26 killed, 300 injured Blast rocks Lahore

LAHORE: Lahore came under shock and fear when a powerful blast took over two dozens of innocent lives yesterday.
According to the details, gunmen detonated a car bomb in ‘Rescue 15’ office in Lahore yesterday, killing about 26 people and wounding at least 300, officials said.
At least four men with rifles stepped out from the car and opened fire on the intelligence agency building, then set off a massive blast when security guards returned the fire, officials said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility. Police said two suspects were detained.
The explosion sheared the walls off buildings in a main business district. The ceilings of operating rooms in a nearby hospital collapsed, injuring several people. TV footage showed bleeding bystanders and emergency workers carrying the injured in ambulances. Rescuers rushed to free officials buried in the rubble.
“The moment the blast happened, everything went dark in front of my eyes,” witness Muhammad Ali said.
“The way the blast happened, than gunfire, it looked as if there was a battle going on.”
Sajjad told reporters that a car carrying several gunmen pulled up in a street between offices of the emergency police and the Inter-Service Intelligence agency.
“As some people came out from that vehicle and started firing at the ISI office, the guards from inside that building returned the fire,” he said. As the firing continued, the car suddenly exploded, he said.The spy agency and police building were both badly damaged. Television footage showed officers dragging a man from the scene.

Mastermind arrested
LAHORE: A master mind of Lahore rescue building attack has been arrested from Sheikhupura, Aaj News reported yesterday.Police recovered building map from the culprit, authorities declared the arrest as the big achievement. (NC Report)

Trilateral summit agrees to eliminate terrorism

TEHRAN: Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan yesterday reaffirmed their deep commitment to make every effort to eliminate extremism, militancy and terrorism from the region, stated a joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of one-day trilateral summit. The communiqué was signed by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
It was agreed at the summit, which Tehran hosted, to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism, which are in stark contrast with the spirit of Islam and rich cultural traditions and customs of the region.
According to the joint communiqué, the three neighbors agreed to establish a mechanism for holding regular and periodical trilateral consultations on special issues. These consultations will be attended by senior officials, foreign ministers and the heads of the state, or government of the three countries.
While addressing the conference, President Zardari said that the global downturn has impacted Pakistan and Afghanistan most. He said that the present generation was handicapped due to lack of better education and employment opportunities and we would have to do enough for saving our coming generations.
He said that peace and stability was the imperative for progress in the region. He said that Iran and Afghanistan was also facing situation similar to us. He said we could not change our neighbors and we would have to work in unison with our neighbors.
President Zardari said that the world currently suffering several problems and urged the three countries to work in harmony for the betterment of the region. The president thanked Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for hosting the conference

Five killed, 30 injured in bomb blast at Jandola

Suicide bomber rammed on Jandola Fort

D I Khan: At least five people were killed and 30 others were injured in a bomb blast at Jandola Bazaar yesterday.
Sources claimed a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-fitted vehicle into a fortress of law enforcing agencies. The blast also damaged many nearby shops and vehicles parked there.
After the incident the Wana-Wazirstan Road was closed for traffic.
The bodies and injured were shifted to local hospital. Law enforcing agencies cordoned off the area and initiated the probe.

Court’s dignity by stamping out corruption would have to be restored: CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has said that the real judiciary has been restored after a long time and now the dignity of the court and institution would have to be restored besides the judiciary would have to be cleaned of corruption.

At Room # 1 of the Supreme Court during hearing of a case, the Chief Justice in his remarks said that irregularities would not be tolerated in dispensing justice and added that the stories of corruption from civil judge to supreme court was common besides he urged upon the lawyers to co-operate with him in stamping out corruption.

He further said if there was any complaint of irregularity, then a petition could be filed in the Registrar Office. He said he was thankful to the people on their struggle for restoration of judiciary.

Flag hoisting ceremony at CJ's residence tomorrow: Athar Minallah

ISLAMABAD: Senior lawyers leader Athar Minallah said flag hoisting ceremony will be held at Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry’s residence tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference here, Athar Minallah said entire Pakistani nation is invited for the ceremony. He said lawyers and civil society played significant role in the restoration of judiciary.

President Asif Zardari reinstates Justice Iftikhar as Chief Justice of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has endorsed the reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as Chief Justice of Pakistan, the spokesman of Aiwan-e-Sadr said on Tuesday.

The spokesman said the restored judges include judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Courts. The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will assume charge on March 22.

The formal notification regarding the reinstatement of the deposed judges of the superior judiciary, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is likely to be issued today (Tuesday).

Pakistani People’s power restores Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani early Monday morning announced reinstatement of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges.

“I restore the deposed chief justice and others according to the promise made by me and the President,” Gilani said in a televised address to the nation.

The announcement, in light of the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari, met the main demand of the political parties and the lawyers’ community.

He said, “A notification to this effect is being issued now.” He said Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry would replace Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who retires on March 21.

Gilani said and pledged to “continue the politics of reconciliation.” The deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was removed from service by former President Pervez Musharraf on March 9, 2007, sparking a wave of protest that led to his resignation from his office on August 18, 2008.

The prime minister also announced reinstatement of other judges of the Supreme Court and said the number of judges for the apex court has already been increased through legislation to accommodate the reinstated judges.

The prime minister also announced that the federal government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking reversal of the order of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, and addressing all issues in light of the Charter of Democracy.