When will the poor not sleep hungry, SC asks govt

 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has summoned the final report from the Centre and the provinces on July 17 on the practical steps taken for the provision of flour to poor persons at subsidised rates.
Heading the bench, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked during the flour subsidy case the government should tell when the day will come when no poor will sleep hungry.He remarked “It seems as if we are measuring water. The court does not need empty consolations but it should be told about the practical steps. Officers should shun officialdom and adopt the norms of serving the common man. Extreme obsession is also needed along with sanity for addressing the problems facing the poor segments of the society.”

He remarked. “Running the government is the job of elected representatives of people. But getting articles 9, 14 and 38 implemented is our obligation. Nine months have passed but no workable solution is becoming visible in this respect. We will not allow the poor to die of hunger despite an abundant supply of wheat grains.”

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Attiq Shah and law officers of the provinces appeared in the court. Justice Khawaja remarked, “For how long this job will be done in the provinces? We want low priced atta is distributed among the poor and its monitoring is done. We have come tosuch stage where we don’t want empty consolations. We want work, not the committees.”

AAG Attique Shah said the government is working out how atta will reach the poor. This is issue of over 67 percent population of the country, he added. Justice Khawaja remarked, “We have vast experience of judicial review as we have been doing it for the last 40 years. We will conduct judicial review when the things come before us. You all please sit together and resolve this matter. It was told by Punjab that chief minister is on the visit to China and he has however directed the concerned authorities to gear up all efforts. Tell us outline of the solution at least.”

The authorities concerned said it is being considered to use Watan card for this purpose. Justice Khawaja remarked, “There should be online system. Don’t tell more about subsidy. Tell us about proposals. Running the government is your job.”

He said the whole exercise will be of no use if deserving people don’t benefit from it. He said in his remarks that the case hearing has been ongoing since October 2013 but no steps are being taken.

He ordered all four provinces to come up with a joint solution.He said that he is aware there are difficulties, adding that the solutions to those difficulties are also available.

PTI leader asks KP govt to increase aid for IDPS

BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Frontier Region Bannu, president Malik Mavez Khan and others said on Sunday that allocation of only Rs350 million from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was a joke with internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan.
Speaking at a press conference, they said Senior Minister Sirajul Haq should have allocated 30,000 per family for the IDPs instead of Rs3, 000. PTI members of provincial assembly (MPAs) and ministers should have come to Bannu to serve the IDPs.

The people of Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan districts have vacated their residences and hujras and accommodated IDPs but the government failed to provide them financial and other facilities, they added.

They said the security forces should facilitate the IDPs at checkposts. People of various areas in Bannu district established camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provided them support including portable water and food items.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Malik Amir Feroz Khan Wazir said that Mamandkhel tribe would provide assistance to the IDPs moving from North Waziristan Agency (NWA). Mamondkhel tribe had established camp for the IDPs at Azadmandi, he added.

“The people should generously cooperate with their brothers, who are in miserable condition and lacking water and food items as they had been forced to flee the area due to military operation,” he said, adding that people should vacate their hujras for IDPs.

Malik Ghulam Khan Wazir of Madakhel tribe and others asked the government to take measures for the rehabilitation of the IDPs on emergency basis. Camps should be set up in government schools in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Karak districts to accommodate the IDPs. The camps should be established near Bannu City as those in the remote areas lacked water, electricity and other facilities, he added.

Why does Qadri want to land in the capital, asks Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday questioned the intentions of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for landing in Islamabad while he had planned to proceed to Lahore.
“There should be no doubt that no one will be allowed to conduct any march on Islamabad in the guise of a rally or sit-in,” Chaudhry Nisar said in a statement from his office after a high-level meeting called to discuss security matters relating to Dr Tahirul Qadri.

The minister said due to severe security threats, it was the responsibility of the government to safely guide Dr Qadri and his companions to Lahore.The minister said everyone was allowed to take part in political gatherings but lawful action would be taken against those intending to destablise the government through unconstitutional means.

Nisar said that currently the attention of all the security institutions was towards the war against terror, and it was beyond understanding why Tahirul Qadri wanted to create a disturbance at this critical moment.

It is understood that once Dr Qadri lands in Islamabad, he will be immediately dispatched to Lahore by air. He will have to face some questioning about allegations of money laundering at the airport by the officials concerned before proceeding, the sources said.

The government has decided to keep the federal capital an ‘out of bounds area’ for processions and any huge rally that could be termed a ‘long march’. The government in close and extensive consultations at the high-level has reached the conclusion that Islamabad being the seat of power of the federal government must be protected against any agitation since such activities become a symbol of the erosion of the authority of the administration.

APP adds from Lahore: A spokesman for the Home Department Punjab said Dr Qadri was facing a security threat.He said after the military operation in North Waziristan, terrorists had announced attacks on important political and religious leaders and added that there was also a threat of terrorism at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad and other airports.

The spokesman said terrorists could also target the slow moving convoy of the PAT on the GT Road. He said that leaders of the Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran had been informed about the security threats.

Altaf asks govt to support army in eliminating Taliban

 

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain, has demanded of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to support the armed forces in eliminating the terrorists.
Altaf was addressing on the 36th founding day of the All Pakistan Muttahida Students (APMSO) on Wednesday. While extending condolences to the families of victims of the Karachi airport attack, Altaf said he was not in favour of peace talks with those responsible for the martyrdom of innocent people and army men.

Referring to Tahir-ul-Qadri’s announcement of returning to Pakistan, the party chief said that if the government created any hindrances in his protests, the MQM workers will stage a protest in Qadri’s support.

The MQM chief reiterated that his party was against all forms of violence and firmly believed in achieving its objectives through peaceful and democratic means. Demanding development funds for Karachi’s crumbling infrastructure, Altaf said that Karachi was the economic hub of Pakistan and belonged to every Pakistani regardless of religion, race or ethnicity.

“From the first day of APMSO’s inception in 1978, I have always preached my followers to refrain from violence and achieve our objectives through peaceful democratic means. I have always asked the APMSO and MQM members to become exemplary citizens and promote values of respect and tolerance in their ranks and file,” Altaf said.

“The MQM stands firmly against religious extremism and denounces the recent acts of terrorism in Karachi where city’s airport and training facilities of the Airport Security Force (ASF) were attacked by religious extremists,” he remarked.

Commenting on recent events in London, the MQM chief said that “the Metropolitan Police afforded me the best possible medical care and were very kind in their dealings with me and for which I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

“I believe in the supremacy of law and have been fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations in London. My cooperation will continue as these investigations are part of due process and perfectly normal in a democratic country,” he added.

Earlier, MQM Deputy Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said no one could obliterate the MQM because the movement had thousands of martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for it.

Why Jang Group’s other channels are off air, asks President SAFMA

KARACHI: President South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Imtiaz Alam Tuesday asked that PEMRA had only suspended Geo News then why is it that Jang Group’s other channels continue to remain off the air.

“Attack on a section of media is tantamount to an assault on the entire freedom of expression,” Imtiaz Alam observed while addressing a seminar at Karachi Arts Council.

He said what channels of other media groups have done on the issue of Geo had actually muzzled the freedom of expression. “The media infighting has put the lives of hundreds of journalists in danger,” he noted.

President SAFMA further said no drums of celebration should beat on the blackout of Geo’s channels.

“PEMRA had taken a decision only against Geo News, then why the group’s other channels have continued to remain shut?” he asked.

MQM asks people to resume routine activities

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has appealed traders, transporters and citizens to resume their routine activities.

Speaking to media on late Wednesday night, MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that party’s sit-ins would continue across Sindh including Karachi.

He said that entire nation expressed solidarity with Altaf Hussain and the MQM was thankful to people, traders, laborer, transporters and school owners.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain, who is in police detention since yesterday, asked sympathizers and workers of his party at MQM London Secretariat via telephone to remain strong and peaceful.

The founder leader of the MQM told the party workers to refrain from taking law into their hands.

Altaf Hussain’s message was read out to the workers staging a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi Karachi.

Until last reports, the detained MQM leader, who had stayed in self-imposed exile in London since 1991, was taken to a hospital in London for getting his medical tests done.

How can those who can’t manage a province run the country, asks PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that this was the time to take practical steps to resolve the problems of the people and not to stage sit-ins, adding how could those who could not manage the affairs of one province, run the country.He said those who couldn’t get votes in the 2013 elections should wait for the 2018 general elections instead of hatching conspiracies.
Addressing the second computer balloting for the grant of loans under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loans at the Convention Centre here, the prime minister said that in the first phase 38,000 applications for loans were received under the PM Youth Business Loan Scheme including 31,000 men and 7,000 women. “Of them, 6,000 were selected for grant of loans through computer ballot in the first draw and 6,000 more are being selected through the second draw,” he added.He expressed the confidence that youth borrowing loans for businesses would prove to be a harbinger of a social and economic revolution in the country.

