|
| June 23, 2008 | Monday | Jamadi-us-Sani 18, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Pakistani court bars former premier Nawaz Sharif from running in upcoming by-elections; Shahbaz case referred back to ECP ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 23 (AP) - The Lahore High Court ruled Monday that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not eligible to run in upcoming parliamentary by-elections because he has been convicted of a crime, Sharif's spokesman said. The decision is a major political setback for Sharif, making it impossible for the leader of the junior party in the governing coalition to be a member of the Pakistani parliament unless the ban on his candidacy is overturned. Sharif had been barred from running in February elections because of convictions related to his ouster in a 1999 coup. But earlier this month the nation's election commission effectively cleared him to run in by-elections scheduled for Thursday after a tribunal it set up to adjudicate the matter failed to reach a consensus. However, a candidate and a voter from the Lahore constituency petitioned the High Court to bar Nawaz Sharif’s candidacy. On Monday, a three member bench of the court disqualified him because of his conviction according to Sharif spokesman Pervez Rasheed. Sharif would appeal the verdict, he said. The same court, however, allowed Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz Sharif to continue to function as the chief minister of the Punjab province. “We reject this decision. This is a conspiracy,” Sadiqul Farooq, a spokesman for Sharif's party, said in a TV interview. Ashtar Ausaf, Sharif's lawyer, told Dawn News TV he was “appalled” by the verdict. He complained that the court handled the case in a “slipshod” manner and disposed of it in just three hours. Following the court ruling, dozens of Sharif's supporters, including several lawyers, chanted “Go Musharraf go” outside the court, TV footage showed. Angry lawmakers walked out of the Punjab provincial assembly in protest, private TV channels reported. The court referred a decision on Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, back to the election commission, effectively allowing him retain his job as chief minister of the Punjab province. Shahbaz Sharif was elected in a by-election to the provincial assembly following his acquittal in a murder case in March after the families of the dead withdrew their accusations. (First Posted @ 19:20 PST Updated @ 21:10 PST)  Pakistan's PM renews proposal to fence Afghan border in bid to stop militants ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 23 (AP) - Pakistan has renewed an offer to fence the country's porous border with Afghanistan to stop crossings by militants. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in a statement Monday that Pakistan is prepared to build a fence. The idea was first proposed by Pakistan's previous government, which was allied to President Pervez Musharraf. Army spokesman Maj. Gen Athar Abbas said Monday that more than 22 miles of “selected” sections was built before the projected was shelved last year. Afghan and U.S. officials complain militants fighting in Afghanistan freely roam the 1,500 mile border but Afghan officials say a fence will not deter militants but would affect families separated by the border. (Posted @ 19:16 PST)  Fresh protests in occupied Kashmir over land trasfer to Hindu pilgrims SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 23 (AFP) - Police in occupied Kashmir Monday clashed with protesters demanding authorities revoke an order to transfer land to Hindu pilgrims visiting the Muslim-majority region, witnesses said. Police also put several senior separatists under house arrest in Srinagar to prevent them from leading demonstrations and raided the home of prominent hardliner Syed Ali Geelani, an AFP reporter said. Police fought with protesters at three places in Srinagar, including with demonstrators led by Geelani, and used tear gas. The government last week said the land was being transferred to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board so it can build “temporary structures” for tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who trek to a cave every year. The cave shrine of Amarnath sits at an altitude of 3,800 metres and is considered an abode of the god Shiva. Separatist politicians say building accommodation for pilgrims at the base of the mountain will ruin the fragile ecology of the area and also “reinforce India's occupation” of part of the disputed region. “It would be dangerous to allow the situation to drift any further. As a minimum required action, the state government should forthwith cancel the order,” former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said. In previous years, authorities have been erecting tents for Hindu pilgrims. Kashmir is in the grip of an 18-year-old insurgency that has left more than 43,000 people dead by official count. (Posted @ 20:30 PST) Yasin Malik threatens fast unto death against land transfer in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, June 23 (APP): Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Mohammad Yasin Malik has warned that he will fast unto death if the decision of transfer of 800 Kanals of forest land to New Delhi based Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is not immediately revoked. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar after his return from Pakistan, he said that India was working on a plan to change the demography of occupied Kashmir by settling non-Kashmiris in the territory, adding, “Kashmiris will not allow anybody to occupy their land and will fight it tooth and nail,” KMS reported. The JKLF Chairman maintained that Kashmiris had always welcomed their guests, be it tourists or Amarnath pilgrims. However, he regretted that India was trying to create an atmosphere of communal discord by transferring Kashmiris' land to the Hindu board. (Posted @ 21:14 PST) Pakistan committed to supporting just struggle of Kashmiris: PM ISLAMABAD, June 23 (APP): Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said his government is committed to supporting the just struggle of Kashmiris and is determined to seek a peaceful solution of the issue in keeping with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. “We will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the cause of Kashmir till a just and honourable settlement of Kashmir is reached as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people”, he said in a meeting with APHC delegation led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq here. The Prime Minister said Kashmir remains the core issue between the two countries and Pakistan will never accept any solution of the issue unless the people of Kashmir accept it and are fully on board. Gilani said: “We look at the struggle by the Kashmiris with great admiration and their untold sacrifices for a just solution of the Kashmir dispute will not go in vain.” He also said that during his recent meeting with President George W. Bush he took up the Kashmir issue and he (President Bush) agreed that time has come to resolve this issue. He also discussed the Kashmir issue in detail with the Indian Foreign Minister during the latter’s visit to Pakistan and impressed upon him the need to resolve it in keeping with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Chairman APHC, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq said that Kashmiris are beholden to Pakistan and its people for their consistent support for the cause of Kashmir since 1947 Mirwaiz said that the election farce in occupied Kashmir is planned next September. “We do not recognize elections as a substitute for our right of self- determination. He also informed the Prime Minister of the efforts being made by the APHC to forge unity in their ranks. Prof Abdul Ghulam Bhatt and Bilal Ghani Lone Chairman Peoples Conference also thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan's support for the cause of Kashmir and said that APHC supports a peaceful step by step approach to resolve the Kashmir dispute on a permanent basis. (Posted @ 20:06 PST) 'Use force as last resort', Govt's policy for combating militancy-CM Hoti PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 23 (APP): NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti Monday informed the provincial assembly that government's approach for combating militancy is 'use of force as last resort' and priority to negotiations. “We want to tackle the issue of growing militancy through negotiation and table talks and in this regard steps have been taken which have shown positive results,” he said in a policy statement after Finance Minister Hamayun Khan wound up debate on the provincial budget. The Chief Minister said government's mandate is to ensure safety of people and rule of law. Every effort would be made to achieve this goal, he said while assuring the house that blood of innocent persons would not be letted. He also said that federal government has assured the provincial government of taking it on board in matters pertaining to maintenance of peace in FATA. He said peace cannot be maintained in NWFP unless there is peace in FATA and Afghanistan. He said allocations for maintenance of law and order has been increased manifold and government would induct 7500 Elite Force in the next fiscal year. (Posted @ 19:40 PST) About 70 killed, dozens injured in Afghanistan Kabul, June 23, (REUTERS) - A suicide car bomber killed five civilians and wounded 25 more in an attack targeting a NATO-led convoy in the western province of Herat, regional army commander Jalandar Shah Benaam said. Separately, U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops killed several Taliban insurgents in an air and ground assault in Sangin district of southern Afghanistan on Sunday, a U.S. military statement said on Monday. U.S.-led coalition air strikes killed around 55 militants and wounded another 25 following an abortive ambush by insurgents in the Zerok and Urgun districts of eastern Afghanistan on Friday, a statement from U.S.-led forces said on Monday. Several militants were killed during a U.S.