informationallabout

Pakistan news of March 18, 2009

• Crisis still not over despite restoration of judiciary
• Government courts to stop functioning in Swat
• Opposition activists detained last week must be freed - UN
• Bangladesh backs off from sending their cricket team to Pakistan
• Karachi Stock Exchange maintains its upward trend

Crisis still not over despite restoration of judiciary

Washington (Dawn News): With the present political crisis ending with a tilt of world politicians towards PML-N which left doubt in the mind of US officials over the ability of the government in tacking domestic issues as well as in controlling terrorists.

The US left a threat of cut off of aid if the present crisis in not resolved citing that their interest in the region would be hurt and the funds flowing to Pakistan as aid would not be effectively utilized. Chairman of the Senate in the US, Patrick J. Leahy, said that there is a strong desire in the congress to provide economic assistance to Pakistan but, ‘ if Pakistan is in such a state of internal political turmoil that US aid can’t be used effectively, that’s going to limit what can be done.’

Government courts to stop functioning in Swat

Mingora (Dawn News): Sharia courts have started to function in Swat since yesterday after Manulana Sufi Mohammad asked the Judges to not to come to courts citing that these courts were against Sharia. Maulana Sufi Mohammad’s son told the newsmen that the judges made a wise decision about not attending the courts while Maulana Sufi Mohammad said that in Sharia there in no room for English Law.

Opposition activists detained last week must be freed - UN

United Nations (Dawn News) : Ms. Navi Pillay, the chief of Human Rights in the UN welcomed the gestures of the Pakistani President of restoring judiciary terming it an important step towards political harmony but said that the political activists and leaders who had been arrested during last week must be release.

Bangladesh backs off from sending their cricket team to Pakistan

Wednesday (AFP): Players safety first, Bangladesh yesterday officially announced that they could not send their team to Pakistan on their scheduled tour where the teams of Pakistan and Bangladesh were supposed to play 5 one day international matches and two test matches.

‘We have had to suspend the tour for the time being because of security concerns,’ said Bangladesh sports minister Ahad Ali Sarke.

Karachi Stock Exchange maintains its upward trend

Karachi (Business Recorder): Karachi Stock Exchange staged another rally where investors and traders were seen busy buying stocks. The index at KSE marked a rise of 74.99 points and closed at 6,138.53 points.