50 killed, over 100 hurt in Baluchistan suicide bombing

ISLAMABAD, Mar 20: Fifty people were killed and over 100 injured in a suicide bomb blast at a shrine of a Shiite Muslim saint in Pakistan’s southwest Baluchistan province even as the Army was deployed in the gas-rich town of Sui of the troubled region to ward off attacks from nationalist rebels.

The powerful blast occurred last night during the annual pilgrimage of the shrine, built in memory of Pir Rakhel Shah, revered as a saint at Darbar Fatehpur in Gandhawa town of district Jhal Magsi, 300 km from Baluchistan capital Quetta.

Media reports here said that 50 people were killed and over 100 injured but officials put the toll at around 32.

The explosion took place outside the shrine where food was being distributed to people, reports from Quetta said, adding thousands of pilgrims had come to the shrine.

Quoting officials from Quetta, Pakistan’s local Geo TV reported that it was a suicide bomb attack.

Some reports said the Baluchistan National Army (BLA), claiming to be fighting for the rights of Baloch people, claimed responsibility for the bombing, but officials here do not rule out the involvement of banned sectarian outfits.

Baluchistan, which has been in the grip of violence for the past several months, has witnessed sectarian strife involving banned extremists groups of Shias and Sunnis.

Sayed Kamal Shah, a close relative of the custodian of the shrine, was quoted here as saying that he feared the death toll could go upto over 100 as dozens of people were injured.

Meanwhile Federal Interior Minister, Aftab Khan Sherpao, announced here that Army has been deployed in the troubled Sui town as a security measure.

"We planned no military operation ... But the Army troops are being moved to protect Sui gas installations and frontier corps personnel present there have been relieved," Sherpao told the media here last night.

Reports also said another bomb blast took place near a camp of the paramilitary forces frontier corps at Turbat Kechh district, resulting in disruption of power supplies as the explosion damaged the power pylons.

The frontier corps have just been recovering from a massive attack by Bugti tribesmen two ago at Dera Bugti in which over 30 persons were killed and several injured. The tribesmen ambushed their convoy and caused extensive damage.

Also, four persons were injured in another bomb explosion near irrigation office in the same town, local daily ‘The Nation’ said. This was followed by one more explosion at the residence of the accounts general in Shabaz town but no one was hurt, it said.

Reports from Dera Butgi, the headquarters of the Bugti tribe, said thousands of people have fled the area fearing a major battle between Pakistani troops and nationalist rebels.

Some 70 to 80 families of Government servants have left Dera Bugti in two days, they said.

District Administrator of Dera Bugti, Ahmad Samad Lasi, said that 90 per cent of the local population has fled.

The Baluchistan Provincial Government blamed Nawab Akbar Bugti, the chief of the Baloch tribe and the leader of the Jhamboori Watan Party (JWP), for the mass exodus.

Bugti denied issuing any ultimatum to people to leave, saying food stocks had exhausted and no fresh supplies reached the place. Helicopters and Army planes were frequently flying in the area, he told media over satellite phone, claiming that 18 battle tanks had been deployed in the area.

Meanwhile, the Government has cancelled a planned trip of the leaders of the opposition parties to Balochistan saying that the security situation was not conducive for the visit.

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan is Pakistan’s biggest province in terms of size with large amount of natural resources like gas but the smallest in terms of population.

Largely governed by tribal leaders called Sardars, the province has been experiencing strong nationalist movement since last year resenting the construction of Army cantonments and developmental projects like Gwadar port being built with Chinese help.

The Baloch leaders fear that the developmental projects would result in massive influx of outsiders, specially those from Punjab to reap the benefits of development than the impoverished Balochis. (PTI)

Musharraf’s son craves new era of Indo-Pak ties

LUCKNOW, Mar 20: Wishing for "a new era" of neighbourly relations, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s son Bilal today said movement of people between India and Pakistan should be further simplified and pre-conceived notions changed.

"Aane Jane Mein Asaani Ho...Pre-conceived Notion Mein Change Ho" (movement of people from the two countries should be simplified and pre-conceived notions changed), Bilal told reporters on his arrival here for a day’s visit.

He said people from both the countries wanted peace and good neighbourly relations and he had found "genuine warmth" in India.

"I think that people from India and Pakistan want that a new era should begin, leaving the past behind...There is a sincerity on both the sides," Bilal said.

The General’s son side-stepped a question on the controversy surrounding Pakistani actress Meera’s purported on-screen kiss in the Indo-Pak venture ‘Nazar’.

"I am not aware of the controversy. The artistes are collaborating. There is a cultural exchange," he said.

