The Serbian government has proposed a new bill to parliament, in a bid to borrow more money from commercial banks. A new loan would amount to USD 400mn.
Posts Tagged ‘govt’
“Resignation not attempt to topple govt.â€
January 29th, 2011 |
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Outgoing Health Minister Tomica Milosavljević says that his resignation is not an attempt of G17 Plus leader Mlađan Dinkić to topple the government. “That certainly was not the reason for my resignation. Departure of one minister, in regards to a large number of ministers, is a relatively easy problem: you replace him,†he told daily Politika.
New Dutch govt. again sends mission to Afghanistan
January 28th, 2011 |
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More Dutch personnel will head for Afghanistan, a year after the government collapsed due to divisions over whether to pull its troops out of that country. The new Dutch government won parliamentary support on Friday to resend a police-military mission to Afghanistan.
Govt. adopts answers to questionnaire
January 27th, 2011 |
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The Serbian government adopted the ministries’ answers to the European Commission (EC) questionnaire today.
Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković will hand over the answers to the questionnaire to EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule on January 31, which will be another Serbia’s step toward the EU membership.
“DS, SNS could form govt. together”
January 26th, 2011 |
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Ivica DaÄić says the ruling Democrats (DS) and the opposition SNS could form a government together even though they are political opponents. The leader of the Socilialists (SPS) and first deputy PM and interior minister in the current cabinet told B92 in Belgrade on Wednesday that “SNS thinks its chances of forming a coalition with DS are diminished by SPS’s strength, and for that reason the party’s political goal is to weaken the Socialists”.
“Swedish govt. won’t decide on Assange”
January 21st, 2011 |
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Sweden’s government will not be deciding whether Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States, says the country’s prime minister. Fredrik Reinfeldt explained that should the founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks be extradited to Sweden from the UK, it will be Swedish courts that would decide on a possible extradition request from Washington.
“Govt. reshuffle aimed at weakening SPSâ€
January 20th, 2011 |
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Media reports about the government reshuffle are aimed at reducing the power of the Serbian Socialist Party, SPS leader Ivica DaÄić told daily VeÄernje novosti.
He claims that there has not been a single concrete proposal for downsizing of the government.
Putin orders 5% cut in Russian govt. staff
January 14th, 2011 |
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Russia’s federal government will lose 5% of its staff this year as part of a three-year program of cuts, RIA Novosti reported. The Russian news agency quoted Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Govt. adopts anti-crisis program
January 14th, 2011 |
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The Serbian government adopted on Thursday a program of measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the global economic crisis. The measures were put forward by the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development.
Govt. reshuffle that wouldn’t bring changes
January 4th, 2011 |
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The ruling coalition parties are set to discuss possible changes in Serbia’s government during this month. It seems, however, that the “initial enthusiasm” heard from party leaders to reduce the number of portfolios has waned.
PM vies to shore up govt
January 4th, 2011 |
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LAHORE – Beleaguered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday reached out to the opposition parties – PML-N and PML-Q -in a desperate attempt to shore up his government as clamour mounted for his resignation a day after MQM withdrew its support from the coalition.
With no headway reported yet in moves by PPP leaders including President Asif Ali Zardari to woo back MQM, Mr Gilani visited Lahore and met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to seek their support. Mr Gilani began the day with meeting Shahbaz Sharif at his residence. The meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, ended without any breakthrough. However, both the leaders exchanged views on various matters with special focus on the prevailing countryÂ’s political situation in the country.
As per sources, Mr Gilani said difference of opinion was the beauty of democracy which had to be strengthened at all costs in the interest of the country. “If any party decides to sit on opposition benches in parliament, it can be persuaded through dialogue to come back.”
Mr Shahbaz told Mr Gilani that the PML-N wanted democracy to flourish and would not let anyone derail it. However, he said any decision on the current political situation would be taken at a party meeting being held in Islamabad today (Tuesday). Shahbaz apprised Gilani of his recent visit to Turkey and conveyed greetings of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Before meeting the PM, Shahbaz met PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and discussed the situation.
Nawaz Sharif also held a meeting with senior leaders of the party, including Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, and decided that his party would not join any efforts to “blackmail” the government, sources said. PML-N leaders say that they are cautiously watching the political crisis unfold and have not come to a final decision. “We will neither sink the government nor extend them our shoulder,” said Ahsan Iqbal, a PML-N legislator.
