CM hopes Sant Aasa Ram's prayers will bring peace

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 28: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today cautioned against disruptive elements within the State and across the border whose survival depended on fomenting trouble and dividing people on religion.

Addressing a mammoth Sat Sang held under the auspices of Sant Shri Aasa Ram Ji Bapu here this evening, the Chief Minister hoped the people would not allow such elements gain strength by maintaining unity.

He lashed out at Islamabad for not allowing people of Jammu and Kashmir to live in peace and said that unable to keep their own home intact, Pakistan wants others also to be in ruins. The neighbouring country cannot appreciate the great ethos of the State that has been the abode of saints and suffis. He referred to his visit to Siachen and wondered about Pak misadventure at even such a serene place.

Dr Abdullah said Pakistan dreamt of annexing Kashmir at the strength of Muslims being in majority, forgetting that the Muslims in Kashmir are Indians and not Pakistanis. In fact, Islamabad is jealous of progress India has achieved over the years and wants this process to retard, he said while reiterating resolve that the nation will continue its march towards peace, progress and development.

The Chief Minister said that all religions teach love and brotherhood as the Allah and Lord Ram live in every soul. "You may find Rama in my eyes and I can see Allah in you". When this reality will dawn on everybody, this world would be blessed by peace in all spheres.

He urged the congregation to pray for peace and hoped that with the blessing of Almighty the State would usher into an era of normalcy again. He also hoped that Shri Aasa Ramji Bapu’s prayers would help the State steering out of present difficult phase.

Concluding his Provachans, the Bapuji prayed for peace and tranquility wishing complete normalcy to dawn on the State enabling those to rehabilitate their homes and hearths who were displaced due to disturbed conditions. He also hoped that good sense would prevail upon the neighbor to stop disruption in the State.

The Santji shared the concern of the Chief Minister about the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said he also prays for peace to prevail in the country and the State. He hoped the CM will continue to serve the people, as he is broad-minded.

Later Dr Abdullah accompanied the Sant Ji in his car to Sant Niwas near here.

On suggestion from Sant Ji that Toll Tax on special Yatra buses at Lakhanpur be exempted, the Chief Minister assured him that all vehicles carrying pilgrims to holy Vaishno Devi Shrine would be exempted from Toll Tax at Lakhanpur Toll Post in future.

He also assured the Sant Ji that orders in this regard will be issued soon after the offices reopen in Summer Capital early next month.

Dr Abdullah requested the Sant Ji that he can make an announcement in this regard even today from dais.

Sant Ji like other pilgrims might have experienced during his visit to the State on April 25 that pilgrims have to deposit the Toll Tax at Lakhanpur barrier while entering the State.

Earlier, the Santji gave a discourse in two sessions. Tomorrow is the concluding day of 4-day Satsang in Jammu.

Bollywood scenes on Srinagar streets
Hitmen out with bikes, pistols, pagers

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, Apr 28: One week before the annual Durbar Move from Jammu to Srinagar, militants have begun to operate in Bollywood style in the summer capital. In two separate incidents today, hitmen on two-wheelers struck on soft targets, killing a surrendered militant and leaving a constable critically wounded.

In the first incident, two youngsters on motorcycles halted in front of the Crime Branch office-cum-Police station, at Gogjibagh, on Tulsibagh-Rajbagh road at 1255 hours. One of them fired upon a soft target, at Prime Stationers, killing a former militant of Hizbul Mujahideen on spot. According to informed sources, the slain individual, identified as Gulzar Ahmed Dar S/o Mohammad Jamal Dar of Kulitrah (Chadoura) was eliminated for having refused to return to his organisation, Hizbul Mujahideen. He is said to have surrendered few years back.

Exactly at the timing of the broad day light shootout, a Tata-407 of District Police Budgam happened to pass by the spot. Carrying two constables, a Police driver and two masons, the vehicle was on way to Shivpora. Apparantly sensing danger, the militants opened fire on the Police vehicle and sped away towards Jawahar Nagar chowk. One of the militants, diverted towards DAV school but another was chased by the Police vehicle in Bollywood style with horns and headlights on. As the militant lost control of his red colour Yamaha while negotiating a speed-breaker in front of Rajbagh Police station and fell down, Policemen jumped out and captured him alive. One Chinese pistol and a pager was recovered from his possession.

During sustained interrogation, the militant identified himself as Zahid Saleem alias Bilal S/o Ghulam Qadir of Sarai Bala who was presently living in Nowgam outskirts of the capital city. His identity card falsely described him as a cable operator.

