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| December 06, 2006 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 14, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf says will not give up army job ahead of polls NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (AFP) Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in an interview broadcast Wednesday said he will not give up his position as the chief of the army before polls next year. "The constitution allows me to hold it till 2007, so I will hold it... So if the elections, as I said are in November, I will be in uniform," Musharraf told private Indian NDTV network in an interview. "It's not easy, because there are some perceptions. At this moment what Pakistan is facing needs a unity, a unity of command over important organs of state. That includes the military, the political and the bureaucracy." The president, however, did not give a definite date for the polls, saying they could be held late 2007 or early 2008. Musharraf also told the network that he would not allow exiled former Pakistani prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to contest the elections. Musharraf ousted Sharif as prime minister in 1999, and exiled him to Saudi Arabia in 2000 for 10 years. "If he comes, he will be sent back to Saudi Arabia. He is on a 10-years agreement. He will go straight back." The president said Benazir Bhutto would face charges of corruption if she returned from exile. "If she comes, there are trials and cases against (her)." (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Musharraf's comments invoke mixed response in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Dec 6 (AP) The All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday welcomed President Musharraf's suggestion that Pakistan was willing to give up its claim to Kashmir if India reciprocated and agreed to self-governance in the Himalayan region. ``The president of Pakistan has produced an idea ... that takes into consideration the sensitivities of both countries as well as their security concerns,'' said Abdul Ghani Bhat, the alliance's spokesman. The United Jehad Council was not optimistic that India would go along with Musharraf's idea, describing it as a ``unilateral concession'' by Pakistan. The National Conference president Omar Abdullah said Musharraf's remarks deserve serious thought. In Islamabad, a Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Pakistan has not changed its position on Kashmir. Musharraf was ``arguing for flexibility on both sides for a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute,'' said Tasnim Aslam. ``The president has only reiterated the well-known view that, in step with India, Pakistan is willing to be flexible in pursuit of an acceptable negotiated settlement,'' she said.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan's Yousuf doubtful for West Indies one-dayer FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Dec 6 (Reuters) Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf is doubtful for Thursday's second one-day international against the West Indies because his wife is ill in Lahore. "His wife is expecting and is very ill and he wants to be with her," Pakistan manager Talat Ali informed on Wednesday. He added that Yasir Hameed was a possible replacement if Yousuf did not join the team in time.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
India, England win matches in Cricket World Cup for the Blind ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): India defeated New Zealand by 276 runs in their Cricket World Cup for the Blind match on Wednesday. In the second match, England outplayed Australia by five wickets.(Posted @ 21:40 PST)
India beat Pakistan to retain Asian Games kabaddi title DOHA, Dec 6 (AFP) India retained their Asian Games kabaddi title with a 35-22 win over Pakistan here on Wednesday.(Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Windies to launch World Cup campaign with Pakistan one-dayer FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Dec 6 (AFP) West Indies captain Brian Lara said his team were eager to launch their World Cup campaign in the one-day international against Pakistan here on Thursday. "Our…only worry is that we are pretty close to the World Cup and the likes of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo are not here," Lara said at a press conference. Lara urged respect for a decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board to clear bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif of doping and said "I think this is good for Pakistan cricket and also for next year's World Cup". Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said his team needed a good effort to beat the West Indies. (First Posted @ 18:30 PST Updated @ 21:10 PST)
Two Pakistanis beheaded in Saudi Arabia RIYADH, Dec 6 (AFP) A Pakistani man and woman convicted of drug smuggling were beheaded on Wednesday in Jeddah, the interior ministry said. Mohammed Rafiq Miyassid and Abajan Mohammed Rafiq were caught bringing heroin into the kingdom in their stomachs, the ministry added.(Posted @ 20:55 PST)
ICC chief attacks PCB over doping "inconsistencies" DUBAI, Dec 6 (AFP) The judgment to lift the doping bans imposed on fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif “highlights inconsistencies in the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) anti-doping processes and regulations”, ICC president Percy Sonn said in a statement Wednesday. "It is vital that cricket takes heed of the judgment and that the lessons it provides are disseminated amongst all our members." Sonn said it was now important that each ICC member revisited their own regulations and aligned them both with the ICC's and WADA's Anti-Doping Code. "The issue of player education is also of vital importance and the ICC will, with WADA's continued assistance, do its utmost to make it easier for our members to provide this service to their players and officials," he added.(Posted @ 20:45 PST)
