Foreign Secreary Salman Bashir arrives in Washington for US talks

21 April 2011
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir arrived here Wednesday evening to hold talks with U.S. officials as the two countries seek ways to sort out differences and find “strategic convergences” to move their strategic relationship forward.The top Pakistani career diplomat is visiting Washington for two-day talks at the invitation of US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Marc Grossman, who will lead the American side.Bashir will spearhead the Pakistani delegation in two rounds of meetings of a steering group.
The meetings take place in the backdrop of tensions that arose from the Central Intelligence Agency contractor, Raymond Davis killing of two Pakistanis and Islamabad’s objections to frequent drone strikes in Pakistani Tribal Areas.Security and foreign affairs experts believe that cooperative
relations between Pakistan and the United States are critical to
outcome of the decade-old Afghan conflict.

Collection of Hajj applications starts

15 April 2011
The collection of the Hajj applications have been started from Friday on a first come, first serve basis.
 political workers, journalists and even government officials would have to pay the Hajj fee in advance.
Machine readable passports and national identity cards will be compulsory for eligibility.This year, there has been an increase in the quota of pilgrims by 20,000 and no one will be performing Hajj, free of costs.The pilgrims who would submit their applications first will be given accommodation near Masjid-al-Haram.

David Cameron telephones Prime Minister Gilani

15 April 2011
British Prime Minister David Cameron called Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani over telephone on Friday afternoon to follow up on the very useful discussions on bilateral and regional issues, held during his visit to Islamabad on April 5. Prime Minister Cameron apprised Prime Minister Gilani that his government was proactively pursuing Pakistan’s case with EU for greater market access, as well as for dispatch of EU’s Fisheries’ delegation to Pakistan.Besides, his Government, was also considering resumption of British Airways flights to Pakistan to help reinvigorate the friendly ties between the two countries, David Cameron said.The British Prime Minister further said that he would be writing to the Prime Minister, shortly, in detail, on implementation of the decisions taken during his visit to strengthen the strategic relations encompassing all areas of cooperation.Both the leaders also discussed the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to Kabul on April 16 and the prospects of a political settlement to pave the way for restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has conveyed resentment on drone attacks to US: FO

14 April 2011
Pakistan said on Thursday that its policy on drone attacks was very clear and that its leadership besides condemning the attacks had conveyed its resentment to the United States leaders time and again.
“Such attacks are counter-productive and only strengthen the hands of terrorists,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua while replying to questions on the recent drone attacks at the weekly briefing.
She said, “Drone attacks have become a main irritant in the counter-terror campaign.” The spokesperson said, “Pakistan has repeatedly taken up the matter with the US at all levels.”
She said that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday gave a comprehensive statement on the drone attacks and expressed Pakistan’s resentment on the issue.“The Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the US Ambassador on the latest drone attack yesterday,” she added. To a question regarding Pak-US ties, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan attaches great importance to these relations and has been engaged with the American leadership to cooperate and coordinate in the law enforcement operations against terrorists and to improve bilateral relations in all the fields.”

Pakistan cricket team leaves for West Indies

14 April 2011
Pakistan cricket team has left for West Indies from Lahore after completing the training camp.Talking to media before departure at Allama Iqbal airport, team manager Intikhab Alam said, "I am hopeful with young cricketers, they will perform well and InshAllah would help to win the series against West Indies."
He said that young players have a golden chance to get experience and to show their performance.
National cricket team would play a T-20 and a series of one-day international matches under the captaincy of Shahid Afridi, while two test matches under the captaincy of Misbah-Ul-Haq.National cricket team will start the tour of West Indies with a practice match. The practice match between Pakistan and West Indies teams will begin on 18 April.The tour would formally start from April 21 from a T-20 match.

