ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday said that the network of terrorist organizations has been smashed in the country adding that we have to join hands to fight collectively against such elements.

Talking to media persons here at the Parliament House, he said that it is not a time to indulge in blame game but is a time to create unity among our rank and file and to fight the mindset which wants to destabilize the country. “The Punjab government should not be blamed for Lahore tragedy. No one is safe from them and the terrorists attack whenever they find any opportunity,” he observed.

The minister said the government operation against the terrorists in Swat, Malakand and tribal areas remained successful and the whole network of terrorist organizations has been broken. The whole nation including security forces, media and the civil society played key role in eradicating the menace of terrorism from Swat and Malakand division, he said.

The security forces remained successful in the operation against the terrorists in Malakand division and it was the results of consensus which was built against such elements, he added. The Minister said that some splinter elements belonging to smashed terrorists groups are acting in desperation but the government would not allow them to play with lives of innocent people.

Replying to a question, Kaira said that it was not made public that how many people were arrested in connection with terrorism on the basis of intelligence. “Wherever we deem necessary, we will take action and we need no dictation from any quarter,” he added.

In response to another question, he said that democracy has been restored after long struggle and the nation would not tolerate any ultra-constitutional change in the system.

The National Assembly session was convened to discuss relief and rehabilitation of flood victims but it has been adjourned for one day owing to the death of Minister for Local Government AbdulRazzaq Thahim and now the matter would be discussed on Friday.

More: continued here
Pakistan News

LONDON: Three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of illegal betting allegations are innocent, Pakistan’’s ambassador to Britain said Thursday after meeting the players.

Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan told a scrum of media that Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif had declared their innocence and vowed to fight the allegations.

“The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime,” Hasan told reporters.

“They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such.”

Hasan said the trio had requested to be withdrawn from Pakistan’’s remaining fixtures on their tour of England due to the “mental torture” they had suffered since the scandal broke.

“They maintain that on account of the mental torture which has deeply affected them, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches,” Hasan said. “Therefore, they have requested that the Pakistan Cricket Board not consider them for the remaining matches.”

Asked later if he believed the trio were innocent, Hasan replied: “Yes, I believe in their innocence.”

Butt, Aamer and Asif were all named in a News of the World report which alleged they were involved in a “spot-fixing” scam by bowling deliberate no-balls in last week’’s Test match with England in exchange for cash.

The revelations have shocked the cricket world and led to calls from figures within the game that the players involved should be banned for life.

More: continued here

SINGAPORE: Oil was steady near $74 on Thursday as investors turned their attention to upcoming U.S. employment reports, following gains of almost 3 percent a day earlier after positive manufacturing data lifted spirits across markets.

U.S. crude for October delivery CLc1 slipped 8 cents to $73.83 a barrel by 0704 GMT, after a jump of $1.99 on Wednesday. ICE Brent LCOc1 dipped 33 cents to $76.02.

Manufacturing in top oil consumers the United States and China accelerated in August, reports showed on Wednesday, raising hopes record petroleum stockpiles would fall and reviving confidence across markets.

The focus over the next two days was set to turn to lagging U.S. employment indicators, including weekly jobless claims, on Thursday. The nation’’s nonfarm payrolls probably fell for a third straight month in August, a survey showed, ahead of a monthly report due on Friday.

“The market was just seeking optimism and this came from strong manufacturing data,” said Serene Lim, a Singapore-based oil analyst at ANZ.

“Some traders started the new month with new positions. It was a buying opportunity, especially for those who were bullish in the long term. However, the market will be in a wait-and-see mode especially before the payrolls report this Friday.”

U.S. private employers unexpectedly cut 10,000 jobs in August, a report by payrolls processor ADP showed on Wednesday.

But markets shrugged off the negative news from the labour market, after Institute for Supply Management data on Wednesday showed U.S. factory activity rose in August for a 13th straight month.

Investors had been expecting the ISM reading to show a decline in manufacturing from July, which would have fit with recent data showing a slowdown in U.S. growth.

Wednesday’’s rally in oil prices was earlier triggered by data showing China’’s manufacturing industry accelerated in August, expanding for an 18th consecutive month.

Japan’’s Nikkei average rose 1.5 percent on Thursday and China’’s key stock index rose 1.3 percent, after the U.S. and Chinese manufacturing data eased investor worries about the global economy.

Global stocks posted their biggest percentage gain this summer on Wednesday, in tandem with a broad-based commodities rally.

But oil market fundamentals were not as constructive. U.S. crude stockpiles rose three times as much as expected in the week to Aug. 27, adding 3.4 million barrels, as refineries cut usage rates, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Distillate supplies fell 739,000 barrels, going against forecasts for an increase and snapping 13 straight weeks of gains, while gasoline inventories declined 212,000 barrels, roughly in line with analyst forecasts, the EIA data showed.

