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| December 16, 2007 | Sunday | Zilhaj 5, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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Nawaz’s party to challenge Musharraf's amendments to constitution in future parliament ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec 16 (AP) - _ Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League vowed Sunday to try to undo amendments President Pervez Musharraf made to the constitution before lifting emergency rule, changes criticized by Pakistan's press as a blow to Parliament's sovereignty. Raja Zafarul Haq, chairman of PML-N, also said the six-week state of emergency “will leave a bitter legacy” long after Musharraf leaves. He said Musharraf used the emergency for “personal reasons” to stack the Supreme Court with “hand-picked” judges while it pondered the legality of his new term and to amend the constitution. Haq repeated claims that Jan. 8 elections for a new Parliament will be “rigged” but said his party will use the new legislature to remove Musharraf's amendments to the constitution, despite the president's efforts to put the changes beyond challenge. Meanwhile, several leading newspapers on Sunday hailed Musharraf's order a day earlier that lifted the emergency but criticized him for amending the constitution. “A blow has been delivered to the very concept of parliamentary sovereignty because the amendments made to the constitution ... by the fiat of one man do not need parliament's approval,” the daily Dawn said in an editorial. (Posted @ 17:48 PST)
Pakistan orders probe into British terror suspect's escape ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (AFP) - Pakistan government Sunday ordered a high-level investigation into the escape from police custody of a British terror suspect, Rashid Rauf who is suspected of plotting to blow up airliners bound for the United States from London. He was being taken from a court hearing on Saturday when he broke free from his handcuffs and ran off. Islamabad police said they were questioning several officers over the disappearance, while an official statement also announced the top-level probe. The three-member committee includes one officer each from the police and interior ministry and a senior official of the Islamabad administration, the statement said. It has been told to report within 48 hours. Islamabad police chief Shahid Nadeem Baluch said early Sunday: “The hunt is on to track him down. We have conducted some raids but so far there hasn't been any breakthrough.” Rauf's lawyer Hashmat Habib told AFP that his client disappeared from police custody under “mysterious circumstances. It comes at a time when the British government is trying to extradite him. And it all looks very suspicious to me,” Habib said. (Posted @ 16:22 PST)
Qazi announces convention of all boycotting candidates on Dec 18 PESHAWAR, Dec 16 (APP): President of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Central Amir of Jamat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain Ahmad has announced convention of candidates who withdrew their nomination papers in protest and announced boycott of Jan 8 elections. The convention will be held in Islamabad on Dec 18 (Tuesday), he told newsmen at 'Guest Hour' programme of Nowshera Press Club on Sunday. Qazi Hussain said the assembly formed after Jan 8 election would not be more than a rubber stamp, having no authority. Replying to a question he said Dr. A.Q. Khan is a national hero. He said he tried several times to meet Dr. Qadeer, but was not allowed by the authorities. (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
Final list of contesting candidates displayed by PEC KARACHI, Dec 16 (APP): Final lists of candidates contesting National and Provincial Assembly seats in various parts of the country were issued on Sunday and displayed on the notice boards of respective Returning Officers. In Sind Province, the 61 NA seats will be contested by 627 candidates, provincial Election Commissioner Ch Qamar-uz-Zaman said. For the 139 Sindh Provincial Assembly seats, 1468 candidates out of total of 2297 who filed nomination papers have been left in the field after withdrawals by 672 candidates. For 14 reserved seats for NA, a total of 36 candidates are now in the field. For the 29 reserved seats for women 83 are left in the field. For 9 Provincial Assembly seats reserved for minorities, 31 are in the field. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Hundreds clash with police in occupied Kashmir for second day SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Dec16 (AP) - Hundreds of people clashed with police Sunday in occupied Kashmir, hours after burying a 20-year-old man killed by police a day earlier. At least 35 protesters and 20 policemen were injured. Police used tear gas and water cannon and later fired warning shots in the air to disperse the protesters, who marched through the town of Magam and blocked the highway leading to the skiing resort of Gulmarg, a police officer said on condition of anonymity. The trouble erupted on Saturday when locals attacked police with stones after the state government rejected their demand to set up a new college in Magam. Police opened fire, killing one person and injured at least nine others. Thousands of people attended the burial of Zahoor Ahmed on Saturday night and continued with the protest on Sunday. Shops and businesses shut down as the protesters marched through the town and hurled rocks at police, chanting “Down with Police” and “Down with Government.” Some residents said police entered their homes, attacked occupants and smashed windows. (Posted @ 20:04 PST)
Asafandyar announces ANP election manifesto PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Dec 16 (APP):- Announcing the silent features of election manifesto of Awami National Party at a Press conference, central leader of ANP Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan Sunday said that concrete measures would be taken for promotion of undiluted democracy, establishment of independence judiciary, free media and elimination of poverty. He said protection of human rights, and economic, social and political development would be the top priority of ANP. The manifesto vowed better relations with time tested friend China, neighbouring India and United States of America besides solving the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue. If voted to power, he said the party would change the name of the province as 'Pukhtunkhwa', merge FATA with the province with due representation in NWFP assembly. Senator Asfandyar Wali said that that his party will work for establishment of peaceful, progressive, moderate and balanced society besides ensuring equal rights to federating units. (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
Pakistan nukes safely guarded, says India National Security Adviser NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PPI) : India believes nuclear weapons in Pakistan are “pretty safely guarded making it extremely difficult of it falling in wrong hands with United States paying very close attention” to the issue. “It is extremely difficult for any outside element just walking away with a readymade nuclear device,” Indian National Security Adviser M K Narayanan told Karan Thapar on India Tonight programme on CNBC TV 18. It is not easy for just a couple of people to manage a nuclear device, he said adding even as National Security Adviser “I cannot activate this on my own. I would therefore say it (Pakistani nuclear arsenal) is relatively safe or I would say it is largely safe,” he said. Fears of nuclear weapons falling in hands of radicals has “activated” American government to pay “very close attention” to the matter, Narayanan said. “... they are quite satisfied with checks and balances which are adequate,” he said. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Roadside bomb wounds 3 Pakistani troops, 7 militants captured MIRAMSHAH, Pakistan, Dec 16 (AP) - A roadside bomb explosion seriously wounded three paramilitary troops Sunday in North Waziristan tribal area in Pakistan, as the army said it captured seven suspected militants in Swat valley. The bomb exploded near a truck transporting supplies to a military outpost, an official said on condition of anonymity. Troops responded by opening fire with small arms, and helicopter gunships flew over the area near Miramshah, North Waziristan's main town, but it was not known whether the assailants suffered any casualties, he said. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad had no immediate confirmation of the bombing. Meanwhile, the army said Sunday that security forces detained seven suspected militants in Swat valley, a former tourist destination where the army has said it routed fighters loyal to pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Fazlullah. One of the suspects, all arrested Saturday, was identified as Abdul Shakoor, who had allegedly called for the beheading security forces in the region, the army statement said. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Benazir reiterates demand for rigging- free poll QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 16 (APP)-Chairperson of PPP Benazir Bhutto reiterated the demand for rigging-free elections at a press conference before leaving for Karachi Sunday morning. She said her party's message is peace and hope for the down trodden masses crushed under the wheels of price hike, unemployment and abject poverty. She criticized President Musharraf for keeping the powers of National Command and Control Authority with himself and said it would have been better if he had left the matter for the coming parliament. She said her party had its own plan to counter government's plan of rigging the elections and repeated the allegation that the nazmin are using government vehicles and other resources for the government backed candidates in their electioneering. The PPP Chairperson also alleged that the Election Commission was not working as an independent body. To support her claim, she said her party candidate Sarfraz Bugti was kidnapped to stop him from filing his nomination papers but the Election Commission failed to take notice of the incident. (Posted @ 17:20 PST)
Ghous Ali Shah to return after Eid Khairpur, Pakistan, Dec 16(PPI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sindh President and former Sindh Chief Minister Syed Ghous Ali said Sunday he would return to Pakistan on 3rd day of Eid and campaign for PML-N candidates. Addressing via telephone a meeting of party candidates and workers constituency NA-215 and PS-29 of PML (N) at Gharhi Mori from London, he said PML-N would sweep the coming polls, as voters were fed up with anti-people policies of present regime. (Posted @ 23:06 PST)
Darfur rebels say attack Sudan army, capture 29 KHARTOUM, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Darfur rebels said Sunday they had inflicted a crushing defeat on Sudan's army in West Darfur in an overnight battle during which they captured 29 soldiers, 32 vehicles and heavy weaponry. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Khalil Ibrahim said had also simultaneously attacked for a second time Sudan's Defra oil field, shutting down its pumping station. “We defeated two battalions and chased them to within 7 kilometres of el-Geneina,” he said, referring to the capital of West Darfur state. Sudan's armed forces said they had no immediate confirmed information on the fighting. (Posted @ 21:04 PST)
Seven killed after bus hits landmine in India's northeast GUWAHATI, Dec 16 (AFP) - Seven people were killed and 25 injured after a packed passenger bus hit a landmine in the northeastern state of Manipur, where rebels have been fighting to break away from India for decades. The explosion took place just outside the state capital Imphal, More than 19 militant groups are active in Manipur, where more than 10,000 people have lost their lives during the past two decades. (Posted @ 20:36 PST)
50 Taliban rebel leaders killed, captured this year: US general BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Dec 16 (AFP) -More than 50 insurgent leaders have been killed or captured in Afghanistan in the past year but the rebels' fighting ability has still improved, a top US commander said Sunday. The insurgents also “clearly” have outside support, including perhaps from Arab countries, in their efforts against the Afghan and international security forces confronting them, Brigadier General Joseph Votel told media. “Despite the loss of some of those leaders and the rise of some of the more junior leaders, we have seen some improvements, frankly, in some of their fighting capability,” said Votel, the deputy commander in the US-led coalition who is in charge of operations. (Posted @ 19:58 PST)
300 flee Indian jail in mass breakout RAIPUR, India, Dec 16 (AFP) - 299 communist rebel supporters escaped from a jail in Chhattisgarh, a hotbed of Maoist insurgency, after overpowering their guards during a meal on Sunday, police official Rahul Sharma said. He said police reinforcements had reached the jail on the outskirts of Dantewada town, south of the state capital Raipur, and were searching for the escapees. The Maoist insurgency threatens huge swathes of India's centre, east and south and has spread to half of India's 29 states. (Posted @ 19:28 PST)
Snow storm spreads through central US CHICAGO, Dec 16 (AP) - As much as a foot (30 centimeters) of snow fell across the Midwest as the second big winter storm in a week barrelled through on its way to the northeast. More than 200 flights were cancelled because of the weather Saturday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, one of the nation's busiest, and all other flights were delayed an hour. The problem was limited visibility in the falling snow. Tens of thousands of people still lacked electricity after a storm earlier in the week slammed Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. That storm was blamed for at least 38 deaths, mostly in traffic accidents. Winter storm warnings and watches extended Saturday across nearly a dozen central states, the National Weather Service said. As much as 15 inches of snow was forecast in sections of southern Michigan, with 10 inches possible in Detroit. (Posted @ 18:35 PST)
Canals of Sukkur Barrage to remain closed from Jan 6 to 20 HYDERABAD, Pakistan, Dec 16 (APP): The canals of Sukkur Barrage would remain closed from January 6 to 20, (both days inclusive) for normal inspection, maintenance and necessary repair of infrastructure, it was announced Sunday.(Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Son of Chief Secretary Balochistan found dead KARACHI, Dec 16 (APP): Shahzad, 30, son of K.B. Rind, Chief Secretary of Balochistan province , was found dead in a car in Karachi's Clifton area on Sunday morning, police said. According to Plice Sub-Inspector Khalid, the deceased was shot in the head from behind. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
Swat operation to continue till area cleared of miscreants SWAT, Pakistan, Dec 16 (PPI): Security forces would continue the operation in Swat Valley in northweswtern Pakistan till the area was cleared of miscreants, Brigadier Ziaul Najam Boodla told a delegation of elders from Matta Tehsil which met him Sunday in Mingora, the main city in the valley.He said the operation was in progress as planned and lauded cooperation of local people. He promised a relief package for the affected people shortly. (Posted @ 17:04 PST)
Muslim pilgrims make final preparations for hajj MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia, Dec 16 (AFP) – About 2.4 million Muslims including nearly 1.6 million from around the world gathered in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, making final preparations for the annual hajj pilgrimage which begins on Monday, the eighth day of the month of Zilhaj under the lunar calendar. The high point of hajj, when pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat , will take place on Tuesday. Among this year's pilgrims will be Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom Saudi King Abdullah has invited and will become the first president of the Islamic republic to take part in the event. A total of 11,000 doctors, nurses and paramedics will be on hand to provide medical care during the hajj, with 4,200 beds at 21 hospitals and 145 health centres in Makkah, Mina and Arafat. (Posted @ 16:45 PST)
Cricket: Washout gives NZealand chance to keep ODI trophy SYDNEY, Dec 16 (AFP) - The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day cricket series is still alive for New Zealand after only six overs of play were possible before the second match against Australia was washed out on Sunday. The series will now go to Hobart on Thursday, with Australia seeking to wrap it up after winning Friday's opener in Adelaide by seven wickets. New Zealand were at 30 for three from six overs when rain halted play and officials eventually called the game off in the early evening amid steady rain. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Crisis-hit Kyrgyzstan votes, opposition cries foul BISHKEK, Dec 16 (AFP) - Voters in Kyrgyzstan took to the polls Sunday in parliamentary elections that authorities say will bring stability to the Central Asian state but which the opposition says are being rigged. Twelve political parties Voting by the country's 2.7 million registered voters, which ends at 1400 GMT, is being monitored by 270 observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who will present a report on Monday. (Posted @ 16:34 PST)
UK hands over control of Basra province to Iraq forces BASRA, Iraq, Dec 16 (Reuters): Britain handed responsibility for security in Basra province to Iraqi forces on Sunday, effectively marking the end of nearly five years of British control of the southern part of Iraq. “Today we stand before a historic juncture and a special day, one of the greatest days in the modern history of Basra,” provincial governor Mohammed Mosbah al-Waeli said at a ceremony at the last British base at an airport outside the city. The British commander, Major-General Graham Binns, praised the Iraqi security forces and said they were up to the task. (Posted @ 14:10 PST)
Militants behead Pakistani soldier: officials KHAR, Dec 16 (AFP): Pakistani security forces Sunday recovered the beheaded body of a soldier from a tribal region bordering Afghanistan, local officials said. The body, along with its severed head, was found dumped near a road on the outskirts of Khar, the main town in Bajaur Agency, they said. A letter recovered from his pocket said the soldier belonged to the paramilitary force, a local official said. It went on to say that the soldier had been killed by local Taliban. (Posted @ 14:05 PST)
Four Taliban killed in post Musa Qala operation KABUL, Dec 16 (AFP): Four militants were killed in fighting with Afghan troops in Musa Qala Sunday, the defence ministry said, in the first battle since the rebels were ousted from there last week. Afghan military forces backed by the mainly British NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) entered the town in Helmand province after the Taliban retreated on Monday. On Sunday the “Afghan national army engaged with the enemy. During fighting four Taliban personnel were killed,” the defence ministry said in a statement. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Turkish planes bomb northern Iraq: local officials SULAIMANIYA, Iraq, Dec 16 (Reuters): Turkish warplanes attacked 10 villages in northern Iraq early on Sunday, killing one woman and wounding two others, local officials said. The mayors of Jarawa and Sankasar, two towns northeast of Sulaimaniya, said the airstrikes were launched at 2300 GMT and continued for several hours. In Ankara, the Turkish military general staff said its warplanes had attacked Kurdish rebel targets. (Posted @ 11:35 PST)
Three Hamas militants wounded in Israeli airstrike on Gaza GAZA CITY, Dec 16 (AFP): Three members of Hamas' military wing were wounded in an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip on Sunday, a Palestinian medical source said. The three men were hit in Gaza City by a missile fired from an Israeli aircraft, said the source. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Four armed militants killed, two captured in Algeria ALGIERS, Dec 16 (AP): Security forces killed four militants and captured two others during an anti-terrorism sweep in northwestern Algeria, news reports said. The operation on Thursday in Oum El Drou, near the town of Chlef some 210 kilometers west of Algiers, came after a bomb attack killed five civil security guards three days earlier, daily L'Expression reported. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Libyan leader Gadhafi arrives in Spain SEVILLE, Dec 16 (AP): Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi began his first official trip to Spain with a private visit to a luxury country resort hotel, after arriving from France. Gadhafi and a retinue numbering at least 200 arrived Saturday at Seville airport from France aboard three aircraft and sped away to the secluded Hacienda La Boticaria hotel, 18 kilometers southeast of the Andalusian capital. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Abu Sayyaf leader killed in Philippine clash: military ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Dec 16 (AFP): A senior militant, wanted by the US government, has been killed in a clash with the Philippine military in the nation's restive south, an official said Sunday. Abdul Mubin Sakandal, a leader of Abu Sayyaf group, was killed during a joint navy and marine operation on the remote island of Tawi-Tawi, a military official said. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
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