NEWS

US “gratified” by Pakistani arrests of Taliban leaders

2010-03-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

The arrests brought more pressure on the Taliban and the move was good for the military operation in Afghanistan, US special envoy Holbrooke said. –Photo by APP WASHINGTON: The United States is “extremely gratified” that Pakistan has arrested key Taliban leaders, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke said on Friday when asked to comment on a former UN official’s statement that the arrests had squandered Afghan peace efforts.

At a briefing at the State Department on the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue, Mr Holbrooke also indicated greater US interests in helping Pakistan overcome the grave energy crisis that has paralysed the Pakistani economy.

“These will be very broad and very complex” talks, said Mr Holbrooke when asked if the US would also consider Pakistan’s request for nuclear reactors for producing electricity.

Mr Holbrooke came to the briefing from the White House where he attended a meeting of senior US officials who will participate in the strategic dialogue with Pakistan.

He described the forthcoming talks as the most important ever between the two countries and also said that the level of participation would be higher than ever before.

Mr Holbrooke confirmed that Gen Ashfaq Kayani, US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, Chairman of Joints Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen and other military officials will participate in the dialogue. Pakistan, he said, was also sending its director general for military operations. The DGMO usually focuses on India and his participation indicates that relations between the two neighbours may also figure prominently in the talks.

But one issue that got immediate attention emerged from a statement earlier on Friday by Kai Eide, the former UN special representative to Afghanistan. In an interview to BBC, he said that the arrest of key Taliban leaders in Pakistan blocked a secret channel of communications between the United Nations and the militant Afghan group.

“We are extremely gratified that Pakistan apprehended the number two (Taliban leader) and others,” said Mr Holbrooke when asked if the US supported the move. He said the arrests brought “more pressure” on the Taliban than before and the move was “good for the military operation” in Afghanistan.

Mr Holbrooke’s statement differs sharply from Mr Eide’s who claimed that the detentions had a “negative” effect on attempts to find a political solution to the eight-year-old

Pakistan should talk to the Taliban: Imran Khan

2010-01-15T03:25:00.000-08:00

LONDON — Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan called Thursday for the army to withdraw from Pakistan's tribal areas and for talks with the Taliban, warning that the country faced "catastrophe" otherwise.
Khan said the US-Pakistan military offensive in the areas bordering Afghanistan was turning locals massively against the United States and boosting support for the militants.
US drone strikes on militants were sparking "anger and hatred" in the area, said Khan, who leads the marginal Tehrik-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice).
"The solution is to hold a dialogue with the militants," he told an audience at the Chatham House foreign policy thinktank in London. "The solution is to win them onto our side, not to bomb them with airstrikes."
Otherwise, he warned: "If we continue with this military operation we are facing a catastrophe."
The militants operating in the tribal areas did not share the beliefs of the Afghan Taliban, who wanted to create an Islamist state, he said.
"In my opinion, they are political Taliban, they are not religious Taliban.
"They will fade away as soon as the Pakistan army moves back and dialogue is held," he added.
Khan said that Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf once described him as "a terrorist without a beard" for suggesting talks with the militants, but now it was an idea being promoted by others.
"Now even (Afghan President) Hamid Karzai considers (Taliban supreme leader) Mullah Omar to be a brother," Khan added, to laughter from the audience.
He also criticised the tactics of the US military surge in Afghanistan.
"The only way I see the surge being effective is if they use their muscle to get the Taliban to the negotiating table.
"If they use the surge for more bloodshed, I can guarantee they will leave behind -- because they will leave -- a far more radical government than the one it replaced."
A US drone strike in the lawless northwest border area Thursday targeted Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, officials said, although the militia denied reports that he was among 10 killed.

President, PM discuss national issues with MQM

2010-01-15T03:24:00.000-08:00

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain called President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday and discussed the current political situation of the country.

Is the PPP-MQM truce cosmetic? The News International

Baloch nationalists observe strike today The Nation, Pakistan

Mohammad Yousuf calls Salman Butt selfish as Pakistan wilt in Australia

2010-01-15T03:22:00.000-08:00

The Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has branded team-mate Salman Butt "selfish" after being run out by the opener to leave the tourists in a seemingly hopeless position at the end of day two of the third Test against Australia. Butt not only ran out his captain and his team's best batsman in the last 30 minutes of play but then compounded his error by doing the same shortly after to his team's next-best batsman, Umar Akmal.
The two costly run-outs left Pakistan on 94 for four at stumps at Bellerive Oval in reply to Australia's massive first-innings total of 519 for eight declared, still needing another 226 runs to avoid the follow-on.The Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, said after the end of play he would likely enforce the follow-on given the forecast of rain for each of the last three days of this match.
"We are not playing for self, we are playing for country," said Yousuf, who also branded Butt "lazy", at the close of play. "I am 35 years old, he is 25 years old, why not take three runs?"
The Yousuf run-out occurred after the Pakistan captain had played a splendid off-drive off Doug Bollinger and, having run two, called for an easily-achievable third run. But, despite the fact it was Yousuf that was running to the danger end, Butt stood his ground at the non-striker's end, leaving his captain stranded - as he would also do later when Akmal called for a single off the bowling of Nathan Hauritz. Yousuf lingered for what seemed an eternity after the run-out as he glared at his partner before trudging from the field.
"I just stopped there and didn't say anything but I was very sad because of him," said Yousuf. "He is just 25 years old and he can't run and that is why I was just standing there."
Yousuf said Butt, who ended the day not out on 34 - and along with not-out batsman Shoaib Malik is the team's last remaining specialist batsman - now owes his team a big innings when play resumes tomorrow.
"We will try to lift him and play out the whole day tomorrow," he said of Butt. "We are not out of the match still and maybe both players can bat until tomorrow evening."
But Yousuf admitted his team faced a huge task to prevent a record 12th successive Test defeat at the hands of Australia. "It will be difficult for us to save the game now but it's a very flat wicket. And if we play for country and try to survive sessions and not go for runs then maybe we can save the game."

Swine flu vaccine to reach Pakistan within a week Staff Report

2010-01-15T03:20:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin told the National Assembly on Tuesday that the swine flu vaccine would reach Pakistan within a week.

In contrast with the widely accepted medical opinion, he said, swine flu was not that harmful and could easily be cured adding sufficient medicine was available with the government to cure the virus.

“In Pakistan, the first case was detected in August 2009 and the government has taken the necessary preventive measures,” said Shahabuddin.

The health minister told the House that Tammy Flu, a curative capsule has
been distributed across the country and 50,000 capsules have been provided to Punjab, 30,000 to Sindh and 8,000 each to Balochistan and the NWFP.

He said the vaccine would reach Pakistan within one week, as only 12 companies in the world were manufacturing this preventive vaccine and supply it only to governments through the World Health Organisation, not any individual. Shahabuddin told the House that an awareness drive was being initiated to inform the general public about preventive measures.

2010-01-15T03:18:00.001-08:00

US asked to 'review footprint in Pakistan'

ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee of parliament made it clear on Thursday that there should be no compromise on Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and said the US must “review its footprint in Pakistan”.

2010-01-15T03:17:00.000-08:00

US missile strike kills 16 in Pakistan

Los Angeles Times - Greg Miller - ‎3 hours ago‎

The target reportedly was Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mahsud. A spokesman for the militants dismisses reports of Mahsud's death.

Imran Khan for dialogues with Taliban to resolve Afghan issue - Associated Press of Pakistan

US can't win Afghan war without Pakistan: Gilani

2010-01-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

Plan to attack parliament foiled: Rehman Malik

DAWN.com - ‎1 hour ago‎

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday said the police foiled a terrorist plan to attack the parliament in Islamabad.

232 suicide attacks took place during eight years: Senate told Associated Press

PPP, MQM pledge to bring killers to book

2010-01-11T07:30:00.001-08:00

Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad, CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Interior Senator A Rehman Malik and other sitting during a meeting at Governor House. — Photo by Online

KARACHI: In an effort to curb the spate of violence in Karachi, a meeting between representatives of the Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement at the Governor’s House on Sunday resolved that all those behind targeted killings in the city would be dealt with sternly without regard to their political affiliation.
By the time the meeting ended on Sunday night at least 10 people had been gunned down in the city, taking the death toll in four days of violence to more than 35.

The meeting was convened by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and was attended, among others, by federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah (who represented the PPP) and federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar (who and the governor represented the MQM).
Announcing the decisions taken at the three-hour meeting, Mr Malik said the nature of the ongoing violence was neither political nor ethnic because criminals were behind it. In the main, land grabbers, drug barons, human traffickers and other criminals who wanted to destabilise the provincial metropolis were killing people under the garb of various peace committees, said Mr Malik.
The minister said such elements were misusing their purported links with the PPP or MQM to drive a wedge between the two coalition partners in Sindh. However, it had been decided that stern action would be taken against all the elements behind the killings, regardless of their political affiliations, if any.
Mr Malik announced that in matters relating to the violence and the subsequent dialogue between the two parties, only he and Chief Minister Shah had been authorised to speak on behalf of the PPP and Dr Sattar and Governor Ibad on behalf of the MQM.
He said that during the meeting, participants held consultations with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Mr Malik said every issue of importance was discussed thoroughly because Karachi was the country’s economic hub and the government wanted to spare no efforts to restore peace.
Dr Sattar said the interior minister had assured the MQM that all those who were involved in targeted killings would be arrested and given due punishment and there would be no discrimination or favour.
The government had also promised to use all its resources to jointly foil any future conspiracies, he said. The Baloch living in Karachi would never be left at the mercy of drug barons and land grabbers.
Dr Sattar expressed the hope that all decisions taken at the meeting would be implemented in letter and spirit.
Chief Minister Shah said some people involved in the killings had been claiming that they were PPP or MQM loyalists. All such elements would be dealt with strictly.He said additional powers had been given to Rangers to maintain law and order in the city.
Syed Sardar Ahmad, Babar Ghauri, Adil Siddiqui and Dr Saghir Ahmad represented MQM at the meeting and PPP was represented by Manzoor Wassan, Rafique Engineer, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Mian Rashid Rabbani and Ali Mardan Shah.

Tags: mqm,ppp,karachi violence

India puts BSF on high alert along Pakistan border

2010-01-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (APP) India has put Border Security Force on high alert along the Pakistan border.Media reports quoting Indian officials said the decision had been taken due to forthcoming Republic Day celebrations and allegedly rocket firing incidents near Attari border recently.“We are studying the reports. Patrolling has been increased and BSF is fully alert to deal with any situation. The BSF in the recent past has retaliated adequately to the firing from across the border,” an official said.

Meanwhile, a senior officer in Jammu said a BSF jawan Shurvir Singh was killed in cross- border firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of IHK on Monday.

There was a heavy cross-border firing from Pakistan on Sabzain Forward Defence Location (FDL) along LoC in Poonch district around 1130 hours today, the Army officer alleged.

