search online

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Special court orders Musharraf to appear today at every cost

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - A special court in Pakistan, hearing a high treason case against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday warned that it could issue a warrant for his arrest if he failed to appear on Thursday.Musharraf failed on Wednesday for the second time in 10 days to appear before the three-member bench and the court adjourned the proceedings for a day, Xinhua reported.The government had initiated treason charges against the former military president for suspending, subverting and abrogating the Constitution, imposing an emergency in the country in November 2007 and detaining judges of the superior courts. Legal experts say the charges carry death penalty or life imprisonment.The court had summoned Musharraf to formally frame charges of high treason against him, but his defence lawyers told the court that the former president could not appear because of threats to his life.The Islamabad police chief told the court that tight security arrangements have been made for the former president and that nearly 1,000 security personnel have been deployed on the route from Musharraf’s house to the court.He also said a bullet-proof vehicle had been provided for Musharraf, but said the Islamabad police did not have bomb-proof vehicles.

Private schools closed down in Punjab due to severe cold

Posted:

LAHORE( Dunya News) – According to details, All Pakistan School Management Association has decided to extend winter vacations in private schools across Punjab until January 5 due to severe cold.Talking to media, president All Pakistan School Management Association said that the decision has been taken on the appeal of parents as attendance in schools remained very thin due to cold weather.On the other hand, all schools and colleges in Sindh will remain closed until January 8 due to severe cold.

Sami starts efforts for meaningful talks with Taliban

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Online) - Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S), Maulana Sami-ul-Haq has started making contacts to bolster dialogue process with Taliban and also suggested some recommendations to government regarding his cooperation for dialogue process.Sources told Online on Wednesday that Maulana asked the government to be strict with its stance of dialogue and if delaying tactics would be used in implementing proposed (JUI-S) recommendations then the party will ultimately back out from dialogue process. He demanded of the government to urgently announce withdrawal from war on terror and stop intelligence-sharing over drone attacks. “This fire can only be extinguished through dialogue process,” sources quoted Maulana.Sources said that Maulana Sami-ul-Haq has also demanded guarantee from the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that any kind of operation to sabotage peace process should be avoided.The JUI-S chief also demanded of the government to clarify to US that drones are not only against country’s sovereignty but also derailed dialogue process.

73,000 dead in Syria in 2013, war's bloodiest year

Posted:

BEIRUT (AFP) - More than 73,000 people were killed in Syria in 2013, the bloodiest year yet in the brutal civil war that began in March 2011, an NGO said on Wednesday.The tally from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights came as renewed regime air strikes in the northern city of Aleppo killed at least five people.The group said it considered the international community a partner in the shedding of the blood of the Syrian people because it had failed to take serious action to stop the war.The Britain-based group said it had documented the deaths of 73,455 people between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013, including 22,436 civilians.On Tuesday, the Observatory released an updated toll for the entire war, saying more than 130,000 people had been killed since it began, the majority of them fighters from both sides.The group slammed the international community on Wednesday, saying it failed to take serious action to stop the massacres that have been committed and continue to be committed.Instead, it said, the international community had focused on dismantling Syria's chemical weapons programme and neglected dozens of massacres that killed thousands of Syrians.The loss of life continued on Wednesday, with the Observatory reporting an ongoing regime campaign of aerial bombardment in northern Aleppo province.It said five people were killed in air strikes on the Sukkari neighbourhood of Aleppo city, adding that raids also targeted nearby districts.The group also raised to 17 the toll in an incident in the Tarik al-Bab neighbourhood of the city on Tuesday, in which a regime tank shell hit a bus.

Date set to apply Iran nuclear deal: report

Posted:

TEHRAN (AFP) - Experts from Iran and the P51 group of world powers have chosen January 20 to begin implementing the Geneva deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, IRNA news agency said Wednesday.One of the main proposals is to begin applying the agreement from January 20, the agency cited Hamid Baeedinejad as saying.There is agreement in principle on this date, which has yet to be approved by the politicians, he said.Baeedinejad, who heads the Iranian delegation of experts, had already been reported on Tuesday by the ISNA news agency as saying the deal should be implemented in late January.Experts from Iran and the so-called P51 -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany -- have been holding technical talks on implementing an agreement reached November 24 on Iran's controversial nuclear ambitions.The interim deal requires that Iran freeze or curb its nuclear activities for six months in exchange for some sanctions relief while the two sides try to reach a comprehensive agreement.On Tuesday, Tehran's lead negotiator Abbas Araqchi reported good progress in the technical talks.Baeedinejad said on Wednesday that two or three issues of a political nature must be resolved at political levels, without elaborating.Western nations and Israel have long suspected Iran is covertly pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian programme, charges denied by Tehran, which insists its uranium enrichment is for purely peaceful purposes.

