Pakistan Day celebrations: Yachting contests in Sukkur

Pakistan Day celebrations: Yachting contests in Sukkur

Updated at: 1515 PST,  Tuesday, March 23, 2010  KARACHI: The Pakistan Day is being celebrated today all over the country with traditional fervour and zeal. On this occasion, various ceremonies have been organised in all major and small cities of the country while contests of yachting were also held in Sukkur. The yachting contests were organized by the Pakistan Navy at the Lanes Down Bridge near Indus River in which the Navy sailors participated. Children from various schools presented tableau on the occasion. A cricket match between disabled teams of Mirpur Khas and Nawabshah was arranged in Nawabshah to mark the Pakistan Day celebrations and a large number of people watched the match. In Thatta, the central ceremony was held at the Police Ground in Makli where boys and girls of various schools sang national songs and presented tableaus. Pakistan Muslim League (N) organized a ceremony with prisoners at the Multan District Jail where senior leader of the party Makhdoom Javed Hashmi was the chief guest.

Pope Benedict XVI once helped get housing for a clergyman suspected of child sex abuse

Pope Benedict XVI once helped get housing for a clergyman suspected of child sex abuse

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI once helped get housing for a clergyman suspected of child sex abuse, it emerged Friday, as the pontiff met the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany over a growing pedophile priest scandal.

Just hours after Archbishop Robert Zollitsch renewed an apology to victims of predator priests in Germany, Pope Benedict's former diocese of Munich confirmed a report that, as an archbishop in 1980, the pontiff approved housing for the priest, who was to undergo therapy.

The priest — identified only as H. — had been accused of forcing an 11-year-old boy to perform oral sex, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

"It was decided in 1980 to give H. accommodation in a rectory so that he could receive therapy. The archbishop (Pope Benedict) took part in this decision," the German diocese of Munich and Freising said in a statement.

Six years later, the priest was given a suspended prison sentence for child sex offences. The archdiocese said he still works in Bavaria, with no known repeat violations.

The disclosure added to a widening scandal in Germany that had already come close to Pope Benedict's brother Georg Ratzinger, a former choirmaster.

The first revelations emerged in January when an elite Jesuit school in Berlin admitted systematic sexual abuse of pupils by two priests in the 1970s and 1980s.

Among other boarding schools implicated is one attached to the Domspatzen ("Cathedral Sparrows"), Regensburg cathedral's thousand-year-old choir which was run for 30 years by the pope's older brother.

Ratzinger, 86, said on Tuesday that the alleged sexual abuse in the 1950s and 1960s — before his time — was "never discussed".

A proliferation of abuse scandals across Europe has prompted deep soul-searching among church leaders, not least in Germany where 19 of the 27 dioceses have been implicated in allegations.

Zollitsch said after meeting with the pope on Friday: "I want to repeat here in Rome the apology that I made two weeks ago." He also announced the creation of a watchdog to counter abuses.

Pope Benedict meanwhile defended priestly celibacy, calling it "the sign of full devotion" and of an "entire commitment to the Lord".

His comments came a day after Archbishop of Vienna Christoph Schoenborn called for an unflinching examination of the possible roots of child sex abuse by priests, saying it should include the issue of celibacy.

Another of Austria's most senior clerics, the Archbishop of Salzburg Alois Kothgasser, also said the church must ask itself whether celibacy is still an appropriate way of life for priests.

"Times have changed and society has changed," Kothgasser told ORF public television.

German Education Minister Annette Schavan has said there should be "zero tolerance" of child sex abuse.

Most of the priests concerned are not expected to face criminal charges because the alleged crimes took place too long ago. But there have been growing calls for a change in the law and for the church to pay compensation.

Benedict has spoken out several times since the start of his papacy in 2005 to condemn paedophilia among clergymen, and he has met with abuse victims in Australia and the United States.

In February, he met with top church officials in Ireland where a similar scandal was compounded by evidence that the hierarchy covered up for predators. The pope then called child abuse a "heinous crime" and a "grave sin".