There were also reports of firing of two rockets on the forward post in the same area at 1135 and 1145 hours respectively, he alleged.

Umar Akmal faces fitness problems

2010-01-10T02:52:00.000-08:00

HOBART: Young Pakistani middle order promising batsman Umar Akmal has come to fitness problems due to muscle pull amid practice session here in Hobart on Sunday evening, Geo news reported.

He was a due inclusion in third cricket Test match against Australia to be played here from 14 January due to his constant performance in all forms of cricket.

It may be mentioned during his short Test cricket career, the stylish and brave Umar has struck one brilliant century and four half centuries, averaging in 60s.

Textile exporters hail capping of cotton yarn exports

2010-01-10T02:46:00.001-08:00

FAISALABAD: Value Added Textile Sector has welcomed the federal Cabinet Committee's decision to cap export of cotton yarn and termed it a right decision towards a right direction and partial solution of the prevailing crisis.

Speaking at a joint press conference at Pakistan Textile Exporters Association headquarters here on Saturday, Khurrum Mukhtar chairman, Sohail Pasha Vice chairman PTEA, Rana Mushtaq Khan central chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) and Rana Ikhlaq Ahmed chairman Pakistan Cotton Power Looms Association said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, requirements of VATS have been officially recognized at the highest forum.

It was said the cabinet decision will help increase the immediate availability of yarn by 20 percent.

They said that average cotton yarn export during the last three years was calculated at 40.59 million kilogram per month. However, contrary to this, cabinet committee has capped its export at 50 million kilogram per month. This decision would only fulfill the requirement of the VATS partially.

However, government's attitude and direction to handle this issue is appreciable, they said and particularly thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen and Textile Minister Rana Mohammad Rafooq Saeed Khan for officially accepting the demand of VATS at highest forum.

Lamenting over the jugglery of figures, they said that some vested interests have succeeded convincing cabinet committee to cap the export of cotton yarn at exaggerated limit of 50 million kilogram per month.

"We have discretion to challenge these figures for its revision in according to the actual export of last three years," they added.

They said that capping of cotton yarn export at 50 million kg per month would help to partially ease the situation but for its permanent solution government will have to revise this figure to actual average export of last three months.

"We are waiting for the impact of this decision on local market," they said and added that VATS would be forced to revise the export limit if this decision failed to yield positive result in the local markets.

Khurram Mukhtar clarified that VATS was not against spinning sector. It is backbone of the VATS and we want its steady growth subject to the availability of yarn at reasonable rates to the VATS. It was in this respect that we support demand of 2% subsidy for the spinning sector, they added.

Regarding load shedding of electricity, they said that they are in contact with the concerned quarters and hopefully this issue would also be resolved within next few days.

Rana Mushtaq Khan central chairman PHMA said that decision of the cabinet committee had already been notified while Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has been entrusted task to monitor the export of cotton yarn on first come first serve basis.

Reiterating other demands of VATS, they demanded withdrawal of cross subsidies on gas to bring down the prices of gas for the textile sector.

Al-Qaeda holed up in Yemen after Pakistan: Petraeus

2010-01-10T02:45:00.003-08:00

WASHINGTON: The U.S. military does not intend to put ground troops in Yemen, a country where al Qaeda operatives have become an increasing threat, Gen. David Petraeus said while talking to a US-based news channel in an interview to be aired Sunday.

However, the United States plans to more than double its security assistance funding to Yemen, from $70 million to more than $150 million, Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa.

Petraeus, who recently returned from his visit to the Arab nation, said Yemen's foreign minister was "quite clear that Yemen does not want to have American ground troops there. And that's a good -- good response for us to hear, certainly."

Asked on whether there were plans to send troops there, he replied, "No, of course, we would always want a host nation to deal with a problem itself. We want to help. We're providing assistance."

"Again, we haven't discussed the assistance that we have provided in Yemen, and I'm afraid I won't here today," he said.

The general said the United States has been concerned about al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula for several years, saying, "Without question, it has ramped up over the course of the last year or more in particular, with training camps and so forth there."

Still, in comments made off camera, Petraeus said the group "isn't industrial strength."

Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh has told the United States that Yemen rather handle al Qaeda on its own, and the United States plans to honor that, Petraeus said.

"It threatened the embassies of various countries that are important to Yemen and, in fact, assassinated some government officials," Petraeus said, referring to the al Qaeda branch in Yemen. "So there is an enormous incentive here for President Saleh and the government of Yemen, indeed, to confront al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the growth that we have seen in its training camp structure and the other infrastructure that they've been able to establish in recent years."

Petraeus said al Qaeda's growth in Yemen became increasingly worrisome for him two years ago. Washington began to view the ancestral home of al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden as a possible haven for the group as early as 2001.

As al Qaeda was pushed out of Saudi Arabia -- and under pressure in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan -- they took refuge in Yemen, he said.

Last Sunday, the United States decided to briefly close its embassy in Yemen after intelligence suggested that four al Qaeda operatives may be planning an attack on the compound. The embassy reopened Tuesday. Britain, too, closed its embassy Sunday, citing security concerns, while other foreign embassies beefed up security or closed to the public.

Yet, Petraeus said Yemen is not the most important locale in the U.S. war on terror. "That would likely still be the western Pakistan-Afghanistan border area," he said.

"We have not devoted the kind of resources to it that is necessary. I know what it takes. We built an intelligence structure, we built an entire organization overall in Iraq to conduct counterinsurgency operations. And it requires a significant commitment.

"We are now making that kind of commitment to Afghanistan, but we had not before."

The general added that strides have been made in the fight against terrorists.

"I think there's been progress overall over the course of the last year against al Qaeda," Petraeus said. "I think that in general its capability has diminished, but that's only, again, a relative judgment ... Al Qaeda does still have an ability there to carry out periodic horrific attacks, and so we must maintain the pressure on Al Qaeda wherever it is found."

11 more die as target-killings tally climbs to 39

2010-01-10T02:43:00.001-08:00

KARACHI: Unknown assailants have shot dead another 11 persons in last 15 hours in separate parts of Karachi while according to police calculation, the death toll by target killings in Karachi has risen to 39 people in last 3 days and scores another sustained injuries, Geo news Sunday reported.

According to police sources, the incidents of fierce clashes and indiscriminate firing remained continuous in Lyari, Garden and many others parts of metropolis on Saturday while in the latest incidents, a total of 11 more people have been gunned down.

The areas witnessed the target shootings included Lyari, Garden, Surjani Town, Kharadar, Aaram Bagh and Eid Gah localities in metropolis city as 3 persons, identified as Aamir Baloch, Shakir Baloch and Nawaz Baloch, were lately gunned down in Lyari.

Najmi Alam, president PPP Karachi division told Geo news, three fell victims to target killing yesterday belonged to PPP city area and called on government for arrest of responsible assailants.

Police and rangers officials also claimed presence of rising tension in many parts of Karachi including Lyari, Garden, Kharadar, Aagra Taaj and Usmanabad areas besides arrests of many suspected youths who are being investigated.

Governor Sindh calls meeting of coalition parties

2010-01-10T02:25:00.001-08:00

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad has called a meeting of ruling parties as the tension mounted between the PPP and MQM due to current wave of target killings in Karachi.

According to sources, the meeting will take place at the Governor House on Sunday.

It may be reminded that the meeting has been called in the backdrop of harsh statements exchanged by the leaders of PPP and MQM against each other.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also stopped PPP’s ministers from giving statements against the MQM.

Six reported killed in Karachi explosion

2010-01-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

At least six people are thought to have been killed in an explosion at a house in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

The blast happened in Balida Town, a poor neighbourhood of the southern city, Pakistan's commercial hub.
The blast's cause was not immediately known, but police said explosives had stored at the house may have gone off.
In December, a suicide bomb attack on a Shia Muslim march in Karachi, claimed by the Taliban, killed 43 people and injured dozens more.
"There was a blast in a house in [Karachi's] Balida Town in which six people were killed. The house collapsed. We are trying to ascertain the exact nature of the blast," senior police official Abdul Majeed Dasti told the AFP news agency.
He said hand grenades and a Kalashnikov rifle had been found at the site of the explosion.
Karachi police chief Waseem Ahmad said explosives stored in the house appeared to have caused the explosion.
"It seems that the house was being used by terrorists. We are taking utmost care in removing the rubble," Mr Ahmad.
It was not clear whether the dead were residents of the house or were passers-by.
Pakistan has seen an upsurge in violence in recent months.
Hundreds of civilians have died in bomb attacks as Pakistan's army concludes an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.

Zardari gives go-ahead to launch air strikes against Taliban

2010-01-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has allowed the country’s military to carry out air strikes on the identified Taliban havens located in the intricate mountain terrains in Tribal Areas.

During his meeting with Pakistani Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Thursday, Zardari, in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, approved the coordinated efforts of the armed forces against militants.

“Matters related to operational preparedness of Pakistan Army, security situation and the ongoing drive against militancy and extremism came under discussion,” The Nation quoted a statement released after the meeting, as saying.

Earlier, Kayani briefed Zardari about the operational decisions taken during the meeting of high command of the Pakistan Army on Thursday, wherein the Air Chief was also present.

Kayani also told Zardari about the situation arising after a recent statement by the Indian army chief about the Indian potential to confront both Pakistan and China at the same time.

Voices of Progressive Pakistan Opinionated. Argumentative A new political party to move Pakistan into a new eraScholars examine the facts about Jesus' claims to be God

Sources said Zardari was also briefed about the decisions at the cabinet committee of defence under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani about the maintenance of minimum deterrence.

Drone attacks will continue in Pakistan: McCain

2010-01-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

A US congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency in Islamabad. US Ambassador in Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson and senior officials of the US embassy are also present. –APP Photo

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari here on Friday, US Republican Senator John McCain said that there were some differences between Pakistan and the US regarding drone attacks but that both countries have the same views against terrorism and democratic values, DawnNews reported. The Senator said that drone attacks inside the Pakistani territory will continue to destroy the strong holds of Taliban extremists but that the US has no intentions of incursions in Pakistan.
“The (drone) attacks are imperative to defeat the enemy,” he said. “With an improved decision making process the civilian causalities are totally minimized.”
He maintained that in the past both countries have had a trust deficit, but now the US was confident of building a better relationship with Pakistan.
“We can not succeed in Afghanistan without a stable and prosperous Pakistan.”
He added that the US will not start incursions inside Pakistan. “Whenever such an action is required, we will take the Pakistani government in confidence. It is a fact that terrorists inside tribal areas of Pakistan are real threat for US forces in Afghanistan.”
“The financial assistance through the Kerry-Lugar bill is the US taxpayer’s money and we have to take deep look at how the Pakistani government is going to spend it,” he added.

Tags: Drone attacks in Pakistan,drone attacks,US Senator John McCain

Armed forces fully geared to meet challenges: Zardari

2010-01-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistan is a peace-loving nation and we are willing to go an extra mile to resolve all our issues through dialogue. We sincerely hope that the solutions we achieve are just, principled and long lasting. However, our desire for peace must not be taken as a sign of weakness.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed these views while addressing the 92nd officers commissioning parade of Pakistan Navy held at Pakistan Naval Academy on Monday.

