Quetta Youm-al-Quds rally attacked, Geo News correspondent injured

QUETTA: A blast in Youm-al-Quds rally at Meezan chowk in Quetta has injured many while casualties were feared, Geo News reported.

Geo News cameraman Imran Mukhtar has also been injured, correspondent Salman Ashraf told anchorperson.

Correspondent also said that several casualties were feared because of high intensity blast. Rescue teams have reached the spot and the injured were being shifted to the hospitals.

Police have earlier tried to stop the rally at an earlier point citing security concerns but the participants refused to stop there.

LAHORE: Eighteen people were killed and at least 157 others injured, some of them critically, in three blasts that ripped through a procession on the occasion of Yaum-e-Ali in Lahore on Wednesday.

DCO Lahore confirmed 18 people’s death while at least 157 , including women and children were shifted to hospitals. Twenty-five to 30 of the injured are said to be in serious condition.

A police constable was also killed in the blasts, CCPO Lahore said.

A banned organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi claimed responsibility of the deadly blasts.

The first blast that occurred in the middle of the procession at Karbala Gaame Shah was followed within minutes by two high intensity suicide blasts at Bhaati Chowk, police sources confirmed.

Commissioner Lahore said that the second and third blasts were suicidal and that a head of one of the suicide bombers has been recovered.

Relief and rescue efforts kick started after blasts and dozens of injured, including women and children were shifted to different medical facilities including Meo Hospital.

Later, the participants of the procession and enraged people pelted police vehicles with stones and damaged public property. A TV footage showed a motor cycle and furniture burning with rising flames.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blasts and ordered the concerned authorities to carry out investigation.

LONDON: Pakistan’s embattled cricket team were embroiled in allegations of match-fixing on Sunday after British police arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

The controversy erupted after the News of the World alleged some members of the Pakistan team were involved in a betting scam in the ongoing fourth and final Test against England at Lord’s.

Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper claimed several blatant no-balls had been delivered by Pakistan bowlers.

The weekly tabloid said it gave 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to a middle man who correctly told them in advance precisely when those deliveries would be bowled.

“Following information received from the News of the World we have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers,” a spokesman for London’s Metropolitan Police said.

Despite the latest controversy swirling around the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) insisted the fourth Test would continue as scheduled on Sunday, adding that no “players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident”.

Pakistan tour manager Yawar Saeed added: “I can confirm we are aware of the allegations. Scotland Yard (Metropolitan) police are with us now at our hotel and we are helping them with their enquiries.

“This is as much as I can say at the moment.”

The News of the World published images and dialogue from the encounter and a picture of what it said was one of the promised no-balls delivered on Friday.

It also ran a photograph of Pakistan captain Salman Butt standing with the man they claimed was the middleman, and one of their reporters.

The News of the World claimed their reporters had posed as front men for an Asian gambling cartel, paying 10,000 pounds to the alleged fixer as an upfront deposit.

They met again on Wednesday in a west London hotel room to hand over the rest of the money as their “entry ticket” into what they claimed was a “huge betting syndicate”.

They claimed the middle man then correctly predicted when the no-balls would be bowled.

The newspaper showed the alleged fixer with piles of cash on a table.

Meanwhile, the ICC said the match would continue as planned on Sunday at Lord’s, the spiritual home of the game.

“The International Cricket Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been informed by the Metropolitan Police that a 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers,” said an ICC statement.

“The Metropolitan Police have informed the ICC, ECB and PCB that their investigations continue and ICC, ECB and PCB, with the involvement of the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit, are fully assisting those enquiries.

“No players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident and the fourth Test match will continue as scheduled on Sunday.

“As this is now subject to a police investigation neither ICC, ECB, PCB nor the ground authority, MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), will make any further comment,” it added.

Pakistan, who have been dogged by ‘fixing’ allegations since the 1990s, collapsed spectacularly yet again Saturday to leave England closing in on an innings victory.

At stumps, Pakistan, following on, were 41 for four in their second innings, having been dismissed for just 74 first time around.

That left them still 331 runs adrift of England’s first innings 446 as the home team eyed a victory that would give them a 3-1 win in their final series before they begin the defence of the Ashes in Australia in November.

There was also a controversial finish to Pakistan’s 2006 Test series in England.

They forfeited the final match at The Oval in south London, having refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day because they’d been penalised for ball-tampering.

Pakistan have been unable to play matches at home since an armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March last year effectively turned the country into a ‘no-go area’ for international cricket.

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber killed Commandant Frontier Constabulary Siffwat Ghayur and at least four FC personnel in Peshawar’s Saddar area on Wednesday, Geo News reported.

According to sources the suicide bomber hit the vehicle of FC Commandant when he was leaving the office for home.

FC Cantonment, confirming the death of Siffwat Ghayur, said that four guards accompanying him were also killed in the attack.

The powerful blast injured 9 people including 3 policemen who have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.

The suicide bomber’s head has been found off Deens Center, usually a crowded commercial area where the blast occurred. Other vehicles present around the FC Chief’s were also damaged.

Gunshots were also heard immediately after the blast.

Heavy contingents of police and FC personnel reached the blast site and sealed the area for collecting evidence.

Siffwat Ghayur, considered to be an honest and valiant police officer, served as CCPO Peshawar before assuming the office of FC Commandant. The deceased, who also remained a Commandant of Police Academy for three years, played a significant role in maintenance of peace in Peshawar.

Senior Provincial Minister Bashir Bilour also reached the blast site and told the reporters that the blast was a suicide attack. He said the suicide bomber was in a taxi that struck the FC vehicle.

He said the terrorists are going berserk because they have failed to achieve their goals.

KARACHI: Raza Haider, MQM leader and member Sindh Assembly, and his guard have been gunned down here in Nazimabad on Monda, Geo News reported.

Unknown armed motorcyclists fired shots at Raza Haider as well as his guard when he was preparing to attend a funeral prayer at Jamia Masjid of Nazimabad Block No.2.

Raza Haider, who received a bullet in his head died when he was being rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The guard later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical aid at the hospital.

The MQM leader was elected from PS-94 Karachi 6.

Separate incidents of firing were reported in different parts of the city shortly after the fatal attack on MQM leader while two vehicles were set on fire in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The incident sent a wave of fear and panic across the metropolis, as shopkeepers pulled down their shutters in view of any violent reaction by enraged people.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik condemned the incident, urging the people to remain calm.

He termed the targeted killings in Karachi as a ‘latest formula’ being used to destabilize the country.

Rehman Malik urged MQM leaders to wait for investigation and called upon the people to observe restraint.

He said he would soon hold a meeting with MQM leaders.

MQM leaders Babar Ghauri and Haider Abbas Rizvi expressed profound grief on the tragic incident.

“It would be difficult to put a cap on the chapter opened (today),” Babar Ghauri asserted.