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| May 02, 2008 | Friday | Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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  Pakistan judges to be reinstated May 12: Nawaz Sharif LAHORE, May 2 (AFP) - Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif announced at a televised Press conference on Friday that the ruling coalition will reinstate judges sacked by Pervez Musharraf on May 12. The chief of the Pakistn Muslim League (Nawaz) said the government will introduce a parliamentary resolution to restore some 60 judges, including the country's chief justice, whom Musharraf deposed under a state of emergency in November. The two-time ex-premier made the announcement a day after holding talks in Dubai with coalition partner Asif Ali Zardari to resolve a deadlock over the issue that threatened their fragile alliance. “God willing, all the deposed judges will be restored on May 12,” Sharif said after meeting with senior party members. “The national assembly will approve a resolution the same day followed by the issuance of notification of the restoration of judges sacked unconstitutionally on November 3,” he said. Zardari, the co-chairman of the PPP, and Sharif had agreed at a summit in the hill resort of Murree in March to restore the judges, but a 30-day deadline that they also gave at the time expired on Wednesday. The PPP had insisted that judicial reforms also be part of the package that brings back the judges. But Sharif, the head of the PML-N party, wanted them to be reinstated without conditions. (First Posted @ 18:38 PST Updated @ 19:12 PST)  PM Gilani’s policy decisions on Balochistan QUETTA, Pakistan, May 2 (PPI): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani Friday announced that work on reconciliation policy was underway to bring Balochistan in the national mainstream and resolving its issues. On his orders, military action in Balochistan has been stopped and further steps would be taken for improving situation in the province, he said while addressing the provincial cabinet during his first and brief visit to Quetta. Gilani said that on the directives ofPPP Co- Chairman Asif Zardari an All Parties Conference on Balochistan's issues was being summoned. We are fully cognizant of the excesses done with people of Balochistan and steps have been started for their redress. He said he has also directed Interior Ministry to seek cooperation of all government functionaries for the recovery of missing persons and efforts should be made to stop such actions in future. He also said he has issued directives to all the provincial governments to immediately withdraw all cases against former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal and ensure his release through courts. Gillani said the government believed in provincial autonomy and under the 1973 constitution Concurrent List would be abolished within a year. People of Balochistna and concerned departments would be taken into confidence about all mega projects in the province and uninterrupted provision of funds would continue, he said adding Balochistan quota of 6 percent share in federal services would be ensured. The prime minister said that supremacy of constitution and parliament, stability of democracy and judiciary and balance among state organs is our priority and if all the institutions work within constitutional orbit, lots of problems can be resolved. He said a multidimensional strategy was also underway about peace and order because for economic development peace is prerequisite. He said government was constituting a new National Finance Commission and provinces have been asked to make nominations.. He said that federal government would provide funds for law enforcement agencies requirements in Balochistan and expenditures for converting B areas into A areas would be borne by the Federation. Besides National Disaster Management Authority , Federal Ministry of Finance and PM Secretariat would also take measures for the rehabilitate of flood stricken people of the province. PM Gillani said that Iran has promised to supply 1100 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan. It would be supplied to Balochistna first and agriculture sector would also get its share. He said Rs 905 million have been earmarked for alternative means of energy for Mekran Coast. PASSCO has been directed to supply 100, 000 tonnes of wheat to Balochistan immediately, Punjab would also provide 50 thousand tonnes of wheat while 200, 000 tonnes of wheat would be provided to Balochistna from imported wheat. He said 100 houses would be built for shelterless people in Quetta under Government's programme. (First Posted @ 16:50 PST Updated @ 20:40 PST)  Sindh cabinet: 13 MQM ministers take oath Karachi, Pakistan, May 02 (PPI): The size of Sindh provincial cabinet swelled to 41 with the induction of 20 new ministers on Friday that includes seven of PPP and 13 of MQM under the power-sharing agreement between the two parties. The new ministers are: Makhdoom Jamil-u-Zaman, Zahid Hussain Bhurgri, Rafique Engineer, Ali Mardan Shah, Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, Agha Taimoor and Dr. Mohan Lal, all of PPP; and Dr. Saghir Ahmed, Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah, Syed Faisal Sabzwari, Sheikh Mohammad Afzal, Khlaid Bin Wilayat, Zubair Ahmed Khan, Nadia Gabol, Raza Haroon, Rauf Siddiqui, Askari Taqi, Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari, Adil Siddiqui and Abdul Haseeb of the MQM. With the induction of new ministers, the number of female ministers in the provincial cabinet rose to five while that of the minority community to three. The 21-member first batch of ministers included four women ministers, two ministers from minority members and one from the Awami National Party (ANP). The MQM has also been given one office of Advisor and a special assistant for which the notification of Khawaja Azharul Hassan and Ghulam Haider Rahu would be issued separately. (Posted @ 19:56 PST) Constitutional