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Imran, Benazir were Romantically involved: Book

Author of a new biography of Imran Khan claims that the cricketer-turned-politician was romantically involved with late former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto when both of them studied together at Oxford University.

In his book, Christopher Sandford writes that Bhutto became infatuated with Khan, and the pair enjoyed a "close" and possibly "sexual" relationship.

The author has also alleged that Khan's mother even tried to organise an arranged marriage between the pair, but to no avail.

It was believed that Khan and Bhutto had always been at loggerheads, both politically and personally.

In fact, Khan openly criticised the former Prime Minister just days before her death.

But Sandford, who interviewed both Khan and his ex-wife Jemima for the book, claimed that a source told him that Bhutto was 21, and in her second year of reading politics at Lady Margaret Hall, when she became close to Khan in 1975.

The source also revealed that she had been "visibly impressed" by Khan, and might even have been the first to call him the "Lion of Lahore".

"In any event, it seems fairly clear that, for at least a month or two, the couple were close. There was a lot of giggling and blushing whenever they appeared together in public," the Telegraoh quoted Sandford as having told the Daily Mail.

He added: "It also seems fair to say that the relationship was "sexual", in the sense that it could only have existed between a man and a woman. The reason some supposed it went further was because, to quote one Oxford friend: ''Imran slept with everyone.''

However, the former Pakistan cricket captain has rebuffed these claims, saying that he never had a sexual relationship with Bhutto.

Although he agreed to having been interviewed for the book, but claimed to have not read it as yet.

"Yes, I was interviewed, but I know nothing about the rest of what has been written. So it is not official," he told the Daily Mail.

"It is absolute nonsense about any sexual relationship or my mother and an arranged marriage. We were friends - that's all," he added.

14-year jail for SMS joke on Pakistani President

If you mistakenly, or just for fun, share with a friend one of the hundreds of derisory jokes about the leader floating around electronically, you could get a 14-year prison sentence.

Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik announced last week that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked to trace SMS (or text messages) and e-mails that "slander the political leadership of the country" under the vague Cyber Crimes Act.
In addition to facing up to 14 years in the jail, violators could have their property seized, Malik said, adding that the government would seek Interpol assistance in deporting foreign offenders.

Surrounded by controversy throughout his political career, Zardari has been a subject of harsh public criticism since he was elected as president by the national parliament a year ago.

Most of the criticism stems from his government's sluggishness in addressing problems such as severe power outages, intolerably fast-rising inflation, and a sputtering economy.

But many jokes hint that Zardari still acts as "Mr 10 percent" - a label referring to the percentage he would allegedly receive in kickbacks in the 1990s during the two terms as prime minister spent by his assassinated wife, Benazir Bhutto.

One such joke portrays a school for demons at roll call. All the demons report for class, except one named Zardari. When the demon teacher asks where Zardari is, a student replies that he has "gone to rob Pakistan".

Another joke claims that the words that most frighten Zardari are the slogan: "Bhutto is still alive." It's a mantra his party workers chant often in public meetings, but it can be interpreted to mean it is unfortunate for the nation that Bhutto died and Zardari became president.

Most of the hundreds of jokes shared by 50 million SMS users of about 80 million mobile phone customers seem innocuous but can have disastrous political implications for Zardari, who according to some recent surveys is already highly unpopular among the public.

"Jokes in Pakistani political culture are a very effective way to delegitimise rulers. Historically, these have been used by the weak and helpless against the powerful," said Rasool Bux Raees, a political analyst at Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Local media, human rights activists and bloggers have been swift in criticising the proposed law against anti-government SMS and online texts as "draconian and authoritarian".

The English-language newspaper the Nation said early this week that Malik's statement showed that Zardari's government had lost its nerve.

The newspaper urged the leadership of Zardari's liberal Pakistan People's Party "to consider why no other politician has become such a common butt of naughty anecdotes".

The newspaper further said the government's using the FIA's short-staffed cyber wing for political means would "seriously compromise anti-terrorism investigations".

