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| 28 April 2005 | Thursday | 18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426 |
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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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Senator congratulates President on his brilliant achievement Karachi April 28 PPI: President Musharraf is the only leader of South Asia who by his bold and determined stance has shown a way to peace in the war-ravaged Kashmir, No wonder the Kashmiris, on both side of the LOC, have been looking upto President Musharraf for thesolution of the 57-year-old dispute, which has caused untold miseries to the people of Kashmir and bedeviled relations between India and Pakistan. This was statedby Senator Muhammad Amin Dadabhoy in a statement issued today. He said, it is brilliant and far sighted diplomacy of President Musharraf which has made possible the start of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service which will unite the divided families of Kashmir and resume communication between the divided sectors of the state after half a century. His speech drew special response on the background of his successful diplomacy for peace in the subcontinent .He congratulated the President on his brilliant achievement. (Posted @ 23:45 PST)  Former speaker NA released on parole Multan April 28 PPI: Former Speaker of National Assembly and Central Vice Chairman of PPP Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday on three days parole. He would attend the marriage ceremony of his nephew Abul-Hassan Gilani son of Syed Wajahat Hussain Gilani and younger brother of Asad Murtaza Gilani,MNA, parliamentary Secretary. He would be married to Yousaf Raza's second sister's daughter. He will stay at Islamabad three days. This marriage ceremony would be a congregation of leaders of ruling and opposition parties because Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Naheed Khan, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar ,Qasim Zia, Dr.Safdar Abbasi, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Ch.Shujaat Hussain, Ch.Pervez Elahi and others leaders were invited by Makhdoom Wajahat Hussain Gilani, Sajjada Nasheen of Dardar Musa Pak Shaheed. (Posted @ 23:40 PST) Bush welcomes partial Iraq cabinet WASHINGTON, April 28 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Thursday welcomed the formation of Iraq's first democratically elected government in half a century and vowed continued US support for building democracy there. "I join with all Americans in congratulating Iraq's new leaders and in wishing them well as they begin to serve their country in this new government," Bush said in a statement released by the White House. Iraqi lawmakers Thursday approved Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's cabinet after weeks of damaging political deadlock, but left several key posts, including the oil and defense portfolios, empty for now. Despite expressions of concern from Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, which hoped to hold more posts, the US president said that the cabinet "will represent the unity and diversity of Iraq in the months ahead." Bush said the transitional government faced "important challenges" including training Iraq security forces to battle extremists and insurgents as well as providing basic services to Iraqi citizens, even as it forges ahead with the key political job of writing a new constitution for the war-torn country. (Posted @ 23:15 PST) Some 434 killed in IH-Kashmir in 2004 WASHINGTON, Apr 28 (APP)- The State Department Thursday said during 2004, the number of incidents in Held Kashmir was 284, the number of victims was 1,872, while the number those killed was 434. A senior official said this in response to a question at a briefing to rollout 'Country Reports on Terrorism for 2004.' It was conducted by State Department Counselor Philip Zelikow and National Counterterrorism Center Interim Director John Brennan. These details are available in the new report, listed under India, but identifies the location for the attack as Kashmir, he stated. Brennan said: The umbers for 2003 in Kashmir: there were 52 incidents in Kashmir that were included in the chronology that was issued last year; 284 in 2004. The number of victims in Kashmir in 2003 was 776; in 2004, it was 1,872. The number of killed in Kashmir in 2003 was 111; and in 2004, it was 434. And in the chronology that we are issuing, you will see that is listed under -- for each of the individual incidents, listed under India, but it identifies Kashmir as the location for the attack." Giving details about Iraq, Brennan said: Incidents: 22 in 2003, 201 in 2004. Number of victims in 2003, 501. Number of victims in 2004, 1,709. Number of killed in 2003, 117; in 2004, 554. (Posted @ 23:10 PST) Fire breaks out in chemical factory LAHORE, April 28 (APP): A huge fire broke out in a chemical factory situated on the Bund Road Sanda here Thursday afternoon. According to fire brigade, the flames erupted suddenly in the chemical drums stored in the factory of Khawaja Daud, emitting plumes of thick black smoke curling into the city skyline. APP reporter on the scene said a trailer containing chemical drums which were being unloaded suddenly caught fire. The drums were being unloaded at a textile dyeing factory. As a result of the conflagration, a local mosque was razed to the ground. The Police cordoned off the entire length of the Bund Road, causing a huge traffic jam. As fire spread among the stored chemical drums, these have been exploding at intervals, sending thick black clouds into the evening sky. The ensuing fire also reduced to ashes a rubber sole manufacturing factory as well as five newly constructed flats. The people residing in those flats were luckily evacuated when the blaze started spreading.A handful of workers present in the factory fled the premises when the fire broke out. According to fire brigade official Allah Dittah Ch., fourteen fire units of the city fire brigade and four units of WASA reached the spot and controlled the fire after four hours hectic efforts. About 700 drums full of chemical worth millions of rupees were burnt to ashes. However, no loss of life was reported. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Export of Pakistani manpower to Malaysia from this year: Ghulam Sarwar ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP): Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan Thursday said that export of country's manpower to Malaysia will start from current year. Addressing the 'Face the Press" programme here,the minister said that a high-level Malaysian delegation is arriving Pakistan Thursday to discuss the modalities for the export of Pakistani manpower.(Posted @ 21:00 PST) Pak forex stand at $ 12,996.2 mln KARACHI, Apr 28 (APP)- Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves stood at dollars 12,996.2 million on April 23, 2005, said a statement issued by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) here Thursday. SBP held dollars 10,220.5 million while other banks possessed dollars 2,775.7 million (Posted 21:00 PST) Pakistan well positioned to achieve its economic objectives: says WB official WASHINGTON, Apr 28 (APP)- Tanwir Ali Agha, alternate Executive Director, World Bank, Wednesday said Pakistan is "well positioned now" to achieve its strategy of economic objectives."Pakistan has established its credibility- it has experience and it has a very strong economic growth."(Posted @ 19:45 PST) PM hopes Pakistan, India will agree on WB neutral expert on Baglihar MANGLA, Apr 28 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday expressed the hope that Pakistan and India would agree on a neutral expert from a three-member panel proposed by the World Bank on the controversial Baglihar dam project.(Posted @ 19:45 PST) Pakistan's foreign trade growing at exponential pace Islamabad, April 28 PPI: Pakistan's foreign trade has grown from a mere US$ 18.88 billion in the fiscal year 1999-2000 with expectations that it would cross the $33.50 billion mark at end of current fiscal year 2004-05. Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan, said this while speaking at a meeting of Advisory Council of Commerce Ministry.(Posted @ 19:00 PST) Govt. to repeal Hudood laws: Nilofar ISLAMABAD, April 28 (PPI): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Development, Nilofar Bakhtiar, has said that the government will repeal anti-women clauses from the Hudood Ordinance. She was addressing the 11th Convocation of Islamabad College for Girls (ICG) here Thursday.(Posted @ 19:00 PST) India asked to withdraw troops from Occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD April 28 (PPI): Political and Hurriyat leadership of Kashmir in a joint resolution has asked India to withdraw its troops from Occupied Kashmir to make the process of confidence building measures successful. The resolution was passed in a round table conference held under the title "Indo-Pak ties and future of Kashmir".(Posted @ 19:00 PST) Kashmir: Gilani accuses India of 'dilly-dallying' with Pakistan Srinagar April 28 (PPI): Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Syed Ali Shah Gilani, accused India of 'dilly-dallying with Pakistan on Kashmir.Talking to families of martyrs, he said India is not sincere in its talks with Pakistan and is using the dialogue process as a mere card. He also accused India of making bids to distort the historic status of Kashmir.(Posted @ 19:00 PST) Monetary policy being tightened to control inflation LAHORE, Apr 28 (APP)- Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Dr. Ishrat Hussain said that monetary policy was being tightened to control inflation in the country. "We will continue such efforts till the time inflation comes under control," he said while talking to newsmen at the inaugural session of three-day Annual Conference on Management of the Pakistan Economy at Lahore School of Economics (LSE) here Thursday afternoon.(Posted @ 19:00 PST) Telecom growth to boost software industry: Awais ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP): Minister for Information Technology, Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Thursday urged software industry to divert its resources to developing expertise and products, required for the telecom industry that had begun to register exponential growth in recent months. The Minister was addressing a seminar on "Telecom Software Opportunities," organized by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB). The Minister offered the telecom sector any financial and technical support in the development of software products that could add value to their operations in Pakistan.(Posted @ 19:00 PST) Kashmir: PDP supports Hizb ceasefire offer, demands reduction of Indian troops in IHK Srinagar April 28 (PPI) The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has supported Hizbul Mujahiddin leader Salahuddin's suggestion of favouring ceasefire in IHK.Making a trong plea for a truce, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti also demanded reduction of Indian troops in IHK.(Posted @ 18:30 PST) British Pakistanis can help bridge gulf between Muslim and Western civilization: Maleeha UNITED KINGDOM, CARDIFF Apr 28(APP): Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, has ruled out a "clash of civilizations" between the West and the Muslim world, and impressed upon British Pakistanis to help bridge the gulf that followed 9/11. She was addressing a luncheon hosted in her honour by United International community's President, Shazada M.A.Hayat, at a grand City Hall in Cardiff on Wednesday. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Saudi police arrest 1,000 suspects in Jeddah raid JEDDAH/CAIRO (DPA) - Saudi police have arrested 1,000 illegal immigrants and suspected criminals in a single raid in Jeddah, Arab News reported. Women and children were among the suspects detained during Tuesday's raid in Jeddah's Karantina district, the report said. Some of those arrested are suspected of dealing drugs, while others are accused of overstaying visas issued for pilgrimages to Mecca. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Putin opposes Iranian nuclear bomb JERUSALEM, April 28 (APP/AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin today said he opposed any Iranian effort to a build a nuclear bomb and stressed that nuclear cooperation between Moscow and Tehran was limited to civilian activities. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Provision of low cost houses on top priority: PM ISLAMABAD, Apr 28 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said that the provision of low cost houses especially for low income groups is one of the top most priorities of the present government so that people can get affordable accommodation. Presiding over a meeting of Capital Development Authority (CDA) at Prime Minister House here, he said federal government is opening new sectors in Islamabad to improve the availability of land for construction of houses and flats which in result reduce house demand and the prices of houses. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Pakistan tightens train security after blasts QUETTA, Pakistan, April 28 (AFP) - Pakistan has deployed police commandos to guard trains and railway stations after frequent blasts at various places recently, officials said Thursday. "We have decided to deploy paramilitary soldiers along with up to 30 policemen at every rural and urban station in the province," divisional superintendent of the railways, Ali Hassan, told AFP. At least 10 armed policemen with radio communication systems will travel on each train, he said. (Posted @ 15:30 PST) Abbas orders "iron fist" to keep Palestinian truce GAZA, April 28 (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the use of force if necessary to ensure that Palestinian militants keep a ceasefire with Israel, the official WAFA news agency said on Thursday. Abbas, making his toughest pledge yet on enforcing the truce, was quoted as telling police in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday that nobody must be allowed to break an agreement to ensure calm. (Posted @ 14:30 PST) Afghans celebrate 13th anniversary of mujahedin victory KABUL (DPA) - Under tight security thousands of people today celebrated the 13th anniversary of Afghan freedom fighters victory against the Soviet invasion. At a ceremony celebrating the history, former Afghan king Mohammad Zahir Shah, who was given the title of the father of the nation by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, called all Afghans to strengthen their unity and reconstruct the war-torn country. (Posted @ 14:30 PST) Kofi Annan wants U.N. Security Council expansion in 2005 NEW DELHI (DPA) - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said Thursday he hoped a decision on the expansion of the U.N. Security Council would be taken this year. Delivering a lecture titled "In Larger Freedom - the changing role of the United Nations" in Delhi, Annan said new Security Council members would be from among those who contributed most in economic, financial and diplomatic terms to the United Nations. India, Japan, Germany and Brazil are among the nations aspiring for permanent seats along with the five current members. (Posted @ 14:30 PST) Iraq parliament to vote on Jaafari cabinet line-up BAGHDAD, April 28 (AFP) - The Iraqi parliament is to vote later today on the multi-ethnic government line-up proposed by prime minister-designate Ibrahim Jaafari after weeks of political stalemate fueled by factional infighting. The delay in forming a new government following the landmark January 30 elections had caused concern that ordinary Iraqis, daily targeted by bloody insurgent attacks, could lose confidence in their leaders' ability to rebuild the war-wracked country. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Two Indian policemen killed in Kashmir SRINAGAR, India, April 28 (AFP) - Suspected militants killed two policemen in Srinagar, marking the first attacks on police since Indian and Pakistani leaders met a fortnight ago, police said Thursday. A police officer was brought out of his house and killed by slitting his throat;the other was shot dead while on duty near Kashmir's central jail. No group claimed responsibility for the killings. (Posted @ 14:30 PST) Nine dead as military helicopter crashes in Philippines MANILA, April 28 (AFP) - A military helicopter carrying a group of government scientists crashed in a mountainous area of the northern Philippines on Thursday, killing all nine people on board, officials said. Rescue helicopters were scrambled to the crash site on Mount Namal near the town of Gabaldon, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of here as all nine bodies were retrieved, the air force said. Among those killed were four scientists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Raymundo Punongbayan, the country's most famous seismologist who became a governor of the Filipino chapter of the Red Cross after retirement, officials said. (Posted @ 14:30 PST) Iraqi general shot dead as car bomb kills two soldiers in northern Iraq BAGHDAD, April 28 (AFP) - An Iraqi major-general, Mohsen Abdel Sada, was shot dead early Thursday while on his way to work in the southern Dura district of Baghdad, an interior ministry official said. Earlier, at least two Iraqi soldiers were killed and some 15 people were wounded, including three US soldiers, when a car bomb exploded in Tikrit, northern Iraq, Iraqi police and the US military said. The car bomb, which went off at 7:30 am (0330 GMT) targeted a joint US-Iraqi military checkpoint in the north of the city, some 180 kilometres (110 miles) north of Baghdad, US Major Richard Goldenberg said. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Annan asks India to sign nuclear test ban treaty NEW DELHI, April 28 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday urged India to sign an international treaty banning nuclear testing and support another that puts a cap on the production of fissile material needed for making atomic weapons. In a public speech in New Delhi, Annan referred to the conclusion of a convention on nuclear terrorism earlier this month and hoped that “India will set an example by rapidly adhering to that convention, and will also soon sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, as well as giving active support to the negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty." (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 129.99 points: KARACHI, April 28: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 7145.75, down 129.99 points from Wednesday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, April 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.96 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:10 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) 569-3995 webmaster@dawn.com Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version. |
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