12,580 people murdered during in 2010: HRCP

14 April 2011
As many as 12,580 people were murdered, 581 kidnapped for ransom and 16,977 were abducted during last year in the country, said annual report of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) launched here on Thursday. Presenting salient points of the report, Secretary General HRCP, I..A Rehman said that 109,383 registered Afghan refugees returned back to Afghanistan while 1.6 million registered refugees are still based here. He said that according to the report seven million people were forced from their homes in the floods. Even as floodwater receded in many areas, millions remained in tents, with their houses destroyed and livelihood lost. In education sector, the report stated that Pakistan's literary rate was recorded at 57 percent during last year. Flood damaged more than 10,000 schools in the country and between 1.5 million to 2.5 million students were affected by it. The report said that 163 attacks were reported on educational institutions while militants killed 22 teachers in Balochistan between January 2008 to October 2010. Around 10 million children were affected by the massive floods, 2.5 million of them younger than five years of age, the report said adding, 1,154 juveniles were detained in the prisons across the country.

Pakistan frees 89 Indian fishermen

14 April 2011
Pakistan on Thursday freed 89 Indian fishermen imprisoned for fishing and violating its territorial waters.
"Today we released 89 Indian fishermen from Malir prison as a goodwill gesture," prisons chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo said.These fishermen were caught during the past 13-19 months fishing in Pakistani territorial waters, he said. Two buses set off for Lahore, where they will cross the Pakistan-India border on Friday, he added

SC permits separation of Kamal Azfar from NRO review case

14 April 2011
The Supreme Court (SC) has permitted the separation of Kamal Azfar, counsel of the federation, from the ongoing hearing of the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) review case here on Thursday.
According to details, Kamal Azfar wrote a letter to the Chief Justice Supreme Court Iftikhar Chaudhry, claiming Advocate Abu Bakar Zardari had threatened and forbade him to appear in court for the hearing of the NRO review case.Although Advocate Zardari rejected the allegation, the apex court took notice of the letter and asked IG police to provide security to Mr Azfar. In the letter Azfar claimed that the advocate threatened his wife.Earlier on April 11, the Supreme Court rejected the government’s request to change its senior counsel, Kamal Azfar, in the NRO review petition and adjourned the hearing till the following day.
The apex court ordered former Attorney General Malik Abdul Qayyum, former NAB Chairman Naveed Ahsan and Danishwar Malik to appear before court.

Balochistan border routes being used for drug trade:Rehman Malik

14 April 2011
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that narcotics worth dollars 5 billion was being traded from Afghanistan via porous border routes of Balochistan.“Smuggling is going on unabated but at the same time we need to support our Coast Guards and provide them sophisticated equipment to monitor any illegal activity including narcotics and human trafficking,” he said while addressing the passing out parade of 34th batch of Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) at their training centre at Korangi on Thursday.He announced that four new battalions of coast guards will be raised and will provided helicopters, speed boats and planes to further improve their surveillance.Out of the 326 recruits of the 34th batch, 83 hailed from Balochistan.“It is on the directive of Prime Minister and the President that initiative has been taken to give equal opportunity to the people of Balochistan to be recruited in law enforcing agencies and defend their motherland,” he added

President accepts Babar Awan’s resignation

13 April 2011
President Asif Ali Zardari on the advice of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Dr Zaheeruddin Babar Awan from the office of federal minister.
“In terms of Article 92 (3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President, on the advice of the Prime Minister has been pleased to accept resignation tendered by Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology from the office of Federal Minister, with immediate effect”, said a Cabinet Division notification issued here.

US drone strike kills 6 in South Waziristan

13 April 2011
US drones fired four missiles into a vehicle in South Waziristan, killing six suspected militants on Wednesday, security officials said.“It was a US drone attack. Four missiles were fired. The target was a vehicle. Several militants were killed. The death toll is six,” one official told AFP on condition of anonymity.Another security official confirmed the same details of the attack near the small town of Angoor Adda in South Waziristan district, around six kilometres (four miles) from the border with Afghanistan.

