Pakistan Team Lands In Dhaka To Battle It Out For Asia Cup T20 -

DHAKA: After having completed a successful season of the first Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the United Arab Emirates, title aspirant Pakistan, one of the top sides of the continent, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the Asia Cup T20.

The green shirts landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Emirates flight at 7:30pm local time, reports published on Bangladeshi news websites said.

After the Arrival in Dhaka, they will hold their first practice session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ground in Mirpur on Thursday.

Pakistan will face India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday (February 27).

Pakistan are the two-time Asian champions in 50-over contests and interestingly on both occasions, they clinched the title in Bangladesh. First time in 2000 and then in 2012.

However, Pakistan’s mission to success will be anything but an easy go as they are set to receive stiff challenge from Bangladesh whom they beat by 2 runs in the 2012 Asia Cup final.

Erdogan Questions US-Russia Plan, Says Syria Ceasefire Could Benefit Assad

ISTANBUL/ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused the West, Russia and Iran of all seeking to further their own interests in Syria and said on Wednesday he feared a US-Russian ceasefire plan would do little more than benefit President Bashar al-Assad.

NATO member Turkey has grown increasingly frustrated by the international response to Syria´s five-year-old war, incensed by a Russian intervention which has tipped the balance of power in favour of Ankara´s arch-enemy Assad and by US support for a Kurdish militia it sees as a hostile insurgent force.

"The West, the United States, Russia, Iran, the European Union and United Nations have unfortunately not managed to stand tall by the honor of humanity," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara broadcast live on television.

"On the contrary, all these countries, because of their own calculations, have permitted, directly or indirectly, the killing of nearly half a million innocent people by the regime and its backers," he said.

The United States and Russia announced plans on Monday for a cessation of hostilities in Syria to take effect starting on Saturday.

But rebels backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey expressed doubts about the proposal, which excludes attacks by the Syrian army and its Russian backers on the jihadist groups Islamic State and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

Rebels fear Russia will use that as a pretext to bomb them.

15 Terrorists Killed In NWA Airstrikes: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: At least 15 terrorists have been killed in aerial bombing carried out in North Waziristan tribal agency close to Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, the ISPR said Tuesday.

According to the statement issued by the military’s public relations wing, eight terrorist hideouts were also destroyed in the airstrikes today in Alwara, Khar Tangi, and Maizer areas near Datta Khel in North Waziristan agency.

- See more at: http://www.geo.tv/latest/101403-15-terrorists-killed-in-NWA-airstrikes-ISPR#sthash.u0v0SzmR.dpuf

Saif-ur-Rahman Says, Never Apologized To Asif Zardari

KARACHI: The former chairman of the Accountability Commission, Saif-ur-Rahman said on Friday that he never apologized to Asif Zardari and the cases framed against him were based on evidence.

Saif-ur-Rahman in an interview added, that the cases were not framed for reasons of political victimization. He further added, that while in prison, where Asif Zardari was also present he did say that if any of his actions may have caused difficulties for others he seeks forgiveness from the Almighty and stressed that he never apologized to Asif Zardari.

World’s First’ Thermal Camera Smartphone Launched

A British company unveiled what it claims is the ‘world’s first’ smartphone with a built-in thermal imaging camera. The company claims the feature will be available in fifty percent of the phones available in the market in the next five years.

The Cat s60 smartphone, unveiled on Thursday can survive an hour underwater at a depth of 5-meters and withstand falling from a 1.8 meter height. The thermal camera it features is made by the US firm FLIR.

The phone manufactured by Bullitt carries branding of the Caterpillar – the construction equipment maker – and is priced at $599. The company claims, lack of innovation in current smartphones will help its Cat s60 model.

"At the moment we are in a bit of a lull. If you look back at the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Edge, it's a hell of a product but in terms of innovation we are taking incremental steps," Pete Cunningham, senior product manager at Bullitt, told CNBC at an interview.

Describing the possible uses of the thermal camera, Cunningham gave the example that the S60 would enable to a firefighter to navigate through a smoke-filled room and see where the fire is to avoid it.

The phone is currently aimed for use by industrial consumers but expects 50-percent of the phones available in the market to feature a thermal camera by 2021.

Pentagon Says Pakistan F-16 Sale Should Not Concern India -

WASHINGTON: The United States Defence Department has said that the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan should not be a cause of concern to India and that the deal takes into account the regional security situation.

India had expressed its disappointment at the decision by the Obama administration to sell F-16 aircraft to help Pakistan in its counter terrorism operations. Pakistan has expressed its surprise over the Indian reaction to the proposed deal.

Asked at a briefing about India’s reaction to the US decision to sell aircraft to Pakistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Petro Cook said the United States look at relationship with Pakistan and that with India as a separate relationship.

