| President Zardari arrives home from Dubai
Agencies
President Asif Ali Zardari arrived home from Dubai early Friday, officials said, against a backdrop of mounting tension and challenges to his government's precarious rule.
_______________________________________________ National/City reports GHQ consultations: Army set to throw its weight behind judiciary
Kamran Yousaf
A day after releasing a hard-hitting press release against the prime minister, the army has decided it will throw its weight behind the Supreme Court – which is embroiled in its own standoff with the government. US favours democracy in Pakistan: Hillary Clinton
Huma Imtiaz
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that the United States has concerns about the situation in Pakistan, but stood in favour of the democratic set up in Pakistan, expecting it to resolve the country's internal matters on its own as per its laws and constitution. Parliamentary support: To woo allies, PPP to soften rhetoric
Zia Khan
A cornered Pakistan Peoples Party managed to carve itself some breathing space on Thursday.The party was able to 'partially' garner support for a pro-democracy resolution, and a fresh vote of confidence for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, from its uneasy allies. The move, if it sails through, would be a symbolic triumph for the besieged party amid growing civil-military tensions. PML-N sharpens its knives
Irfan Ghauri/Zahid Gishkori
In a bid to make most of the precarious situation, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will be weighing all options before opposition parties today (Friday) to formulate a grand anti-government strategy — possibly a vote of no confidence against the country's premier. Senate elections on March 2, Aitzaz in the running
Qamar Zaman/Sumera Khan
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Thursday that Senate elections will be held on March 2 – rubbishing speculation in some sections of the press that the polls would be held in mid- February.
_______________________________________________ Business
Energy crisis: Govt mulling drastic changes to power tariff structure
Zafar Bhutta
For the second year in a row, the government will miss its plan to curb subsidy expenditure by a long shot: power subsidies are expected to reach Rs350 billion, about 138% higher than the budgeted Rs147 billion. The government will now try to phase out all subsidies except for the 'lifeline' consumers. Attracting investment: Govt considering amnesty for stock brokers
Shahbaz Rana
The government is considering offering an amnesty scheme to attract investment in the dwindling stock market by allowing tax evaders to declare their hidden incomes by paying a nominal investment tax before investing the money.
_______________________________________________ Sports
Cricket: Zaka unaware of MCC's plans on Pakistan
Fawad Hussain
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf, who has set revival of international cricket in the country as his main task, was surprisingly unaware of the positive developments which took place during the Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) Cricket Committee's recent meeting in South Africa. Cricket: Pakistan under-19 cruise to a win
Our Correspondents
Pakistan under-19 thrashed their Zimbabwe counterparts by 120 runs in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Under-19s Tournament in South Africa. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Baba-e-Filmi Sahafat: The return of Nigar Awards
Rafay Mahmood
Students of media and film studies may have come across the term Nigar Awards, but the majority of the younger generation is not familiar with the fact that during the boom of Lollywood in the 1950s and 60s, Pakistan had its own awards to recognise the very best in the film fraternity. Back when films like Benhur (1959) were awarded 11 Academy Awards, Pakistani films like Chakori and Aina were being recognised by the Nigar Awards for being cinema par excellence. Ishq Khuda to release on Eidul Fitr
Sher Khan
Pakistani film director Shehzad Rafique has marked the New Year by announcing that he will be directing a film Ishq Khuda. The director held an inauguration ceremony at the Alhamra Arts Council which was hosted by veteran screenwriter Pervaiz Kaleem. Produced by Saleem Zubair and written by Pervaiz Kaleem, the director has casted versatile actors including film stars Meera, Saima, Zara Sheikh and Ahsan Khan.
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