PAKISTAN PAPER NEWS

Islambad: NAB chief appointment: PM Nawaz suggests Justice (r) Ijaz Chaudhry’s name

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 06:57:00 +0000

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah met with the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif Saturday to discuss the appointment of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, however, no consensus was made on the nominations, Pakistan Paper News reported.

Karachi: Scores of Suspects Including Ransom-hunters Held In Karachi

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 06:56:00 +0000

KARACHI: The law enforces remained busy fighting crime on Friday night as well and held scores of more suspects including three ransom-hunters on top of rescuing an abducted banker, Pakistan paper News reported.

Sources said that the police, during a general-holdup near Karachi Arts Council, randomly ordered a car to halt to seek identification of the passengers and the registration of the vehicle. Upon this the driver tried to break through the picket but was forced to bring the car to a screeching halt after seeing so many government guns pointing at him.
According to police it appeared that the occupants of the car also tried to put up an armed resistance but later decided otherwise. Allegedly they surrendered after a brief encounter.
Subsequent interrogation revealed that three of the four travelers were kidnappers, while the fourth one was an abductee, a manager of a local commercial bank, who they were moving to another place.
The arms laid down by the kidnappers and the car they were driving have been impounded.
The abducted banker was unhurt during the standoff.
According to details the kidnappers had so far hooked Rs600,000 as ransom from the banker’s family while they were demanding another Rs1.5 million for setting the snatched man free.
Another six of their accomplices were also copped later from Lasbela after the investigators succeeded in cracking the held kidnappers.
Moreover, the police, in Nazimabad No.3, booked two alleged outlaws who also surrendered firearms.
On the other hand Rangers extended their targeted-operation to Gulisan-e-Jauhar and North Karachi, which yielded around 12 suspects.

Karachi: DHA Karachi squatting on hundreds of acres of government land: DC

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 06:55:00 +0000

KARACHI: Deputy Commissioner (South), Mustafa Jamal Qazi, in a report submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, revealed that Defence Housing Authority (DHA) was squatting on hundreds of acres of land in Karachi, pakistan paper News reported.

According to sources privy to the matters, Qazi clearly mentioned in the report that the land in question had been leased to DHA without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) due to which Government of Sindh suffered losses worth billions of rupees.
The report further urged the court to ensure that government land was not leased to anyone sans the issuance of NOCs by the revenue department and collectorate of the concerned district.

Entertainment: 'Grand Theft Auto V' hits streets in brash debut

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:23:00 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO: Unabashedly brutal "Grand Theft Auto V" hits the streets Tuesday in a sequel that promises to enthrall fans of the blockbuster videogame franchise.
Rockstar Games spent five years crafting the new installment and the time has paid off for gamers, according to a slew of reviews giving the title top marks.
"GTA V has been worth the five-year wait," said computerandvideogames.com digital manager John Houlihan.

"You can really see the maturity in this version, the graphics look sensational -- it really is like being in a virtual copy of LA."
GTA V is set in a fictional city of Los Santos based on real-world Los Angeles and its nearby hills and beaches.
The videogame franchise has won legions of fans and cadres of critics with game play in which triumph depends on acts such as carjacking, gambling and killing.
Play in Grand Theft Auto games has included simulated sex with prostitutes and drunken driving. The latest version is said by reviewers to be rife with more of the same, along with profanity-packed dialog.
"GTA is essentially the 'Sopranos' of videogames," Tech Savvy analyst Scott Steinberg said, making a reference to a hugely popular US cable television series centered on Mafia characters.
"Everyone talks about the series as violent, but compared to what you are seeing in the movies and on television GTA is relatively tame. Certainly, it is a mature game for mature audiences, and should be consumed accordingly."
GTA V is billed by the New York City-based videogame publisher as the "largest and most ambitious" title to date in the franchise that has sold more than 114 million copies since its debut in 1997.
"Grand Theft Auto V builds on everything we've learned about open world gaming," said Rockstar founder Sam Houser.
Versions of "GTA V" for play on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 videogame consoles or personal computers powered by Windows software will launch worldwide Tuesday in respective time zones.
There were reports on Monday that Amazon accidentally delivered copies of the videogame to lucky gamers in Britain who had placed early orders online.
Midnight release events were planned at shops in an array of countries to let GTA lovers snap up the game the instant Tuesday arrives.
"This really is a blockbuster that almost dwarfs the movies in some way," Houlihan told AFP.
"GTA V is really a cultural phenomenon. You'll find people tonight queueing around the block to play it, people taking days if not the whole week off work to explore this vast virtual world."
Houlihan said it was rumored that the production budget for the game was in the vicinity of $270 million.
The franchise's appeal is fueled by captivating story lines and an open-world format that lets players go wherever they wish in game worlds.
"It gives you a complete virtual playground to go and explore," Houlihan said.
"You can rob banks or you can do a yoga lesson or you can fly a plane or you can play tennis or you can do what I sometimes do which is just wander round the world in a really flashy car and listen to some of the hilarious radio stations -- so there really is everything for you to explore, it's a world of possibility."
The game will also let people play with or against one another online.
Rockstar, which is owned by Take-Two Interactive, said that GTA V "focuses on the pursuit of the almighty dollar" in a re-imagined Southern California.
Grand Theft Auto IV blew away videogame and Hollywood records by raking in an unprecedented $500 million in the week after its release in April 2008.
"GTA is the 10-ton gorilla of videogame franchises," Steinberg said. "Obviously, this is going to help kickstart the holiday season for the videogame industry, which has taken a beating."

IRAQ: Iraq car bombings kill 6

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:20:00 +0000

BAGHDAD: Three car bombings in Iraq killed at least six people and wounded 45 on Wednesday, security and medical officials said.

Two car bombs exploded in central Baghdad, killing four and wounding 15, and in Tuz Khurmatu on the edge of Iraqi Kurdistan two people were killed and 30 wounded when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle.
In Mosul, also in northern Iraq, four soldiers were wounded in another explosion. On Tuesday, at least 34 people were killed in Iraq, among them 26 by a wave of car bombs in the capital.

Iran: Iran 'never' to seek nuclear weapon: President Rowhani

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:19:00 +0000

TEHRAN: Iran will never seek nuclear weapons, newly elected President Hassan Rowhani vowed Wednesday, as he reached out to longtime enemy the United States.

