Pakistan lifts Facebook ban - CENTRAL/S. ASIA - Al Jazeera English

Pakistan lifts Facebook ban - CENTRAL/S. ASIA - Al Jazeera English

Investigations on into Hamid Mir's links with Taliban

Pakistan's Jang media group has formed a committee to ascertain whether well-known TV anchor Hamid Mir had been taped speaking with a Taliban operative even as media reports said intelligence agencies had confirmed the authenticity of the recording. Mir has been at the centre of a controversy over the past week after several websites uploaded a 13-minute conversation he purportedly had with a Taliban operative. In the tape, Mir and the militant discuss the activities of former Inter-Services Intelligence officer Khalid Khwaja, who was recently abducted and killed by the Asian Tigers, a group of Punjabi Taliban.

The Jang media group said in a statement published today in its The News daily that it had set up a committee "to get detailed information" on the issue. "For credible investigation, the committee has called upon professional journalist organisations to come forward to uncover the truth," the statement said. Members of the committee held talks with Mir, who "disowned the voice (said to be his) and termed the audiotape fabricated," the statement added. Mir said he would cooperate in the investigation so that the truth is unearthed. Mir claimed "some people want to ostracise him from the profession and they are defaming him as part of a conspiracy." However, several TV news channels quoted sources as saying that three intelligence agencies had confirmed the authenticity of the recording after a detailed investigation. The sources said the intelligence agencies, including the ISI, had submitted a report on the matter to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. "The conversation between Hamid Mir and the Taliban militant is original and has been proved by the audiotape," the TV channels quoted the report as saying.
Senator Faisal Raza Abidi of the ruling Pakistan People's Party too said the government had verified the authenticity of the voices on the tape through intelligence agencies. He said the recording "proved Hamid Mir's links with the Taliban."

The Daily Times newspaper, which first reported on the tape, has said that information passed on by Mir to the Taliban "could have led to the execution" of former ISI official Khalid Khwaja. Osama Khalid, the son of Khwaja, has said that he will take legal action and register an FIR against Mir for "playing an instigative role in his father's murder." Talking to BBC Urdu, Khalid said the unidentified Taliban operative in the recording was Usman Punjabi who used the alias of Muhammad Omar while talking to journalists. Khalid rejected Mir's claims that the recording was doctored, saying the tape was original and he would prove it in court. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter and asked journalists to kick "black sheep" out of the profession.

Meanwhile, Daily Times editor Rashed Rahman said legal action must be initiated against Mir after the ISI and government confirmed the authenticity of the taped conversation between the talk show host and a Taliban militant. "The Daily Times initiated self-accountability in the media by publishing a transcript of the taped conversation between Mir and an unidentified Taliban militant," he said, adding several people had contacted his media group with evidence against Mir.

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Younis to stay skipper till World Cup 2011

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected Younis Khan’s resignation and appointed him skipper of the national team until the 2011 World Cup, provided he remains fit till then.“He will continue as captain until the World Cup in 2011, if he stays fit,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters after a PCB governing council meeting here on Monday. “With so many performances this year do you think he should be changed?” he asked, pointing to Pakistan’s Twenty20 World Cup triumph in England, victory over India and reaching the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.Upset and annoyed Younis submitted his resignation during a hearing of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports in Islamabad last week. The hearing was convened after committee chairman Jamshed Dasti accused the Pakistan team of tanking matches against Australia and New Zealand ‘on purpose’. Dasti said he would investigate reports that Pakistan had deliberately under-performed against Australia and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy that concluded on October 5. Dasti later denied making match-fixing allegations and said his remarks had been misunderstood. Ijaz, however, rejected the resignation and opted to meet Younis privately instead, in a bid to change his mind. It is believed that at the meeting Younis laid down conditions which had to be accepted before he could return: he wanted to streamline the selection process, an assurance of a lengthier tenure than just on a series-by-series basis, and also changes in the team management. Pakistan cricket was also abuzz with stories that some senior players were against Younis, who, they believe, had become arrogant and behaved like a dictator.Though Ijaz did not speak of any such conditions or stories of players revolt against Younis, he was unequivocal in his support for Younis. “When I first appointed him in January 2009, there was no tenure for his captaincy but obviously sometimes security is needed. He is definitely our captain till the 2011 World Cup provided he remains fit. His performance has been excellent, he is fit, he has won a World Cup and as long as the selectors keep picking him, he is our choice as captain.” Though Younis could not be reached for comment, Ijaz said Younis had agreed to take up the captaincy once again.

Wasim Akram's wife is in a critical condition

Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram's wife is in a critical condition at a hospital in Indian city Chennai where she was rushed after developing an "emergency situation" in an air ambulance during its scheduled refuelling at the Chennai airport. Huma was admitted to the on advice from doctors on board the Singapore-bound air ambulance, hospital and airport.Huma suffered a multiple organ failure and she was put on ventilator support.Her pulse rate was picking up and vital parameters were better, but her condition continued to be critical. She was originally scheduled to receive treatment in Singapore.
Pray for her....

Wanted ..:::Movie Review:::..

This is for fans and foes of Salman Khan...

Fans, rejoice, Salman is back with a vengeance with ‘Wanted’. This is his deadliest performance to date. Yes, you read it right!

Foes, sorry, you won't be able to lash out at him or pick on him or launch a vicious tirade this time. The spate of flops should come to a grinding halt with ‘Wanted’.

