Breaking News Headlines

‘Isotab’ found tainted with antimalarial

2012-01-31T22:41:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: A laboratory in London Tuesday declared one of the cardiac drugs, which caused the death of more than hundred patients in Lahore, as contaminated with an antimalarial, Geo News reported.

According to details, the samples of Isotab (tablet), which were dispatched to a state-of-the-art lab in London, were tested as substandard and injurious to health.

The lab report revealed Isotab samples to be heavily contaminated with Pyrimethamine, a commonly used antimalarial.

Experts are attributing Pyrimethamine to those deadly reactions, which continue to kill cardiac patients using the tainted life-saving drugs.

Traces of antimalarial in the samples of “Isotab” were dangerously high, it added.

Chief minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, in a meeting called after the receipt of the report discussed the matter at length.

CM was also told that health department experts had found an anti-dote, which they are hopeful would help patients cope with the adverse effects of the substandard medicines taken.

CM gave go-ahead to this newly found remedy to be administered in fresh cases of drug reaction.

Petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG prices go up

2012-01-31T22:02:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The government and LPG producers on Tuesday dropped three bombshells on consumers by increasing the price of oil products. Petroleum Oil Lubricants (POL) prices were raised from Rs3 to 6.29 per litre, a 10 per cent infrastructure development surcharge was levied on compressed natural gas (CNG) and the LPG price was raised by Rs14 per kg with immediate effect from today (February 1, 2012).

Experts had already predicted that people would be exposed to more surges in inflation on account of a surge in POL prices following the US-Iran tension over the strategic Straits of Hormuz. The State Bank of Pakistan has also hinted that the government may miss the GDP target. “When GDP growth is on the decline and the purchasing power of the common man has eroded manifold, such a hike in the prices of POL, CNG and LPG is unjustified,” Sohail Abbas, a government official residing in I-9/2 said.

A housewife Khalida Imtiaz added: “Our incomes are fixed, but there is no one who can control unbridled inflation. It seems that we are being punished for living in Pakistan.”

People complained that the power tariff had increased to Rs12.25 per unit during peak hours and Rs6.70 during the lean period and there were reports that the peak hour tariff would further increase to Rs15 per unit and lean hours tariff to Rs9.50 per unit. The diesel price increase would be the main reason for inflation as the transportation of all goods, including kitchen items, was by diesel run vehicles.

Ogra on Monday sent a summary to the federal government recommending a hike in petrol price by Rs5.37 per litre, HOBC by Rs6.29 per litre, High Speed Diesel by Rs4.64 per litre, kerosene oil by Rs2.78 per litre and light diesel oil by Rs3.73 per litre.

The finance ministry has increased the petroleum levy of Rs1.32 per litre owing to which the total petroleum levy has swelled to Rs6.50 per litre of diesel. As per the hike of POL prices in the global market, the price of high-speed diesel is to be increased by Rs3.11 per litre.

As per the Ogra notification, the new price of petrol would be Rs94.91 per litre, of HOBC Rs118.20, HSD Rs103.46, kerosene oil Rs92.09, LDO Rs90.21 per litre. The new rates will come into effect from today (February 1, 2012).

It is pertinent to mention that Ogra had advised the government to reduce the petroleum levy on POL products to maintain the prices with zero increase, but the cash-starved finance ministry has refused to honour the recommendations of the regulator.

The government also imposed 10 percent infrastructure development surcharge on CNG, owing to which the new CNG prices would stand at Rs74.29 in KPK, Balochistan and Potohar region and Rs69.60 in Sindh and Punjab.

When contacted, Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources said that the government had imposed 60 percent infrastructure development surcharge on gas, but the CNG associations went on countrywide agitation. “The government, in consultation with the CNG association, thus reduced 10 percent development surcharge and decided that it would be imposed later.”

The government has levied the 10 percent surcharge now. He said that the government is committed to increase the infrastructure development surcharge by 100 percent. The 60 percent increase has been implemented and the remaining 40 percent will be increased in phases and keeping in view the formula of maintaining parity of CNG price to 55 percent of petrol - the demand of the CNG association.

On top of it, LPG producers also increased LPG price by Rs14 per kg, owing to which the price of domestic cylinders has swelled by Rs165 and commercial cylinders by Rs660. LPG is used in areas where piped gas is not available, particularly in northern areas. The poor masses in rural areas where poverty is on the rise also mostly use LPG.

Altaf grieves over sympathizers’ murder

2012-01-30T21:48:00.000-08:00

LONDON: Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has expressed his grief and sorrow over the murder of three sympathizers in North Karachi, Geo News reported.

He offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and said that every worker of the MQM shared their grief, a statement said on Monday.

Also, MQM’s Rabita Committee condemned the slayings in the strongest possible words demanding immediate action in this regard.

Karachi violence: LIAQATABAD SEARCH OPERATION

2012-01-30T21:46:00.001-08:00

Karachi violence TARGET KILLING

2012-01-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

Twitter to get Facebook-style brand pages February 1: report

2012-01-30T21:30:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK: Microblogging site Twitter will begin to roll out "Facebook-style" enhanced brand pages, allowing users to shop and play games, from February 1 according to a January 26 report by Businessinsider.

Twitter quietly launched enhanced profile pages for brands in December 2011; these pages, which were limited to a few companies such as HP and Coca-Cola, gave the brands 'flashier' pages that were more in line with their brand image -- for example Coca-Cola's page is red.

However according to Businessinsider, these enhanced pages will, from February 1, take a turn that it is more in the direction ofFacebook's model, enabling brands to build platforms on their pages that, "could include iFrame environments" (a more flexible style of computer programming) which would enable users to play games and shop on a brand's site without leaving Twitter.

Business Insider simply attributes these rumors to a source "... who received a briefing on the topic from a senior Twitter executive." At the time of writing (11am GMT January 27), no mention of the proposed changes has appeared on Twitter's official blog.

B'stan MPA's wife, daughter, driver gunned down

2012-01-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: In what seems to be an apparent target killing, wife, daughter, and driver of Balochistan MPA, Sahibzada Bakhtiar, have been murdered near Gizri Bridge in Karachi, Geo News reported.

Earlier, reports had it that unknown gunmen had opened fire on a car parked outside a house in a street close by killing all its occupants.

The bullet riddled dead bodies have been shifted to the hospital.

The incident according Karachi police chief seemed to be an outcome of a family vendetta.

The unfortunate family members of Balochistan MPA were visiting Karachi to attend a marriage ceremony here, authorities told media.

Mir Bakhtiar Domki, elected form Sibbi PB as member provincial assembly, is a maternal grandson, whereas his now deceased wife was a paternal granddaughter of the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

A bereaved Domki told media that he expected no justice from Sindh government.

“ I am looking up to Almighty Allah for justice”, said he.

Condemning the tragedy, he said, now, even their (Bugti tribe’s) women were being targeted.

Earlier, it was found out that car's registration number was "ANR 353" and a plaque fixed on top of license plate read “MPA Balochistan”.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

More details are yet to come.

Amir Khan's engagement set with US-Pakistani beauty

2012-01-30T21:12:00.000-08:00

LONDON: British Pakistani boxing star Amir Khan is all set to get engaged with the American Pakistani student Faryal Makhdoom when he gives her the £100,000 three diamond rings on 29th January.

According to The Sun newspaper, the second generation Pakistanis will be swapping the rings in front of 1,000 people at a lavish £150,000 engagement party at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium where rich footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ricky Hatton, David Haye are just some of people on the guest list.

The love struck couple have strong traditional values, as Faryal, 20, said:" I'm very family oriented even though I was born and raised in New York but my grandparents are in Pakistan - and a lot of my dad's family are there."

"My parents are already treating Amir like a son," she added and that was quite apparent when the bride-to-be's father, Shaukat, and mum Zia gave the couple a BMW 750Li as a gift when the engagement was announced.

The pretty and petite Faryal - just 5ft 3in - has been bowled over by messages of support from Amir's army of fans. "I get a lot of messages from Amir's fans and quite a few say I look like Kate Middleton. That's so nice because so many people admire her and I think she's very stylish - so the comparison is really very flattering for me."

Husband-to-be Amir rushed to praise her too, in an interview with The Sun newspaper, adding: "A lot of girls have said to me, 'Your girl is beautiful' - and that's great because people can be so jealous. But Faryal is so humble. Anybody who meets her is going to fall in love with her. She's got no edge, she's just a terrific person."

Faryal will be flying to England on Friday for their engagement party and spend a week here where Amir will be taking her out to show her around Bolton.

"I'm going to introduce her to a pasty barm, fish and chips - maybe even an ice cream if she's lucky!" Amir said jokingly. "I might also try to squeeze in a Bolton match just so that she cans see the venue before the big day - and make sure she likes it."

Faryal revealed how their relationship was almost teetering on the edges initially as she had a lot of trouble understanding Amir's broad Bolton accent.

"In the beginning I really couldn't understand him. I was used to London accents and thought that's how everyone spoke in Britain. But when Amir opened his mouth it was as if he was speaking a foreign tongue - so I just used to nod, agree with whatever he was talking about and say, 'Yeah'.

"He'd say things like 'daft' and 'innit' and I had no idea what they meant. He'd say, 'Don't be daft!' - and I'd be wondering what 'daft' was supposed to be!" But she broke down the language barrier when she visited Amir's family at their home in Bolton and spent five days meeting his nieces, nephews and cousins. Speaking of the future Amir said: "I know New York is an amazing city but our future lies in Bolton - she can't wait to live there!"

Lahore: CNG stations closed for 3 days

2012-01-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: All the CNG stations, under the gas load management plan, in Lahore region have been closed at 6:00 AM today, Geo News reported.

The gas supply to CNG stations would remain suspended for three days till 6:00 AM Thursday.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at all the CNG stations on night between Sunday and Monday.

People said they were facing severe problems due to three-day closure of CNG pumps.

They criticized the government, saying that incumbent government is not serious in resolving the energy crisis.

