Misbah-ul-Haq should not be in Pak ODI squad: Asif Iqbal

Islamabad : Former Pakistan cricket captain Asif Iqbal has said that middle-order batsman and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq should be in the national one-day squad.

Javed Miandad's last ball six still haunts me: Chetan Sharma

NEW DELHI: Exactly 25 years have passed on Monday since Javed Miandad smashed Chetan Sharma for a last-ball six to steer Pakistan to victory in the Asia Cup final in Sharjah but the ghosts of that day still continues to haunt the former Indian pacer.

President Zardari chairs PPP Core Committee meeting

Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari who is also Co-Chairman of ruling PPP Monday chaired PPP Core Committee meeting which reviewed present political situation, relations with coalition partners and issues of concern. It expressed satisfaction with outcome thus far of reconciliation policy and decided to continue it in larger national interest.

2 Levies force men killed in mine blast

LORALAI : Two personnel of Marri Levies Force were killed in land mine blast near Chamalang Monday.According to details, two personnel of Marri Levies Force Bilawal and Beera

Pak-India Judicial Commission delegation meets Governor Ibad

Karachi : Sindh governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan said on Monday that the cases of those persons who are languishing in jails there despite completing the sentence or whose cases are still pending should be settled on humanitarian grounds.

2 militants killed in clash with forces in Mohmand Agency

Mohmand Agency : Two militants were killed and one soldier injured in a clash at Chamarkand, Mohmand Agency on Monday.According to official sources clash between security forces and militants has left two militants dead and a soldier injured. Volunteers of Al-Khidmat Foundation took t

Karachi : 4 killed 4 injured in firing incidents

KARACHI : Four people including a woman and two political activists were killed and four others injured in different firing incidents in metropolis on Monday, police said.In fist incident a man was gunned down by unidentified persons near Alladin Park in Gulistan-e-Johar area in the wee hours on Monday, police said.They said identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained. The body was taken to Civil Hospital Karachi for postmortem.The body was later moved to Edhi morgue.In another incident a man was injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on him in Lyari Hospitalin the limits of Chakiwara Police Station, police said.

Pakistan mobile operator Telenor completed major overhaul of its information infrastructure

Karachi : Pakistan mobile operator Telenor has completed a major overhaul of its information infrastructure, to replace legacy storage systems with solutions from EMC, says a press release.

PTCL upgrades its Broadband Data Rate

Karachi : Pakistan Telecommunication Company LTD (PTCL) has upgraded its 1mbps connections to 2mbps for all its existing and new potential broadband customers throughout the countrywithout any extra charges.

Students suffering due to lack of facilities in SSC exams

Karachi : A large number of students faced different problems due to lack of facilitiesincluding shortage of furniture, load shedding of electricity and late arrival of question papers at various examination centers on the first day of annual examination 2011 of secondary school certificate (SSC) Part-I and II,(Science and General Group) on Monday.

Pakistan lifts First SAARC Baseball Cup

LAHORE : Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 8-2 to win theFirst SAARC Baseball Cup at the Punjab Stadium here on Sunday.Pakistan won gold as it won all of their matches played in theTournament. Sri Lanka won silver while Afghanistan won bronze medlarespectively.

Cricket: Pak women hopeful of impressive show in Quadrangular series in SL

Karachi : Pakistan women cricket team Monday left for Sri Lanka to compete in Quadrangular Cup in Sri Lanka.“We have been training well and the last tournament we had played was Asian Games, where we clinched the title. So I think winning in Quadrangular is not impossible for us, provided that we play there with our level best,”

India urged to adopt sincere policy for promotion of trade between two countries

Karachi : Although Pakistan has been given status of Most Favorite Nation (MFN) by India, but it has imposed Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB) on the imports from Pakistan. This matter must be taken up with the Indian Secretary Commerce during his visit to Islamabad at the end of this month, a level meeting with the Federal Secretary Commerce Zafar Mahmood on his visit to FPCCI Head Office Karachi urged on Monday.