-led coalition operation in the southern Afghan province of Helmand of Sunday, the U.S. military said in a statement on Monday. (Posted @ 20:36 PST Updated @ 22:18 PST) Seventeen tribal policemen abducted in Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 23 (AFP) - Suspected Taliban rebels kidnapped 17 tribal policemen near the Khyber Pass, police said Monday. Armed men attacked four checkposts on Sunday in the troubled region. “Seventeen of our policemen are missing after the attack, carried out by a group of armed men who looked like local Taliban,” Ali Mohammad Shah, commander of local tribal police, told AFP. One policeman was injured when the attackers fired a rocket at one the posts, he said, adding that police were trying to trace the hostages and their kidnappers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan was also abducted in February while passing through the Khyber region. He was freed by militants in May after protracted negotiations. (Posted @ 17:40 PST) 8 slaughtered, three burnt alive in Kurram Agency Kurram Agency, Pakistan, June 23 (PPI) - The bodies of eight civilians were found in Lower Kurram while three charred bodies were recovered from Sadda area on Monday, the political administration of Lower Kurram Sadda confirmed adding that these were handed over to the Turi tribe elders. These were believed to be the victims of the June 19 incident when a convey of trucks loaded with foodstuff and medicines etc on way from kohat to Parachinar was attacked by miscreants at Sadda Lower Kurram. Talking to journalists the elders of the council Ali Akbar Turi, ex-Senator Abid Hussaini and Musart Bangash said the political adminstration had assured on Thursday (June 19) that only three persons were killed and eight others were alive and that is why the Turi Bangash tribes were calm and peaceful for last four days even though miscreants from Sadda were continuously attacking our villages --Blashkhel and Sangena -- with heavy weapons. They demanded exemplary punishment to both officials and the miscreants or they will take revenge according to tribal rules. They also said that the grand tribal jirga at abbotabad had announced ceasefire for a month but in the very first week miscreants broke this ceasefire twice by attacking Turi and Bangash tribes on Village Pewar in Upper Kurram and attacking the food supplies convoy in Lower Kurram. (Posted @ 17:22 PST) PM, Asif Zardari discuss political situation ISLAMABAD, June 23 (APP): Political situation in the country came under discussion during Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's 120-minute meeting with PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari here Monday. (Posted @ 20:22 PST) HUBCO to set up 225MW plant with $300m investment in Punjab KARACHI, June 23 (PPI): One of country's largest independent power producers The Hub Power Company Limited Monday said it has received Pakistan Government’s formal approval to set up combined cycle power plant based on Reciprocating Engines technology with investment of about $300 million and having an installed capacity of 225MW. Being set up in District Narowal of Punjab province, it will start supplying electricity to national grid from end March 2010. (Posted @ 20:16 PST) Pakistan appreciates debt-swap for education initiative by Canada ISLAMABAD, June 23 (PPI):- President Pervez Musharraf Monday appreciated debt-swap for education initiative by Canada and its company Barrick Gold's investment in copper mining joint venture project in Balochistan province. Talking to outgoing Canadian High Commissioner, David B. Collins, he stressed importance of Pakistan-Canada relations and thanked Canadian government's relief, rehabilitation assistance to Pakistan following devastating earthquake of October 2005. Collins said Canada would be involved in rebuilding schools in quake affected areas particularly where Canadian personnel were located during relief operations. (Posted @ 20:10 PST) Factory fire kills three in Lahore LAHORE, June 23 (APP)- An explosion and the resultant fire in a factory in Lahore’s Kahna locality on Monday killed three young boys, besides causing injuries to other workers. Police said 15 youngsters were working in the fireworks factory when the accident occurred. One worker was killed on the spot, while three others were rushed to hospital with serious burn wounds. Two of them succumbed to their injuries. (Posted @ 19:50 PST) Government determined to stay within limit in next fiscal year, not over- spend Islamabad, June 23 (PPI): The government is determined to stay within limit during next fiscal year 2008-09 and no Ministry or Division would be allowed to over-spend, Federal Finance Minister Syed Naveed Qamar told the National Assembly on Monday. Winding up debate on supplementary grants for outgoing financial year 2007-08 in the House, he said excess expenditure in this fiscal year was result of “bad policy and planning.” He said although some Ministries spent amount over and above their allocations but it is a fact that government had to spend Rs 40 billion on subsidy on wheat import, Rs 36 billion subsidy on oil besides some extra spending on defence including purchase of aircraft and defence machinery. On a point of order, PML-N parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan explained the position of his party on the judges issue. PML-N has supported Finance bill 2008, but it opposes clause regarding expansion of judges strength. He said PML-N firmly stands by its position to restore judges on the position of November 2 last year. At start of proceedings newly-elected member Hamza Shahbaz was administered oath. Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza said 229 legislators participated in six-day debate on Federal Budget. She appreciated the opposition and treasury members for smooth passing of finance bill and setting new parliamentary traditions. It was for first time that suggestions sent by Senate were debated in National Assembly and defence budget was also presented in the House. (Posted @ 16:55 PST) Ten killed in weekend gunbattle in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 23 (Reuters): At least 10 people, including nine separatist militants, were killed in clashes between security forces and insurgents at the weekend in occupied Kashmir, police said. Soldiers shot dead five suspected militants late Saturday when they tried to cross the border into India. Four militants and a soldier were killed Sunday in another gunbattle. (Posted @ 12:25 PST) Indian cricket team arrives in Karachi KARACHI, June 22 (APP): A 24-member Indian cricket squad arrived here late Sunday night from Mumbai to take part in the Asia Cup Cricket Tournament starting at Karachi and Lahore from Tuesday. Wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team from Quaid-i-Azam Internatonal airport was escorted to the team hotel in tight security. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Floods, landslides kill 35 in southwest China BEIJING, June 23 (Reuters) - Floods, landslides and hail in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan have killed 35 people, state media said on Monday. The storms have affected around 1.9 million people and caused losses of some 575 million yuan ($83.70 million) in the province, the official Xinhua news agency said. (Posted @ 21:02 PST) Russia to cut army to 1 mln by 2013 MOSCOW, June 23 (Reuters) - Russia plans to cut its army to one million people by 2013, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Monday. “We propose to have an army of 1 million within four or five years, that is by 2013,” Russian media quoted Serdyukov as telling reporters after meeting President Dmitry Medvedev. Russian officials had earlier put the number of Russian army servicemen at 1.13 million at the end of 2007. Serdyukov said the Defence Ministry had earlier planned to reduce the army to 1 million servicemen by 2016. He said the army would shrink to 1.1 million by 2011. (Posted @ 20:48 PST) US soldier killed, five wounded in Iraq attack BAGHDAD, June 23 (AFP) - Small-arms fire killed one US soldier and wounded five in the Salman Pak area south of Baghdad on Monday, American military spokesman Lieutenant David Russell told AFP. He said one “enemy” was also killed. An Iraqi security official said the soldiers came under attack by town councillor Ra'ad Hamud Ajil when they came to the council offices in Salman Pak. “He has been killed in the clash.” (Posted @ 20:42 PST) Police arrest 75 for smuggling people into EU AMSTERDAM, June 23 (Reuters) - Police across Europe have broken up an Iraqi-run network that smuggled illegal immigrants into the continent for fees of up to 12,000 euros ($18,630) per person, European officials said on Monday. “This was one of the largest coordinated actions against people smugglers ever, involving more than 1,300 police officers,” Europol and Eurojust, the continent's Hague-based police and prosecution agencies, said in a joint statement. They said police had arrested 75 people in joint investigations in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Britain. The network is accused of transporting illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, China, Turkey and Bangladesh to EU member states. One of the main organisers in France is believed to have smuggled in around 280 people in a six-month period. The migrants paid 10,000 to 12,000 euros, often by wire transfer, and travelled in cramped conditions in camper vans, coaches, boats or even planes from Iraq via Turkey to Europe, Europol and Eurojust said. The European Commission estimates there are up to 8 million illegal migrants in the EU. More than 200,000 were arrested in the EU in the first half of 2007 with less than 90,000 expelled. (Posted @ 19:04 PST) UAE invites bids for nuclear power plant: press DUBAI, June 23 (AFP) - The United Arab Emirates has invited bidders for the construction of a nuclear power plant, which if built would be the first in an Arab country, a local daily said Monday. Nine bidders are competing for the contract, Emirates Business said quoting unnamed sources. Amec, a British-based engineering firm, told the daily that it was one of the nine companies short-listed to manage the nuclear power plant. France signed a deal to help the UAE develop nuclear energy for peaceful