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December 22, 2008

Monday

Zilhaj 23, 1429

Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)

India yet to provide evidence: Foreign Office Monday, 22 Dec, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday reiterated that the Indian government had provided no evidence of the involvement of elements from Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks. Earlier, an Indian envoy said Islamabad had sufficient evidence against Pakistan based groups of involvement in the terror attacks. ‘The Government of Pakistan has so far not received any information or evidence relating to the Mumbai incident from the Government of India,’ Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said. (Posted @ 23:29 PST)

Senators assail India for creating war hysteria ISLAMABAD: Members of the Senate from different political parties were in unison in assailing India for creating war hysteria by issuing provocative statements against Pakistan. Taking part in a discussion on the security situation, they regretted that despite the cooperative attitude of Pakistan, the eastern neighbour was continuing with the blame-game it had started soon after the Mumbai attacks. (Posted 22:55 PST)

Militants attack private schools in Peshawar PESHAWAR: Militants attacked three of Peshawar’s top private schools at Warsak Road, burning down five buses, and blowing up offices and other properties at one of the schools early on Monday. Four employees of one of the schools, Peshawar Model School, suffered injuries and two of them are stated to be in serious condition. (Posted 21:57 PST)

Two soldiers, 15 militants killed in Swat PESHAWAR: At least 15 militants and two soldiers were killed on Monday in gun battles in Swat, the military said. Troops backed by helicopter gunships targeted militant hideouts in the Shakardara district of Swat, it said in a statement. (Posted 21:29 PST)

Karzai presses US military for answers KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai pressed America’s top military leader on Monday on the US strategy in Afghanistan as it prepares to pour up to 30,000 more forces into the country. Karzai asked Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, what kinds of operations the newly deployed troops would carry out and said the Afghan government should be consulted about those operations. (Posted 20:48 PST)

Leopards storm into Pentangular Cup final KARACHI: The Federal Areas Leopards stormed into the final of the Pentangular Cup One-Day Cricket Tournament after a nail-biting one-run victory over NWFP Panthers at National Stadium on Monday. Sent in to bat first, Federal Areas were bowled out for 265 in 49.5 overs. NWFP Panthers in reply were bowled out for 264 in 49.4 overs after needing two runs in as many overs. (Posted 20:15 PST)

Pakistan prepared to defend if war is imposed: Gilani ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterated on Monday that Pakistan did not want war but was prepared to defend itself if attacked, as tensions simmered with India over the Mumbai attacks. The statement came as Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said New Delhi would ‘explore all options’ to push Pakistan on its promise to crack down on cross-border terrorism. (Posted 20:05 PST)

India gives Mumbai gunman’s letter to Pakistan NEW DELHI: The accused gunman being held in connection with the Mumbai attacks has asked to meet with Pakistani diplomats, India said. Suspect Mohammed Ajmal Kasab has written a letter stating that he and nine other militants involved in the attacks were all Pakistani citizens, the Indian Foreign Ministry said. Kasab is the only accused gunman to survive the three-day standoff with police. (Posted 19:49 PST)

Russia senators give final nod to longer presidency MOSCOW: The upper house of parliament unanimously approved extending Russian presidential terms on Monday, a constitutional amendment which has fuelled speculation Vladimir Putin will return as head of state. The Federation Council endorsed a decision by regional assemblies to support a six-year term for future presidents versus four years now. President Dmitry Medvedev, who proposed the changes, now will sign the bill into law. (Posted 18:37 PST)

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi involved in Marriott blast ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said on Monday that the banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was involved in blast on Islamabad’s Marriott hotel on September 20. The interior ministry official was presenting a report on the findings of the blast in a session of the National Assembly today. (Posted 18:18 PST)

Admiral Mullen in Islamabad ISLAMABAD: The top US military official, Admiral Mike Mullen, arrived here Monday for talks with senior officials amid tensions between Pakistan and India over the Mumbai attacks, the US embassy said. This is the second visit to Pakistan — a key US ally — this month by Mullen, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Posted 17:41 PST)

Israeli diplomats prepare ground for Gaza action JERUSALEM: Israeli diplomats have been instructed to highlight the plight of Israelis living under increasing rocket fire from Gaza, officials said Monday, in a step aimed at preparing world opinion for stepped-up action by Israel's military. With rocket fire by Gaza militants spiking in recent days and public pressure for action growing, Israeli leaders have held consultations, discussed military contingency plans and are now trying to prepare foreign governments for the possibility that the military could move beyond airstrikes against militants and act with more force, possibly even sending ground forces into the Hamas-controlled territory. (Posted 17:38 PST)

