‘Bankrupt’ Pak Punjab Govt. has no money to pay salaries to employees: PML-Q

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Jun.4 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has launched a blistering attack on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab, blaming it for ruining the province’s finances to such an extent that it doesn’t even have money to pay salaries to its employees.

Addressing a press conference here, senior PML-Q leader and former chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi blamed incumbent chief minister Shabaz Sharif for the “total administrative and financial collapse of the province.”

Elahi tabled a white paper on, what he called the “black deeds” of the Punjab government, saying that on May 30, the government had only 420 million rupee in its account.

“It (provincial government) sought the federal government’s help, which enabled it pay salaries by transferring money to its account on the last day of the month. That is how a surplus, in every sense of the word, province has been turned into a bankrupt federating unit all because of lack of vision, egotist policies and sheer incapability of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif,” The Dawn quoted Elahi, as saying.

The former chief minister also blamed ruling Members of Provincial Assembly (MPA’s) of being involved in various crimes committed across the province.

“In the last two years, crime has gone up by 48 per cent, which is a matter of official record. All kinds of heinous crimes are being committed with impunity and ruling MNAs and MPAs are involved in such crimes. Extra judicial killings have also gone up. The police budget is multiplying along with the crime rate,” Elahi said. (ANI)

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Ahmedis shocked with kid glove treatment of mosque attackers by Pak Punjab Govt

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Jun.4 (ANI): After the brazen attack on two mosques belonging to a minority sect in Lahore last Friday, people of the Ahmedi sect hoped that the Punjab government would take some important steps to protect the marginalized strata of the society, but it was not to be.

Amazingly, when the provincial authorities should have been dealing with the militants, who were nabbed alive during the commando operation on the Garhi Sahu and Model Town mosques, with force, they are busy in facilitating the demands of the terror mongers.

According to reports, one of the injured terrorists was allowed to use his cell phone in the hospital and the authorities even arranged a meeting between him and his family members.

The Ahmedis have severely criticised the provincial government for failing to act tough against the militants who were nabbed after murdering innocent people.

“Several terrorist attacks have been seen in the past, but none of the terrorists were treated so lovingly… none were allowed to communicate with their fellows, who then attempt to free him and manage to safely escape… God knows what they had wanted to achieve and the worst part is that they are still at large,” The Daily Times quoted Munawar Ali Shahid, a spokesman for the Ahmedi sect, as saying.

“The only option that an Ahmedi has is either to leave the country or be killed at the hands of a terrorist,” Shahid added.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which is in opposition in the province, has also launched an attack on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led Punjab government, saying the attack on the Ahmedi mosques was a “clear case of negligence.”

“People have lost faith in the Punjab government after the latter contested elections in coordination with terrorist outfits in Jhang and the way the authorities handled the Gojra incident makes it seem that they have an agenda against minorities,” PPP’s Lahore President Chaudhury Asghar Ali Gujjar said. (ANI)

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‘Defiant’ Musharraf ready to take on Pak SC head-on if summoned

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 20 (ANI): Accepting the challenge thrown at him by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Chief (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has said that he is ready to appear in the Supreme Court if summoned in any case.

“I only hope that justice will be done,” Musharraf said.

Interacting with media persons during a press conference here, Musharraf clarified that he has no regret over any decision taken by him during his eight-year long tenure.

The Lal Masjid operation, Akbar Bugti’s murder, NRO and decisions taken regarding the judiciary, and all other decisions were taken in light of the situation at that time, Musharraf said.

In December last year, Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared the emergency imposed by Musharraf in 2007 as unconstitutional and illegal, and went on to strike down the amnesty law, the National Reconciliation ordinance (NRO), following which several criminal and civil cases were filed against Musharraf.

Responding to a question regarding the United Nations inquiry report, which held his regime responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Musharraf stressed that Bhutto was provided full security cover, and that the then government could not be blamed for the gun and bomb attack on December 27, 2007.

He said Bhutto’s death was a great loss, but to implicate him and other top officials such as the then Director General Military Intelligence (MI) was part of a conspiracy.

Musharraf said he would return to the country soon and participate in elections, adding that he would formally announce his political party in few days.

