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| July 12, 2007 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Lal Masjid raid was inevitable: Musharraf ISLAMABAD, July 12 – President General Parvez Musharraf Thursday announced that government would further strengthen, improve and enhance training and skills, and better equip the para-military forces, police and other law enforcement agencies in the NWFP to effectively tackle the menace of militancy, extremism and terrorism. This task would be accomplished within the next six months, he said in his Address to the Nation adding that the army will continue to play its due role. President Musharraf reiterated his resolve to enable the madressahs to serve as place of learning, and affirmed resolve that mosques and madressah shall not be allowed to be misused or abused to misguide the youth and children. Recalling the events that led to the launching of Operation Silence, the president said that the government’s objective was to resolve the crisis through dialogue but these efforts failed because the two brother (Abdul Aziz and Abdur Rasheed Ghazi) demanded, among other things, safe passage for themselves and general amnesty for the terrorists including the highly trained foreign militants who were hiding there. He also said that the operation was to start at midnight but was delayed for several hours at the risk of heavier losses by the army. Even so, Government’s strategy paid off in as much as about 2,000 inmates of the Lal Masjid complex escape before the launch of the operation while another about 1,300 were rescued during the operation. President Musharraf said he had been advocating all over the world about the role and usefulness of the madressahs and will continue to do so in spite of the setback caused by the Lal Masjid tragedy. He stressed that the latest events had also placed a very high degree of responsibility on the Ulema and Muslim scholars in general but those of the Wafaqul Madaris in particular. They should see to it that the Madaris concentrated on their real role and get into the mainstream of the government’s education policy. (Posted @ 22:24 PST)
Lal Masjid cleric buried BASTI ABDULLAH, Pakistan, July 12(AFP): Funeral prayers for Abdul Rashid Ghazi, 43, and two other relatives killed in the Lal Masjid operation were offered here on Thursday by over 2,000 people, witnesses said. His elder brother Abdul Aziz and other family members who had been arrested by authorities were allowed to attend the last rites. In Islamabad, at least 27 unidentified bodies were buried by officials, an AFP photographer said.(Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Lal Masjid: 19 bodies could be women, children ISLAMABAD, July 12(AFP): An army spokesman said on Thursday the charred remains of 19 people found after the Lal Masjid operation could include women or children, raising the death toll among the compound's occupants to 75. . “Seventy-five bodies have been recovered,” Major General Waheed Arshad told reporters at the scene. “Out of these 75 bodies, 19 are beyond recognition and they could be anybody, any gender, any age.” Guiding journalists through the battle-scared compound for the first time since the raid ended on Wednesday, the military revealed a massive arsenal of the militants' weapons including suicide vests, grenade launchers and mines. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Lal Masjid: 69 corpses buried ISLAMABAD, July 12 (Reuters) Authroities buried 69 corpses Thursday from among the Lal Masjid militants, a day after commandos killed the last few gunmen hiding in the ruins of the mosque. Well before dawn the first numbered wooden coffins were lowered into unmarked graves at a graveyard in the suburbs. There were no relatives present. “We are burying them here until their relatives come and identify them,” said Rana Akbar Hayat, a senior city administrator supervising the burials. “All the victims have been fingerprinted and photographed and their DNA test has been taken to help parents and relatives identity them, then the bodies will be handed over.” Meanwhile, parents and relatives frantically searched hospitals, hoping to find missing children. Military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad said he had no reports of women or children killed, though a municipal official said the bodies of two children were among 69 corpses buried Thursday.(Posted @ 11:58 PST)
No mass graves inside Lal Masjid ISLAMABAD, July 12 (AFP) Authorities have found no mass graves inside Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, after its late cleric said hundreds of people had been buried there, a minister said Thursday. “No mass graves have been found inside”, Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem told AFP by telephone from inside the mosque as senior officials visited the site after fighting with militants ended Wednesday. Abdul Rashid Ghazi said before the raid that hundreds of people including women were buried at the site.(Posted @ 11:38 PST)
