Web Desk
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Govt approves Rs 15bn Ramazan package
The decision to this effect was taken during the ECC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.
Dar said the government has allowed the special price relaxation despite already dropping prices owing to low level of inflation.
Finance Division would provide upfront payment of Rs 1 billion to the Utility Stores Corporation to buy the items before Ramazan. These include flour, sugar, ghee/oil, pulses, baisen, dates, basmati rice, sella rice, broken rice, squashes and syrups, black tea, milk and spices.
The ECC allowed levy of 2% regulatory duty on petroleum crude oil, motor spirit oil and furnace oil.
Approval was also accorded for imposition of 2.5 % regulatory duty on high speed diesel.
The meeting also gave approval for the balance amount of 35.96 million dikkar for induction of 15 aircrafts on dry lease in the PIA fleet.
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Imran Farooq murder: Scotland Yard team reaches Pakistan
According to ARY News bureau chief in Islamabad Sabir Shakir, the UK Police team has landed in Pakistan and expected to grill three suspects in Imran Farooq murder case – Moazzam Ali, Mohsin and Kashif.
Mohsin and Kashif – suspects in Imran Farooq murder case. Read: Moazzam names ‘big fish’ in Imran Farooq murder case
Besides, the team will also record statement of Saulat Mirza who made startling revelations against MQM chief Altaf Hussain. Mirza had alleged that he used to get directions from London-based chief for different tasks.
Related read: Saulat Mirza makes startling revelations against MQM
The Scotland Yard team is being facilitated by the Ministry of Interior.
Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan is in contacts with British High commissioner as part of their joint strategy on counter terrorism.
Scotland Yard team reaches PakistanBackground
Imran Farooq, 50, a founding member of the MQM, was stabbed and beaten to death in Edgware, northwest London, as he returned home from work on September 16, 2010.
The two men UK police want to trace are both Pakistani nationals who left Britain in the hours after the murder.
The two men police want to trace are both Pakistani nationals who left Britain in the hours after the murder. At that time in a statement, Scotland Yard police said they are looking for 29-year-old Mohsin Ali Syed, who was in Britain from February 2010.
They also want to speak to Muhammad Kashif Khan Kamran, 34, who was in Britain from early September 2010.
Imran Farooq claimed asylum in Britain in 1999. He had twice been elected as a lawmaker in Pakistan but went into hiding in 1992 when the government ordered a military crackdown against MQM activists in Karachi.
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Imran Farooq muder: Plea against Moazzam’s ‘transfer’ outside Karachi rejected
According to details, Moazzam’s wife Saida Bano in her petition took the stance that some media reports suggest shifting of her husband outside Karachi and pleaded to the court to prevent the transfer of her husband.
In response, the court said a petition against Moazzam’s arrest is already pending, hence another plea in this regard is not admissible.
Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) had arrested Moazzam Ali a few days ago from Azizabad area of Karachi.
The suspect is currently on 90 days remand over his alleged role in London killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Imran Farooq, back in 2010.
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Related stories:
– ‘Prime suspect’ of Imran Farooq murder arrested: Nisar
– Moazzam names ‘big fish’ in Imran Farooq murder case
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On April 13, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had confirmed that security officials have arrested the ‘prime suspect’ of Imran Farooq’s murder. The minister went on to say that the arrest will help resolving the case.
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Mirza owns his statement, offers help in other cases: sources
According to details, a joint investigation team (JIT) questioned Mirza at Machh prison on Wednesday.
Our correspondent Kamil Arif told that the team held three different sessions with the condemned inmate.
“Officials inquired Mirza about his earlier recorded statement and that was he pressurized to speak all that, to which the convict replied that he owns the statement and is firm on the stance he took,” Arif told citing sources.
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Read: Saulat Mirza spills ‘target killing’ beans
Read: Babar Ghauri denies giving orders to Saulat Mirza
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The convict made further revelations with respect to target killing and named some more people.
Saulat Mirza reportedly proposed the officials to help resolve some cases under investigation by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
The process of interviewing the prisoner stopped after the third session, which will recommence tomorrow.
ARY News correspondent Abdullah Magsi exclusively reported from outside the Machh prison that the JIT officials questioned Saulat Mirza for around six hours, while the entire process was also recorded.
He added that the officials are analyzing Mirza’s statement from different angles, while the process of questioning will again start tomorrow.
The team after questioning the inmate returned to Quetta.
Earlier in the morning, the JIT headed by DIG Ameer Sheikh had arrived at the Machh prison to interview the condemned prisoner with stern security measures in place.