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| April 13, 2007 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
SJC adjourns hearing of reference against Justice Iftikhar till April 18 ISLAMABAD, April 13 (APP): The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) Friday adjourned the hearing of reference filed against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry under Article 209 of the Constitution till April 18. Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas presided over the proceedings of the council. . The order of SJC says, “Ch Aitzaz Ahsan, learned senior advocate supreme court, for the respondent completed the arguments on the question of bias. In order to enable the learned counsel complete his arguments on other legal objections, (the hearing) adjourned to April 18 (Wednesday) at 9.30 a.m. sharp by consent.” Panel of six lawyers of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who attended the proceedings of the council included Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan Advocate, Munir A Malik Advocate, Hamid Ali Khan Advocate, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Justice (Retd) Tariq Mehmood and Qazi Muhammad Anwar. Attorney General for Pakistan Makhdoom Ali Khan attended the proceedings of the council on notice. Wasim Sajjad Advocate, Dr.Khalid Ranjha Advocate, Ch.Arif, Amanullah Khan Kanrani Advocate and Raja Abdul Rehman represented the Referring Authority of the Reference. (Posted @ 18:52 PST)
Thousands protest in Pakistan over top judge’s suspension ISLAMABAD, April 13 (AFP) Defying a security crackdown, more than 3,000 lawyers and opposition activists torched an effigy of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in protests Friday against his suspension of the country's top judge Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary. Flag-waving demonstrators massed outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, where Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry attended a fourth hearing into misconduct charges lodged by the president.“Our message for Musharraf is that people want real democracy and not the mock arrangement that we have now,” cricket hero-turned-politician Imran Khan told AFP at the rally. Lawyers held black flags and mobbed Justice Chaudhry's car as he arrived at court. A couple of lawyers climbed on top of the vehicle. Islamic party workers and supporters of the former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif held separate but simultaneous protests. A uniformed effigy of President Musharraf was torched in Lahore, where another 4,000 lawyers and opposition supporters rallied in front of the provincial assembly building, an AFP reporter said. Hundreds of lawyers blocked a busy road in Karachi and boycotted courts for the day, and demonstrators also met in the northwestern city of Peshawar. In Islamabad, police set up body scanners to check all protesters entering the downtown area where the rallies were held, and erected roadblocks to check every car coming into the capital. (First Posted @ 09:34 PST, Updated @ 15:00 PST)
Pakistan: Train derailed, 100 passengers injured Multan, Pakistan, April 13 (PPI) A Multan-bound 128 down Mehr express met an accident near Layyah city when its six bogies derailed Friday. More than 100 passengers sustained injuries however no one is in precarious condition. Divisional Superintendent of Railway Multan told that a number of passengers were injured however no casualty occurred and all the passengers are being shifted to Multan in vans while a relief train from Khanewal and another from Kundian left for rescue operation. He further said that an inquiry into the mishap has been ordered. Rail traffic on Kundian-Shershah remained suspended for six hours. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Cricket: Younis rejects captaincy, plans to quit ODIs Karachi, April 13 (PPI): Pakistan cricket plunged into another crisis with senior player Younis Khan spurning captaincy and planning retirement from one day cricket after the team's nightmarish World Cup campaign. Younis confirmed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Naseem Ashraf had offered him the captaincy with full powers. “But I told them 'thank you for the offer but I am not interested, especially after the way the team has been treated after the World Cup,” he said Friday. Younis also said that he was thinking about quitting one-day cricket and concentrating on playing Test matches which he considered the real cricket and challenge.“I love test cricket it is the real sport for me. In the next few months, I will inform the board about what I have decided.” (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Pakistan, Mexico to continue joint efforts for strengthening bilateral ties ISLAMABAD, April 13 (APP) - Pakistan and Mexico have expressed that they will continue joint efforts for further strengthening bilateral relations and broadening cooperation in diverse areas. The commitment to this effect was reaffirmed during a meeting between Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico Maria De Lourdes Aranda Bezaury who called on him, said a press release issued here on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Posted @ 23:08 PST)
Cricket: Australia beats Ireland by nine wickets BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 13, (AP) - Australia beat Ireland by nine wickets on Friday in a World Cup Super 8s match at Kensington Oval. Scores: Australia 92-1, 12.2 overs (Adam Gilchrist 34; Michael Hussey 30 not out) def. Ireland 92, off 30 overs (John Mooney 23; Glenn McGrath 3-17, Shaun Tait 3-39). (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
38 Taliban killed in Afghanistan KABUL, April 13 (AFP) - US and Afghan troops backed by warplanes killed more than 35 Taliban militants during a five-hour battle in Sangin district of Helmand province, the US-led coalition said Friday. US special forces and Afghan troops also killed three Taliban who pinned down a group of civilian contractors after their helicopter came down in another area. The fighting in Sangin district started after the troops identified several militant groups in the region. US air support was also called to pursue the fighters as they fled, the statement said. Separately on Thursday five civilian contractors had to be rescued after their helicopter made a forced landing in Ghazni province late Thursday. Three extremists were killed in the engagement The Taliban earlier said it had “hit” a NATO helicopter there. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Russian PM leaves after 3-day visit ISLAMABAD, April 13 (APP): Russian Prime Minister Mikhael Fradkov Friday left for Moscow after completing his three-day official visit to Islamabad. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Olmert ready to talk to Abbas about statehood issues JERUSALEM, April 13 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is ready to begin discussing with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday the legal, economic and governmental structures of a future Palestinian state, Olmert's office said. But two officials in Olmert's office said the three main final status issues -- defining the borders of a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees -- would not be on the agenda when the prime minister meets Abbas in Jerusalem. Sunday's talks will be the first between Olmert and Abbas since they agreed, during a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month, to meet once every two weeks. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Two Pakistani troops killed in mine blast QUETTA, Pakistan, April 13 (Reuters) - Two Pakistani troops clearing landmines for a road project in Kohlu district of gas-rich Baluchistan province were killed on Friday when a mine exploded, a security official said. “The blast killed a Frontier Corps trooper and an army soldier,” said the security official, who declined to be identified. One member of the Corps was also wounded. (Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Lal Masjid cleric 'ready for negotiations' ISLAMABAD, April 13 (AFP) – Maulana Abdul Aziz, the prayer leader at Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, whose mosque is locked in a standoff with the government over its attempts to impose Islamic justice said Friday that he did not want bloodshed and was ready for negotiations. “Our purpose is to put pressure on the government for the imposition of the Islamic system in the country; we don't want bloodshed, but want a peaceful revolution,” he said in a Friday prayers sermon. “Our doors are open for negotiations, but we will not abandon our stand to impose the Islamic system in the entire country,” he said. (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
NATO soldier dies in Afghanistan firefight KABUL, April 13 (AFP) - A NATO soldier was killed in a firefight with Taliban militants Friday, the alliance said. Two other soldiers were injured, ISAF said in a statement but gave no details about the location of the incident or the nationality of the victims. (Posted @ 16:36 PST)
Protest demonstrations in Srinagar, Ramban, Ganderbal ISLAMABAD, April 13 (APP) In occupied Kashmir, demonstrations were held in different areas against continuing Indian state terrorism. The personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) severely thrashed and critically injured with gun butts a beggar at Sonwar in Srinagar, who was shifted to a hospital in critical condition, KMS reported. People held protest demonstration against the incident and demanded troops withdrawal from occupied Kashmir. In Ramban, arrest of four civilians including a woman by Indian troops sparked demonstrations near busy Dumail- Ramban Chowk. The protestors shouted anti-India slogans and blocked traffic on Jammu-Srinagar Highway for a couple of hours. Meanwhile Bar Association Ramban lodged strong protest against the district administration for not allowing the Bar members to attend the inaugural function of the newly created Ramban district. Nearly two-dozen people were injured when police personnel used brute force to disperse demonstrators protesting against anti-people policies of the regime at Thuru in Ganderbal. Troops arrested three persons during house raids from Pulwama and Handwara areas. (Posted @ 15:10 PST)
Pakistan delegation holds meetings with WB, US officials WASHINGTON, April 13 (APP) Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenues Dr Salman Shah, at the head of a Pakistani delegation attending annual spring meetings of World Bank and IMF, held useful and productive meetings with World Bank leaders and senior US officials. The delegation of top economic managers met with World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Vice President Praful Patel and members of the World Bank team. Dr Shah also led the delegation at meetings with US Senator Judd Gregg, ranking member appropriations committee, Deputy Secretary Treasury Robert Kimmit and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher. The Pakistani delegation includes Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Advisor Finance Ministry and Director General Debt Office, Dr. Ashfaque Hassan Khan, and Secretary Finance Tanvir Ali Agha. During the meetings, the adviser to the prime minister apprised them of Pakistan's strong economic growth achieved on the back of sustained reforms and consistently pursued policies. Speaking about international investors' growing confidence in continued policies and their interest in the country's development potential, he said Pakistan is on course to attracting a record more than US dollars six billion in foreign direct investment during the current year. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Bangladesh arrests influential ex-minister DHAKA, April 13 (AFP) Bangladesh security forces arrested an influential former minister Friday, police said. Moudud Ahmed, a law minister of the outgoing government and a top member of Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was arrested at his home early in the morning. “He was arrested on corruption (charges) after relief materials for poor people were found at his house,” the local police chief said. Ahmed has served as a minister in almost every cabinet since Bangladesh became independent in 1971. (Posted @ 11:51 PST)
Bomb kills Iraqi woman and child BAGHDAD, April 13 (AFP) An Iraqi woman and child were killed Friday in the capital's latest roadside bomb attack, a security official said. Four policemen were also wounded in the attack in Baghdad’s Zafaraniyah district. (Posted @ 11:47 PST)
Three dead after Norwegian tugboat capsizes LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) Three Norwegian crew members died and another five were missing after their tugboat capsized in the North Sea Thursday, British coast guards said. A further seven personnel were rescued from the Bourbon Dolphin, a Norwegian anchor-handling supply tug, which capsized 75 miles north of Scotland's Shetland Islands, a spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said. (Posted @ 09:21 PST)
Conflict with Iran 'not desirable', 'not inevitable': US LONDON, April 13 (AFP) Diplomacy must be given time to work in the west's stand-off with Iran over its nuclear programme, the US undersecretary of state for political affairs said Thursday, adding that conflict with Iran was not “desirable” or “inevitable.“ Speaking to the BBC, Nicholas Burns said that the west had to have a “degree of patience” with diplomacy if it was to work, adding that there is still time for a diplomatic solution to the impasse. “Our view is that a military conflict is not desirable, and it is certainly not inevitable, and if we can work skilfully together ... then we may be successful. We ought to give that a try,” he said. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 71.82 points: KARACHI, April 13: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11977.74, up 71.82 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 13: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.89 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:10 PST)
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