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Bhutto, Sharif not eligible for elections: Jurists
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Shahbaz Sharif can return home: Pak CJ
US to provide $30 b defence aid to Israel
Indian workers losing interest in Gulf jobs: Experts
Indian commits suicide in UAE
Pak seeks release of 62 prisoners
No
Al-Qaida safe havens in Pak: Kasuri USA to help Pak deal with terror: Boucher NASA puts off spacewalk by a day One in four Britons out of work Fans mourn Elvis 30 yrs after death Nepal must hold poll on Nov 22: Envoy SCO Summit
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Time running out for Musharraf: Bhutto
New York, August 16 “Time is running out for him,” she said pointing at non-fulfillment of promises made to her Pakistan Peoples’ Party by the General as the confidence-building measures at the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) yesterday. The measures include steps to ensure free and fair elections in which she and Nawaz Sharif can participate, lifting the ban on a person becoming Prime Minister for the third time and General Musharraf shedding his uniform. The ban makes both Bhutto and Sharif ineligible to become Prime Minister for the third time. Describing the corruption charges against her as an attempt to divert attention from institutionalised military corruption, she said they were “politically motivated” and nothing had so far been proved against her. Bhutto told the council, her party had put its popularity on the lines by entering into a dialogue with Musharraf and now it was time for him to deliver his promises. Conceding that an alliance with President Musharraf could politically hurt her, she said she did not want to be seen as bailing out the “unpopular military dictatorship”. Rejecting Musharraf's contention that her and Sharif's return would destabilise the country, she said only PML-Q, the party aligned to the President, would be destabilised. Bhutto seemed to be dissatisfied with the present condition of the country and said, “The situation has become so serious that smooth transition to democracy is necessary”. Bhutto, holding the military regime responsible for the rise of extremism in the country said, “The policies followed by the regime have drastically changed the situation on the ground.” Describing the agreement between Musharraf and the tribal elders as a “terrible mistake”, she said, “The agreement resulted in the withdrawal of Pakistani forces operating against terrorists in areas bordering Afghanistan on promise by the elders that they would not allow the Al-Qaida and Taliban extremists to operate from their territory.” But, since then, the terrorists and extremists have strengthened their position in the lawless region over which Islamabad's writ does not run. “Why should the government of Pakistan enter into an agreement with foreigners -- Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaida made up of mostly Arabs?” she questioned and said, “We cannot placate these elements, and place Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity at stake”.
— PTI
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Bhutto, Sharif not eligible for elections: Jurists
Top jurists believe that three top political leaders including exiled premier Nawaz Sharif, Ms. Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Zardari may not qualify to contest elections.
All three have been convicted by a court on various charges that disqualify them from the elections under Article 63(1) H of the Constitution. They, however, said the question of qualification would be agitated in courts that may have the final word. Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad said in a TV programme that Article 63 (1) H would apply on these three leaders as per which a person convicted by a court cannot contest the elections. Justice Ahmad said that Article 63 (1) H could be applied to Sharif at the time of filing of his nomination papers. However, he said that in Sharif’s case the court convicted him on charge of ordering a hijacking of Gen. Musharraf's plane. But President Rafique Tarrar had reprieved his remaining sentence and that now it was upto the SC to decide if he could return to participate in the elections. Ms. Bhutto was convicted in absentia in the ARY case and had filed an appeal in the High Court that is still pending. It may be revived when she returns to Pakistan. Her counsel Farooq Naik says that the case will fall through once she enters Pakistan and hands herself to the law. Zardari’s case is similar to that of Ms. Bhutto.
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Shahbaz Sharif can return home: Pak CJ
Islamabad, August 16 The Sharif brothers have filed identical petitions in the apex court seeking a directive from the government not to obstruct their return home and allow them to take part in the general elections scheduled towards the end of this year. A five-member Bench headed by Chaudhry noted that the Supreme Court had granted a similar relief in 2004 when it allowed Shahbaz to return to Pakistan. “There is already a judgement by this court and which is intact,” the Chief Justice remarked during a hearing on the petitions of the Sharifs. “As far as the judgement is concerned there is no dispute that one of the petitioners can get the benefit of the judgement and nobody can stop him,” he said.
— PTI
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Peru quake kills more than 300
Lima, August 16 As many as 1,000 people were injured and tens of thousands of panicked residents flocked onto streets fearing aftershocks, after the 7.9-magnitude quake rattled the country for two terrifying minutes late yesterday. The towns of Pisco, Chincha and other localities in Peru’s southern coastal region were said to be in ruins after the biggest earthquake to hit the South American nation in decades. Buildings left standing had their windows smashed and trees were toppled. In the coastal city of Ica, 300 km south of Lima, the Senor de Luren church collapsed during a service, killing at least four worshippers and injuring dozens. The nearby city of Pisco was also hit hard with many people killed in their homes as roofs caved in. The government sent a convoy of trucks to the region carrying medical supplies, doctors and nurses. The quake and aftershocks sparked panic in the capital, Lima, where people camped on the streets for hours after the first big tremor and most buildings were evacuated as a precaution. VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict offered prayers on Thursday for the victims of the earthquake and called for immediate assistance for the hundreds of people who were injured or made homeless. “The Pope encourages institutions and people of goodwill to offer the necessary help to those harmed, with a spirit of Christian solidarity and charity,” the Vatican said in a telegram, signed by Vatican secretary of state Tarcisio Bertone.
— Agencies
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US to provide $30 b defence aid to Israel
Jerusalem, August 16 The agreement represents a 25 per cent increase in US military aid to Israel which currently amounts to $2.4 billion a year. "The Middle East is more dangerous today than it was 10, 20 years ago. The regional dangers seem only to increase as Iran develops nuclear technologies and along with Syria, supports organisations like Hamas, Hizbullah and the Islamic Jihad," US undersecretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns said before signing the MoU for the
aid package. "We look at this region and we see that a secure and strong Israel is in the interest of the United States," Burns said. Israel is slated to receive the first pay out of $2.550 billion in October 2008, with the package growing by $150 million each year and reaching a grant of $3.1 billion by 2011. The agreement also permits Israel to convert into Shekels (local currency) 26.3 per cent of the aid money, thereby enabling it to procure defence equipments from Israeli companies. The rest of the aid must be used to purchase equipments from the US military industries, Ha'aretz Online reported earlier.
— PTI
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Indian workers losing interest in Gulf jobs: Experts
Dubai, August 16 At a function in Qatar’s capital Doha to celebrate the 60th anniversary of India’s independence, employers said that though they were extremely happy for India yet the economic expansion did pose a problem in getting skilled workers, the Gulf Times said in a report. “It is extremely difficult to get the staff we want from India at the price we are offering,” U Achu, general manager of Dyarco International, who went to India recently to recruit financial professionals but had to come back disappointed, was quoted as saying. Tareq Abdullatif Taha, general manager of Regency Travel and Tours, said Indians were now “very choosy” about taking jobs in the Gulf. “Why should they come when they can earn almost the same amount of money and be with their entire family?” “Gone are the days when you could take a flight to India to recruit staff with specialised skills at the pay scales that were on offer in this country,” added Ravi Narayan, financial controller of Mannai Group. “The economic boom in India and the generous pay packages offered by companies there have changed the scenario completely. Today, Indian companies like Reliance are paying more money to skilled staff than companies in the Gulf,” he said. There are an estimated 5 million Indians working in the Gulf region.
— IANS
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Indian commits suicide in UAE
Dubai, August 16 The deceased has been identified as Mohammed Rafi who hailed from the south Indian state of Kerala. Preliminary investigations revealed that Rafi, who was working as a senior executive with a pharmacy, had been taking anti-depression pills for over a year. He had moved to his flat at Sharjah a fortnight ago from Dubai where he had lived for several years with his family. “Rafi's family returned to Kerala two years back and he might be upset about that,” a neighbour told the 'Khaleej Times' here. According to his neighbour, Rafi returned home from work yesterday afternoon. “But, he did not answer his phone when his colleagues and the police tried to reach him since he had parked his car in a 'no-parking' zone,” he added.
— PTI
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Pak seeks release of 62 prisoners
Islamabad, August 16 Interior ministry spokesperson Javed Iqbal Cheema urged India to release the 62 prisoners rejecting New Delhi's claim that the Pakistani prisoners were not freed because Islamabad had failed to verify their nationality. Cheema welcomed the release of 72 Pakistani prisoners by the Indian government and hoped that the other 62 prisoners would soon be set
free. — PTI
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No
Al-Qaida safe havens in Pak: Kasuri
Lahore, August 16 The fact that it had lost 700 soldiers during the "war on terror" is ample testimony of its commitment, he added. Kasuri told BBC's 'Hard Talk' programme: "I completely and emphatically reject that Pakistan has 'safe havens' for Al-Qaida." "Pakistan is facing problems, but these problems have to be viewed in the right context. The problem we have in the tribal areas goes back to its origin in the 80s when the West glorified jehad. We are reaping the consequences of that," he added. Kasuri said statements such as the one calling for attacks on Mecca and Medina had immense potential to damage Pak-US relations. He asked the US leadership to be careful in this regard. "We value our relations with the USA, but our people think the USA dictates terms to us, but we will not take any dictation," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.
— ANI
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USA to help Pak deal with terror: Boucher
Islamabad, August 16 He said the USA supported Pakistan’s efforts in dealing with the challenge of extremism and terrorism. "Terrorists are harming Pakistan as there have been Taliban and al-Qaida-type attacks on security forces and innocent Pakistanis." The US official expressed hope that the just-concluded joint 'jirga', or a council of tribal elders, in Kabul, would go a long way in promoting peace and security in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. To a question, Boucher said President Pervez Musharraf was committed to hold free and fair elections.
— PTI
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NASA puts off spacewalk by a day
Washington, August 16 Endeavour mission chief John Shannon said late yesterday that initial assessments showed that damage to the shuttle’s structure did not appear to be severe, and that he was hopeful that there would not be a need for repairs. “Yes, I will repeat it, I am cautiously optimistic that the repair won’t be needed,” he told reporters. On Tuesday, NASA had said that a decision would be made by late evening on how to deal with the gouge in the Endeavour’s heat shield near a landing gear hatch, which likely was caused by foam shedding from the shuttle’s external fuel tank during launch. The concern is that the gash could create excess friction as the shuttle hurtles into the Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, though NASA has said the problem “poses no threat to crew safety or mission operations.” “The analysis we have shows that it will be no damage at all to the underlying structure, which was very good news to us,” Shannon said yesterday. “I think most of the data is in place to make a decision but I want the team to go off and think about it over night,” he said of the final decision. He said that undertaking a fourth space walk on the current mission carried more risk than undertaking a repair not deemed absolutely necessary. — AFP
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One in four Britons out of work
London, August 16 There're 1.65 million people who are unemployed, with a further 7.9 million defined as “economically inactive”, the official figures revealed. The second group includes over two million people who are on long-term sickness benefits as well as students and people who have taken early retirement. Reacting to the revelation, opposition politicians in the UK have said that "the figures exposed the true scale of hidden joblessness under Labour". "The (nearly ten million) people of working age not working in Britain today represent a huge pool of wasted talent.
— PTI
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Fans mourn Elvis 30 yrs after death
Memphis, August 16 They came bearing roses, teddy bears and tears as a seemingly endless line of mourners snaked its way up the rolling driveway to his poolside grave site. Mournful Elvis songs echoed through the grounds. Handmade memorials from around the world lined the road and the memorial garden where the Presley family is buried. “I come here every year because I love Elvis,” said Yosuke Funabashi, as he paused in the garden after visiting the grave. Originally from Japan, Funabashi moved to Memphis a few years ago to run an Elvis souvenir shop called “Love Me Tender” on the Beale Street. “I love his style, he’s an original.” Bill Rowe lined up around midnight on Tuesday and spent a day sweating in front of Graceland’s graffiti-marked fence so he could be the first person through the gates. — AFP
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Nepal must hold poll on Nov 22: Envoy Kathmandu, August 16 Talking to journalists after a function organised to observe the 60th Independence Day of India at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Mukherjee indicated that further delay in the polls could raise all sorts of questions.
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SCO Summit
Bishkek, Aug 16 Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russia's Vladimir Putin, together with the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, gathered just outside the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek for the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Speaking in a new conference centre built by Chinese contractors under the shining backdrop of the snow-covered Tien Shan mountains, Russia’s Putin described the SCO as a budding force. “Year after year the SCO becomes a more significant factor in strengthening security and stability in the Central Asian region,” he added. Anti-terrorism,anti-narcotics,the environment and economic development, with a focus on transport links, topped the agenda at the one-day talks. Tomorrow, all six leaders will fly to Russia to attend the climax of unpresedented SCO military manoeuvers. — AFP
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