Thaksin files for asylum in UK

London, Oct. 6: Ousted Thai PM Tha-ksin Shinaw-atra has appl-ied for political asylum in Britain, where he has spent most of his time since being forced out of office two years ago, officials said on Monday.

The home office said Mr Thaksin applied for asylum when he flew into Britain in early August, breaking his bail conditions in a corruption case in Thailand.

"He applied for asylum pretty much when he landed and so did his wife," a spokesman said.

But the home office said it could give no further information on the progress of the applications because it does not comment on individual cases.

Thailand’s Supreme Court issued a fourth arrest warrant for Mr Thaksin on September 26 when he failed to appear in court in Thailand to face corruption charges in a property scandal. His wife, Pojaman, has been convicted on tax evasion charges, adding to the legal cases piling up against the couple since Mr Thaksin was ousted in a September 2006 coup.

One of his lawyers, Watchara Seang-prathum, said in August that Mr Thaksin planned to ask for asylum in Britain saying the "request will note their malicious treatment in Thailand, where they lack security and freedom".

The Supreme Court is trying Mr Thaksin and his wife in absentia on charges accusing him of using his political influence as premier to help his wife buy a plot of prime Bangkok real estate from the central bank at a knockdown price.

—AFP

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‘PML-Q in contact with PPP, PML-N’

BY OUR PAKISTAN CORRESPONDENT

Islamabad

Oct. 6: Former ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) is in contact with both the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) for a possible political alliance, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Monday.

His statement comes after the defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar ruled out the possibility of any alliance with the Q-League.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Hussain said, "We are in contact with the PPP and PML-N. The contacts will continue."