Mumbai blasts

MUMBAI:
Three explosions have occurred in various locations across the Indian city of Mumbai.

Prithviraj Chavan, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra said that police and other sources had confirmed to him that 13 people have been killed in the blast and 81 people have been injured.

He said that the blasts occurred between 6:4opm and 7:o4 pm. Chavan said that of the three blasts, the blast at Opera House was the most powerful.

He declined to ‘speculate’ about those behind the attack saying:

“this is an attack on Mumbai, and people are facing a new threat. But I would not like to speculate on who was involved in the attacks, this will be revealed by the forensic and investigation teams.”

Chavan added that police was still searching for other bombs that may have been planted.

Arup Patnaik, Mumbai’s police commissioner told local television that an improvised explosive device (IED) was put inside an umbrella at Zaveri Bazaar, one of the three blast sites, reports Reuters.

Source: Mumbai Blasts

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NATO commander Petraeus meets Pakistani army chief

ISLAMABAD: General David Petraeus, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, visited Pakistan for security talks with its army chief on Thursday amid high tensions between Washington and Islamabad.

“They discussed various topics of mutual interest and ways to improve regional security,” the US embassy said in a statement after Petraeus met his Pakistani counterpart General Ashfaq Kayani.
The talks came after Washington decided to withhold a third of its annual $2.7 billion security assistance to Islamabad after dozens of American military trainers were ordered to leave after a May 2 raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
The cuts of $800 million reportedly include about $300 million used to reimburse Pakistan for the cost of deploying more than 100,000 soldiers along the Afghan border, a hotbed of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
Pakistan has been adamant that there should be no more unilateral American raids, like that which killed Bin Laden in the garrison town of Abbottabad, although the White House has said it will act again if necessary.
Petraeus also met with US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and received updates on the security assistance mission to Pakistan, the embassy said.
Accompanying General Petraeus was Marine Lieutenant General John Allen who will succeed him as commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

NATO commander Petraeus meets Pakistani army chief – The Express Tribune

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1 - Number One Newspaper of Pakistan - Daily Jang- Jang Group

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PML-N MNA escapes from police custody with workers' 'help'

ISLAMABAD: As Shalimar police arrested PML-N MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan in connection with the National Police Foundation (NPF) case, hundreds of protesters assaulted the police party and managed to flee along with the MNA.
Khan was named in two cases registered after a sub-committee formed by the Interior Secretary to look in to a fraud and embezzlement case in which Khan, along with others usurped nearly Rs6 billion worth of land.
Express 24/7 correspondent Sabur Ali Syed said that Khan had managed to get interim bail in the NPF land scam case, however he was still absconding in a second FIR registered against him by a school teacher for which he had been arrested.
He had been arrested on Friday evening, and as the police took him to Shalimar police station, they were attacked by Khan’s supporters, who managed to wrest his custody from the police and fled the scene.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik took notice of the attack and and ordered Islamabad police to take action against the attackers.
He ordered the DG to conduct an inquiry, and for the superintendent and station house officer of Shalimar police station.

Rana Sannaullah says no PML-N supporter involved
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that “criminals” had attacked the police party in Islamabad before spiriting away MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan.
Speaking via telephone to Express 24/7, he said that the criminals ought to be caught and brought to book.
While terming it conspiracy against the PML-N and the MNA, Sanaullah said that it remained to be seen whether Khan too was a victim of this group of criminals or if he had connived with them.
He said that if it was discovered that Khan was responsible for his escape, the PML-N would take strict disciplinary action against him.
The law minister went on to say that the party had advised Khan to face law and clear his name in court.

100 or so men attacked police party: IG
Islamabad IG addressing the media after the incident said that cases had been registered against those responsible as a terrorist attack.
He lamented how the guardians of law were today breaking the law for their own benefit.
He said police was looking for the absconding MNA and those who had helped him, while cases of negligence against the superintendent, and station house officer (SHO) of Shalimar police station would also be filed.
The IG said that there were a hundred or so of Khan’s supporters who assaulted the police party in which two police officers got injured.

