Govt to meet all requirements of IDPs, says Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD: In order to avoid donors’ fatigue, Pakistan will not make any formal request to multilateral or bilateral donors for seeking financial assistance to help over half a million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the wake of ongoing military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

Instead of seeking donors’ assistance, the government has decided to meet all requirements of IDPs through its own domestic resources.“Without seeking formal request to the donors, assistance of the multilateral and bilateral creditors and friends will be welcomed,” added the sources.

Pakistan’s military has launched operation against Taliban and their supporters to flush them out from NWA region that caused displacement of over half a million IDPs in Bannu area.“The government has taken the decision in principle that it will meet all requirements of IDPs from its own resources and formal request to donors’ assistance will not be sought. We have so far provided over Rs 2 billion and will also meet upcoming requirements.

The government has deducted one day salary of all public sector employees getting salary from federal budget that generated more than Rs 350 million,” official sources confirmed to The News here on Monday.

When contacted to Federal Minister for Finance and Revenues, Ishaq Dar confirmed to The News on Monday that the government was meeting all requirements would continue it for all IDPs in future as well.

However, high-ups in Finance Ministry told this scribe that the government so far released over Rs 2 billion for IDPs and more resources would be earmarked to meet their requirements.“We have also met financial requirements of Armed Forces to conduct this operation and will also meet the financial requirements for IDPs,” said the official.

So far 572,529 people, belonging to 44,633 families have been registered as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which started on June 15th. The UAE Government has released an assistance of $ 20.5 million for the IDPs on humanitarian grounds, while US has extended an assistance of $ 31 million. Finance Ministry has released Rs. 2 billion so far for providing relief to the IDPs. Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet has approved 60,000 tons of wheat costing Rs. 2.8 billion for distribution among the IDPs.

When inquired why the government was not making formal request through flash appeal of UN for IDPs assistance, the sources said that the government knew about donors’ fatigue keeping in view experience obtained by Islamabad as result of floods in 2010 and 2011.“This decision has been taken at the top level to avoid seeking official help from the donors but if someone comes forward they will be welcomed,” concluded the sources.

India says UN has no role to play in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: The Narendra Modi government thinks the United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) has no longer any role to play between Pakistan and India and has ordered it to vacate the government premises where they have been located free of charge for 40 years.

The free lunch is over, the UN has been told. Indian media reports say that the UN has been clearly told that “the UNMOGIP’s role has been overtaken by the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control. New Delhi is of the view that the UNMOGIP has no relevance or role to play whatsoever.”

The Foreign Office did not want to comment on media reports but the spokesperson told The News: “Even if true, such moves do not change the reality.”Meanwhile, an Indian official was quoted as saying: “They should stay in Srinagar and do what they want. In case they want to be stationed in Delhi, they should hire premises in a private property and not occupy the government property.”

It is only Pakistan that has time and again proposed to India to involve the UNMOGIP over disputes at the LoC as they are neutral observers and the ongoing blame game that follows skirmishes could come to an end.

But a strange philosophy governs New Delhi, where officially the UNMOGIP has offices in New Delhi and Srinagar with their mandate well known, but India refuses to involve them in any manner in disputes with Pakistan saying they do not want the third party involvement.

In keeping with the hawkish line that Modi has taken on Kashmir, it will not be long before the UNMOGIP office in Srinagar is also wrapped up.INP adds: According to Indian Express, the South Block has asked the UNMOGIP to vacate the bungalow — 1AB, Purana Qila Road — which has been serving as its office for the last four decades. The government accommodation — a Type VII bungalow, about 7,000 square feet — was allotted to the UN mission “free of charge”.

The UNMOGIP, established under a UN Security Council Resolution, was meant to supervise the ceasefire line established under the Karachi Agreement of July 1949.

When contacted, UNMOGIP’s Military Information Officer Major Tomas Malm, who is based in Srinagar, confirmed that the government has asked them to vacate the premises. “UNMOGIP’s response is to relocate to another location in Delhi,” he said. Asked if they have been told the reason for this directive, he said, “The Indian authorities’ reason is unknown to UNMOGIP.”Asked if the move reflected New Delhi’s stand towards the UNMOGIP, he said, “You have to ask the Indian government regarding their attitude towards us.”

