Firing on Wed Ismaili community bus

KARACHI: At least 45 people were killed while several others were injured in an incident of firing on a bus near Safoora Chowrangi located in Gulistan-e-Jauhar area of Karachi on Wednesday.

Unknown assailants riding motorcycles opened fire on a bus which left at least 45 people dead including 16 women while several people sustained injuries. Many of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

Over 50 to 60 people were aboard the bus including children and women.
Police reached the spot after the incident and started investigation. A search operation is underway in the area while a heavy contingent of Rangers has also arrived at the spot.
According to initial reports, gunmen entered the bus and opened fire on the passengers resulting in heavy casualties.
An AFP report said that members of the Ismaili community were targeted.
"At least six gunmen attacked the bus in the Safoora Goth area of Karachi," a senior police official told AFP.
"45 people have been killed while 13 are injured in this worst incident of terrorism," IG Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali said while visiting the spot.
An eyewitness  said that at least 55 people died in the firing.

Emergency has been imposed in Jinnah Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital and the nearby Memon Hospital where the injured are being shifted.
Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo has suspended the SHO of Sacchal area while the locality has been sealed and the markets and schools situated in the area have been closed.
Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has summoned a report from IG Sindh and DG Rangers while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad have taken notice of the incident. - Nation News

Sindh government has announced to observe day of mourning in the province tomorrow after the deadly attack on a bus in Karachi left at least 45 people dead.

Firing at Al azhar garden bus

At least 42 people have been killed and 13 others injured when some unknown gunmen attacked a passsenger bus near Safoora Chowrangi in Karachi,

Reportedly, sixteen women were among the dead.

"At least six gunmen attacked a bus in the Safoora Goth area of Karachi," a senior police official told

The bus was enroute to Ayesha Manzil from Al-Azhar Garden.

"The gunmen stopped the bus and first fired at it from outside," said the policeman. "Then they entered inside the bus and open fire indiscriminately. After that they checked to see if anyone was left uninjured."

"The bus had a capacity of 52 passengers but it was overloaded and dozens of people were boarding it. Most of them were from (the) Ismaili community," he added.

The attackers managed to flee from the scene on three motorbikes. Fear and panic gripped the area after the incident.

Senior police officials including IG Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali, Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo, SSP Malir and DIG East reached the attack site and investigations are being carried out.

Rescue teams have shifted the victims to Memon Medical Institute and Hospital where an emergency has been imposed. The condition of several injured persons is said to be critical.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah suspended the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) of the area.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident and expressed grief over the loss of precious lives.

He has directed the concerned authorities to submit a report.

Salman khan in jail

Salman Khan has been convicted in the 2002 hit-and-run case. He has been sentenced to a five-year jail term. Judge at Mumbai court told Salman that he was driving the SUV and it's improbable that his driver was behind the wheel.

BBC Documentary Against Altaf Hussain

Pakistan strikes $5.3 billion loan deal with IMF

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan Thursday agreed to a $5.3 billion loan deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) to boost its foreign exchange reserves, fight an acute energy crisis, and prop up depreciating rupee

"The government of Pakistan and IMF have reached an agreement for a three-year programme of at least 5.3 billion dollars under an extended fund facility," Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced during a joint press conference with the IMF mission here.

The minister said that the mutually agreed markup rate for the loan had been set at 3 percent.

Replying to a question, Dar said the new government had no choice but to borrow to avoid a balance of payments crisis.
 
"The borrowed money will be used to service external debts as we just cannot let Pakistan default on its payments, said he.

"We have not carried the begging bowl in our hands nor are we getting a grant, Pakistan is a member of IMF," Dar said.

Dar said the Pakistan had targeted a fiscal deficit of 4 of gross domestic product (GDP) in the next three years.

To a question he said that the federal government could not tax the agriculture sector as it was a provincial matter.

Finance minister also said that the loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) would be restructured to help boost the economy.

Speaking on the occasion, IMF mission chief, Jeffrey Franks, said the loan agreement would be formally approved by Fund's executive board in early September.

"The interest rate will be set at 3 percent and that the loan will be payable over a longer period than conventional stand-by arrangements", he said.

The interest rate would be set at three percent and that the loan would be payable over a longer period than conventional stand-by arrangements, he added.

Franks said the aim was to bring down the fiscal deficit -- which neared nine percent last year -- to a more sustainable level and reform the energy sector to help resolve severe power cuts that have sapped growth potential.

He added an agreement with the State Bank of Pakistan was also designed to help rebuild forex reserves and keep inflation at acceptable

Franks told newsmen that the government of Pakistan had itself structured the loan programme according to its specific requirements.

Giving details Franks said the agreement necessitated reforms in Pakistan's energy sector as it aimed at improving the south Asian country's ailing economy.

"Pakistan will have to bring its loss-making SOEs back on a profitable track as they are eating away at the country's economy big time", said Franks

IMF mission chief said such liabilities could be privatized to give Pakistan's economy a breather, which would generate significant revenues.

Warning of ballooning fiscal deficit, Franks said the loan agreement also calls for a reduction in Pakistan's fiscal deficit.

As part of the loan agreement, Franks added, the Pakistani government had developed plans to improve tax collection and to eliminate tax loop holes and exemptions.

"The overall focus on this programme is to boost economic growth so we can have a better future for all Pakistanis," he said. "There will be some difficult decisions... but these will be necessary decisions to make sure that the economy is stable going forward."

According to a declaration issued by the IMF after the agreement the government of Pakistan was advised to abolish all the SROs and tax exemptions, widen the tax tax net, and improve revenue collection.

Rain in Some Area of Karachi

KARACHI: Citizens of Karachi were treated to some drizzling on Thursday that turned the weather pleasant after days of scorching heat



Drizzling was reported from the city’s Malir, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Aisha Manzil, Karimabad, Garden, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and North Karachi areas.

Light rain was also experienced on Shahrah-i-Faisal and other parts of the provincial capital whereas heavy showers were also reported from several localities in the city.

Twin Blast In Peshawar Death Reached to 22

PESHAWAR: At least 22 people including a child were killed and 47 others sustained injuries in a powerful blast near Badaber police station, Geo News reported.

Police said militants targeted security forces convoy in the attack.

The dead and injured have been rushed to Lady Reading Hospital. Condition of six injured is said to be critical.

Police and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) have cordoned off the area.

Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Javed Marwat has confirmed that 20 people have been killed and 47 wounded in the attack.

Hospital sources said 18 bodies and 32 injured were present in the hospital.

Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said that at least 40 kg explosive material was used in the attack.

Ten nearby shops and vehicles were badly damaged.

Security forces have launched search operation in the area, Marwat added.

 The car bomb was parked in a market packed with the general public. When the FC convoy comprising of three vehicles passed by, the bomb exploded and hit a vehicle in the convoy," police official Shafiullah Khan told AFP.

"But many civilians were killed and wounded in the attack because there was a big rush in the market at the time," he added.

"So far, we have reports that two Frontier Corps soldiers have been injured. We don't know about any other losses," a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.