FIA arrests Anjum Aqeel
The Federal Investigation Agency has arrested PML-N MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan on charges of fraud from Islamabad on Friday.
According to sources Anjum Aqeel, who has been implicated in the NPF land scam, was arrested following a raid conducted by the FIA. Two FIRs had already been registered against him.
An FIR was registered against him in Shalimar police station under article 409 and arrest warrants were also issued against him after a sub-committee formed by the Interior secretary wrote to IGP Islamabad.
Aqeel is implicated in a fraud case in National Police Foundation in which he, as the proprietor of Land Linkers, two former IGPs as well as former managing director (MD) of the National Police Foundation (NPF) for embezzling Rs6 billion worth of land.
His name had also been added to the Exit Control List.

Aqeel to defend his name
Fearing arrest, the MNA had conducted a press conference last Saturday in which he had demanded the creation of a judicial commission to investigate the scam and vowed to defend his innocence.
He said that he had cleared the air with NPF after striking a settlement deal. This he termed was not illegal.
Despite this, two FIRs had been registered against him. One with the FIA, and one in Shalimar police station.
Khan said that police had already raided his house. And that he was being made the target of politically motivated charges.

PML-N MNA escapes from police custody with workers’ ‘help’ – The Express Tribune

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1 - Number One Newspaper of Pakistan - Daily Jang- Jang Group

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MQM-PPP ties: Dr Ishratul Ibad to return to Governor Sindh post

Dr Ishratul Ibad has reportedly accepted this direction, and will take up his responsibilities following his return to Pakistan tonight.

The MQM chief’s order came after a request by President Asif Ali Zardari, say sources. The president had said that Ishratul Ibad’s return to the governor post will strengthen democracy.

President’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said MQM’s decision will promote reconciliation. “Ibad’s return will help improve law and order,” Babar said.

MQM parliamentary leader Faisal Sabzwari said MQM will stay in opposition in the National Assembly and Sindh Assembly.

MQM leader Raza Haroon said stability in Karachi and Sindh is very important. “Governor will work to restore peace in Karachi,” said Haroon.

He said MQM’s decision to sit in opposition was based on principle stand. “We wish to be allowed to work in the opposition,” he added.

The PML-N who had supported the MQM’s shift into the opposition has criticized this new development.

“The PML-N had feared the MQM would return to the government…sitting in the opposition is not easy,” said PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal in response to the news.

This step may likely be a first move in an MQM-PPP patch-up after a fallout during the recent AJK elections that resulted in the MQM joining the opposition in parliament and the Sindh Assembly.

The relationship between the two parties had also taken a hit following controversial anti-MQM statements made by senior Sindh Minister Zulfiqar Mirza resulting in violent protests in Karachi.

Source: MQM Governor returns

Government to appoint Hina Rabbani Khar as Foreign Minister

ISLAMABAD:
The government has decided to appoint Hina Rabbani Khar as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Express 24/7 reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has sent advice to President Asif Ali Zardari for the appointment of Khar as Foreign Minister.

The decision was taken keeping in view the level of Khar’s comptency and recent interaction at the Foreign Office, sources at the Prime Minister House said.

Khair is expected to take charge as soon as a notification is issued in this regard. She is currently Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Sources said the decision was taken for the upcoming talks between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India.

The talks are expected to be held by the end of July, with a final date yet to be announced.

The foreign ministers’ meeting will be preceded by preparatory talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir.

Source: New Foreign Minister

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Small plane crashes near oil refinery in Korangi

KARACHI:
A small aircraft crashed behind National Refinery in the Korangi area of Karachi, Express 24/7 reported on Tuesday.

Initial reports suggest that the plane was remote-controlled and no pilot was on-board.

Rangers personnel have been deployed outside all gates of the oil refinery, a part of which caught fire after the crash.

Some sources also suggested that the plane might belong to Pakistan Navy.

The Superintendant (SP) of Korangi Police Usman Ghauri confirmed the incident.

Firefighters and rescue services have arrived at the spot.

Rescue services, the media as well as the police are not being allowed to enter the site, reported Express 24/7 correspondent Ahmed Jung.

Source: Plane crash near oil refinery

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