ATC awards death sentence to 3 in Allama Turabi's murder case

KARACHI: The Anti-Terror Court (ATC) of Karachi has awarded death sentences to three and life imprisonment to three others in Allama Hassan Turabi's murder case on Wednesday.

Judge Anand Ram of the Special Anti-Terror Court No. 3 announced these death and life imprisonment penalties for the culprits. The judge has awarded death sentences to Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Rehman and Sultan Mehmood. Ashfaq, Muhammad Akbar and Rahim have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Allama Hasan Turabi and his young nephew were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the religious leader’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal residence on July 16, 2006. 

Aisam-Bopanna to play for flood victims

It’s not easy for one to get attention in Pakistan, if you are standing next to Shahid Afridi.
But that’s what Aisam-ul-Haq precisely did as he attended a luncheon reception hosted in his honour by the Jang Group under the banner of its Aman ki Asha campaign at the Karachi Marriott on Tuesday.

Afridi turned up for the reception along with a galaxy of former cricket greats like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and Moin Khan.

But it was Aisam, who stole the limelight as he continues to bask in the glory of his stunning show at this month’s US Open where he teamed up with India’s Rohan Bopanna to reach the doubles final. The Pakistan-India duo lost to Bryan Brothers, Bob and Mike, in the title clash, but were still hailed as heroes across the sub-continent.

Now the Aisam-Rohan team could get an opportunity to play the Bryans again — for a good cause.

At a meeting with senior Jang Group officials here, Aisam happily agreed to the idea of playing a doubles match together with Bopanna to raise funds for millions of his countrymen affected by the worst floods in Pakistan’s history.

The idea is to have a doubles match between Aisam-Bopanna and the Bryan brothers in Dubai this December. Other top tennis stars like Roger Federer and Sania Mirza would also be invited to be a part of the show.

Aisam is all for it, Bopanna should have no problems while the Bryan brothers are also thought to be keen to do their bit for the flood victims.

“It’s a great cause,” Aisam told ‘The News’. “Millions have been affected by the floods and need our help. I’m ready to do my bit.”

Aisam also welcomed the idea of playing a match against Bopanna at the Wagah Border in a bid to promote peace between Pakistan and India.

“I am an ambassador for peace,” said Aisam. “I believe that our region can only progress if we have lasting peace here and if I can play a role I would happily do it.”

Zaheer Abbas, the former Pakistan captain, was all praise for Aisam. “What Aisam has achieved is a great boost for Pakistan sports,” said the legendary batsman.

Miandad agreed with his former teammate. “It’s really good to see that one of our countrymen is now doing so well in the field of international tennis,” said Miandad.

Aisam’s parents, Ehitsham and Nausheen, expressed their pride over his achievements. “Aisam has always been a hardworking boy, completely focused. He has made our entire country proud,” said Nausheen, a former Pakistan champion.

Nato backtracks after protest by Pakistan

Nato reversed its position on aerial strikes by its helicopter gunships inside Pakistan on Monday after Islamabad warned the US-led forces in Afghanistan of counter-measures. 
International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), which had earlier defended the aerial engagement as an action ‘under the right of self-defence’, later in the evening, according to military sources, informed Pakistani commanders that they were trying to establish that their helicopters during the operation did not cross into Pakistani territory.

Isaf spokesman Capt Ryan Donald had earlier said: “The Isaf helicopters did cross into Pakistan territory to engage the insurgents. Isaf maintains the right to self-defence, and that’s why they crossed the Pakistan border.”

The strongly-worded protest communicated by Pakistan to Nato headquarters in Brussels reminded the military alliance that its mandate for operations in Afghanistan ended at Afghan border and there were no hot pursuit rules agreed with Pakistan.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said in the statement: “These incidents are a clear violation and breach of the UN mandate under which Isaf operates.” The statement said Isaf had been asked not to participate in any military action that violated the UN mandate and infringed upon Pakistan’s sovereignty. It said Pakistan had always emphasised the need for “coordinated and joint action” against militants.

Military sources said the message communicated to the Nato command was crystal clear that in view of declining public support for war on terror, the security of Nato supply routes through Pakistan could be threatened in the aftermath of the new air campaign.

Analysts say Pakistan could only stop US-led forces from such violations by tactfully using its leverages that largely relate to the support for war on terror and the supply routes.

Nato was asked to coordinate its actions with Pakistan military and avoid crossing the ‘red lines’ — a euphemism for Pakistani sensitivities.

More than 50 people, many of them believed to be fighters of the Haqqani network, were killed over the past couple of days in three Nato/Isaf air strikes in Pakistani tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. 

Nato’s Apache helicopters were said to be ‘in hot pursuit’ of the militants crossing back into Pakistani territory to get to their sanctuaries.

The Nato attacks came after an escalation in drone strikes by the US against militant hideouts and other targets in North Waziristan, an indication that the US-led forces were changing their tactics to dismantle the militant network in the tribal region long considered to be the springboard for violence in Afghanistan. 

About 20 drone strikes by unmanned Predator aircraft have taken place in September so far — the highest for a month since the Americans started using drones inside Pakistan in 2004.

Supreme Court demands list of bank loans written off

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered to be provided a list of ten written-off loan bank cases next week; Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that an order will be issued for the recovery of the complete amount which has been cheated in the name of pardon.

During the hearing of written-off loan cases in the Supreme Court, counsel of civil society Iqbal Haider argued that the establishment has promoted a culture of nonpayment in the country which enhanced immunity towards loans.

In his reply, the Chief Justice said in order to bring money back from abroad, a 17 member bench of the Supreme Court can be asked to issue an order.

The CJ added that if money is brought back from foreign countries, the court can then provide some relaxation. “All those officers should be taken to task who issued loans on insufficient guarantees,” the Chief Justice added.

Only a fool would want to see his govt collapse: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday said efforts are afoot to protect the state institutions and that only a fool would want to see his government collapse.

He said this while talking to journalists during his visit to visit to Sunday Bazaar at Aabpara here.

When asked to comment on a possible action against him by the Supreme Court for contempt of court, the Prime Minister refused to respond, saying the case is in the court.

Regarding price hike, he said it is a global phenomenon and not restricted to only Pakistan. “Global recession has spiraled prices of commodities across the world,” he added.

The Prime Minister inquired about the supply and prices of essential commodities. He said he has directed the authorities to strictly monitor the rates at shops. Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira accompanied the Prime Minister.

Mideast talks on the clock ahead of settlement controversy

 The clock is ticking as the United States seeks a way to keep Middle East peace talks from falling apart over this weekend's end to an Israeli moratorium on settlement construction.

The issue of settlement construction is highly controversial, and the Palestinians have said a restart by the Israelis would be reason enough to end talks.

"Israel must choose between peace and the continuation of settlements," Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday at its annual debate.

"Restoring the credibility of the peace process mainly requires compelling the government of Israel to comply with its obligations and commitments, particularly to cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory especially in and around East Jerusalem," he said.

Blog: iPhone app tracks settlement activity in Israel

Jonathan Peled, spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington, said Saturday that "Israel believes negotiations should be conducted without preconditions and that direct talks should continue despite the differences between the two sides."

"The negotiations should be as much in the Palestinians' interests as in Israeli and American interests," Peled said.

American officials are mediating what they describe as "intense negotiations" between Israelis and Palestinians. Two senior State Department officials said Abbas met Saturday with George Mitchell, the U.S. special envoy to the region.

"Settlements are an important issue to both sides, but the only way to resolve this and other core issues is through direct negotiations," U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Saturday. "We hope the parties will make the right decision to keep the talks moving forward."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added a late-day meeting with Abbas Friday night, urging him not to abandon the talks.

Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. State Department's top official on the Middle East, said the "U.S. was urging both sides to create the atmosphere that is most conducive to reaching a successful conclusion for negotiation and for both sides to take the negotiation process seriously."

"We're very aware of the deadline," he added. "We are urging Israel to extend the moratorium ... and we also are making clear to the Palestinians that we do not believe that it is in their interest to walk out of the talks."

Feltman's unusually candid comments suggested a U.S. frustration and impatience with both sides' inability to compromise, as Sunday's deadline approaches.

"We don't think either side should be using the threat to walk out to interrupt a process that has the promise of bringing Israel security and bringing the Palestinians a state," Feltman said.

The United States has been working to overcome the seeming impasse, angling for a way to prevent new construction in a way that would give the Israelis a position that does not appear to be caving, which would be untenable politically back in Israel.

Various scenarios have been suggested to both sides but seem to lose momentum as quickly as they are considered.

A compromise that various officials told CNN had promise Friday morning -- allowing the moratorium to be lifted but requiring all settlers planning on construction to resubmit for new licenses, thereby forestalling construction for a few more months -- is no longer considered viable to the Israelis.

Another idea under consideration Friday afternoon, according to a diplomatic source, is for Israel to continue the moratorium but allow limited construction.

On Friday, officials were cautiously optimistic that a formula could be found. One official noted that while Israel wasn't tipping its hand as to what it would do, its government was pushing back the date of the expiration of the freeze -- from the middle of the weekend until the end of Sunday -- which suggested a compromise was in the works.

"What I sense is that the Israeli and Palestinian delegations are looking for ways to make sure the talks continue beyond Sunday," Feltman said.

Earlier in the day, Israeli sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted concrete assurances that Abbas would stay at the table without making the demand for an absolute halt to construction a condition to do so.

In recent days, Netanyahu has spoken to Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former British Prime Minster Tony Blair about working out a compromise, an Israeli government source said.

But on Saturday, American officials said there was still no traction on any proposal and the game of chicken between the parties would go down to the wire.

"We really don't know how this is going to do down," one senior official said. "We still don't know what either side can ultimately live with."

In his speech, Abbas addressed a range of final status issues, not just settlements. He mentioned the importance of solving disagreements over Jerusalem, settlements, borders, water, security and the release of all prisoners and detainees. He also mentioned ending the Israeli siege of Gaza.

"Our demands for the cessation of settlement activities, the lifting of the siege and an end to all other illegal Israeli policies and practices do not constitute arbitrary pre-conditions in the peace process, but are consistent with the implementation of obligations and previous commitments, compliance with which has been repeatedly reaffirmed in all resolutions adopted since the very start of the political process."

COAS Gen. Kayani visits AAC in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Army Aviation Command (AAC) in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, he was given a comprehensive briefing on professional aspects of Army Aviation. The COAS also interacted with troops and appreciated their performance in security and flood relief operations.

On arrival, the COAS was received by Major General Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir, General Officer Commanding Army Aviation Command. 

Conflict between institutions detrimental

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik assured Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in a long one-on-one meeting that the government is making all out efforts to bring Dr Aafia Siddiqui back home.

Fazlur Rehman said the conflicts between the institutions would be hugely disastrous for the country, as the present time necessitates well-thought out steps.

The meeting held in the federal capital mulled over the overall law and order situation in the country, the issues of Dera Ismail Khan and the distribution of Watan Cards among the flood affectees.

‘The government coalition is quite staunch,’ Maulana Fazl said condemning the efforts being made on the part of a certain lobby to create an air of conflict among the institutions.

The JUI-F leader said Pakistan has a strong democracy and the efforts aimed at debilitating it, would be tantamount to dividing the country.

The JUI-F hailed the serious government efforts for improving the law and order situation in Balochistan, he added.

Australian activists close down largest coal port

SYDNEY: Australian environment activists closed down operations at the world's largest coal port on Sunday, after entering three terminals and attaching themselves to loaders, the terminal operator and the protesters said.

