PM Gilani calls federal cabinet meeting on Nov 30

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has convened the federal cabinet meeting on coming Tuesday (November 30) where the transfer of five ministries from the centre to the provinces would be approved, Trend Pk reported Thursday.

The chief ministers of four provinces, the chief secretaries and other high officials will attend the meeting.

About 3,918 employees would be affected with the transfers of five ministries from the centre to the provinces. Trend Pk

We Support Indiscriminate Accountability: PM Gilani

News Trends: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government endorsed transparent and indiscriminate accountability.
Addressing the National Assembly, the PM rejected the perception that the government is against the people while the Opposition is not, saying that the people should themselves realize which policy is better for them.

Accountability Bill was the first thing our government brought, the PM maintained, adding that we are for indiscriminate accountability. He lamented that accountability was not transparent during the previous regimes. He alleged the Opposition of targeting one institute and that also on purpose. Reply to Nawazs letter would certainly be sent after return of President Zardari, the PM told the NA. Referring to the interception of ministers cars at Shahra-e-Dastoor, the Premier said no such incident took place even the minster named are not confirming it; I even talked to the COAS regarding the issue. Regarding the IMF loan issue and the conditions set by the organization, Gilani said that I did take the Cabinet on board in this respect. About reformed GST Bill, he said that only MQM had some reservations over it who contacted the Finance Minister to get them addressed. He said that all the four Chief Ministers approved the RGST Bill. The provinces asked the federation to give Rs 160 billion in aid for the flood victims, Reformed GST is the only way to help the flood victims, the PM asserted.

Earlier, while addressing the NA, Chaudhry Nisar maintained that even the House was not taken on board vis–vis RGST Bill let alone the allies.
He said that the PM did announce to consult us all but he did not. He warned those at the helm against anti-public decisions.

GST Reforms Bill tabled in NA, Senate

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Despite stiff resistance from coalition partners and opposition parties, Federal Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh presented GST Reforms Bill 2010, Finance Amended Bill and Flood Surcharge Bill in the National Assembly and Senate today (Friday).

Members of the PML-N, PML-Q and MQM staged protest against the bills.

Earlier, speaking at the floor of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Syed Raza Gilani said that chief ministers of all four provinces were taken onboard about the bills six months back.

“The bills have not presented over-night and that thorough consultations have been made about them,” he said. Trend Pk

I will supervise relief work myself: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday, while presiding over the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) meeting that he will supervise rehabilitation work himself, and announced the formation of the NDMC which will transparently collect funds for the flood affected people.

“I myself supervise the relief and rehabilitation process for the flood victims to get it done in a transparent manner,” said PM Gilani in the NDMC meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and attended by all the chief ministers, Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chairman of NDMA and heads of organisations concerned.

PM Gilani assured that qualified and talented people will be appointed by the NDMC, their names will be announced soon.

He said close coordination and better

Police detain suspect after blast kills 7 in Xinjiang

BEIJING: Police in China’s restive far western region of Xinjiang have detained a suspect after an explosion on an electric tricycle killed seven people and injured another 14, state news agency Xinhua said on Thursday.

Xinhua said the incident, which it called in its English-language report an “accident”, happened in the morning in the southern city of Aksu.

“A suspect had been seized by police at the site and was being questioned,” it said, citing a government statement.

“Local authorities were going all out to treat the injured people,” the report added. AGENCIES

Rain forecast for flood-stricken Pakistan

Staff Report

KARACHI: The Meteorological Department on Thursday has predicted rain with lightning in some parts of Kashmir, Hazara, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Lower Sindh and North-East Balochistan during next 24 hours.

According to the Met Office, some parts of Upper Punjab, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir have already received rain during last 24 hours.

25 millimeters was the heaviest rain recorded on Wednesday. SAMAA

NDMC meeting today

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) is set to hold a crucial meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, which besides reviewing the overall situation also consider the proposal of setting up of an authority or body to transparently collect funds for the flood affected people.

The meeting will be presided over by the prime minister and attended by all the chief ministers, prime minister of Azad Kashmir, chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chairman of NDMA and heads of organisations concerned.

He said close coordination and better understanding among the federal and provincial governments would greatly facilitate in streamlining the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Prime Minister said a joint strategy was the need of the hour to effectively confront the challenges of relief and rehabilitation.

The Prime Minister said the government was

Bill moved in Senate to amend Anti-Terror Act

ISLAMABAD: The government has brought a new bill to amend Anti-Terror Act in the Senate with proposals of several measures to make the law more stringent and rigorous, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Under the proposed amendments, a person arrested under terror charges, can be kept behind bars for 90 days.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik tabled the Bill to amend Anti-Terror Act.

The Bill said destroying government and private properties with force, resisting against Law-enforcers and establishing illegal FM radio would be held as acts of terrorism.

The Act proposes at least ten years sentence and 90-day imprisonment for the individual arrested under terror charges and this is unchallengeable in any court.

Also, the persons accused on terror charges, would be tried in camera.

Addressing the House prior to this, Rehman Malik said the main accused held in large terror activities, got acquitted owing to the flaws in the Act.

Deputy Chairman Senate, sending the Bill to the related committee, urged the members to give suggestions and not expedite its approval.

COAS tenure extension challenged in PHC

PESHAWAR: The extension in service awarded to Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has been challenged in Peshawar High Court (PHC).

Shahid Orakzai filed a writ petition against the extension of COAS tenure in PHC. The petitioner has adopted a stance that the in the wake of passage of the 18th amendment bill, the Prime Minister cannot hold direct consultation with the President.

The petition further said that under Article-243 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister is not competent to grant extension in service to the Army Chief on the basis of performance.

Shahid Orakzai prayed to the court to take notice of violation of the Constitution and called for the President to review the decision of extending Gen Kayani’s service as COAS.

Sardar Atiq elected AJK PM unopposed

ISLAMABAD: President Muslim Conference, Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan has been elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir unopposed, Geo News reported Tuesday.

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