Commonwealth Games tickets launched online

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), on Friday launched the sale of online tickets for the Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi issued the first ticket to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna.
Addressing media persons, Kalmadi said the tickets are priced reasonably to encourage more and more participation of people in the event.

“The tickets are reasonably priced. Rupees 50 is the minimum ticket. Any ticket holder can go free by public transportation. And, I am grateful to the government of Delhi for having waved aside entertainment tax. No entertainment tax on this ticket, that is why we could have the prices so low,” Kalmadi added.

Kalmadi said he was confident that the sports loving people will contribute to the successful delivery of the Games that is being held in Asia for only the second time and in India for the first time.

He hoped the games organizing committee would witness a huge turnout of spectators during the games.

The tickets will be available in four different slabs and will range from Rs. 50 to Rs. 1000 for all sporting events. While the tickets for the inaugural and closing ceremony to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi are priced between Rs. 750 to Rs. 50,000.

The tickets will be available at more than 50 outlets of Central Bank of India and Hero Honda showrooms. (ANI)

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President Patil to take decision on Afzal Guru”s mercy petition: Sheila Dikshit

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said President Pratibha Devisingh Patil would take the decision on the mercy petition of Afzal Guru, an accused in the Parliament attack case.

Dikshit said the file pertaining on the Afzal Guru case had been sent to both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and added that their replies are awaited.

“All orders given by the Supreme Court will be followed. However, at the same time, Guru”s wife has moved a mercy petition to the President of India. The file related to the case is with the Home Ministry and the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi,” said Dikshit.

“Clearly, I am not in a position to decide Guru”s fate. Then what comment can I give?” she told the media persons, while attending a blood donation camp organized to commemorate the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday protested against the delay by the Delhi Government in giving its opinion on the mercy petition moved by Afzal Guru, to show that this case was one of terrorism alone and had nothing to do with any community in particular.

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly V.K. Malhotra also criticised the Delhi Government for delaying the hanging of Afzal Guru due to vote bank politics.

Despite dithering by the government on the question of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru”s hanging, Congress on Wednesday made it clear that it favoured such a step at an early date.

“If the Supreme Court convicted Afzal Guru in the Parliament attack case giving him death sentence, there should be no problem in hanging him,” party general secretary Digvijay Singh.

Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi had said the concerned authorities within the government should decide the matter.

Guru was awarded death sentence by a Delhi court on December 18, 2002 after being convicted of conspiracy to attack Parliament on December 13, 2001, waging war against the country and murder.

Delhi High Court upheld the death sentence on October 29, 2003 and his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court two years later on August four, 2005.

Following this, Afzal filed a mercy petition with the President, who forwarded it to Union Home Ministry for its comments.

The Union Home Ministry had sent the file to Delhi Government”s Home Department for its comments, as per the laid out procedure.

The 2001 Indian Parliament attack, led to the death of a dozen people; five terrorists, six policemen and a civilian. It also caused increased tensions between India and Pakistan resulting in the 2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff.

On that day, a group of gun-and grenade-wielding terrorists who stormed the seemingly impregnable Parliament House premises, were stopped dead in their tracks by security men as the nation watched in disbelief. (ANI)

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‘Defiant’ Musharraf ready to take on Pak SC head-on if summoned

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 20 (ANI): Accepting the challenge thrown at him by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Chief (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said that he is ready to appear in the Supreme Court if summoned in any case.

“I only hope that justice will be done,” Musharraf said.

Interacting with media persons during a press conference here, Musharraf clarified that he has no regret over any decision taken by him during his eight-year long tenure.

The Lal Masjid operation, Akbar Bugti’s murder, NRO and decisions taken regarding the judiciary, and all other decisions were taken in light of the situation at that time, Musharraf said.

In December last year, Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared the emergency imposed by Musharraf in 2007 as unconstitutional and illegal, and went on to strike down the amnesty law, the National Reconciliation ordinance (NRO), following which several criminal and civil cases were filed against Musharraf.

Responding to a question regarding the United Nations inquiry report, which held his regime responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Musharraf stressed that Bhutto was provided full security cover, and that the then government could not be blamed for the gun and bomb attack on December 27, 2007.

He said Bhutto’s death was a great loss, but to implicate him and other top officials such as the then Director General Military Intelligence (MI) was part of a conspiracy.

Musharraf said he would return to the country soon and participate in elections, adding that he would formally announce his political party in few days.

“As far as a date for returning to Pakistan is concerned, I have not fixed a date but there is one desire. Whenever the next elections are held, whether they are end-term or mid-term, I will return to Pakistan before that,” The Nation quoted Musharraf, as saying.

Meanwhile, Musharraf’s legal advisor Chaudhary Fawad said that the Supreme Court cannot summon the former President on the NRO issue as the apex court does not have the authority to do so and it can only review the law. (ANI)

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Noted Pak TV journalist, Hamid Mir, Taliban, rubbish telephonic chat reports

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 18 (ANI): Noted Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir has rubbished media reports that he had a telephonic conversation with a Taliban spokesperson during which he described former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) official Khalid Khwaja as a Central Investigation Agency (CIA) collaborator.

Khwaja was abducted and killed by the Taliban last month.

Mir denied ever speaking to any Taliban spokesperson, and said that the leaked audiotape was an attempt to malign his image by his ‘enemies in the government.’

“I never said these things to these people. This is a concocted tape. They took my voice, sampled it and manufactured this conspiracy against me,” The Guardian quoted Mir, as saying.

The tape, in which Mir is purportedly heard asking the Taliban spokesperson to interrogate Khwaja over his links with the CIA and his role in the Lal Masjid siege, has started a debate amidst media circles in Pakistan.

Several senior and respected journalists believe that the voice in the tape sounded exactly like that of Mir’s.

“There are serious allegations to be answered. If this tape turns out to be genuine, it suggests a journalist instigated the murder of a kidnapee. A line must be drawn somewhere,” The Daily Times Editor Rashed Rahman said.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has also described the audiotape as ‘fake’, saying it was issued by some secret agency of the country.

“We condemn the reliability of this tape since there was no conversation between us and Hamid Mir. Although we often talk to different media persons. This seems to be a conspiracy to destroy the reputation of the Mujahideens and the brave people of this country who want to dig out the truth and reveal the dark faces of this nation,” a statement issued by the Taliban media centre said. (ANI)

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Lahore High Court issues notice to Zardari over holding two offices

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 18 (ANI): The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a notice to President Asif Ali Zardari over the legality of holding two offices of interest.

Hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Lawyers Forum (PLF) challenging the right of Zardari to hold on to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief’s post, the high court directed Zardari’s Principal Secretary to explain the legality of President dual posts.

“Since the president could not appear because of security reasons, the court asked his principal secretary to appear in court on May 25,” The Daily Times quoted PLF president A.K. Dogar, as saying.

Dogar said that though there was no constitutional bar on the President holding office in a political party, the Supreme Court had barred a president from holding a party post.

“Our Supreme Court judges decided in 1993 that the president should be non-partisan. He should not involve himself in political battles. He should shun politics but here he is a party head, which is illegal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has come out openly in favour of Zardari over the issue, saying there are no legal bar on holding two offices at a time.

President Zardari can keep two offices at a time and there is no constitutional or legal bar whatsoever, Gilani told media persons during a brief interaction here. (ANI)

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“Frustated” Younis demands suspension of indefinite ban imposed by PCB

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 16 (ANI): Former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lift the indefinite ban on him, saying that the allegations made against him were baseless.

“Younis is frustrated at the delay in hearing and has demanded the ban should be suspended with immediate effect,” Younis’ counsel Ahmed Qayyum told media persons after the one-man tribunal hearing his appeal against the ban deferred the case till May 29.

Younis along with former skipper Mohammed Yousuf was banned for an indefinite period by the PCB following a report of an enquiry commission which blamed them for infighting in the team during the disastrous tour of Australia during December 2009-January 2010.

Several other players, including Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik were also banned and fined on the basis of the enquiry commission’s report.

Except Yousuf, who retired from cricket in protest against the ban, all six penalised players have lodged appeals against the ban and fine slapped by the board.

Qayyum also criticised the PCB for the way it has been handling the whole issue, and demanded an open proceeding of the case.

“We want to argue against all those people who have accused Younis of being ‘arrogant and causing problems’, an opportunity not given to us yet,” The Daily Times quoted Qayyum, as saying. (ANI)

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JI chief demands dialogue with Taliban in Pak

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 16 (ANI): Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawwar Hasan has asked the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led Government to initiate peace talks with the Taliban, saying if dialogue can be restarted with India then there should also be no harm in deliberations with the extremist outfit.

“If composite dialogue can be held with India again and again, why not to engage Taliban of our own country,” The Dawn quoted Hasan, as saying.

Hasan said in order to counter the immense pressure being applied by the US on Pakistan to start an offensive in North Waziristan, the government should ‘immediately’ stop using force against the extremists and try to engage them in talks.

He said that while the Swat Taliban leader Sufi Muhammad was accused of violating the Constitution, other political parties continue to defy the country’s charter with the government turning a blind eye towards them.

“ (Former President) General Pervez Musharraf abrogated the Constitution twice but instead of punishment, he was given a red carpet farewell,” Hasan told media persons here.

He also claimed that the government had scraped the peace agreement inked with Sufi Muhammad under Washington’s pressure. (ANI)

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Pak man arrested in Chile charged for illegal possession of explosives

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 16 (ANI): The Chile Government has charged Muhammad Saif-ur-Rehman Khan, a Pakistani student arrested at the US Embassy in Chile, for having traces of volatile material, with illegal possession of explosives.

Police said traces of Tetryl, a compound used as a booster to help detonate explosives, was found on documents and the mobile phone recovered from Khan, who was arrested on Monday, The BBC reports.

However, Khan has denied any wrongdoing and has been freed pending an investigation.

Earlier, he had blamed the US for his arrest and bringing unnecessary trouble for his family back home in Pakistan.

“I have nothing to do with bombs. I have nothing to do with terrorists. I don”t have a beard. They (the US) just want to cover up their shame and guilt for what they have done or are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he had told media persons just after being detained.

Khan’s father, Mehmood Ahmad Rehman Khan, had alleged that his son has been implicated in a trap, and made a victim of racial profiling.

“My son became a victim of racial profiling and has been detained without a valid reason or evidence. His arrest was clearly a setup,” Mehmood had said earlier. (ANI)

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‘Satisfied’ US now says Clinton’s Pak diatribe ‘misconstrued’ by media

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 11 (ANI): After an initial outburst against Pakistan following the botched Times Square bombing plot, the United States is apparently trying to water down its tough stand, with officials saying that Washington is ‘satisfied’ with Islamabad’s cooperation in the probe into the bombing plot.

“We”re very satisfied by the cooperation we”re getting on this particular investigation thus far,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told media persons during a press conference.

Richard Holbrooke, President Obama’s Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, also appeared to be in a ‘damage control’ mode following Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s stern warning to Pakistan.

Speaking during the press conference, Holbrooke said clarified that Clinton’s remarks were “misconstrued”

Clinton had warned Pakistan of facing ‘severe consequences’ in case extremists from its soil succeeded in attacking America.

“We think our relations with Pakistan have improved greatly in the last year.
Clinton herself praised the Pakistan government for what it has done. And so I urge you to not to react to a misrepresentation of what she said,” The News quoted Holbrooke, as saying.

He said the Obama Administration is actually multiplying Pakistan’s civilian and military aid, being deeply concerned over attempt of terror attack on the US. (ANI)

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PPP not scared by Musharraf’s ‘last bullet in pistol’: General Secretary

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Faislabad, May 10 (ANI): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) General Secretary Jehangir Badar has challenged former President General Pervez Musharraf to face the probe being conducted into former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination if he wants to comeback in country’s politics, saying the party is not scared by his ‘one last bullet in pistol.’

Interacting with media persons here, Badar backed the UN commission’s report over Bhutto’s murder, saying Musharraf was directly responsible for her assassination.

“We are not going to be scared no matter how many bullets does Musharraf have in his pistol,” he said while referring to Musharraf’s remark that he has one final bullet in his pistol which he will use for his defence in the murder case.

It is pertinent to mention here that Musharraf had outrightly rejected the UN commission’s report, saying it contained no new information.

The UN enquiry commission”s report had blamed the then Musharraf government of ”deliberately” failing to probe the 27 December 2007 suicide attack on Bhutto, saying the tragedy could have been averted if adequate security arrangements would have been made.

“The Musharraf government failed to provide foolproof security to Ms. Bhutto which ultimately allowed a lethal assault on her. The security breach left wide-open room for an attack to happen,” the report said in its opening
remarks. (ANI)

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Qureshi assuages India’s fears over diversion of US supplied weapons

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 8 (ANI): Allaying India’s concern over the misuse of weapons that Pakistan is receiving from the United States, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has assured New Delhi that the armaments would be put to use only against the extremists.

Referring to Defence Minister A K Antony’s statement that India is concerned about the possibility of weapons being diverted towards the Indian border, Qureshi said India should not worry, as the weapons would only be used in anti-terror operations.

“The military equipment that we are getting from the United States should not worry India, because it is meant for counter-terrorism and to enhance our capacity to fight terrorist networks,” The Dawn quoted Qureshi, as saying.

“They (India) should not be afraid of this because it will be used against terrorist networks who have made this region unsafe,” he added.

On Friday, Antony had said that New Delhi has already warned Washington about the possibility of the equipments supplied by it to Islamabad to fight against the Taliban being diverted to target India.

“We have already conveyed our concern about transfer of (U.S.) equipment to Pakistan. We told them (Americans) our fear, even though US is giving equipment to Pakistan to fight against Taliban,” Antony had told media persons media on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) in New Delhi.

“We feel there is every possibility of (Pakistan) diverting most of them to the Indian borders. We told the U.S. that they have to be careful about that,” Antony said while replying to a question about Pakistan using U.S. supplied weapons in a military exercise focusing on India’s western borders. (ANI)

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Zardari, Musharraf helped each other through secret deal: PML-Q

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 6 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s ‘safe’ exit and incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari’s return to the country was part of a deal inked between both leaders, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) General Secretary Mushahid Hussain Syed has said.

Interacting with media persons during a press conference here, Syed also revealed that the deal was also backed by international powers.

“This deal was not a usual one as it had the support of international powers,” The News quoted Syed, as saying.

He, however, did not disclose the names of those ‘international powers.’

Syed also claimed that Zardari had entered into a secret deal with former US President George Bush, according to which the US would continue the drone strikes in the country’s tribal areas, and Islamabad would go on criticising Washington for the missile hits. (ANI)

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We are still a part of UPA: Mamata Banerjee We are still a part of UPA: Mamata Banerjee

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, May 6 (ANI): Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee has reiterated that her party is still a part of the UPA coalition at the Centre despite snapping ties with the Congress party for the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls.

Addressing media persons here on Wednesday, Banerjee said: “We made commitments to support the UPA government. We had the commitment that we would be part of the UPA government if we would win the Parliamentary elections. We have been working according to our commitment.”

Mamata claimed that she and her party have always tried to maintain the alliance and worked hard accordingly.

She, however, virtually accused the Congress of being an unreliable ally which had even formed a government with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) in the past.
All this, even as she lured state Congress working president Subrata Mukherjee into the Trinamool fold, signaling a coup ahead of the civic polls in Bengal on May 30.

Mukherjee had resigned from his post and joined TMC on the contention the Congress party had shown soft corner for the ruling Left Front in the state.

On May 2, while announcing candidates for all 141 seats in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, Banerjee had blamed the Congress party, which has already released a list of 88 candidates, for the collapse of alliance in the civic polls.

The break-up between the TMC and the Congress party for the Kolkata civic polls is a dent to the consolidation of an anti-communist front in the state. (ANI)

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If asked, ready to take up infrastructure development in Naxal areas: BRO chief

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): Border Road Organization (BRO) chief Lt. General M S Badhani on Wednesday said his organization is ready to take up infrastructural development in Naxal areas, if assigned.

