Nisar hints involvement of foreign handlers in Islamabad standoff

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday hinted at some foreign handlers of Muhammad Sikandar, main character of the Islamabad standoff, as he revealed complexity of the drama staged on August 15 at Jinnah Avenue and assured to take the investigation to a logical conclusion.

The issue is not so simple. This incident points towards involvement of some officials and sensitive institutions and international mobsters. There are some handlers of Muhammad Sikandar and we shall unearth this conspiracy.

Fazl warns of protest against potential delay in D I Khan/Tank by-poll

D I KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Monday said that by-elections on NA-25 D I Khan/Tank would not be allowed to be postponed on the pretext of security reasons being expressed by certain quarters to the Election Commission.

Some political forces in the constituency, keeping in view the popularity of the JUI-F candidate, were seeking ways to run away from polling.Speaking to APP, the JUI-F chief said, We will not allow anyone to postpone polling in the constituency. If any attempt is made to put off the polls, the party would strongly resist it, he added.

Nawaz vows to eradicate terrorism, improve economy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday expressed resolve of the government to eliminate terrorism, improve economy, address power crisis and pursue good neighbourly relations with all countries of the region including India for regional peace and prosperity.

The premier, in his first official televised address to the nation, said Pakistan today was facing serious challenges like terrorism, endangering the very survival of the country and worst kind of power shortfall that has paralysed the national economy.

Egypt must get back to 'inclusive approach': US

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged Egypt's military rulers to take an inclusive approach to governing after security forces killed hundreds of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

Hagel reiterated Washington's appeal for dialogue amid ongoing bloodshed in Egypt but acknowledged that US influence over events is limited.

The interim government of Egypt must get back to an inclusive approach to reconciliation in Egypt, Hagel said during a joint news conference at the Pentagon with his Chinese counterpart, General Chang Wanquan.

Asfandyar vows to defeat PTI in KP by-polls

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan on Monday said since PTI chief Imran Khan has been keeping his silence over the deteriorating law and order situation, therefore he will face a historic defeat in the August 22 by-polls.

Addressing a public gathering at Nishtar Hall in Peshawar, he said in the aftermath of Bannu jailbreak, Imran Khan had said that ANP lost the right to rule the province. What does Imran have to say now about his right to rule the province after D I Khan jailbreak, he questioned.

Men behind Nanga Parbat massacre arrested

GILGIT: The Diamer Police on Monday claimed a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Nanga Parbat massacre by arresting over 20 attackers following a targeted operation.

The Nanga Parbat massacre took place in late June this year when ten people including foreign climbers and a Pakistani cook were gunned down at the base camp.

We have arrested some 20 men in connection with the killings of locals and foreigners. We reached the hideouts of the terrorists involved in the assassination of security officials, foreign tourists and sectarian killings on Karakoram Highway and Naran-Kaghan road (Lolo Sar) after tremendous efforts, Superintendent of Police Diamer District Muhammad Navid said.

Indian army told to retaliate to Pakistan border firing: Antony

NEW DELHI: India's army will take all possible stepsto counter any ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the border between the two countries, the Indian defence minister said Monday, warning not to take New Delhi's restraint for granted.

Skirmishes have erupted across the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in Kashmir, since five Indian soldiers were killed earlier this month in an ambush which India has blamed on the Pakistan army.

By-polls to be held as scheduled: secretary ECP

ISLAMABAD:The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided on Monday to hold the upcoming by-polls on August 22 as per schedule setting aside concerns over terrorism and the flood-hit areas,  reported.

Moreover, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed said that armed forces personnel would be deployed at polling stations designated as 'sensitive' and 'most sensitive.'Addressing a press conference after attending a high-level meeting, during which issues like terrorism and the recent floods were discussed, the election commission's secretary said that armed forces personnel would be deployed 4,526 polling stations to be held in 42 constituencies of the country.

Sindh Assembly passes Local Government Act 2013

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly passed a new bill proposing changes in the local body government today amid chants of shame, shame made by the opposition.

Opposition leader Sardar Ahmed of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) strongly protested against the bill, claiming that it was not the same bill which was shown to the opposition.