The action by climate change group Rising Tide in Newcastle stopped operations at all three terminals operated by Port Waratah Coal Services, which normally run continuously, a company spokesman said.

Rising Tide said around 50 people were involved in the protest, some entering before dawn on Sunday, abseiling down machinery and attaching themselves to loaders. Others demonstrated with banners.

Annika Dean, a spokeswoman for the environment group, said the protest was an "emergency" action to highlight climate change, which she blamed for recent fires in Russia and floods in Pakistan.

"We have stopped all operations in the coal port," said Dean. "These weather events are consistent with the scientific predictions for climate change. We feel like Australia's coal exports are contributing to this problem."

Newcastle, just north of Sydney, is the world's largest coal export port and a major earner of foreign exchange for Australia. Port Waratah Coal Services is partly owned by mining giants Xstrata, and Rio Tinto, through its Coal and Allied subsidiary.

Coal is one of Australia's leading exports but the industry is opposed by the country's influential climate change lobby.

By mid-afternoon, several hours after the protest began at the coal port, organisers said several arrests had been made.

Police said five people had been arrested.

The protest is the latest in a series of actions at the facility by the locally based Rising Tide, which has had limited success in disrupting commercial operations. Dean said she believed it was the first time the group had managed to halt all coal operations at the port.

A spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services said it would be several days before losses resulting from the action could be assessed. AGENCIES 

Minister sacked over his outbursts against the rule ‘some are more equal than others’

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday sacked Abdul Qayum Jatoi, the federal minister for defence production, after summoning him to the PM House for an explanation over an outburst against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and Pakistan Army and adjudging his defence as feeble. 

The report said the prime minister had taken very serious notice of the vitriolic attack by his cabinet minister and had summoned him to Islamabad immediately, according to the PM House sources.

Jatoi fired the broadside, which even an opposition leader would find too hot to own up, against the high and mighty after meeting Talal Bugti, son of the late Nawab Akbar Bugti, at his Quetta residence. 

The minister went so far as to hold the army responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Bugti. “We provided the Army with uniform and boots not to kill their own countrymen, kill Nawab Sahib (Bugti) and Benazir Bhutto.” 

Jatoi didn’t stop there. He alleged that even Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan possessed a fake domicile of Balochistan. Jatoi said that the CJP belonged to Faisalabad and had been appointed on a fake domicile of Balochistan.

Advocating equity in the right of corruption, he said that right of corruption was given to specific people and came up with a suggestion, “I believe that everyone whether he is a Baloch, Sindhi, Seraiki, Pashtun or Punjabi should be given an equal right to do corruption.” 

Sources said that Jatoi rushed back after receiving the prime ministerial summons, having a brief meeting with him in the evening where he made a vain attempt to defend himself. 

In a statement after coming out of the meeting with the PM Gilani, Jatoi said: “The statement that I gave in Quetta was my personal point of view. I did not intend to humiliate or insult any national institution. 

“I have tendered my resignation from the ministry on the advice of the prime minister.” 

According to a PM House official, Gilani seemed extremely angry with Jatoi’s outbursts which, in his view, were bound to aggravate problems for his government. A number of PPP leaders seemed to distance themselves from the minister’s harangue. The party’s information secretary, Fauzia Wahab, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi and Rashid Rabbani termed the comments his own views and the later even demanded his removal from the federal cabinet. 

Fauzia went to the extent of saying that Jatoi might have given such a statement at the behest of ‘someone’. 

Nawab Talal Bugti, chief of his own faction of Jamhoori Watan Party, his son Mir Shahzain Bugti and other party leaders were present when Jatoi made the unusual remarks before a group of journalists in Quetta.

Recalling the 2006 killing of Nawab Bugti, Jatoi said all those who were responsible would have to account for their action, recalling that “Mir Zafarullah Jamali, ex-chief minister of Balochistan Jam Yousuf and former governor Owais Ahmed Ghani” were part of the Musharraf government when “our elder Nawab Bugti was assassinated”. 

