LONDON: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi says he is willing to forgive and forget the happenings of the Indian Premier League auction and if he is i

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ISLAMABAD: Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani has said that militant positions have been knocked down in FATA and these elements have now fallen apart.

Addressing a ceremony about FATA survey report, he said the situation is much better in FATA as compared to the past as the state writ has been established in most of the tribal areas.

He, however, said that another 8 to 9 months are required to completely control the situation.

Ghani further said relocation of local people from the insurgency-hit areas is a part of government?s strategy, so that the public losses could be minimized.

The governor said economic, administrative, social and political reforms will be introduced for the rapid growth of the affected areas.

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KARACHI: Leaders of Pakistan Poeople?s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Wednesday brushed aside existence of a deadlock on local bodies system and hoped that all the issues will be sorted out through understanding.

A meeting of PPP and MQM leaders was held here after the Sindh Assembly session. Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Agh Siraj Durrani, Ayaz Soomro, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Faisal Sabzwari and Raza Haroon attended the meeting.

Talking to media after the meeting, Agha Siraj Durrani said for the first time the President restored province?s powers by cutting his.

He said nothing conclusive has been finazlised about the local bodies system.

MQM?s Deputy Parliamentary leader Faisal Sabzwari also denied presence of any impasse between PPP and MQM. The Local Government Ordinance will be passed by the Assembly, he added.

He no local bodies ordinance is on the cards for the time being.

?PPP and MQM are sorting out the issues with mutual understanding and as soon as any decision is reached the same will be made public,? he said.

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LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed four different resolutions, including those condemning the killing of 12-year-old maid Shazi

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Karachi

A showdown is expected at the City Courts on Thursday (tomorrow), as most of the legal representatives belonging to Pakistan People?s P

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KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Works and Services Manzoor Wasan has said that under-construction Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University is a gift to the people of Lyari, which will be opened for admissions by the year-end.

The provincial minister said this during a visit to the university, where he inspected the progress made in the construction work.

Later, briefing the media, he said that special quota will been allocated in Lyari university for the students of far-flung areas of Karachi.

The minister said that Lyari had been always been the stronghold of PPP and will continue to remain so. He also directed the local PPP leaders to start preparations for the next local government election.

Wasan said that the people of Sindh would hear a good news regarding local government system in a day or two.

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LAHORE: Senior Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said Wednesday that measures are being taken by the Punjab Government for the development of various sectors as well as improving the law and order situation.

Briefing the participants of 11th National Security Workshop here, he said that a record amount of Rs175 billion has been allocated for the development projects in the province and priority is being given to less developed and backward areas, specially districts of Southern Punjab.

He said that computer labs are being setup in 4286 government schools of the province so that all students could get IT education without any discrimination.

Khosa said grant of Rs5 billion has been provided to the 15 districts of Southern Punjab for the socio-economic uplift of people of the area as well as development in education, health, agriculture, livestock sectors, improving water supply and constructing the roads.

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PESHAWAR: Fourteen militants have been killed in a security force?s action in Bajaur Agency while one soldier embraced shahadat.

Three children were killed in a bomb blast in Dirbala.

Twelve militants were killed in a clash between militants and security forces and national Lashkar in Tehsil Salarzai of Bajaur Agency while one security man was martyred.

Two militants were taken out when security forces pounded parts of Tehsil Mamond while three children were killed when a bomb went off in a crop field in Dirbala.

Two terrorists were apprehended along with a vehicle in Central Kurram of Kurram Agency.

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KARACHI: The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) remained under selling pressure on Wednesday as stocks ended close to 9,600 psychological level.

The local bourse was positive in the opening, however, heavy selling in banking and energy sectors changed the direction towards red zone.

Investors avoided taking new positions amid continuous rupee devaluation against dollar.

The KSE-100 index lost 63 points to close at 9,603 points.

Total market turnover decreased to 145 million shares, while Lotte Pak was witnessed as the volume leader with a loss of Rs0.37/share to close at Rs10.72.

Meanwhile, parallel KSE-30 index closed at 10,038 points with a loss of 109 points.

Market experts expect a correct phase near the level of 9,500 points.

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QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued a notification about Abdul Qadir Baloch?s win in NA-271 in line with the decision of provincial election tribunal.

Two days earlier, the provincial election tribunal declared Lt. General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch as winner in NA-271.

The election tribunal has issued notification about Baloch?s victory in the constituency.

Abdul Qadir Baloch had contested the general elections on February 18, 2008 in NA-271. However, he recently joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Previously, Ehsan Ullah Reki of the PML-Q was declared winner on this constituency after the general elections.

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