London, Aug 15: Yesterday’s suicide blast in Lahore killing seven people, and the Taliban threats for carrying out similar blasts in days to come in Lahore and Karachi, has furthered thrown the forthcoming Champions Trophy into a rough weather. The tournament is slated to be hosted by Pakistan from Sept 12-28,

Lahore and Karachi are the two host cities for the Champions Trophy and this week they were declared safe and ready by ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

Ghalanai (Pak), Aug 15: After a mass exodus from the strife-torn Bajaur Agency, tribesmen from the nearby Mohmand Agency have also started leaving their homes for safer places.

The migration of the tribesmen from different parts of Mohmand Agency started following a picket of paramilitary Khassadar force and a police station were bombed in Yakaghund subdivision of Lower Mohmand Agency on Thursday.

The destruction of the picket and police station panicked the tribesmen, who feared the security forces might launch an operation against the Taliban, reported The News.

London, Aug 15: It is now widely believed in Islamabad that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has decided to step down and that a deal has been brokered between the Presidency and the coalition government to ensure a safe exit to the beleaguered President.

A close aide of Musharraf at the Presidency reportedly conceded that he has decided to step down in order to avoid a parliamentary impeachment that was likely to begin on Monday.

Peshawar, Aug 15: The Pakistan’s unit of the Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has reportedly imposed fixed taxes on the locals in the Bajaur agency ranging between Rs 30 and 2500, depending upon the financial status of the people and traders, to support the families of the militants killed in the war against the US.

Bajaur is the worst case where reports say the Taliban have imposed fixed taxes on traders. “I pay Rs 500 a month to the Taliban as per their decree. I can afford to pay the sum, otherwise it would have been great injustice,” said Rustam Khan, who runs a small business in the Khar bazaar.

Islamabad, Aug 15 : A minister in Pakistan coalition government has said that the country’s Pervez Musharraf remained President for eight years, hence he would be provided proper security cover after he resigned from the post.

The country’s Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Syed Khursheed Shah said that security was the “legal right” of every citizen and the President would be provided adequate protection as well.

Islamabad, Aug 15: Apparently rejecting the suggestions that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would be given indemnity if he resigns, PML-N leader and former Pakistan premier whose elected government was toppled by Musharraf in Oct 1999 military coup, has said that the President had “trampled” on the country’s constitution and he has to go.

He ruled out the possibilities of any safe passage to the President.