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| December 29, 2005 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 26, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Thousands protest Musharraf dam plan in Pakistan JEHANGIRA, Pakistan, Dec 29 (Reuters) Thousands of opposition activists rallied in Jehangira, a town close to the border with Punjab province, north-western Pakistan on Thursday to protest against plans to build a dam that President Pervez Musharraf says is vital for the country's prosperity. The protesters, from mainstream opposition parties and nationalist groups, chanted slogans against Musharraf and his proposal to build the Kalabagh Dam in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). "It not an issue of our rights; it's a matter of our survival," ethnic Pashtun leader Asfandeyar Wali told the rally, which police said totalled up to seven thousand people. Addressing an audience of journalists at a luncheon in Lahore, Musharraf defended his plans. "It's necessary to make dams," he said. "The construction of dams is in the national interest because after 25 years Pakistan will face a severe water crisis," he said. In his speech, Musharraf said he would announce start dates for Kalabagh and two other dam projects before the next presidential elections in 2007, even if the opposition disagreed. "Even if there is no consensus, we will go ahead with the construction. We will have to take some tough decisions."(Posted @ 20:35 PST)
Musharraf says overlooking water reservoirs issue amounts to betrayal of nation LAHORE, Dec 29 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said the government will take a judicious decision on the construction of water reservoirs and stressed that overlooking this vital issue would amount to a betrayal of the nation. He told the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors that "the water shortfall will gravely impact the agrarian sector and the 70 per cent of population living in rural areas as their very livelihood is dependent on the availability of water". Referring to his interaction with a cross-section of people in Sindh, Musharraf said "we are endeavouring to present a rationale to Sindh and develop a consensus and address reservations at the lowest level, and I shall revisit the province and NWFP to remove suspicions and build up trust.” Commenting on the law and order situation in Kohlu, Balochistan, he said the Frontier Corps was acting in self-defence, and wherever required, the writ of the government would be established. He expressed a firm resolve to successfully and simultaneously address major issues including the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, rebuilding of quake-hit areas, water issues and the situation in Kohlu. On the Pakistan-India peace process, Musharraf observed that the confidence building measures were moving ahead and added that Pakistan was trying to speed up the process of dispute resolution. He said the APHC leadership in the Occupied Kashmir supports demilitarization and self-governance. He added that the back channel diplomacy between the two countries was taking up a number of proposals proposed by Pakistan on this issue and if something concrete comes up, it would be brought to the front channel.(Posted @ 19:06 PST)
Pakistani madrasas vow to resist expulsion deadline ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) Seminaries in Pakistan vowed on Thursday to resist a government move to expel all foreign students by the end of the year, while the government said there would be no extension of the Dec. 31st deadline. In Sindh, authorities cancelled the visas of all the 92 foreign students still at madrasas there. "If they do not leave by December 31, we will deport them," provincial spokesman Salahuddin Haider said. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said 65 percent of foreign madrasa students had left the country and the government would not extend its deadline. "The provinces will submit reports on the issue on December 31 and any further action will be based on those," he said. A senior cleric of the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemaul Madaris, an alliance of madrasas, said the allaince would decide its actions on Saturday, but it had no intention of expelling foreign students. "It's a discriminatory policy," the cleric said. "Foreign students are allowed to join colleges and universities in Pakistan but they are barred from madrasas." (First Posted@ 15:10 PST Updated @ 21:55 PST)
India's former premier Vajpayee announces retirement MUMBAI, India, Dec 29 (AFP) Former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced his retirement from active politics. Vajpayee told a public rally in this western city that he would not contest his seat at future elections. The rally was held by his Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) party to celebrate its 25 years. Vajpayee's surprise announcement came one day before the expected resignation of main opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani as BJP chief.(Posted @ 23:00 PST)
