Shoaib family rejects Aisha ’nikah’ claim

LAHORE: Shoaib Malik’s brother in law Imran Zafar Malik has denied that nikah happened between Malik and Aisha Siddiqi. 

Speaking to Geo here on Wednesday, Malik said that Aisha’s family was welcome to go to the court.

“India’s Siddiqi family has disgraced Shoaib, he said, adding, we will also not hesitate to take a legal course against them,” said Malik.

On the issue of marriage reports with Aisha Siddiqi, he said that Shoaib remained mum o the issue due to the involvement of a girl.

CRC members sign 18th Amendment draft

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee agreed on a constitutional amendment Wednesday that strips the president of powers inherited from the country's former military ruler, fulfilling a long-standing opposition demand.

''This was a difficult job that has been done amicably and with consensus,'' Senator Raza Rabbani, the head of the parliamentary committee, told reporters Wednesday.

He thanked all the members of the committee and said the nation’s interest is kept first after setting aside party’s interest.

Federal Law Minister Babar Awan, after singing the draft, said there are nearly 100 clauses in the draft amendment.

“We will soon announce when we will take the draft to the parliament,” said Awan.

The draft amendment transfers a variety of powers, including the ability to fire an elected government and appoint military chiefs, from the office of the president to the prime minister, said Senator Hasil Baloch, another member of the committee.

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza will wed to Pakistan Cricket Star Shoaib Malik on April 15, 2010, Confirms father of Tennis Star and Pakistani Cricket Star

LAHORE: Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza are going to tie the knot on April 15, Sania's father Imran Mirza confirmed to media and Shoaib confirmed the date on Internet.

As per reports, the two sports stars have been in an affair for the last six months, which had led to Sania's earlier engagement to break.

Sources said that the mother of Shoaib Malik went to Indian city of Hyderabad Deccan where she met with the family of Sania Mirza and finalized Shoaib and Sania's marriage.

This may be recalled that earlier engagements of both Malik and Mirza had come to an end.

Malik was engaged with Ayesha Siddiqui also from Hyderabad Deccan on June 3, 2002 while Sania on the other side was engaged with childhood friend Sohrab Khan which ended in January 2010.

The wedding ceremony of Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza will take place in India on April 15 while the valima reception will be hosted by Malik on April 16 in Lahore.

"I desire to get married soon. You will soon get some good news but it depends on my family. I fully expect to get married this year," Shoaib had said in a recent interaction with the media.


Now, the Shoaib confirmed  on internet that his wedding will take place in India on April 15 and he further said that if Sania wants to continue his tennis career than he will not stop her from continuing her career.

Asked if it would be an arranged marriage, he said, "No can say what will happen, but it will take place with the concurrence of my family."

Gilani in bid to break deadlock with PML-N

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is trying to break a deadlock created by a sudden change in PML-N chief’s stance on the 18th amendment. 

The prime minister went to Lahore on Saturday evening to try to use his contacts in the PML-N to get in touch with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz or Senator Ishaq Dar, a member of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms. 

The committee’s chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said: “I am optimistic about the outcome of the efforts initiated by the prime minister to break the deadlock. A positive development is likely in a couple of days.” 

Senator Rabbani said he had met Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai to seek their support for the success of the committee. 

He discussed with the two leaders ways of forging a consensus on renaming the NWFP. Both the leaders have supported ‘Pakhtunkhwa’, the name for the province proposed by the Awami National Party. 

PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq said: “My party is sincerely cooperating in finalising the draft of the 18th amendment without compromising on independence of the judiciary, provided the government side also shows sincerity.” 

He said it was up to Prime Minister Gilani to handle the issue after having expressed his readiness to meet Mian Nawaz Sharif. 

When asked if there had been contacts between the prime minister and the PML-N leadership, he said: “Everyone has realised the seriousness of the matter.” 

The sources said that Mr Gilani had been upset by Law Minister Babar Awan’s ‘premature’ announcement about the convening of a joint session of the two houses of parliament without consulting him. 

The move drew an adverse reaction from the PML-N and upset the entire scheme of things, they said. 

During a meeting with Senator Rabbani, the sources said, the prime minister expressed regret over the incident and promised that he would try to control the damage by using his influence in the PML-N. 

According to the sources, Senator Rabbani who is also an adviser to the prime minister indicated that he would step down if uncertainty persisted over the work being done by his committee. 

Meanwhile, a leader of the Pakistan People’s Party said a section in the government was thinking of getting the proposed constitutional reforms bill approved by parliament without PML-N’s support by winning over the PML-Q and its splinter groups.

Dimming out for Mother Earth

This image released by the Nasa Earth Observatory of the Earth’s city lights was created with data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS). Originally designed to view clouds by moonlight, the OLS is also used to map the locations of permanent lights on the Earth’s surface. The brightest areas of the Earth are the most urbanized, but not necessarily the most populated.

Glasses containing candles form the number 60 in celebration of Earth Hour in La Paz.

People light candles during Earth Hour in Cancun.

In this combo picture, a view of Malaysia's landmark Patronas Twin Towers is seen before (L) and during lights out (R) for Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur.

A combo shows the Eiffel tower submerging into darkness at 8-30 pm (local time) in Paris as part of the Earth Hour switch-off.

Jordanians hold candles, as they gather to mark 'earth hour' in Amman, Jordan.

A newly married couple Ruchita and Vishvas Sawant participate in candle light rally for Earth, in Mumbai, India.

A fire acrobat performs in front of the Bulgarian National Theatre, with lights turned off as part of Earth Hour in Sofia.

A man lights candles during Earth Hour by the West lake in Hanoi.

An Indian family eats under candlelight at a restaurant in observance of Earth Hour in Amritsar, India.

Emirati girls stand next to mascots Spark and Splash during the Earth Hour lantern march in Dubai. Hundreds of people, from white-robed Emiratis to foreigners in shorts, marched with small lanterns to mark Earth Hour, as the lights went out in some of Dubai's landmarks and most iconic buildings.

A Pakistani boy holds a candle in front of the national assembly in Islamabad.

During last Saturday’s Earth Hour, homes, office towers and landmarks around the world turned off their lights from 8.30 pm local time, for an hour, to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings in some 4,000 cities in more than 120 countries unplugged to reduce energy consumption. –Photos by Agencies

Landmarks, cities worldwide unplug for Earth Hour

LONDON: Europe's best known landmarks - including the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and Rome's Colosseum - fell dark Saturday, following Sydney's Opera House and Beijing's Forbidden City in joining a global climate change protest, as lights were switched off across the world to mark the Earth Hour event.

In the United States, the lights went out at the Empire State Building in New York, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, among many other sites in the Eastern time zone.

Millions were expected to turn off lights and appliances for an hour from 8:30 p.m. in a gesture to highlight environmental concerns and to call for a binding pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions. This year's was the fourth annual Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund.

''I think it's great to see that hundreds of millions of people share this common value of lowering our carbon footprint,'' said Dan Forman, a spokesman for WWF in Washington.

Some 4,000 cities in more than 120 countries - starting with the remote Chatham Islands off the coast of New Zealand - voluntarily switched off Saturday to reduce energy consumption, though traffic lights and other safety features were unaffected, organizers said.

''We have everyone from Casablanca to the safari camps of Namibia and Tanzania taking part,'' said Greg Bourne, CEO of WWF in Australia, which started Earth Hour in 2007 in Sydney before it spread to every continent.

Other sites expected to participate in the U.S. were businesses on the glittering Las Vegas strip and the Mount Rushmore presidential monument in South Dakota. The lights stayed on at the White House, US Capitol and the Lincoln and Washington monuments, though they were switched off at the Smithsonian Institution and the National Portrait Gallery.

In Europe, Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and buildings across Germany went dark. Amsterdam planned to cut the lights at most city buildings including Schiphol Airport, Artis Zoo and the Amsterdam Arena.

