1pakistan

My brother & Cousin

2007-01-01T04:11:00.000+03:00

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T04:05:00.000+03:00

Happy Eid

2006-12-30T04:07:00.000+03:00

My Wedding Party

2006-12-29T04:02:00.000+03:00

Happy Haj

2006-12-29T01:08:00.000+03:00

Happy Xmas

2006-12-25T03:56:00.000+03:00

Tower Bahrain

2006-12-10T12:00:00.000+03:00

Niece forced into sex trade

2006-11-04T02:20:00.000+03:00

A PROSTITUTE has told how her own uncle brought her to Bahrain to work in a vice den, having sex with up to eight men a day, on fixed shifts.

The 24-year-old Bangladeshi said she brought in up to BD800 a month from clients, but her uncle gave her just BD100 and kept the rest.

She was arrested in a raid on the East Riffa vice den in July, along with another woman, aged 20 and a man, aged 33, also both Bangladeshi.

The women have each admitted prostitution, along with living in Bahrain illegally, since they were no longer working for their sponsors, the Lower Criminal Court heard.

The man has admitted managing the vice den and living partially off the women's earnings from prostitution, though he claimed he had only being doing it for a week.

He said his job was to let clients into the rented house and then see them out again once they had finished.

The case was adjourned until November 11 for sentencing and all three were further remanded in custody.

They were arrested after police posed as clients in a sting operation, after being tipped off about the vice den, the court heard.

Both women had run away from their original sponsors and taken shelter in the house to earn money, said the prosecution.

Two Asian customers were also arrested in the raid.

The male defendant received the customers and collected the money from them and also acted as a pimp and brought customers for the two women, said the prosecution.

He told police he had been living in the area for a week and worked with the women at the house from 11am to 5pm every day, shepherding customers in and out.

The 24-year-old woman said she arrived in Bahrain two years earlier and absconded as soon as she arrived at the airport, to work at the house for her uncle.

"My uncle used to bring customers for me to have sex with them. All of my customers were Asians and I start working from 6am until 7pm every day," she said.

"I charge BD3 or BD4 for each session with my customers and sleep with about five to eight customers a day.

"I earn around BD700 per month and sometimes BD800 per month.

"My uncle collects the money from the customers and gives me BD100 only every month."

She said her uncle had travelled to Bangladesh eight months earlier and an Indian man was now running the house.

The 20-year-old woman said she arrived in Bahrain 20 months earlier and ran away from her sponsor with the help of a Bangladeshi man, who took her to the house to work as a prostitute.

Eid

2006-11-01T11:59:00.000+03:00

KARACHI: October24 – A baby shows her hand decorated with Mehndi (Hina) at a special setup of a bazaar to celebrate the Eidul Fitr on Wednesday.

Namaze Eid in London

2006-11-01T11:56:00.000+03:00

LONDON: Oct23 – Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President PML (N) Shahbaz Sharif and others offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Regents Park Mosque Central London

SPORT CRICKET CHAMPIONS

2006-11-01T11:55:00.000+03:00

Pakistani cricket players offer prayers at the Jama Masjid (mosque) on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr in the northern Indian city of Mohali October 24, 2006

Open the Door

2006-11-01T11:52:00.000+03:00

Independance day

2006-11-01T11:51:00.000+03:00

Mugal Art

2006-11-01T11:49:00.000+03:00

IRAN

2006-11-01T11:47:00.000+03:00

An Iranian female student paints in the Fine Arts Faculty of Tehran University in Tehran 29 October 2006. "Women face many limitations in Iran, but education is seen as an acceptable outlet for self-fulfillment and social participation," said Hamidreza Jalaipour, prominent reformist journalist and professor of sociology. He believes the Islamic revolution of 1979, which made it obligatory for women to wear the headscarf, has encouraged religious families to send their daughters to college which was "Islamized and no longer regarded as an unsafe, corrupted place"

Mrs. Charles

2006-11-01T11:46:00.000+03:00

Bakra

2006-11-01T11:44:00.000+03:00

Shepherd

2006-11-01T11:39:00.000+03:00

Near Gujrawalla

EID prayer in lahore

2006-11-01T11:30:00.000+03:00

Pakistani Muslims offer Eid prayers at the historical Badshahi Mosque during the first day of the Eid al-Fitr religious festival in Lahore, 25 October 2006. People traditionally visit the homes of their relatives and friends during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan

Eid gifts

2006-11-01T11:28:00.000+03:00

RAWALPINDI: October23 – Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz distributes Eid gifts to the children of Anjuman-e-Faizul Islam (Apna Ghar) during a ceremony.

Eid Mubarak

2006-10-23T11:20:00.000+03:00

پھول اور دعائیں

2006-10-15T08:45:00.000+03:00

گزشتہ سال کے ہلاکت خیز زلزلے کی پہلی برسی کے موقع پر متاثرہ علاقوں میں اپنے عزیزوں کی قبروں پر دعا کرنے والوں میں بچوں کی ایک بڑی تعداد شامل تھی۔ مظفرآباد کے ایک قبرستان میں دعا کرتی ہوئی یہ بچی بھی انہیں میں سے ایک ہے۔ آٹھ اکتوبر کو صدر جنرل مشرف اور وزیراعظم کی مظفرآباد میں آمد کی وجہ سے مقامی لوگوں کو خاصی دقت اٹھانا پڑی اور کئی لوگوں نے بی بی سی کے نام نگار کو بتایا کہ انہیں اس بات کا بہت دکھ ہے کہ سکیورٹی اہلکاروں نے انہیں اپنے عزیزوں کی قبروں پر جانے سے بھی روکے رکھا۔

Will miss you guys............

2006-10-10T14:58:00.000+03:00

SkyStar 2 PCI Card

2006-10-10T14:35:00.000+03:00

For last 2 days im working on this this satellite card its amazing, i can connect internet through dish and i can connect to Satellite Channels its amazing basically
Technisat SkyStar 2 satellite card allows you to view digital atellite TV and radio broadcastings directly on your PC. Apart from the receipt of digital TV- and radio programs via satellite the card is also in the best way for data services or "High speed Internet via Satellit" (e.g. T-DSL via Sat, Filiago or Europe-Online). In fact, SkyStar 2 is a fully functional digital satellite receiver in your PC.. Original software DvbViewer can used only for watching of Free-To-Air channels. But there are many programs such as: ProgDvd, Dvb Dream... which allows you with additional plugins to watch scrambled channels.

North Korea says to do nuclear test in future

2006-10-03T13:50:00.000+03:00

PYONGYANG: North Korea said Tuesday it would conduct a nuclear test to bolster its self-defense against what it calls increasing U.S. hostility toward the regime.

"The DPRK will in the future conduct a nuclear test in a condition where safety is firmly guaranteed," the North's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The U.S. extreme threat of a nuclear war and sanctions and pressure compel the DPRK to conduct a nuclear test, an essential process for bolstering nuclear deterrent, as a self-defense measure in response," said the statement carried by the North's official news agency.

The North said Tuesday its ultimate goal is ``to settle hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and to remove the very source of all nuclear threats from the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity,'' accusing the U.S. of posing a nuclear threat in the region.

The North, however, said it will ``never use nuclear weapons first and strictly prohibit any threat of nuclear weapons and nuclear transfer,'' defending its nuclear weapons as a protection from ``the U.S. threat of aggression'' and a measure ``to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.''

BD200 is new minimum wage for Bahrainis

2006-10-02T09:04:00.000+03:00

The minimum wage for Bahraini workers in the private sector has been set at BD200 per month, it was revealed yesterday. Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi said his ministry is working on raising wages of the 18,000 Bahrainis in the private sector on the directives of His Majesty King Hamad. Dr Al Alawi claimed the ministry was able to employ 12, 400 Bahrainis, 80 per cent of job-seekers, during the first nine months of the National Employment Project. He said minimum wages for expats working in the private sector had not been set yet, because of the fear of a major surge in repatriation of funds from Bahrain. Dr Al Alawi hailed the co-operation of businessmen in job creation.

