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

I acted within the limits of the Constitution: PM Gilani

TrendPK.com
ISLAMABAD: A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) is currently in a hearing of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case which saw a turning point when Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani appeared before the bench stressing that he did not intended contempt.

Standing on the rostrum before the seven judges, PM Gilani stated that he acted in absolute harmony with the Constitution which enshrines immunity for the President of the state.

Justice Nasirul Mulk appreciated the PM’s appearance at the court.

As the Prime Minister’s representative, Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aitezaz Ahsan said that the Secretary Law was instructed regarding the Swiss letter on January 3.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the Secretary brought a summary which the court jettisoned.

Gilani said he looked at the operational part of the summary, which advised not to write the letter.

Justice Nasir said the court termed this summary as a summary of non-implementation.

Justice Khosa said the petitioner was not asked in the order to issue a summary, adding that the summary of the NRO implementation sent by the Law Ministry was not intended to implement it; instead, it was to stay the implementation.

Earlier, the PM said, “We honor the judicial order in compliance with the Constitution. Had there been no constitution, there would have been no respect for you and us.”
“What message will go across the world if we send the President to the court keeping in view the President and Prime Minister enjoy complete immunity?” he said to the court.

He maintained that he never attempted such a step which caused contempt of the court, adding that the PPP leadership all the way from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to President Asif Ali Zardari had appeared before the court.

I came here to appear before the court under charge while others showed up as a token of respect for the judiciary, the PM said.

Meanwhile, helicopters are inspecting the security situation around the court premises. High alert of security in the city has caused serious troubles to common people who faced massive hurdles in reaching their respective destinations. TrendPK

NEPRA approves reduction of 9 paisas per unit in power tariff

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a reduction of 9 paisas per unit in the power tariff.

The reduction was approved under fuel adjustment; the implementation of the approval will be effective for all consumers. TrendPK

Babar accuses PML-N of horse-trading in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan on Monday said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is itself violating Charter of Democracy (CoD) by horse-trading in Punjab.

Addressing a press conference here alongwith PPP Punjab’s Senior Minister Raja Riaz he reiterated that PPP would continue its reconciliation policy in the province.

However, the minister announced bringing the PPP Parliamentary Party’s 19 points reforms agenda in the Federal Committee which is constituted for the implementation of PML-N’s 10 points agenda.

“A single party cannot decide the entire country’s fate,” urging that all political parties should work together for the betterment of the country.

Commenting on the deadline given by PML-N, Babar claimed that PPP never gave any deadlines nor does it accept any.

The minister stated that there is no deadline in politics and decisions can be taken by consultation but not by dictations.

Babar Awan urged that Chief Minister Punjab should fulfill promises regarding the 19 points reforms agenda of the PPP Punjab Parliamentary Party.

PPP have given two names for the implementation of said agenda which includes Tanveer Ashraf Kaira and Ashraf Sohna, he added.

He said that Shahbaz Sharif”s yesterday”s statement would lead to reservations among the smaller provinces which is not a good sign for the federation.

“We believe in politics of federation, reconciliation and it is basic reason for not leaving the provincial Government,” Babar maintained.

Addressing the press conference, Raja Riaz said chief minister Shahbaz Sharif did not take the issue pointed out by them that is why PPP has decided to present its 19 points agenda in the federal committee which is constituted for the implementation of PML-N”s ten points agenda.

Both the leaders, claimed that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is violating the Charter of Democracy (CoD) by horse-trading in Punjab and everyone knows that it is impossible without the use of money. (APP)

Davis case: we don’t need to prepare fake documents, says Gilani

BAHAWALPUR: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the government would handle the Raymond Davis case keeping in view the best national interest.

“We have to put our country first. We will do whatever will be in Pakistan’s best interest,” Prime Minister Gilani categorically told media persons in response to questions regarding the US national Raymond Davis who had killed two persons in Lahore.

The prime minister rejected Opposition’s claims that the fake documents had been prepared for Raymond Davis. “We don’t need to prepare fake documents,” he said.

When asked about Pakistan Muslim League-N’s 10-point agenda,Gilani said the committees of Pakistan Peoples Party and PML-N would have a detailed exchange of views on the implementation of agenda items.

He said the committee would take the nation into confidence. He said the government was following the reconciliatory politics and believed that a single party could not take the nation out of crises without the support of all political parties.

About the status of former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in PPP, Gilani said, “He Qureshi is in the party, will be in it and will not do anything against the party.”

He said after meeting with PPP Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Qureshi would “tow the party line”.

Gilani said he himself was also holding the portfolio of foreign minister till the naming of new minister. (APP)

Gas shortage: Gilani directs implementation of ECC distribution plan

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday issued directives for the implementation of the decision of Economic Coordination Council (ECC) regarding the equal distribution of gas.

