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World News Pakistan to send ISI chief to India ISLAM ABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday extended Pakistan’s support to India in jointly combating extremism and terrorism and offered to send its intelligence chief to help with Mumbai investigation. Prime Minister Gilani telephoned his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh and strongly condemned the acts of terrorism in Mumbai.

that the first day of Zilhaj will fall on Sunday while Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on December 9.

MUMBAI: Commandos ended a siege of the luxury Oberoi hotel on Friday while other forces rappelled from helicopters to storm a besieged Jewish center, two days after a chain of militant attacks across India's financial center left at least 143 people dead and the city in panic. While explosions and gunfire continued intermittently at the elegant Taj Mahal hotel Friday afternoon, officials said commandos had killed the two last gunmen inside the nearby Oberoi.

ISLAMABAD: The moon for the month of Zilhaj was not sighted thus Eid-ul-Azha will fall on December 9 (Tuesday). The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee met here at Ministry of Religious Affairs with its Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman in the chair for sighting of the Zilhaj moon. The meetings of zonal and provincial committees were also held in their respective cities. Mufti Muneed-ur-Rehman, on receiving no evidence of moon sighting, announced

``The hotel is under our control,'' J.K. Dutt, director general of India's elite National Security Guard commando unit, told reporters, adding that 24 bodies had been found. Dozens of people – including a man clutching a baby – had been evacuated from Oberoi earlier Friday. The airborne assault on the center run by the ultraorthodox Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch was punctuated by gunshots and explosions – and at one point an intense exchange of fire that lasted several

minutes – as forces cleared it floor by floor, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. By Friday afternoon, the commandos had control of the top two floors. One camouflaged commando came out with a bandage on his forehead, while soldiers fired smoke grenades into the building and a steady stream of gunfire reverberated across narrow alleys. Israel's ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, said they believed there were up to nine hostages inside. Their fate was not clear. Sofer denied reports that Israeli commandos were taking part in the operation. Moshe Holtzberg, a 2-yearold who was smuggled out of the center by an employee, is now with his grandparents. His grandfather told Israel Radio on Friday that he had no news of Moshe's parents. More than 143 people were killed and 288 injured when suspected Islamic militants attacked 10 sites in Mumbai starting Wednesday evening. Security officials said their operations were almost over. ``It's just a matter of a few hours that we'll be able to wrap up things,'' Lt. Gen. N. Thamburaj told reporters Friday morning. The group rescued from the Oberoi, many holding passports, included at least two Americans, a Briton, two Japanese nationals and several Indians. Some carried luggage with

Canadian flags. One man in a chef's uniform was holding a small baby. About 20 airline crew members were freed, including staff from Lufthansa and Air France. ``I'm going home, I'm going to see my wife,'' said Mark Abell, with a huge smile on his face after emerging from the hotel. Abell, from Britain, had locked himself in his room during the siege. ``These people here have been fantastic, the Indian authorities, and the hotel staff. I think they are a great advertisement for their country,'' he said as security officials pulled him away. The well-coordinated strikes by small bands of gunmen starting Wednesday night left the city shell-shocked. Late Thursday, after about 400 people had been brought out of the Taj hotel, officials said it had been cleared of gunmen. But Friday morning, army commanders said that while three gunmen had been killed, two to three more were still inside with about 15 civilians. A few hours after that, Thamburaj, the security official, said at least one gunman was still alive inside the hotel and had cut of electricity on the floor where he was hiding. Shortly after that announcement, another round of explosions and gunfire were heard coming from the hotel. Earlier Friday, Pakistan's Defense Minister Ahmed

Mukhtar, in Islamabad, denied involvement by his country: ``I will say in very categoric terms that Pakistan is not involved in these gory incidents.'' The gunmen were wellprepared, apparently scouting some targets ahead of time and carrying large bags of almonds to keep up their energy. ``It's obvious they were trained somewhere ... Not everyone can handle the AK series of weapons or throw grenades like that,'' an unidentified member of India's Marine Commando unit told reporters, his face wrapped in a black mask. He said the men were ``very determined and remorseless'' and ready for a long siege. One backpack they found had 400 rounds of ammunition inside. He said the Taj was filled with terrified civilians, making it very difficult for the commandos to fire on the gunmen. ``To try and avoid civilian casualties we had to be so much more careful,'' he said, adding that hotel was a grim sight. ``Bodies were strewn all over the place, and there was blood everywhere.'' A U.S. investigative team was heading to Mumbai, a State Department official said Thursday evening, speaking on condition of anonymity because the U.S. and Indian governments were still working out final details. These attacks were more

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They began at about 9:20 p.m. with shooters spraying gunfire across the Chhatrapati Shivaji railroad station, one of the world's busiest terminals. For the next two hours, there was an attack roughly every 15 minutes _ the Jewish center, a tourist restaurant, one hotel, and then another and two attacks on hospitals. There were 10targets in all. Indian media showed pictures of rubber dinghies found by the city's shoreline, apparently used by the gunmen to reach the area. Both the luxury hotels targeted overlook the Arabian Sea. A previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility in e-mails to several media outlets. Survivors of the hotel attacks said the gunmen had specifically targeted Britons and Americans, though most of the dead seemed to be Indians and whoever else was caught in the random gunfire. One of the gunmen ``stopped once and asked, 'Where are you from? Any British or American? Show your ID,'' Alex Chamberlain, a British citizen dining at the Oberoi, told reporters. Among the dead were two Australians and Japanese, said the state home ministry. An Italian, a Briton and a German were also killed, according to their foreign

ministries.

Peshawar.

The United States, Pakistan and other countries condemned the attacks.

Forty-two riders participated in the final stage of the cycle race, conduced from Rawalpindi to Peshawar today. The cyclists covered a distance of 163 kilometers in the last stage of the event.

KARACHI: The value of rupee against dollar in the inter-bank today showed weakening trend, as dollar is being bought at Rs78.87 and sold at Rs78.97. Forex market dealers said that the value of rupee was seen lightly under pressure, as the importers made some purchases of dollars. Experts said that one of the reasons for rupee being under pressure was the existing low foreign exchange reserve, although the receipt $3.10 billion tranche of IMF loan would help boost the reserves, but the pre-IMF tranche reserves amount during one week diminished by further $40 million. Dollar in the open market today is being bought at Rs77.50 and sold at Rs78.10.

PESHAWAR: Naimat Ali has emerged victorious in the 14th Tour de Pakistan International Cycle Race, conducted from Karachi to

Naimat Ali from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) covered the total distance in 44 hours, 45 minutes and 55 second and secured first position. Runner-up Haroon-urRashid from Wapda covered the distance in 44 hours, 56 minutes and 32 seconds while Sri Lanka’s Mismanage Perera took 44 hours, 58 minutes and 48 seconds to complete the distance. Perera got third position in the competition. Tour de Pakistan, which commenced from Karachi, concluded on Friday in Peshawar. NEW DELHI: At least 17 foreigners died in the militant attacks in Mumbai, according to announcements by officials in India and in the victims' home countries. "Three of those killed were Germans, one Japanese national, one Canadian and one Australian," India's Internal Security Secretary M. L. Kumawat said on Friday. Kumawat said the information was based on reports from commandos who fought gunmen in two Mumbai hotels and a Jewish cultural centre.

The bodies of five Israeli hostages were also recovered later Friday from the Jewish centre after it was stormed by Indian troops, an Israeli diplomat said. The US State Department in Washington said two US citizens, a father and daughter, were also among those killed in the attacks. It identified them as Alan and Naomi Scherr and said they were members of the Synchronicity Foundation, a meditation community in Virginia. In Paris, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement that two French nationals had died. The Singapore foreign ministry said Lo Hoei Yen, 28, was killed after she was taken hostage in the Oberoi/Trident hotel. The previous day a BritishCypriot businessman was named by the British government as among the dead. Andreas Liveras, 73, was killed hours after he gave an interview describing how he was trapped in the Taj Mahal hotel. The overall death toll stood at least 130 on Friday evening, but was expected to rise as little information was available about the various scenes of carnage. More foreign deaths were likely to come to light as the security operation progressed. Among the injured were victims from China, Oman,

