ISLAMABAD: Former chief of Intelligence Bureau, Brigadier (retd.) Imtiaz making startling disclosures said that the President House was engaged in st

Corruption charges on judges reviewed at SJC meeting

KARACI: All banks are liable to provide uninterrupted ATM services to account holders, said spokesman State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Zimbabwean batsman equals Saeed Anwar’s world record

Nation celebrating 62nd Independence Day

ISLAMABAD: The nation Friday celebrating its 62nd Independence Day with great zeal, enthusiasm and renewed commitment to make Pakistan strong, progressive and prosperous. It is a public holiday. With the dawn of this day, special prayers were held in mosques for the progress and prosperity of the country. Celebrations began with a 31-gun salute in the Federal Capital and 21-gun salute in all the four provincial capitals. At 7.58 A.M, all vehicular traffic stopped for two minutes with the sounding of sirens and national anthem played at 8:00 A.M A change of the guard ceremony at the mausoleum of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Mohammed Ali Jinnah also took place in Karachi, where an elegant and smart contingent of Pakistan Naval Academy assumed charge of the guard. Later, the Naval Academy Commandant laid wreath on the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan and offered ‘Fateha’ for the salvation of the soul of the great Quaid of Muslims of sub-continent.The Independence Day celebrations, which kicked off midnight yesterday rose to it height this morning, which would continue for the whole day, as the ruling Pakistan People’s Party as well as other major political parties are all set to celebrate the historic day in a dignified manner by hoisting national and party flags, while the electronic and print media have planned comprehensive programmes. The electronic media would present various programmes including national songs, talk shows, dramas and children programmes. The main event of the day will be a flag-hoisting ceremony in the Capital here. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani will unfurl the national flag. Rallies, processions and colorful functions under the aegis of various public and private sector, social and political organizations in all small and major towns and cities of the country will be the hallmark of the day. Keeping alive previous traditions, all the government and private buildings have been illuminated. People, all over the country have decorated their houses, shopping centers and offices with national flags, banners, lightings, paintings and balloons, particularly in green and white colours. In the Federal Capital the main celebrations include flag hoisting ceremony at the premises of Lok Virsa, while the artisans would display their work, folk music performances at open air theater, photographic exhibition will be the other major features of the day. The Heritage Museum will remain open to public from 10.00 A.M. to 8.00 P.M. for local and foreign visitors.

Ajmal fined for Sangakkara send-off

COLOMBO: Saeed Ajmal has been fined 15% of his match fee for giving Kumar Sangakkara a send-off after dismissing him in the one-off Twenty20 match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Ajmal was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct following a hearing in Colombo after the game, and charged under Level 1.6 of the code, which refers to "pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner by a bowler or other members of the fielding side upon the dismissal of a batsman." In the 14th over of the Sri Lankan innings, when Sri Lanka were 100 for 3, needing 73 off 42 balls, Ajmal got the key wicket of Sangakkara, and then pointed to the pavilion and spoke aggressively to the Sri Lankan captain. The on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Tyron Wijewardene immediately had a word with Ajmal and then reported the incident to the match referee Alan Hurst, who slapped Ajmal with a fine.

Morakot toll at 70 in China, Taiwan

TAIPEI: Rescue and recovery efforts continued Wednesday in China and Taiwan after Typhoon Morakot, which killed at least 70 people in both countries.In Taiwan, the death toll was 62 as of Tuesday evening, a Chinese news agency, reported. Another 57 were missing, and three others were killed Tuesday when a relief helicopter crashed.Thousands of households remained without electricity or running water. In mountainous areas, helicopters were used to drop food and water in villages cut off by bridges that had washed away.Sixteen Chinese tourists were evacuated Tuesday after being trapped since the storm at Mount Ali.Morakot made landfall in Taiwan late Friday and in China early Sunday. In China, eight were reported dead and three missing.Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, who traveled to the provinces hit by the storm, warned of secondary damage from flooded rivers. He said more than 20 rivers in Fujian, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces were at dangerous levels and continued rainfall could bring more floods and landslides.Morakot also hit areas in the Philippines and its outer bands caused high winds and rain on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

10 militants die in Lower Orakzai

PESHAWAR: Ten militants killed during security forces action against militants in Lower Orakzai and neighboring areas.According to sources, security forces targeted militants suspected hideouts in Oblan and adjoining areas. Ten militants were killed and two hideouts destroyed.Meanwhile, two women and seven children wounded when a rocket fire from unknown direction landed near Afghan Ghamkol refugee camp in Kohat. A body of local resident recovered from Kohi chowk in tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency.

Australia crush England to level Ashes

LEEDS: Australia thrashed England by an innings and 80 runs as they won the fourth Test at Headingley here on Sunday inside three days to level the series at 1-1 and revive their bid to retain the Ashes.The result left the Ashes all square ahead of the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting on August 20.England, who resumed Sunday in the dire position of 82 for five in their second innings, still 261 runs behind Australia's first innings 445 and facing the prospect of a record-breaking home defeat, were bowled out for 263. Stuart Broad (61) and Graeme Swann (62) delayed the seemingly inevitable with an eighth-wicket stand of 108 off 79 balls that delighted home fans after the pair had come together with England on 120 for seven,At lunch, England were 245 for eight, 98 behind, with Swann 56 not out and Stephen Harmison six not out.But soon after the break Swann on 62, one shy of his Test-best score, was caught behind off left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, who took five wickets for 69 runs in the innings.

