Train travel to burn hole in pocket as Railways hike passenger fare by 14.2%, freight charges up by 6.5%

New Delhi: The BJP government on Friday announced the hike in Railway passenger fare as well as freight fare. The passenger fare is increased by 14.2 percent while the freight charges have gone up by 6.5 percent effective from today. It is notable that the rail budget is likely to be presented in the second week of July. The Railways Minister Sadanand Gowda has already been giving indications about the fare hike. The Railway Board had already proposed 14.2 percent and 6.5 percent hike in passenger fare and freight fare respectively. The discussion about fare hike has been going on between Sadanand Gowda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a few days. Recently in Goa, Modi had said that some strong decisions are likely to be made soon. This may be one of those decisions by BJP government. Gowda had told reporters "We are discussing the matter and within three-four days, we will come to a conclusion on passenger fare hike." Gowda had also met Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman for discussing the FDI in railways.

BJP's U-turn? Party that stood firm against Suryanelli rape case decides to back rape accused Nihal Chand

New Delhi: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked his senior ministers Arun Jaitely and Ravi Shankar Prasad to examine rape allegations against Nihal Chand Meghwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly decided to fully back the 43-year-old minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers. Notably, this is the same party that had raised a lot of hue and cry in the Suryanelli rape case and had demanded Rajya Sabha Deputy Chirman PJ Kurien's resignation on "moral ground" for his alleged involvement in the case. Citing its sources, CNN-IBN reported, "Nihal Chand explained his position to Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. Rajnath is convinced of the defence being offered by Nihal Chand and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has briefed party spokespersons to back him." Defending the minister, who has been issued a notice by a Jaipur court in the sexual assault case, BJP Spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said on Thursday, "There is nothing substantial against him and he is being falsely implicated." She termed the charges against him as "politically motivated". “He (Nihal Chand) has been exonerated by the authorities during the previous Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan after nothing has been found against him. The police is reinvestigating the matter and he is cooperating. As long as there is nothing substantial against him, we cannot take action against him," she said. Lekhi said just as it is wrong to indulge in activities as alleged by the woman, it is equally important that nobody can be falsely implicated either or harrassed like that. "A balance has to be maintained," she said. She said the rape survivor has come up with fresh facts which she did not come up with earlier and unless the other version is heard no action can be taken against him. BJP's Rajasthan unit also defended the leader by saying there was no question of his resignation as it was a conspiracy by Congress leaders. "There is no question of Nihal Chand's resignation as it is Congress leaders' conspiracy," BJP's state unit President Ashok Parnami said at a news conference. In 2011, 17 people, including Nihal Chand, allegedly sexually abused a woman in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar, which falls in Meghwal's constituency. The alleged victim has accused the Union minister of trying to intimidate her into withdrawing the case and has also appealed to the prime minister for justice. "I am getting threats through SMS and phone calls from anonymous number to withdraw the case. Some are even offering me cash and job if I do not utter a single word against Meghwal," she told a press conference on Tuesday. "Those against whom I have filed complaints are influential people and they can do anything to save themselves and Nihal Chand. My life is in danger," she said. (Image: MoS Chemicals and Fertilizers Nihal Chand Meghwal (L) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R))

Iraq crisis: 16 of the 40 Indians abducted by ISIS militants evacuated, one escapes

New Delhi: Sixteen Indians stranded in violence-affected areas of Iraq have been evacuated even as one of the 40 abducted Indians has fled from the captors in Mosul town, which is under the control of the militants. The developments came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting which was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, heads of intelligence and security agencies as well as senior officials of External Affairs Ministry. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the meeting reviewed the “entire dimensions” of the situation taking into consideration all facts and information available to the government. “We can confirm to you that one Indian has escaped and is in touch with our embassy in Baghdad,” Akbaruddin said. The 40 Indians, who were working in a construction project, were abducted in Mosul which was seized by Sunni militant group ISIS. He said the abducted Indians are safe and noted that the government was making “every effort so that it is resolved at the earliest.” Asked about negotiations with the militants, the spokesperson said, “We are knocking on all doors, front doors, back doors and trapped doors.” Eight Indians have been evacuated from Baiji while eight others were moved out from Anbar. They have since been flown out of Baghdad. Iraq is witnessing serious strife with Sunni militants, backed by Al-Qaida, capturing two key cities and marching towards Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the fighting that broke out on June 10. Akbaruddin said Indian officials were in regular touch with the nurses trapped in a hospital. There is electricity in the hospital and arrangements for food have been made. Nobody intruded the hospital and they felt that the situation there was “quiet” as there was no gunfire, he said. “We are making every efforts so that it is resolved at the earliest,” he said refusing to share more details on an “extremely sensitive operation”. He said at least 120 Indians were trapped in strife-torn areas which included 46 nurses in Tikrit and those kidnapped in Mosul. 16 have already been moved out of Anbar and Baiji. The Indian mission in Baghdad was in touch with various other diplomatic misions there to coordinate efforts to rescue the Indians. The government has also decided to provide financial assistance through Indian Community Welfare Fund to those Indians who are indigent and want to return to India. India has also requested Iraq to lift restriction on the visa norm that if a person comes to the country through a port of entry then he will have to go back though the same port of entry. He said India hoped that the matter will be sorted out in a day’s time. “This has caused some concerns to those of our nationals who have come through certain ports of entry but would like to go through other ports of entry. We have taken this up with the Iraqi authorities who are amenable to our request,” Akbaruddin said. The issue has been taken up with Iraqi authorities so that trapped Indians can cross Iraqi border to neighbouring countries through nearest land boundary. Instructions have also been issued to Indian missions in countries around Iraq to take up the matter with their host governments to facilitate movement by those who wish to cross the land boundary from nearest place of their stay. “We have informed all our missions in the region to work on this matter with their respective governments to ensure that in case people want to cross land boundary they should be assisted,” Akbaruddin said. The government has also stopped issuing immigration clearance for travel to Iraq for next one month.

Pakistan adds T20 with NZ to Australia itinerary

KARACHI: Pakistan Friday announced revised schedules for its series against Australia and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates, adding one Twenty20 match. Pakistan will play a Twenty20, three one-day internationals, and a four-day side game followed by two Tests against Australia from October 3 to November 3, a series which was previously scheduled to finish two days earlier. The dates of one-day matches against Australia are brought forward by two days. The one-day matches will be followed by Pakistan's series against New Zealand, which will now have two Twenty20 internationals instead of one as previously announced. Pakistan and New Zealand will now play a three-day side game followed by three Tests, two Twenty20s and five one-day internationals between November 5 to December 19. Full revised programme: Oct 3 - Pakistan v Australia Only T20 Dubai Oct 7 - 1st one-day Sharjah Oct 10 - 2nd one-day Dubai Oct 12 - 3rd one-day Abu Dhabi Oct 15-18 - four day tour match Sharjah Oct 22-26 - 1st Test Dubai Oct 30-Nov 3 - 2nd Test Abu Dhabi Vs New Zealand Nov 5-7 - three-day tour match Sharjah Nov 11-15 - 1st Test Abu Dhabi Nov 19-23 - 2nd Test Dubai Nov 27-01 Dec - 3rd Test Sharjah Dec 4 - 1st T20 Dubai Dec 5 - 2nd T20 Dubai Dec 8 - 1st one-day Dubai Dec 12 - 2nd one-day Sharjah Dec 14 - 3rd one-day Sharjah Dec 17 - 4th one-day Abu Dhabi Dec 19 - 5th one-day Abu Dhabi

England out, Costa Rica through after beating Italy 1-0

RECIFE: Bryan Ruiz's goal in the first-half against Italy sealed England's elimination from the World Cup and saw Costa Rica progress to the last 16 with a fine 1-0 win over Italy in Recife on Friday. Ruiz struck right at the end of the first-half only minutes after the Costa Ricans had a valid appeal for a penalty waved aside by the referee. Costa Rica's victory saw them move onto six points and means that pointless England's slim hopes of getting second spot are extinguished as Uruguay and Italy, both on three points, play each other in the final batch of group games. It will be the second time Costa Rica have reached the last 16, the previous occasion being in the 1990 finals. Italy's poor performance was encapsulated by the fact they had not gone goalless in a World Cup finals match since the 1998 edition in France.

