Life term stares A Q Khan in the face

          Islamabad: It could soon be curtains for Pakistan's top nuclear scientist- A.Q. Khan. A new nuclear bill to be tabled in the National Assembly by the federal government on Monday may see him going to jail for 14 years. Not only that, he and the country's other accused nuclear scientists could also be asked to pay a fine of Rs.5 million and also lose all their movable and immovable assets if they are found guilty of illegally exporting nuclear know-how, reports The News. Pakistan's Foreign Office is reported to be the brain behind this extraordinary bill in the light of the IAEA and the US expressing serious concern over the illegal exports that has taken place in this sector from Pakistan over the years. The bill was to be tabled on Friday. Informed sources told the paper that it would now be referred to a standing committee of the assembly for examination on Monday. Although, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has pardoned Khan after he admitted to his involvement in the sale of nuclear secrets to other countries, the government has made it clear that it is a "conditional pardon." The bill's purpose is to safeguard national security and Pakistan's foreign policy objectives and international obligations as a responsible nuclear weapons state.

Pak will cut down N-arms if India does: Musharraf (Go To Top)

         Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf has indicated that Pakistan will cut down on the manufacture of nuclear weapons only if India takes such a step. Speaking during an interview with the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television channel, Musharraf, however, maintained that Islamabad would not roll back its nuclear program on tone down its view on Kashmir being the core issue as far as its relations with New Delhi was concerned. "We don't have any worldwide military ambitions. We maintain a force for deterrence ... If there is a discussion or a deliberation (with India) on mutual reduction, we have been saying let's make South Asia a nuclear-free zone," The Daily Times quoted him as saying. "If mutually there is an agreement of reduction of nuclear assets, Pakistan would be willing," he added. Commenting on the idea of a common nuclear doctrine, an international news agency quoted Musharraf as saying: "When we are talking of nuclear confidence-building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan, that itself is a difficult job. Now getting China involved, it involves many nuances, which one has to consider."

The 'Blue Book' of terrorism surfaces in Pakistan (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Till now, we have had lists of the best and worst dressed, the most popular and unpopular, the most beautiful and not so beautiful, the do's and don'ts on the health front etc. How about a listing on the do's and don'ts on terrorism! This seems to be first, and where else can such a "Blue Book" on terror emanate from - Pakistan. Called the Hidayat Nama or the Book of Instructions, this Urdu and Arabic listing was recently seized from a Harkat-ul- Mujahideen Alalmi (HMA) militant Murtaza.

        According to the Daily Times, the list is as follows: Don'ts: Terrorists should not divulge information if they are arrested; They should avoid meeting family members; They should not keep organizational literature and militants' addresses on their person while they travel; They should not to discuss operational matters with family; They should not to rely on Punjabis if on mission or in transit, because most intelligence officials are from Punjab; Don't discuss personal matters with your companions; They should not to quarrel with traffic police and police at check posts; They should not to lose their temper if lawmen insult members of their family, which the booklet says is a routine tactic employed by law enforcement officials. Do's: They should always use code names; How militants should conduct themselves in public; Every Muslim's foremost goal is to be familiar with and believe in the Islamic concept of martyrdom; Militants sho

Arson attack on bus kills 9 in Bangladesh (Go To Top)

          Dhaka: At least nine people, including a child and a number of women, were killed and many others injured in an arson attack on a double-decker passenger bus here on Friday night. Police said unidentified hoodlums set the town-service state- owned bus on fire near the Sheraton Hotel at about 9 p.m. Rescuers recovered six charred bodies from inside the bus. The condition of the injured is reported to be critical. Police suspect it was a planned attack, but had no clue as to their whereabouts till this morning. "I have no idea who carried out the grisly attack, but they are very cold-blooded murderers who worked to a well-orchestrated plan," Dhaka's Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner, Ashraful Huda told reporters.

Opposition strike cripples Bangladesh (Go To Top)

          Dhaka: Schools, transport and businesses in Bangladesh shut down on Saturday as the country's opposition combine organised an effective daylong strike in protest against the series of violent incidents, including the killing of a lawyer and injury to the UK High Commissioner. The strike coincided with the visit of U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Morshed Khan and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia this afternoon with a request to provide Bangladeshi troops for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rumsfeld arrives in Dhaka amid strong protest (Go To Top)

         Dhaka: US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived here on Saturday afternoon to pursue Bangladesh government to send its troops to troubled Iraq and Afghanistan amidst black- flag protest by activists of Islamist radicals and Leftist organisations. He flew in here by his E4-B modified 747 jumbo jet which served as a flying national command post equipped for use in wartime - from Singapore where he outlined Washington's security strategy in Southeast Asia at a security talks with 25 Asia and Pacific nations. The plane landed at the Zia International Airport at 4:45 p.m. amid a tight security in and around the capital city, which is paralysed by an opposition enforced daylong strike. Angry protestors, who termed Rumsfeld the 'mastermind of the world terrorism', took to the streets, mainly in the city's main Baitul Mukarram mosque gate chanting anti-Bush slogans and waiving black flags.

Harbhajan cancels England trip, will attend Bangalore camp (Go To Top)

         Jalandhar: Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will not play for the English cricket club Lashings, instead attend the fitness camp for Asia Cup probables in Bangalore, he said Saturday. "Since I am totally fit now, I want to practice bowling for long stretches. Playing 20-overs-a-side matches would not have been sufficient for practice and that is why I have decided to cancel the trip to England," Harbhajan said adding that he would now join his team-mates for the seven-day camp in Bangalore. The bowler was all set to fly to England for a 20-overs-a-side match for Lashings on Monday but pulled out of the nearly month- long assignment apparently because his stint in Kent would have clashed with the Bangalore camp starting on June 13. He said: "The fitness camp would be good for me as it can help me regain the kind of form needed for international cricket. I am also spending two to three hours here everyday and practicing hard. As far as my trip to England is concerned, I now feel it would not have been worth it as it would have required bowling in short spells." Harbhajan admitted that although he had recovered from the injury, he would have to prove his fitness before making a comeback to the national side for the Asia Cup beginning on July 16 in Sri Lanka. He also said he would play a couple of local tournaments for his company, the Indian Airlines, before the fitness camp begins.