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Evidence of prison abuse in Iraq
Pervez ‘literally wept’ when East
20 dead in Baghdad explosions
Brothers reunited with sister after 59 years
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Iranian women allowed into stadiums
USA, Japan for troop repositioning
40,000 chickens culled in Pak
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Evidence of prison abuse in Iraq
Evidence of abuse of prisoners was found during at least six joint inspections through February at detention centres run by the Iraqi Interior Ministry, two sources involved with the inspections — one Iraqi and one US official told the Washington Post. Last November, US soldiers found 173 incarcerated men, some of them emaciated and showing signs of torture, in a secret bunker in an Interior Ministry compound in central Baghdad. US military authorities have confirmed signs of severe abuse at two of the detention centres, the Post claimed. "A lot of the Iraqis had separated shoulders and problems with their hands and fingers... numerous bruises on the arms, legs and feet. You could also see strap marks on some of their backs," the daily quoted an unnamed US official as saying. But the US military have not removed all detainees from these centres, as they did in November. Only a handful of the most severely abused prisoners at a single site were removed for medical treatment. Those at two other sites were removed to alleviate overcrowding, the Post said. Another unnamed Iraqi official was quoted as saying "They (detainees) tell us, 'if you leave us here, they will kill us,". — PTI
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Pervez ‘literally wept’ when East Pakistan fell
Islamabad, April 24 Appearing on PTV’s programme ‘First Family,’ the General described the 1965 and 1971 wars with India as “important” events in his life. During the 1965 war, Musharraf, who was then a Second Lieutenant in the Army, said he was saved from a lot of perilous situations. In 1971 war he was serving as a Commando but not in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Musharraf said he was “emotionally hurt” and “literally wept” when he heard about the surrender of Pakistani troops in the then East Pakistan. Over 90,000 Pakistani troops led by General Niazi surrendered to the Indian Army in Dhaka. The troops were later released following the Shimla Agreement between Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In reply to a question, he said the Pakistan Army was fully with him because he had braved off difficulties and dangers with them. “Each and every personnel is with me because I have not been I have not been a desk-type commander — I have been living through dangers and hardships with them. They are with me not because of my rank but because they love me and that is leadership.” First Lady Sehba Musharraf, the President’s son, Bilal, and his daughter Ayela Raza candidly shared their experiences, thoughts and hopes for the country’s future in the programme. Musharraf said his keen desire was to be remembered in the history of the country as saviour of the nation from the brink of collapse. “My greatest achievement is economic revival of Pakistan — the possibility of pulling the country out of deep economic morass looked remote in 1999, it looked almost improbable in the face of an inextricable circle of debt-servicing but we managed it,” he said. “Not only I saved the country from sinking but I would like to be remembered for taking it forward and putting it on a course to move forward as a dynamic, progressive and enlightened society — that is what I’ve achieved for Pakistan,” he said in the programme, adding “I must be remembered for protecting the country from economic bankruptcy,” he added. — PTI
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20 dead in Baghdad explosions
Baghdad, April 24 The police discovered bodies of 20 Iraqis, apparent victims of sectarian killings. Elsewhere, in Baghdad and other areas, three roadside bombs, five drive-by shootings and a mortar round killed a total of 12 Iraqis, the police said. Baghdad's first car bomb today exploded during the morning rush hour, killing three people and wounding 25, police said. Two hours later, bombs hidden in two cars parked near Mustansiriya University exploded, killing three civilians and wounding 22 people. The police in Abu Ghraib, found a small truck containing the bodies of 15, said police Lt Maitham AbdulRzzaq. Two other corpses were discovered in southwest Baghdad and one appeared to have been hanged, said police Capt Qassim Hassan. Three bodies were found in Mosul, the police said.
—AP |
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Brothers reunited with sister after 59 years
Islamabad, April 24 It was an emotional moment for Mr Jogindar Singh and Mr Kesar Singh when they finally met their sister Rabia in Kasguma village near Mirpur town in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — thanks to the recent thaw in Indo-Pak relations. Rabia, along with her sister Razia, were separated from their family during Partition in 1947. They later converted to Islam and settled down in PoK. Razia had died a few years ago. Despite raising new families, the desire to meet their siblings remained alive on both sides. "We always missed and remembered her," Mr Jogindar told Pakistani daily Dawn. "Its a dream come true. We don't have words to express the bliss we feel today," the 76-year-old said. "It was my strongest desire to see her before I breathe my last," his 72-year-old brother Mr Kesar Singh said. Mr Jogindar said they had received information about their sisters in 1953, but due to the tensions between the two countries, they could never establish contact with them. He made yet another attempt to locate Rabia through a resident of PoK who recently visited India to see his Hindu mother, the daily reported. "We learnt that Razia had died, but Rabia was alive. Thanks to the peace process that materialised, our long-cherished desire to see her and enjoy the hospitality of everyone living here was fulfilled," Mr Jogindar said. — PTI
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Iranian women allowed into stadiums
Tehran, April 24 “It should be planned in a way that women are respected and are given the best places to watch national and important games,” the President was quoted as saying by the state television. “Unlike the perception and propagation by some people, experience has proven that when women and families are allowed into stadiums, ethics and chastity will prevail,” the President asserted in an order to the head of Iran’s Physical Education Organisation. Prominent women’s rights activists immediately welcomed the announcement. “I’m happy that for the first time we will be allowed to enter stadiums like ordinary human beings,” said Parastoo Dokouhaki, a writer who had campaigned for female stadium access for years.
— AFP |
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USA, Japan for troop repositioning
Washington, April 24 Japanese Defense Minister Fukushiro Nukaga told reporters after his three-hour meeting yesterday with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that Japan wanted to have an appropriate sharing of costs in
transferring 8,000 marines from Okinawa to the Pacific island of Guam. Nukaga said both sides agreed that the Japan-US alliance was important, not only for Japan but also for the region. The United States of America had proposed in an earlier round of negotiations that Japan pay US$ 7.5 billion, or 75 per cent, of the cost to relocate marines. Japan had said it would pay about one-third of that amount. The United States of America and Japan are discussing the biggest restructuring and streamlining of the US military based in Japan in decades. An outline of the overall realignment plan was announced in October and was to be finalised by the end of March. However, it bogged down over details. Under a mutual security pact, the United States of America has about 50,000 troops stationed in Japan. The presence includes more than 10,000 marines, several air bases and the home port for the Navy's seventh Fleet.
—AP |
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40,000 chickens culled in Pak
Islamabad, April 23 Pakistan reported its first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu at two farms in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in February and found the virus at other farms near here last week. Scientists detected a mild strain of bird flu, H5, in flocks at six farms in Sihala, Tarlai and Ali Pur Farash areas on the outskirts of this city, said Afzal, Commissioner state-run Animal Husbandry.
— Xinhua |
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