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Full court constituted to hear CJ's, other petitions ISLAMABAD, May 08 (PPI) - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday constituted full court for hearing the constitutional petitions filed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and others. The hearing will commence on May 14 on daily basis. Following the decision of the larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice M. Javed Battar, Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwas Das constituted the full court that will be headed by the 5th senior most judge in the Supreme Court Justice Khalil-ur- Rahman Ramday. Besides Justice Khalil-ur-Rahman Ramday, the full court comprises- Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Justice Falak Sher, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice M. Javed Battar, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani, Justice Syed Saeed Ashad, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmad, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad, Justice Syed Jamshed Ali, Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Ghulam Jilani. Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwan Das, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar being the members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, who earlier has declined to hear the petitions, have not been included in the full court. The full court will begin daily hearing of the petitions from May 14. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Pakistani troops on Afghan border increased to 90,000, minister says ISLAMABAD, May 8(AP) - Pakistan has increased the number of its troops deployed along the Afghan border to 90,000 , foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri said Tuesday. He announced the increase after talks with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the intensifying violence in Afghanistan. De Hoop Scheffer insisted the alliance would prevail. Kasuri also said Pakistan had increased the number of military posts along the frontier from 100 to 110, and challenged Afghanistan to show the same resolve to close the frontier. “This is the level of Pakistan's commitment,” Kasuri said at a news conference. “We expect matching response from Afghanistan, as each side must play its due role to combat the menace of terrorism.” He provided no details of when the troop increase occurred or where exactly the troops were deployed. De Hoop Scheffer, who was accompanied by NATO's supreme commander, Gen. John Craddock, said after talks with Musharraf and Kasuri that Pakistan was playing “an all-important role” to counter the militants. He acknowledged that “spoilers are making our life a bit difficult from time to time” _ 47 foreign troops have died in Afghanistan so far this year. However, he insisted NATO's 36,000-strong force would prevail. Both Kasuri and de Hoop Scheffer stressed the importance of reconstruction and development over military operations in eventually stabilizing Afghanistan. Kasuri said Pakistan also wanted to see more “political input” into finding a settlement. He didn't elaborate, but Pakistani officials have complained repeatedly that Pashtuns, the ethnic group who live on both sides of the border and from whom the Taliban draw their main strength, are underrepresented in Karzai's government. De Hoop Scheffer said NATO would “applaud anything which could contribute to stability and security” in Afghanistan, but said the alliance had no role in seeking any political agreement. (Posted @ 18:04 PST) NATO chief meets Musharraf on Taliban insurgency ISLAMABAD, May 8 (AFP) - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer held lengthy talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf here Tuesday on how to tackle the growing Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Scheffer was accompanied by the 26-nation NATO’s top military commander General John Craddock for the nearly two-hour long meeting at army house in Rawalpindi city. Officials said the talks focussed on joint measures that need to be taken to secure the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and to deny Taliban sanctuary on both sides of the porous frontier. Scheffer, who arrived here on Monday, will also meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri. Official sources said better coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan also came under discussion in the context of mutual mistrust between the two neighbours over cross-border infiltration. Musharraf told the NATO chief that the Taliban are primarily an Afghan problem and that Afghan and international coalition forces need to do more at military, political and administrative levels to defeat the insurgency, the source said. The Pakistan leader also reiterated that a “stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan.” The NATO-led ISAF has 37,000 troops in Afghanistan, while there are also around 14,000 troops in the US-led coalition focused on counterterrorism tasks. (Posted @ 17:02 PST) Three-member bench of SC reserves judgement on CJ manhandling ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP) A three-member bench of Supreme Court Tuesday reserved judgement of manhandling of Islamabad Capital Police (ICP) with Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The mandhandling took place with Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while he was coming from his official residence to the Supreme Court on March 13 to attend proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council. A bench of Apex court comprising Acting CJ of Pakistan Justice Rana Baghwandas, Justice Tassadduque Hussain Jillani and Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the case at length of receiving unconditional apology submitted by all the seven officers of ICP and administration through their counsels. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Musharraf says he had nothing personal against CJP Rawalpindi, May 08 (PPI) - President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said the reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan to the Supreme Judicial Council was made after he was convinced about its validity, setting aside personal relationship. Addressing the 13th Convocation of the Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering College he said the reference was sent to him by the prime minister and after being convinced about its validity he referred it to the SJC fulfilling his constitutional duties irrespective of its fallouts. President Musharraf emphasized that extremism and terrorism were the main impediment in the way of progress and development and added that nobody had the right to impose his views on others. Referring to the steps taken to promote science and technology for rapid economic development he said nine world class engineering universities are being set up across the country at a cost of 250 billion rupees during the next five years. (Posted @ 19:38 PST) Turkish MPs back popular vote for president ANKARA, May 8 (AFP) - Turkish lawmakers approved sweeping constitutional reforms on Monday that would see the president elected by popular vote, as they sought to resolve the crisis over Turkey's secular roots. A proposal put by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party for a two-round popular vote to elect the head of state, who is currently chosen by parliament, was approved on its first reading, Anatolia news agency said. Also in the reform package were plans to allow a once-renewable five-year presidential mandate instead of the current single, seven-year term. General elections would be held every four years instead of the current five. Monday's vote, which was won by 356 votes to 69, must now be validated by a second parliamentary vote later this week and has to be approved by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to become law. The debate saw heated arguments between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition, which claims that with early general elections already scheduled for July 22, parliament should not be making such radical changes to the constitution. (Posted @ 17:18 PST) More India war games on Pakistan's borders NEW DELHI, May 8 (AFP) India is deploying battle tanks and combat troops for the second major wargames in a month along Pakistan's borders, the military said Tuesday. The four-day exercise beginning Friday will be carried out on the arid plains of Jullandhar in the northern state of Punjab, the defence ministry said. Codenamed Shatrunash or Death to the Enemy, the latest exercises will involve more than 15,000 troops backed by around 150 Russian-built T-90 tanks, artillery and helicopter gunships, commanders said. The defence ministry said Shatrunash will also test newly-acquired electronic warfare systems. (Posted @ 12:10 PST)
Two soldiers killed in roadside bomb attack south of Baghdad BAGHDAD, May 8, (AP) - Two U.S. soldiers were killed on Tuesday when their patrol was hit by a roadside bomb attack southeast of Baghdad, the military said in a statement. (Posted @ 23:56 PST) India's opposition party rapped for anti-Muslim CD NEW DELHI, May 8, (AFP) - India's election commission on Tuesday asked the country's opposition Hindu nationalists to condemn a controversial compact disc they released that insults Muslims. The disc was released last month by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) during state elections in Uttar Pradesh, although the party says its production was not officially sanctioned. “The Commission hereby directs that the respondent party should make an official declaration on behalf of the party at the national level that the party condemns ... the contents of the CD,” the commission said in a statement. (Posted @ 23:40 PST) Czech PM arrives for three-day official visit ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP) - Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek Tuesday arrived here on a three-day official visit. He was received at the airport by Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan, ambassador of Czech Republic Alexandar Langer and senior officials. The Czech PM entourage included ministers for industry and trade and culture, senior government officials and several businessmen. (Posted @ 23:22 PST) Iraq: 16 killed, 70 injured in Kufa car bomb Baghdad, May 8 (Reuters) - At least 16 people were killed and 70 wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded at a crowded market in Kufa, 160 km south of Baghdad, health and government officials in the province of Najaf said. Meanwhile, the bodies of seven people were found shot in and around Falluja, while a suicide bomber killed two policemen and wounded 23, including 10 civilians, when he targeted a police station in the town of Khanaqin, north of Baghdad, police said. The bodies of three personal guards of Iraq's minister of Higher Education were found shot dead in Baghdad, while police recovered 30 bodies in Baghdad, including 17 in the neighbourhood of Amil in the past 24 hours. Two people were killed and 10 wounded by a mortar round attack in Iskandariya on Tuesday, police said. (Posted @ 21:18 PST) Afghan senate calls for direct