Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of harboring Taliban leader

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai has yet again accused Pakistan’s intelligence agencies of sheltering fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Mr Karzai says Omar, who has been on the run for five years, is being harboured in the Pakistani city of Quetta. Omar’s government was overthrown in a US-led invasion weeks after the September 11 attacks. Mr Karzai also blamed Islamabad for a resurgence of violence along their common border.

He says he has almost daily reports of suicide bombers coming from the border area.

Source: Radio Australia

Rape victims not bound to bring 4 witnesses

In a landmark observation, a government-backed constitutional body on Islamic ideology in Pakistan has said a rape victim should not be required to produce four witnesses to file a complaint as stipulated by Hudood laws brought in by former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.

M-1 expected to be opened in July

Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway (M-1) is likely to be opened for all types of traffic by July this year, if Rs 3 billion required for the completion of the project are provided to the National Highway Authority (NHA), said an official source here on Sunday. Talking with APP the NHA official said Islamabad-Burhan section and Rashakai-Charsadda section of M-1 have already been opened for traffic while the remaining three sections – Burhan-Swabi,Swabi-Rashakai and Charsadda-Peshawar sections would also be opened for traffic by July this year.

Opposition in Pakistan divided over dealing with Islamists

Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party and Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N, the major parties of the secularist Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, are split over doing business with Islamists.

The PPP doesn’t like to sit with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal at any cost while the PML-N has no intention to part company with MMA, although Western envoys are advising them not to cooperate with whom they call an extension of the Taleban.

Water supply to Islamabad under threat

The inordinate delay in the construction of Islamabad Murree Dual Carriageway is causing sedimentation to the Simly and Rawal dams, lowering the capacity of the reservoirs to store water for the Pakistani twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Heavy amount of boulders, rocks and pebbles falling into the dams has endangered the existence of the reservoirs as the authorities concerned have failed to construct check dams along the under-construction carriageway.

US CENTCOM Chief meets Musharraf; Appreciates efforts

Commander of US Central Command Admiral William J Fallon called on President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday and discussed with him the situation in Afghanistan and the war against terrorism.

Official sources in Islamabad claim that during the meeting here at the President’s Camp Office, the CENTCOM chief expressed deep appreciation of Pakistan’s efforts and its role in the war against terrorism. He particularly mentioned the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s armed forces. He said the relationship between the military’s of the two countries would be strengthened.

McGrath eclipses World Cup bowling record

Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath became the most successful bowler in the history of cricket’s World Cup yesterday when he claimed two wickets to surpass the mark of former Pakistan great Wasim Akram.McGrath clean bowled Bangladesh opener Shahriar Nafees in his second over to draw level with Akram’s milestone of 55 World Cup dismissals. In the next over, he overtook it as Aftab Ahmed lofted the ball to Nathan Bracken at mid-off.

Playing in his last international event, McGrath, 37, reached the landmark of 56 wickets in his 33rd World Cup game.

Pakistani gets life for murder

A Pakistani man has received a life sentence for killing and dismembering a Thai woman he had met through an Internet chat room.

Mohammad Arif, 35, strangled Dissanee Thongnarkthae, a 28-year-old English teacher, with a pillow after they had sex in a Bangkok hotel in May 2006. Arif then dismembered the woman with knives and dumped her body parts in bags, the reports said, adding the Criminal Court at first sentenced him to death but reduced to life imprisonment Friday because of his confessions.

The court also ordered Arif to pay some two million baht (57,000 dollars) in compensation for the victim’s family, they said. A court official could not be reached for confirmation. Arif claimed he had acted out of “impulsive rage” after the woman demanded money.

Source: Gulf Times

Australia trounce over Bangladesh

A superb knock by Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden helped Australia to an easy win over minnows Bangladesh in a match that started late due to overnight rainfalls. Bangladesh could only post a total of 104 for 6  in the 22-over-a-side affair.

The one blip for Australia, though, was a calf strain to Shane Watson, who hobbled out of the attack after 1.4 overs. Ironically, Bangladesh suffered a similar incident when they bowled, with Tapash Baisya pulling up in his bowling stride after 2.5 overs. Not only were Bangladeshi egos bruised, but one of their veteran cricketers was sent packing as well. All in all, a day to forget for Bashar’s men, who were over the moon at having knocked India out of the World Cup not long ago.

Australia 106 for 0 (Gilchrist 59*, Hayden 47*) beat Bangladesh 104 for 6 (Mortaza 25*, Saqibul 25, Bashar 24, McGrath 3-16) by 10 wickets

In today’s match, host West Indies wil be taking on Sri Lanka at Providence Stadium, Guyana