“As far as a date for returning to Pakistan is concerned, I have not fixed a date but there is one desire. Whenever the next elections are held, whether they are end-term or mid-term, I will return to Pakistan before that,” The Nation quoted Musharraf, as saying.

Meanwhile, Musharraf’s legal advisor Chaudhary Fawad said that the Supreme Court cannot summon the former President on the NRO issue as the apex court does not have the authority to do so and it can only review the law. (ANI)

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Gilani, Nawaz challenge Musharraf to appear in Supreme Court

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 19 (ANI): Joining hands against former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, both Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif have challenged the former general to appear before the Supreme Court and face trial in numerous cases pending against him.

Sharif, who returned from London after a long stay, had a telephonic conversation with Gilani and assured him that the PML-N would continue to work with the government to strengthen the democracy and institutions in the country.

Both the leaders also agreed to hold a meeting soon to discuss ways to work together to protect democracy, The Daily Times reports.

They also agreed that democracy would not be allowed to be derailed since it was the only way forward to ensure prosperity and welfare of the common man, sources said. (ANI)

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Pak Senators ‘up in arms’ against Clinton’s ‘dire consequences’ diatribe

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, May 11 (ANI): US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s blunt talking has not gone down well with Pakistani law makers, who have urged the government to ask the Obama Administration to clarify its stand over her statement, that Pakistan may have to face ‘very dire consequences’ if country based terrorists succeeded in attacking America.

Speaking during a discussion in the National Assembly, senators from all the major political parties asked the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government to adopt a clear policy on Clinton’s statements.

Clinton, during an interview, had warned Pakistan of ‘severe consequences’ if a successful terror attack is traced back to that country.

She had also said that there are people in the Pakistan Government who know the whereabouts of Al Qaeda chieftain Osama bin Laden and Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Omar, but Islamabad has not shared enough evidence regarding that.

“I’m not saying that they’re at the highest levels but I believe that somewhere in this government are people who know where Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda is, where Mullah Omar and the leadership of the Afghan Taliban is and we expect more cooperation to help us bring to justice, capture or kill, those who attacked us on 9/11,” Clinton had said during CBS’ 60 minute.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Zafar Ali Shah demanded an explanation from Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, to which he replied that only the foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was authorised to speak on the issue.

“The foreign minister himself seemed to be publicly defending India by saying it was not violating the Indus Water Treaty. We should face the US by taking a similar stance instead of bowing down to pressures,” Shah shot back.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) leader Salim Saifullah said Clinton’s words were condemnable, particularly after the recent strategic dialogue between the two countries.

Saifullah said he personally knows Faisal Shahzad’s family, and that the failed New York bombing plot seems to be part of a large conspiracy against Pakistan.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) leader Maulana Haideri termed both the 9/11 and the Times Square incidents as ‘dramas’, which were staged by the US to target Pakistan. (ANI)

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Pak must keep option of force over water row with India: JuD

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 9 — A meeting organised by the Jamaat-ud-Dawah in Lahore on Sunday demanded that the government should either stop India from building dams on rivers flowing into Pakistan or give a “free hand” to ‘Kashmiri mujahideen’ to deal with the issue. A joint declaration issued by the JuD after the meeting asked the Pakistan government to keep “open the option of using force” to protect water resources if India does not stop work on projects on rivers flowing into the country.

The JuD demanded that Kashmiri mujahideen should be given a free hand if the Pakistan government fails to stop India from building dams on the rivers. The head of JuD’s political affairs wing, Abdur Rehman Makki, and the group’s “Pakistan Water Movement” convener Hafiz Safullah Mansoor presided over the meet.

JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, accused by India of masterminding the Mumbai attacks, did not attend the gathering. The meeting, dubbed an “All Parties Conference”, was attended by representatives of major political parties like the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s Tehrik-e-Insaaf.

“By building dams like Baglihar and Kishanganga on Pakistani rivers and water tunnels to divert the flow of water, India plans to economically destroy Pakistan like Somalia and Ethiopia.The Pakistan government’s incriminating silence over Indian water aggression is highly regrettable,” said a statement issued by the JuD. “All the government ministers and officials who speak Indian language on this vital national issue must apologise to the Pakistani nation and stop this behaviour of unilateral friendship with India at the cost of national interest,” it added.

