6 Octber 2013

Bannu: One security man killed, 8 hurt in checkpost attack

BANNU: An explosion occurred near a security checkpost in Mirzail area, killing one security man and injuring eight more on Sunday morning, sources said.
According to the security sources, the bomb targeting the security squad killed one personnel and injured eight others.
The sources said that curfew has been imposed on Bannu-Miranshah Road for indefinite period.

http://www.geo.tv/article-121298-Bannu-One-security-man-killed-8-hurt-in-checkpost-attack

Rangers round up 12 including foreigners in Karachi operation

KARACHI: Twelve persons including foreigners of banned outfit involved in crimes were taken into custody and over 30 different types of weapons and drugs were recovered from them during a targeted operation conducted by the Rangers in Orangi Town and Pathan Colony on Sunday morning here, Geo News reported.
Rangers’ sources said that on a tip-off regarding the presence of some criminals at Pathan Colony in Orangi Town a targeted operation was conducted by closing all the exit/entry roads and several persons of banned outfit including the foreigners involved in crimes were taken into custody during the house-to-house search. 

 http://www.geo.tv/article-121304-Rangers-round-up-12-including-foreigners-in-Karachi-operation

“Improving education is essential to win future for the country,” says Chancellor Adil Usman
Sir Syed University plans to introduce three new technologies for the next academic session"

Reort by Noman Ahmed

KARACHI, October 06 – Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Engr. Muhammad Adil Usman, has said that the nation is facing serious educational challenges today that call for renewed efforts to offer students a technology-based education for economic prosperity across the country. He was of view that improving education is essential to win future for the country.

Emphasizing the power of education to improve people's lives he said, “Education is the new game-changer that enhances economic growth and human development to alleviate poverty. The education frees the spirit from the chains of ignorance and no country has succeeded without educating its people.”

Chancellor Engr. Muhammad Adil Usman has introduced and implemented some fertile policies and rewarding strategic systems at the campus, equally benefitted for both the faculty and the students, to cope with the challenges of modern world. To keep pace with the constant changing world of information technology, he made hard efforts to launch three new technologies i) Architecture, ii) Software Engineering and iii) Bio-Informatics from the academic year 2014.

He said that Sir Syed University makes innovation its tradition and prepares future leaders to succeed in the competitive world of professionals with their extra ordinary skill and outstanding ability. The university has established itself as a globally recognized destination for academic excellence. With career focused education, SSUET prides itself for having the best and brightest faculty to commit to the highest global standards.

The process of admission for the new academic year 2014 in various engineering disciplines has begun and the entry test will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2013. The admission will strictly be on merit giving weightage to the marks obtained in Matric (SSC), Intermediate (HSc) and Aptitude Test.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi pointed out that at present SSUET has over 5500 students on its roll studying in the engineering disciplines of Computer, Electronics, Bio-Medical, Civil and Telecommunication besides Computer Science.

He said that keeping the new emerging trends, the university is starting new programmes to meet the growing market demands and SSUET’s Board of Governors has already given go ahead for introducing three more technologies from this year.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Syed Jawaid Hassan Rizvi said, “The introduction of new programmes from new academic year would open up doors for those who want to enter the fields having greater potential to cope with the growing market demands.”

