Govt wants talks with political forces: Nawaz

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government is in favour of talks with all the political forces. He added that those migrating from North Waziristan Agency (NWA) would be taken care of.
According to sources, he expressed these views while talking to Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar who called on him on Tuesday. The two discussed the current political situation and matters of mutual interest.

Nawaz said that under the circumstances, it was the need of the hour for political parties to unite and work together to uphold democracy and protect the integrity of the country.On the occasion, the governor apprised the premier of the recent events related to Dr Qadri.

The premier lauded the initiatives of the governor and praised his positive role in averting chaos in the country.The prime minister said that the country was passing through a critical phase as on the one hand they were facing threats of terrorism while on the other they were dealing with the energy crisis. Under this situation, all political parties need to unite to bring the country out of the challenges, he added. — Online

Muhammad Saleh Zaafir adds: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced that he would pay a visit to the internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps in Bannu to learn about their difficulties and express solidarity with them since they are rendering admirable sacrifices for the nation.

He said this while chairing a high-level meeting here at the PM House. The problems of the IDPs and provision of maximum facilities to them were discussed in detail.Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid, KP Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, PM Secretary Javaid Aslam, Special Secretary to the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Major General Aamer Riaz, DG ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa and other senior officials concerned attended the meeting.

The prime minister said that the IDPs were part of the war against terrorism and their heroic role would be remembered as no one could understate their sacrifices.He announced that all federal ministers, state ministers and MPs belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would contribute one month of their salaries for the IDPs relief fund established by him. Employees of the federal government will also contribute one day of their salary to the fund.

The prime minister appealed to philanthropists to come forward and generously donate to the fund. He asked the people to deposit their donations through cheques and items of daily need for the IDPs. He said that the government would tackle the issue as a human duty and nobody should use it politically.

The government would not leave any stone unturned to provide the IDPs with maximum facilities. They would return to their homes as soon as the situation turns conducive and no undue delay would be made in this regard. The prime minister assured that the government would provide funds for the IDPs on an emergency basis whenever needed.

The government has already allocated Rs1.5 billion for the IDPs. The federal minister for Safron and DGMO briefed the prime minister on the present situation of the IDPs. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed that the IDPs are facilitated in every respect. “The government is with the IDPs in these hard times. They will be taken care of,” the prime minister noted.

Massive political support for military operation

 

ISLAMABAD: Moments after the army launched a full-scale operation against the Taliban militants in North Waziristan on Sunday, the political parties seemed divided on the issue, with a majority supporting the operation.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Sunday welcomed the military operation and assured his party’s full support to the armed forces.The opposition leader said the prime minister should take parliament into confidence on the operation and make strict security arrangements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad for the safety of public and sensitive installations.

“The final victory will be of the people of Pakistan and terrorists will have to face elimination,” he said.Khursheed Shah again assure the armed forces of the rock-solid support of his party, the Pakistan People’s Party, and the people of Pakistan in their operation against the militants.

“The PPP will continue to give scarifices for the defence of the country,” he added.Agencies add: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and head of government dialogue committee Irfan Siddiqui said talks and terrorism could not move side by side.

Talking to a private television channel, he said the military operation was decided after repeated incidents of terrorism in the country. “It was reflective of the people’s aspirations,” he said.Siddiqui said both the government and the army were sincere in the dialogue process and the process continued even during the incidents of terrorism but no result-oriented breakthrough came from the opposite side.

He said 100 or so incidents of terrorism had hit the country during the dialogue process. “One group was involved in the talks and the other indulged in terrorism. There was no command and we were forced to launch the operation. Now this is the stance of the entire nation,” Siddiqui added.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday welcomed the launch of the military operation against the Taliban militants.“I welcome this operation and am glad that the government is supporting the armed forces,” he said while speaking to a private TV channel.

“Those who have not backed the operation must realise that it is a matter of national security. I appeal to them to come on the same page by setting aside their political compulsions,” he said.

“I fear that the Taliban will sneak into Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta after the operation. They can carry out small attacks in cities in retaliation and to divert the army’s attention from the operation,” he opined.

“I also call upon all civil agencies to be vigilant and act against suspected people. I want to tell the people of Pakistan that our enemies can take advantage of the situation. We need to set up vigilance committees to protect our cities and towns,” he said. The MQM chief urged all media channels to play the national anthem to unite the nation.

