Printed Sarees

Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching althoughIndians knew about sewing. For the global fashion industry, India is avery big exporter of fabrics and accessories. All over the world,Indian ethnic designs and unstitched fabrics are considered assignificant facet for the fashion houses and garment manufacturer.
Unstitched Indian fabrics, while sourcing for fashion wear, Indiaalso plays a vital role as one of the biggest players in theinternational arena. Unstitched Indian fabrics have many fundamentalaspects that are compliant in terms of cost effectiveness to produceraw material, quick adjustment for selling and a wide range ofpreference in the designs in the garments like sequin, beadwork etc.
Every woman is not luckily gifted with those glass figures. That’swhy now most of the websites are coming up with the custom made dressoption in order to meet the demand of large size woman. It’s not justgood for large size women but equally good for any size women.Any unstitched Indian fabric in history has somehow been givensacred overtones. The belief was that the unstitched fabric was pure.This garment can fit any size and if worn properly can accentuate orconceal. Sometimes the descriptions so general that they can fit morethan one costume quiet different from each other.What is denied is thepossibility of going into many subtleties that Indian costume provides.
Both large size and petite size women have their own unique needspurchasing unstiched Indian fabrics.
Maximium percentages of women aresuffering from weight problems these days and this result infrustration when they don’t get their desired styles in their sizes.Thus the unstitched Indian fabrics has always been helpful in gettingover such frustrations and depression at the time of shopping.Unstitched fabric is for all sizes of women so they can get custom madeIndian suits. Any plus size women can tell you there’s differencebetween wearing clothing that was simply made "bigger".
Not only does large size woman enjoy the benefits of theseunstitched fabrics. Petite women also have the advantages of going forthese unstitched Indian fabrics. They can get themselves an exactfitting which sometimes misses with the readymade clothes. Part of the appeal of custom made Indian suit i.e. salwar suit,specifically is that it is figure flattering to all sizes and shapes.The unstitched Indian fabric available online gives a widerchoices for all size of women to wear the particular design of therechoice and they can give their own specification and get the tailoredmade suits. The Indian fabrics available online are of varied texturesdesigns and printed sarees.

Zari Sarees

Indiahas long been known for its golden thread of zari. Even in the ancienttimes, zari was known to adorn the attire of Gods and thus holds adistinguished place among all the crafts. The same heavenly feel isbrought alive for in the form of a never before ethnic Indian zarisarees range.A superbly crafted and rich collection comprising mainly of Banarasisarees with heavy zari work,
the wedding zari saris have intricateembroiderd patterns highlighted with embroidery material like stars andspangles, chalak, kinari, salma etc.; which give a new definition tothe golden and silver wires that form the base of Zari.
Its been our tradition to give best to our customers and have attained specialization in sarees & lehangas manufacturing, wholesaling & retailing from over so many years.
We provide our customers right products at reasonable prices. We have all kind of wedding sarees, traditional sarees, party wear sarees and sarees for all occasions in different type of clothes like silk, georgette, crepe, chiffon, and fancy materials.References inancient history indicate that an amazing variety of costumes made ofcotton and silk fabrics were used in India. The Rig Veda mentions agolden woven fabric and the Greek records tal kof gorgeous paithanifabrics from the great ancient trading and industrial centres,Pratishan or Paithan in Maharashtra.

Indian Lehnga

Lehnga choli, (Langa or Lengha) are available for women of all sizes. Indian Lehnga Cholis have a beautiful history in India. When the Moguls invaded India in early BC they brought this unique skirt and blouse combination with them. Today's bride is more likely to wear a Lehnga Choli to her wedding than a sari due to the heavy weight of bridal saris.
Women of all ages also love Lehnga Choli for formal occasions and dress occasions. Women just can not go wrong with a fashion item that has been in fashion for hundred of years.The lehnga reached its peak of development under the Mughal kings. It was the best answer the Indian queens could give to the rich Muslim pehsvaz dress of the Mughal royal women.
The interaction between the two communities was further increased by the bazars organized by the Mughal kings where both the sellers and the buyers were women.
The dupatta (the Hindustani name given to the orhani by the Indian Muslim women) became almost a mark of respect for the women. It was mostly two and a half yards in length and one and a half yards in breadth. It was used as a headdress and also to increase the beauty of the lehnga. Mostly the dupatta was made of a thin material and to give some more weight to the cloth, golden lace or tassels were attached to the ends. The choli was also developed the cover the arms but the length, however, usually remained above the navel, revealing the slim waist of the women. The fabrics used to make the lehnga are in fact the same as those used under the great Mughal King, Akbar; silks and brocades. The dupatta is now made of silk, linen of chiffon which is a new development.

The popularity of lehngas has creased proportionately with the times. In fact, in northern India it has very successfully replaced the traditional sari as a wedding dress. Now Indian brides prefer to wear lehngas which enhance their beauty and charm. The dress is mostly made in red which represents excitement and passion; orange which is a blend of yellow and red; colors so contrary in character– produces mystical effects on the mind; pink possesses all the powers and vividness of red without its frenzied impetuosity and violence. The beauty of this royal dress however lies in the fine embroidery or zari handwork done on it. This zari handwork done on the lehnga is of a very special quality and is done mostly by Muslims staying in the 100 odd villages of Farokabad in Uttar Pradesh and Lucknow.

Indian Bridal Sarees

Kanjeevarams have always been very popular at the time of Bridal sarees andforms an important part of a bridal wardrobe. Kanjeevaram silk sareesare very traditional and never go out of fashion. Available in brighthues, these forms the best formal wear for both Indian andinternational women.The Kanjeevaram sari is made of a heavy silk. Ahallmark of Kanjeevaram silk is the bold and bright color, favored byalmost every Indian and International woman.
A Kanjeevaram saree alwaysfind a place in every bride's trousseauBridal trousseau is not complete without the ‘Kanjeevaram’ saree, characterized by gold-dipped silver thread that is woven onto brilliant silk. This 6 to 9 yard gold embellished saree with the intricate work of golden and silver threads when pleated and tied it give gorgeous look to the bride.Kanjivaram silk represents the best of the Indian textiles’ heritage. Its unmatched craftsmanship, the beauty and grandeur of the gold thread work, quaint motifs and association with ceremonial occasions have been glorified since time immemorial. While there are loyalists for every variety, one saree that holds a spellbinding appeal for every Indian woman — transcending age, religion and regional affiliation — is the Kanjeevaram.
India gives best exclusive collection of kanjeevarams, kanjivaram silk sarees, zari kanjeevarams, pure silk and real zari kanjeewaram sarees for bridals, weddings and marriage.Kanchipuram is a town in Tamil Nadu with more than 150 years of weaving tradition – completely untouched by fashion fads. Ranges of gorgeous kanjeevaram sarees come from Tamil Nadu. Saris represent the essence of womanhood. The kanjeevaram sarees had a fine cotton ‘ground’ with silk and zari border and pallu. Their patterns display a predominance of bird and animal motifs and the rich gold-brocaded pallus and borders had patterns of rows of deer, peacocks, galloping horses, bulls, elephants, parrots, swans and such other birds in stylized abstraction.