Ready to talk to everyone on national issues, says Nawaz

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said he was ready to talk to all on important national matters. He said this while talking to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at the Prime Minister’s House here.

Nawaz said the Operation Zarb-e-Azb would continue till the elimination of terrorism in the country. He said the nation stood behind the armed forces.The finance minister informed the premier about the funds released for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The two also discussed the military operation at length.

Nawaz directed all possible measures to reduce the hardships of IDPs.Later, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, sources at the PM House disclosed. Sources said the two leaders discussed the internal security matters.

Ex-senator Saranjam Khan also called on the PM and discussed national and political issues with him. Saud Majeed, ex-MNA, was also present in the meeting. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Punjab Minister for Labour, also called on the PM.

John Kerry says U.S. war on Iraq was serious mistake

BEIJING: US Secretary of State John Kerry admitted that the Iraq war was a serious mistake for which the sufferings continued even today, Geo News reported on Tuesday.

In an interview to Chinese news agency, US Secretary of State, John Kerry said he had termed this decision of former President George Bush going for war on Iraq a grave mistake.

Even today, the region's many problems are caused by the Iraq war, the U.S. is trying to address, citing example of President Obama’s pulling out the troops from Iraq, he said.

The statement of the US Secretary of State has come at a time when Iraq has already suffered an irreparable loss and the country is bleeding in a civil war.

Shah says Khan’s ‘long march’ can derail entire system

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has expressed reservations on the long march announced by Imran Khan, saying that it could derail the entire system, Geo News reported.

Speaking to media here, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take all the political parties into confidence in the prevailing situation.

Khursheed Shah said: “There is contradiction in the stance of Tahirul Qadri. He does not believe on election, while PPP wants stability of the democratic institutions”.

He said Qadri and Chaudhry Shujaat had invited PPP to attend All Parties Conference (APC), however, his party decided not to participate in it.

No room for politicking on Model Town incident, says Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday said there should be no politicking on the Model Town incident which was actually a human tragedy.

Talking to various news channels here, the minister said certain elements were only doing politics on human bodies as they had no other issue. He assured that those involved in the Model Town tragedy would be brought to book at all costs. “The Punjab government had asked its law minister to tender resignation to ensure a free and fair inquiry into the incident,” he added.

The minister questioned if Pervaiz Elahi had asked his brother (Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain), the-then interior minister, to resign after the Lal Masjid incident. He said most of the APC leaders did not believe in law and the Constitution.

“They want disruption and violence to create anarchy in the country. Did they ever demand resignation from Musharraf after the Lal Masjid and May 12 2007 tragedies?”He said there was no harm in reconstitution of the judicial commission probing the Model Town incident if the law permitted but he believed the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) would still continue to protest as it was their sole objective.

“The government will implement the recommendations of the judicial commission in letter and spirit while a joint investigation team is also working,” he added.To a question about meeting with former president Asif Ali Zardari, he said meetings among politicians and with political leadership were a routine matter. He said Asif Zardari was an ex-president and the head of the country’s largest opposition political party. He, however, added that no formal schedule had been finalised for such a meeting with Zardari.

Pervaiz Rashid said the government was providing all the necessary support to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan.He said the government was fully cognizant of the problems of IDPs adding that all required facilities were being provided to the people who had left their homes due to the ongoing North Waziristan operation launched to flush out terrorists.

Govt not to let anti-democracy forces win, says Nawaz

 

LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said the PML-N-led government, together with pro-democracy forces, would foil all conspiracies being hatched by elements of a particular mindset to derail the ongoing democratic system.
Geo TV reported that Premier Nawaz Sharif will be meeting former president Asif Ali Zardari in the next few days and for this purpose he is likely to visit Sindh.Other senior leaders of the party will also be accompanying him.

INP adds: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif huddled together at Jati Umra on Sunday to review issues like the All Parties Conference (APC) called by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), provision of succor to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI)’s threatened long march.

Sources said the prime minister discussed in detail the consequences of the Model Town incident and the issues being agitated by the opposition political parties to destabilise the government.

The two Sharifs expressed confidence and vowed to implement the report prepared by the judicial commission on the Model Town incident which left some one dozen people dead and over 100 injured in Lahore two weeks ago.It was reportedly decided in the meeting that the government would initiate contacts with all the political parties.

The prime minister said those indulging in anti-democratic activities, including the long march, were following an agenda to deny Pakistan of development and prosperity but the government would not allow them to succeed. He said democracy and every institution would be strengthened.

He said the nation needed unity in the wake of the ongoing military operation against the terrorists but unfortunately certain elements were involved in the politics of violence for political gains.

He said the people had given a five-year mandate to the PML-N and asked the opposition parties to wait for the next elections.According to reports, the PM and CM Shahbaz welcomed the decision of the PPP and ANP to not attend PAT’s all-parties conference.

CJP says intolerance is the real threat to democracy

LAHORE: Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani said on Saturday that the real threat to democracy and rule of law in the country stems from intolerance.

Addressing a ceremony in honour of Justice Umar Atta Bandial being elevated to the Supreme Court, the CJP said Pakistan lacks a culture of tolerance.

Chief Justice Jillani added that independence of the judiciary could not only be achieved through what was written in the constitution and it was essential to restore the trust of people in the justice system.

According to the CJP it is required that the authority of law and supremacy of constitution be established in the country.

PTI says Pervez Rashid failed to answer ‘four questions’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari has said that Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid failed to answer the four questions raised by the PTI.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, she said that Nawaz Sharif had sought clear majority in his speech before the election results.

Terming the minister as a political acrobat she said “we demanded appointment of judicial returning officers but there should have been accountability”.

Mazari added that Najam Sethi was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board for causing 35 punctures. She also criticized Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who she said had not visited IDPs camp.

I´m not the retiring type, says Venus

LONDON: Defiant Venus Williams made it clear she has no intention of retiring following her painful Wimbledon exit.

Venus´s 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 third round defeat against fellow former champion Petra Kvitova on Friday means the five-time Wimbledon winner has failed to reach the last 16 at a major since 2011.

At 34, Venus was the oldest woman left in the Wimbledon singles and, plagued for the last three years by Sjogren´s Disease -- an immune system disease that leaves her battling fatigue and joint pain -- she hasn´t won a Grand Slam since securing the last of her seven major titles in 2008 at Wimbledon.

That has led to plenty of talk that Venus will opt to retire sooner rather than later and she was again quizzed about her plans for the future following the loss to Kvitova.

But Venus, in her 17th Wimbledon appearance, had made it to the last 32 at a major for the first time since the 2013 Australian Open and took heart from the way she gave a glimpse of her former glories to push the higher ranked Kvitova all the way.

"No, people have been trying to retire me since I was like 25. For some reason in tennis we always do that to our players," Williams said when asked if this might have been her Wimbledon farewell.

"I´m finding my way back on my feet. I´m proud of myself for what I´m achieving on the court.

On this form, Williams has every reason to feel she can still compete with the best and she is determined to mount a strong challenge for more major titles in the future.

"I want to win Grand Slams. Everybody does. You don´t get ´em easily," she said."Look at what happened today. No one gives it to you. They snatch it away and say ´Mine´.

That ferocious desire for success was on full display as 30th seed Williams gave one of her best displays for years against Kvitova in a high-quality encounter in front of an enthralled Centre Court crowd. And rather than be content with putting up a good fight, she was adamant that the sting of defeat was still as painful as it was during her prime. (AFP)

Imran should think about country’s future, says Khursheed

KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said that he did not like Imran Khan’s threats of resignations from the provincial and national assemblies.

It was not the right thing to do, he said and added that Imran should think about the country’s future. A very well-known analyst of the country, Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi, said that the mental status of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri is alike, and both are suffering from deprivation syndrome.

Defence analyst Talat Masood said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing according to its strategy. The plan was to begin with aerial activity to create chaos in the rank of the leadership of the terrorists, and then to proceed with ground assault.

