First Time News (National)

SC orders medical checkup of seven detainees

2012-02-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Seven men allegedly held by the intelligence services on Monday appeared in the Supreme Court.

The men appeared frail, weak, unable to talk and unable to walk properly when they appeared before Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, more than a year and a half after being allegedly arrested.

The judge ordered a full medical examination. Intelligence agencies last month handed over the men to the custody of the provincial government in the northwest, after the Supreme Court took up the case.

Four of the men were reportedly held in Peshawar and three in the tribal region of Parachinar.

“There should be proper medical treatment and they shall not be shifted to internment centre in Parachinar, so long as the matter is pending before the court,” Chaudhry said.

“A medical board shall be constituted to examine their health,” he added.

Lawyer Tariq Asad, who represented the detainees, said the court ordered the ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) to submit details at the next hearing on March 1 about their detention and under which law they were held.

“The report will contain details about what happened to them during their detention over one year and a half and whether any trial took place,” he said.

Only 18 percent of total budget is allocated for Pakistan Army:Kayani

2012-02-13T06:48:00.000-08:00

JACOBABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has said that only 18 per cent of country’s total budget is allocated for armed forces while wrong facts and figures are quoted in TV talk shows in this regard.

Speaking at the Shahbaz Airbase during a ceremony on Monday, the army chief said that out of 18 percent Pakistan Army got only 8 to 9 per cent budget.

He said that the army had not received Rs1.5 billion in account of Coalition Support Fund. General Kayani said that new F-16 Block-58 fighters would prove a great asset for the Pakistan Air Force and would strengthen its defence capabilities.

When asked whether the new F-16 fighters would be used in tribal region where the armed forces have been battling insurgents, the the army chief said although it was not an appropriate forum to discuss the issue, nominal force would be used in the insurgency stricken region.

Speaking about restoration of Nato supply routes and relations with the United States, Kayani said that the prime minister had given a categorical statement that the parliament would take any decision in this regard. He said that the Pakistan military had capability to respond in befitting manner to any Indian aggression.

Speaking on the occasion Air Chief Rao Qamar Suleman said that Shahbaz Air Base was in under complete control of the Pakistan Air Force.

Answering a question regarding extension in his term, the air chief said the question should be asked to the government.

Nawaz Sharif criticises govt’s allies for supporting ‘corruption’

2012-02-13T06:43:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif has said that government allies’ support to the government for not complying with the Supreme Court orders is against the will of people.

Talking to media after a meeting with Sindh National Front Chairman Mumtaz Bhutto on Monday, the former prime minister said that the allies should rethink that on what matter they were supporting the government.

He said that the national wealth lying in Swiss banks should be brought back in Pakistan as it belonged to people of Pakistan. “Why government was avoiding to return people’s money” he said.” Whether prime minister’s loyalty is with the country or plunder”.

He said that the government was blaming judges for its deeds. Replying a query regarding the perception that the PPP was seeking political martyrdom, the former prime minister said that martyrdom was a great position and he could do nothing if anybody wanted to embrace martyrdom for corruption.

Mr Sharif said that resignations from the parliament were not a big deal for him. He said had the PML-N not struggled for restoration of deposed judges of the Supreme Court, there would have been Dogar Courts in Pakistan.

He said that the nation would standby the apex court to get its decisions implemented.

Speaking on the occasion SNF chairman Mumtaz Bhutto said that he had met Nawaz Sharif to discuss caretaker government. He said that he did not trust the incumbent government for holding free and fare election. Mr Bhutto said the people were committing suicides due to aggravated situation in the country.

Altaf urges Gilani to exercise restrain

2012-02-13T06:40:00.001-08:00

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday expressed his sympathies with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on being charged with contempt by the Supreme Court, FTNews reported.

According to a statement issued, Hussain said that he had repeatedly emphasised on the need for the state institutions to respect each other and avoid conflict.

“Now that the prime minister has been charged by the apex court, he should respect the court’s verdict and show patience,” said the party chief.

