Over 1.31 million hectares of land destroyed: FAO

ISLAMABAD: Over 1.31 million hectares of the cultivated area have been destroyed by floods in the four provinces and Azad Kashmir, according to the preliminary rapid damage assessment carried out by the United Nations.

According to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Monday, the highest loss was recorded in Punjab where about 661,637 hectares of land with standing crops were destroyed, followed by Sindh where the loss was recorded at 357,372 hectares, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 191,020 hectares and Azad Kashmir 92,370 hectares.

The report fears that crop damage would lead to food insecurity and high prices in the country.

Cotton, sugarcane, fodder and rice were the worst affected crops. Cotton crop on a total of 415,905 hectares in 39 districts of Punjab, Sindh and KP has been destroyed.

The FAO said that affected communities also suffered heavy losses in livestock and infrastructure sectors and called for delivery of immediate relief and an action plan to provide assistance on short-, medium- and long-term basis.

Cotton growers have suffered enormous losses at a critical stage of production.

Sugarcane, being the second most important cash crop after cotton in Sindh and Punjab during the Kharif season, was badly affected. The loss of sugarcane crop has been estimated at a cumulative total of 126,525 hectares in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The sugarcane crop damage will contribute to an already strained fodder shortage.

Rice, one of the major Kharif cereal crops in Punjab, Sindh and KP, was also badly hit. The report estimated a loss of 367,270 hectares of rice crop in all the four provinces.

Floods caused huge damage to the standing crop of maize in all the provinces, except Sindh where it is cultivated as the summer fodder. In KP and Punjab, the loss has been estimated to be 57,673 hectares in 39 of the 125 districts of the two provinces.

The crops of Mung and Mash pulses over 57,673 hectares in 39 districts of KP, Punjab and Sindh have been lost.

The loss of fodder crops (sorghum, maize and millets) has been estimated to be 119,431 hectares in Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh.

Vegetables grown over 56,204 hectares of land in the four provinces and Azad Kashmir have been destroyed.

Major fruit orchards which suffered heavy losses include mango, citrus and guava in Punjab; apple and peach in KP and banana in Sindh.

Citrus orchards on 4,731 hectares and mango orchards on 20,268 hectares have been damaged in Punjab.

Of the damage to other types of orchards, KP suffered the most with 4745 hectares, followed by Sindh 3,150 hectares, Punjab 688 hectares and Azad Kashmir 177 hectares.

About 274,334 animals, excluding poultry, have been lost in the floods. The total number of animals indirectly affected stands at 14.32 million, of which the maximum loss is feared in Sindh (7.37 million), followed by Punjab (4.36 million), Balochistan (1.62 million), KP (739,429) and Azad Kashmir (228,000).

At least 46,400 animal sheds have been damaged across the country. A total of 33,000 animal sheds have been damaged in Sindh, followed by 10,700 in Punjab and 2,700 in Azad Kashmir.

Only president can sack me: NAB official

ISLAMABAD: A fresh row appears to be brewing up between the judiciary and the government as National Accountability Bureau’s Prosecutor General Irfan Qadir, whose removal had been ordered by the Supreme Court last week, stated on Monday that he would continue to hold his post till a removal order was issued by the president.

The prosecutor general made his decision public five days after an apex court verdict removed him and NAB’s acting chairman Javed Zia Kazi from their offices.

A NAB official said Mr Qadir had relinquished the charge and sent his resignation to the president after the verdict and stopped going to his office. But he astonished his colleagues by attending the office on Monday.

President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the presidency had not received Mr Qadir’s resignation and “there is no need to seek consent of the president in this regard once the Supreme Court has announced its verdict”.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Qadir gave the impression that he had been regularly going to his office and doing his routine work.

“I would never violate the law which requires the president’s order for my removal.”

He was of the view that the president was the appointing authority and only he could remove him from the office.

Sources in NAB said the prosecutor general had also told his bosses that he could not be removed simply on the orders of the chief justice because under the NAB Ordinance the procedure for his sacking was the same as required for removing a Supreme Court judge. Under the ordinance, a case for removal of the prosecutor general and the chairman is sent, with valid reasons, to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) which sends its decision to the president.

Mr Kazi, Deputy Chairman of NAB who had been acting as the chief of the bureau, has accepted his reversion to his post.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had removed the officials on a petition by Advocate Khwaja Harris who is representing the Bank of Punjab in a loan scam case.

“It is a position admitted even by PG Irfan Qadir that he had once earlier been appointed as PG under Section 8 of the NAB Ordinance of 1999 and that he had held the said office for a full term of three years from December 2003 to December 2006. There was legal bar on his re-appointment to the same office,” the verdict said.

According to sources, President Asif Ali Zardari had not consulted former NAB chairman Nawid Ahsan while appointing Mr Qadir as the prosecutor general, which was a violation of the ordinance.

They said if the president did not order his removal the situation could lead to a clash between the judiciary and the government.

