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| June 01, 2008 | Sunday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
 Sharif brothers cleared to contest Pakistan by-election ISLAMABAD, June 1 (AFP) - Pakistan's election commission on Sunday cleared the way for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, a former chief minister of Punjab, to contest June 26 by-elections, officials said. The Sharif brothers were not allowed to take part in February 18 elections after the commission cited criminal convictions dating back to events surrounding a 1999 coup and pending criminal charges. A Press release of the Election Commission of Pakistan said the ECP on Sunday disposed of an appeal challenging the nomination of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif for by-elections on the ground that appellate tribunal failed to deliver judgement within the specified time,. According to a press release the matter was thoroughly examined and the file was returned to the registrar, Lahore High Court, Lahore with the observations of Chief Election Commissioner that no further action can be taken in the matter in view of sub-section (6) of Section 14 of Representation of the People Act, 1976. The sub-section reads: “An appeal not disposed of within the period specified in sub-section (5) shall be deemed to have been rejected.” The EC received the appeals against the acceptance of nomination papers of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, on Sunday for further action. Secretary ECP Kanwar Dilshad said that according to the election schedule notified on 7th May, the last date for deciding appeals by the Appellate Tribunals was 31st May, which has passed. (First Posted @ 18:20 PST Updated @ 19:48 PST)  PPP delivers draft constitutional package to Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 1 (AP) - Pakistan Peoples Party, the main party in Pakistan's coalition government, on Sunday gave its partner, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), a draft of proposed constitutional reforms aimed in part at reducing President Pervez Musharraf's powers, officials said. Law Minister Farooq Naek, who delivered the proposals to Nawaz Sharif, said the package “says that the judges' restoration should be according to the constitution and through a constitutional amendment.” Sharif's party declined to comment until it had a chance to thoroughly review the package, but a spokesman said it still believed that the judges could be brought back through a parliamentary resolution followed by an order from the prime minister. “We still believe that restoration of the judiciary should not be part of this constitutional package,” said a PML-N spokesman Sadiqul Farooq. Sharif withdrew his ministers from the Cabinet over Zardari's insistence that laws have to be changed before the government can reinstate the judges. Another Sharif party spokesman, Pervez Rasheed, linked the party's approval of the package to backing from the popular lawyers' movement, which has agitated for the justices' return. The proposed constitutional reforms draft has also been delivered to the other coalition partners including the Awami National Party and JUI of Maulana Fazlur Rehman. A round of consultation within these parties and their top leadership is expected during the next couple of weeks which will be crucial. (Posted @ 17:56 PST) Iftikhar Chaudhry addresses lawyers convention in Peshawar Peshawar, June 1 (APP) – Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry addressing the lawyers' convention on Sunday said that rule of law, independent judiciary and supremacy of constitution are must for economic stability, strengthening of democracy, equality in rights of citizens and ensuring social justice. There would be lawlessness and terrorism if independent judiciary does not exist, he said in his speech on “Role of Independent Judiciary in Strengthening of Parliamentary System.” The legislature, executive and judiciary are the three main pillars of the state, he said adding that it is independent judiciary which provides a sound mechanism of check and balances among different organs of the state. “The word 'deposed' should not be used for pre-PCO judges, he said. Instead, they should be called non-functional,” he added. He also referred to various recent developments since he was made non-functional in March 2007 and paid glowing tributes to lawyer's and the media in the movement. He also paid rich tributes to the lawyers who laid their lives in the struggle for independence of judiciary and rule of law and congratulated the Peshawar High Court Bar Association for organizing such a successful convention. (Posted @ 17:06 PST)  Sheikh Rashid launches new political Party RAWALPINDI, June 1 (APP) :- Former Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed Sunday resigned from PML(Q) and founded a new political party “Awami Muslim League” keeping in view the changing political scenario. Addressing a press conference he also announced that the decision not to take part in bye-polls and said his covering candidate Begum Nasim Ali would be his nominee from NA-55 in the bye-elections. He said that the new party will raise the voice of poor and the working class. “Some senior politicians would also join my new formed party in near future”, he added. He said, he was satisfied with his performance for the development of Rawalpindi but people voted for PML (N) for restoration of deposed judiciary while PPP gained majority on the slogans of “Roti, kapra aur makan”. Sheikh Rasheed predicted that this coalition would not go long. (First Posted @ 19:16 PST Updated @ 00:18 PST) APHC to boycott elections in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP): Addressing a seminar in Srinagar, leaders of the all-Parties Hurriyet Conference including Maulana Abbas Ansari, Shabbir Ahmed Shah and Fazl Haq Qureshi reiterated that the Hurriyet stood for a resolution of Kashmir dispute; and not for participating in periodical elections which would perpetuate the Indian occupation of the disputed territory. They urged India to give up Intransigence, adopt realistic approach and come forward to settle Kashmir dispute, once and for all, KMS reported. (Posted @ 19:32 PST) Two die in gas cylinder explosion at Karachi’s Bin Qasim Power Plant KARACHI, June 01 (PPI):- Two workers died in an explosion of gas cylinder at Karachi’s Bin Qasim Power Plant on Sunday. One worker died on the spot while the other succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. According to a senior officer of KESC, Muhammad Iqbal Jokhio, the deceased were changing a hydrogen gas cylinder at Bin Qasim Power Plant Unit No. 2 when the incident took place. (Posted @ 20:06 PST) Pak nuclear, missile program for peaceful means: former Foreign Secretary PESHAWAR June 01 (APP): Pakistan nuclear and missile programmes have ensured peace and balance of power in South Asia, former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan said In his keynote address in the two-day international conference on “Nuclear Power of Pakistan” at Peshawar University. “We now have credible deterrence. Therefore, we should focus on the strengthening of democracy, economy, good governance and rule of law”. He said solid measures are needed to make the country a modern welfare state by diverting more resources to education, health and infrastructure development. Former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg in his lecture termed Pakistan's nuclear programme vital for peace in South Asia. He said the propaganda against Pakistan's nuclear assets of falling into wrong hands is baseless and unfounded. Dr. Qadir Baksh Baloch, editor the Dialogue, Qurtaba University Peshawar in his presentation said that after Pakistan nuclear tests and introduction of missiles, the country's defence has become impregnable and invincible. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal of Quaid-e-Azam university Islamabad said that nuclear capability is not for war; r rather to avert war. Former Secretary Security FATA Brigadier Mehmood Shah, and former Director General Institute of Strategic Study Islamic Ross Masaud Hussain also read their papers. (Posted @ 18:38 PST) Gunmen shoot dead pro-Pakistan militant commander PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 1 (AFP) -Unidentified attackers on Sunday shot dead a pro-Taliban militant commander and his guard in Darazinda semi-tribal area in the town of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, officials said. The commander, Haji Khanan Khan, and his companions were going in a car when attackers opened fire, a security official told AFP. “Khanan Khan and one of his bodyguards were killed in the shooting, while three others were injured,” the official said. The attackers fled before they could be identified, he said, adding that Khan had already been the target of a few failed assassination bids. Khan sided last year with Pakistani authorities when they launched an operation to clear Uzbek militants from South Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan. (Posted @ 19:38 PST) Senator Babar Awan injured in road accident ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP):- Senator Babar Awan on Sunday injured in a road accident in Golra police station jurisdiction when a trailer collided with his car. According to police the Senator was coming to Islamabad in his car when a trailer tried to overtake and smashed into it. He received critical injuries and was