Pakistan world's largest host of refugees: UNHCR

By the end of 2013, Pakistan continued to host the largest number of refugees in the world (1.6 million), nearly all from Afghanistan, according to a report released by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Islamabad at a ceremony marked in connection with World Refugee Day which is being celebrated on Friday. Speaking at the World Refugee Day commemorative event in Islamabad, senior UNHCR official Ms Maya Ameratunga, lauded Pakistan's role. She said Pakistan has generously hosted the world’s largest refugee population for three decades, and it was essential to mobilise more support from the international community to sustain efforts such as the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (Raha) initiative, which is a way of thanking the hosts of these refugees. The report titled, “War’s Human Cost: UNHCR Global Trends 2013”, shows that the number of refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people (IDPs) worldwide has, for the first time in the post-World War II era, exceeded 50 million people. The situation is similar for the Islamic Republic of Iran, which hosted 857,400 refugees by year-end, almost all Afghans. At the same time voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan has also been the largest in the world, with 3.8 million having been assisted by UNHCR to return home since 2002. The report said 51.2 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2013, six million more than the 45.2 million reported in 2012 and added that the reason for this massive increase was driven mainly by the war in Syria, which at the end of last year had forced 2.5 million people into becoming refugees and made 6.5 million internally displaced. Internal displacement amounted to a record 33.3 million people globally. The UNHCR report said with some 2.56 million refugees in 86 countries, Afghanistan remained the leading country of origin of refugees in 2013 – the 33rd consecutive year it has topped this list. Today, on average, one out of every five refugees in the world is from Afghanistan, with 95 per cent located in Pakistan or the Islamic Republic of Iran. The strategy helps Afghan refugees to return home safely and voluntarily and to reintegrate as citizens in their own country. The strategy also provides support for host countries, for example through the Raha programme. The report commended the efforts of the government of Pakistan which took the commendable initiative of adopting a National Policy on the Repatriation and Management of Afghan Refugees. It further said that as part of this policy, the government is renewing the Proof of Registration cards of Afghan refugees, with validity until the end of 2015. So far, some 90% of the refugees have renewed their cards at PoR Card Modification Centres. The remaining PoR card holders must do so by August 2014 in order to remain as refugees. Top figures at a glance

Pemra suspends Geo, ARY licenses

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) announced on Friday that the licenses of private TV channels Geo Entertainment and ARY News are to be suspended, DawnNews reported. Geo Entertainment has been slapped with a one month suspension along with a Rs10 million fine. ARY News has been given a 15 day license suspension and a Rs10 million fine. Pemra said that Geo Entertainment had its license suspended over airing blasphemous content on one of its shows. ARY News was handed the license suspension over complaints that it had made slanderous statements against the judiciary on one of its shows.

Shahbaz sacks Rana Sanaullah over Lahore tragedy

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday said that he has asked for the resignation of the provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, DawnNews reported. The announcement comes over the outrage against a police crackdown on workers of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Lahore on Tuesday in which nine people lost their lives. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, the chief minister said that even though Sanaullah has performed his duties in an honest manner for 15 years, he has asked him to resign for the sake of justice. Shahbaz Sharif also said that he has asked for the resignation of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab Dr Tauqir. He said that even though Dr Tauqir was like a younger brother to him, the decision had to be taken as a matter of principle. Shahbaz Sharif also said that he has ordered the arrest of the police officers involved in the shooting of the protestors. "If there is doubt over the government's judicial inquiry on the incident, the Supreme Court can be asked to do it instead," he said. Reacting to the announcement, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri termed it a ‘drama’ by the chief minister. “Shahbaz Shahbaz should stop this drama and resign,” he said, adding that Rana Sanaullah would soon be restored to his post. “By taking this decision, the chief minister has proven wrong the official government statement,” he said. Rejecting the single-member judicial commission formed by the provincial government to probe into the incident, Qadri demanded that the Supreme Court investigate the killings independently. “This judicial commission would declare all culprits innocent,” he added.

Blast at Islamabad shrine wounds at least 31

ISLAMABAD: A powerful explosion at a shrine in the federal capital injured at least 31 people out of whom seven are said to be critical, DawnNews reported on Friday night. Initial TV reports suggest that the blast took place at the shine of Chan Pir Badsah in Pindorian neighbourhood near Shezad Town Police Station of Islamabad. An emergency has been imposed in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Poly Clinic hospitals of the city where injured were taken to after the incident. Dr Aisha of PIMS Hospital told the media that 24 people were brought in the hospital out of whom four were critically injured. Dr Khurram, an official at Poly Clinic Hospital said that three critically injured among seven people were brought in the hospital. The nature of the blast has not yet been verified but eyewitnesses told DawnNews that the explosion took place when food was being distributed amongst devotees. According to a spokesman of Islamabad Police, security has been put on red alert at all entry and exit routes of the capital. He said that after cordoning off the site of the incident, police, Rangers and Army commandos have launched a search operation to nab the culprits.

Truck bomb kills at least 35 in Syria's Hama: State media

DAMASCUS: A massive truck bomb claimed by rebels killed at least 35 people on Friday in a government-controlled village in the central Syrian province of Hama, state news agency SANA reported. More than 50 people were wounded in the attack in al-Horra, SANA said, blaming the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. “Terrorists exploded a truck loaded with a large amount of explosives,” SANA quoted a policeman as saying. “It is estimated that the explosives weighed three tonnes.” The Islamic Front, a rebel coalition, claimed responsibility for the attack. It said on Twitter that a radio-controlled bomb had targeted a “gathering of Assad militia.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 38 people were killed, most of them civilians including women and children, as well as security personnel. It also said more than 40 were wounded. On Thursday, a car bomb exploded in the city of Homs, to the south of Hama. The Observatory updated its toll for that attack, saying at least 14 people were killed, including 10 civilians, in a neighbourhood populated by Alawites, the Islamic sect to which Assad belongs. No one claimed responsibility for what was the second attack in Homs – Syria’s third largest city – in less than a week, but state television blamed it on rebels.

Russian troops near Ukraine aimed at reinforcing border: Kremlin

MOSCOW: The build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine is meant to reinforce the border and was ordered weeks ago, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday after Nato reported the deployment. “In this case we cannot speak of any concentration of troops other than measures to reinforce the protection of Russia’s borders, which are being carried out on President Vladimir Putin’s direct orders,” Peskov said. The order “was given several weeks ago” because there have been “more incidents” of border breaches, he was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “Regarding the amount of forces, it is determined by the need to guarantee the adequate level of the border’s security,” Peskov added. Russia shares about 1,200 kilometres of border with eastern Ukraine along its regions of Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, and Rostov. The federal security service (FSB) which runs the border service in Russia, said Friday that all border control checkpoints were working normally except one, which was closed unilaterally by the Ukrainian side. Kiev has accused Russia of arming separatists with military equipment in its eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk which have declared independence and where Kiev is waging military operations to re-establish control. Russia on Friday said it began a drill moving some troops from western Siberia and Ural to other places, without specifying where. Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday said the organisation was seeing an increasing build-up of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine, calling it a “very regrettable step backwards” but added that if the deployment was intended to seal the border to stop the flow of weaponry into Ukraine, it would be a “positive step”.

Sri Lanka Muslims cut back Friday prayers after unrest

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority held shortened Friday prayer services as religious tensions gripped the island after clashes with Buddhists killed four people, an official said. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) said Islamic clerics instructed mosques to conduct shorter services and asked the faithful to disperse peacefully after lunchtime prayers. “The Ulamas asked mosques to ensure shorter sermons and in some places they started prayers earlier than on other Fridays,” MCSL President N M Ameen told AFP. He said there were no incidents reported although the police had anticipated trouble after Friday prayers and stepped up security in the capital and elsewhere. Muslim owned businesses shut down in Sri Lanka’s capital on Thursday to protest against deadly riots by extremist Buddhists, defying President Mahinda Rajapakse’s plea to stay open. Shops and restaurants in central Colombo were shuttered following the riots in two mainly Muslim coastal resorts that killed four people and saw hundreds of homes and businesses set on fire. The Muslims were protesting against the Buddhist Force, or BBS, and the police failure to protect their minority community which accounts for about 10 percent of the 20 million population.

S Korea keen on contributing to Pakistan’s economy

LAHORE: South Korean Ambassador Song Jong-Hwan has said Seoul wants to contribute to Pakistan’s economy by sharing trade information and expressed optimism that ties will deepen as both governments are taking required measures. “Lack of required trade-related information is the biggest hurdle in the way of Korean investment in Pakistan,” he remarked while speaking during a visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday.