The sources alleged that the purpose of appointing Mr Kazi, a customs officer, as deputy chairman was to take control of the organisation after Mr Ahsan was pushed out.

Former prosecutor general Danishwar Malik was removed on March 31 under a ruling of the apex court issued on Dec 17 last year. He had taken the Swiss money laundering case’s record into his possession in Geneva.

Mr Malik had also pleaded that his case should be referred to the SJC, but he was sacked without meeting the requirement.

Petraeus seeks 2,000 more troops for Afghanistan

BRUSSELS: US General David Petraeus, the commander of the war in Afghanistan, has requested 2,000 extra troops to bolster a crucial mission to train Afghan security forces, a Nato official said on Monday.

The mission would come on the heels of the deployment of tens of thousands of soldiers who were sent as part of a surge strategy aimed at crushing a resilient Taliban insurgency, the official said.

“There is now a discussion under way for additional resources, principally trainers, that could be sent to Afghanistan to bolster the mission,” said the official.

At least 750 of the new soldiers would focus on training Afghan forces, he said, refusing to give more details about the rest of the mission. He said it was premature to say when the 2,000 extra troops would be deployed.—AFP

CCI to ensure transparent distribution of relief funds

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has said it will become a ‘credible face’ of the government and take all policy decisions for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas and equitable and transparent distribution of funds.

A meeting of the council presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Monday also decided that the payment of initial instalment of compensation, Rs20,000 for every flood-affected family already announced by the NDMC, would be initiated and smart cards issued by Nadra would be used for the purpose. It was decided that the federal and provincial governments would share the burden of payment of the first instalment.

The federal finance minister presided over a separate meeting for collecting funds for the purpose.

Matters relating to the setting up of National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC), decided at a high-level meeting on August 19, could not be finalised at the meeting. However, the council expressed the hope that a notification would be issued ‘within 24 hours’. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has nominated two representatives while other provinces also promised to finalise the names of their representatives in a day.

The NODMC will comprise 13 members -- two each from the four provinces, three from the federation and one each from Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK.

Despite reported friction between the provinces and the centre over distribution of relief funds, the only dissent at the meeting came from Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who complained that his province had received little from relief resources.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, whose government has been criticising the federal government, informed the meeting about relief goods provided by international aid agencies.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters that the meeting mainly focussed on providing credibility to mobilisation, management and distribution of relief funds. He said the prime minister had requested the chief ministers to submit their proposals.

He said the finance ministry, in collaboration with the provinces, would identify flood-hit areas and flood victims. It would also place the process of resource mobilisation and expenditures on a website, Mr Kaira said, adding that NGOs would also be asked to do so.

Afridi says players aware of 'fix' dangers

CARDIFF: Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi insisted Monday his players had been educated by officials over the dangers of corruption as the 'spot-fixing' row engulfing his side rumbled on.

Some pundits have questioned whether Pakistan's players have been made properly aware of the risks of possible corruption.

But Afridi, speaking to reporters at Sophia Gardens here on Monday ahead of the second Twenty20 international at the ground on Tuesday, said: “The people are coming from the ICC (International Cricket Council) and they are always talking about these things.

“If you have any problems, you definitely go straight to the (team) manager and talk to him.

“I think we all know about these things so I think the people from ICC are doing their work.”

China offers $30 million more for flood victims

ISLAMABAD: China released $30 million more for the flood disasters in Pakistan. By adding this amount the total relief amount for flood victims from China has reached $500 million.

This was stated by the Chinese ambassador in Pakistan, Lui Jian while meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Jian also delivered a special message from the Chinese Prime Minister to his Pakistani counter part.

Jian also said that China will also deliver more army helicopters and troops for rescue and relief for flood hit areas.

Two cracker explosions in Lahore, no damage reported

LAHORE: Three cracker explosions took place in Lahore on Monday night, spreading fear among the people in the area. No causality was reported, said police officials.

According to sources, the first explosion occurred outside the building of the bomb disposal squad in the TownShip area. The wall of the building was damaged.

The second explosion took place outside the house of DSP Legal Special Branch Afzal Hussain, damaging windows of his car.

Third cracker took place outside the Minhaj ul Quran University..

Police had started investigation into the incident and enhanced security in the city.

Age no defence for Aamer: Shafqat Rana

CARDIFF: Pakistan associate manager Shafqat Rana said on Monday that teenage quick Mohammad Aamer's age should have no effect on any possible punishment if spot-fixing claims against the 18-year-old were proved.

“I think it should be the same with everybody, if he breaks the law,” Rana told reporters at Sophia Gardens here on Monday where Pakistan play the second of two Twenty20 internationals against England on Tuesday.

Rana, asked “even if he (Aamer) is so young?”, replied: “It doesn't matter. “They (cricket fans in Pakistan) want everything in the best spirit of the game.”

His remarks came just a day after International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: “In my own honest personal view, yes I would think age would come into account in these matters.

“But that is something the independent tribunal will have to decide upon.”

Meanwhile Rana also welcomed a reported probe into players' finances by the Pakistani tax authorities.