The JuD claimed the “silence” over India’s alleged “water aggression” by world bodies like the UN and the World Bank is a “big question mark on their neutrality and fairness”. India, it further claimed, is conspiring to make Pakistan’s provinces “fight with each other over water”.

The statement further said the government should give “top priority to Kashmir and water issues” in its dialogue with dialogue. “If India is not willing to focus on these vital issues, there is no gain in continuing such dialogue,” it said.

The JuD contended that the Pakistan government’s role in resolving differences with India over sharing of river waters was “very disappointing”. It said, “Mere statements or few meetings (of the) Indus Waters Commission will not solve this problem.

Concrete steps must be taken urgently.” The UN must take notice and make India stop disputed projects in “disputed land” that “may trigger regional tensions or a possible war”, the statement said.

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Ex-advisers say Musharraf had no role in Benazir, Nawab Bugti killings

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, May 3 (ANI): Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf had no role to play in the assassinations of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto and Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and no hand in the Lal Masjid operation.

Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif and Major General (retired) Rashid Qureshi claimed that those who feared Musharraf’s popularity were levelling false allegations against him.

They said Nawab Bugti was killed during an army operation in Balochistan, which was initiated on the request of the Balochistan Government.

“Scores of Army officers and jawans were also martyred in that operation,” they added.

Musharraf aides claimed the former military ruler was the only leader to bravely represent the country at every forum.

Commenting on relations between the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and the MQM, they said ties were good and no attempt was made to create any hurdle in the way of APML.

They warned that now Musharraf is not a single person. “He is the head of a political party and any move against him would be resisted at every level,” they claimed.

Earlier, talking to mediamen at Jinnah International Airport, Qureshi said that PPP and PML-N started blaming Musharraf for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination whenever he talked about returning to the country.

He said: “All those people, who are the supporters of Musharraf, are included in the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).” (ANI)

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Christians protest against Pak lawmaker for occupying church

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Rawalpindi, Apr 3 (ANI): People belonging to the Christian community held a protest demonstration against a Pakistani lawmaker Malik Iftikhar belonging to PML-N for occupying a church with the help of armed hooligans.

Robinson Community Development Ministries (RCDM) organised the demonstration that was led jointly by former federal minister for minorities Colonel (r) SK Tressler, Pastor Samson Bhatti and Pastor of Chapel Zafar Mall.

The participants marched from Gordon College’s Chapel to the office of Rescue-15, where the demonstration turned into a public meeting.

Holding banners, posters and placards inscribed with statements for protection of places of worship, the participants were chanting slogans against Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, police high ups and district administration.

They also kept singing religious songs during the march, the Daily Times reports.

Addressing the gathering, Tressler demanded that Chief Justice of Pakistan take suo motu notice of the matter.

He alleged that country’s majority of politicians were criminals, who do not even observe the sanctity of holy places.

Robinson Asghar said that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif should dismiss the lawmaker and his brother Malik Ibrar, who is also a MNA from PML-N.

He also asked Punjab government to take action against SP Zarat Kyani and DSP Malik Tanveer as well as high officials of Revenue Department for making alteration in the official record. (ANI)

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Sharifs have turned Pak Punjab into terror ‘bomb’ ready to explode: Governor

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr.30 (ANI): Blaming the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for harbouring militants in the region, Pakistan’s Punjab province governor Salman Taseer has said that the PML-N under the direct guidance of its leadership (Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif) has turned province into a ‘bomb’, which is ready to explode.

Taseer charged the PML-N of ‘tolerating’ and ‘supporting’ extremists, who he said are operating ‘openly’ in the province as witnessed in the recent attacks on minority groups in the province.

“The Sharifs are creating a potential bomb here in Punjab. These (militant) groups are armed and dangerous. There is no way you can accommodate these people. There has to be zero tolerance,” The Guardian quoted Taseer, as saying.

The extent of jihadi groups’ grip on the region can be gauged from the fact that during the recent by-elections in Jhang, PML-N leaders were seen wooing the banned sectarian group Sipah-e-Sahaba.

Punjab”s Law minister, Rana Sanaullah, was pictured on the campaign trail with the alleged head of the group, Ahmed Ludhianvi.

It is also believed that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has deep links with the Sipah-e-Sahaba, which is blamed for the deaths of hundreds of Shias in the region.

