Slain Bhutto laid to rest amid tears, cries

GARHI KHUDA BAKSH: Aassassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest in her family's ancestral grave to scenes of searing emotion from hundreds of thousands of mourners.

State television said Bhutto was buried at the mausoleum after an imam led the massive crowd in funeral prayers.

A huge roar greeted her coffin, wrapped in the black, green and red flag of her Pakistan People's Party, as it was borne towards the Bhutto mausoleum in a white vehicle.

It took more than two hours to crawl the five kilometres from her family home in Naudero to the private mausoleum in Ghari Khuda Baksh.

Many mourners wailed and beat their chests in an outpouring of grief as the casket passed the vast crowds hanging out of every building and packing every street corner.

As authorities struggled to keep a lid on the seething anger that erupted into violence across the country, the government for the first time pointed a finger at al-Qaeda for her slaying.

The extent of the violence has paralysed the nation, triggering alarm around the world and throwing scheduled January 8 elections into disarray.

Interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said Bhutto had been on an al-Qaeda hit-list and it was likely the Islamic extremist network played a role in Thursday's suicide attack that killed her and around 20 others.

"Benazir has been on the hit-list of al-Qaeda," he told AFP. "Now there is every possibility that al-Qaeda is behind this tragic attack to undermine the security of Pakistan."

Officials ordered paramilitary forces in PPP stronghold Karachi to shoot rioters on sight and sent troops into several other cities in the south.

At least 19 people have been killed in violence since Bhutto's death, and there have been angry demonstrations in several cities, with mobs ransacking offices and torching buildings and vehicles.

In Rawalpindi, the scene of her killing, police fired tear gas, and a crowd of some 1,500 stormed the office of a pro-government party in Peshawar.

The two-time former premier was buried next to her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, also a prime minister and who was executed by the military in 1979 after being ousted from power.

Bhutto's husband and three children accompanied the coffin as it arrived by helicopter in nearby Naudero ahead of the ceremony.

Bhutto, 54, was leaving a rally where she had been campaigning for the vote when a suicide bomber shot her in the neck before blowing himself up.

US President George W. Bush described the killing as a "cowardly act" and telephoned Musharraf to urge Pakistan to stay on the path of democracy

Global stocks rattled by Benazir murder, weak data

Asian stock markets fell in early deals Friday following heavy losses on Wall Street as the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto sparked jitters about global security, dealers said. Bhutto's assassination, together with weak US economic data, sent nervous investors fleeing to safe haven investments, dealers said. Her death Thursday in Pakistan raised geopolitical concerns about stability in the nuclear-armed country, they added. Gold and oil prices rose in Asian trade with crude futures climbing back towards the 100 dollars-per-barrel mark. "Benazir's death could raise the geopolitical tension which would sustain the rise in oil prices," said Prayoga Triyono, a fund manager at Henan Putirai Asset Management in Jakarta

Musharraf vows to defeat terrorists

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf condemned the killing of former premier Benazir Bhutto Thursday, saying it was the work of terrorists and resolving not to rest until they were eliminated. Speaking on state media after a suicide attacker killed the country's charismatic opposition leader in Rawalpindi, Musharraf said "this brutality is the handiwork of those terrorists against whom we are fighting." "This is a big tragedy for the nation, which cannot be explained in words," he said. "I am deeply grieved and condemn it strongly." "I have always been saying that the Pakistani nation faces the biggest threat from these terrorists," said Musharraf, who announced three days of national mourning

Oil prices at month-highs after Benazir killing

World oil traded above 97 dollars a barrel in Asia on Friday, its highest level in a month, following the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, dealers said. They said the rise in prices was also supported by a US report showing a higher-than-expected drop in US crude stockpiles. In morning trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery, was 39 cents higher at 97.01 dollars a barrel after closing 65 cents higher in New York. Brent North Sea crude for February rose 23 cents to 95.01 dollars a barrel after a jump of 84 cents in London trade on Thursday. Trading volumes remained thin amid year-end holiday celebrations.

