ISLAMABAD: The PML-N parliamentarians held a rally in protest against 3rd November 2007?s emergency on Shahrah-e-Dastur Tuesday.

The members from government?s coalition parties also participated in the rally at its outset.

PML-N parliamentarians abandoned the National Assembly?s session to stage a protest outside of the building against the emergency declared by former President Pervaiz Musharraf in 2007.

The participants of the rally raised slogans against the emergency. Parliamentary leaders from PPP, Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat-e-Ullema Islam attended the rally but returned afterwards.

The PML-N parliamentarians kept chanting slogans against the dictatorship on Constitution Avenue and ended the march at Supreme Court. PML-N leaders also expressed their resentment over National Reconciliation Order.

The PML-N members also met the family members of the missing persons.

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ABU DHABI: Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Khalid Latif hit half-centuries to help Pakistan reach 287-9 in the first day-night international against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Tuesday.

Dashing all-rounder Afridi hit a quickfire 50-ball 70 and opener Latif a snail-paced 64 to help Pakistan recover from a precarious 75-4 after Younus Khan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Akmal gave the innings final touches with a belligerent 43-ball 67 laced with four sixes and five boundaries as Pakistan ran rampage, collecting 107 in the last ten overs.

Afridi, vice captain of the side, was instrumental in initially stepping up the run-rate with his bold hitting as he smashed three sixes and four boundaries during his 30th half-century.

He added 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Latif after New Zealand paceman Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and Younus — both without scoring — in his incisive five-over spell.

Latif, who scored 19 in his only previous one-day in January last year, was also involved in a 57-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf, who shaped well for his 30 before being run out.

Afridi hit Vettori for a six before smashing two off successive deliveries off Nathan McCullum. He hit Bond for a straight drive to reach half-century off 36 deliveries, his first after 33 matches.

Afridi’’s last ODI fifty came against Zimbabwe at Multan last year.

Paceman Jacob Oram finally got Afridi off a miscued shot, caught at short fine-leg in the 39th over to break a repair-damaging partnership. Latif followed, bowled by Vettori’’s viscious arm ball two overs later.

Latif hit only two boundaries during his 112-ball knock.

Kamran’’s innings was special as he made full use of the power-play, and added 86 off just 37 balls for the seventh wicket with Abdul Razzaq, who made 20-ball 26.

The three-match one-day series was relocated to Abu Dhabi after New Zealand refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.

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LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Munawar Hasan Tuesday criticized the operation Rah-e Nijat as he alleged that South Waziristan operation is the fulfillment of objectives of the USA and India in Pakistan.

Earlier Munawar Hasan paid condolence visit to Wasim Akram on the demise of his wife.

Talking to the media, Hasan said that thousands of people have been displaced due to South Waziristan operation and this fight bears no fruit for people.

Hasan further expressed that many people have been spared from being exposed owing to parliament?s failure to present National Reconciliation Ordinance in the assembly.

He said that this is the time that judiciary should bring corrupt people to the dock.

Munawar Hasan has urged Governor Punjab to oppose operation in south Punjab, and Jamaat-e-Islami will support the Punjab government, if the government does so.

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KARACHI: A passenger train smashed into a cargo train on the edge of Pakistan’’s financial capital Karachi on Tuesday killing 16 people, including women and children, authorities said.

“We have received two more dead bodies. With this, now I can confirm that 16 people are dead, including three children and three women. There are more than 45 injured,” doctor Seemi Jamali of Jinnah Hospital said while talking to a French news agency. Most of the casualties had been travelling in the passenger train.

Police and rescue workers said they were still working to retrieve bodies and survivors from the wreckage of the passenger train hours after the crash.

The accident took place at Juma Goth, in the suburbs of Karachi, when the driver of the Karachi-bound Allama Iqbal express ignored a traffic signal and collided with the goods train, senior railway official Aftab Memon said.

Most of the casualties occurred in one passenger coach of the train, which was coming from the eastern city of Lahore, he said.

Pakistan suffered its worst train disaster in more than a decade in 2005 when three trains ploughed into each other in southern Sindh province, killing around 150 people. More than 350 people were killed in a 1990 train smash.

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KARACHI: Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah expressed grief over the train accident at Jumma Goth railway station and resultant loss of precious lives.

The Governor Sindh Tuesday directed concerned officials to provide relief to affectees of train accident in Karachi.

He directed authorities concerned to ensure provision of all the required facilities and to leave no stone unturned in this regard. The Governor expressed grief over the loss of life in the accidents and prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give patience to the bereaved family members to bear this loss. He further prayed for early recovery of injured.