rushed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. He is stated to be out of danger. (First Posted @ 21:35 PST Updated @ 00:10 PST) PML-N forms experts committee to examine constitutional package ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP):- PML-N will support every suggested amendment in the proposed constitution package which is in line with Charter of Democracy, Secretary Information of party Ahsan Iqbal said. He said that a committee has been formed by the party to review the package in detail which will present its recommendations in next few days, Radio Pakistan reported. Ahsan Iqbal said the restoration of deposed judiciary should not be a part of proposed constitutional package as it will tantamount to accepting the unconstitutional and illegal steps of third of November last year. He said that deposed judiciary should be restored according to Murree declaration through a executive order after passing a simple resolution by the parliament. (Posted @ 00:04 PST) Fire destroys buildings at Universal Studios in LA LOS ANGELES, June 1 (Reuters) - A massive fire broke out at the Universal Studios film and TV studio on Sunday, engulfing one soundstage and burning a New York City street set. A total of 400 firefighters from several Los Angeles-area fire departments were battling the blaze, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla, adding the fire would be “knocked down” within hours. “A total of five structures within the New York exhibit, including one soundstage, were lost,” said another L.A. County fire inspectorwho added that the blaze had started in the back-lot area depicting New York City, which was destroyed. He said about three-quarters of a building housing a “King Kong” exhibit was destroyed. A building that holds a video vault of original and master versions of old movies had been destroyed and the vault itself had been “compromised.” Ron Meyer, the president of Universal Studios, said, however, that “nothing irreplaceable was lost” in the video vault. The exact monetary damage had not yet been fully assessed. (First Posted @ 19:44 PST Updated @ 23:54 PST) Proposed Constitutional package to curtail Presidential powers Lahore, June 1 (PPI): The proposed constitutional package includes wide-ranging amendments in the Constitution to scrap powers of the President in dissolving the parliament and appointing services chiefs, Federal Law Minister Farooq Naik told newsmen Sunday. Explaining certain features of proposed amendments, Farooq Naik said in order to make the parliament supreme, the powers presently enjoyed by the President would be handed back to the prime minister. It is proposed that judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court validating suspension or abrogation of the Constitution will attract high treason and cease to be judge of the superior courts. Criticism of the judiciary or armed forces would not attract disqualification for candidates to the assemblies. The power to appoint Governors would be transferred back to the prime minister. There is also the proposal to elect one minority member from each province to the Senate to give minorities an effective presence in the upper house, he said. (Posted @ 23:48 PST) India, Pakistan Indus Water Commissioners talks continue Lahore, June 1 (PPI): The talks between Indian and Pakistan Indus Water Commissioners continued Sunday for the second day in Lahore. Indus Water Commissioner of Pakistan Syed Jamat Ali Shah later told newsmen that talks on controversial Kishan Ganga Dam and Uri-II Project (being constructed by India in occupied Kashmir) could not prove fruitful today. Indian Indus Water Commissioner Oranga Nathan hoped breakthrough on controversial issues at the talks which would continue till Tuesday. (Posted @ 23:06 PST) One killed, 13 injured in road mishap on Quetta-Chaman highway CHAMAN, Pakistan, June 1 (APP) : A woman was killed and 13 other passengers including seven children were injured, some seriously, when a Chaman-bound van turned turtle in Shella Bagh area of Killa Abdullah district of Balochistan province on Sunday, police said. The accident took place because the driver lost control over the steering. Most of the injured are Afghan refugees. They have been shifted to Quetta hospitals. (Posted @ 23:02 PST) Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi demands deposed judges reinstatement Karachi, June 1 (PPI): Veteran politician and Chairman National Peoples Party, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi Sunday demanded reinstatement of all deposed judges including Chief Justice Iftekhar Mohammad Chaudhry in accordance with Murree Declaration. Addressing a press conference he expressed “serious concern” over emerging situation in the country. “I believe that