Malik says PM be lauded for appearing before court

TrendPK.com
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik Thursday said several points were cleared during the past four years and the same will happen in future as well.

Talking to media on arriving at the premises of the Supreme Court (SC) which is currently hearing the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case, he said the government appears before the bench in pursuance of the court order.

He said the PM Gilani’s decision to appear before the court should be appreciated, adding the institutions are working while staying in their respective domains.

Referring to the PM Gilani’s appearance before the court in contempt hearing, he said this is not a big deal; hence, it should not be much talked over. TrendPK

Report on 19th Amendment Bill presented in NA

trendpk.com: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday congratulated the nation and political leadership on successful training launch of Medium Range Ballistic Missile Hatf-V (Ghauri) and report of Constitutional Committee on 19th Amendment.

While speaking in the National Assembly, he said it was a good omen that the Chairman of Constitutional Committee Mian Raza Rabbani had laid the unanimously passed report of the Committee on 19th Amendment. He said it would give a strong message to those people who used to term the parliament as rubber stamp and powerless parliament.

Those who proclaimed the Parliament a rubber stamp with no powers should know that the present parliament is independent. I have remained the member of the National Assembly in 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 2008. I have never seen such an independent parliament.

The previous parliament did nothing except raising the slogans of go Musharraf go, he said.He recalled that the former President addressed the previous parliament for only one time during his nine-year tenure.

Congratulating the members of Constitutional Committee, the Prime Minister said that the unanimously passage of the report on 19th Amendment bill by them would be written in the history.

He said the 1973 Constitution was presented by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the successive governments made a number of changes in it. It is not a unicameral system rather it is bicameral system. I am happy that not a single member opposed the bill.

While acknowledging the efforts of Raza Rabbani, the Prime Minister said, I appreciated the Chairman of the Committee for presenting the report in a short time. I also appreciate the political leadership for showing political maturity that has further dignified the parliament.

He praised the role of Supreme Court of Pakistan for referring the matter to the Parliament for review and reconsideration. I compliment the role of Supreme Court for referring the matter to the Parliament for a review. The judiciary has given the highest respect to the Parliament and the Parliament has reciprocated in the same manner.

We want to make the institutions stronger instead of individuals, he added.

Lahore Students Protest: Case registered against 42 persons, students announce black day

In Lahore, during a protest of students, a bus was set ablaze by 42 persons and a case has now been registered against them.

According to Islampura police, bus driver Mohammad Arshads statement has helped in registering a case against Jibran Butt and former Nazim Haseeb along with 40 other persons for setting ablaze the bus. While on the other side cases against Chairman Joint Action Committee Nazim of Jamiyat Lahore Akhzar Nazeer have been registered in Qilla Gujjar Singh police station for damaging property of Punjab Assembly, blocking the traffic and damaging other government properties.
On the other side, Islami Jamiyat for Students has announced a black day today against torture on students; where as Punjab Professors Association has also announced a boycott against the educational process for an indefinite period of time. Addressing a news conference in Lahore office, acting Nazim of Islami Jamiyat for Students told that Punjab government is against educational policies and is also taking the right of education from poor children. He also said that Chief Justice must take notice of the violence done on students by the police. Acting President of Punjab Professors Association also addressed the news conference in which he announced that from today, a complete boycott will be administered against the educational process for an indefinite period of time and until a decision for creating a board of governors in the institutions is made, this movement will get more violent. He also said that police must release the arrested teachers and anti-educational policies must also be eliminated according to directions by IMF.

PPP and PML-N are united for countrys sovereignty: Gilani

Islamabad, News Trends :- Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that PPP and PML-N might have different goals but for countrys sovereignty and democracy, both the parties are united.

Addressing the participants of 4th National Conference organised by South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) here on Saturday, the Prime Minister said the primary and basic role of the media is to provide news and information to the people in a fair and objective manner. He also said that in order to strengthen Pakistan, the institutions must be made strong enough.

PM Gilani pointed out that speculations and self-styled analyses impact negatively upon economy by creating an impression of political instability. Does the cause of democracy and institution-building gets advanced when a section of press becomes a party and keeps giving deadline about the ouster of government? It is about time we rise above our parochial agendas and think in larger national interest, and it might require taking all the stakeholders on board to develop consensus on the ideas and policies in the larger interest of the people of Pakistan, he added.

