Pakistan minister Ahsan Iqbal shot at, attacker nabbed; sad, says Malala

Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was injured on Sunday in an assassination attempt when an unidentified man opened fire at him in Punjab province after he addressed a political rally, police said.

Following the incident, prominent Pakistani educational activist and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai condemned the attack.

Iqbal, 59, was hit by a bullet on his right shoulder in the attack in his native Narowal's Kanjrur Tehsil after he addressed a rally, the police said.

Terming the incident as "sad", Malala, who is pursuing a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the Oxford University was quoted by Geo TV as saying, "I wish that every Pakistani [person] remains safe and that no one's life is in danger. I hope for a Pakistan where everyone lives peacefully."

The Nobel laureate further said that she was thankful to God that the murder attempt on Iqbal did not end up being fatal and prayed for his quick recovery.

The incident took place when the US-educated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader was leaving the rally.

Now, newborns will get Aadhaar cards at Punjab govt hospitals

Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said on Friday that Aadhaar cards will be issued to new born children in government hospitals.

"Henceforth, Aadhar card facilities would be extended to newborns at the premises of hospitals itself. The Heath Department would extend this service with the coordination of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)," Mohindra said.

The facility, being launched under the service delivery programme, is likely to benefit hundreds of children born in hospitals in Punjab every month.

Mohindra also said that specialists, including civil surgeons and senior medical officers, posted on non-clinical posts will also perform clinical duties on every Saturday.

"They will also perform scheduled surgeries on fixed days in government hospitals," the minister said.
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Chief Justice of Pakistan takes suo motu notice of teenage girl's rape

Pakistan Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar today took suo motu notice of the rape of a teenage girl in front of her family on the orders of the village council as a punishment, even as police arrested 25 people in the case.

The 16-year-old girl was raped by a man as a punishment on July 18 after her brother was accused of raping the man's sister in Rajpur village in Muzaffarabad in Punjab province.

Chief Justice Nisar ordered the inspector general of Punjab police to submit a report.

Meanwhile, police have arrested 25 members of the village council, including its chief. The panchayat comprising 20 members, including four women, had ordered Ashfaq to rape the girl in revenge for the earlier rape of his sister.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, younger brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, visited Rajpur village and met both the victims and assured that they would get justice.

He sacked all police officials of the Muzaffarabad police station for their 'criminal role' in the incident.
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Oil tanker explosion: At least 100 burnt to death, 75 injured, in Pakistan

At least 100 people were on Sunday charred to death and 75 others severely injured after an oil tanker caught fire and exploded on a highway in Bahawalpur district of Pakistan Punjab Province, according to media reports.

The tanker caught fire and exploded apparently after fuel leakage from its damaged containers. People had gathered around the tanker after it overturned to collect oil that had leaked out.

The fire brigade arrived on the site of the incident shortly after the blaze started and rescue operations were initiated.

Two fire engines battled the fire and eventually gained control over it.

At least six cars and 12 motorcycles were burnt in the blaze.

The injured have transferred to District Headquarters Hospital, rescue officials said.
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Five Islamic State terrorists held in Pakistan, explosives recovered

Five Islamic State terrorists planning a major terror attack in Pakistan have been arrested and a huge cache of explosives recovered from them in Punjab province, officials said on Sunday.

The militants were planning to attack sensitive installations in Sialkot district, about 180 km from Lahore.

They have been booked under the anti-terrorism act.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police arrested them yesterday during a raid in Sialkot.

Abdul Wahab, Behzad Ali, Shahzaib Zafar, Waqas and Daniyal Arshad were said to be active members of the ISIS.

Some 3,400 grammes of explosives, 100-inch safety fuse, five non-electric detonators, three bags and maps have been recovered from them.

The ISIS terror group has claimed responsibility for the killing of two Chinese nationals, including a woman, who were abducted by armed gunmen from Pakistan's restive north-west Balochistan province recently.
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EC seeks govt's response on procedure followed to delay Budget

Latest News - The Election Commission has sought fresh details from the Cabinet Secretariat, including the procedure followed by the government to delay the presentation of the Union Budget in 2012.

In another letter to the Cabinet Secretariat written yesterday, the Commission has asked for a response by tomorrow morning, sources said.

The poll watchdog has also sought details on the process involved in preparing and presenting the Union Budget.

When the opposition had objected in 2012 during the Assembly polls to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, Goa, the then UPA government had accepted their stand and postponed presentation of the (Read More)