Million Rs. goods gutted in Lahore factory fire
LAHORE: The clothes worth of million rupees have been burnt to ashes as fire erupted in a garments factory located on Ravi Road here on Tuesday.According to fire brigade sources, the fire broke out due to short circuit which engulfed the entire factory in no time but rescue and firefighting crew brought fire under control within one hour of rescue efforts.No loss of life was reported in the incident but fire burnt to aches clothes of millions of rupees, sources added.Read More

Peshawar DCO visits Lady Reading Hospital
PESHAWAR: District Coordination Officer (DCO) Peshawar Arbab Shahrukh Khan, strongly condemning the Peshawar hotel blast, has expressed grave sorrow and grief with the families of those killed in the tragic incident.He said this while visiting the Lady Reading Hospital to enquire after the health conditions of those left injured in the Peshawar hotel blast on Tuesday.DCO directed the hospital administration to leave no stone unturned in providing relief and treatment to the injured people.Such attacks cannot discourage the joint resolve of government and public of challenging militancy, he remarked.Read More

UNICEF�s lady official among dead in PC blast
PESHAWAR: A woman, official of UNICEF, was also among those who lost their lives in the PC hotel bombing in Peshawar on Tuesday, Geo news reported.According to sources, the officials of UNICEF have confirmed the death of a lady worker in the deadly bomb blast that ripped through PC hotel here on Tuesday worket�s name was disclosed as Persi Vinda.Read More

Peshawar blast may be backlash of Malakand operation: Iftikhar
PESHAWAR: The Information Minister of NWFP Iftikhar Hussain has termed the blast in PC hotel here in provincial capital as the reaction of ongoing army offensive in Swat and Malakand Division.Provincial Information Minister enquired after the health of people who sustained injuries in PC hotel blast.Talking to media, on the occasion, he said people should forge unity in the face of current situation now, as the possibility of such type of more terrorists� attacks cannot be ruled out.�Government will take strict action against the security officials if there was security laps which led to this tragic incident�, he vowed.Read More

Militants kill one in Quetta
QUETTA: Unknown miscreants have gunned down a person on Saryab Road here on Tuesday, Geo news reported.According to police sources, Ajmal Bhatti was on his way home when unidentified gunmen opened fire killing him on the spot whose dead body was later shifted to Civil Hospital where his relatives received his body.Following his assassination, people staged protest by blocking Fatima Jinnah Road and demanded government of the end to targeted killing incidents in the province, sources added.Read More

Peshawar security beefed up
PESHAWAR: The security in provincial capital has been put on high alert after the bomb explosion in five star hotel here on Tuesday.The security, around the sensitive places including all important government buildings, airport, schools and hospitals, has been beefed up.According to police, cantt area and airport have been sealed following PC hotel blast while the inter-province security was already put on red alert and heavy contingents of police and rangers have been equipped with advanced arms.Read More

PC hotel blast''s death toll mounts to 12, injured 60
PESHAWAR: At least 12 persons including three foreigners were killed while over 60 others sustained injuries when militants blew up their explosives-laden vehicle after storming into the compound of a five-star hotel situated on the Khyber Road here Tuesday night, police and witnesses said. The witnesses said that the attackers first opened fire at the security personnel guarding the main entrance of the Pearl Continental Hotel to clear their vehicle�s entry into the building. They took the vehicle to the parking lot of the hotel close to the mosque and blew it up killing 12 people including three foreigners and wounding 60 others, several of them foreigners. A portion of the hotel was razed to the ground while around 50 vehicles in the parking lot were damaged.The number of casualties could rise as some of the persons were reportedly trapped inside the debris, the eyewitnesses said.An eye-witness said that first he heard firing and then there was a loud bang, which left the area engulfed in thick smoke. He said that the blast also suspended electricity to the area. The five-star hotel is located in a high security zone, as building of Radio Station Peshawar, NWFP Assembly, High Court, Corps Commander House, Supreme Court and Met Office were also located there. It is believed that the blast was on the footprints of Marriot Hotel in Islamabad. The PC blast went off around 10:30pm, destroyed around 50 vehicles parked in the hotel parking lot, besides badly damaging the hotel building. Soon after the blast, law-enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and closed the Khyber Road for every kind of traffic as well. The terrorists managed to get their vehicle into the building despite strict security at the gate of the hotel. The hotel was evacuated following the blast. Emergency was declared in Peshawar hospitals and around 75 injured were brought to the hospitals till filing of this report. The police have arrested several suspected people after the blast. A Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) official said that at least 500 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack, saying probably a vehicle was used for the attack. Meanwhile, the United Nations has said that at least 16 foreigners were also staying at the hotel. NWFP Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain confirmed 11 deaths and over 50 injured persons. He said that three foreigners were also injured in the blast.President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have strongly condemned the blast.They ordered the authorities to launch an immediate inquiry into the incident, so that the culprits of this terrorist incident could be brought to justice. Both the leaders also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.Agencies adds: NWFP Minister for Zakat Rashid Khan and ANP Senator Nabi Bangash were also injured in the attack, according to private TV channels.The blast hit the Pearl Continental Hotel in the high-security Khyber Road area. Fire erupted at the ground floor of the building after the blast and was extinguished by the firefighters after hectic efforts. Chaos enveloped the hotel popular with dignitaries, officials and foreign visitors.Read More

Hoti orders to probe into PC hotel blast
PESHAWAR: The Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has issued directives to the concerned police officials of submission of an investigative report on the explosion of PC hotel in Peshawar which killed 11 people including two foreigners and many women and injuring 55 persons.According to sources, CM NWFP has asked law enforcement agencies to probe into the deadly PC hotel explosion and submit a report into the tragedy soon.Read More

President, PM strongly deplore PC hotel blast