ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said that there is concern being expressed in certain quarters about some of the provisions of the Kerry-Lugar Bill and that the USA and Pakistan need to work together to alleviate these concerns.
The President made these comments during a call on by US Senator Daniel Inouye, Chief of the US Senate Appropriation Committee here.
The President emphasized that there was an urgent need for the USA to approve the pending bill on Reconstruction Opportunities Zone (ROZs) as it will create employment opportunities in conflict affected areas of Pakistan including NWFP, besides improving the economy.
The President also expressed the desire that it was absolutely necessary for the two countries to sign free trade agreement which would empower the people of Pakistan with greater economic opportunities, enabling them to improve their economy so as to be in a better position to face the challenges facing the nation.
US Senator Daniel Inouye assured the President that there was no intention whatsoever within the United States to influence any institution in Pakistan and that the US is here to help the Pakistani nation.
He appreciated the ongoing operation in Swat and Malakand. He stated that the people of Pakistan require assistance in the health and education sectors as well as other areas, which would help improve their living conditions.
He stated that it is in the interest of both the countries to work in partnership, which will bring stability not only to Pakistan but also the whole region.
US Senator Daniel Inouye, Chief of the US Senate Appropriation Committee is one of the senior most Senators of the US Senate and is a Second World War veteran as well.
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BEIJING: Novak Djokovic captured his third ATP title of the year at the China Open on Sunday, outlasting giant killer Marin Cilic of Croatia, while Russia’’s Svetlana Kuznetsova breezed to the women’’s title.
The Serbian second seed capitalised on a 90-minute rain delay at 2-2 in the first set, returning to centre court at the Beijing Olympic tennis venue with renewed focus to win the blistering baseline battle with Cilic, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).
The big-hitting Cilic — who beat fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko and top seed Rafael Nadal en route to the final — pummeled Djokovic with a barrage of huge backcourt shots but the Serb successfully mixed up the pace to throw him off.
After holding serve to go up 3-2 in the first, Djokovic broke Cilic twice to take the set, with the 21-year-old Croatian the victim of two unlucky net cords in the final game.
In the second, Cilic — a wild card entry here — and the 22-year-old Serb traded breaks three times to force a tiebreak, with the Croatian failing to serve out the set twice.
Djokovic took control mid-tiebreak, winning a rally after Cilic slipped and fell to go up 4-2. The Serb closed it out on his second match point when the Croatian sent an inside-out forehand sailing wide.
Both players agreed that the light rain shower had influenced the outcome of the match, which lasted nearly two hours.
In the women’’s final, Kuznetsova, the sixth seed here, used her powerful ground strokes and extra experience to beat Poland’’s Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-2, 6-4.
Kuznetsova, who defeated Radwanska earlier this year en route to the French Open title, dominated the first set, breaking the 20-year-old Pole three times and running her around the court with her penetrating ground strokes.
In the second, the 24-year-old Russian — who won here in 2006 — also went up an early break and never looked back, hitting difficult angles from the baseline and easily serving out the match against the Polish 12th seed.
The win at the 6.6-million-dollar combined ATP/WTA event ensures that Kuznetsova, currently world number six, will move into the top five when the new WTA rankings come out on Monday.
Also on Sunday, American twins Bob and Mike Bryan won the men’’s doubles final, defeating Andy Roddick and doubles specialist Mark Knowles in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, for their sixth title of the year.
China’’s Peng Shuai and Taiwan’’s Hsieh Su-wei won the women’’s doubles title late Saturday, beating Russia’’s Alla Kudryavtseva and Ekaterina Makarova, 6-3, 6-1.
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ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ijaz Butt, captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam will appear tomorrow before the national Assembly?s standing committee for sports.
Chairman standing committee Jamshed Dasti had levelled charges of match fixing against the national team after its defeat in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.
The standing committee has called chairman PCB Ijaz Butt at the meeting tomorrow for probing into Pakistan team?s defeat in the semi-finals.
Butt will attend the meeting along with the team?s captain Younis and coach Intikhab.
Younis Khan said that he had appeared in the ceremony arranged by the government after his team won the Twenty20 World Cup and now he is ready to face the standing committee after the team lost the semi-final.
He said that a heated debate is expected at the meeting in Islamabad because chairman standing committee Jamshed Dasti had charged the allegation of match fixing against the Pakistan team.
