Tariq Fatemi
President Barack Obama’s “America is at a crossroads” speech last week has reignited debate in the United States around the issue of terrorism. The Republicans have accused him of declaring victory prematurely, while Liberals are upset that he continues to hew closely to the discredited Bush policies.
Though inadequate, a welcome step
Pakistan’s RIGHT Swing?
Election May 2013 marked another huge step forward in Pakistan’s democratic transition. The Punjab spoke out for Sharifs, Sindh for Bhuttos and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Imran Khan. Balochistan once again ended up politically and ethnically polarized, making almost every party represented in the provincial assembly a claimant to power. The MQM, as feared, conquered Karachi again with an unmistakable warning from Altaf Hussein and his followers that “Karachi belongs to us and we will do whatever it takes to retain power there.”
14 militant organisations have linkages in Pakistan: report
ISLAMABAD, May 31 (DNA): At least 14 militant organisations, involved in trans-national terrorist incidents during 2012, were having bases or linkages in Pakistan, said the US State Department Country Terrorism report.Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) by the US Secretary of State, some of the 14 militant organisations were found involved in terrorism incidents in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Europe and the US, media reports say Friday.
Red Cross halts all staff movement after Afghan attack
KABUL: The International Committee of the Red Cross has halted all staff movement across Afghanistan and closed its office in Jalalabad which was hit by a deadly suicide and gun attack.The two-hour assault on Tuesday, which left one Afghan guard dead, was the first time ICRC offices have been targeted in Afghanistan since the organisation began work there 26 years ago.
FIFA approves stricter sanctions for racism
PORT LOUIS: FIFA’s member countries have approved stricter punishments for racism in football, including the possible relegation of a club for serious offenses.
Three security personnel, 20 militants killed in Orakzai clash
PESHAWAR: Three security personnel were killed and 15 were injured in a clash with militants in the northwestern tribal region of Orakzai on Friday, security sources said.
Death toll rises to 123 as two more die of measles
LAHORE: Two more children have died in Punjab as the overall death toll from the measles outbreak rose to 123 in the province. As many as 14,823 children are suffering from the disease in Punjab. Two children identified as Anam and Saira died of the outbreak here today. They hailed from Lahore and Muridkay respectively.
Shah becomes Sindh CM for third time
KARACHI: Veteran politician and senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday has been elected the chief minister in Sindh province for record third occasion.
PAF suspends “Air Force Development Plan 2025,” says report
ISLAMABAD: Due to financial constraints and non release of funds by the federal government, the Pakistan Air force (PAF) has suspended its up gradation and development plan called “Air Force Development Plan 2025,” says a report of the Senate’s standing committee on defence Thursday.
Li crashes in Paris gloom, Djokovic cruises
PARIS: Chinese sixth seed Li Na, the 2011 champion, was knocked out of the rain-lashed French Open on Thursday while Novak Djokovic moved effortlessly closer to a first Roland Garros crown.Li went down 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 to brash American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in what was the 31-year-old’s earliest defeat at the tournament in seven appearances. As Mattek-Sands, the world number 67, looked forward to a third round match-up with Argentine qualifier Paula Ormaechea, Li was left surveying the wreckage of a second successive Roland Garros failure.
