W O R L D

Benazir, Pervez reach ‘power-sharing pact’
Gen to consider shedding army uniform

President Pervez Musharraf and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto are likely to meet again in September, preferably in Abu Dhabi, to formally conclude a 'full-fledged deal' ahead of the presidential elections expected in the same month, Daily Times reported on Monday.

Benazir Bhutto Pervez Musharraf

General’s candidature faces legal challenge
President Gen. Musharraf faces a stupendous task to overcome an inevitable legal challenge to his qualification as candidate to the president’s office, top retired judges and eminent jurists have said.

Open court hearing on plea against Musharraf
Second senior-most judge of the supreme court Rana Bhagwanda on Monday ordered hearing in open court of objections to a petition challenging General Musharraf’s continuation as army chief after retirement age that ended in 2003.

First Indian American pilot in Iraq
New York, July 30
An Indian American army pilot, Parag Desai is breaking new grounds by becoming the first Hindu to be deployed in Iraq for combat operation.

Indian origin boy murdered in Phoenix 
Durban, July 30
A 14- year- old Indian-origin boy has been murdered in South African city of Phoenix by local youths, who wanted to steal the bicycle he was riding.

5 Indians die in Sharjah mishap
Dubai, July 30
Five Indian labourers were killed and 15 others were injured when a trailer collided with a minibus in Sharjah, the police said.

Hasina gets bail
Dhaka, July 30
The Bangladesh High Court today suspended the trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on extortion charges and ordered her release on bail but the Awami League chief remained in detention after being charged in a similar case. A bench gave the ruling after hearing a writ filed yesterday by the Awami League chief. — PTI

Kohli remanded to custody
London, July 30
Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, who was extradited from India to face trial Hannah Foster rape and murder case, was today remanded to custody by a court. Kohli, who also faces charges of manslaughter, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice, was asked to appear at Winchester Crown court on Friday. — PTI 

 

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Benazir, Pervez reach ‘power-sharing pact’
Gen to consider shedding army uniform
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

President Pervez Musharraf and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto are likely to meet again in September, preferably in Abu Dhabi, to formally conclude a 'full-fledged deal' ahead of the presidential elections expected in the same month, Daily Times reported on Monday.

It quoted government and PPP sources as claiming that Musharraf and Benazir had settled most of the contentious issues in Friday's meeting in Abu Dhabi and the remaining would be decided in mid-September in the UAE capital when the president would be flexing his muscles for re-election. Sources said the deal draft was finalised by Musharraf and Benazir's top emissaries in April.

The Tribune learned on good authority that the two sides had worked out the following settlement:

“ The PPP will facilitate Musharraf's election from present assemblies by lending it credibility- No resignations, but participation in the electoral process without casting vote. Bhutto will be allowed to return, a few weeks before the polling date and after Musharraf is installed for another five-year term.Musharraf will consider shedding military uniform by December to let Bhutto make all the noises for public consumption about not accepting a uniformed president. Confidence-building measures already set in motion to address her concern about corruption cases would continue. A level-playing field for the PPP in elections.A power-sharing arrangement between the PPP-PML-MQM would be worked out after elections depending on their respective strength. The bar on Bhutto's third term as prime minister would be removed.The present constitutional scheme on the balance of power between the President, the Prime Minister and the COAS would be reviewed”.

Political analysts, however, say the deal is likely to run into snags because of current popular mood in the country and Musharraf's growing problems against the backdrop of a reinvigorated judiciary and the bar and the increasing threat of a civil war- like situation unacceptable to the army if he wilts under American pressure to augment military operation in the tribal areas. The unabated backlash of Lal Masjid operation poses another serious law and order situation.

General’s candidature faces legal challenge
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

President Gen. Musharraf faces a stupendous task to overcome an inevitable legal challenge to his qualification as candidate to the president’s office, top retired judges and eminent jurists have said.

Musharraf, they say cannot contest election firstly, in uniform as the Army chief and secondly because he failed to quit an office of profit, in his case as Army chief, to avoid the two-year bar on government servants seeking any elected public offices.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad said constitutionally President Musharraf could not hold two offices anymore because his authority to keep both offices did not apply to his next term as president.

He said Musharraf would have to wait for two years to become president again if he gave up his post as Army chief.

Former chief justice Sindh High Court, Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid said Musharraf is not qualified to become president with or without uniform.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan who led the epic court battle for re-instatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said in an interview he would be willing to represent the opposition if it challenged Musharraf’s candidature.

“This will be a good case and as a lawyer I would love to fight it,” he told a TV channel in his first public appearance since winning CJ’s case.

Aitzaz said he was overwhelmed by humility and wanted to avoid the limelight. 

Open court hearing on plea against Musharraf
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Second senior-most judge of the supreme court Rana Bhagwanda on Monday ordered hearing in open court of objections to a petition challenging General Musharraf’s continuation as army chief after retirement age that ended in 2003.

The judge passed the order on a petition filed by MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed that maintained that General Musharraf was illegally continuing as army chief after attaining the age of superannuation in August, 2003. The petition was disposed of by former registrar of the supreme court Mohammad Ali after registering several objections to its admissibility. Justice Rana Bhagwanda accepted another petition from Qazi Hussain seeking a review of the objections.

Meanwhile the MMA’s Supreme Council, at a meeting under Qazi Hussain Ahmed, decided to resist government attempts to amend the constitution in order to remove obstacles in the way of General Musharraf’s candidature. It accused PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto of violating charter of democracy and the APC declaration after London meeting last month that pledged not to hold any talks with General Musharraf.

Benazir filed a petition in the supreme court, praying for a decree allowing the political parties stretching their activities in the tribal areas also. According to the details, Benazir has taken the plea for the issue of an order for enforcement of the Political Parties Act in the tribal areas also.

First Indian American pilot in Iraq

New York, July 30
An Indian American army pilot, Parag Desai is breaking new grounds by becoming the first Hindu to be deployed in Iraq for combat operation.

He is a US Army reserve pilot who is going to serve in Iraq for the next one year.

He is a resident of Minnesota. Yesterday, around 300 Hindu community members came together to give a warm send-off to Desai.

They were proud that he was doing his duty as an American.

Desai said all community members of Minnesota were like his own family. At the get-together he was surrounded by well-wishers, who gave him words of encouragement, news site wcco.com reported.

"It's very much like everyone's son is going. We're really proud of him," said Sonal Reddy, Desai's sister.

The 35-year-old pilot will leave for training in Texas on Wednesday and then spend about a year in Iraq. — IANS

Indian origin boy murdered in Phoenix 

Durban, July 30
A 14- year- old Indian-origin boy has been murdered in South African city of Phoenix by local youths, who wanted to steal the bicycle he was riding.

Melvyn Naik, studying at the local Trenance Manor Secondary School, was attacked and killed when he refused to let go the bicycle. The bicyle belonged to one of his friends.

Though the investigations in the case are on, nobody has been arrested so far, the police said today. "We are appealing to the residents to help the police to track down the killers", said Vincent Ndunge, a spokesperson of the police.

Devastated by the incident, Melvyn's mother said, "He was an innocent child and doing what children normally do, that is playing. He was riding his friend’s bicycle and when he was attacked he didn't want to let go. He told the attackers that the bicycle was not his. His friends said that the attackers appeared to be of the same age as Melvyn, so he spoke to them and thought they would understand.They then put a knife to his chin and that's when he realised he was going to be robbed. They grabbed the bike and then turned around and stabbed him in the chest," she said.

Melvyn died while being taken to hospital.

One of the residents of the area, Jayce Mohandas said, the murder had highlighted the crime wave in the area.

"We are living in fear here because we can't even walk out of our homes or walk to work or school. We are attacked for our wallets, handbags, cellphones and jewellery. The police has not even bothered to sympathise with the family or let them know if they are investigating," he said. — PTI

5 Indians die in Sharjah mishap

Dubai, July 30
Five Indian labourers were killed and 15 others were injured when a trailer collided with a minibus in Sharjah, the police said.

The accident took place yesterday when the trailer while overtaking another trailer hit the minibus coming from the opposite direction. They were all employed with Shaharco Contracting Company.

The victims were identified as K.Ajith (37), Manikandan (30), M Thomas (45), all from Kerala, Ranga Raj Perumal (25) from Tamil Nadu and Prakash Ram (50) from Punjab. — PTI