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| May 30, 2007 | Wednesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Former judge claims Pakistani president wasn't constitutionally elected ISLAMABAD, May 30 (AP) - A former judge claimed Wednesday that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf had no authority to suspend Pakistan's chief justice, arguing that the 2002 referendum that kept the military ruler in power was unconstitutional. Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, a senior lawyer and former judge, told a 13-judge Supreme Court panel that Pakistan is at a “defining moment” in its history as it faces political turmoil over the March 9 suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on allegations he abused his office. “People are worried,” Ibrahim, speaking on behalf of the bar association of Baluchistan province, told the full court hearing a petition challenging the ouster. “We have made many mistakes. But the time has come to rectify them. The ship of the state is sinking,” he said. The 2002 referendum gave Musharraf, who seized control in a 1999 coup, five more years in power. Ibrahim said the Constitution has no provision for such a referendum, leaving Musharraf's continued rule with no legitimacy. “People were being made fools of,” Ibrahim said of the referendum, adding that the vote's lack of legal authority leaves Musharraf “not competent.” Ibrahim called for an end to military rule, saying Musharraf had received a stamp of approval from a subservient Parliament. “If you don't say farewell to arms, farewell to the Constitution,” Ibrahim said. (Posted @ 15:48 PST)
4 held for murder of Pakistan chief justice's assistant ISLAMABAD, May 30 (AFP) -Police have arrested four alleged burglars for the murder of Syed Hamad Raza, a deputy registrar at the Supreme Court and personal assistant to suspended chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on May 14 in Islamabad. “Four men were apprehended in Azad Kashmir a few days ago. They have confessed to the murder,” one police source told AFP on condition of anonymity. (Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Musharraf urges media not to politicize judicial matter JHELUM May 30 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday strongly urged the media not to politicize a purely judicial and legal matter and abide by the code of conduct, rules and regulations approved by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and play positive role in projecting the national issues. Addressing the officers at Jhelum Garrison today, he said spreading despondency and negativism would adversely impact the nation on the whole. He said the media in Pakistan has been granted unprecedented freedom and assured that the government has no intention of imposing any curbs on the free flow of information. But he underlined the need for responsible journalism and avoiding exaggeration in reporting the judicial issue of reference against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.(Posted @ 20:55 PST)
Musharraf promises fair, free elections Jhelum, May 30 (APP) – President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday assured that the general elections to be held this year would be fair, free and transparent and whichever party secures majority would form the next government. Addressing officers at the Jhelum Garrison he said the country is moving ahead on the path of socio-economic development with 7.2 per cent economic growth rate, one of the highest in the region. He said the focus is to transfer the gains of economic achievements to the people by reducing poverty and creating more jobs. He said quality of life is being improved through better healthcare, education, safe drinking water and provision of gas and electricity across the country. The President said that extremism is the only threat which country faces today. He said Al-Qaeda has been wiped out from the cities and they are operating in tiny pockets on the border with Afghanistan.(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Imam-i- Kaaba urges Ummah to forge unity LAHORE, May 30 (APP)- Imam-i- Kaaba Sheikh Abdur Rehman Al-Sudais Wednesday said that it was high time for Muslim Ummah to forge unity in its ranks to cope with all the contemporary challenges. He was addressing the students and academia at the Punjab University mosque where he led 'Asr prayers'. Amir, Jamaat-i- Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed and student leaders also spoke on the occasion. Imam-i-Kaaba led Fajr prayers at Jamia Ashrafia and Mughreb prayers at the historic Badsghahi Masjid.(Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Bush names Zoellick to head World Bank WASHINGTON, May 30 (APP/AFP) - US President George W. Bush named former diplomat and trade chief Robert Zoellick on Wednesday to head the World Bank after a favoritism scandal that forced Paul Wolfowitz to resign.(Posted @ 20:30 PST)
Top Turkish court says to file complaint vs PM ANKARA, May 30 (Reuters) - The head of Turkey's top court accused Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday of using threats against the court that undermine the supremacy of the law and said she would file a complaint against him. “The prime minister's remarks ignore the supremacy of law, contain threats, insults and hostility and expose our court as a target (for attack),” Tulay Tugcu, head of the Constitutional Court, told a rare news conference. On Tuesday, Erdogan described as a “disgrace” a recent ruling by the court that forced the cancellation of Turkey's presidential election in parliament.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Three more journalists killed in Iraq in record toll BAGHDAD, May 30 (Reuters) - The deaths of three more Iraqi journalists were reported on Wednesday, bringing the monthly total to nine and equalling the worst month on record for reporters in the Iraq war. Abdul Rahman al-Isawi, a reporter for the independent National Iraqi News Agency (NINA), was taken by gunmen from his home with his father and brother in the village of Amiriyat al-Falluja, 50 km west of Baghdad, on Monday night, and were later shot dead. Nazar Abdul Wahid, a reporter for the Aswat al-Iraq news agency and New Sabah newspaper, was gunned down in Amara, 365 km south of Baghdad, on Wednesday. He was standing outside a hotel with four other journalists when three gunmen in a car opened fire and killed him. Gunmen also killed Mahmoud Hakim Mustafa, editor-in-chief of Hawadith weekly newspaper, near his home in Kirkuk on Monday.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Strong earthquakes likely to hit Kashmir: Australian geologist SRINAGAR, May 30 (APP/AP) _ An Australian geologist said Wednesday that high magnitude earthquakes are likely to hit the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, but the frequency may not be as high as in the past. Clifford David Ollier, professor emeritus at the University of Western Australia, was speaking on “How prone is Kashmir to earthquake hazard” at an institute in Srinagar, after visiting the earthquake-hit areas in occupied Kashmir. In 2005, the region struck by a magnitude 7.6 quake, killing more than 80,000 people and devastating hundreds of villages and towns, mostly in Azad Kashmir.(Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Islamic bank launches $10 billion poverty fund DAKAR, March 30 (Reuters) - The Islamic Development Bank launched a $10 billion fund on Wednesday to combat poverty in developing Muslim nations in Africa and other parts of the world. “This launching ceremony of the IDB's Poverty Alleviation Fund symbolises a revitalisation of the Islamic community in a world where unmatched wealth is next to absolute poverty,” the host of the bank's annual meeting, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, told delegates. Saudi Arabia has already pledged to contribute $1 billion, Kuwait $300 million, Iran $100 million and Senegal $10 million, bank officials said. The aim of the fund is to help meet the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs and includes cutting extreme poverty by half, ensuring universal primary education, and stemming the AIDS pandemic, all by 2015, among others.(Posted @ 18:40 PST)
16 killed as Red Cross returns to Sri Lanka front lines COLOMBO, May 30 (AFP) -The ICRC resumed work on Sri Lanka's battle-scarred front lines on Wednesday as 16 people died in fresh violence, officials said. Sri Lankan air force jets Wednesday bombed a LTTE base at Puthukkudiriruppu, the defence ministry said without providing further details. Separately, four soldiers and two rebels were killed Wednesday morning and another wounded in clashes in Madhu in the northwest of the country. In the northern frontier town of Vavuniya, another soldier was killed when an army sentry point was shelled by suspected Tamil Tigers late Tuesday. Nine rebels were killed in clashes along the northeastern front line of Weli Oya but there were no casualties on the military side, the ministry said. The clashes come as the ICRC announced it would initially man two entry and exit points on the front lines three days a week in the northern districts of Vavuniya and Mannar.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Qatar Airways signs contract for 80 A350 jets worth $16 billion PARIS, May 30 (AP) - Qatar Airways signed a contract Wednesday to buy 80 Airbus A350 jets worth US$16 billion (euro11.8 billion).(Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Thai court acquits Democrat Party of all charges BANGKOK, May 30 (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Tribunal acquitted the Democrat Party on Wednesday of all charges of breaking election laws that could have seen it disbanded and their leaders banned from politics. Its ruling on the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was due later in the day.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Jaipur-Agra tourist route blocked in tribal protest in India JAIPUR, India, May 30 (Reuters) - Protesters from an Indian tribe torched two police posts and blocked the Jaipur-Agra highway, two of India's biggest tourist destinations, on Wednesday, demanding affirmative action to gain government jobs and college places. Rail traffic between the two cities was also diverted. The Rajasthan state government deployed 600 police along the highway. The army was also called in. “The situation is volatile and we are keeping a close watch on it,” said G.C. Kataria, Rajasthan's home minister. The protests came after Tuesday's deadly clashes between police and ethnic Gujjars demanding special status as a tribe. Thirteen Gujjars were shot dead by police and one policeman was beaten to death by crowds.(Posted @ 17:25 PST)
PM Aziz receives phone calls by people, gives on-spot directions ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Wednesday personally attended to public complaints by receiving phone calls from people and hoped it will help in prompt redress of their problems. Public Grievances and Proposals Wing (PG&PW) at the PM Secretariat received some 7,000 calls since morning. He attended to a few randomly selected calls by persons seeking solution to financial, property and other disputes. Mushtaq Ahmad from Mansehra sought financial assistance for marriage of his two daughters. The prime minister obliged him. A lady from Islamabad requested shelter as her husband was a low-paid government employee. The prime minister said government was working on a plan to provide low-cost housing to the people. Earlier, the prime minister was informed that the cell had received 26,000 applications in six months of which 20,000 were scrutinised and forwarded to concerned departments, while 6,000 were given financial assistance.(Posted @ 16:20 PST)
20 injured in road accident in Sukkur SUKKUR, Pakistan, May 30 (APP):-Twenty persons were injured, four of them seriously, when a Sawat-bound passenger coach turned turtle and fell into a ditch near Central Jail-I on Wednesday.(Posted @ 16:15 PST)
G-8 foreign ministers meet with counterparts from Pakistan, Afghanistan POTSDAM, Germany, May 30 (AP) - The foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan are to meet with their Group of Eight counterparts later Wednesday amid concern the acrimony between the two Asian neighbours is helping the Taliban inflict mounting losses on NATO troops and Afghan civilians. Other officials on hand include U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In a statement before the meeting, the German G-8 presidency said Pakistan and Afghanistan had been invited to the talks because “the G-8 wants to support cooperation between these two countries, particularly with regard to improving border security, resolving the refugee problem and developing the border region.”(Posted @ 16:15 PST)
Mortar attacks in Fallujah kill nine civilians BAGHDAD, May 30 (AP) - Several mortar rounds apparently targeting an American military base in the restive city of Fallujah missed their mark Wednesday and landed in a residential neighborhood, killing nine civilians and wounding 15 others, police and medical officials said. In other violence, a police commander's convoy was struck by a roadside bomb in the town of Hamzah, south of Baghdad, killing two guards and injuring two others, a police officer said. Another roadside bomb in Sadr City in Baghdad apparently targeted a passing police patrol, but missed and killed one civilian and wounded four others, police said.(Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Six police, guards killed in new Afghan attacks KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, May 30 (AFP) New attacks in Afghanistan left six policemen and guards dead Wednesday. In one of the attacks, four highway policemen were killed in the south when a bomb exploded underneath their vehicle, the Uruzgan province police chief said. Another policeman was wounded, Mohammad Qassem told AFP. In the adjoining province of Helmand, a bomb struck Afghan guards with a private US security firm, killing two of them, according to a commander in the group. Another was wounded, he said. (Posted @ 14:11 PST)
Indian troops kill three suspected militants in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, May 30 (AFP) Indian troops shot dead three suspected militants late Tuesday in occupied Kashmir’s southern Poonch district, police said Wednesday. (Posted @ 12:43 PST)
Iran rules out key demand before atomic meeting TEHRAN, May 30 (Reuters) Iran will not suspend uranium enrichment, chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Wednesday, ruling out the key U.N. demand in a nuclear row with Tehran a day before talks with EU's Javier Solana in Madrid. “Suspension is not a solution to Iran's nuclear issue…Iran cannot accept suspension,” Larijani said. (Posted @ 12:02 PST)
Cooperation among developing nations crucial, Pakistan says UNITED NATIONS, May 30 (APP) Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, called for building new partnerships among countries of the South, backed by the development partners of the North, to create a more equitable development in the developing countries. Also, Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram made it clear that South-South cooperation was not a substitute for the North-South cooperation. “The developed countries must fulfil their commitments to developing countries,” he told a high-level committee on South-South cooperation that met in New York Tuesday. “This is dictated by the principle of equity and solidarity and it is in their own long-term interest.” While the share of the developing countries in the global trade and investment was rising, the ambassador said South-South trade represented 40% of the trade of developing countries and had grown at the rate of 11 percent a year over the past decade. The Ambassador called upon the United Nations to enhance its capacity to effectively support the South-South Agenda and termed the General Assembly's decision to convene a Development Co-operation Forum as timely. (Posted @ 11:34 PST)
Six killed in eastern Afghanistan JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 30 (AFP) The US-led coalition said Afghan and foreign soldiers killed six Taliban fighters in a raid on a compound Wednesday in Jalalabad city in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar but locals said the dead were all civilians. (Posted @ 11:06 PST)
China house collapse kills 16 during banquet BEIJING, May 30 (Reuters) A new house in the northern Chinese village of Wulanji collapsed and killed at least 16 people and injured 30 during a banquet being held Tuesday to celebrate its completion, the Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday. (Posted @ 10:33 PST)
Two Palestinians killed in fresh Israeli air raid GAZA CITY, May 30 (AFP) Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike which targeted the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip early Wednesday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Posted @ 10:17 PST)
Six injured on Disney ride in Florida MIAMI, May 30 (AFP) Five visitors and an employee were injured Tuesday after a water ride at Walt Disney World malfunctioned, according to a spokeswoman for the Orlando, Florida theme park. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 10.38 points: KARACHI, May 30: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12806.93, down 10.38 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 30: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.98 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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