“I think it is a good thing from the Pakistan government. It was there in their (the government's) mind before we came over. I think it's a good thing, it will open things out so they (the players) will be very careful.”—AFP

Shahid Kardar hinted as new governor of State Bank

ISLAMABAD: Shahid Kardar has emerged as a strong nominee for appointment as Governor of State Bank of Pakistan.

Sources told Newspaper that Kardar held a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday in Islamabad.

He was a former Finance Minister of Punjab in Gen Musharraf's early tenure.

The post of governor fell vacant on June 2 when Syed Saleem Raza resigned for ‘personal reasons’.

Committee formed to probe journalist torture case

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik constituted a joint investigation committee, led by the DIG Operations, to probe the kidnapping and torture of journalist Umar Cheema in Islamabad.

Malik visited Cheema on Monday and said that the incident was a conspiracy against the government and the media.

While talking to media representatives, he said that a judicial investigation would also be carried out into the incident because the government was serious in pursuing the case.

The minister said that two different groups had claimed responsibility for the incident. However, we are making our own assessment about the claims, he added.

‘Flood rescue operations completed’

PESHAWAR: Corps Commander Peshawar, Asif Yasin Malik said that rescue operations have been completed in flood affected areas.

The commander said that Army has set 65 relief and 58 medical camps in flood affected areas, whereas four general hospitals are also in operation to provide medical aid to the flood victims.

“Army is also doing operations against militants despite of flood,” he added.

He also said that there is no pressure from the US to start a new military operation inPakistan.

Malik said that the decision to start new operations against militants could only be considered according to national interests.

'ICC's anti-corruption role ineffective'

KARACHI: Former Pakistan Test captain Rashid Latif Monday questioned the ability and willingness of cricket's world governing body to stop match-fixing, saying tougher laws were needed to counter the menace.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provisionally suspended Pakistan's Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif after the three players were accused by British newspaper News of the World in a spot-fixing scandal.

“The ICC is not making tougher laws and that's why their role is questionable,” Latif told AFP. “I also doubt the sincerity of cricket boards and the ICC to put a lid on this wrongdoing.”

Latif, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals, announced his retirement in protest over suspicions of match-fixing on the 1994 tour of Zimbabwe.

He later appeared before Justice Malik Qayyum's commission and testified against fellow players, including then captain Salim Malik.

In 2000, India's police accused South African captain Hansie Cronje of corruption in cricket's biggest match-fixing scandal, forcing the ICC to form its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

Latif said the ACSU had failed to serve the purpose. “These ex-policemen (ACSU officials) may have been very good in their field, but cricket is a different ball game altogether and only a cricketer can see an irregularity during a match.

“(The ACSU) does not have the right to conduct raids or arrest people, what they only do is to ask players to avoid suspicious people. All in all, the unit is toothless, as their recourses are limited,” said Latif.

Latif said one-day and Twenty20 rules would have to be changed to minimise fixing.

“In my opinion, power plays in limited-over matches encourage spot-fixing, so there is a need to change the laws. I proposed changes in the rules some years back but the ICC did not pay attention to them.”

Relief fund for flood victims before Eid: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday on Monday said that every flood-hit family would get Rs20,000 before Eid.

After the meeting on the Council of Common Interests (CCI), Kaira informed a press briefing that the meeting had finalised the Disaster Oversight Council.

He said that free seeds and fertilisers will be provided to the owners of less than 25 acres of agricultural land.

The minister said that all the details of flood situation, relief and rehabilitation will be posted on a website. “To make every thing transparent, the information related to expenditures will also be post on the website,” he added.

Kaira said that the government will also request the NGOs to add flood related details and expenditures on their respective websites.

US drone kills five in North Wazirstan

PESHAWAR: A US drone fired two missiles at a vehicle carrying militants in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area, near the Afghan border on Monday, killing five rebels, an official said.

The strike occurred in Khar Qamar, a village in Datta Khel area, and was the fourth drone attack the past four days, a senior security official in the area told AFP.

“The US drone fired two missiles at the militants' vehicle, killing five rebels,” he said.

Three killed as troops fire on protesters in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Indian forces fired on protesters hurling stones at them in Indian-administered Kashmir on Monday, killing three people and wounding at least 17 other demonstrators, police said.

For the last three months, the mostly Muslim Kashmir region has been roiled by demonstrations and clashes between protesters opposed to Indian rule and government forces. The deaths bring to 68 the number of people killed in the civil unrest.

Three people, including a 17-year-old boy, were killed when Indian forces fired live ammunition to disperse protesters in Palhalan, a village north of Srinagar, said a police officer. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release information to the media.

Local residents said there was no clash with the troops, but soldiers fired when the protesters refused to disperse. The state government has ordered a probe into the shooting incident.

“A clash had occurred near a highway in the morning and much after that we were peacefully protesting in the village,” said resident Merajuddin.

Later, as news of the shooting spread, thousands of people from Palhalan and neighboring villages chanting “Go India, go back” and “We want freedom” marched to a nearby highway and blocked it.

Police and paramilitary soldiers fired warning shots and tear gas to quell those protests, said the officer. There were no reports of injuries.

Police launched a probe into Monday's shooting. “Senior police officers have taken a serious view of the firing. Ammunition of the policemen is being checked to fix the responsibility,” an official statement said.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both. Protesters reject Indian sovereignty over Kashmir and want independence or a merger with Pakistan.

The recent civil unrest is reminiscent of the late 1980s, when protests against New Delhi's rule in Kashmir sparked an armed conflict that has so far killed more than 68,000 people, mostly civilians.

Meanwhile, an Indian army spokesman said Monday that three suspected militants were killed in an exchange of gunfire in a remote forest in northern Handwara district of Kashmir.

No casualties were reported among the Indian soldiers, Lt. Col. J.S. Brar said in Srinagar.

There was no independent confirmation of the army’s claim. – AP

Five killed in vicious attack north of Baghdad

SAMARRA: Five Iraqi businessmen who were involved in building a police station and a youth centre north of Baghdad were killed in a gun and knife attack overnight, police and medical officials said on Monday.

The murders occurred in the al-Shouhada neighbourhood of Samarra, 110 kilometres (68 miles) north of the capital, a lieutenant colonel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. Two other men were wounded, he said.

“They killed them with guns and knives,” the officer said. “The men were from another area and were working in Samarra to build a youth centre and a police department in the city.

Doctor Khalid al-Bazi at Samarra city hospital said five bodies had been received and that three of the victims been shot to death and the other two shot and stabbed. – AFP

Authorities race to protect Dadu, Johi

KARACHI: Authorities were Monday racing to protect two southern towns and their 360,000 residents from surging floods, as the nation struggles to cope with its worst natural disaster in living memory.

A month-and-a-half after monsoons caused devastating floods throughout the country, submerging an area the size of England, eight million people remain dependent on handouts for their survival, which many say are too slow coming.

Advancing floodwaters continue to threaten towns in Sindh province, where 19 of its 23 districts have been deluged, displacing more than 2.8 million people, according to provincial authorities.

“The situation is a bit serious in Johi town and Dadu. We are taking all-out measures to save them from ravaging floodwaters,” provincial irrigation minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo told AFP.

“The water is 20 kilometres away from Dadu city but we cannot rule out a serious threat to this city,” one of the largest in the north of Sindh, Dharejo said.

“We are making all our efforts to save Dadu and Johi,” he added.

Dadu and Johi are about 320 kilometres north of Karachi and officials fear the waters will breach protective embankments unless they are quickly strengthened.

“Things are getting serious, we have employed all the possible resources on the embankments to save the remaining towns and villages of Dadu district,” Dharejo said.

District coordination officer Iqbal Memon said Johi was more in danger from the advancing floods.

“The floodwaters are fast heading towards Johi town after inundating most parts of Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar towns and several surrounding villages in Dadu district,” he said.

“For two days, we are employing all available means to strengthen the protective embankments around Dadu and Johi but the threat still remains,” he said.

About 80 per cent of the Johi's population of 60,000 had already fled to safer areas. Memon, however, asked the 300,000 residents of Dadu not to panic.

“The people of Dadu city should remain vigilant for any serious situation that could come across,” he said.

The UN has warned that the slow pace of aid pledges could impede relief operations and says Pakistan faces a triple threat to food supplies — with seeds, crops and incomes hit.

The floods have ruined 3.6 million hectares of rich farmland, and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said farmers urgently needed seeds to plant for next year's crops.

Prime Minister Gilani has warned that the country faces inflation of up to 20 per cent and slower growth because of the disaster.

The floods have killed 1,760 people but disaster officials have said the number of deaths is likely to rise “significantly” when the missing are accounted for.

PM assures transparency in funds distribution

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday called for collective efforts to rehabilitate the flood affected people by rising above political affiliations and assured transparency and “zero tolerance” in collection and distribution of donations.

Addressing a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) here at the PM Secretariat, attended by the four Chief Ministers, federal ministers and senior officials to discuss the situation in the wake of worst ever flooding, Gilani stressed the need for drawing a strategy to deal with this national catastrophe.

Gilani said the government has received rough estimates of billions of dollars due to the damages caused to crops, private properties, government buildings, communications network, power infrastructure, food storage, livestock and poultry, health and education facilities.

He said adverse effect on future economic growth will also off-set the financial gains made by the government in the last two years.

“We will have to re-prioritise our economic goals and drastically cut-down expenditures. I expect full cooperation from the provincial governments in this regard,” Prime Minister Gilani said.

He said the CCI was the most appropriate forum to handle these issues in an equitable manner, as it has the mandate to formulate and regulate policies in relation to matters concerning provincial and the federal governments.

He called for a strategy to deal with this national catastrophe with special emphasis on immediate relief measures, planned rehabilitation, a sustainable reconstruction plan and equitable utilisation of flood relief funds and items.