Ajmal Kasab's death penalty appeal hearing today

2012-01-30T20:56:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: India's supreme court is due to begin an appeal hearing into the death sentence handed down to the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Mohammed Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to Mumbai in attacks which lasted nearly three days and killed 166 people, has appealed for his sentence to be overturned after he was convicted in May 2010.

The 24-year-old Pakistani was found guilty of a series of crimes, including waging war against India, murder and terror acts.

The November 2008 attacks saw 10 heavily-armed Islamist gunmen storm targets including luxury hotels, a Jewish centre and a train station.

Two Supreme Court judges in New Delhi will hear the appeal tomorrow, which is expected to last several weeks after opening with a statement from Kasab's court-appointed counsel Raju Ramachandran.

India blames the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit for training, equipping and financing the attack with support from "elements" in the Pakistan military.

Kasab's death sentence was confirmed by a state high court in Mumbai last year. If he loses his Supreme Court appeal, he will be able to appeal for clemency from the president.

Ujjwal Nikam, who prosecuted the case in Mumbai on behalf of the Maharashtra state, is seeking to push through the death sentence.

"This is the rarest of rare cases," Mr Nikam said ahead of the hearing. "He should not be entitled to any mercy."

At the trial, the prosecution produced fingerprint, DNA, eye-witness and television evidence showing him opening fire and throwing grenades at Mumbai's main railway station in the bloodiest episode of the attacks.

Kasab - who is in jail in Mumbai - initially pleaded not guilty but later made a confession, admitting to being one of the gunmen sent by the banned LeT militant group.

He then reverted back to his initial denial and said he was framed by the police.

Pakistan has indicted seven alleged perpetrators behind the attacks but they have not been brought to trial, triggering Indian accusations that the process is a sham.

Pakistani investigators and lawyers will visit India next month to gather more evidence ahead of any trial in Islamabad.

Most death sentences in India are commuted to life imprisonment, and convicts can sit on death row for years awaiting a final decision.

SRK scuffles with Farah Khan's husband

2012-01-30T20:54:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was embroiled in an ugly row on Monday after a female director accused him of assaulting her husband at a late-night party.

Farah Khan, who directed Shah Rukh in blockbusters "Main Hoon Na" (I am there for you) and "Om Shanti Om", claimed the actor had attacked her husband Shirish Kunder on Sunday night.

"Shah Rukh has always told me that physical abuse is the worst way to sort out a problem and that it means the person who's hitting has either a personal or professional crisis going on," Farah Khan said in a statement.

"And it saddens me to see him doing the same," added Farah Khan, who is not related to the actor.

The reported bust-up occurred at a party thrown by veteran Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to celebrate his latest flick "Agneepath" (Line of Fire).

"SRK (Shah Rukh) pulled Shirish down to the ground by his long hair. We were all shocked. We had never seen SRK behave this way before," a witness told the Times of India newspaper.

The paper said Shah Rukh was upset with Kunder over jibes on Twitter.

The NDTV news channel said the actor admitted that there had been a disagreement but denied any assault.

Cook, Trott hit fifties as England reach 132-1

2012-01-26T03:25:00.000-08:00

ABU DHABI: Alistair Cook and Jonathan Trott dominated the second session adding 84 runs without being separated to frustrate Pakistan bowlers on the second day of the second Test against England here at the Sheikh Zayad Stadium on Thursday.

Both batsmen scored half-centuries as England were 132 for one at tea break.

Cook was batting on 58 and Trott on 57 not out while captain Andrew Strauss was the only batsman fell so far in the England innings.

Strauss, who has scored only one hundred in the last 30 months, was caught at short leg off spinner Mohammad Hafeez to leave England at 27-1 before lunch.

Rihanna sets personal chart record with 'We Found Love'

2012-01-26T03:20:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANSISCO: Rihanna's "We Found Love" has just lodged its 10th non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which makes this the longest run of her career at the tally's pole position.

Beyonce was the last female to have a single peak at 10 weeks. She did it in 2006 with "Irreplaceable."

If "We Found Love" (featuring Calvin Harris) holds on to the top-ranked slot for another week, Rihanna will match previous records set by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans' "I'll Be Missing You" and Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart."

Flights rerouted as massive solar storm slams Earth

2012-01-26T03:14:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON: Solar radiation from a massive sun storm - the largest in nearly a decade - collided with the Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday, prompting an airline to reroute flights and skywatchers to seek out spectacular light displays.

US carrier Delta Air Lines said it had adjusted flight routes for transpolar journeys between Asia and the United States to avoid problems caused by the radiation storm, a spokesman said.

NASA confirmed the coronal mass ejection (CME) began colliding with Earth's magnetic field around 10:00 AM (1500 GMT) Tuesday, adding that the storm was now being considered the largest since October 2003.

Radiation storms are not harmful to humans, on Earth at least, according to the US space agency. They can, however, affect satellite operations and short wave radio.

The storm's radiation, likely to continue bombarding Earth's atmosphere through Wednesday, and its possible disruption to satellite communications in the polar regions prompted the flight rerouting, airline officials said.

Muslim Brotherhood’s Katatni elected parliament speaker

2012-01-24T01:34:00.000-08:00

CAIRO, Jan 23, 2012 (AFP) - Saad al-Katatni, who was elected as speaker of Egypt's first post-revolution parliament on Monday, is a biologist and longtime leading member of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood.

The 59-year-old botany professor was elected as a member of parliament for the province of Minya, south of Cairo, in the first elections since a popular uprising ousted veteran president Hosni Mubarak.

Katatni faces the tough task of steering the People's Assembly, or lower house, through a crucial phase, although its exact function still remains unclear.

"We want to build a new Egypt, a constitutional, democratic and modern Egypt," pledged the parliamentarian, a prayer bump marked on his forehead.

Reputed to be a slick operator, Katatni is a seasoned politician who served as the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc between 2005 and 2010.

He had run as an independent at a time when Islamist movements could not field candidates directly.

He was then elected in 2010 to the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament which has a consultative role.

Mubarak's downfall catapulted the Muslim Brotherhood to the forefront of politics, allowing the long-banned movement to form the Freedom and Justice Party, which Katatni was chosen to set up.

In efforts to reach out to the country's eight million-strong Christian community, Katatni was part of a delegation of senior Brotherhood leaders who visited Coptic Pope Shenuda III at the Abassiya Cathedral in central Cairo to offer greetings on Christmas.

Born on April 3, 1952, Katatni taught botany and microbiology at Minya University, south of Cairo.

Widely published in his field, Katatni a member of several professional associations and headed the scientists' syndicate from 1984-1993.

Gas closure: Misery continues for Faisalabad industries for 34th day

2012-01-24T01:31:00.000-08:00

FAISALABAD: The industrial units in Faisalabad remained shut for more than a month as a result of suspension of gas supply, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Sui Northern Gas Company had issued a new schedule for the load management according to which gas supply can be continued for two days only. Industrialists subsequently rejected the schedule causing unemployment for daily wages workers for the 34th consecutive day.

The gas supply to industries was suspended on December 22 for an indefinite period that could not be restored till recently.

Halting of production process has badly affected the daily wages workers as they are jobless due to closure of industries.

According to industrialists, thousands of employees are suffering due to closure of industries. They have asked the government to take appropriate measures to resume gas supply to the industries.

Ponting, Clarke tons as Australia plunder India

2012-01-24T01:26:00.000-08:00

ADELAIDE: Australia were 335 for three at the close after winning the toss on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against India at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Ricky Ponting was not out 137 with skipper Michael Clarke on 140.

Resurgent Ricky Ponting posted his 41st Test century and skipper Michael Clarke his second ton of the series as Australia plundered India in the final Test.

Ponting passed 13,000 Test runs with his second hundred in three innings while Clarke raised his 19th Test ton following his unbeaten triple century in Sydney.

The experienced pair shared in a ground record fourth wicket partnership to have the tourists on the rack as relentless Australia sought to ram home a 4-0 series whitewash.

India, who relinquished their top Test ranking when they were crushed 4-0 in England last year, face their eighth consecutive away defeat if they cannot prevent another Australian victory this week.

Ponting and Clarke combined in another domineering partnership with an unbroken 251 runs after their 288 stand in the second Sydney Test over the New Year and batted through the last two sessions.

At the close on a sweltering opening day, Australia after winning the toss were 335 for three with Ponting unbeaten on 137 off 254 balls and Clarke 140 off 188 balls.

Biggest solar storm since 2005 pummels Earth

2012-01-24T01:22:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON: A potent solar flare has unleashed the biggest radiation storm since 2005 and could disrupt some satellite communications in the polar regions, US space weather monitors said Monday.

The event started late Sunday with a moderate-sized solar flare that erupted right near the center of the Sun, said Doug Biesecker, a physicist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center.

"The flare itself was nothing spectacular, but it sent off a very fast coronal mass ejection traveling four million miles per hour (6.4 million kilometers per hour)," he told AFP.

A rush of radiation in the form of solar protons already has begun bombarding the Earth and is likely to continue through Wednesday.

The radiation storm is the largest of its kind since 2005 but still ranks only a three on the scale of one to five, enough to be considered "strong" but not "severe," he added.

NOAA said its website the S3 ranking means "it could, e.g., cause isolated reboots of computers onboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interfere with polar radio communications."

Biesecker said that when it comes to radiation storms, the polar regions are affected most.

For instance, the storm could spell disruptions to airline flights, oil operations, Arctic exploration and space satellites.

Night-sky viewers in Asia and Europe may be able to witness the aurora, or Northern Lights, late Tuesday as a result of the storm.

"We don't expect major impacts from an event like this," Biesecker said.

"It's the people who need GPS (global positioning system) accuracy of centimeters who have to worry, not people who want to know if you're going to turn the car 30 meters (100 feet) ahead."

