Election History in the Making: Do Pizza Lovers Prefer Square or Slice?

MILWAUKEE, WI, Jun 02 (MARKET WIRE) —
America: Palermo’s Pizza wants to know how you cut it.

On June 2, the Milwaukee-based frozen pizza manufacturer will launch
Decision 2K10: Square vs. Slice, a national campaign to determine how
America prefers to cut its pizza. Two candidates, Square and Slice, are
hot on the campaign trail with mobile sampling units asking Americans to
chew over the campaign issues and cast their votes. Results will be
tallied in early November.

“Much like other elections taking place this year, Decision 2K10: Square
vs. Slice presents many piping hot issues,” said Giacomo Fallucca,
president and CEO of Palermo’s Pizza. “We’re asking America to vote in
this national campaign to finally put this debate to rest.”

Follow the Election

Throughout the campaign, America can visit SquareVsSlice.com for
up-to-date election news, including campaign videos, polling numbers and
candidate appearances. Voters can also submit video testimonials, check
out the official campaign blog, follow the candidates on Twitter and take
pizza-ideology tests on the campaign’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/SquareVsSlice.

“No matter how you cut it, a democratic system’s viability depends on an
active electorate,” said Kevin Boucher, senior pizza correspondent.
“Square and Slice each are looking forward to earning voter support.
Every ballot counts!”

Meet the Candidates

Both prominent players in America’s pizza culture, Square and Slice will
promote seasoned platforms and issue positions as each strives to earn
the support of America’s voters.

Slice is running on a platform of eight equal pieces and believes that
all Americans deserve the same amount of cheese, sauce, toppings, and
crust as their neighbor. Square’s vision for pizza for all is upheld by a
cutting style that produces 16 pieces.

Campaign Trail

Continuing throughout the summer and into the fall, candidates will make
70 campaign stops, including visits to these critical battleground states:

– North Carolina: A predominantly red state that went blue in ’08. Which
way will it fall in ’10?
– Iowa: Where dreams of the White House are historically born and
crushed.
– Missouri: Where voters recognize that the hunger of the people shall
be supreme law.
– Virginia: Our nation’s oldest commonwealth will be hotly contested in
Decision 2K10.
– Minnesota: An important ultra thin crust toss-up state in every
election.
– Alabama: Candidates will try to rally southern support.
– Illinois: Which candidate will our neighbors to the south sink their
teeth into?
– Nebraska: The candidates will travel to Cornhusker Country to win
Nebraskans’ support.

Palermo Villa Inc. has been making quality, Italian style pizzas for
over 40 years. What began as a small ethnic bakery featuring authentic
Italian pizza has become a leading name in the frozen pizza industry.
Every Palermo’s brand pizza is made by our dedicated Pizzaiolos, drawing
on the founder’s Italian roots and family recipes to achieve premium
quality. Palermo Villa Inc. continues to be a leader in innovation in the
pizza industry, developing new products and flavors that cater to
consumer needs. For more information, visit www.palermospizza.com.

Youtube Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1271618

Contact:
Kathleen Iverson
(414) 459-3946
kiverson@branigan.biz

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

CPM asks Government to own up on phone tapping responsibility

New Delhi, Apr 24 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday asked the Union Government to own up responsibility for tapping phones of top leaders, including that of its General Secretary Prakash Karat.

CPM alleged that the government is indulging in such acts to “serve its political purpose.”

It also demanded enforcing strict guidelines to prohibit such surveillance.

Referring to reports in a daily on tapping of phone calls of four political leaders including Karat, the party said it was a serious matter and alleged that government was using intelligence agencies to serve its political purpose.

“The report shows that the government is using the intelligence and security agencies to serve its political purpose to spy upon opposition leaders and to keep track of even its own allies and party leaders,” party said.

The CPM demanded action against those who ordered the surveillance.

“Such acts subvert the democratic system and breeds an atmosphere of illegality in the higher echelons of the government. They cannot be tolerated,” CPM said.

“Protecting the covert activities of the intelligence and security agencies cannot be made the pretext for a cover-up,” party added.

Further, the instructions on tapping of phones and surveillance on grounds of national security or investigation of criminal activity must be codified, the party said, demanding that intelligence and security agencies must be subject to parliament’s oversight.

Earlier, Karat described tapping as illegal and intolerable.

“The UPA Government is resorting to the tapping of phones of political leaders which is illegal and intolerable. The government has to own up responsibility and take action against those responsible,” Karat said.

On the other hand the Communist Party of India (CPI) said on Saturday that tapping of phones of top political leaders was a “serious assault” on democratic and civil rights.

The party sought an explanation from the Union Government on the issue.

Interacting with media party National Secretary D Raja said the act of telephone tapping deserves to be condemned in strongest terms.

“We are not living in a military regime… We are adopting a democratic system. Under the circumstances, tapping of phones of leaders of political parties is a serious assault on democracy and deserves to be condemned in strongest terms,” Raja said.

Raja alleged that the tapping could be used for political purposes. (ANI)

Pak’s ‘Azm-e-Nau-III’ military exercise a message to India?

Bahawalpur (Pakistan), Apr 19(ANI): The six-week-long Azm-e-Nau-III military exercise being conducted by the Pakistani armed forces is being seen as a message to India, as the exercise is being held on in areas close to the Indian border.

The message coming out is that Pakistan is vigilant on its eastern border, despite being heavily engaged on the western border carrying out operations in South Waziristan, Khyber and Orakzai.

On Sunday, the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) exhibited their professional capabilities in front of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and many other senior leaders of the country in the desert of Khairpur Tamewali near Bahawalpur.

The heavy firepower of the armed forces was also witnessed by more than 30 military attaches of different countries.

The Pakistan Army used homemade Al-Khalid tanks and Anza Mark II missiles, while the Air Force used not only US-made F-16s, but also locally assembled JF-17 Thunder aircraft.

The massive firepower of Al-Khalid tanks and JF-17 Thunder also proved that locally-made weapons are as good as the imported ones.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Gilani underlined the need for high state of preparedness to guarantee peace and security.

“Our democratic system, economic potential, vibrant population, national unity, consensus and armed forces all provide strategic stability against all possible threats to our great country,” The News quoted Gilani, as saying.

He added that Pakistan was standing against forces of extremism and militancy, while bearing a very heavy cost to its economy and prosperity.

“The world today finds Pakistan standing as a bulwark against forces of extremism and militancy. It is in this struggle where nation pledges to support armed forces in spirit, with its youth and its entire resources,” Gilani said.

The Prime Minister also emphasised that Pakistan and its armed forces are fully committed in a fierce struggle on its western border and are continuing to retain their capability to deal with all possible threats in the region. (ANI)

Pak’s ‘Azm-e-Nau-III’ military exercise a message to India?

Bahawalpur (Pakistan), Apr 19(ANI): The six-week-long Azm-e-Nau-III military exercise being conducted by the Pakistani armed forces is being seen as a message to India, as the exercise is being held on in areas close to the Indian border.

The message coming out is that Pakistan is vigilant on its eastern border, despite being heavily engaged on the western border carrying out operations in South Waziristan, Khyber and Orakzai.

On Sunday, the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) exhibited their professional capabilities in front of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and many other senior leaders of the country in the desert of Khairpur Tamewali near Bahawalpur.

The heavy firepower of the armed forces was also witnessed by more than 30 military attaches of different countries.

The Pakistan Army used homemade Al-Khalid tanks and Anza Mark II missiles, while the Air Force used not only US-made F-16s, but also locally assembled JF-17 Thunder aircraft.

The massive firepower of Al-Khalid tanks and JF-17 Thunder also proved that locally-made weapons are as good as the imported ones.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Gilani underlined the need for high state of preparedness to guarantee peace and security.