Sheikh Waqas Akram, an opposition member of parliament from Jhang, compared Punjab’s situation with that of the Swat Valley, where the Taliban had established a virtual parallel government.

“There can be 10 Swats in Punjab, if you don”t check them (extremists),” the newspaper quoted Akram, as saying.

However, Sanaullah has countered all charges against him and the PML-N, saying that though banned terror groups operate in the region, there is no such ‘Talibanisation’ of Punjab.

“There was no ‘Talibanisation’ in Punjab.Not a single street where you can say there is a no-go area,” he said.

Sanaullah denied Sipah-e-Sahaba’s involvement in any terror activities, and blamed the extremists based in the tribal areas in country’s north-west for the recent spate of violence in the province.

“95% of the people of Sipah-e-Sahaba are not terrorists.We must persuade these persons to put aside their guns, to participate in elections. They have the right to vote, so why can”t I ask them Sipah-e-Sahaba for votes?” Sanaullah said. (ANI)

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PML-N leaders sniff ‘third force’ conspiracy

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 26(ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders have expressed their fears about some conspiracy or ‘something extra-constitutional’ being hatched by certain elements belonging to the Army and intelligence agencies.

Raising concerns about the conspiracy, PML-N spokesman and senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has said that a third force wants a clash between the judiciary and parliament.

Iqbal did not name the third force precisely in the same fashion, as Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has repeatedly done in recent months, The News reports.

According to another PML-N leader, the Army is trying to pitch the judiciary against parliament and for this purpose it is using certain elements in the media.

The leader, however, did not have anything concrete to support his argument.

After the recent bloody riots in Abbottabad and Hazara, another PML-N leader had voiced his doubts that some intelligence agencies had played tricks to trigger violence in the area. (ANI)

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PML-N leaders sniff ‘third force’ conspiracy

April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 26(ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders have expressed their fears about some conspiracy or ‘something extra-constitutional’ being hatched by certain elements belonging to the Army and intelligence agencies.

Raising concerns about the conspiracy, PML-N spokesman and senior leader Ahsan Iqbal has said that a third force wants a clash between the judiciary and parliament.

Iqbal did not name the third force precisely in the same fashion, as Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has repeatedly done in recent months, The News reports.

According to another PML-N leader, the Army is trying to pitch the judiciary against parliament and for this purpose it is using certain elements in the media.

The leader, however, did not have anything concrete to support his argument.

After the recent bloody riots in Abbottabad and Hazara, another PML-N leader had voiced his doubts that some intelligence agencies had played tricks to trigger violence in the area. (ANI)

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Zardari, Nawaz tried to clip Pak judiciary’s power: Imran

April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr 26(ANI): Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that by passing the 18th Amendment, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif made an attempt to clip the judiciary’s power.

Addressing a rally against loadshedding and price-hike in Lahore, Khan said he would thwart the government’s design against the judiciary.

“If Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are true patriot, why don’t they bring their money from abroad?” The News quoted Khan, as saying.

“Despite the fact that Pakistan has no water, no electricity, people are jobless, factories are lying closed, a hefty amount of Rs. 30 million is being spent on the President of this poor country,” he added.

Khan further said that criminals are ruling the country due to which the people were suffering, and insisted that there would be no changes if people cannot fight for their rights.

“Imran called upon the nation to rise up in unison against this diabolical system of oppression and wage a crusade against forces of darkness to steer the country out of this maelstrom crisis,” The Nation quoted a PTI statement, as saying. (ANI)

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PML-N calls for murder proceedings against Musharraf over Bhutto’s assassination

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.17 (ANI): Following the UN enquiry commission’s report over former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, which held the then Musharraf regime responsible for the killing, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has once again raised the demand for the former general’s trial.

PML-N spokesperson Parvaiz Rashid said the UN report has made it apparent that Musharraf was directly involved in Bhutto’s assassination, and now the government must not waste any time to start the former President’s trial.

“The nation wants to know the facts and reasons as to why the government is still not ready to start the murder case proceedings,” The News quoted Rashid, as saying.

He also questioned the government’s move to spend billions of rupees on the probe without any substantial action against those who masterminded the deadly attack on Bhutto on December 27, 2007.