for sake of continuing democratic process the present assemblies should complete their full constitutional term but conditions should not be created which may lead to political instability.” Jatoi, a former Prime Minister felt that immediate steps should be taken to check rising prices, provide job opportunities, end load shedding and ensure law and order situation in the country. Answering a question, he said his party members sit as independent members on opposition benches in the Senate, National Assembly and Sindh Assembly. (Posted @ 22:10 PST) More than 120,000 Afghan refugees home this year: UN KABUL, June 1 (AFP) -More than 120,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan this year with UN help, the world body's refugee agency said Sunday. Ninety-nine percent of the 123,244 returnees had arrived from Pakistan and most of the remainder from Iran, UNHCR said in a statement. Since 2002, the year after the fall of the Taliban government, the UNHCR has helped more than four million Afghans return home but there are still about two million in Pakistan and one million in Iran. (Posted @ 21:26 PST) One dead, nine injured in Macedonia election violence SKOPJE, June 1 (Reuters) - Macedonia's parliamentary election was marred by violence in Albanian areas and suspected fraud on Sunday, with one person shot dead and nine wounded, and voting halted in one town after a gun battle. The country's electoral commission said there were instances of suspected fraud and irregularities such as broken or missing ballot boxes and stolen voting materials. (Posted @ 21:26 PST) Twelve killed in head-on bus crash in Egypt CAIRO, June 1 (Reuters) - A bus collided head-on with a minibus in central Egypt on Sunday, killing 12 people and injuring 12, police said. The driver of the bus, travelling between the Nile River provinces of Beni Suef and Minya, lost control after a truck crossed into his path, a police official said. (Posted @ 20:32 PST) Convicted Hezbollah spy crosses into Lebanon ROSH HANIKRA, Israel, June 1 (AP) - Nasim Nisr, a convicted Hezbollah spy, returned from Israel to a hero's welcome in Lebanon on Sunday, while Hezbollah turned over the remains of what it said were dead Israeli soldiers in what could be the first stage of a larger prisoner exchange between the bitter enemies. Nasim Nisr, an Israeli of Lebanese descent, was released early Sunday after he completed a six-year sentence for espionage. Hezbollah official Wafik Safa told al-Manar TV station that it handed over a brown box containing what it said were the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in the month-long Lebanon war in 2006. Nisr stood beside Safa as he spoke. Sunday's exchange added to speculation that a major swap is in the works. German mediators have been trying to work out a swap for months. Israel is believed to be holding seven Lebanese in its prisons, while Hezbollah has been holding two Israeli soldiers it captured in a 2006 cross-border raid that sparked that year's month-long war. (First Posted @ 13:10 PST Updated @ 20:18 PST) US soldier killed by armor-piercing bomb in Baghdad BAGHDAD, June 1 (AP) - An American soldier was killed by an armor-piercing roadside bomb in northeast Baghdad on Sunday, the US military said. Explosively formed penetrator, or EFP, are sophisticated weapons that the U.S. claims Iran has provided to Shiite militants in Iraq for attacks on Americans. Iran denies the claim. (Posted @ 20:14 PST) Four Maoist rebels killed in India RANCHI, India, June 1 (AFP) - Four Maoist insurgents were killed in a gun battle with security forces on Sunday in India’s eastern Jharkhand state. The gunfight lasted for more than two hours. “Four rebels were killed and one woman rebel was arrested,” said police spokesman R.K. Mallik. The Maoist insurgency grew out of a peasant uprising in 1967 and now affects 15 of India's 29 states. (Posted @ 18:18 PST) 20 injured in Swat traffic mishap ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP): A coach overturned in Warshkhela area of Matta near Swat valley injuring at least 20 persons, police said. The accident occurred owing to over-speeding, police said adding that the injured were shifted to Saidu Sharif hospital. Several of the injured were in a critical condition. (Posted @ 18:08 PST) House fire kills eight in Russian Far East MOSCOW, June 1 (Reuters) - Eight people were killed when fire swept through a wooden house in the city of Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East, RIA news agency reported on Sunday. The fire gutted the single-storey building on Saturday. “The hostess, her daughter, son-in-law and five of their acquaintances died in the fire,” he said. (Posted @ 17:40 PST) 13 killed in suicide bomb attack in Iraq Baghdad, June 