The head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt, tired of the horizon narrowness in Lebanon, openly says he misses Damascus…
Believe it or not… The Druze leader, who launched one week ago his famous “coup” against his so-called “allies” in the March 14 bloc, went too far in his newest “inclination” until declaring publicly that he misses Syria and wants to rectify his relation with the Syrian leaders, after four years in which Jumblatt didn’t hesitate to “insult” them…
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Al-Manar, Jumblatt found strange the reaction of his “ally” and “friend,” MP Saad Hariri, to his latest statements. “What could I do more to satisfy Hariri?” Jumblatt wondered, revealing that he has directly explained to the PM-Designate his latest statements. He recalled that he has sent Minister Ghazi Aridi as an envoy to tell Hariri that he didn’t intend at all to obstruct Hariri’s mission.
Jumblatt said that he was waiting for Hariri’s return to Beirut to meet him and clarify matters, saying that he wants the cabinet formation process to start again in order to see a new cabinet very soon. “The process shouldn’t last too long,” Jumblatt emphasized, adding that there were no conflicts over the cabinet’s policy statement that won’t be very different from the current one.
Asked about his current positioning in the political scene, Jumblatt said he was centrist. He pointed out that he would adopt consensus as a mandatory condition in all major decisions in the country. He also praised the dialogue roundtable that organized the conflicts during the earlier phase.
Concerning the relation with Syria, the Progressive Socialist Party leader said that he was missing the Syrian capital. “I’m tired of the horizon narrowness in Lebanese during the few previous years,” Jumblatt said. However, Jumblatt expressed belief that he has to pass by some preliminary steps before going too far in his new rhetoric. “What I said against President Bachar Assad and the Syrian people was very painful,” he admitted. “Therefore, I should find a way to handle the whole issue,” Jumblatt said, recalling at the same time that he wouldn’t visit the Syrian capital before Hariri does.
Jumblatt said he agrees with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on the importance of the Saudi-Syrian consensus, stressing that the good relations between Riyadh and Damascus would reflect positively on Lebanon.
The PSP leader also said he was satisfied with reconciliations taking place, saying that he hopes to expand them to include the Sunni and Shiite fronts. He pointed out that “extremist slogans” were not useful at all, finding strange the comments made by the March 14 Christians following his latest statements.
Jumblatt concluded his interview with Al-Manar by stressing that his relationship with President Michel Sleiman was solid, based on mutual trust. He said that President Sleiman was right for calling to reconsider the President’s authorities “since it’s illogical that the President of the Republic has authorities less than any minister.” But he added: “Expanding the authorities to include the possibility of dissolving the Parliament is hard, and might provoke the Christians.”
Daily Archives: August 8, 2009
17 terrorists apprehended, 3 others surrendered: ISPR
SLAMABAD, Aug 8 (APP): The security forces are continuing search and clearance operation in Swat and Malakand and apprehended 17 terror suspects while three others voluntarily surrendered. According to ISPR here on Saturday, among those arrested also included Dr Muhammad Rasul Khan a government employee at Batkhela Hospital who allegedly was playing role of a facilitator and harborer of terrorist, and an Afghan national.
As per details, three terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces along with weapons at Arambagh, while nine others were apprehended from Sambat near Matta, Shangwatai and Bodigram.
Security forces apprehended four suspects from Chankulai Churlak Sar and recovered two rifles from their possession.
In search operation at Sar China near Charbagh security forces recovered stolen golden ornaments from the house of terrorist commander Khatmula.
Two other terrorists were apprehended from Bodigram near Matta and Bar Bamakhela.
So far, 246,439 cash cards have been distributed amongst the IDPs of Malakand while 12 trucks of rations have been distributed amongst the IDPs of DI Khan and 8 trucks of relief items among the IDPs of Malakand.
PAKISTAN TO DEPORT US DIPLOMAT
Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman says that a US diplomat could be deported for using abusive language against Pakistan and high ranking police officials.
According to Press TV, Abdul Basit told reporters on Friday in Islamabad if the US diplomat is found guilty, he could be declared ‘Persona Non Grata.’
