Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley to respect the orders of the Jammu and Kashmir government and call off their planned flag-hoisting in Srinagar by giving up the “path of confrontation”. “I would request the two leaders of the opposition and their colleagues to [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Punjab’
Omar happy with centre’s backing on BJP march
January 25th, 2011 |
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is elated with the central government’s unqualified support in stopping the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) march to Srinagar and the treatment meted out to three top party leaders, sources say. “The chief minister is happy with the centre’s support. Almost every one is speaking in his favour and [...]
Respect orders of Kashmir government, Chidambaram tells BJP
January 25th, 2011 |
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Home Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to respect the orders of the Jammu and Kashmir government and call off their planned flag hoisting in Srinagar. “The order of the Jammu and Kashmir government should be respected,” Chidambaram said in a statement, adding that there was no justification for any step [...]
BJP to go ahead with yatra, Nitish expresses disapproval
January 25th, 2011 |
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In a day of high drama, three top BJP leaders were prevented from leaving Jammu airport and later arrested to thwart the party’s controversial flag-hoisting in Srinagar on Jan 26. Even as the BJP dug in its heels, its top ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed open disapproval of the move. The stand-off between [...]
Rangers given go-ahead
January 22nd, 2011 |
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ISLAMABAD – PPPÂ’s senior leadership has opposed military operation in violence-hit Karachi and suggested full-fledged action by Rangers to normalise the situation in the city, it has been learnt reliably.
A meeting of the Core Committee of PPP was held Friday night at the Aiwan-e-Sadr took serious note of the situation in the city. The meeting was presided over by PPP Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
According to sources, it was also noted in the meeting that there was a lack of liaison between Interior Minister Rehman and Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza which is badly affecting performance of the government.
The government has decided to launch full-fledged operation against criminals in order to bring situation to normal in Karachi. In the meeting, sources said, some PPP leaders strongly criticised the 10-point agenda, which has been presented by PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif so as to improve countryÂ’s economic situation and said Prime Minister Gilani should not blindly accept everything presented by the Opposition.
According to sources, three federal ministers also blasted Punjab Governor Latif Khosa for visiting the grave of Mian Sharif and said the governor, instead of visiting graves, should apprise the masses of corruption and inefficiency of the Punjab government. The meeting noted that the PPP is pursuing policy of reconciliation while the PML-N was doing everything to thwart this policy of the government.
A PPP leader told the meeting that the MQM were mounting their pressure for holding local bodies polls in Sindh, and the ongoing bloodbath in Karachi would end if holding of elections was announced.
A senior PPP leader was of the view that the government should not adopt policy of confrontation and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman should be contacted to rejoin the government.
According to Waqt News TV channel, the MQM would also be invited to rejoin the Federal Cabinet.
Abrar Saeed adds: Reiterating to push forward the policy of reconciliation, it was the unanimous view of the central leadership of PPP to take along all the political forces in steering the country out of the prevailing political and economic crises.
The Core Committee of the party took serious notice of the sacking of over 4,000 employees by Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) and constituted a three-member committee comprising Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah and Advisor to Prime Minister Senator Mian Raza Rabbani to take up the issue with the Government of Sindh.
The party reiterated its commitment to standby the working classes. It recalled the reinstatement of sacked employees in the recent past and said that it would not abandon the labour and the working classes.
The central leaders of the party came up with open debate on host of issues including the response to the 10-point formula given by the PML- N for sprucing up the governance and economic management, relations with the coalition partners, current spate of target killings and the ways and means to bring the port city of Karachi under the rule of law, and a number of matters of national importance.
It was also the consensus view of the party leadership that all the stakeholders should be taken into confidence while taking any crucial decision on Karachi unrest and it was further decided that all the options including deployment of Armed Forces in the port city would be placed before the All Parties Conference on Karachi peace due in Federal Capital on 26th of this month.
It was the unflinching stance of President Zardari that all the stakeholders including MQM and ANP would be taken on board while taking any policy decision regarding Karachi and he was optimistic that peace in the port city would be brought without taking any extreme administrative step.
Both the President and Prime Minister appreciated the 10-point demands put forth for steering the country out of prevailing economic mess and said that they had asked the other political parties in the Parliament to give their suggestions as well, so that a comprehensive national agenda for economic and administrative reformation could be evolved.
It was further decided in the meeting that the government should go about swiftly the revamping process of the state-owned corporations and also take other corrective measures for bringing overall improvement in the national economy.
It was further decided with voice vote that PPP would continue to stay part of the Government of Punjab in pursuance of its policy of reconciliation and would not let the Mian Shahbaz Sharif government destabilised.
The matters relating to the partyÂ’s reorganisation also came under discussion and in this connection party leaders were asked to reinvigorate the party set-up at grassroots level so that the party could show better results in the upcoming local bodies elections across the country.
At the outset of the meeting President Zardari, who is also Co-Chairman of Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party, also briefed the members about his recent visit to UAE and America. He also shared the details of his meeting with President Obama with the participants of the meeting.
