ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised arrangements for holding the presidential election on July 30. Mamnoon Hussain, the PML-N candidate, and retired justice Wajihuddin Ahmed of the PTI are now left in the field after withdrawal of candidature by Mr Hussain’s cover candidate, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra. An ECP official told DNA that transportation of about 2,000 ballot papers would be completed by Monday. If required, C-130 planes and helicopters would be used for the purpose, he added.
Italy top court to shape Berlusconi’s political fate
ROME: Italy’s Supreme Court meets Tuesday to examine a fraud trial against Silvio Berlusconi which could see him ousted from politics and risks upsetting the country’s fragile coalition government. The court will rule on whether to uphold a tax fraud conviction against the former premier and confirm the one-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office, which would effectively end his 20-year political career. The 76-year-old is unlikely to be jailed because of his age, but his banishment from parliament would be a blow to the centre-right. It could also unsettle Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s centre-left and right coalition, already riven with bickering.
Malians to defy death threats to vote in new leader
BAMAKO: Malians were preparing Sunday to defy Islamist death threats and vote in their millions for a president expected to usher in a new dawn of peace and stability in the conflict-scarred nation. They will have a choice of 27 candidates as they vote for the first time since last year’s military coup upended one of the region’s most stable democracies, as Islamist militants hijacked a separatist uprising to seize much of the country.
Thousands protest in Peru as president feels heat
LIMA: Peruvian police used tear gas and water cannon Saturday to drive back thousands of demonstrators protesting against what they said were President Ollanta Humala’s unkept promises on schools and jobs. On the eve of Independence Day celebrations, some 6,000 marchers heeded a call by the country’s largest union confederation, CGTP, to turn out in force. Those taking to the streets included university students, non-governmental activists and human rights groups.
Two security men injured in IED attack in Peshawar
PESHAWAR: At least two security forces’ persons were injured Sunday when a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeted their vehicle in Peshawar’s Wazir Bagh area. According to a DNA source, the police mobile van was targeted with a roadside IED in Wazir Bagh on the outskirts of Peshawar. The vehicle was completely damaged and two security forces’ persons were injured, who were immediately shifted to Lady Reading Hospital. No loss of life was reported in the incident.
Afridi, Babar heroics seal thrilling win for Pakistan
KINGSTOWN: Thirty-four-year debutant Zulfiqar Babar took three key wickets then struck a six off the final ball of the match to give Pakistan a two-wicket victory over West Indies in the first Twenty20 international on Saturday.
Presidential election: ECP issues final list of candidates
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday issued the final list of candidates for the coming presidential election. The July 30 polling will see a one-on-one contest between Mamnoon Hussain, candidate for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI). The ECP has also ordered the printing of ballot papers for the presidential election — 1500 ballot papers are to be printed for the occasion.
Four security personnel injured in attack on FC check post in Hangu
PESHAWAR: At least four paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers were injured in an attack on their check post in the town of Tall in northwestern Pakistan’s Hangu district. Six militants were killed in retaliatory fire by the FC. “Around 50 militants attacked an FC check post and exchanged fire with the soldiers for over two hours,” a local intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. Another intelligence official also confirmed the incident and said that the attack was repulsed after FC troops retaliated.
‘Anti-drone’ militant group claims Parachinar twin blasts
PESHAWAR: A new militant group by the name of Ansarul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the Parachinar attack which has left at least 57 dead and around 180 injured and says this is their first attack outside Waziristan. Speaking to Dawn.com from an undisclosed location, a spokesman for Ansarul Mujahideen, Abu Baseer, said the group had been set up to respond to US drone strikes.
Baseer said the organisation was “very clear” about its mission, adding that “with each drone attack, we will be responding with a suicide attack…we have done it and shown it”.
He said the recent suicide attacks on Esha check post, Boya check post and Damdail check post were carried out by Ansarul Mujahideen in retaliation to US drone strikes, adding that these would continue.
Pakistan’s official position on drone attacks says these are counter productive and undermine government efforts to separate tribes from militants, violate Pakistan’s sovereignty, kill civilians and fuel anti-US sentiment.
Regarding yesterday’s twin blasts, Baseer said the attacks had been carried out in reaction to “the atrocities committed against the majority Sunni population in Iraq and Syria”, adding that the Ansarul Mujahideen would target “those who somehow support” these atrocities.
Parachinar is some 250 kilometres west of Peshawar and has a population of 50,000. In the wake of sectarian clashes in 2007, the army and paramilitary forces set up several checkpoints on roads leading to the town.
Kurram, the tribal region of which Parachinar is the main town, the only part of Pakistan’s border region that has a significant Shia population, has been racked by sectarian violence.
China charges Bo Xilai with corruption, abuse of power
JINAN, China – China’s once high-flying communist politician Bo Xilai was indicted Thursday for bribery and abuse of power, state media said, following a scandal that exposed deep divisions at the highest levels of government. Bo, the former party chief of the southwestern city of Chongqing, will be the highest-profile Communist official to be put on trial in China for decades. He has not been seen in public for more than a year since he was detained following the murder of a British businessman by his wife and his right-hand man’s flight to a US consulate, triggering a huge political controversy.