“Our democratic system, economic potential, vibrant population, national unity, consensus and armed forces all provide strategic stability against all possible threats to our great country,” The News quoted Gilani, as saying.

He added that Pakistan was standing against forces of extremism and militancy, while bearing a very heavy cost to its economy and prosperity.

“The world today finds Pakistan standing as a bulwark against forces of extremism and militancy. It is in this struggle where nation pledges to support armed forces in spirit, with its youth and its entire resources,” Gilani said.

The Prime Minister also emphasised that Pakistan and its armed forces are fully committed in a fierce struggle on its western border and are continuing to retain their capability to deal with all possible threats in the region. (ANI)

Pardon sought for Breaker Morant

A federal parliamentary committee is discussing a petition that seeks a pardon from the Queen for Harry “Breaker” Morant.

Breaker Morant and another man were executed by British Courts Martial in 1902 for murdering 12 Boer prisoners of war.

The former Navy lawyer who prepared the petition, Commander James Unkles, says his execution is an unjust stain on Australia’s history.

Commander Unkles told the parliamentary committee the legal process was unfair, even by the standards of the time. He says an official pardon will make an enormous difference to the men’s surviving relatives and to all Australians.

“There are a lot of relatives here today and it makes a lot of difference to them personally,” he said.

“They have carried this burden throughout their family histories for many decades and it’s been handed from one generation to the next.

“What is it to the nation? It’s got everything to do with demonstrating to the public that due process and fairness are hallmarks of our democratic system.”

The House of Representatives Petitions Committee will decide on what action to take on the matter.

The Attorney-General has already forwarded the petition to the British secretary of state for defence.

Breaker Morant joined the army in 1899. He had a reputation as a horseman, drinker and womaniser and wrote poetry for the Bulletin under the name The Breaker.

Breaker Morant was immortalised in the 1980s film bearing his name. In one of the film’s best known lines, Morant describes the justice meted out during the Boer War.

“We applied rule .303. We caught them and we shot them under rule .303,” the character says, referring to the calibre of the standard issue army rifle of the time.

Historian Craig Wilcox, who has written extensively about Morant, says an attempt to have him pardoned is a futile exercise.

He says it would represent an injustice for the people they killed.

“We’re talking about people who were not battlefield prisoners, they’re generally civilians, in effect,” he said.

“For some reason that we still haven’t unearthed, Morant and colleagues started randomly killing these people.

“We really don’t know why, but it’s incontrovertible that that’s what they did. And then they started killing others to stop the story getting out.”

Maoists planning to throw away Indian system by 2050: Pillai

New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said on Friday that the Maoists have formulated an agenda to overthrow the Indian democratic system by 2050.

Addressing a seminar on “Left Wing Extremism Situation in India”, at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis Pillai said: “Documents which were found revealed that the Maoist agenda was to overthrow the Indian state by 2050, possibly with the help of ex-Armymen.”

Commenting over holding talks with the Maoists in the line of ongoing dialogue with Naga rebels, Pillai said: “Maoists were not serious about talks because they weren””t under enough pressure to do so.”

He also opined that unless they feel the heat they will not come for talks and whatever statement they were making about peace were not serious.

“Right now, Maoists were looking to regroup and build their own army towards their plans,” he added.

Pillai further said that the Maoists were using administrative vacuum and under development to do such activities.

Home Secretary reiterated that development is the only mantra to fight back the Maoists menace.

He said even though the joint anti-Naxal operations were going on, the Naxals have not suffered any significant reverses so far and the government would need seven to eight years to have full control over the areas which were lost to the Maoists.

“The operations have not hit even five per cent of hardcore militants. The real armed cadres are yet to come out,” Pillai said.

Earlier, Home Minister P Chidambaram had asked Maoists to abjure violence and asked them to contact for peace talks. (ANI)

No pressure from Saudi Arabia on Musharraf trial: Ishaq Dar

Islamabad, Sep 14 (ANI): Saudi Arabia has not, in any way, pressurised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif regarding former president Pervez Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of the constitution, said party senator Ishaq Dar.

