Pak Govt. can bring back Qaeda suspect Aafia Siddiqui in a day if it wants: US counsel

Karachi, Jun.11 (ANI): Hinting that the Pakistan Government was not serious in bringing back Dr. Aafia Siddiui, the Al-Qaeda terror suspect currently detained in a US jail, her American lawyer has said that Siddiqui can be extradited the ‘very next day’ if Islamabad asks for her repatriation.

Tina Foster said that the US authorities were misleading the government of Pakistan that Siddiqui can not be extradited before her sentencing by the court.

“Dr Siddiqui’s best chance for repatriation to Pakistan is before August 16 when a US judge is expected to sentence her to life-imprisonment, provided the Pakistani government put diplomatic pressure to get its citizen back,” Foster said during a press conference here.

Siddiqui, a trained neuroscientist, has been charged for firing at American investigators in Afghanistan in July 2008. She faces up to 20 years in prison on the attempted murder charge and life in prison on the firearms charge.

Foster, who is also the Executive Director of International Justice Network, also criticised US Attorney-General, Eric Holder, and the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, saying they were ‘misleading both the government and the people of Pakistan over Siddiqui’s case.

“They have stated that she (Siddiqui) could not be transferred to Pakistan because her case is still pending in the court. This is incorrect, and the government of Pakistan should not be fooled by this obvious attempt to forestall Dr Siddiqui’s return to Pakistan,” The News quoted Foster, as saying.

She described Siddiqui’s trial in a US court as a “miscarriage of justice”, and added that after the 9/11, Washington was not even ready to admit mistakes committed by state authorities.

Foster also blasted the US media for labelling Siddiqui a ‘terrorist’ and calling her “Al-Qaeda lady”. (ANI)

Pak govt. mulling 100-billion rupee increase in defence budget

Lahore, May 11 (ANI): The Pakistan government is likely to increase the country’s defence budget by a whopping 100 billion rupees in the next financial year.

According to a private television channel, the government has decided to enhance defence allocations in the budget, as it has expended a heavy amount on the ‘war on terror’.

Last year, Pakistan had allocated 343 billion rupees for defence spending, but in order to cope up with the demands of the war against extremism, the budget was increased further to 378 billion rupees.

According to documents relating to the defence budget increase, about 70 billion rupees increase in the defence budget was necessitated by increase in the salaries and allowances of the armed forces’ personnel, The Daily Times reports. (ANI)

Pak Govt. urged to “stop treating militant outfits with kid gloves”

Kohat (Pakistan), Apr 19(ANI): After a series of suicide attacks, which rocked Northwestern Pakistan’s Kohat region over the weekend, the Pakistan Government has been urged to reconsider its policy and “stop treating militant outfits with kid gloves”.

An editorial in a leading Pakistan daily also demanded the government to launch a heavy crackdown to ensure security against such suicide attacks.

“The government has to take strict measures against terror groups to save the country from going up in flames. The government’s inconsistency in cracking down on militant outfits, especially the banned organizations, shows that there is a lack of requisite political will in curbing extremism,” an editorial in the Daily Times said.

It further said that the way the terrorist organizations are operating in the country, it exposes the inefficiency of the security agencies and stressed that pre-emptive measures have to be taken.

“Now that such attacks have targeted not only the security forces and government officials, but citizens as well in the length and breadth of the country, this has certainly thrown up a bigger challenge to the security agencies,” the editorial added.

Earlier on April 17, two suicide bombers dressed in burqas had attacked a refugee camp in Kohat, killing at least 41 and wounding more than 60 peoples.

The bombers struck minutes apart in the Kacha Pukha camp, a registration centre for people fleeing Taliban violence and Pakistani army operations close to the Afghan border.

Less than 24 hours after the attack, a powerful bomb exploded near the Bilitang police station in the same region.

At least seven people were killed and over 31 others were injured in the incident.

Nine security officials, including two personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and seven policemen, were among the 31 people injured in the attack. (ANI)

Pak Govt. urged to “stop treating militant outfits with kid gloves”

Kohat (Pakistan), Apr 19(ANI): After a series of suicide attacks, which rocked Northwestern Pakistan’s Kohat region over the weekend, the Pakistan Government has been urged to reconsider its policy and “stop treating militant outfits with kid gloves”.

