One security personnel was killed and three others sustained injuries in a landmine explosion in Kurram Agency. According to political administration officer Amin Khan, security personnel was killed as the landmine exploded while on a regular patrol in Saragarhi area of central Kurram agency.One of the personnel was killed while three others were injured. The injured were shifted to CMH Hospital where sources said one of them was in critical condition. Meanwhile, a remote-controlled bomb exploded near a passenger vehicle in lower Kurram Agency’s Bugzai area. The blast injured three people, who were shifted to Tehsil Alizai Hospital. Dawn, The Nation, Daily Times.
Washington has refused to establish the over-publicised Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan eight years after it had made a promise in this regard, says a senior official at the Ministry of Commerce, reports Khalid Mustafa. “This unilateral abandonment of the proposal by the US is a great shock to Pakistan that braved colossal losses of $68 billion till 2011-12 but has now been deprived of the benefits of proposed ROZs,” says the official. The News.
The Senate Standing Committee on Defence has asked the government not to yield to any US pressure on the issue of military operation in North Waziristan and to make it clear to the United States that no dictation will be accepted in this regard.The committee met here Wednesday with Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed in the chair. Senators Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Farhatullah Babar, Sardar Ali Khan, Faisal Raza Abidi, Col (R) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Haji Muhammad Adeel and Raja Zafarul Haq attended the meeting. The News, Daily Times.
Expressing serious concern about reports of a military operation in North Waziristan Agency, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday asked the military leadership to refrain from such action which would give way to a new wave of militancy in the country. Addressing a press conference here at the Punjab House, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N would not support military operation in North Waziristan. “It is feared that any military operation in North Waziristan will result in new wave of militancy in the country,” Nisar said. The News.
The Political Administration of Mohmand agency has awarded around 225 tribal Maliks, officials, journalists and notable elders for playing active role for restoration of peace and stability in the agency on account of “Independence Day” to acknowledge their efforts and sacrifices. The initiative was aimed at highlighting the efforts of tribal people; they contributed for bringing peace, harmony and stability in the agency. The Frontier Post.
Local clerics of Jamrud said on Tuesday that the year 2012 would be the last year for the eradication of Polio disease from Jamrud and Khyber Agency and all the parents have agreed to administer anti-polio vaccination to their children. This was said by Maulana Muhammad Fayaz and Mufti Zia-ur-Rahman in a press briefing given to the media men in Jamrud Press Club along with them Naional Rural Development Fund (NRDF) Khyber Agency Coordinator Atta Ullah Khan. The Frontier Post.
Thousands of tribal area families have suffered as the federal government`s housing compensation programme for the people affected by floods in 2010 doesn`t cover their region, according to officials. The federal authorities concerned have been giving a cold shoulder to tribesmen whose houses were destroyed by floods, an official told Dawn on Wednesday. They say Fata houses do not qualify for the compensation under the Watan Card Scheme,` he said. The federal government has distributed more than Rs32 billion under the foreign funded Citizen Damage Compensation Programme, compensating hundreds of thousands across the country for damage to their house. Dawn.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has said that Fata players should be provided modern sports facilities so that they can emerge as best international players in the world. This was stated by the governor during a meeting with Fata sports managers which was also attended by ACS Fata, secretary social sector Fata, director sports Fata and director education Fata, at Governor`s House here on Wednesday. In a presentation, the governor was briefed about the performance of Fata Sports Directorate. Dawn.
Masoom Eleven and Khyber Greens qualified for the semi finals of Dr Abdul Hamid Memorial Cricket Tournament in Bara by defeating their rival teams. In the quarter finals played at Tawda Cheena ground in Kamarkhel, Iqbal Eleven made 91 runs in their stipulated 12 overs. Chasing the target, Masoom Eleven scored the winning runs in the last over by losing seven wickets.In another quarter final, Khyber Greens defeated Ilyas Eleven by convincing margin of 70 runs. Batting first, Khyber Greens scored 161 and the restricted Ilyas Eleven to 91 runs in 12 overs. Dawn.
ALAM KHAN, NAWAF KHAN