Let's get this straight. ‘Wanted’ rides on Salman Khan's star power. He may not be the best actor in town, but in a film like ‘Wanted’, in a role that seems like an extension of his personality, you can't think of anyone else enacting this role with flourish.

A remake of POKIRI [made in Telugu and Tamil versions], ‘Wanted’ is a full on masala film. Recall the successful potboilers of yore. Recall how the good guy would reduce 10 hoodlums to pulp in a fraction of seconds. Recall how heroism prevailed in the end, no matter how adverse the circumstances were or how powerful the villains would be. Recall those movies in which logic took a backseat since the focus was on entertainment... You relive those moments as reel after reel of ‘Wanted’ unfolds.

A departure from candyfloss movies and diabetic-sweet characters that most Hindi movies boast of, ‘Wanted’ takes you back to those days when popular cinema reigned supreme, when the sole motive of the film-maker was to entertain.

The daring hero and his herogiri, the naïve girlfriend, the corrupt cop, the dreaded don, the don's moll, the fist-clinching henchmen... ‘Wanted’ is for those who seek unabashed entertainment and relish masala films. Damn the indomitable critics, pseudo intellectuals and connoisseurs of parallel cinema, this one's not for them. ‘Wanted’ is for the aam junta.

Radhe [Salman Khan] is a hardcore gangster. A sharpshooter with a sharp brain, he works for Gani Bhai [Prakash Raj], the dreaded Mafioso, but on his own terms. Totally fearless, Radhe single-handedly eliminates Gani Bhai's enemies one by one; making more enemies in the process.

He's astounded when the young and pretty Jahnvi [Ayesha Takia Azmi] professes her liking for him. Inspector Talpade's [Mahesh Manjrekar] lustful eyes fall on Jahnvi. He doesn't know that Jahnvi has developed a soft corner for Radhe.

Whether it's the Golden Gang or Data Pawle's Gang, everybody wants the biggest piece of the lucrative cake that is Mumbai and the only way to get it is to eliminate whoever gets in the way. As Mumbai reels under bloody gang wars, Commissioner Ashraf Khan [Govind Namdeo] vows to make the city crime free.

Director Prabhu Dheva serves a hardcore masala fare that's not inventive or path-breaking by any standard, but the execution of several scenes as also of stunts takes the graph of the film Northward. In fact, if at all there's any film that competes with ‘Ghajini’ as far as raw appeal goes, it's ‘Wanted’. Every action/stunt/chase here is choreographed with aplomb.

Watch out for the action sequence at the interval point or the penultimate half-an-hour. The climax is sure to send scores of action lovers in frenzy, as Salman bashes the evil forces black and blue. It wouldn't be erroneous to state that the climax is worth the price of the ticket, samosa, sandwich, popcorn, nachos and cola put together.

Not that this 18 reeler abounds in mindless action. As mentioned earlier, this one's a hardcore masala film and the narrative has its share of light moments and romantic sequences. Even the bad man here makes you laugh intermittently [when he's not spewing venom], especially in the sequence when the Commissioner of Police holds him captive in the middle of the sea. Even the romance between Salman and Ayesha charms its way into your heart. It's very likable.

But ‘Wanted’ is not without its share of flaws. The film stands on a thin storyline and the viewer can guess what's in store next, which means that there's not much novelty in the plot. Besides, ‘Wanted’ could've done without a song or two, thereby keeping its length in check.

Director Prabhu Dheva has presented Salman like never before. Most actors have drifted away from roles that hold tremendous mass appeal, that cater to the desi audience, like they did in the 1980s. SRK did it in ‘Om Shanti Om’, Aamir Khan did it in ‘Ghajini’ and Salman does it so effortlessly in ‘Wanted’. The screenplay [Shiraz Ahmed] may not be foolproof, but it has its share of shining moments. Dialogues are clapworthy, especially those delivered by Salman.

Sajid-Wajid's music is of a mixed variety. 'Jalwa' is the best of the lot and the star presence of Anil Kapoor, Govinda and also Prabhu Dheva in this track will send the viewers into raptures. The remaining tracks oscillate between good and strictly okay. This review would be incomplete without the invaluable contribution by the action director. It deserves brownie points. Cinematography too is top notch.

Salman is like a ferocious lion who roars with all his might. The show belongs to the actor, who scorches the screen every time he displays the manic anger. Without doubt, Salman gives the power to ‘Wanted’. It's his best work to date.

Ayesha Takia Azmi is very good and the pairing with Salman looks wonderful. Vinod Khanna is sidelined. He deserved more footage. Mahesh Manjrekar is excellent. He's only getting better with every film. Prakash Raj is first-rate. The accomplished actor adds yet another feather to his cap. Govind Namdeo is perfect.

Mahek Chahal radiates oomph. Aseem Merchant is alright. Raju Mavani is effective. Inder Kumar and Sajid are okay. Manoj Pahwa tries hard to make you laugh. Prateeksha Lonkar is as usual.

On the whole, ‘Wanted’ rides on Salman, Salman and only Salman Khan's star power. A masala film that's aimed at the masses, ‘Wanted’ is backed by tremendous hype and hoopla, which will result in the film taking an earth-shattering start at the ticket window. The Idd celebrations in the coming days will only enhance the business of the film, which means that the film will have a solid Week 1. The holidays in Week 2 should also be bountiful, thereby ensuring a strong place in the 'Hit' category.