Islamabad, Apr 16 : Pakistan’s Public Accounts Committee chief Nisar Ali Khan has said that the PAC had found a misappropriation of billions of rupees in 2005-06.

Taking part in a debate on the address of President Asif Ali Zardari to the joint session of parliament, Nisar said the PAC had dug out hundreds of cases in various government departments in which the nation’s money had been plundered.

Peshawar, Apr 16 : Pakistan Taliban militants are still holding several areas of Buner, carrying out armed patrol to keep up a campaign for recruiting fighters, and having no impact of the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, as demanded by their Swat counterparts.

The repetition of Swat-like scenes could now be seen in parts of Buner district as barbers displayed "shave is banned" papers at their shops while tailors put notices inscribed with "sewing of un-Islamic dresses is prohibited."

Lahore, Apr. 16 : While the Obama administration is trying hard to raise 5 billion dollars at an international conference in Tokyo to help Pakistan receive financial support to fight against extremism, Saudi Arabia has expressed only `muted interest' in helping out.

A report in the Wall Street Journal stated that Saudi Arabia may back out from offering Pakistan any financial support because it has reservations over the Zardari regime.

Lahore, Apr. 16 : Baloch Republican Party chief Brahamdagh Bugti has urged India and the United States to help the Baloch people attain freedom from Pakistan.

Bugti said Baloch people were being suppressed by the Pakistan Government which wants to take control of natural resources of the region.

“We will welcome India’s help for the Baloch people. We do not recognise the Constitution of 1973. We only want freedom,” The Daily Times quoted Bugti, as saying.

Mingora (Pakistan), Apr. 16 : The Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Muhammad has said that the judgments given by the Qazis appointed in the Swat Valley under the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation cannot be challenged in any other superior courts in the country.

Talking to reporters in Imam Darra area of Malakand region, Muhammad said the Taliban would be urged to lay down arms and live peacefully in the valley.

He said that the `peace camps' would be re-established in Swat.

Rawalpindi, Apr. 16 : One of the arrested suspects of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, Shahid Jamil Riaz, has reportedly confessed to his involvement in providing logistic support to the attackers.

According to The Daily Times, Riaz's statement was recorded by the Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Masood Janjua.