Benazir, Nawaz Sharif dabbling in dodging politics: Sheikh Rashid
ISLAMABAD: Former Federal Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Benazir and Nawaz Sharif were engaged in dodging politics.Talking to Geo News, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that Muslim League-N was under pressure to contest elections, as they have a vote bank, but the leadership was not deciding. He said that it gets difficult for the candidates to remain sitting at home, when the election bugle sounds off.Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, Sheikh Rashid said that it didn’t have vote bank as much, but it was a strong organization, however they could not win the election under only one umbrella.He further said that he didn’t consider any existence of the APDM, which has only three major parties, while the rest were ‘Tanga’ (carriage) parties.
EC asks parties to appear on Dec 9 for symbols allocation (Updated at 1340)
ISLAMABAD: With two of Muttahida Majlas-e-Aml parties already applied for election symbols individually, the Election Commission of Pakistan has asked all the six component partners of the religious alliance to appear before it on Sunday (December 09) for allocation of symbols. Election Commission of Pakistan is going to meet on December 09 for allocation of symbols to the political parties for the General Elections 2008 where representatives of all the 48 political parties would be present. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary Election Commission has said, at December 03 meeting of the Commission it was decided to issue notices to all the six component partners of the MMA to appear before the Commission for hearing.The MMA coalition partners include Jamiat Ulamae Islam (F),Jamat-e-Islami, Markazi Jamiat-Ahle-Hadees, Jamiat Ulmae IslamPakistan (S), Jamiat Ulma-e-Pakistan and Islami Tehrik-e-Pakistan. Dilshad said Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Ameer Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam, Pakistan, a component of MMAP had requested for allotment of symbol "Book" whereas Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, another component of MMA had requested for allotment of symbol "Umbrella". In view of the fact that the MMAP is a coalition party, theElection Commission has decided to hear the representatives of the component parties of MMAP before allotment of symbols to them.
Pressure on Iran unfair after US intelligence report: Jalili (Updated at 1300)
TEHRAN: Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili expressed confidence on Wednesday over the future of the country's nuclear case, after a US intelligence report said that Tehran had halted a drive for nuclear weapons. In his first reaction after the publication of the National Intelligence Estimate, Jalili said the report showed Iran had been right to insist its nuclear programme was peaceful and to refuse to halt sensitive activities. Asked if the report would improve the conditions for resolving the nuclear standoff, Jalili replied: "Normally it should be this way. "After the report of (UN nuclear watchdog director general) Mohamed ElBaradei and this report, the justice of the Iranian position has been confirmed," he told reporters at Tehran's international airport."After the ElBaradei report, the Americans have now acknowledged that their accusations against Iran were without foundation. They must answer to global public opinion if, in this climate, they take harder measures."
Pakistan polls will be free and fair: election commission (Updated at 1230)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's election commission Wednesday rejected allegations from leading opposition parties that January polls will be struck by vote rigging, insisting that the vote will be free and fair."The Election Commission is a constitutional body and it is fully independent to hold free, fair and transparent polls," the commission's secretary Kanwar Dilshad told foreign news agency. "The entire election exercise is absolutely free, fair and transparent," he said."More than 95 percent of polling stations will be in schools or government buildings, but in some areas where there is no proper building, polling stations are established in tents or some other premises," Dilshad said.He said such a move was not new and that improvised polling stations would be set up in consultation with the contesting candidates. Addressing allegations that thousands of ballot papers would be stolen, Dilshad said they would be handed over to officials by January 5 and "there is no question of somebody getting hold of them."
Hearing of the reference against Nawaz Sharif adjourned till Dec.12 (Updated at 1200)
RAWALPINDI: The Accountability Court here has adjourned the hearing of the reference filed against the former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif until December 12.The first hearing of the Hudaibia Paper Mills case was slated here today, following the arrival of Nawaz Sharif back home, but the NAB said that it would presently not actively pursue this case in the Accountability Court, as the election activities have kicked off in the country.
Quake jolts parts of Balochistan, Punjab (Updated at 1150)
PESHAWAR: A moderate quake of 4.7 magnitude jolted Southern Punjab and Northeastern Balochistan on Wednesday.According to Peshawar weather Bureau, the tremor struck at 08:15 am and was centered 450 kilometers south of Peshawar in Punjab and Balochistan.
Two US soldiers killed in Iraq (Updated at 1140)
BAGHDAD: A "complex attack" by insurgents in Iraq's Salaheddin province killed two US soldiers and wounded another two, the American military said on Wednesday. The soldiers died "as a result of injuries sustained from a complex attack involving an improvised explosive device and small arms fire while conducting operations" in the northern province on Tuesday, a statement said.Two soldiers were wounded in the attack, it added. The latest fatalities brought the military's overall losses in Iraq to at least 3,885 since the March 2003 invasion, according to a count based on Pentagon figures.
India, Russia ink 347 tank deal (Updated at 1110)
NEW DELHI: India and Russia have signed a deal worth USD 1.237 billion for the additional supply of 347 T-90s Main Battle Tanks (MBT). Part of these tanks will be assembled at Avadi factory in Tamil Nadu from the kits to be supplied by Uralvagonzavod Tank Plant situated in Nizhny Tagil in the Urals, according to state-run radio. It did not, however, say when and where the deal was signed. India currently has 310 t-90s MBTs of which the heavy vehicles factory in Avadi assembled 181 from the kits imported from Russia.
UN must consider new information about Iran’s nuke: China (Updated at 1020)
BEIJING: China's ambassador to the UN says a new US intelligence report on Iran's nuclear programme raises questions about the need for new sanctions.
The ambassador, Wang Guangya, said the UN Security Council would have to consider the new information because "now things have changed".
A US intelligence report released on Monday said Iran halted a nuclear weapons programme in 2003.
The US and its European allies are still pushing for sanctions on Iran.
Mr Wang was asked whether the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran made the prospect of a third round of UN sanctions against Iran less likely.
"I think the council members will have to consider that, because I think we all start from the presumption that now things have changed," he said.
He said diplomats would have to think about the implications of the report for Security Council action.
Security institutions’s role pivotal in restoration of peace: Musharraf (Updated at 1000)
QUETTA: President Pervez Musharraf said that security institutions are playing vital role in border security as well as restoration of law and order within the country.President Pervez Musharraf speaking in a dinner hosted by Quetta Garrison officers in his honour. He thanked Lt. Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne and the Garrison officers for hosting a dinner. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani also attend the dinner. President paid rich tributes to officers and men of security forces for restoring law and order in Quetta particularly and Balochistan in general.Earlier, President Musharraf arrived here on a two- day official visit. On arrival, Chief Minister and Governor Balochistan received President Pervez Musharraf. During his stay President Musharraf would address Garrison officers here Wednesday.
Six soldiers among 13 killed in Afghan suicide attack (Updated at 0925)
KABUL: A suicide attacker slammed a bomb-filled car into an Afghan army bus in the capital Kabul Wednesday, killing at least 13 people, the defence ministry said, in the second such blast in two days.Six Afghan National Army soldiers and seven civilians were registered dead immediately after the attack, defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi told reporters at the site of the blast.At least 13 people were wounded, he said, adding he expected the final numbers to be higher when the situation became more clear. A health ministry official said four of the dead were children. The extremist Taliban group claimed responsibility for the morning rush-hour suicide attack, which struck in the south of the city.
LHC deposed Justice Shahid Siddiqui suffers heartache, hospitalized (Updated at 0845)
LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) deposed judge Justice M. A. Shahid Siddiqui has been admitted into the hospital after suffering a shock during the shifting from his official residence and complained of heart trouble. The deposed judge Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui suddenly suffered a mild heart attack, while shifting his household goods late at night from the official residence at GOR 1 area here, following LHC Registrar’s notice served on him for the vacation of the official residence. Later, he was rushed to the Punjab Cardiology and admitted for check up and treatment.
US human rights activists ordered to leave Pakistan (Posted at 0625)
ISLAMABAD: The arrested US human rights activists, who protested against the house arrest of Pakistani lawyer, have been ordered to leave Pakistan on Tuesday night.Two US human rights activists Tighe Barry and Medea Benjamin came to Pakistan some days back and set up a camp outside the residence of prominent lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan seeking his release from house arrest. Later on Tuesday evening, police arrested both the activists and shifted them to some undisclosed location. Afterwards, they were handed over to US embassy official from Race Course Police Station. On this occasion, police stopped the journalists from entering the police station.Appearing from the police station, the human rights activists said they are being deported under emergency law. They said the Home Department did not show any deportation order and they are being expelled from Pakistan by Ittihad Airlines.
Notification issued for retirement of defiant judges (Updated at 0610)
ISLAMABAD: The Federal ministry of Law has issued the notification for retirement of 24 High Court judges who did not take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).Those judges who stand retired as per the notification included 12 judges of Sindh High Court (SHC), 10 judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and two judges of Peshawar High Court (PHC). Sindh High Court’s Justice Ahmed Hussain Jaffery, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Muhammad Athar Saeed, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Zafar Khan Sherwani, Justice Salman Ansari, Justice Abdul Rasheed Kalhwar, and Justice Arshad Siraj, while Lahore High Court’s Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif, Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Khosa, Justice Muhammad Tahir Ali, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice M.A. Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Muhammad Jahangir Arshad, Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman, Justice Muhammad Ata Bandial and Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed have been retired, said the notification. Two judges from Peshawar High Court Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Dost Muhammad were also included in the list of retired judges.
Bush to visit MEast in early January: White House (Posted at 0555)
WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush will travel to "the Middle East region" in early January, the White House said late Tuesday, after Israeli media reports said he would travel to Israel. "The president will go to the Middle East region in early January. Details to come," said US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. The announcement came one week after Bush announced at a Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, that Israel and the Palestinians had agreed to make a final push to create a Palestinian state by late 2008. If he were to go to Israel, it would be his first visit there as president, and his first since traveling there as Texas governor in 1998. An Israeli newspaper cited sources in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office as saying that Bush would arrive in Israel on January 9 and that it was unclear whether the US president would meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas or visit nearby countries. The daily said that the visit was arranged during Olmert's visits to the White House last week around the Annapolis conference.
US spy report endorses Iranian nuke stance: Jalili (Posted at 0515)
TEHRAN: Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Wednesday US intelligence report has proved Iran had been right to insist its nuclear programme was peaceful and to refuse to halt sensitive activities.Asked if the report would improve the conditions for resolving the nuclear standoff, Jalili replied: "Normally it should be this way. "After the report of (UN nuclear watchdog director general) Mohamed ElBaradei and this report, the justice of the Iranian position has been confirmed," he told reporters at Tehran's international airport. "After the ElBaradei report, the Americans have now acknowledged that their accusations against Iran were without foundation. They must answer to global public opinion if, in this climate, they take harder measures," he maintained. Jalili was speaking after returning home from Moscow, where he held talks with President Vladimir Putin and other top officials. He said he brought messages from Iranian leaders to Moscow but did not give further details.
Gas link plan underway undeterred by U.S. (Posted at 0450)
ROME: India is pushing on with plans to import Iranian natural gas through a pipeline across Pakistan, undeterred by U.S. opposition to the South Asian country dealing with Tehran, a senior Iranian gas official said on Tuesday. "At the end of this week we have a meeting with them," Nosratollah Seifi, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), told reporters on the sidelines of a gas conference in Rome. ""Every time we asked whether they were under pressure from the United States they said 'no, we will follow national opportunities.' And that is what they are doing."" Seifi said NIGEC was currently meeting Pakistani and Indian officials over the operational agreement for the pipeline, and some disagreement between the two neighbors remained to be resolved. Although India is concerned about transit fees that Pakistan wanted to levy on the gas, Iran believes the project is on track. "They had some negotiations about the cost of the transit and transport that Pakistan claimed," Seifi said on the sidelines of the CWC World LNG summit. "That is why they want Iran to observe the meetings."
Rice for tougher UN sanctions against Iran despite US spy report (Posted at 0410)
ROTA: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed Tuesday to press ahead with tougher UN sanctions against Iran despite new intelligence indicating Iran shelved work on a nuclear bomb in 2003. Rice told reporters before landing here that the United States and the five other powers dealing with Iran must maintain diplomatic pressure to prevent Tehran from acquiring the technology allowing it to build a bomb. "There is time for diplomacy to work, but there isn't time to stop and say 'we don't need the diplomacy,'" Rice said aboard the airplane taking her to a series of meetings on African conflicts in Ethiopia. "The timing has got to be to continue to pursue the Security Council resolution, to pursue the other pressures that we are bringing to bear, so that they don't acquire the fissile material," she said. Iran is continuing to enrich uranium to "higher and higher levels," which will eventually give it the capacity to make a nuclear bomb, she warned. "We've got the right strategy," Rice said. Rice said she will deliver the message to Russian Foreign Minister Lavarov, whom she will meet in Brussels toward the end of the week, as well as other members of the P5-plus-One. Asked if she dreaded talking to Lavarov, she replied: "Quite the opposite. They (the Iranians) are not actually pursuing a weaponization project. It's good news." "Secondly, its good news that the pressure has worked in the past and that we have a strategy for international pressure to deny them the technological capability" to make a bomb, Rice said. "It's good news they're not pursuing currently a weaponization programme, but time is not on our side in terms of enrichment capabilities. And there's where the urgency is still there," she said. "I continue to see Iran as a dangerous power in international politics," she said.
Bush phones Putin to express concern over Russian polls (Posted at 0345)
WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush said Tuesday expressed his concerns about Russia's parliamentary elections in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bush did not elaborate in remarks at a news conference. But, he said, he told Putin, ``We were sincere in our expressions of concern about the elections.'' In Moscow, Putin's spokesman, Alexei Gromov, said Bush ``did not express his concern'' about the elections but that Putin himself had raised the subject. ``The Russian president informed his American colleague of the results of the elections, and the U.S. president remarked that the popularity of Vladimir Putin in Russia is well-known,'' Gromov said. He said Putin ``criticized several of the actions and statements of the U.S. State Department'' involving the elections. ``At this, George Bush noted that the American foreign affairs agency did this in order to sincerely express its feelings to the Russian people.''
New Iran sanctions less likely after US spy report: China hints (Posted at 0315)
UNITED NATIONS: China's UN ambassador on Tuesday suggested an agreement by six world powers to seek new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program could be called into question by the latest US intelligence assessment. Asked to comment on the US intelligence community's stunning revelation Monday that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, Ambassador Wang Guangya called it "an important report." "Certainly I think we will study the contents and also think about the implications for the (UN Security) Council's action here," he said. Pressed by reporters on whether the assessment might make new sanctions against Iran less likely in the near term, the Chinese diplomat said: "I think Council members will have to consider that, because ... now things have changed." On Tuesday, Washington, Paris and London said they were still willing to push ahead with the sanctions plan, despite the US National Intelligence Estimate assessment released one day earlier. On Tuesday, UN diplomats said the six powers ambassadors were awaiting instructions from their respective governments -- which could come as early as Friday -- on the elements of a new resolution of restrictive measures towards Iran.
France, Algeria sign nuclear cooperation deal (Posted at 0235)
ALGIERS: France and Algeria signed a nuclear cooperation accord Tuesday during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy that netted lucrative deals but failed to dispel the rancor between the two countries. The framework nuclear cooperation accord that must be approved by the European Community of Atomic Energy, would allow for transfer of technology and the eventual construction of a nuclear reactor for civilian use in this North African nation. The protocol was mainly limited to an exchange of experts and the development of common research programs. More than euro5 billion (US$7.3 billion) in contracts were signed during the three-day state visit that ends Wednesday, including construction by Total of a petrochemical complex in Arzew, in the west, and transport contracts. The French president was expected to address the colonial issue in a speech Wednesday to students at the University of Constantine, in the east. However, aides said he would not apologize. ``Most European countries have built their prosperity on the exploitation of African territories that they colonized,'' President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said during a lunch with his visitor.
