WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama Monday said multi-million-dollar bonuses planned for executives and traders at bailed-out insurance giant AIG were an “outrage” and vowed to pursue a clampdown.
“How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?” he said at the White House, pledging to “pursue every legal avenue to block these bonuses and make the American taxpayers whole.”
source : jang.com.pk
WASHINGTON: The United States is praising Pakistan’s plan to reinstate a fired Supreme Court chief justice whose supporters had threatened to march on the capital.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters Monday that the decision by Pakistan’s leaders had “brought Pakistan back from the brink.”
Wood says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s calls over the weekend to U.S.-allied President Asif Ali Zardari, who had refused to restore the independent-minded justice, and to opposition leader Nawaz Sharif were meant to signal a concern over the situation and a desire for a nonviolent outcome.
Wood was careful to note that there were no U.S. demands and “no threats at all” in Clinton’s calls.
source : jang.com.pk
DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday officially named South Africa as the new hosts of the biennial Champions Trophy this year.
The ICC Board had met via teleconference to discuss a recommendation made by the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee to discuss the venue of the Champions Trophy.
The decision was made after concerns were expressed over weather conditions in Colombo during the dates set aside for the tournament, 24 September to 5 October.
With the need to minimise risk and create certainty around the event, the meeting agreed to recommend that Cricket South Africa (CSA) be sought as the alternative host, with Wanderers and Centurion as the venues, provided agreement on the financial arrangements can be reached. Originally planned for Pakistan, the venue for the event had to be shifted due to security concerns.
ICC President David Morgan said: “I think the Board has made a sensible decision that will give the event every chance of success. We now have clarity on the subject and we can make firm plans for what is going to be a great spectacle of ODI cricket.
“With Wanderers and Centurion, Cricket South Africa can provide two world-class venues in what is effectively one location and as we know from the ICC World Twenty20 2007, weather conditions in the area around Johannesburg in September and October are stable and ideal for cricket.
“I would like to thank Sri Lanka Cricket for its commitment to offer an alternative to Pakistan. And also, I want to acknowledge its willingness to step aside in this matter. I’d also like to thank CSA for putting its hand up and offering to host this event.”
The Board also considered expressions of interest from other potential venues. However, in order to attain immediate certainty and clarity, South Africa was identified as the preferred location on this occasion.
The teleconference also unanimously agreed that the dates for next year’s ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies would be between 30 April and 16 May.
The tournament will take place in St Lucia, Guyana, Barbados and St Kitts with the latter island staging matches in the women’s tournament that will take place at the same time.
source : jang.com.pk
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to lawyers, civil society, students, people and the media on their brave show for the restoration of deposed judges.
Speaking at Geo News program ‘Capital Talk’ here on Monday, Nawaz said that this success became possible over determination of the entire nation.
He said: “Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has phoned him and agreed to implement the charter of democracy (CoD).
source : jang.com.pk
LAHORE: Pakistan People Party (PPP) Punjab’s Parliamentary Leader Raja Riaz said on Monday that restoration of deposed judges had proved the presence of a democratic person at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Speaking to newsmen here, he said that any dictator could not make such decisions.
He said that PPP wanted to reinstate all deposed judges, but could not do so over fears of collision among institutions. Riaz said that restoration of judiciary would strengthen the democracy.
Some elements who want to derail the democracy have failed in their motives, he said.
source : jang.com.pk
PESHAWAR: NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said Monday that restoration of deposed judges by the democratic forces would bury the doctrine of necessity once for all.
In a statement issued here, Hussain welcomed the Prime Minister’s move to reinstate deposed judges and termed it a wise decision.
He said that the decision had prevented the country from a major crisis and now the government could focus the progress and prosperity of the country.
The minister hoped that the doctrine of necessity would be buried once for all.
source : jang.com.pk
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s spin bowler Ajantha Mendis was released from hospital on Monday, two weeks after the squad was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan, his manager Roshan Abeysinghe said.
Mendis, who had shrapnel extracted from his head and back, said he was delighted to go home.
Thilan Samaraweera, who had a bullet removed from his left thigh, remained under observation at a private hospital, doctor Geethanjana Mendis said.
Tharanga Paranavitana, who had a bullet taken out of his chest, and British assistant coach Paul Farbrace were discharged over the weekend.
The convoy of players, officials and coaches on their way to the second Test match in Lahore on March 3 was ambushed by gunmen firing automatic weapons, grenades and a rocket launcher.
Seven Sri Lankan players and Farbrace were injured, and the squad was flown home immediately. Eight Pakistanis were killed by the attackers, who escaped capture.
