Taliban free three kidnapped FC men

GHALLANAI: The Taliban on Friday released three Frontier Corps personnel after their talks with Jirga members .Sources said that after negotiations, the militants handed the kidnapped FC personnel to the Jirga elders unconditionally. Naib Subedar Aslam Khan and Lance Naik Salih Muhammad had ...
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Child abuse mushrooming as shops offering ‘services’ spring up

Visitors to Nazimabad Number 2 (‘Doh Number’) know the area for numerous reasons. One may be for the spicy food items that are available here while another is the number of shops that sell fine quality handmade shoes.However, the area is also known amongst pedophiles for its s ...
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ICC could look again at result of forfeited Oval Test

SYDNEY: ICC president David Morgan said Wednesday the result of the controversial 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan could be reconsidered after pressure from Marylebone Cricket Club.The result of the forfeited Test match was changed from an England win to a draw by the International Cricket Council in July but the MCC said on Sunday the move contravened the laws of cricket and set "a very dangerous precedent."Morgan, in Sydney ahead of next year's women's World Cup, said the ICC might look again at the decision, which was made before he became president."The MCC World Cricket Committee is a very responsible group," he was quoted as saying by media."It is made up of some of the world's top cricketers and chaired by (former England captain) Tony Lewis and I would be very interested in hearing what has been reported."I'll be very interested to actually read their minutes and I'm sure they will make that available and it's something we (the ICC) will have to consider very carefully."It was a decision that was made by the ICC and it's a decision that I was not happy with."He added: "I was president-elect and I didn't believe it was appropriate to change the result of the England-Pakistan match."The first and only forfeit in the history of Test cricket took place in August 2006 when Australian umpire Darrell Hair and his West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove penalised Pakistan five penalty runs for alleged ball-tampering.That sparked an angry response from Pakistan, who refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day in protest -- a move that saw the umpires declare that Pakistan had forfeited the match and award it to England.Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq was subsequently cleared of ball tampering and Hair was removed from the ICC's elite panel of umpires.He was only reinstated as a Test umpire earlier this year after a legal battle which saw Hair allege he was the victim of racial discrimination by the ICC before dropping his case at an employment tribunal hearing in London.The MCC says the ICC does not have the power under the laws of cricket to overturn a result.

I'm sorry to be leaving: Lawson

LAHORE: Geoff Lawson, who was sacked as the Pakistan coach last week, has said he was better off than other officials working with the Pakistan board since he was paid out and got a decent exit. "There are so many other staff who have been sacked or are leaving and I don't think they got paid an awful lot," Lawson was quoted as saying in a newspaper.Lawson worked out a financial agreement with the PCB after sending back a cheque the board had given him, claiming the payment was far short of what was owed to him as per the terms of his contract. Under Lawson's charge, Pakistan reached the World Twenty20 final but then lost vital series against South Africa at home and India away. Pakistan's frontline fast bowlers, expected to prosper under a former fast bowler, were plagued by injuries, and the losses only added to the pressure on the new coach-captain pair of Lawson and Malik. "I am sorry to be leaving these guys," Lawson said. "I went into this thing full of hope and enthusiasm. I just needed to get a few more pieces of the puzzle together and I won't get a chance to do that." Lawson said his sacking had nothing to do with the coaching. "When the government changed everyone knew the cricket board chairman would change and when that happens, a lot of things change. So it was always a possibility rather than a probability. That is just how things work over here. I am very philosophical about it. There is no other way to be."

Saudi Arabia announces $ 100 mln aid for quake victims

ISLAMABAD: The Saudi Government would provide $ 100million for Balochistan quake victims.Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri said that Saudi King Shah Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has sent the aid of $ 100 million.An aerial bridge has been established between Saudi Arabia and Balochistan on the directives of Shah Abdullah which would be use to deliver the aid directly to Quetta.Saudi Arabia also assured to provide all possible ... Full Story

36 Afghani, 7 Pakistani arrested in Quetta

Updated at: 0628 PST, Friday, October 31, 2008 QUETTA: As many as thirty-six Afghan nationals and seven Pakistani have been held in Quetta during a raid conducted by FIA as they were trying to cross Pak-Iran border illegally on Friday.FIA sources said that suspects were trying to slip into Iran illegally through Hazar Gunji bus stop in Quetta.

