W O R L D

Pak: New Delhi’s info on Saeed ‘sketchy’
Islamabad, September 19
Pakistan today said the information given by India on JuD chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed's involvement in the Mumbai attacks was "sketchy" and would not hold in court to prosecute him.

Zardari: I was misquoted on safe passage for Mush
President Asif Zardari has said he was misquoted on remarks about giving safe passage to Musharraf after he resigned last year.

Indian American gets key post in Obama admn
Washington, September 19
US President Barack Obama has appointed Indian American Arun Majumdar as in charge of advanced research in the field of energy, one of the key posts in his administration.

184 dead in Indonesia during Eid holiday exodus
Jakarta, September 19 Almost 200 people died on Indonesia's roads this week as almost 30 million people headed home to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, police said today.

A supporter of exiled former Thailand premier Thaksin Shinawatra holds a poster with his portrait during a rally at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok on Saturday. — Reuters

Displaced civilians living in ‘closed regime’
UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe, who was in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit, said internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in government-run camps in Sri Lanka lack the basic right to freedom of movement, and the country was not making the expected progress towards a lasting peace in the wake of the LTTE defeat earlier this year.

Sanjana Jon fined for contempt of court
Los Angeles, September 19
Sanjana Jon, sister of Indian- American fashion designer Anand Jon who has been jailed for 59 years for sexually assaulting aspiring models, has been fined USD 1,000 and sentenced to either 5-day imprisonment or 120- hour community service for contacting a juror during his trial.

Rajapaksa slams Western countries; cites SRK’s incident
Colombo, September 19
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said some Western countries were discriminatory while raising concerns over resettlement of Tamil refugees and likened their attitude to questioning faced by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan at a US airport.

Asma Jahangir to represent Meera
Lahore, September 19
Pakistani actress Meera, accused of stealing furniture and other valuables from the home of a man who claims to be her husband, has sought the services of renowned rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir to represent her in court.

India gets dossier on 26/11 probe status
Islamabad, September 19
Pakistan today handed over to India a dossier on the status of its probe into the Mumbai attacks.

Pak: New Delhi’s info on Saeed ‘sketchy’

Malik meets Indian envoy Interior Minister Rehman Malik meets Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Rules out extradition of Saeed to India as the two countries did not have any such treaty Says boats used by 26/11 attackers now under Pakistan's custody and there was info about 35 terrorist hideouts

Islamabad, September 19
Pakistan today said the information given by India on JuD chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed's involvement in the Mumbai attacks was "sketchy" and would not hold in court to prosecute him.

"The information we have received (from India) is sketchy," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters here. The minister also ruled out extraditing Saeed to India. "We need statements of forensic experts and authentic mobile reports re-establishing connection of terrorists with militants. We need more information from India to make our case solid,” he said.

This is required so that prosecution was carried out in such a way that the culprits do not get the benefit of doubt in court, he said. India has been accusing Pakistan of not acting against Saeed and other accused in the 26/11 attacks despite six dossiers having been given to it.

"I would like to inform you that Hafiz Saeed is being investigated. He has been included in the investigation, he is under investigation," Malik said.

Though Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice seeking the arrest of Saeed, Malik said he could not be extradited to India even if he was detained by Pakistani authorities as the two countries did not have an extradition treaty.

Pakistan also handed over to India a dossier containing information on the action taken by it against the perpetrators of the Mumbai incident as well as questions seeking more information from New Delhi.

Malik also said boats used by 26/11 attackers were now under Pakistan's custody and has information about 35 terrorist hideouts in the country. "We will be submitting those information to the courts," Malik said.

"Saeed could be arrested only if there is evidence against him," Malik said. "If there is evidence against (Saeed), I assure you that he will not get out of the clutches of the law. We will take action," Malik, who briefed Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal on Pakistan's progress in its investigation into the attacks, said after his meeting.

Malik said Pakistan could not arrest Saeed, also the founder of the Lashker-e-Taiba, on the basis of information provided so far by India. He said India had provided information like statements by Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested for the attacks, and two more suspects, Sabahuddin and Fahim Ansari.

26/11 hearing adjourned

An anti-terrorism court here conducting the trial of seven suspects linked with the Mumbai terror attacks, including LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, on Saturday adjourned the hearing till September 26. — PTI

Zardari: I was misquoted on safe passage for Mush
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

President Asif Zardari has said he was misquoted on remarks about giving safe passage to Musharraf after he resigned last year. “I had stated that I had consulted all stake-holders in Pakistan on giving safe passage to Musharraf,” Zardari said while responding to questions after delivering a speech at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London on Friday, a report received here said. Media reports in the country cited the President as saying that local and international forces were guarantors for allowing Musharraf be free of prosecution in courts. “There is no question of allowing foreign powers to intervene in domestic affairs. He said Prime Minister Gilani has already stated that the government would try Musharraf on treason charges if the parliament unanimously approved a resolution.

