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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.

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APC on burning Karachi on 26th

January 21st, 2011 | No Comments


KARACHI – The Sindh government Thursday convened an ‘All Parties ConferenceÂ’ (APC) at the provincial level on January 26 at the Chief MinisterÂ’s House to ascertain and discuss the law and order situation in the province, with particular reference to volatile Karachi.
The decision was made at a meeting held between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and provincial Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza at the CMÂ’s House.
Earlier, Mirza in a policy statement on the floor of Sindh Assembly in the morning categorically said that neither he as Sindh home minister nor Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the IGP and the CCPO Karachi were taken into confidence about the operation by Rangers in city, especially in Orangi Town.
Just a few hours the harsh statement, the meeting lauded and appreciated the role of police, Rangers and Interior Ministry with respect to the efforts being made by Mirza and the Sindh Police for crushing the criminal activities of anti-social elements. They expressed satisfaction over measures adopted and results achieved so far, the official statement issued from the CMÂ’s House said.
Shah and Mirza lauded the assistance being extended by the federal govt, particularly the efforts of Malik, for combating the challenge and maintaining the law and order in all parts of the Karachi.
The also decided to ensure close coordination and liaison among them and hold regular meetings after every fortnight.
In response to the anger expressed by the Sindh government, Malik clarified that all the federal agencies and Rangers would coordinate the Sindh govt and the Home Department.
The three leaders vowed to resolve all issues to maintain at every cost and said the action against the criminal elements would continue without any discrimination.
They also appreciated the guidance of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for resolving the political and law and order issues.During the Sindh Assembly session, Mirza came hard against the federal government over RangersÂ’ operation in Karachi without taking the provincial government into confidence, as he threatened to withdraw the powers granted to the Rangers.
He was replying to PML-FÂ’s Marvi Rashdi who on a point of order drew MirzaÂ’s attention towards his statement in which he had showed unawareness about the operation in Karachi. The opposition member also pointed out that people were being killed in targeted shootings in Karachi, but it was strange that the minister concerned had no knowledge about the operation.
Replying to the point of order, Mirza affirmed that he stood by every word he had uttered.
“I still stand on my words. I was not taken into confidence on operation being initiated in the city through Rangers. Even, the Sindh chief minister, IG Police and CCPO were also not taken on board. I don’t know who gave the orders to Rangers to initiate operation. May be the federal government had given such orders.”
He said, “I had signed the summary, in which Rangers had given policing powers,” adding, “I can withdraw the powers.”
Mirza, “It is not a martial law; there is a civilian government. Therefore, the Rangers has to work under the civilian control.”
Agencies add: Rehman Malik told newsmen that he and Zulfiqar Mirza were unaware of the recent operation.
He said he did not interfere into the matter since it was administrative in nature.
Responding to MirzaÂ’s claim, Malik said the Rangers and police were subservient to the provincial home minister, adding that he would ensure sharing of intelligence gathered by the federal agencies with the provincial government.
He claimed that police did not raid former state minister Nabeel GabolÂ’s residence and the CCPO had informed him that he sent the police van to bring back the police security guards.
Malik said he came to Karachi on the directives of President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.
The federal minister said some religious groups were dividing the nation and supporting the terrorists who had been aiming at destabilising the country. He would not allow anyone to disturb peace in Karachi, he vowed.
He informed the journalists that the security forces foiled a terrorism bid at the Sindh Assembly.
Later, Rehman called on Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan where they promised to take indiscriminate action against those involved in criminal and terror activities without surrendering before any pressure.
Meanwhile, three people including a doctor were killed in various incidents of targeted killing in Karachi on Thursday.
The doctor was gunned down near Khaliq Jinnah Hall, Mahmood Shah Road in the limits of Eidgah Police Station. 30-year-old Dr Imran, son of Fasih, was on way to his home located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal from Lyari General Hospital in his car when armed men on a motorbike intercepted him at Mahmood Shah Road and managed to flee from the scene after shooting him.
The victim sustained bullet wounds and succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital. Police shifted his body to Civil Hospital for medico-legal formalities. SHO Amjad Kayani said that victim was ENT specialist in Lyari General Hospital. He added that the deceased was not affiliated with any political or religious party and had no personal enmity with any one.
In another incident, an ex-army man was shot dead in Frontier Colony in the limits of Pirabad police station. The victim 40-year-old Akbar Shah, son of Ameer Jan was a resident of Noorani Area Frontier Colony. He was standing at his shop when two armed men opened firing on him. Resultantly, he died on the spot. Police shifted his body to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Police said he hailed from Swat. Police registered FIR against unidentified men on the complaint of his brother Mahmood Shah.
Similarly, an Afghan national was shot dead and another injured in MPR Colony in the jurisdiction of Orangi Town police station. The incident took place at MPR Colony where two armed men targeted 39-year-old Fakhar Uddin, son of Mohammad Khan. Resultantly, he died on the spot while Shireen Khan sustained injures and was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment. Police said the victim was father of two children and used to run a cloth shop in Paposh Nagar area. Police so far have been unable to ascertain the motive behind the incident.
Meanwhile, a Chinese engineer was injured in a robbery attempt here in the jurisdiction of Boat Bassan police limits.
Police said that the victim, namely Shoe Young, drew Rs 5 million from a local bank branch and drove away when armed men intercepted his car and tried to loot him. Culprits remained unable to rob him and shot him on offering resistance.
Culprits managed to flee while police shifted the victim to the private hospital where doctors termed his condition stable. DSP Qamer Ahmed said that bandits fled away when police party on routine patrolling reached close to the crime scene.

