Burney to start anti-graft drive after Eid

According to a press statement, rights activist Ansar Burney has said that at present Pakistan is facing a dire and painful period in its history.

“The politicians have joined hands and completely plundered this country to the brink of destruction. They have looted the treasury, bankrupted national institutions, sold off natural resources and even our sovereignty,” said Burney.

“The people have no food or water, no shelter, no electricity, no education, no healthcare, no jobs and no security. Every basic necessity has been stolen from us as a result of rampant and unchecked corruption,” he added.

“Look where we stand today, the very people we elected to protect us, are the people now responsible for dead bodies across the country. Murderers and plunderers now hold most important posts in the country,” added Burney.

“We have unimaginable violence now spreading all over the country between those holding power and those wanting it – all for the sake of a further opportunity to plunder the nation that little bit more.”

“It is now up to the civil society to take steps to rid the country of this evil before it is too late, and the Ansar Burney Trust announces to kick-start a massive anti-corruption movement following Eid as a first step towards saving our country,” read the statement.

Visa lottery dashes hopes of thousands

The U.S. State Department mistakenly told more than 22,000 people that they had won a special U.S. visa lottery and the drawing would have to be redone.

Because of a computer programming error, 90 percent of the winners were selected from the first two days of applications rather than from the entire 30-day registration period. The problem had been fixed and the results of the new drawing from among the same 19.6 million people who applied were expected to be available around July 15. The news dashes the hopes of those who believed they were eligible for the next step in obtaining one of the coveted “green card” lottery visas.

The lottery gives the winners the opportunity to immigrate without having a family member or an employer sponsor them.

Miandad turns down Pakistan coaching job

LAHORE: Pakistan confirmed Tuesday that former captain Javed Miandad has turned down an offer to become the side’s batting coach.

The team has been let down by faltering fielding and under-achieving batsmen and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and one-day captain Shahid Afridi had asked Miandad to come on board, manager Intikhab Alam said.

“The Pakistan team surely needs a batting coach and the board approached Miandad but he unfortunately declined the offer because of personal reasons. But I am sure that he will come and help the players in the near future,” Alam told reporters during team’s training camp for the West Indies tour.

But Miandad indicated he had rejected the offer because he was unwilling to work alongside other coaches.

“When you have four, five separate coaches, then the blame game starts in case the team loses a series or a tournament,” Miandad told reporters.

“For the last three years I have been saying ‘give me the team with full responsibility’, but it was not done,” he added.

Pakistan fly out to the Caribbean early Thursday to play one Twenty20 international, five one-day matches and two Tests.

Miandad’s Test batting average never dropped below 50 throughout his 20-year career. His 8,832 Test runs at 52.57 remain a record, with espncricinfo.com describing him as “the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced”.

The right-hander, now a PCB director, had initially hinted that he was willing to help out the squad, but also said he was unwilling to tour. He has had three separate stints as coach since 1998, the last of which was in 2004.

Alam said he was nevertheless happy with the team’s preparations for the West Indies.

“I can say this with great satisfaction — that this team maintained exemplary discipline during the World Cup, and I am also happy with the fitness level of the team because, unlike the other teams, we didn’t have any serious injury problems during the mega-event,” said Alam.

Alam said the team had moved on since their 29-run defeat in the World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals India.

“It was great disappointment to lose in the semi-final, and I can tell you that players wept in the dressing room. But since then they have moved on which was very necessary,” said Alam, also a former captain and coach.

He said he hoped that new players would put in strong performances during the West Indies tour.

“We have selected some new players in the team as we felt that the West Indies tour will help us groom some youngsters, and I hope these players grab this opportunity,” said Alam.

Billy Ray Cyrus Drops the Divorce

The Cyrus Family have been in the headlines a lot lately, both together and individually. Especially Billy Ray Cyrus when he spoke out about his divorce and his daughter in his now infamous interview with GQ magazine. He caused a real stir in the media by saying “Hannah Montana” had “destroyed my family”.

Billy Ray has done somewhat of a turnaround by announcing on the talk show, “The View”, that he has dropped the divorce. He had filed for divorce in October 2010 after 17 years of marriage.

“I’ve dropped the divorce. I want to put my family back together… Things are the best they’ve ever been.”

Billy Ray also took the opportunity during the interview to do some damage control for comments he’s previously made about his daughter Miley. During the interview he went on to say;

“I feel like I got my Miley back. I feel like we’re the daddy and daughter we were before Hannah Montana.”

Tremlett seizes chance

PERTH: Towering fast bowler Chris Tremlett answered England’s call in emphatic fashion on the opening day of the crucial third Ashes Test at the WACA ground on Thursday.

Tremlett was recalled to play just his fourth Test, and first in more than three years, because of a tour-ending injury to Stuart Broad, and grasped his opportunity with both hands.

Preferred over Tim Bresnan because of the bounce he was likely to extract from the wicket, the 29-year-old admitted to pre-match nerves, but blew them away when he clean bowled another player returning to Test cricket, Australian opener Phil Hughes, with the last ball of his first over of the match.

He then went on to claim the prized wicket of Michael Clarke, as well as youngster Steven Smith, both caught behind the wicket, in claiming 3-63 from 23 impressive overs as England closed in on retaining the

Disney’s buckles up for worldwide release of ‘Tron Legacy’

Tron: Legacy, a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that is unlike anything ever captured on the big screen is all set to release on December 17 worldwide. The film will bring alive a visually stunning world created by Joseph Kosinski and scored by Grammy Award-winning electronic music duo Daft Punk.

The multi-layered offering will go beyond cinema, with mobile and online games, merchandise and special offers. Tron: Legacy will be the only movie ever in India to be supported with a wide-ranging gaming catalogue comprising a collection of six games across all digital platforms Multiplayer online, 3D Online, Mobile and IOS.

Mahesh Samat, managing director- The Walt Disney Company India said, “Tron: Legacy is a great example of how Disney can offer unique and immersive experiences of its story and characters across multiple platforms. We can’t wait for kids and families to enjoy this incredible film, as it hits Indian screens this week.”

Disney home entertainment will release the visually stunning world on Blu-ray discs, DVDs and VCDs in February 2011 giving fans yet another opportunity to experience the Tron: Legacy.

Controversies Wont Affect us: Shahid Afridi

Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has said that the on-going controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket would not affect the morale of the players and the team would still be one of the favorites in the upcoming World Cup.

Pakistan cricket has been rocked by a series of controversies, the latest being the spot-fixing allegations against seven top players. Three players have been suspended by the ICC and four more are under the scanner. Afridi, veteran of more than 300 ODIs for Pakistan said that Pakistan will be amongst the top contenders of the teams in the World Cup. He also said that the team has a nice mix of batsmen and bowlers, which will surely put up a good show.However, he said that hosts India are one of the strongest contenders for the mega event, which kicks off on 19 February 2011 in India.He added that India, Pakistan along with Sri Lanka and Australia will be in the semi-finals of the tournament, being in the sub-continent after 15 years. However, he said that these are the countries which will have to bear extra pressure because of home conditions and the expectations of the fans.While praising India, he said Indian captain MS Dhoni has been an amazing captain and India is doing amazingly well under his leadership. He also spoke volumes in favour of Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, and said that his hunger for runs is growing day by day and teams need to have be extra cautious against him.Afridi also rued the fact they have lost the opportunity to play before the home fans in the prestigious tournament.

This is a huge loss for Pakistan Cricket. Foreign teams are not playing here and it has definitely affected us. We cannot do anything in this matter. Thank god, we have enough international exposure prior to World Cup.After playing against South Africa in UAE, Pakistan team is going to tour New Zealand from 26 December 26 to 5 February 5. They will play two Tests, three Twenty20s and six ODIs.Speaking about the motivation of his team, he said, Pakistan has suffered a lot. Flood, terrorism and the spot-fixing scandal in Cricket. Our Hockey team has given us a reason to smile after winning the Asiad gold and now we want to complete the success saga. InshaAllah we will win the World Cup for our countrymen.

Musharrafs mistakes made Kayani careful: Wikileaks

The whistle-blower website Wikileaks said that General Ashfaq Kayani is doing back door politics after learning lessons from Musharrafs mistakes.

The whistle-blower website Wikileaks released sensitive documents alleging that the Pakistans army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayanis opposition led to the conflict on the Kerry-Lugar Bill as it was going to result in greater civilian control on the military.A correspondence from the head of the French Interagencys Pak-Afghan cell, Jasmine Zerinini, is also included in the new secret documents released by Wikileaks. The correspondence sheds light on the Pakistan Armys policies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). According to the released documents, General Kayani has learnt from the mistakes made by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. He is using the parliament and the government while staying in the background, the documents allege. In this way, he is becoming an obstacle to any major change in the countrys policy pertaining to Fata. Zerininis correspondence also stated that the West has lost the opportunity to crush the Afghan Taliban with Pakistans help. The correspondence stated that with aid coming in from the Gulf States, the Haqqani network has grown too strong, that defeating it will not be easy for the Pakistani military.

Prince William’s engagement prompts republican row

SYDNEY: Monarchists in Australia Wednesday seized the opportunity to knock back their republican rivals as news of Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton was cheered in the Asia-Pacific.

In the former colony Down Under, the royal romance between the second-in-line to the British throne and the commoner daughter of a wealthy businessman was welcomed by the group Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.

“Everybody loves a wedding,” national convenor David Flint said.

“They’re both attractive, glamorous young people — that will cause interest.

“And of course it confirms the monarchy in people’s minds because people will be reminded that he will one day be king of Australia.”

Australians voted against becoming a republic in a 1999 referendum but a visit by Prince William earlier this year proved wildly popular among the public, with some

Karachi-Quetta intercity coaches observe strike against daily robberies

Staff Report

KARACHI: Drivers of Karachi-Quetta intercity coaches have gone on strike today (Tuesday) against ongoing daily robberies enroute.

The strike observing drivers have said that robberies in coaches have become daily routine on their route between Quetta and Karachi.

They added that a few days ago, robbers also robbed a few Haj pilgrims, taking their passports and travel documents. Consequently, they were all deprived of their opportunity to perform Haj.

The drivers have demanded that the Quetta-Karachi route be handed over to Frontier Constabulary (FC). They also threatened that till FC is not appointed on the route, coaches will remain suspended. Trend Pk

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