Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
NWFP Govt strikes ceasefire agreement with Maulana Fazlullah in Swat
PESHAWAR May 9 (APP): The cabinet committee constituted by the NWFP government for peace in Swat District on Friday signed a ceasefire agreement with Maulana Fazlullah after holding successful talks with his team at Fishing Hut Chakdara in Dir Lower District. Both sides agreed to move forward the peace process through talks. The people of Swat have welcomed the ceasefire agreement. The cabinet committee headed by Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour and comprising Provincial Minister Wajid Ali Khan, MPA Dr. Shamsher Ali and Central Information Secretary ANP Zahid Khan Friday held talks with spokesman of Maulana Fazlullah including Haji Muslim Khan, and representatives Mehmud Khan, Maulana Mohammad Amin, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, Mohammad Nisar, Shamsher and Ali Bakht at Fishing Hut Chakdara in Dir Lower District. (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
Pakistan frees Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal in bid to bring peace in restive Baluchistan
KARACHI, Pakistan, May 9 (AP) - Pakistan's new government freed prominent ethnic Baloch leader and former chief minister of Balochistan Friday as it tries to forge reconciliation in the restive southwest of the country. Jubilant supporters crowded Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of Balochistan National Party, as he was released from a Karachi hospital, where he was detained because of ill health. Mengal was arrested in August 2006, accused of torturing two military intelligence officials. Supporters claimed the accusations were politically motivated. Senior security official Arif Ahmed Khan said charges against Mengal have been withdrawn. “My release is victory of democracy,” Mengal told reporters after his release. “We never compromised on our principles with a dictator and did not bow before Musharraf.” “But my release is not an issue. The issue is the thousands of people who are missing and under detention of law enforcement agencies,” he said. “Our struggle is for the autonomy of the province and Baloch control over our resources.” Akhtar Mengal’s release came days after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani traveled to the province. After talks with government officials and ethnic Baloch leaders, he ordered the withdrawal of all the charges against Mengal. Authorities have previously accused the Baluchistan National Party of links to militants that launch attacks on security forces. The party denies involvement and says it is committed to political struggle. (First Posted @ 18:56 PST Updated @ 20:08 PST)
Pakistan to form task forces on its future direction, economic diplomacy
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday announced forming of two task forces to determine the future direction of Pakistan foreign policy and to tackle the economic needs at diplomatic front. Winding up debate on foreign policy in the Senate, he said the new government's thrust would be on improving relations with its neighbours and strengthening economic ties with China. About challenges facing the country, Qureshi said Pakistan was confronted more with internal threats rather than external dangers. “We will try our best to translate these challenges into opportunities.” He said the foreign policy of a country reflects its strategic interests where there is always room for improvement. However, besides ensuring continuity in these policies, these must not be changed overnight, he added. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
PML-N holds internal meeting on judges issue in London
LONDON, May 09 (APP)- Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-N began their internal consultations prior to meeting with PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari to sort out the thorny issue of the restoration of higher judiciary. Party chief Nawaz Sharif, brother Shahbaz Sharif and other senior leaders including Ghaus Ali Shah, Khwaja Mohammad Asif, Ishaq Dar and Begum Tehmina Daultana have gathered at the Sharif's apartment in the posh Mayfair district of the British capital to ponder over the issue after the failure of the legal committee to come up with a consensus resolution. The resolution is proposed to be presented before the National Assembly on May 12. (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
Judges reinstatement: no extension in deadline, says Nisar
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Senior minister and Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday ruled out extension of the May 12 deadline for restoration of deposed judges. “We want restoration of deposed judges on pre-November 3 positions by May 12 and shall not accept any bid to be confused in legal complications,” he told newsmen outside the parliament house. “Otherwise PML would act as it should,” he said. Nisar said he PML-N has summoned parliamentary party meeting on May 12 to ensure the presence of all MNAs during the possible session of NA to pass a resolution for restoration of deposed judges. (Posted @ 17:02 PST)
Zardari to announce bye-poll candidates: Rabbani
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Leader of the House Senator Mian Raza Rabbani Friday said that final announcement about PPP candidates for by-polls would be made by party’s Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. He denied the news of awarding PPP ticket to Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan saying the matter has not yet been tabled at the meeting and “finally this decision would also be announced by the Co-chairman,” he added. Talking to APPP he endorsed the statement of Law Minister Farooq H.Naek about postponement of Assembly Session on May 12. He said, “first the modalities finalized by the committee of Judges restoration will be presented to the leaders of both coalition partners and then it would be tabled on the floor of the Parliament, adding there is a possibility that the session may be delayed”. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Pakistan orders public spending cuts: Financial Times