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Rangers comb Orangi Town

January 19th, 2011 | No Comments


KARACHI (Agencies) – In an extensive house-to-house search operation in Karachi, Rangers personnel on Tuesday detained over 500 people for questioning in the wake of a surge in target-killings which claimed nearly 40 lives during the last few days. Large quantity of arms and ammunition was also seized.
Rangers launched the search operation in Orangi Town in the morning and detained over 500 people for questioning. However, local residents claimed that about 600 people had been detained during the operation.
Despite operation, three more persons were killed. A 23-year-old youth Umair was gunned down in Nazimabad. The four bike riders killed a person in Gulshan Iqbal Town Block-4. Unknown people gunned down a security guard in Gulberg Town. The body has been shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital.
Contingents of troops kept guard during the search operation and people were asked to stay indoors. All markets, hotels and petrol pumps in the area were closed. Local residents said that children could not go to schools as the entire area was sealed.
Troops cordoned off the area and vehicles were banned from entering Orangi Town during the operation. Motorcycle riders faced identity checks.
Officials said that more search operations were expected to be conducted in other sensitive areas of Karachi.
According to another channel, after the initial investigation, 300 out of 500 arrested were found innocent and released.
Meanwhile, Sindh Home Department on Tuesday issued the notification to further extend the powers of Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) under Section 5 of Anti-Terrorism Action of 1997 for another three months.
According to a statement issued here by a spokesman of Home Department, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza ordered the extension to the powers of the Rangers to help the Police Department and provide security to the peaceful citizens of the metropolis. He also ordered the Police Department to ensure presence of women police in search operations to uphold the sanctity of ‘Chaadar and Char Divari’. Moreover, he also ordered the police authorities to keep close coordination with the area elders in this regard. “It is our endeavour to ensure indiscriminate operation against anti-social elements,” he said.
Sources in Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) told APP here on Tuesday that the search operation was conducted in collaboration with the police and on the directives of the Home Department to check lawlessness, target killings and other general crimes.
The sources said that the Rangers also seized over 250 motorcycles during snap checkings in that area to check the violation of the ban on pillion riding in the evening hours. “All the suspects and two-wheelers have been seized and handed over to the police in their respective jurisdiction as per directives of the Home Department,” the source added.
Our staff reporter from Karachi adds: Residents had mixed reactions to TuesdayÂ’s operation. Some welcomed the move and others said the operation was causing problems for the general public.
Meanwhile, women came on the streets in protest against police and RangersÂ’ operation in Orangi Town. The operation lasted for six hours with over 500 arrests. Police and Rangers were stopped on the way by several local women when they were returning after concluding the operation. The women blamed security personnel for arresting innocent people and demanded their instant release.
Some people were of the view that security agencies detained passerby, bystanders and commuters on the way to their workplaces.
A random search operation of suspected houses was conducted by rangers in different areas of Orangi Town including Fakir Colony, Omer Baloch Mohalla, Pareshan Chowk, Hazara Colony and Farid Colony at around 3:00 a.m. and while door-to-door search was started at 05:30 a.m.
Residents of the area while talking to The Nation told that violence, target killings and unrest had already disturbed their routine life and now such sort of operations would further make the life of common man miserable.
The sources said that some criminal elements were also picked up by rangers. They said rangersÂ’ personnel misbehaved with families and even with journalists who reached there to cover the operation.
Meanwhile, SP Orangi Town, Khurram Waris, said that Rangers launched operation and police had only assisted them.
Meanwhile, an elderly man was shot dead in Jummah Goth Malir within the limits of Al Falah police station. The victim Gull Hassan Magsi, 63, son of Sabbab Ali Magsi, resident of Rafi Bungalows Malir, was gunned down by unidentified armed men in Jummah Goth, Malir.
The police added that the victim had reached Karachi from Dubai a week ago and hailed from Hub, Balochistan.
In another incident, a young man was shot dead while two others got injures in target killing near Disco Bakery in the limits of Mobina Town police station.
The incident took place in Block 4, Gulshan Iqbal where a 23-year-old Hewand, son of Ahmed Shah, was sitting along with his friends in his street. Suddenly two armed men riding a bike arrived there and opened indiscriminate fire at them. Hewand died on the spot while his friends Ahsan and Talha sustained injuries. They were later shifted to JPMC. The police said the victim was the resident of Bhayani Heights, Gulshan Iqbal, and hailed from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, a security guard was also gunned down in Ancholi FB Area in the jurisdiction of Gulberg police station. The victim 24-year-old Noor Mohammad Jakhrani was performing his duty near Omar Mosque Block 18, FB Area, where two armed men opened firing on him killing on the spot.
The area police shifted his body to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for medico legal formalities. The police said the victim was the employee of a private security company.
Similarly, in another incident a labourer was found dead on Tuesday in Korangi ‘K’ area of Awami Colony. The victim was identified as Shabbir, son of Haji Abdul Qadir. The area police said that they also found two empty shells from the crime scene, which suggested that the culprits shot the victim and escaped. The deceased was the resident of Qazzafi Town. The case was registered against unidentified persons.

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Journalist among eight killed in Pakistan

January 14th, 2011 | No Comments

PakistanafmapA journalist of a private television channel was shot dead by a group of unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi, where at least seven others were also killed in different incidents of target killing, police said. Wali Khan Babar, 29, who was working with the Geo News, was attacked near Liaquatabad Dakkhana bus [...]

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Law to monitor agencies sought

January 11th, 2011 | No Comments


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.

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Onion prices may soar as Pakistan bans export via border

January 6th, 2011 | No Comments

OnionOnion 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 [...]

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PM vies to shore up govt

January 4th, 2011 | No Comments


LAHORE – Beleaguered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday reached out to the opposition parties – PML-N and PML-Q -in a desperate attempt to shore up his government as clamour mounted for his resignation a day after MQM withdrew its support from the coalition.
With no headway reported yet in moves by PPP leaders including President Asif Ali Zardari to woo back MQM, Mr Gilani visited Lahore and met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to seek their support. Mr Gilani began the day with meeting Shahbaz Sharif at his residence. The meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, ended without any breakthrough. However, both the leaders exchanged views on various matters with special focus on the prevailing countryÂ’s political situation in the country.
As per sources, Mr Gilani said difference of opinion was the beauty of democracy which had to be strengthened at all costs in the interest of the country. “If any party decides to sit on opposition benches in parliament, it can be persuaded through dialogue to come back.”
Mr Shahbaz told Mr Gilani that the PML-N wanted democracy to flourish and would not let anyone derail it. However, he said any decision on the current political situation would be taken at a party meeting being held in Islamabad today (Tuesday). Shahbaz apprised Gilani of his recent visit to Turkey and conveyed greetings of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
Before meeting the PM, Shahbaz met PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and discussed the situation.
Nawaz Sharif also held a meeting with senior leaders of the party, including Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, and decided that his party would not join any efforts to “blackmail” the government, sources said. PML-N leaders say that they are cautiously watching the political crisis unfold and have not come to a final decision. “We will neither sink the government nor extend them our shoulder,” said Ahsan Iqbal, a PML-N legislator.
Mr. Iqbal said the crisis was of the government’s own making after two coalition partners MQM, JUI-F decided to withdraw at the federal level. “It seems they have a certain agenda to settle or bargaining to do,” Mr. Iqbal said referring to both departing parties, who remain in coalition with the PPP in the Sindh and Balochistan governments, leading analysts and politicians to speculate that both have left some room to manoeuver. “At the same time, we cannot be seen as bailing out a deeply unpopular government,” said Mr. Iqbal. “We cannot burn our political capital.”
After parleys with Shahbaz Sharif, Mr Gilani visited the Chaudhry brothers at their residence. After the meeting, Gilani told reporters that Shujaat never discussed the idea of replacing the prime minister. He said the PML-Q leadership has assured him that they would strengthen democracy and never support any action which might derail democracy. However, he said Mr Shujaat has told him that he has convened a meeting of PML-Q today (Tuesday) to consult party leaders regarding support to Gilani government.
Shujaat did not say whether his party would seek a no-confidence vote on Gilani, but said it would not try to “blackmail” the government, suggesting it was not after political favours. However, he made it clear that previously PML-Q had supported Gilani unconditionally, “but now the support will be conditional.”
The move to meet Chaudhry brothers assumed significance as the PPP chief and President Zardari had once described the PML-Q as the “qatil (killer) league”, holding the party responsible for the 2007 murder of his wife Benazir Bhutto as it had allegedly failed to provide adequate security to her.
JUI-F: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam sent a delegation of senior leaders led by Abdul Ghafoor Haideri to meet PML-Q chief Shujaat Hussain to ask him not to support the ruling coalition. Sources said the JUI told Shujaat that the government should be allowed to fall as it no longer enjoyed the support of the people. Talking to reporters after the meeting along with Shujaat, Haideri reiterated the JUIÂ’s demand that Gilani should resign as Prime Minister. Haideri also said the cabinet should resign as the government had lost majority in Parliament.

