The Nation : Editorial News

Back to old system?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0600

WHILE assuring that it was only a temporary measure dictated by the worsening law and order situation Prime Minister Gilani has announced that the countrywide elections for the local bodies, due next month, were being postponed and 'honest and neutral' bureaucrats were to be appointed to look after local governments for the interim period. How long this period will be has not been spelled out. It was pointed out that this did not mean the abolition of the system. Advice is to be given

Too short-lived relief

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0600

THE presidential ordinance issued late at night on Wednesday nullifies the relief that the Supreme Court interim decision against the imposition of the carbon tax on petroleum products had provided to the general public and a surcharge in the name of petroleum development levy has been imposed. As a result the apex court and the executive are at loggerheads. Some people would question the right of the courts to tinker with the money bill passed by the Parliament. The fact remains that

Killings in Karachi

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0600

THE fragile law and order situation in Karachi, particularly the target killings, continues to be a source of big worry. The recent incident is that of Haji Jalal Khan, former councillor of MQM, who was killed along with two of his sons. The same day, an activist of the Haqiqi group was also shot dead by unknown terrorists. Just after these killings, a wave of panic spread through the area. Shops were closed and people hid themselves in their homes, a feature of almost daily routine.

Shameful behavior

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0600

SENATOR Mir Muhabbat Khan Marri's unpleasant encounter with traffic police outside the Parliament provides a peep into the mindset of the VIPs who think themselves to be above the law. He was on his way to his house without having the seatbelt on when the warden signalled the car to stop and asked him to produce the relevant documentation. But instead he pulled ranks, and refused to take the fine slip upon which he was taken to the police station. Reportedly, someone from the police