Rs. 16 billion paid as compensation in quake affected areas, Senate told ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): The government has so far paid over Rs. 16 billion as compensation to the people in earthquake affected areas of AJK and NWFP. Giving the break-up during a question hour session in the Senate on Thursday, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Sher Afgan said Rs. 4.666 billion were paid to the heirs of 46,664 people who lost their lives in the quake. Similarly, he said, Rs. 576 million was paid to 26,492 seriously injured, while Rs. 11.114 billion was given as compensation to 4,44,596 victims to construct houses in the affected areas of AJK and NWFP. He added that a planned compensation process was continuing in collaboration with the AJK and NWFP governments. He also said to ensure transparency and accountability, the audit of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) accounts will be carried out by the Auditor General of Pakistan on an annual basis. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will also examine the reports of the Auditor General. (Posted @ 22:03 PST)
Pak-Iran-India Gas pipeline project likely to start during 2007, Senate told ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Amanullah Khan Jadoon, Thursday informed the Senate that the work on Pak-Iran-India gas pipeline (IPI) project was likely to start during 2007. The Minister said the Working Group constituted between the Petroleum Ministries of Iran and Pakistan has held four meetings so far and in the last meeting in November this year, the issues on the project from the point of view of seller and buyer were deliberated upon. He said Pakistan and India have also constituted a Joint Working Group (JWG) to exchange views and develop a commonly acceptable approach towards the project. To another question, he said there had been 20 attacks on gas pipelines in the country from January 2004 to June this year resulting in loss to the tune of Rs. 186.821 million. Answering another question, Minister of State for Petroleum, Muhammad Naseer Mengal told the House that an amount of Rs. 165.15 million has been paid to the government of Balochistan as royalty on Saindak Metals project up to December 2005. (Posted @ 22:03 PST)
Quality education key to national development: Musharraf LAHORE, Dec 29 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday stressed the importance of quality education on the occasion of the 17th annual convocation of Lahore University of Management Sciences. He said the government was keen to develop the socio-economic sectors and has earmarked generous funds to achieve the objectives. He disclosed that between 2008 and 2010, as many five universities in science and technology would be established in the country with the support from France, Germany, Sweden, South Korea and the Netherlands. He called for taking a more holistic approach to scholarships that leverages strength in basic natural sciences, engineering, humanities and arts, law, policy and management. "We need our universities to develop concurrent strengths in these disciplines to address the current and future challenges related to developing the leadership for the future of our society and generating new ideas and solutions to solve current and future problems," he said. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
New building design criteria for twin cities soon: PM ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): A new building design criteria for Rawalpindi and Islamabad is being prepared by NESPAK for the construction of earthquake resistant buildings, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced Thursday. He directed the Ministry of Housing and Works to expedite the process after assessment of the criterion by technical experts that was likely to be announced by next month. (Posted @ 22:02 PST)
Comprehensive Electronic Media Policy in the offing: PM ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday said a comprehensive Electronic Media Policy with guidelines for the operation of local and foreign TV Channels in Pakistan was in the offing. Chairing a meeting to review the performance of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Aziz said that the government would not allow airing of programmes that go against the faith, culture and tradition of the people of Pakistan. He instructed Chairman PEMRA to regulate illegal TV channels and FM radio stations operating in the country and ensure strict compliance with the code of conduct regarding the contents of their transmission. "PEMRA should have a lean structure, mobile inspection teams and technology driven enforcement," he said. He also directed putting in place a process for improving and expediting up-linking facilities to ensure better projection of the country across the world. Chairman PEMRA said PEMRA has closed sixty TV channels and 12 FM radio stations for operating illegally. He said PEMRA's jurisdiction had been extended to the AJK and Northern Areas and it has issued nine provisional FM Radio licenses for the earthquake-hit areas on emergency basis out of which seven were operational. He added that PEMRA has also closed 713 illegal Cable TV operations as well as a large number of pornographic channels.(Posted @ 21:58 PST)
