Shah Rukh Khan's best friend? Who is this man?

Is entrepreneur Sachiin Joshi, who Shah Rukh Khan considers his lucky mascot

Shah Rukh Khan adds one more to his enourage. While his regular actor buddies accompany him to all the Indian Premier League matches his team the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) play, entrepreneur-turned-actor Sachiin Joshi now joins that exclusive list.

Says a source, "SRK and Sachiin have been great friends for some time now. He was present at all the matches KKR played last year.

But this year, shooting commitments kept him away. When Sachiin ventured into the energy drink market, it was Shah Rukh who helped him launch it. The younger man is making his B-Town acting debut with a thriller titled Aazaan and SRK has been a great support."

A man to know

Says Sachiin, "I know Shah Rukh through common friends. He has been supporting my brand as a friend though we have no official contract with him as brand ambassador. It was generous of him to launch the product. I am fortunate to get an invite from him to attend his KKR matches. He is a great man to know!"

About Azaan

The film stars Sachiin Joshi as an army officer (and informant) who has to go undercover beyond enemy lines to save the country from the threat of biological warfare. The film is being directed by Prashant Chaddha. 

Qureshi lauds MQM’s political policies

KARACHI: Former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described MQM’s political policy of allowing middleclass people to reach parliament as being a landmark achieved, Geo News reported.

Qureshi visited MQM’s Headquarters 90 on Monday and held meeting with Rabita Committee members.

Subsequently, talking to media, he lauded host’s policies; saying that MQM encouraged politics at national level while the politics of race, language and personal gains tore country apart.

“MQM staged a historical and an organized public rally in Lahore, ” Qureshi praised, adding that Lahore’s public gathering is an evident of the depth in MQM’s ideology.

On the occasion, Farooq Sattar urged political parties to expel criminal elements form their ranks.

Islamic banks’ assets grow over 30% in a year

KARACHI: The asset base of Islamic banking industry expanded by 30 percent to Rs477 billion in 2010 from Rs366 billion in 2009, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a report on Tuesday.

Their non-performing finances (NPF) increased by 38.2 percent to Rs13.8 billion from Rs10 billion in 2009, the report added.

The central bank said that during the last quarter of 2010, Islamic banks’ assets grew by 12.5 percent to Rs477 billion from Rs424 billion in the quarter ended September 2010.

The NPF increased marginally during the quarter to Rs13.8 billion from Rs13.5 billion at the beginning of the quarter.

Recovery increased to Rs1.25 billion from last year’s figure of Rs0.8 billion.

Investment and financing rose 96 percent and 18 percent, respectively, on quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis. “The unprecedented surge in investments is attributable to issuance of long-awaited Ijarah Sukuk of Rs89 billion during the quarter,” the report said.

“The handy growth of 18 percent in financing could be attributed to seasonal uptake in credit.”

Cotton harvesting commences during the October-December quarter that gives significant rise to credit demand by textile sector. Share of financing by Islamic banks to the textile sector increased from 18 percent to 22 percent during the quarter, said the report.

Investments and financing increased to Rs158 billion and Rs180 billion, respectively, in 2010 from Rs72 billion and Rs153 billion in December 2009.

The central bank said that despite rapid growth in their assets and deposits, Islamic banks’ profitability remained considerably lower than the industry average.

The Return on Assets and Return on Equities at 0.6 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, was significantly lower than the industry average of one percent and 9.8 percent, respectively.

This is evident from the operating expense to gross income ratio for IBIs which is at 73 percent as compared to 53 percent for the industry.

The conversion of conventional branches into Islamic banking branches has picked up pace. In the last seven months, 15 conventional banking branches have been converted into Islamic banking branches, the SBP said.

Musharraf to be declared wanted

LONDON: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to have former president Pervez Musharraf declared wanted following the Britain’s excuse to get him arrested, Geo News reported Saturday.

Judge of special anti terrorism court of Rawalpindi went to Adyala prison and held the trial of Benazir Bhutto’s murder case.

The counsel of FIA told the court that arrest of Pervez Musharraf could not be carried out on the warrant issued earlier. The British authorities have said that Musharraf had gone to Dubai, he added added.

The counsel requested the court that process for having Pervez Musharraf declared wanted be initiated and upon which the court ordered that the arrest warrant be withdrawn first.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till May 7.

Govt forces retreat in Libya's Misrata

TRIPOLI: Government forces retreated in Misrata but seized a rebel town in Libya's remote Western Mountains, as no sign emerged of Muammar Gaddafi being dislodged from power despite more than a month of air strikes.