He further said that any action which could produce emotional reactions should be avoided because the country cannot afford the clash between its institutions.

No moral justification left for Gilani to continue premiership: Imran Khan

2012-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday posed a question to the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government – “What moral justification does Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani have after being indicted with contempt charges?“

Khan was speaking to the media at the induction of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Karachi division chief organiser Syed Hafeezuddin into his party.

The PTI chairman said that Gilani should resign from the premiership under the light of his indictment in the Supreme Court of Pakistan today.

“The Supreme Court is operating cautiously in all its proceedings, so rather than pressurising it, you [Gilani] should resign as there is no justification for you [Gilani] to continue as the prime minister of Pakistan.”

Khan said that democracy is governed by “morality, not force,” as force “remains with the armed forces.”

“Why was this contempt done?” Khan questioned. “Was this done to benefit or to serve the people of Pakistan? No. This was done only to guard the plundered money in President Asif Ali Zardari’s Swiss accounts.”

Khan said that Gilani will not be able to take any action against anybody who is facing contempt charges. “You set an example for the people to follow. If Gilani has been indicted with contempt charges, how can he in the future question somebody who is found in contempt to the court?”

Body of missing BRP leader found near Turbat

2012-02-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

QUETTA: The mutilated body of missing Baloch Republican Party (BRP) leader Sangat Sana was found dumped near Turbat on Monday.

Official sources said that Sana’s body was found near Murgab by the some passers-by, who informed the nearby Levies station.

The body was shifted to the Turbat district headquarter hospital, where locals identified the deceased as Sangat Sana, a member of the central committee of the BRP.

Sources said that the body was mutilated and had bullet wounds.

According to Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organization working for the recovery of Baloch missing persons, Sana Sangat was whisked away from Kolpur area in Bolan on December 8th, 2008. He was also the former chairman of Baloch Student Organization (BSO-Azad).

His father is currently on hunger strike along with other relatives of Baloch Missing persons outside the Karachi Press Club.The VBMP has strongly condemned the killing.

Dubai police arrest suspect in Shahbaz Bhatti murder case

2012-02-13T06:37:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: A suspect involved in the murder former minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti was arrested by police in Dubai on Monday.

Bhatti, the first Christian parliamentarian, was assassinated in March last year, during an attack on his vehicle in Islamabad.

Sources told FTNews that Pakistan’s Interior Ministry had contacted authorities in Dubai to arrest Ziaur Rehman and Malik Abid, who had managed to flee to the Arab country last year.

The police arrested Rehman and are conducting raids to nab Abid. Paperwork to bring Rehman back to Pakistan has been initiated, sources said.

Contempt case: Supreme Court indicts Gilani

2012-02-13T03:40:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday charges have been framed against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for contempt of court in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case.

A two-page charge sheet was read out by Justice Nasirul Mulk, who headed the seven-member bench hearing the case.

The charge sheet said that the prime minister had violated Article 204 of the Constitution by not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities as ordered by the court. It added that the prime minister also violated paragraph 178 of the court’s verdict in the NRO implementation case.

Gilani pleaded not guilty and sought more time in the case. But, the court ordered Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to prosecute the prime minister and present more documents and proof to the court.

Gilani’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan told the court that he will present his arguments on February 22, while Gilani was ordered to bring sufficient evidence by February 27.

The prime minister was exempted from further hearings while the hearing was adjourned till February 22.

Prime Minister Gilani was served a contempt notice in the NRO implementation case when the government did not follow the court’s orders of writing a letter to the Swiss authority to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is serving as Gilani’s lawyer in the case.

The Supreme Court has said it will only drop the summons if Gilani obeys its order to write to the Swiss authorities, asking them to re-open the cases.

If convicted, Gilani faces six months in jail and disqualification from office in a case that has fanned political instability and may force elections within months.

