Pak-US strategic partnership meeting today

WASHINGTON: Pakistan and the United States will hold the third meeting of their strategic partnership dialogue in Washington today (Monday).

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and US Deputy Secretary of States John Nigroponte will co-chair the session.

It takes place days after Presidents of the two countries met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in which they agreed to further consolidate their wide-ranging ties.

Zardari leaves for home

NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari left here for home early Monday at the end of his six-day visit to the United States, where he held a series of meetings with the world leaders, launched the Friends of Pakistan Forum and made his debut at the United Nations General Assembly.

Zardari, in a departure from the past practice travelled on a commercial airliner, left here the same way, and had a quiet departure, from the John F Kennedy airport.

Two explosives-laden vehicles destroyed in Orakzai

KALAYA: Security Forces Monday foiled terrorism conspiracy on the eve of Eid-Ul- Fitir by destroying two vehicles laden with explosives during operation in Orakzai Agency.

According to Bali, gunship helicopters targeted two explosives-laden vehicles parked near a government school and hospital in Chappri area of Orakzai tribal region, neighboring Afghan border.No casualty was reported in the incident.

Swat: Clashes continue in Matta area

SWAT: Clashes between security forces and the militants have been continued in Veeni area of tehsil Matta of Swat. In Matta the militants after plundering a bank set on fire its building.The militants’ have ended ceasefire announced before Eid after advancement of the forces.

The curfew has already been lifted in district Swat before Eid-ul-Fitr. The power supply is yet to be restored completely in the district and being supplied for three hours in a day.

The power outage has caused shortage of water in the district. Gas supply is likely to be restored today.

Nine hurt in twin blasts in Quetta

Quetta: At least nine persons reported injured in twin blasts in Quetta, three of the injured said to be in a critical state.According to One World correspondent the first blast caused by a device planted at Tola Ram road wounding five persons.

The second blast rocked Dawood Centre at the Natha Singh Street of the city during busy hours of the shopping centre when large number of people were present in the market. Five injured were being transferred to Civil Hospital Quetta and four in other hospitals, preliminary reports said.The first blast was occurred at a C.D.

shop in which five persons were injured.While another blast was occurred at Dawood Centre of Quetta in Liaquat Bazaar of Quetta.Police have cordoned off the area and initiated investigations.The incident caused traffic jam as dozens of vehicles gathered at Fatima Jinnah Road, Masjid Road and Farid Road.

Presidents home return delayed till tomorrow

NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari’s scheduled return to home delayed and he will return back to Pakistan tomorrow.

According to One World correspondent President Asif Zardari had to travel back home on Sunday (today) in a British Airways flight but due to technical fault in the airliner he would not leave for home today. According to some other reports the President’s flight has been cancelled due to the bad weather.

Central Ruet-i-Hilal to meet on Sept 30

KARACHI: The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will meet here on September 30 to announce the sighting of the Eid-ul-Fitr moon.

An announcement here on Tuesday said that the meeting will be held an hour before the ‘Maghrib’ prayers at the Habib Bank Plaza here.

It said that the Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will preside over the meeting which will decide about the sighting or otherwise of the Eid-ul-Fitr moon.

Gilani seeks cooperation of Ulemas to root out terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday sought the cooperation of Ulema and Mashaikh to help root out terrorism and extremism which was bringing a bad name to Pakistan.

Addressing Ulema and Mashaikh at an Iftar dinner reception at the Prime Minister House, Gilani reiterated government’s resolve to bring the tribal areas at par with the rest of the country.

The Prime Minister mentioned government’s three-pronged strategy to ensure peace and security in tribal areas and improve law and order in the country.

U.S. drone crashes in Angoor Adda

ANGOOR ADDA: A pilotless U.S drone aircraft crashed in the northwestern Pakistani region of South Waziristan on Tuesday but it was not clear why it came down, Pakistani news channels reported.

U.S. forces have launched a string of attacks with missiles fired by drones, and one ground assault, on militant targets in northwestern Pakistan in recent weeks infuriating the U.S. ally which says the attacks are a violation of Pakistani sovereignty.

50 militants killed in Darra Adamkhel:ISPR

KOHAT: Security forces attacked militants’ hideouts in Darra Adamkhel, killing over 50 militants. According to an ISPR press release, more than 50 militants were killed during the operation in Darra, and that Indus Highway and Kohat Tunnel have been secured. It said that a search operation was underway in different villages.The officials claimed that peace would be restored in Darra in a couple of days and the highway and tunnel would be opened to traffic before Eid.

TNT and RDX were used in Marriott explosion

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman A Malik said preliminary investigation revealed that Saturday's bomb blast at Marriott Hotel had links with FATA and Waziristan. "It is yet premature to blame any particular group or individual for the blast, however, all roads lead to Waziristan," the Advisor told media at a press conference on Sunday.

He said a high-quality military type explosives identified as TNT and RDX were used in the explosion - the severest one in the country's history.

Besides this, aluminum powder was also used that caused fire which gutted the whole building in no time. Malik said the attack was meant to sabotage Pakistan's integrity, democracy and economy. "Our enemies don't want to see democracy flourishing in the country," he stated.

