S P O T L I G H T

No compromise on Kashmir: Pervez
Islamabad, July 27
Amidst hectic international efforts to de-escalate Indo-Pakistan tension and end cross-border terrorism into India, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today struck a hardline asserting that his government would not “compromise” on the Kashmir issue. “Pakistan would never compromise on its just stand on Kashmir and would always support the UN Security Council resolutions calling for the future of Kashmir to be decided according to the wishes of Kashmiri people,” he told country’s top army commanders, on the eve of US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Islamabad tomorrow. PTI

Death for Pak youth in blasphemy case
Lahore, July 27
A court here today sentenced a young Muslim to death for making derogatory statements about Prophet Mohammed and Islam as whole, the police and court officials said. Wajihul Hassan, 27, was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Hassan was arrested on a complaint of Ismail Quereshi, a lawyer, who told the police that Hassan had sent him letters, criticising the Prophet’s actions and the teachings of Islam. According to court officials, Hassan said during the trial that some of Prophet Mohammed’s actions did not match the teachings of Islam. AP

Bombing suspects
Karachi, July 27
A Pakistani judge today extended the police detention of four suspects in last month’s car bomb attack on the U.S. consulate in Karachi, which killed 12 persons and injured 20. A government official said the remand was extended until August 3 during a brief appearance before an anti-terrorism court in Karachi. The suspects are activists from Al-Almi, an offshoot of the radical Harkat-ul-Mujahideen organisation Reuters

26 Pak men enter UP
Baharaich, July 27
Twenty-six Pakistani nationals have sneaked into Uttar Pradesh through the border with Nepal and a high security alert has been sounded, a senior police official said today. “Pakistani nationals, numbering 26, entered Uttar Pradesh from Nepal and are reported missing,” Gorakhpur Inspector General of Police Malkiyat Singh told reporters here. All police stations in the border districts in Gorakhpur zone have been alerted and instructed to track them, he said. PTI

Pak plea rejected
Islamabad, July 27 
The European Union today rejected a plea by Pakistan to help facilitate a dialogue with India and hoped that President Pervez Musharraf would take more steps to ease the prevailing tensions between the two countries. Visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters after his talks with General Musharraf and Pakistan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq that the 15-member grouping wanted India and Pakistan to resume a dialogue to sort out their differences. PTI

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark raises her arms in triumph as she arrives at the Labour Party headquarters in the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall on election night in Auckland on Saturday. — Reuters photo

New Zealand PM wins
Wellington, New Zealand, July 27
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark clinched a historic second term at elections today, buoyed by a strong economy that helped her South Pacific country to sail largely unscathed through the global slump. I am pleased to say that I will be able to form a Labour-led government for a second term,” Ms Clark said to roars from supporters in her northern stronghold of Auckland. “I am confident that tonight’s result delivers New Zealand another stable strong government,” she added. AP