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| June 12, 2007 | Tuesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 26, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
UAE to double investments in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, June 12 (APP): The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday announced doubling of its investments in Pakistan to US 26 billion dollars, construct an oil refinery and infrastructure costing US 6 billion, besides renewing soft loan of US 265 million for construction of dams. The decisions came at a meeting of the Pak-UAE 9th Joint Ministerial Commission that also concluded agreements on bilateral political consultations, cooperation in terrorism and organized crime, establishment of Joint Business Council, and protocols on cooperation in culture and media. The UAE is the largest investor in telecom, airlines, financial business and real estate and its current investments are to the tune of US 13 billion dollars in Pakistan. (Posted @ 18:00 PST)
SC hears CJ Iftikhar's case ISLAMABAD, June 12: The 13; member full court of the Supreme Court, headed by Mr Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Tuesday resumed hearing on the merits of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry's petition against presidential reference. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan continued arguments that the reference was based on mala-fides, when the hearing was adjourned till Wednesday. (Posted @ 21:34 PST)
Pakistan says fence curbs militant movements ISLAMABAD, June 12 (AFP) - Pakistan on Tuesday defended the first 20 kilometres of barbed wire fencing in the North Waziristan tribal area, saying that it has curbed the movement of Taliban and Al-Qaeda rebels. “It is quite beneficial and wherever we have erected the fence in Waziristan, I think it is paying dividends,” interior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema told reporters. “I am sure it has helped us a great deal in reducing the cross-border movement in those particular areas,” Cheema added, without giving details of how many militants had been stopped or whether any had been arrested. Pakistan has said it will erect another 15-kilometre stretch of the fence in neighbouring South Waziristan. (Posted @ 19:08 PST)
Pakistan presses tribesmen to expel Al-Qaeda MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, June 12 (AFP) - Pakistani authorities on Tuesday issued a fresh appeal to tribesmen in the rugged North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan to expel Taliban and Al-Qaeda rebels and their supporters from the region. Local administrator Pirzada Khan told 500 tribesmen and clerics that he was bringing a message direct from President Parvez Musharraf and the governor of North West Frontier Province. “Pakistan is under tremendous pressure from foreign countries over militant activity,” he told the jirga, or tribal assembly, in Miranshah, the main town in the district. “To find a solution we shall have to expel those who are not with the nation,” he said. Pirzada Khan praised tribesmen for their “commendable role” since the peace pact of September 2006 but said that “some people are siding with the enemy for little money and they want to create misunderstandings between tribes and the government.” One senior tribesman at the meeting said they would do all to keep the peace deal intact, but accused the United States of wanting to “end Pakistan and the tribes.””We will not let it happen,” Maulvi Abdul Rehman said. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)
Woolmer died of natural causes: Jamaican police MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, June 12 (AFP) - Former Pakistani cricket coach Bob Woolmer was not murdered but died of natural causes, according to Jamaican police Tuesday who also ruled out any match-fixing involved in his death. Jamaica Constabulary Force commissioner Lucius Thomas said three foreign pathologists and further toxicology tests had ruled out foul play in Woolmer's death during the World Cup tournament. “The JCF accepts these findings and has now closed its investigation into the death of Mr Bob Woolmer,” he told a news conference. (Posted @ 20:36 PST)
Indian families fail to find relatives from 1971 war in Pakistani jails ISLAMABAD, June 12 (AP) - Indian families said they failed to find any relatives missing since the 1971 war with Pakistan, dashing hopes they might still be alive and languishing in Pakistani jails. The families, who arrived in Pakistan on Jan. 2, were empty handed after touring 10 jails, scanning records and meeting with inmates and officials. On Tuesday, G.S. Gill, the head of the 14-member delegation, thanked Pakistan for allowing them to visit, but he said their search had proved futile. (Posted @ 21:44 PST)
Cricket: India name venues for Pakistan series NEW DELHI, June 12 (Reuters) - Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore will be the test venues during Pakistan's tour of India at the end of this year, the Indian cricket board announced on Tuesday. Venues for the one-day series:- Faridabad - Nov 6, - Mohali - Nov 9, Kanpur - Nov 12, Gwalior- Nov 15, Jaipur - Nov 18. (Posted @ 21:02 PST)
Cricket: Imran calls for legal action over Woolmer death LONDON, June 12 (AFP) - Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan reiterated Tuesday that the Pakistan Cricket Board should take legal action over the handling of coach Bob Woolmer's death. Khan told AFP during a visit to London: “Pakistan Cricket Board should sue everyone with responsibility because this was so damaging for the Pakistani team, for Pakistan cricket and to the country,” They should have ruled out first whether this was natural causes, Imran Khan said. “By what Pakistan cricket has been through -- players being DNA tested, finger-printed, insinuations of match-fixing, insinuations that the players might have killed their coach -- all this was so damaging and this went on for a good two months. “And I think someone should be held responsible for it.” (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Pakistan minister quits after Canadian woman's death ISLAMABAD, June 12 (AFP) – Pakistan’s minister of state for communications Shahid Jamil Qureshi resigned Tuesday in the wake of the mysterious death of a Canadian woman at his home on Saturday. “I have handed my resignation to the prime minister and now I will face the legal proceedings with a free mind,” Qureshi told a news conference. “Only time will show that I have been falsely implicated in this case. I am innocent.” Interior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema said earlier that 10 other people had been arrested over the woman's death and that police had taken a statement from the minister. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Egypt says 'hidden hands' behind Palestinian infighting CAIRO, June 12 (AFP) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit claimed Tuesday that “hidden hands” are behind deadly Palestinian infighting and called on all factions to be “mature” in their responses. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Jordanian counterpart Abdel Ilah al-Khatib, after a meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II, he said: “If there are hidden hands, which is something we recognise, then it is up to the Palestinians to be mature and realise that all the efforts they have made in the last 60 years are at stake,” “If there are those who wish to facilitate the Palestinian fighting for their own interests, then it is up to the Palestinians to stand up and follow the right path,” he added (Posted @ 20:42 PST)
India accuses Pakistan as death toll mounts in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 12 (AFP)- Three Indian army soldiers and five suspected militants were killed in two separate clashes near the Line of Control, and Indian officials blamed Pakistan as death toll mounted in insurgency hit occupied Kashmir. Two more soldiers were hurt in the fighting in the districts of Kupwara and Gulmarg, officials said adding that troops recovered arms and explosives. (Posted @ 20:24 PST)
Cricket: India name tour squads NEW DELHI, June 12 (AFP) - India on Tuesday picked squads for the upcoming Test tour of England and one-day matches in Ireland and Scotland starting later this month: The 16-man team for the three-Test tour of England from July 19: Rahul Dravid (capt), Sachin Tendulkar (vice-capt), Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthick, Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Ranadeb Bose, Anil Kumble, Ramesh Powar. The 15-man team for one-day matches against Ireland, South Africa and Pakistan in Belfast and Glasgow between June 23 and July 3: Rahul Dravid (capt), Mahendra Dhoni (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthick, Rohit Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
MQM files reference with Speaker seeking Imran Khan's disqualification ISLAMABAD, June 12 (APP): Mutahidda Qaumi Movement Tuesday filed a reference with Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain, seeking disqualification of Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. Addressing a press conference MQM Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq said the reference has been filed under Article 62,63 of the Constitution and Public Representation Act 1976 which says no person involved in extra-marital affairs can contest elections in Pakistan. Farooq Sattar said that a copy of the US court verdict in Site White case has been attached with the reference. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Former PM, Imran Khan team up against Pakistan 'dictatorship' LONDON, June 12 (AFP) - Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and cricketer-turned-opposition politician Imran Khan announced Tuesday they are teaming up to seek to end the “dictatorship” of President Pervez Musharraf. Speaking at a joint press conference in London, they said they plan to hold a conference in London on July 7-8 to which former premier Benazir Bhutto will also be invited. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Hamas attacks Fatah security HQs in Gaza GAZA CITY, June 12 (AFP) - Gunmen from Hamas staged attacks on two Fatah security headquarters in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, sparking heavy clashes, security officials said. Hamas fighters attacked the national security headquarters in Gaza City and a second in Jabaliya, to the north. Intense clashes were reported at both locations, where hundreds of officers in the Fatah-loyalist and prinicipal Palestinian security force are based. Violent clashes between Fatah and Hamas have killed 18 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since Monday in fighting threatening to topple the unity government. (Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Cricket-Borde named manager for India's tour of Ireland, England NEW DELHI, June 12 (Reuters) - The Indian board named former chief selector Chandu Borde as cricket manager for the tours of Ireland and England on Tuesday. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Abbas urges immediate Gaza ceasefire RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 12 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Tuesday for members of his Fatah faction and rival Hamas to cease fire in the Gaza Strip after a major surge of street fighting. “In my capacity as head of the Palestinian Authority and supreme leader of all our security and military forces, I call for an immediate ceasefire and for ... talks to end all violence and in-fighting,” the official WAFA news agency quoted Abbas as saying. There was no immediate sign of the clashes easing. (Posted @ 18:52 PST)
Tennis: Pakistani qualifier Aisam stuns French number one HALLE, Germany, June 12 (AFP) - Seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet became the biggest first-round casualty at the ATP tournament in Halle on Tuesday when he was shocked by Pakistani qualifier Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. The 27-year-old from Lahore shocked sixth-seed Gasquet in straight sets, knocking out the 20-year-old who is ranked 11th in the world, 293 places higher than Qureshi. Aisam won the first set on a tie-breaker, and took the second 6-4 as the Frenchman struggled to modify his game on grass. “It's not about winning my first-round match, it's about beating a player ranked just outside the top 10,” said Qureshi. “The hard work for the last 12 years is paying off, I learned a lot last year from some of the mistakes I made and I just kept telling myself I could do it. “ Gasquet, looked stunned by the defeat, but said his Pakistani opponent deserved the win. “I don't really know what went wrong,” said the French number one. “He seemed much happier on grass having played the qualifiers at the weekend, he really played well and served well.” (Posted @ 18:48 PST)
Blair worried Afghanistan going same way as Iraq LONDON, June 12 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair voiced concern Tuesday that Afghanistan could descend into the same spiral of violence as Iraq. “In any situation, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, where you are trying to bring about a different form of government, these people will try to stop us,”he told reporters. And, referring to Iraq, he added: “The worry is that we should be careful that Afghanistan is not subject to the same attempts to undermine and collapse the proper support for democracy.” (Posted @ 18:42 PST)
SC accepts journalist's unconditional apology with warning ISLAMABAD, June 12 (APP):A 13-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday on Tuesday accepted unconditional apology tendered by a journalist over his report that the government was preparing a reference against four judges of the apex court. The bench however warned Mohammad Saleh Zaafir, a staffer of Jang Group, not to publish such a report in future without due verification. The bench ordered that due publicity be given to the apology in daily “Jang” and “The News” on the front page. Other newspapers which had not carried the said news item will be free to or not to publish the apology tendered by Muhammad Saleh Zaafir, the order said. (Posted @ 17:56 PST)
Shootings and bombing kill six in Iraq BAGHDAD, June 12 (AFP) - Insurgents killed six people in Iraq on Tuesday, four in shootings and two in a roadside bomb attack in central Baghdad, security officials said. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Shabbir Shah for involvement of Kashmiri leadership in talks Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, June 12 (APP)The President of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabbir Ahmad Shah has said that Kashmir issue cannot be resolved until India acknowledges Kashmiris' genuine leadership as third party in the ongoing Pak- India talks. Addressing a high level DFP meeting he said Kashmir dispute was not an issue of administrative reforms, financial benefits or transfer of power but it was the problem of Kashmiris' political freedom. He said Pakistan, by accepting Kashmiris as a party, had taken a major step for the resolution of the Kashmir issue but the government of India was showing reluctance to take a positive step. He expressed satisfaction that the new generation of Kashmiris were well aware of the difference between freedom and slavery and it could not be swayed by any political jugglery. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Landslide kills eight members of Afghan family MAZAR-I-SHARIF, June 12(Reuters) - A landslide triggered by melting snow in northeastern province of Takhar on Monday killed eight members of a family, a provincial official said on Tuesday. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Gunmen fire at Afghan girl students, kill two KABUL, June 12 (Reuters) - Gunmen riding on a motorbike fired at girls outside a school in Logar province, south of Kabul, at the end of the school day, on Tuesday, killing two and wounding six, authorities said. The attackers fled, they said. (Posted @ 16:16 PST)
US to maintain close links with Musharraf despite criticism WASHINGTON, June 12 (AFP) - Washington said Monday it would continue its close links with Pervez Musharraf's administration despite a call by New York Times to distance itself from the embattled general. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said it had faith in “war on terror” ally Musharraf's efforts to implement political reforms, and hoped he would keep his pledge to hold free and fair elections this year and shed his military uniform. “We continue to work with the Musharraf government and others within the Pakistani political system to continue their process of political reforms,” he told reporters. He said Musharraf had made “some progress” in terms of political and economic reforms as well as media freedom. “What the Pakistani political system is learning -- as you open up, more of that brings with it heightened expectations for what might be done,” McCormack said, as the New York Times called Monday for Washington to begin to sever its ties to Musharraf. (Posted @ 16:15 PST)
ICRC warns of growing civilian toll in Afghanistan GENEVA, June 12 (AFP) -The international Red Cross warned Tuesday that Afghan civilians were paying the price as increasingly bitter fighting between international forces and Taliban insurgents spreads across Afghanistan. “The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worse now than it was a year ago,” said Pierre Kraehenbuehl, ICRC’s director of operations. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Mudslides, floods kill nearly 130 in Bangladesh DHAKA, June 12 (Reuters) Rescuers dug out 20 more bodies and continued searching for more Tuesday as heavy rain caused havoc in the Bangladesh port city of Chittagong, officials and witnesses said, and the country's total flood-related deaths neared 130. (Posted @ 14:58 PST)
Two dozen Afghan militants killed KABUL, June 12 (AFP) US-led troops and Afghan highway police backed by foreign war planes killed more than two dozen “enemy fighters” in battles in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province Monday, the US military said Tuesday. (Posted @ 14:56 PST)
Iran to make U.S. “regret” detention of Iranians TEHRAN, June 12 (Reuters) Iran will make the United States “regret” its detention earlier this year of five Iranians in Iraq, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted as saying Tuesday. Iran says the five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in Iraq in January are diplomats and have demanded their release. U.S. officials say they were involved in supporting militants inside Iraq. “We will make the Americans regret their ugly and illegal action against the Islamic Republic of Iran's consulate in Arbil, Iraq, and the abduction of the five Iranian diplomats,” Mottaki was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster’s Web site. (Posted @ 14:18 PST)
US troops seize bomb factory in Baghdad BAGHDAD, June 12 (AFP) The US military Tuesday said its troops seized a bomb-making factory in eastern Baghdad capable of manufacturing more than 300 roadside bombs. The factory, a cluster of small buildings, was discovered in the thick palm groves of Baghdad's eastern Rashid neighbourhood Monday, the military said. The find consisted of one vehicle wired and packed with explosives, dozens of mortars, one 500 pound bomb, hundreds of grenades and projectiles, and hundreds of cans of nitric acid used to make crude bombs. (Posted @ 14:16 PST)
U.S. praises President Musharraf's rescinding of press restrictions WASHINGTON, June 12 (AP) The United States welcomed as a positive step Monday President Pervez Musharraf's rescinding of restrictions on media coverage of anti-government demonstrations. ''A free press is essential to any functioning democracy,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. ''It may, at times, cause heartburn for various governments. I've experienced that, in some cases, myself. But ... the fact of the matter is, it is an essential part of a strong, healthy functioning democracy; so this is a positive step that President Musharraf and his government have taken.'' (Posted @ 10:47 PST)
Afghans say seven police killed in U.S.-led strike KABUL, June 12 (Reuters) U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan mistakenly killed seven policemen in an air strike after Afghan forces came under attack from the Taliban and asked for help, a provincial official said Tuesday. Thirteen policemen had gone missing in the violence which began late Monday in the Khogiani district of the eastern province of Nangarhar, the district police chief said. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Republicans block Gonzales no confidence vote WASHINGTON, June 12 (AFP) Senate Republicans Monday blocked a Democratic “no confidence” resolution in besieged US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Seven Republicans however broke ranks and voted against Gonzales, in the non-binding resolution sparked by a political maelstrom over the firing of eight federal prosecutors. Fifty-three senators voted to move to a final vote on the resolution, seven short of the total needed under Senate rules to keep the measure alive. The motion comprises of a simple, symbolic and non-binding text stating that Gonzales “no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people.” (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
NATO soldier dies in Afghanistan blast, two wounded KABUL, June 12 (AFP) A NATO soldier was killed and two others were wounded in an explosion in southern Afghanistan Monday, NATO's ISAF said Tuesday. “An ISAF soldier died and two were wounded in Regional Command South following an explosion yesterday,” an ISAF press statement said. (Posted @ 09:52 PST)
Thousands protest in Geneva, demanding distinct Tamil state GENEVA, June 12 (AP) Nearly 9,000 protesters gathered from all over Europe Monday to demand recognition of an independent Tamil state. The protesters assembled in the main square in front of the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, where they marched, waved flags and bandied placards ''demanding that the international community recognize an independent Tamil state in the island of Sri Lanka.” Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for the country's 3.1 million minority Tamils in the north and east. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
US Atlantis astronauts step out on space walk WASHINGTON, June 12 (AFP) Two astronauts from the US shuttle Atlantis, mission specialists John “Danny” Olivas and Jim Reilly, ventured out for the first space walk of their mission Monday to begin installing power-generating equipment on the International Space Station hundreds of miles above the Earth. The two emerged from an airlock on the station at 2002 GMT in the first of three planned space walks, according to the US space agency NASA's television broadcast. (Posted @ 09:12 PST)
Five soldiers killed in clashes with tribes SAN'A, Yemen, June 12 (AP) At least five government troops were killed Monday and five others injured in a fight with tribesmen demanding jobs in oil fields in Yemen’s Ma'rab province, about 176 kilometres to the east of San'a, police said. The violence erupted Sunday when tribesmen of the Damashqa clan cut the main highway linking the oil fields to the province. (Posted @ 09:06 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 57.89 points: KARACHI, June 12: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 13326.17, up 57.89 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, June 12: 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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