• Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud is dead Scroll down to watch the video.

    The Taliban in Pakistan have released a video confirming that their former leader Baitullah Mehsud is dead.

    A video received by the BBC shows the body of the former head of Pakistan's largest Taliban group lying in a room. It is not clear where it was taken.

    Mr Mehsud was killed on 6 August in the tribal region of South Waziristan in a missile attack by a suspected US drone.

    The video came as officials said at least six people had been killed in a fresh drone attack in North Waziristan.

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  • New decent look of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman without his turban
    What you see in the picture is definitely a new decent look of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman because whenever some one talk about him the most common sketch which comes in the mind is a man wearing an orange turban (Paghri).

    Whether it is a press conference or the session of National Assembly, he always wears that orange turban on his head which becomes the symbol of his personality.

    But the picture of this new look was taken after Amir Jamiat Ulmaa-e-Islam (F) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman had meeting with Federal Minister for Interior Senator A Rehman on Wednesday in Islamabad.

    Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman also famous as pazlo is son of well known religious and political leader Maulana Mufti Mahmood

    He is Ameer (President) of a faction of a political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Assembly of 'Ulama-e-Islam). His faction is known as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal ur Rahman group or JUI-F. He is also the General Secretary of the Religious Alliance; Muttahidah Majlis-e-'Amal (Council of United Action) or MMA. He is originally from the Abdulkhel Banyala area in Dera Ismail Khan District of North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. He was selected as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan by the Speaker of the Assembly on May 25, 2004[1]. He remained in that post till his resgination from the assembly in 2007.

    Controversies

    Scandals During 1993-1996

    Benazir Bhutto was the first female muslim woman head of a democratically elected government. During the second government of Benazir Bhutto (1993-1996) Fazl, the head of his own fundamentalist Islamic party, along with other parties, began to argue that it is was not allowed for a woman to head the government, but after he was appointed as to chair a committee in the National Assembly, he ceased raising the issue of whether a woman could serve as head of the government. This lead to the wildly held view that his change in attitude was a direct result of the appointment. Addition he was awarded a huge quota for Diesel fuel, which earned him the nickname of 'Maulana Diesel'

    Presidential Election 2007

    In Pakistan, the presidential electoral college consists of the 4 provincial assemblies, the national assembly and the senate. In 2007, a situation occurred where the term of the president as well as the assemblies were expiring at the same time. The president at the time was General Pervaiz Musharaf, who had come to power as a result of a military coup. In 2007, he was up for re-election in October. The opposition parties took the position that an assembly whose own term is ending cannot elect a new president specially when the same assembly had earlier elected a president at its inception. They maintained that one assembly cannot cast votes to elect a president twice. In order to break the electoral college, the opposition parties pressed for dissolution of the only opposition held provisional assembly of NWFP, which was headed by the MMA. The constitution allowed for the dissolution of a provincial assembly by the Chief Minister of the provincial government.

    In the face of intense pressure of other parties of the MMA, as well as, some other opposition parties, Mr. Fazl was pressured to dissolve the assembly. He announced on September 27, 2007 that on October 2, 2007 the Chief Minister of his party would send the dissolution advice. Due to gap between the announcement and its implementation, an opportunity was provided to the supporters of General Musharaf to file a motion of no confidence against the Chief Minister. As the result of the motion of no confidence, the CM was prevented from filing the advice. It was widely believed that Mr. Fazl, who is a seasoned politician pre-announced the date when the Chief Minister would advise for dissolution so that a no confidence movement could be filed and prevent the situation of an incomplete electoral college.

    Land Scandal

    According to a investigative report, eleven influential figures were allowed to purchase valuable fertile agriculture land (during the former Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government) at nominal rates in the southern districts of the NWFP, in a “land scandal”. Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman has been involved in property scandal during the President General Musharaf era. Maulana and his associates were allotted thousands of kanals of agriculture land in 2006 (The News, Friday, November 7, 2008).

