Islamabad, Apr 22 : Pakistani lawmakers are of the view that only provincial autonomy could pacify the deteriorating situation in Balochistan and wipe out the sense of deprivation among smaller provinces.

The lawmakers also demanded judicial inquiry into the murder of three Baloch nationalist leaders in Turbat, Balochistan and stressed upon the government to implement recommendations of the special parliamentary committee on Balochistan.

Islamabad, Apr 22 : Pakistan’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal against a Federal Shariat Court (FSC) ruling that death is the only punishment that the Islamic law provides for blasphemy.

The Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court gave the decision on Tuesday, The Dawn reported.

Bishop Dani L. Tasleem filed the appeal 18 years ago after the FSC gave the judgment in exercise of its powers to determine if the existing laws conformed to Sharia.

Islamabad, Apr 22 : Pakistan's Punjab province is falling under the grip of the Taliban and the country needs to act quickly to eliminate this grave threat to the heart of our country, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Deputy Parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar has said.

Talking to reporters at Parliament House, Sattar claimed the Taliban were getting stronger in Punjab and the time had come to take immediate action against the people who posed a grave threat to Pakistan's security.

Islamabad, Apr 22 : NWFP Governor Owais Ghani has briefed foreign diplomats at the Foreign Office on the deal with militants in Swat.

“The problem [afflicting the region] lies in Afghanistan and unless you settle the issue there, it will be difficult to create peace in Swat and other border regions of Pakistan,” Ghani said.

The Daily Times quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the Governor explained at length the situation in Swat and the latest peace deal with the Taliban to implement the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation.

Islamabad, Apr 21 : Pakistan Prime Minister's Interior Affairs Advisor Rehman Malik on Tuesday said that over 10,000 foreign militants were taking refuge in the tribal areas.

"Afghan currency and arms are being used in terrorist activities in Pakistan," the News quoted Malik as saying.

Islamabad, Apr. 21: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) have now banned political parties in the Bajaur region of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Both the separatist organizations have also issued a jirga banning meeting of more than three persons at a same place.

According to the Daily Times, the decision was taken after four persons were killed in a clash between the activists of these two groups.

The latest ban adds to the long list of activities that the Taliban has prohibited in the region.