"I am not aware of the controversy," he repeated when the question was repeated. "It is not for me to say anything in this regard. It is for the society at large to decide". "Sabko Apne Kaam Se Kaam Rakhna Chahiye" (everyone should be doing their work), Bilal said when pressed on the point.

He, however, claimed that people should safeguard their culture and appreciated the effort by Lollywood and Bollywood at producing films together. "Such effort would certainly bring both the countries more closer," he hoped.

Bilal claimed that there are several good Hindi films but he had watched them in glimpses only.

On Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement about Mahasangh of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, he said " economic imperatives are now getting precedence over everything"

Warming to the city of Nawabs, Bilal said, "I had a picture of the place in my mind.

"I had an extreme curiosity to see this place. After Delhi, it is another very important cultural centre. It is also the place of the 1857 freedom struggle".

Still on the subject of culture, he praised the Urdu spoken in these parts. "The language spoken here is very articulate and sophisticated. Even the man on the street speaks the same type of language," he said.

On whether he was fond of Hindi films, Bilal said he preferred "independent cinema" and had not seen many Hindi films, but some of the works of the legendary Satyajit Ray.

However, he singled out Naseeruddin Shah as his favourite actor and Kishore Kumar as favourite singer.

Asked about the absence of his grandmother Zarin, Bilal said, "she wanted to come, but has a back problem" and added that she asked him to visit Lucknow University where she had studied in 1940s.

"I promised her that I would take a lot of pictures with her here. Bilal was accompanied by the Pakistan President’s brother Javed Musharraf and High Commission officials on his tour around the city and expected to feast on mouth-watering Awadhi cuisine like Biryani, Kababs and Dahi Bara.

Bilal said that educational exchange programmes between India and Pakistan will go a long way in improving the relations between the two countries and fostering peace in the sub-continent.

Addressing the Kailash girls hostel inmates of Lucknow University here, Bilal invited the university girls to visit Pakistan and observed that girls from across the border should also come here.

"I have come to this hostel, where my dadi (grandmother) stayed during her student days. Sadly, she could not come due to illness," he added.

Javed Musharraf, who accompanied his nephew on his maiden Lucknow visit, said, in a lighter vein, he hoped to befriend girls of the hostel.

"I am a retired person and not of Bilal’s age, so I can only hope for friendship with the girl inmates here," he quipped.

Javed said he had heard a lot about the city of Nawabs and had always wanted to visit the place.

Earlier, a grand welcome was accorded to the duo at the hostel where the girls interacted with Bilal and his uncle.

The group also went around the university campus and Bilal took photos. Later, they visited Chhota and Bara imambaras in old Lucknow.

"I promised Dadi to bring photos of Lucknow," said Bilal.

Meanwhile, the world famous Awadhi architecture of ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ (Bara Imambara) today enchanted the royal guests from Pakistan.

Bilal on visiting the monument expressed surprise that "it stood above the ground."

"I believed that ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ was an underground monument of the Awadhi era," he averred.

However, Bilal was not shy of words in waxing eloquence about the grandeur and aesthetic symmetry of the monument.

The young Musharraf had a busy time with his digital camera ‘shooting’ the grand structures.

Musharraf’s son also met Sushila Das, who was Begum Zarin’s junior at the Delhi’s Indraprastha College. Ms Das had come here to meet the Begum, but had to be content with meeting Bilal.

Later, Bilal and Javed had a sumptuous treat of the famous Tunde Kebabs, Biryani and Dahi Bara at the River Bank Colony residence of the Ansaris, distant relatives of Pervez Musharraf. (AGENCIES)

Parliamentary Committee for preservation of Dal

NEW DELHI, Mar 20: Concerned over the flow of effluents into the scenic Dal Lake in Srinagar, a Parliamentary Committee has asked the Government to initiate "immediate action" and come out with an action plan for holistic preservation of the lake.

"The committee is distressed to know from the information provided by the J and K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (J and KLWDA) that total phosphates inflow into the lake is of the order of 111 tonnes from all sources...," the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests said in its report.

"This apparently reflects the fact that the conservation effort by the Government was not at an advance stage and the quantum of discharge of effluents of such a scale is quite deplorable," it said in its report on the action taken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests towards conservation of Dal-Nagin lake.

Observing that conservation of Dal lake was a national issue, the committee asked the Government to initiate an immediate action with a suitable action plan, and said unless a meaningful comprehensive programme was undertaken to stop the inflow of unwanted effluents by involving all NGOs and other agencies for civil maintenance of the lake, no lake equilibrium could be sustained.

The committee said an enabling environmental management and institutional reframing were needed to deal with the problems of lakes and reservoirs.

"...The existing acts, legislations and legal frameworks need to be integrated suitably to give it the form of a holistic single legislation appended with new amended legislation, if any," it said.

"The committee said there was a need for continuous assessment of water quality and land use in catchment areas of lakes and reservoirs," and added the national and state level policy in respect of Water and Environmental Management too requires integration into one unit.

Recognising the unique position of Dal Lake in terms of high influx of tourists, the committee said it was necessary to frame an environmental-friendly tourist policy with a view to reducing the quantum of pollution level on this water body.

The committee asked the J and KLWDA to take comprehensive measures so that the quantum of discharge of organic pollutants into the lake could be minimised.

The other suggestions by the committee are constitution of an effective monitoring committee at State level and measures to reduce soil erosion at the catchment area.

It said merely making installation of floating septic tanks mandatory in all house boats in Dal Lake would not totally ensure proper management of the lake and added that lack of involvement of stakeholders in planning and implementation process often makes the legislation ineffective.

Recommending that implementing agencies should ensure functional installation of these bio-toilets, the committee said efforts should also be made by both Central and State Governments to import lightweight portable toilet aided by hundred per cent biodegradable toilet bag which is compostable.

"With no need for a septic system, no chemicals, no odour and no hassels, a composting toilet is a great way to encourage disposal of human wastes in an environmental friendly manner," it said.

Emphasising on removing encroachments from the lake area, the committee asked the J and KLWDA to reallocate its office from the Dal Lake at the earliest so that it acts as a model for others to follow.

It also suggested that any work of cleaning or reallocation should be preceded by an awareness campaign to get support and participation of the local population and to prevent any type of strain in the implementation of the Dal Lake Management Plan. (PTI)

Lashkar’s worker gunned down

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 20: Bullet riddled body of an overground worker of Lashker-e-Toiba was recovered while as troops smashed four hideouts of the terrorists in Poonch and Rajouri district and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.

A defence spokesman said that security forces recovered the bullet-riddled body of an overground worker of LeT identified as Kalu in Kalaban area of Bhudal tehsil of Rajouri district last night.

He was working as a guide of the LeT outfit in the district.

The body of a civilian, Mubarik Hussain, was recovered from Batote area of Doda district, the spokesman said and added that he may have been abducted by militants and later killed.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman said that troops busted a hideout in Rajada village in Mandi belt of Poonch district last night and recovered five rocket projectile grenade bombs and four 62-mm mortar bombs.

Troops also smashed a hideout at another place in Thanamandi belt of Rajouri district early today and recovered one pika gun and belted ammunition, he said and added that one polythene bag containing 383 AK rounds, 17 UBGL grenades and 500 grams of RDX were also recovered from a hideout at Katamal forest in Rajouri district last night.

Another hideout was busted in Dodasan area in Rajouri district and 12 UBGL grenades, 50 rounds, one RPG booster and two AK rifles were recovered.

However, no one has been arrested in these operations.

Aiyar hints at petrol price hike

KUMBAKONAM (TN), Mar 20: Maintaining that a hike in the prices of diesel and petrol was inevitable in view of rising crude prices, Union Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today said a decision on the matter would be taken at the Cabinet meeting to be held next week.

The price of crude had touched 55 US dollars a barrel and the oil companies were not able to manage the mounting losses, he told reporters here.

Heavy import of crude and the steep hike in the cost of operating the refineries were the main reasons that had led to the present situation, he added.

On the political situation in Tamil Nadu, he said the State would see a "big change" next year and DMK would come back to power in the Assembly elections and its president M Karunanidhi would become the Chief Minister again. (PTI)

Army test fires Nag

AHMEDNAGAR, MAHARASHTRA, Mar 20: The Army has successfully testfired the anti-tank guided missile "Nag" with warhead at K K range around 14 km from here yesterday.

Senior Army officials and staff from the Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACCS) along with scientists from Defence Research Development Organisation witnessed the test. (UNI)

ISI to work with militants

NEW DELHI, Mar 20: Top military brass of Pakistan has authorised the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to "work out a strategy with extremist groups to launch fresh attacks on a limited basis in the Indian territory".

A meeting of Corps Commanders was held on January five in Islamabad and they asked the intelligence agency to work out strategy for launching limited attacks in India from March 2005, said the book ‘The Final Settlement-Restructuring India-Pakistan Relations’, issued by the international centre for peace intiatives.

