Pakistan rejects allegations on selling of arms for use in Syria.

ISLAMABAD: Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has rejected allegations of selling of arms for use in Syria or any change in Pakistan's policy towards conflict in that country under Saudi pressure.

Making a statement in the National Assembly on Tuesday‚ he said Pakistan is a responsible state and sells arms only through legal mechanism and by abiding all relevant national and international regulations.

Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan's policy towards Syria is based on principles. It supports sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and cessation of hostilities by all sides.

Responding to points raised by Syed Naveed Qamar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi‚ Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ch Barjees Tahir said peaceful polling was held on Saturday for by-election in LA-22 constituency of Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

He said allegations of rigging are baseless. He said on Monday people blocked a road in Baloch area and when police tried to clear the road‚ exchange of fire took place in which several people were injured from both side. Later‚ one injured person expired. He said judicial inquiry has already been ordered and action would be taken against those found guilty. Four bills were introduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The Bills are Constitution Amendment Bill 2014‚ Criminal Law Amendment Bill‚ Control of Narcotics Substances Amendment Bill 2014 and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad (Amendment) Bill.

The House held debate on the foreign policy on a motion moved by Shahida Rehmani.

The mover and other members who spoke on the motion emphasized that Pakistan should seek friendly relations with all countries especially the regional countries. The House will now meet today (Wednesday) at 10:30 am.

World Cup - Pakistan claim Colombo win.

Pakistan secured an 11-run victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo to top World Cup Group A after the hosts failed to chase down 278 runs batting second.

Shahid Afridi's side posted 277 for seven after the all-rounder won the toss and elected to bat first, as Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq both recorded half-centuries.

Sri Lanka raced to 76 without loss, but faltered badly in their middle order as Afridi claimed four scalps for 34 runs to reach 300 one-day international wickets and their run-chase petered out on 266 for nine.

Pakistan stalwarts Khan and Misbah shared a century partnership as the pair came together after Pakistan were reduced to 105 for three and they provided a solid foundation as Pakistan seized the supremacy between the two former champions.

Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal were left wondering which of them was out after a mix-up left them both comically stranded at the same end.

Kamran Akmal scampered to the striker's end for a quick single when Hafeez swept the ball behind the wicket facing off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in the 13th over. Hafeez did not move an inch, even after Sri Lanka wicketkeeper and skipper Kumar Sangakkara's initial wayward throw flew well over Muralitharan. Angelo Mathews successfully returned it to the bowler for the simplest of run outs.

Once Younus and Misbah came together, they employed a safety-first strategy and nudged the ball through gaps to pick up singles and twos instead of trying to score off boundaries against tight bowling and sharp fielding by the Sri Lankans.

Younus struck four fours in his knock of 72 before he top edged a sweep off Herath to Mahela Jayawardene at short fine leg. Misbah kept a cool head and played a solid innings to remain unbeaten 83 with six fours and batting with a runner.

Upal Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan assumed a strong early position for their side with 76 on the board for no loss, but a steady stream of dismissals followed as Sri Lanka lost their way.

Captain Sangakkara led the way with a controlled and composed 49, but Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera departed for a combined total of three runs as Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar seized the initiative for Pakistan.

Chamara Silva compiled 57 runs, but at such a pedestrian rate the number six did little to inspire or inject urgency into his side's run-chase. Indeed, it took Silva a full 67 deliveries to muster his first boundary.

Another sloppy display in the field threatened to derail Pakistan's challenge, with two missed stumpings by Kamran Akmal, a string of dropped catches and 29 extras undermining the bowlers' efforts.

Kulasekara racked up a swift 24 as Sri Lanka were left to require an improbable 18 runs off the final over, but Umar Gul ensured that Pakistan held on to claim an 11-run win.

The victory moves Pakistan above Australia with the two sides having both recorded two successive wins as the top teams jostle for position with the quarter-finals at the back of their minds.

Jubilant Pakistan hope to down hosts today.

COLOMBO: In Hambantota last Wednesday, it was child’s play for Pakistan as they toyed with minnows Kenya on their way to a 205-run triumph.