Benazir’s dead body being taken to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh for burial

Dead body of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is being taken to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh for burial. Her dead body was brought by a C-130 flight to Sukkur Airport from where it was taken to Moenjodaro by helicopter. Along with the dead body of Benazir Bhutto, her husband Asif Ali Zardari, elder daughter Bakhtawar, younger daughter Asifa, son Bilawal, central leader of the PPP Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Shery Rehman and other persons arrived in Sukkur. Here, her corps was shifted to an army helicopter and taken to Larkana. Her dead body, her husband Asif Ali Zardari, all three children, Amin Fahim, Shery Rehman and other 22 persons were taken to Larkana by a bus along with police security. The helicopter left Sukkur for Moenjodaro Airport at 3-40 am. The dead body will be taken from the Moenjodaro Airport to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh by ambulance.

US calls for calm and elections in Pakistan

The United States appealed for calm and urged its "war on terror" ally Pakistan to press on with its elections after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Condemning the "cowardly" suicide attack that killed her, US President George W. Bush urged Pakistanis Thursday "to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life." The attack at an election rally in the Pakistani city Rawalpindi sparked deadly riots and fears for stability in the nuclear-armed country, as well as overshadowing next month's planned elections, which Bhutto had been tipped to win. Bush telephoned President Pervez Musharraf to discuss the situation, the White House said, while US officials appealed for calm in Pakistan amid deadly riots following Bhutto's murder. "The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," Bush told reporters.

Benazir's body arrives for burial in family graveyard

The body of slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto arrived in southern Sindh province before dawn Friday for burial in the family's graveyard, party officials said. The plane landed in Sukkur from where the body and members of her family were flown by helicopter to Naudero, her spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Agencies. Her husband Asif Zardari, their three children and some senior leaders of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) travelled on the plane. Bhutto will be buried in the ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh near the grave of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Babar said. Her family members and close relatives will have a last glimpse of the body before funeral prayers scheduled for noon (0130 PM), he said. Security was tight in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh as thousands of her party members and supporters were expected to attend the burial ceremony. Caravans of her supporters are expected to arrive from several towns in Sindh, which is considered a PPP stronghold, party officials said.

Thank you for things of great beauty Mr Gulgee!

Ismail Gulgee and his wife were found tragically murdered along with a maidservant at their residence in Karachi just two days before today. So this Eid, a moment in remembrance of one of the greatest artists this country has seen. Known for his calligraphy, Gulgee was an institution. Him and his wife Zarine often entertained guests at home and their son Amin carried on their tradition in both art and hospitality.

News of Gulgee's demise sent shock waves through the fashion industry, which is very familiar with the Gulgee family because their son Amin has worked so closely with them. Through him, they met Mr and Mrs Gulgee and the iconic painter inspired great love and respect amongst them.

Murder most foul is not alien to the metropolis of Karachi, but the grief and the shock becomes twofold when such an icon is involved. However, like all artists, Gulgee lives on. His spirit is preserved in his art and then there is his son Amin who will take the Gulgee tradition forward.

In one of his interviews some time ago Amin revealed that even though he does paint on occasion, he chose sculpture as his medium because his father's legacy as a painter was too daunting. He has excelled as a scultor and inherited a love of calligraphy from his father. So in this time of grief, we can rest assured in the fact that the Gulgee tradition will continue.

Iftikhar, Aitzaz to sue Musharraf

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE - Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan are suing President Pervez Musharraf to claim damages worth two billion rupees through a defamation suit.
Talking to TheNation on Thursday, Aitzaz made his intentions known when asked to comment on a statement of President Musharraf in which he charged former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Aitzaz Ahsan, senior deposed judge Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharrif for hatching a conspiracy to throw him out of the presidency.
“A time has come when he will see a controversy behind every curtain”, said Barrister Aitzaz while playing down the allegations levelled by President Musharraf.
“We are consulting our lawyers and will soon file a defamation suit of two billion rupees against Musharraf for levelling false allegation and bringing our name into disrepute without any substantial evidence”, said Aitzaz, who was released earlier in the morning for three days.
Defending the credibility of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Aitzaz said the ‘misconduct’ charges against his client were thrown out of the box by a full court. “Any such impression is not only false but also absurd,” he added.
“We will sue him for two billion damages through a defamation suit”, he reiterated.
Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is also reported to have said the charges of President Musharraf are actually “his self-created fears”.
Athar Minullah, a civil society activist-cum-lawyer, who has a frequent access to the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, informed TheNation that Justice Iftikhar has absolutely dispelled the impression that he, along with Aitzaz and Justice Ramday, were hatching a conspiracy to overthrow the rule of President Musharraf.
“He (Musharraf) was all praise for Supreme Court on September 28 when it dismissed petitions against his qualification to contest presidential polls but now he is talking about conspiracies”, Athar quoted deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, as saying during his latest interaction the other evening with the latter after the statement of President Musharraf was carried by media.
“Chief Justice has also said the government lawyers not only had to withdraw corruption charges against him but also sought apologies, besides paying one hundred thousand rupees fine when they brought the corruption charges to the apex court”, Athar Minullah also quoted the former CJP as saying.
Meanwhile, commenting on Pervez Musharraf’s statement that Aitzaz and some judges had plotted a conspiracy against him (Musharraf), Aitzaz said these are the emotions of a ‘defeated gambler’.
He said that after consultation with the lawyers he would file a damages suit of Rs 2 billion against Musharraf and the amount will be recovered after selling out his national and international assets.