Embroidery Sarees

Now a day’s embroidery on the clothes is getting refined and polished. More and more creative heads are entering this industry and are taking the fashion arena to its peak. Indian embroidered sarees look extremely fabulous giving a perfect look to a wearer.As advancements are nearing and people are becoming more fashion conscious, the attire that they choose or select is getting more and more comfortable and fashionable.

In addition to this, other kinds of embroidery include Phulkari work from Punjab and other Chinese work on the clothes. With the coming up of technology, computerized embroidery is also becoming highly admired among the designers.Embroidery is an art of decorating a fabric with designs of various color combinations.
Earlier the embroidery sareeson the dress materials was very restricted and confined to a limitednumber of designs. But as time is progressing, we can clearly see thatthese patterns are getting diversified. The embroidery todayincorporates other materials like pearls, beads, metal strips andsequins. Even sewing machines can be used to create embroidery. Thus,embroidery patterns enhance the couture’s of the people for everyoccasion. The ornamental work on the cloth does make it look all themore graceful and attractive.
And at present the embroidery business isdoing quite well across the globe and it surely has a long way to go.
Indiais one of the largest exporter and manufacturer of the embroideredclothing. The Indian embroidery is appreciated all over the world bythe embroidery lovers. The Indian states are known for their classicsequins embroidery and designs.The Indian Bridal wear comprises asystematic blend of gold embroidery along with the color of the outfit,thus gold embroidery forms an integral part of the Bridal wearespecially at the time of Indian weddings. In other words, Goldembroidery is an inevitable element of the Bridal Couture.

Bandhej Sarees

Traditional colors that make your wholepersona radiate with vibrancy! Coming in yellow, red, green and shadesof purple and blue and all merging together to make the most beautiful bride out of you.Our bridal wear collection has keptthe best for the last. Coming from the land of vibrant colors Rajasthan, the art of bandhej
Coming from the land of vibrant colors Rajasthan, the art of bandhej (tie & dye) originated from here and Jaipur is known to produce the most unique tie & dye saris all over India. You will surely notice a couple of bandhej saris in the bride's collection everywhere in the northern and eastern part of India.
A dazzling variety of tie & dye bridal sarees to decorate yourwedding wear collection has been developed by us and with the use ofrich embroidery and embellishment work, the bandhej sarees give you theenchanting color of happiness and the exquisite mirror, sequins,kundan, zari, gota, etc. add to the charisma."Kutch Bandhni Centre" was started by Mr. Abdul Hakim Khatri on20th August, 1984 at Danda Bazar, Bhuj-Kutch. Before this venture, helearnt a lot of things related to Bandhni Craft from 1978 to 1984 undersupervision of Khatri Hasan Abubakar, a National Award Winner Artist inBandhni Art. At "Kutch Bandhni Centre", we provide unique collectionsof Sarees, Suits, Embroidery Sarees, Bandhani Saree, Designer Bandhni Sarees, Dupattas etc. in different colours and designs as per customer requirement.
After this, we established our new showroom "Kutch Bandhej" inBhuj-Kutch on 22nd October, 1993. We started to manufacture and supplyour Sarees, Embroidery Sarees, Bandhani Saree, Designer Bandhni Sarees,Suits, Dupatta, Scarf, Kurta, Kaptan for the biggest showrooms ofMumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Calcutta and for the boutiques ofWell-known Designers as per their demands and requirements.
Recently,we have started our new shop in Gandhidham-Kutch namely "Kutch Bandhej"on 24th September, 2003. Today, we manufacture and supply our BandhniCrafted Banarasi Sarees, Lakhnavi Chicken Embroidery Sarees, EmbroiderySarees, Bandhani Saree, Bandhni Georgette Saree, Bandhni Silk Saree,Designer Bandhni Sarees, Parsi Embroidery Sarees, ComputerizedEmbroidery Sarees, Banglori Crape Sarees, South-Indian sarees, Patolasarees to our valued customers and for our Showrooms.

Silk Sarees

The sheer joy and captivation that these Sarees (Saris) bring to anyone that beholds them are worth sharing. To share this age-oldcaptivating sarees from the tiny town of Kanchi (Kanchipurm) in SouthIndia, so others here in USA may enjoy and cherish their beauty, wasthe sole inspiration behind launching this site!
You now have theoption of buying these famous Kanchi Saris (Kanchipuram Pattu Saris)right here in USA. Our selection of exclusive sarees is very appealing.We carry South Indian silk saris,
South Indian wedding saris andtemple saris. If you are looking for the authentic contrast border silksaris, the specialty of the South Indian Silk Saris, we have them. Ifyou cannot find what you are looking for, talk to us. We can get it foryou.
Our lovely sarees are modeled here by our inhouse model actress Lakshmi Gopalswamy, Naina Prasad and Sonya Prasad. We now carryjewelery to compliment our sarees and accessories. Kundan style sets(necklace, earrings and tika dangles) and South Indian style templejewelery,
typically worn by bharatnatyam dancers - also a great fitwith our kanchi sarees.Our cholis, handbags, shawls and dupattas are unique and a perfectcompliment to our saris. We have just added our exclusive collection ofsilk outfits for little gilrls. Our own exclusive dresses are made fromKanchi silks and the little girls are happy princesses in them!!

Indian Sarees

Bollywood Sarees
Indian Bollywood Sarees are the Sarees designed by various and famous designers like manish malhotra, neeta lulla, Sir Satya Paul and many more. Bollywood term attached to these Saris as because of the popularity of Indian movies and actress related to these Saris. Sari Jewels design bollywood Sarees for well known models of serials.