Assailants kill 11 members of Iraqi family BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) Six assailants broke into a house just south of Baghdad on Thursday and killed 11 members of the same family by slitting their throats, police said. They said the Shi’ite family had been warned by insurgents to move out of the largely Sunni district of Latifiya, around 20 km south of the capital, but had not done so.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Spend it like Beckham: star's shoes sold for Pakistani quake victims OSLO, Dec 29 (AFP) A Norwegian businessman, Billionaire Idar Vollvik, bought a pair of British football star David Beckham's old boots Thursday for a cool million kroner (148,000 dollars), which will go to earthquake victims in Pakistan. Vollvik's money will be spent on tents for people who remain homeless three months after the October 8 earthquake, which claimed 73,000 lives mostly in Azad Kashmir.(Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Moderate earthquake jolts northern Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (AFP) - A moderate earthquake measuring 5.3 on the open-ended Richter scale jolted northern Pakistan early Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage, officials said. The quake was felt at 3:04 am (2204 GMT Wednesday) in several cities including Islamabad and the capital of Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, devastated by the massive October 8 quake, seismologists said. Since the 7.6-magnitude quake that killed more than 73,000 people in Pakistan, a total of 1,518 aftershocks have rocked the region. The last one, on December 25, measured 5.2 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of Thursday's aftershock was in Hazara division, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Islamabad, an official said adding that aftershocks will continue to hit the country for the next two months. (Posted @ 11:17 PST)
US soldier killed in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (AFP) A US soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in east Baghdad Thursday, the US military said. The death brought to at least 2,172 the US military's losses since the 2003 invasion, according to an AFP count based on Pentagon figures.(Posted @ 19:28 PST)
India to pay 160 million dollars to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots NEW DELHI, Dec 29 (AFP) India announced Thursday that it would pay an additional 160 million dollars to victims of anti-Sikh riots that erupted after the 1984 assassination of Congress premier Indira Gandhi. The package will make up any shortfall in compensation already paid so that the family of each fatality gets a total of 350,000 rupees while those injured in the riots are entitled to a total of 125,000 rupees. The move to give more money to Sikh riot victims came after a commission of inquiry report released in August said that some Congress party leaders may have helped incite the riots. At least 3,000 people were killed, tens of thousands of Sikh homes and businesses were burnt and many victims' families were financially ruined after Gandhi's assassination. Victims of the riots rejected apologies from Prime Minister Singh and vowed to intensify demands for the prosecution of politicians blamed for the massacre.(Posted @ 19:28 PST)
India to launch South Asia free-trade pact from January NEW DELHI, Dec 29 (Reuters) The Indian cabinet approved on Thursday the introduction of a pact with its neighbours from Jan. 1 to promote free trade and economic ties in South Asia. Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said India would initially cut customs duties by five percent for goods imported from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal after the launch of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement. Although some member countries are yet to ratify the pact, Indian officials said New Delhi would go ahead with implementing the agreement from Jan. 1 and was hopeful its neighbours would follow suit.(Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Bomber kills Israeli, two Palestinians at checkpoint TULKARM, West Bank, Dec 29 (Reuters) A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up when Israeli troops tried to search him at a roadblock in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, killing an Israeli soldier and at least two other Palestinians. Three soldiers and six Palestinians were wounded also wounded. Israel Radio said the Islamic Jihad militant group carried out the attack. Islamic Jihad officials in Gaza could not confirm that the group was responsible. Israeli troops have sealed off Tulkarm. Israel also shelled Gaza on Thursday to enforce the new buffer zone abandoned by Israeli troops three months ago after 38 years of occupation. Israel said on Thursday it would continue the shelling and air strikes on Gaza for as long as it took to stop alleged Palestinian militants firing rockets. "The Israeli determination to implement this plan will widen the cycle of the conflict and will not achieve the goals which Israeli occupation forces seek to achieve," the Palestinian Interior Ministry said in a statement.(First Posted@ 13:11 PST Updated @ 19:15 PST)
