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| September 28, 2007 | Friday | Ramazan 15, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
SC dismisses petitions against Musharraf's two offices ISLAMABAD, Sept 28 (APP):- The Supreme Court Friday dismissed a set of constitutional petitions against the holding of two offices by President General Pervez Musharraf, clearing the way for him to contest the forthcoming presidential election in uniform. A nine-member bench ruled by majority of six to three that the petitions were not maintainable under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, which relates to matters of public importance. The head of the bench Justice Rana Bhagwandas and two other judges, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, dissented with the majority and held the petitions maintainable. Six other members of the bench -- Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Justice Falak Sher and Justice M.Javed Buttar -- held the petitions to be “not maintainable” under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution. The petitions were filed by Jamaat-i-Islami, its Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Imran Khan and Pakistan Lawyers Forum. “For reasons to be recorded later, as per majority view of 6:3, these petitions are held to be not maintainable within contemplation of Article 184(3) of the Constitution,” the order said. The nine-member bench was constituted by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The bench heard the case for two weeks during which counsels from both sides presented their arguments and the President's counsel Sharifuddin Pirzada submitted a short statement in which the President pledged that if re-elected he would doff the uniform before taking oath for new term. The constitutional petition of Dr Anwarul Haq was disallowed to the extent of seeking permission to contest the election to the office of President. (Updated @ 18:20 PST)
SC concludes hearing in Musharrf’s dual offices case ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept 28 (AP) - Attorneys on Friday urged Pakistan's Supreme Court to reject President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s candidacy for re-election, saying it was critical to separate the military from politics. The nine-member bench headed by Justice Rana Bhagwandas at the end of the concluding arguments of the lawyers said the decision in the case will be announced at 2.15 p.m. (PST). Counsel A.K. Dogar, arguing on behalf of a lawyers' organization, said President Musharraf “suffers from inherent pre-election disqualification,” and urged the court not to shy away from a sweeping verdict. “The core issue is how to separate the armed forces from the politics of the country,” he said. Another attorney, Akram Sheikh, said it was the court's duty “to throw the uniform into the gutter.” (Posted @ 13:45 PST )
SC issues notices to Federation over Nawaz Sharif deportation ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (APP): The Supreme Court Friday issued notices to 13 respondents of the federation including prime minister Shaukat Aziz over a petition against the recent deportation of Nawaz Sharif to Jeddah. The four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry heard Fakharuddin G Ibrahim, counsel for Nawaz Sharif, who sought initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the Federation. Nawaz Sharif's September 10 deportation was a “ gross, audacious and atrocious act of contempt of the court,” he said and prayed that respondents should be directed to secure the safe return of Nawaz Sharif and produce him in the court. He said the matter was of utmost importance as elections were around the corner. The bench directed Chairman PIA Zafar Akram and Director General Civil Aviation Authority Rehmatullah to file complete report about the activities which took place at Islamabad airport on Sept 10, including arrival of Nawaz Sharif's from London, the airplane which deported him to Jeddah, and the authority which gave orders in this connection. It also directed Director General FIA Tariq Pervez to submit report whether an exit stamp on Nawaz Sharif's passport existed or not when he left the country .Notices were also issued to Secretary Interior, Chief Secretary Punjab, Chief Minister Punjab, Interior Minister, IG Punjab, Chairman NAB, DG NAB, DIG Police Rawalpindi, and DG Pak Rangers. The hearing was adjourned for October 17. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Musharraf says 'justice triumphs' after court victory ISLAMABAD, Sept 28 (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday hailed a Supreme Court ruling that enables Musharraf stand for re-election next week while remaining army chief. “Justice triumphs. The president respects and honours the judgment of the supreme court, as always,” Musharraf's spokesman, Major General Rashid Qureshi, said. “Today Pakistan has crossed an important, indeed critical milestone in its march towards true democracy,” premier Aziz said in a statement. (Posted @ 18:35 PST)
Pakistan opposition to challenge Musharraf election verdict ISLAMABAD, Sept 28 (AFP) - Lawyers for Pakistan's opposition said Friday that they would appeal against a ruling that President Pervez Musharraf can stand for re-election while keeping his role as army chief. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a raft of petitions by the opposition that said President Musharraf should not be allowed to contest the October 6 while still in uniform. “We will appeal against the judgement tomorrow,” said Akram Sheikh, one of the main lawyers for the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party, which is part of the opposition All Parties Democracy Movement. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Reactions to SC verdict Islamabad, Sept 28:- Pakistan Supreme Court’s verdict by 6-3 majority declaring as inadmissible the set of petitions in the dual offices case and clearing the path for President Pervez Musharraf to contest presidential election in uniform has evoked the expected reaction from various quarters. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain welcomed the judgement and were already in a meeting to discuss the strategy for the future course of action. On the other hand, Benazir Bhutto’s PPP said it respected the supreme court verdict. Nawaz Sharif’ PML-N’s acing president Javed Hashmi said the party would continue to take the political course and mentioned in this connection the decision of the All-Parties Democratic Movement to resign enbloc from the assemblies and for the dissolution of the NWFP assembly on the eve of the Oct 6 presidential poll, besides other measures. The reaction of the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami was much harsh. Its leaders threatened to take the fight to the streets. (Posted @ 17:10 PST)
MQM chief welcomes SC verdict KARACHI, Sept 28 (APP):Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain Friday said MQM accepts and honours the historic verdict of the Supreme Court and hoped that the opposition leaders would also accept the decision of the apex court whole- heartedly, keeping in view the sanctity of judiciary. “After the announcement of the SC's verdict now it is incumbent on all of us to adopt the democratic way of engaging in dialogue instead of confronting one another,” the MQM leader stressed. (Posted @ 20:56 PST)
Soldier dead, 19 wounded in Pakistan blast ISLAMABAD, Sept 28 (Agencies) - A roadside bomb hit a Pakistani security forces convoy Friday in a northwestern region, killing a soldier and wounding 19 others, sources said. The convoy was travelling between the towns of Tank and Dera Ismail Khan when it came under attack, chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said. “Militants planted an improvised explosive device on the roadside which exploded when the security forces were passing through,” Arshad said, adding that two of the injured soldiers were in serious condition. Officials said security forces cordoned off the site of the blast and have launched an investigation. Tank borders on the tribal region of Waziristan. (Posted @ 12:40 PST )
Drone crashes in Waziristan DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, Sept 28 (AP) - An unmanned spy plane crashed in Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan. The drone crashed 25 kilometers west of Miran Shah, the region's main town, said a security official on condition of anonymity. He said the plane crashed in a remote area and caused no damage. The official said authorities were trying to establish whether it was a U.S. aircraft that had flown in from Afghanistan, where NATO and government forces are battling resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida militants. (Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Baghdad rejects US Senate plant to carve up Iraq BAGHDAD, Sept 28 (AFP) - The Iraqi government on Friday firmly rejected a Bosnia-style plan approved by the US Senate to divide Iraq on ethnic and religious lines, saying Iraqis will themselves decide their future. “The government and its prime minister (Nuri al-Maliki) reject this vote,”said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. “It is the Iraqis who decide these sorts of issues, no one else,” Dabbagh said on state-run Al-Iraqiya television. “The Iraqi parliament too should express its total rejection of this plan.” The plan, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife, was approved by the US Senate on Wednesday in a vote of 75 to 23. It proposes to separate Iraq into Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni entities, with a federal government in Baghdad in charge of border security and oil revenues. (Posted @ 20:50 PST)
US Ambassador calls on Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman ISLAMABAD, Sept 28 (APP): The leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman Friday held talks with US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson in his chamber in the Parliament House and said that Pakistan wanted peace in Afghanistan in the interest of Pakistan. He was of the view that US should concentrate on economic and social sector development in Afghanistan and the Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Engagement of people in the process of talks and developmental activities was a must, he said and underlined the need for early evacuation of foreign troops from Afghanistan. The US Ambassador said that US wanted peace in Afghanistan and to leave the country as soon as peace was established there.“We want to develop Afghanistan and continue economic development activities only”, she said. She said that US has very positive image about Islam and any evil talk about Islam hurts us very much. (Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Bomb kills five in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Sept 28 (AFP) - A bomb exploded in a bazaar in Gereshk town Friday, killing two children, two policemen and an older man, district governor Abdul Manaf said. Two policemen were also wounded, he said. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Ban on Imran Khan's entry into Sindh lifted KARACHI, Sept 28 (APP) – Sindh Home Department Friday announced the lifting of ban on the entry of Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Imran Khan into the province. (Posted @ 18:20 PST)
Cricket- Inzamam says no to first Test against S. Africa KARACHI, Sept 28 (APP)- Pakistan's former captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq has turned down an opportunity to play the first test against South Africa in Karachi starting next Monday, Pakistan's chief selector said Friday. “I spoke to him and asked him about his availability. But he said not to consider him for personal reasons. He will obviously be considered if wants to play in the second match,” Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters. Selectors have rewarded batsman Misbah-ul-Haq for his performances in the Twenty20 World Cup by recalling him to the test side after gap of some four years. Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf has also been selected after being dropped for the T20 tournament. Pakistan squad: Shoaib Malik (Capt), Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Rehman, Rao Iftikhar. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Cricket- Yousuf still with us: Indian Cricket League NEW DELHI, Sept 28 (AFP) The breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) said Friday Pakistan star batsman Mohammad Yousuf will turn out for them despite agreeing to play for his country. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Thursday Yousuf, 33, had broken his contract with the ICL and signed up to represent the national team in the Test series against South Africa starting on Monday. “All I can say is that Yousuf can always play for Pakistan whenever he is needed there, we have always maintained that,” Zee executive vice-president Ashish Kaul told local media. “The ICL will never stop him from playing for Pakistan. But that does not mean that he has broken his contract with us.” “Right now, I can tell you that the contract is still on. He will play for the ICL as per the contract. If there is anything else to this, then we have not been told about it yet.” (Posted @ 12:46 PST)