the Philippines and several European countries, officials said. lAHORE: Five alleged dacoits have been killed in a police encounter here in Nister Colony. Police raided Glaxo Town on a tip-off regarding presence of five dacoits in the area. Seeing the police approaching, the alleged dacoits opened fire at them. The police retaliated by returning the fire and as a result all the five of these dacoits were killed. According to police, the leaders of these criminals identified as Saeed and Asif were wanted in 30 different criminal cases including kidnapping for ransom and a killing. ISLAMABAD: Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has arrived back here at the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed International airport this morning. Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was warmly welcomed at the airport when he returned home after visiting the United States.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari chaired an important meeting at the President House late Saturday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and some federal ministers participated in the meeting. The prevailing situation due to the recent incidents of terrorism in Mumbai came under discussion. President Zardari assured India of Pakistan’s full cooperation in investigating the Mumbai Terror attacks. “But let the evidence come to light and investigation take its course”, he said. The President said terrorism is “regional threat, this is a world threat and all the reason we have to stand up against this threat together. He said there was complete unanimity of views between Pak army and the civilian government. Zardari said the government had already taken stern action militants outfits being named by India. Indian media, analysts pour venoms against Pakistan KARACHI: Mumbai carnage drop scene has ended, but the Indian media and political analysts without any evidence hastily started the blame game against Pakistan as usual and poured venoms polluting the atmosphere that so laboriously had been built up after years of confidence building measures. National Security Guards ‘s commander declared the operation completed after over 59 hours of militants’ rampant carnage all over the vintage points in Mumbai, which left nearly 200 dead

and

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wounded.

However, the Indian media true to its traditional hate postures towards Pakistan lost no time in blaring all those scum, which pointed fingers towards Pakistan and holding it responsible for the tragic incident without any basis and evidences at all. Indian anchors and analysts appearing on different channels across the country with one voice went on analyzing the incident purely based on the figment of their imaginations in a way that could by all means give the perception of Pakistan’s involvement in it. Indian media tasked to propagate against Pakistan made out such fake stories that ISI and Pak Army had trained the militants, who were brought to Mumbai in a boat, while the body of one Amar Singh Tandal was also reportedly found in it, who belonged to Pakistan and had remained in Pakistan jail for one year. Sobhaday in Raj Deep Sir Desai show on CNN/IBN said that we know where their campus were. Following Pakistan Foreign Minister’s press briefing, one anchorman of CNN India in his comments said that Pakistan was providing cover to the involved militants’ groups. One more Indian channel, India TV openly hurled blames on Pakistan for these attacks and dared to say without any proof that attackers had come from Pakistan. Star News channel in their

run race for propaganda against Pakistan tried to be more creative and discovered one Chacha Rahman as mastermind of the attacks and claimed that he was Lashkar-eTaiyyaba commander from Karachi. Zee TV also joining in the propaganda blamed that the militants were supplied arms and weapons from Karachi and in its effort to remain one-up straightaway blamed Pakistan Navy assisting elements involved in the attacks. Indian leaders’ problems known to all that they are trying to hide their weaknesses and utter intelligence failures and find it safe putting blames on Pakistan, but the Indian media should have behaved responsibly in view of the delicate situation emanating after the attacks, which much to the saner elements’ disappointment, it miserably failed. Indian Home Minister resigns over Mumbai attacks NEW DELHI: India's Home Minister Shivraj Patil has submitted his resignation in the wake of attacks in Mumbai that left nearly 200 people dead.The resignation has been submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, according to media reports.There was no immediate word if the resignation had been accepted.

Three security personnel killed in Bannu attack Pak-India border: ceasefire holding, says Athar Abbas ISLAMABAD ( 2008-11-30 15:17:14 ) :Military said on Sunday the country's ceasefire with India was holding and there was no military build-up at the border in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. The military was responding to Indian media reports that India has cancelled a fiveyear-old ceasefire at the border of the disputed Kashmir region, as tensions grow over accusations of that the attackers came from Pakistan. "We have seen reports in media suggesting suspension of ceasefire (in Indian occupied Kashmir) and movement of troops on the Indian side of the border," chief military spokesman major general Athar Abbas told AFP. "As far as the official authenticated reports are concerned there is no such movement or mobilisation of troops. The ceasefire is holding."

