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| March 26, 2007 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
1,000 arrests fail to halt Pakistan protests ISLAMABAD, March 26 (AFP) Thousands of opposition supporters Monday held fresh countrywide protests against President Pervez Musharraf's suspension of Pakistan's top judge Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, despite the arrest of about 1,000 people in a police crackdown. Monday's protests were the first to be organised by an alliance of the Pakistan People's Party of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and a faction of the Pakistan Muslim League party of Nawaz Sharif, another former premier, besides the other opposition parties. About 5,000 protesters chanting anti-Musharraf slogans gathered amid tight security near the high court building in Lahore, witnesses said. Some burned an effigy of the president. Another 4,000 demonstrators rallied in Karachi, while 3,000 protesters in Quetta called on Musharraf to step down and allow the formation of an interim government and free polls. In the northwestern city of Peshawar the leader of Pakistan's powerful coalition of Islamic parties (Muttahida Majlis e Amal), Qazi Hussain Ahmed, told about 1,000 supporters that Musharraf had violated the constitution. “The only way out for him is to step down,” he said. A separate public meeting held by secular parties in Peshawar spearheaded by Awami National Party, attracted around 6,000 flag-waving people, witnesses said. Lawyers also observed a protest strike in the central city of Multan and boycotted courts. Police made dozens of raids on opposition supporters in central Punjab province at the weekend and overnight to keep the protests from getting too large. “We have arrested around 1,000 overnight and at the weekend. Around 200-plus were detained in Lahore with the rest in Faisalabad, Multan and other towns in Punjab,” a senior police official said on condition of anonymity. Most were from the parties of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is due to appear before a panel of top judges on April 3 on misconduct charges including that he unfairly gained promotions for his son. (First Posted @ 14:20 PST Updated @ 18:46 PST)
Pakistan's top court seeks answers on missing ISLAMABAD, March 26 (Reuters) Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday gave the government two weeks to come up with information about hundreds of people who have gone missing after being taken in custody. The suspended head of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, took up the issue of the missing persons last year. Justice Javed Iqbal, heading a three-member Supreme Court bench in place of suspended Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said Monday, the court wanted to determine who had detained the missing and under what authority they had done so. “If they are not answerable to any ministry, they are certainly and surely answerable to this court,” Justice Iqbal said referring to security agencies. The issue had to be settled “not within months but within days”, he said, adding that the government was responsible for determining the whereabouts of the missing. He directed the attorney general, the government's top lawyer, to submit a concise reply on the issue in two weeks. The next hearing has been set for April 10. (Posted @ 16:32 PST)
Pakistan signs new peace deal for tribal area KHAR, Pakistan, March 26 (AFP) - Pakistani authorities and tribal elders signed a peace deal Monday with pro-Taliban militants in a troubled region bordering Afghanistan, officials and witnesses said. The deal was signed in Bajaur, one of Pakistan's seven federally administered tribal areas, where Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri escaped an airstrike in January 2006. The tribesmen agreed not to give foreign militants safe haven in the area or allow “subversive” activities, while the authorities pledged not to make arrests without consulting the elders, they said. Pakistan signed peace pacts with tribals in the South Waziristan area in 2005 and North Waziristan in 2006, although unlike the Bajaur deal those agreements involved the withdrawal of thousands of troops. “The local Taliban organisation has authorised me to sign this agreement and they have assured that they will not take part in any subversive activity,”said Malik Abdul Aziz,, after the signing. The deal was signed during a tribal council, or grand jirga, attended by some 700 tribesmen, elders, clerics, MPs and local officials in Khar, the main town of Bajaur. “The administration will not raid our places without any solid proof and withdraw warrants of arrests issued against our people on the basis of suspicion,” Aziz said. Chief of the local administration Shakil Qadir urged the tribal elders to help the authorities to maintain peace in the district. A Pakistani interior ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the “peace agreement”” Under the agreement tribal elders have pledged not to allow anyone in the area to harbour foreign militants and to expel them from the area,” the official added. “And the administration has assured them it will respect their customs. (Posted @ 19:22 PST)
Pakistan hails tribal strategy after battles ISLAMABAD, March 26 (AFP) - Pakistan said Monday that the taking-up of arms by local tribesmen against foreign militants along the Afghan border was the result of a “successful strategy” that includes l peace deals. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said last week's clashes, the first time tribesmen have tried to drive out foreigners, “shows the success of the strategy that government of Pakistan has adopted. ””We have seen that in the last few days, the local tribals have taken on the foreigners who are coming from across the border and creating problems for Pakistan, creating problems for the people of the area,” she said. “If anyone has any doubt about the success of this deal, it should be obvious to them now.” (Posted @ 19:48 PST)