In 2001, when Pope Benedict was head of the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, he ordered that paedophilia cases be reported to the Holy See, suspecting that many national hierarchies preferred to look the other way.

But earlier this week the pope's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said the German, Austrian and Dutch churches had acted swiftly and "decisively" to address their respective scandals.

He also noted that sexual abuse went far beyond church walls.
According to AFP

PHF dismisses selection committee, management

LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation on Thursday dismissed the complete team management and selection committee following Pakistan’s poor performance in field hockey World Cup being played in New Delhi, ARY NEWS reported.

Four-time champion Pakistan slumped to its lowest ever finish at the men's field hockey World Cup on Thursday, finishing last after losing 3-2 to Canada in the playoff for the final two positions in the 12-nation tournament.

PHF President Qasim Zia has terminated the selection committee and the team management following the defeat, said an announcement by PHF spokesman.

Zia while talking to newsmen on telephone said further decisions would be taken following the submission of report into the event progress by the team management.

He clarified that secretary PHF Tahir Bajwa was not among those dismissed Thursday and will continue serving at his post as he is an elected official. However, he added, Bajwa will not serve any more in his previous capacity of team manager.

Earlier in the day, PHF Chief Selector Hassan Sardar and member selection committee Muhammad Shafique had tendered their resignations to PHF authorities following the country’s last defeat in the tournament here Thursday, the channel had reported.

Pakistan finish at bottom in World Cup Hockey

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s miserable performance continued till their last match in the tournament when they could not beat Canada to win the11th position and finished at bottom here on Thursday.

The match, play-off for 11-12 positions was decided in the extra time after both teams leveled the match 2-2.

This is Pakistan’s worst performance in the history of the World Cup hockey.

Pakistan took the lead in the fourth minute when Rehan Butt made breakthrough on the pass by Shakeel Abbasi.

However, Canada equalled the score in the 12th minute through Connor Grimes and both teams were playing 1-1 when the first half ended.

Akhtar Ali gave Pakistan lead in the 46th minute but Canada levelled again the game when Mark Pearson made a goal just two minutes before the match.

Scott Tupper scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute during the extra time to take Canada too the 11th position in the tournament.

Yousuf, Younus not given life bans, says PCB

Yousuf, Younus not given life bans, says PCB  Updated :   Wednesday  March  10 , 2010  8:03:01 PM

LAHORE: Former captains Younus Khan and Muhammad Yousuf had their international futures cast aside and then restored just as quickly after the Pakistan Cricket Board backtracked on its decision to ban the two players. Earlier on Wednesday, the PCB said the two "should not be part of the team in any format" following reports of in-fighting during the unsuccessful tour of Australia ending last month. The decision prompted protesters in Hyderabad to burn bats in a brief demonstration but a few hours later the PCB clarified its position saying there was no timeframe on the bans imposed on the two. "The PCB wishes to clarify that the recommendation of the committee is not a life ban on these cricketers," the PCB's second statement of the day said. "There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team." The official change of stance came hours after it announced Younus and Yousuf would no longer be considered for selection after an inquiry into Pakistan's defeat in every match of their three-test, five one-day and Twenty20 series in Australia. The PCB handed out 12-month bans to Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved and fined Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal three million rupees ($35,000) and Umar Akmal two million. "Muhammad Yousuf and Younus Khan's... attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team (and they) should not be part of (the) national team in any format," the PCB said in its earlier statement on Wednesday. The initial decision by the PCB left new head coach Waqar Younis shocked and left to try and rebuild a side for the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title in West Indies in April. "I will be talking to the board about this and see what happens," Younis told reporters from Australia. The selectors are due to meet this week to announce the 15-member squad for the World Cup and the board will also announce a new captain. While Yousuf and Younis were not named in the preliminary squad of 30 players for the event, Malik and Rana were. "I want to know what I did wrong," Rana told Reuters. "I will be consulting with my people before deciding any future line of action." The PCB said the six-member inquiry committee, headed by its chief operating officer Wasim Bari, had based its recommendations on information gathered during several hearings with the players and reports from the team management.

PML-N wins NA-123, PP-82 slots

PML-N wins NA-123, PP-82 slots

Updated at: 2131 PST,  Wednesday, March 10, 2010  LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N won Wednesday’s by-elections in NA-123 Lahore and PP-82 Jhang while PML-Zia and Pakistan People’s Party clinched PP-284 Bahawalnagar and PP-25 Jafarabad, according to unofficial results received so far from the majority of the polling stations. Malik Pervez of PML-N has returned successful with sizeable margin in NA-123 Lahore while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s candidate Hamid Khan Mairaj stood second. Azam Cheela of PML-N has secured PP-82 Jhang (runner up Ghazanfar Ali Khan of PPP); Shahid Anjum of PML-Zia won PP-284 Bahawalnagar (runner up Kashif Naveed of PPP) while Sardar Nasir Khan Jamali of Pakistan People Party grabbed PP-25 Jafarabad (runner up Attaulla Bulaidi - Independent). PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif felicitated the party’s winning candidates, terming it a victory of the people. The vote count continues after polling process completed in four constituencies of Punjab and Balochistan during by-election. These constituencies include NA-123 Lahore, PP-82 Jhang, PP-284 Bahawalnagar and BP-25 Jaffarabad where the strict security measures are in place. Earlier, the polling in the above constituencies took place during 8am to 5pm. Overall, complete calm was witnessed during the day, but some candidates leveled charges of riggings against their rival candidates. In Bahawalnagar area of Fort Abbas, the polling had to be discontinued as a result of dispute between the polling agents of different candidates in polling station-295. Jamaat Islami’s Hafiz Salman Butt and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) candidate Shahbaz Sharif came face to face at Lahore’s polling station-38, where the workers of both the parties raised slogans. On this, police arrived on the spot to quench the slogans and confrontation. Police took Hamza in their cordon. Talking to Geo News, Razia Sultana—Presiding Officer at Polling Station-126—said serial numbers are missing from the dozens of ballot papers, adding she told the same to Election Commission. Government has announced public holiday on the occasion of by-polls in three constituencies including Bahawalnagar, Jhang and Jaffarabad. Government and private educational institutions will remain closed in Lahore and Bahawalnagar for by-polls. The Deputy Chairman of Senate Jaan Mohammed Jamali cast his vote in Jaffarabad Meanwhile, Section-144 has been imposed in Jhang to maintain law and order situation during the polling. According to Election Commission sources, 57 candidate are contesting constituency NA-123 of Lahore, vacated by PMLN-N’s Javed Hashmi. The constituency has 287,915 voters, for whom 268 polling stations have been set up. Of them, 25 have been declared as highly sensitive. While 11 candidates including PPP and PML-N’s contenders are fighting for provincial assembly seat of PP-82 Jhang, vacated by MPA Azam Chaila, as the Supreme Court (SC) declared him ineligible on finding his degree fake. At least 126 polling stations were set up here for 153,800 voters in the constituency. Moreover, PML-N has not nominated any candidate for PP-284 while PPP, Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid-e-Azam and Ijaz-ul-Haq’s party candidates will struggle for the provincial assembly seat. The seat was vacated by independent candidate Rauf Khal, as the EC declared him ineligible on finding the charges of rigging against him true. Three are at least 130 polling stations for 180,226 voters in the constituency. The PB-25, Jafferabad in Balochistan was lying vacant after the MPA Rustom Khan Jamali was killed. At least 140,800 voters are casting their votes at 91 polling stations; of them, 34 are most sensitive and 29 sensitive. From this constituency, the independent candidate Ataullah Bulaidi leveled rigging charges, saying that nearly 130 polling agents have been kidnapped.

