GUJRAT: At least 13 people were killed and several others wounded when two armed groups exchanged fire in Gujrat on Saturday.

According to police, the gunbattle took place in Sheikhpur Sariya village located in the limit of Kakrali police station.

Gujrat Acting DPO Afzal Virk said that the incident was a result of old enmity between two notorious groups. He said Muhamma Akram urf Labbu group had an old enmity with another Nadeem urf Deema group of his village over murders of five people.

Muhammad Akram was working on his tube-well when the armed men of Deema group opened indiscriminate firing on them. As a result, he along with his three sons was killed.

This led to a gunbattle between both groups, resulting in killing of nine others.

The assailants then fled the scene after the attack.

On the other hand, Kharian DPO Mian Sultan cordoned off the area with heavy contingent of police.

KARACHI: The prevailing law and order situation in Sindh was reviewed in a high level meeting held at Governor House Saturday evening and it was decided to make the measures more effective for improvement.

In the meeting, fateha was offered for those who lost their lives in Friday tragedy and prayer offered for early recovery of injured.

The meeting was attended by Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senior Minister Pir mazharul Huq, Health Minister Dr. Saghir Ahmed, other Ministers and senior officials.

Taking stock of Friday’’s events, the Governor and Chief Minister issued directives to concerned authorities for providing protection to the life and property of people and making the steps in this regard fool-proof.

They emphasised upon liaison between all law enforcing organizations and making the intelligence network more effective. They made it clear that required results can only be achieved against terrorism through cooperation of people and, therefore, they should work with a clear line of action and in providing an awareness among people.

The Governor and Chief Minister asked Health Minister to carryout a comprehensive planning for security arrangements in hospitals.

They said that while reviewing the existing arrangements, the planning should be carried out in such a manner that not only protection is provided against terrorism but treatment facilities for patients in hospitals also remained available.

They called upon the concerned authorities to identify the elements involved in terrorism and utilise the best of their abilities to take them before justice with speedy action.
They told them to work without any discrimination and pressure for crime control in the province.

KARACHI: Dozens of chemical shops along side M.A. Jinnah Road have been sealed without the information of the shopkeepers.

The shopkeepers said that they found their shops sealed on Friday on the occasion of the Chehlum of Imam Hussain (AS).

They said the local police failed to come up with any reason for the above action.

Meanwhile, DIG Police South Ghulam Nabi Memon, when contacted, told Geo News that the shops were temporarily sealed in view of the security concerns. The shopkeepers were told that they could open their shops after the chehlum procession, he added.

GUJRAT: At least 12 people were killed and several others wounded when two armed groups exchanged fire in Gujrat on Saturday.

According to police, the gunbattle took place in Sarya area of Gujrat.

The real reason behind the firing incident was still unknown. However, police said the act was motivated by old enmity.

A heavy contingent of the police reached the scene after the incident.

PESHAWAR: Former president Pervez Musharraf will return to Pakistan very soon, Major General (retd.) Rashid Qureshi said Saturday.

Speaking at a seminar here, Qureshi said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) have both failed to prove any corruption against the former president.

The corrupt people cannot carry out accountability of anyone, he remarked.

Qureshi asserted that Pervez Musharraf would definitely return to country on public insistence. He said that drone strikes were not carried out during Musharraf tenure.

KARACHI: The mourners and the workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who were killed on Friday?s twin bombings in Karachi, were laid to rest on Saturday.

Moving scenes were witnessed at the Imambargah Hussainia in Malir, where the bodies of 14 martyrs of Shahra-e-Faisal blast were brought. Thousands of people were present on this occasion. While special security measures were put in place for the funeral.

Maulana Abbas Naqvi led the funeral prayers attended by Shia Ulema Council central leader Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, renowned religious clerics and a large number of people.

On the other hand, the funerals of seven MQM workers were also offered at Jinnah ground in Azizabad.

MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Anis Kaimkhani, Jafria Alliance chief Allam Abbas Kumaili, Rabita Committee?s members, families and relatives of martyrs and large number of people attended the funeral.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Senator A.Rehman Malik has directed for registering FIR of each missing person besides expediting pace investigation into the matter.

A high level meeting was held here in the Ministry of Interior to discuss the issue of missing persons and to comply with the Supreme Court directive in this regard. Minister for Interior chaired the meeting.

The Secretary Interior, Secretary Defence and representatives of the provincial governments, law enforcing and intelligence agencies attended the meeting.

On the occasion, the Minister for Interior in his opening remarks reiterated that the government in coordination with provincial governments would make serious efforts to trace the whereabouts of all missing persons.

Latest report of all these cases will be presented in the Supreme Court during the next hearing.

He said the provincial Home Secretaries will be available to assist the Attorney General of Pakistan to comply with the direction of the apex court.

GUJRAT: Six people were killed and 10 other wounded when two armed groups exchanged fire in Gujrat on Saturday.

According to police, the gunbattle took place in Sarya area of Gujrat city.

The real reason behind the firing incident was still unknown. However, police said the act was motivated by a personal enmity.

KARACHI: Pakistan?s permanent representative to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon has strongly denounced the Friday?s twin blasts that killed at least 33 people in Karachi.

In a statement released on Saturday, the ambassador described the terrorist attacks a conspiracy to destabilize the country.

?People involved in spreading militancy are enemies of nation and country,? he said, adding, such elements follow no religion.

?Karachi is the financial hub of Pakistan. Therefore, we all need to strike back at the militants.?

Haroon said that political leaders should play a positive role by exhibiting unity in their ranks under the prevailing scenario.

PESHAWAR: Jamaat-e-Islami Naib Amir Sirajul-Haq has accused the infamous Blackwar and Indian spy agency RAW of carrying out twin blasts in Karachi on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar today, he alleged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party want to pave way for Martial Law.

?Karachi is burning, he said, continuing out of 45 poor people, where were shot dead during the last five days in Karachi, 35 hail from NWFP. While the champions of Pakhtun are tightlipped on the killings of innocent people by becoming a partner in Sindh government, he added.