LAHORE: At least eight people died when armed persons stormed the emergency ward of Jinnah Hospital here, Medical Superintendent said Monday.

According to Geo correspondent, two gunmen entered the emergency ward and opened fire at the injured of Model Town and Garhi Shahi attacks.

According to Geo, three to four guards and attendants are among the dead.

The firing is still underway while police have surrounded the hospital.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday said the government has condemned the act of violence committed by Israeli forces which is against norms and principles of international law and human rights.

Pakistan is using all possible means to get information about the well being of the Pakistani journalists present in the Freedom Flotilla, he said.

In a telephonic talk with a news channel, he said Pakistan has strongly protested the incident, adding that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has talked to American Ambassador Anne Patterson to use her influence and diplomatic sources to get the latest information about the status of Pakistani journalists as Pakistan has not direct diplomatic links with Israel.

The minister said there was no moral and legal justification of this attack and it was also violation of international borders because the “Freedom Flotilla” carrying relief goods was attacked in the open sea.

“We are using all our diplomatic resources to locate the whereabouts of two Pakistani journalists, Syed Talat Hussain and Raza Mahmood Agha, and a Pakistani NGO worker, who were on board the Freedom Flotilla at the time of this outrageous attack,” he said when asked a question.

ISLAMABAD: Government has slashed petrol price by Rs6.04 a litre, Geo News reported Monday.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has aid that no Pakistani is among the nine persons died in today’s deadly Israeli raid on Gazi aid convoy.

“TV anchor Talat Hussain and other Pakistani nationals are ‘safe’,” he told a private news channel Monday.

Speaking to media persons at the residence of Talat Hussain, he said President and Prime Minister have contacted wife of Talat and assured her about his safe return.

Malik said that the government was expecting to get more information from Interpol.

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called upon United States to use its influence for the recovery of Pakistani nationals who were aboard Freedom Flotilla.

Interacting with media persons here on Monday, Qureshi said he has contacted Holbrooke on phone on the issue of recovery of Talat Hussain.

“Pakistan’s ambassador to Jordam, Oman, Lebano and European Union have been asked to collect information about whereabouts of Pakistanis.

The foreign minister said that an emergency meeting of the OIC should be called to slam deadly Israeli raid that killed up to 19 pro-Palestinians peace activists.

About Talat’s safety, he said the government has not been able to collect any information in this connection.

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly on Monday expressed its deep concern over the financial irregularities of Rs 4.826 billion in Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and directed to hold an inquiry into the matter.

The PAC meeting held here at the Parliament House with Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the Chair, reviewed audit report of Ministry of Labour and Manpower for the financial year 2008-09.

The meeting was briefed that EOBI has invested 13 billion in procurement of shares of five institution including MAC PAC, Shell Pakistan, SSGCL, Bank of Punjab (BoP) and Tele Card. These were placed in strategic/core portfolio. The purpose of this category was to earn dividend but the market values of share have been reduced enormously and the institution has sustained a loss of Rs 4.826 billion.

The Audit officials informed the PAC panel that the EOBI purchased the BoP shares worth Rs 4.30 billion and further deposited Rs 1.3 billion in the bank. They said that the total portfolio of the Bank at that time was Rs 5.3 billion.

The Audit officials pointed out that there were certain clauses for strategic investment in rules which were violated.

PAC Chairman Ch, Nisar said news was being published in the media about the bank at that time then why so hefty amount was invested in the bank.

Principle Accounting Officer of Ministry of Laboure and Manpower apprised the PAC that EOBI fully followed the rules set for investment and no rules were violated in this regard. He said the EOBI has deposited Rs 1.30 billion in BoP, however the decision was taken on political ground.

The PAC also showed its displeasure over the unjustified expenditure of Rs 23.8 million on hiring of security services by Sindh Worker Welfare Board for residential accommodation.

The Committee was informed that 410 security guards including supervisors were hired for to save the properties and other installations of the Board at respective sites includes existing laboure colonies, schools, hospital etc.

The PAC panel also expressed concern over the loss of Rs 1.997 million to the Worker Welfare Board for poor planning and advance payment to the consultant.

The Audit officials informed the PAC that the said amount was paid to the consultant in advance and work on none of the 13 schemes could be started.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Yaseem Rehman, Rukhsana Bangash, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Hamid Yar Hiraj, officials of Ministries of Laboure and Manpower, Finance, Audit department and PAC.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has called upon Interpol to help recover anchor Talat Hussain and other Pakistanis who were aboard Gaza aid ships when attacked by Israeli commandos.

The interior minister told Geo News he has contacted Interpol chief Ronald Noble and asked about information about whereabouts of Talat and his two other associates.

“I have inquired about the efforts being made for the recovery of pro-Palestinian activists,” he said.

Malik said he has directed FIA to remain in contact with Interpol in this regard.

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) will observe summer holidays from June 7 to August 7 while announcement has also been made about holidays for Sindh district courts.

According to notification issued by Registrar SHC Abdul Qadir Soomro said during holidays special benches of the relevant courts will be holding proceedings for important cases of SHC principal seat and circuit benches of Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana.

According to another notification, district courts of Karachi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Kotri and Umerkot will observe summer holidays from June 1 to June 30.

The period of summer holidays will be from July 1 to July 31 for district courts of Khairpur, Dadu, Larkana, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Naushehroferoz, Shahdadkot and Kashmor.

KARACHI: People from all walks of life here on Monday staged protest against Israeli attack on Freedom Flotilla, a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and relief goods for people in Gaza.

Gathered in front of Karachi Press Club, the protestors ignoring their differences, including their political point of views, condemned the reported killing of some 20 and injury caused to over 60 passengers of the boat stormed by the Israeli forces.

They also registered their serious concern about the well being of Talat Hussian, a senior journalist of the country, who along with his team members was also on-board the Freedom Flotilla.

Activists at the KPC were of diverse backgrounds, representing Turbat Bachao Tehreek to Pasban and from Human Rights Commission to Women Peace Committee.

Journalists present on the occasion expressing their solidarity with their colleagues as well as other pro-Palestinian activists urged for immediate help for all those on the vessel.

International agencies and major world powers were asked to realize their responsibility towards a conscientious section that had attempted to help an abandoned section of the people.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Monday expressed grief on the killings resulting from the Israeli assault on the relief flotilla carrying aid to Gaza strip for Palestinians.

Talking to media men here, Qureshi said the Israeli attack had no legal or moral justification.

“We are concerned on the vanishing of Pakistani journalist Talat Hussain and his team members in the incident,” he said, adding that help, in this connection, has been sought from the US ambassador in Pakistan.

He said, despite efforts, no communication could be made with Talat Hussain and other team members.

The Foreign Minister said that he himself contacted the family members of Talat Hussain and assured them of all out government cooperation.