نواب کی حکمرانی

2006-10-01T15:16:00.000+03:00

نواب کی حکمرانی تھی جو دراصل ایک چھوٹی سی سلطنت کا بادشاہ تھا۔

ایک سول سرونٹ نے نواب بگٹی سے کہا تھا’میرے پاس اچھی خبر ہے۔ حکومت نے آپ کے علاقے میں سکول کھولنے کے لیئے فنڈز مختص کیئےہیں‘۔

نواب نے جواب دینے میں دیر نہیں لگائی ’میں سکول نہیں کھولنا چاہتا۔ کل آنا میں بتاؤں گا کہ میں ایسا کیوں چاہتا ہوں‘۔

اگلے روز نواب نے اپنے مہمان کو ایک بندوق دی۔ ’ہم بطخ کے شکار پر جارہے ہیں۔ کچھ ہی دیر بعد نواب بطخوں کا شکار مکمل کرچکے تھے۔ یہ بطخیں برف کی طرح سرد پانی کے حوض میں چھوڑ دی گئیں۔ پھر انہوں نے سیٹی بجائی۔

یہ ایک حکم تھا۔ جو لوگ شکار پر ان کے ساتھ تھے وہ برفیلے پانی میں کود گئے اور بطخیں جمع کرنے لگے۔ پھر گیلے شلوار قمیض کے ساتھ وہ بطخیں نواب کے معائنے کے لیئے لانے لگے۔

نواب اپنے مہمان کی طرف مڑے۔ ’مجھے تمھیں مایوس کرنے کا افسوس ہے۔ لیکن کیا تمھارے خیال میں اگر یہ لوگ سکول گئے ہوتے تو یوں میرے حکم کی تعمیل کرتے۔ سکول کا خیال دل سے نکال دو‘۔

Protest against naturalisation

2006-09-30T14:13:00.000+03:00

A DEMONSTRATION against political naturalisation yesterday was described as "ironic" by organisers. As thousands of Bahrainis held the protest in Sanabis, organisers described how hundreds of naturalised Bahrainis in full riot gear stood by. But other than the demonstration ending half an hour earlier than intended, everything went smoothly and as planned, said National Democratic Action Society (NDAS) general secretary Ebrahim Sharif.
"It was a very peaceful demonstration," he told.
"The only thing we did not understand was why we were asked to change our route by the Interior Ministry."
"The original plan was to start the demonstration near the Bahrain Mall and finish near the Dana Mall," said Mr Sharif.
"But if you look near the Dana Mall, there were hundreds of riot police, all naturalised Bahrainis, waiting and what's more shocking was that they blocked the roads with barbed wires.
"We refused to change the route because we have used this many times.
"The government said this is a major highway, but we said it was going to be at 3.30pm on a Friday during Ramadan.
"Not a lot of people would be using this highway.
"They have allowed demonstrations here in the past before Ramadan and we do not see why we can't have it now, except maybe that they want to limit our movement."
"Because of the blockade, we decided to end things sooner than we wanted to," said Mr Sharif.
"There must have been at least 5,000 of us here, and we proved (the police) wrong.
"They thought there were going to be riots, but we showed them that we are all very civilised and just wanted to make a point to our government."
Critics argued that many people are being given Bahraini nationality for political purposes. Mr Sharif said that in 2002, there were about 243,000 voters in Bahrain. In just four years, voters have increased to 295,000.
"This is an increase of 52,000 in a four-year period, how could this be?" he asked.
"We have taken into consideration the changing of the minimum voting age from 21 to 20, but then the number should have only increased to about 36,000.
"There are 16,000 that have come out from nowhere.The only explanation is naturalisation in the last few years."

Prayer....

2006-09-29T23:16:00.000+03:00

Musharraf, Karzai Avoid Eye Contact, Hand Shake During Bush Dinner

2006-09-28T15:14:00.000+03:00

Sept. 28: President Bush sits with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as they host a working dinner at the White House with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, left, and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Pakistan clears $43b Emaar plan

2006-09-28T13:15:00.000+03:00

Emaar, the largest Arab property developer by market value, yesterday received government approval for a Dh157.81 billion ($43 billion) project to develop two island resorts near Pakistan's port city of Karachi. With 85 per cent equity in the project, Dubai-based Emaar will build apartments, offices resorts and entertainment facilities at Bundal and Buddo Islands over 13 years, Ashfaque Hasan Khan, Pakistan government's economic adviser, told the media in Islamabad yesterday. Pakistan's Port Qasim, which has 15 per cent stake in the project, will provide the land to Emaar.
This is the company's single largest project announcement and supercedes the $26.7 billion King Abdullah Economic City project in Saudi Arabia announced last year.
Emaar in May signed a series of MoUs worth $18 billion with the Pakistani government to build a mixed-used development comprising homes, hotels and a golf course in Karachi.
It also plans $2.4 billion of its signature master-planned communities in Islamabad and Karachi, due for completion by 2011.
With the latest announcement, the combined value of Emaar Properties' projects in Pakistan rises to Dh166.61 billion much higher that Dubai's annual GDP.
It is aiming to tap real estate demand in Pakistan, a $129 billion economy forecast to expand seven per cent this fiscal year, compared with 6.6 per cent last year.

'We mastered reverse swing'

2006-09-24T09:36:00.000+03:00

Former captain Wasim Akram claims the art of reverse swing, which is practised by Pakistan's fast bowlers, is being mistaken for ball-tampering. Akram, one of the most feared seam bowlers "We are accused of ball tampering because we have mastered the art of reverse swing.
"No body knew for 15 long years what we were actually doing. They taught it was ball-tampering. But in fact it is reverse swing."
Nobody can be more qualified than Akram, often referred to as the "Sultan of Swing" to elaborate on the art form.
Akram, who is in Dubai as a guest of the HSBC cricket challenge pointed a finger at England and said: "Last year when England bowlers won the Ashes through reverse swing, no one from the British media said they had tampered with the ball.
"They said they were bowling reverse swing and they know the art. Before making such a claim they should have asked themselves from whom did they learn this art. It is from the Pakistanis."
Akram went on to explain what really constitutes ball tampering.
"Ball tampering is done in different ways in different countries. In England when I was playing county cricket, they said ball tampering was when one scratched the ball. Later in England and Australia bowlers resorted to applying Vaseline and mint on to the ball. All these were nothing but tampering of the ball."
Akram even went on to candidly admit that at times he has lifted the seam of the ball. "Ball tampering is not something that can be done quickly and make the ball swing immediately. First of all one can tamper the ball only after it is nearly 50 overs old."

Musharraf uses book deal to dodge "bomb" spat

2006-09-24T09:09:00.000+03:00

WASHINGTON - Pakistan's leader cited a book deal during an appearance with President George W. Bush on Friday to avoid talking about a purported U.S. threat to bomb his country back to the Stone Age after the September 11 attacks. With his memoir due out on Monday, President Pervez Musharraf managed to plug his book while smoothing diplomatic waters after talks with Bush on their partnership in the war on terrorism and efforts to combat a Taliban resurgence.
Musharraf, in an interview with CBS News magazine show "60 Minutes" to air on Sunday, charged that after the September 11 attacks, the United States threatened to strike Pakistan if it did not cooperate in America's campaign against the Taliban.
Musharraf said Richard Armitage, then deputy secretary of state, told Pakistan's intelligence director, "'Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age.'"
Bush, hailing Musharraf as an important ally, insisted on Friday he knew of no such U.S. threat, and Armitage said he never issued such a warning.
"The first I've heard of this is when I read it in the newspaper today," Bush said as he stood next to Musharraf at a White House news conference. "I guess I was taken aback by the harshness of the words."

بش مشرف ملاقات

2006-09-24T08:43:00.000+03:00

امریکی صدر بش اور پاکستان کے صدر جنرل مشرف نے 22 ستمبر کو وائٹ ہاؤس میں ملاقات کی۔ امریکی صدر کا کہنا تھا کہ جہاں تک انہیں یاد ہے امریکہ نے 11 ستمبر کے واقعے کے بعد پاکستان پر حملے کی دھمکی کی تردید کی اور کہا کہ پاکستان پر حملہ کی کوئی دھمکی نہیں دی گئی تھی۔ اس سے قبل صدر مشرف نے ایک امریکی ٹی وی چینل کو بتایا تھا کہ امریکی دھمکی تب کے نائب سیکریٹری خارجہ رچرڈ آرمیٹیج نے ان کے انٹیلیجنس ڈائریکٹر کے توسط سے ان تک پنہچائی تھی۔ اس کے علاوہ بھی چند معاملات پر دونوں سربراہان کے بیانات میں اختلافات سامنے آئے ہیں جس سے دونوں ملکوں کے تعلقات کے بارے میں کئی سوالات جنم لے رہے ہیں۔

US threatened to bomb Pakistan says Musharraf

2006-09-22T13:35:00.000+03:00

Typhoon in Arabian Sea within 72 hours

2006-09-22T13:33:00.000+03:00

Ramadan Kareem

2006-09-22T08:49:00.000+03:00

Photographer Deyana Ahmadi

2006-09-20T21:13:00.000+03:00

BAHRAINI photographer Deyana Ahmadi will highlight Bahrain's rich culture, heritage and traditions during a solo exhibition to be held in Paris next week. Under the title Retrovision, the exhibition will showcase a mounted collection of 29 fixed montages of more than 140 photographs taken from Ms Ahmadi's portfolio of 40,000 photographs created over the past 20 years. A 30-minute, multimedia presentation of the photographs, accompanied by contemporary-Arabic music created by Bahraini musician Nawaf Kamal, will add another dimension to the show.
Best of luck Deyana!

Musharraf backing for Shaikha Haya

2006-09-20T21:07:00.000+03:00

PAKISTANI President General Pervez Musharraf yesterday pledged his full support towards making Shaikha Haya's one-year term a success. Gen Musharraf flagged off his speech to the assembly by congratulating Shaikha Haya on her appointment. "I am very happy to see a sister from fraternal Bahrain presiding over this important session of the General Assembly," he said. "Your election symbolises the increasingly significant role women are playing in the Muslim world. Madam President, you will have Pakistan's full support in fulfilling your challenging responsibilities."

Isolated and 'in the dark'

2006-09-20T12:11:00.000+03:00

Approximately a dozen men at a holding facility at the Al Baraha Hospital in Deira claim they are HIV-free.