An editorial in a leading Pakistan daily also demanded the government to launch a heavy crackdown to ensure security against such suicide attacks.

“The government has to take strict measures against terror groups to save the country from going up in flames. The government’s inconsistency in cracking down on militant outfits, especially the banned organizations, shows that there is a lack of requisite political will in curbing extremism,” an editorial in the Daily Times said.

It further said that the way the terrorist organizations are operating in the country, it exposes the inefficiency of the security agencies and stressed that pre-emptive measures have to be taken.

“Now that such attacks have targeted not only the security forces and government officials, but citizens as well in the length and breadth of the country, this has certainly thrown up a bigger challenge to the security agencies,” the editorial added.

Earlier on April 17, two suicide bombers dressed in burqas had attacked a refugee camp in Kohat, killing at least 41 and wounding more than 60 peoples.

The bombers struck minutes apart in the Kacha Pukha camp, a registration centre for people fleeing Taliban violence and Pakistani army operations close to the Afghan border.

Less than 24 hours after the attack, a powerful bomb exploded near the Bilitang police station in the same region.

At least seven people were killed and over 31 others were injured in the incident.

Nine security officials, including two personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and seven policemen, were among the 31 people injured in the attack. (ANI)

UN denies receiving Pak govt’s request to delay Benazir murder report publication

Islamabad, Apr.7 (ANI): The United Nations (UN) has rejected reports in the Pakistani media that the government has sought a further delay in the publication of the investigation report of the UN commission probing the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

“We have received no new request,” UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said, adding that the report would be released next week.

The Pakistani media had flashed reports that the government has requested the UN to further delay the publication of the report until June or even beyond, The Daily Times reports.

It may be noted that the report was due to be published last month, but the UN delayed the process following President Asif Ali Zardari’s request.

The three-member UN commission, headed by Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, was set up following a request by the Pakistani government to probe the December 2007 attack on Bhutto, and began its work in July 2009. (ANI)

‘Pak govt’s ‘murky’ motives over Taliban crackdown source of extreme tension for US’

New York, Mar.25 (ANI): While Pakistan is seeking a stronger bond with the US through the recent change in its tactics which has seen several top Taliban commanders being nabbed, Islamabad’s policy of supporting the US’ mission in Afghanistan while simultaneously lending a ‘covert’ helping hand to the Taliban has become major irritant for American officials.

Pakistan’s double game has been a source of extreme tension for US officials, who have been pressuring it to cut its ties with Taliban or at least close down terror safe havens set up on its soil, The New York Times reports.

US officials are also sceptical over the real motive behind Pakistan’s sudden tactical change which has seen arrest of several top notch Taliban commanders, including the second-in command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

“The exact motives of the Pakistani government are murky. American officials say they are encouraged by some of the recent Pakistani actions-but not all of them,” the newspaper said.

Observers and officials both in the US and Pakistan believe that Islamabad has arrested the Taliban’s senior leaders to gain a measure of influence over any peace negotiations that may begin between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the paper pointed out.

According to Waheed Muzhda, a former Taliban official in Kabul, there are still many Taliban leaders hiding in Pakistan, but they have suddenly ‘vanished’.

“There are signs that those Taliban leaders still at large are taking extreme precautions to avoid being detained. It is unclear whether the Taliban leaders have been arrested or whether they have gone into hiding, afraid that they will be,” said Muzhda, who speaks regularly with Taliban leaders. (ANI)

Reopening of Swiss cases tantamount to trial of Benazir’s grave: Pak govt.

Islamabad, Mar.23 (ANI): The Pakistan government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict to reopen the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, saying that doing so would be tantamount to a trial of former premier Benazir Bhutto’s grave.

“An order to reopen cases abroad would be tantamount to putting Benazir Bhutto’s grave on trial, which is against all norms of justice, decency, morality and the law,” the petition said while adding that the apex court had made several mistakes by declaring the NRO ‘unconstitutional.’

The petition also said that the court did not pay heed to the government’s stance regarding several important issues while striking down the amnesty law, the NRO.

The government has also questioned the legality of mutual legal assistance in the context of the Swiss cases in its petition, The Daily Times reports. (ANI)

Reopening of Swiss cases tantamount to trial of Benazir’s grave: Pak govt.

Islamabad, Mar.23 (ANI): The Pakistan government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict to reopen the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, saying that doing so would be tantamount to a trial of former premier Benazir Bhutto’s grave.

