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ISLAMABAD: A recently relieved minister from central Punjab sold off as many as 63 Azakhaili bulls, buffaloes, Achai cows and other valuable animals which had been rescued from war zones in Swat and Bajaur for an unusually low price of Rs 1.8 million.

These rare breeds were the result of research conducted by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) over the last one year to gain better meat and milk yield.

According to sources, the allegedly fraudulent auction of these rare animals was said to have been arranged by the new team at Parc and Narc within a week of the departure of Parc’s former chairman, Dr Zafar Altaf, who refused to allow the sale to proceed. Sources say that the auction was arranged to allow influential politicians to buy the animals at very low prices for their own personal farms.

Earlier, Altaf had sent a team of experts to war zones to bring animals to Parc and the National Agricultural Research Council (Narc) so the breeds could be conserved for the locals of those areas to benefit from them.

An official said that the sale by the minister was bound to deliver a serious blow to the ongoing research on the animals in question. He added that the minister had sold off over 63 rare cattle breeds for the significantly low price of Rs1.8 million which suggested foul play. According to some officials, the price of one of these buffaloes and bulls is worth more than Rs1,000,000.

The alleged scam surfaced when a member of the Animal Sciences Division Dr AN Naqvi wrote a letter to Parc acting chairman Dr Afzal and other officials to inform them that the valuable animals meant for research had been sold off without her knowledge.

She said that the Achai cattle, a small-sized breed, was brought in from Bajaur. Achai cattle are able to survive and produce milk under extreme climatic conditions, suitable for grazing on steep hills and can cope with travelling long distances. Compared to other breeds, the Achai cattle is also tick-resistant. The Azakhaili buffalo was brought in from Swat.

“The auction is completely non-transparent if no representative of the finance wing or the auction committee is present at the time,” said Dr Khalid, a member of the finance division at Parc.

The acting chairman Parc, when contacted, defended the auction and told The Express Tribune that it was not Parc’s responsibility to conserve animals. He said that the animals had been a burden on Parc and Narc which was why they had been auctioned off following the orders of the director of Narc, who he said was authorised to do so.

Dr Afzal dismissed the notion that the animals were sold off for a petty sum to oblige a former minister. He also rejected reports by Dr Naqvi that the animals were a rare breed. He added that the auctioning of such animals was a routine matter at Narc and that all required procedure was carried out before the sale. He, however, said he was unaware about the number of animals that had been auctioned off or for how much.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

PESHAWAR: Armed militants attacked three parking lots where oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces were stationed, killing atleast four people and wounding 17 others before blowing up around 15 such vehicles.

In an extremely daring attack early Friday morning, the miscreants first killed two guards at the main gate of the terminal situated in Garhi Qamardin on the Peshawar Ring Road, and subsequently planted explosive devices on the tankers parked there.

“More than two dozen militants entered the terminal and planted timed devices on 12 out of a total 18 fuel tankers parked at the terminal,” said senior police official Imtiaz Shah.

A total of 11 tankers were blown up as the device planted on one vehicle failed to explode. Two drivers who resisted the militants were also killed, whilst five drivers and an assistant wounded.

“Those who attacked the terminal were all militants but we don’t know yet which group they belong to,” Shah added.

Roman Khan, 25, an assistant, who was admitted to hospital with multiple burn injuries, told AFP that he was asleep in the cabin of one tanker when militants attacked the terminal.

“Some of them had covered their faces with masks. They ordered all drivers to get down and began planting some gadgets, which I could not recognize,” Khan said, also confirming the militants shot dead two drivers who tried to resist.

“They shouted that the tankers were supplying fuel to America, which is our enemy, and warned us to leave the tankers, which are being blown up.”

No group has claimed responsibility but the Taliban has claimed such attacks in the past. The bulk of supplies and equipment required by foreign troops in Afghanistan are shipped through Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

PESHAWAR: A court on Saturday remanded in custody an American national thought to have been working for a private security company, after he outstayed his Pakistani visa, police said.

The US embassy in Islamabad identified the man arrested on Friday as Aaron Mark DeHaven.

“The American national was produced in the court, which sent him to jail on 14-day judicial remand,” said Hashmat Khan, a police official. “He will now be produced before the court on March 14.”

Meanwhile, an application seeking DeHaven’s bail was filed Saturday afternoon in the same court, his lawyer Fakhar Alam Jhagra said. “The court will take up the bail application for hearing on Monday,” he said.

The purpose of the visit by DeHaven, whose visa expired in December last year, was unclear but a security official told AFP he had been working with private security agency Catalyst in Islamabad. Express 24/7 however reported that DeHaven told the court he owns a construction company and came to Pakistan on a business visa.

Peshawar police are carrying out raids to arrest associates DeHaven to include them in the investigations into the case.

On Friday, Hashmat Khan quoted DeHaven as saying he had travelled to Peshawar to meet a Pakistani girl.

AFP with additional input from our correspondent

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government is insisting that the detained CIA agent, Raymond Davis, should be interrogated by intelligence agencies instead of the police, sources said.

The provincial government has sent several letters to the federal government along with ‘undeniable proof’ of Davis’ involvement in anti-Pakistan activities, a highly-placed source told The Express Tribune.

“His interrogation by the intelligence agencies will help trace other CIA agents involved in ‘unlawful activities’ in Pakistan,” the source said quoting from the official letters of the Punjab government.

The camera seized from Davis had photographs of Pakistan Army’s bunkers on the border with India. And this made the Punjab police suspect that he could be spying on Pakistan for India.

They suspect that Davis could have been providing to the Indians information about the banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is headquartered near Lahore.

New Delhi has accused the LeT for most of the terrorist attacks on its soil, including the 2008 commando-style storming of Mumbai’s landmarks. The LeT is said to be the militant wing of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) charity.

Before the shooting on January 27, Davis had visited a place in Lahore which is located hardly a kilometre away from the LeT headquarters.

Washington has been a strong supporter of New Delhi’s demand for the closure of the JuD offices in Lahore and elsewhere in the country.

“The US support for India’s viewpoint on the LeT has always irked Pakistan,” a former diplomat told The Express Tribune. “Why is Washington criticising Islamabad on the LeT as it is a bilateral issue between Pakistan and India,” he added.

US diplomats are perturbed over media reports that Davis has been questioned about things other than the killing of two Pakistanis.

His interrogators had also asked him several questions about the identity of those three US nationals who escaped from the scene after crushing to death another Pakistani in Lahore on Jan 27.

Davis has reportedly been questioned about the three Americans who had come to his rescue but fled from the crime scene crushing another Pakistani under their SUV on way to the American consulate in Lahore.

Despite the Lahore High Court orders the US consulate has not handed over the Pakistani driver and the SUV they were travelling in to the police.

Police suspect that the three Americans were Davis’ collaborators in his clandestine operations in Pakistan.

“For the law the driver of the car, and not the three Americans, was responsible for the death of the third Pakistani,” a police official told The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, the Punjab home department is considering holding a jail-trial of Davis in the illegal weapon case due to security concerns.

The source said that the department is likely to issue a formal notification in this regard within three days.  Davis’ trial in the double murder case is already being held in the Kot Lakhpat Jail, where he is detained.

Hearing in the illegal weapon case is scheduled for March 3 and the trail will be held in jail, the sources said.  However, provincial Home Secretary Shahid Khan refused to comment on the issue.

Additional reporting by Rana Yasif in Lahore

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

RAWALPINDI: The formal trial of Malik Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed assassin of former governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer, began on Saturday, as the prosecution produced police and medical officers before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to record their statements.

During the course of hearing held at Adiala Jail, public prosecutor Saiful Malook was present before the court along with Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic) Dr Muhammad Arshad, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Kohsar police station Iftikhar Ali, and constable Abdul Raheem and recorded their statements.

According to the CMO’s statement, Taseer was killed instantly after being hit by at least 36 bullets.

The governor was shot from behind from a distance of four or five feet, the CMO added.

Shahryar Taseer, son of Salmaan Taseer, had lodged the FIR at the Kohsar police station, said ASI Ali in his statement.

After recording their statements, the court adjourned the case till March 5.

Malik Rafiq and Shujaur Rehman appeared on Qadri’s behalf while Qadri’s father, Bashir Awan, and brother Dilpazir also attended the court proceedings.

Earlier, the police submitted a three-page-long charge-sheet, in which Qadri was booked under Section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act and Section 302/109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Hundreds of Qadri’s supporters staged a rally outside the jail premises to express solidarity with him.

Qadri was formally indicted by the ATC on February 14.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue Saturday suspended 22 junior officials of the Customs Department in a liquor smuggling case and decided to expand the scope of the investigation to Dubai to plug the origin of the illegal business that has cost millions to the national exchequer.

The officials have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the Lunar Company liquor smuggling case, said Riffat Shaheen Qazi, the FBR spokesperson. She said these people were suspended in the light of an investigation report of the Intelligence Directorate. The Intelligence Wing has recommended sacking these officials. In June 2010, the FBR confiscated a container in Peshwar, carrying liquor disguised as non-alcoholic beverages. The authorities later found out that the Lunar Company had imported 52 such containers of liquor. The FBR had arrested about half a dozen employees of the company at that time. Riffat said the FBR would conduct an inquiry against the suspended employees.

Another board member of the FBR said that the Lunar Company container case has nothing to do with the International Security Assistant Forces (Isaf) containers smuggling case. He said some of the sacked employees have secured pre-arrest bails from the courts and the FBR would try to get their bails cancelled.  The official admitted that the FBR was not pursuing the case vigorously.

“Things have changed with a change of command at the top”, said the official while referring towards recent reshuffling in the FBR management.

There have been allegations that sacking junior official was a cover up designed to protect senior officials, without whose collusion such activity would have been impossible. The FBR board member said that some more developments will take place in the coming days after which the FBR will take action in the Isaf containers case.

In June 2010, media reports claimed that over 11,000 containers had disappeared en-route to Afghanistan. These reports also suggested that the containers were carrying goods for the International Security Assistance Force and Nato troops fighting in Afghanistan. Later, the FBR clarified that only 43 containers had disappeared and admitted that liquor had been smuggled by being misrepresented as regular beverages. The FBR has accepted that forged documents were used to clear containers through Karachi port by using the manual clearance system.

The FBR has suspended several mid-level officials including the Deputy Commissioner of the Regional Tax Office Karachi, the Deputy Collector Karachi, and the Deputy Director Valuation Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

KARACHI: The Federal Anti-Corruption Court on Saturday ordered the immediate arrest of the members of the National Insurance Company Limited’s (NICL) Board of Directors.

At an earlier hearing, the court had ordered Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit the final charge- sheet against former NICL chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi and other officers. However, the FIA failed to submit it and the court decided to take the interim charge-sheet as the final one and ordered the arrests.

The court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the absconding accused, including members of the Board of Directors Amin Qasim Dada and Javed Saeed, and brokers Khalid Anwer, Khawaja Akbar, Syed Muhammad Iqbal and Aamir Hussain.

The court asked the jail authorities to ensure that the accused attend the next hearing.

The jail authorities told the court that Executive Director Finance Muhammad Zahoor, General Manager Audit Athar Ali Naqvi, General Manager Zahid Hussain and Law officer Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh were summoned by a local court in Lahore and therefore could not be produced before the court.

The court was also informed that the accused former NICL chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi is unwell.  The accused are facing corruption charges in the multi-billion-rupee land scandal.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

MURIDKE: The government will not stoop to bribing lawmakers to switch their loyalties to gain majority in Punjab, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.

Talking to reporters after a ceremony at a local school, the premier said that the PPP would prefer to sit on opposition benches, instead of resorting to horse-trading, adding that some people might genuinely want to join the PPP of their own free will.

Commenting on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s assertion that his party might push for mid-term elections, the premier said that if provincial governments were not able to hold local bodies elections, how could they conduct general elections. He said that even if elections were held, the PPP would win by a wide margin.

Prime Minister Gilani said that despite the end of its formal partnership with the PML-N, the PPP would call upon all political parties, including the PML-N, to play their part in steering the country out of crisis. “All of our coalition partners are cooperating with us and the PML-N has also played an effective role as parliamentary opposition,” he added.

Referring to the PML-N’s economic agenda, he said that lawmakers of both parties had discussed it “very efficiently for 200 hours”, adding that PML-N should de-link the 10-point agenda from the Punjab government as the PPP has been working to implement it.

The prime minister also said that there were no deadlines or ultimatums in politics, and if the PML-N has decided to part ways with the PPP, “we will not shun the policy of reconciliation.” He said that all political parties would have to make joint efforts for the country’s progress. “Today, I announce that no single party can steer the country out of crisis,” he added.

He said that because of the effective and viable policies of the federal government, “Pakistan’s economy is improving, foreign reserves are at their peak, stock markets have shot up and there is a boom in the agricultural sector.”

He added when he took over the government, there was a shortage of wheat, but now it is being exported. “We are used to overcoming Herculean challenges. We will surpass all targets, and we will take Mian Nawaz Sharif on board about our economic agenda,”he said.

Earlier, the prime minister said that education and health were the government’s top priorities. “Literacy rate in the country would be raised to 85 per cent by increasing GDP spending up to seven per cent by year 2015,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

KARACHI: While the Foreign Office is bent upon continuing its wait-and-see approach, the situation of thousands of Pakistanis stranded in Libya remains precarious.

Ahsan Mohiuddin, a Network Consulting Engineer in Tripoli, says the situation has become desperate over the last four days, with unannounced curfew hours and food supplies running short.

With a complete communication breakdown, Pakistani nationals are facing great difficulty in getting in touch with their families. Mohiuddin was able to speak to The Express Tribune via Skype after much hardship since  authorities jammed all landlines and mobile phone communications.

Mohiuddin claimed that the Pakistani mission was doing nothing for its desperate citizens. In these days of emergency when every other foreign embassies are working round-the -clock to help their citizens evacuate, he says the Pakistani mission has continued to observe its weekly off days on Friday and Saturday.

“Every day many Pakistanis like me have been going to the embassy, but apart from taking down our names on a piece of paper, they tell us nothing about what they are doing to evacuate us,” says Mohiuddin, who was with his Pakistani friend Adnan while speaking to The Express Tribune.

On his last visit to the embassy, he recalled that he had been told that more than 3,000 Pakistanis had registered themselves for immediate evacuation. “But even then it was clear from the body language of officials that no plane was coming from Pakistan anytime soon,” he said.

PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar confirmed that no one from the Foreign Office has contacted the airline to send a special flight to Libya. Since PIA does not operate flights to Libya, Tajwar says preparations, which include over flight route permissions and refuelling facilities, would take at least a day in advance. There are around 20,000 Pakistanis in Libya, many of them living in Tripoli. There is a large community of Pakistani jewellers, oil and construction workers.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua told this publication that she was in constant touch with the Charge de Affairs Ali Javed who was keeping her updated on the situation. In a statement, the spokesperson said the foreign ministry was closely following developments in Libya and a special task force has been set up to provide assistance to Pakistani expatriates.

