Islamabad, Feb. 12: A conflict between the head of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TPP), and another militant commander Qari Hussain led to the brutal killing of Polish engineer Peter Stanczak, The News reports.

According to sources, TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud wanted his associates to be released in return for the Polish engineer, but Qari Hussain put another list of prisoners, including four important Lashkar-e-Jhangvi members, which led to differences within the outlawed group.

Lahore, Feb. 12 : Tainted Pakistan speedster Mohammad Asif has decided to challenge the ban imposed on him by the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the plea that he consumed nandrolone unintentionally.

Asif said he is taking the advice of his lawyers and would soon file a petition against the IPL verdict.

"I didn''t take any banned substances intentionally, so, I am not pleased with this ban. We will appeal against the ban. I don''t want to carry the stigma of having been found guilty of taking banned substances," The Nation quoted Asif, as saying.

Islamabad, Feb 12: Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan has been felicitated by British House of Commons for his outstanding contribution to the Indian film industry.

The 46-year-old actor received the honour from Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP from Birmingham Perry Barr in the House of Commons.

Khan, who played the role of a Police Inspector in critically acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire, expressed his happiness over the film's huge success.

Wellington - The New Zealand government said Thursday it was making urgent inquiries into the arrest of a 35-year-old New Zealander by Pakistani security forces as he tried to enter an al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold on the Afghan border.

The man, identified on his passport as Mark Taylor, was reportedly detained at a paramilitary checkpoint near the town of Tank, about 280 kilometres south-west of Islamabad

Karachi, Feb. 12: Responding to India's repeated demand of reciprocating directly to it, rather via the media in the Mumbai investigations, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Islamabad would soon contact India officially.

"Pakistan would hold direct talks with India soon on Mumbai incident probe,"The Nation quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Peshawar, Feb. 11 : Pakistani security forces detained a New Zealander on Wednesday who was trying to enter the South Waziristan region, an al Qaeda and Taliban militant stronghold on the Afghan border, officials said.

The man, identified as a 35-year-old New Zealander with a European-sounding name, was detained at a paramilitary checkpost on the outskirts of Tank town, about 280 km southwest of Islamabad, which is the gateway to South Waziristan, the Dawn reported.