PAKISTAN situation

Fazlullah escapes to Afghanistan, vows revenge
ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: The head of the Taliban in Swat valley, Maulana Fazlullah, has said that he has escaped the army and is now in Afghanistan. Maulana Fazlullah told BBC Urdu that he had reached Afghanistan safely and will soon launch full-fledged punitive raids against the army in Swat.

ECC allows open sale of sugar at USC outlets for Rs.38 kg ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet here on Tuesday decided to provide additional sugar to the Utility Stores Corporation for augmenting sale of the commodity.

Main Taliban bases seized SARAROGHA : Forces have captured most of the main Taliban bases in their offensive in South Waziristan and will soon fan out into the rugged countryside to hunt for militants there, commanders said on Tuesday. Soldiers have advanced faster than expected in their month-long offensive, seizing main roads and Taliban bases but militant leaders have apparently melted away while their bombers have unleashed carnage in towns.

Muslims have right to pray but not to azaan, says Swiss president GENEVA: Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz on Tuesday told voters that the call of the Muslims� prayer leader would not sound in Switzerland, as he campaigned against a referendum motion seeking to ban the building of minarets. �Muslims should be able to practice their religion and have access to minarets in Switzerland too. But the call

PPPs CEC empowers PM to re-shuffle cabinet ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), with Co-Chairman of the PPP and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari in the chair, authorized the Prime Minister to re-shuffle the federal cabinet to make it more responsive to challenges.

MQM to work with pro-democratic parties: Altaf KARACHI : Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday said his party will continue working with pro-democratic entities for further strengthening the country and bringing it out of crisis. Altaf Hussain was talking via telephone to the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) (Likeminded) at Nine-Zero, headquarter of MQM.

New device improves heart failure survival ORLANDO, Nov 17: Doctors say that a new type of heart pump greatly improves survival of people with severe heart failure. It could become the first one of these devices to be widely used as a permanent treatment.

Zardari ready to abolish 58-2B ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari is willing to shed the powers vested in him through 58-2B, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Benazir murder case: UN body approaches Musharraf
NEW YORK, Nov 17: The UN Commission for probe into Benazir Bhutto assassination case Tuesday met Former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf. According to sources, Gen (rtd) Musharraf opined in front of the Commission that he advised Benazir against homecoming on apprehensions regarding threats to her life in the country.