Govt seeks to be part of investigation

ISLAMABAD: The spot-fixing scandal allegedly involving Pakistan’s cricketers continued to create waves on Monday, with the government scrambling to get involved in the matter. With a three-member team from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) preparing to fly out to London, Pakistan has officially asked Scotland Yard to allow it to be part of the investigations into the scandal.

“Scotland Yard has been requested to make Pakistan a part of the investigation process,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told The Express Tribune.

The request has been made through the Pakistan High Commission in London, the spokesman said. “We are  waiting for their (Scotland Yard) response,” he added.

The government had already announced that it would send a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team to London to examine the allegations that some Pakistani cricketers were involved in spot-fixing. The team, which will be headed by by FIA director Altaf Hussain, who will be accompanied by Inam Ghani and Inspector Tahir, have applied for UK visas, and will proceed to London as soon as their documents come through.

Officials said the FIA team will study claims that Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif deliberately bowled no-balls during the final Test against England at Lord’s.

PML-N submits privilege motion against Altaf Hussain

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday submitted a privilege motion against the statements issued by Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

At least 87 PML-N members signed the privilege motion which was submitted in the National Assembly Secretariat.

The motion says that the statement issued by Altaf Hussain is against the spirit of democracy and the sanctity of the parliament. The motion will be forwarded to the national assembly’s standing committee on privilege.

President Zardari slams MQM chief’s pro-martial law statement

Reacting to MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s support to martial law to weed out corrupt politicians and feudal lords, President Asif Ali Zardari said no one in his right mind will want to take this responsibility and that only democracy can carry this yoke.

In an interview to Western journalists,  Zardari denied that the country’s worst humanitarian disaster would impair the military’s fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants, conducted under US pressure in the northwest.

The president called on Washington to make more efforts to win over hearts and minds from entrenched anti-Americanism, such as by reducing tariffs on cotton exports.

Zardari denied that the country’s worst humanitarian disaster would impair the military’s fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants.