Pakistan plane crash: 127 feared dead

ISLAMABAD: A Bhoja Airline's Islamabad-bound maiden flight # B4-213 has crashed near Chaklala airbase.

According to sources, a Boeing 737 with 118 passengers and nine crew members on board, which flew from Karachi at 5:00 PM was supposed to land in Islamabad at 6:40 PM, but crashed just before touchdown.

According to sources in Civil Aviation Authority, the flight was given clearance to land but it lost contact with the control tower minutes before the crash reports.

Rescue teams including Pakistan army personnel have rushed to the crash site.

Saifur Rehman, an official from the police rescue team said the plane came down in Hussain Abad village, about three kilometres (two miles) from the main Islamabad highway.

"Fire erupted after the crash. The wreckage is on fire, the plane is completely destroyed. We have come with teams of firefighters and searchlights and more rescuers are coming," Rehman told Geo television.

Rescuers say the plane's wrecked fuselage was ablaze when they arrived at the site with dead bodies and body parts strewn all over the place.

Reportedly Bhoja Airlines had bought this very aircraft from Shaheen Airlines after it was scrpped by the latter for its compromised flight-worthiness.

Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have confirmed the reports of crash.

Inclement weather has been held responsible for the crash.

Bhoja Airline officials are yet unavailable for comments.

All hospitals in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been put on high alert after the crash.

In July 2010, an Airbus 321 passenger jet operated by the private airline Airblue crashed into hills overlooking Islamabad while coming in to land after a flight from Karachi, killing 152 people on board.

read more...

Letter to Swiss officials not doable now

ISLAMABAD: PM’s contempt case Counsel Aitzaz Ahsan Friday said that the prime minister relied on the summary of the ministry of law, which had advised against writing letter to the Swiss officials.

Aitzaz continued his arguments this morning before the Supreme Court seven-member bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk hearing the PM Gilani contempt of court case.

During the hearing, Justice Sarmad Jalal queried whether the prime minister was bound to uphold the summary?

Aitzaz replied no, the prime minister thought that the letter to Swiss officials could not be written at present.

On this occasion, Justice Nasir-ul-Milk remarked that the matter relating to presidential immunity was not at all raised at the stage of review.

Justice Ejaz Afzal remarked that the prime minister has taken a resolute stand against the court order.

Aitzaz Ahsan said that writing letter to Swiss officials meant giving up on presidential immunity and added so long Asif Ali Zardari was the President the letter should not be written.

Justice Gulzar on this occasion queried, “What makes you scary about writing letter”?

Aitzaz replied that he was afraid of disgracing the President of Pakistan.

Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk remarked that if the letter was written, then nothing would happen due to immunity and enquired whether Swiss cases would open on writing letter?

To this Aitzaz replied that writing letter would demean the President.

read more...

ANF names Musa Gilani in Ephedrine case

ISLAMABAD: The Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) has filed a miscellaneous petition in the Supreme Court in the Ephedrine quota issue and named Ali Musa Gilani as an accused.

Brig Faheem Ahmed Khan of ANF informed the Supreme Court of eight new accused in the case including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's principal secretary Khushnood Lashari, Ministry of Narcotics Control Secretary Zafar Abbas Luk, MNA Mian Abdus Sattar, Anjum Shah, Drug Controller Sheikh Ansar and Deputy Drug Controller, Abdus Sattar Suhrani.

An MNA from Multan and younger son of Prime Minister Gilani, Ali Musa Gilani is in South Africa on his honeymoon.

The PM has directed his son to cut short his trip and return to Pakistan to face charges of his alleged involvement in the Rs7 billion scam of illegal sale of Ephedrine.

He is accused of involvement in the multi-billion financial scam regarding the distribution of Ephedrine - a chemical used in medicine - at a much greater quantity than the allotted quota.

Before his name could be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) for his alleged role in the drug quota scandal, the recently elected MNA Ali Musa Gilani had left for South Africa on April 10.

read more...

PM Gilani calls on President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilanion Thursday called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed law and order situation in the country.

In a meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, incidents of violence in Gilgit-Baltistan, Karachi, Balochistan and the Bannu jailbreak were discussed.

President Zardari apprised the Prime Minister about his visit to Gayari sector in Siachen.

He lauded the courage of brave soldiers who were defending the frontiers despite all odds and difficulties.

The President said all available resources be utilized in expediting the search and rescue operation in Gayari sector.

The prime minister took President Zardari into confidence on the decisions of Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) and also discussed Pak-US ties and Nato supply issue. (Geo Urdu/APP)

read more...

Karachi: Motorbike pillion riding banned

KARACHI: Sindh Government has once again resorted to imposing a ban on motorbike pillion riding for a month taking effect from Sunday (8:00 AM).

Sindh Home Minister, Manzoor Wassan talking to Geo News said that the decision had been taken given the deteriorating law and order situation in the metropolis.

Elderly, women, children, and journalists would be exempt from this ban.

read more...

7 killed, several hurt in Jamrud blast

KHYBER AGENCY: At least seven people were killed and several hurt when a bomb ripped through a passenger van in Jamrud.

The toll may rise as the victims are in critical conditions.

AFP adds: The van was carrying 15 men from Khurrakai village to Jamrud, the main town in Khyber district when it was hit while passing through a ravine.

"The passengers were going to town for shopping. So far we can confirm the death of six people while nine others are injured," Shakeel Khan Umarzai, a senior administration official, told AFP.

"Three people are seriously injured. It is unclear that the blast was caused by an IED or a planted bomb in the van but explosives were used," he said.

A doctor at the local government hospital where the dead and the injured were taken also confirmed the casualties.

"We are treating six other passengers who were wounded while three seriously injured have been shifted to Peshawar," Mohammed Anas told AFP.

read more...

PCNS reviews foreign policy proposals

ISLAMABAD: Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on National Security PCNS Senator Raza Rabbani says PCNS was "heading forward and reservations of opposition on some of recommendations on terms of engagement and relations with United States and NATO supplies through Pakistan to Afghanistan will be removed."

PCNS which met here today considered recommendations of the opposition regarding terms of engagement with the US. Senator Rabbani told newsmen later that Parliament will not disappoint the people.

“Efforts are being made to build consensus on the recommendations of the PCNS." He urged PML-N to end its boycott and join the Committee proceedings. PCNS will meet again on Wednesday. (PPI)

read more...