Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has admitted that delay in judges’ restoration was his biggest mistake.

During an interview with a UK daily Financial Times, Gilani admitted that “I should have restored the judiciary in the beginning. That is my biggest mistake. Then we would have not wasted our energies on each other. It would have been better that we would have concentrated on the people of Pakistan”.

Enlisting the achievements of the incumbent government Gilani said, “The successes are that we have very ably completed two years with consensus in parliament. We did a lot of legislation. The biggest success is that we have gathered the whole nation together on one platform for fight against terrorism and that is the biggest victory ever. The other biggest victory is accommodating 2.5million IDPs to go back to their homes in the shortest possible time of three months”.

Replying to a question on US-Pak strategic dialogue the PM said, “We want to have a very meaningful and result-oriented meeting in the United States”.

On Afghanistan he said, “Pakistan is the only country which can help Afghanistan and you cannot achieve stability in Afghanistan without Pakistan.”

DUBAI : Yemen rebels freed 178 government soldiers and civilians on Wednesday, a day after Sanaa accused them of dragging their feet over implementation of a truce deal to end a northern war.

A top Yemeni security body had said on Tuesday that the northern rebels were not fully complying with a deal struck in February to end a conflict that has raged on and off since 2004 and drew in neighbouring oil exporter Saudi Arabia last year.

The prisoners were handed over in the northern province of Saada that was the scene of most of the fighting, and they would be transported to Sanaa on Thursday, Al Arabiya quoted officials in a mediation committee as saying.

Western governments and neighbouring Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda is exploiting instability on many fronts in Yemen to recruit and train militants for attacks in the region and beyond.

Analysts say the truce agreement between the government and rebels, who belong to the minority Zaydi sect of Shi’ite Islam, was unlikely to last as it does not address the insurgents’ complaints of discrimination by Sanaa.

A rebel spokesman denied on Tuesday that the insurgents were using delay tactics and promised to free captive Yemeni soldiers within 48 hours, Al Arabiya television reported at the time. Al Arabiya said those freed on Wednesday included foot soldiers, officers and civilians.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday ordered Director General FIA and Secretary Interior to investigate and submit their reports to the court over issuance of forged arms licences within five days.

At least six people were killed while several others injured in drone strikes in both North and South Waziristan.
The drone fired 5 missiles in Hamzoi, whereas two in Datta Khel, North Waziristan. Meanwhile, in South Waziristan the militants blew up a school.
In Khyber Agency, the miscreants assailed a checkpost at Sheen Darang.
The martyred include three security personnel and two cops.

Al-Qaeda has released a video showing the suicide bomber who is believed to have killed seven CIA employees and a Jordanian officer in Afghanistan.
The video has been made available by the US terrorism monitoring firm IntelCenter and shows Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, inside a vehicle, speaking to the camera and seemingly addressing the CIA. The video shows Al-Balawi holding a gun, saying “Inshallah, death will come to you for unexpected way”.
The Jordanian national, Al-Balawi, blew himself up in December inside Forward operating Base Chapman, a well-fortified US compound, in south-east Afghanistan. The attack is the second biggest in the agency history. Nato and Afghan forces are now in its third week of an offensive to retake control of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Helmand province.

Security forces managed to rescue two abducted Sikhs after an operation at Khyber Agency.

According to ISPR, several militants were killed during a successful operation at Khyber Agency. The operation was launched in the border region of Khyber and Orakzai Agency. The abductors demanded heavy ransom for the release.

The three Sikhs were abducted from the Khyber tribal agency on the Afghan border in January. The decapitated body of one of them was found last week.

Pakistan News: Eid ul Azha will be celebrated across the country today with a religious zeal and fervor and a renewed pledge for peace and brotherhood. Special prayers will be offered after Fajr prayers for peace, progress and prosperity of the country. The day will dawn with exchange of felicitations among the Muslims as they will share their sentiments of brotherhood, love and respect for one another while moving to the congregation places. Then they would gather at mosques at open places (Eidgahs) to offer prayers and commemorate the great sacrifices of Hazrat Ibrahim, the beloved Prophet of Allah Almighty. Special sermons are delivered at congregations to highlight the importance of the Day and spirit behind the sacrifices of the animals to the will of God. This festival reminds us the commitment of Hazrat Ibrahim, who on the will of God, offered the sacrifice of his dear son Hazrat Ismail. This act of Hazrat Ibrahim was so graciously liked by Allah Almighty that He made sacrifice obligatory to those Muslims who afford it. After offering prayers and hearing to the sermons of the preachers, they sacrifice their animals and share happiness and meat with their relatives, neighbors and friends in a gesture of love and brotherhood. Yesterday, Eid ul Azha was celebrated in Middle Eastern and European countries; where as in some areas of NWFP, including Mehmund Agency, Khyber Agency and Nowshehra, Eid was celebrated yesterday.