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| July 28, 2007 | Saturday | Rajab 12, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Senate Committee takes serious notice of US threats to strike inside Pakistani territory ISLAMABAD, July 28 (APP) The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Saturday took strong notice of US threats to launch strikes inside Pakistan and said such statements emanating out of Washington were “irresponsible.” The Committee said in case any such attack Pakistan should withdraw its support to US in the war against terror. The Committee, which met here at the Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, strongly condemned any talk of incursions into Pakistan territory by outside forces. The Committee, through a unanimously adopted resolution, further said that Pakistan should not be blamed for the failings and weaknesses of NATO and the US forces in Afghanistan. The Committee, which has representation from all the political parties, was of the view that as an ally of the international community in the campaign against terrorism, Pakistan had gone the extra mile, sacrificing nearly 900 of its soldiers and officers in FATA as well as deploying 85,000 troops in that area. The Committee warned that any unilateral military action initiated by the US would be unacceptable and it would provoke a popular backlash among the people of Pakistan which would be detrimental not just to the interests of Pakistan but also to the national security interests of the United States. The Senate Committee also criticized double standards of US and its South Asia policy. It said that on the one hand the American Senate had passed a law that was a painful reminder of Pressler Amendment of 1985 where it sought to pressurize Pakistan by making US aid tied to certain conditions and on the other hand US had signed a nuclear deal with India. The resolution said the India-US nuclear accord was in violation of laws passed by Congress and it would promote proliferation as it allowed nuclear testing and uranium enrichment. (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
President Musharraf's meeting with Benazir remains fruitful: Sheikh Rashid ISLAMABAD, July 28 (APP) Confirming meeting of President Pervez Musharraf and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto held in Abu Dhabi Friday, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed termed it fruitful. “It was not the first meeting but the second in the series as the first was held on January 24 this year,” he said while talking to media-persons. He said things are moving ahead in the right direction with PPP and one should be hopeful of better future for both the parties (Government and PPP). He said President Musharraf would be re-elected by the existing electoral college for the next term and that August and September would be crucial for national politics. However, he warned that if the present situation continues to prevail then the government will have to take “harsh decisions”. When asked about his comments that if the government was also in contact with the PML-N leadership, he said “I am seeing good relations of the government with PPP but not with PML-N,” he said. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Supreme Court symbol of hope for people: Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry ISLAMABAD, July 28 (APP) Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said Saturday that the Supreme Court should be a symbol of hope for the vast majority of people of the country for providing quick and inexpensive justice to them at their doorsteps. He was addressing the inaugural session of the Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF) workshop organized by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan. “Being Chief Justice of Pakistan and chairman Law and Justice Commission and National Judicial Policy Making Committee, I feel duty bound to focus my attention on the judicial institutions and their capacity to respond to the legitimate expectations of our citizens,” he said. Underlining the importance of the constitution, the Chief Justice said “strong and well-functioning political, bureaucratic, judicial and civil society institutions and networks are a hallmark of a living society.” Speaking about the efforts of the lawyer community for the independence of the judiciary, he said, “Last four months in our national history have changed something forever. I feel proud to say that not only judiciary and 90 thousand plus black coated fraternity, but the entire civil society is ready to sacrifice everything for upholding the Constitution and achieving rule of law.” (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
President Musharraf, King Abdullah discuss cooperation against extremism, terrorism JEDDAH, July 28 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf and King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia met here Saturday for talks covering a wide range of issues, including measures to enhance cooperation against extremism and terrorism. The talks at the Royal Palace in the Red Sea port city were aimed at evaluating the challenges confronting the Ummah, officials said. The President was received by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz on arrival at the Royal Palace and the talks were continuing over lunch. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Governor of Makkah Khalid Al-Faisal were also present during the talks. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