Three hurt in bomb blast in Peshawar hotel Peshawar, March 26 (PPI) A powerful blast of a time bomb at a local hotel left three persons seriously injured Monday night. According to details, a time bomb planted in a motorcycle went off at 9:10 p.m. here at the front gate of Green Hotel in Saddar area. One Nazeer, a guard of the hotel, and two others was seriously injured and rushed to a local hospital. (Posted @ 21:20 PST)
Prime Minister arrives to attend Asian investment conference HONG KONG, March 26 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here Monday on a day-long official visit to attend the Asian Investment Conference where he will be the keynote speaker. He was received at the airport by Pakistan' Ambassador to China Salman Bashir, Consul General Tariq Shafi Chak, officials of the Hong Kong government and representatives of Pakistani community in Hong Kong. Minister for Privatization and Investment Zahid Hamid, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs Dr. Salman Shah are accompanying the Prime Minister. (First Posted @ 15:35 PST Updated @ 21:18 PST)
PIA Chairman resigns KARACHI, March 26: PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani has resigned and his resignation has been accepted by the government, a private tv channel reported Monday. (Posted @ 21:14 PST)
Govt set to interact with lawyers community: Durrani ISLAMABAD, March 26 (APP) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani Monday said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would interact with the lawyers' community during the next few days to elaborate the government's viewpoint on the issue of presidential reference against suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. “Let the institutions grow in Pakistan. As the judiciary is of prime importance, there is a need to strengthen the institutions rather than individuals,” he told newsmen. (Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Pakistan developed significantly during last few years: Crocker ISLAMABAD, March 26 (APP) The outgoing US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker said Monday at a luncheon that Pakistan had achieved tremendous development in all sectors of economy during the last few years. He said that Pakistan and the US enjoyed solid relationship and rejected reports of US pressure on Pakistan regarding the return of exiled politicians Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. “We do not believe in putting pressure on friends”, he remarked. “Democracy is in interest of both the countries and the US supports strong and transparent democratic institutions in Pakistan. Pakistan is a free and open society and the people are enjoying freedom of speech here,” he said, adding a democratic process is going ahead in Pakistan which should be supported. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Gilani's kidney operation successful ISLAMABAD, March 26 (APP) Kidney operation of senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gilani was successfully performed Monday at a Mumbai hospital, PTV reported. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Up to 100 Somalis, Ethiopians feared drowned GENEVA, March 26 (Reuters) At least 29 people were killed and 71 reported missing after knife-wielding smugglers forced some 450 Somali and Ethiopian migrants into the sea off Yemen, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Monday. The incident, the latest in a series involving smugglers' boats carrying people across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia, occurred last Thursday. “We are horrified by this latest tragedy,” said UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner Erika Feller. Some of the 293 survivors and other witnesses said four smugglers' boats were approaching the coastal town of Ras-Alkalb when the crews forced the passengers overboard in rough seas and strong currents. Those who resisted were stabbed and beaten with wooden and steel clubs, then thrown overboard where some were attacked by sharks, they said. (Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Musharraf stresses conflict resolution for durable peace in region ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Monday called for conflict resolution for durable peace and to realize the true economic potential of the region. Addressing the delegates of 3rd Asia and India Regions Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference at a reception he said he was endeavouring to remove conflicts from within the region and from the world. President Musharraf said interaction amongst parliamentarians is important and would contribute to fostering greater cooperation in the legislative bodies of the region and can also be beneficial for all by sharing their experience and knowledge. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
India, US in crucial talks on nuclear deal NEW DELHI, March 26 (AFP) India and the United States held crucial talks here Monday to settle the details of an agreement reached last year that paves the way for sales of civilian nuclear technology to New Delhi. A spokesman for the United States' embassy in New Delhi said the talks, involving delicate issues such as so-called dual use technology which can be used for civil and military aims, would continue through the week. (Posted @ 19:06 PST)
Cricket: PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf denies match-fixing LONDON, March 26 (AFP) - Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf has denied the Pakistan cricket team were involved in any kind of match-fixing or corruption, Sky Sports website reported on Monday, as the Bob Woolmer murder investigation continued. He said: : “I am absolutely convinced, I have no information or proof that there is any corruption in Pakistani cricket at all. “There is no idea or anything of that nature to suggest that there is any corruption involved or any match-fixing linked to the Pakistani cricket team. Nasim Ashraf also revealed that Woolmer had decided to retire from coaching following the World Cup but that he would remain in the sport at a grass roots level. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Cricket: Pakistan 'kept in the dark' on coach's murder LONDON, March 26 (AFP) - Pakistan cricket team is being “kept in the dark” by Jamaican police over the murder of coach Bob Woolmer, spokesman Pervez Mir said Monday. “We assisted in whatever way they (the Jamaican police) wanted, but we need an official statement from their office to notify us officially as to what were the causes of Mr Woolmer's death,” Mir told reporters. Mir said he left a message late Sunday on Shields' telephone “because my chairman wants to know, my board wants to know, what's going on as far as the investigation is concerned and what the Jamaican police are doing to catch the killers of Mr Woolmer Mir said: “When a man has been murdered, to divert a murder inquiry into a match-fixing inquiry, that's not fair, because we have to find the killers, then we will know what's happened. Mir also attacked media suggestions of a strained relationship between Woolmer and Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq. (Posted @ 18:54 PST)
Jordan seeks Israel's support for Arab peace bid AMMAN, March 26 (AFP) Jordan's King Abdullah II Monday called on Israel to “react positively” to an Arab peace initiative, while also appealing to the Palestinians to remain united to gain world credibility. During talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Jordanian monarch also expressed support for US efforts to revive the stalled peace process ahead of an Arab summit later this week. “King Abdullah expressed hope that Israel would react positively to the Arab peace initiative,” a palace statement said. “He urged Israelis not to waste this historic opportunity, reflected in the initiative that seeks to achieve the aspirations of peoples of the region to live in peace and security,” it added. The Saudi-inspired blueprint offers Israel normal ties in return for withdrawal from Arab land captured in 1967 and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Earlier Monday Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh endorsed the five-year-old bid “without amendment,” to submit to the summit that opens Wednesday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah Khatib said in Riyadh. The ministers also “decided to set up several working groups to initiate contacts with all parties concerned by the peace process,” which would include Israel, Khatib said. (First Posted @ 14:05 PST Updated @ 18:28 PST)
Five militants, one policeman killed in Pakistan gunbattle PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 26 (Reuters) Police challenged a group of suspected militants Monday at a local high school in Tank, a town about 100 kilometers from the Afghan border, sparking a gun-battle that left five militants and one police officer dead, police said. Police said the militants told the administrators of the school to assemble the male students so that they could address them. “They wanted to speak with the boys and motivate them for jihad,” police said. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
US-Pakistan alliance under scrutiny as Musharraf faces crisis WASHINGTON, March 26 (AFP) The US strategic partnership with Pakistan has come under growing scrutiny in Washington as President Pervez Musharraf reels from his worst crisis since grabbing power eight years ago. While it is not clear whether the judicial crisis will snowball, it has “shaken the aura of invincibility that Musharraf has enjoyed until now,” the Washington-based Center of Strategic and Intelligence Studies said in a report Monday. “The US strategic partnership with Pakistan is in a troubled state,” said Marvin Weinbaum, a former US State Department expert on Pakistan. “It rests too heavily on the political survival of one man and a military rule facing formidable domestic challenges and declining legitimacy,” he said. “What we truly need in Pakistan is someone else to talk to,” said Democrat lawmaker Gary Ackerman, who heads a House of Representatives panel on South Asia. “The administration seems content to only speak with president Musharraf and portrays him as the indispensable man. The truth is, for our goals to be achieved in Pakistan, there should be more than one phone number there to dial,” he said. The United States should “extend contacts and visibility with a variety of civilian leaders” in Pakistan, said Lisa Curtis of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation. Although the military is unlikely to submit fully to a civilian government in the near term, Washington should set benchmarks that begin to restrict the military's role in Pakistani politics, she said. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
Floods kill six Afghans, thousands affected HERAT, Afghanistan, March 26 (AFP) A flash flood in southwestern Afghanistan’s Nimroz province killed six family members, an official said Monday as the UN said seasonal flooding had affected about 20,000 people across the country. The weekend flood damaged or destroyed homes in about 49 villages and affected 12,000 people, the deputy provincial governor said. (Posted @ 17:14 PST)
JKLF leader Yaseen Malik calls on PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, March 26 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday said the settlement of Kashmir issue in line with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people will change the destiny of over one billion people of South Asia. Talking to Yaseen Malik, head of JKLF (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) who called on him, he said Pakistan valued the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiri people to attain their inalienable right to self-determination. “We will continue to extend moral and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle,” the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Aziz said Pakistan was committed to the composite dialogue process and always held the position that Kashmiris were the main stakeholders to the dispute and must be involved in the ongoing peace process. He said the ideas put forth by President Pervez Musharraf involved a multi-step approach and could form the basis of meaningful dialogue on Kashmir. Yaseen Malik thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for their consistent support to the people of Kashmir and its diplomatic and political support for the cause of Kashmir. (Posted @ 16:56 PST)
Afghan army sweep kills 99 rebels in four days KABUL, March 26 (AFP) NATO warplanes called in by the Afghan army bombed and killed 19 militants in Helmand province on Sunday, taking the toll from a four-day operation to 99, the defence ministry said Monday. The fiercest clashes were on Thursday and left 69 militants and seven policemen dead, Afghan officials said. (Posted @ 16:18 PST)
Abbas tells Rice he wants proper peace talks with Israel AMMAN, March 26 (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday he wants talks with Israel on the substance of the peace process, a top aide said.“President Abbas told the US secretary of state that it is not enough to Israel to want to talk to us about humanitarian and security issues,”Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told reporters in Amman. He was speaking after Abbas and Rice met for over one hour in the Jordanian capital, for their second encounter in 24 hours, to discuss efforts to revive stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. US officials said Rice would return to Jerusalem later Monday after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II and unveil at a press conference a “parallel”diplomatic approach for advancing the deadlocked peace efforts. (First Posted @ 14:05 PST Updated @ 16:14 PST)
India puts occupied Kashmir unrest toll at 42,147 SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 26 (AFP) Occupied Kashmir's 17-year-old insurgency has left 42,147 people dead, more than a third civilians, according to official figures released Monday by the revolt-hit region's police. But the latest report, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, did not include the people who have disappeared in the region since the unrest began in 1989 and a prominent human rights group immediately said the real toll was far higher. According to the report's figures, which cover the period from January 1990 to February 2007, some 20,647 rebels have died during the period, mostly in alleged gunbattles with Indian troops. During the same period 16,476 civilians were killed, most of them listed as either being slain by militants or caught in cross-fire during gunbattles. Among security forces, 5,024 were listed as killed in clashes. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Three Iranian policemen recovered in Pakistan QUETTA, Pakistan, March 26 (AFP) Pakistani agents have recovered three Iranian policemen who were kidnapped by militants and handed them back to authorities in Iran, while a fourth is believed to have been killed, officials said Monday. The four policemen were abducted on February 27 by the Jundallah militant group after a deadly clash in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan and taken towards the Pakistani border, officials added. (Posted @ 14:15 PST)
Quake hits southern Iran TEHRAN, March 26 (AFP) An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale rocked southern Iran on Monday near the city of Bam, the state news agency IRNA said, adding that it had no information on casualties or damage. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Pakistan arrests 29 illegal immigrants Karachi, March 26 (PPI) The Pakistan Coast Guards on Monday arrested 29 illegal immigrants including four Afghans on charges of illegal border crossing from Aghore (Balochistan), Pakistan to Iran. The illegal immigrants were destined for onward journey to Gulf and European countries. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Tiger aircraft bomb Sri Lanka's main airbase COLOMBO, March 25 (AFP) Tamil Tiger rebels bombed Sri Lanka's main military airbase located next to the international airport Monday, leaving at least two airmen dead and 17 wounded, officials said. Two parked helicopters were also damaged.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) used their aircraft for the first time in a combat mission to bomb the Katunayake military base, a Tiger spokesman said. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Cricket: Police let Pakistan team go home to avoid 'diplomatic incident' LONDON, March 26 (AFP) The police chief in charge of the investigation into the murder of Pakistan cricket team coach Bob Woolmer said in an interview published Monday that he let the team leave Jamaica to avoid sparking a “significant diplomatic incident.” Speaking to The Times, the country's deputy police commissioner Mark Shields added that he was working with two Pakistani diplomats to ensure their return to Jamaica if they were needed for further questioning.Shields told The Times that detectives were looking at images taken by closed circuit cameras and the records of every door keycard in the hotel to monitor residents' movements. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
India to go ahead with Iran gas pipeline: Mukherjee NEW DELHI, March 26 (AFP) Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee signalled Monday that India intends to go ahead with a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline from Iran via Pakistan despite objections from the United States. “Talks on this pipeline are going on. When I was in Iran, I had categorically mentioned that we are interested in having this pipeline,” Mukherjee said in an interview with the NDTV news network. “Now negotiations are going on about the prices,” said the minister. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 6.64 points: KARACHI, March 26: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11301.62, up 6.64 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, March 26: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.8 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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