Martyrs of Karachi airport attack laid to rest

KARACHI: Personnel of the Airport Security Force (ASF) who were martyred in the terrorist attack on the Karachi airport are being laid to rest in their respective hometowns amidst tears and sorrow.

ASF official Islamuddin’s funeral prayers were offered at the GPO ground in Multan. A resident of the Ghareebabad area of Multan, Islamuddin received a salute from the ASF officials before being laid to rest.

ASF ASI Tariq Masood Babar of Faisalabad was buried in his ancestral graveyard after his funeral prayers were offered in a nearby village.

Pakistan wants arms supply to Syrian sides stopped

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan strongly criticised on Tuesday the continued infusion of arms in Syria and asked the Security Council and the big powers to take steps to halt arms supplies to all sides in the country.

“As we meet in this chamber, Syria is burning. Bloodshed continues.

Musharraf to be tried under Article 6 for treason: PM Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dropped the strongest hint on Monday to file a written request before the Supreme Court to try former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution.

It is pertinent to mention that if convicted, Musharraf can face a possible death penalty or life imprisonment.

Addressing the National Assembly (NA), Nawaz Sharif said that the former president had committed treason by abrogating the Constitution and he should be tried under the law.

Army to stay in Waziristan till peace restored: Kayani

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Pakistan Army will stay in Waziristan till complete peace is restored, said Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Thursday.

According to a Radio Pakistan report, Kayani said “the army is engaged in the area to bring peace and provide protection to the people so that they could live peacefully.”

Kayani was speaking during the inauguration ceremony of 50-kilometre-long road from Wana to Angoor Aadda.

Armed forces ready to face any challenge, says Kayani

ISLAMABAD: Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Sunday reiterated the army’s resolve to meet future challenges squarely.

Addressing participants of the concluding session of military war games, the Exercise Azm-i-Nau-4, at the National Defence University, he said the army in coordination with the navy and air force was fully configured and prepared to thwart any aggression against the country.

Militants attack Nato containers in Khyber; six killed

PESHAWAR: Six people were killed when militants attacked three Nato containers in Shagai area of Jamrud tehsil of the Khyber tribal region on Monday.

Security forces were engaged in a firefight with the militants who attacked the containers and set them on fire.

As a result, six people, including the drivers of the containers were killed.

Khyber is among Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal districts near the Afghan border, rife with homegrown insurgents and home to a number of militant organisations.

SC orders Hussain Haqqani to appear within four weeks

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered former Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani to appear before the court within four weeks time.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the 'Memogate scandal' case here Tuesday.

Haqqani was first named in the 'memogate' controversy by US businessman Mansoor Ijaz who accused the former ambassador of asking him (Ijaz) to deliver a contentious memo to Washington, asking for its help in reining in Pakistan's military days after the May 2, 2011 US raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound.

Army opens war games ‘Azm-i-Nau IV’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army started on Monday war games codenamed Azm-i-Nau (New Resolve) IV to update its readiness strategy for dealing with the complex security threat environment.

“This Army War Game is the culmination of the series of such exercises and aims at validation and crystallisation of operational plans prepared in view of the emerging threat environment,” a military spokesman said about the exercise being held at the National Defence University, Islamabad.

The drill is taking place amid renewed fears of chaos and instability in Afghanistan after withdrawal of coalition forces in 2014, continuing internal threat of terrorism and India’s growing regional ambitions.

Bangladesh building collapse toll hits 931

SAVAR, Bangladesh: The death toll in Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster on Thursday rose to 931 as rescuers overnight pulled out 97 more decomposed bodies from sandwiched floors of the ill-fated eight-storey building that collapsed last month."Ninety seven more bodies were retrieved since last night ... the figure now stands at 931," an official of the makeshift army control room told as the military-led salvage operation entered the 16th day on Thursday.He said 2,443 people were rescued alive so far but 13 of them succumbed to their wounds as they were being treated at different hospitals.Hundreds of bodies are still trapped under the debris of the illegally constructed Rana Plaza building as many have remained missing, local media reported.

Al Qaeda suspects kill three Yemen colonels: military

ADEN: Al Qaeda-linked suspects on Wednesday shot dead three air force colonels from the strategic Al-Anad air base in the southern province of Lahij, a military official told AFP.

Infiltration attempt foiled in Samba Sector

An infiltration attempt from Pakistan was reportedly foiled by Indian troops at Ramnagar in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning. It was said that a gunbattle between the Indian Army and Pakistani Rangers continued for nearly 30 minutes.

Pervez Musharraf may be kidnapped, Pakistani authorities fear

Islamabad: Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, who has returned home after over four years in self-exile, may be kidnapped, the Interior Ministry fears.

The ministry has said that Musharraf should not be taken anywhere, Geo News reported, citing a notification.

Musharraf, who returned to Pakistan March 23 after over four years of self-imposed exile in Dubai, was keen to contest the May 11 general elections. However, his nomination papers were rejected from four constituencies.

Musharraf getting proper food: medical in-charge Adiala jail

ISLAMABAD: Superintendent of Adiala jail visited the residence of former military rule Gen Pervez Musharraf on Sunday to examine arrangement at the farmhouse which was declared as a sub-jail, DawnNews reported.

The former president was also declared fit after a medical examination was conducted by the medical in-charge of Adial jail Dr Asif, following apprehensions expressed by his counsel over the food provided to the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief.

Musharraf treason case: SC resumes hearing

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) is hearing on Monday the treason case against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khwaja, of the apex court reconstituted last week is hearing the case.

Benazir murder case: Musharraf’s bail extended to April 24

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court hearing the Benzir Bhutto murder case extended on Wednesday the protective bail granted to former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf until April 24.

The judge, Justice Abdul Sami Khan, who  heard the case pertaining to the Dec 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto, also ordered chief of the All Pakistan Muslim League to furnish surety bonds worth one million rupees.

At least 57 killed in army assault in southern Syria: Watchdog

Six children were among at least 57 people killed in southern Syria as the army launched an all-out assault on two towns in Daraa province, a watchdog said on Thursday.

"At least six children, seven women, 16 rebel fighters, 16 other unidentified men and 12 army troops were killed on Wednesday, in fighting, shelling and summary executions waged after the army launched an assault on Al-Sanamein and Ghabagheb," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Fighting rages in Tirah Valley, 15 militants, one soldier martyr

PESHAWAR: Fifteen militants and one soldier was martyr on Thursday when the Pakistan military mounted another operation in a week of fighting designed to seize control of a remote but strategic valley in the northwest, the army said.

The Pak military has faced fierce resistance from the Taliban and its allies in the Tirah Valley in the Khyber region since troops set out to dislodge insurgents from strategically important heights above the valley six days ago.

Isaf Commander meets Gen Kayani

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s Chief of Ar,my Staff Gen Asfhaq Parvez Kayani met with Isaf Commander in Afghanistan General Joseph F Dunford on Monday, according to a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The two military commanders met as part of the continuing tri-partite commission effort to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and regional stability.

The two military leaders discussed a variety of issues related to strengthening cooperation and pressuring militants who threaten security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Qadri favours military’s role in formation of caretaker govt

 

LAHORE: Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Tahirul Qadri said on Tuesday that his party had not yet decided to contest elections because it was presently focused on accomplishing its one-point agenda: formation of an honest and trustworthy caretaker government in consultation with the military, judiciary and other stakeholders.

Talking to Dawn, he said the caretaker government should hold free and fair elections in 90 days or so after introducing massive electoral reforms under the Constitution.