President Musharraf to form interim government to hold elections: Durrani ISLAMABAD, Jul 28 (APP) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani Saturday said President Pervez Musharraf would form an 'interim government' according to the constitution to hold fair, free and impartial elections. Talking to reporters here at the Parliament House, the Information Minister said the time period of the interim government would also be decided by the President as per the rules. Replying to a question, the Minister said the formation of a government of national consensus was the jurisdiction of the parliament, adding that if any party wanted to take any step in this regard it should present the suggestion inside the parliament. Without confirming or denying the meeting between President General Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi, the Information Minister said there have been political contacts between the political parities at various levels. (Posted @ 21:26 PST)
Sri Lanka navy says six Tigers killed in sea skirmish COLOMBO, July 28 (AFP) The Sri Lankan naval said Saturday it had destroyed at least two suspected Tamil Tiger boats off the island's northwestern coast, killing at least six rebels. Naval patrol craft intercepted the boats, believed to belong to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), off the coast of Mannar, navy officials said. (Posted @ 20:48 PST)
At least 14 injured in Guinea political clashes CONAKRY, July 28 (Reuters) At least 14 people were injured in Guinea when supporters of regional prefect Mouctar Brada Drame clashed with demonstrators demanding he obey a government order to step down, police sources said on Saturday. The groups armed with batons, knives and stones fought Friday in the eastern town of Dubreka, some 50 km from the capital Conakry and a stronghold of support for veteran President Lansana Conte. (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
OIC urges end to Pakistan's 'cycle of blind violence' JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 28 (AFP) The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Saturday urged a halt to the “cycle of blind violence” in Pakistan which it said contradicts the principles of Islam. The plea from the Islamic nations bloc came a day after a suicide bombing in Islamabad killed 14 people. OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in a statement, condemned the attack and called on all sides involved to “stop the cycle of blind violence that contradicts the principles of Islam and its teachings of forgiveness.” (Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Two Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza GAZA, July 28 (Reuters) Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya Saturday as they approached the border fence, Palestinian militants said. (Posted @ 17:56 PST)
Eight demonstrators killed in Indian land protest HYDERABAD, India, July 28 (Reuters) Police shot dead at least eight protestors in southern India Saturday after a political demonstration demanding free land for the poor turned violent. Police opened fire after hundreds of protestors burned furniture in a government office in a small town in Andhra Pradesh state, where communist parties are campaigning for distribution of government land to the rural and urban poor. Ten people were injured in the shooting. (Posted @ 17:46 PST)
Afghan clashes kill three NATO soldiers KABUL, July 28 (Reuters) Three NATO troops and an Afghan soldier died in two separate clashes with insurgents in Afghanistan, the alliance said. Two of the NATO soldiers and the Afghan were killed Friday in an area of eastern Nuristan province in a clash with Taliban rebels. Thirteen NATO soldiers were wounded in that incident. The alliance said 24 insurgents were also killed in the Nuristan clashes. Fighting was still going on, the provincial governor said. The third NATO soldier was killed in another encounter in the southern Afghanistan Friday. Separately, four Afghan police were killed in an ambush Saturday on a road in Logar province, provincial police said. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Heavy rains kill 13 people in India's northeast GAUHATI, India, July 28 (AP) Floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 13 people in the last two days in India's remote northeast, officials said Saturday. Nine people were buried alive and an unspecified number injured in Meghalaya state when a landslide swamped their mud and thatch huts. In neighbouring Assam state, four people were carried away by surging flood waters, officials said. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
UN nuclear watchdog team arrives in North Korea BEIJING, July 28 (AFP) A second team of UN inspectors arrived in North Korea Saturday to continue monitoring the state's steps to shutdown its nuclear weapons programme, the Xinhua news agency said. The team of six inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Pyongyang after a stopover in Beijing, Xinhua said. Ryszard Zarucki, who heads the inspection team, said they would take over monitoring and verification of the continued shutdown of the main Yongbyon reactor, which manufactured plutonium that could be used to make atomic bombs. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Afghan negotiators 'hopeful' in SKorean hostage crisis GHAZNI, July 28 (AFP) Negotiations resumed in Afghanistan Saturday to free 22 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban after a top envoy from Seoul was set to hold high-level meetings over the crisis. “We resumed our talks early today (Saturday), we have no particular achievement so far but we are hopeful for their release,” Waheedullah Mujadadi, head of the Afghan delegation leading negotiations told AFP. The Taliban said Friday it had given negotiators more time to allow the South Korean envoy to arrive in Kabul and join talks. The envoy was expected to seek an urgent meeting Saturday with President Hamid Karzai and US-led forces. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Pakistan tightens security ISLAMABAD, July 28 (Agencies) One more injured of Friday’s suicide bombing near Islamabad’s Lal Masjid succumbed to his injuries in the hospital overnight bringing the toll to 15. Meanwhile, authorities boosted security on Saturday as teams of investigators made hectic efforts to crack down on extremists and flush them out. The remains of the suicide bomber had been found and were being DNA tested to establish his identity, an official spokesman said. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
