Cabinet approves draft of 20th Amendment Bill

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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet has approved draft of the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill, preventing 28 lawmakers for disqualification, TrendPK reports.

The bill is now going to be tabled in National Assembly today for a debate and subsequent passage.

The cabinet, met with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in chair, also proposed to extend tenure of the Election Commission members from two to five years.

Sources said the meeting has decided to set up a parliamentary committee in case of disagreement between Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and the Prime Minister over formulation of an interim setup ahead of general polls.

They said the matter would be referred to ECP in case the committee failed to reach any decision within three days.

The cabinet, today, also endorsed Economic Coordination Committee’s decision to raise sugar price by Rs3 to Rs 45 per kg at Utility Stores. TrendPK

Federal Cabinet approves draft of 20th Amendment Bill

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill-2012 to further strenghten the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and finalize the contours of interim set-up after dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies.

Briefing media persons after the 104th Federal Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that today was a historic day as the democratic government achieved another milestone by proposing the 20th Amendment with the consenus of all the stakeholders.

The government, the minister said, followed the reconciliation policy and succeeded in creating consensus on the constitutional amendment, involving the vital issues of interim government set-up and an independent ECP.

“This is the outcome of successful reconciliatory policies of the political and democratic leadership of the country, who have followed parliamentary norms and created parliamentary history,” she added.

The Information Minister said that the 20th Amendment after its passage from the Parliament, would help ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country in future.

Sharing details of the proposed amendment bill, she said that under the draft, all the four members of ECP will take oath like the Chief Election Commissioner and the procedure of their appointment and removal will be like that of the judges of superior judiciary and their tenure will be five year.

She said that strengthening of the ECP and democratic institutions was need of the hour.

About the caretaker Prime Minister, she said, it has been decided that the outgoing Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition will give a consensus name to the President within three days after dissolution of the National Assembly.

In case they cannot finalize a consensus name, the Speaker of the National Assembly will form an eight-member committee having four members each from both treasury and opposition benches to decide a consensus caretaker Prime Minister. If the committee also fails to reach consensus, it will send its proposals to the ECP, which will become final authority to name the interim set-up, she added.

The minister said that similar approach will be followed in provinces, too.

Dr Firdous said that the incumbent four members of the ECP have been nominated on the recommendation of a 12-member parliamentary committee.

The proposed amendment is not meant for a specific era, or party but for the times to come and it will help strengthen democratic institutions in the country and improve our democratic credentials, she added.

She said that the Cabinet appreciated the role of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in preparation of computerized electoral rolls carrying photographs of the voters.

She said that the cabinet was informed that a special paper will be imported for publication of ballot papers so that the doors of rigging should be closed for ever.

Appreciating the role of opposition, she said that in the parliamentary form of government, system cannot be run without active participation of the opposition.

The minister said that in the past there was a practice to push the opposition to the wall, but the present PPP regime, by following true democratic norms, has taken opposition parties along and evolved consensus on vital constitutional amendments. AGENCIES

Aitezaz says will argue for PM Gilani innocence

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ISLAMABAD: Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aitezaz Ahsan Monday said he is going to Supreme Court (SC) to plead the innocence for Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Talking to media outside his residence, he said after the indictment, the accused is asked about his reaction. TrendPK

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Firdous Awan hopes court will do justice

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Monday said she hoped that the Supreme Court (SC) will do justice to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who has been accused of contempt of court for not implementing the court orders over a span of two years.

Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said his party will remain in coalition government regardless of the verdict.

Meantime, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, talking to the battery of reporters outside the apex court building, said he had offered a good counsel to the PM Gilani in this regard. TrendPK

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Imran accuses PPP, PML-N of massive corruption in 4 years

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KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Saturday said all the politicians are involved in the ongoing corruption spree which has claimed billions of rupees to the national exchequer in four years.

Talking to media at Karachi airport, he said corruption to the tune of Rs.8500 billion took place in four years and taxes were stolen, adding all coalition partners of the government are equal stakeholders in this corruption.

Meantime, former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani should act upon the ruling of Supreme Court (SC). TrendPK

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Rahul Gandhi takes on Mayawati in UP polls

AYODHYA: Millions of voters went to the polls on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh, the first stage of an election that tests support for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s troubled government ahead of a nationwide vote in two years.

The election in Uttar Pradesh, a state that would be the world’s fifth most populous nation if independent, could have a bearing on who next governs India. It is a closely fought four-way race pitting Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the elite Gandhi dynasty, against Dalit leader Mayawati and two other parties.

Gandhi has staked his political reputation on reviving the Congress party in a state it has not ruled for 22 years.

A good result could breathe new life into Prime Minister Singh’s second term, which has been plagued by corruption and splits in the ruling coalition.

The son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, Rahul Gandhi is considered likely to take over as prime minister from Singh, but the timing is not clear. He said this week that becoming prime minister did not interest him for now.

A poor showing in Uttar Pradesh would leave the Congress party weaker than ever as the country gears up for a 2014 general election. Congress now holds 22 of 403 seats in the local legislature and the most optimistic forecasts would give it about 80.

‘OTHERS DID NOTHING’

Known as the queen of the lower castes for her power and lavish lifestyle, Chief Minister Mayawati has been criticised for building statues of herself and spending millions of rupees on diamond jewellery.

But supporters say she drove out violent mafias and made the state safe for former untouchable castes and other downtrodden groups after decades of abuse.

Uttar Pradesh, with 200 million people, is an unruly state that stretches southeast from New Delhi, divided along its length by the Ganga. To avoid violence, voting is staggered over seven days. Results from a total of five state elections are to be announced on March 6.