Dubai: A longtime UAE resident with a Pakistani passport says he has lost everything after being told that he has contracted the HIV virus and landed in an isolated facility awaiting deportation to a country he has never known.
Born and bred in the UAE, Mohammad Hanif, 28, considers the UAE his home. Although he, along with other members of his family, were given Pakistani passports several years ago, he has never left the UAE. His entire life revolves around his work as a baggage handler. He and his extended family live in a dilapidated house outside Dubai. Speaking from his cell at a holding facility at the Al Baraha Hospital in Deira, Hanif questions his HIV positive diagnosis, which was apparently discovered after a trip to the doctor for a food poisoning complaint. Hanif, along with many of the inmates, complain of not being given access to their medical records or reports, and dispute the claims that they are suffering from infectious diseases. According to Hanif, he has only been notified about his alleged condition verbally.
"I have asked to see the medical reports several times since being told about being infected, but have been told that there's no need for me to see them," he told Gulf News.
Admitted to Dubai Hospital twice between July 16 and August 5, it was only after a routine check-up that the doctor insisted on an HIV test, which came back positive.
"I simply went in for a check-up because I was ill, and now two months later, I find myself in a place that feels like prison," he told Gulf News. "I was told that I have hepatitis, HIV, so many things, but I have not been given a report that makes me believe these claims."
Medical sources maintain that Hanif has been provided with reports confirming his condition and that it is normal for patients to go through a period of denial after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Hanif maintains that he is ready to accept his condition when he is given access to a second opinion and receives confirmation of his condition in writing.
With the family's primary breadwinner out of a job and in a holding facility, Hanif's mother Khadeeja (not her real name) said the family was struggling to make ends meet.
Prior to his incarceration, Hanif shared a two bedroom house with six other members of his family. One bedroom was assigned to his older brother, wife and their daughter, and the other to his parents, sister and himself.
According to Khadeeja, her elder son Abdullah's entire income goes towards paying rent and the family of seven has long relied on Hanif's income for living expenses.
"Our sister's contribution is minimal. We don't ask her for much money," added Abdullah.
When asked how the family would pay for utility bills and food, Abdullah pointed a finger to the ceiling. "God will help us," he said.

Businessmen's role in Bahrain Economic growth

2006-09-19T10:21:00.000+03:00

Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday hailed the crucial role played by businessmen in backing up economic changes and stimulating commercial activity. Co-operation between private and public sectors helps create a sound national economy in line with the government's efforts to achieve sustainable development, he said. He was speaking as he received at his Court yesterday the Bahrain Businessmen Association's newly-formed board of directors, headed by Khalid Almoayyed.

Pope sorry for offending Muslims?

2006-09-17T15:08:00.000+03:00

He said the medieval text which he quoted did not express in any way his personal opinion, adding the speech was an invitation to respectful dialogue. The Pope has been under intense scrutiny amid angry reactions from throughout the Muslim world.
The 14th Century Christian emperor's quote said the Prophet Muhammad brought the world only evil and inhuman things.
"I hope this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with mutual respect"

Gwadar

2006-09-14T15:42:00.000+03:00

Gwadar is located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, close to the important Straits of Hormuz, through which more than 13 million bbd of oil passes. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions of the world: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-rich Central Asia.

The Government of Pakistan has initiated several projects, with majority financial and technical assistance from China, to develop Gwadar's strategic location as a goods transit and trade point. The primary project is the construction of a deep-sea port at Gwadar to enable high-volume cargo movement to and from the landlocked Central Asian states. The new port will also encompass conversion facilities to allow for the movement of natural gas as a part of plans for a termination point for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan natural gas pipeline. The secondary project is a coastal highway connecting Gwadar to Karachi, whose $200 million cost will be completely financed by the Chinese. Gwadar will serve as a port of entry for oil and gas to be transported by land to the western regions of China.

The significance of Gwadar is great to both Pakistan and China. Pakistan will be able to have a strategic depth southwest from its naval base in Karachi that has long been vulnerable to blockade by the Indian Navy. There have been many reports that China, with permission from Pakistan, will also be able to dock naval ships in or around Gwadar. This has caused much concern by both the United States and India as both of these nations do not wish to see a Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

60 bodies found in Baghdad in 24 hours

2006-09-13T15:39:00.000+03:00

Baghdad: A total of 60 unidentified bodies have been found in various parts of Baghdad over the past 24 hours, an Interior Ministry source said on Wednesday. The source said most bodies were bound and shot in the head and many bore signs of torture - trademarks of sectarian death squads and kidnap gangs plaguing the capital.

Ipod with new features ………Beauty

2006-09-13T13:15:00.000+03:00

Your are the MAN.......

2006-09-13T09:43:00.000+03:00

West responsible for extremism: Musharraf

2006-09-13T09:34:00.000+03:00

BRUSSELS: President General Pervez Musharraf has blamed the West for breeding terrorism in his country by bringing in thousands of mujahideen to fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and then leaving
* President says Pakistan not inherently prone to terrorism or extremism
* Blames 1979 US mission in Afghanistan for militancy in region

I Had a Car Accident

2006-09-07T18:09:00.000+03:00

Pakistan's first 'Miss Bikini' is here!

2006-09-06T17:56:00.000+03:00

Mariyah Moten, a 22-year-old US-based Pakistani, is being billed as "Pakistan's first Miss Bikini" after she topped the 'Best in Media' category at the Miss Bikini Universe pageant in China last week.

Having won the title at Beihai resort in southern China, wowing crowds there and alarming conservatives in Pakistan, Moten is currently in Mumbai for a "special interview" assignment with a major Indian newspaper chain.

The News International newspaper reported with the comment: "A few Pakistani women in the past have ventured to compete in beauty pageants but none has gone this far in terms of unsheltered territory."

The Houston girl has "created a frenzy by participating in an international bikini contest and even landed a prize - even if not exactly for skin", the newspaper said.

پاکستان کے وزیر ثقافت سید غازی گلاب جمال نے کہا ہے کہ چین میں Miss Bikini کے مقابلے میں کسی پاکستانی نے شرکت نہیں کی اور نہ ہی پاکستان سے کسی کو اس مقابلے میں شرکت کی دعوت دی گئی تھی۔

انہوں نے کہا کہ اٹھائیس اگست کو چین میں ہونے والے اس روایتی تقریب میں امریکہ کے شہر ہیوسٹن کی رہائشی اور پاکستانی نژاد امریکی شہریت رکھنے والی بائیس سالہ ماریہ متین بطور پاکستانی نہیں بلکہ انفرادی طور پر شریک ہوئیں تھیں۔

وزیر نے کہا کہ اس طرح کے مقابلوں میں شرکت کی نہ اسلام اجازت دیتا ہے اور نہ پاکستان کی ثقافت۔

ماریہ متین جو کراچی میں پیدا ہوئیں اور اطلاعات کے مطابق آٹھ برس قبل امریکہ گئیں انہوں نے وہاں کی شہریت حاصل کرلی ہے۔ وہ ’مس بکنی‘ کا مقابلہ تو نہیں جیت سکیں تھیں البتہ پاکستان کی نمائندہ کہلوانے کی وجہ سے اس مقابلے میں شریک لڑکیوں میں سب سے زیادہ میڈیا کی توجہ کا مرکز رہیں۔

Celebrating Defence Day today

2006-09-06T11:03:00.000+03:00

The nation is celebrating Defence Day today (Wednesday) with traditional spirit, zeal and solemnity to pay homage to the brave sons of the soil, who rendered supreme sacrifices in the defence of motherland during war of September 1965.

The day started with special Dua after Fajr prayers in all the mosques for well being and prosperity of the country. Defence Day messages from the services chief will be read out in all the unit darbars and formation headquarters.

Hilal-e-Istaqlal will be hoisted in Sialkot, Sargodha and Lahore, the cities directly targeted by the enemy. Wreath laying ceremonies will be held at the mazars and monuments of recipients of Nishan-e-Haider, the highest gallantry award of Pakistan.

All television channels have organized special transmission on the eve of Defence Day and the newspapers will bring out special supplements to commemorate the day in a befitting manner. Fauji Melas will be held at all the major garrisons of the country.

Today i Wrote Marriage Paper

2006-08-25T18:40:00.000+03:00

Pakistan Facts and Figures

2006-08-14T12:11:00.000+03:00

Official name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Father/Founder of the Nation: Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Head of State: President Pervez Musharraf

Prime Minister: Shaukat Aziz

Federal Capital: Islamabad

Area: 796,095 sq. Km.
- Punjab: 205,344
- Sindh: 140,914
- North West Fronter Province: 74,521
- Balochistan: 347,190
- Federally Administered Tribal Areas: 27,220
- Islamabad: 906

Population: 135.28 million

Ethnic Composition: 95% Muslims, 5% Christian, Hindu and other ethnic and religious minorities

Per Capita Income: US $460

Currency: Pak Rupee

Exports: Cotton, textile goods, rice, leather items, carpets, sports goods, fruits, handicrafts, sea food (fisheries)

Imports: Industrial equipment, vehicles, iron ore, petroleum, edible oil

Languages: Urdu (National Language)
- Punjabi 48%
- Sindhi 12%
- Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%
- Pashtu 8%
- Urdu (official) 8%
- Balochi 3%
- Hindko 2%
- Brahui 1%
- English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries)

Literacy Rate: 42.7%

Government: Federal Republic. Parliamentary form of government.

Parliament: The parliament consists of two houses; the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House)

The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolises a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 87 members. The four provincial assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and Federal Capital, form it electoral college.

The National Assembly has a total membership of 342 elected through adult suffrage.

State Emblem: The state emblem consists of:
1. The crescent and the star which symbolises Islam
2. A shield in the center showing the four major agricultural crops of Pakistan
3. A wreath surrounding the shield, representing cultural heritage
4. A scroll contianing Quaid's Motto: Unity, Faith, Discipline

National Flower: Jasmine

Flora: Pine, Oak, Poplar, Deodar, Maple, Mulberry

Fauna: The Pheasant, Leopard, Deer, Ibex, Chinkara, Black Buk, Neelgai, Markhor, Marcopolo, Sheep, Green Turtles, River and Sea Fish, Crocodiles, Water Fowl.

Popular Sports: Cricket, Hockey, Football (Soccer)

Tourist Resorts: Murree, Quetta, Hunza, Ziarat, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral, and Gilgit

Archeological Sites: Moenjo Daro, Harappa, Taxila, Kot Diji, Mehr Garh, Takht Bahi

Major Cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Faisalabad

Agriculture: Major crops are Wheat, Cotton, Rice and Sugarcane

Total Cropped Area: 22.14 million hectares

Industry: Textiles, cement, fertilizer, steel, sugar, electronic goods, shipbuilding

Energy: Major sources: Oil, coal, hydel, thermal, nuclear, and liquid petroleum gus
Wapda's total installed power generating capacity: 11,246 MW

Health:
- Hospitals: 830
- Beds: 86,921
- Doctors (registered): 74,229
- Dentists (registered): 2,938
- Nurses (registered): 22,810

Education:
- Primary Schools: 150,963
- Middle Schools: 14,595
- High Schools: 9,808
- Arts and Science Colleges: 798
- Professional Colleges: 161
- Universities: 35 (10 in the private sector)

Transport and Communications:
- Total Length of Roads: 228,206 Km
- Pakistan Railways Network: 8,775 Km
- Railway Stations: 781
- Pakistan International Airlines: Covers 55 international and 38 domestic stations
- Total number of aiports: 120
- Major airports: 6 - Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Gwadar
- Major ports: 2 - Karachi and Bin Qassim

Media:
- Print Media
Dailies: 424
Weeklies: 718
Fortnightlies: 107
Monthlies: 553

- News Agencies:
APP (Official)
PPI and NNI (Pvt)

- Electronic media:
Pakistan Television: Five TV Centers at Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karach, covering 87% population

- Radio Stations:
Total: 23
Home Services: in 20 languages
External Services: cover 70 countries in 15 languages

Banks:
- Central Bank: State Bank of Pakistan
- Other Banks: National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank, Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd., Allied Bank of Pakistan Ltd., First Women's Bank Ltd., Mehran Bank, and the Bank of Punjab.
- Specialised Banks: Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, Federal Bank for Cooperatives, Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank, Banker's Equity, and National Development Finance Corporation

National Anthem

2006-08-14T12:08:00.000+03:00

Happy Independence Day

2006-08-14T09:05:00.000+03:00

The nation celebrating its 60th Independence Day today, in a befitting manner with traditional zeal and enthusiasm. The day was dawned with 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals. Special prayers offered in mosques after Fajar prayers for the country’s prosperity and progress.

National flag hoisting ceremonies were held at federal and provincial capitals. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz hoisted the national flag at a ceremony at the Convention Centre, Islamabad. The change of guards’ ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on Independence Day morning.

All government, semi-government and private buildings, roads, shops as well as houses have been colourfully decorated with buntings and flags. Various programmes, including rallies, processions and the colourful functions under the aegis of various social and political organisations being held in all the cities of the country.

Solar energy a vital alternative source of power

2006-08-06T13:37:00.000+03:00

LAHORE: Following international oil prices shooting sky-high, the resurgence of interest in the solar energy as an alternative source of power has significantly gained currency in the country.
Statistics available here shows that there are still some 40,000 villages in Pakistan deprived of electricity, while 7,000 of them are located at places 20-kilometres away from the nearby grid stations, where making the power facility available would be a difficult task.
In such a backdrop, the use of solar energy as an alternative source of power is being given due priority by the government for meeting the acute power shortage in the country these days.
Officials told that the costly imported appliances for harnessing solar energy were an impediment, which has now been removed by manufacturing local solar energy panel, which costs Rs52000 each working for 25 years, while the battery good enough for 2 years were being manufactured for Rs8000, which thus making a complete unit could give an output of 220 watts of electricity.
Besides domestic use, solar energy getting a boost here could also be used for cottage industries.

New Borders

2006-08-03T18:13:00.000+03:00

Blood borders
How a better Middle East would look
BY RALPH PETERS
International borders are never completely just. But the degree of injustice they inflict upon those whom frontiers force together or separate makes an enormous difference — often the difference between freedom and oppression, tolerance and atrocity, the rule of law and terrorism, or even peace and war.
The most arbitrary and distorted borders in the world are in Africa and the Middle East. Drawn by self-interested Europeans (who have had sufficient trouble defining their own frontiers), Africa's borders continue to provoke the deaths of millions of local inhabitants. But the unjust borders in the Middle East — to borrow from Churchill — generate more trouble than can be consumed locally.
While the Middle East has far more problems than dysfunctional borders alone — from cultural stagnation through scandalous inequality to deadly religious extremism — the greatest taboo in striving to understand the region's comprehensive failure isn't Islam but the awful-but-sacrosanct international boundaries worshipped by our own diplomats.

