendation has been made to the Federal Government that financial support should also be provided to the people whose business has been affected by the terrorist activities.

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WANA: Nine terrorists have been killed and 2 apprehended while 2 security men embraced Shahadt during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Wazrisitan Agency.

According to ISPR, on Jandola ? Sararogha Axis, security forces have surrounded Sararogha from three directions and operation is progressing smoothly. Security forces have completed sanitization of Zariwam and consolidation of positions around Point-1435, Point-1342, Point 1389 and Point 1290.

On Shakai - Kaniguram Axis, Search and clearance operation of Kanigurm has commenced and fifty percent of the town has been cleared.

Areas along the road up to Biga north of Kanigram and North West of Badar Algad up to Kaniguram have been cleared.

Terrorists fired with small arms and rockets at security forces check post. Resultantly 1 soldier was injured and 4 terrorists were killed near Asman Manza.

Khazar Manzor Ziarat south of Asman Manza has been secured.

Security forces apprehended 1 terrorist and recovered 1 machine gun alongwith 2 spare magazines near Asman Manza.

During clearance operation at Karama the stronghold of Uzbeks, security forces recovered and destroyed two caches of mines, explosives, ammunition along with 1 medical operation theater equipped with Russian equipment and 1 ammunition and explosive laden vehicle.

Security forces apprehended 1 terrorist from Karwan Narai.

Two soldiers embraced shahadat and 1 was injured while 5 terrorists were killed during exchange of fire at Patok Narai.

On Razmak- Makeen Axis, security forces have surrounded Makeen from three directions and cleared Litta Sar area. Consolidation is in process.

During last 24 hours security forces have recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition during search and clearance operations along all three axes. These weapons include 3 x 14.5 mm guns with 1200 rounds, 3 x 12.7 mm along with 60 ammunition boxes and 1455 rounds, 2 Light Machine Guns and 2 Light Machine Guns mounted Vehicles, 8 Rifles 303 and 4 (mark-4) rifles, 16 Rockets of RPG-7 with 59 rockets, 4 x 7mm rifles, 1 SMG with 6 magazines and 500 rounds, 5 Walki talkie sets, 10 Communication sets, 6 Jammers, 1 Telescope and 2 binoculars, 1 Communication System (PATCOM Antenna), 12 HE Grenades and 24 arges grenades, 11 Fire extinguisher vehicles and 2 blasting machines, 5 Anti tank mines, 4 Heavy mortars with ammunition, 1 missile launcher and 3 missiles from Nawaz Kot during operation, 25 x 82 mm bombs, 1 SPG-9 grenade launcher along with 50 rockets, 15 Passports,

In operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat ? Malakand, 2 terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Bishbanr and Shadhand Banda.

Security forces conducted search operation at Durshkhela and apprehended 7 suspects.

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LILLE: Pakistan clinched second consecutive win by defeating Russia 5-0 in second match in Hockey World Cup Qualifying round, Geo News reported Sunday.

Pakistan put up brilliant show from the very commencement of the match played in France?s city of Lille. In the first half, Pakistan got the better of Russia 3-0.

In the second half, Pakistan scored two more goals and established for them an overriding victory.

Pakistan?s Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Sohail Abbas, Muhammed Imran and Abdul Haseem Khan hit goals.

It should be mentioned that Pakistan defeated Italy also 5-0 in the first match.

Pakistan is scheduled to play its third match against France.

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ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has advised the government to bypass the parliament and implement taxation reforms through a presidential ordinance, according to a report submitted to the Federal Board of Revenue.

The report of the WB review mission, which has a mandate to review the progress made by the FBR in implementation of its recommendations for tax reforms, said that going to the parliament could result in ”undesired consequences”.

The report said: ”The GoP (government of Pakistan) has some options to follow in order to modify the set of legal instruments that will harmonise procedures and responsibilities and allow the integration of functions irrespective of tax types. One option is to again submit the ordinance for the president?s signature on the next recess of parliament.

”This is a relatively fast journey in the administrative (executive) branch that within four months will require parliament?s ratification.”

The report further said: ”Second option may be to send the package of legal reforms to parliament or include them as part of the budget submission for the next fiscal year. This will significantly delay the implementation of the harmonise procedure, but more importantly may be subject to changes in parliament that might bring undesired consequences.”

The report also said that the creation of Inland Revenue Services (IRS) in the FBR by the Establishment Division was in accordance with the term of the July agreement between Pakistan and the World Bank at Istanbul.

The Customs and Excise Group (CEG) officers in FBR had challenged the creation of IRS in the FBR by the Establishment Division in the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court.

The CEG group officers argue that the creation of a new occupational group in FBR is illegal and would affect their constitutional rights.

The case is under the consideration of a court of law, but the WB suggested FBR to continue with the process of ”occupational service integration”.

The WB?s acting spokeswoman Mariam Altaf said the review mission report was for the use of the government, and not a public document. She refused to comment on the report.

According to official sources, the government is working on the draft of an ordinance, ”Harmonisation of Income Tax, Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty Ordinance”.

