Opposition to protest; walk out during President’s address

 ISLAMABAD: Opposition parliamentary parties have decided not only to protest, but also to stage a walk out during President’s address to the parliament, Geo News reported.  Sources told that a meeting of the opposition parliamentary parties’ chiefs Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Aftab Sherpao and Professor Khurshid with the leader of the opposition in the chair Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was held here, a few hours before the much talked about President’s address.  The meeting decided not only to register their protests, but also to stage a walk out during the speech of the President.  On the top of it, it is worth mentioning here that the ruling PPP ally MQM has also decided tactically delay their attendance in protest against the persistent target killings in Karachi and the failure of the government to take any action despite promises.  Besides, MQM also didn’t attend the prime minister’s luncheon party this afternoon and stayed away by holding separate meeting to finally decide that they would be attending the joint session of the parliament a bit late expressing their annoyance.

Nisar rejects appointment of Deedar Shah as Chairman NAB

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ahmed Khan has rejected appointment of Deedar Hussain Shah as NAB Chairman, Geo News reported on Monday. In a reply to President Asif Ali Zardari’s letter, seeking opinion on the appointment of former Justice Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman National Accountability Bureau, Ch. Nisar rejected it. The letter was delivered to President’s secretary from the secretary of Ch. Nisar. It is pertinent to mention here that President Asif Ali Zardari had written letter to opposition leader, seeking opinion on the appointment of NAB chairman, on Friday March 11.

14 gunned down in ongoing Karachi violence

KARACHI: At least 14 people have been killed, including a policeman, in separate incidents of firing in many parts of the metropolitan city in last 24 hours, sending the affected areas in grip of tension.

According to police, six people were injured when unknown armed men opened fire near Disco Bakery in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. The wounded were shifted to a private hospital where two persons succumbed to their injuries and expired.

The incident brought at a halt the business activities in the area where situation is reported to be tensed.

Two more were shot and killed by unidentified assailants in Kharadar area. The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained.

In Gulistan-e-Jauhar area, near Mosmiyat, one man was killed in firing incident while in a similar incident in Gulzar-e-Hijri area a policeman, Arshad, was shot dead.

Kamran, 25, was killed in Baghdadi area when unknown men opened fire on him and fled.

In Purana Golimar area, Ali Nawaz, 45, was fired at and killed while a 30-year old man was gunned down in Kalri area of Lyari. In another such firing incident Chakiwara area of Lyari a political party activist Khushnood, 28, was shot dead.

An office of a political party was attacked with explosives in Soldier Bazar but the no loss of life occurred since the office was closed.

Meanwhile, miscreants set on fire a mini bus in Lasbella area, destroying it completely.

Twelve people were killed in separate incidents of violence and shootings in Karachi yesterday.

Pakistan halt Aussies winning streak, take top spot

COLOMBO: Pakistan stopped Australia’s unbeaten 34-match run in the World Cup and secured top spot on their group table, beating the defending champions by four wickets in their final match of the Group A here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing an easy target of 177 runs, Pakistan completed victory with nine overs to spare but they lost six wickets in the process.

Umar Gul took three for 30 to help Pakistan dismiss Australia for 176 -- their lowest World Cup total since 1992 -- before Umar Akmal hit an unbeaten 44 to steer Pakistan to victory in 41 overs, finishing top of the pool with 10 points.

Pakistan, champions in 1992, will play the fourth placed team in Group B, while Australia (nine points) finished third behind Sri Lanka (nine points) on run-rate and will play the second placed team from Group B.

This was Australia's first defeat in the World Cup since losing to Pakistan by 10 runs in Leeds in 1999.

But the champions, led by spearhead Brett Lee (4-28), fought hard and twice raised hopes of an unlikely win.

Pakistan were cruising along on 98-2 before Lee derailed the chase in his first over of his second spell, dismissing Younis Khan (31) and Misbah-ul-Haq for a first-ball duck -- both caught by keeper Brad Haddin.

Mitchell Johnson removed Asad Shafiq (46) while Jason Krejza tempted skipper Shahid Afridi (two) to hole out in the deep, but Umar and Abdul Razzaq (20 not out) saw their team home with a cautious 36-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Razzaq hit two boundaries off spinner Jason Krejza to complete the victory.

Lee had taken two wickets in his first spell, taking a smart catch off his own bowling to dismiss opener Mohammad Hafeez (five) before trapping Kamran Akmal lbw for 23.

Shafiq, who hit five boundaries during his 81-ball knock, added 53 with Younis and 41 with Umar to keep Pakistan on track.

Earlier, Gul and Razzaq (2-8) exposed the untested Australian batting after Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bat on a seemingly flat R. Premadasa stadium pitch.

Haddin (42), Michael Clarke (34) and Steve Smith (25) offered some resistance as Pakistan applied relentless pressure to take the last seven Australian wickets for a mere 59 runs after they were 117-3.

Pakistan, who opened the attack with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman from one end, forced an early breakthrough when Gul bowled opener Shane Watson for nine.

Haddin added 63 for the second wicket with Ponting (19) before Pakistan struck twice, with Hafeez removing the Australian skipper off a miscued cut, caught by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz then had Haddin caught behind by Kamran in the 24th over. Haddin hit three boundaries and a six during his 80-ball knock.

Pakistan then took four wickets in the space of 30 runs to reduce the Aussies to 147-7 and later Gul removed Krejza and Lee cheaply to wrap the Australian innings for their sixth lowest World Cup total.

SHC orders restoration of Geo, other channels’ transmission

 KARACHI. Division Bench of Sindh High Court comprising Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizivi, while hearing a constitutional petition No. 821/2011 filed by Geo Group companies, has directed Cable Operators Association of Pakistan to ‘forthwith’ remove the ‘unlawful’ suspension of all Geo Channels and restore all the TV channels of Geo Group to the position as prevailing yesterday.

The Honourable Division Bench has also directed PEMRA to ensure the compliance of the direction of the Division Bench. Dr. Amjad H. Bokhari Advocate appeared on behalf of Geo Group/petitioners.

Some cable operators dissociate from strike

KARACHI: Cable operators in different cities across the country have expressed their dissociation from the underway curbs against the TV channels.

Global Communication Cable Service expressed their indifference from the strike call, while the owner of Multan Sony Cable, Rana Ayub and other cable operators said that some miscreants going for strike want to trigger a fight.

Rana Ayub said that Geo is a national TV channel and the people do not want to watch other than Geo. He said, “We cannot violate the Supreme Court orders and Sony Cable, City media dot com and Citywide Cable were not observing the strike.

New Star Cable Network at Mohsinwal in the suburbs of Mian Chunno, while Star Cable Network at Kacha koh has also refused to observe strike.

Varda Cable Network in Hyderabbad has announced its dissociation from the strike. President Badin Cable Network Association, Murtuza Khaskheli told that Geo transmissions are being shown at Badin, Golarchi, Tando Bago, Talhar and Matli including all other towns of the district. Friend Cable Network at Tando Jam has also expressed its apathy to the strike call.

None of the cable operators observed strike in Mianwali and the transmissions are on as usual.

Shafique Dogar of Cable Operators Association, northern Punjab said that none of the cable operators in Sargodha, Khoshab, Mianwali and Bhakkar are observing strike. Dogar said that those who gave a call for the strike didn’t take us into confidence and the strike is being observed for their vested interests.

Naeem Baloch of Hub representative Cable operators Association said that they are not at all concerned with the strike. Transmissions of all the channels as usual are underway.

Usual cable transmissions are underway in Rawalpindi, Murree Road