He said the government had launched a number of development projects and was completing them in record time. He said that $35 billion would be invested in the power, road and railway sectors during the next ten years.

He said 21,000MW of electricity would be added to the national grid in eight to 10 years.“I see great potential in the youth of Pakistan who can bring about an economic revolution and development in the country through their energy and dynamism”, he added. He said that the middle and lower-middle classes had contributed to the development of nations like Germany and Japan, and therefore, he had great expectations from the youth of these classes in Pakistan.

He further said that the Business Loan Scheme would enable thousands of Pakistani youths to gain financial independence and also prove to be a source of major economic activity. “The scheme is totally transparent and based on merit, and I’m emphasising the role of women in the development of Pakistan,” he added. He said that his government was providing equal opportunities to women in all sectors and therefore all the schemes of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program contained a 50 percent quota for females.

He directed the governor State Bank to engage other Pakistani private banks to participate in these schemes. “Previously, banks only entertained the affluent class as the poor were not even allowed to enter the banks. But our government provided opportunities to the marginalised population for gaining economic independence,” he maintained.

“The money accumulated in the treasury belongs to the people of Pakistan and they have every right to utilise it for their benefit. It is our obligation to provide services and initiate welfare projects”, he noted.

The premier also appreciated the efforts put in by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for presenting a development-oriented and pro-poor budget for 2014-15. As he elaborated the salient features of the budget, he said that they expected to control inflation, and attract significant investment and launch development projects. He said that by the grace of the Almighty and the hard work of the team, the government had been able to achieve 16.4 percent revenues against a target of 21 percent which is almost a 90 percent success.

He informed that the livestock insurance scheme had been included in the budget for 2014-15 that would provide security to small-scale and poor farmers in protection of investment.The premier emphasised that the government’s top priority was to get rid of the power loadshedding and for this purpose, 21,000MW of power projects for the next eight to 10 years had been planned.

He stated that unfortunately, previous governments did not pay attention to the energy crisis and the machinery for the Nandipur power project was abandoned, rusting at the Karachi port while people were suffering long hours of loadshedding. “Our government, in a short period of only eight months reactivated and completed this project which shows our commitment to solve the energy crisis,” he remarked.

He further said that the multi-purpose mega project of Diamer–Bhasha Dam with a cost of $12 billion and with a capacity of 4,500MW was being undertaken which would not only generate electricity but also help in managing our water resources that were being wasted.

He also referred to the $35 billion Pak-China Economic Corridor that would change the fate of the country. He further said that work on the Karachi-Lahore Motorway would be initiated soon as Rs55 billion had been allocated for land acquisition to be completed in three months.

The prime minister said that they should not indulge in the politics of leg-pulling and unnecessary criticism. The people of Pakistan have shown their confidence in us in the last elections and it was they who would again decide in the 2018 elections based on our performance.

Later, he performed the 2nd computerised balloting of the Youth Business Loan Scheme in which 5,169 loans were awarded to the applicants whose applications were approved by the National Bank. It may be noted here that a 50 percent quota was reserved for women with a quota for martyrs and special persons.

He also distributed cheques to some of the successful candidates of the first balloting. He also directed the president of the National Bank to forward all the cheques by June 15, 2014.Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar said the present government was focusing on the welfare of the downtrodden sections of society and the launch of six youth-related schemes were part of that strategy of the PML-N government.

Hamid Mir asks journalists to unite

KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the governing body of the Karachi Press Club have called upon the Sindh government to share the details of the investigation into the Hamid Mir case with the journalist community.
As part of its campaign for the freedom of press, a seminar titled ‘Hamid Mir — we are with you in your struggle’ was held at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday. Eminent journalists attended the seminar and observed that the dirty games the owners of media houses were playing against each other will harm journalism in the long run.

On the occasion, Hamid Mir spoke on a live call from Islamabad. “There are two bullets in my body. The fractures on my legs are healing. But the wounds in my intestine still give me trouble,” he said. “Despite that, for the sake of journalism if I have to take another bullet, I will,” Hamid Mir said.

He said the perpetrators of attack are arrogant and they don’t believe in apologising. “They were responsible for breaking our country into two. Their attack on Kargil dented the decade-old sentiments of the Kashmiri Muslims. Due to their failure, the Abbottabad operation occurred. But they never apologised to the country,” Hamid Mir said.