Pakistan appling diplomatic pressure to stop drone attacks: Gilani

13 April 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday told the National Assembly that diplomatic pressure was being applied on the USA to stop drone attacks in FATA and America will have to stop it.
In reply to various issues raised by Leader of the Opposition, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and diplomatic channels were being used to compel the USA to stop drone attacks as these were counter-productive.He said this is the great achievement of the present coalition government to unite the whole nation in fighting against terrorism by adopting a rational strategy which isolated the terrorists and militants from the local tribal people. He said the security forces conducted the successful operation against militants. However, whenever a drone attack was carried out, it worked to unite the militants and the tribal people

Load shedding continues as power shortfall reaches 27,00MW

13 April 2011
The demand of the power supply has reached 13,490 MW and the power generation is 10,790MW bringing the power shortfall to 2700, Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) said.The electricity shortfall is causing eight to ten hours loadshedding across the country, Geo News reported.According to PEPCO spokesman, the hydel generation of electricity is 3025 MW, thermal 1758MW, Private Power House to 6000 while that of Rental Power plants were generating 62MW.After a wide gap in demand and supply, the duration of loadsheding has been increased. Urban areas are facing 6-8 hours, while the rural areas are bearing 10-hour loadshedding.

 

APCNG calls for indefinite strike in Punjab from April 13

13 April 2011
All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNG) has decided to go on indefinite strike in Punjab from Wednesday (April 13) against anti CNG policy of the Government, gas load shedding is unjustified in summer, said Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha Chairman Supreme Council of APCNG in a statement.He said that we have been bearing heavy losses from last year. Even now in summer season the gas load shedding is still prevailing which has no justification at all. The Petrol Retailers Association will also support this strike and will keep their petrol pumps closed in Lahore on Wednesday.He said that we have been continuously in consultation with government to resolve our issues but couldn’t get any positive response that’s why we are forced to call a strike.Paracha said we have written letters to President Asif Zardari, PM Gilani, Naveed Qamar, Khursheed Shah, Federal Secretary Petroleum, Chairman OGRA, DG gas and MD SNGPL to take notice this serious issue and resolve our genuine demands. Our strike will be peaceful and we will seek forward for the positive response from Government

Govt exploring all avenues for socio-economic uplift of masses: PM

13 April 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the government was exploring all avenues for the socio-economic betterment of people particularly those living in the remote and backward areas of the country.He expressed these views while talking to a group of parliamentarians including some Federal Ministers who called on him here at the Prime Minister House on Tuesday evening. The Prime Minister said that our country is endowed with abundant diverse energy resources and it was dire need of hour to utilize these potentials for steering the economic wheel for the progress and prosperity of the people. He called upon the elected representatives to gear-up their efforts for the socio-economic development of the people of their constituencies by solving their basic problems.

Manmohan desirous of resolving key Pak-Indian issues: Gillani

12 April 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh is a “sensible and saner” person who really wants Pakistan and India to resolve their important issues.
Speaking high of Indian prime minister’s intentions to have good relations with Pakistan, Gilani said Dr Singh expressed several times during their meeting that he wanted to do “something really positive” for both the countries.Gilani was speaking in response to a question by a senior civil servant of the 94th national management course who quoted private sources that Singh was personally spearheading for developing good relations with Pakistan.He said Dr Singh, 78, who hailed from Punjab was highly desirous of resolving the important issues including Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek. He said the Indian prime minister also expressed his views for many times to fight the common enemies of poverty, hunger and unemployment.Prime Minister Gilani said he had met Dr Singh four times officially – in Colombo in 2008, Sharm El Sheikh 2009, Bhutan 2010 and India 2011, while met unofficially for several times at different occasions.

Targit Killing Continue, 3 killed in Karachi

12 April 2011
Three government employees were killed in a firing incident on Tuesday in Karachi.Two employees of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and one of the Fire Department were shot dead by unknown armed men while collecting data for the ongoing census in the Mehmoodabad area of Karachi. Deceased were identified as Asif Ali, Muneer Ahmed and Muhammad Naem.

