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| September 16, 2008 | Tuesday | Ramazan 15, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Large explosion hits Swat security post PESHAWAR: A large explosion followed by gunfire hit a Pakistani security post late on Tuesday in the northwestern Swat district, an official said, adding casualties were feared. ‘There was a large explosion at a paramilitary check post in Swat district, followed by gunfire,’ a security official told AFP, adding they were trying to contact the security post for details on casualties. (Posted @ 22:07 PST)  Security alert for foreign missions, govt buildings PESHAWAR: The provincial government has asked police to tighten security of the foreign missions and government buildings to avert any possible sabotage act by the terrorist organisations, sources say. They said that NWFP Home and Tribal Affairs Department had issued a letter to the provincial police officer, deputy inspectors general of police, all district police officers, district coordination officers, regional coordination officers, special branch police, capital city police and other relevant officers to make foolproof security arrangements to safeguard the foreign missions and government’s buildings in the province. (Posted @ 20:40 PST) Fazlur Rahman elected chairman Kashmir committee ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rahman was unanimously elected as Chairman Special Committee of the National Assembly on Kashmir during a meeting at parliament house on Tuesday. The Maulana is the first representative to be elected as the chairman of a House Committee in the National Assembly, which was elected on February 18. (Posted @ 21:50 PST) Pakistan orders troops to stop US raids ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's army spokesman says its forces have orders to open fire if US troops launch another raid across the Afghan border. Pakistani officials issued sharp protests to Washington after helicopters ferried US commandos into Pakistan's South Waziristan region on Sept. 3 for a highly unusual ground attack into a militant stronghold. (Posted @ 17:16 PST) Britain agrees US incursions didn't help: Zardari LONDON: Britain agrees that US cross-border incursions by US forces into Pakistan “didn't help,” President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday, as he sought London's help in a simmering row with Washington. Speaking after talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, he said Britain had a better understanding of Pakistan than other countries, and voiced hope Brown could influence others. (Posted @ 20:08 PST)  Islamabad, Kabul must lead border fight: Brown, Zardari LONDON: Pakistan and Afghanistan must take the lead in clamping down on violent extremism stemming from their border region, Britain's Gordon Brown and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said after talks on Tuesday. While not referring specifically to recent alleged US incursions into Pakistan's frontier tribal areas, they said the international community could help Kabul and Islamabad. “The prime minister and President Zardari agreed that the UK and Pakistan had a shared agenda in tackling violent extremism in both countries,” they said in a joint statement after talks in Brown's Downing Street office. (Posted @ 20:08 PST) Border violations must end immediately, says Gilani ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called for an immediate end to violation of Pakistani territory by the US, Nato and Isaf forces, and stressed the need for greater cooperation and understanding among all stakeholders. Talking to British Secretary of State for Law and Justice Jack Straw here on Tuesday, Gilani said the Pakistan armed forces were fully capable of handling any situation within their territory. (Posted @ 19:28 PST) Zardari, Brown meeting underway LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived at 10, Downing Street in London for talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. President Zardari is accompanied by Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik on hi first tour to the country after taking over the office of the president. (Posted @ 17:29 PST) Top US military officer Mike Mullen lands in Islamabad on unannounced visit. Top US military officer Mike Mullen lands in Islamabad on unannounced visit. (Posted @ 21:49 PST) Darwin’s theory compatible with Bible VATICAN CITY: The Vatican said on Tuesday the theory of evolution was compatible with the Bible but planned no posthumous apology to Charles Darwin for the cold reception it gave him 150 years ago. Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican's culture minister, was speaking at the announcement of a Rome conference of scientists, theologians and philosophers to be held next March marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's ‘The Origin of Species’. (Posted @ 22:58 PST) US defence secretary visits Iraq, Afghanistan KABUL: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates flew in Tuesday to the Afghan capital for talks with coalition force commanders and President Hamid Karzai amid increasing concern about the Taliban insurgency. Gates will also be taking a first-hand look at the issue of civilian casualties arising out of coalition bombings, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said. He was expected to meet Karzai on Wednesday, Afghan officials said. (Posted @ 22:34 PST) Pakistan lowers fuel prices while India waits NEW DELHI: Pakistan cut gasoline prices on Tuesday following a similar move by Vietnam as global crude oil prices fell to seven-month