    Lawyer Movement

    A Lawyers movement for restoration of the judiciary had been going for almost 2 years since March 2007 across the country. In March 2009, the movement called for a long march. Mr Fazl called it a provincial movement and dubbed it a "Punjab movement" to give it a ethnic color[5]. As the result of Mr Fazl's past activities, and his activities during the long movement, many bar councils have barred Mr. Fazl for life[6].Mulana Fazl is also a big critisier of CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdary.

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  • Farah Dogar case: NA body directs ministry to take action against involved officials The National Assembly Standing Committee for Education has directed the Education Ministry to take strict action against officials involved in awarding additional marks to Farah Hamid Dogar and summoned the former chairman of the Federal Board Air Comdr (Retd) S. M Shamshad.

    The meeting of the committee was held here on Wednesday with its Chairman Abid Sher Ali expressed serious concerns over favoritism, corruption in appointment of teachers in schools and said favoritism and corruption damaged the nation and country.

    The committee during its meeting called for strict implementation of merit in appointments of all employees in the educational institutions, directing the government to send back the present Director General of Federal Directorate of Education to college and appoint in his place deserved person by promotion.

    The committee was informed that the ministry has decided to move Supreme Court against the decision of defunct Islamabad High Court decision validating Farah Dogar additional marks.

    The report of the sub-committee in this regard was also presented in the meeting, which says the federal board has no law of reassessment and 20 additional marks given to Farah Dogar has no legal status and directed the Education Ministry to take strict action against involved officials.

    Vice Chancellor Rifah International University told the committee that Farah Hamid Dogar was not allowed for entry test on mark sheet of 640 marks but the 2nd day, she presented marks sheet of 661 marks and then the institution had to give her admission according Meezan Foundation quota.

    Federal Secretary Education Abdur Rauf told the committee that three officials involved in Farah Dogar reassessment have been blacklisted life term for examination affairs and now neither they could check papers nor give duties at exams centers.

    He said the Education Ministry has issued show cause notices to its teachers, while the third teacher is that Ministry of Defense and letter has been sent to the Minister for action against him.

    He informed the meeting that the Ministry of Education has decided to file appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision of defunct Islamabad High Court validating the additional marks of Farah Dogar so that any student could not do reassessment of marks in future on the basis of this decision.

    The meeting expressed serious concerns over reports of alleged corruption and favoritism in the recent appointment of teachers in the Islamabad schools and directed the ministry to review the appointment and follow merit strictly in future.

    Abid Sher Ali said on the occasion that favoritism and corruption has damaged the nation and country, urging the ministry officials to ignore the recommendations of MNAs and MPAs.

    Expressing concerns over appointment of Model College Principal as Director General of Federal Directorate of Education, not promoting Director Shehnaz Anjum in scale 20 and appointing as DG FDE, the committee directed the ministry to appoint the present DG back principal of the college, while promote Dr Shehnaz Anjum in scale 20 according to laws and in the light of Supreme Court decision.

    Recommending Dr Shehnaz for appointment of DG FDE, the committee constituted three member permanent committee comprising Rana Afzal, Justice (Retd) Fakhar-un-Nisa Khokar and one another member to review the implementation of committee decisions.

    Abid Sher Ali said he would apprise the Prime Minister in this regard.

    Director FDE Dr Shehnaz Riaz told the meeting that the ministry officials were creating hurdles in promotion in scale-20 and appointment as Director General for the last eight years, adding, Supreme Court and Federal Services Tribunal has also given its decision in her favor, but the ministry was not implementing it and college principal has been appointed as DG FDE.

    Federal Education Minister Mir Hazar Jakhrani and Secretary Abdur Rauf told the meeting that the name of Dr Shehnaz Anjum was sent to the selection board twice, however rejected both the times and the ministry has no interference in it, on which the committee decided to summon the senior officials of the board.

    The committee also constituted three-member committee under Maimona Hashmi for the collection of facts and other details about Farah Hamid Dogar case.