Mr. Iqbal said the crisis was of the government’s own making after two coalition partners MQM, JUI-F decided to withdraw at the federal level. “It seems they have a certain agenda to settle or bargaining to do,” Mr. Iqbal said referring to both departing parties, who remain in coalition with the PPP in the Sindh and Balochistan governments, leading analysts and politicians to speculate that both have left some room to manoeuver. “At the same time, we cannot be seen as bailing out a deeply unpopular government,” said Mr. Iqbal. “We cannot burn our political capital.”
After parleys with Shahbaz Sharif, Mr Gilani visited the Chaudhry brothers at their residence. After the meeting, Gilani told reporters that Shujaat never discussed the idea of replacing the prime minister. He said the PML-Q leadership has assured him that they would strengthen democracy and never support any action which might derail democracy. However, he said Mr Shujaat has told him that he has convened a meeting of PML-Q today (Tuesday) to consult party leaders regarding support to Gilani government.
Shujaat did not say whether his party would seek a no-confidence vote on Gilani, but said it would not try to “blackmail” the government, suggesting it was not after political favours. However, he made it clear that previously PML-Q had supported Gilani unconditionally, “but now the support will be conditional.”
The move to meet Chaudhry brothers assumed significance as the PPP chief and President Zardari had once described the PML-Q as the “qatil (killer) league”, holding the party responsible for the 2007 murder of his wife Benazir Bhutto as it had allegedly failed to provide adequate security to her.
JUI-F: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam sent a delegation of senior leaders led by Abdul Ghafoor Haideri to meet PML-Q chief Shujaat Hussain to ask him not to support the ruling coalition. Sources said the JUI told Shujaat that the government should be allowed to fall as it no longer enjoyed the support of the people. Talking to reporters after the meeting along with Shujaat, Haideri reiterated the JUIÂ’s demand that Gilani should resign as Prime Minister. Haideri also said the cabinet should resign as the government had lost majority in Parliament.
President on govt. reshuffle, Kosovo talks
January 3rd, 2011 |
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President Boris Tadić says “personnel changes” are possible in the Serbian government led by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković. In an interview for the Belgrade-based daily Blic he said it was “most important to achieve the dynamic of all work started”, and that there were “more important issues” than changes in the current cabinet.
Gilani govt ‘terminally ill’
January 3rd, 2011 |
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LAHORE/KARACHI – The government of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani lost its majority in the National Assembly on Sunday as Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which has 25 MNAs, decided to sit on Opposition benches on account of differences with the ruling PPP.
However, the prime minister told reporters in Lahore that the government would stay in power despite the MQMÂ’s decision. He said he was seeing no crisis in the country.
The government can, however, survive only if the PML-Q, having more than 50 MNAs, in the 342-member House, supports the government. However, the PML-Q leadership is in no mood to join hands with the government at this juncture.
The government can also survive if the PML-N, which has 91 MNAs, supports the government, even without joining the set-up.
After the MQMÂ’s decision, the prime minister enjoys the support of about 158 MNAs, or 14 less than the minimum number of votes required to form majority.
When the prime minister was asked if he could expect support from the PML-N, he said: “The question should be referred to Mian Nawaz Sharif”. He said the PML-N chief was supporting the democratic system and would not like to see its collapse.
Answering another question, the prime minister said if the political forces stood united, no third force would be able to think of intervening.
In Karachi, MQM finally decided to part ways with the government and sit on the Opposition benches in the Parliament. The decision was taken at the Coordination Committee meeting of MQM, which was simultaneously held at Karachi and London on Sunday evening.
Formal application to sit on the opposition benches would be submitted with the authorities concerned soon. However, the MQM has not made any decision yet about leaving the Sindh government where it is also a coalition partner of the PPP.
Two MQM ministers, Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Khan Ghauri, resigned from the Federal Cabinet about a week ago as a protest for not taking steps to address the partyÂ’s reservations both at the Centre and Sindh.
Departure of the two federal ministers was the first strong indication that the MQM is not satisfied with the assurances given by President Asif Ali Zardari to MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain.
