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| May 16, 2005 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Italian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan: Report ROME, May 16 (AFP) - An Italian aid worker with the group CARE International was kidnapped in Kabul Monday, ANSA news agency said quoting the Italian foreign ministry. The agency said her kidnapping in a central Kabul district around 8:30 pm was witnessed by several people. The report was confirmed by the Italian embassy in Kabul. The woman was abducted by four armed men, security sources in Kabul said. Afghan police had earlier identified her as Canadian. Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said a special panel had been set up to handle the latest kidnapping involving an Italian national overseas. (Posted @ 00:30 PST)
More than 3000 agri-graduates threaten mass suicide in IHK ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, Agriculture graduates have threatened mass suicide due to unemployment. More than 3000 unemployed agriculture graduates in the state are equally desperate. Many have already crossed the upper age limit as no appointments have been made in the agriculture department since 1997. Hundreds hold masters and doctorate degrees, Greater Kashmir reported. Musadaq-ul-Hassan committed suicide by jumping into Jhelum River last month. Having a master's degree in agriculture, Musadaq was about to cross upper age limit for government services and all his efforts to get government job had failed.(Posted @ 23:30 PST)
NA adopts Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2005 ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): The National Assembly on Monday adopted with majority the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2005, further amending the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi had moved the Bill for consideration at once, as reported by the Standing Committee. Earlier, the House rejected amendments moved by the opposition members in clause 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 17 of the Bill, as the government side opposed the amendments.(Posted @ 23:25 PST)
Annan calls for restraint in Uzbekistan UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday called for restraint from all parties involved in deadly clashes in Uzbekistan. In a statement, Annan said he was "saddened by the news of the loss of life including civilians," and asked for compliance with international humanitarian law and cooperation with UN refugee relief teams in the region. Violence in the Central Asian country began on Friday when the Uzbek military cracked down on anti-government demonstrators in the eastern town of Andijan, reportedly killing dozens and perhaps hundreds of people.(Posted @ 23:25 PST)
Female aid worker kidnapped in Kabul KABUL (DPA) - A female aid worker was kidnapped in the Afghan capital Kabul Monday, police confirmed. Police gave no further details. Witnesses said the kidnapped woman was possibly a Canadian working with the CARE international aid organisation. Kidnappings by criminals or extremists are quite common in Kabul. Recently an attempt was made to kidnap three employees of the World Bank.(Posted @ 23:25 PST)
Pakistan will not drop Iran gas pipeline project: President Musharraf Islamabad, May 16 PPI: President General Pervez Musharraf Monday said he would not be persuaded by the United States to drop plans to build a gas pipeline from Iran. The pipeline would cross Pakistan and India and is seen as a cornerstone of a two-year-old peace process between the two neighbours.However, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned the countries against proceeding with $4.5 billion pipeline In an interview with the Financial Times in Islamabad, President Musharraf maintained he would take a decision by year end based solelyon Pakistan's national interest."We are short of energy. We need gas immediately. Our industry is suffering, investment coming to Pakistan is suffering, so our interest is to get gas fast. Iran is the fastest source," he argued..(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Britain urges Uzbekistan to open protest city to diplomats, media LONDON, May 16 (AFP) - Britain on Monday renewed its criticism of Uzbekistan, denouncing reported incidents of soldiers opening fire on civilians and demanding that it grant diplomats, aid workers and journalists access to the site of deadly protests."We remain very concerned indeed about the accounts which we've received of troops opening fire on civilians in Andijan," Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Israelis arrested for plotting attack on Islam's third holiest shrine JERUSALEM, May 16 (AFP) - Nine Jewish extremists were arrested last month on suspicion of preparing a rocket attack against Islam's third holiest shrine, Israeli security sources revealed Monday.The nine were arrested after an operation led by the Shin Beth internal security agency on suspicion they intended to buy one or more anti-tank missiles for the planned attack on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, police sources said.(Posated @ 19:30 PST)
President, PM call for political unity ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday underscored the importance of political unity for continued focus on translating economic development into tangible benefits for the common man. Addressing senior leaders of Pakistan Muslim League at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the two leaders said elected representatives have a vital role to play in realizing the objectives of sustainable socio-economic progress at grass roots level. President Musharraf reiterated his firm commitment to the democratic process and democracy in the country. He stated that the local government elections would take place this year as scheduled while general elections would be held in 2007.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Several injured in grenade blast in occupied Kashmir Srinagar, May 16 (PPI): An estimated 15 to 25 people were injured in a grenade blast at Pattan Chowk in the Baramulla district of occupied Kashmir on Monday morning, the Kashmir Media Service reported.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Body of Pakistani national returns from Iraq after 16 months LAHORE, May 16 (PPI): The body of a Pakistani national, Habib-ur-Rehman, hailing from Lahore, arrived on Monday from Iraq where he had died under unknown circumstances. The arrangements were made by the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International with the cooperation of the Pakistan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Pakistan Embassy at Baghdad.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Afghan militants attack from Pakistan: U.S. officer KABUL, May 16 (Reuters) - Afghan militants are still launching attacks from the safety of neighbouring Pakistan despite the Pakistani military's battle against the militants, a U.S. army officer said on Monday. "My base, where I live, is in Khost province, and I will say, absolutely, there are insurgents coming across the border from Pakistan attacking into Khost, then returning back into Pakistan," Colonel Gary Cheek said.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Pakistan demands US probe holy Quran desecration report ISLAMABAD, May 16 (AFP) - Pakistan renewed its demand that the United States conducts a thorough probe and share its findings into reported desecration of the holy Quran, despite a clarification issued by Newsweek that its story may be wrong, foreign office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Monday.(Posted 18:30 PST)
Muslims sceptical over Newsweek back-track on holy Quran KABUL, May 16 (Reuters) - Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan were sceptical on Monday about an apparent retraction by Newsweek magazine of a report that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran and said U.S. pressure was behind the climb-down. "We will not be deceived by this," Islamic cleric Mullah Sadullah Abu Aman told Reuters in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan, referring to the magazine's retraction. "This is a decision by America to save itself. It comes because of American pressure. Even an ordinary illiterate peasant understands this and won't accept it."(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Indian troops kill three militants in southern occupied Kashmir JAMMU, India, May 16 (AFP) - Indian troops shot dead three militants on Monday who infiltrated into occupied Kashmir, a defence ministry spokesman said. The militants were killed in the mountainous southern district of Rajouri near the line-of-control which acts a de facto border, 179 kilometers (112 miles) northwest of the winter capital Jammu, the spokesman said. (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Gunfire continues in Uzbekistan; rights activists claims additional 200 killed in weekend clashes ANDIJAN, Uzbekistan, May 16 (APP/AP) _ Sporadic shooting continued Monday in an eastern Uzbek city where an uprising sparked a crackdown by security forces that left up to 500 people dead, and a human rights group reported that clashes in another town killed an additional 200 people. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Imran Khan thanks community for helping in welfare cause WASHINGTON, May 16 (APP)- Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan Sunday evening thanked the community members for extending liberal support for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. Sources said $-175000 were raised at the fund-raiser, which, among others, was attended by Charge d' Affaires of the Pakistan Embassy, Mohammad Sadiq. The artistes performing on the occasion included Fuzion group. On May 16, he will attend a fund-raiser at Pennsylvania; Denver on May 17, Los Angeles on May 18, San Francisco on May 22 and New York on May 22. (Posted @ 13:20 PST)
Protest Against Youth's Custodial Killing SRINAGAR, May 16 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, a large number of people in Wani Doroosa locality of Lolab, in Kupwara district took to streets to protest against the custodial killing of a Kashmiri youth and fate of another after his arrest by Indian troops, reports Kashmir Media Service. The protesting villagers carrying the dead body of Fayyaz Ahmad and shouting slogans demanded punishment of the erring troops. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Musharraf says 'soft borders' in occupied Kashmir a positive step, not a solution HONG KONG, May 16 (AFP) - President Pervez Musharraf has warned that "soft borders" in occupied Kashmir are a confidence-building measure but not a solution to the conflict, a Financial Times report said Monday. "Soft borders are not a solution. I have read many magazines and articles from the Indian side some of which misrepresent this soft as meaning a solution. I don't see this as a solution at all. This may be a step towards confidence building, which could facilitate a solution," he said. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Israeli troops kill Palestinian trying to stab soldier TULKARM, West Bank, May 16 (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian who tried to stab a soldier at an army checkpoint near the West Bank town of Tulkarm on Monday, military officials said. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Musharraf to visit New Zealand in June WELLINGTON, May 16 (AFP) - Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf will visit New Zealand in June, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Monday. The June 17-19 visit would be the first bilateral visit to New Zealand by a president of the South Asian nation. Clark said at a press conference that she looked forward to discussing global counter-terrorism issues with Musharraf, as well as Commonwealth matters, nuclear non-proliferation and United Nations reform. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
Four Iraqi soldiers killed in attack on army camp BAQUBA, Iraq, May 16 (AFP) - Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and four were wounded on Monday morning in an attack on an army camp in central Iraq, an army officer told AFP. Three were hurt when four mortar shells slammed into the camp at Khan Bani Saad, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Baquba, shortly before 9:00 am (0500 GMT). A patrol sent out in pursuit of the attackers was then caught up in an explosion which resulted in the loss of four soldiers, while another was wounded, according to the army captain. Meanwhile, two civilians were killed and four other people injured, including two soldiers, when a bomb exploded Monday morning as an Iraqi army convoy drove through the Saydia district of southern Baghdad, a defence ministry official said. (Posted @ 11:55 PST)
Two Afghan soldiers killed, five injured in southern Afghanistan Kabul (dpa) - Two Afghan soldiers were killed and five others injured when their vehicle hit a mine placed by insurgents near Qalat, the provincial capital of southern province of Zabul, the U.S military said in statement on Monday. According to the statement, the incident occurred Saturday. The wounded were evacuated to Kandahar Airfield.(Posted @ 10:25 PST)
Afridi leads Pakistanis to easy win in tour opener PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, May 15 (AFP) - A flattering all-round performance from Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan to a commanding 248-run victory in their West Indies tour opener, a limited-overs practice match against Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday. Afridi hit a stroke-filled 104 from 46 balls that propelled Pakistan to a formidable 366 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs, after the visitors won the toss and chose to bat.Afridi then returned to bowl his leg-spin darts and captured four wickets for six runs from 6.4 overs, as Antigua and Barbuda were dismissed for a modest 118 in 32.4 overs. Scores Pakistan: 366 for seven off 50 overs (Shahid Afridi 104, Yousuf Youhana 87, Kamran Akmal 56, Younis Khan 53, Shoaib Malik 35; Chad Hamson 2-47, Carl Simon 2-69) Antigua and Barbuda: 118 off 32.4 overs (Wilden Cornwall 46; Shahid Afridi 4-6, Shabbir Khan 2-19, Shoaib Malik 2-20) Result: Pakistan won by 248 runs (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Al Qaeda "broken" by senior member's capture: Musharraf LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) - The capture of a senior al Qaeda member this month has helped "break the back" of the group, Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview published on Monday. Musharraf told Britain's Financial Times newspaper that the arrest of Abu Faraj Farj al Liby, described by U.S. officials as the al Qaeda No. 3, had shattered the group's command structure. "We have broken their back. They cease to exist as a cohesive, homogenous body under good command and control, vertical and horizontal." (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 95.74 points KARACHI, May 16: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 7315.59, down 95.74 points from Friday’s close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.06 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST)
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