Zardari said democracy has won in Pakistan and forced the military dictator to quit. "It is because of democracy that I am standing here before you to represent Pakistan while my predecessor who is currently your guest in London is roving across the world to find shelter," he said. Media reports quoted Zardari as saying that Pakistan requires $100 billion to resolve its ongoing crises, He, however, asserted that he is seeking trade rather than aid from Pakistan's friends. He said the Friend of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) is meeting in New York next week jointly presided over by President OPbama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and him.

He said he would like India also joining this forum. “We want India to be the part of FoDP and will encourage any Indian investment in this regard,” he added.

Indian American gets key post in Obama admn

Washington, September 19
US President Barack Obama has appointed Indian American Arun Majumdar as in charge of advanced research in the field of energy, one of the key posts in his administration.

A product of the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, Majumdar has been nominated as Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy in the US Department of Energy. Majumdar is the Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Environment at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and also a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. “These individuals have proven that they will bring skill, dedication and expertise in these important areas to my administration, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years,” Obama said.

Nirupama Rao invited to US

In a special gesture, the Obama administration has invited Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to Washington on Monday for discussions on bilateral matters and issues of mutual interest despite its pre-occupation with the crucial UN General Assembly session in New York. Rao has been invited by her American counterpart William Burns, Under Secretary of the State for Political Affairs, sources said. — PTI

184 dead in Indonesia during Eid holiday exodus

Jakarta, September 19
Almost 200 people died on Indonesia's roads this week as almost 30 million people headed home to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, police said today.

Over 27 million people are expected to be on the move as cities and towns emptied in this year's exodus marking the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

"184 people have been killed on the roads in the past six days from 466 road accidents," national police spokesman Nanan Soekarna said. Around 650 people were injured, he added. "We urge travellers to truly maintain safety on the road," Soekarna said.

At least 548 people were killed, most of them packed onto motorcycles, on Indonesian roads during last year's exodus.

Indonesians will celebrate the Eid holiday on either tomorrow or Monday, depending on the sighting of the new moon. — AFP

Displaced civilians living in ‘closed regime’
Chandani Kirinde writes from Colombo

UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe, who was in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit, said internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in government-run camps in Sri Lanka lack the basic right to freedom of movement, and the country was not making the expected progress towards a lasting peace in the wake of the LTTE defeat earlier this year.

Pascoe visited some camps on Friday and observed that people were not free to come or go and were understandably upset. “We picked up great frustration on this point in the camps that we visited. I was told by many - and quite emphatically - that they just want to go home. We understand there are security concerns to be addressed. At the same time, this kind of closed regime goes directly against the principles under which we work in assisting IDPs all around the world,” he said.

Sanjana Jon fined for contempt of court

Los Angeles, September 19
Sanjana Jon, sister of Indian- American fashion designer Anand Jon who has been jailed for 59 years for sexually assaulting aspiring models, has been fined USD 1,000 and sentenced to either 5-day imprisonment or 120- hour community service for contacting a juror during his trial.

The sentence was announced by Judge David Wesley of Los Angeles Superior Court as part of the contempt of court proceedings against her along with juror Alvin Dymally for having spoken to each other in violation of the court order.

According to her attorney, Dana Cole, Sanjana opted for community service. Early this week, Dymally too received the same sentence. — PTI

Rajapaksa slams Western countries; cites SRK’s incident

Colombo, September 19
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said some Western countries were discriminatory while raising concerns over resettlement of Tamil refugees and likened their attitude to questioning faced by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan at a US airport.

"The President said they did not spare even popular and famous stars if they had names like Khan," the Daily Mirror reported today. Khan was questioned in New Jersey after his arrival last month apparently because of his surname 'Khan'. — PTI

Asma Jahangir to represent Meera

Lahore, September 19
Pakistani actress Meera, accused of stealing furniture and other valuables from the home of a man who claims to be her husband, has sought the services of renowned rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir to represent her in court.

Asma Jahangir confirmed that Meera had engaged her as her lawyer. — PTI

India gets dossier on 26/11 probe status

Islamabad, September 19
Pakistan today handed over to India a dossier on the status of its probe into the Mumbai attacks.

Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal was “called to the Foreign Office” by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and the dossier “pertaining to the probe on the terrorist attack in Mumbai” was handed over to him during the meeting, said a statement from the Foreign Office.

“The dossier handed over to the Indian side is in response to the material given by India on August 1, 2009,” the statement said. It did not give further details. — PTI