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| July 17, 2007 | Tuesday | Rajab 01, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Powerful blast near stage set up for CJ Iftikhar’s address: At least 12 killed, scores injured ISLAMABAD, July 17 (Agencies) - At least 12 people were killed and scores injured when a suicide bomber struck the reception camp of the PPP of Benazir Bhutto some 100 meters from the stage set up in Islamabad for a rally by the country's suspended chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday, officials and witnesses said. Police officer Kamal Khan said there was a “very big explosion” as hundreds of people gathered ahead of a speech by CJ Iftikhar who was on way from his official residence to the venue of his address at the district bar association meeting . Private tv channels reported that the motorcade of CJ Iftkhar changed its route after the bomb explosion and was now heading towards the supreme court building. These reports also said that at least 12 bodies had been shifted to hospitals while ambulances were shifting the estimated 50 injured to various hospitals in Islamabad. LATEST: CJ Iftikhar's motorcade reached the venue of the meeting late Tuesday night but he and the leaders of the lawyers community left without the scheduled speeches after expressing grief and sorrow at the loss of the human lives in the suicide bombing. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
SC hears CJ Iftikhar’s petition ISLAMABAD, July 17 (APP) - Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan told a 13- member bench of the Supreme Court hearing petition of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday that the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is the only constitutional body for the accountability of judges of superior courts. The Attorney General, appearing on notice, completed his arguments regarding SJC powers and composition as well as validity of PO 27 related to sending a judge on forced leave. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, counsel of the Referring Authority, will present his arguments on Wednesday. Justice Iftikhar’s counsel Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan will speak in right of reply on Thursday. Replying to a question by the bench, the Attorney General said if the chief justice would not sit in SJC for any reason then mechanism of replacement is available in Article 209 of the constitution by which the next senior most judge would take the place. The Attorney General said the SJC has authority to pass an interim restraining order. Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, who heads the 13-member bench, on this observed that the SJC restraining order on March 9 was not an interim one. The bench raised a number of questions about the holding of the SJC meeting on the evening of March 9 after the filing of the reference against CJ Iftikhar.The Attorney General said he came to know about the meeting from telephone call received from the SC and he was not aware who had convened that meeting. He said he had appeared before SJC only on notice and he was only aware of the restraining order passed by the SJC unanimously. Justice Ramday asked as to how the SJC issued a restraining order without hearing the chief justice and even without issuing a notice to him. The Attorney General said in his view notice should have been issued before passing the order. Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi observed there was no need for SJC to pass the order, particularly when already an order by the president was in the field. The Attorney General contended that if the order was seen to be inappropriate then the SC has powers to modify it by declaring an ex-parte decision. “We know how to deal with the matter,” Justice Ramday observed. Justice Hamid Mirza observed that when SJC has no powers to remove a judge then how it can pass an interim or final order for restraining a judge from functioning. The Attorney General argued that under PO 27 the president has powers to send a judge on forced leave. He also said that it should depend on a judge facing a reference whether he prefers open or in camera proceedings. Justice M. Javed Buttar however observed that it should be left to the presiding offer, rather than the parties. The bench asked Malik Mohammad Qayyum, the counsel of the Federation, to adequately compensate Chaudhry Akhtar Ali, advocate on record, whose license was suspended by the bench earlier. The bench said that the advocate was facing hardship due to license suspension and he deserves compensation. Malik Qayyum requested the bench to forgive the advocate and restore his license. “It depends on us and we are doing something for him,” the bench said. (Posted @ 20:28 PST)