The President further said that arms race in the region is not in our interest. However, maintenance of minimum credible deterrence is necessary to keep nefarious designs at bay. A strong Navy is, therefore, essential to thwart the challenges to our sovereignty in the maritime sector.

President Zardari said that we have strong and capable Armed Forces, which can fully safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a nation, the Chief Guest continued, it is our duty to guard ourselves against all external and internal threats and the extremist elements who disrupt peace in the name of religion for their own vested interests.

The President said that in the backdrop of changed geo-political scenario, Pakistan faces new challenges to its security, which requires firm commitment to war against terrorism. He said that Pakistan Navy’s participation in Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) has been internationally acknowledged. It has also enhanced PN’s professional acumen besides preventing terrorists and checking arms, drugs, and human smuggling, thereby providing safe environment for smooth maritime economic activities.

Commenting on the self reliance policy of Pakistan Navy, President Zardari hoped that successful completion of Agosta submarine project and recent induction of F-22P Frigate PNS ZULFIQUAR along with Z9EC helicopters would definitely augment defence capability of our Naval Fleet. He urged the graduating officers to whole-heartedly commit themselves to their profession of protecting the country’s maritime interests. He also extended his felicitations to the officers who were commissioned today and formally joined Pakistan Naval Force.

The President said that it is heartening to see that for the first time ever, female cadets were trained and commissioned from Naval Academy. "This is a manifestation of Quaid’s vision to provide women with an equally instrumental role to play in the defence, progress and development of the country", he added.

Earlier, in his welcome address Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Ayaz Ahmed Nasir underlined salient features of officers’ training. He apprised the audience that for the first time ever, 25 female cadets along with 57 Midshipmen including 8 from Palestine are being commissioned today. He also informed that Naval Academy is also imparting professional training to young cadets of brotherly countries of Kazakhstan, Maldives, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.

Later, the Chief Guest gave away prizes to the winners. Midshipman Syed Muhammad Arsalan was awarded Sword of Honour for his best all round performance. Sub Lieut Abdullah Naveed, Cadet Bilal Yasir Alvi and Cadet Ayesha Saleem received Quaid-e-Azam, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Commandant Gold Medals respectively. Academy Dirk went to Midshipmen Fahad Saleem. Main Top Squadron received Proficiency Banner.

The ceremony was attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, senior naval officers, foreign diplomats and parents and relatives of the passing out term.

Meanwhile addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Mohatta Palace Museum Complex at Mohatta Palace on Monday President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the entire nation will have to get united to steer the country out of simmering predicaments, as " the challenge we are facing is very grave".

" We should stand up to the challenge of this time, which is no doubt very grave. But nations do face such challenges, whether it is World War-I or World War-II or natural calamities. They handle such challenges with vigor and resolve", President Zardari said

Governor Sindh DR Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Finance Minister, Shaulat Tareen, and chairman of the board of trustees of Mohatta Palace Hameed Haroon, were also present on the occasion.

The president, who returned his written speech to his military secretary, and opted for an extempore speech, vowed that he would continue to quest for the mission started by his father-in-law Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and wife Benazir Bhutto.

" If your city is burning, then it is our collective responsibility to save it. It was not only the responsibility of my wife to sacrifice her life for that"|, Mr Zardari maintained and added " I would continue the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, because if I don’t do that, it will be tantamount to betraying the nation".

Paying rich tributes to the slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Mr Zardari said that she was a role model being the first Muslim woman prime minister, for the entire world.

" This is her vision, we are carrying, and we will continue that for a better Pakistan", he said.

" We should stand to the challenges as she (BB) took on while walking to the spirit of her father who had said that he would prefer to die at the hands of a dictator instead of history", he added.

The president said he knew the fact that the three chairpersons of the PPP had been assassinated, but still he nominated his son, Bilawal Bhutto as the chairman of the party.

" This is our goal to make Pakistan a great country, and for this, we have to get united to save the future of our coming generations", he contended.

Recalling his childhood days in Karachi, the president said that he had spent a wonderful time in the city as a child.

" I remember that I used to come here at Mohatta Palace as child. I also used to come to Clifton by bicycle. It was a much better Karachi, whereby you would not need bulletproof cars, and tall boundary walls. I remember that even gates of our houses remained open", he said.

President Zardari said " We all have to go back from this world, but we must realize that what will we be taking with us there? We will not take anything with us. what we take with us will be good things, like Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who took martyrdom, honour, and love of people with her", he said.

Governor Sindh, DR Ishrat-ul-Ebad, and Hameed Haroon also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the president visited an exhibition comprising artwork of famous Pakistani artists.

President’s power to dissolve NA must go: committee

2010-01-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

The committee, which met under Senator Raza Rabbani, reviewed articles of the Constitution (222 to 226) relating to the electoral process.—File photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms continued on Wednesday to chip away at the president’s discretionary powers and agreed to bind the president and governors to consult public office holders before appointing caretaker governments.

The committee, which met under Senator Raza Rabbani at the Parliament House here, reviewed articles of the Constitution (222 to 226) relating to the electoral process, sources told Dawn.

On Tuesday, the committee had agreed to abolish the presidential powers to appoint chief election commissioner (CEC), besides extending the CEC’s term from three to five years.

Article 224(1) states: “Provided that on dissolution of an assembly on completion of its term, the president, in his discretion, or, as the case may be, the governor, in his discretion but with the previous approval of the president, shall appoint a caretaker cabinet.”

The sources said that the committee members had agreed that in future the president would have to consult the prime minister and the leader of the opposition before appointing a caretaker government on completion of the assembly’s term.

In case of dissolution of the assembly, the advice of the prime minister will be mandatory. Similarly, the governors will have to consult the chief ministers and leaders of opposition in respective provincial assemblies before appointing a caretaker set-up in the province.

Former president Ziaul Haq had amended the constitution in 1985 to empower the head of state to dissolve the National Assembly. Governors got powers to dissolve provincial assemblies.

It was removed through the 13th Amendment in 1997. The clause was re-introduced by Gen Pervez Musharraf through the 17th Amendment in 2003.

According to the 1973 Constitution, the president or the governors could not dissolve assemblies before the completion of their five-year term and only the prime minister or the chief minister of a province could advise the president or the governor to dissolve the assembly before time.

The parliamentary committee had already agreed to abolish Article 58-2(B) from the Constitution.

The committee will meet again on Thursday morning to review the articles dealing with Islamic provisions.

It is also expected to discuss articles relating to the proclamation of emergency and suspension of fundamental rights.
Tags: onstitutional reforms committee,Raza Rabbani

U.S. missile strikes in Pakistan kill Taliban militants

2010-01-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

Back-to-back missile strikes on a training camp in Pakistan's lawless tribal region killed at least 13 militants Wednesday, the latest in a string of apparent U.S. attacks on Taliban targets in the wake of last week's suicide bombing at a CIA base in Afghanistan, U.S. and Pakistani officials said.
Pakistani sources said both missiles were fired by what appeared to remote-controlled drone aircraft. The CIA has staged more than 50 such strikes in the past year in Pakistan's autonomous tribal belt, long a sanctuary to Taliban militants and, U.S. officials believe, al-Qaeda's top leadership.
Wednesday's attacks brought to five the number of strikes against Taliban targets since Dec. 30, when a suicide bomber killed eight U.S. and allied intelligence operatives and wounded six others at the CIA's Forward Operating Base Chapman in eastern Afghanistan.
The CIA declines to comment on such strikes, and U.S. counterterrorism officials cautioned Wednesday against linking the latest attacks to last week's suicide bombing.

Share this story! del.icio.us digg Reddit Furl Fark TailRank Ma.gnolia NewsVine Simpy Spurl Cabinet regularises 4,000 CAA employees

2010-01-06T19:54:00.001-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved in principle the regularisation of over 4,000 Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) employees who have served for more than nine months, and decided to regularise others after they have completed this prescribed service length.

Syed Sumsam Bukhari, minister of state for information, told reporters after the meeting that the cabinet was also briefed on the status of wheat, flour and sugar stocks. He said the prime minister had directed the authorities to stabilise the prices of these essentials.

He said the cabinet also considered a report on the affairs of the Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan (IDBP) and the case for its corporatisation and restructuring. The cabinet was told that the bank’s current, negative net worth was Rs 28.17 billion, while total deposits stood at Rs 3.836 billion. It was decided that those responsible for the bank’s losses, imprudent lending and loan waivers would be held accountable. A committee – headed by the minister for law and justice and including representatives of the State Bank of Pakistan, an independent banker and an auditor – was formed to scrutinise a random sample of written-off loans to establish their propriety.

A committee of the ministers for finance and revenue, law and justice, and industries and production recommended restructuring IDBP as Industrial Development Bank Limited (IDBL). The meeting also ratified the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation. The ratified decisions include adequate government representation on the boards of privatised entities. Under a new policy, 12 percent shares would be reserved for workers of the privatised entities.

The cabinet also ratified the decisions made by the ECC on December 15. In a bid to undertake scientific, technological and socio-economic research on climate change, the cabinet approved a proposal to establish the ‘Global Change Impact Studies Centre’ as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment.

Pakistan calls for swift resolution of Kashmir issue

2010-01-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: Condemning suicide attacks across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rawlakot and Srinagar, Pakistan on Wednesday called for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute to end the bloodshed and instability in the region.

Talking to reporters after her interactions with Kashmiri pro-freedom leaders, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza said the issue could not be put on the “backburner” and the government as well as the country’s parliament was committed to resolving the issue peacefully.

Departing from demands of seeking an alternative resolution of the issue, as envisaged by the moderate faction of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference and former president Pervez Musharraf, Fehmida reiterated that Pakistan “wants a resolution of the issue by granting the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir under UN resolutions. We cannot put the Kashmir issue to the backburner,” she said.

Jugular: Supporting President Asif Ali Zardari’s tough stance on Kashmir, she called Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan, saying there was no question of leaving the issue and the Kashmiri people in a lurch.

On her meetings with Kashmiri leaders, Fehmida said she listened to all of them and conveyed the stance of Pakistan’s parliament to the leaders.

Earlier, a four member delegation of the APHC, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and consisting of Syed Ali Geelani and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik called on Fehmida at the Pakistan High Commission.

Later, Mirwaiz said he had urged an early resumption of the composite dialogue process, adding that regional peace was imperative to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, which is part of the composite dialogue process.

Sources said he also sought support of Pakistan for his “quite talks” with the Indian government.

Resolution: Without mentioning the recent attack on his colleague Fazl Haq Qureshi, Mirwaiz told Fehmida that APHC’s interactions with the Indian government were part of their agenda for a resolution of the Kashmir issue and improving the climate for the larger India-Pakistan relations.