India crush Sri Lanka in women's Asia Cup cricket tournament KARACHI, Dec 29 (AFP) India's women cricketers on Thursday began their Asia Cup defence convincingly, defeating Sri Lanka by ten wickets at the Gymkhana ground. India, who beat Sri Lanka in the two-nation first Asia Cup in 2003, raced to 118-0 in 27.3 overs after bundling their opponents out for a meager 115 in 48.5 overs. India now take on Pakistan on Friday.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Brad Pitt donates 40 orthopaedic beds to hospital for quake victims ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): The United Nations refugee agency handed over the first batch of 40 orthopaedic beds to a hospital in Islamabad donated by Hollywood actor Brad Pitt for the quake victims. Pitt made the donation, worth more than 100,000 dollars, through the UNHCR when he visited Pakistan in late November with goodwill ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie, AKI news reported quoting UNHCR sources. The beds tilt from side-to-side and move up-and-down using electronic switches and hydraulics that help nurses shift paraplegic or tetraplegic patients regularly to avoid bed sores.(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
No request to World Bank for extension of deadline on Baghlihar: FO ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (APP): The Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam denied a media report Thursday that Pakistan had requested the World Bank to extend its deadline for the reply to questions asked by its technical experts regarding Baglihar dam. She said Pakistan has submitted answers of all the queries sent by the World Bank's neutral experts. She clarified that the World Bank has extended a one month deadline on the request of India which was also applicable to Pakistan. Earlier World Bank had given deadline of December 31 to both India and Pakistan to answer queries asked by the neutral experts, she added.(Posted @ 17:50 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan switch venues for India one-day matches KARACHI, Dec 29 (Reuters) Pakistan has switched the venues for the first two one-day internationals against India in February for security reasons, the director of operations for the Pakistan Cricket Board Saleem Altaf said on Thursday. Altaf said the first match would be played in Rawalpindi on Feb. 6 and the second in Peshawar two days later. The first match was originally scheduled for Peshawar and the second for Pindi. Altaf said police in Pindi had informed the board they did not have enough people to staff the match.(Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Would-be suicide bombers die in Afghan blast-police SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan, Dec 29 (Reuters) Two would-be suicide bombers blew themselves up while strapping on explosives in an Afghan town bordering Pakistan on Thursday, police said. No one else was injured in the blast near the main market in Spin Boldak, an Afghan border force commander said adding that police suspected the bombers had intended to target troops from the U.S.-led force in Afghanistan.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Suicide bomber blows himself up in southern Russia MAKHACHKALA, Russia, Dec 29 (Reuters) A suicide bomber blew himself up in southern Russia on Thursday, but there were no other casualties, witnesses said.The man blew himself up in Dagestan near a gathering of people mourning a security services officer who was killed two days ago, they said.(Posted @ 15:40 PST)
Ten killed in U.S. air strike on Iraqi village BAGHDAD, Dec 29 (Reuters) U.S. fighter jets dropped two 500-pound (225-kg) bombs on a village in northern Iraq, killing 10 Iraqis they suspected of planting explosive devices on a nearby road, the U.S. military said on Thursday. The incident occurred on Tuesday in a small village near the town of Hawija, 50 km southwest of Kirkuk, the military said.(Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Britain should probe Pakistani claims of torture in Greece: British MP LONDON, Dec 29 (AFP) A British opposition politician Thursday called for a high-level investigation into claims that British security officers were involved in the abduction and torture of Pakistani nationals in Greece. Sir Menzies Campbell, the foreign affairs spokesman for the second-ranked opposition Liberal Democrats, said such an inquiry was necessary to regain public confidence and establish the truth. "I believe the appropriate course now would be for the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of parliament to investigate these matters," he said. The Unity of Pakistan community association in Athens had said that 28 Pakistani migrants in total were seized and interrogated by alleged British and Greek agents after the July bombings in UK.(Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Landslides destroy Yemen village, kill at least 30 SANAA, Dec 29 (Reuters) Landslides in Yemen have destroyed a small village near the capital Sanaa, killing at least 30 people including women and children with dozens more missing, officials said on Thursday. A Yemeni official said rocks had slid off a mountain late on Wednesday and collapsed into the al-Dhofair village, destroying its 27 houses. Police were searching for survivors.(First Posted@12:06 PST Updated@) 15:05 PST)