After meeting the Saudi king along with Nawaz, Dar said the Saudis never interfered in internal affairs of Pakistan.

Saudi King Abdullah Abdul Aziz advised Sharif to avoid controversial issues and promote reconciliation for the continuation of the democratic system in Pakistan.

Sharif, who is in Saudi Arabia, met King Abdullah on Sunday and discussed matters of mutual interest including national, regional and international issues.

The sources said during the meeting King Abdullah advised Sharif to adopt a reconciliation policy in the country, the Daily Times reported.

Sharif was also asked to avoid touching controversial issues and play his role to steer the country out of political instability, the sources added. (ANI)

Saudi king asks Sharif to avoid controversial issues

Lahore, Sep 14 (ANI): Saudi King Abdullah Abdul Aziz has advised PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to avoid controversial issues and promote reconciliation for the continuation of the democratic system in Pakistan.

Sharif, who is in Saudi Arabia, met King Abdullah on Sunday and discussed matters of mutual interest including national, regional and international issues.

The meeting, which lasted for more than one hour, was also attended by PML-N leader Ishaq Dar, Sharif’s son Hasan Nawaz and Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz.

The sources said during the meeting King Abdullah advised Sharif to adopt a reconciliation policy in the country.

Sharif was also asked to avoid touching controversial issues and play his role to steer the country out of political instability, the sources added.

The sources said Saudi authorities had asked Sharif to withdraw his demand for trying Musharraf under Article 6 of the constitution, The News reported.

Also, the Gulf Times claimed that Nawaz was not given the highest level of protocol, which implied that the Saudis were not happy with him.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ishaq Dar, however, said the issue of the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf was not discussed in the meeting, because the Saudi Government had no intention of interfering in the country’s internal matters but was keen to see political stability. (ANI)

PML-N refuses to join Pak Govt., but offers outside support

Lahore, May 3 (ANI): The Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz have decided to remain coalition partners in Punjab, while both have failed to reach a consensus on joining the federal government.

During a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday, The PML-N expressed its reluctance to become a coalition partner at the Centre. It, however, reassured the PPP of its ‘unconditional’ support without becoming part of the federal government.

The PML-N said it would continue to struggle for strengthening the democratic system, and both leaders agreed to respect each other’s mandate at the Centre and in Punjab, The News reports.

Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif had invited the PPP to return to the cabinet in the Punjab.

After a meeting of PPP’s senior leaders, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari offered the PML-N to return to the federal government.

However, the PML-N once again stuck to its stance of staying away from ‘power sharing’ at the Centre, and assured the PPP of continuing its unconditional support to the government without becoming its part.

According to the sources, most PPP members opposed the return of the PPP to the Punjab government, unless the PML-N returned at the Centre.

Meanwhile, Gilani and Sharif also discussed the current political situation of the country, including the issue of terrorism and the strategy to combat it.

Gilani assured the PML-N president of convening the APC as per the demand of Nawaz Sharif and taking all the political forces onboard to address the challenges faced by the Federation. (ANI)

Jihad not compulsory in Kashmir : Sufi Muhammad

Rawalpindi,May 3 (ANI) : The Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Muhammad has said that ‘jihad’ or the holy war was not compulsory in Kashmir as the people there are struggling for freedom and a new state and not for implementing ‘shariah’

In an interview to a private television channel, Muhammad once again attacked the democratic system terming it as ‘Kufar’ (infidelity).

Muhammad said it was useless to back democratic forces in the country.

“Even I do not offer prayer under pro-democracy people,” the Daily Times quoted Muhammad, as saying.

When asked about the countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran where Islamic law had been in practice for years, Muhammad said such countries do not practice real Islamic shariah system.

He said ‘jihad’ was not being carried out across the world to establish the Islamic law all over.

“Today there is no place in the world where ‘Jihad Bil Qataal’ (holy war) is taking place,” Muhammad added.

Explaining about the don’ts that females must obey under the Islamic rule, Muhammad added : “Women were not allowed to go out of their homes except for Haj, and there was no need for a wife’s permission in ‘jihad’. (ANI)

Residents ignore militants’ threat against polls in Assam and Manipur

Guwahati/ Imphal, May 2 (ANI): Defying militants’ threat against participation in the ongoing parliamentary elections, residents in Assam and Manipur demonstrated their faith in the democratic set-up of governance.

In Assam, the voter turnout was 62 %. This was a considerable increase of 16.2 per cent over the last general elections in 2004.

The huge voter turnout in the 15th Lok Sabha Elections indicated people’s faith in democratic institutions and rejection of militancy.

People came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise, despite militant threats. Voters made a beeline outside to exercise their franchise.

Be it men or women, young or the elderly, all voted with a hope for a better future.

“This says clearly that people have complete faith in the Indian Democratic system and they like to identify themselves as Indians. We don’t want a sovereign Assam, we have faith in the Indian democracy and we are making good progress,” said Priyanka Devi, local resident of Assam.

“I believe that the mass participation of the people in the election has sent a message to the insurgent groups that their ideology has failed. They had earlier appealed for a boycott of voting but the people have sent a message that the ideologies of the militants are not good for them. The people have shown faith in the democratic system,” said Dhruva Das, local resident.

The efforts made by the government and the security agencies were reflected in the increase in the voting figures.

The increased participation of the people in the electoral process is a clear indication of the fact that that they want normalcy, peace and development in the state.

“It is a clear indication that the people of Assam have complete faith in the democratic process. The insurgent groups who are demanding for sovereignty they should learn a lesson from this election process,” said Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam

In Manipur too people displayed their faith in democracy and against militancy.

Rejecting the poll boycott call by militant groups, people turned up at polling booths.

A 17-hour bandh called by the Joint Action Committee against killing of one sub-divisional officer and two others coincided with the polling. However, it failed to affect the voter turnout.

“Even if the militants boycotted the elections, as the government is ruling the state the boycott was not a success. And since the MPs are elected once in five years, we did not want to waste our vote,” said S. Indra Singh, local resident of Manipur.

“According to me, the citizens want peace and harmony in the state so they’ve cast their vote,” said Kh. Achou Singh, another local resident in Manipur.

Large participation of the voters in two major States of the northeast region of the country has demonstrated that people want peace. .

They wish to live under a democratic set up under a people’s government which can protect the residents from militancy and pay attention to development and resolve issues (ANI)

Too much freedom in China can lead to ‘chaos’, says Jackie Chan

London, Apr 20 (ANI): Action star Jackie Chan has sparked an outrage after claiming that too much political freedom in China isn’t good, and that people need to be controlled.

While speaking at the Boao Forum for Asia, the 55-year-old actor said that he wasn’t sure if a free society was what the country needed, as too much freedom could lead to chaos like in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. I’m really confused now. If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic,” the Independent quoted Chan as saying.

“I’m gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we’re not being controlled, we’ll just do what we want,” he added.

Chan’s comments have been panned by Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators.

“He’s insulted the Chinese people. Chinese people aren’t pets,” said pro-democracy legislator Leung Kwok-hung.

“Chinese society needs a democratic system to protect human rights and the rule of law,” he added.

Veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Albert Ho also branded Chan’s remarks as “racist”.

“People around the world are running their own countries. Why can’t Chinese do the same?” he added.

Democratic Taiwan, MP Huang Wei-che said Chan “has enjoyed freedom and democracy and has reaped the economic benefits of capitalism. But he has yet to grasp the true meaning of freedom and democracy”. (ANI)

Custard thrower receives police caution

A climate change protester who hurled green custard at Lord Mandelson has been given a caution. Skip related content

Have your say: Environment

Scotland Yard said Leila Deen went to a central London police station and accepted the punishment “on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service”.

The 29-year-old, a member of the Plane Stupid campaign group, covered the Business Secretary in green custard as he left a meeting in the capital last month.

Police originally said they would not investigate the matter but backtracked after former deputy prime minister John Prescott said it would be “totally unacceptable” to allow it to pass unchallenged.

Ms Deen said she did not regret her “harmless” actions after being cautioned for disorderly behaviour.

She said: “I have always been honest about throwing green slime over Mandelson to highlight the hypocrisy of this Government’s attitude to climate change and the third runway at Heathrow.”

And she added: “Despite the harmless and comic nature of my antics, the police informed me that throwing custard over an unelected government minister could be seen as a public order offence and have cautioned me accordingly.

“Climate change is the greatest threat we have ever faced through which millions will lose their lives and livelihoods.”

She criticised Lord Mandelson, describing him as one of a number of “political stooges” who were “pushing ahead” with the runway.

“They are trying to stop us doing what’s necessary to change our future,” she said. “I don’t regret taking action against this Government’s hypocrisy and am grateful that the country cheered me on for what I did.

“The movement to stop climate change is large and growing, and since our democratic system is crippled by people like Mandelson, we have no choice than to continue to use the noble tradition of direct action to effect the urgent change we need, and to call the Government to account.”

VHP demands withdrawal of NSA against Varun Gandhi

Dehradun, Mar 31 (ANI): The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday threatened to launch a nation-wide movement if the National Security Act (NSA) invoked against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi, was not withdrawn immediately.

“We strongly demand the withdrawal of NSA against Varun Gandhi or we will launch a big movement across the country,” VHP President Ashok Singhal told reporters here.

Singhal alleged that the voice of Hindutva was being suppressed.

“Varun Gandhi and other people, who are raising the pitch of Hindutva are being arrested and their voice is being suppressed. In a democratic system, everybody is free to express opinion. Let the society make a judgement and not the state,” he added.

The VHP President also talked about the Ayodhya issue, saying the Parishad wanted the Parliament to enact a law for the construction of a grand temple at the disputed site.

Singhal also demanded that all intruders from Bangladesh who have made India their home, should sent back.

VHP International Working President S. Vedantam has alleged that the video clippings of Varun Gandhi’s speech is doctored.

“Gandhi is an educated person and I strongly believe he would not have made such provocative speeches at his level,” Vedantam said. (ANI)

Pakistan’s survival depends on democracy, rule of law

London, Mar.31 (ANI): Pakistan is in a state of peril and its survival depends on maintaining a democratic system and promoting the rule of law, an analysis in The Independent says.

Monday’s terror strike on a police training academy on the outskirts of Lahore should be seen as a direct assault on the authority of the Pakistani state, and it is clear that whichever group is behind this latest outrage, appears emboldened enough to strike at the very heart of the country’s security establishment.

The analysis suggests that the attackers are clearly getting logistical help from within urban centers, and therefore, the country needs a strategy that will get to the root of the crisis.

The central problem is the country’s civilian leadership, which has failed lamentably to rise to the security challenge.

The United States, which is a substantial aid donor to Pakistan, has a crucial role to play here, says the analysis in The Independent.

The US needs to put pressure on Pakistan to root out those in its intelligence services who are aiding the Pashtun Taliban and the anti-Indian militants of Kashmir.

It also needs to exert its leverage carefully. If it pushes too clumsily for change, it could provoke an anti-American backlash and deepen the country’s economic crisis.

Thankfully, there are signs of a sensible new approach from the White House, and one which will deploy both stick and carrot.

Ultimately, the policy of America and all other nations with an interest in stability in south Asia should be directed towards rebuilding democracy, protecting the rule of law and shoring up responsible civilian politicians in Pakistan. (ANI)

Stability of Pakistan depends upon Zardari relinquishing dictatorial powers: Sharif

London, Mar 28 (ANI): The political stability in Pakistan depends upon President Asif Ali Zardari giving up his dictatorial presidential powers like power to dismiss parliament, according to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. harif asked Zardari to honour a pledge to transfer key powers to his Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.

