WANA: Twelve suspected militants have been apprehended in the ongoing operations in Swat and South Waziristan during the last 24 hours.

In operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan, security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Sarai Naurang on Jandola Sector and apprehended 1 terrorist, according to ISPR on Monday.

On Shakai Sector, security forces conducted search and clearance operation at Aspana Raghzai near Nanu, Zhawar Shabi Khel near Dwatoi and recovered cache of arms and ammunitions.

Terrorists fired on security forces deployed in Trikli Kuhrai and Laghar Sar, Badar valley, which was effectively responded

On Razmak Sector, security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Khajuri and apprehended 1 suspect.

Terrorists fired on PTCL post near Miran Shah Camp which was effectively responded.

In Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat ? Malakand, security forces carried out search and clearance operation at Chakesar, Manglour, Qambar, Adbarabad and apprehended 7 suspects along with cache of arms and ammunition.

Three suspected terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Langar near Khawazakhela and Maniari.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday directed Ministry of Education to formulate an integrated programme in line with new education policy to revamp the system and impart quality education in consonance with the country?s future needs.

The Prime Minister gave these directions while chairing a meeting of Ministry of Education at the PM House. Keeping in view the requirements of knowledge-based economy, he said, the government is according top priority to education sector.

He directed the ministry to make Islamabad a city of quality education and a role model for rest of the country.

The Prime Minister asked the Ministry to upgrade one boys and one girls? school during the current financial year at Barakahu as Model Colleges by enhancing education facilities in the rural areas of Islamabad.

He also directed the Ministry to work out a plan to upgrade two existing boys and girls? schools into model colleges at Sihala and Tarnol as well in the next financial year for providing quality education to students of the respective rural areas.

Regarding adhoc teachers, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry to take the issue with the Ministries of Finance and Establishment to resolve it.

The Prime Minister stressed upon the need to improve the quality of education in the government schools through proper monitoring and right selection of teachers.

He mentioned that during his visit to one of the secondary girls? school in Islamabad on 30th January, he observed that the level of knowledge of students was unsatisfactory while some of the teachers were absent.

He expressed dismay that even the Ministry does not have a proper monitoring system even for the schools in Islamabad.

The Minister of State for Education Ghulam Farid Kathia assured the Prime Minister that in consonance with his directions a comprehensive plan shall be submitted within one month to improve the standard of education.

The issue relating to the shortage of science, mathematics and computer teachers was also discussed in the meeting. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry.

LAHORE: Sardar Zuliqar Ali Khosa, senior adviser to the Punjab?s chief minister, dispelled the impression that Nawaz Sharif?s decision not to contest the by-election in NA-123 was part of any deal.

Speaking at a seminar hosted on ?Physiotherapy? at the King Edward Medical University on Monday, he hoped that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani would take action against Governor of Punjab on Chief Minister?s complaint.

Khosa rebuffed the talks that Nawaz Sahrif?s decision not to contest by-poll was part of any deal, and called it uncalled for.

To a question, he said that sending Chief Secretary on leave had become necessary after family of the Col. Ikram shared some facts to Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif about him (CS).

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that Pakistan has suffered the maximum in terms of human and economic losses due to terrorism and violent extremism, but it has not dented the resolve of the nation and its armed forces to root out the terrorism in line with own national interests.

He made these remarks, while talking to a group of foreign correspondents on his return from Brussels, where he had gone to attend the conference of NATO commanders on a special invitation.

The Army chief said he has conveyed the concerns, challenges, contributions and constraints of Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists.

The COAS said that he had highlighted the key issues of the conflict that needed to be fully understood and addressed. He drew the attention of the forum towards the huge sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its armed forces, due to the effect of ?Blow Back?.

Referring to Afghanistan, Gen Kayani said: ?Our objective is to have peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan. We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we don?t wish for Pakistan?.

He reaffirmed that geography, culture and history can neither be separated nor wished away and emphasized that our operations in 2009 have helped improve situation in Afghanistan in terms of squeezing of spaces, better control of areas and continuous logistic flow.

The COAS identified five fundamentals that helped in turning the tide and must not be lost sight for future operations. These are: public opinion, media support, army?s capability and resolve, ?our war? was not ?US war? and a comprehensive strategy based on four different phases namely clear, hold, build and transfer.

About the way forward, he said that, the fundamentals should remain strong and intact, short and long term interests be reconciled, strategic direction should be maintained and coordination be effect based.

He informed the NATO commanders that our strategic paradigm needs to be fully realized. He said we are the second largest Muslim nation in the World located in a strategic region defined by competing interests and civilizational cross roads, with a prolonged history of conflict.

?We have three million Afghan refugees. At present, our operations are in a transitory phase (from hold to build), we must consolidate our gains and fully stabilize the areas secured, lest it falls back to terrorists.?

Constraints of capability to absorb and operate, limited cutting edge counter intelligence, counter terrorism capability and limited budgetary space should be factored in, he said.

In his concluding remarks, General said Pakistan has contributed to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

?We have the will and resolve to overcome the menace of terrorism in our country and we have the public support. We have also offered to train ANA and ANP, as we have the capacity and wherewithal to do so.?

He reiterated that Pakistan should be trusted and enabled.

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that Pakistan has suffered the maximum in terms of human and economic losses due to terrorism and violent extremism, but it has not dented the resolve of the nation and its armed forces to root out the terrorism in line with own national interests.

He made these remarks, while talking to a group of foreign correspondents on his return from Brussels, where he had gone to attend the conference of NATO commanders on a special invitation.

The Army chief said he has conveyed the concerns, challenges, contributions and constraints of Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists.

The COAS said that he had highlighted the key issues of the conflict that needed to be fully understood and addressed. He drew the attention of the forum towards the huge sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its armed forces, due to the effect of ?Blow Back?.

Referring to Afghanistan, Gen Kayani said: ?Our objective is to have peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan. We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we don?t wish for Pakistan?.

He reaffirmed that geography, culture and history can neither be separated nor wished away and emphasized that our operations in 2009 have helped improve situation in Afghanistan in terms of squeezing of spaces, better control of areas and continuous logistic flow.

The COAS identified five fundamentals that helped in turning the tide and must not be lost sight for future operations. These are: public opinion, media support, army?s capability and resolve, ?our war? was not ?US war? and a comprehensive strategy based on four different phases namely clear, hold, build and transfer.

About the way forward, he said that, the fundamentals should remain strong and intact, short and long term interests be reconciled, strategic direction should be maintained and coordination be effect based.

He informed the NATO commanders that our strategic paradigm needs to be fully realized. He said we are the second largest Muslim nation in the World located in a strategic region defined by competing interests and civilizational cross roads, with a prolonged history of conflict.

?We have three million Afghan refugees. At present, our operations are in a transitory phase (from hold to build), we must consolidate our gains and fully stabilize the areas secured, lest it falls back to terrorists.?

Constraints of capability to absorb and operate, limited cutting edge counter intelligence, counter terrorism capability and limited budgetary space should be factored in, he said.

In his concluding remarks, General said Pakistan has contributed to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

?We have the will and resolve to overcome the menace of terrorism in our country and we have the public support. We have also offered to train ANA and ANP, as we have the capacity and wherewithal to do so.?

He reiterated that Pakistan should be trusted and enabled.

LAHORE: The Election Commission has announced that up t0 60 candidates will contest the by-election in National Assembly constituency NA-123 in Lahore.

According to the new schedule released on the order of Supreme Court, six candidates filed their nominated papers on first day, while 54 candidates, including Pakistan Muslim League-N Mian Nawaz Sharif, had already submitted their nomination papers.

The candidates will be able to submit their nomination papers by Feb 4, while their inspections will be carried out from Feb 6 to 8, according to the election schedule. Similarly, election symbols will be allotted also on the same day.

The final list will be released on Feb 18 while polling will be held on March 10.

PESHAWAR: NWFP senior minister Bashir Bilour, denouncing the recent spate violence in Karachi, called for the government?s intervention to stop the ongoing incidents of target killing.

In a statement from Peshawar on Monday, Bilor slammed wave of target killings in Karachi and demanded its immediate halt.

He emphasized that the government should arrest the culprits, who were mostly targeting the Pakhtun inhabitants.

Bilour further said that safety of life and property of citizens should be ensured.

He urged the Sindh Government take immediate measures to curtail target killings so that any untoward incident could be averted in future

PESHAWAR: A local court of Peshawar has extended the provisional bail of Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

Rehman Malik was scheduled appear before the court of Additional Session Judge Fakhruzaman, but he failed to show up for personal reasons.

The court accepted the petition of the Interior Minister for extension in the provisional bail.

An FIR had been registered against Rehman Malik in the Peshawar FIA police station in 1998.

Feb 01, Colombo: Sri Lankan government is ready to make changes to the constitution if it has the support of the opposition.

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan dispelled the impression that mid-term election would weaken the country, adding if the current government completed its term, God forbid Pakistan might not complete its time.

Address a news conference here on Monday, he said that Pakistani Taliban were product of military operations. ?The United States and Nato are holding talks with Taliban, but we are killing our own people in our own country,? he said.

He said that the government was taking country toward devastation through rental power plants. Khan announced that he would challenge the RPPs in the court.

The PTI chief was of the view that conspiracies had started once again against the Supreme Court.

To a question, Khan said that mid-term election would not become weak; in fact it would get stronger.