Politics

Zardari to U.S.: Let Pakistan go after terrorists

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan’s military is better able to track down and capture terrorists along its lawless border with Afghanistan than U.S. forces, whose presence threatens to unite opposition factions into a cohesive anti-democratic coalition, Pakistan’s new president told NBC News in his first Western interview since taking office this month.

“Give us the intelligence, and we will do the job,” President Ali Asif Zardari said in an exclusive interview with NBC’s Ann Curry. “It’s far better done by our forces than yours.”

Zardari, the widower of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, spoke Saturday just hours after a truck bomb killed 53 people at a Marriott hotel in Islamabad, an attack he said was calculated to send a message to the new democratically elected government that militant Islamist insurgents “are here, we mean business and we intend to take you on.” Read more »

Pakistan troops ‘repel US raid’

Pakistani troops have fired warning shots at two US helicopters forcing them back into Afghanistan, local Pakistani intelligence officials say.

The helicopters flew into the tribal North Waziristan region from Afghanistan’s Khost province at around midnight, the reports say.

Tensions have risen after an increase in US attacks targeting militants.The incident comes amid mounting security fears after a militant bomb attack on the Islamabad Marriott hotel. Pakistan’s army has said it will defend the country’s sovereignty and reserves the right to retaliate to any border violations. Read more »

Sports

Efforts on to salvage Champions Trophy

Chances of the Champions Trophy being held in 2009 appear to be brightening with intense discussions on the issue between ICC officials and those of its member boards over the last few days opening up “2-3 options”. One of those options will be finalised when the governing body’s executive board meets next month, Cricinfo has learnt. Read more »

Entertainment

Jahaliat: Five Pakistan women buried alive in ‘honor killing’ scandal

The victims were three women who wanted to choose their own husbands and two others who tried to help them.

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - The Pakistani government is looking into the deaths of five women who were buried alive in southwestern Baluchistan Province in so-called honor killings.

News of the killings, which occurred six weeks ago, trickled out of the remote, tribal area slowly and with sketchy details. As described in an Aug. 21 statement by a French human rights group, the victims were three young women who had planned to marry men of their choice — a blot on family honor — and two older female relatives.

All were kidnapped by several men on July 13 from their village, Baba Kot, in the Department of Jafferabad, and taken to a deserted area in a vehicle bearing provincial government plates, according to the group, the International Federation for Human Rights. The young women were beaten and shot, and, still breathing, covered with earth and stones. The two older women tried to intervene and were buried alive as well. Read more »

Ramchand Pakistani: Reviving the Pakistani Cinema

For those who have been following the recent trend of indie films from Pakistan, it was thrilling to watch Mehreen Jabbar’s feature-length debut, Ramchand Pakistani, at this year’s Seattle International Film Festival. The film made its North American premier earlier this year at the Tribecca Film Festival in New York City and recently screened at the Osian’s Cinefan Film Festival in New Delhi. It is perhaps the only second Pakistani feature to make it to major international film festivals. Read more »

Arbaz Khan and Khushboo in a movie shooting

Arbaz Khan and Khushboo shooting a movie

Business

Jahaliat: Five Pakistan women buried alive in ‘honor killing’ scandal

The victims were three women who wanted to choose their own husbands and two others who tried to help them.

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - The Pakistani government is looking into the deaths of five women who were buried alive in southwestern Baluchistan Province in so-called honor killings.

News of the killings, which occurred six weeks ago, trickled out of the remote, tribal area slowly and with sketchy details. As described in an Aug. 21 statement by a French human rights group, the victims were three young women who had planned to marry men of their choice — a blot on family honor — and two older female relatives.

All were kidnapped by several men on July 13 from their village, Baba Kot, in the Department of Jafferabad, and taken to a deserted area in a vehicle bearing provincial government plates, according to the group, the International Federation for Human Rights. The young women were beaten and shot, and, still breathing, covered with earth and stones. The two older women tried to intervene and were buried alive as well. Read more »

Checking Your Personal Financial Ratios

By Saghir Aslam

When reviewing the financial health of a company, it’s common to look at financial ratios, such as earnings per share, price/earnings ratios, books value, and total return. The reason financial ratios are so popular is they give you a means of evaluating financial information, while allowing you to track changes in a company’s performance over time.
Consider using the same concept to assess and track your personal financial situation. At least annually prepare a net worth statement and then calculate various financial ratios. Comparing those ratios over time will help you assess whether you are making progress toward your financial goals. Read more »

Teaching Money Lessons

By Saghir Aslam

One of the most valuable lessons parents can teach their children is how to responsibly manage money. Some strategies to teach these lessons include:

Keep in mind that how you treat money is probably the most significant influence on your children. Teaching your children good money skills is a lesson that will benefit them for a lifetime. Read more »