Adiala prisoners' case: Seven prisoners presented before SC

2012-02-13T03:39:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Resuming the Adiala missing prisoners’ case on Monday, the Supreme Court sought written explanations from the Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence chiefs, Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Chief Secretary Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ghulam Dastagir Khan asking why the prisoners were not presented on court’s earlier order.

Seven prisoners who were sought by the court earlier were presented before the court today.

The court told K-P chief secretary to submit a comprehensive report entailing the details of the detention within four days to the Registrar Office of the Supreme Court, while JAG, MI and ISI were told to submit their reports on March 1.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry inquired about the prisoners and asked where they were before January 26. K-P chief secretary replied saying that he did not have knowledge regarding the whereabouts of the prisoners.

The chief justice criticised his statement and said, “A provincial chief secretary should be aware of everything that happens in the province.”

“You should know where the Taliban are stationed and where an operation is carried out against them. You should have knowledge about the province,” said Chief Justice Chaudhry.

Counsel of ISI and MI chiefs Raja Irshad informed the court that, complying with the court’s orders, the prisoners were moved to Islamabad to be presented before the court.

Counsel of the prisoners Advocate Tariq Asad informed the court that during the confinement which lasted for more than a year, the prisoners were not exposed to the sunlight which worsened their health.

Advocate Asad further told the court that three out of the seven prisoners are suffering from kidney failure, while the rest diagnosed with other chronic diseases.

The court asked the counsel of ISI and MI chiefs if both the agencies had the constitutional authority to detain the civilians.

The chief justice said that the condition of the prisoners was rueful and that once the report is submitted, the court will determine if the detentions were lawful or not.

Defence of Human Rights Chairperson Amina Janjua prayed to the court that orders for the release of all the missing persons should be issued.

The court also ordered that the prisoners will now remain under the provincial administration and not ISI and MI.

The three-member bench, headed by the chief justice, had served notices to the ISI and MI chiefs on January 25 to explain the circumstances behind the deaths of the prisoners.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor was directed to present a report through the provincial chief secretary on the condition of the prisoners who are hospitalised in Peshawar and Parachinar.

The civilians had been facing a court martial under the Army Act on charges of attacking the General Headquarters (GHQ) and ISI’s Hamza Camp base.

They were picked up from Adiala Jail by intelligence agencies after they had been acquitted of the charges by the court.

Four of the 11 detainees – Muhammad Amir, Tahseenullah, Said Arab and Abdul Saboor – died in the custody of the ISI and MI.

Defiance: Allies renew ‘support for democracy’

2012-02-13T03:37:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: All political players in the ruling coalition have resolved to ‘protect’ democracy in case Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani loses his office in the event of a conviction by the Supreme Court in the contempt case.

“It was our decision, our commitment. We will not let the system fall in any case. Even if Gilani has to go,” said a senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader on the eve of the premier appearing before the apex court to face contempt charges.

President Asif Ali Zardari chaired the meeting of key leaders from all the parties from governing coalition and at least three officials from various groups said all had assured their support to the system.

“Everybody looked to be on the same page … all said they would stand behind democracy,” the PPP official added in what appeared to be calculated remarks without explicitly mentioning whether the allies’ backing was only for the system or for the premier as well. None of the officials who spoke to FTNews were, however, forthcoming to elaborate what would be the plan in case Gilani had to step down after facing conviction in the case after failing to implement the 2009 court decision on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

At the centre of the NRO lies a conflict between the government and the top judicial body on whether Gilani, as the chief executive, should write a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen closed graft case against President Zardari.

The PPP had been maintaining that Zardari was immune from any criminal charges against him as long as he holds office, while the Supreme Court insisted Gilani would have to send a letter to Switzerland in any case.

The participant at the meeting said there was a consensus among all the coalition partners that the letter would never be written. “That is out of question … there is no way our government can do that,” the PPP leader said.

There were fears of trouble at the court premises on Thursday as MPs from the ruling coalition and PPP workers had been asked to accompany the premier as they did last time.

On the other hand, lawyers from local bar councils have also apparently decided to converge at the main boulevard in front of the Supreme Court to support Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry against the government.