No 18th amend till NWFP name change

No 18th amend till NWFP name change
Updated :   Sunday  March  7 , 2010  8:19:53 PM 



PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Railway Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has said the 18th Constitutional Amendment could not be approved by the National Assembly unless the issue of renaming NWFP is resolved, ARY NEWS reported.

“The parliament will not endorse the 18th amendment till the matter of renaming NWFP province hanging in the balance,” Bilour said while talking to newsmen after addressing a mass gathering in Tehsil Gorgatri near here.

He said there was no need to appoint present chairman Railway in order to cop up corruption in the department.

On Friday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the incumbent democratic government was fully committed to scrapping the 17th Amendment in the Constitution.

He said the draft of 18th Amendment would be presented soon in the National Assembly since the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms is working day and night to complete the draft as soon as possible.

ICC Ratings

ICC Batsmen rating More than 900 points
Rank	Name	Team	Rating
1	Sir Don Bradman	Australia	961
2	Sir Len Hutton	England	945
3	Sir Jack Hobbs	England	942
3	Ricky Ponting	Australia	942
5	Peter May	England	941
6	Sir Vivian Richards	West Indies	938
6	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	938
6	Sir Garry Sobers	West Indies	938
6	Sir Clyde Walcott	West Indies	938
10	Matthew Hayden	Australia	935
10	Jacques Kallis	South Africa	935
12	Mohammad Yousuf	Pakistan	933
13	Sir Everton Weekes	West Indies	927
13	Graeme Pollock	South Africa	927
15	Dudley Nourse	South Africa	922
15	Doug Walters	Australia	922
17	Neil Harvey	Australia	921
18	Denis Compton	England	917
19	Sunil Gavaskar	India	916
20	George Headley	West Indies	915
21	Ken Barrington	England	914
22	Mike Hussey	Australia	912
23	Brian Lara	West Indies	911
24	Kevin Pietersen	England	909
25	Chanderpaul	West Indies	900

ICC Bowlers rating More than 900 points
Rank	Name	Team	Rating
1	Sydney Barnes	England	932
2	George Lohmann	England	931
3	Imran Khan	Pakistan	922
4	Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	920
5	Glenn McGrath	Australia	914
6	Curtly Ambrose	West Indies	912
6	Tony Lock	England	912
8	Sir Ian Botham	England	911
9	Malcolm Marshall	West Indies	910
10	Waqar Younis	Pakistan	909
10	Sir Richard Hadlee	New Zealand	909
10	Shaun Pollock	South Africa	909
13	Alan Davidson	Australia	908
14	Derek Underwood	England	907
15	Shane Warne	Australia	905
16	Sir Alec Bedser	England	903
17	Clarrie Grimmett	Australia	901
17	Bill O'Reilly	Australia	901
19	Bill Johnston	Australia	900

Ban Proposed on Sale of Used Computers

Ban Proposed on Sale of Used Computers

The ministry of information technology has been asked to draft a proposal for a ban on the import of used computers and IT accessories, on directions of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, LCCI had requested the president to ban the sale of used/old computers.
If ban imposed, no vendor/seller will be able to sell used/computers in the market, eventually causing computer prices go high by 4 times at least.
Computer manufacturers are terming used computers:

• high energy consumption devices
• dumping ground of electronic wastage for developed countries, causing environmental and social damage
• A hit on economy

While those opposing the ban on sale of used/old computer opine:

• High PC penetration due to availability of used/old computers in market
• Low priced computers
• Cost saving through in-expensive (internet) communication
• Increased awareness
• Boost in economy for multiple domains, such as, ISPs, vendors, FMCGs, advertising, media etc

