Peshawar - Six people were killed on Tuesday when the security forces opened fire on a demonstration against civilian deaths in the ongoing military offensive in the restive north-west Swat valley, witnesses said.

The demonstration started on Monday after a mortar round hit a house in the Allah Abad area of Swat district in North West Frontier Province, killing one woman and her two children.

Residents transported the victims' bodies about 20 kilometres to Mangora city, where the army headquarters is located. More than 8,000 people joined them in the protest.

Karachi - Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange on Tuesday banned short-selling in all stocks following Moody's down-grading of the country's credit rating, traders said.

The ban on short-selling follows similar moves this week by Wall Street and other top international markets to avoid dangerous speculation in tumultuous economic times.

The Karachi bourse, which is already virtually at a standstill, is expected to lift the cap by early next month.

Lahore, Sept 23 : After Saturday’s suicide attack at a five-star hotel in Islamabad triggered by a truck full of explosives, Pakistani security forces have turned “once bitten twice shy”.

Last evening, heavy contingents of police were deployed at and around The Mall after the police emergency service received a call regarding ‘suspicious movement’ of a mini-truck at the road.

The emergency service “Rescue 15” disseminated the information through wireless about the ‘suspicious movements’ of the green mini-truck bearing a Karachi license plate JY-3870 on The Mall near the Pearl Continental Hotel.

Islamabad, Sept 23 : Foreign diplomats in Islamabad are a worried lot these days after Saturday’s devastating suicide attack on a five star hotel which claimed 60 lives, including the Czech Republic ambassador and four other foreigners.

They said that they have been advised by the Pakistan Government to use private number plates on their vehicles and not the regular plates bearing “Carrier Diplomat” number.

Lahore, Sept 23 : Militants in tribal areas in the NWFP have firmly set up their network in the Punjab province and young boys were being recruited from there, warned NWFP Governor Owais Ghani.

He said that Punjab was fast turning into a hotbed for terrorists.

“Militants in the tribal areas of the NWFP have established firm networking (with jihadi groups) in southern Punjab and most fresh recruits for suicide attacks are coming from there. Militant leaders and commanders are also coming from Punjab. The militants’ field commander in Swat too is from Punjab,” the Dawn quoted Ghani as saying at a press conference.

Islamabad- Pakistan's military claimed Tuesday to have killed at least 50 Islamic militants during a security operation in country's restive north-west region.

The offensive in Darra Adamkhel, a known market for locally produced weapons and a stronghold of Taliban insurgents, was launched on Monday to re-take control over a strategic road tunnel linking Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province, with the central and southern parts of the country.