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| March 06, 2008 | Thursday | Safar 27, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 Pakistan army chief vows to stay out of politics ISLAMABAD, March 6, (AFP) - Pakistan's army chief Thursday rejected suggestions of any rift between the military and embattled President Pervez Musharraf, and insisted the armed forces would stay out of politics. General Ashfaq Kayani, who succeeded Musharraf as army chief, told a gathering of top military commanders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that the military had no intention of becoming more involved in the political process. “He pointed out that any kind of schism, at any level, under the circumstances would not be in the larger interest of the nation,” the military said in a statement. “He reiterated that the army would stay out of the political process and expressed his hope that the army would not be dragged into any unnecessary controversy”. Kayani called for a “harmonized relationship between various pillars of the state, as provided in the constitution, in order to maximize national effort”, the statement said. (Posted @ 23:34 PST)  Pakistan People’s Party delays decision on candidate for Pakistani prime minister ISLAMABAD, March 6 (AP): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Thursday deferred a decision on who should become Pakistan's prime minister. PPP had been expected to nominate Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a longtime Bhutto aide from Sindh province, as its candidate for the premiership. But a meeting of its newly elected lawmakers at the residence of Asif Ali Zardari broke up Thursday without even discussing the merits of the four main candidates, participants said. ''The consultation process will continue,'' Fahim told reporters as he left, shrugging off questions about the cause of the delay. ''This is democracy.'' Lawmakers said Asif Ali Zardari, PPP’s co-chairman, had told them he would discuss the nomination with them in small groups in the next few days before making a decision. ''The legacy of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto must be fulfilled, and the party and democracy must be strengthened. Individuals come and go, but parties have to live on,'' said Shah Mahmood Qureshi, one of the other contenders. (First Posted @ 14:30 PST, Updated @ 15:55 PST) 
 Karachi blacked out over WAPDA’s unpaid bills KARACHI, Pakistan, March 6 (AFP) - A row over huge unpaid bills sparked a massive power blackout in Pakistan's biggest city, Karachi, that left most of its 12 million residents without electricity Thursday, officials said. The outage came after Pakistan's main power utility, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) accused the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) supplying power to the southern port of refusing to settle debts of more than half a million dollars. The outage affected bazaars, businesses and homes in the normally bustling economic hub and caused huge traffic jams as signals went out of order, witnesses said. “KESC owes 34.8 billion rupees (548 million dollars) to us, which they have avoided paying for many months,” said Tahir Bisharat Cheema, the director general of WAPDA’s supply and management wing. He said the company only repaid 250 million rupees despite weekly reminders “to which they never replied.” ”We sent them a final reminder on Wednesday and informed them that we would stop supplying electricity if the longstanding dues were not paid,” Cheema told AFP. KESC said supplies were returning to about a third of the city later Thursday but accused the WAPDA of failing to warn it about the shutoff. “They suddenly stopped supplying 300 megawatts to Karachi at 8am and the power supply fell to virtually zero,” as the system tripped, KESC spokesman Sultan Hassan told AFP. “KESC staff are making efforts to restore electricity supply but it needs WAPDA supplies resumed first”, he said. (First Posted @ 11:15 PST, Updated @ 17:15 PST) Aitzaz Ahsan slams US, Britain for supporting Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, March 6 (AFP) The president of Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan Thursday urged the United States and Britain to end their support for President Musharraf. Addressing a rally of estimated 500 lawyers in Rawalpindi, he accused the United States and Britain of “condoning” the detention of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, whom Musharraf ousted in November under the state of emergency. Addressing the two western nations directly, he said: “You people are fighting a 'war on terror' and should therefore know that the most effective weapon in such a war is empowered people with enforceable rights.” (Posted @ 18:36 PST) Pakistan arrests three suspected suicide bombers LAHORE, Pakistan, March 6 (AFP): Pakistani police Thursday arrested in Lahore three suspected suicide bombers who were planning attacks on prominent personalities, officials said. They were nabbed while getting off a bus on arrival in Lahore, city police chief Malik Mohammed Iqbal told a press conference. “Police have arrested three suspects belonging to a terrorist organisation and recovered four suicide jackets, 50 kilograms of explosives, a number of detonators, fuses and chemicals from their possession,” Iqbal said. He identified the three as Abdul Majid, Qamar Saleem and Nadeem Shehzad and said they hailed from three different cities of Punjab province. “They have disclosed during investigations that they were going to target important personalities and installations,” he said. (Posted @ 16:35 PST) Soldier killed, two hurt in Balochistan blast: official QUETTA, March 6 (AFP): A Pakistani soldier was killed and two others wounded when a landmine blew up their vehicle in Balochistan early Thursday, officials said. The blast happened near a gas field in Nasirabad district, a security official said. The two injured soldiers were rushed to hospital after their vehicle was destroyed, the official said. He said militants also fired three rockets on a checkpost in Dera Bugti overnight. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) 30 Muslim ambassadors meet Dutch minister over anti-Islam film THE HAGUE, March 6 (AFP): The Dutch foreign minister met ambassadors from 30 Muslim countries Wednesday to discuss the imminent broadcast of an anti-Islam film made by a far-right Dutch parliamentarian, his office said. The talks, held at the request of the 57-strong Organisation for the Islamic Conference (OIC), came as several Muslim countries threatened an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the film is shown. “There was a meeting, requested by the OIC, to hear the Dutch government's point of view on Geert Wilders' film,” a spokesman for Foreign Minister said. Thirty ambassadors based either in the Netherlands or in neighbouring Belgium, attended the meeting. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) ANP finalizes nominees for NWFP cabinet Peshawar, Pakistan, March, 06 (PPI)- Awami National Party’s Provincial President Afrasiab Khan Khattak chaired a meeting Thursday and finalized the list of its nominees for the provincial cabinet. They are: Bashir Ahmad Bilor, Local Government (2) Arbab Ayub Jan, Agriculture, (3) Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Education (4) Zarshaid Khan, Zakat and Ushr (6) Wajid Ali Khan, Forest and Wild Life, (7) Ayub Khan Asharhi, Science and Technology (8) Barrister Arshad Abdullah, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, (9) Sardar Hussain Babak, Information and Public Relation (10) Mian Nisar Gul, Jails (11) Syed Aqil Shah, Sports, Culture and Tourism (12) Nemroz Khan, Auqaf and Haj and (13) Sitara Imran, Social Welfare. The committee also nominated Khushdil Khan Advocate as Deputy Speaker. The PPP will provide its list of the cabinet ministers in due course. There will be no appointments/nominations as adviser, special assistant or such other offices, the ANP announced. (Posted @ 19:58 PST) Muslim states urge UN rights body to condemn Israel GENEVA, March 6 (Reuters) - Muslim countries called on Thursday for the U.N.'s top human rights body to condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza, and accused the Jewish state of committing war crimes through the collective punishment of Palestinians. Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), presented a draft resolution which Israel's envoy promptly dismissed as “political posturing.” The text, which was also sponsored by the League of Arab States, demands an immediate halt to Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip as well as the firing of crude rockets by Palestinian militants into southern Israel. It condemns persistent Israeli military attacks on Gaza and accuses Israel of “inflicting collective punishment against the civilian population, which constitutes a war crime.” “Israel has resorted to use of disproportionate force, deliberate destruction of infrastructure and killing of civilians,” Pakistan's ambassador Masood Khan told the U.N. Human Rights Council. (Posted @ 19:32 PST) Changed situation in Pakistan to be positive for resolving Kashmir issue Jammu, occupied Kashmir, March 6 (PPI): Visiting Chairperson of Pakistan's Human Rights Commission, Ms Asma Jehangir says the post-election situation in Pakistan would play a “positive” role in resolving Kashmir issue. Asma Jehangir, who arrived here on two-day visit, said she would be interacting with a cross section of people to understand their view point. Describing electoral process as lifeline of a democratic set up, she said people should always utilise opportunity to elect their representatives. (Posted @ 21:36 PST) 
U.N. sees food inflation until at least 2010 BRUSSELS, March 6 (Reuters) - Inflation that has pushed food prices to record highs is likely to continue until at least 2010, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the United Nations' World Food Programme, said Thursday. “Our assessment is that the current level will continue for the next few years ... in fact rise in 2008, 2009 and probably at least until 2010,” she said. Food prices were rising due to a combination of soaring oil and energy prices, the effects of climate change, growing demand from countries such as India and China and use of crops to produce biofuels, Sheeran told a news conference. Speculative investment in commodities markets in products such as grains and cereals, which has helped fuel the price surge, is not a short-term phenomenon, she said. “This is not a short-term bubble and will definitely continue,” Sheeran said. (Posted @ 17:20 PST) Five Benazir murder suspects remanded by Pakistan court RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, March 6 (AFP): Five suspected militants accused of involvement in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto were remanded in custody by a Pakistani anti-terrorist court Thursday, court officials said. Security was tight around the court in Rawalpindi as dozens of police rushed the accused men inside, an AFP correspondent said. After proceedings lasting only a few minutes the judge sent Aitzaz Shah, Hasnain Gul, Abdul Rashid, Sher Zaman and Rafaqat - who goes by one name - to the city's Adiala Jail on judicial remand, a court official said. “They are facing charges of involvement in Bhutto's murder and several other suicide attacks and bomb blasts in Rawalpindi,” the official said requesting anonymity. They will next appear before the judge on March 10, he said, adding that the provincial government will decide whether the proceedings will be held in the district court or inside the jail premises. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) Lawyers stage anti-Musharraf rally in Lahore LAHORE, March 6 (AFP): More than 2,000 lawyers rallied in Lahore Thursday to press their demands for the reinstatement of judges suspended by President Musharraf. The lawyers, joined by civil society activists and workers of both religious and secular opposition parties, chanted slogans including “Go Musharraf, go!” ”Our struggle will continue for the restoration of an independent judiciary and reinstatement of the judges,” read a large banner carried by the crowd as it came out of the High Court building and paraded on the main Mall Road. Many carried portraits of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who was suspended by President Musharraf in November and remains under house arrest in Islamabad. (Posted @ 14:35 PST) U.S. military says 2,000 troops leaving Iraq BAGHDAD, March 6 (Reuters) Some 2,000 U.S. soldiers are being withdrawn from Baghdad as part of a planned reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq, the U.S. military said Thursday. “I can state that (they) are leaving and there is no replacement brigade combat team coming in,” U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Stover told Reuters. (Posted @ 18:48 PST) 
Sri Lankan Tamil MP killed COLOMBO, March 6 (AFP) A Sri Lankan Tamil lawmaker was killed Thursday in a roadside bomb attack by government security forces, his party said. The vehicle of K. Sivanesan, 51, a legislator from the pro-rebel Tamil National Alliance, was hit by a mine in a guerrilla-controlled part of the island, officials said, 35 kilometres north of the frontline post of Omanthai. “The government knew Mr. Sivanesan was crossing the Omanthai checkpoint and returning to his home after attending parliament,” fellow lawmaker Mavai Senathirajah said. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said the attack, which also killed a driver, was carried out by a “deep penetration unit” of the Sri Lankan army. (Posted @ 18:04 PST) Britain urges NATO allies to help new Pakistan government BRUSSELS, March 6 (AFP): British Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged NATO countries Thursday to foster good relations with the new government in Pakistan and particularly in its dealings with Afghanistan. “I'll be stressing ... the importance of good relations with the new Pakistani government because it is obviously vital (to have) stability on both sides of the Afghan and Pakistan border,” he told reporters. “It will be important to take measures to build confidence with the new government in Pakistan and the government in Afghanistan,” he said ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. (Posted @ 15:20 PST) Oil nears 105 dollars in Asian trade SINGAPORE, March 6 (AFP): Oil edged close to 105 dollars a barrel in Asian trade on Thursday, touching another new record high after an unexpected drop in US stockpiles and OPEC's rejection of calls to increase output. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, traded briefly at a new high of $104.95 before easing to $104.37. It closed Wednesday at $104.52. (Posted @ 09:50 PST) ADB loan of $75million for Pakistan to build dams, canals in Punjab Islamabad, March 06 (PPI): Asian Development Bank (ADB) will extend a $75 million credit to Pakistan to build several multipurpose dams, irrigation canals and drinking water system across the Potohar Plateau in Punjab province's districts of Attock, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Chakwal. “Without secure water sources, farming in rain-fed 'barani' areas usually has low productivity and carries high risk because crops often fail when there is drought,” said Arnaud Cauchois, Rural Development Specialist at ADB. “This project will give farmers a reliable water supply, which will increase crop and livestock productivity and therefore increase people's incomes. At the same time, it will increase households' access to cleaner water, therefore reducing sickness and mortality rates caused by waterborne diseases.” Out of the total loan package, $20 million will be concessional and will carry low interest rates, while the balance of $55 million will be provided from ordinary capital resources under ADB's London interbank offered rate-based lending facility. (Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Cricket: England 87 for 2 in reply to New Zealand's 470 HAMILTON, New Zealand, March 6 (APP/AFP) - England were 87 for two in reply to New Zealand's first innings 470 at the end of the second day of the first cricket Test here Thursday. Michael Vaughan was not out 44 with Andrew Strauss on one. For New Zealand, Ross Taylor made 120, Jamie How 92 and Daniel Vettori 88 while Ryan Sidebottom took four for 90. (First Posted @ 09:35 PST, Updated @ 16:30 PST) US forces kill nine, detain eight suspected insurgents in raid against al-Qaeda in Iraq BAGHDAD, March 6 (AP): U.S. and Iraqi forces killed nine suspected insurgents and detained eight others in a raid targeting al-Qaeda in the Tal Afar area in Iraq's Ninevah province Sunday, the U.S. military said Thursday. Three Iraqi troops were killed in the operation. (Posted @ 14:25 PST) Nine killed as truck smashes into pedestrians in China BEIJING, March 6 (AFP): Nine people were killed when a truck ploughed into a group of pedestrians in central China Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. The pedestrians were standing outside a hotel in Henan province when they were hit by the truck, Xinhua said, citing local public security officials. It was not clear what caused the accident, the report said. (Posted @ 12:45 PST) Israeli soldier killed in Gaza blast: report DUBAI, March 6 (AFP): One Israeli soldier was killed Thursday and another wounded when a mine blew up in southern Gaza, Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television reported, quoting its correspondent. A witness said the jeep appeared to have been destroyed by the explosion at the Kissufim border crossing in central Gaza, and two tanks and an ambulance rushed to the scene. “I believe the jeep was destroyed, because it was consumed by flames,” the witness, a local Palestinian, told Reuters. A spokesman for the Islamic Jihad militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. (First Posted @ 12:00 PST, Updated @ 12:25 PST) Boat sinks in Albanian lake; 16 dead TIRANA, March 6 (AP): Tirana police said a boat carrying 20 people celebrating the birthday of 5-year-old twins sank in a lake near the capital, killing 16 people, including the two children. Four people survived. The boat belonged to a restaurant on the shores of Lake Farka, about 10 kilometers east of the capital. It had a capacity of seven, but had 20 partygoers when it sank, a police spokeswoman said. (Posted @ 11:30 PST) US military returns to Uzbekistan TASHKENT, March 6 (AFP): The US military is again using Uzbekistan as a stop-off point for military operations in neighbouring Afghanistan after ending its presence there over a diplomatic row, a US official said Thursday. Uzbekistan in 2005 closed down a US air base in retaliation against US criticism of the bloody repression of unrest in the city of Andijan by Uzbek forces. But diplomatic contacts have warmed up recently. In January, the head of US Central Command, Admiral William Fallon, visited Tashkent and met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov. (Posted @ 11:25 PST) Sikhs won't meet Pope during US visit due to security concerns WASHINGTON, March 6 (AP): Sikh representatives will not participate in an interfaith meeting with Pope Benedict XVI during his U.S. visit next month because the Secret Service won't allow them to wear a ceremonial dagger that all Sikhs must carry. Sikhs were invited to join other religious leaders for a 45-minute meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church on April 17 in Washington to express a shared commitment to peace. But the U.S. Secret Service would not allow the Sikhs to carry a kirpan, which resembles a small sword or dagger. (Posted @ 10:20 PST) Top US military officer opposes timetable for Iraq withdrawal WASHINGTON, March 6 (AFP): The top US military officer said Wednesday he opposed a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq. “I am against a timetable,” said Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who would remain in office for at least the first year of next administration. Mullen said he worried that a precipitous withdrawal would sacrifice the gains made in Iraq and lead to the situation once again spiralling out of control. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Colombia says FARC rebels bomb oil pipeline BOGOTA, March 6 (AP): Leftist Colombian rebels bombed an oil pipeline in the southwest of the country, the government said on Wednesday, in a possible reprisal attack just days after the army killed a top guerrilla leader. It will take about three days to repair the 100,000 barrel-per-day Trasandino pipeline in the province of Putumayo, the deputy energy minister said. Authorities said the bombing was carried out by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which is fighting a four-decade-old insurgency. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) 14 feared dead as oil tanker sinks off southern Vietnam HANOI, March 6 (AFP): A Vietnamese oil tanker has sunk and rescue crews were Thursday searching for 14 crew missing and feared dead while trying to contain an oil slick in the South China Sea, authorities said. The MT Duc Tri carrying 1,700 tons of crude oil was battered by bad weather and capsised near the southern seaside resort of Mui Ne late on Wednesday night, the authorities said. (Posted @ 09:05 PST) Karachi Stocks up 187.54 points: KARACHI, March 06: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 15145.36, up 187.54 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, March 06: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 63 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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