Tight security measures have been ordered to avoid any trouble.

US concerned about rights abuses in Balochistan: Munter

2012-02-13T03:35:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Insisting that the US administration’s stance remains unchanged vis-à-vis Balochistan, US Ambassador Cameron Munter asserted on Sunday that “there is no doubt that people in Balochistan are facing human rights abuses”.

In an exclusive interview with a newspaper, the top US diplomat in Pakistan said that his country was concerned at the human rights situation in Balochistan and the US administration should take up the ‘alarming issue’ with Pakistani leaders.

“This is an important issue for us to be discussing with the Pakistani government. But we don’t want to go beyond that, in a manner that might be destabilising to any part.”

Munter’s statement came days after Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington Sherry Rehman called a US Congressional hearing on Balochistan as an “ill-advised move that would be detrimental to the trust between Pakistan and the US.”

However, Munter reassured that the Congressional hearing did not reflect a change in the US official policy. “US government’s stance is very clear; we have not changed our position,” he said.

“We are always concerned, not just in Balochistan, but all around the world on issues that have to do with human rights. And let’s be honest there are human rights issues in Balochistan.”

Emphasising on the fact that the debate did not mean much in terms of policy making, he stated: “Debate in the Congress is an open debate, people can say what they want but our government’s position remains unchanged.

“The Congress is not controlled by our government. We welcome any discussion about the future of your country. Its means that if people are interested in human rights situation of Balochistan, then that should be talked about in public.”

The Salala attack

Recalling the ‘very tragic’ incident of November 26, 2011 when US-led Isaf forces ‘accidentally’ killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers, Munter said Islamabad was ‘understandably’ upset with Washington.

“There has been a pause in Pakistan-US relationship after the very tragic incident in Salala in which Nato troops accidently killed some soldiers. A terrible accident which we regret and Pakistan is understandably upset,” said Munter.

“(Pakistani) parliament will be debating this issue next week. Since the Salala attack, we have not had that extant of contact with Pakistan about issues like the Afghan reconciliation that we would like to.

“However, we are committed to sharing all this information with Pakistan. Once we have this debate in your Parliament, we want to reengage as soon as Pakistan wants.”

Appreciating the efforts of the Pakistani military in fighting militants, Munter said: “We hope that, the efforts made by the Pakistani military, which are significant, will continue to be successful.

“We have nothing but the greatest respect for the Pakistani Army. Hence, we want to ensure good contacts over the border between Isaf and them to avoid terrible incidents like Salala.”

Regarding peace talks with Afghanistan, the US ambassador said: “We want to see an Afghan-led process to bring peace to Afghanistan and the good news is America and Pakistan agree on this.

The Qatar initiative

Stressing on the need to keep a direct contact with the Afghan government to ensure a timely end to the more than a decade-long war, Munter said: “We were delighted when Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar went to Kabul and had a successful meeting. This kind of contact is very important.

“There are issues that Pakistan and Afghanistan need to work on together. I think Pakistan can support the dialogue process in Qatar.

“Pakistan will always be included in that process. People in Afghanistan realise that they need to have a process that includes Pakistan.”

Stressing on the geo-political importance of the country he added: “Pakistan has legitimate needs in this region.”

Probing 26/11: Mumbai attacks monitored, managed live from Karachi

2012-02-13T03:33:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: As 11 gunmen wreaked havoc on Mumbai in 2008, and killed 166 people over the course of three days, the planners watched the terror unfold live at a rented house in the North Nazimabad neighbourhood of Karachi, sources privy to investigations revealed to FTNews.

The planners not only watched the terror unfold via cameras carried by the attackers, they provided them live instructions to engage Indian security personnel and inflict maximum damage, sources added.

Pakistani and Indian investigation agencies have found as many as 35 people to be involved in the siege at landmarks in India’s financial capital while Indian authorities have been able to trace the exact location of the ‘base camp’ of the attack in Karachi, sources added, while discussing a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report on the attacks. According to the report, available with FTNews, these terror suspects provided logistic and financial support to the gunmen who carried out the attack.

