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| April 17, 2008 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 PM Gilani vows to strengthen democracy, institutions ISLAMABAD, April 17 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday vowed to strengthen democracy and institutions in the country by taking along the opposition and thanked them for giving him the vote of confidence. “People have great hope in this parliament and if this parliament again fails to deliver, they will be greatly disappointed,” he said in a speech in the National Assembly. “That is why we talk of supremacy of parliament. We want institutions to strengthen. We want opposition to strengthen and for this objective we are ready to cooperate with the opposition.” Prime Minister Gilani said he was grateful to the opposition for supporting the coalition government's resolution calling for UN probe into Benazir Bhutto's assassination. “We want reconciliation and take the house along. When Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League can work together then why not the whole house,” he added. He assured that his government will not victimize any political worker and said he will personally look into such cases. Earlier, Faisal Saleh Hayat from PML (Q) said a new tradition was set by the opposition when they gave vote of confidence to the Prime Minister and added, they gave a “fresh political perspective”. He called for forgetting the past acrimonies and start a new era for the people of Pakistan where all the initiatives be implemented across the board without the discrimination of treasury or opposition benches. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)  Pakistan and China agree to expand cooperation in all fields: FM Qureshi ISLAMABAD, April 17 (APP):Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday said China has expressed its full readiness to assist Pakistan in energy, mineral, mining and financial sectors and to upgrade communication and transportation links between the two countries. Talking to newsmen at a Foreign Office briefing he said “both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in different fields especially in the energy sector.” Qureshi who recently visited China with President Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan also reiterated its full support to the 'One China' policy and the return of Taiwan to its motherland and also condemned and rejected the policy of separatism. He said Pakistan always support 'One China policy' and considered Tibet as inalienable part of China. Replying to a question he said Pak-China power projects in private sector will play a big role in resolving the energy crisis in Pakistan. He said financing for Bhasha Dam from China was also considered during the recent visit. The two countries also discussed the security of over 4000 Chinese working at different projects in Pakistan and Pakistan fully assured the security of these Chinese workers. He said the two countries agreed to upgrade and modernize Heavy Mechanical Complex and to increase the present level of trade from $6.8 billion to $15 billion by 2011. He said the two countries also agreed to set up Pak-China Investment Company with an initially fund of $800 million to start joint venture projects in Pakistan. China has deposited $500 million in State Bank of Pakistan as concessional loan for immediate relief to Pakistan's economy, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said He said Chinese Foreign Minister is visiting Pakistan from April 25 to 26 to review the talks held in Beijing during President Musharraf's visit. Replying to a question the Minister said Chinese cooperation in gas pipeline project was also discussed and China showed its willingness to join the project. The Foreign Minister said he is setting up two task forces in the Foreign Ministry to reframe the foreign policy based on economic diplomacy and to see Pakistan 10 years beyond. Intellectuals and scholars etc would also be involved in this exercise, he said. (Posted @ 20:34 PST)  Pakistan believes in maintaining minimum credible deterrence: PM ISLAMABAD, April 17 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterating his government's commitment to the country's strategic programme said on Thursday that Pakistan believed in maintaining minimum credible deterrence as a cornerstone of its national security policy. “Pakistan's security will always remain his government's highest priority”, he said after attending a detailed briefing on various dimensions of Pakistan's nuclear programme at the Strategic Plans Division, the Secretariat of National Command Authority in Rawalpindi on Thursday. The Prime Minister, however, added that as a responsible, declared and acknowledged nuclear power, Pakistan would continue to play a positive role in the international efforts aimed at non-proliferation. He expressed satisfaction over the effectiveness of Command and Control Structures of Pakistan's nuclear capability and said that the structures, which have now matured, were well conceived and elaborate. “It has been ensured that while our nuclear assets are safe and secure, the force development as per needs of Pakistan's Minimum deterrence is progressing well”, the Prime Minister added. The briefing was also attended by several ministers, National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majeed. (Posted @ 21:10 PST) AG Malik Qayyum feels need for constitutional reforms ISLAMABAD, April 17 (APP): Attorney General of Pakistan Malik Mohammad Qayyum Thursday said he felt that there is need for constitutional reforms. There are certain areas where amendments can be made to the constitution, he said an interview with a privte TV channel. Explaining he said amendments may be required to create a balance of power between various organs of the state. When his opinion was sought on the fate of clause 58-2(b) of the constitution the Attorney General said, “This is a political question and I cannot comment on it.” “As Attorney General I have to give my views on the law of the land today; what it should be in future is purely a political question”, he said. (Posted @ 21:04 PST) Pakistan bye-polls now on June 18 ISLAMABAD, April 17 (APP): Election Commission of Pakistan Thursday revised the election schedule for the bye-election due to ongoing sessions of National and Provincial assemblies and insufficient time for political parties for the run of elections.According to the revised schedule, the polling will now be held on June 18 instead of June 3. Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Dilshad said that according to the fresh schedule nomination papers would be filed between April 15 to May 6, scrutiny would take place from May 7 to May 13, appeals by May 17, decision on appeals by May 24, withdrawals by May 26, final list of contestants on May 26 and polling on June 18. The National Assembly constituencies of polling include NA-11 Mardan, NA-52 Rawalpindi, NA-55 Rawalpindi, NA-119 Lahore, NA-123 Lahore, NA-131 Sheikhupura, NA-147 Okara and NA-207 Larkana. Provincial assembly constituencies for which bye-polls are being held are: PUNJAB: PP-10 Rawalpindi, PP-48 Bhakkar, PP-59 Faisalabad, PP-70 Faisalabad, PP-99 Gujranwala, PP-107 Hafizabad, PP-118 Mandi Bahauddin, PP-124 Sialkot, PP-141 Lahore, PP-154 Lahore, PP-171 Nankana Sahib, PP-219 Khanewal, PP-229 Pakpattan, PP-243 D G Khan, PP-258 Muzaffargarh, PP-277 Bahawalnagar and PP-295 Rahimyar Khan. SINDH; PS-30 Khairpur, PS-44 Mattiari-cum-Hyderabad and PS-62. NWFP: PF-20 Charsadda, PF-45 Abbottabad, PF-59 Battagram, PF-75 Lakki Marwat, PF-81 Swat, PF-91 Upper Dir-I and PF-92 Upper Dir-II. BALOCHISTAN; PB-9 Pishin, PB-32 Jhal Magsi and PB-44 Lasbela. (Posted @ 17:05 PST) Seven killed, 20 injured in Pakistan sugar mill tank blast HYDERABAD, Pakistan, April 17 (APP): Seven persons were killed while 20 others injured when a tank of hot liquid sugar syrup blasted in Abadgar Sugar Mill near Buleri Shah Karim of Tando Mohammad Khan district in Sindh province Thursday morning. The cause of the blast was not clear, however there was no subversive act behind the incident which occurred at about 0815 hours, Attaullah Chandio, District Police Officer Tando Mohammad Khan, said. (First Posted @ 12:45 PST, Updated @ 16:20 PST) Pakistani stocks close at new high KARACHI, April 17 (AFP) Pakistan share prices rose 0.5 percent Thursday to close at a record high thanks to rising confidence among investors in the country's new political set-up, dealers said. The benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange index of 100 shares rose 82 points to close at 15,622 points, a new all-time high. The market has seen an overall gain of 8.1 percent or 1,269 points since the general elections on February 18. “Foreign investors have got confidence in the market sensing the present political set-up is here to stay and stabilise,” said Azhar Ahmad Batla, director of WE Financial Services. “The situation has boosted the local investors' confidence, leading to more buying rallies,” he added. (Posted @ 18:08 PST) Root causes of terrorism to be eliminated: Rehman Malik ISLAMABAD, April 17 (PPI): Prime Minister’s advisor Rehman Malik Thursday reiterated government's commitment to curb terrorism and said that first its root causes will be eliminated. Talking to newsmen after the inaugural session of SAARC Police Chiefs conference, he said the government will take stringent action against terrorists, extremists and miscreants. He said a draft has been prepared for requesting UN for probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the conference, he urged the SAARC countries to formulate a joint strategy and ensure greater cooperation for elimination of terrorism, drug smuggling and other trans-national crimes. He said socio-political reforms, economic opportunities and selective use of force against militants are going to be the main facets of our policy. (Posted @ 17:25 PST) 
