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UK bids farewell to Iron Lady Thatcher at grand funeral
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SC suspends notification for
lifetime security to PPP leaders
Vote for party of your choice, JuD tells supporters
Pressure cooker lid recovered from
blast site in Boston
Special to the tribune
First manned Mars mission draws flood of applicants
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UK bids farewell to Iron Lady Thatcher at grand funeral
London, April 17 The right-wing former PM whom the Soviet Union christened the "Iron Lady" was bid farewell with military honours, patriotic hymns, cheers and tears. Her coffin was borne on a horse-drawn gun carriage then soldiers and sailors carried her casket into St. Paul's Cathedral for a service attended by Queen Elizabeth and 11 serving prime ministers from around the world. Outside, thousands of supporters lined the route, some throwing blue roses in her path. Opponents chanted "Ding dong the witch is dead" and turned their backs on her coffin as it passed by, an indication of the divisions which Britain's longest serving prime minister of the 20th Century still provokes due to the tumultuous change she brought. Thatcher sought to arrest Britain's post-war decline with free-market economic policies which enraged her Left-wing opponents by smashing the unions and privatising Britain's national assets. Her supporters view her as a champion of freedom while her opponents accuse her of destroying communities and ushering in an era of greed. "The storm of conflicting opinions centres on Thatcher who became a symbolic figure, even an ism, but today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Roberts are here at her funeral service," the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, told mourners gathered inside St Paul's. Tears ran down the face of Britain's finance minister George Osborne during the address. The cleric brought smiles to the faces of former leader Tony Blair, Cameron's wife Samantha and other mourners when he recounted a story about her telling him not to eat duck pate because it was fattening. Cameron and Amanda, Thatcher's 19-year old granddaughter, read from the New Testament while patriotic hymns echoed around the ornately decorated dome of the 300-year old cathedral. The service was attended by 2,300 mourners including former British prime ministers and the government's entire cabinet, two heads of state and 17 foreign ministers. Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also attended. The music included her favourite hymns, among them "I Vow to Thee My Country". BOOED Thousands of supporters lined the streets of London as her casket made its final journey from the centre of British political power in Westminster to the cathedral. Most people clapped in respect but about two dozen opponents turned their backs on the procession. One man held up a placard reading "Boo!" and some shouted "scum" while supporters threw flowers and cheered. Thatcher, who governed Britain from 1979 to 1990, died on April 8 aged 87 after suffering a stroke. Polls have shown that many Britons are unhappy that the estimated £10-million bill for the ceremonial funeral is being picked up by the taxpayer at a time of austerity and spending cuts. "She was the first woman prime minister, she served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years, she achieved some extraordinary things in her life," said Cameron, current leader of the Conservative Party. "What is happening today is absolutely fitting and right," he said, dismissing the critics. A handwritten note placed on a wreath of white flowers on her coffin read: "Beloved mother — always in our hearts". — Reuters
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Apparently reluctant to jump into the treason case against former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, the caretaker government sought on Wednesday more time from the Supreme Court to take a decision. Attorney-General Irfan Qadir, while responding to the court notice seeking government’s definite stance whether it was ready to initiate proceedings against Musharraf on the charges of treason and subverting the Constitution, filed a written reply spelling out the issues being deliberated by the government on the matter. He said the government has yet to determine whether lodging a treason case against the former military ruler ahead of elections would be appropriate. In the written reply on the behalf of the Federal government before a two-member Bench of the apex court hearing the Musharraf treason case, the AG said the foremost priority of the caretaker regime is to ensure fair elections. Under the Constitution, the treason case can only be filed by the federal government. The punishment for treason is death. “Whether lodging a case of high treason in the present circumstances would in any way adversely impact the impartiality as viewed by the people of Pakistan in general and political parties in particular,” the federation posed a question before the apex court. The government also argued that since the Ministry of Interior is preoccupied to provide security to thousands of candidates, the other issues like the treason case would have to be deferred. “Therefore, it is requested that the case should be adjourned for a week as the Federation desired to determine whether it wants to lodge the case against Pervez Musharraf ahead of the upcoming elections.” The court had earlier sought a reply on Monday from the government over whether the former military ruler be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution or not. Musharraf is currently facing treason proceedings in the Supreme Court for violating the Constitution and putting judges of the superior judiciary in illegal confinement in November 2007 when he imposed emergency in the country.
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SC suspends notification for
lifetime security to PPP leaders
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday suspended a notification under which top members of the former PPP government were entitled to lifetime security and other perks.