SUN VS EARTH

2012-01-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

Oil prices lower on Europe debt worries

2012-01-23T02:16:00.000-08:00

SINGAPORE: Oil prices bomb were lower in Asian trade Monday amid renewed concerns over Europe's ability to deal with its towering debt crisis, analysts said.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in March, was down 22 cents to $98.11 a barrel in morning trade.

Brent North Sea crude for March delivery shed three cents to $109.83.

"There is still great worry over whether Greece will be able to deal with its huge debt problem... which may soften demand for crude," said Ken Hasegawa, energy desk manager at Newedge brokerage in Tokyo.

European Union finance ministers are set to meet in Brussels on Monday to forge ahead with plans to implement a fiscal pact and finalise a treaty setting up a permanent debt rescue fund.

'Twitter is much more than social'

2012-01-23T02:07:00.000-08:00

MUNICH: Twitter is much more than a social networkand has no time to waste worrying about newcomers like Google+ as it becomes more important as an information service and builds its advertising business, co-founder Jack Dorsey said on Sunday.

"We have a lot to concern ourselves with, just building Twitter," Dorsey said when asked at a technology conference whether he was worried that Google's own fledgling social network would come after Twitter.

"Social is just one part of what we do. We think of it as an information utility," he said, describing Twitter as a personal news service as much as a social network.

"You don't have to tweet at all," he told the DLD conference in the German city of Munich. "The biggest value is finding out what's happening in your world in real time."

Twitter, which lets people send 140-character messages, or tweets, to groups of followers, has more than 100 million active users.

Investors are eagerly awaiting a market float that could value the company at around $8 billion.

Skeptics contend that the site has not yet proved it can make money. But Dorsey, who is the company's executive chairman, said advertisers were proving willing to pay to promote their tweets, accounts and trends.

"Our business model has been in development for quite some time, and it works," he said.

Twitter is expected to have made about $140 million in revenue last year, according to an estimate by industry research firm eMarketer.

Dorsey said Twitter was building a team in Germany, where privacy concerns run high and engagement with Twitter has been relatively low.

He added that the company was always open to making acquisitions to acquire the talent it wanted.

Dorsey is also the founder and chief executive of fast-growing mobile payments start-up Square, which he said he wanted to expand internationally this year.

"We would love to come to Europe, and we're going to work very, very hard this year to bring it outside the United States," he said. "We're looking at China. We're looking all over Asia."

Ispahani rejects Sunday Times interview

2012-01-23T01:53:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Farahnaz Ispahani, wife of embattled Husain Haqqani has rejected the reports attributed to her that she ran away fearing abduction, Geo News reported.

Farahnaz said she didn't give interview to anyone adding that she respected ISI and Army. 'I came here to meet my children and going home soon.'

Britain's Sunday Times quoted Ispahani that she ran away from Pakistan fearing Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) might kidnap her to force her husband, Husain Haqqani, to sign a confession and implicate the president in the memogate scandal.

Christina Lamb, a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times, who filed story on Pakistan from Washington, is banned from entering Pakistan after being deported from the country in 2001.

Lamb wrote that the memogate scandal involving Husain Haqqani, who is facing trial for treason, was "trumped up".

Mansoor Ijaz refuses to come to Pakistan

2012-01-23T01:43:00.000-08:00

ISLAMBAD: American Businessman and central figure in memgate scandal Mansoor Ijaz refuses to come to Pakistan and asks the commission to record the statement in Zurich or London.

Mansoor Ijaz's counsel Akram Sheikh advocate said his client is being trapped by and may be arrested upon his arrival in Pakistan.

Sheikh told reporters that Ijaz was reluctant to visit the country, fearing that he would be detained indefinitely.

"It seems like a well-orchestrated trap to hold Mr Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan after his deposition before the commission," Sheikh said.

"Therefore Mr Ijaz has decided to make a request to the commission to record his testimony in London or Zurich," Sheikh told reporters.

"Mr Ijaz refuses to walk knowingly into the trap being laid by the government and waits to speak the truth of this case," he said.

American businessman Ijaz implicated President Asif Ali Zardari in a secretive memo seeking US help to curb the power of the military, allegedly fearing an army coup after Osama bin Laden was killed in May.

Final electoral rolls to be completed by May: ECP Chief

2012-01-23T01:41:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Justice Hamid Ali Mirza (retd) said in an advisory meeting with the politicaians that voters’ lists cannot be prepared before May, Geo News reported Monday.

The Commissioner told that the complete voters’ lists cannot be prepared by February 23 as the deadline given by the Supreme Court (SC). The commission has already sent two summaries regarding the delay, Mirza said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), political parties, civil society and media held a consultative session today to discuss key issues for ensuring credible and transparent elections in the country.

A detailed presentation was given to the participants aiming to share vital tasks to be completed before next general elections while steps were discussed that have been taken to make the electoral process more effective and ensure their transparency and credibility.

Meanwhile, the ECP and NADRA have redoubled their efforts to complete the gigantic task of publishing final voter lists as early as possible.

A total of 10,000 data entry operators are working in three shifts nowadays to complete the publication of Preliminary Electoral Rolls as soon as possible.

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will hand over computerized voter lists containing names pictures of 80.40 million voters to ECP. As many as 30.70 million unverified votes are being deleted and the names of youngsters having Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC) are being added in the new voter lists.

The final electoral rolls are likely to be published in May.

Judiciary closed the door on coup: CJ

2012-01-21T03:32:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Saturday said that judiciary had closed the door on martial law by voiding Nov 3, 2007 diktats, Geo News reported.

Addressing a ceremony held to distribute certificates among new enrollees at Karachi Supreme Court Registry, Chief Justice said that oath-taking under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) had also been declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Pinning high hopes on young lawyers, he said, it was expected that they (lawyers) would prove to be the stalwarts of law and not its saboteurs.

No security for Mansoor Ijaz on Pak visit, says US

2012-01-21T03:29:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: US embassy in Islamabad said on Saturday that no security has been assured to Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz during his visit to Pakistan where he is due to appear before a commission formed to investigate the memogate case on January 24, Geo News reported.

US embassy spokesman was speaking to Geo News and told that Ijaz would be visiting Pakistan as a common US national and would be entitled to avail all the facilities that other Americans get here.

The spokesman made it clear that Ijaz has not been committed any security during his visit

Mansoor Ijaz got one-year visa from Pakistan High Commission in London two days ago and said he was all set to appear before the memo commission.

IG KP, Interior Secretary summoned in Uzma Ayub case

2012-01-21T03:27:00.000-08:00

PESHAWAR: The committee formed to probe the case of rape victim Uzma Ayub’s baby girl has completed its report, Geo News reported.

The committee includes Session Judge Anees Bukhari, Principal of Khyber Medical College Zahir Hussain and DIG Idrees Khan.

On the basis of the report compiled by the committee, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has summoned IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Interior Secretary today (Saturday).

Uzma Ayub, a gang rape victim, gave birth to a baby girl at a local hospital in Peshawar on Thursday.

It is pertinent to mention that Uzma’s newborn baby was taken away by the chairperson of women rights commission in the presence of police officials. Therefore, the report recommended summoning CCPO and questioning him over the child’s custody.

The report also stated that handing over the child without court’s permission falls under contempt of court.

The PHC had also taken a suo moto notice in the murder case of the victim's brother who was shot dead on December 9, 2011 on the premises of court in Karak in the presence of police officials.

Musharraf delays return to Pakistan

2012-01-19T02:25:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf may delay his planned return from self-imposed exile after Islamabad warned that he would be arrested, a close aide said Thursday.

Mohammad Amjad, senior vice president in Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League, told AFP that "no final decision had yet been taken" but said the retired general would make an announcement on his plans "later, perhaps today".

"His friends and party officials want him to postpone it for sometime. This was discussed yesterday at a meeting and conveyed to him," Amjad said.

Musharraf had promised to fly home between January 27-30 to contest general elections now widely expected within months as Pakistan's civilian government sinks deeper into a major crisis, squeezed by the military and the judiciary.

On Wednesday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the upper house of parliament that Musharraf would be arrested if he lands in Pakistan.

"There are three registered cases against him. He has been named in these cases, so ultimately he will be arrested," Malik said.

NRO Implementaion: SC issues contempt notice to PM Gilani

2012-01-16T04:23:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued contempt notice to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the NRO implementation case and directed him to appear personally before the bench on January 19, Geo News reported.

"In these circumstances, we are left with no option, as a first step, to issue a show cause notice," the notice issued by the seven-member bench stated.

"The prime minister should appear personally in court on Jan. 19."

The notice has been issued to the PM under Section 17. A seven-member larger bench of the SC resumed hearing of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case.

The hearing of the NRO implementation case was adjourned till January 19.

Tendulkar back for India in one-dayers

2012-01-15T23:37:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: India picked Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday for the tri-series in Australia, ending the star batsman's self-imposed exile from one-day cricket outside the World Cup.

Tendulkar, the world's leading one-day batsman who is chasing his 100th international century, was included in a 17-man squad for the tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, to be played from February 5 to March 8.

The same squad, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will also feature in two Twenty20 internationals against hosts Australia in Sydney on February 1 and in Melbourne on February 3.

His inclusion means Tendulkar will have further opportunities to record a 100th ton if he is unable to achieve the landmark in the final Test against Australia in Adelaide later this month.

The Indian cricket board announced the squad on the day Dhoni's men were thrashed by an innings and 37 runs in the Perth Test to give Australia a decisive 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

It was India's seventh successive Test defeat abroad, following their 4-0 rout in England last year, in a dismal run that has taken the sheen off their limited-overs World Cup victory last April.

Tendulkar, who turns 39 in April, has played in just four of India's 47 one-day internationals outside the World Cup in the last two years, preferring to rest and concentrate on Test matches.

His record 18,111 runs in 453 one-day matches with 48 centuries includes the first-ever double-century in one-day cricket, an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwalior in February 2010.

He was the star performer in India's World Cup victory, with 482 runs in nine matches, second only to Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan's 500 runs in as many games.

