* Zardari House says it’s incorrect to attribute domestic function to friendship with Khalilzad

WASHINGTON: Zalmay Khalilzad, Afghanistan-born American ambassador to the United Nations, is under fire for “unauthorised contacts with Asif Ali Zardari”.

A report in the New York Times, quoting a senior US official, alleges that Khalilzad spoke to Zardari several times a week for the past month until he was confronted about the unauthorised contacts. Khalilzad had planned to meet Zardari privately next Tuesday while on vacation in Dubai, a meeting that was cancelled only after Richard Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South Asia, learned from Zardari himself that the ambassador was providing him with “advice and help”.

“Can I ask what sort of ‘advice and help’ you are providing?” Boucher wrote in an “angry” e-mail message to Khalilzad. “What sort of channel is this? Governmental, private, personnel?”

The fact that such a damaging story has been leaked to the press, duly authorised it appears, shows that there are highly placed people in the Bush administration who are out to get Khalilzad, whose name has been mentioned as a possible contender for the Afghan presidency.

US: Officially, the NYT story claims, the US has remained neutral in the contest to succeed Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, and there is concern within the State Department that the discussions between Khalilzad and Zardari could leave the impression that the US is taking sides in Pakistan’s chaotic internal politics.

Khalilzad’s spokesman told the newspaper that the ambassador had been friends with Zardari for years. “Ambassador Khalilzad had planned to meet socially with Zardari during his personal vacation. But because Zardari is now a presidential candidate, Khalilzad postponed the meeting, after consulting with senior State Department officials and Zardari himself.” A senior American official said it was not clear whether he would face any disciplinary action.

An unnamed “senior Pakistani official” told the New York Times that the relationship between Khalilzad and Zardari went back several years, and that the men developed a friendship while Zardari was spending time in New York with his wife.

The Pakistani official said the consultations between the men were an open exchange of information, with each one giving insight into the political landscape in his capital.

Zardari House: However, Zardari House spokeswoman Farahnaz Ispahani said, “ While we engage global leaders for Pakistan’s benefit, it is incorrect to attribute any domestic political function to Zardari’s personal friendship with eminent diplomats such as Khalilzad,” APP reported.


MINGORA/PESHAWAR/SWAT: A key Taliban commander was killed in a clash with security forces in Swat on Tuesday, officials said. Security officials said Ikramuddin, a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud, was killed following a clash in Chota Kalam area of Kabal tehsil. However, Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said Ikramuddin died accidentally when he fired his pistol. Two children were killed as a mortar shell hit a house in Madina Colony area of Kanjoo tehsil in Swat on Tuesday. In Shakardara area of Matta, militants blew up the houses of Awami National Party leader Muzaffar Ali Khan and his three brothers. The houses were empty at the time. Militants also blew up a girls’ high school in Manglor in Bagh tehsil.

US diplomat escapes gun attack

* Gunmen fire at bullet-proof vehicle of US Consulate principal officer Lynne Tracy in Peshawar 100 yards away from her house

PESHAWAR: Gunmen opened fire on the car of a senior US diplomat in Peshawar on Tuesday, but she escaped unhurt, police and US officials said.

US Consulate Principal Officer Lynne Tracy was on her way to the consulate when a vehicle suddenly appeared and blocked the road, local police officials said.

“A man in the intercepting Land Cruiser rolled down the window and opened fire with a Kalashnikov rifle,” a local police officer said, adding that Tracy was travelling in a bulletproof vehicle.

The diplomat’s driver quickly threw the car into reverse, hitting an auto rickshaw. The attackers fled the scene. The rickshaw driver suffered minor injuries.

SP Cantonment Abdul Qadir told Daily Times five rounds hit the car. She was 100 yards away from her home, next to that of former interior minister Aftab Sherpao.

The US consulate issued a brief statement saying: “There was a security incident in Peshawar this morning involving a US consulate vehicle and three employees. There were no injuries and minimal damage to the vehicle. We are co-ordinating with Pakistani authorities investigating the incident.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the incident in a statement and said “steps for enhanced security” had been taken.

National Finance Commission constituted

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday constituted an 11-member National Finance Commission (NFC) to finalise the 6th National Finance Commission Award in consultation with the four provinces.

The commission was formed following its formal approval by acting President Mohammedmian Somroo.

Finance Minister Naveed Qamar will be the chairman of the NFC and the four provincial finance ministers - Qamaruz Zaman Kaira (Punjab), Humayun Khan (NWFP), Asim Kurd (Balochistan) and Qaim Ali Shah (Sindh), - its ex-officio members.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has been appointed as special member of the NFC along with Saeed Ahmed Qureshi from Punjab, Qaisar Bangali from Sindh, Haji Adeel from NWFP and Gulfaraz as its private members from the four provinces.

The NFC Secretariat, situated at the Ministry of Finance, has notified the constitution of NFC with its terms of references (ToRs) under Article 160 (1).

According to the ToRs, the commission would finalise the share of the federal and provincial governments’ in the federal taxes, which would be distributed on the basis of population.

The NFC would also finalise a new mechanism for provincial borrowing from the federal government and interest payment with revised terms and conditions. The commissiojn would facilitate the provinces to agree on a distribution mechanism for the royalty on crude oil production and surcharge on gas production.

KSE closes at 26-month low

KARACHI: The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 100-share index lost a substantial 383.37 points to close at 9,430.29 points as compared with 9,813.66 points of the previous session. The KSE 30-share index lost 515.52 points and closed at 10,536.12 points. The closure of the 100-share index at 9,430.29 points is said to be the lowest level in two years and two months.

Sudan jet hijacked, lands in Libya

* 3 senior members of former Darfur rebel movement among 102 people on board

KHARTOUM: A Sudanese passenger plane, hijacked on Tuesday after leaving war-torn Darfur, has been forced to land in Libya, Arab media and Libyan authorities said.

Arabic satellite TV channel Al Jazeera said that 87 passengers were aboard the Sun Air Boeing 737. However, Sun Air Executive Manager Mortada Hassan told AFP 95 passengers and seven crew members were on board.

Three senior members of a former Darfur rebel movement, which has signed a peace accord with the government, were among the passengers, a spokesman for the group told Reuters. Mohammed Bashir of the Sudan Liberation Movement’s Minni Arcua Minnawi faction identified them as an adviser to Minnawi, the movement’s land commissioner, and one of the architects of the Darfur peace agreement of 2006.

The plane had been bound for Khartoum from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. Egyptian authorities denied it permission to land, and the plane changed course towards Libya, Al Jazeera reported.

Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the plane had landed at the Kufrah Airport, Libya’s state news agency Jana reported. The Egyptian state news agency MENA quoted Sun Air as saying four men hijacked the plane.

8 killed in Islamabad bomb blast

LAHORE: Eight people were killed and more than 20 hurt in a bomb explosion at a roadside restaurant in the Model Town area on the outskirts of Islamabad on Tuesday. About 3.5 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the device planted at the eatery situated near Yamaha Chowk in the Hummark area, officials from the Bomb Disposal Squad told Geo News. The blast, which initially appeared to be a gas cylinder explosion, created a one-foot-deep crater, the channel reported. Most of the victims were labourers and drivers. Police from the nearby Sihala Police Station dashed to the scene and shifted the wounded and the dead bodies to Polyclinic Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Before the Bomb Disposal Squad filed its report, Superintendent of Police Kamran Adil, the local police in-charge, told reporters that evidence was being collected from the scene and that the police were not clear what had caused the explosion. He said any subsequent findings would be shared with the media. Hotel owner Raaz Wali had denied reports of it being a gas cylinder explosion saying he used kerosene stoves for cooking. Eyewitnesses said it was a terrorist act and claimed that they had seen a child placing a bag under a chair. Officials at PIMS confirmed receiving three bodies. Additional Commissioner Rana Akbar Hayat confirmed the death of four people.

Zardari, 66 others file nomination papers

ISLAMABAD: Sixty-seven candidates, including PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari filed nomination papers on Tuesday for the presidential election scheduled for September 6. Thirty-five nomination papers were filed for 10 candidates in Islamabad. Seventeen nominations were filed in Sindh by or on behalf of eight candidates. In the NWFP, one candidate filed his nomination papers. Fourteen candidates filed their papers in Lahore.

PPP has no fear from any future coalition: Sherry

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) does not feel any threat from any emerging coalition in the forthcoming presidential election, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters after filing the nomination papers of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for the Presidency, she said the party was confident about a positive outcome of the poll.

Interference will be dealt with by force: Shahbaz

LAHORE: The PML-N has the majority in Punjab and anyone. anyone trying intervene will be dealt with by force, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday. Addressing the parliamentary party meeting at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Shahbaz said that the PML-N had tried to honour all its promises, but deviation of the PPP leadership from its promises and agreements had forced the PML-N to step aside.

Taseer warns against horse-trading in Punjab

* Governor says provincial admin will not be allowed to use state resources ahead of presidential poll
* PPP will not pull out of coalition in Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer has said he will not tolerate the use of provincial administration for horse-trading ahead of the September 6 presidential election.

Addressing a press conference at the Governor’s House on Tuesday, he said the provincial administration would not be allowed to use state resources for campaigning, because election of the president was different from that of a district nazim.

Taseer said he had summoned the provincial chief secretary and the inspector general of Punjab Police to his office and had warned them against allowing the creation of circumstances for horse-trading like the “Chhaanga Maanga of 1988”.

He said he would not allow creation of various blocs within political parties.

The governor said the PPP had a set an example by allowing a minority party to form government in Punjab, and that the Punjab Assembly would complete its five-year tenure, as neither he nor the chief minister would dissolve it.

Coalition in Punjab: He said it was the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz that had left the ruling alliance in the Centre, and that as such the PPP would not pull out of the coalition in Punjab. The governor said things would get clear in the next two days.

He denied running Zardari’s presidential campaign in Punjab.


LAHORE: Commenting on a Financial Times article that alleged PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari of “suffering from severe psychiatric problems”, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to London, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, has said that Zardari is “now fit and well”.

The FT had cited court documents filed by Zardari’s doctors as saying that he was suffering from severe psychiatric problems as recently as last year.

The report said that Zardari was diagnosed with serious illnesses including dementia, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in medical reports spanning over two years.

In court documents seen by the FT, Philip Saltiel, a New York psychiatrist, had said in a March 2007 diagnosis that Zardari’s imprisonment had left him suffering from “emotional instability” and memory and concentration problems. Stephen Reich, a New York state-based psychologist, said Zardari was unable to remember the birthdays of his wife and children, was persistently apprehensive and had thought about suicide.

According to the FT, court records showed that Zardari had used the medical diagnoses to argue successfully for the postponement of a now-defunct English High Court case in which Pakistan’s government was suing him over alleged corruption.

The FT quoted Wajid as telling the paper on Monday that Zardari had subsequent medical examinations and his doctors had “declared him medically fit to run for political office and free of any symptoms.”

“While he was in prison ... he was surrounded by fear all the time. Any human being living in such a condition will, of course, suffer from the effects of continuous fear. But that is all history,” he said.

8 sacked SHC judges may be reinstated today

* Will retain their seniority g Justice Anwar Jamali likely to be new SHC CJ
* Seven LHC judges may take new oath this week

KARACHI/LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD: Eight of the 15 sacked judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC) may take a fresh oath at 2pm today (Wednesday), sources in the Federal Law Ministry told Daily Times.

A formal notice in this regard is expected early today, they said, and the ceremony is scheduled at the Governor’s House.

Sources in the Law Ministry said seven sacked judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) are also likely to be re-inducted this week.

The judges will be reinstated at the seniority level they were sacked at.

New CJ: Sources privy to the developments said Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali would be sworn in as the new chief justice of the SHC, replacing acting chief justice Azizullah M Memon. The other judges likely to rejoin today are: Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Abdur Rasheed, Justice Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani and Justice Syed Salman Ansari.

The sanctioned strength of the SHC had been increased from 17 to 29. Sources in the Law Ministry said the government was considering a proposal to increase the strength to 40, and development on the issue was also likely today.

Officials at the SHC denied receiving a notice but said arrangements for a plain ceremony would be a matter of minutes if a notice were issued today.

A Law Ministry proposal for the reinstatement of the eight judges had been signed by former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf on August 6, but the measure was delayed after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – then a partner in the four-party ruling alliance – objected to it.

LHC: A sacked judge of the LHC told Daily Times on condition of anonymity that most sacked judges were ready to take a new oath if they are re-inducted at the same seniority level, and that they had been assured that even sacked chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would also be reinstated eventually.

Sources in the Attorney General’s Office told Daily Times the government would not reinstate Justice Khawaja Sharif, reportedly because he has aligned with the PML-N. Officials requesting anonymity, also said the Punjab government was appointing law officers on his recommendation, but Justice Sharif denied the charge while talking to Daily Times.

He also said he knew nothing about a re-instatement move.

Sacked LHC judge Justice MA Shahid Siddiqi said he had declined a senior official’s invitation to take oath, because he had taken one when he was appointed. He said he was ready to join after Iftikhar Chaudhry was reinstated.

Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Sair Ali denied being contacted. Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Amin Javed Chaudhry said judges who took a new oath would be considered “PCO judges” and lawyers would protest the measure.



Source: Daily Times.

__________________
Regards,
P.R.