Car-bomb blast kills at least a dozen in Quetta

QUETTA: A powerful bomb blast, near the house of a former federal minister Naseer Mengal, followed by aerial firing killed at least thirteen and injured more than 20 on Friday, FTNews reported.

Police has said that it was a car bomb blast.

Mengal had served as oil minister during the tenure of former President Pervez Musharraf.

Police cordoned off the blast site on Arbab Akram Khan Road and the injured were taken to the Civil Hospital Quetta.

According to eye witnesses, glasses of nearby buildings were broken and the area was plunged into darkness immediately after the blast.

The shockwave of the blast was felt from long distances and nearby shops were also damaged.

The fire also broke out after the blast which swathed many nearby houses and shops.

Firefighters reached the site and were busy trying to extinguish it.

Ambulances and paramedic staff were busy shifting injured to hospitals.

The surrounding province of Balochistan has experienced a violent insurgency for decades by nationalists who demand more autonomy and a greater share of the province’s natural resources.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has demanded a complete inquiry report of the incident.

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Posted in: REGIONAL

Opposition walkouts against Punjab law minister’s remarks

LAHORE: The situation in the Punjab Assembly got tense on Friday when the provincial law minister uttered objectionable remarks against Ayesha Ahad Malik, alleged spouse of the son of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Members of the assembly belonging to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) strongly protested the rough behaviour of Rana Sanaullah Khan, chanted slogans against him and left the House under protest.

They got furious when the Speaker turned down the plea of Leader of the Opposition to listen aggrieved Ayesha Malik.

The law minister alleged that the lady (Ayesha) had not come to the assembly herself but was brought to exploit the issue. She had fraudulently transferred her father’s property in her name through fake signatures, he added.

He used unparliamentarily language against Ayesha Malik and her family, which made the opposition furious. The opposition members stood up on their seats and started making hue and cry. The treasury members also started counter slogans.

As the opposition staged walkout, Dr Saamia Amjad of PML-Q pointed out the quorum and the Speaker adjourned the House for Monday.

PPP and PML-Q lawmakers, mostly women, assembled at the assembly stairs and held a protest demonstration. They raised slogans against the Punjab government and Rana Sana.

Speaker Rana Mohammed Iqbal and Senior Advisor to Chief Minister sneaked amid strict security while the Law Minister restricted himself to his chamber till the dispersal of opposition legislators.

Earlier, Ayesha Malik along with a few women managed her entry to the assembly building. She met with opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmed in his chamber and appealed for justice.

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Posted in: REGIONAL

Blast in Bajaur leaves two dead

PESHAWAR: A bomb blast in the Salarzai area of Bajaur agency left two people dead on Friday, FTNews reported.

According to sources, the blast was carried out through remote-controlled device. Four other people, including a child, were also wounded in the attack.

Sources say the suspected bomber was arrested by police personnel. The injured were shifted to a hospital for emergency treatment.

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Posted in: REGIONAL