JUI(F), PML-N, PPP-S devise poll alliance in Nowshera

NOWSHERA: Three mainstream political parties including JUI (F), PML (N) and PPP (S) have announced to form tripartite alliance at district level by reaching a consensus on seat adjustments for two seats of National Assembly and three seats of provincial assembly in the district.
The announcement to this effect was made by the head of negotiation body of JUI-F Maulana Muhammad Naseem in a joint press conference at Nowshera Press Club here on Wednesday.
District vice president of Jamiat Haji Younus, former MPA Muhammad Mujahid, district president of PPP-S and candidate for NA-6 Mian Jamshaiduddin Kakakhel were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Muhammad Naseem informed that joint candidates of the alliance for the seats of National Assembly are Mufti Muhammad Sajjad of MMA for NA-5 and Jamshaiduddin of PPP-S for NA-6 while.
He further revealed that Iqbal Zafar Jhagra would be the candidate of alliance for PF-12, adding that candidates for other seats would be finalised after negotiations.
Addressing the occasion, the leaders of the three parties said that aspirants fielded by the alliance would inflict a clear defeat over the opponents in the coming general elections.
Coming hard upon Awami National Party, they said that the so-called nationalist party had done nothing for the people of the backward province despite getting many chances to hold power in the past.
They said that an effective campaign would be run to muster up maximum support for the candidates of the alliance, urging the workers to reach the combined message of the parties to every nook and corner of the district.

First human bird flu cases in Pakistan

The cases of H5N1 avian influenza were confirmed in Pakistan's remote North-West Frontier province, WHO spokesman Greg Hartl told CNN in a telephone interview.
One patient died, six recovered and one remained under medical supervision in the cities of Abbotabad and Mansehra, he said.
Patients were taken to medical facilities after presenting with the flu-like symptoms typical of avian flu. Health officials believe that another person's death was likely caused by bird flu, but has not been confirmed.
Some of the deaths occurred within a single family, raising concern -- but no proof -- that the disease may have spread through human-to-human contact, said officials, who called for further analysis.
"We would be remiss if we didn't investigate further, " said Hartl from the WHO headquarters in Geneva. "Our concern is that once this virus remains in the animal population, it mutates into a more transmissible form. And the more they (the viruses) stay in the animal population, then we have a panic situation.Public health officials worry that, should the virus gain the ability to transmit easily among humans, a pandemic could occur. Given that the disease is often fatal, the impact could be catastrophic, they contend.
Hartl praised Pakistan's Ministry of Health for investigating the outbreak in hospitals in remote areas.
Though this marks Pakistan's first outbreak of bird flu among people, several outbreaks of H5N1 influenza have occurred among poultry in Pakistan, and it spread to the country's wild birds earlier this year, the WHO said.
Some cases among birds have been reported in the capital city of Islamabad, but most have been reported in Pakistan's "poultry belt" in the North-West Frontier province.
In another part of Asia, Indonesia's Ministry of Health announced Tuesday the death of a 47-year-old man from Banten Province, who died December 13.
Of the 115 confirmed cases in Indonesia, 93 have been fatal, according to WHO.
Since 2003, the health agency has tallied 341 cases among people in 14 countries, 210 of them