Two British terrorists who discussed plans for an al Qaida-inspired attack in the UK have been ordered to serve up to 16 years and three months in jail.

Zahid Iqbal, 31, and Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, 25, discussed sending a remote-controlled toy car carrying a home-made bomb under the gates of a Territorial Army centre in Luton, London's Woolwich Crown Court heard.

Mr Justice Wilkie QC said the pair posed "a significant risk of serious harm to the public" as he imposed a custodial sentence of least 11 years and three months, with a five-year extension period subject to licence.

Umar Arshad, 24, was jailed for six years and nine months and Syed Farhan Hussain, 22, for five years and three months for their roles in preparing for a terrorist attack.

The men, all from Luton, had admitted one count of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism between January 1 2011 and April 25 2012 at a hearing on March 1.

The PML-N ticket holders from Gujar Khan were shattered when the media announced Raja Pervaiz's comeback into the political arena. They were thinking smooth sail as the local PPP had been in complete disarray for quite sometime. But his revival on Thursday made PTI extremely happy. The surge of PPP votes means decrease in PML-N popularity and this might benefit PTI in the general elections. The 'Riaz factor' continues to haunt PML-N as hundreds of angry party workers came to the GT road and chanted slogans against ticket holders and condemned Ch Nisar for his role in the distribution of tickets. Khwaja Jhangir, local PML leader said the party leadership ditched Ch Riaz who had been in the forefront for last 28 years, while others left and joined the Q league. He said the people who in the past used highly objectionable language against the Nawaz family had been awarded tickets from this area. He warned that the PML workers would never accept the decision about tickets and made public strategy in the coming few days.

The pothwari who live across UK welcome PTI's decision  to grant ticket to Javed Kauser from Gujar Khan, PP-3. They were jubilant last evening and termed it a right choice to build a better and prsoperous Gujar Khan. Dr Atiq, a local consultant and a close relative of Ch Javed Kauser greeted him and welcomed his selection as a candidate. Ch Saeed, owner of Rawal Village Restuarnt said now people should vote for him as he has been serving the area for a long time. Ch Ghulam Rabbani, Ex-Chairman, UC Bewal said, he has potential to solve peoples' problem. Others who congratulated him include Malik Iftikhar from Samote, Dr Khaliq-ur-Rehman, Abdul Waheed, Ch Pervaiz Akhter, Ch Ishtiaq of Slough, Haji Kafil Ahmed and Haji Iftikhar Ali. Pothwar News also congratules Ch Javed Kauser and wish him all the best for successful election.

They deserve this and Imran Khan made a right choice. Ch Javed Kauser has been serving the area for last 15 year. He is a vocal politician, a man of great integrity and among the few who always speak their mind. He is the PTI's candidate from PP-3. He can show people and his electroate the network of roads that came into being (or get concreted) on the one hand from Gujar Khan to Bewal and Bewal to Kallar Syedan. He is a mature politician and capable person to lead Gujar Khan especially its eastern side. But don't forget Faheem Bhatti, Sajjad and Mr Hashmi who have been tickets from NA-51, PP-4 and pp-5. They are the people carefully picked by PTI after long consultation and deliberations.

THE family of an 18-year-old student knocked down and killed by a van while walking along the M65 has paid tribute to her.

Lena Begum, from Higher Reedley, was hit by the white Mercedes van just before 4am on Wednesday, on the eastbound carriageway near Rosegrove Lane bridge, between junctions 9 and 10.

Lancashire police are trying to find out why Miss Begum, who was also known as Lena Sheikh, was on the motorway at that time of the morning.

The driver of the van, a 48-year-old man from Burnley, was treated for shock at the scene.

A statement released by the police on behalf of the Begum family yesterday said: “Lena was very much loved by all her family, and was a very loving daughter.

“She was studying as a dental nurse at Blackburn College.

“Her hobbies included going to the cinema with her uncle and brothers.

“Lena was her mother's only daughter and she is especially devastated.

“Her passing will leave a big hole in the family.

“She will be deeply missed.

Federal Secretary Defence Lt Gen (R) Asif Yasin Malik has said the new Benazir Bhutto International Airport will start functioning in June, 2014 

Asif Yasin, who is also head of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and PIA, stated that it is untrue that the federal government has released an amount of Rs100 billion for PIA. He clarified that the PIA requires Rs12 billions plus 46 million dollars bank guarantee which is still not provided to the national carrier.

