Karachi, Nov 14 : A new survey conducted in Pakistan has revealed that people believe no system of governance including federal, provincial, district, tehsil/taluka and union was corruption-free as contracts and construction project licences are awarded after minting money.

The findings of the National Survey on Citizens’ Perceptions and Preferences on the Local Government System in Pakistan were presented at Provincial Dissemination Workshop here last evening.

United Nations, Nov 14 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the imaginary fear of Islam was creating a new form of discrimination and is giving rise to hate speeches against the religion and tensions.

Addressing the special session of the United Nations Interfaith Dialogue in New York City last evening, he said that hate speeches against Islam were leading to injustices against the Muslims.

Islamabad, Nov 14 : In what could be described as a major development, the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan''s apex anti-corruption organization with the responsibility of eliminating corruption, has reportedly dropped all corruption cases against politicians, both the government and the opposition.

But, it is still working on 3336 cases involving embezzlement of more than Rs 170 billion, reported The News.

Islamabad, Nov 14 : The Pakistan Senate has reportedly rejected the US embassy''s invitation for the Senate Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee to attend a key NATO briefing on the current situation in Afghanistan. The briefing is to be given by General David McKiernan, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

The House said that the invitation was “not in keeping with the best traditions” of diplomatic engagement and political dialogue.

Islamabad , Nov 14 : Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) has said that the US had been violating international law by launching missile attacks in the Tribal Areas, and that Pakistan government was trying its best to stop such attacks.

Islamabad, Nov 14 : Estimates compiled by Pakistan’s Finance Ministry indicate that the direct and indirect cost of the war-on-terror borne by Pakistan was likely to increase to 8 billion dollars per annum in the next couple of years, from the current 6 billion dollars.

An official source said that direct and indirect losses to Pakistan’s economy due to the war on terror have been estimated at 34.5 billion dollars.