Saudi king gives women right to vote

He also announced that women would have the right to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Council, in an address opening a new term of the council.

“Starting with the next term, women will have the right to run in municipal elections and to choose candidates, according to Islamic principles,” he said.

This means that women will be able to take part in the elections that will be held in four years, as the next vote is due to take place on Thursday and nominations for those are already in.

“We have decided that women will participate in the Shura Council as members starting the next term,” the king also said in an unexpected move to enfranchise women in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

“The Muslim woman… must not be marginalised in opinion or advice,” said King Abdullah.

More than 5,000 men will compete in Thursday s municipal elections, only the second in Saudi Arabia s history, to fill half the seats in the kingdom s 285 municipal councils. The other half are appointed by the government.

The first elections were held in 2005, but the government extended the existing councils  term for two years.

More than 60 intellectuals and activists called in May for a boycott of the ballot because “municipal councils lack the authority to effectively carry out their role” and “half of their members are appointed,” as well as because they exclude women.

Saudi Arabia s Shura Council had recommended allowing women to vote in the next local polls, officials have said.

In April, Samar Badawi said she was suing the municipal affairs ministry for upholding the ban on women taking part in the local poll.

Badawi filed a lawsuit at the administrative court in Mecca against the ministry for denying women the right to register as voters.

Also in April, a group of women defied the ban on women in elections by turning up at a voter registration office in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, in a rare public demonstration against the male-only electoral system.

But they were turned back by the head of the centre who told them women were still banned from voting.

Women s rights activists have long fought to gain the right to vote in the kingdom that applies a strict version of Sunni Islam and bans women from driving or travelling without the consent of a male guardian

A group of defiant Saudi women got behind the steering wheels of their cars on June 17 in response to calls for nationwide action against the ban.

Thousands protest in Yemen against Saleh’s rule

Thousands of opposition supporters took to streets in the Yemeni capital on Thursday against Ali Abdullah Saleh’s rule.

The protest, the biggest staged against Saleh in past weeks, came despite the president announcing yesterday that he would not seek another term and that he had postponed controversial April elections – two key opposition demands.

The Tunisian and Egyptian upheavals have fueled people’s demands for political change across the Arab world. There have been calls for anti-government protests Thursday in Sudan, Friday in Jordan and Saturday in Syria.

Saudi king arrives in US for medical tests

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia says King Abdullah has arrived in New York for medical treatment.

The official Saudi Press Agency says the 86-year-old monarch was greeted by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal and a number of top Saudi officials after landing at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport on Tuesday.

The agency published photographs of Abdullah in a wheelchair, shaking hands with al-Faisal.

Abdullah on Monday gave temporary authority to “administer the nation’s affairs” to Crown Prince Sultan, his half-brother and heir to the throne.

Saudi authorities have been unusually open about the king’s condition since announcing that he suffered a slipped disc and that a blood clot was pressing nerves in his back, causing him pain.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

CAIRO (AP) —

Abdullah Hussain Haroon decides to quit ambassadorship

Pakistans permanent ambassador to UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon has decided to quit ambassadorship and return to Pakistan.
In the honour of Abdullah Hussain Haroon, a farewell gathering was also organised in New York. Six years earlier, Abdullah Hussain Haroon was given an extension of one year. Now he has decided to return to Pakistan and he will reach here in two to three days. Hussain Haroon says that he will stay in his country and help the nation.

Obama thanks Saudi king for role in averting bombings

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday thanked Saudi King Abdullah for the “critical role” of Saudi counterrorism authorities in uncovering a parcel bomb plot and averting attacks, the White House said.

“The president spoke to Saudi King Abdullah this morning to discuss the terrorist plot that was disrupted yesterday at East Midlands Airport and in Dubai,” the White House said in a summary of Obama’s phone call to the Saudi monarch. AGENCIES

10 killed, Oover 50 Injured in Karachi Shrine Blasts

KARACHI, News Trends: Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside the crowded shrine of Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi at Clifton, killing at least ten people and injuring more than five on Thursday.

