Zardari, Haqqani knew about Abbottabad raid: Ijaz

TrendPK.com

WASHINGTON: Controversial Pakistani-American business Mansoor Ijaz claims that President Asif Ali Zardari was behind the idea to send a secret memo to Admiral Mike Mullen.

In another claim, Ijaz alleged that President Zardari had given full authority to Hussain Haqqani on the issue of memo.

He further said that President Zardari and Hussain Haqqani knew about May 2 Abbottabad operation. TrendPK

MQM’s delegation reaches Pervaiz Elahi’s residence

LAHORE: A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has arrived at the residence of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, a leader of PML-Q, TrendPK reported Thursday afternoon.

A key leader of MQM, Farooq Sattar, also the Deputy Convener of party’s coordination committee, is leading the delegation. TrendPK

China has assured complete support in all sectors: Kaira

Lahore, trendpk :- Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Sunday said that China has assured complete support to Pakistan in all sectors, besides endorsing its efforts to maintain security, sovereignty,integrity and peace in the region.

Addressing a press conference to brief the media on completion of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaos visit, he said the Plan 2012-16 would go a long way in strengthening the countrys economy. Kaira said that both the countries signed a unilateral tariff concession on 268 items which would strengthen the countrys balance of payments and job creation and give impetus to the countrys economic development.

He said China would give assistance of 14 billion dollars for completion of 36 projects identified by joint economic group in various sectors, including power and nuclear cooperation.

He said that the worlds biggest Chinese bank, ICBC would open two branches in Islamabad and Karachi to facilitate bilateral trade.

He said Wen Jiabao is the first ever Chinese Premier who addressed the joint session of the Parliament and his speech reflected aspirations of the entire Chinese nation.

He said the peoples representatives have given very warm welcome to Chinese Premier, adding the Pakistani nation has great respect for Chinese people and leadership.

The Minister said the Chinese Premier in his speech wished for prosperity, stability and development of Pakistan.

He said the Chinese Premier also announced development projects for Pakistan and cooperation in different sectors.

The relationship between Pakistan and China is between the two nations and not confined to the governments only.

Kaira said all the political parties have showed harmony and maturity on national issues.

He said Chinese Premier also invited Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani to visit China, who has accepted the invitation.

Similarly President Asif Ali Zardari invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Pakistan for which dates will be finalized soon.

The visit of Chinese Premier will further strengthen strategic relations and give new height and direction to these relations, the minister said.

Terming Chinese Premiers visit historic, the minister said now Pak-China relations and cooperation are being viewed in regional andinternational perspective.

He said under the new energy cooperation mechanism, China would facilitate all segments of power sector including coal, hydel, nuclear and wind power generation.

He said the two countries also agreed to establish trans-border economic zones in the other country for investment promotion. The already signed business to business agreements signed are worth US$ 10 billion.

Answering another question, the minister said China would extend help for restoration of communication network damaged by the Attabad Lake.

He said Chinese Premier was very keen in expanding communication network including rehabilitation of Karakoram Highway and Pak-China rail link.

Kaira said civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries complies with international laws including IAEA regulations as Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state.

When asked to comment on meeting of MQM delegation with the Prime Minister Gilani, he said that the delegation discussed problemsof the coalition government in Sindh.

The Prime Minister assured the delegation that their reservations would be addressed at the government and party levels.

He said participation of opposition leaders including Nawaz Sharif in the banquet and receptions for the Chinese Premier showed political maturity, which was encouraging for democratic process and its promotion.

It reflects harmony and growing maturity and shows appreciation for our reconciliatory politics, Kaira said.

Replying to a question, he said the final report on assassination of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed would certainly be made public and shared with the media.

Replying to a question, Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan, who was also present on the occasion, said Chinese government will support exploration of natural resources including copper, gold, lead, coal, marble and granite.

Masood Khan said Chinese trade and foreign ministries are working on a programme to facilitate visas for the business community.

He said last year, about 37 percent increase was recorded in Pakistans export to China which is encouraging.

To a question, Masood Khan said there is no change in Chinas policy on Kashmir issue and there will never be any change in this regard.

SCBA delegation calls on CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday.

According to sources, the Chief Justice invited SCBA delegation to solve lawyers’ problems. The newly elected female President of SCBA, Aasma Jahangir, headed the delegation. The meeting continued for three hours.

The sources added that the SCBA delegation discussed the complaints of the lawyers, regarding daily cause list and the hearing of the cases, with the Chief Justice and exchanged views about SCBA’s reservations on the judicial policy.

The SCBA delegation and the CJ agreed upon the issuance of monthly and fortnightly cause lists. Trend Pk

Israel unwilling for establishing peace in region, says Asad

Members of the Elders’ Group delegation on Tuesday demanded that Israel should lift its unjust siege on Gaza Strip, stressing the necessity of achieving the Palestinian reconciliation and engaging all the Palestinian factions in peace efforts.
The remarks came during President Al-Asad’s meeting with the Group of Elders delegation headed by Former Irish President Mary Robinson with the participation of Former US President Jimmy Carter, Former UN Assistant Secretary General Al-Akhdar Al-Ibrahimi and Indian activist Ila Bat.
President Al-Asad also warned against the serious impacts of the racist, so-called Citizenship Law.The President explained Syria’s vision to solve the problems of the region, and was briefed by the delegation on their visit to Gaza Strip and tour of the region where they witnessed the tragic situation of the Palestinian People due to the inhuman Israeli siege imposed on them.
In a press conference, following her meeting with President Bashar Al-Asad held at the Four Seasons Hotel, former Irish President Mary Robinson described the meeting as very fruitful, pointing out that the main goal of the delegation’s visit is to help in achieving just and comprehensive peace in the region.
She made it clear that focus should be placed not only on the peace process itself but on the results as well so that the people feel and experience them, describing what they saw in Gaza as A Shock.

US envoy calls on MQM leaders

US Ambassador N.W. Patterson visited Nine Zero in Karachi to condole the demise of Dr. Imran Farooq.
The US delegation led by Patterson visited Nine Zero where it met the Deputy Convener of MQM Coordination Committee Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal and Nasreen Jalil. She condoled with the party members and family members of late Imarn Farooq. MQM also informed the delegation about its concerns over Altaf Hussains security. Sattar informed the US representatives about nations stance and reaction over Dr. Aafias verdict. Patterson assured of her serious efforts in regard with Dr. Aafias case.

PML-N delegation visits Nine Zero to condole Dr. Farooq’s assassination

PML-N delegation, led by its Central Leader, Ishaq Dar, visits MQM headquarters Nine-Zero to condole over the death of former party convener Dr. Imran Farooq.
Ishaq said Dr. Farooq was a decent person and his tragic death was a sorrowful incident.
He also sympathized with the MQMs leaders and workers, saying he and his party shared the grief of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, the bereaved family as well as leaders and activists of the MQM on the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq. Answering to a question by a media reporter, Dair said ideologies and manifestoes of the parties can be different but it does not mean that the political entities cannot share their grief.
Talking to media after the visit, Dar said he along with other party leaders visited MQM to express condolence over the death of Dr. Imran Farooq, on behalf of PML-N Chief, Nawaz Sharif.
Deputy Convener MQM Rabita Committee, Dr. Farooq Sattar expressed gratitude to the delegation of PML-N for their visit.

Kashmir separatists shun India talks to end violence

SRINAGAR: Talks sponsored by the Indian government to end the biggest independence uprising in Kashmir in 20 years appeared on the brink of failure on Monday as separatists boycotted a meeting with New Delhi’s lawmakers.

Two separatist leaders told Reuters police had put them under house arrest. They had earlier refused to meet the politicians sent by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has been criticised for allowing protests in Kashmir to explode with more than 100 killed this summer.

Police declined to confirm the arrests.

“We choose not to meet the delegation (and) instead sent a memorandum,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the region’s chief cleric and chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, told Reuters only hours before he was placed under house arrest.

“We have seen that only when a major crisis erupts, there are visible efforts to

Kashmiri leaders turn down Indian delegation’s meeting offer

A woman died while two others got injured in Indian troops firing in the held Kashmir valley on Monday while an all-party delegation led by Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to assess the ground situation in Kashmir Valley.
Some members of the 42-member delegation are likely to call on Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his Hyderpora residence here. Though Geelani has officially refused to meet them, he said the delegation members will not be turned away if they decide to call on him at his house as they were guests.
The freedom fighters have given mixed signals to the visit of the delegation. While the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF led by Mohammad Yasin Malik has said that they will hold joint consultations to decide whether to meet the delegation, the hardline faction led by Geelani has decided to boycott it. The delegation hopes that the leaders of various freedom movement groups will finally come for the talks.

US says mistreatment of Pak army ‘most regrettable’ incident

WASHINGTON: Deploring the mistreatment of Pakistan Army delegation at US airport, US termed the incident as ‘most unfortunate’, adding US has begged pardon from Pakistan government in this wake, assuring that the canceled meeting may be held in Pakistan in coming days, Geo News reported.

During the routine briefing in Washington, US State Department representative Philip.J Crowley said the incident was deplorable and the government has excused Pakistan over mistreatment of its army delegation.

He said a misunderstanding led to that misfortunate incident, extending assurance that such incident would never take place in future. “Next meeting may occur in Pakistan for which US Defence Department will contact Pakistan government”, he added.

To a question he said our government has sent Pakistan apology on the incident.

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