trinidad and tobago

Trinidad elects 1st female prime minister
Trinidad and Tobago has elected its first female prime minister in an early election, ousting an incumbent hurt by soaring crime and allegations of public corruption.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her five-party People’s Partnership coalition won 29 of 41 seats in the Caribbean nation’s parliament, according to preliminary election results Tuesday.

The 59-year-old attorney told thousands of supporters at a celebration early Tuesday morning that her government will not allow one ethnic group or social class to dominate the twin-island country.

It now appears that opposition leader General Kamla Persad-Bissessar will become the Caribbean nation’s first woman prime minister after her coalition won national elections yesterday. Prime Minister Patrick Manning has conceded defeat after his People’s National Movement lost 14 of its 26 seats in Parliament. Former Attorney General Persad-Bissessar’s People’s Partnership coalition won 29 seats with her United National Congress party taking 21 seats themselves, giving the UNC a simple majority in the 41-seat Parliament.
She identified the ’drain on our resources presently occurring through corruption, incompetence and political vanity’ as the number one priority for attention should the UNC get into government.
Voters in Trinidad and Tobago are voting in snap elections which could bring the energy-rich Caribbean nation its first female prime minister. Incumbent Patrick Manning called the election — which follows the dissolution of parliament in April — a risky gamble in the middle of his five-year term. The opposition, led by Attorney General Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the head of a five-party coalition, led opinion polls ahead of the vote.Duration: 01:13

Hearing of NRO implementation case adjourned till June 10

The hearing of petition regarding implementation of NRO verdict adjourned for two weeks. A 5-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk heard the petition. Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan appeared before the Supreme Court to present governments stance with regard to implementation of the NRO verdict.
Former Attorney General Latif Khosa and 13 federal ministers including Raja Pervez Ashraf, Amin Fahim, Tasleem Qureshi, Ayatullah Durrani, Qamar Zaman Kaira were also present in the court room.
Justice Jawwad Awais Khawaja asked what steps the government has taken so far to implement the NRO verdict. Justice Raja Fayyaz said in his remarks that how much time is required to implement the verdict. Justice Jawwad Awais Khawaja where is $ 60 million of the nation. He said in his remarks that whatsoever is the amount, if there is only 1 million; it should be brought back to the country.
Babar Awan said that according to NAB record, there is no mention of $60 million. Swiss authorities have ordered to freeze the money, he added. He said that nine steps have been taken to implement the NRO verdict and 10th step is being disrupted by rule of business. Babar Awan maintained that reference against Malik Qayyum has been sent to the Prime Minister. He said that on courts order, NABs prosecutor general was sacked and additional prosecutor general was appointed in the NAB. He said in 1997 the Attorney General was not empowered to open cases in Switzerland. Babar said that court orders would be implemented in letter and spirit.
Babar Awan demanded three weeks time to submit written answer. But the court gave him two weeks time to do so. The court asked the Law Minister not to appear in the court but the detailed written reply should be submitted.

General David Patraeus Calls On PM

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani held a meeting with Commander US Central Command General David Patraeus. PM said the gap between culmination of operations and reconstruction of the militancy affected areas needs to be plugged to develop the confidence of people in the process of consolidation. The PM said Pakistan desires to see peaceful and stable Afghanistan and is prepared to extend training to the Afghan army and security forces.
General Patreaus appreciated the commitment and sacrifices made by the security forces, armed forces and the people of Pakistan in eradicating militancy and terrorism. He assured to support the Pakistani demand for early reimbursement of the Coalition Support Fund arrears.

Swiss Govt Don’t Recognize NAB: Law Ministry

Federal Ministry of Law in a rejoinder told National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that only government could write letters to the Swiss government over cases as the latter did not recognize the former.
After the upbraiding by the Supreme Court, Chairman NAB wrote a letter to the law ministry asking what steps could be taken for reopening of the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and whether NAB can directly contact the Swiss court or it has to use diplomatic channel through the government. The ministry, however, in its letter said that the NAB can only file references.
It was further noted that former attorney general Malik Qayyum wrote a letter to the Swiss government on the orders of the government, adding that only the government could take initiative in this regard.

Judges’ Appointment: Government Still onfused

No judge has been appointed on the seats of the Supreme Court that fell vacant after the retirement of Justice Khaliur Rehman Ramday and Justice Raza Khan even after a lapse of one month rendering the issue a certain degree of gravity.
Meanwhile, former attorney general Latif Khosa  said that the government was in no hurry to appoint judges on the vacant seats, adding that so far no decision has been made to appoint any judge including Justice Saqib Nisar onpart of the government.
PM takes notice of Khosa’s remarks
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has taken notice of Latif Khosa’s remarks regarding the appointment of judges, and asked him to focus on Information Technology, adding that to remark on the said issue was duty of a law minister. According to sources, while taking serious notice of the issue, the PM asked Khosa to avoid airing his remarks in this regard in future.

