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| October 12, 2006 | Thursday | Ramazan 18, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President Musharraf launches nation-wide bill collection network ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday launched NADRA's nation-wide automated utility bill collection system in Islamabad. He gave directions to increase the number of kiosks in every nook and corner of the country so that people can save time on footing the bills. Musharraf said that seven years ago the country was almost bankrupt and about to be declared a failed state. He said over the years he, with the help of others, helped revive the country's economy, prepared strategies and gave direction. He said that in the first two years of his time in power, he worked 16-18 hours a day and "set direction to a rudderless [state] in high seas." (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
Government committed towards building a prosperous Pakistan: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday said the government was working sincerely towards improving the living standards of the common man to ensure an economically prosperous and a militarily strong Pakistan for coming generations. "We have come a long way but there are still problems and we should have a commitment to face them together and take Pakistan forward as a strong and vibrant country," he said while talking to a delegation from his constituency here at the Prime Minister House. " He also said that "elections will be held next year. We have to present ourselves before the people. Our government has worked with sincerity and commitment for the country and the people". He also announced an allocation of Rs.65 million for various development projects for his constituency Hassan Abadal, including water, sewerage, construction of roads and new machinery for the newly-constructed hospital. (Posted @ 21:14 PST)
Taliban release 2 Pakistani engineers KANDAHAR Oct 12 (PPI): Taliban have set free two Pakistani engineers following successful talks with a jirga. According to details, Taliban attacked a construction Company workers and engineers who were building a road between Districts of Panjwai and Dorr of Kandahar province five days back. During the attack three police men were also wounded. Taliban kidnapped two engineers. (Posted @ 22:42 PST)
British foreign secretary calls Guantanamo detentions unacceptable LONDON, Oct 12 (AP) Detentions of terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay are unacceptable and counterproductive, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Thursday. Beckett, releasing Britain's annual report on human rights around the world, said that detention without trial of hundreds of suspects was ``unacceptable in terms of human rights'' and ``ineffective in terms of counterterrorism.'' The report called for the camp to be closed, and said that Britain welcomed U.S. President George W. Bush's statement that he hopes to see the camp shut. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Next two years vital for Kashmir solution: Mirwaiz ISLAMABAD, Oct 12 (APP): Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday said that the next two years were of extraordinary significance for the Kashmir dispute resolution process. According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz welcomed the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) for appointing a special representative on Kashmir. He said the United States was now more serious than before in helping to resolve the dispute. But he ruled out the intervention of any world power as far as the solution of Kashmir conflict was concerned and said, Pakistan, India and Kashmiris were themselves to negotiate a settlement, which should be acceptable to all parties. The Kashmiri leader urged India to take concrete measures to ease the ground situation in occupied Kashmir, including, withdrawal of troops, release of all the political prisoners and repeal of the black laws. Referring to the death sentence of Afzal Guru, Mirwaiz said the Indian secret agencies had made Guru a scapegoat. He said Guru’s execution would not solve problems and called for repeal of the sentence. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Indian army seize hundreds of mines in Kolkata KOLKATA, India, Oct 12 (Reuters) Indian security forces seized 543 anti-personnel mines as well as ammunition in Kolkata city on Thursday, busting a smuggling racket from a state-run ammunition factory, a defence spokesman said. Three people, including a soldier, were arrested, an army spokesperson told a news conference. (Posted @ 20:26 PST)
Three Kurdish rebels killed in Turkey DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Oct 12 (Reuters) Turkish security forces killed three Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey, officials said on Thursday. (Posted @ 20:24 PST)
One injured in Peshawar blast PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Oct 12 (AFP) A man was injured when a bomb exploded near a bus terminal in Peshawar city Thursday, police said. The victim, a fruit seller, was injured when the bomb exploded in his hand cart outside Daewoo bus service terminal at dusk, police said. It was not immediately clear what type of bomb had been planted in the cart, but it caused no other damage or injuries, police added (Posted @ 20:08 PST)
