Plain Crashes involving Pakistan Airlines or in Pakistan.

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Airblue's A321crashed into the margalla hills of the capitol city of Pakistan - Islamabad. Though this is first such disaster for Airblue, Pakistan's National flag carrier has been involved in a few crashes.

NewsKi Duniya has compoiled a list of such crahes.

1965 
May 20, Cairo: Pakistan International Airways 707 crashed on landing at airport; 124 killed.

1979 
Nov. 26, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Pakistan International Airlines 707 carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca crashed on takeoff; all 156 aboard killed.

2006 
July 10, Multan, Pakistan: a Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F-27 turboprop crashed minutes after take off, killing all 45 on board.

The fate of Gilgit-Islamabad flight is still unknown. It is believed that Fokker F-27 Friendship of PIA carrying 54 people crashed in the Himalaya mountains.

Air Blue Airbus 321 flight 202 crashes into Margalla Hills.

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Air Blue Airbus A321 flight 202 crashed into Margalla Hills at somewhere around 9:30 Am local time here in Pakistan...

There were 159 plus the cabin crew on board that flight. It is reported to have lost contact about 30 minutes before landing with the control tower.

Initial news showed that the likelihood of survival of any passengers is not very high although there were unconfirmed reports that 4-5 passengers have been pulled out alive out of the rubble.

On TV screens it seemed that there was hardly any recognizable part of the plain that was completely intact, but that owed to poor visibility due to rain and mist in the Amrgalla area as well.

The ill fated flight was bound to Islamabad's Benazir International Airport coming from Karachi.

UPADTE: There were 147 people on board not 159. 159 passengers were supposed to travel but 12 lucky travellers could not make it to the flight.

Jaswant Singh, along with a representative of Rupa and Co, publisher of the book 'Jinnah -- India, Partition, Independence', filed a petition in the apex court against the ban imposed by the Narendra Modi government on August 19, two days after the book's launch, agencies reported.
Times Of India
The communist reflects!

England Wins Ashes

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England has once again won the Ashes, against all odds. Though they were playing a significantly less strengthened Ozzie team this time around, yet however weak Australia is, they are still a strong enough threat with the likes of Ponting and Haden in the ranks.
BBC: "After losing 5-0 in Australia in 2007, victory in The Oval sun was reminiscent of England's famous 2005 Ashes win.
Australia resumed on 80-0 needing a further 466 for a world record win but twice lost two wickets in two overs."
(Victorious England regain Ashes)

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• The Ashes: Ricky Ponting insists it will be difficult for England to bounce back (telegraph.co.uk)

Pakistan Wins T20 again under Captain Afridi

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Afridi proved it once again that his batting and bowling successes in T20 World Cup were not a fluke.

Completing his third consecutive 50 in the T20 Internationals, he proved again that he's the king in this format of the game. Though this innings was not as impressive as the previous two, but Afridi is a treat to watch no matter what kind of form is he in.

This shortest form of the game seems to come natural to Pakistan team as all the excitment that makes them unpredictable in other formats of the game comes together to create an atmosphere where Pakistan thrives.

Though Afridi was the most successful in terms of accumulated runs, the other Pakistani batsmen made valuable contributions. Imran Nazir was the main spearhead in the first few overs after Kamran Akmal departed on the first ball of the innings. He showed no restraint or pressure as the situation might have seemed to ask for, and went on with his natural stroke making.

Umar Akmal was also a good partner to have for Afridi in the middle of the innings, they had a partnership of 66 together. Umar scored at more than a run a ball rate and scored 30 Runs.

Abd-ur-Razzaq showed his metal with quick scoring at the death, and reached 25 without getting out. Last over by Lasith Malinga was not an easy one to negotiate with for Razzaq who would have taken the score even higher had he been able to connect his bat to a couple of more balls.

Today's match against Sri Lanka was also the first match as a captain for Shahid Afridi and his team did him proud. Every one chipped in their share as Afridi lead from the front and finished the series on a high note even though their performance in Test and first three one dayers was nothing short of dismal

Related articles

• Shahid Afridi's Biography (News Ki Duniya)
• Cricket: Pakistan Tries Its Luck With an Unlikely Captain (nytimes.com)

Exiled Pakistani Leaders Love Britain as thier Master.