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  • 5 Pakistanis arrested on drug charges released: Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has released the five Pakistani nationals who were interned at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah on charges of drug smuggling, after ascertaining that they had no relation with the drugs.

    According to a press statement of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad the security authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have released the five Pakistani nationals who were interned at King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, on 9/6/1430 H, on charges of drug smuggling, after ascertaining that they had no relation with the drugs, which they were carrying without their knowledge.

    This transpired after the concerned authorities in the Kingdom were briefed about the outcome of investigation carried out by the Pakistani security authorities with the real culprits who were apprehended in Pakistan, during the meeting of the Interior Minister His Excellency Mr. Rahman Malik, with officials of the Saudi Interior Ministry in his recent visit to the Kingdom, the statement said.

    The Press Statement of the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan further said that the detainees after their release performed Umrah and visited the Prophet's Mosque. The Embassy advised all those traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make sure that their luggage which they are carrying, does not contain any contraband item punishable by the rules of Saudi Arabia, particularly narcotics, which is punished by death sentence.

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  • NWFP assembly members including CM submits details of their assets Members of the NWFP Assembly along with Chief Minister have submitted details of their assets with the Election Commission on Wednesday.

    The Members who submitted details of their assets in Election Commission included Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Senior provincial minister Basheer Ahmed Biolour, Rahim Dad Khan, Mian Iftikhar, Syed Tahir Ali Shah, Hamayun Khan, Abdul Akbar Khan, Akram Khan Durrani and others members of the respected assembly.

    Out of 124 Members of the assembly, 100 have submitted details of its assets in Election Commission.

    The deadline is December 30, sources say.

    On the other hand, ECP has chalked out a comprehensive program so that transparency is maintained at all costs.

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  • 'Grand welcome party for new students in PU' A grand welcome party for the new students of Punjab University session 2009-2011 will be held on Thursday, October 1 at 10:00am in the Faisal Auditorium here at New Campus.

    Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran will chair the ceremony.

    The students would be welcomed on the occasion and briefed about the academic, research, social and literary traditions of the varsity.

    They would also be advised to focus on their studies during the coming two years. Deans of all faculties, heads of teaching departments and a large number of students will attend the ceremony.

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  • PU declares results of MA Women's Studies Punjab University Examinations Department has declared the result MA Women's Studies, Part-I, Annual Examination 2009.

    The pass percentage in the exam remained 76.19.

    It is pertinent to mention that detailed result is also available at PU website www.pu.edu.pk.

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  • Govt decides to release 11 German nationals detained on the charges of terrorism Government has decided to release 11 German nationals out of 41 foreigners held under the charges of terrorism.

    A local News Agency reported hat on Tuesday German embassy based in Islamabad had contacted government of Pakistan to secure release of its citizens saying that that they were not involved in any terror related activity.

    Government had sought opinion from interior ministry in this regard and the government decided to release 11 German nationals on receipt of clearance from interior ministry. They will be set free within a day or so .

    Sources said 41 citizens were in the custody of government at present. 2 Yemeni nationals have been handed over to Saudi Arabia while a Swedish lady and her baby have refused to secure release. Upon it interior ministry had set up a joint investigation team to ascertain the causes in this respect.

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  • ITP arrests owner of “Inter-Risk private firm” on court orders Islamabad Territory Police (ITP) have arrested the owner “Inter-Risk private security company” local private security firm hired by the US Embassy Ali Jaffar Zaidi.

    According to details, Ali Jaffar Zaidi was produced in a local court on Tuesday. The Court has cancelled his application for the interim-bail and ordered police to arrest him.

    Islamabad Police during a raid at a house in F-6 impounded dozens of unlicensed weapons at a time when the private security contractor was under unusual scrutiny. Police had recovered 61 assault rifles and nine pistols in the raid besides arresting two employees of the Inter-Risk private security company.

    The owner of the firm Ali Jaffer Zaidi, a facilitator of notorious Blackwater World-wide managed to escape but he was arrested previous day.

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