LAHORE: Two accused of fraud in Bank of Punjab (BoP) have been arrested in Malaysia with the help of Interpol.

According to sources, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested owner of Haris Steel Sheikh Afzal – the key accused of Rs nine billion fraud in Bank of Punjab – and his son Haris Afzal in Kuala Lumpur.

The accused had borrowed Rs9 billion from Bank of Punjab in collaboration with the managing director of BoP.

Bank accounts of the two accused were traced in Dubai and Malaysia, NAB sources added.

PESHAWAR: As Eid ul Azha is round the corner, another controversy started surfacing in NWFP regarding Eid moon sighting.

The NWFP government has announced that provincial Ruet-e-Hilal committee meeting will be held with non official Ruet-e-Hilal committee in Masjid Qasim Ali Khan.

Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs Nimroz Khan while talking to Geo News correspondent Amjad Aziz Malik made it confirmed that Eid will be celebrated according to the decision of provincial Ruet-e-Hilal committee instead of central Ruet-e-Hilal committee and decision of moon sighting or otherwise will be taken in a joint meeting with non official Ruet-e-Hilal committee of Masjid Qasim.

Nimroz Khan said NWFP government wishes that Eid should be celebrated on the same throughout the country. Pakistan should celebrate Eid a day after Eid in Saudi Arabia, he added.

LAHORE: Police have captured an explosive-laden truck here today.

According to sources, 38 boxes of highly explosive material were being carried to Peshawar from Lahore.

A person, named Kamran, in Lahore had the truck booked for Dr Abdul Sammad in Peshawar, sources added.

LAHORE: Police have captured an explosive-laden truck here today.

According to sources, 38 boxes of highly explosive material were being carried to Peshawar from Lahore.

A person, named Kamran, in Lahore had the truck booked for Dr Abdul Sammad in Peshawar, sources added.

Police have arrested Kamran Rafiq who during investigation revealed that he has been sending illegal chemical to other districts.

KARACHI: Security has been tightened at police headquarter after threat of bombing.

According to police sources, Elite force commandos and plain cloth officials have been deployed at every floor of the central police office in Karachi. Strict checking of vehicles is being carried out at the gates of offices.

Close circuit cameras have been installed outside CPO building whereas special explosive detecting equipments have been provided to police.

LAHORE: The power shortfall in the country is still pegged at 2500 Megawatts, as five-hour load shedding is being carried out in urban areas and eight-hour span in rural areas set for the purpose, Geo News reported Sunday.

According to Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) officials, country’s electricity production stands at 13000 MW and its demand is 15000MW, adding all the distribution companies are acting upon the schedule of load shedding to meet this shortfall.

The officials said the furnace oil supply has been augmented to IPPs so that thermal production can be kept up unhindered; while, over 5000MW is hydal production.

The Pepco officials further said the shortfall would be curtailed in the coming days, and the duration of the load shedding also would be whittled down.

KHAR: Five militants were killed and four injured during security forces shelling at suspected hideouts of militants in tehsil Chaharmang of Bajaur Agency.

According to sources, security forces operation continued in different areas of Bajaur Agency.

Meanwhile, a road side remote-controlled went off in tehsil Mamoond. However, no loss of life was reported. Stern security measures have been taken in Bajaur Agency and vehicles checking underway at entry and exit routes.

LAHORE: The power crisis once again intensified in the country as the power shortfall outgrew 4000 Megawatts, which has pushed the unannounced power load shedding to duration of ten hours, Geo News reported Friday.

The prolonged power outages made the lives of the people quite miserable.

Despite the claims of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) officials, as the mercury rose, load shedding duration in cities was increased to eight hours, ten hours in rural areas and in industrial sector, eight-hour of load shedding is being carried out.

The power production stands at 11,000 Megawatt; while, its demand crossed 15,000 MW and most of the power plants are not producing up to their capacity owing to the lack of furnace oil.

Meantime, the hydal production also shrank to 5000MW.

The experts said before installing new power plants, the present plants should be put in order so that the power crisis could be controlled.

KARACHI: The country is still facing four to six hours of load shedding in small and large cities, as the power shortfall remained perched at 3000 Megawatts.

Due to the hot weather that started a week ago, the duration of load shedding in big cities has been increased to four hours and in small cities, to six hours.

It is being expected that power crisis will further worsen over next few days owing to the decrease in hydal production.

The spell of load shedding is in full swing in NWFP districts including Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Noshehra and Abotabad as well.

According to Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) sources, four-hour load shedding is being carried out in Quetta, 8-hour in four districts and 12-hour load shedding is on the go in rural areas of the province.

BARA: At least 40 extremists have been killed and 43 others arrested, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Talking to Geo News, Tariq Hayat Political Agency Khyber Agency said the action is underway against those who challenge the writ of the government.

The political agency said the operation is being carried out against miscreants not against any specific person or a group, adding the dead terrorists include two important commanders Murad and Habibur Rehman.

Tariq Hayat said three security personnel were injured in the operation, adding the operation will continue until Bara is cleared.