LONDON, May 09 (APP)- Pakistan's new coalition government has ordered a “massive cut” in budget expenditure across the board, including military spending, to cope with the rising cost of fuel and food subsidies, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, told the influential Financial Times. In an interview he said the country is also seeking to raise $3bn or more from international lenders and foreign investors to bolster its foreign exchange reserves, because of a sharp deterioration on the current account of its balance of -payments. Dar accused the outgoing government, of “inaction, mismanagement and underestimation” of the scale of the crisis caused by soaring oil and food prices, and the inflationary effect of a rapid rise in borrowing from the central bank. The Minister said the government was pursuing a twin strategy of passing on the increased cost of oil imports to consumers, and cutting back public expenditure by some Rs300bn ($4.5bn, ) “across the board” in its first three months in office. (Posted @ 18:26 PST)
$ 3.5 bln foreign exchange inflows to stabilize Foreign Exchange: state bank governor
KARACHI, May 09 (APP): Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Shamshad Akhtar said Friday that foreign exchange inflows to the tune of 3 billion to 3.5 billion dollars are expected to come in the banking system in the short and medium-term. These flows coupled with joint efforts of SBP and Commercial Banks will further stabilize the Pakistani Rupee parity vis-a-vis U.S. Dollar and calm down foreign exchange markets, a Press release said. During a meeting with heads of Commercial Banks, Dr Akhtar said there will be no reversal of foreign exchange liberalization measures seen in the past years. However, she expressed concern over excessive volatility and weakened Exchange Rate and commented that the recent behavior of the exchange market is totally out of line. “ We aren't in a crisis-like situation. Several measures are in place to remove macro-economic imbalances,“ she said. The Government has expressed its firm resolve to bring down fiscal-deficit, retire Central Bank borrowings and cut non-developmental expenditures. There is a strong recognition that macro-economic imbalances have to be resurrected and this is the corner stone of Government's economic policy, she added. Dr Akhtar said the Government has taken steps to mobilize foreign funds and added that some of the inflows which are expected to realize soon include 2.1 billion dollars from Multilateral Banks, 500 million dollars from friendly countries, 200 million dollars for earthquake relief, 100 million dollars from DFID, 700 million dollars from MCB Bank's stake sale, 100 million dollars from Barclays Bank and the rest through private sector GDRs and other regular sources. She said that the current rupee volatility is not reflective of the macro-economic fundamentals. She also said she is perplexed over recent Inter-Bank market behavior and urged banks to play a proactive role to kill negative sentiments in the market. (Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Pakistani rupee slides to record low against US dollar
KARACHI, Pakistan, May 9 (AP) Pakistan's currency slumped to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Friday as rising oil prices exacerbate concern about its yawning trade deficit and high inflation. The dollar closed at 69.25 Pakistani rupees in official interbank trading Friday compared to 67.70 rupees the previous day. The rupee's previous low was about 68 to the dollar in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a level it also touched in 1998, after the country's nuclear test. Officials have already slashed costly fuel subsidies, leading to a hike in the price of gasoline and heating oil for ordinary Pakistanis. Food price inflation is also running well into double digits. The State Bank of Pakistan issued a statement later Thursday accusing currency trading companies of illegal activities and threatening to suspend their licenses. It didn't elaborate. It has ordered foreign exchange companies not to transfer abroad sterling, euros or dirhams _ the currency of the United Arab Emirates _ to bolster the availability of foreign exchange in Pakistan and instructed them to repatriate all foreign currency deposits by May 31. The 24 authorized foreign exchange companies were previously allowed to keep about 20 percent of their total deposits in accounts abroad. (First Posted @ 16:30 PST Updated @ 20:16 PST)
Policeman killed during search operation in Swat
MINGORA, Pakistan, May 9 (Reuters): Militants killed a policeman and wounded three Friday in a gunbattle in northwestern Pakistan. The firefight occurred when security forces raided two militant strongholds in Swat. “One policeman was martyred in the operation. But our search operation is going on and we have, so far, arrested 14 suspects,” a military official in Swat told Reuters. A bomb also exploded near the security forces but caused no casualties. (Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Speeding truck kills 14 in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 9 (AFP): At least 14 people were killed and 20 others injured when a speeding freight truck overturned after colliding with other vehicles in Pabbi, a town 30 kilometres east of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, on Friday, provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said. The 16-wheeler vehicle was carrying sugar from the port city of Karachi to the northwestern city of Nowshehra. “The accident was caused due to speeding,” he said, adding that authorities had called in cranes to lift the truck and remove the victims. Most of those killed or injured were passers-by and shopkeepers, Hussain said. Pakistan has the world's third-highest death rate from traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads and reckless driving. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Ex-Guantanamo head's name withdrawn for Pakistan post