Larger Bench of SC to Hear case of Judges Restoration Notification Today

News Trends: Supreme Court issued a notice to Attorney General after taking the notice of news for withdrawing the notification regarding restoration of judges. SCs larger bench consisting of 17 members will hear the case today.
Some extra ordinary activities were observed in Supreme Court on Thursday evening. All the judges of SC held a one hour long meeting regarding after the news were aired on some sections of media. After the release of a press release by SC, a 17 member bench of the Supreme Court was constituted on late Thursday night to hear the case of withdrawing the notification order regarding restoration of judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and chief justices/judges of the High Courts. It was also stated in the press release that Supreme Court has also issued a notice to Attorney General. It also states that executive order of restoration of judges will not be postponed. The court has given its decision regarding the Sindh High Court Bar case. According to the press release the procedure for appointment and withdrawal of judges is mentioned in the constitution. 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. In his statement he also said that some elements are trying to create confusions among the institutions but such conspiracies will not be made successful; where as the government fully respects the Judiciary.

Ten ministries to be exterminated by January: PM

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that 10 federal ministries would be exterminated by January, 2011. He added that the government does not want a confrontation with the judiciary. Nothing would happen on 13th October, he said.
Talking to journalist in Islamabad the Prime Minister said that judiciary wants democracy to nourish and flourish. He said that those who dream and prophecy of the dismissal of government, would be disappointed. Situation is not disappointing like that of 1980s and 1990s, he added. Prime Minister expressed the governments desire to see the institutions develop and gain strength. He further said that he does not enjoy the power of appointing chairman NAB. PM told that he counseled with Raza Rabbani on the issue who briefed him that chairman NAB is not a constitutional designation; in fact its the prerogative of the President to appoint chairman NAB. PM also told the journalists that the government is patronizing meritocracy and the promotions given to the officers today are symbolic of this stance.

NATO has no right to strike in Pakistan: Asfandyar

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: NATO has no right to attack in Pakistan, said Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan.

The ANP chief said this during a press conference on Friday where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Afrasiab Khattak and others were present.

Asfandyar said that his party bitterly condemns NATO attacks, adding that no one will accept drone attacks or NATO strikes on Pakistan’s soil.

“ANP will not support any unconstitutional step.”

He said that the NRO issue will be resolved.

“There will be no clash if all the institutions work within ambit. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will be given all possible support,” he added. SAMAA

Gilani asks NRO beneficiaries to resign voluntarily

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday has said those who have been benefited from National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) should voluntarily resign from their posts.
On one had you want safe repatriation of Dr Aafia and on the other hand you want to divide the Parliament that consisted of President, Senate and National Assembly, Gilani said while addressing the Senate on Friday.
The PM emphasised the supremacy of the Parliament wherein the President is an essential part of it and as such no case be initiated against him in any foreign country. The President enjoys immunity as per the Constitution – Constitution, which has been made by the Parliament itself and only it can take it away, the Premier maintained.
The PM asked how could the President prosecuted in any foreign country as he is the supreme commander of the Armed forces and is an indivisible part of the Parliament.
Referring to the rumours in the air regarding change in government set-up, the PM said that the government has completed two and a half years term and as much time is left, Take him (President) after that, the PM added. PM Gilani has said that respect is not necessary for the Supreme Court only, others institutions and Parliament also required it.
Give equal reverence to Parliament and other institutions, the PM advised. The prime minister said that Pakistan has been achieved by the politicians and only they could salvage it.
He lamented that a nasty propaganda has been unleashed against the elected representatives while the people tolerated the dictators for a decade. Regarding Dr Aafia, he assured her safe repatriation at the earliest.

SC authorized to check infringement by institutions: CJP

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday observed that the Supreme Court has the authority to interfere into infringement on part of any state institution.
Addressing the ceremony to mark the new judicial year, the CJ said the ambit of all the institutions has been defined in the Constitution, and added that the beauty of democratic set up lies in the institutions respecting the limits.
The CJ said the governments get angry whenever their illegal or unconstitutional laws get scrapped by the apex court, but we have to tolerate their offence, the CJ maintained.
The CJ observed that none could suspect the honesty and uprightness of the SC judges, adding that the lower courts do contain corrupt element, which could not be eliminated despite raise in salaries.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed satisfaction over the efficiency of the courts. He assured the audience that the court would be able to dispose off any case within a year.

Imran Khan laments new corruption allegations

MULTAN: Former Pakistan cricket captain, Imran Khan, on Sunday called for stronger national institutions to prevent corruption scandals undermining the country’s favourite sport in the future.

“This whole episode of cricket reflects what is happening in the country,” Khan told reporters in Multan during a flood relief campaign.

“We are regarded as a corrupt country because our institutions are not strong and the same thing is happening in cricket because of ad-hocism in the game.”

“Pakistan cricket has suffered the greatest set-back and it’s going on with further claims of players’ involvement.”

“We have to make our institutions strong because the future of the country is bright and we should not spoil it,” said Khan, who is head of his political party, Tehrik-e-Insaaf. AGENCIES

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