NAR-2009 to be implemented in next two days: Afrasiab

NAR-2009 to be implemented in next two days: Afrasiab

Updated at: 1417 PST,  Thursday, April 30, 2009 ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party leader Afrasiab Khattak has said on Thursday that the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR-2009) will be implemented in next two days. Talking to media outside the Parliament, Afrasiab said that Nizam-e-Adl and Talibanisation were two different things and should not be seen in a narrow context. He said the government has not announced any general amnesty and it would take strict action against anyone taking up arms after the promulgation of NAR-2009. Afrasiab said that root of the problem does not lie in Swat rather it emanates from FATA, a stronghold of parallel government. ANP leader said the NWFP government remains in contact with TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad and there are absolutely no differences between the province and the center.

Polls open in third round of Indian elections

Updated at: 0903 PST,  Thursday, April 30, 2009
NEW DELHI: Voting began across nine Indian states and two union territories for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections that will decide the fate of political heavyweights Sonia Gandhi, L K Advani and H D Deve Gowda among others.

A total of 1,567 candidates, including 101 women, are fighting for 107 seats in this phase. Polling also began for the 32-member Sikkim legislative assembly.

Over 14.4 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise across 1.65 lakh booths, where ballots would be cast electronically.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is seeking re-election from Rae Bareli represented in 1980 by her mother-in-law late Indira Gandhi, while Advani, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, is bidding to hold on to the Gandhinagar seat as he has done in every election since 1991.

Prominent candidates in the fray in the third phase include former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, JD-U chief Sharad Yadav, Congress’ Milind Deora, Priya Dutt and Jyotiraditya Scindia and former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa.

Polling for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be completed at one go. Besides Gujarat, polling will be held in 16 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 15 in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in West Bengal, 11 each in Bihar and Karnataka, 10 in Maharashtra and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Asian markets rocket on recovery hopes

Asian markets rocket on recovery hopes

Updated at: 1705 PST,  Thursday, April 30, 2009 TOKYO: Asian markets staged a surprise rally on Thursday as investors ignored the latest bad news and instead cheered signs the economic crisis may have touched bottom. Tokyo and Hong Kong both surged nearly 4.0 percent and Sydney rose 2.31 percent after Wall Street’s overnight rally based on an official statement that the US contraction was easing. Japanese investors were boosted by a rise in March factory output, which raised hopes the downturn’s low point may be past. “The dawn is breaking in the Japanese economy,” said Naoki Murakami, chief economist at Monex Securities. “Production has hit bottom.” Taiwan soared a staggering 6.74 percent on news that institutional investors from mainland China would soon be allowed to buy shares listed on the island’s bourse. Seoul was up 2.31 percent, Singapore 3.82 percent and Jakarta 4.78 percent as regional bourses marked gains across the board, wiping out losses blamed on the global swine flu outbreak. Mumbai was closed for a public holiday.

Buner operation continues successfully: Athar Abbas

Buner operation continues successfully: Athar Abbas Updated at: 1805 PST,  Thursday, April 30, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Director-General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Athar Abbas has said that a new operation against militants has been launched in Buner.

Addressing a press briefing here on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the army has taken control of Malandari pass from militants and Buner operation continues successfully. He said a security checkpost was ambushed triggering a crossfire in which four militants were killed while one security force official was hurt.

Athar said that Swat peace agreement still remains intact but militants are violating the agreement. The ISPR chief said that the security forces destroyed four vehicles of militants in Qamber bazaar, Lal Qila and Lower Dir.

Chargers set target of 149 runs for Devils

Updated at: 1830 PST, Thursday, April 30, 2009
Chargers set target of 149 runs for Devils CENTURION: Deccan Chargers set a target of 149 runs for the Delhi Daredevils losing 9 wickets in the 21st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Super Sport Park here on Thursday.

Delhi Daredevils won the toss and elected to field against Deccan Chargers. Dwayne Smith scored 48 runs for Deccan Chargers. From Delhi Daredevils, Dirk Nannes and Ashish Nehra took two wickets each while Pradeep Sangwan, Amit Mishra and Daniel Vettori each got one wicket.

obama says Pakistan in Danger

Updated at: 1019 PST,  Thursday, April 30, 2009
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said he was confident that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was secure, “because the Pakistani army recognizes the hazards of those weapons falling into the wrong hands.”

In a news conference marking the 100-day milestone of his presidency, Obama also said that Pakistan’s military had just recently started to overcome its historic animosity toward India.

“You’re starting to see some recognition just in the last few days that the obsession with India as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided and that their biggest threat right now comes internally,” Obama said.

Obama said he was increasingly confidant that Pakistan was serious about fighting militants and that its nuclear weapons were secure. But Obama said that the civilian government of President Asif Ali Zardari, who is due in Washington next week, was unable to provide basic services that would ensure people’s loyalty.

“I am gravely concerned about the situation in Pakistan, not because I think that they’re immediately going to be overrun and the Taliban would take over in Pakistan,” Obama said.

“I’m more concerned that the civilian government there right now is very fragile,” he said.

“We want to respect their sovereignty, but we also recognize that we have huge strategic interests huge national security interests in making sure that Pakistan is stable.”