PM asks for report on Khawaja Sharif’s murder plot

Staff Report

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday asked Interior Minister Rehman Malik for a report into an alleged plot to murder Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Khawaja Muhammad Sharif.

Speaking to newsmen in Lahore, Prime Minister Gilani said the entire Parliament is united for the cause of the democracy. “Under the prevailing circumstances, it is inappropriate to make anti-democracy remarks,” he said.

To a question, he said that those who were now raising the Kalabagh Dam issue had done nothing in the past during their term.

“Nawaz Sharif is my friend. He can say whatever he wants. But everybody is together,” he said.

Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said that he had asked Rehman Malik not to distribute Watan cards among the flood victims.

Rejecting the corruption allegations, he said that

Black box found, cause of crash to be investigated: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday said the black box (Flight Data Recorder) of the crashed plane has been found and actual cause of crash would be ascertained after a thorough examination of the black box.

He said an inquiry committee has been constituted which would give its opinion after analysing the black box and completing the inquiry procedure.In an exclusive talk with a news channel, he expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and said the entire nation is shocked over the sad event.

Kaira said Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani postponed the cabinet meeting and declared a day of national mourning over the tragic incident.

The Prime Minister, he said, along with Chief Ministers of all provinces had an aerial view of the crash site atop Margalla hills.

The private passenger airliner that could not land at Islamabad airport due to bad weather crashed into a 3000 feet high peak in the Margallas at around 10.00 in the morning, killing around 150 passengers and crew.

Answering a question about rescue activities, Qamar Zaman Kaira, who also accompanied the Prime Minister, said soon after the incident rescue teams and people reached the spot to help the survivors, if any.

He said though crash site is very difficult to reach, rescuers are conducting the operation actively.

The Minister prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant the bereaved family the courage to bear the loss with magnanimity.

Six killed in Lahore matches factory blast

LAHORE: At least six persons were killed and many others injured in an explosion in a matches factory at Bedian Road area in Lahore.

The workers at the matches factory were engaged in routine work on Friday when the explosives used in matches making were exploded killing six persons and injuring several others. The injured were transferred to nearby hospital as rescue operations underway at the blast site.

US offered $5b against nuclear blasts: Nawaz

LAHORE: The chief of PML-N Mian Nawaz Sharif said the then US President offered a package of $5 billion for not carrying out nuclear blasts and warned about imposition of ban otherwise.

Addressing a function to celebrate nuclear blasts, Nawaz said the entire nationa was united in favoure of nuclear blasts and Mushahid Hussain was the first person who advice that nuclear blasts should be carried out in reply of Indian nuclear explosions.

He said it was the democratic government that took the bold decision of carrying out nuclear explosions and if there was a dictator, he never goes for the blasts.

PML-N leader said people of Pakistan are the real heirs of the country. He criticized Musharraf for putting the country under debts.

PM Gilani For Resolution of Kashmir Dispute

LONDON, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said peace and stability in the region cannot materialize unless the lingering dispute of Kashmir is resolved peacefully through negotiations.

“Pakistan desires peaceful relations with India and that the stalled Composite Dialogue process should be resumed,” Gilani told a large gathering of Pakistani community here Wednesday at a local hotel soon after his arrival in the British capital.

Mentioning the successful military operations carried out in Swat and Malakand against terrorists, the PM said the operation in South Waziristan was also proceeding to success.

The Prime Minister said the entire nation stood behind the government in its move to eradicate militants.

Gilani said Baitullah Mahsood, who according to him was responsible for the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, has also been killed during the successful military operation.

He paid tribute to the residents of Malakand who left their homes for the country’s sake and hoped that FATA’s affected persons would also return to their homes soon.

The Prime Minister appreciated the expatriate Pakistani community for their generous donations for PM’s Fund for the IDPs of Swat and Malakand.

He, however, asked them for a collective policy rather than individual one by adopting a village in Swat, Malakand and FATA and then fulfilling their basic necessities.
The Prime Minister said at the end of the counter-terrorism operation in FATA, the government would announce a reform package on the pattern of the one for Gilgit Baltistan.

Gilani said today Pakistan was confronting with several issues including national security, economy and social welfare and stressed the need to improve them for a smooth journey to development and prosperity.

He said the government was paying due focus on resolving these issues and would utilize all resources in this regard.

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PM Gilani For Resolution of Kashmir Dispute was first posted on December 3, 2009 at 12:34 pm.