W O R L D

Bangladesh HC declares top Islamist party illegal
Dhaka, August 1
In a landmark ruling, Bangladesh's biggest right-wing party Jamaat-e-Islami was today declared "illegal" by the high court which banned it from contesting future polls, leaving the once-most powerful fundamentalist party with an uncertain future. "It is hereby declared illegal," said Moazzem Husain, the chief judge of a high court panel hearing the case amid tight security outside the courthouse here.

A bus, allegedly set on fire by demonstrating Jamaat-e- Islami activists, burns in Bogra town on Thursday. — AFP

US House okays new curbs before Iran Prez inauguration
Washington, August 1
US lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a new round of tough sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and other industries over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, sending a strong message to Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani days before his inauguration.

Bangladesh HC declares top Islamist party illegal

Dhaka, August 1
In a landmark ruling, Bangladesh's biggest right-wing party Jamaat-e-Islami was today declared "illegal" by the high court which banned it from contesting future polls, leaving the once-most powerful fundamentalist party with an uncertain future.

"It is hereby declared illegal," said Moazzem Husain, the chief judge of a high court panel hearing the case amid tight security outside the courthouse here.

"By majority, rule is made absolute and registration given to Jamaat by the Election Commission is declared illegal and void," Justice Husain said.

The verdict will prevent the Islamist party from contesting the forthcoming parliament election due end of this year or early next.

The Bench of Justices Husain, M Enayetur Rahim and Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque pronounced the judgment accepting a writ petition that challenged the legality of Jamaat-e-Islami's registration as a political party.

Bangladesh Tariqat Federation's secretary general Rezaul Haque Chandpuri and 24 others had filed the writ petition on January 25, 2009. Tariqat is a group that preaches Sufi philosophy and promotes secularism.

In the petition, they said Jamaat-e-Islami was a religion-based political party and it did not believe in independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

The Tariqat Federation claimed in the petition that the Representation of People Order (RPO) law does not allow the registration of a communal outfit as a political party.

The police and elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) men enforced a strict vigil around the court complex as tensions mounted ahead of the verdict while officials said they also kept prepared extra forces to face any law-and-order situation.

But no street protest was staged by Jamaat, a crucial ally of main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said Jamaat is likely to challenge the high court verdict and the government would await the highest court's judgment and then might "take a decision if the party should be banned".

Today's verdict comes amid intensified demands for outlawing the Jamaat, blamed for "crimes against humanity" during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. — PTI

US House okays new curbs before Iran Prez inauguration

Washington, August 1
US lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a new round of tough sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and other industries over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, sending a strong message to Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani days before his inauguration.

The Bill, passed yesterday with a overwhelming 400-20 votes by the House of Representatives, would slap strict limits on Iran's already heavily-sanctioned oil industry, as well as on other sectors of the country's ailing economy, including the automobile and mining sectors.

The move is also aimed at crippling Iran's oil industry, considered as the lifeline of the country’s economy. The West accuses Iran of covertly developing nuclear weapons. However, Tehran denies the charge and maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purpose.

The Bill makes no mention of moderate mid-level cleric Rouhani's recent landslide victory or his pledge to improve Iran’s ties with the West.

Rouhani will assume office on Sunday.

The Bill blacklists any business in Iran's mining and construction sectors and commits the United States to the goal of ending all Iranian oil sales worldwide by 2015.

The Bill builds on US penalties that went into effect last year that have cut Iran's petroleum exports in half and hurt its economy.

Still, China, India and several other Asian nations continue to buy billions of dollars of Iranian oil each month.

The US last month exempted India and eight other countries and regions from sanctions for importing oil from Iran, noting that they have significantly reduced their dependence on Iranian oil in the past six months. — PTI

oil politics

• The move is aimed at crippling Iran’s oil industry
• The Bill commits the US to the goal of ending all Iranian oil sales worldwide by 2015
• The Bill builds on US penalties that went into effect last year that have cut Iran’s petroleum exports in half and hurt its economy

Xi consolidates hold on Chinese military

Beijing, August 1
Chinese President Xi Jinping has consolidated his hold over the military by promoting six more officers to the highest rank of Generals in the second reshuffle after he took over power less than six months ago.

Military experts said the promotions that preceded today’s 86th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), indicated that Xi was continuing to consolidate his grip over the military.

Cai Yingting, 59, chief of the Nanjing Military Region, and Xu Fenlin, Commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, were awarded their ranks by Xi in his capacity as Chairman of the PLA's Central Military Commission (CMC) here yesterday, the PLA Daily reported.

Cai and Xu were among six senior PLA officers promoted to full Generals, the mouth-piece of the Chinese military said.

The others were Wu Changde, deputy chief of the PLA General Political Department; Wang Hongyao, political commissar of the General Armament Department; Sun Sijing, political commissar of the Academy of Military Sciences; and Liu Fulian, political commissar of the Beijing Military Area Command.

The six Generals are the second batch of senior PLA officers formally elevated by Xi since he became chief of the military late last year.

Xi, 60, first took over as General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) last year. — PTI

Kerry rejects Pak’s concerns on American drone strikes

Islamabad, August 1
The US will continue its fight against the Taliban while seeking a political solution to the Afghan imbroglio, Secretary of State John Kerry said today even as he rejected Pakistan's concerns on American drone strikes.

"Dialogue and military strategy (to combat terror) will continue...I do not agree that there is a lack of synchronisation between the two," Kerry told a news conference with National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz after meetings with Pakistan's top leadership. Kerry refused to promise that US drone attacks inside Pakistan would stop and rejected the impressionthe strikes were a violation of the country's sovereignty.

Drone strikes have emerged as a key irritant in Pakistan-US ties, with Islamabad describing them as counter-productive.

Kerry said the US is gearing up for the drawdown of its forces in Afghanistan and to prepare the grounds for talks to organise the Afghan presidential election next year. — PTI

US not to broker Kashmir talks

Washington: The Obama administration is not seeking to broker talks between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, a top American official, travelling with Kerry to Pakistan, told reporters. — PTI

Sharif invited for meeting with Obama
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

Pakistan and the United States on Thursday decided to resume strategic dialogue that was stalled after the US attack on Pakistani checkpost Salala in November 2011.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is on a visit to Pakistan, extended an invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit the United States for talks with President Barack Obama. Later, Kerry had a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Sharif.