At least eight killed in twin Mogadishu car bombs

Posted:

MOGADISHU (AFP) - At least eight people were killed when a car bomb rammed into one of Mogadishus top hotels Wednesday and a second vehicle exploded as the wounded were being treated.There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the attack, which also appeared to involve a commando of gunmen, bore all the hallmarks of Somalias Al Qaeda-linked Shebab group.A booby-trapped car exploded against hotel Jazeera, near a United Nations complex, police officer Muhidin Ahmed told AFP. It appears to be a suicide attack.He was not immediately able to provide an accurate casualty toll for the first blast, but a witness spoke of at least five dead.The second car bomb ripped through the blast scene as ambulances rushed in and Somali soldiers were helping the wounded.Another car loaded with explosives went off as security forces were trying to assist victims, police officer Mohamed Warsame said.I counted eight bodies, most of them soldiers, said witness Abdikarim Hassan.The Jazeera hotel, near the international airport, is one of the seaside capitals most upmarket and its clientele includes Somali politicians and visiting foreign officials.Eyewitnesses also reported an intense exchange of gunfire between assailants and security officers between the back-to-back blasts.The attack was similar to others carried out by the Shebab in Mogadishu, with a first car bomb smashing through the well-guarded gates of a target to let in a suicide commando and sometimes another explosives-laden vehicle.The Shebab claimed responsibility for a spectacular September onslaught on an upscale shopping mall in Nairobi that left at least 67 people dead.The group said at the time the attack was retaliation for Kenyas military involvement in Somalia.The Shebab once controlled most of southern and central Somalia but withdrew from fixed positions in Mogadishu two years ago.African Union troops -- including large contingents from Uganda, Kenya and Burundi -- have since recaptured every major insurgent bastion and tried to prop up Somalias fledgling government forces.But a string of devastating Shebab attacks against foreign and government targets have shattered hopes of a rebirth for the war-ravaged capital and demonstrated that the Islamist outfits disruptive power was undiminished.The group, which has become a magnet for foreign jihadists, has carried out an average of one complex attack every six or eight weeks over the past year.In 2013, devastating attacks were carried out in Mogadishu against the main courthouse, a UN compound, Turkish interests and an ambush also targeted the presidents convoy.Shebab insurgents also fought off a hostage-rescue attempt by French commandos a year ago.The latest major attack came in mid-November in the central town of Beledweyne when a suicide car bomber blasted open a police compound before commandos entered and sprayed gunfire, killing 16.

Tennis: Murray's year starts with setback

Posted:

DOHA (AFP) - Wimbledon champion Andy Murray warned of bumps along the road during his comeback from injury and his words proved prophetic as he began the new year with a stunning second-round loss in the Qatar Open.Murray led by a set and 3-0 and yet lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Florian Mayer, the world number 40 from Germany, who seemed more surprised than anyone at how the contest turned around.It was only Murray's second match on the tour after a back operation and a four-month absence, but for about an hour his lack of match practice had hardly seemed a problem as he took charge. Then Mayer attacked more, Murray tired, and everything changed.It was amazing, said Mayer. To be honest in my mind the match was finished. I don't know how I came back. I played fantastic tennis. In the third set maybe he was injured, but I played well.Murray however admitted to no injuries during the one hour 51-minute encounter, and whatever his physical discomfort it did not prevent him playing doubles later in the day.I am stiff and sore but that's to be expected, he claimed. It's more the joints rather than muscles. I have to get used to changing direction and playing at this level.I didn't have high expectations because I have not had many matches. I was playing well and moving well at the beginning.It was nevertheless a good day, Murray concluded. I lost two matches but got through without any niggles or injuries.Mayer, a former top 20 player, slowly imposed himself on the match as Murray became more defensive, and after letting slip two break points for a 4-2 second-set lead, the Scot hurled down his racket and flung away his sweat bands.He then served a double fault and dropped serve at the start of the third set and was never close to breaking Mayer after that.It's normal - you can't be a hundred percent, you have to play some matches, the German graciously said. I am sure he will improve round by round in Melbourne.However, the loss of court time in preparation for the Australian Open, which starts in little more than two weeks, may prove to be the most significant aspect of the setback for Murray.There were early season uncertainties elsewhere too, as David Ferrer, the second-seeded Spaniard, his compatriot Fernando Verdasco, the eighth seed, and Philipp Kohlschreiber, the sixth-seeded German, all lost.That trio were beaten by Daniel Brands of Germany, Victor Hanescu of Rumania and Peter Gojowczyk of Germany respectively.A day of considerable German success continued when Dustin Brown, a qualifier, saved four match points in a 28-point second set tie-breaker to win 3-6, 7-6 (15-13), 6-4 against Ivo Karlovic, the Croatian who had ousted fourth seed Tomas Berdych a day earlier.For a while it seemed the biggest upset of all was possible, with world number one Rafael Nadal taken to three sets against another German in Tobias Kamke.The qualifier played well before going down 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 6-3 against the legendary Spaniard.He took risks and played very well, said Nadal. But I had a lot of chances with my return and hope to make a few more tomorrow.I don't know if I can win the tournament. Yesterday (against Lukas Rosol) was tough, today was tough, and it is difficult to think about winning titles when you are in the quarter-finals. But I am very happy to be there.Nadal, who has never won this title in five attempts, next faces Ernests Gulbis, the seventh-seeded Latvian.

Tennis: France on track for Hopman Cup final

Posted:

PERTH (AFP) - The French pairing of Alize Cornet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga closed in on a Hopman Cup final berth with a 2-1 win over the United States in the Group B tie at the mixed teams tournament on Wednesday.Unbeaten after their first two ties, the French only need to beat winless Spain on Friday to advance to Saturday's final.The French clinched the tie in the mixed doubles rubbers, after the singles matches were split.Cornet and Tsonga edged past Sloane Stephens and John Isner 6-1, 5-7, 10-5 in a match tiebreak.France have never won the Hopman Cup, having twice finished runners-up.In the women's singles, rising star Stephens powered past the 27th-ranked Cornet, 7-5, 6-0.The first set was extremely closely fought, with Cornet recovering from an early break to level at 5-5 after Stephens was unable to serve out the set.However, Cornet was then broken in her last four service games of the match as the 20-year-old Stephens took total control.Stephens was happy with the way she coped with the defensive skills of Cornet.She gets to a lot of balls and playing someone like that is really tough, she said.I was trying to stay aggressive and play my game...I just tried to stay tough and stay with my patterns and it worked pretty well today.Tsonga, ranked 10th in the world, said his best tennis was still ahead of him after beating Isner in straight sets, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3.The former Australian Open finalist has been ranked as high as fifth, but the 28-year-old battled knee problems last year.Although he made the semi-finals at the French Open, he was forced to retire in the second round at Wimbledon and missed the US Open.Tsonga said he was back to full fitness and still capable of taking his game to higher levels.Yeah, I think I can, he said.I stay confident, I didn't have a lot of luck with injury last year.I was hitting really well and this year it's another story.. I'm sure I'm stronger this year.

Football: City edge Swansea to take first pole of 2014

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City climbed to the top of the Premier League table after winning 3-2 at Swansea City on Wednesday in the first English top-flight fixture of the year 2014.City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho scored the first goal of the new year in the 14th minute at a rain-soaked Liberty Stadium, drilling home right-footed after Swansea partially cleared a Samir Nasri corner.Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony equalised with a well-placed header in first-half stoppage time, but his international colleague Yaya Toure restored the visitors' lead with a deflected shot in the 58th minute.City's Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov added a third eight minutes later, lashing a powerful strike past Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel, before Bony struck again in injury time with a vicious low shot.Victory took Manuel Pellegrini's side two points clear of former leaders Arsenal, who host Cardiff City later on Saturday in one of 10 New Year's Day matches, while Swansea remain 11th.It was a very good result because Swansea are a strong team here at home and also away, City manager Pellegrini told Sky Sports. I think the way we won today is very important for us.Third-place Chelsea, who now trail City by four points, visit Southampton later, while fourth-place Everton travel to Stoke City and fifth-place Liverpool host Hull City.Sixth faces seventh in the day's late kick-off, with Manchester United welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.Meanwhile, French striker Nicolas Anelka was named in West Bromwich Albion's starting XI against Newcastle United despite being under investigation by the Football Association over an allegedly anti-Semitic gesture.