Suicide bomber kills four in N. Waziristan MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, July 17 (AFP) - A suicide bomber Tuesday attacked and killed four people at a joint army and paramilitary checkpost near Mir Ali, one of the biggest towns in North Waziristan, security officials said. A man got down from the vehicle, walked up to the post and blew himself up,” chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP. Three soldiers and a civilian were killed , while two others were injured, Arshad said. Suspected militants also blew up two security checkpoints in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, but caused no casualties, security officials said. Meanwhile, attackers slit the throat of an Afghan national and dumped his body near the main town in Bajaur, another tribal district, along with a note accusing him of spying for US-led forces in Afghanistan. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for any of the attacks. But militants handed out pamphlets from a car overnight in North Waziristan warning security forces and tribal elders of violence after the collapse on Sunday of a 10-month-old peace accord with the government. “We agreed on the peace deal with the government for the protection of the people. Now we are breaking the peace agreement again in favour of the people,” said the leaflet, a copy of which was obtained by AFP. The statement, signed by the Taliban Shura (council), warned tribal paramilitary forces and traders supplying the army not to cooperate with government forces or “otherwise they are also our targets.” It also asked tribal elders and others “not to have jirgas (meetings) with the government; if not, then they will be held responsible.” Pakistani authorities have made intense efforts to shore up the peace accord “We are hopeful the peace deal will stay intact and efforts are under way,” said a senior official at the FATA secretariat. (First Posted @ 13:00 PST Updated @ 18:32 PST)
Libya AIDS families drop death penalty demand TRIPOLI, July 17 (AFP) - The families of Libyan children infected with the AIDS virus have dropped demands for the death penalty in the case of six foreign medics on death row in the case, a spokesman said on Tuesday. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)
Al-Qaeda regaining strength: US intelligence WASHINGTON, July 17 (AFP) - Al-Qaeda is fighting back in the “war on terror,” boosting its ability to attack the United States, and stepping up efforts to send operatives here, a new US intelligence report said Tuesday. “As a result, we judge the United States currently is in a heightened threat environment,” the report said. Outlining “key judgements” by the US intelligence community on the terrorist threat to the United States, the report concluded that Al-Qaeda is gaining strength in its Pakistani sanctuary. “We assess the group has protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including: a safe haven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), operational lieutenants, and its top leadership,” the report said. “Although we have discovered only a handful of individuals in the United States with ties to the Al-Qaeda senior leadership since 9/11, we judge that Al-Qaeda will intensify its efforts to put operatives here.” (Posted @ 20:04 PST)
China- Pakistan joint expedition scales 8068m peak ISLAMABAD, July 17 (PPI) China-Pakistan Joint Expedition successfully climbed 8068 meters high Gasherburm-1 peak on 12. Seven Chinese (Tibetan) and 3 Pakistani climbers hoisted the Pakistan and Chinese flags on reaching the summit. Before this expedition, the Chinese-Tibbetan mountaineers had already climbed 13-peaks above 8,000 meters as a team. Thus, they have now created a new world record of scaling all 14 peaks in the world above 8,000 meters as a Team, under the leadership of Sam Drug, a veteran mountaineer who conquered Mt. Everest in 1975. (Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Isolated rains in Punjab, thunderstorm in Makran during next 24-36 hours KARACHI, July 17 (PPI):- The Met office in a monsoon weather report has forecast isolated rains in Punjab, and thunderstorm in Makran (Balochistan) during the next 24-36 hours. (Posted @ 19:54 PST)
Pakistan, Iran discuss IPI gas pipeline, Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, July 17 (PPI): Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and visiting Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Mehdi Safari Tuesday discussed matters of mutual interest including the gas pipeline project and the situation in Afghanistan. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Army engaged in relief to 1,460 flood affected villages in Sindh RAWALPINDI, July 17 (PPI) Army Troops are busy round the clock in providing relief to affectees of 1,460 villages in Sindh, said an ISPR release Tuesday. Approximately 5,160 people are still stranded on the roads / bunds and Army Aviation helicopters are being used to evacuate them. Meanwhile, in Kamber 2705 ration packets, 258 water bottles cartons, 113 cartons of clothes were distributed and 3023 patients were treated in Qubba Said Khan and Kamber at Army medical camps during last two days. Eight medical camps were established by Army in Nushki in Balochistan where till l date 50,000 affectees have been rescued. Road communication in most parts of Balochistan has been restored. Karachi- Kalat-Quetta-Chaman highway is open for all types of traffic and efforts are in hand to repair Jumani Bridge. A temporary bridge is being launched presently. Construction teams of Frontier Works Organisation are working at Coastal Highway. Troops of Army Engineers are employed at Barija and Shahdadkot and on Sorab-Hosha and Natal-Jhal Magsi sections of the roads. (Posted @ 19:32 PST)
