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| December 02, 2006 | Saturday | Ziqa'ad 10, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf, Ahmadinejad discuss IPI ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday talked to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on telephone and discussed measures to expedite the US $ 7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project. The two leaders agreed to remove impediments in the 2600-km gas pipeline project that aims at supplying natural gas from Iran to Pakistan and then onwards to India. They also discussed the tariff issue and called for an early resolution of the gas price mechanism and commencement of the project. President Musharraf said the project will be a win-win for the people of the two countries and will further strengthen their strong brotherly ties. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Musharraf says he believes in an independent and strong judiciary ISLAMABAD, Dec. 02 (Online): The Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, presented annual reports on law and justice commission to President Pervez Musharraf Saturday. Briefing the president on the working of the apex court he said that about 70 percent pending cases were decided by June 30, 2006 and added that it has been his endeavour to clear the backlog and to provide inexpensive and speedy justice to the aggrieved persons at their doorsteps. He informed the President about the shortage of office accommodation for the judges chambers and the staff. President Musharraf said he believed in an independent and strong judiciary, which strengthens the democratic institutions, brings about good governance and stability in the country. He assured the chief justice that the concerned quarters would be directed to provide all-out support and do the needful to strengthen the apex court and to improve and facilitate its working. He said the government would provide necessary funds for the construction of the additional blocks and provide a congenial working environment for the functioning of the apex Court. (Posted @ 19:10 PST)
State Bank to intervene if banks fail to raise their deposit rates: Governor KARACHI, Dec. 2 (APP)- Governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar has said the banks would be asked to increase their deposit rates, otherwise the Central Bank would have to intervene. “They have to ensure equitable sharing of their gains with the depositors," she said while presenting the SBP's annual report for 2005-06. The enhanced rates would also help encourage the national savings, she said. Replying to a question, she said the economy has shown an impressive performance during 2006 with investment level 20% up compared to last year and inflation well below the double digit mark. She maintained that the CPI, during this period showed declining trend at 7.9 % which is 0.1 percent below the target despite issues like distribution problems and problems at the end of the agriculture sector. However, she said the prices, which have started coming down, were not yet showing consistent downward trend. She said that Pakistan's economy turned in a strong performance for yet another year in FY06 with real GDP growth of 6.6 percent remaining higher than the desired long-term average of 6 percent. (Posted @ 18:25 PST)
Mangla Dam raising project to be completed by December 2007: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said that the work on raising Mangla Dam is going on in full swing and it will be completed by December 2007 which will give additional 2.9 MAF irrigation water and 644 GWH additional annual power generation. Chairing a meeting to review progress of the project he emphasized the need for timely payment of the compensation packages to the affected people and directed the relevant authorities to ensure that alternative land is handed over to the affectees well in time. He was told that Rs. 26 billion would be paid to affectees as compensation for land & other works, houses and cost of resettlement works, and that the payment of compensation packages and land allotment would be completed by the middle of 2007. Development of the new city and four satellite towns being built as part of the project is on target. (Posted @ 20:55 PST)
President Musharraf to announce future agenda on Dec 5: Durrani ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani Saturday said that as the Women Protection Bill (WPB) has become an Act, President Pervez Musharraf has kicked off a mass campaign for true empowerment of the deprived and poor. Addressing a news conference he said President Musharraf would announce his future agenda on December 5 while addressing the nation. He said the President is striving to eliminate discriminatory laws and restore the respect and honour of the common man. To a question, Senator Durrani said all the political parties would participate in the next general election and the PPP leadership has also passed on the same message to the MMA leadership. "Who-so-ever submits resignations from the parliament would be eliminated from political arena as people are fed-up with hypocritic tactics," he said. Replying to another question regarding Hasba Bill, the minister said the government was reviewing the bill and after proper consultations, either we would move court or we would take the issue to people's court. He also said the government was in touch with all the Opposition parties as it believed in resolving the issues through dialogue. "Opposition is also important for the government and we remain in consultation with the Opposition. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has also conveyed the same message to Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman," he said. (Posted @ 21:25 PST)
Baghdad triple car bomb kills more than 50, injures another 90 BAGHDAD, Dec 2 (AFP) - At least 51 people were killed and over 90 injured as a triple car bomb attack rocked the capital on Saturday. Security officials said many of the dead were women. Together with corpses found around the city, the toll for Saturday was a staggering 110 killed. The first blast appeared to target an Iraqi army Humvee jeep patrolling the central Rusafa district at sunset, an official said . There were soldiers among the casualties, but he could not say how many. The second blast followed immediately with the third just a few moments later, rocking windows 500 metres (yards) away on the opposite bank of the Tigris River. Shortly afterwards gunfire erupted around the city. Police also reported finding 44 bodies in Baghdad throughout the day, 33 of them in the Sunni-dominated western half of the city. In other violence across Iraq on Saturday, 15 more people were killed as insurgents and sectarian militia launched gun and bomb attacks in the region around the war-torn capital. Five Iraqi soldiers returning to their base north of Baghdad in civilian clothes were killed when insurgents sprayed their cars with automatic fire, Lieutenant Ali Mohammed Hassan of the Balad police told AFP. Elsewhere, at least 10 other people were killed. (Updated @ 22:00 PST)
Pak proposals reflect Kashmiris' aspirations ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Saturday said that Pakistan's proposals of demilitarisation, self-governance and joint-management truly reflected Kashmiris' aspirations and could pave the ground for a final Kashmir settlement if reciprocated by India. Addressing a largely attended delegate session of the APHC in Srinagar he expressed serious concern over the plight of illegally detained Kashmiris and urged the international community to mount pressure on India to release the detainees forthwith. He also called for abolition of all the black laws enforced in the occupied territory. The session was attended by all the members of APHC's Executive and General Councils, including, Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Bilal Ghani Lone, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, a Ptv report said. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Boxer Nauman Karim wins first bout in Asian Games DOHA, Dec 2 (APP)- Pakistan' s boxer Nauman Karim punched his way to the 2nd round of the Asian Games boxing competition by winning 28-14 (8-3,8-5,7-4,5-2) in the 51-kgs flyweight bout against Macau's Tong Wai Kam on Saturday. However, boxer Muhammad Nisar lost 7-5, 5-9, 5-11 and 2-8 his first round bout in 48kgs light-flyweight class to South Korean Won Moo Hong. (Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Helicopter missing in south Afghanistan KABUL, Dec 2 (Reuters) - A search is under way for a civilian helicopter that went missing in bad weather Saturday while ferrying supplies for foreign forces in southern Afghanistan. The chartered helicopter was headed from Kandahar city to the neighbouring province of Uruzgan when it went missing, a NATO spokesman said in Kabul. There were no NATO personnel on board. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
25 Indian troops injured in landmine blast in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, at least 25 Indian Army troops were injured, 15 of them critically, in a landmine blast at Keri in Rajouri district. The blast occurred at a camp where the troops were undergoing a training course, KMS reported. (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
US troops mistakenly kill Afghan policeman KABUL, Dec 2 (APP/AFP) - US troops operating under the NATO-led force mistakenly shot dead an Afghan policeman and injured a district police chief in Ghazni province, NATO and Afghan officials said Saturday. The policemen were on patrol when they came under fire from a NATO convoy patrolling the same area late Friday, interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said. (Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Asian Games: Pakistan beat Japan in kabbadi DOHA, Dec 2 (APP)- Pakistan beat Japan 34-13 to notch up its first win in the Asian Games kabaddi tournament centre here Saturday. Pakistan play the next match against Iran. (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
14 killed in India as bus plummets into ravine SHIMLA, India, Dec 2 (AFP) - At least 14 people, including seven women, were killed and 29 others injured Saturday when a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in the mountainous resort of Solan, 48 kilometres from Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, police said. The bus carrying 50 passengers skidded off a hilly road and hurtled down the 600-foot deep ravine, officials said. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
SBP expects 7 % GDP growth during next fiscal KARACHI, Dec 2 (APP)- The State Bank of Pakistan has projected the real gross Domestic Produce (GDP) growth for the fiscal year 2007 close to the 7 percent annual target, mainly contributed by a recovery in agriculture and industry as well as yet another robust performance by the services sector. According to the SBP's annual Report 2005-2006, released Saturday, recovery in agriculture is expected to be underpinned by strong wheat and sugarcane harvests, which would offset the reported losses to the FY07 cotton harvest due to untimely rain. Similarly, a small resurgence in large-scale manufacturing is expected to pull-up industrial growth in FY07. The Report also revealed the possible up-gradation of country's sovereign rating which both Moody's as well as S&P have recently indicated was under review. However, the continued strength of aggregate demand, together with the governments evident inability to reduce domestic prices of petroleum products indicates that average CPI inflation may remain above the 6.5 percent annual target. The Report underlined the need for corrective policy with options revolving around a mix of reducing import growth and fostering strong export growth since the growth of the current account deficit in recent years is largely due to an extraordinary rise in the trade deficit. (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Landmine ambush kills 14 soldiers in eastern India RANCHI, India, Dec 2 (APP/AFP) - At least 14 Indian army soldiers died in a landmine ambush Saturday in a Maoist insurgency-wrecked area in Jharkhand state, police said. Six other soldiers were injured in the attack that blew up their vehicle near the steel-producing town of Bokaro, 130 kilometres from capital Ranchi, deputy police chief Gauri Shankar said. "Fourteen security personnel died instantly and six more were severely injured in the landmine blast at Bokaro," he said from Ranchi. (Posted @ 17:10 PST)
33 killed when bridge collapses on train in India NEW DELHI, Dec 2 (Agencies) _ At least 33 people were killed and 18 injured when a pedestrian bridge collapsed, crushing the railway coach underneath, at the Bhagalpur station in Bihar state on Saturday, officials said. The 150-year-old foot bridge was in the process of being dismantled when it collapsed as the train passed under it early in the morning, they said. Bhagalpur is about 150 kilometers east of Patna. (First Posted @ 13:00 PST, Updated @ 16:55 PST)
Hezbollah-led protesters camp out in Beirut BEIRUT, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition camped out in central Beirut on Saturday on the second day of protests to demand the resignation of the U.S.-backed government. Protesters pitched tents near central Beirut's Martyrs' Square and on streets leading to the government's headquarters, where hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters rallied on Friday to demand the government quit. "No matter how long they stay in the street ... this will not bring down the government of (Prime Minister) Fouad Siniora," Sunni Muslim leader Saad al-Hariri, who backs Siniora, told Al Hurra television late Friday. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Cricket-Australia 28-1 v England (551-6dec) - close ADELAIDE, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Australia were 28 for one in their first innings at the close of play on the second day of the second Ashes test against England at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Summerised scores: England 551-6 declared from 168 overs (Paul Collingwood 206, Kevin Pietersen 158, Ian Bell 60; Stuart Clark 3-75); Australia 28-1 from nine overs. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Despite NATO, Afghan opium cultivation grows 61 percent WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (AFP) - Opium poppy cultivation shot up a whopping 61 percent in Afghanistan this year in a setback for US and NATO efforts to clamp down on the country's illegal drug industry, according to new figures released by the White House. (Posted @ 16:33 PST)
Rescuers reach Philippines mudslide disaster LEGASPI, Philippines, Dec 2 (AFP) - Rescuers arrived in this devastated Philippines city Saturday as officials warned there would be few survivors from giant mudslides which swept away entire villages, killing hundreds. Military and civilian emergency workers delayed by typhoon Durian, which triggered the mudflows on Thursday, flew in at first light with the toll already at 469 dead or missing. Officials were pessimistic about finding people alive, and appealed for body bags and doctors. It would be a case of digging bodies from the mud rather than rescuing survivors, they said. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Taliban kill four people in eastern Afghanistan KUNAR, Afghanistan, Dec 2, 2006 (AFP) - Taliban militants killed four Afghan road workers whom they accused of spying for US forces in Kunar province , the militant group and police said Saturday. The men were kidnapped nearly two weeks ago. Their bodies were found on a mountain on Saturday, said counter-terrorism police chief Abdul Mateen. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Six dead in Bangladesh ferry sinking DHAKA, Dec 2 (AFP) - Six people died Saturday when a ferry carrying about 70 people sank after colliding with a larger passenger boat in foggy weather in river Kangsha in northern Netrokana district, police said. All the passengers except the six who died managed to swim to the shore, said police inspector Kamrul Ahsan. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Nine killed in Iraq unrest BAGHDAD, Dec 2 (AFP) - At least nine people were killed around Iraq on Saturday as insurgents and sectarian militia launched gun and bomb attacks in the region around Baghdad. North of Baghdad, insurgents opened fire on a funeral procession from the town of Khalis en route for the holy city of Najaf and its huge cemetery, police said. Two were killed in the attack and two more died when gunmen opened fire in Khalis market, an officer said. In another incident Iraqi police clashed briefly with militia fighters in Samawa, 250 kilometres south of the capital, in a battle which left one 14-year-old male bystander dead, police said. Separately, roadside boobytraps exploded outside Iskandariyah and Musayyib, killing two motorists, while a larger blast outside Yusifiyah killed a police officer and wounded six more, police said. In the capital itself, assassins gunned down interior ministry official Captain Haider Musa in Jadida district in the east of the city, a security official said. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Israel violates ceasefire as Abbas sees top diplomats GAZA CITY, Dec 2 (AFP) - Israel violated a fragile Gaza Strip ceasefire for the first time Saturday when an Israeli naval vessel fired at three Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Rafah in south Gaza, Palestinian security sources said. No one was injured. The incident came as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was due to sit down with the foreign ministers of Austria and Germany and the European Union's top diplomat Javier Solana, amid revived hopes of kick starting the stalled peace process. Palestinian militants have also violated the ceasefire, firing rockets at Israel four times since the agreement came into force. Most recently, a rocket landed in an uninhabited area of the western Negev desert on Friday.(Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Pakistan sympathises with Philippines after typhoon disaster ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (AFP) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday sent condolences and sympathies to Filipino counterpart Gloria Arroyo over the more than 400 deaths caused by a typhoon in the Philippines. "I am deeply shocked to hear the sad news of the tragic loss of precious life and devastation of property caused by super typhoon ramming in eastern and central Philippines," Musharraf wrote in a special message to Arroyo.(Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Bangladesh president to meet party chiefs DHAKA, Bangladesh, Dec 2 (AP) Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed was to meet Saturday with the chiefs of two rival political camps to try to end a political feud that is threatening January elections, a spokesman said. Ahmed will hold separate talks with former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her archrival Sheikh Hasina to discuss possible solutions to the deadlock, said presidential spokesman Mahbubul Alam.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Truck runs over 20 people in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec 2 (AP) A truck ran over and killed 20 people standing at a bus stop in Al-Wahada town, 35 kilometers south of Baghdad, Saturday, police said. Fifteen people were also injured. The cause of the crash was being investigated, police added.(Posted @ 13:50 PST)
Bomb kills one in Balochistan QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 2 (AFP) A man was killed and three passers-by injured Saturday when a bomb, planted under an electricity transformer near a paramilitary headquarters, exploded in the town of Naushki, some 150 kilometers west of Quetta, police said.(Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Bush seeks more 'consensus' on Iraq WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (AFP) US President George W. Bush said Saturday that victory in Iraq required "greater consensus" in Washington on the best way forward. "I will work with leaders of both parties to achieve this goal," Bush said in his weekly radio address. Bush noted that the US military was reviewing its options there and said he looked forward to hearing from a commission headed by former US secretary of state James Baker and ex-congressman and foreign policy expert Lee Hamilton. "Success in Iraq will require leaders in Washington - Republicans and Democrats alike - to come together and find greater consensus on the best path forward," he said.(Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Indonesian quake damages buildings, 14 hurt JAKARTA, Dec 2 (Reuters) An earthquake on Sumbawa island in eastern Indonesia overnight has damaged houses and injured 14 people, a health official said Saturday. The quake struck about 11 km northeast of Raba, the closest town to the epicentre, and was of a 5.8 magnitude, the official said.(Posted @ 11:00 PST)
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