Pakistan to hang Sarabjit Singh on April 1
ISLAMABAD: Indian national Sarabjit Singh, condemned to death for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990, will be hanged on April 1 in a prison in Lahore.
The death warrant for Sarabjit was received by authorities at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore where he has been held for the last 17 years and will be executed on April 1.
President Pervez Musharraf rejected the mercy petition of Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is Manjit Singh, on March 3. The petition was rejected by the President after "thorough consideration" as the allegations against him "were proved and he was awarded capital punishment by court", official sources said.
Pakistan's Supreme Court too had rejected Sarabjit's plea for clemency in March 2006.
Following the rejection of Sarabjit's mercy petition by the President, the interior ministry had informed the government of Punjab province to take steps to carry out his death sentence.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=40620
Pakistan blast wounds 4 from FBI
WASHINGTON: A bomb blast in an Italian restaurant in the Federal Capital left a Turkish aid worker dead and wounding at least 12 others including four personnel of US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An FBI spokesman, Richard Koldo told reporters here on Monday that Four FBI personnel were also injured in the bombing attack in Pakistan.
He said the FBI was providing the necessary assistance to its employees and their families. however, the US state department did not issue any statement in this regard.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=40628
20 foreigners die in S Waziristan missile strike
WANA: At least 20 people were killed as several missiles hit a house in South Waziristan Agency on Sunday afternoon, locals told Daily Times.
Seven missiles landed on the house of Noorullah in Toog village, located four kilometres south of Wana, the regional headquarters of the South Waziristan Agency.
Local journalist Sailab Mehsud said 20 people were killed and another five wounded in the missile attack. He said all those who died were Arabs and Turkmen, who had gathered at the house when the attack occurred.
It could not be confirmed where the missiles came from, but locals told Mehsud they were fired from two unmanned aircrafts.
An elder, who asked not to be named, told Daily Times that the house of Noorullah, where the Arabs were holding a meeting, was situated about half a kilometre from the station of Taliban commander Maulvi Nazir in South Waziristan.
“Nazir remained unhurt, but the attack left at least 15 Arabs dead,” added the elder who said he heard three huge blasts that jolted the area around the site of the attack. The initial three explosions were followed by four more blasts, said the unnamed elder, adding the attack was carried out around 3pm. He said the foreigners often gathered at the house and held meetings there.
Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas was not available for comments to Daily Times. He told AFP that he had received reports about the blasts, but had no details about casualties yet. “We are trying to get more details,” Abbas said.
Taliban cordon: Taliban and their local supporters cordoned the compound to retrieve the bodies from the rubble, said the elder. He said they did not see or hear any aircrafts, but such attacks had been blamed on unmanned drones in the past.
State news agency APP said mortar shells were also fired on the house.
Two Pakistani intelligence officials in the area, both speaking on condition of anonymity because of the nature of their work, told the Associated Press that another house nearby was also destroyed. Arab and Uzbek militants had been staying in the house, which belongs to a tribesman named Safraz Khan, the news agency quoted them as saying. Eight to ten people were killed in the second house, the intelligence officials said.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...7-3-2008_pg1_1
Bullet-proof BMWs for governor, CM
KARACHI: The Government of Sindh has purchased two bullet-proof BMWs worth of Rs 71.4 million for the Sindh governor and chief minister, and 20 new cars have also been purchased for ministers. Considering the worsening law and order situation and increasing suicide attacks in the country, well-placed sources in the Sindh government said that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad issued orders to the relevant department to purchase a bullet-proof BMW for him and his successor on an immediate basis. The Sindh government arranged to purchase the bullet-proof BMW from Singapore at a cost of Rs 35.8 million. According to sources in the Sindh government, when this news reached the ears of the Sindh caretaker Chief Minister, Justice (Retd) Abdul Qadir Halepoto, he also expressed interest in the same car and the department had to issue another purchase order to a private Singaporean company. According to sources, that BMW for the governor has reached Sindh while the other car will arrive shortly. Sindh has paid a total of Rs 71.6 million for the two luxury cars while both dignitaries already have a number of Mercedes in Governor and Chief Minister House at their disposal. The Sindh government has also issued the purchase orders for 20 other new cars for the Sindh cabinet ministers at a cost of Rs 18.2 million even though a similar number of cars are already available for their use.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...7-3-2008_pg7_6