Pakistan to release 89 Indian prisoners

12 April 2011
Pakistan on Tuesday informed India of its decision to release 89 Indian fishermen and prisoners included in the list, handed over to Pakistan during the Interior and Home Secretaries meeting in New Delhi.
The fishermen and prisoners will be handed over to India on April 15. India has handed over 39 Pakistani prisoners on 11 April from the list that Pakistan had given to India during the same meeting.

Supreme Court orders HEC to keep operating until law amendment

12 April 2011
Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Higher Education Commission (HEC) to restore all its privileges and to keep operating until the amendment in the law prevails.The court was hearing petitions against dissolution of the HEC.The Attorney General, Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq told the court that the commission still existed and with consultation from educational experts and vice chancellors a new law would be constituted for HEC.

War in Afghanistan is destabilising Pakistan, Zardari

11 April 2011
The war in Afghanistan is destabilising Pakistan and seriously undermining efforts to restore its democratic institutions and economic prosperity after a decade of military dictatorship, Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, has told the Guardian.Speaking during an exclusive interview in the imposing presidential residence in Islamabad, Zardari also pointed to widespread concern in Pakistan at the slow pace of efforts to end the Afghan conflict, and said some US politicians showed limited understanding of the impact of American policies.“Just as the Mexican drug war on US borders makes a difference to Texas and American society, we are talking about a war on our border which is obviously having a huge effect. Only today a suicide bomber has attacked a police compound in Baluchistan. I think it [the Afghan war] has an effect on the entire region, and specially our country,” Zardari said.Asked about harsh criticism of Pakistan’s co-operation in the “war on terror” published in a White House report last week, Zardari said Pakistan always listened to Washington’s views. But he suggested some members of Congress and the US media did not know what they were talking about when it came to Pakistan.

7 militants killed in Swat, soldier martyred in Mohmand

10 April 2011
Security forces on Sunday killed at least seven militants in Swat, While security personnel lost his live during clash with militants in Mohmand Agency.According to details, a group of militants were tried to enter in Dir through Bajur Agency, militants opened fire on security forces when they reached on a mountain.
A soldier was injured in the firing. Security forces opened fire in retaliation, killed seven militants. Arms and ammunitions also recovered from the possession of militants.On the other hand, a soldier was martyred during clash with militants in Mohmand Agency. After the clash, security forces have arrest three suspicious people during search operation in the area.

Pak-US intelligence operations frozen since January: report

10 April 2011
Joint Pakistan-U.S. intelligence operations have been halted since late January, Reuters quoted senior Pakistani intelligence officer as said. Uneasy Pakistan-US ties have become even more tense after a string of diplomatic disputes so far this year, including a massive drone strike in March and the case of Raymond Davis, a CIA contractor who shot dead two Pakistanis on January 27 in the eastern city of Lahore.
“Presently, joint operations are on hold,” a senior Pakistani intelligence officer told Reuters, adding that they were halted after Davis killed the two men. “The agency’s ties to the ISI have been strong over the years, and when there are issues to sort out, we work through them,” CIA spokesman George Little told Reuters. “That’s the sign of a healthy partnership.” “It is our land. We know how to tackle things. We will set the rules of the game. It is not Afghanistan,” a senior Pakistani military official told Reuters. “They have to cease spying operations.”

Explosives kill 4 Kohat children

6 April 2011
An explosive device killed four Pakistani children and wounded three others, while they were playing at a pond in warm spring weather on Wednesday, police said. Police said the device exploded on the outskirts of the northwestern garrison town of Kohat in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Taliban insurgents have been fighting against government troops.The victims were aged seven and nine, police said. "Four children have been killed and three others were wounded. The bomb disposal squad informed me that the blast was caused by a mine," Masood Khan Afridi, a senior police officer,"Some children were swimming in the pool and some were playing there. Perhaps a child stepped on the mine and it exploded," he said. "I talked to the bomb disposal officers at the scene and they said it was some type of explosive, maybe a mine, maybe a grenade. They are investigating," Zafar Iqbal, police official in Kohat said.

