 |
|
|
Pro-Sharif protests go on
Gilani saddened, says political reconciliation process must continue
‘Post 26/11, Pak needs to hold credible trials’
Combating Terror: Pak hasn’t kept its word, says Pranab |
|
|
BDR chief shot dead in mutiny Dhaka, February 26 The head of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed was shot dead by mutinuous members of the paramilitary force, an senior army officer who survived the orgy of violence said tonight. The army officer injured in the shootout by the renegade BDR personnel told ATN TV channel that Ahmed was killed soon after the mutiny broke out on Wednesday. A lawmaker of former military dictator and President Hussain Muhammed Ershad's Jatiya Party, who entered the BDR headquarters at Pilkhana, the site of the mutiny, said he visited Ahmed's house and found it ransacked and saw an unidentified body lying there. — PTI
Fresh probe into Nepal royal massacre
9 injured in Marriott Hotel fire
Blaze battle: Firefighters try to douse flames at Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Thursday. –– AFP
|
|
Islamabad, February 26 Activists of Nawaz Sharif -led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rallied in all major cities of Punjab province, a stronghold of the Sharifs, burnt tyres and shouted slogans against Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who had yesterday imposed governors’ rule in the province, suspending the provincial assembly for a period of two months. A complete shutdown was observed in all major cities of Punjab, including Rawalpindi and neighbouring Islamabad, and traders blocked roads causing massive traffic jams and bringing routine businesses to a grinding halt. Sharif publicly accused Zardari of conspiring to disqualify him and his younger brother over the weekend during an address to partyworkers at his farm house in Raiwind near Lahore. Meanwhile, members belonging to the PML-N gathered outside Assembly hall in Lahore after they were not allowed to go inside to hold the session. They asked Speaker Rana Tahir Iqbal to break the doors of the hall but he refused, saying he would be the last person to issue an illegal order. Some leaders of the PML-N claimed that more than 30 lawmakers were arrested from Lahore. They were bundled in a police van and taken to an unknown location. –– UNI
|
|
Gilani saddened, says political reconciliation process must continue
Acknowledging that the Supreme Court decision to disqualify Nawaz Sharif is a set back to democracy, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the political reconciliation process must continue. “I was saddened by the news,” Gilani told reporters here, while confirming that he had spoken to the deposed Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz
Sharif to express his regrets over whatever had happened. Looking glum, he did not directly comment on reports that he was reluctant to endorse the steps taken by President Asif Zardari, Gilani said the imposition of emergency in Punjab was a consensus decision by the PPP leadership and he had advised the President accordingly to fill the void that had occurred due to disqualification of Shahbaz. Gilani said a day earlier he had invited Shahbaz in a sincere bid to lower political tempers. He said if Shahbaz’s removal was part of any game plan he had not been consulted. Gilani said the advice of the PM is necessary for such action. Replying to a query that why the assembly members were denied entry on Thursday and doors were locked, Gilani said the Governor has assumed powers of chief executive in the province and is trying to restore calm. Leaders of two other partners of the ruling coalition, Maulana Fazlur Rehman (JUI) and Asfandyar Wali Khan also denounced the decision to disqualify Sharifs.
|
|
‘Post 26/11, Pak needs to hold credible trials’
Washington, February 26 Observing that the Mumbai attack serves as a reminder of the common threat that extremism poses to regional and global stability, Kerry, who heads a Congressional panel on US foreign affairs, said he was “encouraged” by the fact that Pakistan had arrested the key suspects of the terrorists attack, taken steps to shut down Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front group Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). The crucial test for Pakistan was going to be the next steps, which needed to be followed, said the Senator, who was recently in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. –– PTI
|
|
|
Combating Terror: Pak hasn’t kept its word, says Pranab Dubai, February 26 In an interview to Dubai-based Khaleej Times, Mukherjee said the bilateral talks had been put on hold, with no meeting held or scheduled between the two neighbours. He said the progress in bilateral relations would now depend on Pakistan's response to India's demand for action against terrorists based in that country. "Our composite dialogue process, started in 2004, was based on this commitment. Clearly, Pakistan has not kept its word. The composite dialogue process with Pakistan has been paused. No meeting has taken place and neither are any scheduled," he said. For India, he said, "logical conclusion" meant perpetrators of terrorist acts be brought to book and terror network and infrastructure dismantled completely. Also, Mukherjee said US President Barack Obama's policy focus in the war against terror was in consonance with India's belief that elements operating from Pakistan and Taliban-held areas of Afghanistan were the "biggest source" of terrorism. He said the situation in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border regions was of "great concern" to India and needed to be dealt with in an "united manner". On Sri Lanka where the government forces were on the verge of uprooting the
LTTE, Mukherjee said the plight of civilians trapped in the war zone was a matter of "serious concern" and stressed the need of a political solution to the conflict. “The fact that civilians and internally-displaced persons are caught up with the conflict is a matter of serious concern for us. I visited Sri Lanka last month to take up this matter, including the need to ensure the safety and security of the civilians," he said. — PTI |
|
|
Fresh probe into Nepal royal massacre
Almost eight years after the massacre of the family members of the then King Birendra Shah in Narayanhiti Royal palace here, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday said the incident would be re-investigated. Inaugurating the palace-turned Narayanhity National Museum, Dahal said: “Being the first elected prime minister of Nepal, I vow to reopen investigation in the case and take stern action against the perpetrators.” The museum where the macabre incident took place would be opened for the general public from Friday. It would remain open for the public five days a week and a maximum of 15 visitors would be allowed inside at a single go. Notably, on May 1, 2001, while the late King Birendra and his family members were gathering for dinner inside the palace at around 9:45 pm, the emperor, his wife Aishwarya, their three children and 11 others were done to death in cold blood. However, late Queen Komal, wife of deposed King Gyanendra, son Paras Shah, King Birendra’s son-in-law Gorakh Shumsher Rana and an army doctor, Rajiv Shahi, survived the incident. "King Birendra used to be known as the most liberal one among the Shah kings. People still respect him," he said, adding "The palace where I am standing today was the site of one of the most horrific incidents in Nepali history, and people are still finding it difficult to forget the event."
|
|
9 injured in Marriott Hotel fire
Islamabad, February 26 The fire engulfed several floors of the hotel and plumes of thick smoke billowed out of the building, which was being renovated and repaired. Witnesses said most of the injured were labourers engaged for the reconstruction of the hotel. Some persons fell unconscious due to the smoke and at least one person sustained burn injuries. Several fire tenders rushed to the hotel to help bring the fire under control. Ambulances ferried the injured to nearby hospitals. People living near the hotel in the heart of Islamabad said they had heard a small blast and some members of the Marriott's management said a gas boiler had exploded, sparking the fire.aThe police and the hotel’s management ruled out sabotage.
–– PTI
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Islamabad, February 26
