Pakistan

Probe ordered into PTV gaffe over Zardari’s speech

Islamabad, Sept 22 :Probe ordered into PTV gaffe over Zardari’s speech Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry has reportedly ordered an inquiry into Saturday night’s gaffe wherein state owned TV channel, the PTV telecast President Asif Ali Zardari speech after the hotel blast as he was still rehearsing.

Zardari’s address to the nation was aimed at sharing the nation’s grief after the tragic blast which destroyed the Marriott Hotel. On the President’s insistence only, it was decided not to telecast it live, but first record it.

British Airways suspends flights to Islamabad after blast

London - British Airways (BA) has suspended flights from London to Islamabad following the massive bomb blast in the Pakistani capital, a spokesman said Monday.

“Saturday’s blast could be the beginning of a fresh wave of terror in Pak”

Islamabad, Sept 22 : The Saturday’s suicide bombing attack on a hotel in Islamabad could be the beginning of a fresh wave of attacks targeting the country’s large cities, feel Pakistani security and intelligence officials.

At least 60 people had died and more than 200 were injured in the attack, which reduced the five-star hotel’s building to ashes within a few hours. It has been likened by politicians and security officials to the New York attacks in 2001.

The bombing has sparked a security rethink for all of Pakistan’s biggest urban areas, reported the Financial Times.

“This attack could be the beginning of a [new] terror campaign,” the paper quoted one senior Pakistani intelligence official as saying.

After Saturday’s blast, Iran asks Pak to ensure IPI pipeline security

Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline projectIslamabad, Sept 22: After India, Iran has also reportedly expressed serious concerns over the security situation in Pakistan, and asked Islamabad to make enough security arrangements for the billion dollar Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

The demand came a day after Saturday’s bombing in which at least 60 people were killed and more than 200 injured.

Pak Army chief vows to eliminate terrorism

Islamabad, Sept 22 : Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq KayaniA day after Saturday’s massive bomb blast at Hotel Marriott, Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has reportedly vowed to eliminate terrorism from his country by defeating the extremist forces.

Condemning the bomb attack, the General said the Army stood with the Pakistani nation in its resolve to fight terrorism.

“Al Qaeda proving monetary aid while using Taliban as gun fodder”

Islamabad, Sept 22: Both former and current Pakistani security officials have indicated that Saturday’s hotel blast in Islamabad was a joint handiwork of Al Qaeda and Taliban. They said that Waziristan was fast developing into a terror zone where tribals were giving refuge to terrorists, including Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his deputy Az-Zawahiri.

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