The ambassador said all-out efforts were being made to enhance interaction between business-doing people of the two countries to increase trade volume. A proper sector-specific strategy could identify the challenges coming in the way of trade, he said. Highlighting a number of areas for mutual cooperation, the ambassador underscored the need for sharing expertise as both countries had a lot to learn from each other. He asked the LCCI to form a business delegation for a trip to Korea so that they could gain first-hand knowledge of opportunities there. Speaking on the occasion, LCCI Acting President Mian Tariq Misbah said South Korea had been an important trade partner of Pakistan in the East Asia region. It stood at the 12th place among countries importing goods from Pakistan and at 17th among countries exporting products to Pakistan. Total trade between Pakistan and Korea was around $1.26 billion in 2013. “It is good to see that both are consistently keeping the trade level above $1 billion,” Misbah said. Pakistan’s major exports to Korea are beverages and vinegar, cotton, raw hides and skins, copper, fish, salt, sulphur, oilseeds, fruits and sports goods. Its imports from Korea include ships and other floating structures, machinery, iron and steel, articles of plastic, electrical equipment, mineral fuels, organic chemicals, tanning and dyeing extracts, pharmaceutical products and a host of other items. Considering the size of the Korean economy, which runs into trillions of dollars, there was still a lot of room to expand trade and investment ties between the two countries, Misbah suggested. With joint efforts of public and private-sector organisations, the volume of commerce could be doubled, he said. Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.

Head of Balochistan environment tribunal shot dead in Quetta

QUETTA: Unidentified men shot the head of Balochistan environment tribunal dead in Quetta, Express News reported on Friday. Advocate Sakhi Sultan was killed in the Jinnah Town area of the city. According to the police, the assailants came on a motorbike, entered Sultan’s office and started spraying him with bullets. The advocated died on the spot. The police reached the site and shifted the body to a local hospital. After receiving information about the killing, a high number of lawyers reached the hospital. Organisations of lawyers have announced three days of mourning against the killing. They have also announced a judicial boycott till June 24.

Ration distribution: Stampede in Rawalpindi leaves 2 women dead

RAWALPINDI: Two women lost their lives while at least three others were wounded in a stampede in Rawalpindi during the distribution of free ration, Express News reported on Friday. The bodies and the injured were taken to DHQ Rawalpindi, where the injured were provided with medical assistance. The incident took place in Harley Street Rawalpindi. This is not the first time such an incident has taken place. In July last year, two women had lost their lives and at least two others were wounded following a stampede at a wedding hall in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi where a philanthropist had made arrangements to hand out free ration ahead of Ramazan. The injured women were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors pronounced Nusrat Altaf and Uzma Jamal dead on arrival, while others were discharged after being given first aid. A similar incident had taken place in Jodia Bazar in 2009 in which 18 women lost their lives and several others were injured.

Financial woes: Govt seeks four-year extension to retire debt

ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be an attempt to pass the buck to the next political setup in the country, the government has proposed to extend by another four years the statutory deadline to retire the Rs2.6 trillion debt obtained for budget financing. The move came in the guise of giving more autonomy to the State Bank of Pakistan under a condition imposed by International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of its $6.7 billion three-year bailout package. However, according to finance ministry sources, the government is due to miss the June 30 deadline set to give full autonomy to the central bank. In addition, the bill that has been proposed to amend the SBP law is contrary to what the government has agreed with the IMF, they added. In order to go ahead with the plan, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government requires a waiver from the Washington-based lender, as the bill introduced to amend the SBP Act of 1956 is yet to be cleared by the standing committees of the National Assembly and the Senate. It will be second waiver as the government is also set to miss another deadline of June 30 to appoint a financial adviser to privatise 26% shares of Pakistan International Airlines, the national flag carrier. Both the sides are expected to hold fourth review meetings of the $6.7 billion in early August where these issues will be taken up for discussions. According to the proposed bill that the federal government introduced in the lower house of parliament on April 1st, the debt of the federal government owed to the SBP as on the 30th April, 2011, shall be retired no later than twelve years from that date. Currently, the deadline is due to lapse in 2019 — the last year of the five-year constitutional term of the PML-N government. In his capacity as member of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Ishaq Dar, and the current finance minister had the limit of five years extended to eight years. Under the last bailout programme, the IMF had sought autonomy for the SBP and also asked the federal government to retire the SBP loans in five years with effect from April 2011. Foreseeing his party coming into power, Dar convinced the then finance minister Hafeez Shaikh to extend the deadline to eight years, which was later approved by parliament. The IMF has been pushing Pakistan to shift its financing to commercial banks, as the SBP borrowings are considered highly inflationary. The interest the federal government pays on SBP borrowings comes back to it in the shape of SBP profits, making the central bank borrowings virtually interest-free. According to the central bank, the outstanding SBP debt stood at Rs2.24 trillion as of June 2013. Despite tall promises, instead of reducing the amount as required under the SBP law, the federal government has added another Rs382 billion in the debt stock pile, taking the total liabilities to a staggering Rs2.623 trillion. Sources further added that the proposed bill does not reflect what the IMF had sought. The federal government had assured the IMF to withdraw its nominee, federal finance secretary, from the Central Board of the SBP. Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.

Teenage perpetrators: Deceased five-year-old’s rapists arrested

MANSEHRA: The police arrested two teenagers for allegedly raping and strangling a five-year-old girl in Datta, Mansehra. The accused confessed to their crimes, said police officials on Thursday. According to an FIR registered with the Saddar police, Khalid, the brother of Muhammad Farooq, five-year-old Anam’s father, said his niece went to school on Wednesday but never came home. The family announced she was missing at mosques but her half-clothed, brutalized body was found near the village watercourse later in the afternoon. The police said her remains were taken to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital where the medical officer who conducted the autopsy confirmed Anam had been strangled after being sexually assaulted by two individuals. After the autopsy report was issued to the police late Wednesday evening, relatives and locals blocked the road for over an hour, demanding the arrest of the culprits. In a midnight raid, the police arrested two teenage boys from Datta The accused confessed they had raped Anam in a house and when her condition deteriorated, decided to kill her and leave her remains in a watercourse. Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.

Kidnapped, raped and murdered: Woman found hanging from a tree in Layyah

LAYYAH: A woman was found hanging from a tree in Layyah, Punjab, on Friday, Express News reported. Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has asked for a report from DPO Layyah and ordered the police to take strict action against those responsible for this act. The 20-year-old woman was kidnapped on June 19 and found murdered today. According to her post-mortem report, she was raped before she was strangled to death. The father of the victim had informed the police that his daughter had been kidnapped but the police did not take any action to recover the abducted girl. Residents of the area found the body of the victim hanging from a tree just a few yards away from a security check post and informed the police about it but despite receiving information about the incident, the police have not reached the site yet. The victim’s body is still hanging from the tree and has not been taken down. The identity of the women was not known till the filing of this report.

Qadri's son calls Punjab CM 'killer' for Lahore incident

LAHORE: Dr Tahirul Qadri’s son Hassan Moiuddin lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday, going as far as referring to him as a killer for the Lahore incident, Express News reported. In a joint statement of the Sunni Ittehad Council, the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and other political parties, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief’s son said Shahbaz was a cruel leader as well as a killer. Activists of PAT and policemen fought pitched battles in the streets on Tuesday, leaving as many as eight party workers, including two women, dead and 85 others injured.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb updates: Number of civilians fleeing expected ground offensive passes 150,000