The UN enquiry commission’s report has blamed the then Musharraf government of ‘deliberately’ failing to probe the December 2007 gun and bomb attack, saying the tragedy could have been averted had adequate security arrangements been in place.

“The Musharraf government failed to provide foolproof security to Ms. Bhutto which ultimately allowed a lethal assault on her. The security breach left wide-open room for an attack to happen,” the report said in its opening remarks. (ANI)

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Zardari’s key powers slashed as Pak Senate approves constitutional amendment bill

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.16 (ANI): The historic 18th Constitutional Amendment bill, which would transfer President Asif Ali Zardari’s key powers to the Prime Minister’s residence, has been passed by the Pakistan Senate by an overwhelming two-third majority.

Describing the passage of the bill as a ‘landmark’ event in the country’s history, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said: “It is a victory of democracy today. Approval of this constitutional amendment is a landmark event in the constitutional history of Pakistan.”

The bill, which also omitted the name of former President General Zia-ul-Haq from the Constitution, would now be presented to Zardari for final approval, The News reports.

The bill, which is likely to be signed into law by Zardari today (Friday), will effectively make the President an ‘ostensible’ head of state, who can formally appoint heads of the armed forces, dissolve the National Assembly and appoint provincial governors on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The House also introduced an amendment to the Constitution to change the procedure for the appointment of judges of superior judiciary.

Under this provision, the judges would now be nominated by a Judicial Commission, headed by the Chief Justice, while the final approval of the appointments would be given by a parliamentary committee, consisting of members of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Although the bill was passed by a majority of votes in the Senate, some leaders belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other political parties objected to a couple of clauses in the bill, which were related to renaming of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as “Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa”, and intra-party polls. (ANI)

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Zardari’s key powers slashed as Pak Senate approves constitutional amendment bill

April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.16 (ANI): The historic 18th Constitutional Amendment bill, which would transfer President Asif Ali Zardari’s key powers to the Prime Minister’s residence, has been passed by the Pakistan Senate by an overwhelming two-third majority.

Describing the passage of the bill as a ‘landmark’ event in the country’s history, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said: “It is a victory of democracy today. Approval of this constitutional amendment is a landmark event in the constitutional history of Pakistan.”

The bill, which also omitted the name of former President General Zia-ul-Haq from the Constitution, would now be presented to Zardari for final approval, The News reports.

The bill, which is likely to be signed into law by Zardari today (Friday), will effectively make the President an ‘ostensible’ head of state, who can formally appoint heads of the armed forces, dissolve the National Assembly and appoint provincial governors on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The House also introduced an amendment to the Constitution to change the procedure for the appointment of judges of superior judiciary.

Under this provision, the judges would now be nominated by a Judicial Commission, headed by the Chief Justice, while the final approval of the appointments would be given by a parliamentary committee, consisting of members of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Although the bill was passed by a majority of votes in the Senate, some leaders belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other political parties objected to a couple of clauses in the bill, which were related to renaming of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as “Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa”, and intra-party polls. (ANI)

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NRO beneficiaries want to use 18th Amendment for vested interests: Imran Khan

April 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Okara (Pakistan), Apr 5(ANI): Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries want to appoint their favourites as judges with the help of the 18th Amendment.

Khan said a compromise made over the judicial commission reflected the dual standards of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), adding that anyone wanting to strengthen democracy in the country must flourish as an independent judiciary.

He further said that the basic function of opposition in the Parliament was to highlight the people’s problems, but the PML-N had taken no step to realise the responsibility, The Nation reports.

Khan reckons that PML-N’s stance regarding compromise for the sake of democratic stability was not a principled one and an insult to people’s mandate.

He was also of the opinion that the procedure regarding judges’ appointment mentioned in the 18th Amendment would affect the independence of the judiciary. (ANI)

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Musharraf likely to ‘formally’ announce new party next week

April 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Apr.4 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is likely to announce his new party, named the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), next week.

According to sources privy to the development, over two dozen ‘dissident’ leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), including Nisar Muhammad Khan and Sher Afgan Niazi, are currently camping in Abu Dhabi for consultations with Musharraf.

One of Musharraf’s close aides said that a meeting has already taken place on April 2 and talks are likely to continue till April 11.