US Congress skeptical of India nuclear accord WASHINGTON, July 28 (AFP) - Key US legislators looked skeptically at the nuclear pact between the United States and India amid speculation that the terms could exceed what lawmakers would accept. Edward Markey, co-chairman of the House of Representatives Bipartisan Task Force on Non-proliferation, vowed that Congress would cast a careful eye on the fine print. “I can only surmise that it includes provisions they fear will raise the hackles of Congress,” said Markey. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Three killed, seven injured as jeep plunges into ravine in Diamer GILGIT, July 28 (APP): Three persons were killed and seven others seriously injured when their jee skidded off the road and fell into a ravine of Khanbary valley, some 167 kms east of Gilgit. The jeep was proceeding to Upper Valley. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
President performs Umra MAKKAH, July 28 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf performed Umra late Friday night and prayed for peace, security and strength of Pakistan and unity and harmony of the Ummah. The President, who arrived from Abu Dhabi, will meet the Saudi leadership on Saturday. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Kashmir moot calls for expediting Pak-India peace quest WASHINGTON, July 28 (APP): An international conference on Kashmir concluded here with a call for expediting Pakistan-India peace process and acknowledgement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as integral partners and stakeholders. Organized by the Kashmiri American Council, the conference adopted a resolution emphasising that “demilitarization is a necessary step for ensuring peace,” in the South Asian region. In the context of human suffering in occupied Kashmir, the resolution said the “fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Jammu and Kashmir be ensured and the various draconian laws be withdrawn, expeditious release of all detainees and prisoners be ensured and cases against them and those already released be withdrawn,”. The Washington Declaration also drew attention to thousands of disappeared people in occupied Kashmir and said “information be made available about the conditions and fate of approximately ten thousand disappeared persons,”. On pushing the peace process in a meaningful and result-oriented manner, the resolution said the concerned parties “should determine the parameters of the process and define a time frame for its implementation,” It urged reinstatement of free movement across Jammu and Kashmir and reopening and making operational of all traditional routes across the ceasefire line and resolved that for comprehensive and lasting peace in South Asia, and a politically secure and democratic future, the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be recognized and respected. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Iraq: 7 police killed by roadside bomb Baghdad, July 28 (Reuters) Seven police commandos were killed by a roadside bomb in Samarra, 100 km north of Baghdad, police said. The police patrol then opened fire, killing three civilians. Meanwhile, police found seven bodies around Baghdad, the apparent victims of sectarian death squads, police said. A U.S. soldier also died in a roadside bomb attack in Diyala, the U.S. military said. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
China says deaths from lightning rise SHANGHAI, July 28 (Reuters) Lightning strikes have killed 403 people in China so far this year, equalling the total number of deaths from lightning in the whole of last year, the China Meteorological Administration said. Chinese scientists have warned that global warming is likely to intensify extreme weather patterns, and severe storms in recent years may be a prelude to this. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
U.S. plans big arms sale to Saudi Arabia-report NEW YORK, July 28 (Reuters) The Bush administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve arms sales totaling $20 billions over the next decade for Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions. The package of advanced weaponry includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades for its fighters and new naval vessels. Along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are likely to receive equipment and weaponry from the arms sales under consideration, the Times said. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Four killed as US news helicopters collide mid-air LOS ANGELES, July 28 (AFP) A pair of US television helicopters covering a police chase collided mid air-Friday, then crashed to the ground in a blaze of fire and smoke, killing all four people on board, police said. The aftermath of the collision between the helicopters, operated by two rival local television stations, was filmed live by a third chopper for Fox news which was also covering the car chase. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Nine killed in a killing rampage in eastern Serbia BELGRADE, July 28 (AFP) A lone gunman went on the rampage in eastern Serbia, killing nine people, including a teenage boy, and seriously wounding two others, local media reported Saturday. The man, who had returned to his native village from Austria only a week earlier, had had a dispute with his wife earlier Friday. For more than an hour, he ran down the streets of the village shooting at villagers with a hunting rifle, witnesses said. He was arrested early Saturday at a local cemetery, “after an attempt to commit suicide.” (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
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