The former director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, I.A. Rehman, condemned the legislation as "standing in conflict with the freedom of expression that is guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan".

He hoped the law would soon be challenged in the Supreme Court and eventually abolished.

"For a moment I thought it was a bad joke!" wrote a blogger. "But nah its reality - Yes, 14 years for sending an indecent SMS."

Noman Bashir, 23, a student in Islamabad's prestigious Quaid-e-Azam University said initially his friends were frightened by the law but later on they thought up ways to get around it.

"We now draft the text in such a way that Zardari's name is not mentioned and yet everyone who receives it knows the joke is about Zardari," laughed Bashir.

"We are not running some organised political campaign against Zardari, but we cannot stop writing about him," he said. "You know, he is such a funny character."

Asif fined Rs 1 mn, Cleared for Champions Trophy selection

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday paved the way for Mohammad Asif`s comeback in the national team for the Champions Trophy later this year after fining the controversial fast bowler Rs 1 million for his involvement in a drug case in Dubai.

The PCB said it had fined Asif on the recommendations of a three-member probe committee that found him guilty of bringing the country and Pakistan cricket into disrepute last year when he was detained in Dubai for possession of 0.23 grams of hashish.

Asif spent 19 days in detention in Dubai in June last year while returning from India after playing in the inaugural Indian Premier League where he had also failed a dope test.

"The fine of Rs 1 million is for his misconduct and possession of hashish in Dubai. But Asif will be clear to play for Pakistan once he completes his 12-month ban for the failed dope test," PCB chief operating officer Saleem Altaf said.

Asif was banned for 12 months by the drugs tribunal of the IPL for failing a dope test. His ban started from September last year although the pacer had appealed his suspension be considered from July when the PCB had also stopped him from playing cricket.

"We will be sending his name in the provisional list of players for the Champions Trophy to the ICC as his ban ends on September 22 and the event begins from the 24th," Altaf said.

Altaf said he didn`t see any reason for Asif not to be considered for the Champions Trophy.

"On technical grounds his ban ends on September 22 after which he is a free man. So we will definitely want him in the playing squad," he added.

He pointed out that as far as the Dubai case was concerned the Rs one million fine was imposed as a punishment although Dubai authorities had not pressed any criminal charges against the pacer.

The committee was headed by former Test player Wasim Bari, who is also director human resources in the board.

The committee had delayed giving recommendations to the PCB as it had asked Asif to provide evidence from Dubai confirming he could enter the Emirates state again.

Asif didn`t submit the documents but his passport has a valid UAE visa stamped on it.

Asif, who has played 11 Tests and 32 One-day Internationals for Pakistan, had also failed a dope test in 2006 before the Champions Trophy in India in an out of competition tests conducted by the PCB.

However, he escaped punishment along with fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on technical grounds.

Asif was relieved to know that his name was being considered for selection in the Champions Trophy squad.

"I am delighted I will be considered for selection again but as far as the fine is concerned I will consult my lawyer about it. But the most important thing for me is to resume my career in September," Asif said.

Younis Emerging as a dynamic leader like Dhoni: Asif

Former skipper Asif Iqbal feels that Younis Khan is emerging as a dynamic leader like India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said the right-handed batsman is the most suitable person to lead a team like Pakistan, which have an uncertain nature.You know, he has been my favourite captain. He is emerging as a dynamic leader like India's Dhoni. He certainly deserves this win,'' Asif told espnstar.com.

''I think he is the ideal player to lead the talented but unpredictable lot. Pakistan have periodically produced outstanding players. We have had some great cricketers. The Hanifs, Zaheers, Imrans, Javeds and Akrams have done us proud. But it is also true that some have been enigmatic as well,'' he said.

''To put it in a few words, Younus has been an outstanding captain. He has inherited tremendous abilities, is a good thinker and always stays cool. Seldom does he get irritated and that is what makes him a champion leader,'' he added.

Pervaiz Musharaf Funny pictures

inzamam wedding pic

inzamam wedding pic