Text of new Iran sanctions likely in days ahead (Posted at 0210)
UNITED NATIONS: UN envoys from the six powers dealing with the Iran nuclear crisis may soon be given new input to start drawing up proposals for new sanctions against Tehran, diplomats said Tuesday. "The political directors are still working on it," said one of the diplomats to the UN Security Council, asking to remain anonymous. "One of the estimates was that it could be transferred at the end of the week, but we really don't know yet. It's going to be in the next few days, weeks," he added. He hinted though that they might get the new material as early as Friday to prepare a draft resolution to go before the UN Security Council, There is no scheduled meeting of the Security Council on the Iran issue this week, they added. Political directors from the six nations met in Paris at the weekend, and agreed to start work on a resolution calling for new sanctions against Iran, a French diplomatic source said Saturday after the talks. "The six have agreed to examine the elements of a new resolution on sanctions" against Tehran, said the diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous. "A compromise text will be worked out and should circulate between the capital cities concerned next week."
Putin receives Prodi congratulations over win at polls (Posted at 0150)
MOSCOW: Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to congratulate him on his party's success in weekend elections, the Russian government said in a statement on Tuesday. "Romano Prodi congratulated Vladimir Putin for the success of the parliamentary elections," the Kremlin said in a statement. The Kremlin communique, which could not be confirmed, comes a day after Prodi appealed to Russian authorities to "clarify" results of the elections, which have faced widespread international criticism. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also telephoned Putin on Monday to congratulate him on his party's victory, sparking protests from rights groups who called it a "bad blow to democrats and human rights campaigners in Russia."
Armenia prolongs Iraq mission (Posted at 0120)
EREVAN: The Armenian parliament on Tuesday voted to prolong the country's 46-man contribution to the US-led coalition in Iraq by a year. "The contribution of Armenia to this peacekeeping operation allows the deepening of our cooperation with the United States and NATO," Defence Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan told deputies. "From the point of view of European integration, this confirms the intention of our country to be an actor and not be a consumer in the international security system." Armenian troops have been in Iraq since January 2005.
Court dismisses Geo petition as non-maintainable (Posted at 0005)
KARACHI: The high court of Sindh today dismissed as non-maintainable the petitions of Independent Media Pvt Ltd and Birds Pvt Ltd by which hey had questioned closure of four TV channels of GEO network.The bench comprising Justice Muneeb Ahmed Khan and Justice Dr Rana Shamim Ahmed decided maintainability of the petitions after hearing them for 19 days.Petitioners’ counsel Muhammad Ali Mazhar drew the attention of the bench towards an order of the office of Supreme Court under which the petition challenging PCO and promulgation of emergency was returned to the petition with objections that the scope of article 184(3) was limited and the petitioner was not an aggrieved party.He stated that earlier deputy attorney general Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui had opposed the petitions on two, that is, the government had not taken any action against the petitioners and their transmissions were suspended by Dubai Media City authorities and that a writ petition had been field in Supreme Court against the PCO and proclamation of emergency under article 184(3) of the constitution and the high court should not hear a petition on the same subject matter. Muhammad Ali Mazhar pleaded that both these issues stand resolved as the Dubai government had restored GEO news, the only channel of GEO network which was ordered to be shut down by them, and the petition filed in Supreme Court had been returned to the petitioner with office objections.It was further argued by Mr.Mazhar that being an aggrieved person, the jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution is still available to the petitioners. The petitioner has obtained landing right licenses from PEMRA against the payment of valuable license fees which are still valid and without issuing any show cause notice or written order, the transmission of channels have been suspended verbally which is an illegal act.The court made observation that on one hand the DAG took plea that government took no action against the petitioners and on the other he stated that the attorney general of Pakistan himself would advance arguments against the petitions. The bench asked DAG Rizwan Siddiqi as to what was the actual stand of the government.The DAG, assisted by advocate general Sindh Masood Noornai, referred to para 26(4) of the landing rights license granted to the petitioners and said under the said para PEMRA could take any action against them.The bench observed the action could not be taken without a show cause notice. It further observed that article 19, which relates to freedom of speech and expression, had been suspended by Proclamation of Emergency.Muhamamd Ai Mazhar pointed that his petitions did not touch upon the point of freedom of speech and expression. The petitioner, he said, had paid Rs3.5 million for landing rights license which could not be revoked without a notice. He said if GEO had committed any violation why action was not taken against it under six existing laws which regulate electronic media activities. He said emergency always aims at external dangers. There are many Indian channels which are being shown in Pakistan but no action was taken to proscribe them and GEO network was off hooked without any reason.The DAG said he had asked PEMRA to prepare comments and was waiting for the same. He said the article of the constitution which protects citizen against discriminatory actions is suspended under the proclamation of emergency. Both the DAG and AG Sindh were of the opinion the petitions were not maintainable as the petitioners were not aggrieved parties and that they themselves had accepted the condition that PEMRA could take action against them. He said Supreme Court had recently struck down cancellation of a plot by capital development authority on the grounds it was done without serving a show cause notice.The petitioners’ counsel admitted that the whole document was signed and accepted by the petitioners but pleaded that his petitions were neither directed against proclamation of emergency nor against PCO nor PEMRA ordinance. He said PEMRA had taken a unilateral and discriminatory action against the petitioners and they had challenged the said action which is hit by article 18 of the constitution. He reiterated that the said article, protecting right of economic activities of citizen, had not been suspended by the emergency.He said petitioners had only one plea that they should be treated in accordance with law. He said under section 24 of the general clauses act, no action can be taken against anyone without serving him a show cause notice. The action against the petitioners was taken verbally and there was not even a written order. The counsel argued that petitioners were aggrieved parties as they were hit by an illegal action of the executive. He said article 199, which vests writ jurisdiction in a high court and under which the petitions had been field was very clear; it was saved by the Supreme Court in Zafar Ali Shah case. He said more than 19 days had passed yet the government had failed to file comments. He prayed the court to hear his arguments and decide the petitions without allowing further time to the respondents.The bench, however, dismissed both the petitions as non-maintainable.
ISLAMABAD: Former Federal Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that Benazir and Nawaz Sharif were engaged in dodging politics.Talking to Geo News, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that Muslim League-N was under pressure to contest elections, as they have a vote bank, but the leadership was not deciding. He said that it gets difficult for the candidates to remain sitting at home, when the election bugle sounds off.Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, Sheikh Rashid said that it didn’t have vote bank as much, but it was a strong organization, however they could not win the election under only one umbrella.He further said that he didn’t consider any existence of the APDM, which has only three major parties, while the rest were ‘Tanga’ (carriage) parties.
EC asks parties to appear on Dec 9 for symbols allocation (Updated at 1340)
ISLAMABAD: With two of Muttahida Majlas-e-Aml parties already applied for election symbols individually, the Election Commission of Pakistan has asked all the six component partners of the religious alliance to appear before it on Sunday (December 09) for allocation of symbols. Election Commission of Pakistan is going to meet on December 09 for allocation of symbols to the political parties for the General Elections 2008 where representatives of all the 48 political parties would be present. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary Election Commission has said, at December 03 meeting of the Commission it was decided to issue notices to all the six component partners of the MMA to appear before the Commission for hearing.The MMA coalition partners include Jamiat Ulamae Islam (F),Jamat-e-Islami, Markazi Jamiat-Ahle-Hadees, Jamiat Ulmae IslamPakistan (S), Jamiat Ulma-e-Pakistan and Islami Tehrik-e-Pakistan. Dilshad said Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Ameer Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam, Pakistan, a component of MMAP had requested for allotment of symbol "Book" whereas Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, another component of MMA had requested for allotment of symbol "Umbrella". In view of the fact that the MMAP is a coalition party, theElection Commission has decided to hear the representatives of the component parties of MMAP before allotment of symbols to them.
Pressure on Iran unfair after US intelligence report: Jalili (Updated at 1300)
TEHRAN: Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili expressed confidence on Wednesday over the future of the country's nuclear case, after a US intelligence report said that Tehran had halted a drive for nuclear weapons. In his first reaction after the publication of the National Intelligence Estimate, Jalili said the report showed Iran had been right to insist its nuclear programme was peaceful and to refuse to halt sensitive activities. Asked if the report would improve the conditions for resolving the nuclear standoff, Jalili replied: "Normally it should be this way. "After the report of (UN nuclear watchdog director general) Mohamed ElBaradei and this report, the justice of the Iranian position has been confirmed," he told reporters at Tehran's international airport."After the ElBaradei report, the Americans have now acknowledged that their accusations against Iran were without foundation. They must answer to global public opinion if, in this climate, they take harder measures."
Pakistan polls will be free and fair: election commission (Updated at 1230)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's election commission Wednesday rejected allegations from leading opposition parties that January polls will be struck by vote rigging, insisting that the vote will be free and fair."The Election Commission is a constitutional body and it is fully independent to hold free, fair and transparent polls," the commission's secretary Kanwar Dilshad told foreign news agency. "The entire election exercise is absolutely free, fair and transparent," he said."More than 95 percent of polling stations will be in schools or government buildings, but in some areas where there is no proper building, polling stations are established in tents or some other premises," Dilshad said.He said such a move was not new and that improvised polling stations would be set up in consultation with the contesting candidates. Addressing allegations that thousands of ballot papers would be stolen, Dilshad said they would be handed over to officials by January 5 and "there is no question of somebody getting hold of them."
Hearing of the reference against Nawaz Sharif adjourned till Dec.12 (Updated at 1200)
RAWALPINDI: The Accountability Court here has adjourned the hearing of the reference filed against the former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif until December 12.The first hearing of the Hudaibia Paper Mills case was slated here today, following the arrival of Nawaz Sharif back home, but the NAB said that it would presently not actively pursue this case in the Accountability Court, as the election activities have kicked off in the country.
Quake jolts parts of Balochistan, Punjab (Updated at 1150)
PESHAWAR: A moderate quake of 4.7 magnitude jolted Southern Punjab and Northeastern Balochistan on Wednesday.According to Peshawar weather Bureau, the tremor struck at 08:15 am and was centered 450 kilometers south of Peshawar in Punjab and Balochistan.
Two US soldiers killed in Iraq (Updated at 1140)
BAGHDAD: A "complex attack" by insurgents in Iraq's Salaheddin province killed two US soldiers and wounded another two, the American military said on Wednesday. The soldiers died "as a result of injuries sustained from a complex attack involving an improvised explosive device and small arms fire while conducting operations" in the northern province on Tuesday, a statement said.Two soldiers were wounded in the attack, it added. The latest fatalities brought the military's overall losses in Iraq to at least 3,885 since the March 2003 invasion, according to a count based on Pentagon figures.
India, Russia ink 347 tank deal (Updated at 1110)
NEW DELHI: India and Russia have signed a deal worth USD 1.237 billion for the additional supply of 347 T-90s Main Battle Tanks (MBT). Part of these tanks will be assembled at Avadi factory in Tamil Nadu from the kits to be supplied by Uralvagonzavod Tank Plant situated in Nizhny Tagil in the Urals, according to state-run radio. It did not, however, say when and where the deal was signed. India currently has 310 t-90s MBTs of which the heavy vehicles factory in Avadi assembled 181 from the kits imported from Russia.
UN must consider new information about Iran’s nuke: China (Updated at 1020)
BEIJING: China's ambassador to the UN says a new US intelligence report on Iran's nuclear programme raises questions about the need for new sanctions.