A couple of days back, during one of his telephonic addresses to his party cadre in Pakistan from London, the MQM Quaid hinted that the party would prefer to sit on the opposition benches in Islamabad after the PPP dragged its feet to address the issues raised by MQM with President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.
The PPP was confident that MQM would remain part of the coalition. However, the announcement on Sunday evening will shake the PPP coalition government at the Centre. It was an unexpected move as for as the PPP is concerned. It is believed that MQMÂ’s decision is linked with hike in the POL prices. The MQM had advised the Government not to raise POL prices.
MQM Coordination Committee also criticised the fresh increase in the prices of petroleum products and demanded of the government to stop putting burden on the poor people.
In a statement issued from MQM office, the Rabita Committee said, “At the time when the poor people are struggling to earn bread for their children and are forced to live a deplorable life, as selling of children, suicides and immolations have become a common practice, therefore, increase in prices of POL products would bring in a fresh wave of price hike and add to the misery of the common people.”
They further said that the increase in POL prices would directly affect the prices of essential commodities and would prove to be a deathblow to the poor and middle class people.
“While the poor people are being taxed to pay debts obtained for extravagant expenses of the Government and on the other hand the prices of POL, gas, electricity and other essential items are being increased on almost daily basis.” They said that the MQM being a political party representing the poor people and middle class would never support any step that is not in their interest.
They said that the time demanded solid steps for welfare of the people, the national security and integrity of the country. They advised the Government to recover money from those who usurped the national wealth and were causing huge loss to the national exchequer by not paying taxes. They demanded of President Asif Zardari to take serious notice of this fresh increase in POL prices and take back the increase immediately.
Speaking in Lahore about the raise in the prices of petroleum products, Prime Minister Gilani said a regulatory authority took decisions keeping in mind the trend in the international market. If the government told the regulatory authority not to raise the prices, it would have to give subsidy, which was not possible in the prevailing circumstances.
PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal, in an interview, said MQMÂ’s decision was a natural outcome of the situation. He said if the MQM sat on Opposition benches, the government could collapse.
Answering a question, he said morally speaking the prime minister should seek a vote of confidence from the House. However, he said, a minority government could also stay on.
Asked whether the PML-N could bring its own prime minister as replacement to Gilani, Ahsan said it was premature to say anything on the subject.
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi told reporters in Karachi that his party would formally request the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker to allot MQM parliamentarians seats on Opposition benches.
In a related development, MQM chief Altaf Hussain contacted PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, PML (Functional) President Pir Pagara and some other leaders.
MONITORING DESK ADDS: JUI-F Chief Maulan Fazal-ur-Rehman has said that opposition parties should sit together and fill the political vacuum. He was talking to Waqt News from Makkah. He said the real situation would arise after PML-N takes decision. He said he did not know what decision PML-N would take. PML-N decision would have impact on the future, he added.
Agencies add: MQM leader Altaf Hussain said if the political dynasties did not come to an end, PakistanÂ’s existence could come in danger. Altaf said the survival and future of Pakistan depended on the 98 per cent of Pakistanis who are poverty-stricken and working-class people, he said this during a telephonic address at a ceremony in Multan.
He said civil and military rulers of Pakistan had made this country dependent on foreign aid and loans. He said the country could not progress until the monopoly of a few families was abolished.
The MQM chief also said that a revolution was about to take place in Pakistan and the nation would end this antiquated system and take the country forward.
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Govt set to ‘adjust’ MQM
December 30th, 2010 |
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KARACHI – As the PPP-led government is trying its best to woo back the renegade allies, President Asif Ali Zardari assured MQM chief Altaf Hussain late on Wednesday night that they would not let anyone to make the allied parties annoyed.
He promised to address all the reservations of the MQM and said necessary actions would be taken to accommodate them.
Zardari was talking to Altaf during a telephonic conversation, as the MQM chief pressed the president to listen their grievances. The top leaders of the two parties contacted in the presence of Sindh Governor Ishrat-ul-Ibad called on him twice at the Bilawal House in Karachi. Federal ministers Rehman Malik and Syed Khursheed Shah were also present on the occasion.
The hectic talks continued as the MQMÂ’s coordination committee held a meeting simultaneous in the metropolis and London.
Talking to media persons outside Bilawal House, Malik said Zardari had decided to stay in Karachi for next 10 days during which he would address all the reservations expressed the MQM once for all.
