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| May 28, 2007 | Monday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan PM warns against criticism of military ISLAMABAD, May 28 (AFP) - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday warned against criticism of the army after the country's suspended top judge issued a veiled attack on the military rule of President Pervez Musharraf. He said the courts should “think about taking action”after a string of lawyers at a seminar attended by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Saturday called on Musharraf to quit as army chief. ”It does not suit any Pakistani to speak against the armed forces because it effects our defence, integrity and prestige. We strongly condemn it,” Aziz told reporters. The armed forces had always helped Pakistan in times of need and the lawyers' remarks against them “have hurt the sentiments of all Pakistanis,” the premier added. “The judiciary should now think about taking action on this.” About 5,000 lawyers and opposition party members had rallied outside the Supreme Court to greet Chaudhry ahead of Saturday's seminar on the independence of the judiciary. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
SC hears CJ Iftikhar’s petition ISLAMABAD, May 28 (PPI) - The 13-member full court of the Supreme Court of Pakistan headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday on Monday continued hearing on a set of 24 identical constitutional petitions filed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and others challenging formation and competence of the Supreme Judicial Council to try the Chief Justice as well as President's move to file a reference against the chief jurist of the country. Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, senior counsel for Chief Justice Iftikhar continued his arguments on the jurisdiction of the full court to hear the petition filed by the Chief Justice. He referred to various cases and judgments passed by the Supreme Court in which it heard these cases and took decisions. He argued that SJC could not conduct proceedings in camera without the consent of the defence counsels as it was the violation of the fundamental rights. He contented that the opinion of the President could only be examined by the Supreme Court. He told the court that hopefully he will conclude his arguments on the maintainability of the petition by Tuesday. (Posted @ 18:20 PST)
SHC adjourns suo moto reference of May 12 incident hearing till June 01 KARACHI, May 28 (PPI): The Full Bench of Sindh High Court Monday adjourned hearing of suo moto reference regarding May 12 incidents in Karachi till June 1 and directed all respondents to file their comments. Adjournment came on request of Acting AG Sindh Masood Noorani who sought time on behalf of provincial officers to file comments. The full bench appointed two senior lawyers Khalid Anwer and Qazi Faiz Essa as amicus curie to assist court . It also exempted all respondents from personal appearance in court till next order. Representatives of SHC Bar Association, Karachi Bar Association and Malir Bar Association appeared before the full bench today and were directed to file affidavits. (Posted @ 18:18 PST)
Pakistan to post 7.02 percent growth: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, May 28 (AFP) -Pakistan's economy is set to post robust growth of 7.02 percent in the fiscal year to the end of June, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Monday.This compares with 6.61 percent last year and is due to growth in agriculture, services and large-scale manufacturing, he told reporters. “Our target was 7.0 percent so this is slightly above that, and it is further going to increase after revision,” he added. “We are heading in the right direction.”The figures have been approved by Pakistan's national account committee, he said. Aziz said the average per capita income had also risen to 925 dollars from 833 dollars. There was no figure for inflation but “it is our endeavour to reduce it,” he added. Figures for the proportion of people living in poverty, which were at 23.9 percent two years ago, were also set to drop but have not been finalised, he said. He said the agricultural sector had grown by five percent on the back of a “historic” wheat crop and a bumper sugar cane crop. Large-scale manufacturing grew by 8.8 percent, he said. The total size of the economy is now 146.3 billion dollars, Aziz added. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
6 killed in Pakistan militant violence PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 28 (AFP) –Pro-Taliban insurgents shot dead a military commander and a soldier near the town of Tank in northwestern Pakistan on Monday hours after police killed four rebels in a firefight in the town of Bannu in North West Frontier Province, officials said. The commander and the soldier died in separate ambushes while travelling on a road out of the town of Tank. Gunmen hiding on both sides of the road sprayed bullets at the vehicle of Mir Wali Wazir, the local commander of a paramilitary unit, in a morning attack, senior police officer Mumtaz Tareen told AFP. Hours later, gunmen fired at three more paramilitary vehicles, killing one trooper, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Gunfire was still occurring, he added. Witnesses said that some 200 militants had taken positions outside Tank on the road. The killings at Tank followed a three-hour gunbattle between police and militants in the city of Bannu in which four militants were killed, local police chief Mazhar-ul Haq Kakakhel said. “Police tried to arrest the militants but they lobbed a hand grenade, seriously wounding two senior police officers,” he said. The militants were local Taliban, he said, adding that “their bodies have been identified.” (First Posted @ 17:04 PST Updated @ 18:32 PST)