"Misrata is free, the rebels have won. Of Gaddafi's forces, some are killed and others are running away," a rebel spokesmen said in the rebel coastal city, where a punishing two-month siege that killed hundreds appeared to have been broken.

One government soldier, Khaled Dorman, among a group of 12 being brought to hospital for treatment in Misrata, told from the back of a pickup truck: "We have been told to withdraw. We were told to withdraw yesterday."

But the overall trend of fighting in Libya was far from clear. Heavy fighting continued on Saturday around a hospital in western Misrata being used as a base by Gaddafi's forces.

And government forces captured the town of Yafran in Libya's Western Mountains on Saturday, a rebel spokesman said.

The conflict in the remote mountains has received little international attention. Rebels there captured a border post two days ago and had begun been rushing supplies to towns under attack, saying they were cheered by reports from Misrata.

AIR STRIKES
At least three explosions were heard in Tripoli on Saturday evening after NATO aircraft flew over the capital, drawing Libyan anti-aircraft fire.

Legendary Moin Akhtar laid to rest

KARACHI: Legendary humourist Moin Akhter has been laid to rest in Model Colony graveyard, here on Saturday.

Earlier, funeral prayer of Moin, led by Junaid Jamshed was offered after Zohar prayers in Toheed mosque of Malir Cantt.

Various actors, politicians, social workers among thousands of people attended the funeral prayer of Moin Akhtar.

Pakistan beat West Indies by eight wickets

GROS ISLET: Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, and Mohammad Hafeez all coasted to half-centuries as Pakistan clinched a comfortable eight-wicket win over West Indies in the first one-day international on Saturday.

Misbah hit the top score of an unbeaten 73 from 90 deliveries, and Shafiq supported with 61 not out from 76 balls, after man-of-the-match Hafeez gave the Pakistanis a flying start with 54 from 45 balls in their successful chase of 222 for victory.

Shafiq ushered Pakistan over the finish line with 51 balls remaining when he edged a slog at a delivery from Kemar Roach to third man for a single.

The result gave Pakistanis a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, which continues on Monday at the same Beausejour ground.

Wayward bowling from the visitors in the closing overs had let West Indies finish with 221 for six from their 50 overs.

Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler with two for 62 from 10 overs, but he and fellow left-arm fast-medium bowler Junaid Khan let their side down.

Pakistan's spin bowling triumvirate of Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez and captain Shahid Afridi tied the West Indies batsmen down in the middle overs in particular.

But the two Pakistani left-arm pacers did not have the same control over the home team's batsmen and Darren Bravo hit 67 from 109 balls to lead the way for West Indies.

"I was very happy when West Indies won the toss and chose to bat because I thought the pitch would help our spinners," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

"I think our spinners have been doing a great job for us in the last few months, and they again set things up for us.

"The way the openers Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad played was also good to see, and then the partnership between Misbah and Asad brought us home. It was good cricket all around for us."

Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad then gave the visitors a blistering start in an opening stand of 68 before Devendra Bishoo snared both of them in the space of 25 balls to end with two for 48 from his 10 overs.

Shehzad moving down the pitch was stumped for 22 in the 13th over off the leg-spinner, and Hafeez, whose 50 came from 48 balls, was caught at short mid-wicket in the 17th over off the same bowler.

Misbah joined Shafiq and they marched Pakistan to victory with an unbroken, third-wicket stand of 134, a record for any wicket on the ground.

Misbah reached his 50 from 63 balls with a pull to deep square leg for a single off Sammy in the 35th over, and Shafiq arrived at his landmark from 66 balls with an upper-cut to third man for four off Dwayne Bravo in the 39th over.

"We put ourselves in a hole when we were batting, and the spinners were bowling, so we really have to come better in the next game," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy whose team also lost to Pakistan in last month's World Cup quarter-finals.

"I was surprised to see the pitch offer so much turn and bounce, but I will back our guys. We will put in the hard work at practice and come back.

West Indies fined for slow over rate

GROS ISLET: West Indies were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their seven-run victory over Pakistan in Thursday's Twenty20 International.

Match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the fines after Darren Sammy's side were ruled to be one over short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Sammy was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines.

World's most premature baby born in Germany

BERLIN: A German woman gave birth to a one-pound baby after only 21 weeks and five days of pregnancy, making it the world's most premature baby to survive, the mass circulation Bild newspaper reported Saturday.

When Frieda was born on November 7 she measured 11 inches (28 centimetres) and weighed only one pound (460 grammes).