ECC reduces import duty on LPG, exempts sales tax on public transport ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday abolished duty on import of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and exempted sales tax on public transport vehicles such as CNG buses at a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, a finance ministry official said.(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
India will suffer most due to climate change: report NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (Reuters) India is likely to suffer more than most countries as a result of climate change, with poor agricultural output, more natural disasters and increased deaths due to higher occurrence of diseases, former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern's report on the economic impact of climate change said. Experts estimate a temperature rise of between 2 and 3.5 degrees centigrade, would cost India a loss of between nine and 25 percent of total agricultural revenue. The head of Britain's Economic Service said the melting of Himalayan glaciers would mean Bangladesh could experience serious floods as a result of rising sea levels, sparking mass migration across the border into India.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Iraq panel warns of chaos if situation worsens WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) The bipartisan Iraq Study Group on Wednesday called for a new push for a "comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace" and said that the United States should engage both Syria and Iran "constructively," according to the report. The commission warned that Iraq could "slide into chaos" if the situation there continues to worsen. It also said that U.S. must not make "open-ended" commitment to keep large U.S. force in Iraq.(Posted @ 19:35 PST)
Boat capsizes near Manora, six fishermen missing Karachi, Dec 6 (PPI): Six fishermen were feared drowned and one was rescued alive when a boat capsized in the Arabian sea some 37 kilometers off Manora here on Tuesday evening, officials said. The Marine Security Agency (MSA) and the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum were conducting search and rescue operations.(Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Musharraf witnesses Pak-Saudi joint military exercise BAHAWALPUR, Dec 6 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday witnessed the joint Pak-Saudi military exercise named 'Al-Samsaam-2' (Sharp Sword) here and said it reflected the close cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, an Inter Services Public Relations release said, adding that the exercises would last for three weeks.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Bush says will take Iraq recommendations seriously WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) President George W. Bush pledged on Wednesday to take very seriously the recommendations by a bipartisan group on a possible exit strategy from the war in Iraq. "This report gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq," Bush said after meeting for about an hour with themembers of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. "We will take every proposal seriously and we will act in a timely fashion." (First Posted @ 18:10 PST Updated @ 18:30 PST)
Afghan drugs a worry as Pakistanis confront AIDS ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (Reuters) Afghanistan's booming opium trade is a huge concern for Pakistan as it confronts the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among intravenous drug users, Pakistan's Health Minister Mohammad Naseer Khan said on Wednesday. "More has to be done by the government of Afghanistan, and also all the donor agencies and coalition forces to stop that production," he said.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Bangladesh opposition threatens two-million-strong protest DHAKA, Dec 6 (AFP) Bangladesh's main opposition party, Awami League, Wednesday threatened to stage fresh protests with up to two million supporters from Sunday unless its demands for electoral reforms ahead of January elections were met. Some 15,000 opposition supporters gathered close to the election commission office Wednesday to stage a short demonstration, police said.(Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Blair agrees US not winning Iraq conflict LONDON, Dec 6 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday he shared the assessment of US defence secretary designate Robert Gates, who said the US was not winning the Iraq conflict. Asked if he shared Gates' view, he said: "Of course," pointing out that in July "I said myself that the situation in Baghdad with sectarian killing was appalling and that the bloodshed was appalling.”(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Top aide of Qaeda chief in Iraq killed BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (AFP) A close aide of the head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been killed by Iraqi security forces, an Iraqi official said Wednesday.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Another Iraqi detainee dies in US-run prison BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (AFP) An Iraqi detainee died Friday of "natural causes" at the US-run detention facility of Camp Cropper near Baghdad airport, the US military announced Tuesday.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Four Palestinians wounded by Israeli fire in Gaza GAZA CITY, Dec 6 (AFP) Four Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire in the northern Gaza Strip’s Beit Lahiya Wednesday, medics said.(Posted @ 18:05 PST)
Cricket-Former captains lash out at Pakistan dope U-turn ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (AFP) Former Pakistan cricket greats Wednesday said the decision to overturn a doping ban on fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif would be tough to explain to the cricketing world. Former captain Ramiz Raja said the initial doping tribunal that banned the pair was told to work under WADA and ICC rules but the appeals committee worked under local PCB rules "and found that 'get-away clause' which cleared the two bowlers". Raja blamed the PCB for the whole issue. "I think they have messed up the whole issue and once again Pakistan is in focus for wrong reasons. You need to convince others about the decision," said Raja. Another former captain, Mushtaq Mohammad, said Pakistan had become a laughing stock in the cricket world. Former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz said the PCB "needs to apologise to the nation. They must share the reports of tests with the public."(Posted @ 17:55 PST)
India says Islamabad harasses its diplomats in Pakistan NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (AFP) India accused Pakistan on Wednesday of subjecting Indian diplomats "to maltreatment and intimidatory tactics" in Islamabad. Pakistani intelligence and security agents carry out constant surveillance of officers working for the Indian mission in Islamabad, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament. "These incidents have been taken up with the government of Pakistan at various levels and protests lodged," Mukherjee said in a written reply to a parliamentary question.(Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Thirteen hurt in grenade attack on occupied Kashmir police SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Dec 6 (AFP) Thirteen people, including three federal policemen, were wounded Wednesday when grenade was hurled at a police bunker in Srinagar, police said.(Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Heavy snow kills six, including three Indian soldiers, in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Dec 6(AFP) Three Indian soldiers were killed and one seriously wounded in an avalanche in Baramulla district, while three labourers working for the army were killed in another avalanche at Sadna Pass in northern Kupwara district, the army said Wednesday. Heavy snow cut off the frontier district of Karnah that left around 300 trucks carrying essential commodities and a few passenger vehicles stranded on the highway. (First Posted @ 14:00 PST Updated @ 17:35 PST)
Former Indian cricketer Sidhu gets three years for road rage killing NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (AFP) Former Indian international cricketer and BJP party MP Navjot Singh Sidhu was sentenced to three years in jail Wednesday for killing a man in a road rage outburst nearly two decades ago.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Asian Games-Pakistan beat Hong Kong 10-1 in hockey DOHA, Dec 6 (AFP) Asian Games field hockey results on Wednesday: Group A Pakistan 10 (Tariq Aziz 4, Mohammad Zubair 7, 9, Muhammad Waqas 8, 26, Muhammad Imran 25, 50, 67, Shakeel Abbasi 28, Imran Warsi 34) Hong Kong 1 (Arif Ali 31); Japan 2 (Takahiko Yamabori 9, 43) Malaysia 2 (Chua Boon Huat 32, Nabil Abdullah 47) (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
17 killed, 52 wounded in Iraq attacks BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (AFP) At least 17 people were killed and 52 wounded in attacks across Iraq Wednesday, including four in a suicide bombing on a bus in Baghdad’s Sadr City district, a security official said. Eight people were killed and 40 others wounded when a series of mortar bombs slammed into a market in central Baghdad's Al-Midan area, the official said. Four people, including two women, were killed and 12 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus travelling through Sadr City. In another attack four people were killed when a bomb went off in a shop near a bus station in the town of Iskandiriyah, police said. In western Baghdad's Mansur district gunmen attempted to assassinate Brigadier General Mohsen Qassim, the head of the security force of Iraq's ministry of higher education, but only killed his driver. (FirstPosted @ 14:05 PST, Updated @ 14:50 PST)
Asian Games: Pakistani rowing pair qualify for final DOHA, Dec 6 (APP)- Pakistan rowing pair of Karim Naimat and Muhammad Akram qualified for the men's light weight double sculls final in the rowing competition of the Doha Asian Games on Tuesday. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
India defeat Pakistan in Asian Games snooker DOHA, Dec 6 (APP): India defeated Pakistan in the quarter-finals of the men’s team snooker championship of Doha Asian Games with a straight 3-0 victory Tuesday night. The score was 68-13,66-22,86-36. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Saddam faces new witness despite boycott threat BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (AFP) A smiling Saddam Hussein was back in the courtroom Wednesday, one a day after his lawyers released a handwritten letter, purportedly from the ousted Iraqi leader, asking to be allowed to remain in his cell. "I request you excuse me from attending the sessions of this latest mockery," the letter said, complaining that the judge prevented him and his fellow defendants from explaining their point of view. Though the prosecutor asked the judge Tuesday to end the witness phase of the testimony to speed the trial along, another witness was presented Wednesday, a hospital doctor who treated victims of Iraqi military poisonous gas attacks. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Afghan suicide bomb attack kills eight in south KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 6 (Reuters) A suicide bomber attacked the office of a U.S.-owned security company in Kandahar Wednesday killing eight people, including two Americans, a government and company official said. The blast took place at the office of the USPI security company, they said. (First Posted@ 10:00 PST, Updated @ 10:45 PST)
No deal on Iran sanctions at Paris talks PARIS, Dec 6 (AFP) Six world powers meeting in Paris Tuesday failed to agree on a sanctions package against Iran despite "substantive progress", the French foreign ministry said in a statement. "We made substantive progress on the scope of the sanctions, targeting proliferation sensitive activities." "We are now close to a conclusion of this process," it added, but said there were still "several outstanding issues". (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 127.83 points: KARACHI, Dec 06: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10677.99, up 127.83 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Dec 06: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.98 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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