“This sale always took into account the regional security situation,” Cook told reporters on Tuesday. “We…look at our relationship with Pakistan and our relationship with India as separate relationships.”

LNG Import From Qatar To Begin From March: MD PSO

KARACHI: Managing Director Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Sheikh Inamul Haq Tuesday announced that the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar will begin from the first week of March.

In a media statement, the MD PSO said Pakistan will import 400 mmcf LNG per day from Qatar.

Last week Pakistan and Qatar inked an agreement for supply of around US one billion dollars worth of LNG to Pakistan annually to help the country meet its energy shortfall.

The agreement on Long Term LNG Sale and Purchase was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s two-day visit to Qatar.

British High Commissioner Designate For Pakistan Hosts Journalists In London

LONDON: The United Kingdom’s High Commissioner designate for Pakistan Thomas Drew, who is due to arrive in Islamabad later this week, spoke with Pakistani journalists in London on Tuesday. He said Pakistan is very important for England and will always remain so.

Speaking to journalists at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Drew spoke in Urdu and shared what can be achieved during his 3-year tenure as High Commissioner. He said that his relationship with Pakistan spans over a decade, when he first came to Pakistan as a political councilor at the High Commission.

Expressing his emotions, he said returning to Pakistan has energized him as he looks forward to meeting old friends and most importantly that he will be engaged in work that will be mutually beneficial for both Pakistan and Britain.

Drew said there at nearly 1.5 million Pakistani’s living in the UK. He told journalists that these Pakistanis see England as their home and that he experienced this first hand when he met with the Pakistani community in Bradford, describing the likening the relationship with British-Pakistanis to that of a family.

PM AJK Uttered Humiliating Words: Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pervaiz Rashid on Monday said although the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir uttered humiliating words against the federal ministers, the government took it with fortitude.

Speaking from the floor of National Assembly, Pervaiz Rashid said the AJK Prime Minister also used harsh words during a conversation with him on the telephone.

“We even accepted the judicial commission formed by the government of Azad Kashmir,” he added.

Amid noisy boos from the opposition benches, the Information Minister regretted that the workers of Pakistan Muslim League-N were being arrested in Azad Kashmir.

A worker of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had lost his life following a clash with the activists of Pakistan Muslim League-N in AJK on Saturday.

Lt Gen Alam Khattak Appointed New KP Governor

PESHAWAR: Defence Secretary, Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak has been appointed as a new Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, days after Mehtab Abbasi resigned from the position.

Sources told Geo News on Sunday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given the go ahead to the above decision by signing a summary for the appointment of Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Alam Khattak as Governor KP.

Khattak had in the past served as Corps Commander Quetta and IG Frontier Corps (FC) for KP and Balochistan.

Lt Gen (retd) M Alam Khattak will step down from the post of Secretary Defence after assuming the charge of Governor KP.

One Killed, Four Injured In PPP, PML-N Clash In Kotli -

KOTLI: One person was killed and four others injured in a clash between workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

According to details, PPP workers took out a rally in connection with Bilawal Bhutto Convention and when they reached Nakyal chowk a clash erupted between PML-N and PPP activists. Both the sides freely used clubs and stones.

Police resorted to tear gas and shelling to disperse the clashing workers of both parties.

The injured were shifted to hospital and more contingents of police were summoned to control the situation.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned the attack on party workers.

India Summons US Envoy Over Sale Of F-16 To Pakistan -

NEW DELHI: India has expressed disappointment with the US decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and summoned the US ambassador to New Delhi on Saturday to convey its ‘displeasure’.

The US government said on Friday it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, radar and other equipment in a deal valued at $699 million.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign arms sales, said it had notified lawmakers about the possible deal.

The agency said the F-16s would allow Pakistan's Air Force to operate in all-weather environments and at night, while improving its self-defense capability and bolstering its ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

India said it was disappointed with the US decision. "We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism," Vikas Swarup, a spokesman for India's Foreign Ministry, said on Twitter.

India media reported that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned US Ambassador Richard Verma to convey India’s “displeasure”

Arrest Warrants Issued For Sindh Education Sec Fazlullah Pechuho

KARACHI: An anti-corruption court in Karachi issued arrest warrants for Secretary Education & Literacy Sindh, Dr Fazlullah Pechuho Friday for not appearing before the court in a case pertaining to corruption and misuse of authority in his department.

Headmaster Mohammad Mithal had filed a plea against Pechuho at the anti-corruption court. However, failing to appear in person and responding to several written notices, the court issued warrants for the Sindh secretary’s arrest today.

Meanwahile, Dr Fazlullah Pechuho has said that he was not aware any such warrants, adding that he was ready to appear before the court if he was ordered to do so.