Death toll mounts to over 300 in quake-hit Ziarat

QUETTA: The death toll of Wednesday’s severe earthquake has crossed 300 and about 1000 are injured in the worst-affected quake district, Ziarat, 120 kilometers off from the provincial capital, District Nazim Ziarat, Dilawar Khan Kakar and the District Health Officer Ziarat told media by phone.Villagers in the badly affected areas fear about estimation of death figures saying causalities might be over 400 while the official sources were citing tentative figures, but the District Nazim and the DHO had yet confirmed officially the death toll as over 300.Thousands of people were struck by the Wednesday calamity tragedy as 40,000 people were left homeless. 200 houses were completely destroyed in 30 villages in Ziarat, the district administration sources told media. They said “casualty figures are difficult to predict exactly, but the exact figure of the victims will be produced once the full rescue operation is completed in the devastated villages of Ziarat.” The aftershocks of the earthquake further added to miseries of the survivors which rattled their minds and caused more losses in the quake-stricken villages of Ziarat, the sources said, adding that survivors passed tough and difficult times last night on open grounds in the chilly weather.

Nadal, Federer, Murray reach Paris Masters quarterfinals

PARIS: Rafael Nadal. Murray and Roger Federer rolled into the Paris Masters quarterfinals without the ousted Novak Djokovic.Fourth-ranked Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and defending champion David Nalbandian also made the last eight. Nadal beat Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 6-2, Federer defeated Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-3, 6-4, while Djokovic, the year's other major winner, lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.He'll have to go through James Blake, who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 6-4.Seventh-seeded Roddick overcame 10th-seeded Simon 6-3, 7-5 on his fifth match point. Both have won three titles this year.Murray topped Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (6) for his 14th straight win, staying on track for a third straight Masters title.Murray will face Nalbandian in the quarterfinals, after the Argentine defeated countryman del Potro 6-4, 6-0.

President, PM denounce Mardan suicide attack

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the suicide attack at DIG Mardan convoy. Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik and head of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali also denounced the attack termed it as cowardly act.

KSE liquidity crunch will end in Nov.: FA

ISLAMABAD: Finance Advisor, Shaukat Tareen has said that the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) liquidity crunch would end in November.He said that Rs20 billion Fund set up for KSE would be operative soon. Shaukat Tareen said that the KSE should itself decide on the issue of continuing the ‘floor’ index or giving it up. The finance advisor said that he was endeavouring for bringing down the discount rate to a single digit by controlling inflation and a .... Full Story

Obama says stop Iraq war escalation

WASHINGTON: U.S. Senator Barack Obama introduced binding and comprehensive legislation that not only reverses the President's dangerous and ill-conceived escalation of the Iraq war, but also sets a new course for U.S. policy that can bring a responsible end to the war and bring our troops home."Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civi .... Full Story

4 cops among 8 killed in Mardan suicide attack

MARDAN: Eight people were killed and 15 others injured in a suicide attack targeted a police convoy here on Friday. Nazim Mardan Hemayatullah told Geo News that a suicide bomber blew up himself near police convoy killing eight people including four policemen and injuring 15 others. The injured were shifted to district headquarter hospital where many reported in a critical state.DIG Mardan Akhter Ali Shah has confirmed the attack. Police have cor .... Full Stor

Paris Masters Tennis: Feeder, Murray, Alfred reach 3rd round

PARIS: Andy Murray of Britain, world number two Roger Federer and Joe Alfred of France all marched into the third round of the Paris Masters Tennis here on Thursday.In the second round of the event, world number four Andy Murray of Britain defeated Sam Querrey of America 6-2, 6-4 in straight sets while Roger Federer of Switzerland beat Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-4, 7-6.Joe Alfred Slonga of France ousted Radek Stepanek of Czheck Republic 3-6, 4-6 .... Full Story

20 killed in series of 12 bomb blasts in Assam

GUWAHATI: Twenty people were killed and more than 100 wounded in a series of 12 bomb blasts in the Indian state of Assam. According to an Indian TV, four bombs exploded in Guwahati, capital of the state, while eight blasted in the areas of upper Assam, including Barpita, Kokrajhar and Bonghi villages and other areas.The Indian TV report said that the bombs exploded in the crowded markets of the city of Guwahati, including Daspur Road, Pan Bazar, .... Full Story

Rescue operations underway in Balochistan

QUETTA: Pakistan army, FC, administration, political parties and charity organizations are carrying out rescue operations in Balochistan’s quake-hit areas. More than 100 people have been buried in the affected.IG FC Major General Saleem Nawaz told Geo News that aid would be provided to quake victims at their doorstep. Priorities for rescue activities would be establish today.General Saleem said that FC tent village has accommodated 300 men and wo .... Full Story

Balochistan quake death toll rises to 236

QUETTA: The death toll in an earthquake hit Ziarat division of Balochistan has risen to 236 whereas 391 people were injured. The toll is expected to climb furtherBalochistan police sources said that Ziarat, Khawas, Varshoom are the worst affected areas where more than 300 houses have been destroyed completely and recovery of bodies and injured from the rubble is still underway.Meanwhile, series of aftershocks continue in Ziarat. Metrologica ... Full Story