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Sohni dharti Directory is good development in this digital world. It will be very hany for all to find the contacts.
imtiaz
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
today pakistan & world news by j.iqbal
Abbas Warns Hamas to 'negotiate'
Updated at 1725 PST
Ankara: Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned the Hamas party on radio Monday that he will fire the government that if it does not negotiate with Israel.
Speaking on a foreign news channel, he stated he has "clear and definite authority to remove a government from power, but I don't want to use this authority. Everyone should know that by law this power is in my hands."
Abbas said the Hamas-led government "is still acting as if it were in opposition" and that it must face reality and be in contact with Israel. However, he added, "Let's wait and see if it will change."
One Hamas leader in Gaza responded that its government will not accept dismissal quietly.
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Saddam trial adjourned to May 15
Updated at 1500 PST
BAGHDAD: The trial of Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity was adjourned on Monday until May 15.
The trial was adjourned after the prosecution presented a handwriting report that found the signatures of Saddam and seven other defendants matched documents linking them to the massacre of 148 Shiites in the Dujail village in the 1980s.
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Afghan, Pakistan, U.S. troops to hold joint exercise
Updated at 1420 PST
KABUL: Afghan, Pakistan and U.S. troops will conduct a joint military exercise for the first time in the volatile Afghan-Pakistan border region, the U.S. military said Monday.
The operation, to be called Inspired Gambit, will be an ``air assault exercise'' involving a small contingent of Afghan soldiers and an unspecified number of Pakistani troops, U.S. military spokesman Col. Laurent Fox said during a press conference in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
``We feel that it is important that the only way we will solve the terrorism and insurgency problem is to work closely together with each other,'' Fox said.
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Pakistan Navy holds command of international task force
Updated at 1400 PST
Karachi: Pakistan Navy was handed over command of the international Task Force 150 on Monday. Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal is the new commander of the force.
A formal ceremony for handing over of the command took place today in Bahrain.
CTF-150 is part of the Global War on Terror and responsible for operations in the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the North Arabian Sea.
This is the first time for the Pakistan Navy at the helm of this important task force, other members of which are Britain, United States, France, Australia, Italy, Japan, Germany, Spain and Holland.
The task force was setup under the United Nations Security Council resolution No: 1373 in September 2001. CTF-150 is part of regional maritime security operations that preserve the free and secure use of the world’s oceans for legitimate mariners and prevent terrorists from using the world’s oceans unchecked.
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One dead in Afghan plane crash
Updated at 1350 PST
KANDAHAR: A young child was killed and at least nine people were injured when a unidentified plane skidded off a runway and crashed in southern Afghanistan Monday, police said.
The aircraft crashed while coming in to land in Lashkargah, the capital of restive elmand province, hitting some nomad tents and some houses, deputy provincial governor Mullah Amir Akhund told French news agency. The cause was unclear.
"The incident caused casualties in the nomad tents and houses it hit, we are now taking out the wounded and possibly dead people out of the rubble," Khan said.
Deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Ayob Ansari, who was at the crash site, told the media that a three-year-old child was killed and six Afghan civilians were injured. All were on the ground, he said.
Another three people on board were injured and were evacuated from the crash site, he said.
Ansari said the plane was Russian-built and chartered by a military agency but had no further details.
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Justice Osmani sworn in as acting CJ SHC
Updated at 1340 PST
KARACHI: Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani sworn in as acting Chief Justice (CJ) Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday due to departure of CJ SHC Justice Sabihuddin for a visit to UK.
Senior judge of the Sindh High Court Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali administered the oath to Justice Osmani in a simple ceremony here at SHC.
Justice Sabihuddin left for London on a four-day trip.
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Voting for by-elections in held Kashmir
Updated at 1320 PST
SRINAGAR: Voting to fill vacant state assembly seats was being held in four districts of held Kashmir on Monday amid tight security after overnight attacks on three polling stations, officials said.
"The voting in all four constituencies has started," said state election official. He said 364 voting stations opened their doors at 7:00 am (0130 GMT) and would close them at 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).
Only 20 voting stations have been declared normal, while the rest have been marked as "sensitive and hyper-sensitive" to violence, he said.
The by-elections are to fill four vacant state assembly seats in held Kashmir.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is one of 17 candidates running for the four seats. About 288,000 people are eligible to vote in the four districts.
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Miscreants attack security post in S Waziristan
Updated at 1300 PST
WANA: Unknown miscreants carried out rocket attack at security forces check post at Khumrang area in tribal region of South Waziristan.
According to official sources, miscreants fired six rockets and five mortar shells at Daray Naray post in Khumrang area, which landed at empty ground near the check post. Security forces started retaliatory fire injuring one miscreant.
Meanwhile, another person named Ahmad Khan who had sustained injuries during a clash between security forces and armed men in Miranshah area of North Waziristan was succumbed to injuries, which brought the death toll to four. Three persons including a security official injured in the clash are still under treatment.
Political administration has announced curfew relaxation in Miranshah from 6 am to 7 pm.
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Car bomb kills three in Baghdad
Updated at 1230 PST
BAGHDAD: A car bomb exploded in a busy area of central Baghdad on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding 20, police said.
The parked car exploded during morning rush hour on a major street near the Tigris River, close to Medical City, one of the capital's largest hospitals; a complex of government buildings; a bus station; and a busy traffic roundabout.
The blast in the Bag al-Muadim section of the capital destroyed at least three other cars and heavily damaged shops, blowing out their windows, said police 1st Sgt. He said at least three people were killed and 20 wounded. The injured included two policemen who were directing traffic, he added.
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US asks diplomat families to leave Nepal
Updated at 1210 PST
KATHMANDU: The US embassy in Nepal on Monday told the families of diplomats and some staff to leave the country because of security concerns after almost three weeks of violent anti-king protests.
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Man, wife killed in Lahore accident
Updated at 1150 PST
LAHORE: A man and wife killed in a hit and run incident in Lahore’s Race Course police station precinct.
Jawed Maseeh while walking at Upper Mall roadside with his wife Safia Bibi was hit by an unknown car and killed on the spot, police said. His wife Safia Bibi sustained critical injuries and was died at the Services Hospital.
Police handed over the bodies to family members.
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HIV cases in India rise to 5.2 million
Updated at 1130 PST
NEW DELHI: The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in India has increased. The latest figures compiled by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), using improved data collection strategy, have shown that an estimated 5.21 million adults in India are living with HIV.
The previous figures, compiled in 2004, had shown that India had 5.13 million people infected by the deadly virus. Of the estimated adults living with HIV in India, over 38% are females and 57% are of rural background.
Besides, 90% of the infected people do not know that they are carrying the infection. According to the latest figures available with us, 5.206 million people are HIV infected.
This has made NACO decide to increase the number of centers that assess the spread of HIV/AIDS virus in the country. The number of detection centers will be increased to 1,150 from 750 at present.
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Israeli troops kill Palestinian in Gaza
Updated at 1100 PST
GAZA: Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian gunman in an exchange of fire along the Gaza-Israel border early on Monday, Israeli and Palestinian security sources said.
"A Palestinian gunman opened fire along the Gaza border. Soldiers arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with him. We identified a hit," an army spokeswoman said.
The gunman was the third militant to be killed by Israeli forces in two days.
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Five Maoists, soldier killed in Nepal attacks
Updated at 1030 PST
KATHMANDU: Five Maoists and a soldier were killed during an overnight rebel attack on a telecommunications tower and a police station in crisis-hit Nepal, an army official said on Monday.
Maoists launched simultaneous attacks with guns and grenades after 9:00 pm
(1515 GMT) Sunday in Chautara, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) northeast of the
capital Kathmandu.
"Five bodies of Maoists were recovered from the clash site Monday morning and one of our men also died," said the official from army headquarters on condition of anonymity.
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Sri Lankan troops kill two rebels
Updated at 1010 PST
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan troops shot dead two men who were trying to set up a Claymore mine Monday intended for security forces in the island's east, a defence official said.
The men were killed at Vandaramullai in the district of Batticaloa as army soldiers conducted an operation to clear the main road of mines planted by Tiger rebels, the official said.
The two men had lobbed a grenade at security forces when they were challenged, the official said, adding that a soldier had been wounded.
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Bin Laden's tape genuine, says US
Updated at 0945 PST
WASHINGTON: U.S. intelligence authorities have informed the White House that the audiotape attributed to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was authentic, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
In the tape, bin Laden also urged followers to go to Sudan, his former base, to fight a proposed UN peacekeeping force.
It was the first message by the al-Qaida leader for three months. The voice on the tape sounded strong and resembled that another recordings attributed to bin Laden.
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US finds abuse at Iraqi detention facilities: report
Updated at 0935 PST
WASHINGTON: The US military has discovered evidence of abuse of detainees at least six more Iraqi detention centers run by the interior ministry, a US reported on Monday.
Two sources involved with the inspections, one Iraqi official and one US official, said abuse of prisoners was found at all the sites visited through February, the report said.
US military authorities confirmed that signs of severe abuse were observed at two of the detention centers, according to the paper.
"A lot of the Iraqis had separated shoulders and problems with their hands and fingers too," the official is quoted as saying. "You could also see strap marks on some of their backs."
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New daytime curfew in Nepal
Updated at 0930 PST
KATHMANDU: Nepal's royal government on Monday imposed a fresh daytime seven-hour curfew and shoot-on-sight orders, following 18 days of strikes and anti-monarchy protests, state-run television announced.
The curfew will run from 11:00 am (0515 GMT) until 6:00 pm in the Nepalese
capital Kathmandu, the report said.
"During curfew hours, people should not come outside and those who violate the curfew order can be jailed for at least one month or shot on sight," according to a scrolling message broadcast on the news channel.
Nepal's seven-party opposition alliance, which is demanding an end to King Gyanendra's absolute rule, have called for a major protest on Tuesday in Kathmandu, urging protesters to proceed to the gates of the royal palace.
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US, Japan make troop cost deal
Updated at 0920 PST
TOKYO: Japan and the United States have resolved a dispute over the costs of relocating 8,000 US marines from Okinawa to the Pacific island of Guam.
Tokyo had objected to US calls for it to pay 75% of the estimated $10bn cost.
But after talks in Washington on Sunday, a compromise deal was reached under which Tokyo will contribute $6.1bn towards the cost of relocation.
The dispute has held up agreement on overall realignment plans for the US military presence in Japan.
The agreement was due to have been finalised at the end of March.
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Seven dead, 51 injured in Philippine bus crash
Updated at 0900 PST
MANILA: Seven people were killed and up to 51 injured when a commuter bus ran off the road and fell into a deep ravine south of the Philippine capital on Monday, civil defense and television reports said.
The bus was traveling from the Bicol peninsula to Manila when it ran off the mountain road in Pagbilao, 120 kilometers (74.4 miles) from the capital, the civil defense office said.