“An order to reopen cases abroad would be tantamount to putting Benazir Bhutto’s grave on trial, which is against all norms of justice, decency, morality and the law,” the petition said while adding that the apex court had made several mistakes by declaring the NRO ‘unconstitutional.’

The petition also said that the court did not pay heed to the government’s stance regarding several important issues while striking down the amnesty law, the NRO.

The government has also questioned the legality of mutual legal assistance in the context of the Swiss cases in its petition, The Daily Times reports. (ANI)

PPP-S chief urges Pak Govt. to use surgical strikes against Punjab terrorists

Peshawar, Mar. 22 (ANI): Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that surgical strikes should be conducted on the basis of credible intelligence against terrorists in the Punjab province.

“Denying the presence of terrorists and ignoring the local facilitators of the terrorists in the country would not help the elimination of terrorist organisations in any way,” the Daily Times quoted Sherpao, as saying.

Sherpao also urged the Pakistan Government to produce all suspects arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act before the courts.

“Security personnel had arrested thousands of people including the top leadership of the Taliban under the Anti-Terrorist Act 2009, but had yet to be produced before courts of law,” he said. (ANI)

Will Sarabjeet be spared the gallows under Pak Govt.’s plans to commute death sentences?

Islamabad, Sep.17 (ANI): The Pakistan government is considering commuting death sentences, but such a step may not help the cause of Sarabjeet Singh, the Indian inmate who has been awarded a death sentence by a Lahore anti-terrorism court in October 1991.

Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said the government has sent a draft to the law division seeking legal opinion on the proposal to commute death sentences.

Rehman, however, said that even if the proposal is accepted there would be no mercy for terrorists.

“They (terrorists) will have to face the death penalty,” The Dawn quoted Malik, as saying.

According to an estimate there are 7000 death inmates in Pakistan at present.

Pakistan security agencies have maintained that Singh had admitted that he was sent to Pakistan to carry out serial bomb blasts in Lahore, Faislabad, and Kasur, and was trained by the Indian Army, and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Singh was awarded the death sentence by a Lahore anti-terrorism court in October 1991.

He challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court, however, the apex court quashed his appeal in September, 2005, saying that the review petition was not filed within the time period as mentioned in the law.

In March 2006, a two member Supreme Court bench dismissed Singh’s petition against his conviction in the Lahore’s Yakki Gate bomb blast in 1990.

Singh has been languishing in Pakistan jails for the last 28 years, as Pakistan has stonewalled release even on humanitarian grounds, despite continuous efforts by Indian diplomatic channels. (ANI)

Pak Govt following Musharraf’s corporate agriculture farming policy

Islamabad, Sep. 14 (ANI): The Pakistan Government is virtually threatening the country’s sovereignty by allowing Arab conglomerates to lease millions of acres of agricultural land and repatriate all produce and profits, The Dawn opines.

Although American drone attacks against the Taliban are routinely condemned as violations of national sovereignty. But there is little criticism of how our own government is threatening the country’s territorial integrity by engineering the lease of millions of acres to foreign investors.

The federal ministry for investment has confirmed this move, and added that foreign-owned farms will also enjoy extended tax and rent holidays.

The so-called people-friendly administration has accepted the Musharraf regime’s corporate agriculture farming (CAF) policy, which provides no long-term benefits, the editorial says.

This is a gross injustice to the people of Pakistan and stands in clear violation of the UN General Assembly resolution on Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources, it adds.

While the government will receive cash fuel its day-to-day extravagance, corporate farming is not going to generate employment and may well lead to an increase in rural poverty.

According to the editorial, no details have been provided of how the water and electricity needs of these huge farms are to be met.

Will water be diverted from the irrigation network, compounding the misery of small-scale farmers who are finding it hard as it is to make ends meet? Will water flows be depleted further to cater to these corporate farms that will not contribute a single grain to our food stocks? Has any thought been given to how reduced river flows will speed up sea intrusion, which has already devastated vast swathes of the coastline?

“Perhaps these mega farms will rely on an army of tube wells, in which case the water table in places like Balochistan will be lowered even further, much to the detriment of local farmers,” the editorial concludes. (ANI)

Pak Govt says it is watching illegal madrassas closely

Islamabad, Sep. 9 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior that it is monitoring the activities of illegal madrassas in Islamabad.

