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| September 26, 2007 | Wednesday | Ramazan 13, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
President should quit as COAS after re-election: Zafar tells SC ISLAMABAD, Sept 26 (PPI)- Appearing as amicus curiae before a nine-member larger bench of the Supreme Court, hearing a set of identical constitutional petitions against holding of dual offices by President General Pervez Musharraf and his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election for the next term, senior advocate S.M Zafar opined that President Musharraf should relinquish the office of the Chief of Army Staff just after his re-election as President. He said Article 43 will stand restored just after the re-election of the President and under this Article, he would have to quit the office of the COAS. Dual offices' law was for a specific period that will end on November 16, he added. Earlier, in his arguments, senior counsel for government Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada contended that the petitions being heard by the apex court were not maintainable. However, Justice Rana Bhagwandas who heads the bench, referred to his remarks given on the same plea of Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum and observed that the bench had already declared the petitions maintainable. On a contention of Mr Pirzada regarding the apex court verdict in Syed Zafar Ali Shah case, Justice Rana Bhagwandas said that a larger bench of the Supreme Court could review any decision of the apex court. When Mr Pirzada referred to the case of Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Justice Javed Iqbal said the said decision had been announced before the passage of 17th Amendment. Appearing as amicus curiae Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan argued that being the army chief President General Pervez Musharraf could not contest the presidential election. Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, another amicus curiae, said he was feeling well, and was allowed to argue the case on Wednesday. Aitzaz Ahsan had not completed his arguments when the court adjourned the hearing for Thursday. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Pakistan rejects Benazir’s statement on access to Dr A.Q. Khan ISLAMABAD, Sept 26 (AFP) Pakistan's government Wednesday condemned ex-premier Benazir Bhutto for saying she would let the UN quiz Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan if she regained power. Imran Khan and other opposition leaders also criticised Benazir for saying that she would allow UN inspectors to question Dr. Khan. Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Dr A.Q. Khan would not be handed over to anyone nor anyone could have direct access to him. “We cannot compromise on it and the statement of Benazir is highly condemnable.” “Pakistan cannot allow any interference in its affairs. We have ourselves investigated A.Q. Khan's case, we don't think it needs to be taken up again,” Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem said. “There is a strong reaction in Pakistan over Benazir Bhutto's statement on A.Q. Khan,” he told a private television channel. “This is a highly shameful statement,” Imran Khan said, adding that Benazir wanted the blessing of the United States to “take power and rid herself of corruption cases.” “Benazir Bhutto is doing everything to appease the United States,” said Liaquat Baloch, a senior member of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, or United Action Front, the country's main alliance of Islamic parties. “She wants to gain power and the people of Pakistan know that to achieve her objective she is ready to compromise the country's nuclear programme,” he told AFP. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, leader of the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam party, said Benazir's statement was “against the solidarity and integrity of the country.” (First Posted @ 15:25 PST, Updated @ 21:05 PST)
Fighting in occupied Kashmir leaves 12 dead SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Sept 26(AFP): Eleven militants and a policeman were killed in gunbattles in occupied Kashmir, police said on Wednesday, in the bloodiest fighting during the holy month of Ramazan. Four militants were killed on Wednesday in Poonch and northern Kupwara districts, a police spokesman said. Troops shot dead two commanders of Hizbul Mujahedin in southern Doda district early Wednesday. Five more militants and a policeman were killed in three gunbattles in Poonch, Kupwara and Kulgam districts late Tuesday, the spokesman added. (Posted @ 14:47 PST)