Govt. mulls over giving key defence slot to Gen. Kayani

ISLAMABAD: The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is seriously mulling over giving a key defence assignment to the Army Chief General Ashfaque Pervez Kayani due to retire next month, said a report published in a US newspaper Wall Street Journal.
For Mr. Sharif, it is the most delicate of decisions. His previous periods as prime minister were ended prematurely by army chiefs. In 1999, he was ousted in a coup and imprisoned by the army leader he had selected, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. The current army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, during his two terms as army chief, has overseen the first democratic transfer of power in Pakistan's history and cooperated with the U.S. military, despite hostile anti-American public opinion at home.
Gen. Kayani had pressed for a further one or two years on the job, according to serving and retired military officials. That would be difficult for the government to grant after Gen. Kayani has already served twice the normal three-year term for the position.
Officials said Gen. Kayani is prepared to accept a revamped Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee job, currently a largely ceremonial post that would be given more authority, or to become defense adviser to the government.
He could also be placated with the job of ambassador to the U.S., the officials said, a post that has been vacant since Mr. Sharif took office in June.
The spokesman for Pakistan's military, Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, didn't return calls seeking comment on Gen. Kayani's future role.
The leadership changes come, as the army appears likely to launch an offensive in the next few months in North Waziristan, in Pakistan's tribal areas, a stronghold for Pakistani Taliban, al Qaeda militants and Afghan insurgents. Recent overtures to peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban have been marred by deadly attacks by the domestic insurgency.
In recent weeks, there has also been renewed tension with archenemy India, with frequent exchanges of fire across their disputed border in the Kashmir region.
Gen. Kayani has already turned down the offer of taking the Joint Chiefs job as it currently stands, and wants authority over military appointments and troop movement added to the position, a military official said.
"Kayani is using his office to say that he's the guy who can control North Waziristan, he's the one who can handle what is happening with India," said a retired army officer who knows the army chief. "With all this going on, he's saying now is not the time for a change of leadership."
All three potential appointments are made by the government. Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, said discussions about Gen. Kayani's future were speculation, and declined to comment further.
Prime Minister Sharif, asked in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on Sept. 26 whether he would reappoint Gen. Kayani, said: "I'm not saying yes or no." Mr. Sharif also holds the defense minister's portfolio.
An announcement on Gen. Kayani's future looks imminent, with the current Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Khalid Shameem Wynne, due to retire on Sunday.
If Gen. Kayani is given that job, it would overturn previous expectations that he would simply have to retire in November at the end of his second tenure.
It had been expected that Gen. Wynne would be succeeded by either the Navy chief, Admiral Asif Sandila, or by Gen. Haroon Aslam, the army general who's most senior after Gen. Kayani.
"Ashfaq Kayani has had more than his rightful tenure," said Shaukat Qadir, a retired brigadier general who once taught Gen. Kayani at military academy. "Perhaps he should call it a day. It is not a good thing for the institution that it gives the impression that it cannot do without one person."
Political aides to Mr. Sharif said Gen. Kayani has proved that he isn't a coup-maker, and resisted pressure for military intervention during the previous government—the first civilian government in Pakistan's history that completed its term and handed over power to another elected administration.
Some Pakistanis said the U.S. was instrumental in getting Gen. Kayani's tenure extended in 2010—a move that angered some senior generals who saw their career advancement blocked as a result.
The U.S. hasn't been involved in the current discussions about Gen. Kayani's future, a U.S. official said. "We've really stayed out of it this time," the official said.

http://www.geo.tv/article-121302-Govt.-mulls-over-giving-key-defence-slot-to-Gen.-Kayani

Polling in Skardu, Ghanchay by-polls underway

SKARDU: Polling in the by-polls for two seats of Gilgit Baltistan Assembly GBLA-9 Skardu-3 and GBLA-23 Ghanchay-2 began Sunday morning here, Geo News reported.
Pakistan People’s party (PPP) member had vacated the Skardu seat, but there was no candidate of the ruling party now. Polling for both the seats of Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly is underway.
The number voters in GBLA-9 Skardu-3 stands at 23,614. Eight polling stations out of 55 have been declared sensitive. This seat was vacated after the resignation of PPP’s minister Shakil Ahmad on becoming the Judge, however, there is no candidate of the ruling party now. Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N)’s Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad and independent candidate Syed Abbas Mosvi are contesting for this seat.
On the other hand, a hot contest is expected between PML-N’s Ali Sultan and independent candidate Mohammad Iqbal in GBLA-23 Ghanchay-2. This seat was vacated after the death of PML-N’s Mufti Abdullah.  

 http://www.geo.tv/article-121307-Polling-in-Skardu-Ghanchay-by-polls-underway