Shalwar Kameez

Patiala Salwar Kameez or Patiala Shalwar Kameez is having some special historical background. There is a story behind this name. Patiala is a place in Punjab at North India. In ancient times, Maharaja (King) of Paliala was very famous. His dress was a pleated and baggy type salwar with long loose kameez with full sleeves. Short Kurta PantThe next innovation to salwar kameez after churidar was the short kurta pant. With westernization the salwar kameez adapted to fashion changes in the West in terms of cut, length and hemlines. The kurta did sneak up quite a few inches above the knee. And instead of the salwar, pants were worn, making it ideal for office and formal wear. Classical Shalwar KameezSalwar Qameez occupies a special place in the Indian subcontinent. Which is the traditional dress very essence of today's India is always more to the base. To ensure the quality of elegance and comfort, is the greatest weapon. Thus, it becomes imperative for the Indian component of any woman's wardrobe. Banarsi Jamawar Hot pink banarsi jamawar Anarkali dress features cross-over neckline. Embellished neckline edges and empire waist. Begonia Anarkali top features heavy bead and floral work onbodice. golden gota empire line and hem. Half sleeves. Fully lined.Concealed zip closure on back.

شکست کس کا مقدر ہے؟ اوریا مقبول جان

دریچہ : کوئی مردا اے تو مرے - مولانا قاری منصور صاحب

پکار : ایک ہی پیمانہ - مولانا اسلم شیخوپوری صاحب

امید کی کرن - یاسر محمد خان

Fullscape Issue : 25th Dec to 31st Dec 2009

96 dead in Lakki Marwat suicide blast

Staff Report LAKKI MARWAT: A northwest Pakistani village that tried to resist Taliban infiltration struggled with grief on Saturday as families mourned 96 people killed in an apparent revenge suicide bombing at an outdoor volleyball game. The attack on Shah Hasan Khel village was one of the deadliest in a surge of bombings that have killed more than 600 since October, and it sent a bloody New Year's message to Pakistanis who dare take on the armed Islamist extremists. As rescuers looked for bodies in the rubble, many residents in the village of 5,000 were too scared on Saturday to even speculate who carried out the blast. The suicide bomber detonated some 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of high-intensity explosives on the crowded field in the village during a volleyball tournament on Friday. The blast was probably intending to hit a nearby gathering of tribal elders who oversee an anti-Taliban militia. The committee was debating how to punish relatives of militants suspected in the recent killing of a fellow tribesman. The blast levelled some three dozen mud-brick homes and covered the village with dust, smoke and the smell of burning flesh. On Saturday, numerous homes received visitors offering condolences, and funeral prayers were held for many victims. The village lies in Lakki Marwat district near South Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal region where the army has battled the Pakistani Taliban since October. The military operation was undertaken with the backing of the US, which is eager for Pakistan to free its tribal belt of militants believed to be involved in attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan. But the offensive has provoked apparent reprisal attacks across the country. Those behind the strikes appear increasingly willing to hit targets beyond security forces. No group claimed responsibility for Friday's blast, but that is not uncommon when many civilians die. At least 96 people have been killed in a powerful suicide bomb blast on a volley ball ground during the match in Shah Hasan Khel Friday. The police faces difficulties in taking the injured and the dead bodies to the hospitals due to shortage of vehicles. Many houses have been collapsed after the powerful suicide attack. Immediately after the blast, Mian Iftikhar, Information Minister NWFP said that 35 people have been killed in the suicide attack while the unconfirmed reports indicate that the death toll has reached to 50. The dead also include one policeman while six security personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) are still missing, he added. Four houses have been destroyed in the suicide attack. It seems to be a suicide attack. Two vehicles were being used in the terrorist attack. More than 35 people have also been injured in the suicide attack. Earlier, state TV reported that at least 40 people have been killed in a powerful suicide blast in a volley ball play ground during the match in Shah Hasan Khel in Lakki Marwat. Other news agencies have reported the death toll reached at 25, quoting local police officials. "We have confirmed a figure of 25 deaths. There are many more wounded who are being rushed to hospitals in private vehicles," an official Habibullah Khan told Reuters by telephone. DPO Ayub Khan confirming the suicide bomb blast said that several causalities are being feared and several others injured. The rescue team, police and other law enforcement agencies have rushed to the spot and have started rescue works. He said at least nine people have been injured and all the injured are being taken to Lakki Marwat District Hospital. Several operations have been carried out against the terrorists in this area, he added. The area where the blast has occurred is being said once a strong hold of the terrorists but has been cleared of the terrorists after the military operation. The government of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has announced Rs 300,000 for the families of the victims while Rs 100,000 for the injured. President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have severely condemned the suicide attack in Lakki Marwat and have given instructions to provide better health facilities to the injured in the hospitals. AGENCIES ADD Investigators sifted through rubble Saturday after a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives-filled vehicle in a crowd watching a volleyball game in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 88. Friday's bombing marked a bloody start to 2010 for Pakistan, which has seen a surge in attacks blamed on the Taliban in recent months as Islamist fighters avenge military operations aimed at crushing their northwest strongholds. The huge blast was Pakistan's deadliest in more than two months, triggering the collapse of more than 20 houses, some with families inside, in a village bordering a Taliban stronghold, officials said. The attack was condemned by Britain and the United States, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowing the US would continue supporting Pakistani people "in their efforts to chart their own future free from fear and intimidation". The bomber detonated his explosives-packed vehicle as fans gathered at a volleyball court to watch two local sides face off in the village of Shah Hasan Khan, in Bannu district, bordering Taliban stronghold South Waziristan. "The villagers were watching the match between the two village teams when the bomber drove his double-cabin pick-up vehicle into them and blew it up," district police chief Mohammad Ayub Khan told AFP. "The death toll has risen to 88 and 37 others were wounded," Khan said. Six children and five paramilitary soldiers were among the dead, he added. The tournament was organised by the local peace committee, who had supported a government operation to expel militants from the area, Khan said. It was the highest death toll from a suspected militant strike since a massive car bomb on October 28 killed 125 people in a crowded market in the northwestern provincial capital Peshawar. Ramzan Bittani, a 33-year-old driver, told AFP by telephone from a local hospital that he had left the match to take a call. "As I was listening, I saw a huge blue and white flash followed by an ear-piercing blast. When I was able to figure out what had happened, I saw bodies and smoke all around. My hand was fractured," he said. Anwer Khan, 18, a student, said that he had just stepped out of his house and he saw a black pick-up speeding up towards the spectators. "A giant flame leaped towards the sky. There was bright light everywhere, just like a flash, and then a very huge blast shook everything. Two pellets hit my forehead and blood started flowing," Khan said. District police chief Khan blamed the bomb on Islamist extremists who were the target of a military operation in Bannu district last year. Security has plummeted over the past two-and-a-half years in Pakistan, where militant violence has killed more than 2,800 people since July 2007. The northwest has suffered the brunt of the militant campaign, with suicide bombings increasingly targeting civilians. The military is now locked in its most ambitious assault yet on Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan, sending 30,000 troops into battle in the district on the Afghan border on October 17. Washington, however, is urging Pakistan to do more to also stamp out Al-Qaeda sanctuaries and dismantle havens of militants who cross the border and attack US and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan. Officials Friday confirmed that at least four militants were killed in a US missile strike on a compound in Machikhel village, 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal region on the Afghan border. Such US strikes in Pakistan have killed at least 662 people since August 2008 and greatly inflame anti-American sentiment in the Muslim nation. TERRORIST ATTACKS IN NWFP IN 2009 • January 4: A suicide bomber was killed while two people sustained injuries near a check-post in Officers’ Colony in Bannu. The suicide bomber blew himself up in an attempt to target a check-post but could not succeed as the bomb exploded before he could reach his target. • January 4: Ten persons, including 4 policemen, were killed and 27 others injured in two bomb blasts near the Polytechnic College in Dera Ismail Khan. • January 17: In the first incident of its kind in Peshawar, religious scholar Pir Hafiz Rafeeullah, who was kidnapped on January 16, was reportedly slaughtered and his decapitated body was found in the Matani area of the capital on the morning of January 17. • January 20: Four policemen and 4 civilians were injured when a police patrol van was hit by a roadside bomb on Ring Road in the Hazarkhwani area of Peshawar. • January 23: Two SF personnel were killed in a car suicide attack near Mingora town in the Swat District of NWFP. • January 26: At least 5 people have been killed and several wounded in a bomb blast in Dera Ismail Khan. The bomb, attached to a bicycle, went off on a busy main road. • February 3: One man was killed and 18 others injured in a hand grenade attack on a Sunni mosque at Mohallah Joginwala in Dera Ismail Khan district. • February 5: A suicide attacker detonated an explosive-laden car near a police station in the Mingora town of Swat District, injuring a dozen officers and destroying part of the building. • February 9: At least 18 FC personnel were injured in amini-truck suicide attack on the Baran Pul check-post of the Frontier Reserve Police (FRP) in the jurisdiction of Bakkakhel police station in Bannu District. • February 11: Alamzeb Khan, a Member of Provincial Assembly from the ruling Awami National Party (ANP), was killed and 7 others were injured in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Momin Town in Peshawar. • February 17: Five people were killed and 17 injured in a car bomb blast outside the Hujra (male guest house) of the union council chief in Bazidkhel village of Peshawar. • February 20: At least 32 persons were killed and 145 others injured when a suicide bomber exploded himself in the funeral procession of a slain employee of the Tehsil Municipal Administration near the busy Shubra Square in Dera Ismail Khan. • February 23: A police guard was killed when he flung himself onto a suicide bomber to prevent him from entering a compound in Bannu. The attacker was trying to enter the compound, where judges and senior police officials live and work, when the guard intercepted him. Two other police guards were wounded in the attack. • March 5: One person was killed and 19 others sustained injuries when a hand-grenade hurled by unidentified miscreants at worshippers exploded in Ameer Hamza mosque in Dera Ismail Khan. • March 5: Suspected Taliban militants blew an ancient shrine of a 17th century Sufi poet - Rehman Baba - in the Akhund Baba graveyard of Peshawar. A letter delivered three days before the attack to the management of the mausoleum had warned against its promotion of ‘shrine culture’. • March 7: Eight persons, including five policemen, two Frontier Corps personnel and a civilian, were killed in a remote-controlled car bombing at Mashugagr village in Peshawar. Some villagers also sustained minor injuries. • March 11: The NWFP Senior Minister and Awami National Party leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour survived an assassination attempt that left six persons, including two suspected suicide attackers, dead in Namak Mandi in Peshawar. Four persons, including a young girl, were wounded in the firing, grenade attack and suicide blast. • March 18: Five people including three policemen were killed and four injured when over 100 unidentified armed men attacked a police vehicle at the entrance of the University of Malakand at Chakdara in Lower Dir District. • March 30: Seven persons, including 5 Army soldiers, were killed and 9 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a military convoy near a filling station on the Bannu-Miranshah Road. • April 5: Police found bullet-riddled bodies of four local aid workers, including three women, in Shinkiari area of Mansehra District. • April 15: At least 18 persons, including nine policemen, were killed and five others injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Harichand Police Post in Charsadda District. • April 18: At least 27 SF personnel were killed and 55 others injured in a suicide attack on a security check post in the Doaba area of Hangu District. • April 26: 12 children were killed after playing with a bomb that resembled a football. The children died after the toy-like-bomb exploded in Lower Dir District. • May 1: The ISPR spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said two Frontier Corps personnel were killed when a suicide bomber blew up a booby-trapped house in the Buner District. • May 4: A suicide car bomber killed 4 SF personnel and wounded 8 persons in the outskirts of Peshawar. • May 5: Seven people, including 2 children and a Frontier Corps soldier, were killed and 48 others sustained injuries when an explosives-laden car rammed into a pick-up near a check-post on the Bara road near Peshawar. • May 11: At least 10 people died and 27 were injured as a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden vehicle near a Frontier Corps check post in the outskirts of Darra Adam Khel. • May 16: Two handicapped children and 2 of their teachers were among 11 people killed in a car bomb blast at congested City Circular Road, Peshawar. At least 33 people were injured. • May 16: Six people, including two women and two children, sustained minor injuries when a low-intensity explosive device went off in a busy market in Peshawar. • May 22: At least 10 people were killed and 65 others were injured when a powerful car bomb exploded near the Tasveer Mahal Cinema hall in the busy Kabuli Chowk area. • May 28: Three policemen were killed and 9 others injured in a suicide attack on a police vehicle at the Sra Khawra security post on the Kohat road in the jurisdiction of Matani Police station on the outskirts of Peshawar. • May 28: A policeman and 2 passers-by were killed and 13 people wounded when a suicide attacker exploded an auto-rickshaw near a police checkpoint in Dera Ismail Khan. • June 5: A suicide bomber killed 49 worshippers, including 12 children, at a mosque in a remote village of the Dir Upper District. Dozens more were injured in the blast just before Friday congregation in the Hayagay Sharqi village. • June 7: One non-commissioned officer was killed and five others were injured in an attack on security forces' convoy transporting TNSM deputy chief Maulana Alam and spokesman Amir Izaat to Peshawar, the NWFP capital. Both leaders of banned outfits were also killed in the attack. • June 9: A massive truck suicide attack at the five-star Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar killed 17 persons and injured 60 others. • June 11: A man was killed and 13 others, including 9 policemen, sustained injuries in a hand grenade-cum-suicide attack on a police party in the Lateefabad area on Ring Road in Peshawar. • June 11: NWFP Minister for Prisons Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel was seriously injured and his two guards were killed when his convoy was ambushed by suspected militants in Darra Adam Khel. • June 12: Five worshippers were killed and 105 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden van into a mosque during the Friday prayers in the Cantonment area of Nowshera. Two soldiers were among the four persons killed on the spot while most of the 105 wounded were reportedly Army personnel. • June 14: Nine people were killed and over 40 injured when a powerful explosion ripped through a busy market in Dera Ismail Khan. • June 22: Two policemen were killed and 7 people, including 3 policemen, sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the Thakot Police check-post in Battagram District. • June 24: Three policemen, including an officer, were killed when some miscreants fired rockets and mortar shells at the Arbab Tapu check-post in