Football: Suarez puts Liverpool back on track

Posted:

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Luis Suarez fired Liverpool back into the Premier League's top four as the Reds returned to form with a 2-0 victory against Hull on Wednesday.Brendan Rodgers' team had lost their previous two matches against title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, but they were able to put those disappointing results behind them thanks to the continued excellence of Uruguay forward Suarez.Reds defender Daniel Agger headed his side into the lead in the first half before Suarez sealed the victory in the 50th minute with another superb free-kick to add to his ever-growing collection of stunning goals this season.Suarez's 20th goal of the campaign ensured Liverpool climbed back above local rivals Everton into fourth place.Hull may have thought their victory over the Reds just four weeks ago at the KC Stadium gave them a chance of starting 2014 with a shock win at Anfield.It was Steve Bruce's side who did threaten first as Yannick Sagbo fired over from distance, but his wastefulness would prove to be costly considering Hull's lack of opportunities.The Reds thought they had the lead in the 19th minute when Suarez rose to head in Philippe Coutinho's free-kick, yet the assistant referee had his flag raised and the television replays suggested the striker was marginally offside.Soon after Raheem Sterling perhaps should have given his side the opener when Suarez cleverly nodded the ball into his path, but after racing clear the winger could only shoot straight at the on-rushing Allan McGregor in the Hull goal.Liverpool's opener eventually arrived in the 36th minute as Coutinho's corner was met by Agger.Jordan Henderson attempted to divert it but missed the ball only for Maynor Figueroa to then fail miserably with a goal-line clearance.Hull had managed to contain the hosts but after the goal their defence looked ragged and out of sorts.Henderson should have doubled Liverpool's lead as a well-worked move between Coutinho and Iago Aspas put the former Sunderland midfielder in, only for him to slide the ball wide with McGregor diving the wrong way.The game certainly could have been over before the break but Coutinho was the culprit this time as despite sublime control to take down Henderson's pass, he could not find the target.Suarez, who had been slightly below his best against City and Chelsea, announced his return to peak form with a simply sublime goal five minutes after the interval.The striker was fouled about 25 yards out from goal by James Chester and he brushed himself down before curling a powerful free-kick into the top corner.Hull boss Bruce made three changes soon after, bringing on forwards Matty Fryatt, Danny Graham and George Boyd in a bid to get something from the game but with little service, they were struggling for opportunities as Liverpool continued to dominate possession.When a chance did present itself, it fell to defender Curtis Davies and from 20 yards he delivered a shot befitting of a centre half as it bobbled harmlessly wide.Suarez would have a late free-kick from distance that he ballooned into the famous Kop stand behind the goal which brought good-natured jeers from the home faithful.Coutinho's run at the end almost brought a third, but McGregor pushed away his shot to deny the Brazilian.

Boxing: Mendez defends crown against unbeaten Barthelemy

Posted:

MINNEAPOLIS (AFP) - Two Caribbean boxers will stage the first world title bout of 2014 in the United States when Dominican Argenis Mendez defends his crown on Friday against undefeated Cuban Rances Barthelemy.The matchup at the home of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves will be the second International Boxing Federation super featherweight title defense for Mendez, who kept the crown with a majority draw against Afghanistan-born Canadian Arash Usmanee last August.Mendez, 21-2 with one drawn and 11 knockouts, won the crown last March with a fourth-round stoppage of Mexico's Juan Carlos Salgado.In that fight, Mendez avenged a unanimous decision loss to Salgado in 2011 in the 27-year-old Dominican's first world title bout.Barthelemy, 27, is 19-0 with 12 knockouts. He inflicted Usmanee's only loss by unanimous decision last January.The Miami-based Cuban booked his chance at his first world title fight last June with a second-round knockout of Thailand's Fahsai Sakkreerin.

