CM Punjab meets General Kayani

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif held meeting with the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani Saturday.

Sources told that law and order situation in the country, post flood conditions, rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons by the recent floods and other such issues were discussed in the meeting.

Punjab CM appreciated efforts of Pakistan army during the floods in the country. Trend Pk

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

Over 60,000 IDPs arrive in Karachi

KARACHI: More than 60,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from flood-stricken areas of Sindh have arrived in Karachi for taking shelter in relief camps set up by the government.

Six more relief camps were set up in the city to accommodate the influx of IDPs from the flood-affected areas of interior Sindh.

The addition of new camps has raised the number of relief camps set up by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) across the city 0to 47 while the figure of IDPs has exceeded 60000 after addition of 4000 new comers.

PM summons NDMC meeting

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani summoned a meeting of National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) on Wednesday (today) to review progress on rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures for the millions of flood-affected people, waiving of agriculture loans and to work out a package to lessen their sufferings.

Addressing a group of parliamentarians and flood-affected people during his visit to the area to monitor relief activities for the flood-affected people of D.I.Khan, Shorkot and adjoining areas on Tuesday said the government would try to replicate the successful handling of 2.5 million Internally Displaced Persons of Swat and Malakand, but on a much larger scale.

He said not only these people were provided food, shelter and medical aid, but were able to return to their home in a record time of three months.

Gilani said he would

Army Chief monitoring Hunza lake situation: Commander

GILGIT: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani is personally monitoring the rise of water level in Atta Abad Hunza lake.

This was stated by Commander of the Armed forces in Gilgit-Baltistan, Major General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a news briefing here Wednesday. He said the land sliding was not a new phenomena in the area rather it had occurred in the past as well. He disclosed that through optic fiber the army chief and he himself were monitoring the situation.

The Commander said the next 48 hours were very crucial, as the water from the lake would start getting released within this timeframe.

He was said that unprecedented helicopter service backed up the communication system and it was used for transportation of passengers as well as edibles.

The commander assured that Pak Army was fully prepared to handle the lake issue in a professional way and said that compensation for the human loss was paid and assessment for the property loss was also being made which would materialize in course of time.

He said a format for the assessment of losses was designed just to make the entire process transparent, and in this regard, a Major of the army would be part of the surveying team.

Major General Qamar Javed Bajwa termed the relief camps, set for the Internally Displaced People, better than of Sawat and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and said that it was the duty of civil government to facilitate the affectees and the army was only a supporting element.

The commander said army medical teams were on a stand by, to handle any untoward situation, along with medicines and an effective communication system.

The general said that in case of water wave of 20,000 cusec the bridges would be damaged, adding, an alternate system had been prepared by the army to carry on transport services.

Tamil Nadu MPs to visit Sri Lanka on Saturday

Colombo: A delegation of 10 parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu is to leave for Sri Lanka on Saturday on a mission to get a first-hand account of the conditions at the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps in the North.

The delegation of MPs led by the DMK party leader T. R. Baalu will be in Sri Lanka till October 14.

The Central government of India has cleared the delegation’s visit following a representation made to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi by the MPs of the Congress, the DMK and the VCK, Indian media reported.

The delegation intends to ask the Sri Lankan government to take immediate steps for rehabilitating the IDPs and to stop the alleged killing of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Besides Mr. Baalu the delegation is represented by DMK members T K S Elangovan, A K S Vijayan, Helen Davidson and TN Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi. N S V Chithan, Sudarshan Naachiappan, J M Haroon and K S Alagiri of the Congress party and Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan are also included in the delegation.

---

Tamil Nadu MPs to visit Sri Lanka on Saturday was first posted on October 10, 2009 at 4:29 pm.

Defuncted ERU’s Summary Send To NWFP CM

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN: A summary to defunct Emergency Response Unit (ERU) has been sent to Chief Minister NWFP.

According to official sources, the decision has been taken at the completion of process of return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The ERU was established to boost the performance of provincial relief commissionerate after displacement of millions from Malakand. At least thirty government officials and ten private officials were performing duties in ERU.

ERU performed duties of taking care of IDPs and arrangements for their return from May 5 to August 22.

Now the process of return of IDPs has been completed, provincial relief commissioner Azam Khan has sent the summary to NWFP CM to defunct ERU.

---

Defuncted ERU’s Summary Send To NWFP CM was first posted on August 24, 2009 at 3:31 pm.

Rehman Malik Meets Richard Holbrook

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: The US Special Representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke called on Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and both the leaders agreed to boost cooperation in war against extremism.

Malik said the crackdown on the terrorists will continue until the attainment of absolute success.

Rehman Malik hosted dinner in honour of guest and his delegation at his residence, which was attended by Federal Home Secretary Kamal Shah and US ambassador Anne Patterson as well.

Talking to Malik, Holbrooke said Pakistan has very important role to play in war against terrorists and there is no denying the fact, adding his country will continue supporting Pakistan in its action against terrorists.

Malik said the victory against extremists in Swat and other areas have been achieved at the cost of sacrifices of precious lives, for which, people are proud of their armed forces.
The interior minister reiterated the resolve to keep the war up until the last extremist.

Separately, the US Special Envoy called on former premier and chief of his own faction of Pakistan Muslim League, Mian Nawaz Sharif here Sunday.

The meeting held at Punjab House was also attended by the President PML-N and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Senator Ishaq Dar and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Pieterson.

The two leaders discussed the issues of bilateral interests, including the Pak-US cooperation for controlling militancy in the region and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons of Malakand division.

Sharif reportedly raised the issue of continued violations of Pakistani airspace by US unmanned planes in the meeting, it was reported.

Ninty Six Families Of Internally Displaced Persons Leaved For Home

PAKISTAN, NOWSHERA: Ninety-six families of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) belonged to Malakand left for their homes from Famelo camp Jalozai in Nowshera.

According to camp incharge Zahir Shah, 96 families of 675 persons left for Shamozai and Kabal in a convoy of five trucks and ten buses. The unregistered families also allowed to go back to their areas. The ration of one month and kitchen items has been given to IDPs.

The visa card of Rs.25, 000 and other facilities will be provided to affectees in their areas whereas screening of unregistered families will be carried out at Landakai area, the incharge added.

Swat War Won With Cooperation Of People

MINGORA: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan Army and the government in collaboration with the local masses curbed the menace of terrorism in picturesque Swat valley.

Addressing the dignitaries of Swat at Saidu Sharif Monday, the PM who arrived here on a day-long visit praised the courage of local people with which they faced the hardships in the months-long battle against militancy in the region.

“I salute the internally displaced persons who offered sacrifices in the greatest interest of the country and nation in the time of need,” the PM said.

The PM also assured the locals of all possible help and assistance from the provincial and federal governments in their rehabilitation in their native areas.

The PM said that the government is sincere in implementing the promised- “Nizam-e-Adl Regulation” in Malakand division, saying that all possible and available “legal and constitutional” means would be used for the purpose.