D.I.Khan blast kills 10,injured 15

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Ten people were killed and 15 injured in an explosion near Shobra hotel on Friday.

According to police sources, the blast occurred when hundreds of people were attending the funeral prayer of a person Sher Zaman, who was shot dead in a target killing incident yesterday.

Eyewitnesses said it was a suicide blast. The injured were shifted to district headquarter hospital. Situation become tense in the city and all markets have been closed after the blast.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the explosion.

source : jang.com.pk

14 dead in D.I Khan explosion

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Fourteen people were killed and several injured when a blast occurred in a funeral procession in Dera Ismail Khan on Friday.

According to reports, a suicide blast occurred near imam bargah Kotli Imam Hussain when hundreds of people were attending the funeral procession of a person Sher Zaman, who was shot dead in a target killing incident yesterday.

The injured were shifted to district headquarter hospital. Situation become tense in the city and all markets have been closed after the blast.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the explosion.

source : jang.com.pk

Use of force not only option in Swat: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday said not all issues could be resolved through military means alone and other measures also need to be taken to stabilise situation in Swat.

Talking to media after attending a briefing at the Planning Commission on country’s future course of action towards development, PM Gilani said the global economic recession had its impact on Pakistan, but hoped that economic indicators would help the country through this period.

Gilani said the IMF has also noted that Pakistan has met its targets. The prime minister when questioned about the petroleum prices said it was for the first time in country’s history that his government proportionately lowered the prices.

Asked whether Pakistan plans a similar response from India over the Samjhota Express tragedy as it did on Mumbai attacks, Gilani said additional information has been sought from India.

Adviser on Finance Shaukat Tareen said the government has to take tough decisions to address the state of economy that it inherited. He hinted that it would take some time before the economy could be turned around.

source : jang.com.pk

Report on Mumbai attacks on Monday: PM

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday said he will receive the report on investigation into the Mumbai attacks on Monday and its findings will be made public thereafter.

The findings of the report will be shared with India and the world community, the PM told reporters at the airport after arriving here from Islamabad.

He said the facts will not be kept concealed.

Regarding Kashmir standoff, the Premier said Pakistan is not silent on the issue and wants it to be resolved in accordance with the “wishes” of the Kashmiri people.

He said it is Nawaz Sharif’s own view that he is being declared ineligible under a conspiracy. The government cannot interfere in judicial matters, he added.

source : jang.com.pk

5 killed in DI Khan blast

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Five people have been killed and several injured in Dera Ismail Khan blast on Monday.

According to reports, the blast occurred outside town hall at circular road. A car and a motorbike were parked at the spot of the blast. It is however unclear whether the bomb was planted in a car or motorbike.

Police and high officials of administration have reached the scene of the blast whereas security forces have cordoned off the area. The injured have been shifted to hospital where six reported in a critical condition.

According to sources, MPA Khalifa Qayyum was passed from the area few minutes before the blast. President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Adviser to the Prime on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik have denounced the attack.

source : jang.com.pk

Govt committed to promoting agriculture: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed the Minister for Industries on Friday to ensure timely provision of fertiliser to farmers across the country.

Talking to minister for Industries, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo here, the prime minister said the government accorded priority to the wheat crop and was providing a subsidy of Rs 27 billion for timely provision of DAP.

Wattoo briefed Gilani about the distribution of urea fertilizer and said approximately 250,000 tonnes of urea was being distributed across the country through the outlets of NFC and Utility Stores, in coordination with provincial governments, from the Gwadar deep seaport.

The prime minister said with the announcement of support price of Rs 950 per 40kg wheat has been made a cash crop for the farmers.

The minister apprised prime minister Gilani of his visit to Karachi, Peshawar, Multan and Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry and conveyed their concerns relating to trade and industry.

source : jang.com.pk

Health insurance scheme for the poor soon: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the government would soon initiate a health insurance scheme for the poor to ensure their well being and improvement in their lifestyle.

Inaugurating the Rs1285 million Islamabad Expressway, Gilani said the government would continue working for the uplift of common man and would fulfill all promises made by Shaheed Mohtarma Benzair Bhutto for the social and economic uplift of common man.

