NRO no threat to US interests: Holbrooke

WASHINGTON: The United States views the NRO dispute as a ‘tremendous political drama’, which has so far not affected US national security interests but has caused Washington to watch it ‘very carefully’, says Richard Holbrooke.

Holbrooke, America’s special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, also acknowledged in an interview to a private US television channel that the Obama administration faced a dilemma in dealing with Pakistan as unlike Afghanistan it could not send its troops there to fight Al Qaeda and Taliban in Fata and needed to find other means to tackle them.

‘Even as we talk, there’s a major political drama unfolding in Islamabad right now. It’s something that we’re watching very carefully,’ said Mr Holbrooke while discussing the current political situation in Pakistan.

This ‘tremendous political drama’, according to him, involves the PPP, PML-N, the Punjab province, the Pakistani military under General Ashfaq Kayani, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the public opinion.

‘And how it is going to come out remains to be seen,’ he added. ‘So far it has had no effect on our national security interests, but it’s something that we’re watching very carefully.’

Explaining the NRO dispute to the American public, Holbrooke recalled that ‘President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto cut a deal (and Mr Musharraf) passed a decree … which gave amnesty to all members of Ms Bhutto’s party, including her husband and herself’.

The deal, he said, enabled Benazir to come back but she met a tragic outcome and her husband became president of the country.

Holbrooke, however, did not mention the role the US played in arranging the deal and jumped straight to the current situation, observing that the NRO lapsed as Pakistani parliament did not reaffirm it.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-24-2009/55429.htm

8 die in Jhang road mishap

JHANG: At least 8 persons lost their lives while as many sustained wounds when a devotees van, returning from Darbar Sultan Baho tomb, met a head-on collision with a truck at Garh Morh in Jhang on Thursday morning, Geo news reported.

According to sources, the rescue efforts are underway; meanwhile, the dead bodies and wounded passengers are being hurried to hospital for medical attainment.

Police sources said the accident was caused owing to over speeding and thick fog, fearing more deaths as three among injured people were declared critical in condition.

Seriously injured persons have been shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan while others are being treated in local Garh Mahraja Hospital, hospital sources said.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-24-2009/55410.htm

Four dead in Peshawar suicide blast

PESHAWAR: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Liaquat Ali said at least four people were killed and 20 others were injured in the suicide blast in Peshawar area near State Life Building situated at Mall Road in Saddar, Geo News reported Thursday.

The police and the security personnel cordoned off the area and started garnering clues from the blast site.

The ambulances arrived on the spot and have rushed the injured and bodies to nearby Lady Reading Hospital, where emergency has been promulgated.

Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Bilour arrived on the blast site and informed the media that at least two suicide bombers caused the blast, killing at least two people on the blast.

Bilour said the suicide bombers were riding a motorbike. The bombers blew themselves up on being intercepted by the security personnel Hayatullah at the post situated on Arbab Road, killing the security man Constable Hayatullah on the spot.

Bilour said the army could be called if needed, adding the foreign hand is involved in the terrorist activities in Pakistan.

On this occasion, the Senior Minister ruled out negotiations with the terrorists.

According to police sources, at least six people have been injured in the blast near the security check post.

Lady Reading Hospital sources said a body has been brought to the hospital.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-24-2009/55426.htm

Suicide bomber hits Peshawar press club CCTV

The Press Club in Peshawar releases mute CCTV footage of a suicide bomber blowing himself up and killing four people when he tries to enter the premises.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyP2YwWmzfE

6 accused of Karachi bank robbery still at large

Updated at: 0818 PST, Wednesday, December 23, 2009
KARACHI: Police have so far arrested three suspects accused of Karachi’s historical bank robbery and succeeded to recover 12 crore rupees while 6 remaining accused persons are still at large, Geo news reported on Wednesday morning.

According to sources, police on Monday raided houses located in Pehalwan Goath area of Gulistan-e-Johr locality in Karachi to arrest form there, 3 suspects allegedly involved in bank robbery and recovered from their possession as much as Rs12 crores but however, 6 other suspects still remained at large.

