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Posts Tagged ‘Sharif’

10-point agenda reduced to eight

January 26th, 2011 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD – Agreeing on appointing a one-person judicial commission to investigate into unjustifiable sugar price hike, the PPP and PML-N committees on Wednesday decided to put two critical issues of corruption and apex courtÂ’s verdictsÂ’ implementation on second priority.
Since the two committees had already categorised the ten points of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif by putting immediately doable on top priority and those that were not immediately doable on the second one.
Making significant headway on rest of the eight points, the two committees during their meeting on Wednesday somewhat agreed upon putting these two issues of removing corrupt cabinet members and implementation on verdicts of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with the judgement on NRO on top of them on second priority.
According to sources privy to the committeesÂ’ meeting, the PPP termed these two points as not immediately doable and therefore these were pushed to second priority. The PML-N, the sources added, did not oppose the contention of the PPP in a way silently agreeing to it.
The sources told The Nation that the PPP had argued that a unanimously agreed upon definition of corruption would be required to proceed on these points. Secondly, the PPP side had pointed out that the removal of a minister from the cabinet on corruption charges could disqualify him as member of the Parliament.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who is also head of the governmentÂ’s parliamentary committee interacting with that of the PML-N, said that two sides had agreed upon a one-person judicial commission on sugar prices. He said that a retired judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court would be appointed in a day or two as the judicial commission to probe recent increase in the sugar prices.
Â“For prices in general, and petroleum productsÂ’ tariff in particular the committees were hammering out a mechanism that would be finalised soon,Â” he said. Regarding the Accountability Bill, he said, the Committees would meet again next week to do away with the disagreements between the two parties on certain provisions of the draft. According to the Finance Minister, the two committees also agreed to finalise the parliamentary committee to be appointed by the Speaker National Assembly for appointment of independent Election Commissioner.
Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar, head of the PML-N parliamentary committee, told reporters after the meeting that Governor State Bank of Pakistan presented two lists of written off loans. The Governor presented two lists to the committees including details of loans written off since 1971 to 2003 and 2004 to 2010, separately. The committees have asked the central bank to come up with more specific details of the respective written off loans. However, the SBP also informed the committees that it was not possible to differentiate which of the loans were written off on political grounds. Still Dar was hopeful and vowed to give good news soon to the public regarding the recovery of loans written off on political grounds.
The committees would take up in their next meeting the issue of expenditures reduction both at the Centre and the provincesÂ’ level.

Cabinet to be Â‘rightsizedÂ’

January 23rd, 2011 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD – Some ministers in the federal cabinet are being removed in what is being described as Â‘rightsizingÂ’ of some 100-strong council of ministers, apparently to meet an important demand of the PML-N to reduce expenditure.
Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan confirmed that the step was being taken to Â‘rightsizeÂ’ the cabinet. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had given a 10-point charter of demands to the government on January 4 with a clear message that the needful should be done in 45 days. Otherwise, he had said, the PML-N would be left with no option but to call for fresh elections.
A committee comprising representatives of both PPP and PML-N is already working on modalities to implement the agenda. It is not clear how many ministers will be shown the door. However, it is expected that many ministers will lose their jobs, as only then will the government be able to show some cut in the expenditure.
It may be recalled that two federal ministers have already been sacked – although for a different reason. They are: Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Azam Khan Swati. Swati had alleged that Kazmi was involved in corruption in Haj operation. He also took the matter to the Supreme Court.
The prime minister removed both of them, saying they had violated discipline. Talking to journalists on the premises of the Supreme Court after the Judicial Commission meeting, Federal Law Minister Babar Awan disclosed that President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani had decided rightsizing of the Federal Cabinet.
He said it had been decided to reduce the number of ministers in the new cabinet with a view to cutting down government expenditures. The decision has been taken in the light of PML-NÂ’s suggestions for economic reforms and more than one dozen institutions would be restructured.
Babar said the government was discussing the issue with all political parties with an open mind, adding that all political parties and the government wanted to strengthen the system.
Brushing aside possibility of the Federal CabinetÂ’s dissolution, PPP central leaders said no such plan was under consideration and only a few portfolios of some of the cabinet members would be changed and that too owing to the devolution of over 12 ministries to the provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
Both the Presidential and Prime MinisterÂ’s spokesmen confirmed to The Nation that no proposal of dissolution of the Federal Cabinet came under discussion in the PPP Core CommitteeÂ’s meeting held at the Presidency on Friday night. The matter did not figure in the recent meetings of the President and Prime Minister either, confirmed these spokesmen.
The sources in PPP on condition of anonymity informed that the reshuffle in the portfolios of some of the federal and state ministers came under discussion in the Core Committee meeting of the party as over 12 full-fledged federal ministries would be devolved to provinces after the abolition of Concurrent List under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The sources further informed that at the same time, a few federal ministries also fell vacant after the two coalition partners – JUI-F and MQM – stepped out from the Federal Cabinet.
The sources revealed that in the Core Committee meeting, President Zardari had stressed the need for bringing the estranged coalition partners back in the Federal Cabinet and it was decided that the portfolios vacated by these coalition partners would not be reallocated and the current arrangement of keeping these portfolios as additional charge with some ministers would be kept intact.
The sources further said the devolution process of over 12 full-fledged federal ministries and its allied departments to provinces would be completed by June 30 and the process of rightsizing of the Federal Cabinet would also be completed by that time.
Some senior PPP leaders informed The Nation that a few state ministers could lose their berths in the Federal Cabinet owing to their poor performance and they would be replaced with active and vibrant party leaders. However, this condition would not apply on the ministries doled out to coalition partners, these leaders further informed and added that the share of ministries given to the coalition partners would not be affected by this rightsizing.
The sources in the party further informed that the PPP leadership had also constituted a special committee to examine the possibility of merger of some of the divisions and ministries, which in the past were carved out to accommodate maximum party leaders and coalition partners.
It is pertinent to mention here that the 18th Constitutional Amendment had restricted the size of the federal government to 11 per cent of the total strength of the Parliament which would remain below 50 but this clause would be applicable to the government formed after the next general elections due in 2013.
The condition of small size cabinet under the 18th Amendment would be made applicable after 2013 general elections owing to the problem of incumbent government, which had to accommodate a number of coalition partners in the Federal Cabinet.

Rangers given go-ahead

January 22nd, 2011 | No Comments

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.

Â‘None opposes PML unificationÂ’

January 16th, 2011 | No Comments

LAHORE Â– Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has maintained that none objects to the unification of various factions of the Pakistan Muslim League, but those who have been loyalists of a military dictator and have looted billions of rupees, must return the money and beg pardon from the masses.
He was addressing the 106th Founding Day ceremony of the Pakistan Muslim League held under the auspices of the Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust in collaboration with the Tehreek-e-Pakistan WorkersÂ’ Trust here on Saturday.
Chairman NPT and Editor-in-Chief The Nation Majid Nizami presided over the ceremony, while Senior Vice-Chairman NPT Begum Majeeda Wyne, Vice-Chairman NPT Dr Rafique Ahmad, former Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, Mian Farooq Altaf, Waleed Iqbal Advocate, Mian Khalil Ahmed Sharaqpuri, MPA Rana Muhammad Arshad, Parliamentarians and a large number of PML workers attended the function.
Shahbaz, while tracing the history of PakistanÂ’s creation, said that the Muslims of the Sub-continent launched a movement for creating a separate homeland under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and flag of the PML, and rendered sacrifices.
He lamented that after 63 years, Pakistanis had failed to establish Pakistan in accordance with the ideals of its founders.
Â‘Democratic dispensations were put in place, but the military dictators staged coups by hoodwinking people, and did nothing practically for themÂ’, he observed, while asserting that someone perpetuated dictatorship in the name of Islam and others derailed democracy for plundering the resources sans running the country as per the teachings of the Quaid and Allama Iqbal.
Â‘Sacrifices were rendered for the establishment of Pakistan to live according to law and Constitution where equal opportunities be ensured for all with supremacy of law, equal rights for everyone sans any discrimination of caste, colour, creed and religion, and be called Pakistanis. But today, the elite have all facilities whereas poor are deprived of basic amenitiesÂ’, he maintained.
Shahbaz Sharif mentioned that medical facilities were for the rich, while the poor were struggling to get medicines even.
Â‘Children of the elite get education from prestigious institutions, whereas admissions are declined to the poor in these institutions. This is not the Pakistan as dreamt by the Quaid and Allama IqbalÂ’, he said, while mentioning that Pakistan was rich in mineral resources, fertile land, water, mountains and talented people but despite this, goals were not materialised.
Â‘We will have to make a critical review of this fact. The world history is replete with examples of defeated nations making progress through hard work, and we can do the same and change our history through hard work, honesty and sincerityÂ’, he stressed.
The CM also lamented that Pakistan was still forced to depend on foreign aids and compromise its freedom and sovereignty for very little money though the country was a nuclear power.
Â‘We are forced to actualise even those foreign dictations, which have no concern the teachings and philosophy of the Quran and Sunnah, Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, and the sacrifices of martyrs of Pakistan movementÂ’, he maintained.
About foreign debts, he was of the considered opinion that loans worth billions of rupees had not changed PakistanÂ’s destiny during 63 years.
Â‘On domestic front, huge loans were got written off on political grounds, and those are still the owners of factories and bungalows, while the poor are deprived of even basic necessitiesÂ’, he said, while asserting that in QuaidÂ’s Pakistan, there were news about its President taking commission in Agosta submarine purchase, and earlier the Hajis were looted.
Â‘New worlds are created through new trends, fresh approach, hard work and honesty and we will regain lost glory of Pakistan by acting upon these golden principles and will make it an Islamic welfare state in true sense in accordance with the ideals of the Quaid and Allama IqbalÂ’, he added.
He agreed to the proposals of Majid Nizami regarding unification of various PML factions. He strongly advocated the idea of saving every penny for equipping the new generation with latest knowledge, which would root out extremism and terrorism from the country.
Â‘Even from today if we start making earnest efforts for eliminating ignorance and illiteracy, then the failures of the last 63 years can be overcomeÂ’, he said, while mentioning the success story of the Daanish Schools in remote and backward areas.
He was of the view that these schools would be an important step towards realising dreams of the Quaid and Allama Iqbal.
Â‘In the past, had a dacoity of Rs 50 billion not been committed in the Bank of Punjab, and resources were not looted ruthlessly in the name of the Lahore-Kasur Road, Ring Road and other development projects, then all these resources could have been spent for the establishment of Daanish Schools and welfare of the peopleÂ’, observed emotionally-charged CM, who also asserted that the loot and plunder would have to be eliminated for regaining the lost glory of Pakistan and making it a true Islamic welfare state in accordance with the ideals of founders. Â‘Judicious distribution of resources will have to be ensured and we will have to march forward for making hard work, honesty and sincerity our mottoÂ’, he suggested.
Majid Nizami in his address said that the PML was the founder party of the country and it would also make the country strong and stable.
Â‘India is our sworn enemy and we should always be beware of it. It is unfortunate for Pakistan and the PML that a runaway retired General (Pervez Musharraf) has also set up a separate Muslim League and he is trying to come back again in the country, and God forbid that such time comesÂ’, he said, adding, that the Muslim League had established Pakistan and this party would protect the country as well. He asked the CM to play his role for unification of Muslim Leagues. Â“If you (Shahbaz Sharif) can make your elder brother (Nawaz Sharif) agree to the PML unification, then no one in the world can stop the latter from becoming the Quaid of the unified Muslim League,Â” he said.
Majid Nizami lamented the fact that the PML was created at Dhaka, and unfortunately it was no more part of Pakistan.
Â‘It is now the capital of Bangladesh because of our failingsÂ’, he observed, while tracing the history of the Quaid-Allama liaison for the creation of Pakistan.
He rejected the assertion that Pakistan was a secular state, and mentioned that its founders wanted to make it an Islamic state.
He asked the CM to take care of the poor, who were dying of cold and hunger. He also objected to the view that a few Daanish Schools could make the country literate because Â‘revolutionary steps can turn Pakistan into an educated countryÂ’
Â‘I have seen a woman with sword in one protest. God forbid that day should not dawn when the whole nation is brandishing swords, and see another French RevolutionÂ’, he warned.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr Rafique Ahmad paid rich tributes to Shahbaz Sharif on setting up of Daanish Schools for providing quality educational facilities to poor students whose parents could not afford heavy fees. He also lauded the CM for creating awareness regarding the ideology of Pakistan.
Majid Nizami also presented NPT-published book titled Â‘Tareekh Al-India Muslim League 1906-1947Â’ to Shahbaz Sharif.

Justice JavedÂ’s parents killed

January 12th, 2011 | No Comments

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.
Â“Two female neighbourers phoned the police, which reached the spot and detained the both for preliminary investigation,Â” 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. Â“We are trying to find out motives behind the killings. Nothing is clear at this moment,Â” 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.

PM says Â‘yesÂ’ to Nawaz agenda

January 10th, 2011 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD – Accepting the 10-point demands a day ahead of the Â‘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 Â‘national agenda.Â’
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.

POL prices hike rolled back

January 7th, 2011 | No Comments

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.
Â“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,Â” 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.
Â“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,Â” 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. Â“It was a demand of the people of Pakistan and today the Prime Minister has bowed in submission of people which is a good traditionÂ”, 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.
Â“If some body wants to get the slot of Governor Punjab then he should use any other pitch. Stop making statements like Â‘Ranjit SinghÂ’ or Â‘Maula JattÂ’. 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 himÂ”, 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.
Â“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,Â” 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 Â“till now it has given the subsidy of Rs156 billion.Â”
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.
Â“The inquiry is still in way; however, if we take the statement of killer accurate the fault was of the governor,Â” 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. Â“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,Â” 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.

Taseer gunned down

January 5th, 2011 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD – Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was gunned down by one of his bodyguards – a constable of Punjab Elite Force – here at Kohsar Market on Tuesday.
Salmaan Taseer, 56, was walking towards his house after having a lunch with his friend Waqas when one of his bodyguards, Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, rushed towards him and opened indiscriminate fire at him with the help of his SMG gun. Taseer received 27 bullets on various parts of his body and died on the spot. His body was first shifted to Polyclinic Hospital and later to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for autopsy. The post-mortem reports confirmed that 27 bullets penetrated his body. After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to TaseerÂ’s heirs.
The assassin Mumtaz Qadri confessed that he killed the Governor because the latter had called the blasphemy law a black law. He added that he was proud to have killed a blasphemer.
An intelligence official interrogating Mumtaz informed The Nation that two vehicles with eight elite force personnel, including two officials of special branch, were provided to Taseer for security by Rawalpindi Police on Monday morning.
The other members of TaseerÂ’s security team are in the custody of joint investigating team comprising officials of CID, CIA, Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau (IB). The joint investigation team is headed by Deputy Inspector General, Islamabad Police, Banni Ameen.
All the bodyguards of the Governor were also detained after the assassination.
It would be relevant to mention here that Taseer was one of the most moderate political figures in the ruling PPP. He wanted to bring amendments in the blasphemy law and that was the thing that caused his murder. His funeral prayer would be offered at the GovernorÂ’s House, Lahore, today (Wednesday) at 01:00 pm.
There was a stampede-like situation in the Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) of the capital as many activists of PPP, media persons and important government functionaries hurriedly gathered there soon after the spread of Punjab Governor Salman TaseerÂ’s murder news.
Scores in PPP workers started gathering inside and outside the Emergency Ward of the hospital and some of them were so emotional to have a glance of the body of Salmaan Taseer that they broke the back door of the emergency ward to enter into it.
Many important functionaries including the federal ministers of PPP, MNAs, politicians, human rights activists and many others frequently visited the hospital where the external post-mortem of the dead body of Salman Taseer was being conducted. Later, the dead body was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for internal post-mortem.
Federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan and MNA Farahnaz Isphani were the first among PPP leadership who reached the hospital. Ahmed Mukhtar, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Khurshid Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar, Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi, Sardar Nabeel Gabol, Najam-ud-Din Khan, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Rana Farooq Ahmed and Makhdoom Shahab were among the federal ministers who reached policlinic.
When Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reached the hospital, workers of the PPP became emotional and they started raising slogans against the PML-N-led Punjab government as well as leaders of the party. However, the ICT administration arranged complete security including personnel of capital police, Rangers and FC to avoid any untoward situation. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Amer Ahmed Ali and Assistant Commissioner (Sadar) Capt. Farid Uddin remained present there to control the whole situation.
While talking to the media on the occasion, Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities, urged the government to include those into the probe of murder of Salman Taseer who had given decrees against him on the issue of blasphemy laws.
Staff Reporters add: Following the sudden assassination of Salmaan Taseer, hundreds of outraged armed PPP and PSF activists took to streets and forced closure of shops, markets and shopping centres in several cities of Punjab on Tuesday. The protests erupted in Lahore, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur and other cities.
In Sialkot, the charged mob staged big protest at Allama Iqbal Chowk where they burnt tyres and blocked traffic to vent their spleen against the incident.
The activists, reportedly, beaten up several shopkeepers and small traders upon their refusal to close their shops.

PM vies to shore up govt

January 4th, 2011 | No Comments

LAHORE Â– Beleaguered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday reached out to the opposition parties Â– 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. Â“If any party decides to sit on opposition benches in parliament, it can be persuaded through dialogue to come back.Â”
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 Â“blackmailÂ” 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. Â“We will neither sink the government nor extend them our shoulder,Â” said Ahsan Iqbal, a PML-N legislator.
Mr. Iqbal said the crisis was of the governmentÂ’s own making after two coalition partners MQM, JUI-F decided to withdraw at the federal level. Â“It seems they have a certain agenda to settle or bargaining to do,Â” 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. Â“At the same time, we cannot be seen as bailing out a deeply unpopular government,Â” said Mr. Iqbal. Â“We cannot burn our political capital.Â”
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 Â“blackmailÂ” the government, suggesting it was not after political favours. However, he made it clear that previously PML-Q had supported Gilani unconditionally, Â“but now the support will be conditional.Â”
The move to meet Chaudhry brothers assumed significance as the PPP chief and President Zardari had once described the PML-Q as the Â“qatil (killer) leagueÂ”, 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.

Gilani govt Â‘terminally illÂ’

January 3rd, 2011 | No Comments

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: Â“The question should be referred to Mian Nawaz SharifÂ”. 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, Â“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.Â”
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.
Â“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.Â” 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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Malik shouldâ€™ve told Benazir not to look out, says top cop

December 30th, 2010 | No Comments

It was the responsibility of Rehman Malik, who was then in charge of Benazir Bhutto’s security and now is the country’s interior minister, to prevent the former prime minister from looking out of her vehicle, said a senior police official who has been arrested for her 2007 assassination. Former Rawalpindi city police chief Saud Aziz, [...]

MQM may quit Sindh govt: Altaf

December 29th, 2010 | No Comments

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. Â“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.Â”
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. Â“Had Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party acted upon my advice given time after time, the PPP and people would not have to face the present circumstances,Â” he regretted.
He said, Â“MQM is a democratic party and believes in democratic norms as well as following the principles of democracy with honesty and integrity.Â”
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. Â“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,Â” he further said. Â“If the Government considers MQM as its coalition partner then it must realise that the coalition partners are not treated like enemy and strangers,Â” he further said.
He also came down hard on Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif for criticising MQM in the latterÂ’s public meeting in Muzaffarabad, and called Nawaz Â‘a by-product of dictatorshipÂ’.
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, Â“It is no use holding ministries which incessantly fail to serve any good to masses,Â” 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. Â“Time has still not run out and now the ball is in PPPÂ’s court,Â” he said, adding, Â“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, Â“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.Â”
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 Â— 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.