the jurisdiction of Matani Police Station. • July 2: Two policemen were killed and an equal number of people sustained injuries when Taliban targeted a police vehicle with a remote-controlled device in Peshawar. • July 9: A Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) employee was killed and three injured when Taliban militants blew up an electricity pylon using a remote-controlled device in Merra Suraizai Payan village on the outskirts of the provincial capital Peshawar. • July 15: Two people, including an official of the UNHCR, were killed and another injured when suspected Taliban militants attempted to abduct UN officials at the Katcha Ghari Refugee Camp in Nasir Bagh. • July 15: Two children were injured in a rocket attack. Taliban militants fired three rockets from an unidentified location into the city at about 12:30pm, and one of them hit a house in Sethi Town, injuring a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. • July 20: Suspected militants of the Mangal Bagh group killed four policemen in an ambush on the outskirts of Peshawar. • August 2: In the southern Mashogagar village, terrorists killed a prayer leader Qari Roohul Amin of Sulemankhel, who had been abducted on June 29, and placed three kilograms of explosives with his body to trigger it with a remote control device in the hope that policemen would come close to it. Officials of the bomb disposal squad, however, defused the explosives without any damage. • August 2: Militants shot dead two policemen in Paharipura. A squad of the Paharipura Police Station was ambushed by unknown gunmen in Islamabad town of Peshawar around 2:30 am while patrolling the streets. • August 10: Militants fired rockets at a paramilitary checkpoint in Peshawar, killing two civilians. The pre-dawn rocket attack targeted a Frontier Corps base in the city's Hayatabad neighborhood. • August 16: A soldier was killed and three others sustained injuries in a suicide attack near a SFs checkpoint in the Swat District. • August 17: Seven people were killed and eight others injured when a bomb placed in a vehicle exploded at a filling station in the Shabqadar area in Charsadda. • August 18: Suspected militants beheaded a man kidnapped from the Matani area on August 12. Kabir Hussain, who had come from the US and was kidnapped on his way from Peshawar airport to his village Dabori in Kohat District. • August 22: Two persons were killed and three others injured in a suicide blast in Hayatabad area. The blast occurred in sector N-I Phase IV of the area near the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC). • August 23: Three persons were killed and 15 others sustained injuries in a powerful suicide blast close to the house of the slain AI spokesman, Mobin Afridi, in the Momin Town area of Peshawar • August 30: At least 16 police recruits were killed and 11 others sustained injuries after a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body at the Mingora Police Station. • September 4: Suspected militants shot dead two FC troopers in Nasir Bagh suburbs of Peshawar early in the morning while they were patrolling the area. • September 12: Two policemen were injured in a suicide blast near Doaba Police Station in the Hangu District. • September 18: At least 33 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a suicide car blast in Kohat District. • September 26: Two suicide attackers separately rammed their explosives-laden vehicles into a Police station in Bannu and a military-owned commercial bank in Peshawar cantonment area, killing at least 27 people and injuring around another 200. • September 28: At least four persons, including a prominent anti-Taliban cleric, were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a car at Bannu. • October 6: A woman, a minor girl and a boy sustained injuries when a rocket hit a house in Miskeenabad under the jurisdiction of Bhanamari Police Station, Peshawar at around 2 am. • October 9: At least 56 persons, including a woman and seven children, were killed and 112 others were injured when a suicide attacker detonated his explosives-laden car at the crowded Soekarno Chowk in Khyber Bazaar in Peshawar. • October 12: At least 47 persons, including 9 security officials, were killed and 45 others were injured in a suicide attack on a military convoy in the Alpuri area of Shangla District, NWFP. • October 15: At least 11 persons, including 3 policemen, were killed and 22 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the building of the Saddar Police Station located in the military area of Kohat. • October 15: An eight-year-old boy, identified as Hamza, was killed and 12 persons, including two policemen, were wounded when a powerful bomb exploded in a three-storey building in the officers’ colony of provincial capital Peshawar. • October 16: At least 12 persons, including three policemen, were killed and 24 others sustained injuries after a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the CIA’s Special Investigation Unit in Peshawar. • October 23: At least 15 people were injured in a bombing outside a restaurant in the Hayatabad area. The bomb was planted in a car. • October 28: A remote-controlled car bomb killed 117 people – including women and children – and injured around 200 others at the Meena Bazaar in Peshawar. • November 8: At least 18 people, including a local councillor heading an anti-Taliban Lashkar (militia), were killed and 44 others injured when a suicide bomber blew him up in a cattle market at Adezai village, 25 km south of the capital city of Peshawar. • November 9: Three persons, including a policeman, were killed and 5 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber riding an auto-rickshaw blew himself up at a police barricade on the Ring Road in the Latifabad area of Peshawar • November 10: Suicide car bomb blast at Farooq-e-Azam Chowk, Charsadda. Thirty two people were killed and 80 were injured in the incident. • November 12: Syed Abul Hassan Jaffry, media manager of the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, was shot dead near his home in Gulbarg. Jaffry was going to his office when he was shot at point-blank range as he turned his car towards the Swati Phatak. • November 13: At least 17 people, including 10 military personnel, were killed and 60 injured when a suicide bomber on an explosive-laden Shehzore truck detonated the explosive material in front of the regional headquarters of the ISI in Peshawar • November 13: Twelve people, including 5 security officials, were killed and 26 injured in a suicide attack at a Police Station in the Bannu town of Bannu District. • November 14: At least 12 persons, including a policeman and a three-year-old child, were killed and another 35 injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at police check post in Pashta Kharra Chowk, Peshawar. • November 16: Four persons were killed and more than 30 others sustained injuries in a suicide car bombing which targeted the Badhber Police Station on the Kohat Road near Peshawar. • November 19: At least 20 people, including three policemen, were killed and 50 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the main gate of the Judicial Complex on Khyber Road in Peshawar. • November 19: A bomb attack on the police van ripped through the vehicle, killing two policemen on the spot and wounding five civilians on the outskirts of Peshawar. • November 25: The cleaner of an oil tanker, used for NATO forces in Afghanistan, was killed and its driver injured when unidentified gunmen attacked the vehicle on the Ring Road near Tor Baba. • November 26: A remote-controlled bomb blast injured three people, including two policemen and a young girl, and destroyed an electricity pylon in Bashirabad area. • November 30: Two police officials were injured when unidentified armed men attacked their vehicle on the Indus Highway, police said. • December 1: A leading politician, Shamsher Ali Khan, was reportedly killed when a suicide bomber targeted a guest house where he was present. Another 8 people, including his brother, were injured in this attack. • December 3: A police official was injured in an explosion at a police check-post in the Ragai area of capital Peshawar. • December 5: At least four people, including a women, were killed and 12 people were injured in a car bomb explosion at United Plaza, Tehkal Market, University Road, Peshawar. • December 7: At least 12 people, including 2 policemen, were killed and 50 were injured in a suicide attack outside a court in Peshawar. • December 22: A suicide bomber blew himself at the gate of the Peshawar Press Club, killing 3 persons including a policeman, and injuring 17 others. December 24: At least 5 people, including a policeman, were killed and 24 were injured in a suicide attack near State Life Building, Saddar, Mall Road, Peshawar.

