|
|
New hope for NEW YORK, Nov 22: At the beginning of this ..more
Musharaff promises ‘real democracy’, but not yet ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Chief Executive General....more Transcript of Sharif’s
KARACHI, Nov 22: The following is a transcript of deposed .more Sharif party goes to court against Army coup ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: The Pakistan Muslim League ...more |
 |
Musharaff promises ‘real democracy’, but not yet ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has ruled . ..more
Jaswant Singh in Hong Kong to promote trade links HONG KONG, Nov 22: External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh arrived here ..more Iran commandos kill 16 armed drug traffickers TEHERAN, Nov 22: Iranian Commandos killed 16 armed drug traffickers in ...more Sharif’s wife begs KARACHI,
Nov 22:
Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of deposed Pakistani Premier
Nawaz Sharif, tearfully insists her husband ..more |
 |
New hope for survival of tiger NEW YORK, Nov 22: At the beginning of this decade experts were predicting that the tiger would be made extinct sometime in the next century, but since then there is increasing evidence that the big cat is not only surviving but is making something of a comeback. At a recent conference of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, scientists and wildlife conservationists from all over the world recently discussed the resilience of these imposing animals. In the Ranthambhore Forest in Rajasthan, India, in 1993 there were a "maximum" of 20 tigers, but the number has at least doubled since then. Even from countries and regions which biologists considered hopeless, such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Sumatra, there are positive reports. North Korea has the experts even more optimistic. "We have hope again," says Ginette Hemley, vice president for the preservation of species at the world wildlife fund. "It will not be possible to save the tiger in all its home areas, but there’s no doubt that we have made real progress in some areas." The mammal curator john seidensticker of the Smithsonian Institute’s zoo, in Washington, told the New York Times that Sumatra was a particular surprise: researchers had given up on the Indonesian island, and assumed that the poaching activity which usually increases in times of political unrest would have devaastated the animal. In fact, he added, "we found areas with a very satisfying tiger occurrence, more at least than we had expected." Peter Jackson, who chairs a body of big cat experts at the World Conservation Union in switzerland, estimates the total current number of Asian tigers at between 5,000 and 7,000. Nobody knows exactly how many tigers lived on this continent originally, since the first comprehensive inquiry was done in 1972, but some biologists believe that their number was at least ten times as high at the end of the 19th century. The fact that the majestic tiger is apparently making a comeback is due to a number of factors, experts say. Crucially, Asian countries have cracked down on poaching. For years the animals were killed for their bones alone, to which chinese popular medicine awards remarkable powers once they are ground into flour. The tiger might get more help from the scientific discovery that the bones of the Rodent Sailong, which is widely common in China, contain similar substances. However, the biggest gain for the tiger was the protection of its traditional prey, game, including wild pigs. "All one has to do is to look after the preservation of the species which make up the tiger’s prey," says Ullas Karanth, a zoologist stationed in Bangladesh. "The tiger can manage the rest alone." Scientists say it is sufficient to create protective zones for the tiger’s prey which are effectively closed off from hunting by human beings. In the sunderbans, Swampy forests on the edge of the Bay of Bengal, stretching from India to Bangladesh, it is the opposite. Here tigers still hunt people. At least a dozen local people annually fell prey to the approximately 250 big cats of the sunderbans. In almost all other Asian regions the tigers have learned to avoid man. A fat wild boar is much better suited for the preservation of their massive body, anyway. A Siberian male, the biggest type of tiger, can weigh up to 250 kg. Of the smallest tigers - from Sumatra - the males only weigh 120 kg, and the females 100 kg. The thickness and the colour of the fur varies just the same. Siberian and Himalayan tigers have a relatively light-coloured and -as a protection against the cold - very thick fur. That of the animals in the Southern tropics is darker and shorter. A grown animal can effortlessly catch a wild bull or other prey of up to three times its own size. Tigers like to move around and keep their own company, but now and then enjoy the company of their own kind, zoologists say. Growing males take off as soon as they feel strong enough. Daughters, however, often stay near their mothers and take over the hunting ground when she dies. But tiger fathers also play a part in rising their offspring. They guard the little ones when feeding, playing, and on their first excursions - for good reason, zoologists say: Other males like to take advantage of unprotected babies to kill the litter, in order to bring the female back in heat and allow them to sire their own offspring. (DPA) |
|
Musharaff promises ‘real democracy’, but not yet ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has ruled out a return to democracy in Pakistan till all the objectives spelled out by him after the military coup are achieved. "I cannot set a time-frame for return to democracy," he told BBC TV in an interview. Gen Musharraf said he was working to put in place ‘real democracy’ in the country and that Pakistan would never go back to the ‘embarrassment’ that passed for democracy before the Army took over on October 12. He said politics in Pakistan had fallen hostage to feudal landlords who failed to keep track of the aspirations of the people once they were elected. He, however, did not say if he planned to carry out land reforms — a highly contentious issue in the country. "Politics in Pakistan is a game of the elite ruling class." Gen Musharraf described illiteracy and poverty as the two most important reasons for the failure of democracy. Poverty meant the rich could purchase votes which prevented democracy from gaining roots in Pakistan, which has spent half of its 50-year existence under military rule. The masses, the general said, could never emerge from the vicious circle of persecution and atrocities unleashed by the previous Governments. The only option available to the Government to emerge from the current mess is to move ahead on the path of development. Meanwhile, the Mahaz-i-Tahafiz-i-Pakistan, or the organisation for the protection of Pakistan, has questioned the military Government’s intentions in not covering the tenure of President Zia-ul-Haq under the newly-promulgated accountability ordinance which provides for a jail term extending up to 14 years and bars the convicts from public office for 21 years. Mahaz President Mukhtar Rana, in a statement carried by the the news, said the new regime should not spare the corrupt of the late General’s period if its drive against corruption is to bear fruit. The Pakistani people would not be fooled by the selective drive against the corrupt of the Nawaz and Benazir regimes. According to the wall street journal, Ejaz-ul-Haq, a son of the late Gen Zia, has amassed more than one million dollars and has siphoned it abroad, he said. (UNI) |
|
Transcript of Sharif’s talk to reporters KARACHI, Nov 22: The following is a transcript of deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif’s talk with reporters today inside the anti-terrorist court, which will hear the Army case of treason and hijacking against him and several others: I want free, fair and open judicial trial. Apparently I am in police custody but actually I am not. The world will know that those allegations levelled against us are hallow. Nobody has a right to remove us from office. We are a democratically elected Government. Nobody has the power to remove us from office through extraconstitutional means. Whatever has been done has no basis, no justification. I haven’t seen my family in the last 41 days. I haven’t seen my brother, who also was in the same vicinity and detention. I have been subjected to solitary confinement and my son is also under detention for the last 41 days. I was not given newspapers or television. There was no contact with the outside world. I was confined to a room and I did not know what was happening outside the room. We are still subjected to the same treatment. What I only want is open, free and fair trial. This is my demand and the demand of each one of us. That will itself expose the hallowness of the accusations against us. As a Prime Minister of Pakistan it is my duty, my constitutional duty to prevent the country from being taken over by extraconstitutional means. I think I should do whatever is in my means. The action which was taken on October 12 was extraconstitutional action. It was serious action. They are trying to justify the action by dramatizing the issue of the plane. I think we are all innocent. We are not involved in any of these accusations or allegations that have been framed (against) us. We know we have not done anything wrong. We have not committed anything which is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is a matter of grave concern for our supporters. The Army allegations stem from an October 12 incident in which a passenger aircraft returning Army Chief Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan was refused permission to land in Karachi. The Army took over the same day and the aircraft was allowed to land. The Army accused Sharif of trying to kill the Army Chief. Among those also charged with hijacking and treason are a former Advisor on Southern Sindh Provincial Affairs, the former Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines, Sindh Police Chief and Chairman Civil Aviation Authority. (AP) |
|
Sharif party goes to court against Army coup ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) party of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif filed a petition before the Supreme Court today against last month’s Army coup that toppled its Government, court sources said. They said the court had yet to set a date to consider admissibility of the challenge signed by 12 petitioners, including the heads of the two chambers of the National Parliament, suspended by military ruler General Pervez Musharraf after his October 12 coup. Other petitioners include key deputies from the four suspended provincial assemblies and parties allied to PML. The petition is the second challenge brought before the country’s top court to challenge the coup that installed Army Chief Musharraf as Chief Executive. The first petition was filed last week by a PML Parliament member, Zafar Ali Shah, and sought restoration of Sharif’s Government, the suspended constitution, Parliament and the provincial assemblies. But it was sent back by court officials for the removal of what they called some legal deficiencies. But today’s challenge was on behalf of the party. The PML has repeatedly condemned the coup and demanded the restoration of the Government and release of Sharif who is in police custody along with four others, accused earlier this month of criminal conspiracy, hijacking — which can carry a death penalty — kidnapping and attempted murder. No formal charges have been laid against Sharif. The allegations stem from an alleged attempt to divert a plane bringing General Musharraf to Karachi from Sri Lanka last month. Hours later Musharraf overthrew the Sharif Government. Today Sharif again proclaimed his innocence as he was brought amid extremely tight security to an anti-terrorism court in Karachi. Today’s court appearance was to allow a Judge to decide whether Sharif should be remanded again in police custody for further questioning. (REUTERS) |
|
Musharaff promises ‘real democracy’, but not yet ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has ruled out a return to democracy in Pakistan till all the objectives spelled out by him after the military coup are achieved. "I cannot set a time-frame for return to democracy," he told BBC TV in an interview. Gen Musharraf said he was working to put in place ‘real democracy’ in the country and that Pakistan would never go back to the ‘embarrassment’ that passed for democracy before the Army took over on October 12. He said politics in Pakistan had fallen hostage to feudal landlords who failed to keep track of the aspirations of the people once they were elected. He, however, did not say if he planned to carry out land reforms — a highly contentious issue in the country. "Politics in Pakistan is a game of the elite ruling class." Gen Musharraf described illiteracy and poverty as the two most important reasons for the failure of democracy. Poverty meant the rich could purchase votes which prevented democracy from gaining roots in Pakistan, which has spent half of its 50-year existence under military rule. The masses, the general said, could never emerge from the vicious circle of persecution and atrocities unleashed by the previous Governments. The only option available to the Government to emerge from the current mess is to move ahead on the path of development. Meanwhile, the Mahaz-i-Tahafiz-i-Pakistan, or the organisation for the protection of Pakistan, has questioned the military Government’s intentions in not covering the tenure of President Zia-ul-Haq under the newly-promulgated accountability ordinance which provides for a jail term extending up to 14 years and bars the convicts from public office for 21 years. Mahaz President Mukhtar Rana, in a statement carried by the the news, said the new regime should not spare the corrupt of the late General’s period if its drive against corruption is to bear fruit. The Pakistani people would not be fooled by the selective drive against the corrupt of the Nawaz and Benazir regimes. According to the wall street journal, Ejaz-ul-Haq, a son of the late Gen Zia, has amassed more than one million dollars and has siphoned it abroad, he said. (UNI) |
|
Jaswant Singh in Hong Kong to promote trade links HONG KONG, Nov 22: External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh arrived here today on day’s visit aimed at rejuvenating India’s trade links with Hong Kong, Asia’s leading financial and commerical hub. I am very glad that I am in Hong Kong. I look forward to interacting and meeting with a variety of leaders in trade, industry and commerce, Singh told PTI on his arrival here en route to Tokyo. Hong Kong is of significant importance to India on account of being the commercial hub of East Asia and is also a major source of foreign investment, Singh said. Hong Kong is India’s third most important export destination and fourth largest trading partner. Hong Kong is also one of our major investment and trading partners, Singh said referring to the Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) thriving trade and commercial links with India. For all these reasons, I thought it only proper that on my way to Tokyo, I spend enough time here to meet with people too, Singh said exuding confidence in attracting more foreign investment from Hong Kong. India-Hong Kong trade turnover during 1998 was 2.58 billion US dollars, with the balance in India’s favour at 1.2 billion US dollars. Singh will be visiting Tokyo tomorrow on a four-day tour during which India and Japan are likely to discuss the nuclear issue apart from dwelling on a wide range of bilateral and other international matters. During 1998, India’s exports amounted to 1.89 billion US dollars, while imports from Hong Kong amounted to 685 billion US dollars. Hong Kong is the world’s 20th largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India in terms of approvals, India’s consul-general in Hong Kong, Veena Sikri said. However, in terms of actual inflows over the period 1991-99, Hong Kong is the eighth largest source of FDI for India. In terms of the proportion of FDI approvals being actualised, Hong Kong stood first among all sources of investment with an actualisation rate of 53 per cent, she said. The External Affairs Minister would address tomorrow a luncheon hosted by the Asia Society and would speak on India and the new millennium. (PTI) |
|
Iran commandos kill 16 armed drug traffickers TEHERAN, Nov 22: Iranian Commandos killed 16 armed drug traffickers in a shootout in Northeastern Iran and freed four Iranian hostages, a newspaper reported today. An elite unit of Iran’s revolutionary guards killed the 16 in a clash near the town of Salehabad in the Northeastern Khorasan province, the daily Qods said. They also freed four Basij militiamen held hostage by the gang. The paper said the hostages had been tortured. The gang had smuggled drugs and taken hostages in Eastern Iran in recent years, and had ties with the Taliban which is ruling most of neighbouring Afghanistan, Qods said. Security forces earlier said they had shot dead 17 other traffickers in two other recent shootouts in the Vasi Khorasan province, the scene of numerous gun battles between Iranian security forces and bandits. (REUTERS) |
|
Sharif’s wife begs for fair trial KARACHI, Nov 22: Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of deposed Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif, tearfully insists her husband is innocent and begs for a fair trial. We want a fair trial. He is innocent, Kulsoom Nawaz told AFP in an interview today, her eyes filled with tears. He has not committed any crime. He is just an innocent person who has loved Pakistan and its people, she said after her arrival from Lahore along with her two daughters, a granddaughter and Sharif’s 80-year-old mother. The women were allowed by the Pakistani military authorities to meet Sharif in his detention cell in Karachi for the first time. I was counting every moment and praying to Allah for my husband because I know he is innocent, she said. I am thankful to god who has given me and my husband the strength to face tough times. She was trying to remain composed during her conversation but a few tears rolled down her cheeks when she talked of her husband, while her daughters Maryam and Asma remained quiet at the residence of Sharif’s close-aide where they are staying. Sharif’s bespectacled mother, who sat in corner of the room, could be heard reciting Koranic verses. Kulsoom Nawaz and Sharif’s daughters flew into Karachi late last night for their first meeting with the deposed Premier. They have been under house detention since Sharif was ousted in a military coup on October 12. (AFP) |
|