Elections in Uttar Pradesh have traditionally been decided by voters’ affiliation to the caste or religion they were born into. This year is no exception, with parties promising government jobs for the mostly poor Muslim and lower caste populations.

“Mayawati helped the poor with education, and distributed bicycles to students,” said 65-year-old wooden shoemaker Khairun Nisa, wearing a black traditional Muslim head-to-toe cloak. “She didn’t do as much as we hoped, but she did something, other governments did nothing.”

“We should give her one more chance,” she said after casting her vote on a rainy day at a primary school in Ayodhya. Turnout was thin in the chilly morning but was expected to pick up later.

The destruction of the Babri mosque by hardline Hindus at Ayodhya in 1992 sparked religious riots that killed some 2,000 people and brought the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, to national prominence.

This time, religious tensions have cooled and parties are trying to woo voters with promises of welfare programmes, food subsidies and affirmative action for government jobs.

Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party — which currently enjoys a majority in the state assembly — is expected to take a battering as she loses the support of higher castes who voted for her last time but feel she failed to deliver economic development.

Both BJP and Congress are expected to pick up some of the votes she loses.

A scandal over funds for a health programme and linked to the murder of four senior doctors has hurt Mayawati, and a purge of corrupt officials this year was seen as coming too late.

Results are notoriously hard to predict in Uttar Pradesh — where millions live in distant villages without electricity or clean water — but several opinion polls suggest the Congress party could win enough to form a government with the leftist Samajwadi Party, which could emerge as the largest party.

The Samajwadi Party has a strong presence in the national parliament, and a tie-up could allow the Congress party to reduce the influence of another volatile ally — the Trinamool — that has prevented Singh’s government from passing major economic reforms. AGENCIES

Gilani to discuss Afghanistan reconciliation in Qatar

ISLAMABAD: The prime minister will travel to Qatar next week to talk with officials from the Gulf Arab state on the Afghan reconciliation process, a senior government official said on Saturday.

The Afghan Taliban announced last month it would open a political office in Qatar, suggesting the group may be willing to engage in negotiations that would likely give it government positions or official control over much of its historical southern heartland.

Ties between Islamabad and Kabul have been strained in recent months but Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said after a visit to Afghanistan last week that ill will had eased considerably between the two neighbors.

Pakistan has not been playing a substantial role in the nascent Afghan peace process, she said, but would encourage militant groups like the Haqqani network or the Taliban to lay down their weapons if asked by Kabul.

“While it is not specifically on the agenda, Afghanistan will be discussed, including briefings from the Qatari leadership on efforts being made for the peace process, the Taliban office,” said the Pakistan government official.

Khar is expected to accompany Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on the February 6-8 Qatar trip. AGENCIES

PM Gilani contempt case, an internal issue: US

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WASHINGTON: The USA said contempt against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is an internal matter of the country and that it is hoped all issues will be resolved under law and the Constitution, TrendPK reports Saturday.

This contempt of court case against him (Prime Minister Gilani) is nothing new; also this is an internal matter of Pakistan, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters during a media briefing here.

Reacting to a query regarding Pak-US relations, he said his country is in persistent contact with Pakistani rulers and in wait for the recommendations by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).

Despite the circumstances besetting Pakistan and stagnancy in the bilateral relations, the two countries have continued the cooperation, Toner said adding U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter is in consistent contact with the Pak leadership. TrendPK

Four legal experts advised PM against letter, Aitzaz tells SC

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ISLAMABAD: A seven-member Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk is currently hearing the contempt case against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, TrendPK reports Thursday.

The PM Gilani’s counsel, Aitezaz Ahsan is giving arguments before the court. The former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader has been directed to complete his arguments in the preliminary hearing by tea break.

Aitzaz said acting upon the Rules of Business is a constitutional pre-requisite and under the Business Rules, it is Law Ministry which is to advise the PM on legal affairs.

The PM’s Counsel stressed the power of decision will rest with the Prime Minister, in case Attorney General of Pakistan is at variance with the law ministry over the advice.

Furthermore, he informed the court that as many as four legal experts advised the PM Gilani in National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case not to write the letter; only the then Attorney General Anwar Mansoor voiced difference of opinion.

Justice Mulk remarked besides Anwar Mansoor, Law Secretary Aqil Mirza also expressed opposition and both of them resigned from their offices over the issue.

Justice Mulk queried as to how much weight to be given to the opinion of legal experts in presence of clear-cut court instructions.

Ahsan submitted the court in grade 22 promotion case, bound the Prime Minister to implement the summary.

Justice Athar Saeed remarked the Prime Minister is authorized also to dismiss the advice. However, Ahsan said the court held the rejection of advice as incorrect in Grade 22 promotion case.

Ahsan said it is not criminal not to use the power to reject the advice. TrendPK

CJ proposes high-level commission to probe BB murder case

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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today proposed a high-level commission to be formed to investigate the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The chief justice directed Attorney General Maulvi Anwar ul Haq to consult the government in this regard.

Meanwhile, notices were issued to Pervez Musharraf, Pervaiz Elahi, Rehman Malik, Babar Awan and other important figures on a petition seeking registration of the second FIR.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Chaudhry heard the case.

The court issued notice to Pervez Musharraf, Pervaiz Elahi, Hamid Nawaz, Ejaz Shah, Kamal Shah, Javed Iqbal Cheema, Irfan Elahi and several other officials.

The apex court asked for record of Bhutto murder case which is currently being heard in an anti-terrorism court. A larger bench will be formed to hear this case, the chief justice remarked.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General opposed to the registration of the second FIR and said that court proceeding is already under way in the right manner. SAMA

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