PM Gilani leaves for China today

Updated at: 1334 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008 ISLAMABAD: Prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has left for China today. He will participate in the seventh Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM7) summit in Beijing.where he will also meet with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. The other engagements of the Prime Minister during his two-day stay in the Chinese capital will be his sidelines meetings with other world leaders who will be here for the summit including Prime Minister of Malaysia, Prime Minister of Italy and German Chancellor. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is also likely to have brief interaction with Chinese leaders, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Lawyers stage rally for judges’ restoration

Updated at: 1552 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008
LAHORE: The legal fraternity on Thursday boycotted court proceedings and staged weekly rallies on Mall road for the impendence of judiciary and reinstatement of all deposed judges, including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The rally was taken out on call of Lahore Bar and was led by presidential candidate of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SBCA) Ali Ahmed Kurd. The participants were carrying placards and banners and changed anti-government slogans.

They were joined by activists of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI), Labour Party and Khakstar Tehrik from Nasir Bagh. While lawyers of Lahore High Court too joined them from GPO Chowk.

The rally ended at Faisal chowk where lawyers’ leaders vowed to continue the struggle till the restoration of all deposed judges.

Power riots erupt in Sialkot

Updated at: 1643 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008 SIALKOT: Irked by frequent power cuts and inflated electricity bills, protests continued in various cities of Punjab on Thursday. Fierce clashes erupted in Sialkot between police and power consumers, causing severe injuries to several citizens and a police officer. Unscheduled and prolonged loadshedding prompted hundreds of people to take to streets against the Wapda in the city. Enraged protestors blocked the Sialkot-Wazirabad road and burnt the tyres. Police baton-charged the protestors to disperse them which triggered a clash between police and protestors who threw stones on the police. A deputy superintendent of police Akram Khan and several others sustained severe injuries in the clashes. On the other hand, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has called an emergency meeting on October 24 to deal with the current situation. Apart from Sialkot, protests were reported at various localities in Kasoor and Sheikhupura. Lawyers, after weekly protest, took out a rally against overbilling and loadshedding in Sheikhupura.

Security on high alert in Peshawar, adjoining areas

Updated at: 1711 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008
PESHAWAR: Security has been beefed up in Peshawar and its adjoining areas in view of any potential threat.

Police spokesman said that security has been put on high alert in the wake of worsening law and order situation in the provincial capital.

According to sources, police have stepped up the surveillance system and extra security personnel have been deployed at entrance and exit points. The movement of suspected people is being monitored.

Sources told that special contingents of police have been deployed outside mosques, other worship places and important governments’ buildings

Olympian Shahbaz excuses to coach national hockey team

Updated at: 0153 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008 RAWALPINDI: Former Olympian and former coach of national hockey team Shahbaz Ahmed senior said that he was not able to coach national team due to some domestic reasons amid news that he might be asked to coach national hockey team. Talking to Geo News correspondent Abid Malik here he said that he was not mentally prepared to provide his services as a coach of national hockey team which made him excuse for the aforesaid job. He thanked the President of PHF Qasim Zia for offering coaching of hockey team however he added, he is ready to propose his advices for the betterment of national hockey as well as he maintained to play his continuous role as a member of Executive Board.

SECP resolves Rs. 50 bln Support Fund for stock markets

Updated at: 0230 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has held a meeting here concluding the resolve to provide Rs. 50 billion Support Fund for stock exchanges to cope with ongoing financial crisis on Wednesday.

Director KESC Sohail Walia told Geo News that during the meeting, it was resolved to release Rs. 50 billion Support Fund to emancipate state’s stock markets from crisis.

Market Support Fund would be available after October 27 and added that Rs. 20 billion Support Fund would be available straightaway while remaining Rs. 30 billion would be provided to stock markets through “Pit Option”.

18 killed in Indian fireworks explosion

Updated at: 1100 PST, Thursday, October 23, 2008
JAIPUR: Police say 18 people; including 10 children have been killed in an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in western India.

Area police chief Rohit Mahajan says the blast early Thursday occurred in a workshop set up in a home in a slum in the town of Deeg. Mahajan says the huge explosion brought down two neighboring homes, leading to the high death toll.

Deeg is some 120 miles (192 kilometers) northwest of Jaipur, the capital of India's Rajasthan state.