The two sides would list out all the differences and hold discussions in detail for finalising the matters, he said.
Rehman said those who were waiting for a clash between the two parties would remain unsuccessful as the allied parties would strengthen the mutual relations even further.
Replying to a question, he said any change in the Sindh cabinet was discretion of Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and he was not in a position to say any thing over the matter.
Earlier, President Zardari on Wednesday directed the Government of Sindh to continue reconciliation policy with its allies in the province.
However, after having a meeting with the president, the PPP ministers hinted at withdrawing plan regarding revival of old commissionerate system, which caused annoyance for MQM, sources said.
Zardari, during the meeting held at Bilawal House, was briefed by provincial ministers about the development works, performance of the ministers and law and order situation in the province. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial ministers and PPP MPAs attended the meeting.
However, Advisor to CM on Information Ms. Sharmila Faruqui during her briefing to the media persons outside Bilawal House claimed that meeting did not discuss MQMÂ’s grievances and revival of Commissionerate System.
President Zardari directed the Government of Sindh that reconciliation process, which was initiated by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, would be continued with all the coalition partners including MQM, she added.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the meeting informed The Nation that President Zardari had directed the Sindh Chief Minister and Provincial Law Minister not to table bill for revival of Commissionerate System in the province unilaterally in the next session of the Assembly.
Earlier during a meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Eshratul Ebad at Bilawal House on Tuesday night, the President had also assured him of not tabling bill to abolish existing local government system and revive Commissionerate System in the province, sources said.
Meanwhile, Advisor to CM on Information Sharmila in her media briefing said that provincial ministers briefed President Zardari on the development works continued in the province.
Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza briefed the President about the overall law and order situation in the province. He shared the data of crime rate in province and there has been a significant decline in the crime ratio during the three-year period of the PPP government, she added.
She said that Advisor to CM on Planning and Development Kaisar Bengali and Provincial Minister for Rehabilitation of Flood Affectees, Haji Muzaffar Shujrah, briefed the President about the rehabilitation work in flood-affected areas. President Zardari asked the provincial legislators to regularly visit their constituencies to keep a close contact with their voters, she said.
The sources privy to the meeting further said that a PPP MPA Naeem Ahmad Kharal from Khairpur complained that no development works were being carried out in his constituency.
Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza while talking to media persons after the meeting said that his leaders had sacrificed their lives for democracy and he was also ready to sacrifice his ministry for the sake of democracy.
MQM may quit Sindh govt: Altaf
December 29th, 2010 |
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KARACHI – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid Altaf Hussain on Tuesday ratified the decision of MQM Rabita Committee regarding quitting the Federal Cabinet.
Speaking to a large gathering of MQM workers at Nine Zero, Altaf Hussain said that the future decisions would hinge upon the attitude of the Government. “If the Government did not change its attitude for better then we would sit on the opposition benches. The PPP leaders who are always saying that they do not need MQM in Sindh should adopt a resolution in this regard and we would come out of the Sindh Government immediately. We still want the PPP government to complete five years and that the democratic process continues. If the Government changes its course of action and works for the welfare of the people then MQM will continue to support it. MQM cannot be browbeaten into accepting government actions.”
He said MQM could no longer continue backing the Government on anti-public decisions, declaring that it is no use holding such ministries which incessantly fail to serve any good to masses.
He advised President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to work for the development and prosperity of the people. “Had Pakistan People’s Party acted upon my advice given time after time, the PPP and people would not have to face the present circumstances,” he regretted.
He said, “MQM is a democratic party and believes in democratic norms as well as following the principles of democracy with honesty and integrity.”
He said that MQM announced unconditional support by forgetting every other thing when the Co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari came to Nine-Zero with his colleagues.
Altaf said that in the past three years whenever there was a difficult time, MQM lent its support to the Government and extended every possible cooperation to President Zardari. “Despite being a coalition partner our ministers were never consulted before taking important decisions and all the decisions were taken by the Federal Cabinet unilaterally,” he further said. “If the Government considers MQM as its coalition partner then it must realise that the coalition partners are not treated like enemy and strangers,” he further said.
He also came down hard on Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif for criticising MQM in the latter’s public meeting in Muzaffarabad, and called Nawaz ‘a by-product of dictatorship’.