Five and a half months later, she is finally fit to leave the clinic in Fulda, western Germany, in the next few days, now weighing 7.7 pounds (3.5 kilos) for 50 centimetres (nearly 20 inches), the paper said.

Her twin brother Kilian died a few days after being born.

Professor Reinald Repp, director of the paediatric clinic, could not be reached on Saturday, but a doctor on duty said that "there is no foreseeable risk of after-effects for the moment" and that the little girl "should develop normally like any other child."

Repp told Bild that her survival was "a miracle" because generally babies born before 22 weeks have no chance because their lungs, heart and brain are not sufficiently developed.

"Frieda was kept in a completely sterile environment, with her breathing assisted and fed through her navel," he told the paper.

Any baby born before eight months of pregnancy is considered premature.

Very premature babies (less than 32 weeks) are considered at high risk of suffering developmental problems.

Joining PPP be linked to new provinces, PML-Q asked

LAHORE: PML-Q’s newly elected member of National Assembly, Owais Leghari and a delegation of Hazara Division in separate meetings with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi on Saturday demanded that PML-Q’s joining the PPP-led government be linked with formation of Siraiki and Hazara provinces, Geo News reported.

Sardar Owais Leghari, Senator Jamal Khan Leghari, MNA Jafar Leghari, MPA Yousuf Leghari and Mohsin Leghari were present at the meeting held at the residence of Chaundry Shujaat Hussain in Lahore.

The delegation from Hazara comprised Syed Qasim Shah and Sardar Yousuf.

Both the delegations expressing their reservations to joining hands with the PPP, said the coalition should be formed on the basis of a demand for Siraiki province, having Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan division as its constituents.

Owais Leghari made it clear to the Chaudhry brothers that in case the coalition is formed on any other agenda, he would be part of the same.

On this the Chaudhry brothers held out the assurance that no decision would be made without party consultation.

Gayle fires Bangalore to win with century

KOLKATA: Chris Gayle hammered an unbeaten 102 off just 55 balls to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to a nine-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.

The West Indies batsman cracked seven sixes and 10 fours in a superb display of power-hitting as Bangalore achieved a 172-run target with 11 balls to spare for their second win in six matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

Gayle, playing his first IPL match after being dropped for the opening home games against Pakistan, put his team on course for victory with a 123-run stand for the opening wicket with Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Dilshan scored 38 off 31 balls with the help of six fours before being bowled by fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji.

But there was no stopping Gayle, who completed the victory and his century when he hit left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan through the covers for a four.

Virat Kohli was the other notable contributor with an unbeaten 30.

Kolkata, who suffered their third defeat in six matches, earlier posted a competitive total, thanks to skipper Gautam Gambhir (48), Yusuf Pathan (46) and South African Jacques Kallis (40).

Kallis put on 44 off just 4.5 overs for the opening wicket with Australian Brad Haddin (18) and 58 for the second wicket with Gambhir before Pathan stepped up the run-rate in the closing overs.

Gambhir hit six fours in his 38-ball knock, while Pathan smashed three sixes and as many fours in his brisk 24-ball innings.

Seamer Sreenath Aravind dismissed both Gambhir and Pathan to finish with 2-37 off three overs.

Fasting Mexican gets her wish to see royal wedding

MEXICO CITY: A 19-year-old Mexican woman who fasted for 16 days in a bid for an invitation to the royal wedding of Prince William has finally been granted her wish.

Estibalis Chavez will be flown to London for the April 29 nuptials thanks to an anonymous benefactor, according to the Mexico daily, Milenio.

Chavez camped out in front of the British Embassy in Mexico City in February, refusing to eat, although officials at the embassy had told her she was fasting in vain.

Chavez lost 17 pounds (eight kilos) during her fast, and painted a portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which the embassy also refused to deliver.

"I've been a fan of Lady Di since I was little and my mother's a fan as well," said Chavez. "And I promised myself I would go to a royal wedding," she told during her fast.

Susan Boyle wax statue revealed at Madame Tussauds

LONDON: 50 year-old singer, Susan Boyle, who received international attention through the show 'Britain's Got Talent', immortalized in Madame Tussauds wax sculpture collection of the British.

Wax statue was unveiled at the seaside resort of Blackpool, northwest England. Susan Boyle wax spend a budget of £ 150,000.

Susan Boyle twins appeared wearing a black dress which is owned by Susan Boyle.

The singer is also immortalized in Madame Tussauds wax sculpture, among others, Justin Bieber, Lady GaGa and Taylor Swift.