Sardar Muhammad Khan killed in Islamabad

Islamabad, Pakistan News: Former Attorney General and Judge (R) of Peshawar High Court Sardar Muhammad Khan was killed in Islamabad. He was also deputed as the Advocate General NWFP and was a member of Law and Justice Commission.
Sardar Khan came to Islamabad from Peshawar for a case, he was walking on the road on road at sector G-11/2 when a group of people tried to abduct him and on resistance he was shot several times. Sardar Khan was a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and he was also an assistant lawyer during the NRO case.
President Zardari has ordered an inquiry into the murder of Sardar Khan. President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Qazi Anwar announced to observe black day today and lawyers would abandon court proceedings after 11 AM.

24 dead 60 injured in Dera Ghazi Khan blast

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Pakistan News : The explosion near the house of the Provincial Minister for Local Government Dost Mohammad Khosa in Khosa market of the city which has caused 24 people dead and 60 injured on Tuesday.

The hospital sources confirmed that 24 dead bodies and 60 injured have been brought to the hosital. The 13 dead bodies have been identified yet.

The police sources claim that the car bomb blast was a suspected suicide attack and the suicuide bomber was in a white couloured car. There was 1000 kg explosive material used in suspected suicide car bomb blast, poice sources added.

The explosion took place near the house of the Provincial Minister for Local Government Dost Mohammad Khosa in Khosa market of the city which has caused 20 people dead and 45 injured, Rescue sources confirmed A Pakistan News Tuesday.

The rescue sources confirmed that they have shifted 20 dead bodies to the hospital and 45 injured have also been shifted to the hospital.

A suspected car bomb in a market near the home of a Pakistani provincial government minister killed 16 people on Tuesday in the town of Dera Ghazi Khan, a town official said. “It was apparently a car bomb. Sixteen people have been killed and about 30 wounded,” town commissioner Hasan Iqbal told Reuters.

Earlier, The explosion adjacent to the house of the Provincial Minister for Local Government Dost Mohammad Khosa and Khosa market in Dera Ghazi Khan has caused 4 people dead and 30 to 35 injured while 30 to 40 people are susected to be still under the debris, Dera Ghazi Khan district administration confirmed A Pakistan News.

Earlier, Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Hassan Iqbal told that the car bomb blast has hit the city. It was a very loud explosion. The relief work is on its way. About ten buildings have collapsed due to the car bomb blast. The efforts are being made to save the lives of the people under the debris. There is no confirmation of the suicide attack, he added.

There are still 20 to 25 people under the debris of the seven shops. The blast has caused 10 to 15 feet crater in the land. The bomb disposal squad has confirmed that the explosive material of 300 kg has been used in the blast. The police have arrested eight suspects including six Afghan nationals.

The hospital sources confirmed that 30 to 35 people have been brought to the hospital. One suspect has been arrested from the place of the blast.

The government officials suspect that the blast could be a suicide attack and death toll can be increase. The police, army, Edhi and Resue 1122 are indulging in the rescue works. The teams of civil defense have also reached the place of the incident. The emergency has been imposed in the hospitals of Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan. The bomb disposal squad has also reached the place of the incident.

The explosion has caused the damage to 30 to 40 buildings near the place of the blast. The mosque has also been damaged in the suspected car bomb blast. The windopanes of the near by buildings have been broken with the severity of the blast. Half of the shops of the Khosa market have been damaged in the explosion. The casualties are feared in the explosion. Many people have also been injured in the explosion. Many vehicles have also been damaged in the explosion. The police and relief workers have reached the place of the incident. About thirty to forty ambulances are taking injured people to the hospitals.The emergency have been imposed in the hospitals of the city. The injured are being taken to the district headquarters hospital Dera Ghazi Khan.

President Musharraf Directed to end Swiss case

Lahore, Pakistan News :- Former Attorney General Abdul Qayyum stated in the Supreme Court that the then President Pervez Musharraf directed to end the Swiss case on which he wrote letter to the Swiss court to halt the case.

Abdul Qayyum was summoned by the Supreme Court where he told that Asif Ali Zardari filed petition in the Sindh High Court under NRO on February 15, 2008 and the court ordered to end all local and foreign cases against Asif Zardari. Pervez Musharraf directed to act upon the court orders.

The SC remakes on it that only Chairman NAB has authority to take back the cases as per NAB Ordinances. Chairman NAB said that prosecutor general of NAB was consulted but only attorney general had approached the Swiss courts. The CJP asked that NAB should inform if it can do anything otherwise it should shut its office.

Musharraf Directed to End Swiss Case: Malik Qayyum

Pakistan News: Former Attorney General Abdul Qayyum stated in the Supreme Court that the then President Pervez Musharraf directed to end the Swiss case on which he wrote letter to the Swiss court to halt the case.
Abdul Qayyum was summoned by the Supreme Court where he told that Asif Ali Zardari filed petition in the Sindh High Court under NRO on February 15, 2008 and the court ordered to end all local and foreign cases against Asif Zardari. Pervez Musharraf directed to act upon the court orders.
The SC remakes on it that only Chairman NAB has authority to take back the cases as per NAB Ordinances. Chairman NAB said that prosecutor general of NAB was consulted but only attorney general had approached the Swiss courts. The CJP asked that NAB should inform if it can do anything otherwise it should shut its office.