While responding to concerns expressed by the legislators over unregistered madrassas, Chief Commissioner Fazeel Asghar said there were 140 seminaries in the city, out of which 122 were registered.

The Daily Times quoted him, as saying that the rest were operating illegally and the government was trying to get them registered soon.

The members had expressed fears that a Lal Masjid-like situation may arise if the government doesn’t take action soon.

The members, including former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, said it was a matter of great concern that 18 seminaries were still operating ‘illegally’ despite the government’s orders making registration mandatory. (ANI)

Pak Govt asked to review blasphemy law

Islamabad, Sep. 2 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has been asked by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights to re-examine the blasphemy law so that incidents like Gojra’s anti-Christian riot can be prevented.

Human Rights Ministry Secretary Farid Khan told Committee chairman PML-Q member Riaz Fatiyana that the Gojra incident reflected “a complete failure of our system.”

The Daily Times quoted Punjab Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael as saying that the government should review the blasphemy law.

He said the law should also be used against those who levelled baseless allegations against others.

PML-N leader Javed Hashmi seconded Michael’s views, and said he regretted that people were languishing in jails for the last eight to ten years under the blasphemy law.

Fatiyana said the killings were a failure on the part of administration and intelligence agencies. He urged the government to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

He added that the committee will meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and request him to fix a time period for trial of people arrested under blasphemy law.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law forbids-damaging a place of worship or a sacred object, outraging religious feelings, defiling the Quran and defaming Prophet Mohammed.

The Criminal Code provides penalties for blasphemy up to death and a fine.

Critics have pointed out that the blasphemy law is being used to victimise minorities. (ANI)

Pak Govt may review blasphemy law to stop its abuse

Islamabad, Aug 13 (ANI): The Pakistan Government may review the blasphemy law to prevent its abuse following the recent violence against the Christian community in Gojra.

“After the completion of an inquiry report into the incident and subject to its recommendations, the government will take appropriate measures to prevent future flare-ups of communal carnage,” State Minister for Interior Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi said.

Condemning the Gojra incident, he said the Pakistan People’s Party had always worked for the welfare of minorities.

Qureshi said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had recently announced enhancing the quota in government departments jobs for minorities, planned to increase the number of minority seats in the national and provincial assemblies, declared August 11 “Minority Day” and decided to allocate minorities’ seats in the Senate for the first time.

Qureshi said the government was investigating the violence in Gojra in a transparent manner, including the possible role of banned religious organisations in rioting.

Calling the Swat military operation a success, the Daily Times quoted him as saying that the country had been able to overcome extremism and terrorism.

He said his visits to Norway, France and the United Kingdom helped him gain first-hand knowledge of the problems being faced by overseas Pakistanis. (ANI)

‘Pak Govt. should take initiative for Musharraf’s trial’

Karachi, Aug. 9 (ANI): A prominent Pakistani legal expert has said the PPP-led government should take the initiative to prosecute former president Pervez Musharraf for violating the constitution.

The Dawn quoted former Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan, as saying that the apex court had declared Musharraf’s as actions as illegal, but it could not try the former dictator since it was not a trial court.

Speaking at a general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association, Ahsan praised the neutrality of the judges, who were affected by Musharraf’s November 3 emergency declaration.

Although Musharraf’s steps had affected all judges of the bench, they did not lodge any case against him and his associates for unlawfully detaining them with their children for around five months, he said.

At a time when nobody was ready to raise his voice against Musharraf, it was the legal community which forced him to doff his uniform, and allowed the exiled political leaders to return to the country, Ahsan said. (ANI)

Pak govt. may ask PCB to boycott 2011 World Cup

Islamabad, July 16 (ANI): After skipping the logo unveiling ceremony of the 2011 World Cup held in Mumbai recently, speculations are rife that Pakistan could boycott the mega event also.

According to sources, the government is seriously considering to ask the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to boycott the 2011 World Cup in protest against the ICC’s decision to shift the World Cup matches from Pakistan.

Interestingly, the Indian government is being blamed for influencing the ICC’s decision and trying to alienate Pakistan.

“I think the Indian government, with the help of the three boards (BCCI, SLC and BCB), is trying to isolate the PCB and therefore this decision at political level is not ruled out,” The Nation quoted a source privy to the government, as saying.

