Issues resolved with out any US threat: Clinton

WASHINGTON :Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Monday that Pakistan's reinstatement of a deposed Supreme Court chief justice will allow Islamabad to return its attention to the crucial fight against Taliban and al Qaeda militants operating along the Afghan border.

As part of intense diplomatic efforts over the weekend, Clinton called both US-allied President Asif Ali Zardari and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.

Zardari had refused to restore the independent-minded judge Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, prompting threats from Sharif's followers to march on the capital, raising fears of political instability in the nuclear-armed country.

Clinton told reporters that Pakistan's decision was "a first step of what has to be an ongoing reconciliation and compromising of political views that can stabilize civilian democracy and rule of law, both of which are essential to ... preventing extremism and violence from stalking the Pakistani people and the country."

When asked if the political turmoil was distracting Pakistan from the fight against extremists, Clinton said, "I think they understand what's at stake."

The United States, Clinton said after meeting at the State Department with Ireland's foreign minister, will continue to work closely with Pakistan. She said the consultations were part of "an ongoing effort to make our services available and to help the Pakistanis fight against our common enemies."

Sensitive to the perception that US pressure had forced Zardari's hand, Clinton was careful to say that the "Pakistanis themselves resolved the difficulties" — without any US threat or demand.

Earlier, a senior State Department official said that Clinton, in her calls, raised the prospect that US lawmakers could back away from US economic aid for Pakistan because of the turmoil. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a private diplomatic exchange.

President signs summary of judges restoration

ISLAMABD:President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the summary of the restoration of the deposed judges on Tuesday and sent back it to the prime minister.

Earlier, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had sent the advice for reinstatement of deposed judges to President Zardari.

According to sources, the Law Ministry had sent the summary of judges restoration to the Prime Minister.

The notification for restoration of deposed judges including chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will be issued by today, sources added.

North Korean premier arrives in China

North Korea Premier Kim Yong-Il arrived in China on Tuesday for a five-day visit that coincides with the 60th anniversary celebration of diplomatic ties between the two countries, state media said.The visit is the first for Kim, who was elected in 2007.He is not related to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, who controls the country's military.As premier, Kim oversees economic policy and appoints ministers who are then confirmed by parliament.North Korea is one of China's closest allies and important trading partners.China is also hosting talks -- involving Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States -- that are aimed at persuading North Korea to scrap its nuclear program.North Korea has said it will soon launch a "satellite" into space that U.S. and South Korean officials say is a cover for test-firing a long-range missile.The missile, Taepodong-2, is thought to have an intended range of about 4,200 miles (6,700 kilometers) that, if true, could give it the capability of striking Alaska or Hawaii.

New book on Ghani Khan published

PESHAWAR: Qalam Taqat Literary Society has published a new book on the literary achievements of Ghani Khan, the legendary Pakhtun poet and philosopher.The publication titled ‘Ghani Khan — Da Pakhto Adab Da Shalom Sadai Shakhsiat’ is a thesis by late Fazli Ghani Ghani, the eminent Pakhtun writer who was killed when a suicide bomber targeted the house of Asfandyar Wali Khan on October 2, 2008. The book spanning 115 pages is available for Rs100. Since his college days, Fazli Ghani Ghani (Shaheed) was greatly inspired by Ghani Khan’s life and works. Being an enlightened nationalist himself, Fazli Ghani Ghani always appreciated Ghani Khan’s nationalistic fervour, his ecstatic poetry and his deep philosophical thought. A time came that the two Ghanis found themselves in a stronger bond of mutual trust and friendship. He was a regular visitor to Ghani Khan’s study room where they would sit for hours.Based on his interviews with Ghani Khan, the writer delves deep into Ghani Khan’s works and discovers him from quite new and refreshing angles. He discusses Ghani Khan’s themes of love, beauty, truth and death with the mastery of a prolific writer and seasoned critic.Many others wrote about Ghani Khan’s literary achievements and they wrote pretty well but this thesis written by one of Ghani Khan’s most trusted fan is totally different in its approach and contents. Fazli Ghani Ghani does not rely on accounts written by other people but he himself observes Ghani Khan from a very close angle, talking and laughing with him, learning from him and asking him why is he so different from others?Literary circles have applauded Azad Hashtnagri for publishing this original and refreshing thesis by his uncle Fazli Ghani Ghani (Shaheed) that discovers Ghani Khan in his true artistic and philosophical colours.

Parents seek help for treatment of minor terrorism victim

PESHAWAR: The parents of a five-year-old kid, who had sustained serious injuries in a terrorism act at the Ring Road here on February 5, have appealed to NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and philanthropists for his medical treatment.Five-year-old Hamza suffered multiple injuries when unknown terrorists started firing on Saadullah Khan advocate, former president of the Charsadda Bar Association. In the incident that occurred in jurisdiction of the Paharipura police, the lawyer was killed on the spot along a minor girl, Naila, who along others were playing at the roadside. A colleague of the deceased lawyer, Anwarul Habib, and the innocent Hamza got wounded in the attack.Hamza sustained bullet injuries to his face, chest and liver while the doctors operated upon him twice. However, his liver and diaphragm were adversely affected. The father of the child, a rickshaw driver, has so far spent Rs80,000 on his medical treatment. The doctors have recommended another operation that could be carried out only at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Islamabad. The treatment at Pims, according to the doctors, might cost up to Rs200,000, which the parents of Hamza could not pay due to abject poverty.Hamza has been writhing in pain for the 40 days at the Lady Reading Hospital’s Orthopaedic Ward looking for the much-awaited treatment. The desperate parents are awaiting financial help for the kid’s treatment. The parents of the patient could be contacted on cellular number 0346-5667290.

Obama wants to distance economic plan, AIG rescue

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is scrambling to assure Americans he is keenly aware of public outrage over taxpayer-backed bonuses for AIG executives, lest his own economic plan get caught up in the outcry.

"How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?" Obama asked, referring to AIG's management.

Obama spoke a day after it came to light that bonuses worth $165 million were being paid to executives at American International Group, a giant insurance company that is receiving up to $180 billion in federal bailout money.

The issue posed a challenge for Obama. He faces the unwelcome possibility of having the public associate AIG's taxpayer-backed bonuses with Obama's own economic agenda at a time when Americans are being asked to swallow some big numbers.

Since taking office nine weeks ago, Obama has proposed a $3.55 trillion budget for fiscal 2010. He has gained congressional approval of a $787 billion economic stimulus package and last week he signed a $410 billion budget bill for the rest of 2009.

In addition, the administration is soon to unveil a plan to remove toxic assets from banks that will likely mean more bailout money from taxpayer pockets.

"What the Obama administration is scared to death of is it morphing from AIG to the president's economic policy and if that happens, that's very bad news," said Democratic strategist Doug Schoen, who worked in the Clinton White House.

Schoen said the Obama White House so far has sounded the note of moral outrage successfully.

"The problem that they face is that people are getting increasingly skeptical and the last thing they want to do is to have to defend bonus payments to AIG," he said.

In retaliation, the U.S. Treasury will modify a planned $30 billion capital infusion for AIG. A Treasury official said the move was aimed at recouping hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses.

The bonus issue brought Democrats and Republicans together in a way unseen all year. Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Barney Frank suggested the executives should be fired.

"These people may have a right to their bonuses; they don't have a right to their jobs forever. The federal government now is the 80 percent owner. One of the things we can do to make sure this doesn't happen again," he told NBC's "Today" show.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor that the Obama administration should work to ensure there is no repeat of the "absolutely appalling" bonuses.

"The American taxpayer needs to have complete certainty that their tax money is not going to be spent in this way ever again," he said.

WEARY TAXPAYERS

Americans have already grown weary of government bailouts to companies that they believed squandered their investments on questionable loans, shredded their retirement accounts and helped toss the U.S. economy into recession.

Obama said he had asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to use the federal government's leverage with AIG and pursue "every legal avenue to block these bonuses and make the American taxpayers afloat."

Geithner had complained to AIG Chairman Edward Liddy about the bonus structure.

Liddy said in a letter to Geithner that the firm was legally obligated to make already promised 2008 employee-retention payments, the value of which were set early last year before AIG's financial problems became public.

AIG also disclosed that Goldman Sachs Group Inc and a parade of European banks were the major beneficiaries of $93 billion in payments -- more than half of the U.S. taxpayer money spent to rescue the massive insurer.

Populist outrage at Wall Street has been boiling over, with such examples as comedian Jon Stewart's rapier-like interview of CNBC financial guru Jim Cramer, who hosts the cable network's popular "Mad Money" show.

Comments to a blog item on Reuters Front Row blog (http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/) were illustrative of the anger.

"Boycott AIG. Boycott any company receiving bailout funds and paying bonuses. Bonuses are extra pay, rewards, typically given for excellent, above average, performance. These companies should have to demonstrate, publicly, the validity of each bonus awarded," wrote one commenter.

A writer who identified herself as an AIG employee expressed shame.

"While management and execs get bonuses they rip on us about how we should be acting to save the company money. Our management team is abrasive and negative and according to them we do everything wrong," this person wrote.

Chief Justice congratulates nation over his reinstatement

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has congratulated whole nation over his reinstatement. This he said in his short address to the people gathered outside his official residence. He appeared many times to see the people gathered outside his residence celebrating his reinstatement. Youngest son of CJ also appeared in balcony and waved his hands for the people present outside the residence.

14 killed in Rawalpindi suicide blast

ISLAMABAD:At least 14 people have been killed and 25 others injured in a suicide attack on a pick-up Suzuki van at Peshawar Road near Pirwadhai Morr on Monday evening. Thirteen people were pronounced in critical condition in two hospitals of Rawalpindi city. Body parts of dead and injured, blood and parts of vehicles were seen scattered on huge area around the place of the incident.Ball bearings and other iron particles were found at spot which guides investigators to declare it suicide bombing. The target of suicide bomber might be anywhere else but he failed to dodge the security around the capital and he blew himself at this spot, the police sources told Business Recorder.He said that there were threats of suicide bombing, but it was not being expected to occur at any public place. Besides the ill-fated Suzuki Pick-up, four other vehicles including Toyota Hiace, two Suzuki Mehran taxis and Nissan Taxi were damaged in the incident. Dozens of people standing at stop were affected by the suicide bombing.Police and other law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area. Rescue teams of Rescue 1122, civil defence, police and bomb disposal squad reached on the spot and shifted the dead and injured to District Headquarter Hospital and Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH). Moreover, they started collecting the sample of the explosive used in the incident and preserving the evidences.According to eyewitnesses, the suicide bomber, riding on a motorcycle came near the Suzuki pick-up (public vehicle) and blew himself up at Suzuki Stand located at Pirwadhai Morr, opposite Rescue 1122 office. Ten people died on spot. They said they have seen suicide bomber before he blew himself and he was a young man of 22 to 24 years.
Seven dead bodies and six packs of scattered decomposed body parts of many dead have been brought to District Headquarter Hospital besides 17 injured. Four critically injured people were shifted to operation theatre. Five bodies were brought to RGH along with ten injured.High police officials including Regional Police Officer (RPO) Nasir Durrani told reporters on the site and said that it was a suicide bomb blast. "We are collecting the material from the spot to get evidences," he said. City Police Officer (CPO) Inayat Farooqi also visited the site.Rescue 1122 spokesperson, Deba Shahnaz confirmed that Rescue 1122 has shifted ten dead and 17 injured to RGH and DHQ hospital. She said that it is not appropriate to tell the exact target of the blast but it was a suicide bombing incident as body parts were scattered in vast areas. She said the blast occurred at 9.03 pm and Rescue 1122 station located in front of the blast site responded quickly to start rescue work.

Clouded details of Pakistan deal

Tension has eased, optimism has been renewed and a wave of jubilation has swept through the country.A long, fraught night in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, culminated in the government's decision to reinstate the chief justice who was sacked more than a year ago.Lawyers who had campaigned for Iftikhar Chaudhry's reinstatement were ecstatic.The public was also happy, because the decision had averted a major confrontation between the two largest political forces of the country, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari and the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif.The two parties had together swept the 2008 elections and formed an alliance to rule the country.The alliance was widely welcomed by the electorate as it meant that the two parties would not resort to the political squabbling of the 1990s which destabilised successive governments and impoverished the economy.

Transfer of power

But the parties drifted apart over the question of the reinstatement of Justice Chaudhry, who had been sacked by military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2007.
“ Public aspirations can no longer be ignored either by politicians, soldiers or judges, Justice Chaudhry included ” Many say Gen Musharraf sacked him because he feared the judge might upset his plans to win a second term as president.
Gen Musharraf's successor, Mr Zardari, had pledged to reinstate Justice Chaudhry but was accused of delaying the move because he feared the judge might revive corruption cases against him.Those cases were instituted by the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1997 but were withdrawn by Gen Musharraf's government under the transfer-of-power deal which paved the way for the 2008 elections.
That transfer-of-power deal also apparently contained an agreement that would protect Gen Musharraf from prosecution for actions during his leadership.
So what backroom deals were done to secure this latest accord, apparently sealed following high-level negotiations in which the army and some US diplomats played a key role?While the government has apparently agreed to make Justice Chaudhry the chief justice, it is still not known if this will mean a reversal of Gen Musharraf's order to sack him.Legal experts say a reversal would expose Pervez Musharraf to prosecution for illegal conduct, something many say is unlikely to happen.If, on the other hand, Justice Chaudhry is being offered an arrangement that does not term his sacking illegal, then the PML-N and some top lawyer leaders may have agreed to let Pervez Musharraf off the hook.
Then there is the question of Nawaz Sharif.
His PML-N threw its weight behind the lawyers' movement after the Supreme Court upheld a ruling to ban him and his brother Shahbaz from elected office.
Shahbaz was chief minister of Pakistan's largest province, Punjab, and had to step down. The central government extended federal rule to Punjab.
It seems the government has now offered a judicial review of that judgment.
This, together with the decision to reinstate Justice Chaudhry, has rekindled hopes for many that the two parties may revert to the post-election phase of mutual cooperation.There is certainly a growing feeling that politically motivated cases, such as those against Mr Zardari or the Sharifs, have damaged the credibility of the judiciary.
Aspirations
But what of Justice Chaudhry himself?In the past, he has shown himself to be an independent minded judge, not shy of passing judgments that hurt government interests.

He shot down some privatisation deals of the Musharraf government and forced the intelligence agencies to produce political prisoners they had earlier denied they were holding.But Justice Chaudhry has now been sacked twice. First in March 2007 and again in November of the same year.Although, on both occasions, public pressure played a decisive role in his reinstatement, some analysts say Justice Chaudhry may now be reluctant to delve into matters that will prove controversial.
The people want justice and the rule of law, but also political stability, democracy and equal opportunity.In the presence of an aggressive media, public aspirations can no longer be ignored either by politicians, soldiers or judges, Justice Chaudhry included.

Clinton warned Pakistan of aid cut if no deal

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistan's president and opposition leader over the weekend U.S. aid could be at risk unless they defused a crisis over a top judge, U.S. officials said on Monday.In a surprise move, Pakistan's government announced on Monday it would reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry as chief justice, aiming to defuse a crisis and end protests by lawyers and activists that threatened to turn violent.The officials said Clinton telephoned on Saturday both President Asif Ali Zardari and his rival, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who had backed the anti-government lawyers.The officials said Clinton, who coordinated with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, had exerted strong pressure for a deal.Clinton told reporters the decision to reinstate Chaudhry was a first step for much-needed reconciliation and political compromise in Pakistan.She avoided answering when asked if she had linked continued U.S. aid to a deal.The stability of nuclear-armed Pakistan has emerged as a key worry in Washington, which also needs its help to combat a Taliban insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan
Asked if the political turmoil was distracting Islamabad from taking on the militants, Clinton replied: "They understand what is at stake."
CONGRESSIONAL DOUBTS
U.S. officials said Clinton told both Zardari and Sharif congressional lawmakers might balk at sending Pakistan more aid while the crisis persisted."She warned them that congressional appropriations would be at risk," said one U.S. official, who asked not to be named.A senior State Department official said "many" in Congress had expressed concern over what was happening in Pakistan."The secretary's friendly advice to the Pakistani leadership is that we have got to get this situation under control," the official said.U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, also spoke several times over the weekend to Pakistani politicians."This was all done with great respect for Pakistan's sovereignty and sensibility but with great concern for the strategic and political implications of a protracted confrontation," a Holbrooke aide quoted him as saying.The Obama administration is reviewing its strategy toward Pakistan and Afghanistan. Details, including possible future aid, are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.In January, Zardari urged the United States to boost both military and non-military aid.The United States has spent billions of dollars in recent years helping Pakistan fight al Qaeda and the Taliban in remote tribal areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a report last month calling for $4 billion to $5 billion in immediate financial aid to help Pakistan avert financial meltdown.Kerry welcomed the decision to reinstate the chief justice but said more must be done."Now, Pakistan's civilian leadership must avoid divisions and work together to further strengthen the nation's democratic institutions," the Massachusetts senator said in a statement.State Department officials credited Pakistani leaders for their compromise and downplayed the effect of U.S. actions."These were decisions that had to be taken by the Pakistani leadership. And in the end, I believe they acted in the best interests of the Pakistani people, and that's what's important here," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood. (Editing by Alan Elsner)

Russia, Venezuela start visa-free travel regime

The agreement will allow Russians and Venezuelans to visit each others' countries for up to 90 days without having to apply for visas."This greatly eases interaction between the countries and mutual travel of citizens, including businessmen... It simplifies the establishment of contacts as well as humanitarian, student and tourist exchanges," said Sergei Akopov, a deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Latin American department.
The deal was signed on November 26, 2008 in Caracas during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's official visit to the South American country.
The official said tourist turnover between the two countries was "not strong", but that the agreement could significantly increase the number of Russians visiting Venezuela. Venezuela has become the fifth state in Latin America to scrap visa requirements for Russian citizens, following Cuba, Peru, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Similar agreements are also expected to be signed with Brazil and Argentina. The Colombian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday it was planning to unilaterally introduce a visa-free agreement for Russia, which would enter into force within 30 days.

OPEC decides to maintain current oil production level

VIENNA, -- Faced with declining international oil prices, the 152nd Oil Minister Conference of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided on Sunday in Vienna not to further cut crude oil production. The ministers from OPEC member states decided to maintain the current output level and boost the prices by strengthening the implementation of existing production quotas.During the six-hour discussion, the ministers analyzed the market situation and finally decided to keep the current production quota unchanged.Announcing the decision after the meeting on Sunday afternoon, OPEC spokesperson Omar Ibrahim explained that OPEC first needed to review each member state's compliance of the current production cut quota, as well as its effect on oil prices.OPEC Secretary-general Abdalla Salem El-Badri also told reporters that the production cut goal announced by OPEC so far has been attained by 79 percent, and there is still room for further cut on crude oil supply before its 100 percent compliance. At the Sunday meeting, OPEC member states also agreed to strictly follow the production quota further.Chairman of this OPEC Ministerial Conference, Minister of Petroleum of Angola Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos pointed out that according to OPEC's projection, the crude oil production of non-OPEC countries would continue to increase this year. He hoped that non-OPEC countries could also contribute to oil prices' stability.He noted that the stability of international oil prices concerns not only the interests of OPEC countries, but also those of non-OPEC oil producers as well as oil consumers. Sustaining low prices will harm investment in the crude oil production industry, and thus harm the future supply stability.Asked what kind of oil price is considered proper, he responded it should be "a price that satisfies consumers and also attracts investments."Vasconcelos also noted that due to the current unclear international economic situation, OPEC would keep paying attention to the market, and decide the next production strategy at the next Oil Ministerial Conference scheduled for May 28.Prior to the meeting, Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi noted that another production cut of OPEC may boost oil prices, which is unfavorable to the steady development of the world economy. Since September 2008, OPEC has slashed production for three times, cutting an average of 4.2 million barrels per day, but the international oil prices remain low. The economic recession and relatively high crude oil reserve are the major factors.
However, some experts also pointed out that the retractation of a large number of speculation capital also attributes to the price drop. Therefore, to some extent, the current downturn of prices can not fully reflect the world economic recession and the shrinkage of future crude oil demand. Since the beginning of this year, the OPEC prices remain at 40 U.S. dollars per barrel.

Leftist Party Wins Salvadoran Vote

SAN SALVADOR — El Salvador’s F.M.L.N., the leftist party of the country’s former guerrillas, won the presidential election Sunday, marking a turning point after two decades of rule by the right.

Mauricio Funes, a former television reporter, declared himself the winner before F.M.L.N. campaign workers chanting “yes, we could” at the Sheraton Hotel as supporters on the street waved flags and honked car horns in celebration.

“This is the happiest night of my life,” Mr. Funes said. “And I hope it is also the night of greatest hope for El Salvador.”

Two hours later, Mr. Funes’s conservative opponent, Rodrigo Ávila, conceded defeat. “These are the ups and downs of democracy,” said Mr. Ávila , the former national police chief. His party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance, known as Arena, had won the presidency four times since 1989.

The electoral tribunal said that with votes from 92 percent of polling places counted, the F.M.L.N. had won 51.3 percent to 48.7 percent for Arena.

“We’re entering a new stage in our history now that candidates from the left have reached the presidency and the vice presidency,” Mr. Funes told supporters.

He called on the country to unite after the bruising campaign as it faced the global economic crisis. “I’m convinced the only way to confront the crisis is with national unity,” he said.

But those outside celebrating were not thinking about recession. “The people are greater than the oligarchy in El Salvador,” said engineering student Daniel Romero. “Enough years of false promises and censorship.”

The voting was calm Sunday, with a strong turnout among the 4.3 million registered voters.

“We want to change this system so it benefits the whole population and not just those with money,” said Victor Manuel Saenz, 53, a street vendor who wore a bright red shirt in the style of Latin revolutionaries.

With the end of the 12-year civil war in 1992, the F.M.L.N., the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, became a political party. It controlled city hall in San Salvador for 12 years before losing in January and it is now the largest party in the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Funes, the first F.M.L.N. presidential candidate who is not a former guerrilla commander, promised “safe change” in the mold of Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a moderate leftist whose economic policies have won support from foreign investors.

But Arena voters were not convinced. Fidelin González, 39, a single mother, said she had voted for Arena because she preferred to stick with what she knew. “It’s safer that way,” she said. “It’s not perfect, but it’s something you’re familiar with.”

Holbrooke hopes Justice Iftikhar restoration ends confrontation

WASHINGTON: US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has welcomed the decision of restoration of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and expressed hope that it will end the confrontation in the country.
Talking to Pakistani ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani, Holbrooke said it is a wise decision of President Asif Zardari. It will help to defuse the tension.Earlier, Haqqani had informed Richard Holbrooke about president’s decision.

Suicide bomber kills 11 in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A suicide bomber killed 11 people, including nine police officers, in southern Afghanistan on Monday, a day after one of the deadliest attacks against foreign troops in recent weeks, officials said.

Violence has increased since last year in Afghanistan where the Taliban, ousted in a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, have made a comeback in their campaign to drive out foreign troops. Afghan and foreign security forces are frequently targeted.

Since the weekend, nine foreign soldiers have been killed in a series of separate Taliban raids, the deadliest week for foreign forces in recent months. Four NATO-led soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb attack on Sunday.

The latest bomber was on foot and detonated explosives attached to his body in a group of officers outside the main police headquarters in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, on Monday, a local police official said.

Two civilians were also killed, the interior ministry in Kabul said in a statement. Another 29 people, many of them police, were wounded.

A would-be suicide bomber armed with a grenade killed a police officer guarding a compound in a separate attack in western Farah province on Monday, an official said.

The bomber was shot dead by other police as he tried to enter the compound and blow himself up, the official said.

Some 70,000 foreign soldiers under the command of NATO and the U.S. military, along with tens of thousands of Afghans in government forces, are struggling to defeat a resurgent Taliban.

The new U.S. administration plans to send an extra 17,000 soldiers this year to stabilize the country, which some Western politicians and analysts fear may slide back into anarchy.

U.S.-led troops overthrew the Taliban government after it refused to hand over al Qaeda leaders wanted by Washington for masterminding the September 11 attacks on the United States.

With the surge of violence and rising casualties among their troops, some Western nations are reluctant to send their soldiers into areas where the al Qaeda-backed group is most active.

US, NATO supplies attacked in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A witness and a police officer say militants have attacked a terminal for trucks carrying supplies to US and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The attack early Monday was the second on Afghan-bound military supplies in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar in as many days.
A security guard at the al-Fasil terminal on the outskirts of the city says up to 50 armed people entered the termimal.
He says they threw gasoline over 10 container trucks carrying supplies and then set off explosions.
Rising militant attacks are raising doubts about the reliability of critical supply routes through Pakistan, prompting the U.S. and NATO to seek alternatives.

Pakistan Govt agrees to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry

Monday, 16 Mar, 2009 | 05:32 AM PST |
ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic development in the wee hours of the morning, the government agreed to restore the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry who, along with nearly fifty judges, was unceremoniously sacked by the then President and army chief General Musharraf almost two years ago.
The Prime Minister in his early morning address to the nation said that all sacked judges will be restored in accordance with the promise of Late Benazir Bhutto. He said that the hindrance in the way of restoring Iftikhar was that the office of the Chief Justice was occupied but now that the sitting Chief Justice (Dogar) was about to retire, therefore, it was now the right time to reinstate Iftikhar. Provincial governments were told to lift section 144 and release detained political workers.
PM Gilani called for dignified celebrations and congratulated the lawyers, political parties, civil society, army and the nation at large. Iftikhar Chaudhry is set to take charge of office on 21 March, 2009.
The move came as tens of thousands of opposition supporters joined the lawyers Long March in Lahore and started to move towards Islamabad to stage a sit-in outside the parliament. As the electrifying events in Lahore started to give dangerous signals of a near revolt, top military and civilian leaders went into a long session of discussion to defuse the situation.
Even when the formal announcement was delayed by a few hours, as details and finer points were being discussed, leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told media that Prime Minister Gilani has informed them that the government was restoring the deposed chief justice.
Highly placed sources said that the Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani frankly told both President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that they need to undo some of controversial decisions before the situation spirals out of control. These sources said it was after his not-so-veiled warning that the two top civilian leaders agreed to roll-back some of the controversial decisions of the previous and present governments, including the sacking of the chief justice of Pakistan.
These sources said that soon after meeting the army chief, the president and prime minister went into yet another session of their own to discuss the modalities for making the announcement. By this time reports had already started to come in that the procession heading towards Islamabad was constantly pulling more and more people.
It was then decided that Premier Gilani should give a televised speech in the morning and make the major announcements. As the state-run PTV made the announcement of Prime Minister’s speech later in the night, celebrations started in the lawyers and opposition parties’ camp. Scores of people thronged the residence of the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, raising slogans in support of the judiciary and declaring it a historic victory. The deposed CJ’s spokesperson Ather Minallah called it a good omen, and said though belated, the right move has been made to save the country from further chaos and anarchy.
Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was first suspended by Musharaf in early 2007 for his alleged role in destabilising the government by blocking some of the major decisions, particularly the privatisation of Pakistan Steel. Many people also believed that his dismissal was also linked to his keen interest in pressurising the government and intelligence agencies to find scores of people who had gone missing, and many of whom were believed to be in the custody of the security agencies.
Sources said that the move to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry may see the restoration of PML-N’s government in Punjab and possibly even removal of Governor Salman Taseer.
Observers say that these dramatic developments may go a long way in strengthening democracy, even if they have arrived under pressure from the security establishment and outside forces, particularly the United States.

The text of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s Address To The Nation

My dear countrymen Assalam-o-Alaikum,

I am speaking to you at a time when our country is standing at a critical moment. No country can make progress without political tolerance and the PPP and lawyers have been together in struggle for upholding democracy in Pakistan. Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto actively participated in the struggle of restoration of judiciary was launched by lawyers. Benazir Bhutto wanted free judiciary and supremacy of the constitution.

The lawyers’ movement for restoring of judges was their democratic right. The PPP was shoulder to shoulder with the lawyers in the cause for the independent judiciary.

The slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto also wanted to reinstate the deposed chief justice.

I have taken all his coalition partners and the President into confidence about the reinstatement of the deposed chief justice once the current chief justice retires on March 21.

The deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will assume charges on March 21.

Benazir Bhutto wanted free judiciary and supremacy of the constitution.

After consultations with all political forces of the country and President Asif Ali Zardari, we have decided to restore all deposed judges including Iftikahr Muhammad Chaudhry as Chief Jsutice of Pakistan who will assume charge on March 21. The current Chef Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar retires on March 21. I urge all the political forces and lawyers to work for the solidarity and welfare of the country.

Pakistan Paindabad.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan

updated at: 0550 PST, Monday, March 16, 2009
ISLAMABAD: In a historic address to the nation, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani announced on Monday to restore the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.The prime minister also pledged that the government would steer the country out of the numerous domestic and international challenges facing it.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to be restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In a golden moment in Pakistan’s history, the government has decided to restore the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar told Geo news about the decision of Justice Iftikhar’s reinstatement. He told Geo news senior Analyst Kamran Khan that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had personally told him about Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s reinstatement.
Chaudhry Nisar said the PM would reinstate the deposed chief justice through an executive order.

NAWAZ SHARIF AND OSAMA CONNECTION

A former official of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif met Osama Bin Laden and received funds from him.
“Nawaz Sharif met Osama Bin Laden on at least three occasions and was desperately seeking his financial assistance,” Khalid Khawaja told news website Adnkronos International (AKI) in an interview on Sunday.
Khawaja, a retired officer of the Pakistan Air Force who was in the ISI in the late 80s, rejected a recent denial by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz that its leader had sought political cooperation from Bin Laden in the last. “Osama is above all this politicking,” said Khawaja.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal President Qazi Hussain Ahmed had said in a recent interview that Sharif had repeatedly met Bin Laden, who had offered him money to topple the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government in 1990.

Khawaja, who developed a friendship with Bin Laden while fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 80s, told AKI that the Al Qaeda head wanted the “secular” PPP government overthrown to ensure that Pakistan continued supporting the Afghan “jihad”. Khawaja said that Bin Laden gave him funds which he personally delivered to Sharif, AKI reported. “Sharif insisted that I arrange a direct meeting with the ‘sheikh’, which I did in Saudi Arabia. Nawaz met Osama thrice in Saudi Arabia,” Khawaja said.

He said that the most “historic” meeting between the two men was held at the Green Palace Hotel in Madina. “Osama asked Nawaz to devote himself to ‘jihad in Kashmir’. Nawaz immediately said: ‘I love jihad.’ Osama smiled, and … said. ‘Yes, you may love jihad, but your love for jihad is this much,’ pointing to a small portion of a nearby pillar. ‘Your love for your children is this much,’ he said, pointing to a larger portion of the pillar. ‘And your love for your parents is this much,’ he continued, pointing towards the largest portion.

Khawaja said that such arguments were “beyond the comprehension” of Sharif, who kept asking “Manya key nai manya? (Has he agreed or not?)”.

The former premier was hoping for a grant of Rs 500 million. Although Bin Laden gave a smaller amount, Khawaja said that he arranged for Sharif to meet the Saudi royal family, which pledged political support for him and kept its word until he was dislodged by President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, AKI reported. In fact, it was the royal family that secured Sharif’s pardon and exile to Saudi Arabia.
Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed has revealed that Osama bin Laden had offered to buy loyalties of legislators to see Mian Nawaz Sharif as prime minister.
In an interview with daily Jang’s Sunday Magazine, Qazi said that Bin Laden visited Mansoora and was willing to buy parliamentarians’ loyalties to ensure Nawaz Sharif’s election as prime minister. Bin Laden said that if there was a way to buy votes, he was willing to pay for them, Qazi said. “He was a big supporter of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad and Nawaz Sharif,” he said. The JI chief said that he met Bin Laden several times, adding that he (Osama) visited the JI headquarters in Mansoora. Qazi said that bin Laden was also interested in a deal with the JI, which he (Qazi) declined. He said that a delegation sent by Bin Laden visited Peshawar to meet him (Qazi), adding that they wanted co-operation from the JI, but we declined the request. “We refused on the grounds that we could not make any agreement with someone who did not have a homeland and who was himself unsafe in Afghanistan.

Nawaz Sharif's corruption Exposed

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to be restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In a golden moment in Pakistan’s history, the government has decided to restore the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar told Geo news about the decision of Justice Iftikhar’s reinstatement. He told Geo news senior Analyst Kamran Khan that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had personally told him about Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s reinstatement.
Chaudhry Nisar said the PM would reinstate the deposed chief justice through an executive order.

Pakistani chief justice sacked by Musharraf to return

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Responding to days of massive protests demanding that Pakistan's government reinstate judges sacked by the previous president, the government through executive order will restore the seat of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, a spokesman for the prime minister said early Monday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani planned to make the announcement in a speech at some point Monday, the spokesman told CNN.

Hundreds of lawyers held protests over the past week between Karachi and Islamabad, demanding that President Asif Ali Zardari live up to a promise to reinstate judges, including Chaudhry, dismissed by then-President Pervez Musharraf.

The protests are part of a "Long March," which demonstrators had planned to cap with a sprawling sit-in at the parliament building in Islamabad on Monday.

After sweeping into power in parliamentary elections last year, Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party promised to reinstate the judges within 30 days of taking office. The deadline came and went.

The government responded to the recent intensification of protests by banning political demonstrations in two of the country's biggest provinces, Punjab and Sindh. It also detained several hundred activists Wednesday, but protesters have said they will not be deterred.

Police in Pakistan have fought running battles with stone-throwing protesters who defied a government ban on rallies and congregated in large numbers in Lahore.

The procession had been relatively peaceful until it reached Lahore in the Punjab province, the home base of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.

There, the crowd was incited by conflicting reports that authorities had detained Sharif to prevent him from leading the rally toward Islamabad.

Officers in riot gear fired tear gas at the demonstrators near the Lahore Supreme Court. As soon as the sting from the gas wore off, the protesters regrouped, only to be chased away by police wielding batons.

Authorities made several arrests. Ambulances were seen at the location.

Soon afterward, Sharif emerged from his residence and told reporters he had been placed on house arrest but that he refused to abide by it.

"This house arrest they have put me under, this detention, we don't accept this detention," he said. "My brothers, today don't be scared, don't be nervous. These obstacles are temporary. ... These must be brought down. Only by bringing these down can we reach our destination."

Throughout the day, the opposition and the government went back and forth with claims and denials about Sharif's apparent detention.

First, the party's acting President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said Sharif was ordered confined to his residence for three days. The police detention order was meant to preserve law and order ahead of the march to the capital, Hashmi said.

Then, Pakistan's Information Minister Qamar Zaman denied Sharif had been placed under house arrest.

And the government of Punjab said police presence outside Sharif's house was part of security measures the government has taken to ensure a peaceful march.

Several hours later, party spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said police had tried to serve detention orders but no one from the party received them.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Sharif on Saturday, as well as Zardari, a senior administration official said. The official would not provide details, but a statement issued by Zardari's office said Clinton expressed continued U.S. support for his government and said the United States wants to see a stable, democratic system strengthen in the country.

Although a U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan spoke to Zardari last week, Clinton's phone call is the highest level of U.S. intervention since the judiciary crisis began, and is seen as illustrating deep U.S. concern over stability within Pakistan.

The political turmoil in Pakistan comes just a year after the country celebrated a return to democracy. It has forced the government's attention away from a deadly fundamentalist insurgency in its tribal areas and an economy that's on the verge of collapse.

Afghan attack kills US soldiers

A roadside bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan has killed four US soldiers, the Nato-led Isaf peacekeeping force has confirmed.

Taleban insurgents reportedly claimed responsibility for the explosion which killed the servicemen in the province of Nangarhar.

Reports suggest that the bomb went off as a convoy was passing.

More than 60 foreign soldiers have been killed in the country this year, many of the losses claimed by the Taleban.

The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that in the face of the worsening security situation, the US is set to deploy thousands of additional troops in an effort to bring greater stability.

Supply base hit

A separate attack on a Nato patrol in Kabul killed two bystanders on Sunday.

The suicide bombing injured 14 civilians; no foreign troops were wounded or killed.

The mayor of the city of Kandahar also survived a bomb attack, which happened on his convoy; one bystander died and six others were injured.

Elsewhere, in Kandahar's Maywand district, the US military says five militants were killed in an operation involving US and Afghan troops.

Meanwhile, militants in Pakistan attacked a transport terminal used to supply Nato forces in Afghanistan, destroying about 20 lorries.

Police say the attackers used rockets and petrol bombs in the assault on the depot in the city of Peshawar.

The incidents follow the deaths of three other soldiers from the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan on Saturday.

A French soldier and five Afghan troops died during a clash with militants in Kapisa province; a British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan; while the third Isaf soldier, whose nationality was not released, died in a traffic accident in the north of the country.

Nawaz Sharif,ALQUIDA MEMBER, defies house arrest order

LAHOR :Nawaz Sharif addressed a crowd gathered outside his home in Lahore on Sunday, defying a police order to remain inside under house arrest.
"We don't accept this decision. The house arrest is illegal and immoral. All these decisions are unconstitutional," he told the crowd in a speech broadcast live on state TV."Come and join me. I am leaving the house. The time has come to march hand in hand," Sharif said."They cannot stop the emotions of the people. People have waited for this day for a long time. They cannot stop us," he said.Police earlier put Nawaz under a three-day house arrest at his Lahore home. Under the order, he was not allowed to leave the building.An AFP reporter outside his home said a car was preparing to take him to lawyers gathering in the high court building in downtown Lahore.
NAWAZ SHARIFF IS A SUPPORTER OF WORLD MOST WANTED TERRORIST OSAMA AND HE TOOK MONEY FROM OSAMA FOR RUNNING HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN 90'S ELECTIONS.

Kidnapped aid workers freed, safe: Sudan

A Sudanese government official has confirmed that a Canadian nurse and three other aid workers who had been kidnapped in the Darfur region have been released."It is confirmed," Ali Youssef Ahmed, head of protocol at the foreign ministry, told Reuters. "They have been released. They are safe. They are all right. They are still in Darfur but will be transferred to Khartoum."The four - Canadian nurse Laura Archer, an Italian doctor, a French field worker and the Sudanese guard - work for the international aid organization Doctors Without Borders. They were taken hostage Wednesday by "bandits," according to Sudanese authorities.Ahmed said the three foreign workers were freed around noon, and the Sudanese national had been released earlier.Avril Benoit, spokeswoman for Doctors Without Borders, said Saturday that despite media reports, "we are not confirming.""We still have not got any confirmation that our people are free. We're still waiting for confirmation that we have actually seen them."The organization had earlier been grappling with conflicting reports earlier Saturday about the status of the workers.Armed men seized the staff from their base in north Darfur on Wednesday, sending shock waves through the region's humanitarian community.The kidnapping came a week after Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid agencies after the International Criminal Court ordered President Omar al-Bashir's arrest for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Surge 'no solution in Afghanistan'

General David Petraeus, the head of US Central Command, has said that a mass influx of troops like that during the so-called "surge" in Iraq is not the answer to Afghanistan's spiralling violence. Petraeus, who was commander of US forces in Iraq when the strategy was implemented in 2007, told an audience in the US state of Connecticut that the infrastructure was not in place for a similar effort in the Central Asian nation."You do need to tenaciously pursue the enemy and the extremists," he said on Friday."But you also need to be building, and to develop, and to assist, and to help and to partner."Last month, Barack Obama, the US president, ordered 17,000 more US troops to be sent to bolster the 38,000 already in Afghanistan. Ground commanders have reportedly requested that the US force be increased to 60,000 troops.Petraeus blamed the continuing problems on a "syndicate of extremists," financing from the drug trade, safe havens in Pakistan and frustration with the slow development of the country's fledgling government.
Worsening violence
His remarks reflect widespread concerns that the situation in Afghanistan is worsening as anti-government fighters gain strength in many areas of the country and violence reaches its highest levels since the US-led invasion of 2001.
'The Bulldozer' seeks Afghanistan's presidency
A United Nations report published on Friday said that security had deteriorated and could continue to worsen over the coming months."The government, security forces and population of Afghanistan, along with its international partners, face a critical test in 2009," it said."Security has continued to deteriorate. The results of government and international aid efforts have fallen short of popular expectations as Afghans suffer the effects of drought and a global rise in food prices."However, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said that extra troops to help train Afghanistan's security forces and provide protection for election scheduled for August could help the situation."A judicious deployment of additional international troops, with its primary goal being the security of the Afghan people,will be a welcome development," he said.
Civilian deaths
The UN report also identified the rise in civilian deaths as a major problem.Major military deployments in Afghanistan
With an additional 17,000 US troops expected in Afghanistan, the major military deployments will include:
US: 55,000 (north and east)
UK: 8,600 (Kabul, Kandahar, Helmand)
Germany: 3,500 (north)
Italy: 2,880 (west and Kabul)
Canada: 2,800 (south)
Netherlands: 1,650 (south)
France: 1,515 (Kabul)
Poland: 1,100 (mobile)
Australia: 1,070 (south)

The number of civilians killed rose 40 per cent last year to 2,118. Most of the deaths were caused by anti-government fighters, but 39 per cent were caused by international and Afghan government forces.
On Saturday, at least five people were killed in a military operation by US and Afghan troops in Logar province, south of the capital, Kabul.

The US military said that suspected fighters were shot after opening fire on the troops, but a spokesman for the provincial governor said a government delegation had confirmed the dead were civilians.Angry villagers held a protest near a government compound later in the day and police opened fire on them to prevent them from storming the building, Den Mohammad Darwesh, the governor's spokesman, said.
The US military said that the raid had targeted the leader of a group making roadside bombs."They were five armed militants that fired on a joint force ... when they went in to get a targeted individual,'' Colonel Greg Julian, a US military spokesman, said.After angry condemnations by Hamid Karzai, the president, following civilian deaths in US and Nato-led operations, Washington recently agreed to put Afghan forces on all of its missions.

Guantanamo inmates no longer "enemy combatants"

WASHINGTON- The Obama administration stopped calling Guantanamo inmates "enemy combatants" on Friday and incorporated international law as its basis for holding the prisoners while it works to close the facility.

The U.S. Justice Department filed court papers outlining a further legal and linguistic shift from the anti-terrorism policies of Republican President George W. Bush, which drew worldwide condemnation as violations of human rights and international law.

"As we work toward developing a new policy to govern detainees, it is essential that we operate in a manner that strengthens our national security, is consistent with our values, and is governed by law," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

Some human rights advocates said the shift by the new Democratic president did not go far enough in dealing with hundreds of suspected Islamist militants held, most for years without trial, at a U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"The government may have eliminated the term enemy combatant but it is still claiming the authority to detain people far beyond the traditional norms of humanitarian law," said attorney Devon Chaffee of the group Human Rights First.

The term "enemy combatant" was adopted by Bush after the September 11 attacks in 2001 to refer to prisoners held under military orders he issued to launch the war on terrorism. The wording became emblematic of his policies, along with razor wire and orange jumpsuits.

The policies were subject to numerous legal battles and Supreme Court rulings that rebuked Bush's administration.

RETURN TO GENEVA CONVENTIONS

The filing on Friday, in the cases of some 200 Guantanamo inmates seeking a court review of their detention, explains the standards of President Barack Obama's administration for holding terrorism suspects without court review.

It said those at Guantanamo will no longer be held on the exclusive basis of the president's authority as commander in chief.

Bush, who sought to expand presidential powers during his eight years in office, had asserted his war powers were enough legal reason for holding prisoners. Bush officials also said they were not legally subject to the Geneva Conventions on prisoner treatment -- a view the Supreme Court rejected.

The legal structure for holding the Guantanamo prisoners will now be based on laws passed by Congress and, by extension, international law including the Geneva conventions, the Justice Department said.

In addition, it said only those who provided "substantial" support to al Qaeda, the Taliban or similar groups -- or who were "part" of those groups -- would be considered candidates for detention.

It cited Obama's project to review the entire detention policy, as part of a plan to close the Guantanamo prison, and said further refinements of the standards were possible.

The Obama administration has said some of the Guantanamo detainees, now numbering about 240, will be freed while others will be put on trial. A third category involves some prisoners deemed too dangerous to be released.

Major human rights groups said the policies will still allow the United States to detain prisoners seized far from a battlefield and that key definitions were left out, such as what constitutes "substantial" support for a militant group.

"In key elements they are a continuation of the Bush administration," said attorney Hina Shamsi of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"This is really a case of old wine in new bottles," said the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, which represents a number of Guantanamo prisoners.

Holder had signaled at a Justice Department ceremony that much of his work would consist of scrapping Bush administration legal policy.

"There is an awful lot of work that we have to do," Holder said. "There are things, quite frankly, that we have to reverse, policy changes that we have to make."

No long march, sit-in to be allowed on Constitution Avenue: Rehman tells of bombing threats by terrorists

ISLAMABAD :Terming the lawyers' long march a big challenge, Rehman Malik, Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior, said on Saturday that the government was ready to take the challenge of long march, and no sit-in would be allowed at Constitution Avenue.
"There are threats of target killing, serial bombing, and suicide attacks during long march, which have forced the government to withdraw forces from terror-hit areas of the NWFP", he said while talking to media after the launching of 'Polio Campaign 2009' at National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra)."I am not terrorising the lawyers or political activists, but we have received clear information of terrorist strikes during long march from elite intelligence agencies of the country", Rehman said, adding that political leaders "are under threat", and he had already informed the political leadership.About statement by Nisar Ali Khan, regarding entry of criminals of Sindh in Punjab for killing PML-N leaders, he said that he would personally talk to Nisar, and review the information. "I request Chaudary Nisar on behalf of the government to share such information with it", he added.He asked lawyers to postpone the long march for the sake of the country, and said that enemies of Pakistan were bent upon causing damages to Pakistan, and degrade it internationally. "When our enemies attack Sri Lanka cricketers, then long march could also be an easy target for them, and it could be huge life loss", he added.Rehman said that under the present challenging situation, the country could not afford any long march or sit-in. "When the country is facing challenges of terrorism and economic disorder, there should be a 'march for unity' for economic strength. There should be 'march' towards FATA, Swat and other terrorist-hit areas to bring peace and normalcy to these areas", he said.In place of Parade Ground, lawyers should chose any other place, "and we will assure them all facilities, including live coverage on national media," he said. The Advisor said: "Diplomatic community in Islamabad has expressed concern about the long march and sit-in, and I given them written assurance that routine life would go on normally, and Constitution Avenue will not be closed."
He said that no one would be allowed to move on Constitution Avenue as any law and order situation in that area would bring bad name to the country. He said that alternative places had been offered to the lawyers, but they refused it. The Interior advisor appealed to the masses not to take part in the so-called long march and sit-in.The lawyers were offered an alternative venue for the sit-in, but they rejected the offer, Malik said. He said that the government did not want politics of confrontation, but reconciliation, for better future of the country. He added that the issues should be resolved through political means.Rehman said that the government has not imposed curbs over any private news channel. "It will be a fault of the cable operators, and it will be checked", he added. Earlier, addressing the gathering, he said that was good to see that the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health had joined hands to eradicate polio from the country.He assured that Nadra would utilise all its resources to reach every corner of the country and make it polio-free. Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani, Federal Minister for Health, said that "through this platform, I call upon provincial governments at all levels and all sectors, media, partner agencies, the private sector, community leaders and especially parents to ensure that each and every child is immunised during the campaign on March 16-18".He appreciated and thanked Nadra on taking this very important initiative to save the future generations of Pakistan from the clutches of the disease and disability caused by polio. Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, Nadra Chairman Ali Arshad Hakim, Unicef/WHO representatives and officials of Ministry of Health were also present on the occasion.

Pakistan:Presidency announces concessions

ISLAMABAD :Pakistan People's Party believes in reconciliation and dialogue, and due to it federal government has decided to file a review petition in Supreme Court against disqualification of Sharif brothers. President Asif Ali Zardari stated this while addressing party legislators at presidency on Saturday.

He said that the present tirade against him is not new as his opponents had been doing this in the past as well to drive a wedge between the workers and the party leadership. Zaradri said that in 70s our opponents had said that PPP was acceptable but without Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He went on saying that then these opponents said that they had no quarrel with the party, provided the workers got rid of the leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who was dubbed by them as 'security risk'. "The same refrain still continues and I am the target of the opponents", he added.

He asked the party legislators to beware of the conspiracy against PPP and to educate people about the machinations of the opponents to discredit the party. The meeting also adopted a unanimous resolution reposing complete trust in the leadership of co-chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari.

AFP ADDS: President Asif Ali Zardari late on Saturday offered key concessions to Nawaz Sharif in a bid to defuse the political crisis. The decisions were taken in a meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the President, presidency sources said in a statement released after officials said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had telephoned the rival leaders.

But PML-N said it would wait for action, not words. Opposition party workers and lawyers are gearing up to march on Islamabad by Monday to demand that Zardari should act on promises to reinstate the sacked judges. The presidency announced that Zardari and Gilani agreed that the "issue of judiciary and restoration of judges would be resolved in accordance with the principles laid down in the charter of democracy".

"The federal government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the verdict of the Supreme Court, disqualifying Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif from electoral politics," the statement said. The statement was released shortly after local officials announced that Hillary had called Zardari and Sharif, as efforts mounted to find a solution to resolve the crisis.

Ahsan Iqbal, spokesman for Nawaz, said he would wait to see how the announcement on the restoration of judges would play out, but welcomed the appeal to the Supreme Court. "We will see how these things happen. How judges will be restored... It is not yet clear,

British soldier killed in Afghanistan

A British soldier was killed while on foot patrol in Afghanistan on Saturday, bringing the total number of British service personnel killed in the country to 150.
The soldier from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment was injured in an explosion in Musa Qala District Centre, Northern Helmand, said the Ministry of Defence.
Medics battled to save him but he died at the scene. His death brings the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 to 150.Commander Paula Rowe, spokesman for British troops in Afghanistan said: "Task Force Helmand feels the loss of every serviceman and we mourn the death of this brave soldier."We send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends at home and all those who served alongside him at this desperately sad time."The soldier's next of kin have been informed but there will now be a 24-hour grace period before he is officially identified, the Ministry of Defence said.Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force said: "We are saddened by this brave soldier's death, and offer our heartfelt condolences to the soldier's family and friends."Through our grief, we are strengthened in our resolve to help bring security and stability to Afghanistan."The news of the soldier's death came as the Ministry of Defence described how a Royal marine had foiled a roadside bomb plot in Afghanistan single-handedly.While on guard duty, the Royal Marine Commando from 45 Commando spotted three men digging on a track near a British army base in Sangin, northern Helmand. The marine used a shoulder-launched missile to kill the three men and destroy the device.

Russian strategic bombers could use Cuba airfields

"We are ready to fly there," Russian Air Force official says
Cuba has four or five fields that suit Russia, military official says
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also has offered a military airfield
MOSCOW, Russia-- Russia expressed interest in using Cuban airfields during patrol missions of its strategic bombers, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.
"There are four or five airfields in Cuba with 4,000-meter-long runways, which absolutely suit us," Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev told Interfax.Zhikharev, who is the chief of staff of the Russian Air Force's long-range aviation, said, "If the two chiefs of state display such a political will, we are ready to fly there."Zhikharev also told Interfax that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered a military airfield on La Orchila island as a temporary base for Russian strategic bombers.
"If a relevant political decision is made, this is possible," he said, according to Interfax. Zhikharev said he visited La Orchila in 2008 and can confirm that with minor reconstruction, the airfield owned by a local naval base can accept fully-loaded Russian strategic bombers.

Minister concerned over rising polio cases

PESHAWAR: Voicing concern over the growing number of polio cases in the province, the NWFP Health Minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah Saturday directed the officials concerned to delve into the matter.

Addressing a press conference at the press club, the minister held the inefficiency of the officials responsible for failure to keep polio at bay.

“Ineffective implementation of polio eradication programme is behind the growing number of polio cases,” he said.

He asked the Health Department officials to find out the causes of increase in polio cases, adding that they should come out with a well-contrived policy to contain the disease.

“We’re going to launch an accountability mechanism in the health department to place responsibility on those who were not taking the efforts to eradicate polio seriously,” he said and added departmental inquiry would be initiated against such officials.

The minister, however, said that deteriorating law and order situation in certain parts of the province was the major reason behind growing number of polio cases because anti-polio vaccination could not be carried out in these areas properly.

“We may witness some polio positive cases in the province because of the mass exodus of the people from the militancy-plagued areas,” he said.

But almost in the same breath, he said that no stone would be left unturned for eradication of polio in those areas where polio teams are not facing any hindrance.

He stressed upon the media-persons to play their effective role in creating awareness among masses about the effects of polio on life of a victim.

He said majority of the population in the province was illiterate and they could be sensitised about the seriousness of the disease only through media.

Earlier, EPI NWFP Deputy Director Dr Mujahid told the participants that during the three-day polio vaccination drive, starting from 16th the instant, about 5,621,439 children below the age of five years would be administered polio vaccine.

In NWFP, he added, about 16,229 teams had been constituted for administrating polio drops. He informed that last year about 118 cases of polio were reported in the country - 16 in Sindh, 53 in NWFP, 11 in Balochistan, 29 in the Punjab and five in Islamabad.

Taliban in Darra announce ceasefire

KOHAT: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Darra Adamkhel announced on Saturday unilateral ceasefire till March 30 as part of confidence-building measures.

Sources said that the Taliban announced the ceasefire after meeting representatives of the army, political administration and the government, adding that before engaging in formal negotiations they would see how things develop in the wake of the ceasefire.

A 10-member committee headed by Noor Zaman Afridi and comprising elders from five tribes of the Frontier Region of Kohat conveyed the ceasefire decision to Political District Coordination Officer Siraj Ahmed.

Army called in various districts of Punjab

ISLAMABAD:The government has called army in various districts of Punjab, Aaj TV report said on Saturday.
According to this report, federal government has called for military assistance to control the law and order situation.The troops would be deployed initially along the routes of the long march.

PPP CEC meeting postponed

ISLAMABAD :The Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of Pakistan Peoples Party scheduled to be held on March 16 (Monday) has been postponed.
Party spokesmen Farhatullah Babar has confirmed the postponement of the meeting, however, he did not gave the reason of postponement.