SJC composition cannot be changed: Full Court ISLAMABAD, Jul 12 (APP): A 13-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said Thursday that the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) cannot be changed as it is already defined in the Constitution. The bench stated this during the proceedings on the petition filed by Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry challenging the validity of the reference against him and the composition and powers of the SJC. The court adjourned the hearing till Monday, reiterating that it wants to conclude the case by next Friday (July 20) and it is ready to sit overtime to provide more time to the counsels of the Federation and the Referring Authority and the Attorney General. The government side has been asked to conclude their arguments next Wednesday after which Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel of the petitioner, will use his right of reply on Thursday and Friday. During the proceedings on Thursday the federation's counsel Malik Mohammad Qayyum said they have no objection if the bench changes the composition of SJC. Responding to a question raised by Justice Ramday regarding SJC composition Malik Qayyum said that two senior most chief Justices of the high courts were included in the SJC to dispel an impression that the SJC was a federal body. Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi said, “We can not strike it (composition of SJC) down. We will look into the powers of the SJC.” Malik Qayyum said that the SJC equals powers at par with the Supreme Court. The counsel said a judge can be removed only through judicial process under Article 209 of the Constitution. He asked what other provision is available for accountability of a chief justice if Article 209 of the Constitution is not applicable. Citing various judgments, Malik Qayyum defended the suspension of the Chief Justice and the appointment of Acting Chief Justice. He said appointment of Justice Javed Iqbal as acting chief justice and after him the appointment of Justice Rana Bhagwandas to the same position was valid and in accordance with Article 180 of the Constitution. “Composition of the SJC inclusive of Acting Chief Justice as member and Chairman is legal and valid,” the counsel said. There is no difference between Chief Justice and Acting Chief Justice as compared to the difference between Prime Minister and caretaker Prime Minister, he said, adding that Prime Minister is elected and the caretaker is appointed. Regarding in-camera proceedings of the SJC, Malik Qayyum said, “In my point of view proceedings of the SJC should be in-camera. But it depends on the SJC to decide whether it should be in-camera or open.” Malik Qayyum made a reqeust to the bench for production of material which was used in formation of opinion for filing the Reference, which was accepted by the bench. But Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan raised objection to the request made by Malik Qayyum. (Posted @ 18:52 PST)
SC cancels Haj quota to private tour operators ISLAMABAD, July 12 (PPI) - The Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the existing provisional Hajj quota for private tour operators allotted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the forthcoming Haj. The Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Falak Sher ordered constitution of a special committee to scrutinize the existing applications for private operators' Haj quota under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court Judge. The court also directed that Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs, one Senator and representatives of four provinces be included in the special committee to have a detailed scrutiny of the applications and submit a report to the court. The court ordered that the whole Haj Policy be reviewed. To ensure transparency and to facilitate the pilgrims in a better way, the method of allotment of Haj quota to private tour operators for future particularly be reviewed, the court further ordered. (Posted @ 18:34 PST)
159,588 Pakistanis to perform Haj: Ejaz-ul-Haq ISLAMABAD, July 12 (PPI) - Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Ijaz-ul-Haq Thursday said that 1,59, 588 Pakistanis will perform Haj this year – 79,500 under the government scheme, and 80,088 under the private scheme. He told a Press conference that under the government scheme applications would be invited from July 16 to July 31. He said no Haj application shall be entertained if the applicant has performed Haj during the last five years but applicants who have been unsuccessful in the ballot during last two years consecutively under government scheme would be declared successful without ballot. (Posted @ 20:16 PST)
Suicide blasts kill 7 in NWFP MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, July 12 (Reuters) - Two suicide bomb attacks killed at least seven people, including three policemen, in northwest Pakistan, on Thursday. A suicide bomb attack on the office of the Political Agent of North Waziristan tribal region killed two people, a witness wounded in the blast said. Political Agent Pirzada Khan was unhurt but according to a hospital doctor two of Khan's staff were killed, while a guest and an office worker were wounded. “A man dressed in black blew himself up when he was stopped by an office worker in Khan's office,” Sher Zaman told Reuters from his hospital bed in Miranshah. Another suicide attack targeted a police vehicle in Swat town. The blast killed five, including three policemen, said Shamsul Qamar, an official at the police control room in Swat. The other two victims were accomplices of the suicide bomber, according to Abdul Kalam, a senior police officer. “They stopped a police patrol and one of them blew himself up,” Kalam said. “It could be related to what has happened in Islamabad.” (Posted @ 20:02 PST)
9 feared dead as boat capsizes in river Jhelum in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, a boat capsized in River Jehlum with nine persons feared dead in Baramulla district. The boat was proceeding from Jahama to Ladoora, KMS reported. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
US soldier killed in attack of Baghdad BAGHDAD, July 12 (AP) - A U.S. soldier was killed Thursday in an attack east of Baghdad, the U.S. military said adding that the soldier was assigned to Task Force Marne but gave no further details. (Posted @ 20:12 PST)
Six Swiss soldiers die in avalanche ZURICH, July 12 (Reuters) - An avalanche killed six Swiss soldiers on Thursday as they were climbing the Jungfrau, one of the country's most famous peaks. Fresh snow gave way at 3,800 metres and the six, who were linked by ropes in groups of three, were swept several hundred meters to their deaths. (Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Hamas inflicts first Israeli combat death this year GAZA, July 12 Reuters) - Israel lost its first soldier in combat in nine months on Thursday in a clash with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, where two other soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen were also wounded. An Israeli military statement said the soldier was killed in a raid on militant targets in central Gaza. Hamas's armed wing said its gunmen ambushed the Israeli troops raiding the al-Bureij refugee camp in Gaza, by detonating explosives and firing rocket-propelled grenades and machineguns. The fighting, involving troops backed by tanks and bulldozers, went on for hours after the deadly assault, as the soldiers went from house to house, detaining dozens of Palestinians, Palestinian witnesses said. (Posted @ 19:48 PST)
Nepal government halts payments to king KATHMANDU, July 12 (AFP) - Nepal's government scrapped payments to embattled King Gyanendra and vowed to nationalise royal property in a budget presented to parliament on Thursday. Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat's 2.6-billion-dollar budget contained no provisions for the royal palace. In last year's budget, the royal household allowance had already been cut from 10.6 million dollars a year to around three million dollars. Mahat also announced that royal properties would be seized “in the national interest,” and added that the “nationalisation of the properties of the royal palace will be implemented on a time-bound basis.” (Posted @ 19:44 PST)
11 missing after SKorean ship sinks off Oman SEOUL, July 12 (AFP) - A South Korean cargo ship with 23 crew members sank Thursday off Oman and 11 crew members are still missing, the maritime ministry in Seoul said. It said 12 crewmen had been rescued by nearby ships and rescue helicopters. Japan Navy’s Suzunami and Pakistan Navy’s Tipu Sultan, which were taking part in naval operations in the area, went to the help of the stricken ship. The rescue bid also involved US and Omani personnel. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
occupied Kashmir violence falls to record low: police SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 12 (AFP) - The average daily death toll from insurgency-related violence in occupied Kashmir has fallen to its lowest level since the revolt began nearly 18 years ago, officials said Thursday. Daily killings have dropped to two from ten in 2001 and a peak of 13 in 1996 when the revolt was at its height with daily bomb explosions, gunbattles and ambushes, according to official police records. The fall in daily deaths comes against the backdrop of a slow-moving peace process between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India. The insurgency has left more than 42,000 people dead, according to official figures. Human rights groups put the toll at 70,000, including 10,000 people who have disappeared and are presumed dead. Despite the easing of violence, occupied Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a statement on Thursday he opposed any reduction in Indian troop levels in the state. However, Azad's coalition partner, the People's Democratic Party, has called for a reduction in troops in the region, saying their presence is a major irritant for Kashmiris. (Posted @ 19:32 PST)
Bomb explosion inside clinic in Landi Kotal PESHAWAR, Pakistan, July 12 (PPI) - The Child Health Center at Landi Kotal, near Pakistan-Afghan border, was totally damaged when a powerful bomb planted at the sidewall of the clinic went off at 5:15 am on Thursday morning. No one was injured. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
36 suspected Taliban killed in clashes; 6 policemen die in roadside blasts KABUL, July 12 (AP) - U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops clashed with militants and called in airstrikes on Thursday in southern Afghanistan, killing 36 suspected Taliban rebels in separate battles, as roadside blasts left six police officers dead, officials said. Separately, a NATO soldier was killed and two others wounded during an operation in the south, the alliance said in a statement. In Helmand province, U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops were attacked by militants holed up in a compound in Gereshk district. The joint forces called in an airstrike on the compound, leaving 20 suspected Taliban fighters dead Also in Helmand, Afghan police clashed with insurgents in Sangin district, leaving five militants dead, a coalition statement said. The police hit a mine during the fire fight, leaving one officer dead and another wounded, it said. In neighboring Uruzgan province, coalition troops called in airstrikes after a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol was ambushed by militants. There were an estimated 11 Taliban fighters dead. In the eastern Khost province, a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol vehicle, left five officers dead and another wounded. The victims were part of a joint U.S-Afghan patrol. Also Thursday, a NATO soldier was killed and two others were wounded during an operation in southern Afghanistan. NATO did not disclose soldiers' nationalities or the exact location of the operation. (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