The prime minister said the government would ensure transparency in health insurance scheme by providing the national identity card to all citizens. He said NADRA has been directed to provide every citizen the ID card free of cost and ensure that no eligible person is missed.

He said the government was fully cognizant of the fact that inflation had burdened the common man, and mentioned the Benazir Income Support Programme aimed at providing economic support to the households with low income.

Gilani said the government would soon initiate a programme of health insurance for the poor as it believed in providing basic necessities of life to the masses.

He appreciated the CDA for completing the 8 kilometers long Islamabad Expressway before the stipulated time and hoped it would provide a smoother passage for the heavy traffic entering and exiting the capital.

The Islamabad Expressway will act as the main entry point to the capital through which 160,000 vehicles carrying around a million people ply daily.

The function was attended by chairman BISP Farzana Raja, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Babar Awan, Law Minister Farooq H Naek and Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

source : jang.com.pk

MQM delegation meets PM

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), led by its parliamentary leader Dr. Farooq Sattar called on the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here in his chamber at the Parliament House.

Talking to journalists after meeting, Farooq Sattar said they have expressed concerns over power crisis persisting in the country. The stress was laid on taking steps for bringing down gas, electricity tariff, controlling inflation and alleviation of poverty.

MQM’s side was represented by Raabita Committee members, Waseem Aftab, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Sindh Minister Adil Siddiqui, while Federal Minister for Power Raja Pervez Ashraf assisted the prime minister at meeting.

source : jang.com.pk

PM leaves for Islamabad

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani left for Islamabad here on Monday.

Acting Governor Punjab, Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Syed Zahid Hussain, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mashhood Ahmad, senior PPP leaders and high-ranking officials saw off Gilani at the airport.

source : jang.com.pk

PM rules out IAEA access to Dr Qadeer

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has ruled out possibility of giving the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and denied any US pressure to roll back country’s nuclear programme.

In an interview to a foreign news agency on Saturday, Gilani said there was no point of providing any access by the UN nuclear watchdog to Dr Khan as “his network is broken and there is no need for any other information.”

He said the United States had stopped making demands from Pakistan about freezing or rolling back Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

The prime minister said Pakistan was seeking additional nuclear power plants from China and would like exemption from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the IAEA for supply of nuclear technology for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

He said Pakistan expected similar treatment as far as the US-India nuclear deal were concerned. He said he had told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that it was because of this reason that Pakistan did not object to approval of the deal by the NSG in September 2008.

Responding to the announcement by US President-elect Barack Obama about deployment of additional foreign troops in Afghanistan, Gilani said it would intensify fighting in the war-torn country.

Gilani said the new US administration in waiting has already announced to withdraw troops from Iraq and concentrate on Afghanistan. Prime Minister Gilani also disputed the assertion that al-Qaeda has gained a foothold in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

“I also at times feel that there is no al-Qaeda in Pakistan’s tribal areas. These are all Taliban and you can call them any other name,” he said.

Gilani said former President Pervez Musharraf had entered an agreement with the United States for providing logistic and other facilities to the US troops in Afghanistan.

He claimed that the details of the agreement were not known to the army, the government or the parliament. However, this agreement has been institutionalized.

source : jang.com.pk

PM sends greetings letter to Manmohan Singh

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has written a greetings letter to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

According to reports, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salmna Bashir handed over the letter to Indian high commissioner Satyabrata Pal.

source : jang.com.pk

Results to be shared with India after investigation: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan will share information with India after the necessary investigation.

In a policy statement issued here on Tuesday, Prime Minister said India has shared information with Pakistan on 5th January, which cannot be termed as evidence.

The information provided by India regarding Mumbai attacks is being examined by the interior ministry, he said, adding that the results will be shared with New Delhi after the necessary inquiry.

Prime Minister further said Pakistan was the first country to condemn the Mumbai terror attacks. Serious and realistic cooperation would help us move forward in the investigation, he said.

