ECC rejects tax increase on sugar

ISLAMABAD: Economic Coordination Committee ( ECC) has rejected a proposal presented for the increase of sales tax on sugar, SAMAA reported today.

According to sources, ECC declared, after rejecting the proposal, that the increase of sales tax on sugar will further multiply the troubles of people.

The sources further added that Economic Coordination Committee has instructed to the Trading Corporation of Pakistan, to import 50 thousand tons sugar at its earliest.

Sources also told that the decision on new formula for the increase of petroleum products has been postponed. SAMAA

Earlier the ECC meeting was held in Islamabad. During the meeting a new formula for petroleum product prices was presented in cabinet meeting of Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) here on Tuesday. The ECC meeting was headed by Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez.

Sources told that ECC reviewed to authorize oil distribution companies, the allocation of petroleum products’ prices. Ministry of petroleum also advised ECC to raise deemed duty on refineries from 5pc to 7pc.

Committee also discussed increase of sales tax on sugar while official of Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) gave briefing on sugar stock and increase of its import.

The approval of additional charges for transportation of imported urea from Gwadar Port and gas curtailment and consequent implications for the fertilizer sector was also discussed during the meeting.

PBC accuses Aitzaz, PG NAB for bribe

SLAMABAD: Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) sent a letter of accusation, for taking money from Malik Sheikh Afzal in Haris Steel Mill case, against Aitzaz Ahsan and Prosecutor General NAB Irfan Qadir to Legal Action Committee, SAMAA reported today.

According to details the meeting of PBC executive committee, headed by Chairman Nasrullah Warraich, was held in Islamabad today. According to Nasrullah warraich, the meeting considered an application submitted by Hashmatullah Habib advocate.

It was requested in the application to take action against Aitzaz Ahsan and Irfan Qadir.

After viewing the application, it was decided to sent case of Aitzaz and Irfan Qadir to Legal Action Committee, because it was a case of same kind of cases of Babar Awan, Wasim Sajjad, Malik Qayyum and Abdulhafeez Pirzada, against whom cases of the accusation of taking money from the owner of Haris Steel Mill Malik Sheikh Afzal were sent to Legal Action Committee for action.

Nasrullah further told that, it was demanded in the resolutions passed by the PBC executive committee that Advocate Akram Sheikh must ask for an apology for using abusive remarks against Bar Council, in front of Court.

Rain submerges several areas along Keti Bandar

KETI BANDAR: The torrential rain has inundated several coastal areas of Keti Bandar, Kharo Chan, Zero Point and Shah Baghdadi, SAMAA reported Sunday.

According to local administration, 90 percent areas were already evacuated in the wake of cyclone threat. However, 10 percent people had refused to evacuate the areas.

Meanwhile, Badin has also received heavy downpour.

However, Pakistan Army reached Badin to assist the local administration to deal with the possible destruction.

20 militants killed in Khyber Agency

KHYBER AGENCY: In a clash between two groups at least 20 militants are killed in the Landi Kotal area of Khyber agency, injuring six, reported SAMAA here today(Sunday).

According to the sources twenty terrorist along with the banned outfit Commander of Taliban Movement were killed while injuring six other militants in a clash which was started last night( Saturday) in the Zakakhel Bazar of Tehsil Landi Kotal of Khyber agency. Clash that started last night ended here in morning.

Suspected terrorist held in Lahore

LAHORE: A suspected terrorist was arrested by police and intelligence agencies in a joint crackdown launched in Sabzazar colony of Lahore late Saturday night.

Acting on a tip-off, the CID police and secret agencies raided two houses located in Sabzazar Colony and arrested a suspected person.

The suspect was later shifted to an undisclosed location to carrying out interrogation.

Two with militant ties arrested in NY

NEW YORK: Two men were arrested late Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport where they were believed headed for meetings with militant groups in Somalia, American news paper reported.

The men were arrested as they tried to board flights to Egypt. They were charged with conspiring to commit an act of international terrorism through a group tied to al Qaeda, the newspaper said, citing officials familiar with the arrests.

Both in their twenties and both residents of New Jersey, the two men had been under investigation since October 2006, the Star Ledger said.

An unidentified official told the newspaper both men were unmarried American citizens.

The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed the arrests but said the pair did not pose any immediate threat. They are scheduled to appear on Monday in U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey.

Federal and local law enforcement officials searched the homes of both men where they conducted interviews and removed boxes of papers, a computer and other materials.

Authorities had infiltrated the men's social circle and said the suspects were not planning an imminent attack in the New York-New Jersey area but were believed to be intending to join with the Al Shabaab youth movement to fight against Americans in Somalia, the report said.

One official briefed on the case was hopeful it would lead to a "web of arrests," the newspaper said.

The arrests followed a failed attempt to explode a car bomb in New York's Times Square last month and an incident on Christmas Day in which a 23-year-old Nigerian tried to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner by setting off explosives hidden in his underwear.

Queen receives birthday wishes from US

WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department has been left red-faced, once again, after sending birthday greetings to Queen Elizabeth II a week early, media reports said on Sunday. The diplomatic misstep was admitted by spokesman Phillip Crowley, who jokingly said: "Better a week early than a week late."

For its part, Buckingham Palace said no offence had been taken concerning the message that was sent to the Queen by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on behalf of President Obama and the American people. The faux pas apparently arose over confusion about Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday, which is celebrated on a chosen Saturday in June, officials said.