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Setback for Zardari, graft cases against him to be reopened

Islamabad: In a setback to President Zardari, Pakistan Prime Minister Pervez Ashraf has told the Supreme Court that the govt will open the graft cases against President Zadari. The Pak PM told SC that he has instructed authorities to revoke former AG's letter asking for closure of graft cases against the President in Switzerland.

The Supreme Court has asked the govt to revoke the letter in two-three days At the last hearing on August 27, a five-judge bench accepted Ashraf's plea for more time to address the issue of reopening the cases against Zardari and gave him three weeks. 

Ashraf is the second premier to appear in the apex court to face a contempt charge for refusing to revive the cases against Zardari in Switzerland. His predecessor, Yousuf Raza Gilani, was convicted of contempt and disqualified in June. The Supreme Court has been pressuring the government to revive the cases against the president since December 2009, when it struck down a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf that benefited Zardari and over 8,000 others. The government has refused to act, saying the president enjoys immunity in Pakistan and abroad. 

Sunita finishes triathlon in space

Houston: Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams set yet another record as she completed a triathlon in space by running, biking and "swimming" along with athletes during the Nautica Malibu Triathlon held in Southern California over the weekend.

Kabul: Suicide attack, 10 dead

Kabul: A suicide bomber killed at least 10 people, nine of them foreigners, in an early-morning attack on a highway leading to the international airport in the Afghan capital today, officials said. It was the second suicide strike in the heavily fortified city in 10 days, renewing questions about stability as NATO accelerates a troop withdrawal and hands over to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

Food Minister Tomas writes to PM

A day before the national protest and strike by Opposition parties on the hike in diesel price, cap on subsidised LPG and FDI in multi-brand retail, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K.V. Thomas wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday seeking a review.

Mr. Thomas, it is learnt, suggested that there should be a slab system of charges for domestic LPG cylinder supply, with a marginal hike in price for extra cylinders up to 24 cylinders per annum. After 24 cylinders, consumers should be asked to pay the market price for the cylinders. He has, however, welcomed the decision on FDI in multi-brand retail.Mr. Thomas suggested that instead of capping the subsidised supply at six cylinders per year, Rs. 50 per cylinder be levied for a slab of seven to 12 containers and Rs. 150 for the next slab of between 12 to 24 cylinders.

When asked about it, he said it is a practice to give suggestions in light of concerns on developing issues.Last week, the government decided that each household will get six cylinders at the subsidised rate of Rs. 399 per year and any requirement beyond that would have to be procured at the market rate of Rs. 746 per cylinder.