Musharraf ‘shedding crocodile tears’, says ex- Pak SCBA chief

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association’s former President Aitzaz Ahsan has said that former President General Pervez Musharraf is ‘shedding crocodile tears’ while admitting that removing Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from office in 2007 was a mistake.

Referring to Musharraf’s speech at Trinity University in Saint Antonio, Texas, where the former general admitted that he had committed a mistake while sacking the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from office, Ahsan said Musharraf had committed not only one but two mistakes by removing the higher judiciary and imposing an emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.

Talking to a private television channel, Ahsan said the government and the ‘independent’ judiciary should play their role in trying Musharraf under high treason charges.

He said it was not the right time for lawyers to take their struggle to roads, as they did previously while demanding restoration of the judiciary, The News reports.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has denied that Musharraf had taken the cabinet into his confidence before promulgating the Provisional Constitutional Ordinance (PCO) and imposing the emergency rule in 2007.

Interacting with media persons during an Iftaar party hosted by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, several party leaders rejected the notion regarding Musharraf consulting the cabinet before taking the illegal and extra-judicial actions. (ANI)

Gilani rejects inking safe passage deal for Musharraf

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has denied inking any ‘safe exit’ deal to facilitate former President General Pervez Musharraf’s safe passage from the country after he stepped down from the Presidency.

In an interview to a private television channel, Gilani said: “If there had been such a deal, it would have surfaced by now, as the media is very vibrant today.”

Gilani also said would be wrong to say that Musharraf has been ‘pardoned’, as neither he has been convicted by the court of law nor been ‘indemnified by parliament’.

When asked whether there is any possibility of invoking the Article Six of the Constitution against Musharraf, Gilani reiterated that he was willing to do it if parliament passed a unanimous resolution.

“I am for it. We must create history. But at the same time, we should not rock the boat. If there is a unanimous resolution, the whole nation would be together,” The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

Commenting on the Baloch issue, he said the government is preparing a package for the insurgency hit province which would include constitutional, administrative and economic reforms. (ANI)

South African officials withhold findings of Caster Semenya’s gender test

London, Sep. 19 (ANI): Even before South African star athlete Caster Semenya’s gender was questioned at the World Championships in Berlin, Athletics South Africa (ASA) had found out and withheld the fact that she had internal testes, an e-mail exchange has revealed.

According to the e-mail exchanges published in the Mail and Guardian newspaper, ASA officials were aware of the findings of a Pretoria clinic that Semenya had internal testes and produced abnormal amounts of testosterone for a woman, Times Online reports.

It was ASA’s chief medical officer and team doctor, Harold Adams, who had suggested the need carrying out the tests on Semenya, 18, because of her deep voice, muscular body and facial hair, which later became a subject of controversy in Berlin.

Another email exchange shows that Adams later suggested that the results to be kept confidential while the South African team was in Berlin.

“Thinking about the current confidential matter, I would suggest we make the following decisions. 1. We get a gynae opinion and take it to Berlin. 2. We do nothing and I will handle these issues if they come up in Berlin,” the report quoted from Dr Adams’ email to ASA President Leonard Chuene and General Manager Molatelo Malehopo, as saying.

Following the IAAF establishing that Semenya was a hermaphrodite, South African officials not only angrily denounced it, but also denied carrying out their own tests.

Taking matters a step further, South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile lost his temper at a press conference and threatened to start a “third world war” if Semenya was banned from international competition because of her gender.

Earlier, Semenya’s ex-coach Wilfred Daniels had said the ASA had duped Semenya into thinking the gender test carried out on her were routine drug tests. (ANI)

Durga puja celebrations on a modest scale in Siliguri

Siliguri, Sept 18 (ANI): The festival of Durga Puja is just round the corner. However, this time around, the festival may not be full of pomp and show as compared with previous years in Siliguri.

The festival is known for massive makeshift tents or pandals which are put up by various festival organising committees.

Organising committees vie for making the best and unique pandals worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.

However, global economic slowdown has dampened the pandals-making spirit. Organisers have now to make do with less.

“This year, we have been hit by global recession. We generally depend on advertisements for our revenue, but this time no company has advertised with us. So, we have no other alternatives, but to cut down our budget,” said Sourav Nath, Secretary, Central Colony Puja Committee.

The recession has also pinched decorators as they are getting fewer orders for embellishing pandals.

“Puja committees have trimmed their budgets. This has affected us severely,” said Gopal Sarkar, General-Secretary, North Bengal Decorators Association.

Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Bengal.

The festival is also known as Dussehra and Navaratri in other parts of the country. (ANI)

‘Most Wanted’ Taliban commander killed in US drone attack

Peshawar, Sep.17 (ANI): The United States has confirmed the death of top Taliban commander Ilyas Kaashmiri in a drone attack conducted earlier this month.

According to US intelligence sources, Kaashmiri was killed in a missile attack carried out by unmanned aircrafts in South Waziristan on September 7.

Kaashmiri was the founder leader of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) based extremist group Harkatul Islam.

He was once arrested and sent to jail for plotting an attack on former President General Pervez Musharraf, but was subsequently released as the authorities failed to substantiate the case against him.

After the elimination of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, Kaashmiri became the top most wanted terrorist in the region followed by Hakeemullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain Mehsud, The News reports. (ANI)

‘Embarrassed’ Musharraf’s close aides shying away from commenting on his misdeeds

Islamabad, Sep.16 (ANI) : Close aides of former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf are too embarrassed and are shying away from responding to the former general’s claims that he had taken the November 3, 2007 actions only after consulting various top officials, including the then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the current Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

Musharraf’s erstwhile close associates find the topic as ‘too dirty’ to speak about and have been avoiding any queries regarding that by simply saying ‘no comments’.

A former spokesman of the Shaukat Aziz government, however, denied that the cabinet had prior knowledge of Musharraf’s plan of imposing the emergency.

When asked about the issue, Lieutenant General (retired) Ali Jan Orakzai said: “It’s such a dirty subject that leaving it untouched would be a better option.”

Orakzai said he is waiting for the apt time to speak on Musharraf’s claims.

“Let’s see the gravity of the subject. I would record my statement before the court in case summoned on this issue,” The News quoted Orakzai, as saying.

When informed about Shaukat Aziz’s statement that he was not consulted on the November 3 actions, Orakzai said issuing such statements from abroad is easier.

“Shaukat Aziz can do this as he is living in London. I can’t do so,” he said.

Former Punjab Governor Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Maqbool said he has decided not to enter into any controversy related to the past events that occurred during his stint. (ANI)

Musharraf may avoid noose but won’t be playing golf in Pak for long time: Editorial

Islamabad, Sep.16 (ANI): With President Asif Ali Zardari disclosing that his predecessor General Pervez Musharraf was given a ‘safe exit’ from the country, it appears, Musharraf may have avoided a high treason trial for his unconstitutional actions, but according to an editorial there is hardly any possibility of the former general returning to Pakistan in the near future.

The editorial in The Daily Times said Musharraf may be safe for the time being, but he would hardly be seen playing golf in Pakistan for years to come.

Referring to the Kargil debacle, the editorial termed Musharraf as a bad strategist, and alleged that the former general was rarely seen keeping his words during his autocratic rule.

“Neither was he a great strategist, as was proved by Kargil and his covert support of the Taliban; he was also no man of his word. He may be safe from the hangman’s noose but he will not be able to play golf in Pakistan for a long time,” the editorial said.

It also blasted the country’s political leaders for running to foreign powers for protecting their heads from ‘internal’ crises.

“Too proud to admit that there could be foreign stakeholders in Pakistan, a direct violation of state sovereignty, we can’t, however, deny that our politicians have leaned on foreign guarantors to save their careers and sometimes their lives,” the editorial said.

“Therefore, if President Zardari today absolves his party from the discomfiture of bringing Musharraf to trial, he knows that the PMLN leader Mr Nawaz Sharif too is riding in the same boat with him,” it went on to add.

However, the editorial lauded the Pakistan Army for refraining from getting involved in the demand for Musharraf’s trial, saying the armed forces, till now, had reacted sensibly.

“The one stakeholder in Pakistan that has acted less rashly than the politicians is the Pakistan Army. It has seen more clearly the risks that would have affected Pakistan’s security if the populist demand for Musharraf’s head had been met,” it concluded. (ANI)

India demands stern action against perpetrators of Melbourne attackers

New Delhi, Sept 16 (ANI): The Indian Government on Wednesday called on the Australian Government to take stern action against the perpetrators of alleged racial assaults on Indians in Melbourne, Victoria.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in a statement that the matter of the recurring attacks on Indians in Australia had been taken up with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith by Indian High Commissioner Sujatha Singh.

“As we take note of the assurances given, including from the highest levels of the government and provincial authorities of Australia, it is our earnest hope that the concerned authorities would take all necessary steps towards the safety and security of Indians in that country,” said Prakash in a statement.

“The Indian Consul General in Melbourne is in contact with authorities in Victoria including the police authorities,” he added.

“We hope that the latest incident is investigated with care and the culprits are dealt with, according to the laws of the land. It would also help, if various measures being contemplated by the Australian side, in addition to those already announced, are put in place at the earliest, to prevent reoccurrence of such incidents in the future,” Prakash said.

Officials of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne, are also in touch with family members of the victims.

Two Indian nationals and two other persons of Indian origin were assaulted by a group of individuals at Melbourne late in the evening on September 12.

One of the Indian nationals, Sukhdip Singh sustained serious injuries and is presently undergoing treatment.

“We are informed that the police arrested four individuals who have since been released pending further investigations,” Prakash said. (ANI)

Mamata Banerjee lauds Rahul Gandhi’s train ride

New Delhi, Sept 17 (ANI): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has lauded Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s train ride as part of his party’s austerity drive.

Mamata Banerjee, who inaugurated the newly spruced up terminal of New Delhi railway station in the capital along with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday, lauded the austerity act.

Gandhi travelled in an air-conditioned chair car of the Swarn Shatabdi Express on Tuesday, a day after his mother Sonia Gandhi travelled in an economy class flight from New Delhi to Mumbai.

Rahul travelled from New Delhi to Ludhiana to inaugurate a four-day camp of young Congressmen.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked the Congress leaders to observe austerity to cut down expenditure in the wake of draught declared in parts of the country.

Earlier, the Congress Party had decided that its ministers and lawmakers would also take a 20 per cent cut in salaries.

The Congress Party has also urged the government to keep prices of essential commodities in check with special emphasis on oil seeds and pulses. (ANI)

Musharraf denies misuse of US aid, says Indian media highlighting ‘non-issue’

Lahore, Sep.16 (ANI): Days after former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s statement that Islamabad had diverted US aid to strengthen its defence against India was splashed in the media all over, the former general has denied allegations of misuse of army equipment, saying the media has highlighted a ‘non-issue’.

Dr Nasim Ashraf, one of Musharraf’s close friends, told a private television channel that the former President has categorically denied misuse of any US military aid during his regime.

Ashraf said it was wrong to say that the Pakistan Army had violated the agreement regarding the equipments supplied by the US.

“If a unit stationed in Waziristan moved to Kashmir, the equipment would move with it, which was not a violation of the agreement,” The Daily Times quoted Ashraf, as saying.

Responding to a question he said Musharraf would return to Pakistan as soon as his lecture tour is finished.

It is worth mentioning here that in an interview to a Pakistani news channel earlier this week, Musharraf had admitted that he had violated the rules governing the use of the military aid, but justified his action, saying he had “acted in the best interest of Pakistan.” (ANI)

General strike curbs Manipur’s normal life

Imphal, Sep 12 (ANI): Normal life has been curbed in Manipur on Saturday due to a 24 hours general strike called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to protest against the alleged fake encounters.

The JAC is a group of NGOs, protesting the recent killing of a driver in an encounter.

The markets, shops, and business establishments in most parts of the state remained closed.

The transport services within the state and also with the neighboring states have been affected due to the strike.

A driver named Md Rehaman alias Tomba was killed along with five others, in an encounter with the security forces on September 8 at Awang Khul in Imphal West district.

The security forces maintain that the youths who were killed in the encounter were militants.

The All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Association (AMRDPA), said that Rehaman, who was member of the organization, was use to ferry passengers from Imphal to Moreh town from last 15 years. (ANI)

Musharraf’s trial seekers should act rather than rant: PML-Q

Karachi, Sep.12 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid (PML-Q) has said that all those people who want former President General Pervez Musharraf to be tried for high treason should come forward and take steps regarding the trial instead of just issuing statements.

“People who want to put former President Pervez Musharraf on trial must come forward and do so because the time had come for taking practical steps rather than just debating on the thorny issue,”The Dawn quoted PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, as saying.

“Every one will be silent on one phone call from Saudi Arabia,” Hussain added.

He came down on the current Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government saying the country was being “run by plunderers and looters of sugar, cement and flour.”

Hussain stressed that PML-Q is the real opposition party as it was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. (ANI)

UN strongly warns Lanka over continued holding of civilians in refugee camps

London, Sep 12 (ANI): The United Nations has strongly warned Sri Lanka that the world body cannot continue funding indefinitely the huge refugee camps in the north of the country, and asked the authorities to allow the hundreds of Tamil civilians to leave.

The senior UN official in the country hardened their stand when they said the camps should be a last resort for civilians with nowhere else to go.

Sri Lanka faces increasing international criticism over its treatment of the estimated 300,000 civilians held in camps, with the EU poised to cancel a trade concession worth one billion dollars to the government, The Independent reports.

Humanitarian aid groups have complained that conditions in the vast Menik Farms camp, where most people remain behind razor wire are still inadequate four months after the decades-long civil war ended.

“Nothing has changed over the past three months for the people in the camps. They are overcrowded, with poor sanitary conditions and inadequate health care. There are concerns about what may happen when the monsoon rains arrive in the next couple of months,” the UK-based Catholic Fund for Overseas Development said on Friday.

The UN’s senior official in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne, told the BBC: “The best solution is, obviously, that as many people leave as soon as possible; and, for the people who have no place else to go, that the site can become an open one.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also said that he intends to speak directly to Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to protest against the decision to expel the spokesman for Unicef, accused by the government of acting as “propagandist” for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

He will also raise the issue of two UN workers in the Tamil-dominated north arrested in June. (ANI)

CBI to visit YSR’s helicopter crash site today

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will visit on Saturday the site of the helicopter crash, where former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and four others were killed, in order to probe the crash at Pavirallagutta in the dense Nallamalla forests.

The CBI multi-disciplinary investigation team (MDIT) would be headed by Deputy Inspector General V V Lakshmi Narayana and comprise officers from the Indian Air Force and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation also.

The CBI would also inquire whether any sabotage was behind the crash and what forced the helicopter to deviate from its set path, besides the response from the Air Traffic Control(ATC) in Chennai.

The CBI probe has been ordered under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Such a probe is conducted by a police officer specially empowered by the State Government when the deceased has been killed by another or by an animal or by machinery or by an accident.

A two-member expert committee is already investigating the incident. It has been told to submit its report in two months. (ANI)

Former Kerala CM Karunakaran hospitalized

Thiruvananthpuram, Sep 11 (ANI): Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, K. Karunakaran has been admitted to the Sree Chithra Thirunal Hospital here on Friday, as he complained of high fever.

Karunakaran led the state for four times and also was the minister in the Union Cabinet.

Karunakaran, who is almost away from the active politics had turned up at the Thiruvananthapuram airport to meet Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi who made a brief visit to the city on his way to Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, early this week.

At this age Karunakaran is not leaving any opportunity to meet the party leaders and activists. (ANI)

Cabinet approves signing, ratification of BIMST Convention

New Delhi, Sep 10(ANI): A Union Cabinet meeting on Thursday discussed topics, including the revamping of the National Rural Health Mission and approval for the signing and ratification of the BIMST (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand) Convention.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said: “This convention will provide strong legal basis for cooperation among the law enforcement agencies of the BIMST member states. It will give a much needed thrust to the enforcement agencies of the BIMST member states which are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.”

The proposal will be signed during the forthcoming BIMST Ministerial Conference.

On the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Soni said: “The mission (National Rural Health Mission) now seeks to provide universal access to affordable and quality healthcare which is accountable and at the same time responsive to the needs of the people.”

She said the Government would launch an annual health survey in some states to provide feedback on the impact of schemes underthe NRHM on health indicators like Maternal Mortality Rates and Total Fertility Rates.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs will be conducting the survey and would compute the statistics, she added. (ANI)

Chidambaram discusses counter-terrorism, 26/11 update with US officials

Washington, Sept 10 (ANI): Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram held meetings here with senior Obama administration officials, including National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. (retired) James Jones, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and the U.S. Attorney General Eric H Holder Jr. on Wednesday.