There was no place in the squad for the World Cup's man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh, who has yet to regain full fitness after being treated for a non-malignant lung tumour.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma, currently playing in the Test series, has been rested as seamers Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan join the new-ball attack for the one-dayers.

Veteran batsmen Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman, who do not play one-day cricket any more, will return home after the final Test.

Indian squad:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel.

Hacker says will release full Norton Antivirus code on Tuesday

2012-01-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: A hacker who goes by the name of 'Yama Tough' threatened Saturday to release next week the full source code for Symantec Corp's flagship Norton Antivirus software.

"This coming Tuesday behold the full Norton Antivirus 1,7Gb src, the rest will follow," Yama Tough posted via Twitter.

In the past week Yama Tough has released fragments of source code from Symantec products along with a cache of emails. The hacker says all the data was taken from Indian government servers.

RIM refuses to hand memo data to Pakistan

2012-01-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

TORONTO: Blackberry maker, Research in Motion (RIM), has refused to release data related to 'memogate' scandal, Geo News reported.

According to details, Canada-based phone manufacturer has said that their privacy laws strictly prohibit disclosure of a customer’s data to any other party without the consent of the concerned parties, thus Pakistan cannot have it.

In other words only Mansoor Ijaz'z go-ahead is only half of what RIM requires, without Husain Haqqani's permission RIM will not release the Blackberry chat history saved in their servers.

Company also revealed that they have launched this response after receiving a sealed letter from the Attorney General of Pakistan.

Sources privy to the matter also said that it was not a 'final decision', adding the company was still in the process of deliberations over the issue.

NRO hearing adjourned till 11:30am

2012-01-15T22:12:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: A seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC) resumed hearing of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case Monday, Geo News reported.

The proceedings were adjourned till 11:30 am.

In today's hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq will present the government's viewpoint on the six options given by the Supreme Court. The Law Secretary and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman will also appear before the court.

The SC ordered government representatives to appear in court on Monday to explain what they have planned to do.

On January 10, a five-member bench decided to refer the six options relating to the NRO implementation case to the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry for constitution of a larger bench for hearing of these options.

Announcing the verdict on NRO implementation case‚ the bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the six options are being handed over to the Attorney General.

01: To initiate the contempt of court proceedings against the Chief Executive and the Secretary Law for not implementing the NRO verdict.
02: To declare the chief executive ineligible from the membership of the Parliament.
03: The court may form a commission to get the verdict implemented.
04: The people themselves decide on the issue and the court exhibit patience.
05: Contempt proceedings against Chairman NAB may be initiated.
06: The action may be taken against President for violating the Constitution.

Memogate: Mansoor Ijaz seeks more time to appear

2012-01-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Mansoor Ijaz's Counsel Akram Sheikh Advocate told the Memo Commission that his client has applied for Pakistan's visa at Swiss Embassy.

The counsel said Mansoor Ijaz might appear before the commission on January 24.

Ijaz was to appear today but his lawyer sought relaxation saying his client is getting his family insured for security.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC) Justice Qazi Faiz Isa resumed the hearing of infamous Memogate case.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani and Mansoor Ijaz's counsel Akram Shaikh were present during hearing.

On the other hand, Blackberry maker, Research in Motion (RIM) has refused to release data related to 'memogate' scandal.

The Canada-based phone manufacturer said that their privacy laws strictly prohibit disclosure of a customer's data to any other party without the consent of the concerned parties, thus Pakistan cannot have it.

Brazil staffers to earn overtime replying emails

2012-01-13T22:58:00.000-08:00

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian workers who find themselves answering work emails on their smartphones after the end of their shifts can qualify for overtime under a new law.

The new legislation was approved by President Dilma Rousseff last month.

It says that company emails to workers are equivalent to orders given directly to the employee. Labor attorneys told the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper this makes it possible for workers answering emails after hours to ask for overtime pay.

This issue has come up in the United States as well. In May, Chicago policeman Jeffrey Allen filed a class action suit against the city, asking for unpaid overtime compensation.

Beyonce's new baby makes Billboard chart debut

2012-01-11T22:00:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES: She's not even a week old, but the baby daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z has become the youngest person ever to be credited on the U.S. Billboard chart.

The cries and coos of Blue Ivy Carter, who entered the world in New York on January 7, are featured on the new single "Glory" released by proud dad Jay-Z on Monday.

The track made its debut on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart this week at No. 74 -- the chart's highest new entry -- with the newborn credited as "featuring B.I.C.", Billboard said on Wednesday.

For fans old enough to remember Stevie Wonder's 1977 ode to his new daughter Aisha "Isn't She Lovely", which also featured the baby's gurgles, Billboard had a simple explanation.

"Isn't She Lovely" was released almost two years after Aisha was born and she wasn't officially credited on the song, Billboard said.

Jay-Z, 42, released "Glory" just 48 hours after the birth of the music industry power couple's first baby. He also revealed in the lyrics that Beyonce, 30, suffered at least one miscarriage in the past.

PM remarks may lead to grievous consequences, warns ISPR

2012-01-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan's army warned Wednesday that critical comments made by the prime minister would have "serious ramifications" and could wreak "potentially grievous consequences for the country".

Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani earlier in the week told China's People's Daily online that the army chief and head of intelligence services had acted unlawfully by making unilateral submissions to an ongoing Supreme Court inquiry.

The ISPR statement said: "APP issued a statement on 9th of January 2012 giving details of the interview given by the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan to The People's Daily Online of China when the COAS was also on an official visit to China. The Honourable Prime Minister inter alia termed the responses given by COAS and DG ISI in the alleged Memo Case to the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan as unconstitutional and illegal".

This part of the statement has been quoted and widely debated in the media. There can be no allegation more serious than what the Honourable Prime Minister has leveled against COAS and DG ISI and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the Constitution of the Country. This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the Country.

The statement does not take into account following important facts:-
- COAS and DG ISI were cited as Respondents in the Petitions as such and after hearing the parties the Honourable Supreme Court served notices directly to the Respondents. This was not objected to by the learned Attorney General of Pakistan.

- The responses by the respondents were sent to the Ministry of Defence for onward submission to the Honourable Supreme Court, through Attorney General (Law Ministry).

- A letter was also dispatched to the Attorney General of Pakistan and the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan informing that the replies have been submitted to the Ministry of Defence.

- It is emphasized that copies of the statements of the two Respondents were not forwarded directly to the Supreme Court.

- Responsibility for moving summaries and obtaining approvals of Competent Authority thereafter lay with the relevant ministries and not with the Respondents.

It is also highlighted that after a meeting between the Honourable Prime Minister and the COAS, the Honourable Prime Minister had publicly stated through a press release of 16th December 2011 that the replies submitted were " in response to the notice of the Court through proper channel and in accordance with the rules of business." No objections were raised before and thereafter, on the legality and constitutional status of the replies, at any time, during the last more than three weeks of hearing of the case by the Honourable Supreme Court.

It is also categorically stated that COAS and DG ISI in their response to the Honourable Supreme Court were obliged to state facts as known to them, on the Memo Issue. The issue of jurisdiction and maintainability of the Petitions was between the Honourable Supreme Court and the Federation.

Any expectation that COAS will not state the facts is neither constitutional nor legal. Allegiance to State and the Constitution is and will always remain prime consideration for the Respondent, who in this case has followed the book.

Police kill armed robber in Saddar

2012-01-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: One armed robber was shot dead while two others managed to flee from Bohri Bazaar of Saddar area on Wednesday, Geo News reported.

According to police sources, three alleged robbers were roaming near a private bank and a restaurant. When police tried to catch them, they exchanged fire with the security personnel and as a result, one robber got killed while two others fled from the scene.

The alleged robber who was killed in the encounter was holding a hand grenade.

Jamshed Dasti resigns from PPP

2012-01-11T01:55:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Jamshed Dasti has resigned from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and would also give up his National Assembly membership on Wednesday, Geo News reported.

Dasti said the main reason for leaving the party was the appointment of corrupt officials in his constituency.

Dasti added that he would take part in the next elections as an independent candidate from the constituency of Hina Rabbani Khar, that is Muzaffargarh.

His resignation has been submitted to the party leadership while he would also be vacating his National Assembly seat.

Australian survives terrifying fall after bungee snaps

2012-01-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY: An Australian woman has survived a terrifying fall after her bungee cord snapped during a 111-metre (364-feet) leap off Africa's Victoria Falls Bridge, plunging her into the crocodile-infested Zambezi River below.

Erin Langworthy, who suffered only cuts and bruises in the fall on New Year's Eve, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, said it was a "miracle" that she had survived the plunge into the rapids below the bridge, which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe.

"It felt like I had been slapped all over," the 22-year-old from Perth told Australia's Channel Nine television.

Video footage showed the moment towards the end of the fall that the cord snapped and hurled her into the river.

Langworthy had to dive under the water to unravel the rope bound around her feet as she entered the rapids.

"I actually had to swim down and yank the bungee cord out of whatever it was caught on to make it to the surface," she said.

After unbinding her feet she managed to swim to the river bank on the Zimbabwe side to await assistance.

"Yes, I think it's definitely a miracle that I survived," she said.

Langworthy was treated at a nearby clinic before being evacuated to South Africa.

A Zambian minister sought to reassure tourists about bungee safety but said the issue would be discussed with the operator.

"The bungee has proven to be a very viable operation considering that more than 50,000 tourists jump on it every year. It has been in operation for 10 years.

This is the first time I am hearing of an incident. The probability of an incident is one in 500,000 jumps," Information Minister Given Lubinda was quoted as saying in a report published on the Lusakatimes.com web site.

NRO Implementation: President, PM may face contempt charges

2012-01-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: A five member bench of the Supreme Court has decided to refer the six options relating to the NRO implementation case to the Chief Justice for constitution of a larger bench for hearing of these options.

Announcing the verdict on NRO implementation case‚ the bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the six options are being handed over to the Attorney General.

01: To initiate the contempt of court proceedings against the Chief Executive and the Secretary Law for not implementing the NRO verdict.
02: To declare the chief executive ineligible from the membership of the Parliament.

