PML-N has simple majority in Pakistan Assembly
With Independents lining up to ensure simple majority to the PML-N in the National Assembly, further bolstering the already brute majority in the Punjab assembly, the party has also taken a lead in Balochistan to emerge as the single largest majority.

6 arrested in Gilani’s son kidnapping case
In an operation conducted to rescue former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son, security personnel freed a captive and arrested six alleged abductors, including two women, in Nowshera, about 50 km from Peshawar.

Beijing, May 16
Ahead of Premier Li Keqiang's maiden visit to Islamabad, China today ruled out any change in bilateral ties with the new Pakistan government led by Nawaz Sharif, saying the "all-weather" relationship will continue.

Li heads to Pakistan on May 22 and will be the first foreign dignitary to meet PML-N chief Sharif after his election victory.

"To develop friendly ties with Pakistan is a set policy of successive governments of China. Likewise to develop friendly policy with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said, adding no matter who comes to power in Islamabad the all-weather bilateral ties will continue.

The outcome of the elections in Pakistan will not have any impact on Li's visit, Song told a media briefing here on the Chinese Premier's visit to Pakistan.

Li will set out on his first foreign tour on May 19, visiting India first for three days followed by Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany.

"No matter how the international and regional landscapes and situation within our two countries evolve, relations between our two countries will be further consolidated," Song said.

The fact that Li's visit is taking place right after elections in Pakistan is full indication of high degree of mutual trust and special friendship between the two countries, Song said.

Li will meet President Asif Ali Zardari besides leaders of Pakistan's political parties and military.

He will deliver a speech on bilateral relations and meet people who contributed to China-Pakistan friendship, Song said.

To develop and grow a strategic partnership cooperation between China and Pakistan not only serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples but also contributes to regional and international peace, stability and development, he said. — PTI

Kabul, May 16
A suicide bomber in a car attacked a convoy of foreign troops in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least 15 persons, including six Americans, Afghan and foreign officials said, in one of the worst attacks in the Afghan capital in months.

Over 40 persons were wounded in the blast at around 8 am (0330 GMT) during the morning rush-hour. It caused heavy damage to mud-built houses in the vicinity.

The Hezb-e-Islami insurgent group, which is allied with the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack on the two-vehicle convoy.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the bomber killed two of its members and four civilian contractors. It declined to give nationalities. But two senior officials, one Afghan and the other from ISAF, said the two ISAF soldiers and four contractors were all Americans. Afghan officials said nine Afghan civilians were killed, including two children.

"Some of the dead civilians were badly burnt and cannot be recognised," Kaneshka Baktash, a spokesman for the Health Ministry said. Helicopters buzzed over Kabul's diplomatic area after the attack and sirens whined.

"We were in our home drinking tea when the we heard a blast and our windows shattered, the glass wounded all of us," Zohra, a wounded girl who only gave her first name, said from a hospital bed. Her head was wrapped in a bandage.

A Hezb-e-Islami spokesman said US military advisers were the targets. "We planned this attack for over a week," the spokesman, Haroon Zarghoun, said by telephone. — Reuters

With Independents lining up to ensure simple majority to the PML-N in the National Assembly, further bolstering the already brute majority in the Punjab assembly, the party has also taken a lead in Balochistan to emerge as the single largest majority.

"We have now got simple majority in the National Assembly for Nawaz Sharif to be elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan," former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said here on Thursday after a meeting with JUI chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman.

Fazal said his party's centre committee will meet on Friday to consider support for the Nawaz Sharif government.

Sharif is also assured of support from Baloch, Sindh and Pushtoon nationalist parties whom he is expected to induct in his Cabinet to give it a broad national outlook.

Sindh will have PPP-led government which has hinted at aligning the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the coalition.

Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) reached an agreement with rightwing Jamaat Islami and former interior minister in the Musharraf government Aftab Sherpao's Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) to cobble together a coalition government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that will also include Independents.

Top leadership of PTI met Imran at a hospital in Lahore for two hours and designated Pervez Khattak to be chief minister amid serious intra party differences preferring him over long-time PTI loyalist Asad Qaiser. Khattak, a classmate of Imran in Lahore's prestigious Acheson College, has been shifting parties and getting ministerial posts in various governments before he joined the PTI about a year ago.