Royals used nature fund to party, travel

Kathmandu, March 26: There was rampant misuse by Nepal’s royal family of money from a nature conservation fund earlier headed by the king and the crown prince, says a probe report.

The report comes just two weeks before the election that will decide the fate of Nepal’s King Gyanendra and his crown.

The King Mahendra National Trust for Nature Conservation, which was earlier headed by the king and the crown prince, was massively exploited by the royal family, a probe committee has found after examining expenses incurred in the last seven years.

Millions were spent on travels abroad and lavish parties, says the report of the committee that was formed after complaints of irregularities.

Money meant for boosting Nepal’s conservation efforts was instead spent by Queen Komal when she went to Britain for her annual health checkups; by King Gyanendra during his foreign trips during his Army-backed absolute rule; and by Crown Prince Paras who went to Austria and France with his wife and became embroiled in what became known as the rhino diplomacy.

The heir to Nepal’s endangered throne was sent to Austria in a bid to improve Nepal’s strained ties with western governments after King Gyanendra toppled the government and seized power through a coup. (IANS)

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Iftikhar: I am still Pak top judge

By OUR PAKISTAN

CORRESPONDENT

Islamabad, March 26: Pakistan’s sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has said that he is still the country’s top judge because his removal on November 3, 2007 was "unconstitutional".

"The action taken on November 3 (imposition of emergency rule by President Pervez Musharraf and subsequent sacking of over 60 judges) was unconstitutional. So I am still the Chief Justice," said Justice Chaudhry, who was released on Monday by the new Prime Minister, Mr Yousaf Raza Gilani.