package in offing: Nawaz Sharif Lahore, Pakistan, May 2 (Reuters)- Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif unveiling the plan for the restoration of the deposed judges in a televised news conference Friday stressed that the anti-Musharraf alliance, whose election victory in February destroyed the president's parliamentary support, intended to stick together. “We are in strong favour of keeping this coalition for the sake of country and we understand we should keep it at all costs. It's break-up would rejuvenate dictatorship.” A constitutional package was being drafted, and the PML-N was in favour of clipping the president's powers, Sharif said. The most important measure under consideration is removing the president's right to dismiss a government. He said a six-member committee headed by Law Minister Farooq Naek will prepare a draft of the resolution and address other legal issues regarding the restoration of the judges. The committee will include lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, the President of Supreme Court Bar Association and a former minister in Bhutto's party. If there is any deadlock in the committee the matter will be referred back to the coalition's leadership, Sharif said. (Posted @ 21:02 PST) South Sudan defence minister, 23 others killed in air crash KHARTOUM, May 2 (AFP) - South Sudan's defence minister was killed on Friday in a plane crash along with 23 other people, most of them army officers, the south's Deputy Prime Minister Riek Mashar said. The minister's plane crashed some 375 kilometres west of the southern capital Juba, Mashar told AFP. Mashar gave no reason for the crash, but ruled out an attack. (Posted @ 18:44 PST) Middle East talks in London call on Israel to cease settlement activity LONDON, May 2 (AP) - The Middle East peace Quartet held talks in London on Friday and called on Israel to cease all settlement activity to prevent the collapse of the peace process. Senior diplomats from the U.S., Russia, the EU and the United Nations, which make up the Quartet, issued a statement calling for more Israel-Palestinian negotiations and an end to attacks from both sides. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, reading the statement after the Friday morning meeting, said the Quartet “expressed its deep concern” at Israel's continued settlement building on the West Bank and called for all outposts built since March 2001 to be dismantled. He also expressed concern over worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. The diplomats did not report any substantial progress during the Quartet meeting, but special envoy Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said intense efforts are ongoing behind the scenes _ and may bear fruit later this year. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Over US$3 billion committed to Pakistan agriculture, dairy sector Dubai, May 2 (PPI):- Investors, institutions and entrepreneurs at first Middle East- Pakistan Agriculture and Dairy Investment Forum pledged over US$3 billion in new investments in Pakistan's agriculture and dairy sectors. The meeting was held with the support of major international names like Nestl Pakistan Ltd, Tetra Pak, DeLaval, Millac Foods, Habib Bank Ltd., Al Rabie Saudi Arabia & Shakargunj Ltd. Talking to group of more than 100 delegates, Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Group, said, “Pakistan's economy has seen extra-ordinary progress. A wide range of reforms were enacted in taxation, trade, tariffs, banking, finance, industry, agriculture, deregulation, privatization, fiscal transparency, governance. We see results of these bold measures in high levels of economic growth. Private sector's confidence is high and international investments increasing.” (Posted @ 19:50 PST) Al-Jazeera cameraman held without charge for six years at Guantanamo returns home KHARTOUM, May 2 (AFP): A Sudanese cameraman with the Arab satellite news channel Al-Jazeera arrived home early Friday after being detained without charge for six years at the Guantanamo US military prison in Cuba. A US air force plane carrying Sami al-Haj landed at a state security terminal in Khartoum, an AFP photographer witnessed. He was greeted by his family before being whisked away to hospital for medical checks, the photographer said. Haj was flown in along with two other Sudanese nationals also detained at Guantanamo, Al-Jazeera said. Haj was arrested by the Pakistani army on the Afghan border in December 2001 and had been held without charge since June 2002 at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay. Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders said Haj had been tortured and subjected to some 200 interrogation sessions. According to his lawyer, Clive Stafford-Smith, Haj has lost some 18 kilograms, was suffering from intestinal problems and was subject to bouts of paranoia, the organization added. (Posted @ 09:05 PST) 18 killed, 45 wounded in Yemen mosque blast SANAA, May 2 (AFP) - At least 18 people, mostly soldiers, were killed and 45 wounded in Yemen on Friday when a blast went off at the entrance of Bin Salman mosque in Saada town, site of a Shiite rebellion, police and witnesses said. Some witnesses said a minibus parked outside the mosque exploded, while others said the blast was caused by a booby-trapped motorcycle. The blast came as hundreds of faithfuls were leaving the mosque after Friday prayers, witnesses said. (First Posted @ 17:00 PST Updated @ 20:14 PST) 70-feet breach in canal near Kotdiji Kotdiji, Pakistan, May 02 (PPI): A 70-feet wide breach in Muhabbat Canal at RD No 42, in Sindh province has damaged standing crops and many houses of village Sadoro, besides inundating a vast area on Friday. Irrigation officials confirmed the breach saying that relief teams were being rushed. (Posted @ 20:44 PST) Bush proposes $770 million for world food crisis WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters): President George W. Bush called for $770 million in new U.S. food aid