Lahore, Pakistan:- Chemicals and machinery worth of millions of rupees were destroyed when a huge fire broke out in a chemical factory in Green Town, Lahore. Fire brigade is trying to contain the fire.

Fire brigade sources said that the blaze broke out late night in the factory, they added that the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, though an electric short-circuit was believed to have caused it. 10 to 12 fire brigade engines were pressed into service to contain the fire; however it is feared that the fire cannot be put out until the entire quantity of chemical is burnt. The fire fighters are trying to stop the fire from reaching neighboring factories.

Lahore, Pakistan :- President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday became the first President to donate all his body organs, after signing a landmark bill to regulate transplant of human organs in the country. The President made the announcement of “donating his whole body” after his life, as he inked the document in a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, also attended among others by Federal Ministers and health experts.

President Zardari said he took the decision in light of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s philosophy of living for others. The President said Pakistan was singled out in the world community due to the notorious trade of organ transplant of body organs and urged the Parliament and the doctors to create awareness about the issue among the masses. He asked the doctor’s community to inform the government in case of any violation and help save precious lives.

“No law can be effective without people’s support,” the President said and sought the help of the masses in countering the illegal trade.
The law that now makes sale and unauthorised transplant of body organs punishable with up to 10 years in prison provides for a regulatory mechanism, including a high-level federal monitoring authority and evaluation committees, for the removal, storage and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes.

The President said by using modern technology, Pakistan can be made a better place to live in and appreciated the political consensus evolved to make the legislation a success.

The bill states that any living donor, who is not less than 18 years of age, may voluntarily donate any organ or tissue of his body during his lifetime to another living person genetically and legally related. The other person must be a close blood relative of the donor and the donation of an organ or a part or tissue by a person for therapeutic purposes shall be regulated in the manner as may be prescribed.

The bill also provides for donation to be effective after death if a person aged at least 18 years, authorizes any medical institution or hospital approved by a 10-member monitory authority headed by the health minister and including heads of organizations of the medical profession and specialists.

It says transplants and removal of human organs shall only be carried out by recognized professionals after a written certification from an evaluation committee. The bill prescribes an imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of up to one million rupees for those involved in the removal and human organs without the prescribed authority as well as their sale. Contravention of other provisions of the law will be punishable with up to three years of imprisonment or with a fine of up to Rs 300,000, or with both.
A medical practitioner convicted for unauthorized removal of human organs for transplant will also be liable to ‘appropriate action’ by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, including removal from its register for three years for the first offence and permanently for the subsequent offence.

The bill further states that any person, who is not less than 18 years of age, may donate any of his organs or tissues for transplantation before his death – after a written authorization duly signed and verified by the respective evaluation committee – and authorize any medical institution or hospital duly approved by the monitoring authority for this purpose.
The evaluation committee, to comprise of a surgical specialist, a medical specialist, a transplant specialist, a nephrologist and a neurophysician and local notables having a good record of social service, would be notified by the federal government soon after the passage of the bill.

The monitoring authority would be headed by the health minister and consist of the health secretary as secretary of the authority. Members of the authority would include the Pakistan Army surgeon general, the Transplantation Society of Pakistan president, the Pakistan Medical Research Council executive director, the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan president, the Pakistan Medical Association of Pakistan president, the Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology president, a surgical transplant specialist and any other important medical specialists whom the government may nominate as members.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has admitted that delay in judges’ restoration was his biggest mistake.

During an interview with a UK daily Financial Times, Gilani admitted that “I should have restored the judiciary in the beginning. That is my biggest mistake. Then we would have not wasted our energies on each other. It would have been better that we would have concentrated on the people of Pakistan”.

Enlisting the achievements of the incumbent government Gilani said, “The successes are that we have very ably completed two years with consensus in parliament. We did a lot of legislation. The biggest success is that we have gathered the whole nation together on one platform for fight against terrorism and that is the biggest victory ever. The other biggest victory is accommodating 2.5million IDPs to go back to their homes in the shortest possible time of three months”.

Replying to a question on US-Pak strategic dialogue the PM said, “We want to have a very meaningful and result-oriented meeting in the United States”.

On Afghanistan he said, “Pakistan is the only country which can help Afghanistan and you cannot achieve stability in Afghanistan without Pakistan.”

DUBAI : Yemen rebels freed 178 government soldiers and civilians on Wednesday, a day after Sanaa accused them of dragging their feet over implementation of a truce deal to end a northern war.

A top Yemeni security body had said on Tuesday that the northern rebels were not fully complying with a deal struck in February to end a conflict that has raged on and off since 2004 and drew in neighbouring oil exporter Saudi Arabia last year.

The prisoners were handed over in the northern province of Saada that was the scene of most of the fighting, and they would be transported to Sanaa on Thursday, Al Arabiya quoted officials in a mediation committee as saying.

Western governments and neighbouring Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda is exploiting instability on many fronts in Yemen to recruit and train militants for attacks in the region and beyond.

Analysts say the truce agreement between the government and rebels, who belong to the minority Zaydi sect of Shi’ite Islam, was unlikely to last as it does not address the insurgents’ complaints of discrimination by Sanaa.

A rebel spokesman denied on Tuesday that the insurgents were using delay tactics and promised to free captive Yemeni soldiers within 48 hours, Al Arabiya television reported at the time. Al Arabiya said those freed on Wednesday included foot soldiers, officers and civilians.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday ordered Director General FIA and Secretary Interior to investigate and submit their reports to the court over issuance of forged arms licences within five days.

At least six people were killed while several others injured in drone strikes in both North and South Waziristan.
The drone fired 5 missiles in Hamzoi, whereas two in Datta Khel, North Waziristan. Meanwhile, in South Waziristan the militants blew up a school.
In Khyber Agency, the miscreants assailed a checkpost at Sheen Darang.
The martyred include three security personnel and two cops.

MIRAN SHAH: At least 10 persons were killed and several others injured in US drone attack at a training camp in North Waziristan tribal region.

A US spy aircraft fired missiles at a training camp at Mohammedkhel mountains in North Waziristan in which  at least 10 persons were killed and several injured, sources said. Most of the persons killed in the attack said to be foreign nationals.

Lahore High Court has ordered IG Punjab Police to appear before it while adjourning the hearing of the case about suspension of DSP Imran Babar Jamil.

High Court’s justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry heard the case. Lawyer of DSP Liaquat Ali Qureshi appealed the court that judicial inquiry instead of departmental inquiry should be held of the case because his client was not satisfied with the inquiry as he was also threatened in the meantime. Rejecting the appeal of judicial inquiry, the court ordered IG Punjab Police to present in the court at 2pm today. Talking to media after the hearing, DSP Imran Barar Jamil said that higher officials were repeatedly committing mistakes but truth will win at last and fight will be continued till restoration. He said that he is committed to command the Punjab police in future.

GUJRAT PAKISTAN :Kidnapped British Child Sahil Found

British boy in Pakistan Sahil Naqash who was kidnapped from his grandmother’s house in Jhelum was rescued near Kharian town of Punjab.

According to the details, family members of Sahil and British High Commission have confirmed the regain of the child. Sahil has been handed over to Jhelum town administration.

Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the Army House in Rawalpindi. Security situation prevailing in Punjab in the backdrop of last week’s serial blasts in Lahore, topped the meeting’s agenda.

Two leaders exchanged views on efforts being made by police and the army to quell militancy. CM also discussed the plan of providing counter-terrorism training to Punjab Police by Pakistan Army in his one-on-one meeting with the army chief, it was reported.
On arrival to the Islamabad Airport, CM was greeted by PML-N leaders Chaudhry Nisar and Senator Parvez Rasheed. Shahbaz said that he came to discuss the security situation in the country.