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Zardari biggest threat to democracy: Nawaz
AG holds meeting with Iftikhar
Indian peacekeepers keep spirits high
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US gives patrol boats, cannons to Pakistan
Portrait of Naipaul unveiled in UK gallery
Pak seeks civil N-deal with EU
Clergy asks Prez to free Fonseka
China welcomes Year of the Tiger
Vancouver world’s most livable city: Survey
Patil thanked for honour to Chatwal
Ban welcomes release of Myanmar leader
Teacher at Obama kids’ school held for abuse
Bombs, booby-traps slow
US advance
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Zardari biggest threat to democracy: Nawaz
The ongoing judicial crisis assumed a political twist on Sunday with Mian Nawaz Sharif, chief of the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), hinting at a possible move to impeach President Asif Zardari for subverting the constitution by attacking the superior judiciary. Talking to a select group of senior journalists, Sharif promised appropriate crucial decisions “unless President Zardari reverses his latest order on appointment of two senior judges of Lahore High Court, implements the judgment of the Supreme Court on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and repeal the 17th Amendment”. “Today Mr Zardari is the biggest threat to democracy,” Sharif later told a crowded news conference. He said Zardari had persisted with a policy to undermine and malign independent judiciary in order to cover up corruption cases against him and his cronies. “Mr Zardari must return the ill-gotten money stacked in Swiss banks to the people of Pakistan,” Sharif said in an aggressive tone forsaking the role of “friendly opposition” he has been accused of pursuing in recent past. He said Zardari has reneged on all promises to him and the nation and set on a collision course with the judiciary. His government had done nothing to tackle problems faced by the common man, including unemployment, rising cost of living and corruption. His attack on the judiciary on Saturday is a “replay” of military dictator Pervez Musharraf’s act of imposing emergency in the country and sacking 60 judges on November 3, 2007. Sharif vowed to defend the independence of the judiciary terming it as guarantor of democracy in the country. The presidential orders were widely criticised by most political parties, lawyers and civil society activists across the country with people holding protest rallies in major cities. Tehrike Insaf chairman, Imran Khan, Jamaat Islami’s Munawwar Hasan, PML-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and others. The ruling coalition partners, including the MQM, ANP and Jui, however, maintained a discreet silence. “President Zardari as acted as a suicide bomber to rock the system,” Mushahid Hussain Sayed said. While judges rallied behind Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, lawyers appeared split on the issue. President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Anwar announced the boycott of courts on Monday and staging of rallies in major cities to express solidarity with the judiciary. But his predecessor Ali Hmed Kurd and human rights activist Asma Jehangir appreciated recognition of the principle of seniority by the President. Three leading retired judges Fakhruddin G.Ebrahim, Tariq Mehmood and Wajihuddin said the existing constitutional provisions were on the side of Chief Justice, who should have been consulted by the President. They, however, said the PPP should have amended the constitution to remove ambiguities on the authority to appoint judges but wasted two years without making any credible move.
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AG holds meeting with Iftikhar
In an apparent bid at damage control amid deepening judicial crisis created by presidential appointments of two senior judges, Attorney-General Anwar Mansoor on Sunday held a crucial meeting with Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on instructions from Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Amid heightened activity in the capital, the Chief Justice recalled all judges of the Supreme Court from provincial capitals for a possible full court reference if the standoff with the Presidency does not resolve. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif presided over an emergency meeting of the party leadership and warned tough decisions if President does not retract from confrontation with the judiciary. Lawyers and civil society activists took out protest demonstrations against President Zardari's appointments in major cities. The ruling PPP workers also staged rallies against the court verdict against presidential notification. In Lahore they also burned effigies of Nawaz Sharif for calling Zardari as biggest threat to democracy and demanding he returned the corruption money stacked in Swiss banks. Mansoor reportedly assured the CJ that the government did not favour any confrontation with the judiciary and would respect Supreme Court's verdict on the appointment of judges. Later talking to newsmen, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said there is no threat to democracy, country and institutions in the country, vowing the government will settle issues including the judges' appointments. He said it is the SC that would decide on the judges' appointments, adding the government will make its stance known at the court on February 18 when the five-member larger bench would resumed hearing of petitions seeking clarification on who has the authority to appointment judges.
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Indian peacekeepers keep spirits high
Port-au-Prince, February 14 The 140-strong Indian contingent of the paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force did not lose any of its member in the natural disaster. The group expeditiously carried out relief efforts as aid from outside, in the early days, could not reach the poor nation fast. After a gruelling month, the team is keeping up its spirits with a host of cultural activities and religious celebrations -- the latest one being Shivratri. "We do religious celebrations for all major celebrations in India," Shrikant Kishore chief of the Indian police team said. Since October, the peacekeepers have organised festivities for Diwali, Eid and Christmas. The Indian contingent has also created a make-shift temple near their base. In the middle, stands a statute of Lord Shiva, made out of concrete by a jawan who previously served in Haiti. On Shivratri, some of the Indian peacekeepers were out on the night-time patrol but others gathered at the temple to sing 'bhajans'. "Religious festivals are part of the force culture but without any religiosity. There are no divisions here between Hindus, Muslims and Christians, everyone has to attend everyone's festival," said Kishore Leading the singing pack is Kishore Pal from Muzzafarabad, who feels at home belting out a 'bhajan' in the foreign country. "Since these celebrations happen inside our compound there is not difference between India and Haiti," he said. Even more popular than the religious festivities are the cultural competitions and sporting events. The Indian contingent is divided into four platoons each charged with putting up a show with skits, singing and dancing. A peacekeeper from Manipur, Pauliankap, has become the contingent's favourite performer. — PTI
US reduces troops in Haiti
The US military has reduced its number of troops in Haiti to 13,000 from a post-quake high of some 20,000 because the need has decreased, General Douglas Fraser has said.
The commander also said the Haitian government was taking back control of the Port-au-Prince airport during daylight hours, with the US having assumed operations there immediately after the quake. "There are roughly 13,000 US military men and women supporting the efforts here in Haiti," Fraser said during a visit a month after the earthquake that killed more than 200,000 persons. He said: "The international aid and relief efforts have improved and increased in Haiti and we've seen an ability to transition those capabilities to other needs around the world." He called it "a transition of immediate relief capability to an enduring capacity here in Haiti."
— AFP
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US gives patrol boats, cannons to Pakistan
Islamabad, February 14 Brig Gen Michael Nagata, deputy chief of the US Office of the Defence Representative in Pakistan, handed over the military equipment during two separate events in the southern port city of Karachi yesterday. Nagata handed over 48 M1095A5 Howitzer self-propelled cannons to Brig Farrukh Saeed, Artillery Commander of the 25th Mechanised Division, a statement from the American embassy said. The M109A5 cannon is an indirect fire support weapon deployed with armoured brigades and mechanised infantry divisions and has a crew of six. The delivery marked the completion of a deal to provide 115 artillery cannons to Pakistan under the US Foreign Military Sales programme. The deal initiated in 2006 enabled Pakistan to obtain the cannons at a "greatly discounted rate". "These field artillery cannons are an important part of enhancing the capabilities of Pakistan's Army as it continues to wage its courageous fight against terrorists who seek to destroy Pakistan's people and way of life," said Nagata. Nagata also donated five maritime interdiction patrol boats to Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency at the Karachi shipyard, significantly enhancing the organisation's coastal interdiction and patrol capabilities. The 42-foot fast patrol boats were handed over to MSA Director General Rear Admiral Tahseenullah Khan. The vessels are equipped with two 565-horsepower diesel engines that enable them to operate in inclement weather up to 300 nautical miles offshore with a maximum speed of 72 km per hour. The American embassy said the US will donate four more fast patrol boats to the MSA later this year. The nine boats and spare parts are valued at $ 10 million. "Whether it's search and rescue, combating smugglers, preventing crime or protecting Pakistan's coastal areas, we hope the increased capabilities these boats provide greatly enhance the MSA's ability to conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations," said Nagata. During the past three years, US civilian and security assistance to Pakistan has totalled over $ four billion. Assistance delivered has included 14 F-16 fighter jets, 10 Mi-17 helicopters, more than 450 vehicles for the paramilitary Frontier Corps, hundreds of night vision goggles, day-night scopes and radios, and thousands of protective vests and first aid items for the security forces.