However, when Janjua was pressed whether a special flight would be sent, she said the situation was very volatile. “Planes have been unable to land in Tripoli and most countries are evacuating their citizens on ships,” she said.

Mohiuddin, who lives near the Tripoli airport, however rubbished Janjua’s claims. “Even India, which doesn’t enjoy good relations with Libya, has managed to send two special flights,” he said, adding that one of his Indian friends was leaving for home in another flight tonight.

Thousands like Mohiuddin are looking for alternative flights. “The problem with private airlines is that they say they’ll first evacuate passengers belonging to their country of origin,” he says, quipping that maybe once the Indians are through evacuating their citizens, maybe he’ll manage to get a seat on their plane.

Also, although the revolution came and went in Egypt, the special PIA flights supposedly planned for Cairo never took off. Janjua claimed that the Pakistani envoy in the end had asked not to send the flights.

In response to a question about reports circulated in the Arab media alleging involvement of Pakistan’s military in the current developments in Libya, Janjua said the claims were baseless. There are no military personnel stationed in Libya, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

TRIPOLI: Poor neighbourhoods of Tripoli openly defied Muammar Qaddafi on Saturday after security forces abandoned Tajoura district after five days of anti-government demonstrations, residents told foreign correspondents.

The residents said troops opened fire on demonstrators who tried to march from Tajoura to central Green Square overnight, killing at least five people. The number could not be independently confirmed.

A funeral on Saturday morning for one of the victims turned into another show of defiance against Qaddafi. “Everyone in Tajoura came out against the government. We saw them killing our people here and everywhere in Libya,” a man who identified himself as Ali, aged 25, told Reuters. “We will demonstrate again and again, today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow until they change.” he said.

The scene in Tajoura contradicted statements by Qaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam, who insisted that peace was returning to Libya.

Protesters erected barricades of rocks and palm trees across rubbish-strewn streets, and graffiti covered many walls. Security forces were nowhere to be seen but bullet holes in the walls of the tightly packed houses bore testimony to the violence of recent days.

Much of the east of the oil-producing country, including Benghazi, is in opposition forces’ hands. Qaddafi’s strongest European ally, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said in Rome on Saturday that he no longer appeared to be in control of Libya.

In Misrata, some 150 kilometres east of the capital, helicopter-borne mercenaries fighting for Qaddafi fired on protesters attending a funeral on Saturday

The mercenaries who had been airlifted to Misrata opened fire on the relatives of the victims who were about to enter a mosque, according to a witness. The mercenaries also shot at a building that housed an opposition-run radio station. The witness also said the local chieftain in Misrata was contacted on the telephone by Qaddafi’s aides, who proposed establishing an independent state in the city on the condition that it does not attack Tripoli.

“We do not have many weapons in Misrata and we are surrounded by two cities that support the regime – Zliten and Sirte,” he added.

Dozens of people were severely wounded in western Libya after security forces opened fire, the Quryna newspaper reported. The Al-Khuweildi al-Humaidi battalion opened fire in an area along a strip on the Mediterranean coast between the cities of Sabratha and Surman, Quryna reported.

US officials are keeping a watchful eye for any more Americans wishing to leave Libya after US President Barack Obama slapped sanctions on Qaddafi and his clan in an effort to weaken his teetering regime. Obama signed an executive order Friday to seize assets of Qaddafi and named family members in the United States and globally within the auspices of US financial institutions, saying the human dignity of Libyans “cannot be denied.”

In Istanbul, Turkey’s prime minister raised strong objections to imposing sanctions on Libya, arguing that innocent people would suffer and accusing world powers of making “calculations” based on oil.

“Any intervention will make the process even more difficult. It will harm not the administration but the Libyan people. You cannot secure world peace by resorting to sanctions in each and every incident,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a televised public speech in Istanbul.

Qaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam denied there had been massacres and that Libya’s air force had bombed protesters. “Eighty percent of those who died, died trying to storm military areas,” he said. On talks at the UN Security Council on Saturday over how to sanction Qadhafi for his deadly offensive, his son said he wanted a “fact-finding” mission to come to Libya before any sanctions are imposed.

“I am ready for any sanctions to be imposed on us after a fact-finding mission from abroad comes to see what has happened.” Diplomats say some 2,000 or more people have been killed.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

LAHORE: Going ahead with its plans to expel the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from the Punjab government, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday advised Governor Sardar Latif Khosa to remove provincial ministers belonging to the PPP.

At the same time, the chief minister also sacked 13 parliamentary secretaries belonging to its erstwhile coalition partner in the provincial government, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the chief minister has sent the summary for the removal of the PPP ministers.

Interestingly, however, the governor’s spokesperson, Ishtiaq Ahmad, said that the Governor Secretariat has received the summary from the chief minister for the removal of all 16 ministers – nine from the PML-N and seven from the PPP.

The summary was sent by the chief minister under sub Article 3 of Article 132 of the 1973 Constitution.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was in a fix over the procedure of getting rid of the PPP ministers. It had two options: either dissolve the cabinet or de-notify the PPP ministers. Since both options involved legal complexities, the chief minister decided to adopt a comparatively safer procedure. If Governor Khosa entertains the CM’s advice, the services and general administration department would issue the de-notification of the ministers. Khosa has said that he would act according to Article 105 of the Constitution.

According to Article 105, the governor shall have to respond to the chief minister’s advice within 15 days or he may refer the case back to the chief minister for reconsideration.

However, after the passage of the 18th constitutional amendment, if a provincial governor does not respond to a chief minister’s advice within the stipulated time, it is considered approved.

The PPP ministers have refused to step down voluntarily, saying that they would wait for the chief minister to de-notify them.

Muhammad Ashraf Sohna, provincial minister for labour and human rights, said that the PPP ministers would devise a strategy once they get their de-notification letters. For this purpose, a meeting of PPP’s parliamentary party in Punjab has been convened on March 1.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the PPP and the PML-N are engaged in negotiation to find an amicable solution to the issue to avert a possible political confrontation in the province.

A give-and-take solution is under consideration. Accordingly, the PPP would stop Governor Khosa from exercising his powers under Sub Article 7 of Article 130 which empowers him to demand a vote of confidence from the chief minister. In return, the PML-N would support the PPP-led coalition government in the centre in the passage of the Money Bill and would also not table a no-trust motion against the prime minister.

If the deal materialises, Governor Khosa would not demand a fresh vote of confidence from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and would also administer oath of office to the new provincial ministers from the PML-Q’s Unification Bloc’.

The PPP’s ministers to be removed or de-notified are: Raja Riaz, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry, Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna, Farooq Yousaf Ghurki, Haji Muhammad Ishaq and Tanvir-ul-Islam.

Meanwhile, a notification issued by the provincial law department said that the chief minister, while exercising his powers under Section 3 of the Punjab Parliamentary Secretaries (Salary, Allowances and Privileges) Ordinance, 2002 (LXXI of 2002), has sacked 13 parliamentary secretaries, belonging to the PPP. Advisers, special assistants and parliamentary secretaries are not part of the cabinet.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2011.

PESHAWAR: A court on Saturday remanded in custody an American national thought to have been working for a private security company, after he outstayed his Pakistani visa, police said.

The US embassy in Islamabad identified the man arrested Friday as Aaron Mark DeHaven.

Police said he was taken into custody from Falcon Complex, a residential area in the northwestern city of Peshawar that runs into the lawless tribal belt near the Afghan border.

“The American national was produced in the court, which sent him to jail on 14-day judicial remand,” local police official Hashmat Khan told AFP.

“He will now be produced before the court on March 14,” Khan added.

The decision was confirmed by the public prosecutor in the case, Javaid Khan, who said DeHaven was held under the Foreigners Act.

Meanwhile, an application seeking DeHaven’s bail was filed Saturday afternoon in the same court, his lawyer Fakhar Alam Jhagra said.

“The court will take up the bail application for hearing on Monday,” he said.

Members of the US consulate met with DeHaven today and also thanked the authorities for their cooperation.

The Peshawar police are also carrying out raids to find associates of De Haven to include them in the investigations into the case, reported Express 24/7.

The purpose of the visit by DeHaven, whose visa expired on October 23, was unclear but a security official told AFP he had been working with private security agency Catalyst in Islamabad.

The punishment for staying in Pakistan illegally is three months’ imprisonment or deportation, police said.

COLOMBO: Pakistan won the match by 11 runs with Sri Lanka unale to chase the target at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Saturday. Pakistan set a 277 target for Sri Lanka to chase.

End of live updates

50th over:

Pakistan complete the win. Sri Lanka end the innings at 266/9.

OUT! Umar Akmal catches it at the mid on boundary.

FOUR. Beats third man off Kulasekara’s shot.

At the start of the 50th, Sri Lankan fans still believe in their team with the crowd cheering them on.

Sri Lanka need 18 off the last over. Umar Gul to bowl.

49th over:

At the end of the second last over, Sri Lanka need 18 from 6 balls. 260/8

11 runs from the over.

SIX. Herath for a six on mid-wicket.

Hafeez to bowl.

48th over:

Akhtar’s last over results in 7 runs. Sri Lanka need 29 from 12 balls. 249/8.

Twitter reacts to Akmal stumping Chamara:

jammabbas Muhammad Abbas Kaaaamiii thank u very much. U r the man. #Pakistan

sidathsam Sidath Sameera  Chamara gone ! Finally Akmal able to stump it #Enna #CWC2011#SLvsPAK

MaryaRaja Marya Raja 232-8 :D ByeBye CHAMARAY #CWC2011 #Pakistan

47th over:

Sri Lanka need 36 from 18 balls at the end of the 47th over. 242/8

FOUR off Rehman’s ball on the off side by Kulasekara.

Rangana Herath comes in to bat.

OUT! Silva stumped by Akmal off Rehman’s wide delivery. 232/8.

46th over

At the end of the 46th over, Sri Lanka need 46 to win with 3 wickets and 24 balls remaining. 232/7.

Right-handed Nuwan Kulasekara comes in to bat.

OUT! Akhar bowls out Perera.

FOUR for Silva off Akhtar’s second ball towards the leg side boundary in the gap.

Shoaib Akhtar’s over.

45th over:

55 to win off 30 balls for Sri Lanka. 223/6

FOUR. Perera hits it straight down the ground.

Half century for Chamara Silva. 5th ODI fifty for him in World Cup cricket.

FOUR! Silva with a smashing four on the leg side off Gul’s second delivery.

Thisara Perera comes in to bat.

44th over:

Sri Lanka need 67 runs to win off 36 balls. Score is 211/6

OUT! Ahmed Shehzad takes the catch as Afridi picks up the wicket of Mathews.

FOUR by Silva to Afridi towards third man.

43rd over:

Sri Lanka need 75 from 42 balls with the score at 203/5

FOUR off the last ball of Rehmans over by Mathews on the leg side.

Abdur Rehman bowls the 43rd.

42nd over:

7 runs off Afridi’s over. Sri Lanka need 89 from 48.

Interesting facts on Twitter:

Zobi_Khan Zobi Khan And #Lala has become first bowling allrounder to get 300 wicket and scoring more than 6K runs #PakCricket #CWC2011 #Afridi Via @Rai_Azlan

BharatGami Bharat Gami  RT @OptaJim 13 – 13 of the last 14 games played at Colombo have been won by the side batting first. Gauntlet. #CWC2011

41st over:

At the end of the 41st over, Sri Lanka need 96 to win from 54 balls with the score at 182/5.

At the start of Abdur Rehman’s eighth over, Sri Lanka need more than 10 runs an over to win.

40th over:

Sri Lanka need 100 to win  from 60 deliveries.

Afridi bowls his 8th over. 4 runs from the over.

39th over:

Sri Lanka require 104 more runs to win from 66 balls.

Pakistan call for a review decision on Mathews. Umpire’s decision of not-out not reversed. The ball did not nick the bat as the keeper had thought.

Abdur Rehman to bowl the 39th over.

Tweets congratulating Afridi on his 300 ODI wickets:

MOHAMMED_umar MOHAMMED Umar Khan LALA Wins. 300 Wickets. Whattay LEGEND. #cwc2011

shareek_hy yazar shareek Boom Boom in action.. RT @EnnaDinawanna Congrats Afridi for taking 300 ODI wickets #CWC2011 #Enna

nimraarshad Nimra Arshad Oh thank God! 300 for Lala! :D #cwc2011

MasuudQazi Masuud Qazi 300! Take a bow, legend. TAKE A BOW, YOU LEGEND! 300 MOTHERUCKIN’ ODI WICKETS. Go crazy, folks! #Afridi

38th over:

Angelo Mathews is in to bat.

Sri Lanka require another 109 runs to win with 72 balls remaining and five wickets in hand.

OUT! Afridi gets the important wicket of Sangakkara. Ahmed Shehzad at mid-on catches it safely. Afridi’s 300th wicket in one-day internationals.

Umar Gul shows commitment in the field, diving full-length to save a definite boundary.

Afridi calls for a review on an lbw not-out decision on Sangakkara. Decision not reversed. Not out. The ball pitched outside the leg stump.

37th over:

Sri Lanka are 167/4.

No ball on the fifth delivery. Free hit for Sri Lanka.

Good fielding by Asad Shafiq on the off side off Rehman fourth delivery.

Twitterers are both happy and unhappy that Chamara was dropped.

ayeshaesque Ayesha – عائشہ  It is those missed chances that can cost a match. #CWC2011#PakCricket

onecricketfan Cricket Fan  Dropped catch! If we get a streaker this Sri Lanka v Pakistan game has had everything… #cwc2011 #cricket

crazykesh Keshan Sanjaya  Pakistan doesn’t need Chamara’s wicket they know if Chamara goes their chances are minimum #CWC2011 #enna

MalhotraSaurabh Saurabh Malhotra

Smart of Abdul Rehman to drop Chamara Silva and delay the entry of Thisira Perera and Angelo Mathews. Well done! #cwc2011

36th over:

Sri Lanka at 159/4 require 120 runs with 14 overs remaining

SIX. Sangakkara smashes the first six of the innings. A six over third man, hitting it with the top edge of the bat.

A sitter is dropped by Abdur Rehman on the leg side off Umar Gul’s. Chamara Silva has another chance after not being able to middle the ball.

Tweeps are unhappy at Akmal missing the stumping chance on twitter. It was the second time today.

gulmeenay Gule Sethi  For the love of God! DIE AKMAL. #PakCricket #FTW #CWC2011

grangergabblog Minal

How clumsy are you #Kamran ???? These instances make us wanna believe there is something fishy going on!!! #cwc2011

waris_shah Waris Shah  Akmal u errrrr #CWC2011

35th over:

Sri Lanka are 149/4.

FOUR by Sangakkara off the last ball.

Sangakkara misstumped. KAmran Akmal missed the ball. Rehan had spotted Sangakkara coming down the pitch and bowled it wide.

Ball hit over the top of the offside field by Sangakkar after giving himself a bit of room but filedl at the boundary.

Sangakkara tries to hit a boundary, but is not able to find a gap. The ball was not grounded and it looked like the fileder might just catch it.

Abdur Rehman comes in to bowl.

Twitter: Sri Lankans seem unhappy with Chamara Silva

thegutterflower gutterflower Can someone please tell Chamara Silva he’s not playing in a test match? SOMEONE. ANYONE. #cwc2011

kau_shik Kaushik Ahmed Reza Dear Chamara Silva, every ball you face costs every inch away from your victory #CWC2011 #SLvsPAK

Mandaardk Mandar Kelkar RT @cricketicc: This is the first time since #cwc1992 that Sri Lanka and Pakistan are playing each other in a #cwc game #cwc2011

rararana Rana Malook Sangakarra knows something I don’t!! They must have 6 sehwags and afridis coming in to blast them to victory :-s #cwc2011 #cricket

faisaljamkhan FJK ☜ ✔☺ More Khan’s In cricket the More Awesome it is #cwc2011 #Afridi11

34th over:

Sri Lanka are 140/4

Pakistan are taking the batting powerplay (maximum 3 fielders outside the 30-yard box).

Here is some twitter buzz:

twtsbot Twter cricketicc: Afridi is just two wickets away from 300 now #cwc2011: cricketicc: Afridi is just two wickets away f… http://bit.ly/hCqvRu

theturningforce Torque GREENS are all turned-on! May we win this one :) #pakcricket#cwc2011

33rd over

Sri Lanka need 143 runs to win with 17 overs and six wickets  remaining. Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva are batting.

Mohammad Hafeez’s over results in 5 runs.

Match resumes after a drinks break.

32nd over

Sri Lanka are 130/4.

Pakistan are keeping it tight with three runs from Umar Gul’s fifth over. Sri Lanka need over 8 runs an over to win.

Good fielding by Ahmed Shahzad on the off side.

31st over

Sri Lanka are 128/4. They require another 150 runs with six wickets and 19 overs remaining.

30th over

Umar Gul bowls to Sangakkara and Silva. The Lankan wear looks of despair in the pavilion. SL are 119/4 and need 159.

29th over

Rehman bowls to Sangakkara and Silva, Sri Lanka are 116/4.

28th over

Afridi bowls to Sangakkara and Silva. Sri Lanka are 116/4 and need 163 to win off 135 balls.

27th over

Rehman bowls to Sangakkara and Silva and gets him out! LBW given by umpire, Sri Lanka are 111/4. Decision reviewed and umpire reverses original, Silva not out. “Try again, Rehman,” says Ramiz Raja

26th over

Afridi bowls to Sangakkara and Silva, Sri Lanka are 110/4 and need 168 to win. Here’s the Twitter buzz:

anandan22 Anandan Pillai  #Srilanka have displayed worst batting – Dilshan, Jayawardene, Samaraweera all getting out in worst manner #CWC2011

Rai_Azlan Rai M. Azlan Shahid  that was a nice bowl by #Rehman #PakCricket #cwc2011

gypsybrook Sarah Ahmad  Any time is a good time for a wicket…when your teams bowling :-P#cwc2011 #cricketworldcup

nikhilkothari27 Nikhil Kothari  First major upset of the #CWC2011 expected today….pakistan set to beat the lankans :)

24th over

Rehman bowls the over, 109/4 and Lanka need 169 to win.

23rd over

Akhtar bowls to Chamara Silva and Sangakkara, SL makes 104/4 wickets and need 174 to win. Tribune reporter Fawad Hussain tells us the home crowd in Colombo has simmered down after the fall of four wickets but are still hopeful that their team will win.

22nd over

Afridi bowls to Samaraweera and Sangakkara. And Kamran Akmal stumps Samaraweera out! Sri Lanka are 96/4 and need 182 to win. This is magical!

21st over

Akhtar bowls Jayawardene out! A beautiful delivery that ripped through the stumps and now Sri Lanka are 96/3. Good going, Akhtar! Samaraweera comes to the crease, SL need 182 to win.

20th over

Akhtar bowls to Sangakkara and danger man Jayawadene. Sri Lanka are 95/2 and need 183 runs to win. Run rate is 4.67.

19th over

Afridi take the ball, lets hope he brings in some of the wicket-taking magic from the previous match. He takes a wicket! Dilshan bowled out on 41 runs and Sri Lanka are 88/2. This game is getting exciting, go Afridi, go greens!

18th over

Hafeez bowls the over, Lanka are 86/1 and need 192 runs to win. Sangakkara and Dilshan at the crease

17th over

Razzaq bowls the over, Sangakkara comes to the crease and Sri Lanka are 82/1 with 196 runs to win

16th over

Tharanga caught out by a jubilant Afridi, bowled by spinner Hafeez. Bring it on boys! Sri Lanka are 77/1 and need 201 runs to win.

15th over

Razzaq bowls the over, Sri Lanka are 72/o and need 200 to win. Take a wicket guys!!!

14th over

Hafeez bowls the over, Tharanga hits the ball for a four and Sri Lanka’s score climbs to 68 for no loss. Lanka needs 210 to win

13th over

Umar Gul bowls the over, and Tharanga whacks the first delivery for four. Sri Lanka make their 50 and need 226 runs to win. Dilshan hits another four and Gul’s frustration mounts. No ball called on next delivery, free hit in place. Free hit stays as balls is another wide which goes to the boundary for four. Sri Lanka are 64/0 and need 214 runs to win. This is not looking good for Pakistan, and Jayawardene isn’t even here yet!

12th over

Mohammed Hafeez bowls this over, Sri Lanka need 230 runs to win and are at 48/0 as the last ball of the over clears the boundary for four.

11th over

Sri Lanka need 237 to win,  Gul bowls and Lanka are 41 for no loss.

10th over

Akhtar bowls, skipper Afridi gives him a last minute pep talk. Dilshan clears the ball for a four, Sri Lanka are 35/0  and need 243 runs to win.

Ninth over

Umar Gul bowls the over, Sri Lanka need 249 runs to win and are at 29/0

“It’s time for Pakistan to change gears and take a wicket,” says commentator Ramiz Raja. My feelings exactly! Go get ‘em greens.

Eighth over

Akhtar bowls to Tharanga and Dilshan, 27/0 at the end of the over

Seventh over

Akhtar bowls again and Sri Lanka needs 252 runs more to win. Their score is 27/0

Sixth over

Razzaq bowls and Dilshan hits two boundaries on two deliveries. Sri Lanka are 24/0

Fifth over

Akhtar bowls, Sri Lanka are 16/0  and need 263 runs to win.

Fourth over

Bowled by Razzaq. Tharanga hits another four, Sri Lanka are 14/0 and need 264 to win

Third over

Akhtar bowls the over, Tharanga scores first four of the innings. Sri Lanka 7/0

Second over

Maiden over bowled by Razzaq, Dilshan on strike.

First over

Batsmen Dilshan and Tharanga open for Sri Lanka while Shoaib Akhtar is bowling with three slips in place, 2/0

I think Junaid should share the new ball with Akhtar – provided the experienced campaigner is fit to play another match given the recent news about him and seeing him bowl just five overs.

50th over

Razzaq caught out on the last ball. First innings ends, Pakistan are 277/7

Misbah hits a four, Pakistan 276/6

Perera bowls the last over. Razzaq comes to bat, Pakistan’s run rate is stuck on 5.45, 268/6

49th over

Mathews bowls this over. Afridi caught out by Dilshan on 16 runs. 267/6

48th over

Perera bowls this over and Misbah clears the first ball for a four! Pakistan 249/5. Afridi hits two fours as well, score climbs to 260/5.

Twitter buzz:

Zeeshan_Ahmed Syed Zeeshan Ahmed  Great death bowling, don’t blame Afridi #CWC2011

PeculiarBlend .  HAHAHAHAHAHAH What is up with boom boom dude?? 5 ball 5 runs D’oh #CWC2011 give strike to other batter man.

msarosh M.Sarosh Ebrahim  #Pakistan loosing it all in this batting Powerplay Murali & Kulasekara bowled well #Cwc2011

jammabbas Muhammad Abbas  Lala…Hit fours plzzz…no whopping.. #Pakistan #CWC2011

47th over

Kulusakera bowls this over. The Lankans are bowling very well and making it difficult for Misbah/Afridi to hit any boundaries. Pakistan 245/5.  Afridi whacks the last ball of the over for a four. Relief! Keep those coming.

46th over

Muralitharan bowls his final over! Umar Akmal caught out by Dilshan. What a tragedy! Afridi needs to show his magic. Pakistan 240/5. Boom Boom Afridi comes to bat.

45th over

Kulasekara  bowling the over, Pakistan still not playing the big shots. Wake up, boys! This is not a Test match and you need a much bigger score against the Lankans. 233/4

44rd over

Pakistan take the powerplay! Time for some magic, 226/4 with Muralitharan bowling (and looking very competitive). Ahmed Shehzad has been called into run for Misbah.

43rd over

Mathews takes the ball. Pakistan have eight overs left and many boundaries left to score. 219/4

42nd over

Kulusekara bowls this over. Pakistan take singles (should be whacking boundaries). 216/4

Sports editor for The Express Tribune Faras Ghani writes “It’s hard to believe that Umar is still just 21 and relatively inexperienced but with so much responsibility and hopes resting on him.” Come on, Umar!

41st over

Umar Akmal comes to bat.

Younus Khan caught out by Jayawardene, Herath bowling. Sad that he didn’t make a century, we were hoping for it. Anyway, Afridi or Umar Akmal expected to come out now. This should be fun. Pakistan are 212/4

Herath bowls the over. Congratulations to Misbah on his half century! Pakistan are 212/3

40th over

Deadly spinner Muralitharan bowls this over. Good going on the partnership guys! 100 off 113 deliveries, Pakistan are 206/3

39th over

Pakistan to make 200! Well done, guys! Let’s make it rain sixes and fours.

Ball handed over to spinner Herath. Quick running between the wickets Misbah and Younus! Time to clear the ball over the boundary, the Lankans are fielding well.

38th over

Praise coming for Younus from the commentary box as commentator says “Every team needs a player like Younus Khan to anchor the innings.” Pakistan are 193/3.

Medium fast bowler Mathews takes the ball this over.

Twitter update:

nausherrahman Nausher Rahman  Sri Lanka looking strangely flat in their bowling. Pakistan could bat them out of the match here. #CWC2011

oa204 osama athar  are we gonna see a successful run chase? surely misbah has to play a bit fast #pakistan #cwc2011

siDDki Basit SiDiKi  remember we will not get granted 46 run of extras…. come on hit sum boundaries now #Pakistan #cwc2011

37th over

Herath bowls. Pakistan’s run rate is 4.92 at 185/3

36th over

Perera bowls. “No need to panic, plenty of wickets in hand,” says commentator Wasim Akram. Pakistan are 176/3.

35th over

Ball change. Herath bowls to Younus. Younus makes his 50 off 56 balls. Pakistan are 172/3

Commentators Ramiz Raja and Wasim Akram exchange cricket stories in the commentary box.

34th over

Perera bowls this over, Younus Khan clears the ball over the boundary for four. Pakistan are 169/3

33rd over

Pakistan are 164/3, still not boundaries.

32nd over

Spinner Muralitharan given the bowl once again. Pakistan are playing steadily with 155/3 and 4.97 runs per over.

Blogging for The Express Tribune, David Dwyer says:

Where do I start with Younus Khan? His flexibility is incredible. His aerobic endurance, while pounding out the distance on the hills of Bhurban, was extraordinary and his core strength is excellent.

Funnily enough, he’s a guy who has stayed away from injuries because maintaining fitness has always been important to him. His 313 against Sri Lanka in Karachi’s 35-plus heat and high humidity was a testament to his fitness.

31st over

Congrats on the 50 partnership to Younus and Misbah. Pakistan are 155/3 with Herath bowling.

On a side note, Chacha Cricket’s enthusiasm is commendable. He just danced in the face of a camera for a good 30 seconds.

30th over

Muralitharan is given the ball again. Commentators say Pakistan will go to at least 260 runs.

29th over

Mathews bowls again, finally a four! Good going Younus Khan. Pakistan are 150/3.

On a separate note, have a look at The Express Tribune’s World Cup competition if you want to win a free mug.

28th over

Batsmen Misbah and Younus playing a slow game, Pakistan are 142/3. Bring on the boundaries!

27th over

Pakistan are 132/3 at the end of the over. Misbah will be back on strike.

The spinners are given a rest as Mathews comes to bowl. Pakistan are 129/3 with a low run rate at 4.90

26th over

Muralitharan is given the ball. Pakistan’s run rate has fallen to 4.93, Misbah and Younus are playing a very slow game. Wake up guys! 126/3

25th over

Herath takes the ball and Pakistan are 123/3. Twitterati still not over Akmal’s dismissal:

jammabbas Muhammad Abbas  Kamran Akmal “ran down the track like a bull that had seen a red rag. #pakistan #cwc2011

Nadir_Hassan Nadir Hassan  Kamran Akmal’s wicketkeeping part of the brain just took over his batting part of the brain. #cwc2011

24th over

Muralitharan bowls gain, Pakistan are 117/3.

23rd over

Pakistan are 113/3 Muralitharan bowling.

22nd over

Tribune reporter Fawad Hussain is at the stadium and tells us that stringent security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident. Hundreds of security officials including army personel have been deployed to ensure security during the match.

“We cannot take any risk and we have to ensure the match will be held in a befitting manner,’ says a security official.

Misbahul Haq comes to bat. Muralitharan bowls, run is slowing down 5.06.

21st over

Sri Lankan fans celebrate as Kamran Akmal is stumped by Sangakkara, delivery bowled Herath. Pakistan are 105/3. Twitterati react:

Dhrubo_masum Dhrubo masum  Really :)) RT @aminulahsan: I always have my heart in my mouth while watcing Pakistan bat. :( #cwc2011

zahid_jadoo Jadoo  Akmal throws his wicket! #Pakistan #Srilanka #icc #PkCricket#ICCWC2011 #CWC2011 #icc #odi #cricket #PakCric

parishna Pari herath strikes! #Pak 3 down now! and the dangerous akmal gone!#CWC2011 #Cricket go #SL!

20th over

Muralitharan bowls and Pakistan are 105/2.

18th over

Pakistan have made 100! Good going boys, the run rate is 5.30 and it’s time to pick it up.

