| | NGOs Action Committee demands cancellation of Hudood Ordinance
| | Updated at 2320 PST |
| |  ISLAMABAD: Under the aegis of NGOs Action Committee, a national conference was held in Islamabad where the speakers termed the ordinance as brutal and demanded its abrogation.
Several outstanding judges, lawyers, intellectuals and representatives of civil society including Asma Jahangir and former judge of Supreme Court Justice (rd) Javaid Iqbal addressed National Conference on Hudood Ordinance.
A declaration, issued at the conclusion of conference, called for the annulment of Hudood ordinance as well as recompense to those victimised by it (ordinance).
Participants demanded the parliament to declare the ordinance null and void altogether instead of amending it.
Asma Jahangir called Hudood ordinance a law biased against women and thousands of women were sent to jails after its promulgation.
Later on, the participants of conference made their way out to stage a protest demonstration with hundreds of people at Melody Square. They were carrying placards and banners with slogans against ordinance and government written on them.
On this occasion, people chanted slogans passionately against the ordinance. |
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Annan calls for end to fighting in Lebanon | | Updated at 2240 PST |
| |  UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called again for an immediate halt to violence between Israel and Hezbollah, telling the U.N. Security Council he was "deeply disturbed" that his previous appeals went unheeded.
Annan condemned an Israeli airstrike that killed over 60 people in Lebanon early Sunday, telling an emergency council meeting that it must demand an end to the violence.
He said the region was becoming impatient that the council, the most powerful U.N. body, had yet to issue a meaningful response after three weeks of war in Lebanon.
"We meet at a moment of extreme gravity first and foremost for the people of the Middle East but also for the authority of this organization and especially this council," Annan said.
"Action is needed now before many more children, women and men become casualties of a conflict over which they have no control."
The council been unable to take a stand on the fighting, partly because the United States, unlike other members of the council, has refused to back Annan's calls for an immediate cease-fire.
The Security Council's only response has been a weak statement expressing shock and distress at Israel's bombing of a U.N. post on the Lebanon border Tuesday that killed four unarmed military observers.
In unusually frank terms, Annan said the council risks undermining its own authority if it does not take action.
He said that was underscored by attacks on the U.N. headquarters in Beirut Sunday, when protesters angry about the Qana attack smashed windows and hurled stones.
"People have noticed its failure to act firmly and quickly during this crisis," Annan said.
Lebanese special envoy Nouhad Mahoud echoed those complaints.
"Israel is committing atrocities against humanity," Mahoud said. The fact that the council has not taken up a resolution on civilian deaths, he said, "does not mean that the truth is to remain hidden." |
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Four US marines killed in Iraq's Anbar province | | Updated at 2230 PST |
| | BAGHDAD: Four US marines were killed in combat in Iraq's restive western province of Anbar, the US military reported on Sunday.
The marines, part of Regimental Combat Team 7, died on Saturday, just two days after four more marines were killed in two incidents in the same province.
The US military did not provide any further details of the engagements.
While mainly Sunni Anbar has been spared the sectarian violence wracking the neighboring province of Baghdad, it is home to a fierce anti-US insurgency that accounts for most US casualties in Iraq.
The latest deaths bring the toll for US servicemen to have died in the Iraqi theatre since March 2003 to 2,575. |
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Israeli air strike absolutely tragic: Blair | | Updated at 2220 PST |
| | SAN FRANCISCO: British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday described an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon that killed more than 50 people as "absolutely tragic" and said it demonstrated why the conflict cannot continue.
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MMA announces to observe Day of Deliverance on Aug 14 | | Updated at 2200 PST |
| |  KARACHI: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), six-party alliance of religious organizations, during anti-government rally here on Sunday announced to observe Yaum-i-Nijat (Day of Deliverance) on August 14.
Despite heavy rain large number of people including women attended the rally, which culminated at Tibet Centre passing through M.A Jinnah Road.
Addressing the rally MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad said there were no differences among MMA leaders.
“Those who are spreading rumours should inculcate that there are no differences between Fazal-ur-Rehman and me,” he remarked.
Leader of opposition in National Assembly and MMA central leader speaking on the occasion stressed the need of unity of Muslim Ummah against anti-Muslim forces.
He strongly condemned killing of Palestinians and Lebanese people in Israeli aggression in Lebanon. |
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Pervaiz announces cheap ration package | | Updated at 2140 PST |
| |  LAHORE: Punjab chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Sunday that a programme for providing the people with sugar, pulses and flour at lower prices, was going to be initiated shortly in the province.
He, addressing a high-level meeting here, said people would buy sugar through the inexpensive ration package at a price ten rupee per kilogram cheaper than it was in market.
He said that flourmills could get as much wheat as they needed owing to the availability of sufficient stocks of wheat in the province.
Chief minister said government was affording the subsidy of two billion rupee on wheat’s purchase from farmers and its smooth supply to flour mills.
‘Since government has bought 25,62,000 tons of wheat from farmers, there is no dearth of wheat in the province,’ adding that, ‘DCOs of the whole Punjab would supervise the implementation of inexpensive ration package.’ |
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UN Security Council meets on Lebanon | | Updated at 2120 PST |
| | UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council opened an emergency meeting Sunday on the Lebanon crisis, as France circulated a draft resolution for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict.
The Security Council met at the request of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in the wake of Israel's air attack early Sunday on the village of Qana in southern Lebanon, which killed dozens of civilians, many of them children.
But as international condemnation of the Qana attack spread, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Israel needs another 10 to 14 days to complete its offensive in Lebanon, according to an Israeli official.
France's draft UN resolution circulated said the Security Council “calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities" and "emphasizes the need to create the conditions for a permanent ceasefire and a lasting solution to the current crisis between Israel and Lebanon."