Toyota forecast deepens gloom over global economy TOKYO: Japan's iconic Toyota auto company forecast its first ever operating loss on Monday, heightening the sense of gloom over the world economy as European stock markets plunged ahead of the Christmas holidays. Toyota, which vies with GM to be the world's largest automaker, said it faced an 'unprecedented crisis' and expected a loss of 150 billion yen (1.69 billion dollars), its first since it started reporting earnings in 1941. (Posted 17:22 PST)

Ntini and Gibbs get South Africa recalls JOHANNESBURG: Makhaya Ntini and Herschelle Gibbs were recalled into South Africa's limited-overs squad on Monday for five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match in Australia in January. The 34-year-old Gibbs has played 234 one-day internationals but was dropped from the squad for three ODIs against Bangladesh in November after an alcohol-related incident. (Posted 17:05 PST)

WFP truck ambushed in Philippines, one killed MANILA: A truck contracted by the UN's World Food Programme to deliver aid in the strife-torn southern Philippines has been ambushed, leaving one person dead, the agency's country head told AFP Monday. The vehicle had just returned from Lanao del Sur province on Sunday night when it was attacked by armed men, said WFP country representative Stephen Anderson. (Posted 16:59 PST)

Gul to play for WA in Twenty20 series SYDNEY: Leading Pakistan paceman Umar Gul will play with the Western Australia Warriors in the 2008-09 domestic Twenty20 Big Bash competition, the Western Australian Cricket Association said on Monday. Gul, 24, was one of the stars of the Pakistan team that reached the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa last year and also played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2008 Indian Premier League. (Posted 16:34 PST)

ICC to gauge Pakistan security for Sri Lanka series Monday, 22 Dec, MOHALI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will not appoint match officials for Sri Lanka's proposed tour of Pakistan until a security assessment had been made, a top official said on Monday. 'We will do an independent assessment of the situation in Pakistan to ensure the safety of the umpires and match referee,' ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told reporters here. 'I am convinced the Sri Lankan board will also do everything to ascertain whether it is safe to play in Pakistan and also seek assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board. 'We will do our own assessment. After all, we will be supplying the match officials.' (Posted @ 16:30 PST)

Gul to play for WA in Twenty20 series Monday, 22 Dec, SYDNEY: Leading Pakistan paceman Umar Gul will play with theWestern Australia Warriors in the 2008-09 domestic Twenty20 Big Bash competition, the Western Australian Cricket Association said on Monday. Gul, 24, was one of the stars of the Pakistan team that reached the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa last year and also played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2008 Indian Premier League. Gul has an outstanding record in the Twenty20 format, with 20 wickets in 13 international matches at an average of 12.20 and economy rate of 5.11. He also has 46 wickets in 29 domestic Twenty20 matches at an average of 14.52 and economy rate of 6.25. (Posted @ 16:34 PST)

Pakistan air force enhances vigilance Monday, 22 Dec, ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani air force conducted an exercise on Monday causing delay to two civilian flights, an airline official said, as tension with old rival India simmered over last month's attacks in Mumbai. 'Two of our flights were delayed for some time because the PAF was conducting some exercises but now everything is back on normal,' said Muhammad Latif, a spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines, referring to the air force (PAF). The flights were delayed at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore, near the Indian border, Latif said, while dismissing television news channel reports of a high alert at Pakistani airports. An air force spokesman declined to comment when asked about an exercise saying only: 'In view of the current environment, the PAF has enhanced its vigilance.' (Posted @ 15:26 PST)

Two policemen killed in Kashmir ahead of vote Monday, 22 Dec, SRINAGAR: Suspected militants shot dead two policemen in Indian-administered Kashmir ahead of the final phase of state elections, officials said Monday. The policemen were killed in the northern town of Sopore, 50 kilometres north of Srinagar, while they were on patrol. 'They were shot dead by militants from point black range,' a police spokesman said in Srinagar. The violence came ahead of the last and biggest phase of multi-stage state elections in Kashmir. Voting in Srinagar, winter capital Jammu and the southern district of Samba will be held on Wednesday. Separatist groups had urged a total boycott of the polls, arguing that voting would strengthen New Delhi's hold over the disputed region. (Posted @ 15:12 PST)

Gayle century revives West Indies Monday, 22 Dec, WELLINGTON:West Indies captain Chris Gayle scored a magnificent 146 to give his team a chance of a surprise victory at the close of the fourth day of the second test against New Zealand in Napier on Monday. At stumps the West Indies were 278 for seven in the second innings, an overall lead of 214 with one day to play with Gayle still at the crease alongside Fidel Edwards. While New Zealand are still favoured to win the match, Gayle's innings has given the tourists some hope, despite them being on the back foot for much of the game. (Posted @ 13:51 PST)