He said it would be made in a transparent, fair and judicious manner through an institutional oversight mechanism which meets international standards.

“We need to make a collective plan for our distressed brothers and sisters, without a consideration for political gains, party affiliation or regional preferences.”

He said for him every flood affected person whether from Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkwa or Punjab was as dear as his own kith and kin.

“Our immediate task is to save the lives of the people stranded in the flood affected areas,” the prime minister said.

He said rescue operations were successfully being carried out with the help of Army, Navy and the Air Force.

Regarding the collection and distribution of funds, Prime Minister Gilani said “let me categorically assure everyone that there shall be no discrimination in distribution of the available resources.”

He said every penny received and each item collected would be distributed to the provinces, by the Federal Government, in a most transparent just and equitable manner.

“I have instructed the concerned agencies that there will be zero tolerance for misuse of authority,” he added.

Prime Minister Gilani said as the water recedes in various areas the affected will have to be treated for illnesses, mal-nourishment and psychological trauma.

“We have to help them, rebuild, rehabilitate and recuperate. As the world watches, we cannot drop the ball.”

He called for focused and targeted relief and rehabilitation efforts through provincial governments and said early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction strategies were a priority.

He said though oversight will be done through an institutional mechanism, the utilisation in terms of assessment and priorities will be carried out by the provincial governments themselves.

“I must advise the provincial governments to regulate and distribute the goods without prejudice, in the most transparent and equitable manner. Let history be testimony to an objective display of judicious resource distribution,” Gilani said.

He said while learning from the experience of earthquake of 2005 and the IDPs’ resettlement, the federal government will ensure effective policy formulation and monitor rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts on a steady pace.

“Let's today resolve, for the sake of all the affected people, whose lives are in peril, to do some thing for them, to enable us to look forward with hope and to look backwards with pride.”

“We must not fail, as failure is not an option. With Allah's blessing and the zeal and courage our nation has historically show, I am certain that we shall once again, be able to bring back the smiles on the peoples' faces,” Gilani said in an impassioned appeal.

The Prime Minister also gave an overview of the flood damages that have played havoc in 79 out of 124 districts causing massive damages to the standing crops, over 1.3 million acres.

“In my visits to the flooded areas all over the country, I have witnessed horrible tales of fear and deprivation,” he said.

He said around 20 million people were seeking help, over 1,752 have lost their lives while 2,697 are injured.

He said over 1.349 million people have been rescued by helicopters and boats by our valiant Army, Navy and Air Force.

About 1,000 bridges and over 4000 KMs roads have been damaged, re-construction of which would cost Rs.8 to 9 billion.

Nearly 1/5th of irrigation infrastructure, livestock and crops have been destroyed. Wapda and Pepco’s cumulative losses exceed Rs.13 billion.

Gilani said a total of US $ 953.7 million had been pledged by donors through UN system and bilaterally so far.

The government through National Health Emergencies Preparedness & Response Network (NHEPRN), under the Ministry of Health has provided essential drugs, field hospitals, medical teams and medicines to cover the health needs of 2.5 million people affected by the floods.

He said the international community has been able to realise the gravity of the situation. The visit and humanitarian appeal of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, OIC, Prince Talal of Saudi Arabia, Senator John Kerry and the first lady of Turkey bear testimony to the international community's growing support to Pakistan in its moment of crisis.

He said over 77 countries have contributed in cash and kind towards the relief for flood affected people. The IMF has lent emergency financial support to Pakistan. World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other donors have also promised to redirect and fast track their existing commitments. The United States, United Kingdom, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Germany and many others have noticeably participated in this humanitarian endeavour.

Gilani said Foreign Ministers of 27 EU countries are informally meeting in Brussels on September 10 to unveil a multi-faceted growth and development strategy.

This reflects a growing thinking that Pakistan not only needs emergency humanitarian assistance but also a medium term development and reconstruction, disaster preparedness support.

He said the PM's Flood Relief Fund has received generous contributions of over Rs.4 billion, while the provincial governments and NGOs have also launched their own relief efforts and were reaching the flood affected people in a big way.

During the meeting, Gilani also condemned the recent suicide attacks in Lahore, Quetta and Lakki Marwat that have claimed over 100 precious lives and injured scores of civilians, at a time when our nation is faced with a natural calamity of colossal proportions.

“It goes to show that terrorists have no creed except bloodshed and chaos, and are desperately carrying out their agenda regardless of the precarious conditions. I want to stress today that we shall never let their nefarious designs succeed,” the Prime Minister added. — APP

Double doubles joy for Aisam Qureshi at US Open

KARACHI: Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi concluded a historic weekend in Pakistan’s tennis history as he entered the men’s and mixed doubles quarterfinals of the US Open in New York.

Teaming up with Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic, Qureshi entered the mixed doubles quarterfinals late Saturday, before he and India’s Rohan Bopanna ousted tournament number two seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic on Sunday.

