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Benazir’s Assassination
Pak enhancing N-capability to target India
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Sentence to Lankan scribe draws flak
Patil to discuss defence, energy with Russia
USAID offices closed down
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Benazir’s Assassination
The Lahore High Court has issued notices to Gen Pervez Musharraf (retired) and 15 others, including two incumbent federation ministers on an application seeking registration of a case against them for their alleged involvement in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court directed the accused to respond by September 28 to the charges leveled by Chaudhry Mohammad Aslam, protocol officer of Bhutto that they were either directly involved in the murder plan or had helped cover it up. Among those who have been named in thje petition are Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Law, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Babar Awan and former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The petition had earlier been fixed before Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa but he declined to hear it saying one of the respondents was his relative. The Chief Justice then referred the case to Justice Ijaz Chaudhry. The petitioner moved the LHC after an additional district and sessions judge had dismissed his plea on the grounds that the federal government was already investigating the matter. Counsel Mansoor Ahmed contended that the PPP leader’s murder was the result of an international conspiracy in which Musharraf and other respondents were also involved. He pointed out that Malik and Awan had changed Bhutto’s route and both of them left the scene in a car, which they were not allowed to use under the protocol plan. Only her spokesman Farhatullah Babar was allowed to use that car. He requested the court to order registration of an FIR against the respondents for the murder of the former Prime Minister. Other respondents include former Intelligence Bureau director-general Ejaz Shah, former Chief Minister Pervez Elahi, former caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah and former spokesman of Interior Ministry Javed Iqbal
Cheema.
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Pak enhancing N-capability to target India
Washington, September 1 According to the report, which is yet to enter the public domain, Pakistan is readying a new nuclear capable ballistic missile for deployment and two nuclear capable cruise missiles. It also says that Pakistan is building two new plutonium production reactors and a second chemical separation facility at Chasma, Khushab and Dera Ghazi Khan in southern Punjab. Pakistan is also renewing work on a partially built separation plant at Chasma. It is believed that this secretive and substantial arsenal build-up is targeted at India. Based on official estimates of Pakistan's current uranium and plutonium technology, scientists had so far thought the country far short of having 100 nuclear warheads in its kitty. The new report, however, suggests that Pakistan has exceeded earlier estimates, and from being able to build 30-40 nuclear weapons it actually could possess as many as 70-90 - a disturbing figure from India's point of view and that of the US, currently debating financial and military aid to its friend in keeping with the AFPAK agreement. Moreover, if this report is true Pakistan is clearly going beyond the moratorium existing as an unwritten code of conduct in South Asia to halt the arms race.
— ANI
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Sentence to Lankan scribe draws flak
Colombo, September 1 The crackdown on media began during the past three years when the government began its full scale operations to crush the Tamil Tigers and along with it came curbs on reporting on military issues with journalists being forced to rely on government filtered information to report on battle field developments. With prominent members in the government labeling journalist who failed to tow the line as traitors, the pressure began to grow on the media to impose a self censorship. Also both verbal and physical attacks on media personnel began to grow and many fled the country in fear for their lives. It was amidst this scenario that Tissanayagam too was arrested and charged on grounds that he published a magazine that was supportive of the Tigers and he also aided the funding for the LTTE. In the meantime the sentencing has drawn criticism from many quarters. The United States criticised the sentencing saying it was disappointed to learn of the verdict and the severity of the sentence."We continue to be concerned about the state of media freedom in Sri Lanka. Journalists remain under threat and consequently continue to practice self-censorship," a State Department spokesman said. Tissainayagam was also named the first winner of the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism hours after
the sentencing. "We are happy to reward JS Tissainayagam in 2009," said Jean-Francois Julliard, secretary-general of the Paris-based press rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also announced to honour Tissainayagam with the International Press Freedom Award at a ceremony in November. "We are announcing this award to highlight the depth of outrage at this unjust sentence," said CPJ executive director Joel Simon.
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Kabul, September 1 Results are being released in stages from the August 20 poll, which have been overshadowed by allegations of massive fraud and poor turnout.With ballots from nearly half the polling stations already announced, President Hamid Karzai leads his main rival Abdullah Abdullah by 45.8 per cent to 33.2 per cent, but still lacks the majority needed to avoid a run-off. "Most probably it (the preliminary results of the presidential election) will be on September 5 or 6," Independent Election Commission (IEC) spokesman Zekria Barakzai said. — AFP
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Patil to discuss defence, energy with Russia
Moscow, September 1 During her five-day state visit, Patil will discuss issues like defence and energy during her talks with President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Indian Ambassador to Russia Prabhat Prakash Shukla said here. "The President's state visit will be part of overall engagement with Russia within the Year of India and a whole range of bilateral issues will be discussed during her one-to-one and delegation-level talks with Medvedev and Premier Vladimir Putin," he said. Shukla said defence and energy cooperation are key components of the bilateral cooperation and will naturally be discussed. "However, no detailed discussions on specific defence issues will take place," he said when asked if she would take up the issue of delay in the delivery of Gorshkov aircraft carrier and its cost escalation. On Thursday, Patil, after laying wreaths at the tomb of Unknown Soldier, will proceed to the Kremlin for a ceremonial welcome, to be followed by tete-a-tete and delegation-level talks with her host Medvedev.
— PTI
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USAID offices closed down
Islamabad, September 1 The American authorities decided to close the offices after two USAID officials received threats on the phone, a news channel reported. The US authorities also suggested that the USAID officials should put in place extra security measures. Pakistanis working for the agency, which has a sizeable presence in the country, were directed to work from home. The US embassy is perhaps the most highly guarded diplomatic mission in Islamabad. Following recent threats from the Taliban, other foreign organisations, including the United Nations, have increased security at their offices across Pakistan.
— PTI
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