BJP demands delimitation of constituencies be conducted in J&K

NEW DELHI: Even as the Amarnath issue shows no signs of abating, the BJP on Wednesday demanded that delimitation of constituencies should be conducted in Jammu and Kashmir as done in the rest of the country.

"We demand that the delimitation process should be started at the earliest in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been due for a long time," BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in New Delhi.

The Kuldip Singh Commission initiated the delimitation exercise in the country in 2002. Interestingly, the BJP-led NDA government, which appointed the commission, had agreed with other political parties at that time that Jammu and Kashmir should be exempted from the delimitation process.

The present demand from the BJP has come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is on the boil with growing chasm between people from Jammu and those from the valley (Kashmir).

Making the demand for delimitation, BJP argued that Jammu had been discriminated against in allotment of assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.

"The Election Commission figures show that of approximately 56.12 lakh voters, 28,92,290 are from the Jammu region while 25,46,913 are from Kashmir. Around 1.73 lakh voters are from Ladakh," the BJP leader said.

To further strengthen his argument, Naidu said the area occupied by Jammu is 26,000 sq km while Kashmir occupies only 15,000 sq km.

Source : Hindustan Times

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Continuing protests in the valley leave 42 injured

NEW DELHI/KASHMIR: Forty two persons were injured on Wednesday in police firing at various places in Kashmir, as demonstrations continued across the city over the economic blockade of the valley by Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti in Jammu.

Four persons received bullet injuries when CRPF personnel opened fire on a group of protesters being chased by police in Delow village of Rajpora area in Pulwama distict, official sources said.

The protesters were engaged in clashes with police when the latter fired tear smoke shells to chase them away. As the protestors were retreating into the village, CRPF personnel from nearby camp opened fire on them, injuring four of them.

Three of the injured have been referred to a hospital in Srinagar in critical condition, the sources said.

Police and paramilitary forces opened fire at Kralkhud area of the city, injuring six persons, two of them critically, they said.

The group of agitators had tried to dismantle a bunker of CRPF in Kralkhud area, promting the law enforcing agencies to open fire, the sources said.

The protesters fought pitched battles with the security personnel prompting the latter to open fire in which five persons were injured at Habbakadal in the city, they said.

The injured where shifted to hospital where condition of one of the injured, Tanveer Ahmad of Tankipora locality, was stated to be critical.

In Bemina, one person was injured when CRPF personnel opened fire on a group of protesters, the sources said, adding the mob then set afire the building of Srinagar Development Authority.

Source : Hindustan Times

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JHU wants further debates on National issue

COLOMBO: Jathika Hela Urumaya will not participate in the All Party Representative Committee proceedings until the Committee puts before the public the dynamics of conflicting opinions, which have held back the APRC from reaching a consensus to provide a political solution to the national issue.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has informed President Mahinda Rajajpaksa in writing that it will not participate in APRC meetings unti the conflicting opinion concerned are put before the public for their analysis and concern.

JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said, he has sent a letter to the President stating the JHU believes that it will be futile to drag discussions on the opinions concerned.

The Committee’s efforts to reach a consensus on them have proved unsuccessful in spite of prolonged and earnest discussions the committee had in this connection for over two years.

” Hence, we believe it will be futile to have further discussions in this regard. Accordingly, we have taken the stance that the dynamics of these conflicting opinions be brought before the public so that they will come out with their own opinion about the nature of these opinions, said the Thera.

He said they have also requested President Rajapaksa to summon the APRC.

The APRC was set up by President Mahinda Rajapaksa fulfilling an election pledge in the Mahinda Chinthana to reach a consensus among all political parties in Parliament to provide a political solution to the country’s North and East.

Source : The Daily News

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Hasina remains outside the Country on parole

DHAKA: A Special Court at the Parliament Complex has directed Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and other accused in Mig-29 fighter plane graft suit to appear before it on August 20 in a bid to frame charges against them. Yesterday as the defence counsels prayed to the Court for not framing charges(The Bangladesh Today)

against Hasina during her absence, Judge Golam Mortuza Mojumdar of Dhaka Divisional Special Court passed this order.

The Court's order is handed down for appearance of Hasina at a moment when she remains in USA for treatment following government's extension of her temporary release for one month more. She was also exempted from her personal appearance in the case on June 9.

Talking to The Bangladesh Today, one of Hasina's counsels Abdul Mannan Khan said, "On August 20-the day fixed for Hasina's appearance we will produce before the Court the government order extending temporary release of Hasina for one month more. We will also ask for not framing charges against Hasina in this case as the law does not permit framing of charges in absentia."

But Public Prosecutor ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul explained the legal proposition otherwise saying that there is no bar as to framing charges against an accused who has been exonerated from appearing before the Court.

Meanwhile, another accused in the case, former chief of army staff Gen (Retd) Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman Bir Bikram died on August 3 and his lawyer SM Kamrul Hassan submitted before the Court the death certificate of his client.

Earlier the Special Court initiated charge framing hearing in the case as the Supreme Court on March 18 finally cleared the way for resuming the stalled trial proceedings. The trial proceeding was halted by the higher Court following seven petitions filed by Hasina and others under Section 561 Cr.P.C praying for quashing the case against them.

Names of Brig Gen (retd) Iftekhar-Ul-Bashar and former deputy secretary Hasan Mahmood Delwar were dropped from the list of accused due to lack of evidence while former Army Chief Mustafizur Rahman, Air Commodore (Retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Hossain Serniabat and businessman Nur Ali were indicted in the case after investigators found their involvement in the alleged scam.

Finally those who are facing the case now include former Air Force chief Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, former defence joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Sherniabat, retired Air Commodore Mirza Akhtar Maruf and Nur Ali.


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Source : News from Bangladesh

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Khaleda will not apply for release - News from Bangladesh

DHAKA: Former prime minister Khaleda Zia will not apply to the government for her release, a lawyer said Tuesday.

After visiting her in special jail, advocates Ahmed Azam Khan and Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas told reporters that Khaleda believed the cases filed against her have no basis and she thinks those cases are bailable.

"[Khaleda Zia] said the government has detained her on unfounded cases. She will not apply for her release," said Azam Khan.

She said there was no substance in the cases filed against her or her two sons, he said.

Khaleda enquired about the health of her detained elder son Tarique Rahman, her lawyers said.

She expressed concern over his health and urged the government to send him abroad as soon as possible, they said.

Advocate Simul Biswas said Khaleda had urged party leaders, supporters and countrymen to remain united.

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Source : Independant Bangladesh

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Pak to approach UN over situation in J&K

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that it started approaching global bodies like the UN over the "deteriorating situation" in Jammu and Kashmir, ignoring India's warning that such statements amount to "clear interference" in its internal affairs and will undermine the composite dialogue process.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said Islamabad is "deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation" in the Indian state that is "resulting in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri people".

Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described the police action in Jammu and Kashmir as the "excessive and unwarranted use of force" against people, drawing strong reaction from India which said such statements constitute clear interference in internal affairs of an integral part of the country.

Replying to a question on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said Pakistan has "set in motion" the process to call on the "international community, in particular the UN, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and human rights organisations to take notice".

The world community and global organisation would also be asked to "impress upon India to observe restraint and rein in the extremist elements that are seeking economic destruction of the Kashmiri people", Sadiq said.
Replying to a question on India's assertion that Pakistan's statements on the Kashmir issue could affect the composite dialogue process, Sadiq said Jammu and Kashmir was a "disputed territory" according to UN resolutions.

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Source : Times Of India

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Third Pakistani Assembly ( SINDH) votes against Musharraf

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday became the third of Pakistan's four provinces to adopt a resolution asking President Pervez Musharraf to face a vote of confidence or resign, in yet another sign of eroding support for him ahead of an impeachment motion in Parliament.

"President Musharraf is not a suitable candidate for the post of Presidency," Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said tabling the motion which said that if Musharraf failed to do either, he should be impeached in Parliament.

"The resolution is adopted," Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro said after a voice vote as members chanted "Go Musharraf, Go!"

Some of the opposition members of PML-Q, a Musharraf ally, voted in favour of the motion while others boycotted. The Muttahida Quami Movement of Altaf Hussain also stayed away.

The Sindh provincial assembly was the third province to approve the non-binding motion against Musharraf after Punjab and North West Frontier Province since the ruling coalition announced last week that it would impeach the president.

The provincial votes are seen as a way of putting pressure on Musharraf, who has not spoken himself on the move but made it clear through his aides that he will not quit.

The coalition says it is still finalising a "comprehensive and strong" chargesheet against Musharraf and expects to introduce the impeachment motion in the national parliament next week.

If it succeeds in getting the two-thirds majority in a combined sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate to topple the president, it would be the first in Pakistan's 61-year history.

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Source : Times Of India

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Despite warning, Pak interferes in J&K again

NEW DELHI: Despite New Delhi's warning to Pakistan to keep out of India's internal affairs, Islamabad has once again raked up the Jammu and Kashmir issue and sought immediate end to the violence in the state.

Ignoring India's strong reaction to its comments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who visited the All Parties Hurriyat Conference office in Islamabad to express condolences over the death of Kashmiri separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, regretted what he described as the excessive use of force by Indian security forces.

Qureshi said, "Pakistan regrets the excessive use of force by Indian security forces against the Kashmiri people and calls for an immediate end to violence in Jammu and Kashmir."

Qureshi also said that Pakistan calls for immediate steps to address the situation and prevent the human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The statement came just a day after India strongly reacted to earlier comments by Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, terming these as clear interference in the country's internal affairs.

MEA Spokesman Navtej Sarna reacted to the statements made by Qureshi, who had earlier too reiterated that Pakistan condemned the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the people of Indian occupied Kashmir, saying it did not provide a suitable environment to sustain the peace process and address the long standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

Source : Times Of India

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US envoy seeks safe passage for Musharraf, Nawaz opposes

LAHORE: PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf did not deserve any safe passage, since he sowed the seeds of hatred between the people of Pakistan and the Army, resulting in the death of innocent people.

He said this during a meeting with US Ambassador Anne W Patterson, who called on him at his Raiwind residence.During the meeting, the US ambassador sought a safe passage for President Musharraf, while Mian Nawaz Sharif told her that parliament is the right forum for all the decisions in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Matters relating to the impeachment motion, the ongoing military operation in Fata and the current political situation in the country were discussed.The ambassador said her country was committed to supporting the democratic government in Pakistan. She said: “We wish to see a solid political system in Pakistan.” The war against terrorism is not only in the interest of the US, but it is also in favour of Pakistan as well as the world.

Nawaz Sharif opposed any outside interference and said that it would harm the sovereignty of Pakistan. He said the operation in the tribal areas badly damaged the country and condemned bombardment in tribal areas and said the nation would not accept it.


Source : The News - Jang Group

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Impeachment resolution tabled in Sindh Assembly

KARACHI: Impeachment’s resolution against President Pervez Musharraf has been presented in Sindh Assembly today.

Provincial Law Minister Ayaz Soomro tabled the impeachment motion in the Assembly session chaired by its Speaker Nisar Khuhro.

Resolution demands the president to take vote of confidence from the Sindh Assembly.

Ayaz Soomro said, “President Musharraf is not a suitable candidate for the post of presidency. On this occasion, Opposition Leader Jam Madad Ali said government was taking unconstitutional steps.

MQM members of Sindh Assembly did not attend the session.

Sindh Assembly has 168 members in which PPP has 93, MQM 51, Muslim League-F 8, PML-Q 7 and National People Party has three members.

Source : The News - Jang Group

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