Rushdie India speech cancelled amid death threats

JAIPUR: Asia’s largest literature festival cancelled a video-link speech by Salman Rushdie minutes before it was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, amid death threats to the organizers and fears of violent riots at the event by Muslim groups.

The question of whether the controversial British-Indian author should participate dogged the festival even before it began last week, as its organizers tried desperately to juggle religious sensitivities with freedom of speech in the world’s largest democracy.

“There are a large number of people averse to this video link inside this property. They have threatened violence,” Ram Pratap Singh, owner of the hotel at which the festival was held, told the large crowd that had assembled to listen to the author.

“This is necessary to avoid harm to all of you.”

Rushdie, whose 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses” is banned in India, last week cancelled plans to travel to the north-western city of Jaipur to address the festival in person after reported assassination threats against him.

Watched by an expectant crowd that spilled well outside the main stage area and hundreds of police officers, the event’s organizers announced the cancellation of Rushdie’s video-link appearance to a mix of boos and applause.

“The police commissioner told us there would be violence in the venue and a riot outside where thousands were gathering if we continued,” festival director and noted author William Dalrymple said in a statement. “We have all received death threats, which are still continuing to arrive.”

After an announcement at midday on Tuesday that Rushdie’s address would go ahead, leaders of local Muslim groups began to congregate at the main entrance to the festival, vowing to protest if the video-link was shown.

“TRIUMPH FOR BIGOTRY”

“All of us feel hurt and disgraced. Artists have not been able to prevail,” said Sanjoy Roy, the festival’s producer, holding back tears as he addressed the crowd on the last day of the annual event, which this year drew 70,000 participants.

“It is very sad that we are having to close one of the best festivals in the world in this way.”

Indian political parties have been widely accused of failing to support Rushdie for fear of offending Muslim voters ahead of an important state election in Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, next month.

Electronic name badges, X-ray machines and police pat-downs greeted visitors to the 2012 festival, and close to 600 police were stationed around the five-stage venue in the capital of Rajasthan state.

India, where Muslims make up 13 percent of the 1.2 billion population, has a history of violent clashes between religious groups. Around 2,500 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the neighboring state of Gujarat in 2002 after a suspected Muslim mob burnt alive 59 Hindu activists and pilgrims inside a train.

“This is a big defeat. It’s a triumph for bigotry,” said Tarun Tejpal, editor of Indian news magazine Tehelka after the cancellation of Rushdie’s speech.

The publication of “The Satanic Verses” over 20 years ago sparked a wave of protests and death threats around the world after Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini claimed that the novel’s portrayal of the prophet Mohammad insulted Islam.

Five authors have been investigated by police in Jaipur for reading from the book at the festival, and English PEN, a writer’s body, issued a statement late on Monday in their support.

“We felt that it was important to show support for Salman, who is often misrepresented … This situation has arisen in India at a time when free speech is under attack,” wrote Hari Kunzru, one of the authors involved, in the Guardian newspaper.

The five-day festival, which concluded on Tuesday, showcased over 260 writers from across India and the world, including best-selling authors such as Richard Dawkins, Tom Stoppard and Michael Ondaatje, and global television superstar Oprah Winfrey. AGENCIES

London’s Big Ben is leaning, parliament sinking: reports

LONDON: The landmark clock tower containing Big Ben at Britain’s Palace of Westminster, is tilting, while media reports said the mother of all parliaments was slipping into the River Thames, raising fears over its future.

The House of Commons commission, which is responsible for the upkeep of the 19th century neo-Gothic parliamentary estate popular with tourist photographs, met Monday.

Media reports said it would discuss a surveyor’s report which could recommend lawmakers move out for repairs costing up to one billion pounds, while the Daily Telegraph said another proposal might be to sell to Russian or Chinese developers for about 500 million pounds (£779.7 million).

But a commission spokesman said there was no surveyor’s report, and members were only meeting to discuss setting up a group to look at general long-term renovation of the grade 1-listed building designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin.

“I think there’s been twos and twos added together and come up with we are selling to the Russians, but they won’t be talking about anything like that,” the spokesman said.

The 96-metre tall clock tower, which houses the bell originally nicknamed Big Ben, leans about 46 cm to the left of its peak.

A construction expert who worked on the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy and a multi-storey carpark under the houses of parliament in central London, said there was nothing to worry about, and it would take 10,000 years to reach an angle of concern.

Professor John Burland of Imperial College London also said work on the underground Jubilee train line in the 1990s had not caused dramatic movement, while a spokesman for the commission said the tilt could have existed since its construction in 1859.

The lean which is just visible to the naked eye had “been there for years,” Burland said.

“When I first started work on the car park it was obvious that it was leaning,” he told BBC radio.

