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Friday, December 19, 2008

Ajmal Kasab is Pakistani, army innvolve in Mumbai attacks: Nawaz Sharief

ISLAMABAD: Challenging Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s assertion that there was no proof that the arrested Mumbai attacker hailed from
Pakistan’s Punjab province, former premier Nawaz Sharif has said that Kasab indeed belongs to the country’s Punjab province and that Pak Army must admit its role in terror.

“I have checked myself. His (Ajmal Amir Iman alias Ajmal Kasab) house and village has been cordoned off by the security agencies. His parents are not allowed to meet anybody. I don’t understand why it has been done,” Sharif, who hails from Punjab, said in an interview to TV channel.

“The people and media should be allowed to meet Iman’s parents so that the truth could come out in the open,” he said, adding that “We need some kind of introspection.”

Zardari, who earlier acknowledged that the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage could be ‘non-state’ actors from Pakistan, has now said there is still no “real evidence” that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai came from Pakistan.

“Have you seen any evidence to that effect? I have definitely not seen any real evidence to that effect,” Zardari told BBC in an interview this week.

Pakistani security agencies and local officials in Faridkot have launched a cover-up since India made it public that Kasab belonged to the village in Punjab province and his father acknowledged to a Pakistani newspaper, that the gunman captured in India was his son.

Sharif also slammed Zardari’s rule, saying the functioning of the current Pakistan People’s Party-led government is making Pakistan look like a “failed state”.

Pakistan presents the picture of a failed and ungovernable state due to the absence of the government’s writ and the country urgently needs a new roadmap to pull it out of the problems it is currently facing, he said.

The PML-N chief said the dictatorial rule of former President Pervez Musharraf had made the country ungovernable.

“Since 1977, the army has ruled the country for more than 20 years… A state subjected to frequent military intervention in politics can only become ungovernable.”

He said India should have shared intelligence about the Mumbai attacks with Pakistan instead of approaching the UN Security Council.

Sharif also criticised what he described as the government’s “clarifications” regarding the purported violation of Pakistani airspace by Indian fighter jets.

Noting that Pakistan was getting isolated in the international community, Sharif said there is a need to find the root causes of terrorism. He also condemned Zardari’s reported statement that US drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas would continue.

The government should make it clear to the US that such attacks went against the country’s integrity and would not be tolerated, he said.

Though the PPP-led government had been in power for ten months, there was little hope of any improvement in the affairs of the state, Sharif said, adding that it was up to the nation to decide whether to make Pakistan a failed state or a successful state.

Sharif said the PML-N wanted an independent judiciary and the repeal of the 17th constitutional amendment, which gives the President sweeping powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament and to dismiss the Prime Minister.

The PML-N will pressure the government to implement the Charter of Democracy, which according to him, was the “will” of slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. Sharif and Bhutto signed the Charter in 2006 when they launched a joint movement against Musharraf while they were both in exile.

The Charter envisages wide-ranging reforms, including the scrapping of the President’s powers, making the judiciary independent and clipping the powers of the military.


this news published by www.apakistannews.com

Katrina aur Preity ka dostana

We’ve never seen a classic Sholay-like yeh dosti filmed on any of our lovely leading ladies.



And neither do we foresee chances of a Dostana kinda male-bonding (butt-baring and more) movie being made with our daring dudettes in the lead. What’s the reason, huh? Well, well... don’t kid us, lovelies, don’t we all know the obvious? The old adage, ‘actresses can’t be friends’? There are some who go as far as to say, ‘We aren’t here to make friends’.

Righto! But then there are other ‘bubbly’ babes in Bollywood, who are most liked (if not loved) by the rest of the beauties. Like one Ms Preity Zinta. She proudly handed over the ‘bubbly’ title to Rani Mukerji, after the latter teamed up with Mr.Bunty (Bachchan) for their comic caper. But we think that no one deserves this title more than our Zinta-dil gal. Preity and Ash have been long-time friends, and she publicly talks about her fondness for the Bachchan bahu.

In the past, PZ was heard saying lovely things about Priyanka too (though some believed that competition was just beginning to heat up). Recently, while we were talking to the newly-voted hottest diva, Katrina Kaif, she revealed that while she doesn’t have too many ‘heroine’ buddies, she’s terribly fond of Preity. “Yes, I really like Preity, and I think the feeling is mutual. The common belief that actresses can’t be friends isn’t so true after all. We both like hanging out together, we like chatting, and we even love shopping together.

Preity is such a warm and lovely person, she’s unaffected by what people are thinking.” Hmm...shopping together is undoubtedly the first sign of girlie bonding. Ask the men. So ladies, you’ve scored brilliantly in that area. Now what about your beaus bonding? Tell us Ness and Sallu, kuch dum hai iss dosti mein?

this news published by www.apakistannews.com

Vidya is scared!

I was shooting in Wai when I got a call informing about some blasts in Mumbai, so I stayed back at Panchgani.



And I was aghast when I switched on the TV and saw what had really happened. I just sat there in disbelief, numb with shock, and it took a while for it all to sink in. Mumbai has been struck before, but this was like they almost entered our homes, sending across a deafening message that just shook everyone up. And it was even more sickening to see the people in power get into their blame-games. But I feel that the incident has caused a stir amongst the people and there has been a collective awakening of the social conscience, something that should have taken place long back.

The responsibility lies with us and instead of blaming the politicians we need to realise that it’s us who have to make the people in power accountable. It’s about time that our democracy becomes what it’s meant to be: of the people, by the people and for the people. The change will not be overnight, but people seem to have taken the first step towards it and that’s a good sign. I strongly believe that powers should be extricated from the political parties and passed onto an apolitical independent governing body. We Indians have always been a tolerant and compassionate lot, and let’s not allow a few politicians to change us or control us in the name of caste, religion or language. This should be a war against terrorism, not against a country or religion.


this news published by www.apakistannews.com

Deepika wants to have Chinese

Ni Hao, lovelies.

And that means ‘Hello’ in Mandarin. So, if you’re wondering why we’ve contracted a Beijing-bug, here’s the ‘maid’ in China story. Ever since we chatted up with Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone; and they took us on a narrative tour of the land of the Mings, we’ve been chattering in ‘Chinglish’. Anyway, since, we’re back from Chinatown to Chowpatty, let’s go back to Hinglish, our remixed music, and our food, of course. That includes our favourite localised, chatpata desi Chinese. Well, no one relishes it more than Deepika, and hear this story about her taste-buds, it’s quite a treat. Can you guess what Deepika missed the most while shooting in China for Chandni Chowk to China (second to only loverboy, RK, alright)?

The gal was craving for Chinese food in China. Gotya, didn’t we? You wouldn’t have guessed in a hundred years! “I enjoyed the authentic Chinese food there for a few days, but then I started missing the Indianised Chinese food, with extra masala and chillies. The real Chinese food gets too mild for us, we like everything that has a dash of extra masala,” says Deepika. Yeah, don’t we all love our Manchurian, tadka maar ke. And dishes like American Chopsuey, which the Chinese have never heard of. Well, our lovely gal likes everything that’s hot, did you getit, Ranbir? Co-stars included. Chew on that byte now ...


this news published by www.apakistannews.com

Ajmal Kasab is Pakistani, army innvolve in Mumbai attacks: Nawaz Sharief

ISLAMABAD: Challenging Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s assertion that there was no proof that the arrested Mumbai attacker hailed from
Pakistan’s Punjab province, former premier Nawaz Sharif has said that Kasab indeed belongs to the country’s Punjab province and that Pak Army must admit its role in terror.

“I have checked myself. His (Ajmal Amir Iman alias Ajmal Kasab) house and village has been cordoned off by the security agencies. His parents are not allowed to meet anybody. I don’t understand why it has been done,” Sharif, who hails from Punjab, said in an interview to Geo News channel.

“The people and media should be allowed to meet Iman’s parents so that the truth could come out in the open,” he said, adding that “We need some kind of introspection.”

Zardari, who earlier acknowledged that the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage could be ‘non-state’ actors from Pakistan, has now said there is still no “real evidence” that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai came from Pakistan.

“Have you seen any evidence to that effect? I have definitely not seen any real evidence to that effect,” Zardari told BBC in an interview this week.

Pakistani security agencies and local officials in Faridkot have launched a cover-up since India made it public that Kasab belonged to the village in Punjab province and his father acknowledged to a Pakistani newspaper, that the gunman captured in India was his son.

Sharif also slammed Zardari’s rule, saying the functioning of the current Pakistan People’s Party-led government is making Pakistan look like a “failed state”.

Pakistan presents the picture of a failed and ungovernable state due to the absence of the government’s writ and the country urgently needs a new roadmap to pull it out of the problems it is currently facing, he said.

The PML-N chief said the dictatorial rule of former President Pervez Musharraf had made the country ungovernable.

“Since 1977, the army has ruled the country for more than 20 years… A state subjected to frequent military intervention in politics can only become ungovernable.”

He said India should have shared intelligence about the Mumbai attacks with Pakistan instead of approaching the UN Security Council.

Sharif also criticised what he described as the government’s “clarifications” regarding the purported violation of Pakistani airspace by Indian fighter jets.

Noting that Pakistan was getting isolated in the international community, Sharif said there is a need to find the root causes of terrorism. He also condemned Zardari’s reported statement that US drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas would continue.

The government should make it clear to the US that such attacks went against the country’s integrity and would not be tolerated, he said.

Though the PPP-led government had been in power for ten months, there was little hope of any improvement in the affairs of the state, Sharif said, adding that it was up to the nation to decide whether to make Pakistan a failed state or a successful state.

Sharif said the PML-N wanted an independent judiciary and the repeal of the 17th constitutional amendment, which gives the President sweeping powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament and to dismiss the Prime Minister.

The PML-N will pressure the government to implement the Charter of Democracy, which according to him, was the “will” of slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. Sharif and Bhutto signed the Charter in 2006 when they launched a joint movement against Musharraf while they were both in exile.

The Charter envisages wide-ranging reforms, including the scrapping of the President’s powers, making the judiciary independent and clipping the powers of the military.


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India Obliged to consider the entire range of option: Mukharjee

GANGTOK: India on Friday said it was obliged to “consider the entire range of options that exist” with the failure of Pakistan to deliver on its
promise of not supporting terror activities.

“Terrorism remains a scourge for our region. If a country cannot keep the assurances that it has given, then it obliges us to consider the entire range of options that exist to protect our interests and people from this menace,” external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said, without naming Islamabad.

“We have made repeated appeals to our neighbours over the years to ensure that they do not provide support to terrorist activities and to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure…but our pleas have been ignored in spite of assurances given by them,” Mukherjee said.

He said this in his message from New Delhi to the international conference on ‘Sub-regionalism Approach to Regional Integration in South Asia: Prospects and Opportunities’ here.

It was read out by the Sikkim University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mahendra P Lama at the inauguration of the three-day conference.

Mukherjee said the terror attacks on the financial capital of the country reflected the extent to which the terrorists have spread their network in the neighbouring country.

The external affairs minister, however, did not elaborate on the course of action to be taken by the government following Pakistan’s failure to act on its assurance of dismantling terror infrastructure on its territory.

He also hinted that the state agencies of Pakistan may have provided assistance to the terrorists, whom he described as non-state actors, in carrying out the attack.

“The Mumbai terrorist attack is the latest instance of how sub-regionalism, regionalism and multilaterism are directly threatened by non-state actors with the aid of para-state apparatus,” Mukherjee said.

He said that India would fine-tune its priorities to deal with terrorism.

Referring to India’s assessment of political situation in Pakistan, Mukherjee noted that the internal security of that country continued to deteriorate “leading to emergence of multiple centres of power”.

The emergence of multiple centres of power has been reflected in attempts at cross border infiltration as also the increase in ceasefire violations besides the appalling terrorist attacks in Mumbai recently, he said.

The issue of terrorism within Pakistan being deeply embroiled in its internal politics has been found true, the minister said.

“The infrastructure of terror remained unchallenged in Pakistan and so did the logistical support to anti-Indian terrorists from multiple hands due to emergence of multiple centres of power,” Mukherjee said.

On India’s vision for a developed and prosperous South Asia, Mukherjee said, New Delhi sought to promote an environment of peace and stability in the SAARC region and the world for accelerated socio-economic development and national security.

“At the same time, one cannot choose one’s neighbour,” he said in an apparent dig at Pakistan.

“The goal of the SAARC countries should be to create a peaceful periphery to enable all of us to pursue our own development,” the union minister said and questioned the commitment of some neighbouring countries to pursue a common goal of peace and development in the South Asian region.

“The internal development in our neighbour countries, crossborder issues, ethnicities and migration among others make the bilateral relations a complex and sensitive issue as the domestic and foreign policy gets closely intertwined,” he said.


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Antulay Resigns, Seeks Probe Into Karkare Death

NEW DELHI: Indian Union Minority Affairs Minister AR Antulay resigned here Friday, bowing under pressure from the public, media and his own partymen after his controversial remarks on the death of former Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare.

Antulay sent his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, which said “I hereby tender my resignation to you and pray to accept and oblige”.

Ironically, Abdul Rahman Antulay remains defiant over his remarks and did not regret or apologise.

Antulay, the most popular Muslim face in the Congress, has sought a probe into Hemant Karkare’s death in the letter written to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. He also blamed the media for ‘distorting’ his remarks. According to sources, the PM is yet to accept AR Antulay’s resignation.


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India Stop Blaming Pakistan: PML-Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Secretary Information Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that instead of blaming Pakistan for all evils in India, New Delhi should try to resolve internal disputes.

Taking part in debate on situation arising after Mumbai blasts last month, he said that by suspending the dialogue process, the Indian government has in a way succumbed to the trap of the terrorists. He was of the opinion that Pakistan could not respond properly to the Indian diplomatic and media offensive after November 26.
Referring to various reports prepared by Indian and American think-tanks he said that internal conflicts in India were the main reason for present sorry state of affairs there.

He also cited the statement of Indian PM Manmohan Singh who recently said that Naxalites were the biggest threat to Indian solidarity. He said that India accused Pakistani groups for Samjhota Express fire last year but investigations have proved that besides Hindu extremists, an Indian Army officer was involved in the incident.

He said that it time for forging unity and for this purpose it was necessary to undo the 17th Amendment of the Constitution and putting an end to the system established by former President Musharraf, the parliament should be empowered.

He called for formulation of National Security Policy.