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Musharraf is living in Britain these days as most Pakistani leaders do once out of power, following suit to the 2 ex prime ministers Nawaz and Benazir as well as Altaf Hussain, leader of the third biggest party in Pakistan, Mutahida Qaumi Movement.
This probably goes to prove that the 62 year old nation has not been able to shed the skin of their colonial past completely and their colonial masters as still their masters in freedom.
Maybe Musharraf is banking his hopes on the fact that the two previously ousted prime ministers were able to make a successful come back to some level of power with the help of their colonial masters of course. Though Benazir Bhutto perished in her quest for third term in the office by hands of the rampant terrorist, her other half was able to masterfully encash her death in terms of votes and rise to power.
Nawaz Shareef was also able to negotiate his come back to pakistani politics despite all attempts by Musharraf to keep him out of the country and out of office in turn, but the dictator tactics failed miserably in the face of popular public opinion.
Nawaz who was expelled from the country masterfully by Musharraf, now enjoys power in the most populous province in the country while Musharraf has fell into a trap of his own making.
so "What you wish for others, comes true for you".

Related articles

• Musharraf's '07 Actions Ruled Illegal (nytimes.com)
• Pervez Musharraf faces Supreme Court questions over Pakistan emergency (telegraph.co.uk)
• Musharraf 2007 Emergency Rule Declared Illegal By Pakistani Court (huffingtonpost.com)

Viewpoint: The End of Iran's Green Revolution | Newsweek International | Newsweek.com

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Viewpoint: The End of Iran's Green Revolution Newsweek International Newsweek.com: "Before and during the Jackson-induced media lull, the message got away from the opposition and was badly warped in the Western press. Inside Iran, throngs gathered on the streets not because they wanted liberal democracy but because, in the words of Ali Larijani—the conservative speaker of the parliament and a close ally of the Supreme Leader—'the majority of Iranians don't believe the election.' Anger is why Iranians coursed through the capital: young, old, bearded, clean-shaven, chador-clad, pious, secular, and Chanel-wearing fashionistas all wanted to register their disapproval of what they believed to be a rigged vote. It was that simple"

Related articles

• Khamenei's Deadly Dauphin (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Khamenei's son to lead Iran militia (guardian.co.uk)

Little time to savour T20 win, says Afridi | Cricket News | ICC World Twenty20 2009 | Cricinfo.com

Little time to savour T20 win, says Afridi : "The short gap between the recently concluded ICC World Twenty20 and the next edition in the West Indies in April 2010 has robbed Pakistan of the chance to fully savour the triumph, the allrounder Shahid Afridi has said."
cricinfo.com

Future of pakistan Cricket is bright

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There has not been much cricket in recent years in Pakistan. Most of the series were either moved out of Pakistan or cancelled altogether. Same is the plight with the upcoming world cup matches and the champions trophy. But Pakistan team has proved to the cricket pundits once and for all that Cricket does have a future in Pakistan and it's here to stay... with or without their blessings.

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• Pakistan cricketers return home (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Gul heroics inspire Pakistan win (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Cricket goes byee-byee in Pakistan... (teabreak.pk)

U.S. Perspective on Iran

U.S. Scrambles for Information on Iran : "As President Obama and his advisers watch the drama unfolding in Tehran, they are having to cope with a frustrating lack of reliable information — about the clashes between the police and protesters, about the strength of the opposition movement and, most of all, about the divisions within the ranks of Iran’s powerful clerics..."
NY Times

Layers of Armed Forces Wielding Power of Law: "The Revolutionary Guards, the Praetorian guard that has long protected the government of Iran, posted a notice on its Web site on Monday saying that further protests would not be tolerated..."
NY Times

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• Iran's Spending Spree in Afghanistan (time.com)