Hockey- Malaysia replaces Pakistan as Champions Trophy host NEW DELHI, Sept 28 (Reuters) Malaysia will stage this year's elite Champions Trophy tournament after it was moved out of Pakistan over security concerns, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said. The tournament is to be staged in Kuala Lumpur from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9, the FIH said on its Web site. Malaysia edged out India after both had been chosen as alternate venues. Australia and South Korea refused to play in Lahore over security concerns and the FIH decided to shift the event. “We are happy that the Malaysia Hockey Confederation was able to accept the responsibility to host this important event,” FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman said. The field is to be expanded by two teams with original participants Australia, Germany, Korea, Netherlands, Pakistan and Spain to be joined by Britain and Malaysia. (Posted @ 12:56 PST)
Four killed, seven wounded in attacks in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, Sept 28 (AFP) - Three soldiers and a Muslim man were killed and seven others wounded in three separate attacks in Thailand's restive south, police said Friday. The soldiers were shot dead in Pattani province when suspected militants ambushed their vehicle.Also in Pattani, seven people, including three female teachers and a pregnant woman, were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near them. In neighbouring Narathiwat province, a 40-year-old Muslim man was killed in a drive-by shooting Thursday evening, police said. (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
US air raid in Baghdad kills 10 civilians BAGHDAD, Sept 28 (AFP) - A US air raid early on Friday n Baghdad killed at least 10 people, including women and children, Iraqi officials said. The raid targeted a building in the Al-Saha neighbourhood where families were sleeping, officials said. “We have no idea of the reason for the attack,” said an interior ministry official. An official at Baghdad's Al-Yarmuk hospital said 13 people -- seven men, two women and four children -- were killed and 10 men and a women were wounded. He said all the casualties were civilians. (Posted @ 13:23 PST)
US chopper hit in Iraq, forced to land BAGHDAD, Sept 28 (AFP) A US helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at a coalition base south of the Iraqi capital Wednesday after being hit by small arms fire, the military said Friday. “A team of two Apaches were responding to ground troops in contact with enemy forces when one was hit and conducted a hard landing after disrupting the attack,” a statement said.(Posted @ 10:33 PST)
About 2,000 in Malaysia protest Myanmar crackdown KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (AFP) About 2,000 Myanmar people gathered outside their country's embassy in Malaysia Friday for a protest against the crackdown on anti-government protests in their homeland. The protesters said they were from Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as from other Myanmar groups including the umbrella organisation, All Burmese Democratic Force. About 10 Malaysian policemen with riot shields and helmets stood between the shouting protesters and the embassy gate. (FirstPosted @ 08:45 PST, Updated@ 10:25 PST)
Nine die as China house collapses in cyanide BEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - A house built on top of an abandoned pool of cyanide collapsed in a gold-mining area of central China, killing nine people, Xinhua news agency said on Friday. Seven people were saved. Nine died from poisoning or injuries, Xinhua said. Cyanide pools are used to extract gold from ore. (Posted @ 13:27 PST )
Sri Lanka says sinks three rebel boats, 18 dead COLOMBO, Sept 28 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's navy sank three Tamil Tiger rebel boats off the island's northeast coast late Thursday, killing 18 rebels on board, the military said Friday. The latest battle took place when the Sri Lankan boats sighted 20 rebel boats in the seas off Pulmudai, near the rebels' de facto state in the far north. “The navy destroyed three boats and after listening to communications they confirmed 18 Tigers killed including a leader,” said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanaykkara. One navy sailor was killed and another injured, he said. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Moderate quakes strike near New Caledonia in South Pacific SYDNEY, Australia, Sept 28 (AP) A series of at least 15 moderate-to-strong earthquakes struck near the French islands of New Caledonia in the South Pacific Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The earthquakes, ranging from magnitude 5.0 to 6.6, and centred around 10 kilometres below the seabed, struck around midday local time, about 150 kilometres east of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands, it said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. (Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 25.55, points: KARACHI, Sept 28:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 13353.68 , up 25.55, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Sept 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.7 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 12:00 PST)
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