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| January 9, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 8, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
PM discusses reconstruction activities in quake-hit areas Islamabad, Jan 09 (PPI) Governor NWFP Khalil-ur-Rehman called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here Monday and discussed matters relating to the province with special reference to the on-going rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the earthquake affected areas of the province. Mr Shaukat Aziz underlined the need of timely completion of these schemes, which cover vital sectors like health, education,clean drinking water, and infrastructure development.(Posted @ 21:15 PST)
HRCP delegation arrives in Dera Bugti QUETTA Jan 9 (PPI): A delegation of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan headed by its Chairperson Asma Jahangir arrived in Dera Bugti Monday afternoon. On arrival in Sui from Kashmore the delegation was received by a large number of people and was taken to Bugti House where people apprised them of the situation. Later the delegation reached Dera Bugti, some 30 Km north of Sui, and went to FC Fort where Commandant Bhimbore Rifles briefed them on the prevailing law and order situation. Tabish Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti received the delegation at Bugti House and held a meeting with them. HRCP delegation toured the town, visited the affected families and also visited Nawab Bugti's Fort. She will talk to the Press tomorrow (Tuesday)(Posted @ 21:08 PST)
Militant killed by own car bomb in Afghan capital KABUL, Jan 9 (AFP) - One suspected militant was killed and four were arrested after bombs they were packing into a car went off prematurely in the Afghan capital Kabul, police said on Monday. The insurgents had wired up explosives in one vehicle and were putting bombs into a second car when the blast happened on Sunday, local police chief Zalmay Oriakhail said. "After the explosion, police sealed off the area and found one bomber dead and arrested four others with another bomb-laden car that they were attempting to use for destructive attempts," Oriakhail said. The group was using a civilian house in western Kabul to make the bombs, he said.(Posted @ 20:50 PST)
Suspected Taliban torch another school in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 9 (AFP) - Taliban rebels burned down a primary school in southern Afghanistan, an official said Monday. More than a dozen armed men stormed Zeray primary school in Kandahar province late Sunday and set ablaze classrooms and school documents, provincial deputy education director Hayatollah Rafiqi said. Also on Sunday attackers torched Qabial primary school in Kandahar city, after locking three janitors inside, officials said. Local people saved the men from the flames. In the same city on Saturday night, another group of armed men failed to burn another nearby school after residents forced them to flee. Last week a headmaster in neighboring Zabul province was beheaded, allegedly by the Taliban.(Posted @ 20:48 PST)
Twin suicide bombing kills 28 at Iraq interior ministry BAGHDAD, Jan 9 (AFP) - At least 28 policemen were killed Monday when two suicide bombers attacked Iraq's interior ministry where ministers and the US ambassador were attending a Police Day parade, a security official said. The bombings were claimed by Al-Qaeda's branch in Iraq headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi which said they were to avenge the "torture" of Sunni Muslims at the interior ministry. Police shot one of the bombers because he looked suspicious, but the bullets detonated the explosives strapped to the man's body, the official said. As police crowded around the remains, a second suicide bomber blew himself up, wreaking carnage at the rear entrance to the ministry as a parade was taking place some 400 metres (yards) away. Both bombers had been dressed in Iraqi police uniforms. The dead included a major who was responsible for ministry security. Another 25 people were wounded. A mortar shell was also fired, but it landed next door in the police academy, causing no damage. Top officials, including Interior Minister Bayan Jabr Solah, Defence Minister Saadun al-Dulaimi and US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, were watching the annual celebration. A US embassy spokesman said he understood that Khalilzad was fine.(First Posted @ 16:38 PST Updated @ 20:44 PST)
President, PM approve six new engineering universities RAWALPINDI, Jan 9 (APP): A top-level meeting approved on Monday the establishment of six new engineering universities in partnership with world class centres of excellence in advanced countries. President General Pervez Musharraf chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and senior officials. The project will be completed in ten years at a cost of Rs 80 to 90 billion. These universities will be developed in partnership with consortia of engineering universities in Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Korea and the Netherlands. The six universities will be located close to industrial areas of major cities. Classes will commence by 2008. During the first ten years, about 300 to 400 of the most merited students would be sent abroad for masters and doctors level training. Chairman Higher Education Commission, Dr Attaur Rehman said the presence of leading foreign professors as faculty members will ensure high standard of teaching at these institutions.(Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Yasin discusses proposals during foreign visit SRINAGAR, Jan 9 (APP): Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik Monday said he discussed proposals about Kashmir solution, including demilitarization and self-governance, at his meetings with government officials, think tanks, Legislators, and Foreign Relation Committee members, during his visit to the United States and Britain. In an interview with Kashmir Media Service in Srinagar he said during the tour he also met Kashmiri leaders in the two countries. He hailed the ongoing India-Pakistan Composite dialogue, and called for inclusion of Kashmiris in these talks to evolve a durable solution acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. He said Pakistan has shown flexibility, and the steps taken by Pakistan President General Pervaiz Musharraf should have eliminated hindrances in resolving the Kashmir dispute. However, progress could not be made so far because India is not reciprocating, he regretted.(Posted @ 20:08 PST)
