Kaira defends sacking of Kazmi, Swati

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira defended the sacking of Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Azam Swati as federal ministers, saying that it was the demand of the media and judiciary.

Speaking to journalists in Islamabad toady, he denied reports of differences between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani over the issue of ministers’ removal.

“Those talking about these differences will fail to achieve their vested interests,” he said.

He quoted the judiciary saying that a transparent probe into Haj corruption was not possible in the presence of the Secretary and Federal Minister. TrendPK

Reformed GST not to affect common man

ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) which is aimed at broadening the taxation net base would not affect lives of the common people

Talking to media after attending the launching of series of programmes on Faiz Ahmed Faiz here at Radio Pakistan he said, that GST reform was the part of budget document presented this year, but was delayed for more deliberations with different stakeholders.

The Reformed GST has also been approved by the Cabinet and Council of Common Interests (CII), he recalled.

The minister said that all the chief ministers have agreed on GST reforms in the meeting of the CCI.

He said the government was aware of the problems of common man and implementation of RGST would not disturb their routine life, rather burden would be shared with those who are capable of

Pakistan seeks TPS for its nationals in US

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has formally asked the United States to consider grant of temporary protected status for its nationals currently living in the US without proper documentation in view of flooding devastation in the country, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.

Kaira said Pakistan handed over a letter to the Homeland Security Department on the second day of Pakistan-US strategic dialogue, requesting the grant of the temporary immigration status.

The United States gives TPS to nationals of designated countries which face situations like environmental disasters or armed conflicts.

The Homeland Security Department will look into the request.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the day-long deliberations by various working groups, Kaira stated the Obama Administration has committed to step up efforts for a requisite

Babar rejects rumours of clash between executive and judiciary

Federal Law Minister Babar Awan said that the incumbent democratic government will not do anything unconstitutional and illegal. He rejected the romours of clash between the executive and the judiciary, and termed the news of Executive Order to revoke judges reinstatement as baseless. He said that the PM will address the nation on Sunday in this regard. He rebuffed those using government resources for doing politics. He said that those institutions should remain silent who are not allowed to do politics.
In a joint press conference with Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Babar Awan said that the PM had rejected the news of executive order and no PCO or ECO would be introduced in this government. He said that the government respects orders of apex court. He said that he better knew about Article 6. He said that Musharraf had full right to make a party.

Cabinet approves Afghan transit trade pact

The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the Afghan transit trade pact. Indian goods would not be allowed to move Afghanistan through Pakistan.
While briefing media men about Cabinet meeting, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the Afghan goods would only be transported to India through Wahga border. Pakistani goods would enjoy the facility of being transported to the Central Asian republics through Afghanistan, he added.
He said that 1961 people lost their lives due to the recent floods. He said 98 percent flood water in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 90 percent in Punjab has been receded. The data of affectees from Balochistan province has not yet been received.

Kaira urges Nawaz to contest elections

Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that he didnt believe that any conspiracy was being hatched against democracy and it was not Nawaz Sharifs habit to conspire.
Talking to media in Lahore, he said that he had no reservations over unification of political parties. He said that court orders would be implemented as they respected judiciary. He said that Nawaz Sharif should contest elections and come to the Parliament.
He said that Nawaz Sharifs attitude towards the President was not appropriate. He said that NAB chairman would be appointed soon. He warned NATO against operation inside Pakistan.

Govt. flip-flop on judiciary continues

Staff Report

KARACHI: The federal government on Wednesday withdrew the controversial remarks made by Federal Manpower Minister Khursheed Shah against the top judiciary.

Shah’s statement came days after the government ousted State Minister Qayyum Jatoi for his outburst against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and the army.

In a statement released earlier in the day, Khursheed Shah alleged the Supreme Court is overstepping its mandate by interfering with administrative matters.

Nearly an hour after Shah’s statement, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told media that the government has withdrawn the controversial remarks.