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Gilani govt ‘terminally ill’

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: “The question should be referred to Mian Nawaz Sharif”. He said the PML-N chief was supporting the democratic system and would not like to see its collapse.
Answering another question, the prime minister said if the political forces stood united, no third force would be able to think of intervening.
In Karachi, MQM finally decided to part ways with the government and sit on the Opposition benches in the Parliament. The decision was taken at the Coordination Committee meeting of MQM, which was simultaneously held at Karachi and London on Sunday evening.
Formal application to sit on the opposition benches would be submitted with the authorities concerned soon. However, the MQM has not made any decision yet about leaving the Sindh government where it is also a coalition partner of the PPP.
Two MQM ministers, Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Khan Ghauri, resigned from the Federal Cabinet about a week ago as a protest for not taking steps to address the partyÂ’s reservations both at the Centre and Sindh.
Departure of the two federal ministers was the first strong indication that the MQM is not satisfied with the assurances given by President Asif Ali Zardari to MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain.
A couple of days back, during one of his telephonic addresses to his party cadre in Pakistan from London, the MQM Quaid hinted that the party would prefer to sit on the opposition benches in Islamabad after the PPP dragged its feet to address the issues raised by MQM with President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.
The PPP was confident that MQM would remain part of the coalition. However, the announcement on Sunday evening will shake the PPP coalition government at the Centre. It was an unexpected move as for as the PPP is concerned. It is believed that MQMÂ’s decision is linked with hike in the POL prices. The MQM had advised the Government not to raise POL prices.
MQM Coordination Committee also criticised the fresh increase in the prices of petroleum products and demanded of the government to stop putting burden on the poor people.
In a statement issued from MQM office, the Rabita Committee said, “At the time when the poor people are struggling to earn bread for their children and are forced to live a deplorable life, as selling of children, suicides and immolations have become a common practice, therefore, increase in prices of POL products would bring in a fresh wave of price hike and add to the misery of the common people.”
They further said that the increase in POL prices would directly affect the prices of essential commodities and would prove to be a deathblow to the poor and middle class people.
“While the poor people are being taxed to pay debts obtained for extravagant expenses of the Government and on the other hand the prices of POL, gas, electricity and other essential items are being increased on almost daily basis.” They said that the MQM being a political party representing the poor people and middle class would never support any step that is not in their interest.
They said that the time demanded solid steps for welfare of the people, the national security and integrity of the country. They advised the Government to recover money from those who usurped the national wealth and were causing huge loss to the national exchequer by not paying taxes. They demanded of President Asif Zardari to take serious notice of this fresh increase in POL prices and take back the increase immediately.
Speaking in Lahore about the raise in the prices of petroleum products, Prime Minister Gilani said a regulatory authority took decisions keeping in mind the trend in the international market. If the government told the regulatory authority not to raise the prices, it would have to give subsidy, which was not possible in the prevailing circumstances.
PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal, in an interview, said MQMÂ’s decision was a natural outcome of the situation. He said if the MQM sat on Opposition benches, the government could collapse.
Answering a question, he said morally speaking the prime minister should seek a vote of confidence from the House. However, he said, a minority government could also stay on.
Asked whether the PML-N could bring its own prime minister as replacement to Gilani, Ahsan said it was premature to say anything on the subject.
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi told reporters in Karachi that his party would formally request the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker to allot MQM parliamentarians seats on Opposition benches.
In a related development, MQM chief Altaf Hussain contacted PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, PML (Functional) President Pir Pagara and some other leaders.
MONITORING DESK ADDS: JUI-F Chief Maulan Fazal-ur-Rehman has said that opposition parties should sit together and fill the political vacuum. He was talking to Waqt News from Makkah. He said the real situation would arise after PML-N takes decision. He said he did not know what decision PML-N would take. PML-N decision would have impact on the future, he added.
Agencies add: MQM leader Altaf Hussain said if the political dynasties did not come to an end, PakistanÂ’s existence could come in danger. Altaf said the survival and future of Pakistan depended on the 98 per cent of Pakistanis who are poverty-stricken and working-class people, he said this during a telephonic address at a ceremony in Multan.
He said civil and military rulers of Pakistan had made this country dependent on foreign aid and loans. He said the country could not progress until the monopoly of a few families was abolished.
The MQM chief also said that a revolution was about to take place in Pakistan and the nation would end this antiquated system and take the country forward.
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Govt set to ‘adjust’ MQM