So far 53 people are dead including four foreigners while 266 are injured who had been shifted to various hospitals. Also among the dead was the ambassador of Czech Republic and his friend.

Rescue work underway in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The death toll in the Islamabad hotel suicide blast has climbed to 53 after 10 more dead bodies have been pulled out of the gutted structure.

The five-star hotel was completely gutted after the suicide blast in which 53 people were killed and 250 others injured including 21 foreigners.

Five women were also among the dead while 70 injured, said to be in critical condition, also shifted to hospitals.

Investigators submit initial report to govt

ISLAMABAD: The investigators who examined the place of blast at Marriott Hotel here Sunday submitted their preliminary report to the Ministry of Interior.

A meeting presided over by the Advisor of Interior Rehman Malik later reviewed the report and other related information. According to the Interior Ministry sources, the final investigation report will be completed soon.

Interior Advisor Rehman Malik talking to One World has said that the search operation has been started in the hotel building.

Czech ambassador missing in Marriott blast: report

ISLAMABAD: The Czech Republic's ambassador to Pakistan has been missing since deadly blast Saturday night at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, the Czech News Agency reported.

Ivo Zdarek, 47, moved from Vietnam to Pakistan a month ago and was staying at the hotel, the national news agency said.

It attributed its information to officials at the Czech foreign ministry.The Czech Embassy would not confirm the report to media on Sunday.Among the dead were two foreigners, police said on Sunday.

Their identities were not immediately released. A third body has been recovered but remains unidentified.

Staffers at the Czech Embassy will now be asked to determine whether it is that of someone they know, the police official said.

Islamabad: Six suspects detained

ISLAMABAD: Six suspects have been arrested after the Marriott Hotel suicide bombing in Islamabad.
The security agencies detained six persons belonging to the tribal areas who were fled from the scene of bombing in an injured state after the blast.
The arrested persons between 30 to 38 years of age, have been transferred to undisclosed place and being interrogated by the security agencies, sources said.

Islamabad Bombing: relief operations underway

ISLAMABAD: The death toll in the deadly Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad Sunday reached to 46 including the foreigners, while 236 persons were wounded.

The fire raging at the upper storey of the hotel building and the efforts were underway to extinguish the blaze.

“More dead bodies have been found from the premises this morning,” a relief worker told Bali correspondent.

According to the relief workers the temperature of the building reached to 400 centigrade and the structure has been declared dangerous.

A joint investigation team constituted by the federal government has started probe into Marriott blast Sunday morning at the location.

President Zardari leaves for US

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari left for the United States here on Sunday to lead Pakistan delegation and address the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 25.
President Zardari, who took a commercial flight of the British Airways for this journey, was being accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Information Minister, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security, the Chairman National Reconstruction Bureau and senior officials.
The President used Rawal Lounge of the Islamabad International for his quiet departure.

Government to retaliate terrorism: Zardari

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari in a late Saturday night address to the nation reiterated the firm resolve of the government to stand undeterred against terrorism.

“The government and the people of Pakistan cannot be terrorized by blasts and such attacks.

Nobody will be allowed to challenge democracy, the solidarity of the country and the federation,” he said.

“If the cowards think they can terrorise the government and the people of Pakistan, I state we shall not retreat from fighting terrorism,” he said while referring to the suicide truck blast at the Marriott Hotel.

PIMS receive 32 dead bodies

ISLAMABAD: Hospitals reported 43 dead and the Interior Ministry said 236 people were wounded in the Mariott Hotel attack.

One foreigner was killed, an American, and 13 foreigners were wounded, police and hospital officials said. All three hospitals of the federal capital received 43 dead bodies;32 bodies were shifted to PIMS hospital, five in Poly Clinic and six dead and 23 injured persons including four foreigners were shifted to the CDA Hospital.

Large number of citizens reached to hospitals for blood donations after appeals for blood to save wounded persons.

Twenty-seven persons died in the bombing have been identified as Syaf, Sajjad, Waheed, Muhammad Hamid, Nasir Kyani (security guard), Muhammad Din, Irfan(security guard), Haji Gulab Ali, Faizur Rehman (hotel employee), Khurshid, Muhammad Ali, Raees, Habibullah, Gul Zaman, Mansoor, two unidentified persons.

52 killed over 236 injured in Islamabad blast

ISLAMABAD: At least 52 persons were killed and 236 injured in an powerful explosion, which occurred inside a Five Star Hotel in front of Parliament House here today.

The blast was so powerful that the windowpanes of nearby buildings broke down. The blast was heard over a distance of a kilometer. The PTV and PM House are also reported to have been harmed.

The blast caused to fell the nearby trees.Soon after the blast, the ambulances arrived on the spot.The sources said the blast is suicide in nature; According to media reports, an explosive-laden vehicle blew up by ramming into Marriot Hotel.

According to eye-witnesses, there are large numbers of injured lying around.

At least 52 people were killed and 256 were injured said Ikram Shaheedi, Secretary Information whereas Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman confirmed the death of 28 people, she also confirmed that 257 were injured in the recent attack.