EIA statistics showed total U.S. petroleum stockpiles rose last week to a new high of 1.143 billion barrels, up from 1.139 billion the previous week, for the highest inventory levels since at least 1990, when the EIA began tallying weekly stocks data.

“The fundamentals will still weigh down the market,” Lim said. “Cushing inventories are still relatively high.”

The large build in U.S. total crude stockpiles could deepen the contango in crude markets, when front month futures trade at a discount to later months.

The spread between first- and second-month crude oil contracts ended at $1.50, narrowing from $1.60 on Tuesday, which was the widest level since early June. U.S. crude was also trading close to the biggest discount to Brent crude since May.

Tropical Depression Nine in the eastern Atlantic Ocean strengthened into Tropical Storm Gaston late on Wednesday as it continued on a westerly path that could head for the Caribbean.

Gaston was expected to gain force slowly over the next 48 hours and could become a hurricane by Sunday or Monday. Some early computer models showed it tracking into the Caribbean, but it was too early to say if it would enter the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Earl in the western Atlantic was upgraded to a Category Four hurricane again, and was expected to sideswipe the U.S. East Coast from the northern Carolinas, making landfall on Canada’’s Atlantic coast on Saturday.

More: continued here

TAUNTON: The eyes of the cricket world are on Taunton today as the controversy dogged Pakistan team play Somerset in a 50-over friendly.

The Pakistanis were coached into the County Ground shortly before 8.30am amid tight security.

And spectators were queuing outside even earlier for the game, which starts at 10.45am.

Pakistan will be without Test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer who are being interviewed by their country’’s cricket board.

They were named by the News of the World in an expose of alleged betting scam involving bowling no balls to order in a Test match against England.

Somerset are also resting a number of senior players.

Pak team captain Shahid Afridi who came back said winning this match is vital for Pakistan, as the win will boost the morale of the team for upcoming one-day series and Twenty20 matches.

The Pak players had a prolonged practice session for the match.

More: continued here

LAHORE: The death toll from suicide attacks that targeted a busy procession in Lahore rose to 37 on Thursday as more people succumbed to their injuries, officials said.

Three suicide bombers targeted a Shiite mourning procession made up of thousands of people on Wednesday at the moment of the breaking of the fast in the holy month of Ramadan, wounding hundreds.

It was the first major attack in Pakistan since devastating floods engulfed a fifth of the volatile country over the past month in its worst disaster yet.

“Thirty-seven people have died and a total of 281 were injured,” Fahim Jehanzeb, a spokesman for Lahore’’s rescue agency told media, adding that he feared more would die from their injuries.

Sajjad Bhutta, a senior local administration official, also confirmed the new death toll.

A mass funeral was hastily arranged for later in the day with police and paramilitary providing tight security, while local authorities announced a day of mourning with all public and private institutions closed.

A reporter said that all markets were closed and the roads were quiet on Thursday, after the attacks provoked an outpouring of fury in the city a night earlier, with mourners trying to torch a nearby police station.

Police fired tear gas to force back the surging crowd as furious mourners beat the bodies of the suicide bombers with sticks and shoes, while others beat their own heads and chests at the site of the attacks in frustration.

The emotional crowd chanted slogans against the police and the provincial government over their failure to protect the Shiite procession, a correspondent on the scene said.

Lahore, a city of eight million near Pakistan’’s border with India, has been increasingly subject to Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked attacks in a nationwide bombing campaign that has killed more than 3,600 people in three years.

The procession hit by the blasts was being held to mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hazarat Ali, who is the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed.

Shiites account for around 20 percent of Pakistan’’s mostly Sunni Muslim population of 160 million.

In July, twin suicide attacks on an Islamic shrine in the city, which is the capital of Punjab province and a major military, political and cultural hub, killed 43 people.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the latest attack, which came as the United States added the Pakistani Taliban to a blacklist of foreign terrorist groups, whose members now face asset freezes and travel bans.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton designated the Tehreek-e-Taliban as a foreign terrorist organisation on August 12, and it was formally added to the list when it was published Wednesday in the Federal Register.

More: continued here

JATI: Raging flood torrents, unleashed from two breaches in MS protective embankment, have entered Jati city of Thatta District after wreaking havoc in Sujawal, Geo News reported Thursday.

Another roaring floodtide, surging from Hadad Kot, is heading to hit Khairpur Nathan Shah while the city?s 70 percent population has relocated themselves to safer places for fear of flood devastation.

A massive floodtide is 1km away from Kharipur Nathan Shah whereas; another flood torrent through breaches of MNV Drain is raging fast towards Khanpur and Indus Highway.