Young doctors strike continues

6 April 2011
Young Doctors Association (YDA) of Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) has continued their strike of out-patients department (OPD) and Operation Theater on Wednesday in the hospital.
The decision was made in the emergency meeting of YDA Poly Clinic Tuesday night. “We are totally unaware about the decisions of meeting held between the ministry of health and doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences (PIMS),” YDA FGPC Dr Muhammad Ajmal said.He said YDA Poly Clinic will make any decision regarding ending of strike in Wednesday’s meeting. “If we make decision to end our strike, our token strike will continue as doctors in Punjab are still facing several problems.”He said the three major demands of the striking doctors included regularization of contract doctors, revision of the current service structure and raise in salaries.

At last DG FIA Waseem Ahmed resigns

6 April 2011
Director General Federal Investigation Agency (DGFIA) Waseem Ahmed on Wednesday tendered his resignation to prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.According to official sources, the resignation has been approved. Meanwhile, IG Balochistan Malik Mohammad Iqbal has been appointed the new Director General FIA. Notification has been issued.It may be mentioned that earlier the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the government to remove Waseem Ahmed as DG FIA.

Gilani leaves for London on four day private visit

6 April 2011

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday left here for London on a four-day private visit.The Prime Minister is visiting London to see his ailing son who is likely to undergo surgery

House listing operation begins across country

5 April 2011
The much-awaited 6th Population and Housing Census 2011 was kicked off on Tuesday with house listing operation all across the country.The house listing operation would continue till April 19 which would be followed by the main population and housing census in August or September this year.The Population Census Organization (PCO) of Statistics Division has made all arrangements across the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan for holding the census.Both the phases, including house listing and main population and housing census would be completed within 15 days each and the final report of the 6th population and housing census would be submitted to the government by December this year.During the House listing exercise the authorized enumerators would visit door to door, mark the house number with green mark and the head of the House would be registered in the light of his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).The Statistics Division has appealed the people to cooperate with the authorized enumerators for the successful completion of the national exercise for the benefit of the country.

Punjab: Young Doctors Association calls off strike

5 April 2011
Young Doctors Association (YDA) called off their strike in the Federal Capital’s hospitals after holding successful marathon talks with Secretary Health Nargis Sethi here on Tuesday.“All young doctors will resume their work and attend the patients at out-patients department (OPD) in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) from tomorrow,” President of YDA Islamabad Chapter Dr Sajjid Abbasi told APP after meeting with the Secretary Health.He said that the Federal Government had expressed its willingness to resolve the problems of young doctors and considered the YDA’s demands as genuine.He said that the Secretary Health had assured to address the issues of contractual doctors and service structure while regarding pay structure she promised to discuss this issue with the Finance Ministry for a positive solution.

HEC students, staff stages protest against devolution

5 April 2011
More than 500 students from different universities as well as employees of Higher Education Commission (HEC) staged a protest in front of the commission today, demanding the government not to devolve HEC.
The students were holding placards and banners inscribed with the slogans of Don’t merge politics with HEC’, `HEC devolution not acceptable’, `Let us build Pakistan-No shredding of HEC’, and Do not put HEC to stone age’.

Pakistan, UK launch strategic dialogue on security, trade

5 April 2011
Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday formally launched “enhanced strategic dialogue” aimed at strengthening ties in security, trade, health and education sectors.Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and his British counterpart David Cameron, while addressing a press conference after a day-long interaction that also covered the UK-Pakistan National Security Dialogue and a meeting with the heads of parliamentary parties, vowed to enhance bilateral investments and encourage their private sectors to help increase bilateral trade from 1.2 to 2.5 billion pounds by the year 2015.
Prime Minister Cameron termed the Pak-UK ties as “unbreakable” and said the two sides focussed on trade, security and education sectors. He said he had also increased Pakistan’s market access to Europe.On the security sector, Cameron said that the two sides agreed on police services and intelligence cooperation, besides discussing the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship. He said that both the countries shared the need of having a peaceful, stable and democratic Afghanistan.“Pakistan suffered greatly in tackling terrorism and extremism,” he said, adding that there was a huge fight being waged by the Pakistan government against terrorists and the United Kingdom had a share in combating terrorism.