Addressing a ceremony in honour of the visiting speaker, Pakistani High Commissioner Shahid Malik said normalisation was critical for a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood.

“We want close and friendly relations with India and a sustained engagement will bring fruits of peace and prosperity,” he said.

Malik said peace did not accrue from treaties and joint statements but from hearts and minds.

Fehmida said it was necessary to keep channels of communication as well as bilateral dialogue open.

She recalled the statement issued by the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers at of Sharm El Sheikh in July last year, where they agreed that dialogue was the only way forward to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.

The speaker also reiterated the commitment of her parliament, government and the people of Pakistan to fight and defeat terrorism as well as help in building an environment of peace and stability for the prosperity of people in the region.

Four held in connection with Karachi bloodshed

2010-01-05T19:14:00.001-08:00

KARACHI: At least four persons, suspected of involvement in Karachi carnage, have been nabbed from locality of Shah Faisal Colony here in metropolis on Tuesday, Geo news reported.

According to police sources, the arrested persons, identified as Zamir Ali alias Shah Ali, Tariq Aziz, Mubashir Ahmed and Nazar Pathan, are being investigated.

Later on contacting from Geo news, the investigation officials confirmed the arrests, saying that under arrest four suspects belong to a banned religious outfit.

It may be mentioned that intelligence agencies, including CID, are investigating them.

PM summons Federal cabinet meeting today

2010-01-05T19:13:00.001-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has summoned an all-important meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday (today) to review the gas, sugar and power crises besides prevailing law and order situation.

According to PM house Sources, host of issues of national interest like overall security situation, daily wages employees, economic affairs, defense, trade and other matters and projects are expected to take place in this regard.

Sources say that the performance of some of the departments while Industrial development Bank performance also will be monitored in length.

Cabinet will look carefully on load shedding, gas and prices of Sugar as masses are facing immense difficulties to cope with such unremitting problems since last many months.

Important decisions are likely to take place during the course of the Federal cabinet meeting, Sources added.

Pakistan set 176-run target to win

2010-01-05T19:11:00.001-08:00

Pakistan set 176-run target to win

SYDNEY: Australia were dismissed for 381 runs in second innings setting Pakistan 176-run target to win second Test of three match series here at SCG on Wednesday.

Pakistan took two quick wickets shortly after lunch break dismissing Bollinger and Siddle – two Australian tail-enders.

Michael Hussey remained unbeaten for 134 runs while Danish Kaneria claimed 5 wickets to complete his 250 wickets in test matches.

Karachi mayhem’s investigation underway: Ebad

2010-01-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, on a sudden visit to Karachi’s Bolton market, said the investigation into Karachi incidents is underway.

He said a committee has already been formed to estimate the losses of the Bolton market.

Ebad said important evidence has also been obtained while weapon is also recovered from the area and a suspect is arrested in this regard.

It may be noted that CCPO Karachi had revealed that police have reached to the culprits of Karachi incident and they will be presented before media within a week.

Google phone makes waves, not yet available in Pakistan.

2010-01-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

With the release of Nexus One, Google Inc. is looking to flip the cellular world on its head by offering what it is calling the world’s first “super phone.”
But super or not, the device is not yet available in Pakistan.
“We want to gradually roll out Nexus One to gain customer feedback gradually and make sure the ordering process works smoothly,” said Wendy Rozeluk, a spokeswoman for Google Pakistan.. “The only countries in which it will be shipping is the U.S., the U.K., Hong Kong and Singapore. Those are our first test markets.”
The company would not say when the phone would be made available to Pakistanis.
In a first for cellphone makers, Google will not be selling Nexus One through wireless-service provides, which in Pakistan was be companies like Rogers or Bell. Instead, it will sell the phones through its website, www.google.com/phone, and allow customers to pick which network they want to operate their phone on.
The flashy new device, which made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday, is expected to finally give Apple Inc.’s iPhone a run for its money in the smartphone arena. The Nexus phone is as slim as a pencil, weighs about as much as a cigarette lighter (130 grams) and has a surface area similar to a deck of cards.
Nexus One, which works on both GSM and CDMA phone networks, has a slightly larger screen than the iPhone, is capable of taking five-megapixel photographs and has the ability to record DVD-quality videos. The phone is also voice activated, allowing people to speak names, numbers or messages, which will then be turned into text by the phone and either dialed or e-mailed automatically. Similarly, by simply speaking an address, the phone’s built-in GPS will find the location and provide directions.
“It really brings the web, the computer and your phone together. That is where the Nexus name actually comes from,” said Rozeluk. “A Nexus is really a convergence point. This is about making people’s lives easier.
Nexus One, which is manufactured by phone maker HTC Corp., runs Google’s popular Android operating system. Android offers users a touch-screen interface and the ability to run multiple applications at the same time. Apple’s iPhone can only run one application at a time.
Android also offers a large application store — similar to Apple’s App Store — called the Android Market. However, unlike Apple, all of the applications made available for Android are free.
The phone garnered instant praise from industry observers, including Steve Hilton, head of enterprise research for Analysys Mason Research in Boston, who called the device the “Ferrari” of the smart phone world.
The new device extends Google’s grasp on consumers and tie together its numerous service offerings including Internet search, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Voice, Google Messenger and others, so they can be accessed from a single portable device wherever people might be.
“With this device, Google will be able to extend their products to consumers (and business) on the go,” said Amit Kaminer, a research analyst with the SeaBoard Group in Toronto.
What remains to be seen is how the Nexus One could be used with Google’s new Google Voice application, which is now being tested in the United States.
Google Voice automatically links certain cellphones with home and business lines, bypassing existing cellular networks. Users must be within range of a wireless Internet connection for it to work. In cities such as Boston and Toronto, where Wi-Fi Internet networks will soon blanket the urban area, the software will allow consumers to say goodbye to monthly cellphone bills entirely.

Hussey ton keeps Aussies alive

2010-01-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

Michael Hussey reached his 11th Test hundred in style early on day four of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as Australia fought to post a competitive target.

After 15 overs in the morning session, the home side had reached 8 for 323, a lead of 117, with Hussey unbeaten on 104 and Peter Siddle lending a hand with 16 not out.
After leg spinner Danish Kaneria brought Australia's middle order to its knees in the final session on Tuesday, Hussey conquered batting with the tail and a turning pitch to keep the home side's innings alive.
The left-hander resumed on 73 and he and Siddle took advantage of Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf's passive field placements and a fourth-day pitch that looked ideal for batting on.
Yousuf's men were pushed back, presumably to allow the batsmen to take quick singles to rotate Siddle to the strike, and the Australians did just that, cautiously making runs when they could.
The pair brought up their 50 partnership in 109 balls when Hussey turned a single off Umar Gul, and the left-hander opted not to let Shane Watson's "90s nerves" transfer to his innings.
Hussey faced just 11 balls between 90 and 100, striking three elegant boundaries including a deliberate jab over the slips cordon and the shot that brought up his ton.
Watson said yesterday that if Hussey and Siddle can keep building a lead for Australia, anything is possible.
"I definitely think we're still in it, obviously not the day that we really were hoping for," he said.
"It would have been nice to get at least 200 in front, I think while Mike Hussey and Peter Siddle are there we're still a chance," he said.
"Best-case scenario I reckon maybe 150 would be a target that would, I think, if everything goes well and we bowl well, there's a chance that we could give ourselves an opportunity to win the game."
Australia's steady, patient ninth-wicket stand is staving off what could become Pakistan's first win in Australia in more than 14 years.
The last time it was victorious in this country was in November 1995 at this ground, when Wasim Akram's team won by 74 runs thanks in part to a first-innings 137 by Ijaz Ahmed.

Strategic stability must for regional peace, says Gilani

2010-01-05T18:05:00.000-08:00

PM says Pakistan mindful of policies that could undermine stability in region
* Peace in Afghanistan a matter of interest to Pakistan

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Strategic stability in South Asia is a pre-requisite for lasting peace and prosperity for the people of the region, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday.

Presiding over a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, Gilani said, “We are mindful of the policies and trends that can undermine strategic stability in our region. Pakistan will be obliged to counter such negative trends by all appropriate means”.

The meeting was held to evaluate the security situation in the light of global and regional developments and their impact on Pakistan.

Gilani said there was a need to review the country’s ongoing counter-terrorism and law enforcement actions.

He said Pakistan had utilised its national capacity to execute the campaign on counterterrorism and success of its efforts stood out in sharp contrast to what the coalition forces in Afghanistan had been able to achieve over the past nine years.

He said the people responded generously to his appeal for contributions and Rs 2.4 billion were raised through the Prime Minister’s Special Fund for Relief of Victims of Terrorism.

Gilani also appreciated the solidarity and support by the international community for the country’s efforts to help the displaced persons.

He said Rs 10.2 billion were released to the NWFP government in the last six months as cash grant for food and relief and rehabilitation.

He said Rs 2.6 billion had been released for South Waziristan, adding that the funds were being utilised for cash assistance, relief and rehabilitation in a transparent manner.

Separately, he said the government had provided Rs 7.1 billion to the NWFP government for capacity building of law enforcement agencies as well as for compensation payments.

Rs 332 million had been given to the Interior Ministry to help meet its security-related expenses.

A total of Rs 20.2 billion had been sanctioned during the last six months for the aforementioned purposes, he said. “The total allocation from our budget for relief, rehabilitation and capacity building is Rs 50 billion,” Gilani said.

The federal government would contribute Rs 500 million to the “Shuhada Trust Fund” with Rs 50 million for each province.

In recognition of the sacrifices rendered by the country’s armed forces, the government had already announced an increase in their salaries, the prime minister said.

Legitimate interest: He said Pakistan was a peace-loving country. “We will continue to endeavour to promote peace, security and stability in our region. We have for over three decades shouldered the burden of 3.5 million Afghan refugees. We continue to be directly impacted by the conflict in Afghanistan. Restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan is a matter of direct and legitimate interest to Pakistan. We will continue to play a constructive role in this regard,” he added.

