Sindh presses Zardari for Musharraf trial

ISLAMABAD: The Sindh cabinet and PPP MPs unanimously asked Asif Ali Zardari on Monday not to give safe exit to President Pervez Musharraf, and try him for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Sources said as a besieged Musharraf was desperately trying to show defiance in the face of his impeachment, pressure within the party was mounting on Zardari to put Musharraf on trial.

These sources said no one should wonder if the long charge-sheet to be tabled before a joint session of parliament also contains the stunning charge that he had collaborated with the assassins of Benazir Bhutto.

The Sindh cabinet and MPs, who met Asif Ali Zardari here to discuss the future strategy, also strongly argued that he had committed a blunder by announcing at Naudero on Dec 31 to make Amin Fahim prime minister of Pakistan.

This single mistake, according to his understanding, had given a chance to the media and politicians to criticise him by accusing him of making false promises. Zardari conceded that he should have been cautious in his comments at his first press conference. Zardari was of the view that he should have waited for the outcome of the general polls before going public about who would be the prime minister of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Asif Zardari has sent Law Minister Farooq Naik to meet the MQM leadership in Karachi and convince them to back the impeachment motion, as they were a coalition partner in Sindh.

Sources said even if the MQM did not want to be part of the proceedings against Musharraf they would be requested to stay neutral and not publicly defend a besieged Musharraf. However, sources said the PPP leadership was still in favour of giving a safe passage to Musharraf, as they were not in a mood to put state institutions in a state of confrontation.

PPP leaders were still hopeful about some dramatic changes in the mindset of President Musharraf who might offer to resign. In this case the PPP government was not in a mood to put Musharraf on trial for his alleged wrongdoings.

Sources said Zardari did not show any reaction as he kept on listening to the views of his party men who were quite charged and in an angry mood when the issue of impeachment of Musharraf and safe exit was discussed.

Speaking to MPs, Zardari touched on recent statements of Makhdoom Amin Fahim in which he had openly declared that he would become part of the impeachment drive.Zardari said the biggest mistake he had committed in the recent months was to announce nomination of Amin Fahim as future prime minister of Pakistan. Zardari said the media was criticising Yousuf Raza Gilani but had there been Amin Fahim, he might have performed even poorly during his visit to the US.

Source : By Rauf Klasra-The News

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Army, ISI not involved in politics: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) are not involved in politics.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News senior analyst Hamid Mir, Asif Ali Zardari said that it would be premature to say that President Musharraf might have misappropriated the US aid given to Pakistan in war against terror. PPP co-chairman said that his statement in this regard was stated out of context by British newspaper.

As regards Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case, Zardari said that her trial is an acid test of the US Judicial system. Asif Ali Zardari admitted that he was in the wrong by not taking Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief, Altaf Hussain into confidence over the issue of President’s impeachment. He said that new President would abolish 58-2(b).


Source : The News

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10 killed in J&K firing; PM calls another meet

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Violence escalated in the Kashmir region on Tuesday as 10 people were killed in firing by security forces during protests. For the first time in 13 years, curfew has been clamped in the entire valley.

In Kishtwar, the army was called out after two persons were killed and over 20 others injured in clashes, police firing and a grenade blast, officials said. Earlier, the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse groups belonging to two communities which pelted each other with stones at Kishtwar's Hidyal Chowk.

Security forces opened fire in several areas in the Valley killing three persons each in Aribal in Bandipora district and Lasjan in outskirts of Srinagar, and one protester each in Rainawari, Baghemahtab and Zoonmar, all in Srinagar area, and in Nagabal in Ganderbal region, official sources said.

The Lasjan incident occurred after the service weapon of a personal security guard of PDP leader Javid Mustafa Mir went off “accidentally” injuring seven police personnel including IPS officer Mahesh Kumar, posted in the Saddar area, they said.

All the ten people were killed during protests against Monday’s police firing in which six people, including senior Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, had lost their lives. The protesters had on Monday tried to march towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of a call given by separatists and others to end the "economic blockade" of the Valley in the wake of the Amarnath land stir in Jammu region.

As the situation in the Valley deteriorated, the authorities extended curfew to all the districts of the Kashmir Valley for the first time in 13 years, police sources said. Curfew had been imposed in Srinagar district and along a 40-kilometre stretch from Sheeri to Uri town in Baramulla district on Monday.

PM calls for second all-party meeting

NEW DELHI: With violence spiralling out of control in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a second all-party meeting on Wednesday to try to hammer out a viable consensus formula that could be acceptable to both Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.

An all-party delegation headed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil that carried an on-the-spot assessment after visiting both Jammu and Srinagar over the weekend failed to arrive at an agreement on finding a compromise solution to the crisis.

The meeting was attended by NC leader Farooq Abdullah, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and SP leader Amar Singh among others.

"The leaders met again Tuesday but could not arrive at a workable formula or solution that would appease the people," said a senior government functionary.

In the last meeting on August 5, the prime minister appealed for calm and decided to send a delegation to the troubled state.

During its trip, the delegation held talks with the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, which has been spearheading the agitation in Jammu to press for restoration of the land transfer to the Amarnath shrine board - a demand fiercely opposed by the Kashmir leaders - besides holding parleys with the leaders of the valley.


Source : Times Of India

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Don't interfere in J&K, India warns Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday reacted sharply to Pakistan's attempts to link the ongoing protests in Jammu and Kashmir to the peace process between the two countries.

According to Times Now , Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has registered strong opposition to Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s remarks on situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that the current situation in Kashmir has affected the environment for talks with India. He also said that Indo-Pak peace process would be hindered if violence in the Valley persisted.

In reply to the remarks, India has strongly warned Pakistan against "interfering in its internal matters".

Meanwhile, violence escalated in the Kashmir on Tuesday as 10 people were killed in firing by security forces during protests. For the first time in 13 years, curfew has been clamped in the entire Valley.

In Kishtwar, the Army was called out after two persons were killed and over 20 others injured in clashes, police firing and a grenade blast, officials said. Earlier, the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse groups belonging to two communities which pelted each other with stones at Kishtwar's Hidyal Chowk.

With violence spiralling out of control in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a second all-party meeting on Wednesday to try to hammer out a viable consensus formula that could be acceptable to both Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.

Source : Times Of India

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Impeachment motion against Musharraf to be submitted next week

ISLAMABAD: The impeachment motion against Pervez Musharraf will be submitted in parliament next week, Pakistan's ruling coalition said today as it asked the President to quit or face the "tidal wave" of opposition set off by the two provincial assemblies backing the move.

"When the day comes next week, when we move our resolution for the joint (sitting of the National Assembly and Senate), we will have much more (votes) than we need (to impeach the President)," Pakistan People's Party leader and Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters.

Speaking after a meeting of the committee of PPP and PML-N leaders that is framing the impeachment motion and chargesheet against Musharraf, Rehman said a "tidal wave" had been set in motion against Musharraf with two provincial assemblies passing resolutions asking him to seek a vote of confidence in parliament.

Referring to the charges being framed against Musharraf, she said: "This is a powerful chargesheet that cannot be challenged by anyone and there will be no defence in front of it."

PML-N leader Ishaq Dar, also a member of the committee drafting the impeachment motion, said the panel is preparing an unimpeachable document that cannot be challenged.

He too said the coalition has "much more than" the 295 votes needed in a joint sitting of parliament to impeach the President.

"Even now, the concerned parties should understand the situation and not waste the time of the nation. The impeachment process can be avoided if General Musharraf resigns I believe that is the best option for him," Dar said.

Though Rehman refused to give details about the chargesheet, other PPP and PML-N leaders have said in the past few days that the charges to be brought against Musharraf include incompetence, violating and subverting the constitution, financial irregularities and pursuing policies that have brought Pakistan to the brink of an economic crisis.

Rehman said Musharraf's supporters had turned against him as was reflected by the voting on the resolution passed today by the North West Frontier Province assembly.

"There were 107 votes against Musharraf and only four for him. Even the PPP-Sherpao, which earlier supported Musharraf, voted against him," she said.

"This whole exercise is an exercise for a real transition to democracy," she said, adding that all democratic forces were together and voting for the return to democracy. "Nobody wants to be remembered on the wrong side of history in this historic and critical juncture in Pakistan's political life," she remarked.

The ruling coalition had been contacted by opposition PML-Q members and independents who wanted to support the impeachment motion.

Once the process of the four provincial assemblies passing resolutions asking the President to seek a vote of confidence is completed, the impeachment motion will be moved in the National Assembly, she said.

PPP leader Raza Rabbani, also a member of the panel drafting the chargesheet, said the impression that the impeachment motion can be challenged is wrong.

Source : Times Of India

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17 injured in violence in Political Clash

NANDIGRAM (WEST BENGAL): Seventeen people were injured, some critically, as fresh trouble flared up in Nandigram villages on Tuesday morning as warring groups of Trinamool Congress (TC) and CPM fought each other with bombs and firearms.

Police said the injured included 15 Trinamool Congress activists, all of whom were rushed to a primary health clinic at Jonka.

The condition of people with gunshot wounds has been stated to be serious.

Sixty policemen were posted at the villages of Jonka and Vidyapith, S S Panda, SP of East Midnapore said.

Panda said none was arrested till now but refused to say whether raids were ordered to unearth the stockpiles of bombs, arms and ammunition.

Seven people were injured in an armed clash in the area on Monday night.

Meanwhile, the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) held a protest demonstration in front of the Nandigram Police Station and demanded that the police immediately seize firearms from CPM cadre in trouble-torn areas.

Source : Times Of India

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Shibu Soren as next Jharkhand CM?

NEW DELHI: JMM chief Shibu Soren on Tuesday staked claim for Chief Ministership of Jharkhand, demanding that the incumbent Madhu Koda should quit soon, failing which support to the state government will be withdrawn. "The decision regarding making me Jharkhand CM was taken long back but it is getting delayed. Hence, we arrived at the decision to withdraw support for Koda government if he does not resign now," said Soren after a meeting of leaders from Jharkhand at his residence.

At the same time, he claimed that the "UPA high command has directed Madhu Koda to resign and facilitate my oath taking. I will take oath as new CM as soon has he resigns there".

The JMM leader also claimed that besides Chief Ministership to him, the party will be getting two portfolios -- one cabinet rank and a minister for state berth -- at the Centre.

Soren, however, declined to name the two of its five MPs who will be inducted into the Cabinet.

Earlier, Soren had supported the UPA in the confidence motion on July 22 after putting forth certain conditions.

Soren firmly denied that the independent ministers in the state had reservations on his becoming the CM. "There is no objection from any quarter".

Refusing to specify the time-frame given to Koda for putting in his papers, Soren said: "He has to resign as soon as possible."

While Soren refused to comment on reports that he had put forth a time-frame on the issue of change of guard in Jharkhand, a senior JMM leader said that the party conveyed to the Congress leadership this morning that it could take any decision if the UPA did not take action on JMM's demand.

Lalu not opposed to Soren as CM
According to Times Now, Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad, who played an instrumental role in installing Koda in office, has said that he has 'no problems' with Soren replacing Koda as the chief minister of Jharkhand. ( Watch )

Lalu was understood to be firmly opposed to any change of guard in Jharkhand. However, Lalu today clarified and declared support to Soren.

The RJD has substantial political stakes in Jharkhand and most fodder scam cases against Lalu are also at different stages of trial in the state.

Source : Times Of India

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Detained Khaleda refuses to register from jail

DHAKA:Detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia has refused to register as a voter from behind bars, a prisons official said Monday.

Prison authorities along with election officials had been preparing to register Khaleda Zia as a voter earlier Monday, deputy inspector general of prisons Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told.

Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain had told reporters they hoped Khaleda Zia would register today, on the last day of voter registration and correction for Dhaka City Corporation.

Source : Independent Bangladesh

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North West Frontier Province votes to oust Musharraf

PESHAWAR: Northwest Pakistan lawmakers have passed a resolution against President Pervez Musharraf, the second major act in the ruling coalition's campaign to impeach and oust the embattled leader.

The North West Frontier Province assembly's resolution on Tuesday came a day after lawmakers in Punjab province passed a similar proposal. As in Punjab, the resolution in the northwest passed overwhelmingly, 107-4.

Musharraf seized power in a 1999 military coup and dominated Pakistan for years, but he grew increasingly unpopular, especially after he fired judges and declared emergency rule last year.

He has been largely sidelined since his foes won February parliamentary elections but has shown no intention of leaving despite impeachment calls.

Source : The Times Of India

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Amar and Arun go hammer & tongs

New Delhi, Aug 11: An argument broke out today between Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and the BJP’s Arun Jaitley as talks failed at an all-party meeting here to discuss the Amarnath deadlock.

Members of the all-party team that visited Jammu and Srinagar last week were expected to discuss their findings at the meeting and suggest a solution.

During the discussions, Amar accused the BJP of being the root cause of the problem, and Jaitley retorted that the meeting was not the place for political wrangles, sources said. The argument ended quickly.

Home minister Shivraj Patil, who chaired the talks, said the discussions were inconclusive. Sources said the government failed to come up with concrete proposals while the BJP stood firm that the land allotment to the shrine board must be restored before any solution could be found.

The delegates will meet again on Tuesday morning. “We will meet at 9am tomorrow and then we will discuss with the Prime Minister and other leaders,” Patil said.

Jaitley later dubbed today’s meeting a “paralysis through analysis”. Amar said the delegates had discussed “a preamble to the approach” that could be taken to solve the problem.

Among those who attended the talks were the Congress’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, Saifuddin Soz and Mohsina Kidwai, the CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah. People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, who is supporting the protests in Kashmir, stayed away.

As reports of demonstrations in Sopore and Srinagar came in, Patil accused the media of exaggerating the number of protesters.

Source : The Telegraph

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PPP-Sherpao to support impeachment

PESHAWAR: People Party Sherpao has announced on Tuesday that it will support the ruling coalitions’ impeachment motion against President Pervez Musharraf.

Talking to media outside NWFP Assembly, PPP-Sherpao Parliamentary leader Sikandar Sherpao said that his party believed in democracy.

“PML-N’s Ch Nisar Ali Khan and PPP’s Khurshid Shah requested us to support the ruling coalition regarding impeachment, he said, adding PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had phoned Party Chief Aftab Ahmed Sherpao for the support.”

He further said central executive committee held a meeting. The committee decided to support the democratic forces in the country so that problems faced by the people could be resolved after these issues.

Source : International The News

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Punjab, NWFP, Sindh Assemblies sessions on impeachment today

KARACHI: Sindh, Punjab and NWFP Assemblies' sessions would be held today regarding president’s impeachment.

NWFP Assembly session will begin at 10am to pass the resolution on president’s impeachment. NWFP Speaker Karamatullah Chagarmatti will chair the session in which members of provincial assembly would cast their vote about impeachment.

On the other hand, Sindh Assembly session chaired by its Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro would begin at 3pm. Member of assembly would give their point of view on impeachment on first day while resolution would be passed on second day in this regard.

Speaker Rana Iqbal will chair the session of Punjab Assembly today.


Source : International The News

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UPCC meet focuses on Mayawati bashing

LUCKNOW: The political resolution, passed at the two-day meet of the newly nominated UPCC executive on Monday, mainly singled out the BSP supremo for a frontal attack. Apart from thanking the Centre or commending its stance on various national issues, the meet- it seemed- ended up devoting most of its time on Maya bashing and levelled charges ranging from corruption to casteism on her.

"Mayawati, says the proposal, "has misled the masses for gaining power. Her neglect of common man exposes her dual character... Instead of concentrating on providing better governance in the state, she is angling for the prime ministerial chair, which has resulted in a messy law and order scenario.”

"The administration is not at all concerned about solving problems faced by the common man... public voice is going unheard. The chief minister has no time for meeting the common man, she is totally cut off from the masses and is surrounded by a few sycophants who aim at keeping her away from ground realities and encouraging her to dream about PMship.”

"Corruption has peaked during her regime, money sent by the Centre is being misused, minister are dictating the amount to be paid to them as commission. Transfer posting is a thriving industry and Mayawati herself is neck deep in corruption.”

"She has been talking about sarvjan hitay since she has come to power, then why has Mayawati decided to appoint as her political successor someone who belonged to a particular sub-caste in Dalits? ”Alleging the the BSP regime had unleashed a rein of terror to intimidate Congress workers, the executive called upon the party men to expose the shortcoming and 'wheeling dealing' going on in the state and build public opinion in favour of Congress.

Source : Times of India

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BJP activists bring traffic to a halt

HYDERABAD: Thousands of motorists suffered with the traffic jam caused by the BJP activist's protest at Khairatabad MMTS station on Monday afternoon.

Nearly 150 BJP activists, led by their leaders Bandaru Dattatreya, Baddam Bal Reddy, B Laxman and Kishan Reddy staged a protest against the role played by Central Government in Amarnath Shrine land issue and demanded immediate allocation of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

The protest started at 11 am and after the leaders spoke, some activists tried to rush towards Governor’s residence. They were arrested near Vishveshwaraiah junction at around 1.30 pm.

Source : Times Of India

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Session will test govt survival skills

PANAJI: The Goa assembly session slated from August 18 will test the 14-month-old alliance government led by the Congress’ Digambar Kamat, as dissidence in the Congress persists and the resignation of some MLAs to force instability is not ruled out. Ally NCP, showing signs of anger, is likely to support such a move.

Indications are strong that the Congress Legislative Party, beset with problems could see the resignations of four MLAs. Should this happen, it would reduce the strength of the House to 35, which already stands at 39 following the death of Congress legislator from Pale Gurudas Gavas.

His death has also brought down the Congress strength in the House to 17, but in a reduced House of 35, the effective voting strength of the Congress will be 12, as the speaker does not vote. It would no longer be the single largest party and could lead the alliance partners NCP and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to rethink their support.

The induction of unatttached legislator Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate into the cabinet may not help the Congress, as the numbers would be clearly stacked against the party if the exodus of MLAs is not stopped.

There also exists resentment that the chief minister is holding ten important portfolios out of a total 35.
“There is no logic behind the allotting of the education portfolio to Monserrate, it should remain with a Congress minister,” commented a Congress leader.

In New Delhi, the Congress high command is perturbed by the constant bickering in the CLP and the instability of the government, especially over the fact that an observer is constantly required to douse the fires in the state, which exposes the weakness of the state leadership.

Already an anti establishment and anti development mood prevails in the state and a flight of capital investment is the next scary scenario. The inability of the government to take action against dissidents has made captains of industry and business lobbies conclude that a change in dispensation would be the best way out in the present scenario.

"Goa is going to face financial crunch as revenue will be down and unemployment galloping because of the 'soft' government attitude," commented a senior official of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.
Speaker Pratapsingh Rane continues to save the government, though the Congress high command is not succumbing to the demand for change of leadership in the CLP.

The absence of former finance minister Dayanand Narvekar from the front treasury benches could send the government on the back foot as not all ministers are in a position to defend the government from a well orchestrated onslaught fired from the opposition benches led by BJP’s Manohar Parrikar.

Source : Times Of India

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Kalam tells MBA students to participate in politics

NEW DELHI: It was a management lesson of a different kind that 400-odd B-school students and corporate delegates got at Indian Institute for Foreign Trade (IIFT) campus on Monday. The former president APJ Abdul Kalam himself was present to take this class on the role of consultants in an emerging knowledge-based economy.

Speaking at a seminar organised by IIFT and PHD chamber, Kalam spoke on topics ranging from the scope for India in
the consultancy opportunities worldwide and stressed students to be leaders and not just managers. He also encouraged students to actively participate in politics, so that there is a political will to execute the vision for India as a developed nation. "Politics today is 70% political politics and 30% development politics, when it should be the other way round," Kalam added.

The event, which saw a lively question-answer session between the students and the former president, had nuggets of wisdom from the eminent scientist. Kalam mentioned that of the $300 billion worth consultancy opportunities worldwide, India today caters only to around $4.4 billion. He suggested strategies for increasing the Indian share of the global consultancy market from 1.5% to 10% within the next five years.

He said that for an organised growth of Indian consultancy, agri-business, industry and services need to collaborate towards nullifying the urban-rural divide.

He also spoke of how out of the 10 million micro, small and medium industries in our country, nearly half a million small scale industries are known to be in the red.

Source : Times Of India

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BJP demands probe into tapes

NEW DELHI: Ending weeks of suspense after the cash-for-votes scandal rocked Lok Sabha during the July 22 trust vote, the private TV channel which had recorded the "sting" telecast on Monday the tapes showing three BJP MPs receiving Rs 1 crore from a person alleged to be associated with Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.

Some 19 days after the final chapter of the sting was recorded, CNN-IBN telecast the tapes while claiming that it was not arriving at any conclusion over who was the guilty party in the reported attempt to bribe the BJP MPs — Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahaveer Bhagora — to vote for the Manmohan Singh government.

In his response to the tapes, Amar Singh said he had not met the BJP MPs. BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley gave many arguments in support of his claim that Sanjiv Saxena, the man who delivered cash to the MPs was an aide of Amar Singh.

The cash-for-votes tapes telecast by CNN-IBN do not show any of the MPs meeting SP leader Amar Singh, but raise a plethora of questions: about the delay in telecast; links between the SP leader and a certain Sanjiv Saxena, who delivered Rs 1 crore in cash; the "offer" of SP MP Reoti Raman Singh to act as an intermediary; and the video footage of a car with two BJP MPs entering the residence of Amar Singh.

Source & Details : Times Of India

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