RAWALPINDI: After a long period of speculation, which also included attempts at peace talks, Pakistan on Sunday launched a military operation against militants in the troubled North Waziristan agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). As the Pakistan Army embarks on this critical mission, get all the updates of the operation, code-named Zarb-e-Azb, here. All stories relating to Zarb-e-Azb can be found on this trend page as well. June 20, 4:16pm Gunship helicopters pounded militant targets in North Waziristan Friday, killing up to 20 rebels, as the number of civilians fleeing an expected ground offensive passed 150,000. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 20, 3:10pm The United Nations (UN) health agencies are supporting Pakistan’s humanitarian efforts to help thousands of people who have left North Waziristan where armed forces have launched an anti-terrorist operation, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, while speaking at a regular media briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York, said that access remained the “greatest challenge” in the areas of displacement and urged the authorities to improve the humanitarian space. He said an estimated 34,000 people fled North Waziristan on Wednesday, following a relaxation in the curfew, bringing the total number of people displaced from the area since May to some 100,000. Further movement was anticipated, he added. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 20, 2:46pm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar, Express News reported. The premier gave a briefing of the operation and the assistance being provided to the IDPs. Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted: June 20, 9:17 am Gunship helicopters shell suspected militant hideouts in Qutub Khel suburb of Miramshah, Express News reports. Artillery shells are also being fired from security camps. Today is the last day for tribesmen to vacate the affected areas. June 19, 11:59 pm Pakistan has sought extradition of TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah from Afghanistan. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 10:33pm Chairing a high level meeting in Islamabad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sought national unity and stressed that “there is a need to extend full support to our jawans (soldiers) in the combat area.” Read more about the meeting here. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 10:10 pm Afghan president Hamid Karzai called prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday assuring the latter of former’s support. Read details of the call here. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 5:45pm The Foreign Office has clarified that drone strikes have no links with the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan, adding that it was completely misleading and wrong to attach the two. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 5:14pm Civilians are streaming out of a tribal area in a two-pronged exodus ahead of an expected ground assault against militants, officials said Thursday, with many crossing the border into Afghanistan. Tanks and troops have been mobilised and are expected to begin a new, more intense phase of the operation after a three-day window to allow civilians to leave the area, due to end on June 20. Officials say that at least 113,000 people have fled North Waziristan since initial air strikes began in May. “Afghan authorities have yet to prepare a final report but up to now they have provided assistance to 818 Pakistani families,” an official responsible for monitoring the displacement on the Afghan border told AFP. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 3:50pm Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said national unity is inevitable for the success of the military operation in North Waziristan, while talking to Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, according to Radio Pakistan. The prime minister said Pakistan is fighting a decisive war against terrorists, adding that the jawans engaged in the war would be extended full support. He also said that IDPs in K-P would be fully assisted. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 3:22pm Fifteen terrorists were killed in Zartatangi mountain heights, east of Miramshah by army gunship cobra helicopters last night when spotted. It was one of the main communication centres of terrorists, said an ISPR statement. “In a separate sniper action, eight Uzbeks were killed around Miramshah while planting IEDs on the road Miramshah-Mirali,” the statement added. Further, the ISPR statement said, areas housing terrorists in North Wazirstan Agency are continuously being cordoned off, while terrorists’ attempts to flee the area have been foiled. “Today, evacuation of civil population from Miramshah and Ghulam Khan started. Check points have been established at various places where IDPs are being provided all administrative support including food items and medicine by security forces,” said the statement. Furthermore, it added that the number of registration points at Saidgai Post have been increased to 20 — 10 each for men and women, for speedy and organised evacuation. IDP camps at Bannu have also been established, the ISPR said in its statement. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… June 19, 1:32pm According to an ISPR press release, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited Air Headquarters Islamabad and called on Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt.

Anti-terrorism cooperation: Islamabad asks Kabul to extradite Fazlullah

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad has sought the extradition of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah from Afghanistan and the dismantlement of the militant group’s hideouts in the Kunar and Nuristan provinces, The Express Tribune has learnt. The request for the extradition of Pakistan’s most wanted man was made by Mehmood Khan Achakzai – the chief of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) – on behalf of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a meeting with Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Wednesday, a well-informed government official said. The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed Achakzai visited Afghanistan as a special envoy of the prime minister to seek Kabul’s cooperation in eliminating terrorism. He was also accompanied by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry. When contacted, Achakzai refused to comment on the visit. But the government official familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that Pakistan had requested the Karzai administration to end support for the TTP and extradite the group’s fugitive chief, who is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, said Pakistan had compelling evidence suggesting that Fazlullah and other TTP commanders were enjoying the ‘patronage’ of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency. Afghanistan’s support is very crucial for the success of the operation in North Waziristan. They need to dismantle TTP’s sanctuaries on their soil. They must stop supporting Fazlullah,” one security official said. Following Achakzai’s visit to Kabul, Karzai telephoned Premier Nawaz and discussed anti-terror cooperation between the two countries. According to a statement by Karzai’s office, Prime Minister spoke to the Afghan president again on Thursday and “discussed the results of talks held with the Pakistani delegation.” “The Pakistani premier agreed that both countries should jointly fight with all terrorists. Safe havens of terrorists should be dismantled and there should be a roadmap to coordinate the joint struggle,” the statement said, adding an Afghan delegation, carrying a special letter from Karzai, would visit Islamabad soon. Talking to reporters at her weekly news briefing, FO Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said Afghan authorities had assured Pakistan of cooperation. President Karzai also underscored the need to coordinate with the anti-terror war strategy with all key regional players, the statement said, adding: “the Afghan President also called for extra care to avoid civilian casualties during the war on terror.” It is not clear, however, whether this means the Karzai administration is willing to extradite Fazlullah and destroy TTP hideouts in Afghanistan. It is believed the Afghan intelligence agency is providing refuge to TTP as a bargaining chip with regards to Pakistan on the issue of Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, which allegedly has safe havens in Waziristan. Pakistani authorities have assured Afghanistan that all militants, including the Haqqanis, will be targeted in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Army chief General Raheel Sharif has publicly directed security forces to eliminate all terrorists and their sanctuaries without any discrimination. Pakistani embassy sources earlier said only Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry had met Karzai in Kabul. However, the FO later revealed Achakzai too visited Kabul from June 17 to 18 as a special envoy of the prime minister. The PkMAP chief was sent after Prime Minister Nawaz spoke to the Afghan president on Monday and said he would send a special envoy to discuss the enhancing of border security for the operation in Waziristan. Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.

Shahbaz protests he was ‘out of the loop’

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif must have raised many an eyebrow even in the ruling PML-N on Thursday when he protested that he was out of the loop about the operation two days ago around the Minhajul Quran secretariat until TV channels started reporting on the clashes between police and workers of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT). The chief minister had come to the capital to give his version of Tuesday’s bloodshed in Lahore in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. According to a government official privy to the deliberations, Mr Shahbaz said he first learned about the disturbance near the Minhajul Quran secretariat in Model Town at 8:30am. “He (Shahbaz) immediately ordered police to disengage,” the official said, recounting the proceedings. “Soon after directing the police to disengage, I went to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court. During the ceremony I was informed that the situation was worsening. I again passed a message to police to back off. The chief minister tells a meeting at the PM House that guards at the Minhaj secretariat were the first to open fire “However, unfortunately police failed to implement my orders on time,” the official quoted the chief minister as telling a rapt audience, which included his elder brother, the prime minister. According to Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab police made two cardinal mistakes: one, no prior permission was sought from him; and two, automatic weapons were taken to the scene when there was no such need. It was quite embarrassing for the younger Sharif, who over the years had earned a reputation of being a good administrator, to accept that such an important operation was planned, decided and carried out without his knowledge. “I will not spare anybody found involved in this situation which resulted in the loss of innocent lives people,” Mr Shahbaz promised to his elder brother. However, he told the sitting that according to initial reports, guards at the Minhajul Quran secretariat were the first to open fire. Since their target was the police, the contingent fired back in panic, he contended. When a question was raised as to how come he could trust the same police for further investigation which landed him in such an embarrassing predicament, CM Sharif replied: “To address this concern, I am conducting parallel inquiries. This will ensure that the guilty do not go scot-free.” After carefully listening to his brother, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asked him to use all resources at his disposal for a speedy inquiry into the tragic standoff. “Forget about the political fallout of the inquiry. Your first task is to fix criminal responsibility in the case as soon as possible,” Mr Sharif was quoted as telling the CM. The prime Minister, according a PML-N source, was furious over Tuesday’s clash in Lahore as it had virtually taken the sheen off the government’s decision to launch a military operation in North Waziristan. DISPLACEMENT: During the meeting, the federal minister for states and frontier regions, Lt Gen (retired) Abdul Qadir Baloch, gave a presentation about the government’s efforts to ease the plight of internally displaced persons streaming out of North Waziristan. The sitting was also attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Information Minister Senator Parvaiz Rashid, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan did not turn up because, according to PML-N sources, he was in Lahore for a medical check-up. FAZL MEETS NAWAZ: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the JUI-F chief, called on the prime minister on Thursday to discuss the displacement spawned by the North Waziristan operation. The Maulana asked Mr Sharif to give the people four days instead of three to move out of the conflict zone. Nawaz Sharif assured the JUI-F chief that the government would do everything in its powers for welfare of the IDPs. Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014

UN concerned over Afghan poll fraud allegations

UNITED NATIONS: Expressing concern over Afghan presidential candidate Abdulah Abdullah’s statement that he will suspend cooperation with the electoral process, the United Nations has called for respect of the country’s Constitution and laws, as well as its independent electoral institutions. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement it learned of the decision of Abdullah Abdullah to suspend his campaign’s cooperation with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) at his press conference, in addition to his suggestion that a commission under UN supervision be created to oversee the election process. Dr Abdullah is reported to have alleged massive fraud in the early tallies from the June 14 run-off vote. The other candidate is Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. The winner will replace President Hamid Karzai in the country’s first-ever democratic handover of power. About Dr Abdullah’s announcement, UNAMA chief Ján Kubiš said that “regrettable as this step may be, we will continue to engage closely with both campaigns and the electoral commissions, consulting with them on a way forward.” He also recalled the code of conduct signed by both candidates where they pledged to cooperate with the electoral commissions. Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014