1 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber attacked a police checkpoint, killing nine policemen, including the police chief of Hit, Lt-Col Khalil Ibrahim al-Jazzaa, police said. Four civilians were also killed. The attack wounded 11 policemen and seven civilians in Hit, 130 km west of Baghdad. Separately, a car bomb in a parking lot near the Iranian embassy in the Karadat Mariam district in central Baghdad killed two people and wounded five others. Also, a roadside bomb struck a police patrol, wounding seven policemen in central Kirkuk, 250 km north of Baghdad, police said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST Updated @ 17:36 PST) Australia withdraws troops from Iraq NASIRIYAH, Iraq, June 1 (AFP) - The 500-strong Australian troop contingent deployed in Iraq withdrew from their bases in the south of the country on Sunday, governor Aziz Kadoum Alwan said. Iraqi security officials said about 400 Australians were headed home while the balance will remain in Iraq where they could be deployed in a security detachment in Baghdad. When it announced its troop pullout in February, Australia said it would still have about 1,000 military personnel in and around Iraq, including a 110-strong security detachment in Baghdad. (Posted @ 17:20 PST) Election dramas in occupied Kashmir to legitimise India's occupation: Ali Gilani ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP): Veteran Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that so-called elections in occupied Kashmir are only held to hoodwink the international community by giving an impression that everything was going well in the disputed territory. Addressing a public meeting in Shopian he came hard at pro-India parties saying that they were equally responsible for the miseries and problems of Kashmiris. He said that the Kashmiris had given unprecedented sacrifices for their right to self- determination and no one would be allowed to undermine these sacrifices. (Posted @ 17:04 PST) Chinese president visits Pakistan medical mission in China ISLAMABAD, June 1 (APP): Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday visited Pakistan Medical Mission in quake-hit Longnan, met with the doctors and appreciated their professionalism in carrying out their duties. The mission comprises 28 doctors and paramedics and is equipped with eight tons of medicines and other equipment. It is likely to stay in China for four weeks. Pakistan has also contributed over 21,000 tents, mineral water, plastic mats and other relief items for the earthquake victims. (Posted @ 16:58 PST) Iran parliament picks Larijani as speaker TEHRAN, June 1 (Reuters): Iran's parliament elected one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's potential rivals for the Iranian presidency as the assembly's new speaker on Sunday, official media reported. Ali Larijani quit as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator last year citing differences with Ahmadinejad over how to handle the country's atomic row with the West. He received 237 votes out of 259 cast in the 290-member legislature. (Posted @ 13:25 PST) Bangladesh textile workers go on rampage; many hurt CHITTAGONG, June 1 (Reuters): Hundreds of textile workers armed with sticks and stones clashed with police in the Bangladesh port city Chittagong on Sunday, demanding higher pay and overtime payments. Witnesses said the workers also attacked textile factories, forcing authorities to shut down more than 20 premises at an industrial zone near Chittagong. They said many workers were injured in running battles with police. “Sporadic clashes were continuing,” a witness said. (Posted @ 13:25 PST) Car bomb kills two in heart of Baghdad BAGHDAD, June 1 (AFP): At least two people were killed and five wounded in a car bombing in central Baghdad on Sunday just outside the Green Zone which houses the Iraqi government and the US embassy, police said. The vehicle blew up in a car park used by visitors to the Iraqi defence ministry which lies inside the heavily fortified Green Zone, police said. The bomb attack came as French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was in Baghdad on the final day of a two-day visit to Iraq. (Posted @ 12:45 PST) 9 rebels, 4 soldiers killed in latest Sri Lanka fighting, says military COLOMBO, Jun 1 (AP): Nine Tamil Tiger rebels and four soldiers were killed in new clashes in Sri Lanka's restive north, the military said Sunday. Fighting broke out Saturday in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya regions, a military official said. The rebel spokesman could not be reached for comment. (Posted @ 11:45 PST) US helicopter crash injures two in Iraq: military BAGHDAD, June 1 (AFP): Two American soldiers were wounded when their helicopter crashed