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| July 03, 2008 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 PM Gilani to meet Bush on July 28 Islamabad, July 03 (PPI) - Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will meet US President George W. Bush on July 28 to discuss a broad range of issues of mutual interest and regional and international matters of common interest, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said at the weekly news briefing Thursday. During the visit, the Prime Minister will also have interaction with members of the US Congress, business sector, media and the Pakistani American community. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is reaching New York on July 8 for consultations with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and others concerned regarding Pakistan's request for an international probe into assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He will also address a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on July 9, have a meeting with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, members of the Congress and senior US officials on July 11 in Washington. Replying to a question the spokesman said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir will be visiting New Delhi to kickstart fifth round of the Composite Dialogue with his Indian counterpart on July 21-22. To another question he said in pursuance of the decision of the Judicial Committee on prisoners, Pakistan has provided list of prisoners to India but Indian External Affairs Ministry has conveyed that it was still awaiting input from concerned offices to finalize list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jail. Asked to comment on a statement of Chairman of US Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen about authority of hot pursuit of terrorists inside Pakistan, the spokesman said it is absolutely clear that all operations inside Pakistani territory are to be carried out by our forces and none else. He also said joint investigations are underway into NATO airstrike on a Pakistani post and hoped that the two sides will be able to work out a better mechanism to avoid recurrence of such incidents. (Posted @ 19:06 PST)  PML-N not taken into confidence on major policy issues: Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 03 (PPI): PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif Thursday said that his party is sincerely cooperating with the government to strengthen democracy in the country. Talking to newsmen at Islamabad Airport before his departure for London, he said the PML(N) has strong reasons to support the PPP led government but complained that the PML(N) was not taken into confidence on important issues like the operation in FATA and increases in electricity and POL prices. He said that national policy formulation is the responsibility of the Parliament and no single party should take decisions on important issues. He said that the coalition has not so far been able to carry out the mandate of the people and the situation is the same as it was before February 18 elections. He deplored that people are still suffering from price hike and unemployment. (Posted @ 18:38 PST) Sharif rebuffs Boucher for saying Pakistan should not focus on Musharraf's fate ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 3 (AP): Former premier Nawaz Sharif rebuffed U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher on Thursday for saying that Pakistan should focus on food prices and militancy rather than the fate of President Pervez Musharraf. “What Pakistan has to do with its president, who is an unconstitutional president, this is Pakistan's internal affair, this is not Pakistan's external affair. We do not need any external consultation in this,” Sharif told reporters. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)  PM to lead Pak delegation at 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo Islamabad, July 03 (PPI) - Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will lead Pakistan delegation to the 15th SAARC summit being held in Colombo on 2nd and 3rd of next month. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead Pakistan's delegation to the Council of Minister's two-day meeting beginning on July 31. (Posted @ 18:52 PST) Wife of Dr. A.Q. Khan contests his detention ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 3 (AP): The wife of nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan said Thursday she is challenging his detention in court and suggested officials would be glad if he died without telling his side of Pakistan's nuclear proliferation story. Hendrina Khan told reporters Thursday that she had appointed an attorney earlier this week to petition the Islamabad High Court for an end to the restrictions on her husband's movements and for his freedom to speak to the media. “We have finally made it known to the government that we are no longer willing to sit back and do nothing,” she said. Hendrina Khan said indirect threats of “dire consequences” if they spoke out as well as promises of freedom later had persuaded them to toe the official line in the past. But it is now “high time we told our side of the story,” she said. (Posted @ 15:25 PST) IPI gas pipeline deal 'by next month': oil