Beat the blues by going to bed early: study

NEW YORK: It seems parents have long been right. Going to bed early is key to getting enough sleep and helping adolescents feel on top of the world, a new study reported. A lack of sleep among youngsters may trigger depression and suicidal thoughts, according to the study by the Columbia University Medical Center. "Our results are consistent with the theory that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for depression, working with other risk and protective factors through multiple possible causal pathways to the development of this mood disorder," said lead author James Gangwisch. "Adequate quality sleep could therefore be a preventative measure against depression and a treatment for depression," he added in the study published in the Friday issue of Sleep magazine. The study followed the nightly habits of some 15,659 college and high-school students, and found those who consistently went to bed after midnight had a 24 percent higher risk of depression than those who turned in before 10:00 pm. Night owls also ran a 20 percent higher risk of battling suicidal thoughts, the study added. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adolescents should sleep at least nine hours or more a night. Those who were tucked in before 10:00 pm reported they slept on average about eight hours and 10 minutes. But that amount of sleep dropped significantly for those in bed after midnight. And adolescents who slept five hours or less a night were 71 percent more likely to suffer depression and 48 percent more at risk of becoming suicidal, the study said. "It is a common perception and societal expectation that adolescents do not need as much sleep as pre-adolescents, yet studies suggest that adolescents may actually require more sleep," said Gangwisch. "Studies have found that adolescents do not go to bed early enough to compensate for earlier school start times, and transitions to earlier school start times have been shown to be associated with significant sleep deprivation." AGENCIES

Afghan MPs reject Karzai cabinet nominees

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai suffered a new blow to his authority when parliament rejected most of his nominees for a new cabinet, including the only woman and a warlord. Only seven out of 24 nominees were approved by more than 200 lawmakers in a secret ballot Saturday, throwing Afghanistan into new political uncertainty just weeks ahead of an international conference on the war-ravaged nation. "Of the 24 nominees introduced to parliament, seven have succeeded in getting your vote of confidence," parliamentary speaker Mohammad Yunus Qanoni said after counting ended. Karzai's cabinet list was seen by his Western backers as a test of his commitment to building a clean and accountable government and eradicating the corruption that blights Afghanistan and helps fuel the Taliban insurgency. US and NATO countries fighting the Taliban have made it clear that the billions of dollars in military and development assistance they pour into Afghanistan now depend on concrete action against corruption. Those voted down included warlord Ismail Khan, nominated for the post of water and energy minister, widely seen as a reward for supporting Karzai during the fraud-tainted August presidential election that returned him to power. Also rejected was the only woman nominated to a cabinet post, incumbent women's affairs minister Husn Banu Ghazanfar, who lost out by two votes. Karzai has long relied on warlords to prop up his fragile government, but aides say he has recognised the need to appease the West to stay in power and bring some momentum to the development of his poverty-stricken country. He had been hoping to finalise his cabinet before an international conference in London on January 28 to discuss the future of the country. The position of foreign minister, the 25th cabinet post, will not be filled until after the conference, which will be attended by outgoing incumbent Rangin Dadfar Spanta, parliamentary spokesman Hasib Noori said. Those approved were the choices for defence, agriculture, interior, finance, education, culture, and mines and industries, mostly people backed by Karzai's Western supporters as competent and clean technocrats. Under the constitution, rejected nominees cannot be tapped again for the same post, Noori said, adding that parliament will begin a 45-day winter recess on January 5, leaving little time for Karzai to submit a new line-up. Kabul University law professor Nasrullah Stanikzai said the high number of rejections showed that Karzai had not thoroughly considered his list before presenting it to parliament last month. "The high rate of rejections will have a negative effect on those ministries which are without leadership and policy in the lead-up to the London conference," Stanikzai told AFP. "On the other hand, the high rate of rejections shows that parliament has risen above internecine considerations that have plagued Afghan politics in the past, such as tribal issues and ethnic divisions." Ministries without approved heads will be run by deputy ministers until nominees were approved, he said. The most notorious warlords Abdul Rashid Dostum and Mohammad Mohaqiq -- leaders of two minority ethnic groups which supported Karzai in the election and were expected to be rewarded with high office -- were not nominated. The international community deploys 113,000 troops to fight an increasingly bloody Taliban-led insurgency. Up to 40,000 more troops are due to arrive over the course of 2010, backed by thousands of civilians, as the war strategy turns from battleground tactics to development and aid. Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission meanwhile confirmed that a parliamentary election will take place on May 22. Commenting on reports the poll could be delayed because of fraud problems that plagued the presidential vote, the commission said security, budget and timing requirements had been met with the help of the international community. AGENCIES