Meanwhile, Altaf Hussain contacted JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman. Both the leaders discussed the current political situation.
Online adds: MQM chief Altaf Hussain has given a final warning to the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party-led government to mend its ways; otherwise, his party would be forced to part ways with the Sindh coalition too and move from government to the opposition benches.
He said the MQM could no longer continue backing the government on anti-public decisions, saying, “It is no use holding ministries which incessantly fail to serve any good to masses,” Altaf said, adding that the PPP had failed in controlling corruption and inflation.
He advised President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to work for the development and prosperity of the people. “Time has still not run out and now the ball is in PPP’s court,” he said, adding, “The MQM is not interested in continuing to be part of the government rather it wants to work for serving the masses facing severe hardship because of relentless price hike and corruption.
Talking about Nawaz Sharif, he said the PML-N chief was trained by the dictators and generals like Ziaul Haq and Durrani, adding that during the government of Nawaz, the Supreme Court of Pakistan was attacked and dishonoured. Nawaz had indirectly blamed the MQM during his speech in Muzaffarabad the other day for violence and killings in Karachi.
Meanwhile, the federal ministers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Tuesday dispatched their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari.
According to a statement issued from Nine-Zero, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Farooq Sattar, and Federal Minister of Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri, have faxed their resignations to President Zardari. The statement said the partyÂ’s reservations still existed.
Sources said that MQM would quit the provincial cabinet in the second phase in January if the negotiations of party with the ruling PPP failed.
However, the President House spokesman has said that the Presidency was nothing to do with the resignations as the matter was related to the Prime Minister House.
Meanwhile, to allay the concerns of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party stalwarts have jumped into the fray and both President and Prime Minister have talked to the central leaders of MQM and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibaad.
Sources in the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party informed The Nation that in a damage control bid President Asif Ali Zardari has asked Interior Minister Rehman Malik to have meeting with MQM leaders and look into their grievances with the government so that the same could be redressed forthwith.
Sources further informed that both President and Prime Minister also had a detailed telephonic conversation on the issue and various options were discussed to bring MQM round, as the withdrawal of support by MQM would plunge the coalition government in deep trouble.
Talking to The Nation Central Information Secretary of the party Ms Fouzia Wahab sounded optimistic about a PPP-MQM patch-up, as government was ready to address all their (MQM) genuine concerns and hoped that things would be normal soon.
She further said that President Asif Ali Zardari had already barred the party leaders to stop giving statements about the coalition partners while he had also talked to the top hierarchy of MQM on their concerns and government was already in the process of addressing the same.
She further said, “Democracy is in the interest of all the political players and MQM is no exception, so I hope MQM will not take any step detrimental to the incumbent political dispensation.”
She once again reiterated her partyÂ’s stance to continue pursuing politics of reconciliation and hoped that the other major political players in the arena would also display the same spirit of supporting and strengthening the political set-up at centre and provinces.
She further said that PPP would take up the concerns of the MQM in the upcoming CEC meeting of the party and would talk out the issues with MQM in friendly fashion.
Meanwhile, the two-member committee comprising Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah met at CM House on Tuesday and discussed the grievances of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, main coalition partner of ruling PPP in Sindh and federal government.
After announcement of MQM to quit federal cabinet, the President formed a special committee of Interior Minister and Sindh Chief Minister, directing them to engage in dialogue with MQM on their grievances.
According to CM House, the committee discussed the grievances raised by MQM about Reform General Sales Tax, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar MirzaÂ’s harsh attitude towards them and other issues.
The MQM has main grievances over the proposed revival of Commissionrate system of old local government system in the province, which was already agreed by all the coalition partners and opposition benches in Sindh Assembly, except MQM.
Sources said that MQM made it clear that it will not accept shelving of existing local government system, introduced by former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf. Even, MQM wants more powers for the existing local government system comprising Nazims, but PPP in its draft bill of local government wants abolishment of this system, suggesting revival of Commissionrate system of old local government system to replace Nazims.
However, presently two ruling coalition partners, MQM and PPP, are sticking on their position on the subject.
Sources said that PPP believed that after devolution of provincial departments to three tiers — District, Tehsil/Town and Union Councils of local government, the provincial government of Sindh will have no check and balance on local government, leaving deterioration of system and increase in corruption.