Another setback for Pakistan government as MQM parts ways

December 28th, 2010 | No Comments

The ruling coalition in Pakistan led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has suffered a major setback as another of its key ally, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), decided to part ways with the government. “The reservations of the party have not been addressed and we are forced to make a decision to go our [...]

PML-N not govt-friendly

December 27th, 2010 | No Comments

MIRPUR – Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was formally launched on Sunday in Azad Kashmir, thus becoming a new entity in the political arena of the area.
The announcement regarding the formation of the PML-N, AJK chapter, was made by the partyÂ’s Quaid and former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif at a public meeting in Muzaffarabad. More than 20,000 people attended the rally addressed by him. Former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, ex speaker AJK assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq and other senior leaders and activists were present on the occasion.
Elaborating the objective of forming his party in AJK, Nawaz said since he had always considered Muslim Conference as his Muslim League, he was never in favour of launching the PML-N in AJK in the past. But the circumstances compelled him to launch his partyÂ’s chapter in AJK after those (leaders of Muslim Conference) whom he considered his allies in AJK, supported former dictator General Pervez Musharraf.
Nawaz said he was keen to be with the aggrieved people when deadly earthquake struck Azad Kashmir on October 8, 2005, but he was not allowed to do so by dictator Musharraf.
He said the PML-N would get the mandate from the democracy-loving people of Pakistan and AJK instead of licking the shoes of any dictator in the next general elections in the country.
Nawaz categorically dispelled the impression that the PML-N was friendly opposition.
Â“PML (N) is Pakistan-friendly and not the government-friendly opposition party,Â” Nawaz said adding that the party would continue working and striving hard for the speedy progress, prosperity, security and sovereignty of Pakistan.
Meanwhile both Raja Farooq Haider and Shah Ghulam Qadir, formerly frontline leaders of Muslim Conference, elaborated the causes of parting their ways from the MC along with nine other lawmakers in the AJK Legislative Assembly. They said the decision was taken keeping in view the traditional betrayal of commitment and somersault by the incumbent Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan.
Farooq Haider accused Attique of splitting MC for vested interests.
Agencies add: Nawaz Sharif criticised MQM for its alleged involvement in May 12 massacre in Karachi and violence in the city after assassination of Dr Imran Farooq.
Â“Those who are talking about revolution should answer why massacre was carried out in Karachi when Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry arrived in Karachi on May 12,Â” asked the PML-N chief.
The MQM was an ally in Pervez Musharraf regime and its leader Mustafa Kamal was mayor of Karachi in 2007 when the May 12 riots took place in the city.
Nawaz said those demanding revolution should define this word. Â“Is it the revolution that MQM leader Imran Farooq is murdered in London and dozens of people are killed in Karachi in its reaction?Â”
He said PML-N is a revolutionary party. He himself is an innovative person, adding that the PML-N is a sign of revolution.
The PML-N Chief lamented that the country witnessed massive mismangement in the flood aid. He said corruption is rampant and asked the governmet to mend its ways.

Â‘ItÂ’s not QuaidÂ’s PakistanÂ’

December 26th, 2010 | No Comments

LAHORE Â– It is not the Pakistan envisaged by the Founder of the Nation as the notorious, corrupt and fake degree-holders have become the decision-makers, while the Quaid wanted the country to be free from the evils of sectarianism, nepotism, terrorism and corruption.
People will reject such a democratic system where the poor have been left with little choice to lead better life, and the country cannot be transformed in accordance with the ideals of the Quaid and Allama Iqbal without supremacy of justice, elimination of corruption and bridging the gap between the rich and poor.
These views were expressed by the speakers while addressing a function held to commemorate the 134th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Saturday under the aegis of the Nazria-e-Pakistan Trust (NPT) in collaboration with the Tehreek-e-Pakistan WorkersÂ’ Trust. The function was presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif while guest of honour was President Azad Jammu Kashmir Raja Zulqarnain Khan. Editor-in-Chief The Nation and Chairman NPT Majid Nizami, Senator SM Zafar, Justice (r) Nasira Iqbal, Zaid Hamid, Prof Humayun Ahsan and Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali also spoke on the occasion. Secretary NPT Shahid Rasheed conducted the proceedings.
Majid Nizami thanked all participants, and was of the view that the huge attendance verified the fact that people revered the Quaid. Â“I believe that without the Quaid, Pakistan would not have been a possibility. Allama Iqbal wrote a letter to the Quaid and invited the latter to lead Muslims. The Pakistan Resolution was passed in 1940, and the country gained independence in 1947, but we lost East Pakistan because of our incapacities, which happened because of the Generals. The Bengalis who were in majority thought that they would never get a chance to rule since the Army was ruling continuously,Â” he said, while mentioning that he wanted to see Pakistan as welfare state of the Quaid and the Allama.
Shahbaz Sharif averred that people had no concern with a democracy when hard-earned money of the poor was looted and even Hujjaj were not spared, while people were running from pillar to post for seeking justice.
The CM said Pakistan was achieved after innumerable sacrifices, and faced atrocities of Hindus and Sikhs during migration from India, while millions of Muslims from Chittagong to Karachi gathered under QuaidÂ’s leadership. Â“Sacrifices were made to get such a land where justice prevails sans cruelty, excesses and corruption, and equal opportunities of progress are for every hardworking and able citizen, but despite the lapse of 63 years, we have failed in transforming Pakistan in accordance with the ideals of the Quaid and Allama Iqbal,Â” he deplored, adding that all social strata took part in removing dictatorship and restoration of democracy, but today there was plundering everywhere under the cover of this democracy.
Â“PeopleÂ’s hard-earned money was looted and deposited in Swiss banks, which is yet to be recovered. Moreover, a handful of people are provided with a profiteering opportunity by creating sugar crisis after billions of rupees were also looted and transferred to Dubai during the Musharraf era,Â” he added.
He also alleged that during the previous regime, machines worth billions were imported for rural and basic health centres which were without doctors and nurses. He mentioned that his government was utilising all resources in a transparent manner and providing education and health to the masses. Â“These are important steps towards materialising the dreams of Pakistan envisioned by the Quaid. The Punjab govt has promoted culture of austerity in the province and one-dish programme is being implemented strictly in all government functions. Use of sugar has also been prohibited in public offices,Â” he said.
Shahbaz was of the view that no nation relying on foreign aid could progress, and only those nations survived, which depended upon their own resources. Â“We are a nuclear nation, but still forced to beg foreign aid. If we make hard-work, honesty and passion our mottos, Pakistan can regain its lost status and join the ranks of dignified nations,Â” he suggested.
He said the Quaid had declared Kashmir as lifeline of Pakistan, and Kashmir could only be made part of Pakistan if its people would start depending upon their over own resources, getting rid of foreign aid and strengthening economy on sound footings.
Raja Zulqarnain Khan was of the view if Pakistan would not have been a separate country despite IndiaÂ’s independence the Muslims would have been living in subjugation of the Hindus.
While inviting the NPT to the AJK, he observed that Pakistan was incomplete without KashmirÂ’s liberation. Â“If it is not done, we will face more problems in the future. All rivers flow down to Pakistan from the Occupied Kashmir, and in an effort to strangulate Pakistan, India is in the process of tunnelling waters of Neelum, Jhelum and Indus rivers,Â” he pointed out.
He also mentioned that the Kashmiri elders had come to Lahore on the Pakistan Resolution Day and promised that Kashmir would be part of Pakistan. He wanted that the govt must revisit its Kashmir policy prior to the cooling down of liberation passion. Â“Today we understand why the Quaid called Kashmir as lifeline of Pakistan. We have to take a stringent stance now,Â” he demanded.
While asserting that the Quaid was the only role model so far, SM Zafar quoted various examples of the PakistanÂ’s Founder to bring home the point that the Quaid respected law at every cost. He also mentioned that the QuaidÂ’s Muslim League should be united for materialising his dreams. Â“He must be feeling happy at PakistanÂ’s progress, but also sad at current scenario. Divided Muslim League should be united,Â” he stressed.
Nasira Iqbal said women were not being given representation as per QuaidÂ’s thought. Â“His vision is not being put to practice. The Accountability and Local government bills are yet to be passed, while despite judiciaryÂ’s independence, its decisions are not being actualised,Â” she observed.
Religious scholar Zaid Hamid maintained that the Quaid was a Â‘WaliÂ’ and a soldier of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), and the former was destined to do the job of PakistanÂ’s creation since Allah wanted this to happen. He quoted Pir Jamaat Ali Shah and Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani in this regard.
He was of the opinion that the Quaid and the Allama could not comprehended completely separately. Â“Pakistan is the second Islamic state after Medina, which was created for put Islam into practice, which will be done one day since Allah is selecting people to do this job,Â” he maintained.
Sultan Ahmed Ali wanted diagnoses of the problems. He maintained that since the Pakistan Ideology was not being followed, it was adding to the problems and the gravity of the situation. Â“We have been defeated because we have quit the Ideology of Pakistan,Â” he concluded.
Col (r) Jamshed Ahmed Tareen demanded the government to initiate probe why an out of order ambulance was sent to carry the Quaid to a hospital.
Prof Humayun Akhtar asked the people to believe that they were a nation, which should follow the path of truth, as was done by the Quaid. Â“The nation has woken up and knows the difference between right and wrong,Â” he said.
Prof Rafique Ahmed was of the view that QuaidÂ’s vision was still applicable, and the Founding Father wanted Pakistan to be an Islamic state.
Speakers also paid glowing tributes to Majid Nizami for his contribution towards the Pakistan ideology, and were of the view that his struggle for strong Pakistan would bear fruit.
The AJK President, while thanking Majid Nizami for extending invitation, and seeing the success of the NPT, said TrustÂ’s responsibility was not only limited to Lahore. He invited the Trust and Majid Nizami to AJK.
Â‘ItÂ’s not QuaidÂ’s PakistanÂ’

Pakistani girl undergoes sex change operation

December 25th, 2010 | No Comments

A 13-year-old Pakistani girl underwent a successful sex change operation after doctors said her physiology was that of a male. The teenaged girl, Aisha, was brought to the Hafizabad district headquarters hospital in Punjab province after she complained of chronic pain in her stomach. Zahoor Ahmed, a urologist, examined her and told her family that [...]