Muslims ignore Rajapakse’s plea to keep shops open

COLOMBO: Several hundred Muslim-owned businesses shut down in Sri Lanka’s capital on Thursday to protest against deadly riots by extremist Buddhists, defying President Mahinda Rajapakse’s plea to stay open. Shops and restaurants in central Colombo were shuttered following the riots in two mainly Muslim coastal resorts popular with international tourists that left four people dead and Muslim homes and businesses razed. “The protest is against the BBS and the police failure to protect our community,” a Muslim shopkeeper who declined to be named said. “We are also asking the government to take action against those behind the riots. “A Sinhalese businessman said most of the shops in the normally bustling Pettah wholesale market in Colombo were closed. The violence on Sunday and Monday nights was blamed on the hardline Buddhist Force (BBS) in the southern towns of Alutgama and Beruwala, about 60 kilometres south of Colombo. The closures came as police said a moderate monk, Watareka Vijitha, who voiced opposition to the BBS had been abducted, beaten up and dumped by the roadside outside Colombo early on Thursday. Hospital sources said the monk was in intensive care. Residents found him stripped naked, hands tied behind his back and dumped by the roadside in Panadura, a town outside the capital, police said. The BBS, which has denied it was behind the riots, has been accused of targeting Buddhist clergy who opposed their hardline tactics. Rajapakse on Wednesday urged majority Buddhists and minority Muslims to ease tensions and take steps towards peace. During a tour of riot-hit Beruwala, Rajapakse promised an investigation into the riots and appealed to Muslims not to go ahead with a “hartal” or strike, plans for which had been circulating among Muslim communities. The riots are the latest in a series of religious clashes to hit the island following unrest in January and last year, when Buddhist mobs attacked a mosque in Colombo. Muslims make up about 10 per cent of the 20 million population, but are accused by Buddhist nationalists of having undue influence in the country. Police said they anticipated trouble after Friday prayers in the capital and additional units would be deployed. Police chief N. K. Illangakoon appealed to Muslims to ignore leaflets being distributed in Colombo calling on them to take to the streets in protest over the riots. “We are working on special security arrangements for tomorrow (Friday), “Illangakoon told reporters. “We appeal to Muslims not to respond to calls for unrest issued in the name of bogus organisations. “Illangakoon said they had arrested 55 people over the riots and the situation was returning to normal in the resort areas. Troops and police were on Thursday patrolling the streets to deter further violence. Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014

30 fresh arrests as Israel presses West Bank hunt for teenagers

JERUSALEM: Israeli troops arrested some 30 Palestinians in the West Bank overnight as they ramped up a search for three teenagers believed kidnapped by Hamas, the army said on Thursday. The arrests raised the number of Palestinians detained since the youths went missing a week ago to 280, around three-quarters of them members of the Islamist Hamas movement, a statement said. The teenagers, two of them minors, disappeared from a popular hitchhiking spot in the sprawling southern West Bank Gush Etzion settlement bloc late on June 12. Israel accuses Hamas of being behind the abductions and has launched a far-reaching military operation aimed at finding the teenagers and also crushing the movement’s infrastructure in the West Bank. “They were kidnapped by Hamas, we had no doubt of that. It’s absolutely certain,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Thursday briefing at a West Bank army base near Hebron. Netanyahu did not offer evidence, but said “we know more today that we did a few days ago”, implying the operation could take much more time. “I expect [Palestinian] president [Mahmud] Abbas to dissolve the union with this murderous terror organisation. I think that’s important for our common future,” he added. On June 2, Abbas appointed a Palestinian unity government made up of independents, which is committed to renouncing violence, but is backed by Hamas which is sworn to the Jewish state’s destruction. Soldiers had overnight searched around 100 locations and stormed 10 Hamas organisations, which the army said were used by the Islamists “to recruit, disseminate information and enable cash flow”. One of the sites targeted was the students’ union at Bir Zeit University near Ramallah, Palestinian sources said. Cutting off the cashflow: At a meeting with the families of the missing youths, President Shimon Peres said Israel should pursue its crackdown on Hamas. “We must continue to pressure the terrorists, to remove their sources of funding,” he told them in remarks relayed by his office. “Just as there were sanctions against Iran, we must raise the sanctions against any source of terror.“ Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon meanwhile issued an order outlawing activities of a Britain-based Muslim charity over what he said were its ties with Hamas. “The IRW (Islamic Relief Worldwide) is one of the sources of Hamas’s funding,” a statement from his office said, indicating that some of IRW’s West Bank and Gaza offices were “managed by Hamas members”. The group will also be prohibited from transferring money to the West Bank. Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014

Police officers ‘posting shy’ in the wake of Minhaj fiasco

LAHORE: Police authorities had to face embarrassment on Thursday after a senior officer posted against a key slot in Lahore refused to assume the charge. Punjab police Inspector General Mushtaq Ahmad Sokhera on early Thursday appointed Assistant Inspector General of Police (operations) Punjab Muhammad Waqas Nazir as new Lahore SSP (Operations) to fill the key post that fell vacant in the wake of Model Town incident. However, Mr Nazir did not assume the charge till this report goes to the press. Mr Nazir had replaced SSP Rana Abdul Jabbar who was working as acting DIG (operations) and was made an OSD in connection with the Model Town incident which has so far claimed 10 civilian lives. Mr Jabbar was leading the anti-encroachment operation outside Pakistan Awami Tehrik chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri’s residence and Minhajul Quran Secretariat when indiscriminate firing took place ‘between the two sides’. A police source told Dawn that Mr Nazir ‘requested’ the IGP to withdraw the notification of his posting as he did not want to assume the charge for some ‘personal’ reasons. He said the SSP actually refused to assume the charge in view of severe criticism of police for mishandling the situation and opening fire on ‘innocent’ PAT activists. Another source, however, claimed Mr Nazir was dropped by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat for the time being as he was still facing two departmental inquiries initiated during his tenure as Hafizabad DPO. On the other hand, a senior Punjab police official seeking anonymity claimed Mr Nazir was likely to assume the charge in a day or two as he was busy in some departmental affairs at the Central Police Office. Currently, Lahore SP (Security) Salman Ali Khan, who was also present during the operation, is holding the additional charge of SSP (operations). Though the Punjab government has yet to post the new capital city police chief after the removal of DIG Chaudhry Shafique Ahmad Gujjar, a reliable source said the names of Punjab additional IG Counter Terrorism Department Captain (retired) Amin Wains, Bahawalpur RPO Muhammad Tahir Rai, Multan Regional Police Officer Amjad Javed Saleemi and DIG Ali Aamir Malik were also being considered for the slot. According to a source, at least two officers — Counter Terrorism Department DIG Amir Zulfiqar and Telecommunication DIG Ali Amir Malik — have expressed their reservations when their consent was sought for their posting as Lahore CCPO. Another source, however, said the PML-N-led government was delaying posting of the new CCPO owing to the crisis it was faced with following Model Town tragedy and criticism from all sides. He further said the government was taking its time before appointing the new CCPO and the DIG (operations) to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future. Mr Sokhera, when contacted, said authorities were not considering the posting of new CCPO at this point in time because investigation into Model Town incident was under way. He said DIG (Investigation) Zulfiqar Hameed would continue as acting CCPO till further orders. Meanwhile, in another administrative move, the IG transferred Punjab Special Branch SP Intelligence Omer Saeed Malik and posted him Lahore Model Town SP (operations) vice SP Tariq Aziz Sindhu who was also removed from the post along with the CCPO and the DIG (operations). Lahore Crimes Record Office SP Mustafa Hameed Malik was transferred and posted Lahore Cantonment SP (investigation) vice SP Asad Sarfraz Khan who was posted Lahore City SP (operations) against an existing vacancy. The IG also appointed SP Khalil Ahmad who was awaiting posting as Lahore High Court SP Security. Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014

