ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has aid that no Pakistani is among the nine persons died in today’s deadly Israeli raid on Gazi aid convoy. “TV anchor Talat Hussain and other Pakistani nationals are ‘safe’,” he told a private news channel Monday. Speaking to media persons at the residence of Talat Hussain, he said President and Prime Minister have contacted wife of Talat and assured her about his safe return. Malik said that the government was expecting to get more information from Interpol.
ANKARA: Turkey on Monday accused Israel of “state terror” and recalled its ambassador after a deadly raid on Gaza-bound aid ships by Israeli forces left at least nine dead, most of them Turkish nationals. “It should be known that we will not stay silent and unresponsive in the face of this inhuman state terror,” Erdogan said in live televised remarks ahead of his departure from Chile to Turkey, cutting short his Latin American tour. “International law has been trampled underfoot,” he added. “This attack has clearly shown once again that the Israeli government does not want peace in the region.” Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc announced that the Turkish ambassador to Tel Aviv, Oguz Celikkol, was summoned back to Ankara and plans for three joint military exercises with Israel had also been scrapped. Turkey has called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, where it holds a non-permanent seat, he added. Erdogan said that his country had also also called for emergency NATO talks over the Israeli raid. An alliance spokesman said the meeting would take place Tuesday. Turkey’’s strong reaction marked a new low in the once-flourishing bilateral ties with Israel and came as the Jewish State announced that most of the bloodshed occurred on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish passenger ship carrying more than 600 people, and that most of the victims were Turkish. “By targeting civilians, Israel has once again shown its disregard for human life and peaceful initiatives,” a Turkish foreign ministry statement said. “This deplorable incident, which took place in open seas and constitutes a flagrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations. Israel will have to bear the consequences of this behaviour,” it said. Turkish army chief Ilker Basbug, who cut short a visit to Egypt and returned to Turkey Monday, told his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi in a telephone conversation that the use of military force against the aid ships was “grave and unacceptable”, an army statement said. Basbug also said that the Israeli raid “had led to very serious consequences”, it added. President Abdullah Gul said Turkey was demanding that Israel “swiftly carry out all necessary inquiries on the issue and punish those responsible.”
Gunmen Monday night attacked the Jinnah hospital in this eastern Pakistani city, killing at least 12 people, including four policemen, and injuring several others, media reports said.
Written on May 31, 2010 | Posted in
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Gunmen Monday night stormed the Jinnah hospital in this eastern Pakistani city, killing at least eight people and injuring several others, media reports said.
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ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called upon United States to use its influence for the recovery of Pakistani nationals who were aboard Freedom Flotilla. Interacting with media persons here on Monday, Qureshi said he has contacted Holbrooke on phone on the issue of recovery of Talat Hussain. “Pakistan’s ambassador to Jordam, Oman, Lebano and European Union have been asked to collect information about whereabouts of Pakistanis. The foreign minister said that an emergency meeting of the OIC should be called to slam deadly Israeli raid that killed up to 19 pro-Palestinians peace activists. About Talat’s safety, he said the government has not been able to collect any information in this connection.
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ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly on Monday expressed its deep concern over the financial irregularities of Rs 4.826 billion in Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and directed to hold an inquiry into the matter. The PAC meeting held here at the Parliament House with Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the Chair, reviewed audit report of Ministry of Labour and Manpower for the financial year 2008-09. The meeting was briefed that EOBI has invested 13 billion in procurement of shares of five institution including MAC PAC, Shell Pakistan, SSGCL, Bank of Punjab (BoP) and Tele Card. These were placed in strategic/core portfolio. The purpose of this category was to earn dividend but the market values of share have been reduced enormously and the institution has sustained a loss of Rs 4.826 billion. The Audit officials informed the PAC panel that the EOBI purchased the BoP shares worth Rs 4.30 billion and further deposited Rs 1.3 billion in the bank. They said that the total portfolio of the Bank at that time was Rs 5.3 billion. The Audit officials pointed out that there were certain clauses for strategic investment in rules which were violated. PAC Chairman Ch, Nisar said news was being published in the media about the bank at that time then why so hefty amount was invested in the bank. Principle Accounting Officer of Ministry of Laboure and Manpower apprised the PAC that EOBI fully followed the rules set for investment and no rules were violated in this regard. He said the EOBI has deposited Rs 1.30 billion in BoP, however the decision was taken on political ground. The PAC also showed its displeasure over the unjustified expenditure of Rs 23.8 million on hiring of security services by Sindh Worker Welfare Board for residential accommodation. The Committee was informed that 410 security guards including supervisors were hired for to save the properties and other installations of the Board at respective sites includes existing laboure colonies, schools, hospital etc. The PAC panel also expressed concern over the loss of Rs 1.997 million to the Worker Welfare Board for poor planning and advance payment to the consultant. The Audit officials informed the PAC that the said amount was paid to the consultant in advance and work on none of the 13 schemes could be started. The meeting was attended by MNAs Yaseem Rehman, Rukhsana Bangash, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Hamid Yar Hiraj, officials of Ministries of Laboure and Manpower, Finance, Audit department and PAC.
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu it was important to find out “all the facts” of Monday’’s deadly flotilla raid as soon as possible, the White House said.
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BRUSSELS: Nato will hold emergency talks on Tuesday at Turkey’’s behest after the deadly Israeli raid on a flotilla of aid-carrying ships bound for Gaza, spokesman James Appathurai said. “Planning is underway for a meeting… at the request of the Turkish authorities tomorrow afternoon,” Appathurai told AFP. The talks will gather ambassadors from the 28 Nato member countries at its Brussels HQ. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Santiago, Chile, that his government was demanding the Nato council gather to address a crisis that has already seen Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a visit to Canada and Washington where he had been due to meet with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday. Appathurai said in a statement that the military alliance is “deeply concerned about the loss of life” in international waters, with at least nine people — many Turks according to reports — killed and dozens more reported wounded. “Nato does not really have instruments with which to deal with the follow-up from this type of affair,” said a diplomat. “Turkey has not invoked article five which envisages all allies coming to the aid of a member country that is the victim of an attack. “But, given that numerous Turkish citizens appear to figure among the casualties, it is understandable that (Ankara) triggers political dialogue with its parners,” the diplomat added.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has called upon Interpol to help recover anchor Talat Hussain and other Pakistanis who were aboard Gaza aid ships when attacked by Israeli commandos. The interior minister told Geo News he has contacted Interpol chief Ronald Noble and asked about information about whereabouts of Talat and his two other associates. “I have inquired about the efforts being made for the recovery of pro-Palestinian activists,” he said. Malik said he has directed FIA to remain in contact with Interpol in this regard.
KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) will observe summer holidays from June 7 to August 7 while announcement has also been made about holidays for Sindh district courts. According to notification issued by Registrar SHC Abdul Qadir Soomro said during holidays special benches of the relevant courts will be holding proceedings for important cases of SHC principal seat and circuit benches of Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana. According to another notification, district courts of Karachi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Kotri and Umerkot will observe summer holidays from June 1 to June 30. The period of summer holidays will be from July 1 to July 31 for district courts of Khairpur, Dadu, Larkana, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Naushehroferoz, Shahdadkot and Kashmor.
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