UN Security Council to discuss revised draft resolution on NKorea UNITED NATIONS, Oct 12(AFP) - The United States Wednesday circulated a revised draft resolution mandating economic and trade sanctions coupled with an arms embargo against North Korea over its reported nuclear test. The new draft was to be discussed by the Council during consultations on Thursday, diplomats said.It was released after day-long consultations among envoys of the Security Council's five veto-wielding members and Japan. The text calls for inspection of all seaborne cargo to and from North Korea as well as financial sanctions and demands that Pyongyang scrap all its programs involving nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles "in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner." It also calls on Pyongyang to "return immediately to six-party talks without precondition."(Posted @ 10:35 PST)
US soldier dies in Afghanistan KABUL, Oct 12 (AFP) A US soldier died in the southern province of Kandahar Wednesday after falling out of a helicopter as it was landing, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Thursday. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Briton admits bomb plot in US, UK LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) A Briton arrested amid a massive U.S. security alert two years ago admitted in a London court on Thursday to plotting to blow up the New York Stock Exchange and carry out "dirty bomb" attacks in Britain. Dhiren Barot admitted to plotting to blow up the stock exchange and other U.S. financial hubs including the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Citigroup and Prudential in Washington, New Jersey and New York in a conspiracy called the "Gas Limos Project”. Barot admitted another plan to detonate at least one "dirty bomb" contaminated with radiological material in Britain. The plans did not seem to have reached an advanced stage. The prosecution said it accepted Barot's assertion that no funding, vehicles or bomb making equipment had been in place. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
Hundreds join funeral of Kashmir youth found dead in Delhi SRINAGAR, India, Oct 12 (AFP): Hundreds of Kashmiris chanting anti-India slogans joined the funeral on Thursday of a Muslim youth found dead in mysterious circumstances in New Delhi. Irshad Ahmed Lone, a resident of Srinagar, died in a hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday after police said they found him in a semiconscious state. Lone's family told reporters that he was arrested and later tortured by the police in New Delhi. They said torture marks were visible all over his body. Lone was looking for a job in the Indian capital. Two senior Kashmiri leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Shah, were put under house arrest for the day, police said, to maintain law and order. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Sri Lanka army death toll hits 129 after fierce battle COLOMBO, Oct 12 (AFP) Sri Lanka's military said Thursday that 129 soldiers were killed and over 500 wounded in fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island Wednesday, while claiming 200 rebels also died. (First Posted @ 10:25 PST Updated @ 19:32 PST)
Cricket-Gibbs names three more South Africans in match-fixing scam NEW DELHI, Oct 12 (AFP) South African Herschelle Gibbs revealed Thursday the names of three former Proteas cricketers involved in a match-fixing scam, said Indian police who now want to question the trio. One of the three was Derek Crookes who toured India with the South African squad in 2000 and played 32 one day matches making 1,001 runs. Police declined to identify the other two but described the interrogation of the 32-year-old batsman as "extremely fruitful and satisfactory." The player will not be questioned again during the course of the Champions Trophy, which ends November 5, police added. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Gunmen storm Iraqi TV station, kill 11 BAGHDAD, Oct 12 (Reuters) Gunmen stormed the offices of a new satellite channel, Shaabiya, in Baghdad on Thursday and killed 11 employees in the biggest attack yet on media in Iraq. Elsewhere in Baghdad, a string of bomb blasts killed at least eight people, police said. (First Posted @ 11:07 PST Updated @ 18:02 PST)
Orhan Pamuk wins 2006 Nobel Prize for literature STOCKHOLM, Oct 12 (Reuters) Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk won the 2006 Nobel prize for Literature on Thursday. In its citation for the 10 million Swedish crown ($1.36 million) prize, the Swedish Academy said: "In the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, (Pamuk) has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures." (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Four hurt in crowd trouble at Pakistan-Jordan Asian Cup match LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 12 (AFP) Four fans were injured and several others were arrested when Pakistani and Jordanian fans clashed at an Asian Cup football qualifier, officials said Thursday. Play was halted for 15 minutes and police baton-charged supporters after trouble broke out at the Group C match here on Wednesday night, when Jordan beat Pakistan 3-0. The match eventually resumed after police dragged the troublemakers from the stadium. Pakistan have lost all five of their matches in Group C, which is led by Oman with 12 points followed by the United Arab Emirates with Jordan lying third. (Posted @ 16:42 PST)
Cricket-Imran slams Pakistani cricket management JAIPUR, India, Oct 12 (AFP) Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan on Thursday lashed out at the team management for shabbily treating current skipper Younis Khan ahead of the Champions Trophy in India. "If anyone had treated me as shabbily as thay have Younis, I would certainly have punched a member of the team's think-tank," Imran wrote in his column in the Hindustan Times. "He is the most selfless and accommodating cricketer to play for Pakistan, and has been shunted around for the last four years. He has been so shabbily treated since his debut that it almost seems like there is a conspiracy against him." Imran said the Pakistani team were capable of doing well in the Champions Trophy despite Inzamam's absence. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Court rejects bid by UK residents in Guantanamo LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) Top judges on Thursday rejected legal efforts by relatives of three UK residents held in Guantanamo Bay to make the British government press for their release. Instead the Appeal Court judges upheld an earlier High Court ruling backing the government's refusal to intervene. The three are Iraqi Bisher al-Rawi, 37, his Jordanian business partner Jamil el-Banna, a refugee, and Omar Deghayes, a Libyan who was detained in Pakistan. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Senior players hold the key in Inzamam's absence: Afridi JAIPUR, India, Oct 12 (AFP) Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi said Thursday that the recent turmoil at home would not affect the team's campaign in the Champions Trophy tournament in India. "The team have settled down after what happened back at home and we all are eager to perform under new captain Younis Khan," said Afridi. "I have adjusted myself according to the team's requirements. I don't know what number I will bat (in this tournament), but my job is to play for the team and contribute to its success," said Afridi. (Posted @ 16:34 PST)
Pakistani police break up coup anniversary protest LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 12 (Reuters) Police baton-charged supporters of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday after they refused to end a protest to mark the seventh anniversary of his ouster in a coup. Fifteen of the 30 protesters, including some women, belonging to Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party, were arrested and five were hurt, police said. Demonstrations and sit-ins were also held in the cities of Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Faisalabad, police added. There was no word of any trouble at those protests. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Cricket-Inzamam calls on Pakistan to fire in India KARACHI, Oct 12 (Reuters) Banned Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq urged his team mates to put the side's recent problems behind them at the Champions Trophy tournament in India. "What we did at the Oval (refusing to play) was a team decision. What Younis did had nothing to do with any other player. So there is no lack of spirit and unity in the side," he said, adding "They will back Younis to the hilt." Inzamam believes that Pakistan's chances in the Champions Trophy were enhanced by the team's experience on Indian pitches. "We learnt a lot in England and some of our players struggled in those conditions, but they will be more comfortable playing in India and we do have a balanced outfit and a strong bowling attack," he added. "If they do well in the Champions Trophy it will go a long way in improving our chances of winning the World Cup," he said. (First Posted @ 14:35 PST Updated @ 16:02 PST)
At least 57 killed as floods lash Myanmar and Thailand MANDALAY, Myanmar, Oct 12 (AFP) At least 57 people have been killed and thousands forced to abandon their homes as floods wreaked havoc across Thailand and Myanmar on Thursday.(Posted @ 13:50 PST)
NKorea warns Japan of 'countermeasures' for sanctions TOKYO, Oct 12 (AFP) Song Il-Ho, North Korea’s ambassador in charge of normalizing relations with Tokyo, has warned Japan of "strong countermeasures" over its new sanctions imposed in response to Pyongyang's nuclear test, Japanese Kyodo News said Thursday. "We will take strong countermeasures…the specific contents will become clear if you keep watching. We never speak empty words," he said when asked about Japanese sanctions in an interview to Kyodo Wednesday.(Posted @ 12:45 PST)