December 30th, 2010 | No Comments


KARACHI – As the PPP-led government is trying its best to woo back the renegade allies, President Asif Ali Zardari assured MQM chief Altaf Hussain late on Wednesday night that they would not let anyone to make the allied parties annoyed.
He promised to address all the reservations of the MQM and said necessary actions would be taken to accommodate them.
Zardari was talking to Altaf during a telephonic conversation, as the MQM chief pressed the president to listen their grievances. The top leaders of the two parties contacted in the presence of Sindh Governor Ishrat-ul-Ibad called on him twice at the Bilawal House in Karachi. Federal ministers Rehman Malik and Syed Khursheed Shah were also present on the occasion.
The hectic talks continued as the MQMÂ’s coordination committee held a meeting simultaneous in the metropolis and London.
Talking to media persons outside Bilawal House, Malik said Zardari had decided to stay in Karachi for next 10 days during which he would address all the reservations expressed the MQM once for all.
The two sides would list out all the differences and hold discussions in detail for finalising the matters, he said.
Rehman said those who were waiting for a clash between the two parties would remain unsuccessful as the allied parties would strengthen the mutual relations even further.
Replying to a question, he said any change in the Sindh cabinet was discretion of Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and he was not in a position to say any thing over the matter.
Earlier, President Zardari on Wednesday directed the Government of Sindh to continue reconciliation policy with its allies in the province.
However, after having a meeting with the president, the PPP ministers hinted at withdrawing plan regarding revival of old commissionerate system, which caused annoyance for MQM, sources said.
Zardari, during the meeting held at Bilawal House, was briefed by provincial ministers about the development works, performance of the ministers and law and order situation in the province. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial ministers and PPP MPAs attended the meeting.
However, Advisor to CM on Information Ms. Sharmila Faruqui during her briefing to the media persons outside Bilawal House claimed that meeting did not discuss MQMÂ’s grievances and revival of Commissionerate System.
President Zardari directed the Government of Sindh that reconciliation process, which was initiated by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, would be continued with all the coalition partners including MQM, she added.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the meeting informed The Nation that President Zardari had directed the Sindh Chief Minister and Provincial Law Minister not to table bill for revival of Commissionerate System in the province unilaterally in the next session of the Assembly.
Earlier during a meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Eshratul Ebad at Bilawal House on Tuesday night, the President had also assured him of not tabling bill to abolish existing local government system and revive Commissionerate System in the province, sources said.
Meanwhile, Advisor to CM on Information Sharmila in her media briefing said that provincial ministers briefed President Zardari on the development works continued in the province.
Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza briefed the President about the overall law and order situation in the province. He shared the data of crime rate in province and there has been a significant decline in the crime ratio during the three-year period of the PPP government, she added.
She said that Advisor to CM on Planning and Development Kaisar Bengali and Provincial Minister for Rehabilitation of Flood Affectees, Haji Muzaffar Shujrah, briefed the President about the rehabilitation work in flood-affected areas. President Zardari asked the provincial legislators to regularly visit their constituencies to keep a close contact with their voters, she said.
The sources privy to the meeting further said that a PPP MPA Naeem Ahmad Kharal from Khairpur complained that no development works were being carried out in his constituency.
Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza while talking to media persons after the meeting said that his leaders had sacrificed their lives for democracy and he was also ready to sacrifice his ministry for the sake of democracy.

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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. “If the Government did not change its attitude for better then we would sit on the opposition benches. The PPP leaders who are always saying that they do not need MQM in Sindh should adopt a resolution in this regard and we would come out of the Sindh Government immediately. We still want the PPP government to complete five years and that the democratic process continues. If the Government changes its course of action and works for the welfare of the people then MQM will continue to support it. MQM cannot be browbeaten into accepting government actions.”
He said MQM could no longer continue backing the Government on anti-public decisions, declaring that it is no use holding such ministries which incessantly fail to serve any good to masses.
He advised President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to work for the development and prosperity of the people. “Had Pakistan People’s Party acted upon my advice given time after time, the PPP and people would not have to face the present circumstances,” he regretted.
He said, “MQM is a democratic party and believes in democratic norms as well as following the principles of democracy with honesty and integrity.”
He said that MQM announced unconditional support by forgetting every other thing when the Co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari came to Nine-Zero with his colleagues.
Altaf said that in the past three years whenever there was a difficult time, MQM lent its support to the Government and extended every possible cooperation to President Zardari. “Despite being a coalition partner our ministers were never consulted before taking important decisions and all the decisions were taken by the Federal Cabinet unilaterally,” he further said. “If the Government considers MQM as its coalition partner then it must realise that the coalition partners are not treated like enemy and strangers,” he further said.
He also came down hard on Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif for criticising MQM in the latter’s public meeting in Muzaffarabad, and called Nawaz ‘a by-product of dictatorship’.
Meanwhile, Altaf Hussain contacted JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman. Both the leaders discussed the current political situation.
Online adds: MQM chief Altaf Hussain has given a final warning to the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party-led government to mend its ways; otherwise, his party would be forced to part ways with the Sindh coalition too and move from government to the opposition benches.
He said the MQM could no longer continue backing the government on anti-public decisions, saying, “It is no use holding ministries which incessantly fail to serve any good to masses,” Altaf said, adding that the PPP had failed in controlling corruption and inflation.
He advised President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to work for the development and prosperity of the people. “Time has still not run out and now the ball is in PPP’s court,” he said, adding, “The MQM is not interested in continuing to be part of the government rather it wants to work for serving the masses facing severe hardship because of relentless price hike and corruption.
Talking about Nawaz Sharif, he said the PML-N chief was trained by the dictators and generals like Ziaul Haq and Durrani, adding that during the government of Nawaz, the Supreme Court of Pakistan was attacked and dishonoured. Nawaz had indirectly blamed the MQM during his speech in Muzaffarabad the other day for violence and killings in Karachi.
Meanwhile, the federal ministers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Tuesday dispatched their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari.
According to a statement issued from Nine-Zero, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Farooq Sattar, and Federal Minister of Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri, have faxed their resignations to President Zardari. The statement said the partyÂ’s reservations still existed.
Sources said that MQM would quit the provincial cabinet in the second phase in January if the negotiations of party with the ruling PPP failed.
However, the President House spokesman has said that the Presidency was nothing to do with the resignations as the matter was related to the Prime Minister House.
Meanwhile, to allay the concerns of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party stalwarts have jumped into the fray and both President and Prime Minister have talked to the central leaders of MQM and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibaad.
Sources in the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party informed The Nation that in a damage control bid President Asif Ali Zardari has asked Interior Minister Rehman Malik to have meeting with MQM leaders and look into their grievances with the government so that the same could be redressed forthwith.
Sources further informed that both President and Prime Minister also had a detailed telephonic conversation on the issue and various options were discussed to bring MQM round, as the withdrawal of support by MQM would plunge the coalition government in deep trouble.
Talking to The Nation Central Information Secretary of the party Ms Fouzia Wahab sounded optimistic about a PPP-MQM patch-up, as government was ready to address all their (MQM) genuine concerns and hoped that things would be normal soon.
She further said that President Asif Ali Zardari had already barred the party leaders to stop giving statements about the coalition partners while he had also talked to the top hierarchy of MQM on their concerns and government was already in the process of addressing the same.
She further said, “Democracy is in the interest of all the political players and MQM is no exception, so I hope MQM will not take any step detrimental to the incumbent political dispensation.”
She once again reiterated her partyÂ’s stance to continue pursuing politics of reconciliation and hoped that the other major political players in the arena would also display the same spirit of supporting and strengthening the political set-up at centre and provinces.
She further said that PPP would take up the concerns of the MQM in the upcoming CEC meeting of the party and would talk out the issues with MQM in friendly fashion.
Meanwhile, the two-member committee comprising Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah met at CM House on Tuesday and discussed the grievances of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, main coalition partner of ruling PPP in Sindh and federal government.
After announcement of MQM to quit federal cabinet, the President formed a special committee of Interior Minister and Sindh Chief Minister, directing them to engage in dialogue with MQM on their grievances.
According to CM House, the committee discussed the grievances raised by MQM about Reform General Sales Tax, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar MirzaÂ’s harsh attitude towards them and other issues.
The MQM has main grievances over the proposed revival of Commissionrate system of old local government system in the province, which was already agreed by all the coalition partners and opposition benches in Sindh Assembly, except MQM.
Sources said that MQM made it clear that it will not accept shelving of existing local government system, introduced by former military dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf. Even, MQM wants more powers for the existing local government system comprising Nazims, but PPP in its draft bill of local government wants abolishment of this system, suggesting revival of Commissionrate system of old local government system to replace Nazims.
However, presently two ruling coalition partners, MQM and PPP, are sticking on their position on the subject.
Sources said that PPP believed that after devolution of provincial departments to three tiers — District, Tehsil/Town and Union Councils of local government, the provincial government of Sindh will have no check and balance on local government, leaving deterioration of system and increase in corruption.
Sources told The Nation that two-member committee also approached the Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat ul Ebad and decided to continue dialogue process on grievances of MQM.
After discussing the issues with MQM, the committee will submit initial report/recommendation and outcome of dialogue to President Asif Ali Zardari.
Meanwhile, a statement of CM House said that after discussion and consultation with the coalition partners, the committee would revisit the President and Prime Minister to submit the outcome of negotiation.
APP adds: JWP Chief Talal Bugti has appreciated the stance of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on arrest of Shahzain Bugti. Bugti said this during a telephonic talk with MQM Rabita Committee member yousuf Shahwani, said a statement issued by MQM here on Tuesday. Talking to Bugti, Shahwani said Altaf has taken a bold and principled stand on situation of Balochistan, the MQM statement maintained.