No clash b/w army, PPP: Gilani

Staff Report ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that there is no clash between Pakistan army and Pakistan Peoples’ Party leadership. “The army is an institution. The judiciary is an institution and the parliament is also an institution. All the institutions are working properly. There is no rift among them.” During his visit to the relatives of the martyrs of police and Frontier Constabulary in Karachi Company, Islamabad, on Saturday he said that the leadership and the army are united on all the issues. PM Gilani said that the whole nation is united against the war on terror. “The terrorists are working on foreign agenda. We’ll foil the objectives of the terrorists. The government does not have soft corner for them.” He said that the international community knows that Pakistan wants to destroy the network of the terrorists. We lack the capacity and the international community will help us, he added. PM Gilani said that his government will complete its time. We are given mandate by the people and will complete our tenure of five years, he added. SAMAA

70 journalists killed in 2009

Sttaf Report KARACHI: The first decade of 21st century proved to be the most dangerous decade in the journalistic history with 468 journalists killed in the line of duty. These journalists who lost their lives across the world include 23 Pakistanis. According to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2009 was the worst year of the decade and 70 journalists were killed due to motives related to their professional duties. The CJP is still investigating 20 other journalist deaths worldwide in 2009 to determine whether they were work-related. The 2009 toll is up more than 60 percent from the 42 deaths recorded in 2008. “This has been a year of unprecedented devastation for the world’s media, but the violence also confirms long-term trends,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. Pakistan is considered the fourth deadliest country for journalists in 2009, matching Iraq with the same casualty rate, while Philippines tops the list. At least 29 journalists were killed in the Philippines’ southernmost main island, Mindanao on November 23, 2009, the deadliest event for the press in CPJ history. All but three of the 2009 victims were local journalists. While local reporters have long been more vulnerable to deadly violence than their foreign counterparts, the divide has never been wider in CPJ’s annual assessment. Nine freelance journalists were among the 2009 victims. The proportion of freelancers was consistent with past years. 23 journalists were killed in Pakistan during the first decade of 21st century. These include: Janullah Hashimzada, Shamshad TV - August 24, 2009, in Jamrud, Pakistan Musa Khankhel, Geo TV and The News - February 18, 2009, in Swat, Pakistan Tahir Awan, freelance - January 4, 2009, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Mohammad Imran, Express TV - January 4, 2009, in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Abdul Razzak Johra, Royal TV - November 3, 2008, in Punjab, Pakistan Abdul Aziz Shaheen, Azadi - August 29, 2008, in Swat, Pakistan Mohammed Ibrahim, Express TV and Daily Express - May 22, 2008, in Khar, Pakistan Siraj Uddin, The Nation - February 29, 2008, in Mingora, Pakistan Chishti Mujahid, Akbar-e-Jehan - February 9, 2008, in Quetta, Pakistan Zubair Ahmed Mujahid, Jang - November 23, 2007, in Mirpur Khas, Pakistan Muhammad Arif, ARY One World TV - October 19, 2007, in Karachi, Pakistan Javed Khan, Markaz and DM Digital TV - July 3, 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan Noor Hakim Khan, Daily Pakistan - June 2, 2007, in Bajaur, Pakistan Mehboob Khan, freelance - April 28, 2007, in Charsadda, Pakistan Hayatullah Khan, freelance - June 16, 2006, in Miran Shah, Pakistan Munir Ahmed Sangi, Kawish Television Network (KTN) - May 29, 2006, in Larkana, Pakistan Allah Noor, Khyber TV - February 7, 2005, in Wana, Pakistan Amir Nowab , Associated Press Television News and Frontier Post - February 7, 2005, in Wana, Pakistan Sajid Tanoli, Shumal - January 29, 2004, in Mansehra, Pakistan Fazal Wahab, freelance - January 21, 2003, in Mingora, Pakistan Shahid Soomro, Kawish - October 20, 2002, in Kandhkot, Pakistan Daniel Pearl, The Wall Street Journal - Date unknown, in Karachi, Pakistan Sufi Mohammad Khan, Ummat - May 2, 2000, in Badin, Pakistan

Indian army knows Pak army capacity: Gen Tariq

Staff Report RAWALPINDI: Chairman Joints Chief of Staff Committee ( JCSC) General Tariq Majid has said that Indian army knows the capacity of the Pakistan armed forces, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Saturday. Responding to a question asked on the Indian Army Chief’s jingoistic pronouncement of Indian military preparations to fight China and Pakistan simultaneously, Chairman JCSC General Tariq Majid has said, “leave alone China, General Deepak Kapoor knows very well what the Indian Armed Forces can not and Pakistan Armed Forces can pull off militarily”, he added. General Tariq doubted veracity of Indian media report attributed to General Kapoor stating that “he could not be so outlandish in strategic postulations to fix India on a self destruct mechanism. But if the news report is correct, the uncalled for rhetoric only betrays lack of strategic acumen”, he aded.

No threat to democracy: Asfand

PESHAWAR: The chief of Awami National Party, one of the major coalition partners of the present set up, Asfand Yaar Wali Khan, said that there is no threat to democracy right now. ‘I don’t see threat to the democracy from the armed forces,” he said this while addressing a press conference on Saturday. He said that all the institutions need to work under limits and must not interfere because such attitudes will weak the country. “The country is fighting the war against terrorists for its survival and stability. We’ll not surrender before the terrorists. The terrorists will be defeated. Stopping suicide bombers is difficult.” Khan said that his party, ANP, fully supports the military operations in South Waziristan and in other parts of NWFP province. The security forces have given great sacrifices and we pay our rich tribute to them, he added. He said that his government started talks with Taliban and made agreement with them but, he added, they violated the agreement. We tried hard to settle the issue with negotiations but all in vain. The militants want to impose their own writ and want to control the tribal areas. We have defeated them and the writ of the government has been revived there, he added. The head of the one of the secular parties in the province, he said that the terrorists are the non-state actors and, he further added, President Asif Ali Zardari refers these men as non-state actors who want to destabilize the country. Supporting President Zardari he said that the president is given constitutional immunity. He said that President Zardari is a party head besides the president of the country. Khan rarely appears before the media like other politicians do often. His party is facing tough times after coming into power owing to the increasing militancy and terrorists attacks in the province. SAMAA