South Korean arrested for exporting nuclear-related material to Mideast SEOUL, Oct 12 (AFP) A South Korean businessman was arrested Thursday for exporting to a Middle Eastern country 15 tonnes of potassium bifluoride, a chemical which can be used for enriching uranium, prosecution authorities said.(Posted @ 12:35 PST)
Five Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrike GAZA CITY, Oct 12 (AFP) Five Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy, were killed Thursday in an air strike supporting an Israeli army incursion in Abbassan, near Khan Yunis, medical and security officials said. At least five people were wounded, including some in exchanges of gunfire with Israeli troops operating in the area, the sources said. (First Posted @ 09:10 PST, Updated@ 11:05 PST)
Chinese coal miners rescued after 40 hours trapped underground BEIJING, Oct 12 (AP) Eight Chinese coal miners who were trapped when a tunnel collapsed were rescued early Thursday after 40 hours underground. The miners were trapped Tuesday when the ceiling collapsed in the Xieqiao Coal Mine in Fuyang city in Anhui province, the official Xinhua News Agency said.(Posted @ 10:52 PST)
Japan seeks UN General Assembly condemnation of NKorea TOKYO, Oct 12 (AFP) - Japan will also ask the UN General Assembly to condemn Pyongyang for its declared nuclear test, officials said Thursday. Japan has each year since 1994 proposed a General Assembly resolution calling for the worldwide abolition of nuclear weapons. The latest annual draft resolution, which Japan submitted this week, for the first time explicitly mentions North Korea, the foreign ministry said in a statement.(Posted @ 10:15 PST)
India's cricket board accuses "snooty" ICC of neo-colonialism MUMBAI, Oct 12 (AFP) - India's battle against the International Cricket Council turned nasty Thursday with the world governing body of the game accused of snooty, avaricious neo-colonialism. "The avaricious and snooty officials are behaving more as masters and less as paid executives," raged Lalit Modi, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Modi charged that the "weird logistics" of the ICC during the ongoing Champions Trophy was the root cause of the trouble. "Everything including accreditation and security is being handled by companies based in London or South Africa who have no clue about ground realities here," Modi wrote in The Times of India."The one good thing is that the world media has seen the real face of the neo-colonialists of international cricket. "These people are bent upon setting up their empire by parachuting some mercenaries who are acting like agents of new imperialism in India." "Let me also make it clear that India was voted to host the 2011 World Cup by the member-nations and not by any individual. So nobody should threaten anyone of taking away something that has been decided by an overwhelming majority of ICC members," Modi warned. "It's time we had a chief executive who comes from Afro-Asia, someone who understands the problems of a majority of ICC members and doesn't heed just the affluent alone," he added.(Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Two suicide blasts rock eastern Afghan city, 16 wounded KHOST, Oct 12 (AFP) Two suicide blasts hit Afghanistan's eastern city of Khost within minutes of each other early Thursday, wounding at least 16 people, police and a doctor said. The first was a car bomb that detonated close to a vehicle of the US-led coalition force, police said. Two civilians had been wounded in the blast. A second bomb targeted an Afghan army vehicle. Sixteen wounded people had been taken to a hospital in Khost for treatment, a doctor said.(Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Four killed in Vietnam gas truck blast HANOI, Oct 12 (AFP) Four men were killed in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City when a truck carrying gas cannisters exploded, police said Thursday. "Three men on board the truck died immediately on the spot Wednesday. A motorbike driver passing by died a bit later in a hospital," police said.(Posted @ 10:00 PST)
East Timor turns down UN peacekeepers CANBERRA, Oct 12 (AFP) East Timor has rejected an offer of a UN military peacekeeping force to cope with civil unrest, Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said during a visit to Australia Thursday. It (East Timor) will instead rely on the Australian-led regional force deployed after an outbreak of violence in May, he added.(Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Dominican helicopter crash kills four SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Oct 12 (AP) Four people were killed Wednesday when a helicopter they were travelling in crashed into a building on the Dominican Republic's north coast, an aviation official said. A commission was investigating the cause of the accident.(Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 5.53 points: KARACHI, Oct 12: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10880.89 , down 5.53 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Oct 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.82 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
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