W O R L D

NAB to courts: Zardari enjoys immunity
Says graft references can’t be revived against Prez
The National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday asked accountability courts not to revive ‘corruption references’ against President Asif Ali Zardari because he ‘enjoys immunity’ under the Constitution.

Indian Army chief’s remarks
Prachanda seeks clarification from govt
Expressing serious concern over the recent media report that Indian Army chief Deepak Kapoor suggested his Nepal counterpart Chhatraman Singh Gurung not to integrate the politically indoctrinated Maoist combatants into the national army, Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, asked the Nepal government to clarify its position in this regard.

Former conjoined twins Krishna (left) and Trishna prepare for their first Christmas apart in Melbourne on Thursday. — AFP

Pakistan court adjourns 26/11 hearing
Islamabad, December 24
A Pakistani anti-terror court today adjourned till January 6 next year the proceedings against seven suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks even as a notice was issued to one of the defence lawyers.

US issues travel advisory for India
Washington, December 24
In view of the recent changes in visa regulations, the US has asked its citizens to review their travel plans to India as new rules might affect their plans.

Indian doc cleared of sexual assault charge
London, December 24
An Indian doctor has been cleared of the charges of sexually assaulting a female patient whom he tried to comfort by putting an arm around her shoulders. The jury at the Sheffield Crown Court yesterday took 30 minutes after a three-day trail to acquit Kaivalya Desai on whom 61 allegations had been levelled by the patient.

NAB to courts: Zardari enjoys immunity
Says graft references can’t be revived against Prez
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

The National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday asked accountability courts not to revive ‘corruption references’ against President Asif Ali Zardari because he ‘enjoys immunity’ under the Constitution.

The application, filed by one of NAB’s deputy prosecutors general, said the bureau wanted to withdraw an earlier application because the application for reviving the cases was ‘misconceived and not maintainable’. Zardari is the main accused in seven references --- BMW car, Polo ground, ARY Gold, SGS, Cotecna, Ursus Tractors and illegal assets.

The Supreme Court in a landmark ruling last week struck down as illegal the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and ordered reopening of all cases that were pardoned by Musharraf under the ordinance. These also included Swiss cases of graft against Zardari.

Citing Article 248 of the Constitution, the NAB application said that the President was exempted from appearing before courts and no criminal proceedings could be initiated against him.

The courts have already initiated criminal proceedings against all the co-accused by issuing notices.

Meanwhile, Salman Farooqi, Principal Secretary to the President, appeared before Accountability Court-II of Judge Wamiq Javaid and submitted copies of bails obtained from the Sindh High Court (SHC). The court put off the hearing till January 28.

The court had also summoned former Punjab chief secretary Aslam Hayat Qureshi and former secretary commerce Javaid Talat in the reference.

The hearing of SGS reference was put off till January 11 and the court summoned former chairman of Central Board of Revenue (CBR) AR Siddiqui to appear in the court. Siddiqui is on bail in the case.

PML-N not for Zardari’s ouster

Pakistan's main opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has assured the government that it would not support the growing demand for the resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said here after a meeting between Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Gilani had a late night meeting with President Zardari to brief him about his discussion with Sharif who is also the President of the PML-N. The Prime Minister in brief chat with newsmen in Lahore said the nation would soon hear the good news about the repeal of 17th Amendment as demanded by the PML-N.

The Gilani-Sharif meeting took place against the backdrop of a vociferous campaign by smaller parties and civil society activists that President Zardari should step down following the Supreme Court verdict annulling the National Conciliation Ordinance.

Indian doc cleared of sexual assault charge

London, December 24
An Indian doctor has been cleared of the charges of sexually assaulting a female patient whom he tried to comfort by putting an arm around her shoulders. The jury at the Sheffield Crown Court yesterday took 30 minutes after a three-day trail to acquit Kaivalya Desai on whom 61 allegations had been levelled by the patient.

The woman in her early 20s was suffering from depression, problems in her relationship and finding it difficult to care for her two young children at the time, the court heard.

She was afraid that her partner was going to leave her. She claimed that during a five-minute consultation, Desai had held her hand before stroking her arm in a sexual manner, which made her feel “uncomfortable”.

The woman claimed he had also brushed back her hair, asked her to “give me a hug” and squeezed her tightly. Desai, who worked at Barnsley Hospital before becoming a general practitioner (GP), said after the hearing: “I am delighted with the verdict”.

“In my 29 years of practice I have always sought to provide the best standard of care for my patients,” Desai from Dodworth, near Barnsley, earlier told the court. He often held his patients to comfort them as part of his “in-house help and counselling”.

He said: “If I feel the patient is crying a lot and is very stressed then, yes, I would hold their hand and help them.”

“I feel it is a human thing. If someone is depressed or crying, a physical touch tells them they are not alone in the world”, Desai said. — PTI 

Indian Army chief’s remarks
Prachanda seeks clarification from govt
Bishnu Budhathoki writes from Kathmandu

Expressing serious concern over the recent media report that Indian Army chief Deepak Kapoor suggested his Nepal counterpart Chhatraman Singh Gurung not to integrate the politically indoctrinated Maoist combatants into the national army, Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, asked the Nepal government to clarify its position in this regard.

Speaking at the Parliament session that resumed after a long recess due to continued disruption by the Maoists demanding the establishment of civilian supremacy, Dahal said that Indian army chief has no right to speak against the peace pacts and Nepal’s internal affairs.

“Nepal’s ruling political parties and the government must make its position clear on this,” he said, adding “otherwise, we will launch protest against Indian interference to safeguard national independence.”

As the national and international community, including Nepalese media and political parties, raised their eyebrows against his statement that he would directly hold talks with New Delhi, which he called as Prabhu (lord) of Nepal’s ruling political parties, to end the political deadlock at home and uphold civilian supremacy was a satire against the ruling alliance.

Pakistan court adjourns 26/11 hearing

Islamabad, December 24
A Pakistani anti-terror court today adjourned till January 6 next year the proceedings against seven suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks even as a notice was issued to one of the defence lawyers.

Anti-terror court Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who was not present in court today due to some personal engagement, is yet to rule on four applications filed by the accused challenging their indictment and seeking their acquittal. It is expected that the judge will give his ruling on the applications at the next hearing as he has already heard arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers.

Sources said one of the defence lawyers was issued a notice today by the office of Judge Awan regarding the lawyer's contention that the judge had indicted the accused on the basis of charges that were framed and argued while the case was being heard by another judge. The notice pointed out that the records of the case are sealed and the lawyer could make such a claim only if he had accessed the records. The notice also said that if the lawyer had accessed the sealed records, he had interfered in the working of the court. — PTI

US issues travel advisory for India

Washington, December 24
In view of the recent changes in visa regulations, the US has asked its citizens to review their travel plans to India as new rules might affect their plans.

"The Department of State wishes to alert US citizens with Indian tourist visas about new regulations that may affect planned travel. Travellers are urged to review travel plans in light of these new regulations," US State Department said in its latest travel alert on India. This supplements its previous travel alerts on October 29 and December 9 and expires on January 21, 2010, the statement said.

The State Department said foreign tourists departing India with visitor (T) visas will now receive a stamp in their passports at the port of departure that indicates that the bearer will not be allowed to re-enter India for two months, regardless of their length of stay or validity of the visa.

Tourists who wish to return to India before the two-month period has passed must visit an Indian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate abroad to present their case for re-entry, and must provide documentation in support of the request, it said. — PTI