PM Gilani vows to quit if convicted

TrendPK.com

ISLAMABAD: A day before his appearance in Supreme Court of Pakistan, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani vowed on Sunday that he would quit the office if convicted by the apex court over his failure to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, TrendPK reports.

In his interview with Arab TV on Sunday, the PM claimed that all corruption cases against President Zardari were field on ‘political grounds’, reiterating that Zardari enjoyed immunity in the country and abroad.

Turmoil is expected when Gilani will appear on Monday before the SC in contempt case hearing, facing conviction in the case after the apex court rejected his appeal.

He said he would quit the office of Prime Minister and National Assembly if Supreme Court convicted him for contempt of court in now-annulled National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case.

“I then would neither continue as a Prime Minister nor a MNA,” PM Gilani said.

About describing unilateral US commando action in Abottabad as a ‘great victory’, PM clarified that “it was based on my perception that CIA may have conducted the raid in collaboration with ISI.”

He said the Parliament alone was authorized to decide on NATO route reopening, adding that the government was reviewing Pakistan’s future ties with NATO and ISAF forces battling Taliban and Al Qaida militants in Afghanistan.
  
On the other hand, PPP has summoned a meeting of its senior party leaders at Prime Minister House on Sunday to review PM’s Monday court appearance, Senate elections and other political headaches for the government. TrendPK

PML-Q names candidates for Senate polls

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Qaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) has announced names of candidates it is fielding in upcoming Senate elections, TrendPK reports.

According to the statement issued on Sunday by the PML-Q, a PPP ally, Muhammad Hamza, Saradar Zulfiqar Khosa, Rafique Rajwana will contest on general seats.

Ishaq Daar will contest on the seat of technocrats, while Nuzhar Amir Siddiqui and Kamran Michal will contest on the seats reserved for women and minorities, respectively.

Other PPP allies, MQM and ANP, have also finalized their candidates for the Senate polls expected next month. TrendPK

Osama Bin Laden told children to live in peace in the West

LONDON: Slain Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden urged his younger children to go live peacefully in the West and get a university education, his brother-in-law said in an interview published Sunday.

Zakaria al-Sadah, the brother of bin Laden’s Yemeni fifth wife Amal, told Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper that the Saudi-born extremist believed his
children “should not follow him down the road to jihad.”

“He told his own children and grandchildren, ‘Go to Europe and America and get a good education,’” al-Sadah told the Sunday Times.

Al-Sadah said bin Laden told them: “You have to study, live in peace and don’t do what I am doing or what I have done.”

Bin Laden was killed in a commando raid in May 2011 by US Navy SEALS at a house in the garrison town of Abbottabad, northwest Pakistan, where he had been living for several years.

Al-Sadah said that in November he had seen his sister for the first time since she was shot in the knee during the raid, and had since been allowed to have a number of meetings with her in the presence of guards.

He said the three wives and nine children who were in the compound — some are bin Laden’s children and others are his grandchildren — have been held for months in a three-room flat in Islamabad.

They are guarded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, he said.

The Sunday Times published what it said was the first photograph to show some of the young children from the compound: two sons and a daughter, and two grandsons and a granddaughter.

The children were still traumatised after seeing the raid in which bin Laden died, al-Sadah said.

“These children have seen their father killed and they need a caring environment, not a prison — whatever you think of their father and what he has done,” he said.

A Pakistani commission investigating the raid said in October that it had lifted travel restrictions on Bin Laden’s family and al-Sadah flew to Islamabad in November to take Amal and her children home.

But he said Pakistani officials had refused to let him take them.

There was no immediate response to the claims from Pakistani officials. AGENCIES

Zardari calls key meeting as PM braces for court appearance

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also Pakistan Peoples Party’s Co-Chairman, has called meeting of the party’s Core Committee in the Presidency on Sunday evening to mull over the situation arising from PM Gilani’s contempt of court case, TrendPK reports.

Sources said among other headaches for the government, senior party leader would discuss in the meeting Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s appearance in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday.

Accompanied by ANP and MQM allies, Gilani will appear in the apex court for hearing at which he faces indictment for contempt of court over his refusal to request the reopening of corruption cases against his party boss, President Asif Ali Zardari.  

Earlier today, in his interview with Arab TV, Gilani vowed to quit if convicted by the apex court.

In his interview with Arab TV on Sunday, the PM claimed that all corruption cases against President Zardari were field on ‘political grounds’, reiterating that Zardari enjoyed immunity in the country and abroad.

Gilani said corruption charges against the president were “politically motivated” and that the president had immunity as head of state.
  
Asked if he would rather resign for the sake of the president, Gilani said if convicted of contempt, he would automatically lose his office so there was no need for him to quit.  “There’s no need to step down,” he said. “If I’m convicted, then I’m not supposed to be a member of the parliament.” TrendPK

People being misled in the name of change: Governor Khosa

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LAHORE: Punjab Governor Latif Khosa on Sunday said that some people were misleading the nation in the name of change.

Addressing a large public gathering in Sialkot today (Sunday), Governor Khosa said the real change was brought about by late PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Speaking on this occasion, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said conspiracies are being hatched against the PPP government from the very first day. The PPP, she said, came into power through power of people.

Criticizing Shahbaz Sharif, she said Punjab Chief Minister had to close its Food Program due to corruption.

The minister said the government would be held accountable in the court of public. TrendPK

Tunis to host meeting on Syria on Feb. 24

CAIRO: Tunisia will host a meeting of the “Friends of Syria” which will group nations seeking to build an international agreement on how to end violence in Syria, Arab ministers said on Sunday.  

“I welcome Tunisia’s invitation for this international conference on Feb. 24. I think it will be a good opportunity to try to create a clear international direction to help the Syrian people to exit the crisis. We will work for this meeting to succeed,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told Arab ministers meeting in Cairo.  

Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Ben Adessalam said the “Friends of Syria” meeting would include Arab, regional and other international states. AGENCIES

Chinese envoy visits Tehran for nuclear talks

TEHRAN: A senior Chinese diplomat arrived in Tehran on Sunday to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, amid differences between China and the West over how to resolve the dispute it has caused.   

The semi-official ISNA news agency said China’s assistant foreign minister, Ma Zhaoxu, met a member of the Supreme Council of National security, Ali Baqeri, for talks on Iran’s stalled nuclear talks with six world powers, as well as bilateral ties.  

The agency quoted Ma as saying China was interested in accelerating talks between Iran and the P5+1 group, comprising the United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and Britain.   

Iran says its nuclear programme is to meet its energy and medical needs. Western nations suspect it has military aims.  

China has repeatedly said that the only way to resolve the issue is through dialogue and cooperation.   

Tensions rose last month when EU leaders agreed to embargo Iranian oil and put in place further measures against Iran’s central bank. China is one of the largest users of Iranian oil, buying around one fifth of total exports.  

The EU is also a major consumer and member states have until July to find alternative sources.  

ISNA earlier quoted Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi as saying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would soon visit China. AGENCIES

Two killed in Jacobabad firing

Two killed in Jacobabad firing

TrendPK.com

JACOBABADL: At least two people were killed including a woman in an incident of firing here late on Saturday night, reports TrendPK.

According to police, two people were shot dead over an issue concerning with personal enmity or family feud in Gul Sher village located in Jacobabad on Saturday night. A woman was among deceased, police added.

The dead bodies have been taken under custody and deposited with a hospital for legal formalities, sources said, adding that the culprits believed to be assailants have been booked in the case.

Investigations are underway, police claimed ruing that no arrest has been made so far. TrendPK  

Baluchistan is on fire – report

TrendPK.com

QUETTA: It is time to through light upon the troubled situation existing in Baluchistan province. The latest news from the center is that internal and external elements both have substantially contributed to maximize catastrophes of the ill-fated province, that is striving on a number of fronts at a time, reports TrendPK.

It has been found, according to some reports, extremists are being provided with huge cache of forbidden arms and ammunitions from across the border (India) on one hand while on the other side, many ministers have found being involved in incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

The key militant groups operating in Baluchistan are of Barhamdag Bugti, Javaid Mengal, Harbiar Bugti and Dr. Allah Nazar which may end up hatching East-Pakistan like conspiracy. It’s been revealed that these terror groups have established their sub-offices even in Europe.

Many personnel of levies force are helping out these terror outfits, covert or exposed both, the report suggested.

Security officials said implementing on Katchi Kenal Project may pave progress the way needed for the betterment of the extremism-ridden province, Baluchistan. TrendPK

Award-winning singer Whitney Houston found dead

LONDON: Grammy-winning pop legend and actress Whitney Houston was found dead in Beverly Hills, police said. She was 48.

The shock news came as the music industry gathered in Los Angeles for the annual Grammy awards show on Sunday, and a few hours ahead of a traditional pre-Grammys dinner in the hotel where Houston died.

Musicians took to Twitter to pay tribute to the singer, famous for songs including “I Will Always Love You,” who had led a public battle with drugs.

“Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend … She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth,” wrote Mariah Carey.

Police confirmed her death in a brief statement outside the Beverly Hilton hotel, where stars were gathering for an annual pre-Grammys dinner hosted by veteran producer Clive Davis.

“At 3:55 pm, Whitney Houston was pronounced dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel,” said Mark Rosen, a police spokesman.

Rosen said police received an emergency call from someone in her entourage and found Houston on the floor of her room on the hotel’s fourth floor as attempts were being made to resuscitate her.

“There were no obvious signs of criminal intent at this time, and it is being investigated by the Beverly Hills police department,” the police spokesman added.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

A mobile crime laboratory and a number of police cars were stationed outside the hotel, while inside guests watched live television coverage about Houston’s death in the bar and lobby areas.

Condolences poured in on Twitter from shocked fans and from the famous, as sadness over the news spread through the entertainment world.

“We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney’s family. She will be missed,” said Christina Aguilera, while Rihanna wrote simply: “No words! Just tears #DearWhitney.”

Grammys organizers the Recording Academy are scrambling to include some kind of tribute to Houston in Sunday’s show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to CNN.

With a ferociously powerful voice and a dazzling range, Houston achieved stardom as a pop-soul singer known as “The Voice” and the “Queen of Pop.” She also appeared in hit movies like “Waiting to Exhale” and “The Bodyguard.”

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