From Deseret News archives:
Pakistani cancels trip to Utah
Ambassador was to meet LDS leaders, speak at BYU and U.
Mahmud Ali Durrani had been scheduled to meet Wednesday with the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then speak at BYU. He also had planned a lecture at the University of Utah on Thursday, when he was to meet with Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and state business leaders.
Durrani instead remained in Washington to provide diplomacy between the Pakistani government and President Bush, who Monday called for the American ally in the war on terror to restore democracy "as soon as possible." Bush also urged President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to hold elections and give up his post as an army general.
On Saturday, Musharraf suspended Pakistan's constitution, including freedom of speech. He also replaced the chief justice of the Supreme Court before the court could rule on Musharraf's future as president.
BYU announced Monday it had replaced Durrani with John Dinkelman, the principal officer of the U.S. Consulate in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Dinkleman's topic will be "An Economic View on Immigration: The Merchandizing of the Desert." He will speak at noon Wednesday in Room 238 of the Herald R. Clark Building, home of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies.
Peterson will attempt to bring Durrani to Utah again.
"I'm sure when things settle down we'll get him back with even more to tell us," Peterson said.
BYU anticipated Durrani would be a newsmaker, scheduling a press conference for him. Durrani has criticized the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq, and he complained last month to the Washington Diplomat that major American news outlets were "getting the story all wrong" about Pakistan's struggle against terrorism and Islamic extremism. Musharraf declared a state of emergency because of what he said was the growing strength of Islamic extremists in Islamabad.
Comments
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Wendover airfield's legacy lost?
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...



You can be the first to comment on this story.