Clearly computer manufacturers, Intel being the leader, are grouping up to run this on-media and off-media campaign for ban on sale of old/used computers to capture their share – instead of investing into country for setting up a manufacturing plant in the country, like they have in India.
If a computer manufacturing plant is deployed in the country, it will not only serve local economy but will also bring down the prices for new computers.
Before any conclusion on this and imposing ban, Government must realize all aspects and that a common man may not afford to buy a reasonable new computer costing well over 20,000.
As per estimates, there are total of 14,00,000 computers in Pakistan, out of which 60 percent are used/old computers, 24 percent internationally assembled new computers while 16 percent locally assembled new computers. ministry of information technology has been asked to draft a proposal for a ban on the import of used computers and IT accessories, on directions of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, LCCI had requested the president to ban the sale of used/old computers.
If ban imposed, no vendor/seller will be able to sell used/computers in the market, eventually causing computer prices go high by 4 times at least.
Computer manufacturers are terming used computers:

• high energy consumption devices
• dumping ground of electronic wastage for developed countries, causing environmental and social damage
• A hit on economy

While those opposing the ban on sale of used/old computer opine:

• High PC penetration due to availability of used/old computers in market
• Low priced computers
• Cost saving through in-expensive (internet) communication
• Increased awareness
• Boost in economy for multiple domains, such as, ISPs, vendors, FMCGs, advertising, media etc

Clearly computer manufacturers, Intel being the leader, are grouping up to run this on-media and off-media campaign for ban on sale of old/used computers to capture their share – instead of investing into country for setting up a manufacturing plant in the country, like they have in India.
If a computer manufacturing plant is deployed in the country, it will not only serve local economy but will also bring down the prices for new computers.
Before any conclusion on this and imposing ban, Government must realize all aspects and that a common man may not afford to buy a reasonable new computer costing well over 20,000.
As per estimates, there are total of 14,00,000 computers in Pakistan, out of which 60 percent are used/old computers, 24 percent internationally assembled new computers while 16 percent locally assembled new computers.

Govt committed to overcome challenges: PM

Govt committed to overcome challenges: PM

Updated at: 1912 PST,  Friday, March 05, 2010  ISLAMABAD: The government during the last two years not only made concerted efforts towards fulfillment of the promises made in the political manifesto but also remained committed to overcoming a number of inherited problems. The Prime Minister said this in his address aired live on Radio Pakistan as part of his initiative to take the nation into confidence on the steps being taken by the government in connection with the Constitutional reforms, the ongoing war against terrorism and matters relating to overall governance. He said the government addressed a number of challenges including war against terrorism, political and legal issues, energy crisis, food shortage and economic instability besides lack of confidence in the people. “We have committed ourselves towards ensuring the supremacy of the Parliament and the Constitution,” the Prime Minister pointed out, adding, “the government also honoured the Supreme Court’s ruling on the judges appointments.” As for the Constitutional reforms, the nation will soon get good news in this regard, Gilani said. He said the government took a number of landmark initiatives and steps including provision of internal sovereignty to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan; introduction and implementation of Balochistan package besides clearing long-standing arrears of NWFP. The Premier said the backbone of the terrorists has been cracked and the day is not far when the government will finally wipe them out completely. He also paid tributes to the armed forces for their impressive role in tackling the menace of terrorism. He said the frustrated terrorists when headed towards the settled areas had were once again defeated by the people. The poor are being provided special financial support of Rs70 billion under Benazir Income Support Programme and Waseela-e-Haq undertaken in a transparent manner, he claimed. Government had provided a subsidy amounting to Rs3 billion to the Utility Stores across the country besides raising salaries and pensions of the government servants. The minimum salary of was also increased to Rs6,000 from Rs4,600, he added. He urged the political parties and experts to give positive and practical suggestions to the government. “We don’t mind the criticism by the media and opposition but use it to make amends but it is also the duty of the critics not to ignore the moral grounds and facts,” he stressed. This was the first live address to the nation by the Prime Minister on the Radio in line with the government’s earlier announcement of addressing the nation on the first Friday of every month.

PM Gilani addresses nation today

PM Gilani addresses nation today
Updated :   Friday  March  5 , 2010  12:00:58 AM



ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani addresses the nation Friday evening to take the masses into confidence over the proposed constitutional amendments the government is going to introduce in the Parliament, reported ARY NEWS.