All accused were hailing from Para Chanar area but police have so far entirely failed to carry out massive operation to arrest them, sources alleged.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-23-2009/55330.htm

Journalists in mourning at press club attack

PESHAWAR: The investigation team has been constituted to probe into suicide attack, launched on main gate of Peshawar press club yesterday, meanwhile, the human body parts, obtained from blast site, have been sent for DNA examination today (Wednesday), Geo news reported.

It has been learnt that journalist community are observing Mourning Day in press club on Wednesday – second day of suicide attack – with tying black bends on shoulder.

According to sources, additional police contingents have been deployed at press club gate while journalists, belonging to different school of thoughts, are constantly visiting club for registration of their solidarity with journalists.

Also, Peshawar trader community has announced extension of support to journalists’ three-day mourning observation and a large number of journalists have been visiting deceased guard Muhammad Riaz home to offer condolence with his heirs, sources said.

An investigation team, headed by SSP Investigation, has been formed to probe into attack, sources added.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-23-2009/55348.htm

Suicide bomber targets Peshawar Press Club

Rehman Malik justifies the NRO 21 Dec 09

Suicide bomber targets Peshawar Press Club

Strapped with explosives, the man walked up to the gate of the press club in the northwestern city of Peshawar, where he blew himself up as police stopped him from entering the building, officials said.

'I was coming out of the canteen when I suddenly heard a huge blast. Smoke engulfed the building immediately and when I reached the spot, I saw human organs littered on the ground,' said television journalist Nisar Mohammad Khan.

The force of the explosion blew out the windows at the press club, damaged the guard hut and ripped through nearby vehicles, said witnesses.

'He was stopped by police deployed outside. When the police official started searching him, the attacker blew himself up,' Peshawar police chief Liaquat Ali told reporters at the scene.

Taliban militants, who are powerful in northwest Pakistan, threatened media in Peshawar, said the president of the press club, Shamim Shahid.

'We beefed up security after the threats and people coming to the club were properly checked,' he said.

Doctors at Peshawar's main Lady Reading Hospital said three people were killed - a policeman, a press club employee and a woman.

Doctor Zafar Iqbal said 17 people were wounded and later clarified that an original death toll of four included the bomber.

Police said four journalists were among the wounded.

Bomb disposal squad chief Tanveer Ahmed said most of the casualties were caused by steel pellets and nails stuffed in the suicide bomber's explosives vest.

North West Frontier Province information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who visited the wreckage, acknowledged that extra security measures in place for the holy Muslim month of Muharram could not totally eliminate attacks.

'We have already taken special measures in view of Muharram but suicide attacks cannot be totally eliminated such incidents cannot be ruled out in future. But we will continue our struggle against terrorists,' he said.

Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/03-suicide-bomber-targets-peshawar-press-club-ss-01

LHC grants bail to Rehman Malik

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has approved the bail application of Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday.The accountability court Rawalpindi had sentenced Malik three years imprisonment in each of two cases. Interior minister had filed a petition against the decision.A division bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif while hearing the application said the sentence awarded in absentia could not be suspended through an application filed under section 426 of criminal code.The court has directed Rehman Malik to file a new petition under article 199 of constitution. He than filed a new petition for suspension of the punishment. The court has suspend the sentence and granted the bail on fresh application.The court also directed Rehman Malik to submit bond of one lac each in both the cases and present two guarantors.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-22-2009/55285.htm

Chief Justice warns loan waivers

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has issued last warning to loan waivers of last 38 years.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in his remarks criticized the government on failure of recovery from defaulters and said court is ready to take on any resistance.
A three-member bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry heard Rs.54 billion written off loans case. The State Bank submitted the list of Rs.193 billion loans written off from 1997 to date. The court has directed central bank to prepare a list along with other banks of loans written off during 1971 till date.
Chief justice in his remarks said only one chance will be given to defaulters to return the loans and action will be taken against them if they will fail to do so. He said SC is ready to take the blame if anyone raises the question why the court is doing this. The country is facing uncertainty, financial irregularities and corruption, he added. The SC has adjourned the hearing till February 2.

Source: http://geo.tv/12-22-2009/55290.htm