Addressing media persons here, Lt. Gen Badhani said: “That (infrastructural development) is mainly the duty of state governments. If they provide better security to even civilian organizations and other government agencies, they too can work.”

“Right now our task is to concentrate in difficult areas and which are strategically more important. I feel Naxal affected areas are easy to access compared to border areas. If given a task we will handle it,” he added.

Lt General Badhani’s comment comes days after, lawmakers from the 33 most Naxal affected districts, urged Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to consider engaging the BRO in road construction work in Naxal-affected areas.

Commenting on the BRO decision to pull out from Operation HIRAK, Lt Gen Badhani said: “The project is almost complete, and we are re deploying the force, where there is an immediate requirement. The decision was taken at the highest level.”

Under operation HIRAK, the BRO had constructed National Highway 16, which passes through Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

He also said the BRO is seriously considering hiring helicopters of MI-17 class for the transportation of men and material to the most difficult areas.

“The BRO is in need of helicopters of MI-17 class, right now the Indian Air Force (IAF) is very busy, so it is difficult to get its support. Now we are considering to hire copters, from private bodies,” Lt General Badhani said.

He said discussions are on with many companies, including Pawan Hans.

Commenting on the massive infrastructure building by China on their side of the border, Lt Gen Badhani said the BRO was not a reactionary organization.

“ We are not a reactionary organization. For China, its very easy terrain, so they working on a massive scale, our side we have very difficult area,” he said.

We cannot react to China and build. The BRO works as per the requirements of the forces, if they require

He informed that, the BRO is upgrading and maintaining 26 National Highways totaling 5,873 kilometers spread across the North, North East and Central parts of India.

Under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) the BRO is working to provide connectivity to all district headquarters in the northeast from state capitals.

Of the 2,812 kilometer long project, the BRO is set to complete 725 kilometers.

Till now, the BRO has constructed approximately 48,300 kilometers of roads, 400 major permanent bridges of 36,000 m length and19 air fields in difficult and remote areas of the country.

The BRO is presently working on 699 roads approximately 28, 000 kilometers in length.

The BRO is maintaining 22,000 kilometers road and seven airfields. (ANI)

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Musharraf, Malik, other top PPP leaders to be quizzed in Bhutto assassination case

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 4 (ANI): Former President General Pervez Musharraf, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Law Minister Babar Awan and other Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders would be quizzed in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto by the fact finding committee constituted by the government following the UN committee’s report.

The decision was taken during PPP’s core committee’s meeting, which was presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to sources privy to the meeting, it was decided that all leaders who accompanied Bhutto during the election rally in Rawalpindi’s Liaqaut Bagh, where she was killed in a gun and bomb attack on December 27,2007, would be interrogated- “whether they belong to the PPP or not.”

Briefing media persons after the meeting, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said Malik told the core committee about the progress made by the three-men fact-finding committee looking into the hosing down of the Benazir’s assassination site.

He said the committee would question “some more people” before filing its report, which would be submitted to the Prime Minister within a month, The Daily Times reports. (ANI)

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India defaming Kashmir struggle by naming Saeed, Lakhvi in Mumbai attacks: JuD

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 4 (ANI): The Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), the front face of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba which had masterminded the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has condemned the special court’s verdict against the lone surviving gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab, and said India is trying to defame the Kashmir struggle by associating JuD chief Hafeez Muhammed Saeed and LeT’s operations chief Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi’s name with the 26/11 attacks.

“Right after the Mumbai attacks, Saeed categorically denied any involvement of his organisation in a press conference held the next day,” JuD’s spokesperson Yahya Mujahid told media persons here.

Mujahid asserted that Saeed has already been acquitted by the law of all charges labelled against him, which proves that he had nothing to do with the Mumbai attacks.

“After careful review and diligent hearings, a full bench of the Lahore High Court decided that all the accusations against Saeed were baseless,” The Daily Times quoted Mujahid, as saying.

On Monday, the anti-terrorism court set-up in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail found Kasab guilty of 83 of 86 charges filed against him.

The charges against Kasab include waging war against India, murder, abetting to murder, attempt to murder, violation of the Arms Act, Explosives Act, the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and others.

However, the court declared two Indian co-accused- Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed – not guilty, and said they must be acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence.

The special court is likely to announce its final verdict in the case today (Tuesday,May 4). (ANI)

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Police nab Lashkar militant in Hyderabad

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Hyderabad, May 4 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Police arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative here on Tuesday.

The militant has been identified as Mohammad Zia Ul Haq alias Abu Abdullah.

Addressing the media persons A K Khan, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, said that the militant was planning to commit a major incident in the twin cities (Hyderabad and Secunderabad).

“He was trying to commit a big action in Hyderabad. After an alert, and also after working out the information today he has been picked up along with the explosives and the fire arm that he had,” said Khan.

He further said that this militant was involved in the blast that took place at Odeon Theatre in the city during 2006.

Reportedly, Zia Ul Haq was studying in Saudi Arabia where he was roped in by the LeT operatives.

Two Chinese grenades, one Chinese 7.4 pistol with 6 rounds and one LG cell phone was recovered from his possession. (ANI)

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Dr. Singh a ‘visionary’ who has ‘his heart in the right place’: Qureshi

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thimpu, Apr.30 (ANI): Showering praise on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has described him as an ‘academic’ and a ‘visionary’ who has ‘his heart in the right place.’

Talking to media persons after a significant 50-minute long meeting between Dr. Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the XVIth South Asian Association for Regional Conference (SAARC) summit here, Qureshi said the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere, and that both the leaders resolved to solve the long pending issues between two countries.

“He (Dr. Singh) has his heart in the right place. He is a well-meaning man. He is an academic. He is a visionary. He wants to move on,” Qureshi said.

Qureshi said during the talks Gilani also invited Dr. Singh to visit Pakistan.

“Prime Minister Gilani invited him (Dr.Singh) to visit Pakistan. He said he would love to visit Pakistan,” The News quoted Gilani, as saying. (ANI)

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Brown’s insensitive “bigot” remark could be Labour Party’s final undoing

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 29 (ANI): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has probably cost his Labour Party crucial votes by his insensitive “bigot” remark to questions asked by a 65-year-old female pensioner.

Rochsdale resident Gillian Duffy asked questions about the Labour Party’s policies on debt, education and immigration which led Brown to call her a “bigoted” woman.

According to Lance Price, a former Downing Street adviser under Tony Blair “The party has lost not just hers, but potentially thousands of others who will listen to what she said and find that they agree. Does Brown think they are all bigots too?”

Initially unaware of the furore caused by his offhand remark, Brown is now desperate to make amends and is in damage control mode.

Parked outside the grandmother’s residence, the Prime Minister addressed media persons, issuing the most heartfelt apology he could muster, calling himself a “penitent sinner”. He even called up Duffy over the telephone and said he was absolutely “mortified” by his outburst, insisting he had been “misunderstood” reports The Telegraph.

Duffy was, understandably, not in such a forgiving mood, saying she was “gobsmacked” at his statement and wishing she could “rip-up” her postal vote that is in favour of Labour.

For Brown, this could be the last nail in his coffin. His frantic apologies look like a case of ‘too little, too late’. (ANI)

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PPP to file murder case against Musharraf for Bhutto’s assassination

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr.29 (ANI): The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has said that it would file a murder case against former President General Pervez Musharraf on the basis of the UN commission’s report on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

The enquiry report has indicted the then Musharraf regime for Bhutto’s death in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on 27 December 2007.

Talking to media persons during a press conference, PPP’s Central Secretary Jehangir Badar said: “Bhutto’s assassins would not be identified on the basis of personal enmity but by acting within the parameters of justice and rule of law.”

It is pertinent to mention that the UN enquiry commission’s report had blamed the Musharraf government of ‘deliberately’ failing to probe the December 2007 suicide attack, adding that the tragedy could have been averted if adequate security arrangements would have been in place.

“The Musharraf government failed to provide foolproof security to Ms. Bhutto which ultimately allowed a lethal assault on her. The security breach left wide-open room for an attack to happen,” the report said in its opening
remarks. (ANI)

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