CNewsworld's Blog

PML-N unofficially wins by-polls in PP-160

GEO 436 LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Saif ul Malook Khokhar has won the by-elections for PP-160, according to unofficial results. Malook secured 27,145 votes while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's Zaheer Abbas Khokhar could only manage to gain 16,438 votes. Jamaat Islami candidate Jahangir Hussian Bara got 12,673 votes. Earlier, the constituency turned into a battlefield as activists of PML-N and PTI had a brawl with one another. The police also charged the supporters of Zaheer Khokhar with baton for staging protest in protest against rigging. Also, two government employees were caught red handed working as polling agents for PML-N candidate – Saif-ul-Maluk Khokhar during the by-polls on Thursday. The provincial constituency went vacant after resignation of Rana Mubasher Iqbal, who won in 2008 by securing 42,056 votes. There are 187,842 votes in the constituency and turnover in 2008 remained 41 percent. In these by-elections the turnover remained around 29 percent.

CG torch to get colorful welcome at Wagah border

GEO 436 KARACHI: The torch of Commonwealth Games (CG), symbolizing the ardent flame of the participating players and athletes' spirit, will pass along Pakistan's Wagah border Friday morning. The people of Pakistan and India will accord warm welcome to the torch by holding a long chain of handkerchiefs inscribed with messages of peace and also witness the inaugural ceremony of the games. We can all be part of this poignant event filled with colors and musical enchantment to add a new chapter for bringing the hearts closer. Prominent celebrities and artists including Zahir, Samina Abbas, Jassi Singh, Jawad Ahmed and Najam Shiraz will also be present to add thrill to the occasion. The colorful ceremony will begin at 7:30 and can be watched live on www.amankiasha.com/live and also on Geo News' website www.geo.tv.

India thrash Sri Lanka to win Asia Cup title

GEO 436 DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, June 24, 2010 (AFP) – India’’s pace battery led by Ashish Nehra demolished Sri Lanka to help their team win the Asia Cup with a comfortable 81-run win on Thursday. Dinesh Karthik top-scored with 66 as India made 268-6 after electing to bat in the day-night final, before the defending champions and hosts were shot out for 187. India, who last won the region’’s premier one-day prize in 1994, denied Sri Lanka a hat-trick of titles following their victories in 2004 and 2008. Nehra claimed four wickets, including two in one over, as Sri Lanka were reduced to 51-5 by the 16th over before being bundled out in the 45th over. India never looked back after hard-hitting opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed off the fifth delivery, holing out to mid-on off seamer Praveen Kumar. Kumar, who made use of windy conditions to swing the ball, bowled an unchanged opening spell of nine overs in which he conceded just 29 runs. Fellow seamer Zaheer Khan bowled Upul Tharanga, before Nehra wrecked havoc by having Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews caught behind in the 14th over. Nehra also removed Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara for 17, but Thilina Kandamby (31) and Chamara Kapugedara (55 not out) delayed the end. Nehra’’s 4-40 was supported by Zaheer’’s 2-36 and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’’s 2-29. Karthik, who replaced the injured Virender Sehwag, hit nine boundaries to lead India’’s batting at the Rangiri stadium in Dambulla. Karthik put on 62 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (28) and 46 for the third with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (38). Rohit Sharma propped up with the middle-order with a fluent 41, before Jadeja boosted the score with an unbeaten 25. Kandamby, who had failed to take a wicket with his leg-spin in 32 previous one-dayers, stunned India’’s top order with the dismissals of Karthik and Dhoni. Sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga finished with 2-57, while Nuwan Kulasekara claimed 1-44.

Gold slips to Rs 33, 771 per 10 grams

GEO 436 KARACHI: Gold slipped by Rs 129 to Rs 33, 771 per 10 grams in local bullion market on Thursday, as its international price dipped to $ 1,236 an ounce, market sources said. A leading bullion dealer said that tola (11.664 grams) price also declined to Rs 39, 400. Silver dropped to Rs 484.28 per 10 grams.

Gold slips to Rs 33, 771 per 10 grams

Indian Home Minister due tomorrow

GEO 436 ISLAMABAD: Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram will arrive here tomorrow (Friday) to attend South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Saarc Home Ministers” conference June 26. Chidambaram, who is visiting Pakistan primarily for SAARC Interior Minister’’s Conference on Saturday, is expected to have bilateral meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik soon after his arrival in Islamabad.

India wants to usher new era of ties with Pakistan

GEO 436 ISLAMABAD: Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the focus of both India and Pakistan in the recent negotiations remained on the restoration of composite Indo-Pak dialogues, Geo News reported Thursday. Addressing a joint press conference along with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, she said her country wanted to begin a new chapter of relations in this regard. The Indian official said the dialogues were held in constructive and conducive environment where viewpoints of both parties were given weight. She said the thought was given to restoring the trust between the two countries, so that path could be paved for the comprehensive dialogues, adding India talked to Pakistan on restoration of bilateral ties and bridging the gap between the two countries. "The issue relating terrorism was of course one of the principal topic during the talks. And both the countries will have to work in sync to eliminate the menace,' she stressed. Speaking on the occasion, Salman said Pakistan visit by the Indian Foreign Secretary to work out for the meeting of Foreign Ministers is important.

Thursday, June 24, 2010