Cotton price at fresh all-time high

Cotton prices hit a record high both in global and local markets, reaching Rs 9,000 per ton in Pakistan. Indian traders have stopped export of cotton to Pakistan.
According to Ginners Association Executive Member Ehsanul Haq, rise in cotton prices at international markets caused surge locally.
US cotton futures finished Tuesday at a fresh all-time high on worries over tight supplies and an overnight surge in China’s cotton prices. Cotton rose more than 20 percent in October and is up nearly 85 percent since the beginning of the rally in July.

Cotton prices hit record high

Cotton prices hit a record high both in global and local markets with Rs 8,800 per 40kg in Pakistan.
According to Ginners Association Executive Member Ehsanul Haq, rise in cotton prices at international markets caused a Rs300 surge locally. In international markets, the prices rose to 149 cents per pounds with 33 percent raise. Due to the recent devastating floods, cotton production in Pakistan has reduced drastically, below than the domestic industrial needs.

Cotton prices hit record high

Cotton prices hit a record high both in global and local markets with Rs 8,800 per 40kg in Pakistan.
According to Ginners Association Executive Member Ehsanul Haq, rise in cotton prices at international markets caused a Rs300 surge locally. In international markets, the prices rose to 149 cents per pounds with 33 percent raise. Due to the recent devastating floods, cotton production in Pakistan has reduced drastically, below than the domestic industrial needs.

One dead, 5 injured in ambush at PIMS Hospital

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Unknown gunmen fired shots outside the Emergency Ward of PIMS Hospital on Friday, killing one person and injuring five others.

The attack was motivated by an earlier clash, which took place between two rival groups in Tarlai Village in the outskirts of Islamabad.

According to hospital sources, unidentified assailants opened fire at a group of people who were shifting two injured men to the Emergency Ward.

Out of the five who suffered bullet injuries, two are said to be in critical condition.

Following the attack, the gunmen managed to escape.

PIMS Executive Director Dr. Mehmud Jamal confirmed the attack. SAMAA

SC resumes hearing of judges reversal case

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has resumed the hearing of the suo moto case on Monday, regarding media news about the government’s intention to reverse the executive order issued for the restoration of sacked judges on November 3, 2007.

A 17 member full bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing of the case.

During the last hearing, the Supreme Court ordered the Attorney General to present before court an explanation about media news that the

judges restoration order is being reversed by the government.

The Supreme Court took suo moto notice on Thursday after news about the reversal of the judges restoration order had been run by a few private TV channels. SAMAA

Prime Minister says his words be trusted

Islamabad:- The Prime Minister in his address said although some people said ratification through parliament of executive order restoring judges is necessary, ‘I continued to stick to my decision of reinstatement of judiciary’.

Prime Minister  has assured the nation that no clash of institutions is possible during Pakistan Peoples Party’s term of government.

He said that he did not even know about the rumor of the executive order for reinstatement of judges being taken back. In tonight’s address from Islamabad, the prime minister said that he remained undeterred while reinstating the higher judiciary. “We were told that executive order, if promulgated, could invite an application of the Article 6 of the Constitution”, the PM added, “but we remained undaunted and undeterred”. He also said that ignoring Prime Minister’s denial is equivalent to ignoring his constitutional stature.

Prime minister also expressed his consent to sit together with the judges to resolve all the conflicts.

Babar rejects rumours of clash between executive and judiciary

Federal Law Minister Babar Awan said that the incumbent democratic government will not do anything unconstitutional and illegal. He rejected the romours of clash between the executive and the judiciary, and termed the news of Executive Order to revoke judges reinstatement as baseless. He said that the PM will address the nation on Sunday in this regard. He rebuffed those using government resources for doing politics. He said that those institutions should remain silent who are not allowed to do politics.
In a joint press conference with Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Babar Awan said that the PM had rejected the news of executive order and no PCO or ECO would be introduced in this government. He said that the government respects orders of apex court. He said that he better knew about Article 6. He said that Musharraf had full right to make a party.