According to the French draft, a permanent ceasefire and resolution to the crisis would involve "the release of the abducted Israeli soldiers and the settlement of the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel."
It would also require "full implementation" of the Taif Accords and of UN resolutions 1559 and 1680 on Lebanon, "including the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon and the extension of the government of Lebanon's authority over all its territory, in particular through the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces in the south and along the Blue line," referring to the security zone on the border between Lebanon and Israel.
The 1989 Taif Accords, which brought an end to Lebanons 15-year civil war, were designed to reassert Lebanese authority in South Lebanon, which was then occupied by Israel.
France's resolution calls for the establishment of a buffer zone between the Blue line and the Litani River, which would be free of any armed personnel and equipment "other than those of the Lebanese armed and security forces and of UN mandated international forces."
The resolution also voiced "utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since 12 July 2006, which have already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons." |
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Govt to take all out efforts to provide relief to people affected by floods: PM | | Updated at 2100 PST |
| |  ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday that the federal government would extend every possible help and assistance to provincial government for rehabilitation of the people affected by recent rains and flash floods in Charsadda and Shabkadar.
The government will also help and pay compensation for house damages as well as to the heirs of those who lost their lives in the flash floods in these areas, he said while talking to newsmen here at Prime Minister House.
He, however, noted that the recent rains have improved the water situation in the country, with over 1515 feet of water amassed in Terbela Dam only, which produces 3400 MW of power.
Earlier, Shaukat Aziz had an aerial view of flash floods hit areas of Charsadda and Shabkadar in NWFP and directed the provincial government to take immediate measures for the rehabilitation of affected people.
He also took an aerial visit of Terbela Dam, accompanied by Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Durrani, State Minister, Tariq Azeem and Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.
The Prime Minister said, his aerial visit of Terbela Dam was also part of government's efforts to review the water and power situation in the country. |
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Fazal urges the Ummah to get united against anti-Islam forces | | Updated at 2050 PST |
| |  QUETTA: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal central leader Maulana Fazlur Rehaman Sunday urged the whole Muslim Ummah to stand united to hold back the anti-Islam forces that had once again rallied under the leadership of America against Islam.
He was addressing the graduation ceremony (Dastar Bandi) of ulema and huffaz here.
Maulana Fazalur Reahman said that ulema, under American influence, were being dragged into courts in regard with the validity and authenticity of certificates issued by their institutions (madaris) so that they could be overawed, adding that, “being forced by ulema, federal education minister had to say that religious education will be given to students from the first year of their academic career.”
He said Pakistan was established on the basis of Islam but under western pressure, no attention was being paid to the promulgation of Islamic laws in the country.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said small provinces were being subjected to deprivation whereas the centre possessed all the powers with a powerless ‘spectator’ parliament, adding that, “This created also Balochistan standoff that MMA opposes to be dissolved through force.” He urged the people of Balochistan to bring about the change through political process. |
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10 killed in road mishap at Nathiagali | | Updated at 2040 PST |
| |  ABOTABAD: At least 10 people including five women were killed when a passenger jeep plunged into a deep ravine in a hilly area near Nathiagali.
Several people were also injured in the accident at Nathiagali, a resort town about 50 kilometers northeast of Islamabad, when the jeep skidded off the road while taking a turn.
Nathiagali is a scenic hill resort lodged in the sylvan slopes of the lower Himalayan range at an altitude of 8,205 feet above sea level.
The report said that more than 20 people were traveling in the jeep when it met with the accident.
Witnesses said that more people than its capacity were traveling in the jeep.
People in the area use jeeps to travel in the hilly arras on difficult terrain. |
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US 'arms' flights, headed for Israel, avoid Scottish airport | | Updated at 2010 PST |
| | LONDON: Two US cargo planes believed to be carrying bombs bound for Israel failed to land Sunday for refueling at a Scottish airport, where a protest was staged at the expected stopover, the airport said.
Separately, a source at Glasgow's Prestwick airport added that the planes were diverted to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, in eastern England, which is operated by the US Air Force.
"No flights were due through today carrying hazardous materials," a spokesperson for Prestwick airport said.
News of the diversion came as about 150 people demonstrated outside the main entrance of Prestwick airport.
Peace campaigners fear that US planes, which have refueled at Prestwick are delivering arms to Israel for its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon
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Demonstrators unfurled banners, Lebanese flags and placards splashed with graphic images of the destruction being caused in the Middle East, before chanting peace slogans and making a series of speeches.
Protesters included members of Scotland's Lebanese community. |
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Pakistan grab fifth place at Champions Trophy | | Updated at 2000 PST |
| |  TERRASSA: Pakistan has defeated Argentina 3-1 to take fifth place in the men's field hockey Champions Trophy tournament.
Pakistan, who had already beaten the South Americans 2-1 in the round robin match on Saturday, opened up a 2-0 lead in the first half with two field goals by Rehan Butt.
The first came from a defensive error, which allowed him a free shot on goal while the second was from a deflection off Adnan Zakir's cross from the right.
Sohail Abbas converted the second of Pakistan's three penalty corner chances with a flick into the left pocket of the goal five minutes into the second half.
Argentina grabbed a consolation through a Mario Almada penalty corner.
Pakistan coach Asif Bajwa predicted a semi-final place for his team in September's World Cup
"I'm sure the boys have the potential to reach the last four in the World Cup," Bajwa said on Sunday.
"If you don't think about the 9-2 loss to Netherlands, in the rest of the matches here, I really think we improved a lot and played good hockey. It's good for the confidence before the World Cup."
Germany and Netherlands play in the final later Sunday while Australia take on hosts Spain for the bronze medal. |
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