Kidnappers of British boy killed in Pakistan clash: police

ISLAMABAD — Three men allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a British boy in Pakistan last month have been killed in a clash with police, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

Five-year old Sahil Saeed was taken from his grandmother’s house in the central Pakistani city of Jhelum on March 4.

He was recovered 12 days later after the boy’s uncle had paid a 110,000-pound (168,000-dollar) ransom in Paris.

Judges restoration not yet endorsed by Parliament: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday said the Parliament has not yet granted approval to the judges’ restoration effected through an executive order and that he will not have any objection if the Parliament grants power of judges’ appointment to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Addressing the National Assembly here, the Prime Minister said the government will abide by the court orders but it must be told as to who will make the interpretation.

European markets edge up despite Greek debt fears

LONDON — European stock markets won some respite Monday ahead of a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels, where the Greek debt crisis will inevitably top the agenda. Public holidays in Asia as well as the U.S. have kept volumes low.

The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares closed up 25.02 points, or 0.5 percent, at 5,167.47 while Germany’s DAX rose 10.71 points, or 0.2 percent, at 5,511.10. The CAC-40 in France was 11.27 points, or 0.3 percent, higher at 3,610.34.

Altaf congratulates Naseem on winning gold medal

LONDON: Mutehadda Qaumi Movement (MQM) quaid Altaf Hussain talked on phone with gold medalist in the South Asian Games Naseem Hameed, her mother and uncle and congratulated them on this historic achievement.

Talking with the fastest sprint of south Asia, Naseem, Altaf Hussain said this is difficult to achieve success but this is more difficult to maintain it.

3 killed, 16 injured in Dadu blast

Explosion damages several buildings, including a sweet shop and a rickshaw

KARACHI: An explosion ripped through the Cinema Chowk in Dadu on Sunday, killing three people in an area that has avoided much of the Taliban-led violence that has plagued the country.

Pakistani Lawyers Boycott Courts

Pakistani lawyers boycotted courts Monday in a protest against the government over its row with the country’s top court on the appointment of judges, as rival political groups clashed in many cities.

Scores of black-coated lawyers marched through the landmark Constitutional Avenue in Islamabad chanting anti-government slogans in front of the Supreme Court, and most of courts in the country remained closed.

Thousands rally to show solidarity with Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD: Thousands of people rallied across Pakistan on Friday to denounce Indian rule in Kashmir, the disputed mainly Muslim state divided between the nuclear-armed rivals.

A national public holiday, Kashmir Solidarity Day, supports the region’s right to self-determination in line with UN resolutions that call for a plebiscite in Kashmir on whether it should be ruled by India or Pakistan.

Shia Muslims killed in Pakistan bomb

At least 11 people have been killed by a bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Karachi, hospital officials say.

The attack, involving a motorcycle bomb, targeted a bus carrying Shia Muslims to a religious procession. About 50 were injured.

Pak Army strength and ability appreciated: McChrystal

ISLAMABAD: US General Stanley McChrystal Monday appreciated the strength and capability of the Pakistan Army in the operation against militants and emphasized the need for more strategic cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries to counter the activities of extremist elements.

Talking to a group of journalists at the US embassy, the US General said, ‘coordination is the key in success in the war against terror in the region.’

Hunza landslide claims ten lives

ISLAMABAD: At least 10 people have been killed and several injured due to a landslide in Attabad village of Hunza district of Gilgit-Baltistan as rescuers battle with extreme weather.

Under the direction of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, teams of doctors and rescue workers have been dispatched to Hunza to conduct a massive rescue and relief operation there to save the lives of the people who are still stranded under the rubble.