Qureshi, who holds several national tennis records, has formed a formidable partnership with Bopanna and the pair are currently ranked 15th in the ATP team rankings. Their successful run on the US tour circuit continued in the third round as they faced Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia on Sunday.

Qureshi and Bopanna took to the court against one of the tournament favourites under the scorching mid-day sun. The number two seeds looked set to dominate from the beginning as they earned three break points but the Indo-Pak duo held firm to avoid a break of serve. With the confidence of saving break points, Qureshi and Bopanna then looked to gain advantage, which came in the form of a break of serve against Nestor. The South Asian pair held on to the advantage and bagged the first set 6-3.

A crucial early break of serve from Qureshi and Bopanna against Zimonjic meant they commanded the second set over the world number two pair. Holding their own serve game after game, the self-titled ‘IndoPakExpress’ steamrolled to a straight-sets win in the biggest upset of the draw.

The Pakistani tennis star and his partner Bopanna will now face number nine seeds Wesley Moodey of South Africa and Dick Norman of Belgium in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, Qureshi became the first Pakistani to enter the mixed doubles quarterfinals of a grand-slam tournament as he and Kveta Peschke came back from behind to win (5-7, 6-3, 10-4) over Kazak-Austrian pair of Yaroslava Shvedova and Mark Knowle on Saturday.

In a tightly fought contest, Qureshi and Pescke lost the first set 5-7 but came back fighting to take the second 6-3, and then won 10-4 in the super tie break. They will now face Argentina’s Gisela Dulko and Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas.

Nineteen killed, 34 injured in Lakki Marwat explosion

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a police station in the southern city of Lakki Marwat, 162 km of the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday morning, killing 19 people, among them nine policemen, a senior police official said.

The official said the bomber struck the back-wall of the police station at around 7:00 am, causing severe damage to the premises and several other adjoining buildings.

Minister for Information, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Dawn that 19 people had been killing in the bombing; among them were eight civilians and two children.

No group has accepted responsibility for the bombing but militants have been active in the area, killing the district police chief in a suicide bombing several months ago.

Also, over a hundred people were killed in a village in the same district January last, when a suicide bomber blew his explosives-laden vehicle amidst a crowed watching a volley-ball match to punish them for supporting the government’s anti-militants; drive.

"The militants are taking advantage of the flood situation. They know that we all are busy in the relief and rescue work," Mr. Iftikhar said, while referring to the devastating floods in Pakistan, which the UN said was worse than the Tsunami, that has displaced millions of people across the country.

"But we are not going to lower our guard," the Minister for Information said. "We need a relentless, comprehensive and effectively strategy to chase and hunt them down in their tribal sanctuary. These terrorists can no longer deceive the people in the name of the religion," Iftikhar said, whose only son was killed by militants outside his home in his hometown of Pabbi, not far from the capital Peshawar.

There has been a surge in violent attacks across the country this month, including suicide bombings in capital cities of Balochistan and the Punjab, killing nearly a hundred people in the two attacks.

Government officials however, continue to insist that while the back of militancy in Pakistan has been broken, the scourge is not likely to end up anytime soon. "It will take years," said a security official. “We will continue to live with these attacks for quite some time."

Russia boosts military cooperation with Israel

MOSCOW: The defence ministers of Russia and Israel on Monday signed an agreement on military cooperation, hailing the unity between Moscow and the Jewish state.

Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and visiting Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak did not give details on the nature of the deal, which came after disputes over Russian arms contracts in the Middle East.

“I am sure the agreement we are signing today will give a new boost to our bilateral relations,” said Serdyukov, quoted by Russian news agencies.

“Our views on many challenges of today are close or identical,” he said.

“Primarily this concerns issues of terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”Security ties “help prevent these threats,” he said.

The show of unity came after strains between Russia and Israel over Russian arms sales to the Jewish state's major regional foes, Syria and Iran.

Russian officials said earlier this year that Moscow was selling Syria MiG-29 fighter jets, Pantsir short-range air defence systems and armoured vehicles, provoking anxiety in Israel.

The Israeli press has also reported that Barak's two-day visit is part of an ongoing dialogue to prevent Russia selling P-800 Yakhont cruise missiles to Syria, which Israel fears will be transferred to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Israel is also concerned about Russia's deal with Iran to supply S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems, a contract signed several years ago which would significantly improve Iranian air defences.

However, Russia has yet to deliver the weapons amid heavy pressure not only from Israel but also the United States.

Barak noted “improving relations” between Russia and Israel, and thanked Russia for its fight against fascism during World War II.

“We know the truth: the state of Israel would not exist if the Red Army had not defeated fascist Germany,” he said. – AFP

India stunned by failed dope tests ahead of Games

NEW DELHI: India’s sports chiefs said on Monday they were shocked at the growing number of dope offenders ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Four wrestlers, a shot-putter and two swimmers who were all part of India’s Games squad have tested positive in recent days for methylhexaneamine, a banned stimulant used widely as a nasal decongestant.

Four others, who were not picked for the October 3-14 Games in the Indian capital, also failed drug tests conducted at the various training camps across the country.