Global oil prices shoot up

NEW YORK: Brent crude hit a nine-month high of more than $115 a barrel on Thursday as the United States said it would send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq, raising concerns about the escalating conflict. Government forces continued to battle militants for control of Iraq's biggest refinery as US President Barack Obama said the United States will send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq to combat the extremist insurgency. The Baiji refinery near Tikrit, 200 km (130 miles) north of the Iraqi capital, remained under siege as troops loyal to the government held off insurgents from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its allies who stormed the perimeter, threatening national energy supplies. If the 300,000 barrels per day refinery stays closed, Baghdad will need to import more oil products to meet its own domestic consumption, further tightening oil markets. Brent rose 80 cents to $115.06 a barrel to settle at its highest since Sept 6. It had reached a high of $115.71 earlier in the session. The US crude oil futures contract for July, which expires on Friday, rose 46 cents to settle at $106.43. The price is now pushing toward a key resistance area at $106.75, according to Dwayne Pliska, a senior trading consultant at High Ground in Chicago, Illinois. Obama said on Thursday the United States will send military advisers to support Iraqi security forces and create joint operation centres in Baghdad and northern Iraq. The United States is prepared to make targeted air strikes, Obama said, but said ground troops would not return to Iraq. Brent climbed towards $116 during Obama's speech as the market saw more buyers of call options than sellers, said Citigroup energy analyst Ed Morse. He added that the market's flurry around the time of the president's statement was a result of “real fast money and hedge funds”. “Markets are reacting to tomorrow's conditions,” Morse said. However, fears over supply disruptions in Iraq might not be enough to support Brent prices further. “I think we really need to see a disruption in supply before Brent can go higher,” said Gene McGillian, an analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. While fighting between Sunni militants and government-led forces continued north of Baghdad, the conflict had not yet spread to the country's southern regions, where most of Iraq's 3.3 million barrels per day of oil production is processed. Uncertainty over potential export disruptions from Iraq has caused the spread between Brent and US crude oil to widen, causing a spike in gasoline and diesel prices. The NYMEX contract for reformulated gasoline blendstock hit its highest intraday since July. “So far the impact on Brent has been much greater than on WTI. You would expect it to be that way initially, but the two benchmarks usually come together. Instead, WTI is continuing to trade flat,” said James Williams, an energy economist at WTRG Economics in London, Arkansas. “That's rather unusual because the market is behaving rather realistically. It's reacting to fundamentals of supply and demand instead of threats.” “The Iraq situation is probably going to be a short-term event in the scale of things,” he said, adding that rising US supply would mute the impact of potential disruptions in Iraq.

Body of kidnapped woman found hanging on tree in Layyah

LAHORE: A woman’s body was found hanging on a tree in Punjab’s Layyah area on Friday, DawnNews reported. The woman was kidnapped earlier but was later found murdered with her body hanging on a tree. Speaking to Dawn.com, rights activist Farzana Bari said, this was a barbaric act. Bari further said that the increase in such inhuman acts was due to the absence of accountability in Pakistan adding that, people think that they can easily get away with such acts without being punished which gave them the courage to pursue such acts.

Car bomb kills at least 34 in Syria's Hama: state media

DAMASCUS: A car bomb claimed by rebels killed at least 34 people on Friday in a government-controlled village in the central Syrian province of Hama, state news agency SANA reported. More than 50 people were wounded in the attack in Al-Horra, SANA said, blaming the attack on rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. The Islamic Front, a rebel coalition, claimed responsibility. It said on Twitter that a radio-controlled bomb had targeted a “gathering of Assad militia. “ The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 37 people were killed, including civilians as well as security personnel, and more than 40 wounded. On Thursday, a car bomb exploded in the city of Homs, to the south of Hama, killing at least six people in a neighbourhood populated by Alawites, the Islamic sect to which Assad belongs. No one claimed responsibility for what was the second attack in Homs — Syria's third largest city — in less than a week, but state television blamed it on rebels.

Indonesia fears terror return as fighters head to Syria, Iraq

JAKARTA: Indonesians are joining the procession of jihadists to Syria and Iraq, sparking fears they will revive sophisticated militant networks when they return and undermine a decade-long crackdown that has crippled the most dangerous cells. Support for groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Sunni radicals currently rampaging through northern Iraq, is growing among Indonesian with dozens believed to have joined the insurgency. Analysts say the fighters will pose a new and serious threat to Indonesia when they return home with honed insurgency tactics and international militant connections, echoing the concerns of Western governments. Britain and Australia have expressed fears that Syria and Iraq are breeding grounds for violent militants who travel there from the West to fight and pose a threat to national security on their return. Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, has long struggled with terrorism but a successful clampdown in recent years has seen the end of major deadly attacks–ironically fuelling interest in Syria and Iraq. “There's not much going on with jihad in Indonesia for militants anymore, “said Taufik Andrie, a terrorism expert at the Institute for International Peacebuilding. “There are just fragmented groups with no resources or support, so many are inspired by what's going on in Iraq and Syria,” he told AFP. “When they return, they will be seen as high-profile Jihadi. Young people will come to them for training, to form new groups, to plan attacks, to teach how to fight and make bombs. - Support for ISIL 'growing' - Indonesia's anti-terror unit has acknowledged that support for ISIL is growing, judging by rallies, social media and the sermons of radical preachers. The militants have crossed the border from Syria into northern Iraq and taken over key cities in lightning gains, bringing the Iraqi army to its knees. Indonesia estimates that 60 Indonesians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight but experts say the figure is closer to 100 and growing fast. There are no laws prohibiting Indonesians from joining foreign militant groups and Islamic organisations have openly held fundraisers for ISIL. “The government must pass legislation to criminalise citizens supporting and travelling overseas to join terrorist groups,” Rohan Gunaratna, a terrorism expert at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told AFP. Analysts point to neighbouring Malaysia which has been more active, arresting a dozen men in April who were trying to leave the country to fight in Syria. It failed, however, to prevent a 26-year-old Malaysian from leaving the country for Iraq, where he carried out a suicide attack that killed 25 soldiers. Indonesians know well the threat of returnees -- many of the country's most notorious terrorists trained in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1990s and came back with vast networks, bomb-making skills and access to funding. Some were in the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, which was behind the 2002 twin bombings that killed 202 people on the resort island of Bali as well as other blasts on hotels and churches. The Bali bombings were a wake-up call that galvanised the government. An elite anti-terror police unit was established which has eliminated the masterminds of the attacks in bloody armed raids. - Syria reigniting jihadist interest The country has had no significant bombings for around five years as the JI network crumbled, leaving only splinter groups and small cells with little capacity. But the civil war in Syria has reignited interest in jihad as some Muslims believe it is the start of the Islamic equivalent of Armageddon. “Some jihadists in Indonesia see ISIL as the embryo of an Islamic caliphate, which is their ultimate goal,” said Solahudin, author of “The Roots of Terrorism in Indonesia” who goes by one name. The fighters, almost entirely young men, are being wooed online. YouTube pulled a video from two channels Thursday of five Indonesian men in balaclavas claiming to be in Syria, calling for their compatriots to join the fight. Radical Islamic websites, such al-Mustaqbal and VOA Islam, are publishing pro-ISIL news stories, describing its takeover of Iraqi cities as the “liberation” of Sunni Muslims in Shia-majority Iraq. Most Indonesians are Sunni Muslims and tensions with minority Shias have intensified in recent years. Terrorism expert Andrie said returnees would likely exacerbate sectarian clashes. Governments are increasingly concerned over the flow of foreigners to the Syria conflict, with the New York-based intelligence Soufan Group estimating some 12,000 have done so in the past three years. Last month, an American man killed 37 people in a suicide bombing in Syria while a Belgian man who had fought with ISIL in Syria killed four people in a gun attack on a Jewish Museum in Brussels. This week, Australia said around 150 Australians had learnt the “terrorist trade” fighting alongside Sunni militants in Iraq and Syria. And in Britain the government has banned ISIL, with its security minister saying terrorism related to Syria's civil war “will pose a threat to the UK for the forseeable future”.

Karachi Rangers kill alleged TTP commander during operation

KARACHI: Rangers personnel conducted an operation in Sultanabad area of Manghopir in Karachi on Thursday, allegedly killing a key commander and the local vice-emir of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), DawnNews reported. Rangers personnel had cordoned off the area sealing all entry and exit points of the locality while conducting the search operation. Although the official Rangers spokesperson declined to give confirmation of the identities of those killed during the operation, security sources said that the vice-emir of the TTP's Karachi chapter identified as Abid 'chotu' was killed during the Rangers' operation in Sultanabad area of Karachi's Manghopir area. The other TTP commander killed during the operation was identified as Fakhruddin Mehsud, according to the sources. Two security persons also sustained injuries during the operation. They were later shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. Manghopir is one of the areas in Karachi considered as a hotbed of TTP activity. Other areas in the city include Sultanabad, Pakhtunabad, Kunwari Colony and Pirabad. The operation took place amid the operation launched in Karachi over the Supreme Court of Pakistan's directives to improve the law and order situation in the city and the Zarb-i-Azb operation launched by the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan tribal region following a Taliban attack on Karachi airport, earlier this month. Mean while, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that worsening of law and order situation in Karachi could not be borne by the city and the Army would be deployed in Karachi wherever it was felt necessary. Karachi airport attack: police say suspects arrested Meanwhile, Karachi police claimed to have arrested suspects involved in the Karachi airport attack. According to Deputy inspector general (DIG) Karachi East Munir Ahmed Shaikh, the suspects were traced through mobile phones found at the airport after the attack. Shaikh said the suspects were currently being interrogated, and that he was "expecting good news".

