Gilani is most corrupt person in Pakistan: Azam Swati

Lashing out at Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, former federal minister for science & technology Azam Swati termed him as the most corrupt person in the 63-year history of Pakistan.

Talking to media outside the Supreme Court, he dubbed both the President and the Premier as completely corrupt people:Both Zardari and Gilani are corrupt and dishonest people; and the latter has brought bad name to his parents by doing corruption. Replying to a question about the ongoing Federal Investigation Agencys investigation into the Hajj scam, Swati maintained that the apex court is well aware that FIA will not unveil those involved in Hajj corruption scandal and called its report FIA report dissatisfactory. Bring the accused to light; the nation should launch jihad against the prevailing corruption in the country, the self-assertive ex-minister said. He foresaw the fall of the incumbent government soon. Earlier, a four-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed hearing of the case regarding corruption in Hajj arrangements.

During the hearing, CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry remarked that the Director General FIA has been on the mercy of the government as a temporary employee. The counsel of Swati in his statement said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik through a SMS got omitted the name of Rao Shakeel from the exit control list. The case has been adjourned the case till January 12.

PM Gilani for Effective Anti-terror laws

trendpk: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday called for an effective legislation against terrorism. During an address to the National Assembly, Gilani lamented that the prevailing anti- terrorism laws are not effective for those held under it are easily bailed out and restart their nefarious acts.

Islam is a religion of peace and does not allow violence; its a wrong notion being attached to Islam, the PM asserted. He called upon the politicians to abstain from mudslinging and urged the media to act responsibly.

MQM vows to thwart bids to trigger lingual riots in Karachi

Karachi trendpk.com: We are not hatching conspiracies against anyone nor have any such schemes, said MQM leader and Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri on Tuesday.Talking to media after meeting with PML-F Chief Pir Pagara at his Karachi residence, Babar said that he discussed the prevailing political situation with Pagara and mulled over joints efforts in this regard.

Replying to a question, Babar vowed to foil any bid to trigger lingual riots in Karachi and called for united efforts to provide relief to the masses. Answering a question, he said that We have no rivals; all are friends and we havent shut our doors to anyone.Meanwhile, PML-F leader Imtiaz Sheikh affirmed his partys support to MQM and added that the latter pursued peace and brotherhood.

Gilani calls on Zardari

Lahore trendpk.com: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called on President Zardari and took stock of the prevailing political situation of country, trendpk.com reported on Tuesday.

The two leaders also deliberated upon the recent visit of Chinese PM Wen Jiabao besides the demands of MQM delegations.

President Zardari also discussed his probable visit to Turkey with the PM. Later, the President joined Gilani on luncheon.

Even Zardari fails to woo JUI Chief

President Zardari failed to woo JUI Chief when both had a sitting after a banquet hosted in the honor of visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, trendpk.com reported.

According to JUI spokesperson, both leaders discussed the prevailing political situation of the country. He told that JUI Chief Fazal-ur-Rehman has said that JUIs stance over quitting the government is principiant.

PML-Q hailed our decision to quit government: JUI Chief

PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain visited JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence and discussed the prevailing political situation of the country, trendpk.com reported.

Chaudhry Shujaat said he came here to discuss the prevailing political situation adding that PML-Q wanted that the government should complete its term so that the ruling party doesnt get another chance to rule in the future.

While, Fazlur Rehman noted that PML-Q has hailed their decision to quit the government, which has jolted the national politics.

Secretary General PML-Q Mushahid Hussain Syed and JUI-F Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor Haideri were also present during the meeting.

MQMs gives 10-day ultimatum to PPP to explain Mirzas remarks

MQM has given 10 days time to PPP to explain the remarks of Sindh Interior Minister Zulfikar Mirza about formers involvement in the incidents of target killings in Karachi.

MQM Rabta Committee meeting was held in London and Karachi at the same time in which all party leaders discussed the prevailing political situation after the anti-MQM remarks of Zulfikar Mirza and ouster of JUI-F from the coalition government. Talking to media after the meeting, MQM leader Raza Haroon said that the party has given 10 days to PPP for explanation of Mirzas remarks, then MQM will figure out its future strategy. He said that MQM will not take decisions in haste. Haroon said that Mirzas statement was a conspiracy to divide Sindh so that the party has strongly condemned it. He asked the PPP leaders to explain the remarks of Zulfikar Mirza, either these were Mirzas own remarks or partys. He said that differences among parties were not a new happening and MQM wanted to solve all matters with mutual discussions. He said it was democratic right of JUI-F to break away from the coalition.

Mirza bitterly criticizes MQM

KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulifqar Mirza accepting the responsibility of the prevailing condition of Karachi said that other coalition partners of the provincial government, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), should also accept the responsibility.

While addressing the business community at Karachi Chambers of Commerce on Monday, Mirza bitterly criticized the MQM.

Mirza said that he had the list of 60 target killers, adding that 26 belonged to the biggest political party of the city. “I haven’t said that foreign elements are behind such activities. We are responsible for crime and target killings in the city”

Sindh home minister also pointed out that the banned organizations are given money by the business community of the city in the name of charity.

State Bank increases discount rate by 14 percent

Staff Report

LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan has announced Monetary Policy for next two months on Monday, increasing the discount rate by 14 percent.

During the press conference, the director of State Bank Hamza Ali Malik told media that discount rate has been increased to control inflation.

AGENCIES ADD: Pakistan’s central bank on Monday raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.5 percent to 14 percent, warning for the second time in two months that rising inflation was impacting the economy.

The State Bank of Pakistan attributed rising inflation to relentless government borrowing and the fallout from catastrophic flooding, and said inflation could remain in double digits into the next fiscal year, beginning July 2011.

“The economy’s ability to achieve sustainable recovery remains constrained owing to slow progress in the prevailing

PIA demands Rs.1.7 bln bail-out package

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The financial crisis of the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), made it demand a bail-out package of Rs.1.7 billion.

According to PIA spokesman Sultan Hasan, the Finance Ministry has been presented with a five-year plan to pull the national airline out of the prevailing financial crisis.

Under the plan, the bail-out package would be spent for payment of debts, purchase of new aircrafts and improvement of the current fleet.

PIA’s administration has requested the government to write off losses so that that it can turn into a profitable entity.

The national airline is faced with annual losses of Rs.80 billion. Trend Pk

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