Talking about accountability, Abdul Qayyum Jatoi said accountability should be conducted without discrimination, alleging that at present only the PPP was facing the stick.

In reply to a question, he said there would be no bitterness if all state institutions worked within their limits. “A clash always starts when a state institution crosses its limits,” Jatoi said. 

The minister asserted that Pakistan People’s Party was not afraid of “boots” because it was a voice of the poor. “The PPP has rendered sacrifices for democracy. Our blood is always spilt on the streets. We shall keep fighting against invisible, undemocratic forces although we know we are weak.”

Pak Army along with Sino team begins rescue operation

DADU: The devastations unfolded by the floods continue unabated in Sindh, as the joint team of Pak Army and Chinese helicopters commenced Rescue Operation in District Dadu areas of Suprio and FP Bund to relocate the thousands of people marooned for 55 days now. The inflow and outflow at Manchhar Lake is in progress with water pressure sustained at Bhan Saeedabad and Sehwan. The affectees are being provided with medical care and eatables besides they are being shifted to safer places under Joint Rescue Mission by Pak Army and Chinese Military helicopters. According to Irrigation Department, the level at the Lake is going down in degrees. Meanwhile, the officials of Irrigation Department are busy with buttressing the Bund by dumping stones and sand with the help of heavy machinery. Tehsil Juhi is still cut off on the 27th consecutive day today; while, Khairpur Nathan Shah is witnessing the frequent collapses of houses amid 12-foot water in the area.

Bomb threat: man arrested from PIA plane, set free

STOCKHOLM: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane was diverted to Sweden on Saturday after a bomb threat, but no explosives were found on board or in possession of a Canadian man detained by police and later set free.

The alert began after a woman in Canada called the police from a payphone to say a man on board had explosives on him.

The Boeing 777 with 273 people on board was diverted to Sweden while en route from Toronto to Karachi.

A Canadian man of Pakistani origin, in his '30s but whose identity was not made public, was detained after the plane landed as the passengers were evacuated. After being questioned, he was set free.

"The suspicions against the man were not sufficiently strong for an arrest order and he is therefore free to leave Sweden," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Police earlier said they had found no explosives on the man or the plane, which departed again before he was set free.

Stockholm district police spokesman Ulf Lindgren said the man would get help with the practical details of how to reach his planned destination.

The Swedish police have declined to say whether they view the incident as a hoax, saying only that they had had to take it seriously. In Canada, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said investigations were continuing.

Qayyum faces music after careless remarks

ISLAMABAD: After failing to satisfy Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani over his remarks, State Minister for Defence Production Abdul Qayum Jatoi was made to resign Saturday, Geo News reported. Earlier today, replying to a question while talking media on the occasion of his meeting with Talal Akbar Bugti here at Bugti House, he said everyone including Sindhi, Pashtun, Baloch, Seraiki and Punjabis should get share in corruption. Later, taking serious notice of it PM Gilani summoned the state minister to Islamabad.

NA Speaker visits flood victim camps in Badin

BADIN: The Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza on Saturday visited flood relief camps and distributed Watan Cards.

Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulifqar Mirza and former test cricketer, Zaheer Abbas, also accompanied the speaker.

While talking to SAMAA on the occasion, she said that about 80 percent of the people in Pakistan are living below the poverty line and, she added, the situation would become even worse after the floods.

President, PM houses are five star jails: Mushahid

MUTAN: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Syed Mushahid Hussain said that President and Prime Minister houses are five star jails.

He said this on Saturday while talking to media persons. He said that both the personalities, President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, are afraid of judges.

Mushahid Hussain said that the present government does not has even the finance minister and economic team. 

Govt remains silent spectator as Dr Afia gets 86 years

The US finally went ahead and awarded 86 years sentence to Dr. Afia Siddiuqi on seven counts including attempted murder, as Pakistan government once again failed to keep its promises and remained only a silent spectator.