Pakistan says India peace process "not all bleak" ISLAMABAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Monday the prospects for success in a two-year old peace dialogue with India were less gloomy than presumed, despite President Pervez Musharraf's disappointment at the slow progress so far. "It's not all bleak," foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told a weekly news conference, just over a week before the foreign secretaries of the two countries meet in New Delhi for a further round of talks. "We are going to resume the third round of the composite dialogue and also there are various ideas being thrown up and being discussed," Aslam said. "We do hope that there will be flexibility and we can take this process further," she said.(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Pakistan stocks hit 10-month high KARACHI, Jan 9 (AFP) - Pakistani stocks Monday crossed the crucial 10,000 points level amid keenly anticipated results in the banking and energy sectors, reaching a ten-month high, dealers said. Buying rallies pushed the benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange index of 100 shares to 10,000.47 points, though it closed slightly down at 9,990.90, they said.(Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Kashmir. Shabir Shah flays Indian rejection of Musharraf 's proposals SRINAGAR, Jan 09 (PPI) President of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah has flayed rejection of the proposals of demilitarization and self rule by India. In a statement he said demilitarization can bring a sea of change at the ground level in Kashmir. Human rights violations would come to an end, violence would stop, and that would be a major step towards the solution of Kashmir issue. He said New Delhi must not close doors for the proposals and options and if India closes the doors what is there to discuss? "New Delhi must show sincerity and strengthen the dialogue and peace process. Any failure on this front would be disastrous", he added.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
PM rules out apprehensions among coalition partners Islamabad, Jan 09 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat talking to newsmen here Monday said the ruling coalition is working well with active partnership of its coalition partners.He said some apprehensions were caused on various issues between the coalition partners but after the telephonic talks between President Pervez Musharraf and himself with the MQM leader Altaf Hussain these have been removed. He said MQM is important ally and the government would take it along on all national issues.(Posted @ 19:06 PST)
India should show flexibility to resolve Kashmir issue-Hurriyat NEW DELHI, Jan 9 (APP): The Hurriyat Conference has urged the Indian government to demonstrate flexibility in resolving the Kashmir problem and called for immediate demilitarisation in the held state. "We cannot strike peace amidst a heavily militarised environment in Indian held Kashmir. Hence, our demand for demilitarisation, Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said here after a week-long tour of quake-hit areas of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said demilitarisation could be a gradual process and would help consolidate the gains of the peace process. The Hurriyat Chairman, who discussed demilitarisation and self-governance with Pakistani leadership in Islamabad, said the proposals were made for both parts of Kashmir as confidence-building measures and not the final solution. Mirwaiz asserted that the Hurriyat had not withdrawn from its stand on resolution of the Kashmir issue according to the UN resolution.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Sugarcase crushing resumed from Jan 8 KARACHI, Jan. 9 (APP) - Sugar mills of Sindh have resumed sugarcane crushing from January 08, 2006 upon the intervention of the federal and the provincial governments, says an announcement.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Iran military top brass killed in plane crash TEHRAN, Jan 9 (AFP) - Several top brass in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards were among 11 people killed in a military plane crash in the northwest of the country on Monday, the second such deadly incident in barely a month. The plane came down near Orumiyeh in a mountainous region of northwestern Iran after the pilot lost control following landing gear problems, and all 11 people aboard were killed, officials said. Eight Revolutionary Guards commanders and three members of the crew were killed, said Jamshid Mohammadzadeh, deputy governor of West Azerbaijan province. Among the victims were Ahmad Kazemi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards ground forces, and seven top commanders, including an intelligence chief.(First Posted @ 15:03 PST Updated @ 18:33 PST)