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Another setback for Pakistan government as MQM parts ways

December 28th, 2010 | No Comments

PakistanafmapThe 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 [...]

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MQM quits cabinet, not govt

December 28th, 2010 | No Comments


KARACHI – The Rabita (Coordination) Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Monday decided to quit the federal cabinet. However, the party will not sit on the opposition benches in the National Assembly.
The decision was made in a joint meeting of the committee held in London and Karachi simultaneously. According to the decision, Federal Minster for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar and Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri will tender their resignations in the first phase. It was also decided in the meeting that the MQM would soon make a about leaving the Sindh government. The MQM is of the view that the PPP government did not consider the proposals presented for the welfare of the masses. “The decision is a result of the government’s ignorance towards its coalition partner,” the MQM said.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said the MQM was an allied party and every effort would be made to address their grievances, as done earlier. Expressing the hope that the PPP will be able to woo back the coalition partner, he said they learnt about the decision through media, as the top leadership was busy in the ceremonies held in the connection with Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary. He said, “We will discuss the matter in a meeting after returning to Islamabad and ascertain how much capacity we have.”
Kaira reiterated that the govt believed in the policy of reconciliation and wanted to move forward not only along with the allied but also the opposition parties.
On the other hand, President Asif Ali Zardari assigned Interior Minister Rehman Malik the task to persuade the MQM to withdraw the decision.
Agencies add: The meeting was called after the end of 10-day deadline fixed by the MQM leadership in the hope of an action over the controversial statement of Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.
Both Farooq Sattar Babar Ghauri, both are currently abroad and they will submit their resignations today (Tuesday) after returning back to the country.
MQM leader Faisal Sabazwari while talking to a TV channel said his party was only resigning from the federal cabinet but it would continue to sit on the ruling benches in the National Assembly, adding that the MQM had not decided about the ministries in Sindh cabinet.
Expressing similar views, Haider Abbas Rizvi said, “We’ll not sit on the opposition benches,” adding that they would continue strengthening democracy in the country. He maintained that the MQM did not intend to mount the pressure on the government.
Commenting over the move, Faisal Raza Abidi, a prominent leader of PPP, described the MQM as an integral part of the government and said it would remain a part of the ruling alliance. He said, “This kind of minor issues do happen in any democratic set up and they will be addressed accordingly as the PPP committed to remove the MQM‘s reservations. “We hope that during next 24 hours all differences between the PPP and the MQM will be resolved and everything will be fine,” claimed the PPP leader.

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India expecting 50 truckloads of onion from Pakistan Friday

December 24th, 2010 | No Comments

onionIndian importers are expecting at least 50 truckloads of onion to reach here through the Attari-Wagah border check-post Friday, a day after seeing a decline in the import of the now precious commodity from Pakistan. “Yesterday (Thursday) only 34 trucks, carrying 340 tonnes of onions, had arrived in India. This was comparatively less than Wednesday [...]

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Gilani promises to expose BB’s killers

