PCB delays announcement of 30 probales for WC 2011

PCB has postponed the announcement of 30 probables for the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2011. The decision was expected today but due to some reasons PCB has delayed it.

According to sources, there are strong chances of dropping Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria, Muhamamd Younas and Rana Naveedul Hassan.

Preparations for New Zealand tour have been completed but team for the tour has not yet finalized. Training camp was held in Qaddafi Stadium in which more focus was on fitness, bowling and fielding techniques. Javed Miandad has also taught batting techniques to junior players. And at the end to training camp today, it was expected that PCB would announce 30 players for World Cup 2011 but the announced has been delayed.

Cyclone Phet approaches Oman

MUSCAT: Oman is gearing up to for the landfall of cyclone Phet, currently located approximately 200 km from Masirah.

According to an Arab channel, evacuation from Masirah and eastern cost has been completed as reports of rains and thunderstorms in different areas started pouring in.

Moving landward at an estimated 10 km per hour, the storm is expected to hit the eastern coast of Oman by this afternoon.

The storm will likely be upgraded to a category five weather condition sometime today, as wind speeds are expected to top 156 miles per hour. The country’s civil defenses are on alert.

Blast heard in Kallat

KALLAT: A powerful explosion has been heard in Kallat followed by sounds of gunshots, Geo News reported Tuesday.

SC allows Rabbani to appear before court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) today continued hearing the case relating Eighteenth Amendment, Geo News reported Tuesday.

The apex court allowed Advisor to Prime Minister and Chairman Implementation Committee on 18th Amendment Senator Mian Raza Rabbani to appear before the court hearing the case.

A 17-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry is hearing a case relating fifteen identical constitutional petitions filed against some clauses of the amendment particularly challenging the judicial commission’s formation under the 18th amendment saying it is against the judiciary’s independence.

A petitioner Nadeem Ahmed’s counsel Akram Ssheikh submitted in his preliminary arguments, ‘The concerned people in the media or textile were approached for their opinion before morphing the policy in the respective sectors; but, judiciary was not consulted on issue of judges’ appointment. This is dishonesty.’

Justice Asif Saeed said in his remarks that the Parliamentary Committee had not said this anywhere that the present judicial system collapsed.

Justice Tassadduq Jilani queried the counsel, ‘Was judiciary in Britain was sought to give opinion before any change was effected in the modus operandi of the judges’ appointment? Or, was the Parliament made part to the process? ’

The CJ asked Akram Sheikh as to what purpose did Article-7 of the Constitution serve when it did not include judiciary in the definition of the state.

Also, Advocate on Record (AoR) Mehmood A Sheikh also filed an apology today on show-cause notice, the apex court issued to him yesterday in the same case.

Gilani leaves for Spain, Belgium

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday left for four-day official visit of Spain and Belgium.

Premier Gilani will reach Madrid in the first leg of his tour and will hold talks with King and Prime Minister of Spain.

In the next stage, Prime Minister will reach Brussels to attend second Pak-EU conference. Gilani will also address the Nato council during his visit to NATO headquarters.

Shutter down strike in Balochistan

QUETTA: A shutter-down strike is being observed across Balochistan on Tuesday in response to a call made by the Baloch National Partyront (BNP) against killing of BNP activist and arrests.

Other nationalist parties also supported the strike call. Business activities came to a standstill, with most of the shopping and trading centres remaining close.

Strict security measures have been taken in Quetta and heavy police contingents of police and FC have been deployed at key roads and shopping centers.

Talat, aide to return soon, says Malik

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday assured safe return of Pakistani journalist Talat Hussain and other Pakistanis under detention of Israeli authorities.

Talking to media here, Rehman Malik said all three Pakistanis are safe and sound and they and will return to Pakistan soon. He said secretary general of Interpol is putting personal efforts for the release of Talat Hussain and two other Pakistanis. The process of identification and confirmation of passport has been completed and efforts are underway to bring them back home.

Malik said President and Prime Minister are taking personal interest in the return of Talat Hussain and the issues is being discussed with US envoy in Pakistan and Pakistani ambassador in US.

First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims Returns

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan news: The first batch of 340 Hajj pilgrims returned to Islamabad from Jeddah by a PIA flight.

The relatives of the pilgrims and PIA officials received the pilgrims from PIA flight PK-742 at Islamabad airport.

PIA had transported 127,379 pilgrims to the holy land through 293 hajj flights and regular scheduled flights.

The security arrangements for return of the Hajj pilgrims have been completed at Islamabad airport.

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First Batch of Hajj Pilgrims Returns was first posted on December 1, 2009 at 2:33 pm.