The name of the American diplomat has not been revealed.
Basit said that an investigative report into the incident would soon be received by the Interior Ministry and after reviewing it, a final decision would be made on what course of action should be taken — whether to summon the US ambassador or some other concerned person.
A police official named Hakim Khan lodged a complaint against the US diplomat a few days ago, saying that he took him at gunpoint and used abusive language against Pakistan and high ranking police officials.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy Spokesman Richard Snelsire claimed that the US embassy is holding talks with Pakistani authorities and he is optimistic that the matter would be settled.
Sindh Governor to inaugurate Qalandars Urs
HYDERABAD: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad will inaugurate the 757th annual Urs celebration of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar on August 10 while Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony on August 12, at Sehwan Sharif.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Jamshoro Samihuddin Siddiqui who is also the Chairman of Mela Organising Committee announced this during a news conference held at his office on Friday.
He said that millions of devotees are expected to attend the ceremony for which in addition to hundreds of buses and other transport vehicles from Sindh and other provinces and 12 special trains would also be plied from upcountry to facilitate the devotees.
He said that the annual Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar isconsidered a big event in Sindh and added that in order to celebrate this 757th Annual Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in a befitting manner, two separate but integrated contingency plans each for providing foolproof security to the devotes and to ensure safe and uninterrupted traffic flow have been finalised by District Administration Jamshoro.
The DCO said that as part of special security measures more than 3000 police personnel would be deployed with latest weapons and detection equipments at different places of the mela.
He said that 36 closed circuit cameras are to be installed and linked with an online system, to enable higher authorities and organisations to monitor the security measures even from their destination.
Four suicide bombers captured in Pindi
RAWALPINDI: A joint team of the security agencies and police Friday captured four suicide bombers in Rawalpindi with three suicide jackets and seven hand grenades.
The arrested persons said to be linked with Baitullah Mehsud group. The targets of the attackers include government installations and distinguished persons, officials said.
The accused have been transferred to undisclosed place for interrogation, sources said.
Car bomb kills over 40 outside Shiite mosque in Iraq
At least 40 people were killed and 61 others were injured when a car bomb exploded as the faithful were leaving the mosque after Friday prayers,” a police official told AFP, requesting anonymity. The mosque targeted is a Shiite one used by members of the Turkmen minority in the mainly Sunni Muslim city, the police official said. He said worshippers were walking to an annexe of the mosque to offer condolences when the bombers detonated the explosives which had been hidden in a car parked nearby. Dr Hikmat Sobhi of Mosul’s Medical City hospital said the emergency room had received the bodies of 20 dead and was treating 61 wounded, some of them for serious injuries. The attack follows a bombing in Mosul late on Thursday in which two Christian women were wounded. The city — Iraq’s second largest — has remained the scene of frequent attacks despite a marked decline in violence elsewhere in the country. US commanders have said that it is the last urban bastion in Iraq of loyalists of Al-Qaeda. The Mosul bombing came as a string of attacks in the capital targeted Shiites returning from the central shrine city of Karbala after marking a key religious ceremony, an interior ministry official said. A roadside bomb at the entrance to the sprawling Baghdad Shiite district of Sadr City ripped through a bus, killing three pilgrims and wounding eight as they returned from the shrine city of Karbala in central Iraq, the official said. The bombers struck at around 9:00 am (0600 GMT), the official, who requested anonymity, told AFP. “I was inside my house when we heard an explosion, and all the windows of my house shattered,” local trader Abu Mohammed said. “The inside of the bus was covered in blood. The police took the wounded to Sadr City’s hospital for treatment,” he added. Local resident Abbas Jumaa, 27, said: “I saw women and old men, I don’t know why they attacked them. “They are only pilgrims and they don’t carry guns. So why would anyone attack them?” A second bombing at the edge of Sadr City an hour later wounded another five people, also travelling in a minibus from Karbala, 100 kilometres (60 miles), south of the capital. One person was killed and five wounded in a separate roadside bombing at around the same time on a minibus carrying pilgrims in the Zayune neighbourhood of central Baghdad, the official said. Roads to and from Karbala have been crowded with pilgrims in vehicles or on foot this week as Shiites commemorate the birth of the Twelfth Imam, a disappeared ninth century Muslim leader revered as a coming messiah. Pilgrims in the holy city held candle-lighting ceremonies from midnight to dawn at a mosque built on a site said to be the last place visited by the Mahdi before his disappearance. Streets in the city cleared out in the early hours of the morning with no reports of any violence. Violence in Iraq has dropped off markedly in recent months, but attacks against security forces and civilians remain common in Baghdad, Mosul and the ethnically divided northern oil city of Kirkuk. The number of violent deaths in Iraq fell by a third from the June figure of 437 to 275 in July, the first month local forces have been in charge of security in urban areas since the US-led invasion of 2003. The figure in May was 155, the lowest of any month since the invasion.
