The lawyers’ fraternity today named retired Justice Wajeehuddin Ahmed as its candidate to challenge President Pervez Musharraf in the presidential election due on October 6.

Ahmed’s nomination gave a new twist to ongoing political tangle and may induce the Opposition to review decision to submit resignations from assemblies. Political observers say Musharraf may face a formidable challenge because of the delicate status of numbers in the assemblies. He may also become a rallying point for lawyers, civil society activists and even political parties to oppose Musharraf, analysts said.

Tariq Mahmud, a senior leader in the lawyers’ agitation during the judicial crisis after Musharraf removed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9, announced Wajihuddin’s candidature to reporters here. He expressed the confidence that Ahmed would also received votes from a sizeable number of ruling party MPs in the secret ballot.

He said the decision to contest the election was taken despite strong stance of the legal fraternity regarding that the election through the present assemblies was devoid of any legal, political and ethical justification.

“We feel General Musharraf must not be allowed to return unopposed,” he said. He said as a candidate Ahmed would also question the eligibility of Musharraf’s nomination. Ahmed commenting on his nomination said he was not in politics but his supporters say they are in touch with political parties to evolve a joint strategy.

MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed welcomed the nomination and said the former judge was known as a man of principle. Ruling PML chief, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said his party wanted an open contest and had opposed the politics of resignations and boycott.

Tariq Mahmud said Wajiddun sacrificed his career on principles at very young age otherwise he would have become Chief Justice and served in that capacity for a very long duration.

Wajihuddin who is in mid-50s is a respected name in the country because of his integrity and knowledge of law and the Constitution. He acted as Chief Justice of the Sindh High and was then elevated as judge of the Supreme Court. He declined to take fresh oath as judge under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) in 2000 that required the judges to pledge allegiance to Musharraf as chief executive and military strongman. Six other judges of the apex court, including Chief Justice Saeeduzzman Siddiqui, joined Ahmed and were retired prematurely.

His nomination is meant to avail the opportunity to question the eligibility of Musharraf at all stages, including the nomination, scrutiny and actual polling, Tariq Mahmud said. Wajihuddin Ahmed said Musharraf is disqualified to contest under the Constitution.

Meanwhile the nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court Monday heard arguments from government counsel and attorney-general Qayyum Malik who questioned the maintainability of the petitions challenging the eligibility of General Musharraf to contest as army chief.

President judge of the Bench, Rana Bhagwanda during the hearing observed that it would be difficult to justify the Election Commission’s action to suspend a constitutional provision in order to exempt President Musharraf from any disqualificaqtion as a candidate in uniform.

Islamabad, September 24
The US today termed the arrest of top opposition leaders in Pakistan ahead of the Presidential poll as extremely disturbing and expressed its serious concern over the developments.

In a statement, the US embassy in Pakistan said: “The reports of arrests of the leaders of several major Pakistani political parties are extremely disturbing and confusing for the friends of Pakistan.” “We wish to express our serious concern about these developments,” it said, demanding the detainees be released “as soon as possible”.

The US has so far steered clear of the political churnings in the Islamic country, repeatedly asserting that Musharraf was an important ally in the war against terrorism, and stressing that it was for free and fair poll in Pakistan.

When Musharraf deported former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia on September 10 within hours of his landing on his home soil after spending seven years in exile, Washington said it was Pakistan’s internal matter.

Maintaining that the US does not endorse particular candidates or parties, the statement today said “We have made it clear that we want to see Pakistan succeed as a moderate, modern, democratic country, led by the choice of the Pakistani people. We would like to see a fair, free, transparent election process, that respects the Constitution, gives Pakistani citizens choices, and respect their decisions, continues without any impediment.”

The statement said the US was hoping to see a democratic process that is inclusive and the election of a leader, who represents the choice of the Pakistani people through a free, fair, and transparent process.

The government crackdown came as the Opposition announced an agitation against Musharraf’s bid to get re-elected in uniform through the October 6 poll. — PTI

Islamabad, September 24
As the Pakistan Supreme Court heard petitions challenging President Prevez Musharraf’s re-election bid, an angry lawyer blackened the face of the General’s counsel in full media glare.

Government advocate Ahmed Raza Kasuri was left stunned as lawyer Khurshid Ahmed, waiting at the entrance of the Supreme Court where a battery of TV cameras were lined up ahead of the hearing, lunged towards him and sprayed black paint on his face while shouting slogans against the Musharraf regime.

Kasuri, who is defending Musharraf on the spate of petitions challenging the president holding dual offices and his plans to get re-elected in uniform, claimed that the paint contained acid. Adding to the high drama, scores of flag-waving and slogan shouting Opposition workers hurled stones at mounted riot police, who tried to stop them from breaking the barricades and reaching the court.

Over two dozen protesters, mostly from the Islamist alliance Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal, kept on shouting slogans like “Go, Musharraf, go!” The police finally bundled the protestors into police vehicles and whisked them away. The Supreme Court is hearing a series of legal challenges by opposition parties and lawyers’ groups to the October 6 presidential election.

An angry Kasuri termed the incident as an “attack on democracy” and the right of lawyers to represent clients of their choice. He also questioned the credibility of the movement being led by lawyers’ outfits and hit out at the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and his colleagues Ali Ahmed Kurd and Aitezaz Ahesan. — PTI

Colombo, September 24
More than 20 LTTE rebels and one soldier were killed in clashes in northern Sri Lanka today, the military said,the latest in a rash of confrontations amid renewed civil war.

The military said intercepted radio communications revealed about 20 rebels were killed in the Jaffna clash,up from an initial estimate of three.However, troops had recovered only two bodies. ''Monitoring (of communications) confirmed about 20 terrorists were killed,'' said military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara.

''They were (attacking) the forward defence line there in Kilali.We went ahead and attacked. One soldier was killed and five were wounded.'' The military said three rebels were killed in a separate clash in the northwestern district of Mannar, where one soldier was also wounded.

The Tigers, who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, were not immediately available for comment. — Reuters

A week after quitting the eight-party coalition government, Nepal's Maoist chairman Prachanda has put forward a new preconditions to rejoin the government.

Talking to journalists after attending a programme here today, former rebels' supremo Prachanda said his party could join the government if a new Cabinet was formed with fresh understanding among the eight-party leaders. However, he said his partymen would not withdraw their resignation if the current leadership in the government continued.

Prachanda also added that the 22-point demand, including the declaration of a republic, a proportional electoral system and the PLA merger in the Nepal army, among others would be addressed in a day or two. "Bilateral and multilateral talks are being held to that end," Prachanda said.

He also hinted at the postponement of the constituent Assembly polls, provided a new agreement was reached among the eight parties.

The Maoists quit the eight-party coalition government on Tuesday and announced a nationwide stir to thwart the CA polls slated for November 22.

Following the Maoist pullout from the government, an eight-party meeting was held to coerce the Maoists to call them back in the government. However, no decision could be taken.

Islamabad, September 24
Pakistan summoned the British and Indian envoys to the foreign ministry and lodged a formal protest today over their ongoing joint military exercises in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan feels that this is illegitimate activity because Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory, and more than anybody else, Britain should be aware of it,” foreign ministry spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said at a weekly press briefing.

British and Indian troops past week kicked off a 25-day joint high altitude exercises in Ladakh.“Pakistan has sent demarches (formal diplomatic protest) to both Britain and India expressing its concern over the exercise plans,” Aslam said.

Pakistan had already lodged a protest last week with India over New Delhi’s decision to allow trekking in Siachen.

“If India allowed trekking teams in Siachen or if India is doing it now, it does not make it legitimate,” the spokesperson said.

“Indian military aggression into Siachen, its presence there and any activities that it sponsors in this area is illegal.”

She said Indian presence in the region violates the Simla Agreement of 1972, and Pakistan will raise the issue in the next round of peace talks. “We have a composite dialogue process with India, and Siachen is one of the issue being discussed. Pakistan would certainly raise the issue in the composite dialogue,” she said. — PTI

Dubai, September 24
Two senior journalists, including a former Indian editor of the Khaleej Times, have been sentenced to two months in prison after they were found guilty in a libel case marking what the judicial officials described as ''an unusual verdict''.

The Dubai Court of Misdemeanour found the senior Egyptian journalist and senior Indian editor guilty of libelling an Iranian woman.

The daily is planning to file an appeal tomorrow against the initial verdict as the rulings can be challenged in higher courts and only a ruling then would decide if the journalists would be jailed or let off on bail.

The Public Prosecutor charged the two defendants with publishing a defamatory article in the English newspaper they work with. In her complaint, the woman accused the defendants of defaming her by publishing an article.

The article published last year said the woman collected a dowry cheque for Dh83,000 which was dishonoured when she went to cash it.Thereafter, she filed a police complaint against her divorcee.

The court found the defendants guilty though they pleaded innocent, the Gulf News said. — UNI

Kathmandu, September 24
Darjeeling boy Prashant Tamang's triumph in the Indian Idol music talent hunt sparked wild celebrations here, with jubilant fans of the young singer terming his win a "matter of pride for all Nepalese people".

Some 1,500 enthusiastic girls and boys gathered before a large screen in Kathmandu's Basantapur Durbarsqure last night to watch the grand finale of the over two-month-long talent show, being telecast by Sony TV channel.

As the West Bengal constable beat rival Amit Paul to wear the crown, youths cheered and opened champaign bottles to celebrate the triumph of the 24-year-old.

"Prashant's victory is a matter of pride for all Nepalese people," one of the fans said.

People took out victory rallies in Kathmandu, while Nepal's major dailies like Kathmandu Post, Himalayan Times and Rising Nepal published front-page banner headlined news items.

In Kathmandu and towns bordering India, people had collected donation to help campaign for Prashant, while some even went to India to cast votes for him through SMS. — PTI

London, September 24
It’s a research that is guaranteed to delight as well as infuriate both men and women, and could spark a row over the breakfast table.

Yes, the study carried out by scientists in the United Kingdom has revealed that men are actually more intelligent than the fairer sex but they are more stupid as well, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported here on Monday.

“The phenomenon may have its roots in society’s expectations for the sexes. Men have long been expected to be high achievers, while women were expected to base their lives around the home.

“The female developmental programme may be tilted more towards ensuring survival and the safety of the middle ground,” one of the study’s authors, Psychology Professor Timothy Bates of Edinburgh University, was quoted as saying.

The researchers came to the conclusion after measuring the intelligence of over 2,500 brothers and sisters by testing them on science, maths, English and mechanical abilities — they found a disproportionate number of men in both the top two per cent and the bottom two per cent.

According to the findings, there were twice as many men as women in the smartest group. But there were also twice as many men among the dunces. However, the average scores of the men were virtually identical to that of the women.

The research tallies with past findings that men at university were more likely than women to receive first class degrees or thirds — while women tended to achieve second.

The argument was always that men were more likely to take risks with their academic arguments, which could either be successful or fail dismally. Women, it was suggested, were more steady in their learning. — PTI

London, September 24
An advice for hubbies who feel working wives jeopardise family life -- encourage your better half to opt for a part-time job instead of just homemaking.

Yes, researchers in Europe have carried out a study and found that women are the happiest with part-time jobs that allow them to combine work and family life,The Sunday Telegraph reported here.

"Women prefer part-time jobs. Women with children are significantly happier if they have a job," according to the researchers -- Prof Alison Booth of Essex University and Jan Van Ours of Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

In fact, both of them came to the conclusion after conducting interviews of 3,800 couples who were questioned repeatedly over an eight-year period in the British Household Panel Survey.

According to the study, all working women expressed greater "life satisfaction" than housewives with no paid job.

The researchers were surprised at their findings on job satisfaction, because "part-time work has traditionally been concentrated in low-paid, low-skilled occupations".

"Half of the women who come to us had 10 years of work experience before they had children, and they don't want to let that go to waste.— PTI