Justice Javed Iqbal takes oath as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan ISLAMABAD, May 28 (PPI) Justice Javed Iqbal Monday took oath as Acting Chief Justice of Supreme Court in the absence of Justice Rana Bhagwandas who proceeded to Malaysia on an official visit. Supreme Court judge Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar administered the oath to Justice Javed Iqbal. The Judges of the Supreme Court attended the oath-taking ceremony while the Supreme Court Bar Association members boycotted the ceremony. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by the government lawyers. However Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan and senior government counsel Sharifuddin Pirzada were absent on the occasion. (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
U.S. ambassador says first meeting with Iran lasted four hours, was businesslike BAGHDAD, May 28 (AP) - The United States ambassador in Baghdad Ryan Crocker said he and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi Qomi agreed broadly on policy toward Iraq during four-hour groundbreaking talks on Monday, but insisted that Iran end its support for militants. Crocker said Iran proposed setting up a “trilateral security mechanism” that would include the U.S., Iraq and Iran. Crocker said the proposal would need study in Washington.The U.S. envoy also said he told the Iranians their country needed to stop arming, funding and training the militants. “This is about actions not just principles, and I laid out to the Iranians direct, specific concerns about their behavior in Iraq and their support for militias that are fighting Iraqi and coalition forces,” Crocker told a Green Zone news conference. Crocker also disclosed that the Iranians said they would be proposing a second session. “We will consider that when we receive it,” Crocker told reporters in the U.S.-controlled Green Zone. “The purpose this meeting was not to arrange other meetings,” he said. Crocker said Iranian Ambassador Hassan Kazemi Qomi did not raise the subject of seven Iranians now in American custody in Iran. “The focus of our discussions were Iraq and Iraq only,” Crocker said. The talks were held at Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Green Zone office. (Posted @ 18:12 PST)
SC directs singer Ibrar-ul-Haq to submit amended version of objectionable song in two weeks ISLAMABAD, May 28 (APP): A two-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan Monday directed singer Ibrar-ul-Haq to submit an amended version of his objectionable song within a period of two weeks. It discharged notice to the singer after assurance by him to comply with the directive. The bench directed the singer not to use such wording in his songs in future which could cause embarrassment to anyone. The case was taken up by the bench after the Supreme Court took suo-moto notice of a column published in an Urdu daily that carried a complaint from a girl that the song using the name “Parveen” which was also her name had caused embarrassment to her. (Posted @ 21:26 PST)
Altaf for removal of offensive graffiti LONDON, May 28 (PPI): MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on Monday urged party activists not to get irritated by what he called controversial statements given by any political leaders. Be tolerant and demonstrate a sense of patience, he said in a statement issued from party's international secretariat. He also appealed to people and activists to remove wall chalking in this regard. Altaf Hussain directed party leaders, elected representatives and workers to respond to controversial statements of opponent political leaders politely and in a civilized way. (Posted @ 21:18 PST)
Iraq: Car bomb kills 24, injures 68 near Gilani mosque BAGHDAD, May 28 (Reuters) - At least 33 people were killed and about 160 injured in acts of violence across Iraq on Monday including 24 killed and 68 injured in Sinak area of central Baghdad, near the revered Sheikh Abdel Qadir al-Gilani mosque. The casualties in Sinak area were caused by a car bomb which also destroyed a number of vehicles and damaged other property. The outer walls of the mosque were damaged and the base of the minaret was also partly damaged in the big blast, officials said. Separately, at least two people were killed and six wounded when a car bomb exploded in the Karrada district in central Baghdad, while four people were killed and 29 wounded when a bomb was detonated inside a restaurant in the Bab al-Muadham district of north-central Baghdad, police said. There were casualties also in similar acts of violence in Kirkuk, Hawija, Baquba besides several other districts of Baghdad. Meanwhile, the bodies of 12 men were found dumped in a large hole in the Uwaireg area south of Baghdad, police said. All the victims had gunshot wounds and showed signs of torture. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Indian POW families to visit Pakistan this week NEW DELHI, May 28 (Reuters) - Indian families, which believe their members were taken prisoners by Pakistan during a war in 1971, said on Monday they would make a trip across the border from June 1 at the initiative of President Pervez Musharraf to search for the missing men. India says 54 soldiers and officers are missing from that war. Pakistan denies it is holding any of them. Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said the families would check around 10 jails. “We want this to be transparent as there is nothing to hide,” she said. A similar visit in the early 1980s by the aggrieved Indian families was not successful with no Indian POW spotted among a group of prisoners shown to them. (Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Up to 380 civilians killed in Afghan violence this year: UN KABUL, May 28 (AFP) - Up to 380 Afghan civilians have been killed in fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan and international forces this year, the United Nations said Monday. “In the first four months of the year there were in the range of 320 to 380 civilians killed,” said Richard Bennett, human rights chief at the UN mission here. The figures included those killed by international troops and by Taliban attacks, including suicide bombings. Hundreds more were wounded, he told a news conference in Kabul. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
10 dead in Turkey floods ANKARA, May 28 (AFP) – Floods after torrential rains on Sunday in eastern Turkey killed 10 people including six children aged between 18 months and 12, officials and media said Monday. All the other dead were in Agri, in far-east Turkey near the border with Iran. (Posted @ 18:46 PST)
Former Bangladesh home minister arrested DHAKA, May 28 (AFP) - Bangladesh's most recent home minister Lutfozzaman Babar was arrested Monday as part of the emergency government's corruption crackdown, officials said. In addition to Babar the general secretary of the former main opposition Awami League party Abdul Jalil was also arrested, a senior police official confirmed on condition of anonymity. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Scandal-linked Japanese minister kills himself TOKYO, May 28 (AFP) - Japan's farm minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka committed suicide Monday hours before he was expected to face questions in parliament in a scandal over political donations and rigged contracts, officials said. He was found unconscious in a residence for lawmakers and rushed to hospital where he died. Kyodo News said Matsuoka left five to six separate suicide notes including one that said: “I'm sorry for causing trouble.” Matsuoka had become embroiled in a scandal involving political funding and bid-rigging. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Cricket: Big field line up for Pakistan coaching job ISLAMABAD, May 28 (AFP) - Pakistan said Monday it has received 13 applications from as far afield as England and Australia for the job of national cricket coach following the death of Bob Woolmer. The names of the candidates will remain secret, however, until a final decision is made by July 1, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said. (Posted @ 18:38 PST)
21 injured as bus falls into river in Pakistan ASTORE, Pakistan, May 28 (PPI)- Twenty one passengers were injured when a bus fell into River Astore in Northern Areas on Sunday. The bus was on its way to Astore from Rawalpindi. (Posted @ 18:24 PST)
35 killed in Afghanistan violence KUNDUZ, May 28 (PPI ) - In Afghanistan, thirty-five persons were killed and many others injured in air raids and police fire in Helmand, Mazar-e-Sharif and in Kunduz city. US-led forces backed by warplanes killed at least twenty-four Taliban in Helmand province. A ten hour gun-battle broke out after two roadside bombs hit a coalition supply convoy killing a civilian truck driver and wounding three coalition troops. Air support was requested after Taliban followed up the bomb attacks with rocket propelled grenades and small- arms fire. Separately, nine people were killed and thirty two others injured when Police opened fire to break up violent protest at Mazar-e-Sharif. The incident happened as stone-throwing supporters of Abdul Rashid Dostam staged a protest to demand the removal of the governor of Jowzjan province. Meanwhile, in Kunduz city, two civilian were killed when a suicide attacker detonated himself at a US private security contractor’s office on Monday morning. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Thousands of low-caste Indians convert to Buddhism in mass Mumbai ceremony MUMBAI, India, May 22 (AP) - About 2,000 low-caste Hindu Indians bowed before orange-robed monks and recited prayers as they converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony they said would bring them dignity in a society that considers them “untouchables.” Most of the converts were men who traveled from remote corners of Maharashtra state where discrimination against dalits is common. (Posted @ 18:16 PST)
Muslim nations urged to create new 'Golden Age of Islam' KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 28 (AP) - Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan challenged Islamic countries Monday to work together to create a new golden age to liberate Muslims from poverty, conflict and extremism. “We are now at a crossroads in our history as an ummah (Muslim community). Never in the history of the ummah ... have we faced such great odds,” Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told government officials, corporate executives and analysts attending the World Islamic Economic Forum. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Islamic nations can work “as a collective force” for their own development because they currently supply 70 percent of the world's energy requirements and 40 percent of raw material exports globally. He suggested Muslim countries remove trade barriers to boost business and encourage tourism. Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheik Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah said another challenge for Muslim countries is to promote dialogue with the rest of the world, especially to “refute activities by the minority (of Muslims) who do not represent the tolerance of Islam.” Sheik Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince of Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, said such efforts to improve ties with other nations were necessary because “the Muslim world is not an island, it is part of the (larger) world.” Zahid Hamid, Pakistan's Minister of Privatization and Investment, said a widening ideological chasm between the West and the Islamic world has resulted in Muslims “paying the highest price for being caught in the clash between extremism and moderation.” Islamic countries increasingly feel “the overwhelming majority of Muslims ... are being demonized for the actions of a small minority,” he said, adding that frustrations have grown because of persistent conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestinian territories. (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
Cricket-Tendulkar pulls out of Afro-Asia Cup series NEW DELHI, May 28(Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out of next month's Afro-Asia Cup one-day series, it was announced here. .Saurav Ganguly will replace him in the Asia squad for the three one-dayers against an Africa XI on June 6 in Bangalore and in Chennai on June 9 and 10. Pakistan strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar and Sri Lankan pace duo Chamida Vaas and Lasith Malinga have already pulled out of the series created to raise funds for the Asian and African boards. India's Zaheer Khan would replace fellow left-arm paceman Vaas and Sri Lankan Farveez Maharoof would come in for Malinga, (Posted @ 17:08 PST)
Elephant herds found on isolated south Sudan island JUBA, Sudan, May 28 (Reuters) - International wildlife experts have located hundreds of wild elephants on a treeless island in the swamps of south Sudan, where they apparently avoided unchecked hunting during more than 20 years of war. “We flew out of a cloud, and there they were. It was like something out of Jurassic Park,” said Tom Catterson, working on a U.S.-funded environment programme in south Sudan. Environmentalists are keeping the location of the island in the Sudd area secret to prevent poachers from killing the animals. (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
Princess Diana documentary photos spark anger LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - A documentary featuring images of the car crash in which Princess Diana died should not be shown because of the distress it will cause her family, Britain's opposition Conservatives said on Monday. The Channel 4 programme “Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel” will show on the 10th anniversary of the August 1997 crash pictures of the aftermath of the 1997 accident in a Paris underpass in which Diana, 36, and her lover Dodi al Fayed were killed, along with their chauffeur Henri Paul. Hugo Swire, the opposition Conservative Party's culture spokesman, said the programme would be insensitive to Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, and should be cancelled. Media said the documentary would include images of the princess's last moments, including a picture of her receiving oxygen from a French doctor, although with her face blanked out. Channel 4 told the BBC the show would feature images taken by French photographers who were at the scene but would not include pictures that identified Diana or any other victim. “Only one image shows the occupants of the car after the crash and it has been appropriately obscured to avoid any unwarranted intrusion into their privacy or that of their families.” A spokesman for William and Harry would not comment specifically on the documentary but said the princes had made their position “very clear a number of times in the past”. “Diana's memory should be left as it is. This kind of thing is distasteful to her family and friends,” the spokesman said. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Gaza militants fire six rockets into Israel SDEROT, Israel, May 28 (AFP) Palestinian militants in Gaza fired six rockets into Israel Monday, two of them crashing in the southern town of Sderot. The armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks, which did not cause any injuries or damage. (Posted @ 14:25 PST)
Wildfires ravage forests in Canada MONTREAL, May 28 (AFP) Wildfires burning out of control have destroyed vast swaths of forest over recent days in the eastern Canadian province of Quebec, authorities said Sunday. Hundreds of firefighters battled the blazes, which have ravaged more than 62,000 hectares in northern Quebec. A spokesman for a Quebec fire prevention agency said Sunday 26 fires were burning, of which six were “out of control.” No casualties had yet been reported. (Posted @ 09:51 PST)
Israel wounds two Hamas gunmen GAZA, May 28 (Reuters) Israeli soldiers shot and critically wounded two Hamas gunmen Monday in a fresh round of violence triggered by the firing of mortars at Israel from the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials and medics said. The confrontation followed a series of Israeli air strikes overnight against Hamas targets. (Posted @ 09:16 PST)
Grenade blast wounds two Lebanon police, two civilians BEIRUT, May 28 (Reuters) Unknown assailants hurled a hand grenade near a Lebanese police patrol in Beirut’s Barbir district Sunday night, wounding two police officers and two civilians, a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 98.32 points: KARACHI, May 28: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12830.73, up 98.32 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.97 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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