CNG strike, oil shortage add to woes of people

Petrol dealers join strike, tankers tomorrow

Islamabad/Lahore—After non availability of CNG due to strike by the CNG dealers Association, petrol and diesel have also become a rare commodity in many cities of the country including capital Islamabad. Commuters and motorists have to suffer a lot as Petroleum dealers association has also joined the strike of CNG association creating scarcity of petroleum products adding to the miseries of common man. The strike called by All-Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) which entered its fourth day on Saturday, added to woes of the general public due to non availability of public transport. The APCNGA on Friday involved owners of petrol pumps and requested them to close down their filling stations, as the government is not taking any notice of their strike and not ready to solve the issue.

SC rejects Malik Riaz plea for larger bench Arsalan denies allegations

Islamabad—The Supreme Court of Pakistan Saturday dismissed the request filed on behalf of Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz for the formation of a larger bench in the suo motu case of graft allegations against Dr. Arsalan Iftikhar, son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. Rejecting the plea, the Supreme Court said the existing special two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will continue hearing of case.

Foreign spy agencies involved in Balochistan: Justice Javed

Quetta—Head of the inquiry commission on ‘missing persons’ Justice Retd Javed Iqbal on Saturday said that foreign intelligence agencies are deteriorating situation in Balochistan. Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Javed Iqbal said that foreign intelligence agencies wanted to deteriorate the situation of Balochistan and to destabilize Pakistan. He said that no state institution had a confirmed report regarding the number of missing persons, adding baseless propaganda was being done regarding the number of missing persons in the country.

Rs780b tax free Punjab budget presented 20pc increase in govt employees’ salaries

Lahore—The Punjab government on Saturday presented a record size tax free and multiple incentive laden Rs 782.89 budget for fiscal year 2012-13, including a Rs 250 billion for the annual development programme (ADP). The Annual Development Programme (ADP) is targeted at providing Rs 40 billion for the Aashiana Housing scheme which now has spread to all districts of the province, Danish schools, Bus Raid Transport project. Unveiling the annual budget, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman in his budget speech said the federal government has been doing excesses with Punjab over power distribution, inflicting serious harm to the industries of the province and rendering people without jobs.

CIA gets nod to step up Pakistan drone strikes

Kabul—Expressing public and private frustration with Pakistan, the Obama administration has unleashed the CIA to resume an aggressive campaign of drone strikes in Pakistani territory over the last few weeks, approving strikes that might have been vetoed in the past for fear of angering Islamabad. Now, said a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity in discussing sensitive issues, the administration’s attitude is, “What do we have to lose?”, according to US media reports.

Pak rejects Panetta’s remarks

Islamabad—Pakistan on Saturday rejected US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta’s recent comments on militant safe havens in Pakistan. “We feel that the Secretary of Defence is oversimplifying some of the very complex issues we are all dealing with in our efforts against extremism and terrorism,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We strongly believe that such statements are misplaced and unhelpful in bringing about peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.

Peter Lavoy in Islamabad for Nato supplies blockade talks Breakthrough not in sight

Islamabad—US assistant defence secretary Peter Lavoy has arrived in Islamabad in a fresh attempt to bring to an end a six-month blockade on Nato supplies crossing into Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. Lavoy’s visit comes days after US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warned Pakistan that the United States was running out of patience over Islamabad’s alleged refusal to do more to eliminate safe havens for insurgents.