''It's saying to our politicians - you can't give up on climate change,'' said WWF spokeswoman Debbie Chapman in the UK Buckingham Palace and the British Parliament building were scheduled to go dark to support the campaign, along with other famed London landmarks including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall, as well as Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

''Tackling climate change is urgent and vital to both safeguard our environment and our children's future. We can make a difference if we act now and act together,'' said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who switched off lights at his Downing Street residence in London.

Rome switched off the lights of the Trevi Fountain, the 18th-century landmark where many tourists flip a coin in hopes of coming back to the city. State-TV RAI showed the fountain that was immortalized by Federico Fellini in ''La Dolce Vita'' falling dark.

Moscow's iconic and imposing State University, perched on a hill overlooking the city, all but disappeared into the darkness as the city took part in the protest. The gigantic Luzhniki Stadium nearby also went black, as did the skyscraping Ukraina Hotel downtown. Restaurants in Vladivostok held a so-called Candle Evening, promoting Earth Hour as a chance for romance.

Sweden turned out lights at the government's headquarters in Stockholm, the golfball-shaped Ericsson Globe arena, royal castles and streets in several towns, including popular skiing resort Are.

Giant panda Mei Lan led events in 30 Chinese cities, walking onto a platform amid dimming lights in her enclosure at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, said Chris Chaplin of WWF in China. Lights were also turned off in Beijing's imperial palace known as the Forbidden City.

Taiwan's Presidential Palace and at least 20 Taipei skyscrapers went dark, while hundreds of Taiwanese placed candles beside a Taiwan map formed by energy-saving LED lights at a square outside the city hall.

Researchers at the Davis Station, in Antarctica, also joined the campaign - shutting off lights at the base.

''Tonight, hundreds of millions of people are raising their voices by turning out their lights. It is a simple act, but a powerful call to action,'' said WWF Director-General, James Leape.

Last year, some 88 cities took part in Earth Hour, which is backed by the United Nations as well as global corporations, nonprofit groups, schools, scientists and celebrities.

Pak cricket team training camp begins today

LAHORE: The training camp of the Pakistan cricket team in preparation of the Twenty20 World Cup will begin today in Lahore.

The players included in the squad reported at the camp.

Pakistan team with its new coach and new captain will begin its preparations for the T20 World Cup.

The five reserve players will also take part in the camp along with the selected 15 players of the team while eight more players from the 30 probables have also been invited for practice at the camp.

According to the PCB spokesman, first a detailed meeting of the players and the management will be held before the camp begins in the morning and the practice schedule will be finalized.

Later, the players will do net practice from 3-00 pm to 6-00 pm.

Coach Waqar Younis will address at the news conference during the camp.

Pakistani army kills 22 Taliban near Afghan border

PARACHINAR: Pakistani troops repulsed a Taliban attack Sunday on an army base and bombed two militant hide-outs close to the Afghan border, killing 22 insurgents in a region where the army is pressing an offensive, a government official said.

The fighting occurred in Orakzai tribal region where many militants are believed to have fled from a major operation in their former stronghold of South Waziristan.

The official, Samiullah Khan, said a group of militants attacked the base with rockets and automatic weapons. Security forces retaliated and killed 10 attackers.

The military helicopter gun ships later bombed the hide-outs in nearby Chapri Ferozkhel area, killing another 12 of them, he added.

The government says more than 100 suspected militants and five soldiers have been killed in fighting in the region in the last week.

Officials have said the militants killed so far include Uzbek and Arab nationals.

The region has been the main base of the Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud.

A suspected US missile strike is believed to have killed him in another tribal region, North Waziristan, early this year. Taliban have denied that, though they failed to prove otherwise.

US promised review of body scanning law: Qureshi

LAHORE: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today described the recently held strategic talks between Pakistan and United States as ‘extremely successful’.

Speaking to media persons at the Lahore airport on his return form the US, Qureshi said that significant progress was made regarding obtainment of US drone technology and nation would soon receive good news in this connection.

“On every matter, the US response was higher than we had anticipated, he said, adding that our home work was complete on national priorities.”

The foreign minister said that both civilian and military leadership had presented Pakistan’s point of view with one voice. Qureshi said: “We held talks with the United States in a cordial atmosphere. All issues came under discussion. Two sides got the chance to hear each other’s point of view.”

He further said that strategic talks were different this time as compared to the past.

The US made no demand of ‘do more’, he said, adding that Pakistan also talked about trade, not aid. The foreign minister stated that the US has given an indication to provide Pakistan a multi-layer system.

To a question about civil nuclear technology, he said that insistence on some matters was not in the national interest.

Responding to another question, he said that the United States promised it would reconsider the body screening laws.

Al-Qaeda a threat to world: Obama

KABUL: In a surprise visit, President Barack Obama pressed Afghan leaders on Sunday to do more to rein in rampant corruption and improve their government as he got a firsthand look at the 8-year-old war he inherited and dramatically escalated.

During meetings with President Hamid Karzai and his Cabinet, Obama told them he was pleased with progress made since his last discussion with Karzai, by secure videoconference on March 15. Obama also invited Karzai to visit Washington on May 12.

He praised recent steps in the military campaign against insurgents. But in discussions that lasted about 30 minutes at the presidential palace, Obama stressed that Afghans need to see conditions on the ground get better.

“Progress will continue to be made ... but we also want to make progress on the civilian front,” Obama said, referring to anti-corruption efforts, good governance and adherence to the rule of law.

 “All of these things end up resulting in an Afghanistan that is more prosperous and more secure,” he said after a brief meeting with Karzai.

The trip, its secrecy forced by security concerns, was an extraordinary capstone to a momentous week in Obama’s presidency. He achieved the most ambitious domestic policy initiative in decades with a historic health care overhaul and scored first major foreign policy achievement with a significant new arms control treaty with Russia.

Karzai promised that his country “would move forward into the future” to eventually take over its own security, and he thanked Obama for the American intervention in his country.

He told Obama he has begun to establish more credible national institutions on corruption and made clear he intends to make ministerial appointments more representative of the multiple ethnic and geographic regions of the country, according to a US account of the meeting.

Obama’s trip was intended to emphasize US demands that Karzai deal with corruption and cut the flow of money from poppy production and drug trafficking that is sustaining the insurgency.

The US also wants Karzai to create an effective, credible judicial system and to halt cronyism and rewards for warlords in government hiring.

Both of Karzai’s vice presidents are former warlords whose forces allegedly killed thousands of people in the civil war of the 1990s that paved the way for the rise of the Taliban.

The White House insisted that Karzai’s Cabinet participate in most of the meetings with Obama. The Cabinet includes a number of ministers favored by the US, including the heads of finance, interior and defense, whom the Obama administration wants to empower as a way of reducing the influence of presidential cronies.

Some talented Afghan administrators have complained that Karzai marginalized them in an attempt to solidify his powers.

The Afghan government has tried to tackle corruption in the past with little success but Karzai pledged after fraud-marred August elections to rein in graft by making officials declare their assets and giving the country’s anti-corruption watchdog more power to go after those accused of misusing their office.

This month he gave more powers to an anti-corruption body _ the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption _ including the authority to refer cases to court and act as prosecutor.

The non-governmental organization Transparency International last year rankedAfghanistan 176th out of 180 countries in its annual poll that assesses the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. The only countries ranked lower were Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar and Somalia.

Obama landed in Afghanistan for a stay of just a few hours, all in darkness, after an overnight flight from Washington. He flew by helicopter from Bagram Air Field to the capital for his second stop in a war zone as commander in chief, coming about a year after a similarly secretive trip to Iraq.

He arrived in Kabul just two days after a threatening new audio message from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, believed to be hiding along the ungoverned border betweenAfghanistan and Pakistan.

The White House made no advance announcement of the visit, which officials said had been long desired by the president but delayed by weather and other logistical obstacles.

Initially, the White House said Karzai had been informed of Obama’s impending visit just an hour before his arrival. But Obama’s press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said later that the Afghan government was told about the trip on Thursday.