“This is very unfortunate and brings the country a bad name,” said Games spokesman Lalit Bhanot.

“The government has a zero-tolerance policy towards this.”

Officials said they were surprised that the 11 athletes all tested positive for the same drug, which was included in the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) earlier this year.

“The training camps were not held at the same place,” said Rahul Bhatnagar, who headsIndia’s National Anti-Doping Agency. “But the authenticity of our testing methods cannot be questioned.

“We have a few more results to come in yet.”

Two female swimmers, Richa Mishra and Jyotsna Pansare, tested positive on Sunday, two days after three male wrestlers, Rajiv Tomar, Sumit Kumar and Masuam Khatri, female wrestler Gursharanpreet Kaur and male shot-putter Saurav Vij were suspended, pending tests of their ‘B’ samples.

All seven were due to compete in the Games.

Mishra, the best female swimmer at the recent national aquatics championships after winning three individual gold medals, denied any wrongdoing.

“I have been tested several times before in my career and have always returned negative,” she told the Indian Express newspaper.

“In fact, my father is even willing to spend money to get the test done from a different laboratory abroad.”

Doping has afflicted Indian sport over the last decade with weightlifters being the chief culprits.

The Indian weightlifting federation was fined 500,000 dollars by the world governing body after six lifters failed dope tests last year.

The federation managed to pay only 125,000 dollars and were forced to take an interest-free loan from Games organisers to pay the rest of the fine and ensure their participation in Delhi 2010. -AFP

Blair “may cancel” book-signing over protests

LONDON: Tony Blair said on Monday he was considering cancelling a book-signing in London this week to mark the launch of his memoirs, over fears the event would be hit by protests.

Three people were arrested after eggs and shoes were thrown at Blair, 57, as he arrived to sign copies of “A Journey” at a bookshop in Dublin on Saturday and some of the 200 protesters clashed with police.

No injuries were reported and the missiles did not hit Blair.

Anti-War campaigners and the far-right British National Party have said they would now protest on Wednesday at the Waterstone's branch in Piccadilly in central London over Blair's decision to join the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“I don't want to put the public to a lot of hassle, the police to a lot of cost for what after all is a book-signing,” Blair told Sky News.

“I think it's sad if you can't go sign a book without people physically trying to prevent you. As we saw in Dublin there are hundreds more who want to come and have their book signed than want to cause protest.”

Tight security was already planned for the event. Waterstone’s said all bags and mobile phones would have to be checked in beforehand. Those attending have also been told not to try to solicit any personal messages.

In his memoirs, Blair -- now an envoy for the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers, the United States, Russia, the EU and the United Nations -- said he could have not have imagined what he called the “nightmare” that unfolded in Iraq.

He also echoed previous statements that the 2003 invasion was justified because Saddam Hussein posed a threat and could have developed weapons of mass destruction.

Speaking to media on Monday, Blair said the book was selling “fantastically well”, although he is also facing an internet campaign which has been set up to try to disrupt sales.

A group set up on the social networking site Facebook is calling for people to move copies into the “crime” section of bookstores.

“Make bookshops think twice about where they categorise our generations (sic) greatest war criminal,” said the campaign, which has attracted almost 7,000 members. – Reuters

Sialkot accused sent on three-day-long remand

LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday handed over the 18 accused of the Sialkot lynching case to police for a three-day-long physical remand.

On request of the police, the court sent SHO Rana Ilyas, Constable Mubarak and the remaining 16 accused, on the remand.

The court also reprimanded a police constable for giving VIP protocol to accused SHO Ilyas.

Eighteen people, including the accused policemen, were arrested in relation with the murders of brothers, Mugheez and Muneeb, in Sialkot on August 15.

Ahmadinejad voices doubts about 9/11 attacks

DOHA: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has questioned the accepted narrative of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, saying it was still not clear who was behind them.

“Something happened in New York and still nobody knows who the main perpetrators of that act were,” Ahmadinejad told diplomats and newspaper editors late on Sunday while on a brief visit to Qatar.

“No independent people were allowed to try and identify the perpetrators,” he charged.

“They say terrorists were hidden in Afghanistan and NATO mobilised all its resources and attacked Afghanistan,” he said.

“They say that in the Twin Towers, 2,000 people were killed. In Afghanistan, so far more 110,000 have been killed.” Ahmadinejad has on several occasions questioned the accepted version of the 2001 attacks by Al-Qaeda militants, which killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States.

In March, he referred to the attacks as “a big lie,” Iranian state media reported.

Iran is locked in a standoff with Western governments over its nuclear programme.

The UN Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on June 9 over Iran’s failure to heed repeated ultimatums to suspend uranium enrichment, the sensitive process which can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or, in highly extended form, the fissile core of an atomic bomb.

The European Union, Japan and the United States have all imposed additional sanctions of their own, over and above the UN ones.