Faisalabad : 6 killed, 7 injured in separate

FAISALABAD  Six people including two women were killed while seven others sustained injuries in separate incidents during txe last 24 hours in and around Faisalabad.

Sunni Ittehad Council decree against suicide attacks

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a conglomerate of 20 religious groups of Barelvi school of thought, on Sunday issued a religious decree against suicide attacks. It claimed over 1,000 religious scholars from 55 countries had signed the ruling.

It also announced a Karachi-Islamabad train march from Aug 14 besides holding conventions of professionals, students, women and workers.

The announcements came at a “Stability of Pakistan Sunni Conference” held at Minar-i-Pakistan lawns here.

The participants picketed Circular Road outside the venue as the police closed its entrances and kept forcing the organisers to shift their event to Attiq Stadium nearby. They were allowed entry only in the afternoon.

The event was used to declare the SIC’s political agenda by announcing it an electoral alliance for the next polls.

Five Killed in Landslide in Occupied Kashmir

Jammu :  In occupied Kashmir, five people were buried alive when a massive  landslide hit their houses in Doda district.

Pakistan : Country receives heavy rain

ISLAMABAD : Scattered rain with thunderstorm occurred in Punjab including Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Sunday turning the weather pleasant.

24 dead as tornadoes rip across US

WASHINGTON, : At least 24 people have been killed as a powerful storm whipped up tornadoes in its third day across parts of the southern, central and eastern United States, local media reported Sunday.

Pervez Musharraf announces to return to country soon

LAHORE: Former President of Pakistan, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Quaid Pervez Musharraf reiterated that he was not afraid of returning to Pakistan and soon he would be among his countrymen.

President Zardari convenes PPP core commitee meeting today

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has convened the meeting of core commitee of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) at Awan-e-Sadr on April 18 (today). The meeting would be presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Police recover 8 bodies in Attock

ATTOCK: The bodies of eight unidentified persons were recovered on Sunday morning from a deserted well in the China Chowk area of Haji Shah Road, eight kilometres from Attock, police said. The postmortem has revealed the victims were strangled to death.

Cricket : Pakistan open tour against Vice Chancellor's XI

CASTRIES, St Lucia  — Pakistan open their tour of the Caribbean today when they face a University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI at Mindoo Phillip Park.

F-16s cannot down drones: Rehman Malik

ISLAMABAD  – Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said F-16 fighter jets cannot down drone regardless of their 24-hour surveillance in the air and the matter will be resolved through diplomacy.

Pervez Musharraf links his return to party’s reorganisation

LAHORE: Linking his return to Pakistan with the completion of the party reorganisation, Pervez Musharraf has urged the nation to gear up for change.

Time ripe for change in country, Pervez Musharraf

LAHORE: The nation is disappointed at the present situation and it is time for a change in Pakistan, former president and All Pakistan Muslim League chief General (r) Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday.

He said a decision about his return and participation in the elections would be taken once the party was organised and its offices were established throughout the country. He said for the sake of Pakistan, a third political option was essential. He said that for its survival, a change in the leadership was essential.

90pc of unregistered SIMs blocked: Rehman Malik

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said on Sunday there were one million unregistered SIMs when he took charge of the ministry out of which 90 percent had been blocked now.

Cricket : Zulqarnain Haider to return to Pakistan

KARACHI: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who fled to London last year citing death threats from match-fixers, has said he will return home and cancel his application for asylum in Britain.

If Pakistan fails, US will also fail: PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said since the fight against terrorism is a Pakistan-United States combined effort, if Pakistan fails, the US will also fail.

Parliament hindering tax reforms: Abdul Hafeez Sheikh

WASHINGTON: Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, who is heading a delegation of top economic managers to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank spring meetings, has said the Pakistan government had strived to bring the budgetary deficit down to 4.5% and impose further tax reforms but was hindered by a reluctant parliament.

Rebels say 17 dead as Misrata hit by rockets

BEIRUT  - Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafibombarded Misrata with rockets and artillery on Monday and 17people were killed in the previous day's shelling of thebesieged Libyan city, a rebel spokesman said. 