In his address, to be telecasted on TV and radio at 7:00 p.m. today, the PM will apprise the nation of the progress of Parliament’s Constitutional Reforms Committee (CRC) presently working to formulate the recommendations for 18th Constitutional Amendment with consensus of all the parties having representation in the Parliament.

The PM will inform the nation of the proposed amendments in the most-debated and controversial articles of the Constitution, relating to provincial autonomy, abolishment of Concurrent List, procedure for the appointment of judges in the apex courts, future of the seventeenth constitutional amendment, balancing of power between the President and the Prime Minister and other.

The CRC is likely to present the draft of its recommendations to the PM by March 13 that will later be tabled before the Parliament in the form of 18th Constitutional Amendment for debate and approval, the channel added.

World Cup Shirts to Be Made Out of Recycled Plastic Bottles

World Cup Shirts to Be Made Out of Recycled Plastic Bottles

BY ARIEL SCHWARTZ Thu Feb 25, 2010

The best way to highlight your company's environmental commitments is to bring them into the spotlight. We're guessing that's the motive behind Nike's move to make this summer's World Cup shirts out of recycled plastic bottles. The shirts will be worn by all nine Nike-sponsored teams, including England, Brazil, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Nike's bottles-to-T-shirts operation is fairly straightforward. Recycled polyester comes from a Taiwanese supplier that cuts up, melts, and spins plastic bottles into a yarn for the shirts. Each shirt will consist of 100% recycled polyester and approximately eight plastic bottles. The shirts are slightly more expensive to produce than standard jerseys, but Nike claims that the costs ultimately even out because less material is needed for production. And on the outside, players and fans won't be able to tell the difference between the bottle-filled jerseys and the regular polyester shirts worn by non-Nike teams.

Environmentally savvy soccer lovers will also have the chance to check out Nike's shirts--the brand is using 13 million plastic bottles to produce jerseys for fans. All in all, Nike's initiative will stop 254,000 kg of polyester waste from being dumped in landfills.

Nike isn't the only company to manufacture shirts out of plastic bottles. Coca-Cola'sDrink2Wear shirts are also made out of recycled bottles, and Patagonia started manufacturing fleece out of post-consumer bottles in 1993 with little fanfare. But by featuring the technology at sporting events watched by millions, Nike is letting the world know that the technology is worth our attention.

Rashid to boycott by-polls in Lahore, Jhang

Rashid to boycott by-polls in Lahore, Jhang

Updated at: 1850 PST,  Sunday, February 28, 2010  LAHORE: Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheigh Rashid Ahmed has announced that his party would boycott by-elections in NA-123 Lahore and PP-82 Jhang. Addressing a press conference he said, “the actual face of Punjab government has come into light following the rigging and coercion exercised by it during the recent by-election in NA-55.” He said those who call him disloyal had themselves ditched their workers before fleeing to other countries. “I will continue to expose this no.2 leadership,” he added. Sheikgh Rashid claimed that police and Patwar Khana were misused in Rawalpindi while ‘two men stabbed me in the back’. He requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to set up a commission to probe the use of force and rigging in NA-55. “The N-League’s win in NA-55 was followed by a breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister,” Sheikh Rashid maintained, adding, it is actually a loss and not a win. To a question he said, a physician, musician and politician never retire. Well Rashid Sb i have heard you some where saying that political parties never run away from elections and now .....