lows, but India said it would follow suit only if crude oil prices fall further. US crude was down 4.5 percent at $91.2 a barrel at 1300 GMT on concerns turmoil in global financial markets would further erode fuel demand and send investors into safer havens. (Posted @ 22:16 PST) Asian Development Bank's outlook for Pakistan RAWALPINDI: The economic prospects of Pakistan for fiscal year 2009 remain sobering and growth is expected to remain subdued at 4.5 per cent with a continued slowdown in commodity-producing sectors, says the Asian Development Bank in its updated ‘Outlook for 2008’ released on Tuesday. Domestic spending will have to rise less than output for the current account deficit to shrink. In these circumstances, export growth becomes crucial, as it will help make the current adjustment less painful. The faster the growth in exports the smaller the reduction in growth required to close the deficit, states the Outlook. (Posted @ 21:43 PST) US lawmakers question Pakistan funds WASHINGTON: US lawmakers are promising close scrutiny of the Bush administration's request to divert hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-terrorism aid to upgrade Pakistan's aging fleet of US-made F-16 fighter planes. The Bush administration says the upgraded F-16s will allow Pakistan to better conduct precision attacks on terrorists. But the planes have not traditionally been used in anti-terrorism operations. Pakistan sees them as an asset in its arms race against rival India. (Posted @ 21:52 PST) The search engine revelations CANBERRA: Social networking sites are the hottest attraction on the Internet, dethroning pornography and highlighting a major change in how people communicate, according to a web guru. Bill Tancer, a self-described ‘data geek’, has analysed information for over 10 million web users to conclude that we are, in fact, what we click, with Internet searches giving an up-to-date view of how society and people are changing. (Posted @ 21:30 PST) Pakistani scientists part of Big Bang experiment ISLAMABAD: Around 27 Pakistani scientists and technicians took part in the flawless start to the ‘Big Bang’ experiment that will re-enact the first moments of the universe. ‘Fifteen physicists, ten engineers, five Lasers and Opto-electronics experts, six computer professionals and six students from National Centre for Physics (NCP) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) are involved in the experiment and this opportunity provided them with an immense learning opportunity,’ said Dr. Riazuddin, Former Director General NCP while briefing the media on the contribution of Pakistani scientists in Big Bang experiment. (Posted @ 19:27 PST) Three more deposed SHC judges take oath KARACHI: The three deposed judges of Sindh High Court took oath of their office on Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony in SHC premises. Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali administered oath to Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed. (Posted @ 17:27 PST) CCP gets greenlight against cartels ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court allowed the Competition Commission of Pakistan on Monday to proceed against the Pakistan Banks Association on its appeal against a Sindh High Court order restraining it (CCP) from taking action against the PBA for acting as a cartel. A bench, comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan and Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousaf, that had taken up the appeal of the CCP and a complaint of the Islamabad Stock Exchange against the Karachi Stock Exchange for creating monopoly and discouraging investment, decided to resume hearing on October 16. (Posted @ 18:36 PST) Farmers reject new Nano plant SINGUR: Farmers and political activists in West Bengal turned down on Tuesday a new government offer of compensation for land acquired for a Tata Motors car plant, saying they wanted more of the land returned to them. Tata Motors suspended work at the factory in Singur earlier this month and threatened to look at alternative sites to build its cheap Nano car, following violent protests by farmers backed by opposition party Trinamool Congress. (Posted @ 20:47 PST) India-Australia Tests challenging the Ashes: Gilchrist MUMBAI: India’s cricket encounters with Australia are so closely fought that they are challenging the Ashes for prominence back home, retired Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Tuesday. Ricky Ponting’s 15-man Australian squad is due to arrive in India on Sunday for a highly-anticipated four-Test series that Gilchrist hopes will live up to expectations. (Posted @ 19:05 PST) European stars to shine as Champions League kicks off LONDON: Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is already looking beyond the Champions League group stage in his mission to raise the nine-time champion back to the summit of European football. Six coaches have failed before him and in the past four seasons the Spaniards haven’t even progressed beyond the last 16. Madrid’s journey to May’s final in Rome begins against BATE Borisov, the Belarusians making their Champions League debut, in one of eight matches Wednesday on the second night of the group stage. (Posted @ 18:50 PST) Asif Bajwa unveils plan for hockey revival KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary, Asif Bajwa on Monday unveiled a four-year plan for the uplift of Pakistan hockey at the Hockey Club of Pakistan. ‘It is the wish of every Pakistani to see the national game come up again and today, I want to present to you a comprehensive mega plan for the next four years that I have been working upon for the past couple of years. I think it has the power to pull Pakistan hockey out of the dump it has fallen into,’ he said. (Posted @ 17:57 PST) Self-flying helicopter gets off ground STANFORD: A four-foot-long helicopter flew itself over the Stanford University campus on Monday in a test of artificial intelligence that researchers say could be used to scout wildfires or on military missions. The autonomous helicopter performed flips, rolls, pirouettes, stall-turns, knife-edges, and an inverted hover over a field. (Posted @ 18:14 PST) Typhoon Sinlaku leaves 11 dead in Taiwan TAIPEI: Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll in Taiwan rose to 11 with another 11 people missing after the powerful storm lashed at the island, authorities said Tuesday. The victims included seven people killed when their cars were crushed by a tunnel that collapsed under the weight of a massive landslide in central Taiwan on Monday, the Disaster Relief Center said. (Posted @ 17:17 PST) Indian mob attacks police station, kills policeman BHUBANESWAR: One policeman died as a mob armed with home-made guns attacked and set fire to a police station in Orissa state, where Hindu-Christian violence has left nearly 20 dead in a month, officials said on Tuesday. The furious crowd was demonstrating against the death of two Hindu protesters in police shootings over the weekend after rioters tried to attack a church and the house of a Christian villager. (Posted @ 16:50 PST) Seven killed in Ingusehtia clash NAZRAN, Russia: Seven people were killed in a clash between Russian security forces and insurgents, local officials said on Tuesday, the latest incident in a wave of violence destabilising the southern region of Ingushetia. The local Interior Ministry in the mainly Muslim region said four servicemen and three gunmen were killed in a special operation on Monday during which a group of insurgents was blockaded in the village of Verkhniye Achaluki. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Indian conductor Mehta awarded top art prize TOKYO: Indian conductor Zubin Mehta was named Tuesday a recipient of Japan's Praemium Imperiale, one of art's richest awards, for his lifetime work with orchestras around the world. Mehta, 72, one of the leading Asians in western classical music, has led philharmonic orchestras in Berlin, New York, Tel Aviv and Vienna. As executive director and president of the New York Philharmonic, Mehta led a landmark performance of the 106-member orchestra in Pyongyang in February. (Posted @ 16:23 PST) Taliban blamed for killing intelligence chief's family ASADABAD: Gunmen shot dead an Afghan intelligence agent and his wife and their two sons in their beds early on Tuesday, officials said, pinning the murders on Taliban-linked militants. Khas Kunar district deputy intelligence chief Mohammad Sharif and his family were asleep when several militants attacked their home in the eastern province of Kunar near the border with Pakistan, Afghan authorities said. The official, his school teacher wife and their two sons, aged over 18 years, were killed, district governor Sayed Mahboob told AFP. (Posted @ 16:06 PST) Lehman collapse to hurt Pakistan market KARACHI: Pakistan's shares showed little change on Tuesday after the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, dealers said but feared an adverse impact next month when a bottom limit is taken away. Due to political uncertainty the market shed around 40 per cent after it peaked at more than 15,000 points in April. The benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange KSE-100 Index opened at 9,233.19 points and closed 9.44 points down at 9,223.77. The limit was imposed at 9,144 points. (Posted @ 15:44 PST) Remorseful Symonds vows to return BRISBANE: Troubled Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds expressed remorse on Tuesday over the ‘gone fishing’ scandal and said he wanted to play for his country again. The 33-year-old was axed from Australia’s upcoming tour of India after opting to go fishing rather than attend a compulsory team meeting during their one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin last month. It was just the latest drama to engulf him during the past year. (Posted @ 15:22 PST) Colombo bus blast wounds four COLOMBO: A powerful bomb went off on a bus in the centre of the Sri Lankan capital wounding four people Tuesday, police and medical officials said. The bus had been evacuated shortly before the explosion because passengers had spotted a suspicious parcel, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told AFP. Three of those hurt were only suffering from ear problems caused by the blast, national hospital director Hector Weerasinghe said. (Posted @ 15:20 PST) PCB blasts Australia for double standards LAHORE: Pakistan cricket officials Tuesday slammed Australia’s decision to go ahead with their tour of India despite a series of deadly bomb blasts, saying it smacked of double standards. Cricket Australia (CA) Tuesday said their team’s tour to India will go ahead despite five blasts in New Delhi on Saturday which killed at least 20 people and left 90 injured. (Posted @ 14:49 PST) General Odierno takes charge of US forces in Iraq CAMP VICTORY, Iraq: US General Raymond Odierno took charge of US-led forces in Iraq on Tuesday from David Petraeus, the general credited with pulling the violence-wracked country back from all-out civil war. Petraeus handed the command of the 146,000-strong US force after heading a controversial military ‘surge’ strategy by President George W. Bush that curbed the daily bloodletting in Iraq which