Govt musters four parties’ support for national causes: PM briefed

ISLAMABAD: Four mainstream political parties have assured the government that they would resist any threat to parliamentary democratic order and supremacy of the constitution since any adventure could inflict irreparable loss to the integrity of the country.

The three-member special committee, headed by Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Affairs Professor Irfan Siddiquee had meetings with the leadership of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiatul Ulmai Islam (JUI) of Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) of Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Awami National Party (ANP) in the light of mandate given to it by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Federal ministers Professor Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafiq are the other two members of Professor Siddiquee’s committee. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been briefed about the initial and encouraging response of the political parties in question to the three member committee.

The committee will continue to establish contact with other political parties and groups in the wake of upcoming developments in the political arena. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has yet to take ultimate decision about siding with the division on the national horizon but the government’s confidants have furnished contacts with the MQM also to muster its support for the national causes.

Interestingly, the favourable reaction of the government pertaining to the arrest of Altaf Hussain in London recently has evoked tremendous goodwill between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the MQM. Highly placed sources in the government told The News here on Sunday evening that the whirlwind visit of Allama Tahirul Qadri to Pakistan next week is part of the intrigue to destabilise the country and for the reason political and democratic forces have decided to forge unity in their ranks to frustrate any attempt to uproot the democratic order in the country. The administration has knitted a net to nab Allama Tahirul Qadri who is Canadian national and involved heinous offences, including fiscal crimes and several irregularities.

His close family members are also partner in the crimes. The federal agencies, including FIA, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and FBR, are hectically engaged in compiling documentary evidence into the offences reportedly committed by Qadri and his family members. The government is also examining to institute cases against Allama Tahirul Qadri for inciting violence, instigating people against the constitution and lawfully in-place government, attempting to dislodge constitutional order in the country and preaching violence. It could pave the way for registration of criminal case against him under Article 124 (A) Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Tahirul Qadri could be another case resembling Pervez Musharraf, who could come to Pakistan with big bang, but stranded here due to the cases awaited for him. Pervez Musharraf is trying hard to leave the country but facing enormous difficulties, the sources pointed out.

The sources reminded that Allama Qadri will have to face different sort of administration this time when he will be landing Pakistan in a couple of days since the present government wouldn’t tolerate daring by him to the institutions created by the people and irresponsible rhetoric by him. The government wouldn’t hesitate in nabbing the Canadian national after gathering solid evidence about his crimes.

The Canadian and British High Commissions would also be taken in loop about the offices under money laundering that have been committed on the soil of Pakistan, but the properties were procured in Canada and the United Kingdom with the black money whitened in the two countries. He has huge property in the United Kingdom besides Canada and some other European countries.

The government is confident that no mainstream political party or group would join hands with the Allam, and once the government decided to lay hand on him, he wouldn’t be able to solicit support from any influential quarter, the sources added.

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.

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.

Pakistan assures support for establishing Asia Infrastructure Bank

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Monday assured full support to the Chinese government for the establishment of Asia Infrastructure Bank. A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance said Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei during the 47th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors at Astana on Monday.

The minister also appreciated the proposal for its establishment as it is likely to contribute to the development of infrastructure needs of the region.The minister appreciated the Chinese contribution to the economic development of Pakistan and conveyed the best wishes from the prime minister of Pakistan to the Chinese leadership.

Appreciating the Chinese support for building the economic corridor from Kashgar to Gwadar, both sides agreed to work on an integrated plan for overcoming the difficulties likely to be encountered in the planning and implementation of the economic corridor.

Ishaq Dar assured full support for the initiative of establishing the economic corridor as it will not only reduce the transportation costs, but also result in the development of local regional economies through increased connectivity through enhanced levels of movement of people and goods.

In a meeting with a US delegation led by Marisa Lago, Assistant Secretary International Markets and Development, on the occasion of 47th annual meeting of Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank, Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday said that Pakistan was expecting the World Bank to consider Dassu Hydro Project and would appreciate the US support in this regard.

Dar said Pakistan was goingahead with Diamer Bhasha Dam Project which would serve the dual purpose of generating electricity and acting as a water reservoir for both agriculture and flood controls.

The finance minister briefed the US delegation about the structural reforms and stabilization measures undertaken by the present government since its coming into power in June 2013.He informed the delegation that through prudent macroeconomic management austerity measures resorting to external sources of funding and retiring domestic debt obligations the government had been successful in putting the economy on the stable growth trajectory.

The minister suggested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to adopt innovative approaches for addressing the newly arising challenges through reviewing ADB’s processes, rewarding innovative approaches and by adopting result based lending modalities.

The minister represented Pakistan during the Governor Round Table Conference, in the 47th annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors at Astana today, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance.The theme of the conference was to suggest a role for ADB in handling the challenges currently faced in the Asia and Pacific economies due to different levels of economic development.

Imran out to support third force: Sethi

LAHORE: Senior analyst Najam Sethi said PTI chairman Imran Khan had decided to support the third force as some people in his party were advising him short-cuts.
Speaking in Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Sethi said apparently Imran wanted to protest rigging in elections. “He moved the election tribunal and realised the process will take two years and then moved the Supreme Court which again sent him to the tribunal. He wanted verification in four constituencies and if rigging proved, he would declare the whole election a fraud and demand fresh polls. He wants the government to call new elections and its ouster if the government refuses it, so that new elections are held in a fair way,” he observed.

He said the timing of the move was intriguing as it would complete one year of the government. “However, there is some trouble as Tahirul Qadri will join him. Contrary to Imran, Qadri talks of a change of the system. Imran earlier supported democracy and Geo but now he has changed and blamed Geo for his defeat but he cannot explain it. There are also tensions between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the military leadership over the Musharraf case, Pak-India relations and talks with the Taliban. They are not on the same page. Then tensions arose between the army leadership and Geo and it appears the army is not willing to relent,” he added.

The noted analyst said some people were advising Imran Khan to exploit the differences between the prime minister and the army leadership, loadshedding and rigging in elections and launch a movement to bring the government on the back foot, even if violence occurred. “It is a dangerous situation,” he added. To a question, Sethi said Imran was targeting Geo to please the third force. “Geo has differences with the military leadership over Pak-India trade, friendship and Aman Ki Asha. Geo also had a difference of opinion with the military leadership on Musharraf’s trial. If some people are angry with the prime minister, they are also annoyed at Geo. The channel was a big target in the attack on Hamid Mir,” he elaborated.

To a question on talk of martial law in drawing-room debates, he said the prime minister should also think about it and remove misunderstandings with the military. To another question, he said it was difficult to remove an elected government. “The prime minister should act to defuse tensions with the military as it is also not good for the economy which is of prime importance today. The judiciary and the media should also not be weakened,” he added.

Necessary to support Big 3 to play international cricket: Sethi

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Najam Sethi said it was necessary to support the ‘Big 3’ to play international cricket.
 
Najam Sethi added that next year Pakistan would nominate the ICC president.

Sethi held a news conference here on Friday after spending the previous day taking part in the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai.

Najam Sethi told reporters that Pakistan would support the ‘Big 3’ after its conditions would be met.

The PCB chairman said he was first informed of the ‘Big 3’ issue on January 8. Sethi told reporters that he discovered on February 8 that Bangladesh was onboard with the proposal while Pakistan and Sri Lanka remained opposed to the ‘Big 3.’


Informing the media about the need to support the ‘Big 3,’ the PCB Chairman said he had held detailed meetings with all countries including India. “We have signed MoUs with all boards for tours over the course of the next eight years.”

According to Sethi some boards had cancelled tours to play against Pakistan. The PCB chairman said after signing the deal Rs30 billion revenue would be generated for Pakistan. The PCB Chairman further said that a series against India had been decided.

Najam Sethi added that the next meeting of the Asian Cricket Council will be held under his chair in Lahore.


When asked about Mohammed Amir, Sethi replied that talks were ongoing with the ICC and the former bowler would play cricket soon. “A decision regarding Amir’s punishment will be taken during the next ICC meeting in June.” Sethi said it was his understanding that Amir’s punishment would be reduced by one year.

 

PCB announces conditional support to ‘Big 3’

 

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced conditional support to the ‘Big 3’ of the International Cricket Council (ICC).The PCB said that Pakistan would play cricket against all member countries of the ICC from 2015 to 2023, reported Geo News on Thursday.PCB Chairman Najam Sethi told the media that all matters with the ICC members, including India, had been finalised. He said that Pakistan has put a condition of playing cricket against all members of the ICC.

Delhi Jama Masjid Imam announces support for Congress

New Delhi: One of the India's most important religious Muslim leaders has announced his support for the Congress.

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi, said today, "We had discussions with Sonia Gandhi. For elections 2014, I announce support for the Congress, with the rider that they will fulfill their promises if they come to power. We have to stand united against communal forces."

The religious leader accused Uttar Pradesh rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of opportunistic politics.

"The Samajwadi Party failed to protect Muslims," he said, referring to the September Muzaffarnagar riots in which nearly 60 people were killed and thousands driven out of their villages. The BSP, he added, had failed to convince him that it would not join hands with the BJP after the polls.

Imam Bukhari's meeting with Sonia Gandhi has been described by the BJP as an attempt by the Congress president to polarize the vote by religion. The BJP has registered its complaint with the Election Commission because Mrs Gandhi reportedly asked the Shahi Imam and other Muslim leaders accompanying him to ensure the minority vote in India is not split.

"This is an attempt to polarise voters. The Election Commission should take note," the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad said, reacting to the imam's declaration.

Yesterday, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi attacked Mrs Gandhi for "open communalism"; today, another senior BJP leader, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, reiterated that charge. "Sonia Gandhi calls us communal and makes a deal with Imam Bukhari" said Mr Chauhan, who is the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.

Sonia Gandhi denied the charge, telling reporters, "We are not in the habit or in the game of polarising the elections."

The Election Commission had said if a complaint is filed, it would examine the issue and "further action would be taken."

Rajapaksa says rivals trying to oust him with global support

PTI Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has blamed opposition parties of trying to engineer his downfall with international support. 

 

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has blamed opposition parties of trying to engineer his downfall with international support saying his government “is being punished for ending terrorism”.

Campaigning for his ruling coalition in the two Provincial Assembly elections to be held next Saturday, the Sri Lankan President accused the opposition on Saturday of becoming a pawn to anti-Sri Lanka forces.

“They know they can’t win people’s hearts and win so they expect international support to topple the government,” Mr. Rajapaksa said in the southwestern town of Kaluthara.

“Madam (Navi) Pillay (UNHRC chief), U.S., U.K., all are moved against us by the Tamil diaspora,” he said on the UNHRC resolution to be voted on later this week in Geneva.

“We are being punished for ending terrorism. We did not fight Tamils, we only fought terrorism,” Mr. Rajapaksa stressed.

He appealed to the voters to send a powerful message to the international community.

“We will not tolerate any foreign interference and that will be the message,” he said.

The Sri Lankan President has opted to hold two Provincial elections both in the Sinhala-majority areas — the Western and Southern provinces, as a test of his popularity.

The U.S.-moved resolution is being dubbed by the government as action to try Mr. Rajapaksa in the international criminal court for alleged war crimes during the final battle with the LTTE.

Sri Lanka is facing its third U.N. Human Rights Council resolution in as many years, censuring the country on its lack of progress on human rights accountability and reconciliation with its Tamil minority after the civil war ended with the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009.

India had backed the previous two resolutions.

Thankful to SRK for unconditional support: Gulaab Gang producer

Anubhav Sinha

After a litigation-littered journey, Gulaab Gang has finally kept its date with the audience. A division bench of the Delhi High Court lifted the injunction on the film's release on Thursday.

The judgment came just a day after the same court had stayed the release of the Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla starrer, based on a plea filed by activist Sampat Pal Devi, who claimed that the film was based on Gulabi Gang--the group of women vigilantes lead by her--and portrayed her in a negative light. The producers of the film had then filed an appeal against the single judge's order after which the court green-lighted the film's release.

High-level visit: Beijing promises full support to end militancy

China’s Defence Minister Gen Chang Wanquan meets PM Nawaz. PHOTO: INP 

ISLAMABAD:  China has thrown its weight behind Pakistan’s efforts to end the violence that has plagued the country for over a decade.

China’s Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan extended his country’s full support in rooting out militancy from Pakistan in a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday, officials told The Express Tribune.

They said the premier briefed the visiting Chinese minister over Pakistan’s current security situation and the steps his government was taking to end the violence.
The development comes against the backdrop of reports which suggest the government is on the verge of launching a ground offensive against militants in North Waziristan Agency.
China is believed to have been taking keen interest in the possible operation because of its concerns over Pakistani militants’ links with separatists in China’s Xinjiang province.
According to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Nawaz said Pakistan deeply values China’s support on issues of Pakistan’s national security and territorial integrity. He reiterated that Islamabad and Beijing enjoy a ‘unique relationship’.
“Strong mutual trust, excellent cooperation and convergence of views on regional and global issues provide a solid foundation for our time-tested, all-weather friendship,” the statement quoted the premier as saying.
He also deeply appreciated Chinese support for projects included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the recent Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC).
“China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will not only benefit both nations, but transform the region’s economy and dovetail perfectly with the strategy to develop and connect south and central Asian regions,” he said.
Premier Nawaz told Gen Chang that providing security to Chinese nationals in Pakistan was his government’s utmost priority and all possible steps had been taken to ensure this.
He also voiced his confidence that cooperation between Pakistan and China, including in the field of defence, will continue to grow to the benefit of both the countries. The visiting minister reiterated his government’s support for Pakistan.
The meeting was also attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.
Hilal-e-Pakistan for China’s defence minister
President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday conferred the Hilal-e-Pakistan upon the Chinese defence minister in a special investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The President conferred the award on General Chang Wanquan in recognition of his role and meritorious services for further promoting the already existing close bonds of friendship especially defence cooperation between Pakistan and China, an official statement said.
“General Chang Wanquan, a great friend of Pakistan, played an important role in further strengthening bonds between the People’s Liberation Army of China and armed forces of Pakistan besides promoting bilateral defence cooperation,” the citation read on the occasion said.