In a US television interview days before he travels to New York for the UN General Assembly, Rowhani praised US President Barack Obama for taking a "positive" approach toward Tehran in a letter.
"Under no circumstances would we seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, nor will we ever," Rowhani told NBC News.
"We have never pursued or sought a nuclear bomb, and we are not going to do so," he said, according to the US network.
Rowhani repeated Iran's position that the clerical state -- suffering from US-led sanctions following sensitive uranium work -- was solely "looking for peaceful nuclear technology."
Rowhani, considered more moderate than his rivals, swept to power in June on promises to help repair Iran's economy and to ease tensions with the West.
His stance has been met alternately with cautious optimism and skepticism in Washington, where experts note that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ultimately controls foreign policy.
Rowhani told NBC News: "In its nuclear program, this government enters with full power and has complete authority."
"The problem won't be from our side," he was quoted as saying. "We have sufficient political latitude to solve this problem."
Asked about Rowhani's interview, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he was "glad" to hear his remarks and that Obama had always been "willing to talk."
"But I think the next step here is let's see how Iran's actions match their words," Hagel told the "PBS Newshour" on public television.
Obama recently acknowledged that he exchanged letters with Rowhani. The United States and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the Western-oriented shah.
In an interview Tuesday, Obama pledged to test the "opportunity here for diplomacy."
"I hope the Iranians take advantage of it. There are indications that Rowhani, the new president, is somebody who is looking to open dialogue with the West and with the United States -- in a way that we haven't seen in the past," Obama told Spanish-language network Telemundo.
The White House has played down chances of Obama meeting Rowhani at the UN General Assembly, while not completely ruling it out.
At the very least, Rowhani is virtually certain to project a different image at the UN than his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was known for his harsh denunciations of Israel and questioning of the Holocaust.
Ahead of the UN visit, Iran on Wednesday freed prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and several other political prisoners, winning cautious praise from the West.
Rowhani, in the interview to NBC News, said that Obama's letter was "positive and constructive."
"I believe the leaders in all countries could think in their national interest and they should not be under the influence of pressure groups," he said, in a possible allusion to the pro-Israel lobby in the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Rowhani as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and threatened military action to prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb.
Despite the flirtation between Iran and the United States, the two countries are at loggerheads over Syria's bloody civil war.
Rowhani was cautious when asked whether Obama looked weak by shelving a threatened strike on Syria over President Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.
"Any government or administration that decides to wage a war, we consider a weakness. And any government that decides on peace, we look on it with respect to peace," Rowhani told NBC News.
Iran's Shiite regime counts Assad -- a secular leader from the heterodox Alawite sect -- as its closest regional ally. The rebels enjoy support from Sunni Arab monarchies Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Obama put off a strike on Syria after Russia and the United States reached a plan under which Assad agreed to hand over chemical weapons. (AFP)

Sri Lanka: Ford to step down as Sri Lanka Coach

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:18:00 +0000

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will seek a new coach after South African Graham Ford declined to extend his two-year term beyond January, cricket officials said on Wednesday.

"The national coach has indicated of his unavailability to continue after his contract expires in January 2014," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

"He has taken this decision consequent to the discussions he had with his family on the options given by Sri Lanka Cricket."

Ford, 52, who made known his decision to step down earlier this month, had been requested by the Sri Lankan board to reconsider after being offered undisclosed options.

Ford's last assignment with Sri Lanka will be a series of three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in December.

Ford, a former South Africa coach who replaced Australian Pakiff Marsh in early 2012, has been linked to the vacant coaching position with English county side Surrey.

Under Ford, Sri Lanka were runners-up to the West Indies in the World Twenty20 in 2012 and also won a home Test series against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will need to have a new coach in place before the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in February. The next World Twenty20 is also due to be held in Bangladesh in March-April.

India: Hyderabad Knock Out Faisalabad To Reach Main Stage

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:17:00 +0000

MOHALI: Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their strong form with their batting and bowling both to beat Faisalabad Wolves by seven wickets here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing 128, Hyderabad completed their victory losing three wickets with 15 balls remaining.
Earlier, winning the toss, they put Faisalabad into bat and restrict them to 127 for five wickets in 20 overs.
Faisalabad relied on their captain Misbah-ul-Haq again, who top-scored with an unbeaten 56.
Sunrisers were given another strong start by Parthiv Patel and Shikhar Dhawan and even though they were dismissed, Sunrisers cruised home with ease.
With that Faisalabad are out of the CLT20 and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Otago Volts are through to the main stage. The remaining dead rubbers will be played on Friday.

Rome: Messi Scores Hat-trick, Barca Win

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:16:00 +0000

ROME: Lionel Messi scored a hat trick as Barcelona opened its Champions League campaign with a dominant 4-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday.

At the Camp Nou, Messi scored his 60th, 61st and 62nd career goals in his 80th Champions League match.
“Barcelona is full of individual talents,” Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said. “Today we can talk about Messi and Valdes, another day Xavi or Neymar. It is normal that one of them rises to the occasion.”
Messi, the four-time FIFA world player of the year, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after he was fouled on the edge of Ajax’s area, then stepped up to fire in a perfect-placed free kick.
The Argentina forward doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 55th by hitting on the break when Ajax was caught looking for the equalizer.
Neymar, on his European debut, set up Gerard Pique to add Barcelona’s third goal in the 69th before Messi completed his hat trick in the 75th.
Messi’s treble leaves him nine goals short of Raul Gonzalez’s all-time record of 71.

Karachi: Karachi Police, Rangers Nab 21 Suspects Including Target-Killer

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:15:00 +0000

KARACHI: The law enforcement agents have rounded up at least 21 suspects including an alleged target-killer from different seedy parts of city on Wednesday night, Pakistan News reported.

According to reports the police and Rangers conducted separate targeted operations which resulted in the arrests and recovery of weapons, ammo, loot, and narcotics.
A breakup shows that police booked around 12 suspects whereas the paramilitary troops nailed nine alleged outlaws.
The sources added that the alleged target-killer, who was apprehended in Pak Colony, is said to have ties with a political party.
The raids were conducted in Federal B-Area, Esaa Goth, Shah Faisal Colony, Baloch Colony, Gulshan-e-Ghazi, Liaquatabad, Pak Colony etc.

Islamabad: Pervez Musharraf Attack Accused Rana Faqir acquitted

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:13:00 +0000

RAWALPINDI: The special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has acquitted accused Rana Faqir Hussain in the Pervez Musharraf attack case on the grounds of insufficient evidence against the accused.

Rana Faqir Hussain was arrested on Dec 8 2005. He was taken into custody along with his 13 family members, including a six-month-old baby.
He was accused of being part of a suicide bombing which took place on Dec 25 2003 aimed at former president Pervez Musharraf at Jhanda Chichi. 22 people including four policemen were killed in the attack.
He was also accused of parking his vehicle laden with explosives at a petrol pump in front of Civil Line police station.
Counsel of Faqir Hussain Col (retd) Inam Al Rahim advocate had prayed before the court that his client be acquitted as despite the passage of seven years the prosecution has failed to present any solid evidence against his client and neither any charges have been proven in the court.
ATC court Judge Ch Habibur Rehman acquitted Rana Faqir Hussain of all charges and ordered his immediate release.
It is, however, learnt that Rana Faqir has refused to be released until provided with security. He feared that he would be picked up by the agencies.

Karachi: SC Resumes Karachi Law And Order Case Hearing

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:12:00 +0000

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Thursday resumed hearing Karachi unrest case where the Chief Secretary Sindh has submitted a report pertaining to the steps taken to restore peace in the business hub, Pakistan News reported.