Pakistan sentences Taliban commander in absentia QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 29 (Reuters) A Pakistani court has sentenced the Taliban's military chief to life imprisonment in absentia for trying to kill a member of parliament, a court official said on Thursday. An anti-terrorism court in Quetta handed down the sentence on Wednesday to Mullah Dadullah, as well as to two Pakistani supporters who were present in court, the official said. Three other Afghans who, like Dadullah, were still at large, received the same sentence, while a third Pakistani was acquitted, the official said. Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) had escaped unhurt when a landmine was detonated by remote control near his car in Balochistan on Nov. 18, 2004.(Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Israel army chief rules out early strike on Iran JERUSALEM, Dec 29 (AFP) - Israeli chief of staff General Dan Halutz on Thursday ruled out the the prospect of a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear installations in the near future. "I don't think that a military intervention against Iran's nuclear installations should be necessary in the short term," Halutz told army radio. "There is no threat to the existence of the state of Israel as long as Iran does not possess nuclear arms." Halutz said he did not believe Iran would actually complete manufacturing a bomb "before the start of the next decade." (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Bollywood heartthrob Aamir Khan ties knot with screen director MUMBAI, Dec 29 (AFP) - Indian movie heartthrob Aamir Khan married screen director Kiran Rao in a quiet ceremony at his home in Mumbai late Wednesday. The 41-year-old actor, who has a boy and a girl from his first marriage that recently ended in divorce, barred the media from the event. "Apart from (actress) Rani Mukherjee, there was no one else from Bollywood. The rest of the guests were family and friends." The couple met on the set of the 2001 hit movie "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" in which Khan played the lead role. Kiran was an assistant director. (Posted @ 13:22 PST)
Pakistani soldier, civilian killed in tribal area MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Dec 29 (AFP) - A Pakistani paramilitary solider and a civilian were killed while two suspected spies were arrested late Wednesday in Mirali, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of the Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, a local administration official said Thursday . Separately authorities found the body of a local tribesman with his throat cut early Thursday in Miranshah, the official said. A note left nearby said that the man was killed for being an American spy, the official said. Meanwhile authorities raided a house in Baroman village near Miranshah and arrested two "spies" accused of taking money from "enemies of Pakistan" and paying the local tribesmen to plant bombs in North Waziristan, he said. (Posted @ 13:11 PST)
Bomb in Afghanistan kills US solider, Afghan civilian, wounds two US troops KABUL, Afghanistan Dec 29 (APP/AP) _ A bomb exploded on a mountainous road in eastern Afghanistan, killing one U.S. service member and an Afghan employed by the military as well as wounding two American troops, the military said Thursday. The attack occurred as they were driving in an armoured vehicle in Kunar province near Asadabad on Wednesday, spokesman Sgt. Maj. Larry Lane said. Lane initially said only one person had been killed in the attack, but a statement issued Thursday said an Afghan employed by the military was also killed. It gave no other details. Provincial Governor Assadullah Wafa said the bomb was detonated by remote control. (Posted @ 13:03 PST)
Cricket-Australia close to victory over South Africa MELBOURNE, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Australia were close to victory in the second test against South Africa on Thursday after reducing the visitors to 99 for six in their second innings at the close of the fourth day. After setting South Africa a victory target of 366, Shane Warne captured three wickets and Andrew Symonds removed Jacques Kallis (9) and Jacques Rudolph (4) following his test best of 72 in Australia's 321 for seven declared. Matthew Hayden (137) scored his 25th test century and combined with Symonds in a 124-run partnership in just 66 minutes after lunch. Ashwell Prince (16) and Shaun Pollock (13) were the not out batsmen for South Africa at the close. (Posted @ 12:36 PST)
Iran says committed to India pipeline -official NEW DELHI, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Iran remains committed to a proposed $7 billion natural gas pipeline running to India via Pakistan, its deputy oil minister said Thursday. "We will continue to do our best to implement it," Mohammad Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian said at a Press conference. Nejad-Hosseinian, speaking after talks with Indian officials in New Delhi, said: "I don't think Pakistan and India will yield to pressure of the United States. This pipeline will bring peace to the region." A joint statement at the news conference said they were discussing options on price structure. "We are going to prepare a draft agreement in March (meeting) which will include the structure of the project, framework agreement, responsibility of each government and framework of price formula," Nejad-Hosseinian said. (Posted @ 12:12 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, December 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.97 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
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