Obama had gone Friday afternoon to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md., from which unnoticed departures are easier because of its secluded mountain location. The small contingent of White House aides and media allowed on the trip were sworn to secrecy.

It was Obama's second visit to Afghanistan; the first was in 2008 when, as a presidential candidate and U.S. senator, he joined an official congressional delegation.

After his talks with Afghan leaders, Obama was to speak with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top US military commander, and the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry. He also was to speak with American troops.

Obama was in the country for only a few hours before heading back to Washington.

At least 945 members of the US military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistanas a result of the US invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

The war is unpopular with a majority of Americans, especially progressives in the base of Obama’s Democratic Party. This was reflected in Obama’s new Afghanistan strategy. He combined the large buildup _ his second to the Afghanistan force in less than a year as president _ with a call to start bringing troops home in July 2011, just a year after the full contingent is in place.

Lately, Obama’s approval ratings on his handling of Afghanistan have ticked up, to 57 percent in a March AP-GfK poll, from 49 percent in January. But the challenge ahead is daunting: justify his escalation with clear progress against the Taliban, and in building up and training Afghan army and police forces so they can begin taking over security responsibilities.

Last month, a major offensive was launched to retake the Taliban stronghold of Marjah inHelmand province.

The Marjah campaign routed most Taliban fighters from a town they once controlled, without a high casualty toll for US troops and the Afghan security forces fighting alongside them. Military officials have praised the results, but cautiously.

With fighting still raging across Afghanistan, and any successes still fragile and reversible, the war is not yet considered at a turning point. The key part of Obama’s new strategy forAfghanistan _ turning ordinary Afghans away from the Taliban by bringing in development and installing effective government _ has barely begun.

The next big military operation for the US and Nato troops is being planned for Kandahar. The large city is the spiritual home of the Taliban insurgency. While it is not now under the Taliban flag, the insurgents are a constant presence.

This year has brought potentially positive news for the war.

Pakistan recently arrested Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar _ second in the Taliban only to Mullah Mohammed Omar _ and other key members of the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan’s government has not regularly taken on that group and has allowed it to have virtual safe haven within Pakistan. There also are doubts about whether the arrests represent Pakistan’s desire to better help the US or to further its own interests.

Constitution set for overhaul, consensus on amendments

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the country’s parliamentary history, the Constitution will undergo a major overhaul as one-fourth of its articles are being amended with a ‘consensus’.

The all-party Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, has suggested more than 100 amendments to over 70 articles of the Constitution, sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

Besides removing person-specific changes made arbitrarily by military rulers through legal framework orders (LFOs), and which were later endorsed by parliament, the Rabbani committee has also suggested some crucial changes in the articles dealing with provincial autonomy.

Although the proposed 18th Constitution Amendment Bill carries some two dozen dissenting notes submitted by all political parties, except the PPP, committee members say the notes will not block the changes proposed in the Constitution.

The parties have decided that they will finalise the draft with consensus and if any party has reservations about some proposals, it will be allowed to submit a note of dissent to bring its viewpoint on record.

The committee, which was formed last year in the light of promises made by the PPP and the PML-N to repeal the controversial 17th Amendment, had to go for a review of the entire Constitution after smaller and nationalist parties refused to agree on anything short of complete provincial autonomy.

In a landmark achievement, the committee has suggested some major changes in the Constitution, giving more administrative, financial and political autonomy to the provinces.

Interviews with leaders of smaller parties revealed that they were more than happy with a proposal to abolish the Concurrent List from the Constitution, giving the provinces rights to do legislation on a number of subjects which have hitherto been under the control of the federal government.

Although some nationalist parties are not “fully satisfied”, particularly with amendments to the articles dealing with financial autonomy, they term the package historic.

Despite desire of some parties, the committee, however, did not touch the articles dealing with the Islamic provisions of the Constitution, fearing a possible public reaction.

The committee saw many ups and downs during its more than six months working and at one stage even PPP leaders criticised the rigid attitude of smaller parties for making the task difficult for the committee.