Punjab Universty ,BA/BSc exams to commence from April 7

4 April 2011

 Punjab University BA/BSc Annual Examination-2011 will commence from April 7, for which roll number slips have been dispatched to all candidates through registered mail on their addresses. According to a press release issued here Monday, if any candidate has not received slip, he/she can receive the duplicate slip from BA/BSc Hall, Exams Department New Campus with an application by providing a photocopy of NIC card and a photograph. Regular candidates of colleges should get attested application from their college principal.

Punjab: Young Doctors reject deadline, continue strike

4 April 2011
The protesting doctors on Monday threatened to widen the scope of their strike by suspending private practice, including hospitals, if their demands were not met.Addressing a press conference organized by the Pakistan Medical Association and the Young Doctors Association, they urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of their case.PMA President Dr Shahid Rao and General Secretary Kashif Chisti condemned the removal of 60 doctors and notices to many. They expressed their resolve to fight for their rights despite alleged intimidation by the government.

Death toll in Sakhi Sarwar shrine blasts mount to 56

4 April 2011
The death toll in Sakhi Sarwar shrine blasts in Dera Ghazi Khan has risen to 56 on Monday.At least 56 people were killed and more then 80 others sustained injuries in two suicide blasts at Darbar Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan on Sunday evening.This was stated by DCO Iftikhar Ali Saho while talking to mediamen. He told the first blast occurred at the main gate of the shrine while the two others blasts occurred outside the shrine on the occasion of annual urscelebrations of the sufi saint.Soon after the blasts, the teams of rescue-1122 and police reached the site and started rescue operation. The injured have shifted to DHQ hospital here

Suicide blast in Dir Lower kills 8

4 April 2011
At least eight people including leader of Aman Lashkar were killed and several injured in a suicide blast in Dir Lower on Monday.According to police, the blast occurred near bus station, close to a car showroom in Jandol Monda area of Dir Lower. ‘It was a suicide attack’, said DPO Saleem Marwar.Seven people including Mohammad Akbar (Sufi), a leader of Aman Lashkar, were killed while more than 20 injured in the blast. Police have cordoned off the area. The injured have shifted to hospital.“We have found the head of the bomber. He appears to be a teenager, a 15 to 16-year-old boy,” Marwat said.
The showroom was also damaged in the blast. At the car showroom, three people were among the dead and several vehicles damaged, he added.

Karachi: Five killed in firing incidents

4 April 2011
At least five people were killed in firing incidents on Monday in different parts of the Karachi.Unknown armed men gunned down two persons Abu al Hasham and Zubair at the near of Liquat abad under pass.One person was killed in firing incident at Bangali para Korangi. 30-year old Romi was killed at Ranchor line in another firing incident

Mastermind of rocket attacks held

3 April 2011
A alleged mastermind of March 23 rocket attacks in Malir City has been arrested.A top official of CID police told on Sunday that the accused identified as Abdul Kadir Kalmati alias Rockety son of Abdul Rehman was arrested on Saturday midnight while planting an explosive device in the proximity of Police Lines, Garden Area.The accused has confessed attacking a religious procession on February 1 this year in Malir area, the official claimed.
One TT pistol, bomb detonators, 107 sticks containing explosive devices, one anti-tank rocket and several switch remote detonators have been recovered on his pointation from various areas of the city, he added

D G Khan: 44 killed in Sakhi Sarwar shrine blasts

3 April 2011
At least 44 people were killed and more then 80 others sustained injuries in two suicide blasts at Darbar Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan on Sunday evening.This was stated by DCO Iftikhar Ali Saho while talking tomediamen. He told the first blast occurred at the main gate of the shrine while the two others blasts occurred outside the shrine on the occasion of annual urscelebrations of the sufi saint.Soon after the blasts, the teams of rescue-1122 and police reached the  site and started rescue operation. The injured were being shifted to DHQ hospital here.