minister MADRID, July 3 (AFP) - India expects to finalise a deal “by next month” on a pipeline that will transport gas across the subcontinent from Iran, Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora told AFP on Thursday. He said the 7.5-billion-dollar project to bring gas from Iranian fields to India and Pakistan had been discussed on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress industry event in Madrid. “We discussed this here again yesterday (Wednesday). There should be an end to dialogue now,” Deora said in an interview with AFP. “The only issue is where to take the delivery, the delivery point,” he said, adding the two options were on the India-Pakistan border or the Pakistan-Iran border. “But these things are being sorted out at a very high level now, and I hope by next month things will be okay,” he said. Asked when the deal could be signed, he said: “I hope by next month.” (Posted @ 20:00 PST) Pakistan’s maritime sector to promote peace, growth: PM KARACHI, Pakistan, July 3 (APP): Pakistan is a peaceful country and has no intention to enter into an arms race in the region, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the 89th Midshipmen Commissioning Parade at the Pakistan Naval Academy, PNS Rahbar on Thursday. He said that Pakistan believes in the promotion of peace and security in the region and the world at large, and the country will maintain a minimum credible deterrence to further these goals and ensure that its economic development remains uninterrupted. Gilani also emphasised the importance of Pakistan's maritime potential, pointing out that the long coastline and vast exclusive economic zone placed Pakistan in a unique geo-strategic position with immense opportunities for sustainable economic growth. “This strategic location can only be exploited to our advantage through the development of maritime sector,” he said. Gilani also used the opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s commitment to the war on terrorism alongside the international community. (Posted @ 14:00 PST) Mirwaiz condemns attack on Muslims in Jammu Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, July 03 (PPI)- Leaders of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference including its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will lead a procession from Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid to Hazratbal after Juma prayers tomorrow to convey to the world that the Kashmiris are solidly united to achieve their right to self determination, KMS reported. Addressing a Press conference in Srinagar Thursday Mirwaiz strongly condemned attacks by Hindu fanatics on Muslims' houses and shops in Jammu, Rajouri, Samba and Bhadarwah. He said that Indian agencies in collaboration with Hindu communal parties were hell bent upon creating communal discord amongst people of Kashmir. Such designs, he added, were destined to fail. Meanwhile, addressing the Amarnath pilgrims at Baltal, in Kangan, the JKLF Chairman, Yasin Malik cautioned them against plans to disrupt communal harmony in the region and emphasised that Kashmiris have all along maintained communal unity and will do so in future. Meanwhile, Indian troops have martyred three more Kashmiri youth, two of them at Naina Battapora in Pulwama and one in Karnah area of Kupwara. (Posted @ 18:46 PST) Pakistani security agents arrest five, say foil suicide attacks LAHORE, Pakistan, July 3 (Reuters): Pakistani security agents have arrested five militants who were plotting suicide attacks in revenge for an offensive against pro-Taliban militants, a security official said. The suspects were seized with suicide-bomb jackets, explosives and weapons in a raid in Lahore Tuesday night, a security official said. Officials from two main Pakistani intelligence agencies said the arrested men were members of the banned Lashkar-i-Islam militant group. “They came here soon after the security force operation and were staying at a house. They planned to target law enforcement agency installations and officials in reaction to it,” a security official, who requested anonymity, said Thursday. (Posted @ 13:45 PST) PPP govt to reinstate deposed judges, reiterates PM Gilani KARACHI, July 3 (APP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Wednesday reiterated that the PPP-led government will reinstate the deposed judges. He said the present government released the judges, gave salaries to the judges, and increased the number of judges through the Finance Bill. “ Now, we will also reinstate them,” he said while addressing parliamentarians at a dinner hosted by Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah here at CM House. (Posted @ 11:45 PST) Pakistan anti-militant operation leaves residents puzzled BARA, Pakistan, July 3 (AFP): Armoured vehicles trundled through the streets in the Khyber tribal district, but residents said they were baffled by the lack of any fighting in Pakistan's anti-militant operation here. Pakistan's new government sent troops into the region on Saturday but there have only been half a dozen deaths since, a handful of arrests and no actual clashes. Residents said militants whom authorities said were threatening the northwestern city of Peshawar have simply melted into the hills. “I am not happy with this operation. Mangal