It may be mentioned that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had initiated crackdown in the Sindh education department upon evidence of huge financial misappropriation.

TTP Commander Among 34 Suspects Arrested In Kohat

KOHAT: Law enforcement agencies and police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa arrested nearly three dozen suspects on Friday including a Taliban commander and facilitators.

According to sources, police and agencies launched a joint operation near the Kohat bypass road and the surrounding areas and detained six terrorist facilitators among 33 suspects including Afghan nationals.

Kohat police and intelligence agencies also arrested Dilawar Khan aka Mufti, a commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The government of Pakistan had announced a reward (head money) of Rs 1 million for Dilawar Khan.

According to DPO Kohat, Dilawar was wanted for his involvement in multiple bomb attacks and terror activites.

LNG Tanker Explodes After Collision, At Least 9 Dead, 15 Injured

NANKANA SAHIB: A horrific road accident on Wednesday morning claimed at least nine lives and left 15 injured.

A tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) exploded after it collided with a parked car on Manawala road; the explosion and resulting fireball engulfed vehicles in the blast radius killing nine people including three students on their way to school while leaving 15 injured. Multiple vehicles were also destroyed as a result of the explosion.

According to latest updates, 12 injured were shifted in critical condition to the Allied Hospital in Faisalabad.

PM Departs For Qatar On 2-day Official Visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Qatar Wednesday morning on a 2-day official visit.

The prime minister is visiting Qatar on the invitation of Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The prime minister is accompanied by a high level delegation.

During the visit, the Prime Minister Sharif will hold meetings with the Emir of Qatar and key members of Qatari cabinet; the prime minister is also going to ink a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).

The two sides will also hold wide ranging delegation level talks.

MOUs in the offing

A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the field of health, radio, television, education, research and a long term sale purchase agreement (SPA) of LNG would be concluded by both sides, read a foreign office press.

The main focus of the Prime Minister’s is to further enhance bilateral relations in various fields including energy, cooperation, trade and investment, defence as well as increasing employment opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Qatar.

The Emir of the State of Qatar had paid a landmark visit to Pakistan on 23-24 March 2015.

Qatar hosts more than 115,000 Pakistanis who have been contributing towards the development and prosperity of the country and act as a bridge between the peoples of two brotherly countries.

Army Aviation’s Training Jet Crashes In Gujranwala; Two Pilots Martyred

RAWALPINDI: A training jet of Pakistan Army Aviation has crashed here leaving both the instructor and the trainee pilot martyred, military officials said on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Instructor Pilot Major Azhar and his trainee Captain Ahmed were martyred in the crash.

“Army aviation training aircraft mushaq crashed near Gujranwala while on routine training flight. Maj Azhar instructor Pilot and capt ahmed trainee pilot embraced shahadat,” said the statement.

- See more at: http://www.geo.tv/latest/100998-Army-aviations-training-jet-crashes-in-Gujranwala-two-pilots-martyred#sthash.tHQdXJ8V.dpuf

Kazakhstan’s Gen Zhasuzakov, COAS Discuss Defence Cooperation

RAWALPINDI: Kazakhstan’s first deputy defence minister and its Chief of General Staff of Armed forces, Colonel General Saken Zhasuzakov called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at GHQ here on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), matters of mutual professional interest and defence cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

The visiting dignitary lauded the achievements of Pakistan Army in fight against terrorism, it added.

Kazakhstan’s Gen Zhasuzakov, COAS Discuss Defence Cooperation -

RAWALPINDI: Kazakhstan’s first deputy defence minister and its Chief of General Staff of Armed forces, Colonel General Saken Zhasuzakov called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at GHQ here on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), matters of mutual professional interest and defence cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

The visiting dignitary lauded the achievements of Pakistan Army in fight against terrorism, it added.

Queen Of Netherlands To Arrive Islamabad On Tuesday

ISLAMABAD: Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will arrive here on Tuesday on a three-day visit, Foreign Office said Monday.

During her visit, the Queen will meet President Mamonn Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif besides other engagements with a range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

PM Nawaz had met the Queen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2016.

Inclusive Finance for Development is one of the key priorities of the Government of Pakistan’s economic development policies, the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan has taken a number of important measures in recent years including the launch of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) in order to promote the key objectives of financial inclusion.

JAC Suggests Punjab CM, Interior Minister As Government Negotiators

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airline (PIA) Joint Action Committee (JAC) Chairman Captain Suhail Baloch says they are ready for negotiations with the government.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Monday the JAC chairman asked the prime minister to nominate a negotiator that he trusts and himself nominated Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to represent the government in the negotiations.

