KARACHI: A delegation of Jafria Alliance headed by Allama Abbas Kumeli met with the Rabita Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) here on Sunday.

During meeting the delegation expressed sympathies with the Rabita Committee on the demise of MQM workers in the bomb blast in Jinnah Hospital on the occasion of Chehlum of Imam Hussain (SA).

The delegation offered fateha for the martyred MQM workers including a UC Nazim and prayed for their Eisal-e-Sawab.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has declared that in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the politics of reconciliation would be carried forward as this entails stability of the government, strengthening of the institutions and organisations and added the opposition would also be taken along.

He was addressing the leaders, office- bearers and senior workers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from Sindh at the Chief Minister House here on Sunday evening. Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, federal and provincial ministers from the PPP were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Gilani, who is also the Vice-Chairman of PPP, on the occasion listened to the point of view of the Division and District office-bearers and senior workers of the PPP who apprised him of the problems and demands of their respective areas.

The Prime Minister assured that the problems would be looked into and steps would be taken for their resolution.

He said that he would also have meeting with the members of the Provincial Assembly.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that after seeking opinion from all, a comprehensive strategy would be evolved which would be implemented for attaining betterment and headway.

He also assured the office- bearers and the workers of the PPP that the party would be strengthened as this would also help strengthen the government.

Referring to the issues raised on the occasion for generation of employment opportunities, taking up of development projects, empowerment, resolution of water problems and implementation of section 27-b of Banking Companies Ordinance, the Prime Minister said that these would be addressed.

He said that he would ask the Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Pir Aftab Shah Jilani to take these up so that these are resolved at the earliest.

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Sunday vowed not to bend before India and fight Pakistan?s case at international level without giving in to any pressure.

Addressing a public meeting here at Satil Mari, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said those who had been attempting to isolate Pakistan internationally have now expressed the desire to restore the bilateral relations.

He said now the democracy will not be dented.

Regarding Karachi blasts, he said the terrorists carried out the bombings in the metropolitan city in a bid to spread fear and panic. Pakistan People?s Party and its allies have made a commitment not to bowing before the terrorists and to putting up a strong fight against them.

KARACHI: A short judgment has been made following the humiliating defeat of Pakistan cricket team against Australia.

The decision was made after a hearing that went on for 5 hours at stretch. It says: the players power be eliminated; a board representing all the four provinces be set up; Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) be privatized; new constitution be formulated; the overall structure of the Board be improved; divisional cricket be promoted and; the president should not appoint the chairman.

Former skipper Pakistan cricket team, Imran Khan said the President should not be the head of the Board and that the Parliament should not interfere in the matters of cricket.

Director General of PCB, Javed Miandad said talented players are coming forward because of departmental cricket. Therefore, he said, the departments be encouraged to participate in sports.

He said the skills of the players are not being properly made us of.

Former chairman PCB Tauqir Zia said junior players are put behind and forgotten, terming it a major reason for the problem. ?This shatters the passion of the players,? he argued.

Former captain Amir Sohail said players, officials, institutions ? all of them ? are responsible for the destruction of cricket. Only passion is not going to turn things around, as the players also have to run their houses, he added.

He said the Board had so much money that it could give the players hundreds of thousands rupees, but, unfortunately, it did not happen.

Former skipper of Pakistan cricket team, Rashid Latif described match-fixing as another major reason for the current state of affairs of the Pakistan?s cricket. The players involved in match-fixing were rewarded, he said.

He said it is the Presidency that is responsible for the miserable condition of cricket.

Former chairman PCB, Khalid Mehmood said the players used to play with passion in the past but now they only play for money.

Also stating their views during the hearing were former cricketers Mushtaq Ahmed, Azhar Mahmood, Saleem Yousuf, former chairman PCB Khalid Mahmood, members PCB governing body Dr Mohammad Ali Shah and Shakeel Shaikh, chairman National Assembly?s standing committee Jamshed Dasti, senator Anwar Baig, former manager Pakistan cricket team Azhar Zaidi, commentator Munir Hussain, senior sports journalists Abdul Majid Bhatti and Abdul Waheed Khan.

KARACHI: Inspector Bomb Disposal Squad Karachi, Munir Ahmed Sheikh has been transferred to Sukkur for what appears to be the punishment for telling the truth.

He was serving as Karachi Incharge for Bomb Disposal Squad which reports directly to IG Police.

Munir Ahmed Sheikh had briefed media on the Karachi bomb blasts on the occasion of Chehlum of Imam Hussain (AS). He also spoke about the dearth of resources in the Squad which were not liked the high ups and he was transferred to Sukkur on the pretext that a seat of inspector is vacant there.

Talking to Geo News, Inspector Munir Ahmed had said that the Squad did not have any modern equipment and that he performed his assigned responsibilities by leaving all the matters to the will of Allah almighty.

Feb 07, Colombo: “During the last 4 years, I have been able to take my country to hitherto unknown heights in development,” Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday accepting the Doctorate Honoris Causa bestowed on him by the People Friendship University of Moscow in Russia.

Feb 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka military has no plans to arrest the defeated opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, the military said today.

Feb 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Minister of Constitutional Affairs Dew Gunasekara says the current election system in the country needs to be changed to ensure a stable government.

Feb 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) is planning to implement a special program to prevent the suicide among the school going teenagers.

LAHORE: Pakistan ?A? cricket team left here on Sunday for Dubai to play one-day and T20 matches against England Lions.

Coach Ijaz Ahmed expressed hope that the youn players would perform well on the tour.

Ijaz said that Wasim Akram would be a suitable selection for coaching the national team.

The Pakistan ?A? team consists of five officials and 16 players.

The team, being led by Mohammad Hafeez, will play three Twenty20 and three one-day matches against England Lions in Dubai.

T20 matches will be played from February 12 while one-dayers will be held from February 22.

The team coach said that the players worked hard and he expects positive results on the tour.