Monitory cells set up in NWFP to monitor public schools

Monitory cells set up in NWFP to monitor public schools: "PESHAWAR: The NWFP Education department has set up monitoring cells at government schools over un-satisfactory annual results and teachers’ regular absence from the schools.

On the directive of Provincial Education Minister Sardar Hussain, monitoring cells have been set up in schools. Each cell comprises of section officers who will make a sudden visit to schools after every five months. They will also inquire about the problems facing by students."

Gilani lauds late Swati for rescuing Chinese engineer

Gilani lauds late Swati for rescuing Chinese engineer: "ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Friday paid rich tributes to Liaqat Khan, a resident of Swat for laying down his life in a bid to save a Chinese telecom engineer, abducted by militants in Swat.

“I pay tributes to Liaqat Khan who laid down his life for his courage,” Gilani said while speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly.

Liaqat Khan Swati, a landlord from Dagai village in Matta Tehsil helped in handing over the 30-year-old Chinese engineer Zhang Guo, who were kidnapped from a spot near the Khall town in Upper Dir district on August 29 while installing towers for a mobile phone company."

PM sends greetings letter to Manmohan Singh

PM sends greetings letter to Manmohan Singh: "ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally informed India about the steps taken in response to the international community’s demands in connection with Mumbai attacks.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has written a greetings letter to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salmna Bashir handed over the letter to Indian high commissioner Satyabrata Pal in a meeting."

Intense cold conditions prevail in Balochistan

Intense cold conditions prevail in Balochistan: "QUETTA: Intense cold conditions prevailed in Balochistan, including Quetta, on Friday while incessant downpour continued to disrupt the normal life.

The intense cold weather and incessant rains continued to paralyse life in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.

According to the Met office, minimum temperature recorded in the area was around 2 degrees centigrade while it has forecast cloudy weather for the next 24 hours too."

24 nazims file suit for damages against Punjab govt.

24 nazims file suit for damages against Punjab govt.: "LAHORE: In a civil suit seeking Rs24 billions as damages, 24 Punjab’s district nazims have issued notice to the Punjab government.

The nazims have demanded that Punjab government should stop maligning the institutions formed under the constitution. They alleged, “Punjab government has made defamatory allegations against them by giving false advertisements in the newspapers."

Indian high commissioner meets Nawaz Sharif

Indian high commissioner meets Nawaz Sharif: "ISLAMABAD: Indian high commissioner Satyaprata Pal Friday met with Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif here at Punjab House.

During meeting Nawaz Sharif said India should respond positively to the steps being taken Pakistan and underlined need for its direct contact with Pakistan.

They had an exchange of views on Indo-Pak tensions and the overall situation of the region.

Mian Nawaz Sharif spoke in favor of resolving issues through holding dialogues."

Mirza takes notice of rising activities of extortionists

Mirza takes notice of rising activities of extortionists: "KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister, Dr Zulfikar Mirza Friday directed the police to take practical steps to check threats and problems faced to business community from criminals and extortionists.

He told them to hold regular meetings with the office bearers of KCCI and representative organizations of business centres, sarafa markets, sabzi mandi etc in this regard. Mirza called for immediate measures to control law and order situation in all the industrial zones of Karachi."

Nawaz sees no difference in present govt, dictatorship

Nawaz sees no difference in present govt, dictatorship: "ISLAMABAD: PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that he will root out the remains of dictatorship even if in exchange he has to pay a cost of being ineligible.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he announced that PML-N would fully take part in the lawyers’ Long March. He said that repeal of 17th Amendment is the first clause of the charter of democracy (CoD)."

Website “ideas for CM” to be launched on Jan 19

Website “ideas for CM” to be launched on Jan 19: "A novel website, “ideas for CM” will be launched on January 19 which will enable people to offer their suggestions to the chief minister on any issue so that it can be incorporated in framing developmental policies in the state.

Madhya Pradesh governor Dr Balram Jakhar in his maiden address in the 13th Vidhan Sabha also announced about the formation of the website so that people can offer their suggestions and ideas to the chief minister for framing policies for the development of the state, official sources said."

