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| August 29, 2007 | Wednesday | Sha’aban 15, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Benazir says Musharraf will step down as military chief before next election LONDON, Aug 29 (AP) - Pakistan's exiled former premier Benazir Bhutto said Wednesday that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf had agreed to step down as army chief, a move she expected before the next presidential elections, and that corruption charges would be dropped against her and dozens of other parliamentarians. Benazir Bhutto has been in long-standing negotiations to return Pakistan to civilian rule. “I expect that he will step down (as army chief) before the presidential elections, but that is for the president to say,” Bhutto told The Associated Press.(Posted @ 20:50 PST)
Supreme court to hear appeal against Musharraf’s army role ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (AFP) The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to hear Qazi Husain Ahmad’s appeal against President Pervez Musharraf's position as army chief. “The petition is fixed for regular hearing,” judge Javed Iqbal said, adding that objections from the court registrar's office that Qazi Husain had no authority to lodge the appeal were “devoid of merit.” The application says that under military regulations, Musharraf's term as chief of army staff expired in 2001, and that he was no longer eligible to continue in the post after turning 60 in August 2003. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Musharraf, Benazir close in on power deal ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (AFP) President General Pervez Musharraf appeared Wednesday to be on the verge of a power-sharing pact with Benazir Bhutto after the ex-premier said he had agreed to resign as army chief. Benazir Bhutto told The Daily Telegraph that while the deal was not yet complete, the “uniform issue is resolved.” ”The uniform issue is key and there has been a lot of movement on it in the recent round of talks,” she said, adding the deadline for the deal was the end of August. Among Benazir’s other conditions, according to the Telegraph, were immunity from prosecution, the lifting of a ban on prime ministers serving a third term and the curbing of presidential powers to sack the government. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
”Eminent personality” has asked Nawaz Sharif not to violate agreement: Musharraf PIND DADAN KHAN, Pakistan, Aug 29 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been conveyed a message by an “eminent personality” and friend of Pakistan to abide by the agreement of not returning to the country before the end of ten years of his exile. “Therefore, I also urge him to abide by the agreement,” the President told a gathering here while inaugurating a new road bridge linking Pind Dadan Khan with Mandi Bhauddin. Without naming the former prime minister, the President said “he entered into a written agreement with a very eminent personality, a great friend and well-wisher of Pakistan and this personality has given him a message not to violate this agreement.”“He should show character and not violate the agreement,” the President said. President Musharraf said the country needed stability and law and order for peaceful conduct of elections.(Posted @ 18:25 PST)
EC to decide maintainability of reference against Imran on Sep 05 ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): Election Commission of Pakistan will issue short order on maintainability of the references filed for disqualification of Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman, Imran Khan on September 05.The Commission Wednesday heard the arguments from both the sides on references filed by MQM and Federal Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi and adjourned the hearing till September 05.(Posted @ 21:15 PST)
CJ asks lawyers community to serve humanity ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Wednesday asked the lawyers community to serve the humanity through their profession. Addressing a delegation of Multan District Bar Association he urged the lawyers for quick disposal of cases. The lawyers should also regulate themselves in a disciplined manner and try their best to serve the common man, he added. He said: “The main problem is the delay caused in the cases due to one reason or the other. Unfortunately, common man faces this problem enormously at the lower courts.” The CJP said Supreme Court is receiving 600 to 700 human rights/public interest cases inviting Supreme Court to take suo motu actions to resolve the issues. This shows the trust and confidence the common man has in our institution, he added. He said that for prosperous and progressive Pakistan, full implementation of the Constitution was necessary.(Posted @ 21:10 PST)
India urged to reciprocate four-point formula ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, senior APHC leader, Maulana Abbas Ansari has reiterated that India must reciprocate President General Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula to pave the ground for final resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He also impressed upon India to accept the disputed nature of Kashmir and the fact that it could not resolve the dispute through force, KMS reported. To a question Ansari regretted that New Delhi had so far not responded to calls for inclusion of Kashmiri representatives in the ongoing Pak-India talks' process on Kashmir. The Hurriyat leader voiced grave concern over stepped-up human rightsviolations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Pakistan will be first emerging market to initiate REITs : SECP ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): The Commissioner of Securities Exchange Corporation of Pakistan (SECP) Salman Ali Shaikh said on Wednesday that Pakistan will be the first emerging market to initiate Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). “The objective of REITs is anchored around the concept to introduce an alternative asset class with the purpose to add depth to the capital market and provide transparency to real estate sector in the form of comprehensive disclosures and accountability through a trust mechanism ingrained in the REITs Regulations,” he said at SECP consultative meeting held to discuss REITs Regulations, 2007 in Lahore on Wednesday. The session was a sequel to the earlier one held in Karachi on August 9, 2007. The participants of the meeting included prominent lawyers, chartered accountants, real estate developers, constructors, surveyors, valuers, project managers and representatives from the Punjab Government.(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Iraq's Sadr suspends militia activities NAJAF, Iraq, Aug 29 (AFP) - Iraq's cleric Moqtada al-Sadr Wednesday ordered his Mahdi Army militia to suspend its activities for six months in a bid to reorganise the militant group.“I direct the Mahdi Army to suspend all its activities for six months until it is restructured in a way that helps honour the principles for which it is formed,” Sadr said in a statement issued by his office in the city of Najaf. His order comes after intense clashes in the nearby holy city of Karbala on Tuesday left at least 52 people dead and 300 more wounded.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Taliban free 12 South Korean hostages QALA-E-KAZI, Afghanistan, Aug 29 (AP) - Taliban militants on Wednesday released 12 of 19 South Korean captives as part of deal struck with the South Korean government to resolve a hostage crisis that began almost six weeks ago. The hostages were released into the care of ICRC at three separate locations close to the city of Ghazni. The first group of three women were released in the village of Qala-e-Kazi. Several hours later, four women and one man were released in a desert close to Shah Baz. As dusk approached, four more hostages were freed on a main road 50 kilometers from Ghazni. The insurgents have said they will free all the hostages over the next 48 hours. They have not stated the reason for the staggered release, but one factor is believed to be logistical difficulties related to the fact that the captives are being held in different groups far from each other.(Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Two Palestinians killed, child seriously wounded in blast in southern Gaza GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, Aug 29 (AP) - Two Palestinians were killed and a child was seriously wounded Wednesday in a blast in southern Gaza, witnesses and rescue officials said. According to witnesses, the casualties were caused by an Israeli tank shell.(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Musharraf's re-election to ensure country's stability: PM ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP):Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Wednesday said the re-election of President Pervez Musharraf would ensure stability and growth in the country. Talking to President of Pakistan Muslim League Ch. Shujaat Hussain, Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid and State Minister for Law Shahid Akram Bhinder the premier said: “We have come a long way, but much more needs to be done. Through consistency and continuity of policies, we will ensure that people of Pakistan lead a better life and continue their journey toward progress and prosperity.” The meeting also discussed PML's election strategy for upcoming presidential election, as well as the party's election campaign.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Bangladesh ex-minister gets jail for tax evasion DHAKA, Aug 29(Reuters): A Bangladesh court sentenced former minister Shahjahan Siraj to eight years in jail on Wednesday for not paying income tax, court officials said. The court ordered his wife Rabeya Siraj, and son Rajib Siraj, to also serve eight years each in jail for helping the ex-minister to conceal taxable income. (Posted @ 15:10 PST)
Suicide blast in southeast Afghanistan kills six KABUL, Aug 29(Reuters): A suicide bomber blew himself up in Barmal in Afghanistan's southeastern province of Paktika on Wednesday killing four civilians and two Afghan soldiers, the provincial governor said. (Posted @ 15:10 PST)
Austrian police bust Indian, Pakistani smuggling ring VIENNA, Aug 29(AFP): Austrian police said on Wednesday they had dismantled a group that apparently smuggled some 250 Indians and Pakistanis from Slovakia to Italy via Austria. Ten people, mostly asylum seekers, have been arrested and seven others charged, following a five-month long investigation. (Posted @ 14:50 PST)
U.S. soldier killed near Kirkuk BAGHDAD, Aug 28(AP): An American soldier was killed in combat near the northern city of Kirkuk, the U.S. military said on Wednesday. The soldier died from injuries sustained in fighting on Tuesday, the military said in a statement. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Four killed in Sri Lanka fighting COLOMBO, Aug 29(AFP): Four people were killed in new violence across Sri Lanka's restive northern and eastern regions, the defence ministry said on Wednesday. Troops shot dead a Tamil Tiger rebel in Jaffna on Wednesday as he tried to throw a hand grenade at troops manning a checkpoint. Security forces also shot dead three Tamil Tiger rebels who tried to breach a military defence line in Muhamalai, the ministry said. (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Six killed in attack on Iraqi police checkpoint MOSUL, Iraq, Aug 29(AFP) : Gunmen raided an Iraqi police checkpoint near the northern restive city of Mosul on Wednesday and killed six people, including five policemen, a police officer said. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Taj Mahal closed after India riots LUCKNOW, Aug 29(Reuters): Police closed the Taj Mahal and placed parts of Agra city under curfew on Wednesday after Indian Muslims burned trucks and battled police to protest the deaths of four community members hit by a lorry. The accident occurred around dawn in Agra when the men were returning after observing “Shab-e-Barat”. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
Iraqi PM orders indefinite curfew in Karbala BAGHDAD, Aug 29(AFP): Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has ordered an indefinite curfew in the city of Karbala after clashes there killed 52 people, state television reported on Wednesday. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Police kill 4 armed attackers in southern Nepal KATMANDU, Aug 28 (AP): Police shot and killed four armed men who attacked their patrol in Birgunj, a town nearly 250 kilometers south of Katmandu, the chief government administrator.of southern Nepal said on Wednesday. The police were trying to establish the attackers' identities from cell phones and documents recovered from them. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
Seven killed in Azeribaijan building collapse BAKU, Aug 29(Reuters): At least seven people were killed and others could still be trapped under rubble after a 14-storey building collapsed across a road in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, emergencies services said on Wednesday. The building was under construction and officials said the violation of building regulations was the most likely reason for it collapsing. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Bush to request $50 bn more for Iraq war WASHINGTON, Aug 29(Reuters): U.S. President George W. Bush is preparing to ask Congress for as much as $50 billion in additional funding for the war in Iraq, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing a White House official. The request signals increasing White House confidence that it can fend off mounting congressional pressure to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, the Post reported. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
US colonel convicted in Iraq abuse trial FORT MEADE, Maryland, Aug 28(AFP): The US officer tried over Baghdad's infamous Abu Ghraib jail abuse scandal was cleared on Tuesday of mistreating prisoners but found guilty of disobedience in its wake. Lieutenant Colonel Steven Jordan now faces sentencing for disobeying an order not to discuss the scandal with other people. Jordan's lawyers asked for him to be spared punishment. He was acquitted on three other charges of mistreating prisoners, including allegations he had stripped them and threatened them with attack dogs. (Posted @ 08:45 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 187.16 points: KARACHI, Aug 29: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12228.05, up 187.16 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.97 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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