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| March 17, 2008 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 New Pakistan parliament convenes ISLAMABAD, March 17 (AFP/PPI) Pakistan’s new parliament, the 13th National Assembly, convened on Monday, almost one month after the general elections were held on February 18. The session began with the recitation from the Holy Quran followed by the 328 members of the National Assembly taking oath. The oath was administered by the Speaker of the outgoing assembly, Chaudhry Amir Hussain. After the oath, fateha was offered was former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Thereafter, the members signed the roll in alphabetical order. Later, the Speaker adjourned the house to meet again on Wednesday. On Tuesday, nominations will be filed for the offices of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, followed by scrutiny and notification of the final list of contestants. The 328 MNAs who took oath on Monday represent almost 60% new faces; 84.6% of the Balochistan MNAs have been elected for the first time. Similarly, 19 out of the 32 MNAs from NWFP are new faces. The new comers from Punjab total 77, Sindh 28 and FATA 7. Security arrangements both inside and outside of the Parliament House were extra-stringent and manned by about 1100 security personnel. (First Posted @ 12:05 PST Updated @ 18:58 PST)  
Chief Justice convenes Full Court meeting of Supreme Court ISLAMABAD, March 17 (APP): Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar Monday convened Full Court meeting of the Supreme Court here on Tuesday. According to Supreme Court sources, the Chief Justice will preside over the Full Court meeting to be attended by all the fifteen judges of the Supreme Court. The meeting will be held in the conference room of the apex court after the court time. (Posted @ 21:28 PST) Iraq: suicide attack kills 36 in Karbala KARBALA, Iraq, March 17 (AFP) - A suicide attack near a Shiite shrine killed at least 36 people on Monday in the central Iraqi city of Karbala, a health official told AFP. At least 50 people were wounded in the blast which occurred near the revered Imam Hussein shrine, said Alaa Hamud Dadair, head of Karbala's health directorate. Witnesses said the attacker was a female suicide bomber, Dadair said. The blast occurred around 100 metres from the shrine, located in the centre of the city. (First Posted @ 21:10 PST Updated @ 21:35 PST) Zardari urges world community to support democracy in Pakistan ISLAMABAD, March 17 (AFP) “This is the last day of dictatorship,” Pakistan People's Party chief Asif Ali Zardari told reporters after meeting Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif in the heavily-guarded parliament building where the newly-elected members were administered oath earlier Monday. “This is our first step. We have conveyed a message to the world community to support democracy, which defeats dictatorship,” Zardari said. Nawaz Sharif told newsmen the coalition's strategy was “very clear - our agenda is democracy versus dictatorship. It has to end, it has to be defeated.” PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told parliament the election win showed the “people of Pakistan have rejected the step taken on October 12, 1999.” Neither Asif Zardari nor Nawaz Sharif have seats in the assembly. Both watched the ceremony from the gallery, seated side-by-side. (Posted @ 16:20 PST) Nawaz Sharif says new parliament to be sovereign ISLAMABAD, March 17 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after a meeting with Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zamaan Siddiqui on Monday said:, “We do not accept extra-constitutional steps and have rejected the PCO.” He expressed concern over what he called “conspiracies” to subvert the February 18 mandate of the people. In this connection he said that while the National Assembly session was called after one-month delay there was no indication yet about summoning the provincial assemblies' sessions.. Replying to a question, he said the coalition partners were engaged in dialogue process and had a common open agenda which they would collectively strive to implement. To a question about possibility of an impeachment move against the President, he said it depended on the President, who he added should make timely decision to avert such action. Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zamaan Siddiqui said he had given his opinion to the PML-N chief on the issue of reinstatement of deposed judges. (Posted @ 20:25 PST)  Israr Tareen, Pakistan opposition's candidate for slot of Speaker: Elahi ISLAMABAD, March 17 (APP) The Parliamentary Party leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Monday announced that Israr Tareen would be the joint candidate of the opposition parties for the slot of Speaker National Assembly. Talking to the press here after a joint Parliamentary Party meeting of the opposition parties, he said the meeting had also ratified the candidates of the opposition parties for the other offices announced Sunday; “Farooq Sattar for the slot of Prime Minister; Khush Bakht Shujaat Deputy Speaker; Pervaiz Elahi Leader of Opposition and Haider Abbas Rizvi as Deputy Opposition Leader in the National Assembly.” He said adding that the PML-Q, MQM, PML-F and PPP-Sherpao would sit on opposition benches. Elahi said that the opposition parties would play a constructive and positive role. “We are going to the Parliament with a constructive and positive approach,” he added. Haider Abbas Rizvi said in reply to a question that this would prove to be an 'enthusiastic and energetic' opposition. (Posted @ 17:12 PST) Suicide bomber kills two policemen in northern Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 17 (AFP) - A suicide bomber blew himself up at a police barracks in Pakistan's northern Swat valley on Monday, killing two policemen and injuring six others, police said. A young man pretending to be a recruit and holding a police uniform entered the barracks at Mingora city, the main town in the region, and set off the device when he was stopped for questioning by local officers, police spokesman Ammanullah Khan said. “He detonated explosives strapped to his body. Two policemen are martyred and six are wounded in the attack,” Khan told AFP. Another police officer earlier said the death occurred in a bomb attack. (First Posted @ 19:50 PST Updated @ 21:12 PST) Four FBI agents among wounded in Pakistan blast: ABC WASHINGTON, March 17 (AFP): At least four US FBI agents were among the injured in a bomb attack at a popular restaurant in Pakistan, ABC television reported Sunday. ABC, which did not identify its source on the online report said, “multiple sources said the attack was under investigation to see whether it was based on the terrorists having learned in advance of the agents' presence. “Washington officials meanwhile, downplayed the possibility that the attack specifically targeted the agents based on advance intelligence,” the ABC report added. The US State Department, reached for comment Sunday, did not immediately confirm or deny the report of FBI staff being injured. (Posted @ 09:00 PST) New parliament - historical event: President Musharraf ISLAMABAD, March 17 (APP): President Pervez Musharraf Monday termed the convening of the new parliament as a historical event and expressed confidence that Pakistan would continue to make progress on the path of democracy and economic growth. He was talking to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former US Permanent Representative to the United nations who also currently holds Chair of the Asia Society. During the meeting, views were exchanged on recent political developments, Pakistan-US relations and regional situation. President Musharraf reiterated Pakistan's firm resolve to fight extremism and terrorism and highlighted the multi-pronged strategy being followed in FATA --- comprising military, political and socio-economic components. He underlined the importance of accelerated progress on initiatives like Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and support for the FATA development plan. Ambassador Holbrooke agreed on the need for enhanced US support for such initiatives. (Posted @ 19:30 PST) Two US soldiers killed in roadside bomb in Iraq BAGHDAD, March 17 (AFP) - Two US soldiers were killed on Monday when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq, the American military said. “The soldiers were conducting a route-clearance combat operation north of Baghdad when the attacked occurred,” a military statement said. It gave no further details. (Posted @ 21:30 PST) Commodore Waqar Siddiq promoted to rank of Real Admiral ISLAMABAD, Mach 17 (APP): The Government of Pakistan has announced the promotion of Commodore Waqar Siddiq to the rank of Rear Admiral with immediate effect. (Posted @ 21:26 PST) Top militant chief, Indian colonel killed in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, March 17 (AFP): A top militant commander, an Indian army officer and a soldier were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Indian occupied Kashmir, the army said Monday. The fighting erupted late Sunday near Sopore town, about 50 kilometres north of Srinagar after Indian troops received a tip-off, an army spokesman told AFP. “During the fighting our troops killed a dreaded militant,” identifying the rebel as Hafiz Nasir, chief commander for Lashkar-e-Toiba in the valley. “We also lost a lieutenant colonel and a soldier,” he said. (Posted @ 11:10 PST) Cricket-Patel to succeed Speed as ICC chief executive DUBAI, March 17 (Reuters) - South Africa's Imtiaz Patel will be the next chief executive of the International Cricket Council, it was announced on Monday. He will succeed Australia's Malcolm Speed, who will step down in July after seven years in office. “There was an absolute consensus on his choice,” said David Morgan, the ICC president elect. “He was among the six candidates shortlisted for the job by the ICC executive board from a list of 15 chosen by our consultants. “We still have to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract with Mr Imtiaz. The initial contract will be