Four Nepali women being sent to Muscat detained at Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur, Sept 19 (ANI): Volunteers of a social service organisation and the personnel of the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of Uttar Pradesh Police at Gorakhpur detained four Nepalese women.

Reportedly, as per the statement of the women who were taken into custody at the Gorakhpur Railway Station, they were intending to go to Muscat.

These women had entered India through the Sanauli border post.

Although all the four women had their respective passports with them, only two of them could show their endorsed visas for Muscat.

“Our team visited the railway station along with a Nepali counsellor. When she saw these women and spoke to them, they gave some wrong information, which in turn sounded fishy and made us to suspect something was amiss. When we asked them where they were heading, initially they said Oman and again changed their statement saying, New Delhi. When our counsellor asked them for their passports, some said they had it while others said they didn’t. So, we found them suspicious,” said Gyan Kumar, co-ordinator, Maanava Sewa Sansthan, Gorakhpur.

Amidst such confusing utterances by the women, the police believe that one of the women named Dilmaya was trying to send the other three to Muscat by bringing them from Nepal.

She claimed that they were going to Muscat because they had their relatives residing and working there.

“These people held us for interrogation. We asked them either to let us go to Nepal or else allow us to go to Muscat. We have our relatives there,” said Dilmaya.

A couple of months ago, police officials of Gorakhpur had detained five women who were allegedly being trafficked to Gulf countries for flesh trade.

Reportedly, a pimp was escorting these women to Mumbai from where they were to be sent to certain destinations in the Middle East. (ANI)

Five bodies of CoBRA personnel recovered from Dantewada forest

Dantewada, Sep 19 (ANI): Five more bodies of personnel of the elite anti -Naxal force Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) have been recovered from the Dantewada Forests in Chattisgarh.

A major offensive was launched against the Naxals following specific intelligence inputs about them being present in the forest.

According to CoBRA sources, the bodies of Assistant Commandant Rakesh Chaurasia, a sub-inspector, a head constable and two constables were recovered during a combing operation in the thick forests near Singamadagu.

On Friday, Assistant Commandant Manoranjan Singh was killed during a gunbattle. So far, the death toll has been pegged at six.

Security forces also unearthed an arms manufacturing unit.

Nine Naxals have been killed during Operation red Hunt so far.(ANI)

MJ’s new signature dance move, Penguin, set to sweep fans

London, September 19 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s completely new signature dance move in a new footage while rehearsing for his comeback concerts may soon become a rage amongst his fans.

The King of Pop, in the move, being called as the Penguin, was seen flapping his right arm up and down very quickly as his body shimmied while standing on the spot.

Jackson was spotted doing the hilarious Penguin in the video, thought to be from the This Is It movie rehearsal footage, as renowned choreographer Kenny Ortega coached and watched him over, reports the Sun.

The move was due to expand his signature repertoire of dance steps including the legendary Moonwalk, Anti-Gravity Lean, and Crotch Grab.

It would be no surprise if kids and adults tried to ape the Jackson Penguin, which West End star Ricko Baird said was not easy to imitate.

He said: “Michael was just so talented and he made it all look so easy. Some of his moves like the Moonwalk – and now the Penguin – are actually very difficult and need a lot of practice.”

Business analyst Christian Severina, 35, London, said: “I love Michael Jackson and I love his dancing. But this was really tricky to do it with the same grace and speed he does it. I ended up looking like I was having a fit.”

Hannah Turner, 16, of Essex, added: “Oh my god I look like such a wally. Only Michael Jackson can make that look cool.” (ANI)

US Ambassador meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Update- US Ambassador)

New Delhi, Sept 18 (ANI): The United States Ambassador to India, Timothy J Roemer, today met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence.

The meeting took place after Roemer met Union Home Minister P. hidambaram.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Chidambaram, Roemer said bringing the culprits to justice and going after Saeed were important to both India and the United States.

“Swift and mighty punishment for the six Mumbai suspects in Islamabad, is important for United States and is important for India. And going after Saeed is very important and dismantling the infrastructure of LeT in that region is extremely important to the United States and to India,” said Roemer.

The meeting took after reports of two FIR’s against Saeed came late last night.

He has been charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act for making anti-state speeches where he urged activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the frontline organisation for LeT that he heads, to wage a ‘jehad’.