All the calls made for Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s release by her relatives as well as by the people of Pakistan including those living in the US fell on deaf ears of the US authorities who mercilessly incarcerated the mother of three.

"It is my judgment that Dr Siddiqui is sentenced to a period of incarceration of 86 years," said judge Richard Berman.

Aafia Siddiqui, 38, denounced the trial and said an appeal would be "a waste of time. I appeal to God."

“I want no bloodshed over my conviction and sentence,” Dr. Afia who was present in court said after the announcement of the sentence.

Reacting angrily to the news, Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr. Afia, at a press conference blamed Pakistani rulers for the sentence. “They (Pakistani rulers) failed to honour their promises to bring Dr. Afia back to Pakistan,” she added.

What went wrong? What role the government of Pakistan could have played to repatriate a woman who belonged here?

I won’t flee, will face any challenge: Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday made it clear he is not among those frightened people who run away from the country in tough circumstances, saying that he is ready to face any type of challenge.

Addressing the PPP cabinet members from the Punjab at the Presidency, the president urged his party stalwarts to continue working as coalition partners in the Punjab, as it is vital to counter any move aimed at derailing democracy.

He urged the PPP ministers in the Punjab to continue supporting the PML-N in order to counter any conspiracy by undemocratic forces. Sources stated the president discussed in detail the speculations rising with every passing day regarding ‘change’ in the current set-up. However, he urged the ministers not to attend to these rumours, sources disclosed. 

“We will complete our term, we have fought in the past and we know how to fight for safeguarding democracy,” a source quoted the president as having said.

It is over a year or so it was pointed out in this Forum that Zardari unlike an urbanite Musharraf has a feudal and tribal background. Besides, he is the co-chairman of the largest political party having deep roots in Sindh and significant representation in all the four provinces of the country. Unlike Musharraf, he is also an elected President of Pakistan through due democratic process widely acclaimed within and outside the country.

Repeat performance of deception, deceit, disinformation and trickeries by churning out treacherous stories through Punjab media round the clock that proved successful in defacing and decimating Musharraf may not work as fruitful this time, as Zardari is no Musharraf to leave gently rather such base tactics would arouse in him the inherent tribal, who with the entire strength of his tribe would take the marauders head on, no matter how many heads fell, which true to its traditions may continue for years piling up the heads until the jirga or grand jirga is convened for a final settlement, of course in favor of the party having the upper hand in the fight. Democracy and the so-called democratic parties and all other civil institutions thrown into the fray, while the muscling rivals are about to stage a show giving a picture of Pakistan to the outside world how backward and mediaeval society we live in. 

Meanwhile, in the National Assembly in response to a point raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Ch Nisar Ali, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said accountability should be across the board including politicians, the judiciary, armed forces and bureaucrats.

“We respect the verdicts of the judiciary and will implement them in accordance with the Constitution passed by parliament. However, we will not allow any institution to transgress its limits nor will we overstep the limits of anyone. We will get approved the new accountability bill from parliament with consensus so that everyone including politicians, judges, generals and bureaucracy could be held accountable under it”, he underlined.

“There is a slight difference between accountability and victimization and we shall sit with the opposition to bring a consensus accountability bill to the House and adopt it unanimously,” the prime minister said. 

He said it is not acceptable that politicians are declared corrupt and others claim to be ‘pious’. “Let everybody face accountability. When the judiciary and the Army come under criticism, they unite but when we come under criticism, we become fragmented. Let us also stand united and make parliament sovereign.” 

Writing about the emerging political scenario, it was long ago said in this Forum that the super-Punjab perhaps aping the global superpower U.S., which has kept its dominance over the weak and underdeveloped countries through its ever changing tactics ---sometimes through covert CIA operations, destabilizing the established governments and toppling it—sometimes through encouraging military coup detat within and of late, in the name of democracy, justice and law by instituting its minions and cronies for the sustenance of its hegemonies undisturbed and unchanged.