Writ | SilverScorpio.Com

Prescription drug for Parkinson’s ‘can cause porn, gambling addiction’

June 4, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Sydney, June 4 (ANI): Two drug companies are being sued over allegations that prescription drugs manufactured by them for treating Parkinson’s disease are causing gambling and pornography addiction.

The group includes people who lost huge amounts of money and were facing family breakdowns as a result of compulsive gambling allegedly linked to drugs they took between 1997 and last year, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

A few exhibited compulsive sexual behaviour such as looking at pornography on the Internet.

They are suing Pfizer Australia, over its drug Cabaser and Aspen Pharmacare, which marketed and distributed the drug Permax in Australia.

Both drugs are known as ””dopamine agonists””, and mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain, which produces a ””rush””, and believed to cause risk-taking behaviour and addictions.

The Australian class action is being run by the law firm Arnold Thomas & Becker, which says in its writ filed with the Federal Court that Pfizer Australia and Aspen Pharmacare Australia had breached a duty of care by failing to research possible side effects of their drugs, or by failing to heed research into side effects.

A directions hearing will be held today. The drug companies have not yet been served with the writ and so, have not filed a response. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Agonists, Arnold Thomas Becker, Aspen Pharmacare, breakdowns, Cabaser, compulsive gambling, Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, duty of care, Gambling Addiction, morning herald, parkinson disease, Parkinson S Disease, Permax, Pfizer, Pfizer Australia, Porn Addiction, Pornography Addiction, prescription drugs, sydney morning herald, writ

IMG files defamation case against ECB chief

May 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Sports Marketing firm IMG has filed a defamation case against England Cricket Board chief Giles Clarke for claiming that it was part of suspended IPL chief Lalit Modi’s alleged plan to start a ‘rebel’ Twenty20 league.

According to a report in ‘The Daily Telegraph’, the “firm served Clarke with a writ for defamation yesterday”.

“IMG has carried through its threat to take Clarke to court unless he apologises for remarks in an email to the Indian board which allegedly accused the company of promoting rebel cricket,” the newspaper reported.

In an e-mail to the BCCI, Clarke had alleged that Modi and IMG were in talks with three counties to start a rebel league on the lines of IPL.

The allegations were rubbished by both Modi and IMG and they insisted that there were no underhand plans to start anything.

“The writ was served in the High Court Queen’s Bench Division and Clarke, who is in the Caribbean at the World Twenty20, will now have a period of time to acknowledge receipt and formulate his response to the action,” the newspaper said.

IMG has stated that Clarke’s remarks have dented the company’s reputation.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: allegations, BCCI, Bench Division, caribbean, daily telegraph, Defamation Case, e-mail, email, england cricket board, Giles Clarke, Img Files, Lalit, Marketing Firm, period of time, queen, receipt, reputation, sports marketing, three counties, writ

Pakistan still sees India as major threat, says top US general

May 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, May 8 (IANS) Pakistan still sees India as its major thereat even as it has stepped up action against militants realising the ‘very existential threat’ posed by the Pakistani Taliban and some of its allies, according to a top US general.

‘India is still seen as the major state-based threat,’ General David H. Petraeus, the head of US Central Command who has just returned from a visit to Pakistan said in an interview to Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington think tank.

‘In fact they’ve just completed an exercise, some 50,000 Pakistani military forces, similar to the old NATO exercises that we used to run in the days of the Cold War,’ he noted when asked if he had seen a shift in the Pakistani army’s thinking about its enemies.

‘So there’s no question about the image still in their mind of the threat that is posed by India to their security.’

‘Having said that, the most pressing threat that emerged to their very ‘writ of governance,’ as they term it, came to be seen as that posed by the Pakistani Taliban-again, in particular over the course of the last year or eighteen months,’ Petraeus said.

‘The developments of the last year in Pakistan are significant in that you saw the people, the leaders, and the bulk of the clerics all recognize the very existential threat that was posed by the Pakistani Taliban, the Tehrik-i-Taliban, and some of its allies,’ he said.

The Pakistani Taliban’s claim of responsibility for the failed Times Square bombing also highlights the potential threat ‘between some of these organizations and transnational extremism at large,’ the general said.

Formed in 2007, the Pakistani Taliban has almost exclusively targeted elements of the Pakistani state. But the attack on New York City suggests its ambitions are expanding.

‘There is clearly a symbiotic relationship between all of these different organizations; Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, TNSM [Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi],’said Petraeus.

