Karzai for stronger ties with Pakistan

Posted on May 15, 2012 by AHKhan

Hamid Karzai has said that Afghanistan wants stronger relations with Pakistan.

Giving an interview to Russian media, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that in spite of all the difficulties, all the terrorist attacks on Afghanistan, all the sanctuaries, all the problems in Pakistan, all the attackers that come from across the border into Afghanistan, we ve kept a very strong dialogue with Pakistan alive.

He said that we ve kept very strong efforts to have a strong relationship with Pakistan. And I ve visited Pakistan more than all the other Afghan leaders in the past 60 years, since the creation of Pakistan. So we are aware of this, and we are constantly in a strong dedicated effort to do well with Pakistan and with our other neighbours.

Hamid Karzai said that we don t see our relations with Pakistan from an American perspective. Speaking about Drone attacks, Karzai said that it s a Pakistan issue with the US.

He said that as an individual and a pacifist, I am in no way in favour of drone attacks. And the Afghan territory is not used based on our agreement. The drones were used primarily from the Pakistani territory itself for years. Now I don t know what the arrangement is. So the drone issue isn t an Afghan issue.

Tehran slams S-Arabia, Behrain union plan

Posted on May 14, 2012 by AHKhan

MPs term proposal as unwise, warn the plan will push the region towards insecurity.

Iranian MPs on Monday condemned a planned union between Saudi Arabia and fellow Sunni-ruled Bahrain, news agencies reported.

“Bahraini and Saudi rulers must understand that this unwise decision will only strengthen the Bahraini people s resolve against the forces of occupation,” they said in a letter, referring to Saudi military support for Manama.

The letter, read out in the 290-member parliament and signed by 190 MPs, warned that “the crisis in Bahrain will be transferred to Saudi Arabia and will push the region towards insecurity.”

Gulf Cooperation Council leaders at a summit on Monday were expected to discuss a Saudi proposal to develop their six-nation council into a union, reportedly starting with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The exact nature of the union, first floated by Saudi King Abdullah in December, remains unclear. But Bahrain s state minister for information, Samira Rajab, has said it could follow the “European Union model.”

The proposal comes after Bahrain was shaken last year by demonstrations led by its majority Shiite population calling for political reforms.

Shiite-dominated Iran supports the demonstrators demands and strongly condemned a deployment of Saudi-led forces in Bahrain in March 2011 when a month of street protests was crushed.

Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of Bahrain s main Shiite opposition formation Al-Wefaq, has said any union project must first be put to a referendum.

“The people of Bahrain alone have the right to” decide, he said, adding the kingdom s ruling “Al-Khalifa (dynasty) has no right to decide a union or confederation with any country.”

The GCC was formed in 1981 when the Sunni-dominated monarchies of the Gulf aimed to bolster security after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran which was followed by an eight-year war between Baghdad and Tehran.

High-level meeting ponders US, NATO ties

Posted on May 14, 2012 by AHKhan

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is also attending the meeting.

It has been learnt that Pakistan’s estranged relations with US and NATO are on the top agenda of the meeting.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani are co-chairing the meeting.

The meeting is reviewing Pakistan s relations with the United States and NATO in the light of Parliament s recommendations. The meeting is also discussing the regional security situation.

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is also attending the meeting.

Blast at Mal Mandi leaves 9 injured

Posted on May 14, 2012 by AHKhan

PESHAWAR: At least nine people were injured including a minor when bomb exploded on Ring Road near Mal Mandi, SP Ruler Shafi Ullah said here on Sunday.

He said the attack apparently targeted a police check post situated nearby and the outer wall of the check post with a vehicle parked was also damaged.

SP Shafi Ullah said that soon after the blasts the officials of law enforcement agencies, workers of rescue 1122 and Edhi ambulances rushed to the spot by starting the relief activities and shifted the injured to Lady Ready Hospitals for medical treatment.

SP Shafi Ullah also confirmed that 5 kg of explosive material was used by the miscreants. The officials of the law enforcing agencies have cordoned off the area and a search operation was started to arrest those involved in sabotage activities.

Wave of violence kills 2 in Karachi

Posted on May 14, 2012 by AHKhan

KARACHI: At least two men were killed and two people injured when some unidentified armed men on Sunday opened fire on a car in Dohraji area of the city.

News reported that the assailants attacked the car near famous Rangoon Wala Hall, resultantly an administrator of a Madrasa (religious school) Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri and three others were injured.

Rescue teams rushed at the spot and shifted the injured to the Jinnah Hospital where two the injured were pronounced dead.

BCCI says ‘no objection’ to Pakistan’s inclusion in CLT20;

Posted on May 12, 2012 by AHKhan

After being continuously snubbed by the Champions League stakeholders. Pakistan is said to be included in the Champions League Twenty 20 for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Sources suggest, that BCCI, in an unprecedented manner, has announced that it will recommend the event’s governing council that the Indian board has no objection over any Pakistani team’s inclusion in the tournament.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been making efforts to feature a Pakistani domestic team in the mega event ever since its launch in 2009.

A number of domestic teams have recently gained fame inside the country, ever since the country is absent of international matches the domestic leagues, have grabbed much attention from the Pakistani cricket fans.

Teams like Karachi Dolphins, Lahore Lions and Rawalpindi Rams have the potential and talent to compete at that level, however, Sialkot Stallions who have won the Pakistan Domestic T20 tournament over the years, is the number one contender to represent Pakistan in the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

Lanka refuses to host Pak-Australia series

Posted on May 12, 2012 by AHKhan

Pakistan starts negotiations with other countries about hosting the series, including UAE and Malays

Sri Lanka has dropped plans to host a limited overs series between Pakistan and Australia in August as it clashes with the island s Premier League, Pakistani cricket officials said Saturday.

“It s disappointing,” Pakistan Cricket Board s chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmed, told.
“Initially the SLC (Sri Lankan Cricket) offered to host the series and we stopped negotiating with others.”

Since Sri Lanka told Pakistan of its decision Friday, Pakistan had started negotiations with other countries about hosting the series, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia, he said.

“We are looking for other venues to host Australia… and hope to finalise it soon,” said Ahmed.

Pakistan is due to play five one-day and three Twenty20 matches against Australia from mid-August, the dates of which are yet to be finalised.

Pakistan has been a “no go” zone for international teams since March 2009 terrorists attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, which left eight people dead and wounded seven visiting players and their assistant coach.

Pakistan has since had to play its home games in neutral venues such as the UAE, England and New Zealand.

Even before the 2009 attack, foreign teams had refused to tour Pakistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States in 2001 that sparked security concerns in and around the country.

Australia has not toured Pakistan since 1998 and forced their hosts to play in Sri Lanka, the UAE and England.

Ahmed said that playing the upcoming series in Sri Lanka after its Premier League was not an option as the country would then be preparing to host the World Twenty20, from September 18 to October 8.

Despite the development, he refused to accept Pakistan was isolated in the cricket world: “I will not accept that Pakistan is isolated, because other countries were willing to host the series.”

Bangladesh were also forced to postpone a planned tour last month after the Dhaka High court ruled Pakistan was “not safe” for the country s players on a petition filed against the two-match series.

Ghee, oil prices up by Rs 10/kg in Multan

Posted on May 12, 2012 by AHKhan

Prices of oil and ghee have surged by Rs 27 in last two months in local markets.

The prices of cooking oil and ghee were increased by around Rs 10 per kg in the retail markets of Multan.

Oil mill owners said that prices have been increased to cope with production cost and it was impossible to supply ghee or oil at Rs 183 per kilogram to the market.

Consumers said that the city district government seemed to have no interest in the affairs of the public who face the burden of the ever-soaring inflation

Consumers were of the view that the increase would squeeze further purchasing power of the masses while inflation and unemployment have already reached its peak in the country.

May 12 tragedy: Lawyers observe ‘Black Day’

Posted on May 12, 2012 by AHKhan

Lawyers will observe Black Day today as mark of protest against killing of lawyers in 2007.

Lawyers in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will observe Black Day today on the call of Supreme Court Bar Association, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Punjab Bar Council and other lawyers’ organizations as a mark of protest and condemnation against the killing of lawyers and other citizens in Karachi on the same day in 2007 during the lawyers’ movement for restoration of judiciary.

The lawyers will boycott courts and wear black arm bands while black flags will be hoisted at all bar rooms.

People’s Lawyers Forum Rawalpindi president has demanded of the Chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the incident.

PM Gilani cancels visit to Birmingham

Posted on May 12, 2012 by AHKhan

The Prime Minister has been forced to cancel a visit to rally in Birmingham over security fears.

Yousaf Raza Gilani planned to address thousands of supporters at the International Convention Centre on Saturday, BirminghamMail reported.

The “community meeting” was suddenly scrapped for fears of a “serious security breach by protesters,” according to a Pakistani official who helped organise the PM’s UK visit.

The unnamed official said: “It was left to the High Commission of Pakistan in London to make the necessary security arrangements but it was decided the rally had too many risks attached to it.

“Any boisterous situation could develop which could be a public relations disaster for the prime minister who is already under a lot of pressure.”

News of the cancellation came after Pakistan’s Supreme Court convicted Mr Gilani of contempt for failing to instigate an investigation into allegations of corruption by country’s president Asif Zardari.

The ruling could see Gilani forced to stand down and be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament for five years.
In a 2010 rally at the ICC in Birmingham President Zardari was attacked with a shoe by a protester from Coventry who later received a police caution.

Birmingham-based opponents of Pakistan People’s Party said they had been planning mass demonstrations outside the ICC today but were not aware of any threats to his safety.

Mohammed Nazam, of the Kashmir Independence Alliance, said: “The truth is that it is too embarrassing for Gilani to appear in Birmingham after he has been so publicly humiliated by the Supreme Court.

“His President had a shoe thrown at him when he last visited Birmingham and I guess Gilani fears he will get an equally cold reception.”

Mr Gilani arrived in the UK on Tuesday and attended the state opening of Parliament in London before meeting David Cameron.