Herath bowls and Pakistan are 93/2 on the second delivery. Akmal hits a four! Well played.

17th over

Pakistan are 89/2, Younus goes on strike

16th over

Match resumes after break. K Akmal on strike while Kulasekara bowls, Pakistan are 81/2.

15th over

Break for drinks, here’s a Pak vs Sla match from back in the day. Go, Team Green!

Younus Khan comes to the crease, Mathews is bowling. Pakistan are 79/2 with a 5.51 run rate.

14th over

What a mess up! Hafeez run out, delivery by Muralitharan. Pakistan 76/2. Ramiz Raja says “Shahid Afridi will not be a happy man in the dressing room.”

13th over

Pakistan are 76/1, Mathews bowling. Run rate is 5.92

Here’s the Twitter buzz:

seventhsamurai Vijay Venkataramanan  This Sri Lanka – Pakistan match is gonna b an absolute belter! might just see a good chase aftr a long time. #cwc2011 #cwc #wc2011#cricket

bagrat15 P. Bharathram  Sri Lankan fielding right on top. Saved atleast 6-8 runs thus far.#SLvsPAK #CWC2011 #enna

ShirazHassan Shiraz Hassan  For the first time ever #Pakistan is trending for good reasons ! Hail to Hafeez #cwc2011

gripusa Usman Bashir  the basic lesson professor is calling when we talk about running between the wickets #hafeez #CWC2011

12th over

Commentator Ramiz Raja says batsmen’s body language is confident. Pakistan are 73/1 at the end of the over.

Akmal scores a boundary, delivery by Kulasekara. Pakistan are 70/1 with a 6.18 run rate.

11th over

Mathews bowls to Akmal, appeal for LBW unsuccessful on fourth delivery. Pakistan 65/1. Here’s a funny tweet:

emokidlynn Lynn Landman  I don’t think Kamran Akmal is wearing nearly enough sunscreen.#CWC2011

10th over

Hafeez scores yet another four on the third delivery bowled by Perera. Pakistan are 63/1. Keep the boundaries coming, Hafeez! Hafeez has scored 27 runs in 23 balls.

Ninth over

Pakistan are 59/1, Hafeez goes on strike.

Here’s an interesting bit of news in the Times of India:

That Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi cancelled a scheduled pre-match press conference at 12.30 pm and joined his team for Friday prayers instead was illustrative of the fact that his boys know they are in for a huge scrap against hosts Sri Lanka.

Akmal whacks the ball for a four on the third delivery. Pakistan are 51/1

Eighth over

Pakistan 47/1 at the end of the over. Run rate is 6.00

Akmal clears the boundary for a four on the third delivery. Pakistan are 46/1, Perera bowling.

Run rate is 6.15, A=K Akmal on strike.

Seventh over

Paakistan are 38/1, Hafeez on strike. What a beautiful six! Bowler Kulasekara is not going to be pleased.

Sixth over

Ahmed Shehzad out! Caught behind by Sangakkara bowled by Perera. Pakistan are 28/1, Kamran Akmal comes to the crease.

Fifth over

Hafeez clears the ball over the boundary for a four. Pakistan are 28/0. Hafeez and Shehzad are playing well, keep at it guys!

Fourth over

Pakistan are 20/0

Here are some tweets:

akshay_khanna Akshay Khanna  by cwcpics #Malinga not playing but nevertheless mouth watering contest between #Pakistan & #SriLanka at #cwc2011. Should be a cracker..#cricket #FB

sougatabanerjee Sougata Banerjee @RahulBose1 A Pak victory at the #Premadasa #CWC2011

imrana001 imrana waheed #Pak win this one #cwc2011

zahid_jadoo Jadoo  Will Hafeez take charge in this over? #Pakistan #Srilanka #icc#PkCricket #ICCWC2011 #CWC2011 #icc #odi #cricket #odi#PakCric

Third over

Maiden over, Pakistan are 13/0.

Reporter for The Express Tribune Fawad Hussain is at the R Premadasa stadium and says the “real World Cup fun can be tasted today”. He says the crowd is energetic and vibrant crowd and the 30, 000 seats are full . The stadium is expected to be jam-packed in the next few hours as thousands of fans are waiting outside for their turn to get inside the stadium.

Sri Lanka, being the host are getting all out support but there is some support for Pakistan as well from fans who have arrived all the way from back home.

Second over

Pakistan are 13/0, Shehzad faces wide delivery that goes for four.

First over

Shehzad and Hafeez are opening for Pakistan. Shehzad has scored the first boundary of the match. Pakistan are 5 for no loss.

Pakistan squad:

Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal†, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi*, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar

Sri Lanka squad:

WU Tharanga, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene, TT Samaraweera, LPC Silva, AD Mathews, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, HMRKB Herath, M Muralitharan

Pakistan win the toss and decide to bat first! Good decision by skipper Shahid Afridi, considering batting first against Kenya proved to be very successful. Sri Lanka have decided not to play deadly bowler Malinga, and Pakistan have breathed a sigh of relief. Saeed Ajmal has again been excluded from the Pakistan squad.

The Hindu says stats are in Pakistan’s favour:

History is stacked against Sri Lanka as it takes on Pakistan on Saturday in its first World Cup match against that country in 19 years. Pakistan has won each one of the six encounters when the teams have met in a World Cup match and the last game was in Perth in 1992.

Cricinfo.com writes:

Past records might suggest Pakistan have an edge – they have beaten Sri Lanka in each of their six encounters in the World Cups and have won their previous five games at the R Premadasa – but that will count for little.

Sri Lanka’s advantage is that most of their players have had a taste of how the new track will fare during the domestic limited-over tournament held in January.

Times of India says the Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis does not think Muralitharan will be a big threat to the team.

“In the past if Muralitharan had plans for us, we have played really well against him in this country.

“I don’t think we should worry about him that much, he is not 28 anymore,” said Waqar of the 38-year-old off-spinner, who has 521 wickets in 342 one-day internationals — a world record.

“It is not going to be easy for him any more. We are prepared not only for him but the entire team because we know it’s an important match for us and we need to keep the momentum going.”

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday sent a summary to Governor of Punjab Latif Khosa for the dissolution of the Punjab cabinet.

The decision to dissolve the provincial cabinet was taken in a meeting chaired by the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leadership.

Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah personally delivered the summary to the Governor House.

Goverenor Khosa is constitutionally bound to approve the summary within 14 days, after which it will be approved by default.

‘PPP will prefer to sit on opposition benches’

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani today said that instead of indulging in horse trading, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will prefer to sit on the opposition benches in Punjab Assembly.

Talking to the media in Muridke, Gilani said the PPP believes in fair politics.

He said the government was trying its best to resolve the issues with the PML-N.

Gilani claimed that in the past three years, the government’s progress showed that it worked sincerely for the cause of development in all fields adding that it was the duty of all political parties to come forward and help the government for the betterment of the masses.

‘Culture of traditional family politics must change’

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar today said that his party is determined to change the culture of traditional family politics in Punjab.

Addressing MQM workers in Multan, Sattar said that the party’s convention in Lahore on April 10 will be a decisive blow for elements critical of the MQM.

He said that the elite class was enjoying privileges while the poor suffer.

The MQM leader said that his party wants to change this culture, adding that it was determined to bring about a revolution for the sake of the under-privileged.

Sattar also called for the formation of more provinces out of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Saturday placed under suspension 17 officials of Pakistan Customs Service under Section 5(1) of the (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973.