south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Sunday, the US military said. It gave no details on the location or the type of aircraft, but said preliminary indications point to mechanical failure as the cause of the crash. “An investigation will be conducted to determine what happened,” the statement added. (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Three Palestinians wounded in Gaza: medics GAZA CITY, June 1 (AFP): Three Palestinians were wounded Sunday during an incursion into the south of the Gaza Strip by Israeli troops, medics and witnesses said. The three from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, were wounded to the east of the town of Khan Yunis during an exchange of gunfire with a unit of Israeli troops backed by aircraft. Israeli aircraft conducted two raids in the area before the incursion, witnesses said. (Posted @ 10:50 PST) Afghan bomb attack kills 2 Nato soldiers, wounds 4 others KABUL, June 1 (AP): Two NATO soldiers were killed and four wounded when a suicide car bomb hit their convoy, while fighting in the south killed 16 Taliban militants, officials said. The bomb attack in Jalalabad on Saturday hit a contingent of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, the alliance said in a statement. ISAF did not release the nationalities of the troops involved, but most soldiers in that region are American. An interior ministry spokesman said the blast also wounded four Afghan civilians and damaged five vehicles. An operation in the southern province of Kandahar in the last several days killed 16 Taliban fighters, including a group commander, said provincial police chief Sayed Agha Saqib. In neighboring Helmand province, U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces killed “several” militants in Nahri Sarraj district, a coalition statement said. (Posted @ 10:20 PST) Kabul suicide attack kills three Afghans KABUL, June 1 (AFP): A remote-controlled bomb blew up near an Afghan National Army (ANA) minibus in Kabul early Sunday, killing three civilians and wounding six other people, the defence ministry said. The bomb had been planted in the middle of a road in the west of the city, an official at the ministry said. “Three ANA personnel were wounded, three residents were wounded and three residents were killed,” he said. (Posted @ 09:55 PST) China quake helicopter crashes, 14 on board: state media BEIJING, June 1 (AFP): A Chinese military helicopter carrying 14 people has crashed during relief operations following last month's devastating earthquake, state media reported on Sunday. Xinhua news agency said the chopper went down on Saturday afternoon when it hit fog and “strong turbulence” near the ruined town of Yingxiu. The report gave no information on any casualties. The army transport helicopter had a crew of four and was evacuating 10 injured residents from the quake zone when the accident happened, it said. (Posted @ 09:55 PST) Major earthquake strikes at sea off eastern Taiwan TAIPEI, June 1 (AP): A powerful earthquake struck at the Pacific Ocean off southeastern Taiwan, but no damage or injuries were reported. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau says the magnitude 6.8 quake hit on Sunday at 0157 GMT. It was faintly felt in Taiwan. The bureau says the epicenter was located at the Pacific Ocean about 230 kilometers south of the eastern island of Lanyu, which is about 300 kilometers southeast of the capital, Taipei. The epicenter was as deep as 46 kilometers below the ocean surface. (Posted @ 09:45 PST) Cricket-Australia 479-7 decl v W.Indies 125-3 at close of 2nd day ANTIGUA, May 31 (Reuters): West Indies were 125 for three in reply to Australia's 479 for seven declared at the close of the second day of the second test at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on Saturday. Earlier, Australia declared their first innings at 479 for seven wickets at tea. Scores: Australia 479-7 (S.Katich 113, R.Ponting 65, M.Clarke 110, B.Lee 63 not out); West Indies 125-3 (X.Marshall 53). (Posted @ 09:35 PST) One killed, four injured in Egypt monastery clash MINYA, June 1 (AFP): One Muslim man was killed and four Coptic Christians, including two monks, injured Saturday when a land dispute involving a historic monastery in Egypt turned violent, a security official said. A Muslim resident of a town neighbouring the Abu Fana Monastery near the southern city of Minya, was killed during clashes with Christians, the official said. Two Coptic Christian workers at the monastery suffered gunshot wounds and were rushed to nearby Mallawi hospital in critical condition, and two monks suffered injuries in the same incident. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
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