December 1st, 2010 | No Comments


PESHAWAR/SUKKUR – Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said that the assassins of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be brought to book and all the conspiracies against Pakistan People’s Party would be foiled with the help of his party workers.
He said this while addressing a function in connection with 44rd annual founding day of the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party here at Governor House. Interior Minister Rahman Malik, Federal Minister for Communication Arbab Alamgir Khan, Federal Minister for Petroleum Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister Najmuddin Khan, President PPP Women Wing Asima Alamgir and provincial Senior Minister Rahim Dad Khan and other party workers were present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto rendered great sacrifice for the cause of the nation and their sacrifices would be written in golden words of history. He said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was not only the great asset for the party, she was also one of the well-known female leaders of the world.
He pledged that soon the perpetrators involved in the killing of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be brought to justice and in this connection he has issued directives to ministry of Interior to speed up its efforts. He said that although they are in government but they could not be strong until his party was not well organised and they could serve the nation if they are organised and united.
He added that today they have started their function in connection with 43rd founding day of PPP from Peshawar as the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rendered great sacrifices in the war against terror and these people had always corner in the heart of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
He said that owing to terrorism and poor law and order situation PPP led democratic government is confronted with numerous challenges in the shape of inflation and price hike and for this purpose PPP government is taking all out steps to handle the situation. He said that countryÂ’s economy was not strong, as the foreign investors fear to invest in Pakistan and this would be the foremost responsibility of the government to attract investors and bring peace and tranquillity to the country.
He mentioned that despite devastating flood across the country huge stocks of sugar and rice is available in the market but some people are involved in hoarding of sugar and daily commodities to raise its prices in the market, however these elements would not be allowed to exploit the masses and strict action would be taken against them.
He said that Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party is a representative party of the poor people and it would take all possible measures to empower the poor masses. He said that PPP government is conducting survey under the Benazir Income Support Programme to provide health insurance and compensation for utility bills through Benazir Smart Card system.
On this occasion, he also announced the construction of flyover on University Road and issued directives to concerned ministers to provide jobs to party workers on merit basis.
Meanwhile, in Sukkur, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the Government had fulfilled the commitments with regard restoration of 1973 Constitution of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and formation of the setup in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He observed this while addressing the 44th Foundation Day of Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party near Sukkur Bypass on Tuesday. He said that the history of PPP was inscribed with sacrifices and struggle and there was no such example of sacrifices in the Asia.
He said that the flood-hit families were being extended help through payment of Rs20000 each and remaining amount of Rs80000 would be paid by the Federal Government so that flood-hit people could construct their houses. The amount is being paid without any discrimination whether they were rich or poor, residing in katcha areas or pacca. He said, “Our Government has had managed to develop consensus on NFC Award through which small provinces would be given resources to resolve people of their provinces.”
The Prime Minister Gilani announced a grant of Rs100 million each for the flood-affected seven districts of Sindh province.
Addressing a mammoth rally to celebrate the 44th Foundation Day of Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party (PPP), he said Jamshoro, Dadu, Shahdadkot, Thatta, Hyderabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot and Shikarpur district would get the special grant.
He said in order to mitigate the sufferings of the growers in the flood-hit areas, free of cost fertiliser and seeds would be provided to them.
He promised reconstructing the damaged bridge connecting Sukkur and Rohri, besides establishing a university of Information Technology in Jacobabad.
Gilani reiterated the federal govtÂ’s commitment to pay remaining Rs80,000 to every family.
“All the families affected by floods will be given Rs100,000 each without any discrimination,” he said, adding that the funds would help the flood victims to rebuild their houses on their own.
Congratulating the people on the auspicious day, the Prime Minister said the present Government would fulfil all the promises made by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and had already given the resources to the provinces.
“It is now the responsibility of the smaller provinces to utilise the resources with justification,” Gilani said.
He said under the devolution programme, the Federal Government would hand over responsibilities of at least five ministries to the provinces while another 10 were planned to be in the provincial domain within next two months.
Gilani said more and more powers would be delegated to women with an aim to materialise the dreams of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto while health and life insurance were also a part of the proposed plan.
About the govt-media relations, Gilani said the govt believed in freedom of press and would always welcome positive criticism from all quarters.
“It would be a welcome step if the Government and media jointly take measures to flourish democracy in the country,” he remarked.
About the agriculture sector, the premier said unscrupulous elements tried to create artificial food crisis in the country. He dispelled the impression of sugar, wheat or flour shortage in the country.
“There is no sugar shortage in the country; it is just a propaganda against the govt,” he said.
The Prime Minister also rejected the notion that Pakistan was diplomatically isolated. “Had we been in isolation, there would not have been any assistance by the foreign countries during the recent flood,” he said.
About the Kashmir issue, he said the PPP-led govt had remained vocal to raise the issue in the comity of nations.
On the political front, Gilani said it was for the first time in the history of the country that there was no political prisoner today. “The PPP believes in the politics of reconciliation,” he added.

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CMs asked to ensure economic revival

November 20th, 2010 | No Comments


DADU – Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said the government would not leave the flood affectees alone, vowing to take all-out measures for their rehabilitation. He also asked the chief ministers to improve economic conditions of their provinces.
Gilani has admitted that pace of Watan Cards distribution among the flood victims is slow. He was addressing a big gathering, which was organised in connection with the mass marriage ceremony of flood-affected couples.
The Prime Minister announced Rs 200 million grant for the development projects and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people of two constituencies of National Assembly in Dadu district.
The Prime Minister earlier visited the relief camp at Ustad Bukhari Degree College Dadu and exchanged Eid greetings with the flood victims and distributed Watan Cards among their family heads.
The Prime Minister said besides Rs200 million the government is planning to provide maximum incentives to flood victims so that they could restart their life and overcome the losses.
He said the unprecedented flood had caused heavy losses, however the government is taking various measures for early rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.
The government has started Watan Cards distribution to heads of the flood-affected families so that they could get Rs 100,000 each and restart their normal life, he said and added that Nadra has also been directed to speed up the distribution of the cards.
Gilani said to get Watan Card is the right of flood victims and it should be given to them as soon as possible. He said Nadra officials have been directed to remove all faults in the distribution of the cards. He said most of the flood-affected families suffered less than Rs 100,000 loss, but the government has formed a uniform policy of granting Rs 100,000 compensation to each family head through Watan Cards.
The Prime Minister, who earlier had an aerial view of the flood-affected areas of Dadu, expressed his concern over the devastation caused by the floods and directed the departments concerned to waive off the utility bills in those areas.
He directed the authorities concerned to conduct survey of those areas which were missed out earlier so that the utility bills of those areas could also be waived off.
Referring to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali ShahÂ’s demand for writing off the agriculture loans in flood affected areas of the province, the Prime Minister assured to consider his proposal.
The government would provide maximum incentives to help people restart their normal lives in the flood-affected areas, he added.
The Prime Minister said the government is providing seeds and fertilizers free of cost to the flood-affected growers, so they could cultivate their agricultural land and improve their socio-economic condition.
On the request of Sindh Chief Minister, the Prime Minister assured to consider additional supply of irrigation water to Sindh province.
He said that remodelling of Dadu district will be made soon.
Prime Minister also met with 300 families who were affected by floods while eight bride and grooms also got married.

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Opp, allies up in arms as RGST tabled in NA

