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| May 17, 2008 | Saturday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
 Kidnapped Pakistan diplomat back home after end of captivity ISLAMABAD, May 17 (AFP) Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin returned to his Rawalpindi home safely Saturday after being released from his captivity by suspected Taliban militants who held him captive for 96 days. The envoy was heading from Peshawar to Kabul with his driver and guard when he disappeared in the troubled Khyber tribal district bordering Afghanistan on February 11. Officials, relatives, friends and media thronged the ambassador's Rawalpindi residence after Azizuddin, 56, was flown here by a special flight from Peshawar. His recovery comes amid recent headway in peace talks between the Pakistani Taliban and the six-week-old coalition government led by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. Prime Minister’s Advisor for Interior, Rehman Malik, who was among those present, denied any deal was struck to get the envoy back. “We have exchanged no one, and released no one to secure his release,” Malik told reporters. “His recovery last evening (Friday) is purely a result of law enforcement efforts,” he added, standing beside the envoy who had grown a long beard and appeared exhausted. Malik did not explain what action the security forces took. The envoy who repeatedly waved at the media said he was thankful to God and praised the efforts of the government to secure his freedom. “I am thankful to Allah and the government of Pakistan and very happy to be back in life with my family.” He said he was treated well in captivity. “When they kidnapped me I was hit twice in the head with a rifle but afterwards they gave me food and a place to sleep.” The foreign ministry earlier said Azizuddin’s driver and bodyguard were also safe and sound with the authorities. Taliban sources told AFP the envoy was handed over to security agency officials in the tribal area after the government released some 12 people in its custody, including members of the Afghan Taliban, earlier this week. (First Posted @ 11:15 PST Updated @ 18:18 PST)  Resolution for restoration of judiciary before budget session: ANP chief Peshawar, May 17 (PPI) - Awami National Party’s Central President Asfandyar Wali Khan Saturday said the coalition partners were working on constitutional resolution for re-instatement of the deposed judges before the budget session. We are not aware of the minus one formula and this was not mentioned in the draft resolution that has reached us, he told newsmen after chairing the party’s Central Working Committee meeting at Bacha Khan Markaz. The ANP chief however, said the party would not allow any party to take political mileage of the judges' case and politicize the issue. Asfandyar said he sincerely wanted Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to be part of the coalition government as the prevalent situation in the country needed a collective effort by all the political forces of the country. Stressing that the people had voted his party for peace and restoration of normalcy in the troubled parts of the province he said that such efforts meant talks with the militants who were willing to shed arms and commit themselves to resolve their disputes through dialogue. While condemning the missile attacks in Bajaur Agency, the nationalist leader said some powers want to sabotage the peace process. However we would not bow before such elements, he said. The ANP president said that the CWP reiterated its stance over the issue of provincial autonomy, which also meant financial autonomy. On the issue of renaming the province, he said the party would prefer Pakhtunkhwa but would have no objection to naming it as Pakhtunistan or Afghania. He said the country was faced with a host of challenges including economic, electricity load-shedding and flour crisis and the federal government must announce relief for the masses. (Posted @ 21:08 PST) Pakistan lawyers to resume street protests after government failure to reinstate judges LAHORE, Pakistan, May 17 (Agencies) - Pakistani lawyers announced Saturday they will resume street protests next month for the reinstatement of judges ousted by President Pervez Musharraf. Lawyers' leader Syed Rehman said the decision was taken at the lawyers convention in Lahore to stage a “long march” starting June 10. The decision was taken after the PPP-led coalition government promised to reinstate the justices but missed two self-imposed deadlines to do so and appeared to be unraveling over the issue. If the government reinstated the deposed judges earlier, the lawyers would convert the agitation into countrywide celebrations, Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan said at a Press conference (Posted @ 17:35 PST)  Hoti condemns missile strike in Bajaur PESHAWAR, May 17 (APP): NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has strongly condemned the missile attack allegedly carried out by a US drone in Bajaur Agency, saying it was an attack on the sovereignty of the country. “Pakhtun is a peaceful nation who believes in resolving the disputes through traditional jirga system. Use of force had just invited destructions in which thousands of people were either killed or displaced,” Hoti said in a statement on Saturday. “We have been deliberately engaged in the bloody war and we can no longer afford it,” he added. The Chief