Mar 11, Colombo: Sri Lankan government has organized a conference to educate the country’s work force on the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma development plan.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) called the Inspector Generals of Police of Sindh and the NWFP along with a detailed report on police manhandling cases, Geo News reported Thursday.

Justice Javed Iqbal said the conventional thana culture could not be changed with putting an end to the political interference.

The Inspector General said the media quite exaggeratingly showcased police in a manner that they were Indian army.

A three-judge SC bench headed by Justice Javed Iqbal heard the suo motu case of police torture.

The court directed Punjab Attorney General to issue notices to the DIGs and SPs of the areas where these incidents occurred.

Justice Sair Ali said the police involved in the manhandling should be treated as they treated others.

Justice Tariq Perviaz said Public Safety Commission should be abolished if it entails no benefit.

IG Punjab told the court that media exaggerated the chhitrol incidents.

On this, Justice Javed Iqbal told him that court does not intend to dishonor him, urging him to purge his department of black sheep, so that the police image could be improved.

IG Islamabad conceded that manhandling is not the appropriate way to interrogate the criminals, saying the federal police foiled 90 percent potential terror incidents by adopting scientific methods.

Later on, the court adjourned the hearing for three weeks.

Mar 11, Colombo: The G-15, group of developing countries has considered offering its chairmanship to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government Media Unit said today.

Mar 11, Colombo: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University of Colombo for establishing a Visiting Chair in Social Sciences.

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry observed that illegal actions couldn”t be allowed for Nato, he was hearing a petition filed by residents of Clifton Block 1 against illegal parking of oil tankers.

The three-member bench of Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chauhdry, Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing the petition moved by Ms Shugafta Bibi, seeking to vacate the land occupied by the owners of oil tankers.

The plaintiff, residents of Clifton block 1, alleged that the oil tanker mafia had occupied a big portion of land in main area of Shireen Jinnah Colony and established a garage for the tankers, causing noise and air pollution.

Oil Tankers Association told the court that they were allotted four plots for parking but a year ago, on information of a bomb, were vacated. Association pointed out that tankers supply fuel to Nato and are very important.

CJ observed that whomever it was we couldn”t allow illegal actions in the country.

Later, bench ordered authorities to remove the parking from the area and instructed Karachi Port Trust to provide land to these tankers within a week.

CJ also ordered Sindh government to allocate land in Zulfiqarabad.

Mar 11, Kelaniya: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that his primary goal is to bestow a promising country to the future generation that is equipped with the qualifications to compete in the international arena.

Mar 11, Colombo: The 118-member international organization of non-aligned states, Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has expressed concerns over the move by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice on accountability issues on Sri Lanka.

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai Thursday said his country did not want to become a battleground for proxy wars between India, Pakistan, Iran and the United States.

Addressing a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani after signing a MoU, he said “We in Afghanistan are fully aware and recognise that without Pakistan and without its cooperation with Afghanistan, Afghanistan cannot be stable or peaceful.”

“It is also, I believe, recognised in Pakistan that without a stable and peaceful Afghanistan there cannot be stability or peace in Pakistan,” he said.

“Afghanistan does not want any proxy wars on its territory. It does not want a proxy war between India and Pakistan on Afghanistan.

“It does not want a proxy war between Iran and the United States on Afghanistan. It does not want any country… to engage in any activity against another country in Afghanistan,” he added.

Mar 11. Colombo: Sri Lanka’s former Army Commander and defeated presidential candidate General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka is to be produced before a court martial on March 16 and 17.

ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his country would not allow its soil to be used against Pakistan, Geo News reported Thursday.

Addressing a joint press conference here with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani after signing the MoU, he said India has gone out of the way to help Afghanistan; but Pakistan is twin brother of Afghanistan, adding without cooperation from Pakistan, there could be no stability.

?We are fighting against terrorism; I brought message from people of Afghanistan to the people of Pakistan,? he said.

No country has ever showed more hospitality to Afghanistan than Pakistan, the Afghan president said adding both the countries discussed various affairs including agreements made on transit trade.

Responding a question regarding drone attacks in Pakistan, he said the issue is Pakistan-specific; accordingly, it was discussed neither in Afghanistan nor in the recent meetings in Pakistan.

However, PM Gilani said the drone attacks are counter-productive, as they force local people to join hands with terrorists against state and the Army.

Gilani said the government is trying to bring the US government round to the fact.

Karzai said, ?We want future with no terrorism,? adding peace is not likely to be restored in Afghanistan without the help from Pakistan.

Pakistan would be informed as and when Afghanistan receives some reports on terrorism, he stressed saying the terror wave is sweep away myriads precious lives and properties.

The PM Gilani said Pakistan has decided to enhance its cooperation with Afghanistan to eliminate the terrorism, adding bilateral ties between the two countries would be furthered.

Gilani said Pakistan will extend all possible succour to Afghanistan for its reconstruction, adding it was decided that the trade volume between the two countries would be ramped up.

?We want to take the strategic partnership with Afghanistan forward,? he added saying the war against terrorism will continue.

Pakistan understands Afghan plans and priorities, he observed.

Hamid Karzai said the destiny, grieves and happiness of both the countries are shared.

He said the ties between the two countries are on the path to being strengthened.

Responding a query, Karzai appreciated Indian efforts in Afghan reconstruction.