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PM appeals for smooth functioning of Parliament

          New Delhi: On the eve of the Budget session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appealed to the opposition to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament and said the government was ready to debate all issues, including "tainted" ministers. The Prime Minister, who had a telephonic talk with the Leader of the Opposition L K Advani last night, told reporters that regardless of political differences, Parliament should be allowed to function smoothly.

Shaukat to contest by-polls on Aug 18: Paper (Go To Top)

         Islamabad: The Pakistan PM-designate Shaukat Aziz will contest from two seats - Tharparkar-I and Attock-III - to enter the National Assembly. Voting will take place on August 18, The News reported Sunday. Being an MNA is a prerequisite for being the country's prime minister, the paper added. The two seats fell vacant due to the resignation tendered by Ms. Eman Waseem, and Arbab Zakaullah. Aziz is likely to take over from Ch. Shujaat Hussain, who has been installed as the interim prime minister. According to the paper, the country's Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd.) Irshad Hasan Khan on Saturday appointed appellate tribunals consisting of judges of Sindh and Lahore High Courts for the by-elections.

Bangladesh government suspends women's wrestling competition (Go To Top)

          Dhaka: Bowing to the Islamists' threat the Bangladesh government has stopped holding of the country's first ever women's wrestling competition. Facing mounting pressure from Islamist radicals, the government stopped holding of the competition Sunday morning, hours ahead of its kicking off, frustrating the participants and the international sports bodies who have been supporting the event. The wresting competition was scheduled to be held on Sunday at Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex. But an emergency ministerial meeting on Saturday night stopped holding of the event. The decision was made public on Sunday morning, Earlier, the government changed venue of the event from National Sports Council gymnasium to the Women's sports Complex on the face of the Islamists' threat.

          "The indefinite suspension order came following a threat on security," a sport ministry official told Asian News International, adding that nobody knows whether or not the competition would be arranged in near future. In the morning, more than 50 women wrestlers from across the country gathered at the sports complex and were surprised by the government decision. They protested the suspension. A number of Islamist organisations launched a crusade to compel the government to stop women's wrestling saying that such competitions for women are prohibited in Islam. They said that they are even ready to scarifice their life for the cause of Islam. Jamiatul Ulama Islami Bangladesh warned the government to prevent the women wrestling two weeks ago when the government was ready to go for the competition as requested by different international sport bodies.Later, the other Islamist organisations came forward to resist the competition. Islamist bigots rose significantly in the last couple of years in Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim country. The Khaleda Zia government comprises as four-party alliance.

Murali on lookout for life partner: Paper (Go To Top)

          Mumbai: Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is on a lookout for a bride! According to The News, one of his well-wishers is interested in seeing him find a prospective partner soon, has put up an advertisement on an India-based website for an compatible life partner for the world class spinner. The paper quoted Murli's manager Kushil Gunasekara as saying: "Murali may be interested in a girl from any country. I can tell you for certain that he didn't initiate this ad but it could be someone else who is interested in seeing him find a prospective partner soon. Like all of us he sure would want to have the right partner joining him and we pray for that to happen." He reportedly said that the bowler's immediate task would be to find a bride for himself.