Khursheed Shah said that Imran Khan was giving threats of resignation from the provincial and national assemblies is an inappropriate thing. Shah, however, said that he did not oppose the demand of the PTI for verification in four constituencies. Although the supporters of the PPP in the Punjab are angry over electoral irregularities, yet the PPP realises the challenges before the country and so it is dealing with the political matters discretely. The Pakistan Army is engaged in a war against the terrorists, and the PPP does not want to complicate national affairs any further.

Khursheed Shah advised Imran Khan to put the future of the country above everything else. Imran should utilise the forum of Parliament.Khursheed Shah said he sees Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan travelling down separate paths though the path may converge later on. The government must find a political way out. Protest demonstrations and rallies are not going to solve the issues. The country’s history bears witness to the fact whenever such things happened they disturbed the country’s system. Shah said that they must learn from past mistakes. He said that resignations from provincial and national assemblies by PTI members would create a crisis because after resignation the PTI would agitate on the streets and bring life to a halt.

The PPP leader said that the Model Town tragedy was a result of the government’s cronies’ overreaction. Senior columnist Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi said that he had never been optimistic about Imran Khan’s politics. Ever since Imran Khan entered politics, he had been making blunders one after the other. He had been consistently deviating from his own statements and going back on his promises, and that is the reason behind the friction in his party. Imran has also failed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi said when Imran realised that his performance had been unsatisfactory he started talking about resigning from the assemblies. There will be a strong resistance from the party over Imran’s call for resignations.

The senior columnist said that Imran’s decisions reflect his inexperience in politics. Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi said that mental state of Imran Khan and that of Tahir-ul-Qadri is alike and both are suffering from deprivation syndrome. What Imran Khan is doing can derail democracy.

Defence analyst Talat Masood, while talking to the host on the programme, said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing satisfactorily. The strategy was to panic the leadership of the terrorists through aerial bombardments and then to launch the ground attack, and the strategy has been successful.

The host of the programme, Masood Raza, said that the ICC has given Pakistan the status of Big Four.Commenting on Imran Khan, Masood Raza said that it seems that Imran’s politics is confined to four constituencies only. A year has passed since the elections but still there is an echo of rigging in elections.

Imran Khan says PTI to start revolution from Bahawalpur rally

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has said that the revolution will begin from his party’s rally in Bahawalpur.

Speaking to media on Friday, he said that the PTI will start much needed revolution from the rally.

According to reports, PTI workers were thronging the venue of Jalsa in Bahawalpur district.

Only election tribunals can meet Imran’s demand, says ECP

 

ISLAMABAD: As the PTI chief Imran Khan shows his intent to even go to the extent of dissolving the KP government if his demand for verification of votes in four constituencies is not met, the Election Commission of Pakistan has categorically said that such a decision could only be taken by the Election Tribunals and no one else.
Without going into the political aspects of the matter, Secretary ECP Ishtiaq Ahmad told The News here on Wednesday that what the PTI was demanding with respect to the recounting of votes in four NA constituencies purely fell in the jurisdiction of Election Tribunals.

As per the law and the Constitution, the secretary ECP explained, the verification of the votes and their recounting could only be ordered by the Election Tribunals. When asked if the government or the Election Commission could do this as demanded by the PTI, the ECP secretary said that he had explained what the law and the Constitution says.

Under the law, he said the ECP can order recounting and even re-election in any constituency where it is convinced of prima facie irregularity but it could be done only within 60 days of the elections. After the lapse of this period all such matters have to be dealt by the Election Tribunals.

Although Ishtiaq Ahmad avoided to directly respond to the question if the government or the ECP could seek re-counting or re-election on their own, another senior official of the Commission on condition of not being named said that it could not happen under the law and the constitution.

The source added that neither the government has any legal or constitutional right to refer such a matter to the ECP nor the Commission has any mandate to entertain such a request from the government.

Under the law only the Election Tribunals, and not the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the government, are empowered to order rechecking, recounting or verification of any poll related documents to ascertain their authenticity.

Section 46 of the Representation of Peoples Act (ROPA) 1976 envisages that a tribunal may order inspection of any counted ballot papers or opening of packets of counterfoils and certificates.

