Five terrorists killed, soldier martyred in SWA

WANA: As many as five terrorists have been killed and one terrorist apprehended while one soldier martyred and one injured in operation Rah-e-Nijat during last 24 hours in South Waziristan Agency, ISPR said on Thursday.

In Jandola sector, security forces carried out sanitization at Partigai near Ahmadwam and Kazha Kats and cleared 30 compounds in area around Abdullah Nur Kaskai, Bangiwala and Akakhel Pungai.

In Shakai sector, notables and administration of the area assured complete cooperation and support to security forces for ongoing operation against terrorists.

Security forces cleared Nanu and destroyed terrorists' houses at Barwand including the house of terrorists commander Wali ur Rehman.

During encounter one soldier embraced Shahadat and one injured at Khassadar Ridge, while 5 terrorists were killed near Kaniguram.

On expiry of deadline given to terrorists,local Jirga destroyed the house of terrorist commander Shabeeb Khan in Shakkai. In Razmak Sector, security forces carried out search operation at village Marobi Raghozai near Makeen, Tara Tiza and recovered one ammunition factory along with huge cache of arms ammunition.

Security forces conducted clearance operation near Pash Ziarat and found a terrorists tunnel (50 feet long) and 10 bunkers. Security forces apprehended a suspect near Mana.

In operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat-Malakand, security forces conducted search operation at Azad Banda near Sakhra and recovered 10 liters of poisonous chemical along with 6 kilogram explosives.

Security forces apprehended 3 suspects at Pabbi, Dandai Sar near Fatehpur and Tilligram. One terrorist voluntarily surrendered himself to security forces at Roria near Gulibagh.

About relief activities, as many as 20,976 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Wazirsitan.

President Zardari calls Aitzaz for meet

ISLAMABAD: Co-chairman Pakistan People’s Party and the President Asif Ali Zardari has called Aitzaz Ahsan to meet him here at the Presidency. According to sources, the meeting is expected to be held at 8 PM Thursday. It may be recalled that relations between President Zardari and Aitzaz Ahsan turned cold during the lawyers movement and the former’s membership of PPP’s Central Executive Committee had been suspended.

Drone attacks are a curse for Pakistan: Rehman

LAHORE: Interior Minister Rehman Malik Thursday ruled out presence of any US terrorist in Pakistan.

Addressing a seminar here, the Interior Minister termed the drone strikes as a curse for the country, saying that the government of Pakistan and its people strongly condemn these attacks.

“There is no presence of Black Water in Pakistan,” the Interior Minister ruled out, adding, “Unfortunately, all the terrorists in the country are Pakistani nationals.”

He said so far 74 terrorists have been apprehended.

Rehman Malik said Ulema belonging to every school of thought have supported us.

Senior journalist Najeeb Ahmed dies of heart failure

KARACHI: Former president of Karachi Press Club, and senior journalist Najeeb Ahmed died of heart failure here Thursday morning. He was 48.

His funeral prayers will be held at 9 PM at Masjid Ashraf Hashim Ali Khan Road. He will be laid to rest in Model Colony graveyard.

Najeeb Ahmed had been suffering from a heart disease and had underwent a heart operation a few months back.

He suffered a heart attack at 10 AM today and died of heart failure while he was being rushed to hospital. On reaching hospital doctors confirmed his death.

Najeeb Ahmed was a senior journalist of Karachi. He started his journalistic career from daily Jasarat after completing his education from the University of Karachi. He served in a number of dailies as a journalist.

He remained associated with daily Jang for the last 18 years and was known as a devoted crime reporter in the city. Najeeb also provided his services for Geo News.

He was elected many times on various positions of Karachi Press Club including president and secretary.

He has been survived by an aged mother, wife, three sons and thousands of mourning journalists.

Another CCTV footage of Moon Market blast on Geo TV

Updated at: 2035 PST, Thursday, December 10, 2009 LAHORE: Another CCTV footage of the blast in Lahore’s Moon Market has been obtained by Geo TV. The footage shows images of people running in confusion and security alarms of the parked vehicles going off after the blast.

Portfolios of 3 federal ministers changed

Updated at: 2041 PST, Thursday, December 10, 2009 ISLAMABAD: Portfolios of three federal ministers have been changed after shuffling of the federal cabinet. The portfolios of federal ministers Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, Makhdoom Shahabuddin have been changed. Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani has been assigned the portfolio of Federal Minister for Sports; Makhdoom Shahabuddin Federal Minister for Health and; Pir Aftab Shah Jilani has been made Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination.