W O R L D

Gilani offers olive branch to Sharif
In a crucial meeting, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif met in Raiwind today to decide on taking confidence-building steps to mend fences between their respective parties.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (left) with opposition leader Nawaz Sharif at a press conference after their meeting in Raiwind, near Lahore, on Sunday. — PTI

Iftikhar Chaudhry resumes CJ duties
Iftikhar Chaudhry, the deposed chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, today formally returned to his post crowning a unique movement spearheaded by lawyers against his twice dismissal by former military rule Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

• Ex-servicemen demand trial for Mush

Jade Goody dies in sleep
London, March 22
Seven years after becoming Britain’s best known reality TV star who lived out her most intimate moments in front of the camera, Jade Goody (27) died quietly in her sleep at home early today, her publicist Max Clifford said. Goody, who was ill with cervical cancer, died at her home in Upshire with her mother Jackiey Budden, husband Jack Tweed and family friend Kevin Adams by her side. Goody’s mother said: “My beautiful daughter is at peace.”

Pak arrests 31 Indian fishermen
Islamabad, March 22
Pakistani authorities have arrested 31 Indian fishermen and seized their five vessels for allegedly violating the country’s exclusive economic zone in the Arabian Sea, an official said today.

HELP AT HAND: Singaporean neurosurgeon Keith Goh greets conjoined twins Vani and Veena at the Niloufer Children’s Hospital in Hyderabad on Sunday. The unusual condition of the twins is known as Craniopagus, with the twins conjoined at the head and results in a risky separation operation. Doctor Goh, who has operated on four pairs of Craniopagus conjoined twins, and his team is to perform the cranial separation surgery for Vani and Veena along with Indian neurosurgeons in Singapore during August this year. — AFP

Concern over rights’ violations in Nepal
Expressing concern over the increasing cases of human rights’ violations in Nepal, visiting UN high commissioner (for human rights) Navanethem Pillay on Sunday warned that the ongoing peace process in the Himalayan nation could get jeopardised if the government did not act in time.

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Pak shares DNA profiles with Interpol
Paris, March 22
Pakistan has shared the DNA profiles of suspected terrorists linked to last year’s attacks in Mumbai with Interpol, the policy today said in what it called a benchmark move here. Interpol, which has 187 member countries, said the information would allow it to help Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to determine “the full international dimension” of the attacks.

B’desh bars ‘war criminals’ from travelling
The Bangladesh government has imposed a bar on ‘suspected war criminals’ from travelling abroad, according to Law Minister Shafiq Ahmed. Ahmed told reporters on Sunday, “War crime trials have not kicked off, but are in the process…that’s why the government has ordered some people not to leave the country.”

‘1,800 rebel soldiers still on run’
Dhaka, March 22
About 1,800 BDR soldiers were still absconding nearly a month after the bloody mutiny at the paramilitary force’s headquarters in Dhaka, in which more than 73 army personnel were killed, officials said today.

Gilani offers olive branch to Sharif
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

In a crucial meeting, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif met in Raiwind today to decide on taking confidence-building steps to mend fences between their respective parties.

Gilani flew to Nawaz Sharif’s Raiwind estate near Lahore in response to a luncheon invitation. Both met for about two hours and discussed issues, including disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, dismissal of Shahbaz’s government in Punjab and imposition of governor’s rule in the province.

“I conveyed a message of goodwill from President Asif Zardari and offered reconciliation and resumption of cooperation between the two parties,” Gilani said after the meeting.

“I regard Asif Zardari as our President and Syed Gilani as out Prime Minister,” Sharif responded while emphasising that he had no personal issues with Zardari. “He had won the toss and opted to bat while I am bowling as the leader of opposition,” Sharif remarked in a jovial mood.

Gilani said the government was addressing Sharifs’ concern regarding disqualification and has filed review petition in the Supreme Court. It has also requested the court to stay the operation of the disqualification ruling.

“If the court issues a stay order, it would mean immediate restoration of Shahbaz Sharif as the chief minister and would facilitate lifting of the governor’s rule,” the Prime Minister said while hoping that both PML-N and the PPP could return to coalition partnership that collapsed after the court order.

In Lahore, the central committee of the rival faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) met under party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and decided to stay neutral in the current power tussle in Punjab. Shujaat said the party would sit in the opposition.

The PML-Q has been in talk with the PPP for the past eight months to form a coalition by toppling the Shahbaz Sharif government. The latest developments dashed its hopes after PPP’s debacle on the judges’ issue and Sharif’s success in garnering enough majority with the help of a rebel group of the PML-Q to rule the province.

Iftikhar Chaudhry resumes CJ duties
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Iftikhar Chaudhry, the deposed chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, today formally returned to his post crowning a unique movement spearheaded by lawyers against his twice dismissal by former military rule Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

Ex-servicemen demand trial for Mush A group of prominent retired Pakistani military officials has demanded a trial for former President Pervez Musharraf for allegedly subverting the constitution. The Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association also called for Musharraf to be ousted from the Army House, the official residence of the army chief which he has continued to occupy despite retiring from the post in November 2007. At a meeting held in Rawalpindi yesterday, the association decided to form a special committee to formulate proposals for the trial of Musharraf for violating the constitution and “other crimes”. — PTI

President Asif Zardari ordered his restoration succumbing to massive street demonstrations on March 16 to the position of November 3, 2007, when he was sacked. But the order took effect midnight Saturday after Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar vacated the office on retirement. Iftikhar, however, will resume normal functions on Tuesday - the next working day of the court.

Justice Dogar, who was installed by Musharraf after imposing emergency and sacking 60 judges, including Iftikhar, remained a controversial chief justice throughout his tenure. He was not allowed to address any bar functions in major cities while lawyers refused to appear before his court terming him as illegitimate chief justice. Dogar validated the emergency, Musharraf’s acts of dismissal of judges, arbitrary amendment in the constitution, eligibility to contest election in uniform and facilitated Asif Zardari’s election as the president by striking down the graduation condition.

The national and Supreme Court flags were hoisted at the residence of Justice Iftikhar today in simple but impressive ceremony attended by lawyers, civil society activists and hundreds of people. Prominent people representing cross section of society from different parts of the country, who played a leading role in the lawyers’ movement, were designated to hoist the flags with the national anthem playing in the background.

Jade Goody dies in sleep

London, March 22
Seven years after becoming Britain’s best known reality TV star who lived out her most intimate moments in front of the camera, Jade Goody (27) died quietly in her sleep at home early today, her publicist Max Clifford said.

Goody, who was ill with cervical cancer, died at her home in Upshire with her mother Jackiey Budden, husband Jack Tweed and family friend Kevin Adams by her side.

Goody’s mother said: “My beautiful daughter is at peace.”

Clifford said it was “ironic” that Goody had died on Mother’s Day. The television star had struck media deals worth nearly a million pounds to secure the future of her two young sons - Bobby (5), and Freddie (4).

Goody, who had spent most of her celebrity life in front of the camera, died quietly, away from the glare of lights and camera.

She was a working class woman from south London who worked as a dental nurse, shot to fame in 2002 when she appeared on the reality TV show “Big Brother”.

But she became controversial in the celebrity version of the same show in 2007, when Channel 4 network expelled her after thousands of viewers complained she had racially bullied Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, who was on the same show.

Goody was the ultimate reality television star. From shooting to villainy, for her racial barbs against the Bollywood actress to becoming an icon of courage in her last moments, the 27-year-old Briton chose a life that would put small screen dramas to shame.

Funeral to be “celebration of her life”

Jade Goody’s funeral would be a “celebration of her life” just like she wanted, said her publicist. “Goody wanted a celebration of her life. It will be very much a Jade Goody production with Jade doing her own thing her own way,” said publicist Max Clifford, who was also a close friend of the late star.

The service which will be open to all those who want to attend, will be held at Goody’s local church of St John the Baptist in Buckhurst, the Sun reported online.

Brown pays tribute

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined several personalities on Sunday in paying tribute to late TV reality star Jade Goody, hailing her as a “courageous woman both in life and death.” Meanwhile, actress Shilpa Shetty, who is in London, said she was deeply saddened by the news “but in the hindsight, glad that she is out of pain and passed away peacefully in her sleep. — PTI

Pak arrests 31 Indian fishermen

Islamabad, March 22
Pakistani authorities have arrested 31 Indian fishermen and seized their five vessels for allegedly violating the country’s exclusive economic zone in the Arabian Sea, an official said today.

Pakistan maritime security agency (MSA) spokesman Lieutenant Commander Shakeel Ahmed Khan told reporters the Indian fishermen were apprehended last night.

The fishermen would be brought to Karachi harbour for being handed over to the local police. MSA officials said the fishermen belonged to India’s Gujarat state and had set out to sea about six days ago.

India and Pakistan detain dozens of fishermen every year for violating maritime boundaries. Some of the arrested fishermen have languished for months, and even years, in jails. — PTI

Concern over rights’ violations in Nepal
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

Expressing concern over the increasing cases of human rights’ violations in Nepal, visiting UN high commissioner (for human rights) Navanethem Pillay on Sunday warned that the ongoing peace process in the Himalayan nation could get jeopardised if the government did not act in time.

Speaking to mediapersons at the Tribhuvan International Airport before leaving for India, Pillay said the tales of serious human rights’ violations in Nepal were similar to those in African nation Rwanda.

Pillay, who was on a five-day visit to Nepal, said, “During my visit, I met several families whose loved ones were victims of human rights’ violations, both during and after the Maoist conflict. The happenings remind me of similar painful incidents that I came across during my eight years of job with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.”

Emphasising that the state (Nepal) had a responsibility towards its citizens, she said, “The victim families want to know truth (about their missing relatives). They require compensation, and above all justice. Their demands are not mere wishes, but are supported by law.”

And until these demands (for justice) were not met and non-recurrence of human rights’ violations ensured, she said, a new Nepal could not emerge.

Pillay also informed that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal would himself be taking a decision regarding the extension of OHCHR's term in a couple of weeks after consultation with other major political parties.

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Pak shares DNA profiles with Interpol

Paris, March 22
Pakistan has shared the DNA profiles of suspected terrorists linked to last year’s attacks in Mumbai with Interpol, the policy today said in what it called a benchmark move here.

Interpol, which has 187 member countries, said the information would allow it to help Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to determine “the full international dimension” of the attacks.

“Pakistan’s decision to send its DNA terrorist-related profiles to Interpol so that all member countries can compare their DNA profiles against them sets a benchmark for Interpol in terrorist-related investigations,” Interpol Secretary-General Ronald K Noble said in a statement.

Interpol had said in December that India had not shared information with it about the attacks, which killed 179 people.

Pakistan, under pressure over Indian accusations that the 10 gunmen who had attacked Mumbai came from Pakistan, had also complained that India had yet to provide it with any evidence to push its investigation forward.

Tensions between the two countries, which are both members of Interpol, worsened since the attacks on India’s financial heart that killed 179 people. — Reuters

B’desh bars ‘war criminals’ from travelling
Ashfaq Wares Khan Writes From Dhaka

The Bangladesh government has imposed a bar on ‘suspected war criminals’ from travelling abroad, according to Law Minister Shafiq Ahmed.

Ahmed told reporters on Sunday, “War crime trials have not kicked off, but are in the process…that’s why the government has ordered some people not to leave the country.”

The Law Minister did not disclose a list of names of the war criminals.

This comes a month after Jamaat-e Islami deputy leader and former minister Ali Ahsan Mujahid was prevented from leaving the country reportedly under suspicion of committing war crimes during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

The government, which swept to power three months ago, has promised to hold a War Crimes Trial to try individuals associated with war crimes and crimes against humanity in 1971. The Jamaat top brass are part of the large group alleged to have committed the war crimes. Pakistan sent a special emissary last month to Dhaka who suggested Dhaka should hold off such a trial.

Meanwhile, a Rajshahi court gave life sentences to 7 members of the banned militant Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) for countrywide bomb attacks on August 17, 2005.

The seven life convicts are: Tariqul Islam, Shafiullah Tarique, Abu Isa, Hasan Ali, Jahangir Alam, Arif, alias Alal and Enamul Haque Moni.

The judge also fined them Taka 20,000 each or two more years rigorous imprisonment on 
failure of payment.

‘1,800 rebel soldiers still on run’

Dhaka, March 22
About 1,800 BDR soldiers were still absconding nearly a month after the bloody mutiny at the paramilitary force’s headquarters in Dhaka, in which more than 73 army personnel were killed, officials said today.

A manhunt was still underway to trace the fugitives. “Some 1,800 soldiers are still in hiding according to our list,” newly appointed BDR chief Brigadier General Mainul Islam told the media.

About 9,000 soldiers fled their barracks during or after the February 25-26 mutiny but nearly 7,000 of them reported to work as ordered under a 24-hour ultimatum following the mutiny that saw deaths of 73 army officers serving the paramilitary force.

Army troops under a special operation codenamed “Operation Rebel Hunt” and the police and other security agencies, including elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), so far arrested nearly 250 fugitive soldiers under a massive countrywide manhunt. PTI