He advised the government to learn from Saudi model of curbing extremism, as use of force was not the solution of the problems.


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Hamas declare ceasefire with Israel

GAZA: Hamas Islamists on Thursday declared the end of a six-month-old Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Israel in the Gaza Strip , raising the prospect of an escalation in cross-border fighting.

“The calm, which was reached with Egyptian sponsorship on June 19 and expires on December 19, is finished because the enemy did not abide by its obligations,” said Hamas official Ayman Taha, who represented the group in talks with other Palestinian factions. “The calm is over.”


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Pakistan Will Issue Coin of 10 Rupee in Honor of Benazir Bhutto

ISLAMABAD:Govt of Pakistan has decide to issue coin of 10-rupees at first anniversary of Benazir in honor of Ex chairperson Benazir Bhutho in Pakistan. It is decided by Govt of Pakistan.

The State Bank of Pakistan will issue about 300,000 of the commemorative coins bearing Bhutto’s portrait and inscribed with the phrase “Daughter of the East — Honourable Benazir Bhutto” in Urdu, it said in a statement.

Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi on December 27 after addressing an election rally, just two months after surviving a strike on her homecoming parade in Karachi.

The government has renamed Islamabad’s international airport after the two-time former premier, as well as a main road and hospital in Rawalpindi.


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If US Drops missile Defense Russia To Cut Arms

MOSCOW: A senior Russian general said Friday the military will cut some weapons programs if the United States drops its missile defense plans, a news agency reported.

The news agency quoted Col.-Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov as saying that the Russian armed forces wouldn’t need some prospective strategic weapons if the new U.S. administration changes its mind about deploying missile defense sites in Europe.

“Several expensive programs will simply become unnecessary for us,” said Solovtsov, the chief of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces.

Solovtsov didn’t elaborate, but he has said earlier that Russia plans to modernize its intercontinental ballistic missiles to protect them from space-based components of the U.S. missile defense system.

Other Russian officials have previously boasted about prospective new warheads capable of making sharp maneuvers to dodge missile defense systems.

Solovtsov’s statement was the latest expression of the Kremlin’s hope that President-elect Barack Obama may reverse the Bush administration plan to build missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Russia has fiercely opposed the plan and promised to deploy missiles next to Poland if the U.S. goes ahead. Russian leaders have dismissed the U.S. claims that the missile shield was aimed to counter a missile threat from Iran, saying it damages Russia’s security.


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ISI Elements behind Killing of US, NATO Troops in Afghanistan: Report

Islamabad: Elements in the ISI are engaging with the groups that support the Taliban and are killing American, NATO and Afghan troops, according to a US think tank report.

The report by the bipartisan Pakistan Policy Working Group also cites the Afghan government’s allegations that the ISI-supported elements had orchestrated an assassination attempt on Hamid Karzai, and that the ISI had a role in the July 7 car bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul.

“All of this suggests that the ISI is no longer certain the coalition forces will prevail in Afghanistan and that it is using militants groups in an attempt to expand its own influence,” the Daily Times quoted the report, as saying.

It is said in the report that there were numerous common interests between the US and Pakistan that could provide a firm basis for a long term, mutually beneficial partnership, but still basic differences between the two over counter-terrorism strategy not only threatens to overshadow the `common agenda’, but could also make their relationship hostile.

To avoid such a situation, the report advised Pakistan to demonstrate `unambiguous commitment’ to rooting out al-Qaeda and Taliban and their safe havens from the region.

A related recommendation proposed commissioning of fresh National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to assess what Pakistan and others were doing to counter and/or support militancy.

Besides, it said, NIE should form the basis for adjusting Pakistan’s cost-benefit calculus of using militants in its foreign policy through close cooperation and by calibrating US military assistance. (ANI)


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Pakistan Needs Consensus, Not Criticism: Sherry

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Sherry Rehman has criticized PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for attacking the PPP-led government in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

“It is unfortunate that the leadership of a major political party, which we want to work with for rebuilding democracy and overcoming challenges, chooses a sensitive time to launch an attack on the government when the country needs national unity and consensus,” the minister said while talking to reporters outside National assembly here Friday.

Sherry urged all the political leaders in the country to step aside their political differences, as it is the need of the hour to unite.

“We don’t wish to trade in a war of words as that will not benefit our citizens who seek stability and maturity from their leadership right now,” she said, appealing to all political leaders to remain united leaving aside their political differences because the situation demands unity.

Rehman also said that Nawaz Sharif is a part of the government as his party heads a coalition government in the biggest province of the country.

She said that the country is governed by a government, which is elected by the majority of people and has full support of them.


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PML-N Submitted a Privilege Motion in The NA Against Justice Zawar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML)-N submitted a privilege motion in the National Assembly (NA) against Justice Zawar Hussain of Supreme Court.

Chairman NA standing committee for education Abid Sher Ali and member NA Hanif Abbasi.

The members in their motion stated that Parliament is a supreme body and Supreme Court judge have no right to summon chairman of Parliament’s standing committee. A three-member bench of Supreme Court has dismissed the stay order against the petition filed in Farah case, which proved that Justice Zawar’s decision of givining stay order was wrong.

Earlier, Supreme Court f Pakistan issued a stay order, suspending the National Assembly Standing Committee’s investigation into the case of Farah Hameed Dogar.

SC’s former deputy attorney general had filed a petition requesting inactivation of the NA Standing Committee for Education into the Farah Hameed’s case.

SC Judge, Justice Zawar Jafri, giving his remarks, said the Committee has no authority to demand records in connection with the above investigation or carry out the probe.

SC issued separate notices to chairmen Federal Board of Education and NA Standing Committee for Education, staying the hearing of the case indefinitely.


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Oil Drops Below $34 To Lowest in 5 Years

LONDON: Oil fell below $34 on Friday to its lowest level in almost five years as the global economic slowdown overshadowed OPEC’s record supply cuts.

U.S. light crude for January delivery fell $2.64 to $33.58 a barrel by 6:50 a.m. EST. It earlier touched $33.44, the lowest since early February 2004.

London Brent crude was trading 18 cents up at $43.54.

Oil prices have fallen by more than $110 from their peak above $147 in July. They look set for their second biggest weekly decline since 2003.

“Until traders see a sustained drop-off in the rate of demand destruction, the market will have a hard time establishing a floor,” Jonathan Kornafel, Asia Director of Hudson Capital Energy, said.

“From a credibility standpoint, OPEC has no choice but to bite the bullet for the next few months.”

Oil has continued to drop despite pledges by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) this week to remove 2.2 million barrels per day from its supply, which will be the largest ever reduction by the producer group.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, speaking in London, said on Friday the kingdom would be pumping less oil in January and would be at its new output target in line with the group’s latest cut.

Other key markets were also falling on Friday. The dollar looked set for its biggest weekly decline since 1985 and world stocks fell as concerns about the U.S. economy worried investors in the last full trading week of 2008.


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Pentagon Awards $ 4 Bln Contract to Small Group

ARLINGTON, USA: Pentagon announced it has awarded a maximum 4.4-billion-dollar contract over ten years to SupplyCore, a small American logistics company.

SupplyCore, based in Rockford, Illinois, was provided an “indefinite quantity contract for support of tactical and non-tactical wheeled vehicle fleets” for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, a Pentagon statement said Thursday.

Three companies bid for the contract, it added.

The vehicles include the Humvee, Bradley, and M939 Series trucks. The 110-employee company will be tasked with providing parts and supply chain management services at Department of Defense facilities, SupplyCore said.

The contract “is one of the largest small business set-asides ever awarded by the Department of Defense,” SupplyCore said in a press release.

“SupplyCore was required to show they were competitive with the large businesses that competed for the contract in both price and delivery capability.

“As a leader within the small business community, SupplyCore is able to manage an extensive supply chain that includes many highly capable small manufacturers.”


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GM Refutes New Chrysler Merger Rumours

DETROIT, USA: General Motors said Thursday it had not renewed merger talks with Chrysler, as the automakers struggled to find survival options and a possible government rescue.

“There are no merger talks between GM and Chrysler,” said Tony Cervone, a GM spokesman.

“We stated in November that we tabled any discussion and are focused on our liquidity situation, and that position has not changed.”

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Chrysler was seeking to restart discussions on a merger to show the administration of President George W. Bush, currently considering a 14-billion-dollar rescue plan for the industry, that it wants to cooperate in restructuring the industry.

Citing people familiar with the discussions, the newspaper said Chrysler’s owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP, “is eager to make concessions in order to arrange a combination of Chrysler’s finance arm with that of GM.”

On Wednesday Chrysler said it was temporarily halting its manufacturing for at least a month, beginning Friday, in response to the credit crisis and ongoing debate on a rescue for the sector.


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DFID To Provide £ 50 Million For Micro Financing Banking

KARACHI: A UK-based Department for International Development (DFID) would provide assistance of 50 million pounds for the development of micro financing sector.

Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr. Shamshad Akhtar said this while talking to media in a function organized for the issuance of fund for micro financing development.

Speaking at this occasion, Director DFID David Taylor said the assistance would be expanded to 480 million pounds within next three years.

Governor State Bank said efforts would be made to boost private and local investment whereas training would be given to those working in micro financing sector.


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Will Kareena’s Jelly-Belly Seduce Shah Rukh Khan ?

Kareena Kapoor Okay, so Kareena Kapoor has resolved not to dance for shaadis , parties et al. That’s not so ‘nawabi’ , after all, for the much-in-love lady. Yeah, Bebo, save the last dance for boyfriend Saif Ali Khan, and no other, ok? But for Shah Rukh Khan, whom she is so fond of, she could do anything , from a ‘walk-through’ to an item number.

She scorched the screens with SRK in the ‘yeh mera dil’ number for Don, and we hear that apparently she’s doing a hot, hot number for Billoo Barber , where she’s dressed like a sexy Arabian dancer. We’re hoping Bebo’s put on some flab on those fab-abs for this gaana. C’mon, what is an Arabic dancer without a slight jelly-belly. Damn the size zero, honey, SRK’s 6-pack (if it’s still around) will make up for it, just for this time. Kareena also performed at his ‘li’l star’s awards show, na!

Apparently, it’s just Shah Rukh that Kareena will do anything for. When Rakesh Roshan had approached her to do an item number for Krazzy 4, she politely declined, and was in the ‘no item-number’ mode.

And how about a full-fledged movie with the King Khan? That would be a real treat, no? If we aren’t getting too greedy here, even Saif can join the party. What a casting coup that would be! Ohh … once-upon-a-time, wasn’t that supposed to be the cast of Kal Ho Na Ho (till KK dropped out and PZ stepped in)? OMG … we didn’t mean to dig up the better forgotten past. But wattodo, control hi nahi hota ? So, how about giving ‘the two cool Khans, plus sexy Kareena’, a chance again. Karan, wherefore art thou?


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2009 To Be Abhishek Bachchan’s Year?

MUMBAI: Year 2008 may not go down as a memorable one for Bachchan junior, what with his DRONA being declared a box office disaster and his destined to succeed SARKAR RAJ proving to be an average show.

The only silver lining was Karan Johar’s Tarun Mansukhani directed DOSTANA, which has done very well at the turnstile.

With DOSTANA inching towards an above average status from India (already a super–hit in the Overseas) good luck seems to be back in Abhishek Bachchan’s life. And it appears from the superb promos of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s DILLI 6 that lady luck is here to stay with Abis Baby for a while.

Yes, the promos of DILLI 6 (or DELHI 6?) are out on all leading satellite channels and portals and going by the response that it has generated, it appears that Abhishek has another winner on hand.

Music maestro A.R. Rahman’s lilting background musical score on the harmonica and ghatam enthralls the senses and once again expectations surmount that Rahman will create magic, just like he did with RANG DE BASANTI.

Sonam’s pretty, innocent looks, Abhishek Bachchan’s brooding, intense visuals and the historic old Delhi, all conjure up a beautiful picture and build up the audience’s curiosity.

Looks like Rakeysh is continuing from where he left off in RDB. And in the process we feel that 2009 may well be Abhishek’s year, especially now that Mani Ratnam’s RAVANA is progressing at a brisk pace towards completion and Rohan Sippy’s next with Abhishek is on the anvil from January!

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SRK unveils ‘Rab ne…’ girl Anushka

Superstar Shahrukh Khan’s latest co-star in the film Rab ne bana di jodi, Anushka Sharma was finally unveiled to the media on Thursday (December 18).

After keeping the media waiting for over 3 hours, Shahrukh khan played the perfect supportive co-star as he held 20-year-old Anushka Sharma’s hand through her first ever press conference. They hugged, they kissed and they posed for the cameras and SRK urged to press to be kind to her.

Standing atleast three inches taller than her Rab ne co-star, Anushka opened up to the media haule haule and expressed happiness that her movie is doing well.

“I was only hoping that the film does well and I am happy that it is doing well,” a gleeming Anoushka told the press.

“Let me clarify, I am not taller than Shahrukh; we are just the same height,” she added.

The Bangalore model came across as self-assured and later become so comfortable that she even got singing. She sang the hit number haule haule.

But as usual, it was SRK who stole the spotlight; not just with his witty one liners but also with his smart retort to his on-going war of words with Aamir khan

SRK said: “Aamir and I are very close friends…Aamir and I were together last night also (laughs).”

SRK unveils 'Rab ne...' girl Anushka video


And when asked by Anushka to sing along with her he quipped,” If I start singing, they will throw boots at me like George Bush.”

SRK also named his young co-star and presented her as ‘ six pack Anushka Sharma.”

After all the smiles and applauds, we can only hope that the SRK magic rubs on to this debutante too like it did for his Om Shanti Om girl, Deepika Padukone.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)


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Hurriyet Leaders Under House Arrest in IHK

OCUPIED SRINAGAR: The authorities placed the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other leaders including Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Fazl Haq Qureshi and Mian Abdul Qayoom under house arrest, to prevent them from leading the anti-polls demonstrations to be held today after Jumma prayers in occupied Kashmir.

Occupation authorities have imposed undeclared curfew in Srinagar after deploying heavy contingents of police and army troops in the city, local media reported.


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Imran Khan Criticizes India Decision to Cancel Tour

KARACHI: Former captain Imran Khan has criticised India’s decision to cancel next month’s tour to neighboring Pakistan.

“This will not help build up trust (between the two countries) and it is a wrong decision by the Indians,” said the Pakistan great on a talk show on Thursday.

Imran said India should have applied the same criteria as they did when they asked England to return to their country after last month’s militant attacks in Mumbai.

“When some English cricketers had security concerns going back to India they were told if they didn’t return it would be a victory for the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks,” he said.

“While deciding on the Pakistan tour they should have thought in similar fashion. The cancellation of the series is not good for cricket in the region.”

Imran added that all countries reluctant to send teams to Pakistan should remember no sportsmen had ever been targeted in his country.

India cancelled next month’s tour after the government refused permission following the attacks in Mumbai which killed at least 179 people.

The Indians had been due to play three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 game.


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Dravid, Gambhir Slam Fifties; India 134/1 At Tea

Mohali: Rahul Dravid gave a glimpse of his ‘Wall’ stature as he cracked his gritty 54th Test fifty off 151 balls. The effort ensured that the second spell of the day was dominated by the home team as the Indian scorecard read 134/1 at tea time.

India had clawed back into the game with the slow and steady approach as Gautam Gambhir scored a hard earned fifty before his counterpart at the other end. The effort also took the total past the 100 run-mark with Dravid too looking in some good touch.

Morning Session

The first session of play yielded good results for England. They managed to restrict India to 51 runs and picked up a crucial wicket of danger man Virender Sehwag as well. Stuart Broad claimed the prized scalp for a duck and justified his inclusion in the squad.

The duo of Dravid and Gambhir then took the mantle in their hands and threw caution to the winds, thereby not allowing further hiccups. Dravid finally broke one jinx in the session, he hit his first boundary in four innings. Toss

Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first against England at Mohali. The other captain Kevin Pietersen rued the opportunity of losing the toss as the wicket would offer help to the bowlers in the first as well as the last innings of the game.

The start of the second and final Test match had been delayed due to bad light. An overnight fog persisted over the stadium and hence the umpires had to wait before the toss could commence.

England had made a change in their team composition by bringing in Stuart Broad in place of Steve Harmison. The move could have been made after the pitch inspection by the skipper as the presence of lots of cracks but with a hint of grass would mean that Broad would have a go at the batsmen in the scenario.

The first Test at Chennai ended on a high note for the home team as the batsmen made merry of the English bowling, winning by six wickets in the process. With a whitewash in the ODI series as well, England would be hoping to end the tour on a winning note and carry back some pride to their abode.

India (Playing XI): Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma

England (Playing XI): Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen(c), Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Prior(w), Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Monty Panesar


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Sri Lanka To Tour Pakistan After India Cancels 2009 Tour

Sri Lankan cricket authorities have confirmed their tour to Pakistan in January and February, a Pakistan Cricket Board official told reporters on Friday.

Pakistan had invited Sri Lanka to play three tests, three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 game after the Indian government refused to permit its team to undertake their test tour of Pakistan from next month.

India called off the tour on Thursday amid simmering tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours over the militant attacks in Mumbai in November.

“Sri Lanka has agreed in principle to tour for the series. We are now working out the final details… of the tour with them,” Saleem Altaf, the chief operating officer of the Pakistan cricket Board told reporters.

Altaf said the President of the Sri Lankan board, Arjuna Ranatunga, had sent his consent for the tour after Pakistan invited them for the unscheduled series.

“Sri Lanka will travel to Pakistan straight from Bangladesh where their tour ends in the third week of January,” Altaf said.

He said Sri Lanka would start off with a Twenty20 game and one-dayer in Karachi and then play two one-dayers and a test in Lahore.

Financial Setback

“The second test would be in Lahore and the final one in Karachi,” he added.

Pakistan is hoping to generate much needed revenues from the Sri Lanka series after they suffered a setback due to the cancellation of the Indian team`s tour and have not played a test since Dec, 2007.

“Obviously the cancellation of the Indian series is a setback especially in financial terms,” Altaf said.

Pakistan is expected to lose out on estimated revenues of around $20 million from the cancellation of the Indian series.

The PCB official said the board would soon be holding a meeting to take some policy decisions on the participation of Pakistani players in the Twenty20 leagues in India.

“It is something we need to look at because of the existing relations between the two countries and the fact that India has decided not to have cricket ties with us at the moment,” he added.

Around 30 Pakistani cricketers, many of them members of the current national side, are signed up to play for the official Indian Premier League and the Indian Cricket League.

Improving ties between the two neighbours suddenly dipped when India blamed Islamist militants based in Pakistan for the attacks in Mumbai which killed at least 179 people.

Political tensions have forced the cancellation of previous series between the neighbours.

In 2004, India toured Pakistan for a full series for the first time in almost 15 years following a thaw in tensions.

The Indians went on to clinch their first test-series win on Pakistan soil..


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Gambhir, Dravid in Century Stand for India

MOHALI: Gautam Gambhir hit a second successive half-century and Rahul Dravid finally returned to form Friday as India consolidated in the second Test against England.

The pair put on 128 for the unbroken second wicket as India recovered from the early loss of Virender Sehwag to take their lunch score of 51-1 to 134 without further loss by tea on the opening day.

Left-handed Gambhir, who made 66 in the second innings of the first Test in Chennai which India won by six wickets, was unbeaten at the break on 78 with 10 boundaries.

Dravid overcame his recent poor run to make 50 not out, his first half-century in nine innings.

Watch Live Cricket Match


India began slowly after electing to bat in overcast conditions, groping for the first 10 overs of the match to make 15 runs for the loss of the dangerous Sehwag.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad, returning to the England side in place of Steve Harmison after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury, struck with his sixth delivery.

Sehwag, man of the match in Chennai for his explosive 83 off 68 balls, failed to score as he edged Broad’s well-directed outswinger to wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

Dravid walked in at his usual number three position despite making just 342 runs in his last 10 Tests at an average of 19.

His lone four in the morning session, a pull off James Anderson off the 46th ball he faced, was his first boundary in five innings.

It was left to Gambhir to keep the scoreboard moving with six fours before lunch, including two in Monty Panesar’s first over.

India ended the morning session on 51-1 from 21 overs, 35 of those runs coming from Gambhir’s bat.

Dravid opened out after the break, driving Panesar through the covers for his second boundary, before two fluent on-drives off Andrew Flintoff and Broad showed he was finally middling the ball.

Another off-drive off Panesar brought up India’s 100 in which Dravid’s contribution was 39.

Gambhir stroked freely at the other end, but was lucky to escape twice after reaching 70, off-spinner Graeme Swann being the unlucky bowler both times.

Paul Collingwood failed to grasp a sharp chance in the slips as Gambhir edged Swann, before umpire Daryl Harper turned down the bowler’s loud shout for leg-before.

Television replays showed ball heading towards the middle stump.

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Kumble Nominated To Anti Doping Panel

MOHALI, India: India’s former cricket skipper Anil Kumble has been nominated to the athletes’ committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The leg spinner, who retired last month as the third highest test wickettaker with 619 wickets, has been included in the list announced on the WADA website.

Kumble’s term will start on Jan. 1. One-third of the panel members, who play an advisory role in policy and priority development of the agency, are replaced on a rotational basis annually.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is a signatory to the WADA Code.


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Pakistan’s open lies on Masood Azhar

Contradicting himself and his own cabinet colleague, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JuD) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, one of India’s most wanted criminals, has not been arrested and is “still at large”.

“Maulana Masood Azhar is wanted by the government of Pakistan, but he is not in our custody and he is at large,” Qureshi told state-run APP news agency on Wednesday (December 17). He said Pakistan has taken “enough steps” to arrest culprits involved in terrorist activities.

Qureshi’s remarks came barely an hour-and-half after he accepted the detention of Azhar while speaking to Dawn News channel a little after 9 PM on Wednesday. He was asked several pointed questions on whether Azhar was among those who had been detained.

Qureshi replied: “Important people that were required have been taken into custody. They are under detention.” When the anchor asked again if these people included Azhar and whether he had been put under house arrest or was in custody, Qureshi said: “Yes, in custody.”

Last week, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar told a TV channel that Azhar had been detained and Islamabad might even allow Indian investigators to question him. The Pakistan media also reported Azhar’s detention at his home in Bahawalpur in Punjab province on December 9.

When reporters asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on December 10 about the whereabouts of Azhar, he merely said he had not received the “latest report” on the case of the militant leader. He did not confirm or deny Azhar’s detention. Azhar and two other terrorists were freed by India in exchange for the passengers of an Indian Airlines flight that was hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandahar in December 1999.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik, during an interview this week, said that Azhar has not been detained during the clampdown on militant and terrorist groups after the attacks in Mumbai. “We are looking for him. He is not under house arrest. As far as I know, it (news reports of Azhar’s house arrest) is wrong. He is not in Pakistan… We don’t know where he is,” Malik said.

Masood Azhar

In a demarche issued after the Mumbai terror attacks, India had asked Pakistan to hand over Azhar and underworld dons Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim. Azhar formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed soon after his release. Pakistan has said it intends to take action against all terror suspects according to the country’s laws and will not hand them over to India.

(With inputs from agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

British Man Jailed on Terror Charges

LONDON: A British Muslim has been sentenced to life in prison today for directing terrorism.

Rangzieb Ahmed, 33, was found guilty of the offence on Thursday at Manchester crown court and was sentenced this morning.

Another man, Habib Ahmed, 28, was sentenced to ten years in prison for possession of terrorist material and being a member of al-Qaida.

The prosecution claim the younger of the two travelled to Pakistan to receive terrorist training and was reportedly found in possession of two diaries containing details of al-Qaida operatives written in invisible ink.

It is alleged he was given the books by his co-defendant, who has become the first person to be convicted of directing terrorism in the UK.


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Israel Urges Russia Not To Sell Missiles To Iran

MOSCOW: An Israeli envoy urged Russia on Friday not to sell weapons to Iran that could be used to attack the Jewish state, a news agency reported.

The news agency quoted Israeli Defense Ministry envoy Amos Gilad as saying Israel expects Russia to respect his country’s interests.

“The deliveries of dangerous armaments to our enemies won’t serve the interests of peace and, for instance, can help Iran wipe Israel off the face of earth,” Gilad was quoted as saying. “So we expect Russia to demonstrate responsibility on the issue.”

Gilad, who was visiting Moscow, was responding to a question about possible deliveries of Russian S-300 air defense missiles to Iran.

Some Russian media have claimed that a deal has already been struck to sell the missiles, but Russian officials have denied it.

Russia has previously sold Tor-M1 air-defense missiles and other weapons to Iran in deals criticized by the U.S. and Israel. The long-range S-300 is a much more advanced weapon that would make any potential Israeli strike at Iran’s nuclear facilities more difficult.

Israel, the United States and much of the international community believe that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is intended solely for civilian energy needs.

Russia has maintained close ties with Iran and is building its first nuclear power plant, which is expected to go on line next year. Russia has backed limited U.N. sanctions against Iran, but has staunchly resisted the U.S. push for harsher measures.

According to the news agency, Gilad denied allegations that Russia and Israel had struck a secret deal under which Israel would abstain from selling weapons to Georgia and Russia wouldn’t sell weapons to Iran.

He added, however, that Israel would take Russia’s interests into account. “And we expect a similar approach from Russia,” he was quoted as saying.

In recent months, Israel has done its best to make Russia happy. It has distanced itself from Georgia, announcing even before Georgia’s August war with Russia that it was cutting weapons sales to Tbilisi. Israel later further restricted defense contacts and even instructed defense consultants not to visit the Caucasus nation.

Russia’s top military officer said this week that Moscow is negotiating with Israel to buy a batch of spy drones in what would be its first ever purchase of military hardware from the Jewish state.


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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Dawood Ibrahim is Main Suspct of mumbai Attack: Russia Intelligence


NEW DELHI: The Russian government has issued a statement saying that it believes that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was directly involved in the Mumbai terror attacks and his network was used by the terrorists to carry out the multiple attacks.

Moscow, which has been sharing intelligence with India, further believes that Dawood’s drug network, which runs through Afghanistan, was used to finance the terror attack.

Russia has also gone public with its intelligence inputs that point to the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim, who is believed to be operating his vast network from Karachi, in the Mumbai terror attacks.

“The gathered inputs testify that regional drug baron Dawood Ibrahim had provided his logistics network for preparing and carrying out the Mumbai terror attacks,” Russia’s federal anti-narcotics service director Viktor Ivanov said in an interview to Russian government daily Rossiskaya Gazeta. He had further said that the Mumbai attacks were a ‘burning example’ of how the illegal drug trafficking network was used for carrying out terror activities.

Special representative of the Russian president for international co-operation in the fight against terrorism, Anatoly Safonov, who led the Russian delegation at the meeting of the joint working group, has said that the drug network, which finances the terror network, was a joint problem for India and Russia and that the two countries co-operate more closely in the area.

This was reflected in a joint statement released after the talks. The two sides have agreed to work together to track terror funds. “The two sides noted that curbing financing of terrorism is a key component of the counter-terrorism strategy and agreed to strengthen bilateral interaction in this field,” the joint statement said.

Safonov has said that Russia is willing to work with India to “inject new dynamism” in the convention that has been held up over the definition of terrorism. The Russian side had also offered to explain to Indian officials the steps taken by Russia after the Beslan school terrorist attack.


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Taliban Release Video of 5 Beheaded spies

Pakistan’s Taliban insurgents have released a video of five beheaded men, including soldiers, they accused of spying on Al Qaeda, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

In “confessional statements” before their beheading the victims said that they had “provided secret information” to Pakistani and US officials for carrying out attacks against the group, according to the video sent to journalists in Peshawar.

Pak Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas, however, denied the claim saying that the government has not provided any intelligence to the Americans, the BBC Urdu, one of the recipients of the video tape, reported on its website.

Al Qaeda leader Abu Laith al-Libi along with 11 others was killed in a US missile attack in a house in Pakistan’s tribal region on Jan 29. He was a key figure of the group in Afghanistan. In the 45-minute video, the victims mention their names one-by-one and make confession that how they traced the hideout of al-Libi that led to the US missile strike.

Titled “Qisas and Ibrat” (retaliation and admonition), the video also contains a Pashtoo message: “You people have committed cruel acts to kill many beloved Arabs, who had sheltered in our country.” The house that was destroyed in the strike was shown in the background.

The local authorities have recovered the beheaded bodies from different parts of North Waziristan, the report said. General Abbas said that he would not comment on the confessions, as he had not watched the video yet. Pakistani officials believe the US has carried out 32 missile attacks in its tribal areas since August. The US said that the attacks were aimed at eliminating Al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

In the recent past, scores of people have been killed in the region on charges of spying on the militants.


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Pervaiz Elahi Asks PPP, PML-N to Fulfill Promises

LAHORE: Former Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has asked PPP and PML-N to fulfill their promises.

Talking to media here, Elahi said both parties should their differences aside and concentrate on resolving problems of the masses.

He also urged governor and chief minister Punjab to focus on completion of development projects in Punjab instead of fighting with each other.

Replying to a question, Pevaiz Elahi said that his party would be remained in opposition and there is not contact between his party and government.


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Plot To Get Pervez Musharraf Killed by Suicide Bomber Unearthed

Lahore: Pakistani authorities have unearthed a plot to kill former President Pervez Musharraf, and have claimed busting a clandestine terror network set up by jailed killer of Daniel Pearl inside the Hyderabad Jail.

The Sindh Government has suspended senior police and jail officials after a large number of cell phones, SIMs and other equipment were recovered, The News reported.

Highly placed Interior Ministry sources said that the jailed terrorist had also threatened Musharraf on his personal cell phone in the second week of November and planned to get him eliminated by a suicide bomber.

The caller reportedly told the former president: “I am after you, get ready to die.”

Subsequent investigations by the authorities revealed someone made the threatening phone call from the Hyderabad Central Jail. Being a suspect, Sheikh Omar was placed under observation before it transpired that he was the one who had threatened the former strongman.

The authorities came to know that a plot had been hatched by Sheikh Omar to eliminate the then-president with the connivance of some Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) militants, with whom he had long been in touch over the phone, the paper said.

As Omar’s death cell was thoroughly searched, three mobile phones, six batteries, 18 SIMS of almost every cellular company and chargers were seized from his possession.

Further scanning of the alleged terror mastermind’s telephone records revealed he had been making calls all over Pakistan to former Jihadi associates as well as relatives in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

Interestingly, however, his mobile phone records revealed besides having revived his contacts with the outer world, Omar had also been in touch with Attaur Rehman, alias Naeem Bukhari, a key Lashkar-e-Jhangvi operative arrested by the Karachi police on June 5,
2007 in connection with the Pearl murder case.

During the ensuing interrogations, Naeem Bukhari was learnt to have revealed that the LeJ operatives had already been directed by Sheikh Omar to target Musharraf either in Rawalpindi or in Karachi, preferably by using a suicide car bomber.

The LeJ militants had thus been monitoring Musharraf’’s movements to target him while travelling between his Army House residence in Rawalpindi and his Chak Shehzad farmhouse on the 1-A Park Road on the quiet suburbs of Islamabad or to blow up the bridge on Shara-e-Faisal during his next visit to Karachi.

It was after the unearthing of the assassination plot that Musharraf decided to leave for London on November 22 for a short trip - for the first time since his resignation as president in August 2008.

Although, he has already returned home, Musharraf is still occupying the Army House due to grave security concerns. (ANI)


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Hemant Karkare Murder, A R Antulay Face Probe

NEW DELHI: Minority affairs minister A R Antulay on Wednesday set off a major political row by demanding a probe into the shooting of Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare in the 26/11 terror strikes which he linked to investigations into the alleged involvement of Hindu radicals in the Malegaon blast case.

Stating that the circumstances of Karkare’s shooting “may be inquired into”, Antulay seemed to have borrowed a leaf from Pakistani TV hosts who have claimed that the Mumbai attacks were the handiwork of “Hindu-Zionists”. Antulay told the media outside Parliament’s gate number 12 that “there must have been some reason why Karkare went to Cama hospital instead of Taj and Oberoi hotels.”

Antulay said “someone” could have told Karkare and other officers with him to go to Cama hospital, suggesting that the ATS chief fell victim to a set-up as he was probing cases which involved Hindu radicals in the Malegaon case. The comments were immediately televised and triggered an uproar in Lok Sabha where BJP and Shiv Sena MPs vehemently criticised the minister who insisted that directions issued to the officer must be probed.

A red-faced Congress swiftly dissociated itself from the minister with party spokesperson Abhisekh Singhvi saying, “We don’t accept the inference and the innuendo that underline the statement (of Antulay)…we don’t agree with bringing this case (Karkare’s killing) under a cloud.”

But Antulay was unfazed, virtually daring the Congress to sack him and offering to “explain” the geography of south Mumbai to his party.

He got support from the RJD with party leader Devendra Yadav also expressing suspicion of involvement of Hindu radicals in Karkare’s killing. As his boss Lalu Prasad looked on approvingly, he said, “Two days before Karkare was killed, who had given a call for Maharashtra bandh?”

Reacting to the controversy, BJP condemned Antulay’s statement and said the minister was as good as playing ISI’s attorney and demanded his sacking. BJP leader Arun Jaitley said Pakistan could now quote Antulay to contest the account of the lone surviving Mumbai terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab. “Having made such a preposterous statement, Antulay cannot be allowed to remain in government even for a day,” he said.

Antulay has been fulminating since Tuesday evening when the Cabinet cleared the bills for a National Investigation Agency and amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He expressed apprehension that tougher anti-terror laws could well be misused, hinting that minorities were in the line of fire.

On Wednesday afternoon, Antulay added to this script, telling TV cameras that apart from terrorism, the laws should also emcompass communal riots. “Those who riot are also terrorists,” he claimed, seeking to provide what he felt was a sense of “equivalence” to the government’s actions. But soon after, perhaps dissatisfied by his efforts, Antulay reappeared to claim he suspected foul play in the shooting of Karkare.

The “Karakare conspiracy” has been articulated by some Urdu newspapers and clerics like the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid. This is despite the exhaustive account of Ajmal Kasab, who along with slain terrorist Ismail, shot Karkare, additional commissioner Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar. Also, a Mumbai police constable Jadhav, who actually survived the shooting by lying at the back of the qualis commandeered by Kasab and Ismail has given his account of the shooting as well.

Antulay’s blatant attempt to politicise the death of the Mumbai ATS chief at a time when the government was moving harder anti-terror laws may well have sounded the deathknell to the post 26/11 bipartisanship in fighting terrorism. It also places Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an arkward position. If Antulay continues as a minister without a full retraction, it would mean allowing the minister to undermine the government on the Mumbai attacks.

Antulay’s controversial comments provided fodder for an enraged Opposition. While Shiv Sena’s Anant Geete drew Lok Sabha’s attention to Antulay’s words, triggering a spat with treasury benches, the minister sought to present a defence by saying he had only questioned who had sent the top cops in the direction of Cama hospital when bigger attacks were happening at Taj and Oberoi. He was cut short by Geete that his statement was more categorical and was on TV.

Devendra Yadav demanded that home minister P Chidambaram constitute a “probe on the relation between terror and Sangh Parivar.”


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Jamaat-ud-Dawa Has Mounted its own Spirited Defence Sgainst its Ban

NEW DELHI: As Pakistan struggles to ban the Jamaat-ud-Dawa after the UN Security Council resolution, the Islamic group has mounted its own
spirited defence against its ban. Portraying itself as a charity organization and social do-gooder, the JuD has mounted a campaign on its website to convince its followers that the UNSC had proscribed the wrong organization under Indian pressure.

JuD on Tuesday published a detailed list of people who would suffer from the closure. They included thousands of the 2005 and 2008 earthquake victims, especially in Balakot, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot. It also said it is digging wells in Sindh and Balochistan; helping out poor and destitute children, patients who avail of free surgeries and diagnostic services, people who receive dry rations in disaster affected areas, etc.