Referring to the media war that various channels are engaged in, he said, “When Musharraf imposed the emergency, all the media groups united for the freedom of press. But now the opponents of the freedom of press are engaging in ‘divide and rule’ policy. Today, they are targeting the Jang-Geo Group. But they will close down all other channels one by one.”

He further said, “The journalist community should strive against the closure of every newspaper or channel. The illegal blocking of Geo Television by cable operators has endangered the livelihoods of thousands of journalists. All journalists should unite to implement the laws; the Wage Board Award and the Journalists Protection Bill.”

AH Khanzada, a veteran journalist, said, “When three workers of Express Television lost their lives, all media channels played down the news. The trend has to stop. Journalists should not be part of the fight between the media owners.”To the media owners, he said, “When you were in trouble, we all sided with you. But when we are in trouble, you are not taking care of our interests.”

Who peddles ideas about clash of institutions, SC asks govt

 

ISLAMABAD: Justice Jawwad S Khawaja has observed banners against the court were hanged when it took up the missing persons case. He said these banners were like explosives, which could cause an irreparable loss.
He remarked, “The government should tell who is out to undermine the national institutions. If the government fails to detect negligence and inefficiency, then it will cause an immense loss.” He further asked the government to reveal the elements spreading the ideas of clash between institutions in the society.

He observed, “Institutions don’t do their job and when the court does the job, then banners are hanged against it. It was a surprising thing for us that it was not in the knowledge of the interior secretary and DG IB who had hanged these banners.”

He remarked, “We don’t want to review the whole matter but the facts should be revealed to the nation. We had given the order and why all the institutions, including the army, have not implemented it. It is beyond comprehension as to why the institutions are not providing information.”

The court ordered the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to investigate the vilification campaign launched against Justice Khawaja and file the report on Wednesday (today).

He gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the case of Sultan Shah and 35 missing persons case here on Tuesday who were picked up from the Malakand internment center.

At the start of the hearing, the AGP appeared in the court and presented a secret reply about the 35 missing persons. Through this reply, the court was requested to hold an in-camera hearing of this case.

The court remarked, “We cannot conduct an in-camera hearing of this case. But we will want that if someone wants to give a briefing, we will get the courtroom vacated. We want to work but our matters are not clear.”

The justice remarked: “The DG IB and interior secretary are either incompetent or negligent. The AGP should assist. Whosoever has to conduct an investigation should do it. We only want a reply. The government can get the matter investigated by anyone, including ISI, if it wills so but the facts should be told to us.”

The report regarding the missing person, Sultan Shah, was filed in the court. The court remarked matters, including Mohabbat Shah and the hanging of banners, will be heard. The AGP should assist the court. The hearing of the case was adjourned till today.

Who peddles ideas about clash of institutions, SC asks govt

 

ISLAMABAD: Justice Jawwad S Khawaja has observed banners against the court were hanged when it took up the missing persons case. He said these banners were like explosives, which could cause an irreparable loss.
He remarked, “The government should tell who is out to undermine the national institutions. If the government fails to detect negligence and inefficiency, then it will cause an immense loss.” He further asked the government to reveal the elements spreading the ideas of clash between institutions in the society.

He observed, “Institutions don’t do their job and when the court does the job, then banners are hanged against it. It was a surprising thing for us that it was not in the knowledge of the interior secretary and DG IB who had hanged these banners.”

He remarked, “We don’t want to review the whole matter but the facts should be revealed to the nation. We had given the order and why all the institutions, including the army, have not implemented it. It is beyond comprehension as to why the institutions are not providing information.”

The court ordered the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to investigate the vilification campaign launched against Justice Khawaja and file the report on Wednesday (today).

He gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the case of Sultan Shah and 35 missing persons case here on Tuesday who were picked up from the Malakand internment center.

At the start of the hearing, the AGP appeared in the court and presented a secret reply about the 35 missing persons. Through this reply, the court was requested to hold an in-camera hearing of this case.

The court remarked, “We cannot conduct an in-camera hearing of this case. But we will want that if someone wants to give a briefing, we will get the courtroom vacated. We want to work but our matters are not clear.”

The justice remarked: “The DG IB and interior secretary are either incompetent or negligent. The AGP should assist. Whosoever has to conduct an investigation should do it. We only want a reply. The government can get the matter investigated by anyone, including ISI, if it wills so but the facts should be told to us.”

The report regarding the missing person, Sultan Shah, was filed in the court. The court remarked matters, including Mohabbat Shah and the hanging of banners, will be heard. The AGP should assist the court. The hearing of the case was adjourned till today.