Bagh's men are still roaming in surrounding villages,” a resident of the region's main Bara town told AFP. “Troops only destroyed some houses, they did not disarm people or launch a siege and search operation,” he said. Another resident of the town said he was baffled by the lack of apparent activity. “Troops dynamited Bagh's house in a nearby area but his men are still there. There is no clash and there is no firing. I don't understand this operation,” he added. An AFP reporter saw life going on mainly as normal in Bara. Private traffic including rickshaws and handcarts filled the roads and many shops were open. At one check post at the entrance to the Khyber district only four armed soldiers and some policemen were present. Another police post nearby was empty, while at a third four officers lounged on a bed frame under a tree to avoid the hot sun. (Posted @ 11:05 PST) Cricket: India beat Sri Lanka to reach Asia Cup final Karachi, July 3, (REUTERS) - India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday to qualify for the final of the ninth Asia Cup one-day tournament on Sunday. Scores: Sri Lanka 308 for eight off 50 overs (C. Kapugedera 75, M. Jayawardene 50, C. Silva 50); India 310 for four off 46.5 overs (G. Gambhir 68, M.S. Dhoni 67, S. Raina 54). (First Posted @ 20:10 PST Updated @ 23:52 PST) Indian troops kill top militant in occupied Kashmir: police SRINAGAR, India, July 3 (AFP) - Indian security forces Thursday claimed to have killed the alleged chief commander of a hardline militant group in occupied Kashmir. Abu Atif and his bodyguard were killed during a fierce gun battle in the district of Pulwama, a statement said. “Atif was the chief commander of Lashkar-i-Tayyeba militant group,” it said, adding the gun battle was sparked after troops, backed by police, ringed his hideout after a tip-off. More than 43,000 people have died in occupied Kashmir since the insurgency in 1989. (Posted @ 23:12 PST) Zambia denies President Mwanawasa is dead LUSAKA, July 3 (Reuters) - Zambia's vice president Rupiah Banda denied in a statement media reports on Thursday that President Levy Mwanawasa had died, saying he was in a stable condition in a Paris hospital. (First Posted @ 17:20 PST Updated @ 20:52 PST) Tennis: Venus into Wimbledon final LONDON, July 3 (AFP) - Venus Williams moved to within one match of a fifth Wimbledon singles title after beating Russia's Elena Dementieva in straight sets in the semi-finals on Thursday. The defending champion won 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) to set up a potential final date with her sister Serena, who faced Chinese wildcard Zheng Jie in the second semi-final at the All England Club. (Posted @ 20:46 PST) Security forces extend operation to Malagori Peshawar, July 03 (PPI)- Security forces on Thursday started patrolling Malagori sub-Tehsil of Jamrud. According to FC officials deployed in Malagori, the purpose was to pressurize the criminals hiding in the area. It may be mentioned that miscreants are believed to have kept the 14 abducted Khasadars in Malagori and Mohmand Agency after abducting them from Jamrud Tehsil some twelve days back. Meanwhile, some local elders have held negotiations with chief of Lashker-i- Islam Mangal Bagh at Aka Khel in Tirrah Valley to bring an end to the ongoing clashes between the two religious groups but officials have not confirmed any such jirga. (Posted @ 20:44 PST) Girls school, 'Dastakari' centre blown up in Swat valley SWAT, Pakistan, July 3 (APP): Unknown persons damaged yet another government girls middle school and a women’s vocational centre at Garroo area in Tehsil Kabal of Swat Valley early Thursday, Matta police said. The explosives planted near the school and vocational centre were detonated by a remote device with resultant damage to structures of both the buildings. Meanwhile, the Bomb Disposal Squad defused five kilogram roadside bomb at Sambat area of Tehsil Matta. (Posted @ 20:26 PST) Operation smoothly progressing in Khyber Agency, two held: officials PESHAWAR, Pakistan, July 3 (APP):- The law enforcing agencies Thursday arrested two suspected tribesmen and impounded five vehicles and motorcycles during the ongoing bloodless operation 'Sirat e Mustaqeem' that entered sixth day in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency. The paramilitary force are advancing as per plan in Khyber Agency, said a release of Fata Media Cell here. The law enforcing agencies recovered 21 SMGs with magazines, two 9MM rifles, one 303 rifle, two 30 bore pistols with magazines, one generator, one I-Com Communication set (hand-held set) and one FM Radio Station, it added. According to the statement, curfew has been imposed in Bara Bazaar as security forces are patrolling in the area and no untoward incident has been reported. Meanwhile, 16 members jirga of elders and Maliks of various tribes of Bara Sub- Division met with Assistant Political Agent Bara at Shahkass and discussed ways to restore normalcy in Bara Sub-Division. A Jirga is also leaving for Tirah valley to negotiate peace process with the concerned elements. Public has generally shown great support for the operation and have removed flags of banned organizations from roofs of their buildings and houses in the areas which are now under the control of security forces.The operation