 He said the CAA has submitted a report to the Ministry of Defence regarding completion of the new BB International Airport. According to this report, he said, the 95% runway and taxiway tracks, 83% aprons, 72% airfield lighting system, 52% ATC complex, FCR & RR bldg, 95% hydrant refuelling system, 55% road network, 80% cargo complex and 60% boundary wall/fencing /watch towers have been completed.

 The secretary defence after the field visit has shown satisfaction on the overall progress and pace of development. However, he directed the management to adhere to the timelines strictly, ensure quality, speed and transparency. He further emphasised the need to complete the peripheral work like approach roads, power and water supply in consonance with the schedule of development of the project. He directed to convene a meeting of stakeholders at the Ministry of Defence to review the progress of peripheral work.

 The groundbreaking of the airport, spread over about 3,600 acres, was performed in April, 2007. It is located near Fateh Jang, 20 kilometres from Islamabad’s Zero Point. The new airport will be a modern, well-designed and state-of-the-art airport of Pakistan.

 In the designing phase, the CAA hired a French company APDI, Airport De Paris with the local consultant i.e. Nespak for infrastructure design of all the facilities except terminal building for the designing of terminal building. Another company CPG, which is a Singapore-based company, was given the task of consultancy. The CAA had consulted all the stakeholders including airlines, ground handling agencies, Customs, Immigration and Airport Security Force etc and took suggestions from all of them to facilitate the passengers in the best possible way. The airport will have capacity to cater for 9 million passengers per annum in the initial stage.

 he new BB Airport will have a parking lot for 2,000 cars, it will also have a covered car parking area, huge space for commercial purposes, covered departure level bridge, separate roads for VIP lounges, etc. It will be the first airport of Pakistan which can land and park Airbus A-380, most wide bodied aeroplane in the world. It has two runways, the main runway is category F runway, which is the highest category for runways. It has the ability to carry the largest and heaviest aircraft.

The other runway, which is declared as an emergency runway, is category E runway. CAA also designed a third runway on the other side of the building. When completed, this will cater for simultaneous operations for landing and takeoffs. At the moment two runways are being constructed.

The police have registered a case against a professor of a private university and his accomplices for allegedly killing a student in the city four days back.

Malik Shahwaz Amir, an MBA student at the private university, was found dead in the wooded area of I-8/2 with a bullet injury to his temple on April 8.

The police at that time had said the student had committed suicide after his girlfriend left him.

However, the police could not find the weapon at the spot which made the incident suspicious. Besides, the deceased was a resident of F-10/4 and was found dead at I-8/2.

An autopsy conducted on the body showed that he had died after being shot from a close range, sources said.

Malik Amir Iqbal, the father of the deceased, in his complaint to the police alleged that a professor along with others was behind the murder of his son.

 the father of the student said the professor along with others had abducted his son on April 8 when he was going to the university at 2:30pm.

They murdered my son and tried to show it as a suicide, he added.

He said the professor was ‘jealous’ of his son. He, however, was reluctant to talk about the motive behind the killing. “The professor used to threaten my son,” he added.

In reply to a question, he expressed ignorance about the love affairs his son was involved in.

However, the police said the deceased was involved in a girl studding at the same university who later left him. Later, the professor got involved in the girl.

When the deceased tried to rebuild relation with the girl, the professor threatened him to keep away from the girl.

As many as 80 candidates including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Javed Akhlas filed their nomination papers for contesting General Elections 2013 from Gujar Khan (NA-51, PP-3 and PP-4), one National Assembly and two provincial assembly steas of Rawalpindi district while the scrutiny of the candidates is underway.

21 candidates have appeared in NA-50, Murree while there are 31 candidates in PP-1 constituency of provincial assembly seat. Those who have submitted nomination papers for NA-50 included Sardar Saleem, Independent, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Ghulam Murtaza Satti, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Solat Majeed Satti, Jamaat-e-Islami, Javed Akhlas Satti, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, PTI, Qari Safullah Safi, Muhattida Deni Muhaz, Muhammad Ishtiaq Abbasi, Muhattida Deni Muhaz, Muhammad Zakar, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Raja Tariq Janjua, Independent, Dr Sarfraz Ahmed Cheema, Markazi Jamiat Al Musaikh Pakistan, Yaseem Fatima, PPP, Munawar Hussain, Independent, Amir Jameel, Independent, Ijaz Ahmed Satti, Jamiat-e-Islami, Maqsood Abbasi, Muhammad Khursheed, Muhammad Sana ul Haq, Pakistan Sunni Tahreek.

