TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| A voice silenced in neighbourhood | | Charismatic Benazir assassinated, Pakistan plunges into chaos | | | Rawalpindi | Dec 27
Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, aides said.
Bhutto's supporters erupted in anger and grief after her death, attacking police and burning tires and election campaign posters in several cities. At the hospital where she died, some smashed glass and wailed, chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf.
The death of the 54-year-old charismatic former prime minister threw the campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections into chaos and created fears of mass protests and violence across the nuclear-armed nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism.
Musharraf convened an emergency meeting with his senior staff where they were expected to discuss whether to postpone the election, an official at the Interior Ministry said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
The attacker struck just minutes after Bhutto addressed thousands of supporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, 8 miles south of Islam... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| J&K shocked | | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 27
When the return of Pakistan to normalcy was being keenly awaited for friendly relations with the neighbouring country, the assassination of pro-democracy leader Benazir Butto has come as huge shock for the leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed profound shock on the assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi today, describing the incident as a serious setback to the return of democracy in the neighbouring country.
Reacting to the tragic news that was broken in the evening today, the Chief Minister said that the killing of Benazir was not assassination of a... | |
| | | | FM is back, gets feedback | | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 27
Finally the Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Karra has returned to the capital and has begun with the business which should have assumed utmost importance for him.
Contrary to what is expected ahead of the annual budget presentations, the Finance Minister had remained away from the winter capital and his office chambers for most of this month. However, he returned today and picked up discussions with the political parties on get their feed back on budget proposals.
Almost all major political parties including the opposition National Conference participated in the discussions and putforth their suggestions.
According to an official spokesman, the repre... | |
| | | | I was never hesitant: Sharma | | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 27
The Chief Election Officer, Jammu and Kashmir, BR Sharma has said that he has not hesitations and is ready to lead the exercise of forthcoming assembly elections.
Reacting to a report in today's edition of this newspaper captioned "Search on for new poll chief", Sharma said that he was never hesitating to discharge the duties of Chief Election Officer.
The EARLY TIMES, however, maintains that the government is mulling option for appointment of a new Chief Election Officer. Our reliable sources said that such a decision may be taken in next few weeks. The sources also asserted that the replacement is not being sought for a better option but it is lik... | |
| | | | Police Martyrs memorial unveiling postponed again | | | | Govind Chauhan
Jammu | Dec 27
Police Martyr memorial that was slated to be dedicated to the masses on Friday will have to wait for some more time as the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is not available for the purpose.
After the police department today announced dedication of the memorial on Friday, late evening it received communication from the Chief Minister expressing impossibility of attending the function.
This is the second time when the unveiling of the memorial has been postponed. Earlier the same was postponed in February again due to the busy schedule of the CM.
Friday’s function was supposed to take place in the presence of family members of martyrs who sacrificed their li... | |
| | | | Tea treat to militants: IG says, looking into security lapse | | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 27
Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday said the shocking episode of parading a group of militants in the general market area for refreshment amounts to ‘breach of security’ and lapses if any on the part of the police party would be looked into at the highest level.
Interacting with reporters here in the police control room Inspector General Jammu range Dr SP Vaid said, he was not aware why the police party after taking over the custody of 10 under trails from Kot Bhalwal jail dropped in at general bus stand area for refreshment. “We have taken note of the security lapse and DG police has been briefed about the incident”, Vaid said referring to media r... | |
| | | | Cong to have three working presidents | | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Dec 27
Acknowledging that the three distinct regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in J&K state have vast variations, with people having different psyche, perceptions and priorities and to overcome the problem of mutual regional tensions and pulls and pressures, the All India Congress Committee is toying with the idea of appointing three working Pradesh Congress Committee Presidents, one each for Jammu region, Kashmir valley and Ladakh.
The party high command at the centre has come to realize that no single leader belonging to any of the three regions can strike direct chord with the party workers, supporters and electorates at large, it has mull... | |
| | | | Government sets up complaint cell | | Absenteeism and overcharging by medicos | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | December 27
Concerned over large scale absenteeism among medicos posted at government health centers and hospitals in rural and remote areas as well as the government doctors overcharging patients in their private clinics, the government is all set to tighten the administrative grip and exercise the whip over the defaulters.
Though ruling out the possibility of banning private practice by that section of government doctors who are allowed to do the same, until other effective measures do not prove deterrent, the administrative secretariat Health and Medical Education Department has served stern warning on the habitual absentee doctors in rural a... | |
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