Zardari calls PPP Sindh ministers meeting

Staff report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will hold a meeting with ministers of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Sindh at Bilawal House on Wednesday.

The meeting is slated to mull over tense relations between PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and performance of Sindh ministers.

According to sources, bad performance of certain ministers is likely to spur action against them during the meeting.

President Zardari will be briefed about the Local Bodies system in Sindh as well, the sources added.

Meantime, MQM’s Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis, Farooq Sattar, and Federal Minister of Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri today dispatched their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari.

The MQM ministers sent their resignations to President Zardari through fax.

The statement issued here from MQM’s Center Nine Zero, said the party’s reservations still exist, adding, ‘The government neither took MQM into confidence nor did have any consultations with it.’

It should be mentioned here that MQM decided to sever ties with the federal cabinet yesterday night. SAMAA  
source: www.samaa.tv

McCullum rested from last T20 against Pakistan

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's Brendon McCullum will miss Thursday's third and final Twenty20 international against Pakistan, having missed the first two with a back injury, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday. With New Zealand winning both the Twenty20 matches in Auckland and Hamilton, the Christchurch match has been rendered inconsequential, prompting the selectors to provide McCullum further rest ahead of the two-match test series against Pakistan starting on Jan 7, followed by six one-day internationals against the same opponents. "Brendon got through the fitness test well and we are pleased with the progress he has made," selector Glenn Turner said in a statement. "Although the signs are good the selection panel think the sensible approach is to rest Brendon for the final Twenty20 international against Pakistan. "This is in view of the heavy workload Brendon will shoulder in the upcoming test and (one-day) series. We believe the extra rest will be of benefit in the longer term." McCullum sustained the back injury during New Zealand's tour of India in November. AGENCIES source: www.samaa.tv

PM declines to take Swati back into cabinet

Staff report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday declined to take sacked minister Azam Swati into the federal cabinet, saying he is willing to take other ministers from Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F).

According to sources, PM Gilani refused to take again the removed federal minister into the cabinet, saying the minister in question went against the discipline.

In return, Prime Minister offered Maulana Fazlur Rehman that he is geared up to take various other JUI-F ministers into the federal cabinet.

According to sources, the President House has ramped up their efforts to bring Maulana round thanks to the deadlock between PM and Maulana Fazl; hence, a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief is expected soon. SAMAA  
source: www.samaa.tv

Indian troops open unprovoked firing across LoC

Indian troops open unprovoked firing across LoC

Staff Report

SIALKOT: Indian troops opened unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Sialkot at Shakargarh sector on Wednesday morning, SAMAA reported.

There are no immediate reports of casualties in the firing, which continued for an hour.

Around 35 hand grenades and 1100 rounds were fired at Imran Shaheed Post in Sialkot

The cross-border violation ended after Punjab Rangers opened retaliatory fire. SAMAA  
source:  www.samaa.tv

Finger Sized Animals

                             
















































































































































































































































source: streakr.com