Army will not come into politics now: PM Gilani

Staff Report

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that the army will not enter into the power now.

“Tolerate the democracy now,” he added.

PM Gilani said that the people of Pakistan endured the dictatorship for 10 years.

While addressing a program in Lahore, PM Gilani said that he kept good relations with the judiciary.

He said that it was not easy to run the government in prevailing situation therefore, he added, the people should support and tolerate this democracy. Trend Pk

Anti-democratic element would be discouraged: Babar

Staff Report

MULTAN: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan said on Saturday that the anti-democratic elements would be discouraged.

“The future of the people of Pakistan is linked with the democracy. The democracy will exist here at all level.”

While addressing the Bar Association, he aggressively said that he had not learnt to run from the country. “We respect the judiciary.”

Babar Awan condemned torture on the lawyers in Lahore. He also pledged that his government will not encourage such elements to dishonor lawyers. SAMAA

NRO beneficiaries resign voluntarily; no threat to govt: Gilani

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani once against has asked National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries including Interior Minister Rehman Malik to resign voluntarily, adding that there is no threat to the present democratic set up.

During his meeting with anchor persons on Sunday, he said that those who talk against the democracy would be discouraged. He also said that no one has right to re-write the constitution.

PM Gilani said that the army is under the control of the center.

In his unusual gesture with confidence, PM Gilani said he would appear before the court, if called.

He informed the media anchors that Swiss cases against President Zardari couldn’t be opened. The government is not doing unconstitutional works.

PM Gilani said that he felt nothing for being removed. The parliament

Fazal: Inter-institutional clash to hurt Pakistan

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman has said that the clash of the institutes can harm the country and it is a need of the hour to move carefully.

Fazal, during a meeting with Federal interior Minister Reheman Malik, has said that the democracy in the country is very strong; the ally parties should play their due roll to strengthen it further.

During meeting, the JUI-F Chief and Rehman Malik discussed the law and order situation of the country, the distribution of the Watan Cards amongst the flood victims and the issue of bringing back Doctor Aafia Siddiqui.

“The government is trying very seriously to bring back Dr Aafia Siddiqui respectfully,” said Rehman Malik. SAMAA

PM rejects rumors of martial law

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani rejected the rumors of any change categorically and stated that with the present coalition government and the parliament having mandate of people through elections, every member of the parliament would protect democracy.
We have come through elections. We have the mandate. There is a coalition government and whatever is to happen, it could be through the parliament. Technocracy not acceptable, Gilani told this to a group of Islamabad-based foreign media representatives.
The Prime Minister said there was no danger of dictatorship in Pakistan, as the people had paid huge price to bring back democracy, adding, the 1973 Constitution has been restored with the support of all political parties, which had pledged it in their manifestos.
He said it is democracy that there is no political prisoner in the country. The Prime Minister said there can be difference of opinion among the political parties on issues, as they have their own political manifestos, but as far as the democracy is concerned we are together.

PA adopts pro media resolution

LAHORE: After receiving huge condemnation from all sections of the society for its anti media resolution Punjab Assembly today adopted a resolution in favour of media, Geo News reported Tuesday.

The motion was moved by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. PML-Q MPA Amir Sultan Cheema pointed out about the lack of quorum, which was rejected.

Punjab Assembly Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the media of “irresponsibility that is damaging the democracy.”

Nawaz in damage control move

LONDON: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has tried to defuse the tension created yesterday by an anti-media resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly. He eulogized the role media played to strengthen the democracy and condemned the resolution.

All political parties in the Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution against the media. The parliamentarians made scathing remarks against journalists, terming them blackmailers amidst boycott of the assembly proceedings by media persons.

He was addressing a press conference here in London, where he has gone to look after his ailing wife.

He was of the view that MPA Sana Ullah Mastikhel be expelled from the party for introducing such a resolution. Nawaz shied away from sending the MPA out of the party being the party chief and put the onus on Shahbaz Sharif to act against him.

PML-N chief said the MPA Sana Ullah was using the party for his personal gains. He termed fake degree holders ”cheaters”.

Meanwhile, the journalists observing across the country observing black day to protest the resolution. The journalists’ bodies organized protest gatherings at various cities and towns and took out protest rallies.

Punjab Assembly passes anti media resolution

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the media of “irresponsibility that is damaging the democracy.”

Journalists on the other hand, set ablaze copies of resolution in protest and chanted slogans in front of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and members assembly.

Earlier, speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Iqbal granted permission to Mastikhel to present resolution against media after suspending the rules, which was passed unanimously.

The resolution introduced in the assembly by Sanaullah Mastikhel, a member of Muslim League (Nawaz), said some media programmes being used for propaganda against political leaders and democratic and public representatives being maligned.

The resolution said the objectionable footages of women members of assemblies attached with Indian songs is a worst example.

The resolution stressed the media representatives to observe impartiality in coverage, avoid insulting attitude against legislators, discourage baseless reports and demonstrate responsibility.

World deplores Lahore terror blasts

WASHINGTON: The international community on Friday denounced the attack on Data Darbar in Lahore and vowed to support Pakistan against terrorists who wish to ‘destabilise’ the country.

“We condemn this brutal crime and reaffirm our commitment to support the Pakistani people in their efforts to defend their democracy from the violent extremists who seek to destroy it,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said, “The deliberate targeting of a crowded place of worship makes this particularly vicious.”

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, “Britain stands alongside the people and government of Pakistan against those who commit such appalling atrocities.”

“The deadly attack is yet another vivid example of the scale of the terrorist threat and extremism in Pakistan,” said the office of EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton.

Attabad lake rises to threatening 353-foot level

GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The water level at landslide-triggered lake in Ata Abad area of Hunza, has fast risen to 353-foot level today, Geo News reported Sunday.

The people residing in the Danger Zone are being stressed upon to evacuate to safer places, as the lake has risen to a threatening level of 353-foot level owing to the rapid meltdown of glacier in the last two days.

According to Focus Foundation monitoring the Lake, 18 to 22-foot cusecs of water is falling into the lake; while, water flowing out of the Lake at seven different points is recorded at 80 to 84 cusecs.

The water is fast approaching to the Lake’s mouth, where a spillway has been constructed for water outflow. The water will start pouring out of the spillway within a couple of days and this will be the moment when a massive flood is being feared as a result of huge outpouring of water or breakdown of spillway under severe pressure.

According to the survey, some experts voiced apprehension that the mountain present on each side of the Spillway could throw its debris down at the time of water outpouring and may again cause the closure of Lake’s passage.

Seeing the situation, a total of 18 relief camps have been set up in Gilgit and Hunza; of them, nine are in Hunza Nagar and nine others in Gilgit.

Meantime, the people still living in an area declared as Danger Zone, have been sternly warned to evacuate to the relief camps; otherwise, they would be forced out of their places.

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