Pakistan host international but go out

LAHORE: Pakistan on Sunday hosted its first major international sporting event since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team two years ago, but were put out of the 2014 soccer World Cup by visitors Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, leading 3-0 from the first leg of the Asian zone first qualifying round tie in Dhaka, held Pakistan to a goalless draw in the second leg in Lahore for a comfortable aggregate win.

The visitors were forced to play in Pakistan after their request to relocate the match was turned down by FIFA.

The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, in the same city in March 2009, left eight people dead and seven wounded.

“We came here confident that we will reach the second round and although Pakistan proved tough we managed to keep them at bay,” said Bangladesh skipper Biplob Bhattacharajee, whose side maintained a tight defence, aided by poor Pakistani finishing.

Bangladesh will now play Lebanon in the two-legged second round on July 23 and 28.

Eight round one winners join 22 higher ranked teams – including China, Thailand and Iran – in the next stage of the road to the 2014 finals, which will be hosted by Brazil. AGENCIES

Benazir murder case: Sauz, Shehzad handed over to FIA on 8-day remand

The Anti-Terrorism Court of Rawalpindi on Friday handed over Former City Chief Police Officer Saud Aziz and SP Khurram Shehzad to FIA on 8-day physical remand in Benazir murder case.

Investigation Officer of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Asghar Jatoi filed the plea against both the accused in the Anti-Terrorism Court in which they requested for 9-day physical remand. But lawyer Malik Waheed Anjum opposing the request said that mobile was recovered from Khurram Shehzad so there was no need of further physical remand.

The court rejecting Maliks arguments ordered FIA to present the both accused before it on January 22.

Discovery cancels Michael Jackson autopsy TV show

LOS ANGELES: The Discovery television network on Friday said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson”s body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star”s estate.

The show, “Michael Jackson”s Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson,” had been set to air in several countries of western Europe and in the United Kingdom on Jan. 13.

“Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson”s estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson”s official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely,” Discovery Networks International said in a statement.

A Discovery (DISCA.O) spokesman declined comment beyond the statement. Co-executors of the estate responded in their own statement saying they were “pleased” with the decision.

The “Thriller” singer died suddenly of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, age 50, only weeks before beginning a series of comeback concerts. An autopsy by Los Angeles officials showed Jackson died chiefly of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that he used as a sleep aid.

Discovery”s show, which was not scheduled to air in the United States, was an unofficial, fictional account of what the autopsy must have been like and its results.

But Jackson fans worldwide protested in an online petition launched earlier this month, and the co-executors of his estate sent a letter this week to Discovery Networks calling the program “insensitive” and “in shockingly bad taste.”

A print advertisement for the program shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer”s well-known sequined glove.

Following Discovery”s decision, McClain and Branca released a statement saying, “we are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future.”

“While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored,” the statement said.

Jackson”s physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted giving the singer propofol, which is often used in surgery, and Murray has been charged by authorities with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson”s death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to make him stand trial begins in Los Angeles on Jan. 4.

KESC asks Nepra to down power tariff

Karachi trendpk.com: Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) sent an official application to Nepra asking it to decrease the power tariff, trendpk.com reported on Wednesday.

As per the statement issued by Nepra, the KESC asked for a 10 paisa per unit decrease. The said request has been made for the month of November. Nepra would hear the request on Dec 29.

Lahore: ban on use of sugar in offices challenged

The ban imposed by the Punjab government on the use of sugar in government offices has been challenged in the Lahore High Court, News Trends reported on Wednesday.

Advocate Azhar Siddique has pleaded in his request that the ban imposed proves the incompetency of government. The government, instead of taking action against hoarders and black-marketers, has banned the use of sugar in government offices which is neither beneficial for the masses nor it would help control the sugar prices. He also pleaded that if the Chief Executive of the province feels so helpless then he should immediately resign from his post.

Pakistan Rejects US Demand to Expand Drone Operations

News Trends: The United States is seeking to expand the areas inside Pakistan where Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drones can operate.

Pakistan, however, rejected the request and instead agreed to more modest measures, including an expanded CIA presence in Quetta. You expect us to open the skies for anything that you can fly, the paper quotes a high-ranking Pakistani intelligence official as saying. In which country can you do that?Citing unnamed US and Pakistani officials, the newspaper said US officials were eyeing areas surrounding the Pakistani city of Quetta, where the Taliban leadership is believed to be hiding. But the request also seeks to expand the boundaries for drone strikes in the tribal areas, the report said. On Friday, a US drone attack destroyed a vehicle in Pakistan’s tribal district of North Waziristan, killing at least three suspected militants, Pakistani security officials said. The United States considers Pakistan’s tribal belt an Al-Qaeda headquarters and the most dangerous place on Earth, and has reportedly criticised Pakistan’s failure so far to launch a major ground offensive in North Waziristan. Friday’s drone strike comes three days after a similar attack killed at least 15 militants and destroyed a training centre north of Miranshah.More than 220 people have been killed in Pakistan in over 40 strikes since September 3.

Salman Taseer backs Christian’s blasphemy death appeal

LAHORE: A top Pakistan government official Saturday backed a Christian mother’s appeal against a death sentence for blasphemy, saying he hoped President Asif Ali Zardari would pardon her.

Asia Bibi was sentenced to hang in Pakistan’s central province of Punjab earlier this month after being accused of insulting the Prophet Mohammed in 2009.

Punjab governor Salman Taseer met Bibi in prison and told a televised press conference afterwards that he would personally pass on her request for clemency.

“I will soon meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hand him over Bibi’s appeal,” he said. “I hope that the president will pardon her.”

The contents of the appeal were not immediately known, but Taseer said he was supporting it on humanitarian grounds.

Pakistan has yet to execute anyone for blasphemy, but the case spotlights a controversial law which

Police gets 14-day remand of target killing suspects

Staff Report

KARACHI: Karachi Police on Saturday obtained judicial remand of four suspected target killers for a period of 14 days.

Police produced the suspects, Bilal, Asad, Rafiq and Babar, before a Karachi Central court and sought a two-week remand for interrogation.

The court accepted the request and put off the hearing for 14 days. SAMAA

Pakistan seeks TPS for its nationals in US

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has formally asked the United States to consider grant of temporary protected status for its nationals currently living in the US without proper documentation in view of flooding devastation in the country, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.

Kaira said Pakistan handed over a letter to the Homeland Security Department on the second day of Pakistan-US strategic dialogue, requesting the grant of the temporary immigration status.

The United States gives TPS to nationals of designated countries which face situations like environmental disasters or armed conflicts.

The Homeland Security Department will look into the request.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the day-long deliberations by various working groups, Kaira stated the Obama Administration has committed to step up efforts for a requisite

Pervez Musharraf warns Sharif brothers on behavior

Staff Report

LONDON: Former Pakistani president, General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf, has warned the Sharif brothers, Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, to remain in their limits, adding that he will respond in the same manner.

He also said that Nawaz Sharif was sent to Saudi Arabia on the request of Shah Abdullah.

The former president said that he will return Pakistan before the next election.

He said this during an interview. Musharraf said that there are no cases against him and if there is any, he added, it would be political.

He disclosed that his meetings with Benazir Bhutto were on the insist of Chaudhry brothers (Chaudhry Shaujat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi). The Chaudhry brothers pressed to sign NRO.

Musharraf said he did not know whether Dr. Aafia Siddiqi was

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