Pakistani soldiers stand guard near damaged cars at the site of suicide bomb attacks on President Pervez Musharraf’s motorcade in Rawalpindi on Thursday. — Reuters photo

India, Russia condemn attack I was the target, says Musharraf Pervez calls meeting on govt-MMA pact Pak scientist denies helping Iran make bomb Edit page: Gifting nuclear knowhow

SC raps Punjab and Haryana High Court New Delhi, December 25 The Supreme Court has severely criticised the Punjab and Haryana High Court for dismissing an appeal by the Punjab Government against the acquittal of an accused in a drug trafficking case without citing any reason, saying that such a verdict has rendered the order unsustainable.

China gas field blast kills at least 191
Beijing, December 25
At least 191 persons were killed and scores poisoned or burned when an explosion at a natural gas field in south-west China released a plume of noxious fumes, medical workers and state media said today.

CM hopeful of rebels’ return
Badal predicts fall of govt at Jor Mela
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 25
Beleaguered Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today claimed that dissident legislators were now realising that the party would suffer if they did not come back under his fold.

Mohite-Patil replaces Bhujbal
Mumbai, December 25
Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar today announced the replacement of Mr Chhagan Bhujbal, who resigned as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra earlier this week.

Fog claims two more lives
Chandigarh, December 25
Dense fog and coldwave conditions claimed two more lives in the past 24 hours with the entire northwest region under its spell, Amritsar being the coldest at 0.7 °C.

Rebels desperately seek surrender
Bogamati (Indo-Bhutan border), December 25
As the crackdown on north-east insurgents operating from Bhutan entered the 11th day today, the fleeing ultras sneaking into Indian territory, were desperate to surrender before the authorities.

Intelligence Bureau to manage security at Attari New Delhi, December 25 To check the smuggling of contraband and sneaking in of subversive elements, the authorities have decided to deploy personnel of the Intelligence Bureau at the Attari border when the Samjhauta Express resumes its cross-border run from January 15 next year. Mohammed Talha Shahzad sits with his mother, Kanwal Shahzad, in a hospital in Chennai on Thursday. Talha (16 months) arrived from Pakistan on December 14 for an eye operation. — Reuters photo