The law says that such an order may be made subject to such conditions as to persons, time, place and mode of inspection, production of documents and opening of packets as the concerned tribunal may think expedient. In making and carrying into effect an order for the inspection of counted ballot papers, care will be taken that no vote will be disclosed until it has been held by the tribunal to be invalid.

Where such an order is passed, the production by the ECP of any document in such manner as may be directed will be conclusive evidence that the document relates to that specific election, according to the law. Any endorsement on any ballot papers or their packet papers or documents so made available will be prima facie evidence that the ballots or documents are what the endorsement states them to be.

The National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra), which has expressed its readiness to do verification of thumb impressions, will come into play to do this job only if an Election Tribunal ordered so.

It can’t do so on its own or on the direction of the government. The ECP also has no authority to seek such authentication under the law.Any person aggrieved by the decision of a tribunal may, within 30 days, appeal to the Supreme Court.

Under Section 103AA of ROPA, if, from facts apparent on the face of the record and after such summary inquiry as it may deem necessary, the ECP is satisfied that, by reason of grave illegalities or violation of the ROPA or the rules, the poll in any constituency ought to be declared void, it may make a declaration accordingly and order re-election. While exercising this power, the ECP will be deemed to be a tribunal to which an election petition has been presented.

But, according to ROPA, the ECP may exercise this power before the expiration of 60 days after publication of the name of the concerned returned candidate in the official gazette. Where it does not finally dispose of such a case within this period, the election of such contestant will be deemed to have become final, subject to a decision of a tribunal.

Law will decide Qadri’s return, says Pervaiz

RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had come to Pakistan of his own free will but he will not be able to leave Pakistan now on his own.
Talking to media persons after visiting the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital where scores of wounded cops are under treatment, the minister said: “Now Tahirul Qadri will return to Canada only after the law’s nod”. He was flanked by local PML-N leaders and legislators.

He said former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had also come to Pakistan of his own free will but now he could not fly out as the law had not allowed him to do so.The minister was visibly perturbed over the violence unleashed by the supporters of Dr. Qadri on police personnel. He said the way the cops were subjected to aggression by what he called the ‘Ghundas’ of Tahirul Qadri had no parallel in history.

Senator Rashid claimed that the private parts of police officers and constables were targeted by the supporters of Tahirul Qadri on his (Qadri’s) direction.Praising the media for objectively showing the events on Monday, the minister said people could better decide who exactly had resorted to vandalism.

“Is this the revolution he is talking about and wants to bring to Pakistan,” he asked. “By creating a law and order situation, Tahirul Qadri wanted to divert the nation’s attention from the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation against terrorists in North Waziristan, but he would not succeed in achieving what he had planned for.”

Tahirul Qadri, he alleged, had been inciting his followers to violence for the last few weeks and what was witnessed on Monday was before everyone — cops received head injuries and their arms and legs were broken by his hooligans. The minister said around 100 cops were wounded in the violence.

The DHQ Hospital received a total of 35 injured policemen. The minister said PAT activists, on the directives of Dr. Tahirul Qadri, broke the arms and legs of policemen on duty. He further said the attackers would have to face the consequences in accordance with the law.

Referring to the activities of PAT activists in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the minister said a new type of terrorism was being imported to Pakistan and “we will deal with it like we are dealing with terrorists in North Waziristan”.

He said the nation should receive the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) migrating from North Waziristan as guests. “Serving IDPs is our duty,” said the minister.The minister made it clear that the armed forces were producing 100 per cent results with regard to the elimination of terrorists and the entire nation stood behind them.About the reports of the plight of the Internally-Displaced Persons of North Waziristan Agency, Senator Rashid said the government would take good care of them.

Dr Qadri says he is ready for martyrdom, govt has panicked

 

LONDON: PAT leader Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said on Sunday that the government was terrified of his arrival in Pakistan and had begun a massive crackdown on his followers across Punjab.
But he stressed that he was going to Pakistan to strengthen ‘genuine democracy’ that he claimed does not exist in Pakistan today.Before his departure for Pakistan via Dubai on Sunday afternoon, Dr Qadri said “thousands” of his workers had been arrested illegally by the police.

“Tens of thousands had planned to reach Islamabad Airport to greet me and to welcome my agenda of revolution for a better Pakistan but the government has panicked. It has used state machinery to usurp the rights of my supporters. All they wanted was to express theirdemocratic right of free expression. They have been punished for that.”Speaking to The News at the Heathrow airport, Dr Qadri said he was ready for martyrdom, if needed.

“I am going to Pakistan for Pakistan’s betterment, to help the Pakistani armed forces in their fight against terrorism; I want to bring about a positive change through non-violent means. Millions of people across Pakistan want to see a change in their lives and the way they are being governed. I am not power-hungry; I don’t need ministries or money. My agenda is simple. But the government is acting like a dictatorship and has acted in a brutal manner. Our activity centres have been shut down and our leading activists have either been kidnapped or arrested and beaten. This is a violation of our rights.”

Dr Qadri appealed to the army to take notice of the situation and intervene. “I call on the Pakistan Army to see what’s happening to our workers when they have committed no crime. I have no hope of justice from these rulers. They are insecure because their mandate is fake and they are relying on state power to crush our democratic movement for a peaceful revolution.”

When asked if he had passed his concerns directly to anyone in the military establishment and whether it was the right thing to do to attempt to get the army involved in political tussles, Dr Qadri told The News that he had not had any direct contact with the military.

“I am passing my concerns to the military through the media. I have not made any direct contact and I believe in saying things publicly without doing deals at night. I have nothing to hide; my agenda is for all to see.”

Dr Qadri said he had serious threats to his life. “I don’t care about my personal safety, life and death. If they want to hurt me, they should hurt me in any way they want. But don’t attack and torture my followers and activists who have been peaceful all along.

“After the killings of our innocent workers in Model Town, we could have easily taken the law into our own hands but we believe in the peaceful teachings of Islam. We are being punished for being pro-peace. This is unacceptable and should not be allowed. What is happening is a violation of Pakistani laws. We want intervention of the Pakistan Army in this matter.”

Dr Qadri left his east London home at 10 am for Heathrow airport.Around 300 supporters of Dr Qadri had arrived at the airport to say farewell to him. They chanted slogans upon his arrival and offered prayers for him.

Dr Qadri showed to The News a copy of his Pakistani passport and national ID card (NICOP) which he was using to travel to Pakistan via Dubai.“I am by birth a Pakistani and have every right to get involved in Pakistani politics in any way I want. These rulers cannot stop me and cannot tell me what to do.”

China says 13 attackers killed in Xinjiang assault

BEIJING: Chinese police shot dead 13 people in Xinjiang after they drove into a police building and set off an explosion Saturday, regional authorities said, in the latest attack to hit the restive region.

The vast area in China´s far west, home to the mainly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, has faced a series of violent attacks in recent years.

Beijing has vowed a year-long crackdown on terrorism in recent weeks following several high-profile attacks blamed on Xinjiang militants, which since late last year struck outside the region and targeted ordinary citizens rather than government or security personnel.

"Today thugs crashed a car into the public security building of Kargilik county in Xinjiang´s Kashgar prefecture and set off an explosion. Police took decisive action and shot dead 13 thugs," the official Xinjiang government website Tianshan reported.

Three police suffered injuries but there were no other casualties, the report said, without providing further details. It was unclear if the attackers used one or more explosive devices.

The state news agency Xinhua described the vehicle as a truck and said the attack happened in the morning, adding that authorities were investigating and "local social order is normal".

China´s most powerful body, the Politburo Standing Committee, said in May that "cracking down on violent terrorist activities must be the focal point of the current struggle", Xinhua reported at the time.

Authorities have announced hundreds of detentions or criminal punishments, including the sentencing of 55 people in late May for offences such as terrorism at a ceremony in a stadium attended by 7,000 people.

This week China executed 13 people for "terrorist attacks" in Xinjiang and ordered the death penalty for three others for a car crash last October in Beijing´s Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of the Chinese state.

In that incident, the first major event blamed on Xinjiang residents to take place outside the region, three family members drove onto the popular tourist area, killing two people and wounding 40 before the car burst into flames and they themselves died.

Bangladesh says ICC let fixed matches go ahead

DHAKA: Bangladesh has accused anti-corruption investigators from the International Cricket Council of allowing a match in a scandal-plagued Twenty20 tournament to go ahead even though it knew it was fixed.

A report from a special tribunal set up by the Bangladesh board said the ICC´s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) was aware beforehand that a match in the Bangladesh Premier League was going to be fixed but decided to keep organisers in the dark rather than alert them. "The evidence is clear that the fixed match between DG (Dhaka Gladiators) and CK (Chittagong Kings) played in Chittagong on the 2 February 2013 was played with the consent of ACSU," the tribunal´s report said. "It is obvious that the focus of ACSU was on gathering evidence and not on prevention of (the) fixed match," the report added.

The report, a copy of which has been obtained by AFP, was handed to the ICC on June 8. The tribunal, headed by a retired judge, was set up by the board last September after the ICC brought charges against nine people over fixing.

Organisers had hired the ICC´s investigators to monitor the BPL after its inaugural edition in 2012 was tainted by similar allegations.

The tribunal has subsequently convicted one of the owners of the Dhaka Gladiators of match-fixing, while three international players pleaded guilty over the 2013 scandal.

Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent pleaded guilty to breaching the ICC´s code of conduct for failing to tell authorities when a bookmaker approached him about fixing a match.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and Sri Lanka´s Kaushal Lokuarachchi have also pleaded guilty.

The report said Dhaka Gladiators coach Ian Pont alerted the ACSU that he had been approached by one of the team´s owners about fixing the February 2 match but was instructed to go ahead and play.

ICC spokesman Sami Ul Hasan declined to comment on the report´s allegations. "We are reviewing the written judgement and have no comments to make at this stage," he told AFP in an email.

The tribunal said ICC investigators were obligated to inform the BCB of any wrongdoing. "The chairman of ACSU, Sir Ronald Flanagan, expressed his regret about this failure to inform BCB of this significant matter and made a personal unreserved apology on behalf of ACSU for not involving BCB at that stage." (AFP)

Shah says government’s tenure should be 4 years

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah said on Thursday that people considered the five year government tenure lengthy.

Speaking to the media, Shah said in his personal opinion an amendment should be added to the constitution and the tenure should reduced to four years.

Khursheed Shah added that the government wanted the courts to decide the fate of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Shah further said the government should not try to stop Dr Tahirul Qadri from coming to Pakistan.

 

No timeframe to end Karachi operation, says Qaim

‘Action to be extended to other areas; people to be provided relief in budget’

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the timeframe to end the operation against criminals in Karachi could not be given and it could continue for the indefinite period.

He said that the operation was moving ahead positively and had started giving dividends.The Sindh chief minister said that the provincial government would do its utmost to provide the people of the province with maximum relief.

He said that the ‘targeted’ operation would also be extended to other parts of the province. Regarding the budget, the chief minister said the provincial government had talked to the federal government about 11 big projects for Karachi. “The federation has assured us of providing funds for key projects in Sindh, especially in Karachi.”He said, “We will present Sindh with good news in the budget”. However, he added that Sindh’s due share should be given to it.

Yemen says 500 Qaeda militants killed in 5-week offensive

SANAA: Yemeni forces have killed 500 suspected Al-Qaeda militants in an all-out offensive against them in their southern strongholds that began on April 29, the army spokesman said Thursday.

Forty soldiers were killed and another 100 wounded in the operation in the provinces of Shabwa and Abyan, in which 39 militants were captured, Colonel Saeed al-Fakeih told reporters. "We will press on with our war against Al-Qaeda, especially in the regions that (militants) fled to," he said.

The army launched the offensive against Al-Qaeda in Shabwa and neighbouring Abyan in a bid to expel its forces from smaller towns and villages that escaped a previous sweep in 2012.Troops and militia have entered a series of towns, but analysts say their advances could be the result of a tactical retreat by the militants in coordination with local tribes.

Taking advantage of a collapse of central authority during a 2011 uprising that forced veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, Al-Qaeda seized large swathes of the south and east.

They remain deeply entrenched in Hadramawt province further east, where they have carried out a series of spectacular attacks in recent months.