Gilani convened a meeting of all stakeholders on Monday to consider ways and means for equitable distribution of energy shortfall across the country. The meeting reviewed the gas crisis hitting the country and its effects. The PM also ordered the concerned ministries to import LNG at the earliest and asked the gas companies to make efforts to check the gas theft and wastage. On the occasion, Punjab CM shahbaz Sharif thanked the Premier for taking interest in the issue and added that the meeting would help resolve the gas crisis facing the country. It is pertinent to mention that the PM summoned a meeting in the wake of the threat by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to start street protests against gas loadshedding in the province. Mr Sharif had accused the federal government and the gas companies of adopting a discriminatory approach in gas supply to the industrial sector in his province and threatened to stage a march on the Mall in Lahore along with labourers and industrialists to protest against the loadshedding decision that had forced a number of factories to close down.The countrys current average gas production stands at 4BCFD against total proven reserves of about 33 trillion cubic feet (TCF), enough to maintain current supplies for more than 20 years. But the shortfall is also estimated to increase to more than 2BCFD in 2013-14 and 5.08BCFD by 2019-20. More than 9 per cent of the gas production is lost to the system losses.

On the other hand, adding to the public woes Sui Northern announced that the CNG filling station of Lahore would remain shut form 8:00pm to 8:00am besides a complete closure on Tuesday. CNG association convened an emergency meeting over the schedule.

Sudan: Authorities investigate whipping of woman on YouTube video

A YouTube video showing a Sudanese woman pleading and crying as she was flogged in public by police officers has prompted an inquiry by the country’s judicial authorities.

An investigation was started immediately into the lashing of a woman as seen on a website, and the implementation of sanctions that go against what is outlined in the criminal code, the judiciary said in a statement published in a number of Sudanese state-run newspapers.

The video, which has been circulated around the Internet over the last two days, shows a woman in a long black dress and a headscarf being whipped by two blue-uniformed police officers in what appears to be a government yard; a Sudanese flag stands nearby.

One of the officers is heard saying that the unidentified woman’s sentence is 50 … lashes, while others laugh in front of the camera when they realize that the incident is being filmed. Sudanese authorities initially downplayed the event. The timing of the video was intended to coincide with the Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 in order to defame the country. However, the governor of Khartoum, Abdul Rahman Al Khedr, said that the woman was rightfully punished according to the sharia law, but the violation was in the manner her punishment was carried out.

Khedr said his country won’t allow the incident to be politicized. In northern Sudan, where the law is based on Islamic sharia, the punishment for crimes such as adultery, prostitution or running a brothel can include up to 100 lashes. It is unknown what the woman’s crime was, but in the beginning of the video she is asked to either bend down or face two years in jail. The whipping was criticized by the anti-government Sudanese Women’s Union, which issued a statement calling the incident a shame, disgrace and humiliation to all Sudanese women.In 2009, Sudanese reporter and U.N employee Lubna Hussein was arrested and sentenced to 40 lashes for indecent clothing after she wore loose jeans in public. The sentence was ondemned by local and international human rights organizations, leading to the commutation of the sentence to a fine of $200.

5 more ministries to be transferred; preparations ordered

In the second phase of implementation of 18th amendment, 5 more ministries would be transferred to the provinces, News Trends reported on Wednesday.

Chairman of Implementation Commission Mian Raza Rabbani has said that no employee would be fired nor would be sent to the surplus pool. The session of the implementation commission was held in Islamabad that was presided over by the Chairman of commission Mian Raza Rabbani to finalize the transfer of 5 more ministries to the provinces. After the session Mian Raza Rabbani said that Cabinet division, establishment division and inter-provincial coordination departments have been directed to start preparations for the transfer of 5 more ministries. He also said that the fate of ministers of the transferred ministries would be decided by the Prime Minister whereas those ministers would be summoned ot the session of the commission who express reservations on the transfer.

Women rights’ seminar held in Badin

Staff Report

BADIN: Women problems need to be tackled immediately on emergency basis; suggested a seminar on women rights held in Badin on Wednesday.

A local Non Governmental Organization (NGO) organized a seminar ‘Women Rights Awareness’ in Badin Gymkhana today. Women from across the district, including rural areas, participated in the seminar.

The speakers of seminar said that many laws on women rights had been made in the country but none of them is being followed.

The women participants of the seminar presented many suggestions for the solution of their problems and demanded for the implementation of the existing laws on women rights. Trend Pk

Women rights’ seminar held in Badin

Staff Report

BADIN: Women problems need to be tackled immediately on emergency basis; suggested a seminar on women rights held in Badin on Wednesday.

A local Non Governmental Organization (NGO) organized a seminar ‘Women Rights Awareness’ in Badin Gymkhana today. Women from across the district, including rural areas, participated in the seminar.

The speakers of seminar said that many laws on women rights had been made in the country but none of them is being followed.

The women participants of the seminar presented many suggestions for the solution of their problems and demanded for the implementation of the existing laws on women rights. Trend Pk

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