KARACHI: Four more people were killed on Monday when some unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate firing near the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, raising the city death toll to 22.

According to reports, unknown armed men started firing near Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, killing four people, two of them on the spot. While two others succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Immediately after the incident, the hospitals? doors were closed.

The incident seems to be the part of recent spate of target killing in city, according to police.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has constituted a four-member committee to chalk out a strategy about Local Government elections in Punjab.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah will head the committee.

The decision has been taken at a PML-N meeting headed by Punjab?s Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Monday.

The meeting has also discussed the formula to share ministries with the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif announced administrators will be appointed in Punjab after the approval of Local Government Act.

He further said that committee would be set up to end corruption in various organizations.

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday proposed $1.2 billion in funding next year to help train and equip Pakistani security forces to fight Taliban militants.

Created by Congress last year, the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund set aside some $700 million in 2009 to train and equip the country’’s army and other security forces.

KARACHI: Pakistan People?s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement have reached an agreement on the appointment of non-partisan administrators before the local bodies elections in Sindh.

This was announced by PPP leader Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq and MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar while talking to media persons here outside Bilawal House on Monday.

They said a bill in connection with the above will soon been tabled before Sindh Assembly and the date of local bodies polls will also be announced.

The meeting of PPP-MQM core committee was held here at Bilawal House under the chairmanship of President Asif Ali Zardari.

The meeting reviewed overall law and order situation of the province including Karachi besides the future of local bodies system.

Dr. Farooq Sattar said agreement has been reached that the administrators will be non-political and that the local bodies elections will be held in the next 3 to 4 months. The date of elections will be announced soon, he added.

It was also came under discussion that the mandate of each party would be respected.

Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said some elements are not happy with the PPP-MQM alliance and not leave any opportunity of creating a rift between the two parties.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed feels that the changing scenario between Pakistan and India is going in the favour of Islamabad, and now it depends upon the leadership how it benefits from the situation.

He has expressed these views, while delivering a lecture at Center for South Asia Studies in Punjab University on Monday.

Syed said Barack Obama as US President is in favour of Pakistan. He has realized that Pakistan is in a very strong position in the region. The US is in dire need of China, which wants to see a strong Pakistan in the region, he said, continuing that China and Pakistan, not India, are the priorities of United States.

The PML-Q leader said: ?India cannot be a friend of Pakistan as it wants to isolate us at diplomatic level.?

?If United States wants to have peace in Afghanistan, it will have to solve Kashmir and Palestine issues,? he added.

FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Hamza Shahbaz on Monday said that Punjab?s Chief Secretary was removed from his office so that the common man could not face any difficulty in getting the justice.

This he said at the Government Islamia College in Faisalabad, while addressing the female students on the occasion of National Championship.

Hamza said that people wanted to see the supremacy of law and constitution in the country, in which common man and member of assembly are equal.

He said that Nawaz Sharif visited Col. Ikram?s residence and ensured delivery of justice to the bereaved family, after which Chief Secretary was sent on Leave.

The PML-N leader also promised to construct hostel and sports complex for female students at the college.

PESHAWAR: The NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani Monday has said the people of Malakand Division and its surrounding areas have passed through a very difficult time and they deserved tributes not only for facing the challenges courageously but also maintaining peace in their respective areas.

He was talking to a 30 member delegation of elders from Tehsil Bisham of District Shangla who called on him under the leadership of MPA Zahir Shah here.

The Governor said, in fact the militants, because of their ignorance had been engaged in strengthening the hands of anti-state elements and therefore, the brave security forces with the active cooperation of the people successfully defeated them.

Appreciating the courageous role of the people of Bisham for keeping the militants away from the area, the Governor said that they in fact had set a highly appreciable example of patriotism.

Pakistan, Owais Ahmed Ghani said, enjoys unique status amongst the comity of nations, mainly because of having been established on the basis of Islamic ideology and becoming atomic power through its own resources.