03: The court may form a commission to get the verdict implemented.
04: The people themselves decide on the issue and the court exhibit patience.
05: Contempt proceedings against Chairman Nab may be initiated.
06: The action may be taken against President for violating the Constitution.

The Supreme Court said in its order in NRO implementation case that the government has failed to implement the verdict.

'The government is not taking interest to observe the order for the last two years. We knew that the actions we are about to take they may be unpleasant.'

'The court has taken oath to defend the Constitution. The prime minister respected the party over the Constitution.'

'The president in an interview to Geo News said his government would not implement one part of NRO verdict.'

As per Article 189 and 190 all institutions are bound to help the apex court, the order said.

'Prima Facie the prime minister is not an honest man and violated his oath.'

The court recommended the case to the chief justice to form a larger bench to hear the case on January 16.

A Five-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa resumed the hearing of the case pertaining to the implementation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict today.

APP adds: The bench directed Attorney General to put his arguments before the Court on January 16, over the issue after obtaining instructions from the authorities concerned.

The bench in its order also asked the AG to apprise as to why any of the options might not be exercised by the Court in these matters.

The bench also granted a hearing opportunity to those who might be affected from their exercise of options.

"It goes without saying that any person likely to be affected by exercise of these options may appear before this Court on the next date of hearing and address this Court in the relevant regard so that he may not be able to complain in future that he had been condemned by this Court unheard," it observed.

The AG was also directed to inform all the concerned persons about the passage of the order and also about the next date of hearing.

The bench also referred the case to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for constitution of a larger bench on account of constitutional importance of these matters.

The bench also directed AG, Secretary Law, Justice and Human Rights Division, Chairman National Accountability Bureau and the Prosecutor-General Accountability shall appear before this Court in person.

Pir Pagara passes away in London

2012-01-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

LONDON: Spiritual Leader of Hur Community and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) Pir Mardan Shah-II, more commonly known as Pir Pagara, breathed his last at the age of 83 here on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

Pir Pagara was flown to London's Wellington Hospital in an air-ambulance after suffering from an infection following his surgery in Karachi a few days ago, where he, reportedly, had shown some signs of improvement before his death.

Doctors at Wellington Hospital said the cause of death was cardiac arrest.

His funeral prayer will be offered here in London on Wednesday.

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight would fly his dead body back home on the same day.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have telephoned Pir Pagaro's sons in London and registered their condolences.

Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has announced three-day mourning in Sindh.

Governor Sindh, Dr Isharat-ul-Ibad has also condoled with his heirs.

Pir Pagara spent a major part of his life being actively engaged in Pakistan's politics.

He was born in Pir Jo Goth on November 22, 1928. He had his primary education at his birth-town. While his his father was under arrest, Khalifas at Dargah Sharif looked after his education.

In 1946 he was kept under house arrest along with his younger brother and family members in Karachi. He stayed for three years in Aligrah from 1943 to 1946. In 1946 he was shifted to Liverpool, England, where he was admitted in Majiour Davis Private School but was kept school-bound.

In 1949 Prime Minister Liaqut Ali Khan met him in England and assured him of restoration of his Status. On 4th February 1952 his status as Pir Pagara was officially restored with Dasterbandi.

Immediately after restoration of Gadi he had many challenges to face. Most important challenge was to restore the image of Hur Jamat. British during those last 30 years had tarnished the image of Jamat and projected the Jamat as terrorist. It was a big task to clarify the position of the Jamat and reorganize it, which he did with all his might.

Pir Sahib was very fond of hunting and horseracing. He owned many race-winning horses of rare pedigree. The credit of Karachi racecourse club’s restoration also goes to only Pir Sahib. Forecasting was also one of his hobbies. His political forecasts often came true. On top of all these, he was a first class cricketer as well.

During the colonial rule, his forebear Pir Syed Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed started armed struggle against the British in the form of Hur movement. The rulers were so scared of the movement that they assassinated Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed to control the movement. Thus Sibghtullah Shah Shaheed gave his life independence.

Pir Sahib also felt it was his duty to safeguard & maintain the sovereignty, integrity and independence of the homeland. In 1965, when India attacked Pakistan, Pir Sahib asked his followers to serve the country. About 20,000 volunteers came out and fought very bravely and captured many posts of India.

Similarly in 1971 by order of Pir sahib his followers volunteered and fought very bravely.

As far as his political party is concerned, in fifties, after the defeat of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah at the hands of Field Marshall Ayub Khan in presidential run, Mohtarma declared the Muslim League as Functional and made Pir Pagaro the head of this faction of Pakistan Muslim League, which he led with grace till his death.

NRO case: SC says PM violated his oath

2012-01-10T01:40:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court said in its order in NRO implementation case that the government has failed to implement the verdict, Geo News reported.

PM and the President have violated their oaths

'The government is not taking interest to observe the order for the last two years. We knew that the actions we are about to take they may be unpleasant.'

'The court has taken oath to defend the Constitution. The prime minister respected the party over the Constitution.'

'The president in an interview to Geo News said his government would not implement one part of NRO verdict.'

As per Article 189 and 190 all institutions are bound to help the apex court, the order said.

'Prima Facie the prime minister is not an honest man and violated his oath.'

The bench has given six options to proceed with the case.
The court recommended the case to the chief justice to form a larger bench to hear the case on January 16.

A Five-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa resumed the hearing of the case pertaining to the implementation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict today and reserved the verdict.

Son gets ticket to Mirza vacated seat

2012-01-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to grant a party ticket to Zulfikar Ali Mirza’s son Barrister Husnain Mirza for the seat lying vacant after the resignation of the former, Geo News reported.

According to sources party’s top brass has selected Dr Mirza’s son to succeed him after due deliberation.

Since Zulfiqar Mirza’s opting out of electoral politics, speculation were already rife that his dashing young son would replace his father in the upcoming by-polls to the Badin provincial assembly seat which fell vacant after Mirza’s resignation as an MPA.

SC to resume NRO case hearing today

2012-01-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) will resume hearing of the case pertaining to the implementation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict today (Tuesday), Geo News reported.

The apex court had given January 10 as the deadline for implementing the NRO verdict and summoned certain officials including the federal law secretary and the prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to appear before the court today with their report.

On the other hand, federal secretary for law, justice and parliamentary affairs Masood Chishti has abruptly left for London without assigning his return schedule. He is scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court today in the reopening of graft cases against several people, including Asif Zardari in the NRO case.

Officially no word has been given about his visiting the United Kingdom but he reportedly left the country after seeking permission from the competent authority.

Taking stern action, the apex court directed the government to implement the NRO verdict without any further delay. The court also ordered NAB to inquire into the appointment of Adnan Khawaja and Ahmed Riaz.

Mr. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa is heading the five-member bench on the NRO implementation case. “If the court order is not implemented, the court will not issue any orders now but take action directly,” he ruled. The NAB prosecutor said the department could only investigate matters pertaining to wrong use of authority.

The Supreme Court has ordered Prosecutor General and Secretary Law to appear before court in person at the next hearing when a five-member bench of the Supreme Court resumes hearing of the NRO implementation case.

To implement the SC order, the government must reopen graft cases against thousands of people, including Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari. These cases were closed under the amnesty law o-called NRO promulgated by former president Pervez Musharraf in 2007 to enable slain leader Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan. Legal experts of the government said the absence of the secretary could help it buy time and further delay the execution of the orders of the court.

President to depart for Dubai soon

2012-01-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari may leave for Dubai soon, informed sources told Geo News on Monday. However, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira denied the reports.

Arrangements are being made for his second visit in two months, sources said.

President's sudden visit to Dubai is being arranged amid high political temperature and quick development being witnessed in the memogate case.

However, Pakistan People's Party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira denied reports of President's intention to leave for Dubai. He termed the reports baseless.

It may be mentioned here that President Asif Zardari had visited Dubai last month and stayed there for about two weeks for getting a medical treatment and rest.

Angry Birds, Facebook most downloaded apps in 2011

2012-01-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

TORONTO: Angry Birds and Facebook were the most downloaded iPhone apps of 2011, according to Apple, but some less predictable apps also made their lists.

Craig Palli, a vice president at Fiksu, a marketing company for app developers, explained that this year's top apps incorporate three main trends: the ability to connect with friends, discovery and games that let users past the time and pick up where they left off.

The top app in the social networking category was Facebook. But Palli said the trend of connecting with friends extends further.

"It also encompasses Skype, all the free texting apps and even Bump. These are all apps that lend themselves to enriching our lives through an easier and greater amount of communication and connections with friends," Palli explained.

In the music category, Pandora, which generates personalized radio stations for its users based on their music preferences, was the top app.

"Pandora is such a good app that they don't really need to spend money in marketing.

They just get user after user because it's such a compelling experience," Palli said.

TuneIn Radio Pro, which provides access to over 50,000 local and global stations, was another popular music app.

In the games category, Words with Friends, a multi-player game, and Angry Birds were the most downloaded apps. Games captured nine of the top ten spots on the paid apps list.

"They fill those five minutes of time that we were otherwise waiting for a train or appointment," explained Palli.

He added that phones are beginning to replace cameras, which explains the success of apps in the photo and video category.

"First it was the Polaroid camera, then it was the in-the-pocket digital camera. It's now just your phone."

Instagram, also named Apple's iPhone app of the year, topped the camera category. It allows users to take photos, add filters and share them with friends. Camera+, which extends the iPhone's camera with features like zoom, also made the list.

In the health and fitness category, Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker and Nike+ GPS, an app for tracking runs and workouts, were winners. But Palli said the category has fewer downloads than others.

"The volume of downloads that occur in this category is less than one tenth of the other categories," he said, but he predicts that this category will grow in 2012 as people become more health-conscious and apps "augment the actual device itself with something physical."

Groupon, the daily deal service, and Pimp Your Screen, which lets users customize their device with backgrounds and other visual features, were the top apps in the lifestyle category.

