Nawaz condoles demise of Ramday’s nephew

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif visited the residence of Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday and condoled the demise of the latter’s nephew.

Nawaz Sharif, who returned home from London yesterday, visited the residence of Justice Ramday at noon today and expressed his condolence on the death of the latter’s nephew, former advocate general Punjab Raza Farooq.

The PML-N Chief prayed for ‘Maghfirat’of the departed soul.

Musharraf Govt Blamed For Assassination Of BB

The U.N. commission, which looked into the facts and circumstance of the 2007 assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has held General(R) Pervez Musharraf’s government responsible for the killings of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

The details of the report states that the security provided to her by the government was inadequate and the report further suggest that her personal security provided by PPP was inadequate from preventing the tragedy to take.

The UN Commission, tasked with ascertaining facts behind December 27, 2007 assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, said in its report that the responsibility for security of the prime minister rested primarily with the then federal government, the government of Punjab and Rawalpindi Police and found that the federal government failed to provide effective protection to the popular leader.

The head of the commission said none of the three took necessary measure to respond to the extraoridnary risks facing the former prime minister but said it is for the Pakistani authorities to hold anyone responsible.

“We cannot accuse or absolve anyone. That is the task of Pakistani authorities,” head of the commission, Ambassador Heraldo Munoz of Chile, told a news conference, while releasing the report.

“Responsibility for Bhutto’s security on the day of her assassination rested with the federal Government, the government of Punjab and the Rawalpindi District Police.

None of these entities took necessary measures to respond to the extraordinary, fresh and urgent security risks that they knew she faced,” the Commission said in its findings.

“The federal Government under General Musharraf, although fully aware of, and tracking, the serious threats to Bhutto’s security, did little more than pass on those threats to her and provincial authorities and were not proactive in neutralizing them or ensuring that the security provided was commensurate to the threats.

“The federal Government failed in its primary responsibility to provide effective protection to Ms Bhutto on her return to Pakistan.”

“The federal Government lacked a comprehensive security plan for Ms Bhutto, relying instead on provincial authorities, but then failed to issue to them the necessary instructions. Particularly inexcusable was the Government’s failure to direct provincial authorities to provide Ms Bhutto the same stringent and specific security measures it ordered on 22 October 2007 for two other former prime ministers who belonged to the main political party supporting General Musharraf.

This discriminatory treatment is profoundly troubling given the devastating attempt on her life only three days earlier and the specific threats against her which were being tracked by the ISI.”

The three-member commission, which undertook several visits to Pakistan and interviewed a number of people, found that the “federal Government lacked a comprehensive security plan for Ms Bhutto, relying instead on provincial authorities, but then failed to issue to them the necessary instructions.”

“Particularly inexcusable was the Government’s failure to direct provincial authorities to provide Ms Bhutto the same stringent and specific security measures it ordered on 22 October 2007 for two other former prime ministers who belonged to the main political party supporting General Musharraf.” Ms Bhutto’s assassination on 27 December 2007 could have been prevented if the Rawalpindi District Police had taken adequate security measures. The security arrangements for Ms Bhutto by the Rawalpindi District Police were ineffective and insufficient.

The police’s security plan, as written, was flawed, containing insufficient focus on Ms Bhutto’s protection and focusing instead on the deployment of police for crowd control purposes,” it said.

The Commission is persuaded that the Rawalpindi police chief, CPO Saud Aziz, did not act independently of higher authorities, either in the decision to hose down the crime scene or to impede the post-mortem examination.

It also found that the Government press conference conducted by Brigadier Cheema on 28 December 2007, the day after the assassination, was ordered by General Musharraf.

“The Government’s assertion that Ms Bhutto’s death was caused when she hit her head on the lever of her vehicle’s escape hatch and that Baitullah Mehsud and Al-Qaida were responsible for the suicide bomber were made well before any proper investigation had been initiated. This action preempted, prejudiced and hindered the subsequent investigation.”

An unequivocal determination as to the cause and means of Bhutto’s death would have required an autopsy. The Commission has uncovered no new evidence to suggest a gunshot injury to Bhutto. Diplomats pointed out that the purpose of the inquiry was to establish the facts and circumstances around Bhutto’s slaying and was not meant to identify the culprits.

Report has no legal value: Moeed Pirzada
Famous analyst Dr. Moeed Pirzada speaking that the report findings have no legal value, however he added that PPP leaders, workers and activist would react to the findings of the commission.

Presidency satisfied with findings of U.N. commission: Farhatullah Babar

The President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that he was satisfied by the outcomes of the report and said that PPP government is aware of its responsibilities relating to the investigations of the murder.

---

Musharraf Govt Blamed For Assassination Of BB was first posted on April 16, 2010 at 10:40 am.
Copyright @ A News Trends.Com

Blast At Civil Hospital, Quetta

At least ten people including a cameraman of a private TV channel and a DSP died while 35 others injured as a suicide bomber detonated his payload in Civil Hospital Quetta today.

According to reports reaching here, some unidentified gunmen killed a manager of a private bank; his dead body was brought to the Civil Hospital Quetta. Member National Assembly Agha Nasir reached the hospital to extend his condolence to the aggrieved family. However, by the time he entered the hospital building, a suicide bomber blew himself up, which was ensued by firing.

Resultantly, six cops including a DSP and a cameraman of a private TV channel namely Arif Malik were killed while 35 others injured including MNA Agha Nasir and two other journalists hailing from different TV channels.

Law enforcement agencies cordon off the area while rescue efforts are underway.

Emergency has been imposed in hospitals in wake of the blast.

---

Blast At Civil Hospital, Quetta was first posted on April 16, 2010 at 10:45 am.
Copyright @ A News Trends.Com

Nawaz Sharif Urges on Implementation of SC Verdict

LAHORE, Pakistan News: Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the democracy can only be sustained in the country if the judgments by the Supreme Court of Pakistan be respected and implemented.

Talking to newsmen here after paying his condolence to the parents of Shazia – 12-year-old housemaid killed by her employers’ brutal torture, Sharif said that the responsible of the cold-blooded murder must be brought to justice.

To a query chief of his own faction of Pakistan Muslim League said the democracy should seem different from the dictatorship. “Its really bad having seen the affects of dictatorship in the democratic system.”

The rulers have lost the opportunity of February 18, 2008, to bring a real change in the system, Sharif lamented.

---

Nawaz Sharif Urges on Implementation of SC Verdict was first posted on January 25, 2010 at 5:45 pm.

Musharraf Fate May Decided by Parliament: Attorney General

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Latif Khosa said former President Musharraf could be tried by simple majority resolution of Parliament.

Talking to media in oath taking ceremony of Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, attorney general said cases of Supreme Court’s Justice Faqir Khokar and Justice Javed Batter will be send to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

SJC only hears matters of citing judge and if any judge tender resignation during proceedings, reference against him could not be hear. A judge retains his position till the verdict of SJC.

Replying to a question about action against former President Musharraf, attorney general said Parliament is supreme in this issue.

CM Shahbaz Assured Full Investigation On Gojra Riots

GOJRA: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the government will not rest till the complete rehabilitation of inter-communal riots’ victims of the city.

Sharif was addressing the delegates of Christian community of Gojra after paying his condolence to the heirs of eight deceased burnt to death in recent riots.

The CM also visited the local church of the city and met the community leaders. He assured them of bringing the culprits of violence against Christians to justice as soon as possible, saying that the government will ensure safe and secure environment for the minorities.

Governor Punjab Salman Taseer is also scheduled to visit Gojra later today, says the channel.

CJ Iftikhar Leading Full Court Meeting

ISLAMABAD: The full court meeting has begun under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry here.

Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar and Justice Javed Buttar are not present in the meeting as cases of these judges have been referred to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

The full court meeting will discuss matters including the Supreme Judicial Policy, sources said.

The meting is also reviewing formation of a committee to monitor anti terrorism courts.