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| March 16, 2007 | Friday | Safar 26, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Protesters, police clash over chief justice row ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Agencies) Police fired teargas shells and rubber bullets, detained about 150 activists and raided a television station on Friday as protesters took to the streets to denounce the suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Also Friday, the Supreme Judicial Council at a hearing ordered restrictions on Justice Chaudhary to be lifted and scheduled the next hearing on March 21. In Islamabad, police seized Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the president of Muthaida Majlise Amal (MMA), when he tried to break through a security cordon after holding open-air Friday prayers, reporters said. Security forces erected barbed wire and concrete barricades to seal off the Supreme Court but hundreds of people including lawyers entered the court compound as Chaudhry arrived. A crowd of around 1,000 people outside the court chanted anti-Musharraf slogans. Police tear-gassed and baton-charged opposition workers who came out of a mosque in Lahore, as well as lawyers outside Lahore High Court, witnesses said. In Peshawar city around 1,000 people rallied while some 300 lawyers marched in Karachi, and another 700 in Quetta city, witnesses said. Police said at least 40 people were arrested in Islamabad and 50 in Lahore. Protests were held in other cities including Multan, where about 25 activists were detained, an opposition official said. (First Posted @ 15:05 PST Updated @ 22:14 PST)
Pakistan riot police storm TV channel's office ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Agencies) Pakistani riot police stormed a private television channel's offices and tear-gassed employees after its editors refused to stop broadcasting pictures of protests in Islamabad over moves to sack the country's top judge. Geo News Bureau Chief Hamid Mir said on television that police broke windows, scuffled with staff and released teargas in the office. The channel was able to broadcast live pictures of the helmeted police carrying shields and batons bursting into the channel's building, and vehicles parked outside were damaged. The neighbouring office of The News daily was also damaged by police. “We hold the president and the prime minister directly responsible for all this,” said News bureau chief Ansar Abbasi. More than 100 journalists gathered outside the building shouting slogans against the government. Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani quickly distanced the government from the police action. Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao claimed that activists from a group had grabbed a policeman and took him into the Geo building. “The police chased those miscreants in order to recover the police constable,” Sherpao said, adding “it was not an attack on Geo, it was not an attack on the media.” (First Posted @ 16:50 PST Updated @ 20:16 PST)
Musharraf apologises for raid on TV station ISLAMABAD, March 16 (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf personally apologised for a raid by riot police on a private television station Friday, in a live telephone interview with the channel. “I would like to apologise, such an incident should not have happened. The culprits must be identified and punished today,” Musharraf told one of the channel's anchormen. Musharraf said he would be “personally involved” in taking action following the incident, adding that he had already given orders for the station to be compensated. Musharraf said it was possible the attack was part of a “conspiracy” against him, adding: “In my view this is a sabotage of the whole process. I would say it is a sabotage of whatever we stand for, whatever we are doing.” Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also strongly condemned the incident and ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter (First Posted @ 20:18 PST Updated @ 21:26 PST)
SJC meets for hearing of application filed by Justice Iftikhar ISLAMABAD, Mar 16 (APP) The Supreme Judicial Council met here on Friday to hear the application filed by the ‘non-functional’ Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, in which he had challenged the constitutionality of the council. The SJC is headed by the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Javed Iqbal, and comprises of judges of the Supreme Court, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, the Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry, and the Chief Justice, High Court of Sindh, Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed. According to a press release issued by the Secretary SJC, Aitezaz Ahsan, an advocate representing Justice Chaudhry, sought adjournment for hearing of the application till March 26, 2007 on the pretext of having not been able to meet Justice Chaudhry on March 13, 2007 due to the hindrances created by the security personnel deployed outside his house. The Council also heard the viewpoint of the Attorney General for Pakistan and the counsel for the Referring Authority on the issue. The SJC made it clear that there was absolutely no restraint on the respondent who can move freely and everyone has access to see him. The council said the matter of security measures falls within the jurisdictional domain of the executive/police, the SJC press release said. Therefore, the council directed the learned counsel for the Referring Authority to ensure that every step is taken in accordance with the law. The council then adjourned the hearing of the application to March 21, 2007 at 3.00 p.m. sharp. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)
Pakistan arrests dozens ahead of rallies ISLAMABAD, March 16 (AFP) Pakistani security forces rounded up dozens of lawyers and political activists ahead of protests Friday over internationally condemned sacking of the country's top judge. Riot police threw a ring of steel around Islamabad, where Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was due to attend a second hearing before the Supreme Judicial Council into misconduct charges. Around 30 people including several MPs were taken into custody in overnight raids in the capital, while police in Lahore detained more than 50 people, officials said. Similar arrests were also made in other cities, reports said. Meanwhile around 1,000 lawyers chanting “Go Musharraf, go” gathered near the high court in Lahore. On the other hand Islamabad police banned gatherings of more than five people and had 4,000 police on duty “to maintain law and order,” a senior interior ministry official said. Security forces used concrete barricades and barbed wire to seal off the area containing parliament and the supreme court. Police set up roadblocks at all entry points to the city and checked every passing vehicle. Opposition leaders vowed to defy the ban and to hold a protest led by MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmed. “We will carry the holy book in our hands and assemble outside the Supreme Court building to offer Friday prayers and register our protest over action against the justice,” MMA spokesman Shahid Shamsi said. (First Posted @ 11:15 PST, Updated @ 14:00 PST)
Cricket: South Africa beat Netherlands by 221 runs BASSETERRE, St Kitts, March 16, 2007 (AFP) - South Africa beat the Netherlands by 221 runs in their World Cup Group A match at Warner Park here on Friday. (Posted @ 02:52 PST)
Cricket: New Zealand beat England by 6 wickets GROS ISLET, St Lucia, March 16, 2007 (AFP) - New Zealand beat England by 6 wickets in their World Cup Group C match at Beausejour on Friday. (Posted @ 02:20 PST)
Four soldiers killed in Sri Lanka clashes COLOMBO, March 16 (AFP) Four soldiers were killed and 12 seriously wounded in clashes with Tamil Tiger rebel in northern Sri Lanka Friday, military sources said. (Posted @ 23:24 PST)
Hundreds of Iraqis protest against US forces in Baghdad BAGHDAD, March 16 (AFP) More than a thousand unarmed protesters after Friday's weekly prayers demanded the removal of a US military base from east Baghdad's Sadr City on Friday. The large crowds chanted anti-America and anti-Israel slogans. (Posted @ 22:20 PST)
Helicopter with European skiers missing in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied, March 16 (AFP) A helicopter carrying three European extreme skiers, among them a Swiss pioneer of the sport, has gone missing in occupied Kashmir’s Sonamarg area, officials said Friday. (Posted @ 22:18 PST)
Pakistan economy in upswing: Musharraf KABIRWALA (Khanewal), March 16 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday claimed that the country's economy was doing well and that the benefits of the economic turnaround were being passed on to the common man. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a milk processing plant here. Talking about the government's efforts to improve water resources in the country, he said that all dams including the Kalabagh Dam would be bulit to enhance Pakistan's water storage capacity for irrigation use. He said that the Mangla dam upraising project will increase its storage capacity by three million acre feet. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
Challenges facing Afghanistan entirely indigenous: PM ISLAMABAD, Mar 16 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said the challenges facing Afghanistan are entirely indigenous in nature. Aziz said the causes and solutions to the Afghan problem lie in Afghanistan, and Pakistan will continue to extend support to the Afghan government to achieve peace and stability. He was talking to a NATO parliamentary delegation comprising Karl A. Lamers (Germany), Jan Petersen (Norway), Bart van Winsen (Netherlands), Senator Raynell Andreychuk (Canada), Markus Meckel (Germany), Nikolai Kamov (Bulgaria), Rasa Jukneviciene (Lithuania) and Steffen Sachs, who called on him at the PM House here today. Karl Lamers said the delegation shares Pakistan's views on Afghanistan. He said the delegation was visiting Pakistan to initiate a political dialogue and to appreciate its role in the region and across the world. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Pakistan committed to peace process with India: PM ISLAMABAD, Mar 16 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday reiterated Pakistan’s committed to the peace process with India. Addressing an international Kashmir conference here, the prime minister said “durable peace in the region could only be ensured if the Kashmir issue is resolved peacefully in accordance with the aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiris.” Aziz said “Pakistan is ready to show courage and flexibility if all other stakeholders, reciprocate.” (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Two US troops die in Iraq BAGHDAD, March 16 (AFP) Two more US soldiers died in Iraq, one in a blast in northern Salaheddin province, the military said Friday. The soldier died of injuries sustained in the explosion during combat operations Thursday. A marine died in a non-combat incident in western Anbar province Thursday, said a separate statement. (Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Bomb kills seven on Mogadishu outskirts-police MOGADISHU, March 16 (Reuters) A bomb killed seven civilians and injured one Friday near Somalia's capital Mogadishu, police said. (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
One dead, seven hurt in occupied Kashmir landmine attack SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 16 (AFP) A civilian was killed and seven others hurt Friday in a landmine explosion triggered by suspected militants near a bus terminal in occupied Kashmir, police said. “The explosion took place in (northern) Baramulla town,” a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 14:15 PST)
Passerby killed, three police wounded in Dagestan MAKHACHKALA, Russia, March 16 (AP) A passerby was killed and three police wounded in an attack late Thursday on a police vehicle in the capital of the Russian region of Dagestan, authorities said Friday. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
One killed as Baghdad mosque attacked BAGHDAD, March 16 (AFP) A civilian was killed and two wounded as insurgents fired three rounds of mortars at Al-Khilani mosque in the southern district of Zafaraniyah in Baghdad Friday, a security official said. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Pakistan says phone disruption not linked to crisis ISLAMABAD, March 16 (AFP) Pakistan government Friday denied it had suspended the country's mobile telephone and Internet networks following reports of nationwide disruption to services. The breakdown in most Internet and mobile telephone services came as security forces were on high alert for protests against President Pervez Musharraf's reference against the country's chief justice .“No telecommunications network has been suspended. Everything is normal,”Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told AFP. “There is no disruption of the telephone system. If there is some congestion or some technical problem we don't know. But the government has not disrupted any telecommunications service,” he added. In the capital Islamabad and other cities witnesses and AFP reporters said most mobile calls were not being put through and many international landlines were also not functioning. Internet services were also down. Private television channels reported similar problems across the country. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Afghan police say five shot dead by NATO troops KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 16 (AFP) NATO troops opened fire on a police patrol in southern Afghanistan, and killed five policemen, a senior police official said Friday. Six other policemen were missing after the shooting late Thursday in the Gereshk area of the southern province of Helmand, provincial deputy police chief said. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
French defence chief wants diplomatic solution on Iran TOKYO, March 16 (AFP) France's defence minister called Friday for diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis. “This crisis should be resolved through diplomatic pressure,” French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told a news conference in Tokyo. (Posted @ 12:45 PST)
Muslim nations set up US forum WASHINGTON, March 16 (AFP) Envoys of 57 member nations of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) launched a Washington forum Thursday to discuss common concerns and act as a key link for the Muslim world in the United States. Comprising ambassadors of the OIC nations, including Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, it also would act as a rare platform for exchange of views between the Muslim envoys and Washington, diplomats said. “It is my great hope that the proposals from this new working group will be constructive,” said Karen Hughes, US under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, in an address at the launching ceremony. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Cricket- Ireland and Zimbabwe tie match KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 16 (AFP) Ireland and Zimbabwe tied their World Cup Group D match at Sabina Park here Thursday. Brief scores: Ireland 221-9 in 50 overs (Jeremy Bray 113 not out); Zimbabwe 221 all out in 50 overs (Stuart Matsikenyeri 73, Vusi Sibanda 65) (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 63.13 points: KARACHI, March 16: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11374.03, up 63.13 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, March 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.77 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
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