The extensive report includes names of the captain and crew of boats that carried the attackers to Mumbai, financers of the operation, the facilitators in Karachi and those who provided logistical support and technology.

The attackers were purportedly trained at sea near Thatta and had even made preparatory trips to Mumbai, unnoticed by the Indian navy, sources added.

The investigations, however, refute claims made by Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the leading planners of the Mumbai attacks.

Headley had testified earlier that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had coordinated with each other for the attack. The ISI provided military and moral support to the group, he had alleged.

Indian charge sheet

Meanwhile, the Indian government sanctioned its National Investigation Agency in December 2011 to charge sheet nine people – including Headley, LeT’s founder Hafiz Saeed, al Qaeda operative Ilyas Kashmiri and two serving Pakistan Army officers posted with the ISI – for plotting terror strikes in India, including the Mumbai attacks. It is the first time an Indian probe agency will name serving ISI officers – Major Iqbal and Major Samir Ali – in a charge sheet.

Name of a retired Pakistani major, Abdul Rehman Hashim, will also be included in the charge sheet for allegedly setting set up the ISI’s ‘Karachi Project’ and training a number of Indian youth for carrying out attacks in India. The charge sheet will also be the first Indian ‘legal’ document mentioning the ‘Karachi Project.’

Won’t allow trial of Benazir’s grave: Firdous Awan

2012-02-13T03:32:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not allow trial of Benazir Bhutto’s grave by writing letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases.

Speaking to reports outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday, She said that the president enjoyed complete immunity and court orders could not be implemented in this regard.

She said that the government respected the court as the PPP had rendered great sacrifices for the independence of the judiciary. When asked if the president enjoyed immunity in civil proceedings she refused to answer saying the matter was legal and she could comment.

PML-N decides not to support any other PM

2012-02-13T03:28:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reiterated its stance on early elections, saying that it would oppose the appointment of a new prime minister, in case Yousuf Raza Gilani is ousted from his job.

After submitting his nomination papers for the Senate elections here on Monday, senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar told reporters that the party had not backtracked from its demand of holding early general elections.

He said that his party would take steps in making the election commission impartial.

When asked about the memogate scandal, Dar insisted that the PML-N was acting responsibly on the matter and that disinformation was being spread against his party leadership.—FTNews

All transport services may be opened to private sector

2012-02-13T03:26:00.001-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The government is opening up the entire transportation sector and services — rail, road, air, ships, ports, airports and waterways — to the private sector under an integrated National Transport Policy (NTP) expected to be considered for approval by the federal cabinet in a forthcoming meeting.

Informed sources told FTNews on Sunday that a comprehensive document envisaging policies and framework to guide planning, implementation, operations and monitoring of the transport system was finalised at a recent meeting presided over by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Dr Nadeem-ul-Haque and attended by secretaries and senior officers of the ministries concerned and organisations in the transportation chain.

The NTP covers six areas and five sets of issues across the different modes and levels of government in whole or in part. These six areas include roads, railways, ports and shipping, aviation, pipelines and waterways. The five sets of issues are urban transport, rural transport, transport services, logistics and customs and inter-modal services. All these modes and sets would be brought under one coordinated ministry.

The government initially considered creating a new ministry of transport to cover these areas but then decided to place under a renamed ministry of communications and transport (MOC&T) to avoid loss of time in the creation of a new ministry. As a result, the restructured ministry would house various modal and supporting agencies such as safety, research and development for coordinating policy, planning and monitoring across the national and sub-national transport system and its linkage to economic and social development.

The national trade corridor task force, transport advisory council and provinces would work in coordination with the ministry. The government has acknowledged that 95 per cent of all passenger and freight transportation was being made through roads and since the trucking and passenger services were in the unorganised private sector, it is a source of high-cost external factors hampering not only domestic trade but also with neighbouring countries.

ROADS: In the road infrastructure and services sector, the government will give priority to maintenance of roads that will primarily depend on user charges. All major construction decisions will be subject to rigorous assessment and cost-benefit and alternatives analysis to justify a project. The role of private sector and public-private participation (PPP) in infrastructure finance and service provision will be utilised to expanded levels.

This will lead to strict enforcement of the axel and gross loads, certification, training and licensing regulations of the trucking industry and other modes while regulated passenger fares will be adjusted rapidly to meet the demand of fast changing conditions in a deregulated environment. The fares will be completely deregulated.

RAILWAYS: The railways will be operated purely on commercial lines through use of commercial management practices and the focus of future development would be on freight. Pakistan Railways will be directed to focus on providing core services and divesting non-core activities.

The cross functional subsidies in the railway operations will be eliminated. The PR will provide loss producing lines or services only when the government decides to continue them and services and provide funds for subsidising the cost. The PR will also be responsible for adapting a continuous rolling stock management system and expanding the role of private sector and PPPs for increased financial participation.

PORTS & SHIPPING: In the shipping sector, the government will continue with port management and operations but will corporatise and outsource services to the private sector. An integrated master plan will be prepared to monitor port charges and reduce them where excessive rates are found compared with revenues and profit levels of other regional port operators because higher charges were resulting in trade constraints. Also, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) will be made to compete on an even basis with all competitors for providing transport and freight services to government cargo.

AVIATION & AIRPORTS: The government plans to restructure Civil Aviation Administration into a competitive organisation, independent from provision of airport and other services, to ensure customer choice, safety, environmental integrity and energy efficiency. The airport management and related services will be commercialised through PPPs and privatised. Likewise, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would be opened up for private sector participation while passenger and cargo services will be deregulated. New airports and runway investments will be based on prior cost and alternative option assessments to ensure full cost recoveries.

PIPELINES: To reduce road congestion and transportation costs, the use and development of a pipeline infrastructure will be aggressively pursued through increased private sector participation for both domestic and international fluid and gas transportation. Operating and safety standards will be put in place before inviting the private sector in pipeline investments and their operations.

URBAN TRANSPORT: To increase productivity of urban transport, the government will increase the use of large buses on priority lanes first and then seek investment in mass transit systems in major cities. The public fares will be formula based indexed to fuel prices to change automatically.

Two foreigners abducted from Multan held by Taliban

2012-02-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two foreign aid workers kidnapped from Multan in January are being held by the Pakistan Taliban near the border with Afghanistan, a senior militant commander told Reuters on Saturday.

“The two NGO (non-governmental organisation) workers who were kidnapped in Multan nearly a month ago are in our custody near the border. We haven’t made any demands yet,” a senior commander of the Pakistan Taliban said.

“They are in good health.”

A German and an Italian citizen were kidnapped from their house in Multan on January 19, according to local officials.

The foreigners reportedly work for an aid group, Welthungerhilfe, which helped victims of the devastating 2010 floods. They have been identified as German national Bernd Johannes, 70, and Italian national Giovanni, 24.

Bernd had arrived in Multan on January 11, while Giovanni arrived on January 17 from Islamabad.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to enhance cooperation

2012-02-11T04:47:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday decided to further enhance and promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in trade, defence, technical education and other sectors.

Gilani and Rajapaksa, who is in Pakistan on a three-day visit, held talks at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. Their one-on-one meeting was follow by delegation level talks.

In his remarks, Gilani emphasised on the need for exploring the true potential of trade between the two countries. He said that the commonality of views on different international and regional issues was the hallmark of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan president said that his country was looking forward to the expansion of trade and economic ties with Pakistan.

Three MoUs signed

The two countries also signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at the Prime Minister House today.

The first MoU was for cooperation in media and was signed by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on behalf of Pakistan and Minister for External Affairs Prof. GL Peiris on behalf of Sri Lanka.

The second MoU was signed for the credit of $200 million for improving Pakistan’s exports to Sri Lanka, and the third was signed for enhancing cooperation in technical training in different fields.

We don’t need power without people’s support: Gilani

2012-02-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

FAISALABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that those who have been talking about bringing a change and revolution in the country have not been given opportunity by the people so far.

Addressing a public rally in Jaranwala( Faisalabad) on Saturday, the prime minister said those who talk about taking three wickers on a single ball had not rendered as much sacrifices as the PPP did.

“Our aim is to serve the people of Pakistan, doesn’t matter we remain in power or not,” Gilani said.

“Gone are the days when party workers used to sacrifice, now the leaders will render sacrifices,” the prime minister said.” We don’t need government which is not given by masses.”

The prime minister said that former prime minister and PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto prefer to embrace gallows instead of compromising people’s right.

He said that when he was in jail he was asked to join dictatorial regime saying BB and Nawaz Sharif would not return to Pakistan. “But I didn’t surrender and said I don’t want such power which is not granted by people,”.

The prime minister said the office he held belonged to ZA Bhutto and BB.

He said that no government carried out such a huge development as compared to the PPP incumbent government.

Those deviating from court orders are destroying democracy: Nawaz Sharif

2012-02-11T04:11:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that the Pakistani nation is united to ensure the implementation of all court orders, and anyone who goes against the judiciary is a threat to democracy.

In a statement, Sharif said that the respect for court orders is crucial not only for democracy but also for the stability of constitutional institutions of the country.

He added that the country is going through several internal and external dilemmas all because of the people who choose to deviate from the country’s Constitution.

Paying tribute to the judiciary, the party leader said that the whole nation, as well as the political leaders, should be thankful to the judiciary for upholding the Constitution.

Hizbut Tahrir links: Court martial initiated against Brigadier Ali Khan

2012-02-11T04:09:00.001-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Security officials say the Pakistani army has started court martial proceedings against a brigadier and four other officers over suspected ties to a banned extremist group that has called for ousting the US-backed government.

Brig Ali Khan and the four officers were detained in May, 2011 on charges of links to the Hizb-ut-Tehrir group. Khan was working at the army’s headquarters near the capital Islamabad at the time of his arrest.

Two senior security officers said on Saturday the court martial started recently but did not provide any details. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Restoration of Supreme Court judges challenged in IHC

2012-02-11T04:08:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: An application has been filed in the Islamabad High Court, challenging restoration of deposed judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry.

According to reports, Advocate Shah Jahan on Saturday filed the application under article 99 of the Constitution, noting that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s order to restore judges was unconstitutional as there was no provision in the Constitution for restoring the deposed judges.

The application contended restoration of the judges under excutive order was in complete violation of the Constitution.

However, it was yet to be accepted or rejected for hearing by the court registrar.

It is to mention here that the SC judges were restored in 2009 after a prolonged struggle by lawyers political parties and civil society.

The plea comes at a time when the Supreme Court is all set to convict Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for not implementing its orders on NRO case on Monday.

Gilani putting system at stake for corruption: Imran Khan

2012-02-11T04:07:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Saturday said that he had temporarily suspended his “tsunami campaign” to organise his party, FTNews reported.

Speaking to reporters at the Karachi Airport, the former-cricketer-turned-politician said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was putting the lives of the country’s 70 million poor at stake for the sake of President Asif Ali Zardari. The prime minister is risking the entire system to conceal a one person’s theft, said Imran.

“Over 70 million Pakistanis are living under the poverty line because of corruption. The government and its accomplices are responsible for over Rs 8.5 trillion in corruption in the past four year,” he added.

Corruption and tax theft are Pakistan’s biggest problems, said the PTI chief, adding that the country could become prosperous if only corruption and tax evasion were controlled.

Imran said that the PTI aims to make Balochistan a part of Pakistan again, and that addressing the grievances of the Baloch was their top priority.

PML (Like-minded) elects new office bearers

2012-02-11T04:05:00.001-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League (Like-minded) elected its new office bearers in a party convention on Saturday, FTNews reported.

The elected officers include Arbab Ghulam Rahim as unopposed president, Hamid Nasir Chattha as chairman of the party, Humanyun Akhtar as general secretary, and Salim Saifullah as chairman of the party’s steering committee.

Addressing the convention, Humanyun Akhtar stressed that all the institutions of the state should work within their own domains and should avoid conflicts among each other

Apologise to SC or resign, Qureshi urges PM

2012-02-11T04:04:00.000-08:00

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should either apologise to the Supreme Court or resign, FTNews reported.

Talking to the media representatives upon his arrival at the Jinnah International airport in Karachi, Qureshi said that premier should make an apology to the SC and write the letter to the Swiss authorities to resolve the issue once and for all.

On the issue of the interim government setup, the PTI leader said that his party shared the stance of with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) of taking all parties on board.

“Many parliamentarians are in contact with PTI on the care-taker issue,” the former foreign minister said.

“PTI wants transparent elections in the country and believes that this demand is the right of every Pakistani citizen” he added.

Balochistan briefing in NA next week

2012-02-11T04:02:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: Faced with heightened domestic and foreign concerns, the government promised on Friday to give its version of what is happening in Balochistan to the National Assembly next week.

The offer for a briefing came from Interior Minister Rehman Malik after two lawmakers from the province — one from the ruling party and the other from the opposition — warned of dire consequences if alleged excesses by security authorities were not checked and in the wake of a US congressional hearing about alleged human rights violations there.

Humayun Aziz Kurd of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), in his second speech on Balochistan within three days, blamed security agencies for the perceived failure of the present government’s efforts to bring peace to the country’s largest bust least populated province and said he could not understand “why the army is against talks” (with insurgents) and “why the army is not accepting us”.

And then, Yaqoob Bizenjo of the Balochistan National Party-A, who said “Balochistan is burning today” with murdered people belonging to all nationalities — Baloch, Pakhtuns, Sindhis, Punjabis — asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was present in the house, to state “whether you have any formula to bring peace there”.

While the prime minister preferred not to respond, the interior minister, who had made a statement about Balochistan earlier in the day in the Senate and promised a more detailed presentation to parliamentarians from the province next week, said he could give a similar briefing to the National Assembly, and agreed to a suggestion from Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi that a briefing to the lower house too be given next week.

But the minister repeated his condition that insurgents, who intensified their activities from their mountain hideouts after Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s killing in a 2006 military operation, must lay down arms before peace talks with them.

Mr Malik said nothing about Wednesday’s hearing by a subcommittee of the US House of Representatives in Washington where witnesses detailed alleged human rights violations, though the US government distanced itself from the event marked by talk of “self-determination” for the strategic province. But the issue had been agitated in the Senate on Thursday, with several senators accusing the United States of interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

The Supreme Court is also hearing a case about so-called “disappearances” of Baloch youths and nationalists mainly blamed on intelligence agencies.

In another development of the day, the government’s Constitution (Twentieth Amendment) Bill, which had been on the lower house agenda since the start of the present session on Feb 1 and had gripped national attention, quietly moved to the next week without any word about when exactly a new draft, possibly containing at least some of opposition demands, would be presented.

PPP chief whip Khursheed Ahmed Shah had told reporters on Thursday the matter would be taken to a special cabinet meeting “in a day or two” for possible approval of a new draft of the bill, which originally sought only validation of 28 by-elections to seats of both houses of parliament and provincial assemblies that were challenged before the Supreme Court for having been held when the Election Commission was not complete as required by the 18th Amendment, but which opposition says must include its amendments that it thinks will give more guarantees for future elections to be fair and free.

In the absence of an official announcement about calling the cabinet meeting, the deputy speaker, demonstrating an apparent fatigue over the issue, did not even repeat what he had been saying almost daily during the session that the bill was being deferred on the request of the minister in charge before adjourning the house until 5pm on Monday.