Six killed, tanker torched in Landi Kotal

By our correspondent

LANDI KOTAL: Six people were killed and around 12 injured in a clash between the Lashkar-e-Islam and the Ansar-ul-Islam activists in the Tirah valley of the Khyber Agency. Early clashes between the two militias have claimed dozens of lives during the last several days. Meanwhile, unknown miscreants burnt down an empty oil tanker at Landi Kotal bazaar bypass. Sources said the oil tanker (2811-Pes-1) was on way from Afghanistan to Peshawar when the incident took place during a stopover. The political administration, however, linked the incident to a ‘technical fault’ in the wiring of the vehicle, which had been parked on a roadside for the last three days.



Police recover looted Rs4.2m, nab dacoits

MUZAFFARGARH: The Karamdad Qureshi police caught on Saturday two dacoits at a picket with Rs4.2 million they had looted. SDO Wapda Scarp Kot Addu, Abdus Sattar Lashari had withdrawn Rs4.2 million from bank for payment of salaries to Scarp employees. He was on way to his office in official jeep, when five armed dacoits intercepted him and snatched the cash bag from him at gunpoint. On information, the police blockaded all exit points. The dacoits, in their red-colour car, were signalled by a police to stop at one check point, but they tried sped their car and tried to escape. The police party headed by SHO Karamdad Qureshi police station, Syed Zahid Husain surrounded the dacoitsí car and caught two of them with their car and cash, while their three accomplices escaped. The Scarp employees and their families lauded the Karamdad Qureshi police, saying they deserved praise and reward from their high-ups.



PM leaves for Malaysia tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 7 to 9. He is scheduled to attend the D-8 conference and on its sidelines hold meetings with various heads of government. They include the prime minister of Malaysia and the chief executive of Bangladesh. The prime minister's entourage comprises ministers, members of coalition parties, minorities, representatives of opposition and women.



Six rockets fired at Shah Kas

By our correspondent

JAMRUD: Six rockets fired from an undisclosed location landed in Shah Kas area. The rockets were aimed at the Frontier Corps fort but missed the target, sources said, adding that unknown miscreants also sprayed bullets on the area.



Taliban free journalists

By our correspondent

GHALLANAI: Two journalists who were detained by the Taliban in the Mohmand Agency were freed on Saturday through the efforts of a tribal Jirga and following appeals by journalist organisations. Pir Zubair Shah, who belongs to South Waziristan and reportedly works for the New York Times, and his photographer colleague Akhtar Soomro were arrested by the Taliban while filming the marble mines in Ziarat village. The village is close to the shrine of freedom fighter Haji Sahib Turangzai. Taliban had in the past occupied the shrine and the adjacent mosque and renamed it Lal Masjid after the mosque in Islamabad.



Spokesman clarifies govt’s position on death penalty

ISLAMABAD: A spokesman for the government has clarified that the federal cabinet, during its meeting in Karachi on July 2, had neither considered nor discussed the matter of the death penalty. The spokesman termed the news item entitled, "Law Ministry opposed to commuting death penalties," published in a section of national press, incorrect and misleading. "It is categorically denied that the federal cabinet considered or discussed the matter in any manner or whatsoever," the spokesman said, adding the question of overlooking the advice of the Law and Justice Division, therefore, did not arise. The spokesman, however, said that the conversion of death sentence into life imprisonment except criminals was under active consideration of the government. He asserted that utmost care should be exercised while publishing a story on sensitive issues carrying domestic and international ramifications.



FO condemns HR violations in held Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Saturday condemned and expressed deep regret on the use of force against demonstrators in held Kashmir and said it was a violation of human rights. Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq, while commenting on the incident, expressed deep regret over the use of force against demonstrators at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, resulting in injuries to dozens of people, including prominent Kashmiri leader Shabbir Shah. The spokesman also expressed concern over the recent instances of human rights violations in held Kashmir and stressed the need for creating an enabling environment for the success of the peace process between Pakistan and India and the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.



Two killed in Killi Kirani

QUETTA: Unknown gunmen killed two people in Killi Kirani on Saturday, hospital sources said. Muhammad Hanif, along with his colleague whose identity could not be ascertained, was killed in the Munawwar Colony.