Meanwhile, Khursheed Shah is yet to comment on the issue.

Shah said that removal of the democratic government through court would be tantamount to insulting the public mandate and urged the judiciary to

Govt, judiciary not at loggerheads: Kaira

Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, rejecting the rumors of confrontation, said that government and judiciary were not at loggerheads. We are not at loggerheads with anyone, he said.
Talking to media in a ceremony of Lahore Chamber of Commerce, Kaira said that media played an important role in the restoration of democracy. He said that Dr. Aafia case was appeared in Musharraf government. He said that terrorism was the biggest problem of Pakistan.

WB boosts Pakistan flood support to $1 bln

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has increased funding to help Pakistan cope with catastrophic flooding by $100 million, to a total of $1 billion, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The World Bank is committed to helping the people of Pakistan during this time of need and has made US$1 billion available to finance immediate recovery needs and longer-term reconstruction,” the statement quoted World Bank President Robert Zoellick as telling Pakistani Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh in Washington.

The funds are being diverted to flood use from money already earmarked for Pakistan. They will come from the International Development Association, the bank”s fund for the poorest countries, and are concessional and carry no interest payments, the statement said.

Zoellick also told Shaikh that continued economic, institutional and governance reforms were critical to maintaining donor confidence.

“We need to respond strongly to the crisis at hand, but we need to do it without losing sight of important economic reforms,” he was quoted as saying.

“Renewed commitment to governance and fiscal reforms will be important to mobilize domestic revenues and ensure that funds reach the poor people it is intended for. The response of donors to the floods will also depend on the government”s ability to deliver in this area,” he said.

Shaikh is part of a delegation visiting Washington for discussions with the International Monetary Fund about Pakistan”s $11 billion IMF loan program.

While vowing to remain on track with the 2008 IMF loan program, under which the country pledged to implement tax and energy sector reforms, the minister also said he would seek understanding from the international community about the troubles Pakistan faced from the catastrophic floods.

Pakistani Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Wednesday the country would register economic growth of just 2.5 percent in the year to June 2011 because of the impact of flooding, trimming an earlier 4.5 percent target.

HRCP slams attacks on media over shoe hurling reports

KARACHI: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned Sunday”s attacks on the media, including the blocking of transmission of the Karachi-based Geo News.

The transmission of Geo News was blocked and copies of at least two newspapers were burnt overnight in various parts of Pakistan after they reported a shoe attack on President Asif Ali Zardari during his party address in Birmingham.

Some Pakistan People”s Party (PPP) leaders and government officials had issued threats and warnings to cable operators across country against continuation of the Geo News transmission.

Newspaper vendors had said that they were robbed of copies of Jang and The News dailies.

In a statement issued by the commission on Monday, HRCP Chairperson Dr Mehdi Hasan said: “HRCP unreservedly condemns the attacks on cable operators” offices in Karachi and other efforts to block broadcasts of a couple of TV news channels, burning of copies of newspapers snatched from vendors and efforts to prevent distribution of newspapers.”

“However, the commission cannot, but condemn any form of interference with the media”s freedom of expression in as strong words as possible. Besides, such actions are always counterproductive,” The Daily Times quoted Dr. Hasan, as saying in a statement.

Dr. Hasan further urged the government to take action against the perpetrators of the attacks.

An unidentified middle-aged man had reportedly hurled his pair of shoes one after another at Zardari during the event at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. The shoes missed Zardari and landed close to him.

The shoe-thrower, who has not been identified so far, was arrested and rushed outside the hall by security personnel, but was released later.

Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira had denied any such incident taking place during the rally, and reprimanded the media for airing such a report.

“If someone tried to create disturbance while sitting in back of the hall, it was not visible and the news should be condemned rather than airing it as ”breaking news” or portraying it as ”big news”,” Kaira said.

Kaira said that no television cameras were allowed inside the convention centre for security reasons.

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