There are 31 candidates in PP-1 constituency of provincial assembly, Murree-Kotli Sattyian, inclduing Sardar Saleem, Sardar Bilal, Shahid Khaqan, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Raja Aqeel Sarwar, Sajjad Abbasi, Javed Iqbal Satti, Sohail Ifran Abbasi, Qari Safullah, Ishtiaq Abbasi, Sadaqat Khan, Muhammad Nazir, Raja Mansoor, Shahid Satti, Muhammad Latasab, Shehzad Ahmed Satti, Muhammad Zakar, Maqsood Abbasi, Chaudhary Ansar Manzoor, Nasir Munsabdar, Raja Muhammad Zafran and others.

27 candidates including former Prime Minister Raja Javed Ashraf, former district Nazim Raja Javed Akhlas, former provincial minister Chaudhary Muhammad Riaz, Raja Farhat Faheem Bhatti, Chaudhary Muhammad Azeem and Raja Muhammad Javad filed their nomination papers for contesting general elections 2013 from NA-51.

The nomination papers of 25 candidates including of Raja Tariq Kiani, Iftikhar Ahmed Warsi, Chaudhary Javed Kosar, Raja Altaf Hussain and Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed were submitted for PP-3, a provincial assembly seat.

28 candidates including Brig. (R) Muhammad Hassan Bhatti, Raja Shoukat Aziz Bhatti, Chaudhary Sajid, Jahangir Humayun and Mirza Tajmal Hussain Jaral and others have appeared in PP-4, another provincial assembly seat of Gujar Khan, Out of over 650 candidates of Rawalpindi district, the nomination papers of 59 candidates, 11 for National Assembly and 48 for provincial assembly seats have been declared clear and approved for contesting general elections on Tuesday.

The scrutiny of candidates is being carried out from April 1 and will continue till April 7.

The appeals will be filed against the candidates from April 8 to April 10 and processed from April 11 to April 16.

Various issues plaguing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), both vying for seats in Rawalpindi, have delayed the finalisation of their candidates to contest the forthcoming elections in the garrison city.

PTI North Punjab President Sadaqat Ali Abbasi said a parliamentary committee comprising four members had been constituted to help the party finalise names and negotiate seat adjustments with the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).

“We have reservations as the JI is demanding more than it deserves,” said Abbasi.

Abbasi added that the PTI would negotiate seat adjustments on the condition that JI would not make alliances with other parties.

The PTI has thrown its support behind Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s in NA-55 after Ahmed withdrew his nomination papers for NA-56.

PML-N has finalised the list of its candidates from Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Islamabad and is likely to announce it on Wednesday.
Sources said a committee, headed by PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, interviewed all the candidates and gave a final shape to it after consultations with other members.
The sources said it had been decided to field former MPA Sardar Naseem against ex-federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad in NA-55, Rawalpidi, instead of Shakil Awan who will be a candidate from PP-12. Hanif Abbasi will be awarded ticket for NA-56, Malik Abrar for NA-54 and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for NA-50 while Chaudhry Nisar will contest from NA-52 and NA-53.
Former Rawalpindi district Nazim Raja Javed Akhlas’ son will be a PML-N candidate against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in NA-51 (Gujar Khan). Raja Javed Akhlas's son contested the 2008 election from this seat on PML-Q ticket and secured 72,000 votes and Ashraf won by bagging 80,000 votes. However, PML-N candidate Ch Riaz could get 45,000 votes. Ch Riaz is seeking PML-N ticket from this constituency, but he will be given a Punjab Assembly ticket.
In Attock, old party loyalist Sheikh Aftab has been awarded ticket for NA-57. The party will field Malik Aitbar Khan, son of former Public Accounts Committee chairman Malik Allahyar Khan, against Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in NA-59.
Tickets for two federal capital seats have been recommended for Anjum Aqeel Khan and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.  According to PML-N sources, ex-MNA Maj (r) Tahir Iqbal, former MNA Ayaz Amir and Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum appeared before the committee.  The committee recommended Tahir Iqbal and Ayaz Amir. However, a final decision will be taken by Nawaz Sharif.