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| March 09, 2007 | Friday | Safar 19, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President files reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Agencies) President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Friday filed a reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan under article 209 of the country’s constitution on charges of misconduct and misuse of authority, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said. Musharraf has now referred the case of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Durrani said. An official statement said Musharraf has appointed Justice Javed Iqbal, another senior supreme court judge, as the Acting Chief Justice. The statement said “the chief justice was called by the president and the prime minister and confronted with the allegations, in answer to which he could not give any satisfactory reply.” Chaudhry’s post as the chief justice was now “non-functional”, Law Minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar claimed in an interview to a private TV channel. The SJC has now summoned Justice Chaudhry on March 13th to face the charges filed against him, the private TV channel report added. Television footage showed Chaudhry meeting on Friday with Musharraf, who was dressed in military uniform, at the president's official army residence in Rawalpindi. (First Posted @ 16:00 Updated @ 23:12 PST)
Council stops Chaudhary from functioning as Chief Justice ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (APP) The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) headed by the newly appointed Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Javed Iqbal, has invited Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary to appear before the council on March 13, at 1.30 p.m, an official notice order issued at the end of a SJC meeting said here on Friday. The council further ordered that Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary shall not perform functions as Judge of the Supreme Court or as the Chief Justice of Pakistan until the reference was answered by the council. The SJC order was issued unanimously by council members comprising the Acting CJP, Justice Iqbal, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar, Supreme Court Judge, Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Chief Justice Lahore High Court, Chaudhary Iftikhar Hussain and Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed. (Posted @ 23:16 PST)
Acting Chief Justice given oath ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (APP) Justice Javed Iqbal took oath here on Friday as the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar administered the oath in a ceremony held here at the Supreme Court. Justice Javed Iqbal holds degrees in M.A. Political Science, LL.B. and M.A. International Law. Justice Javed Iqbal joined the Bar in 1970, practiced between 1971-72 and then joined service in 1973. He was elevated to High Court in 1993 and appointed as Chief Justice of High Court of Balochistan on February 2, 2000. Justice Javed Iqbal was elevated to Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 28, 2000. (Posted @ 19:06 PST Updated @ 21:02 PST)
Cricket: South Africa all out for 199 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, March 9 (AFP) South Africa were 199 all out in their final World Cup warm-up match against Pakistan here on Friday. South Africa 199 all out in 48.3 overs (Bosman 53) v Pakistan. (First Posted @ 19:16 PST Updated @ 00:58 PST)
CJ removal a disgrace to judiciary: Qazi LAHORE, March 9 (PPI) MMA President and Jamaat-e-Islami chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, on Friday termed the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and his suspension as a 'disgrace' to the country’s judiciary, and urged upon all political parties to chalk out a joint strategy to tackle the situation. In a statement, Qazi said that at a time when the Supreme Court was hearing several important cases involving important legal issues such as Gen Musharraf's uniform issue, the suspension of the chief justice at this critical juncture amounts to clipping the wings of the judiciary. He said this action has proved that no constitutional office in the country was respectable before an individual running the affairs of the state, who will go to any extent to force his will upon the people. He asked the judiciary to lodge a strong protest against this action. (Posted @ 00:55 PST)
Reference against CJ in accordance with law: Durrani ISLAMABAD, Mar 9 (APP) Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Durrani, in an interview to a private TV channel on Friday said that President Musharraf had submitted the reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary at the recommendation of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the matter was now in the hands of the Supreme Judicial Council. He said the reference was submitted along with observations and evidence of the alleged misconduct by the chief justice. Durrani said Justice Javed Iqbal was appointed acting chief justice in accordance with constitutional provisions adding it will be inappropriate to link his appointment to somebody's leave or absence. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Tariq Azeem, said the chief justice will be given an opportunity to clear his position, and if nothing was proved against him in the SJC, he would be reinstated. Azeem referred to a letter containing allegations against the Chief Justice written by advocate Naeem Bukhari, and claimed that the letter was written independently by the author. (Posted @ 00:48 PST)