BANNU ( 2008-11-30 08:44:40 ) : Three security personnel were killed and 14 sustained injuries as insurgents attacked a Police Post at Baran Pul in Bannu district early on Sunday. According to security officials, a dead body, probably of a militant, has been found on BannuMiramshah road. However, it is not clear that how many attackers died in the armed skirmish between the security personnel and law breakers. The Police officials informed that the insurgents attacked the check post late last night and the security personnel retaliated will full might.

PM takes serious note of situation in Karachi ISLAMABAD ( 2008-11-30 16:28:50 ) :Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday took a serious note of the situation in Karachi and sought a report from the

Advisor on Interior, within 24hours. The prime minister also directed the provincial authorities to take strict action against the law violators and said no one will be allowed to put at risk the lives and property of the people.

Tribesmen urge govt to shift army, vow of protecting western borders NORTH WAZIRISTAN ( 2008-11-30 17:07:55 ) :Local tribesmen, while condemning blame game by India against Pakistan, have urged the government to shift the army from tribal belt and fully concentrate on Easter border of the country. Addressing a joint press conference here on Sunday, tribal elders, elite and Maliks assured the government of full protection of western borders of by country by three million tribesmen. “Government should rely on tribesmen over protection of western borders and give them a chance to fight any one daring to cross border with nefarious designs,” the tribesmen added. Those who addressed the press conference included Malik Muhammad Afzal Khan Darpakhel, Malik Gul Akbar Khan, Malik

Habibullah, Malik Haji Hazratullah, Malik Qismat Khan Kabulkhel, Malik Usman and Malik Abdul Qadir.

per litre and diesel by Rs 5. The changed prices will be effective from Monday, Aaj TV reported.

The tribesmen strongly criticised India for putting the blame of Mumbai carnage on Pakistan without showing any solid evidence. They said it seemed that a conspiracy has been hatched for blaming Pakistan and its people. The tribesmen assured the government that they are ready for rendering any sort of sacrifice for the protection of the motherland and will not let the nation down in case their services were required. The tribesmen also requested the government to stop operation in Fata and restore the confidence of tribal people on state. The tribesmen warned India and all those elements trying to destabilize Pakistan that any adventure would meet strong resistance by Pak army and the valiant tribesmen.

Business

Petrol price down by Rs 9, Diesel by Rs 5 KARACHI ( 2008-11-30 18:30:36 ) :The government on Sunday reduced petrol price by Rs 9

No re-finance facility for yarn and fabrics, says Shamshad RECORDER REPORT MULTAN ( 2008-11-30 05:05:08 ) :State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar has ruled out the possibility of providing re-finance facility on yarn and fabrics, describing it harmful to value-added industry. She said the government had provided financial assistance of rupees one trillion to textile sector to bring it at par with the modern world. She was speaking at a meeting of the executive committee of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), chaired by Khwaja Muhammad Jalaluddin Roomi on Friday night. The SBP Governor said the impact of global oil and edible items' price hike should have been passed on to the consumers much earlier as delay in doing so dealt a blow to the national

economy, and added the delay was caused by a change of government. She said shortfall in major crops and rising prices of commodities in the international market hit hard the national economy. "We had no other option but to procure wheat and oil at exorbitant prices. Dr Shamshad dubbed the reports of banks going bankrupt as baseless, claiming that the banking sector in Pakistan was stable and rather profitable, with 45 banks currently operating in the country. She said there was a steep rise in loans advanced to the private sector by the banks as the total volume of these advance payments had touched Rs 400 billion. Previously, the banks used to offer loans to the large corporate organisations alone, but now every one was being given loans, she added. The SBP Governor said a comprehensive agenda for the growth of financial sector had been evolved, and "we are currently concentrating on development finance as 16 field offices have been set up across the country for this purpose, while the government has allowed opening up of eight new micro-finance banks that would initially benefit at least 1.6 million people. The number of beneficiaries will increase to three million," she said. The SBP governor said the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) had chalked out a "procurement line of

action" and the central bank was considering the problems and demands of cotton ginners and rice millers. She said the country had to pay 11.3 billion-dollar oil bill in the recent past, which proved a bane of economy. Dr Shamshad Akhtar said the total volume of agriculture loans soared to Rs 211 billion from Rs 50 billion with a ratio of last year's 30 per cent (annual) increase, while the increasing ratio from July to November was 19 per cent.

$0.55 billion spent on wheat import in four months KARACHI ( 2008-11-30 04:54:18 ) :The country's wheat imports have witnessed a sharp jump of some 1800 percent during four months of the current fiscal year due to ineffective government policies, besides unchecked smuggling and hoarding of the commodity, sources said. They said that the previous government's poor and uncleared policies had made the country to spend over $0.5 billion on wheat import to meet the domestic demand. Although, the country has achieved a production of some 23 million tons wheat during

the current year, the rising smuggling and hoarding trend compelled the new government to import wheat to cope with its flour crisis, they added. Official statistics show that the government spent $0.55 billion for import of this commodity during JulyOctober of fiscal year 2009 as compared to $28.9 million in same period of 2008, depicting an increase of $0.526 billion. In terms of volume, 1.33 million tons wheat was imported during July-October 2009 as against 60,449 tons in the corresponding period of 2008, a raise of 2105 percent. Sources said that Trading Corporation of Pakistan has finalised deals for import of over 1.75 million tons red wheat, while 0.75 million tons white wheat deals would be finalised soon, following federal government decision to import 2.5 million tons wheat. Although, the federal government is importing enormous quantity of wheat to reduce the supply and demand gap, the price of wheat and its flour is still at peak level, they added. They said that wheat is being sold at Rs 2700 per 100 kg bag and wheat flour at Rs 30-35 per kg in the domestic market. However, it is likely that after the arrival of new crop wheat and its flour prices would decline.

Sports

before deciding anything."

India says no decision yet on Pakistan tour NEW DELHI ( 2008-11-30 18:55:19 ) :The Indian government is yet to decide whether to allow the national cricket team to tour Pakistan, amid serious doubts following the attacks in Mumbai, a government spokesman said on Sunday.

The Indian team did not go on a full tour of Pakistan for nearly 15 years until 2004 due to political tensions

Science and technolog y

"Since the tour is in January there is still some time, we are discussing the issue," foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told Reuters. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought permission to tour amid security concerns over playing in that country. Indian media quoted unnamed cricket officials on Sunday as saying the tour appeared doubtful. Indian board secretary N. Srinivasan refused to comment. There have also been reports that some England players are reluctant to return to India later this week to play a two-test series. The Pakistan tour would depend on a security assessment, Prakash said. "Before any tour is undertaken an advance team goes and carries out an assessment. The team has not gone. "We will wait for the team's visit and its report on return

Hepatitis C can be treated: Expert SUKKUR ( 2008-11-29 21:51:50 ) :Sixty to 80 per cent of hepatitis-C patients, in the world, manage to fully recuperate after proper treatment and this is possible, if the disease is detected in its early stages, said senior physician, Dr Shabana Solangi. Addressing a public awareness program here on Saturday, she said monthly expenses of the treatment in Pakistan ranged between Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 11,000. She said 35,000 cases of acute hepatitis-C were detected each year in the country and that the virus could be transmitted through contaminated blood, infected syringe, surgical instrument, shaving razor and tooth brush respectively besides intimate

promiscuity with a hepatitisC patient. Dr Shabana said that the virus could also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby, conceived during her illness. She said infection was seen in two to five per cent of newborns of infected mothers. The doctor advised patients on dialysis, persons born in hyperendemic areas, injecting drug users, pregnant women, families of the hepatitis-C patients and those who had received unscreened blood to get their blood screened for the

virus.

However, she said, there was no evidence that breast feeding, kissing, hugging, sneezing, sharing utensils or glasses may cause HCV transmission.