The ambassador, Wang Guangya, said the UN Security Council would have to consider the new information because "now things have changed".
A US intelligence report released on Monday said Iran halted a nuclear weapons programme in 2003.
The US and its European allies are still pushing for sanctions on Iran.
Mr Wang was asked whether the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran made the prospect of a third round of UN sanctions against Iran less likely.
"I think the council members will have to consider that, because I think we all start from the presumption that now things have changed," he said.
He said diplomats would have to think about the implications of the report for Security Council action.
Security institutions’s role pivotal in restoration of peace: Musharraf (Updated at 1000)
QUETTA: President Pervez Musharraf said that security institutions are playing vital role in border security as well as restoration of law and order within the country.President Pervez Musharraf speaking in a dinner hosted by Quetta Garrison officers in his honour. He thanked Lt. Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne and the Garrison officers for hosting a dinner. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani also attend the dinner. President paid rich tributes to officers and men of security forces for restoring law and order in Quetta particularly and Balochistan in general.Earlier, President Musharraf arrived here on a two- day official visit. On arrival, Chief Minister and Governor Balochistan received President Pervez Musharraf. During his stay President Musharraf would address Garrison officers here Wednesday.
Six soldiers among 13 killed in Afghan suicide attack (Updated at 0925)
KABUL: A suicide attacker slammed a bomb-filled car into an Afghan army bus in the capital Kabul Wednesday, killing at least 13 people, the defence ministry said, in the second such blast in two days.Six Afghan National Army soldiers and seven civilians were registered dead immediately after the attack, defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi told reporters at the site of the blast.At least 13 people were wounded, he said, adding he expected the final numbers to be higher when the situation became more clear. A health ministry official said four of the dead were children. The extremist Taliban group claimed responsibility for the morning rush-hour suicide attack, which struck in the south of the city.
LHC deposed Justice Shahid Siddiqui suffers heartache, hospitalized (Updated at 0845)
LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) deposed judge Justice M. A. Shahid Siddiqui has been admitted into the hospital after suffering a shock during the shifting from his official residence and complained of heart trouble. The deposed judge Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui suddenly suffered a mild heart attack, while shifting his household goods late at night from the official residence at GOR 1 area here, following LHC Registrar’s notice served on him for the vacation of the official residence. Later, he was rushed to the Punjab Cardiology and admitted for check up and treatment.
US human rights activists ordered to leave Pakistan (Posted at 0625)
ISLAMABAD: The arrested US human rights activists, who protested against the house arrest of Pakistani lawyer, have been ordered to leave Pakistan on Tuesday night.Two US human rights activists Tighe Barry and Medea Benjamin came to Pakistan some days back and set up a camp outside the residence of prominent lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan seeking his release from house arrest. Later on Tuesday evening, police arrested both the activists and shifted them to some undisclosed location. Afterwards, they were handed over to US embassy official from Race Course Police Station. On this occasion, police stopped the journalists from entering the police station.Appearing from the police station, the human rights activists said they are being deported under emergency law. They said the Home Department did not show any deportation order and they are being expelled from Pakistan by Ittihad Airlines.
Notification issued for retirement of defiant judges (Updated at 0610)
ISLAMABAD: The Federal ministry of Law has issued the notification for retirement of 24 High Court judges who did not take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).Those judges who stand retired as per the notification included 12 judges of Sindh High Court (SHC), 10 judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and two judges of Peshawar High Court (PHC). Sindh High Court’s Justice Ahmed Hussain Jaffery, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Muhammad Athar Saeed, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Zafar Khan Sherwani, Justice Salman Ansari, Justice Abdul Rasheed Kalhwar, and Justice Arshad Siraj, while Lahore High Court’s Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif, Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Khosa, Justice Muhammad Tahir Ali, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice M.A. Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Muhammad Jahangir Arshad, Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman, Justice Muhammad Ata Bandial and Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed have been retired, said the notification. Two judges from Peshawar High Court Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Dost Muhammad were also included in the list of retired judges.
Bush to visit MEast in early January: White House (Posted at 0555)
WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush will travel to "the Middle East region" in early January, the White House said late Tuesday, after Israeli media reports said he would travel to Israel. "The president will go to the Middle East region in early January. Details to come," said US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. The announcement came one week after Bush announced at a Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, that Israel and the Palestinians had agreed to make a final push to create a Palestinian state by late 2008. If he were to go to Israel, it would be his first visit there as president, and his first since traveling there as Texas governor in 1998. An Israeli newspaper cited sources in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office as saying that Bush would arrive in Israel on January 9 and that it was unclear whether the US president would meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas or visit nearby countries. The daily said that the visit was arranged during Olmert's visits to the White House last week around the Annapolis conference.
US spy report endorses Iranian nuke stance: Jalili (Posted at 0515)
TEHRAN: Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Wednesday US intelligence report has proved Iran had been right to insist its nuclear programme was peaceful and to refuse to halt sensitive activities.Asked if the report would improve the conditions for resolving the nuclear standoff, Jalili replied: "Normally it should be this way. "After the report of (UN nuclear watchdog director general) Mohamed ElBaradei and this report, the justice of the Iranian position has been confirmed," he told reporters at Tehran's international airport. "After the ElBaradei report, the Americans have now acknowledged that their accusations against Iran were without foundation. They must answer to global public opinion if, in this climate, they take harder measures," he maintained. Jalili was speaking after returning home from Moscow, where he held talks with President Vladimir Putin and other top officials. He said he brought messages from Iranian leaders to Moscow but did not give further details.
