New Year celebrations kick off

The New Year celebrations have kicked off in various parts of the world including Australia and New Zealand.

Thousands of people, including foreigners, welcomed the New Year 2010 in New Zealand’s capital city Auckland.

In Australia, the skies lit up with a spectacular display of fireworks over Sydney Harbour as 1.5 million revellers took part in one of the world’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties and welcomed in 2010.

Karachi Blast: 20 dead scores injured at Karachi Ashura procession

At least 20 people were killed and 45 others wounded in a powerful blast in the front part of Karachi’s main Ashura procession that just arrived in front of Denso Hall at MA Jinnah Road.

Police sources said that the blast was a suicide attack.

The blast triggered stampede and panic among the mourners, who pelted stones at the police vehicles. Some eyewitnesses said they have heard some gunshots on the occasion.

The ambulances soon reached the blast site and shifted the injured to the hospitals, where emergency has already been declared.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the blast that ripped through the main Ashura procession in Karachi.

In a separate message from London, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has strongly condemned the bomb blast occurred at the Karachi’s main Ashura procession today.

Hussain appealed to the mourners to maintain calm after the blast. GEO NEWS

Imam Bargah under attack: Two killed 3 injured in a suicide attack on Imam Bargah in Rawalpindi

A young girl along with the attacker have been killed and a police constable seriously injured in a suicide attack outside the Imambargah (mosque of Shi’ite Muslims) named Kasre-e-Sakeena in Shahzad town area of Shakriyal alongside Expressway.

Private TV Channel reported that the blast occurred when the Majlis was underway. Around 300 people were attending the religious gathering as the blast occurred.

DIG Islamabad Bin Yameen while talking to media said that the incident occurred at about 10:18 pm when a suicide bomber tried to enter Imambargah. As the head constable Itifaq tried to stop the suicide bomber, he blew himself up.

He told that suicide bomber failed to detonate himself completely. He said that only half of the suicide jacket exploded. As a result, head constable Ittifaq has been injured while a girl who sustained serious injuries died. He said that face of the suicide bomber is completely intact and he seems 18-years old.

Earlier, Capital territory police and Punjab police and rescue teams rushed to the scene on the information of the blast and shifted the injured to the hospitals.

SC advices Govt to engage eunuchs for loan recovery

A File Photo in which Eunuchs hold placards during a demonstration against SSP Operations Rawalpindi Police

The Supreme Court’s advice that eunuchs be employed to recover loans from the defaulters may be read as a funny idea but this will only be due to little knowledge about the potential of this marginalised community.

Eunuchs are deployed in India not only for loan recovery but also for tax collection.

The court’s suggestion will definitely be bad news for the loan defaulters, it has stirred excitement among the eunuchs, who are waiting for the day when directed to go for recovery from the Sharifs, the Chaudhrys, the Wattoos and the like.

Almas Bobby, chairperson of She-male Rights of Pakistan, talking to The News said the country’s politics is rich with ‘political eunuchs’. “They say a man stands by his words, therefore, all those who back out from their commitments with the people are political eunuchs,” she said when asked to define eunuchs in politics. She never voted for a political party, saying the current political lot doesn’t reflect her aspirations and ideals.

Almas, who was born in Yorkshire (England) and returned to Pakistan when she was 10-year-old, belongs to Gujrat — the hometown of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi. Her mother’s family is from Multan — the city of Prime Minister Gilani. Her brother is a government contractor and the sister’s husband runs a rice mill.

“I’m waiting for the day when the eunuchs will be asked to knock at the door, beat drums and dance outside the residence of Manzoor Wattoo to force him return the public money. We’d also love to go to the Ittefaq Foundary, the Hudaibia Papers Mills and the Zahoor Palace to take back public money,” she said, adding the political class in collusion with the Army has been plundering money and stashing them in Swiss accounts. “The PML-N, the PPP and the Army: they all are tied among themselves through mutual interests.” She said they don’t have any pain for people, instead they have a Dard-e-Disco (Disco Pain). “They rob the country, deposit their ill-gotten assets in Swiss banks and spend happy hours in disco clubs abroad.”

CCTV footage of Peshawar Press Club suicide attack released

CCTV footage of suicide attack outside Peshawar press club has been released in which a 17 to 18 years old boy is seen to enter in Peshawar press club.

According to details, a 17 to 18 year old boy tried to enter Peshawar press club and after exchanging harsh words with Police head constable Riaz stopped him and asked him to prove his identity.

Suicide bomber insisted to go in and after few seconds blew himself. Suicide bomber was six feet tall and at the time of this suicide attack three other person were also talking with each other who were unaware about the arrival of suicide bomber.

National Hockey players enjoy their lost with Argentine’s girls

Some pictures of Pakistani hockey players including its captain Rehan Butt has been revealed by Pakistani TV channels in which the players can be seen hugging and kissing the Argentine girls in an unknown bar.

Hockey federation has taken action against the players who were involved in this activity.

First Air-to-Air Refueller aircraft of PAF arrives

The first Air-to-Air Refueller aircraft of Pakistan Air Force has arrived on an operational Air Base on Saturday.

According to PAF statement, the first Air-to-Air Refueller aircraft of Pakistan Air Force has arrived on an operational Air Base while the delivery of remaining three is planned to complete by mid 2010.

By virtue of its capability to refuel Air Defence aircraft in air, PAF’s overall capability in terms of its effectiveness to defend the airspace of Pakistan would be significantly enhanced.

Arrest warrant of Babar Awan issued

The Civil Court Rawalpindi has issued non bail able arrest warrant of Federal Minister for Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan.

According to media reports, Civil Judge Judicial Magistrate, Mehar Sarfraz has issued arrest warrant of the federal minister over not appearing in the court in a case registered against the minister in 1998.

The case was registered against the minister in New Town Police Station in 1998 over FIR of brawl and kidnapping and the civil court had issued summons to the minister but he has not been appeared in the case since long.

The Civil Court has directed the minister to appear in the court within 14 days.

Sulieman Benn banned for playing 2 ODIs

Match Referee Chris Broad, representing the ICC, banned West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn for 2 ODIs for getting physical with Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin during the Perth Test. Haddin and Johnson escaped with minor fines.

Haddin has been fined 25 percent of his match fee, while Johnson was fined 10 percent of his fee.

The drama began when an unintentional collision took place between Johnson and Sulieman. From the TV footage, it was clear that Sulieman was very angry and tried to push back Johnson, which provoked Haddin to show his bat at the bowler.

There was a verbal altercation between Sulieman and Haddin, which later an ugly turn and the on-field umpires had to intervene to cool the tempers down.

Chairman NAB apologizes to Mukhtar

Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Naveed Ahsan has telephoned Minister for Defence and apologized on Thursday’s incident.

According to a private TV channel, Chairman NAB telephoned Defence Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar and regretted the happening of the incident.

The Defence Minister has confirmed that Chairman NAB telephoned him, saying he (Mukhtar) has decided not to go to any foreign country until the completion of inquiry.

The minister said that he informed President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in this regard.

It is noted that Defence Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, his wife and secretary were barred from boarding a flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for Beijing at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Thursday because his name had been put on the ECL.

The interior ministry had put on the ECL, the names of beneficiaries of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on the request of NAB in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders.