US pressures Pakistan for Raymond release
LAHORE: The United States on Friday renewed demands for Pakistan to immediately release a detained American official who Washington says acted in self defence when he shot dead two men.
The latest US call came hours after Pakistani police rejected the self-defence claim of Raymond Davis, who shot dead two men in broad daylight, and accused him of cold-blooded murder as a court extended his remand.
“As a member of the administrative and technical staff at the US embassy in Islamabad, Raymond Davis is entitled to full immunity from criminal prosecution by Pakistan under the Vienna convention,” US Consul General Carmela Conroy said.
Reading out a written statement to media in Lahore, Conroy, who met Davis in jail, said that under the convention, “he should be freed immediately”.
“We need to resolve this case immediately and continue our work, including cooperation in education and health, our common fight against extremist violence, and building bridges between the people of Pakistan and America.”
“We regret that authorities did not consider… eyewitness accounts and physical evidence when they stated that this was not a case of self-defence,” she added.
Lahore’s police chief Aslam Tareen had told a press conference Friday morning that “It was cold-blooded murder.”
On January 28, the US embassy identified him as a “staff member of the US consulate general in Lahore”, the next day as a “diplomat assigned to the US embassy in Islamabad”.
Under international laws, embassy diplomats have full diplomatic immunity whereas consular officials are liable for detention in case of grave crimes.
“This incident was a tragedy, and we feel tremendous sorrow over the loss of life. We extend our deep sympathy to all family members who have been affected,” Conroy said, but refused to take any questions. AGENCIES
MQM to host Sindh Convention in Bhit Shah
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is all set to hold Sindh Convention in Bhit Shah near Hyderabad today (Saturday).
Hundreds of MQM activists took out motorcycle rallies in different areas of Hyderabad ahead of the convention.
The jubilant MQM supporters danced on the tunes of party’s songs and visited the welcoming camps. TrendPK
India signs IAEA’s nuclear liability pact
October 28, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
VIENNA: India on Wednesday signed an international convention governing liability in case of nuclear accidents, a move sought by Washington so as to pave the way for US firms to enter India’s civil nuclear market.
With just a week to go before US President Barack Obama’s landmark visit to India, the International Atomic Energy Agency said New Delhi’s ambassador to Austria and to the IAEA, Dinkar Khullar, signed the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) at a brief ceremony at the UN watchdog’s headquarters in Vienna.
The CSC — which dates back to September 1997 — seeks to establish a uniform global legal regime for the compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear accident.
India hopes that signing the convention will allay some of the concerns of US companies about New Delhi’s own recently-passed nuclear liability law which
India signs nuclear liability pact
India signed an international treaty governing global civil nuclear liability, a step sought by Washington to reassure US suppliers entering the country’s fledgling $150 billion atomic power market. It is a very positive step to assure that international standards apply, and US companies will have a level playing field to compete, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns told a White House briefing.
The signing took place at the headquarters of the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna, a little over a week before US President Barack Obama visits India, when he will meet US business leaders in Asia’s third-largest economy. India’s parliament passed legislation in August to open up the domestic nuclear market. But its nuclear liability law also gives the right to seek damages from plant suppliers if there is an accident. India is the only country to have such a provision, which was added after wide political pressure. The United States has pressed India to accede to the multilateral Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) to assure its suppliers any liabilities would be in line with international norms. The CSC which dates back to September 1997 seeks to establish a uniform global legal regime for the compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear accident. India hopes that signing the convention will allay some of the concerns of US companies about New Delhi’s own recently-passed nuclear liability law which gives the right to seek damages from plant suppliers if there is an accident.
India signs nuclear liability pact
India signed an international treaty governing global civil nuclear liability, a step sought by Washington to reassure US suppliers entering the country’s fledgling $150 billion atomic power market. It is a very positive step to assure that international standards apply, and US companies will have a level playing field to compete, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns told a White House briefing.
The signing took place at the headquarters of the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna, a little over a week before US President Barack Obama visits India, when he will meet US business leaders in Asia’s third-largest economy. India’s parliament passed legislation in August to open up the domestic nuclear market. But its nuclear liability law also gives the right to seek damages from plant suppliers if there is an accident. India is the only country to have such a provision, which was added after wide political pressure. The United States has pressed India to accede to the multilateral Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) to assure its suppliers any liabilities would be in line with international norms. The CSC which dates back to September 1997 seeks to establish a uniform global legal regime for the compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear accident. India hopes that signing the convention will allay some of the concerns of US companies about New Delhi’s own recently-passed nuclear liability law which gives the right to seek damages from plant suppliers if there is an accident.
Pakistan needs to sign two accords for Aafias repatriation
US embassy said that Pakistan has to sign two agreements for the repatriation of Dr. Aafia.
According to the US embassy sources, Pakistan was informed that it has to sign Council of Europe Treaty and OAF Convention for Dr. Aafias return. Interior Minister Rehman Malik was officially informed about the matter soon after courts verdict. Pakistan was also informed about the issue during Hillary Clintons visit to the country. Embassy sources said that Pakistan did not act upon this easy and diplomatic way to bring Dr. Aafia back to Pakistan.
Man hurled shoes towards President Zardari: Eyewitness
BIRMINGHAM: A man threw two shoes towards President Asif Ali Zardari when the latter was delivering a speech at Pakistan People’s Party’s convention here on Saturday, an eyewitness said.
However, the shoes failed to reach the stage, sources said.
President Zardari was addressing a gathering of PPP workers at a convention here when a man – apparently a PPP worker – stood up and threw something in direction of the President as he (the man) criticized the latter for the UK trip, the sources said.
An eyewitness who was present at the convention said ‘the man threw two shoes one after another towards the President when he was giving speech.’ Security personnel present there sprung to action and took the man into custody and took him outside, the eyewitness added.
This led the President to stop his address and immediately leave the place in a security cordon in his car waiting for him outside.
However, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar rubbished the above report, saying there is no substance in it as he was himself present at the convention and no such incident took place during the President’s speech.
“I was sitting in the front row and I can confidently say that nobody threw anything,” Farhatullah Babar said while talking to Geo News.
On the other hand, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira confirming the incident said that ‘highlighting a wrong act of a person would not be a right thing to do’ and added that the incident will be investigated.
President Zardari is presently in UK on a trip which was widely criticized due to his leaving the country at a time when people in Pakistan are facing unprecedented floods that has killed over 1000 people and displaced millions.
No substance in shoe hurling report: Presidential spokesman
BIRMINGHAM: Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar Saturday rubbished the report a man throwing shoes at President Asif Ali Zardari when the latter was addressing the PPP workers here at the party convention.
Talking to Geo News Farhatullah Babar said there is no substance in the report as he was himself present at the convention and no such incident took place during the President’s speech.
“I was sitting in the front row and I can confidently say that nobody threw anything,” the Presidential Spokesman said.
SANA to hold 26th annual convention in US
DALLAS: Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) is to hold its 26th annual convention at Westin Galleria Hotel, Houston TX from July 2-5.
SANA is the largest representative, secular, democratic organization of overseas Pakistanis who belong to Sindh province living in USA and Canada.
Its annual convention is the most popular and a major community event attended by a large number of Pakistanis.
A number of programs have been planned for the upcoming convention where participants from US, Canada, Pakistan, India and other countries will present their views on various subjects.
Former Indian Union Minister, member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of India Ram Jethmalani will be Chief Guest at the convention.
Former Minister of State in Pakistan and ex-chairman of the Technical Committee on Water Resources, Engineer A. N. G. Abbasi will be the keynote speaker.
Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and Pakistani ambassador to USA Najamuddin Shaikh, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party chief Dr. Qadir Magsi and head of a private television channel Karim Rajpar, Dr. Sono Khangharani, Jami Chandio, Imtiaz Shaikh and Zulfiqar Halepoto are among panelists at various sessions.
A number of political leaders, civil society activists, NGO officials, media personalities, writers, journalists, educationists and intellectuals from North America, Sindh, Pakistan and other places are also expected to attend and speak at various sessions during the convention.
The proposed sessions at the convention include the general body session, a special session on Sindhi Youth and future of SANA, economic and political situation in Sindh, Sindhi identity and the role of Sindhi Diaspora, sessions for ladies, medical seminar and the literary session, Sindhi Adabi Mehfil.
Two nights of great Sindhi music have also been planned for the convention. Artists from USA, and Sindh, Pakistan including Humaira Channa, Arshad Mehmood and Siridivi, will perform at the convention.
The sessions also include an awards ceremony for talented students and other community members who have extra ordinary achievements to their credit.
Mayor Houston Annise D. Parker and US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison are also expected to attend and speak at the convention.
Minimum wage set at Rs7000 in Labour Policy 2010
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday announced a minimum Rs 7000 salary for laborers and a policy that aims at transforming the lives of working class for a better future.
Addressing a large gathering here at the Convention Centre Prime Minister Gilani apprised the large gathering of workers from across the country about the features of the new labour policy that was given an approval at a special cabinet meeting convened earlier in the day.
He said the Cabinet approved the Labour Policy 2010 that was reflective of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and was an attempt to implement it practically. He said the policy would benefit around 50 million labours who were playing a key role in the progress and development of the country.
Prime Minister Gilani said the credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari for pursuing the labour friendly policies.
Gilani quoted a hadith of Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) to pay a labour his wages before sweat dries and said it was the endeavour of his government to follow it in letter and spirit.
Gilani informed the gathering about the measures and said trilateral monitoring committees would be set up at provincial and federal level to improve working, resolve problems and increase efficiency of the labours.
He assured that contract employees would be regularised in government departments. He also announced salaries will be made through banks, retired registered workers will get medical facilities, raise in pensions would be in accordance to increase in government pensions, technical education for children, manpower information centres in cities, training of trainers, para-medical staff to get specialised training, pensionable age limit under the old-age benefit lowered to 50, smart card through Nadra so that registered workers get all facilities, Rs 15,000 for out of job workers and legal support, free medical treatment for labours.
He said the workers have been given the right to have Unions and labour bodies to protect their rights. Gilani was appreciative of all the political parties and the provincial governments for their input and endorsing the new labour policy.