Besides President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, the Core Committee meeting of the party was attended by Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, leader of the House in Senate, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister for Commerce, Chaudhary Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Defence, Nazar Mohammed Gondal, Minister for Food & Agriculture, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Rehman Malik, Interior Minister, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour & Manpower, Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Babar Awan, Minister for Law & Justice, Raja Pervaz Ashraf, Minister for Water & Power, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Advisor to PM, Senator Jahangir Badar, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, Rukhsana Bangash, MNA, Fauzia Wahab, MNA, Fauzia Habib, MNA, and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar.
Staff Reporter from Karachi adds: Two activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were gunned down in yet another incident of target killing in Joria Bazaar, Risala police said on Friday.
The incident took place near a shop situated in Joria Bazaar, when the victims, 50-year-old Haji Fareed, son of Abdul Hafeez; and Saeed, alias Gullo, were sitting there. Suddenly two armed men reached there on motorcycle and opened indiscriminate firing on them; resultantly both sustained to injuries.
Police shifted them to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for medical treatment where they breathed their last. With the news of killings spread, scores of MQM workers, leaders and sympathisers gathered in CHK. Tension engulfed the surrounding areas and all shops and market were closed.
SHO Faryad Bhatti said it was the incident of target killing. Haji Fareed was the father of five children and also used to run a grocery shop in the same vicinity and was also a very prominent social worker of the area. Victim Abdul Hafeez was an employee of City District Government (CDGK) and he was unmarried. Both victims were the activists of MQM.
Later, their funeral prayers were offered in Denso Hall. No case was registered till the filing of this report. It is pertinent to mention here that two activists of MQM had been gunned down in the same area four days ago.
Khali mobbed, two fans injured in firing
January 22nd, 2011 |
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The fan frenzy to meet World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion Khali took an ugly turn in Punjab’s Ludhiana city when an unidentified man fired in the air, injuring two people, police said Saturday. “Khali had gone to the house of Punjab Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain for dinner Friday night. While he was coming out of [...]
‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’, a heartwarming tribute to Deols
January 15th, 2011 |
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Film: “Yamla Pagla Deewana”; Starring: Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol,Kulraj Randhawa, Anupam Kher, Nafisa Ali; Directed by: Samir Karnik; Rating: *** When was the last time you went to see a movie to watch a real-life film family have fun? Was it 40 years ago in “Kal Aaj Aur Kal” when the Kapoor khandaan, grandfather [...]
US to find ways to boost Pak economy
January 15th, 2011 |
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WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama Friday assured President Asif Ali Zardari President of United StatesÂ’ help in overcoming PakistanÂ’s difficulties and challenges when the two leaders met at the White House, according to the Pakistani envoy.
The US President offered to look at new ways to help PakistanÂ’s troubled economy as he showed support for President Asif Ali Zardari at a White House meeting, officials said.
President Zardari flew into Washington Thursday afternoon for a memorial service later in the day for the late US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke who died last month at the age of 69.
“He (Obama) was very clear in asserting that the US wants to help Pakistan in overcoming its difficulties and challenges and also recognizes the successes that have been accomplished in fighting terrorism, building democracy and instituting economic reforms,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani said in a post-meeting Press briefing.
On his part, President Zardari said Pakistan wants to stand up on its feet economically and not remain a permanent recipient of aid.
Haqqani said Zardari expressed appreciation for assistance from the US, which in 2009 approved a five-year, 7.5-billion-dollar package for the key but complicated war partner.
Ambassador Haqqani said the top-level US-Pakistan meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere, countering media reports about a strain in the relationship between the two countries and that Zardari would come under pressure for starting military operations in North Waziristan.
“Nobody scolded anybody, nobody raised the question of Pakistan not doing enough, nobody said anything negative about the lack of support of either country for the other,” he said
“We continue to work positively in all areas of cooperation, political, economic, diplomatic, strategic, intelligence and military,” Haqqani said, underscoring the cooperative nature of ties.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Adviser Douglas Lute and, White House counterterrorism advisor John Brennan assisted the US president while Ambassador Haqqani accompanied President Zardari for the meeting.
President Zardari, speaking about Pakistan’s priorities and requirements, told his US counterpart that “Pakistan does not want to be a permanent recipient of aid. We want to be able to stand up on own two feet. And for that we need economic reforms and we are cognizant of that, and working on that and that Pakistan and the US are partners” in this respect, according to Haqqani.
For their part, President Obama and Secretary Hillary said over the next few days, they would try to find new ways to strengthen Pakistan’s economic reform process “while taking into consideration social and political factors as well as the overwhelming reality of the floods, which disrupted the economic growth last year,” the Pakistani envoy said.
Obama expressed his condolences over the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer. He appreciated Islamabad’s resolve to build a “moderate democratic Pakistan which is the strongest guarantee against terrorist threat in our region,” Haqqani told reporters.
“He appreciated the stance of the government of Pakistan in wanting to pursue the perpetrators of this crime as well as to continue to work towards building a moderate, democratic Pakistan, which is the strongest guarantee against the success of terrorists in our region.”
President Obama “unequivocally” stressed US support for democracy in Pakistan, the envoy added.
“Both presidents acknowledged the services of the late ambassador (Richard) Holbrooke and the great energy and strength that he had brought to the US-Pakistan relationship and agreed there was need to continue with that momentum to build the strategic partnership.”
However, Ambassador Haqqani said, President Obama made it clear that the meeting could not be a substitute for formal talks between the two anti-terror partners during an official visit to Washington by President Zardari later this year and President ObamaÂ’s own visit to Islamabad.
According to a White House statement, Obama told Zardari Friday that he was “looking forward” to visiting Pakistan later this year.
It also said the two leaders’ “discussion focused on our shared efforts to fight terrorism and promote regional stability, specifically on the importance of cooperating towards a peaceful and stable outcome in Afghanistan” and that Obama “underscored the importance of the US-Pakistan relationship and our continued support for Pakistan.”
The US President emphasized the importance of cooperating to promote stability in Afghanistan, the White House said.
Husain Haqqani, the Pakistani ambassador in Washington, told reporters that the two leaders voiced concern about rising extremism worldwide that he said was behind the recent assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and this monthÂ’s shooting rampage in the US state of Arizona that killed six people and critically wounded a member of Congress, Gabrielle Giffords.
The Indian Premier League: Go fetch that
January 13th, 2011 |
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One of the world’s most controversial sporting events is back on track
THE lobby of the Royal Gardenia, an “eco-friendly” five-star hotel, was crowded with television crews and photographers on January 8th and 9th. Bollywood stars and business tycoons were also on display, including Bangalore’s “King of Good Times”, Vijay Mallya, a flamboyant brewer and airline owner. They were shopping for cricketers to play for their respective teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a three-year-old contest that has transformed India’s favourite game and transfixed the country. In a two-day player auction watched live on television by around 19m people, 127 cricketers were sold for $62m.
For the owners and the IPL’s organisers, this was cause for relief. Since the conclusion of its third six-week season, last April, the league has been beset by feuding and scandal on an all-India scale. A high-profile minister, Shashi Tharoor, lost his job in a row over the finances of a new IPL team for which he had lobbied. The league’s charismatic creator and boss, Lalit Modi, was charged by India’s cricket board with taking multi-million-dollar kickbacks and other misdemeanours. (Both men deny wrongdoing.) Two of the IPL’s ten teams, based in Rajasthan and Punjab, were accused of irregularities in their ownership and expelled. They were reinstated last month, at least temporarily, on the courts’ say-so. On the eve of the auction, there were rumours it would be cancelled and the next season, due in April, postponed. But the brouhaha now seems overdone. The IPL, which is estimated to be worth over $4 billion, is probably too big to fail. …
US gets ‘no’ on NWA action
January 13th, 2011 |
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ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Wednesday made it clear to the US that it would not become a part of any new American great game in relation to its forcesÂ’ announced withdrawal from Afghanistan starting from July this year.
Officials requesting anonymity told The Nation that Islamabad had also conveyed to the visiting US Vice-President Joe Biden that neither politically nor strategically it suited Pakistan to open up any new war front in North Waziristan Agency.
Biden, who held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and COAS Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, assured the Pakistani leadership that the US fully respected sovereignty of Pakistan.
He assured Pakistan that there would be “no boots on the ground”. He also dismissed Pakistan’s apprehensions about US-sponsored foreign intervention thorough Afghanistan.
Acknowledging Pakistan’s legitimate apprehensions, the visiting dignitary made it clear that the US wanted Pakistan’s key role in bringing peace in Afghanistan. He rather acknowledged Pakistan’s apprehensions about foreign intervention through Afghanistan as “legitimate”.
Terming these meetings as extremely useful high-level consultation, the sources said that both the sides discussed how to proceed forward on matters related to Afghanistan.
They opined that the US was interested in finding out “Pakistan’s bottom line and its intentions” regarding Afghanistan.
They said both sides also discussed possibilities of Afghan TalibanÂ’s future political role and agreed that if they disassociated themselves from al Qaeda and would be acceptable, at all
The US Vice-President arrived in Islamabad after two days in Kabul, where he said Pakistan needed to do more to help the US in its battle against Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan as it prepares to withdraw its troops from there.
Earlier, addressing a joint Press conference with Premier Gilani following their one on one meeting at the Prime MinisterÂ’s House, Biden rejected misperceptions that the US planned to impose any war on Pakistan as part of its counter-terrorism fight against al Qaeda. He reassured that the US wanted to forge long-term strategic partnership with Pakistan.
“A stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan was in the interests of the US,” the US Vice-President said.
Calling the Pak-US relationship “absolutely vital”, he said that was what he had experienced in his capacity as member of Foreign Relations Committee during his 30-year long interaction with Pakistani leadership.
He said it was an opportunity for him to do away with some misperceptions about US-Pakistan relations.
He said his country’s aspirations for Pakistan was to see it a developed and a prosperous country. “I want the grandchildren of Pakistan and US not to find in future the articles on terrorism. I want the Pakistani scientists to accomplish Nobel peace prizes,” he said.
The US Vice-President said due to USÂ’ interest to forge deeper relations with Pakistan, it had set up a large educational system for Pakistanis and demonstrated this by actions during the last seven years by initiating numerous projects.
He said the US was working in partnership with Pakistani Government and had increased security cooperation.
Biden pointed out that during the last summer’s devastating floods in Pakistan, the US made extensive support for relief and rehabilitation. “This is what the partners do for partners,” he added.
About misconception regarding USÂ’ disrespect towards Islam, the US Vice-President said the situation was in fact quite the opposite as the Muslim Americans freely practised their religion in the US.
He attempted to dispel what he called common anti-American misperceptions in Pakistan while urging the government to fight growing religious extremism.
He said Islam was the fastest growing religion in the US and mentioned President Barack Obama’s statement in a Muslim-populated area that “Islam is a part of America”.
“I would challenge to name any other country in the world which provides greater freedom of worship. We are not the enemies of Islam and we embrace those who practice this great religion,” he said.
He said a large number of people were converting to Islam in America.
Biden called Amna Taseer, the widow of the slain governor, to express his condolences on behalf of the president and the American people.
Biden said militancy in Pakistan was a threat to both countries, adding that IslamabadÂ’s efforts against militants were not enough.
Militant groups have exploited grievances, exacerbated by US drone attacks in the west of the country, to build support.
He said President Barrack Obama, he and his countrymen were saddened over the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, adding that there was no justification for such senseless act against a person who raised voice for tolerance.
While offering condolences over TaseerÂ’s killing on behalf of President Obama, he said that societies needed tolerance to grow.
“The governor was killed simply because he was a voice of tolerance and understanding,” he said.
“As you know all too well … societies that tolerate such actions end up being consumed by those actions,” he said, urging Pakistan for NWA operation
Biden said militancy in Pakistan was a threat to both countries, adding that IslamabadÂ’s efforts against militants were not enough.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Gilani thanked the US administration for its extra-ordinary contribution to the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the people and areas affected by the recent unprecedented floods in the country.
Justice JavedÂ’s parents killed
January 12th, 2011 |
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LAHORE – Malik Abdul Hameed, former DIG Police and father of Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal, along with his spouse was found strangled to death at their Cavalry Ground residence in Cantonment police area late on Tuesday night.
Police sources claimed that the possibility of target killing could not be ruled out.
Sources further said the couple, in their early 80s, was tortured and strangled to death in their house located in the posh and fortified locality. The policemen deployed outside their residence 164-Cavalary Ground were absent from the duty. The motives behind the murder are yet to be ascertained, but nothing from the luggage was missing, raising suspicions, a top police source said. Both Malik Abdul Hameed, 85, and his wife Amna Hameed, 80, were lying dead on the floor in the courtyard of the lower portion when the police reached there.
A woman residing on the upper portion of their house on rent found the couple dead and informed the police about the gruesome murder incident.
“Two female neighbourers phoned the police, which reached the spot and detained the both for preliminary investigation,” insiders said. They further said as the women were the first eyewitnesses of the incident, they would be interrogated regarding the incident.
Investigators were on the scene, collecting evidences to determine how the killers brutally murdered Malik and his wife.
Apparently, the killers suffocated former DIG Special Branch Quetta Abdul Hameed and his wife to death by putting pillows on their faces. “We are trying to find out motives behind the killings. Nothing is clear at this moment,” the source said.
Justice Javed Iqbal, a close associate of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who had refused to take oath under PCO, was in Islamabad while his parents were staying alone at their Lahore residence. The Punjab Bar Council announced strike for Wednesday (today) and lawyers will not appear in the courts to protest the killings.
Sources said Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) SP Umar Virk had got a tip-off that a gang would break into the locality some days back on which the CIA, in collaboration with the Lahore Police teams, had started surveillance of the area and deployed personnel at several locations.
Days after the newly-appointed IG Punjab Javed Iqbal assumed charge of his new office and spelt out his priorities to bring down the alarming crime rate, dacoits have killed the parents of a senior Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal.
The police have arrested the street guard and are investigating.
The news got many grave ramifications for the judges and their families after this incident took place.
It is worth mentioning here that the horrible incident has come at such a critical situation when the SC judges are being considered the only ray of hope and the only working institution for the deprived people across the country.
The dacoity-cum-murder incidents have swelled to an alarming level in Lahore as the dacoits killed 55 people on offering resistance last year.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif took strong notice of the incident and directed IGP Javed Iqbal to nab the killers.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner, the DCO Lahore and provincial law minister were also on the crime scene till the filing of this report.
The police denied the media access to the crime scene and cordoned off the entire locality.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik constituted a Joint Investigation Team comprising ISI, FIA, IB and Punjab Police to probe into the ghastly murder incident.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and JamaÂ’at-i-Islami Ameer Syed Munawar Hassan and former Ameer JI Qazi Hussain Ahmed strongly condemned the killing of the parents of Justice Javed Iqbal.
Premier Gilani directed the Joint Investigation Team to investigate the sad incident and submit a report at the earliest. The Prime Minister conveyed his heartiest condolences and sincere sympathies to the members of the bereaved family.
President Zardari also strongly condemned the tragic happening and ordered immediate inquiry into the incident. He expressed his deep sense of shock and grief over the tragic deaths and prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family.
Law to monitor agencies sought
January 11th, 2011 |
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ISLAMABAD – The year of 2011 would be the year of recovery of missing persons, remarked Justice Javed Iqbal while heading a three-member bench that was hearing a suo moto case of missing persons on Monday.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) for Pakistan, K.K. Agha, presented the report of the Inquiry Commission. He said that without permission of the Federal Government the report could not be made public. He, however, said that according to the report 134 persons had been released in eight months. The report also suggested that Parliament should legislate in order to curb the practice of enforced disappearances.
The court has ordered the Federal Government to submit a report regarding the implementation of measures suggested in the CommissionÂ’s report to redress the missing persons issue.
In April 2010, the apex court had decided to give the Government a chance and, therefore, advised it to constitute a commission for hearing of missing personsÂ’ cases. The aggrieved families were directed to cooperate with the commission. The Federal Government respecting the courtÂ’s order formed a 3-member Inquiry Commission including Justice (Retd) Kamal Mansoor Alam, President, Justice (Retd) Fazal-ur-Rehman (Member) and Justice (Retd) Nasira Iqbal (Member). The commission after hearing the aggrieved families suggested for almost eight months some measures to curb the practice
of enforced disappearance.
Justice Javed Iqbal inquired from the AAG whether responsibility was established in disappearances and what action was taken against the responsible persons. Hashmat Habib Advocate informed the court that some missing persons were kidnapped by the state agencies. He said there should be some sort of legislation as proposed in the report, and Chuadhry Ikram hurriedly added particularly to the intelligence agencies.
The Judge said that there should be some tribunal for the hearing of missing person cases.
The AAG said, “Nothing is dodged in the report and it is very courageous.” He said that after 9/11 certain steps were taken outside the law, but no legislation was done to stop enforced disappearance.
Chairperson of Defence of Human Right (DHR) and Public Service Pakistan, Amina Masood, informed the court that though the report had been prepared five months ago, they had not been supplied copy of it. She said, “We have been living in agony for more than five years.”
Justice Jillani remarked as the Attorney General is the principal law officer of the court therefore he should advise the Government to do some legislation to resolve the issue of missing persons.
Amina Masood said that they had pinned hope to the Supreme Court as many people were recovered due to the courtÂ’s interest. She said that the chronic cases like that of Faisal Faraz and Masood Janjua were still pending. Men and boys are still being kidnapped in the presence of thousands of people, she added.
She also supplied her report of missing persons to the court. According to the report, a total of 281 persons are missing. Out of them 164 are in Punjab, 70 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18 in Balochistan, 15 in Sindh, 9 in FATA and 5 in AJK. She regretted that not a single penny as compensation was given to the affected family. Amina said many commissions were formed in the past but did not prove fruitful. On one hand people are released but with much faster pace people are picked up.
The AAG replied that the Government wanted to regulate missing persons issue. Agha said that he had received the copy of report the previous day (Sunday) and wanted to study thoroughly, therefore needed some time to study it. The court therefore adjourned the case till next Monday.
Agencies add: Terming contents of the report classified, the AAG said that he received the report overnight and could not go into its contents completely.
He said he would require time to consult the Federation on the issue of fixation of responsibility.
Justice Javed in response to it observed that there should be a permanent body to regularly monitor such cases. He also referred to the report submitted by the Judicial Commission seeking a law to monitor agencies.
Deols set to create ‘Apne’ magic with ‘Yamla Pagla…’
January 10th, 2011 |
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After wowing the audiences with their heartwarming peformances in “Apne”, the Deol trio – Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby – are set to tickle the audiences’ funny bone with their comedy-drama “Yamla Pagla Deewana”, which is releasing Friday. Directed by Samir Karnik, and co-produced by Nitin Manmohan, the film marks screen legend Dharmendra’s 50 years in [...]
PM says ‘yes’ to Nawaz agenda
January 10th, 2011 |
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ISLAMABAD – Accepting the 10-point demands a day ahead of the ‘so-called ultimatumÂ’ given by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that in his telephonic contact with Mian Nawaz Sharif he had assured him that government would not lose the opportunity of steering the country out of crises on implementing his agenda.
He was addressing the press conference at Prime MinisterÂ’s House soon after talking to Nawaz Sharif assuring him that government was ready to implement his agenda for bringing improvement in governance.
Before his chat with Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Gilani secured approval of the same from President Asif Ali Zardari and also took into confidence the parliamentary leaders including PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain, MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PPP-S President Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Functional League head Pir Pagara, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and FATA MPs leader Munir Orakazi. All these national leaders have endorsed the decision of Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party and hence it has acquired the shape of national agenda, Premier added.
To a question Prime Minister said that he did talk about the ultimatum given to his government by Nawaz Sharif but he said that he was quoted out of context and he had not given any ultimatum. Premier further said that after expressing the governmentÂ’s affirmative response on 10-point demands of Nawaz Sharif he once again put the question about the next deadline of 45 days but Main Nanas Shari said that as the government seemed sincere in implementing the 10-point demands put forth by him for sprucing up the governance so there was no more deadline.
Nawaz Sharif further said that as the government wanted to implement his agenda for putting the house in order so there is no question of showing the door to Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party in Punjab, Prime Minister quoted Nawaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Gilani further informed that on his suggestion Nawaz Sharif had agreed to form a Parliamentary Committee under the head of Senator Ishaq Dar to take up the issues concerning PML-N with government in furthering 10-point agenda given by Mian Nawaz Sharif which he termed ‘national agenda.’
Prime Minister said that PPP would definitely take PML-N on board while appointing new Governor Punjab when asked whether PPP would take into confidence while appointing this important administrative slot in Punjab.
To a question Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raze Gilani said that his government was already working on the same lines to bring improvement in governance and to control leakage of funds from various corporations and state owned enterprises.
He said that the restructuring of Pakistan Railways, PIA, Pepco and Steel Mills was already on the agenda and in next cabinet meeting they would be going to discuss the ways and means to bring improvement in these state entities running into losses.
Prime Minister Gilani said that his government was pursuing the policy of reconciliation and referred to the unanimous passage of 18th Amendment, 19th Amendment, 7th NFC Award, political status granted to Gilgit-Baltistan and reforms package for Balochistan and termed it a result of the policy of reconciliation adopted by Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party and expressed his partyÂ’s resolve to pursue the same in future as well.
To a question Premier Gilani said that in achieving these goals would only be possible through the active support of all the stakeholders in the Parliament and it was singular honour of the incumbent Parliament that it had done most of the legislation with consensus and hoped that they would be able to steer the country out of prevailing economic mess in same spirit of politics of reconciliation.
To another question about the following of Supreme Court verdicts Prime Minister said that PPP was having the singular honour of complete adherence to the each and every verdict of the apex court.
When his attention was drawn toward the governmentÂ’s non-implementation of NRO verdict of SC he replied that it was sheer bias when people talk about only one case out of 8,034 cases withdrawn under NRO and added that still the case on NRO is subjudice in the apex court and let the court take decision on the review petition of the government.
To another question about the fresh spate of target killing in Karachi he said that PPP in support of MQM and ANP would definitely bring normalcy to the port city which is the economic hub of the country and disturbance over their would have negative impact on the whole economy.
To a question about the allegations of corruption coming on his family members including his son in Haj scam Premier Gilani termed them as mere allegations and quickly added that the case of Haj scam was in the court and if someone have substantial proof he could submit the same in the court.
To a question about some of his wrong decisions Prime Minister said that out of over 10,000 decisions he had taken if some four or five decisions were wrong and said that it could be taken as error judgment. As the matter relating to some appointments were in the court of law and whatever would be the decision of the court it would be implemented in totality.
Responding to another question Prime Minister Gilani said that actually the persons who are hurling corruption allegations on him were targeting President Asif Ali Zardari and as he was defending him so they had also turned against him.
He further said that as President was the part of Parliament so it was his duty to defend him and this thing annoyed certain quarters, which had launched dirty campaign against him.
To another question he said that incumbent political dispensation was not going anywhere as for the first time in the history of the country the establishment was supportive of the political set-up and it was also for the first time that PPP and establishment were on one-page.
To another question he once again reiterated his governmentÂ’s stance that they would not bring any change in the blasphemy laws and added that during his chat with him Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also asked him about it and his reply was the same that government would not bring any change in the law.
Sad to lose Pathan, happy to have Gilchrist: Priety
January 8th, 2011 |
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Kings XI Punjab co-owner and Bollywood star Priety Zinta said she was disappointed to lose all-rounder Irfan Pathan but glad to buy former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist in the first session of auction for the fourth leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Saturday. Kings XI Punjab went all out to buy their former player [...]
Great to be a part of home team, says Sreesanth
January 8th, 2011 |
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India’s temperamental fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth was happy to be a part of his home team as the Kochi franchise bought him for $900,000 during the players’ auction for Indian Premier League (IPL) season four here Saturday. “Thanks a lot for ur support and wishes..gr8 to be in home team..kochi,” Sreesanth tweeted. Sreesanth had a [...]
Cricketers auction for IPL 4 begins in Bangalore
January 8th, 2011 |
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Seated eight to a table at the over 7,000 sq ft pillar-less Mysore Hall of ITC Royal Gardenia Hotel here, business leaders and film stars Saturday began picking up cricketers for the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) fourth season. The IPL-4 beginning April 8 will see 10 teams and 74 matches in the shortest version of [...]
POL prices hike rolled back
January 7th, 2011 |
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ISLAMABAD – With the consensus of all parliamentary parties, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday announced to withdraw the recent hike in the prices of petroleum (POL) products.
“On the demand of the people and political leadership of the country, I announce to restore the POL prices as of December 31, 2010. The decision is taken with the consensus of all the parliamentary parties. It was impossible if there was no consensus,” the premier said while speaking during the National Assembly session.
The government had raised fuel prices by as much as 9 per cent on the eve of New Year. Days later, the second-largest ruling coalition – Muttahida Qaumi Movement – cited the price hike as a reason for joining the opposition. The defection deprived the ruling Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party of a majority in the Parliament, plunging the country into political turmoil at a time of severe economic troubles and relentless militant attacks.
The rollback was also one of the PML-NÂ’s several demands presented to Prime Minister Gilani. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif also wanted a 30 per cent cut in the government expenditure and the implementation of a series of court verdicts against the PPP members over corruption. In his speech, the prime minister said before announcing the withdrawal, he met with the parliamentary leaders of all the parties where Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh and his team briefed them on the recent economic situation of the country.
“During the meeting, we reached a consensus that the recent hike in POL prices should be withdrawn and the new prices should be as of December 31,” the prime minister told the Lower House.
He informed the House that during the meeting, it was decided that a parliamentary committee comprising all the political partiesÂ’ members would be constituted that would not only devise a strategy to handle the influence of fluctuating prices of petroleum products in the international market but would also draw an economic road map for the country.
Later, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan lauded the decision of the Prime Minister to withdraw the recent increase in the POL prices. “It was a demand of the people of Pakistan and today the Prime Minister has bowed in submission of people which is a good tradition”, Nisar said while adding that the act would give a message that the Parliament was serious in resolving the problems of the people. He said that another problem being faced by the people was the gas loadshedding and the government should also take steps in that direction.
Commenting on the murder of the Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, Nisar said it was a gory incident but some federal ministers were terming it a political killing even when the inquiry report was still pending.
He said that the ministers should avoid giving such statements when the society had already divided on this incident.
“If some body wants to get the slot of Governor Punjab then he should use any other pitch. Stop making statements like ‘Ranjit Singh’ or ‘Maula Jatt’. Providing security to Taseer was the responsibility of Islamabad police as he was in the Capital. Inquiry committees are working on it and let them complete their investigation, he said. If someone found involved, action would be taken against him”, Nisar said.
He told that Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif was willing to attend the funeral prayer of Taseer but Senior Minister Raja Riaz urged him not to come to avert any untoward situation, as number of PPP workers were in anger after such statements. Chief of Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan thanked the Prime Minister and the parliamentary leaders of all the political parties for sitting with the PM on his advice to settle the issue of price hike in POL products.
“It is a bold step and also a proof that we can collectively solve the issues of people. Deputy Parliamentary Leader of MQM Haider Abbas Rizvi while congratulating the parliamentarians and people of Pakistan tanked the Prime Minister and termed it a bold step. It is difficult to undo his own decision but we are thankful to PM Gilani who reviewed his decision,” Rizvi added. He also urged the PM to review the prices of LNG and CNG too. Talking about the briefing of the Finance Minister to the parliamentary leaders Rizvi said that Finance Minister told them that the government had a plan to give subsidy of Rs30 billion to people on electricity but “till now it has given the subsidy of Rs156 billion.”
Maulana Ataur Rehman of JUI-F also welcomed the decision and congratulated the Parliament and people of Pakistan on the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan ordering Ministry of Religious Affairs to pay back 700 riyals to each Haji. Talking about the murder of Punjab governor, he said his party had been requesting the govt not to touch the issue of amending blasphemy law but the govt and the governor did not pay heed to it and neglected their demand.
“The inquiry is still in way; however, if we take the statement of killer accurate the fault was of the governor,” he added.
He demanded of the govt to dissolve the committee formed to introduce amendments into the law and to withdraw the bill of Sherry Rehman. “If the government touches such sensitive laws then such incidents can again happen. The govt is responsible not the young generation. However JUI-F respects the law and the religious parties never take law into their hands,” Ataur Rehman said. Riaz Hussain Pirzada also congratulated the House and people for the withdrawal of hike in POL prices. Talking about the murder of Salmaan Taseer he said that it was not on the ground of religion. Such steps are taken after proper planning. There would be a network behind it, he added.
Meanwhile, the House also offered fateha for the departed soul of Governor Salmaan Taseer. Earlier, the parliamentary leaders of political parties met with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza to discuss the hike in POL prices.
Finance Minister Abdul Hafiz Sheikh briefed the Parliamentary leaders on the economic situation of the country and recent hike of the POL products. The meeting decided to withdraw the increase in POL prices and to form a parliamentary committee to draw an economic road map for the country.
Onion prices may soar as Pakistan bans export via border
January 6th, 2011 |
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Onion woes are likely to continue in India with Pakistan deciding to stop sending the commodity through the Attari-Wagah border check-post and also cutting down on the quantity due to a shortage in that country, an official said. According to a communication received from Pakistan’s commerce ministry, onions will not come through the land route [...]
