MQM demands undoing of power tariffs raise
KARACHI: The members of Sindh Assembly hailing from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), decrying the raise in power tariffs, termed it a stark injustice to people despite the continuous spells of power outages, Geo News reported Wednesday.
According to a statement issued here, Muttahida demanded the government to retract its decision on tariffs hike.
The MQM’s MPAs denounced in strong words the recent power tariffs raise by 14 paisas despite the raging power load shedding across Sindh including Karachi and termed the decision as ‘anti-people’.
The MPAs said the ongoing power crisis is extremely disconcerting to the people and business strata across the country including Karachi.
The Muttahida leaders demanded President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to take grim notice of this raise in power tariffs.
Pak-China nuclear deal ‘peaceful’ under IAEA safeguards: FO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan once again said that its nuclear deal with China is purely for peaceful purposes and under the safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the world should not be worried about this peaceful nuclear deal.
Commenting on the statement of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said Pak-China peaceful nuclear deal is not new and it has been already underway for producing electricity.
He said the deal is under the safeguards and the standards of the IAEA and even China has already issued clarification in this regard, therefore, there is no need to seek any fresh clarification from China on this deal.
The spokesman said Pakistan has been cooperating with the international agencies in this regard and even China has also ensured the world community that Pak-China nuclear cooperation is for peaceful purpose and there is nothing wrong in this deal.
Pakistan has urged the international community to realise its growing needs of energy and its present shortfall, therefore Pakistan has been using all peaceful means to increase its power generation and nuclear is one of the options in it.
The spokesman said Pakistan and even China has time and again clarified their position on civil nuclear deal therefore raising questions on this issues is without any justification. Pakistan said the world should not adopt double standard on the issue of peaceful nuclear deal and should not target it without any justification.
Referring to civil nuclear deal of India, with many other countries including America, the spokesman said every country has the right to have the peaceful nuclear energy.
Pakistan has urged the international community to assess the Pak-China civil nuclear deal and avoid giving statements only top lease some countries in the region by criticising others.
Indian leadership and its press raised many questions on Sino-Pakistan civil nuclear deal and asked the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in its plenary meeting to take notice of it but the NSG did not take any action on this deal in its recent meeting held in New Zealand.
Although the NSG, predominated by western countries have already given waiver to India that is also discriminatory and will only benefit India.
Pakistan”s nuclear programme, even if it is for peaceful purpose, the international community is not accepting it as this achievement is by a Muslim country and some countries are united against having this facility by any Muslim country.
China is Pakistan”s most trustworthy friend and is the only country that has been helping Pakistan in producing energy through peaceful nuclear technology.
Indian Army Chief Statement Irresponsible: FO
Pakistan News: Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit on Thursday said Indian Army Chief’s statement that his country has the capability to fight both China and Pakistan simultaneously shows aggression and urged International community to take notice. The spokesman warned India that Pakistan knows how to protect its interest and borders.
“India has backed off from its commitment expressed at Sharm El-Sheikh and does not seem serious in resolving the Kashmir dispute” Abdul Basit said during the weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
He told that Pak-US strategic dialogue will commence in January. “Pakistan will get aid under Kerry-Lugar Bill next month.” The FO spokesman informed that Dr. Afia Siddiqui’s case will be formally heard in the United States, adding that diplomatic efforts are underway for her return to Pakistan.
He revealed that the UN commission investigating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has not made contact to meet military officials.
Indian Army Chief Statement Irresponsible: FO was first posted on December 31, 2009 at 11:28 pm.
India Not Serious in Composite Dialogue With Pak: FO
November 20, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said on Friday that India did not seem intent on composite dialogue with Pakistan, adding that it did not want to resolve core issues including water and Kashmir.
Abdul Basit maintained that Pakistan was a responsible state and answers Indian accusations through proper channel. He said India just look at terrorist incidents in its own territory and neglect terrorism in Pakistan. If Pakistan and India do not hold talks, it would be tantamount to the accomplishment of the terrorists’ agenda. Abdul Basit said US-India relations did not affect Pakistan unless they’re not against Pakistan’s interests.
The foreign office spokesman said India did not seem intent on initiating the composite talks with Pakistan. Pakistan wishes the commencement of the composite talks with India, not just a photo session, adding his country wants fruitful negotiations with its neighbor. The FO spokesman said if the negotiations were not jump-started, it would be a step forward towards the completion of terrorists’ agenda, adding it seemed India did not want peace in the region and was not serious in resolution of issues relating Kashmir and water. Abdul Basit said India wanted to dither the resolution of problems by abandoning the negotiations.
India Not Serious in Composite Dialogue With Pak: FO was first posted on November 20, 2009 at 10:10 pm.
New India Nuclear Test, Pak Concerned Over It
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is concerned on reports that India is again preparing for a new nuclear test, Geo News reported Thursday.
In his weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said the recent US statements on nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer and nuclear proliferation are quite baseless, adding Pakistan like any other responsible country is full-fledged alive to its responsibility.
The spokesman said there are reports that India has a new nuclear test in the works, adding these reports are rather embarrassing to Pakistan; Pakistan is however steadfast on its policy of maintaining minimum defence deterrence and does not want arms race in the region.
Responding a query regarding Mumbai investigations, the spokesman said Pakistan is serious to take those responsible to the book; while, the dossier recently delivered to Pakistan by India is same as the previous one.
Spokesman said Pakistan is opposed to the thorough physical search of Dr Afia before presenting her to the court, adding if such search is conducted, Pakistan will not condone it.
New India Nuclear Test, Pak Concerned Over It was first posted on September 3, 2009 at 2:52 pm.
©2009 “Pakistan News“.