U.S. commander says Taliban have Afghan momentum

Updated at: 1553 PST, Monday, August 10, 2009 KABUL: The Taliban are advancing out of traditional strongholds in Afghanistan's south and east into the north and west, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in the country said in an interview published on Monday. U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal, who will soon present an assessment of the war, said the resurgent Taliban would force a change of tactics on foreign forces and warned that record casualty figures would remain high for some months. "It's a very aggressive enemy right now," McChrystal told The Wall Street Journal newspaper in an interview in Kabul. "We've got to stop their momentum, stop their initiative. It's hard work." Violence across Afghanistan this year had already reached its worst levels since the Taliban were ousted by U.S.-led Afghan forces in 2001 and escalated dramatically after major offensives were launched in the south over the past two months. With thousands of U.S. Marines and British soldiers aiming to push Taliban fighters out of populated areas in southern Helmand province, July quickly became the deadliest month of the war for troops in the country. McChrystal said he planned to push more troops into Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban adjacent to Helmand. "It's important and so we're going to do whatever we got to do to ensure Kandahar is secure," he said. There are now about 101,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, with U.S. numbers at about 62,000. Washington has been pouring in thousands of extra troops this year, in part to help secure Aug. 20 presidential and provincial council elections.

Fighting erupts over Baitullah’s successor

ISLAMABAD: The government has received reports that shooting broke out between two top commanders of Baitullah Mehsud at the Taliban Shura meeting, and one of them may have been killed, the interior minister said on Saturday.“The infighting was between Waliur Rehman and Hakimullah Mehsud,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters. “We have information that one of them has been killed. Who was killed we will be able to say later after confirming.“According to reports Waliur Rehman fired and killed Hakimullah Mehsud,” the official said.The state-run television said there were reports that both leaders might have been killed in a shootout.The Taliban Shura was called in the Taliban-controlled territory in Waziristan.“We have reports that there was fighting between Waliur Rehman and Hakimullah... I said earlier that one of them is dead. I will not disclose the name. I am seeking verification,” Malik told Geo News.“We have solid reports about the killing of Baitullah Mehsud but the situation will be clear in the next 48 hours,” Malik told Geo television.Our correspondents add from Peshawar/Wana: Senior officials also claimed that two top commanders of Baitullah had killed each other in a bid to grab the top TTP slot. However, Taliban militants considered close to Baitullah Mehsud and his network continued denying his death and the clash between his top militant commanders in South Waziristan.A senior government official, who is based in Peshawar and handles the affairs of the Fata, said they had heard reports about an armed clash between the two top militant commanders of Baitullah Mehsud — Mufti Waliur Rahman and Hakimullah Mehsud — in South Waziristan over the replacement of their slain leader.Pleading anonymity, the official said they had received reports that Hakimullah Mehsud had been killed while Mufti Waliur Rahman sustained injuries in an exchange of fire between the followers of the two commanders.Interestingly, the official, who wished not to be named, said he would not personally confirm any such clash between the militant groups and casualty of Hakimullah Mehsud. “Honestly speaking, there is no confirmation of these rumours,” the official remarked.He quoted tribal informers as saying that a council meeting of the TTP South Waziristan chapter was in progress for choosing Baitullah’s replacement when the Taliban commanders exchanged harsh words and opened fire at each other.The government official said preliminary reports suggested that Hakimullah Mehsud had been killed while Waliur Rahman seriously injured in the exchange of fire by supporters of the two militant commanders.However, militants close to Baitullah Mehsud denied all such reports.A senior TTP commander in Orakzai Agency told The News that neither the reports about Baitullah Mehsud’s death were true nor any such clash between his commanders had ever taken place.“All what is appearing on the media is hundred per cent false. I do not know what has happened to the media and journalists. They should at least verify such sensitive news before it is on air on TV channels and printing in newspapers,” the Taliban commander, who seemed to be upset with the media, explained.He claimed that he had spoken to Hakimullah Mehsud at around 5 pm on Saturday, and he did not say anything about the clash. Also, the Taliban commander claimed there was no truth in reports about their Shura meeting in South Waziristan.He said Baitullah Mehsud was ill and it was difficult for him to travel to various tribal regions and keep contacts with the TTP commanders and, therefore, had already nominated Mufti Waliur Rahman as his successor. He said the 45-year-old Mufti represented Baitullah in various meetings held with the government in the past. The Taliban commander felt that the creation of such controversial reports about the Taliban was a conspiracy of the government to pave the way for a military operation in South Waziristan.On the other hand, sources close to Mufti Waliur Rahman claimed that he was invited to a tea party in Deela village, Srarogha Tehsil, of South Waziristan at around 6 pm in the evening, where he even denied Baitullah Mehsud’s death.The 30-year-old Hakimullah Mehsud is one of Baitullah’s trustworthy commanders and was nominated the commander of three important tribal regions — Kurram, Orakzai and Khyber — to strengthen the TTP there.In the past, Hakimullah served as Baitullah’s spokesman with codename Zulfiqar Mehsud.