Pakistan to stand by Parliament on NATO supply routes

TrendPK.com
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir Wednesday said Federal Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will soon visit Afghanistan.

Talking to media after attending a meeting of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs headed by Dr Farooq Sattar, he said any decision regarding re-opening of the NATO supply routes will be made by the Parliament and the country will stand by the conditions adopted by the Parliament.

The secretary said the US missile strikes on Pak soil are absolutely unlawful and unacceptable and the government’s position over the issue is quite clear.

Replying to a question on Afghanistan, Bashir said Pakistan backs up reconciliation process in the neighboring country and wants cordial relations with it.

Earlier briefing the Standing Committee on a bill regarding biological weapons, he said the proposed bill has no bearing on the war against terrorism.

According to the bill, the violation of the Biological and Fatal Weapons Convention will lead to punishment of life-imprisonment, a fine worth Rs.10 million and confiscation of transferable and non-transferable property.

Also, an authority will be established to ensure the implementation of the Act.

The Secretary Bashir furthermore told as many as 164 countries are signatories to this convention; of them, 132 have had legislation in this regard.

The committee voiced reservations over the draft of the Bill and directed to clearly specify the implementing authority. Bill’s approval was put on hold until the next meeting of the NA committee. TrendPK

Iran agrees to discuss its nuclear program

TEHRAN: Iran has agreed to discuss its nuclear program at a meeting next week in Geneva, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Islamic Republic won’t make “one iota” of concessions about its nuclear rights.

The European Union says Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, will meet with EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Dec. 6 and 7 — the first talks in a year after negotiations bogged down.

Ashton’s office says she will act “on behalf” of the U.S., China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany.

Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that his country is ready to enter nuclear talks with the world powers under “equal” conditions.

The United States and its allies say Iran is seeking to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies that.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is

Saudi prince’s letter being verified: Foreign Office

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said that a letter written by Saudi Prince was being verified to confirm its authenticity.

Commenting on Indian desire to become member of Nuclear Suppliers Group, he said, Pakistan strongly believes that there should be level playing for the two countries. He said Pakistan has been insisting to get the same treatment by the international community on civil nuclear cooperation that has been made available to India.

Replying to a question about American Presidents visit to India, the spokesman hoped that it would help contribute towards peace and stability in South Asia.

The spokesman said the United States also understand how important Jammu and Kashmir issue is for peace and stability of the region.
The spokesman told a questioner that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in the process of establishing authenticity or otherwise of the reported letter of the Saudi Prince to the Chief Justice of Pakistan regarding acquisition of accommodation for pilgrims in the holy land.

NA passes bill against loud speakers’ misuse

The national assembly has passed a bill for penalty enhancement for the misuse of the loud speaker while PML-N opposed the bill, Dunya News reported on Friday.
the bill has enhanced the penalty of the misuse from 6-moths imprisonment to one-year imprisonment and fine increased from 50,000 rupees to 100,000 rupees. The bill passed calls the misuse of loudspeaker tantamount to spreading sectarianism in the country. On the other hand PML-N opposed the bill and adopted the stance that the penalty is to high and also that associating the misuse with spreading sectarianism is unjust and unfair.
During the questions, answers session the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the session that during the last two years India has freed 157 Pakistani out of whom 57 were fishermen while Pakistan, during the same time period, has freed 562 Indians from its jails out of whom 542 were fishermen. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Imad told the session that India has not been fulfilling the bilateral agreement of diplomatic access to the prisoners while the relations between Pakistan and India cannot be termed normal until the resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries.
On the other hand the senate session witnessed an uproar by the senators on the issue of allotment of plots to them. Senator Haji Adeel of ANP criticized the decision of allotment of two plots each to the bureaucrats, judges and the journalists. He demanded withdrawal of the decision of the allotment for to the bureaucrats or otherwise demanded a plot each for the provincial legislators. Senator Khalid Soomro raised the issue of 50 billion rupee corruption scandal of Hajj. Responding sarcastically to the stances of the senators, advisor to the Prime Minister Ghazanfar Gill said that he can give his piece of land in Gujrat for the burial of the senators.
Senator Seemi Siddiqui and Khlid Soomro demanded probe of the Hajj corruption scandal worth 50 billion rupees as well as the letter of the Saudi prince against the scandal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Senator Haji Adeel said that no government official has responded on the Saudi princes letter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The senate session was adjourned till Monday afternoon.

