Two more lose lives in Karachi firing incidents

Updated at: 1600 PST, Sunday, January 31, 2010

KARACHI: At least two more people were killed in firing incident by unidentified miscreants in Karachi areas of Qasba Colony and Pirabad, raising the overall death toll to 14 in firing incidents in last two days, Geo News reported Sunday.Some unidentified miscreants gunned down two people including a political party activist in Qasba Colony in Friday night, triggering the tension in the area.Yesterday, at least 12 people were killed in the ongoing firing incidents in the city.Also today, a child was killed and a man injured in firing incident by some unidentified armed men in Qasba Colony.Some unidentified men shot down another man in Orangi Town area of Pirabad today. Heavy contingents of police and the Rangers have been deployed in Orangi Town, Qasba Colony and the adjacent areas.Sindh Governor and Chief Minister took notice of these gory incidents and directed the concerned authorities to submit report in this connection.

PCB cancels IPL NOCs to players

Updated at: 1920 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revoked all the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to its players for participation in the third edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).A statement from the board said all the NOC's issued to players for IPL-III stand revoked."In future, if any player receives an invitation for participation in IPL events, PCB will decide the matter after consulting relevant government authorities," the statement said.The board has issued NOCs to total 26 players while 11 players were included in the auction, naming star all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Muhammad Amir, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Rana Naveed and Misbah-ul-Haq.A spokesman for the sports ministry also said that in future if any Pakistani player gets an offer to play in the IPL he would have to approach the PCB which would have to seek fresh NOCs from relevant ministries including security clearance and approval from foreign ministry.The board has canceled the NOCs at a time when governmental pressure was mounting on IPL franchises to include Pakistani players.

Bulls return as KSE regains 9,600 level

Updated at: 1903 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010

KARACHI: Positive activity was witnessed on the last trading day of the week as benchmark-100 index crossed 9,600 psychological barrier.The local bourse kicked-off the day in green zone and maintained the positive stance till the closing bell. Investors, however, avoided taking new positions amid upcoming monetary policy announcement by the central bank on Saturday.Stocks ended 34 points above at 9,614 points on Friday.Market turnover stood at 180 million shares. Lotte Pak proved itself a true volume leader as it remained on top, adding Rs1/share to close at Rs11.35.Meanwhile, parallel KSE-30 index closed at 10,056 points with a gain of 38 points. Experts said market could post some gains next week after a technical correction.

Saddam Hussein was a 'monster': Toni Blair

Updated at: 1724 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010

LONDON: Former British prime minister Tony Blair told the Iraq war inquiry Friday that Saddam Hussein had been a "monster" and he could not have been allowed to develop weapons of mass destruction.Blair said the threat posed by the Iraqi leader had been barely tolerable before the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, but the attacks showed the West could no longer risk him reactivating his weapons programmes."My assessment of risk prior to September 11 was that Saddam was a menace, that he was a threat, he was a monster, but we would have to try and make best," he said.This assessment "completely changed" after the attacks on New York and Washington.The former premier told the public inquiry into the 2003 war that Saddam was in charge of "an appalling regime" and "we couldn't run the risk of such a regime being allowed to develop WMD (weapons of mass destruction)".Blair also described Saddam as a "profoundly wicked, almost psychopathic man".He said the question of removing Saddam had been suggested in early 2002, ahead of his meeting with then US president George W. Bush at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas -- but he denied they struck a deal there.He said he agreed that Britain was "going to be with you (Bush) in confronting and dealing with this threat", Blair said, but added that exactly how they were going to deal with Saddam remained an "open question".The day-long evidence session by Blair, who left office in 2007, has been eagerly awaited in Britain.

SC reserves decision in promotion case

Updated at: 1254 PST, Friday, January 29, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved the decision in the case of promotion in top bureaucracy on Friday and stated that if promoted officers want to express their views they could inform the court in a written form.A three- member bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry heard the case. Attorney general continued arguments regarding eligibility of the officers. Chief justice has asked the attorney general to take care of public interest instead of government. Attorney general replied that Supreme Court has authority to review any administrative decision.Attorney general in his arguments said all officers of grade 21 were equally eligible for the promotion. The lawyer of one of the affected officer Ikram Chaudhry in his arguments said King law rules in the absence of democracy and law whereas law is the king in democracy. He said the authority practiced by prime minister in connection with the promotion of officers has proved that king law is exists here. The court has reserved the decision at the end of the hearing and said promoted officers could present their views within seven days through establishment division.

Ghana beats Nigeria to reach African Cup final

Updated at: 2258 PST, Thursday, January 28, 2010
LUANDA: Ghana reached its first African Cup of Nations final in 28 years Thursday after Asamoah Gyan scored tosecure a 1-0 win over Nigeria.Gyan broke the deadlock in the 21st minute against the run of the play to send the Black Stars into the biennial tournament's final for the first time since 1992. World Cup qualifier Ghana will next face the winner between Algeria and Egypt, who played later Thursday in the other semifinal. Nigeria dominated from the start and created a dozen good chances but was unable to break down Ghana's rock-solid defense.

Ghana beats Nigeria to reach African Cup final

Updated at: 2258 PST, Thursday, January 28, 2010
LUANDA: Ghana reached its first African Cup of Nations final in 28 years Thursday after Asamoah Gyan scored tosecure a 1-0 win over Nigeria.Gyan broke the deadlock in the 21st minute against the run of the play to send the Black Stars into the biennial tournament's final for the first time since 1992. World Cup qualifier Ghana will next face the winner between Algeria and Egypt, who played later Thursday in the other semifinal. Nigeria dominated from the start and created a dozen good chances but was unable to break down Ghana's rock-solid defense.