is proceeding as per plan. (Posted @ 20:20 PST) U.S. ambassador says 200 people seeking refuge at embassy in Harare JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador says about 200 opposition supporters have sought refuge at the American embassy in Zimbabwe. Ambassador James McGee says embassy officials are working with humanitarian organizations to help find them accommodation. Opposition leaders say backers of President Robert Mugabe are attacking opposition supporters. More than 300 opposition supporters who sought refuge at the South African Embassy in Harare last week have been taken to a camp outside the capital. (Posted @ 20:16 PST) Afghan, NATO troops kill 32 Taliban militants HERAT, Afghanistan, July 3 (AFP) - Afghan and NATO-led forces killed 32 Taliban militants in two separate clashes in Afghanistan, officials said on Thursday. At least 25 militants died in a 10-hour clash in western Badghis province on Wednesday during a joint operation by ISAF, the Afghan army, and police, provincial police chief Mohammad Ayob Niazyar told AFP. Separately seven Taliban militants were killed in eastern Paktika province in a clash with Afghan army special forces, the spokesman for the provincial governor said. The militants attacked an army convoy in Sar Hawza district which sparked a clash. There were no casualties to the Afghan forces, he said. (First Posted @ 13:30 PST Updated @ 19:50 PST) Cricket: ICC deadlocked over Zimbabwe's ouster DUBAI, July 3 (AFP) - World cricket chiefs have failed to reach a consensus on suspending strife-torn Zimbabwe and will meet again on Friday to resolve the contentious issue, officials said. The two-day meeting of the International Cricket Council's powerful Executive Board ended here on Thursday without a decision on Zimbabwe amid reports of a split among the 10 full members. “The Board will meet again on Friday. The meeting has been adjourned for the day,” a top ICC official told AFP. At least seven of the ICC's 10 full members - including Zimbabwe - have to support any decision to throw the African nation out of the sport's governing body. (Posted @ 19:46 PST) U.S. conviction upheld in FBI sting of NY men’s plot to kill Pakistan’s ambassador to the U.N. NEW YORK, July 3 (Reuters): An Iraqi Kurdish imam and a Bangladeshi-American pizzeria owner on Wednesday lost an appeal of their convictions for plotting to kill the Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations in New York in what turned out to be an FBI sting operation. The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of Yassin Aref, 37, and Mohammed Hossain, 53, who were sentenced last year to 15 years each in prison for their roles in a plot to attack the Pakistani ambassador with a missile. Both appealed their convictions of money-laundering and conspiring to provide material support to the Jaish-i-Mohammed militant group. The federal appeals court rejected all the defence's arguments, including that the men did not know missiles were involved. During the 2006 trial, the two were found to have laundered $50,000 from an FBI informant who said he worked for the militant group. (Posted @ 10:25 PST) Norway concerned over mass graves' discovery in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, July 3 (APP): The Norwegian government, expressing concern over the discovery of unnamed mass graves and missing persons in occupied Kashmir, has urged India and world human rights organisations to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter. Responding to a question raised by Chairman Christen Democratic Party and Member Kashmir Parliamentary Committee, Dagfinn Hoybrten in the Parliament, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that an impartial probe into the matter should be conducted, KMS reported. He said the Norwegian Government will raise the issue with India and urge it to secure human rights in occupied Kashmir as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on human rights. (Posted @ 18:44 PST) Hockey: Rs.160m approved for upgradation of HCP stadium: minister KARACHI, Pakistan, July 03 (APP):- Federal Minister for Sports Najamuddin Khan told a news conference Thursday that the federal government has approved Rs. 160 million for upgrading the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium at Karachi. He said a request for a grant of Rs. 20 million has already been sent to the prime minister by Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for preparing the Pakistan team for Beijing Olympics. (Posted @ 18:40 PST) Partial strike over Hindu trust land row; BJP strike call goes almost unheeded NEW DELHI, India July 3 (Reuters): A scattered strike on the call of BJP over the transfer of forest land in occupied Kashmir to a Hindu shrine affected transport and businesses in several Indian states on Thursday. Authorities imposed curfew in Indore town in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, where two people were killed when Hindu groups clashed with Muslim residents, forcing police to open fire and lob dozens of tear gas shells. A Muslim trader was seriously injured after he set himself on fire when a Hindu mob beat him up and ransacked his shop in a remote town in the state, police said. In the eastern state of Bihar, strikers blocked trains and damaged vehicles in