Mendis said psychologists hired to counsel the team were due to wrap up their programme this week.
“The medical team handling their post-trauma side say the players are a bit shaken up, but those not injured can resume training next week,” he said.
source : jang.com.pk
LONDON: Britain welcomed Monday the reinstatement of Pakistan’s deposed top judge and the cancellation of an opposition march as signs of “real political leadership” to defuse a threatened crisis.
“The steps taken to defuse the political crisis in Pakistan show real political leadership by all concerned,” said Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a statement.
President Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and former premier Nawaz Sharif’s response in calling off the Long March “demonstrate that both men are willing to put the interests of Pakistan first.
“I hope that all parties will now quickly come together around a common agenda to consolidate the political steps made, and to agree measures that will strengthen democracy and impartial justice in Pakistan,” Miliband said.
source : jang.com.pk
LAHORE: The long march led by Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has reached GPO Chowk, Lahore.
The long march comprises thousands of participants including lawyers, political workers and members of civil society.
Police tried to block the way of caravan led by Nawaz Sharif who came out of his house in spite of the government orders of detention served to him. However, the police retreated after a little while giving way to the caravan.
At GPO Road, clash broke out between enraged protesters and police which used heavy shelling to disperse the protestors.
source : jang.com.pk
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira has said that the government has not received any report about blockade of TV channel anywhere in the country.
He said that some cable operators had readjusted the placements of channels.
source : jang.com.pk
VIENNA: OPEC ministers have called for an end to overproduction by some members as they sought to slice nearly a million barrels per day from world supply and boost prices but without further shocking the anemic global economy.
Their comments suggested that Sunday’s oil ministers’ meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries might opt for a call on all members to honor production quotas, instead of deciding to slash output outright.
Most members of the 12-nation organization had been clear in favoring reduced output in the days preceeding Sunday’s full meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Still they had left open whether they want to lower output quotas or if they favor a solution less likely to hurt the struggling global economy by simply seeking to end overproduction by some nations above levels allotted to them.
Algerian energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil called for both on Saturday.
“Comply and cut,” he told reporters asking what he preferred. But recognition that direct cuts could backfire appeared to prevail on the eve of the meeting.
While slashing production could raise prices in the short term, it could also lead to further depressing demand, as strugglingeconomies cut back on pricey crude they cannot afford. Pushing forfull quota compliance instead would be less harmful.
OPEC cuts agreed on since September were meant to take a daily 4.2 million barrels off the market. But the 11 members underproduction quotas are still overshooting their joint daily target level of just under 25 million barrels by about 800,000 barrels a day.
source : jang.com.pk
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan Abdul Hai Gilani has resigned from the post to mark his protest against the torturing of lawyers, locking up of High Court and tear-gas shelling in Lahore.
Talking to Geo News, Abdul Hai Gilani said lawyers have been subjected to torture and tear-gas shells have been fired in the vicinity of Lahore High Court.
He said the whole country has been blocked with the help of containers.
“I have resigned from the post of Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan in protest against all these acts,” Abdul Hai Gilani said.
source : jang.com.pk
MIRPUR: Several containers have been placed at Mangla dam in an attempt to stop the caravans of Azad Kashmir from participating in the long march and subsequent sit-in in Islamabad.
All entry and exit points of the city have been blocked to thwart the long march. The long queues of vehicles can be seen in the area.
Besides, the people carrying passports and visas are not being allowed to go to the airport.
On this occasion, lawyers and citizens chanted anti-government slogans in protest against such harsh measures.
source : jang.com.pk
MADRID: Real Madrid bounced back from their UEFA Champions League disappointment after defeating Athletic Bilbao 5-2 to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top in Spain to just three points.
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, top of the table for most of the season, can restore their lead to six points with victory over Almeria on Sunday.
Real saw their European dreams go up in smoke on Tuesday at Anfield as Liverpool overran them in a humiliating 4-0 win and they let out their frustration at San Mames.
Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, cup-tied for the Champions League, scored twice to turn the game in Real’s favour after Bilbao had come from two goals down to level.
Arjen Robben put Real ahead before Argentine centre-back Gabriel Heinze added another heading in a 34th minute free-kick. Heinze scored an own goal minutes later and Fernando Llorente levelled despite Bilbao being reduced to ten men with Francisco Yeste harshly sent off for pushing goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Huntelaar then took centre stage with a second half brace before substitute Gonzalo Higuain completed the scoring from the penalty spot.
source : jang.com.pk
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that that the rulers should respect the wish and message of their slain leader Benazir Bhutto and restore the deposed chief justice.
