ECP suspects degrees of 298 MPs

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared the eligibility of 298 members of parliament (MPs) as suspected because they didnt submit their degrees of matriculation and intermediate. Federal Ministers Babar Awan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Opposition Leader Ch. Nisar Ahmed, Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi are among the members.

In spite of ECP demand, 112 MNAs and 21 Senators didnt submit their degrees. Besides, 112 MPAs of Punjab Assembly, 10 MPAs of Sindh Assembly, 10 MPAs of Balochistan Assembly and 45 MPAs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly also didnt submit their degrees to the ECP. Election Commission has declared degrees of 118 members of parliament as correct.

Security Stepped up in Lahore on Salman Taseer’s Burial

LAHORE, trendpk: Funeral prayers of Punjab governor Salman Taseer will be offered at Governor House Lahore this noon.

Taseer, who was shot dead by a guard in Islamabad on Tuesday, will be buried at Cavalary Graveyard.

Security has been stepped up and over 1000 security men have been deployed in Lahore.

The dead body of Salman Taseer, has been airlifted to Lahore and his funeral prayers will be offered after Zohar prayers today. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and top political officials of the country will attend the funeral.

The dead body of the assassinated governor of Punjab was taken to his residence in Lahore, later the remains shifted to Governor House in Lahore.

Earlier, the dead body of the governor of Punjab, after post mortem at PIMS hospital in Islamabad, was airlifted to Lahore through C-130 airplane. Federal ministers Babar Awan, Rehman Malik and Qamar Zaman Kaira reached Lahore with the body. The dead body was received at airport by Salman Taseer’s son Hassan Shahzad, Chief Minister of Sindh Sayed Qaim Ali Shah and Fariyal Talpur.

$25 to $30 billion Investment Expected by China: Kaira

Trendpk.com: Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that a $25 to $30 billion Chinese investment is expected in different sectors of the country.

Addressing a press conference on Chinese premiers visit, he said Pakistan and China inked 13 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation in economy, energy, banking, security and technology. He said China would give a grant of dollar 229 million for flood affected road network and agriculture sector leading to provision of rice processors and latest technology of cold storage. He said the Chinese government would extend soft loan of $400 million while another $10 million cash amount would be provided to be disimbursed as compensation to the flood affected families.

Kaira said that a $10 billion trade agreement would be signed in Saturdays business summit with the Chinese businessmen.

A total of 500 scholarships to the Pakistani students will be offered to enable them to learn Chinese language and study spheres of advance science and technology, besides, a total of 1,000 cataracts operations would be undertaken by the Chinese surgeons, he added.

He said the Chinese premier has also assured in a meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister that they would be supporting all the energy projects including coal, wind, hydel etc.

He said with this support, the largest coal reservoirs in Thar would be tapped for power generation.

He said the joint economic group of both countries had identified 36 projects for cooperation which would be completed within a period of five to ten years.

Kaira said besides, completion of small dams, the Chinese government had also assured to invest in mega hydel projects.

The minister replying to a question said that without solution to core issue of Occupied Kashmir with India, progress could not be achieved with the neighbour and China was very well aware of it.

To another question, he said Pakistan did not require to tilt its balance in favour of China, viz a viz, US in this region as it already enjoyed time-tested relationship with China which was exemplary in the whole region.

To another question, he said the safe city project for Islamabad was a part of Chinese government efforts to help Pakistan in the war against terror.

Reiterating Pakistan governments stance over drone attacks, he said that they had expressed their reservation over such attacks.

Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Ahmed Khan speaking on the occasion said that with signing of these agreements, their desires and expectations had been fulfilled.

He said the situation was changing in the region, and added that Pakistan-China strategic relations would be further strengthened with the current visit of Chinese Premier.

Masood Khan said the strategic relations between two friendly countries were aimed at peace and stability in the region.

Replying to a question, he said both China and Pakistan have consensus that all issues in the region including the core issue of Kashmir should be resolved through dialogue.He said Pakistan has invited India a number of times to the negotiation table for resolution of issues.

Replying to another question, he said China has not given any indication to India to support its ambition to get a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

On this issue, Chinese government has said that UN General Assembly was the right forum to discuss reforms keeping in view the interest of developing countries.

2 dead, 3 burnt in fire at oil factory in Karachi

Staff Report

KARACHI: At least two laborers have died and three others burnt in a fire break out in an oil factory in Karachi on Wednesday morning.

According to details, a fire suddenly broke out with a with a loud bang in the furnace boiler of Max Calter Oil Factory in Steel Town; at least five laborers sustained severe burn injuries in the fire; later on two of them succumbed.

The names of the deceased laborers are Idrees and Qurban; among the burnt are Qamar Zaman, Allah Dino and Zar Khan.