QuaidÂ’s birth anniversary today

December 25th, 2010 | No Comments

LAHORE Â– The nation will celebrate the 134th birth anniversary of the Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with national spirit and enthusiasm on Saturday (today).
The day has been announced a public holiday in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The national flag will be hoisted at all government buildings throughout the country. The day will dawn with special prayers in mosques for the great leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and prosperity and development of the country.
A 31-gun salute and 21-gun salute would be given in the Federal capital and provinces respectively.
The three services chiefs and people from all sections of the society will lay floral wreaths on behalf of their respective services at the mausoleum of the Quaid in Karachi. A number of political, social, cultural and educational organisations have chalked out programmes to mark the occasion in a befitting manner.
In Lahore, one of the main functions will be held at the Alhamra Hall, Shaarey Quaid-e-Azam at 10 am under the auspices of the Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust in collaboration with the Tehreek-e-Pakistan Workers Trust.
The function will be presided over by Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif while guest of honour will be President Azad Jammu Kashmir Raja Zulqernain Khan.
Senator SM Zafar, Zahid Hamid, Justice (Retd) Nasira Iqbal, Dr Muhammad Ajmal Niazi, MNA Bushra Rehman, Prof Humayun Ahsan and Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali will also attend the function.
The PML-N Youth Wing will carry out a rally from Nasir Bagh to Faisal Chowk and will perform cake cutting ceremony for both Quaid-i-Azam and PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

$35b Sino-Pak deals inked

December 19th, 2010 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– China and Pakistan concluded nearly 15 billion dollarsÂ’ worth of deals on Saturday, as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing would Â‘never give upÂ’ on Pakistan.
Business leaders formalised the paperwork – adding to the 20 billion dollarsÂ’ worth of deals signed Friday – under blanket security at the federal capitalÂ’s five-star Marriott Hotel. The latest deals included 17 agreements, four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and one joint venture.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani witnessed the signing ceremony during Pak-China Business Cooperation Summit where around 260 Chinese delegates and 150 representatives of Pakistan present.
Terming the Pak-China relations as exemplary, Wen Jiabao reiterated his resolve to enhance the bilateral trade with Pakistan in the coming years in a bid to improve flow of investments between both of the countries.
Addressing the moot, the Chinese premier informed that his country would increase investment in Gwadar Port.
He admitted that there were some trade related issues with Pakistan, which were temporary and could be resolved, as China would help Pakistan in increasing exports and improving its infrastructure.
Earlier, Gilani said, Â“We would encourage Chinese companies to consider investments in the energy sector, which assures certain returns. Our energy requirements are expected to increase from 20,000MWs to more than 160,000MWs by the year 2030.Â”
Â“Pakistan has 185 billion tonnes of coal reserves, which would be converted into energy to satisfy PakistanÂ’s growing demand,Â” he added while encouraging Chinese investors to explore opportunities in oil and gas sectors.
Â“The government has announced special economic incentives for Chinese investors including duty-free import of plant and machinery, exemption from sales tax and income tax,Â” he informed.
He informed the participant that Pakistan was in the process of creating a National Trade Corridor, which would be connected to China through an upgraded Karakoram Highway.
Â“Besides a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the Joint Five Year Economic Programme, we are now jointly endeavouring to establish closer financial and banking sector cooperation,Â” PM Gilani said, adding that the govt was giving importance to the safety and security of Chinese personnel and premises in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in his address at banquet hosted in the honour of Wen Jiabao, Gilani while the declaring 2011 as year of Sino-Pak Friendship said Pakistan strongly believed in Â‘One-ChinaÂ’ policy and was opposed to any policy aimed at containing progress or impeding peace and development in the region.
The banquet was attended by the three Services Chiefs, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, President PML-Q Ch Shujaat Hussain, ANP President Asfandyar Wali and others.
Â“We desire a peaceful environment in our region in the interest of our development and to raise the living standards of our people. We seek peaceful resolution of all issues with India, including the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute,Â” Gilani said, as he hoped that the success in this endeavour would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in South Asia.
Similarly, he said, a stable Afghanistan would open up vast opportunities for Pakistan and indeed for other regional countries.
Â“We deeply appreciate ChinaÂ’s support to Pakistan on various regional and international issuesÂ”.
He said the longstanding ties of friendship between the two countries were underpinned by mutual trust, solid confidence and creating synergy to build mutually-beneficial relationship for progress and social harmony in our two countries as well as in Asia and beyond.
Â“A unique characteristic of Pakistan-China relationship has been that it is not directed against any country,Â” he remarked.
PM said, Â“We are opposed to any policy which aims at Â“containing progress or impeding peace and developmentÂ” in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese PM promised to assist Pakistan various sectors including energy and agriculture, adding that the strategic ties between the two countries would also be extended.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will address the joint sitting of the Parliament today (Sunday morning).
He will be the first Chinese and the sixth world leader to address the joint session of the PakistanÂ’s Parliament. Five foreign dignitaries who had earlier addressed the joint sitting are Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, ex-Turkish President Kenan Evran, former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Queen Elizabeth II of the Great Britain.
Agencies add: According to a list handed out to journalists, the biggest deal was 6.5 billion dollars to develop wind and solar power.
Though not specifically mentioned, behind-the-scenes talks were expected on China building a one-gigawatt nuclear power plant as part of Pakistani plans to produce 8,000MW of electricity by 2025 to make up its energy shortfall.
The Islamabad city administration declared Saturday a public holiday, apparently for security reasons with the country on full-time alert for suicide attacks and bombings blamed on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked extremists.
Â“China-Pakistan friendship will last forever,Â” Chinese Prime Minister told a ceremony commemorating Chinese workers who died in the 1970s while building the Karakoram Highway.
On the occasion, Gilani announced Rs0.3 million for the custodian of graves of 500 Chinese, died in Pakistan during the construction work on the highway.
Earlier on Friday, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters that Pakistan and China signed deals worth around 20 billion dollars boosting trade and investment. It included 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding in fields including energy, rail transport, reconstruction, agriculture and culture.
Â“China will provide assistance in 36 projects in Pakistan to be completed in five years,Â” he said. Â“Basically this is a five-year development plan.Â”
Although no specific mention was made of nuclear power, talks are believed to be ongoing on China building a one-giga watt nuclear power plant to overcome acute energy shortages.
Gilani has expressed the hope that trade will rise to between 15 and 18 billion dollars over the next five years.
Meanwhile, the two countries reached agreement on enhancing bilateral ties during the one-to-one as well as delegation-level talks between Gilani and Wen Jiabao.
China extended full support to PakistanÂ’s sovereignty, security and political integrity. It also extended strong support for enhancing PakistanÂ’s defence and economic cooperation as well as in space programme.