A five-bench larger bench of the SC headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing the case today.
Inspector General Sindh, Additional Inspector General Sindh, Director General of Sindh Rangers and Chief Secretary Sindh are also present in the hearing.
According to the report submitted by the Chief Secretary on behalf of the provincial government, Rangers are conducting the targeted operation in Karachi, however, the Sindh government is monitoring the action. Moreover, Rangers have been given control of one police station in five districts of the city.
The report further revealed that 1,357 accused involved in target killings, extortion and other crimes were arrested from September 5 to 16. While addressing the issue of weapon smuggling, the report stated that the Customs and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) lack coordination to control the situation, however, instructions to improve the coordination among the departments have been issued during a high level meeting.
In the last hearing, the apex court had appointed former Customs member Ramzan Bhatti to constitute a one-man fact-finding commission to look into the report with regard to smuggling of illegal arms into the country in shipping containers. The SC had ordered him to submit his report in seven days.
Sources told that Ramzan Bhatti has also submitted his report in this regard.
The SC, on Tuesday, had issued notices to the concerned parties including Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Senator Babar Khan Ghauri.
The concerned parties include Chief Secretary Sindh, Inspector General Sindh, Director General Sindh Rangers and Additional Chief Secretary. Also, MQM leader Babar Ghauri was notified on his request to become party in the case.
Babar Ghauri was of the view that DG Sindh Rangers should either prove his allegations or withdraw his statement by appearing in person in the court.
The authorities of Customs, Coast Guard and Maritime Security Agency had also been served with a notice to appear in today’s hearing.
The SC was scheduled to hear the Karachi law and order case on September 18 at the Karachi Registry, however, the proceedings were then set on September 19 due to change in the court’s schedule.

Slain Lyari Amn Committee Leader Zafar Baloch's Funeral Prayers Held : Pakistan karachi

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 06:09:00 +0000

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Najmi Alam, Abdul Qadir Patel and Provincial Minister for Kachi Abadi Javed Nagori besides large number of people attended the funeral.

Zafar Baloch, along with his bodyguard was killed in the limits of Kalakot police on Wednesday. Police and PAC leaders said after taking him to Lyari General Hospital, Zafar Baloch was moved to private hospital in critical condition.
Tension gripped Lyari and adjacent areas following the killing of Zafar Baloch.
SSP Fasal Bashir Memon said that heavy contingents of police and Rangers have been deployed in Lyari following the incident.
No arrests have been made so far.

Senators Want Civilian Control Over Agencies

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:58:00 +0000

ISLAMABAD: Senators from both treasury and opposition benches called on Monday for bringing the security apparatus and intelligence agencies under civilian and parliamentary control to improve the law and order situation in the country.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan triggered a debate on the issue of civil-military relationship when he admitted in the Senate that Saturday’s terrorist attacks on Ziarat Residency and Bolan Medical Complex in Quetta were result of “serious security lapse” and “lack of coordination” between security and law enforcement agencies.

The house was shocked to see the minister admitting that terrorists had managed to transport a huge quantity of explosives and arms in vehicles passing through a number of check-posts manned by the police, FC and even army personnel both in Ziarat and Quetta.

Chaudhry Nisar said that no-one could enter or leave hilly Ziarat without being checked by security personnel at limited entry and exit points.

He said there could be no heavier security presence in Quetta where checkposts had been set up every 100 yards and it was surprising how the terrorists managed to carry weapons and tonnes of explosive through these posts.

PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar welcomed the remarks of Chaudhry Nisar that the Balochistan issue was a manifestation of lack of coordination between civil and military authorities as a correct diagnosis and said the civil-military disconnect was indeed the root of the problem. He said parliament would support the interior minister in his efforts to address the issue.

Mr Babar informed the house that the previous PPP-led government had made numerous attempts to bring the country’s security agencies under the ambit of law.

Showing scepticism, the PPP senator said that he doubted that the PML-N government would succeed in doing so. But he offered complete cooperation to the interior minister and said that he was ready to tell Chaudhry Nisar why his party’s government had failed to make any progress and why its efforts remained fruitless.

Mr Babar said enforced disappearances, a core issue in Balochistan, had become complicated because of historical disconnect between civil and security establishment.

“To address the issue of missing persons, we need to bring the operation of state agencies under the ambit of legislation,” he said.

He said the National Assembly, the Senate, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and the Commission on Enforced Disappearances all had strongly pleaded for legislative oversight of the agencies. During hearing in the missing persons’ cases, the Supreme Court had also observed that there was a need for such legislation, he said.

PPP’s parliamentary leader Raza Rabbani said it appeared that the interior minister had apprehensions that terrorists were being “helped and abetted by some elements within the security apparatus”. He said the situation would not improve until the security apparatus was brought under the parliamentary and civil control.

PML-Q’s Mushahid Hussain said there were islands within the security system. “All (intelligence) agencies are islands itself. There is a need for coordination between intelligence agencies, be it the ISI, MI or the IB,” he added.

The PML-Q senator took exception to a recent reported statement of Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that the armed forces were prepared to thwart any aggression from India.

He said India didn’t need to show aggression as the country was facing a serious internal security threats resulting in the deaths of over 50,000 people.

He advised the interior minister to visit Sri Lanka to see how a country without having nuclear arms, without a big army and without the US support had crushed the most “ferocious” terrorism merely through the political will of the leadership.

Hafiz Hamdullah of the JUI-F questioned huge budgetary allocations for intelligence and security agencies after their repeated failure in preventing terrorism incidents in the country.

“Are we paying security agencies only to shower bullets in Fata and to create target killers?”

Kalsoom Parveen of the Balochistan National Party (A) said there were a number of reports in media hinting at the “involvement of agencies” in various terrorism-related incidents.

NA Session Mazari Calls Out Govt On Drone Attacks

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:54:00 +0000

SLAMABAD: During Tuesday’s session of the National Assembly, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) leader Dr Shireen Mazari drew the speaker’s attention to the issue of US drone attacks on Pakistani territory, DawnNews reported.

Mazari said drone attacks could not be responded to with mere protests, stressing that the government would have to adopt more significant measures. She said even the former Pakistan Peoples Party-led government protested against drone attacks.

The PTI leader directed a question to the assembly members as to what would be the stance of the government if the US refused to stop the attacks.

Responding to Mazari’s question, national security advisor and former finance minister, Sartaj Aziz, said Pakistan’s concerns on drone attacks had been conveyed to the US government through the foreign office.

He assured the assembly that strong protests would be held to increase the pressure, adding that if that did not work, the government would then turn to other means.

Moreover, Aziz said only one drone attack had been held on Pakistani soil since the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government took power.

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:53:00 +0000

Afghan forces take over security from Nato

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:53:00 +0000

KABUL: Afghan forces took control of security across the country on Tuesday, marking a major milestone as US-led combat troops prepare to withdraw after 12 years of fighting the Taliban.

Speaking at a military academy outside Kabul, President Hamid Karzai said the police and army were ready to take on insurgents, but a bomb in the city underlined persistent instability.

Three civilians were killed in the attack, which targeted a prominent lawmaker as his convoy travelled to parliament just before the handover ceremony began.

“Our security and defence forces will now be in the lead,” Karzai told Afghan and Nato officials at the event, the timing and location of which had been kept secret due to fears of a militant attack.

“From here, all security responsibility and all security leadership will be taken by our brave forces,” he said. “When people see security has been transferred to Afghans, they support the army and police more than before.”

Doubts remain over the ability of Afghan forces to thwart the Taliban, and the Nato military coalition will retain an important function in logistics and air support as well as in combat emergencies.

But Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that by taking the lead in security on Tuesday, Afghan forces were completing a five-stage transition process that began in March 2011.

“They are doing so with remarkable resolve,” he said. “Ten years ago, there were no Afghan national security forces... now you have 350,000 Afghan troops and police, a formidable force,” he said.

“We will continue to help Afghan troops in operations if needed, but we will no longer plan, execute or lead those operations, and by the end of 2014 our combat mission will be completed.”The handover of the last 95 districts from Nato to Afghan control includes areas in the south and east where the Taliban have concentrated their bloody insurgency since 2001.

As Afghan soldiers and police take over the fight against the militants, who were ousted from power after the 9/11 attacks, the 100,000 Nato troops will focus on training and mentoring roles.

But recent attacks have demonstrated the Taliban's ability to strike at Kabul as the country prepares for presidential elections next year and the Nato withdrawal by the end of 2014.

Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, a leader of the ethnic Hazara minority who is likely to play a key role in April's presidential vote, was unhurt in Tuesday's bomb attack but his clothes were burnt.

“Four of my guards are wounded and are in hospital,” he told AFP. “I was going to the parliament and it was near the office of the Independent Human Rights Commission.

“I heard a big explosion on the side of the car. Only my cloak is a little burned, other than that I'm fine.” The lawmaker said that he had been threatened. “The intelligence agency was sending letters that I should be careful. There was a threat against me. I was rarely going to the parliament.”

Mohammad Zahir, the police investigations chief in Kabul, told reporters at the scene that three civilians were killed and 24 others, including some guards, were wounded when the improvised explosive device detonated.

On Tuesday last week, a suicide car bomb killed 15 civilians outside the Supreme Court in Kabul. The previous day, gunmen fired grenades at the city airport and an international aid group's compound was targeted in a seven-hour battle late last month.

Despite the attacks penetrating the capital's defences, the effective response of elite Afghan security forces has been widely hailed as a sign of increasing professionalism.

Karzai used his speech to exhort the army to avoid civilian casualties, an issue that has often triggered anger aimed at Nato forces, and he stressed that foreign air strikes should not be called in when fighting the insurgents.

“Under no circumstances can Afghan civilians be hurt and/or the air force be used in our villages and residential areas – only in medical evacuations,” he said.

Doubts over the Afghan forces' capacity have been fuelled by high rates of desertion and fears for the future of foreign aid post-2014.

On Friday, the US commander of the Nato mission in Afghanistan warned that gains secured over the last 12 years would be lost if donor nations cut back support after the foreign withdrawal.

“We are not where we need to be yet,” US General Joseph Dunford told foreign journalists. “The continued presence of the international community politically, in development and in security is necessary to sustain the progress that we have made.”

سندھ بجٹ پیش؛ گریڈ 15 تک کے سرکاری ملازمین کی تنخواہوں میں 15 فیصد اضافہ

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:51:00 +0000

کراچی: آئندہ مالی سال کے لئے سندھ کا 617 ارب 21 کروڑ روپے سے زائد کا بجٹ پیش کردیا گیا ہے جس میں گریڈ ایک سے 15 تک کے سرکاری ملازمین کی تنخواہوں میں 15 فیصد اضافہ کیا گیا ہے جبکہ محکمہ پولیس کے لئے 48 ارب 63 کروڑ روپے مختص کئے گئے ہیں۔

سندھ اسمبلی میں آئندہ مالی سال کا بجٹ وزیر اعلیٰ سید قائم علی شاہ نے پیش کیا ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ملکی تاریخ میں پہلی بار ایک جمہوری حکومت سے دوسری جمہوری حکومت کو پر امن انتقال اقتدار ہوا اور وفاق اور پنجاب میں عوام نے میاں نواز شریف کو مینڈیٹ دیا لیکن سندھ کے عوام نے انتخابات میں پیپلز پارٹی کی پالیسیوں کو اہمیت دی، پاکستان کی ترقی سندھ کی ترقی سے مشروط ہے، پہلی ترجیح صوبے میں امن و امان قائم کرنا ہے اس کے علاوہ صوبائی حکومت صحت کے شعبے میں بھی سرمایہ کاری کرے گی۔ آئندہ مالی سال کے کئے تیار کئے گئے بجٹ کا مقصد سماجی اور معاشی ترقی کے اہداف حاصل کرنا ہے۔

قائم علی شاہ نے کہا کہ مالی سال 14-2013 کے لئے 617 ارب 21 کروڑ29 لاکھ روپے کے سالانہ بجٹ میں 21ارب63کروڑ روپے کا خسارہ ظاہر کیا گیا ہے، وفاق کی جانب سے قابل تقسیم محاصل میں سے سندھ کو 322 ارب روپے، صوبے کے وسائل سے 120 ارب جبکہ تیل اور گیس کی رائلٹی کی مد میں بھی رقم حاصل ہوگی، بجٹ میں غیر ترقیاتی اخراجات کا تخمینہ 315 ارب روپے جبکہ ترقیاتی منصوبوں کے لئے 229 ارب روپے مختص کئے گئے ہیں۔

نئے صوبائی بجٹ میں ایک سے 15 گریڈ تک کے سرکاری ملازمین کی تنخواہ میں 15 جبکہ 16 سے اوپر گریڈ کے ملازمین کی تنخواہوں میں 10 فیصد اضافہ کی تجویز دی گئی ہے اس کے علاوہ کم سے کم پنشن بھی بڑھا کر 6 ہزار روپے ماہانہ کردی گئی ہے، بجٹ میں ایک لاکھ 50 ہزار نئی ملازمتیں پیدا کرنے کا عندیہ دیا گیا ہے جبکہ پولیس میں 20 سے 40 ہزار نئے اہلکار بھرتی کئے جائیں گے، امن و امان کے قیام کے لئے 48 ارب 63 کروڑ روپے جبکہ تعلیم کے لئے 110 ارب روپے، ملیریا، ڈینگی، ہیپاٹائٹس اور دیگر امراض کے سدباب کے لئے 13 ارب 56 کروڑ روپے، آئی ٹی کے لئے ایک ارب 4 کروڑ، گورنر سیکریٹریٹ کی آرائش کے لئے 10 کروڑ 70 لاکھ، محکمہ جنگلات کے لئے 95 کروڑ اور پولیس کے ترقیاتی کاموں کے لئے ایک ارب، محکمہ ایکسائز کے لئے 24 ارب، محکمہ خوراک کے لئے 50 کروڑ روپے تجویز کئے گئے ہیں۔

