W O R L D

Kasuri rules out imposition of martial law
Washington, June 21
Notwithstanding the unabated protests against the suspension of the Chief Justice, Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid M Kasuri has ruled out the imposition of martial law in the country while conceding that the Pervez Musharraf regime had "underestimated" the public reaction.

Easing of curbs on federal funding
Bush vetoes bill on stem cells
President George W. Bush on Wednesday vetoed a bill which would have eased restrictions on federally funded stem cells. "Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical - and it is not the only option before us," Bush said at the White House, where he announced his veto.

Nilofar serves legal notice on Shariat court
Former tourism minister Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar who had resigned after a controversy raised by clerics over her jump in Paris from a glider, has served a legal notice on the Lal Masjid Shariat court which had issued a fatwa on the subject.

A musician plays music next to a statue of Mahatma Gandhi during an anti-coup rally near Bangkok's Grand Palace on Thursday. Supporters of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra are running a campaign to reject the country's draft post-coup constitution. — Reuters

Kanishka Probe
Two witnesses refuse to testify
Toronto, June 21
Two witnesses, billed as having "seismic" evidence about the 1985 Air India bombing, have declined to testify before a probe panel here citing concerns over their personal security.

Kasuri rules out imposition of martial law

Washington, June 21
Notwithstanding the unabated protests against the suspension of the Chief Justice, Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid M Kasuri has ruled out the imposition of martial law in the country while conceding that the Pervez Musharraf regime had "underestimated" the public reaction.

"...I hope we will never resort to martial law. Martial law is unconstitutional. So when he (Musharraf) has repeatedly said he will work within the confines of the Constitution, I have no reason to doubt that," he said.

When asked about the recent protests over the sacking of Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry and if indeed it was a mistake on the part of the government, Kasuri said that "... the government has put up a case which it finds pretty strong, But that's not the issue. The issue is public reaction... probably the government had underestimated the public reaction, because the government thought it was acting according to the Constitution." In an interview with PBS' News Hour, he indicated that Musharraf would give up his military post by the end of the year.

"On the issue of the uniform that you asked me, the Constitution allows the President to wear his uniform until the end of 2007. And he has said on many occasions that he will abide by the Constitution. Any more concrete answer has to be asked of the President," Kasuri said.

He said the USA had "full faith" in Musharraf's assertion that he will lead the country to democracy.

"They (USA) have full faith in the leadership of President Musharraf. And they've told me repeatedly that they believe when the President says that he is the man who's leading to a transition to civil democracy.

"As far as the robustness of our democratic system is concerned, people are allowed to protest. How many other countries are there in the Muslim world where people will go out on the issue of a judge where the government doesn't mind?," Kasuri said.

On the spiralling violence in Afghanistan, he argued that what Islamabad is doing is no different from what the Commanders of the NATO were doing. — PTI

Easing of curbs on federal funding
Bush vetoes bill on stem cells
Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington

President George W. Bush on Wednesday vetoed a bill which would have eased restrictions on federally funded stem cells.

"Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical - and it is not the only option before us," Bush said at the White House, where he announced his veto. "If this legislation became a law, it would compel American taxpayers - for the first time in our history - to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos."

The Democratic-controlled Congress is expected to schedule a vote to try to override the veto. Bush has consistently stated he has strong moral objections to expanding stem cell research.

A majority of Americans support further stem cell research. Supporters of stem cell research argue that the science can help find cures to diseases from cancer and diabetes to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called the veto "just one example of how the President puts ideology before science, politics before the needs of our families." Snow shot back: "This actually is the President putting science before ideology."

Bush also issued an executive order encouraging scientists to pursue ways to conduct research without using stem cells from human embryos.

Interestingly, there was no federal money for stem-cell research until Bush on August 9, 2001, announced that he would make it available for stem cell lines that already existed. "My policy did this in ways that would not encourage the destruction of embryos," Bush noted.

The President limited the funds to stem-cell lines derived from embryos that were surplus at fertility clinics, and that had been donated from adults who had given informed consent.

Nilofar serves legal notice on Shariat court
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Former tourism minister Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar who had resigned after a controversy raised by clerics over her jump in Paris from a glider, has served a legal notice on the Lal Masjid Shariat court which had issued a fatwa on the subject.

The clerics who have been defying government writ for past about six months, set up the court for Nilofar's trial on charges of violating the Islamic code by hugging a 70-year old instructor after a successful jump. The minister resigned the job in disgust after the ruling party leadership failed to defend her. Instead party chief Shujaat Hussain said her action was reprehensible. President Musharraf also replaced her with a favourite as head of women's wing of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

The notice served through Dr Aslam Khaki said the fatwa damaged Bakhtiar's reputation, family honour and political career. The notice asks Mufti Yunus, who issued the decree, to apologise for un-Islamic and unlawful conduct that hurt the dignity of an honourable Muslim woman.

The notice warned that failure to apologise would result in civil and legal proceedings. Bakhtiar visited France in March where, aside from attending a fundraiser, she went paragliding. Upon completing a successful jump, her instructor Mario congratulated her with a hug.

Nilofar appearing in a TV programme this week complained that nobody in the PMl supported her during a debate on the issue in the National Assembly.

Oppn to file reference against Aziz
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

The combined opposition on Thursday decided to file a reference against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz seeking his disqualification on charges of immoral conduct and corruption. It said another reference was on cards against President Musharraf as well.

The move is apparently designed at avenging the decision by the Speaker, National Assembly, to forward two similar references to the Chief Election Commission against cricketing legend and chairman PTI, Imran Khan, on charges of flouting constitutional provisions requiring an MP to be a good Muslim of sound moral character.

All major opposition groups and parties, including the MMA, the PPP and the PMl-N showed their solidarity and support to Imran and vowed to stand by him at a meeting held in Parliament House. After the meeting, MMA's Liaquat Baloch said the meeting had approved the text of the reference, which would be filed any time on Thursday.

Kanishka Probe
Two witnesses refuse to testify

Toronto, June 21
Two witnesses, billed as having "seismic" evidence about the 1985 Air India bombing, have declined to testify before a probe panel here citing concerns over their personal security.

A third witness was unable to appear for the trial yesterday as he was hospitalised for a heart-ailment hours before he was scheduled to take the stand.

The witnesses backed out after the Air India inquiry Commissioner Justice Major said he could not offer guarantees that their identities would remain secret. — PTI