Tribal Jirga asks govt, Taliban, military to extend ceasefire

 

PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-e-Islami’s Tribal Peace Jirga on Thursday called upon the government, the Taliban and the military to extend the ceasefire and remove all hurdles in the way of peace talks.
“The tribal elders fully support the ongoing peace process in the light of the unanimous resolutions passed by the All Parties Conference and land constitutionally and where the people had no fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution to each citizen of Pakistan.

It said due to the continuing drone strikes, artillery shelling and military operations, thousands of innocent tribal people, including children, women and elders, were killed or injured and many became mentally ill.

The declaration stated that peace in the country was linked to peace in Fata.Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) head Maulana Samiul Haq, who is the head of the Taliban designated talks committee, JI provincial chief Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, JUI-S provincial chief Maulana Yousaf Shah and tribal elders addressed the Jirga.

Sirajul Haq said dialogue was the only option for peace in the country as the tribal people were in favour of peace talks from the day one. He said the government should accept the demands of the tribal people, who were direct victims of the military operations and Taliban attacks.

“Success of the peace talks is a success of Pakistan and its failure is the failure of the country and the people as well,” Sirajul Haq said, adding it was strange that some people sitting in Dubai were talking about military operations.

“We are proud of the Pakistan Army. The world is praising our army for war, but it will be in the interest of the country that our army shows patience in the ongoing peace process,” the JI chief said. He stated that even if those sitting in Islamabad did not want to hear the Taliban peace committee, the committee members would go there for the sake of peace.

“We have brought the Taliban and the government to the negotiating table. Now it is up to the government to take advantage of it,” the JI chief added.All three members of the Taliban negotiation committee, Maulana Samiul Haq, Prof Ibrahim and Maulana Yousaf Shah, told the tribal people that they were hopeful about the success of the peace talks and bringing durable peace in Fata.

The tribal elders from all the agencies and Frontier Regions, including Malik Misal Khan, Malik Toor Muhammad Bangash, Malik Salim Khan Mehsud, Maulana Abdul Haq Mohmand, Mufti Noor Muhammad Mehsud, Sheikh Janzada and senior lawyer from Fata Karim Mehsud announced full support to the peace talks and for the Taliban and government negotiation committees.

Akhtar Amin adds: Speaking on the occasion, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief and a key member of the Taliban negotiating committee Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan said the peace talks would not succeed unless the army became directly involved in the process.

“Let me make it clear that the war is between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army. Both the government and the people are suffering due to this fighting. The army is a direct party to this war with the Taliban,” Ibrahim said.

“A meeting of the chief of the army staff and DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with the Taliban committee is a must to hear the army’s point of view on the peace talks,” Prof Ibrahim said. Ibrahim said those asking the Taliban to follow the Constitution should follow the Constitution first as a precedent.

In the presence of two other members of the Taliban committee, Maulana Samiul Haq and Maulana Yousaf Shah, Prof Ibrahim said they wanted to ask the army chief General Raheel Sharif if he would like to see the peace talks succeed or not.

He said the army had already inked peace accords with the Taliban groups, including one led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur in North Waziristan, and these agreements were still intact.

“If Islamic articles of the Constitution of Pakistan are implemented, we would give an assurance that the Taliban would accept the Constitution,” he stressed.

In his subsequent press talk, Prof Ibrahim said both the Taliban and security forces had reservations about certain incidents. He said the Taliban were complaining about the arrests and ‘extrajudicial killing’ of their men while the security forces were questioning why the Taliban continued attacks during the peace process.

However, he claimed that both the issues would be discussed in the next round of talks between the Taliban Shura members and the government negotiators, expected to take place within a few days.

Maulana Samiul Haq and Prof Ibrahim appealed to the Taliban and the Pakistan Army to observe the ceasefire in respect of the holy month of Rajab and to make the dialogue process successful.

In his speech to the Tribal Peace Jirga, Maulana Samiul Haq said the government committee was not in contact with the Taliban nominated committee. He warned that if they found the government committee was not interested in the talks, they would be compelled to withdraw from the peace process. He said the prime minister and other key government functionaries should cancel their foreign tours and focus on the peace process. The government functionaries should first put their own house in order and then go on foreign tours, he said.

Maulana Yousaf Shah said the second round of peace talks between the Taliban Shura members and the government negotiators was expected in two or three days.“I am in contact with the Taliban Shura members and there are no serious reservations about the process on both the sides,” he claimed.He added that he was hopeful of an extension in the ceasefire from the Taliban side in the next meeting and other positive outcomes regarding the peace process.

CPJ asks Pemra not to act against Geo on spurious complaint

ISLAMABAD: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), like many other organisations inside and outside the country, says that it is greatly concerned by actions brought by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) against the Geo TV.

While the ISI has a string of failures in its record, the most glaring that of being unaware about the presence of Osama Bin Laden in the vicinity of Kakul for six years, it has the audacity now to ask for the closure of Geo television.

“In its complaint to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, the ISI accused Geo’s parent company, the Independent Media Corporation, of conducting a false and scandalous campaign undermining the integrity and tarnishing the image of state institution (ISI) and its officers,” says the CPJ.

The media regulator has the authority to shut down broadcasters based on such complaints, and has done so under previous administrations of Pakistan.“We call on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority not to act on this spurious complaint, and we call on Pakistan’s security services to recognise the critical role of the media and exercise tolerance and maturity,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator. “The ISI is free to rebut allegations in the media but should not try to censor coverage.”

Tension between Pakistan’s military and intelligence communities and much of the media swiftly escalated following an assassination attempt on Geo TV anchor Hamid Mir on April 19. Mir was hit with six rounds from assailants on motorcycles as his car was travelling between Karachi’s airport and the centre of the city. Mir is severely wounded and recovering in a hospital. Geo TV has broadcast accusations that the ISI was involved in the murder attempt, adds the statement.

Harassment by the ISI against journalists is a matter of record and it is a rare journalist who has not been threatened by the ISI in their career. Journalists murdered in the past had made it known in their lifetime that if anything happened to them, the ISI would be responsible.

It is time for the ISI to take a hard long look at itself to try and find out why it is resented so strongly by independent journalists.It would also help matters if the army chief, instead of fire fighting and running to the support of various army institutes, begins to believe unarmed journalists who have serious complaints against the ISI for several decades now.

Musharraf asks court to also try his associates

 

ISLAMABAD: Former military dictator Pervez Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem on Tuesday requested the Special Court to also try the associates of his client for assisting him in declaring the state of emergency on November 3, 2007.
The three-member Special Court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar, resumed hearing into the Federation’s complaint for initiating the treason case against Musharraf for abrogating the Constitution and declaring the state of emergency in the country on Nov 3, 2007.

Justice Faisal Arab told the defence counsel that the court could not open all the cases of abrogation of the Constitution since 1956, as its mandate was limited to hearing the instant case.

The remarks came when Musharraf’s defence counsel Dr. Farogh Naseem argued that in terms of international jurisprudence, there could be no selective prosecution of Musharraf and quoted Article 12(2) of the Constitution requiring a trial under Article 6 with effect from 23.3.1956.

Dr Naseem said the reference had been made in passing for the purposes of the main case and for the time being for the purpose of arguments on the application seeking the disclosure of FIA report Article 12(2) was not relevant and therefore this question should be kept open.

He also requested the courtto take up application (No. 12 of 2014) in which a request had been made for the disclosure and supply of copies of inquiries/investigation report of the FIA, which was the foundational basis of the complaint itself.

He said vide order dated March 7. 2014 the court had clearly held that as and when evidence on material was brought on record that the accused was aided, abetted and collaborated by others, it would decide the issue in that regard.

He said in order to bring such evidence on record, the first step was to require the prosecution to file the FIA report, which clearly contained a dissenting note by one Hussain Asghar that Musharraf alone should not be tried and that his aides and abettors should also be made co-accused.

The defense counsel contended that in the proclamation of emergency the prime minister, all governors and members of the military leadership were disclosed to be the consultees.He submitted that the proclamation of emergency was a public document, duly gazetted and published in the law reports, in view whereof, as per the Qanun-e-Shahadat a presumption of truth of contents of the said gazette was in the field. Therefore, he said the accused had sufficiently discharged the tactical or prima facie burden of proof and the ultimate or legal burden to disprove the same now rested upon the prosecution.

“In terms of the mandate of the court order of March 7, 2014, sufficient material was now on record for the court to pass orders implicating the co-accused,” Farogh Naseem said.The defense counsel further contended that there had been violation of Article 265 © of CrPC that relates to supply of documents to the accused. He cited Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case wherein it was stressed in the interest of justice.

Prosecutor Akram Sheikh however submitted that the law does not require him to disclose the FIA’s report and therefore he would not disclose the same to the accused unless otherwise directed by the court.

“I cannot hand a Kalashnikov and a hand grenade and your lordship has to order me in this regard and I will hand it over to the court”, Sheikh contended. He recalled that the court had ruled earlier that it will cross the bridge when it comes.

“So let things come at the proper stage as it is not a case of oral evidence but a case of documentary evidence,” Sheikh submitted adding, “let cross the bridge when it comes.”

He submitted that the court gave its verdict on March 7 on the trial of others involved in Nov 3 decision according to which if evidences were found against anyone in the records then the court would consider it.

He further recalled to the court that the copies of the complaint in the instant case had already been handed over to Anwar Mansoor Khan. He said the application was filed three-months earlier and the court had already decided it as well.

He further submitted that Article 265 © of CrPC as referred to by the defense counsel was not applicable in this case adding that Article 265 © of CrPC and section 5 of Special Court (Amendment) Act 1976 are different.

“Just throw the CrPC,” Sheikh contended. “Is it your argument that Sections 5 and 6 of the Special Court Act 1976 oust the application of Section 265 ©”, Justice Faisal Arab asked Akram Sheikh.

Yes, Sheikh replied.

He contended that under Section 5 of the Special Court Act, the federal government was obligated to provide only three documents which included details of the crime, complaint and list of witnesses.

He further said that as the special court was not a high court, it could not apply Section 561 of the military law to this case.

Akram Sheikh contended that the government was not obligated to present the joint investigation report (JIT) and the officer who gave the dissenting note was also a witness.

Akram Sheikh submitted that he would submit his reply overnight in the application and the learned defense counsel could cross-examine him then. Sheikh said that he will continue his arguments today (Wednesday).

During the hearing Akram Sheikh asked Farogh Naseem to give him his email address for sending his reply.When Farogh Naseem told Sheikh to send it to Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, his team member, Sheikh in a light tone replied that he was scared of Chaudhry Faisal.In response, Farogh Naseem told Sheikh that he could give him the email address of Rana Ejaz.

Meanwhile, the Special Court ruled that the decision on appointment of prosecutor in the instant case challenged by the defense counsel would be announced on April 18.Dr. Farogh Naseem pointed out that orders on an application pertaining to the disqualification of Akram Shaikh as prosecutor had been reserved for March 26, 2014 and the court observe Shaukat Aziz that before the evidence was to be recorded the application in respect of the prosecutor would be decided.

Justice Faisal Arab however observed that orders on the matter of appointment of prosecutor would be announced on Friday, April 18.The court adjourned the hearing till today (Wednesday).

Senate asks govt to wipe out network of Fata militants

 

ISLAMABAD: The government declared in the Senate on Monday that the issue of militancy will not be allowed to drag on for five years and, if necessary, decisive action will be taken against the militants.
Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch assured the House that the government was trying its utmost to address the issue of terrorism through talks but, if need arose, would go to any extent to restore peace in Pakistan.

He was responding to the unanimously-adopted resolution that called upon the government to prepare and make public a workable plan for Fata to cleanse it of the militants network, provide compensation to the victims of militancy, relief and rehabilitation of IDPs and a massive programme for the socio-economic uplift of the people.Senators Afrasiab Khattak and Farhatullah Babar had moved the resolution during the last session, which was adopted unanimously on Monday after the government did not oppose it.

Speaking on the matter, Khattak noted that reports of fighting were not emanating from Somalia or Sudan but from Fata, where people had no rights but the militants, local as well as those from Uzbekistan, Chechnya and other countries, were at full liberty to target the people in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan.

The senator from the Awami National Party said that the situation was so bad that today Pakistan did not enjoy good relations with its four neighbours and the prime reason was the presence of the network of militants on its soil, who had virtually occupied it. Khattak said Fata was being used as a battleground, as the state could not ensure its sovereignty there, whereas it was incumbent upon it to establish its writ wherever it was challenged.

“The killers and the victims remain unknown in Fata. No one keeps record of how many have been killed so far and injured. No government representative has ever gone there to offer Fateha and give compensation to the victims,” he lamented.

It is unfortunate, he said, that the state has always treated Fata as a periphery and its people as its subjects not as citizens and never a piece of legislation was enacted for their betterment.

He also described the extremely poor state in which the internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been living for decades, particularly for the last 10-15 years, who could not return to their homes and continued to suffer due to militancy. He added there were no health and education facilities for the children of IDPs and the only option left with many of them was to join militancy.

Khattak came down heavily on the Fata Secretariat, which he billed as a source of massive corruption denying any benefit to the people of tribal areas. He proposed an apology should be tendered to these people for the treatment meted out to them for so long, as even today, no court or legislature had been set up there and hence Fata was treated like a colony.

Qadir Baloch conceded that whatever the ANP senator said was absolutely correct and it was also a reality that Fata was never treated as a part of Pakistan. Had these issues been addressed properly, things would not have reached the present stage.

About the demand for cleansing Fata of militants, the minister said that several operations were launched for this purpose in the past and the government with complete sincerity now wanted to resolve this issue through talks but would deal with the local and foreign militants sternly, if need arose.

The minister spoke about a comprehensive plan of action regarding the IDPs, which was nearing completion and then would be tabled in parliament for approval. He said Fata would need a mini-Marshal Plan for rehabilitation after restoration of peace there.

Ashton Kutcher asks for Mila Kunis’ father’s blessings

Ashton Kutcher wanted to take a traditional approach and decided to have a chat with his girlfriend's father

Actor Ashton Kutcher has gone the traditional way in marriage by seeking blessing from girlfriend Mila Kunis’ father.
The 36-year-old ‘Jobs’ actor wanted to take a traditional approach and decided to have a chat with his girlfriend’s father, Mark, over the Christmas period before he popped the big question, reported People magazine.
“He talked with Mila’s dad around Christmas time. He asked for Mark’s blessing to marry her. It was important to Ashton to be respectful and traditional. This is the real thing for him and he wants to do it all right,” said a source.
The former ‘That 70s Show’ co-stars have been dating since April 2012. Their friends believe they will tie the knot later this year as they “don’t want to wait.”
“They don’t want to wait. This relationship started on solid ground and everything is working out. They are in it for the long haul, truly,” one of their friends said.
Ashton Kutcher was previously married to Demi Moore and their divorce was finalised in November 2013.

Deposed Ukrainian leader asks Putin for troops: Russia

UNITED NATIONS: Ukraine's deposed president Viktor Yanukovych formally asked Moscow to deploy Russian troops to re-establish law and order in his country, Russia told the UN Security Council on Monday.
Russia's ambassador said Yanukovych sent the written request to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, addressing the third round of emergency talks on Ukraine in New York in four days.
Vitaly Churkin said what he called "radical extremists" had seized power in Ukraine and -- incited by Western powers -- were threatening the lives and legitimate interests of Russians.
Quoting from Yanukovych's letter of which he flashed up a photocopy for all to see, Churkin said: "Ukraine is on the brink of a civil war. In the country there is chaos and anarchy.
"Under the influence of Western countries there are open acts of terror and violence. People are being persecuted for language and political reasons.
"So in this regard I would call on the president of Russia, Mr Putin, asking him to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine," he read.
Russia had called Monday's emergency session of the 15-member Security Council, where Churkin told reporters he would lay out in "considerably more detail" Russia's position on Ukraine.
But his short address provoked stinging rebuke from the British, French and US ambassadors who said Russia was fabricating excuses to justify its flagrant violations of international law.
US ambassador Samantha Power said Russia's claims had no basis in reality and that there was no evidence of violence against Russian or pro-Russian communities in Ukraine.
"Russian military action is not a human rights protection mission. It is a violation of international law," she said.
"Russian mobilization is a response to an imaginary threat... Military action cannot be justified on the basis of threats that haven't been made and aren't being carried out," Power added.
British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant concurred, heavily criticizing Russia's "flagrant breach of international law," and violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"We can see absolutely no justification for these actions."
The interim Ukrainian authorities that took over when Yanukovych fled to Russia late last month, said earlier Monday that Russian troops were still pouring into Crimea.
On Saturday the UN Security Council was mired in similar disagreement when Western nations urged Moscow to pull back its military reinforcements from the strategic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea which has a majority ethnic Russian population.
According to a diplomat on the council, Russia "was taken aback" on Saturday and wanted the follow-up session on Monday "to give its read on events, especially as things go south on the ground."

Ukraine leader asks Putin to stop ’aggression’ in Crimea

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KIEV: Ukraine's interim president Oleksandr Turchynov on Friday appealed to Vladimir Putin to stop Russia's "naked aggression" against the country and withdraw from the flashpoint Crimea peninsula.

"I personally appeal to President Putin to immediately stop military provocation and to withdraw from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. It's a naked aggression against Ukraine," he told reporters after additional Russian forces were reported to have landed in Crimea, where Moscow has maintained a military base for years.