Pak Wants Peace with Neighbours: Gilani

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged the international community on Thursday to persuade India to defuse tension with Pakistan and added that soon after the Mumbai terror strikes, he had called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express concern over the tragedy and sympathise with the families of those aggrieved, as his country was against terrorism, reported The Dawn a local English daily.

Speaking to the media at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where he laid floral wreaths at the resting places of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Gilani said: “We want excellent relations with our neighbours, whether India or Afghanistan.”

Gilani said: “We agreed to share intelligence with India because Pakistan does not want terrorism anywhere in the world.”

He charged that the Indian government was under mounting public pressure because of failure of its agencies to prevent the Mumbai attacks and, therefore, it was looking for a scapegoat.

“I assure the world and the nation that Pakistan has no aggressive designs and being a responsible country it is against terrorism.” He said that national leader Benazir Bhutto was a victim of terrorism and no one had suffered more than the people of Pakistan.

“We are a responsible nation and do not want war. But a war is imposed on us, our people, the armed forces and the leadership will defend the country,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said: “Whenever we receive proof we will investigate on our own and take people into confidence”.

He said he would assure the world that Pakistan’s soil would not be used for acts of terrorism.

The prime minister said that non-state actors who wanted to destabilise the country and democracy and subvert the mission of late ZA Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto would not be allowed to succeed.

Earlier, addressing a convocation at the King Edward Medical University in Lahore, the Gilani said: “We are a peace-loving, civilised and responsible nation and strongly condemn terrorism in all its manifestations all over the world.”

Mortar Barrage Crashes Ceasefire, Gaza Invasion Imminent

Brushing off calls for restraint, Israel is reported to be in last minute discussions preceding the invasion of Gaza, saying it had wrapped up preparations for a broad offensive after Palestinian militants fired about 100 rockets and mortar shells across the border in two days.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a direct appeal to Gaza's people to pressure their leaders to stop the barrages. But the attacks showed no signs of ending. By nightfall, three rockets and 15 mortar shells had exploded in Israel.

Olmert issued his appeal in a rare interview with the Arabic language satellite channel al-Arabiya, saying: "I am telling them now, it may be the last minute, I'm telling them stop it. We are stronger."

Thursday's rocket fire was far less than the barrage of 80 rockets the previous day, and there were no reports of injuries. But Israeli leaders said the continued fire — the most intense since Egypt brokered a cease-fire last June — was unacceptable.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak invited Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to Cairo to discuss the possibility of renewing the truce, which expired Friday. But by the time Livni arrived, she was in no mood to discuss a cease-fire, and she dismissed Mubarak's pleas for restraint.

"Enough is enough," she said afterward. "When there's shooting, there's a response. Any state would react that way."

In Israel, Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that "whoever harms the citizens and soldiers of Israel will pay a heavy price."

According to reports, the Israeli operation would likely begin with surgical airstrikes against rocket launchers and continue with a land invasion. Harsh weather conditions are hampering visibility and complicating air force missions, so the operation won't be launched until the skies clear.

Israel left Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, but still controls its border crossings, blockaded for months in an effort to pressure militants to halt their fire. Islamic Hamas militants seized control of Gaza in June 2007, after routing security forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Despite the rocket fire, Israel's Defense Ministry said late Thursday that it would open two cargo crossings Friday to allow a limited amount of vital supplies to enter. Israel's policy is to avoid a humanitarian crisis there, while keeping up the pressure.

In the West Bank, Abbas visited Hebron, the area's largest city, for the first time since he took office in 2005. Israeli forces control a section in the middle of the city to protect about 500 Jewish settlers living in several enclaves. Hebron is home to about 170,000 Palestinians.

Abbas demanded that the settlers get out. "Hebron is ours, and they have to leave if they want peace," he said.

(Agencies)

Voter Turnout Snubs Separatists in J&K

With a huge voter turnout in the seven phase polls to the state Assembly keying in their disfavour for the separatist movement in Jammu & Kashmir, Some separatist leaders are beginning to view the voters inclination to cast their mandate despite boycott calls, as a pointer towards the ground they have lost in recent years.

The secessionist call to boycott polls was ignored through the over a month long election process as people braved biting cold to queue up outside poll stations to vote for a better quality of life.

With practicalities finally beginning to overtake emotional issues high on the voters minds were issues like unemployment, education, healthcare and civic amenities.

Over 55 percent of Kashmiris voted in the polls Wednesday and the seven-phase elections registered 63 percent polling overall.

Several separatist leaders are now questioning the wisdom of calling for a total poll boycott.

“It was a hasty decision. I believe it was not properly debated before it was taken,” said Aga Syed Hassan Badgami, senior Shia leader and a constituent of the moderate Hurriyat group, in a statement in Srinagar Thursday.

With people in the state ignoring boycott calls issued by them, separatist leaders still maintain that the high voter turnout has nothing to do with the resolution of the Kashmir problem.

The 20 percent polling in the eight constituencies of Srinagar district that went to the hustings on Wednesday were perhaps, the only saving grace for the separatists, as compared to over 55 percent voting everywhere else in the 46 constituencies of the Kashmir Valley.

Attempting to take the sting off the ignominy Mirwaiz Umer Farooq blames the separatists’ failure on a huge police presence that descended o the state ahead of the elections.

“The authorities arrested every separatist leader. They converted the valley into a fortified security force camp. It was not a democratic exercise at all. The international community must take cognizance of this fact,” said the Mirwaiz in a statement.

Most worried by the development is Syed Ali Geelani, the chairman of the Hurriyat group, as his boycott calls were ignored by cadres of the Jamaat-e-Islami, his parent organization.

With separatists still thrashing out the reasons behind the high voter turnout and the administration readying itself for the new government, people in Kashmir can only wish that those in power, this point on, refrain from policies that would yet again amount to playing in the hands of the separatists.

Maya Rules out CBI Probe in Torture Killing

With the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) protesting against the gruesome murder of PWD engineer MK Gupta at the hands of a BSP MLA, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Thursday ruled out a CBI probe into the incident saying “suitable action had been taken against the accused.”

Violence and arson rocked Auraiya town as SP workers took to the streets to protest against the killing and alleged extortion by the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs for giving donations to Mayawati’s birthday on January 15.

BSP MLA Shekhar Tewari has been arrested in connection with the murder.

The Chief Minister described the murder as a fallout of a commission dispute Gupta had with fellow engineers. She said that with two PWD engineers named in the FIR, it essentially appeared to be a departmental dispute.

She added that once the name of the party MLA surfaced in the murder she ordered his immediate arrest.

Attempting to play down the controversy she said that she was aware of Tewari’s criminal record at the time of his joining the party, but wa informed that he had been implicated in false cases by the previous Congress, SP and BJP regimes.

She authenticated his stand before giving him a party ticket and also told him that if his implication was not found to be false, he would not be spared. Tewari’s “involvement” in a commission racket was being investigated, she told reporters.

Denying that the BSP was a “laboratory of criminals,” she said that persons with criminal antecedents and victims of political conspiracy had to be given a chance to reform. She admitted that some BSP MLAs and Ministers had a criminal past.

Taking the battle into the enemy camp Mayawati charged the Congress-led UPA government was dancing to the tunes of few industrialists, “who dictated the Centre’s policies.”

She also blasted the previous SP regime as one synonymous with loot, corruption, criminals and mafia.

Pakistan Arrests Three More Indian Citizens

Police in Pakistan have arrested three more Indian nationals for alleged involvement in a blast which occurred in eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday. Security forces had earlier arrested Satish Anand Sharma, an Indian citizen, and claimed to have recovered from his possession documents containing sensitive information.

During initial investigation, Sharma is reported to have disclosed the presence of gthree of his associates in Pakistan. Later, intelligent agencies raided different parts of Lahore and arrested three more Indians.

A report on the Press TV attributing the information to sources said a camera, two pistols and secret maps were recovered from the possession of accused, fake national identity cards were also recovered from the suspects.

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad denied having received any information from the Pakistani officials.

"Nothing has been conveyed officially and we suspect this is yet another ploy to divert attention from the real issue, which is to bring the guilty in Mumbai attacks to justice. We don't believe these reports are true and if they are, we would like Pakistan to inform us officially,'' Times of India quoted a highly placed source as saying on Thursday.

The blast in a heavily guarded neighborhood of the eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday left one woman killed and four others injured.

Tensions have been running high between India and Pakistan since New Delhi blamed the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai on ‘elements in Pakistan, the charge was, however, denied by Islamabad.

Christmas Peaceful in Kandhamal

Christmas celebrations in the strife-torn Kandhamal district were peaceful. In the four major churches of Tikabali, Raikia, Daringbadi, Phulbani and in relief camps sheltering the minorities, the traditional Mid-night mass, on December 24, was preponed by about four hours.

District officials say amity prevailed and in some places, even people from the Hindu community participated in the evening celebrations.

The administration had earlier beefed up security after minority groups expressed apprehensions of Right wing organizations marring celebrations during Christmas festivities.

The state aministration had beefed up security throughout the state, especially in the Kandhamal district which had borne the brunt of bloody violence following the assassination of noted anti-conversion Swam Laksmanananda Saraswati at his ashram.