Enhanced co-operation between India and US on tackling terrorism particularly in South Asia dominated the discussions, sources said.

Pakistan’s inaction in dealing with the perpetrators of 26/11 was also raised.

Chidambaram also met Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Chairwoman of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Chidambaram is scheduled to meet the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday.

On Tuesday, officials from FBI, intelligence and security agencies and the New York Police briefed Chidambaram about the measures being taken by them to prevent a Mumbai-type terrorist attack.

From walking at the Penn Station, to a briefing by the New York Police, which had made several changes in its counter-terrorism measures post the 26/11 attacks, Chidambaram and his team of officials got to know what a mega city like New York can do to protect itself from terrorists without inconveniencing its residents.

Chidambaram was also informed about the coast guard facility at Staten Island. It was an important aspect of his trip given that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26 last year entered Mumbai through the sea route.

Within hours of his landing in New York, Chidambaram visited the Joint Terror Task Force Centre of the FBI where he was given an exclusive briefing by the New York Police Department.

Before leaving New York City for Washington by train, Chidambaram was briefed about security of the Mass Transport System at the Penn station.

The Home Minister is also scheduled to meet the top US intelligence and security officials, including FBI Director Robert Mueller and Director of National Intelligence Dennis C Blair; besides meeting National Security Adviser, Gen (Retd) James Jones at the White House. A tour of the National Counter-terrorism Centre in Virginia is also on his itinerary.

Besides meeting experts and think-tanks” members, Chidambaram is expected to hold talks with key US lawmakers, including Senator Joe Lieberman, Chairman, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; and Congressman Sylvester Reyes, Chairman, House Select Committee on Intelligence. (ANI)

Rahul holds meeting with Congress activists, farmers in Thanjavur

Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu), Sep 9 (ANI): All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who is on a three-day visit to Tamil Nadu, visited Thanjavur on Wednesday and held meetings with Youth Congress activists and farmers.

Gandhi was welcomed by thousand of Congress supporters, who stood outside the venue, Kandha Saras Mahal, just to have a glimpse of the young leader.

“We are very happy to be a part of this meeting, which focuses on propagation of policies and programmes of the Congress party towards the youth. And the idea of this meeting is to further the ideology of the party,” said Swaminathan, Chairman of Municipal Corporation Committee.

However, his speech got a mixed response from the farmers who attended the meeting. They felt that Gandhi neglected the agriculture sector in his speech.

“The entire focus of Rahul’s speech was targeted towards strengthening of grassroots of the party in the state whereas his neglecting of farmers’ issues have disappointed us,” said Sundra Vimalanathan, a farmer.

It is believed that Gandhi is aiming to revitalise the Congress party in Tamil Nadu, where Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) are the two major political players. (ANI)

Suspected Jakarta bombing ‘mastermind’ was trained in Pak

Jakarta, Sep.9 (ANI): In yet another case which determines that terror is Pakistan’s principle export, it has been revealed that the prime suspect of the July 2009 Jakarta hotel attacks received military training in Pakistan.

Indonesia’s national police chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri disclosed that Mohamad Jibril, who allegedly provided funds for the terror group responsible for the bombings, received training in Pakistan during 1999-2000.

“Jibril received military training from several Jemaah Islamiyah activists for about a year, from 1999- 2000,” Bambang told the House of Representatives.

“The training was conducted in Pakistan while he was studying there,” he added.

Mohamad Jibril alias Mohamad Rizky Ardhan alias Muhammad Jibriel Abdul Rahman was arrested two weeks ago.

He is believed to have played a key role in raising funds for the terrorist group led by Noordin Top, who belongs to Malaysia.

The Indonesian police suspect that the money was coming from Middle Easte countries such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen, however, it is yet to arrive on any conclusion.

Officials said they are still working to find more solid evidence against Jibril, who was nabbed after his cell phone number was found in Ali Muhammad bin Abdullah’s mobile phone.

Ali is a Saudi Arabian who was arrested a few days before Jibril, the jihadwatch.org reports.

It has also been revealed that Jibril’s uncle, Irfan S Awwas, was the chairman of a radical Islamic organization , Indonesia Mujahidin Council (MMI). (ANI)