Well-palced official sources disclosed to EXCELSIOR that Police succeeded in identifying the entire network of the hitmen after the captured militant’s interrogation and decoding of all the messages received on his pager. He identified his associate as Asif and revealed that their organisation had framed a group of 22 hitmen for eliminating civilian and Police targets in the capital city. The hitmen, mostly surrendered and released militants, had fanned out in town in sub-groups of two or three militants. The sensational disclosure was that a "rate" of Rs 10,000 had been fixed for eliminating a civilian target while as double the amount was being paid for killing a Policeman or soldier.

In another incident, two persons on a two-wheeler screeched to a halt in front of the shop of Feroz Ahmed Rather, a small transformers dealer, at Kawa Mohalla locality of Khanyar in downtown at 1440 hours. They fired pistol shots on a Police constable, namely Mohammad Rafeeq Guru alias Alima S/o Abdul Aziz of the same locality. He sustained gunshot wounds alongwith the shopkeeper and two more civilians, namely Mehmooda alias Baby D/o Farooq Ahmed Bhat and Mohammad Iqbal Haroon S/o Ali Mohammad.

The real target, Rafeeq Guru is posted as a constable at Parimpora Police Station. Enquiries revealed that he was a JKLF militant upto 1993 who got injured in an internecine clash with Hizbul Mujahideen in 1993 and later in 1995 he surrendered and joined the counter-insurgent group, Ikhwan-ul-Muslimoon. He was recruited in Police on August 12, 1998.

An auto-driver Bilal Ahmed Mir of Kawa Mohalla rushed the injured to SMHS Hospital. As soon as the three-wheeler reached Kalashpora, again some militants fired upon the wounded constable. The driver too sustained gunshot wounds but managed to reach the hospital.

Official have received reports that militants were planning major strikes on occasion of the annual return of Civil Secretariat to the summer capital next week. According to the intelligence inputs available with the authorities, militants have identified the Civil Secretariat, Chief Minister’s residence on Gupkar Road, Ministers’ bungalows at Sonwar, Gupkar Road, Maulana Azad Road and Tulsibagh besides MLAs Hostel and Radio Station as their prime targets for suicidal and rocket attacks. Sending unarmed men inside and snatching away the weapons of careless Policemen and soldiers has surfaced as the strategy for the Fidayeen attacks.

Soldier, militant, timber-smuggler killed

Meanwhile reports from Baramulla said that late last night militants ambushed a patrol of Rashtriya Rifles 22 Bn at Seelu, on Sopore-Kupwara road and killed a soldier who has been identified as Lance Naik Rajinder Singh. Hours after the shootout, troops of RR 28 Bn, who had laid an ambush at Gund Moolraj in Rafeeabad-Sopore belt, fired upon suspected militants. Three persons escaped but the forth one died on spot. Later on he was identified as Ali Mohammad Sheikh S/o Mohammad Subhan Sheikh of Ladoora. Alongwith fellow woodpoachers, he was smuggling timber on his pony to Sopore area.

At Dobiwan on Magam-Tangmarg road, Police recovered the bullet-riddled dead body of Mohammad Ashraf Wani S/o Ghulam Mohammad Wani of Keech Matipora. According to official sources, he has been identified as a local-trained militant of the Mustafa Group of Hizbul Mujahideen who had gone underground on March 9 last. He is believed to have sustained injuries in a militant attack on paramilitary forces near Magam, the other day.

The militant killed at Dharpora forest, in Lalpora area of Lolab (Kupwara) has been identified as Sarfaraz alias Chacha of Jaish-e-Mohammad. However, an official bulletin identified him as Luqman Bhai of Lashkar-e-Toiba. As already reported he had died in an encounter with troops of RR 18 Bn and SOG Lalpora last evening. Two AK-56 rifles, one pistol and one wireless set besides a quantity of grenades and ammunition is claimed to have been recovered from the spot.

Reports from Ganderbal said that during last night, militants appeared at the minority Police guard at Nunar and disarmed three "guards". Officials confirmed that the militants decamped with one SLR and .303 rifle.

KC Pant urged to visit Kashmir
ANC accepts Centre's invitation for talks

SRINAGAR, Apr 28: Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference (ANC) led by former Chief Minister G M Shah, today accepted the Centre’s invitation of talks with a condition that its negotiator K C Pant should visit the State and see "reason" in Kashmiris’ "wishes and national aspirations".