— PTI
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Portrait of Naipaul unveiled in UK gallery
London, February 14 Paul Emsley, the artist entrusted with executing the delicate commission, sat Naipaul down on his folding walking stick in the garden of the author's home in Wiltshire and allowed "light and dark to come across his face as a metaphor for life and death." Naipaul told Emsley's wife, Susane, when she asked his opinion at the launch: "I love it. I have always needed time to think and this captures that very nicely. I am very honoured to have been singled out to be painted for the gallery," said Naipaul, who is a British novelist and essayist of Indo-Trinidadian descent. Naipaul, who came to Oxford from Trinidad in the early 1950s, said, "It has been a long and, at times, very difficult journey to succeed as a writer in this country, but it is the only journey I felt I could make and I am glad to keep on looking and learning and writing." Painting Naipaul was Emsley's prize for coming first in the 2007 BP Portrait Award.
— PTI
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Pak seeks civil N-deal with EU
Islamabad, February 14 Gilani made the remarks yesterday during a meeting with a group of the EU ambassadors at the Prime Minister's House. The envoys met Gilani to brief him on the EU's Action Plan on Pakistan that was approved in October last year. The Premier emphasised that the EU "must realise that its relations with Pakistan are to be developed on a stand-alone basis and not for reasons of contiguity with...Afghanistan," said an official statement. Gilani welcomed the EU's Action Plan for Pakistan and its commitment to remain engaged with Islamabad by helping it through financial aid for socio-economic development. He appreciated the EU's support in education, infrastructure and energy sectors and for building the capacity of Pakistan's law enforcement agencies. The Prime Minister also said he was looking forward to participate in the second Pakistan-EU Summit to be held in Brussels in April to forge a long-term strategic partnership with the grouping based on mutual trust and mutual interests.
— PTI
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Clergy asks Prez to free Fonseka
Colombo, February 14 In a letter addressed to the President, the 'Mahanayakes' or the Buddhist religious leaders said the monks' grouping 'Maha Sangha' has throughout its long history come forward to help resolve grave national issues, including conflicts among the rulers. They said it is unacceptable to arrest a gallant officer "due to petty political differences." The Buddhist clergy asked President Rajapaksa to "retract the (conspiracy) charges levelled against Gen Sarath Fonseka and release him from custody and also provide him with adequate security." "The government has embraced individuals such as Karuna Amman (Eastern Province Chief Minister who was once part of LTTE) and Pilleyan who once massacred Bhikkus at Aranthalawa, carried out a bomb attack on the Temple of the Tooth and mercilessly attacked civilians and military personnel. "And so it surely can overlook the alleged offences committed by a man who made enormous sacrifices to unite and safeguard the territorial integrity of the country," the letter said. Fonseka, who led the country's army in crushing the LTTE in May last year, played "a major role" in eradicating terrorism and it is not acceptable for the government to arrest and "slander the General and other military officials based on the friction created by statements made on the political stage," the letter said. "Lord Buddha taught that 'hatred will not end hatred'. So please forget the differences with former Army Commander Gen Fonseka," it said. The Buddhist clergy has always come forward to settle disputes between various people of the country regardless of their status and this tradition has prompted it to seek the release of Fonseka, it said. Earlier this week, the 'Mahanayakes' convened a meeting of Buddhist monks and decided that on February 18, their 'Maha Sangha' would pass a resolution pertaining to the present political developments in the country. — PTI
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China welcomes Year of the Tiger
Shanghai, February 14 Snow covered rooftops in China's biggest city as a cold front swept over the country at the start of the Spring festival, or Lunar New Year, the nation's most important holiday. "There will be a lot of rain and snow in the south during the Spring festival," the National Meteorological Administration said. The weather agency warned heavy snow was expected in eastern China and forecast freezing rain for Guizhou province in the southwest and in central Hunan province. The weather threatened to cause chaos as millions travelled to be with their families around the vast nation of 1.3 billion, an exodus believed to be the world's largest annual human migration. Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of the massive cold wave and freezing rain that hit southern and central China in 2008, crippling transport systems and stranding millions just as the travel rush got underway. The government has said 210 million passengers were expected to take the train during the current New Year period, which officially began late January. Nearly 30 million more will travel by air and millions of others by bus. — AFP