Rescue sources said deadbodies of ten people were shifted to Jinnah Medical Center where emergency has been declared. More than 50 injured people have been shifted to Jinnah hospital, Seemi Jamali, incharge emergency ward of the hospital said.

The first blast took place when a suicide bomber blew himself up at central gate of the Shrine while the second attacker blew himself minutes later outside the shrine, damaging number of shops.

Eyewitnesses said subsequent stampede injured dozens of people including women and children. They were seemed crying out for the help.

Edhi and other rescue teams arrived at the scene and rushed the injured to hospitals. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers cordoned off the area.

The shrine was fully packed with people at the time of blast as women and children usually come to visit the mausoleum on Thursday.

The tomb of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is located at perched on a hilltop overlooking Clifton Beach, Karachi. Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s tomb attracts a steady stream of devotees who shuffle forward to caress the silver railing around the burial place and drape it with garlands of flowers.

Officials say the blasts were suicide attacks while the bomb disposal squad has also claimed to have recovered heads and body parts of the two alleged suicide attackers.

The Minister for Interior Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, confessing security laps in the incident, ordered to seal the shrines across the city. Security has been beefed up across the city.

Several attacks have targeted Pakistan’s mosques and shrines in recent years, many of them blamed on militant groups. Some 38 people were killed on July 1,2010 in triple suicide bombing at Data Darbar in Lahore.

Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi was a ninth-century sufi who is believed to be a patron saint of Karachi. People, most of them Muslims, come here to pay homage to him from across the country.

Karachi grieves attack on Ghazis shrine; red alert across country

The Sunni Tehrik, along with the Jafria Alliance and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, announced a three-day mourning besides a call for protest over the twin suicide blasts hitting Abdullah Shah Ghazis shrine.
The toll from yesterday’s suicide attack rose to 9.
Meanwhile, in view of the bombing threat, security has been beefed up at all the shrines and mosques, Imam Barghas across the country.
Heavy police contingent are patrolling the main routes in all the big cities to maintain peace during Juma prayers.
Two suicide bombers ripped through shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi on Thursday, killing at least nine people and injuring 60 others. Taliban claimed the responsibility of attacks.

Karachi: 8 killed in twin blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine

At least 8 people were killed and several others sustained injuries in twin suicide blasts near shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Dunya News reported on Thursday. Taliban claimed the responsibility of attacks.
According to Dunya News correspondent, the blasts occurred near walk-through gates of the tomb. According to Secretary Auqaf, 8 people were killed in the blasts. Panic prevailed after the incident. Police and law enforcing agencies cordoned off the tomb.
Emergency was imposed in Karachi hospitals and paramedical staff was immediately called. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals including Jinnah Hospital. Situation of some of the injured is stated to be critical.
Sindh Chief Minister said that a committee has been formed to probe the suicide blasts. IG Sindh said that final report of the blasts would be submitted tomorrow.
President Zardari was in the Bilawal House when the blasts occurred in Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine. Security around Bilawal House was increased after the incident.
The Mausoleum and Dargah of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is located in Clifton, neighbourhood of Saddar Town in Karachi.

ST announces three days of mourning

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sunni Tehreek (ST) has announced three days of mourning over the suicide blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine where ten people were martyred and more than 80 others wounded.

While talking to the journalists after the blasts, ST leaders Shakeel Qadri said that the nation knows who is behind such terrorist activities. SAMAA

Karachi: 12 killed in twin blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine

At least 12 people have been killed and several others sustained injuries in twin suicide blasts near shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Dunya News reported on Thursday.
According to Dunya News correspondent, both the blasts were occurred near walk-through gates of the tomb. According to Secretary Auqaf, 10-12 people have been killed in the blasts. Panic prevailed after the incident. Police and law enforcing agencies cordoned off the tomb and relief activities have been started.
Emergency has been imposed in Karachi hospitals and paramedical staff has been called. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals including Jinnah Hospital. Situation of some of the injured is stated to be critical.
President Zardari was in the Bilawal House when the blasts occurred in Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine. Security around Bilawal House was increased after the incident.
The Mausoleum and Dargah of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is located in Clifton, neighbourhood of Saddar Town in Karachi.

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