PAKISTAN EMERGENCY - USA REACTS

The world reacts to Musharraf's declaration of emergency. Below is a roundup of items. Please add links below and your thoughts below. Earlier on SAJAforum: Emergency Declared in Pakistan.

IHT: World Leaders Condemn State of Emergency in Pakistan

The United States and Britain expressed grave concerns about Pakistan military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency Saturday, with leaders from both countries calling for a swift return to a democratic government.

Leaders from India, Pakistan's nuclear-armed rival, had a more tempered reaction, aimed at keeping tensions low, saying they "regret the difficult times" in Pakistan and hope for a return to "normalcy."

US State Department statement by Sean McCormack, spokesperson:

The United States is deeply disturbed by reports that Pakistani President Musharraf has taken extra-constitutional actions and has imposed a state of emergency. A state of emergency would be a sharp setback for Pakistani democracy and takes Pakistan off the path toward civilian rule. President Musharraf has stated repeatedly that he will step down as Chief of Army Staff before re-taking the presidential oath of office and has promised to hold elections by January 15th. We expect him to uphold these commitments and urge him to do so immediately.

The United States stand with the people of Pakistan in supporting a democratic process and in countering violent extremism. We urge all parties to work together to complete the transition to democracy and civilian rule without violence or delay.

From the Committee to Protect Journalists (full text below):

"We are greatly disturbed by President Musharraf's decision to suspend Pakistan's constitution today. Even more chilling are reports that, having silenced all private television stations, the government intends to detain journalists who are critical of the government's actions. At a time of such crisis it is imperative that Pakistanis have access to independent media to be fully informed about the events affecting their lives," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator.

From Reporters Without Borders (full text below):

Reporters Without Borders today expressed deep concern after Pakistan´s president, General Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule and ordered a halt to broadcasts by privately-owned TV in all the country´s major cities.

Apple Partners with O2

Apple's iPhone officially has a phone company partner in the UK. After weeks of rumors, Apple announced Tuesday that O2 -- the largest UK mobile phone operator -- would be its exclusive wireless carrier there.

The UK launch is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 9, with iPhones sold through Apple and O2 stores, as well as through 1,300 Carphone Warehouse locations.

The price for the 8-GB model will be £269 including VAT. Customers can choose to transfer their current mobile phone numbers, whether with O2 or another carrier. An 18-month contract will include unlimited data. According to news reports, Apple will receive 10 percent of usage revenue.

Source: newsfactor.com

Aligarh Muslim University - UPDATE

The Aligarh Muslim University, one of India's oldest universities, is in the news once again for the wrong reasons. On September 16, at around 10 pm, BSc II year student Mazhar Nayeem was shot dead. He was a resident of room 10, Mumtaz House at the Aftab Hall of Residence.

Some unidentified people shot Nayeem at point-blank range and fled. Like many previous killings in AMU, it is not known who killed Nayeem and why.

Students close to Nayeem say he was not involved in any controversy, did not have any love affair; there was no known rivalry in his family in the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The boy was gentle, religious, and had a small friend circle of like-minded students.

Thus, in many ways, this murder resembles a series of murders in the recent past in AMU -- a residential university which is home to 25,000 students in the north Indian town of Aligarh, about 125 km from the national capital New Delhi.

In April, two undergraduate students were killed in separate incidents. The murders were then linked to the ongoing process of empanelment of the new vice-chancellor as the then vice-chancellor Naseem Ahmad had completed his five-year term.

Nayeem's murder was followed by mass violence on the campus on Monday. Angry students burnt the vice-chancellor's home, the proctor's office and other university property.

The students' anger and frustration mounted because before Nayeem's murder, a Class IX girl was allegedly raped by some non-teaching employees of the girls' hostel on September 8. Despite protests, no action was taken against the alleged rapists.

The administration allegedly tried to cover up the incident, but the girl students broke out of the hostel on September 12 and staged a demonstration before the VC's office. Only wide media coverage persuaded the vice-chancellor to institute an inquiry, that too headed by a male, which is in violation of Supreme Court's directives.

Source: rediff.com

Ram Setu

Ambika Soni's cultural ministry is in the centre of a storm for an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court that said there was no historical proof of Lord Ram's existence.

On Saturday, the minister said she had personally ordered the deletion of the three objectionable lines in the affidavit.

But she claimed the draft affidavit was not prepared by her ministry but by the additional solicitor general or the ASG.

''I'm not blaming anybody else but the affidavit came from ASG,'' said Ambika Soni Union Culture Minister.

Two officials of the ASI have been suspended for not making the changes Soni had suggested in the draft.

The minister has already ordered a probe. On Saturday she met Congress President Sonia Gandhi to explain what went wrong.

And she said she was willing to step down.

''It won't take me a minute to resign if required by the PM and UPA chairperson,'' said Ambika Soni, Union Culture Minister.

But one of her cabinet colleagues feels she should not wait for orders.

''If I were the Culture Minister, I would have resigned immediately. If Lal Bahadur Shastri could resign after a train accident in 1956, then when there has been such an error with a sensitive affidavit, and the feelings of the people have been hurt, I feel the Minister should resign,'' said Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Commerce.

Though the ASG refused to speak on camera, sources in his office said liberty was given to all government departments to make required changes but the change in the culture ministry's affidavit were not communicated to the ASG.

The damage control exercise on the Ram Setu controversy seems to be boomeranging with Congress ministers trying to settle their own political scores.

And despite the opposition attempt to gain political mileage, a full blown-out war has begun within the government over who was responsible for the controversy.

Source: ndtv.com