WASHINGTON, May 9 (AFP) - An army general who led the Guantanamo detention center at a time when alleged mishandling of the Holy Quran sparked Muslim riots has been withdrawn as the US military's proposed top representative in Pakistan, a military spokeswoman said Friday. Major General Jay Hood was named in March to the post of US defense representative in Pakistan to replace Major General James Helmly, the current US defense representative to Pakistan. “Unfortunately, due to an unforecasted requirement General Hood is being considered for a different, equally important position within the United States Central Command headquarters,” said Major Sherri Reed, a command spokeswoman. A replacement for Helmly in Pakistan has not been identified. “We are committed to finding an equally qualified senior officer for this critical responsibility,” said Reed. “Our determination to send our best people to Pakistan reflects the importance of our defense relationship with Pakistan and our relationship in the war on terror,” she said. (Posted @ 22:46 PST)
Blast in Quetta, 12 injured
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP):- At least twelve persons were injured when a blast occurred at Smangli road in Quetta near a hotel on Friday evening. Details are awaited. (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
Four killed in Kurdish rebel mine attacks in Turkey
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, May 9 (AFP) - Four people died and nine others were injured Friday in three separate remote controlled mine attacks in the southeast and east of Turkey, The first saw a minibus carrying civilians and “village guards” blown up at Sason, in the southeastern province of Batman, the governor's office said in a statement. Four village guards were killed and five injured. The second, in Siirt province in the country's southeast, saw a military convoy hit, injuring a soldier and a village guard, according to a security source. In the third blast, three soldiers were injured when their vehicle hit a mine on rural ground in the eastern province of Bingol, local security sources said. (First Posted @ 13:20 PST Updated @ 19:46 PST)
Azlan Shah Cup hockey: Pakistan thrash NZ 6-3
IPOH, Malaysia, May 9 (AFP) – Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by six goals to three in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here Friday. Rehan Butt scored four goals, while Shakeel Abbasi and Saqlain scored one goal each. Results: Canada 1 (Matthew Guest 50), Belgium 0; Pakistan 6 (Rehan Butt 11, 30, 60, 69 Shakeel Abbasi 14, Muhammad Saqlain 28), New Zealand 3 (Phillip Burrows 6, Hayden Shaw 33, 47); and Argentina 5 (Facundo Callioni 11, 44 Pedro Ibarra 31 Tomas Argento 45 Juan Martin Lopez 53), India 1 (Sandeep Singh 25). (Posted @ 19:44 PST)
Sri Lanka military captures town, 31 rebels dead
COLOMBO, May 9 (Reuters)- Sri Lankan troops backed by warplanes captured a town in the northwest of the island on Friday after killing 31 Tamil Tiger rebels in a battle, the military said, as it pressed on with an offensive in the region. Three soldiers were killed and another five were missing from the fighting in Mannar district, the military said. A pro-rebel website claimed that Tigers killed at least 30 soldiers, before retreating. (Posted @ 18:38 PST)
Eight killed in bomb ahead of elections in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, May 9 (AFP) - At least eight people were killed and many more wounded when a powerful bomb exploded late Friday in eastern Sri Lanka a day before local elections in the area, a military spokesman said. (Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Opposition PML-Q may join coalition govt: Tariq Azeem
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (APP): Secretary Information of Pakistan Muslim League(Q), Senator Tariq Azeem Friday indicated that PML(Q) might join the government, but it depends on the circumstances. “Nothing is said to be the final in politics as PML-Q would decide its future strategy whether it would sit on treasury or opposition benches. It would be in accordance with the emerging circumstances,” he said. In an exclusive interview with APP, the former Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said the present coalition government was expected to bring a resolution on deposed Judges on May 12, adding that the PML-Q leadership would have a constant eye on the entire process which would help the party formulate the future strategy. Answering a question on the role of Presidency in political matters, he said: “Of course President's role cannot be ruled out in power politics. President is part and parcel of the constitution. By-passing President at any level would lead to damage the national interest of the country.” In his comments on the current food and energy crisis, he admitted that probably there had been some lapses on the part of the previous government and asked the present set-up to refrain from blame game and concentrate on solving the problems. (Posted @ 18:20 PST)
Zakaullah promoted to rank of Rear Admiral
KARACHI, May 9 (APP): Commodore Mohammad Zakaullah has been promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral with effect from May 9. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Hezbollah routs pro-govt gunmen; controls Beirut
BEIRUT, May 9 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah took control of the Muslim part of Beirut on Friday, as security sources said at least 11 people had been killed and 30 wounded in three days of battles. The Europea_ Union, Germany and France urged calm and a peaceful resolution. Syria said the issue was an internal Lebanese affair while Iran blamed “the adventurist interferences” of the United States and Israel for the violence.. By mid-morning the fighting had died down and Hezbollah and allied fighters were in control as loyalists put down their weapons. Saudi Arabia, a strong backer of the governing coalition, called for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers over the crisis, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported. “The party, regardless of its military strength, cannot annul the other,” Walid Jumblatt, leader of the Druze minority, told LBC television station from his home in Beirut. “Dialogue alone brings results. Running away from dilogue is not useful.” Hezbollah gunmen took control of media outlets owned by governing coalition leader Saad al-Hariri, Lebanon's strongest Sunni politician. Hariri's television and radio stations went off the air. (Posted @ 17:24 PST)
Oil price vaults to record 125.98 dollars
LONDON, May 9 (AFP) - The price of New York crude oil surged past 125 dollars per barrel on Friday, lifted by speculative demand amid concerns about tight global energy supplies, analysts said. New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, spiked as high as 125.98 dollars in early afternoon London trading. And London's Brent crude contract hit an all-time pinnacle of 125.68 dollars. (First Posted @ 15:45 PST Updated @ 17:20 PST)
Four killed in Baghdad’s Sadr City
BAGHDAD, May 9 (AFP) - Battles between Shiite fighters and US forces in Baghdad's Sadr City killed four people and wounded 51 others overnight, Iraqi security and medical officials said Friday. The clashes erupted before midnight and continued until Friday morning. The US military was not immediately available for comment. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Rocket hits residence of Lebanon majority leader Hariri
BEIRUT, May 9 (AFP): A rocket hit the outer perimeter of majority leader Saad Hariri's house in west Beirut Friday, a source close to the politician told AFP. “An RPG rocket hit the outer wall of the residence at around 10:00 a.m. but there were no injuries,” said the source, requesting anonymity. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
India will protest to Pakistan over alleged border fire
SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, May 9 (Reuters): India will lodge a protest with Pakistan after soldiers allegedly came under heavy cross-border fire while trying to stop a group of men from sneaking into occupied Kashmir, a security official said Friday. The firing took place in Samba sector, 400 km south of Srinagar, late on Thursday night, minutes after border guards saw the intruders cutting part of a barbed wire fence. Indian soldiers fired back, the official said. “We are not yet sure whether it was terrorist fire or Pakistani troops, but we are lodging a protest with Pakistan anyway,” K. Srinivasan, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) official told Reuters. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
US judge orders CIA to turn over 'torture' memo
NEW YORK, May 9 (Reuters): A U.S. judge ordered the Central Intelligence Agency Thursday to submit to the court a 2002 memo said to specify harsh interrogation methods used on suspected terrorists held abroad. The American Civil Liberties Union said the memo was written by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel and sent to the CIA in August 2002. The ACLU described the memo as “one of the most important torture documents still being withheld by the Bush administration.” In a copy of the order posted on the ACLU's website, Judge Alvin Hellerstein told the government to produce the memo so he can determine whether it should be made public as part of a lawsuit the ACLU and other organizations filed in June 2004 requesting records concerning the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody abroad. Hellerstein has scheduled a review of the document for Monday. “This memo authorized the CIA to use specific torture techniques - including waterboarding,” Jameel Jaffer, ACLU's national security project director, said in a statement. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Rahman Malik meets Altaf Hussain
LONDON, May 9 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rahman Malik met MQM leader Altaf Hussain Thursday evening and discussed various issues pertaining to national politics. During their meeting at the MQM International Secretariat at Edgware, North London, which lasted nearly three hours, they exchanged views relating to the independence of the judiciary, consolidation of democracy, strengthening the coalition government in Sindh and maintenance of law and order in Karachi. (Posted @ 12:15 PST)
Nuclear missiles parade across Red Square
MOSCOW, May 9 (AFP): Nuclear missiles and tanks paraded Friday across Red Square for the first time since the Soviet era in a World War II victory celebration highlighting Russia's assertiveness under new President Dmitry Medvedev. Marching bands and 8,000 troops goose-stepped across the square, followed by a huge display of heavy weapons including Topol-M ballistic missiles and T-90 tanks, and a fly-by of warplanes. Reviewing his first parade as commander in chief, Medvedev warned against “irresponsible ambitions” that he said could spark war across entire continents. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
Eight killed as rockets shatter Basra calm
BAGHDAD, May 9 (AFP): A rocket attack on a coalition military base in Basra killed two civilian contractors Friday, while a retaliatory strike killed six militants, officials said. The two civilian contractors died when rockets slammed into the US-led coalition's base near Basra's international airport, wounding eight others, including four coalition soldiers, the military said. Coalition forces responded with Hellfire missiles, killing six militants. British military spokesman Major Tom Holloway said part of the main coalition base near the airport was struck by the rockets. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 159.85 points:
KARACHI, May 09: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14228.67, down 159.85 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:00 PST)
Forex update:
KARACHI, May 09: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:00 PST)
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Editor: Abbas Nasir
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