But fun time is over for the Greenshirts. They will have to raise their game to a higher level as they look to conquer Sri Lanka, one of the serious contenders for World Cup 2011.

In a way, it’s not really a do-or-die match for either team. Even the side that loses the game on Saturday (today) would most likely be progressing to the quarter-finals.

But then it’s also quite an important game as its outcome could impact the quarter-final line-up, as Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach aptly pointed out here on Friday.

“It’s an important game of course. In this tournament, for momentum it is important and to get to the quarter-finals and in which stage, position you get there, in that sense it’s very important. If you want to go ahead, you have to build momentum,” said Waqar.

Waqar admitted that Sri Lanka will be a tough team to beat. “Sri Lanka in their home ground is very good. It’s very difficult to beat them because the conditions and weather here help them. But the way we’ve played and trained and with the momentum, I am hopeful we can beat them.”

Sri Lanka have a much-touted bowling attack with spin ace Muttiah Muralitharan being one of their most potent weapons.

But Waqar is confident that his batsmen have the ability to tackle Murali.

“We’ve played really well against him in this country. I don’t think we should worry about him that much, he is not 28 anymore. It is not going to be easy for him anymore. We’re prepared not only for him but the entire team,” he stressed.

Both teams began their World Cup campaigns with a bang with Sri Lanka thrashing Canada by 210 runs and Pakistan recording a 205-run win over Kenya. Both know it’s going to be much more serious business as they clash here at the R Premadasa Stadium in front of over 30,000 spectators.

Pakistan have won all their six World Cup games against Sri Lanka but Kumar Sangakkara is confident that his team has the firepower to reverse the tide. “I wasn’t really aware of that history so yeah maybe it’s time to change that now, hopefully tomorrow if we can do our basics better than Pakistan I think we have a pretty good chance,” the Sri Lankan captain told reporters here on Friday.

But Sangakkara admitted that his team is wary of the dangerous Pakistanis. “I think they’ve got a team all 11 players are capable of doing that they’ve got a great batting line-up well balanced — good pace and good spin, so against them you just got to be mentally strong and absorb as much pressure as you can and keep competing with them because you can make them crack under pressure at certain situation so you got to be in the game until those situations come up,” said the seasoned batsman.

Sangakkara believes that both teams are almost evenly-matched in the bowling department. “I think both the sides have good pace and good spin. I think that’s been a vast improvement for us actually to have good fast bowlers in our squad, we have guys who bowl over 140, we

have guys who could swing and seam as well so I think it’s going to be a battle between two teams who are looking forward to a very keen contest and whichever side can do whatever their discipline is better than the other will probably come out on top.”

Teams:

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Matthews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath.

ISI asks CIA to unmask covert opeatives in Pak.

LONDON: Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has asked its American counterpart Central Intelligence Agency CIA) to unmask all its covert operatives in Pakistan after arrest of Aaron DeHaven in Peshawar, a British paper said in its report.

Pakistani authorities arrested US national Aaron DeHaven in Peshawar on Friday, over visa expiry. Peshawar police arrested DeHaven, saying that his visa had expired.

DeHaven runs a company named Catalyst Services which provides security to foreigners and its office is in Islamabad.

A case has been registered against DeHaven for living illegally in Pakistan. He will be produced before Peshawar court tody.

US embassy spokeswoman Courtney Beale said DeHaven was not a direct employee of the US government but added that details could not be confirmed until a consular officer had met him.

Davis’ family arrives in Pakistan.

LAHORE: Raymond Davis’ alleged family reached Pakistan between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Dawn News reported.

The family that arrived at Allama Iqbal International Airport included a woman, two men and three children. They were escorted out of the airport under high security arrangements and were taken to an unidentified location.

The vehicles that were carrying Davis’ alleged family had false number plates, Dawn News reported.

The name of one of the men and the woman, listed in their travelling documents, were as Randy Field and Beth Page, claimed sources.

According to sources, two individuals with similar names had previously been deployed in Pakistan, as USAID employees.

The US Embassy and Pakistani officials have not yet accepted nor rejected any claims.

Misbah rides on higher confidence.