Right wing organizations had called earlier for a bandh on Christmas day to press for the arrest of those responsible for the Swami’s gruesome killing, but withdrew the call on the intervention of Chief Minister Navin Patnaik.

Soon after unidentified gunmen shot down the Swami, the government had accused Naxalites of having carried out the killing, Right wing parties, however, went on rampage destroying places of worship belonging to the minority community while blaming them for the murder.

The violence forced several members of the minority to take cover in the jungles and pushed scores of others to find security at relief camps set up by the state government.

With fears of violence haunting the minority, the state government deployed a hug posse of state and central agencies to thwart any efforts to trigger violence and vitiate the delicate peace that has only just returned to the district.

Nearly 50 companies of security forces were deployed in Kandhamal, including the RAF, while helicopters were pressed into service to conduct aerial surveys.

No Conflict yet But Be Ready: BSF

While negating the prospects of an imminent military conflict, Border Security Force (BSF) ADG UK Bansal on Thursday asked troops of the force, deployed in areas of Rajasthan bordering Pakistan, to remain physically and mentally prepared for any kind of eventuality.

Addressing jawans in border areas of Rajasthan, Bansal said though there was not a war like situation but they should remain mentally and physically ready to face any kind of challenge.

Bansal, who is on a three-day visit to review security in border areas of Rajasthan, o Thursday visited the sensitive border posts in Jaisalmer.

He termed the reports in a section of media that villagers on the border areas have been asked to evacuate the area as mere 'rumours'.

GJM Calls off Indefinite Strike

A day after its leaders announced its inclination for talks with the Center and the state government, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Thursday called off its indefinite strike at state government and DGHC offices, creating a conducive environment for the talks scheduled to commence in Delhi on December 29.

Announcing the decision to call off the strike GJM press and publicity secretary, Binoy Tamang said: "We decided to call off the strike at government and DGHC offices to make the atmosphere conducive for the Delhi talks," said Benoy Tamang, GJM press and publicity secretary, in Darjeeling on Thursday.

The decision to call off the strike comes as a pleasant surprise for the state government as Bimal Gurung, while going public with the decision to join the talks on Wednesday, had made it clear that the strike would continue.

The strike, however, will continue to affect NTPC, NHPC, the billing sections of the telephone and electricity departments and tax and revenue collecting offices as these offices will be brought out of the purview of the strike if the tripartite talks are successful.

"Decision in this regard will be taken only after the tripartite talk yields some results," said Tamang.

As part of GJM's non-co-operation movement, all state government and DGHC offices have been closed since December 8.

Meanwhile, the group to attend the Delhi talks has been raised from 13 to 17. Bimal Gurung will however not attend the parleys.

Campaigning Ends for K’taka By Polls

The election campaign for eight assembly constituencies in Karnataka which go for the by-polls on December 27, ended at 5 pm on Thursday. The leaders of different parties including those from the Congress, BJP and the JD(S) campaigned for their candidates till the last minute.

Not wishing to invite the ire of the Election Commission which has been keeping a strict vigil on the activities in these constituencies, the parties ended their campaigns bang on schedule.

The by-election is being viewed as a prestige issue for the Congress and the JD(S) who have lost several partymen to the lure of ministerial berths extended by the ruling BJP in the state.

The BJP is also determined to continue its winning streak in the last electoral outing ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2009.

Purohit’s Former Colleague to Testify

An armyman, who had served with Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit in Military Intelligence, is likely to be made a prosecution witness in the Malegaon blast case as the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) inquiring into the matter has recorded his statement which will also be used as evidence.

"We have recorded the statement of one of the armyman we questioned. This will be used as evidence in the case," a senior ATS official said on Thursday.

"He will be a witness in the blast case. We have taken all precautions to ensure that the statement is admissible in the court," the official said.

The ATS recently questioned three armymen, a Junior Commissioned Officer and two jawans, who have served in Military Intelligence with Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, already in custody in the blast case.

A resident of Pune, 37-year old Lt Col Purohit had allegedly procured RDX and attended several meetings in Deolali to conspire for the blast, the ATS has said.

Names of some armymen cropped up during the interrogation of Lt Col Purohit and Sudhkar Chaturvedi, another arrested accused in the case.

Chaturvedi was first arrested by the Matunga Police for possessing a fake ID which was also used as an entry pass for the Deolali cantonment. He was booked in the Malegaon blast case on November 19.

On reports that the ATS was in a position to file the chargesheet within the stipulated time but its officials are gathering `as much evidence as possible', ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi said, "We are interrogating as many persons as possible in the case."

(Internet Inputs)