RAWALPINDI: Over 600 extremists were killed and 70 security personnel martyred in the operation continued for six weeks in South Waziristan.

This was told by director-general ISPR Major-General Athar Abbas in an interview to a foreign news agency.

He said that the security forces would continue attacks on the extremists fleeing from South Waziristan to Orakzai and Khyber Agency.

Meanwhile, this has been said in an ISPR statement that the forces arrested ten suspects in search and clearance operations during the last 24 hours.

Two security officials were wounded in extremists attacks in South Waziristan .

The forces traced out a 15-feet long cave in Chakral, an area of Swat while a ten-feet long tunnel has been discovered near Peochar.

LAHORE: Punjab government will provide houses to the families of martyred policemen who have no suitable accommodation of their own, besides bearing the education expenses of their wards.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif made this announcement while addressing a function arranged for presenting gifts to the families of police martyrs at Qila Gujar Singh Police Lines here on Monday.

IGP Tariq Saleem Dogar, CCPO Pervez Rathore, a number of police officials, and the families of police martyrs were present on the occasion.

CM assured the aggrieved families that Punjab government would do its best to take care of their needs.

Lauding the sacrifices rendered by the policemen in the line of duty, he said they laid down their lives for the safety of nation, adding that all must honour them from the depths of their heart.

The government is duty bound to take every possible step to provide job to the children of martyrs, besides offering free medical facilities to their families, he said.

Lauding the courage and bravery of police officials facing terrorism, the Chief Minister said that the government will spend more on their professional training and skills. He observed that raising Elite force was a timely step as they were trained to face terrorists.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the government doubled the salaries of police force with additional amount of Rs 8 billion, adding that people of Punjab expect improved services from the police force.

He said those who committed the fraud of Rs 9 billion in Bank of Punjab should be taken to task, as these people who swallowed billion of rupees and got them waived off have risked the very future of the country.

Pakistan is victim of terrorism and its responsible is that dictator who ruled the country for ten years, he said.

Earlier, during his visit to “Darul Shafqat”, the Chief Minister said that the government would take every possible step to ensure a respectable life for orphans in the society. He appreciated the management of Darul Shafqat for looking after the orphaned children and providing them education, clothing, food and accommodation facilities.

BERLIN: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said there are no differences between him and President Asif Ali Zardari, Geo News reported Monday.

Talking to a German news agency, he said, ?President Zardari is the head of state and I am the head of the government; it is a childish to ask as to who is running the government. I am running the government, not President Zardari.?

?I?m the chief executive of state and only the chief executive run the affairs of the state,? he added.

KARACHI: Pakistan People?s Party central general senator Raza Rabbani said that if Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan (AHB) is not implemented then the federation would have severe fears.

Senator Raza Rabbani said this while addressing at the Eid Milan party held by the PPP Karachi Division here on Monday at the People?s Secretariat.

Rabbani said that the AHB is not a package of privileges but a beginning towards the end of the 60-year-old feeling of deprivation of Balochistan.

He said that he assures on behalf of president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani that the package would be implemented and if anybody tries to stop it he would be sidelined.

The senator said that the implementation of the package is very necessary because the federation of Pakistan would have severe fears in case of non-implementation.

He said that the People?s Party is a federal party and its leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto sacrificed their lives for this federation.

Rabbani said that the PPP has come into power through people?s votes and we would make resistance against any conspiracy to destabilize the government.

KARACHI: Pakistan People?s Party central general senator Raza Rabbani said that if Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan (AHB) is not implemented then the federation would have severe fears.

Senator Raza Rabbani said this while addressing at the Eid Milan party held by the PPP Karachi Division here on Monday at the People?s Secretariat.

Rabbani said that the AHB is not a package of privileges but a beginning towards the end of the 60-year-old feeling of deprivation of Balochistan.

He said that he assures on behalf of president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani that the package would be implemented and if anybody tries to stop it he would be sidelined.

The senator said that the implementation of the package is very necessary because the federation of Pakistan would have severe fears in case of non-implementation.

He said that the People?s Party is a federal party and its leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto sacrificed their lives for this federation.

Rabbani said that the PPP has come into power through people?s votes and we would make resistance against any conspiracy to destabilize the government.

PESHAWAR: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has appreciated the resolve, bravery and courage of the officers and jawans of Pakistan army and expressed the hope that their sacrifices for the elimination of terrorism will not go in waste.