The local television said seven people were killed and 51 injured, adding that metal cutting equipment had been sent to the site.
The civil defense office said seven people were dead but only 36 were confirmed injured so far.The cause of the accident is unknown.
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Nepal rebels attack security bases, government buildings
Updated at 0850 PST
KATMANDU: Communist rebels attacked security bases and government buildings overnight in Nepal's mountainous north-central region, officials said on Monday.
Details were sketchy about the overnight attack at Chautara, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of Katmandu, but officials reached at neighboring districts confirmed the attack. The area has a strong rebel presence.
Updated at 1725 PST
Ankara: Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned the Hamas party on radio Monday that he will fire the government that if it does not negotiate with Israel.
Speaking on a foreign news channel, he stated he has "clear and definite authority to remove a government from power, but I don't want to use this authority. Everyone should know that by law this power is in my hands."
Abbas said the Hamas-led government "is still acting as if it were in opposition" and that it must face reality and be in contact with Israel. However, he added, "Let's wait and see if it will change."
One Hamas leader in Gaza responded that its government will not accept dismissal quietly.
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Saddam trial adjourned to May 15
Updated at 1500 PST
BAGHDAD: The trial of Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity was adjourned on Monday until May 15.
The trial was adjourned after the prosecution presented a handwriting report that found the signatures of Saddam and seven other defendants matched documents linking them to the massacre of 148 Shiites in the Dujail village in the 1980s.
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Afghan, Pakistan, U.S. troops to hold joint exercise
Updated at 1420 PST
KABUL: Afghan, Pakistan and U.S. troops will conduct a joint military exercise for the first time in the volatile Afghan-Pakistan border region, the U.S. military said Monday.
The operation, to be called Inspired Gambit, will be an ``air assault exercise'' involving a small contingent of Afghan soldiers and an unspecified number of Pakistani troops, U.S. military spokesman Col. Laurent Fox said during a press conference in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
``We feel that it is important that the only way we will solve the terrorism and insurgency problem is to work closely together with each other,'' Fox said.
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Pakistan Navy holds command of international task force
Updated at 1400 PST
Karachi: Pakistan Navy was handed over command of the international Task Force 150 on Monday. Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal is the new commander of the force.
A formal ceremony for handing over of the command took place today in Bahrain.
CTF-150 is part of the Global War on Terror and responsible for operations in the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the North Arabian Sea.
This is the first time for the Pakistan Navy at the helm of this important task force, other members of which are Britain, United States, France, Australia, Italy, Japan, Germany, Spain and Holland.
The task force was setup under the United Nations Security Council resolution No: 1373 in September 2001. CTF-150 is part of regional maritime security operations that preserve the free and secure use of the world’s oceans for legitimate mariners and prevent terrorists from using the world’s oceans unchecked.
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One dead in Afghan plane crash
Updated at 1350 PST
KANDAHAR: A young child was killed and at least nine people were injured when a unidentified plane skidded off a runway and crashed in southern Afghanistan Monday, police said.
The aircraft crashed while coming in to land in Lashkargah, the capital of restive elmand province, hitting some nomad tents and some houses, deputy provincial governor Mullah Amir Akhund told French news agency. The cause was unclear.
"The incident caused casualties in the nomad tents and houses it hit, we are now taking out the wounded and possibly dead people out of the rubble," Khan said.
Deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Ayob Ansari, who was at the crash site, told the media that a three-year-old child was killed and six Afghan civilians were injured. All were on the ground, he said.
Another three people on board were injured and were evacuated from the crash site, he said.
Ansari said the plane was Russian-built and chartered by a military agency but had no further details.
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Justice Osmani sworn in as acting CJ SHC
Updated at 1340 PST
KARACHI: Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani sworn in as acting Chief Justice (CJ) Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday due to departure of CJ SHC Justice Sabihuddin for a visit to UK.
Senior judge of the Sindh High Court Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali administered the oath to Justice Osmani in a simple ceremony here at SHC.
Justice Sabihuddin left for London on a four-day trip.
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Voting for by-elections in held Kashmir
Updated at 1320 PST
SRINAGAR: Voting to fill vacant state assembly seats was being held in four districts of held Kashmir on Monday amid tight security after overnight attacks on three polling stations, officials said.
"The voting in all four constituencies has started," said state election official. He said 364 voting stations opened their doors at 7:00 am (0130 GMT) and would close them at 5:00 pm (1130 GMT).
Only 20 voting stations have been declared normal, while the rest have been marked as "sensitive and hyper-sensitive" to violence, he said.
The by-elections are to fill four vacant state assembly seats in held Kashmir.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is one of 17 candidates running for the four seats. About 288,000 people are eligible to vote in the four districts.
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Miscreants attack security post in S Waziristan
Updated at 1300 PST
WANA: Unknown miscreants carried out rocket attack at security forces check post at Khumrang area in tribal region of South Waziristan.
According to official sources, miscreants fired six rockets and five mortar shells at Daray Naray post in Khumrang area, which landed at empty ground near the check post. Security forces started retaliatory fire injuring one miscreant.
Meanwhile, another person named Ahmad Khan who had sustained injuries during a clash between security forces and armed men in Miranshah area of North Waziristan was succumbed to injuries, which brought the death toll to four. Three persons including a security official injured in the clash are still under treatment.
Political administration has announced curfew relaxation in Miranshah from 6 am to 7 pm.
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Car bomb kills three in Baghdad
Updated at 1230 PST
BAGHDAD: A car bomb exploded in a busy area of central Baghdad on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding 20, police said.
The parked car exploded during morning rush hour on a major street near the Tigris River, close to Medical City, one of the capital's largest hospitals; a complex of government buildings; a bus station; and a busy traffic roundabout.
The blast in the Bag al-Muadim section of the capital destroyed at least three other cars and heavily damaged shops, blowing out their windows, said police 1st Sgt. He said at least three people were killed and 20 wounded. The injured included two policemen who were directing traffic, he added.
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US asks diplomat families to leave Nepal
Updated at 1210 PST
KATHMANDU: The US embassy in Nepal on Monday told the families of diplomats and some staff to leave the country because of security concerns after almost three weeks of violent anti-king protests.
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Man, wife killed in Lahore accident
Updated at 1150 PST
LAHORE: A man and wife killed in a hit and run incident in Lahore’s Race Course police station precinct.
Jawed Maseeh while walking at Upper Mall roadside with his wife Safia Bibi was hit by an unknown car and killed on the spot, police said. His wife Safia Bibi sustained critical injuries and was died at the Services Hospital.
Police handed over the bodies to family members.
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HIV cases in India rise to 5.2 million
Updated at 1130 PST
NEW DELHI: The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in India has increased. The latest figures compiled by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), using improved data collection strategy, have shown that an estimated 5.21 million adults in India are living with HIV.
The previous figures, compiled in 2004, had shown that India had 5.13 million people infected by the deadly virus. Of the estimated adults living with HIV in India, over 38% are females and 57% are of rural background.
Besides, 90% of the infected people do not know that they are carrying the infection. According to the latest figures available with us, 5.206 million people are HIV infected.
This has made NACO decide to increase the number of centers that assess the spread of HIV/AIDS virus in the country. The number of detection centers will be increased to 1,150 from 750 at present.
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Israeli troops kill Palestinian in Gaza
Updated at 1100 PST
GAZA: Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian gunman in an exchange of fire along the Gaza-Israel border early on Monday, Israeli and Palestinian security sources said.
"A Palestinian gunman opened fire along the Gaza border. Soldiers arrived at the scene and exchanged fire with him. We identified a hit," an army spokeswoman said.
The gunman was the third militant to be killed by Israeli forces in two days.
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Five Maoists, soldier killed in Nepal attacks
Updated at 1030 PST
KATHMANDU: Five Maoists and a soldier were killed during an overnight rebel attack on a telecommunications tower and a police station in crisis-hit Nepal, an army official said on Monday.
Maoists launched simultaneous attacks with guns and grenades after 9:00 pm
(1515 GMT) Sunday in Chautara, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) northeast of the
capital Kathmandu.
"Five bodies of Maoists were recovered from the clash site Monday morning and one of our men also died," said the official from army headquarters on condition of anonymity.
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Sri Lankan troops kill two rebels
Updated at 1010 PST
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan troops shot dead two men who were trying to set up a Claymore mine Monday intended for security forces in the island's east, a defence official said.
The men were killed at Vandaramullai in the district of Batticaloa as army soldiers conducted an operation to clear the main road of mines planted by Tiger rebels, the official said.
The two men had lobbed a grenade at security forces when they were challenged, the official said, adding that a soldier had been wounded.
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Bin Laden's tape genuine, says US
Updated at 0945 PST
WASHINGTON: U.S. intelligence authorities have informed the White House that the audiotape attributed to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was authentic, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
In the tape, bin Laden also urged followers to go to Sudan, his former base, to fight a proposed UN peacekeeping force.
It was the first message by the al-Qaida leader for three months. The voice on the tape sounded strong and resembled that another recordings attributed to bin Laden.
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US finds abuse at Iraqi detention facilities: report
Updated at 0935 PST
WASHINGTON: The US military has discovered evidence of abuse of detainees at least six more Iraqi detention centers run by the interior ministry, a US reported on Monday.
Two sources involved with the inspections, one Iraqi official and one US official, said abuse of prisoners was found at all the sites visited through February, the report said.
US military authorities confirmed that signs of severe abuse were observed at two of the detention centers, according to the paper.
"A lot of the Iraqis had separated shoulders and problems with their hands and fingers too," the official is quoted as saying. "You could also see strap marks on some of their backs."
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New daytime curfew in Nepal
Updated at 0930 PST
KATHMANDU: Nepal's royal government on Monday imposed a fresh daytime seven-hour curfew and shoot-on-sight orders, following 18 days of strikes and anti-monarchy protests, state-run television announced.
The curfew will run from 11:00 am (0515 GMT) until 6:00 pm in the Nepalese
capital Kathmandu, the report said.
"During curfew hours, people should not come outside and those who violate the curfew order can be jailed for at least one month or shot on sight," according to a scrolling message broadcast on the news channel.
Nepal's seven-party opposition alliance, which is demanding an end to King Gyanendra's absolute rule, have called for a major protest on Tuesday in Kathmandu, urging protesters to proceed to the gates of the royal palace.
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US, Japan make troop cost deal
Updated at 0920 PST
TOKYO: Japan and the United States have resolved a dispute over the costs of relocating 8,000 US marines from Okinawa to the Pacific island of Guam.
Tokyo had objected to US calls for it to pay 75% of the estimated $10bn cost.
But after talks in Washington on Sunday, a compromise deal was reached under which Tokyo will contribute $6.1bn towards the cost of relocation.
The dispute has held up agreement on overall realignment plans for the US military presence in Japan.
