|
| June 26, 2008 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Clashes erupt during Pakistan by-elections: officials ISLAMABAD, June 26 (AFP): Rival groups clashed with guns and sticks during by-elections in Pakistan on Thursday, a day after a court postponed voting in a constituency where ex-premier Nawaz Sharif hoped to stand.Security was tight across the country during polling for five parliamentary constituencies and 23 provincial assembly seats left empty following general elections in February. Police said four people were wounded and 11 others arrested when rival groups clashed outside a polling station in Jehania town, near the city of Multan in Punjab province. “The rival groups fired in the air and used batons against each other at a main polling station in Jehania, injuring four people,” local police official Kamran Khan told reporters. It was not clear which parties the groups supported. Voting was suspended at a separate women's polling station when another group shot into the air, Khan added. Pakistan's election commission said polling was peaceful everywhere except Jehania. “The commission immediately took notice of the situation in Jehania and it was brought under control,” election commission secretary Kanwar Dilshad told AFP. The by-elections are being held to fill seats left empty for a variety of reasons, including unrest and candidates winning more than one seat in February's poll. The government has declared local holidays in the constituencies where by-elections were being held and long queues were witnessed at polling stations, Dilshad said. “Security is on high alert and the provincial governments have taken special measures to maintain law and order during the polling,” he added. (First Posted @ 11:10 PST, Updated @ 17:00 PST)  Militants torch Pakistani ski resort hotel MINGORA, Pakistan, June 26 (APP/REUTERS): Suspected militants Thursday torched Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) motel and the adjacent servant quarters at the skiing resort of Malam Jabba in the picturesque Swat Valley besides damaging chairlifts. Police said that the miscreants equipped with heavy and automatic machine guns threw oil on four storey motel comprising 60 rooms and the adjacent 12 servant quarters that engulfed the entire building emitting black smoke that was visible from several kilometers. The militants also set ablaze local Met office at Malam Jabba. “Half of the hotel has been burned down,” said Swat's police chief, Waqif Khan, referring to the only hotel at the Malam Jabba ski resort. Khan said authorities had not been able to get to the resort to tackle the blaze or inspect the damage. “The area is not under our control, it's under the militants' control and no one can go there,” he said. But a militant spokesman denied setting the hotel on fire. “Our target is the security forces, we have nothing to do with the hotel,” said the spokesman, Muslim Khan. He said villagers in the area had appealed to his men to help them stop businessmen he referred to as “timber mafia” cutting trees on the mountain slopes. “There's a third element which does not want the peace accord to succeed, they don't want peace in the area,” he said, apparently referring to the log poachers. (Posted @ 12:30 PST) Thousands protest in occupied Kashmir following transfer of land to Hindu shrine SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 26 (AP): Tens of thousands of Kashmiris filled the streets for a fourth day of protests Thursday, their anger inflamed over the transfer of land to a Hindu shrine in this Muslim-majority region. Protesters clashed with riot police in several parts of Srinagar. Police responded to rock-throwers by firing live ammunition and tear gas into the air in an attempt to disperse the mobs, said police officer Sajjad Ahmed. More than twenty thousand people were protesting in towns across occupied Kashmir, he said. Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers were spread out across Srinagar and the rest of the disputed territory to control the angry mobs, he added. No serious injuries were immediately reported Thursday. Across occupied Kashmir, shops and offices were shut down in strikes and public transport was squeezed off the roads by marchers who filled the streets chanting, “Down with India,” and “We want freedom!” School and college exams across the region have been cancelled. Meanwhile, thousands of soldiers have also been deployed along the pilgrims' route to Amarnath shrine. (First Posted @ 13:45 PST, Updated @ 15:55 PST) U.S. acknowledges uprooting terrorism has no single solution WASHINGTON, June 26 (APP): Recognizing that no single solution can uproot the menace of violent extremism, the United States has indicated it has no predisposition to reject Pakistan's efforts to win support of reconcilable segments in pursuit of its multifaceted anti-terror plan. “Certainly, we support efforts to bring those who are outside the current political process into the political process. At the same time, we would certainly hope that any discussions or agreements reached would, clearly, ensure that there would be a halt to violence and that those that might be engaged in extremist activities or violence ended such activities,” State Department spokesman Tom Casey said. Citing top Pakistani leadertrade's declaration Wednesday to employ a multi-pronged approach to weeding out terrorism, the spokesman said the Pakistani leadership would not find any extremist activity