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Pakistan decides to Revamp its’ air Power

KARACHI: Pakistan has taken a big leap to strengthen its air power by securing a nod from Sweden to sell Islamabad an Airborne Early Warning and Control System [AWACS], informed sources said.

This state-of-the-art system will also augment Pakistan Navy’s existing potential for maritime and tactical surveillance, the sources added. Close to final approval is Pakistan’s decision to acquire 14 SAAB 2000 aircraft from Sweden. Seven of these aircraft will be dedicated for the PAF’s AWE&CS while the remaining seven will be acquired by the PIA to replace its fleet of Fokker aircraft, which have already been grounded, the sources said.

Several Fokker-related incidents, including the last year’s crash that killed the then chief of air staff, air marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, and 17 other PAF officials, the the National Flag carrier had decided last year to sell its fleet of 11 aircraft and replace them with compatible ones.

For its part the Swedish government has provided a guarantee for the smooth supply of SAAB spare parts as long as the aircraft is flown anywhere in the world, the PIA sources confirmed. Six hundred of such planes are being flown the world-over.

The deal would cost Pakistan about $1.7 billion (approximately Rs 90 billion) during the next five years, and it will constitute the biggest defence purchase by the Musharraf administration.

Councillor shot dead in Karachi

KARACHI: A councillor was gunned down and two other persons sustained injuries when unknown assailant opened fire on them in Mominabad police jurisdiction late on Tuesday night, police said.

Councillor Abdul Qayyum of UC-4 Orangi Town was sitting with two people outside his shop when unidentified gunman opened fire on them as a result of which Qayyum died on the spot while Raees and Akram sustained bullet injuries and admitted to the JPMC.

Yet in another episode, Jahanzaib, 35, an inspector of Pakistan Ranger, received a bullet injury when unidentified gunmen fired at a Ranger’s vehicle parked in front of the office of the Nazim Lyari Town within the Eidgah police jurisdiction late on Tuesday night, police said.

He was rushed to the JPMC, where his condition was stated to be critical. Also, Noor Muhammad, 22, was injured when unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately near Jhat Pat Market in Chakiwara police jurisdiction. The injured was admitted to the Civil Hospital for treatment.

Two children Killed in mortar attack near Wana

ISLAMABAD: Two children were killed on Tuesday in a mortar attack by suspected al-Qaeda-linked militants on a military check-post in a remote tribal village near Wana.

"Two boys were martyred after mortars fired by miscreants hit them in Khamrang village," military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said. The militants missed the target and mortar shells landed away from the military post in Khamrang village near South Waziristan’s main town Wana.

Security forces and al-Qaeda suspects have clashed in South Waziristan over the past two days. No injuries have been reported in the fighting. The ISPR chief, however denied that some 10 civilians had been killed in a crossfire in Shakai. He did say that there were sporadic clashes near the town on Monday night.

Germany to Expel 9/11 Suspects

BERLIN (Germany): German authorities have said they want to expel terror suspects Mounir Motassedeq and Abdelghani Mzoudi, both accused in the September-11 attacks.

Retrials of the two, Motassedeq's original conviction was overturned and Mzoudi was acquitted, must take place before any deportation procedures.

Even then the decision can be appealed, said Hamburg Interior senator Udo Nagel today, Wednesday.

Motassedeq's February 2003 conviction on charges of providing logistical help to Mohammed Atta, the reputed ringleader of the September-11, 2001, attacks in the United States was thrown out in March.

Mzoudi was acquitted in February of charges he was an accessory in the attacks.

Judges determined Motassedeq and Mzoudi could not be convicted because of a lack of evidence, citing the U.S. government's rejection of access to Ramzi bin al-Shibh as a witness.

Bin al-Shibh is allegedly a high-level al-Qaeda operative who was involved in coordinating the September-11 attacks.

Late last year, he was captured in Pakistan. Currently, he is being held by U.S. government interrogators in an undisclosed location. He has also figured in the proceedings against another terrorist suspect, Zacarias Moussaoui, in the United States.

ADB provides US$ 0.2 Mln Pakistan for prevention of SARS

ISLAMABAD: With Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance, the Government of Pakistan has started a series of training workshops at the principal airports in the country to detect and arrest the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

According to a statement of ADB issued here on Tuesday, this is an important undertaking in the face of the re-emergence of SARS in a number of Asian countries.

ADB has provided the Government of Pakistan with US $200,000 in grant under its Regional Technical Assistance to address the outbreak of the disease. The assistance for Pakistan covers a number of components, training of relevant staff associated with aviation, health, tourism and the media and awareness raising through printed materials and seminars, the procurement of equipment for the detection of SARS at entry points to the country and of laboratory equipment of equipment for the detection of SARS at entry points to the country and of laboratory equipment for effective analysis; the provision of multimedia and office equipment; and disposable items, including gowns and overalls, safety goggles, head and shoe coves, masks and face shields, bio-hazard bags and transportation containers.