Sindh: Nationalist parties announce to observe strike on 13th

They have appealed to the masses to keep their business activities and transportation service shut.

Sindh United Party President Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah met nationalist leaders at his residence and addressed a press conference.

He said that the government has rejected the people of Sindh by the ordinance restoring the local government system, adding that if the government did not withdraw its decision at once, they would not only observe a strike but also lay siege to the Assembly.

He said that the PPP had lost its credibility and representation among the masses.

Sindh National Front chairman Mumtaz Bhutto said that the strike on August 13 would reflect the voice of the people. If the government did not change its direction, it would definitely lose its remaining mandate.

Altaf welcomes restoration of LG system

The MQM chief in his statement issued from London that he offered congratulations to the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for conducting successful dialogs and restoring the local government system in Karachi and Hyderabad.

He offered gratitude to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari for their efforts to establish peace in Karachi.

He said that decision taken about Sindh would prove a mile stone for the promotion of democracy in the country.

Earlier, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad issued the ordinance to restore local government system and cancel the commissionerate system in Karachi and Hyderabad on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

The decision came at a meeting between PPP leader Babar Awan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at the Sindh Governor’s House.

SC Rejects Govt Plea for Time in NRO Review Case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Monday rejected the government plea seeking more time in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review hearing.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry rejected government plea this morning.

The government on Saturday filed an application in the Supreme Court through Raja Abdul Ghafoor, advocate-on-record, seeking more time in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review petition to engage another counsel in place of Barrister Kamal Azfar, who was appointed the Advisor to the Prime Minister.

The court rejected the government request and now Barrister Kamal Azfar will have to appear before the court on behalf of the government in the hearing of the case on October 13th.

SC fixes Oct. 20 for NAB ordinance hearing

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will take up a petition seeking invalidation of some recent amendments made to the NAB Ordinance.

The petition was filed by PML-N’s Zafar Ali Shah, who claimed that the Prime Minister was not consulted with regarding the issuance of the ordinance, which was a violation of Article 48 of the Constitution.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jeelani will hear the petition on October 20. SAMAA

Sohail Zia Butt out on bail

Lahore High Court on Monday released PML-N member and a close relative of Nawaz Sharif Sohail Zia Butt and suspended a 3-year term awarded to him by an accountability court.
Hearing a case seeking Sohail Zias release, Justice Ijaz Chaudhry ordered Butts release on a surety bond of Rs3million on health grounds. On Sept 3, an accountability court sent Sohail Zia Butt to jail to undergo three years imprisonment awarded to him by an accountability court in absentia in 2001 under Section 31-A of the NAB Ordinance in a reference of Rs 2 million embezzlement.
Zia was nabbed over the charges of defaulting on a Rs 70.2 million loan.

‘HEC functions under PM not Education Minister’

ISLAMABAD: Higher Education Commission (HEC) rubbishing Education Minister’s statement Thursday clarified that it is HEC that is authorized to verify the degrees.

In a statement HEC spokesman said, HEC is fully authorized, under Ordinance 2002, to carry out verification and scrutiny of the degrees.

He termed Aseff Ahmed Ali’s challenging the powers enjoyed by HEC as incomprehensible.

The spokesman said HEC functions under the Prime Minister and not the Education Minister.

SC orders to resend NRO summary to PM

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court has directed law ministry to resend a summary of implementation of NRO verdict to Prime Minister.

In a hearing of a case about implementation of NRO verdict, the apex court has ordered law ministry to resend a summary to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The court said law secretary will be summon in the court if the summary could not be send to Prime Minister. Later, the hearing has been adjourned till July 12.

Earlier, a bench of Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk heard the case of appointment and promotion of Ahmad Riaz Sheikh in FIA. Prime Minister secretariat presented another report regarding identification of those responsible for the issue. However, no one was point out in the report.

On the query of the apex court, additional attorney general informed the court apparently selection board held responsible in the new report. The court adjourned the hearing till Monday.

SC allows Azfar to plead NRO review case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) allowed Kamal Azfar to appear before the court to plead the case regarding National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review petitions in place of the Federation’s counsel Masud Chishti, Geo News reported Monday.

Barrister Kamal Azfar filed an amended review petition, which asserted it against international law to seek to reopen Swiss cases.

A 17-judge SC’s bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry heard the petitions regarding review of the apex court’s NRO verdict.

In brief hearing of the case, the court allowed Kamal Azfar to appear before the court instead of Masud Chishti. The court also directed the Registrar office to take up the Federation’s reviewed appeal for hearing.

Later on, the case was adjourned. The date for next hearing would be announced afterwards.

Today, Azfar filed an amended appeal on part of the Federation with paragraphs objected by the Registrar Office, deleted and some additional points added to it.

According the Federation’s reviewed petition, the apex court did not keep in view the order of Geneva’s magistrate.

The petition said when the court sent the Ordinance to the Parliament for four months, it actually acquiesced to the legal status of the NRO.

The reviewed appeal said the national and Swiss cases cannot be re-opened and it would stand in conflict with the international laws if the federation seeks to re-open the Swiss cases.

World stocks up on ECB liquidity offer

LONDON: European stocks rose Thursday after the European Central Bank left interest rates at a record low and promised short-term liquidity to the financial sector.

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World stocks up on ECB liquidity offer

Sindh: Anti-encroachment Ordinance issued

KARACHI: Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Thursday issued an Ordinance to provide measures for removal of encroachments from public property and to retrieve the possession.

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Sindh: Anti-encroachment Ordinance issued

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