Kashmir key to peace in region: Zardari

2010-01-05T18:00:00.001-08:00

“If the world is attentive towards Pakistan and its issue(s) then it will have to talk about the Kashmir issue,” said the president. — File Photo by Online

MUZAFFARABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged the world community on Tuesday to pay attention to the Kashmir issue and expressed the hope that superpowers would take a decision in favour of the people of Kashmir.
“If the world is attentive towards Pakistan and its issue(s) then it will have to talk about the Kashmir issue,” he said in an address to a special joint sitting of the AJK Legislative Assembly and AJK Council during his first visit to Muzaffarabad as president.
Pakistan, he said, considered that peace in Kashmir was linked to peace in the region. “I think time is near when superpowers and countries of this region will have to make serious decision about Kashmir.”
The president said Pakistan never objected to India’s friendship with the United States and did not grumble about anything else because it knew that neighbours could not be changed. But they (India) too should accept this reality.
“We are a very prominent neighbourhood. We happen to be 180 million Pakistanis who have the heart of lions with Kashmir leading them,” he said.
President Zardari regretted that whenever dictators and oppressors came to power in Pakistan they pursued a policy of “appeasement” whereas “we have always talked about dialogue with India on equal terms” with emphasis on the rights of Kashmiris.
He said “today’s developed democratic India” vainly believed that it could suppress any nation by force.
“Perhaps they think Kashmiris are a weak nation. But they have seen for themselves that Kashmiris have sacrificed their sons and daughters but did not quit their popular slogan of Kashmir becoming Pakistan.”
Referring to the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s famous statement that we will fight for Kashmir for 1000 years, Mr Zardari said he and Bilawal Bhutto would guarantee that.
However, he repeatedly stated that the war would be of thoughts, willpower and patience and avoided any mention of armed conflicts.
“Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did not say that he won’t fight with pen and mouth.”
In the same context, Mr Zardari said the imprisonment he had undergone for years was a war of patience for democracy.
“Democracy stands for giving rights to oppressed and downtrodden people and also to the Kashmiris,” he said.
“If Kashmiris say that whatever they do for Pakistan is not a favour then I am compelled to say that we don’t extend any favour to them either. Fighting your war is our duty from day one. It’s our own movement,” he added.
He said his attention had been drawn to the felling of trees in AJK which fetched up to Rs300 million a year to the state exchequer.
“Your trees keep waters flowing in Pakistan. I will ask this assembly to pass a resolution to completely ban timber felling and we will meet the shortfall,” he declared.
Referring to demands earlier raised by AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, the president said Kashmiris had the right over the waters flowing from their area.
“We will convey this issue of yours to the parliament. We have to make both Pakistan and Kashmir greener,” he said.
He declared that there would not be cut in AJK’s budget and Islamabad would ensure that this region got the maximum share.
Mr Zardari said that electing the AJK prime minister was the business of its assembly and Islamabad’s job was to work for Kashmir cause.

Tags: Azad Kashmir,Muzaffarabad,Kashmir issue,Raja Farooq,Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly

Kurd foresees positive result from SC on missing people

2010-01-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Former President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Ali Ahmed Kurd has observed that the issue of Balochistan cannot be solved until solving the issue of missing people.
Talking to a private TV channel while reacting on remarks of Justice Javed Iqbal during hearing of missing people, Ali Ahmed Kurd said that the issue of missing people is a big challenge for the Supreme Court of Pakistan and expressed his optimism regarding positive outcome on the issue.
Responding to a question, the lawyer’s leader said that the issue of missing person not only a sensitive issue of Balochistan but to the entire country.
He said that the issue of missing people is against the nature of people of Balochistan, therefore, a strong reaction is being seen in the province.
Commenting on restoration of deposed judges, Ali Ahmed Kurd said that the judges were restored due to historical struggle of the people of the country and the current judges owed to the people. He said that SC took some good decisions.
He said that without solving the issue of missing people, the logical end of struggle for judges’ restoration cannot be possible.
He informed that the number of missing people in hundreds, saying a list of 1000 missing people was handed over to Chief Minister Balochistan.

World's tallest skyscraper opens in Dubai

2010-01-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

The Burj Khalifa dominates the skyline in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building is 828 metres tall and has more than 160 storeys, the most of any building in the world. (Kamran Jebreili/Associated Press) The world's tallest skyscraper formally opened Monday in Dubai.
The Burj Khalifa is more than 160 storeys high, rising 828 metres into the sky.
The exact height of the new tower was kept under wraps by developer Emaar Properties until the tower was opened by Dubai's ruler.
The structure is about 250 metres higher than Toronto's CN Tower.
Thousands of residents and tourists gathered around the base of the massive building for its opening.
The building is apparently named in honour of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the president of the United Arab Emirates.

$9 million US per floor

The building cost about $1.5 billion US to build, or about $9 million US per floor.
Apartments in the building sold for $1,900 US per square foot at their peak, but prices have fallen by half in the wake of the financial woes that hit Dubai.
The city-state had to turn to Abu Dhabi for about $25 billion US in bailouts last year to cover amassed debts of state-linked firms.
While developer Emaar Properties is partly government-owned, it is not known if the firm got any bailout money.
"Crises come and go," said Emaar chairman Mohammad Alabbar in an interview prior to the building's formal opening.
"You have to move on. Because if you stop taking decisions, you stop growing."
Alabbar said the building is about 90 per cent sold.

Arson attacks were pre-planned: Malik

2010-01-04T19:35:00.001-08:00

The objective of targeting business activities in the country’s financial hub was to destroy the national economy and state institutions: Rehman Malik.—Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that incidents of arson within minutes of the deadly blast which hit an Ashura procession in Karachi were carried out under a pre-planned conspiracy to cripple the country economically. Addressing traders and businessmen at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), he said the objective of targeting business activities in the country’s financial hub was to destroy the national economy and state institutions.
He said that there were forces who want to break up Pakistan because they were not happy with its nuclear programme.
The minister drew the attention of the business leaders to news report that initially a little-known leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Asmatullah Shaheen, claimed responsibility for the blast, but later another militant leader disowned the claim.

If the TTP was not owning the blast, he said, there must be other forces bent upon destroying the country.
He said that it was obvious that the people behind the heinous crime wanted to cripple the economy which contributed taxes and revenue on which other state organs, including security forces, depended.
The minister said that without economic activities the state would not be able to collect taxes which were needed for national defence, development, health and education.
Therefore, the attack on Karachi’s businesses was carried out under a programme to bring the commercial and business hub to a standstill.
The minister admitted that the government might have made some mistakes, but said that one should keep in mind the wrong policies of successive governments, including the involvement in Afghan war against the Soviet Union.
At present, he said, many forces were working against Pakistan and were carrying out suicide blasts, adding that the role of Jash-i-Mohammad, Lakshar-i-Janghvi and India was known to everyone.
Mr Malik said that President Asif Ali Zardari had already warned of non-state actors who were bent upon destroying Pakistan.
He said the president must have made the statement on the basis of credible information because he had access to such developments and reports. “It’s now up to us how we look at this”.
The minister said that such attacks could not be carried out by Muslims because there could be no justification for killing innocent people participating in a religious procession.

Tags: Rehman Malik,Karachi blast,Karachi arson

‘Govt has clear proof of India’s involvement in Balochistan’

2010-01-04T19:34:00.001-08:00

Interior Minister Rehman Malik. — File photo

GUJRANWALA: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said the CIA had agreements with Blackwater with respect to Afghanistan and Iraq but there was no such agreement regarding Pakistan.
Talking to media in Gujranwala, Rehman Malik said if the government found any clue of any agency's contacts with Blackwater then it will take action against it.
He said al-Qaeda, Taliban and banned religious outfits were involved in recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Rehman Malik also said the Taliban were fundamentally hired and professional assassins.
To a question, Rehman Malik said the government has clear evidence of Indian involvement in militant activities inside Balochistan.
About the arrested US nationals, he said they have been taken into custody on the information of US intelligence agencies and are being interrogated. — DawnNews

Tags: Rehman Malik,India Balochistan,RAW,Balochistan issue,Pakistani Taliban,Blackwater

Zakir Majeed Baloch’s sister demands brother’s recovery

2010-01-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Family members of a missing person chant slogans during a demonstration for his release in Quetta. — APP

QUETTA: Zakir Majeed Baloch’s sister on Sunday demanded of human rights groups to take notice of the ‘enforced disappearance’ of her missing brother.
Addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club, she said Zakir Majeed Baloch, Senior Vice Chairman of BSO (Baloch Students Organisation) Azaad, was picked up by intelligence agencies on June 8, 2009 in Balochistan’s Mastung area.
She said since then they received no knowledge on Zakir’s whereabouts. Police refused to register the First Information Report (FIR) which proves the local police station’s involvement in Zakir’s disappearance, she said.
She also demanded of the United Nations to take notice of her brother's ‘enforced disappearance’. — DawnNews

Tags: Zakir Majeed Baloch,BSO - Azaad,Balochistan issue

Govt must honour pledge on 17th amendment: Nawaz

2010-01-04T19:31:00.001-08:00

While addressing the media in Quetta, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif also called for the immediate recovery of all missing persons. - Reuters/File photo

QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s chief Nawaz Sharif Monday called on the government to honour its commitment and lashed out at the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) over its “delaying tactics” regarding the 17th amendment.
The PML-N chief was addressing the media in Quetta during his visit to Balochistan.
He also demanded the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf for “the extra-judicial murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti”.
Acknowledging the contribution of the Baloch leadership, Sharif said they were instrumental in abolishing the 8th amendment back in 1995.
He further said that merely apologising to the Baloch people would not resolve any of their problems. Nawaz called for the immediate recovery of all missing persons and called on the authorities to address the Baloch people’s grievances.
He also expressed his resolve to continue the struggle for the repealing of the “highly controversial and undesirable” 17th amendment. — DawnNews

Tags: Nawaz Sharif,17th amendment,Balochistan issue,missing persons

Rangers in Karachi to get more powers

2010-01-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

Federal Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik talking to media after chairing a high level meeting at Ministry of Interior.— Photo by Online

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to give more powers to Rangers deployed in Karachi under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), allowing the paramilitary force to arrest anyone involved in violence for 90 days, a source in the interior ministry told Dawn on Monday.

The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Interior Minister Rehman Malik. The meeting focussed on target killings in Karachi and it was revealed in the meeting that 256 people had lost their lives because of target killings over the past six months in Karachi alone.

They belonged to various political and non-political parties. According to a breakup, 69 victims belonged to MQM, 60 to the MQM Haqiqi, 29 to the PPP, 24 to ANP and 41 to other organisations.

The meeting also took note of the inaction of security personnel deployed at the Boultan Market to take action against anti-social elements.

The meeting decided to give special powers to Rangers in Karachi to take prompt action, in case of any violence, for safeguarding lives and properties.

“Following directives of the prime minister, a committee headed by an additional secretary has been formed to look into target killings and it will submit its report every fortnight to the ministry,” he said.

In addition to this, police personnel in civvies would also be deployed, he said, adding that strict action would be taken against miscreants.

Experts, he said, from the NWFP had also been sent to Karachi to look into two other blasts in Qasba Colony and Paposhnagar before the Ashoora carnage.

“We have 32 GBs’ video footage of the incident and teams are probing the incident from different angles,” he said.

NO SUICIDE ATTACK: The minister said the bomb blast in the Karachi’s Ashura procession was not a suicide attack, but a planted bomb.

“The probe into Karachi blast has revealed that the bombing was not a suicide attack. The bomb was planted along the route of the procession.”

Mr Malik said that 80 per cent investigation into the incident had been completed and the team would submit its report within three days.
Tags: Rangers,Karachi,security,rehman malik

CJ orders NAB probe into PCB ‘embezzlement’

2010-01-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

The chief justice has ordered that allegations of embezzlement of Rs7 billion by three former chiefs PCB be referred to the NAB for a comprehensive inquiry. — Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has ordered that allegations of embezzlement of Rs7 billion by three former chiefs of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for a comprehensive inquiry.