Gilani said Pakistan strongly condemns every form of terrorism. He added that New Delhi had not responded positively to the offer of joint investigations of Mumbai attacks.
source : jang.com.pk

President meets foreign diplomats

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a dinner for Islamabad-based foreign diplomats at the President’s House on Saturday. Envoys from across the world including the United States, China, the UK, France and Russia attended the dinner, according to a press release issued by the Presidency after the event.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers, secretaries and senior officials were also present on the occasion. Senator Farhatullah Babar, the spokesman to the president, told media that the Indian high commissioner and his wife also attended the dinner.

The spokesman denied media reports that President Zardari had asked the diplomats to help defuse tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the November 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Babar said the president did not make a speech at the dinner, which was only a get together.

“The president did not a make any speech at the function,” he told. “Rather, it was a get together.”

source : jang.com.pk

PM Gilani lays foundation stone of Trauma Centre

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here Saturday laid the foundation stone of Rs. 2.5 billion state-of-art Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Accident, Emergency and Trauma Center at Civil Hospital and declared that it will be completed within two years with 50:50 cost sharing by the Federal and Sindh Governments.

Addressing the impressive foundation stone laying ceremony the Prime Minister pointed out that it was the vision and desire of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that such kind of centers should be established all over the country to provide immediate treatment to the victims of rail and road accidents, natural disasters, suicide and bomb attacks.

He said the Center is a part of the emergency preparedness mechanism being implemented by the Peoples Party Government in accordance with its manifesto and vision of its leader.

He noted with delight that this is the largest single hospital project to be undertaken in the last twenty years jointly by the Sindh Government and the Federal Government and said the project would benefit a vast majority of people with modern facilities and care without any discrimination.

The Prime Minister said we are cognizant of the fact that emergency management in the country requires knowledge and information on hazard identification, risk assessment as well as linkages between disaster preparedness.

The role of Health Sector in emergencies is highly significant as the doctors and paramedical staffs play a key role in saving lives and mitigating effects of disasters, he emphasised.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan is exposed to natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, landslides, droughts, communicable diseases and currently it is facing suicide bombings and attacks. The nation has always dealt with these disasters with courage and determination, he added.

source : jang.com.pk

PM urges int’l community not to have ‘double standards’

KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday urged the international community not to have ‘double standards’ on the issues of Kashmir and Gaza.

He was addressing foundation stone ceremony of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Accident, Emergency and Trauma Centre to be established in Civil Hospital Karachi. The ceremony was organized here in Sindh Chief Minister House.

“There is a lot of hue and cry on Mumbai attacks but a complete silence on the atrocities in Palestine and Kashmir which shows double standards on part of the world forces,” the Prime Minister complained, stressing need for changing this attitude.

He ruled out holding of mid-term elections, saying the assemblies will complete their five-year term.

“We pray that no other untoward incident takes place India because we fear its blame will also be put on us,” he said adding “it looks as if we are protecting two countries at the same time.”

The Premier clarified that the President and Prime Minister belong to the same party and brushed aside the impression of having any differences between them.

Pakistan is stable and strong and its military forces alert while the government is well poised to face any kind of challenge including terrorism, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani asserted.

He dispelled the impression of failure of Pakistan’s foreign policy and added that it wishes to develop amicable relations with its neighbors.

To a question regarding Mumbai attacks, he said Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its readiness to extend all possible cooperation to India including intelligence sharing. India should refrain from demoralizing Pakistan through building diplomatic pressure and using its media.

On the statement of former president Pervez Musharraf in which he said there was no agreement with the U.S. in connection with drone attacks in tribal areas, the Prime Minister said: “whether or not there was any agreement by the previous regime I can tell you the present government has no understanding with the U.S. in this regard.”

source : jang.com.pk

Pakistan yet to reply on Mumbai attack dossier: India

NEW DELHI: India said Saturday it has received no reply from Pakistan to the dossier of evidence on Mumbai terror attacks as claimed by Islamabad.

“We will react to the reply when we receive it. We have not yet received it. When it reaches us we will comment,” Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told reporters here.

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday said ISI has given its “feedback” to India on “some information” about the Mumbai attacks that New Delhi had shared with the US intelligence agency CIA.

“Our position is clear that Pakistan should fulfill the promises it has made to India and the international community….It has to walk the talk….It should dismantle the organisation and infrastructure that exists there,” Sharma said.