“It was probably developed at a very early stage because there’s no cracking in the cladding and we think it probably leant while they were building it and before they put the cladding on.

“That was a long time ago and buildings do lean a little bit.”

He also dismissed concern in the media that parliament was slipping into the Thames, while the commission’s spokesman denied the walls around the palace were suffering from a particularly bad subsidence problem causing Big Ben to lean.

The current building, which houses the upper and lower chambers as well as the offices of some lawmakers, was built after its medieval predecessor was largely destroyed by fire in 1834 and has required constant maintenance.

“There’s no such thing as an old building that isn’t cracked,” he said.

“In fact they’re beneficial because the building moves thermally more than is caused by the Jubilee Line and the movements concentrated around the cracks and, if they didn’t, there’d be cracking elsewhere.

“So these have been there for years and they’re certainly not caused by the Jubilee Line or the car park.” AGENCIES?

Memo Commission calls Malik explanation over threats to Ijaz

TrendPK.com
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Balochistan High Court (BHC), Justice Qazi Faiz Eesa expressed displeasure over the statements given by the government’s top executive regarding the security arrangements in line with the judicial order.

Voicing disapproval over the statements given by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik, Justice Qazi said, “American-Pakistani Businessman Mansoor Ijaz is our witness; hence, his security is our responsibility.”

Heading a three-member commission formed by the Supreme Court (SC) to probe the controversial unsigned memorandum written allegedly to the US government seeking its imposing clout against any potential coup from the Pak Army, Justice Qazi remarked there is a separate forum for someone who does not savor the Commission orders.

Opening today’s proceedings, Akram Sheikh Advocate, counsel of Ijaz stressed before the three-member probe commission that the federal Interior Minister and the government apparatus are threatening his counsel of grim consequences.

Ijaz counsel also referred to the federal minister Malik’s assertions that his counsel might be put on exit control list (ECL), if he receives any such recommendation from the Parliament’s body probing the memo issue.

He went on to express distrust on any person appointed by Malik, emphasizing, “We are furnishing evidences against Malik’s boss. Given the situation, will he not poke hurdles?”

Akram Sheikh Advocate furthermore states that all the possessions of his counsel will be snatched away from him as soon as he lands in Pakistan, adding a contingent headed by a brigadier was pledged; but, nothing such happened on ground.

On this, Justice Qazi said to Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq, “Please tell us the name of the brigadier.” Reacting to this, the AG said he did not give name of any brigadier to the Commission.

Commission queried, “Where is Mansoor?” Replying to this, Akram said his counsel is not being offered satisfactory security; hence, he (Akram) cannot take risk.

Indicating that government acted mala fide, Akram noted his counsel was issued visa on condition he will ensure appearance before Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on January 26.

Akram also argued to the commission that Prime Minister Gilani said that it would be him (PM Gilani) who will appoint an SHO for Ijaz’s security.

Taking notice of the statements of government functionaries, Justice Qazi asked the AGP, “Where is Rehman Malik?”

“He is in the federal capital,” answered the AG Haq.

The Commission adjourned the proceedings till 1130 AM for Malik to account for his statement regarding Ijaz’s security. However, later on, Malik assured his presence before the commission at 3PM.

Justice Qazi queried the AGP, “Does Malik’s statement stand contrary to your affidavit?” Justice Qazi directed the AG to inform the federal interior minister to appear before the commission, which does not want to give ruling without giving chance of explanation to Malik.

The AGP Haq told the commission Malik had said the step could be taken up if the Parliament’s Security Committee proposed so to him. The commission said no order of Malik’s statements published in newspapers came to the fore, adding, ‘Why the PM and Malik are giving statements in this connection?’

“What are we sitting here for, if this is to conclude prior to investigations that memorandum was wrong?” the commission voiced ire adding the lawyers of the parties have made a lot of fuss in the media, as they make their statements public before the commission is informed.

On this Akram requested the commission to ban the media coverage. But during the last hearing, Justice Qazi remarked, Zahid Hussain Bukhari, the counsel of Hussain Haqqani opposed this.

“Inquiries are held world over; but, it is being made mess over here,” Justice Qazi said maintaining every lawyer and government official is holding the memo true and untrue in the run up to the investigations.

Earlier, Hussain Haqqani’s counsel read out his client’s resignation, saying he voluntarily resigned from his office.

Commenting on Ijaz’s decision not to fly into Pakistan to appear before the commission in today’s hearing, Bukhari said Ijaz was accorded all the opportunities to get his statements and evidences recorded; but, he declined to come to Pakistan; hence, his right to record statement should be revoked.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Iqbal Zafar Jhagra is also present in the hearing.

Meantime, Tariq Asad Advocate said Mansoor Ijaz is an independent, adding threats to put his name on ECL are being extended.