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KARACHI: Following the deadly attack on the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, the intelligence agencies across Sindh province including provincial capital Karachi have become active meanwhile, the suspected activists of banned religious outfits have been enlisted with a view to carry out crack down on them, Geo news reported.
According to police sources, the decision came following the militants? onslaught on GHQ in Rawalpindi on Saturday while the security in Karachi including across Sindh province has been put on high alert.
Intelligence and security agencies have been dictated to carry out search operations in parts of Karachi including Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Model Colloney, Shah Faisal Conloney, Sherpao Coloney, Future Coloney, Millat Coloney, Manghopir and Orangi Town areas, sources added.
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LAHORE: The workers from PML-N observed ?Black Day? by staging rally in protest against October 12 incident when ten years ago former president Pervez Musharraf overthrew democratic government as Chief of Army Staff, Geo news reported Monday.
According to sources, he activists from PML-N, members national and provincial assemblies, and party leaders set up protest camps, rallies and took out processions to mark the day.
N-League took out protest rallies on Jail Road and Mall Road in Lahore and set up protest camp outside Punjab assembly, sources said.
During the protesting activities, the activists called for registration of case against Pervez Musharraf and trial over charges of high treason against national interest and integrity.
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Pakistan News
KARACHI: The benchmark KSE-100 Index at Karachi Stock Exchange Monday slashed 126 points to close at 9,743.
The investors appeared cautious and opted for profit taking following incidents of bomb blasts in NWFP and attack on GHQ.
The 100 Index opened negative but buying in oil and gas sector soon turned the numbers green. However, the news of deadly suicide attack in Shangla, NWFP pulled the Index back into red zone which closed at the present level.
The trade volume stood at 156.7 million shares.
Jehangir Siddiqui Company emerged as today?s volume leader which gained paisas 75 to close at Rs39.10.
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PESHAWAR: Chief of Awami National Party (ANP), Asfandyar Wali Khan, denouncing the bomb attack in Shangla, called upon the nation and government institutions to jointly wage Jihad against terrorists.
In a statement issued here on Monday, those who carry out bomb blasts are enemies of the humanity and it is the need of the hour to jointly wage Jihad against these elements.
?Unfortunately, Pukhtoons have been shedding blood on the land of Pukhtoons for the last 30 years and that is why the government has made a commitment to sparing no sacrifice for elimination of the scourge of terrorism,? Asfandyar Wali said.
He expressed sympathies for the bereaved family members of the victims of Shangla blast.
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KARACHI: On the point of object, the members Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) raised concerns over the deaths inflicted by the negligence rendered by Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) during the Sindh assembly?s proceedings today meanwhile, provincial Food minister Nadir Magsi called for the authority of federal wheat export into hands of provinces, Geo news reported.
According to sources, the members MQM told speaker due to fragile electricity wires being used by KESC, many people have died of shocks of electric currents and the death toll has risen to the extent of serious concern.
They demanded provincial government to make KESC pay compensation money to heirs killed by electric current, sources said, adding, many others issues pertaining to education, wheat, arrests of fishermen came during the session.
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Pakistan News
KARACHI: Pakistan Navy’’s maritime exercise `SEASPARK 2009” commenced on Monday.
An ISPR (Navy) press release said on Monday that the exercises panning over six weeks, will be conducted in North Arabian Sea employing all operational units of Pakistan Navy including ships, submarines, aircraft, Special Services Group and Pak Marines.
It said that the main objective of the exercise is to assess the operational readiness of Pakistan Navy and provide an opportunity to the officers and men to operate under multi-threat environment and exercise responses accordingly.
The exercise has been divided into four main phases: Preparatory, Mobilization, War and Analysis.
The exercise is presently in the Mobilization Phase which includes activation of Forward Operating Bases, Dispersal Sites and Command and Control Centers.
Opening brief of the exercise was held this morning at PN Dockyard which was presided over by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir.
Participating units of the exercise, which also include supporting units from PAF, have been divided into Blue and Orange forces depicting friend and foe respectively.
The exercise is conducted under the auspices of Pakistan Navy Ops Directorate headed by Rear Admiral Tanveer Faiz.
Commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Asif Sandila commands the Blue Force whereas Rear Admiral Abbas Raza is incharge of Orange Force.
During the inaugural session, the Force Commanders presented their Concept of Operations (ConOps).
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HANGU: A loud blast is reported to have been heard in Hangu.
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