Although the PPP and the PML-N in the past used to call for complete repeal of the 17th Amendment, the committee has proposed to retain some clauses of the 17th Amendment and the LFO issued by former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Political experts do see a logic in retaining the clauses of LFO and 17th Amendment, through which the number of assembly seats has been increased and the voter’s age reduced, but they are surprised to see that the changes made in the articles dealing with qualifications and disqualifications of parliamentarians have been retained, albeit with some minor changes.

These changes have been made by the former military rulers only to keep certain individuals out of the election race.

The committee has also suggested transfer of powers from the president to the prime minister in line with the original Constitution of 1973. In order to stop military interventions, the committee has suggested an amendment to the Article 6, proposing that any person validating military takeovers will also be charged with treason. Besides some steps for judicial reforms, the committee also proposed changes to make the Election Commission more independent and powerful.

Saudi breaks up 113-strong Qaeda cell: Saudi Ministry

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has broken up three cells of Al-Qaeda militants that were planning attacks in the kingdom, including on its oil installations, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

One cell consisted of 113 people, and two smaller cells were made up of six men each. The large cell comprised 58 Saudis and 55 foreigners, including Yemenis, Somali, a Bangladeshi and a Eritrean, said a statement read out on state television.

The two smaller groups were made up of 11 Saudis and a Yemeni.

Arms, ammunition, computers, pre-paid telephone cards and unspecified documents were all seized in the operation.

The large cell was discovered as the result of an investigation launched after suspected Al-Qaeda militants -- two of them dressed as women -- tried to infiltrate the country in October with explosives.

The two were killed in a shootout at the border and a third was arrested.

The foreigners in the cell were said to have entered the country under cover of seeking work or visiting Muslim holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

Two members of that cell were said to have been preparing suicide attacks, while the others were to have targeted economic and security targets.

Each of the two small cells was operating without knowledge of the other, and both were said to be linked to Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and tasked with targeting oil installations.

The ministry did not say where or when the arrests took place.

Saudi officials say they have broken up several plots inside the kingdom in the past year, rounding up numerous suspected militants and seizing weapons caches and bomb-making equipment, all linked to Al-Qaeda.

Draft of 18th amendment bill ready: Awan

ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Babar Awan said on Wednesday that the draft of the 18th amendment bill had been prepared and President Asif Ali Zardari will address a joint session of parliament when the constitutional package is tabled.

The federal minister said that talks of deadlock in the constitutional committee are baseless and the bill, which has been agreed upon by all political parties, would be tabled before the parliament during the current month.

He said that the amendment in the constitution would be made on the basis of two third majority.

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, which had finalised a draft of the 18th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2010 is reported to have suggested some 100 amendments to over 70 articles of the Constitution.

Clinton says 'new day' in ties with Pakistan

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday the United States had started a “new day” with Pakistan in hearing its concerns, but some of Islamabad's requests were set for a cool reception.

Clinton opened a first-of-a-kind “strategic dialogue” with Pakistan, hoping to show the country's widely anti-American public that the United States wants a relationship that goes beyond short-term battles against militants.

In an early-morning ceremony timed for broadcast in Pakistan, Clinton said she wanted to speak directly to its people, acknowledging that the two nations “have had our misunderstandings and disagreements in the past.”

”There are sure to be more disagreements in the future, as there are between any friends or, frankly, any family members,” she said.

“But this is a new day. For the past year, the Obama administration has shown in our words and deeds a different approach and attitude toward Pakistan.”

”The dialogue we seek is not only with the government of Pakistan, but you the people of Pakistan,” she said, vowing that both she and President Barack Obama had a “personal commitment” to building ties with Islamabad.

Pointing to Pakistan's growing action against extremism, Clinton pledged full support, saying “Its struggles are our struggles.”

The US Congress last year approved a giant five-year, 7.5 billion-dollar aid package for Pakistan, hoping to chip away support for extremism by building schools, infrastructure and democratic institutions.

But in a nod to the continued powerful role of Pakistan's military, the United States invited General Ashfaq Kayani, the army chief, to take part in the dialogue, along with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Qureshi expressed gratitude for US assistance and pledged that Pakistan would keep up the fight against extremism. But he made clear that Pakistan wanted benefits in return.