In response to Ahmed's statement, PPPs Nisar Khuhro declared that the opposition was simply opposing for the sake of opposing, which prompted MQM lawmakers to stand up and loudly protest.

Egypt's Mubarak will be freed soon, lawyer says

CAIRO: Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president overthrown in an uprising in 2011, will be released from jail soon after a prosecutor cleared him in a corruption case, his lawyer and a judicial source said on Monday.

Mubarak, 85, was arrested after he was ousted. In scenes that mesmerised Arabs, the former leader appeared in a court-room cage during his trial on charges that ranged from corruption to complicity in the murder of protesters.More than a year on, the only legal grounds for Mubarak's continued detention rest on another corruption case which his lawyer, Fareed el-Deeb, said would be settled swiftly.

PM for expediating flood relief activities

LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif directed on Sunday the Punjab government to utilise all possible resources for accelerating relief activities in the flood-hit areas.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the measures being taken by the Punjab government for providing relief to flood affected people, during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.The Punjab chief minister briefed the Prime Minister regarding flood situation and relief activities in the province and informed the premier that all the available resources were being utilised for the rehabilitation of flood affected people.

LHC discards appeal against death sentence of GHQ attack mastermind

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi division bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday discarded an appeal against the death sentence of Aqeel Ahmed alias Dr Usman, the man convicted for the 2009 attack on the Army General Headquarters (GHQ), DawnNews reported.

The intra-court appeal was heard by a bench comprising Justice Mazhar Iqbal and Justice Ibadur Rahman Lodhi.During the hearing, the court declared that the government had not yet decided on the implementation of capital punishment, adding that the appeal would be heard after the government makes a decision on the matter.

Bank deposits decrease

Bids worth Rs186.76 billion were accepted by the central bank during an auction of T-bills of various tenors held on August 6.

Of the total, three-month T-bills fetched Rs170.97 billion (bn) at a cut-off yield of 8.9872 per cent, while six-month T-bills fetched a sum of Rs15.79bn at 8.9836 per cent. Total bids received were of a face value of Rs188.96bn. No bids were received for 12-month T-bills, while non-competitive bids had amounted to Rs13.44bn.The State of Bank of Pakistan also conducted its open market operations (OMO, mop up) in the three-day repo contract on August 13. Four bids were received with total amount offered at Rs15.5bn, within a range of rate of return of 8.5-8.6 per cent. Of these, three bids were accepted for a total amount of Rs9.5bn, at a rate of return of 8.5 per cent.

Rupee slides against dollar, euro

The rupee continued to lose ground against both the dollar and the euro last week amid dull trading.

On the interbank market, the rupee commenced last week by shedding 38 paisa on the buying counter and 37 paisa on the selling counter to close the day at Rs102.68 and Rs102.72, from Rs102.30 and Rs102.35 at the close of the prior week ended August 7.However, the rupee managed to gain one-paisa against the dollar on the buying counter and another two-paisa on the selling counter in the second trading session to trade at Rs102.67 and Rs102.70.

Stocks rise as investors speculate about monetary policy decision

The stock market was abuzz last week over what the upcoming August monetary policy statement has in store. Is the State Bank of Pakistan likely to jack up the discount rate?

Strong arguments were presented by pundits and participants on both sides. The anticipations of the two groups were poles apart. Farah Marwat, an analyst at JS Global, was sure that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would maintain status quo in its monetary policy, which is likely to be announced this week. However, Zubair Ghulam Hussain, head of sales at Foundation Securities, was equally confident that a raise of 50 to 150bps in the discount rate was on the cards.

Afghanistans attorney general sacked over secret Taliban meeting: official

KABUL: Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, has sacked his attorney general of almost five years, after the chief law officer held an unsanctioned meeting with Taliban peace negotiators in the United Arab Emirates, a senior Afghan official and a legislator told Reuters on Monday.

Attorney General Muhammad Ishaq Aloko met members of a Taliban peace negotiation team in Dubai, despite being told by the Presidential Palace not to attend the meeting, the official said.

Bugti murder case: ATC orders authorities to produce Musharraf on Sept 10

QUETTA: During Mondays hearing of the Akbar Bugti murder case, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta ordered the authorities to produce before it former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, the main accused in the case, on September 10 as it adjourned the matter to the said date, DawnNews reported.

ATC judge Ismail Baloch was hearing the case relating to the murder of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti.During the hearing, the judge expressed displeasure at the team investigating Bugti's murder over their failure to produce Musharraf for the hearing.

Two FC personnel among three dead in Quetta violence

QUETTA: Armed militants killed two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and injured another one in Sariab road area of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan on Sunday evening, police said.

Shabeer Ahmed, a police official told Dawn.com that two armed militants opened fire at the checkpost of FC in Sariab road area of Quetta.

He said one FC personnel was killed on the spot, whereas another succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital.

Ahmed said one attacker was also killed when FC personnel retaliated after the attack. He said another attacker was arrested alive in an injured condition and was shifted to an unknown location for interrogation.

Police and FC personnel were quick to reach the scene and the area was subsequently cordoned off. Security was tightened on Sariab road as an investigation into the incident is now underway.

The injured FC personnel was rushed to combined military hospital for medical treatment. Senior doctors were called on emergency basis to provide timely treatment to the injured soldier.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, Ahmed suspects Baloch separatists were behind the attack.

Sariab road is considered to be one of the sensitive areas of Quetta city. Targeted killings and bombings in the area is order of the day.

Apart from police, FC personnel have also been deployed on the road to maintain order.

This incident has occured two days after militants attacked Jaffar Express and killed four passengers in Mach area of the troubled Bolan district.

Court orders suspect in ephedrine case to surrender

ISLAMABAD: A special court for the control of narcotic substances on Saturday dismissed an application of Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, the former principal secretary to prime minister, against ex parte proceedings in the ephedrine case and asked him to surrender to avoid confiscation of his property.

In April, the court had issued perpetual warrants for Mr Lasharis arrest after declaring him a proclaimed offender.

Nawaz to address nation tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to make a formal speech to the nation on Monday, Dawn has learnt.

A senior official at the Prime Minister House told Dawn that arrangements for Mr Sharif146s address had been finalised and his speech was being given final touches.

In his first address to the nation since his election to the office of prime minister in June, Mr Sharif is expected to apprise the nation of the challenges being faced by his government in tackling crucial issues like terrorism, energy crisis and revival of the countrys economy.

India told to clarify missing inmates issue

ISLAMABAD: The government has sought a clarification from India over a discrepancy in a list of inmates in the neighbouring country in which there is no trace of 99 Pakistani prisoners.

In a written reply to the National Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Indian authorities had handed over the list of 386 prisoners to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi which included 108 fishermen and 278 other Pakistanis detained in Indian jails.

New Delhi believes in talks, says Salman

DEHRADUN: Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that India believes in strengthening relations with its neighbours through talks.

War is no solution. Persistent dialogue is definitely a better alternative through which we are trying to normalise ties with our neighbours,148 the minister told a workshop on 145Public Diplomacy Initiative146 at the Doon University on Saturday.

Noting that India occupied the foremost position among developing countries, Mr Khurshid said: 147We should not just be looked upon as a developing nation because we can equal many developed countries in various fields.

He said India owed its pre-eminent position among the developing countries to its foreign policy founded by former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi.

Mr Khurshid said they displayed great foresight while framing the country146s foreign policy.

In the post-globalisation era the world was in a state of constant flux and all the changes which were to take place in the years to come were foreseen by the country146s founding fathers who made a foreign policy bearing all that in mind, he said.

Four injured by Indian firing at LoC

MUZAFFARABAD: A soldier was among four people injured by the firing of Indian troops in Nakial sector of the southern Kotli district across the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday.

Officials said the heavy shelling continued from 2 to 4am in which Indian troops used both small and big weapons, including the artillery.

The injured were identified as soldier Sajid Shah and three civilians, Idrees and his sister Naseem of Dheri Dabsi village and ex-serviceman Mahmood Ahmed of Lanjot village.

Thai PM arrives on 20th

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra is reaching here on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to push better trade ties.

During the visit, which is the first high-level engagement between the two sides in a very long time, an agreement and a couple of memorandums of understanding would be signed.

Ms Shinawatra has been invited by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the visit.

Nawaz approves draft of Punjab local body law

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved a draft of law for the proposed local government system for Punjab.

However, the opposition strongly reacted to the move and said any approval was the prerogative of the Punjab assembly.

A PML-N leader said on Saturday the prime minister had approved the draft law in his capacity as chief of the ruling party.Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah briefed the prime minister on the proposed law.

PTI to unveil white paper on 21st

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Saturday his party would unveil on Aug 21 what he called a white paper on the rigging during general elections.

Our party has prepared a detailed and evidence-based white paper showing how the elections were stolen through widespread rigging on May 11, which will be made public on Aug 21, he remarked at a press conference held at residence of a PTI leader.He called for deployment of military personnel both inside and outside the polling stations during elections in 42 constituencies on Aug 22.

Monsoon system weakening: Flood in three rivers damages crops, houses

LAHORE: The weather system generating widespread rain in the country for the past four days weakened on Saturday but the floods it triggered in the Indus, two eastern rivers and their tributaries in the Sialkot region continued to play havoc with crops and settlements along their embankments.

Lahore received more rain and four people, including a minor girl, died as the roofs of their houses collapsed in different localities.The Met office said the monsoon low over Bahawalpur and Indian Rajasthan had weakened. The westerly system converting moisture into rain too went away from over the northern areas. Therefore, there will no longer be heavy rain in the country.

Woman among three shot dead for honour

NOWSHERA: Two men and a woman were shot dead for honour here on Saturday.

A police official said Zeenat Khan and her father-in-law Wali Mohammad were shot dead by the woman146s brother Javed Khan with the help of his uncle when the deceased were sleeping in their home late on Friday night.

Sources said Zeenat Khan had married Amjad Khan in a local court about two years ago and lived in Umer Abad.The bodies were taken to the district hospital for post-mortem.

Security forces take over Machh jail, launch search operation

QUETTA: Security forces have taken over control of Machh jail, the most sensitive jail in the southwestern Balochistan province.

The jail as its name signifies is situated in Machh, a small town in the Bolan district, about 60 kilometres from provincial capital Quetta.

A large-scale search operation was underway inside the jail, with thorough checking of the barracks going on.At present, there are about 1500 to 2000 prisoners in Machh Jail, including some high profile criminals and convicted terrorists.

Manufacturing grows 4.3pc in FY13

ISLAMABAD: The country's large-scale manufacturing (LSM) grew 4.3 per cent in the fiscal year 2012-13 as compared to FY11-12, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

On year-on-year basis, the LSM grew by 4.82pc in June 2013 compared to June 2012.

The Quantum Index Numbers (QIN) of LSM stood at 117.25 points in FY13 against 112.41 points in FY12.Industries monitored by Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) registered growth of 0.89pc while the indices of ministry of industries grew by 1.77pc and that of the provincial bureaus of statistics (PBoS) by 1.65pc.

Egypt mosque besieged as protesters prepare fresh demos

CAIRO: Egyptian security forces surrounded a Cairo mosque full of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi on Saturday as protesters planned fresh marches after street battles left more than 80 dead.

The tense stand-off at the Al-Fath mosque came after bloody clashes killed 83 people nationwide and resulted in the arrest of more than 1,000 alleged supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

The crackdown has divided Egyptians as never before in recent history, splintering the army-installed interim government and inviting international censure.

Foreign investment up pc in July

KARACHI: Foreign private investment increased by  per cent in the first month of this fiscal year, though in absolute terms the amount is not impressive.

During the last five years, foreign direct investment hit the rock bottom, reflecting loss of confidence in the country as a viable investment destination for a variety of reasons.

The State Bank on Friday reported that the foreign private investment in July rose to $118 million compared to $80m in July last year.

Obama to meet Singh next month

WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would meet US President Barack Obama in Washington next month, diplomatic sources told Dawn on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon met US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the State Department for talks aimed at finalising the agenda for the Obama-Singh meeting on Sept 24.

Mr Singh will arrive in Washington on Sept 23 and will proceed to New York after the bilateral summit to address the UN General Assembly on Sept 28. During his four-day stay in New York, Mr Singh may also meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Washington hopes that their meeting will reduce tensions between the two neighbours.

CJ links Balochistan unrest to LB polls

QUETTA: The Supreme Court observed on Friday that the main cause of the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan was the delay in holding of local body elections in the province.

He instructed the authorities concerned to submit a report about amendments to local body laws at the next hearing of the case. A two-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Azhar Saeed, while hearing the Balochistan unrest case, expressed annoyance over the absence of federal interior secretary from the court.

Sharp increase in gas tariff likely

ISLAMABAD: The government is set to increase tariff of natural gas by an average of Rs22 per unit next week to generate about Rs18 billion in additional revenue for the gas companies and a resultant windfall for the exchequer.

This will be followed by a gas tariff rationalisation plan under which structural changes will be made in the prevailing gas rates involving cross subsidies for various consumer sectors and jack up rates to a stage where it could absorb the impact of LNG imports. That will mean about 100 per cent increase in rates for captive power plants and almost 300 per cent increase for gas supply to fertiliser plants.

Justice Tassaduq nominated as acting CEC

ISLAMABAD: Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani was nominated as the acting Chief Election Commissioner on Friday.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry nominated Justice Jilani to act as the Chief Election Commissioner with immediate effect and till the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner.

The appointment has been made in accordance with terms of Article 217 (2) of the Constitution. The nomination by the Chief Justice was instantly notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Rains leave 100,000 affected: Indus, Chenab in high flood

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Indus and Chenab rivers were in high flood on Friday at a number of points after heavy rains lashed Punjab continually over a period of 48 hours from Wednesday night.According to government officials, 98 people have died in flood-related accidents over the past fortnight, mainly in urban areas, while more than 100,000 persons have been affected.

Flood warning centres have forecast more rains for Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions. Rains could be very heavy at times in places along the border with India or India-held Kashmir, according to the Met office.

Egypt Islamists vow new demos after deadly day of anger

CAIRO: Backers of Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi pledged to stage daily demonstrations as they ended a day of angry protests in which at least 75 people were killed on Friday.
The announcement came with Egypt already reeling from the deaths of 578 people on Wednesday when police cleared protest camps set up by loyalists of the deposed Islamist leader.

That crackdown drew strong condemnation from the international community, and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton called Friday for the bloc to adopt appropriate measures in response.

Islamabad standoff: Ch Nisiar says he ordred cops to hold fire

ISLAMABAD: Dispelling the impression that one armed man held the federal capital hostage, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday said that he was monitoring the situation minute-by-minute and had himself directly instructed the police not to open fire until ordered, Geo News reported.

"Taking an armed and dangerous Sikander out was not a big deal, but after confirming that he was neither a terrorist nor had he taken anyone hostage, I then issued the orders to hold fire as I did not want children to see their father getting shot", said Nisar while briefing the media about hours long armed standoff that brought Islamabad to a standstill Thursday.

ANP leader Najma Hanif gunned down in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Unknown miscreants gunned down Awami National Party (ANP) leader Najma Hanif after breaking into her house in Peshawar late on Friday night.

She was gunned down at her residence in phase one of the upscale Hyatabad neighbourhood of Peshawar.

Police sources told Dawn.com that unknown gunmen opened fire at Najma Hanif after breaking into her home just before midnight on Friday. The attackers managed to escape the site unhurt and unidentified, they added.

Seventeen dead, hundreds rescued after Philippine ships crash

CEBU: At least 17 people died while nearly 600 others were rescued after a ferry collided with a cargo ship in the Philippines on Friday, authorities said.

The Thomas Aquinas ferry, which was believed to be carrying about 700 passengers, sank quickly after colliding with a freighter near the port of Cebu, the country's second biggest city, coastguard spokesman Commander Armando Balilo said.

A rescue mission involving coastguard, navy and local boats was launched immediately after the collision, which occurred about 9:00 pm (1300 GMT) around two kilometres (1.2 miles) from shore.

Security forces kill eight militants following Jaffar Express attack

QUETTA: Security forces killed eight armed militants during a search operation on Friday night in Balochistan's troubled Bolan district in the aftermath of the attack on Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express train, a senior administration official said.

Deputy Commissioner Bolan Abdul Waheed Shah told reporters that security forces launched a search operation in mountains of Machh and Kolpur, killing eight militants.

Shah said the militants resisted the operation and both sides exchanged heavy firing during the action that continued for more than five hours. Tension prevails in the area after the killings, he said.

PPP seeks PML-Ns nod for local govt bill

KARACHI: A four-member delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) riday held talks with the Sindh governments committee on new local government law at the chief minister house.

MPA Irfanullah Marwat led the PML-N delegation comprising Sorath Thebo, Shafi Muhammad Jamote and Humayun Khan, while the government side was represented by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Dr Sikander Mandhro, Sharjeel Memon and Murad Ali Shah.

Restructuring of PIA planned to cut losses

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation to immediately put up a comprehensive summary for restructuring of Pakistan International Airlines, coupled with a business plan that could reduce its current Rs3.3 billion annual losses.

The directive was issued at the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.The meeting was informed that Pakistan's oil stocks had improved to provide coverage for 36 days compared with 23 days last year because of clearance of energy sector circular debt that improved cash flows of Pakistan State Oil, but it noted with concern a rising trend in international oil prices.

Powerful quake jolts major New Zealand cities

WELLINGTON: A powerful earthquake rattled major cities across New Zealand on Friday, sending terrified office workers fleeing as central Wellington shook like jelly, but authorities reported no major damage.

The 6.5-magnitude quake struck at 2:31 pm near an area where a series of quakes hit last month, the US Geological Survey said. It was felt from Christchurch in the South Island to Auckland in the North Island.

The USGS, which initially measured the quake at 6.8 magnitude, said it was centred five kilometres east of the town of Seddon at a relatively shallow depth of 9.9 kilometres.

400,000 cusecs cross Marala without major damage

LAHORE: A peak of around 400,000 cusecs, which is categorised as very high flood146, crossed the Chenab river at Marala on Thursday without causing any major damage, amid forecasts of more rains in the Sialkot region and other cities across the country.

Lahore and Gujranwala divisions too are likely to have some more spells of heavy to very heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.

Rain also continued to lash several cities of the country for the third day running, paralysing life. The heaviest spell was reported from Sialkot, which received 114mm of rain.

Brave Zamarud Khan of PPP emerges a hero

ISLAMABAD: In a rare show of bravery and heroism, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Zamarud Khan put his life at stake to ensure arrest of a heavily armed man on Jinnah Avenue here Thursday night.

Khan engaged the armed man, Malik Sikander, in negotiation and then pounced at him with an aim to overpower him but the latter managed to get out of his grip. Police and other law enforcers surrounding the site of crime opened fire, injuring the culprit who was trying to run across the road and making him fall on the ground. The law enforcers immediately rushed towards the lying man and took him into their custody in an injured condition.

Death toll soars to 638 in Egypt violence

CAIRO: Weeping relatives in search of loved ones uncovered the faces of the bloodied, unclaimed dead in a Cairo mosque near the smoldering epicenter of support for ousted President Mohammed Morsi, as the death toll soared past 600 Thursday from Egypt's deadliest day since the Arab Spring began.

World condemnation widened for the bloody crackdown on Morsi's supporters, including an angry response from President Barack Obama, who canceled joint US-Egyptian military maneuvers.

Balochistan unrest case: Substantial evidence available against FC, says CJ

ISLAMABAD: During Thursdays hearing of the Balochistan unrest case, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the courts order for recovery of missing persons was not being followed whereas there was substantial evidence against Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, DawnNews reported.

Earlier last week, Pakistan146s top judge had taken suo-motu notice of the unrest in Balochistan after at least 60 people lost their lives in separate incidents of violence within a week.

Rain, flood continues to wreak havoc in KP, Punjab

Relief activities were initiated after the ongoing heavy rains and resulting floods caused loss of at least a hundred lives and widespread destruction across the country.

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 26,000 tents, 29,500 food packs, 500 blankets and 19,400 mosquito nets were distributed among rain and flood affected people across the country.

Seventeen relief camps have been set up in Punjab and one in Sindh where about one thousand and two hundred people are being provided shelter and food.