November 13th, 2010 | No Comments


ISLAMABAD – After its failure in passing NRO, the PPP-led federal government, Friday, suffered another moral setback when its coalition partners in the National Assembly not only opposed the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) Bill, 2010, but also termed it a final nail in the coffin of Pak economy.
Whereas the opposition parties, PML-N and PML-Q, protested against the RGST during the Lower House proceedings, members of the MQM and ANP that are coalition parties in federal as well as provincial governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also chanted slogans against the imposition of any new tax.
Minister for Labour and Manpower Khurshid Shah, however, approached the ANP legislators presumably to convince them but all in vain.
They, including Bushra Rehman, remained firm to their stand. It was the second time when PPP seemed alone in the House and the Finance Minister Hafeez Shiekh had to lay the RGST bill 2010 and flood surcharges, in an environment charged with protest on the last day of the 26th session of the Lower House.
“The bill will reform the sales tax regime by introducing and implementing a broad-based tax on sale and purchase of goods in all areas of Pakistan and services in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) on an integrated basis with taxes on sales and purchases of services, specified by the provinces so as to form a broad-based and integrated tax regime on consumption in Pakistan” Hafeez Shiekh said while introducing the RGST Bill 2010.
“We oppose the RGST. Actually, it is an indirect tax that will be imposed on the production of all things. If it gets through, it will be a final nail in the already sinking economy of the country,”, Dr Farooq Sattar the senior leader of MQM commented. It is VAT in the guise of RGST, Sattar added.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who was in the House at the time had to come forward to calm down the situation as he had been asking opposition and his coalition partners to sit down and let the finance minister introduce the bill and they could later oppose it at the concerned standing committee.
PM Gilani brushed aside the impression that the bill was being introduced without taking opposition and coalition parties on board and said that the House had been discussing it for the last six months.
“It is discussed in Cabinet which approved it while in the recent meeting of the Council of Common Interest, all the four chief ministers gave go-ahead to the federal government for imposing RGST”, he said. The Prime Minister said that the country needed Rs160 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation process after natural disaster while after 7th NFC Award the resources were shifted to provinces, which had refused the federal government to contribute in the rehabilitation process.
“We, the federal government, accepted it. We will not go for any undemocratic move. The bill will be introduced according to the order of the day, however, it’s up to the House whether it accepts it or not”, the Prime Minister said.
Responding to the Leader of the Opposition Ch Nisar Ali Khan regarding the incident that took place with Law Minister at Constitution Avenue where allegedly some army officials aimed guns at the minister, Prime Minster said that he himself contacted Law Minister who expressed ignorance of any such incident occurred with him.
“When the Law Minister himself was not accepting it then what kind of report you are seeking. Why you want from us to condemn this institution,” Prime Minister said while addressing the Opposition Leader. Earlier, Ch Nisar Ali whereas not only demanded the report of the incident but also cautioned the Government that it would have to throw 145 members out of the House for the passage of the RGST bill. Later, Dr Farooq Sattar rejected the claim of Prime Minister and said that RGST and conditionality of IMF packages had never been discussed in the Cabinet. “I and Babar Ghori attended a number of Cabinet meetings and during these meetings, RGST and IMF package never came under discussion”, Sattar said. He said RGST would be implemented on every single commodity and would directly put a burden on the people. We are shedding crocodile tears…a tsunami of price-hike is in the offing,” he said. Farooq Sattar offered to generate Rs1,000 billion from the countryÂ’s economy and the budget. He demanded imposition of agriculture land tax besides reforms in FBR, PIA, Steel Mill, PEPCO, land and WAPDA to generate Rs160 billion.”

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Huge blast flattens Karachi CID building

November 12th, 2010 | No Comments


KARACHI – A massive explosion ripped through head office of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), located at a busy commercial street here on Thursday night, killing at least 18 people and injuring 120 others.
The powerful blast brought down complete front portion of the building of CID located in the Red Zone of the metropolis near the Sindh Chief MinisterÂ’s House.
The intensity of blast was so severe that it was heard in a 15-kilometre radius. The bomb levelled the CID building and left about 40 feet across and 12 feet deep crater in front of it. According to bomb disposal experts, around 1,000-kg explosive materiel was used in the blast.
The Chief MinisterÂ’s House, GovernorÂ’s House, Qasr-e-Naz, three luxury hotels, the US Consulate and government offices are also located in the Red Zone.
The blast razed the portion of three-storey building of CID to the ground.
City Police Chief, Fayyaz Leghari, while talking to TheNation said that a truck loaded with explosives managed to enter CID operationÂ’s office after an intense exchange of fire with the security guards. The police chief termed the incident a reaction of the arrests of terrorist affiliated with Lashker-e-Jhangvi, the CID made yesterday (Wednesday).
The terrorists first resorted to heavy firing in the office of CID before detonating a massive explosive-laden truck, said Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, while talking to media at the site of blast.
He said that the attack appeared similar to the one that targeted Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh, Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak, informed media persons that a truck with a Peshawar number plate reached the main gate of CID building then at least 20 suspects resorted to firing for at least 10 minutes. Later, they hurled crackers inside the CID building, killing the security guards deployed at the main gate.
The provincial police chief further said the militants later entered the premises of building and detonated the vehicle. He added that the blast also damaged the residential area located around the CID office. IG Khattak confirmed that the attackers and senior officials of the CID remained unhurt in this incident.
“We heard different rounds of firing for several minutes and then a huge explosion,” said an eyewitness. “The roof of our house has collapsed,” he added.
A police constable, who survived the attack, said the entire operation was so swift that police had no time to react.
“The terrorists blew up the truck by the time we reached our guns to fight them,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
Ambulances and rescue teams rushed towards the blast site and shifted the bodies and injured to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Civil Hospital.
Heavy machinery was called to remove the debris and retrieve the possible survivors.
In-charge of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Emergency Department, Dr Seemi Jamali, confirmed that the hospital had received 10 bodies and 90 injured people.
According to television channels, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed the responsibility of the attack.

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New taxes to trigger tsunami of price hike

November 11th, 2010 | No Comments


ISLAMABAD – The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday accorded approval to the flood tax and Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) Bill and to be presented in the current session of the National Assembly. However, many economic analysts believe that it would trigger a tsunami of price hike and inflation in the country.
“The bill will be tabled in the current session of National Assembly,” said Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh while addressing a press conference here. He was flanked by Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister for Interior Rehman Malik. To a question, Hafeez said that a salient feature of the Reformed-General Sales Tax (R-GST) is that there will be a uniform sales tax rate of 15 per cent instead of the rates ranging from 17 to 26 per cent.
He said that the measures are designed to broaden the tax base by bringing the exempted sectors in the tax net and charging all income groups at a rate of 10 per cent of their payable liability.
Explaining about the bill, the Minister said that after the approval the RGST would be implemented from January 2011 and may fetch in Rs30 billion in the remaining six months of the current fiscal year.
He further said that the Cabinet also approved the flood surcharge to be imposed for six months from January 2011 on the persons having income more than Rs 30,0000.
He said that a person earning Rs 25,000 per month will pay additional Rs 30 per month tax and a company earning Rs 10 billion annually will pay additional Rs 170 million in six months.
He said that the government has decided to levy one-time flood surcharge at the rate of 10 per cent of the payable tax on all income groups that will generate Rs28 billion in six months.
He further said that the incumbent government also doubled the rate of Federal Excise Duty on all non-essential and luxury imports.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira dispelled the impression that the bill was being passed by the Parliament without evolving a consensus among the provinces.
He was of the view that the introduction of the bill would help the country in putting its economy on the path of self-reliance by broadening the tax base.
He said that the cabinet also discussed the issue of availability of sugar in the country. The stocks of 350,000 metric tons of sugar available with TCP will be sent in the open market.
It was also discussed to move against millers and wholesalers allegedly hoarding sugar in anticipation to earn more profits, he added.
Rehman Malik said that his agencies would now be on a hunt for hoarders and millers in the provinces would be pushed for starting the crushing operations.
It would not be out of place to mention here that MQM ministers expressed reservations on the bill.
Agencies add: The IMF has linked PakistanÂ’s next tranche of aid to the approval of the RGST bill in the federal and provincial assemblies before November 13.
The IMF insists that it will not accept a “piecemeal approach” or anything except a universal RGST regime.
Earlier this month, Pakistan assured international donors that five bills will be presented in federal and provincial assemblies in their current sessions to seek approval for the tax.
The plan to get the bill passed, though, has been slowed down by provincesÂ’ refusal to budge from their stated positions regarding revenues collected from import, export and ports related services.
Punjab wants revenues to be allocated on the basis of origin of services while Sindh argues that revenues should be authorised to the province where it is collected.

