Saeed Ajmal finds form in drawn tour game

he offspinner Saeed Ajmal picked up four wickets and the Pakistanis' top order had another hit out before the three-tour game ended in a draw. On Saturday the tourists face Australia in the Boxing Day Test and they will head to Melbourne with some confidence after a strong hit-out against Tasmania in Hobart.

Tasmania were finished off for 193 before lunch on the third day, with Ajmal taking 4 for 84 in his 24 overs. Ajmal is competing with Danish Kaneria, who did not play, as the No. 1 spinner in the squad and will be content with his performance, which included the wickets of Jason Krejza (23) and Brendan Drew (14).

Abdur Rauf, Mohammad Aamer and Imran Farhat all earned two wickets each, with Farhat's collection coming when he dismissed the tailenders Brett Geeves (33) and Tim Macdonald (5). The visitors earned a lead of 244 and moved to 4 for 141 before calling the game off early.

Farhat retired on 40 and Faisal Iqbal, who was promoted to open, got 32 and Umar Akmal was 55 off 50 balls when he was run out. Misbah-ul-Haq (1) and Fawad Alam (2) both failed, but they got starts in the first innings.

Ajmal believed his doosra would be extremely handy as Pakistan look to clinch their first Test series in Australia. ''In these times, Test scoring is very fast,'' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''Ten years ago, Tests were slow and easy all-day batting for about 210 runs. But these days it's over 300 runs in a day. So if you have any variety [as a bowler] you can survive. If do not have variety you cannot survive in international cricket.

''Depends on the wicket, but the doosra is very difficult. If they [the pitches] are turning, it should be difficult for Australia against me.''

Among Australian spinners, Ajmal said Shane Warne had lots of variety, but the current crop were yet to impress. ''But these days the Australian spinners are just offspinners and it's not like they are taking five or six wickets every match, maybe two,'' Ajmal said.

N.Korea says it may open fire near disputed sea border

SEOUL: North Korea Monday warned South Korean warships to steer clear of the disputed Yellow Sea border, saying its coastal artillery would target the area as part of firing exercises.

The North's navy command, in a statement carried by official media, said the move came in response to provocations from the South.

Tensions have remained high since a Yellow Sea naval clash on November 10 left a North Korean patrol boat in flames.

"In response to the South's reckless military provocations, our navy has declared waters near our maritime border in the Yellow Sea as the firing range of artillery units along our coasts and on our islands at normal times," the statement said.

Kasab denies shooting Karkare

n the special court hearing the Mumbai attacks case here, the lone gunman Ajmal Kasab who was caught alive from one of the attacks site denied all allegations against him on Monday.

Today he said he had not killed slain police officers Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and Kamte. He said he was not present at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus or the Cama Hospital- two places where he is alleged to have fired shots at the police and general public.

When the judge asked how his hand was injured in what was retailiatory firing by police, Kasab said there was no such firing and that police had stabbed his arm deliberately. He also denied stealing Skoda from near Valmiki Chowk.

Kasab's retraction came during the recording of his statement under Sec 313 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani, a vital procedure that is undertaken after the prosecution completes examination of all its witnesses.

Kasab had earlier claimed that he was dragged into the 26/11 case because he was a Pakistani national and resembled Abu Ali, one of the terrorists killed by the security forces during the anti-terror operations of Nov 26-29, 2008.

Explosion in suburb of Peshawar

PESHAWAR: An explosion occurred at Shamto Road in Armar area in suburb of Peshawar on Monday. However, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

According to bomb disposal unit, unknown miscreants planted a time bomb near Khailo bridge at Shamto Road that went off with a bang. More than one kilogram of explosive used in the blast, they added.

Australia name squad for series against Pakistan

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP) has announced a 13-man squad for three Test matches series against Pakistan starting at the MCG in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said: "Phillip Hughes has been added to a squad of 13 players for the Test match against Pakistan. While Ricky Ponting is expected to be fit for the Test, the NSP has picked a squad of 13 players for the match so there is adequate cover in the event that Ricky Ponting does not recover as quickly as is hoped.

