Islamabad, April 9
Dispelling the impression that the Defence Secretary-level talks on Siachen failed to make headway, Pakistan has said that it has made good progress with India over the issue as well as on the Kashmir problem.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri said during a private function in Lahore yesterday that the talks on Siachen would continue and added that both sides could achieve positive results through dialogue, Geo TV reported.

Kasuri said the two sides had made good progress over the issues of Sir Creek, Siachen and Kashmir.

The bilateral ties have improved over the passage of time, he said, but also feared that the water disputes could become the cause for next wars between the two countries, the Geo TV report said.

Kasuri further said Pakistan and India had appointed two judges for each country for gathering the documents of prisoners of the two sides for their release. They would submit their report soon, he added.

On his government’s talks with former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, he said the contacts were made because of national interest, which should be maintained.

On the issue of fencing the Pakistan-Afghan border, he said the fence would be erected at crucial points of the porous frontier. He ruled out any international pressure, saying that Pakistan never compromised on its national interest.

Meanwhile, Pakistan defence officials today denied a report filed by ‘The Nation’ daily that their Defence Secretary Kamran Rasool walked out during the talks on Siachen glacier on April 7. Backing the Indian officials’ version, they said no such incident had taken place during the talks. — PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday took up several constitutional petitions challenging the constitution of Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and the appointment of acting Chief Justice and adjourned hearing indefinitely.

The court issued notices to the federation, Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and the law ministry seeking a detailed reply on the petitions. It also directed the Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan to respond within two weeks.

The court promised to take up regular hearing “soon”. Legal experts say the petitions might be clubbed and heard by the entire Supreme Court because of significance and far reaching implications of the issues involved that are likely to have an impact on the judiciary and national politics.

The full Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza, heard preliminary arguments to the constitutional petitions filed by Barrister Zafrullah and senior advocates of Supreme Court, Faruque Hassan and Muijib Pirzada.

Zafrullah argued that the recently constituted SJC was in contravention of the constitution and the acting Chief Justice could not be appointed in the presence of the Chief Justice.

Faruque Hassan, in his petition, maintained that the President cannot file a reference against the Chief Justice, nor can he suspend or send him on forced leave. He also questioned the appointment of an acting Chief Justice and composition of the SJC some of whose judges are also facing charges of corruption and misconduct.

London, April 9
British backpacker Daisy Angus, whose 10-year jail term for smuggling drugs was quashed by the Bombay High Court, has said she is "over the moon" after the ruling.

The 26-year-old Daisy Angus spent almost five years in the jail following her conviction for drug smuggling before she was freed yesterday.

She was arrested at Mumbai airport in November 2002 after the police found 10 kg of cannabis in a secret compartment in the suitcase she was carrying.

Angus's lawyers said she had been given the suitcase by her travelling companion after her own bag had broken and that she had no idea about its contents.

Speaking from Mumbai, Angus told The Guardian, “I am over the moon to be free finally. Knowing that I was innocent and that justice would eventually prevail is one of the things I have clung to during the past five gruelling years.”

Angus was jailed for 10 years by a judge in Mumbai

Sessions Court last June and fined the equivalent of about 2,500 pounds after being found guilty of possession and attempted exportation of cannabis.

Her Israeli travelling companion, Yoram Kadesh, who was also accused, was freed because of lack of evidence. His acquittal is now the subject of an appeal.

Angus, a former fitness instructor from Bournemouth in the UK, had lived and worked in Poland, Austria, Uganda and

Mexico. She was on an around-the-world trip when she was arrested. — PTI

Normal life in eastern and central Terai of Nepal crippled on Monday due to a day-long Terai bandh called by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), a breakaway faction of former Maoist rebels led by Jwala Singh.

It is reported that JTMM activists obstructed traffic movement, shut markets, educational institutions and industries in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, and Saptari districts.

Meanwhile, the JTMM- Gohit faction on Sunday put forward a condition to the government for the safe and immediate release of Saptari district education officer Nemaraj Joshi.

In a statement, JTMM military commander Prakash on Sunday said they would not free Joshi until the government releases their cadres Kundan and Diljale, who were arrested by security personnel a week ago.

The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) today decided to start storing arms of the Nepal army in 14 containers from Tuesday at Chhauni Barrack in Kathmandu.

According to UNMIN spokesperson Kieran Dwyer, a UNMIN team will start storing arms as per the past pacts reached between the seven-party alliance and Maoists. The process of registration of army personnel and storage of its arms will be completed within three days.

A meeting of Nepal army representatives, UN representatives and Maoist combatants, held this morning reached the agreement in this regard.

London, April 9
British model-cum-actress Elizabeth Hurley, who recenly tied the knot with NRI businessman Arun Nair, is going “ballistic” after an extraordinary outburst from her father-in-law who accused the couple of humiliating him at their wedding, and vowed never to see him again.

Liz, wife of NRI businessman Arun Nair, is said to be furious after her father-in-law Vinod Nair criticised her of “blatant and cynical commercialism” and publicly disowned the newly wed couple this weekend.

Hurley (41), who was paid £ 2 million by Hello! magazine for her wedding pictures, has apparently responded in kind.

She has offered to reimburse the family for a cancelled £ 30,000 pound post-wedding party and any other expenses they incurred, a source close to her told the Daily Mail. But she then wants nothing more to do with Vinod (66) or his wife Joanne.

A spokesman for Hurley was unavailable for comment. But the source told the tabloid: “Liz was furious and went absolutely ballistic when she found out what Arun’s family had been saying about her. — PTI