killed tens of thousands of people. (Posted @ 14:38 PST) Australia to tour India despite Delhi bombings SYDNEY: Australia decided on Tuesday to go ahead with their upcoming four-Test tour of India despite security concerns following a series of deadly bomb attacks in New Delhi. ‘Our advice is there are some concerns and to exercise caution, but currently they do not compromise the tour,’ Cricket Australia said on its website. Ricky Ponting’s 15-man squad is due to leave this weekend with the first Test starting in Bangalore on October 9, with a Test match in Delhi from October 29. (Posted @ 14:07 PST) Pakistan troops kill 15 militants, US drones prowl KHAR: Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gunships and jets shelled hideouts of militants linked to Al Qaeda in the northwestern Bajaur tribal region Tuesday, killing 15 rebels, while US drones prowled the sky over another militant sanctuary on the Afghan border, a military official and residents said. 'Troops killed at least 15 militants and wounded 20 others in shelling that started Monday afternoon and continued until Tuesday morning,' a security official told AFP. (Posted @ 13:52 PST) Delhi bomb blasts President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani did well to condemn without reservations the bomb blasts that spilled innocent blood in New Delhi on Saturday. These synchronised blasts created havoc in some of the Indian capital’s busiest shopping districts, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 100, besides causing widespread panic. With the Indian Mujahideen — as yet a shadowy group — having claimed the responsibility for the slaughter, at least at the initial stage of investigation there is little room for Indian officials or the press to blame Pakistan or Pakistan-based groups, as has been the practice in the past. In recent months, the Indian Mujahideen have claimed responsibility for a number of similar blasts in other Indian cities including Ahmedabad and Jaipur, but it is far from clear what precisely they intend to achieve by these acts of brutal madness that kill innocent people and fan existing communal tensions. (Posted @ 13:29 PST) How not to fight the US Deviating somewhat from his usual mantra — that fighting terrorism is in Pakistan’s own interest — President Bush recently laid the ‘responsibility’ of fighting terrorism at Pakistan’s doorstep. This raises questions about the terms on which Pakistan joined the war. In democracies, such questions are decided in parliament. But unfortunately, in Pakistan, most wars have been fought under one or the other military ruler. The decision to join the current war was also taken by Gen Musharraf on the spur of moment. Since then a pall of secrecy has surrounded the terms of engagement. The official line is that Pakistan joined the war in its own interest. In reality, the war was godsend for Gen Musharraf especially when Pakistan was dubbed as America’s ‘non-Nato ally’ in the war. (Posted @ 13:19 PST) Asif pledges to end Balochistan operation QUETTA: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the military operation in Balochistan would stop, missing people would be traced and all political prisoners would be set free, according to Nawabzada Gazin Marri, son of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri. Mr Zardari held a meeting with the Baloch leader during a stopover in Dubai this week while he was en route to London. President Zardai and Nawabzada Marri discussed the political reconciliation process initiated by the PPP-led government in Balochistan. (Posted @ 13:15 PST) Two killed in Hamas. Gaza clan clashes GAZA CITY: At least two people were killed on Tuesday when Hamas-run security forces clashed with a powerful local family in Gaza City, according to Palestinian security officials. The fighting, in which another seven people were wounded, erupted when Hamas police moved to arrest members of the Doghmush clan accused of gunning down a police officer on Monday (Posted @ 12:59 PST) The idea of Pakistan There cannot be any doubt that Pakistan is experiencing a difficult period. The crisis through which the country is passing in its sixth decade as an independent state is perhaps the most difficult it has seen in its exceptionally turbulent history. The economy is in a state of freefall. It is hard to tell when and where it will stabilise. The political situation is defined by problems that show personal ambition prevailing over national interests. (Posted @ 12:05 PST) ‘Pakistan blocked US supplies’ WASHINGTON, Sept 15: Pakistan had blocked supplies to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan after the Sept 3 raid by US ground forces at a suspected militant target near Angor Adda, the US media reported on Monday. The report by a veteran Arnaud de Borchgrave, who was also awarded Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the Zia regime for his reporting of the Afghan war, said that this was ‘Pakistan’s retaliatory action’ for the raid that killed 20 people, including women and children. (Posted @ 10:41 PST) Five former US Secretaries of State urge Iran talks WASHINGTON: Five former US Secretaries of State said on Monday the next American administration should talk to Iran. Engaging Iran is important because Washington's military options against Tehran are unsatisfactory, said the diplomats, who worked for Republican and Democratic administrations. The five -- Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger -- all said they favoured talking to Iran as part of a strategy to stop Tehran's development of a nuclear weapons program. (Posted @ 10:33 PST) KESC control changes hands today KARACHI: Al Abraj group will take over the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) on Tuesday, much ahead of the expiry of the three-year restriction on changing of hands under the privatisation agreement. After the privatisation, Aljomaih had taken over the utility on Nov 29, 2005, but the KESC management passed on to new owners who had 50 per cent right shares. (Posted @ 10:03 PST) Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan TAIPEI: A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue workers and newspapers said on Tuesday. One person died when a car plunged into a frothing river from a two-lane segment of a collapsed bridge in Taichung county in central Taiwan, government disaster workers said. Six people were missing in the bridge accident that has dominated TV coverage. Typhoon Sinlaku also brought down a section of a bridge in Kaohsiung county in southern Taiwan, but no one died, media reports said. (Posted @ 09:40 PST) Govt, army at one on border violations: Gilani ISLAMABAD: There is complete unanimity of views between the government and the army over the issue of border violations, according to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Talking to reporters at an Iftar-dinner hosted by Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri on Monday, he said Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and under no circumstance would it act irresponsibly. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Unrest ends occupied Kashmir tourism revival SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir: Protests against India's occupation in the spectacularly beautiful Kashmir valley have brought an abrupt halt to tourism, which had been showing signs of a recovery, officials say. Since June, 42 Muslim and three Hindu protesters have been shot dead by security forces. In the past few months, Kashmir has witnessed the biggest pro-independence demonstrations since the liberation struggle erupted in 1989. (Posted @ 09:09 PST) India worried about Pak support for militants NEW DELHI: India's defense minister said Monday he was seriously concerned about support for militants from Pakistan after a string of bomb attacks in the nation's capital killed 22 people at the weekend. A.K. Antony's remarks came as police said they were closing in on several Muslim bombing suspects. At least five bombs exploded in quick succession in crowded markets and streets of New Delhi Saturday night, wounding nearly 100 people. (Posted @ 07:44 PST) Pakistan intelligence agency must be reformed: Boucher WASHINGTON: The Pakistani military's powerful and controversial spy agency needs reform but there is no indication this is happening yet, the top US diplomat for South Asia said on Monday. ‘It has to be done,’ Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said of revamping the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, widely known as the ISI. (Posted @ 07:10 PST) US says funds for F-16s to Pakistan is tough sell WASHINGTON: The Bush administration expects an uphill battle with Congress for permission to use counterterrorism funds to upgrade Pakistan's F-16 fighters, the State Department's top diplomat for South Asia said on Monday.But even if lawmakers balk, the State Department believes it has the authority to shift counterterrorism aid to the fighter program. (Posted @ 05:43 PST) Top players in Pakistan squad for world events ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: Top ranked national squash players would represent Pakistan in three upcoming international tournaments. An official of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) told Dawn on Monday that Farhan Mehboob, Aamir Atlas Khan, Mansoor Zaman, Yasir Butt and Waqar Mehboob would be playing in Wolverhampton Open, Saudi International (Qualifying round) and the World Open. (Posted @ 04:33 PST) Troops being deployed in vacated trenches in Kurram PARACHINAR: Political Agent Kurram Agency, Muhammad Azam Khan told APP on Monday that security troops were being deployed to trenches vacated by warring tribesmen to help bring a durable peace to the bloody sectarian violence in the region. “Strict action will be taken against any tribe found guilty of violating... ceasefire.” Azam told APP in his office. (Posted @ 02:18 PST) Metric tonne of explosives recovered from Quetta Quetta: Security forces have seized one thousand kilogrammes of explosives and arrested three suspected militants from Hazar Ganji area after a heavy exchange of fire, late on Monday evening. According to official sources, security personnel deployed in the area signalled to a suspected vehicle to stop on a tip off but the driver, instead of stopping, sped up the vehicle and attempted to escape. (Posted @ 01:35 PST) 22 killed in Iraq suicide bombing BAGHDAD: At least 22 people were killed in a suicide bombing in a home northeast of Baghdad on Monday, a senior Iraqi commander said. Many of the dead were police. Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim al-Rubaie, the military commander of operations in Diyala province, said that 22 people died and 33 were wounded in the evening attack in Balad Ruz, 45 miles northeast of Baghdad. (Posted @ 12:57 PST) Karachi Stocks down 9.44 points: KARACHI, Sep 16: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9223.77, down 9.44 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:30 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, Sep 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 77 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:30 PST)
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