He added that it’s not surprising that militants would look to wage attacks on American soil. ‘There are a lot of organizations out there that are wannabe international terrorist organizations,’ he said, ‘because that’s how you garner resources.’

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: afghan taliban, al-Qaeda, allies, ambitions, central command, clerics, Cold-War, council on foreign relations, enemies, extremism, governance, militants, military forces, nato exercises, pakistan india, Pakistani army, Symbiotic Relationship, Taliban, times square, writ

Swat Taliban claims responsibility for Timergara suicide bombing, target killings

April 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Peshawar, Apr 26(ANI): The Swat Taliban has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s suicide bombing in Timergara, and the recent killings of five anti-Taliban activists in different parts of the region.

Ten cops were injured in the suicide attack on April 24, when an explosives-laden car rammed into the police vehicle transporting Swat Police personnel on the Timergara Bypass.

Omar Hasan Ahrabi, the spokesman of the Swat Taliban, said that a Taliban bomber carried out the attack, but declined to reveal his identity.

Ahrabi also claimed responsibility for target killings of anti-Taliban activists in Mingora, Kuza Bandai and Dherai in Swat.

He further warned that anyone opposing or spying on the Taliban would not be spared by the organisation, and threatened the military that the death of every Taliban militant would be avenged.

“Allah’s writ, instead of government’s writ, would be restored in Swat

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: activists, allah, April 24, Bandai, Claims Responsibility, cops, explosives, killings, Omar Hasan, Police Swat, police vehicle, spokesman, Spying, Suicide attack, Suicide Bombing, Swat Police, Taliban, target, writ

Army to stay in Swat, Bajaur till all militants eliminated: Kayani

April 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.22 (ANI): Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has said that security forces would remain in the Swat Valley and Bajaur agency until each and every militant in the region is eliminated and sustainable peace is established.

Addressing a small gathering of people during his visit to the Valley, he said that the military has gained ‘unprecedented’ success in Swat by flushing out militants, and added that it was made possible because of the support of the people of the region.

“Terrorists had challenged the government’s writ and tried to establish a parallel government, but our brave forces, along with the local people, destroyed their nefarious designs,” The Daily Times quoted Kayani, as saying.

He said that the extremists, who were nabbed during the military’s offensive, would be tried in courts in accordance with the country’s law.

During his visit to the war-ravaged region, Kayani was also briefed over latest security situation and relief work being carried out in the area by the army. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: army chief, ashfaq, Bajaur, chief general, extremists, kayani, Latest Security, militants, Nefarious, Pakistan army, parallel government, pervez, security forces, security situation, sustainable peace, swat valley, terrorists, Unprecedented Success, writ

Impact of native title split unclear

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

It is not yet clear what impact a formal split between Aboriginal groups will have on negotiations over Woodside’s planned $30 billion gas hub in the Kimberley.

The proposed site for the LNG precint is north of Broome at James Price Point.

The Jabirr-Jabirr and Goolarabooloo people have had a joint claim over the land at the Point since 1994.

But, yesterday the Jabirr-Jabirr families, who have generally been supportive of the gas hub project and its $2 billion compensation package, voted to break away and submit their own native title claim over the crucial plot of land.

There were tense scenes at yesterday’s vote, with some traditional owners being escorted out of the meeting by security guards.

Jabirr-Jabirr spokesman Frank Parriman says the original claim group had become too dysfunctional to continue.

“My understanding is that, well, we’re withdrawn so I don’t know the real legal ramifications for that claim but my guess it has to be withdrawn itself and everyone will have to lodge new claims.

Goolarabooloo spokesman Joseph Roe has launched legal action to block the negotiations with Woodside.

Mr Roe has lodged a writ in the Federal Court in a bid to have the negotiations over the LNG precinct deemed invalid.

He say their views have been ignored by the Kimberley Land Council which has represented traditional owners in negotiations with Woodside for more than a year.

Legitimate

The KLC has been representing Indigenous interests in the region for more than three decades and has been funded by the State Government to strike a deal that will benefit all Aboriginal people in the Kimberley.

The Council’s Nolan Hunter says the impact of the split will be minor.

“My understanding is that it won’t change what happens with the gas process.”

The Premier Colin Barnett says the split does not undermine the role of the KLC in negotiating a gas hub compensation package.

“The Kimberley Land Council is the designated body under the Native Title Act to represent the interests of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley.

“It is the body the state must deal with under the Act so there is no question in my mind about the rights of the Kimberley Land Council.”

Mr Barnett says he remains optimistic that the deep opposition of some traditional owners can eventually be overcome, even that of Goolarabooloo spokesman Joseph Roe.

“I’ve met him on at least two occasions, he is not supportive of the project, although that has not always been the indication he’s given to me when we’ve met.

“I understand he personally doesn’t like (the project) but in discussions with him I believe he does understand the importance of it to improving education, health housing and particularly employment.”

Woodside is expecting to sign a deal with traditional owners within two months.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Aboriginal Groups, broome, Colin Barnett, compensation package, guess, Hub Project, Kimberley Land Council, Klc, Legal Ramifications, more than three decades, Native Title Act, nolan, plot of land, Precint, roe, security guards, state government, Tense Scenes, Woodside, writ

Deep divisions over gas hub

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The traditional owners of the land chosen for the planned Kimberley gas hub have decided to split into two rival native title groups.

There were tense scenes at a meeting of the Jabirr-Jabirr Goolarabaloo claimant group, with some traditional owners escorted out by security guards and others subjected to shouting and jeering.

Jeffrey Foy says the Kimberley Land Council manipulated the door-lists to keep opponents of the gas hub out.

“It’s a scam, it’s wrong. People should listen to the people.”

Jabirr-Jabirr spokesman Frank Parriman says the split between supporters and opponents of the LNG project became too much.

“We had a very important meeting planned in regards to out native title claim,” he said.

“Regrettably the meeting didn’t go as well as we planned, and at the end of the the day the Jabirr-Jabirr people left the room, and had a separate meeting, and decided to withdraw from the current native title.”

The $30 billion gas plant depends on Woodside accessing land at James Price Point, just north of Broome.

The group has been negotiating with Woodside for over a year to try to strike a deal.

However divisions have formed between supporters and opponents of the project and today the Jabirr-Jabirr group voted to break away and submit its own claim over the land.

While a majority of the Jabirr-Jabirr people have voted to support the project, a breakaway group, headed by Joseph Roe, has started legal action to block it.

The group has lodged a writ in the Federal Court in a bid to have the negotiations over the LNG precinct deemed invalid.

They say their views have been ignored by the KLC.

The executive director of the Kimberley Land Council, Wayne Bergmann, says he is not concerned about the challenge.

“The KLC is absolutely confident that the process that we carried out is absolutely fair and transparent and will stand up.

“If this process isn’t fair and transparent then it would raise question with every native title agreement across the country.”

The KLC says the legal action will not prevent a deal being struck between traditional owners and Woodside to allow the project to go ahead.

Mr Bergmann says the entire process has been transparent.

“This legal challenge I think means nothing to what will happen at the end of this process.

Woodside is expecting to sign a deal with traditional owners within two months.

What the split means for the negotiation process remains unclear.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: bergmann, Breakaway Group, broome, claimant, deep divisions, Executive Director, Foy, hub, James Price Point, Kimberley Land Council, Klc, lng project, negotiations, opponents, roe, security guards, spokesman, Tense Scenes, Woodside, writ

Kaira says PPP not following Musharraf’s foreign policy

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep. 11 (ANI): Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has clarified that Asif Ali Zardari Government is perusing its own foreign policies and not those formulated by Pervez Musharraf.

Kaira pointed out that peace in South Asia was not possible without achieving stability in Afghanistan.

The political process should be continued in Afghanistan and removal of foreign forces from Afghanistan would not ensure stability, the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

Kaira added that Pakistan is the victim of terrorism, and the government would continue to take action against all those who challenge its writ.

Denying any activity by US private security firm Blackwater in Pakistan, he said the PPP would never compromise on issues of national security.

On the question of by-election in Rawalpindi, Kaira said the provincial government had requested the federal government to postpone the election due to the poor law and order situation of the region. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: action, activity, Afghanistan, ANI, Asif Ali Zardari, blackwater, broadcasting, daily, denying, Election, federal government, firm, foreign policies, foreign policy, Government, information, Islamabad, kaira, law, law and order, minister, Musharraf, national security, order, Pakistan, Pakistan Information, peace, pervez, Pervez Musharraf, policy, ppp, private security, process, provincial government, qamar, question, rawalpindi, region, removal, security, Security Firm, Sep, Sep 11, situation, south-asia, stability, terrorism, times, US, victim, writ, zaman

Reservation for students in National Institute of Technology in Tripura

August 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): The Union Cabinet today approved the implementation of reservation for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to the National Institute of Technology in Jirania in Tripura.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 (CEI Act, 2006) was notified on January 4, 2007. Section 3 of the CEI Act, 2006 provides for reservation of seats in Central Educational Institutions, according to which, 15 per cent seats are reserved for the SC 7.5 per cent for the ST and 27 per cent for the OBC.