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Vancouver world’s most livable city: Survey
London, February, 14 The survey, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), listed Vancouver, the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, on the top for the second consecutive year. Vancouver scored 98 points on a scale of 0-100. Pakistan's Karachi ranked 135th, sixth from the bottom, while two other South Asian capitals, Colombo and Kathmandu, were placed at 132nd and 133rd. Indian cities earned better grades, with Mumbai being placed in 117th and New Delhi 113th positions scoring 56.5 and 58.6 per cent, respectively. The rankings are based on 30 indicators scored from 1-100. Major categories include stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. "Vancouver scores well across all categories in the survey and the forthcoming Winter Games contribute to a strong score in the cultural and sporting events category," said Jon Copestake, editor of the report, according to EIU website. Rounding out the Top 10 are four Australian cities — Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide; Toronto and Calgary in Canada; Vienna in Austria; Helsinki in Finland and Auckland in New Zealand. The lowest ranked city on the list is Zimbabwe's capital Harare with 37.5 per cent score. — PTI
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Patil thanked for honour to Chatwal
Washington, February 14 "We are thankful to you for conferring the Padma Bhushan Award to Sant Singh Chatwal, a distinguished member of our community in the US," the seven Sikh organisations wrote yesterday in a letter to the President. The organisations are the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), the Hemkunt Foundation, the American and Punjabi Cultural Association, the American Association of Punjabis in America, the Sikh Organisation of New York, the Sikh Art and Film Foundation and the Global Sikh Forum. "Sant Chatwal was among the prominent Indian-Americans who played a key role in convincing many lawmakers to support the Indo-US nuclear deal", the letter said signed by the SCORE chairman, Rajwant Singh, on behalf of the organisations. Noting that the nuclear deal has cemented the relationship of these two nations, the letter said he devoted considerable resources to political causes, working closely with the Democratic Party, in particular with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Joseph Crowley. Sant Chatwal is a leading voice of the Indian-American community and is a founder trustee of the American India Foundation.
— PTI
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Ban welcomes release of Myanmar leader
United Nations, February 14 "The Secretary-General welcomes today the release in Yangon of U Tin Oo, Vice-Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD), upon expiration of his six-year house arrest term," the UN said. "The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Government of Myanmar to lift without further delay the restrictions on NLD General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to release all remaining political prisoners," the UN statement said.
— PTI
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Teacher at Obama kids’ school held for abuse
London, February 14 The 65-year-old was also claimed to have "inappropriately touched" the teenager. "This is a shock to everyone - and I'm sure that includes the White House," the Daily Star quoted his lawyer Barry Helfand as saying. The president's daughters Malia, 11, and Sasha, eight, go to Sidwell Friends School in Silver Springs, Maryland.
— ANI
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Bombs, booby-traps slow US advance Marjah (Afghanistan), February 14 Homemade bombs and mines slowed the advance of thousands of US, British and Afghan soldiers in NATO's most ambitious effort yet to break the militants' grip over their southern heartland. Using metal detectors and sniffer dogs, US forces found caches of explosives rigged to blow as they went from compound to compound. They also discovered several sniper positions, freshly abandoned and booby-trapped with grenades. NATO said it hoped to secure Marjah, the largest town under Taliban control and a key opium smuggling hub, within days, set up a local government and rush in development aid in a first test of the new US strategy for turning the tide of the eight-year war. The offensive is the largest since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan. At least two shuras, or meetings, have been held with local Afghan residents one in the northern district of Nad Ali and the other in Marjah itself, NATO said in a statement. Discussions have been "good," and more shuras are planned in coming days as part of a larger strategy to enlist community support for the NATO mission. — AP
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