Qureshi said that Pakistan was seeking “non-discriminatory” access to energy resources as well as a “constructive” role by the United States on its dispute with India over Kashmir.

“Pakistan is committed to doing its part to facilitate the world community's effort for peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Qureshi said.

“We hope the world community will be equally responsive to our legitimate concerns and help advance common interests,” he said.

Pakistan has said it wants a civilian nuclear deal with the United States similar to a landmark agreement reached by India in 2008. US officials have publicly sidestepped the issue.

Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, said only that “we're ready to listen to anything.” Asked by Pakistan's private news TV if nuclear cooperation could assuage the country's chronic energy shortages, Clinton said there were “more immediate steps that can be taken” including upgrading power plants.

Pakistan is also seeking greater cooperation on water and education and wants unmanned attack drones. The United States has so far only given Pakistan surveillance drones.

The United States has launched more than 90 drone strikes in Pakistan since August 2008, killing more than 830 people, according to local sources.—Agencies

23rd March - Pakistan Day

***23rd March - Pakistan Day***

Today is the day, when the Lahore resolution was passed in the Mantoo Park (now Iqbal Park) in 1940, which was later on named as Pakistan Resolution and was accepted by Quaid-e-Azam . The Muslims in India changed their minds and looked forward in the future for their bright future. In the resolution there demands were clear, two paragraphs are from the Lahore or Pakistan Resolution:

[["Resolved that it is the considered view of this Session of the All-India Muslim League that no constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to the Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principles, viz., that geographically contiguous units’ are demarcated into regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute “independent States” in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign.

That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in these units in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultations with them and in other parts of (British) India where the Mussalmans (Muslims) are in a majority adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them."]]

It is clear in the above lines that Muslims are separate from the Hindus in their religion, culture, food and many other things, so they can't live together, therefore the states in which the Muslims are in majority should be combined to form a separate state for Muslims, where they can live according to their religion.

At last, in 1947 on August 14th, a state named as Islamic Republic of Pakistan appears on the map of the world as a new and fresh Muslim country.

We've many work to do for it today, we've to stop the thieves for steeling the treasures of Pakistan, we've to stop corruption, we've to provide daily needs of a house to the poor and needy people and many other works need our attention. This is the time when we've to wake-up, once again ALLAH's Holy Book Quran Majeed and the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), Allama Muhammad Iqbal's philosophy and Muhammad Ali Jinnah's spirit can show us the right path. Just we've to pay attention and make our self ready to fight for our's and country's right.

Let make a promise for the safety and long liveness of this country, that we all will do our best to make this country as a united country, and all the needy and poor people will not be appear as a needy and poor people of the this country anymore, they will be rich and they will work for a united Pakistan. Our elders saw a dream of Pakistan in 1940 and there dream comes true due to their struggle, now we've to see a dream of a United Pakistan and we've to struggle to make our dream true. We'll do this, Insha'Allah.

Are you with me, brothers & sisters?

***PAKISTAN ZINDABAAD*** ^^^ ***QUAID-E-AZAM PAINDABAAD***

World Water Day today

KARACHI: The World Water Day would be observed on March 22 (today) throughout the world including Pakistan.

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

This year's World Water Day is dedicated to the theme of water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management.

PAF successfully employs air-to-air refuelling skill

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday employed air-to-air refuelling skill successfully thus attaining another milestone to prove itself 'second to none' as envisioned by Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The attainment of the capability was a part of the on-going High-Mark-10 exercises kicked off a week ago.

The first Air-to-Air Re-Fuller aircraft of Pakistan Air Force which had joined PAF in the mid of December-2009, today took active part in the exercises and ably refuelled two fighter aircraft in the PAF's inventory, a senior officer of PAF said.

The PAF is expecting delivery of three similar refuelling aircraft by June this year.

By virtue of its ability to refuel Air Defence aircraft in air, PAF's overall capability in terms of its effectiveness to defend the airspace of the motherland has significantly enhanced, he said.