Netflix, the video streaming service, was the top app in the entertainment category, along with FatBooth, which lets users visualize how they might look with a few extra pounds.

Palli said free apps generally receive more downloads, and many more developers are starting to offer free versions.

"During 2011, we saw a big shift in strategy from a lot of paid app developers, which was to migrate from a straight paid app experience where you pay for the app up front to an in-app purchase or upgrade experience," he explained.

"This way it's really compelling for the consumer because you can get started with the app and when they experience how good the app is, they can take the wallet out of their pocket and make the extra two taps to get the full features."

We should protect one another's rights: Altaf

2012-01-09T02:00:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain addressing notables of Baloch and Sindhi communities here on Sunday said a pledge should be made for protecting one another's rights, Geo News reported.

In his telephonic address Altaf Hussain sympathizing with the people of Baloch community, said Balochis were denied their rights right from the day of Pakistan's coming into being.

He said conspiracies were hatched to pit Balochis and Muhajirs against each other in Karachi.

"I do not speak exclusively for the rights of the Urdu speaking people," he claimed.

He said he knew that poor Balochis did even have enough food to fill their bellies while the children of landlords and feudals go abroad to receive education.

Altaf Hussain in his address also demanded formation of a 'Qabailistan' province consisting of tribal areas.

Bill Gates contacts Arfa's father for treatment

2012-01-09T01:49:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Chairman of Microsoft, billionaire Bill Gates has made a contact with the parents of world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional Arfa Karim for her treatment, Geo News reported.

According to father of Arfa, Amjab Karim Randhawa, Bill Gates telephoned him and expressed his wish about Arfa's treatment in the US.

Gates has also directed his doctors to adopt every kind of measure for the treatment of young genius Microsoft professional.

Gates' doctors contacted Arfa's Pakistani doctors and received details about the illness through internet.

Meanwhile, Pakistani doctors are of view that Arfa is on ventilator, therefore, it will be hard to shift her into any other hospital.

Imran Khan (encyclopedia)

2012-01-09T01:10:00.000-08:00

Imran Khan Niazi (Urdu: عمران خان نیازی; born 25 November 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics. Currently, besides his political activism, Khan is also a philanthropist, cricket commentator, Chancellor of the University of Bradford and Founder and Chairman Board of Governors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre.

Arguably Pakistan's most successful cricket captain, Khan played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992 and served as its captainintermittently throughout 1982–1992.

After retiring from cricket at the end of the 1987 World Cup, he was called back to join the team in 1988. At 39, Khan led his teammates to Pakistan's first and only World Cup victory in 1992. He has a record of 3807 runs and 362 wickets inTest cricket, making him one of eight world cricketers to have achieved an 'All-rounder's Triple' in Test matches.^[1] On 14 July 2010, Khan was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.^[2]

In April 1996, Khan founded and became the chairman of a political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice).^[3] He representedMianwali as a member of the National Assembly from November 2002 to October 2007.^[4]

Through worldwide fundraising, he has also helped establish the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in 1996 and Mianwali's Namal College in 2008.

Pervez Musharraf (encyclopedia)

2012-01-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

Pervez Musharraf (Urdu: پرویز مشرف, born 11 August 1943), is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff andtenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrativemilitary government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled Pakistan as Chief Executive from 1999–2001 and as President from 2001-08. In the face of impeachment, he preferred to resign on 18 August 2008.

After years of military service, he rose to prominence when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed him as the Chief of Army Staff in October 1998. Musharraf was the mastermind behind the controversial and internationally condemned Kargil infiltration, which derailed peace negotiations with Pakistan's long standing enemy India. He previously also played a vital role in the Afghanistan civil war (1996-2001) both in peace negotiations and in trying to end the bloodshed. After months of contentious relations with Sharif, Musharraf was brought to power through a bloodless military coup. Subsequently Nawaz Sharif was placed under an house-arrest, later shifting him to Adiala Jail.

As Pakistan's head of state, he was a U.S. ally in the War on Terror. He was credited with the development of Pakistan's economy during the early years of his rule. The last two years of his rule have been marred by controversies the suspension of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and the Lal Masjid siege. He is also credited to be the first president of Pakistan who accepted supreme court rulings and who organized free and fair elections.

In February 2011, a Pakistani court issued an arrest warrant for him because of his alleged involvement in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. As of June 2011, he lives in self-exile in London but has vowed to return for the next election. He has announced that he intends to return to Pakistan on 23 March 2012. On January 7, 2012 he announced that he intends to return to Pakistan between January 27-30, 2012.

How did Musharraf become a billionaire?

2012-01-08T23:58:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: In a successful but dubious journey from rags to riches, the former dictator and now the self pro claimed messiah of the people of Pakistan, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, has become a billionaire.

There is no indication as to who funds him and how he became fabulously rich but the retired general has accumulated billions in offshore accounts besides the property that he has already purchased in foreign lands or inside Pakistan.

Musharraf, who intends to return to Pakistan by the end of this month after seeking the required guarantees from Washington and Riyadh, has a lot of money to spend for his political campaign and his launching as “the best option for Pakistan”.

A source, having a close association with the former dictator, confided to The

News that Musharraf has at least seven to ten offshore accounts in Dubai and London containing huge cash in dollars, sterling pounds and dirhams.

In his memoirs - In the Line of Fire - Musharraf admitted that he had come from a really humble background where they did not have enough money but now he pays at least half a million rupees as monthly salary to his personal staff residing inside Pakistan.

According to the source, besides having foreign bank accounts, Musharraf has also made huge saving investments abroad to earn large profits. The source said that in just one Dubai based online trading service — MMA — Musharraf had US$ 1,600,000 (Rs 145 million) last year. Musharraf’s account number, according to the source in this company, is AV77777.

In the Union National Bank, which is an investment bank in Abu Dhabi, Musharraf and his spouse Sehba Musharraf, have a joint account No 4002000304, in which the amount mid last year was almost UAE Dirhams 17,000,000 ( Rs 391 million).

In the same bank- the Union National Bank- the same duo, Mr and Mrs Musharaf have another joint account No 400200315, which is a dollar account. This particular account last year contained US$ 535,325 (Rs 48 million).

In yet another UAE Dirham account in the same financial institution — the Union National Bank — Sehba and Musharraf had almost UAE Dirhams 7,600,000 (Rs 174 million) last year. The account No is 4003006700.

In the fourth account, No 4003006711, in the Union National Bank, the duo had UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million).

In the fifth account, No 4003006722 in the same bank — the Union National Bank — Musharraf and his wife had US$ 8,000,000 (Rs 728 million).

In the sixth account, No 4003006733, Mrs Sehba Musharraf and Mr Pervez Musharraf had UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million) last year.

In the seventh account, No 4003006744, in the same Union National Bank, the duo holds UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million).

In their eighth account in the same bank — the Union National Bank Abu Dhabi — the duo had US$ 1,300,000 (Rs 118 million).

During the initial few months of his taking over as a military dictator following his coup against the Nawaz Sharif government, General Musharraf did make his wealth public, which hardly contained any cash but only some plots in different parts of the country. Musharraf claimed to be the Mr Clean of Pakistan.

How did he become a billionare is a million dollar question. The same question when asked to Musharraf’s spokesperson and his party’s information secretary Fawad Chaudhry Advocate told The News that all the accounts of Pervez Musharraf, whether abroad or in Pakistan, are declared accounts.

“There is not a single hidden bank account like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari”, he added.

Fawad Chaudhry said that when an Army Chief retires, he gets pensionary benefits worth Rs 400 to 500 million.

Moreover, he added that Bill Clinton and Pervez Musharraf are the highest paid speakers in the world, therefore he earns a handsome amount through lectures.

He clarified that Musharraf’s bank accounts do not have billions of rupees in them.

Ready to talk to PML-N: President Zardari

2012-01-07T00:57:00.001-08:00

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, after a long time, has given an interview to Geo News, which would be aired tomorrow (Saturday).

This is his first interview to any news channel after a considerable hiatus.

Talking to senior Geo News anchor, Hamid Mir in an exclusive interview, President Zardari opened his heart on the key national issues.

Geo News broadcast the highlights of the interview Friday night.

Commenting on ‘memogate scandal’, he said that he would respect the Parliamentary Committee on National Security’s (PCNS) decision for he believed the Parliament was supreme.

He said he was not afraid of early elections and was ready to talk to PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif for the same.

During the interview President rejected that national entities like PIA, Railways, WAPDA, etc. were inching towards collapse.

“Media think it was so, but I don’t think so, these entities have only weakened”, President said.

To a question an outspoken Zardari denied any rivalry with the Chief Justice, saying (in good humour), he didn't come from my village.

Seven whales die in New Zealand stranding

2012-01-07T00:20:00.001-08:00

NELSON: Conservationists in New Zealand were struggling Saturday to save 18 long-finned pilot whales after a mass stranding in which seven of the animals died.

The surviving whales had been refloated but appeared to lack the energy to swim away, the Conservation Department's area manager John Mason said.

The whales, which beached themselves on Friday afternoon at the top of New Zealand's South Island were from a pod of about 70 that appeared at Golden Bay, where strandings are common.

Two months ago, 47 pilot whales died after being stranded on tidal flats in the area near the tourist city of Nelson.

Pilot whales up to six metres (20 feet) long are the most common species of whale seen in New Zealand waters.

Google adds more IBM patents to tech arsenal

2012-01-07T00:04:00.001-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Wednesday confirmed that it has added more IBM patents to its technology arsenal as smartphone rivals increasingly battle in courts over innovations.

Google bought 188 patents and 29 patent applications related to mobile phones from IBM but did not disclose how much it paid.

Last year, IBM sold Google 2,000 or so patents ranging from mobile software to computer hardware and processors.

Google has been strengthening its patent portfolio as the fight for dominance in the booming smartphone market increasingly involves lawsuits claiming infringement of patented technology.