He further pointed out, our direction is correct and we are successfully over coming challenges. However, he said, there may be short-comings in the way of working which always would require reforms and the process of reforms is already in progress simultaneously.

Keeping in view the ground realities, the Governor said, neither there was any need of militancy and terrorism in the name of Jehad and nor any justification.

Owais Ahmed Ghani stressed the delegates to further strengthen unity at every level in the ranks of people; maintain the peaceful atmosphere and promote awareness amongst the common people. Referring to the demands put forward by members of the delegation, the Governor assured to contact the concerned quarters, especially the WAPDA for resolution of the grievances of the people of Bisham.

Meanwhile, Zahir Shah Khan MPA while pin pointing the problems being faced by the people of the area requested the Governor to help them in getting alternate resources to meet the irrigational and potable water facilities in wake of completion of three hydro power projects. Khan Khawar, Alai Khawar and Dubair Khawar hydel projects are under construction in Bisham. They also requested for up-gradation of health facilities in Bisham tehsil.

PESHAWAR: The NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani Monday has said the people of Malakand Division and its surrounding areas have passed through a very difficult time and they deserved tributes not only for facing the challenges courageously but also maintaining peace in their respective areas.

He was talking to a 30 member delegation of elders from Tehsil Bisham of District Shangla who called on him under the leadership of MPA Zahir Shah here.

The Governor said, in fact the militants, because of their ignorance had been engaged in strengthening the hands of anti-state elements and therefore, the brave security forces with the active cooperation of the people successfully defeated them.

Appreciating the courageous role of the people of Bisham for keeping the militants away from the area, the Governor said that they in fact had set a highly appreciable example of patriotism.

Pakistan, Owais Ahmed Ghani said, enjoys unique status amongst the comity of nations, mainly because of having been established on the basis of Islamic ideology and becoming atomic power through its own resources.

He further pointed out, our direction is correct and we are successfully over coming challenges. However, he said, there may be short-comings in the way of working which always would require reforms and the process of reforms is already in progress simultaneously.

Keeping in view the ground realities, the Governor said, neither there was any need of militancy and terrorism in the name of Jehad and nor any justification.

Owais Ahmed Ghani stressed the delegates to further strengthen unity at every level in the ranks of people; maintain the peaceful atmosphere and promote awareness amongst the common people. Referring to the demands put forward by members of the delegation, the Governor assured to contact the concerned quarters, especially the WAPDA for resolution of the grievances of the people of Bisham.

Meanwhile, Zahir Shah Khan MPA while pin pointing the problems being faced by the people of the area requested the Governor to help them in getting alternate resources to meet the irrigational and potable water facilities in wake of completion of three hydro power projects. Khan Khawar, Alai Khawar and Dubair Khawar hydel projects are under construction in Bisham. They also requested for up-gradation of health facilities in Bisham tehsil.

KARACHI: Sindh Home Department has canceled arms licenses issued for Orangi Town and imposed section-144 in the Town, banning weapons? exhibition.

The death toll in the continuing riots in Orangi Town and Qasba Colony has mounted to 18 in three days.

A man was gunned down at Banaras Chowk today while two Rangers personnel were wounded as a result of firing near Katti Pahari in Orangi Town, poice officials said.

ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Monday, expressing serious concerns over unsubstantial representation of provinces in the Planning Commission, demanded to take immediate measures for their proper representation.

The Senate?s Functional Committee on Government Assurances today met at the Parliament House with Senator Maula Bux Chandio in the chair.

The committee submitted its recommendations to immediately fill the vacant slot of Chief Economist and to make the Planning Commission more efficient.

The committee also directed the communication ministry to ensure the early completion of construction work on Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway. It also voiced concerns about delay being observed in purchase of bulldozers to be used for agricultural purpose in NWFP and Balochistan.

The food and agriculture ministry was also directed to provide bulldozers to Sindh and Punjab in second phase. The committee also made a proposal to provide these bulldozers to Fata also.