Million Shia Muslims celebrate auspicious anniversary birthday of Imam Mahdi (a.s) in holy KARBALA
HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Atmosphere in the holy city of Karbala is overflowing with further spirituality, bliss and happiness as festivals and a’maal marking fifteenth Sha’ban (night between 14-15 Sha’ban Thursday-Friday) began at the holy Shrine of Al-Imam Ab Abdellah Al-Hussein (pbuh) on Thursday, August 6, eve of Sha’ban 15.
Statistics show that millions of devotees have reached this beautifully bedecked holy city to observe Zyarah Ash-Sha’baniyah, which is the best amal (deed) of this blessed night of Sha’ban 15.
From the advent of the month of Sha’ban, devotees from across the country and other parts of the world – young and old, men and women, mostly on foot, some individually, some in caravans -, carrying white, green and red banners and standards were heading to the holy city to achieve the honor of visiting Imam Al-Hussein (pbuh) marking 15 Sha’ban.
Zyarah Ash-Sha`baniyah, or the mid Sha`ban visit to Al-Imam Al-Hussein (pbuh), is one of the most important zyaraat, according to narrations.
As various narrations urge this visit, flocks of believers had been in practice of heading to this holy city for the visit of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS) shrine every year despite strict measures taken by the ousted despot Saddam regime which was used to commit atrocities against the pilgrims preventing them from going to holy Karbala this day. The devotees were used to defy tyrannical rule and persevered in performance of rituals of this visit sacrificing for this expensive and precious things subjecting themselves for security pursuit and detention many times.
In 1991 on this occasion, large number of pilgrims was martyred, went missing and detained at the hands of Baathist regime as a punishment for heading to Holy Karbala for visit of the holy Husseini Shrine.
Narrations from A’immah Ahlul Bayt (pbut) say that fifteenth night of Sha’ban is the best after the night of Qadr.
It has been narrated from holy Prophet (pbuh&hp)’s fifth infallible descendant Al-Imam Al-Baqer (pbuh) that: “This is the best night after the Night of Qadr. In this night, Allah grants the servants His favor and forgives them with His blessing, so spare no effort in nearing Allah therein. This is a night wherein Allah has made obligatory for Him He would not send one, who asks him, empty handed… and this is the night which Allah has made for Us – the Prophet’s progeny (Ahlul Bayt) – as He made the Night of Qadr for our Prophet …”
The birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp)’s last descendant Savior of Humanity Al-Imam Al-Hojjah bin Al-Hassan Al-Mehdi Al-Montazar (pbuh) in Sorra Mann Ra’a (Samarra), Iraq in 255 AH increased the honor and excellence of this night.
According to the sayings of holy Prophet (pbuh&hp), Imam Mehdi (pbuh) will return to deliver humanity from darkness and strife, and he will fill the earth with justice and equity as it would have been filled with oppression and injustice.
Thursday’s A’maal will culminate with the floating of hundreds of candles and letters to Imam Al-Mehdi – Imam of the Era (may Allah hasten his reappearance) – on a river in Holy Karbala at Friday pre-dawn (Sha’ban 15, August 7).
JNN News 
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