“Jamaat-ud-Dawah is always the first to reach affected people in any emergency or natural disaster; pulling out people from the rubble of destroyed homes, carrying out on-the-spot surgeries of wounded people, setting up tent cities, cooking and distributing free food, digging fresh water wells, and building shelters.”

The JuD website is relishing a BBC story about poor Pakistani Hindus protesting against the ban. Hindus even stepped out in a protest march in Hyderabad (Sindh), describing JuD as a “saviour”. One protester, Biga Ram, told a news agency: “How can an organisation be terrorist if it`s been providing food and water to us despite knowing that we`re not Muslims?”

She added: “They`re friends of humanity. We condemn the ban. It`s unjust.”

During the October earthquake in 2005, it was the profusion of JuD mobile hospitals and medical services that drew praise from many international observers, while the Pakistan government floundered in reaching basic services to the quake-affected people.

It helped in that the JuD’s recruiting public came from the PoK region, but it also surprised observers that camps they had thought have been closed were clearly in operation. And ultimately, that’s the secret of the JuD’s survival — because it has taken over a lot of the services that should actually be provided by the state. And JuD’s constituency of dependents grows.

That’s also the unfortunate truth about the ban. This terror group which has a charity front will always use the humanitarian excuse to continue working on all fronts, including training and deploying terrorists. Which is why, while JuD’s bank accounts have been frozen, the group has not yet been formally banned by Pakistan.


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Legal limbo for Mumbai Attacker Ajmal Amir Iman Could be Unlawful: Rights group

India could be in breach of international law if the surviving Mumbai attacker is refused legal representation, a human rights group said, amid strong public calls for harsh retribution. Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman is currently in police custody and being questioned about last month’s attacks, which killed 172 people, including nine gunmen, injured nearly 300 and provoked worldwide outrage.

mumbai attacks video

But with feelings still running high after the 60-hour assault on India’s financial and entertainment capital, the Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate Court’s Bar Association has resolved not to represent the 21-year-old Pakistani. Others who say they would represent him have been publicly condemned as unpatriotic and in one case, activists of a Hindu nationalist political party ransacked an advocate’s home.

Rights groups say that if no lawyer comes forward, Iman — who faces a potential death sentence if convicted — will be denied a fair trial, putting the world’s biggest democracy in breach of domestic and international law. “Everybody has a right to be represented” during questioning and at trial, said Meenakshi Ganguly, from Human Rights Watch in Mumbai.

“The presumption of innocence and the right to representation is the most basic of human rights,” she told. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which India ratified, enshrines the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law at which the defendant “has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence”.

India’s own constitution also provides for the right to legal aid and representation, as well as a “fair, just and equitable procedure” in court for any defendant, regardless of whether they are a foreign national.

But the honorary secretary of the Bombay Bar Association, M.P. Rao, said the unprecedented nature of the attacks — blamed on the banned Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba — meant normal rules should not apply.

“He (Iman) has waged war on the country. If he’s waged war, the basic requirement of giving him a fair trial doesn’t really become justified,” he told AFP. “So, the majority of our bar members are of the view that he could be tried without anybody representing him on the basis of circumstantial evidence that’s available.”

Rao says the door is still open for a foreign lawyer, possibly from Pakistan, to represent Iman as there is “unchallengeable proof” he comes from India’s neighbour and rival. But his comments fit the public mood. A letter in the Midday tabloid here Wednesday described as “ridiculous” an Indian Supreme Court ruling that it is illegal to deny a defendant the lawyer of his choice.

“How can one defend the indefensible? These loopholes in the system should be plugged immediately… He (Iman) should not be given the right to defend himself in court,” the correspondent wrote.


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Shall We Dance: Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor has taken a New Year resolution not to dance at high-profile

weddings.

Her decision, she has said, is in the interest of her family’s prestige and fans since wedding dances don’t set a good example for a youth icon like her. While her co-stars in Bollywood might or might not endorse Bebo’s decision, Tollywood stars seem to have always stayed away from wearing the dancing shoes at high-profile weddings in Kolkata. Even most high-profile weddings in Bengal’s rural belt, where Tollywood stars are regarded as demigods, haven’t made headlines for considering the option of a Bengali star to do a jig.

But, Tollywood stars aren’t immune to the song-and-dance routine. Every award ceremony or even a film festival dinner party has been witness to live performances of our stars to both Bengali and Hindi hits. The growing popularity of Bengali serials has also ensured that viewers keep glued to their screens wherever their screen idols shake a leg. Though a Shah Rukh Khan has danced at the Mittal wedding in Kolkata itself, is it the prestige issue that has made our stars abstain?

Kareena Kapoor Wallpaper

Prosenjit Chatterjee isn’t amused when asked to elaborate. “Nobody in this world can have the courage to ask me to dance at a wedding. I rarely attend any function and dance,” he says. Sociologists feel that Kolkata and Mumbai’s difference in preferences stem from the cities’ cultural and financial backgrounds. “Mumbai, which has long started the trend of stars performing at marriages, has a cultural background that encourages dances at weddings. Moreover, the spending power also matters. Kolkata, in contrast, is happier with its intellectual identity that’s conservative in nature when it comes to weddings,” says
sociologist Ruby Sain. True, because even today, a even an Indian classical recital would be a more preferred choice for high-profile Bengali weddings that tries to lend an innovative touch. “Even yesteryear’s Tollywood stars haven’t embraced the idea because they also think the way other Bengalis do. Bashor ghore gaan bajnar shujog thakleo, amra aajo bhabte parina je kono obhinetri ke sekhane naacher jonnyo amontron janano jete pare. Yet, I do see a changing trend of imitating the Mumbai and Delhi dance
culture now.”

While jatras have huge takers since they offer the thrill of live interaction with the crowd and an opportunity to rake in the moolah, the urge to see the matinee idols perform no longer seems a far-fetched a dream for Tollywood’s fans in the districts too. Jeet has already accepted invitations to make an appearance at weddings in Kolkata. “I’m not going to comment on Kareena’s decision because it’s completely her prerogative. I too don’t inaugurate Pujas because I don’t think stars should hog the limelight during the Pujas. But, I don’t have problems dancing at weddings or even New Year bashes if the remuneration is good and the offers suit my schedule and my expectations,” Jeet says, adding, “When I was a struggler in Mumbai, I had earned a quick buck by anchoring a New Year show.”

Priorities are changing for Tollywood’s new faces too. Hiran, for one, has already received two offers — at weddings in Vizag and Malda. “Had my shooting schedule been different, I’d have surely agreed to perform. I’ve no illusions about what my profession demands of me as an entertainer and hence, have no problems dancing at weddings,” Hiran admits. Priyanka Sarkar too is ready to indulge. “SRK does it. Perhaps, the right kind of offers weren’t made to the earlier generation of Tollywood stars and hence, they abstained from the same. Doing films is an artistic decision. Doing shows is more of a financial call. If I’ve no problems dancing at shows to entertain 20,000 people, why would I refuse good offers of dancing at weddings?” she asks.
While such decisions will always remain a personal call, Tollywood stars seem to be displaying more eagerness to pamper brides without prejudice!


this news published by www.apakistannews.com