"ANC would have no objection or feel no hurdle to exchange its views with Pant to solve Kashmir issue peacefully, equitably, honourably, democratically and permanently," Shah told reporters after the meeting of the executive committee of his party here today.

Commenting on the letter of the Government negotiator, Shah, who declared his ANC a "pro-independence outfit" said if the Government of India wanted sincerely to pave way for a solution of Kashmir issue, the parties to the dispute would enter into a dialogue without any apprehensions.

However, the bitter realities of the past of bilateralism should be taken into cognizance, the former Chief Minister said.

Replying to questions, the former Chief Minister said involvement of Pakistan in the negotiations was necessary and one day India has to agree for tripartite talks (involving Pakistan).

He said that his party will shortly depute a delegation to New Delhi and meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to urge him for initiation of tripartite talks involving Pakistan.

Before initiating any political process or dialogue, Shah said, it is inevitable to allow an intra-Kashmir meeting of "the representatives of all shades of political opinion and regions across both sides of ceasefire line".

Shah initiated one such conference but it failed to take off as the Governments of India and Pakistan denied permission to the invitees to attend the conference early this year.

Mr Shah said that during his 22-year association with the Plebiscite Front he along with the late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had worked to bring about a permanent settlement of the issue.

When asked why he was not a member of the Hurriyat Conference, Mr Shah said it was not necessary.

He, however, said he was part of the United Front and it was they who had thrown him out when the Hurriyat Conference was launched.

About his reaction to the Hurriyat Conference’s rejection of talks offer, Mr Shah said rejecting the offer was "not good".

"It was an extreme step the Hurriyat Conference should not have taken.

"Until Pakistan is involved in any negotiation on Kashmir there will be no lasting solution to the issue.

"Once India start talking to Pakistan the militants will leave the gun automatically," he said.

He said India had to agree on tripartite talks if it was really sincere to seeing the Kashmir issue resolved once and for all.

Mr Shah said,"Mr Pant should not hold talks with the parties who are pro-India as there is nothing to discuss with them."

Mr Pant should hold talks with parties which were either pro-Pakistan or pro-independence as they challenge India’s stand on Kashmir, he added.

When asked if he was pro-Pakistan, Mr Shah said: "I am neither an Indian nor a Pakistani, but want to see Kashmir as an independent State."

In reply to a question, he said he was ready for talks, but added that until all the parties sat together there was no possibility of making any breakthrough.

When asked what according to him would be the final settlement of the issue, Mr Shah said: "There is no possibility of a lasting solution until all the parties concerned reach a consensus.

"Peace is meaningless unless the issue is not addressed on an equitable, honourable and permanent basis."

About the unilateral cease-fire, Mr Shah said it was effective only on borders.

The Centre should stop the army, paramilitary forces and particularly the Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who are killing people and destroying property, he demanded. (Agencies)

'Trinamool stocks declining'
Panja meets Vajpayee, Advani

NEW DELHI, Apr 28: Keeping his cards close to his chest, dissident Trinamool Congress (TC) leader Ajit Kumar Panja today met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani here and indicated he had the support of some party MPs.

"You will know gradually. It will come out. All reasonable people are with me," he told reporters when asked if he had support of "more MPs".

Declining to divulge the nature of discussions with the two BJP leaders, he said "various questions on all aspects" were discussed at the meetings. He said he discussed the poll prospects, Bengal package and holding of peaceful election in West Bengal with Vajpayee at a 35-minute meeting.

However, he answered in the negative to questions about joining BJP or floating a new party.

While claiming that the TC leadership had committed "a big blunder" by joining hands with Congress, Panja said due to this, the party’s "chances (in the assembly polls) have gone down and are going down almost every day".

Charging tc leadership with "befooling" the people by deciding to quit NDA but not writing to the Lok Sabha Speaker to allot separate seats in the House, he hit out at TC chairperson Mamata Banerjee without naming her and said "if you are aspiring to become the Chief Minister, you can’t befool the people. Probably, this is aimed at garnering minority votes."

Criticising the TC-Congress alliance, Panja claimed if TC "even today decides to go it alone, it will form Government and Mamata will become Chief Minister. But if you tell a black lie, you forfeit the right to go to the people."

"It is unfortunate that she has fallen prey to a coterie masterminded by Pranab Mukherjee and Harkishan Singh Surjeet to demolish her `Pratibadi’ (protestor) image by compromising on issues. Now she will never be able to call Congress the `b’ team of CPI(M)," he said.