Pakistan, India ease travel restrictions on diplomats NEW DELHI, March 9 (Agencies): Pakistan and India on Friday announced relaxation in travel restriction rules on each other’s diplomats. The Press Trust of India said that Indian diplomats based in Islamabad can now proceed to Taxila and Punja sahib, holy site of Sikhs located in Hassan Abdal without seeking permission and likewise Pakistani diplomats based in New Delhi can now proceed to Tanda and Gurgaon without permission. (Posted @ 00:26 PST)
Imran Khan condemns government for action against chief justice ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Agencies) Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf chief, Imran Khan, on Friday strongly condemned President Musharraf’s reference against the chief justice and said that a message was now being conveyed to the judges in the country that whosoever does not toe the government line, they would be punished. He said the government took action against the chief justice since he pursued cases of missing persons, human rights violations and matters of public interest in the court that exposed the wrongdoings of the government. He further said the government has further violated the constitution by not appointing the senior most judge of the Supreme Court justice Rana Bhagwan Das as the acting chief justice. (Posted @ 00:16 PST)
Chief Justice punished for verdict in steel mills case: PML-N ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Agencies) PML-N secretary general, Ahsan Iqbal, on Friday said that the government showed the door to the chief justice for preventing it from committing a loot and plunder spree in the country. A campaign against the chief justice was in place through different government agencies for some time, he claimed. After the Supreme Court’s verdict in the steel mills case, both the president and the prime minister should have resigned from their post since a national asset worth Rs200 billion was stopped from being sold out at a cost of only Rs21 billion, he said. But not even a single section officer was transferred after that verdict of the Supreme Court and now instead the chief justice has been suspended, he added. (Posted @ 23:58 PST)
Reference against chief justice a black chapter in country’s history: Rabbani ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Agencies) Opposition leader in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, on Friday said that the government has added another black chapter in the history of Pakistan by making the current chief justice ineffective. Commenting on the allegations of negligence of duty and misconduct against chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Rabbani asked why no action was being taken against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who was known to be involved in mega scandals. Rabbani opined that the decision to file a reference had been taken due to the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Steel mills case. He further said that it was a matter of concern that the chief justice was made ineffective at a time when general elections were around the corner. The decision to file a reference has been taken when the issue of General Musharraf’s uniform was to be decided, he added. (Posted @ 23:48 PST)
Maulana Fazl ur Rehman says decision to file reference political ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Agencies): MMA leader Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on Friday said that although the president of Pakistan has the constitutional right to file a reference against the chief justice, it should also be kept in mind that a constitutional way to impeach the president was also available. Rehman said the motives behind the president’s decision were political. (Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Heavy police contingent deployed at Justice Chaudhry’s residence ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Agencies): A heavy contingent of police has been deployed around the residence of the “non-functional” Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, at B-5 judges colony in Islamabad after President Musharraf filed a reference against him on Friday. (Posted @ 23:26 PST)
Cricket: No English please, we are Pakistanis PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, March 9 (AFP) Pakistan's cricketers will address media conferences during the World Cup in their national language Urdu, and not in English, coach Bob Woolmer said here on Friday. “The Pakistani players feel comfortable in their national language,” the coach said. “They can express themselves freely in Urdu and they are proud of their language and their country. Our media manager Pervez Mir will act as interpreter during the press conferences.” (Posted @ 20:26 PST)
Twenty wounded in West Bank barrier demos QALANDIYA, West Bank, March 9 (AFP) Twenty people were hurt on Friday when Israeli troops dispersed protests against the Jewish state's controversial separation barrier in the occupied West Bank, medics said. Fourteen protestors, including Palestinian and Israeli peace activists, were wounded after soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a demonstration in the village of Bilin, medical sources and witnesses said. Another four Palestinians were wounded in further clashes between protestors and Israeli soldiers in Qalandiya, the same sources said. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Two Pakistanis beheaded in Saudi Arabia JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 9 (AFP) Two Pakistanis were beheaded on Friday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after being convicted of smuggling drugs into the conservative kingdom, the interior ministry said. The two convicts, including a woman, were caught while smuggling an undisclosed amount of heroin they had swallowed, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA official news agency. (Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Blast kills three commandos in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, March 9 (AFP) A roadside bomb killed at least three police commandos and wounded another 12 in eastern Sri Lanka Friday, the military said. (First Posted @ 11:50 PST Updated @ 19:48 PST)
Pakistani lawmakers threaten end to anti-terror cooperation ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 9 (AP) Pakistani lawmakers threatened on Friday to halt counterterrorism cooperation with Washington if American military aid is made conditional to Islamabad's commitment in fighting the Taliban and al-Qaida. “Pakistan's contribution to the war on terror is far higher than any other country,” the defense committee of Pakistan's lower house of parliament said. If it becomes law, the condition “calls for a reciprocal action from Pakistan, including complete or partial non-cooperation in the war against terror,” the committee said, according to an official summary of its Thursday meeting. (Posted @ 18:32 PST)
1 Afghan border guard, 1 Iranian said killed in clash in western Afghanistan KABUL, March 9 (AP) Afghan and Iranian border guards fought a gunbattle in western Afghanistan on Friday that left one Afghan and one Iranian dead, an Afghan official said. The guards exchanged fire in the western province of Nimroz after the Iranians had crossed some 100 meters (yards) into Afghan territory, said Mohammad Daud Ahmad, the chief of border police for western Afghanistan.There was no immediate reaction from Iranian authorities. Nimroz lies on a major trafficking route for Afghanistan's huge opium trade. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
Olmert and Abbas to meet Sunday, Palestinian officials say JERUSALEM, March 9 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet on Sunday for their second summit in a month, negotiator Saeb Erekat said Friday. Though he termed the meeting “very important,” Erekat also said, “I'm not going to exaggerate expectations.” Olmert's aides have said the summit will focus on humanitarian issues, and that no significant political developments are expected. Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, said the meeting's primary purpose was to “keep the line of communications open.” The two leaders met Feb. 19 along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. That summit was overshadowed by Abbas' agreement to form a national unity government with the Hamas, and ended with no discernible results. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
OIC want detained Philippine Muslim leader at talks MANILA, March 9 (AFP) The Philippines was asked by the OIC on Friday to allow detained Muslim rebel leader Nur Misuari, founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), to fly to Saudi Arabia for the July 10-15 meeting in Jeddah , an official said . Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which brings together 57 nations, wants Misauri on hand for a meeting with the Philippine government and MILF to review a peace deal with his group .“They promised to expedite” his release, said Sayyed Kassem El-Masry, an Egyptian diplomat and adviser to OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
Violent protests greet Bush's Latin America tour SAO PAULO, March 9 (AFP) US President George W. Bush arrived in Brazil Thursday amid protests at his visit that turned violent at the start of his five-nation Latin America tour. In Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and financial capital, a massive demonstration poured down the main avenue. Protesters carried signs reading “Bush out of Iraq” and “Down with the Number One Terrorist George Bush.” Organizers said the demonstration drew at least 30,000 people; police put the number at 10,000. The peaceful demonstration turned violent after a group of protesters entered a prohibited area along the avenue. Protesters hurled rocks and sticks at police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. The clash left 16 police officers and some six protesters injured. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Lightning kills Pakistani border guard MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, March 9 (AFP) A Pakistani soldier was killed and two others were injured when lightning struck their guard post late Thursday in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said Friday. The accident happened at the Mamoon Panga border post, some 70 kilometres west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, a security official said. (Posted @ 14:35 PST)
Millions of Shiites defy bombs to mark festival KARBALA, Iraq, March 9 (AFP) Vast crowds of black-clad Shiite devotees thronged shrines in the holy city of Karbala on Friday, at the start of the two day observance of Arbaeen, which marks the 40th day after the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein. According to Karbala's Governor Aqil Al-Khazali, three million pilgrims had arrived in the city. (Posted @ 14:35 PST)
South Korean president names former finance minister as new prime minister SEOUL, March 9 (AP) South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun named a former finance minister as his new prime minister Thursday and replaced his chief of staff, the presidential office said. Han Duck-soo, a career official who served as Roh's finance minister in 2005-2006, was nominated to succeed Han Myung-sook, who stepped down earlier this week to focus. (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Six killed, 18 injured in separatist attacks in India GUWAHATI, March 9 (AFP) Five people were shot dead in a bakery and another person killed by a bomb in separate late night attacks by militants in India's northeast, officials said Friday. Gunmen burst into the bakery in a village 40 kilometres south of Imphal, capital of the state of Manipur, late Thursday. In the neighbouring state of Assam one person was killed and 18 wounded in a powerful bomb explosion at a marketplace late Thursday. Police said they suspected the separatist United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was behind the attack. (First Posted @ 10:05 PST, Updated @ (Posted @ 14:25 PST)
US forces seize 16 'Qaeda terrorists' BAGHDAD, March 9 (AFP) US forces in Iraq captured 16 suspected insurgents Friday including an Al-Qaeda leader known as “The Butcher” because of his penchant for beheading captives, the military said Friday. This suspect was one of six insurgents captured in an early morning raid in the northern city of Mosul in which a seventh suspect was killed, according to a statement from US military headquarters. In Fallujah, troops captured two men suspected of helping foreign militants to slip into the country. Eight more suspected members of an insurgent network were rounded up near the nearby town of Karmah, the statement said, including an “Al-Qaeda media emir” responsible for propaganda. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
German aid worker shot dead in Afghanistan MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, March 9 (AFP) Unknown gunmen shot dead a German aid worker in northern Afghanistan Thursday after letting three Afghans he was travelling with go free, Afghan officials said. The man's organisation, German Agro Action (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe), confirmed he had been shot in the northern province of Sari Pul. The group had been travelling by vehicle to assess newly built schools and bridges, a media officer in Berlin said. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Three killed, four critically injured in Hawaii helicopter crash PRINCEVILLE, Hawaii, March 9 (AP) Three people were killed and four critically injured Thursday when a tour helicopter crashed, the mayor's office said. The crash occurred shortly after a Heli-USA Airways pilot radioed that he was having problems with the aircraft's hydraulics, according to a statement by the Kauai Fire Chief. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Rebels kidnap four Iran troops, issue video DUBAI, March 9 (Reuters) An Iranian rebel group said it kidnapped four Revolutionary Guards and issued a video purportedly showing the hostages, Al Arabiya television reported Thursday. The video from the group called Jundollah showed the four young men, one of them wearing a military uniform, sitting on the floor while two masked, armed militants stood behind them. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Central authority proposed on international relief in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, March 9 (AFP) Afghanistan needs a powerful central authority to coordinate critical international relief operations amid the worsening narcotics and corruption problems there, the recently retired NATO supreme commander said Thursday. US Marine Corps General James Jones, who stepped down in December as Supreme Allied Commander of the NATO, said the UN was not playing an effective coordinating role at present. Testifying at a US Senate hearing, Jones warned that international efforts to contain the narcotics problem, bring about judicial reforms and train a national police force in Afghanistan were on “life support” and called for immediate remedies. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Greek Cypriots tear down Nicosia dividing wall NICOSIA, March 9 (AFP) A concrete wall in Nicosia symbolising the decades-old Cyprus conflict was demolished by Greek Cypriots early Friday to make way for a crossing point in the heart of the world's last divided capital. The Ledra Street shopping area inside the Venetian walls of Nicosia's old city was cordoned off as bulldozers and demolition teams dismantled the border post between the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish occupied north. “This is a show of goodwill on our side to contribute positively to opening Ledra Street,” Cyprus government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardes said. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Three feared dead in Australian cyclone PERTH, Australia, March 9 (AFP) At least three people were feared dead and more suffered serious injuries when a cyclone slammed into Australia's northwest coast, Western Australia state Premier Alan Carpenter said Friday. Carpenter said the deaths occurred at a remote mining construction camp when category four Cyclone George unleashed wind gusts of 275 kilometres an hour as it crossed the coast early Friday. George was the first cyclone of the season in the state, which sees an average of five cyclones between November and April each year. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 129.25 points: KARACHI, March 09: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11413.12 , up 129.25 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, March 09: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.75 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
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