Nisar holds Govt responsible for killings of 3 citizens

Opposition leader Ch. Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday held responsible the federal government for the killings of three Pakistanis in Lahore by Raymond Davis as it was issuing visas to everyone.

On point of objection in the National Assembly, he has said that Presidency, Foreign Office, ISI and Pakistani embassy in the US suggest for issuing visas to foreigners. Nisar said that a US diplomat indicated that federal government was ready to expatriate Davis but Punjab government wasnt ready to do this.

Presidency, PM Secretariat no sign of development: Nawaz

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said sitting in the presidency or PM secretariat is in no way a matter of development, adding that the true uplift took place during his premiership.

Talking to mediamen at Gojar Khan, Nawaz deplored that the dictators ruled for ten years each but could not put the country on the path of progress. Martial laws and dictatorship damage the country immensely, he asserted.

Nawaz called upon the global powers to respect Pakistans sovereignty. He urged eradication of unemployment form the country.

Had my government stayed in power, there would not have been unemployment in the country, claimed Nawaz. He said that a strong economy would ensure strong country. I live for Pakistan and die for it too, he maintained in a strident tone.

President orders probe into Haj mismanagement

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari today directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate reports of poor accommodation arrangements made for Haj pilgrims in Mecca by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the President, taking note of the reports of huge mismanagement in hiring accommodation and the complaints of non-provision of basic facilities to pilgrims, has asked the FIA to submit its report without any delay.

He said that a number of Haj pilgrims had sent their complaints direct from Mecca to the Presidency.

In another development, the President also called for a report from the Ministry of Minorities Affairs over the sentencing to death of a Christian woman for alleged blasphemy in Nankana Sahib last Monday, he said.

Aasia Bibi, a resident of Nankana Sahib

PM Gilani, Army Chief meet President Zardari

ISLAMABAD, News Trends:  Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaque Pervez Kayani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Presidency to discuss the results of Pak-US strategic dialogue.

The meeting also discussed future strategy after the dialogue with United States.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also present during the meeting.

Chilean miners in complete delight after being rescued

The Chilean-miners, who were saved after they got trapped underground and remained there for almost two months, are in absolute delight these days.
On one hand they are being greeted by their relatives and close friends and on the other hand they are being revered and respected by the whole country. Ceremonies and functions are being organized in their honor. The miners spent their whole day in one such ceremony organized in Santiago. They also played football in the presidency with the football team of Chilean President.

CEC membership of Abbasi suspended by PPP

Pakistan Peoples Party has suspended the Central Executive Committee (CEC) membership of Senator Safdar Abbasi for violating party discipline. Secretary General PPP Senator Jahangir Badar has sent an email to Safdar Abbasi intimating him about the suspension, Dunya News reported on Saturday.
Safdar Abasi has been accused for violating party discipline by participating in a TV talk show despite PPPs ban on its leaders to participate in that program. Naheed Khan, talking exclusively to Dunya News, said that Senator Safdar Abbasi, who is also her husband, was issued a show cause notice on 20th of October, 2010 whereas his membership was suspended within next 48 hours without intimating him although party rules provide 7 days for explanation but this rule was ignored in Abbasis case. Naheed Khan also said that such incidents never happened during Benazir Bhuttos life.
On the other hand Secretary Information PPP Fauzia Wahab has said that Ms. Sherry Rehmans membership has not been suspended however she has just been issued a show cause notice.
Speaking about the matter, Director current affairs Dunya News Nasim Zahra said that the issue could better be explained by the PPP leadership however she expressed her concern over the kind of protest that occurred outside Sherry Rehmans residence in Karachi and to add to the mystery, no condemnation came from the presidency or the prime minister house.

Rehman Malik, Mirza Called at Presidency over Karachi Situation

ISLAMABAD, News Trends: President Asif Ali Zardari has called Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik and Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza at the Presidency to mull over the exacerbating situation in Karachi.

According to the sources privy to the President House, President Zardari took notice of the law and order situation in the provincial capital and ordered an inquiry into the violent incidents occurring as frequently as ever.

President Asif Zardari has called a meeting this evening with the Federal and provincial interior ministers to take up further measures to stanch the gory incidents in the metropolis.

France faces more protests as pension vote looms

PARIS: The French government sent police to clear access to barricaded fuel depots as trade unions kept up their resistance on Wednesday to an unpopular pension reform due for a final vote in the Senate this week.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said three depots were unblocked overnight as France braced for more public sector strikes and protests against the reform, which would lift the minimum retirement age to 62 from 60.

Backed by a majority of French people, unions are trying to force President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose ratings are at rock-bottom 18 months before a presidential election, to retreat on what is being seen as the defining reform of his presidency.

The centre-right government has stood firm through a wave of protests and strikes since the summer which gathered momentum last week with stoppages at oil refineries and blockades of fuel depots

Ebad likely to meet President Zardari

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The meeting between Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad and President Asif Ali Zardari is expected today (Sunday), sources told SAMAA.

Both leaders will discuss the prevailing situation in Karachi. Farhatullah Babar, Spokesperson of the Presidency, informed SAMAA that the meeting between the two leaders was already fixed. The time of the meeting is not confirmed, but both Sindh’s governor and the president have been in contact over the phone. SAMAA

Zardari says NATO border violations can weaken terror war

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said,during a meeting with CIA Chief Leon Panetta, that the NATO forces’ violations of Pakistani borders can weaken the war on terror.

The Ambassador of US, N W Peterson, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shujah Pasha also attended the meeting held in the Presidency, Islamabad.

During the meeting, the President said that the US court did not comply with the justice rules which has enraged all Pakistan.

He added that it is a top priority of Pakistan to eliminate terrorism and to win war on terror Pakistan Army’s capacity needs to be enhanced.

The CIA Chief Leon Panetta said on the occasion that US would continue to provide all possible assistance to the people and Government of Pakistan. SAMAA

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