PPP smells a rat
January 6th, 2011 |
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LAHORE/KARACHI – The PPP on Wednesday termed Salmaan TaseerÂ’s assassination a ‘political murderÂ’ with political motives, as Federal Law Minister Babar Awan in his media talk raised many questions regarding the incident and also pointed finger at the Punjab government for what he called a ‘criminal security lapseÂ’. ‘Why Salmaan Taseer was not provided the security cover of a Constitutional head of the province which is equal to that of the Chief Executive of the province, and which is given to Constitutional heads in other provinces tooÂ’, the Minister asked while talking to reporters at the residence of PPP leader Munawar Anjum where he had gone to condole the death of latterÂ’s mother.
Awan questioned why a person who had earlier been declared security risk and terminated from service was included in GovernorÂ’s security staff.
He said that security of Governor Taseer was handed over to the murderers, while describing the incident as a failure of security.
Terming TaseerÂ’s assassination a target killing and a political murder, he said Salmaan Taseer had one identity only; that of a political man, and his murder could not be without political motives
Is it the fate of PPP only to lift the bodies of its leaders? he asked.
Awan said it needed to be investigated whether it was a criminal security lapse or a conspiracy against the country and the present system. He feared that certain forces wanted to weaken the country through such acts.
He said it was vital to uncover what he called ‘real conspiracy’ behind the murder.
‘It’s not our job to reach at the real culprits, but it is highly important to investigate the matter’, he added, saying his party would not let any one to hush up the whole affair.
He said GovernorÂ’s assassination had raised many questions which must be answered. He further said his party did not want to indulge in any blame game, but it was necessary to conduct thorough investigation.
He said it would be an uphill task for only two civil servants to investigate such a big tragedy. Babar said he was not blaming any body for the murder and all his utterances were within the confines of the Constitution and law.
Babar also seemed dissatisfied over the security cover being provided to him as Federal Minister. ‘I have to arrange it myself, some times also seeking help from Rangers’, he told reporters, adding, that the security vehicles provided to him by Punjab government were without headlights and had weak tyres.
Meanwhile, addressing Punjab Assembly session on Wednesday, Senior Punjab Minister Raja Riaz and Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira were also convinced that political motivation led to Salmaan TaseerÂ’s murder.
Meanwhile, the PPP parliamentary party in Punjab condemned the Taseer’s assassination as a ‘political murder’, and demanded tracing the real culprits and awarding exemplary punishment to them.
The emergency parliamentary party meeting was held here at the Punjab Assembly cafeteria with Senior Minister Raja Riaz in the chair.
Senator Babar Awan, Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Rana Farooq Saeed also attended the meeting on the special invitation of PPP legislators.
The PPP Ministers Dr Tanvir-ul-Islam, Farooq Yusuf Ghurki, Ashraf Sohna, Neelam Jabbar and Haji Muhammad Ishaq besides a large number of legislators attended the meeting.
Addressing the participants, Babar Awan said that assassination of Salmaan Taseer was a test of patience for the PPP and its workers.
He said that the party has already faced a number of political murders.
He said that assassination of the Constitutional head of a province by a security guard was a big question mark.
He said that some miscreants were hatching conspiracies to weaken the Federation. He said that the PPP and the Federation were two sides of the same coin.
Neelam Jabbar, Sajida Mir, Azma Bokhari, Tariq Amin Hotiana, Irshad Ahmed Sial and Saleem Najmi also addressed the meeting.
The participants paid glowing tributes to Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer for his brave stance against terrorism. The participants passed a resolution expressing the resolve to continue the mission of party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto besides continuing the policy of national reconciliation of President Asif Zardari.
The resolution passed by the PPP MPAs also demanded probe into the killing of Salmaan Taseer and voiced for the tracing of real hands behind the gory incident.
In Karachi, PPP Central Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab termed that the assassination of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer a political murder, saying that his murder was not an act of extremism.
The PPP government has announced three-day mourning for Salman Taseer and the PPP also announced two-week mourning.
Talking to the media person after the condolence meeting at the People’s Secretariat, Fauzia Wahab said that killing of Salman Taseer was a part of pre-planned conspiracy and said “now we should remain alert to avert from this kind of terrorism.”
Commenting over the issue about who was the responsible for the security of Governor Punjab, she said that the controversy about the security responsibility of the Salman Taseer proved that the murder was political. She said that PPP MNA Sherry Rehman has privately submitted the bill to amend the blasphemy law in the National Assembly.
PPP Karachi organised the condolence meeting at the PeopleÂ’s Secretariat to express the condolence on the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer.
Meanwhile, Sindh Senior Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said that the religious political parties had defamed the face of Islam across the world. He said that these elements were hatching conspiracy to break the country.
Pir Mazhar vowed that PPP would continue its struggle against these extremist elements and striving to make enlightened and develop Pakistan. He said that extremists in the country were the remnants of former dictator Zia-ul-Haq and underlined the need to uproot the remnants of Zia-ul-Haq from the country.