Afghanistan drops charges against Karzai aide

KABUL: The Afghan government has dropped corruption charges against a top aide to President Hamid Karzai who was indicted by a US-backed task force for taking a bribe, an official said Tuesday.

Mohammad Zia Salehi, a senior official in Karzai’s National Security Council, was arrested by the Major Crimes Task Force, a US-funded anti-graft body, in July after he was caught on a wiretap soliciting a bribe.

In return, Salehi reportedly held up an investigation into a company suspected of moving money for Afghan leaders, drug traffickers and insurgents.

At the time, Karzai ordered Salehi to be released, saying that his arrest was unconstitutional and violated human rights.

Rahmatullah Nazari, Afghanistan’s deputy attorney general, told AFP that Salehi had been cleared of the charges, seemingly on a technicality.

“Under Afghanistan’s laws,

No sedition charges for Indian author Arundhati Roy

NEW DELHI: India has decided against prosecuting award-winning author and activist Arundhati Roy for sedition after she spoke out about the disputed region of Kashmir, an official said Friday.

Roy, winner of the prestigious Booker award for her novel “The God of Small Things” in 1997, is a fierce critic of India’s tactics in Kashmir, where protests against New Delhi have claimed more than 100 lives since June.

She shared a stage with hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani last week and backed the idea of “azadi” or freedom for Kashmir, leading New Delhi police to look into charging her with sedition.

But the police have been instructed to “avoid pursuing the issue and consider it as a closed chapter”, said a senior official in the Indian interior ministry, who asked not to be named.

“No criminal case has been registered against her.

Pakistan gave many sacrifices for elimination of terrorism: White House

White House has clearly told the Congress that Pakistan has given many sacrifices for elimination of terrorism; however Pakistan still needs to take more extensive steps in Tribal areas for complete eradication of terrorism.
White House report sent to Congress earlier this month that uses unusually tough language to suggest the ally is not doing nearly enough to confront the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, despite repeated Obama administration claims in public that Pakistan is working hard to crack down on militants The White House assessment is particularly tough on Pakistan’s inability to make gains in North Waziristan, where many analysts believe key Al-Qaeda leaders have gained a safe haven to use as a base to plot terror attacks against Western targets. This is as much a political choice as it is a reflection of an under-resourced military prioritizing its targets, the report said. There is an expectation with that capacity comes a greater effort, a senior official said. But US patience with Pakistan’s inability to crack down on militants is wearing thin, especially among members of Congress. There will be opportunities for us to detail for the Pakistanis what more must be done, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said about the talks. Gibbs gave the Pakistani government credit for what he called an unprecedented level of cooperation, but said the United States has been clear about what is expected of Pakistan.

Pakistan gave many sacrifices for elimination of terrorism: White House

White House has clearly told the Congress that Pakistan has given many sacrifices for elimination of terrorism; however Pakistan still needs to take more extensive steps in Tribal areas for complete eradication of terrorism.
White House report sent to Congress earlier this month that uses unusually tough language to suggest the ally is not doing nearly enough to confront the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, despite repeated Obama administration claims in public that Pakistan is working hard to crack down on militants The White House assessment is particularly tough on Pakistan’s inability to make gains in North Waziristan, where many analysts believe key Al-Qaeda leaders have gained a safe haven to use as a base to plot terror attacks against Western targets. This is as much a political choice as it is a reflection of an under-resourced military prioritizing its targets, the report said. There is an expectation with that capacity comes a greater effort, a senior official said. But US patience with Pakistan’s inability to crack down on militants is wearing thin, especially among members of Congress. There will be opportunities for us to detail for the Pakistanis what more must be done, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said about the talks. Gibbs gave the Pakistani government credit for what he called an unprecedented level of cooperation, but said the United States has been clear about what is expected of Pakistan.