2 Pak players involved in match-fixing: US TV

2 Pak players involved in match-fixing: US TV

Updated at: 2101 PST,  Saturday, February 27, 2010  LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provided match fixing proves to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against alleged involvement of wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and medium pacer Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt on Friday made the startling revelation that ICC had provided PCB with the concrete proves of their alleged involvement in match fixing. Despite repeated questions, Ijaz Butt had refused to name the players. On investigation, a highly placed official in PCB exclusively told Voice of America on the condition of anonymity that “the two players were wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and medium pacer Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan”. Wicket keeper Akmal had come under heavy fire for his repeated fumbles on the Australian tour. Its worth mentioning that both players were dropped from the T-20 series against England recently played in Dubai. When asked if the proves were so concrete, why PCB included Akmal and Rana in the initial list of 30 players for the T-20 world cup, the source said that “both will be missing from the final list for the T-20 WC. The source further insisted that “PCB has announced an additional wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider along side Kamran Akmal and Sarfaraz Ahmed in 30 initial players which indicates that Akmal would not feature in the final squad for T-20 WC to be played in West Indies in April. Both of them Denied of the alligations

Eid Milad un Nabi celebrated with religious solemnity

Eid Milad un Nabi celebrated with religious solemnity

Updated at: 2114 PST,  Saturday, February 27, 2010  ISLAMABAD: The Nation celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) with religious reverence and solemnity, renewing the pledge to follow true teachings of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). Mehfil-e-Milad and public meetings were held in various cities. The processions to mark the birth of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) were taken out across the country. The celebrations started with the sighting of the Rabi ul Awwal moon; however, it culminated on 11 Rabiul Awwal night, when the mellow and soothing sounds of Durood and Salaam took us into the spiritual trance amid decorations and illuminations all around. The major congregation took place at Nishter Park where different processions from the city converged and was later addressed by Allama Syed Shah Turab-ul-Haq Qadri. The day began with special prayers for development, safety, peace, unity and brotherhood amongst the followers of Holy Prophet (PBUH). The nightlong Mehfil-e-Milad were held where the lovely, pure and sacred life of the Last and Final Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was stated. The refreshing sun of the 12th Rabiul Awwal heralded the Spring Season of Festivities. This is the day which all Muslims awaited to present the word of dedication to their beloved master (PBUH). Special arrangements were made to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The religious, political and social organsiations convened gatherings and sittings of Mehfil-e-Milad across the country. The political, social and religious groups set up camps in the country to welcome the Milad processions. The images of Khana-e-Ka’ba and Masjid-un-Nabawi were erected at various places. Green flags of all sizes to commemorate the great birth generated a riveting spectacle. Divine sounds of Durood and Salaam came from every quarter. Banners with Durood and Salaam written on them with the messages to greet the entire Islamic world on Eid Milad-un-Nabi, were hoisted in the country. The kiosks and water sabeels were also established by the roadsides of these processions. The processions were taken out from all Pakistani cities including Rawlapindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Mulatan, Faisalabad, Sukkar, Hyderabad and Dera Ismail Khan attended by huge number of the lovers and devotees of the Holy Prophet. People in large number were on foot in these processions. While, the decorated vehicles of all kinds were the also part of these processions being sprinkled with flowers at their routes. Special security arrangements were made on the occasion with security personnel appointed all along the processions’ routes.

Butt says match-fixing evidence against 2 players

ISLAMABAD: The head of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, says he has strong evidence of match fixing by two former Pakistan cricketers but not against members of the current team.

Butt said on Friday the evidence was provided by the International Cricket Council to previous officials of the cricket board. Butt took over as PCB chairman in October 2008.

Without revealing the names of the cricketers, Butt told a news conference here Friday that the two players are not on the cricket board's current list of available players or the national team.

Life bans were imposed in 2000 on former Pakistani test captain Salim Malik and paceman Ata-ur-Rehman for match fixing, though the bans were overturned on appeal.

Bilour says Urdu is not national language

PESHAWAR: NWFP senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour triggered another controversy Friday when he declared Urdu only a language for coordination, denying its status of national language, ARY NEWS reported.

“A language can only be declared national when it is being used by the whole nation. Thus Urdu is not our national language but a language for mutual coordination among the masses,” Bilour said on assembly floor when responding to a query by MPA Moulvi Abdullah during Question Hour.

Bilour’s comments annoyed various parliamentarians from both sides of the house who criticized his statement.

Bilour is famous for offering controversial comments in media time to time and then issuing denial of his own words.