donations and other measures Thursday as Washington seeks to stave off a food crisis threatening to envelop the developing world. Bush promised the United States would take a lead in fighting the hunger now gripping a greater swath of the developing world. “With the new international funding I'm announcing today, we're sending a clear message to the world that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come,” Bush said. Administration officials said the $770 million would include $395 million in emergency food aid, $225 million for food vouchers, seeds, or aid purchases in the developing world, and $150 million for development work aimed at food security. If approved by Congress, the funds would become available on October 1, and would bring overall support for global food security to $2.66 billion for 2009. (Posted @ 10:10 PST) Zimbabwe election announcement 'scandalous': opposition HARARE, May 2 (AFP) -Zimbabwe's opposition on Friday denounced the official results from a March 29 presidential poll as “scandalous,” claiming its candidate had won an outright majority over Robert Mugabe. “Without doubt, ZEC (Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission) has jumped the gun. This is scandalous. How do you announce a result without verification.... What is clear is that we won this election and there is no budget for a run-off,” opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP. (Posted @ 20:08 PST) Olympic torch arrives in Macau MACAU, May 2 (AFP) - The Olympic torch arrived in Macau late Friday, the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency said. (Posted @ 20:04 PST) Indian troops martyr two more Kashmiri youth Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, May 02 (PPI)- In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops martyred two more Kashmiri youth at Tesoornar in Handwara, last night. Earlier, an Indian trooper was killed in an attack in the same area. According to kms, thousands of people attended funeral prayers at various places on Friday for the four Kashmiri youth who were killed in custody by the troops in Pattan, Sopore and Handwara during the last two days. Senior Kashmir Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani and Shabbir Ahmed Shah addressing mourners reaffirmed that Kashmiris unparalleled sacrifices would never be allowed to go waste. (Posted @ 20:00 PST) China has secret nuclear submarine base: Jane's LONDON, May 2 (AFP) - China is building a major underground nuclear submarine base on the southern tip of Hainan Island, defence group Jane's said Friday. “Jane's can confirm that the satellite pictures show that China is constructing a major underground nuclear submarine base near Sanya, on Hainan Island off its southern coast,” the group said. The Daily Telegraph, which reported the satellite images, called the base a “vast, James Bond-style edifice capable of concealing up to 20 nuclear-powered submarines. Janes said that Asian military sources had told it about the base in 2002, but the photographs provided independent verification. (Posted @ 18:18 PST) 
US ambassador launches Apple Computers store in Lahore LAHORE, May 02-(PPI): U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson termed the launch of Apple Computers in Lahore today “a landmark of American investors' confidence” in Pakistan. “Information technology, especially in the personal computer sector, has grown phenomenally in Pakistan,” she said at a function. “The combination of internationally competitive costs and high-speed connectivity make Pakistan an attractive destination for IT investment.” (Posted @ 17:28 PST) Iraq: Female suicide bomber kills 30, injures 65 Baghdad, May 2(Reuters) The U.S. military said a Predator aerial drone crashed in southern Iraq on Thursday. Mechanical failure was suspected. Meanwhile, Turkish warplanes launched a series of air strikes overnight on Kurdish rebel bases near Iraq's northern Qandil mountains, Turkish and rebel officials said. A rebel spokesmansaid there were no reports of any casualties. Meanwhile, the U.S. military said two suicide bombings in the town of Balad Ruz northeast of Baghdad on Thursday were carried out by a woman pretending to be pregnant and a male accomplice. The military said 29 people were killed and 52 wounded. Iraqi security sources put the death toll at 30, with 65 wounded.Separately, U.S. forces said they killed two gunmen in two separate air strikes in Sadr City as clashes overnight between U.S. forces and Mehdi army militants in al-Amil district in southwestern Baghdad left four fighters killed and 12 wounded. Seven people were also killed and nine wounded in clashes overnight in Sadr City. Police also found five bodies in different areas of Baghdad on Thursday. (Posted @ 17:16 PST) Nine killed as cargo freighter sinks off Zanzibar NAIROBI, May 2 (AFP) - At least nine people drowned when a ship carrying coal from South Africa sank off the coast of the Tanzanian semi-autonomous isle of Zanzibar, an official said Friday. The ship sank early Thursday, but its name, destination and the number of people on board had not yet been ascertained. “So far, we have reports that nine people -- four Singaporeans, four Filipinos and one Kenyan -- drowned,” the official said. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Olympic torch makes trouble-free Hong Kong stop HONG KONG, May 2 (AFP) -The Olympic torch made a trouble-free journey Friday through the streets of Hong Kong, kicking off the final Chinese leg of a worldwide journey. Friday's eight-hour relay came to a close at Hong Kong's Golden Bauhinia Square, site of the 1997 ceremony where colonial power Britain formally handed Hong Kong back to China. Earlier, it criss-crossed the city -- carried by 120 different people, rowed on traditional dragon boats and even ferried across the city's famed Victoria Harbour, escorted by a fireboat shooting jets of water into the sky. The eight-hour tour through Hong became a show of Chinese solidarity and patriotism. Tens of thousands of spectators lined streets, piers and riverbanks across the city, most dressed in the red of China and many visiting from the mainland. On Saturday, the torch will be paraded through Macau before being flown to mainland China for the rest of its journey -- including through Tibet -- before the August 8 Games opening ceremony. (First Posted @ 08:45 PST, Updated @ 15:40 PST) Britain's Brown suffers major defeats in local polls LONDON, May 2 (AFP): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party suffered its worst results since the 1960s in local elections, forecasts said Friday, while a high-profile contest for London mayor hung in the balance. As results poured in, Labour - with Brown leading them into elections for the first time since taking office last year - was set to finish in third place behind the opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, the BBC said. Voting in the capital took place Thursday, the same day as in the nationwide local polls, but counting starts at 0730 GMT and the results are expected to be announced sometime after 1600 GMT. (Posted @ 13:05 PST) Fighting kills 35 in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, May 2 (AFP): At least 34 Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier died in the latest battles in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Friday. Security forces smashed rebel bunkers and engaged in artillery fire with Tamil separatists in the regions of Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar and Weli Oya Thursday killing 34 guerrillas, the ministry said in a statement. The military said they also captured the town of Karuppukulam in the Mannar district Thursday and placed their own losses at one soldier dead and six injured. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were not immediately available for comment. (Posted @ 11:50 PST) Israelis and Palestinians must agree on final borders: Rice LONDON, May 2 (AP): Israeli and Palestinian negotiators should decide once and for all where to draw the line between Israeli and Palestinian territory, ending the argument over Jewish housing expansion on disputed ground, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. Rice also warned Thursday that the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank does not equal a ''fait accompli'' that the houses or towns would remain in Israeli hands under a final settlement of the six-decade conflict. ''Ultimately the best answer is to determine what's going to be in Israel and what's going to be in Palestine,'' Rice said before meetings with negotiators and leaders on both sides in London and the Mideast. (Posted @ 11:05 PST) Bush orders Myanmar state companies' assets frozen WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters): U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday he has ordered the U.S. Treasury to freeze the assets of Myanmar state-owned companies to further pressure the leadership there over human rights abuses. “Today I've issued a new executive order that instructs the Treasury Department to freeze the assets of Burmese state-owned companies that are major sources of funds that prop up the junta,” Bush said at a celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Iran complains to UN over Clinton's attack threat UNITED NATIONS, May 2 (AFP): Iran's UN mission has complained to the Security Council over US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's threat to “totally obliterate” the Islamic Republic if it were to launch a nuclear attack on Israel. “The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its deep concern over, and strong condemnation of such a provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible statement against the Iranian nation and civilization,” Iran's deputy ambassador to the UN Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi said in a letter to the council released here Thursday. He said Senator Clinton “unwarrantedly and under erroneous and false pretexts threatened to use force” against Iran. In an April 22 interview with ABC television, Clinton was asked what she would do as president if Iran were to launch a nuclear strike on Israel. “I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran…totally obliterate them,” she added. “Such a statement is a flagrant violation of the most fundamental provisions of the UN Charter and the basic principles of international law,” Danesh-Yazdi retorted. (Posted @ 10:25 PST) Three killed in attacks in Thai south BANGKOK, May 2 (Reuters): Three people were killed in southern Thailand in two separate incidents. Four suspected militants armed with automatic rifles attacked the district office of a Buddhist volunteer militia in Pattani province late Thursday, killing one Buddhist and wounding another, police said. Less than an hour later, a hand grenade was thrown into a small mosque in a nearby district where about a dozen Muslims were praying. Two people were killed and eight wounded, police said. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Strong quake hits Alaska islands WASHINGTON, May 2 (AFP): A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Thursday near the Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska, the US Geological Survey reported. The quake's epicentre was located at a depth of 10 kilometres, 65 kilometres west of Adak, Alaska, the westernmost municipality in the United States. The quake occurred at 0133 GMT in the Andreanof Islands, the survey said. The reading was based on the open-ended moment magnitude scale. (Posted @ 09:05 PST) Karachi Stocks down 165.65 points: KARACHI, May 02: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14956.82, down 165.65 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 15:55 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, May 02: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 65.9 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 15:55 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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