When asked if India had received any request from Pakistan for consular access to Mumbai terror accused Ajmal Amir Iman ‘Kasab’, Sharma replied in the negative.

“We have not received any request for consular access so far. Since Kasab is a Pakistani citizen, if Pakistan requests for consular access we will happily give it,” he said.

He expressed dismay at Pakistan going into denial mode on the terror attack.

“The organisations involved have been named and those individuals involved have also been identified. They should be punished as per Indian laws as the attack was made on India,” Sharma said.

source : jang.com.pk

PM Gilani terms eastern borders situation as fragile

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has termed the suspension of Pak-India composite dialogue as regrettable.

Addressing a seminar and later talking to media here, Prime minister said the situation at eastern borders is once again turned fragile. Pakistan had showed unwavering commitment to peace with India. Global community must play its due role to defuse the tension between Pakistan and India. India has rejected the proposals of formation of joint commission.

He said three martial laws had damaged the country. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had scarified their lives for democracy. Pakistan has adopted a multi dimensional strategy in war against terror. Pakistan is playing a key role in war against terror and attacks on Pakistani soil would affect the war.

PM Gilani said Kashmir issue should be resolved according to desires of Kashmiris and implementation of UN resolution is necessary for regional peace and stability. Global community must not relate Kashmiri movement with terrorism.

Later, talking to media, premier has termed the news of rift between him and President Asif Zardari as baseless and said President Zardari has sacked the advisor of National security Mahmood Durrani on his advice.

Replying to question, PM said India has provided a 52 pages dossiers to US CIA that was handed over to ISI and he has received feed back of ISI.

source : jang.com.pk

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PM Gilani urges global community to help resolve Kashmir issue

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said global community must help to resolve Kashmir issue.

Addressing a conference here, PM Gilani said the situation at eastern border is once again turned fragile. Pakistan showed unwavering commitment to peace with India.

source : jang.com.pk

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President meets PM, discusses new NSA appointment

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Thursday.

The meeting between President Zardari and Premier Gilani lasted for an hour.

According to sources, earlier, President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani held a joint meeting with US Ambassador to Islamabad Anne W. Patterson in which Pak-India tension, Ajmal Kasab and issues relating to the national security adviser came under discussion.

source : jang.com.pk

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PM removes National Security Adviser Mahmud Durrani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has sacked National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Talking to Geo News here, Prime Minister Gilani said Durrani had given a statement to an Indian news channel regarding Ajmal Kasab without taking him into confidence.

The prime minister said that Durrani’s statement had tarnished the country’s image.

source : jang.com.pk

We are capable to defend country: PM Gilani

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said we are capable to defend country. Pakistan is a peaceful nation, which does not want war.

Pak is ready to face challenge: PM

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan is ready to face any adventure, however, he has rejected chances of war between Pakistan and India.

Talking to media here, Prime Minister Gilani said India did not provide evidences in connection with Mumbai attacks if it really has any evidence than it must be shared with Pakistan. Pakistan is reviewing the situation and while India is trying to flee.

Premier said there is no chance of war between Pakistan and India; however, Pakistan is fully prepared to take on any challenge if imposed on it.

source : jang.com.pk

PM expresses grief over loss of lives in Ghakar Plaza incident

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and property due to collapse of Ghakar Plaza. On the directive of the Prime Minister, the federal government rescue agencies including National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) undertook intensive rescue operation to save precious human lives by extricating those trapped in the rubble.

Two helicopters were also provided to take part in the rescue operation.

The Prime Minister also lauded the exemplary courage and valour of the rescue workers who saved many human lives by putting their own lives in danger in their efforts to extinguish the fire.

The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to immediately investigate the cause of the incident.

source : jang.com.pk

PM greets Bilawal on receiving BB’s UN award

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has greeted Pakistan People’s Party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on receiving the UN Human Rights Award in recognition of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed’s struggle to ensure rights of the people.

Talking to journalists here, the Premier also congratulated the whole nation as its great leader martyred Benazir Bhutto achieved the highest human rights award of the world.

He said Bhutto family rendered sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan as well as uplift of the poor and helpless segments of the society.