A five-member Bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed the hearing of the case pertaining to security protocols and privileges for former Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf, federal ministers, National Assembly Speaker and members of the outgoing Sindh Assembly. Controller General Atif Usman stated before the court that Rs 290 million had been spent annually on security protocols for the PM and federal ministers, adding that provincial funds would be further used for security of the former Premier. The Chief Justice remarked that Interior Minister Rehman Malik would have to explain in court his reasons for entailing lifetime security. He said that under Article 9 of the constitution, it was the duty of the state to provide protection to all its citizens, but inquired under what law a notification on lifetime security was issued for an Interior Minister. The Bench ordered to suspend the notification which sanctioned benefits and privileges. It also summoned the Home Secretary to personally appear in court for the next hearing adjourned until tomorrow. |
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Vote for party of your choice, JuD tells supporters
Lahore, April 17 "Though some religious and political parties had contacted our leadership for its support, especially in Punjab province, we have not made a commitment to anyone," a JuD leader from Punjab said today. The leader, who did not wish to be named, further said: "The JuD leadership has not bound its workers and sympathisers to vote for any particular party, but they usually vote for religious parties or PML-N candidates in Punjab.” Asked about the role of the Defa-e-Pakistan Council, an alliance of 40 hardline and extremist groups, in the polls, the JuD leader said the grouping was formed for the "protection of Pakistan" and it had decided not to contest. The JuD enjoys widespread support in Lahore, Muridke, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Okara and Sahiwal cities and several districts of Punjab. Meanwhile, both the PML-N and Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf have decided not to forge an alliance with religious parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. In the absence of seat adjustments or alliances with the PML-N or the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, the religious parties stand virtually no chance of winning any parliamentary seat in Punjab, the country's most populous province of 90 million people. Analysts believe the religious parties, without partners from mainstream political parties, stand no chance of having any sort of substantial role after the May 11 general election. Neither the Jamaat-e-Islami nor the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam or other religious parties have candidates who can win any National Assembly or provincial constituency in Punjab, the analysts said. — PTI
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Imran to contest from four seats
Islamabad: An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court dismissed on Wednesday all petitions filed against the nomination of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, declaring him eligible to contest the upcoming elections. The PTI chairman will be contesting from NA-1 (Peshawar - II), NA- 56 (Rawalpindi - VII), NA-71 (Mianwali - I) and NA-126 (Lahore - IX). A local Pindi resident had raised an objection to Imran’s nomination from NA-56 alleging that, in his memoir “Me and My Pakistan”, Imran Khan “had confessed to consuming liquor”, thus violating the constitution. Meanwhile, Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has withdrawn his nomination papers in support of Khan for the NA-56 seat. An election tribunal disallowed Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid’s (PML-Q) Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, brother of party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, from contesting the upcoming elections. Wajahat had submitted his papers to contest elections from NA-104 constituency in Gujrat. His opponent Ghazanfar Gul of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) had gone to the tribunal to fight the rejection of his papers. Gul, a long time PPP stalwart and founder member, switched to PML-N after his party sacrificed him in the seat adjustment with his traditional rivals - the Chaudhrys of Gujrat. — TNS
List of polling stations issued
Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a list of over 72,000 polling stations in the country and announced that it has strengthened the security of these stations. The poll body has also strictly prohibited the use of religion, clan relations and ethnicity for seeking votes. A three-year jail term would be awarded to any candidate found using such means, the ECP warned here on Wednesday. Earlier on Sunday, the ECP called upon all contestants to refrain from eliciting votes “on the basis of religion, sect, caste or ethnicity”, citing a specific provision in the 46-clause code of conduct. The commission has announced that candidates, lawmakers and polling staff who criticise or praise any political party in front of voters on the premises of polling stations would be put behind bars. Offering money for votes would also entail three-year jail term. — TNS |
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Pressure cooker lid recovered from blast site in Boston Boston, April 17 One of the two bombs that exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon is believed to have been hidden in a pressure cooker inside a backpack, the FBI said in a joint intelligence bulletin. The device also had fragments that may have included nails and ball bearings, the agency said. A CNN report said such clues are moving the investigation forward but reveal less about whether the attack was an act of domestic or foreign terrorism. The second bomb was also hidden in a metal container, but it was not clear whether it too was in a pressure cooker, the FBI said. The twin blasts, the first large-scale bombing since the 9/11 terror attacks on the US soil in 2001, ripped through the crowd at the Marathon on Monday, leaving three persons dead and 176 others wounded. Special agent in charge of FBI's Boston Division Richard DesLauriers said several "physical items" related to the bombings have been recovered from the blast site and those have been sent to the FBI's Laboratory in Virginia where specialised examiners would reconstruct the device and determine its makeup and components. — PTI Suspect identified, no arrest
Investigators believe they have identified a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing from security video, a US law enforcement source said on Wednesday. However, no arrest had been made, three separate government and law enforcement sources said. — Reuters |
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Taliban may take over Kabul: Saleh
Shyam Bhatia in Kabul A nightmare future scenario in which the Pakistan-backed Taliban take over Afghanistan following next year’s US military withdrawal is acknowledged by a top security expert. But Amrullah Saleh, head of the Afghan intelligence service until 2010, has also told The Tribune in an exclusive interview that a Taliban takeover is not a foregone conclusion because of regional and international changes, the strength of the new Afghan army and the Afghan public’s awareness of how the Taliban functions. Over a cup of tea at his home in central Kabul, currently set up as a giant fortress city bristling with armed patrols and bomb-proof shelters against suicide bombers, Saleh argues that the Americans should and must withdraw as planned. “We can fight, Afghanistan can fight, Afghanistan can hold,” he says. The threat to the country’s stability will arise if next year’s planned national elections are “manipulated”, testing the loyalty of the army - the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) - and providing fresh opportunities for the Taliban and their Pakistani backers to exploit the country’s social and political divisions. “The problem is not if the NATO stays or goes, no, the Afghans will be able to defend their country,” Saleh explains. “The Taliban will not be able to march in and take over. It’s not possible, no. We are not looking at parallels with Vietnam. The ANSF strength is 350,000. “The good scenario is that we have fairly good elections, there is a transfer of power, Americans withdraw but they stick to their commitment of helping the ANSF strategically and indefinitely.” A third scenario, what Saleh underlines as nightmare, envisages bad elections with unacceptable results and the Americans staying to protect an illegitimate president. Back in 1997, Saleh was appointed by legendary Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud to liase with non- governmental organisations and foreign intelligence agencies. At the time, the anti-Taliban forces represented by the Northern Alliance had been pushed into a tiny corner of the country, while the Taliban flourished, thanks to the political and economic backing of Saudi Arabia and the West. By 1999, India, Russia and Iran had come together to support the anti-Taliban forces headed by Massoud. After Massoud’s assassination and the fall of the Taliban regime, Saleh in 2004 was appointed the national security chief by President Hamid Karzai. One of his biggest intelligence coups in 2005 was his role in identifying international terrorist Osama bin Laden as living in a settled part of Pakistan. But any Taliban hopes of making further progress will come up against the determination and might of the ANSF. “Nightmares never come true,” Saleh repeats. “I say the ANSF will fight.” 19 dead in attacks across Afghanistan
Kabul: Afghan officials say the latest attacks across the country have killed at least 19 persons, including police officers and health care workers. Muhiudin Noori, spokesman for the governor of western Herat province, said seven women and children died when the truck they were in hit a roadside bomb near the town of Shindad. — AP |
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First manned Mars mission draws flood of applicants
New York, April 17 Millionaire Dennis Tito, who became the first space tourist in 2001, had unveiled the Inspiration Mars' "Mission for America" in February this year. Applications are now rolling in from enthusiasts, despite the fact that the selected couple may be crammed into a space the size of a recreational vehicle for more than a year, breathing recycled air, subsisting on dehydrated food and drinking their purified urine, 'LiveScience' reported. "We've already had a ton of applications," said Jane Poynter, president of the Paragon Space Development Corp, which has partnered with the Inspiration Mars Foundation for the mission. "Some of them are kind of interesting, but please don't send your applications just yet. We're not announcing that we're taking applications!" Poynter said. Speaking at the National Space Symposium in Colorado, members of the foundation described the challenges inherent in launching two humans on a 501-day flyby journey to the Red Planet and back in January 2018, but remained optimistic that those challenges aren't insurmountable. Tito unveiled the plan to launch the first manned mission to Mars in 2018, a voyage that could include an adventurous married crew. The project aims not to land people on the surface of the Red Planet, but to take advantage of a rare planetary alignment that would allow a relatively easy, quick flyby around the Mars. — PTI |
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London, April 17
Apparently reluctant to jump into the treason case against former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, the caretaker government sought on Wednesday more time from the Supreme Court to take a decision.