SP will support Cong if it fields Dutt: Amar

SP will support Cong if it fields Dutt: Amar: "Seeking to turn the tables on the Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt issue, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh on Friday (January 16) said that if Congress was ready to field the actor on its symbol, the Samajwadi party would support him.

He told reporters in New Delhi that a section of Congress leaders have accused him of “poaching on Sanjay Dutt to tease that party”. “Let me make it clear that if Congress is ready to field Sanjay on their party’s symbol, SP would support him,” he said."

Pakistan sends reply on terror dossier

Pakistan sends reply on terror dossier: "In its first formal response to India with regard to the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan today (January 16) said it had initiated a “series” of actions in connection with the probe into the terror strikes.

Pakistan’s response was conveyed by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal, a day after External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Islamabad should inform New Delhi through diplomatic channels about steps it had taken in the wake of the Mumbai strikes."

MARCOS can provide training to other forces: Navy

MARCOS can provide training to other forces: Navy: "As the country gears up to establish anti-terror hubs in major cities, the Navy on Friday (January 16) said it would not be able to spare its Marine Commandos (MARCOS) for any such hub, but if required they can provide training to other forces.

“Our MARCOS is a small group meant for very specific tasks and for movement along with the forces. So, we do not have any spare (men) but we can certainly make training available to anybody who is required to be provided it,” Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said in New Delhi."

Seven MULTA ultras held in Assam

Seven MULTA ultras held in Assam: "Seven hardcore militants of Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) were arrested and hand grenades, AK-47 ammunition recovered from them in lower Assam on Friday (January 16). The seven were picked up from different places in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts during overnight operations by police on tip off about the presence of the MULTA activists, police said.

In Dhubri district, MULTA activists Abdul Rahman (32) was picked up from Chapori, Abdul Mazid Sheikh (32) from Bishenbari, Nazrul islam (28) from North Thukrijhara Part-I, Akhrul Zaman Talukdar (22) from Khetabagra, Halim Ali (23) and Kamizuddin (26) from Pholimari."

Aarushi murder case: ‘Case against accused weak’

Aarushi murder case: ‘Case against accused weak’: "Eight months after the murder of teenager Aarushi Talwar and her family’s domestic help, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official admitted they have no “clinching evidence” and that the case against the three accused is weak.

“We have completed our investigations and will be filing our chargesheet very soon. Though we cannot give any time-frame, more likely it will be done within two-three weeks,” a CBI officer said on condition of anonymity. “Our chargesheet will be based on forensic evidence.”"

Shashi Tharoor rubbishes allegations

Shashi Tharoor rubbishes allegations: "Former United Nations Under-Secretary General Shashi Tharoor has rubbished allegations, levelled against him of insulting the National Anthem by a State Human Rights Protection Centre.

As Tharoor categorically clarifies, “The allegation is totally false. There was no interruption. Before the National Anthem was sung and while the singers were walking up to the mike, I just stated that in the wake of the Mumbai horrors, the National Anthem had a special place in all our hearts. I was therefore, going to place my hand on my heart while the anthem was sung, and anyone who felt like doing so was welcome to do so (I did not request them all to do it). Everyone did. There was no disrespect, only deep emotion.”"

India pledges more assistance to Lanka

India pledges more assistance to Lanka: "India on Friday (January 16) pledged additional humanitarian assistance worth Rs 1.7 crore to Sri Lanka to help civilians in the embattled north of the island nation as Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon discussed bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest with senior leaders in Colombo.

Amidst demands by political parties in Tamil Nadu for a ceasefire between Sri Lankan security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Menon held meetings with the country’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona."

BJP upset as Badal for son as deputy

BJP upset as Badal for son as deputy: "There’s trouble brewing within the NDA, as Punjab BJP state unit goes complaining to the Centre, after Parkash Singh Badal looks at making son Sukhbir the deputy Chief Minister. An all out political fight is gaining roots in Punjab, with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal endorsing his son Sukhbir Singh Badal’s entry in the Cabinet."

SEBI’s petition to interrogate the disgraced Satyam founder till January 19

SEBI’s petition to interrogate the disgraced Satyam founder till January 19: "A court here on Friday deferred a decision on SEBI’s petition to interrogate the disgraced Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju till January 19.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Bureau of India) has been trying to get access the Satyam founder since the huge account fraud came to light in January 7 this year."