It is difficult to believe both that, at 36, Misbah-ul-Haq hasn't played a World Cup before and that he is playing this one at all. Such was the force of his last axing, from all three formats no less, that until circumstances thrust him into the Test captaincy last October, his career was all but over.

Yet as the premier domestic batsman in Pakistan in the 2000s, many felt he had been treated unfairly in not being given at least one opportunity between 2003 and 2007; with Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan in the middle order during that period, however, it was difficult to see how he would get in.

But, like the best actors and boxers, he does comebacks exceedingly well. In 2007, after a four-year exile, he nearly won Pakistan a world title. In this latest return he has been even more remarkable; 65 against Kenya in Hambantota was his ninth international fifty in 12 innings across Tests and ODIs.

The player, he said during Pakistan's practice at the Premadasa in Colombo, does not change. "I've always said it is important for any player to get some self-belief and confidence back. You start scoring runs, the team starts believing in you and people's expectations of you increase and that gives you self-belief. And as your confidence builds your performance gets better. The player actually remains the same before and after, but with confidence higher, you perform better."

Had poker been an official pursuit in Pakistan, his face would've won him titles, so expecting him to express regret, or anger, or even blink twice, at being asked about missing past World Cups is futile. He is happy, he says, just to be playing at all. "I think whatever cricket you do play you should think about that. I am enjoying it at the moment, I have always enjoyed playing it, domestically or internationally and I only want to do what I can for the side."

Misbah's return has fitted in seamlessly with a gradual upswing in Pakistan's batting results over the last year or so, an under-scrutinised aspect of their performances. In 20 ODIs in Sri Lanka, England, the UAE and New Zealand, Pakistan have made 250 or more 13 times. Each member of the top six has made contributions at various stages, so that the problem has been one of plenty, of pacing an innings, of arranging the order so that momentum is not squandered and stability always present.

Misbah has come, as he did on Wednesday, mostly at five and has batted often in tandem with Younis Khan. Though the poor start then highlighted the calm the pair brings, against a better attack more oomph might be needed through the middle, an Umar Akmal breaking up the pair. Some in Pakistan, Imran Khan no less, want Misbah even higher in the order.

"The situation as it is, with the way the batting order is, all our batsmen have scored runs," Misbah said. "Kamran [Akmal] comes in at three and he has opened, Younis at four who has mostly played at three, the openers did well scoring hundreds in New Zealand, so we're not really feeling that our batting is missing something. We've got guys scoring runs and performing. Our batting order is fine and it is a good combination at the moment. Whatever the team needs, will happen. None of the players have any issues with where they are batting and what number."

Few attacks can match Sri Lanka's for potency or variety so Saturday, in what is likely to be an electric atmosphere, will be a comprehensive test of Pakistan. "Sri Lanka always, but especially in the last 2-3 years they have been very consistent, playing good cricket and in home conditions they are a very tough side," Misbah said.

"To get a good first win in this kind of tournament, with most of your batsmen scoring runs and then convincingly get them out, the morale gets high and players get into touch. It is a very vital match for both sides."

Pakistan’s blind cricketers thrash Australia in T20 series.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s blind cricket team completed a comprehensive whitewash over Australia when they won the third Twenty20 match by 89 runs on Thursday.

Pakistan, who led the series 2-0, decided to bat first in the third T20 match at Adelaide’s Park25 and posted a mammoth 217 runs for the loss of four wickets.

Muhammad Jameel starred for Pakistan with the bat, as he scored 104 runs off 65 while Anees Javed scored an unbeaten 50 off 25 balls.

Raymond Moxly, David Gauci and David Saxberg took a wicket each for the hosts.

In reply to the huge total, Australia were unable to score at a brisk rate and finished their innings at 128-2 in their 20 overs. Lindsay Heaven was the main contributor with 49 runs and Mathew Horsey scored 24 runs.

Meanwhile Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Mudassar took a wicket each for Pakistan.

Jameel was declared man of the match for his swashbuckling knock.

Pakistan wrapped up the Twenty20 series 3-0 and will play their first one-day international against the hosts on February at the same venue.

Pakistan stumble to 2-0 defeat against Malaysia.

First-half goals from Malaysia’s Kecik and Mohammad Irfan were enough to see off Pakistan in the first leg of their 2012 Olympics Asian Qualifier preliminary round at the Shah Alam Stadium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The match started off at a brisk pace and even saw Pakistan’s Ansar Abbas sent off in the dying moment of the first-half.

Malaysia pressed early on and were rewarded and could have added to their two-goal-tally had it not been for a surprising change in goal (Yousuf Butt swapped for Muhammad Omer) by Pakistan that eventually proved beneficial for the visitors.

The return leg of the Pakistan-Malaysia tie will be played in Lahore on March 9.

Kenya sink without trace in massive chase

Kenya again appeared totally out of their depth and posed no challenge to Pakistan at Hambantota, Collins Obuya's death-or-glory 47 being the only highlight for them as Shahid Afridi helped himself to 5 for 16 in a massive 205-run win, Pakistan's biggest win in World Cups and the eighth largest overall.

Four of Pakistan's batsmen cashed in to raise half-centuries and set up a total of 317 for 7 after a brief wobble against the new ball and Kenya made little effort to mount a serious challenge in their pursuit, rather looking to a lay a solid platform in the hope of batting out their full quota of overs. That ultimately proved a futile effort, too, although their innings did at least last until the 34th over - longer than their entire match against New Zealand three days ago.

Kenya's slide began in earnest when Afridi brought himself on and, in his third over, tempted Steve Tikolo down the pitch only for the ball to rush straight on to rattle the stumps. Kenya were 73 for 3 in the 23rd over when Tikolo was dismissed, without any real hope of chasing more than 300 but at least looking steady enough to last the full 50 after the top order had showed at least a little grit. There was no such offering from the middle, however, as the remaining seven wickets fell for just 39 runs in just over ten overs.

Afridi was the chief wrecking ball, quickly ending a bustling innings from Tanmay Mishra and making short work of Jimmy Kamande and Thomas Odoyo as he unfurled a mixed bag of legbreaks, sliders and quicker ones as the ball began to bite and spit off the surface. Amid the carnage, Obuya opened up to smite three enormous sixes but was caught on the boundary attempting a fourth to give Afridi the best figures by a Pakistan bowler in a World Cup, beating Wasim Akram's 5 for 28 against Namibia in Kimberley at the 2003 tournament. Once he went, the end was mercifully quick in coming.

Ultimately they flattered to deceive, but against expectations Kenya had actually bossed the opening exchanges of the match, Thomas Odoyo and Elijah Otieno showing admirable control with the new ball. Otieno provided the first breakthrough when Hafeez tried to force a length delivery into the leg side but hit it uppishly and Seren Waters, at straight midwicket, leapt to his left and managed to cling onto a juggled catch mere inches from the turf. In the very next over Shehzad, who had scratched around for 17 balls that yielded just a single run, chipped a leading edge to give Jimmy Kamande a simple catch at mid-off and Pakistan were in some serious strife.

The pressure soon began to lift, however, Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan quickly settling and Nehemiah Odhiambo suffering a shambolic start to his spell as 16 runs came from a first over that included three no-balls. Kamran proved the more fluent of the two early in his innings but Younis provided sensible support and, as the spinners came on, plenty of ones and twos were taken to keep the score ticking over.

Kamran eased past 50, from 62 balls, and looked set for plenty more before he charged down the wicket to left-arm spinner Shem Ngoche and was easily stumped. Kenya were buzzing once more with the breakthrough, but despite giving a far a far better account of themselves than they had against New Zealand at Chennai they lacked the necessary firepower to land the killer blow.

Misbah-ul-Haq opened his World Cup account with a massive six off Tikolo and rushed into the 20s at better than a-run-a-ball to complement the more circumspect Younis, who showed the value of steady accumulation before he was dismissed lbw for exactly 50 despite an optimistic review.

Misbah and Umar Akmal were barely troubled as they set about compiling a 118 runs for the fifth wicket, their partnership exploding into life as the Batting Powerplay was called for in the 44th over immediately after Misbah had reached fifty on his World Cup debut. Umar thrashed 20 off a weary Otieno's seventh over and soon sprinted to the fourth fifty of the innings as the score passed 250 in the 46th over. With Pakistan now swinging from the hip at just about everything, Kenya picked up regular wickets but threatened to unravel completely in the face of an all-out assault.

Odoyo removed Umar and Afridi from consecutive deliveries to find himself on a hat-trick in the 49th over but speared the next ball acres down the leg side and repeated the blunder later in the same over as battle fatigue set in. Extras, with 46, very nearly became the fifth half-century maker of the innings as Kenya had the ignominious honour of equalling the record for most wides in a one-day international, and there was a visible sense of relief as they finally completed their stint in the field.

Sri Lanka eye return to Pakistan.

HAMBANTOTA Pakistan's cricketing isolation could end in October if Sri Lanka, who were targeted in a deadly terror attack in Lahore two years ago, agree to tour the troubled country.

Sri Lankan officials said Wednesday they were in talks with the International Cricket Council's Pakistan Task Team (PTT) to explore the possibilities.

We are still discussing the option with the ICC and with all the other board members, said Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Somachandra de Silva.

There are still some security concerns in Pakistan but if things improve, and Pakistan is a brotherly nation, we can consider it - all depends on the ICC's clearance, De Silva said.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Pakistan in October this year under the Future Tests Programme.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, the governments of both countries are already in talks to hold the series in Pakistan.

The attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus on March 9, 2009, killed eight people and injured seven Sri Lankan players as well as their assistant coach, leading to the suspension of all international cricket in Pakistan.

Barely a month later, the ICC stripped Pakistan of its share of World Cup matches, forcing the team to play all their Group A matches in Sri Lanka, co-hosts with India and Bangladesh.

The suspension also meant Pakistan have been forced to play their home series in the United Arab Emirates, England and New Zealand for the last two years.

The ICC formed the Pakistan Task Team (PTT) with England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke to find ways of reviving international cricket in Pakistan and to help improve the disciplinary situation.

Even before the Lahore attacks, Pakistan was a no-go area for international teams because of security fears sparked in the wake of the 911 attacks on the United States which sparked a war against terror in and around the country.

Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998, forcing Pakistan to play their home series in Sri Lanka and Sharjah in 2002 and in England last year.

Pakistan was also stripped of the right to host the 2008 Champions Trophy after Australia, South Africa and England refused to tour, forcing the ICC to move the tournament to South Africa, held in 2009.

Meanwhile, De Silva said he hoped Hambantota will become a major cricket venue in Sri Lanka.

It was only Colombo for the last two decades, but with Hambantota coming up for the World Cup matches we have brought cricket to the poor people and we will develop this, said the 68-year-old former Sri Lanka international.

De Silva said the stadium - which became one-day cricket's 177th venue when Sri Lanka played Canada on Sunday - will also host a Test against Australia.

We have decided to stage a Test in Hambantota against Australia when they tour in July this year and also one or two one-dayers in the same series. There is an option of staging World Twenty20 matches next year, said De Silva.

Sri Lanka will host the fourth edition of World Twenty20 next year.

President Zardari calls on Emperor of Japan.

TOKYO: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday called on the Emperor of Japan, Akihito at his palace and discussed bilateral relations and Pakistan's fight against terrorism and militancy.

The Emperor recalled his visit to Pakistan in early 60s as Crown Prince and said that he fondly remembered that visit. The president felicitated the Emperor's son and Crown Prince Naruhito on his birthday (today) and invited him to visit Pakistan.

Earlier, the Emperor came out of his palace and warmly received the President.

This was President Zardari's second meeting with the Emperor Akihito. In April, 2009, President Asif Ali Zardari met him when he visited Japan leading Pakistan delegation at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting.

Can Kenya challenge Pakistan?

It's not the exciting Umar Akmal, the marauding Shahid Afridi, the blaster Abdul Razzaq, or the volatile Shoaib Akthar who captures the essence of this Pakistan team but the back-from-the-dead Misbah-ul-Haq. He was never supposed to be here, back playing international cricket. He was plagued by form issues, was not growing any younger, and just when you thought he was history, Pakistan made him the Test captain. They said he will prove a bad investment, that he will roll up and surrender but what did he do? He kept scoring fifties, also sparkled in the ODIs against New Zealand and nearly became the ODI captain. In many ways, the Pakistan team is like him. Spot-fixing, aging stars, cocky youngsters and loss of good bowlers to controversies should have rendered them impotent, but they are the dark horse in this tournament.

Pakistan showed in New Zealand that they like to play the game the 80's way: Start steady, build during the middle overs and explode in the end. They have Misbah and Younis Khan to build, the Akmal brothers and the Afridi-Razzaq combination to finish in style but in Ahmed Shehzad they have unearthed someone who can provide them with a fiery start. The loss of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir might hurt their Test team but Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib and the canny spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal have enough skill in them to keep their ODI bandwagon up and running in style.

For their part, Kenya are trying to breathe after the demolition under the hands of New Zealand. For what it's worth, it could be the best thing that happened to them. Now they would know there is no point in trying to play a safe game and meander towards defeat. They were nervous in the first game, never dared to express themselves, and sunk without a trace. Even in that performance, there was evidence that they possess a few batsmen with some flair. Collins Obuya flirted, albeit briefly, with flamboyance, Steve Tikolo will be itching to script a memorable swan song, Alex Obanda is an attacking batsman and the young Seren Waters seems to possess the skill required to belong at this level. They beat Netherlands in a friendly in Dubai and lost a close game in a warm-up encounter in this tournament. You feel they are a much better team than the outfit that turned up against New Zealand. Can they shed their big-stage.?

Malaysian police detain Pakistanis over kidnap.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said on Tuesday they had foiled a kidnapping gang with the arrest of four Pakistani nationals who seized their own countrymen for ransom from the victims’ relatives back home.

City police chief Zulkifli Abdullah told AFP that the four, aged between 22 and 35, were arrested on Saturday, following a tip-off.

“As a result of our monitoring, we saw four Pakistani nationals acting suspiciously and followed them to a flat downtown where we found three other Pakistanis locked in the home and who were bound and gagged,” he said.

“One of the kidnappers tried to escape and jumped from the third floor of the flats, ending up breaking his hand,” Zulkifli added.

He said initial investigations showed the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of 620,000 ringgit (204,317 dollars) for the release of the three men.

“The group’s modus operandi was to kidnap their countrymen who came to Malaysia to trade and do business and then seek a ransom from their relatives back in Pakistan,” he added.

He said the four would be charged in court shortly after police complete their investigations into the men, who are believed to also be linked to another seven kidnappings of Pakistani nationals in the country.

Rahat Fateh Ali arrested in India

NEW DELHI: Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik on Sunday telephoned High Commissioner of Pakistan to New Delhi Shahid Malik to inquire details about the detention of famous Pakistani singer, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

According to a statement issued here on Sunday, the minister said that he was examining the matter. He has also asked Pakistani High Commissioner to India to monitor the matter thoroughly.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who was arrested at Delhi airport on Sunday for possessing undeclared currency of 100,000 US dollars will be presented before court on Monday.

His manager Chitresh Srivastava has also been arrested.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan arrived here on a flight from Karachi and was intercepted by personnel from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Khan has several hit numbers to his credit and had won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this year for 'Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji' from the movie 'Ishqiya'.

Rahat, 37, who has crooned several Bollywood chartbusters, had flown from Karachi to New Delhi. He is the nephew of Pakistani singing legend Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Raymond Davis does not enjoy blanket immunity: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Regarding the issue of Raymond Davis, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said the US national does not enjoy blanket immunity, DawnNews reported.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after his meeting with US Senator John Kerry, Qureshi said the foreign office had briefed him on January 31 that Davis did not enjoy the blanket immunity that the US was claiming for him.

Qureshi said that his stance on the Davis issue was principled and that he would stand by his position.

He said that for him Pakistan’s sovereignty and dignity were most important and that if need be he would apprise the people of Pakistan of more facts.

Whether I have a ministry or not, I will always remain with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Qureshi told reporters.

He further said that the United States should realise the sacrifices that Pakistan has made in the war against terror.

He said both Pakistan and the United States needed each other’s cooperation.