PM calls high-level meeting for LG reforms on Sept 27 :

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called a high level meeting on September 27 in order to introduce new reforms in the present local government system.

Chief ministers of four provinces, Chairman of National Reconstruction Bureau, representatives of local government, federal and provincial officials will attend the meeting.The meeting will focus to eliminate anomalies and to improve the local government system. Proposals will be sought from all concerned departments in this regard.

Musharraf regime’s accords with US need be made public: NS

LAHORE: Muslim League-N Quaid, Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the agreements, which were made with the US during Musharraf regime, should be made public.On his arrival from London at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here, talking to the media, Mian Nawaz Sharif said that the US and the Allied Forces attitude towards Pakistan were unacceptable.

He said that the policies should be framed on economic and other issues instead of six/ eight persons huddled in a room for formulating the policy.Nawaz Sharif said that some people were creating instability for their personal interests, which would dent the democracy. Responding to a question, Nawaz Sharif said that he has no intention of running government in association with any Q-League and added that had the alliance with Q-League been possible, it would have been done in the presidential election. Nawaz Sharif said that judges’ restoration in such away was the validation of Pervez Musharraf’s actions. Following the vote of confidence, President Asif Zardari should vent out those sentiments, which his party has already expressed, he said.

Gates backs Afghan border strikes :

LONDON: While U-S Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that Washington would prefer for Pakistan to tackle militants itself, he insisted that U-S forces have the right to strike at militants inside Pakistan.

In an interview with foreign TV, Gates said that militants are the "common enemy" of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the coalition forces. He said his country's goal is to partner with the Pakistanis and enable them to deal with militancy on the border themselves. Asked if Pakistan had authorised air strikes on its soil, he said that the US would take "whatever actions necessary" in self-defence. Washington would prefer for Pakistan to tackle militants itself, he added. Gates, fresh from a visit to Afghanistan, is in London for talks with other Nato ministers. Earlier on Thursday, he said that increasing militant violence there might prompt a change in US strategy, but gave no details. 'Whatever necessary'Speaking to media security correspondent Frank Gardner, Gates welcomed the Pakistani army's "much more aggressive" approach to militants along the border in recent weeks.

Hurricane Ike destroys 49 U.S. oil-producing platforms :

WASHINGTON: At least 49 offshore oil platforms, all with production of fewer than 1,000 barrels a day, were destroyed by Hurricane Ike as it raced across the Gulf of Mexico, and some may not be rebuilt, the Interior Department said Thursday.

It said in the latest hurricane damage assessment that the platforms altogether accounted for 13,000 barrels of oil and 84million cubic feet of natural gas a day. There are more than 3,800production platforms in the Gulf producing 1.3 million barrels of oil and 7 billion cubic feet of gas each day. Most remain shut down. The report by Interior's Minerals Management Service said the agency was conducting helicopter flyovers of the Gulf waters to investigate unconfirmed reports of oil spills and oil sheens, but that it was too early to issue any definitive findings. “There are no reports of oil impacting the shoreline or affecting birds and wildlife from releases in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters,'' said the agency.

Cricket team coach Lawson, trainer David's leaves extended :

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team coach Geoff Lawson and trainer David Iyre have got their leaves extended as there is no international or domestic cricket presently for the team and now they will come to Pakistan on September 27.

Coach Lawson and trainer Iyre had to return Pakistan today after their leave but as the Pakistan cricket team has no cricket assignment these days they applied for an extension in their leaves that the Pakistan Cricket Board accepted. It is mentioned that this was for the fourth time in the last five months that Lawson have went to Australia. Pakistan is beginning its cricket season on October 4 from the National Twenty20 Championship after when the Pakistan team will leave for Canada to participate in the four-nation InternationalTwenty20 Championship.

Villagers foil militants’ bid to hostage school children in Dir :

PESHAWAR: Showing extreme courage and boldness, the local people of a village in Dir Upper district after exchange of brutal firing, foiled attempt of the armed militants while trying to hostage around 300 students of a school and successfully freed the students after brief hostage.

In the armed shootout between the villagers and the miscreants, two of the militants blew themselves up to avoid arrest while the third one fled from the scene, said police official, DSP Younus Khan. The local villagers of Nehag Darra and the district police upon receiving information about militants’ assault at a school rushed to the site and besieged the entire vicinity to block the ways of their escape. The law enforcers asked the militants to surrender to which they did not pay any heed and instead opened fire upon the villagers and the police. The local people exchanged fire with the militants and as a result the school students were safely freed from the militants custody. The police said that the suicide attackers were three in number and among them two have blown up themselves in bid to avoid arrest while third one escaped from the scene. According to independent sources, around 12 militants’ hostage around 300 students in a school at Nehag Dara in Maskari, far-flung and remote area, in Upper Dir area.