Asked why he himself chose to write to the Speaker, the former Minister said "though it is the right of the party leader or the chief whip, but when I realised that a fraud was being committed on the people and Parliament, I decided to give all the facts and make the position absolutely clear."

To a question on whether disciplinary action would be taken against him, he claimed he had not said anything against the party "but only against some of its leaders".

Panja denied TC leader Sudip Bandopadhyay’s claim that all nine party MPs including him had signed a resolution on March 17 severing all links with the NDA on the Tehelka issue. "If that was so, then they should have sent that resolution asking the Speaker to allot separate seats in Lok Sabha with the opposition".

Panja said he would join the Prime Minister’s May five election rally in Kolkata if invited. "I have not received the invitation as yet".

He also criticised the common minimum programme of Congress and Trinamool Congress saying "the much-touted Bengal package, which drew personal interest of the Prime Minister, or why we withdrew support to the Government does not find place in it." (PTI)

BSF to remain alert till polls are over

NEW DELHI, Apr 28: With New Delhi not treating the India-Bangladesh border as a "benign one" in the wake of the recent clashes, BSF will remain "alert" at least till the Bangladesh elections are over as the possibility of "further mischief" from the other side could not be ruled out, official sources said today.

"There is a possibility of further mischief and bsf will remain alert till the elections in Bangladesh are over in October," they told PTI when asked about the situation prevailing in border areas along Assam and Meghalaya.

The recent border clashes in which 16 BSF jawans were killed by Bangladesh Rifles and their bodies mutilated "clearly indicate that there are enough rogue and anti-India elements on the other side. We can no longer treat the border as a benign one," they said.

Meanwhile, a senior Union Home Ministry official categorically denied reports from Dhaka that India was massing fresh troops on the border and said Indian Army was never deployed even after the April 18 clashes when tension prevailed along the boundary.

The United News of Bangladesh had claimed in a report that New Delhi was moving additional troops including from regular Army along the border.

Terming the report as "baseless", a Defence Ministry spokesman here said "there is no such troop movement".

Official sources said in fact, 17 flag meetings were held between BSF and BDR yesterday along the border in Assam and Meghalaya and efforts were on by both side to ensure withdrawal of additional forces to positions well within their respective territories.

The sources said the Indian Army is located in Shillong which is at least a three-hour drive from Meghalaya’s Pyrdiwah area which was overrun by BDR on April 16.

From Boraibari area along Assam border, the nearest place where Army is stationed is Kokrajhar which is six hours by road, they said.

At no point, Indian Army was mobilised, they said, adding that there were credible reports indicating that Bangladesh Army had moved from Mymensingh to back BDR battalions and indulge in mortar shelling of Indian positions.

Confidence building steps are on between BSF and BDR, they said adding that most of the flag meetings that have taken place were at the request of BDR. (PTI)

Centre declares truce with NSCN

KOHIMA, Apr 28: In a fresh peace initiative in the North East, the Centre today announced ceasefire with Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) which will come into effect immediately in Nagaland.

"It has been jointly agreed between the Government of India and NSCN (K) to announce a formal ceasefire declaration for a period of one year with effect from April 28, a Central Government press release quoting Home Minister L K Advani said.

Announcing that the text of "ceasefire ground rules" have been agreed upon between the Centre and NSCN (K), he expressed the hope that the ceasefire would enlarge the area of peace in Nagaland. This would also meet the long standing demands of the people of Nagaland for entering into ceasefire with this group.

Advani appealed to all the militant groups in the North East to shun the path of violence and to come forward for talks to sort out any issue that may be there between them and the Central and State Governments.

Congratulating the Centre for the ceasefire decision, Nagland Chief Minister S C Jamir appealed to other groups like NNC/federal group to come forward and follow suit in strengthening the peace initiative.

The ceasefire with other Naga group NSCN (I-M), which has been in force since August 1997, expires July next. There have been persistent demands from the people, NGOs, church leaders and the State Government that a formal ceasefire should be entered into with other militant Naga groups.

During his last visit to Nagaland in February, Advani said he had received a number of representations that the Centre should enter into a formal ceasefire with the Khaplang group. A final request to enter into a formal ceasefire was also received from that faction.

Early this month, representatives of the Centre led by P D Shenoy, Additional Secretary, Home, and representatives of NSCN led by Tongmeth Wangnau Konyak held discussions in Delhi.

Jamir in his statement said it was high time people of Nagaland irrespective of their political affiliations or ideologies should stand as one to bring about peace and unity among all sections of the Naga community.

"We are indeed grateful to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister for their earnest efforts to ensure peace in Nagaland as well as their deep concern for settling the Naga political issue", he said.