“We have conveyed to the Prime Minister that future relations will be based on the understanding that those dictatorial powers be repealed,” The Telegraph quoted Sharif, as saying.

Zardari, who had previously failed to honour the pledge that was part of a pro-democracy agreement between his late wife Benazir Bhutto and Sharif, is expected to announce his intention to curb some of his own powers on Saturday in his parliamentary address.

“Zardari should accept that Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system. It (the future) all depends on how democratically he conducts his role,” said Sharif.

The political situation in Pakistan has altered dramatically in Sharif’s favour since last week when he defied house arrest and led a victorious protest that forced the government to restore deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Sharif frowned at reports that he had wanted to name himself as amir-ul-momin, Commander-of-the-Faithful, as “absolutely a joke,” and described reports of his closeness to religious conservatives as propaganda started by his political adversaries.

Sharif’s critics say that he has been silent on the Taliban insurgency when leadership is desperately required to galvanise popular opinion.

“I condemn every bomb blast and suicide attack,” he said. “What more can I do?”

Sharif conceded that militants now control Swat Valley, but said he did not want to comment further for fear of embarrassing the provincial government. (ANI)

Tibetan Parliament in-exile concludes its 14th session

Dharamsala, Mar 27 (ANI): The fortnight long session of the Tibetan parliament in-exile concluded here on Friday.

It was the seventh session of the 14th Tibetan Parliament in-exile which began on March 9.

Instituted in 1960, the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile is the highest legislative organ of the community of Tibetan refugees.

The March session is usually the budget session where the budget of the Tibetan government is discussed and passed.

However, in the current sessions of the parliament, the spiritual head of Tibetans, the Dalai Lama was not present.

“This session was particularly meant for the budget. We passed the budget at the first stage of this session and then we spent a lot of time in discussing the grave situation inside Tibet. We also came up with specific programmes that we need to do. We spent a lot of time to discuss to maintain the accountability of the administration in terms of people’s welfare in-exile. We passed some legislations as well,” said Thubten Samphel, Spokesperson of the Tibetan government in-exile.

The creation of this elected body has been one of the major changes that the Dalai Lama has brought about in his efforts to introduce a democratic system of administration.

The Tibetan Parliament meets twice a year for sessions.

Although the Tibetan charter has a sanction of 46 members of parliament but the current strength of the house had only 43 members since the Dalai Lama did not use his power to nominate the remaining three members for this parliament. (ANI)

Bangladesh to renew CPA, IPU memberships

Dhaka  – The Bangladesh parliament Thursday unanimously approved separate motions for regaining memberships of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and International Parliamentary Union (IPU), officials said.

Approving the motions in the House, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide said the country, which returned to democratic system two months ago ending two years rule of a military-backed government, needed a sustainable parliamentary democracy for the greater interests of its people.

Bangladesh lost membership of the CPA – a 154-member British-based organisation – in May 2007 as the South Asian country failed to elect a new parliament within the stipulated time because of military intervention in the wake of political turmoil in early 2007.

The IPU, a Swiss-based organisation of 169 members, cancelled Bangladesh’s membership in April 2008 for the same reasons.

The secretariats of the CPA and IPU requested that Bangladesh pass resolutions and send them to their headquarters for reinstatement of their memberships as soon as it elected a new parliament through the December landmark elections.

Membership of Bangladesh with the IPU and CPU had already been suspended twice after military takeovers in 1976 and 1982. (dpa)

Radio Pakistan’s view on Indian judiciary being unfair to minorities comes unstuck

Abohar, Feb.19 (ANI): Already struggling to restore the world community’s confidence in its judicial system since the removal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, Radio Pakistan is now pointing fingers at the Indian Judiciary through propaganda-based Punjabi Durbar programme.

Radio Pakistan states that justice is not being given to minority groups in India.

However, the Indian judicial fraternity terms the allegation as baseless, ridiculous, and unfounded.

“India [as a democratic system] is standing on support from the judicial system. The day any loophole gets created in the judicial system, it would become a reason for destruction [of the system]. The democracy is getting stronger on the support from the judicial system. Justice in India is done without any discrimination of caste and religion. We have a transparent system. All the judges give the right judgement. In case of any wrong judgement, the person can appeal in the Supreme Court. All the lower and the upper courts maintain the same record, so it can easily be discovered that wrong judgement has happened,” said Additional Session Judge (retd.) M. L. Garg.

It seems Radio Pakistan needs to know that the Indian judiciary is regarded as one of its four main pillars on whose integrity the democratic system of India depends, and enables all citizens to cherish equality to justice and freedom to practice individual freedom and religions. The other three pillars being the Legislature (State), the Executive and the Press.

All minority sections enjoy special quotas through the government’s reservation policies, availing all opportunities under the government system.

In contrast, the Pakistan judicial system, though similar to India, is grossly doubted for its integrity and non-collusion with government diktat.

The ruling regime enjoys the freedom to overtake the judicial system in an arbitrary manner and overrule it for not toeing to the government’s line, as has been witnessed many a times in the recent past.

“In Pakistan, the system is different. Yes, of course, it is almost similar to India. But there is corruption everywhere in political and social conditions. To an extent, biased decisions are taken there. The good people in the world have never appreciated their judgments. The judgments given by the judges of Supreme Court and High Court have never been condemned by anybody,” Justice (Retd.) Garg added.

The latest controversial ‘agreement’ (read submission) to Talibans’ regime in the Swat Valley by the Pakistan government speaks volumes of the kind of system going to prevail in near future in Pakistan. (ANI)

Radio Pakistan’s view on Indian judiciary being unfair to minorities comes unstuck

Abohar, Feb.19 (ANI): Already struggling to restore the world community’s confidence in its judicial system since the removal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, Radio Pakistan is now pointing fingers at the Indian Judiciary through propaganda-based Punjabi Durbar programme.

Radio Pakistan states that justice is not being given to minority groups in India.

However, the Indian judicial fraternity terms the allegation as baseless, ridiculous, and unfounded.

“India [as a democratic system] is standing on support from the judicial system. The day any loophole gets created in the judicial system, it would become a reason for destruction [of the system]. The democracy is getting stronger on the support from the judicial system. Justice in India is done without any discrimination of caste and religion. We have a transparent system. All the judges give the right judgement. In case of any wrong judgement, the person can appeal in the Supreme Court. All the lower and the upper courts maintain the same record, so it can easily be discovered that wrong judgement has happened,” said Additional Session Judge (retd.) M. L. Garg.

It seems Radio Pakistan needs to know that the Indian judiciary is regarded as one of its four main pillars on whose integrity the democratic system of India depends, and enables all citizens to cherish equality to justice and freedom to practice individual freedom and religions. The other three pillars being the Legislature (State), the Executive and the Press.

All minority sections enjoy special quotas through the government’s reservation policies, availing all opportunities under the government system.

In contrast, the Pakistan judicial system, though similar to India, is grossly doubted for its integrity and non-collusion with government diktat.

The ruling regime enjoys the freedom to overtake the judicial system in an arbitrary manner and overrule it for not toeing to the government’s line, as has been witnessed many a times in the recent past.

“In Pakistan, the system is different. Yes, of course, it is almost similar to India. But there is corruption everywhere in political and social conditions. To an extent, biased decisions are taken there. The good people in the world have never appreciated their judgments. The judgments given by the judges of Supreme Court and High Court have never been condemned by anybody,” Justice (Retd.) Garg added.

The latest controversial ‘agreement’ (read submission) to Talibans’ regime in the Swat Valley by the Pakistan government speaks volumes of the kind of system going to prevail in near future in Pakistan. (ANI)