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| April 21, 2007 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 03, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
CJP Iftikhar speaks on constitution Peshawar April 21, (PPI) Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudry on Saturday said that it is time for the nation to decide, once for all, that it will not ignore any further tempering with or violation of the norms and the principles of the constitution by any one. He said Supreme Court acts as Guardian of constitution, which is an agreement between different regions and varying sections of the society. "Deviation from constitution or violation of its provisions leads to anarchy and chaos, which is dangerous because it stakes a very survival of the state. He said Supreme Court was the guardian of the constitution and ensures enforcement of fundamental rights. (Posted @ 23:38 PST)
PM Aziz urges Asian economies to focus on energy, environment and brand creation BOAO, April 21 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday urged the Asian economies to focus on energy security, fight environmental degradation, create its own “brand” and ensure equity in growth for a prosperous future. “Let us all work together to create a peaceful rising and prosperous Asia that is a major factor for a more stronger and prosperous world,” Aziz told the gathering of leaders from Asia here at the plenary session of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2007. The Prime Minister said Asia with some of the best human capital had the potential to rise and pointed at the increase in the inter-Asia trade. He said there was a need for undertaking a SWOT - Strengths Weakness, Opportunities and Threats - analysis and to work towards making it an “Asian Century”. The Prime Minister in his speech on “Asia Driving Global Growth,” said Asian footprint was getting larger and was attracting more trade and business. He said Pakistan was working to become a major player in Asian economic equation and identified energy security as the single most critical factor saying there was a need to conserve and diversify energy resources, otherwise the growth could be constrained. Aziz also urged the Asian economies to ensure that there was equity in growth. “The poor must see a better tomorrow and people with low income must hope and achieve higher income in the years to come and will give us strength to move in the right direction,” he said, adding that Pakistan was proud of its friendship with China and said it was a model for Asia and the world. (Posted @ 10:25 PST)
Palestinian killed in Israeli air strike GAZA CITY, April 21, (AFP) - A Palestinian was killed in an Israeli air strike on his car in Gaza on Saturday, minutes after two Israelis were lightly wounded in a Palestinian rocket attack on the Jewish state, medical sources said. (Posted @ 23:58 PST)
Prime Minister Aziz leaves for home HAIKOU (CHINA), April 21 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz left for home here on Saturday at the conclusion of his official visit to China. (Posted @ 21:50 PST)
No electoral politics sans Kashmir resolution: Mirwaiz ISLAMABAD, April 21 (APP):- Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirtwaiz Umer Farooq has stressed that APHC would not participate in any electoral process unless and until the Kashmir dispute is resolved. Addressing a public gathering in Srinagar, he said that APHC would not participate in any electoral process until the Kashmir issue is resolved as per the wishes of its people, PTV reported. Referring to a recent statement of pro-India National Conference President Omar Abdullah in which he had alleged APHC of preparing for elections.Mirwaiz said: “I strongly reject such speculations because Hurriyat Conference believes that as long as the Kashmir issue is pending participating in any electoral politics is futile for the Kashmiri nation. (Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Cricket: Lara's last innings ends in run out BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 21 (AFP) - Brian Lara's last innings as an international cricketer ended when he was run out for 18 in the World Cup Super Eights match against England at the Kensington Oval here on Saturday. The West Indies skipper, playing in his 299th and final one-dayer, suffered a miserable exit. With the total on 173-2 in the 31st over, Marlon Samuels pushed the ball for a single, called Lara for a run but changed his mind when Kevin Pietersen sprinted in from mid-on. The England fielder threw the stumps down, Lara was stranded and sent the great man back to the pavilion.The packed Kensington Oval ground rose to acclaim the 36-year-old, he exchanged a high-five with Gayle while Michael Vaughan and his England team formed a guard of honour as he arrived at the crease. (Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Three Palestinian militants killed in West Bank RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 21 (AFP) -Israeli troops shot dead three Palestinian militants during a raid on Saturday in the West Bank town of Jenin, Palestinian security and medical sources said. Israeli special forces opened fire on a car, killing two members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a militant offshoot of president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement. A third militant from Islamic Jihad died of his wounds shortly after being hit in the same incident, the sources said. Earlier on Saturday, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian policeman, 23-year-old Mohammed Abed, during an operation in Jenin. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)
