Lahore, Sept 17 : During the ongoing month of Ramazan, an average professional beggar in Pakistan is earning Rs 1000 per day, and a family, depending upon the number of ‘earning members,’ collects Rs 4000-5000 a day.

If multiplied by the 30 days of Ramazan, the total income comes out to be around Rs 150,000, which is enough for the rest of the year to meet the family’s basic needs. The money earned during the Ramzan acts like fixed capital, even as the day to day expenses during the rest 11 months can be met by daily earnings.

Islamabad, Sept 17: Taking a strong exception to the highly unusual Sept. 3 ground attack by US commandos near the Angoor Ada town, the Pakistan Army has reportedly ordered its forces to open fire at US troops if they launch another air or ground raid from across the Afghan border.

According to a Pakistan Army spokesman, the orders are certain to “heighten tensions” between Washington and Islamabad as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned. Although the ground attack was rare, there have been repeated reports of US drone aircraft striking militant targets, the latest being on Sept. 12.

Islamabad - Pakistan on Tuesday demanded an immediate end to incursions by US forces into its territory as the country's jets and helicopter gunships pounded insurgent positions in the tribal areas along the Afghan border, killing 10 rebels and two civilians.

"The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country would be safeguarded at all costs," Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said in a meeting with British Justice Secretary Jack Straw in Islamabad.

Islamabad  - Around 100 women are raped every day in Pakistan's largest city of Karachi, a leading police doctor was quoted as saying Tuesday.

Most were working women or those working as domestic helps, and aged 20 or under, the English Language Daily Times quoted the city's Deputy Police Surgeon Dr Zulfiqar Siyal as saying.

"I am saying with full authority that such a large number of rape cases happen in the city," he told the newspaper on the sidelines of a discussion on sexual violence organized by a women's rights organization, Aurat Foundation.

London  - Pakistan's new President, Asif Ali Zardari, held talks in London Tuesday with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, focussing on terrorism and the recent tension between Washington and I

Islamabad  - At least 12 people, including two civilians, were killed Tuesday as Pakistani jets and helicopter gunships pounded insurgent positions in the country's tribal areas along the Afghan border, officials said.

Thousands of troops backed by tanks and artillery pushed into the district of Bajaur, particularly in the Rashakai, Loi Sam and Tang Khata strongholds of Taliban militants and al-Qaeda-linked fighters from Central Asia, the military said.