Back to Main Page                                                                 Archives

 

SC bars disqualified Haryana MLAs from voting in RS polls

         New Delhi: The Supreme Court has barred six Haryana MLAs, disqualified from the Assembly under the anti- defection law after they joined the Congress, from casting vote in today's Rajya Sabha elections.

US hands over power in Iraq  

         Baghdad: The United States on Monday formally handed over power in Iraq, two days ahead of schedule. At a low-key ceremony in Baghdad, US administrator Paul Bremer transferred sovereignty to an Iraqi judge, before leaving the country by plane. Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who also took part in the ceremony in the heavily-guarded Green Zone, said it was "a historic day". In a more colourful ceremony hours later, Allawi and his Cabinet ministers were officially sworn in. But even this oath-taking was held in secret. After formally taking office, he said the transfer of power was a "massive victory" for the forces of good in Iraq. "I call on our people to stand united to expel the foreign terrorists who are killing our children and destroying our country," Allawi said in a televised address. The transfer was widely welcomed - the European Union and the Nato alliance both pledged their support for Allawi's government. US President George W Bush said it was "a day of great hope for Iraqis". Coalition troops would remain in Iraq until the country needed them, Bush said. Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair said the day was "an important staging post" for the future of Iraq.

Shujaat, Amin Fahim file papers for prime post   (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: Prime Minister-designate Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chairman ARD Makhdoom Amin Fahim filed their nomination papers for the prime minister's office with the secretary of the National Assembly Mehmood Saleem on Monday. Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) at a parliamentary party meeting earlier decided to propose Makhdoom Amin Fahim as their unanimous candidate. PML (N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, addressing an ARD press conference, said the alliance's component parties and allies Balochistan National Party, Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party and Tehreek-e-Insaf would support ARD candidate Makhdoom Amin Fahim. "Tomorrow will show who is the real leader of the opposition", he further said.

Shaukat Aziz tagged `imported' prime minister  (Go To Top) 

         Islamabad: Shaukat Aziz, who is likely to take over as Pakistan's new prime minister in a few weeks, will carry the tag of an "imported prime minister" as he is well known as Washington's nominee expected to pursue US' policies more vigorously, said The News on Monday. But the paper also said that in Shaukat Aziz, President Pervez Musharraf may have found an apt premier, perhaps one who possessed all the qualifications that he (Musharraf) needed in a premier. Musharraf needed an outspoken technocrat of high stature, well known and well respected internationally, having nothing to do with politics of Pakistan, to carry forward his agenda globally, added the paper. With Shaukat being in the premier's office, there will be little or no apprehensions, cropping up in the presidential camp about even minor defiance to Musharraf from him, the paper said. According to the paper, Aziz, who will possibly take over from Shujat Hussain, stakes no claims to being a politician of a high profile political character. He has no ambitions for future politics because he is getting the office not due to his gallant political past. Musharraf needed a non-politician to represent the democratic face of Pakistan and Shaukat is the man to do the job, it added. It added that the President's aversion to having a leading political person at the top is natural because military men consider "corrupt and greedy" politicians inefficient and incompetent for the job. In the setup that Musharraf was heading, there were fears that a politician premier "would not be precisely doing what the boss exactly wants". According to the paper, Musharraf wanted to install Aziz as his premier immediately after the 1999 coup but the latter's wife prevailed over him (Aziz) in not accepting the post recalling the fate which several prime ministers in past had to go through like execution, exile, booting out etc.

Waqar Younis turns commentator for ESPN  (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: Waqar Younis is learnt to have signed a contract with the ESPN Sports channel for doing cricket commentary during the upcoming six-nation Asia Cup to be held next week, The News reported Monday. Quoting his brother Faisal, the paper said that Waqar was in Delhi to sign the contract. "Though Waqar has given his expert views many a time on television, this will be for the first time he would be doing live commentary for a TV channel," Faisal reportedly said adding that "we are all delighted with this offer and wish him good luck." He further said: "Waqar has no immediate plan to undertake any coaching assignments for two to three years but will certainly decide about it afterwards." Waqar will perform Umra before taking up this new role, the brother added.

Kamal downs Roy to win Commonwealth TT gold  (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: India's Achanta Sharath Kamal defeated compatriot Soumyadeep Roy to claim the men's singles gold in the 16th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship in Kuala Lumpur. It was for the first time that two Indians clashed for the title in the championship. Living upto expectations, Kamal, the defending national champion, recorded a facile victory over Roy in straight sets 11-8 11-5 11- 6 11-8 to claim the gold medal, a release from the Table Tennis Federation of India said here today.