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Pak turns down Bhutto’s proposed deal   
Benazir Bhutto In an interview with Sunday Times, former Pak PM Benazir Bhutto has said she wanted a deal with President Gen Pervez Musharraf, evoking an immediate response from the government which ruled out such a possibility.

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto poses for a portrait during an interview in New York.— Reuters photo

India decides to go slow on peace process: Report
Islamabad, April 16
As Pakistan's government continues to grapple with a difficult political situation in the wake of the ongoing judicial crisis months ahead of parliamentary elections, speculation is mounting in the country about New Delhi opting for a ''go-slow'' policy in the composite dialogue process.

Indian worker dies
Dubai, April 16
An Indian worker died and four others were injured when the wall of a manhole caved in on them in an under-construction building in Ajman Emirate. — PTI

 

EARLIER STORIES


A Holocaust survivor arrives for a ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on Monday.
A Holocaust survivor arrives for a ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on Monday. It commemorates the six million Jews killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust during World War II. — Reuters

13 Iraqi soldiers die in ambush
Baghdad, April 16
At least 13 Iraqi soldiers were killed today when gunmen ambushed their military checkpoint near the northern city of Mosul, the police said.

Sadr bloc orders ministers to quit Iraq govt
Baghdad, April 16
The political movement of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered its six ministers to quit the government today partly to press a demand for a timetable for a US troop withdrawal.

Khaleda's younger son held
Dhaka, April 16
Another son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was arrested by the military-backed government as part of its crackdown against corruption, 46 days after her influential eldest son was taken in custody.

Work on GND varsity in Pak from this year
Taxila, April 16
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which looks after the interests of the minority communities in Pakistan, has reportedly said that work on the multi-billion projects to establish Guru Nanak University, three hotels one each at Lahore, Hassanabdal and Nankana Sahib would be initiated during this year.

Bullet removed from soldier’s heart 39 yrs after war
Hanoi, April 16
Doctors have removed a bullet from the heart of a Vietnamese soldier nearly four decades after he was shot by US troops during the Vietnam war, doctors said today.

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Pak turns down Bhutto’s proposed deal
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

In an interview with Sunday Times, former Pak PM Benazir Bhutto has said she wanted a deal with President Gen Pervez Musharraf, evoking an immediate response from the government which ruled out such a possibility.

“There can be no deal with those who looted this country,” information minister, Mohammad Ali Durrani, told reporters here. He, however, said the government would welcome Bhutto’s support to Gen. Musharraf’s policies which serve the best interests of the country.

Sunday Times quoted Bhutto as saying in the interview that she wanted a deal with President Musharraf but it will be ‘premature’ to say one is imminent.

Bhutto’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the Sunday Times has “misquoted” her. She did not say she wanted the deal but talked about continuing contacts to reach an understanding on issues that should ensure holding of free, fair and transparent elections.

In a related development PM Shaukat Aziz told a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) that there would be no deal with any political party outside the present ruling coalition. He said the PML will contest next elections on the basis of its performance and the support of other partners in the coalition.

His railways minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who is believed to be close to Gen. Musharraf told a news conference in Rawalpindi Monday afternoon that negotiations with Benazir Bhutto have entered the “final” stage. He said Bhutto has shown greater maturity, pragmatism and political sagacity than the exiled PM Nawaz Sharif. He said an understanding between President Musharraf and Bhutto would have far reaching political implications.

In a TV interview last week without naming Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif said a ‘deal’ with Nawaz Sharif would be an act of treason and denounced covert talks with Musharraf or his emissaries amounted to “betrayal” which people would never endorse.

Sunday Times quoted Bhutto as saying she is convinced Musharraf would get himself elected from present assemblies. She praised Musharraf for his policies to protect minorities and women. She claimed that it would be in Pakistan’s interest if they reach an accord but thought that it would be difficult to work with the General in case she becomes PM.

The paper said the former PM is going to make a defiant return from exile to lead her party’s election campaign and seek a controversial third term in office. Bhutto, 53, has vowed to go back despite the “danger of assassination by Islamists”, whom she accuses of bringing Taliban campaigns to Islamabad.

Benazir, however, said she was not afraid.

Last week, she confirmed that the PPP was in negotiations with supporters of Gen Pervez Musharraf to secure free elections to the National Assembly and to reach an understanding on how the two leaders would work together if she won.

She said the Musharraf government seemed powerless in the face of Islamic militancy, allowing extremists in some madarsas to extend their influence. “We feel the lack of governance is leading to social problems and that the madarsas are moving in to fill the gap,” she said.

After the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the Jihadis were providing relief before the government, Benazir said, “The ruling party has failed to check the Madrassas. They’re forcing barbers to stop shaving beards. They’ve raided music shops and they’re bringing Taliban campaigns into Islamabad while the state watches. The government has got to take control.”

The PPP leader said the government could start by sacking the government-appointed cleric at Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, who has threatened a suicide bombing campaign if Musharraf confronts radical students using Taliban tactics to close brothels and DVD shops.

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India decides to go slow on peace process: Report

Islamabad, April 16
As Pakistan's government continues to grapple with a difficult political situation in the wake of the ongoing judicial crisis months ahead of parliamentary elections, speculation is mounting in the country about New Delhi opting for a ''go-slow'' policy in the composite dialogue process.

''With a keen eye on evolving political situation in Pakistan and the ongoing judicial crisis, India has decided to slow down the pace of the Indo-Pak peace process,'' Nation newspaper reported.

It said diplomatic circles here saw no chances of a breakthrough on any bilateral issue before the formation of the new Pakistani government.

''India has opted for a 'go-slow' policy as for the composite dialogue with Pakistan owing to the current judicial crisis in Pakistan and it has decided to wait for the emergence of clear situation,'' the paper quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

Moreover, going by the Constitution, it is going to be the year of elections in Pakistan and New Delhi prefers to talk in a conclusive way with the next Pakistani government, said the sources.

A source said the recently held inconclusive talks on Siachen in Islamabad was the clear evidence of new Indian policy as otherwise, Pakistan was looking forward to the positive outcome of parleys on the world's highest battlefield.

He said not only the upcoming talks between the arch rival nuclear nations would be marred by sluggishness in the days and months to come but also the chances of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Islamabad have diminished greatly.

Dr Singh would visit Pakistan only if he was in a position to make an announcement on the resolution of the Siachen or Sir Creek issue, he added.

Islamabad and New Delhi have been engaged in the process of negotiations since January, 2004, to resolve Kashmir and other bilateral issues and it was in March this year that they commenced the fourth of composite dialogue.

According to the sources, the current year of 2007 would not yield anything positive as far as the settlement of contentious issues like Kashmir, Siachen and other important matters is concerned.

They said as per the agreed schedule, the two sides would hold talks on Sir Creek in May this year but keeping in view the new Indian policy, it could be safely said that no breakthrough was likely contrary to Pakistan's expectations. — UNI

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13 Iraqi soldiers die in ambush

Baghdad, April 16
At least 13 Iraqi soldiers were killed today when gunmen ambushed their military checkpoint near the northern city of Mosul, the police said.

Another four soldiers were wounded in the attack, said police Brig. Saeed Ahmed al-Jibouri, director of Ninevah police.

The ambush occurred around 10 am in the al-Abdaiyah area of Mosul, a Sunni Muslim city, 360 km northwest of Baghdad, he said. — AP

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Sadr bloc orders ministers to quit Iraq govt

Baghdad, April 16
The political movement of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered its six ministers to quit the government today partly to press a demand for a timetable for a US troop withdrawal.

''We found it necessary to issue an order to the ministers of the Sadrist bloc to withdraw immediately from the Iraqi government,'' Nassar al-Rubaie, head of the bloc, told a news conference.

Rubaie was reading out a statement on behalf of Sadr.

The move is unlikely to bring down the administration of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki but it could create tensions in his fractious government of national unity.

The Sadrists have said they would remain in Parliament.

Maliki has said he sees no need to set a timetable for an American troop withdrawal because his government was working to build up Iraq's security forces as quickly as possible so the US-led forces could leave.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis answered a call by Sadr to rally in the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf last week to protest against the presence of some 1,40,000 US-led forces in Iraq.

The Sadrists ended a two-month boycott of Parliament in January after pulling out in protest over the timetable issue and a meeting between Maliki and US President George W Bush.

They returned after a deal was brokered.

Bush said last week that setting timetables for a troop withdrawal would undermine a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad, which he said was beginning to show signs of progress in curbing sectarian violence. — Reuters

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Khaleda's younger son held

Dhaka, April 16
Another son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was arrested by the military-backed government as part of its crackdown against corruption, 46 days after her influential eldest son was taken in custody.

Arafat Rahman Koko was arrested from the former Prime Minister's residence in the Cantonment area here after midnight yesterday, officials said today.

Joint military and police forces carried out a massive search inside the house while senior officials talked to Zia and her son for a "long time" before taking him in custody, private ATN Bangla television and the 'Prothom Alo' newspaper reported.

The arrest of Koko, a low-profile businessman, came 46 days after his high-profile elder brother Tarique Rahman was arrested from the same house in a similar pre-dawn raid and remanded in custody for several days for interrogation on graft and extortion charges.

Rahman now awaits trial at an ordinary prison ward of Dhaka Central Jail. Legal experts said if convicted he could be imprisoned for five years.

Security officials last month searched Koko's advertising firm Adsign and arrested one of his partners from the office on graft charges as part of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign. — PTI

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Work on GND varsity in Pak from this year

Taxila, April 16
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which looks after the interests of the minority communities in Pakistan, has reportedly said that work on the multi-billion projects to establish Guru Nanak University, three hotels one each at Lahore, Hassanabdal and Nankana Sahib would be initiated during this year.

Board Chairman Zulfikar Ali Khan said the International Guru Nanak University at Nankana Sahib would be a unique institution with best architecture and curricula. It would also have a research centre for Sikh religion and culture besides a comparative study centre for Sikhism and other religions.

He was talking to reporters at the Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hassanabdal.

For finalising the design of the university, syllabus, faculty, visiting faculty and other issues, ETPB would organise an international conference of Sikh intellectuals in June in which the design of the university would also be proposed.

“We will invite people from America, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and India to attend the conference. With the consultation of these scholars, we would finalise the outline of the university,” the Dawn quoted him as saying. — ANI

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Bullet removed from soldier’s heart 39 yrs after war

Hanoi, April 16
Doctors have removed a bullet from the heart of a Vietnamese soldier nearly four decades after he was shot by US troops during the Vietnam war, doctors said today.

Le Dinh Hung, 60, underwent surgery at a Hanoi hospital on Friday and is recovering quickly, said Dr. Nguyen Sinh Hien, who spent three hours operating on Hung.

“It is the strangest case that I have ever seen,” Hien said. “Normally a person with a bullet in his heart would die immediately if they didn’t have surgery right away.”

Hung said he felt much better now, and the pain in his chest had eased. — AP

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