Journalists arrested from KPC released (Posted at 2205)
KARACHI: All the journalists arrested from Karachi Press Club have been released after Governor Isharatul Ibad Khan ordered their release on Tuesday night.According to Press Secretary to Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, the Sindh Governor issued orders for the release of journalists.Earlier today in the afternoon, police baton charged journalists protesting against ban on Geo Television Network and curbs on media outside the Karachi Press Club and arrested over 200 of them including five ladies journalists.According to reports the representatives of media were going to the Governor House to talk with the authorities when police stopped them. Thereupon, the journalists staged a sit-in protest, but the police starting to arrest them. Chasing the journalists’ policemen entered in Karachi Press Club premises and started baton charge over the newsmen in the club wounding several of them. Those arrested by the police included Geo News journalists Afzal Nadeem Doggar, Abdul Rahman, Tariq Abul Hassan, Tariq Moin, Fahim Siddiqui, Raja Kamran, Najeeb Ahmed, Akhtar Minhas, Faisal Shakeel, Waseem Ahmed, Faisal Aziz, Ghulam Mustafa, Nizam Siddiqui, Mujeed-ur-Rahman, Musa Kaleem, Raja Tariq, Fayyaz Mangi, Ovais Tohid, Muhammad Nazeer, Yaqub Haroon, Dodo Chandio, Asif Mehmood, Akhdar Awan, Ahmed Khan, Qazi Hassan, Naseem Rajpur, Junaid Mumtaz Awan, Amir Ahmed Khan, Shoaib Ahmed, Shoaib Khan Baloch, Javed Mehmend, Muhammad Nazeer, Faizan, Tanveer, Irfan-ul-Haq, Zarrar Khan, Mehboob Akhtar Rind, Bilquis Jehan, Shakeel Salawat, Lalarukh, President Karachi Press Club Sabeehuddin Ghausi, Secretary Imtiaz Faran, President KUJ Shamim-ur-Rahman, treasurer Amir Latif, A.H. Khanzada, Shakeel Khan, Arbab Chandio, Raza Hassan, Arif Kazmi, Hassan Rana, Muhammad Suleman, Khawar Khan, Nawab Ali Shah, Asif Alam, Liaquat Mughal, Shams Imran, Kashif Hussain, Asghar Umar, Ali Shah, Imtiaz Chandio, Zulfiqar Sanwal Shaikh, Yousuf Khan, Mukarram Kaleem, Huma Imtiaz, Faizan Lakhani, Idris Bakhtiar and other leaders of Karachi journalists. The injured journalists were rushed to hospital for medical treatment. The journalist circles strongly condemned this police action.The arrested men were kept at various police stations including Clifton police station and Darakhshan police station. However, after the directives from Sindh Governor, four journalists were taken to some unknown place. On this, the other journalists refused to be freed; however afterwards, all the detained journalists were released.On this occasion, the freed journalists raised slogans for freedom of press.
Qazi asks opposition parties to jointly boycott elections (Posted at 2315)
LAHORE: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal president Qazi Hussain Ahmed has said that the government is determined to hold fake elections through Election Commission and under such a situation all opposition parties should boycott them unanimously. He was addressing a public rally staged under the aegis of women wing of Jammt-i-Islami at Mansoorah here on Tuesday. The wife of Qazi Hussain Ahmed led the protest rally, while Samia Raheel Qazi, Humera Tariq, Afia Sarwar, Humera Ehtesham, Rabia Tariq and Uneza Hassan were among the prominent women leaders who took part in the protest demonstration. Qazi called elections as trapped and said that present regime was trying to tie the nation into clutches of slavery. We want to boycott the elections with the consultation of APDM and we would also wait PPP for decision in this regard. Jammat-i-Islami would not take step to boycott the elections alone, he observed. Qazi termed the imposition of emergency as martial law, adding that if political parties would participate in the elections, they would prove proclamation of the emergency. He said that all opposition parties should start agitation against it. Qazi Hussain said that Islami Jammiat-i-Talba should apologize from Imran Khan open heartedly and they should start a movement for his release because it was a plan formed by the government.
US envoy meets Maulana Fazl: embassy (Posted at 2245)
ISLAMABAD: The US ambassador to Pakistan met with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday, the embassy said.Anne Patterson met Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat-ulema-Islam party, embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton said. Patterson's meeting with Rehman came a day after she held talks with opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Patterson and Rehman discussed a range of issues, including "the importance of having free and fair elections," Colton was quoted as saying. "She also discussed importance of lifting the state of emergency," Colton said, adding that "it was a good meeting." It was the US envoy's second meeting with Rehman, Colton said. The first was before the imposition of emergency rule on November 3. The ambassador is expected to meet other political leaders in coming days, she added. On Monday, Patterson travelled to Karachi to meet former premier Bhutto after Washington called for a resumption of power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf. Chief election commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced earlier Tuesday that Pakistan will go to the polls on January 8 despite threats of a boycott by some opposition parties. Reports here say neither Bhutto nor Rehman favour a boycott, while exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, do.
Abbas handed invite for Nov 27 US peace meet: aide (Posted at 2220)
RAMALLAH: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas received an official invitation on Tuesday from President George W. Bush to attend a US peace conference starting on November 27, his spokesman said. "President Abbas received the invitation" to attend the key meeting that will officially kick off in the city of Annapolis, near Washington, next Tuesday, Nabil Abu Rudeina said while talking to a French news agency.
US military chief refuses to rule out military option over Iran (Posted at 2140)
WASHINGTON: The top US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen Tuesday refused to rule out the military option over the Iran nuclear crisis, but stressed the importance of diplomacy in resolving the standoff. "I would never take the military option off the table," Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a briefing on US national security. But he stressed that "doesn't mean it would be used" adding "diplomacy is very important."
Journalists refuse to be freed, as 4 shifted to unknown place (Posted at 2130)
KARACHI: The Karachi police shifted at least four journalists after they were arrested from Karachi Press Club. Following this, the other journalists refused to be freed on Tuesday night.According to Press Secretary to Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, the Sindh Governor issued verbal orders for the release of journalists.There are reports that Moosa Kaleem, Asghar Omar, Ghulam Mustafa and AH Khanzada have been shifted to some unknown place.After this measure by the police, the arrested journalists refused to be released and no men is set free as yet.
Musharraf meets Saudi King and other officials in Riyadh (Posted at 2115)
RIYADH: President General Pervez Musharraf met Tuesday different officials of Saudi Arab officials including the Custodian of two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia and expressed consensus over need for reinvigorating efforts to combat extremism and terrorism as it poses a threat to the world peace. King Abdullah and President Musharraf were of the view that terrorism in the name of religion was a blot on the Muslims and Islam, which preaches peace, tolerance and compassion and rejects violence and extremist behaviour. The two leaders who met exclusively at the Royal Palace here also discussed regional and international issues, bilateral affairs and security issues. They reviewed the situation in Middle East, the ongoing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan. They agreed on further strengthening cooperation on security issues, with an increased exchange of information and sharing of intelligence to effectively counter the threat of militancy and terrorism. King Abdullah and President Musharraf discussed ways for further augmenting political, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries, specially through joint ventures and private public partnership. The Saudi monarch said the Kingdom stands for peace and stability in Pakistan as it plays a pivotal role in the region's security and added that its progress and prosperity was vital for the Kingdom. President Musharraf briefed the King about the circumstances leading to imposition of emergency in the country and said the law and order situation, growing terrorism and militancy and the conflict between the judiciary and other pillars of State i.e. the executive and the legislature, had left him with little choice but to take the most difficult decision. The President informed the Custodian of two Holy Mosques that the caretaker governments have been setup at the federal and the provincial levels and will oversee the holding of free and transparent elections. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan was in high gear to hold the next general election on January 8 for a smooth transition to a complete civilian rule. The President said he would also doff his uniform as soon as the Supreme Court of Pakistan permits the notification of the result of the Presidential election, in which he got 57 per cent votes from the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies. The President was to arrive in Jeddah later Tuesday to perform Umrah.
18 dead bodies recovered; govt forces take control of Parachinar (Posted at 2045) KURRAM AGENCY: The government security forces have taken control of the Kurram Agency area of Parachinalr; while, the political administrations recovered 18 dead bodies from various parts of the city on Tuesday.According to sources, after the security forces took control of the area in the wake of prolonged clashes between tow rival tribes, the firing spell has come to a halt.Meantime, the local political administrations recovered 18 dead bodies, who were killed in the clashes from various parts of the city.It should be mentioned that the five-day clashes in Parachinar area claimed the lives of 117 people and at least 260 people were injured.The power supply and the transportation means to the area are still cut off owing to the clashes.The Peace Jirga members from Hangu said that the talks with veterans of Parachinar would once again be held tomorrow (Wednesday).
3000 arrested after emergency rule released: Cheema (Posted at 2030)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Tuesday it had released more than 3,000 men jailed under President Pervez Musharraf's emergency ruleInterior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema said while talking to a French news agencgy that 3,416 lawyers and political activists arrested since the emergency was imposed on November 3 had already been released, while the remaining 2,000 would be freed "soon". "While peaceful protests are a part of the democratic process, the federal and provincial governments shall not brook any attempt to create disturbances in the run-up to the elections," Cheema said. Others facing criminal charges, including hunger-striking cricket legend Imran Khan, must apply for bail in the courts to be released, he said. The White House gave a cautious welcome to the release, saying it would be "a positive development" if confirmed. "As the situation evolves we are getting closer, hopefully, to when the emergency order will be lifted, the elections will be held, and that President Musharraf will take off the uniform and be a civilian president rather than trying to be both," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
KARACHI: All the journalists arrested from Karachi Press Club have been released after Governor Isharatul Ibad Khan ordered their release on Tuesday night.According to Press Secretary to Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, the Sindh Governor issued orders for the release of journalists.Earlier today in the afternoon, police baton charged journalists protesting against ban on Geo Television Network and curbs on media outside the Karachi Press Club and arrested over 200 of them including five ladies journalists.According to reports the representatives of media were going to the Governor House to talk with the authorities when police stopped them. Thereupon, the journalists staged a sit-in protest, but the police starting to arrest them. Chasing the journalists’ policemen entered in Karachi Press Club premises and started baton charge over the newsmen in the club wounding several of them. Those arrested by the police included Geo News journalists Afzal Nadeem Doggar, Abdul Rahman, Tariq Abul Hassan, Tariq Moin, Fahim Siddiqui, Raja Kamran, Najeeb Ahmed, Akhtar Minhas, Faisal Shakeel, Waseem Ahmed, Faisal Aziz, Ghulam Mustafa, Nizam Siddiqui, Mujeed-ur-Rahman, Musa Kaleem, Raja Tariq, Fayyaz Mangi, Ovais Tohid, Muhammad Nazeer, Yaqub Haroon, Dodo Chandio, Asif Mehmood, Akhdar Awan, Ahmed Khan, Qazi Hassan, Naseem Rajpur, Junaid Mumtaz Awan, Amir Ahmed Khan, Shoaib Ahmed, Shoaib Khan Baloch, Javed Mehmend, Muhammad Nazeer, Faizan, Tanveer, Irfan-ul-Haq, Zarrar Khan, Mehboob Akhtar Rind, Bilquis Jehan, Shakeel Salawat, Lalarukh, President Karachi Press Club Sabeehuddin Ghausi, Secretary Imtiaz Faran, President KUJ Shamim-ur-Rahman, treasurer Amir Latif, A.H. Khanzada, Shakeel Khan, Arbab Chandio, Raza Hassan, Arif Kazmi, Hassan Rana, Muhammad Suleman, Khawar Khan, Nawab Ali Shah, Asif Alam, Liaquat Mughal, Shams Imran, Kashif Hussain, Asghar Umar, Ali Shah, Imtiaz Chandio, Zulfiqar Sanwal Shaikh, Yousuf Khan, Mukarram Kaleem, Huma Imtiaz, Faizan Lakhani, Idris Bakhtiar and other leaders of Karachi journalists. The injured journalists were rushed to hospital for medical treatment. The journalist circles strongly condemned this police action.The arrested men were kept at various police stations including Clifton police station and Darakhshan police station. However, after the directives from Sindh Governor, four journalists were taken to some unknown place. On this, the other journalists refused to be freed; however afterwards, all the detained journalists were released.On this occasion, the freed journalists raised slogans for freedom of press.