Rescue teams and more than half dozen fire engines reached the factory and started efforts to control the fire after shifting the injured and dead bodies to the hospital. Trend Pk

We back judiciary along with nation, says Kaira

Federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that his party stands with the nation on the matter of judiciary. He said his party has rendered invaluable sacrifices for the restoration of judiciary.
Talking to the media personnel in Islamabad he said that his party respects judiciary. Courts order for PMs decision to be provided in the court would be obeyed and later whatever decision comes, shall be binding on us. He said that Chief Justice is equally respectable for all of us. Some people are misrepresenting the factual realities by portraying a confrontational situation between the apex court and the government.
Federal minister said that the statement of Abdul Qayyum Jatoi is his personal opinion and not the governments stance. He said that Jatoi spoke in an irresponsible and uncalled for manner which was unbecoming of his present position.
Responding to a question about Dr. Aafias repatriation, the minister said that Dr. Aafia was trialed in US courts and Pakistani government gave her all the technical and legal aid. We tried our best for her acquittal using all official and diplomatic channels, he said. The way US court has penalized Dr. Aafia is unprecedented in the legal history of the world. No court has ever penalized separately on different charges. The court should have given a collective punishment, he added. Kaira vowed to leave no stone unturned for her return.

No emotions flared in the speech of PM: Kaira

Federal Information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira says no emotions flared in the speech of PM. He says some anchors show irresponsible behavior to such an extent that they use inadequate language, and rather than suggesting solutions, they divert attention from the problems which the country is facing in reality
While talking to Dunya News Qamar Zaman Kaira said that after watching the political talk shows in the evening, it feels that government would be gone by tomorrow. And that was the point that PM raised that they shouldnt confuse the people. He says PM is right to say that we lost precious lives for democracy.
Last Saturday PM delivered a speech in Achievement Awards Ceremony 2010 organized by Chamber of Commerce Lahore. Due to some loud and glaring voice of PM, some misconceived the speech to be emotional.

Nation won’t tolerate any ultra-constitutional change: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday said that the network of terrorist organizations has been smashed in the country adding that we have to join hands to fight collectively against such elements.

Talking to media persons here at the Parliament House, he said that it is not a time to indulge in blame game but is a time to create unity among our rank and file and to fight the mindset which wants to destabilize the country. “The Punjab government should not be blamed for Lahore tragedy. No one is safe from them and the terrorists attack whenever they find any opportunity,” he observed.

The minister said the government operation against the terrorists in Swat, Malakand and tribal areas remained successful and the whole network of terrorist organizations has been broken. The whole nation including security forces, media and the civil society played key role in eradicating the menace of terrorism from Swat and Malakand division, he said.

The security forces remained successful in the operation against the terrorists in Malakand division and it was the results of consensus which was built against such elements, he added. The Minister said that some splinter elements belonging to smashed terrorists groups are acting in desperation but the government would not allow them to play with lives of innocent people.

Replying to a question, Kaira said that it was not made public that how many people were arrested in connection with terrorism on the basis of intelligence. “Wherever we deem necessary, we will take action and we need no dictation from any quarter,” he added.

In response to another question, he said that democracy has been restored after long struggle and the nation would not tolerate any ultra-constitutional change in the system.

The National Assembly session was convened to discuss relief and rehabilitation of flood victims but it has been adjourned for one day owing to the death of Minister for Local Government AbdulRazzaq Thahim and now the matter would be discussed on Friday.

Fazl must part ways with govt for MMA: Qazi Hussain

LAHORE: Former Amir Jamat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed Wednesday said Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman will have to part ways with the government for revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ammal (MMA).

Talking to media men after a visit to Mansoora Lahore, Qazi Hussain said targeted killings are part of enemy’s conspiracy to fan violence.

He said granting of extension to the Army Chief has not set a good tradition.

Nawaz Sharif’s remaining tight lipped on COAS extension is in line with his policy, he observed.

He ruled out MMA becoming functional again without Fazl-ur-Rehman and Jamat-e-Islami.

Black box not found: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday denied earlier reports that the black box (Flight Data Recorder) of the crashed plane has been found, Geo News reported.

He also announced for compensation of Rs 0.5 million to the victims.

Earlier in the day, the federal cabinet announced a day of national mourning. He also informed the journalist about a relief camp established in Aab Para, which would start functioning from tomorrow.

The minister said, they would have to use DNA tests to identify charred bodies plucked from the wreckage of the airliner.

Karachi to have 400 CNG buses soon: minister

KARACHI: Karachi is about to have four hundred CNG buses on its roads as part of the government”s policy to promote environment friendly public transport system.

Federal Minister for Environment, Hameedullah Jan Afridi talking to journalists following a seminar on Clean Development Mechanism here on Monday said subsidy of Rs 700,000 is being offered to introduce clean and green transportation.

“A total of 800 CNG buses have been procured for the country and required funding is in process by State Bank of Pakistan,” he told the journalists.

In reply to a question he said the government has not taken into confidence the transport bodies about its scheme to introduce CNG buses.

“I do not think they should have any objection as the field is open and they too can participate in the bidding,” he said.

The minister was confident that masses will appreciate the public friendly initiative that would offer clean, cost effective and efficient transport facility.

To another question, he said scarcity of gas is fortunately not an issue in the southern parts of the country.

Hameedullah Jan Afridi said a fool proof mechanism is also being introduced under which every vehicle will be required a thorough inspection on annual basis.

The minister said his ministry was committed to facilitate industries keen to adopt clean development mechanism.

Malaysian companies have shown keen interest to invest in solid waste management, he said answering to another query.

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