for a term of three years,” Morgan said. (Posted @ 20:14 PST) Rice, Gates hold missile defence talks in Moscow MOSCOW, March 17 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Monday held sensitive talks on missile defence with President Vladimir Putin and president-elect Dmitry Medvedev. Welcoming Gates and Rice, Medvedev predicted “tense” talks but said there was a common will to overcome differences both on missile defence and replacing the strategic arms reduction treaty (START) that runs out next year. “We still have differences in our positions on missile defence and the START treaty but nonetheless there is a will to move forward,” Medvedev said. (Posted @ 20:02 PST) Suicide bomb kills seven in Afghanistan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, March 17 (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed two Danish and one Czech NATO soldiers, an interpreter and three civilians in an attack on a convoy from the NATO-led ISAF near the village of Girishk in Helmand province, an ISAF spokesman said. “Four ISAF soldiers and approximately six Afghan civilians were wounded,” he added. On Sunday night, a Canadian soldier was also killed by an explosion in Kandahar, the ISAF said. (First Posted @ 14:00 PST Updated @ 19:10 PST) New government to fulfil promises made to the nation: Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD, March 17 (APP) PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif Monday said that “the caretaker setup which is continuation of the previous government has passed on the issues like price hike, law and order and other ills to the winning parties but the process of transition of power is yet to start.” Talking to newsmen at the Parliament House, Nawaz Sharif flanked by PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and other leaders reiterated that the new government would fulfil the promises made to the nation. “We have promised to restore the judiciary in the Murree Accord and no one has to repeat this demand which we have already pledged to implement,” he said. On arrival at the Parliament House amid tight security, Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with the heads of PPP, ANP and JUI-F. (Posted @ 18:44 PST) Lawyers continue protest LAHORE, March 17 (APP) The lawyers continued token boycott of courts Monday, and set up camp at the LHC to demand reinstatement of judges of the superior courts. Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and Lahore District Bar Association (LDBA) observed a token boycott of courts for one hour, following the decision of Pakistan Bar Council. Save the Judiciary Committee (SJC) also set up protest camp at the LHC Bar lawn. (Posted @ 18:32 PST) 
Kuwaiti cabinet resigns in new political crisis KUWAIT CITY, March 17 (AFP) Kuwaiti cabinet ministers resigned en masse Monday, the official news agency KUNA reported. “First deputy premier and defence minister and the rest of ministers have submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah,” state minister for cabinet affairs Faisal al-Hajji said. A number of MPs said the prime minister will submit the cabinet's resignation to deputy emir and crown prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Al-ahmad al-Sabah as the ruler is out of the country. (Posted @ 17:56 PST) Cricket- India name squad for South Africa Tests BANGALORE, India, March 17 (AFP) India Monday named a 14-man squad for the first two Tests of the three-match home series against South Africa starting on March 26. India's Test squad: Anil Kumble (capt), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Irfan Pathan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik. (Posted @ 17:26 PST) JUI-F to support coalition govt in Centre, Balochistan: Fazl ISLAMABAD, March 17 (APP) JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Monday said his party had decided to join the PPP-PML(N) coalition after its priorities had been accepted by them. Talking to media outside the Parliament House he said these included independent foreign policy, return of army from FATA and NWFP, provincial autonomy, and independence of judiciary and media. He said talks were underway for joining the coalition in Balochistan but the party will sit in the opposition in NWFP. (Posted @ 17:08 PST) 
Hu protege new vice-premier of China BEIJING, March 17 (AFP) China's parliament approved Li Keqiang as vice-premier Monday, state TV said. He was among four vice-premiers approved by the nearly 3,000 delegates to the National People's Congress in a vote coming a day before the close of the 14-day session. The other three vice-premiers included Beijing ex-mayor Wang Qishan and Zhang Dejiang, the former top party official in south China's Guangdong province and Hui Liangyu, a member of China's mainly Muslim Hui minority. Five state councillors, or officials at the vice-premier level, were also named Monday, including Liu Yangdong, Liang Guanglie, Meng Jianzhu, Ma Kai and Dai Bingguo. (Posted @ 16:40 PST) Cheney says US support for Iraq 'unwavering' BAGHDAD, March 17 (AFP) US support for Iraq is “unwavering,” Vice