Haddin says England not in a great place

Posted:

SYDNEY (AFP) - England are in disarray and their ragged fielding indicates the team is breaking apart heading into this weeks final Ashes Test, Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Wednesday.England are struggling to avoid a 5-0 Ashes series whitewash after heavy defeats in all four Tests. They passed up the chance of a nets session at the Sydney Cricket Ground two days before the start of the fifth Test.I dont think theyre in a great place, to be perfectly honest, team vice-captain Haddin told reporters.I think you could probably tell a bit of that in their fielding the other day (in the Melbourne Test). I think thats the first thing to go when youre struggling a bit.The batting and bowling, its an individual thing, but I think the team stuff looked like it was breaking a bit the other day.England, who led by 116 with 10 wickets in hand after lunch on Saturdays third day in Melbourne, contributed to their own demise with a second-innings batting collapse followed by two dropped catches by skipper Alastair Cook.Despite their eight-wicket capitulation, the tourists sprang a surprise by not using their scheduled morning nets session.For half their innings in this series England have failed to post a total greater than 200 and they have yet to pass 400 in the last two Ashes series.Rookie all-rounder Ben Stokes is the only English batsman to have scored a century in the Australian series and their bowling arsenal has been lacklustre, with star spinner Graeme Swann retiring mid-series.Young leg-spinner Scott Borthwick, who may make his Test debut for England in Sydney, said the tourists were comfortable with their final Test preparation.No reason whatsoever (for not having a net), Borthwick told reporters. We just had a nice run around, a bit of catching... well do our skills tomorrow.Borthwick could replace Monty Panesar in the England bowling attack, while Zimbabwean-born left-hander Gary Ballance appears set to make his Test debut somewhere in the top order -- in all likelihood at the expense of opener Michael Carberry.Haddin said he was confident Australia can create history by fielding the same team for five consecutive Tests, despite doubtful duo Ryan Harris and Shane Watson not bowling two days out from the Sydney Test.Should selectors stick with the same eleven, it will be the first time an Australian team has remained unchanged for a five-Test series.Watson picked up a groin injury while bowling in the Melbourne Test, while Harriss lingering knee injury has been compounded by a foot complaint.The pair took part in a light fielding session Wednesday but none of the Australian fast bowlers, including all-rounder Watson, appeared in the subsequent nets session.Haddin said the fact that Watson returned to bowl in Melbourne, albeit at a reduced pace, was a good sign and the chances of Harris playing were pretty high.(Harris) is doing everything he can to play and the only way he wont play is if hes injured -- and hes not injured at the moment, Haddin said. I think that dodgy knee of his is feeling good.(Watson) bowled the other day so I can see no reason why he wont (play and bowl). It just depends on how many overs we need to get out of him.

India to farther its doors for foreign investors

Posted:

NEW DELHI, Jan 01, 2014 (AFP) - India aims to throw open its doors wider to overseas investors, a minister said Wednesday, as it seeks to spur a slumping economy before the general election.The government has already relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) rules in such sectors as civil aviation, retail, telecommunications, defence and oil refineries to loosen shackles on the long-protected economy.The government will continue its endeavour for liberalising FDI policy further in the coming weeks... for attracting foreign investments, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said.India is struggling to increase its attractiveness to overseas business to buttress a weak rupee and to support growth with the election due by May. But political opposition has made economic liberalisation a stop-start process.Five percent annual growth -- the slowest in a decade -- a string of graft scandals, suffocating bureaucracy and project approval delays have soured the investor mood on Asias third-largest economy.But in a vote of confidence in Indias long-term potential with its increasingly affluent consumers, FDI interest has shown signs of picking up lately.Earlier this week the foreign investment regulator cleared plans by British retail giant Tesco and Vodafone, the worlds largest mobile phone operator, to invest over $1.5 billion in India.The bold decisions of the government (to liberalise the economy) have resonated with the global community and we have seen results in the last few months, Sharma said in a New Years Day message.Officials say the government is now looking at relaxing a ban on FDI in the cash-hungry dilapidated railways, one of the worlds largest networks, and improving lines to ports and industrial hubs that would boost productivity.Still, an investment turnaround could be some way off. Between April and October of this financial year, FDI slid 15 percent to $12.6 billion from a year earlier, official data showed.Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors pumped in around $20 billion into financial markets in 2013, down from $24 billion in 2012, according to a chamber of commerce study.Indias immediate economic prospects remain downbeat, analysts add. Ratings agency ICRA called the governments fiscal situation gloomy after New Delhi said it used up 94 percent of its borrowing limit by November.ICRA said more spending cuts that could slow the economy further will be needed to meet the governments fiscal deficit target -- the gap between spending and revenue -- of 4.8 percent of gross domestic product for the financial year to March.Finance Minister P. Chidambaram insists the goal is a red line that will not be breached.Underscoring the economys fragility, output from eight key industries ranging from coal to steel, edged up by just 1.7 percent in November from a year earlier compared with 5.8 percent growth in the same month of 2012, data showed.The ruling national Congress party, recently routed in four state polls, is desperate to make headway in breaking the economy out of its state of stagflation -- high inflation and weak growth -- before the May vote.The new government will inherit an economic mess. It will have to set its fiscal house in order, keep its eye on inflation, rebuild confidence, push a new reforms agenda and get investment activity in the private sector on track, said Mint business newspaper in a front-page essay.

