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Zardari under house arrest, Govt says no

     Islamabad: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, Asif Ali Zardari, has reportedly been arrested and shifted to Bilawal House-II, soon after his arrival at Allama Iqbal Airport, Lahore from Dubai. Bilawal House II in Lahore is the party office of the PPP where it holds meetings and establishes contact with the people of the province. Pakistan's Minister for Information Shaikh Rashid, however, has denied the arrest and said that Zardari has reached home safely. Rashid added that few people reached the airport and no one has been arrested. Those who tried to create obstacles on the roads would be released soon, he added. The PPP had planned to hold a huge rally of 70,000 supporters to welcome Asif Ali Zardari on his arrival at Lahore. The government banned the holding of rallies and rounded up those who had gathered to take out the demonstration. The Pakistani minister of Information Sheikh Rashid said that Lahore remained peaceful and thanked the Government of Punjab for tackling the situation in an organized manner. Politics have some codes of conduct, Zardari has gained what the wanted from the media, now he is in Pakistan and free to visit anywhere including Data Darbar, he added. Negating the reports that Zardari was handcuffed and arrested at the airport, he said, Zardari was not handcuffed neither he was arrested. However, reports said that Zardari was shifted to Bilawal House II, in the presence of heavy police force soon after he arrived here at Allama Iqbal International Airport.

22 sentenced to death in Bangla for murdering MP (Go To Top)

     Dhaka: Twenty-two people have been sentenced to death in Bangladesh for murdering an opposition MP. According to the BBC, Ahsan Ullah Master of the Awami League and another man were gunned down at a political function near the capital, Dhaka, in May last year. Lawyers say this is the highest number sentenced to death in a single case. Six others were given life sentences. Most of those sentenced are from the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) or its ally, the Jatitya Party. Of the 30 defendants, 15 of those convicted were sentenced in absentia. Two people were acquitted. According to Bangladeshi law, any death sentence must be reviewed by the High Court.

Ten villagers killed by Maoists in Nepal (Go To Top)

     Kathmandu: The police in Nepal say that Maoist rebels have killed 10 villagers in an attack about 300 km south-west of the capital, Kathmandu. According to the BBC, another seven people were hurt in the attack, which took place in the village of Shobhani in Nawal Parasi district. A police spokesman said there were reports that the Maoists had killed the villagers to punish them for not supporting the rebel cause.

Musharraf rewards Afridi with Rs.500,000 (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been rewarded by President Pervez Musharraf for his blistering match-winning knock in the fifth one-day international at Kanpur that enabled Pakistan to take a 3-2 lead over India in the six match series. Musharraf announced a cash reward of Rs.500,000 for Afridi, who smashed a century off just 45 balls to guide his side to a five- wicket win against India in the fifth one-dayer in Kanpur. Afridi's stunning batting display at the Green Park stadium gave Pakistan a 3-2 lead in the six-match series. Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz spoke to captain Inzamam-ul Haq as well as Afridi over the phone congratulating them for the victory. Musharraf, who also spoke to Afridi, lauded the fighting spirit and determination of the team. This was for the second time that Musharraf announced a reward for a player. After the fourth one-dayer, he had announced Rs. 1 million for Inzamam, who had steered the side to a last ball win in Ahmedabad.

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