Egypt bus crash kills 14, injures eight CAIRO, July 12 (Reuters) - A public bus collided head-on with a minibus on a highway on Egypt's northern Mediterranean coast on Thursday, killing 14 people and injuring eight, the state news agency MENA reported. (Posted @ 18:08 PST)
CRICKET: Sri Lanka 30-0 vs Bangladesh 131 at close on second day KANDY, July 12 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka were 30 for no wicket in reply to Bangladesh's 131 all out after the rain-shortened second day of the third and final test on Thursday. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Battles rage at Lebanon camp, 4 soldiers die NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon, July 12(Reuters): Militants killed four Lebanese soldiers on Thursday in fierce battles at a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon, security sources said. They said another nine soldiers were wounded in the Nahr al-Bared camp fighting that began in the early morning after Fatah al-Islam snipers shot dead two soldiers, prompting Lebanese troops to unleash barrages of artillery fire.(Posted @ 16:13 PST)
Seven killed in Iraq attacks BAGHDAD, July 12(AFP): At least seven people were killed in Iraq on on Thursday, including four members of a family who were gunned down in the central Shiite shrine city of Karbala, security officials said. A group of armed men ambushed the family as they were driving in their car through Karbala's northwestern Hai al-Thawra neighbourhood, police Captain Qassim Kadhim said. In Baghdad, three people were killed when a barrage of mortars struck the southeastern residential Al-Amin neighbourhood, a security official said. Eight other people were wounded. Meanwhile, a pre-dawn US air strike in the central Shiite city of Diwaniyah killed five militants trying to plant a bomb on a road, the military said.(Posted @ 16:11 PST)
Spain's famed bull run leaves 13 injured PAMPLONA, Spain, July 12(AFP): Thirteen people were injured, three very seriously, on Thursday, the sixth day of Spain's famous San Fermin running of the bulls festival, local hospitals said. A 23-year-old Mexican and a 26-year-old German were among the runners badly hurt when thousands took their chances to be chased by bulls along an 825-metre (yard) course in this northeastern Spanish town.(Posted @ 14:52 PST)
Maoists blow up TV, power sites in southeast India HYDERABAD, India, July 12(AFP): Maoist rebels destroyed TV and power sites near a major port in southeast India on Thursday, less than a week after they killed 24 troops in an ambush in a nearby state, police said. The attacks on a television transmission tower and a power station took place in a town near the busy port city of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh state. “They used gelatine sticks (dynamite) to blast the TV centre, the power station and a state guest house,” police chief A. Sabharwal said.(Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Nearly 50 injured in Athens train crash ATHENS, July 12 (Reuters) Forty-nine people were injured in a head-on collision between a passenger train packed with commuters and a goods train in Athens Thursday morning, police said. “There are 49 people who were injured, including 25 more seriously who will stay in hospital. Most of them have head injuries,” a police officer said. (FirstPosted @ 11:40 PST, Updated@ 12:30 PST)
US Senate warns Iran on Iraq attacks WASHINGTON, July 12 (AFP) The US Senate Wednesday unanimously backed a measure censuring Iran for what it said was complicity in the killings of US soldiers in Iraq. The chamber voted 97-0 in favour of the bill. “Today's unanimous vote sends a strong, clear message from the entire Senate to the Iranians that we know what they are doing in Iraq, and they must stop,” said Senator Joseph Lieberman, who framed the legislation. “This is a warning to the Iranians that whatever differences divide us politically here in Washington, we stand united against these outrageous attacks.” The amendment laid out what it said was evidence about proxy attacks by Iranian forces on US soldiers in Iraq and called for a regular US government report to Congress on Tehran's role in the war-torn nation.(Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Mortar shells target Somalia presidential palace MOGADISHU, July 12 (Reuters) Militants fired mortar bombs at Somalia's presidential palace in Mogadishu Wednesday, witnesses said, ratcheting up tension ahead of a major peace meeting at the weekend. “I counted six explosions,” a security source said by telephone from the compound. “Parts of the wall collapsed in this building. We don't know if there any casualties because no one can go outside.”(Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 164.78 points: KARACHI, July 12: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 14132.18 , up 164.78 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.02 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
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