Meetings are being organised by Barrister Saif, Musharraf’s ‘unofficial’ spokesperson, who has already applied for the registration of the new party.

Musharraf is likely to travel to Singapore from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he would decide his future course of action.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reportedly accepted Musharraf’s application to register his new political party.

However, former Pakistan Army official Major General (retired) Rashid Qureshi, while commenting on reports regarding Musharraf staging a comeback, said the former President has still not decided to join the newly floated party.

Qureshi said though Musharraf enjoys huge public support, he is unlikely to join the APML in the coming days.

“Musharraf has not yet decided to join the party and is waiting for right time to join Pakistani politics. There are 155,000 members of Pasdaran-e-Pakistan and 150,000 lovers on face book. Its shows how much popular he is in the masses,” The Nation quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Musharraf has himself made it clear on several occasions that he would return to Pakistan if the country needs him and if he garners sufficient support.

But with numerous pending cases against him in various courts across Pakistan and the opposition, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) pushing for his high treason trial, the former general’s return seems to be a distant dream. (ANI)

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PML-N may change role in opposition after 18th Amendment Bill is approved

April 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 5(ANI): Pakistan’s political scenario is likely to undergo a change in the years to come, if the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) shifts from being a ‘friendly’ opposition to a ‘responsible’ one after the 18th Amendment Bill is approved.

According to reports, the PML-N’s major concern in the bill is the removal of the restriction on a third term as a premier.

Differences also cropped up between the coalition government over many issues, such as the reinstatement of judges and the federal cabinet formula, and the PML-N withdrew from the coalition and joined the judiciary’s campaign, The Daily Times reports.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had ruled out joining the federal cabinet, saying his party has no intentions of joining the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government.

Denying reports of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani asking him to join the cabinet and become a federal minister after the 17th amendment were abolished, Sharif had said the PML-N would continue to play the role of a ‘responsible’ opposition.

“After the 18th amendment bill is passed, the government should start concentrating on providing relief to the common man,” Sharif had said.(ANI)

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Zardari’s powers clipped by ‘historic’ 18th Constitution Amendment bill draft

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.1 (ANI): In what could further clip the powers of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari , the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) has signed the draft of the 18th Constitution Amendment bill.

The Amendment bill proposes the transfer of powers from the Presidency to Parliament and the Prime Minister House.

The Parliamentary committee led by Mian Raza Rabbani has finally approved all 93 amendments proposed in the bill despite the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif raising objections over some of the amendments, saying a consensus between all the stakeholders was a must.

The PML-N and the Awami National Party (ANP) had differed on some of the issues, including that of renaming the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

The committee has proposed the name of Khyber-Pakhtunkwa for NWFP, The News reports.

The draft also proposed removal of dictatorial amendments, and abolition of the name of former President General Zia-ul-Haq from the Constitution. However, it has no mention of General Pervez Musharraf, who had also amended 26 articles of the Constitution through his ‘dictatorial’ 17th Amendment.

According to sources, the proposed draft would be presented in the National Assembly and Senate on Friday while the process of legislation is likely to start from next Tuesday, following the President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the joint session of the Parliament on Monday. (ANI)

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Political issues could be resolved through Sania, Shoaib type positive approach : Nawaz

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Mar.31 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said he is happy at the news of the wedding of Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, adding that political issues could also be resolved through a similar ‘positive approach’.

Malik and Mirza will tie the knot on April 11 in Hyderabad while their wedding reception is slated to be held in Dubai on April 15.

Earlier, Mirza confirmed the news about her marrying Malik, and said both will settle in Dubai after marriage.

The two famous sports personalities would be getting married at a time when ties between India and Pakistan are not so cordial following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

They are not the first cross-border couple. Former Pakistan Test opener Mohsin Khan had married Bollywood actress Reena Roy in the 1980s, but the marriage didn’t last long.

Mirza has already clarified that she was not making any political statement by marrying Malik.

Addressing the media outside her house in Hyderabad, Sania said: “We are not getting married for making political statement. We are getting married, that is the only thing in my mind. It is as simple just like you people get married.”

“I’m very happy, my family is very happy with the occasion. The reception will be held on April 15. The venue has not been decided as yet. It is still weeks away, but I’m happy,” she added. (ANI)

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