The agreement was due to have been finalised at the end of March.
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Seven dead, 51 injured in Philippine bus crash
Updated at 0900 PST
MANILA: Seven people were killed and up to 51 injured when a commuter bus ran off the road and fell into a deep ravine south of the Philippine capital on Monday, civil defense and television reports said.
The bus was traveling from the Bicol peninsula to Manila when it ran off the mountain road in Pagbilao, 120 kilometers (74.4 miles) from the capital, the civil defense office said.
The local television said seven people were killed and 51 injured, adding that metal cutting equipment had been sent to the site.
The civil defense office said seven people were dead but only 36 were confirmed injured so far.The cause of the accident is unknown.
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Nepal rebels attack security bases, government buildings
Updated at 0850 PST
KATMANDU: Communist rebels attacked security bases and government buildings overnight in Nepal's mountainous north-central region, officials said on Monday.
Details were sketchy about the overnight attack at Chautara, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of Katmandu, but officials reached at neighboring districts confirmed the attack. The area has a strong rebel presence.
Monday, April 24, 2006
One Ashamed American
Cab Chat
A few days ago an American sit in my cab
A. How’s going
B. Very fine
A. Where you from
B. Pakistan
Meaning full silence . Mod of convention changed
A. you are from hot spot
B. Yes. Very hot
A. You guys are giving us hard time I have got your name I will includes to our terrorist list.
B. I think you are one who are hard time to whole world. Soon whole world will be putting your name of terrorist list
A. What do you think about Bush
B. I respect America , it has give many good things to world. But bush is worst then Hitler
A.( Few F words for Mr. Bush) he has made many wrong decision . Afghanistan may be right decision but Iraq is proving a big mess. If we get out of there now there would be even bigger mess .
B. play with fire you get burn
A. No., its not this , it takes only one man without brain to bring the whole nation on knees I am American but I am ashamed of being American just because of Bush
Now he want to strike Iran what do think of it
B. Striking Iran will good for nothing and bring more ciaos to world , where gas price are already skyrocketing
A. For bush it doesn't seems any matter it seems he is geting personal with whole world just to satisfy his ego
B. The mess bush has created would be an unpleasant page of this whole world history
A. You are right, it is nice to talk with you , we made big mistake by elected him
B. Mistake once is innocent , mistake twice is habit
His destination come , one ashamed American was living my cab
Thursday, April 20, 2006
To the president of PANZ
dear sir,
It is crying shame that we couldn'''t send donations money in time and what more shame it would be that you cannot produced the recipient of money you have sent to President relief fund ,,, we just want know a confirmed receipt ,,, because PANZ President has lost his creditability by issuing fake receipts during a clumsy compgain against PWCS ,,, in which he gave fake receipts to business community to block PWCS '''s way for collecting funds for Eid Milan Show ,,, now clouds of doubts are appearing in community minds I have tried myself to verified $100000 receipt but bank say under privacy act they cannot give eny information ,,, Now Mr Naveed is hiding behind the digital cards, here i would like to suggest PANZ should reconsider these cards price ,,, as $ 20 per card ,,, means that a family of 5 would have to pay $100 to get these cards ,,, these cards are looking a gimmick ,,, as PANZ is trying to recover its loss by selling these card which we going to use once every 2years
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Easter
Easter, annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principal feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therefore called a movable feast. The dates of several other church festivals, extending over a period between Septuagesima Sunday (the ninth Sunday before Easter) and the first Sunday of Advent, are fixed in relation to the date of Easter.
Connected with the observance of Easter are the 40-day season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding at midnight on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday; Holy Week, commencing on Palm Sunday, including Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion, and terminating with Holy Saturday; and the Octave of Easter, extending from Easter Sunday through the following Sunday. During the Octave of Easter in early Christian times, the newly baptized wore white garments, white being the liturgical color of Easter and signifying light, purity, and joy.
Friday, April 14, 2006
oday pakistan & world news by j.iqbal
Musharraf, Aziz directs for probe into Karachi bombing on modern lines
ISLAMABAD: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have directed all the intelligence agencies to immediately trace out the elements responsible for the Nishtar Park tragedy by conducting investigation into the deadliest mishap on modern lines.
The prime minister called on the president in Rawalpindi immediately he landed here after touring Karachi and briefed him about overall situation of law and order, reports of the intelligence agencies and other probes with regard to the Tuesday’s bomb explosion in Karachi.
Mr. Aziz told the president: “As per latest investigation reports, the Tusday’s bombing in Karahi was a suicide bomb explosion; however, investigations are afoot to trace out the culprits responsible for the deadliest assault.”
According to sources of the House of President, President Musharraf has issued directives all the intelligence agencies to instantly find out that involved in the suicide attack.
The president and prime minister the government would not allow terrorists to play with people’s lives and those behind the Nishtar Park suicide attack would be brought to book.
The religious events from now onward would completely watched in Karachi, they told adding that more directives for beefing up the security measures have also been issued to maintain law and order in the city.
Eurocopter unveils South Korean helicopter deal
(Updated at 0010 PST)
PARIS: European helicopter maker Eurocopter said Thursday that the South Korean government had approved the production of 245 military transport helicopters that are to be built jointly by Eurocopter and a South Korean company.
Eurocopter, a subsidiary of European aerospace and defence giant EADS, is to team up with Korea Aerospace Industries for the project, worth a total of 6.0-8.0 billion dollars (4.9-6.6 billion euros).
The European group, whose share of the order is valued at 1.5 billion dollars, was picked by South Korea's defence ministry as the winning foreign bidder for the project in December.
Production is to begin in 2011. The final decision to place the order was taken on Wednesday, Eurocopter said.
UN watchdog chief says Iranian enrichment claim not yet confirmed
(Updated at 2340 PST)
TEHRAN: Iran's claim to have made a breakthrough in its nuclear programme by enriching uranium to make reactor fuel has not yet been confirmed by the UN atomic watchdog, its director Mohamed ElBaradei said Thursday.
"I cannot confirm this," ElBaradei replied when asked if Iran had enriched uranium to 3.5 percent, the level needed for reactor fuel.
"Our inspectors have taken samples they will report to the board," he added, referring to the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Baghdad car bomb kills 15 in Shiite neighborhood
(Updated at 2340 PST)
BAGHDAD: Iraq's sectarian tensions intensified Thursday as a car bomb killed 15 people in a Baghdad Shiite neighborhood and the brother of a senior Sunni politician was shot dead.
The car bomb ripped a market located in Baghdad's western Kadhimiyah neighourhood at 7:45 pm (1545 GMT), killing 15 and wounding 22, an interior ministry official said.
The blast was the latest in a string of attacks that have shaken central Iraq, where feuds among the country's Shiite majority and its onetime Sunni elite have resulted in bloodshed since the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
In another provocative attack, the brother of prominent Sunni Arab politician Tareq al-Hashemi and his companion were killed Thursday in a drive-by shooting in central Baghdad, police and sources from Hashemi's Islamic Party told.
Hashemi's party is the leading member of the Sunni National Concord Front coalition, which holds 44 seats in parliament.
Nepal's king calls for general election
(Updated at 2330 PST)
KATHMANDU: Nepal's King Gyanendra has called for general elections in the Maoist-insurgency wracked nation, after a week of anti-royal protests, in an address broadcast on state media Thursday.
Pak-US joint investment pact to be inked soon: Humayun Akhtar
(Updated at 2320 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan will adopt such initiatives in next budget and trade policy, aiming at low production cost. As a result, it would boost up country’s export volume.
Federal Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan, said this here at a meeting of the advisory council with regarding to formation of federal budget and trade policy for year 2006-07.
He said an agreement with America with regard to joint investment would be inked in coming few months.
Trade union leaders from country’s different parts demanded at the meeting annulment of import duty on raw material and lowering of product cost by altering taxes.
Chairman Central Board of Revenue Abdullah Yousuf told the meeting the government would resolve traders’ tax related problems in the next budget.
Pakistan, US talks over trade relations
(Updated at 2315 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Assistant US Trade Representative, Douglas Alan Hartwick called on Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan here on Thursday to discuss trade relations between the United States and Pakistan.
Issues concerning Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) were discussed at length.
The Commerce Minister urged the AUSTR to convene the TIFA council meeting as soon as possible with highest level participation from the US to boost trade relations between the two countries, according to a press release issued here.
The last TIFA meeting was held in September, 2004 in Washington DC. It is now Islamabad's turn to hold the meeting.
It was agreed holding the meeting as soon as possible, given the long lapse of time since the last meeting, was in mutual interest of both the countries.
It was also agreed that BIT must be concluded as early as possible. Both the sides were sanguine about the early signing of the treaty which would lead to FTA between the two countries.
The Commerce Minister stated that Pakistan wanted to enter into an FTA with USA. He was of the opinion that market access for Pakistani products in the US market was vital as it would alleviate poverty.
Both the sides discussed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) -- an initiative announced by the US president during his recent visit to Pakistan.
Under this arrangement, goods manufactured in ROZs will enter USA duty free when they meet agreed rules of origin requirement.
The minister stressed the need to expedite finalization of the modalities for ROZs.
Pakistan's trade with USA has progressed over the last few years and the exports to USA increased by 13.2% in the year 2005 compared to 2004. In our major export sectors of textiles and apparels, exports grew by 14%.
In the current year, exports from Pakistan have shown promise as seen by the statistics available so far for January 2006.
Pakistan's exports of textiles and apparels have increased by 46% in January 2006 compared to January 2005.
Three martyred laid to rest, Akram Qadri to be buried late night
(Updated at 2300 PST)
KARACHI: The central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek, Abbas Qadri, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Iftikhar Bhatti were laid to rest, while burial of Akram Qadri will be performed at late night
Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer were laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while body of Akram Qadri was taken to New Karachi where he will be laid to rest late night today at the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 area as per his father’s wish.
Iran refuses to suspend sensitive nuclear work
(Updated at 2150 PST)
Tehran: Iran today said after talks with the head of the UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei that it would not bow to demands it freeze uranium enrichment.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told reporters that the UN Security Council's call for Iran to return to a freeze on the sensitive work "was not very important".
"Every action must be reasonable and logical. We are cooperating in a constructive manner with the (International Atomic Energy) agency, and Mr ElBaradei is here and the inspectors and cameras are here, so such a proposal is not very important to solve the problem," he told reporters.
The 24-hour visit by the head of the IAEA comes two days after Iran announced its scientists had successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel.
The Islamic republic insists its programme is a peaceful bid to generate electricity, but the enrichment process can be extended to make the fissile core of a nuclear warhead.
The UN Security Council has set April 28 as a deadline for Tehran to halt enrichment.
ElBaradei said that talks on the "difficult and important" issue would continue.