on their soil acceptable. “There have been declarations made by senior officials in Pakistan, both political party representatives, those from the military, and some of the traditional leaders in the FATA that reiterate their opposition to extremism and their desire and willingness to combat it.” “Obviously, we would not want to see anything done that would allow safe haven for extremists or would allow extremists to be able to carry out attacks, either in Pakistan or elsewhere in the region, specifically cross-border with Afghanistan. But again, I think there are certainly clear statements from the Pakistani Government that it is not something that they would find acceptable either,” he stated. Casey acknowledged fighting militancy involves a variety of things including economic and security measures. “There is no silver bullet. There is no single solution here. And I think if you look at instances and places where there has been an effective response to extremism, it has involved all of those various tools in one form or another. But each set of circumstances is unique and different. Certainly, we would expect that the Government of Pakistan would do everything that it could to combat those who continue to be intent on engaging in extremist action and engaging in violence.” (Posted @ 12:10 PST) Pakistan denies intelligence services backed Karzai attack ISLAMABAD, June 26 (AFP): Defence Minister Chaudhury Ahmad Mukhtar on Thursday rejected allegations by Afghanistan that the ISI had masterminded an attempt to assassinate President Hamid Karzai. “This is all baseless, this is not true. ISI is a professional organisation which is not interfering in the affairs of any country,” Mukhtar told AFP. Mukhtar said the claims, made a day earlier by neighbouring Afghanistan's own intelligence service, were part of an attempt by the Afghan leader to prolong his rule. On Wednesday a spokesman for Afghan intelligence said that the ISI was the “real schemer and organiser” behind the failed April 27 attack on Karzai at an annual military parade. (Posted @ 13:45 PST)  Militants kill prominent tribal elder in Pakistan’s Swat valley PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 26 (AP) - Suspected militants late Wednesday killed a prominent tribal elder in the Shawar area of Swat Valley who had opposed the militants. They then set fire to his home, also killing the elder's son and mother-in-law, officials said. The attack came ahead of talks Thursday between representatives of pro-Taliban cleric Mullah Fazlullah and the provincial government in Peshawar on the fate of a peace deal inked last month. The deal had quelled violence in the scenic valley, formerly a popular tourist destination. (Posted @ 17:30 PST) PM to represent Pak in D-8 summit ISLAMABAD, June 26 (PPI) - The D-8 Summit will be held from July 4 to 8 in Malaysia, and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will represent Pakistan at the Summit, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq Khan said Thursday. The theme of the 6th Summit is “Meeting Challenges through Innovative Cooperation”. The Developing-8 (D-8) was formed as an economic development alliance and comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. Replying to a question the spokesman said there are indications about presence of foreigners in FATA and foreign hand in exploiting the situation there but added there was no specific information. The spokesmen termed as mere conjecture reports that the nuclear bomb design in digital format, which was in the possession of the Tinners of Switzerland, was similar to Pakistan design. He said the conjecture is surprising as no foreigner has any access to Pakistan's nuclear designs. He questioned that if Tinners files had relevance to Dr. A.Q. Khan then why where they destroyed. Why the Western investigators not extracted details of transactions from the Tinners? Why are the Tinners to be released? He said the files should have been shared with Pakistan if they were genuine and relevant to Dr. Khan. He said no foreign Government has contacted Pakistan in this case which shows that the news item is speculative and part of the propaganda campaign against the country. The spokesman confirmed that the United States has transferred 373.841 million dollars to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund. Out of this, 119 million dollars were pending since 2007 while the rest of the reimbursements were from this year. To a question the spokesman said Pakistan welcomes efforts of the APHC leadership to bring about unity in their ranks. He hoped that meeting between Mirwaiz Omer Farooq and Syed Ali Gilani on 19th of this month would enable the Hurriyat to play a more effective role in the realization of the rights of the Kashmiri people. (Posted @ 19:12 PST) Gilani meets overseas Pakistanis’ representatives ISLAMABAD, June 26 (PPI): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the two major priorities of his government are improving the law and order and security situation in the country and reviving the economy. Talking to a delegation of Pakistani Americans Public Affairs Committee and prominent Pakistanis in the UK who called on him here at the Prime Minister Gilani said “we have accepted to meet various challenges facing the country by forming a broad-based government in the country.” The Prime Minister asked the delegation to familiarize the business communities in the US and UK with investor-friendly policies