Minister said that they were independent in decision making and resolving the issues through talks and negotiations. Hoti said such attacks on the Pakhtun soil were highly condemnable and a conspiracy to derail the peace process being initiated by the provincial government. “Such tactics could not budge the provincial government from its stance of negotiation for peace in the troubled regions of the province and its adjacent tribal belt,” he said. (Posted @ 20:14 PST) PML-N, PPP future relations depend on deposed judges’ reinstatement: Raja Zafarul Haq ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP) Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chairman Raja Zafarul Haq Saturday said that the future relations between the two major coalition parties (PPP and PML-N) would depend on reinstatement of the deposed judges. He told APP in an interview that the judges were sacked through an executive order by the then army chief. “They can be and should be restored through an executive order and there is no need for constitutional amendment,” he said. Raja Zafarul Haq said the PML-N is committed to restoration of the pre-emergency status of the judiciary as this was a national requirement and a must for the country to establish democracy, rule of law and supremacy of the constitution. He said the heads of both PML-N and PPP had signed a declaration on March 9 to restore the deposed judges within 30 days, which was later extended to May 12 with the agreement of the PPP leadership. “We would not become part of any move to de-stabilize this government,” he said. Answering another question, he said the PML-N leadership was not taken into confidence over the appointment of the new Governor in Punjab. The party was only informed about it. (Posted @ 18:48 PST) PML-N ready to implement CoD: Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP) Former premier Nawaz Sharif has said that Charter of Democracy (CoD) is still a valid document, and PML-N is ready to implement it. In an interview with Voice of America, he said the genuine implementation of the CoD is possible through the involvement of all the parties. To a question he said, PML-N and PPP passed through 80s and 90s and have learnt a lot from that period. “Now the time has come that we move ahead with our principled stance without mudslinging, abusing and leg pulling of each other”, he added. To a question about judiciary, Nawaz Sharif said PML-N is fighting for the independence of judiciary. When asked about his demand to reinstate deposed judges contrary to CoD, he said, “I am still keeping my pledge and I am struggling for restoration of the deposed judges because they refused to take oath under PCO.” People supported the PML-N due to its stance on reinstatement of judges, he added. Replying to another question he said, PML-N has offered unconditional support to Asif Ali Zardari. He claimed that PML-N became part of the federal government when Asif Ali Zardari insisted on it, adding PML-N demanded one thing from the PPP that judges should be reinstated. To a question about the appointment of Salman Taseer as Punjab governor, he said no person should be appointed as governor who may prove dangerous to PML-N and PPP coalition. (Posted @ 18:36 PST) Envoy narrates kidnap story ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP) - Envoy Tariq Azizuddin who returned home after 96 days Saturday said he was kidnapped on Peshawar- Landikotal road while driving to Kabul. On that day, there was no PIA flight. Therefore, he decided to drive to Kabul. On the way, about 16 militants, carrying arms including suicide jackets, kidnapped him along with his bodyguard and driver. The kidnappers hit him in the head with riffle butt but did not hurt him during captivity, Azizuddin said adding that after driving for about ten hours, he was taken to a certain place and then moved three times to different places during captivity. He said he did not know anything about the demands of the kidnappers and waited with hope in captivity. Answering a question, he said, his kidnappers seemed upset in the last few days due to the efforts being made by the law enforcing agencies in the area where he was kept. Replying to a question he said, “the kidnappers thought that I am a big fish and a foreigner.” He said soon after kidnapping he explained his status to them. Tariq said he is also Pushto speaking but the Pushto of the kidnappers was slightly different from his Pushto. He said he could not recognise any of those who had kidnapped him. Tariq Azizuddin, who has been serving in the Foreign Office for 39 years, said as he is still the ambassador to Kabul, he hoped to go there to resume his official duties. (Posted @ 20:36 PST) Pakistani mob burns 4th robber to death in a week KARACHI, May 17 (Reuters): An angry mob in Karachi set on fire two men caught mugging bus passengers Saturday killing one of them, just three days after another mob had burnt three robbers to death, police said. “They were robbing passengers on a bus when people from the neighbourhood caught them and beat them. They then set them on fire,” said Aleem Jafri, the local police chief. Police came to the rescue of the torched men, but one later died in hospital, while the other was being treated for serious burns, another police officer said. (Posted @ 17:10 PST) LPG prices go up KARACHI, May 17 (PPI): Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price has once again surgedacross Pakistan, particularly in the remote areas, distributors said Saturday.The price of 11.8kg LPG cylinder has gone up by Rs20 ( from Rs 565 to Rs 585) in Peshwar, to Rs540 in Karachi and to Rs 560 in Punjab, said LPG Distributors Association Pakistan chairman Abdul Hadi Khan in a statement. He said the price hike was due to cut in LGP output and profiteering. He said daily LPG production has declined by 100 tons due to suspension of output in the Pindori field. The production has slipped acorss the countrty to 1500 tons per day as compared to a demand of 2000 tons, he said and asked the Prime Minister and the Petroleum Minister to take steps to normalize the LPG prices. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) PM Gilani holds talks with US envoy ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP) Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Saturday said Pakistan was keen to further expanding its strategic relationship with United States in its efforts to promote peace and security in the region and across the world. Talking to US Ambassador Anne Patterson at PM House, Gilani said Pakistan was desirous of enhancing bilateral ties with the U.S. in all fields including diplomatic, political, defence, science and technology, socio-economic development, trade, energy investment and infrastructure. He said Pakistan was engaged in consolidating the process of democratization that started after the February 18 general elections. He also said Pakistan has been steadfastly fighting terrorism and stressed the need to address the root causes of terrorism which he said, invariably springs from deep sense of economic and political injustice, deprivation and hopelessness. He also said that Pakistan is committed to a stable and strong Afghanistan and that international community needs to do more to accelerate the process of socio-economic development in that country. Gilani stressed on early establishment of the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) which would go a long way in the economic empowerment of the people in the tribal areas. Ambassador Anne Patterson said the US is committed to extending all possible support to the broad-based elected coalition government of Pakistan and help it in overcoming the challenges posed by the rise in oil and food prices. She said President Bush would meet Gilani in Sharm-El- Sheikh (Egypt) to know more about the developments in Pakistan and the policies of the elected government. (Posted @ 19:06 PST) PM Gilani leaves for Egypt to attend WEF ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani left here Saturday on a four-day visit to Egypt to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF).from May 18 to 20 in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh situated at the coastal strip between Red Sea and Mount Sinai. On the sidelines of the WEF the prime minister will hold talks with U.S. President George Bush, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Prime Minister of Palestine Authority Salam Fayyad. (Posted @ 18:26 PST) Foreign Minister meets Kashmiri leaders ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to seeking a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. At a meeting with the leadership of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the representatives of the Kashmiri leaders from occupied Kashmir including the APHC at the Foreign Office he briefed the participants on the key parameters of Pakistan's Kashmir policy. Noting that in recent years the issue has been addressed within the Pakistan- India Composite Dialogue, Shah Mahmood said that Pakistan was ready to engage with India in a constructive dialogue to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties, in particular the people of Kashmir. He also welcomed the agreed Kashmir- related Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which have enabled the divided families to meet and brought relief to Kashmiri people. The Kashmiri leaders expressed their full confidence in the Kashmir policy of the democratically elected Government, and called for effective implementation of Kashmir related CBMs. The Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the leaders of APHC for a visit to Pakistan on mutually convenient dates. (Posted @ 20:08 PST) India rushes more troops to occupied Kashmir Srinagar, occupied Kashmir, May 17 (PPI)- India has deployed 6,000 additional troops and 70 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in occupied Kashmir. According to Kashmir Media Service, 5000 troops with high-tech Israeli equipment have been mobilized in Kupwara district, to further strengthen the brigades of the 28- division in Tangdhar, Keran, Machil and Gurez areas of the district. In addition, the army has asked for more units of the Rashtriya Rifles to raise the number of troops in the Kupwara areas to 30,000. Indian Border Security Force Director General A.K. Mitra announced Friday that 1,000 personnel were being rushed to Samba area in Jammu region. Meanwhile, the government of India has given its consent to the deployment of 70 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in occupied Valley. (Posted @ 16:40 PST) Musharraf stronger than ever: Mumtaz Bhutto Lahore, May 17 (PPI): Chairman, Sindh National Front, Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto Saturday said that President Musharraf has emerged stronger than ever before and that the present government and parliament were hostage to him. “Previously, Musharraf was supported only by the turncoats, plunderers and the terrorists, but now the PPP has become his partner and joined the ranks of allies of the Presidency,” he contended. Mumtaz Bhutto, who served as chief minister Sindh and as federal minister during the premiership of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Saturday held a detailed meeting with PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) Punjab chief Dr. Mubashir Hasan. “Those chanting slogans of 'Go Musharraf Go' have now turned to be his staunch supporters and all this has taken place on the basis of Give and Take,” he said after the meeting. “All this is the result of a US-brokered deal,” he added. He observed that the masses had voted for PPP to get rid of Musharraf but it trampled the people’s mandate as well as the charter of democracy and the Murree declaration. “But the parties enjoying majority in the parliament must keep in mind that the masses would never forgive them if they did not fulfill the promise,” he warned. Mumtaz Bhutto was of the view that there exists no opposition party in the country and all of them having elected to the assemblies were part of the government. Mumtaz Bhutto also held meetings with Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan and HRCP leader Asma Jahangir. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Six suspected militants killed in clash in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, May 17 (AP): Six suspected militants were killed in a clash with security forces in occupied Kashmir’s Lurgam village, 50 kilometres south of Srinagar, Saturday, Indian army spokesman Lt. Col. Anil Kumar Mathur said. The militants were killed after army and police sealed off a forested area in the village following a tip-off that militants were hiding there. (Posted @ 14:05 PST) Rocket attack at police station in Swabi ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP): Suspected militants fired a rocket at a police station in Zapda area in Swabi in North West Frontier Province on Saturday, slightly damaging the wall of the police station but no causalities. (Posted @ 20:40 PST) Sri Lankan army captures key northern town from Tamil rebels COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 17 (AP) - Sri Lankan troops captured the strategic Palampiddi town in Mannar distric from Tamil Tiger rebels in the island's restive north Saturday, a move that will restrict supplies to the insurgents' front lines, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. He said the supply route between the northern Vavuniya and Mannar districts will be “completely denied” to the rebels because soldiers are holding Palampiddi. Earlier Saturday, a hand grenade exploded in Vavuniya town, wounding 17 civilians, the military said. (Posted @ 19:52 PST) Badminton-China beat Indonesia 3-0 to retain Uber Cup JAKARTA, May 17 (Reuters) - China beat hosts Indonesia 3-0 on Saturday to win the Uber Cup women's team tournament for the sixth time in a row. China play South Korea in the men's Thomas Cup team badminton tournament on Sunday. (Posted @ 19:48 PST) Hockey: India to face Argentina in final after beating Malaysia IPOH, Malaysia, May 17 (AFP) - India edged Malaysia 2-1 on Saturday to qualify for the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup field hockey tournament against Argentina on Sunday. Argentina drew 2-2 with Canada but still topped the charts with 14 points from four earlier wins and two draws. (Posted @ 19:45 PST) Documentation for release of 165 prisoners finalized LAHORE, May 17 (APP): Punjab Prisons Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Saturday said that documentation for the release of 165 prisoners who have completed their jail terms but were not set free due to non-payment of their fines have been completed after PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif paid the fines on behalf of these poor prisoners. They would now be set free any day, he said. (Posted @ 19:14 PST) India repatriates 14 Pakistani fishermen ATTARI, May 17 (PPI): Fourteen Pakistani fishermen were repatriated by India through the land transit route at Attari border check-post on Saturday. All the released fishermen were arrested in July last year for straying in the Indian territorial waters in the Arabian Sea. The fishermen, who were lodged in a Gujarat jail, were brought to Amritsar on Friday. A Pakistani television channel reported that one Pakistani fisherman died during custody in Indian jail. (Posted @ 17:50 PST) Kuwaitis go to the polls, economy tops agenda KUWAIT, May 17 (Reuters): Kuwaitis voted in a parliamentary election Saturday that they hoped would bring in fresh faces able to bury political feuds and push through economic reforms. Some 275 candidates are running for the 50-seat National Assembly, among them 27 women hoping for their first success after failing to win a single seat in 2006. (Posted @ 17:15 PST) Thousands flee as China lake bank feared broken BEICHUAN, China, May 17 (Reuters): Thousands of Chinese fled to the hills Saturday amid fears a lake formed near the epicentre of this week's earthquake would burst its banks. The water level at the lake formed after aftershocks blocked a river was rising rapidly in Beichuan and “may burst its bank at any time”, the Xinhua news agency said. A paramilitary officer told Reuters the likelihood of the lake bursting its banks was “extremely big”. A witness said by telephone the military was evacuating everyone in Beichuan, even rescue workers. (Posted @ 17:15 PST) US Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Baghdad BAGHDAD, May 17 (AFP): Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, arrived in Baghdad Saturday for talks with Iraqi and American officials, US embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo told AFP. “She is in Baghdad for talks with US officials and representatives of the Iraqi government,” Nantongo said. She had no immediate details of the visit, including how long Pelosi would stay in the Iraqi capital. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Bus collides with tractor in eastern China, killing 14 BEIJING, May 17 (AP): At least 14 people died in a collision between a bus and a tractor in eastern China’s Wenzhou city Saturday, the Xinhua news agency said. An explosion occurred when the vehicles collided, killing 13 people immediately. Another person died later in a hospital. (Posted @ 16:10 PST) Cricket- West Indies squad to face Australia ST JOHN'S, Antigua, May 17 (AFP): West Indies on Friday named their squad to face Australia in the first Test which takes place at Sabina Park in Jamaica from May 22-26. Team: Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice-captain), Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Amit Jaggernauth, Runako Morton, Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor. (Posted @ 16:05 PST) Suicide bomber targets US-backed militia in Iraq BAQUBA, Iraq, May 17 (AFP): A woman suicide bomber targeted a US-backed militia office in the central Iraqi town of Baquba Saturday, killing one woman and wounding 16, police and hospital sources said. A doctor at the local hospital confirmed that one woman had been killed in addition to the suicide bomber and that 16 others had been wounded. In another incident near Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, two people were killed and seven wounded in a shooting and a rocket attack, police said. (Posted @ 15:40 PST) Six Kurdish rebels killed in clash in eastern Turkey ISTANBUL, May 17 (AP): Six Kurdish rebels were killed in a clash with soldiers in eastern Turkey’s Van province Saturday, Turkey's Anatolia news agency said. Three other rebels were injured. (Posted @ 15:15 PST) Bush arrives in Egypt for Mideast talks SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 17 (AFP): US President George W. Bush arrived in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh Saturday for talks with President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian leaders. Bush is also due to attend the Middle East World Economic Forum, which will bring together 1,500 people from 55 countries under the theme “learning from the future.” (First Posted @ 13:10 PST, Updated @ 15:10 PST) Confirmed death toll from China quake reaches 28,881 BEIJING, May 17 (AFP): The confirmed earthquake death toll in China has risen to 28,881, a central government official said Saturday. Another 198,347 people have been injured as of 2:00 pm, Guo Weimin, a spokesman for China's State Council, told a news conference. Government officials previously estimated the death toll from Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake is above 50,000. Sichuan province, which includes Deyang, was by far the worst hit. Xinhua news agency Saturday said that more than 28,300 people were confirmed dead in Sichuan. More than 10,600 others were buried in the rubble, Xinhua said. (First Posted @ 12:10 PST, Updated @ 13:50 PST) 10 militants, four civilians killed in Afghan violence KABUL, May 17 (AP): A series of clashes, airstrikes and bomb blasts killed 10 militants and four civilians in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. A roadside blast hit a vehicle in the eastern Paktia province Saturday, leaving three civilians dead, government spokesman Ghamai Mohammadi said. Another bomb placed on a bicycle exploded as a police vehicle passed by in Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan. The blast killed a 10-year-old boy and injured another civilian, police officer Mohammad Nabi said. In the western Farah province, Afghan and foreign troops bombed a Taliban hide-out where two hostages were being held, killing eight militants, Afghan army commander Gen. Jalander Shah said. Both hostages were freed during the Friday operation, Shah said. Also Friday, U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops clashed and called in airstrikes on insurgents in eastern Khost province during a raid on a compound suspected of housing militants. Two militants were killed and four others detained during the operation in Khost's Sabari district, the coalition said in a statement. (First Posted @ 11:20 PST, Updated @ 12:30 PST) U.S. plans new prison in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters): The United States intends to build a big new prison at its main military base in Afghanistan, a shift from earlier aims to transfer most detainees to Afghan custody, The New York Times reported. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the report in the Times' Saturday edition of the planned 24-hectare complex at the Bagram military base. The report said the plans represent an acknowledgment that the United States was likely to hold prisoners overseas for many years to come. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
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