"I can tell you on the issue of cooperation to resolve outstanding issues, Mr Larijani renewed his commitment that the Islamic republic of Iran will accelerate its efforts to work with us in next couple of weeks to provide clarity to the issue that we need to clarify," he said.
Brother of Saddam’s son-in-law murdered
(Updated at 2100 PST)
BAGHDAD: Brother of former Iraqi president Saddam’s son-in-law has been killed after he was kidnapped.
According to Saddam’s relatives in Oman as reported by a Franceh news agency told Jamal Kamil Hassan, 36, was abducted from Iraq and his kidnappers had demanded US$ 1 million ransom for his release.
However, the kidnappers have murdered Jamal Kamil Hassan for low payment of ransom for his release and his dead body was laid in a Baghdad’s morgue.
The Iraqi security forces have not confirmed the death as yet.
Mufti Muneeb says case of Karachi tragedy lodged in divine court
(Updated at 2055 PST)
Karachi: Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman has said that Almighty Allah is always on the side of those who act with patience and tolerance.
While addressing a large gathering before the funeral prayer of Nishtar Park incident’s martyrs he said that the nation should act patiently. He said that the case has been lodged in the divine court and hope for justice is attached to only Almighty Allah.
Funeral prayer of martyrs performed in Karachi
(Updated at 2040 PST)
KARACHI: The Funeral prayer of central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek Abbas Qadri, Akram Qadri, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Iftikhar Bhatti was performed here at the Jaama Cloth market.
Noted religious scholar and Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, performed the funeral prayer.
Prominent religious and political leaders of different religious and political parties, PML-N's Saleem Zia, Peoples Party's Nisar Khoro, Allama Shah Turab-ul-Haq, a huge number of activists of Sunni Tehreek and local people attended the funeral prayer.
Dead bodies of Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer will be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while body of Akram Qadri was taken to New Karachi where he will be laid to rest at the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 area as per his father’s wish.
Security measures have been beefed up and heavy contingency of the police and Rangers troops have been deployed at different sensitive places.
Troops of Army are patrolling in different parts of the city to avoid any untoward mishap.
Saudi Crown Prince to visit Pakistan on Apr 15
(Updated at 2010 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will be
accorded warm welcome when he arrives here on April 15 on two days visit to Pakistan.
Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General of the Kingdom had earlier visited Pakistan in 1981 and 1999 in his capacity as defence minister.
Pakistan will be the last leg of the Prince's three-nation Asia tour that also included Japan and Singapore.
During his two-day stay in Islamabad, the Prince will hold talks with President General Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
A banquet and an official lunch will be hosted in his honour by the President and the Prime Minister.
Bodies of martyred Sunni Tehreek’s leaders at main office
(Updated at 1940 PST) By Aga Khalid
KARACHI: Corpses of central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr. Abdul Qadeer have been brought at the Sunni Tehreek Center here, while the corpses of Maullana Abbas Qadri and Akram Qadri would be brought a while later as they are en route to the Center.
A big number of people have gathered at the Sunni Tehreek Center and are hurling slogans.
Funeral prayer of the Martyred souls would be performed here at the M.A. Jinnah road near Jaamah Cloth market.
Dead bodies of Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer would be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while martyred Akram Qadri would be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 in New Karachi as per his father’s wish.
Security measures have been beefed up and heavy contingency of police and Rangers troops have been deployed at all the routes going to the Sunni Tehreek Center and everyone is being searched going there.
Japan condemns Karachi blast, condoles over deaths
(Updated at 1915 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has strongly condemned the bomb attack that occurred at Serat-un-Nabi conference at Nishter Park, Karachi on April 11, 2006.
In a statement issued here by Embassy of Japan on Thursday, Government expressed deepest condolences to the victims of the attacks and their bereaved families and heartfelt sympathy for those injured in the incident.
Japanese Government reaffirmed its position that terrorism cannot be justified by any reason and reiterated its condemnation for any type of terrorism. Japan assured that it would continue to
strengthen its cooperation with Pakistan in the international efforts for tackling terrorism.
Afghan leader, Indian PM urge joint fight against terrorism
(Updated at 1910 PST)
NEW DELHI: Afghan President Hamid Karzai Thursday ended a trip to India during which leaders of both sides called for a pooling of resources to fight terrorism and urged that Pakistan join their efforts.
Karzai, on his second visit to India in two years, won his host's backing for his efforts to counter terrorism in Afghanistan, said an official statement following talks between him and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh.
Singh suggested at a news conference Monday that New Delhi, Kabul and Islamabad pool resources to curb terrorism which he said was affecting all three countries.
"Terrorism today has acquired new dimensions and I find in our region even Pakistan is not immune from terrorism," Singh told reporters.
Pakistan hands telecom firm to Etisalat
(Updated at 1905 PST)
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have passed control of the country's largest telecom to United Arab Emirates Etisalat, after a bid of 2.6 billion dollars in June last year, officials said Thursday.
The management control of Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) was formally transferred to Etisalat late Wednesday in Islamabad by inducting its directors at the board of PTCL.
"The nominees of Etisalat were formally co-opted on the PTCL board and its group of companies to complete formal handing over of the company's management to the new owner," a spokesman of state-run Privatisation Commission said.
The deal had foundered in October when Etisalat failed to meet a deadline for full payment but marathon talks between Pakistan and the UAE based firm saved the sale.
The Share Purchase Agreement was finally signed last month after Etisalat paid the initial amount of 1.4 billion dollars, the official said requesting anonymity.
Under the agreement the balance of 1.2 billion dollars will be paid in nine equal installments on a half-yearly basis, he said.
The government is planning privatisation of several state-run companies, including Pakistan's largest petroleum marketing company, gas companies and other units.
The sale of state assets is to help repay 36.7 billion dollars in foreign loans and finance development projects at home, where more than a third of the population live in poverty.
More troops being deployed as tensions mounts in bomb-hit Karachi
(Updated at 1900 PST)
KARACHI: Troops were being deployed in Karachi on Thursday as trouble broke out before funerals for Sunni Muslim leaders who were among 57 people killed in a suicide blast two days ago.
Angry youths wielding sticks torched at least four buses and one car, police said. They burnt tyres in the street and forced shops in the city to close.
Most petrol stations and markets were shut and the government has closed educational institutions for three days.
"The army has been deployed at sensitive places in the city to assist the civil administration in case of any eventuality," a military spokesman told.
"It is a preventative deployment." Organisers said they expect thousands of people to attend funeral prayers for Sunni leaders later Thursday in the volatile port city.
Ten top leaders of the Sunni Tehreek religious party, including its chief Abbas Qadri, were among those killed in the blast on Tuesday at Karachi's Nishtar Park during a ceremony to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but there were fears it could start a fresh cycle of sectarian violence between militants from Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shiite communities.
Police and paramilitary soldiers have been deployed in strength in the area around Qadri's home. Regular troops paraded along major roads before taking up positions at intersections.
Sunni groups said the protest over the bombing would continue until Sunday. A six-party religious alliance known as Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal decided to observe Friday as a "black day" of protest.
The moderate Sunni Tehreek religious party said it had received threats before Tuesday's attack. It has given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to catch the culprits.
"Karachi is mourning the death of so many religious leaders and scholars," said Shahid Ghori, head of a three-member supervisory committee which will run the party's affairs after the bombing wiped out its top leadership.
"We have presented our demands to the government, it is up to them to arrest the culprits," Ghori told reporters.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who flew to Karachi and met religious leaders, said investigators were looking into all aspects. "I assure you we will unearth the culprits," he said.
Police detained a man belonging to the Shiite sect who was injured in the blast.
Mohammad Hussain Balti "is being questioned for his presence in a Sunni congregation," a senior police officer told on condition of anonymity.Police investigators have also released the photograph of the face of a suspected suicide bomber.
"We may still wait for one or two days if someone comes to identify the suspect, a bearded man who looked like an ethnic Pashtun or an Afghan," chief investigator Manzoor Mughal said.
Tuesday's attack was the deadliest in Pakistan since a double bombing in Karachi in 1987 killed more than 70 people. Islamabad blamed that attack on Afghan intelligence agents.
Pak-US civil nuke deal possible: US Senator
(Updated at 1750 PST)
Islamabad: Visiting US Senator Chuck Hagel on Thursday said that the U.S. offer to supply rival India with civil nuclear technology would ever be extended to Pakistan.
Hagel did not rule out the eventuality and said, "There may well be a future agreement between Pakistan and the U.S.”
President Pervez Musharraf earlier expressed concerns on the implications of the U.S.-India nuclear deal for regional stability and security.
Musharraf made the remarks when he met with U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, who called on him in Rawalpindi, a Pakistani foreign ministry statement said.
He also said Pakistan must have access to civil nuclear energy and look forward to international cooperation in this regard.
Pakistan's expanding energy requirements would be met through a verity of sources, including nuclear power generation, said Musharraf.
Hagel expressed appreciation for Pakistan's role in fighting extremism and terrorism.
While talking on Iran’s issue Hagel informed, “I do not expect any kind of military solution on the Iran issue,"
Hagel said President George W. Bush and senior members of his cabinet had said the military option was not a responsible approach to resolving the issues.
"I think to further comment on it would be complete speculation, but I would say that a military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option," he added.
IAEA chief backs Iran negotiations
(Updated at 1735 PST)
TEHRAN: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency today said the "time is right for a political solution" to the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme.
Speaking after the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had defied international calls for the programme to be halted, Mohamed ElBaradei said: "The way is negotiations."
The UN nuclear watchdog's chief was speaking after arriving in Tehran for talks intended "to clarify remaining issues about Iran's nuclear programme".
He said Iran should suspend nuclear activities as a confidence-building measure "until outstanding issues are clarified".
"I would like to see Iran come to terms with the requests of the international community," he added.
Yesterday, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran would ignore international pressure to halt uranium enrichment. He pledged to press ahead with industrial-scale uranium enrichment and said the world must treat Iran as a nuclear power.
"We know they [the US and its allies] are waiting for us to retreat an inch so that they use that [against us]," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted him as saying.
"Today, our situation has changed completely. We are a nuclear country and speak to others from the position of a nuclear country. We won't hold talks with anyone about the right of Iranian nation [to enrich uranium] and no one has the right to retreat, even one iota."
Two days ago, the Iranian president revealed his country had for the first time enriched uranium to a level used in power stations.
The declaration sparked international concern, but western diplomats and atomic experts said Iran was still far from producing the weapons-grade uranium needed to produce nuclear warheads.
There are suspicions that Iran could be exaggerating the rate of its progress to enhance its standing as a potential member of the "nuclear club".
The US said the UN security council, which can impose sanctions, must take "strong steps" to prevent further nuclear activity by Tehran.
KSE-100 index closes on positive note, up 69 points
(Updated at 1720 PST)
KARACHI: Mournful atmosphere prevailed today at the Karachi Stock Exchange following the Nishtar Park tragedy that claimed around fifty lives.
