Rain, Snowfall Continues in Upper Parts of Country

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: The spell of rain continued today in most parts of the country and also the mountains are receiving more snow.

The intermittent spell of rain and snowfall in Kashmir, Balochistan, NWFP and upper Punjab is in progress; while, Sindh also receiving light rain.

According to Met Department, the spell of rain will continue intermittently from February 8 to 9 in Kashmir, upper NWFP and upper Punjab; also the mountains will keep receiving snow. Also, heavy downpours are expected in mountainous areas of Malakand, Murree, Galiat, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Hazara on Monday and Tuesday.

The rain spell with thunders is in progress in various areas of Sindh and Balochistan. The weather turned pleasant in Sindh areas including Noshehro Feroz, Padidan, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Hanguraja, Rasoolabad and Bachal Bhimbhoro.

In Quetta, the thin snowfall is underway intermittently. While, Shahra-e-Neelum, Raishian-Lipa, Bagh-Forward Kahuta Road and Sudhan Gali Road are closed down for last two days in view of heavy snow and land sliding.

According to Met Department, the chances regarding more snowfall in Murree, Galiat, Hazara, Malakand Division and Kashmir are thin owing to the present weather system in Pakistan.

Afridis Act Brought the Country a Bad Name: Yousuf Khan

KARACHI, Pakistan News: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is baffled by teammate Shahid Afridi’s ball-tampering act in the fifth and final one-day international against Australia in Perth.

“I don’t know why he did it but it brought a bad name to the country, the good thing is that at least he realised his mistake and admitted it. I hope he does not repeat it again. Pakistan cricket does not need such incidents,” Yousuf said.

The skipper returned here last night after a humiliating Australian tour where they were whitewashed in both one-day and Test series.

Afridi, who led Pakistan in the final one-dayer, was seen biting the ball and was later banned by the match referee for two Twenty20 matches on pleading guilty and apologising for his action.

Shoaib Malik will lead the side in the lone T20 match in Melbourne on Friday.

Yousuf said he does not intend to step down despite a disappointing performance Down Under.

“I accepted the captaincy for these difficult tours at a time when no player was willing to accept this challenge. I think I have done a decent job and I want to continue as captain, I will not resign,” he said when asked to comment on statements from the PCB that they would appoint a new captain after the Australian tour.

No One May Violate the Law: Nawaz

BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan News: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Thursday said the President Asif Ali Zardari has violated the promises on Charter of Democracy.

“The country can’t be run by violating the Constitution and courts verdicts. Zardari has not fulfilled his promises of implementing Charter of Democracy,” the PML-N chief said while addressing a party workers’ convention here.

“Nobody will be allowed to break the law and violate Constitution; we have no desire to come into power as the passing through crucial phase,” he said.

Sharif said former army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf was involved in the extra judicial killing of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti which triggered separatism in the province, “however the rulers gave him a guard of honour and failed to impeach the dictator on his deeds.”

Egypt Bars a Country George Galloway

CAIRO News: Egyptian security escorted MP George Galloway to take a flight out of the country on Friday and he was barred from returning after violent protests over an aid convoy he led into Gaza, local news agency said.

The Foreign Ministry declared the left-wing politician an “unwelcome individual,” the agency said.

An Egyptian security source said Egypt reached a deal with members of the aid convoy to take supplies to Palestinians in Gaza after protests overnight.

Egyptian security forces and members of the convoy had thrown stones at each other when tempers frayed over the route the trucks were to take.

Cairo had insisted the food and other supplies should enter Gaza via an Israeli-controlled checkpoint but convoy leaders wanted to use the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing.

Galloway, who had re-entered Egypt to ask about the fate of seven detained convoy members, was immediately asked to leave the country, security sources said.

Galloway was escorted by Egyptian security personnel as he went to Cairo airport heading for London, agency said.

Police said later the seven detained convoy members had been freed and placed on a “watch list.

9 Muharram Processions Are Being Taken in the Country

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: The processions in connections with the ninth of Muharramul Haram are being taken out across the country today.

A Majlis-e-Aza was held in Lahore area of Nicholson Road and later procession of Shabih-e-Zul-Janah was taken out attended by thousands of mourners amid heavy security around the Imambargah.

Also, the central procession of Muharram 9th has appeared from Pando Street Islampura and will end back on Pando Street.

On this occasion, walk-through gates were installed for the procession and the majlis.

In Islamabad also, the central mourning procession has emerged from central Imambargah in G-6; the procession will route through to Melody Chawk Islamabad.

The security for the today’s procession has further been beefed up in wake of yesterday’s terror incident in Karachi area of Paposhnagar. The procession has set off from Nishtar Park and will route through MA Jinnah Road to Husainia Iranian Imambargah Kharadar.

Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal said the City government made best arrangements in connection with Muharramul Haram and police and the CPLC have been provided with the facility of Command and Control room to monitor the procession from Nishtar Park to Tower with modern technology and cameras.

The procession of Ninth Muharram is on its way to the Central imambargah in Skardu.

In Multan also, the Muharram ninth is being observed with great religious reverence with majalis and processions being held across the city.

Both government hospitals functioning in the Federal Capital, have made special arrangements to meet any untoward incident during Ashura day of Muharram-ul-Harram.

According to hospital sources, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) has deployed additional staff in the emergency ward to provide better services.

Joint Executive Director PIMS Dr. Jehanzib Aurakzai said that a plan has been chalked for Ashura day and it will be ensured that doctors and paramedical staff are available in the hospital round the clock.

He said sufficient medicines and surgical equipment have been provided to the concerned departments while hospital staff have been directed not to leave the hospital till completion of duty hours.

He said all senior doctors will be on call to handle any emergency like situation while hospital’s ambulances will also be on alert.

Spokesman of FGSH Dr. Sharif Astori said that all senior doctors will remain on duties in the hospital during Ashura day while paramedical staff have also been assigned special duties during these days.

He said special teams have been formed while sufficient medicines have been provided to the concerned departments. He added surgeons have been asked to remain in touch and immediately rush to the hospital in case of any emergency.

Lahore Capital City Police Officer Muhammad Pervez Rathore has directed that parking for all Majalis and Muharram processions be made at a safe distance, at least 200 meters away.

He said 134 mobile squads, 85 motorcycles, 75cars and 11 cars of Elite Force would also be deployed to ensure law and order at the venues. He said all entry and exit points of Majalis would be manned and rooftop deployment be made at Imambargahs, Majalis and routes of Ashura processions. He directed all divisional SPs to personally check deployment and patrolling of the mobile squad in their respective areas, besides paying random visits to sensitive places.

The CCPO said ulema and media had a leading role in maintenance of law and order and eradication of terrorism in the city. He also appealed to citizens, religious leaders and mosque administrations to depute guards at all places of worship from their own locality, so that they can recognize prayer sayers and point out any suspicious person. The CCPO appealed to ulema for cooperation on limiting the use of loudspeakers only to places of worship.

He expressed these views while addressing a meetingof Ulema and Mushaikh of the District Peace Committee Lahore held at Capital City Police Headquarters here on Saturday. He saida foolproof Ashura security plan had been chalked out after consultation with leaders belonging to various religious schools of thought and 184 potential trouble points had been identified in the city.

He said police officers and more than 25,000 policemen would provide security to Majalis and processions while armed personnel would also be deputed to provide security for functions to be held daily. Similarly, Lahore police will provide security to297 Imambargahas and 787 mosques along routes of the procession.

He said crises management centres had been set up in the city which would function around the clock while a special control room was set up in the CCPO office for coordination among various agencies.

He said the code of conduct would be strictlyimplemented during Ashura and 1068 members ofthe District Peace Committed would be present on the routes ofthe procession and Majalis, especially at sensitive places.Similarly, strict enforcement of the Loudspeaker Ordinance wouldbe ensured, he added.

In Karachi, the Saddar Town Administration completed arrangements for cleanliness along the route of Muharramprocession, Imambargahs and places of Majalis on Muharram 9 and 10,repair of roads and lighting.

The Town’s B and R Department has carpeted the roads, repaired the footpaths while M&E Department repaired the high mast lights around Imambargahs and adjoining streets and erased wall chalkings.

The TMA has deployed sewerage disposal staff to ensure plugging of leakages along the Muharram procession routes.

The TMA is regularly supplying water to Imambargahs and Sabils since Muharram 1.

The Nazim Saddar Town visited Hussainian Iranian Imambargah Kharadar, Boulton Market, Denso Hall, Khaliqdina Hall, Tibet Centre, Burns Road, Regal Chowk, Preedy Street, Empress Market etc and reviewed the arrangements for Muharram processions.

For continuous monitoring of arrangements the Town’s Central Control Room at its Central Office is functioning round the clock and people can contact at telephone numbers 99211390 and 99211429.

Manmohan Says Willing to Resolve Kashmir Dispute

WASHINGTON News Update: India has enduring civilizational links with Afghanistan. India will continue to assist Afghanistan in building its institutions and its human resources.
With these two sentences, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday threw down the gauntlet to Washington, Islamabad and perhaps even Beijing and other world capitals that India would not be budged from pursuing its interests in Afghanistan — primarily of preventing the country from turning toxic under Pakistan’s malignant influence and American uncertainty.

He said we are ready to settle all disputes with Pakistan including Jammu and Kashmir row.

“The road to peace on Afghanistan will be long and hard. But given the high stakes involved, the commitment of the international community must be sustained by firm resolve and unity of purpose.”

Singh told Washington’s top policy wonks gathered to hear him at the Center for Foreign Relations, amid a continuing review by President Obama about U.S options in Afghanistan.

The remarks were clearly meant for the US President and his principals who have been bashing heads for several weeks now over next steps in Afghanistan amid charges of dithering on the crucial issue. Singh’s advice ahead of his meeting with Obama on Tuesday — Stay the course; we are going to be there.

Singh offered similar advice in an earlier address to US and Indian business leaders that the international community needs to remain engaged in Afghanistan and any “premature talk of exit will only embolden the terrorists.”

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Mumbai carnage, Singh also told the elite gathering, many of them regional experts keen to see India talking to Pakistan, that “for that to happen Pakistan must make a break with the past, abjure terrorism and come to the table with good faith and sincerity.”

He said his government had invested heavily in normalizing relations with Pakistan and “we are ready to pick up the threads of the dialogue including on issues relating Jammu and Kashmir.”

“We should not harbour any illusions that a selective approach to terrorism , tackling it on one place while ignoring it in others, will work,” Singh added.

Clearly, the Prime Minister too has taken a tough stand in the past few days on Pakistan even as Islamabad as reverted to its maximalist position on Kashmir, falling back on the long-lapsed UN Security Council resolution on the subject. The Prime Minister’s conditional offer of talks followed remarks in a television interview over the weekend in which he despaired about who to talk to in shifty Islamabad, where the civilian dispensation seemed to be overwhelmed by the country’s military.

Even on the nuclear issue, a confident Singh indicated India would not be overawed or intimidated by the Obama administration’s non-proliferation initiatives, welcoming talks on fissile material cut off treaty and while steering clear of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Much of what he said before the policy gathering seemed preparatory to his meeting with the US President tomorrow, their first bilateral encounter.

Singh showed the mildest sign of movement in New Delhi’s stand in the climate change talks saying India will not compromise the right of developing countries to develop and lift their populations out of property, but “we will do more if there is global support in terms of financial resources and technology transfer.”

Malik Says he Will Retire if Blackwater in the Country

ISLAMABAD,Pakistan: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said he will resign if Blackwater, found operating anywhere in Pakistan.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Malik denied presence of Afghan Taliban leader Mulla Umar in Pakistan and termed such reports as baseless.

He said operation will be launch against militants in adjoining areas of Peshawar and also said that more troops will be dispatched to Waziristan.

He said the mobile scanners from China will reach Pakistan next month, which will help to foil terror attacks.

Interior minister praised the role of citizens of Peshawar against terrorism and said security will be strengthened more in NWFP.

Malik said 75 persons have been arrested so far during anti terror drive. Replying to a question about Dr. Aafia, he said Dr. Aafia’s issues had been came under discussion during recent visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and he will meet Dr. Aafia in his next US visit.

Pak Passing Through Critical Period: COAS

RISALPUR : Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday has said that country is passing through a crucial period and we can go to any limits for country’s sovereignty.

Addressing a passing out parade of 67th course of engineering and 123rd course of GDP in PAF Academy here, army chief said Pakistan is facing extra ordinary challenges internally and externally and threatened by adventurous neighbour. He said army will continue action against extremists. General Kayani said army achieved success in Malakand with the support of people.

Pakistan Ranks 42nd in Global Corruption Index: TI

KARACHI,Pakistan: According to the latest Transparency International (TI) corruption report, Pakistan has become more corrupt as compared to 2008. The TI announced its report today in which Pakistan had moved up quite a few positions in the list of the most corrupt countries and ranked at number 42 in the list.
Releasing the annual report, the TI chief in Pakistan, Adeel Gilani, had said that anti-corruption efforts in the country had taken a 180 degree turn after Gen Pervez Musharraf issued the National Reconciliation Ordinance on October 5, 2007, 56 days after the ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption.

Somalia, Afghanistan seen most corrupt among 180 nations whereas New Zealand, Denmark have best scores in watchdog ranking

Releasing its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) on Tuesday, the watchdog said Afghanistan had sunk for the second straight year in its ranking of 180 nations based on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector.

The CPI scores countries on a scale of zero to 10, with zero indicating high levels of corruption and 10, low levels. The ranking is based on data from country experts and business leaders at 10 independent institutions, including the World Bank, Economist Intelligence Unit and World Economic Forum.

For the third year running, the conflict-ridden east African nation of Somalia came in last, this time with a score of 1.1.

Afghanistan had the second-worst ranking at 1.3, down from 1.5 in 2008 and 1.8 in 2007. Myanmar followed with a score of 1.4, while Iraq and Sudan were both on 1.5.

New Zealand was the top-ranked country with a score of 9.4, followed by Denmark at 9.3, and Singapore and Sweden, both on 9.2.

Countries which saw their ranking drop included Iran, which fell to 1.8 from 2.3 following a presidential election in June that the opposition said was rigged.

Political turmoil also contributed to a fall in Ukraine’s score to 2.2 from 2.5. Greece saw its score slide to 3.8 from 4.7, reflecting insufficient anti-corruption enforcement, lengthy delays in the judicial process and a string of corporate scandals that TI said pointed to “systemic weaknesses”.

Nations that improved included the United States, which rose to 7.5 from 7.3. TI cited Washington’s swift response to the financial crisis, including reforms demanding greater transparency and accountability.

Poland rose to 5.0 from 4.6 after establishing an anti-corruption office. Russia edged up to 2.2 from 2.1, a rise attributed to anti-corruption legislation introduced by President Dmitry Medvedev. But TI noted that the excessive role of the Russian government in the economy remained a problem.

India Should Build The Capacity of Asymmetric Warfare: Antony

India Should Build The Capacity of Asymmetric Warfare: Antony: With gaps in the military capabilities of India and China growing, Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said the country should “build” asymmetric warfare capabilities to counter threats from larger armed forces.

“We (Indians) need to conceptualise and build asymmetric capabilities against superior forces,” Antony told the first Consultative Committee meeting of new Members of Parliament attached to the Defence Ministry, which dwelt on the Indian Air Force (IAF) strengths and weaknesses, in New Delhi.

He said the government’s endeavours were aimed at ensuring the IAF’s capabilities are in consonance with India’s stature, aspirations and threat perceptions, and it was taking a series of steps to develop the IAF into a “dominant aerospace power.”

The Defence Minister said the steps included enhancing significantly the strategic reach of IAF to operate effectively far away from the Indian mainland and integrating potent capabilities in terms of space-based assets, air defence, surveillance, modern aircraft and advanced weapon systems.

Referring to the perspective plans of the Armed Forces, he said the gestation period for induction of new equipment was long and, therefore, there should be clarity in strategic assessments and projection of requirements.

“We need to hasten our procurements to prevent voids in defence preparedness,” he added.

Antony said efforts are also being made in the Defence Ministry and its various wings to ensure that the country reached the level of developed countries in defence technologies, without going through all the intermediate steps.

“In our drive for modernisation and in execution of our daily tasks, we must be ever mindful of economy and avoid waste or duplication. We must lend our shoulders to indigenisation and think of ways in which we can reach the level of advanced states without necessarily following all the intermediate steps,” he said.

Antony informed the members that IAF was in the process of considerable transformation and modernisation.

Giving an account of various projects, he said the ‘Hawk’ Advanced Jet Trainers had already been inducted into the IAF, the inter-governmental agreements on the Fifth General Fighter Aircraft and Multi-role Transport Aircraft had been inked with the Russians, and the evaluation process for the selection of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft was on.

The Members of Parliament, appreciating the IAF’s role over the years in not only protecting the country but also providing humanitarian relief during natural disasters, wanted to know its road map for the next 10-20 years to meet the security challenges.

Some members expressed their concern over cases of corruption in acquisition process and under-utilisation of funds earmarked for capital acquisition.

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