مالی سال برائے 14-2013 کے بجٹ میں تھر کول منصوبے کے لئے 32 ارب روپے جبکہ ڈسٹری بیوشن کمپنیوں کے لئے11 ارب روپے تجویز کئے گئے ہیں،غریب گھرانوں کی مالی اعانت کے منصوبے بے نظیر انکم سپورٹ پروگرام کے لئے 2 ارب روپے، صوبے بھر میں کم آمدنی والے افراد کے لئے نئی رہائشی اسکیمیں بنائی جائیں گے جبکہ شہری علاقوں میں 50 ہزار پلاٹ دیئے جائیں گے۔

ایم کیو ایم کا سندھ حکومت میں شمولیت کیلئے 20 جون کو ریفرنڈم کرانے کا فیصلہ

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:50:00 +0000

کراچی: ایم کیو ایم نے سندھ حکومت میں شمولیت کے لئے 20 جون کو ریفرنڈم کرانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔

ایکسپریس نیوز کے مطابق ایم کیو ایم رابطہ کمیٹی نے اس بات کی تصدیق کی ہے کہ متحدہ قومی موومنٹ کے تحت سندھ حکومت میں شمولیت کے حوالے سے ریفرنڈم کا انعقاد 20 جو کو ہوگا جس میں ملک بھر کے عوام سے سندھ حکومت میں شمولیت کے حوالے سے رائے لی جائے گی۔

واضح رہے کہ پیپلز پارٹی کے وفد نے رحمان ملک کی قیادت میں ایم کیوایم کے مرکز نائن زیرو کا دورہ کرکے متحدہ قومی موومنٹ کو سندھ حکومت میں شمولیت کی باضابطہ دعوت دی تھی جس کے بعد گزشتہ روز ایم کیوایم کے قائد الطاف حسین نے اپنے خطاب کے دوران رابطہ کمیٹی کو سندھ حکومت میں شمولیت کے لئے 3 دن کے اندر ملک گیر ریفرنڈم کرانے کی ہدایت کی۔

Swiss Reply To Zardari Cases Will Be Opened Today

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:40:00 +0000

ISLAMABAD: The Swiss government’s response to the letter written by the government of Pakistan following the apex court’s order in the NRO will be opened today.

Credible law ministry sources revealed that the law minister Zahid Hamid would open the letter on Tuesday which would make it clear whether cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and others could be re-opened or stand expired.

The source added, that recently the Pakistani mission in Switzerland was approached by the caretaker government to seek a reply from the Swiss authorities on the letter written by the PPP government.

The source confirmed, that the Swiss government's reply has arrived at the law ministry.

The PPP law minister Farooq H Naek had claimed that the Swiss authorities had dropped the cases according to their own laws, and not in accordance with immunity under the Pakistani laws.

However, the law ministry during the caretaker government did not receive any formal communication from the Swiss authorities in this respect. The law ministry could only find in its official record the letter written to the Swiss authorities following the SC’s order in the NRO implementation case. The ministry’s files do not contain any response to this letter by the Swiss authorities.

After finding no reply from the Swiss authorities, the law ministry during the caretaker regime, asked the country’s ambassador in Switzerland to contact the concerned Swiss officials for their response to Islamabad’s communication.

Recently, the ambassador informed the law ministry that he has received the latter, which was then immediately dispatched to Islamabad.

On Monday, though the ministry of law received the sealed envelope, it was not opened and has been marked to the law minister who is expected to see it on Tuesday. Farook H Naek during his tenure as law minister spoke about the cases to have been closed. On one occasion, he said ‘the cases’ have been dismissed and they (cases) could never be reopened in the future.

“Speaking to the media in connection with the letter sent to Pakistan by the Swiss authorities, Farooq H Naek said the concerned officials in Switzerland had disposed off the cases in accordance with their own law,” a media report read indicating the receipt of a letter that was never found by the law ministry after Naek’s departure.

Naek had clarified though that the letter from the Swiss authorities was not sent officially to Pakistan. On another occasion, while speaking on Capital Talk, Pakistan News, Naek had said the Swiss authorities dropped the cases according to their own laws, and not in accordance with immunity under the Pakistani laws.

تحریک انصاف اور قادری کے مقاصد ایک ہیں، عمران

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:14:00 +0000

سلام آباد: تحریک انصاف کے سربراہ عمران خان نے کہا کہ تحریک انصاف اور طاہرالقادری کا ایجنڈا مختلف تھا، طاہرالقادری نے مسائل کے حل کیلیے غلط راستے کا انتخاب کیا۔

اسلام آباد میں پریس کانفرنس کے دوران عمران خان نے طاہرالقادری نے جن مسائل کی نشاندہی کی تحریک انصاف ان کوپانچ سال عوام کےسامنے پیش کرتی رہی ہے تاہم ان مسائل کےحل کیلئے تحریک انصاف اور طاہرالقادری کا ایجنڈا مختلف تھا۔

انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم نے طاہر القادری کی جانب سے مسائل کی نشاندہی پر اتفاق کر لیا تھا تاہم طاہرالقادری نے ان کے حل کے لیے غلط راستےکا انتخاب کیا۔

عمران خان نےکہا کہ ہم نے حکومت کو پانچ سال برداشت کیا، اب اگر الیکشن کے قریب آتے ہی مارچ ممیں شرکت کرتے اور طاہرالقادری کی سوچ کےمطابق اسمبلیاں غیرآئینی طریقے سے جاتیں تو پی پی کو سیاسی شہادت مل جاتی اور تحریک انصاف ایسا کبھی نہیں کر سکتی تھی۔

انہوں نے دعویٰ کیا کہ صدر زرداری کی موجودگی میں شفاف انتخابات نہیں ہوسکتےاور ایک بار پھر اپنے سابقہ موقف کو دہراتے ہوئے صدر زرداری سے استعفیٰ دینے کا مطالبہ کر دیا۔

چیئرمین تحریک انصاف نے آئندہ انتخابات کے سے بائیکاٹ کے امکان کو رد کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ پی ٹی آئی آئندہ انتخابات میں بھرپور شرکت کرے گی کیونکہ یہ انتخابات ملکی تاریخ کے اہم ترین انتخابات ہوں گے۔

تحریک انصاف کے سربراہ کا کہنا تھا کہ آنے والے الیکشن ملک میں انقلاب لانے کا ذریعہ ثابت ہوں گے اور پی ٹی آئی اس میں بھرپور کامیابی حاصل کرے گی۔

Pakistan: Eyewitnesses Identify Prime Suspect In shahzeb murder case

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:12:00 +0000

KARACHI: Two witnesses on Saturday identified the main suspect accused in the murder of a 21-year-old Shahzeb Khan in Karachi, reported.
Shahrukh Jatoi had been arrested from Dubai and brought to Karachi two days ago, where police had extended the physical remand for Shahrukh and three other suspects till Jan 23.

He was produced before the court of a judicial magistrate for the identification parade on Saturday, where two witnesses identified him by as the perpetrator in Shahzeb’s killing.
Twenty-year-old Shahzeb, son of Deputy Superintendent of Police Aurangzeb Khan, was gunned down on the night between Dec 24 and 25 when he was returning home, along with his sister, after attending a wedding at the Country Club Apartments.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the murder.
Apart from Shahrukh, the other suspects in the case – Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur, 22, his brother Nawab Sajjad Ali Talpur, 21, and their servant Ghulam Murtaza Lashari, 23 – have been in police custody since Jan 7.
Shahrukh’s father, Sikandar Jatoi, who is known to be an influential businessman, was also previously arrested for allegedly helping his son flee the country. However, he was released after interrogation after police was unable to find solid evidence against him.
The apex court is scheduled to take up the case again on Jan 29.

Pakistan: Dr Tahir Qadri’s sit-in venue reveals a different reality

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:10:00 +0000

As the street cleaners descended on Jinnah Avenue to clear up the final remnants of the three-and-a-half-day ‘revolution’, another enigma remains: How does a man who has lived in Canada for seven years get thousands of Pakistanis to spend four nights on cold and wet streets?
In aerial shots of Qadri’s dharna, the protesters could come across as a grey and faceless mass, used by the Shaikh-ul-Islam to promote a dubious political agenda. But visits to the dharna site revealed a very different reality. Despite accusations that many were paid to turn up, this was no rent-a-crowd congregation.
Though the Blue Area masses might know that they have fallen far short of the revolution they were hoping for (or, perhaps, they had an un-revolutionary definition of revolution), this was a community of followers with legitimate frustrations.

Frustrations that were tapped, channelled and organised by a preacher whose solution was a removal of “corrupt politicians” on the basis of a distinct, Barelvi identity.
“Gas shortages, power outages, violence–this is all because of corrupt leaders. We need to remove them, and create a people’s government,” said Muhammad Ismail Gujjar from Mansehra. “He’s going to bring a revolution, that will make it easier for the common man.”
Gujjar is a retired government bureaucrat, and was a common sight in the sea of men and women who sat wrapped in thick shawls or blankets. Conversations with two dozen protesters only provides an initial insight into the crowd’s demographics, but it is telling that all save one was without a job. Though unemployment, or the threat of it, is a real concern in this group, the jobs that they held or aspired to hold revealed much about their solidly lower-middle or middle class backgrounds. They worked as drivers, teachers, civil servants, or small business owners, and many hailed from up—and-coming, second-tier cities like Multan, Sheikhupura and Bahawalpur, or semi-urban towns with basic health and educational facilities like Mandi Bahauddin in northern Punjab.
This is not a group scraping the bottom of the barrel–their children go to public, Islamic or cheaper private schools. The connection to formal institutions, some of them a part of the state, instilled the sort of Pakistaniat that is quintessentially middle class–the God-fearing patriot, that enjoys and aspires to the benefits of modern living, but stays in touch with its Muslim roots.
The ijtema comes to Islamabad
It does not look like anyone paid Amna Shehzadi to come to Islamabad. The 15-year-old schoolgirl takes after the preacher when she talks. “We are tired of the way things are, and we want a revolution. We are ready to sit here day and night until it comes,” says Shehzadi.
Shehzadi is not a member of Minhaj-ul-Quran herself, but her mother is, and she goes to one of the organisation’s schools. And from the looks of it, a lot of people shared Shehzadi’s non-membership affiliation with Qadri’s organisation.
While many were not directly members of Minhaj-ul-Quran, it was difficult to find someone who had not been organised in their buses, or had some interaction with the many schools, hospitals, Quran circles, colleges or clinics that the charity organisation had set up.
According to its website, Minhaj-ul-Quran has units at the tehsil and union council levels across all four provinces and Kashmir.
The units hold 250 monthly Irfan-ul-Quran meetings with scholars from the organisation–an additional 150 are organised by the organisation’s Women’s League. The Minhaj Education Society has set up 572 schools and 72 colleges and IT centres educating 120,000 students with the help of 5000 teachers–alongside a chartered university in Lahore, the Minhaj University Lahore (MUL). It also has 3000 libraries, over 100 blood banks and free clinics, and a host of other initiatives across the country.
While the organisation only hints at Qadri’s ability to mobilise thousands, his annual Ijtemaee Itikaf (collective Itikaf) proves it.
“Over 40,000 men and women attend (…) in the sacred month of Ramazan at Township Lahore every year”, according to the website. Around the same number attended the dharna in Islamabad, with reports of 20 buses leaving single districts to transport protesters to the capital.
“There are a lot of people who think that Qadri has been completely absent from the scene in Pakistan. In some ways, that is an incorrect statement. He has been a political non-entity, but if you paid attention to religious programmes, you would have seen Qadri appearing 2-3 times a week on different TV programs,” says Aamir Mateen, a political analyst and journalist.
This made the move from spiritual organisation to political protest far smoother for Qadri. Mateen also believes that larger political parties have been failing to tap into Pakistan’s majority Barelvi Muslims, who have felt leaderless ever since the likes of Abdul Sattar Niazi or Maulana Shah Mehmood Noorani of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) passed away. The other Barelvi political organizations, like the Sunni Ittehad Council, “come across as too militant and too hardline for this group of supporters,” says Mateen. “Qadri managed to fill a vacuum – and with much success.”

نوازشریف: سیاست نہیں ریاست بچاﺅ کا نعرہ لگانے والے بمشکل عزت بچا کر واپس آئے‘ایک دوسرے کو گالیاں دینے والے اب اتحادی ہیں:

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:06:00 +0000

لاہور (خصوصی رپورٹر) پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن کے صدر محمد نواز شریف نے طاہر القادری کے حوالے سے کہا ہے کہ وہ ریاست بچانے گئے تھے مگر بڑی مشکل سے عزت بچا کر آئے ہیں۔ طاہر القادری وہاں حکومت کا تختہ الٹنے گئے تھے اور ان میں شامل ہو کر واپس آ گئے ہیں۔ کل تک ایک دوسرے کو گالیاں دینے والے اب آپس میں اتحادی بن گئے ہیں۔ حکومت گرانے کے لئے آنے والے حکومت کا حصہ بن کر چلے گئے۔ مسلم لیگ ن اور فنکشنل لیگ میں ذہنی ہم آہنگی ہے
، مل کر پاکستان کو مسائل سے نجات دلائیں گے۔ آج اگر حکومت عدالت کے احکامات نہیں مانے گی تو قانو ن اور آئین کی حکمرانی کس طرح قائم رہ سکتی ہے۔ کرپشن کیخلاف سرجیکل آپریشن ناگزیر ہو چکا، محب وطن اور کرپشن سے پاک سیاست دانوں کیلئے مسلم لیگ ن کے دروازے ہمیشہ کھلے ہیں مسلم لیگ ایسے سیاست دانوں کو خوش آمدید کہے گی جو کرپشن کیخلاف ہیں اور عوام کی خدمت پر یقین رکھتے ہیں۔ فنکشنل لیگ کے سربراہ پیر پگاڑا نے وفد کے ساتھ رائیونڈ میں شریف برادران سے ملاقات کی، جس کے بعد مشترکہ پریس کانفرنس میں نواز شریف نے کہا کہ مسلم لیگ ن اور فنکشنل لیگ میں ذہنی ہم آہنگی ہے مل کر پاکستان کو مسائل سے نجات دلائیں گے۔ سندھ کی تقسیم کسی صورت قبول نہیں۔ نواز شریف نے کہا کہ ڈاکٹر طاہر القادری کا پیپلز پارٹی سے اتحاد ہو چکا ہے، حکومت کا تختہ الٹانے والے خود حکومت میں شامل ہو گئے۔ طاہر القادری کا 4 نکاتی پروگرام پہلے ہی آئین میں موجود ہے۔ اسلام آباد میں کل صرف م±ک م±کا ہوا اور کچھ نہیں۔ ڈاکٹر طاہر القادری کا پیپلز پارٹی سے اتحاد ہو چکا ہے۔ ریاست ریاست کرنے والے صرف سیاست کرنے گئے تھے، طاہر القادری کے پیچھے کونسا مہرہ ہے جو الیکشن کو سبوتاژ کر کے فائدہ اٹھانا چاہتا ہے، نگران وزیراعظم پر مشاورت کے لئے چودھری نثار کو ہدایات جاری کر دی ہیں۔ پیر پگاڑا سے بھی نگران وزیراعظم پر مشاورت کی جائے گی۔ صوبوں میں بھی نگران حکومت پر مشاورت ہونی چاہئے۔ ملک کو تباہ کرنے والوں کے خلاف مل کر اکٹھے چلیں گے۔ سندھ میں لوکل باڈی آرڈیننس سے دوہرا معیار کھل کر سامنے آیا۔ سندھ کی تقسیم کبھی قبول نہیں کرینگے۔ صوبوں میں نگران حکومت کے لئے بھی مشاورت ہونی چاہیئے۔ نوازشریف نے کہا کہ پاکستان کی بقاءطاقتور صدر نہیں مضبوط پارلیمانی جمہوری نظام سے وابستہ ہے۔ بروقت اورشفاف انتخابات سے جمہوریت کو تقویت ملے گی، پیپلزپارٹی نے عوام کو ریلیف دیا اور نہ کوئی سہولت دی تو پھر وہ اسے ووٹ کیوں دیں گے۔ مہذب ملکوں میں افراد نہیں قومی اداروں کو مضبوط بنایا جاتا ہے اور قومی اداروں کی مضبوطی کیلئے آئین وقانون کی حکمرانی قائم کرنا ہوگی۔ پیر صاحب پگاڑا میرے بھائی کی فاتحہ کے لئے آئے، وہ دوبارہ آنے کا ارادہ رکھتے ہیں میں بھی ان کے پاس حاضر ہوں گا۔ ہمارے درمیان قومی سطح پر ہونے والی پیشرفت پر گفتگو ہوئی ہے ہمارے درمیان قومی معاملات پر مکمل ہم آہنگی پائی گئی ہے۔ ہم مل کر پاکستان تباہ کرنے والوں اور غاصبوں سے بچائیں گے۔ سندھ میں جتنی بدحالی اور مسائل ہیں ہم مل کر دور کریں گے جس سے سندھ بلکہ پورے ملک کو فائدہ پہنچے گا۔ سندھ میں عوام کی بری حالت ہے، آفت آنے پر وہاں ان کو کوئی پوچھنے والا نہیں۔ بیروزگاری بے پناہ ہے، ملازمتیں فروخت کی جاتی ہیں، میرٹ نام کی کوئی چیز نہیں۔ سیلاب کی تباہی سے بدحال لوگوں کو کوئی نہیں پوچھتا۔ متاثرہ افراد کو پیسے موجود ہونے کے باوجود تین سال تک چیک نہیں ملتے۔ سڑکیں ٹوٹی پھوٹی ہیں، سکولوں میں استاد نہیں، زرداری نے ملک کے لئے کیا کرنا تھا انہوں نے سندھ کیلئے بھی کچھ نہیں کیا۔ لوکل باڈیز سسٹم سے سندھ کو تقسیم کی بنیاد رکھ دی گئی ہے جس پر سندھ کی اکثریت نے احتجاج کیا ہے۔ ہم نے احتجاج کا بھرپور ساتھ دیا ان لوگوں نے صوبوں کی تقسیم کا پنڈورا بکس کھولنے کی کوشش کی تاکہ ووٹ زیادہ مل سکیں۔ ہمیں سیاست سے زیادہ ملک عزیز ہے، ہم سندھ کی تقسیم کبھی قبول نہیں کرینگے۔ سندھ میں غربت ہے، غریبوں کے بچوں کا ریاست کو مفت علاج کرنے کا بندوبست کرنا چاہئے۔ طاہر القادری حکومت کا تختہ الٹانے گئے تھے اور ان میں شامل ہو کر واپس آئے ہیں۔ میں نے پہلے ہی کہا تھا کہ ”پلے نہیں دھیلا کردی میلہ میلہ“ اس موقع پر غلام مرتضیٰ جتوئی نے کہا کہ محب وطن قوتوں کو اکٹھا ہو کر پاکستان کو مشکلات سے نکالنا پڑے گا۔ ہم سندھ میں اتحاد میں شامل ہیں۔ حکمران اتحاد سے ہم نے علیحدگی اختیار کر لی ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پیپلز پارٹی کے خلاف اتحاد کی صورت میں الیکشن لڑینگے۔ نوازشریف نے اپوزیشن جماعتوں کے وسیع تر اتحاد کے قیام کے حوالے سے سوال کے جواب میں کہا کہ جاتی عمرہ میں ہونے والا اجلاس اور اس کا مشترکہ اعلامیہ اتحاد کی شکل ہے۔ مسلم لیگ فنکشنل اس میں شامل تھی۔ آج پیر صاحب پگاڑا نے ذاتی طور پر بھی اس کی توثیق کی ہے۔ ہم یہ اتحاد مضبوط کرینگے۔ ڈاکٹر طاہر القادری جن دو ”بندوں“ کے نام دیں گے اپوزیشن ان کو دیکھے گی، اپوزیشن بھی نام دے گی، ایک سوال کے جواب میں انہوں نے کہا کہ ”مولانا (طاہر القادری) اور پیپلز پارٹی کا اتحاد ہو چکا ہے“ کل گالیاں بک رہے تھے پھر کس طرح گلے ملے ساری قوم نے دیکھا۔ مک مکا قبول نہیں کرینگے۔ بالخصوص سندھ کسی نے اپنا اپوزیشن لیڈر کھڑا کرنے کی کوشش کی تو اسے مسترد کر دیں گے۔ نواز شریف نے کہا کہ طاہر القادری انتخابی اصلاحات کے لئے لانگ مارچ کرنے گئے وہاں 11 بجے کی ڈیڈ لائن دی اور قومی و صوبائی اسمبلیوں سمیت حکومتیں ختم ہو چکیں کا اعلان کر دیا اور الیکشن کمشن کو تحلیل کرنے کی بات کی، میں پوچھتا ہوں وہ سارے مطالبات کہاں گئے، ایک اور سوال کے جواب میں انہوں کہا کہ قومی اسمبلی 16 مارچ کو تحلیل ہو یا 8 مارچ کو ہم نے ان سے پہلے اپنے اعلامیہ میں اس کا مطالبہ کیا تھا۔ پیر پگاڑا نے کہا کہ نواز شریف نے کہا ہے کہ آپ سب کو ساتھ لے کر چلیں ہمیں ایک دوسرے کے نزدیک ہونا پڑے گا۔ اس وقت سندھ کی صورتحال انتہائی خطرناک ہے ، لوکل باڈیز آرڈیننس پر ہماری بات نہیں سنی گئی۔ نواز شریف نے ہمیں ہمیشہ عزت دی۔ تمام مسلم لیگیں اکٹھی ہو جائیں تو میرے کندھوں سے بوجھ اتر جائے گا۔ میاں صاحب نے اپوزیشن کو اکٹھا کر کے اچھا کام کیا، بغیرکسی لالچ کے میاں صاحب کے ساتھ چلیں گے۔ نوازشریف کے بھائی کے انتقال پرتعزیت کے لئے یہاں آیا تھا،نوازشریف کی ساتھ جو بھی بات ہوئی ملک کیلئے ضروری ہے ، نظر آرہا ہے کہ صدرزرداری وفاق میں حکومت نہیں بنا سکیں گے، صدر آصف زرداری نے سندھ کے عوام کو نہیں سنا، فیڈریشن کمزور ہو گی تو ملک کمزور ہو گا ، ہمیں ایک دوسرے کے قریب آناہوگا،میاں صاحب کو بتایا ہے کہ سندھ کی صورتحال سب سے زیادہ خطرناک ہے، 1970 کے انتخابات میں اتنے برے حالات نہیں تھے جتنے آج ہیں۔ ہم نے اصولوں پرحکومت چھوڑی اوراصولوں پرقائم رہیں گے، سندھ پیپلزبلدیاتی آرڈیننس کومستردکرتے ہیں۔کالا باغ ڈیم کے حوالے سے انہوں نے کہا کہ کس کتاب میں لکھاہے کہ صرف کالاباغ ڈیم ہی بنایاجائے، ڈیم پانی ذخیرہ کرنے کے لئے ہوتا ہے یہ ذخیرہ صرف کالا باغ ڈیم میں ہی ذخیرہ نہیں ہوگا دیگر ڈیموں میں بھی پانی ذخیرہ کیا جا سکتا ہے، کالاباغ ڈیم کاباب بندہوچکاتھا،اب پھراس مردہ گھوڑے میں جان ڈالنے کی کوششیں کی جا رہی ہیں۔ سندھ کی تقسیم کسی بھی شکل میں قبول نہیں کی جائے گی۔ وفاق پاکستان کو کمزور کرنے کی تمام سازشوں کو ناکام بنا دیا جائے گا۔ پیر صاحب پگاڑا اور مرتضیٰ جتوئی گزشتہ روز جاتی عمرہ رائے ونڈ نواز شریف، شہباز شریف کے چھوٹے بھائی عباس شریف کی وفات پرتعزیت کے لئے آئے تھے۔ تعزیت اور فاتحہ کے بعد ان کے درمیان سیاسی صورت حال، آنے والے الیکشن کے حوالے سے گفتگو ہوئی، پیر صاحب پگاڑا سید صبغتاللہ شاہ راشدی اور مرتضیٰ جتوئی کے ساتھ پیر صدر الدین راشدی، ملک غلام مصطفے کھر، امتیاز شیخ، سلطان محمود خان ایڈووکیٹ، شیخ انور سعید، خدا بخش راجڑ، قاسم سومرو اور سید ضیا رضوی تھے۔ نواز شریف کے ساتھ شہباز شریف، چودھری نثار علی خان، سید غوث علی شاہ، لیاقت جتوئی، سردار ذوالفقار کھوسہ، ممنون حسین، سلیم ضیائ، امداد چانڈیو، سینیٹر پرویز رشید، راجہ اشفاق سرور اور ڈاکٹر آصف کرمانی موجود تھے۔ پیر پگاڑا نے کہا کہ پاکستان وفاق ہے اگر ایک صوبے میں کمی بیٹی ہو تو اس کا وفاق پاکستان کو نقصان پہنچتا ہے۔ سندھ میں لوکل گورنمنٹ آرڈیننس سندھ کی آواز نہیں ہے۔ آئندہ الیکشن میں زرداری مرکز اور پنجاب، خیبر پی کے، بلوچستان میں حکومت نہیں بنا سکیں گے۔ سندھ میں سخت میچ پڑے گا۔ پیپلز پارٹی نے سندھ میں چارپانچ افراد کے ٹولے کے کہنے پر لگ کر لوکل گورنمنٹ آرڈیننس نافذ کیا سندھ کے تمام طبقات اس کے خلاف ہیں۔ اس سے اندازہ لگایا جا سکتا ہے کہ پیپلز پارٹی کوسندھ میں آئندہ حکومت ملی تو وہ کونسا کھیل کھیلیں گے۔ پیر پگاڑا نے نواز شریف کے دو دن قبل بلائے گئے اپوزیشن جماعتوں کے اجلاس کو سراہتے ہوئے کہا کہ وفاق پاکستان اور جمہوریت کو بچانے کے لئے ہم س بکو نیک نیتی سے مل کر چلنا ہو گا۔ ایک دوسرے کے ساتھ کوئی گلے شکوے ہیں تو ملک کی خاطر انہیں بھلانا ہو گا۔ 1970ءکے الیکشن کے بعد بنگلہ دیش بن گیا مگر آج کے حالات 1970ءسے زیادہ بدترین ہیں۔ نواز شریف کوبتایا ہے کہ سندھ کی صورت حال بہت خطرناک ہے ہمیں مل کر کام کرنا ہے تاکہ وفاق کمزور نہ ہو۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم آئندہ بھی لاہور آئیں گے اور میاں صاحب بھی ہمارے یہاں آئیں گے ہم بغیر کسی لالچ کے ایک دوسرے کے ساتھ چلیں گے۔ میں نے میاں صاحب کی طرف پہلے آنا تھا مگر پروگرام تبدیل ہوتے رہے ہیں۔ دو تین گھنٹے ہم نے ملک کی بھلائی کی باتیں کی ہیں۔ این این آئی کے مطابق مسلم لیگ اور فنکشنل لیگ نے آئندہ عام انتخابات میں ہمخیال جماعتوں کا گرینڈ الائنس بنا کر میدان میں اترنے پر اتفاق کیا ہے۔

Nawaz Sharif urges people to vote for right candidates: Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (News) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:04:00 +0000

HALA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif has said that the country could be steered out of crisis only if people voted for the right candidates, pakistanpapernew reported Saturday.

Addressing a public meeting organized by the Sindh United Party (SUP), the former prime minster said that the PPP government paid no heed to the problems facing the people of Sindh and Balochistan as 550 children died of measles while Karachi and Balochistan have also been witnessing unrest.
Mr Sharif said that he was not in favour of two separate local body systems in Sindh. He asked the participants of the gathering to vote for right people so that the country could be put on right path.
He said had the government done something, the people’s situation would not have been miserable.