The Jehadi forces are being used as a tool by the Army and the ISI. "Currently they are junior partners both of the Army and the democratic institutions. If they continue to grow, it is possible that they may emerge as dominant partners in a future scenario. There are more than 100 Jehadi organisations in Pakistan, but it is difficult to estimate their strength."

Quoting independent observers, the book claimed that approximately one million young men are associated with the Jehadi groups, including many in non-combatant roles such as logistic, propaganda and preaching work, besides fund raising.

"The number of armed militants is estimated to be around 200,000, but there are no defined lines between armed and unarmed militants due to frequent changes in their respective roles."

In the next five to ten years, the greatest risk to the development of Pakistan as well as peace in south Asia, is that the Jehadi forces may succeed in turning Pakistan’s military into a strategic tool, the book said and added "of the 100 militant groups that now function in Pakistan, many are small and ineffective. They are created by intelligence agencies for specific purposes and specific period of time and then forced to low lie untill they are required again in future".

Nevertheless, ten of these organisations have managed to grow into a big force to some extent in partnership with the Army. These include Harkatul Jihadi Islami, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed. "The groups have more in common with Al-Qaeda than Kashmir focussed groups like Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, it said. (UNI)

59 miners killed in China

BEIJING, Mar 20: Rescue workers today recovered 59 bodies from a coal mine in North China which caved after an explosion while 10 miners were still missing, officials said.

Fifty-nine bodies have been found in the coalmine in North China’s Shanxi province which was rocked by a massive explosion yesterday, they said.

Another 10 miners were still trapped while eight rescue teams are working round the clock to search for them, Xinhua news agency quoted an official with the rescue headquarters as saying.

The blast occurred yesterday at the Xishui coalmine in Shuozhou and rocked nearby Kangjiayao coalmine.

Nearly 94 people have been killed in three major coalmine disasters this week.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao have demanded relevant departments to try their best for saving the trapped and instructed rescuers to pay attention to their own safety. They also mentioned to offer appropriate comfort for victims’ families.

Li Yizhong, director of the General Administration of Work Safety (GAWS), and Zhao Tiechui, director of the state administration of coal mine safety under the GAWS, have arrived at Shuozhou today to direct the rescue operation. Meanwhile, police have detained the four owners of the coal mine.

Built in 1993, Xishui mine is licenced with an annual output of 150,000 tonnes of coal. But the mine was ordered to suspend production after safety problems last November, a local official said.

"In defiance of the order, however, mine owners have restarted production this year," the official said.

The other coal mine, Kangjiayao, where the explosion occurred, had governmental approval for production.

On Thursday, at least 18 miners were killed in a coal mine after an underground gas blast tore through the shaft in Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality.

On Monday, at least 17 miners were killed after a blast tore through a coal mine in Qitaihe, a city in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.

China, the world’s leading coal producer, reported 3,639 accidents last year, causing 6,027 deaths. On Thursday, the Chinese Government announced the establishment of new office in cooperation with 11 ministries and institutes to stem the country’s rampant coal mine accidents. (PTI)

Pak releases 533 prisoners

ISLAMABAD, Mar 20: Pakistan today released 533 Indian fishermen and civilians languishing in jails for the past year for illegally entering into the country, officials said.

Pakistan will be formally releasing 568 Indian fishermen and civilians, out of the 800 odd Indians held in country, at the Wagah border tomorrow.

"As a prelude to it we have released 529 fishermen from jail and they are travelling by train to Lahore," officials in Karachi said.

The 529 fishermen were caught fishing illegally in the territorial waters of Pakistan, they said adding the four civilians, who were also released from Karachi jail, had strayed into the country.

In addition to 529 fishermen, 39 Indian civilians, who have completed their jail terms would also be handed over to Indian officials at the Wagah border tomorrow, they said.

However, Pakistani authorities have refused to release the boats of the fishermen.

The release of Indian prisoners follows an appeal made by Left Front leaders Harkishen Singh Surjeet and A B Bardhan, and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to Pakistan’s President Gen Pervez Musharraf during their recent visit to that country.

After their release, there would still be 273 Indian fishermen in Pakistani prisons who are expected to be freed after the completion of the identification process.

So far, India has not able to convince the Pakistan Government to release the fishermen’s boats, mostly trawlers, without which they would struggle for their livelihood.

Also, after tomorrow’s release there would still be 63 civilian prisoners in Pakistani jails, who had been arrested for entering Pakistan without proper travel papers.

These were the people who were duped by unscrupulous travel agents promising jobs in the west. Most of them were allegedly pushed into Iran from Turkey and then into Pakistan. (PTI)

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