One day mourning is being observed throughout the country on Thursday in memory of those killed in Wednesday's plane crash in Islamabad.

The national flag is hoisted at half most at all public and private buildings.

The passenger plane of Airblue was enroot from Karachi to Islamabad when it crashed into the Margalla hills of Islamabad, killing all the one hundred and fifty passengers on board including six crew members.

Rescue teams are present at the site of plane crash at Margala hills but they are facing difficulties to continue search activities.

According to Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences dead bodies of 66 victims of Airblue plane have been identified at the hospital so far while fifty three dead bodies have been handed over to their relatives.

A special crisis management centre has been set up at Aabpara Community centre Islamabad to facilitate the relatives of the victims to identify dead bodies.

Help lines to get any information regarding air crash and its victims have been installed. Telephone numbers of these help lines are 051 9031321, 051 9203131 and 051 9280355.

MALIK:

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that transparent inquiry will be conducted into yesterday's Air blue’s plane crash, hoping preliminary report will be ready within a few days.

Talking to newsmen at Aabpara community center in Islamabad today, the interior minister said that all aspects will be kept in view in the investigation process including the element of sabotage activity.

KP FLOODS:

At least forty one people have been killed and several injured due to torrential rains and floods in different parts of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa.

According to provincial Disaster Management Authority, twenty two people were killed in Shangla and nine in Dir district in rain related incidents.

Ten more people were killed in other parts of the province.

Army and other relief organizations have set up camps in Swat for giving relief to the affectees.

Low lying areas of Peshawar including Muhammad Zai, Dalazak, Chamkani, Gul Beela, Mian Gujar, Patwar Bala and Palosai were inundated due to heavy rains.

Two hundred Chinese Engineers are stranded at the hill tops at Dubair in Kohistan district. Efforts are being made for their evacuation through helicopters. Three Chinese camps in the area were swept away by flash floods. Several houses and bridges were also collapsed in Kohistan district.

PRESIDENT PM CONDOLENCE:

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives caused by monsoon rains and flash floods.

They expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

The prime minister telephoned Chief Minister of Khyber Pakthunkhawa Amir Haider Khan Hoti and expressed sorrow and grief over the devastation caused by the floods.

The President and the Prime Minister also directed Chairman National Disaster Management Authority to ensure relief to the affected population in coordination with the provincial government.

The Prime Minister said the federal government would do everything possible to help the affected families and meet their needs.

PM-CDA:

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has expressed concern over choked drainage system in different parts of the federal capital.

He directed the Chairman CDA that the water accumulated in the outskirts of Islamabad be drained into the ravines

The prime minister also called for better coordination between CDA staff and traffic police to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the capital.

AJK-OATH :

Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan was sworn in as the new AJK Prime Minister at a ceremony in Muzaffarabad today.

AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Khan administered the oath.

Earlier, Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan was elected a new leader of the house at a special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly.

Addressing the House after his election, Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan assured that every possible step would be taken to accelerate development of the liberated territory.

Strongly condemning the Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, he said India cannot suppress the rights of Kashmiri people for long.

He said the people of Pakistan and the liberated territory will continue their support to their Kashmiri brethren in self-determination.

KASHMIR:

The All-Parties Hurriyet Conference says the peaceful protests in occupied Kashmir will continue till complete withdrawal of Indian troops.

In a statement, the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urged India to revoke all draconian laws in occupied Kashmir and release the illegally detained pro-liberation leaders and activists.

Dozens of people were injured in violent police actions against peaceful anti-India demonstrators at various places.

Despite restrictions, hundreds of people took to streets in Srinagar, Baramulla, Pattan, Sangrama, Bandipore, Islamabad, Shopian and Kulgam areas and staged demonstrations against India and human rights violations in Kashmir.

INDIA:

In India, several opposition parties today joined the Left front when they staged a sit-in at the main gate of the parliament this morning.

They were protesting against hiking prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

Speaking to newsmen, senior CPI-M leader Citaram Michury and the RJD chief urged all the political parties to come on one platform to fight the policies of the government.

MILITANTS :

Seven militants including a top commander have been killed and thirteen wounded in an operation by the security forces at Marghan Kandaw area of Kurram Agency.

A hide-out of the militant was also destroyed.

Meanwhile, sixteen suspects have been arrested by the police in Thall and Dawaba area of Hangu.

IRAQ:

In Iraq, four soldiers were killed and twenty-two others wounded in the latest bomb attacks.

Three soldiers were killed and twelve others wounded in a car bomb attack near an army base in al-Sharqat in Salaheddin province.

One soldier was killed and five others wounded when a bomb attached to a motorbike went off near an army checkpoint in Fallujah city.

WAJID :

Pakistan High Commissioner to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan has termed British Prime Minister David Cameron’s remarks about Pakistan’s role in terrorism completely contrary to ground realities.

In a statement, he pointed out that Pakistan has made huge sacrifices in the war on terror.

Meanwhile, former British Minister Shahid Malik has strongly criticised David Cameron's remarks and termed them as unwelcome for all those who believe in fairness.

AAFIA :

Defence lawyers for the Pakistani neuroscientist, Dr Aafia Siddiqui convicted in February last in Afghanistan, have called for minimum sentence instead of life imprisonment.

In a filing in the US District Court of Manhattan, the lawyers argued that Dr Aafia Siddiqui had no intent to kill any one and a reasonable sentence would be 12 years in prison.

MANSUR:

Secretary Information, Mansur Sohail says China is the most trusted and close friend of Pakistan which has helped in every hour of need.

This he said at a meeting with the Chinese Vice-minister of State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Rian Jin in Bejining.

The two sides discussed expansion of cooperation in media.

CRICKET

In the first cricket test against Pakistan at Nottingham, England have won the toss and opted to bat.

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