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| 18 August 2004 | Wednesday | 01 Rajab 1425 |
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Updated round-the-clock, with a major update before 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT).
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Welcome to DAWN, Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper. Updated round-the-clock, with a major update before 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT). |
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Shaukat Aziz leading in both constituencies as counting countinues: ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Preliminary results from two key Pakistani by- elections today showed finance minister and prime minister- designate Shaukat Aziz well on track to win a parliamentary seat, a necessity if he is to become the country's next government leader. Unofficial results from 105 out of 253 polling stations in the Attock constituency showed Aziz leading close rival Sikandar Hayat, a joint opposition party candidate, by 39,881 votes to 10,987. Preliminary counts from 50 polling stations in Tharparkar constituency, in Sindh province, put Aziz way head of opposition candidate Dr. Mahesh Mullani with 27,744 votes to 5,135. Official results are not expected until late Monday night, owing to the size and remote location of both constituencies. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told reporters in Islamabad following a cabinet meeting today that the new prime minister and his cabinet would be sworn into office by August 25. (DPA) (Posted @ 22:30 PST) 
Shujaat to select constituency for Shaukat Aziz: ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed today said if Shaukat Aziz wins elections from both constituencies of Attock and Tharparker districts, then President PML Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will decide about selection of constituency for him. Talking to ARY-One, he said that the enthusiasm of the voters shows that Shaukat Aziz will hopefully win elections of National Assembly from both the constituencies. (APP) (Posted @ 22:30 PST)
Sindh CM Congratulates Shaukat on 'winning': KARACHI, Aug 18: The Sindh Chief Minister, Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, congratulated Prime Minister in-waiting Shaukat Aziz on his victory from the Tharparkar-I constituency. This was 2 hours before polls had closed and counting had yet to begin. In a television interview he said that he knew by 10 a.m who was to be the winner and had therefore already congratulated Shaukat Aziz on his victory. Meanwhile opposition leaders have issued statements claiming that their polling agents were forcibly removed from many polling stations in order to allow the government party to stuff the ballot boxes. Allegations of rigging add to the tension of an election which has so far seen an attempt on Mr. Aziz's life as well as the murder of three PPPP activists during the campaigning in Attock. (Bureau Report) (Posted @ 17:05 PST)
By-elections to put PM-designate in place marred by rigging claims: ATTOCK, Aug 18: Shaukat Aziz, the finance wizard chosen by President Pervez Musharraf to be Pakistan's next prime minister, sought a seat in the parliament's lower house today through two by-elections marred by an attempt to kill him, the murder of three opposition workers and rigging claims. The by-elections are being held in the northwest seat of Attock and the far south's Tharpakar constituency to channel Aziz, currently finance minister, to the lower house from the senate so he can take up the post. He will replace Zafarullah Jamali who resigned June 26 amid rumours Musharraf was unhappy with his performance. Aziz is a former Citibank executive and a respected technocrat with no political party affiliation. (AFP) (Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Polling for election to NA-229 Tharparkar begins: MITHI, Aug 18: Polling for by-election to NA-229, Tharparkar-I began today morning in all 220 polling stations in a peaceful manner. The polling started at 8 a.m. in almost all polling stations and will continue till 5 p.m. without any break. The Election Commission has set up 220 polling stations for a total of 251579 registered voters, of them 138975 are male and 112604 are female. A total of 591 Polling Booths have been set up in these 220 polling stations of which 327 booths have been set up for male and 264 for female voters. The Election Commission has assigned 220 Presiding Officers, 591 Assistant Presiding Officers and 591 Polling Officers to conduct the polling process. The District Administration Tharparkar intensified security arrangements at 47 polling stations, which have been declared as sensitive. (APP) (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
Polling continues at brisk pace for NA-59 Attock-III by-elections: FATEH JANG, Aug 18: Polling for by-election to NA-59 Attock-III began today on time with people turning up in large number to exercise their right of vote. People have started to gather at the polling stations well ahead of the time which started at 8:00. There are 2,38,000 registered voters in the constituency. (APP) (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
Government offers hefty rewards for information on top Al-Qaeda suspects: ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Government today announced rewards totalling 1.1 million dollars for information on six wanted terror suspects including Al-Qaeda's Libyan planner Abu Faraj Farj, described by Pakistani intelligence as the terror network's new number three. The government placed advertisements on the front pages of major newspapers offering rewards of 20 million rupees (345,000 dollars) each for Faraj and Pakistani militant Amjad Hussain Farooqi and bounties of 10 million to five million rupees (172,000 to 86,000 dollars) each for four other Pakistani suspects. All six are Al-Qaeda suspects believed to have played a role in two December attempts to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf. (AFP) (Posted @ 12:45 PST)
Al-Qaeda suspect dies in police custody: ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: An Islamic cleric suspected of having links with Al-Qaeda died in police custody today, about a week after his arrest, police said. Qari Noor Mohammad, who was arrested in Faisalabad, died of natural causes, city police chief Abid Saeed said. "He died a natural death, apparently due to cardiac arrest," Saeed told AFP. Religious circles in Faisalabad claimed he was tortured but Saeed denied the claims. Noor Mohammad was detained "for interrogation over reports that he was involved in anti-state activities," the officer said. He said the deceased was an Afghan refugee who had been residing in Pakistan for a long time. Qari Noor Muhammad, a religious teacher, was arrested along with another cleric on August 13 in a crackdown against Al-Qaeda suspects. (AFP) (Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Pakistani swimmer Mumtaz beaten in heats: ATHENS, Aug 18: Athens Olympics swimming competition for Pakistan swimmer Mumtaz Ahmad was over in just 59.19 seconds as he was eliminated in the 100 m free style heats today at the Olympic Pool. Mumtaz finished 6th out of the 7-man competition. (AFP) (Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Karzai's 17 rivals threaten boycott of Afghan election: KABUL, Aug 18: Afghan President Hamid Karzai's 17 rivals in the presidential race today threatened to boycott landmark October 9 polls unless he stepped down before the elections. "Karzai misuses government facilities for his electoral campaign -- all (17) presidential candidates have unanimously agreed to ask for his resignation," Abdul Satar Sirat, one of the candidates, claimed at a press conference. (AFP) (Updated @ 16:35 PST)
Karzai promises Afghans security for election: KABUL, Aug 18: Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai promised Afghans greater security when they go to vote in the country's first ever democratic election during an independence day speech today. "In order to provide security for the constituencies and voters, the government, the international community's forces and the United Nations will strongly endeavour to prevent the small groups which come to our country from across the border," Karzai said at an Independence Day parade. (Reuters) (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Karzai urges neighbours to stop militants crossing borders: KABUL, Aug 18: President Hamid Karzai called today on neighbouring countries to prevent militants crossing into Afghanistan through poorly monitored borders and cooperate in the "fight against terror." "Today I kindly request Afghanistan's neighbouring countries' cooperation in the fight against terror," Karzai said in an address to the nation marking Afghan Independence Day. (AFP) (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Afghan refugees in Pakistan may participate in presidential elections: KABUL, Aug: Afghan national security advisor, Zalmay Rasul expressed his hope that Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan may participate in presidential elections. Mr. Rasul expressed the hope that participation in election of Afghan refugees in Pakistan should be made after necessary coordination with Pakistani officials. (AFP) (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Iraq picks interim national assembly: BAGHDAD, Aug 18: Iraqi political and religious leaders picked an interim national assembly today, choosing a list of candidates backed by the government, a senior member of the organising committee said.The selection of the assembly, which will oversee the government and pave the way for elections in January, marks the end of four days of often heated debate among 1,300 delegates. (Reuters) (Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Polish base in Iraq comes under mortar attack: Polish army - WARSAW, Aug 18: The base of the Polish-led multinational force at Babylon in southern Iraq came under mortar attack at least six times today, an army spokesman said, adding there were no victims. (AFP) (Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Palestinian officials abused their positions: Arafat - RAMALLAH, Aug 18: Yasser Arafat said today that officials within his Palestinian Authority had abused their positions of power and made "unacceptable" mistakes and violated the trust that has been placed in them. (AFP) (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
Five Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza City: GAZA CITY, Aug 18: Five Palestinians were killed and another five wounded when an Israeli helicopter gunship fired at least one missile at an open area in eastern Gaza City today, Palestinian medical sources said. Another five people were injured in the strike, one of whom was in critical condition, they said. (AFP) (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Iran will destroy Israeli nuclear facilities if own attacked: military - TEHRAN, Aug 18: Iran will strike the Israeli reactor at Dimona if Israel launches an attack on Iran's own burgeoning nuclear facilities, a commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards said today. "If Israel fires one missile at Bushehr atomic power plant, it should permanently forget about Dimona nuclear centre, where it produces and keeps its nuclear weapons, and Israel would be responsible for the terrifying consequence of this move," General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr was quoted as saying in the press. (AFP) (Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Iran's nuclear program must be brought to UN Security Council: senior US official - WASHINGTON, Aug 18: Iran's nuclear program, which the United States charges is a front for atomic weapons development, must be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions to be imposed on the Islamic Republic, a senior US official said today. (AFP) (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
At least 38 dead as trains collide head-on near Calcutta: CALCUTTA, Aug 18: At least 38 people were killed today when two trains collided head-on near Calcutta, rail officials said. At least 55 others were injured in the collision near the town of Kharagpur, the officials at the Southeastern Rail headquarters told AFP. The accident occurred at 4:10 pm (1040 GMT). (AFP) (Posted @ 23:50 PST)
Nepal Maoists issue "death sentence" to nine journalists: KATHMANDU, Aug 18: Maoist insurgents have issued a "death sentence" to nine local journalists working in western Nepal, newspaper reports said today. (DPA) (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Delhi police arrest Kashmiri lecturer, his sister: NEW DELHI, Aug 18: In India the Delhi police illegally arrested a Kashmiri lecturer and his sister under false charges. The Delhi police raided the hostel of Jamia Millia, New Delhi and took into custody Sajjad Ahmad Lone, lecturer in electronics at Jamia's engineering college besides his sister a student of M.Sc Agriculture at the University. (PPI) (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 40.11 points: KARACHI, Aug 18: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 5417.86, up 40.11 points from Tuesday's close. The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)   Editor: Tahir Mirza The DAWN Group of Newspapers Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan. Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777 Fax: +92 (21) 568-3188 webmaster@dawn.com Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version. |
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