Law and order situation outcome of the war on terror: NWFP Chief Secretary PESHAWAR, April 17 (PPI): The Under Secretary General of UN Department of Safety and Security, Sir David Vennus during talks with NWFP Chief Secretary, Sahibzada Riaz Noor on Wednesday discussed matters relating to safety and security of foreigners particularly the NGOs engaged in development and welfare activities in the earthquake affected areas of the province. The Chief Secretary explained that the present law and order situation in the province was the outcome of the war on terror and the situation in Afghanistan and added that the perception created by the western media about Pakistan was not a true reflection. Pakistan is a strong and safe country and the Government is fully responsive to the challenges, he added. About the safety and security of foreign NGOs, the Chief Secretary said that coordination committees had been constituted at Federal, Provincial, District and local levels that meet periodically to review security arrangements. Elected representatives and political and social figures had also been involved in these efforts. (Posted @ 17:45 PST) Matters related to Balochistan cabinet finalized with coalition partners: Khurshid Shah QUETTA, Pakistan, April 17 (APP): Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Khurshid Shah on Thursday said all the matters related to the formation of Balochistan provincial cabinet have been finalized. Talking to media persons before leaving for Quetta the PPP central leader reiterated that the federal government desired to grant maximum autonomy to the provinces and avoid undue interference in the provincial matters. He refused to comment on the possibility of induction of former cabinet members into the new provincial cabinet and said that it had been left to the discretion of chief minister Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani. (Posted @ 16:50 PST) Clashes in northwestern Pakistan between militants, tribesmen leave six dead PESHAWAR, Pakistan, April 17 (AP): Militants attacked tribesmen in northwestern Pakistan’s Khyber tribal region for allegedly selling alcohol and drugs, sparking clashes that left six people dead and 20 wounded, an official said Thursday. Mohammed Iqbal, a local government administrator, said the fighting began late Wednesday. The two sides continued to exchange fire Thursday while authorities sought help from local elders to organize a cease-fire, he said. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST, Updated @ 15:30 PST)
Suicide bomber kills 49 at Iraq funeral BAGHDAD, April 17 (Reuters): A suicide bomber struck a funeral in northern Iraq Thursday, killing 49 mourners, police said. More than 50 people had been wounded when the bomber detonated a suicide vest in the village of Bu Mohammed, near the town of Adhaim in Diyala province. (First Posted @ 13:50 PST, Updated @ 15:35 PST) Cameraman among 20 killed in Gaza clashes GAZA CITY, April 17 (AFP) - The Gaza Strip braced for more violence Thursday after three Israeli soldiers and 17 Palestinians, and a Reuters cameraman, were killed in a helicopter-backed incursion. Cameraman Fadel Shana, 23, was critically wounded Wednesday when a missile hit his vehicle in the central Gaza Strip. (Posted @ 16:35 PST)
UN warns Pakistan's Afghan refugee repatriation plan could fuel militancy ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 17 (AP) - The United Nations urged Pakistan on Thursday to revise its plan to repatriate 2.4 million Afghan refugees by 2009, saying the strategy is unworkable and could fuel militancy. “People are not commodities,” Kilian Kleinschmidt, assistant representative in Pakistan for the U.N. refugee agency, told The Associated Press. “The strategy based on the policy that all the Afghans should be repatriated by 2009 needs to be revised and reviewed.” The UNHCR has agreed to Pakistan's plan to close four border camps that Islamabad says pose a security risk. Authorities have already closed one and are in the process of clearing another settlement with about 80,000 others. But the U.N. says more camp closures and mass repatriations could backfire because refugees would likely return as illegal migrants. “It could even push a number of these returnees into the hands of militants. It could be counterproductive and really affect regional stability,” Kleinschmidt said. (Posted @ 21:02 PST) US-led, Afghan forces kill 13 Taliban GHAZNI, Afghanistan, April 17 (Reuters) - Afghan and U.S.