Parties on ‘hit list’ resolve to defy terrorists

KARACHI: A day after the PPP, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party declared that they would not leave the electoral ground to militants and their political wings, the three parties alleged on Tuesday night that they were being compelled to boycott the May 11 elections.

Senator Shahi Syed of the ANP, Rehman Malik of the PPP and Dr Farooq Sattar of the MQM addressed a joint press conference at the MQM’s ‘Nine Zero’ headquarters.

While Dr Sattar said that conspiracies were being hatched to hijack the elections and democracy, Mr Malik told the press conference these conspiracies were actually aimed at disintegrating Pakistan.

Mumbai gets its first Shariah court to settle civil, marital disputes

MUMBAI: The city is set to get its first Darul Qaza or Shariah court to settle civil and marital disputes in the Muslim community. The court, set up by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board will serve to fill a long-felt need of the community.Shariah courts already function at many places in the country, such as Hyderabad, Patna and Malegaon. Here qazis appointed by the AIMPLB hear the community's various disputes, barring criminal cases, and deliver judgements.

Former Iranian president softens stance toward Israel, says 2 countries not at war

Iran's influential former president has expressed a softer stance toward the country's archenemy Israel in sharp contrast to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad' typical anti-Israel remarks.

Several Iranian newspapers, including the pro-reform Shargh daily, on Monday quoted Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as saying: "We are not at war with Israel."

Bangalore blast a terror attack, says Karnataka Home Min

R Ashok, Karnataka Home Minister told reporters that the blast was a clear act of terror. “BJP office was the target of the blast.” he said. “Appeal to people to remain calm. Culprits will be caught and punished,” he added.Two of the people injured in the Malleshwaram blast were reportedly college students on their way home from tuition classes.

Pakistani Taliban deny Boston Marathon blasts

MIRAMSHAH: The Pakistani Taliban, which claimed the 2010 Times Square bomb plot, on Tuesday denied anything to do with explosions that killed three people and wounded more than 100 in Boston.

“We believe in attacking US and its allies but we are not involved in this attack,” Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP.