PCB announce 6-member selection committee

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket board (PCB) announced a 6-member selection committee on Thursday with Moin Khan appointed as chief selector, Geo News reported.

Other members of the committee are former wicket keeper Saleem Yousuf, Wajat ullah Wasti, M.Akram, Shoib Mohammad and Ijaz Ahmed.

M.Akram has been relieved of his duties as bowling coach of the Pakistan team and instead has been appointed as head coach of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Israel strikes Palestine after PLO, Hamas announce unity agreement

GAZA: Israel launched an air strike on Wednesday on the northern Gaza Strip, wounding four people, medical officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the attack, which came two days after militants in the Palestinian enclave launched rockets into southern Israel.

There was no immediate word on the identities of those wounded in the air strike, launched just after Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization announced a unity agreement in Gaza City.

Backstreet Boys announce North American tour

The Backstreet Boys will hit the road again this summer. (Reuters)

Pop/rock band Backstreet Boys have announced that they would hit the road again this summer.
After a string of Canadian shows, the tour will head to the US on May 22 for a concert at WaMu Theater in Seattle. They’ll then make stops in other cities like Sacramento, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Detroit, Boston and Philadelphia before wrapping things up at Jones Beach Theater in New York, reported Ace Showbiz.
“Due to overwhelming demand on Facebook and Twitter, Backstreet’s back, all right!” they said during their appearance on a TV show.
Singer Avril Lavigne has also been tapped to support the tour. ”We really wanted to put together a great show and do our best to give everyone their money’s worth. Avril is an unbelievably talented artist who’s a perfect fit to make these shows extra special for our fans.”

Special court to announce verdict on Musharraf’s petitions on Friday

ISLAMABAD: The special court trying former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in high treason case, Wednesday announced that it would announce verdict in three petitions of defence counsel regarding competence of the court to initiate proceedings, its formation and alleged bias of judges.

The three-member special court resumed hearing of the treason case.

During the course of proceedings, head of prosecution team, Akram Sheikh sought permisssion for offering Fateha for judges, lawyers and other people, who had become victim of Islamabad district courts' terrorist attack. Fateha was offered on the court's permission.

Defence counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan informed the court that after the terrorist attack, Pervaiz Musharraf and his lawyers were feeling insecure to appear in the court.

Then Ahmed Raza Kasuri, another consel for Musharraf, informed the court that he had received a letter from Taliban to desist himself, Anwar Mansoor Khan and Sharifuddin Pirzada from pursuing the case.

He said they would file two applications seeking sine die (indefinitely) adjournment of case on ground of deteriorated security situation.

Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan despite being stopped by the court, alleged that the terrorists had planned to kill all three judges, the head of prosecution and two of the defence lawyers.

Akram Sheikh said the terrorist threat should not be glorified to subjugate and surrender the judges and lawyers commitment to perform their obligation of administration of justice.

He said that he would ensure that the terrorists were defeated by continuing the proceedings.

He was asked by the court to take instructions from his client with regard to security measures after the unfortunate episode of Monday.

Justice Faisal Arab observed that whether there was any threat or not, they were under obligation as judges of high court and bound by the oath to continue acting without fear or favour. They could not pack up files and adjourn the case indefinitely, he added.

He said they were willing to adjourn for today and would announce an order on the objections raised by the defence lawyers.

Govt to announce crucial decisions, still prefers talks: Nisar

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. — File photo

PESHAWAR: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the government has made crucial decisions in relation to the country's security which it would be announcing soon, DawnNews reported.
Addressing a press conference at the Governor House in Peshawar, the minister said despite the events of the past several days, the government still preferred the route of peace talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Talks between government and Taliban representatives that began earlier this month were suspended after the killing of 23 paramilitary soldiers by the militants.
The military responded with a series of air strikes that have left more than 100 insurgents dead, but Khan said the government was still open to talks – with the right people.
“We will talk to those groups who are not against Pakistan,” he said adding, “We are in contact with groups that have never attacked Pakistan's interests, we have dialogue for them.”
He gave no details of which groups he meant.
His comments could revive fears that Pakistan is maintaining a policy of distinguishing between “good” militants who can be used to further strategic goals abroad, and “bad” militants who attack domestic targets.
Pakistan has come in for strong criticism from the United States and Afghanistan in recent years for sheltering and patronising militants such as the Haqqani network, who attack Nato and Afghan forces across the border.
On Wednesday, Chaudhry Nisar unveiled Pakistan's first-ever counter-terrorism policy, seven years since the TTP rose up and began its bloody campaign against the state.
The minister said every act of violence would in future be met with an attack on the militants' bases, which lie mainly in the North Waziristan tribal district on the Afghan border.
Commenting on the status of the dialogue between the government and Taliban representatives, Khan said Wednesday that while talks have been put on hold they could “resume anytime soon and both negotiations and targeted strikes will go hand in hand.”
He said the government was sincerely working towards establishing peace in the country, adding that it would remove all the stumbling blocks that lay on the road ahead.
The minister said acts of violence could not be tolerated on the country’s soil and that the government would appropriately respond to any such attacks.
Nisar said security forces were being provided with the latest equipment purchased from abroad, adding that new vehicles would also be provided to the forces, including the police.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Inspector General KP Police Nasir Durrani were also present during the press briefing.