60,000 tents to be sent to Baluchistan flood affectees LAHORE, July 17 (APP): Punjab has donated 50,000 tents for the flood affected areas of Balochistan and the first consignment of 5000 tents has already been dispatched. says a handout. The remaining will be sent within a week, it said. (Posted @ 19:30 PST)
PM, Shujaat review political situation ISLAMABAD, July 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said Pakistan Muslim League and its allied partners will jointly contest the next general elections to ensure continued development in the country. He was talking to PML President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain who called on him at PM House. The two leaders reviewed the overall political situation and discussed the issue of voters lists and other measures related to the upcoming general elections. The prime minister reiterated that elections in the country would be held on schedule. (Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Malaysia is an Islamic state: deputy PM KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (AFP) - Malaysia is an Islamic state and not a secular one, the country's deputy prime minister Najib Razak said Tuesday, while assuring members of minority faiths that their rights will be protected. “Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state,” Najib told reporters after he opened an international conference on the role of Islamic states.“But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights,” he said. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
Cricket: Cricket Australia checks Pakistan security LAHORE, Pakistan, July 17 (AFP) - A six-member Cricket Australia delegation arrived here Tuesday to assess security and facilities ahead of Australia A team tour in September followed by the Under-19 side. The Australian national team is also set to visit in March 2008, their first tour to Pakistan in 10 years. “It's a routine assessment tour. We assess facilities and security wherever Australian teams tour,” CA general manager of operations Michael Brown told reporters after visiting Lahore's Gaddafi stadium. Brown said the assessment tour was only for the A and Under-19 teams. The delegation will also tour Islamabad and Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) , where the Australian A team is due to play. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
9,000 US-Iraqi troops launch assault in Anbar BAGHDAD, July 17 (AFP) - More than 9,000 US and Iraqi troops launched on Sunday a massive assault on insurgents along the Euphrates valley in the restive western province of Anbar, the US military reported on Tuesday. (Posted @ 18:34 PST)
Russia plans 'appropriate measures' against London MOSCOW, July 17 (AFP) - Russia is planning “appropriate” measures in response to Britain's announcement of the expulsion of four Russian diplomats from London, Russia's foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in the statement. The ministry is expected to make a formal announcement on the diplomatic dispute with Britain at 5:30pm (1330 GMT), officials said earlier, as Russian newspapers on Tuesday termed the expulsions an act of “diplomatic war.” British newspapers meanwhile broadly supported diplomatic moves against Russia as “appropriate.” (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
Three soldiers, seven militants killed in Afghan clashes KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 17 (AFP) - A roadside bomb killed three Afghan soldiers and a clash involving NATO forces left seven militants dead in southern Afghanistan, police said on Tuesday. The three Afghan troops were killed when an explosive hit their vehicle, also wounding two soldiers, during a patrol of Gerishk district in Helmand province late Monday, said provincial police chief Mohammad Hussain Andiwal. Seven Taliban insurgents were killed the same day in a joint operation by Afghan police and NATO forces in the Zehri district of neighbouring Kandahar province, said Sayed Agha Saqib, the Kandahar police chief. An unknown number of militants, including a Pakistani national, were also killed and 10 Afghan troops wounded in a clash Monday in Barmal district, southeastern Paktika province, the defence ministry said. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Four die in fierce fighting north of Srinagar SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 17 (AFP) Indian troops shot dead four suspected militants during a fierce gunbattle in the Uri sector, about 100 kilometres north of Srinagar, the army said Tuesday. “The operation in the area is continuing,” army spokesman Colonel A.K. Mathur said, adding the fighting started late Monday and continued until Tuesday morning. (Posted @ 11:35 PST)