Gas link plan underway undeterred by U.S. (Posted at 0450)
ROME: India is pushing on with plans to import Iranian natural gas through a pipeline across Pakistan, undeterred by U.S. opposition to the South Asian country dealing with Tehran, a senior Iranian gas official said on Tuesday. "At the end of this week we have a meeting with them," Nosratollah Seifi, the managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), told reporters on the sidelines of a gas conference in Rome. ""Every time we asked whether they were under pressure from the United States they said 'no, we will follow national opportunities.' And that is what they are doing."" Seifi said NIGEC was currently meeting Pakistani and Indian officials over the operational agreement for the pipeline, and some disagreement between the two neighbors remained to be resolved. Although India is concerned about transit fees that Pakistan wanted to levy on the gas, Iran believes the project is on track. "They had some negotiations about the cost of the transit and transport that Pakistan claimed," Seifi said on the sidelines of the CWC World LNG summit. "That is why they want Iran to observe the meetings."
Rice for tougher UN sanctions against Iran despite US spy report (Posted at 0410)
ROTA: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vowed Tuesday to press ahead with tougher UN sanctions against Iran despite new intelligence indicating Iran shelved work on a nuclear bomb in 2003. Rice told reporters before landing here that the United States and the five other powers dealing with Iran must maintain diplomatic pressure to prevent Tehran from acquiring the technology allowing it to build a bomb. "There is time for diplomacy to work, but there isn't time to stop and say 'we don't need the diplomacy,'" Rice said aboard the airplane taking her to a series of meetings on African conflicts in Ethiopia. "The timing has got to be to continue to pursue the Security Council resolution, to pursue the other pressures that we are bringing to bear, so that they don't acquire the fissile material," she said. Iran is continuing to enrich uranium to "higher and higher levels," which will eventually give it the capacity to make a nuclear bomb, she warned. "We've got the right strategy," Rice said. Rice said she will deliver the message to Russian Foreign Minister Lavarov, whom she will meet in Brussels toward the end of the week, as well as other members of the P5-plus-One. Asked if she dreaded talking to Lavarov, she replied: "Quite the opposite. They (the Iranians) are not actually pursuing a weaponization project. It's good news." "Secondly, its good news that the pressure has worked in the past and that we have a strategy for international pressure to deny them the technological capability" to make a bomb, Rice said. "It's good news they're not pursuing currently a weaponization programme, but time is not on our side in terms of enrichment capabilities. And there's where the urgency is still there," she said. "I continue to see Iran as a dangerous power in international politics," she said.
Bush phones Putin to express concern over Russian polls (Posted at 0345)
WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush said Tuesday expressed his concerns about Russia's parliamentary elections in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bush did not elaborate in remarks at a news conference. But, he said, he told Putin, ``We were sincere in our expressions of concern about the elections.'' In Moscow, Putin's spokesman, Alexei Gromov, said Bush ``did not express his concern'' about the elections but that Putin himself had raised the subject. ``The Russian president informed his American colleague of the results of the elections, and the U.S. president remarked that the popularity of Vladimir Putin in Russia is well-known,'' Gromov said. He said Putin ``criticized several of the actions and statements of the U.S. State Department'' involving the elections. ``At this, George Bush noted that the American foreign affairs agency did this in order to sincerely express its feelings to the Russian people.''
New Iran sanctions less likely after US spy report: China hints (Posted at 0315)
UNITED NATIONS: China's UN ambassador on Tuesday suggested an agreement by six world powers to seek new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program could be called into question by the latest US intelligence assessment. Asked to comment on the US intelligence community's stunning revelation Monday that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, Ambassador Wang Guangya called it "an important report." "Certainly I think we will study the contents and also think about the implications for the (UN Security) Council's action here," he said. Pressed by reporters on whether the assessment might make new sanctions against Iran less likely in the near term, the Chinese diplomat said: "I think Council members will have to consider that, because ... now things have changed." On Tuesday, Washington, Paris and London said they were still willing to push ahead with the sanctions plan, despite the US National Intelligence Estimate assessment released one day earlier. On Tuesday, UN diplomats said the six powers ambassadors were awaiting instructions from their respective governments -- which could come as early as Friday -- on the elements of a new resolution of restrictive measures towards Iran.
France, Algeria sign nuclear cooperation deal (Posted at 0235)
ALGIERS: France and Algeria signed a nuclear cooperation accord Tuesday during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy that netted lucrative deals but failed to dispel the rancor between the two countries. The framework nuclear cooperation accord that must be approved by the European Community of Atomic Energy, would allow for transfer of technology and the eventual construction of a nuclear reactor for civilian use in this North African nation. The protocol was mainly limited to an exchange of experts and the development of common research programs. More than euro5 billion (US$7.3 billion) in contracts were signed during the three-day state visit that ends Wednesday, including construction by Total of a petrochemical complex in Arzew, in the west, and transport contracts. The French president was expected to address the colonial issue in a speech Wednesday to students at the University of Constantine, in the east. However, aides said he would not apologize. ``Most European countries have built their prosperity on the exploitation of African territories that they colonized,'' President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said during a lunch with his visitor.
Text of new Iran sanctions likely in days ahead (Posted at 0210)
UNITED NATIONS: UN envoys from the six powers dealing with the Iran nuclear crisis may soon be given new input to start drawing up proposals for new sanctions against Tehran, diplomats said Tuesday. "The political directors are still working on it," said one of the diplomats to the UN Security Council, asking to remain anonymous. "One of the estimates was that it could be transferred at the end of the week, but we really don't know yet. It's going to be in the next few days, weeks," he added. He hinted though that they might get the new material as early as Friday to prepare a draft resolution to go before the UN Security Council, There is no scheduled meeting of the Security Council on the Iran issue this week, they added. Political directors from the six nations met in Paris at the weekend, and agreed to start work on a resolution calling for new sanctions against Iran, a French diplomatic source said Saturday after the talks. "The six have agreed to examine the elements of a new resolution on sanctions" against Tehran, said the diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous. "A compromise text will be worked out and should circulate between the capital cities concerned next week."