Sources told The Nation that two-member committee also approached the Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat ul Ebad and decided to continue dialogue process on grievances of MQM.
After discussing the issues with MQM, the committee will submit initial report/recommendation and outcome of dialogue to President Asif Ali Zardari.
Meanwhile, a statement of CM House said that after discussion and consultation with the coalition partners, the committee would revisit the President and Prime Minister to submit the outcome of negotiation.
APP adds: JWP Chief Talal Bugti has appreciated the stance of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on arrest of Shahzain Bugti. Bugti said this during a telephonic talk with MQM Rabita Committee member yousuf Shahwani, said a statement issued by MQM here on Tuesday. Talking to Bugti, Shahwani said Altaf has taken a bold and principled stand on situation of Balochistan, the MQM statement maintained.
No deal between govt., carmaker unions
December 28th, 2010 |
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The Ministry of Economy has not reached an agreement with representatives of Zastava Automobili, the Kragujevac-based car manufacturer. The company will shut down after Fiat Automobili Srbija (FAS), a joint venture of the Serbian government and Italian Fiat Group, took over its production line.
MQM quits cabinet, not govt
December 28th, 2010 |
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KARACHI – The Rabita (Coordination) Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Monday decided to quit the federal cabinet. However, the party will not sit on the opposition benches in the National Assembly.
The decision was made in a joint meeting of the committee held in London and Karachi simultaneously. According to the decision, Federal Minster for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar and Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri will tender their resignations in the first phase. It was also decided in the meeting that the MQM would soon make a about leaving the Sindh government. The MQM is of the view that the PPP government did not consider the proposals presented for the welfare of the masses. “The decision is a result of the government’s ignorance towards its coalition partner,” the MQM said.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said the MQM was an allied party and every effort would be made to address their grievances, as done earlier. Expressing the hope that the PPP will be able to woo back the coalition partner, he said they learnt about the decision through media, as the top leadership was busy in the ceremonies held in the connection with Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary. He said, “We will discuss the matter in a meeting after returning to Islamabad and ascertain how much capacity we have.”
Kaira reiterated that the govt believed in the policy of reconciliation and wanted to move forward not only along with the allied but also the opposition parties.
On the other hand, President Asif Ali Zardari assigned Interior Minister Rehman Malik the task to persuade the MQM to withdraw the decision.
Agencies add: The meeting was called after the end of 10-day deadline fixed by the MQM leadership in the hope of an action over the controversial statement of Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.
Both Farooq Sattar Babar Ghauri, both are currently abroad and they will submit their resignations today (Tuesday) after returning back to the country.
MQM leader Faisal Sabazwari while talking to a TV channel said his party was only resigning from the federal cabinet but it would continue to sit on the ruling benches in the National Assembly, adding that the MQM had not decided about the ministries in Sindh cabinet.
Expressing similar views, Haider Abbas Rizvi said, “We’ll not sit on the opposition benches,” adding that they would continue strengthening democracy in the country. He maintained that the MQM did not intend to mount the pressure on the government.
Commenting over the move, Faisal Raza Abidi, a prominent leader of PPP, described the MQM as an integral part of the government and said it would remain a part of the ruling alliance. He said, “This kind of minor issues do happen in any democratic set up and they will be addressed accordingly as the PPP committed to remove the MQM‘s reservations. “We hope that during next 24 hours all differences between the PPP and the MQM will be resolved and everything will be fine,” claimed the PPP leader.
Minister: Govt. reshuffle “unnecessary”
December 27th, 2010 |
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Changes in the government are useful only if carried out in the first half of a mandate, Serbian Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjić has stated. The deputy leader of the ruling Socialists (SPS) explained that “now it is unnecessary since it is too late”.
“No agreement on new govt. in PriÅ¡tina”
December 20th, 2010 |
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Agim Ceku says that leader of Alliance for a New Kosovo Bedzet Pacoli and leader of Democratic Party of Kosovo Hashim Thaci have not reached any agreement. Reports previously said that they would form the new government in Priština.
Pak Govt. in full control of internal situation: Gilani
December 14th, 2010 |
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Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the government is in full in control of the internal situation in the country and would not allow anybody to pursue vested personal agendas, or derail the country from path of economic prosperity and sustained democracy. According to The News, Gilani told participants at the National [...]