Western governments suspect Iran’s nuclear programme is cover for a weapons drive, something Tehran strongly denies. – AFP

Government to investigate players’ assets: report

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government will investigate the assets of past and present cricketers after the International Cricket Council charged and suspended three Pakistan players over allegations of match fixing.

Local Urdu language daily Jang reported on Monday that the Federal Bureau of Revenue has instructed all its regional officers to collect details of bank accounts, assets and even the number of cars in the possession of players who have represented Pakistan over the last five years.

An FBR official, Israr Rauf, was quoted by the paper as saying the Pakistan Cricket Board will also be asked to submit its expenses for the players, selectors, coaches and managers.

The ICC last week charged and suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir over allegations of match fixing, first raised in the News of the World newspaper. They were accused of conspiring with bookmakers to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth test against England at Lords. The three have also been questioned by British police.

The News of the World also claimed Sunday that a fourth Pakistan player is being investigated by the ICC, but that he cannot be named for legal reasons. The ICC has refused to comment on the report.

The News of the World said the three suspended players face a total of 23 charges from the ICC. It also alleged that at least 10,000 pounds of the marked bank notes the newspaper gave to middleman Mazhar Majeed in return for knowing when no-balls would be bowled in the recent test series against England had been recovered from Butt’s room. —AP

Another 141 Indian fishermen released

KARACHI: The fourth batch of 141 Indian fishermen left the Malir Jail for their home here on Monday via Wagah border.

A total of 442 fishermen have been released by the Pakistani government as a gesture of goodwill during the past one week.

The fishermen had been imprisoned for violating Pakistan’s territorial sea waters. — APP

Iraqi troops in spotlight as bombers kill 12

BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces were under the spotlight Monday after a coordinated suicide attack on an army complex killed 12 people, with US troops among those who fired back in a bid to repel the operation.

American involvement in the response to Sunday's attack was the first reported such engagement for US forces in Baghdad since they declared an official end to combat operations in Iraq five days ago.

The morning attack targeted Rusafa military command headquarters, which only three weeks ago was hit by a massive suicide bombing that killed dozens of young men preparing to sign up.

Accounts varied between witnesses and US and Iraqi security forces, but the capital's security command said five suicide bombers had approached the compound in a minibus.

One was fired upon as he got out of the vehicle and his suicide vest detonated, Baghdad operations command said in a statement.

Two others fled to a nearby building, while the remaining two drove the vehicle towards soldiers, setting off their payload before they could be stopped.

Lieutenant Colonel Eric Bloom said a team of US military advisers is stationed at the complex, and when the attack came its security team provided “suppressive fire” against a building where the two insurgents were hiding.

“The team was there, and there was a small security element with them, and they did provide suppressive fire,” Bloom told AFP.

“They provided suppressive fire while the Iraqi army got into position to go in (to the building). There was some return fire -- the insurgents were firing down into the compound.

“It went on for mere minutes, it was over very quickly.”He added that the insurgents detonated their suicide vests before Iraqi soldiers could capture them.

Under the terms of a bilateral security pact, American soldiers are allowed to return fire in self-defence, and take part in operations if requested by their Iraqi counterparts.

Baghdad operations command, which is also based at the complex that was attacked, put the toll at 12 dead and 36 wounded. It was unclear how many of the victims were soldiers.

Bloom could not say how many US soldiers were involved in the incident, but said none was wounded. He added that the US military had provided bomb disposal support as well as surveillance with drones and Apache helicopters.

“I was waiting with three of my colleagues near an armoured car (when the attack occurred),” a policeman told AFP on condition of anonymity from Baghdad's Medical City hospital, slumped against the wall of the emergency room with bandages covering gunshot wounds to both of his legs.

“I was shot in two places, and I tried to hide behind the car. When I looked for my colleagues again, they were not there all I saw was blood and the vests that they had set aside.”

The policeman, visibly shaken, added that the vehicle that exploded was a red car that passed through a preliminary search before exploding at a second checkpoint.

The largest blast sent plumes of smoke into the skies over the capital, with nervous soldiers frisking any civilians who crossed Bab al-Muatham bridge, which connects the west side of Baghdad to Rusafa in the east.

The explosion caused extensive damage to nearby buildings and Dr Adil Saloom, director of the hospital's emergency department, said 20 patients had been treated.

The Rusafa headquarters, responsible for security on the eastern side of Baghdad, was being used as an army recruitment centre on August 17 when a suicide bomber detonated his payload, killing 59 people.

Sunday's explosion was the biggest to hit Baghdad since the recruitment centre attack, and it came four days after US forces officially transformed their role in Iraq from a combat mission to “advise and assist” operations, with fewer than 50,000 US troops now stationed here.

Vice President Joe Biden launched the new mission on Wednesday, saying that violence in Iraq was now at its lowest level since the war, but that same day official statistics said 426 people died in unrest last month, underscoring insurgents' continuing ability to kill.

The apparent spike in violence July was Iraq's deadliest month in more than two years comes amid a political impasse in which no new government has been formed since a general election in March. – AFP