Freed Kashmir separatist vows to continue anti-vice crusade SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 9 (AFP) Occupied Kashmir's leading woman separatist Aasiya Andrabi said Monday she would continue her anti-vice crusade despite spending four months in jail for raiding hotels and restaurants."Our fight against the flesh trade and immorality will continue come what may," she told reporters. Andrabi, who heads Dukhtaran-e-Milat or Daughters of Faith, appealed to women indulging in the flesh trade to give up this shameful profession" and urged women in need of monetary help to call her group. "We will try our best to help you." she also appealed to hotel, houseboat and restaurant owners to ensure their premises are not misused "for shameful acts." Kashmir is in the grip of a 16-year-old insurgency against Indian rule. Andrabi's group wants to secede Kashmir from India and join it with Pakistan.(Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Hajj pilgrims seek spiritual high at Mount Arafat ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia, Jan 9 (AFP) - Over two million Muslim pilgrims flocked after sunrise Monday to Mount Arafat southeast of Mekkah to perform the central rite of hajj, the annual pilgrimage. The pilgrims started arriving in Arafat soon after sunrise from the valley of Mina to the north. Pilgrims streamed on foot into Arafat through several wide pedestrian lanes or were carried by bus as thousands of Saudi policemen and security force members directed traffic. The rite of wukuf, or standing, before sunset on Arafat is the high point of the hajj. Many pressed ahead shoulder-to-shoulder towards the 70-metre-high (yard) Jabal al-Rahma. Towers sprinkled mist on the faithfuls as they listened to a sermon from Namera mosque by Sheik Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh who urged Muslims to unite and return to the essence of Islam and shun extremes like terrorism. "What's known as terror is forbidden under Islamic doctrine," he said. Pilgrims were to start leaving Arafat after sunset Monday and head back to Mina via the small sacred site of Muzdalifah, for overnight stay and prayers. On Tuesday they will start the symbolic stoning of Satan.(Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Four die in Romanian helicopter crash IASI, Romania, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Four people died in a helicopter crash near the north-eastern Romanian city of Iasi, authorities said on Monday. The helicopter, which belonged to the Interior Ministry, was carrying a medical team when it crashed a few minutes after taking off from Iasi airport, officials said.(Posted @ 17:48 PST)
Turkey confirms 14 bird flu cases including 3 deaths DOGUBAYAZIT, Turkey, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Turkey's Health Minister Recep Akdag said on Monday a total of 14 people across the country have tested positive for bird flu, including three children already dead.(First Posted @ 16:46 PST Updated @ 17:44 PST)
Pakistan protests to U.S. over border firing ISLAMABAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan after cross-border firing over the weekend killed eight people. U.S. authorities had denied their troops were involved in the firing on Saturday in North Waziristan tribal region, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told a regular briefing on Monday. Although Pakistan did not know who was behind the firing, U.S.-led forces were responsible for the area, she said. "We have also lodged a strong protest with coalition forces in Afghanistan," she said. "We have protested to coalition forces because they are responsible for security on the other side," she said. Pakistani authorities were also investigating reports from residents that a foreign helicopter had landed on the Pakistani side of the border on Saturday, she said.(Posted @ 17:32 PST)
Cricket-India and Pakistan A tour match ends in draw LAHORE, Jan 9 (Reuters) - India's Wasim Jaffer and Gautam Gambhir produced another fine opening stand when the touring side drew their three-day match against Pakistan A on Monday. The pair, who had put on 81 in the first innings, made 72 runs in 13 overs before the match was called off one hour before the scheduled close. Jaffer made 35 and Gambhir 28. Pakistan A closed their innings on 358 for nine before tea in reply to India's first innings of 414 for seven declared. Opener Imran Farhat was out for 107 while Faisal Iqbal scored a fine 87 before he was caught at mid-wicket by Harbhajan Singh off paceman Ajit Agarkar. Irfan Pathan took three for 82.(Posted @ 17:16 PST)
Mullah Omar vows more attacks in Afghanistan KABUL, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Monday vowed more attacks against U.S. forces in Afghanistan, a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai suggested he "get in touch" if he wanted peace. In a message to mark the festival of Eid al-Adha, he reiterated his call for jihad in a message carried by the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) news agency. AIP said the message had been read over the telephone by a Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Hanif.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Australia beat South Africa by 95 runs in Twenty20 international BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 9 (AFP) - Australia beat South Africa by 95 runs in the Twenty20 cricket international at the Gabba here Monday. Scores: Australia 209 for 3; South Africa 114 (18.3 overs).(Posted @ 16:42 PST)
Quake survivors suffer in harsh Himalayan chill SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 9 (AFP) - Survivors of the devastating earthquake that shook Kashmir three months ago are showing signs of hypothermia and frostbite, a doctor said Monday, as temperatures plunged below zero. "We have started receiving people with frost bite, pneumonia and other cold-related diseases," said Bashir Chalko, a doctor in Uri district of occupied Kashmir. Chalko feared the situation for survivors still living in temporary shelters after their homes were destroyed would get worse as cold conditions continued. (Posted @ 16:28 PST)