30 injured in road accident HYDERABAD, Pakistan, April 21 (APP):- As many as 30 persons were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and truck on National Highway near Telegraph Phatak, Kotri on Saturday. According to police, the bus carrying factory workers was on its way to Kotri SITE when the accident occured. (Posted @ 20:08 PST)
Shabbir Shah, supporters arrested in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, Apr 21 (APP):- In occupied Kashmir, Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Shabbir Ahmad Shah was arrested in Kupwara along with his 35 workers on Saturday. After addressing a large public gathering in Kupwara, the DFP Chairman was returning to Srinagar in a procession. As he reached Dak Bunglow Kupwara, police arrested him along with 35 party workers, PTV reported. (Posted @ 20:04 PST)
Pakistani woman hoists national flag at North Pole ISLAMABAD, April 21 (APP): Pakistan’s Namira Salim hoisted Pakistani flag at the North Pole on Saturday morning at 0530 hours (PST), she told APP by satellite phone. “As I hoist the Pakistan flag at the pinnacle of our planet, I convey a universal message of peace and to assert to the global community that Pakistani nation is peace loving and tolerant nation,” she said. “The North Pole bears an amazing resemblance to Pakistani's scenic Northern Areas” said Namira. “As Pakistan's Honorary Ambassador of Tourism, I'd like to invite the world to experience Pakistan's rich culture and to touch the world's top most mountain peaks, like the K-2,” she stated. (Posted @ 20:02 PST)
Violence continues in Iraq Baghdad, April 21(Reuters) - Mussayab mayor Mehdi Abdul Hussein al-Najem and two of his bodyguards were killed in an ambush on Saturday, police said. A roadside bomb exploded next to their vehicles and gunmen then opened fire. In Baghdad, one soldier was killed and two others were wounded when they were hit by a roadside bomb during a patrol southwest of Baghdad, the U.S. military said According to another report the bodies of eight people were found in Khalis, 80 km north of Baghdad, a police source said. All showed signs of torture and four had been beheaded. Also in Baghdad a bomb planted in a minibus in Baghdad's Sadr City killed up to two people and wounded five others, police said. Another bus next to it was also hit by the blast. In Kirkuk, gunmen stormed a house and killed four members of the same. (First Posted @ 18:08 PST Updated @ 19:54 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan confirm one-day matches in Abu Dhabi KARACHI, April 21 (Reuters) - Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play three one-day internationals in Abu Dhabi from May 9, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said on Saturday. “The series has now been confirmed and given clearance by the International Cricket Council,” Zakir Khan, PCB’s director cricket operations, told Reuters. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Bombers wreck American school in Gaza Strip BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip, April 21 (AFP) - Masked gunmen stormed the Gaza Strip's only private school early Saturday and detonated a series of bombs inside causing serious damage, witnesses and security sources said. The gunmen overpowered and then bound three security guards but there were no casualties in the assault on the American school in Beit Lahiya, an interior ministry official told AFP. The gunmen took the guards with them when they made their getaway but released them an hour later. (Posted @ 18:16 PST)
Pakistan to serve as major trans-regional hub: PM Aziz BOAO, April 21 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said Pakistan was open for investment and could serve as a trans-regional hub in transportation, trade and energy for the Middle East, China and other regional countries, offering lucrative incentives, competitiveness and low cost of operations. Speaking as Chairman of a special session on “Pakistan-Trans-regional Hub, linking Asia to the Middle East and Beyond” at the Boao Asia Forum 2007, he apprised the gathering about the reforms undertaken by the government, including those in the banking, oil and gas and telecommunication sectors. He said the country will get US 6 billion dollars investment, China and Pakistan have agreed to set up a Joint Investment Company that will lend capital for various projects across the country, and banking sector was witnessing phenomenal growth. Goldman Sachs, the founder of BRICS (Brazil,Russia, India and China) said Pakistan wanted to increase its power generation from various sources and said it was acquiring energy through nuclear, gas, hydel and other sources and coal energy. He said this sector had lots of opportunities for investment. Former Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke, hailed Pakistan for its economic performance and good governance. Wang Jianzhou Chief Executive of China Mobile explained the solid financial prospects his company acquired Paktel. Zhang Hongbiao, General Manager of China Aviation Industry Corporation II, said the two countries co-developed the K-8 aircraft. A repair and production plant for K-8 has been setup in Pakistan and a large number of aircraft have been exported. He said his company was also interested in establishing links in the automobile sector of the country. C. Lawrence Greenwood, Vice President of Asian Development Bank, spoke of ADB’s role in helping Pakistan realize its true potential to be a regional hub. He said the bank was assisting Pakistan in several ways. He said the trade corridor was being improved and the bank would help in trade facilitation, customs and to improve the transit times. He said the ADB also recognizes the need to meet country's high energy needs and would help it in this respect since energy was available from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
At least 73 die in latest Somalia fighting - witnesses MOGADISHU, April 21 (Reuters) - At least 73 Somalis, mainly civilians, have died in the latest fighting to rock Mogadishu on Saturday, witnesses and residents said. The day's biggest toll came in the busy Al Barakah residential and market area, where 20 people died when mortars hit the area, witnesses said. Saturday's death toll is expected to soar as Ethiopian and Somali troops battled insurgents across the city, with incessant shelling in residential neighbourhoods. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Seven killed in Sri Lanka violence COLOMBO, April 21 (AFP) - Seven people were killed and five others were wounded in separate attacks in Sri Lanka's restive northern and eastern regions, the defence ministry said Saturday. (Posted @ 18:00 PST)
Seven die as coaster falls into ditch near Thatta ISLAMABAD, April 21 (APP): Seven persons were killed and 22 others injured on Saturday when a Coaster proceeding from Thatta to Hyderabad fell into a ditch. Police said the accident occurred because the tie-rod of the vehicle broke down. (First Posted @ 16:26 PST Updated @ 16:50 PST)
Four soldiers killed in Thai blast YALA, Thailand, April 21 (AFP) - Four soldiers were killed Saturday when a 10-kilogram (22-pound) roadside bomb exploded under their Humvee in Pattani in Thailand's restive Muslim-majority south, police said. Two soldiers died soon after the attack and two others died later in hospital, police said. (First Posted @ 12:14 PST Updated @ 15:57 PST)
PM Aziz meets Philippines President BOAO, April 21 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan is supportive of giving observer status to Philippines in the Organization of Islamic countries (OIC) as it seeks greater engagement with the ASEAN countries and also because it will be beneficial to both sides. He expressed these views while meeting Gloria Arroyo President of Philippines, on the sidelines of Boao forum for Asia meeting here Saturday. He said that greater interaction with ASEAN countries will augur well for both sides. Pakistan, Aziz said, is already getting investment from ASEAN countries in line with its “look-east vision.” Both the leaders during the meeting agreed to forge closer economic links with special focus on enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, besides sharing the best practices in the field of education, culture, science and technology. The prime minister extended an invitation to the Philippines president to visit Pakistan, which she accepted. The Prime Minister said that Asian countries need to move from being producers of low cost goods to value added economies to get greater share in the global economy. During the meeting both sides agreed on entire production change and said that most Asian countries are still deprived of the current economic dividend. (Posted @ 12:48 PST)
Three killed in Indonesian landslide JAKARTA, April 21 (AFP) Three people were killed in Indonesia when a landslide buried a house in Samarang village late Friday, police said Saturday. A mother and her two daughters died in the accident, caused by heavy rain in West Java province, the Antara news agency reported. Another landslide caused a train to derail Saturday in a nearby village, injuring more than 30 people and causing disruption on one of the country's busiest routes. (First Posted @ 10:53 PST, Updated@ 11:43 PST)
China gas blasts kill nine miners, 19 missing SHANGHAI, April 21 (Reuters) Nine miners have been killed and 19 are missing after two gas explosions at coal mines in northeastern China's Hebei Province, the official Xinhua news agency reported Saturday. In the first blast, which occured at the Dashucun mine in Handan city early Thursday, nine miners were killed and another eight were missing, Xinhua said, citing local work safety authorities. Another 11 miners were trapped in the Tao'er coal mine, also in Handan, after an explosion Friday noon, Xinhua said. (Posted @ 09:42 PST)
Gunman kills hostage, self at NASA space centre HOUSTON, Texas, April 21 (Reuters) A NASA contractor took two co-workers hostage at Johnson Space Centre Friday, killing one of them before turning the revolver on himself, officials said. Bill Phillips barricaded himself inside the building after managing to sneak a revolver past security at the space centre campus, police and NASA officials said. Phillips shot David Beverly in the chest, killing the NASA employee, and later shot himself in the head inside Building 44, a communications and engineering facility, officials said. The second hostage, Fran Crenshaw, a NASA contract worker, was found duct-taped to a chair a few hours after the standoff began. “Apparently there was some type of dispute between” Phillips and Beverly, Houston Police Chief Howard Hurtt told reporters. (Posted @ 09:13 PST)
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