Asad Advocate pleaded the commission to offer Ijaz a chance to furnish evidences and proceedings should be kept on until the evidences are produced.

Also, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif’s counsel Mustafa Ramday prayed to the commission to garner evidences including Ijaz statement and other clues.

Tariq Asad said he backs up Akram Sheikh’s statement regarding commission’s collection of evidences from abroad.

Meantime, Ghaus Ali Shah’s counsel Naseer Bhutta also supported the collection of evidences from abroad. But, Watar Party’s leader Barrister Zafarullah opposed commission’s travelling abroad for the purpose.

Raja Farooq Hyder’s counsel Ismatullah also shored up the commission option to travel abroad. TrendPK

Mumbai attacks case: contempt notice issued to Rehman Malik

The notice has been issued on a statement given by him in London with reference to despatching judicial commission to India in Mumbai attack case.

FIA had filed application under section 503 about despatching a judicial commission to India. FIA has completed its arguments on it while defence counsel Khawaja Sultan and other lawyers were yet to give arguments on behalf of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and other accused.

Defence lawyer Khawaja Sultan Ahmad had made interior minister and government respondents in contempt plea. It was said in the contempt application that interior minister while addressing a seminar in London had said with respect to the petition pending hearing in the court in Mumbai attack case that court had granted commission’s request for sending judicial commission to India and the commission would leave for India within 7 to 11 days.

The court while granting plea of Khawaja Sultan Ahmad stopped debate over the application filed by FIA for sending commission to India and issued contempt of court notice to Interior Minister Rehman Malik on his statement.

The court on the request of lawyers has also summoned three prosecution witnesses including forensic expert of FIA Noman Ashraf Godla, Inspector Sardar Muhammad Azam and Nisar Jadoon from FIA on August, 13 for recording their statements.

Hundreds protest HEC devolution in Lahore

LAHORE: Students and PHD scholars on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision against the government’s steps aimed at devolution of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Hundreds of students and faculty of various institutes of Lahore held separate protests in the city, condemning the devolution of HEC and its transfer to provinces.

Participants of these demonstrations termed it as a step to promote provincialism in the country.

Earlier in the day, a three-judge Supreme Court bench directed the HEC to continue work.

The protestors strongly opposed the devolution of HEC. TrendPK

SC allows HEC to continue until new law is enacted

The Supreme Court, disposing of the petitions about the purposed devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), ordered the commission to continue until new laws were enacted.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the petitions regarding devolution of the HEC. Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq said that no notification had been issued regarding devolution of the HEC. He said that any change in the HEC status would be made after proper legislation and a legal draft was being formulated about the matters relating to the higher education in the country.

The CJP asked the petitioners, Azam Swati and Marvi Memon, to solve the issue in parliament. Marvi said that the parliamentarians were being misguided on the issue.

Students stage protest against HEC devolution plan

KARACHI: Protest demonstrations are being held in different cities against the devolution of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

In Lahore, students of Punjab University and Government College University boycotted classes and took out a rally.

Besides Lahore, protest was held in Karachi also by hundreds of students of Karachia and NED universities.

The government says it will set up another commission, Standard for Higher Education Commission (SHEC) in place of HEC.

It is feared the devolution plan, if implemented, could affect PHD scholars of more than 5, 000 students

Pak-India secretary-level talks on all issues

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India home secretaries would hold talks on all issues including the Mumbai attacks.

Senior officials told that the talks slated March 28-29 in New Delhi would discuss besides terrorism, wide range of issues covering eight different subjects including swapping of prisoners, easing the visa facility, anti-drug measures etc.

The officials said that the schedule of the proposed Indian visit of Pakistan Judicial Commission would also be decided in these meetings.

Pakistan would be participating in the talks with open mind, official further said.

Akshay Kumar to be brand ambassador for Canada Tourism

We have all heard of celebrities endorsing products, while a few have also been known to endorse a certain state or country. Well adding to this list is none other than Akshay Kumar. Akshay will soon be formally announced as the brand ambassador of Canada by the Canada Tourism Commission in Delhi. The announcement is scheduled to happen next Friday.

What’s more the high commissioner of Canada in India, Stewart Beck, will preside over the function that is scheduled to be held in the Capital, while the actor is currently busy shooting his next film Joker, in Chandigarh.

PML-N to react strongly if agenda failed: Ch. Nisar

Opposition Leader Ch. Nisar Ali said that PML-N will react strongly if the government failed to fulfill its agenda within 45 days. He said that declaring degrees of 298 MPs as suspected was a conspiracy to safe the fake degree holders.

Talking to media in Islamabad, he will send legal notice to Secretary Election Commission for declaring his degree suspected. He said that Secy ECP asked him not to send the notice, but he will send it.

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