-led forces killed 13 Taliban insurgents on Thursday in two separate clashes southwest of the capital, Kabul, officials said. Ten of the insurgents died after a botched ambush against a joint Afghan and U.S.-led convoy on a highway in Ghazni province. In another clash in the same province, the Afghan National Army killed three more Taliban guerrillas, the defence ministry said in a statement. There were no casualties among Afghan and foreign forces in either encounter, Afghan officials said. The Taliban could not be contacted immediately for comment. Also on Thursday, two NATO soldiers were wounded in a roadside bomb blast in the province of Kandahar, and at least two NATO soldiers were wounded and a tank destroyed when a remote-controlled roadside bomb exploded in the town of Spin Boldak, border police chief, Abdul Raziq Khan, told Reuters. (Posted @ 20:14 PST) Balochistan cabinet to sworn in soon: Raisani QUETTA, April 17 (APP) Chief Minister of Balochistan Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani said Thursday the provincial cabinet would soon be in place as all the matters relating to allocation of portfolios have been settled among the allied parties.Talking to newsmen, he termed negotiations with Baloch militants important for durable peace in the province and said they have already been invited for talks. He appealed to the militants to come to the negotiating table throwing away the weapons. Nawab Raisani said the federal government has been contacted to help the province overcome its financial problems. (Posted @ 20:02 PST) 
Arbab Rahim files petition against placing his name in ECL ISLAMABAD, April 17 (APP): Former chief minister of Sindh, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, through advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri, Thursday filed a petition in Islamabad High Court challenging the placement of his name in the exit control list. In the petition, Arbab pleaded that he was the chief of a tribe and an activist of human rights and that his name has been placed on the ECL although there is no (criminal) case against him nor was he wanted in any case. (Posted @ 19:04 PST) Indian leg of Olympic relay ends NEW DELHI, April 17 (AFP) The Indian leg of the global Olympic torch relay ended Thursday after a short run along a central New Delhi avenue guarded by thousands of police and soldiers, AFP reporters said. The scaled-back 2.3 kilometre run passed off smoothly, with an estimated 16,000 police and soldiers having thrown up a huge security cordon around the avenue between the presidential palace to India Gate. Participants in the relay were flanked and guided by tracksuited Chinese security guards, and running barely a few metres each. The relay lasted a little over 30 minutes. (First Posted @ 13:00 PST Updated @ 18:36 PST) 180 arrests around Indian Olympic relay zone NEW DELHI, April 17 (AFP) Up to 180 Tibetan activists have been detained in the vicinity of the tightly guarded Olympic torch relay route in New Delhi, police and activists said Thursday. “We have around 170 to 180 people in custody,” a senior police official told AFP. Those arrested included a group of around 70 protesters who tried to make a run for the area where the torch relay began. An additional 46 Tibetans were also arrested in Mumbai Thursday as they tried to storm the Chinese consulate, police said. (First Posted @ 15:30 PST Updated @ 18:16 PST)
Oil price hits record high 115.54 dollars LONDON, April 17 (AFP) The price of New York oil hit a record high 115.54 dollars per barrel Thursday, boosted by falling US energy reserves and a weak dollar which attracts investors into commodities, analysts said. New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, later stood at 115.23 dollars, up 30 cents from Wednesday's close. At the same time, Brent North Sea crude for June delivery soared to a historic peak of 113.38 dollars on Thursday. It later stood at 113.08 dollars, up 42 cents from Wednesday. (First Posted @ 10:20 PST Updated @ 18:12 PST ) Russia scraps Libya debt in exchange for contracts MOSCOW, April 17 (AFP) Russia on Thursday cancelled Libya's Soviet-era debt of 4.5 billion dollars in exchange for contracts for Russian firms, officials said. “Russia has cancelled the debt in exchange for several billions of dollars in contracts for Russian companies,” Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in Tripoli. During Putin's visit, Russian gas giant Gazprom signed a cooperation deal with Libya's national energy company. The agreement talks about joint exploration and production projects in Libyan oil and gas reserves, as well as the construction of new power stations and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, Gazprom's press service said. Russian news agencies said one of them was for Russian Railways, which will build a 500 kilometre line through Libya over four years for around 3.2 billion dollars. Putin met with Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on Wednesday and Thursday. (Posted @ 18:04 PST) Sarabjit family members get Pakistan visas NEW DELHI, April 17 (APP): Pakistan High Commission Wednesday granted visas to five family members of Sarabjit Singh who is on death row in Lahore jail for his involvement in bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan, killing fourteen people. An official of Pakistan High Commission told APP the visas have been given to Sarabjit's wife Sukhpret Kaur, sister Dalbir Kaur, brother-in-law Beldev Singh and daughters Poonam and Swapandeep for seven days to visit Lahore and Nankana Sahab. (Posted @ 17:15 PST) New fighting in Sri Lanka kills 16 rebels, one soldier COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, April 17 (AP): New fighting between Tamil separatists and government forces across Sri Lanka's northern region killed 16 rebels and one soldier, while air force jets bombed a rebel supply base, the military said Thursday. Air force pilots confirmed they hit the Tamil Tiger logistics base in Mullaitivu district Thursday, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. In infantry clashes Wednesday, soldiers killed six rebels and wounded nine others in the northern Vavuniya district, Nanayakkara said. One government soldier died and eight others were wounded in the fighting. Separate clashes in the northeastern Welioya region killed five rebels and wounded nine soldiers and 47 rebels, he said. Other fighting elsewhere in the region killed five rebels and wounded four soldiers, he added. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment. (First Posted @ 10:10 PST, Updated @ 13:30 PST) Kenya swears in historic coalition parliament NAIROBI, April 17 (Reuters): Kenya on Thursday began swearing in its largest and costliest-ever cabinet, a power-sharing coalition created to soothe fury over a disputed election that plunged the country into a bloody crisis. The 41-member cabinet was being sworn in the official State House residence of President Mwai Kibaki, who split the government equally with the party of his closest election challenger, new Prime Minister Raila Odinga. (Posted @ 13:15 PST) Gunmen raid police base in southern Russian region ROSTOV-ON-DON, April 16 (AP): Russian law enforcement authorities said gunmen carried out a raid on an Interior Ministry base in the turbulent southern region of Ingushetia. The Ingush Interior Ministry said six policemen were wounded in the attack in the town of Karabulak late Wednesday evening. (Posted @ 12:05 PST) Grenade blast at Cambodian New Year festival kills 1, wounds 25 PHNOM PENH, April 16 (AP): An attacker hurled a hand grenade into a crowd of people dancing at a Buddhist temple to celebrate Cambodia's traditional New Year, killing one villager and wounding 25 others, police said Thursday. The attack, which killed a 21-year-old man, occurred Wednesday evening about 50 kilometers north of Siem Reap in western Cambodia, said Ou Em, the provincial police chief. (Posted @ 12:05 PST) Two US soldiers killed in Afghanistan KABUL, April 17 (AFP): A new US Marine force that began deploying in Afghanistan last month said Thursday it had suffered the first casualties since it began operations in country, losing two soldiers in a bomb blast. The US Marine Expeditionary Unit confirmed that two soldiers, whose deaths were announced on Wednesday by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), belonged to the unit. (Posted @ 11:35 PST) Three killed in Thai south: police YALA, April 17 (AFP): Suspected separatist militants operating in Thailand's Muslim-majority south beheaded one man and killed two others in separate incidents, police said Thursday. A 27-year-old shrimp farmer was shot in Pattani province on Wednesday, police said, before the rebels beheaded him. Also in Pattani, a 58-year-old man was shot dead as he returned home from a wedding. In nearby Yala province, a soldier was killed on Thursday by a roadside bomb. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Four killed, seven missing in Eq. Guinea plane crash MALABO, April 17 (AFP): At least four people were killed and seven missing after a plane crashed Wednesday into the Atlantic Ocean off the Equatorial Guinea Island of Annobon, the Malabo government announced. There was no confirmation of earlier reports from airport sources which said that leaders of the west African country's ruling party, including government ministers were on board when it crashed. (Posted @ 08:50 PST) Karachi Stocks up 81.95 points: KARACHI, April 17: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 15622.30, up 81.95 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, April 17: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 64.2 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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