Saudi Arabia takes Iran to UN over alleged plot

DUBAI / TEHRAN: Saudi Arabia has taken a first step to have Iran reported to the United Nations Security Council, a move that could lead to new sanctions, but Tehran dismissed allegations it plotted to kill a top Saudi envoy as a ploy to isolate it.     

“Saudi Arabia’s permanent mission to the United Nations formally requested the United Nations Secretary General notify the Security Council of the heinous conspiracy,” the Asharq alAwsat newspaper reported, citing a statement from the kingdom’s UN mission.

The United States on Tuesday said it had uncovered a plot by two men with links to Iran’s security forces to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel alJubeir, by planting a bomb in a Washington restaurant.

One of the men, who allegedly paid a US undercover agent posing as a Mexican drug cartel hitman to carry out the assassination, has been arrested while. The United States says the other is in Iran.

Iran’s leadership says the allegation has been cynically engineered to further isolate Tehran, whose disputed nuclear programme has triggered several rounds of international sanctions against it. AGENCIES

Benazir murder case: FIA seeks more time to arrest Musharraf

RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday requested the Anti Terrorism Court for more time to arrest former president Pervez Musharraf, currently residing in London, in the assassination case of Benazir Bhutto.

During the course of hearing at Adiala Jail, Deputy Director FIA Khalid Rasool informed the court that the FIA had requested the Interior Ministry to approach the Foreign Ministry for the former president’s extradition.

He said that the FIA requires at least a month to extradite Musharraf. The court directed the agency to ensure his arrest on the next date of hearing.

However Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar and Chaudhry Azhar submitted an application before the court, stating that the superintendent and deputy Adiala Jail did not allow them to enter the jail for the hearing of the case.

They said that the jail authorities acted on the behest of former city police officer Saud Aziz and SP Khurram Shahzad who were accused in this case. Special Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed accepted their application and issued notices to the respondents for next date of hearing

Meanwhile, former city police officer Saud Aziz and superintendent police Khurram Shahzad were not formally indicted because the public prosecutors could not enter Adiala jail.

Earlier on February 18, the court reissued non-bailable arrest warrants for Musharraf to be sent to his London address.

The former president is allegedly involved in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto due to his failure to provide her with adequate security.

Musharraf, despite being aware of the imminent danger to Bhutto’s life, did not take the requisite security measures to prevent her assassination, according to a 57-page report submitted earlier in the court.

The FIA has submitted three charge-sheets in this case, with the first one submitted in May 2010 that held the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan responsible for Bhutto’s assassination. The second charge-sheet submitted in September 2010 held former police officials Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad responsible while the third charge sheet submitted in February held Musharraf responsible for Bhutto’s murder.

Benazir’s Blackberry sets found

KARACHI: Interior Ministry has recovered two Blackberry handsets of Benazir Bhutto from the servants of Bilawal House.

When contacted, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed the reports regarding recovery of Benazir Bhutto’s cell-phones that were lost in Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi on the day of her assassination.

The investigative agencies were on the look for these mobile phones for three years.

The spokesman said they have not received the sets as yet, adding the records from the mobile phones will be extracted as soon as they are here.

Sources said the information from these mobile phones could provide some important clues and even breakthrough leading to the real culprits behind her assassination. TrendPK

Ex-Attorney General Latif Khosa appointed as Governor Punjab

According to the latest reports of trendpk.com.Com, it is known that Ex-Attorney General Latif Khosa has been appointed as the new Govenor Punjab.

Earlier to this appointment, Latif Khosa had a meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad. He also had a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi last night. It is learnt that Latif Khosa is considered to be among the few close associates of President Zardari. Previously Latif Khosa has also been appointed as Attorney General of Pakistan and advisor to the Prime Minister.

The need of this appointment for a new Governor Punjab arose after the assassination of Salman Taseer on 4th January 2011.

Governors murder report finalized

A three member team constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has finalized an initial investigation report of the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

According to the report, Mumtaz Qadri, who joined the police force in 2002, has conservative mind. After two years he was transferred in Special Branch, the report said. The report also disclosed that former Chief of Special Branch Nasir Khan Durani returned back Mumtaz Qadri along with eleven others to the police department with remarks that they were extremely conservatives. And all these personals should not be deputed on VIP duties. Besides these remarks Mumtaz Qadri had performed his duty with many other VIPs and also transferred to District Rawalpindi. The team will present its report on Sunday (today).

World Condemns Salman Taseer’s Assassination

The assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer has been condemned worldwide. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday condemned the assassination of the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, calling his death “a great loss.”

“We strongly condemn the assassination today in Pakistan of Punjab Provincial Governor Salman Taseer,” Clinton said in a statement.

“I had the opportunity to meet Governor Taseer in Pakistan and I admired his work to promote tolerance and the education of Pakistan’s future generations. His death is a great loss,” the chief US diplomat said.

“Our deepest sympathies are with Governor Taseer’s wife and children,” she added.

France on Tuesday condemned the assassination of the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, hailing him as a man known for his “courage in defending democratic institutions.”

“France firmly condemns the assassination on Tuesday of the governor of Punjab Salman Taseer. Governor Taseer was a political personality of the highest order,” deputy foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages said.