Protests in Nigeria's north over Jonathan poll win

KANO, Nigeria  - Security forces deployedon the streets of Nigeria's northern cities on Monday to try tocontain protests by youths angered at results showing PresidentGoodluck Jonathan won the presidential election.

2 dead in Taliban attack on Afghan defence ministry

KABUL - Suspected Taliban militants shot dead two soldiers and injured seven others Monday in an audacious attack inside the Afghan defence ministry which the militia said was aimed at France's defence minister.

6 children killed by crane truck

TOKYO  - Six children were killed on their way to school Monday morning after they were hit by a crane truck that veered from its lane on a clear straight road and crashed into a building, police said. 

Roadside bomb kills 6 Afghan police

GHAZNI, Afghanistan  - A roadside bomb killed six police officers in central Afghanistan's Ghazni province on Monday, the local police chief told AFP, in an attack claimed by the Taliban.

Sri Lankan Tamil party hails UN war crimes report

COLOMBO  - Sri Lanka's main Tamil political party on Monday hailed a leaked UN report which called for an international war crimes probe into the island's political and military leadership.

'No evidence' Afghan attack targeted French minister

PARIS  - France said it had seen no evidence that an attack on the Afghan defence ministry Monday was an attempt to kill the French defence minister, as has been claimed by the Taliban.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon calls for ceasefire in Libya

BUDAPEST  - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to the conflict in Libya and said the United Nations would open a humanitarian mission in Tripoli. 

Cricket: Sri Lanka names Tillakaratne Dilshan new skipper

COLOMBO  - Sri Lanka's cricket authorities on Monday named all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan as captain for the upcoming tour of England.

Seven killed by security forces in Syrian town Homs: activist

NICOSIA  - At least seven people were killed overnight by Syrian security forces in the flashpoint town of Homs, rights activists told AFP on Monday.

Cricket: Pakistan always needed a batting coach: Zaheer Abbas

Karachi : Pakistan’s former prolific Test batsman Zaheer Abbas believes that Pakistan cricket team always needed a batting coach and if Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had acquired the services of a batting coach then the results of the recently concluded Cricket World Cup might have been different.

Pakistan Embassy delivers relief goods, gifts in Japan

 ISLAMABAD : A team of Embassy officials led by Pakistan Ambassador to Japan, Noor Muhammad Jadmani and Mrs. Amnat Jadmani delivered relief goods and gifts to a relief centre in Sendai city of Japan on Sunday. The team also included Imtiaz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Mission, Counsellor SyedAli Asad Gillani and Miss Nasreen Jadmani, a press release received here said.

Asma Jahangir represent barrister Kamal Azfar during hearing in Pakistan Bar Council

Karachi : President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Ms Asma Jahangir will represent barrister Kamal Azfar in the application filed by Solicitor General of Federal Law Ministry before thePakistan Bar Council seeking proceedings against Mr Azfar for 'professional misconduct' during hearingof National Reconciliation Ordinance NRO review petition by the Supreme Court.

Punjab Chief Minister in China for talks on cooperation

Beijing : Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived here Monday on the invitation of Communist Party of China for talks to enhance cooperation in hydro power, transport, roads.

Mumtaz Bhutto demands fresh polls under non-political caretaker government

Mirpur Bhutto, Sindh : Chairman, Sindh National Front, Mumtaz Bhutto has demanded freshgeneral elections in the country under a non-political caretaker setup and through genuine voters’ list so that the country engulfed by crisis could be brought back to track.

Pak women proving mettle: Tauqeer Fatima

Karachi  : Pakistani women are proving their mettle in every profession of life but it’s essential to provide them timely opportunities to have desired results, said Sindh Minister for Women Development Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto on Monday during a meeting of Care International Pakistan and Tehqeeq Foundation’s Project Steering Committee.

UK Defence Ministry warns drone strikes herald 'terminator-like reality'

London  : The increasing use of unmanned aircraft in war zones requires Britain to developa policy on what constitutes “acceptable machine behaviour,” warns a UK Ministry of Defence report.