Several villages have been deluged by floodwater in Jati city.

Many cracks have started to appear in Dhamra Canal, allowing floodwater to flow through them.

More: continued here

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit welcomed the US decision to slap ban on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, as Pakistan has already outlawed this outfit, Geo News reported Thursday.

Addressing a news briefing here at Foreign Office, he said British response is being awaited regarding sending a Pak team to investigate into the cricket scandal.

?We have received pledges of over one billion dollars in aid for flood victims. Also, the government is mulling over calling donors conference in Islamabad,? Basit informed.

The Foreign Office official informed a conference would be held on September 19 in New York to court succor for the flood affectees and an important meeting of Friends of Pakistan would take place in Brussels on October 15.

Chinese workers are scrambling to restore Karakoram Highway on request by Pakistan, he said.

Abdul Basit said the government is still waiting for Indian reply on investigations of Samjhota Express Tragedy.

Responding a question, he said Pakistan welcomed US withdrawal from Iraq, adding his country wanted stability in Afghanistan.

The convoy of Pak Army cancelled its US visit in protest against inappropriate US attitude, he added.

More: continued here

TAUNTON: Tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been dropped by the Pakistan Cricket Board from the limited-overs leg of the England tour, according to team manager Yawar Saeed.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said that new replacement players will be called in for the series.

The players accused of spot-fixing during the Lord’’s Test missed a practice game against Somerset in Taunton to meet with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) officials and senior diplomats.

Captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have been implicated in the scandal following a sting operation by British tabloid ”News of The World”.

Pakistan lost the four-Test series against England 1-3 last week at Lord’’s where the finale was overshadowed by the ‘’spot-fixing” scandal.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, the three Pakistan players who are at the centre of the spot-fixing controversy have been dropped; however, they had not, been suspended.

The three players are currently in London, where they are due to meet Pakistan’’s high commissioner to the UK. The PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, is expected to be at that meeting.

Speaking in Taunton, where the Pakistan team are to play a warm-up match later on Thursday, Saeed said he had taken the decision, and also called for three replacements.

“The T20 squad will remain what it is here this morning, i.e. 13 people,” Saeed said.

“When we play the one-day internationals we will be asking for replacements to make the squad up to 16.”

The decision comes after several rounds of meetings between Ijaz Butt, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat and officials of the ECB, at which the PCB is believed to have been advised that the players should not take part in the rest of the tour.

More: continued here

KARACHI: Ongoing flood devastations in Sindh province is underway as tehsil Khairpur Nathan Shah is being seen on rapid evacuation as fast roaring deluges are heading to wreak anticipated devastation in the area, Geo News reported Thursday.

Meanwhile, flood tides have inundated Jati city of Thatta district.

According to member provincial assembly Imran Laghari, emergency has been declared in Khairpur Nathan Shah tehsil of Dadu district owing to flood anticipation, asking people to evacuate houses in the earliest.

Meanwhile, raging flood torrents, unleashed from two breaches in MS protective embankment, have entered Jati city of Thatta District after wreaking havoc in Sujawal.

Another roaring floodtide, surging from Hadad Kot, is heading to hit Khairpur Nathan Shah while the city?s 70 percent population has relocated themselves to safer places for fear of flood devastation.

A massive floodtide is 1km away from Kharipur Nathan Shah whereas; another flood torrent through breaches of MNV Drain is raging fast towards Khanpur and Indus Highway.

Several villages have been deluged by floodwater in Jati city.

Many cracks have started to appear in Dhamra Canal, allowing floodwater to flow through them.

More: continued here

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are probed, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised “prompt and decisive action” if the allegations made by a British Sunday newspaper are proven, insisting that corruption would not be tolerated.
Pakistani authorities have also promised severe punishment but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would not suspend any players while police investigated the players.
“Chairman Ijaz Butt just told me that since there is a case going on with the Scotland Yard we are not going to suspend any player,” a PCB spokesman said.
“He further said that this is only an allegation so far. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken.”
According to British media reports, the players named in the News of the World allegations — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal — are unlikely to play in the series of one-day internationals against England.
The Pakistan team begin their preparation for the one-day series, which follows the Test series in which the alleged betting scam took place, with a practice match against English county Somerset on Thursday.
The first one-day match against England is on Sunday.
The News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, alleged that a middleman took 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to arrange for Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said it understood that the ICC had asked the Pakistan authorities for the four players cited in the allegations to be dropped from the squad, although no official request has been made.
Other British press reports said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was adamant that the players at the centre of the allegations should be omitted from the one-day series.
Citing an ICC source, it also reported that the same players had been under investigation for months by their anti-corruption unit.

More: continued here