Imran Khan fears trouble ahead for Pakistan cricket

KARACHI: Cricket legend Imran Khan Monday said he feared more trouble for Pakistan cricket after the Champions Trophy postponement, saying the wrong people who are destroying everything run the country. “The postponement of Champions Trophy is a body blow to Pakistan but since the country is run by wrong people I see more trouble for cricket in the country,” he told a foreign newsagency. On Sunday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) put off September’’s Champions Trophy until next year after South Africa pulled out and Australia, New Zealand and England were due to follow suit. The four nations were reluctant to tour Pakistan over security fears after a series of blasts in the past month and political instability in the wake of president Pervez Musharraf’’s resignation. The ICC said Pakistan keeps the right to host the event, possibly in October next year, but Khan believed the present government would not be able to improve the situation in the country. “The event is postponed until next year but if the current government — trying to outdo Musharraf — stays I fear the situation could worsen rather than improve,” said Khan, who now heads his own political party — Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice).Khan, a die-hard critic of Musharraf, blamed the military ruler for the current scenario. “It is not that we should not fight terrorism, but the way Musharraf led us into the war on terror by using gunship helicopters against our own people was fatal because as a blow-back peace, the economy and cricket have become casualties,” he said. Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup title in 1992, said foreign teams” reluctance to tour over security was understandable.

More: continued here

Pakistan turmoil deepens after coalition split (AFP via Yahoo! News)

Pakistan’s political turmoil deepened Tuesday after the two main parties in the ruling coalition split, weakening the fragile government just a week after president Pervez Musharraf resigned.

More: continued here

Split puts Pakistan on rocky road (BBC News)

Analysts say the PML-N’s decision to quit Pakistan’s ruling alliance means an uncertain future for the country.

More: continued here

Pakistan coalition splits, US maintains ‘war on terror’ continues (AFP via Yahoo! News)

Pakistan’s ruling coalition split Monday after former premier Nawaz Sharif withdrew over differences on the restoration of judges sacked by ex-president Pervez Musharraf.

More: continued here

Legendary poet Ahmed Faraz passes away: Son

ISLAMABAD: Renowned poet and literary figure of Pakistan Ahmed Faraz has passed away here on Monday.He was under treatment at a hospital in Islamabad, according to Geo News.Confirming the death of father, his son Shibli Faraz here said he (Ahmed Faraz) is no more with us.His funeral prayer would be offered today in Islamabad at H-Eight.Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and other intellectuals have condoled over the sad demise of the prominent Pakistani poet.

More: continued here

Qazi flays arrest of Kashmiri leaders

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad has condemned the arrest of Kashmiri leaders Syed Ali Gilani, Mir Waiz Omer Farooq and Yasin Malik by

More: continued here

Rabbani promises provincial autonomy

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the House in the Senate on Monday assured to resolve the issue of provincial autonomy soon after the presidential election. “The

More: continued here
Pakistan News

DCO given powers to enforce 144 in NWFP

PESHAWAR: The NWFP Assembly, with Speaker Karamatullah Chagarmati in the chair, passed a bill on Monday, shifting the powers of enforcing Section 144

More: continued here

Pakistan’s governing coalition splits, promising more convulsions (McClatchy Newspapers via Yahoo! News)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan— Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of Pakistan’s coalition government and joined the opposition Monday, a blow to chances for political stability in the nuclear-armed country.

More: continued here

Picking Up the Pieces in Pakistan (Time Magazine)

Just a week after ousting former President Pervez Musharraf, the coalition government of Pakistan breaks up. Now what?

More: continued here

Next Page »