talks with Taliban KABUL, May 8 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's government should hold direct talks with the resurgent Taliban and other opposition forces, the senate voted on Tuesday .It also urged Western troops in the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces to halt the hunt for Taliban fighters and other militants. (Posted @ 21:10 PST) Bus accident kills 47 in Lesotho MASERU, May 8 (Reuters) - At least 47 people were killed and 33 others injured in the southern African country of Lesotho when a bus collided with a truck, police said on Tuesday. The bus was overloaded with more than 90 factory workers in northern Lesotho when it overturned on Monday night. (Posted @ 21:02 PST) Pentagon identifies 35,000 more troops for Iraq WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Tuesday it told another 35,000 U.S. soldiers they were in line to go to Iraq, a move that gives commanders enough forces to maintain a security crackdown there through at least the end of the year. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the decision was not related to the military's so-called “surge.” But the replacement forces offer generals the flexibility to maintain heightened troop levels through 2007. (Posted @ 20:52 PST) Hockey: Malaysia break 10-year drought over SKorea IPOH, Malaysia, May 8 (AFP) - Host Malaysia secured the first semi-final berth at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Tuesday with their first victory over South Korea in a decade, in a Group B match here. The Malaysians beat the Koreans 1-0 in a cautious game where both teams relied on counter-attacks for their chances at goal. The other semi-final berth from the group will be decided when Pakistan and South Korea resume their postponed match on Wednesday. That match was tied at 2-2 when a blackout at the stadium forced the game to be abandoned on Monday night. The Pakistanis need just a draw, while the Koreans will be looking for an outright win to progress. On Tuesday, Pakistan scored a convincing 2-0 victory over Canada through a field goal from Shabbir Khan in the seventh minute and Akhtar Ali towards the end of the first half. (Posted @ 20:40 PST) NATO Secretry General calls on PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, May 08 (PPI) - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan and NATO have common objectives of ensuring peace and stability at regional as well as global level. Talking to NATO Secretary General Mr. Jaap de Hoop Cheffer who called on him on Tuesday the Prime Minister noted that Pakistan and NATO are cooperating in military field specially in training and added that Pakistan is keen to establish more regular political dialogue to strengthen their ties. Shaukat Aziz said that although Pakistan is not an aid giving country, it extended three hundred million dollars to Afghanistan for reconstruction purposes. The Prime Minister also briefed Mr. Jaap de Hoop about Jirga commission meetings and said these are prelude to a meeting of grand jirga of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He thanked NATO for providing logistic and material support to Pakistan in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake which claimed 83,000 lives and uprooted millions. He told NATO Secretary General that there are still three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and that Karzai government had agreed to take back these refugees. Talking to newsmen, the NATO Secretary General Mr. Jaap de Hoop Cheffer said his visit was aimed at strengthening political dialogue between Pakistan and NATO and they absolutely agreed over the need for doing that. He said they agreed to maximise already quite developed military to military contacts and relations at different levels. He said their common objective is to fight against the faceless worldwide terrorism and they should not give those people an opportunity to prevail. (Posted @ 19:12 PST)
Sindh Governor allows extension in closure time of shops: KCCI chief Karachi, May 08 (PPI): Majyd Aziz, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry said Tuesday that in response to an appeal made by KCCI, the Governor of Sindh, in consideration of economic difficulties faced by small traders and shop keepers, has allowed the shops to remain open upto 9.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and upto 11.00 p.m. on Saturdays. The markets are also allowed to remain open on Sundays too, he said in a Press statement. (Posted @ 19:46 PST) Pakistan to recieve five C-130 avionics kits Washington, May 8 (PPI): Rockwell Collins Inc. has been assigned to deliver to Pakistan by August 2008 five C-130 avionics (Group B) kits which will be used to upgrade transport aircrafts and enhance aircraft operational capabilities. The award. by USAF is for about $6.5 million. It is unclear what may be provided with upgrade kits, but it is likely to be Flight 2 6 X 8-inch Multi-Function Displays, AN/ARC-210 radios, SAT-2000, multimode receivers, automatic direction finder and high frequency data link upgrades for C-130 aircraft which will result in integration of flight operations with navigation, guidance functions, better situational awareness, support future growth requirements, and weather radar upgrade. (Posted @ 19:44 PST) Nigerian oil bombings cut 150,000 bpd output ABUJA, May 8 (Reuters) - Nigerian rebels blew up three oil pipelines in the Niger Delta on Tuesday, halting production of 150,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has now shut down more than 30 percent of Nigerian oil output, vowed in an e- mail to carry out more attacks in the world's eight-largest crude exporter, where about 700,000 bpd, or a quarter of total capacity, were already being lost before the latest attacks. The MEND, along with other armed groups in the lawless delta, have stepped up attacks since Nigeria staged elections last month that were widely condemned as fraudulent. The group's spokesman has said the MEND wanted to make it clear it had no faith in Yar'Adua or his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, who is the outgoing governor of Bayelsa State in the heart of the delta. “We intend to destroy between now and May 29 more pipes than we have destroyed in the last one year,” Gbomo said in an email. The attacks on the pipelines come a day after Chevron was forced to shut down a 42,000 bpd production facility because of a protest by villagers armed with sticks and machetes. (Posted @ 18:54 PST) Hockey: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup result: Pakistan 2, Canada 0 IPOH, Malaysia, May 8 (AFP) – In Sultan Azlan Shah Cup field hockey tournament here Tuesday Pakistan defeated Canada by two goals to nil in their Group “B” match. Scorers for Pakistan were Shabbir Khan(7th minute) and Akhtar Ali ( 32nd minute). Half-time score 2-0. (Posted @ 18:50 PST) NATO convoy ambushed in Kandahar KANDAHAR, May 8 (AP) - Suspected Taliban militants ambushed a NATO convoy around 1 a.m. in Kandahar city Tuesday, and a gunshot victim said soldiers fleeing the scene shot him and killed a man in a bakery. A NATO statement said that “initial reports indicate that there may have been civilian casualties.” Separately in Kandahar, a driver working with the UNHCR was gunned down by men on a motorbike as he left for work Tuesday morning. (Posted @ 18:20 PST) India's Supreme Court suspends arrest warrant for artist M.F. Husain NEW DELHI, May 8 (AP) - India's Supreme Court Tuesday suspended an arrest warrant for M.F. Husain, one of the country's most famous artists, who is living in self-imposed exile because of threats from Hindu hard-liners enraged by his painting of a nude woman posed in the shape of India. In March, a court in the northern city of Hardwar, where one of the lawsuits was filed, issued an arrest warrant for Husain and ordered his property be seized after the artist failed to appear for a hearing. Police earlier this week began the process of seizing Husain's property, prompting the Supreme Court to step in Tuesday and suspend the arrest warrant and the property seizure order. Husain's works have fetched millions of U.S. dollars (euros) at auctions in recent years, and his “Mother India” shows a nude woman on her knees, creating the shape of India's geographic borders. (Posted @ 18:18 PST) U.S. Navy says 5 from Florida unit killed in Nevada helicopter crash WASHINGTON, May 8 (AP) - A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed during a training mission about 10 miles west of Austin in Nevada and all five members of the crew were killed, the Navy said Tuesday. (Posted @ 18:16 PST) NA assured to initiate inquiry into blockade of TV channels transmission ISLAMABAD, May 8 (APP): Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain Tuesday asked the government to initiate an inquiry into alleged blockade of the transmission of some private TV channels on May 5-6 and ensure smooth coverage of rallies on May 12. Stating that under Rule 111, Clause G, the motion was not admissible Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi said the government was not involved in blockade of TV channels transmission and only one organization was blamed for this alleged act. He said there was no complaint of any blockade from the Punjab, NWFP, Balochistan, FATA and Northern Areas. Why should the government block transmission in only one province, he questioned. He assured the House that if any official of Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) was found involved in blockade of TV channels transmission, he will be taken to task. Earlier speaking on the motion's admissibility, Opposition legislators called for a debate in the House on the issue. Those who spoke on its admissibility included Dr Farid Piracha, Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Hanif Abbasi and Naheed Khan. (Posted @ 17:52 PST) Mubarak, Deby visit Libya for Darfur talks TRIPOLI, May 8 (Reuters) - The presidents of Egypt and Chad arrived in Tripoli on Tuesday for talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi about Sudan's troubled Darfur region, officials said. In Cairo, presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad said the three leaders would talk about comprehensive reconciliation in Sudan, a solution for Darfur, Arab issues and preparations for an African Union summit in Ghana scheduled for mid-year. Chad and Sudan have long accused each other of backing rebels hostile to their respective governments. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
Six arrested in plot to attack NJ army base WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - Six New Jersey men have been arrested in what authorities said was plot to kill soldiers at a U.S. Army installation in New Jersey, local media reported on Tuesday. Investigators said the men planned to use automatic weapons to enter Fort Dix and kill as many soldiers as possible, according to the Newark Star-Ledger and television stations in Philadelphia and New York. FBI agents arrested five of the men in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and another elsewhere after members of the group allegedly attempted to buy automatic weapons, the Star-Ledger reported. The suspects travelled over the last several months from New Jersey to the Pocono mountains area in northeastern Pennsylvania where they practiced firing automatic weapons, the reports said. (Posted @ 17:28 PST) Snooker: Higgins on top of the World SHEFFIELD, England, May 87 (AFP) - John Higgins (Scotland) held off a brave fightback from Mark Selby (England) to win the World Snooker Championships with a tense 18-13 victory. Higgins, 31, kept his nerve under pressure from Selby, who closed to within a frame late in the match after trailing 12-4, and landed his second world title. The Scot, who last won the tournament in 1998, was finally crowned champion in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the latest ever finish in a world final, as Selby ran out of steam. “I'm absolutely shattered. At 14-13 I was ready to throw the towel in because Mark was coming back superbly,” he said. “I don't know how I did it. To come back under that sort of pressure was the best I have played in my life”. The 23-year-old looked in deep trouble overnight. No player had ever come back from an eight-frame deficit to lift the title. (Posted @ 17:06 PST) Football: AFC chief re-elected KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (AFP) – Qatar’s Mohamed Bin Hammam was Tuesday sworn in unopposed to a second four-year term as Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president. The 58-year-old was also unopposed when voted into office for his first term. The AFC Congress also approved an increase in the number of vice presidents to five from four and ruled that for the first time one of them must be a woman from 2009. (Posted @ 17:04 PST) Soviet WWII losses estimate rises to 8.9 million MOSCOW, May 8 (AFP) - Russia has raised its estimate for the number of Soviet troops killed in World War II to 8.86 million, the daily Gazeta newspaper reported Tuesday, as Europe marked the 62nd anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. The figure represents a rise of 200,000 over an estimate issued by the defence ministry in 1993, Gazeta said. Much of Europe commemorates the end of the war on May 8, but in Russia celebrations are held a day later. (Posted @ 16:38 PST) 2 dead, 33 injured in Philippine blast COTABATO, Philippines, May 8 (AFP) - At least two people were killed while 33 others were seriously wounded in a bomb attack at a public market in the central Philippine city of Tacurong, police said. Radio reports quoting other sources, however, said five people were killed in the blast. (Posted @ 16:10 PST) Indian MP gets life for abduction PATNA, India, May 8 (Reuters) A member of India's parliament was sentenced to life imprisonment Tuesday by a court in the eastern state of Bihar for abducting a political rival in 1999 who is still missing. Mohammed Shahabuddin of the Rashtriya Janata Dal party is already serving a two-year term for attempted kidnapping and vandalism in a separate case. The parliamentarian, who has more than 30 criminal cases pending against him, has been given a month's time to appeal against the verdict, court officials said. (Posted @ 14:10 PST) Protests continue in wake of Sarkozy's poll win PARIS, May 8 (AFP) Youths clashed with police in French cities for the second night running Monday as they staged violent protests over Nicolas Sarkozy's triumph in presidential elections. Some 500 people went on a rampage in the Bastille area of eastern Paris, toppling motorbikes and smashing the windows of shops and telephone cabins. Riot police charges eventually forced the crowd to disperse while pursuits of small gangs continued into the night. More than 100 were eventually arrested after being surrounded by riot police. In Lyon, police fired tear gas to clear a window-smashing mob of around 200. Police also had to resort to tear gas to disperse more than 100 youths in Lille who torched several dozen cars and trash bins. Disturbances also took place in the cities of Nantes, Rennes, and Toulouse. Peaceful anti-Sarkozy demonstrations took place in the towns of Caen and Tours that gathered hundreds of demonstrators.(Posted @ 09:15 PST) Massive star explodes in brightest-ever supernova WASHINGTON, May 8 (AFP) US stargazers beheld the most spectacular supernova ever seen when a massive star exploded in a cosmic flash 50 billion times brighter than the sun, space agency NASA said Monday. “Of all exploding stars ever observed, this was the king,” said Alex Filippenko, one of the leaders of the NASA-backed operations which observed the phenomenon that began last fall, in a statement presenting the find. The supernova, named SN 2006gy, was likely caused by “the death of an extremely massive star,” said Dave Pooley of the University of California at Berkeley, who headed the overall observation project by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The resulting stellar light show lasted 70 days.(Posted @ 09:10 PST) Bush taps new USAID chief WASHINGTON, May 8 (AFP) US President George W. Bush has picked a new chief for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Henrietta Holsman Fore, the White House announced Monday. If confirmed by the US Senate, she would replace Randall Tobias, who has resigned from the post.(Posted @ 09:00 PST) Karachi Stocks up 252.16 points: KARACHI, May 8: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12331.91, up 252.16 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:14 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, May 8: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.72 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:14 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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