The area of exercise High Mark-10 is spread over the entire country from Skardu in the North up to the Arabian Sea in the South. The exercise has been tailored to include joint operations with extensive participation from Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy that would further enhance might to conduct joint operations amongst the three most essential services.

High Mark-10 is aimed at conducting operations in near-realistic tactical environment while integrating new inductions and providing role-oriented training to combat and support elements of PAF and other services.

"It is designed to achieve stipulated objectives with special emphasis on exposing PAF combat crew to simulated air battles based on contemporary concepts," he said.

He said, all the Main Operating Bases (Peace Time) and Forward Operating Bases (War Time) are operative during the on-going exercise.

New inductions like JF-17 Thunder aircraft and force multipliers such as Saab-2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and Air-to-Air Refueller aircraft are participating in the exercise for the first time.

Exercise High Mark is PAF’s biggest operational event that is being conducted after a pause of five years.

The ever changing geo-political environment in the region demands change in the employment concepts and doctrinal changes in the application of air power with emphasis on joint operations, he said.

Exercise High Mark 2010 would provide PAF an opportunity to validate these concepts that are vital in the overall defence of the country.

At least three killed in Quetta blast

QUETTA: Three people, including two policemen, were killed and 14 others were wounded in a blast in Quetta on Sunday. The target of the blast was a police officer’s vehicle.

The blast took place as an explosive device planted in a bicycle went off on the city’s Kuwari Road when the police vehicle passed by it.

The vehicle is stated to be of a district police officer stationed in Khuzdar, who was not present in the vehicle.

Police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the site soon after the blast. They cordoned off the area and shifted the injured to the civil hospital for treatment.

MuZiK Concert at Punjab College Of Science, Faisalabad

Faisalabad: WoW, it was a rocking and magnificent MUZIK concert held at Punjab College of Science, Faisalabad. Abrar-ul-Haq's and Ainey's songs make the students so eXciting and rocking, that even a student don't know how to dance start dancing.

Once again 'BHANGRA' rocks, which made the whole situation amazing, the groups of students start dancing (Bhangra).

There was lot of crowd more than it was expected. Suffocation problems were seen there, because of lots of crowd and of scorching heat of summer. But over all it was a tremendous show by Abrar-ul-Haq & Ainey.

Punjab College of Science, Faisalabad was on FIRE, when the show was on move. The administration feel relax after this successful concert.

Pics. of the show will be updated soon. As the mobile phone with camera and a single camera was prohibited but our team had done its job quite simply.

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Honda recalls 412,000 US vehicles on 'soft' brakes

DETROIT: Honda has recalled some 412,000 vehicles in the United States because customers complained their brakes felt “soft,” the Japanese automaker said Tuesday.

Honda said the problem is caused by air accumulating in a “vehicle stability assist modulator” which causes the pedal to get closer to the floor than normal before the vehicle stops.

This latest action comes a month after Japan’s second-biggest carmaker recalled more than 400,000 vehicles worldwide to fix airbags that it said can explode and spray out potentially deadly metal shards.

In January some 191,000 Honda Fits were recalled in the United States because the power window switch could short out and cause a fire if a lot of water got into the door handle.

The latest recall adds to the woes of Japan's auto industry, a key export earner of Asia's largest economy, with Toyota making global headlines over the more than eight million vehicles recalled for faulty accelerator and brake systems.

The recall affects 2007-2008 model years of the Odyssey minivan and Element sport utility vehicle.

Honda said some accidents involving brakes were reported to safety regulators in the vehicles covered under the recall.

Three people suffered minor injuries in the crashes.

“It’s tough to link those injuries to this cause,” Honda spokesman Chris Martin told AFP.

That's because the brakes continue to function long after they begin to soften and the softening process take a long time to develop.

“It’s a very slow progression because it’s a tiny, tiny amount of air that gets in – it’s smaller than a drop of water,” Martin said.

“Customers get a lot of warning.” Honda will be sending letters out to owners next month asking them to schedule an appointment to have the modulator sealed to prevent air intrusion.