Govt to probe Red Mosque weapons theft: ministry Monday, 22 Dec, ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry said Monday it has launched an investigation into the theft of a large quantity of weapons seized during last year’s raid on the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, AFP reported. One senior police official has been arrested and another suspended for negligence following the weekend discovery that the weapons had been taken from a police station in the Pakistani capital, a ministry spokesman said. ‘We have taken swift action and arrested a police official in charge, along with a few other officials from the local police station,’ the spokesman, Shahidullah Baig, told AFP. He said senior police superintendent Shahzad Asif had been suspended from active duty pending the outcome of the ministry’s probe. Baig declined to reveal the type of weapons stolen, but local media reports said the stash included rocket launchers, hand grenades, dozens of light machine-guns and several AK-47 rifles. Government forces besieged the Red Mosque on July 3 last year after a clash between police and militants in the building. Army commandos stormed it a week later, laying waste to parts of the building and leaving scores dead. (Posted @ 13:35 PST)

Indian envoys discuss Mumbai attacks Monday, 22 Dec, NEW DELHI: Militant groups based in Pakistan endanger the entire world, India's foreign minister told Indian envoys on Monday at a meeting expected to spotlight ways to step up pressure on Islamabad. India blames a Pakistan-based militant group for the three-day siege of India's financial capital of Mumbai last month that killed 164 people and nine of the 10 accused gunmen. More than 120 Indian ambassadors are meeting in New Delhi for three days of talks, a gathering scheduled before the Mumbai attacks but now expected to shift focus onto efforts to ratchet up pressure on Islamabad. ‘This terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan is the greatest terrorist danger to peace and security of the entire civilized world,’ External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the diplomats. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)

Gakkhar plaza fire toll up to 14, six missing Monday, 22 Dec, RAWALPINDI: The death toll from a massive fire that gutted Gakkhar Plaza, major shopping mall in Rawalpindi has risen to 14, with six others still missing, officials said on Sunday. The body of the latest victim of the fire was recovered on Monday morning. Earlier, rescuers were combing through the debris in search of survivors at Ghakhar Plaza, which partially collapsed 12 hours after the blaze erupted in the early hours of Saturday, deputy city commissioner Haseeb Athar told reporters. ‘The incident has resulted in 13 confirmed deaths so far and 59 injuries, while six are still missing,’ the national disaster management authority said in a statement. Twelve of the injured were still in hospital receiving treatment, the authority said. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)

Eight killed in suspected US strike in Waziristan Monday, 22 Dec, PESHAWAR: A suspected US missile strike on a tribal area in northwest Pakistan known as a hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda activity killed at least eight militants on Monday, officials said. Two missiles struck the villages of Karikot and Shin Warsak in South Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan, they said. It was not immediately clear if any senior Taliban or Al-Qaeda operatives were killed in the strikes, which took place just minutes apart, a senior security official told AFP. 'Two vehicles fitted with guns were destroyed in two separate attacks that also damaged a house,' the official said, adding that the eight people killed were all inside the vehicles. (Posted @ 10:27 PST)

Seven killed in suspected US strike in Waziristan Monday, 22 Dec, DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Suspected US drones fired two missiles into Pakistan's South Waziristan region on the Afghan border on Monday, killing seven people, intelligence agency officials and residents said. One missile hit a vehicle in a village near Wana, the main town in the region, killing four people, while three people were killed in another strike in a nearby village, two Pakistani intelligence agency officials said. 'Tribesmen opened fire on the drones after the attacks,' a resident of Wana told Reuters by telephone. (Posted @ 10:27 PST)

Gakkhar plaza fire toll up to 13, six missing Monday, 22 Dec, RAWALPINDI: The death toll from a massive fire that gutted Gakkhar Plaza, major shopping mall in Rawalpindi has risen to 13, with six others still missing, officials said on Sunday. Rescuers were combing through the debris in search of survivors at Ghakhar Plaza, which partially collapsed 12 hours after the blaze erupted in the early hours of Saturday, deputy city commissioner Haseeb Athar told reporters. ‘The incident has resulted in 13 confirmed deaths so far and 59 injuries, while six are still missing,’ the national disaster management authority said in a statement. Twelve of the injured were still in hospital receiving treatment, the authority said. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)

Lal Masjid weapons stolen from police lockup Monday, 22 Dec, ISLAMABAD: A large cache of arms, seized by security forces during the Lal Masjid operation were stolen under mysterious circumstances from the Aabpara police station's heavily guarded treasury (mallkhana), Dawn has learnt. The advisor to prime minister on interior, Rehman Malik suspended the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ahmad Latif, and the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Aabpara Shahzad Asif. He ordered the registration of a case against the Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Naeem Iqbal, and fourteen other police officials on charges of criminal breach of trust, theft and burglary. All the accused nominated in the FIR were suspended and arrested. (Posted @ 12:46 PST)

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