RAWALPINDI: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti today called on Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the General Headquarter in Rawalpindi.

The chief minister remained with the COAS for sometime and discussed matters pertaining to general security and law and order situation in the province.

ISLAMABAD: The government has reduced the prices of petroleum products by Rs2.12 per liter.

According to the OGRA notification, the petrol price, after easing Rs0.89, stands at Rs65.11 while diesel will be available at Rs58.10, after slashing Rs2.12/liter.

Moreover, after reducing Rs1.88/liter, kerosene oil is fixed at Rs60.75 while price of HOBC has declined by Rs1.79/liter to Rs79.43.

KARACHI: Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) will remain closed on Friday, due to a strike called by Sunni Rehbar Council (SRC) and backed by MQM, ANP and other parties.

MIRAMSHAH: A US missile strike has killed three militants in North Waziristan tribal region, sources told Geo on Thursday.

According to sources, the unmanned US plane targeted a militant hideout in Mir Ali, killing three extremists.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that money present in the Swiss banks should be brought back to the national exchequer.

Addressing the party?s meeting in Islamabad today (Thursday), he said the present system is not facing any kind of threat or conspiracy, but added if there is any real threat it is from the undemocratic attitude of the government.

According to a statement issued by the party, Mian Nawaz Sharif said time has come that he should play its active part in stabilizing democracy, strengthening the institutions and supremacy of law.

?I made a pledge to the people that corruption, incompetency and useless politics would not be tolerated at all,? he said and added such things were not only undermining the politicians but could also endanger the future of democracy in the country.

The two-time premier said situation is grave in the country. He said his party would launch a movement to improve the country?s prevailing situation. No individual, he said, could be allowed to decide the country?s fate alone.

The money in Swiss banks should bring back to Pakistan, as it is the money of public, he added.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said ?political actors? are at work against the government.

In an interview, President Zardari said there is complete harmony between the Army and civilian leadership on the military operation and that the opinion of the military establishment was always paid attention and heed.

He said he identified the ?non-state actors? in his speech to which they (non-state actors) responded by carrying out an explosion in the middle of the Ashura procession.

?The political forces want that ISI be brought under civilian control, but for the time being this matter has been put to a halt,? President Asif Ali Zardari said.

He said establishment is a name of perception which works in different ways. ?It (establishment) sometimes appears in the shape of Leghari and on others as Roidad Khan,? he described.

To a question if his life is under threat, President Zardari said: ?A number of heads of states were killed in past and such a threat cannot be ruled out.?

He said his security is being undertaken as a head of the federation.

The President said, ?I don?t think the opposition is friendly with me.?

He said conspiracies are not being hatched against him but Pakistan. He said he considered Baitullah Mehsud responsible for plotting the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

President Asif Ali Zardari termed the handing down of local bodies organizations? control to the provinces as a gift of new year.

He expressed the hope that the local bodies elections will be held in the 90 days.

He said the government will wait for the detailed verdict to come on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) before taking any course of action in this regard.

The President said he had his political cards which he will use at a time of need.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah paid a detailed visit to the gutted commercial markets, shops and bazars which were affected in acts of arsoning on the day of Ashura.

He was accompanied by Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Huq, Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza, and other ministers and top police officials.

The chief minister first visited Boulton Market and took stock of the losses caused in the incident.

On the occasion the affectees and representatives of their associations, apprised the Chief Minister about details of loot and arson by mischievous elements after bomb blast in Ashura procession.

They said that thousands of families have been affected with the gutting of hundreds of shops and ruination of business.

The Chief Minister was shown torched shops of toys, plasticgoods, saints and garments.

Qaim Ali Shah assured the affectees that their damages would be compensated and arrangements have been made for their rehabilitation.

Later he visited burnt Lunda Bazar at the site of bomb blast, met the affected shopkeepers and sympathised with them on the tragedy.

He said that immediate steps are being taken for their assistance and rehabilitation and a relief fund has been set up.

Meanwhile, on this occasion, the enraged shopkeepers and trades chanted slogans against the government. They demanded that the government should arrest and punish the culprits involved in torching the markets.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan People?s Party leader Naheed Khan Thursday demanded of the government to make public details in connection with progress on Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto?s assassination case.

Talking to Geo News during her visit to the site of Ms Bhutto?s assassination in Rawalpindi, she feared that this case will also be buried in history if this government had to pack its bags.

She said the UN Commission was given a limited mandate for probing Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto?s murder case, which makes it impossible to unveil the culprits.

Criticizing the Prime Minister?s statement on the UN report, Naheed Khan said he is not informing the people about the facts. She said 170 million people of Pakistan including the workers of PPP are seeking revenge against BB?s murderers.

?My real leader was Benazir Bhutto and I will not accept the position of Governor Gilgit-Baltistan being offered to me by President Asif Ali Zardari,? she asserted.

WANA: Eight more militants were killed during the ongoing military offensive in South Waziristan and Swat.

According to the ISPR, security forces conducted search operation at Brown Ridge near Jandola and surrounding area and recovered cache of arms and ammunition.

Meanwhile, terrorists fired at security forces near Barai Sar which was effectively responded.

The militants fired at security forces check post near Saeed Camp, resultantly one soldier embraced shahadat.

Armed forces carried out sanitization and consolidation of their positions at Razmak Sector.

On the other side, during operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat, security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Bangai Banda near Barikot and killed 4 terrorists.

Moreover, forces apprehended 26 suspects from various areas and 4 suspects voluntarily surrendered themselves.

RAWALPINDI: Military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has said that militants have been flushed out of South Waziristan while their hideouts have also been destroyed.

In an exclusive interview with Geo correspondent Asim Ali Rana on Thursday, Maj Abbas said the militants are on the run. He rebuffed report about the presence of Quetta Shura, terming it baseless.

He said insurgency has started again in Mohmand and Bajaur Agenc after allied forces removed their security posts along border areas in Afghanistan.

Security forces have killed some 650 militants in operation in South Waziristan tribal region in three months, he said.

The military spokesman said that remaining few terrorists were carrying out terrorist activities in the country. ?We will overcome them soon,? said Abbas.

To a question, he said that Pakistan had not accepted any foreign pressure or help for the launch of military offensive in Malakand region and South Waziristan.

Major General Abbas said that the terrorists could enter tribal areas because of the operation of allied forces along Afghan border. This move, he said, would increase pressure on Pakistan Army. In this regard, Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to the US military leadership.

He said security forces have defeated militants in Malakand and South Waziristan due to professional strategy and public support.