“On the pretext that of government’s order, the BCCI has not signed the FTP (to play against Pakistan) yet they want to host World Cup matches for Pakistan,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has ruled out any possibility of a bilateral series with Pakistan in the near future.

BCCI president, Shashank Manohar said the government has not allowed hosting any such series.

“The Indian government is not giving a go ahead about this and therefore we have made no provision in Future Tour Programme (FTP) to play against Pakistan between 2012 to 2020,” said Manohar.

In an another development, the PCB chief Ijaz Butt has been removed from the 2011 World Cup’s Central Organising Committee (COC).

Butt has been replaced by Mahbubul Alam of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). (ANI)

Pak govt. seeks adjournment of hearing of Saeed case

Islamabad, July 16 (ANI): The Pakistan government has requested the Supreme Court to suspend the hearing of the detention of Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed for a week.

It cited the unavailability of Attorney General, Sardar Latif Khosa as the reason for the request, the Dawn reports.

“We have filed an application with a request to the Supreme Court that the attorney general wants to plead the government’s point of view himself because it is an important case having far reaching implications, but he is not available on Thursday when the case will be taken up,” said the Deputy Attorney General, Shah Khawar.

However, the apex court declined to accept the application immediately. It is believed that it will ultimately accept the request.

The court directed the attorney general to inform the Punjab government and Hafiz Saeed’s counsel about the proposal. (ANI)

Pak govt. may file fresh petition against Saeed to ‘showcase its commitment’

Lahore, July 15 (ANI): It seems that the threat of adverse international reaction over the failure of the Pakistani government to detain the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, the prime accused in the November 2008 Mumbai terror strikes may see the federal government file a fresh petition against him, even if the Punjab government decides to withdraw its case.

The provincial government, on Tuesday (July 14) had said that it lacks evidence against Saeed, so it was difficult for it to continue the case.

Punjab Advocate General, Raza Farooq told the Supreme Court that the government had instructed him to withdraw the petition.

Legal experts said the federal government can not challenge the provincial government if the later decides to withdraw the petition.

“If Punjab believes that it does not have sufficient grounds to challenge the high court’s verdict, the federal government will have no legal basis to keep pursuing the appeal as it exists now,” The Dawn quoted a senior lawyer, as saying.

Experts said the federal government may file a fresh petition, or work through some other law to keep Saeed behind bars, as his release could severely damage Islamabad’s image internationally.

“The federal authorities, therefore, may invoke some law that allows it to hold and arrest Saeed without having to involve the provincial government which somehow seems reluctant to take action against him,” said a top official on conditions of anonymity.

“The laws that the federal government may invoke will have a much larger and could cover his activities allegedly injurious to both internal and external order,” he added.

However, former Attorney General, Malik Qayyum said that the federal government does not have powers to detain anyone, which only the provincial government can.

“Detention is meant to prevent someone from doing something. This is exclusively the provincial domain. Still the federal government can arrest people for acts they have already allegedly committed,” said Qayyum. (ANI)

Pak Govt. launches crackdown against text, email propaganda

Islamabad, July 13 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has launched a crackdown against those involved in spreading “propaganda” against senior government officials through emails and text messages.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday announced that the new government campaign aims at limiting the growing number of emails and text messages questioning the government, the Daily Times reports.

According to an interior ministry press release, a similar crackdown has been initiated against a banned organisation, which is spreading malicious propaganda against the Pak Army.

The crackdown requires the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to keep a check on propaganda material, and take necessary action. Under the Cyber Crimes Act, violators can be imprisoned for up to 14 years.

The government has also requested Interpol to identify the owners of any email addresses and websites registered abroad that spread such messages. (ANI)

Pak Govt. launches crackdown against text, email propaganda

Islamabad, July 13 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has launched a crackdown against those involved in spreading “propaganda” against senior government officials through emails and text messages.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday announced that the new government campaign aims at limiting the growing number of emails and text messages questioning the government, the Daily Times reports.

According to an interior ministry press release, a similar crackdown has been initiated against a banned organisation, which is spreading malicious propaganda against the Pak Army.

The crackdown requires the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to keep a check on propaganda material, and take necessary action. Under the Cyber Crimes Act, violators can be imprisoned for up to 14 years.

The government has also requested Interpol to identify the owners of any email addresses and websites registered abroad that spread such messages. (ANI)