Putin receives Prodi congratulations over win at polls (Posted at 0150)
MOSCOW: Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to congratulate him on his party's success in weekend elections, the Russian government said in a statement on Tuesday. "Romano Prodi congratulated Vladimir Putin for the success of the parliamentary elections," the Kremlin said in a statement. The Kremlin communique, which could not be confirmed, comes a day after Prodi appealed to Russian authorities to "clarify" results of the elections, which have faced widespread international criticism. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also telephoned Putin on Monday to congratulate him on his party's victory, sparking protests from rights groups who called it a "bad blow to democrats and human rights campaigners in Russia."
Armenia prolongs Iraq mission (Posted at 0120)
EREVAN: The Armenian parliament on Tuesday voted to prolong the country's 46-man contribution to the US-led coalition in Iraq by a year. "The contribution of Armenia to this peacekeeping operation allows the deepening of our cooperation with the United States and NATO," Defence Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan told deputies. "From the point of view of European integration, this confirms the intention of our country to be an actor and not be a consumer in the international security system." Armenian troops have been in Iraq since January 2005.
Court dismisses Geo petition as non-maintainable (Posted at 0005)
KARACHI: The high court of Sindh today dismissed as non-maintainable the petitions of Independent Media Pvt Ltd and Birds Pvt Ltd by which hey had questioned closure of four TV channels of GEO network.The bench comprising Justice Muneeb Ahmed Khan and Justice Dr Rana Shamim Ahmed decided maintainability of the petitions after hearing them for 19 days.Petitioners’ counsel Muhammad Ali Mazhar drew the attention of the bench towards an order of the office of Supreme Court under which the petition challenging PCO and promulgation of emergency was returned to the petition with objections that the scope of article 184(3) was limited and the petitioner was not an aggrieved party.He stated that earlier deputy attorney general Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui had opposed the petitions on two, that is, the government had not taken any action against the petitioners and their transmissions were suspended by Dubai Media City authorities and that a writ petition had been field in Supreme Court against the PCO and proclamation of emergency under article 184(3) of the constitution and the high court should not hear a petition on the same subject matter. Muhammad Ali Mazhar pleaded that both these issues stand resolved as the Dubai government had restored GEO news, the only channel of GEO network which was ordered to be shut down by them, and the petition filed in Supreme Court had been returned to the petitioner with office objections.It was further argued by Mr.Mazhar that being an aggrieved person, the jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution is still available to the petitioners. The petitioner has obtained landing right licenses from PEMRA against the payment of valuable license fees which are still valid and without issuing any show cause notice or written order, the transmission of channels have been suspended verbally which is an illegal act.The court made observation that on one hand the DAG took plea that government took no action against the petitioners and on the other he stated that the attorney general of Pakistan himself would advance arguments against the petitions. The bench asked DAG Rizwan Siddiqi as to what was the actual stand of the government.The DAG, assisted by advocate general Sindh Masood Noornai, referred to para 26(4) of the landing rights license granted to the petitioners and said under the said para PEMRA could take any action against them.The bench observed the action could not be taken without a show cause notice. It further observed that article 19, which relates to freedom of speech and expression, had been suspended by Proclamation of Emergency.Muhamamd Ai Mazhar pointed that his petitions did not touch upon the point of freedom of speech and expression. The petitioner, he said, had paid Rs3.5 million for landing rights license which could not be revoked without a notice. He said if GEO had committed any violation why action was not taken against it under six existing laws which regulate electronic media activities. He said emergency always aims at external dangers. There are many Indian channels which are being shown in Pakistan but no action was taken to proscribe them and GEO network was off hooked without any reason.The DAG said he had asked PEMRA to prepare comments and was waiting for the same. He said the article of the constitution which protects citizen against discriminatory actions is suspended under the proclamation of emergency. Both the DAG and AG Sindh were of the opinion the petitions were not maintainable as the petitioners were not aggrieved parties and that they themselves had accepted the condition that PEMRA could take action against them. He said Supreme Court had recently struck down cancellation of a plot by capital development authority on the grounds it was done without serving a show cause notice.The petitioners’ counsel admitted that the whole document was signed and accepted by the petitioners but pleaded that his petitions were neither directed against proclamation of emergency nor against PCO nor PEMRA ordinance. He said PEMRA had taken a unilateral and discriminatory action against the petitioners and they had challenged the said action which is hit by article 18 of the constitution. He reiterated that the said article, protecting right of economic activities of citizen, had not been suspended by the emergency.He said petitioners had only one plea that they should be treated in accordance with law. He said under section 24 of the general clauses act, no action can be taken against anyone without serving him a show cause notice. The action against the petitioners was taken verbally and there was not even a written order. The counsel argued that petitioners were aggrieved parties as they were hit by an illegal action of the executive. He said article 199, which vests writ jurisdiction in a high court and under which the petitions had been field was very clear; it was saved by the Supreme Court in Zafar Ali Shah case. He said more than 19 days had passed yet the government had failed to file comments. He prayed the court to hear his arguments and decide the petitions without allowing further time to the respondents.The bench, however, dismissed both the petitions as non-maintainable.