Of course, no adjustment of borders, however draconian, could make every minority in the Middle East happy. In some instances, ethnic and religious groups live intermingled and have intermarried. Elsewhere, reunions based on blood or belief might not prove quite as joyous as their current proponents expect. The boundaries projected in the maps accompanying this article redress the wrongs suffered by the most significant "cheated" population groups, such as the Kurds, Baluch and Arab Shia, but still fail to account adequately for Middle Eastern Christians, Bahais, Ismailis, Naqshbandis and many another numerically lesser minorities. And one haunting wrong can never be redressed with a reward of territory: the genocide perpetrated against the Armenians by the dying Ottoman Empire.
Yet, for all the injustices the borders re-imagined here leave unaddressed, without such major boundary revisions, we shall never see a more peaceful Middle East.
Even those who abhor the topic of altering borders would be well-served to engage in an exercise that attempts to conceive a fairer, if still imperfect, amendment of national boundaries between the Bosporus and the Indus. Accepting that international statecraft has never developed effective tools — short of war — for readjusting faulty borders, a mental effort to grasp the Middle East's "organic" frontiers nonetheless helps us understand the extent of the difficulties we face and will continue to face. We are dealing with colossal, man-made deformities that will not stop generating hatred and violence until they are corrected.
As for those who refuse to "think the unthinkable," declaring that boundaries must not change and that's that, it pays to remember that boundaries have never stopped changing through the centuries. Borders have never been static, and many frontiers, from Congo through Kosovo to the Caucasus, are changing even now (as ambassadors and special representatives avert their eyes to study the shine on their wingtips).
Oh, and one other dirty little secret from 5,000 years of history: Ethnic cleansing works.
Begin with the border issue most sensitive to American readers: For Israel to have any hope of living in reasonable peace with its neighbors, it will have to return to its pre-1967 borders — with essential local adjustments for legitimate security concerns. But the issue of the territories surrounding Jerusalem, a city stained with thousands of years of blood, may prove intractable beyond our lifetimes. Where all parties have turned their god into a real-estate tycoon, literal turf battles have a tenacity unrivaled by mere greed for oil wealth or ethnic squabbles. So let us set aside this single overstudied issue and turn to those that are studiously ignored.
The most glaring injustice in the notoriously unjust lands between the Balkan Mountains and the Himalayas is the absence of an independent Kurdish state. There are between 27 million and 36 million Kurds living in contiguous regions in the Middle East (the figures are imprecise because no state has ever allowed an honest census). Greater than the population of present-day Iraq, even the lower figure makes the Kurds the world's largest ethnic group without a state of its own. Worse, Kurds have been oppressed by every government controlling the hills and mountains where they've lived since Xenophon's day.
The U.S. and its coalition partners missed a glorious chance to begin to correct this injustice after Baghdad's fall. A Frankenstein's monster of a state sewn together from ill-fitting parts, Iraq should have been divided into three smaller states immediately. We failed from cowardice and lack of vision, bullying Iraq's Kurds into supporting the new Iraqi government — which they do wistfully as a quid pro quo for our good will. But were a free plebiscite to be held, make no mistake: Nearly 100 percent of Iraq's Kurds would vote for independence.
As would the long-suffering Kurds of Turkey, who have endured decades of violent military oppression and a decades-long demotion to "mountain Turks" in an effort to eradicate their identity. While the Kurdish plight at Ankara's hands has eased somewhat over the past decade, the repression recently intensified again and the eastern fifth of Turkey should be viewed as occupied territory. As for the Kurds of Syria and Iran, they, too, would rush to join an independent Kurdistan if they could. The refusal by the world's legitimate democracies to champion Kurdish independence is a human-rights sin of omission far worse than the clumsy, minor sins of commission that routinely excite our media. And by the way: A Free Kurdistan, stretching from Diyarbakir through Tabriz, would be the most pro-Western state between Bulgaria and Japan.
A just alignment in the region would leave Iraq's three Sunni-majority provinces as a truncated state that might eventually choose to unify with a Syria that loses its littoral to a Mediterranean-oriented Greater Lebanon: Phoenecia reborn. The Shia south of old Iraq would form the basis of an Arab Shia State rimming much of the Persian Gulf. Jordan would retain its current territory, with some southward expansion at Saudi expense. For its part, the unnatural state of Saudi Arabia would suffer as great a dismantling as Pakistan.
A root cause of the broad stagnation in the Muslim world is the Saudi royal family's treatment of Mecca and Medina as their fiefdom. With Islam's holiest shrines under the police-state control of one of the world's most bigoted and oppressive regimes — a regime that commands vast, unearned oil wealth — the Saudis have been able to project their Wahhabi vision of a disciplinarian, intolerant faith far beyond their borders. The rise of the Saudis to wealth and, consequently, influence has been the worst thing to happen to the Muslim world as a whole since the time of the Prophet, and the worst thing to happen to Arabs since the Ottoman (if not the Mongol) conquest.
While non-Muslims could not effect a change in the control of Islam's holy cities, imagine how much healthier the Muslim world might become were Mecca and Medina ruled by a rotating council representative of the world's major Muslim schools and movements in an Islamic Sacred State — a sort of Muslim super-Vatican — where the future of a great faith might be debated rather than merely decreed. True justice — which we might not like — would also give Saudi Arabia's coastal oil fields to the Shia Arabs who populate that subregion, while a southeastern quadrant would go to Yemen. Confined to a rump Saudi Homelands Independent Territory around Riyadh, the House of Saud would be capable of far less mischief toward Islam and the world.
Iran, a state with madcap boundaries, would lose a great deal of territory to Unified Azerbaijan, Free Kurdistan, the Arab Shia State and Free Baluchistan, but would gain the provinces around Herat in today's Afghanistan — a region with a historical and linguistic affinity for Persia. Iran would, in effect, become an ethnic Persian state again, with the most difficult question being whether or not it should keep the port of Bandar Abbas or surrender it to the Arab Shia State.
What Afghanistan would lose to Persia in the west, it would gain in the east, as Pakistan's Northwest Frontier tribes would be reunited with their Afghan brethren (the point of this exercise is not to draw maps as we would like them but as local populations would prefer them). Pakistan, another unnatural state, would also lose its Baluch territory to Free Baluchistan. The remaining "natural" Pakistan would lie entirely east of the Indus, except for a westward spur near Karachi.
The city-states of the United Arab Emirates would have a mixed fate — as they probably will in reality. Some might be incorporated in the Arab Shia State ringing much of the Persian Gulf (a state more likely to evolve as a counterbalance to, rather than an ally of, Persian Iran). Since all puritanical cultures are hypocritical, Dubai, of necessity, would be allowed to retain its playground status for rich debauchees. Kuwait would remain within its current borders, as would Oman.
In each case, this hypothetical redrawing of boundaries reflects ethnic affinities and religious communalism — in some cases, both. Of course, if we could wave a magic wand and amend the borders under discussion, we would certainly prefer to do so selectively. Yet, studying the revised map, in contrast to the map illustrating today's boundaries, offers some sense of the great wrongs borders drawn by Frenchmen and Englishmen in the 20th century did to a region struggling to emerge from the humiliations and defeats of the 19th century.
Correcting borders to reflect the will of the people may be impossible. For now. But given time — and the inevitable attendant bloodshed — new and natural borders will emerge. Babylon has fallen more than once.
Meanwhile, our men and women in uniform will continue to fight for security from terrorism, for the prospect of democracy and for access to oil supplies in a region that is destined to fight itself. The current human divisions and forced unions between Ankara and Karachi, taken together with the region's self-inflicted woes, form as perfect a breeding ground for religious extremism, a culture of blame and the recruitment of terrorists as anyone could design. Where men and women look ruefully at their borders, they look enthusiastically for enemies.
From the world's oversupply of terrorists to its paucity of energy supplies, the current deformations of the Middle East promise a worsening, not an improving, situation. In a region where only the worst aspects of nationalism ever took hold and where the most debased aspects of religion threaten to dominate a disappointed faith, the U.S., its allies and, above all, our armed forces can look for crises without end. While Iraq may provide a counterexample of hope — if we do not quit its soil prematurely — the rest of this vast region offers worsening problems on almost every front.
If the borders of the greater Middle East cannot be amended to reflect the natural ties of blood and faith, we may take it as an article of faith that a portion of the bloodshed in the region will continue to be our own.
• • •
WHO WINS, WHO LOSES
Winners —
Afghanistan
Arab Shia State
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Free Baluchistan
Free Kurdistan
Iran
Islamic Sacred State
Jordan
Lebanon
Yemen
•
Losers —
Afghanistan
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Kuwait
Pakistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
West Bank

Lahore

2006-07-30T22:23:00.000+03:00

Planet Mars

2006-07-29T17:48:00.000+03:00

Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting
August, It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.
On Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles of Earth.
Be sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am.
It will look like The Earth has 2 Moons.
Don't Miss it! The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.

NOTE:
Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again

35 Israeli troops killed: Hezbollah

2006-07-27T09:04:00.001+03:00

BEIRUT: Hezbollah claimed of killing 35 Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.
According to Al-Arabia television, Hezbollah has claimed of killing at least 35 troops the other day in clashes with Israeli forces, while Israel confirmed nine casualties among its army ranks in Bint Jebil.

11 Kuwaitis Raped 20 year old Bahraini mother

2006-07-27T09:04:00.000+03:00

A HUMAN rights activist will fly to Kuwait today to bring home a 20-year-old Bahraini mother, who claims she was raped by 11 Kuwaitis last week. However, the Interior Ministry last night dismissed the woman's claims, stating that she was a run-a-way and that she was in Kuwait to meet her lover, who later forced her to have sex with four other men. Central Investigation Director Brigadier Farooq Al Ma'awada said that the woman had escaped to find a job in Kuwait with the help of her lover.
He said that his directorate contacted the Kuwaiti Central Investigation Directorate in co-ordination with the Bahrain Embassy to get details of the allegation.

"Primary information revealed that she had a relation with a man who forced her to have relations with four other men at a flat owned by one of them," said Brig Al Ma'awada.

"Her family had earlier reported to police that she had ran away from Bahrain and that she was married.

"However, based on the country's legal procedures, she can only be made to return home by a court order."

Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) regional and international director Faisal Fulad is making the journey to organise medical and legal aid for the woman.
He says she left her husband and child behind in the hope that she could earn enough money to see the family through financial difficulties. The society has now set up a committee to follow up the case in co-operation with the Bahrain Embassy in Kuwait.
"We are hopeful we will be able to get her back in a week," said Mr Fulad.
The woman claimed that the 11 youths allegedly took turns to rape her over four nights until she managed to escape and report them to police.
"The girl was taken to several areas in Kuwait and repeatedly raped by the men, some of whom she identified as Faisal, Saud, Abdul Rehman, Abdullah, Khalid, Munawar, Bader and Yayah," claimed Mr Fulad.
He said the woman reached Kuwait in the second week of this month and rented an apartment before she started looking for a job.
"Problems started when she came across (a man called) Faisal, who promised he would help her find employment," he claimed.
"He took her papers and promised to call her in a few days.
"When he did not respond, she called him and enquired about the job status.
"It was then that Faisal asked her to meet him at a mall and enticed her, in spite of her protests, to accompany him."
Faisal forced the woman into an apartment where she was raped, he alleged.
"She was then taken to another apartment where she was left at the mercy of Saud and his two other friends," said Mr Fulad.
"She was again repeatedly raped by the men, except one who was identified as Khalid."
Later, the man named Khalid allegedly asked the woman to sleep with him, but when she refused he raped her and took away her passport.
"Khalid also called two more of his friends, Munawar and Bader, and all three forced her to use hashish," claimed Mr Fulad.
"With the exception of Bader, who left the apartment, all the others forced themselves upon her.

"Yet another man, Yayah, also raped her.

Mr Fulad alleged on the fourth day, Khalid asked the woman to get ready to dance at a party he was having for his friends.
"Sensing a chance to escape, she asked to be taken to a salon, from where she escaped and went to the police," he added.
After the matter was reported to the police, the two men called Faisal and Saud were arrested and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment. A medical report is understood to have shown she was subjected to rape and torture.
Mr Fulad said that police later arrested the other accused, who are now in custody.
He added that the woman's passport and BD150 in cash that had been taken from her has been recovered

Israeli forces close in on key Hizbollah stronghold

2006-07-25T19:16:00.000+03:00

JERUSALEM - Israeli forces battled to take over a second Hizbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon on Tuesday and an Israeli commander estimated at least 20 guerrillas had been killed in the fighting

Eye make-up 'harmful to infants'

2006-07-23T08:58:00.000+03:00

Eye make-up 'harmful to infants'
Kohl, a traditional eye make-up, could pose a severe health risk to infants as experts say it contains lead, a poisonous metal.
Most mothers use kohl to beautify their infants? eyes but have little or no knowledge that it usually consists of antimony sulphide or lead sulphide, said a team of researchers at the UAE University (UAEU). The researchers have suggested a ban on the import of substances containing lead, saying the substance has been resulting in the slow poisoning of infants.