Benazir calls U.S. backing for Musharraf “strategic miscalculation” WASHINGTON, Sept 25(Reuters): Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto criticised Washington on Tuesday for its support of President Pervez Musharraf and said she was “praying for the best” when she returned home next month. She said his military rule had served only to fuel the extremism that Washington was trying to counter. She called U.S. backing of Musharraf, a “strategic miscalculation.” “Military rule is the cause of the anarchic situation in Pakistan. Military rule is not the solution,” she said in a speech hosted by the Middle East Institute. (Posted @ 09:28 PST)
Militants kill two 'US spies' in North Waziristan MIRANSHAH, Sept 26(AFP): Militants killed two people after accusing them of working as US spies in the lawless tribal belt near the Afghan border, security officials said on Wednesday. The executions in North Waziristan were the latest in a series targeting people with alleged ties to US- and NATO-led foreign forces battling the Taliban in Afghanistan. (Posted @ 11:50 PST)
At least four killed, 100 hurt in Myanmar crackdown YANGON, Sept 26 (AFP) At least four people, including three Buddhist monks, were killed and 100 injured Wednesday as Myanmar's security forces clamped down on anti-government protests led by the monks, according to officials and witnesses. About 200 people were also arrested, as many as half of them Buddhist monks, as soldiers and police cracked down on tens of thousands of protesters who swept across Yangon, according to witnesses and diplomats. At least 100 others were injured, about half of them monks, according to a tally of witness accounts received from across Yangon. Police used batons and teargas, sometimes firing warning shots over the crowd to disperse the protesters. But throughout the day, the protesters regrouped with as many as 100,000 people in the streets around the city, according to witnesses. (First Posted @ 11:25 PST, Updated @ 18:15 PST)
170 rebels, foreign soldier killed in Afghan clashes KABUL, Sept 26 (AFP) NATO and US-led troops backed up by warplanes said Wednesday they had killed nearly 170 Taliban in two major battles in southern Afghanistan, while a US-led coalition soldier also died. The heaviest of the fighting with the Taliban erupted Tuesday in Helmand province and continued into Wednesday, the coalition said. “The initial estimate by the ground force commander assessed that more than 104 insurgents were killed thus far in the engagement,” it said in a statement. The fighting erupted during an Afghan and coalition patrol aimed at clearing an “extensive trench system” near the Taliban-controlled district centre of Musa Qala in Helmand. More than 65 rebels were killed late Tuesday in a similar battle in Uruzgan province, said a separate NATO-led force. The NATO force reported meanwhile that one of its helicopters overturned in Badghis province late Tuesday while trying to land during a mission to rescue four Afghan police wounded in a bombing which killed three Afghan police. A second helicopter was able recover the crew of the damaged helicopter and two critically wounded Afghan police. In other incidents reported Wednesday, two rebels were killed when a bomb they were planting on a road in Ghazni province went off Tuesday, the defence ministry said. And more than 36 Taliban insurgents, 16 of them badly wounded, were captured by Afghan forces after two separate battles in Paktia province and central Wardak Tuesday, officials said. (First Posted @ 09:23 PST Updated @ 17:15 PST)
Eight killed in Gaza, Israel warns of big sweep GAZA, Sept 26 (Reuters) Israel killed four Palestinian militants in an air strike in the Gaza Strip Wednesday and threatened a sweeping military operation in the Hamas-run territory. Palestinian officials said fire from an Israeli ground force struck a house in Beit Hanoun town in northern Gaza and killed four civilians in a separate incident. (First Posted @ 20:17 PST, Updated @ 20:55 PST)
Six Bangladeshis killed in Kuwait road accident KUWAIT CITY, Sept 26 (AFP) Six Bangladeshi workers were killed and two others seriously injured Wednesday when their minibus collided head-on with a truck, a security source said. The source said the accident took place on the seventh ring road, some 25 kilometres south of Kuwait City. (Posted @ 20:25 PST)
Neelum Valley road accident kills three NEELUM VALLEY, Azad Kashmir, Sept 26 (PPI) Three workers were killed and two others suffered injuries when their vehicle met a road accident at Phulawai area, 100km from the district headquarters Wednesday. (Posted @ 20:16 PST)