Saeed has also been charged for heading a charity collection drive during the Ramazan month according to the police.

Earlier, Roemer had called on Pakistan to take action against Saeed.

“There are five, probably six, suspects currently being held in Islamabad in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It is extremely important that these six people be brought to justice and put behind bars and receive sentences commensurate with their crimes against India, US and the world,” a news channel quoted Roemer, as saying

“I hope that in future the action on 26/11 includes people like Hafiz Saeed. Recently he was put into an Interpol red flag list,” he added.

The remarks follows Chidambaram’s visit to US, where he had briefed several ministers under the Barack Obama administration about Islamabad’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage.

The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. Among the dead were 28 foreign nationals from 10 countries.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive, has disclosed that the attackers were members of LeT, which is considered a terrorist organization by the Government of India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Interpol has also issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi (another mastermind of the 26/11 attacks). The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists. (ANI)

US Ambassador Roemer calls for action against Hafiz Saeed

New Delhi, Sept 18 (ANI): Pressurising Pakistan, the United States said it wanted swift and mighty punishment against the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, the United States Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said, bringing the culprits to justice and going after Saeed were important to both India and the United States.

“Swift and mighty punishment for the six Mumbai suspects in Islamabad, is important for United States and is important for India. And going after Saeed is very important and dismantling the infrastructure of LeT in that region is extremely important to the United States and to India,” said Roemer.

The meeting took after reports of two FIR’s against Saeed came late last night.

He has been charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act for making anti-state speeches where he urged activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the frontline organisation for LeT that he heads, to wage a ‘jehad’.

Saeed has also been charged for heading a charity collection drive during the Ramazan month according to the police.

Earlier, Roemer had called on Pakistan to take action against Saeed.

“There are five, probably six, suspects currently being held in Islamabad in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It is extremely important that these six people be brought to justice and put behind bars and receive sentences commensurate with their crimes against India, US and the world,” a news channel quoted Roemer, as saying

“I hope that in future the action on 26/11 includes people like Hafiz Saeed. Recently he was put into an Interpol red flag list,” he added.

The remarks follows Chidambaram’s visit to US, where he had briefed several ministers under the Barack Obama administration about Islamabad’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage.

The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. Among the dead were 28 foreign nationals from 10 countries.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive, has disclosed that the attackers were members of LeT, which is considered a terrorist organization by the Government of India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Interpol has also issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi (another mastermind of the 26/11 attacks). The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists. (ANI)

Shiv Sena activists burn Pakistan national flag in Amritsar

Amritsar Sep. 13 (ANI): Outraged over the rocket firing incident by Pakistan on Friday night in Attari Sector of Punjab’s Amritsar district, a group of Shiv Sena (Hindustan) activists on Sunday burnt Pakistan’s national flag here.

The Shiv Sena (Hindustan) is a local outfit.

A number of activists assembled at the Hathi Gate Chowk of Amritsar and burnt Pakistan’s national flag.

The protestors said that they burnt the Pakistan’s national flag to express their anguish and register protest against the rockets lobbed from the Pakistani soil into Indian Territory.

Carrying a banner in their hands, the activists shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.
Protestors demanded that the Government of India should force Pakistan to stop anti-India activities immediately.

Ajay Seth, President of the Shiv Sena (H), condemned the anti India activities of Pakistan and said that Pakistan’s nefarious designs always have an effect on the peace initiatives. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)

Hurriyat leader Geelani placed under house arrest

Srinagar, Sep.11 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday placed leader of the hardline faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) under house arrest as a preventive measure.

The arrest was ordered to prevent protests against Indian rule during Friday prayers.

Geelani’s close aide Aiyaz Akbar told reporters here that the former had been told not to break through his security cordon.

The ailing Geelani, 79, was earlier set free by police on Wednesday after serving a three-month jail sentence for organising protests against the Shopian double rape and murder case.

The latest detention came hours after he led scores of Kashmiris in an anti-India demonstration in Srinagar.

Police and federal paramilitaries were monitoring Friday prayers during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

He had addressed a press conference at his residence Thursday afternoon and later led scores of his supporters who shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. (ANI)

Demonstration in Shopian over death of property dealer

Shopian (J-K), Sep 10 (ANI): Hundreds of residents on Wednesday took to the streets in Shopian town, 60 km from Srinagar, after a missing local was found dead.

Frenzied locals raised anti-India slogans during the funeral procession of Mohammad Hussain Zargar, a prominent member of the local ‘Majlis-e-Mushawarat’ (council for discussion), the organisation that spearheaded protests to seek justice for the rape and murder of two Muslim women.

The body of Zargar, a 42-year-old property dealer, was discovered on Tuesday He was missing since Saturday and residents alleged he had died under mysterious circumstances.

Government offices and schools remained closed and business activity came to a standstill in the town on Wednesday after Majlis-e-Mushawarat gave a shutdown call demanding a probe into Zargar’s death.

“Nothing can be said at this time. The post-mortem report is not out, when the report is out only then we can clear about that what has happened. Let’s wait for report then we will talk about it and thereafter investigations also take place, things become clear then we will come out with a positive response on the case, well,” said Muhammad Shafi Khan, spokesman for the majlis. (ANI)

Obama’s popularity in Europe still sky high

London, Sep 10(ANI): A survey has found US President Barack Obama’s popularity is gaining massive support in European Union countries.

The German Marshall Fund, which conducted a study, said that 77 per cent of European citizens support Obama’s handling of international affairs, while only 19 per cent found former President George W Bush doing the same.

It also revealed that 75 per cent of Europeans have confidence in Obama’s ability to combat terrorism and two thirds now have a favourable view of America.

“We see a remarkable shift in trans-Atlantic opinion from the previous administration,” The Telegraph quoted Craig Kennedy, the president of the German Marshall Fund, as saying.

“With American leadership enjoying unprecedented modern popularity, partners on both sides of the Atlantic have an immense opportunity to co-operate on a range of economic and security issues,” he added.

The poll also found a drastic change in the attitude of European citizens to American leaders, as Obama enjoys an approval rating of 92 per cent, compared with only 12 per cent for Bush.

The survey also covered Turkey, where anti-American sentiment has grown markedly in recent years. Obama is far less popular among Turks than among Europeans, but he still enjoys a 50 per cent approval rating compared with only eight per cent for Bush. (ANI)

Engineered human fusion protein stops HIV-1 replication in mice

Washington, September 9 (ANI): Inspired by New World owl monkeys’ ability to make a fusion protein that potently blocks HIV-1 infection, scientists at the University of Geneva in Switzerland have engineered a human HIV-1 inhibitor.

Lead researcher Jeremy Luban points out that owl monkeys make AoT5Cyp, and that the human genome encodes the equivalent of the two components of this fusion protein, namely TRIM5 and cyclophilin A.

However, adds the researcher, humans do not make the T5Cyp fusion protein.

In their new study, Luban and colleagues have engineered a human HIV-1 inhibitor modeled after AoT5Cyp, by fusing human cyclophilin A to human TRIM5 (hT5Cyp).

The researchers said that the human fusion protein blocked HIV-1 infection of human macrophage and T cell lines, without disrupting normal cell function.

During the study, the researchers engineered some mice to lack B, T, and NK immune cells, so that the animals would not reject grafts of human material.

The team then engrafted with human CD4+ T cells engineered to contain hT5Cyp.

HIV-1 replication was potently inhibited in these animals.

Based on their findings, the researchers came to the conclusion that hT5Cyp is a robust inhibitor of HIV-1 replication, and a promising anti-HIV-1 gene therapy candidate.

The study has been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. (ANI)

Nepal PM assuages India’s concerns, says won’t allow fake note smuggling

Kathmandu, Sep 9 (ANI): Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar has said his government is really concerned about the Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racket and would take proper action against anyone who indulges in the practice.

Talking to reporters in Birganj in the Terai plains near the Indo-Nepalese border, Nepal said, “We are really concerned about this racket and if anyone uses our land to supply fake currency into India, we will take proper action.”

“Any unlawful activities detrimental to the interest of our neighbouring country will not be allowed,” he added.

He also assured India that Nepal soil will not be used for the smuggling fake of Indian currency into India.

His assurance came following the nabbing of two Nepali nationals by the anti terror squad of Madhya Pradesh in connection with a fake Indian currency racket that revealed the involvement of former Crown Prince Paras and India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.

They further revealed that Yunus Ansari, the son of a minister, was the conduit between Paras and Dawood, who between them have been pushing in crores of fake Indian currency into India.

According to sources, Dawood manages the printing and manufacture of the fake currency, while Paras is responsible for its transit from other countries into Nepal and India.

Paras reportedly used his influential position to ensure the money reached the designated transit points on the India-Nepal border without a hitch. (ANI)

Sharifs soften stance against Musharraf trial under Saudi pressure

Islamabad, Sep 7 (ANI): The Sharif brothers and top leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are believed to have softened their demand for the trial of former President Pervez Musharraf owing to international pressure by his guarantors, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Well-placed party sources said that the PML-N central leadership would take the party hierarchy into confidence about the pressure for softening their anti-Musharraf stance and to chalk out the party’s new plan of action to prepare it for next elections at party’s scheduled CEC meeting in Murree on Monday.

Sources attach great importance to Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia in next few days where apart from performing Umrah he is expected to meet the Saudi high-ups in the backdrop of Musharraf’s recent visit to the Kingdom and his meeting with the King Abdullah.

The Nation quoted sources as saying that Saudi authorities have already conveyed to the Sharifs to take soft stance on Musharraf’s trial as the Kingdom regards him needy for help and cooperation as they were while out of power.

The meeting, sources further said, would discuss and evolve a comprehensive strategy to hold party’s elections but after pushing it through an intense process of restructuring and reorganization at grass root level in all parts of the country.

The CEC meeting would decide about the election timeframe either by the end of this year or early next year.

The meeting would also take host of political issues for consideration including PML-N, PPP relations, law and order situation in Balochistan, fate of Local Bodies and implementation of Charter of Democracy by the PPP-led coalition government, they added. (ANI)

Musharraf terms his meeting with Saudi King a success

Lahore, Sep 7 (ANI): Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that his recent meeting with Saudi King Abdullah was a success.

“I was accorded full protocol during my visit to Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah, I deem him as my elder brother and can contact him whenever I want,” a private TV channel quoted Musharraf, as saying.

He said during his visit, he discussed the recent political situation of Pakistan at length with the Saudi king, adding that the king had concerns about the situation in Pakistan.

Talking to the channel, Musharraf said the army operation against the Taliban in Malakand had proven successful.

“The operation was undoubtedly successful. The Pakistan Army has always rendered sacrifices and played a vital role to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country,” he said.

Earlier, the ‘royal’ treatment being given to Musharraf during his Saudi Arabia visit has his opponents worried.

The special treatment has sparked speculations that Riyadh is trying to use its influence to ask the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to shun its demand for Musharraf’s trial under the Article Six of the Constitution.

Sources said King Abdullah sent his special airplane to London to fetch Musharraf.

Reports regarding Saudi Arabia cracking its whip on the PML-N and other anti-Musharraf parties has probably forced PML-N to come out with clarifications. (ANI)

‘Foreigners only’ French restaurant draws flak in Islamabad

London, Sep.5 (ANI): A French restaurant in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has drawn severe flak after it put up a notice saying ‘foreigners only’.

Islamabad police said it has also received complaints regarding such notice being put at the front window of the Cordon Rouge restaurant, which is situated close to embassies and government buildings in the city’s heavily guarded diplomatic enclave.

However, the owner of the food joint, Jean-Luc Hue brushed aside the accusations, saying the notice has been ‘misunderstood’.

Hue admitted that he fumbled with the selection of words for the notice.

“This is just a misunderstanding. I only put the sign up for the month of Ramadan,” The BBC quoted Hue, as saying.

“Since it was not worth it for them to come after the fast breaks (at sunset), I decided to put up the sign, but some people didn’t appreciate it,” he added.

Hue also rejected allegations that his restaurant had something of an ‘anti-Pakistani’ entrance policy even before Ramadan.

“Yes, we were very selective with the people entering our place, but you have to be selective in the restaurant business,” he clarified.

He insisted that his policy has nothing to do with race or nationality, his main consideration is the way customers behave.

“We have respectable diplomats who come here and they have to be comfortable. Twice I had to ask some Pakistani young people to leave because they were trying to get a little bit too friendly with the female clientele,” he said.

“I’m a restaurant owner, and I want to have a business.Pakistanis are more than welcome. Why would I refuse Pakistanis when I need them for my business?” Hue stressed. (ANI)

‘The American’ leading al Qaeda in Somalia awaits terrorism charges back home

Washington, Sep 5 (ANI): The man who grew up in Daphne, Alabama, as Omar Hammami, but is now reported to be a member of al Qaeda-linked Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab under the name Abu Mansour al-Amriki, told a school newspaper after 9/11 attacks that it was “difficult to believe a Muslim could have done this”.

According to FOX News, eight years later he is professing to launch attacks himself and calling on others to join the fight, as terror-related charges await him at home in Alabama.

Abu Mansour al-Amriki or “The American” has become one of the most recognizable and outspoken voices of terrorist propaganda, the report said.

He has been in war-torn Somalia for several years, fighting the secular government there with a group known as al-Shabaab, which has ties to Al Qaeda and was labeled a terrorist organization by the US Government last year, but only recently has he taken on a starring and jarring role in al-Shabaab’s outreach efforts the report added.

The FBI has been looking into him for several years. In fact, a grand jury in Mobile, Alabama., has already indicted him on charges of providing material support to terrorists, a source said.

Al-Amriki first surfaced in October 2007, when Al-Jazeera TV aired a report about the “common goal” of al Qaeda and hard-line militants in Somalia. The report described al-Amriki as a fighter and military instructor, but he concealed his face with a cloth wrap throughout the report.

In April, he showed his face for the first time, during a highly polished, 30-minute recruitment video posted online. It featured anti-American hip-hop and sporadic images of Osama bin Laden.

In the video, he purportedly led a group of al-Shabaab militants in an ambush of pro-government forces in Somalia.

Speaking about one man killed in the fight, he said: “We need more like him, so if you can encourage more of your children and more of your neighbors, anyone around, to send people like him to this jihad, it would be a great asset for us.” (ANI)

Iran’s ‘wanted’ defence minister warns Israel not to attack its N-facilities

Jerusalem, Sep. 4 (ANI): Iran’s controversial new Defence Minister Ahmad Vahid has warned Israel not to attack the country’s nuclear facilities.

“Every move from the Zionist entity against Iran will be met with a harsh and powerful response from Iran,” The Jerusalem Post quoted him, Vahidi saying.

Vahidi also said that the overwhelming support he had garnered in the parliamentary vote on his appointment “attested to the anti-Zionist spirit of the Iranian parliament and people.”

Vahidi is a wanted by Interpol for masterminding the Buenos Aires Jewish centre bomb blast in 1994 that claimed 85 lives.

Buenos Aires has called General Vahidi’s inclusion in Ahmadinejad’s new Cabinet “an affront to Argentine justice and to the victims of the brutal terrorist attack”.

US President Barack Obama has termed Vahidi’s inclusion in the Cabinet as “disturbing”.

Vahidi gained support earlier this week when lawmakers said they would not bow to foreign pressures to reject him.

The chairman of the Iranian foreign policy committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said the allegations “will not have any negative impact on the assessment” of General Vahidi’s suitability for the job.

“Rather, it may increase his vote,” he noted.

Ahmadinejad has faced questions about the experience and expertise of some of the choices for his 21-seat cabinet. But on Thursday, he managed to win approval for many key posts that included the foreign, interior, intelligence ministries and Ahmad Vahidi as defense minister.

The parliament also backed Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi as health minister, making her the Islamic republic’s first female minister since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. (ANI)

Radio Pakistan unhappy over criticism of Jaswant Singh book on Jinnah

Abohar, Sep.3 (ANI): The expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh has got a new fan in Punjabi Durbar programme of Radio Pakistan.

In its latest edition, the Punjabi Durbar programme has described all political parties of India be it Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress or Shiv Sena being anti-Pakistan for voicing objection to Jaswant Singh’s book- “Jinnah-India, Partition, Independence”.

In its recent Punjabi Durbar Programme, Radio Pakistan said that Jaswant Singh has paid a huge price for his biography of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Many Indian scholars have expressed sympathy with Jaswant Singh, but have taken exception to Pakistan Radio describing all Indian political parties as anti-Pakistan.

Anil Kumar, a historian and a commentator on current affairs has stated that political parties in India have tried their best to cultivate good relations with Pakistan ever since independence.

