Chief Justice asks military to keep away from politics

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said on Saturday the oath of the armed forces called for true allegiance to Pakistan by upholding the Constitution and by keeping away from political activities.

Government using Bhutto reference as smokescreen: PML-N

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday maintained that the Bhutto reference was not a national issue rather it was restricted to a single party.

OGRA chief joins Pakistan’s bogus degree club

Islamabad : Exposing Pakistan's Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Chairman Tauqir Sadiq's degree as bogus, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that there was no institution in Britain and America from where he claimed to have acquired his LLM degree.

First round of Pakistan-IMF talks conclude

WASHINGTON: The first round of talks between Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) over release of next tranche concluded on Sunday.

France likely to help Pakistan get World Trade Organisation approval: official

KARACHI: France will try to convince the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to approve the European Union’s trade package for Pakistan, said the advisor on textile on Saturday.

Pakistan’s defence made invincible, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan

KARA: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of the nuclear programme in Pakistan, said that Pakistan had a strong nuclear programme and the defence of the country had been made invincible and no one could dare cast an evil eye on us.

Zulqarnain Haider to head back to Pakistan, faces PCB grilling

Runaway Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has withdrawn his application for asylum in Britain and will return home on April 24 to be grilled by the Cricket Board for ''indiscipline and misconduct''. 

Pakistani consul general visits Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in Texas

WASHINGTON: On the instructions of Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani, Pakistani Consul General in Houston Aqil Nadeem visited Dr Aafia Siddiqui in Carswell detention facility in Texas on Friday.

My job is done if India-Pakistan ties normalize: PM Manmohan Singh

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he'll consider his job well done, if relation with Pakistan normalises.

Pervez Musharraf offers olive branch to archrival Nawaz Sharif

DUBAI: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said that he wants to make amends with Pakistan Muslim League -N (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif , but pointed out that reconciliation was not a one-way street.

We will be crowd pleasers: Intikhab Alam

VIEUX FORT: Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has promised that Caribbean fans will be attracted to the style of play of the visiting Pakistani team.

Pakistan Cricket Board ready to host India at neutral venue

NEW DELHI: While several Indian cricketers may have strong reservations against playing Pakistan on their soil, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not mind hosting India at a neutral venue. Pakistan have been playing most of their home games at neutral venues and if the Indian cricketers and even BCCI are opposed to the idea of playing in Pakistan, PCB is okay with it as long as the cricket resumes.

Pakistan judicial commission to visit India by May 15

NEW DELHI: A Pakistani judicial commission will visit India by May 15 to interview key witnesses in connection with the trial of seven Pakistani suspects in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case.

MQM criticises media for ‘negative propaganda’

MQM coordination committee said on Friday that the recent negative propaganda was an attempt to tarnish the image of the party.

MQM is a peace-loving party, Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has said that the MQM is a peace-loving party, which believes in peaceful and democratic struggle.

Safdar Abbasi , Naheed Khan want more lawyers in ZAB case

ISLAMABAD: The dissident PPP leaders, Senator Safdar Abbasi and Naheed Khan have asked their party command to engage three surviving senior jurists who were associates in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case in the late 70s.

Shahbaz Sharif approves Taunsa Hydro-Power Project, wind energy plan

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has given approval to the proposals regarding the agreements for 120 megawatt Taunsa Hydro-Power Project and mapping of wind power potential in Punjab.

Dr Asim Hussain elected senator unopposed

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari’s close aide Dr Asim Hussain on Saturday was declared as Senator unopposed on a general seat.

EU rebukes Pakistan for going slow on Taliban

BRUSSELS: The European Parliament has rebuked Pakistan for what it terms slow progress in the fight against Taliban militancy in the country and directed the European Commission to re-evaluate the size and objectives of its financial aid to Islamabad based on its “sincere efforts” to eradicate terrorist groups.

Bashar al-Assad announces end to 50-year emergency rule in Syria

DAMASCUS: President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday the emergency law in force in Syria for nearly 50 years will be abolished within a week, and expressed his sadness at the deaths of protesters.

US admits CIA network in Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The Central Investigation Agency (CIA) has established its spy network in Pakistan and needs no assistance from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to carry out drone strikes in the tribal areas, a US newspaper quoted an official as saying.

Pak-Afghan to boost joint peace efforts with Taliban

improvement in their strategic ties on Saturday decided to resolve the terror issue and find a negotiated settlement of the insurgency through mutual consultations.

Armed Forces must act within jurisdiction : Chief Justice Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday praised the Pakistan Army’s professionalism and said the Army has been regarded for years as a highly disciplined and trained force but that it must act within the scope of its jurisdiction as defined under the Constitution.

Pakistan - Afghanistan peace commission upgraded

KABUL –Pakistan and Afghanistan have upgraded a joint commission for peace in a bid to end Afghanistan’s near-decade old insurgency, and have the support of the US for the move, leaders of the two countries said on Saturday.