The California Internet powerhouse behind Android mobile device software last year transferred a set of patents to smartphone titan HTC Corp. to help the Taiwan-based company in an intellectual property clash with iPhone maker Apple.

Australia declare at 659 in 2nd Test

2012-01-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

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SYDNEY: Australia declared their first innings at 659 for four midway through the third day in the second Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Captain Michael Clarke remained unbeaten on 329 with Mike Hussey not out 150 to give the home side an innings lead of 468 runs with more than two days' play remaining.

Clarke's knock was the joint 14th highest in Test cricket behind world record holder Brian Lara's 400.

Clarke batted for 617 minutes, faced 468 balls and hit 39 fours and one six.

He shared in a record unbroken 334-run partnership with Hussey, the most for any wicket for Australia against India.

India were bowled out for 191 on Tuesday's opening day.

Comet defies death, brushes up to sun and lives

2011-12-21T03:31:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON: A small comet survived what astronomers figured would be a sure death when it danced uncomfortably close to the broiling sun.

Comet Lovejoy, which was only discovered a couple of weeks ago, was supposed to melt Thursday night when it came close to where temperatures hit several million degrees. Astronomers had tracked 2,000 other sun-grazing comets make the same suicidal trip. None had ever survived.

But astronomers watching live with NASA telescopes first saw the sun's corona wiggle as Lovejoy went close to the sun. They were then shocked when a bright spot emerged on the sun's other side. Lovejoy lived.

"I was delighted when I saw it go into the sun and I was astounded when I saw something re-emerge," said U.S. Navy solar researcher Karl Battams.

Lovejoy didn't exactly come out of its hellish adventure unscathed. Only 10 percent of the comet — which was probably millions of tons — survived the encounter, said W. Dean Pesnell, project scientist for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which tracked Lovejoy's death-defying plunge.

And the comet lost something pretty important: its tail.

"It looks like the tail broke off and is stuck" in the sun's magnetic field, Pesnell said.

Comets circle the sun and sometimes get too close. Lovejoy came within 75,000 miles of the sun's surface, Battams said. For a small object often described as a dirty snowball comprised of ice and dust, that brush with the sun should have been fatal.

Astronomers say it probably didn't melt completely because the comet was larger than they thought.

The frozen comet was evaporating as it made the trip toward the sun, "just like you're sweating on a hot day," Pesnell said.

"It's like an ice cube going by a barbecue grill," he said.

Pesnell said the comet, although only discovered at the end of November by an Australian observer, probably is related to a comet that came by Earth on the way to the sun in 1106.

As Comet Lovejoy makes its big circle through the solar system, it will be another 800 or 900 years before it nears the sun again, astronomers say.

ISPR denies contents of article about DG ISI's visit to Arab countries

2011-12-21T03:21:00.000-08:00

RAWALPINDI: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday strongly and categorically denied contents of an article, published in daily The Independent, UK in which it made assertions regarding Director General, ISI's visit to Arab countries.

According to a press release issued by ISPR here, "An article was published in the daily The Independent, UK on December 13, 2011, in which Mr. Omar Waraich has made false assertions regarding DG ISI's visit to Arab countries".

It has been said that the DG met senior Arab leaders and asked permission for a military coup in Pakistan.

The story has been published without verification at any level.

It is clarified that DG ISI did not meet any Arab leader between May 1-9, 2011 as mentioned in the article.

The DG ISI's other visits to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UAE only, prior to or after this period, were part of routine intelligence sharing activity, during which he interacted with his counterparts only.

Contents of the article are strongly and categorically denied. A legal notice is being served to the newspaper to retract the story and apologize," it concluded.

Send back Veena Malik to Pakistan: Bal Thackeray

2011-12-20T03:42:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today lashed out at Pakistani actor Veena Malik and all other artistes, saying all of them should be packed off to their country.

In an editorial in his party's organ Saamna, Bal Thackeray writes: "Veena Malik is a blot on our country's culture. Who is Veena Malik? Why is so much ruckus being raised about her?

"She goes missing for some days and it appears to be a publicity stunt
….sometimes she does obscene acts in Bigg Boss and sometimes she gets herself photographed in the nude for magazines.

"Veena is not such a big actress from Pakistan that we should go on praising her.

"I think she has a temporary visa and she is staying here since months. It seems she has obtained Indian citizenship. This amounts to stabbing oneself in the back.

"There is a trend in Bollywood to hire Pakistani artistes. Pakistani actors come to India and do not want to leave. People from Pakistan come to India to watch cricket matches and suddenly vanish. It's difficult to say whether they work for terror outfits or not.

"We are so careless that we are welcoming our enemies too.

"Adnan Sami also seems uninterested in going back to his home country. Pakistani comic artistes come here in the name of improving ties and go back earning money.

"On the other side, Pakistani government doesn't even give visas to our artistes. There is a virtual ban on entry of Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle in Pakistan.

"There is also a ban on our film songs there, but we bring in useless Pakistani artistes here and feed them.

"Dolly Bindra says, Veena Malik has ISI connections. If that is so, the person who gave her visa should be jailed.

"Such persons should be in the same cells with Afzal Guru and Kasab.

"We should clean up our country and send Veena to hell", signs off the Shiv Sena supremo.

24-hr CNG closure to hit Sindh

2011-12-20T03:39:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: All CNG stations in Sindh including Karachi will remain closed for 24 hours, starting from 9 am on Wednesday, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to Chairman of CNG Stations Owners Association Malik Khuda Baksh, CNG stations would remain closed from Wednesday morning at 9 am until Thursday for 24 hours. He said the decision was taken after the association members met Sui Southern officials.

The government has implemented countrywide gas load management program including industrial sector following severe gas shortage in winter season.

Nawaz was a club cricketer: Imran

2011-12-20T03:35:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said on Tuesday that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was a club cricketer and flexing muscles with a Test cricketer, Geo News reported.

Talking to journalists, Imran Khan said no one including General Jilani would be able to help him out.

Former PML-N minister Naeem Malik, ex-MNA Malik Umar Aslam and others announced to join PTI on the occasion.

“We are gaining popularity because of inept governments of PML-N, PML-Q and PPP,” he said.

The party will announce its manifesto on December 25 in Karachi.

Reacting to Imran's new challenge, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said, Imran should first play club cricket in politics and then think of playing test cricket.

CNG stations closed in Lahore region for 3 days

2011-12-18T21:21:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: All the CNG stations, under the gas load management plan, in Lahore region have been closed at 6:00 AM today, Geo News reported.

The gas supply to CNG stations would remain suspended for three days till 6:00 PM Wednesday.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at all the CNG stations on night between Sunday and Monday.

People said they were facing severe problems due to three-day closure of CNG pumps.

They criticized the government, saying that incumbent government is not serious in resolving the energy crisis.

Geo News unearths Veena in Mumbai

2011-12-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI: Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who was missing for the last few days days was finally found Sunday resting in a hotel, Geo News reported.

Veena is in the heat of a scandal, after her controversial photo shoot for an Indian Fashion magazine.

Veena on being unearthed by Geo News said she was tired from working 18 hours a day and needed rest.

The actress says she did not want to be disturbed by anyone and therefore she had put her mobile phone off and neither passed on any information to her relatives or friends in Mumbai about her whereabouts.

Earlier Veena had mysteriously gone missing from her Mumbai residence.

Veena’s business manager Prateik Mehta and filmmaker Hemant Madhukar had revealed that Veena was untraceable since the morning of December 16.

Veena was shooting for a horror flick ‘Mumbai 125 kilometres’ in Goregoan (West) before disappearing.

Hemant and Veena’s manager had approached the local Bandra Police to help them find Veena Malik.

Later, Indian media this morning had reported that Veena Malik had secretly arrived in Pakistan through Wagah border on Friday, ostensibly for renewal of her visa.

Geo News taking a cue from the Indian media reports started investigating and ultimately came out successfull solving this mystery by tracing Veena Malik in a Mumbai hotel.

Veena Malik returns secretly

2011-12-18T21:08:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI: Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who went missing for the last couple of days in the heat of a scandal, after her most controversial photo shoot for an Indian fashion magazine, actually silently arrived in Pakistan through Wagha border on Friday, ostensibly for renewal of her visa, Indian media reports said.

The reports said that matter of her return could not catch the public eye as she was clad in Burqa (veil) and her passport carry her real name Ms Zahida while she hit fame with her film name (pseudo name) Veena Malik. The office of immigration staff deputed at Wagha border was contacted but no responsible person was available to confirm the matter.

Though the authorities here were tightlipped on the matter, the sources aware of the development insisted that she arrived back for visa renewal to Lahore via Wagha border and his close buddy in India Ashmit Patel had accompanied her to Wagha border.

She walked into Pakistan from Indian side of Wagha border from where some of her friends picked her up and left for some unknown destination, the reports further said and added that most likely she would be staying with some of her friend in Lahore.

Veena went to India for the photo-shoot for a fashion magazine with 45 days visa, which was about to expire and a couple of days back she was asked by the Indian Immigrations Authorities to get the visa renewed or leave the country.

Twitter introduces revamped Web site

2011-12-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter revamped its website on Thursday to make the microblogging service easier to use and to help companies better showcase their brands.

The new version of Twitter, which the company is gradually making available starting on Thursday, will feature a new look and feel and faster performance, the company said.

The redesigned website comes as Twitter is taking steps to introduce more advertising on the site and as Twitter faces increased competition from Web giants Facebook and Google Inc .

"We have to provide the simplest and fastest way for people around the world to connect to everything they care about," Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo said as he introduced the new version of the site at an event at the company's future headquarters in San Francisco.

Costolo appeared alongside Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who returned to the company in March as executive chairman to oversee the company's product design and development efforts.

Twitter allows people to send 140-character messages, or "tweets," throughout the network of over 100 million users. It is one of the Web's most popular social networking services, along with Facebook and Zynga.

In October, Apple Inc integrated Twitter's service directly into the software that powers the popular iPhones. Since then, Dorsey said, the number of monthly sign-ups for Twitter have increased 25 percent.

Even as Twitter continues to grow, it faces fresh competition from Google, which introduced a social networking service with capabilities similar to Twitter earlier this year.

On Thursday, Facebook, the world's No.1 social networking service, announced a new feature that allows its users to visit a website and "subscribe" to updates from celebrities, journalists and other public figures.

The new version of Twitter seeks to simplify the service and to make it easier for new users to understand various Twitter-specific features, such as the # symbol that is used to search for topics on the service.

"Twitter should be useful by those who know the shortcuts, and also equally useful by those who don't really use the shortcuts," said Dorsey.

A new "Discover" section of the website highlights the most popular topics on the site based on each user's location and interests.

The new version of Twitter also features a revamped profile page, in which a company can customize the look of their brand and highlight specific content, such as videos or photos. Previously, the profile pages displayed a chronological list of the company's most recent Tweets.

Twitter said that 21 brands, including General Electric and Pepsi, have already revamped their profile pages to take advantage of the new capabilities. Twitter will gradually make the new profile page features available to all its users.

"For marketers, this is something that they've been asking for of us for a while," Adam Bain, who leads Twitter's revenue efforts, said in an interview after the briefing.

Twitter is taking steps to build a profitable business on top of its popular service. The company began showing ads on limited parts of the service in 2010 and is expected to generate about $140 million in ad revenue this year, according to estimates by industry research firm eMarketer.

The company said it has more than 2,400 advertisers and it expects to launch an advertising system early next year that will allow companies to quickly create marketing campaigns on Twitter.

Twitter hosted Thursday's event at its future headquarters in San Francisco, which are currently under construction and which Twitter plans to move into this summer. The building will accommodate far more than the company's current staff of 700 employees, Costolo said.

"It holds thousands of people," he said of the office. "We're going to need all this space to scale the company to support the growth of the product we've been experiencing over the last year."

Memogate unfortunate, shameful event: Musharraf

2011-12-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf has announced that he would return to Pakistan in January, Geo News reported on Sunday.

Addressing a public meeting through telephone in Lahore, the former president said earlier he had planned to return on March 23 but ' now, in view of the prevailing circumstance, I will return home in January'.

About Tehreek-e-Pakistan Chief, Imran Khan, he said he was glad that the TI Chief declared his assets. "On returning to Pakistan not only will I share details of my assets but also devote a portion of it for the poor," he resolved.

Pervez Musharraf said even a single penny of the country's wealth was 'Haram' for him or his family.

He said all that he had faced were mere allegations, none of which had been proved.

He described memogate issue as a shameful and unfortunate event. Pakistan army and ISI were being maligned through a conspiracy, he added.

President Zardari arrives in Karachi from Dubai

2011-12-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

DUBAI: President Asif Ali Zardari, who was in Dubai for nearly two weeks for medical treatment, arrived in Karachi on late Sunday night, Geo News reported.

The President arrived in a special plane that landed at PAF base Masror. The plane landed two minutes late.

In the President's plane all medical facilities as well as his personal doctor and other medics were also present. The President was accompanied by his daughter.

Earlier, the medical team of President Asif Ali Zardari declared him completely fit, allowing him to resume his official activities.

Nearly 600 dead, missing in Philippines storm

2011-12-17T02:03:00.000-08:00

ILIGAN: Tropical storm Washi raked across the southern Philippines, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas that left 180 people dead and nearly 400 others missing,

officials said Saturday.

They said 20,000 soldiers had been mobilised in a huge rescue and relief operation across the stricken north coast of the island of Mindanao, where the major ports of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were worst hit.

Iligan mayor Lawrence Cruz described rampaging floodwaters from swollen rivers that swamped up to a quarter of the land area of the city of 100,000.

"It's the worst flood in the history of our city," Cruz told GMA television. "It happened so fast, at a time when people were fast asleep."

The station showed dramatic pictures of a family escaping out of the window of their home in the town as the floods rose, and rescue workers in orange vests shepherding survivors to safety above chest-deep waters.

Marlyn Manos, an Iligan resident, recounted how she and her children watched in terror from their rooftop as flash floods demolished neighbours' homes. "All the small houses behind ours were destroyed, and many of my neighbours are missing," she said.

The region's military spokesmen said 97 bodies were recovered in Cagayan de Oro, with another 75 bodies found in Iligan. In Iligan another 250 people remained unaccounted for, they said, with 125 people missing in Cagayan de Oro, a city of half a million people.

Three people also drowned in the town of Polanco and five were killed in a landslide in mountains near the town of Monkayo, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in Manila.

Benito Ramos, the council's executive director, suggested some residents had underestimated the threat posed by the approaching storm, in a region which is outside the country's typhoon belt.

"Storms rarely hit this area and people probably became complacent even though they knew it was heading their way," Ramos said.

Philippines storm toll hits 119

2011-12-17T01:59:00.000-08:00

MANILA: The death toll from tropical storm Washi rose to 119 on Saturday as it raked across the southern Philippines, causing widespread flash floods, officials said.

Military spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon said they had found 71 bodies in Cagayan de Oro, a major port on Mindanao island, while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 48 people were killed elsewhere on the island.

Afghanistan in debut one-day against Pakistan

2011-12-17T01:56:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistan and Afghanistan will play their first ever one-day international cricket match in Sharjah next February, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Friday.

It will be Afghanistan's first one-day against a top international team, taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 10, shortly before Pakistan begins a one-day series against England, the PCB said.

Cricket was made popular in Afghanistan by refugees who spent years living in Pakistan when Soviet troops invaded their country in 1979.

Since then, Afghanistan has made lightning progress in the sport, finishing fifth in the World Cup qualifiers in 2009 and earning one-day status the same year.

The run of positive results has continued, as they won the World Twenty20 qualifiers, which allowed them to play top teams in the WorldTwenty20 in the West Indies last year.

Afghanistan are now placed ninth in the International Cricket Council
Twenty20 rankings.

The PCB also announced the venues and dates of England's two side games
ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan.

Pakistan and England also play four one-day and three Twenty20s in the UAE.

"From January 7-9, England will play an ICC combined associate and
affiliate members XI while on 11-13 January, a PCB XI will take on England both the matches in Dubai," the PCB said.

"England will also play a warm up one-day game against the England Lions on February 10 in Abu Dhabi."

The three-Test series between Pakistan and England starts in Dubai on
January 17.

US Congress imposes restrictions on aid to Pakistan

2011-12-17T01:48:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON: US Congress has passed the bill imposing more conditions on aid to Pakistan under foreign assistance.

The House of Representatives passed a sweeping funding bill with solid bipartisan support - 296 lawmakers voted for it and 121 voted against it.

The legislation freezes aid to Pakistan until the secretary can certify that Islamabad is cooperating on counterterrorism, including taking steps to prevent terrorist groups such as the Haqqani network from operating in the country. The aid amount was unspecified in the legislation as Congress gave the Obama administration flexibility to figure out the funds.

Veena Malik goes missing

2011-12-17T01:42:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI: After courting severe backlash for her controversial nude photo shoot with FHM magazine, starlet Veena Malik has mysteriously gone missing from her Mumbai residence.

Apparently, Veena’s business manager Prateik Mehta and filmmaker Hemant Madhukar revealed that Veena is untraceable since the morning of

December 16. Veena was shooting for a horror flick ‘Mumbai 125 kilometres’ in Goregoan (West) before disappearing.

Talking to a daily, Hemant said, “Veena, without giving her last shot at 5 am for my film ‘Mumbai 125 kilometres’, suddenly disappeared from her vanity van. Her mobile too was not reachable I assumed that the actress was tired and left for home.”

However, Hemant received an SMS from Veena, which disclosed that the actress was depressed and unwell. After almost twelve hours of the incident, Prateik and Hemant discovered that Veena was missing.

“Today we had a couple of shots with Veena but I realised that her phones are still switched off and she has also not communicated with her manager since then which is indeed serious. Veena normally is very chirpy and full of life on the sets but from past few days she looked depressed. Hope she is fine.” added Hemant.

Hemant and Veena’s manager have approached the local Bandra Police to help them find Veena Malik.

24-hour CNG shutdown in Sindh

2011-12-16T02:34:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: All the CNG stations in Sindh were shut for 24 hours due to extraordinarily low gas pressure situation that has badly affected overall gas supply, Geo News reported Friday.

A Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) release said Thursday that in the wake of low pressure, the company will shut down gas to the CNG stations in Karachi and interior Sindh for 24 hours from 9 am on Friday, December 16 till 9 am on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

The decision was made during the meeting of SSGC management with the representatives of CNG associations at the Company head office on December 15.

Chairing the

meeting, Syed Hassan Nawab, DMD (Operations), SSGC said that since the line pack (the actual amount of gas in the distribution system) has fallen from 950 mmcfd to a historical low of 750 mmcfd, it has become essential to shutdown CNG stations to make enough gas available for domestic consumption.

Since the November 26 agreement brokered by Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain among the SSGC, the KESC, and the KCCI, the longest closure of CNG stations came for 43 hours when the CNG stations across the province remained shutdown from 11pm on November 29 till 6pm on December 1.

At that time, the original plan was to curtail gas supply to the CNG pumps for 48 hours, but the curtailment time was slashed by five hours on the insistence of CNG station owners' associations and other public quarters concerned.

Later, the CNG stations in Karachi and in the rest of Sindh were shut down for 18 hours from 11pm on December 8 till 5pm on December 9. On those two occasions of the CNG shutdowns, the commuters faced severe problems due to fewer buses plying the roads.

The taxi and rickshaw drivers demand exorbitant rates on such occasions.

Memogate: PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar file another plea before SC

2011-12-16T02:29:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar has filed another application before the Supreme Court to make three other people party in the Memegate case, Geo News reported.

The three included, Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Mohmmad Malick.

Shaheen Sehbai is Group Editor The News and Mohammad Malick is Editor The News Islamabad.