of the government to encourage and promote foreign investment in Pakistan. (Posted @ 19:06 PST) Truck turns turtle in Pakistan, three labourers killed SAHIWAL, Pakistan, June 26 (PPI): A speedy truck on G.T. Road near Chak 64 / 5-L in Yousafwala Police precincts turned turtle and as a result three labourers died on the spot. The accident occurred Thursday morning at 5.00 a.m. when the truck was on its way to Pattoki. (Posted @ 14:15 PST) Five injured in gas cylinder explosion in Pakistan DASKA, Pakistan, June 26 (PPI): Five persons, including two women, were injured seriously in a gas cylinder explosion in their house in Moti Masjid locality in Daska in northeastern Punjab Thursday. (Posted @ 14:15 PST) Cricket: India beat Pakistan by six wickets in Asia Cup KARACHI, June 26, (AFP) - India beat Pakistan by six wickets in the final Group B match in the Asia Cup played at National Stadium here on Thursday. Brief scores: 299-4 in 50 overs; India 301-4 in 42.1 overs. (Posted @ 23:52 PST) At least 33 killed in Iraq bombings MOSUL, Iraq, June 26 (AFP) - At least 33 people were killed in two massive bomb attacks in Iraq Thursday, among them 18 people who died when a car bomb ripped through the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi and US officials said. Another 71 civilians and nine policemen were also wounded in the car bomb attack. An Iraqi police officer said insurgents first fired several rockets into the Bab al-Tob market in the centre of Mosul. When Provincial governor Duraid Mohammed Kashmula toured the market to assess the damage a car bomb exploded in the vicinity. Kashmula survived the bombing, the officer added. Separately, a suicide bomber blew himself in a municipal office in the town of Garma in Ambar province earlier Thursday, killing local mayor Kamal al-Abdali and at least 14 senior members of an anti-Qaeda front, according to Iraqi officials. More than 20 people were also wounded as the bomber detonated his explosives in the office of mayor Abdali. (First Posted @ 18:30 PST Updated @ 19:42 PST) WB expert notes Pakistan's efficient financing system for quake reconstruction, rehabilitation BEIJING, June 26 (APP): A World Bank expert has cited Pakistan as an example of effective reconstruction and rehabilitation of earthquake devastated areas, referring to the country’s efforts following the 2005 earthquake that severely affected the northern parts of the country. The comments were made during an interview by Cristoph Pusch, the World Bank's South Asia regional coordinator for disaster risk management. Push is one of the experts in a World Bank workshop on how to rebuild China's quake-affected areas. In Pakistan the government had established a financing system where all the funding was tracked and accounted for, so that everybody can put money into the system and be assured their inputs would be accounted for, Pusch said. Special partnership arrangements are an integral part of the Pakistan earthquake reconstruction program, he noted, and suggested that a similar model be introduced for the reconstruction process in Sichuan province. (Posted @ 18:18 PST) Asfand Yar Wali's brother Sangeen Khan dies ISLAMABAD, June 26 (APP): Sangeen Wali Khan, brother of chief of Awami National Party Asfand Yar Wali, died after prolonged illnessThursday morning. (Posted @ 18:14 PST) US to lift sanctions, take N. Korea off terrorist list WASHINGTON, JUNE 26 (AP) - The U.S. administration on Thursday will lift some trade sanctions against North Korea and move to take it off the U.S. terrorism blacklist _ a remarkable turnaround in policy toward the communist regime, which President George W. Bush once branded as part of an “axis of evil.” North Korea handed over a long-awaited accounting of its nuclear work to Chinese officials on Thursday, fulfilling a key step in the denuclearization process. In exchange, the U.S. is fulfilling its promise to erase trade sanctions under the Trading With the Enemy Act, and notify Congress that, in 45 days, it intends to take North Korea off the State Department list of nations that sponsor terrorism, White House press secretary Dana Perino said. “The United States welcomes the North Korean declaration of its nuclear programs,” she said. “North Korea has pledged to disable all its nuclear facilities and tomorrow will destroy the cooling tower of the Yongbyon reactor,” she said. “North Korea also pledged to declare its nuclear activities. This information will be essential to verifying that North Korea is ending all of its nuclear programs and activities.” (Posted @ 17:15 PST) Twelve feared dead in China iron mine cave-in BEIJING, June 26 (Reuters): A dozen farmers were given up for dead in China's eastern Anhui province after an abandoned iron mine caved in heavy rain, the Xinhua news agency said on Thursday. (Posted @ 17:15 PST) Suicide bomber kills 11 in Iraq's Anbar province RAMADI, Iraq, June 26 (AFP): A suicide bomber Thursday blew himself up in a municipal office in the town of Gurma in Anbar province, killing the local mayor and 10 senior members of an anti-Qaeda front, an official told AFP. Six people were also wounded in the attack. Fallujah town council spokesman Kamal al-Ayash said the bomber detonated his explosives in the office of the mayor, Kamal al-Abdali, as he was huddled in a meeting with members of an anti-Qaeda “Awakening” front. The attack comes just days before Anbar province is due to be transferred by the US military to the control of Iraqi security forces. (Posted @ 17:05 PST) Airstrikes kill militants, chopper crashes in Afghanistan KABUL, June 26 (AP/AFP): Airstrikes killed several militants who attacked a patrol in Maywand district of Kandahar province on Wednesday, the U.S.