While the trading at the start remained caught in stress, trading in oil and gas sector took the index to a new record height.
The 100-index closed at 12061, up 69 points.
Today’s trading session opened with 55 points down due to two days’ closing following the Nishtar Park tragedy.
Nerve-racking trading was witnessed in the oil and gas, cement and banking sectors, pushing the index as low as 99 points. But, trading in Pakistan Oil Fields, OGDC and Adamjee Insurance drove the index into a positive zone.
Later, the index again collapsed into a negative zone owing to skewed trading in fertilizer and banking sectors.
Despite the fluctuation, the index eventually managed to close on a positive note, gaining 69 points.
Sri Lanka Tigers seek to postpone Swiss talks
(Updated at 1540 PST)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels asked peacebroker Norway to postpone ceasefire talks scheduled for next week in Switzerland amid rising violence in the island, a guerrilla official told foreign news agency.
Afghan, coalition forces launch major anti-Taliban operation
(Updated at 1500 PST)
KABUL: Thousands of Afghan and coalition troops backed by US and British warplanes continued strikes on Thursday on a known insurgent area in a major new operation in eastern Afghanistan.
About 2,500 troops launched Operation Mountain Lion Wednesday with a series of predawn air and ground assaults in eastern Kunar province, in one of their biggest campaigns since the overthrow of Taliban government in late 2001.
The US military said late Tuesday six insurgents were killed at the start of the assault, seen as direct retaliation to a new spring offensive launched by the Taliban with a stream of suicide blasts and other attacks.
Zawahiri praises insurgency
(Updated at 1450 PST)
BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in a video praising insurgents in Iraq, and in particular, militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
He describes Zarqawi, a Jordanian and the leading Jihadi militant in Iraq, as his "beloved brother" and calls on Muslims to support him.
"I have lived with him up close and have seen nothing but good from him," Zawahiri says in the video.
The tape dated November 2005 appeared on the internet on Thursday.
FC fort attacked in Dera Bugti
(Updated at 1400 PST)
DERA BUGTI: Miscreants attacked FC fort here on Thursday, however, no loss of life was reported.
The FC personnel successfully controlled the situation and the assailants fled when the security forces started fire in retaliation, the sources said.
The security forces also defused land mine, which was aimed at destroying tanks, at Pir Koh near Dera Bugti.
Meanwhile, land mine explosion occurred in Kohlu near a check post of FC, but here also no casualty was reported.
Australia win first test against Bangladesh
(Updated at 1355 PST)
FATULLAH: Australia wins the first cricket test against Bangladesh by three wickets on Thursday.
Scores: Bangladesh first innings 427 and second innings 148.
Australia first innings 269 and second innings 307-7.
Gunmen storm Palestinian PM's office
(Updated at 1340 PST)
RAMALLAH: Around 20 gunmen from the radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade on Thursday stormed the Palestinian prime minister's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, a security source said.
Rocket strikes near Afghan presidential palace
(Updated at 1320 PST)
KABUL: A rocket fired by unknown attackers struck a few hundred meters from the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital and landed in a defence ministry compound, the interior ministry on Thursday.
The rocket, fired about 10:00 pm (1630 GMT) Wednesday, caused no casualties, ministry spokesman Yousuf Stanizai said.
The defence ministry compound is near the palace, where President Hamid Karzai lives and works. But the rocket hit while he was on an official visit to India.
Salman Khan gets bail
(Updated at 1300 PST)
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Thursday granted bail in the 1998 black buck hunting case. He will be set free by evening.
The actor spent three nights in Jodhpur jail.
Salman was on Monday sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment and sent to central jail in Jodhpur by a local court in connection with the 1998 black buck poaching case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Brijendra Kumar Jain had also imposed Rs 25,000 fine on the star, who was taken into custody and sent to the jail.
Al-Qaeda man killed in N. Waziristan security forces’ raid
(Updated at 1245 PST)
MIRAN SHAH: At least eight people including five foreigners were killed in an air raid by Pakistan security forces on their hideout in Nagar area of North Waziristan tribal region.
One of the slain foreigners was identified, as Mohsin Musa wanted to the United States with US five million dollars’ head money.
The security forces used two Cobra helicopter gunships in attack on a compound in Nagar, six km south of Miranshah, the main town of the North Waziristan region, after the security forces received information about the presence of foreign fighters there.
Security forces also attacked hideouts of miscreants with artillery fire, while helicopter gunships also aid the forces with aerial raid.
Sherpao, Ijazul Haq visit Sunni Tehrik office
(Updated at 1235 PST)
KARACHI: Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Minister of Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq and other top government officials visited central office of Sunni Tehrik and expressed sympathies with caretaker leaders of the party over losses of life in Nishtar Park incident.
Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Ijazul Haq accompanied by CCPO Karachi and other high officials reached to the central office of Sunni Tehrik on the night between Wednesday and Thursday. They condoled deaths of Ulema with Sunni Tehrik leaders and expressed their sympathies with bereaved families.
Caretaker leader of Sunni Tehrik Nadeem Ghouri expressed his party’s reservations to the ministers. He also demanded of the federal government for end of no go areas in Karachi.
Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao assured the Sunni Tehrik leaders that investigation of the incident being carried out by the federal and provincial governments in a proper way.
Nishtar Park tragedy case yet to be registered
(Updated at 1210 PST)
KARACHI: The Soldier Bazaar police have not yet registered any case even after passing 36 hours of Tuesday’s blast.
According to police, daily dairy (Roznamcha) of the police station had been stopped and police is waiting for complainant to lodge FIR.
The police sources added that permission of the public meeting was issued on the name of Shah Turabul Haq and legally he should be the complainant of the case.
So far nobody has contacted the police, therefore, police gathering information themselves. Police have recorded statements of over dozen of witnesses including some injured. CID Police, Investigation and other agencies are investigating the incident.
Malaria kills 35 in India
(Updated at 1200 PST)
GUWAHATI: Indian authorities in the northeastern state of Assam sounded a health alert on Thursday on a malaria epidemic that has claimed at least 35 lives and affected 20,000 people.
"A maximum alert has been sounded across Assam, and medical teams are working on a war footing to check the spread of malaria," Assam health minister Bhumidhar Barman told media.
Troops called in Karachi
(Updated at 1110 PST) By Afzal Nadeem
KARACHI: Authorities have called army in Karachi to extend help in maintenance of law and order in the city.
According to a statement released by the ISPR, the troops have been deployed at sensitive areas in the city and would assist the civil administration to avoid any untoward incident.
Life stands still in Karachi on second day of Nishtar Park tragedy
ISLAMABAD: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have directed all the intelligence agencies to immediately trace out the elements responsible for the Nishtar Park tragedy by conducting investigation into the deadliest mishap on modern lines.
The prime minister called on the president in Rawalpindi immediately he landed here after touring Karachi and briefed him about overall situation of law and order, reports of the intelligence agencies and other probes with regard to the Tuesday’s bomb explosion in Karachi.
Mr. Aziz told the president: “As per latest investigation reports, the Tusday’s bombing in Karahi was a suicide bomb explosion; however, investigations are afoot to trace out the culprits responsible for the deadliest assault.”
According to sources of the House of President, President Musharraf has issued directives all the intelligence agencies to instantly find out that involved in the suicide attack.
The president and prime minister the government would not allow terrorists to play with people’s lives and those behind the Nishtar Park suicide attack would be brought to book.
The religious events from now onward would completely watched in Karachi, they told adding that more directives for beefing up the security measures have also been issued to maintain law and order in the city.
Eurocopter unveils South Korean helicopter deal
(Updated at 0010 PST)
PARIS: European helicopter maker Eurocopter said Thursday that the South Korean government had approved the production of 245 military transport helicopters that are to be built jointly by Eurocopter and a South Korean company.
Eurocopter, a subsidiary of European aerospace and defence giant EADS, is to team up with Korea Aerospace Industries for the project, worth a total of 6.0-8.0 billion dollars (4.9-6.6 billion euros).
The European group, whose share of the order is valued at 1.5 billion dollars, was picked by South Korea's defence ministry as the winning foreign bidder for the project in December.
Production is to begin in 2011. The final decision to place the order was taken on Wednesday, Eurocopter said.
UN watchdog chief says Iranian enrichment claim not yet confirmed
(Updated at 2340 PST)
TEHRAN: Iran's claim to have made a breakthrough in its nuclear programme by enriching uranium to make reactor fuel has not yet been confirmed by the UN atomic watchdog, its director Mohamed ElBaradei said Thursday.
"I cannot confirm this," ElBaradei replied when asked if Iran had enriched uranium to 3.5 percent, the level needed for reactor fuel.
"Our inspectors have taken samples they will report to the board," he added, referring to the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Baghdad car bomb kills 15 in Shiite neighborhood
(Updated at 2340 PST)
BAGHDAD: Iraq's sectarian tensions intensified Thursday as a car bomb killed 15 people in a Baghdad Shiite neighborhood and the brother of a senior Sunni politician was shot dead.
The car bomb ripped a market located in Baghdad's western Kadhimiyah neighourhood at 7:45 pm (1545 GMT), killing 15 and wounding 22, an interior ministry official said.
The blast was the latest in a string of attacks that have shaken central Iraq, where feuds among the country's Shiite majority and its onetime Sunni elite have resulted in bloodshed since the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
In another provocative attack, the brother of prominent Sunni Arab politician Tareq al-Hashemi and his companion were killed Thursday in a drive-by shooting in central Baghdad, police and sources from Hashemi's Islamic Party told.
Hashemi's party is the leading member of the Sunni National Concord Front coalition, which holds 44 seats in parliament.
Nepal's king calls for general election
(Updated at 2330 PST)
KATHMANDU: Nepal's King Gyanendra has called for general elections in the Maoist-insurgency wracked nation, after a week of anti-royal protests, in an address broadcast on state media Thursday.
Pak-US joint investment pact to be inked soon: Humayun Akhtar
(Updated at 2320 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan will adopt such initiatives in next budget and trade policy, aiming at low production cost. As a result, it would boost up country’s export volume.
Federal Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan, said this here at a meeting of the advisory council with regarding to formation of federal budget and trade policy for year 2006-07.
He said an agreement with America with regard to joint investment would be inked in coming few months.
Trade union leaders from country’s different parts demanded at the meeting annulment of import duty on raw material and lowering of product cost by altering taxes.
Chairman Central Board of Revenue Abdullah Yousuf told the meeting the government would resolve traders’ tax related problems in the next budget.
Pakistan, US talks over trade relations
(Updated at 2315 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Assistant US Trade Representative, Douglas Alan Hartwick called on Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan here on Thursday to discuss trade relations between the United States and Pakistan.
Issues concerning Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) were discussed at length.
The Commerce Minister urged the AUSTR to convene the TIFA council meeting as soon as possible with highest level participation from the US to boost trade relations between the two countries, according to a press release issued here.
The last TIFA meeting was held in September, 2004 in Washington DC. It is now Islamabad's turn to hold the meeting.
It was agreed holding the meeting as soon as possible, given the long lapse of time since the last meeting, was in mutual interest of both the countries.
It was also agreed that BIT must be concluded as early as possible. Both the sides were sanguine about the early signing of the treaty which would lead to FTA between the two countries.
The Commerce Minister stated that Pakistan wanted to enter into an FTA with USA. He was of the opinion that market access for Pakistani products in the US market was vital as it would alleviate poverty.
Both the sides discussed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) -- an initiative announced by the US president during his recent visit to Pakistan.
Under this arrangement, goods manufactured in ROZs will enter USA duty free when they meet agreed rules of origin requirement.
The minister stressed the need to expedite finalization of the modalities for ROZs.
Pakistan's trade with USA has progressed over the last few years and the exports to USA increased by 13.2% in the year 2005 compared to 2004. In our major export sectors of textiles and apparels, exports grew by 14%.
In the current year, exports from Pakistan have shown promise as seen by the statistics available so far for January 2006.
Pakistan's exports of textiles and apparels have increased by 46% in January 2006 compared to January 2005.
Three martyred laid to rest, Akram Qadri to be buried late night
(Updated at 2300 PST)
KARACHI: The central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek, Abbas Qadri, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Iftikhar Bhatti were laid to rest, while burial of Akram Qadri will be performed at late night
Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer were laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while body of Akram Qadri was taken to New Karachi where he will be laid to rest late night today at the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 area as per his father’s wish.
Iran refuses to suspend sensitive nuclear work
(Updated at 2150 PST)
Tehran: Iran today said after talks with the head of the UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei that it would not bow to demands it freeze uranium enrichment.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told reporters that the UN Security Council's call for Iran to return to a freeze on the sensitive work "was not very important".
"Every action must be reasonable and logical. We are cooperating in a constructive manner with the (International Atomic Energy) agency, and Mr ElBaradei is here and the inspectors and cameras are here, so such a proposal is not very important to solve the problem," he told reporters.
The 24-hour visit by the head of the IAEA comes two days after Iran announced its scientists had successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel.
The Islamic republic insists its programme is a peaceful bid to generate electricity, but the enrichment process can be extended to make the fissile core of a nuclear warhead.
The UN Security Council has set April 28 as a deadline for Tehran to halt enrichment.
ElBaradei said that talks on the "difficult and important" issue would continue.
"I can tell you on the issue of cooperation to resolve outstanding issues, Mr Larijani renewed his commitment that the Islamic republic of Iran will accelerate its efforts to work with us in next couple of weeks to provide clarity to the issue that we need to clarify," he said.
Brother of Saddam’s son-in-law murdered
(Updated at 2100 PST)
BAGHDAD: Brother of former Iraqi president Saddam’s son-in-law has been killed after he was kidnapped.
According to Saddam’s relatives in Oman as reported by a Franceh news agency told Jamal Kamil Hassan, 36, was abducted from Iraq and his kidnappers had demanded US$ 1 million ransom for his release.
However, the kidnappers have murdered Jamal Kamil Hassan for low payment of ransom for his release and his dead body was laid in a Baghdad’s morgue.
The Iraqi security forces have not confirmed the death as yet.
Mufti Muneeb says case of Karachi tragedy lodged in divine court
(Updated at 2055 PST)
Karachi: Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman has said that Almighty Allah is always on the side of those who act with patience and tolerance.
While addressing a large gathering before the funeral prayer of Nishtar Park incident’s martyrs he said that the nation should act patiently. He said that the case has been lodged in the divine court and hope for justice is attached to only Almighty Allah.
Funeral prayer of martyrs performed in Karachi
(Updated at 2040 PST)
KARACHI: The Funeral prayer of central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek Abbas Qadri, Akram Qadri, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Iftikhar Bhatti was performed here at the Jaama Cloth market.
Noted religious scholar and Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, performed the funeral prayer.
Prominent religious and political leaders of different religious and political parties, PML-N's Saleem Zia, Peoples Party's Nisar Khoro, Allama Shah Turab-ul-Haq, a huge number of activists of Sunni Tehreek and local people attended the funeral prayer.
Dead bodies of Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer will be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while body of Akram Qadri was taken to New Karachi where he will be laid to rest at the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 area as per his father’s wish.
Security measures have been beefed up and heavy contingency of the police and Rangers troops have been deployed at different sensitive places.
Troops of Army are patrolling in different parts of the city to avoid any untoward mishap.
Saudi Crown Prince to visit Pakistan on Apr 15
(Updated at 2010 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will be
accorded warm welcome when he arrives here on April 15 on two days visit to Pakistan.
Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General of the Kingdom had earlier visited Pakistan in 1981 and 1999 in his capacity as defence minister.
Pakistan will be the last leg of the Prince's three-nation Asia tour that also included Japan and Singapore.
During his two-day stay in Islamabad, the Prince will hold talks with President General Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
A banquet and an official lunch will be hosted in his honour by the President and the Prime Minister.
Bodies of martyred Sunni Tehreek’s leaders at main office
(Updated at 1940 PST) By Aga Khalid
KARACHI: Corpses of central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr. Abdul Qadeer have been brought at the Sunni Tehreek Center here, while the corpses of Maullana Abbas Qadri and Akram Qadri would be brought a while later as they are en route to the Center.
A big number of people have gathered at the Sunni Tehreek Center and are hurling slogans.
Funeral prayer of the Martyred souls would be performed here at the M.A. Jinnah road near Jaamah Cloth market.
Dead bodies of Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer would be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while martyred Akram Qadri would be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 in New Karachi as per his father’s wish.
Security measures have been beefed up and heavy contingency of police and Rangers troops have been deployed at all the routes going to the Sunni Tehreek Center and everyone is being searched going there.
Japan condemns Karachi blast, condoles over deaths
(Updated at 1915 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has strongly condemned the bomb attack that occurred at Serat-un-Nabi conference at Nishter Park, Karachi on April 11, 2006.
In a statement issued here by Embassy of Japan on Thursday, Government expressed deepest condolences to the victims of the attacks and their bereaved families and heartfelt sympathy for those injured in the incident.
Japanese Government reaffirmed its position that terrorism cannot be justified by any reason and reiterated its condemnation for any type of terrorism. Japan assured that it would continue to
strengthen its cooperation with Pakistan in the international efforts for tackling terrorism.
Afghan leader, Indian PM urge joint fight against terrorism
(Updated at 1910 PST)
NEW DELHI: Afghan President Hamid Karzai Thursday ended a trip to India during which leaders of both sides called for a pooling of resources to fight terrorism and urged that Pakistan join their efforts.
Karzai, on his second visit to India in two years, won his host's backing for his efforts to counter terrorism in Afghanistan, said an official statement following talks between him and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh.
Singh suggested at a news conference Monday that New Delhi, Kabul and Islamabad pool resources to curb terrorism which he said was affecting all three countries.
"Terrorism today has acquired new dimensions and I find in our region even Pakistan is not immune from terrorism," Singh told reporters.
Pakistan hands telecom firm to Etisalat
(Updated at 1905 PST)
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have passed control of the country's largest telecom to United Arab Emirates Etisalat, after a bid of 2.6 billion dollars in June last year, officials said Thursday.
The management control of Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) was formally transferred to Etisalat late Wednesday in Islamabad by inducting its directors at the board of PTCL.
"The nominees of Etisalat were formally co-opted on the PTCL board and its group of companies to complete formal handing over of the company's management to the new owner," a spokesman of state-run Privatisation Commission said.
The deal had foundered in October when Etisalat failed to meet a deadline for full payment but marathon talks between Pakistan and the UAE based firm saved the sale.
The Share Purchase Agreement was finally signed last month after Etisalat paid the initial amount of 1.4 billion dollars, the official said requesting anonymity.
Under the agreement the balance of 1.2 billion dollars will be paid in nine equal installments on a half-yearly basis, he said.
The government is planning privatisation of several state-run companies, including Pakistan's largest petroleum marketing company, gas companies and other units.
The sale of state assets is to help repay 36.7 billion dollars in foreign loans and finance development projects at home, where more than a third of the population live in poverty.
More troops being deployed as tensions mounts in bomb-hit Karachi
(Updated at 1900 PST)
KARACHI: Troops were being deployed in Karachi on Thursday as trouble broke out before funerals for Sunni Muslim leaders who were among 57 people killed in a suicide blast two days ago.
Angry youths wielding sticks torched at least four buses and one car, police said. They burnt tyres in the street and forced shops in the city to close.
Most petrol stations and markets were shut and the government has closed educational institutions for three days.
"The army has been deployed at sensitive places in the city to assist the civil administration in case of any eventuality," a military spokesman told.
"It is a preventative deployment." Organisers said they expect thousands of people to attend funeral prayers for Sunni leaders later Thursday in the volatile port city.
Ten top leaders of the Sunni Tehreek religious party, including its chief Abbas Qadri, were among those killed in the blast on Tuesday at Karachi's Nishtar Park during a ceremony to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but there were fears it could start a fresh cycle of sectarian violence between militants from Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shiite communities.
Police and paramilitary soldiers have been deployed in strength in the area around Qadri's home. Regular troops paraded along major roads before taking up positions at intersections.
Sunni groups said the protest over the bombing would continue until Sunday. A six-party religious alliance known as Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal decided to observe Friday as a "black day" of protest.
The moderate Sunni Tehreek religious party said it had received threats before Tuesday's attack. It has given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to catch the culprits.
"Karachi is mourning the death of so many religious leaders and scholars," said Shahid Ghori, head of a three-member supervisory committee which will run the party's affairs after the bombing wiped out its top leadership.
"We have presented our demands to the government, it is up to them to arrest the culprits," Ghori told reporters.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who flew to Karachi and met religious leaders, said investigators were looking into all aspects. "I assure you we will unearth the culprits," he said.
Police detained a man belonging to the Shiite sect who was injured in the blast.
Mohammad Hussain Balti "is being questioned for his presence in a Sunni congregation," a senior police officer told on condition of anonymity.Police investigators have also released the photograph of the face of a suspected suicide bomber.
"We may still wait for one or two days if someone comes to identify the suspect, a bearded man who looked like an ethnic Pashtun or an Afghan," chief investigator Manzoor Mughal said.
Tuesday's attack was the deadliest in Pakistan since a double bombing in Karachi in 1987 killed more than 70 people. Islamabad blamed that attack on Afghan intelligence agents.
Pak-US civil nuke deal possible: US Senator
(Updated at 1750 PST)
Islamabad: Visiting US Senator Chuck Hagel on Thursday said that the U.S. offer to supply rival India with civil nuclear technology would ever be extended to Pakistan.