“India has been maintaining friendly relationship with Pakistan since 1947. India parted with funds held by united India, when Jinnah demanded it. Even after Pakistani aggression in 1965 and 1971, India returned to Pakistan the territory which was in India’s possession in the hope that there would be cordial relations between the two countries,” he said.

“Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh have been continuously trying to maintain good relations with Pakistan, but Pakistan continued terrorist attacks in India,” Anil Kumar added.

“India is a secular country. There are more Muslims in India than the total population of Pakistan. Moslems are happy to be in India. Many feel that they are safer than in Pakistan, which is being subjected to violence by the Taliban,” said Anil kumar, who is, an expert on Indo-Pak affairs.

India is continuing talks at different levels despite incidents like Mumbai terror attacks and Pakistan’s ongoing support to militancy in Kashmir.

It is surprising that broadcasters of Radio Pakistan expect political parties in India to sing praise of Jinnah, who was chiefly responsible for the division of the sub-continent on the basis of religious identities.

They accept Jinnah’s contribution during the freedom struggle against the British Raj, but are critical of his role in dividing the country. (ANI)

Sonia Gandhi to visit Hyderabad on Thursday morning

New Delhi, Sep.2 (ANI): Congress President and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit Hyderabad on Thursday.

Sonia called up Reddy’s wife on Wednesday evening and is believed to have expressed concern with the family over the missing incident of Reddy.

A high-level search operation is on to trace out the missing CM.

Army’s 300 special Commandos (especially trained in jungle warfare), 5,000 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and State’s anti-Naxal Force personnel have been engaged into the seach operation.

Reddy has gone missing since 9.35 a.m. of Wednesday morning. (ANI)

Pak Govt asked to review blasphemy law

Islamabad, Sep. 2 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has been asked by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights to re-examine the blasphemy law so that incidents like Gojra’s anti-Christian riot can be prevented.

Human Rights Ministry Secretary Farid Khan told Committee chairman PML-Q member Riaz Fatiyana that the Gojra incident reflected “a complete failure of our system.”

The Daily Times quoted Punjab Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael as saying that the government should review the blasphemy law.

He said the law should also be used against those who levelled baseless allegations against others.

PML-N leader Javed Hashmi seconded Michael’s views, and said he regretted that people were languishing in jails for the last eight to ten years under the blasphemy law.

Fatiyana said the killings were a failure on the part of administration and intelligence agencies. He urged the government to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

He added that the committee will meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and request him to fix a time period for trial of people arrested under blasphemy law.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law forbids-damaging a place of worship or a sacred object, outraging religious feelings, defiling the Quran and defaming Prophet Mohammed.

The Criminal Code provides penalties for blasphemy up to death and a fine.

Critics have pointed out that the blasphemy law is being used to victimise minorities. (ANI)

Musharraf’s ‘royal’ treatment in Saudi Arabia worries his opponents in Pak

Islamabad, Sep.2 (ANI): The ‘royal’ treatment being given to former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf during his Saudi Arabia visit has his opponents worried.

The special treatment has sparked speculations that Riyadh is trying to use its influence to ask the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to shun its demand for Musharraf’s trial under the Article Six of the Constitution.

Sources said King Abdullah sent his special airplane to London to fetch Musharraf.

Reports regarding Saudi Arabia cracking its whip on the PML-N and other anti-Musharraf parties has probably forced PML-N to come out with clarificatiobns.

A PML-N spokesman denied reports regarding Saudi putting pressure on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

“There has been no official message from the Saudi family to Mian Nawaz Sharif in this regard,” The Dawn quoted a PML-N spokesperson, as saying.

One of Musharraf’s close aides, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, who claims to be the former Army General’s spokesman, said the PML-N should think once again before demanding Musharraf’s prosecution, and see what kind of treatment he is receiving in Riyadh.

“The PML-N should see and understand how the former president is being treated by the Saudi government and forget about his (Musharraf) trial for treason” Saif said.

When asked that whether the Saudi Government has actually given Musharraf a guarantee of not being tried, Saif said : “I don’t know anything about this, but there is little possibility of Gen Musharraf facing trial only because the PML-N is asking for that.”

“I am not aware of this, but the way the former president is being treated in the kingdom means he cannot be touched in Pakistan,” he added. (ANI)