Sindh, Balochistan CNG stations shut down for 36 hours

KARACHI: All Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Sindh and Balochistan closed down their operations for 36 hours from midnight of Friday till noon on Sunday.

On late Friday, long queues of vehicles were witnessed at CNG stations.

According to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) spokesman, this was mutually agreed in a meeting of the SSGC's top management and the elected representatives of several CNG associations at SSGC Head Office on Thursday, presided by SSGC's Deputy Managing Director Azim Iqbal Siddiqui.

The decision was taken in the larger interest of maintaining uninterrupted gas supply across the company's franchise areas in Sindh and Balochistan.

There was a need for this decision keeping in view of Bhit Gas Field Annual Turn-Around (ATA), which has been in effect since April 12.

It was also agreed between the SSGC and the representatives of CNG associations that the company's monitoring teams will be strictly checking all the stations during this 36-hour agreed shut-down.

The CNG stations found operating during the agreed shut down period of 36 hours will have their gas supply disconnected and will not be restored for 24 hours beyond the closure period and until the filing of a 'non objection certificate' (NOC) from the respective CNG association.

72 dead in Syria's bloodiest day of unrest

AMMAN: Syrian security forces killed at least 70 protesters on Friday, rights activists said, the bloodiest day in a month of escalating pro-democracy demonstrations against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rights organisation Sawasiah said 70 civilians had been killed across the country, in the biggest demonstrations to sweep Syria so far.

Wissam Tarif, director of human rights group Insan, gave a similar death toll. "At least 72 people have been killed so far. The number of injured exceeds 80 people in Homs and its villages and the villages (near the southern city) of Deraa," he told.

It was not possible to independently confirm the figures.

Tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets of cities across Syria and called for the "overthrow of the regime", reflecting the hardening of demands which initially focused on reforms and greater freedoms.

The protests went ahead despite Assad's lifting of the state of emergency the day before. Ending the hated emergency rule, in place since the Baath Party seized power 48 years ago, was a central demand of demonstrators, who also seek the release of political prisoners and dismantling of the security services.

Friday's violence brings the death toll to about 300, according to rights activists, since the unrest which broke out on March 18 in the southern city of Deraa. Activists cited the highest toll in the nearby village of Izra'a where protesters had been trying to head for Deraa. Residents said 14 people were killed.

"Izra'a is in the dark. No mobile phones or landlines working. People have been talking from villages near to Izraa but not in the town," said Wissam Tarif of human rights organisation, Insan, who had 12 confirmed killed in Izra'a.

Syrian television said eight people were killed and 28wounded, including army personnel, in attacks by armed groups in the village. It added an armed group had attacked a military base in the Damascus suburb of Muadhamiya.

As in the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings, citizens are rebelling against both a lack of freedom and opportunity and security forces' impunity and corruption that has enriched the elite while one-third of Syrians live below the poverty line.

PTI’s sit-in against drone attacks today

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will stage sit-in in Peshawar tomorrow (Saturday) in protest against US’s drone attacks on Pakistani soil, Geo News reported.

Besides, Imran Khan, the chief of PTI, some other political leaders and member civil society will also speak on the occasion.

Secretary Information PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, Zahid Hussain, briefed media at the venue where PTI will stage sit-in.Briefing media, he said PTI activists from all over country will gather at Naran Garden in Hayatabad area on Saturday morning, commencing sit-in to register protest with the government against US’s drone attacks on Pakistani land and would continue till Sunday evening.“

A caravan comprising PTI’s activists, led by chief Imran Khan, will leave for Peshawar from Islamabad on Saturday morning at 9am, ” he informed. PTI’s activists from Hazara Division will join Imran Khan-led caravan at Hassan Abdal place while more activists will join them at Attock, Jehangirah and Nowshera places, he revealed.

All political parties except the government’s coalition partners have been invited to join sit-in, he added.

Militants' back broken, says COAS

ISLAMABAD: Military has broken the back of militants, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said in a speech on Saturday.

Addressing a Passing Out Parade of 123rd PMA Long Course at Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, General Kayani said Pakistan army was fully aware of the internal and external threats faced by the country.

"In the war against terrorism, our officers and soldiers have made great sacrifices and have achieved tremendous success," he said in a speech.

"The terrorists' backbone has been broken and Inshallah (God willing) we will soon prevail."

General Kayani said that the nation gives its priority to the independence and sovereignty of the country over any other thing.

COAS told cadets that this is the beginning of a long course, adding that they would get the chance to lead the most courageous army.