PM Gilani removes 4 federal, 5 state ministers

The sacked ministers include Farzana Raja, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Salman Farooqi and Dr. Ishfaq. According to Cabinet Division, Federal Ministers Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Gilani, Salman Farooqi, Khali Ahmed, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor and Farzana Raja and State Ministers Salim Mandwiwala, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Dr. Nadeemul Haq have been removed from their positions. The sacked ministers would continue their work on other government posts. All the privileges, facilities, security and houses would be taken back from the ministers.

Haideri resigns from the post of Chief Whip in Senate

JUI leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has resigned from the post of Chief Whip of the government in Senate on Friday, trendpk.com reported.

Abdul Ghafoor Haideri had been serving in this position from the last two years. However, after the JUI-F decided to break away from the government in the centre, there was pressure on him to resign from the post.

The senator is the third lawmaker of the JUI-F to resign from his position. Earlier, in protest of the sacking of Minister of Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati, the JUI-F had submitted resignations of two cabinet members to the prime minister including Housing Minister Rehmatullah Kakar and Tourism Minister Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman.

PML-Q hailed our decision to quit government: JUI Chief

PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain visited JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence and discussed the prevailing political situation of the country, trendpk.com reported.

Chaudhry Shujaat said he came here to discuss the prevailing political situation adding that PML-Q wanted that the government should complete its term so that the ruling party doesnt get another chance to rule in the future.

While, Fazlur Rehman noted that PML-Q has hailed their decision to quit the government, which has jolted the national politics.

Secretary General PML-Q Mushahid Hussain Syed and JUI-F Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor Haideri were also present during the meeting.

Uproar in Senate over RGST

After MQM, now its JUIs turn to oppose RGST in the Senate. Slogans of RGST unacceptable were shouted in the Senate till its session was adjourned for indefinite period. Nair Bukhari presented the copy of the RGST bill in the Senate and the bill was handed over to the Standing Committee for Finance. Tahir Mushhadi said that it was a suicide certificate being given to people in form of RGST. He said that RGST was the other name of VAT. He stressed that if reforms are necessary, then PIA, WAPDA and Railways should be reformed at the earliest. Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidry said that RGST was not less than drone attack and it would not be supported. MQM members continued to shout slogans against RGST. MQM boycotted the session for the third day in opposition of RGST approval. Finance Minister said that RGST was not a new tax, instead the system was reform.

NRO Review Case Hearing Underway

ISLAMABAD, News Trends: The government Wednesday filed a review petition against rejection of a government plea by the Supreme Court on October 11, 2010.

A 17-member larger bench of the Supreme Court hearing NRO implementation and review petitions as Senator Latif Khosa representing the government in place of Barrister Kamal Azfar in the case.

Khosa had resigned from the post of Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Information Technology yesterday.

Advocate-on-Record Raja Abdul Ghafoor filed the government appeal against the court’s decision over the government request for more time in hearing.

The court yesterday rejected the petition because of non-payment of the court fees, which was resubmitted today.

Stringent security measures have been taken in Supreme Courrt as no person being allowed entry without security passes.

The court will also hear the NRO implementation case today.

SC Rejects Govt Plea for Time in NRO Review Case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Monday rejected the government plea seeking more time in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review hearing.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry rejected government plea this morning.

The government on Saturday filed an application in the Supreme Court through Raja Abdul Ghafoor, advocate-on-record, seeking more time in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review petition to engage another counsel in place of Barrister Kamal Azfar, who was appointed the Advisor to the Prime Minister.

The court rejected the government request and now Barrister Kamal Azfar will have to appear before the court on behalf of the government in the hearing of the case on October 13th.

SC starts hearing of NRO review case, govt. demands more time

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The government has submitted a plea in court to gain more time for proceeding with the NRO review case while the Supreme Court of Pakistan started the hearing on Wednesday.

A 17 member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing the case.

Advocate on Record Raja Abdul Ghafoor has submitted a plea for further delay from the government after the court’s rejection to allow changing the case’s counsel.

The Supreme Court is hearing different petitions of the government, ex Chairman NAB, and ex Attorney General Malik Qayyum.

The SC fixed October 13 (today) for the next hearing after accepting the government’s request of adjournment for a few more days.

The ex Attorney General Anwar Maqsood said that there is no chance that the court will give more time, as the government did not defend the

Crime adds to misery for flood victims

MEHMOOD KOT: Crime and the sale of donated aid supplies are undermining the aid effort for Pakistan’s flood victims.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital Peshawar, flour bags and tins of cooking oil bearing the logos of international aid agencies like the World Food Prgramme and USAID are openly on sale.

“We bought them from the victims,” said shopkeeper Abdul Ghafoor, who owns a shop in Peshawar’s Gur Mandi. “They get money and buy something else which they need more.”

“It cannot happen without officials’ involvement,” said another shopkeeper, Rahimullah Khan. “Victims cannot bring a truck full of supplies here.”

One Reuters reporter saw flour being unloaded in a market from a truck labelled “Relief Goods for Flood Affected People, from Islamic Relief”.

The goods are then sold at cheaper prices than usual.

“I can save 300

MQM tables two motions in NA

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement has submitted two motions, privilege and adjourning motions against PML-N in the National Assembly (NA) secretariat, said sources on Tuesday.

The motions were submitted by Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi and other members of MQM.

At least 25 National Assembly members signed the motions.

The privilege motion will seek to move National Assembly against anti-democratic and anti-constitutional acts rendered by PML-N.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), had submitted a privilege motion against the statements issued by Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday, August 23.

At least 87 PML-N members signed the privilege motion which was submitted in the National Assembly Secretariat.

The motion said that the statement of inviting the military to

Lahore PTCL employees’ protest for salary raise

Staff Report

LAHORE:T he employees’ of PTCL have staged a protest, for the salary raise, in front of Lahore Press Club ( LPC). One employee tried to burn himself in protest but others foiled his attempt, SAMAA reported on Wednesday.

According to details, the PTCL employees started their protest on Edgerton Road and took their protest rally up to the Lahore Press Club.

The furious PTCL employees brought out a ceremonial funeral of the management and after reaching in front of LPC they burnt it.

During protest, one PTCL employee, Abdul Ghafoor, was chanting slogans against the management with beating his chest in protest, and in between suddenly he tried to burn himself with fire but his other fellow protesters foiled his attempt. SAMAA

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