Blast in Prague kills Palestinian ambassador - 'no terror attack' declares police

Posted:

PRAGUE: (AFP) - A blast in Prague on Palestinian envoy has resulted in the killing of Palestinian ambassador to Czech Republic, Jamal al-Jamal. The blast took place on Wednesday was not a terror attack but rather the result of mishandling explosives, the police said.With regret, we confirm this information (on his death) provided by the emergency services, Prague police spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova told AFP.The evidence the police has doesnt suggest anything like a terror attack or that a specific person would set up a system with the intention to hurt or kill anyone, she added.Daniel Langer, surgeon at the Prague military hospital to which Jamal was taken, told Czech television the ambassador had suffered devastating head, belly and chest injuries following an explosion.Jamal, who took office in October, had only recently moved to the new residence on the northern outskirts of Prague.The Palestinian foreign ministry said the blast occurred on Wednesday morning as Jamal was opening an old safe which had been brought from the previous embassy (building) to the new one.Minutes after opening the safe the explosion took place, causing serious injury to Ambassador Jamal who was taken to hospital and operated on, the ministry said in a statement.Zoulova said the blast was probably caused by an anti-theft system on the door of the safe.We cannot rule out mishandling the device. The victim has died so it will be harder to prove the cause, she said, adding the police were also searching a building next door which also belongs to the Palestinian embassy.Quoting sources close to the police investigation, the Novinky.cz news site said the police had found a significant quantity of weapons and explosives in the building.I cannot confirm this information right now, said Zoulova.Emergency services treated a 56-year-old man who suffered very serious injuries and was taken to Pragues military hospital in an artificial coma, spokeswoman Jirina Ernestova said shortly after the blast.A 52-year-old woman was taken to another hospital because of smoke inhalation and a stress reaction, Ernestova told AFP.Embassy spokesman Nabil al-Fahel told Czech radio that the ambassadors entire family had been in the residence when the blast occurred.The Palestinian foreign ministry said it would send a high-level delegation to Prague (on Thursday) to speak with Czech officials and cooperate in the investigation into the cause of the explosion.

Quetta: Three killed, several injured in blast near pilgrims' bus

Posted:

QUETTA (Web Desk) - A suicide car bomb attack targeting a passenger bus carrying Shia pilgrims killed three people and wounded at least 17 in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said.The attack took place in Akhtarabad town, on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province which borders Iran and Afghanistan.An explosive laden car which was parked along the roadside blew up as the bus passed by it Quetta city police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema told AFP.He said that the 17 injured included four policemen.Police officials who had been escorting the bus rescued passengers from the wreckage before it caught fire, Cheema added.He said the bus was bringing back at least 46 pilgrims to Quetta from Iran.Senior local police official Muhammad Jaffer also confirmed the incident and casualties.Local bomb disposal chief Commander Razzaq told AFP that the car had been blown up by somebody sitting in it.Balochistan has been badly hit by a decade-long separatist insurgency and sectarian violence, mainly targeting Shiite Muslims from the Hazara ethnic community.Two huge bomb attacks in Quetta in January and February last year targeting Shias from the Hazara ethnic community killed nearly 200 people.
Posted by at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )