Archive for February, 2008

Musharraf to free Indian ’spy’ condemned to death

President Pervez Musharraf has accepted a mercy plea from an Indian national who spent 35 years on death row on spying charges, and ordered his release, a minister said on Friday.

Kashmir Singh, was arrested in the city of Rawalpindi with another Indian in 1973 while trying to smuggle goods from Pakistan to India.

The other man was sentenced to 10 years in jail and has been sent back to India, but a military court sentenced Singh to death.

“Kashmir Singh has gone through hell during the last 35 years. He has suffered more than enough for his alleged crime.” - Minister for Human Rights, Ansar Burney.

“I personally requested the president to accept his mercy petition in the greater interest of human rights and allow him to return home and spend the rest of his life with his family.”

Burney said Singh would be released on Monday and handed over to Indian authorities.

The father of two sons and a daughter, Singh was from Indian Punjab and contact has been made with his family through Indian politicians, he said.

According to a report from the private Human Rights Commission of Pakistan last year, more than 7,300 men and 44 women are languishing in death cells across Pakistan.

In most cases, death sentences are not carried out because of lengthy appeals.

In 2006, President Musharraf commuted the death sentence of a Briton who spent 18 years in jail for murder.

Imran sees maturity in political leadership’s attitude

Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan seeing maturity in attitude of pro-democracy political leadership said it is a good sign.

Talking to a private television channel Imran said, the leadership of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) has no repent over the election boycott decision. (more…)

Colin David : A master of contemporary art

On Monday, the 25th of February 2008, Pakistan lost a distinguished and revered artist. The world of art joins his family in mourning a great and gentle soul who will continue to live through his work for all time to come.

The country’s outstanding contemporary painter, Colin David, was an artist who understood the modern idiom in art. The sense of spatial harmony, brilliant use of colour and the contrapuntal element that balanced his work created paintings of rare and masterly quality. He was a superb draughtsman, an artist who endowed his work with a technical perfection that is all too rare. (more…)

Rice exports increased

The export of Basmati rice was increased by 23.95 % during the period under review however the export of other rice commodities was declined by 19.50 %, according to Federal Bureau of Statistics.

The food export from Pakistan has shown upward trend during the first seven months of the current financial year as it increased by 4.78 % when compared to the figures of the corresponding period of the last financial year. (more…)

General Kayani to appoint new ISI chief

Pakistani army chief General Parvez Kayani is appointing a new head of military intelligence, a newspaper reported on Tuesday, the first major reshuffle in the military since President Pervez Musharraf quit the army.

Newspaper reported that Major-General Muhammad Asif, who served as Pakistan’s defence attach in Russia, is replacing Major-General Nadeem Ijaz as director general of Military Intelligence (MI).

Ijaz has worked as head of MI for more than three years, the normal length of service. MI and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) are the Pakistani military’s two main security agencies.

Military spokesmen were not immediately available for comments.

A month before his retirement from the army, Musharraf appointed Lieutenant-General Nadeem Taj, a former head of MI and his former military secretary, as director-general of ISI.

“Obviously, as time goes by, he (Kayani) will be appointing people of his choice, those who are professionally sound and also enjoy his confidence,” said Talat Masood, a retired general and security analyst.

“At this time, these assignments are extremely vital for the reason that they are also facing internal insurgency as the greatest challenge,” he said.

Kayani has taken several steps to keep the military out of politics including ordering all officers out of posts in the civil service, and barring officers from meeting politicians

Musharraf rejects pressure for early exit

President Pervez Musharraf’s spokesman on Monday rejected fresh pressure at home and abroad for president to step down after his allies were trounced in parliamentary elections.

A US senator who monitored the polls one week ago said on Musharraf should be given a “graceful way to move”, Pakistan Muslim League chief Nawaz Sharif said the sooner the president stepped down, the better.

Musharraf’s spokesman, Major General Rashid Qureshi, said the president had been elected for a five-year period last year and that his position should not be determined by the results of the parliamentary elections. (more…)

Sialkot tycoons to set up airline

After completing a unique mega project of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) on a self-help basis, the business community has announced establishment of its own airline for providing cheaper and advanced travelling facilities on domestic and international routes.

This was said by SIAL chairman Babar Iqbal while talking to newsmen here on Sunday.

SIAL chief executive Azeem Zafar, outgoing CE Khawar Anwar Khwaja and general-manager Nawaz Ahmad Chaudhry were also present on the occasion.

Mr Iqbal said the airport management had also developed contacts with international aviation companies and aircraft manufacturers.

The SIAL chairman said initial paper work had been completed for the airline while total expenditure was also being estimated.

He said the airline would be set up under the joint supervision of SIAL and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Government declared Aitzaz’s house “sub-jail”

The government of Punjab has declared Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president, Aitzaz Ahsan’s house a sub-jail by sealing all the roads leading to his house, banning any visitor meeting him and disconnecting all telephone connections at his residence between Friday and Saturday night. (more…)

Musharraf lauds China Mobile investment in Pakistan

CEO China Mobile Guo Yong Hong called on President Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Talking to leader of China Mobile Company the President appreciated China Mobile company’s efforts for investment in Pakistan.

He said that the economic reforms of the country are creating an enabling environment for the private sector to become an engine of growth and as a result of the policies Pakistan has become one of the attractive destinations for investment due to its liberal and investment-friendly policies. (more…)

PPP, PML-N leaders to meet on coalition

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) prepared for talks on Thursday with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on a coalition that could topple President Musharraf.

The leaders of the two parties which won the most seats in Monday’s general elections are mulling an alliance after hammering President Pervez Musharraf’s backers at the polls. (more…)