Nawaz Sharif says No consensus on 20th amendment without independent EC

Chief of his own faction Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has categorically said that the government could not evolved consensus on 20th amendment unless it meets his party’s demand of independent election commission. He was talking to media in Bahawalpur on Wednesday. While replying to a query, former prime minister said that he supported formation of Bahawalpur province as it had nothing to do with ethnicity. When asked to comment on Prime Minister Gilani's remarks that Bahawalpur province was not viable, Nawaz said Gilani could not stick to his remarks. He said that general election should be held as earlier as it could be because it was in the interest of the government.

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Pakistan talks with Nato, Afghan forces

This is the first meeting between the three forces after the deadly US airstrikes on a Salala checkpost that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on Nov 26 last year.—File Photo

RAWALPINDI: Representatives of the Pakistan Army held a meeting with the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Afghan National Army at a border coordination centre in Torkham on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.
The Pakistan Army was represented by Director General Military Operations Major General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed.
According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting was held in an effort to improve coordination between the three forces.
“The meeting is part of a tripartite engagement to discuss and improve various coordination measures on Pak-Afghan border,” said the statement.
This is the first meeting between the three forces after the deadly US airstrikes on a Salala checkpost that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on Nov 26 last year.

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7,000 kg whale shark docks in Karachi Fish Harbour

In what is believed to be one of the biggest catch in the high seas, Pakistani fishermen have caught a giant whale shark - about 36 foot long and weighing over 7,000 kg.
The fishermen bought the giant fish to the Karachi Fish Harbour and claimed to have found it dead in the open sea. Though some experts believed that the shark might have been killed after it got entangled in a net, The Dawn daily reported.


Pic/AFP
The whale shark was taken out of the channel with the help of two cranes amid rapturous applause by hundreds of onlookers.
"I have bought the fish, which usually has no significant commercial value, with the help of my friends just to appreciate the efforts of the fishermen who deserve some reward after spending an entire day in the open sea," Haji Qasim, who said he bought the fish for Rs 2 lakh, was quoted as saying by the daily.
The authorities, he said, had allowed him to keep the fish at the harbour for at least three days for public viewing. "Then I will sell the meat to the people running poultry meal business," he said.
The shark was spotted floating unconscious in the sea ten days ago, around 90 miles away from shore, another daily reported.
The Daily Mail of London reported that the largest confirmed whale shark was 41ft long but it is thought they can grow to considerably greater lengths. The shark is found in tropical waters and lives for around 70 years. They feed mainly on plankton, microscopic plants and sometimes small fish.
The whale shark, a gentle giant of the seas, does not pose a significant danger to humans - and in the past some have even allowed swimmers to hitch a ride on their fins, it reported.

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Andy Murray praises instant impact of new coach Ivan Lendl

 

Andy Murray believes new coach Ivan Lendl has improved his game already.

The British number one appointed Lendl, the winner of eight Grand Slam titles, in December.
Murray reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open before losing a five-set thriller to Novak Djokovic, but says Lendl has made a difference.
"I spent five days with him before the Australian Open and I feel like I improved just in those days," Murray told the BBC.
"I'll go and spend a lot more time with him and work harder, and that's really all that you can do."
World number four Murray has 22 ATP titles to his name but has yet to win a Grand Slam after losing three finals.

Ivan Lendl factfile

• Born March, 1960 in Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Won first professional title in 1980 in Houston
• Reached 19 Grand Slam finals, winning eight
• Won US Open three years in a row from 1985 to 1987
• Won £13.7m in prize money, ranking eighth in all-time men's earners

The Scot could benefit from the experience of Lendl, 51, who lost his first four Grand Slam finals.

But Murray, 24, admitted that he is inspired by Djokovic, who dominated 2011, losing just six matches all year.
"The turnaround was incredible and he was struggling at the end of the year before," Murray said.
"That's the thing. It is small margins of one break or one match and it doesn't have to be in a Slam - it could be any time.
"Sometimes things can just click and you can make big improvements, and I feel like I made a big improvement in Australia."
Murray has played in an era dominated by what many regard as three of the greatest players of all time in Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic.
He added: "Everything that's happened in the past, you would say Federer and Nadal are the greatest players ever and Djokovic, the last year, had probably the greatest year ever.
"This year's a new year; it's irrelevant what's happened in the past.
"I'm not saying I'm going to win 16 Grand Slams, but if I can get a few then you can be remembered in the same breath as those guys - you had those great matches; you won Slams in the same time as them."

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Graeme Swann rubbishes Andy Flower's claim England lost to Pakistan due to taking too long a winter break

Graeme Swann refuses to accept England coach Andy Flower's claim that the whitewash defeat to Pakistan was in large part due to the fact the side arrived in the UAE underprepared after taking an extended two month winter break.

In a spin: Graeme Swann says England's failure against spin rather than complacency or being underprepared cost England against Pakistan  Photo: ACTION IMAGES

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Two Indian ministers resign after being caught watching porn in assembly

Bangalore: Two Karnataka ministers, an Indian state, had to resign after being caught watching porn videos during assembly session, India media reported on Wednesday.

According to reports, television cameras caught two BJP ministers — Lakshman Savadi and CC Patil —watching pornography on their cellphones.

Reports said Savadi holds the cooperation portfolio while Patil is women and child development minister.

The ministers were caught in the act even as the House was in the middle of a heated debate, sparking country-wide furore..

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