Paki Fashion

2006-07-23T08:56:00.000+03:00

انڈیا میں پاکستانی ملبوسات کافی مقبول ہورہے ہیں، خاص طور پر پاکستانی ڈیزائنروں کے تیار کردہ عروسی جوڑے۔ نیو دہلی میں ’برائیڈ اینڈ گروم‘ کے نام سے ایک فیشن شو منعقد کیا گیا ہے جس میں پاکستانی ڈیزائنروں کے بنائے گئے عروسی ملبوسات کی نمائش کی گئی ہے۔

Quake rocks Indonesia

2006-05-27T11:07:00.000+03:00

YOGYAKARTA (Reuters) - An earthquake that shook the area around Indonesia's ancient royal city of Yogyakarta early on Saturday killed at least 1,325 people, a government official said.

Kinta, an official from Social Ministry, told Elshinta news radio that the figure did not include people still buried or trapped under rubble of collapsed buildings.

Summer Fashion

2006-05-20T14:08:00.000+03:00

D-8 summit opens in Bali

2006-05-13T11:20:00.000+03:00

NUSA DUA: A summit of eight large Muslim countries opened on Saturday on Indonesia's resort island of Bali with calls by Indonesian and Iranian leaders for unity and greater cooperation. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged the members of the Developing 8 (D-8) to address the global oil crisis by working together to develop alternative energy sources, intensify cooperation to combat pandemics and promote dialogue among civilisations.
"We must be able to embrace modernity by becoming forward looking, by becoming knowledge-driven, by advancing a culture of excellence," Yudhoyono said in his speech opening the summit.

Yudhoyono said the D-8 nations wanted to achieve progress "through peace not war, dialogue not confrontation, cooperation not exploitation, justice not double standards, equality not discrimination, democracy not oppression."

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, handing over the grouping's chairmanship to Yudhoyono, urged D-8 member states to work together for the welfare of the Islamic world and the entire world community.

"We are all members of the Muslim ummah (community) and the human society as a whole and thus have shared interests and concerns," he said.

Greater cooperation "will bring about greater strength, dignity and progress to the Muslim ummah... which can be used in the service of international peace and security and also the welfare of the entire international community," he said.

"We can offer a good model of cooperation and understanding based on justice to the world," he said. "In this context the Islamic Republic of Iran feels obliged to mobilise all its means and possibilities to further strengthen D-8."

Paki Fashion

2006-05-13T09:12:00.000+03:00

Forbidden

2006-05-11T12:30:00.000+03:00

Question - I am wondering if you will be able to give me some advice on a problem of mine. I live in the United States and I have many friends that are Christians. Some of these friends are male. Recently, my feelings for a male friend have grown deeper. I feel I am falling in love with him. It is at the point where I want to marry him, since he also has feelings for me. However, I do not want to commit anything that is against Islam. Why is it okay for men to marry Christian women yet Muslim women not to marry Christian men? That is what my parents have told me. I don’t know what to do. Can you please give me some assistance? (Neena)

Answer - You should not have taken Muslim or non-Muslim males as your friends. The Qur’an and Sunnah have given us rules about relations between men and women. There are two types of people: Mahram and non-Mahram. Mahram are those relatives between whom marriage is not allowed. Non-Mahram are those among whom marriage is permissible. (See Al-Nisa’ 4:23) Muslim men and women can socialize among the Mahrams, but not among the non-Mahrams. When men and women are in the presence of non-Mahrams then they must lower their gaze (Al-Noor 24:30-31), talk to them in a formal manner (al-Ahzab 33:32). Hence it is clear that Islam does not allow Muslims to have friends from the opposite gender. Males should not have female friends and females should not have male friends. Non-Mahram males and females may talk to each other, but should not socialize or go out in parties. A single male and female should never be together in a place where they are all alone, isolated without the access of any one else. Islam has given these rules to save the men and women from committing sin or getting involved in situations where they might commit sin.

As far as the interfaith marriages are concerned, Islam does not encourage them. The general rule of Islam is that Muslims should marry Muslims. A Muslim male or female should not marry a non-Muslim male or female. (al-Baqarah 2:221). The only exception is given to Muslim men who are allowed to marry the girls from among the People of the Book (al-Ma’idah 5:5), but Muslim women are not given this permission. So it is Haram (forbidden) for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man. This is the law of Allah and a Muslim when he or she learns about a law of Allah and His Messenger should only say, “I hear and I obey.”

For the satisfaction of your heart, let me explain why Muslim men are allowed to marry women from among the People of the Book and why Muslim women are not allowed to do so. First of all, it is not an honor or a privilege to marry a non-Muslim. It is a burden and a big responsibility. It is better to abstain from such marriages. Muslim men who are living in non-Muslim countries in particular should not marry non-Muslim women. However, man being the head of his household is more capable to handle the needs and problems of his non-Muslim (Christian or Jewish) wife. Muslims believe that Moses and Jesus were prophets of Allah and so they give them full honor and respect. Jews and Christians do not consider Prophet Muhammad as the prophet of Allah. Thus they are unable to give the same respect and honor to him and to his followers. A Jewish or Christian woman with a Muslim husband will be in a much better position than a Muslim woman with a Jewish or Christian husband will. Even then, there are many non-Muslim women who married outside their faith say that they wish their religion too had forbidden them, because they know how difficult and hard it is to be the wife of a husband who has a different faith.

A Muslim woman should know that Allah has really honored her and made it easy for her by not allowing her to marry a non-Muslim man. According to the Qur’an, the husband is the head of his household, his wife should obey him. Allah does not to put the Muslim woman in a position that a non-Muslim become her head in her own private life. Allah has spared her from being under the authority of a non-Muslim husband.

Please abandon the idea of marrying a non-Muslim, unless he truly accepts Islam. If you marry a non-Muslim, this will be a major sin. You will be living in sin and your relationship with that non-Muslim will be illegitimate in the eyes of Allah. May Allah protect you from all sins.

Interfaith Marriages

2006-05-11T11:41:00.000+03:00

Muslim men and women are told to seek faithful spouses with a strong, good belief, and not allow non-Muslim standards of selection influence them. Muslim men can marry only Muslim, Christian, or Jewish chaste women, while Muslim women can marry only chaste Muslim men.

Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who have received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when you give them their marriage portions and live with them in honor, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines. Whoso denies the faith, his work is vain and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter.}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Ma'idah (5:5)].

A Muslim man is discouraged from marrying a non-Muslim woman if there is no Islamic State or if he is not living in an existing Islamic state, since the non-Islamic states do not recognize his rights as head of the family to raise the children Islamically. On the contrary, the children will most likely be brought up in their mother's religion, since the Muslim husband does not have his Islamic rights in his non-Muslim wife's country.

There are many tragic examples of Muslim men who tried to take their children to their Muslim countries after they divorced non-Muslim wives. The women in many of these cases succeeded in bringing the children back to be raised in the non-Islamic societies as non-Muslims. The fathers are referred to as kidnappers (of their own children) in the non-Islamic media. Unfortunately, even the governments in Muslim countries these days help the non-Muslim wives to get custody of the children. This is due to the absence of an Islamic state which would protect Muslim children from being kidnapped by non-Muslim wives to be raised as non-Muslims.

Muslim men should consider these issues before they marry non-Muslim women, especially when the man is strongly influenced by her physical appearance. A Muslim man should look to the future and consider his duties toward his children. The cases mentioned show clearly the damage that can be done to children in interfaith marriages, and while a personal sin may be easy to forget and repent from, one may never overcome the problems that arise because his children were raised as non-Muslims as a result of his negligence concerning providing the right spouse and community for them. Children have the right to be brought up in an Islamic environment by good Muslim parents.

The benefits of marrying a non-Muslim woman are minimal when both live in a non-Islamic state. The woman and her relatives would not see how Muslims live as a community, nor would they have close contact with family, should the Muslim man decide to marry her and live outside the Islamic State. Marrying a chaste Christian or Jewish woman in a non-Islamic state should be considered as a last resort and as the only alternative to keep him from falling into adultery. Men, however, should be aware of the fact that most women in non-Islamic societies do not qualify as chaste women in Islam, (i.e. abstention from unlawful sexual activities). Some Muslim men ignore these conditions and ignore the commands of Allah when they are misled and fooled by a smile from a non-Muslim woman.

Abdullah Ibn `Abbas, a famous companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and a famous scholar, said that Muslim men should not marry Christian or Jewish women from people who are enemies of Islam.

Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi, a contemporary Muslim scholar, said that the Christian or Jewish women can be married only if the four conditions summarized below are satisfied:

She must be Kitabiyyah, i.e. Christian or Jewish by faith, and not by virtue of birth into a Christian or Jewish family. Many women who live in Christian or Jewish societies today are atheists, Buddhists or Bahai's. These women are prohibited for Muslim men. A woman who commits apostasy, by becoming a non-Muslim after being a Muslim, would not be allowed to marry a Muslim man, since apostasy is much worse than unbelief.

She must be Muhsanah, which means chaste and virtuous. Women who are involved in illicit relationships with men are prohibited for Muslim men. Most non-Muslim women these days do not qualify as Muhsanat (chaste and virtuous women who abstain from sexual activities outside marriage), and Muslim men should fear Allah and keep this condition in mind.

The woman should not be from people who are fighting Islam or are helping others to fight Islam. Since Israel is at war with Islam, all Jews around the world are helping Israel, Muslim men should not marry Jewish women is she is from people who help Israel.

