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| October 1, 2007 | Monday | Ramazan 18, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Male suicide bomber in burqa kills 16 in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Oct 1 (AFP) - A suicide bomber disguised in a woman's burqa blew himself up at a busy police checkpost on the outskirts of the city of Bannu in northwest Pakistan Monday, killing at least 16 people including four policemen, and injuring 29 others, officials said. “A man disguised in a burqa got out of an autorickshaw when police stopped the vehicle for a search at a checkpoint. He then blew himself up,” police officer Asar Islam said. Examination of remains “confirmed that it was a male suicide bomber” wearing women's clothing. Initial reports of a possible female attacker had been discounted, Bannu police chief Ameer Hamza Mahsud said. A doctor at the hospitalalso confirmed that the attacker was a man. Police sources said they had earlier received intelligence that male suicide bombers dressed in all-covering burqas, a common female garment in conservative northwestern Pakistan, would soon launch attacks. They had beefed up security at all checkpoints and the vehicle carrying the bomber was intercepted as a result, but the attacker blew himself up before they could check it, one source said. Chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad confirmed that it was a suicide blast but dismissed earlier witness reports that the bombing targeted a military convoy passing through the town. In a separate incident suspected militants shot dead a paramilitary soldier before dawn in North Waziristan, security officials said.They raided a checkpost in the border town of Datta Khel and fled in darkness after shooting the trooper, apparently using a gun fitted with a silencer, one official said. (Updated @ 18:45 PST)
SC prompts govt to suspend officials over crackdown during anti-Musharraf protest ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 (AP) On the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan three top officials of Islamabad administration were placed under suspension on Monday over a crackdown that wounded dozens of journalists and lawyers during protests against President General Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar and Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed summouned officials on Monday to explain why police used batons and tear gas against lawyers protesting Saturday outside the Election Commission. Medics told the Supreme Court that Islamabad's hospitals treated 83 people, many for head injuries. Casualties included 13 police officials, 31 journalists and two opposition lawmakers, state-run media said. The judges watched television footage of the clashes on a screen set up in a courtroom packed with lawyers and journalists, some sporting bandages on their arms and heads. Justice Chaudhry ordered the gallery cleared so he could discuss the matter with just Interior Secretary Kamal Shah and a handful of witnesses. Justice Chaudhry told the Interior Secretary to suspend Inspector General Police Islamabad Marwat Shah, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Chaudhry Mohammad Ali and Senior Superintendent of Police Islamabad Dr Naeem, according to senior journalists allowed to remain in the courtroom. Kamal Shah said later that authorities had complied with the directives. Justice Chaudhry also told the government to pay for the victims' treatment. Media reports ''have shown the brutality of the police and law enforcing agencies,'' Justice Chaudhry observed. Meanwhile, again on Monday against the events in Islamabad on Saturday, about 2,500 lawyers rallied in Lahore. In Karachi, some 300 protesting journalists marched to the governor's house and dispersed peacefully. Similar protest rallies by journalists and lawyers were held in all major towns throughout the country, including Quetta, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, media reports said. (First Posted @ 14:17 PST Updated @ 18:05 PST)
Presidential poll: only Speaker Amir withdraws ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (PPI) Chaudhry Amir Hussain, Speaker, National Assembly Monday withdrew his candidature for election to the office of the president. He withdrew his candidature by personally submitting a notice of withdrawal to the Chief Election Commissioner at 11:55 a.m. Monday, ECP Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said. Accordingly the notified list of validly nominated candidates for election to the office of the President comprises General Pervez Musharraf, Mrs. Faryal Talpur, Mohammedmian Soomro, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Justice (Rtd) Wajiuddin Ahmed. (Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Opposition files writ with PHC to restrain CM from dissolution of NWFP Assembly Peshawar, Oct 1 (PPI) The Opposition members of NWFP Assembly on Monday challenged the dissolution of NWFP Assembly at the Peshawar High Court seeking a stay order for restraining the Chief Minister to advise Governor for dissolution of the Assembly. The four opposition members of the NWFP Assembly including Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai from PML-Q, opposition leader Shahzada Gustasip, Syed Murid Kazim of PPP-S and Saeed Khan filed the writ petition through Advocate Mohibulla Kakakhel under Article 199 of the Constitution. They have made NWFP Chief Minister, Governor NWFP, Chief Secretary NWFP and Secretary Provincial Assembly as respondents in the writ petition. In the writ petition the opposition members seek an appropriate order for restraining NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani to advise to the Governor NWFP for dissolution of provincial assembly saying the advice being tendered on the grounds is not completed by the Constitution and Law. In interim relief, the petitioners prayed that the court direct that a status-quo shall be maintained and the NWFP Assembly shall not be dissolved by the governor of North West Frontier Province. (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
No-confidence move against CM Durrani in NWFP; bid to stop dissolution of assembly ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 (Reuters) President Pervez Musharraf's allies on Monday thwarted an opposition plan to dissolve one of Pakistan's four provincial assemblies in a bid to undermine his expected re-election next Saturday (October 6). Opposition parties ruling North West Frontier Province had planned to dissolve the assembly in Peshawar on Tuesday, but Musharraf's allies submitted a no-confidence motion against the NWFP chief minister, stopping him from calling for a dissolution. “Now the chief minister can't advise the governor to dissolve the assembly,” Mushtaq Ghani, leader of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League in the NWFP legislature, told Reuters. Unable to stop Musharraf through the ballot, the opposition aims to spoil the credibility of the vote by resigning en masse from the National and the Provincial Assemblies on Tuesday. (Posted @ 16:33 PST)
20 suspected insurgents killed in battle with Afghan, US coalition forces KABUL, Oct 1(AP): Afghan and U.S.-led coalition troops clashed with insurgentson Monday in southern Afghanistan, calling in airstrikes that killed more than 20 suspected militants, the coalition said. The troops, acting on intelligence reports, were pursuing militants hiding out in the Reg district of Helmand province when they came under attack, the coalition said in a statement. The troops called in airstrikes and fought the militants in a gun battle. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Umpire Hair claims ICC bowed to pressure from Asian bloc ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 (APP): Darrell Hair's counsel told a tribunal in London Monday that the ICC bowed to pressure from a bloc of Asian countries when it in effect sacked his client in the aftermath of the abandonment of the Oval Test last year. “Darrell Hair's case is that he was treated the way he was because the ICC bowed to the racially discriminatory pressure that was brought to bear on it by the Asian bloc and ICC board member supporters,” counsel Griffiths was quoted as saying on Crickinfo. Arriving at the hearing, Ray Mali, the ICC president, told reporters: “We are here today because we are an organisation that believes in fairness, justice and equality. We have come here to prove that we have been fair throughout this process. We believe racism was never an issue in this matter.” The hearing is expected to last a fortnight. (Posted @ 21:30 PST)
Historic India-Pakistan truck service launched LAHORE, Oct 1 (APP): The historic truck service between India and Pakistan began on Monday as a truck loaded with 600 boxes of tomatoes drove into Pakistani side. The service has been started in the light of August 20 agreement between the Customs officials of India and Pakistan. (Posted @ 21:13 PST)
World bridge: Pakistan wins against India, but loses to Poland and China BEIJING, Oct 1 (APP): Pakistan beat India, but lost to Poland and China on the second day of the preliminary rounds of the Bermuda Bowl - World Bridge Championship in Shanghai on Monday. Pakistan beat India with comprehensive margin of 23-7, but conceded defeat in matches against Poland (4-25) and host China (9-21), said Kemal Shoaib, the non-playing member of the Pakistani team. He said that after today's result, Pakistani has tumbled from second spot to 12th position. On Tuesday, Pakistan faces New Zealand, Indonesia and Norway. (Posted @ 21:10 PST)
Putin says could be Russian premier MOSCOW, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he could one day assume the post of prime minister, giving a clear sign of how he plans to keep power after his second term ends next year. Speaking at a congress of the main pro-Kremlin force, United Russia, Putin announced he would head the party's list for December's parliamentary elections, guaranteeing him a place in the State Duma (lower house of parliament). “As far as heading the government is concerned -- this is a quite realistic suggestion but it is still too early to think about it,” Putin said. “Two conditions must be met first - United Russia must win the election and a decent, capable and modern person with whom I work as a team should be elected as president,” he added. (Posted @ 21:05 PST)
Cricket-Sri Lanka beat England in first one-day international Colombo, Oct 1(Reuters) - Sri Lanka beat England by 119 runs in the first one-day international on Monday. Scores: Sri Lanka 269-7 (M. Jayawardene 66); England 150. (Posted @ 21:05 PST)
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed resigns ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (PPI) Leader of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI) and Member of National Assembly elected on Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's (MMA) ticket from Balochistan, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Monday submitted his resignation to the Speaker National Assembly. Sources close to Hafiz Hussain said that police excesses against journalists, lawyers and political workers prompted the legislator to resign ahead of the Opposition’s decision to quit the assemblies en bloc. (Posted @ 20:55 PST)
Indian involvement with anti-state elements in Pakistan: FO ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (PPI) - Pakistan Monday said there were indications of Indian involvement with anti-state elements in the country. Responding to a question at the weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Ms Tasnim Aslam said this issue would be taken up during forthcoming meeting of the two countries on anti-terrorism mechanism. Pakistan would also raise during the composite dialogue the issue of India's opening of Siachen for treking for international tourists, she said in reply to another question. Pakistan had made a number of proposals for resolution of the Siachen dispute and Indian Prime Minister's statement in the recent past that a solution was imminent and that Siachen would become a glacier of peace raised hopes. She said India's latest actions have disappointed Pakistan as these would vitiate the environment. The spokesperson told another questioner that Kashmir or Siachen problems can only be resolved through dialogue. Asked to comment on the remarks of a US think tank that Pakistani and Russian nuclear weapons are unsafe, the spokesperson termed such reports as motivated and malicious. She rejected the propaganda that the nuclear assets were not safe in Pakistan and added that Pakistan had a comprehensive and robust institutional command and control system. (Posted @ 20:48 PST)
Cricket-Kallis hits century in Test against Pakistan KARACHI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Jacques Kallis scored his 25th test century to guide South Africa to a commanding 294 for three after the opening day of the first test against Pakistan at the National Stadium on Monday. Kallis (118 not out) and Hashim Amla (71) put on 170 for the third wicket .Seam bowler Mohammad Asif broke the third-wicket stand with the fifth delivery of the second new ball, a leg cutter clipping Amla's off stump to end a dogged innings that contained six fours and one six. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Israel begins release of Palestinian prisoners BEITUNIYA CHECKPOINT, West Bank, Oct 1 (AP) - Israel released 57 Palestinian prisoners on Monday. The prisoners arrived at the army's Beituniya checkpoint, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, after a two-hour journey from the Ketziot prison in southern Israel, Israel is holding around 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, and their release is a central Palestinian demand. (Posted @ 18:08 PST)
4-point formula, basis for Kashmir solution: Mirwaiz SRINAGAR, Oct 1 (APP) All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Monday President Pervez Musharraf's four-point formula could become the basis for the solution of Kashmir dispute. Addressing a meeting on the occasion of death anniversary of Mirwaiz Mohammad Yousuf, he said till demilitarisation doesn't take place and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, under which soldiers enjoy impunity in the disputed territory is not revoked, the human rights violations cannot stop in occupied territory, KMS reported. The Mirwaiz said that New Delhi would not be able to ignore the ground realities for long. India has to come on the negotiating table for resolving Kashmir issue once for all. (Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Taliban ambush Afghan government convoy, kill 11 GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Oct 1 (Reuters) Taliban insurgents ambushed an Afghan government convoy in Ghazni province and killed 11 policemen Sunday, a provincial official said Monday. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Advocate General Sindh quits job KARACHI, Oct 1 (APP) Advocate General Sindh, Mansoor Ahmed Khan Monday resigned from the office and his resignation was accepted by the Governor, AG office sources confirmed. Meanhile, Khawaja Naveed Ahmed, a noted lawyer of Supreme Court of Pakistan, is being appointed as new Advocate General Sindh, official sources told APP. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Maldives police arrest 10 in Male bombing COLOMBO, Oct 1(Reuters): Police in the Maldives said on Monday they had now arrested 10 people, including two Bangladeshi nationals, in connection with a bomb explosion that wounded 12 foreign tourists in the remote Indian Ocean island chain. Seven people were arrested on Sunday, a day after the homemade device went off near a mosque in the Maldives' capital, Male.(POsted @ 14:05 PST)
Four Yemeni soldiers killed as volcano erupts TORONTO, Oct 1(AP): A volcano has erupted on a tiny island, Jazirt Atta-Ir, 115 kilometers off the coast of Yemen, spewing lava and ash hundreds of feet into the air, a Canadian naval vessel near the island in the Red Sea reported. A Canadian Armed Forces officer said a NATO fleet just outside the territorial waters of the island reported seeing a “catastrophic volcanic eruption” at 1600 GMT on Sunday. The NATO fleet was sailing toward the Suez Canal when it spotted the eruption. The Yemen government asked NATO to assist in the search for survivors and the closet ship, the HMCS Toronto, is heading toward the island.(First POsted @ 09:00 PST Updated @ 14:02 PST)
US soldier shot dead in Iraq capital BAGHDAD, Oct 1(AFP): A US soldier was killed by gunfire in east Baghdad on the last day in September, bringing American losses in Iraq for the month to 72, the military announced on Monday. The latest death pushed the overall toll of American losses since the March 2003 invasion to 3,803. (Posted @ 12:02 PST)
Four dead, 14 wounded in south Thailand NARATHIWAT, Thailand, Oct 1(AFP): Four people, including one soldier, were killed and 14 others were wounded in a string of shootings and bombings in south Thailands, police said on Monday. One soldier was killed and two others wounded Monday when a roadside bomb exploded in Narathiwat, one of three restive provinces bordering Malaysia. Eight bombs also went off across Narathiwat on Monday in coordinated attacks, wounding 12 people, including a few soldiers. (First Posted @10:27 PST Updated @ 11:59 PST)
Israeli troops kill two Hamas militants in Gaza GAZA CITY, Oct 1(AP): Israeli troops killed two Hamas militants on Monday in a nighttime gunbattle in the Gaza Strip, a Hamas official said.The fighters were killed in a clash with an Israeli force overnight, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity. The Israeli military said troops shot two armed Palestinian militants who attacked troops inside Gaza not far from the border fence. (Posted @ 11:45 PST)
Sri Lanka fighting kills 19, wounds 27 COLOMBO, Oct 1(Reuters): Seventeen Tamil Tiger rebels and two soldiers were killed in northern Sri Lanka, in Jaffna and Mannar districts, the military said on Monday. “The army killed 10 terrorists who came to attack the forward defence line in Jaffna on Sunday night. Ground troops confirmed about 20 injured from the attack,” a military spokesman said, adding that a soldier was also killed and seven wounded. He said the military also killed seven Tiger rebels in northwestern Mannar district on Sunday, while a soldier was killed in Welioya. An LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said there were only “small clashes” in Mannar and dismissed as “almost routine” the heavy shelling in Jaffna.(Posted @ 10:47 PST)
Bosnian Serb republic president dies of heart attack BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Oct 1(AP): Milan Jelic, president of the Bosnian Serb republic, has died of a heart attack. He was 51. Jelic died on Sunday evening, said Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. Bosnia is divided into two ministates: the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Serb Republic. Jelic was elected president of the Serb Republic last year (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Kasparov to contest presidential election MOSCOW, Sept 30(AFP): Chess great Gary Kasparov was named on Sunday as the Other Russia opposition coalition's candidate for 2008 presidential polls. Kasparov overwhelmingly won a party congress vote against five other contenders to run in the March 2, 2008, election to replace President Vladimir Putin. He won 379 of 494 votes cast, out-polling other nominees including former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov and former Central Bank chief Viktor Gerashchenko.(Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 385.95, points: KARACHI, Oct 1:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 13737.74, up 385.95, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Oct 1:The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.7 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
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