CIA drone attacks will remain secret

The CIA is not legally required to inform the public about the use of unmanned drones to kill suspected terrorists, US District Judge Rosemary Collyer has ruled.

The ruling was made in a case in which the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged the CIA s decision to reject a Freedom of Information Act request on the issue.

The CIA had said that anything about the relevant records is basically classified information.

The federal judge also rejected the ACLU s argument that “former CIA Director Leon Panetta had officially acknowledged the agency s use of drones.”

The ACLU noted that media outlets have been covering the use of drones by the US, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan, for years.

The ACLU pointed out that when Panetta, who is currently the US defense secretary, was asked about the credibility of such attacks, which also endanger many civilian lives, he said, “I think it does suffice to say that these operations have been very effective because they have been very precise.”

Despite the ACLU s argument, Judge Collyer ruled, “These comments by Director Panetta did not officially disclose the CIA s involvement in the drone strike programme. Director Panetta spoke generally of his knowledge of  covert and secret operations  in Pakistan and his assessment that those operations had been precise with minimal collateral damage.”

In an interview with the ‘Washington Post’ in 2010, Panetta “appeared to speak to the joint efforts of the military and non-military agencies of the US government… Director Panetta merely admitted that the CIA s operations in Pakistan, left undefined, were the most aggressive ever undertaken by the CIA,” the judge said.

Shahzain Bugti bail plea hearing put off

QUETTA: Balcohistan High Court (BHC) adjourned on Tuesday the hearing of a bail plea filed by detained Baloch leader Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti in illegal arms case.

The court will now resume the hearing on Wednesday.

The counsel for Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) leader Shahzain Bugti had submitted the bail plea in BHC on Monday.

During the hearing, Prosecutor General sought more time to study the case, saying he did not get the relevant record.

The court then adjourned the hearing for one day.

Later, Bugti’s lawyer told newsmen that his client is a patient of blood pressure and that his bail denial could pose a life threat. TrendPK

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

Pakistan criticizes release of secret US cables

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has criticized the release of classified U.S. diplomatic cables that reportedly raise concerns about the country’s nuclear program.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday that the release of the documents by online whistle-blower Wikileaks was “irresponsible.”

He says the U.S. had warned Pakistan in advance about the release and officials were still examining the relevant documents.

Details about the cables were published Sunday by The New York Times and several other media outlets.

The New York Times reported that since 2007, the United States has mounted an unsuccessful secret effort to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. AGENCIES

Action against fake degree holders from Aug 05

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan said that it would begin action against fake degree holders from August 05, Geo News reported.

The ECP has called the focal person of Higher Education Commission on August 05 with all the relevant record.

The lawmakers who hold fake degrees have also been invited to record their version.

Govt. accords priority to social sector development: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday said government considers social sector development as its top priority.

Chairing a meeting on social sector cooperation with USA under the Kerry-Lugar Act, the Prime Minister emphasized that the relevant Ministries and organizations should not loose sight of the welfare and benefits to the people at large.

Prime Minister said the social sector development was a significant area requiring concerted efforts and appropriate allocations both through own sources as well as assistance from friendly countries.

The Prime Minister said the National Education Policy comprehensively covers various aspects, which would help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

He said the Health Policy and women empowerment initiatives also have to be holistic to meet the growing needs of the society.

SHC announces summer holidays

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) will observe summer holidays from June 7 to August 7 while announcement has also been made about holidays for Sindh district courts.

According to notification issued by Registrar SHC Abdul Qadir Soomro said during holidays special benches of the relevant courts will be holding proceedings for important cases of SHC principal seat and circuit benches of Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana.

According to another notification, district courts of Karachi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Kotri and Umerkot will observe summer holidays from June 1 to June 30.

The period of summer holidays will be from July 1 to July 31 for district courts of Khairpur, Dadu, Larkana, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Naushehroferoz, Shahdadkot and Kashmor.

Ayesha claims to have ‘Nikahnama’

NEW DELHI: India’s Ayesha Siddiqi has claimed that she can produce the wedding certificate and other relevant documents to prove her relationship with Shoaib Malik.

In an interview with an Indian TV, Siddiqi said she was hurt by the revelations made by Shoaib and his family about her.

The allegations being leveled by the Shaoib’s family are totally baseless, the somber-looking lady said.

“Shoaib himself accepted of being married with me, she said, adding he had sent Rs500 as a Haq Mehr to me.” “I want to get a formal divorce from Shoaib Malik.”

To a question, Siddiqi said she was not in contact with Shoaib Malik anymore, adding they she had spoken to the cricketer for the last time in 2007.

She also made a stunning disclosure that wife of former Pakistan skipper Muhammad Yousuf know about their relationship.

“If Shoaib does not want to live with me. I am also not interested,” she added.

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