Speaking to a local news channel MQM Senator Babar Ghauri said: “This is a commendable decision by the government; we have been repeatedly telling the current government that instead of engaging the terrorists in dialogue the government should act against them.”

He said Karachi had a number of terrorists and it might suffer from a blowback; this threat should be tackled so that Karachi does not have to suffer on account of this.”

The Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan said: “We also held a dialogue previously (during our govt) but that did not produce effective results. We wanted peace and we were okay if that came through dialogue but unfortunately that could not happen.

This time, learning from our experience, we had cautioned the government that the dialogue approach would not work. The government should have taken parliament into confidence before launching the operation but it didn’t.”Secretary Information Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Shireen Mazari criticised the government for not taking political parties into confidence before launching the operation.

In her statement on Twitter, she said it was shameful that the prime minister had failed to take political parties into confidence.She said a central core committee meeting of the PTI would be held on Monday (today) in which an announcement of policy would be made.

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sunday announced full support to the military operation against terrorists. Chairman Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza of the Sunni Ittehad Council said his party extended full support to the operation against terrorists. He said it was their demand from day one that the solution to Taliban militancy lay in an operation.

“History teaches us that rebels should be crushed forever instead of holding dialogue with them. It was proved through the decision of launching the military operation that the lone voice raised against terrorists by the Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Haji Muhammad Fazl Karim five years ago was correct.”

Majlise Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Nasir Abbas Jaffery welcomed the launch of a military operation against terrorists in the North Waziristan and said the decision represented national aspirations.

In a statement, he said the killers of 60,000 Pakistanis never deserved any concessions. “We not only back the announcement, but also assure our armed forces that every person shall move shoulder to shoulder with them against the anti-state elements. The entire 180 million population of Pakistan endorses the operation,” he said.

PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi said his party had always warned that an operation of this scale will result in a large influx of refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which his party rules.

“The PML-N government did not tell the public and the opposition why talks had failed. We do not know about the dimensions of this operation.”JI Ameer Sirajul Haq termed the decision of an operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) disappointing and said the government right from the outset had made its “good intentions” manifest by letting the talks’ issue linger in the committees.

He said the national leadership and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should have been consulted before the operation, as it would further complicate the political and national crisis in the country.

He further said that no measures by the government had been seen for protecting the local populations from the effects of the operation. “This situation can further transform into a human tragedy on a large scale,” he stated.

JI parliamentary leader and Ameer of Punjab Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar and Secretary General Nazir Ahmed Janjua said the operation will intensify the bloodshed in the country.

They said the government had made an unwise decision by opting for the military operation, as matters were heading towards improvement through the government-Taliban dialogue.

The two leaders said the government had led the country on the path of destruction by launching an operation in NWA under the patronage of the US. They noted that military operations were no solution to any problem.

The JI Punjab leaders further said that parliament and the nation had not been taken into confidence on the operation.

They said that the government should immediately halt operation in the NWA.Major General (retd) Jamshed Ayaz lauded the launch of operation. “It came slightly late. But better late than never. Pakistan has suffered a big loss – and Pakistan comes first. They have made a correct decision to launch this. The time for talks is over now.”Defence analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais asked what the KP government had done to stop terrorists from entering their province.

Political parties clash leaves three injured in Karachi

KARACHI: A clash took place between the activists of two political parties in North Nazimabad area of the metropolis, injuring three workers, Geo News reported.

According to the police, the incident took place near Five Star roundabout located in North Nazimbad area over the matter of removal of banners. The baton-wielding activists from both the political parties stormed at each other, resultantly three workers sustained injuries.

The police fired aerial shots to disperse the activists after which the situation returned to normalcy.

Musharraf trial consolidates political forces

ISLAMABAD: Musharraf and his coterie’s effort to drag the institution of army to save the former dictator’s skin has backfired as political forces are getting to a grand consensus that any confrontation with the military would be avoided without any compromise on Musharraf’s high treason case, which has now become the real test of the rule of law in Pakistan.

Though Musharraf was desperate to get the army and the government at each other’s throats, it ended up in the government and the political parties’ firm decision that there would be no compromise on the rule of law.

It is now greatly realised in the government circles and among the political circles that giving a safe passage to Musharraf would not serve democracy, rule of law and the Constitution but would encourage and pave the way for martial law in the future. His trial by the independent judiciary, it is said, would uphold the rule of law besides serving as a real deterrence against any future dictatorial rule in the country.

To avoid any misunderstanding between the military and the civilian institutions, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already asked his ministers and party leaders to be careful in their statements. The government would ensure that no disrespect is shown by anyone to any institution, including the Pakistan Army.

Regarding the Musharraf’s case, it has been decided to leave it to the court of law. However, no underhand deal would be made to pave the way for the release and flying abroad of Musharraf.

According to a key government source, any deal in the Musharraf case would mean undoing the post-March 9, 2007 struggle and achievement for the rule of law in the country. Regarding Musharraf’s wish to drag others, including corps commanders and other key military officers of his time in the high treason case, the government sources said that the high profile accused had the right to prove before the court of law his claim that he did the November 3 act on the advice and in consultation with others.

To Musharraf’s disadvantage not only all his civilian associates have already distanced themselves from the November 3, 2007 action but there is not even a single document anywhere in the government to prove that Musharraf had consulted others or had abrogated the Constitution on the advice of someone else.

Musharraf says that he had acted on the advice of the then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz but the summary sent by the latter to the former did not suggest an abrogation of the Constitution. The said summary was sent to Musharraf as president but he acted as the army chief to hold the Constitution in abeyance.

Musharraf had claimed in his November 3 extra-constitutional order that he had consulted the prime minister and the cabinet. However, it has been proved that neither a cabinet meeting was convened nor the issue was ever discussed by the cabinet.

The FIA team which probed the matter and held Musharraf alone responsible for the November 3 act was though not allowed to see the GHQ record; the sources said that even in the GHQ neither any such documentary evidence was called nor any corps commanders meeting was convened to discuss the issue.If Musharraf and his legal team think otherwise, the onus would be on them to bring concrete evidence to prove the prosecution’s case wrong.

New political controversy about Musharraf

KARACHI: Kamran Khan said on his Geo TV programme ‘Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath’ that a new political controversy has emerged when it was attributed to Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf or his new lawyer, Dr Farogh Nasim, that either Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf or he wants the army to either dissociate itself from Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf and announce that the decision of November 3 was solely Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s or the army should as an institution accept responsibility for the November 3 emergency.

Kamran Khan said that it has become clear now that the neither Musharraf nor his lawyer stated so. However, in order to know the exact situation and to know what Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s stand is, we are going to talk to Musharraf’s lawyer Barrister Farogh Nasim.

Kamran Khan: Thank you very much for being on the programme. Please let us know whether the statement that the Army should take responsibility for the November 3 act or that Musharraf should take sole responsibility, is issued by Musharraf or has it been attributed to you?

Farogh Nasim: I think the context has been misunderstood because the media is a bit oversensitive. Maybe some anchors are getting it wrong. However, there is absolutely nothing like that. I was simply shocked to see a mention in yesterday’s judgment that when the court asked Musharraf’s lawyers whether it was Musharraf’s individual act or whether it was on other people’s advice, they said that it was an individual act and it was not based on other people’s advice. It was natural for me to be shocked because the instructions that my client has given me is that “I have acted upon the advice...I took the action on the advice of my prime minister or that of the cabinet...and other people were consulted”. So when I asked Pervez Musharraf, he said it was incorrect so I asked him to kindly ask his lawyers for a clarification, and then we have to take the appropriate steps. It’s just nothing. In fact, I am saying that our Army has to play its constitutional and legal role and adopt whatever legal and constitutional methodologies there are. Moreover, there is Article 12-2 of the Constitution which says that Article 6 is to be enforced from March 23, 1956. So enforce the Article from that day. That’s all.

Kamran Khan: What does Musharraf say? He took the decision on his own, or in his capacity as the president or as Army chief. He said in his speech that he enforced emergency in his capacity as the army chief.

Farogh Nasim: He has given me very clear instructions. I took his instructions before I took the case. I asked him if that was his “individual act or whether it was based on other people’s advice and consultation” and he said it with clarity it was the prime minister’s and the cabinet’s advice and he acted on that advice.

Kamran Khan: It means then that Musharraf has told you that the prime minister and the cabinet were responsible and they gave him the advice. The Army has nothing to do with it, isn’t it?

Farogh Nasim: He told me quite clearly: “I was the president of Pakistan on November 3, 2007, and as president, the prime minister and the cabinet gave me the advice, and in the light of the advice from the prime minister and the cabinet, I had no other option under the Constitution other than implementing the advice because the Constitution says that ‘the president has to act upon the advice of the PM’.” So the matter ends here. There is nothing else in the matter. The only complication is that yesterday’s judgment of the Supreme Court for which Musharraf has to take appropriate steps.

At the conclusion, Kamran Khan said Nasim has been clearly saying that Musharraf’s lawyers have made a blunder by saying that it was Gen (R) Musharraf’s act alone. He said differences among Musharraf’s lawyers in this connection are widening. Nevertheless, it is now clear that Pervez Musharraf has never said that the Army should say it was with him in the act of November 3 or whether it was solely his own decision.

No political aspirations, says Vidya Balan

 

Vidya Balan says she has no plans to join politics and will stick to her acting career.

National award-winning actress Vidya Balan, who is on a mini break from her hectic career, says she has no plans to join politics and will stick to her acting career.

“I don’t have a political bent of mind except that I will cast my vote like a responsible citizen of India,” Balan told reporters during the launch of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) here yesterday.

She said she was honoured to be the brand ambassador of the festival third time with the 2014 being the special one as the festival will be inaugurated by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan on May 1 here.

Balan is on her two-day trip to Australia and would be returning back tonight to receive Padma Shree award on Monday in New Delhi.

Expressing her gratitude for all the awards and appreciations she has received in the past, Balan said, “As long as I get exciting parts to play, work with good filmmakers and team, I think that is what I am hoping for… Everything else follows. I have never pursued or worked towards an award but good work is always what one hopes for,” Balan said.

The 36-year-old actress also quashed her pregnancy rumours disclosing that she was taking a short break to get back to her acting career.

“I have been working with back to back shooting and film release for the last five years. I am taking a break for two months before I start promoting my next film ‘Bobby Jasoos’
which will release in June or July and would need lot of work,” she said.

According to recent reports, Balan opted out of Sujoy Ghosh’s next thriller ‘Durga Rani Singh’ and speculations are that she has been replaced by Kangana Ranaut.

When asked about her take on Ranaut replacing her in the film, Balan said, “I am happy that she is doing the film.”

Mushahid celebrates son’s marriage in political style

ISLAMABAD: The sumptuous feast arranged to celebrate the marriage of Mustafa, son of Mushahid Hussain Sayed, with Zalla, daughter of Afrasiab Khattak, turned out to be an all-parties conference, where every leading political party was significantly represented, writes Tariq Butt.

Though it was not a (political) marriage between the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) and Awami National Party (ANP), Mushahid Hussain kept up the tradition of having family bonds with the Pukhtoons. Earlier, one of his sisters was married to a son of former bureaucrat Roedad Khan.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant Khawaja Zaheer, Special Assistant Irfan Siddiqui, Adviser Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant Tariq Fatimi and a number of others belonged to the government. They attended the function in their personal capacity. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Dr Shirin Mazari was conspicuous with her presence. PML-Q President Chaudhry

Shujaat Hussain, former Speakers Illahi Bux Soomro and Syed Fakhar Imam, Ghulam Dastgir Khan, Jan Jamali, and a large number of senators and members of the National Assembly belonging to all the political parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were present.

Besides, a multitude of senior serving and retired bureaucrats, diplomats, intellectuals, media persons and leading national figures and elite of the town attended the grand feast.Mushahid Hussain, accompanied by his wife, Dr Dushka, and Afrasiab Khattak warmly received the guests matching the occasion. As usual, Mushahid Hussain was joyful and jovial, and introduced the guests, not earlier known to Khattak, in a befitting way. He would not let even a single invitee go without a good exchange of engaging pleasantries and energetic laughter.

The guest list showed that Mushahid Hussain drew it out very carefully not to miss any of his friends and even acquaintances he respected from the core of his heart. He has a very sharp memory and doesn’t forget people he has been close to.

It was not possible for such a wide array of politicians, opinion makers and thinking people, having assembled in such a relaxed ambiance, not to discuss the latest goings-on on the national scene. Every group has its own set of subjects to talk about.

The hot topic was the forthcoming critical round of talks of a four-member committee appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the members of the advisory council of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a couple of days at a location that the two sides had consciously avoided to disclose for their own reasons.

One rather informed guest confided to me that Maj (retd) Aamir, who figured in the dissolved government body, was also invited to the meeting of the new official committee of present and former bureaucrats, and Maulana Samiul Haq led Taliban forum that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan chaired on Saturday, which decided the long awaited date and venue of the parleys.

He was of the view that Aamir attended the crucial session on the special invitation of the interior minister. The retired military officer enjoys good relations with certain Taliban leaders but prefers to work for the “national cause” quietly so that Pakistan gets rid of the menace of terrorism.

Although informed guests prayed for the success of the talks, they were sceptic about a positive outcome. They particularly alluded to the visible distance of the Pakistan army from the process by not formally joining the official committee, and said it had brought down the prospects of a breakthrough.

But one guest, who appeared to be in the know of the government thinking, presented the view that the civilian government and the army were on the same page as the prime minister had been extensively consulting with the top military leadership at every stage. Both the committees were constituted with its consent.

Vote intelligently, says apolitical Aamir Khan

 

Aamir Khan is guarded about sharing his views on any political party and when it comes to the new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) the actor-filmmaker prefers to wait and watch. Meanwhile, he has urged the youth to step out and vote intelligently in the polls.

At a press conference at his residence on his 49th birthday Friday, Aamir was asked which party he is favouring and he said: "I am not supporting any political party's campaign, nor do I support any political party."

"It's a democratic country and I believe each person should take their own decision and must go out and vote intelligently," he added.

Aamir Khan speaks about Satyamev Jayate1/6


Looking fit as a fiddle, the "3 Idiots" and "Dhoom 3" actor believes the youth especially must cast their vote.

"Every person of voting age should vote," he added.

Asked to comment on Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, Aamir said: "AAP is a new party. Let's see what they do. As I said, I don't support any political party, but if there's an important cause, we all come forward."

True to his word, he is raising various issues on his well-researched chat show "Satyamev Jayate".

Aamir had earlier lent support to Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement.

Rakhi Sawant distributes dustbins, says not a political stunt

Rakhi Sawant

 
Yesterday (8th March, 2014) on International Women's Day, media ki beti, Rakhi Sawant celebrated Women's Day with slum people rather than having a regular Bollywood party.
Rakhi planned to celebrate the special day with her real fans and her real admirers. She distributed food, gifts and 10,000 dustbins to slum people to protect Mumbai from all diseases and pollution. Rakhi said, "Being a woman it's my responsibility to be with needy people. Thus, I have stepped forward for this initiative and it's not a political stunt."
I plan to join politics soon says Rakhi Sawant
Rakhi Sawant , actress Sapna Bedi and "HELPING HAND " NGO's Vice President Neha Dhanjan all came together to lend support to needy women and gave the message " BETI BACHA DESH BACHAO"

Aamir Khan: I will not align with any political party

 "I want to be away from politics," said Aamir Khan.

 Aamir Khan said here today that he doesn’t support any political party and would not align with any of them at an event related to his TV show ‘Satyamev Jayate’.
“I want to be away from politics. I want to align with issues that are important. I support a thought and not a party. I want to support an issue irrespective of any political party. I would not wish to align with any party,” Aamir told PTI.
Aamir claimed that he cried during the show, while talking about a touching incident of forgiveness.
“I felt I cried too much on the show. I am an emotional person. I cry when I hear heartbreaking stories. There are times when I cried and the channel people cut that part as 15 minutes of crying is too much, since there are other important issues to talk about,” he said.
Aamir said that he visited Gaya in Bihar yesterday to announce the second season of the ‘Satyamev Jayate’ TV show, from the very spot where one Dashrath Manjhi broke a mountain and made a road for villagers.
“This is an inspiration to all the people who wish to do something. I salute his courage and determination,” Aamir said.
The second season of the show has a new feature where people may vote for their opinions on any issue which they wish to follow.
“We have introduced a vote for change campaign where people can vote and give their opinion on any issue. We plan to give these (poll) details to the government,” he said.
It has also been decided to air the second season of the show in three slots, so that people could absorb the issue, he said.
Incidentally, Aamir is also one among the many people who sang the title track of ‘Satyamev Jayate 2′