Lahore, Mar. 30 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has refuted charges that the judges were reinstated under pressure. Rather, he said they were restored at the right time keeping in view public aspirations.

"The PPP always upheld the democratic norms and strove for strengthening Pakistan and promoting politics of reconciliation," The News quoted Zardari, as saying.

Islamabad, Mar. 30 : United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W Patterson, has revealed that 50 million dollars in aid, meant for the rehabilitation and development work in Swat and Northern Areas, were lying unused at the US embassy in Islamabad.

The News quoted Patterson, as telling the former PPP senator Enver Baig that the huge amount, readily available and exclusively meant for the rehabilitation and development of the troubled areas, was being wasted because no one in concerned quarters was interested.

Lahore, Mar. 30 : Following Pakistan middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf's announcement that he is to terminate his contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), and eager to join the national squad, another Pakistani ICL player, Abdul Razzaq has expressed his desire to play for Pakistan once again.

He said that the ICL management has released all Pakistani cricketers from their contracts.

Lahore, Mar. 30 : The United States is struggling hard to identify the loopholes in its South Asian policy over the past seven years, as it has limited ability to control what happens in Pakistan, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Islamabad, Mar. 30 : Pakistan has pointed towards a probable foreign involvement in the attack on the police training camp in Lahore earlier today.

Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik said the attack has been carried out by the jihadi outfits and a foreign hand could not be ruled out.

"Today's incident is part of terror wave exists in the country which begun from NWFP. This is an attack against country's sovereignty," The News quoted Rehman, as saying.

Islamabad, Mar. 30 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has formally lifted Governor's Rule in Punjab by signing a summary on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raja Gilani.

After a late night meeting with Gilani, Zardari signed the summary to lift governor's rule, The Dawn reports.
 
A presidential spokesman told media that Zardari and Gilani "discussed political situation in the light of president's address to the joint session of Parliament on Saturday."