Gilani meets Panetta

Director Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Leon Panetta called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad, Dunya News reported on Thursday.
The two men exchanged views on the regional security situation besides Afghan border issues. ISI chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ammad Malik also attended the meeting.

Rehman condemns NATO airstrikes on Pakistani soil

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Monday that NATO’s airstrikes in Pakistani territory were a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

On Saturday, NATO helicopters based in Afghanistan carried out two airstrikes in Pakistan that killed at least five people.

NATO justified the strikes based on “the right of self-defense.”

Pakistan is sensitive about attacks on its territory, but U.S. officials have said they have an agreement that allows aircrafts to cross a few miles into Pakistani airspace if they are in hot pursuit of a target.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Monday that the mandate of foreign troops in Afghanistan ends at the Afghan border.

Speaking at the floor of Upper House, Malik strongly condemned the NATO strikes, calling it an attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan.

PM Gilani cancels trips, speculation on government

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has cancelled visits starting this month to Europe, the foreign ministry said, a move which could intensify media speculation that pressure is mounting for a change in government.

The government’s perceived poor handling of summer floods has raised questions over political stability in Pakistan.

“In view of his pre-occupations with the post-flood situation, the Prime Minister has decided not to go ahead with his scheduled visits to Paris and Brussels,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman in a statement.

“(The) Prime Minister’s official visit to France is being re-scheduled.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the Asia-Europe summit in Brussels next month, said the statement.

Pakistani leaders have said the government has done its best to help

LHC accepts Shraif”s appeal against NAB

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has stopped the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from taking any action against Sharif family.

The Sharif family has moved the Lahore High Court (LHC), Rawalpindi Bench, for the recovery of their forfeited property and financial assets taken into possession by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during 2001-02 while the Sharif brothers were under trial.

Through their petitions before the LHC, the Sharif family adopted before the court that NAB has no justification, whatsoever, to keep these things under its possession after the Supreme Court and a bench of the Lahore High Court set aside the sentences earlier awarded to Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Later, the court issued stay order in favour of Sharif Family and barred NAB from taking any action against the family.

Govt to decide when and where to launch operation: Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Parliament”s Special Committee on National Security and advisor to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination Thursday said Pakistan being independent and sovereign country would itself decide that when and where launching of military operation is imperative.

He was talking to journalists after chairing a meeting of the committee that was also attended by Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, MNAs Haider Abbas Rizvi, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Senators Ishaq Dar, Abdur Rahim Mandokhel, Leader of Opposition in the Senate Wasim Sajjad, Secretary Defence Lt. Gen. (r) Syed Athar Ali and Director General of ISI Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the Secretary Defence and the Director General of Military Operations briefed the committee about the prevailing law and order situation in the country.

“It was a detailed briefing that covered all the important national issues,” he said.

Rabbani said undue criticism is harmful for `national consensus” so politicians should avoid it, keeping the national interests supreme.

“The issue of missing persons is a serious matter and the government will ensure their recovery,” he said.

He said the committee has decided to seek reports from ministries of Interior, Defence and Foreign Affairs about implementation status on the recommendations of the parliamentary body.

Rabbani said the committee would hold regular meetings after August 2 to prepare new recommendations in the light of earlier suggestions.

He said the body would take briefing from ministries of Interior, Defence and Foreign Affairs on August 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

Holbrooke calls on PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday.

The US envoy and Pakistan Prime Minister discussed promotion of cooperation in war against terrorism and assistance in various sectors.

Prime Minister Gilani during a meeting said that Pakistan facing financial hardships due to the country”s frontline state role in the war against terrorism.

Holbrooke lauded Pakistan”s role in anti-terror war and assured wholehearted support to the country from United States.

Interior, finance, foreign affairs ministers and other top officials also attended the meeting.

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