|
|
| October 04, 2007 | Thursday | Ramazan 21, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Benazir optimistic about Musharraf deal LONDON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said on Thursday she was optimistic that a political deal could be reached with President Pervez Musharraf, but had yet to hammer out a conclusive text. “We are optimistic today, but I cannot say everything is finalised,” she told reporters after a two-day meeting of her party executive committee, adding that if a deal is reached her party would not join other opposition groups in quitting parliament. “The ordinance has not yet come,” she said of the text of the political deal. She said there had been “hectic negotiations and discussions and assurances” on the wording of the agreement. “If the national reconciliation ordinance is accordingly worded, we expect there will be an understanding on a transition towards democracy,” she said. Benazir’s followers want Musharraf to give up powers such as the power to dismiss parliament. She indicated that these issues were still subject to negotiations. “The balance of power between president and parliament has still not been resolved. We still have differences of opinions,” she added. “We feel we have moved forward. We are now optimistic that this is going through and we are close to an understanding,” but she added: “There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.”(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Lawyers say stopping pesidential vote will prevent chaos ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 (AFP) - Halting President Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid is in the national interest and will prevent a “chaotic situation”, opposition lawyers told Pakistan's supreme court Thursday. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Friday on last-ditch appeals by Musharraf's two rivals in the presidential election, which is scheduled for the following day. The comments came after the head of the 10-judge panel hearing the case, justice Javed Iqbal, asked: “Will postponement of the presidential election be in the interest of the people of Pakistan?” Hamid Khan, lawyer for rival candidate Wajihuddin Ahmad, replied: “There will be a chaotic situation in the country if these elections are held and that is why we are seeking a stay order for the presidential elections.” Government lawyers argued that delaying the election would subject Pakistan to international ridicule. “People will laugh at us if the election is postponed,” attorney general Malik Qayyum told the court. But another of the judges, justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, asked if it would make any difference if the vote was postponed by a few days. “We will become a laughing stock if the president is administered an oath by the chief justice, he starts functioning, and then he is told he is not qualified and then he steps down,” Ramday said. (Posted @ 14:56 PST)
Militants kill three of 200 soldiers after army raids DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Oct 4(AP): Militants on Thursday killed three kidnapped Pakistani soldiers from a group of about 230 troops before dawn, after the army raided their hide-outs near the Afghan border, officials said. The bullet-riddled bodies were found near a gas station in the northwestern town of Jandola, a day after a spokesman for the militants threatened to kill three kidnapped soldiers each day if the army didn't stop operations against them, two security officials said. (Posted @ 09:49 PST)
Presidential poll: Wajih demands secrecy of ballot Peshawar, Pakistan, Oct 4 (PPI) Opposition’s presidential candidate Justice (Rtd.) Wajih-u-Din Ahmad demanded of the Chief Election Commissioner to ensure secrecy of ballot on the presidential Election Day. “So far, the election commission has taken steps that tantamount to pre-election rigging. However I will ask the Election Commission to ensure the secrecy of ballot inside the parliament and all the four provincial Assemblies because secret cameras and mobile phone cameras could be used to violate the secrecy of the ballot,” he told newsmen after addressing the Peshawar High Court Bar and District Bar Association on Thursday. He expressed the hope that many PML (Q) parliamentarians would vote according to their conscience provided they were allowed to caste vote in privacy without the fear of monitoring.(Posted @ 18:20 PST)
SC directs ECP to complete printing of updated electoral lists by Oct 25 ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 (APP) The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to complete printing process of the updated electoral lists by October 25 and place it on its website so that the political parties may be involved in the process to scrutinize the lists. The two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice Sardar Raza Khan hearing identical petitions filed by PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and others, was informed by counsel for ECP Mohammad Bilal that 27 million voters have been added to the electoral lists and now the total number of registered voters stands at about 80 million. He said about 99 per cent work on the process has been completed on the directions of the Supreme Court and only the printing process was in progress. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said that they are not disposing the case, unless printed copies are supplied to the petitioners and they were satisfied with it. The case was adjourned for the last week of October.(Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Fire breaks out in textile mill in SITE Karachi KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct 4 (APP): A big fire broke out in a textile mills in Karachi's SITE area on Thursday evening. Dozens of fire tenders were trying to control the blaze when last reports came in, officials said adding that cause of fire and damage were not yet known(Posted @ 20:35 PST)
Pakistan urges Siachen dispute resolution; human activity accelerating melting of glacier WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (APP): Stating that human activity on Siachen is accelerating the melting of the glacier, Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan has underlined the need for resolution of the dispute. Addressing the Council on Foreign Relations he pointed out that due to increased human activity on Siachen a portion of the glacier is already gone. If the Himalayan glacier starts melting, it would be a disastrous situation for both India and Pakistan, he cautioned. He added that some lakes have already been formed under the glacier. On Kashmir dispute, he said, the two South Asian nations have held some important discussions but have yet to travel some distance. About Sir Creek, he said the two countries have made some progress and voiced the hope that it would enable them to find out a solution to it.(Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Russian forces killed unarmed Chechens-Euro court MOSCOW, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Russian forces killed unarmed civilians in Chechnya, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in three separate cases on Thursday.The Strasbourg-based court's judgments lambasted the Chechen authorities for being sluggish and unprofessional in their investigations of the killings in a Grozny suburb in January and February, 2000. Russian forces and rebels have fought two wars since 1994 in the Muslim south Russian republic of Chechnya. The focus of fighting has shifted this year from Chechnya to the neighbouring province of Ingushetia.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Five shot dead in Thailand's Muslim south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, Oct 4 (AFP) - Five people, including an army ranger, were shot dead by suspected Islamic separatists on Thursday in a spate of attacks in Thailand's Muslim-majority south, police said. The killings highlighted the almost daily violence in the troubled region where a separatist insurgency since early 2004 has left over 2,600 people dead.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
DR Congo plane crash: At least 25 crew, dozens of civilians feared dead KINSHASA, Congo, Oct 4 (AFP) A Soviet-era Antonov 26 cargo plane crashed in Kinshasa on Thursday, smashing through a dozen houses and killing 25 people on board, with a still unknown casualty toll on the ground, officials said. The aircraft carved a path of destruction through the heavily populated Masina district in Kinshasa just after taking off. Witnesses said it exploded in a fireball on impact. There were 27 people on the plane and 25 died but two members of the crew, a mechanic and an air hostess survived. (FirstPosted @ 17:50 PST, Updated@ 18:55 PST)
Some elements spreading pessimism among people,Musharraf Islamabad, Oct 04 (PPI)- President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said that elements who painted a dooms day scenario in the wake of the earthquake tragedy were once again active in spreading despondency and pessimism among the people. Addressing the second Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Annual Review Conference he said the predictors of the dooms day scenario were saying that the quake victims would die of hunger and disease, from bitter cold and harsh weather, and lack of care. Nothing of the sort happened, he said adding that the earthquake challenge has been converted into an opportunity by providing better housing and infrastructure with the assistance of the international community. Government was to construct 600,000 houses, 6,000 schools, 6,000 kilometers of roads and 800 healthcare facilities, entire water and sanitation system, entire telecommunication and power infrastructure. And today what we have achieved is not less than a miracle through the hard work of the government and the international community. He said while the damage assessment was 5.2 billion dollars, the donors pledged 6.2 billion dollars. President Musharraf said that in the wake of the earthquake, the whole affected area was demonetized. He said every affected person was paid Rs 25,000 each which initiated economic activities and the rebuilding process. He said quake-resistant houses are being constructed and each of the owners of 600,000 destroyed houses will be getting about Rs 175,000.Three tranches have already been given while the fourth one would be released soon. Most modern and well equipped healthcare and educational facilities are also being created , he said and emphasized the need for developing capacity to run these facilities on sustainable basis. Earlier, UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Vandemoortele said the best example of civil and military cooperation was seen in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. He said the rehabilitation efforts would continue till the last house is constructed. The Country Director of World Bank said there has been a remarkable progress in the quake affected areas in a short period of time. Deputy Chairman ERRA Lt. General Nadeem gave an overview of the reconstruction of houses and infrastructure in the quake affected areas.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan (291 & 146-3) v South Africa (450 & 264-7 dec) KARACHI, Oct 4 Reuters) - Pakistan were 146 for three in 33 overs at the close of play on the fourth day of the first test against South Africa on Thursday at the National stadium.Set a victory target of 424 runs, Pakistan's Younis Khan was batting on 93 and nightwatchman Mohammad Asif on 1.(Posted @ 17:40 PST)
Bomb wave kills at least 12 in Iraq BAGHDAD, Oct 4 (AFP) - A series of bombings in Iraq on Thursday killed at least 12 people, including a town mayor, the day after the Polish ambassador narrowly survived an attack in the capital. The mayor of Iskandariyah, Abbas al-Khafaji, and four of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb on their way to work, police said. Another bodyguard was wounded.Two car bombs also exploded in the Iraqi capital, killing at least seven people. A bomb in a minibus exploded in Al-Zafaraniyah in southeast Baghdad, killing four people and wounding eight, while another killed three and wounded eight in Garage Amana in the centre of the capital.Separately, gunmen killed police Brigadier General Ihsan Abdul Karim in a drive-by shooting as he left his home in Babel, south of Baghdad, police said.(Posted @ 17:35 PST)
Militants attack police van in northwestern Pakistan LAKKI MARWAT, Pakistan, Oct 4 (APP) The Station House Officer (SHO) of Dara Peezo Police Station, Haibat Ali Khan was killed when miscreants attacked a police mobile van on Bannu-Der road near Dara Peezu, police said Thursday. Haibat Ali Khan, sitting on front seat, sustained bullet injuries and died later in the hospital. There was an exchange of fire between police and the attackers who taking advantage of the darkness escaped from the scene.(Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Pakistan urges more US patience over tribal areas WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan Wednesday urged the United States to be more patient as his country fights extremists in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, and said finger-pointing was unhelpful. Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, he acknowledged his country suffered an “image problem” but said there needed to be a greater understanding of the enormous challenges faced by Pakistan in fighting militants. “They (the United States) should be understanding, they should be patient,” he added. “The resolve and the determination is there but it is a complex issue.” Khan said more than 100,000 Pakistani troops had been sent to the tribal areas and nearly 1,000 of the country's forces killed in those battles. “You cannot expect a solution overnight,” he said, adding that military action alone could not resolve the problem and political and economic efforts were needed too. He said any unilateral military action by the United States in Pakistan would work against his government and be unpopular with the Pakistani public. “Our hand should be strengthened, not weakened,” he said.(Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Two Koreas sign historic pact at second-ever summit SEOUL, Oct 4(AP): The leaders of North and South Korea signed a declaration on Thursday for peace and economic cooperation on the divided peninsula, building on their historic reconciliation spawned from their leaders' first meeting in 2000. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun signed the pact, according to South Korean pool reports from Pyongyang. No immediate details of the agreement were known. Top officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said the two leaders agreed to end military hostility and guarantee peace on the divided peninsula. They oppose war on the peninsula and support previous non-aggression obligations. They agree on a joint fishing area around their disputed sea border. They agree to begin cross-border cargo railway service. They agree to push for a peace agreement to replace cease-fire that ended 1950-53 Korean War. (Posted @ 09:29 PST)
20 suspected Taliban killed in Afghanistan clash KANDAHAR, Oct 4 (AP) - Afghan troops backed by NATO-led forces clashed with suspected Taliban fighters in Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province late Wednesday, leaving 20 militants dead, police chief Sayed Agha Saqib said Thursday. There were no injuries among Afghan and NATO troops. Retreating militants took with them 17 dead bodies from the battlefield, he said. NATO said they were checking the report. In a separate incident, militants attacked a police checkpoint in Arghistan district, also in Kandahar province, wounding three officers Wednesday, Saqib said. There were no reports of any casualties among the militants.(Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Iraq buying 100 mln dollars of light arms from China: Talabani WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (AFP) - Iraq is buying 100 million dollars of light military equipment for its police from China because the US cannot provide the materiel, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told the Washington Post's Thursday edition.“The capacity of the factories here are not enough to provide us quickly with all that we need, even for the army. One of our demands is to accelerate the delivery of the arms to the Iraqi army,” Talabani said. According to Talabani, “only one in five Iraqi police officers is armed,” the Post reported. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
US frees 707 Iraq detainees during Ramadan BAGHDAD, Oct 4 (AFP) – US forces in Iraq have released a total of 707 detainees in the first three weeks of the month of Ramadan, the military said Thursday. “Freed detainees “must go through our education, enlightenment programmes and have gone through assessments with clerics and clerks,” the military said. Also upon release, they needed to go through the pledge and guarantor programme, under which they promise to maintain peace and good conduct.” Around 20,000 detainees are held in US-run prisons in Iraq. (Posted @ 14:48 PST)
Bangladesh Supreme Court rejects bail for Khaleda Zia DHAKA, Oct 4(AP): The Supreme Court ordered a corruption case against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to go forward and denied her bail while awaiting trial in jail, Bangla Vision television reported. The high court granted bail on September 30 and ordered a halt in proceedings for technical reasons. However, the government immediately appealed the decision to the Supreme court, and the former premier has remained in detention. (Posted @ 12:26 PST)
India in middle of massive modernisation effort in air defense New Delhi, Oct 4 (PPI): India is in the middle of a massive modernisation of its air defense infrastructure. The project begun in 2004, aims to procure for India a world class air defense infrastructure, said Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Y R Ranesays. (Posted @ 12:11 PST)
Nine die in rebel attacks in India GUWAHATI, Oct 4(AFP): Five paramilitary troopers and four tribal separatists were killed in two attacks in India's restive northeast, police said on Thursday. Militants of the People's Revolutionary Army of Kangleipak (PREPAK) ambushed a paramilitary convoy late Wednesday in hills some 30 kilometres) from the Manipur state capital, a police spokesman said. PREPAK, which is fighting for an independent homeland for the majority Metei community, claimed responsibility. More than 19 militant groups in Manipur, which borders Myanmar, are making demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy. In neighbouring Nagaland state, four rebels of a faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) were killed Wednesday in an attack by a rival faction, police said. Two bystanders were also wounded. (Posted @ 09:59 PST)
Nine killed in fresh Sri Lanka clashes COLOMBO, Oct 4(AFP): At least six Tamil Tiger rebels and three government soldiers were killed in fresh skirmishes in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said on Thursday. Fighting erupted at four locations in the Wanni region on Wednesday, the ministry said in a statement. It said five soldiers were also wounded in the clashes involving small arms as well as artillery and mortar bombs. (Postd @ 09:04 PST)
Malaysia bans Bangladeshi workers, Dhaka upset KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4(Reuters): Malaysia has banned import of Bangladeshi workers into the country after hundreds of them were stranded at an airport because their employers failed to collect them promptly, a newspaper said on Thursday. The move, which took immediate effect, drew a sharp protest from employers and the Bangladeshi government, with Dhaka calling it “disheartening.” “We hope it is only for weeks, not months or years,” the Bangladeshi ambassador to Malaysia said. (Posted @ 08:50)
Karachi Stocks up 53.93, points: KARACHI, Oct 04:At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 14099.94, up 53.93, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Oct 04:The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.7, to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Editor: Abbas Nasir
The DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan.
Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777 Fax: +92 (21) 569-3995
webmaster@dawn.com
Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.
|
|
|
Contributions |