There should be no threat or possible harm from marrying her. For example, if a man's children would not be raised as Muslims, he should not marry her. If the courts in a non-Islamic society would give the children to her in the case of divorce, then he cannot marry her, unless she agrees that he would have the children in the case of divorce.

Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi also said that Muslim men may not marry Christian or Jewish women if the Muslim community is a small minority in a huge non-Muslim society, and such marriages would make it impossible for Muslim women to find Muslim men to marry. This is classified under "limiting the allowed" in the Islamic jurisprudence. Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi used the example that if all people grew cotton instead of wheat, the government would have the right to stop them from doing so, since wheat is a necessary food ingredient, even though growing cotton is allowed in normal cases.

Non-Muslim women who repent and accept Islam are treated as any other Muslim if their acceptance of Islam is sincere and not merely for the purpose of marrying Muslim men. Islam forgives all that was before it. Some people, however, accept Islam by name only to marry a Muslim, without showing the least change in their lifestyles to prove that they are following Islam. One should not marry from such people.

There are many Muslim girls of a marriageable age who are living in non-Islamic countries, and it is the duty of the Muslim men to protect these girls from marrying non-Muslim men, which is absolutely prohibited in Islam. If Muslim men loosely practice their right to marry Christian or Jewish women, the Muslims girls in non-Islamic societies will be forced into unwanted circumstances and Muslim men will be at least partially responsible and will get their share of the punishment from Allah.

In considering marriage to a non-Muslim woman a man should remember that marriage is more than the private marital relationship. A good Muslim woman would provide her husband with total security, comfort, trust, tranquility, and happiness, and would raise the children as good Muslims. A man would not have to see his children taken to a church every Sunday without being able to prevent it or live with the concern that his wife would teach his children un-Islamic traditions. It is much easier to trust a Muslim woman than to trust a non-Muslim woman who does not fear Allah, and know that He is watching her all the time. And certainly a woman who does not fear Allah, who sees and knows everything, will not fear or obey her husband who is only home in the evenings.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: {A woman is chosen as a wife for her wealth, beauty, family, and faith. Win the one that has the faith or you would ruin your life.} (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

The following verses from the Qur'an beautifully give us the guidelines for selecting the right spouse: Allah (s.w.t.) said: {{Do not marry Mushrik women (idolatresses) until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than a free woman who does not believe, even though (the idolatress) woman may appear very attractive to you. (Likewise) Do not marry (your girls) to Mushrik men (idolaters) until they believe; a slave man who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he (the Mushrik) may attract you. These Mushriks invite you to the fire, but Allah, by His Grace, invites you to His Jannah (Heaven), and forgives by His leave, and (Allah) makes clear His messages to people so that they might bear them into mind.}} [Al-Qur'an: Al-Baqarah (2:221)]

Segway Polo

2006-05-05T17:48:00.000+03:00

Eid Milad-un-Nabi rallies and meetings across the country

2006-04-11T10:20:00.000+03:00

ISLAMABAD: The Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) being celebrated today across the country with religious enthusiasm and solemnity. A two-day International Seerat Conference is being organized on this auspicious event on April 11-12 at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. Prominent Ulema and scholars from all over the country and abroad will attend the conference and present their papers on the Seerat of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Special Seerat banners and illumination of buildings throughout the country have also been arranged. Important government and private buildings, mosques and streets across the country have been decorated with lights, green flags, colourful buntings and banners. Religious, social and political organizations are holding rallies and Na'at gatherings on Eid Milad-un-Nabi.

PTCL sell-off: Etisalat deposits $623 mln

2006-04-08T09:35:00.000+03:00

ISLAMABAD: The UAE-based Etisalat, which purchased 26 per cent shares of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), has paid $623 million of the highest bid.
The Per share bid price however was $1.96. According to officials of Pakistan Privatisation Commission, it is second installment paid by Etisalat in connection with PTCL’s sell-off to it. Earlier, Etisalat had deposited $260 million guarantee and first installment of $500 million. However, Etisalat has deposited total $1.39 billion for acquiring the control of PTCL. Etisalat offered on June 19, 2005 the highest bid of $2.59896 billion to acquire 26 per cent shares and management control of the PTCL.
Etisalat has to pay remaining $210 million to acquire the control of PTCL.

Boot Camp

2006-04-08T08:48:00.000+03:00

More and more people are buying and loving Macs. To make this choice simply irresistible, Apple will include technology in the next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard, that lets you install and run the Windows XP operating system on your Mac. Called Boot Camp (for now), you can download a public beta today.
As elegant as it gets
Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows.(1) Boot Camp will burn a CD of all the required drivers for Windows so you don't have to scrounge around the Internet looking for them.

Wasim Akram

2006-04-03T12:54:00.000+03:00

Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram visited his ancestral village near Amritsar, Punjab on Tuesday. He took his father Chaudhary Muhammed Akram on a sentimental visit to Jawandiko Devi, the birth place and hometown of Muhhamed.
"My father is very excited about the visit because, since migrating to Pakistan during independence, he has never been to his village. But now, with relations improving between the two countries, I thought this is the best time to take him here," Wasim said.
Muhammed had to flee as a 14-year-old during the traumatic Partition days. He spent over three hours in the village and met residents who were known to him before 1947.
He enquired about known landmarks. Pain was palpable on his face when told that they had been rooted out in the aftermath of Partition. The father-son duo was accorded a warm welcome by hundreds of villagers who showered them with rose petals. Children of a private school put up a special function in their honour. "I still remember the bloody days during 1947, it was blood all around and infants were crying sitting by dead bodies of their mothers. No one had the courage to come to extend help to the crying infants. I was hardly 14-years-old and trembling," Muhhamed said.

At least 40 dead as Bahrain tourist ship sinks

2006-03-31T01:17:00.000+03:00

MANAMA - A passenger boat carrying some 150 tourists, including Westerners, sank off the coast of Bahrain in the Gulf on Thursday and residents said more than 40 bodies were found. The vessel was believed to have taken out the tourists for a short tour of the Gulf, a hospital source said. "I have seen at least 48 bodies," said a resident, speaking by telephone from outside a port in the island state.
The official news agency BNA said 60 passengers had been rescued and taken to hospitals. "There were about 150 on the ship. Many on board were rescued," a Bahraini official said. He declined to say how many may have died.
The British Foreign Office in London said it was "very likely" the ship was carrying British passengers. British diplomats were at the Bahrain coastguard center and the hospital where survivors and the dead were being taken, the spokesman said.
Ambulances could be heard rushing to another port from which the vessel had set off.
A U.S. Navy spokesman said divers and small Navy vessels were helping in the rescue operations.
"The first report we received was that a Dhow (traditional wooden boat) has capsized. We are preparing a helicopter to join the rescue," the spokesman said.
"There is no initial indication that this was an attack," he said. Pro-Western Bahrain hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Summer Fashion

2006-03-30T19:29:00.000+03:00

پاکستانی فوج کی پہلی خواتین پائلٹ

2006-03-30T19:27:00.000+03:00

پاکستان کی تاریخ میں پہلی بار چار خواتین لڑاکا پائلٹ بن گئی ہیں اور جمعرات کے روز تربیت مکمل کرنے پر انہیں فضائی فورس میں شامل کرتے ہوئے ’فلائنگ بیجز‘ لگائے گئے۔

امرتسر ننکانہ صاحب بس

2006-03-25T23:17:00.000+03:00

ہندوستان کے وزیر اعظم منموہن سنگھ نے جمعہ کے روز امرتسر ننکانہ صاحب کے درمیان بس سروس کا افتتاح کیا۔ اس موقع پر خطاب کرنے ہوئے انہوں نے کہا کہ بس کے آغاز کے موقع پر وہ امرتسر میں ہونے پر بہت خوش ہیں اور یہ پنجاب کے لیے ایک اور یادگار دن ہے۔

پاکستان کے پنجاب میں ننکانہ صاحب اور بھارت کے پنجاب میں امرتسر کے درمیان صرف ایک سو تیس کلومیٹر کا فاصلہ ہے۔ مذہبی اعتبار سے سکھ برادری کے لیےان دونوں شہروں کی بڑی اہمیت ہے اور بڑی تعداد میں سکھ برادری ننکانہ صاحب کی زیارت کے لیے جاتی ہے لیکن نقل و حمل کا کوئی مستقل بندوبست نہ ہونے کے سبب مسافروں کو کافی دشواریاں اٹھانی پڑتی تھیں۔

صد سالہ تقریبات اور قرارداد

2006-03-25T23:13:00.000+03:00

پاکستان مسلم لیگ نے پارٹی کی سو سالہ تقریبات منانے کے لیے لاہور میں ایک بڑا جلسہ منعقد کیا۔ اس جلسہ میں قرارداد منظور کی گئی کہ صدر جنرل پرویز مشرف فوجی وردی سمیت صدر رہیں۔ یہ قرارداد پنجاب کے وزیراعلی پرویز الہی نے پیش کی اور مجمع سے کہا کہ ہاتھ اٹھا کر اسے منظور کرے۔ اس قرارداد میں کہا گیا ہے کہ صدر جنرل پرویز مشرف کی وجہ سے ملک نے ترقی کی ہے اور اسے دنیامیں اہم مقام ملا ہے اسلیے وہ اپنی پالیسیوں کے تسلسل کے لیے فوجی وردی سمیت صدر رہیں۔

پاکتسان بیوٹیشنز کانفرنس

2006-03-25T23:10:00.000+03:00

گزشتہ ہفتے حکمران جماعت پاکستان مسلم لیگ نے اپنے اسلام آباد دفتر بیوٹیشنز کانفرنس کا انعقاد کیا جس میں پاکستان بھر سے تین سو سے زائد ہیئر سٹائلسٹس اور بیوٹیشنز نے شرکت کی۔ کانفرنس کے دوران ایک ماڈل اپنے ہیئر سٹائل کی نمائش کر رہیں ہیں۔

Protests Continue in France

2006-03-25T10:47:00.000+03:00

A man throws a trash bag holder as cars burn at the end of a student demonstration in Paris March 23, 2006. Rampaging French youths set fire to cars and looted shops in Paris on Thursday, marring protests against a youth jobs law, also known as the CPE, that Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, in a conciliatory move, agreed to discuss with unions.

China, Pak sign agreement for Gwadar port additional dredging

2006-03-25T10:17:00.000+03:00

BEIJING: A credit agreement for dollar 22.26 million for additional dredging of Gwadar Deep seaport project was signed here. Pakistan Ambassador Salman Bashir and Ms. Liang Xiang, Assistant President EXIM Bank of China inked the agreement. Extra dredging would enable 50,000 DWT vessels to utilize the Gwadar port. Ms. Liang also assured the Ambassador that they would continue to actively support other major economic projects in Pakistan. The Ambassador expressed gratitude of his Government for the valuable support of China to Pakistan's economic development. Meanwhile, sources said that the port will be functional after completion of additional dredging of the channel to 14.5 meters, making it the deepest port of Pakistan and trans-shipment port for the region.

Merrill Lynch keen to invest in Pakistan

2006-03-15T14:26:00.000+03:00

ISLAMABAD: Merrill Lynch Investment, one of the world’s largest investment management organisations, has shown interest to avail opportunities in Pakistan’s emerging mutual fund market. The interest was shown by the Managing Director of Merrill Lynch, David Graham called on Dr Salman Shah, Adviser to PM on Finance and Economic Affairs and described the investment climate of Pakistan favourable for foreign investment.
Graham is currently visiting Pakistan to explore possibilities of investment including portfolio investment prospects in Pakistan. Merrill Lynch Investment has over $500 billion of assets under worldwide management. They have also signed an agreement with one of the largest US Investment Management Firm M/s Black Rock and the combined assets of both entities are approximately one trillion dollars.

Pakistan signs PTCL transfer deal with Etisalat

2006-03-13T08:50:00.000+03:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan signed a formal agreement on Sunday for its biggest privatisation to date, handing over management control of its state-controlled telecoms company to Middle East-based buyer Etisalat. A signing ceremony marking the transfer of a 26 percent stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Ltd (PTCL) , worth $2.6 billion, to Dubai-based Emirates Telecommunications (Etisalat) was held at the Prime Minister's house in Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by officials of PTCL and Etisalat and presided over by Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The two sides agreed last December to a deal under which Etisalat , a UAE monopoly, would pay $1.4 billion up front for the stake and the rest spread over five years. An earlier deal agreed in June ran into trouble after the UAE firm failed to meet payment deadlines. Aziz said he was delighted that the deal had been completed and called it a historic day for the government's reform programme and for relations between Pakistan and UAE.
"Today's transaction signifies a quantum leap in the economic relationship between the two countries," he said. "Now it is up to the management of Etisalat to develop the PTCL franchise, to use Pakistan as a outsourcing venue so people here can help improve the possibilities of Etisalat globally, not just in Pakistan."
Referring to the difficulties the deal faced last year, he said: "The end result is good for PTCL, it's good for Etisalat, it's good for shareholders of both companies and good for the people of Pakistan and the UAE."

New UAE job-switch rule 'in place for weeks'

2006-03-08T09:37:00.000+03:00

Dubai: The labour ministry is allowing expatriates to change jobs without waiting six months before issuing another labour permit, provided several conditions are met and transaction fees are paid, senior officials confirmed. All expatriates who have worked for their sponsor for at least a year, who have cancelled their labour card and residence permit without any bans, and have not signed a no-competition agreement, may apply for a new labour permit after paying transaction fees, said Ahmad Kajour, undersecretary of planning at the ministry. Such expats do not have to wait six months. The fee for the 'internal labour permit (status correction)' transaction varies from Dh1,500 to Dh9,000. Other top officials confirmed the new transaction but said they were waiting for Dr Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka'abi, Labour Minister, to announce it.

Bush arrives in Pakistan

2006-03-03T21:27:00.000+03:00

Pakistani police officers stand guard near concrete blocks used to close a road leading to the U.S. embassy before President Bush's visit to Islamabad, March 3, 2006

Airport alert as driver smashes through door

2006-03-02T08:35:00.000+03:00

MANAMA: An out-of-control car smashed through the main entrance of Bahrain International Airport yesterday, temporarily shutting down its main hall. Police had to shut the hall while staff removed the first set of glass doors from the doorframe and barricaded the entrance where the car crashed. The accident reportedly took place at around 1 pm and airport officials said there were between seven and 10 flights arriving from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. The 34-year-old Bahraini driver of the 1999 Toyota Corolla was detained in custody. Nobody was hurt, said a police official at the scene. "The driver took a right turn onto the pavement and crashed into the glass while trying to park there, near the taxi rank. He was not in his senses."
According to eye-witnesses, the driver appeared to be drunk or under the influence of drugs. "I was sitting on the bench outside the airport door," said taxi driver Sayed Ahmed, 55. "The car came around the corner - if he wasn't going so fast he might have been able to stop. He hit the brakes, and crashed through the glass doors.
"The driver was alone in the car - I think he was a drug user. He had track marks on his arm."

Pakistan gains capability to hit invisible target

2006-03-01T08:52:00.000+03:00

Pakistan has gained what it calls ‘joint standoff weapons’ a capability through which an invisible target can be hit. The weapon, in which integrated Global Position System and Inner-shell Management System Navigation are used, is a part of a joint programme of Navy and Air force in the U.S. Joint airframe, guidance system and flight control is used in this programme which is designed on the modular programme and thanks to this system the missile can hit a target at range of 70 kilometers. The missile can hit an enemy target without entering air limits of an enemy.

Basant

2006-02-25T18:09:00.000+03:00

ان دو دنوں شہر کے مختلف حصوں میں خاص طور پر اندرونِ شہر کی چھتیں تیز روشنیوں والی لائیٹیوں سے منور رہیں۔

جہاں پتنگ بازوں کے درمیان ہار جیت کے مقابلے رہے وہاں اداروں میں بھی مقابلے نظر آئے۔

جہاں ایک نجی ٹی وی چینل نے گوالمنڈی میں فوڈ سٹریٹ کی ایک چھت کرائے پر لیکر بسنت پروگرام کا اہتمام کیا ہے تو ایک دوسرے نجی ٹی وی چینل نے کراچی سے ٹرین پر فنکاروں کو لاہور بلایا ہے اور اس ٹرین کو بسنت ٹرین کا نام دیا گیا۔

Protest Against the publication of cartoons in Karachi

2006-02-17T13:15:00.000+03:00

Pakistani Sunni Muslims rally to protest against the publication of cartoons in Karachi

پنجاب اسمبلی کے سامنے کی اس تصویر میں پولیس بھی موجود ہے اور پتھراؤ کرنے والا بھی

2006-02-17T13:11:00.000+03:00

US Army are you HUMAN?

2006-02-16T23:15:00.000+03:00

P.M

2006-02-16T23:12:00.000+03:00

BlackRock to gain control of Merrill asset arm

2006-02-15T21:58:00.000+03:00

NEW YORK - BlackRock Inc. is taking control of the asset management arm of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. in a deal announced on Wednesday that will create one of the world's biggest money managers with $1 trillion in assets. In the latest effort by an investment bank to shed its asset management arm, Merrill Lynch (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will swap its Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) for a 49.8 percent stake in the combined BlackRock company. BlackRock (BLK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) shares rose nearly 9 percent, while Merrill edged up about 0.5 percent in early trading on news of the deal that had been rumored for three days. "The initial reports of Merrill buying the whole of BlackRock were a little nerve-wracking, but I like the way this deal looks," said Ralph Cole, portfolio manager at Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, which owns Merrill shares.

Three Chinese, one Pakistani shot dead in Hub

2006-02-15T18:54:00.000+03:00

Hub: Three Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver shot dead in Hub area of Balochistan, police sources informed on Wednesday. Terrorists were reportedly were on a motorbike and shot them near a cement factory. Balochistan Liberation Army had reportedly claimed responsibility for kill

Pakistani protesters loot stores in Lahore, February 14, 2006.

2006-02-15T18:04:00.000+03:00

Pakistani protesters

2006-02-15T18:02:00.000+03:00

Pakistani protesters smash the items in front of KFC before setting the building on fire during a protest rally against the publication of cartoons depicting Islamic prophet Muhammad in Lahore February 14, 2006.

Smoke pours out of a burning KFC outlet in Lahore, February 14, 2006

2006-02-15T18:00:00.000+03:00

A Pakistani protester burns items during a rally in Lahore, February 14, 2006.

2006-02-15T17:51:00.000+03:00

Kitchen of newly launched Cafe Lazeez, a "British Curry Chain" in Islamabad

2006-02-14T11:52:00.000+03:00