Sharon breathing on his own: hospital JERUSALEM, Jan 9 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began breathing on his own on Monday, the first positive sign as doctors tried to rouse him from a medically induced coma to assess brain damage from a massive stroke. "He is still connected to respirators that help him but the prime minister is breathing spontaneously," the director of Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital, told reporters. But he said Sharon remained in critical condition. Sharon's surgeons say there is a good chance he will live. But medical consensus is he has suffered too much damage to ever return to politics.(First Posted@10:26 PST Updated @ 14:50 PST)
Pakistan finally approves telecom sale to UAE company KARACHI, Jan 9 (AFP) Pakistan has given the go-ahead for a long-pending deal to sell a strategic stake in the country's main state-run telecom company to Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates, a statement said Monday. The deal had foundered in October when Etisalat failed to make a deadline for full payment but marathon talks between Pakistan and the firm in recent months saved the sale. "The cabinet committee on privatisation, chaired by the Prime Minister (Shaukat Aziz), agreed to allow Etisalat to make an up front payment of 1.4 billion dollars minus 260 million dollars earlier paid by Etisalat at the time of transfer of management control to them," a statement said. (Posted @ 14:44 PST)
Pakistan recall opener Farhat for first India Test LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 9 (AFP) Forgotten opener Imran Farhat Monday found himself back in the Pakistan squad for this week's first Test against India after scoring a century in a side match against the tourists. "We have maintained consistency and have recalled Farhat in the squad. He has shown good form and deserved a place, otherwise it's a winning combination of the England series last month," Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari said. The 15-member squad is only for the first of three Tests, starting here from Friday. The second Test is at Faisalabad and the third in Karachi. (Posted @ 14:43 PST)
Dhaka orders big bank deals reported to fight terror DHAKA, Jan 9 (Reuters) After a series of deadly bombings blamed on militants, Bangladesh has ordered banks to report all deals above 500,000 taka ($7,500). "The central bank took this decision to curb terror financing," a deputy governor of the central bank said on Monday. Banks had previously been required to report any suspicious transactions, but no limit was set and the rules were vague. Under the new regulation, set last week but only announced on Monday, banks must report monthly from April or face action under laws against money laundering. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Three Pakistani soldiers injured by rockets MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Jan 9 (AFP) Three Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were wounded Monday when suspected militants fired rockets at their checkpoint in a rugged tribal area near the Afghan border, officials said. The troops were manning a mountain guard post near Miranshah, the main town in the restive tribal zone of North Waziristan, when the pre-dawn attack happened, a local security official said. They returned fire and a three-hour gunbattle broke out, but it was not immediately clear if there were any militant casualties, the official added. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
China, Japan begin talks on East China Sea, bilateral ties BEIJING, Jan 9 (APP/AP) China and Japan began talks Monday on bilateral ties and a dispute over gas deposits in the East China Sea amid strained relations. Kenichiro Sasae, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asia-Oceania Bureau, was scheduled to have two meetings with Cui Tiankai, director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department, said a spokesman for the Japanese Embassy. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Bremer said he urged more post-war troops in Iraq WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) L. Paul Bremer, who led the U.S. civilian occupation authority in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, urged U.S. President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to increase U.S. post-war troop strength in the country, but his pleas were ignored, the former diplomat said. In an interview on NBC Television broadcast Sunday night, Bremer said he sent a memo to Rumsfeld suggesting that half a million soldiers would be needed, three times the number deployed by the Bush administration. "I never had any reaction from him," Bremer said. Bremer acknowledged that in November 2003 he told Vice President Dick Cheney he was worried that there was no military strategy for Iraq and that the policy was driven more by the Pentagon's plan to bring troops home by the spring of 2004. There was no immediate comment from Cheney, Rumsfeld or the White House on the latest Bremer revelations. (Posted @ 09:54 PST)
Suspected Sri Lanka rebels kill one soldier, wound three COLOMBO, Jan 9 (Reuters) Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels ambushed two army patrols in north-eastern Sri Lanka, killing one soldier, the army said on Monday as a search continued at sea for 13 sailors missing after an apparent suicide attack. One Tiger militant was killed when troops returned fire, the army added. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 103.89 points: KARACHI, Jan 9: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9990.19, up 103.89 points from Friday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 9: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.8 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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