A notification issued by FBR here said that in exercise of the powers conferred under section 5(1) of the (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973, the authority had placed seventeen officials of Pakistan Customs Service under suspension with immediate effect and until further orders.

They were suspended for the alleged mismanagement of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Nato containers.

The Afghan and Italian consulates in Karachi were accused last month of being involved in issuing fake no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the clearance of Isaf cargo destined for Afghanistan, which were eventually pilfered in Pakistan.

A list was furnished to the Supreme Court on the orders of a three-member bench of the apex court  last month of officials who had served in the FBR between January 1, 2007, and December 24, 2010. The names include former FBR and CBR chairmen, secretaries of trade and finance, DGs Customs Intelligence and National Logistics Cell and customs officials.

Among the suspended officials, six are Deputy Collecters, 12 are appraisers and 5 are prinipal appraisers.

1. Jamshed Ali Talpur
2. Habib Ahmad
3. Mona Iffat Baloch
4. Abdul Waheed Marwat
5. Sami ul Haq
6. Yousaf Haidar Orakzai
7. Tariq Aziz
8. Abdul Aziz Umani
9. Ghulam Muhammad
10. Sikandar Ali Junejo
11. Bashir Ahmad Sehar
12. Abbas Khan
13. Anjum Barakzai
14. Agha Muhammad Aslam
15. Sardar Amin Farooqi
16. Niamatullah Alvi
17. SM Wasim Qazmi

The Inter-Services Intelligences (ISI) has demanded that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) share a list of all its contractors working in Pakistan, the New York Times reported.

Speaking in light of the Rayond Davis case, An official of the ISI told the New York Times the agency believed there were more contractors like Davis working behind the agency’s back.

The unnamed official said that Pakistan was ready to put the Raymond Davis episode in the past and that both agencies needed to continue working together.

“Treat us as allies, not as satellites,” said the official of the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI. “Respect, equality and trust are needed.”

The ISI wants a list of the contractors working for the CIA in roles that have not been defined to Pakistan.

The official also said that some officers in the ISI were not willing to have Davis released, while others wanted to use the case as a bargaining chip to withdraw a civil lawsuit filed in Brooklyn against the ISI Chief.

The behavior of people like Mr. Davis is deeply embarrassing to the ISI because it makes the agency “look like fools” in the eyes of the anti-American Pakistani public, the ISI official said.

Cooperation between the American and Pakistani spy agencies has been scaled back because of the case.

A senior Pakistani intelligence official in Islamabad said the case of Raymond Davis had strained but not broken relations between the CIA and the ISI because the ISI didn’t know about Davis before he shot and killed two Pakistanis on Jan 27 in Lahore.

RAWALPINDI: The relatives of the five people who were run over by a car in the Bahria Town drag race forgave three men who were allegedly responsible for the fatal accident.

The deceased’s families appeared before the Additional District and Secession (ADS) Judge Chaudhry Aurangzeb on Friday and informed the court that they had forgiven Chief Executive Bahria Town Ali Riaz, Chief Security Officer Bahria Town Colonel (retired) Rafaqat, and Waleed Aman, who was a co-organiser of the event.

They informed the court that they had no objection if the court released them.

Those killed in the incident were Suhail Khan, his 12-year-old son Danial Suhail; Babar Ali, his son Asfand; and Mohsin Jawaid, son of Col (Retd) Jawaid.

The car’s driver, Majid Naeem, was arrested earlier. However, the chief organiser of the event, Sheikh Atif, remains at large.

The five spectators were killed on December 5, 2010, when Majid Naeem lost control of his car, which skidded off the road and ran them over. The race was organised in Phase VIII, Barhia Town. The relatives of the deceased lodged an FIR with the Civil Line police against Sheikh Atif, Majid Naeem, Waleed Aman, Colonel(retd) Rafaqat, and Ali Riaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) refused to record Moonis Elahi’s statement in connection to his alleged involvement in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) fraud case for technical reasons, allowing Elahi the opportunity to accuse the investigators of baseless defamation.

According to the FIA, the court adjudicating the case had ordered Elahi to first apply for an extension in his bail before the FIA would be allowed to record his statement. Elahi has not yet appeared before the court and hence the FIA refused to record his statement.

The agency was ordered by the court not to arrest Elahi. The FIA had asked Elahi to appear before the investigating officers on Saturday, February 26, at 3 pm. Elahi visited the FIA offices in Lahore on Friday, at a time when the team investigating his case was not present on the premises.

Elahi used the opportunity to rally his political supporters, many of whom had accompanied him to the FIA office. “I am here,” said Elahi. “I came to the FIA office immediately on my return but the FIA, despite repeated demands, did not produce the FIR and proofs of the baseless accusations. Political players behind the false case will soon be exposed,” he added.

Elahi has been accused of using political influence to force the state-owned NICL to buy land at highly inflated valuations. The FIA also alleges that some of the land sold to the NICL was not even owned by Elahi and his associates.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: The government has granted diplomatic immunity to 2,570 foreigners working in diplomatic missions of 78 countries, including 851 of the United States, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly on Friday.

The state minister said that the government had also given diplomatic immunity to 170 Britons, 168 Saudis and 117 Indian officials, the minister said.

In a written reply filed in response to a question of Sajid Ahmed, Khar said that 1,919 of foreigners were diplomats, while 651 were non-diplomats.

Giving a breakdown of US diplomats, she said 554 of them were diplomats and 297 non-diplomats. Similarly, among UK nationals, there were 167 diplomats and three others, adding that of the total number of Saudi nationals given diplomatic immunity, 134 were diplomats. As many as 117 Indian nationals, including 26 diplomats, were also enjoying immunity.

Giving further details, she said that 54 of 56 German nationals enjoying diplomatic immunity were diplomats, 57 of 60 Afghans, 34 of 61 Italians, 25 of 28 Turks, 55 of 64 Iranians, 98 Russians, 87 Chinese and 60 nationals of France were diplomats with a similar status.

There were 52 US nationals working in Karachi consulate and 58 in the one in Peshawar were allowed full diplomatic immunity, she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani reiterated the government’s resolve to continue its policy of dialogue, development and deterrence and said it was ready to hold dialogue with all militants who were ready to voluntarily lay down their arms.

“We are ready to hold talks with them. We are ready to bring them into mainstream,” he said while responding to points raised by Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao during a debate on the law and order situation in the National Assembly.

He said that the offer was open for militants who were ready to surrender before Political Agents, the administrative heads of tribal agencies.

The prime minister, however, ruled out the possibility of holding any dialogue with elements working for foreign powers. He said: “Militants have to give up insurgency,” he demanded.

Highlighting the human cost of its war on terrorism, he said that Pakistan had suffered more casualties than Nato, adding that the world community must realise this fact.

He said a stable Afghanistan was in the greater interests of Pakistan which, he added, would also pave the way for repatriation of Afghan refugees.

Referring to the domestic law and order situation, the prime minister said that the situation could not get better unless terrorism was rooted out, adding that improvement in national economy was also linked with the security situation. He assured the lower house of parliament that Pakistan would not compromise on the issue.

Earlier, Sherpao suggested the government to devise a new strategy in what he observed a changed scenario after the arrest of US national in connection with the killing of two Pakistanis in Lahore and increasing American pressure on the government to release him.

Berating the government for allowing persons who had crushed another Pakistani under the wheels of the consulate’s vehicle flee the country, Sherpao said: “They (have even) suspended dialogue with Pakistan on strategic issues because of the same issue, which is reflective of their mindset,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.