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PM rules out clash among institutions

October 17th, 2010 | No Comments


ISLAMABAD – Ruling out the possibility of clash between the institutions, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his Government would continue following the path of reconciliation with the aim to promoting the mutual respect amongst the state institutions.
Addressing the nation on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said if the Government could work with Armed Forces and evolve consensus among the political forces then it could also work with judiciary to take the country forward and provide speedy justice to the masses.
Flanked by the Chief Ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, AJK Premier, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, and Senior Ministers from Punjab and Sindh, Prime Minister Gilani said that the elected leadership from all the four provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan was sitting with him and it was the dividend of their policy of reconciliation. He, once again, reiterated his GovernmentÂ’s resolve to take all the stakeholders on board for the collective good of the people of the country.
He stressed the need for collective endeavour on part of the Government and judiciary for the provision of legal, social and economic justice to the people, for which his Government was ready to sit with judiciary to evolve some viable mechanism. “For provision of justice to people I am ready to take any step and whatever suggestion will come up in this regard, my Government will welcome it,” he added.
Referring to the false news about withdrawal of judgesÂ’ restoration notice, he said it was immediately denied by him and President Zardari too had termed it false but even then it was not accepted and it could be the violation of the principles of mutual respect among the institutions. And it was tantamount to insulting the very Office of Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said that he had ordered inquiry into the news report that caused all the mess so that the nation might know who had conspired to harm the relations between the judiciary and the Government.
Recalling the release of judges soon after his nomination as the Leader of the House, Premier Gilani said, “If I announce restoration of the judges, it is accepted. Similarly, if I deny a news, then keeping in view the stature of the position, it too should be accepted by all forums.”
“If a false news is given preference over the words of the Prime Minister, it would be an insult to the stature of the Prime Minister,” he remarked.
“If the Government and judiciary take steps together then we can administer justice to the poor people of the country. We can counter forces of oppression. We can bring those to justice, who usurp rights of people.”
Gilani said that as a public representative, he understood the need of justice. He called for improvement in administrative and judicial system. He vowed to take every step for provision of justice to people and said the Government would welcome any suggestions in the cause of justice.
Premier Gilani reminded when he decided to restore judges through an executive order he was told that he could not do it and it would be a violation of the Constitution and the action could come under Article 6.
“But I did not listen to those voices. I did not give any importance to any danger and announced restoration of judges,” he said, adding, “I was also told that validation of Parliament was necessary for the Executive Order. I referred to this in one of my speeches that people were saying this to me but I stood by my decision. But this speech of mine was given different meanings. I made it clear at that time that I had not given my opinion but only explained the background in which I took that decision.”
The Prime Minister reminded the nation that they were living in a parliamentary democratic system, which stood on the principle of division (of power) and mutual respect. “This (democracy) teaches us respect for every state institution including judiciary, legislature, executive and media,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that this system also provided respect for the Armed Forces and law enforcing institutions, whose men sacrificed their lives for countryÂ’s defence; for executive, which maintained the countryÂ’s administrative affairs by working day and night; and for Parliament, which did legislation.
“The Prime Minister is said to be the Leader of the House in this system and deserves respect,” he added.
“The words of the Prime Minister, be it verbal or written, are respected. If he utters verbally that the house arrest of judges should be ended, they could not be kept confined. If he (the Prime Minister) announces the restoration of honourable judges, that is accepted,” Gilani said.
Shedding some light on his GovernmentÂ’s achievements, which he also attributed to their policy of reconciliation, Prime Minister Gilani said that they had brought the provinces together and consensus NFC Award was signed.
Similarly besides restoring the original shape of the Constitution, the passage of 18th Amendment had enhanced both the monetary and administrative powers of the provinces.
They in support of the provinces had declared war against price-hike and would come down hard on profiteers and hoarding mafias. He also announced the GovernmentÂ’s plan to reorganise eight public sector institutions so that their financial burden on the national exchequer could be reduced. He also referred to their efforts, which resulted in European Union allowing access to Pakistani goods in their markets.
He also gave a brief resume to the GovernmentÂ’s efforts for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people and also thanked the international community, which had come all-out in aid to the Government of Pakistan in handling this calamity.
He, once again, reiterated his GovernmentÂ’s unflinching support to the people of Kashmir and said that they would continue highlighting the ongoing unprecedented programme of the innocent Kashmir people at the hands of Indian forces.
About the Accountability process he said that being a politician they were subjected to accountability at various stages: first at the time of their nomination papers with the returning officer where even a default of a utility bill could result in their disqualification; the second stage was public accountability who could vote them out; and the third stage was Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.
He further said that they were working on mechanism of transparent accountability and as soon as the Parliament would evolve consensus on it, the same would be given the shape of law.
He said that they would complete their mandated term and would go to the court of masses in 2013 to seek their justice.
He also reiterated his partyÂ’s stance that they would continue to follow the path of politics of reconciliation to evolve harmony and cohesion among the state institutions and political forces.

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PML-N warns of long march

October 10th, 2010 | No Comments


LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has maintained that if appointments like NAB chairman were continued to be made, they will be forced to undertake a long march.
He stressed that President Asif Zardari should show some wisdom and not take such decisions. He was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating Watan Cards programme in Khushab on Sunday.
According to him, Pakistan Muslim League-N opposes this decision and will continue to do so. He said he has no personal grudge against Deedar Shah but the matter pertains to justice and bringing back the money looted from the country, whether this money is of Swiss bank accounts, Steel Mills or it is about the illegal loans of millions of rupees given to the directors of Punjab Bank.
Describing the people of Punjab and Sindh, as well as poor masses of the country as talented, he asserted that all the deserving persons including resourceless students, cancer patients, destitute widows and orphans have a right over the 60 million dollars in Swiss banks and it is not the personal property of any individual.
He maintained that appointment of Deedar Shah is tantamount to adding insult to the injuries of the poor as well as promotion of poverty and corruption. He said: It is a slap on the face of justice and a crude attempt to hide corruption. He said President Zardari has given the responsibility of rendering justice to 170 million people to such a controversial person who was People Party MPA twice. He said: “There is a need for utilizing national resources honestly and judiciously for transforming Pakistan into a state as per the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.”
Earlier, the CM inaugurated the programme of distribution of Watan Cards among flood affectees. He also enquired about the problems being faced by the flood victims and issued instructions for their solution. Talking to the calamity-stricken people, the CM said though floods have caused a loss of billions of rupees to the provincial economy, Punjab government has not lost the courage and every effort would be made for their rehabilitation.

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