DESI - NEWS LETTER

The case relating to the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, the US journalist, in the beginning of last year continues to be in a limbo, with no action by the Government of Gen.Pervez Musharraf to have the hearing on the appeal filed by the accused expedited. In the meanwhile, one of the dramatis personae--a former officer of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who used to be the handling officer of Omar Sheikh, the principal accused, and one of the handling officers of Osama bin Laden and Mulla Mohammad Omar, the Amir of the Taliban---has been sought to be rewarded with an ambassadorial appointment.

On July 15, 2002, a special anti-terrorism court of Hyderabad, Sindh, had found guilty Ahmed Omar Sheikh, Syed Salman Saquib, Sheikh Muhammad Adil and Fahad Naseem of the kidnapping and murder of Pearl. While Omar Sheikh was sentenced to death, the other three were sentenced to life imprisonment. Shortly thereafter, they had appealed against the sentence before a division bench of the Sindh High Court.

Though it is now a year since the appeal was filed, there has been no progress in the hearing of the appeal. The defence lawyers have been repeatedly absenting themselves from the court, which has already adjourned the hearing six times on the ground that the defence lawyers were absent. The sixth adjournment was granted on September 25,2003. The case has now been fixed for hearing on October 21.

The court warned that if the defence lawyers do not appear on that date too, it would dispense with their services and appoint a government lawyer to defend the accused.

Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act, which has been repeatedly amended by successive governments to ensure expeditious disposal of the trial and the appeal in terrorism-related cases, contains adequate provisions for preventing such repeated adjournments and other means for delaying the trial.

When Musharraf had former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the prosecution under his instructions ensured that the trial was disposed off and Nawaz Sharif convicted within the time-limits laid down by the Act. In the case relating to the murder of Pearl, the prosecution itself has been colluding with the defence lawyers and has refrained from moving the court to stop the delaying tactics repeatedly adopted by the defence lawyers. MORE


September 27, 2003 NEWS LETTER Vol. 030903
Indian cinema provides an alternative to the western way of seeing the world, offers a different language and medium to express our thoughts and experience. And guess what, more people watch Bollywood products than Hollywood can reach. Which is why Kate Winslet can walk down Janpath and not be mobbed, even when her face stares out of a million Titanic t-shirts hung in the shops. Which is also why Shahrukh Khan cannot walk into Harrods, London, without causing a riot.MORE
Daniel Pearl's Case In Limbo By : B. Raman The case relating to the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, the US journalist, in the beginning of last year continues to be in a limbo, with no action by the Government of Gen.Pervez Musharraf to have the hearing on the appeal filed by the accused expedited. In the meanwhile, one of the dramatis personae--a former officer of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who used to be the handling officer of Omar Sheikh, the principal accused, and one of the handling officers of Osama bin Laden and Mulla Mohammad Omar, the Amir of the Taliban---has been sought to be rewarded with an ambassadorial appointment. On July 15, 2002, a special anti-terrorism court of Hyderabad, Sindh, had found guilty Ahmed Omar Sheikh, Syed Salman Saquib, Sheikh Muhammad Adil and Fahad Naseem of the kidnapping and murder of Pearl. While Omar Sheikh was sentenced to death, the other three were sentenced to life imprisonment. Shortly thereafter, they had appealed against the sentence before a division bench of the Sindh High Court. Though it is now a year since the appeal was filed, there has been no progress in the hearing of the appeal. The defence lawyers have been repeatedly absenting themselves from the court, which has already adjourned the hearing six times on the ground that the defence lawyers were absent. The sixth adjournment was granted on September 25,2003. The case has now been fixed for hearing on October 21. The court warned that if the defence lawyers do not appear on that date too, it would dispense with their services and appoint a government lawyer to defend the accused. Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act, which has been repeatedly amended by successive governments to ensure expeditious disposal of the trial and the appeal in terrorism-related cases, contains adequate provisions for preventing such repeated adjournments and other means for delaying the trial. When Musharraf had former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the prosecution under his instructions ensured that the trial was disposed off and Nawaz Sharif convicted within the time-limits laid down by the Act. In the case relating to the murder of Pearl, the prosecution itself has been colluding with the defence lawyers and has refrained from moving the court to stop the delaying tactics repeatedly adopted by the defence lawyers. MORE	Now that fall is fast approaching, let us all warm up a bit with nice SOUP By: Shweta Oza Ingredients ½ cup – Rajma ½ cup – Chole chana ½ cup – Black chana ½ cup – Black eyed beans 2 nos. – green chillies 1 tablespoon – oil 1 small box – frozen spinach 1 cup – finely cut cabbage 1 cup – cauliflower florets 1 cup – mixed frozen vegetable 1 cup – frozen peas 1 medium size Onion – finely chopped 1 ½ tablespoon – tomato paste 5 – 6 – spring onions 1 ½ cup pasta – any type Salt Pepper Method: 1. Wash and then soak all the beans mentioned above in water overnight (or overday) 2. Drain the water and rinse the beans with cold running water 3. In a pressure cooker, add water enough to cover the beans. Add cut green chillies, oil and salt to taste. Cook on high flame for 3 whistles 4. Thaw the frozen vegetables, especially spinach 5. Once cooked, drain the beans to collect the water in a cooking vessel 6. Add almost 3 times more water to this. 7. Mix tomato paste in this water. 8. Add all the vegetables mentioned above with salt and black pepper 9. Cover the cooking vessel and put to boil on low flame 10. Boil the pasta in regular manner on the side. 11. Now, drain the pasta and add to the boiling soup after about 15 –20 minutes. 12. Leave the soup to boil between low and medium flame for almost an hour. 13. Garnish with salt and black pepper to taste Serve the soup hot with bread or eat it just as is. ENJOY!!! Note: The pasta part is optional. You can make this soup without the pasta too.
Editor & Composer: Saurabh Jain
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