The issue was highlighted by Razaullah Khan of Karachi in an application requesting suo motu notice of the alleged misappropriation.

The applicant drew the attention of the chief justice to the fact that no action was taken by NAB although Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had issued a directive for an inquiry into the allegations.In a special audit conducted at the request of the sports ministry, Lt Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia who headed the PCB from Dec 14, 1999, to December 2003, Sheheryar M. Khan from Dec 15, 2003, to October 2006, and Dr Nasim Ashraf from Oct 7, 2006, to August 2008, were found involved in irregular expenditures of millions of rupees.

“Case be forwarded to the NAB chairman for disposal,” the chief justice ordered on Monday while taking suo motu notice of the applicant’s complaint.

The report prepared by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) for the period from July 2003 to June 30, 2008, highlighted purchase of luxury cars, award of contracts without following prescribed rules, recruitment without advertising posts and mismanagement of PCB’s assets as a common practice during the stints of the three former chairmen.

The audit had objected to unavailability of essential documents and violation of rules by the board in carrying out directives of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in implementing different projects.

PCB’s annual expenditures swelled from Rs571 million in 2004 to Rs737 million in 2005, Rs832 million in 2006, Rs1.024 billion in 2007 and Rs1.8 billion in 2008 when Dr Nasim Ashraf left the job soon after former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf had resigned on Aug 18.

The PCB had a surplus budget of Rs1.051 billion in 2004 which dropped to a deficit of Rs130 million in 2008.

The chairmen exercised unlimited financial and administrative powers in violation of Article 35(2) of its constitution of 1995 which required its council (ad hoc committee) to specify financial powers of the chairman, the report said.

It said the PCB had entered into an agreement worth $42.6 million with a private television channel for the coverage of the game from 2003 to 2008 and despite repeated reminders no bidding documents were furnished.

The audit noticed wasteful expenditures on upkeep of 33 sports grounds where the board had no direct control or oversight. The board paid Rs7.14 million to two consultants for development projects which were later abandoned. Kit bags of Rs4 million were procured without floating tenders.

The finance committee of the PCB decided in 2005 that $1.1 million in its foreign currency accounts would be invested in local banks for better profits, but the decision was not implemented and the board suffered a loss of Rs66.89 million.
Tags: Chief Justice,Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.PCB,NAB

Joint Pak-US action against Taliban in the offing

2010-01-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

General Stanley McChrystal said that cooperation between the armed forces of the United States and Pakistan must be increased. -File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States are working on a plan to take joint military action against Taliban and launch coordinated attacks on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, according to Gen Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan.

He was talking to reporters at the residence of the US ambassador on Monday evening after holding talks with military commanders here and visiting Swat.
“In fact, we are developing a joint campaign plan so that we approach the entire problem together and as much as possible we can make our efforts synergistic.”
Gen McChrystal said strong partnership between the US and Pakistan was critical for counter-insurgency operations on both sides of the border.
“The most important thing we can do is to coordinate our operations with the Pakistan Army and then there is, of course, going to be political coordination.”
In contrast to some other US officials, who have been lecturing Pakistanis on the need to ‘do more’ in the fight against extremist elements, Gen McChrystal repeatedly called for ‘partnership’ between the two countries and said that differences should not detract them from their aims.
Referring to the often-discussed trust deficit between the two countries, he said the level of mistrust had declined but it needed to be narrowed.
Surprisingly, Gen McChrystal, did not broach either the Haqqani Network or the Quetta Shura – the two problems that have posed serious challenges to cooperation between the two countries.
Pakistan Army, which is engaged in a campaign against militant groups operating from its soil, has been accused of ignoring Afghanistan-focussed groups, prompting critics to claim that Islamabad being fearful of growing Indian influence in the war-torn country, was trying to preserve these factions as future assets for keeping its influence in Afghanistan.
Gen McChrystal, who was all praise for the military’s counter-insurgency campaign and the leadership of Army Chief Gen Kayani, said he had no reasons to doubt Pakistan Army’s sincerity.
“I’m hopeful of the time when the Haqqani Network, which is causing damage inside Afghanistan, is taken on by both of us jointly to reduce the damage they are causing. It is important that we together do that.”
About the Quetta Shura, he said that the best course was cooperation with Pakistan military. He opposed any direct action against the Shura.
“Taliban that threaten Afghanistan need to be pressured everywhere … Partnership with Pakistan is the best road to that as we strengthen the strategic partnership … that is the best way I think.”
He said that successes against Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan were interlinked and could not be achieved in isolation. “If Afghanistan suffers from instability it is going to be contagious.
“Everybody has a stake in coming out well.” On the issue of India using Afghanistan to destabilise Pakistan, he said, the complaints needed to be addressed. Although he said he did not have enough information to confirm or deny the allegations.
“If perceptions drive people to mistrust then there is a need to work on them.”

Tags: military operation stanley mcchrystal

Asif, Sami knock out Australia for 127

2010-01-03T02:09:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY: The opening bowling pair of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami produced a lethal attack routing the Aussies for a mere 127 runs in the first innings on the opening day of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Pakistan in reply were 14 for no loss with Imran Farhat (9) and Salman Butt (3) at the crease when the play ended early due to bad light.

Mohammad Asif grabbed six wickets for 41 runs, his career best, while Mohammad Sami, playing for the first time in more than two years, dismissed Australia’s three top-order batsmen and Umar Gul claimed the last wicket.

The main scorers for Australia were Mitchell Johnson (38), Michael Hussey (28) and Nathan Hauritz (21) while Marcus North was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Captain Ricky Ponting and opener Phillip Hughes, coming in for the injured Simon Katich, were got out for a duck as both were removed by Sami on successives deliveries.

Shane Watson, fresh from making his maiden Test century in Melbourne, opened the innings with Hughes and could score only six.

Earlier, captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first on the rain-affected pitch. The play started after lunch in overcast conditions on a pitch with plenty of grass on it.

Australia made one change in their team with Phillip Hughes at the top of the order while Pakistan made three changes with bowlers Sami, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria replacing injured Mohamamd Aamer, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.

Australia: Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (captain), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger. 12th man: Clint McKay.

Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf (captain), Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Danish Kaneria. 12th man: Khurram Manzoor.

India told to beware of strategic mistake

2010-01-03T01:57:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Any misadventure by India against Pakistan will be a strategic mistake and amount to putting itself on the road to destruction, the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, said here on Saturday.
Commenting on the Indian army chief’s statement about preparations to fight China and Pakistan simultaneously, Gen Tariq Majeed said: “Leave alone China, Gen Deepak Kapoor knows very well what the Indian armed forces cannot do and Pakistani armed forces can pull off militarily.”
He expressed doubt about the statement attributed to Gen Kapoor, saying he could not be so “outlandish in strategic postulations to put India on a self-destructive path”.
Gen Majeed, however, said that if the report were correct, the uncalled-for rhetoric only depicted a lack of strategic acumen.
The statement by Gen Majid followed a tit-for-tat reply the previous day to the Indian army chief by his Pakistan counterpart, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, warning India against treading an adventurous path and declaring that the Pakistan Army was prepared to respond to any existing, potential or emerging threat.
An official told Dawn that Pakistan’s quest for peace in South Asia must not be misconstrued as weakness. “Pakistan’s armed forces have all the ability to frustrate evil designs of the enemy.” He lamented that instead of coming out with a positive response to Pakistan’s efforts for resumption of the stalled peace process, such irresponsible statements were emanating from New Delhi, along with claims of Kashmir being an integral part of India.

Tags: General Tariq Majid,General Deepak Kapoor,india pakistan armed forces,india pakistan relations..

PAKISTAN ARMY

ZINDABAD ZINDABAD

Zardari vows to fight conspiracies against democracy

2010-01-03T01:55:00.000-08:00

* President says he will never bow to opponents
* Sindh has always remained at receiving end

HYDERABAD/LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday vowed to fight internal and external conspiracies against democracy and the country with the support of the people.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of Darwat Dam, Zardari said, “Whether it’s internal conspiracy against democracy or external conspiracy against Pakistan, we will fight them with the support of the masses.” The Darwat Dam, with a storage capacity of 119,546 acre feet and hydropower generation of 450 kilowatts, would irrigate about 50,000 acres of land.

Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah were also present.

“If anyone casts an evil eye on Pakistan, keeping their differences aside, all political forces will stand along the country’s armed forces and the people,” he said.

Opponents: President Zardari expressed his resolve to strengthen the country.

“It is thought and determination that run and save countries. Our conviction is strong. We will never bow to the opponents. We will support the masses, who are a source of strength,” he said.

He said the foundation of Darwat Dam had been laid in line with the vision of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, adding that similar steps would be taken to improve the conditions for the masses and give them protection and all basic amenities of life.

“The Bhuttos can be murdered but their vision, philosophy and love cannot be eliminated,” he said. The president said, “Those who killed her [Benazir Bhutto] were mistaken in thinking that after her death, the people of the country will not be taken care of.” The president expressed the resolve to initiate and carry out thousands of development projects across the country.

He also laid the foundations of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) and the Gharo-KT Bandar Road.

Receiving end: Later, talking to a delegation of owners of Sindhi newspapers and TV channels, the president said Sindh had always been at the receiving end in the past and the government would do its best to address the sense of deprivation of the province. app/daily times monitor

Karachi shuts to protest violence

2010-01-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

* Police, paramilitary personnel patrol nearly empty streets
* Stock market stays closed, attendance in public, private offices remains thin

KARACHI: Karachi shut down on Friday as religious and political leaders responded to a strike call of the Sunni Rehbar Council to mourn the killing of at least 44 people in the Ashura blast on Monday.

Traffic was thin and all shopping centres as well as the Karachi Stock Exchange remained closed.

“The stock market was closed today because of the strike,” director of the bourse Zafar Motiwala told AFP.

Political parties, transporters and traders had also endorsed the strike call.

However, all public and private schools and colleges remained open as the Education Ministry had not announced a holiday, but attendance remained thin owing to unavailability of public transport.

Patrols: Police and paramilitary forces carried out patrols. But traders were taking no chances, Reuters reported.

“We are already losing business and can’t take the risk of going out today and opening our shops,” said Saleem Ahmed, who sells electronics at one of the city’s markets.

“If something happens or anyone comes and damages, say, one refrigerator or deep freezer, I will lose more money than what I would have earned the whole day, so I better stay home.”

While investors have got used to almost daily attacks in FATA and the NWFP, violence in Karachi has a much more direct impact on financial markets and investor sentiment.

Analysts fear further attacks could raise doubts about the prospects of recovery for the country’s economy, now in virtual recession as gross domestic product growth in the 2008/09 fiscal year of two percent is about the same as population growth.

