Mar 16, Colombo: United Nations Secretary-General is unlikely to establish an expert panel to advice him on the accountability issues related to Sri Lanka’s bloody conflict soon, his spokesman said Monday.

ISLAMABAD: Meeting between the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani concluded here on Monday.

The meeting discussed in detail security situation and the terrorist activities in Lahore particularly the recent suicide attacks in Lahore Cantonment area and Model Town.

They also exchanged views on the efforts being made by the army and police for maintenance of peace besides enhancement of the operational capacity of the law enforcing agencies.

KARACHI: After the end of gas load management, the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) is yet to receive supply of gas from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), which may plunge Karachi into darkness.

According to the KESC, the SSGC was to provide 230 MMCFD gas from today. But the utility is getting only 110 MMCFD gas.

Sources said that KESC would be supplied the gas late in the night, failing which it will have to reschedule the current loadshedding duration from Tuesday.

On the other hand, sources close to the SSGC said that Sui Southern will soon resume gas supply to the KESC after suspending 50 MMCFD gas for Sui Northern.

Sources say that the SSGC is facing a shortage of 80 MMCFD gas from Badin and Zamzama.

According to experts, if SSGC failed to supply gas, the KESC will have to buy furnace oil from the Pakistan State Oil. While in this regard, the utility has requested the PSO to provide 500 ton oil on 45 days loan.

While the PSO sources said that it might not provide oil on loan due to financial problems. According to sources, the KESC is bound to provide money a week before the oil supply.

ISLAMABAD: A meeting has held between Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan at the residence of Federal Railways Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour, sources said here Monday.

Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti were also present at the meeting, sources added.

The sources further said that the meeting also exchanged views on renaming of NWFP as Pukhtunkhwa.

RAHIMYAR KHAN: Police took action and stopped a camel cart race Ahmed Pur Lama area near Rahimyar Khan.

The race was arranged on the occasion of annual Urs of Hazrat Bhural Shah.

Dozens of police personnel reached the spot as soon as the first round of race completed and stopped it there.

Police said no prior permission was sought for the race.

KARACHI: Agreement has been reached between the Federation and Sindh Government over collection of provincial sales tax by the latter.

Finance Ministry sources told Geo News that the draft of NFC will be sent to President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday for approval.

Sindh Government will launch tax revenue services from July 1 to begin collection of provincial sales tax, sources said.

LAHORE: The inquiry committee set up by IG Police Punjab has initiated investigation against DSP Rang Mehal Imran Babar Jamil while Lahore police has provided details of cases against him.

Imran Babar Jamil has filed a petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) which will hold its hearing on March 16 (Tuesday).

The inquiry committee consisting of Additional IG Inspection Humayun Raza Shafi and IG Mubashirullah recorded the statements of SP City Malik Zeeshan and SP CIA Umer Virk besides arrested criminals and others.

However, DSP Imran Babar refused to appear before the committee and instead faxed his statement to IG Mubashirullah.

SP CIA Umer Virk in his statement said the allegation that he released a culprit is false.

The charges that the police officials have levelled against SP Imran Babar include consumption of liquor; manipulation in police records and; slapping an SHO.

SP Imran Babar this morning went to the High Court and submitted a petition addressed to the Chief Justice of LHC, requesting for taking notice of the incident.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik today directed Director General of Sindh Rangers to take every possible step to ensure the security of citizens.

Earlier, the DG Sindh Rangers called on Interior Minister in the federal capital and briefed him about the prevailing law and order situation in the province.

Malik said the government was keen to bring progress and prosperity in Sindh.

He said that nobody would be allowed to take law into his hand.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani today (Monday).

According to sources, this meeting has been organized in the backdrop of recent acts of terrorism in Model Town and Cantonment.

Two leaders will exchange views on efforts being made by police and the army to quell militancy.

LAHORE: Police have recovered a huge amount of explosives from a vacant house located in Iqbal Town of Lahore, police sources said.

The bomb disposal squad has been called to defuse the explosives, according to sources.

Sources said 40 bags packed with explosives have been recovered during a raid at a vacant house of the Iqbal Town.

In addition, two suicide vests and 18 hand grenades have also been seized.

Police sources further said that thousands of light machine gun bullets were also found from the house.