Iraq Sunni party drafts new political principles BAGHDAD, Sept 26 (Reuters) The largest Sunni Arab party in Iraq unveiled a set of political principles Wednesday that it said would hopefully unite the country's feuding politicians. Senior officials in the Iraqi Islamic Party told a news conference that copies of the platform, called “The Iraqi National Compact”, would be given to all political parties as well as senior clerics and neighbouring countries. Vice president and leader of the Islamic Party, Tareq al-Hashemi, said the 25 principles aimed to remove deep mistrust among politicians. The compact's broad principles cover issues such as ending sectarianism, ensuring weapons are only in the hands of the state, guaranteeing that power is transferred through peaceful, democratic methods and promoting human rights. Hashemi suggested international and regional bodies such as the United Nations or the Arab League could act as guarantors of the 25 principles, although he did not elaborate. (Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Bangladesh anti-corruption agency charges former PM Khaleda Zia's son, relatives DHAKA, Bangladesh, Sept 26 (AP) Bangladesh's anti-corruption agency filed charges Wednesday against the former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son, Tareque Rahman, his wife and mother-in-law accusing them of acquiring their wealth illegally, an official said. The Anti-Corruption Commission charged Rahman with amassing 48 million takas (US$711,530; euro504,715) in assets that did not tally with his legally declared income. Rahman's wife, Zubaida, and her mother, Syeda Iqbalmand Banu, were accused of aiding him, commission official Zahurul Huda said after filing the corruption case at a police station in Dhaka. Rahman is already being detained on separate criminal charges, while his wife and mother-in-law are yet to be arrested. They face stiff jail terms and fines if convicted. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
27 killed in spate of bombings across Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 26 (AFP) Iraq was rocked by powerful car and suicide bombings for a third straight day Wednesday, with blasts in the north of the country killing at least 27 people and wounding dozens, officials said. In one of Wednesday's attacks, a suicide bomber smashed his car into the house of a tribal sheikh who had been supporting police in the fight against Al-Qaeda and detonated his explosives, killing eight people and wounding 10, including the sheikh, an official said. (First Posted @ 13:51 PST, Updated @ 17:15 PST)
Hundreds injured after violence erupts in India over victory in Twenty20 cricket world cup NEW DELHI, Sep 26 (APP): Hundreds of people were injured in different parts of India after violence erupted between Hindus and Muslims over Indias victory against Pakistan in Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. Media reports said the worst hit areas were Delhi, several towns in occupied Kashmir, Assam, Uttarkhand and Uttar Pradesh where Hindus attacked Muslims while celebrating the Indian victory. In New Delhi, arrests have been made and cases have been registered. Meanwhile, more than three hundred persons were injured in the Indian capital in different road accidents during the victory celebrations. In Uttarkhand, the police fired in the air to prevent violence from escalating when Hindus in Gadarpur area of Udham Singh Nagar burst crackers and took out a procession. Five persons were injured when Hindus and Muslims clashed in the areas. The situation in nearby towns, like Kitchha, was also stated to be tense but under control, police said. Hindus and Muslims clashed in western Assam’s Dhubri district, injuring more than 20 persons, including two police officers. Clashes were also reported from different parts of India including Uttar Pradesh. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Iranian president says nuclear issue is now closed UNITED NATIONS, Sept 26 (APP): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Tuesday not to give in to pressure by “arrogant powers” trying to force him to abandon his country's uranium-enrichment programme, declaring that the nuclear issue was “now closed.” The issue of Iran's nuclear activities is a matter only for the United Nations atomic watchdog now and not the Security Council, he told the General Assembly “I officially announce that in our opinion the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed and has turned into an ordinary agency matter,” the Iranian leader said. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Cricket: S. African squad arrives KARACHI, Sept 26 (APP): The 27-member South African cricket squad arrived here from Johannesburg on Wednesday. The team led by Greame Smith includes 14 players and 13 members of supporting staff including the manager and coach. The tourists will play two Test, five One-Day Internationals besides a three-day game against President's XI at NBP Ground in Karachi from Thursday. South African squad; Graeme Smith (Captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villers, Jean Paul Duminy, Herchelle Gibbs, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince and Del Steyn. (Posted @ 15:28 PST)
14 Tamil Tiger rebels killed in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sept 26(AP): Two groups of Tamil Tiger rebels tried to infiltrate government-controlled territory, setting off a battle with government forces that killed 14 rebels, the military said on Wednesday. (Posted @ 14:12 PST)
Blaze in China nightclub kills 12 BEIJING, Sept 26(AFP): Twelve people were killed and six others injured in a nightclub fire in Fuzhou city, capital of Fujian province, in southeastern China, state press reported on Wednesday. The fire engulfed the night club in late Tuesday night, Xinhua news agency said. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene and the eight other died in hospital, it said. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
At least 50 dead in Vietnam bridge collapse HANOI, Sept 26(Reuters): A bridge under construction collapsed in southern Vietnam on Wednesday, killing at least 50 workers, and 100 others were missing, a contractor and police said. The concrete and steel structure being built in Can Tho City, 170kms south of Ho Chi Minh City, collapsed at about 0130 GMT at the start of a shift.(Posted @ 11:38 PST)
Insurgents kill four in south Thailand YALA, Sept 26(AFP): Rebels gunned down four people including two paramilitary rangers in Thailand's south, which is battling a violent separatist insurgency, officials said Wednesday. A 63-year-old butcher and a 25-year-old man, both Muslims, were killed this morning. A former ranger who worked as a security guard was shot dead last night. In neighbouring Pattani province another ranger was killed in a drive-by shooting that seriously wounded another person, officials said. (Posted @ 11:05 PST)
Britain backs four countries for Security Council veto LONDON, Sept 26(AFP): Britain is backing South Africa, Japan, Brazil and India for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday. He added that there was no question of a European Union seat on the UN body, nor was there any prospect of Britain giving up its own permanent seat, and veto, on the Security Council. (Posted @ 09:52 PST)
Kuwait not to take part in any Iran attack KUWAIT, Sept 25(Reuters): Kuwait said on Tuesday it would not allow its territory to be used for any attack on Iran. “Iran is a friendly, neighbouring country and it is not possible that we would agree to see it in a difficult position,” Sheikh Jaber al-Hamad al-Sabah, Kuwait's defence and interior minister, said. (Posted @ 09:13 PST)
Israel closes West Bank border for Jewish holiday JERUSALEM, Sept 26(AFP): Israel on Wednesday closed the border with the West Bank as a security measure for a Jewish religious holiday, a military spokesman said. “Due to the Sukkot holiday we closed the border with the” West Bank, said the spokesman. (Posted @ 09:06 PST)
Two Philippine soldiers killed ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Sept 26(AFP): Two soldiers were killed and nine wounded in a clash with militants on the southern Philippine island of Basilan, military officials said on Wednesday. The militants group also suffered casualties and were seen dragging their fallen comrades away from the battle site, a regional military spokesman said. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
Fukuda sworn in as Japan's prime minister TOKYO, Sept 26(AP): Yasuo Fukuda was sworn in as prime minister on Wednesday, promising to restore the public's faith in politics and work with the resurgent opposition to extend Japan's contentious naval mission for international troops in Afghanistan. “There is room for discussion with our opponents, if they are willing to engage with us,” Fukuda said in his first news conference after winning election in parliament. “I believe the government and all parties can come together to the negotiating table.” Fukuda and his ministers were formally sworn in at a palace ceremony Wednesday morning ahead of their first cabinet meeting later in the day. (Posted @ 08:55 PST)
New Zealand's Mount Ruapehu erupts WELLINGTON, Sept 26(Reutersd): New Zealand's Mount Ruapehu, famed as a key location in the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, has erupted, spewing out ash and rock that injured one climber, officials said. The 10-minute eruption started at about 0820GMT on Tuesday and threw boulders 1-2 metres in diameter up to two kilometres from the crater, crown agency Geological and Nuclear Sciences said. The eruption, which sent a cloud of ash and dust to a height of 15,000 feet, could signal further volcanic activity or it could be a one off event, a GNS Volcanologist told Reuters. (Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 74.33, points: KARACHI, Sept 26:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 13271.37, up 74.33, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept 26: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.69, to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
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