W O R L D

Lawyers boycott courts, protest
Lawyers across the country boycotted courts and staged demonstrations in major cities for restoration of a democracy amid deep fissures within the movement and growing frustration over acceptance of reappointment by ever-rising number of deposed judges.

Pakistani lawyers affiliated to different political parties scuffle during their protest in Multan on Thursday. Pakistan lawyers are demanding that judges deposed by former President Pervez Musharraf be reinstated to their previous postings and positions — AP\PTI

Non-proliferation lobby busy trying to derail N-deal
The non-proliferation lobby is going all out to try and derail or at the very least, put the brakes on the US-India civilian nuclear agreement, which appears headed toward a photo-finish in Congress.

US did not warn of missile strike: Pak
Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity while refuting US claim that it was forewarned about a US missile strike on Wednesday in South Waziristan that killed seven persons.

300 school kids freed by locals
Were taken hostage by militants
Islamabad, September 18
About 300 students held hostage by three would-be suicide bombers at a school in northwestern Pakistan today were freed by armed local residents, who stormed the building killing two of the militants in a gun battle.

Pakistan for N-engagement with China
Islamabad, September 18
In its bid to offset the impact of Indo-US nuclear deal, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will take up the acquisition of nuclear fuel technology from China during his forthcoming visit. The Pakistan government has decided to set up two nuclear power plants worth Rs 139 billion to overcome the country’s energy crisis, official sources were quoted as saying by Aaj Kal Urdu daily.

McCain committed to 123
As President, Senator John McCain will be committed to completing the nuclear deal if it is not wrapped up on President George W. Bush’s watch, Ashley Tellis, an adviser to McCain, said on Wednesday. He noted McCain was an “early and very enthusiastic champion” of the nuclear deal and wanted the agreement completed “in exactly the form” Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had envisaged.

Lawyers boycott courts, protest
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Lawyers across the country boycotted courts and staged demonstrations in major cities for restoration of a democracy amid deep fissures within the movement and growing frustration over acceptance of reappointment by ever-rising number of deposed judges.

PPP lawyers clashed in Multan with their colleagues staging rally and urging a weekly boycott of the court for two hours on Thursdays. In Islamabad, law enforcing agencies, including the police and paramilitary rangers, clamped an effective blockade of all routes leading to the Supreme Court.

Only a dozen lawyers were able to defy the barbed wires and steel barricades to reach the gates of the Supreme Court building on the Constitution Avenue. They chanted slogans for restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other deposed judges and accused President Asif Zardari of proving worse than Pervez Musharraf in demolishing the independence of judiciary.

In Lahore, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), announced that September 23 will be observed as “Iftikhar Chaudhry Day” to express solidarity with the deposed chief justice who reinstatement now seems nearly impossible in view stiff opposition by the PPP government.

He said lawyers’ struggle would continue for the independence of judiciary and restoration of judges with honour and dignity. He decried the current process of reappointment of deposed judges as unconstitutional and humiliating to the judges.

Meanwhile, with continuing erosion of the unity of lawyers and judges, only 18 deposed judges are now standing with Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry who have either declined to accept fresh appointments or have not been invited to take fresh oath.

Of the 13 judges of the Supreme Court who were sacked by Musharraf on November 3 last, nine have still not returned to the bench. Three have taken fresh oath while one, Rana Bhagwandas, retired late last year. The remaining judges are: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Falaq Sher, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmad, Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.

In the Sindh High Court, 11 out of the 16 deposed judges have fallen in line with the law minister’s formula while two have retired leaving only three (Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmad, Justice Musheer Alam and Justice Maqbool Bakir) who are still adamant.

In Lahore High Court, five deposed judges including Justice Khwaja Sharif, Justice Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Iqbal Hameeduddin, Justice Sahir Ali and Justice Chaudhry Ejaz have yet not taken fresh oath. Justice Jehangir Arshad retired recently.

Chief Justice Hameed Dogar rejected the summary for reappointment of Justice Ejaz because that would have resurrected Justice Javed Iqbal’s claim for reappointment as judge senior to Dogar himself. While in the Peshawar High Court only one deposed judge, Justice Ejaz Afzal, has not accepted offer to be reappointed. 

Non-proliferation lobby busy trying to derail N-deal
Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington

The non-proliferation lobby is going all out to try and derail or at the very least, put the brakes on the US-India civilian nuclear agreement, which appears headed toward a photo-finish in Congress.

In a letter sent to all 535 members of Congress on Wednesday, the group, comprising former US ambassadors, faith groups and international security and disarmament organisations, urged lawmakers to reject the deal. The letter pressed Congress to affirm that if India breaks its political pledge not to resume testing, the US nuclear trade shall be terminated and the US will urge all other suppliers to follow suit.

Members of Congress were urged, “to actively support measures that would help address the numerous flaws and ambiguities in this proposal, and resist overtures to rush toward a vote without carefully considering the far-reaching nuclear non-proliferation and security implications of this unprecedented and complex arrangement.” A hearing on the agreement is scheduled in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday.

The letter, initiated by the Arms Control Association and the Campaign for Responsibility in Nuclear Trade, described the energy, trade and non-proliferation advantages of the deal as “vastly overstated” and warned the potential damage to the global non-proliferation system would be “severe.” “Contrary to assertions by the administration, the proposal would not bring India sufficiently into conformance with non-proliferation behaviour expected of responsible nuclear armed states,” the letter said. The group urged, “before Congress acts on the agreement, the US and the Indian officials must resolve their differences on key issues, including safeguards and the possible termination of the agreement in the event that India resumes nuclear testing.” 

US did not warn of missile strike: Pak
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity while refuting US claim that it was forewarned about a US missile strike on Wednesday in South Waziristan that killed seven persons.

“Such incursions cannot but be counterproductive and vitiate the atmosphere of mutual cooperation,” foreign minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi observed while addressing a news conference.

The US attack came amid assurances given by US Admiral Mullen to Pakistani leadership about American commitment to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty. “There seems to be some sort of an institutional disconnect on the other side,” the minister said while referring to the contrast between the assurances and operational violations on the ground. He denied Pentagon’s claim that Pakistan was warned before the attack.

Qureshi said President Asif Zardari will discuss this issue when he will meet President Bush on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session for which he will visit the United States from September 22-26. He is also due to meet Indian premier Manmohan Singh hoping to give an impetus to ongoing peace process between the two countries.

Responding to a question, Qureshi dispelled the impression that the bilateral peace process has come to a grinding halt. He said a Pakistani delegation would soon visit India for Kashmir-related talks. It is likely to make progress on the cross-LoC trade between the two sides of Kashmir that has assumed urgency because of blockade by extremists in Jammu.

Referring to Indian suspicion of Pakistani hand in recent bomb blasts in New Delhi, Qureshi said both countries suffer from the same menace and need to enhance their cooperation and coordinate efforts for combating terrorism. He said Pakistan’s response to Indian allegations has been very measured and is underscored by utmost restraint.

Responding to a question on Admiral Michael Mullen’s sudden visit to Pakistan amid rising tensions between the two countries on US incursions and ground assault, the foreign minister said the Prime Minister had very clearly explained Pakistan’s stance on the issue. 

300 school kids freed by locals
Were taken hostage by militants

Pakistan for N-engagement with China

Islamabad, September 18
In its bid to offset the impact of Indo-US nuclear deal, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will take up the acquisition of nuclear fuel technology from China during his forthcoming visit.

The Pakistan government has decided to set up two nuclear power plants worth Rs 139 billion to overcome the country’s energy crisis, official sources were quoted as saying by Aaj Kal Urdu daily.

Zardari, who is expected to visit China in the near future, will discuss the acquisition of fuel technology for the two new plants with the Chinese leadership, the sources said.

Pakistan’s planning commission is expected to approve the plan for the new atomic plants during a meeting today. The projects will be completed in eight years.

Once completed, they will produce electricity at Rs 6.06 a unit. The two plants will generate 4,467 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

In view of future requirements of nuclear fuel, a Nuclear Fuel Power Complex, consisting of a chemical processing plant, an enrichment plant, a seamless tube plant and a fuel fabrication plant, will be set up at a cost of Rs 51.298 billion. — PTI