New York, Mar. 1: Though no one wants to say it out loud, Pakistan is edging ever closer to the abyss, thanks to factors like threats from extremists, an unraveling economy, battling civilian leaders and tensions with nuclear rival India.

Quoting from a report appearing this week in The Atlantic Council, the New York Times says that the council has warned that Pakistan's stability is imperiled and that the time to change course is fast running out.

In an editorial, the paper says that with Pakistan's Supreme Court adding new fuel to an exisiting fire by upholding a ruling that bars opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif from holding elected office, the political pitch in that country has been queered further.

Islamabad, Mar. 1 : In a bid to assuage the international community's concerns about developments in Pakistan, the government of Pakistan has said that it had nothing to do with the disqualification of the Sharif brothers'.

Foreign envoys of different countries have been briefed about political developments in the country.

This was the first ever incidence in the history of Pakistan when foreign ambassadors where briefed about the political scenario of the country.

Karachi, Mar. 1 : Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has asked incumbent Younis Khan to utilise his match winners and force a result in the second Test match.

"Younis must look at his match winners and rely on them for the success of his team .He (Younis) has done wonders in the Karachi Test against Sri Lanka, and now, he should look at his match winners for securing a series win over Sri Lanka in Lahore," The Nation quoted Akram, as saying.

Karachi/Kochi, Feb. 28 : Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir, on Saturday back tracked on a statement he made on Friday, saying he agreed with the Interior Ministry's report on the Mumbai terror attack.

"We have not been directly involved in the investigation, which is under the domain of the interior ministry. Therefore, they are better equipped, they have better knowledge and information," Admiral Bashir said.

Lahore, Feb. 28 : Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has said that Test matches should be more result-oriented to lure spectators back to the classy version of the game.

Talking to reporters on the eve of the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka here, Khan said that the Gaddafi Stadium pitch will be a better playing track than the Karachi's `lifeless' strip where he piled on a triple century.

Lahore, Feb. 28 : Taking his fight with President Asif Ali Zardari a step further, former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) chief, Nawaz Sharif has said that he is still ready to mend ways with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), but unwilling to commit the "sin" of talking to Zardari.

"I am still ready to talk to Benazir's PPP. But I consider talking to Zardari the `biggest sin," The Nation quoted Sharif, as saying.