On a point of order, Mufti Kifayatullah – an MPA of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman), quoted the Article 251 of the Constitution that categorically declared Urdu as Pakistan’s national language.

He said senior minister is committing an intentional violation of the Constitution despite having oath on it and sought Speaker’s ruling on the issue.

However, the opposition members walked out from the session as Speaker Karamatullah Chugharmati, who belongs to the same ruling Awami National Party (ANP) Bilour is associated with, refrained himself  from offering any solid ruling on the issue.

President tenders apology over childbirth in rickshaw

 President tenders apology over childbirth in rickshaw Updated at: 2148 PST,  Friday, February 26, 2010
 QUETTA: President Asif Ali Zardari Friday tendered an apology over birth of a child in an auto rickshaw due to blocakage of roads during his (President) visit to Quetta on Thursday.

The President also announced Rs500, 000 for the family.

However, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani showed a non-serious approach on the issue.

It may be reminded here that a woman gave birth to her baby girl in an auto-rickshaw stuck in a traffic jam when police closed roads to let President Asif Ali Zardari's motorcade drive by.

The woman was being driven to hospital in the city of Quetta on Thursday evening when police blocked roads for Zardari and his convoy to pass.

The woman’s brother Mohammad Yaseen said the rickshaw he had hired to take his sister to the Civil Hospital was stopped by policemen near the Askari Park.

“We waited for around two hours. And despite repeated requests the policemen did not allow us to go to the hospital,” he told this correspondent.

“We pleaded with the policemen as it was an emergency but they refused citing orders that no one should be allowed to move until the president passed,” the brother told reporters.

“The baby was born in the rickshaw, surrounded by vehicles stuck in the traffic jam. At that time police officials allowed us to return,” he said.

11th Cricket Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka

11th Cricket Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka  Updated at: 1639 PST,  Thursday, February 25, 2010  COLOMBO: The eleventh Cricket Asia Cup will be played this year in Sri Lanka in and Pakistan will also participate in this event. Asian Cricket Council spokesman Shahryar Khan told Geo News that the four-nation Asia Cup would be played from June 15 to 24 and this has been decided to give the hosting of the event to Sri Lanka. Teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh will take part in the event. Sri Lanka have hosted the event thrice and this time, Sri Lanka will take the field for a hat-trick of winning the team title.

Woman gives birth on road during President’s Quetta visit

Woman gives birth on road during President’s Quetta visit

Updated at: 2131 PST,  Thursday, February 25, 2010  QUETTA: A woman has given birth to her baby on an auto rickshaw over closure of airport road and other connecting roads due to the presence of President Asif Ali Zardari in Quetta. The woman was riding on a rickshaw, which could not reach the hospital due to the closure of major roads. The rickshaw carrying the pregnant woman was also not allowed to proceed to the hospital for more than 3 hours. As a result, she suddenly went into the labour in rickshaw and had her baby over there. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has ordered an inquiry into the closure of airport road. The airport road, Zarghoon road and other main roads of the city were closed for all kind of traffic hours before the President Zardari’s visit to Quetta. These roads remained closed for several hours during the movement of President Zardari in the city. The wife of a local resident Momin Khan was also barred from going to hospital. Despite the fact that the security personnel were informed about the condition of pregnant mother, she was not allowed to go.

Rashid accuses PML-N of poll rigging

Rashid accuses PML-N of poll rigging

Updated at: 2216 PST,  Wednesday, February 24, 2010  RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid accused rival Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) of ‘pre-planned’ rigging for by-election in National Assembly constituency NA-55 held here on Wednesday. However, he said that he would not take up the rigging incidents before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Addressing a news conference, AML chief Rashid said that local administration was used for the rigging purpose. “We don’t have personal differences with anyone. We have political differences,” he said. He alleged that all his party’s wagons were captured by Punjab Police while some of his weak supporters were coerced to change their loyalties. Rashid further said that all politicians should take a lesion from the by-election in NA-55.