Speaking to Geo News senior analyst Kamran Khan here on Sunday, Shahbaz Sharif said: “President Asif Ali Zardari has humiliated the nation by not fulfilling the promises he made regarding restoration of judiciary.”
“There is no need to call any Aristotle and Socrates for the implementation of agreements,” he said.
He said that PML-N never asked its people to damage public or private properties and appealed to the people to take part in the long march in peaceful manner.
“Nawaz Sharif has said that our first priority is to restore judges,” he added.
source : jang.com.pk
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has contacted the leaders of coalition parties.
According to sources, the Prime Minister Sunday contacted by telephone Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain, Awami National Party Chief Asfandyar Wali, Chief Jamiat Ulema-i- Pakstan Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) Pir Pagara and discussed the situation emerging as a result of long march and sit-in.
source : jang.com.pk
KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has dispatched a 40-page report to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani comprising proposed reforms for the next General Election.
This was announced by the ECP Secretary General Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad at a press conference here on Sunday.
He said: “We have proposed the government to consult the election commission about formation of interim government in the report.”
Dilshad said that caretaker prime minister and ministers would not be eligible to contest the polls according to the proposed reforms.
source : jang.com.pk
Nawaz spearheading long march to Islamabad LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif told Geo News on Sunday that he is leading the long march towards Islamabad from Lahore.
The long march comprises thousands of participants including lawyers, political workers and members of civil society.
Police tried to block the way of caravan led by Nawaz Sharif who came out of his house in spite of the government orders of detention served to him. However, the police retreated after a little while giving way to the caravan.
At GPO Road, clash broke out between enraged protesters and police which used heavy shelling to disperse the protestors.
The Nawaz-led caravan comprising party workers and people kept marching on, breaking all the hurdles erected on their way while scuffles between police and protesters continued.
Police deployment had been increased in Model Town where barbed wires were laid to block the roads. Police continued heavy shelling and baton charged marchers to thwart the long march, injuring many.
Nawaz Sharif spear-headed the long march along with flood of people, pushing ahead through barricades and hurdles. They crossed the Kalma Chowk where heavy contingents of police were deployed to stop the march. However, the police disappeared after a while.
The number of people participating in the long march kept building up steadily and the caravan of hundreds turned into thousands.
The police seemed to have changed its strategy and decided to retreat upon seeing the ocean of people approaching.
VIENNA: OPEC ministers have called for an end to overproduction by some members as they sought to slice nearly a million barrels per day from world supply and boost prices but without further shocking the anemic global economy.
Their comments suggested that Sunday’s oil ministers’ meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries might opt for a call on all members to honor production quotas, instead of deciding to slash output outright.
Most members of the 12-nation organization had been clear in favoring reduced output in the days preceeding Sunday’s full meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Still they had left open whether they want to lower output quotas or if they favor a solution less likely to hurt the struggling global economy by simply seeking to end overproduction by some nations above levels allotted to them.
Algerian energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil called for both on Saturday.
“Comply and cut,” he told reporters asking what he preferred. But recognition that direct cuts could backfire appeared to prevail on the eve of the meeting.
While slashing production could raise prices in the short term, it could also lead to further depressing demand, as strugglingeconomies cut back on pricey crude they cannot afford. Pushing forfull quota compliance instead would be less harmful.
OPEC cuts agreed on since September were meant to take a daily 4.2 million barrels off the market. But the 11 members underproduction quotas are still overshooting their joint daily target level of just under 25 million barrels by about 800,000 barrels a day.
LAHORE: Former president Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan managed to escape house arrest and arrived at GPO chowk, Lahore to participate in the long march.
According to sources, Aitzaz Ahsan was detained at his residence where heavy contingent of police of deployed but he managed to escape and reached at GPO Chowk.
Talking to media here at GPO Chowk, he said the detention was illegal.
LAHORE: Former President Pervez Musharraf has said the country is facing many challenges and conspiracies are being hatched against it.
Talking to journalists after condoling death of Pakistan Muslim League-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s mother here on Thursday, Musharraf said Pakistan is facing serious challenges, however, he hoped that these would be tackled.
As regards Lahore attack, former president said he there should be no conjecture or statement without substantive evidence. He said the government should improve training standard of law enforcing agencies so that they are prepared for any eventuality.
In the meeting, former federal minister Javed Ashraf Qazi and others were also present.
NEW DELHI: Indian government has directed its cricket board to revise the IPL dates in view of security after the attack on Sri Lanka team in Lahore and the IPL commissioner Lalith Modi will announce here today the new schedule.
Following the terrorists attack on Sri Lankan team in Liberty area of Lahore yesterday, the Indian government keeping in view the security concerns has directed the board to revise the schedule of the second edition of the IPL.
India’s interior minister Chidambaram told in a TV interview that due to elections of the Lok Sabha, he had directed to reschedule the IPL because the government did not want to hold IPL matches during the Lok Sabha elections and providing full security to players would be difficult.
The IPL commissioner Lalith Modi said that he is working on the new schedule of the IPL after receiving directives from the government and the revised dates would be announced today.
The second edition of the Indian Premier League was earlier scheduled to be held from April 10 to 24.
LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt said on Wednesday that foreign teams could not be compelled to play in Pakistan unless security situation improves drastically.
He made these remarks while talking to newsmen at the Qaddafi Stadium here.
Chairman board said that attack on Sri Lankan team had globally tarnished the country’s image. “If someone blames PCB for the security, he is ready to accept it,” he said.
Butt said that there was no change in team’s security on Tuesday and lauded police personnel for their bravery.
“I salute to the Lankan players too for their remarks that they would again visit the country,” he added.
He further said that national team would be sent to Bangladesh only after getting security clearance from the government.
LAHORE: Younis Khan has appealed to cricket’s administrators to save the game in Pakistan, or risk pushing future generations into the clutches of terrorists.
The Pakistan captain fears that an extended boycott by touring teams could lead to a dramatic decline in interest and participation in cricket among the nation’s youth. That, in turn, could invite corrupting influences to fill the void that might otherwise have been occupied by sport, Younis argued.
“Our future as a nation is in our youngsters’ hands,” Younis told a cricket web site. “Sport helps to make good human beings. If the sport is not there, the children can do silly things. We have to be very careful about that. Nobody wants to see children going down a bad path and finding themselves involved with bombs and things like that. We all must do something to stop that happening.
“Maybe in the future we will be alone as a cricketing nation and that would be very sad, especially for the youngsters. When I was a boy, I loved watching Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram playing against great teams from overseas. It is because of them - seeing them play - that I also played the game. But what if no one comes to Pakistan? How will the youngsters know about the game? What will they do?
“I appeal for all the bosses and the ICC not let cricket die here. They must think about all the factors, including what will become of the youngsters of Pakistan. It would be very easy right now for the ICC and the bosses to say there will be no cricket in Pakistan. But the future will not be good if cricket is taken away from my country.”
BAGHDAD: Iraqi police and medical officials say a car bomb in a crowded cattle market south of Baghdad has killed 10 people and injured 32 others.
Iraqi police Maj. Muthana Khalid says the bomb exploded Thursday morning in the market west of Hillah.
Khalid says those killed and injured were at the market buying and selling cattle. A medical official in Hillah confirmed the casualty toll.
LAHORE: Crime Investigation Agency claimed capturing as many as five suspects including two persons, accused of having involvement in Sri Lankan team assault, from Lahore and other cities of Punjab, Geo News reported on Wednesday.
The investigation staff of the Punjab Police arrested them amid a raid on a building in the Saddar area, sources said.
The sources said the personnel of the Joint Interrogation Team of the Punjab Police arrived in Karachi on Wednesday morning, as they had information regarding the presence of suspects involved in the Lahore attack.
The team left for Lahore later in the day. Salman Aslam adds from Lahore, “The recovery of a cellphone SIM from a bag, abandoned by the terrorists and seized by the police from the crime scene, has led to the arrest of its owner and his alleged accomplice from Kot Samaba, a town in Rahim Yar Khan, according to the police sources.”
The police have also taken into custody 24 other suspects, stated to be members of various banned outfits, from different parts of the city. The sources said the suspected terrorists — Babar Shahzad and teenager Dilawar Hussain — have been shifted to Lahore under tight security.
The main suspect is in his early 20s and he had been working as a guard at a cellphone company tower in Lahore until a few months ago. However, currently he is an employee of a flourmill. Except for the cellphone, nothing has been recovered from them, the sources said.
They said despite detaining and questioning over four-dozen people, The Lahore police are yet to make any headway in the probe into the Liberty attack. They said the sketches of the attackers have been made in the light of the eyewitnesses’ accounts, including rickshaw and car drivers.
Three cars and a rickshaw used by the terrorists during the ambush have also been impounded. The case has been registered against 14 to 15 unidentified armed men. Explosives, suicide jackets, bullets asnd hand-grenades, seized from separate places, have been mentioned in the FIR.
According to sources, suspects had been residing in Lahore for some days and were being assisted from various cities of the province including Lahore.
Investigation team narrowed search operations monitoring selective suspected places following the information they sought from various secrets sources and launched several raids. As a result, five suspects were nabbed on Wednesday, sources added.
Also, sources confirmed involvement of Indian spy agency RAW in Lahore attacks as per preliminary investigation.
It is likely that agencies will make available investigative report on Lahore attack within 18 hours, sources predicted.
Source Jang.com.pk
QUETTA: The four-day life threat deadline set by the kidnappers of Johan Solecki, a UNHCR official, is coming to an end on Thursday.
Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) spokesman said three days ago that UN was handed four days to play its role in release and recovery of 1109 missing Baloch people but UN failed to do so.
He said Solecki would be released in exchange of 1109 missing Blaouch people if UN played part to get them recovered.
In order to address the issue of Solecki’s abduction, a committee, headed by Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, was formed with MPAs, parliamentary leaders from all major political parties, Provincial Interior Minister, Chief Secretary and local police officials as its members.
Talking to journalist, CM Balocistan Aslam Raisani said on Wednesday, “No success has been achieved so far in connection with Solecki kidnap.”
PESHAWAR: As many as three CD shops were fractionally damaged by blasts in Takht-e-Bhai area in Peshawar, police sources said on Wednesday.
Police sources told Geo News unknown militants planted explosive material outside CD shops which went off at night damaging three CD shops partially.
Police have registered cases against unidentified offenders.
WASHINGTON: With President Barack Obama’s backing, US lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled legislation aimed at using trade-spurred jobs growth as an antidote to Islamist extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The bill would give goods from certain restive parts of those countries duty-free access to the US market in a bid to promote legitimate economic activity where poverty fuels terrorist recruitment and the illegal drug trade.
“Military force alone will not solve the problem” of quenching Islamist extremist forces along the strife-torn countries’ common border, said Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen, a leading backer.
Obama has “fully embraced” the measure, which has been introduced in the Senate and will soon be in the House of Representatives, said Van Hollen, who was born to a US diplomat in Karachi, Pakistan.
At the same press conference, Ambassadors Husain Haqqani of Pakistan and Said Jawad of Afghanistan said the bill, which would create “Reconstruction Opportunity Zones,” would create jobs for young people who might otherwise join Islamist extremists.
“The young people of Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal areas need to be given a choice other than employment by the Taliban,” said Haqqani, who estimated the zones would create some 30,000 jobs in Pakistan within the first three years, chiefly thanks to textile exports to the United States.
“Fighting terrorism and extremism is not just (using military force), it’s providing hope, jobs,” Jawad told reporters.
US special envoy Richard Holbrooke’s deputy, Paul Jones, said the Obama administration backed the goals of the legislation and would help as needed to resolve the differences between the Senate and House versions.
ISLAMABAD: Interior Ministry issued directives to security agencies here to put security of a foreign airline and offices of foreign diplomats on high alert in all provinces after Saudi airline received an alleged threatening e-mail from al Qaeda, sources said on Wednesday.
According to sources, the airline received a threatening e-mail on February 14 to devastate its offices in Pakistan. Al Qaeda allegedly generated the e-mail.
Meanwhile, another alleged e-mail was received in Islamabad which threatened to destroy Saudi embassy following which embassy’s officials consulted with interior ministry to seek foolproof security measures for its offices across country, sources added.
RIYADH: The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia has started hearing of Sharia Hudood cases.
Under Majlis-i-Shora, a team of legal experts had prepared a text to carry out court proceedings of criminal suits, which stated that Supreme Court will give the final verdict in Sharia Hudood cases.
A member of Supreme Court Sheikh Shafi told reporters here that Supreme Court will now hear all the cases which were under trial in Supreme Judicial Council.
Geo News correspondent in Saudi Arabia Shahid Nadeem said Supreme Court will also decide about appointments of judges, promotions, orientation programs and other related issues.
MARDAN: Three simultaneous blasts in CD market in Takht Bhai area of Mardan destroyed 20 shops, however no loss of life was reported.
Mardan police told Geo News unidentified militants planted explosives at three places in a market of 20 shops that went off with a bang late on Wednesday night. The entire market was destroyed in the blasts but no causality was reported.
The blats rocked the area and residents came out from their houses in panic. Takht Bhai police has confirmed the incident.
| Please visit the SEO reviews page. |
