Policeman guns down 3 US citizens at Kabul hospital

KABUL:An Afghan policeman opened fire Thursday on staff at a Kabul hospital run by a US charity, killing three Americans in the latest deadly attack targeting foreign civilians in the city.

The gunman was injured in the incident outside the CURE International hospital and detained by police, officials said, adding that the motive behind the shooting was not immediately known.

"The attacker was a member of the police in the district," Seddiq Sediqqi, spokesman for the interior ministry told.

"He opened fire as the foreign nationals were entering the hospital, tragically killing three and injuring one more. Another policeman in the area shot the attacker, injuring him."

A medic who was treating the wounded told that a foreign doctor was among the dead.

"With great sadness we confirm that three Americans were killed in the attack on CURE Hospital," the US embassy said on its Twitter account. "No other information will be released at this time."

Kabul has been hit by a spate of attacks targeting foreign civilians this year, including a Lebanese restaurant where 21 people died, an attack on a luxury hotel and the daylight shooting of a Swedish radio journalist.

Last month Taliban militants attacked a Kabul guesthouse used by Roots of Peace, a US anti-landmine charity, killing two people including a girl.

And this month Associated Press (AP) photographer Anja Niedringhaus was shot dead by a police commander in the eastern province of Khost in an attack which also left her Canadian colleague Kathy Gannon badly wounded.

Freedom of citizens can’t be usurped in name of security: CJ

 

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, on Friday said citizens’ freedom could not be allowed to be seized in the name of national security.
The chief justice was addressing a full court reference held here at the Supreme Court on the eve of retirement of Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.The chief justice said: “While fighting terrorism and protecting democracy, we need to strike a proper balance between the conflicting values and principles i.e. the value of security of the state and individual rights.” He said such rights could not justify undermining the national security.

He said the court, in its endeavour to strike a balance between the conflicting values, often attracted criticism from both sides.“Those standing for human rights may contend that the court gives too much protection to security and ignores human rights; those who speak of security concerns may allege that the court is tilted towards human rights rather than security. These comments should not deter us from upholding the rule of law and the canons of democracy,” the CJ maintained.

He said as the country faced a multitude of battles against terrorism, against sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing of minorities and on weakened rights for women and children, it is their duty as a pillar of the state to hold fast to belief in the seminal values of the rule of law, of human dignity, of tolerance and of compassion.

Justice Jillani further said the Constitution makers wanted to implement social, economic and political justice for which vision had been embedded in the Constitution through fundamental rights and the principles of policy.

“To ensure that these goals are pursued by each organ of the state; that no organ acts beyond the role assigned to it under the Constitution and the law, as also to protect people from arbitrary rule, the judiciary has been entrusted with the sacred task to arbiter between the state and the individual, between the individuals inter se, and to issue appropriate directions, where the rights or the laws are being violated.”

He further said the constitutional pledge of independence of judiciary and the constitutional command that all state institutions shall comply with the orders passed by the Supreme Court are all means towards the ultimate goal of dispensing said social, economic and political justice—(Article 189).

Paying rich tribute to Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, he said as could be seen from his legal opinions, judgments and general demeanour as a judge throughout the course of his career, Justice Arif Khilji had devoted his prudent insight, legal acumen and insightful mind to the development of the rule of law in the country.

His judgments have reiterated the importance of several constitutional principles of the utmost value to the judiciary such as that of the tri-chotomy of powers and the independence of the judiciary,” the CJ said.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said today the Supreme Court was an inevitable institution for the common man, independent in action and free in thoughts, showing strength, excellence and courage under most demanding circumstances.

Justice Khilji said it had been through the most difficult and turbulent periods in the history of Pakistan and ultimately acquired the reputation of protector of the Constitution, democracy, rule of law and guardian of fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan.

“Let me assure you that the aims and objectives of every judgment of this court are to enforce the Constitution and to protect the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan,” he added.He said whenever he got depressed while looking at the institutions his colleagues gave him the courage saying that leaves of autumn sprinkle fragrance, giving a message of green leaves.

Justice Khilji expressed thanks and gratitude to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and his colleague judges for their inspirational support while he was at the bench.

He said he was also thankful for their generosity, which enabled him to cherish many useful experiences.Kamran Murtaza, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President, also addressed the full court reference.

PM pledges protection of women rights to make them valuable citizens

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that his government is committed to ensuring empowerment of women as their participation in all walks of life is necessary for sustainable development.
"This is our national duty to protect the interests of women and provide them equal opportunities without any discrimination. I reaffirm my pledge for protection of women's rights in the country to make them valuable citizens and productive members of the society," said the Prime Minister in his message on the occasion of International Women Day, observed on Saturday.
He expressed the pleasure that Pakistani nation also joined the international community in celebrating the International Women's Day.
He said being a state party to the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Pakistan was committed to implement its provisions in true spirit. The government has already taken concrete measures to ensure women's rights as envisaged in the CEDAW, he added.
The Prime Minister said being cognizant of the situation of women, the government was continuously undertaking reforms so as to enable women to participate in all walks of life.
He said Pakistan had enacted effective legislation to address women issues with a view to safeguard their rights.
"I am glad to note that the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights is making all out efforts for protection and promotion of women's rights in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders," he said.
Nawaz Sharif said he felt pride in stating that Pakistani women were participating in all sectors and many of them had excelled in their respective fields, not only in Pakistan, but also on the international level.
He urged all concerned to sincerely undertake legislative, administrative and social sector reforms to further create an enabling environment for women.
He also appreciated the UN agencies and non-governmental organizations for their efforts for continuously advocating and highlighting the women's rights and hoped that they would continue pursuing this important mission with the same zeal and vigour.