KARACHI: Jafria Alliance chief Allama Abbas Kumaili has announced to observe a complete strike on Saturday in Karachi in protest against the Karachi blasts.

Addressing a news conference at his residence here on Friday, he set a 48-hour ultimatum for the government to act against the culprits.

He said that the blasts were a well-planned conspiracy. What were the police and other law enforcement agencies doing,? he questioned.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan?s High Commissioner to New Delhi Shahid Malik has said that India is eager to resume dialogue with Pakistan from this month, for which dates and agenda are being considered.

Following his meeting with Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao in New Delhi today, Malik said: ?We discussed the possible agenda and the dates for the meeting. We have to find mutually-convenient time and date.”

Asked whether there would be resumption of the Composite Dialogue stalled after the Mumbai attacks, he refused to pre-judge but said, “We have agreed in the past that dialogue is the only way forward.”

Noting that so many issues form part of the Composite Dialogue, Malik said, “these are issues which are of concern to Pakistan and India and attempt is to keep talking about the issues which are of concern to us.”

Describing his meeting with Rao as “useful and good”, he said, “This was about the resumption of the dialogue between the two sides at the level of foreign secretaries.”

Replying to questions, he said “all possible issues which are of concern to both India and Pakistan will be discussed in general.”

India has made it clear terrorism will be the focus of the Foreign Secretary level talks but it will “enter into the discussions with an open and positive mind”.

Pakistan would like to discuss the Kashmir issue as also terrorism.

“Terrorism would certainly be one of areas of discussion because we have issues relating to terrorism that we would also like to talk about and this is something which affects Pakistan and therefore, certainly it not to say that if India raises terrorism then we will shy away from that. We also have issue to talk about in that context,” he said.

Asked about Kashmir, Malik said Pakistan has been raising this issue with India at every possible opportunity and fora and would continue to do so.

“It is something we have been talking with India in the past and we will continue doing that,” he said.

?Pakistan wants to discuss all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir issue, but if India wants to hold talks on terrorism even then Islamabad is ready,? he said.

The final agenda of the Pakistan-India talks has not been announced, he said.

KARACHI: The second bomb, recovered from the premises of Jinnah Hospital, was defused by the bomb disposal squad on Friday.

The bomb was planted in a TV monitor.

According to reports, the monitor was spotted at the same place where first blast had taken place. The volunteers identified it and informed the police. The bomb disposal squad was immediately called to defuse it.

According to authorities, it was a 20-kg bomb, which could have devastated the whole area.

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain expressed profound grief over the deaths of five party workers, including UC nazim Mohammad Khalil and other mourners.

He also expressed deep sorrow about the injured party?s activist.

In a statement, Altaf Hussain paid tributes to martyrs, UC nazim Saddar Town Mohammad Khalil, Khurram Hakeem, Shafiuddin, Ghulam Murtaza and Jameel Ahmed.

KARACHI: Geo TV has received an exclusive CCTV footage of the Jinnah Hospital blast, in which at least 13 people were killed and dozen others wounded on Friday.

The footage shows the scenes before and after the blast in the hospital?s emergency ward.

It shows the blast took place outside the ward at a time when the injured of the Nursery blast were being shifted to hospital.

The targeted ward has been shown from four different angels in the footage.

The first angle shows scenes from entrance of the ward before and after the blast. In the footage, an injured, who was being moved to ward, fell from the stretcher following the blast.

The stampede and panic created after the blast could also be seen in the footage.

LAHORE: Banned Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed says that India has always betrayed Pakistan in the name of talks.

Addressing a Kashmir Solidarity Rally here on Friday, he has asked Indian Home Minister Chidambaram to meet him first in Lahore before heading to Islamabad.

Earlier, he led a rally from Chobrgi to Punjab Assembly to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day. The participants of the rally were holding placards inscribed with Kashmir slogans.

?While the United States failed to stay in Afghanistan then how could India remain in Kashmir,? he said.

The JuD chief stated India has always deceived Pakistan in the name of dialogue.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday strongly condemned the two blasts in Karachi that killed several people and injured many others.

The two leaders in their separate messages termed the attack a heinous act and vowed that the perpetrators will not escape the iron hand of law. President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani said the murderers of innocent people committed a barbaric act and will be given exemplary punishment.

The two leaders directed the Karachi administration to provide best possible medical care to the injured and initiate probe to determine the masterminds.

They also expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of lives and prayed to Almighty Allah to shower his blessings on the dead. They prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira Friday strongly condemned the blasts in Karachi which resulted in loss of precious lives and injuries to others.

In a statement, he expressed profound condolences with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of those who sustained injuries in the blast. He said the terrorists were enemies of Pakistan and Islam and added it was a shameful act of terrorism, which reflects inhumane and callous nature of the perpetrators.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and sympathized with the bereaved families.

ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira Friday strongly condemned the blasts in Karachi which resulted in loss of precious lives and injuries to others.

In a statement, he expressed profound condolences with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of those who sustained injuries in the blast. He said the terrorists were enemies of Pakistan and Islam and added it was a shameful act of terrorism, which reflects inhumane and callous nature of the perpetrators.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and sympathized with the bereaved families.

KARACHI: Karachi City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has strongly condemned the two bomb blasts, in which at least 22 people were killed on Friday.

Speaking to Geo, he sympathized with the bereaved families. He said the terrorist could not succeed through such cowardly acts of terrorism.

Kamal said that the city government was fully focused on the treatment of injured people.

He said that the city government has made arrangements for provision of better treatment facilities to the injured in city?s large hospitals like Liaquat National Hospital and Afgha Khan Hospital.

?The City District Government will bear their treatment expense,? he said.