Condoling with the bereaved families, the Chief Minister directed the administration and health authorities in particular to extend every help to affectees and spare no effort in the treatment of injured.

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Pakistan News

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani telephoned PML (N) chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday evening to invite them to the PM House for a briefing by the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan.

The Prime Minister said he wanted to take PML (N) leadership onboard before presenting the report of the Committee before the joint sitting of the Parliament.

The Prime Minister said the government is taking all major political parties onboard for achieving consensus on important national issues including the formulation of a reform package for Balochistan.

Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is currently on a visit to Gilgit-Baltistan agreed to the proposal. The meeting will take place soon after the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif.

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Pakistan News

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Tuesday troops had stormed into another important Taliban stronghold, killing 16 militants and seeking to expand their control in a blistering air and ground offensive.

Around 30,000 ground troops advancing on three fronts and backed by warplanes and attack helicopters are pressing a major offensive against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for a third week in South Waziristan.

“Security forces have commenced sanitisation of Sararogha,” the military announced in a statement. No official was immediately reachable for comment.

Sararogha is one of the most strategic towns where ground and air forces are fighting in the forbidding mountains on the Afghan border. US officials say Al-Qaeda is plotting attacks on the West from the lawless tribal belt.

Sixteen militants and one soldier were killed in fighting so far in the town, the military said.

Overall, 21 militants were killed in the last 24 hours, pushing the total number to 364 since the operation started, according to information provided by the army. The army has reported the deaths of 37 soldiers.

The military provides the only regular information coming from the frontlines. None of the details can be verified because communication lines are down and journalists and aid workers barred from the area.

Militants fired six rockets on the town of Kanigurram, another Taliban operational centre and Uzbek fighter stronghold, which the forces captured on Monday, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

“Forces are also extending on the adjoining ridges to increase their area of influence,” the army said.

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ISLAMABAD: The MNAs in the parliament severely criticized former President Pervaiz Musharraf?s act of declaring emergency. While, PML-Q leader Ameer Muqaam declined to support any dictator in the future, on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani along with other members of the parliament wore black arm bands to mark black day in protest against emergency declared by the former regime.

Federal minister Khursheed Shah said that former regime crushed the will of people with power.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali urged the government to act upon the Charter of Democracy if it want to keep the pledges assured by Benazir Bhutto.

PML-Q leader Ameer Muqaam claimed, ? We pledge that we will not support any dictator?. Muqaam further questioned that what change came in since the autocratic regime went and democracy took its course.

Replying to a question, Marvi Memon said, ?Civil dictatorship should also be questioned.?

Federal minister for interior Rehman Malik said that Musharraf was forced to abandon his uniform due to Ms. Bhuttos sagacity.

He said that Charter of Democracy states that no one would play any role in weakening the democracy.

Speaker National Assembly, Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that she and her husband faced the trials for 11 years without having benefit from NRO.

Later on, the NA session was adjourned till 4 pm tomorrow (Wednesday).

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LAHORE: Protests have sprung against the dearth of sugar in different cities of Punjab, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Sugar completely disappeared from major cities in Punjab, including Lahore, and the commodity is being sold at Rs.60 per Kg.

Sugar crisis aggravated in Punjab Province. The shopkeepers are selling sugar at their desired prices, while dealers and shopkeepers have stashed up sugar.

Sources said that sugar mafia is active against the government and the judiciary to foil them and the sugar crisis is anticipated to get worse.

The district government has said that sugar supply has been increased in the market, as trucks have been delivering sugar in all the towns and consequently the situation will improve soon.

On the other hand, shopkeepers? quota of sugar supply has been further reduced in Sialkot, Chiniot, Okara and Wahari.

The consumers and the shopkeepers have staged protests with rousing slogans against the administration.

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KARACHI: The leaders from various political and religious parties mourn the loss of life and property in train collision that occurred near Jumma Goth area of Karachi, Geo News reported on Tuesday.

Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan expressed deep sorrow on the loss of 16 lives and 45 wounded in the accident.

In his commiseration statement, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah said that he has directed the administration, especially health authorities to take proper care of the train accident injured, and that they should be given best treatment possible.

PML-Q leader Ghaus Bakhsh, Sindh chapter and general secretary Sindh Haleem Adil Sheikh expressed their grief on the accident and demanded the government to punish the people responsible for this incident.

The chairman of Sunni Tehreek Mohammad Sarwat Eijaz Qadri has also lamented the Jumma Goth train accident and had demanded the government to carry out investigation immediately.

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