Pakistani authorities foil plot to target Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities claimed to have foiled a plot to target Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by busting a terror network planning to launch a suicide attack on his residence in Raiwind on the outskirts of Lahore.

The plot was unearthed by a Joint Investigation Team of police and intelligence officials probing into the abduction of Ali Haider Gilani, son of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was kidnapped during election campaign in May.

Afridi, Umar Akmal back as Pakistan announce squad for West Indies

LAHORE: Pakistan Wednesday axed former captain Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal and opener Imran Farhat for this month's limited-overs series in the West Indies, but dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi was back in the team.

Selectors made four changes in the one-day team which crashed out of last month's eight-nation Champions Trophy in England, losing all three games due to sloppy batting.

Malik managed just 25 runs in three matches, Kamran scored 23 in the same number and Farhat scored four in two. Pakistan failed to cross the 170-mark in any of their games.

Suicide attack the biggest sin in Islam: Fatwa

LAHORE: Ulema of the Sunni Ittehad Council on Saturday declared that suicide bombing is the biggest sin in Islam, Express news reported.

As many as 50 Ulema of the Sunni Ittehad Council in a collective edict declared that killing an innocent is the biggest sin and killing of foreign guest is the worst crime. It was also declared in the edict that attacks on Mosques, hospitals, educational institute, funerals and security forces is not Jihad.

PTI, MQM lawmakers extend support to Musharraf: Aide

LAHORE: Lawmakers belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) approached the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and assured their extensive support for party head Pervez Musharraf — to be extended at the “right time.”

Details of the meeting were disclosed by political advisor and close aide of Musharraf, Chaudhry Sarfraz Anjum Kahlon.

Kahlon said that several senior lawmakers including representatives of PTI and MQM had privately conveyed their dismay over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s stance on Musharraf and had provided assurances of extensive support for Musharraf.

LDA plaza catches fire, 30 people trapped in building

LAHORE - Lahore Development Authority (LDA) plaza on Thursday caught fire.According to details, the fire erupted on the seventh floor of the building. Rescue officials reached the scene and efforts were being made to evacuate people from the building. However, officials said that the rescue efforts were hindered because of the amount of smoke in the building.

LHC disqualifies PML-N’s Zahid Iqbal for holding dual-nationality

LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court disqualified on Tuesday former MNA Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal from contesting the upcoming elections over possession of dual nationality, DawnNews reported.Iqbal was arrested earlier in April, for wrongly stating his dual nationality status while filing his nomination paper from NA-162 Sahiwal-III, and was charged under the Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5,000.

Fake degree: Dasti sentenced to three years in prison

LAHORE: A local court in Muzzafargarh has sentenced former MNA Jamshed Dasti to three years in prison in a fake degree case. Dasti was arrested from outside the courtroom following his sentencing.

District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rehman Niazi announced the verdict. A fine of Rs. 5000 was also imposed on the former lawmaker.

On Wednesday, shortly after the court had adjourned proceedings with the verdict expected to be announced the next day, Dasti told a press conference that he had decided against contesting for the two National Assembly seats as an independent candidate.