Karachi, Apr. 5 : Pakistan selectors have made it clear that players who have joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), would not be considered for the national squad even if they terminate their contract with the league.

“We wanted clarifications on whether we could consider the ICL players who have made themselves available for national selection. But we have been told by the cricket board they can’t be considered at this stage,” The Dawn quoted one of the selector, as saying.

Washington, Apr. 5 : Pakistan is concerned with the US President Barack Obama’s idea of forming new contact group including India on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has said that it will raise the issue during the US Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke’s forthcoming visit to the country.

“We will talk to our American interlocutors. Holbrooke will be in Pakistan soon. We intend to talk to him about the idea of a contact group,” The Daily Times quoted Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani, as saying.

Lahore, Apr. 5 : At least 35 persons were reportedly killed and over 150 others injured in a suicide attack on an Imambargah in Chakwal area of Pakistan’s Punjab province on Sunday.

The blast took place in a huge public gathering where over a thousand persons had assembled for an annual prayer, Majlis Aza.

The injured persons have been admitted to the District Headquarter Hospital. Releif and rescue work were going on in full swing till the news last filtered-in.

New Delhi, Apr. 5 : Two suspected members of Pakistan-based militant organization Jaish-e-Mohammed have been refused bail by a Delhi POTA court.

Accused brothers, Raees-uz-Zama and Atique-uz-Zama, had sought release on bail for two months to attend marriage of their younger brother, but a special judge for POTA rejected their plea.

"Keeping in view the circumstances coupled with the gravity of the offences with which the accused were charged with, their plea for interim bail was declined," the judge said.

New York, Apr. 5 : Pakistan has rejected allegations made in a New York Times report that its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency was "colluding and supporting" Taliban elements against NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"Not only did it (ISI) eliminate scores of important Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, but it also apprehended hundreds of their members, including key leaders," the Daily Times quoted Pakistan embassy spokesman Nadeem Kiani, as saying in Washington.

Lahore, Apr. 5 : The Punjab government has issued a warning to the law enforcement agencies about a probable terror strike on Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where the 26/11 Mumbai attack suspects have been imprisoned..

According the Daily Times, banned terror outfits like Al Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangwi (LeJ), and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) could strike the Adiala Jail to free their key associates.