the capital Patna. Over 100 protesters were held in the city of Hyderabad and in Mumbai a handful of protesters blocked traffic for more than half-an-hour, officials said. In the central state of Madhya Pradesh and Maoist-dominated Chhattisgarh, activists of patrolled streets with bamboo canes to enforce the strike. There was no impact of the strike in New Delhi and Bangalore and western state of Gujarat, one of BJP's most important states, refused to join the protest. Officials said they needed to focus on a possible early general election. (First Posted @ 17:48 PST Updated @ 20:08 PST) Bomb kills police chief in breakaway Georgian region: rebels TBILISI, Georgia, July 3 (AFP): A police chief in Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia was killed on Thursday in a bomb attack outside his home in the village of Dmenis. The region's rebel administration, in its statement announcing the news, said “There is no doubt that this incident was a well-planned action by Georgian special forces and the next step in Georgia's policy of state terrorism against the people of South Ossetia.” (Posted @ 17:20 PST) Oil price surges to record past 146 dollars LONDON, July 3 (AFP) - The price of oil hit a fresh record high above 146 dollars a barrel here on Thursday owing to falling reserves of US crude, simmering tensions over Iran and a weak dollar, traders said. Brent North Sea oil for August delivery surged to a life-time peak of 146.69 dollars a barrel in morning trade after breaching 146 dollars for the first time earlier on Thursday. New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, surged to an all-time pinnacle of 145.85 dollars on Thursday. (First Posted @ 10:05 PST, Updated @ 17:00 PST) 26 Tigers killed in new Sri Lanka clashes COLOMBO, July 3 (AFP): Security forces shot dead at least 26 Tamil Tiger rebels in fresh fighting in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Thursday. Troops killed the 26 members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu Wednesday, the ministry said, adding that six Sri Lankan soldiers were wounded. There was no immediate word from the LTTE on the latest violence. (Posted @ 13:35 PST) Landslides kill 9 people in Bangladesh COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, July 3 (AP): Authorities say at least nine people have died in two landslides caused by heavy rains in Cox’s Bazar district of southern Bangladesh. Most of the victims were children sleeping in their mud-and-straw huts, which were buried when landslides were sparked in nearby hills, police added. (Posted @ 13:20 PST) Powerful blasts in munition depots shake Sofia SOFIA, July 3 (AFP): A series of powerful blasts in nearby gunpowder and munition depots shook the Bulgarian capital Sofia around 6:30 a.m. Thursday but caused no injuries, officials said. “The blasts occurred in gunpowder and munition depots of the ministry of defence in the village of Chelopechene just outside Sofia,” Bulgarian Army Chief of Staff, General Zlatan Stoykov, told Darik radio. “All people have been evacuated from the region,” he said, but added that it was difficult to predict when the blasts would end. Smaller explosions could still be heard over an hour later. (First Posted @ 10:45 PST, Updated @ 11:55 PST) Four killed in Pakistan road mishap ISLAMABAD, July 3 (APP): At least four persons were killed and several others injured in a road accident near Toll Plaza on Super Highway early Thursday, private television channels said. A passenger van on its way to Hyderabad (from Karachi) struck a trawler parked by the roadside. (Posted @ 11:15 PST) Colombian army rescues Ingrid Betancourt, 14 other hostages from rebels in daring raid BOGOTA, July 3 (AFP): French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three US nationals and 11 other hostages were rescued from Marxist FARC rebels Wednesday, freed from years in captivity by a daring Colombian military raid. Betancourt, who was captured in 2002, and the three Americans held since 2003, were rescued along with 11 Colombian soldiers when the Colombian military infiltrated a rebel jungle camp and removed them by helicopter. Betancourt said the hostages did not know that their captors on Wednesday were Colombian soldiers in disguise. The disguised soldiers made the group board a white helicopter with their wrists bound, saying they were being transferred to another rebel hideout. It was only when they were in the air that “the chief of operations said, 'We are the national army and you are all free.' And the helicopter almost fell because we started jumping. We screamed, we cried, we hugged. We couldn't believe it,” Betancourt said after arriving at a Bogota military airport. The American hostages, captured in 2003 when their plane crashed during a US defence department anti-drug mission, were also freed in the operation, some 70 kilometers from the city of San Jose del Guaviare. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) Karachi Stocks down 90.89 points: KARACHI, July 03: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12035.21, down 90.89 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, July 03: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 70 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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