Hagel did not rule out the eventuality and said, "There may well be a future agreement between Pakistan and the U.S.”
President Pervez Musharraf earlier expressed concerns on the implications of the U.S.-India nuclear deal for regional stability and security.
Musharraf made the remarks when he met with U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, who called on him in Rawalpindi, a Pakistani foreign ministry statement said.
He also said Pakistan must have access to civil nuclear energy and look forward to international cooperation in this regard.
Pakistan's expanding energy requirements would be met through a verity of sources, including nuclear power generation, said Musharraf.
Hagel expressed appreciation for Pakistan's role in fighting extremism and terrorism.
While talking on Iran’s issue Hagel informed, “I do not expect any kind of military solution on the Iran issue,"
Hagel said President George W. Bush and senior members of his cabinet had said the military option was not a responsible approach to resolving the issues.
"I think to further comment on it would be complete speculation, but I would say that a military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option," he added.
IAEA chief backs Iran negotiations
(Updated at 1735 PST)
TEHRAN: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency today said the "time is right for a political solution" to the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme.
Speaking after the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had defied international calls for the programme to be halted, Mohamed ElBaradei said: "The way is negotiations."
The UN nuclear watchdog's chief was speaking after arriving in Tehran for talks intended "to clarify remaining issues about Iran's nuclear programme".
He said Iran should suspend nuclear activities as a confidence-building measure "until outstanding issues are clarified".
"I would like to see Iran come to terms with the requests of the international community," he added.
Yesterday, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran would ignore international pressure to halt uranium enrichment. He pledged to press ahead with industrial-scale uranium enrichment and said the world must treat Iran as a nuclear power.
"We know they [the US and its allies] are waiting for us to retreat an inch so that they use that [against us]," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted him as saying.
"Today, our situation has changed completely. We are a nuclear country and speak to others from the position of a nuclear country. We won't hold talks with anyone about the right of Iranian nation [to enrich uranium] and no one has the right to retreat, even one iota."
Two days ago, the Iranian president revealed his country had for the first time enriched uranium to a level used in power stations.
The declaration sparked international concern, but western diplomats and atomic experts said Iran was still far from producing the weapons-grade uranium needed to produce nuclear warheads.
There are suspicions that Iran could be exaggerating the rate of its progress to enhance its standing as a potential member of the "nuclear club".
The US said the UN security council, which can impose sanctions, must take "strong steps" to prevent further nuclear activity by Tehran.
KSE-100 index closes on positive note, up 69 points
(Updated at 1720 PST)
KARACHI: Mournful atmosphere prevailed today at the Karachi Stock Exchange following the Nishtar Park tragedy that claimed around fifty lives.
While the trading at the start remained caught in stress, trading in oil and gas sector took the index to a new record height.
The 100-index closed at 12061, up 69 points.
Today’s trading session opened with 55 points down due to two days’ closing following the Nishtar Park tragedy.
Nerve-racking trading was witnessed in the oil and gas, cement and banking sectors, pushing the index as low as 99 points. But, trading in Pakistan Oil Fields, OGDC and Adamjee Insurance drove the index into a positive zone.
Later, the index again collapsed into a negative zone owing to skewed trading in fertilizer and banking sectors.
Despite the fluctuation, the index eventually managed to close on a positive note, gaining 69 points.
Sri Lanka Tigers seek to postpone Swiss talks
(Updated at 1540 PST)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels asked peacebroker Norway to postpone ceasefire talks scheduled for next week in Switzerland amid rising violence in the island, a guerrilla official told foreign news agency.
Afghan, coalition forces launch major anti-Taliban operation
(Updated at 1500 PST)
KABUL: Thousands of Afghan and coalition troops backed by US and British warplanes continued strikes on Thursday on a known insurgent area in a major new operation in eastern Afghanistan.
About 2,500 troops launched Operation Mountain Lion Wednesday with a series of predawn air and ground assaults in eastern Kunar province, in one of their biggest campaigns since the overthrow of Taliban government in late 2001.
The US military said late Tuesday six insurgents were killed at the start of the assault, seen as direct retaliation to a new spring offensive launched by the Taliban with a stream of suicide blasts and other attacks.
Zawahiri praises insurgency
(Updated at 1450 PST)
BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in a video praising insurgents in Iraq, and in particular, militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
He describes Zarqawi, a Jordanian and the leading Jihadi militant in Iraq, as his "beloved brother" and calls on Muslims to support him.
"I have lived with him up close and have seen nothing but good from him," Zawahiri says in the video.
The tape dated November 2005 appeared on the internet on Thursday.
FC fort attacked in Dera Bugti
(Updated at 1400 PST)
DERA BUGTI: Miscreants attacked FC fort here on Thursday, however, no loss of life was reported.
The FC personnel successfully controlled the situation and the assailants fled when the security forces started fire in retaliation, the sources said.
The security forces also defused land mine, which was aimed at destroying tanks, at Pir Koh near Dera Bugti.
Meanwhile, land mine explosion occurred in Kohlu near a check post of FC, but here also no casualty was reported.
Australia win first test against Bangladesh
(Updated at 1355 PST)
FATULLAH: Australia wins the first cricket test against Bangladesh by three wickets on Thursday.
Scores: Bangladesh first innings 427 and second innings 148.
Australia first innings 269 and second innings 307-7.
Gunmen storm Palestinian PM's office
(Updated at 1340 PST)
RAMALLAH: Around 20 gunmen from the radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade on Thursday stormed the Palestinian prime minister's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, a security source said.
Rocket strikes near Afghan presidential palace
(Updated at 1320 PST)
KABUL: A rocket fired by unknown attackers struck a few hundred meters from the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital and landed in a defence ministry compound, the interior ministry on Thursday.
The rocket, fired about 10:00 pm (1630 GMT) Wednesday, caused no casualties, ministry spokesman Yousuf Stanizai said.
The defence ministry compound is near the palace, where President Hamid Karzai lives and works. But the rocket hit while he was on an official visit to India.
Salman Khan gets bail
(Updated at 1300 PST)
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Thursday granted bail in the 1998 black buck hunting case. He will be set free by evening.
The actor spent three nights in Jodhpur jail.
Salman was on Monday sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment and sent to central jail in Jodhpur by a local court in connection with the 1998 black buck poaching case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Brijendra Kumar Jain had also imposed Rs 25,000 fine on the star, who was taken into custody and sent to the jail.
Al-Qaeda man killed in N. Waziristan security forces’ raid
(Updated at 1245 PST)
MIRAN SHAH: At least eight people including five foreigners were killed in an air raid by Pakistan security forces on their hideout in Nagar area of North Waziristan tribal region.
One of the slain foreigners was identified, as Mohsin Musa wanted to the United States with US five million dollars’ head money.
The security forces used two Cobra helicopter gunships in attack on a compound in Nagar, six km south of Miranshah, the main town of the North Waziristan region, after the security forces received information about the presence of foreign fighters there.
Security forces also attacked hideouts of miscreants with artillery fire, while helicopter gunships also aid the forces with aerial raid.
Sherpao, Ijazul Haq visit Sunni Tehrik office
(Updated at 1235 PST)
KARACHI: Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Minister of Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq and other top government officials visited central office of Sunni Tehrik and expressed sympathies with caretaker leaders of the party over losses of life in Nishtar Park incident.
Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Ijazul Haq accompanied by CCPO Karachi and other high officials reached to the central office of Sunni Tehrik on the night between Wednesday and Thursday. They condoled deaths of Ulema with Sunni Tehrik leaders and expressed their sympathies with bereaved families.
Caretaker leader of Sunni Tehrik Nadeem Ghouri expressed his party’s reservations to the ministers. He also demanded of the federal government for end of no go areas in Karachi.
Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao assured the Sunni Tehrik leaders that investigation of the incident being carried out by the federal and provincial governments in a proper way.
Nishtar Park tragedy case yet to be registered
(Updated at 1210 PST)
KARACHI: The Soldier Bazaar police have not yet registered any case even after passing 36 hours of Tuesday’s blast.
According to police, daily dairy (Roznamcha) of the police station had been stopped and police is waiting for complainant to lodge FIR.
The police sources added that permission of the public meeting was issued on the name of Shah Turabul Haq and legally he should be the complainant of the case.
So far nobody has contacted the police, therefore, police gathering information themselves. Police have recorded statements of over dozen of witnesses including some injured. CID Police, Investigation and other agencies are investigating the incident.
Malaria kills 35 in India
(Updated at 1200 PST)
GUWAHATI: Indian authorities in the northeastern state of Assam sounded a health alert on Thursday on a malaria epidemic that has claimed at least 35 lives and affected 20,000 people.
"A maximum alert has been sounded across Assam, and medical teams are working on a war footing to check the spread of malaria," Assam health minister Bhumidhar Barman told media.
Troops called in Karachi
(Updated at 1110 PST) By Afzal Nadeem
KARACHI: Authorities have called army in Karachi to extend help in maintenance of law and order in the city.
According to a statement released by the ISPR, the troops have been deployed at sensitive areas in the city and would assist the civil administration to avoid any untoward incident.
Life stands still in Karachi on second day of Nishtar Park tragedy
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Two news item from Khawaja Saqrat Correspondent at Chakwal
By Our Correspondent
CHAKWAL, April 8: Three persons including an Imam Masjid were killed on
three different incidents on Saturday, while two of them were in mysterious
condition. Kallar Kahar Police recovered an unidentified dead body of 65
years old person near Motorway interchange and he was immediately rushed to
District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal for autopsy. An other young man of 35
years old was expired at District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal and his
identification was also not ascertained yet as he was brought to District
Headquarter Hospital Chakwal by mysterious people some three days ago and
they disappeared from the scene. The dead body was taken into City Police
custody and he was referred for autopsy. The cause of death would be exposed
after the postmortem reports. In the meantime an Imam Masjid was rammed by
speedy truck at Chakwal Talagang Road near village Oudherwal, while his
three years old minor girl received multiple injuries. Imam Masjid Israr
Ahmed along with his three years old minor daughter was on its way to
Chakwal on his cycle, when a speedy truck no. JU-190 hit them, resulting
killing of Israr Ahmed on the spot. The truck driver was managed to make
good his escape from the scene, while Sadar Police Chakwal registered a case
against him.