"The steps taken so far by the Government of India are a clear expression of their commitment and determination to resolve the problem in the larger interest of the people of Nagaland. Let us pray and trust that the coming days would usher in an era of peace, harmony and reconciliation in our society and among our people," Jamir said.

He said following the ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) in 1997 this was another positive and significant step forward in consolidation of the peace process. It brings renewed hope and optimism to the people and the whole State is genuinely happy that NSCN-K leadership has responded affirmatively to the prayers and aspirations of all the people of Nagaland for real peace.

Jamir said the maturity and political wisdom displayed by both NSCN (I-M) and NSCN-K in entering into ceasefire agreements with the Government of India will indisputably pave the way for permanent peace and an appropriate political solution to the Naga problem.

"On our part, my Government and I shall do all that is within our powers to further reinforce and secure the present climate of peace in the State," Jamir said. (PTI)

Accused impersonating as Omar Abdullah gets bail

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 27: Mujeeb Siddiquee, who had cheated several business concerns in Jammu after impersonating as Union Minister of State for Industries, Omar Abdullah was granted bail by Sub-Judge Judicial Magistrate First Class Jammu, Mr Kartar Singh.

A resident of Lala Bad Colony, Mujeeb Siddiquee was arrested by Police on March 29,2001 from Kashipur and brought to Jammu after charging him under sections 419/420/120-B RPC . All these offenses are, however, bailable and the petitioner, as a matter of right can claim for the bail.

The Judge accordingly admitted his petition for bail with a direction to furnish bail bond and personal bond to the tune of rupees 10,000, failing which he shall be kept in judicial lock-up.

The accused, according to Police, had on February 14 2001 contacted a Jammu based jeweller Vijay Kumar on telephone, impersonating himself as Omar Abdullah. The Mujeeb-turned "Omar Abdullah" in his conversation had told the jeweller that he will be sending some of guests for purchasing jewellery and the payment be made next date.

A young lady— Zoya, a daughter of senior Police Officer Niaz Mohammed had approached the jeweller’s shop alongwith a receptionist of a leading hotel, posing themselves as the guests of Omar Abdullah. As they were ready to purchase the jewellery worth lakhs of rupees, the shop owner, suspected something wrong. He contacted the real Omar Abdullah who expressed his ignorance over the whole episode.

The Police was called and two ladies handed over to the investigating agency to probe into the matter. Upon the interrogation of Zoya, it was traced that Mujeeb Siddiquee was behind the whole show. It had also come to the surface that many other business concerns including owners of "Monalisa" were also duped by Siddiquee after using the same modus operandi.

Sena warns NDA Govt

MUMBAI, Apr 28: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today charged the Vajpayee Government with not taking the NDA allies into confidence and warned that he would not "tolerate" it "anymore".

"We are not given required information during meetings of the union cabinet. Such incidents are frequent and I will not tolerate them anymore," he said appearing on `Star Talk’ programme, the excerpts of which were published in today’s issue of daily `Saamna’, the party mouthpiece.

Thackeray, an ally of BJP, had been critical of the Vajpayee Government on a number of occasions and his party had joined the left sponsored Maharashtra bandh against the Centre’s labour policies earlier this week.

He also claimed Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra would topple the ruling Democratic Front (DF) before the start of monsoon session.

"We (Shiv Sena-BJP) would return to power before the next Assembly session which begins in July and we are in touch with MLAs of the ruling front," he said.

Thackeray said there would not be any difference between the Shiv Sena and BJP on the question of Chief Ministership once the saffron alliance returned to power.

"Gopinath Munde (BJP leader, considered an aspirant for the post of Chief Minister) has made it clear to me that he is not vying for the top post," he said. (PTI)

10 kg RDX seized in Kishtwar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 28: Ten kg deadly RDX was recovered by police from near the bus stand in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district last night, averting a major tragedy.

Police said RDX had been kept by the militants to trigger explosions. It was, however, detected well in time by local people and seized by police.

Minister asked to undergo DNA test in rape case

KOKRAJHAR(ASSAM), Apr 28: The Assam Police has served notice to State Tribal Welfare Minister and AGP leader Rajendra Mushahary to undergo a DNA test in a rape case.

Highly placed police sources told UNI here this afternoon that Mr Mushahary who is a sitting MLA from Gossaigaon under the Kokrajhar district has been asked to undergo the test as part of the prosecution efforts to seek clinching evidence against him. Police said that the Guwahati High Court which is seized of the matter, had been informed that the State police had served the said notice on Wednesday last to the Minister.

According to the FIR filed in Gossaigaon police station in August last year, the legislator had raped an 18-year-old girl twice in February. The girl had delivered a boy in October.

In her testimony the victim said she was lured to a tourist hotspot Barobisha across the border into West Bengal by Ms Saibali Brahma and two others, where the accused raped her.

The matter led to a tiff between Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and the National Human Rights Commission, when Mr Mahanta accused the NHRC of stepping over its limits after the rights body suggested a review of the propriety of continuing with Mr Mushahary as a Minister in the State Government following the accusation.

The accused is contesting the May 10 assembly elections from Gossaigaon on AGP ticket.

Sources said that the State Government refused to permit the police to arrest Mr Mushahary, despite its repeated requests.

When asked why the police waited so long for the test, sources said the officers handling the case were busy with the elections. Moreover, the new-born child should be six-months old before DNA tests can be conducted on him. Hence, they expressed the apprehension that the said test could not be conducted before the poll. (UNI)

Pakistan bans May Day rallies

ISLAMABAD, Apr 28: Pakistan’s military regime has said the proposed May Day pro-democracy rally by the 16-party Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) at Karachi would not be permitted even as police continued mass arrests of political activists to prevent them from taking part in the rally.

"Preventive arrests would continue until the day of the rally," Provincial Home Secretary of Sindh, Mukhtar Ahmad told reporters today.

So far 539 persons have been arrested and security has been stepped up in Karachi to prevent the rally from taking place. More arrests were expected in the coming days, he said.

ARD, however, claimed the number of detained crossed the 2,000 mark.

Tension prevailed in Karachi as police surrounded the Clifton Residence of former Premier Benazir Bhutto last night to arrest some of the activists of her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

The administration has already banned all May Day rallies in Karachi to prevent ard constituent parties to take out the workers processions.

A blanket ban has been announced on the entry of top political leaders in Karachi. Following this, ARD chief Nasurulla Khan and PML leader Javed Hashmi were detained at Karachi airport two days ago and later sent back.

ARD, an umbrella organisation of mainstream political parties was formed last year to agitate for restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

The alliance said it would approach the Supreme Court on Monday to get the ban on rallies lifted.

Meanwhile, the United States has said it is "disappointed" by the mass arrest of political activists in Pakistan ahead of a planned pro-democracy May Day rally at Karachi and called for a "rapid return" to democracy.

"We were disappointed that the Government of Pakistan has taken this step, which was similar to actions taken in Lahore last month. The Government’s preemptive arrest of potential demonstrators without appropriate justification calls into question its commitment to protect civil liberties such as freedom of Assembly, which is a key component of good democratic governance, state department spokesman Charles Hunter said.

He reiterated the US call for rapid return in Pakistan to democratic civilian Government to replace the military regime.

"In the interim, internationally recognized rights should be respected," he added.

Last month hundreds of ARD members were arrested ahead of a planned democracy rally in Lahore. (PTI)

CAT ruling on CBI Director

BANGALORE, Apr 28: With just two days left for the retirement of CBI Director R K Raghavan, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) here has ruled that the new appointment to the post would be subject to the final outcome of an application filed before it by an IPS officer of the DGP rank to consider him.

The Bangalore bench of the CAT gave the significant interim ruling on an application filed by DGP, fire force and home guards, R Vishwanathan that he should be considered for the post as he was "qualified, capable and competent" as the other officers now being considered.

"Considering the circumstances of this case, we are of the view that it is just and proper to pass interim order that the appointment of the CBI Director shall be subject to the final outcome of this OA (Original Application) pending further orders," the CAT said in its April 25 order.

The selection committee headed by Central Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal has submitted a panel of three senior-most IPS officers to the Government for selecting the new CBI Director.

Among the names doing the rounds are Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police H J Dora, Director General of Gujarat Police K Chakravarty, Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma and Special Director in CBI P C Sharma.

Vishwanathan, in his application, submitted that he fulfilled the three criteria laid down by the Supreme Court in the Vineet Narain case... Seniority, integrity and experience in investigation and anti-corruption work for selection as CBI director. According to the apex court verdict as well as its interpretation by the CAT, the "field of choice" should be spread to all officers serving as Directors General of Police in the Centre and states, he has argued.

The order was passed by the bench, comprising Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, CAT Vice-Chairman, and Srikantan, Tribunal member, just five days before the present incumbent R K Raghavan is due to retire on April 30. (PTI)

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |