Zardari nominates Fasih Bukhari for NAB chairman

SLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has nominated former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral (retd) Fasih Bukhari as the new chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari also contacted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and opposition leader, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan for their opinion about Bukhari’s nomination.

According to details, the post of NAB chairman has remained vacant for the past six months after the resignation of Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah.

Meanwhile, sources added that there would not be any difficulty in Bukhari’s appointment if Chaudhry Nisar responds positively to the nomination.MORE.....

Drone attacks are unacceptable: FO

SLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has again said that drone attacks are against the sovereignty of Pakistan.

Talking exclusively to DawnNews, Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said there is no change in Pakistan’s stance on drone attacks and it is very clear.

Tehmina Janjua said Pakistan will never retreat to its principally adopted stand upon drone attacks and that the attacks are unacceptable for Pakistan, however she never took the name of the United States.MORE.....

Policeman killed in Bannu rocket attack

BANNU: A policeman was killed after unidentified militants fired three rocket-propelled grenades at the cantonment area of Bannu in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, security officials said.

According to the police, the rockets were fired at the residence of DPO Bannu, Mohammad Sajjad in the morning.

One of the rockets fell inside the premises killing a policeman who had been on duty.

Police said that the other two rockets fell in an empty ground where no damages occured.MORE.....

Imran wasn't directly involved in betting: Faisal Aman

Faisal Aman Khan, the director of " Kaptaan", recently came to know about Imran Khan giving betting tips to his brother-in-law during a Test match between England and South Africa. Though his movie doesn't dwell on this aspect, Faisal admits that "Kaptaan" does talk about the financial crisis that Imran's party had been going through in early 2000.

Ask Faisal if the cricketer's admission would tarnish his image and the director says, "I don't think people have to do so much in Pakistan to generate controversies. No revelation is required to malign a person. Even when this movie was announced, there were political rivals who were all out to attack us. True, I was initially

surprised when I heard about Khan saab's admission. Then, I went on to read his book (Pakistan: A Personal History) and I found that he wasn't directly involved in betting. He was only helping out his brother-in-law. His brother-in-law was losing money and he was sitting next to him. All he did was to help his brother-in-law. The deal was that every pound (Ben Goldsmith) made after recovering the £10,000 lost would go towards clearing debts of Khan saab's party. Everyone is aware that Khan saab is not a corrupt person. I know that this is a rare quality."

Earthquake anniversary: Gilani reiterates support for Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD:

In a speech marking the sixth anniversary of the 2005 earthquake, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, while announcing a list of projects, reaffirmed the government’s support for the “freedom, development and prosperity of Kashmir”.

“The people of Pakistan and Kashmir are bound together historically, religiously and geographically,” Gilani said, addressing the inaugural ceremony of AJK’s first medical college in Muzaffarabad on Saturday.

The prime minister announced to name the medical college after veteran Kashmiri political leader Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, who is also the father of All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.

The premier expressed hope that travel and trade between the two parts of Kashmir will lead to a “destination of freedom”.

He also announced the set up of an Information Technology University in Rawalakot and the creation of 2,000 jobs in the AJK police department.

Speaking of the success of the reconstruction programme, he said that 99 per cent of earthquake survivors in the rural areas of AJK have completed the reconstruction of their houses with financial assistance from the government.MORE.....

Zulfiqar Mirza lashes out again at MQM, Rehman Malik

KARACHI: Former Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza said that he is dissatisfied with the Supreme Court suo motu decision on the situation in Karachi.

Mirza also lashed out at the MQM and Rehman Malik. He again declared the Federal Home Minister a liar and referred to him as ‘Shaitan Malik’.

Talking with media persons in Lyari, Mirza said that no one could ban the Peoples Aman Committee which handed over all its offices to him upon his request.

Talking about the Supreme Court’s decision over Karachi situation he said that every loyal Pakistani is disheartened over the judgment and he will issue 500,000 more weapons license if he will again be given the portfolio of home minister.

Mirza said that allegation of extortion on Jamaat-e-Islami is nonsense because there is no such allegation on the party in the past three-and-half years.MORE.....