The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Pak SC summons PM Ashraf on August 27
Zardari Graft Case: Issues notice to Premier on contempt charge
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

Pakistan's combative Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf to appear before it on August 27 to face possible contempt charges for failing to revive graft cases against the President, a move that could lead to his disqualification like his predecessor.

It issued a show-cause notice to Ashraf on a charge of contempt and ordered him to personally appear before it to explain why action should not be taken against him for refusing to act on its orders to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa issued the notice under the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 and Article 204 of the Constitution, which too relates to the contempt of court.

It observed that the Premier should comply with the court's repeated orders and approach Swiss authorities to reopen the cases against Zardari.

It said Ashraf should personally appear and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. Justice Khosa remarked it would be good if there was progress in the matter by the next hearing on August 27 or else the court would take action on its own.

The bench noted that the government had persistently and deliberately ignored its order to revive the graft cases.

The court pointed out that it had already issued an order when contempt of court proceedings were underway against former Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani in which he was asked to disregard advice from the Law Ministry and approach the Swiss authorities without further consultations with legal experts.

The court said Gilani deliberately violated the court's orders and did not approach the Swiss authorities, leading to his disqualification after being convicted of contempt.

It observed that Ashraf was acting in the same manner.

Soon after the apex court issued its order, the government mounted a fresh challenge against some of the court's recent rulings.

Government lawyer Abdul Shakoor Paracha filed a petition seeking a review of the apex court's recent order that annulled a new Contempt of Court Act passed by Parliament to prevent Ashraf's possible disqualification.

(With inputs from PTI)

Need to recognise contribution of Sikhs: Obama

US Prez calls up PM, promises probe
New Delhi: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday called up Prime Minister Minister Manmohan Singh to convey his condolences over the August 5 shooting incident. Obama told the PM that the tragic incident would be investigated. He also chose the occasion to appreciate the contributions made by the Sikh community in American society.

Washington, August 8
In the wake of the shooting incident at a Wisconsin gurdwara that claimed six lives, US President Barack Obama feels "very strongly" that there is a need to recognise the significant contributions of the Sikhs to the American community.

"The (US) President feels very strongly that in the wake of this shooting, that we need to recognise the significant contributions of the Sikh community to the broader American community," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.

IN GRIEF: Mourners at a candlelight vigil held at the Oak Creek Community Center. — AFP

"I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation or on the motives behind the attack in Wisconsin. I did note yesterday that since 9/11 there have been occasions where Sikhs have been targeted for violence because they have been misidentified as Muslims," he said.

"That is a terrible thing on two levels because obviously neither Muslims nor Sikhs should be targeted for this kind of terrible violence. And again, I'm speaking in a broader sense here, not with regard to what happened in Wisconsin, because I cannot make judgements about motive there while it's under investigation," Carney said. — PTI

Egypt’s gunships cross into Sinai, kill 20 militants

Cairo, August 8
For the first time since the Yom Kippur war of 1973, Egyptian military helicopter gunships today crossed into the Sinai, firing missiles to kill 20 militants in raids that signal Cairo's decisive confrontation to wipe out jihadists suspected to be massed there.

The military said it deployed Apache helicopter gunships in the strikes that killed 20 terrorists in the Sinai village of Tumah near the town of Sheikh Zouaid, the state-run MENA news agency reported.

The pre-dawn raids were apparently in response to deadly attacks on Sunday by militants on a border checkpost, killing 16 soldiers. The air raids marked for the first time in decades that Egyptian military crossed into Sinai, which was declared a de-militiarised zone after the last Arab-Israel war.

Gunships went into action, after army had massed heavy forces close to the Sinai peninsula in anticipation of a major crackdown on the militants.

"Our forces have entered the village of al-Toumah killing 20 terrorists and have destroyed three armoured cars belonging to the terrorists," an army spokesman said. The military action followed fresh clashes between armed men and security forces at several security check points overnight in the Sinai region.

Official said armed men believed to be jihadists fired on checkpoints in al-Arish and in the nearby town of Rafah on the border with Gaza, injuring seven people, including two police officers.

Heavy exchange of fire continued late into the night, state-run MENA said. The army closed the roads leading to areas where firing was going on. — PTI

China’s high profile murder trial begins today

Beijing, August 8
China today braced for a high profile murder trial of Gu Kailai, wife of disgraced ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) leader Bo Xilai, which is expected to begin tomorrow.

Said to be the most politically significant case, after the trial of Mao Zedong's wife Jiang Qing 36 years ago which decisively changed the ideological course of the CPC, Gu's trial too was expected to leave a major impact on this year's process to change leadership in the party.

Gu along with her orderly Zhang Xiaojun were charged with the poisoning a British businessman, Neil Heywood last year in Chongqing city, where Bo ruled the roost, becoming famous in the country for making it crime free city with high profile crackdowns.

The trial, however, would be held in the eastern Chinese city of Hefei even though the Heywood murder took place in Chongqing city for which Bo was the Chief until early this year.

Several foreign journalists headed for Hefei hoping that the proceedings would be thrown open to public, which lawyers say is high unlikely.

There was no official announcement here about the trial but it came to light through selective leaks for the foreign media here. Gu reportedly hired a set of private lawyers to defend her.

Also a diplomat of the UK Embassy here was expected to attend the trial as it involved the death of a British national. — PTI

1.5 million evacuated as typhoon hits China

Beijing, August 8
Millions of people in China were displaced when typhoon Haikui, the worst storm to hit the country's coast since 2005, wrecked havoc in the eastern parts with heavy flooding.

Haikui, the 11th typhoon to hit China this year, lashed Zhejiang Province in the early hours today with winds speeds touching 150 km.

Provincial authorities have evacuated 1.5 million people in preparation for the storm, as it is expected to remain in the province for 24 hours before moving to neighbouring Anhui Province, Li Jian, head of the provincial meteorological bureau told the official media.

Rain-triggered flooding stranded about 130 persons in three hotels in the city of Lin'an, of which 123 persons have been rescued so far, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Another 300 tourists were stranded in a scenic area in Anji County after a bridge linking the scenic spot and the foot of a nearby mountain was destroyed yesterday, county officials said. — PTI