Official sources told Dawn that fresh amendments in the Finance Bill trough the Ordinance proposed empowering the FBR chief to issue notifications and appointments for the creation of an inland revenue service.

Under the new ordinance, all officers of income tax, sales tax and federal excise departments would be called as officers of the ”inland revenue service”.

The Directors of Large Taxpayers Units and Regional Taxpayers Units will be renamed as chief commissioner of LTAs and RTUs.

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DOHA: Serena Williams bested big sister Venus again Sunday, winning 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships final.

Serena broke twice in the first set and lost just seven points on serve in her last match of the year. She looked sharper than Venus in every facet of a match that featured few long rallies and little of the spectacular tennis the two have provided in some of their previous meetings.

“It feels great,” said Serena, who also won the WTA Tour’’s season-ending event in 2001. “I totally didn”t expect to come here and win.”

It was Serena’’s fourth straight win over her sister. She also beat Venus in the round-robin stage of the Doha tournament, the Wimbledon final and the semifinals in Miami this year.

“Playing a final against Venus is really tough,” Serena said. “Even though she wasn”t really feeling great, she kept hitting every ball back.”

Serena earned $1.55 million for the win after finishing the event undefeated.

Venus, who lost two of her three round-robin matches but still advanced to the semifinals, looked tired after rallying for a three-set win over Jelena Jankovic on Saturday. Venus played with her left knee strapped, while Serena had strapping on her left thigh.

Serena, who advanced after U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki retired injured in the semifinals, held five of her last seven service games at love and lost just one point in each of the other two.

It was her third tournament win of the season after Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

“I haven”t won a tournament that wasn”t a Grand Slam in a while, so that was even more exciting,” she said. “My losing streak in (other) tournaments in over.”

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Pakistan News

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Special Support Group Lt General Nadeem Sunday said the people displaced during Waziristan operation are being registered.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Waziristan displaced people are being registered at six points, adding Rs2.68 billion have been doled out to the 30,000 affected families.

He added as many as 7200 families have received these cards.

The SSG head said the cash money is being distributed through cash cards as well, adding it was decided to give money in cash in lieu of food.

The 95 percent people of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) have left their areas, he said adding Pakistan Army gave out 405 tonnes ration to Waziristan affectees.

The SSG chief said hospitals have been established in DI Khan and Tank.

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Pakistan News

DUBAI: Pakistan and New Zealand resume their battle for fourth place in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship when they go head to head in the three-match series at Abu Dhabi from Tuesday.

New Zealand, which had leapfrogged Pakistan into its current position after defeating Younus Khan’’s side by five wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 semi-final at The Wanderers on 3 October, currently sits on 110 ratings points while Pakistan is just one ratings point behind.

However, the green shirts can regain fourth place if it wins the three-match ODI series to be played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

If Pakistan wins the series 3-0 it will jump to 115 ratings points while New Zealand will drop to seventh position on 104 ratings points. A 2-1 series win for Pakistan will take it to 111 ratings points and will push New Zealand to 108 ratings points.

A clean sweep of the series will help New Zealand strengthen its fourth position on 115 ratings points while Pakistan will slip to seventh on 104 ratings points. A 2-1 series win for the Black Caps will earn it one rating point which will take Daniel Vettori’’s side to 112 ratings points while Pakistan will concede two ratings points to drop to 108 ratings points.

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PESHAWAR: The work regarding clearing the rubble in the wake of massive blast in Peshawar market has been completed after four days, Geo News reported Sunday.

According to Town administration, the modern machinery meant for pulling down the buildings is not available; however, the work for clearing the rubble is underway with available apparatus.

The Peshawar market blast on Wednesday claimed 112 lives; while, over 150 people were injured. The relief work which was kick-started right after the blast continued for four days in collaboration with the personnel from District Administration, PDA, Motorway Police and Pak Army Engineering Corps.

The people kept up the work for removing the rubble from their houses and shops; while, the roads leading up to Muslim Mina Bazaar have been re-opened and people are in great number are turning up the blast site.

Talking to Geo News, SSP Peshawar Abdul Kareem Khan said the explosives were hidden in a Suzuki pickup vehicle, adding the small parts of the vehicle were recovered from the blast site, they have been sent to the forensic laboratory, where the parts will be assembled together to trace down the owner of the vehicle.

Meantime, the pulling down of the precarious buildings is still in progress. The local traders protested to the government against delay in the removing the rubble and razing down the insecure buildings.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) MNA Khawja Saad Rafique Sunday said Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) earned slur for supporting the government of Pakistan People?s Party (PPP) to protect the system.

Talking to Geo News and addressing a ceremony hosted in his honour by party workers here, he said the country would never be put at stake just to save the system.

Saad said the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) should not be presented in the Assembly in the presence courts, as tabling it in the Parliament would be an affront to National Assembly.

Saad Rafique vowed that his party would fervidly oppose the NRO in the NA, if it was presented at the House.

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Karachi

The Darakhshan police on Friday arrested a former section officer of the Sindh Agriculture Department, Illyas, who allegedly sent thous

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