Violence in Iran increases

Violence in Iran increases : "In the past day the violence has increased in Iran. It started this morning with a suicide bombing attack on a shrine of Iran's revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The bombing was most likely planned at the shrine to anger Iranians because they revere Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the founder of the Islamic Republic.In the past day the violence has increased in Iran. It started this morning with a suicide bombing attack on a shrine of Iran's revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The bombing was most likely planned at the shrine to anger Iranians because they revere Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the founder of the Islamic Republic..."
WikiNews

Deposed Shah's son urges media to highlight Iran's 'cry for freedom' : "The son of the last Shah of Iran, former crown prince Reza Pahlavi on Monday called on international journalists to continue their efforts to shed light on what is taking place on the streets of Iran, and thanked them for their 'attention to the cry for freedom and democracy.'..."
Haaretz (Israeli News paper)

West 'seeks Iran disintegration'

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West 'seeks Iran disintegration': "Western powers are seeking to undermine Iran by spreading 'anarchy and vandalism', the foreign ministry says.
A spokesman said foreign media were 'mouthpieces' of enemy governments seeking Iran's disintegration."
BBC News

Pakistan celebrates Twenty20 triumph

Pakistan celebrates Twenty20 triumph: "Pakistan erupted in celebration Sunday after its national team beat Sri Lanka at Lord's to win the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup, a rare moment of joy amid the gloom of the country's bloody unrest.

Pakistan reached a modest, 139-run target for the loss of two wickets with eight balls to spare to win their first major trophy since 1992, when Imran Khan led them to victory in the 50-over World Cup in Australia..."

Ex cricketers laud T20 victory: "Former cricketers termed Pakistan’s victory in Twenty20 world cup as positive sign for Pakistan cricket and hoped that International Cricket Council (ICC) will review its decision of depriving Pakistan from World Cup matches..."

The News (Pakistani News Paper)

Quotes from T20 Presentation ceremony

Afirdi Quotes:
"T20 is about enjoying and having fun ... if you enjoy ... you do well".

Asked by Nasir Hussain, How is your hurt Toe? Afridi Replies, "After this victory, I don't feel anything"

Younis Khan Quotes:
"We were underdogs so we had less pressure"

"After Razzaq came and Shahzeb opened, suddenly we got it going"

Asked by Nasir Hussain about planning to get Dilshan out, Younis Replies "That's why I've lost so many hair"

... And Pakistan does it again... T20 Cricket Champions

ENGLAND: Pakistan did once again what they do best... They kept everyone in doubt from the start to lower everyone's expectations, lost a few matches they should have easily won, then notched it up many gears when it mattered the most. They grew from strength to strength but saved their best performance for last... It all summed up what smith said after their semi final defeat, "Pakistan can beat any team on their day". On that note we can easily say that every day of the last week was Pakistan's day.

Pakistan was at their utmost best in all departments of the game, be it batting bwoling or fielding. First it was the bowlers who ran havoc through Sri Lankan top order. Then all 4 batsmen who played showed their skills with the bat, without the haste and uncertainty that has normally been the feature of pakistan cricket, but utmost confidence, responsibility and positivity.

Almost all cricketing pundits had written pakistan off on the pretext of lack of International cricketing practice, bad selection, lack of team unity, you name it. Whatever wrong could be found with the team was brought into the limelight and swelled it manyfolds. But all that was proven wrong.

In the end Pakistan once again spoiled the party for all the big names, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the end.

Pakistan increases pace as the openers depart (65/2 10 overs)

ENGLAND : Both openers eventually departed at 63 when 74 were required at the Required rate of 7.40 per over.
Afridi and Shoaib Malik were playing with caution til last news.

Pakistan starts cautiously but avoids losing wickets (48/0 7 overs)

ENGLAND: Pakistan started slow, well below their asking rate, but the openers make sure not to lose any early wickets.
Kamran Akmal and Shahzeb Hassan build a strong opening partnership.

Shahid Afridi Biography

Shahid Afridi Biography : "Sahibzaha Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (born March 1, 1980) popularly known as Shahid Afridi is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented Pakistan since 1996 in international cricket. He made his ODI debut on October 2, 1996 against Kenya at Nairobi and his Test debut on October 22, 1998 against Australia at Karachi. He has scored over 4,500 ODI runs at a strike rate of more than 107 runs per 100 balls, and has taken over 160 ODI wickets. He was brought on the team as a legspinner at the age of sixteen. He then gained fame as a slugger and began opening with Saeed Anwar. He holds the record for scoring the fastest century (which he scored in 37 balls) in One Day Internationals. He also shares the record for the second fastest century (on 45 balls) in One Day Internationals with Brian Lara. He is known as one of Pakistan’s greatest all rounders. He is one of the biggest hitters of the ball, and has a higher strike rate than any batsman in the world.
A propensity for the unexpected, and a reputation for lacking patience while batting has meant that he has never been able to command a regular place in the Pakistan side. However, in the two games between Pakistan and India, contested in 2005, that he participated in, Afridi made a massive impact, recording the fastest test half-century, and dismissing Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar three times, in helping Pakistan register an unlikely draw with an under-manned side."
Incredible-people.com

Personal Information on Shahid Afridi: Afridi is a very flamboyant personality in the Pakistan cricket team. Along with Shoaib Akhtar, he enjoys a very notorious reputation. He has been linked with various Indian actresses and was also named in a recent 'sex scandal'.

Favorites of Shahid

Nick Name : Shah

First love : My parents

Music : Light music and folk songs

Singers : Backstreet boys, Spice Girls, Ricky Martin

Song: Quit playing games with my heart

Hindi Song : 'Hum Tumhe Chahate Hai Aise' (Qurbani) and 'So Gaya Yeh Jahan' (Tezaab)Movie : Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

Actor : Sharukh Khan

Actresses : Sonali Bendre & Twinkle Khanna

Cricket Heroes : Imran Khan, Javed Miadad, Wasim Akram

Colors : Blue, White and Red

Drink : Orange Juice

Food : Chicken Biryani & Kheer & Ice-cream

Fruit : MangoDress : Jeans & T-shirt

Cool facts on Afridi

Afridi owns a car showroom in Karachi and drives a Toyota Corola 98' model. He stands 5ft 11inches tall. He has a huge family with 9 brothers and sisters. Afridi is one of a kind. There is no point telling him to watch the length of the ball. The line of attack never bothers him because he hits the ball so hard. Even the best of fielders with strong palms would think twice before laying their hands on the ball. Unconventional characters like Afridi bring immense joy to the game which has always laid emphasis on tradition and technique. There are many who do not give much credence to the freedom that Afridi brings to the art of batting but there many more waiting to watch Afridi take on the bowlers.

Best Compliment

Cricket is not cricket without Shahid Afridi’, compliment given by - Michael Holding.

Funniest MomentIn his words,"During one of Pakistan’s tours abroad, I was told by the manager to catch the next flight home because they were replacing me with Mushtaq Ahmed.I was stunned, but got up the next day, checked out of the hotel and went to the airport with the manager. He was kind enough to tell me then, that it was All Fools Day".

Worst Habit

He has a very bad habit of forgetting things.

Achievements

He holds the record for the fastest 100 in One Day Internationals.
Yeh Hai Cricket

Sangakkara and Mathews restore sanity after early scare (138/6)

ENGLAND: Besides the early scare, Sangakkara and Angelo Matthews restored sanity after the top batting order failed miserably.
Sangakkara played anchor and did most of the running initially and then in teh final overs Angelo Mathews wrecked havoc amongst Pakistani bowling attack to give sri lanka more than a fighting total. Muhammad Aamir went for a few boundaries in his final over ...
The final score tally was 138/6.
Well done Sangakkara (64 off 42 balls) and Angelo Matthews (35 off 24 balls)
News Ki Duniya (This Blog :) )

Pakistan starts T20 Final on a high note.(Sri Lanka 4/32, 6 Overs )

ENGLAND: Pakistani bowlers dessimate Sri Lankan to batting order with Dilshan the tournament's Top scorer and another one of Sri Lanka's top Player, Jehan Mubarak - both out for a duck inside the first 6 Overs.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka set for emotional clash in T20 final: "Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two teams linked by tragedy, have begun what promises to be an epic ICC World Twenty20 final at Lord’s on Sunday."
DAWN.COM