"Peter Siddle has recovered from injury and returns to the Australian squad,” Hilditch said.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Clint McKay, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.

Kamran Khan calls govt for bolstering media

llegations leveled by the government, Geo’s senior analyst Kamran Khan said this has not happened for the first time, adding whether there is a civilian government or a military rule, such accusations appear at a time when the government comes under pressure over its own failures and actions.

While the government should encourage the journalists, he said.

Talking to GEO News, he said when the government’s actions are investigated and correct facts are brought before the public, the media is blamed for this. The one, who tries to bring the real facts before public with sincere efforts and professionalism, faces such pressure.

The work we did while performing our professional duties proved correct and the policy of issuing threats and allegations always failed and will continue to fail in the future also.

People know very well why these threats are issued to the journalists, he said, adding that the media faces such pressure from the government and private organizations also.

“On one hand, Pakistan is confronting the worst corruption, while on the other hand armed forces are engaged in fighting the terrorists,” he said.

The Pakistani media, he said, has played a decisive role in the war against terrorism. Instead of giving threats and allegations, the media should be encouraged by the government for raising voice against the corruption, he said.

No assurance on demanding resignation from President: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Tuesday said his party cannot give any assurances for not demanding a resignation from President Asif Ali Zardari and that a decision of PML-N in this regard is linked to the implementation on the Supreme Court’s verdict.

He said this while talking to reporters here at Punjab House Islamabad.

“Muslim League-N has not given any assurances for demanding resignation from the President Zardari and the statement of the Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar is incorrect,” Chaudhry Nishar clarified.

He said Farhuttullah Babar is the spokesman of PPP, he (Farhatullah Babar) should refrain from representing PML-N.

The Opposition Leader said PPP is maintaining double standards – on one hand it is issuing statements in favour of implementing the SC verdict and on the other hand threats are being issued to use the ‘Sindh Card’.

“On one hand Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani talks sweet while on the other hand the outspoken Salman Taseer has been let loose,” he said, adding, “the matters of corruption should not be fudged with provincial discrimination.”

He said if the talks of cases being politically motivated are taken as correct, then a fact remains that courts of Switzerland, Spain and other foreign

PPP’s outcries meant to scare judiciary: Sanaullah

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that Pakistan People’s Party, instead of removing 3-4 of its ministers, is creating all the commotion in a bid to scare the judiciary, political parties and people.

He said this while addressing a press conference at the Department of Public Affairs here Tuesday.

Rana Sanaullah said if the PPP continued to follow this practice it would end up bankrupt in terms of popularity.

He called the Governor Punjab Salman Taseer ‘agent’ of former president Pervez Musharraf. “He (Salman Taseer) has held the entire PPP Punjab’s leadership hostage … he is misleading his party and creating differences with PML-N.”

He said if PPP decides to make a commitment not to indulge in corruption in future only then the people might forgive it. But, if it continued with its current way of creating turmoil then the media and independent judiciary will never forgive it.

French chiefs of defence staff meets Gen. Tariq

RAWALPINDI: General Jean-Louis Georgelin, French chief of defence staff, met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Tariq Majeed here on Tuesday.

According to ISPR, during the meeting views were exchanged on overall security and promotion of military cooperation between Pakistan and France besides matters of mutual interest.

CJ warns loan defaulters

ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has issued a final warning to the persons who got their loans written off during the last 38 years.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in his remarks criticized the government on failure of recovery from defaulters and said court is ready to take on any resistance.

A three-member bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry heard Rs.54 billion written off loans case. The State Bank submitted the list of Rs.193 billion loans written off from 1997 to date. The court has directed central bank to prepare a list along with other banks of loans written off during 1971 till date.

Chief justice in his remarks said only one chance will be given to defaulters to return the loans and action will be taken against them if they will fail to do so. He said SC is ready to take the blame if anyone raises the question why the court is doing this. The country is facing uncertainty, financial irregularities and corruption, he added. The SC has adjourned the hearing till February 2.