Qazi asks opposition parties to jointly boycott elections (Posted at 2315)
LAHORE: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal president Qazi Hussain Ahmed has said that the government is determined to hold fake elections through Election Commission and under such a situation all opposition parties should boycott them unanimously. He was addressing a public rally staged under the aegis of women wing of Jammt-i-Islami at Mansoorah here on Tuesday. The wife of Qazi Hussain Ahmed led the protest rally, while Samia Raheel Qazi, Humera Tariq, Afia Sarwar, Humera Ehtesham, Rabia Tariq and Uneza Hassan were among the prominent women leaders who took part in the protest demonstration. Qazi called elections as trapped and said that present regime was trying to tie the nation into clutches of slavery. We want to boycott the elections with the consultation of APDM and we would also wait PPP for decision in this regard. Jammat-i-Islami would not take step to boycott the elections alone, he observed. Qazi termed the imposition of emergency as martial law, adding that if political parties would participate in the elections, they would prove proclamation of the emergency. He said that all opposition parties should start agitation against it. Qazi Hussain said that Islami Jammiat-i-Talba should apologize from Imran Khan open heartedly and they should start a movement for his release because it was a plan formed by the government.
US envoy meets Maulana Fazl: embassy (Posted at 2245)
ISLAMABAD: The US ambassador to Pakistan met with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday, the embassy said.Anne Patterson met Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat-ulema-Islam party, embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton said. Patterson's meeting with Rehman came a day after she held talks with opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Patterson and Rehman discussed a range of issues, including "the importance of having free and fair elections," Colton was quoted as saying. "She also discussed importance of lifting the state of emergency," Colton said, adding that "it was a good meeting." It was the US envoy's second meeting with Rehman, Colton said. The first was before the imposition of emergency rule on November 3. The ambassador is expected to meet other political leaders in coming days, she added. On Monday, Patterson travelled to Karachi to meet former premier Bhutto after Washington called for a resumption of power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf. Chief election commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced earlier Tuesday that Pakistan will go to the polls on January 8 despite threats of a boycott by some opposition parties. Reports here say neither Bhutto nor Rehman favour a boycott, while exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, do.
Abbas handed invite for Nov 27 US peace meet: aide (Posted at 2220)
RAMALLAH: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas received an official invitation on Tuesday from President George W. Bush to attend a US peace conference starting on November 27, his spokesman said. "President Abbas received the invitation" to attend the key meeting that will officially kick off in the city of Annapolis, near Washington, next Tuesday, Nabil Abu Rudeina said while talking to a French news agency.
US military chief refuses to rule out military option over Iran (Posted at 2140)
WASHINGTON: The top US military chief Admiral Michael Mullen Tuesday refused to rule out the military option over the Iran nuclear crisis, but stressed the importance of diplomacy in resolving the standoff. "I would never take the military option off the table," Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a briefing on US national security. But he stressed that "doesn't mean it would be used" adding "diplomacy is very important."
Journalists refuse to be freed, as 4 shifted to unknown place (Posted at 2130)
KARACHI: The Karachi police shifted at least four journalists after they were arrested from Karachi Press Club. Following this, the other journalists refused to be freed on Tuesday night.According to Press Secretary to Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, the Sindh Governor issued verbal orders for the release of journalists.There are reports that Moosa Kaleem, Asghar Omar, Ghulam Mustafa and AH Khanzada have been shifted to some unknown place.After this measure by the police, the arrested journalists refused to be released and no men is set free as yet.
Musharraf meets Saudi King and other officials in Riyadh (Posted at 2115)
RIYADH: President General Pervez Musharraf met Tuesday different officials of Saudi Arab officials including the Custodian of two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia and expressed consensus over need for reinvigorating efforts to combat extremism and terrorism as it poses a threat to the world peace. King Abdullah and President Musharraf were of the view that terrorism in the name of religion was a blot on the Muslims and Islam, which preaches peace, tolerance and compassion and rejects violence and extremist behaviour. The two leaders who met exclusively at the Royal Palace here also discussed regional and international issues, bilateral affairs and security issues. They reviewed the situation in Middle East, the ongoing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan. They agreed on further strengthening cooperation on security issues, with an increased exchange of information and sharing of intelligence to effectively counter the threat of militancy and terrorism. King Abdullah and President Musharraf discussed ways for further augmenting political, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries, specially through joint ventures and private public partnership. The Saudi monarch said the Kingdom stands for peace and stability in Pakistan as it plays a pivotal role in the region's security and added that its progress and prosperity was vital for the Kingdom. President Musharraf briefed the King about the circumstances leading to imposition of emergency in the country and said the law and order situation, growing terrorism and militancy and the conflict between the judiciary and other pillars of State i.e. the executive and the legislature, had left him with little choice but to take the most difficult decision. The President informed the Custodian of two Holy Mosques that the caretaker governments have been setup at the federal and the provincial levels and will oversee the holding of free and transparent elections. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan was in high gear to hold the next general election on January 8 for a smooth transition to a complete civilian rule. The President said he would also doff his uniform as soon as the Supreme Court of Pakistan permits the notification of the result of the Presidential election, in which he got 57 per cent votes from the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies. The President was to arrive in Jeddah later Tuesday to perform Umrah.
18 dead bodies recovered; govt forces take control of Parachinar (Posted at 2045) KURRAM AGENCY: The government security forces have taken control of the Kurram Agency area of Parachinalr; while, the political administrations recovered 18 dead bodies from various parts of the city on Tuesday.According to sources, after the security forces took control of the area in the wake of prolonged clashes between tow rival tribes, the firing spell has come to a halt.Meantime, the local political administrations recovered 18 dead bodies, who were killed in the clashes from various parts of the city.It should be mentioned that the five-day clashes in Parachinar area claimed the lives of 117 people and at least 260 people were injured.The power supply and the transportation means to the area are still cut off owing to the clashes.The Peace Jirga members from Hangu said that the talks with veterans of Parachinar would once again be held tomorrow (Wednesday).
3000 arrested after emergency rule released: Cheema (Posted at 2030)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Tuesday it had released more than 3,000 men jailed under President Pervez Musharraf's emergency ruleInterior ministry spokesman Javed Cheema said while talking to a French news agencgy that 3,416 lawyers and political activists arrested since the emergency was imposed on November 3 had already been released, while the remaining 2,000 would be freed "soon". "While peaceful protests are a part of the democratic process, the federal and provincial governments shall not brook any attempt to create disturbances in the run-up to the elections," Cheema said. Others facing criminal charges, including hunger-striking cricket legend Imran Khan, must apply for bail in the courts to be released, he said. The White House gave a cautious welcome to the release, saying it would be "a positive development" if confirmed. "As the situation evolves we are getting closer, hopefully, to when the emergency order will be lifted, the elections will be held, and that President Musharraf will take off the uniform and be a civilian president rather than trying to be both," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