IED attack on police van kills two

PESHAWAR: Two policemen were killed, and two others injured on Friday as a result of an improvised explosive device (IED) blast on a police van in Torghar. The attack took place in Akazai area of Torghar district. Jutba police official told Dawn.com that the police van was on a routine patrol. District Police Officer Iftikharudin confirmed the attack and said the van was totally destroyed. Torghar was part of Mansehra before it was made a separate district during the previous PPP-led government. It was then that the provincially administered tribal area had seen its first police setup. The police stations were established due to presence of militants in the area to ward off any threat. A checkpost in Torghar district had been set on fire on June 15 where the militants also tortured the policemen.

India nuke enrichment plant expansion operational in 2015

NEW DELHI: India is expanding a covert uranium enrichment plant that could potentially support the development of thermonuclear weapons, a defence research group said on Friday, raising the stakes in an arms race with China and Pakistan. The revelation highlights a lack of nuclear safeguards on India under new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while sanctions-bound Iran faces minute scrutiny in talks with world powers over its own nuclear programme. New units at the Indian Rare Metals Plant would increase India's ability to produce weapons-grade uranium to twice the amount needed for its planned nuclear-powered submarine fleet, IHS Jane's said. The facility, located near Mysore in southern India, could be operational by mid-2015, the research group said, basing its findings on analysis of satellite imagery and public statements by Indian officials. “Taking into account all the enriched uranium likely to be needed by the Indian nuclear submarine fleet, there is likely to be a significant excess,” Matthew Clements, editor of IHS Jane's Intelligence Review said. “One potential use of this would be for the development of thermonuclear weapons.” No comment was available from the Indian government press office or the foreign ministry. Unlike Iran, India is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. New Delhi tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974, provoking international sanctions that barred it from importing nuclear technology and materials. It conducted tests again in 1998 that drew a quick response from Pakistan, triggering an arms race between the neighbours, who have fought three wars since independence in 1947. A civil nuclear cooperation deal with the United States, sealed in 2008, gave India access to know-how and fuel in return for a pledge - so far unfulfilled - to bring in U.S. firms to expand India's nuclear power generation capacity. The pact exempts military facilities and stockpiles of nuclear fuel from scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a United Nations watchdog. The Mysore plant is not subject to IAEA safeguards. The exemption, granted by the administration of President George W. Bush, faced opposition from China and Pakistan, India's regional rivals, and European nations who said it would undermine efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons. Satellite view Based on its analysis of commercial satellite images, IHS Jane's has identified what appears to be a new uranium hexafluoride plant that would increase the uranium enrichment capacity of the Mysore facility. The plant would be able to produce a surplus of around 160 kilos a year of uranium enriched to 90 percent purity, IHS Jane's reckons. That is roughly double the needs of the nuclear submarine fleet India is developing to supplement its land-based missile arsenal - and enough to make five atomic bombs. By blending the uranium with its existing stock of plutonium, India could develop thermonuclear weapons that have a complex detonation process and have a bigger impact than simpler weapons. “We aren't suggesting that this action alone will create an immediate standoff, but it's going to create a further level of complexity in an already difficult situation,” said Clements, referring to the regional security implications. The IHS findings have been corroborated by other analysts, with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) writing this week that the Mysore facility could signify India's intent to move towards thermonuclear weapons. India is estimated by SIPRI to hold 90 to 110 nuclear weapons in its arsenal. The IHS assessment revealed incremental progress at Mysore since the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), in a report last December, identified the construction of a new gas centrifuge plant. India's new Arihant class of submarine is assessed to have an 80-megawatt onboard reactor that contains around 65kg of uranium. One submarine is operational, a second is being built and a third is planned, according to ISIS. No first use Modi, leader of the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has sought to assert New Delhi's regional leadership in his first weeks in office while seeking to engage with major powers such as the United States and China. But, although he invited Pakistan's prime minister to his inauguration, Modi has made clear that any rapprochement would require a halt to occasional military clashes on the de facto frontier of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Before Modi's landslide general election victory last month, sources close to his party had suggested India might abandon its 'no first use' nuclear doctrine, which committed it to refrain from any pre-emptive strike. Modi later denied any planned shift and vowed to uphold 'no first use', a signature policy of India's last BJP prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who ordered the 1998 nuclear tests.

Slain MQM lawmaker buried in Lahore

MQM MNA Tahira Asif Died in Lahore by dawn-news LAHORE: Member of National Assembly belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Tahira Asif, who was gunned down in an attack in Lahore, was buried on Friday in a local graveyard near her residence in the city's Wafaqi colony area in Johar Town. Strict security arrangements were in place for the funeral which was attended by a large number of people including Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz's (PML-N) Provincial Food Minister Bilal Yasin, Pervaiz Rafique of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and a delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (PML-Q) among others. The lawmaker was buried next to the grave of her father at the Kamal Shah graveyard. Tahira Asif was wounded in a gun attack in Lahore on Wednesday and was shifted to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in a critical condition where she was undergoing treatment. The legislator succumbed to her wounds on Thursday following which her party, the MQM, had announced a three-day mourning and also demanded the arrest of the killers withing three days. CCPO Lahore had constituted two teams head by SP CIA and SP investigation respectively to probe the incident. Police sources had claimed that two suspected had been arrested and were being held at an undisclosed location for questioning.

Military to be given full resources to accomplish NWA operation: PM

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his first ever visit to the Headquarters of the Peshawar Corps of Pakistan Army, assured the military of full financial support to ensure success in the ongoing military operation against militants in North Waziristan tribal region. The prime minister, who was also accompanied by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, was given a briefing by senior commanders of the Pakistan Army on the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb operation. They were apprised about the significance of Zarb-i-Azb and told that the operation was imperative because of the threat of large scale attacks across the country by the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). During the briefing, it was also confirmed that 232 terrorists of various terror groups were killed while 20 militant sanctuaries were destroyed, along with their communication networks so far. PM Nawaz and General Sharif were also told that forces had encircled the TTP strongholds in Mirali and Miramshah areas of North Waziristan to ensure that no terrorist fled the area. "Militants’ supply line has also been cut," the briefing further said. They were also informed that the presence of East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and International Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) posed serious security threats not only to Pakistan but also to the region. These networks also had full foreign financial and material support, it was said. Senior commanders said during the briefing that in the first phase, spanning over six weeks, major targets would be achieved by security forces. Nawaz said that he had spoken to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to ensure that Afghan soil may not be used against Pakistan by fleeing terrorists. PM Nawaz hits back at opponents Earlier today, Sharif lashed out at his opponents and said they were agitating against the government’s developmental agenda that included purging Pakistan form terrorism, ending load shedding and making Pakistan a prosperous and developed nation. Premier Sharif was addressing a gathering at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad where hundreds of students were provided with laptops. "We are following the agenda of development for Pakistan. I am unable to understand the agenda of the people who are agitating," Sharif alluded to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) without naming either of the parties. The premier, while addressing the gathering, said that the government has special plans for the youth. He said the six schemes under the Youth Program had illustrated the government’s commitment. "We have successfully launched the youth business loan scheme and 12,000 candidates have been granted loans. I am happy to tell you that the successful candidates have started their businesses and have even started paying back the loan," the PM remarked. Sharif said the loan scheme was trust that they had reposed in the youth, adding that they had proved themselves trustworthy. The prime minister said that the fee reimbursement scheme for students would benefit around 40,000 students annually, and announced that "I wish to extend this facility to all the students of Pakistan." "No student should remain uneducated due to resource constraints,” he added. The beneficiaries of our schemes do not belong to a specific party or region but includes students from all parts of Pakistan regardless of their political affiliations, the PM said. "Merit is the only qualification needed to qualify for our schemes," the PM said. The students will also get a free EVO Dongle device along with the laptop. The laptops have all the necessary softwares necessary for research while the students will also have access to 6,000 national and international journals. He said they were mulling over a bill to eliminate unlicensed weapons from the country in order to make it a peaceful living place. But, he added, we need support of all the parliamentary parties in this respect. "Our objective is to make Pakistan a developed and prosperous country so that we can move heads high in the comity of nations, Sharif said.

Why so many goals at the World Cup?

RIO DE JANEIRO: After a steadily diminishing goals-per-game ratio at recent World Cups, the 2014 tournament has bucked the trend in spectacular fashion. A week into the competition, the average number of goals scored per game is just under 2.9, leaving the tournament on course to become the most high-scoring World Cup since the 1958 event in Sweden (3.6). Six factors behind the unexpected goal explosion: The legacy of 'tiki-taka' Spain's tournament may have been ended by Chile on Wednesday, but the defending champions' six-year reign as the world's pre-eminent national team has had a profound impact on the way that teams play. The 'tiki-taka' passing style pioneered by Spain and Barcelona has been copied around the world, with proactive, attacking football and aggressive pressing now widespread. The example set by players such as Xavi and Andres Iniesta means that players have become accustomed to taking more risks in possession, which leads to more turnovers, and in turn, more goals. Warm weather Compared to the cold weather of South Africa, where the 2010 World Cup took place, games in tropical and sub-tropical Brazil have in the main taken place amid warm conditions. The heat and humidity means that players tire more quickly and when players get tired, they make more mistakes. “Certainly (the conditions) are playing a part,” said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou, quoted by the Daily Telegraph. “It's contributed to the openness of the competition, because games get spread in warmer climates. That's why you've seen some pretty open games.“ Early goals It took Brazil defender Marcelo only 11 minutes to put the ball into his own net in the tournament's opening game, the hosts' 3-1 win over Croatia, and early goals have become a recurring theme. There were 25 first-half strikes in the tournament's first 20 matches, and nothing opens a game up like an early goal. Already, seven teams have come from behind to win matches. Only four managed the feat at the 2010 tournament. Innovative tactics While the 4-2-3-1 formation was the dominant playing system at the last World Cup, teams have enjoyed success in Brazil with more idiosyncratic tactical configurations. Holland's 5-3-2 system enabled them to crush Spain 5-1 as it gave Louis van Gaal's side numerical parity in midfield whilst allowing forwards Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie to remain high up the pitch.“ “The fact that our defence plays very deep frees up a lot of space for Robin and me,” explains Robben. “We have the whole pitch for leading counter-attacks.“ After a seemingly ineluctable slide towards single-striker systems in recent years, more and more teams are playing with two central forwards, and more forwards often means more goals. Substandard goalkeeping Fans in Brazil have already witnessed some exquisite goals -- Van Persie's looping header against Spain; Tim Cahill's jaw-dropping volley against Holland; Lionel Messi's solo special against Bosnia-Hercegovina -- but standards of goalkeeping have been less impressive. Spain's Iker Casillas made two woeful errors against Holland, while Russia's Igor Akinfeev and Mathew Ryan of Australia have also committed high-profile blunders. Several leading nations have problems in the goalkeeping department -- Brazil's Julio Cesar and Argentina's Sergio Romero are both short of match practice, while Italy's Gianluigi Buffon missed his side's opening game through injury -- so it could prove a tournament to forget for the men between the posts. The snowball effect The early-tournament goal spree is encouraging teams to throw caution to the wind, creating a climate where risk-taking is applauded and defensive play derided. “I'm surprised how open it's been,” admits England striker Daniel Sturridge. “It's been quite open and, for the neutrals, it's a great World Cup to see, with so many goals and chances. I'm enjoying it, enjoying the occasion -- watching games as well as playing.“

England look to Italy and Balotelli to save them

SAO PAULO: England will be praying Italy do them a favour and beat Costa Rica later on Friday to keep alive their slim hopes of avoiding their earliest exit from a World Cup in 56 years. Elsewhere France play Switzerland in a clash for control of Group E, where a win for either side would probably ensure they finish top of their pool. Even were the Italians, who beat England 2-1 in their first game, to beat Costa Rica, which is no certainty given the CONCACAF side beat Uruguay 3-1, England would still require Italy to beat the Uruguayans next Tuesday and they would have to beat Costa Rica and hope to go through on better goal difference. Italy's striker Mario Balotelli, who scored the winner against the English last Saturday, took to Twitter after a double from Luis Suarez, in his first match in weeks after undergoing knee surgery, had condemned Roy Hodgson's side to defeat. “If we beat Costa Rica I want a kiss, obviously on the cheek, from the UK Queen,” Balotelli tweeted with his tongue firmly lodged in the very same cheek to his 2.36 million Twitter followers. Nothing, though, would have made Hodgson raise even the thinnest of smiles after the promising performance in the game against Italy failed to yield dividends against a streetwise Uruguayan outfit. “We are more then disappointed, we're devastated,” Hodgson said after the loss, describing his side's chances of remaining in the tournament as “unbelievably slim. “ “To be sure of continuing we needed a result today, a draw or a victory, and we didn't get it,” he added. Hodgson's nightmare was by stark contrast a dream come true for Suarez -- named English football's player of the year after a superb season for Liverpool. “Yes, I dreamed of this,” Suarez said. “It was something I imagined many times, but I had to calm myself down.“ While England probably face an early flight home, both France and Switzerland are favoured to avoid a repeat of the 2010 finals, where they bowed out in the first round, after both opened with victories over Honduras and Ecuador respectively. Friday's match falls on the fourth anniversary of the French squad's infamous strike during their South Africa 2010 campaign when the team refused to train in support of Nicolas Anelka after the moody striker was sent home early after a foul mouthed outburst at unpopular coach Raymond Domenech. France captain Hugo Lloris says the anniversary will not be a factor as they chase the win which would leave them on the verge of the knock-out phase. “We don't have what happened in 2010 in mind, we're really focused on this tournament. What happened in 2010 belongs in the past,” said Lloris, one of the few players still in the squad from the South Africa campiagn. “We're here to live an adventure for as long as possible with the best results possible.“ Colombia on course Earlier Thursday, Colombia maintained South America's strong start to the tournament with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, their second successive win which saw them progress to the last 16 for only the second time in the World Cup after the other Group C game ended in a 0-0 draw as Japan failed to beat a Greek side reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute. The result means Japan and Greece must win their final matches against Colombia and Ivory Coast respectively to have any chance of going through. Japan's star midfielder Keisuke Honda, who despite his star billing was unable to raise his team-mates to greater heights, was more damning about the Blue Samurai's lack of a cutting edge which dimmed their hopes of repeating their performance of 2010 when they reached the last 16. “To be honest, it's extremely difficult just throwing in crosses and trying to beat these physical defenders to the ball and score,” he said. “We needed to find a different way to goal but we were lacking the ideas to do it. “I'm so gutted. It's all about results so it's hugely disappointing not to score.“ His team-mate Yoshito Okubo missed an open goal in the second-half and didn't try and hide behind a poor team performance. “Pathetic. I apologise to everyone in Japan. “

Pakistan world's largest host of refugees: UNHCR

By the end of 2013, Pakistan continued to host the largest number of refugees in the world (1.6 million), nearly all from Afghanistan. This was disclosed in a report released in Islamabad at a ceremony marked in connection with World Refugee Day which is being celebrated today by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Speaking at the World Refugee Day commemorative event in Islamabad, senior UNHCR official Ms Maya Ameratunga, lauded Pakistan's role and said Pakistan has generously hosted the world’s largest refugee population for three decades, and it is essential to mobilize more support from the international community to sustain efforts such as the RAHA initiative, which is a way of thanking the hosts of these refugees. The report titled, “War’s Human Cost: UNHCR Global Trends 2013”, shows that the number of refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people (IDPs) worldwide has, for the first time in the post-World War II era, exceeded 50 million people. The situation is similar for the Islamic Republic of Iran, which hosted 857,400 refugees by year-end, almost all Afghans. At the same time voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan has also been the largest in the world, with 3.8 million having been assisted by UNHCR to return home since 2002. The report said 51.2 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2013, six million more than the 45.2 million reported in 2012 and added that the reason for this massive increase was driven mainly by the war in Syria, which at the end of last year had forced 2.5 million people into becoming refugees and made 6.5 million internally displaced. Internal displacement amounted to a record 33.3 million people globally. The UNHCR report said with some 2.56 million refugees in 86 countries, Afghanistan remained the leading country of origin of refugees in 2013 – the 33rd consecutive year it has topped this list. Today, on average, one out of every five refugees in the world is from Afghanistan, with 95 per cent located in Pakistan or the Islamic Republic of Iran. The strategy helps Afghan refugees to return home safely and voluntarily and to reintegrate as citizens in their own country. The strategy also provides support for host countries, for example through the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme. The report commended the efforts of the Government of Pakistan which took the commendable initiative of adopting a National Policy on the Repatriation and Management of Afghan Refugees. it further said As part of this policy, the Government is renewing the Proof of Registration cards of Afghan refugees, with validity until the end of 2015. So far, some 90% of the refugees have renewed their cards at PoR Card Modification Centres. The remaining PoR card holders must do so by August 2014 in order to remain as refugees.