W O R L D

Ensure Musharraf does not leave Pak: Apex court
The Supreme Court on Monday summoned former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday in the treason case against him. A two-member Bench headed by Justice Jawad Khawaja also ordered that Musharraf's name be placed in the exit control list (ECL) to ensure he is not allowed to leave the country till the conclusion of the treason case against him.

Bill Clinton hints Hillary could run for Prez in 2016
Washington, April 8
Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, could run for the 2016 presidential elections, her husband Bill Clinton has hinted. Bill Clinton, one of the most popular American presidents in recent past, added fuel to the speculation when at an event on Saturday night he said that the country would have some good choices in the 2016 presidential elections.

India awaits report from UK mission on child custody case
New Delhi, April 8
The External Affairs Ministry is awaiting a detailed report from its mission in the UK about the case involving an Indian couple, who are fighting to regain custody of their five-year-old son after he was taken away by social services over allegations of abuse.

Destroyed cars outside the Syrian Investment Authority offices following a deadly car bomb explosion which rocked central Damascus on Monday and killed 10 persons. — AFP

Savita asked for termination of pregnancy twice, says husband
London, April 8
The husband of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died after being denied an abortion in Ireland, broke down in tears as he recounted the incidents leading up to his wife's death during an inquest which opened today.

Chilean poet Neruda’s body exhumed; driver says he was murdered
Isla Negra (Chile), April 8
The body of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, dead nearly four decades, was exhumed on Monday after his former driver said the poet was poisoned under Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.

No deal with CIA on drone campaign: Pak
Islamabad, April 8
Pakistan has rejected a US media report that it has struck a deal with the CIA over a secret drone campaign in the country's tribal regions.

Ensure Musharraf does not leave Pak: SC to govt
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

The Supreme Court on Monday summoned former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday in the treason case against him. A two-member Bench headed by Justice Jawad Khawaja also ordered that Musharraf's name be placed in the exit control list (ECL) to ensure he is not allowed to leave the country till the conclusion of the treason case against him.

The court issued notices to Musharraf and the federal government to respond to the allegations of treason by imposing emergency in 2007 and subverting the Constitution by sacking and detaining 64 judges of superior courts, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Chaudhry had recused himself from the Bench to avoid any charge of personal bias.

The apex court also directed the Islamabad police to ensure implementation of its order that Musharraf, who is currently in the capital, appears before the Bench. The court issued a notice to the federal government for its stance on the case.

Lawyer Hamid Ali Khan representing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which is also a petitioner in the case, told reporters that Musharraf can appear personally or through a counsel.

He said Musharraf must be tried under the law. He took exception to the acceptance of his nomination papers by the returning officer in Chitral wondering why a distinction is made by judges between generals and politicians.

Though Pakistan has remained under military rule for half of its life, Musharraf is the first general to face trial for treason.

Justice Khilji Arif remarked that the Constitution clearly states that those who violate it must be tried under Article 6. The article provides for death penalty for subversion of the Constitution.

The counsel of petitioner Maulvi Iqbal Haider, AK Dogar, argued that Pervez Musharraf had imposed emergency and he should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution.

case of treason

The apex court issued notices to Pervez Musharraf (pic) and the federal government to respond to the allegations of treason by imposing emergency in 2007 and subverting the Constitution by sacking and detaining 64 judges of superior courts, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Bill Clinton hints Hillary could run for Prez in 2016

Washington, April 8
Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, could run for the 2016 presidential elections, her husband Bill Clinton has hinted. Bill Clinton, one of the most popular American presidents in recent past, added fuel to the speculation when at an event on Saturday night he said that the country would have some good choices in the 2016 presidential elections.

This drew wide applause from the audience in St Louis, who presumed that he was referring to Hillary.

"I think America will have some very good choices for president," he said in response to a question at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which was first reported by the CNN.

Clinton said he favoured a two-term limit for a president, but said he wouldn't oppose allowing future presidents to run for a third term not immediately after their second.

"I'm quite sure there are going to be lots of talented people who are dying to become president of the United States," Clinton said.

Hillary, who made two public appearances this week after relinquishing the post of Secretary of State in February, is widely being speculated to run for 2016 presidential polls.

India awaits report from UK mission on child custody case

New Delhi, April 8
The External Affairs Ministry is awaiting a detailed report from its mission in the UK about the case involving an Indian couple, who are fighting to regain custody of their five-year-old son after he was taken away by social services over allegations of abuse.

"We are awaiting a detailed report from our High Commission on what exactly is the situation and what needs to be done," Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said today when asked about the case.

An Indian couple from Oxford are fighting to regain custody of their five-year-old son after he was taken away by social services over allegations of abuse.

"They simply don't understand the difference between the Indian and British culture. Their style of upbringing is totally different from our culture," claims father Rajat Puri, who has been suspected by the authorities of "improper" behaviour towards his son Achintya. "Our child is in a bad state. He has been crying and begging to be sent back home because he is scared of being shut up in a dark room every night," adds mother Shruti Beri. — PTI

Savita asked for termination of pregnancy twice, says husband

London, April 8 
The husband of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar, who died after being denied an abortion in Ireland, broke down in tears as he recounted the incidents leading up to his wife's death during an inquest which opened today.

Praveen Halappanavar explained how his wife asked twice for a termination as she lay in hospital in excruciating pain and broke down in the dock 45 minutes into his statement, which had to be halted by coroner Ciarán McLoughlin to give him time to recover.

"Savita asked for a termination two times. Savita was in tears. She said she could not take it. The doctor did not come back that day," he told the hearing.

The courthouse was packed to capacity today for the hearing before a jury of six men and four women into the death of 31-year-old Savita.

The inquest, which is scheduled for a week, is charged with establishing a cause of death. The coroner confirmed that he had received 67 statements and reports in relation to the death, including 53 statements from hospital staff eight from the police and four from pathologists. — PTI

Chilean poet Neruda’s body exhumed; driver says he was murdered

Isla Negra (Chile), April 8
The body of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, dead nearly four decades, was exhumed on Monday after his former driver said the poet was poisoned under Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.

Neruda, famed for his passionate love poems and staunch communist views, is presumed to have died from prostate cancer on September 23, 1973. But Manuel Araya, who was Neruda's chauffer during the ailing writer's last few months, says agents of the dictatorship took advantage of his illness to inject poison into his stomach while he was bedridden at the Santa Maria clinic in Santiago.

"We're hoping for a positive result because Neruda was assassinated. Pinochet made an error when he ordered Neruda be killed," said Araya.

Results are expected in the coming months. Neruda was a supporter of socialist President Salvador Allende, who was toppled in a military coup on September 11, 1973, nearly two weeks before the poet's death at age 69. Around 3,000 persons are thought to have been killed by the brutal 17-year-long dictatorship that ensued.

Neruda was buried in his coastal home of Isla Negra beside his third wife, Matilde Urrutia. His remains will be brought to Santiago for analysis. Some samples could be sent to laboratories abroad. Ricardo Eliecer Neftali Reyes Basoalto, better known by his pen name Pablo Neruda, was a larger-than-life fixture in Chile's literary and political scene.

While best known for his collection "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair," published in 1924, Neruda was also an important political activist during a turbulent time in Chile. — Reuters

No deal with CIA on drone campaign: Pak

Islamabad, April 8
Pakistan has rejected a US media report that it has struck a deal with the CIA over a secret drone campaign in the country's tribal regions.

The New York Times has reported that Pakistan and the US had signed the deal in 2004 and a US spy aircraft in its first strike had killed senior Pakistani Taliban commander Nek Muhammad in South Waziristan. The CIA has since conducted hundreds of drone strikes in Pakistan that have killed thousands of people. — PTI