SC warns against withdrawal of reinstatement, seeks reply by Oct 18

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday issued a short order, instructing the top functionaries of the government against taking any action to revoke the earlier notification about restoration of members of the superior judiciary and said that any such move would be tantamount to abrogating the Constitution.
The order was issued by a 17-member bench of the apex court after hearing an unprecedented suo moto notice of news of withdrawing the notification/executive order, dated March 16, 2009, regarding restoration of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, other judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and chief justices/judges of the High Courts.
The court said that the executive order of 16th March 2009, restoring the sacked judges has lost its effectiveness after the 31st July 2009, verdict and heads of all constitutional organs must abide by the judgment. Even though the Attorney-General repeatedly informed the apex court judges that no such move was being contemplated by the government, and the hype was unnecessarily created by a section of the media, the Chief Justice asked for a written assurance by the Prime Minister. When the court reassembled after the break, it was informed by the Attorney-General that the Prime Minister was not available but the message had been conveyed to him through his staff. On that the judges expressed their extreme annoyance, prompting them to issue the restraining order.The government was also asked through this order to come up with a satisfactory reply by October 18. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that he pledged to uphold the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution in the country.
The CJ lamented that whenever the court takes up any important case, rumour mills starts running. Derogatory remarks have been used against the judiciary, but we are showing patience against it, the CJ observed.
Justice Ramday asked the Attorney General to tell the court how the notification could be withdrawn while Justice Javed Iqbal stated that we are as much patriotic as those at the helm. On the other hand, Chairman Supreme Court Bar Association Qazi Anwar stated that judiciary seemed to be on the same position as it was on November 2. He deplored that instead of rooting out the prevalent corruption the rulers are opposing the judiciary and called upon the latter to act sanely in the larger interest of the nation.
Some private TV channel on Thursday alleged that the Government was considering to withdraw the notification/executive order dated March 16, 2009 of restoration of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, other judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and chief justices/judges of the High Courts. Some newspapers have already reported this issue as well. Earlier on, a few months ago, a similar statement was made by one of the high constitutional office holders in the Parliament.As t he news item was flashed by other TV channels, some channels have also telecast denial on Thursday (14.10.2010) from the Government, saying that there was no truth behind the said news.PM Gilani said that he had taken notice of the issue of withdrawal of notification of judges restoration and such news could widen gulf between the Government and the Judiciary.Terming the reports of media as baseless, the PM said that the Government respected constitutional institutions and PPP always respected the judiciary and gave sacrifices for its independence. He said that every conspiracy against the Government and Judiciary would be foiled. Elements behind this conspiracy want to destabilise the country but they cannot be succeeded, he added.

Govt cannot retract Executive Order: Kurd
Former chairman Supreme Court Bar Association Ahmed Ali Kurd has said that the government could not withdraw any Executive Order.
Kurd said that the judiciary and the government seemed to be heading towards a confrontational path; however on the same breath he added that the judiciary should not have sit till late night for deliberation over the news reports.
He ruled out having any clashes with the judiciary, saying that he came from Quetta to submit his report regarding a case.

Executive Order has no legal status: Justice (r) Siddiqui
Justice (r) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, while talking to Dunya News, said that the Executive Order at which the PM hinted in the National Assembly does not have any legal status for the apex court has struck down the Nov 3 actions thereby depriving the notification of its legality.
He said that the denial by the PM left no room of debate on the issue. He maintained that such news are meant to trigger confusion among the people and that is why the SC sought a written reply in this respect.

Govt indifferent to public issues: Sh Rasheed
Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed has said that the government is trying to detract the people and the judiciary to cover-up the prevailing corruption. He lamented that the country is passing through multiple crises while those at the helm are busy in having clashes with the judiciary.
He enlisted lack of wisdom, competence and indecisiveness on part of the government that led to the problems facing the country. He said that the rulers are indifferent to the public miseries as they are just busy in sorting out their inter-institutional issues.

Govt wants to harass judiciary: Ahsan Iqbal
PML-N senior leader Ahsan Iqbal, while talking on the issue, said that the governments stance to retract the notification is deplorable and aimed at harassing the judges only.
It has been made clear in the 18th amendment that the November 3 decision were illegal and did not have any constitutional status and hence the notification by the PM in this regard also lost any status. The parliament has also ratified the 18th amend. He warned the government against any such action saying that its not Musharrafs Pakistan where the judges were sent packing.

PM Gilani sacks two NRO beneficiaries

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked two National Reconciliation Order (NRO) beneficiaries, Pir Mukarram and Sadiq Ali Khan on Wednesday.

Pir Mukarram, the Executive Director of Printing Corporation, will not be able to use privileges given by the corporation. His termination will be recorded as of September 8, 2009.

Sadiq Ali Khan, Managing Director of Federal Employees Benevolent Group Insurance, will be considered terminated from August 14, 2009. SAMAA

OGRA announces token reduction in petrol price

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has announced a token reduction of few paisas in petroleum products while increasing price of kerosene.

This reduction was announced in a press conference by OGRA’s Executive Director, Jawad Naseem, in Islamabad.

The reduction of 27 paisas for petrol and 78 paisas for diesel per liter was announced. The new price of petrol is Rs. 66.99 per liter, and diesel Rs. 73.82 per liter.

OGRA has increased the price of kerosene oil by 23 paisas per liter. Kerosene is now at Rs. 65.80 per liter. SAMAA

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