Rally Cancelled

The JAC chairman also said that the planned rally to march on Jinnah Terminal now stands cancelled after the safe return of the missing employees.

Four employees, Hidayatullah, Mansoor, Zameer Chandio and Saifullah went missing during a protest demonstration on the 2nd of February.

The missing employees were dropped off the men at Nagan Chowrangi late on Sunday night.

PIA Operations Remain Suspended For Fifth Day, Passengers In Limbo

KARACHI: A late night meeting between the Privatization Commission Chairman Zubair Umar and the PIA Joint Action Committee ended without a solution on Friday night, with Umar demanding that flight operations be restored first while the JAC wants their demands to be met before anything else.

Meanwhile, Flight operations for the national carrier remains suspended for a fifth day with the greatest loss being borne by paying passengers who have also resorted to protesting at various airports.

Operations remain suspended at all PIA offices including ticketing counters across the country.

Pilots ready to fly

One Woman Dead, 24 Injured In Abbottabad Blast

ABBOTTABAD: One woman died and 24 persons injured in a blast in a guest house located in Mandian, an area of Abbottabad.

According to police, the explosion took place as gas was filled in a room of the guest house.

Meanwhile, rescue teams reached the affected place immediately and began their work. They started to shift the injured people to nearby hospital for providing them urgent medical treatment.

The dead body of the woman was also shifted to the hospital for post-mortem.

Seventh Karachi Literature Festival kicks off

KARACHI: The seventh Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) kicked off with all its colours at Beach Luxury Hotel on Friday.

US Consul General Brian Heath, Festival founders Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi and others attended the opening ceremony.

Brian Heath in his opening remarks said, “The Karachi 

Kashmir issue test for Pak, India incumbent leadership: PM

MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said Kashmir issue was a test for current leadership of Pakistan and India and people of both the countries could not prosper and progress, until the lingering issue was resolved.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council, in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day here Friday.

Rangers play key role in Karachi peace: Corps Commander

KARACHI: Corps Commander Karachi, Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar has commended Sindh Rangers for peace in the port city.

Addressing a passing out parade at Pakistan Rangers Sindh Training Centre Karachi here Thursday, General Naveed Mukhtar said, “The paramilitary force plays central role in restoring peace in Karachi.”

PIA employees’ protest continues, 150 flights cancelled

KARACHI: More than 150 flights were grounded as the protest by the employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) still continues on Thursday.

PIA action committee has vowed to continue protest till their demands were not met.

The protest against the proposed privatization of the PIA is continuing in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities despite imposition of Essential Services Act by the government.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to finish top of Group B

DHAKA: Hasan Mohsin starred with bat and ball as Pakistan Under-19s defended 212 to beat Sri Lanka Under-19s by 23 runs and finish top of Group B. Pakistan will take on West Indies in the quarter-finals while Sri Lanka will meet England.

Sent in to bat, Pakistan made slow progress at first, and their run rate was still below four an over when Wanidu Hasaranga dismissed Salman Fayyaz (33) in the 41st over to end his 61-run stand with Mohsin.

Wickets fell steadily at the other end, with none of bottom five getting into double figures, but Mohsin ensured he dragged Pakistan to a competitive total, and was ninth out for a run-a-ball 86 with eight fours and a six. Pakistan were bowled out for 212 in the 49th over.

PIA workers’ strike continues, flight schedule affected

KARACHI:  The protest by the workers of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) still continues due to which several flights were cancelled today also whereas schedule of other flights was also affected.

The protest against the proposed privatization of the PIA continues and the flight schedule in various cities has been cancelled due to which private airlines are selling tickets on higher 

The PIA workers in Faisalabad stopped their work on the ninth day while the ten flights scheduled for today from Multan airport have been cancelled due to strike

Zardari, Bilawal condemn firing on PIA employees

DUBAI: Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his son Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have strongly condemned firing on protesting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) workers in Karachi. -

Two killed as protesting PIA workers clash with LEAs -

KARACHI: At least two persons was killed and four others injured when police and Rangers personnel used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) protesting workers as they began to move towards the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Tuesday. 

MNA Akram Ansari‘s house burgled in Faisalabad

Faisalabad: The house of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Akram Ansari was burgled in the Ghulam Muhammadabad area of Faisalabad.

According to police, unidentified burglars struck at Ansari’s house and held family members hostage at gunpoint and made away with Rs4 million in cash and gold ornaments.

Three die in Bhakkar road accident

BHAKKAR: Three passengers including a minor girl were killed and nine others critically injured in Bhakkar road accident.

According to police, the accident took place near Behl when passenger coach collided with a truck coming from opposite side. As a result, two passengers including a woman were killed instantly and 10 others sustained injuries, who were to the District Headquarters Hospital.