Section 4 (a) of the CEI Act, 2006 provides that the provisions of Section 3 of the Act shall not apply to a Central Educational Institution established in the tribal areas referred to in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) located at Jirania in the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council, Agartala was unable to extend the benefit of reservation to students belonging to OBC category in view of the non-applicability of the CEI Act, under Section 4 (a).

Several writ petitions were filed in Guwahati High Court, Agartala and High Court, New Delhi challenging applicability of reservation of the SCs and STs in NIT, Agartala while not extending the benefit of reservation to OBCs.

There was a popular demand from political parties and public representatives that the benefits of reservation for OBC should be extended to NIT Agartala in view of the substantial population of OBCs in the State.

A notification was issued with the approval of the President under Paragraph 12AA(c) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India on 13.7.2009 to the effect that provisions of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act shall apply to Jirania in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council in respect of Central Educational Institutions situated therein namely NIT, Agartala subject to modifications of Section 3, 4 and 6 of the CEI Act, 2006.

It benefits Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other socially and educationally Backward Classes of students. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: act, admission, agartala, ANI, applicability, approval, area, Aug, autonomous, Autonomous District, backward, benefit, cabinet, castes, category, CEI, cent, Central Educational, constitution, constitution of india, Council, Court, demand, district, educational institution, educational institutions, effect, Guwahati, High, implementation, India, institute, institute of technology, institution, January, january 4, Jirania, national, National Institute Of Technology, New Delhi, nit, notification, obc, OBCs, Other, paragraph, political parties, population, president, Public Representatives, reservation, respect, schedule, scheduled, SCS, section, section 3, sixth, state, STs, Technology, today, Tribal, tribal area, tribal areas, Tribes, tripura, union, union cabinet, view, writ, writ petitions

‘NWFP, FATA most unsafe region for journalists’

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Peshawar, Aug.26 (ANI): Monday’s incident in which an Afghan journalist, Janullah Hashimzada, was brutally murdered in Jamrud sub-division of Khyber Agency has once again highlighted that the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are the two most unsafe areas for journalists in the region.

About 12 journalists have been killed by extremists and many kidnapped since the Taliban established its writ in the region.

Musa Khan Khel, correspondent of The News and Geo News in Swat, was killed in February this year while returning home after covering a meeting of the banned Tanzim Nifaze Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM).

Another journalist from the Valley, Mohammad Shoaib, was shot dead by the security forces for alleged violation of curfew. He was taking his daughter to hospital when security personnel opened fire at him.

Similarly several media persons, who were constantly bringing the brutalities of the Taliban to the fore, have been killed by militants over the last one year.

While the government and the Army claims that extremists have been forced to retreat and the region is now safe for thousands of displaced people to return, there still exists severe threats to the lives, properties and families of media persons in NWFP and FATA, The News reports. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: administered, agency, ANI, army, Aug, correspondent, curfew, daughter, extremists, fata, February, federally, fire, fore, frontier province, geo, geo news, Government, Hashimzada, home, hospital, incident, jamrud, Janullah, journalist, journalists, khan, khan khel, Khel, khyber, media persons, meeting, militants, mohammad, Mohammad Shoaib, mohammadi, Monday, musa, NEWS, Nifaze, north west frontier, north-west, NWFP, peshawar, region, returning home, security, security forces, security personnel, Shariat-e, shoaib, swat, Taliban, tanzim, TNSM, Tribal, tribal areas, Unsafe Areas, valley, violation, writ, year

70 extremists killed in Taliban infighting in South Waziristan

August 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Aug.13 (ANI): At least 70 extremists have reportedly been killed in violent clashes between supporters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud and his rival Turkistan Bhittani.

According to sources, Mehusud’s loyalists attacked Bhittanni’s men in the Soor Gher area of Jandola in South Waziristan and torched 33 houses and nabbed 15 militants, besides killing seven others.

Intelligence officials said extremists used sophisticated weapons like mortars and anti-aircraft guns to target each other.

However, the casualties could not be verified independently as the attack took place in remote hills of the region.

“The local administration has no writ in the area and we have no information about the number of casualties,” The Dawn quoted a senior official, as saying.

Bhittani, who enjoys government’s support, has emerged as one of the main rivals of Mehsud in the region. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: administration., aircraft guns, ANI, area, attack, Aug, Baitullah, baitullah mehsud, Bhittani, Bhittanni, casualties, dawn, extremists, Gher, Government, infighting, information, intelligence, intelligence officials, Islamabad, Jandola, local administration, loyalists, Mehsud, Mehusud, militants, mortars, number, official, Pakistan, place, region, rivals, Soor, Sophisticated Weapons, South Waziristan, support, Taliban, Tehreek-e, ttp, Turkistan, violent clashes, writ

No proposal to privatize Air India and Airport Authority: Patel

July 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel ruled out disinvestments of Air India (AI) and Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Patel said there is no such proposal before the government and also said that the government is not considering Initial Public Offer (IPO) at this stage.

For the members demand to roll back the development fee collected by the privatized airports, Patel said the government had constituted Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) entrusted with the responsibility of deciding on the issue.

Members suggested that partners should develop airports from their own funds and once they complete the works, they could charge development fees.

The Delhi and Mumbai airports were charging development fees from passengers against whom the Resources of Aviation Redressal

Association (ROAR) had protested, but there was no protest in this regard from International Air Transport Authority (IATA). ROAR has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court on the matter, Patel informed the house.

Patel informed that out of the total cost of around Rs 9,000 crore, about Rs 5,500 crore has already been spent and the AAI had taken up development work on Chennai and Kolkata airports.

Replying to another question, Patel said there was no shortage of pilots in the country and the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA) has been modernized to increase its annual capacity from 40 to 100 candidates.

A world-class flying training institute at Gondia in Maharashtra has been set up with capacity to train 110 candidates annually, including 10 for Commercial Helicopter Pilot, Patel informed the house.

Patel said the government was supporting other flying clubs by providing trainer aircraft through Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aero-Club of India (ACI).

Patel assured the house that congestion in air traffic in Delhi would be considerably reduced and the taxiing time for aircraft brought down once the new terminal under construction became operational in 2010. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: AAI, academy, ACI, AERA, Aero, Aero Club, air, air india, aircraft, airport, airport authority of india, airport authority of india aai, ANI, association, authority, aviation, capacity, Chennai, civil, Civil Aviation, club, commercial, Commercial Helicopter Pilot, congestion, construction, cost, country, Court, crore, Delhi, delhi high court, Development, dgca, directorate, economic, fee, Flying Clubs, general, Gondia, Government, helicopter, High, house, IATA, IGRUA, India, Indira Gandhi, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy, Initial Public Offer, institute, international, International Air Transport, IPO, issue, July, Kolkata, lok, lok sabha, Maharashtra, matter, minister, Mumbai, New Delhi, offer, patel, petition, pilot, praful, praful patel, proposal, protest, Public, question, rashtriya, redressal, regard, regulatory, Replying, responsibility, roar, sabha, shortage, stage, terminal, time, traffic, trainer, trainer aircraft, training, transport, transport authority, Uran, work, writ, writ petition

Cannot allow nuke power Pak to fall into terrorists hands: Sarkozy

July 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Paris, July 9 (ANI): French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that it cannot allow nuclear power Pakistan to fall into the hands of the Taliban and other extremist organizations, which have been challenging the writ of the government.

In an interview with France 5 television, Sarkozy warned that international community can not afford to let the Taliban and other extremist groups succeed in their nefarious aims of toppling the Pakistan government to lay their hands on the nuclear armaments.

Sarkozy said he would be visiting Pakistan later this year.

“I will go to Pakistan before the end of the year.

Pakistan is a nuclear power and we cannot allow it to fall into terrorist hands,” The Dawn quoted Sarkozy, as saying.

Referring to the US led allied forces military campaign in Afghanistan against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, where France has deployed its 2,800 troops, he said success against the extremists in Pakistan is the key to success in Afghanistan.

“We will not succeed in Afghanistan if we fail in Pakistan,” Sarkozy said.

He highlighted that it was France’s interest that Islamabad succeeded against the insurgents.

“France supports the Pakistani authorities. We have launched an in-depth collaboration. It is in our interest that Pakistan succeeds in its struggle against the Taliban,” Sarkozy added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: al-Qaeda, allied forces, extremist groups, Extremist Organizations, extremists, france 5 television, french president nicolas, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, insurgents, military campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy, Nuclear Armaments, nuclear power, Nuke Power, Pakistan government, pakistani authorities, power pak, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Taliban, writ

Gujarat HC judge declines to hear case against Modi

July 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ahmedabad, July 7 (ANI): A Gujarat High Court judge has declined to hear a case challenging a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) against state Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Citing personal reasons, Justice H N Devani in the High Court said: “Not before me”.

The court was scheduled to hear the case as SIT officials, complainant Zakia Jafri and social activist Teesta Setalvad have already filed their replies.

The writ petition was filed on June 5 by former BJP MLA from Lunavada, Kalu Maliwad against the probe being conducted by SIT with regard to a complaint made by widow of ex-MP from Congress Ahsan Jafri.

In her complaint Jafri ‘s wife alleged that Modi, his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted post-Godhra riots.

Jafri was killed with 38 persons in Gulberg society in 2002.

The Supreme Court had ordered the SIT to probe the complaint within three months and submit its report. Maliwad, who was acquitted, has said that the Supreme Court directed the SIT to look into Jafri’s complaint. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: activist, Ahmedabad, ahsan, Ahsan Jafri, ANI, bjp, Bjp Mla, bureaucrats, cabinet, cabinet colleagues, case, Chief, Chief Minister, complainant, complaint, Congress, Court, court judge, Devani, ex, Godhra, Gujarat, gujarat hc, gujarat high court, Gulberg, hc judge, High, investigation, investigation team, Jafri, judge, July, June, Justice H N Devani, Kalu, Lunavada, Maliwad, minister, mla, Modi, narendra, personal reasons, petition, police, police officials, post, probe, regard, report, riots, Setalvad, sit, society, state, supreme, team, Teesta, Teesta Setalvad, three months, widow, wife, writ, writ petition, Zakia

Now, radical British Islamic group planning “bloodless military coup” in Pak

July 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 5 (ANI): The writ of the Pakistan government is not only under threat from the ever expanding Taliban, but fears are also rife that British extremists may try to topple the democratic set-up of the country, as an Islamic fundamentalist group, Hizb- ut-Tahrir (HuT) is pushing for a “bloodless military coup” to establish an orthodox Islamic rule in the troubled nation .

A report in The Times has revealed that the members of the HuT, who call themselves as the Liberation party in Britain, is working overtime to establish a caliphate in Pakistan, under which strict Islamic laws would rigorously be enforced.

The group, which is banned in Pakistan, plans to make Islamabad its base, from where it could plan and spread Islamic rule across the globe.

There are several British activists of the HuT who are based in Lahore and Karachi, and are secretly working towards their objective.

Tayyib Muqeem, an English teacher from Stoke-on-Trent, has now stationed himself in Lahore, and has established a Hizb ut-Tahrir student group in Superior College here, the report said.

“The organisation’s aim was to subject Muslim and western countries to Islamic rule under sharia law, ‘by force’ if necessary,” said Muqueem.

The tenacity with which the organization is working can be gauged from the fact it aims to establish a state where stoning to death, and chopping of limbs would be common punishments for those who would defy the ‘caliphate’.

“In a caliphate, “every woman would have to cover up” and stoning to death for adultery and the chopping off of thieves’ hands would be the law,” Muqueem said.

Non-Muslim countries would be forced to accept the law by all means, the group aims.

“Islamic rule would be spread through “indoctrination” and by “military means” if non-Muslim countries refused to bow to it. “Waging war” would be part of the caliphate’s foreign policy,” Muqueem added.

The dangerous aims of the outfit also include influencing certain officers of the Pakistan Army to help it succeed in the nefarious goals, the report further revealed.

Terming the present Pakistan government as “worse than the Taliban”, spokesman of the group, Shahzad Sheikh said persuading the army to instigate a “bloodless coup” against the present government would be their prime motive.

“It is the military who hold the power in Pakistan and we are asking them to give their allegiance to Hizb ut-Tahrir,” said Sheikh, who is a Pakistani recruit of the HuT.

The group is believed to have been set up in Pakistan in the early 1990s by one Imtiaz Malik.

Malik is still believed to be in the country, and working as its commander from an undisclosed location, the report said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: adultery, aim, allegiance, ANI, army, base, Britain, British, caliphate, chopping, college, commander, country, coup, death, english, English Teacher, fact, force, globe, Government, group, Hizb, hut, imtiaz, indoctrination, instigate, Islamabad, Islamic, Islamic Fundamentalist Group, islamic group, islamic laws, Islamic Rule, July, karachi, Lahore, law, liberation, Liberation Party, location, London, malik, Military Coup, motive, Muqeem, Muqueem, Muslim, muslim countries, nation, non, objective, organisation, organization, outfit, overtime, Pak, Pakistan, Pakistan government, part, party, planning, policy, power, punishments, recruit, report, rule, shahzad, sharia, sheikh, spokesman, spread, state, Stoke-on, stoke-on-trent, student, Student Group, Superior, Superior College, Tahrir, Taliban, Tayyib, teacher, tenacity, Terming, the, threat, times, Troubled Nation, UT, waging, war, western countries, woman, writ

Pak, Afghan important but not at cost of India: Blake

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, July 1 (ANI): The United States has made it clear that India remains one of its most important allies.

Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake told a US daily that Pakistan and Afghanistan are important allies of the United States, but not at the cost of India.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan are strategic priorities, but I do not want to imply that comes at the expense of India. India will continue to be also a strategic priority for the United States,” Blake said.

Responding to a question, Blake said America intends to continue to consult ‘friends’ in India on issues relating to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

e said that India should not be concerned about American assistance to Pakistan and that the huge financial aid being offered to Pakistan will benefit it in the long run.

“All of those things should be very much in India’s interest as well. I think the people of India should support and agree with what we are trying to do,” The News quoted Blake, as saying.

Blake, who met a delegation of Indian MPs’ here, said the main objective behind sending aid to Pakistan is to help the troubled nation overcome its economic challenges and to extend the writ of the government.(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Afghanistan, aid, allies of the united states, america, American Assistance, ANI, assistance, assistant, assistant secretary, cost, delegation, economic challenges, expense, financial aid, Government, India, India india, India-Pakistan, Indian, Indian Mps, interest, July, July 1, main objective, mps, nation, NEWS, objective, Pak, Pakistan, People Of India, priorities, priority, question, Robert Blake, run, secretary, secretary of state, south-asia, state, Troubled Nation, United States, US, Washington, writ

“India should not worry about U.S. assistance to Pakistan”, says Robert Blake

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, July 1(ANI): The United States on Tuesday rejected India’s concern over American assistance to Pakistan, said that the Indians should not worry about Washington’s support for Islamabad, as the assistance is to overcome Pakistan’s economic and militancy challenges.

Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, rejected the concern, which asserted that Pakistan might divert U.S. aid to build up its forces against India.

“I do not think India needs to be concerned about U.S. assistance to Pakistan. As you know, the new focus in terms of our relationship with Pakistan is to dramatically increase economic assistance to help that country overcome its economic challenges and to extend the writ of the government to other parts of Pakistan,” The News quoted Blake, as saying.

“All of those things should be very much in India’s interest as well. I think the people of India should support and agree with what we are trying to do,” he added.

Blake highlighted that Pakistan is focused on dealing with the extremist problems, and the Pakistan government is taking actions, which have been in interest of the country.

“We think this represents a very important development and we should give the Government of Pakistan encouragement to continue this process of confronting the extremists inside Pakistan,” Blake said.

Blake also stated that Washington intends to have continuous support from the Indian government.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Afghanistan, aid, American Assistance, ANI, assistance, assistant, assistant secretary, concern, continuous support, country, Development, economic assistance, economic challenges, encouragement, expense, extremist, extremists, focus, Government, government of pakistan, India, India india, Indian Government, interest, Islamabad, July, militancy, new focus, NEWS, Pakistan, Pakistan government, Pakistan news, priority, process, relationship, Robert Blake, secretary, secretary of state, south-asia, state, support, Tuesday, United States, US, Washington, writ

Ominous portents of Taliban’s expanding writ as it claims responsibility for POK blast

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Muzaffarabad, June 27 (ANI): After purportedly being pushed out of the Swat and Malakand Divisions by the Pakistan Army, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in an apparent bid to expand its regime of terror, has claimed responsibility for the suicide strike in Muzaffarabad in which two security personnel were killed and three others injured here on Friday.

Claiming the responsibility for the attack, a deputy to the TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud, Hakimullah Mehsud, said the attack was in retaliation against the recent strikes carried out on its hideouts.

Mehsud said the suicide attack has proved that the Taliban is not weakened by the military’s offensive against the banned organization.

The attack, which took place in the army barracks in Shaukat Lines, was the first of its kind in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to sources, the attack was carried out by a bearded man supposedly in his twenties.

The attacker entered the barracks used by non-commissioned security personnel and blew himself up around 6.30 in the morning.

“The bomber was intercepted by a soldier whom he tried to engage in a conversation presumably to attract other soldiers around for causing maximum casualties’ and then blew himself up,” The Dawn quoted an official, as saying.

The blast was so powerful that it destroyed several army vehicles parked near by.

Meanwhile, the authorities have tightened security across the region and are conducting massive search operations.

In a latest development, the Muzaffarabad police arrested more than five dozen Afghan nationals, and other people belonging to the Frontier province.

Sources said all those who have nabbed by the police lacked proper identification documents. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ANI, army, Army Barracks, Army Vehicles, attack, attacker, Baitullah, baitullah mehsud, barracks, Bearded Man, bid, blast, bomber, casualties, conversation, dawn, deputy, Development, divisions, dozen, Friday, frontier, frontier province, Hakimullah, hideouts, identification, June, Kashmir, kind, Malakand, man, massive search, maximum, Mehsud, military, morning, muzaffarabad, official, Ominous, organization, Pakistan, Pakistan army, place, pok, police, portents, province, regime, region, responsibility, retaliation, search, search operations, security, security personnel, Shaukat, soldier, strike, suicide, Suicide attack, swat, Taliban, Tehrik-e, terror, ttp, writ

Pak Army executing ‘campaign plan’ to beat Taliban with minimum losses : Kayani

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Rawalpindi, June 26 (ANI): The Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has said that the security forces would certainly be able to establish control over the region captured by the Taliban and other militants, as the army is “executing a campaign plan” to achieve its target without much collateral damage.

Addressing security personnel in South Waziristan where the army has launched an extensive operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, General Kayani stressed that the insurgents would be eliminated, and the government’s writ would be re-established in the region soon.

“The Pakistan Army is executing a deliberate campaign plan to achieve the desired end state of re-establishing the writ of the state while ensuring minimum loss of life and damage to property,” The Daily Times quoted General Kayani, as saying.

General Kayani was on a day long visit to South Waziristan to gain on-field information about the operation, and boost the morale of the troops deployed in the area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ANI, area, army, army staff, ashfaq, Baitullah, baitullah mehsud, beat, campaign, Campaign Plan, Chief, chief of army, COAS, collateral, collateral damage, control, daily, damage, day, Deliberate Campaign, end, General Kayani, Government, information, Inter, inter-services, ispr, June, life, loss, Mehsud, militants, minimum losses, morale, operation, Pak, pak army, Pakistan, Pakistan army, plan, property, Public, rawalpindi, region, security, security forces, security personnel, South Waziristan, staff, state, Taliban, target, Tehreek-e, times, visit, writ

Pak readying ‘exit policy’ for security forces stationed in NWFP

June 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Peshawar, June 20 (ANI): The Pakistan government is preparing an’exit policy’ for the army currently stationed in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and engaged in a gruesome battle against the Taliban and other extremists.

Talking to media persons at Governor’s House here, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the government has allocated 25 billion rupees to enhance the capability of civil armed forces.

“We are preparing an exit policy for the army, and for this reason, the government has allocated 25 billion rupees for the capacity building of police, the Levies Force and the Frontier Corps,” The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

Gilani said the aid earmarked for the army would be spent over the next two years, and it would primarily be utilized for training and providing equipments needed for a sound civil administration in troubled regions.

When enquired about the government’s decision to initiate a war in Waziristan similar to the one in Swat, Gilani said the government would take action against the extremists wherever in the country they challenge its writ.

“The government has no intention of ordering an operation everywhere, but we will take action where the writ of the state is being challenged,” he said.

Gilani also rejected any conciliation with the Taliban, saying they (Taliban) must surrender to the security forces.

“The only way out for them is to surrender,” said Gilani. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: action, administration., aid, ANI, army, battle, building, capability, capacity, capacity building, civil administration, conciliation, corps, country, daily, decision, exit, extremists, force, frontier province, gilani, Government, governor, house, intention, June, Levies, media persons, minister, north west frontier, north-west, NWFP, operation, Pak, Pakistan, Pakistan government, peshawar, police, policy, prime, raza, reason, rupees, security, security forces, sound, state, swat, Taliban, times, training, Troubled Regions, war, way, waziristan, writ, yousuf