ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday directed the Establishment Division to verify the educational degrees and certificates of all the federal government employees. The Prime Minister also desired that the Federal Public Service Commission should also ensure authenticity of the degrees/certificates of all the candidates appearing for selection in the government service.

The problem with most middle-class political movements is that they know whom they dont want, but rarely do they know what they want. This is the case as well in what is going on in Egypt and in other Arab countries currently in the grip of uprisings. Rest assured all these are largely middle-class driven uprisings, emerging from what is called the blocked elite i.e. an educated middle-class that feels it has what it takes to become a power-elite but its path is being blocked by a corrupt, unfair and autocratic regime. Thus whenever this blocked elite does manage to stir up a movement, it is almost always focused on a single personality, and not necessarily the system as such. The rallying cry in the troubled Arab nations is against despotic individuals, but nobody has a clue what is to follow. The protesters, largely coming from middle and lower-middle-class strata of society have so far failed to produce their own organisations that can systematically suggest a political and econom...

Karachi: Burma Mohammedan recorded a formidable 3-0 win over Orangi Mohammedan in Karachi Football League here Friday at Aga Khan Gymkhana ground. Mohammed Jaffer, Saifullah and Noor Alam scored one goal each for Burma Mohammedan. With the win, Burma Mohammedan secured sixth position with 12 points from seven outing. Orangi Mohammedan played all of their nine matches without pulling a single triumph in the tournament. Meanwhile, the match played at Baloch Mujahid Stadium between Al-Shabaz Korangi and Salaar Welfare Centre ended in a 3-3 draw. Shah Alam, Jahangir Sattar and Akhtar Rasheed were the scorers for Al-Shabaz Korangi. While, Abdul Haleem scored two goals and M. Asif scored one goal for Salaar Welfare Centre. Al-Shabaz occupies top place in the ranking table with 15 points from eight games, while Salaar Welfare Centre earned eight points from seven games. ENDS-PPI

I feel for their families because they are key players. This is a low for Pakistan cricket. -Photo by Reuters KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram admitted that the lengthy bans handed out to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir for corruption on Saturday represented a new low for the besieged sport in the country. I feel sad for all three of these kids, two just over 20 and one just 18, Wasim told AFP. I feel for their families because they are key players. This is a low for Pakistan cricket. The International Cricket Councils anti-corruption tribunal on Saturday banned Butt for 10 years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and teenager Amir for five. The bans were handed after an investigation into allegations made by the News of the World that the players deliberately bowled no-balls in the Lords Test against England in August. Wasim said he hopes the punishments will serve as a lesson. Not only for cricketers in Pakistan, but also for the players ...

-Photo by AFP MOHAMMAD AMIR (Left arm fast bowler) Age: 18 Tests: 14; Balls: 2,867; Runs: 1,484; Wickets: 51; Best bowling: 6/84; Average: 29.09; 5wkt innings: 3 ODIs: 15; Balls: 789; Runs: 600; Wickets: 25; Best bowling: 4/28; Average: 24.00 T20s: 18; Balls: 390; Runs: 457; Wickets: 23; Best bowling: 3/23; Average: 19.86 - Aamer shot to fame in his first year as an international when his exploits led to comparisons with legendary Pakistan left-arm paceman Wasim Akram. The teenager played a key role in guiding Pakistan to the World Twenty20 title in 2009 the first time he was included in Pakistans senior team. His 5-79 at Melbourne in 2009 and then seven wickets in Pakistans sensational first Test win over Australia in 15 years at Leeds in July last year earned praise from none other than former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. Aamer is an amazing talent, Khan said. I have watched him closely and I can say that he is streets ahead of Wasim when he was 18. Wasim, who spotted Aamer i...

-Photo by AFP SALMAN BUTT (Left-handed opening batsman) Age: 26 Tests: 33; Runs: 1,889; Highest score: 122; Average: 30.46; 100s: 3; 50s: 10 ODIs: 78; Runs: 2,725; Highest score: 136; Average: 36.82; 100s: 8; 50s: 14 T20s: 24; Runs: 595; Highest score: 74; Average: 28.33; 50s: 3 - Butt was handed the captaincy after Shahid Afridi quit following a one-sided defeat against Australia at Lords in July last year. Pakistan defeated Australia in the next match by four wickets at Leeds their first win over the Aussies for 15 years and hopes of a new era were high. Emerging from the streets of Lahore, Salman represented Pakistan at all levels, leading Pakistan to the Asian Under-15 title in 1999 and then impressing in the Junior World Cup in 2002. His brilliant match-winning hundred in a one-day match against India at Calcutta in late 2004 set his career on the right track and although he flitted in and out of the squad, his talent was never in doubt. Under former coach Bob Woolmer, Salm...

A Foreign Office Spokesman was responding to a question about the progress on the investigation into the Samjhota Express blasts that killed 68 persons, including 42 Pakistani nationals. File Photo ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday termed it unfortunate that India has been unable to complete investigations into the Samjhota Express blasts, despite passage of four years. A Foreign Office Spokesman was responding to a question about the progress on the investigation into the Samjhota Express blasts that killed 68 persons, including 42 Pakistani nationals. India seems to be lacking courage to unearth culpability of Hindu extremists and their links with some Indian Army personnel, the spokesman said. He said it was unfortunate that India, which uses terrorism as propaganda against Pakistan, has still not been able to complete its investigations. He said despite the passage of four years India somewhat conveniently asserts that its investigations are incomplete. We do not know how many more ...