Coalition partners back PM
The meeting discussed the current political situation of the country after Gilani’s indictment in the contempt case on Monday.
The leaders agreed that they would continue to work together for continuation of the political and democratic process in the country.
The coalition partners expressed complete solidarity with Prime Minister Raza Gilani.
The meeting was attended by Choudhry Shujaat Hussain, Asfand Yar Wali Khan, Farooq Sattar, Munir Khan Orakzai, Rehman Malik, Syed Khursheed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Raja Pervez Ashraf.
Mumtaz Rizvi assigned additional charge of FBR chief
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has approved the promotion of Mr Rizvi, a BS-21 officer of Customs and excise group, presently posted as Member (Customs) Federal Board of Revenue to BS-22.
According to notification issued by the PM office, Mumtaz Haider Rizvi is posted as member (Customs) by up-grading the post to Bs-22. He is also assigned additional charge of the post of Federal Board of Revenue Chairman with immediate effect.
Money in Swiss banks must be returned: Nawaz
Speaking alongside the chairman of the Sindh National Front Mumtaz Bhutto, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that people of Pakistan wanted their money to be returned.
He further said that the government’s actions were against the will of the people and instead of hiding behind the cover of immunity, the nation’s money must be returned.
I could not understand why the government is reluctant about writing the letter to Swiss authorities,” he said.
Hantuchova wins Pattaya Open
Slovakia s third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova successfully defended her Pattaya Open title on Sunday, beating fourth seed Russian Maria Kirilenko in a marathon three hour 14-minute battle.
The three sets victory 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3 was Hantuchova s fifth career title, and means the world number 20 is now unbeaten in 10 matches at the Thai resort, where her victory this year brings her $37,000.
“It feels great,” said Hantuchova. “I thought it was an incredible match. Maria was playing really well and we were fighting for every single point.
“Even though I lost the first set very closely I just kept going and didn t really look back and always just tried to focus on the next point. That was the key.”
Her Russian opponent and world number 26 Kirilenko was playing in her 10th career final, and hoping to win her first title since she beat Samantha Stosur in Seoul in 2008.
In a match contested largely from the baseline, Hantuchova struggled at first to find her rhythm and dropped her serve with a double-fault in the opening game.
In the second set, both players held break points, but it was Hantuchova who broke in the first and final games.
The final set began with both players dropping their serve to love.
Hantuchova then held off a break point at 1-1, failed to convert three break points for a 3-1 lead and another to lead 4-2, but safely served out the match after her opponent had produced her seventh double-fault.
“I m disappointed to lose in the final,” said Kirilenko. “But if I look back I almost lost the first match so I m trying take the positive things from the tournament.
“After the Australian Open I didn t play for nine days because I was injured, and today I was in the final so I think it s a good result still.”
SC to hear missing prisoners case today
Seven prisoners have been brought to the Supreme Court on the court order.
The three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will resume hearing of missing prisoners case today.
The court, during previous hearing, had directed the officials of sensitive agencies to produce the 11 missing prisoners from Adiala Jail on February 13.
The court has also summoned secretary defence to appear before the court today. The counsel for the sensitive agencies, Raja Irshad informed the court during previous hearing that four of the 11 prisoners taken into custody from Adiala Jail have died while four are under treatment at the Lady Reading Hospital and remaining three are under detention in Para Chinar.
Lahore: CNG stations closed for 64 hours
According to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) load management plan, the CNG stations in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Multan regions will remain shut for 64 hours.
The CNG stations will remain closed from 6:00am today to 10:00pm on Wedneday. On the other hand, gas supply to textile industry in Lahore, Muridke and Sheikhupura regions has been resumed for two days.
DR Congo president’s aide killed in plane crash
A close aide to DR Congo President Joseph Kabila was killed and the country s finance minister seriously injured in a plane crash on Sunday in the east of the country, the president s office said.
The statement identified Kabila s aide as Augustin Katumba Mwanke, 48, considered a key member of Kabila s entourage, who had the ear of the president.
Finance Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo was in a serious condition, while Sud-Kivu governor Marcellin Tshisambo had suffered fractures in both legs, said an airport official.
The plane overshot the runway at Bukavu airport, the president s office said.
“There were three killed: two American crew members and one passenger,” Mwanke, a Bukavu airport official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that there had been eight passengers on the aircraft.
Mwanke and the pilot “died on the spot,” a source at the presidency said.
The twin-engine Gulfstream 200 had flown in from the capital Kinshasa via Goma and apparently missed its landing at Bukavu airport, in the vast country s east.
“It touched down only halfway down the runway and went skidding into a ditch beyond the runway. The plane is damaged,” the airport official said.
PM indicted in contempt case, denies charges
A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed heard the case.
Earlier, the Supreme Court indicted Gilani for not implementing the court orders.
PM Gilani arrived in the Supreme Court amid tight security arrangements.
Aitzaz Ahsan has informed the court that he needs time until February 24 for filing the answers to the charges against the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Earlier, the prime minister denied the charges after the charge sheet was read out to him. The PM said he has understood the charges and denies them.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said that judges may not be available on February 24.
PM contempt case adjourned to Feb 27
PM denies the charges leveled against him by the court with regard to contempt of the court case.
A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed heard the case.
Earlier, the Supreme Court indicted Gilani for not implementing the court orders.
PM Gilani arrived in the Supreme Court amid tight security arrangements.
Aitzaz Ahsan has informed the court that he needs time until February 24 for filing the answers to the charges against the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Earlier, the prime minister denied the charges after the charge sheet was read out to him. The PM said he has understood the charges and denies them.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said that judges may not be available on February 24.
The attorney general has also been directed to submit all the relevant papers.
The PM has also been exempted from appearing in the court. The court also adjourned the case to February 27.
Cricket: Australia’s Ben replaces injured Lee
February 6, 2012 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
SYDNEY: Australia called up swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus on Monday to replace injured paceman Brett Lee for the one-day international against Sri Lanka.
Hilfenhaus was instrumental in Australia’s Test whitewash of India, where he was the top wicket-taker with 27 scalps for an average 17.22, and selectors said he would stand in for Lee at Friday’s one-dayer in Perth.
“The bowling attack for Perth is likely to be the same as the one that did so well in Melbourne and Ben will be in Perth to provide cover,” said national selector John Inverarity.
Lee has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks after fracturing the little toe of his right foot when he was struck by a ball against India in Friday’s Twenty20 in Melbourne.
Australia opened the tri-nation ODI series with a convincing 65-run win over India on Sunday. India meet Sri Lanka on Wednesday and Australia and Sri Lanka square off on Friday.
Inverarity said Mitchell Marsh, who stepped in for the then appendicitis-afflicted Lee in Australia’s ODI series against South Africa in October, had also been confirmed for Sunday’s ODI against India.
Marsh, 20, has been playing domestic fixtures in his native Perth.