Pakistan gave many sacrifices for elimination of terrorism: White House

White House has clearly told the Congress that Pakistan has given many sacrifices for elimination of terrorism; however Pakistan still needs to take more extensive steps in Tribal areas for complete eradication of terrorism.
White House report sent to Congress earlier this month that uses unusually tough language to suggest the ally is not doing nearly enough to confront the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, despite repeated Obama administration claims in public that Pakistan is working hard to crack down on militants The White House assessment is particularly tough on Pakistan’s inability to make gains in North Waziristan, where many analysts believe key Al-Qaeda leaders have gained a safe haven to use as a base to plot terror attacks against Western targets. This is as much a political choice as it is a reflection of an under-resourced military prioritizing its targets, the report said. There is an expectation with that capacity comes a greater effort, a senior official said. But US patience with Pakistan’s inability to crack down on militants is wearing thin, especially among members of Congress. There will be opportunities for us to detail for the Pakistanis what more must be done, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said about the talks. Gibbs gave the Pakistani government credit for what he called an unprecedented level of cooperation, but said the United States has been clear about what is expected of Pakistan.

Poet Mustafa Zaidi’s 40th death anniversary today

Staff Report

KARACHI: Today marks the 40th death anniversary of Mustafa Zaidi. He is remembered as one of the few progressive Urdu poets of the 20th century. His work and literary accomplishments remain popular and relevant today. He died under mysterious circumstances on October 12, 1970, leaving behind many controversies.

Zaidi was born on October 16, 1930 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India to Syed Lakhte Hasnain and Binte Haider. His father was a senior official in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the UP Province with roots in Meman Saadat, a village in district Bijnor. Mustafa Zaidi grew up in a household with five older half brothers and was the second of three biological brothers.

Mustafa Zaidi received his early education at home from a Maulvi Saheb and a local madrassa in Allahabad. From 1936 to 1945, he attended Modern High School

Poet Mustafa Zaidi’s 40th death anniversary today

Staff Report

KARACHI: Today marks the 40th death anniversary of Mustafa Zaidi. He is remembered as one of the few progressive Urdu poets of the 20th century. His work and literary accomplishments remain popular and relevant today. He died under mysterious circumstances on October 12, 1970, leaving behind many controversies.

Zaidi was born on October 16, 1930 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India to Syed Lakhte Hasnain and Binte Haider. His father was a senior official in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the UP Province with roots in Meman Saadat, a village in district Bijnor. Mustafa Zaidi grew up in a household with five older half brothers and was the second of three biological brothers.

Mustafa Zaidi received his early education at home from a Maulvi Saheb and a local madrassa in Allahabad. From 1936 to 1945, he attended Modern High School

Iran rejects IAEA criticism over lack of cooperation

TEHRAN: Iran has the right to reject U.N. inspectors who give “false” information about its nuclear program, a senior official said on Tuesday, rejecting criticism by the U.N. atomic watchdog.

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, obtained by Reuters in Vienna on Monday, said the Islamic Republic was hampering its work in the country by barring some of its inspectors with Iran-specific experience.

The watchdog also voiced continued concern about possible activities in Iran to develop a nuclear-armed missile and urged Tehran to step up cooperation with the IAEA and grant access to relevant sites, equipment and personnel “without further delay”.

Washington, which accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons and spearheaded the adoption of tougher sanctions on Tehran in June, called the latest IAEA report “troubling”.

Iranian

Sindh Chief Secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman retires

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazl-ur Rehman has been retired, SAMAA reported on Tuesday.

Fazal was a prominent chief secretary and he played an important role in the management of the province and implementing government’s policies accordingly.

After the retirement of Fazal-ur-Rehman from his post,Ghulam Ali Pasha, a senior official, has taken the charge of Sindh Chief Secretary. SAMAA

Younis sends legal notice to British tabloid

KARACHI: Former captain Younis Khan has sent a legal notice to British tabloid ‘News of the World’, which claimed in a report that he like several Pakistani cricketers had signed Mazhar and Azhar Majeed as his agents in the United Kingdom.

Sources close to Younis told a news agency that Younis instructed his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum to issue the notice to the tabloid for publishing the report.

“Yes, the notice has been sent and in it Younis has demanded that the newspaper publish a denial and also pay damages of USD 10,000 towards the flood relief fund for the millions of Pakistanis displaced by the floods,” a source said.

“The brothers approached Pakistani players to sign them during the 2006 tour and Younis refused,” source says. (Agencies)

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