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| March 09, 2008 | Sunday | Safar 30, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 Pakistan opposition leaders sign coalition agreement BHURBAN, Pakistan, March 9 (AFP) – Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's two major opposition leaders, signed a formal declaration Sunday on forming a coalition government, and urged President Pervez Musharraf to convene parliament without delay. Asif Zardari, the co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, and Nawaz Sharif, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), signed the agreement at a news conference at this picturesque hill resort after a fresh round of coalition talks earlier in the day at the adjoining hill station of Murree. “The coalition partners PPP and PML-N undertake to form coalition partnership together for a democratic Pakistan for translating the mandate given by the people of Pakistan to the democratic forces through the February 18, 2008 elections,” Sharif said reading out from the joint declaration. “The leadership was of the firm opinion that the coalition partners are ready to form the governments, and the national and provincial assemblies should be convened immediately,” Sharif continued. TV channels telecast live the press conference at which the joint declaration was read out. Its main provisions are that the PPP would name the prime minister and also the speaker and the deputy speaker of the national assembly, with PML-N having its share in the federal cabinet.. In the populous Punjab province, the PML-N would name the chief minister as well as the speaker and the deputy speaker while the PPP will have its share in the provincial cabinet. The joint declaration pledged that the two coalition partners would ensure the restoration of the superior court judges within a period of 30 days of the functioning of the new government through a parliamentary process. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)  Pakistan opposition leaders hold coalition talks MURREE, Pakistan, March 9 (AFP) - Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, leaders of Pakistan’s two main political parties, the PPP and the PML-N respectively, held talks Sunday to try to hammer out the make-up of a coalition government, party officials said. They met with officials under tight security at Nawaz Sharif’s residence in the popular hill resort of Murree. Their parties have been engaged in coalition talks ever since they routed Musharraf's allies in February 18 general elections. Security was tight in Murree, about 60 kilometres northeast of the capital Islamabad, and police cordoned off roads around the residence, an AFP reporter at the scene said. Party officials said the talks made good progress and included a one-on-one session between Sharif and Zardari. Both leaders later drove to the adjoining hill station of Bhurban to address a joint press conference where they read out the joint declaration containing the main parts of the agreement reached between the parties. “The meeting (at Murree) basically discussed the formation of a coalition government. We have decided in principle to work together,” PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told AFP. “As far as the issue of restoration of judges is concerned, both the parties have agreed on the restoration of judges,” Iqbal said. “Now the issue which is to be decided is the mode and time frame of restoration.” (Posted @ 17:05 PST) I was not included in delegation that met Nawaz: Amin Fahim Karachi, Pakistan, March 9 (PPI):- Senior Vice-Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Makhdoom Amin Fahim Sunday said he was not included in the PPP team that met with the PML-N leadership in Murree and attended the joint declaration ceremony at Bhurban hill resort. Talking to a private TV channel he denied that he could not attend the meeting owing to personal engagements. Earlier, replying to a question about Makhdoom Amin Fahim's absence in the meeting, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had said: “This meeting is too small for him (Amin Fahim) to attend and he has some personal engagements” Party sources, however, said that differences are widening between the two PPP leaders over the issue of nomination for the slot of prime minister. (Posted @ 20:20 PST) 
 Pakistan police teargas sacked judge's supporters ISLAMABAD, March 9 (AFP) - Police fired teargas at supporters of the country's sacked chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, protesting outside his official residence in Islamabad on Sunday, witnesses said. The protestors, including lawyers, political party workers and civil society activists, were stopped by riot police at the barbed barricade erected outside the residence of deposed supreme court chief justice. Later, police fired teargas at the protestors to disperse them and both sides threw stones at each other, an AFP photographer said. The protestors wanted to march towards Chaudhry's residence and present him with flowers but police stopped them, he said. The hide and seek and intermittent clashes between the police and the judge’s supporters continued till late in the afternoon. Lawyers across Pakistan Sunday began the observance of “Black Flag Week” to press for Chaudhry's reinstatement. President Pervez Musharraf sacked Chaudhry on March 9 last year on misconduct charges but the Supreme Court reinstated him in July. In November Musharraf again sacked Chaudhry and other judges under emergency rule, fearing they might disqualify him for contesting presidential election while being army chief and president at the same time. Chaudhry and his family have been living under house arrest at the official residence in judges colony in a heavily-guarded government residential area of Islamabad since November. Pakistan's incoming government coalition partners Sunday said that the new parliament would reinstate the sacked judges. (Posted @ 18:50 PST) Lawyers “Black Flag Week” begins in Lahore LAHORE, Pakistan, March 9 (APPP)- Sovereign parliament and independent judiciary are inevitable for the protection of rights of common man, President of Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan said Sunday at the lawyers convention on first day of 'Black Flag Week' being observed by members of the legal fraternity across Pakistan from March 9. He said fall of justice and inequality in the country would result in elimination of basic liberties and roll back of democracy. (Posted @ 20:00 PST) Justice Wajih launches lawyers ‘Black Flag Week’ QUETTA, Pakistan, March 9 (APP): Justice (Retd) Wajjihuddin Ahmed Sunday hoisted a black flag at the building of Quetta Session Court to mark the observance of 'Black Flag Week' in Balochistan to press the demand for the restoration of the superior court judges. Addressing the members of the bar he criticized the delay in convening the assemblies session. Later, he addressed a seminar on “Independent Judiciary, Reinstatement of Deposed Judges”. (Posted @ 19:55 PST) One killed, six of family injured in Pakistan tribal area GHALANI, Pakistan, March 9 (APP): One person was killed and six members of his family sustained injuries when a mortar shell hit a house in Qandarvi area in Mohmand Agency here early Sunday. Official sources said that suspected militants attacked the FC check-post in Tehsil Lakaro at 4 am, which was retailed. During an exchange of fire lasting about three hours, rocket launchers and heavy and lights weapons were used. One mortar shell landed on the house of one Dawai Khan, killing him at the spot while two women and four children of his family sustained injuries. In another incident, one Qadeem Khan was injured when a stray hit him in Garbaz area. Meanwhile. (Posted @ 18:25 PST) Dr. A.Q.Khan discharged from hospital ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 9 (APP): Nuclear scientist Dr. A.Q. Khan has been shifted to his residence after being discharged from the hospital. Further treatment as required would be provided to Dr. Khan at his residence, official sources said Sunday. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday with symptoms of fever and low blood pressure. (Posted @ 17:50 PST) Ex-PM Aziz hopes new government would take Pak-US ties forward NEW YORK, Mar 9 (APP): Former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has expressed the hope that Pakistan and the United States would take their “vital” relationship forward after the induction of a new government in Pakistan. “New political dynamics are emerging. But most importantly, (the Feb. 18 free and fair) election have once again proved that the majority of Pakistanis are moderate and progressive and that extremism has no place in our society,” he told a meeting of an American think-tank in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday. Iin a wide-ranging speech to the Pacific Council on International Policy. Aziz pointed to the impression being created in the U.S. about the alleged vulnerability of Pakistan's nuclear assets. “These assets are under multilayered, institutionalized command and control structures and completely safe and secure.” The former premier also regretted the congressional trend towards conditionalities on U.S. assistance to Pakistan, and warned against repeating the Pressler Amendment under which Pakistan's aid was cutoff in the 80's, saying, “Sanctions are counter-productive.” The former premier also said that only half of the now famous figure of $10 billion being banded around was the actual assistance to enable Pakistan fight terrorism in the tribal areas. “It is wrong to project CSF (Coalition Support Fund) reimbursements as 'assistance' given to Pakistan since 2001. This is reimbursement for the expenditure already incurred by Pakistan. Reimbursements are not assistance. Nor should they be subject to any conditions.” Aziz also warned against non-payments of dues resulting from Pakistan's anti-terror operations, saying such a course could “lead to suspension of this cooperation as we cannot sustain this budgetary strain endlessly.” (Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Quake jolts Mansehra, Abbottabad in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, March 9 (APP): Tremors of magnitude 4.5 on Richter scale were felt in Mansehra and Abbotabad on Sunday at about 6.32 a.m. The epicenter of the earthquake was in Hazara Division about 240 kilometers from Peshawar, private TV channels reported.There was no immediate report of any casualties. (Posted @ 17:25 PST) Tailored elections no answer to Kashmir dispute: Shah ISLAMABAD, March 9 (APP): Senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), Shabbir Ahmad Shah has said that tailored elections in the past failed to resolve the Kashmir dispute and termed any such future exercise futile for bringing peace to South Asia. Addressing media men in Srinagar, he said Indian troops were committing blatant human rights violations in the occupied territory, KMS reported. Shah also stated that the Indian government was imposing restrictions on religious processions and the performance of other religious obligations in occupied Kashmir. (Posted @ 17:25 PST) Helicopters save 775 Russians trapped on ice drift MOSCOW, March 9 (Reuters) - Russian helicopters rescued 775 fishermen stranded on ice sheets drifting into the Pacific Ocean on Sunday. The men had walked a few kilometres across the ice pack surrounding the remote island of Sakhalin in Russia's far-east to fish over the ocean, news agencies quoting local emergency services reported. (First Posted @ 17:45 PST; Updated @ 18:55 PST) 
18 killed in train-bus accident in Argentina BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, March 9 (AP) - A train slammed into a bus at a rural Argentine rail crossing early Sunday, killing 18 people and leaving at least 47 others injured, authorities said. The bus was traveling from the Argentine capital to the South Atlantic beach resort of Mar del Plata when the accident occurred near Dolores, some 125 miles south of Buenos Aires, the government news agency Telam said. (Posted @ 17:20 PST) Field Hockey: Olympic Games qualifying results SANTIAGO, March 9 (AFP) – The following are the results of the matches played on Saturday in the 2008 Olympic Games men's field hockey qualifying tournament: Great Britain 4, Austria 0; Russia 9, Mexico 1; and Chile 1, India 4 (Posted @ 16:40 PST) Spain's PM appeals for high turnout as he casts election ballot MADRID, March 9 (AFP) - Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero appealed for a high turnout as he cast his ballot Sunday in general elections in which he is tipped to win a second term. Some 35 million voters are eligible to vote to elect the 350 members of the Cortes, the lower house of parliament, as well as 208 of the 264 members of the Senate, or upper house. Polling stations opened 9:00 am (0800 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT). The election has been clouded by the killing on Friday of a Socialist former politician by suspected Basque separatists, an attack which prompted political parties to end campaigning early. (Posted @ 16:20 PST) Cricket-South Africa beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in ODI CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, March 9 (Reuters) - South Africa beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first one-day international here Sunday. Score: Bangladesh 178 in 48.2 overs (T.Iqbal 82, A.Nel 3-24) v South Africa 180-1 in 36.5 overs (Smith 103 not out, Gibbs 57) (First Posted @ 08:50 PST; Updated @ 16:15 PST) Afghan protesters burn Dutch, Danish flags JALALABAD, March 9 (AFP): More than 2,000 protesters burned Dutch and Danish flags Sunday in Jalalabad, in a rally against cartoons and a film they say insult Islam. “Death to Denmark, death to Holland,” the mob chanted, an AFP reporter said. The demonstrators also chanted anti-American slogans, burning an effigy of US President George W. Bush and called on the Afghan government to cut ties with Denmark and the Netherlands and expel their troops serving here. The marchers were demanding the cartoonist and the politician, who plans to release his film this month, be put on trial. “If our demands are not met, we will stage more protests and resort to attacks against the foreigners,” said a university student. (Posted @ 12:35 PST) Sri Lanka says 57 killed in heavy weekend battles COLOMBO, March 9 (AFP): At least 53 Tamil Tiger rebels and four soldiers were killed in heavy fighting over the weekend, the defence ministry said Sunday. Helicopter gunships pounded Tamil rebels strongholds in Mannar district. It said 15 rebels and two soldiers were killed on Saturday in clashes while 38 guerrillas and two more soldiers were killed Friday in fierce clashes in the north. There was no immediate word from the Tigers, but the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website reported that security forces were using multi-barrel rocket launchers to attack areas inside rebel-held territory. (First Posted @ 09:45 PST, Updated @ 12:05 PST) Malaysia PM has no plans to resign: spokesman KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 (Reuters): Malaysia's prime minister has no plans to resign, his spokesman said on Sunday, despite leading the ruling coalition to its worst-ever election setback at general elections on Saturday. The spokesman said, “he still has plans to proceed to the palace tomorrow morning (Monday) to take oath of office.” Abdullah's multi-racial National Front coalition won just a simple majority in parliament, but lost a third of its federal seats and five states to the opposition. (Posted @ 11:20 PST) Ecuador president not yet ready to re-establish diplomatic ties with Colombia QUITO, March 9 (AP): Ecuador is not yet ready to re-establish diplomatic relations with Colombia despite a recent agreement to end a diplomatic crisis, President Rafael Correa said Saturday. “We will coordinate with Venezuela in setting up a timeline for re-establishing our ambassadors in Bogota,” Correa said in his weekly radio address., referring to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's decision to expel Colombia's diplomats in support of Ecuador during the conflict. (Posted @ 10:55 PST) UN envoy extends Myanmar mission after vote setback YANGON, March 9 (AFP): UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari extended Sunday his mission to Myanmar by one day, officials said, after his efforts to include democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the election process were rebuffed. The Nigerian troubleshooter was due to leave military-run Myanmar on Sunday evening after meetings with United Nations staff and the information minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan. “His visit has been extended, so he will go back Monday,” said a government official. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Obama beats Clinton in Wyoming contest CASPER, March 9 (AFP): Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama trounced rival Hillary Clinton in Wyoming caucuses Saturday as their tight race left them battling for every nominating delegate. The Illinois senator was the projected winner by US television networks, leading the former first lady by a wide margin, 59 percent to 40 percent, or 4,459 votes to 3,081, CNN reported, with 96 percent of the vote counted. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Storm piles more than 20 inches of snow in Ohio; more than a foot falls in Indiana COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 9 (AP): A heavy winter storm hit Ohio with more than 20 inches of snow. Three men died in Cleveland while shoveling snow. High winds whipped the snow into 3-foot tall drifts in some places and cut visibility. The storm which rolled in Friday, dumped 20.4 inches of snow on Columbus, breaking the city's previous record of 15.3 inches set in February 1910, the National Weather Service said. Cincinnati and Cleveland also received about a foot of snow. In Indiana, 14 inches of snow fell in Milan, about 60 miles southeast of Indianapolis, the NWS said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) Cricket: New Zealand beat England by 189 runs HAMILTON, March 9 (AFP): New Zealand beat England by 189 runs on the final day of the first cricket Test here Sunday when England were dismissed in their second innings for 110. Ian Bell was not out 54 while Kyle Mills took four for 16. Scores: New Zealand 470 and 177 for nine declared. England 348 and 110. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) 
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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