Kunduz: The Taliban shadow governor of a northern Afghan district was killed by a Nato airstrike, police said yesterday. “Maulavi Ahmad Shah, the Taliban’s so-called governor for Chardara district and his bodyguard were killed in a Nato airstrike at midnight in Noorzai area,” said Ghulam Muhayyuddin, the district police chief. He said Nato did not coordinate the attack with local officials. Elsewhere, the Ministry of Interior said 11 Taliban fighters were killed in police operations during the past 24 hours.
Soldiers hurt in rocket blast
Islamabad: At least three security officials were injured as militants fired a rocket at a security forces camp yesterday. Sources said the attackers fled following the attack, which took place in Jani Khel area of the Banu district. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital.
Lower budget for social sector
ISLAMABAD: In the present financial year, Pakistan will spend less money on its social sector — education, health, social protection, population planning, environment,— as a percentage of consolidated federal and provincial expenditures as well as GDP, compared with the last fiscal year. Budgetary allocations for the social sector in the total consolidated expenditure has declined from actual spending of 17.7 percent last year to 16.9 percent this year. As percentage of GDP, it has dropped to 4.1 percent, from 4.2 percent. Analysis shows the federal government has increased its pro-poor spending as a percentage of its total budget — from 5.4 percent to 5.7 percent.
Bureau without a chairman
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-graft watchdog has closed 20 cases as investigations could not be carried out without permission by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) which has been without a chief since May 28. In the past three months, more than 80 contract employees in NAB have lost jobs as there is no chairman to authorise extension of their contracts. “The employees were from vital departments without whom investigators cannot work,” said an official. All those employees whose contracts ended had no option but to go home. Agencies
