India PM defends himself over $40 bln telecom scam

NEWDEHLI: India’s premier on Saturday denied accusations of “inaction” in a 40-billion-dollar telecoms scandal and promised that any wrongdoers in the case would be punished.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is accused of failing to act on allegations that that his telecoms minister sold second-generation (2G) mobile phone licences for a fraction of their value in 2008.

The scandal has engulfed Singh, whose ruling Congress party’s popularity partly rests on his “Mr Clean” image, and it is being seen by Indian commentators as his government’s most serious crisis in its six years in power.

“There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that if any wrong thing has been done by anybody he or she or will be brought to book,” Singh said in his first public statement on the accusations.

“We need to deal effectively with the threats of corruption,” he told a

Pakistan to decide timing of NW offensive: Hoti

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti says that his government doesn’t have any objection to the GST Reforms Bill 2010.

Speaking at Pakistan Development Forum in Islamabad today, he hoped that the issue of GST Reforms Bill would be resolved by sitting together with the centre.

About timing of North Waziristan offensive, he said that international community should leave it to Pakistan.

“Pakistan Army is fully capable of dealing with the challenge of militancy,” he added.

Speaking on this occasion, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Aslam Raisani said consultation is still under way on the issue of GST Reforms Bill and that no decision has been taken yet.

To a question, Raisani said that law and order situation in Balochistan is better than other provinces.

He said that foreign

Russia, Afghanistan agree to step up drugs fight

KABUL: Russian and Afghanistan want to increase cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking despite Afghan anger over a joint US-Russian drugs raid, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai agreed to continue joint efforts against drug trafficking during a telephone conversation, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Russian and US forces raided drug-processing laboratories last week in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, the first known joint US-Russian counter-narcotics operation in the country.

Karzai released a statement condemning the action, saying it was a violation of Afghan sovereignty and had taken place without permission of his government, but since then Afghanistan reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation with Russia.

“Mr Medvedev and Karzai particularly discussed the

Gilani for bridging trust deficit between Pakistan, US

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has underscored the imperative of bridging the trust-deficit and need for positive messaging on Pakistan-US relationship from both sides.

The Prime Minister said this while talking to the new US Ambassador Cameron Phelps Munter who paid a courtesy call on him Saturday evening.

He stated that despite of havoc caused by the unprecedented flood in Pakistan’s history, his government remained determined to carrying on the fight against menace of terrorism.

Premier Gilani, however, called on the US to help build capacity of law enforcement agencies of Pakistan and enhance defence and intelligence sharing cooperation between the two sides to defeat the common enemy.

He said that losing this war against terrorism was not an option and Pakistan expected the US and its allies would also

Gilani for bridging trust deficit between Pakistan, US

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has underscored the imperative of bridging the trust-deficit and need for positive messaging on Pakistan-US relationship from both sides.

The Prime Minister said this while talking to the new US Ambassador Cameron Phelps Munter who paid a courtesy call on him Saturday evening.

He stated that despite of havoc caused by the unprecedented flood in Pakistan’s history, his government remained determined to carrying on the fight against menace of terrorism.

Premier Gilani, however, called on the US to help build capacity of law enforcement agencies of Pakistan and enhance defence and intelligence sharing cooperation between the two sides to defeat the common enemy.

He said that losing this war against terrorism was not an option and Pakistan expected the US and its allies would also

PM Gilani happy with new league alliance

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that the new alliance of Muslim League, Muttahida Muslim League, might be in favor of Pakistan Peoples’ Party.

PM Gilani was addressing the Energy Conference held in Islamabad. He said that the government has completed work on the Charter of Democracy up to 80 percent.

He said that his government will consider opposition’s suggestions in favor of the country.

Replying to a question of a journalist about the deadline for load shedding, PM Gilani replied that no deadline, claiming that the present government has increased energy production up to 1,704 megawatt. Trend Pk

Govt. will complete its term: PM Gilani

Staff Report

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is confident that his government will complete its constitutional term and will also emerge the winner in the next general election.

Addressing a gathering of the party’s parliamentary leaders here on Saturday, he said that PPP will not deviate from its reconciliatory policy with PML-N, despite political challenges.

“We are keeping our promise on the charter of democracy and will continue to do so in the future also,” he said.

PPP, he said, ended politics of vendetta, due to which there is no political prisoner in the country.

The meeting also reviewed the overall performance of the government over the last two and half years.

In addition, PPP members of the Punjab Assembly complained about non-release of development funds. SAMAA

Hoti backs talks to end Karachi violence

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti has thrown his weight behind the ongoing talks to restore peace in violence-hit Karachi.

Speaking to newsmen at Mardan House today (Saturday), he felt that state of unrest in Karachi is dangerous for the entire country.

“We fully support the ongoing talks to quell the repeated spells of violence in Karachi,” he said.

Reiterating his government’s resolve to fight the terrorists, Chief Minister Hoti said that life and property of people would be protected at every cost. SAMAA

Rehabilitation of flood victims is a mission: PM Gilani

Staff Report

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the rehabilitation of flood victims is the government’s mission, adding that all the political parties are united for the cause.

PM Gilani along with Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif distributed Watan Cards among flood victims in Kot Addu.

He said on the occasion that the government has records of each penny given by the international community for the flood affectees.

Punjab CM said that his government would strive hard to rehabilitate the flood affected people as soon as possible. SAMAA

President Zardari says anti-govt moves failed

Staff Report

BADIN: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday that anti-government move failed, adding that democracy defends itself.

President Zardari, along with National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Farzana Raja, Zulfiqar Mirza and others distributed cheques among flood victims in Badin.

“The people of Pakistan support Pakistan Peoples Party. It’s our duty to resolve the problems of common people. It is the agenda of our government to address common issues.”

He said that his government has given priority to flood victims despite political disturbance in the country.

It is first time in the history of Pakistan that this government has imposed tax on landlords and rich people.

President Zardari said that anti-government forces will be discouraged. SAMAA

Next Page »