Relief efforts continue at Makran, Sindh coasts

KARACHI: Balochistan Chief Minister, Nawab Aslam Raeesani, along with Commander Coast Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority visited cyclone affected areas of Gwadar, Pasni and Turbat.

An ISPR (Navy) press release issued here said that the Chief Minister, on board PN helicopter, took an aerial view of the cyclone affected areas and reviewed relief operations being undertaken by Pakistan Navy in collaboration with civil administration.

Earlier, three Pakistan Navy aircraft carried 1,800 kilograms of medicines, 10 large size de-flooding pumps and 600 chicks (doorway curtains) to Gwadar for the cyclone-affectees.

Relief goods are being delivered by PN aircraft and helicopters to the areas which are humanly inaccessible due to rain water.

PN Ship Zulfiquar has already reached Gwadar with 55 tonnes of dry ration and relief goods.

A PN truck also left here today carrying 4,000 kg relief goods for cyclone-hit creek areas of Sindh.

PNS Shahjahan is also on its way carrying relief goods for cyclone affectees.

A PN aircraft has also reached Karachi from Gwadar on Tuesday, carrying 18 serious patients for medical treatment at PNS Shifa.

The patients include six serious delivery cases. PN Special Services Group team is also undertaking salvage operation of sunken fishing boats at Gwadar and Pasni.

Load shedding resumes as shortfall increases

LAHORE: The power shortfall has been increased once again and reaches to 1405 MW.

According to spokesman PEPCO, the power generation is 12586 MW whereas demand has been reached to 13991 MW. The shortfall of 1405 MW forced to resume load shedding for 3 to 5 hours in urban and 8 hours in rural areas. Several IP have been shut down to save furnace oil and non-availability of gas, he added.

BoP accused Hamesh remanded for 14 days

LAHORE: A local court handed over the main accused in Punjab Bank scandal case Himesh Khan to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on 14 days physical remand, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Khan was presented before the court under strict security arrangements. An Accountability Court here ordered to present the accused Hamesh Khan on June 23.

Barrister Mehmood lawyer of Himesh Khan, told the court that Supreme Court had allowed Himesh Khan to meet lawyers instead of that, first officials used to sit with him and now NAB official keeps the photocopies of lawyers’ notes with them. This is violation of court orders.

While talking to media, Barrister Mehmood said that NAB officials could not get any evidence against Himesh Khan after his 26 days remand. Now they are trying to find out any proof by our photocopied notes.

“Himesh Khan is innocent,” he added.

Khan’s lawyer said his client’s remand has stretched to five weeks now, but NAB has so far been unable to provide evidence that would prove him guilty.

On the other hand, advocates for NAB informed the court of several positive developments in the case and the unearthing of other scandals associated to the Bank of Punjab.

Ramday against Parliament power of judges’ appointments

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry said the Constitution is a living document; hence, its every article should be put into practice, Geo News reported Wednesday.

A larger SC bench comprising 17 judges heard various identical petitions against certain clauses of the 18th Amendment, including the limits of parliament’s right to amend the Constitution.

Giving remarks, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said there is a Public Service Commission for the appointments above 17 grade; but contrarily, the Parliament has been authorized to appoint judges.

He added, ‘The Parliament is respected; however, the issue relating the judges’ appointment will have to be looked into.’

“Will is be tantamount to segregation of judiciary from the executive?” Justice Ramday queried.

Earlier, the CJ Chaudhry said in his remearks, ‘The Consitituin is a living document; hence, each and every of its Articles should be put into practice,’ adding the public could be a pproached through referendum for their opinions on Constitutional amendment.

Like previous two hearings, Hamid Khan, the counsel for the Supreme Court Bar Association started also today’s proceedings with his arguments before a the SC’s bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Jawad S. Khawaja, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday.

The CJ questioned, ‘Was referendum ever held for Constitutional amendment?’

Hamid answered in negation.

Justice Ramday supplemented, ‘The referendum is convened for them only who sneak into power unconstitutionally. The clause regarding referendum was not enshrined in the Constitution only for ushering a military general to the Presidency.’

The CJ stressed that the powers of the Parliament relating Constitutional amendments could not be restrained, adding the elected Parliamentarians function under the Constitution.

He added the representatives were elected on no-party basis in 1985 general elections, however.

Later on, the hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.

First Refuelling Aircraft Arrives in Pakistan: PAF

ISLAMABAD: The first Aircraft Tanker for aerial fuelling has arrived in Pakistan at Air Force base.

According to PAF sources, the first aerial refuelling aircraft has arrived Pakistan at the Air Force base. The aircraft has been purchased from Ukraine which is capable of refuelling several aircrafts in single flight.

Pakistan will receive three more aircraft tankers in the next year.

Article 248 Challenged in Supreme Court

Pakistan News: Article 248 which gives immunity to the president has been challenged in the Supreme Court while hearing of a petition seeking disqualification of NRO beneficiaries will start from Monday.
A petition filed by Khalid Khawaja challenged the constitutional cover given to the president under article 248. Petitioner maintained that article 248 is in clash with the basic human rights and Islamic principles. Another petition filed in the SC sought the disqualifications of those parliamentarians who had benefited from the NRO. SC formed a 3-member bench to hear the various accountability cases which have reopened after the striking down of NRO. The bench will be headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary while Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain will be the other judges on the bench. The case of provincial minister Sindh Agha Siraj Durrani has been included in the cause list. It is interesting to note that name of the Article 248 matches with the number of 248 NRO beneficiaries whose names were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

---

Article 248 Challenged in Supreme Court was first posted on December 19, 2009 at 6:02 pm.

Musharraf Fate May Decided by Parliament: Attorney General

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General Latif Khosa said former President Musharraf could be tried by simple majority resolution of Parliament.

Talking to media in oath taking ceremony of Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, attorney general said cases of Supreme Court’s Justice Faqir Khokar and Justice Javed Batter will be send to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

SJC only hears matters of citing judge and if any judge tender resignation during proceedings, reference against him could not be hear. A judge retains his position till the verdict of SJC.

Replying to a question about action against former President Musharraf, attorney general said Parliament is supreme in this issue.

Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali Takes Oath as SC Judge

ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court (SC) after which number of SC judges reaches to 17.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has administered the oath. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the SC ceremonial hall and attended by SC judges, the attorney general, federal law secretary and members of bar associations. The president elevated Justice Jamali to the Supreme Court on Saturday.