ends during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Abu Dhabi in January. An atomic energy cooperation agreement was signed with the United States in April. (Posted @ 18:06 PST) Eight killed in southern Thai violence YALA, Thailand, June 23 (AFP) - Eight people were killed on Monday across Thailand's Muslim-majority south, police said, including six suspected rebels who died in shoot-outs with security forces. About 100 military and police raided a village in Yala province suspected of harbouring militants fighting for a separate state. A group of rebels shot at the authorities, who returned fire killing two of them. The rest fled the scene, but the security forces tracked some of them down and killed another four suspects, while five police officers were wounded in the clash. Also Monday, two men on a motorcycle shot dead a 37-year-old Muslim woman in Yala, while in nearby Pattani province a rubber vendor was killed in a similar attack, local authorities said. (Posted @ 18:00 PST) 10 killed in Iraq mortar attacks BAQUBA, Iraq, June 23 (AFP): At least 10 people were killed when insurgents fired off a spate of mortar rounds which fell on houses in Iraq's Diyala province, officials told AFP on Monday. The projectiles, fired during the night in the town of Al-Adhaim, were apparently aimed at the police headquarters and the mayor's office, but fell instead on people's homes, a government security official said. The mortars killed at least 10 people and wounded around 20, the official added. The mayor of Adhaim, Abdul Jabbar al-Obeidi, confirmed the attack to AFP. (Posted @ 13:50 PST) Nine killed in Turkey as train rams into minibus ANKARA, June 23 (AFP): Nine people were killed and three were injured in Turkey when a freight train rammed into a minibus which was passing a level crossing despite warnings to stop, the state-run railways said Monday. The accident occurred overnight near the town of Nurdagi in the southeastern Gaziantep province when the bus driver tried to cross over the tracks despite closed barriers, flashing lights and a warning bell, a TCDD statement said. (Posted @ 13:35 PST) Sunken Philippine ferry carrying 862 people MANILA, June 23 (AFP): More than 800 people were on board the ferry that sank in the Philippines, its owners said Monday, up from an original number of 747 passengers and crew. The ferry was carrying 751 passengers and 111 crew when it went down in heavy seas in the central Philippines Saturday, Sulpicio Lines vice president Sally Buaron said. The vessel was battered by huge waves whipped up by Typhoon Fengshen which lashed the Philippines on Saturday. It listed before finally tipping over and sinking off the coast of Sibuyan island. The typhoon has left 598 dead or missing elsewhere in the Philippines. Rescuers said that 32 people have been rescued so far from the ill-fated ferry, one of them a crew member, Buaron said. (First Posted @ 09:10 PST, Updated @ 13:05 PST) Fresh fighting kills 33 Tamil rebels, six soldiers in northern Sri Lanka COLOMBO, June 23 (AP): Fighting in the embattled northern region killed 33 ethnic Tamil rebels and six government soldiers, the Sri Lankan military said. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said the latest round of battles took place in the Mannar, Vavuniya, Welioya and Jaffna areas in northern Sri Lanka throughout Sunday. In the worst fighting, army troops captured six rebel bunkers in Vavuniya after a battle that killed 10 rebels and five soldiers, he said. There was no immediate comment from rebels. (Posted @ 12:20 PST) Gas-rich Bolivian province holds autonomy referendum TARIJA, Bolivia, June 23 (AFP): Gas-rich Tarija province on Sunday voted overwhelmingly in favour of greater autonomy from the central government of President Evo Morales, ATB television reported, based on exit polls. According to ATB's estimate, 80.3 percent of Tarija voters chose the “yes” ballot on the questionnaire, making their province the fourth in Bolivia to back greater autonomy from the Morales government. The exit polls showed 19.7 percent voted against autonomy and 34.8 percent of the province's 173,000 registered voters abstained, ATB said. In the township of Bermejo, where anti-autonomy sentiments ran high, the abstention rate was 47.8 percent, the television added. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Euro 2008: Spain defeat Italy on penalties to make for semi-finals VIENNA, June 23 (AFP): Spain reached the Euro 2008 semi-finals here on Sunday after they beat Italy 4-2 on penalties. The match had finished 0-0 after extra-time. The winners will play Russia here on Thursday in the semi-finals. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Karachi Stocks down 493.11 points: KARACHI, June 23: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11162.17, down 493.11 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, June 23: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68.6 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah The DAWN Media Group |
| | About Us | Advertising info | Subscription | Feedback | Contributions | Privacy Policy | Help | Contact us | |