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| March 27, 2007 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf says no mass support for protests RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, March 27 (AFP) President Pervez Musharraf said Tuesday that opposition parties have failed to muster mass support for protests against his removal of the country's top judge Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. “The nationwide demonstration they planned on Monday failed to get mass support. Only a few thousand people turned up and people did not respond to their call,” Musharraf told a public rally in Rawalpindi. “They want to create a law and order problem but they have no public support and people will not allow them to plunge the country into chaos,” added Musharraf. (Posted @ 18:00 PST)
Cricket: Police make international appeal on Woolmer murder KINGSTON, March 27, (AFP) - Detectives probing the murder of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer made an international appeal Tuesday in a bid to track down everyone who visited the victim's hotel in the days before his death. Jamaica's deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said investigators had set up a 24-hour international hotline for anyone with information about the murder of Woolmer, who was found strangled in his hotel room on March 18. (Posted @ 23:54 PST)
Abbas says Arab plan best chance for peace RIYADH, March 27, (AFP) -Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said in Riyadh on Tuesday that a revived Arab initiative offers the best chance for Middle East peace in the near future. “If this initiative is destroyed, I do not believe that a better chance for peace will present itself in the near future,” Abbas said. (Posted @ 23:42 PST)
President arrives for Arab League Summit RIYADH, March 27 (APP) - President General Pervez Musharraf arrived here Tuesday night to attend the 19th Arab League Summit, as a special guest. (First Posted @ 18:48 PST Updated @ 23:24 PST)
Cricket: Australia make 322-6 against West Indies ST JOHN'S, Antigua, March 27, (AFP) - Australia made 322-6 off their 50 overs in their World Cup Super Eights match against the West Indies here on Tuesday. Opener Matthew Hayden, who set a World Cup record for the fastest century against South Africa on Saturday, hit a second successive ton and made 158 before he was out in the 48th over. (Posted @ 23:02 PST)
Toll in twin Iraqi truck bombing rises to 45; 103 wounded BAGHDAD, March 27 (Reuters) Two truck bombs killed 45 people and wounded 103 in the northwestern Iraqi town of Tal Afar Tuesday, police Brigadier Karim Khalaf al-Jubouri said. (First Posted @ 20:46 PST Updated @ 21:54 PST)
Prime Minister Aziz leaves for home HONG KONG, Mar 27 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz left here for home Tuesday after completing his brief but hectic visit to Hong Kong where he inter-area addressed Asian Investment Conference. (Posted @ 21:50 PST)
UK Attorney General meets Kasuri ISLAMABAD, Mar 27 (APP) Attorney General of the UK Lord Peter Henry Goldsmith currently on a three-day visit to Pakistan Tuesday called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri. The two leaders held detailed discussions on various areas of bilateral relations with a view to enhancing ties in judicial cooperation, mutual legal assistance, cooperation in counter-terrorism, combating narcotics trafficking and money laundering and augmenting of institutional framework. (Posted @ 21:46 PST)
Arabs set for peace offensive at Saudi summit RIYADH, March 27 (AFP) - Arab leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a summit which will formally relaunch a long-dormant Arab plan for Middle East by building on the peace blueprint first adopted at a summit in Beirut in 2002. Arab foreign ministers agreed to revive the plan in preparatory talks on Monday. The blueprint offers Israel full normalisation of relations if it withdraws from all lands it occupied in 1967, and permits the creation of a Palestinian state and the return of Palestinian refugees. (Posted @ 21:20 PST)
Pakistan set for 7.0 percent growth rate: ADB ISLAMABAD, March 27 (AFP) Pakistan's economy is projected to post a growth rate of about 6.5 percent to 7.0 percent in 2007 and 2008, reflecting some strengthening in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday. The Pakistani economy is expected to pick up slightly in financial year 2007, the ADB said in its annual “Asian Development Outlook 2007” report which reviews the recent economic performance of 43 developing countries. The report noted “strengthening in agriculture and manufacturing” sectors and said that inflation was set to moderate after further tightening of monetary policy. “The medium-term outlook for the Pakistani economy remains positive, but macro-economic stability has to be maintained and structural issues addressed,” it said. “Pakistan is projected to post a growth rate of about 6.5 percent to 7.0 percent in 2007 and 2008,” it said. (Posted @ 21:12 PST)
Abbas says Arab plan best chance for peace RIYADH, March 27 (AFP) Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said in Riyadh Tuesday that a revived Arab initiative is the best chance for Middle East peace in the near future. “If this initiative is destroyed, I do not believe that a better chance for peace will present itself in the near future,” Abbas said shortly after arriving in Riyadh on the eve of a two-day summit of the Arab League that plans to revive a Saudi proposal for Israeli-Arab peace that was first made five years ago. (First Posted @ 20:40 PST Updated @ 21:10 PST)
Five ISI officials killed in ambush KHAR, Pakistan, March 27 (AFP) Gunmen on a motorbike hurled grenades and opened fire on an army vehicle in Pakistan’s Bajaur tribal area Tuesday, killing five members of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, officials said. A major and an assistant director of the ISI were killed in the attack, along with two other ISI officials and their driver, security officials told AFP on condition of anonymity. (First Posted @ 20:18 PST Updated @ 20:36 PST)
President launches multi billion projects for Rawalpindi RAWALPINDI, March 27 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said Rawalpindi will be brought at par with its sister-city Islamabad in terms of development and civic amenities for the people. Addressing a big public meeting after inaugurating work on Rs 16 billion Leh Expressway and Flood Channel Project, the President also announced the construction of a flyover at Marir Chowk with Rs 3 billion, which would link Rawalpindi with Islamabad and also facilitate the traffic flow. The Leh Expressway project, he said would help overcome the flood havocs caused by the city's main storm water drain and manage the flow of increasing traffic and also handle increased volume of traffic. The project will be completed in two years. (Posted @ 19:16 PST)
Iraq: Suicide car bomb kills 17, wounds 32 Baghdad, March 27( Reuters) - A suicide car bomb exploded outside a restaurant frequented by Iraqi police on a main road north of Ramadi, killing 17 people and wounding 32, a source at Ramadi hospital said. Many police were among those killed and wounded. Four Americans, comprising three civilians and one military, were wounded when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle in the Shaab district of Baghdad, a U.S. military spokesman said. One al Qaeda suspect was killed and two others arrested during clashes with Iraqi soldiers in Ramadi, Lt Col Ahmed al-Dulaimi said. Meanwhile police found the bodies of 15 people with gunshot wounds and signs of torture in Baghdad on Monday, four bodies in Mosul, and six more bodies in different parts of Diwaniya. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Rice says Israeli-Palestinian leaders to meet regularly JERUSALEM, March 27 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up her Middle East tour Tuesday saying Israeli and Palestinian leaders had agreed to meet every two weeks. She also urged Arab states to build on a revived five-year-old peace plan and to reach out to Israel. She said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas “have agreed that they plan to meet together biweekly,” adding that she would talk to each party “in parallel.” ”Israelis and Palestinians must clarify a political horizon together,” she told a press conference in Jerusalem. (First Posted @ 12:55 PST Updated @ 17:20 PST)
Cricket- Pakistan chief quizzed by legislators ISLAMABAD, March 27 (AFP) Legislators grilled Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Naseem Ashraf Tuesday over why lawyers were not sent to Jamaica when police interviewed players after the murder of coach Bob Woolmer. Ashraf was also asked by the senate committee for sports about the team's poor performance at the World Cup during the nearly two-hour hearing in Islamabad. Ashraf said in an opening statement to the committee that if any player was required by Jamaican police for further investigations the PCB would provide him with full legal assistance, committee sources said. He also reiterated to the committee that no Pakistani players or officials were involved in the murder or in match-fixing. (Posted @ 17:12 PST)
Tamil suicide attack on Sri Lankan army camp kills nine COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 27 (APP/AP) A Tamil Tiger rebel drove an explosive-laden tractor into a military camp in eastern Sri Lanka early Tuesday, drawing fire from guards and triggering a blast at the entrance. At least nine people, including the bomber, were killed, military officials said. (First Posted @ 09:30 PST Updated @ 16:54 PST)
APHC hails Pakistan’s positive steps on Kashmir ISLAMABAD, March 27 (PPI) The visiting APHC (All Parties Hurriyat Conference) delegation Tuesday endorsed Pakistan’s Kashmir policy and urged India to reciprocate the four-point formula of President Pervez Musharraf to pave the ground for Kashmir solution on permanent basis. The delegation comprises of Abdul Ghani Butt, Maulana Abbas Ansari and Nayeem Ahmad Khan. The APHC leaders during a visit to its Islamabad chapter received a comprehensive briefing by the Convener, Syed Yousaf Naseem, followed by detailed discussions which lasted about three hours. The Hurriyat leadership appreciated Pakistan's positive steps to help resolve Kashmir dispute once and for all. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
UAE will not be used in any Iran strike -president DUBAI, March 27 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates, a key U.S. ally, said on Tuesday it would not be involved in any military strike on Iran, but urged the Islamic Republic to avoid regional tensions. “The UAE is an independent and sovereign state that rejects the use of its territories, air or regional waters to attack any country, especially if it is a neighbour and Muslim,” President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan told Arab newspaper al-Hayat. “We have informed the Iranian brothers ... that we are not party to its conflict with the United States and will not allow our territories to be used for any military, security or spy activities against it,” he said. (Posted @ 16:28 PST)
Four killed in Thai south BANNANG SATA, Thailand, March 27 (AFP) Four people were shot dead Tuesday in attacks by insurgents in southern Thailand, police said. A 23-year-old man was shot dead at his home in the Bannang Sata district of Yala province, police said. In nearby Pattani province, an electrician was killed when gunmen opened fire on a building, police said. Two sisters, aged 46 and 43, were killed in a drive-by shooting in Narathiwat province, police added. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Pakistan and Hong Kong agree to further promote trade relations HONG KONG, March. 27 (APP): Pakistan and Hong Kong on Tuesday agreed to forge closer economic links by enhancing level of trade and investment between the two countries.At a meeting between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang, it was agreed to increase frequency of flights between the two countries and easing the issuance of visa to businessmen. Prime Minister Aziz gave an overview of economic development in Pakistan and said that due to liberal and investment friendly consistent economic policies; there has been tremendous increase in the foreign investment in different fields. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong said he will visit Pakistan very soon. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Blair warns Iran over captured sailors LONDON, March 27 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday warned Iran that efforts to secure the release of 15 sailors would enter a “different phase” if diplomatic efforts failed. “What we are trying to do at the moment is to pursue this through the diplomatic channels and make the Iranian government understand these people have to be released,” Blair told GMTV television. “I hope we manage to get them to realise they have to release them. If not, then this will move into a different phase,” he said. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
Pakistan offering investment opportunities in all sectors: PM Aziz HONG KONG, Mar. 26 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday reiterated Pakistan's commitment to maintain a stable and peaceful environment for local and foreign investment. In his key note address at the 10th Asian Investment Conference here, the prime minister said that the reforms agenda of his government was based on liberalization, deregulation and privatization inorder to develop a competitive market economy. “We are establishing a new statistical authority, reinforcing our security and exchange commission and deepening our capital markets to provide maximum benefits and opportunities to the investors,” he said. He said the financial sector is now primarily owned and managed by the private sector. He informed that Pakistan offers vast opportunities for investment in energy, oil and gas, mining, engineering, automobiles, infrastructure development, information technology and telecom, financial and agriculture sectors. “We also have a sound and transparent privatization programme as well as opportunities for public-private partnership,” he added. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
Bomb rocks ICRC workshop in Peshawar PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 26 (AFP) A bomb exploded near an International Committee of the Red Cross vehicle workshop in facility in Peshawar on Tuesday at around 4:20 am (2320 GMT), causing damage but no casualties, police said. The explosive device was hidden in a milkman's can and planted near the outer wall of the ICRC facility, police added. (Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Suicide bomber kills four police in Afghan south LASHKAR GAH, March 27 (Reuters) Disguised as an Afghan soldier, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a police headquarters and killed at least four policemen in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province on Tuesday, witnesses said. Several other people were wounded in the attack. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Cricket: Ranatunga says Cup no fun without India, Pakistan COLOMBO, March 27 (AFP) The World Cup has been shorn of its fun by the early exit of crowd-pullers India and Pakistan, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said on Tuesday. Ranatunga said the tournament's new format, which had 16 teams divided into four groups with the top two in each advancing to the second round, contributed to the ouster of the two teams. “The format was such that one bad game was enough to send a team out,” he said. “India had a bad day against Bangladesh while Pakistan were not up to their best against Ireland…Earlier, teams had an opportunity to bounce back. For instance, Sri Lanka were beaten by Kenya in 2003 but still we went on to qualify for the semi-finals.” Ranatunga also said he hoped the murder of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer would be solved soon. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Militants fire rockets after Pakistan school clash WANA, Pakistan, March 27 (AFP) Militants fired eight rockets at the Frontier Constabulary fort in the northwestern town of Tank early Tuesday. Troops retaliated with gunfire, but the exchange caused no casualties, officials said. The local government meanwhile closed all educational institutions in the district for five days as a preventive measure after fighting at a high school in Tank a day earlier had left a policeman and a militant dead. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Level-playing field available for investors in Pakistan: PM Aziz HONG KONG, Mar 27 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday highlighted Pakistan’s investment friendly environment and his government’s consistent policies that give a level playing field to all local and foreign investors. Addressing a breakfast meeting here with the business community members of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the prime minister said that Pakistan was ahead of many countries in implementing economic reforms and was improving on governance for the benefit of investors from all over the world. Highlighting achievements in the economic sector, Aziz said the country’s economy was growing rapidly, with per capita income increasing to 846$ per head while the growth rate in the economic sector was being maintained at 7 percent. Referring to the flow of foreign investment in Pakistan, Aziz said it had been increased to over dollars five billion in the current year as compared to dollars 200 to 300 million seven years ago. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Israeli forces kill two Palestinians W. Bank NABLUS, West Bank, March 27 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed two Palestinians Tuesday during a raid in the occupied West Bank, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Israeli army said. (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
US troops arrest top militant BAGHDAD, March 27 (AFP) US forces in Iraq have arrested a leader of a network suspected of killing some 900 civilians and wounding nearly 2,000 others in a series of high-profile car bomb attacks, the military reported Tuesday. Haydar Rashid Nasir Al-Shmmari Al-Jafar, suspected to be the second in command of the car-bombing network, and two others were arrested on March 21 in Baghdad's district of Adhamiyah following an intelligence tip, the military said. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Jamaican police probe contents of Woolmer's computer KINGSTON, March 26 (AFP) Investigators probing the murder of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer are analyzing the hard drive of his computer, but have found no reference of match-fixing at this stage, police said on Monday. Deputy police commissioner Mark Shields said “we're exploring the possibility of match-fixing, but that's only one line of inquiry,” adding that investigators had not found any mention of the practice in the computer so far. Shields said police were interested in taking DNA samples from anyone who was at the hotel at the time of the killing, and that investigators might travel to other Caribbean islands to interview Cricket World Cup players, officials and spectators. He also said he did not “feel any frustration” at having allowed the Pakistani team to leave the island on Saturday. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 26.83 points: KARACHI, March 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11328.45, up 26.83 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, March 27: 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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