Awami National Party Sindh President Shahi Syed welcomed the peaceful strike to mourn the deaths of those killed in the “brutal and cowardly planned attack on innocent people” and demanded a judicial inquiry into the blast and violence that followed.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement also welcomed the strike in the city.

Karachi Transport Ittehad President Irshad Hussain Bukhari urged the government to compensate the transporters whose vehicles were torched by rioters.

The Sindh Goods Truck-Trailer Owners Association demanded the government arrest the rioters who set ablaze the property of people asking that those responsible be hanged publicly.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said terrorist were trying to paralyse the economic nerve centre of Pakistan, as the military pushed an air and ground offensive against Taliban strongholds in northwestern regions.

“Those elements who are creating trouble in Karachi are trying to destabilise Pakistan, because Karachi is the heart of Pakistan,” Malik told reporters, adding that a government investigation would be complete by Saturday.

The minister appealed to residents to remain calm and vowed that the “culprits would not be spared.”

Shortly after the interior minister spoke, a local television station reported that authorities had discovered 41 bombs near Lahore, Reuters reported.

Terrorists have become increasingly brazen in their bid to topple the government and impose their brand of Islam, including public floggings and executions for anyone who disobeys them.

The Karachi carnage illustrated their reach is growing, from bastions on the Afghan border to cities, including an attack on a mosque near the military headquarters in Rawalpindi. Attacks blamed on extremists have killed about 2,800 people in 29 months, according to an AFP tally. fawad ali shah/agencies

I will never surrender to enemies: Zardari

2010-01-03T01:51:00.000-08:00

THATTA (Agencies) – President Asif Ali Zardari has made it clear that conspiracy against democracy and security of the country will not be allowed to succeed, adding that he never submitted to his opponents nor would do so in future but he was ready to bow before the public because of being the centre of power. Talking to reporters and addressing the groundbreaking ceremonies of Darwat Dam, M-9 Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and N-110 Rehabilitation of Coastal Highway from Gharo to Keti Bander here on Saturday. President Zardari said, “Bhutto can be killed but his ideology could not be eliminated”.
He further said, “Foreign powers have concerns about democratic system in Pakistan but we will make democracy and democratic institutions more strong and stable.”
Praising sacrifices rendered by Army officials and officers in the war on terror, Zardari said the government would continue cooperation with army.
The government would face the conspirators with full might, he said, adding that the public was the strength of the government and “we will only bow down before the public.”
“Whether it’s the internal conspiracy against democracy, or
it’s the external conspiracy against Pakistan, we will strongly
fight these (conspiracies) with the support of masses”, President
Zardari said.
The Darwat dam with a storage capacity of 119,546 acre feet and hydropower generation of 450 KW, will irrigate about 50,000 acres land.
Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Ministers, Members of Parliament, notables of the area and senior government officials were also present on the occasion.
The President said Pakistan nation stands united to fully thwart any external threat to the country.
“If anyone casts an evil against Pakistan, all political forces, by keeping their differences aside, will stand along the country’s Armed forces and the people,” he said.
President expressed his resolve to strengthen the country and said “we will never bow before the opponents.”
“It is the thought and determination which runs and saves the countries. Our conviction is strong. We will never bow before the opponents. We will support the masses, who are the source of strength”, he remarked. He said the foundation stone of Darwat dam had been laid under the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, which is based on the socio-economic uplift of the masses.

Mild quake rattles Ziarat

2010-01-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

ZIARAT: Moderate earthquake, majoring 3.2 at Richter scale, were felt in parts of Ziarat city of Balochistan province on Sunday, Geo news reported.

According to sources, those areas received quake jolts included Kawas, Warm, Warchon, Kan Bangla, Kan Dappu and Tangi.

The epic center of tremors was located somewhere in Ziarat, meanwhile, people getting out of home in panic but, however, no loss of life, injury or material was reported during jolts, sources said.

Power crisis looms as 10 Tarbela units shut down

2010-01-02T22:24:00.002-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Ten of the power generation units of Tarbela Power House have been shut down due to shortage of water while 380 megawatts are being generated with the help of 4 units.

According to WAPDA sources, 10 out of 14 power generation units of Tarbela Power House had to be closed down due to rainless season and shortage of water in River Indus.

Only four units are operating at the moment, producing 380 MW electricity.

The total power generation capacity of Tarbela Power House is 3,478 MW.

The shutting down of 10 power generation units will cause a major power crisis. Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore and areas adjacent to Tarbela Power House will be directly affected by the power crisis.

Target killings claim 15 lives in last 18 hrs

2010-01-02T22:24:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: At least 15 people have become victims of target killing incidents in last 18 hours in separate parts of Karachi on Saturday, Geo news reported.

According to police sources, those killed were the activists of different political parties while security measure have been beefed up across metropolis city of Sindh police.

The incidents occurred in Baldia Town, Lyari, Shah Faisal Colony, Saoodabad, Malir Model Town, Landhi, Memon Goath, Agra Taj and Liaquatabad localities, sources said.

Police have lodged FIR against unknown assailants and kicked off investigations, police sources added.

Fog causes cancellation of trains, flights; accidents in Punjab

2010-01-02T22:23:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Most cities, located in land areas of Punjab including provincial capital Lahore, have been covered with thick fog which has also caused rapid declination of mercury, thus cancellation of many trains and delay in international and domestic flights, Geo news reported late on Saturday.

According to metrological office, with the advent of evening, the surroundings were trapped in thick haze with temperature alarmingly rinsing and it was too thick to see any thing at arm-length distance, adversely affecting lives of people.

Also, people lodged many reports of minor road accidents in Lahore and many other cities including on motorway, witnesses said.

Hazrat Meer, Chief Metrologist Lahore, has said the wave of thick fog, all across Punjab’s land areas, has kicked off, blanketing many major cities including Lahore and he expected such weather conditions to persist for two more days to come.

According to sources, most of land areas of Punjab including Lahore will see light downpours from January 3 and onwards.

Talking to Geo news, he said the thickness of mist will gradually decline following rainfall but thick haze will keep southern Punjab covered for another week.

Many international and domestic flight were forced to be either delayed for several hours or ultimately called off due foggy surroundings, added.

Meanwhile, the spokesman to motorway police sources, many parts of motorway have been grappled in mist after 6pm while nothing could be seen near Sheikhupura.

He has also issued warnings to people against unnecessary travel, install fog lights and avoid over speeding.

On the other hand, two vehicles have reportedly been collided with each other and as a result on person was killed while another three sustained injuries, meanwhile, injured persons have been shifted to hospital for medical attainment, reports stated

Moreover, a passenger bus was also overturned due to foggy surroundings, leaving many persons seriously wounded, sources claimed.

Cartoonist Suspect 'Linked To Terror Plot'

2010-01-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Somali man accused of attempting to kill Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard was held over a foiled terrorist plot in Kenya, a Danish newspaper has reported.

The suspect appears in court on a stretcher after being shot by police

The 28-year-old was arrested over a planned attack on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Africa last summer.
The newspaper Politiken reported that he and four other suspects were held over a plot against a bus station and two hotels in Nairobi.
He was released in September due to a lack of evidence and returned to Denmark.
The man was carried into a court in Aarhus on a stretcher yesterday to face two charges of attempted manslaughter following the break-in at Mr Westergaard's home.
He denied the charges and was remanded in custody.
The suspect was shot twice by police outside Mr Westergaard's home while armed with an axe and a knife.
Danish police say he intended to murder the cartoonist and has links to al Qaeda and the radical Somali group al Shabab.
Security surrounding Mr Westergaard has been stepped up and the 74-year-old has been moved to an undisclosed location.
Denmark's security service said the intruder had been involved in a "terror-related network" that had been under investigation in connection with threats to Mr Westergaard.
But they also conceded that he may have acted spontaneously.
The cartoonist caused fury in the Islamic world in 2005 after a newspaper published his drawings of Mohammed wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb, triggering deadly riots in many Muslim countries.

Afghanistan and Pakistan face decisive year

2010-01-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

Guest columnist Ahmed Rashid says 2010 looks like presenting Afghanistan and Pakistan with their most difficult set of challenges since the end of the Cold War.
People in the South Asia region will be holding their breath in the new year.
If both nations fail to achieve a modicum of political stability and success against extremism and economic growth, the world will be faced with an expansion of Islamic extremism, doubts about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons and major questions about US prestige and power as it withdraws from Afghanistan.

The primary task is whether both countries can work together with the Western alliance to roll back the Taliban and al-Qaeda threat they face.
That in turn rests on the success of the US and Nato's new strategy in both countries over the next 18 months as President Barack Obama has pledged to stabilise Afghanistan's political and economic institutions and start handing over Afghan security to the Afghan armed forces, starting in July 2011.
Karzai undermined
For that to happen much will depend on whether the West is able to find effective government partners in both Islamabad and Kabul.
So far the prospects are not all that hopeful.

Mr Karzai won a deeply flawed election

President Hamid Karzai has emerged as the victor after intensely controversial elections that undermined his domestic and international credibility, while the Afghan army is still far from being able to take over major security responsibilities.
There will be renewed political wrangling as the West and the Afghans have to decide whether to hold parliamentary elections in the new year.
The Afghan army is still undermanned, undertrained and has yet to be equipped with heavy weapons and an air force.
The Afghan army also suffers from 80% illiteracy and a lack of recruits from the Pashtun belt, which are essential if the army is to be effective in the Taliban-controlled southern and eastern parts of the country.
In the midst of what will certainly be a hot and possibly decisive summer of fighting in 2010 between Western forces and the Taliban, the other primary tasks of providing jobs and economic development, while building sustainable capacity within the Afghan government to serve the Afghan people, will be even more important and difficult to achieve.
The Taliban strategic plan for the summer is likely to be to avoid excessive fighting in the south and east which is being reinforced with 30,000 new American soldiers.
Instead, the Taliban will try to expand Taliban bases in the north and west of the country, where they can demoralise the forces of European Nato countries that are facing growing opposition at home about their deployment.
The militants will also stretch the incoming US troops - forcing them to douse Taliban fires across the country - while they try to create greater insecurity in Central Asia.

2 Nato tankers attacked near Quetta

2010-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

QUETTA - Unidentified gunmen ambushed two vehicles carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan and damaged two oil tankers in Kuchlak area, some 20 kilometres away from Quetta on Friday.
According to local police, the incident took place near Kuchlak area when some six unknown armed men intercepted NATO tankers which were en route to Afghanistan from Karachi.
The attackers opened fire on one of the tankers smashing its windscreen and torched another that caught fire and was badly damaged destroying thousands of litre fuel. However, no loss of life was reported in the attack. The attackers escaped from the site after committing crime. On getting information, police rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
AFP adds: An official in the paramilitary Frontier Corps also confirmed the incident and said there were no reports of deaths.
It was the second such incident this week in Balochistan, after a NATO tanker driver and his helper were killed by gunmen on Wednesday night.
NATO and US-led forces in landlocked Afghanistan are hugely dependent on Pakistan for supplies, with about 80 percent passing through Pakistan.
The bulk of equipment required by foreign troops is shipped through northwest Pakistan’s tribal region of Khyber, where Taliban have carried out a series of attacks on trucks.
Other supplies travel through oil and gas-rich Balochistan, which is troubled by both Taliban violence and attacks by separatists who rose up in 2004 demanding autonomy.

Gilgit CM delinks region from J&K, annoys India

2010-01-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

India, reacting strongly to the newly-elected chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan declaring the region Pakistan’s “fifth province,” said the area was part of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession to India in 1947. Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under the illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis, and is completely unacceptable,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said on Friday.

The Indian reaction came amid reports quoting Gilgit-Baltistan’s first CM, Mehdi Shah, saying the recent November elections meant the region was a separate province and had “no connection to Kashmir”.

Pakistani analysts, however, felt India was overreacting.

Imtiaz Gul of the Center for Research and Security Studies, said Gilgit-Baltistan enjoys a special status, “nothing more.” The legislative assembly may be elected, but cannot pass laws.

The first elections in the region were held based on the Pakistan cabinet’s Gilgit-Baltis-tan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, August 2009.

Acrimony dominates PPP-PML-N relations in 2009

2010-01-02T03:59:00.000-08:00

SLAMABAD: Against the backdrop of unfulfilled promises, the relationship between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) remained on a sour note in 2009.

Tensions between the two major parties markedly came down following the restoration of the judiciary on March 16, but gained intensity again when Nawaz Sharif alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari was “masterminding” a campaign against him and his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, to get them disqualified.

The hostility between the two parties peaked when governor’s rule was imposed in Punjab for two months after the Sharif brothers were declared ineligible to contest polls.

The top leadership of both parties made antagonistic statements and levelled serious allegations against each other. On March 9 – just six days before the lawyers’ long march – Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Nawaz could be charged with sedition for his statements on the current government and the judicial crisis. In response, the PML-N showed its street power, particularly in its stronghold of Lahore, on March 15, consequently forcing the prime minister to reinstate the deposed judges in the wee hours of March 16 with the permission of the president.

Following the judges’ restoration and President Zardari’s address to a joint sitting of parliament on March 28 – in which he announced to lift governor’s rule soon in Punjab and reiterated the PPP’s resolve to undo the 17th Amendment – the relation between the PPP and the PML-N started returning to normal.

But friction between the two parties surfaced again when the Supreme Court declared “illegal” actions taken by Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007. The PML-N started demanding Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of the constitution, while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said action would be taken if parliament passed a unanimous resolution.

The National Reconciliation Ordinance also struck a serious blow to the already strained relationship between the PPP and the PML-N. The PML-N not only adopted a stern stance over the ordinance, but also resisted the government’s plans to get the document approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice. Although the party failed to achieve its objective for lack of strength in the NA committee, the PML-N prevailed when the government tabled the controversial ordinance in the Senate and the National Assembly. All political parties, including PPP allies, refused to vote for the NRO.

In the same month, debate on the Kerry-Lugar Bill – now an act – in the Senate and the National Assembly again pitted the PPP and the PML-N against each other. The PML-N termed the US aid bill a threat to the sovereignty of the country, while the PPP forcefully defended the document.

The NRO – this time in the Supreme Court – widened the gulf between the parties on December 16, when the court declared the ordinance null and void: some PML-N central leaders demanded that President Zardari and NRO-tainted PPP ministers resign.

A secret meeting of PML-N central leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on the night between September 30 and October 1, also added to the trust deficit between the PPP and the PML-N.

In 2009, two meetings took place between Nawaz and Zardari with no breakthrough on major issues. The first meeting came when Zardari visited Raiwind on July 17, and both leaders discussed proposed constitutional amendments and relations between their parties. On October 26, Nawaz, along with other PML-N leaders, called on Zardari at the Presidency.

The PML-N demanded the repeal of the 17th Amendment throughout 2009, while the PPP maintained that the task had already been assigned to a special parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms and the government would waste no minute in repealing the controversial amendment. But the year passed without the withdrawal of the amendment.

Arson attacks were pre-planned: Malik

2010-01-02T03:57:00.000-08:00

Addressing traders and businessmen at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), he said the objective of targeting business activities in the country’s financial hub was to destroy the national economy and state institutions.

He said that there were forces who want to break up Pakistan because they were not happy with its nuclear programme.

The minister drew the attention of the business leaders to news report that initially a little-known leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Asmatullah Shaheen, claimed responsibility for the blast, but later another militant leader disowned the claim.

If the TTP was not owning the blast, he said, there must be other forces bent upon destroying the country.

He said that it was obvious that the people behind the heinous crime wanted to cripple the economy which contributed taxes and revenue on which other state organs, including security forces, depended.

The minister said that without economic activities the state would not be able to collect taxes which were needed for national defence, development, health and education.

Therefore, the attack on Karachi’s businesses was carried out under a programme to bring the commercial and business hub to a standstill.

The minister admitted that the government might have made some mistakes, but said that one should keep in mind the wrong policies of successive governments, including the involvement in Afghan war against the Soviet Union.

At present, he said, many forces were working against Pakistan and were carrying out suicide blasts, adding that the role of Jash-i-Mohammad, Lakshar-i-Janghvi and India was known to everyone.

Mr Malik said that President Asif Ali Zardari had already warned of non-state actors who were bent upon destroying Pakistan.

He said the president must have made the statement on the basis of credible information because he had access to such developments and reports. “It’s now up to us how we look at this”.

The minister said that such attacks could not be carried out by Muslims because there could be no justification for killing innocent people participating in a religious procession.

Four more Swine Flu patients detected in Karachi

2010-01-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

Karachi: The number of Swine Flu patients in Karachi rose to 76 after positive results of blood tests of four more patients, said Sindh Health Department officials on Friday. 76 patients include 34 male and 42 female, the officials said that only two patients are currently under treatment at a local hospital. The officials did not divulge the identity of the patients or any other details. According to them, the federal health ministry has prohibited spreading of such details because it may be recalled that six Swine Flu patients have expired so far.—Agency

Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship to begin today

2010-01-02T03:52:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: International Sports will return to Pakistan on Saturday with the hosting of inaugural Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship which is going to explode into action at KPT Sports Complex Gymnasium from Saturday. Over 100 pugilists from leading countries from Africa, Asia and Hungary and from Europe will be taking part in the week-long fist-fighting gala. Teams from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Yemen and two teams from hosts - Pakistan Greens and Pakistan Whites are featuring in the event. Chief of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Doda Khan Bhutto said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will formally inaugurate the championship named after former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. “The holding of the event is a major big breakthrough for Pakistan Sports,” he said. PBF took the initiative and its going to reality on Saturday,” he commented. Doda Khan thanked the Indian Boxing Federation for sending the team to Pakistan. He also thanked the PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for releasing a grant of Rs.20.3 million. Almost all the countries have arrived for the championship and an interesting contests are on the cards and big boost for Pakistan Sports. This is the first international sporting event in Pakistan after attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore on March 3, 2009. The event will serve as the build-up and exposure for 22-member boxing contingent to show their skill, talent and potential in front of their boxing-loving home crowd particularly in Lyari area. The hosting of the championship will help in selecting the best possible Pakistan combination for the XI South Asian Games being held in Dhaka from January 29 and for Commonwealth Boxing Championship schedule to be held in New Delhi in March 2010. The event will show how much progress Pakistan boxers have made under their new Cuban Coach Francisco Hernendez Ronald. The medical and weighing of the boxers will be held at team’s hotel between 8 to 10.a.m. and draw will be taken out at 10.30 a.m., PBF Secretary Muhammad Akram Khan told APP.—Agency

CNG dealers call off strike

2010-01-02T03:50:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: All three CNG station owners and dealers associations have agreed to call off countrywide strike after meetings with the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar on Friday. The minister assured the CNG associations that he will try to end gas load shedding from February instead of March 2010. He asked the associations to submit presentation for the reversal of CNG tariff from commercial to industrial for reconsideration. He also asked the associations to submit a presentation for the adjustment of tax on electricity bills and added that he will talk to the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in this regard. While talking to media men after the meeting, the minister said that “no” new licenses for CNG stations will be issued due to depleting of gas reserves in the country. He said that the government will provide protection to the CNG industry and include all stakeholders in the committee. Syed Naveed Qamar said that the government will utilize all the available resources including Thar coal, LPG and Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline to meet the demand of energy in the country. Malik Khuda Baksh, representative of CNG dealers said that the minister has agreed to consider the demand for reversing the CNG tariff from “commercial” to “industrial” and to pursue Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to adjust withholding tax on electricity bills of CNG dealers. He said that initially, CNG dealers were getting natural gas at Rs 324 per mmbtu under industrial tariff before 2007. After 2007, tariff for CNG dealers was increased above commercial tariff (Rs 393 per mmbtu) and CNG dealers were getting gas at Rs 427 per mmbtu, he added. Khuda Baksh pointed out that, after 18 percent tariff rise, CNG dealers are now getting gas at Rs 503 per mmbtu. He said that the minister has asked CNG Association to submit a presentation for the reversal of tariff and also for the adjustment of withholding tax on electricity bills. Abdul Sami Khan, another leader of CNG dealers said that the minister thanked the associations for not resorting to strike and respected the decision of last meeting with him in Islamabad.—Agency

Volleyball blast death toll rises to 93

2010-01-02T03:48:00.000-08:00

The death toll from a suicide car bombing in north-west Pakistan has risen to at least 93.

Five people wounded in the attack died overnight in hospital.

The bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives as fans gathered to watch two local teams play in a volleyball tournament in a village near the Taliban's South Waziristan stronghold.

Security has been tightened across Bannu district, which borders South Waziristan, following the blast.

The bombing, Pakistan's deadliest in more than two months, destroyed more than 20 houses, some with families inside.

Police say at least six children were among those killed and more than 100 people were injured.

Local Taliban leaders have warned they will kill anyone who campaigns against them.

The attack was condemned by Britain and the United States, with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton vowing the US would continue supporting Pakistani people "in their efforts to chart their own future free from fear and intimidation".

Washington, however, is urging Pakistan to do more to also stamp out Al Qaeda sanctuaries and dismantle havens of militants who cross the border and attack US and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan.

The latest attack is the deadliest since more than 120 people were killed in a suicide car bomb blast in the north western city of Peshawar in October.

Gilani says no rift between Govt, Army

2010-01-02T03:46:00.000-08:00

PTI Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said there was no rift between the civilian government and the powerful army and the ruling regime was serious about scrapping the President's sweeping powers.

'
No rifts between army and government,' assures Gilani DAWN.com

No clash b/w army, PPP: Gilani

India releases Pakistani fishermen

2010-01-02T03:43:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistani fishermen were released from Indian custody today, DawnNews reported.

The fishermen will be repatriated home via the Wagah border in Lahore.

Maritime authorities on both sides regularly arrest fishermen for illegally venturing into their territorial waters.