Sharif ready to mend fences with Zardari, accepts banquet invite for Chinese premier

December 13th, 2010 | No Comments

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari seems to have achieved some success in breaking the ice with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif, with the latter accepting the formerâ€™s invitation to attend a banquet to be held in honour of visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Islamabad this week. The meeting is being termed a significant [...]

Rs 1,500b can be raised sans RGST

December 13th, 2010 | No Comments

LAHORE Â– Reiterating his opposition to the governmentÂ’s plan to impose Reformed General Sales Tax, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said Rs 1,500 billion may be raised through better economic management.
In an interview to Nawa-i-Waqt on Sunday, he said it would be wrong to claim that the RGST would not lead to increase in prices. Â“This step will be like the proverbial last straw on the camelÂ’s back,Â” he said. The PML-N chief said the economic situation could be set right by bringing in a team of capable and honest managers.
He said the letter he had recently written to President Asif Zardari had not only diagnosed the problems but also proposed solutions. What is needed is action on the proposals, he added
Reduction in expenditure, search for new income sources and end of corrupt practices, he said, could help raise more resources. Such a strategy, he said, would not only rid the country of dependence on foreign loans but also make it self-sufficient. The PML-N leader said he had held detailed discussions with Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh and others during their recent visit to Raiwind. He said he had told them that 60 per cent of resources were going to the pockets of the privileged and the remaining 40 per cent were also not being used properly. He said he had not agreed with the governmentÂ’s point of view on the RGST.
According to Nawaz, the government team had indicated that they would meet him again after considering steps about implementing the measures outlined in his letter.
The former prime minister said the rulers would have to change their lifestyle, cut wasteful expenditure and get rid of the corrupt elements. The real problem, he said, was not the shortage of resources, but absence of the right direction and a capable leadership.
Nawaz said the stakeholders were not taken into confidence before taking a decision on imposing the RGST. He said the matter had been bulldozed in the Senate and now bargaining was being made to get the controversial bill passed from the National Assembly.
This, he said, was not the right way to rule the country. He said he would appeal to the rulers to let better sense prevail. All efforts should be made for creating harmony between the Centre and the federating units, and policymaking should be done to serve peopleÂ’s interests and not to meet the requirements of foreign powers.
Nawaz said it was his considered opinion that the prevailing situation was not conducive for the RGST.
He made it clear that now he would not leave the people at the mercy of circumstances. Â“WeÂ’ll not let the government put more burden on the people.Â”

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Rs 1,500b can be raised sans RGST

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