Awaz Apni

Awaz Apni Islamabad: More than 100 people have been arrested in Pakistan as part of a crackdown on groups accused of having connections to last year's attacks in Mumbai, a Pakistani official said Thursday.Most of those arrested are alleged members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the militant organization suspected of being behind the deadly attacks."We have arrested a total 124 mid-level and top leaders," Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said during a press conference on Thursday, according to a Reuters report.Pakistani authorities also closed several suspected militant training camps run by Lashkar-e-Taiba as part of the crackdown, which began in December after the United Nations Security Council declared that Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a Pakistani charity, was acting as a front for the banned militant group.Authorities also took steps against 20 offices, 87 schools, two libraries, seven religious schools and a handful of other organizations and websites linked to the charity.It was not im...

Awaz Apni NEW DELHI: India seems to have climbed down on its demand to Pakistan for the handover of 26/11 suspects, as state's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday that Pakistan should convict the suspects if not hand them over."If not hand over to India, Pakistan must try and convict suspects," he said in an interview with an Indian TV channel.But for this, Pranab said, it is necessary that their trials should be carried out in a transparent manner.Meanwhile, the Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said all options are open, when it comes to the safety of the country. He spoke on Thursday, on the 61st Army Day. "Mumbai attacks tested our patience. While India prefers diplomatic options, all other options are also open to ensure the safety of our land and its citizens," he said.

Awaz Apni NEW DELHI: The US ambassador to India David C Mulford said here on Friday that accusations should not be made without evidence in Mumbai terror attacks. When asked by reporters about the Indian Prime Minister’s observation that Pakistan’s agencies could be “involved” in Mumbai terror attacks, he said “I don’t think we want to take a view that we make accusations against certain parties without the usual evidences, proofs.” The US has been pressing for deeper understanding in Pakistan of the roots of the problem of terrorism, he said. “When Americans are killed anywhere, we pursue those people and that is what we are upto in Pakistan. We will press ahead and we will do it non‑stop as long as it takes,” he said. “Like India, we have a common agenda—we want to see Pakistan succeed, not fail, not become a serious problem, not become a failed state. That is the American agenda,” media reports quoting him said.

Awaz Apni NEW DELHI: Indian external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday ruled out giving of any ultimatum to Pakistan following Mumbai violence, however, he reiterated India’s demand that Pakistan should take action against people whose names had been provided to it.According to an Indian TV channel, Pranab Mukherjee said Pakistan will be provided all the evidence after India completes the investigation into Mumbai attacks.

AMagazine ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari insisted in an interview with the UK based channel on Wednesday that there was no firm proof linking his country to last month's attacks on India's financial centre, Mumbai.Speaking to the channel, he said the investigations into the attacks were ongoing and he would "not jump to a conclusion" on who was responsible until they were complete.New Delhi has fingered "elements" in Pakistan for the attacks that left 172 people dead, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said militants from Pakistan-based group Laskhar-e-Taiba were responsible."What we are saying is that we are willing to cooperate -- and you know like anybody else does, that investigation is an evolving process, it hasn't been long enough" to come to any conclusions, Zardari said.He added: "I think we will hold our judgement till the proper investigation and conclusive evidence is shared between Pakistan and India, and...

AMagazine New Delhi, Nov 28: The chief of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan Lt General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha will be coming to India in connection with the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The development came after Prime Minister Dr Mannmohan Singh on Friday asked his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raja Gillani to send the intelligence chief for information sharing. According to reports, Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will also accompany Pasha to India. The government of Pakistan has reportedly accepted Prime Minister Mammohan Singh’s request and will shortly send General Pasha to India. Pak Prime Minister’s spokesman Zahid Bashir said Singh had made a request to Gilani, asking him to send the ISI chief to India to "cooperate in the investigation of the Mumbai attacks and for sharing certain information". Bashir told reporters that "The Pakistani Prime Minister has accepted this offer. The two sides will work out modalities for the visit of the Inter Servic...

AMagazine NEW DELHI: Britain, Canada and Australia have advised their citizens visiting India not to travel to Mumbai. The US have not yet updated any travel advisory. This follows reports that terrorists were specifically looking for British and US passport holders at the two five-star hotels which they attacked late Wednesday night in Mumbai. The British Foreign Office advised against “all non-essential travel to Mumbai until further notice”. “If you are currently in Mumbai we advise you to stay indoors and monitor the media,” it added, noting that they should contact their travel agent for information as some flights have been cancelled. The Foreign Office also gave Mumbai and Britain phones numbers for British citizens or their relatives to contact for information. “We advise all British nationals in the city to stay indoors until local authorities advise that it is safe to go outside,” the notice added. The Australian foreign ministry's travel advice also had a similar tenor, ...

AMagazine NEW DEHLI: India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has vowed to take "whatever measures are necessary" to track down those responsible for the Mumbai attacks. In his address to nation, Singh called on all Indians to remain united following the co-ordinated attacks that have left 101 dead and 300 injured. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also said that the attacks in Mumbai which killed more than 100 people were well-planned and probably had "external linkages". "The well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of terror by choosing high-profile targets," Singh said in an address to the nation. At least seven sites in the city were targeted by gunmen late on Wednesday. Some hostages have been freed but blasts continue to be heard at three sites, including two luxury hotels. Police chief AN Roy said hostages had been rescued from the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, but gunmen were still ...

AMagazine More than 600 people have been killed and hundreds maimed and devastated in terror strikes in India in the last six years. Following is a chronology of the major terrorist attacks in the country: Mumbai, Nov 26, 2008: Several killed and many more injured in seven terror attacks targetting mostly foreigners' hangout places. Assam, Oct 30, 2008: At least 45 killed (figure can change) and over 100 injured in 18 terror bombings across Assam. Imphal, Oct 21, 2008: 17 killed in a powerful blast near Manipur Police Commando complex. Kanpur, Oct 14, 2008: Eight people injured after bomb planted on a rented bicycle went off Colonelganj market. Malegaon, Maharashtra, Sep 29, 2008: Five people died after a bomb kept in a motorbike went off in a crowded market. Modasa, Gujarat, Sep 29 2008: One killed and several injured after a low-intensity bomb kept on a motorcycle went off near a mosque. New Delhi, Sep 27, 2008: Three people killed after a crude bomb was thrown in a busy market i...

AMagazine NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s election rally in the capital Thursday was cancelled following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, a local news agency said. He has also called an emergency Cabinet meeting. Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil is back in Delhi from Mumbai for the meeting. More than 101 people have been killed and 250 injured in a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai at 10 places including hotels, hospitals and train stations since Wednesday evening. Manmohan Singh was to address an election rally in south Delhi Thursday afternoon. The ruling Congress party had decided to end its campaign for Saturday’s assembly election in Delhi with the prime minister’s rally. A hostage crisis continued Thursday with tourists and other guests being held by terrorists in two five-star hotels.

CNews NEW DELHI: People in India and Bangladesh are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with religious enthusiasm and fervor on Thursday.The biggest Eid congregation of New Delhi was held at Jamia Mosque in which thousands of people offered Eid prayer.Stringent security measures were taken in the country in backdrop of recent Delhi blasts on this occasion.A heavy contingent of law enforcement personnel was deputed outside the mosque to cop up any untoward incident.Eid is also being celebrated in Bangladesh, the major congregation of Eid was held at central Eidgah of Dhaka and Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque.

CNews Agartala, Oct 01: At least 4 persons died and over 50 were injured in five blasts at three places of Agartala town on Wednesday evening. Central intelligence agencies had on September 25 warned the north-eastern states of an impending terror attack and BSF officials here confirmed having received the input. Five blasts took place in the Agartala town and it being the eve of Eid and the on-going Navratri festival, the areas were crowded- thronged by innocent civilians out to celebrate. Reports suggest the first blast took place at 7.30 pm, the second at 7.35 pm in MG Bazaar of Radhanagar while the third occurred at 8.15 pm. 2 blasts occurred at a bus stand while one in a local market. Police sources, quoting eyewitnesses, said two persons riding a motorcycle were seen moving suspiciously at Radhanagar bus stand and the blast took place there two to three minutes after they left the area. He said it would be too early to point fingers at anybody. Bangladeshi terrorists are active i...

Cnews OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: Indian Kashmir shut down for a day on Monday when separatists called a strike to protest against plans to hold elections in the disputed region and the killing of Muslims by police during pro-independence rallies.India's Election Commission held a meeting with political parties to decide on poll dates for Kashmir, where separatists fighting for the Himalayan region's secession from India have traditionally boycotted polls."An election is no solution to the Kashmir dispute," senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said. "There shall be a general shutdown on Monday against the election meeting."Streets in the Himalayan region were largely deserted, except for security forces on patrol. Shops, businesses and schools were closed. Police clashed with stone-throwing protesters in several places in Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital, witnesses said.Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu-majority Jammu, along with the Ladakh region, fo...

CNews NEW DELHI: Following shutdown call by APHC and other Kashmiri organizations, the Kashmir Valley was paralysed on Saturday with staging of demonstrations in different parts to press for right to self-determination. The Coordination Committee comprising APHC, JKLF and other political, social and traders groups have given call for three day shutdown in occupied Kashmir to press for resolution of Kashmir issue. Officials in Srinagar said markets, offices, educational institutions and other semi-government organisations remained closed in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley. Private and government vehicles were of the road. The youths chanting pro-freedom slogans staged demonstrations. Anantnag town witnessed the biggest rally.  The processionists carrying green and black flags went around Srinagar city on motorcycles and scooters. Occupied Kashmir has been witnessing uprising for the last several weeks which started from Amarnath land transfer issue and moved to economic blockade of...

CNews BANGALORE, India - Seven low-intensity bombs exploded across the Indian IT city of Bangalore on Friday, killing one person and wounding at least 15, police said. "In all these cases they have created the blast using timer devices," Bangalore Commissioner of Police Shankar Bidri told reporters at the site of one of the blasts. "Explosives have also been used, in quantity equal to one or two grenades." Bangalore hosts the bulk of India's IT and outsourcing business and is home to more than 1,500 top firms, including offices of large global firms such as Microsoft, Intel Corp and IBM. M. R. Pujar, additional police commissioner for Bangalore said "crude explosives" had been used. "There were seven low-intensity explosions," he told Reuters. "Some of them were in crowded areas. At least person was killed and 15 to 20 were injured." Local TV showed one small shopping stall in Bangalore with broken windows and its concrete floors br...

CNews NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) also banned Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, following the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announcement banning the player for five years, saying Thursday Shoaib cannot play cricket in India. IPL commissioner Lalith Modi, said that Shoaib Akhtar cannot play for IPL according to the IPL law until the PCB clears him, as chairman PCB banned him from playing not only the domestic cricket but also international cricket. Replying to a question, Lalith Modi said that the IPL law says that it cannot allow a player who is banned by the cricket board of his own country. On the other hand, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) Chairman Kapil Dev said the restriction may end Shoaib’s career, adding he feels sorry for the cricketer; however, it seems quite strange to take such a player who is banned in his own country. Talking to Geo News, sources said Shah Rukh has another option in place of the ace Pakistani bowler.

Benazir withdraws from NA-204LARKANA: Former Prime Minister and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has announced to withdraw candidature for contesting election at NA-204 Larkana.This decision was taken after the seat adjustment reached between Chairperson PPP (SB) and PML (Q) leader Haji Ali Hussain Unnar.Now she will contest the forthcoming general elections only from NA-207 Larkana from where she had won the election four times and this time she is contesting from the same co .... 5 killed in India train blastGAUHATI: A bomb tore through a moving train in India's remote northeast Thursday, killing five passengers and injuring four others, an official said. The New Delhi bound super-fast Rajdhani Express, which started from the eastern town of Dibrugarh in Assam state, had just crossed a station near Chungajan, 270 kilometers (170 miles) east of statecapital Gauhati when the bomb exploded, jolting passengers out o ftheir sleep, an Indian Railway spoke .... Textile sector loan vo...

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 Ele...

SC dismisses last petition against Musharraf’s eligibility ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Thursday dismissed the last petition against President Musharraf's eligibility to contest the presidential elections. The verdict came after a brief hearing of Dr. Zahoor Mehdi’s petition by the full bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Doggar.On Monday, the court had dismissed five petitions against President Musharraf’s nomination, including the challenges from the presidential candidate Justice (Rtd) Wajihuddin and Makhdoom Amin Fahim.Attorney General had earlier said that President Musharraf would quit his army post and take oath as civilian president as early as Saturday if the presidential re-election was approved by the apex court. Lahore: People pouring in camp to show solidarity with Geo (Updated at 1410) LAHORE: People from different walks of life continuously visiting the solidarity camp outside Geo office in Lahore to express solidarity with Geo Tele...

Musharraf says to doff uniform by November end (Posted at 2340) ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday that he will doff military uniform and begin as civilian president by the end of November. In an interview to foreign television Musharraf said Benazir Bhutto even if won the elections, she would have to cope with constitutional issues before she becomes the premier for the third time.Musharraf said the induction of authentic and impartial persons would be ensured in the interim setup.The president said the West and media have played dishonestly with him still he has given assurance of a free and fair election in a peaceful environment.Benazir Bhutto was put under house arrest in view of security apprehensions, the president said adding it was impossible for him to permit a large rally in such a populated area as Liaquat Bagh and in the present situation, taking out a big rally would be a wrong step.Musharraf said Benazir Bhutto, from the very inception, is chan...