APHC to participate in Kashmir conference NEW DELHI, July 17 (APP): Leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and other Kashmir leaders will attend the 2-day Kashmir Conference in Washington organised by the Kashmir American Council on July 26 and 27. Media reports in Srinagar said those who had confirmed their participation included APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and Shabir Shah, President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. The Indian daily Tribune quoting Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive director of the Kashmiri American Council, said the aim of the conference was to explore all possible options to settle the issue of Kashmir to the satisfaction of India, Pakistan and, in particular, the Kashmiris. (Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Syria's Assad offers peace at start of second term DAMASCUS, July 17(AFP): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called on Israel to respond to peace overtures from Damascus after he was sworn in for a second seven-year term on Tuesday. Mr Assad secured 97 percent of the vote in a May referendum. He also vowed to pursue economic reform. (Posted @ 15:40 PST)
At least 10 killed in Baghdad car bomb blast BAGHDAD, July 17(Reuters): At least 10 people were killed on Tuesday by a suicide car bomb targeting an Iraqi Army patrol in east Baghdad, police said. Four of the dead were soldiers and a further 11 people including five soldiers were wounded in the attack in the neighbourhood of Zayouna, police added. (First Posted @ 12:40 Updated @ 15:15 PST)
Iraq's Sadr bloc returns to parliament BAGHDAD, July 17 (Reuters) The political bloc of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Tuesday it had resumed participation in Iraq's parliament, suspended last month in protest over an attack on a revered mosque. “Starting from today, we have ended our suspension to the parliament. We are back,” Nassar al-Rubaei, spokesman for the bloc in parliament, told Reuters. (Posted @ 14:50 PST)
Gunmen kill 29 Iraqi villagers BAGHDAD, July 17 (Reuters) Twenty nine villagers were killed and four wounded by men wearing Iraqi military uniforms who stormed their homes north of Baghdad Monday, an Iraqi security official said Tuesday. Colonel Raghib Rawi, spokesman for security operations in Diyala province, said a large number of gunmen surrounded Duwailiya village, north of the city of Baquba, Monday afternoon and then opened fire. (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Four soldiers, one rebel killed in Sri Lanka clashes COLOMBO, July 17 (AFP) Four Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and six others wounded in fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island, the guerrillas said Tuesday, claiming they lost one fighter in the battle. The LTTE said they found the corpse of one soldier following the clash in Vavuniya district Monday. (Posted @ 11:05 PST)
Two shot dead, 19 wounded in Thai bomb attacks YALA, Thailand, July 17 (AFP) Two people were shot dead and 19 others, including several policemen, were wounded in twin bomb attacks near a busy railway station Tuesday in southern Thailand, police said. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Sunken bus raised in southeastern China; eight bodies recovered SHANGHAI, China, July 17 (AP) Rescue teams raised a sunken bus from a river in southeastern China, recovering eight bodies while more than a dozen people are still feared missing, the Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday. The bus slid off a ferry and into the Xinjiang River Monday morning in Jiangxi province's Yugan county, a region of lakes and rivers about 700 kilometres southeast of Shanghai, Xinhua said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Head of Britain's elite SAS steps down LONDON, July 17 (AFP) The head of Britain's elite Special Air Services regiment resigned from his post, British newspapers reported Tuesday. The man, who cannot be identified for security reasons, was a lieutenant-colonel, and according to the Daily Telegraph, led several assaults during the overthrow of the Taliban militia in Afghanistan in 2001. (Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Two Marines killed in Philippine clash ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, July 17 (AFP) Two Philippine Marines were killed early Tuesday in a firefight with militants on the southern island of Jolo, the military said. They were patrolling near the town of Patikul when they came under heavy fire from Abu Sayyaf militants. (Posted @ 08:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 107.99 points: KARACHI, July 17: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 14053.02, up 107.99 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, July 17: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.97 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST)
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