He expressed these views during his visit to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on third day of the Eidul Azha here on Monday. ANP NWFP chief, Senator Afrasiab Khattak and provincial ministers Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Syed Aqil Shah accompanied the chief minister.

He inquired about the health of the jawans of Pakistan army injured in the war against terrorism and incidents of terrorism. He said that the whole nation is praying for their early recovery and success against terrorists.

The chief minister said that Pakistan army, people and government jointly would eliminate terrorists from the country. Those, who are creating instability in the country he said, are our joint enemies saying that Pakistan army will achieve success in this war of national salvation.

He inquired from each under treatment injured jawan in different wards of the hospital. He also distributed gifts amongst the patients. These patients were included jawans injured in the war against terrorism in Waziristan, Bajaur, Bara, Malakand, Bunnu, Buner and other parts of the province.

The chief minister paid rich tributes to the resolve, bravery and resolve of all jawans.

Ameer Haider Khan Hoti appreciated the hard-work and dutifulness of the staff of the hospital, saying that CMH is not only providing treatment to Pakistan army, but also to the people of Peshawar.

The people, he said looking it with respect and assured all possible cooperation in connections with bringing improvement in the hospital.

BARA: Frontier Corps Commandant Brig Fayyaz Monday said Khyber Agency?s tehsil Bara has been cleared of extremists and evidences regarding the involvement of foreign hand there, were also found.

Addressing a news briefing over the operation, ?Khwakh Ba De Sham?, Brig Fayyaz said the forces are attaining extraordinary successes in the operation with Gargari completely under forces control.

At least 61 extremists have hitherto been killed and 87 others arrested and 27 vehicles were destroyed, he informed adding the extremists are being defeated in also Ferozkhel and Orakzai Agencies.

He said there are Afghan and Uzbek bodies among the captured bodies of extremists, adding tunnels and caves used by terrorists were also found, where gunpowder and explosives used to be produced.

The FC Commandant said the noose around the extremists commanders Mangal Bagh, Adnan Nazeer and Tariq is being tightened and the success will soon be achieved in this connection.

Indian-manufactured weapons were also found among the captured arms and ammunition in the operation, he added.

BERLIN: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday arrived in Germany on a four-day official visit to Germany and United Kingdom.

Talking to media persons before his departure at the Chaklala Air Base, the Prime Minister said his visit aimed at strengthening bilateral and economic ties with the two significant European countries.

He said Germany is Pakistan?s fourth largest economic partner and mentioned that the world?s first Bilateral Investment Treaty signed between Pakistan and Germany in 1959 marked its golden jubilee the current month.

The Prime Minister recalled his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of SCO summit last month, where she being the member of IMF Board pledged to play role in for providing assistance to Pakistan at IMF forum.

He said European Union is an important trading partner and the government was pursuing the concept of focusing on ?trade rather than aid?.

He said access to EU markets could be made through ?Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus? and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and hoped that Germany would play a significant role in facilitating Pakistan in this regard.

PESHAWAR: The Chief Capital City police Peshawar Liaquat Ali Sunday said the Peshawar police foiled the great sabotage plan by recovering a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

Addressing the newsmen here in Police Lines, he said several Afghan refugees involved in various terrorist activities have been arrested during the search operation.

The police chief said the evidences quite clearly indicate that foreign hand is involved in the terrorist activities in the country.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan Monday urged Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to display broadness of heart regarding the legitimate mandate of Pakhtoonkhawa in accordance with the NWFP Assembly resolution, so that the deadlock could be resolved and the Constitutional Committee may make headway for the abolishment of 17th Amendment.

Addressing a ceremony held here to observe the 43rd Foundation Day of the Pakistan People?s Party (PPP), he said government has as its topmost priority to restore the Constitution 1973 in its original form.

Awan asserted it was the PPP that envisioned a powerful premier and chief executive; but, the military dictators usurped the powers of the Parliament and Prime Minister through 8th and 17th Amendments.

The elected democratic government gave Balochistan Package and the doors of negotiations with the Baloch leadership will remain open until 2013, he observed lashing out at the previous government for its Balochistan policy of repression.

Babar Awan said Quaid-e-Awam Zulfiqar Bhutto gave nuclear program and played a vital role in organizing the Army after Dhaka Fall.

The PPP leader said work on Fata Package has been kick-started on the directives from the President.

The federal minister said the culprits involved in Babri Mosque demolition have been identified; now it is incumbent upon the Indian government to drag the criminals to dock.