-led coalition said Thursday. No government or coalition troops were reported injured in the incident. A coalition helicopter also crash-landed in Kunar province on Wednesday causing “minor injuries” to two soldiers on-board, it said. In another incident reported Thursday, Afghan and coalition forces attacked and killed several militants manning a lookout post in Shinkay district of Zabul province on Sunday. (First Posted @ 11:30 PST, Updated @ 16:45 PST) Nepal's interim prime minister steps down KATHMANDU, June 26 (AFP): Nepal's interim premier and architect of the country's peace process announced his resignation Thursday in a move that paves the way for a new government following the abolition of the monarchy. I declare I have given up the prime minister's post through this assembly today,” Girija Prasad Koirala, who is 83 and in failing health, told a recently elected constitutional assembly. “With me or without me, we all need to maintain the culture of consensus,” he said. (Posted @ 16:00 PST) 59 Tigers killed in two days of Sri Lanka fighting COLOMBO, June 26 (AFP): At least 59 Tamil Tiger rebels and government soldiers were killed in the latest fighting in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Thursday. Heavy fighting since Tuesday left 57 Tiger guerrillas and two soldiers killed in separate clashes across the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Jaffna, the ministry said. It said Mi-24 helicopter gunships were deployed Wednesday to pound suspected positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Mannar district. There was no immediate word from the Tigers on the latest fighting, but the guerrillas in a statement said a civilian was killed in a mine attack carried out by government commandos inside rebel-held territory Wednesday. (Posted @ 12:35 PST) Bomb blast kills US soldier in Baghdad BAGHDAD, June 26 (AFP): A roadside bomb blast killed a US soldier in eastern Baghdad Wednesday at around 9 a.m., the US military announced Thursday. It said the bomb used in the attack was an explosively formed projectile (EFP). (Posted @ 11:55 PST) Local official and son killed in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, June 26 (AFP): A local government official and his son were killed by suspected separatists in southern Thailand’s Narathiwat province, police said Thursday. The 41-year-old official and his 23-year-old son were killed when militants stormed their home and opened fire with assault rifles, police said. (Posted @ 10:40 PST) More than 300 US dignitaries seek executive order explicitly to ban torture by Americans WASHINGTON, June 26 (AP): More than 300 former U.S. government officials, including secretaries of state and defence, generals and admirals and other prominent Americans are asking for an executive order that would incorporate as U.S. policy most of the stipulations of the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war and torture. Several policies criticized for allowing alleged abuses in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere resulted from executive orders issued by President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. If drafted as the petition requests, the executive order would forbid explicitly the use of torture by American interrogators. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Evangelicals for Human Rights and The Center for Victims of Torture organized the project. Signers include three former secretaries of state, Madeleine K. Albright, Warren Christopher and George Shultz. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Two killed in Karbala bus bombing KARBALA, Iraq, June 26 (AFP): A bomb ripped through a bus near the revered shrine of Imam Abbas in the central Iraqi city of Karbala Wednesday, killing two civilians, including a child, Salim Kadhim of Karbala's health department said. Kadhim said 15 were wounded in the attack, some critically. The explosion struck at around 7:30 p.m. when the bus was stopped at a checkpoint near the shrine, Rahman Mshawi, a spokesman for Karbala police, told AFP. (Posted @ 09:25 PST) Cricket- Sri Lanka (357-9) beat Bangladesh (226-7) in Asia Cup LAHORE, June 26 (Reuters): Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 131 runs in their Asia Cup one-day match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. Scores: Sri Lanka 357 for nine off 50 overs (Sangakkara 101, Kapugedera 74, Jayasuriya 72); Bangladesh 226 for seven off 50 overs. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Football: Germany beat Turkey to make Euro final BASEL, Switzerland, June 26 (AFP): Three-time European champions Germany beat Turkey 3-2 in their Euro 2008 semi-final here Wednesday. The winners play either Russia or Spain in Sunday's final in Vienna. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Karachi Stocks up 21.79 points: KARACHI, June 26: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12452.08, up 21.79 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, June 26: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68.6 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah The DAWN Media Group |
| | About Us | Advertising info | Subscription | Feedback | Contributions | Privacy Policy | Help | Contact us | |