The United States said Tuesday that the assassination of the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was a “great loss” because he was trying to stabilize his country.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will offer Washington’s condolences to Hussain Haqqani, the Pakistani ambassador to Washington, when she meets him later Tuesday, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

“From our standpoint, his death is a great loss. He was committed to helping the government and people of Pakistan persevere in their campaign to bring peace and stability to their country,” he added.

US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has expressed his deep grief and condolences over the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer.

“I am deeply saddened by the assassination of Governor Taseer. On behalf of the United States, I offer my condolences to his wife and children,” said Cameron Munter.

Speaking about the assassination of Salman Taseer, Ambassador Munter said, “He had the courage of his convictions and was a champion of tolerance. His death is a great loss to the people of Pakistan,” says a US Embassy press release issued here Tuesday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the assassination of the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province calling it a blow to the country.

“The secretary general condemns the assassination today of the governor of Punjab province,” said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. The official, Salman Taseer, was shot dead by a bodyguard opposed to his criticism of blasphemy laws.

Ban called the governor “a prominent leader whose death is a loss for Pakistan.”

People from all walks of life including politicians, civil society, trader unions and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have condemned the tragic death of Salmaan Taseer, while expressing deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise.

The PPP’s Punjab Leadership, members of provincial cabinet including Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah and leaders of other political parties while condemning the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer demanded exemplary punishment for the accused involved in the murder conspiracy.

In their separate statements, PPP’s Punjab President Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Secretary Information, Dr. Fakhruddin Ch, Secretary Finance, Aurangzeb Burki and Additional Secretary Dr. Hasnaat Shah termed governor’s murder a big loss for the PPP and demanded arrest of those who masterminded his assassination.

Speaker Punjab Assembly, Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Senior Punjab Minister, Raja Riaz, provincial Ministers, Rana Sana Ullah, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Dr. Tanvirul Islam, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor, Ahmed Ali Aulakh, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Kamran Michael, Member Provincial Assembly Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri and Dr. Saeed Elahi have expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer.

Senior PPP leader and Chairman Evacuee Property Trust Board, Syed Asif Hashmi held a condolence meeting at his residence and condemned late Taseer’s murder in strongest words.

In their separate condolence messages, all ministers and PPP leaders prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.

White House to help Pakistan fight extremism

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday said its commitment to helping Pakistan root out violent extremism would not waver, following the assassination of the governor of Punjab province.

The White House added its voice to condolences offered to the family of Governor Salman Taseer on Tuesday by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“This is an individual who had worked hard to promote tolerance and his loss is a great one for Pakistan,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

“We remain committed to the efforts that the Pakistani government is (taking) and must undertake to root out violent extremism and to bring greater peace and stability to that country and to that region of the world.

On Tuesday, Clinton said she had admired Taseer’s work to promote tolerance and education and described his death as a “great loss.”

India: terrorists activities carried out by Hindu extremists, says Vijay Singh

General Secretary of Indian National Congress Vijay Singh has said that the terrorist activities carried out in the country are being planned and executed by Hindu extremists. He also said that he was told by police officer Himant Kurkuray that Hindu extremists were threatening him for life and that his life was in severe danger. Singh further said that Himant was investigating the terrorist activities in which Hindus were involved instead of Muslims.

Earlier Indian Minister for Minorities’ affairs had given a statement that the Chief of anti-terrorist squad Maharashatar Himant Kurkuray was being threatened by Hindu extremists but the Hindu extremists were not involved in his assassination.

BB Returned after Getting ‘Clearance’ from US: WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks: Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan after getting ‘clearance’ from the US. President Asif Ali Zardari told this to the then US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson after the assassination of BB, US embassy cables revealed.

According to the US embassy cables, Zardari held meeting with Patterson on 25th January 2008 in which he opened his remarks by saying that the US is “our safety blanket” and recounted how Benazir had returned despite the threats against her because of support and “clearance” from the US.

However, Zardari quickly moved on to the PPP succession. He shared a photocopy of a one-page handwritten will from Benazir in which she bequeathed the party to him. This document, Zardari said, would be published in an upcoming book authored by Benazir.

He said that he opposed to launch a FIR over Benazir’s death because Pakistan did not afford any more chaos.

US embassy cables revealed that Zardari was not much interested in who the sniper was or exactly how Benazir was killed. This was not as important as finding out who financed the killing, who were the “hands behind” it. Ambassador said that we believed Baitullah Mehsud was responsible; Zardari dismissed this by saying that Mehsud was “just a pawn” in the process.

WikiLeaks: Zardari feared coup, named sister as successor if killed

LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari had informed the US ambassador to Pakistan that “he had instructed his son Bilawal to name his sister, Faryal Talpur, as president” in the eventuality of his assassination, the Guardian reported on Wednesday.

According to the latest cache of WikiLeaks published by the British daily, Zardari has made extensive preparations in case of his own assassination.

Last year Zardari told US ambassador Anne Patterson, that if he was assassinated, “he had instructed his son Bilawal to name his sister, Faryal Talpur, as president”.

Zardari is frank about the strength of the Taliban. “I’m sorry to say this but we are not winning” the war against extremists he told US Vice-President Joe Biden in 2009, one of the leaked US cables state.

“I am not Benazir, and I know it,” he told US ambassador Anne Patterson after his wife’s

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