President Dick Cheney said on Monday during a surprise visit to Baghdad. Speaking to reporters after talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Cheney said he had been sent by President George W. Bush to “reaffirm to the Iraqi people the unwavering commitment of the United States to support them in finishing the difficult work that lies ahead.” Soon after he arrived, two explosions rocked Baghdad, following a roadside bombing that killed a policeman. A security official said one of the blasts was caused by a mortar attack on the highly-fortified Green Zone, home of the US embassy and the seat of Iraqi government. In a separate mission, US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain was meeting Iraqi leaders as well as US military officials to assess the success of the “surge” strategy that deployed more soldiers to Iraq, his aides said. Cheney's unheralded visit marks the first stop on a nine-day tour of the Middle East and beyond, with scheduled landings in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank, and Turkey. (FirstPosted @ 11:35 PST, Updated @ 16:10 PST) Thirteen Polish UN police hurt in Kosovo clashes WARSAW, March 17 (AFP) Thirteen Polish police officers from the UN's Kosovo mission were injured Monday in clashes with anti-independence Serbs, Poland's national police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said. “Thirteen police officers were injured,” Sokolowski told AFP. (First Posted @ 11:20 PST, Updated @ 15:25 PST)
At least 11 die as boat capsizes off Guinea CONAKRY, March 17 (Reuters) At least 11 people died and several more were missing after a boat carrying a party of more than 30 Cameroonian students capsized at the weekend off the coast of the Guinean capital Conakry, survivors said. The boat carrying 39 people, 33 of them Cameroonian students, turned over in choppy seas Saturday while on its way to Soro Island. State television said 17 people were rescued. (Posted @ 14:50 PST) Two security men killed in landmine blast in Dera Bugti DERA MURAD JAMALI, Pakistan, March 17 (APP) Two security personnel were killed after their road clearing vehicle hit a landmine in Telawagh area of Dera Bugti Monday, an FC official said. (Posted @ 13:50 PST) Four check posts, female vocational centre blown up in Pakistan MOHMAND AGENCY, Pakistan, March 17 (APP) No loss of life or casualty was reported as militants Monday blew up four check posts of Khasadar Force and a female vocational centre at Ghalanai bazaar in Mohmand agency. The local Taliban blew up check posts at Atta Bazar, Mohammad Kor, Ashraf Abad and Kadakhel. The Taliban got the check posts vacated before detonating those. (Posted @ 13:50 PST) Sri Lanka says 33 killed in weekend fighting COLOMBO, March 17 (AFP): At least 31 Tamil Tiger rebels and two security personnel were killed in weekend clashes in Sri Lanka's north, the defence ministry said Monday. Security forces battled the rebel Tamil Tigers in Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna districts, leaving 17 rebels dead on Saturday and another 14 dead on Sunday, the ministry said. A policeman was shot dead by the Tigers while a soldier was killed in a roadside bomb attack on Sunday, it added. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Fifteen people killed in traffic accident north of Cairo CAIRO, March 17 (AP): Fifteen people, mostly policemen, were killed Sunday when their vehicle smashed into a truck on the highway between Cairo and Alexandria, police said. At least 20 other people were wounded in the crash, which occurred shortly after nightfall on the main highway linking the Egyptian capital with the northern city on the Mediterranean coast, said the police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media. (Posted @ 10:15 PST) England beat New Zealand by 126 runs in Second Test WELLINGTON, March 17 (Reuters): England levelled their test series with New Zealand after a 126-run victory after they bowled the hosts out for 311 on the fifth and final day of the second test at the Basin Reserve on Monday. The final match begins in Napier on March 22. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Oil prices hit fresh high at $111.42 SINGAPORE, March 17 (AFP): Oil prices soared to a new intraday trading high above 111 dollars in Asian trade Monday as the dollar slumped to fresh lows against the euro, dealers said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, briefly traded at a new all-time high of 111.42 dollars, breaking the previous peak of 111 dollars set last Thursday. The surge came as the euro hit a new lifetime high above 1.58 dollars in Asian trading Monday while the US unit fell to as low as 96.57 yen, a level not seen since September 1995. (Posted @ 09:05 PST) Karachi Stocks down 43.66 points: KARACHI, March 17: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 15043.81, down 43.66 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, March 17: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 63.1 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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