2 killed in blast in Bajaur Agency

Staff Report BAJAUR AGENCY: Two supporters of the government have been killed and two others injured through a remote control bomb, SAMAA reported Sunday. Sources told that Malik Zairullah and Malik Muhibullah were on the way to Bajaur Agency from Salrazai along with their fellows but an explosion hit their vehicle when they reached near Kasai. Malik Zairullah and Malik Muhibullah died on the spot. Shah Zaman and Tehsil Khan got serious injuries. Both injured have taken to Agency head quarter hospital. Political administration and the security forces have cordoned off the area and investigation is being carried out. SAMAA

Fazlullah's driver surrenders

Staff Report SWAT: The driver of Taliban commander Fazlullah has surrendered before the security forces, SAMAA report Saturday night. Sources told that Khadim Hussain along with his associate surrendered. Khadim Hussain hails from Nangplai and he was wanted to the security forces. Meanwhile, security forces seized a rocket launcher and weapons during the search operation in Barra Bandai. Four suspects have also been arrested from Mingora and Char Bagh. SAMAA

Pakistan 14-0 in 1st innings at stumps

SYDNEY: Pakistan were 14 runs for no loss at close on day first of rain-delayed second cricket Test match against Australia after bowling out Kangaroos for mere 127 runs in their first innings here at SCG on Sunday morning, Geo news reported. Earlier, Australian were dismissed for 127 runs in their first innings. Mohammed Sami and Mohammed Asif shone brilliantly from Pakistan as two contributed 9 wickets together. Mohammed Asif claimed 6-44 – his carrier best bowling, meanwhile, Mohammed Sami took 3 quick wickets and Umar Gul grabbed one wicket. Michel Johanson made hectic 38 runs – carrier best score, while two Aussie batsmen were gone for not.

Power crisis looms as 10 Tarbela units shut down

ISLAMABAD: Ten of the power generation units of Tarbela Power House have been shut down due to shortage of water while 380 megawatts are being generated with the help of 4 units. According to WAPDA sources, 10 out of 14 power generation units of Tarbela Power House had to be closed down due to rainless season and shortage of water in River Indus. Only four units are operating at the moment, producing 380 MW electricity. The total power generation capacity of Tarbela Power House is 3,478 MW. The shutting down of 10 power generation units will cause a major power crisis. Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore and areas adjacent to Tarbela Power House will be directly affected by the power crisis.

Yemen deploys troops to attack Qaeda terrorists

SAN'A: Yemen deployed several hundred extra troops to two mountainous eastern provinces that are al-Qaida's main strongholds in the country and where the suspected would-be Christmas airplane bomber may have visited, security officials said Saturday. The reinforcements, aiming to beef up the military's presence in a remote region where the government has little control, were Yemen's latest move in a stepped-up campaign to combat al-Qaida. The United States plans to more than double its counterterrorism aid to the impoverished, fragmented Arab nation in the coming year to boost the fight. Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. general who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and who announced the increased aid, arrived in Yemen on Saturday and met with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Yemeni government official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. The confrontation with al-Qaida's branch in Yemen gained new urgency after the failed attempt on Christmas Day to bomb a U.S. airliner headed to Detroit. President Barack Obama said Saturday that al-Qaida's branch in Yemen was behind the attempt. A 23-year-old Nigerian accused in the attack, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has told U.S. investigators he received training and instructions from al-Qaida operatives in Yemen. Yemeni security officials said Abdulmutallab may have travelled to Marif or Jouf provinces - remote, mountainous regions east of the capital where al-Qaida's presence is the strongest - though the officials cautioned that it was still not certain where he met up with members of the terror group. Yemeni Information Minister Hassan al-Louzi said Abdulmutallab's movements are "under investigation. They are trying to uncover where he went, who he met with." The security officials also said Abdulmutallab may have been in contact by email with a radical Yemeni-American cleric, Anwar al-Awlaqi, during his stay in Yemen. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

Flaws in Augusta probe meant for safeguard Navy officials

ISLAMABAD: It has been revealed through an investigative report published in TheNews international newspaper of Jang Group of Companies that the probe into Augusta submarine accord was meant for safeguarding several Navy personnel and to neglect a controversial project worth of 550-million-dollar inked during first regime of Nawaz government, Geo news reported. Although, as a result of investigation, the former Naval Chief Admiral Mansoor-ul-Haq was deposed from office, lading to corruption cases against former Prime Minister deceased Benazir Bhutto and against her husband and prevailing president Asif Ali Zardari, but however, the facts obtained, through a thorough Augusta submarine investigation, were kept secret in order for extension of safe passage to several Navy officials, Thenew’s investigation editor Ansar Abbasi cited a Navy official on condition of anonymity. Moreover, the plot was hatched from Saif-ur-Rehman who was merely interested in all this just because he wanted to trap Benazir and Zardari, report said. According to former DGNI, the 550-million-dollar project was finalized in Nawaz’s first tenure as Prime Minister but neither Saif-ur-Rehman, neither Pakistan Navy and nor did National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiate probe against that.

Rain pushes mercury down in Punjab amid thick fog

LAHORE: Several Punjab areas including Lahore are fog-blanketed; while the downpour has spurred the cold further, Geo News reported Sunday. The severe fog caused the flights in and out of Lahore to be lying suspended despite the lapse of 15 hours. However, Motorway has been re-opened for the traffic after ten hours of closure owing to extreme fog. The Motorway spokesman, urging against the travel except in dire need, directed to run vehicles slowly with appropriate gap maintained with other vehicles. The fog landed in Lahore since yesterday evening and it kept on assuming intensity in degrees in open and plain areas, badly paralyzing the life. Especially the motorists faced great problems owing to the low visibility. Most areas of Punjab including Lahore received light rain in the morning which pushed the mercury further down. During the next 24 hours, isolated rain with snowfall is expected over Balochistan, sub-mountain areas of North Punjab, upper NWFP and Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Mist/fog is likely to occur over plain areas of Punjab. The Met Office also forecast below normal winter rains during the month of January and February in most parts of the country. Due to abnormal dry weather conditions, Rabi crops, especially in rain-fed areas, would remain under severe moisture stress, and water scarcity in urban areas may aggravate. A spokesman for the Met Office said a high pressure area due to El-Nino weather pattern is prevailing over Pakistan since November 2009, and is blocking winter rains. The current El-Nino conditions that started in June 2009 and suppressed monsoon rains in Pakistan are still continuing and are expected to last until 2010 spring. Under these regional and global meteorological parameters, significantly below normal winter rains, ranging from 20 to 30 per cent, are expected in Pakistan from January to February.