By Our Correspondent
CHAKWAL, April 8: All the basis health units, 9 rural health centers and
District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal would be upgraded through a master
plan initiated by provincial and District Government Chakwal and 150 bedded
Hospital would be established at Chakwal City, to extend present DHQ
Hospital Chakwal. This was stated by EDO Health District Chakwal Dr. Iqbal
Kahout on Saturday, while addressing the participants of third annual Heart
Walk. The walk was arranged by local cardiologist Raja Mehdi Hasan with the
coordination of various organizations. Heart walk started from District
Headquarter Hospital Chakwal and it was inaugurated by renowned cardiologist
Professor Nusrat Ara, while the people from all walk of life participated in
the walk. The participants were carrying banners and play cards and various
slogans to highlight the cause of heart deceases were inscribed on it. Later
on heart walk converted into a big gathering at civil club Chakwal, where
Doctor Raja Mehdi Hasan briefed the participants about the heart diseased
and he highlighted that light exercise, 40 minutes walk every day and
balance diet was the right answer to avoid heart diseases. The other
speakers who expressed their feelings Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq, MS DHQ Chakwal
Doctor Tauqeer Minhas, Aqeel Ahmed Janjua and Raja Mujahid Afsar. Professor
Dr. Nusrat Ara also spoke on this occasion and she was of the view that the
mental pressure was the main cause of heart diseased. She suggested that
people adopt the habit of walking and fatness was also another main reason
of the heart disease.
_________________________________________________________________
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CHAKWAL, April 8: Three persons including an Imam Masjid were killed on
three different incidents on Saturday, while two of them were in mysterious
condition. Kallar Kahar Police recovered an unidentified dead body of 65
years old person near Motorway interchange and he was immediately rushed to
District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal for autopsy. An other young man of 35
years old was expired at District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal and his
identification was also not ascertained yet as he was brought to District
Headquarter Hospital Chakwal by mysterious people some three days ago and
they disappeared from the scene. The dead body was taken into City Police
custody and he was referred for autopsy. The cause of death would be exposed
after the postmortem reports. In the meantime an Imam Masjid was rammed by
speedy truck at Chakwal Talagang Road near village Oudherwal, while his
three years old minor girl received multiple injuries. Imam Masjid Israr
Ahmed along with his three years old minor daughter was on its way to
Chakwal on his cycle, when a speedy truck no. JU-190 hit them, resulting
killing of Israr Ahmed on the spot. The truck driver was managed to make
good his escape from the scene, while Sadar Police Chakwal registered a case
against him.
By Our Correspondent
CHAKWAL, April 8: All the basis health units, 9 rural health centers and
District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal would be upgraded through a master
plan initiated by provincial and District Government Chakwal and 150 bedded
Hospital would be established at Chakwal City, to extend present DHQ
Hospital Chakwal. This was stated by EDO Health District Chakwal Dr. Iqbal
Kahout on Saturday, while addressing the participants of third annual Heart
Walk. The walk was arranged by local cardiologist Raja Mehdi Hasan with the
coordination of various organizations. Heart walk started from District
Headquarter Hospital Chakwal and it was inaugurated by renowned cardiologist
Professor Nusrat Ara, while the people from all walk of life participated in
the walk. The participants were carrying banners and play cards and various
slogans to highlight the cause of heart deceases were inscribed on it. Later
on heart walk converted into a big gathering at civil club Chakwal, where
Doctor Raja Mehdi Hasan briefed the participants about the heart diseased
and he highlighted that light exercise, 40 minutes walk every day and
balance diet was the right answer to avoid heart diseases. The other
speakers who expressed their feelings Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq, MS DHQ Chakwal
Doctor Tauqeer Minhas, Aqeel Ahmed Janjua and Raja Mujahid Afsar. Professor
Dr. Nusrat Ara also spoke on this occasion and she was of the view that the
mental pressure was the main cause of heart diseased. She suggested that
people adopt the habit of walking and fatness was also another main reason
of the heart disease.
_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now!
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Saturday, April 8, 2006
A upa ….ne! Ka upa ne.
Few words from HAKA
A upa ….ne! Ka upa ne.
English translation
One up ward step! An other up ward step!
Sohni Dharti is taking one step up word , Now you can leave your name and Ph. numbers in Sohni Dhartian Directory for other Sohni Dhartian’ to contact each other in time of need , we would like to request PANZ G/body and executives to leave their contacts numbers so members can contact them , instead of asking around
See Sohni Dhartian Directory in task bar on left
Friday, April 7, 2006
SEERAT-UL-NABI
Pakistan Welfare & Cultural Society's Ladies Wing is
going to organize a special programme
Seerat-ul-Nabi
&
Hamd-o-Naht
(for ladies & kids only)
Programme includes Tlavat, Hamd-o-Naht, speeches on Seerat-ul-Nabi and many other religious items.
All muslim ladies & kids (whatever sect they may belong to) are invited to participate & attend
this programme.
This INSHALLAH is going to be the first programme organized solely by the Ladies Wing
of PWCS.
For more info. contact:
President Mrs. Lubna Ehsan 2570926
V. President Mrs. Shabana Waqar 6275300
G. Secretary Mrs. Mehwish Zia 0275465400
J. Secretary Mrs. Rubab Shehzad 0272770077
Date: 23rd of April (sunday)
Time: 2pm
Venue: Halsey Dr. School, Linfield
Thursday, April 6, 2006
PANZ Constitutional ammendments proposed in AGM 2006
Proposed Constitutional Amendments in AGM 2006
In recently held Annual General Meeting of Pakistan Association of New Zealand, certain constitutional amendments
were presented and accepted by the house. As lot of queries have come up since then about these proposed changes. A summary
is provided here for community reference
Constitution of PANZ also went under addition/deletion changes process in Annual General Meeting. Former PANZ President
Shahid Azad started by suggesting the following additions/alterations
1-He said that objectives of PANZ cover most of the requirements but current circumstances call for an important addition of
better understanding and interaction with
objectives of Pakistan Association of New Zealand that would be placed as clause 2-o in the constitution
2-o.To suggest/plan ways and means for better interaction as well integration of
The clause was unanimously accepted by the house.
2-He suggested that current names assigned to the respective bodies(Executive and General Committee) are not in line with the
meaning of the words, and nature of the jobs assigned to these committees. He said that General Committee consisting of President,
VP, Gen Sex, Joint Sec and Treasurer does day to day handling and hence should be named as Executives(as it happens every
where in the world).The current executive committee
is basically a forum for check and balance or monitoring. They should have a separate name. A lively debate went on this topic.
The house endorsed the suggestion of changing the name of General Committee into Executive Council while the name for the
other committee (previously Executive Committee) will be announced after the consultation of three Executive Members as well
as suggestion from public. This clause when finalized would be placed in clause 4 and all other relevant places in the
constitution.
3-He also suggested to add a portfolio of spokesperson in already existing five posts of General Committee for the reason
that organization needs someone to deal with media-outlets more effectively as issues of sensitive nature keep coming up
at regular intervals of time. He also suggested that the proposed person should be highly efficient in accent, have
comprehension and grasp on issues in light of PANZ cabinet decisions. The suggestion was discussed thoroughly and it was
decided that for remaining period of current PANZ, cabinet will select its own spokesperson while from next election the post
will be a part of already existing portfolios that would become 6 instead of 5.Election commission would specially advise
the contesting panels to follow the required traits for spokesperson. The clause when finalized would be placed at 4a
and other relevant places in the constitution.
4-He also suggested making changes in power distribution of the two respective bodies so that it becomes more balanced. He
said that current constitution was circumstantial and is product of intra-power struggle of a particular time. It needs to
be rectified. He suggested that while General Committee(present) is fully answerable to the Executive body(present) and can be
Dissolved if it doesn’t function properly, there is no provision in the constitution for accountability of Executive Committee.
He said that there can be circumstances when Executive Committee may overlook its responsibilities, so there should be an
Accountability mechanism within constitution to deal with such situation. He suggested that people should have power to do
accountability and they might call a Special General Meeting with 2/3rd signatures of PANZ members as pre-requisite of
convening any such meeting. The house discussed in detail the various other proposals. Few suggested to add Executive Committee
members number from 3to 5 and give them powers according to the number of votes. That would set things right if Executives
Committee is not functioning properly, they suggested. Majority of the house disagreed to this later proposal. It was decided to
continue the debate until a solution is reached.
5- Ata Qureshi who had early withdrawn two of his three proposals, suggested that Long Term Business Visa holders should have right to
contest elections as they are back-bone of PANZ on financial side. This initiated another long discussion involving student
rights
to be a part of contesting panels as well. Majority of the house accepted the amendment with the condition that Contesting panels and
Election Commission should make sure that the relevant contestants have two years Work Visa at least. This clause would be
placed on relevant places both in PANZ constitution as well as in Election Rules formulated by Election Commission at the
time of election, duly executed by Executive Committee.
IMTIAZ KHAN
G.S
PAKISTAAN ASSOCIATION OF
HAKA
Once it is said if you have not seen Lahore you have not been born. Just like that. If you live in New Zealand and don’t know about haka you are not very genius
HAKA is basically a war dance in other world a challenge to your opponent .There are too many HAKAs are out there every tribe has its own HAKA .But the most famous HAKA is All Blacks HAKA which they perform before every match in front of their opponent .called Ka Mate, was composed about 1820 by Te Rauparaha , paramount chief of Ngati Toa. The words are:
Ka Mate Ka Mate! KA ora! Ka ora!(twice)
I die! I die! I live! I live!
Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
This hairy man .
Nana nei I tiki mai
Who fetched the sun
Whakawhiti te ra
And cause it to shine again
A upa ….ne! Ka upa ne.
One up ward step! An other up ward step!
A upan kaupane whiti te ra
An upwards step, an other upwards step….the Sun shine
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Lawn Movers
One afternoon, a man was riding in the back of his limousine when he saw two men eating grass by the road side. He ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate.
"Why are you eating grass?"he asked one man.
"We don't have any money for food.", The poorman replied. "Oh, come along
with me then." "But sir, I have a wife with two children!"
"Bring them along! And you, come with us too!",he said to the other man.
"But sir, I have a wife with six children!" the second man answered.
Lawn Movers
"Bring them as well!"
They all climbed into the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as
large as the limo.
Once underway, one of the poor fellows says "Sir, you are too kind. Thank
you for taking all of us with you."
The rich man replied "No, I appreciate you: the grass at my home is about
three feet tall!"
Monday, April 3, 2006
Rubbish bin
everybody is a genius in Nz specially in our community there are so many people who thinks they are blessed with good brains and abilities I still remember a Kulfi seller of Pakistan who after his work sat at tea shop with a Paan in his mouth and smoke in his fingure he delivered wisdom there in his disciples (students) one day he was saying to his followers everyday go to bath room early in the morning is no good for health becaze in this way we spoil our food and give it less time tobe digested in our stomch and become blood I don't know what his followers did next day but Im sure here so many Kulfi frosh intellectuals are giving such suggestions everyday they have their own standard of good and bad and they change every day if they are in mosque will say KunjarKhana is bad thing but if they are in dancing hall will dance and drink such people are trying hard to become something but we should know there is always a differenc between rubbish and flower bin.
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