Operation to continue till end of last terrorist: PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed officials to continue the operation till the end of the last terrorist and the establishment of complete peace in the tribal region of the country.
According to information, the prime minister approved the launching of the operation during the national security meeting held last week. A private TV channel quoted the prime minister as saying that the operation should continue till the end of the last terrorist and establishment of complete peace in the territory.

Nawaz Sharif said that the security of life and property of the citizens was the top priority and all resources should be utilised to flush out terrorism from the country.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government had made full-fledged efforts for dialogue with full responsibility and now the operation will continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said a decisive battle would be fought against the terrorists.In a statement, the minister said the launch of a full-scale military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, against terrorists in North Waziristan was a well-thought-out decision of the government.

Khawaja Asif said the decision was taken after the failure of peace negotiations with the Taliban militants. He said it was a decision of the entire nation as the people of Pakistan had unanimously decided that terrorists should be neutralised once and for all.

“The whole nation is standing by the armed forces, which are fully capable of annihilating these elements,” the minister said.He said the Pakistan Army has been directed to crush the terrorists completely and the armed forces will not refrain from any sacrifice for the defence and security of the country.

Khawaja Asif said, “This time the operation will continue until its logical conclusion.”Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday appealed to all politicians and the nation to stand united behind the government and the armed forces in the war against terror.

In his statement after the launch of the military operation in North Waziristan to flush out the terrorists, the minister said that as a democratic government they have exercised the option of dialogue with the terrorists but contrary to the peace overtures the terrorists continued killing our people. But now either they will have to surrender or face defeat, he added.

The federal minister stressed upon the nation to stand united behind the men and women in uniforms. The Pakistani nation has decided that those who want to disrupt their lives will be taken to task, he added. The federal minister said this terror network will now meet its fate with the ultimate might of the state, adding they know that people of Pakistan are peace loving and will defend their way of life.

ARY, Ursus Tractors cases: Acquittal plea decision deferred till June 24

ISLAMABAD: The decision on the plea for Asif Ali Zardari’s acquittal in ARY and Ursus Tractors references has been deferred until June 24, as the accountability court judge was on leave today (Wednesday), Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, Asif Ali Zardari has been summoned for indictment in Cotecna reference.

Sources said that the decision on Asif Ali Zardari’s petitions seeking acquittal in ARY and Ursus Tractors references could not be announced today and deferred until June 24 due to Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Basher being on leave.

The court has also summoned Asif Ali Zardari in Cotecna reference for indictment on June 24, while the Accountability Court has summoned the witnesses in SGS reference also on June 24.

It may be recalled that Asif Ali Zardari was acquitted in Polo Ground reference on previous hearing.

US citizen remanded in police custody till May 10

KARACHI: A local court of Judicial Magistrate Malir has remanded the US citizen, who was arrested from Karachi airport for carrying arms, in police custody till May 10, Geo News reported.

The Airport Security Force (ASF) had arrested a US national from the Karachi Airport on Monday for carrying a 9mm pistol and 15 bullets.

Joel Cox was scheduled to fly to Islamabad via flight No PK-308.

Airport police had registered case against Cox under Arms ordinance and presented him before the court of judicial magistrate Tuesday.

Malir SSP Rao Anwar said the bullets would be despatched for forensic testing. He said the serial numbers of the bullets had already been forwarded to a forensic laboratory.

The SSP said a joint investigation team was probing the case to ascertain where the suspect was from, for whom he was working and what his plans were regarding the pistol and the bullets. Cox has yet to provide the police with a licence for the pistol, he added.

I was more emotionally sound till she passed away: Arjun Kapoor

 

Arjun Kapoor, 28, looks more like his mother Mona, but is a spendthrift and emotional like his father, Boney. His mother was a movie buff, who always wanted Arjun to do a Dharma romcom, as he loved Karan Johar's brand of cinema. While her wish has come true and Arjun plays the lead in 2 States, she is not alive to see it. Arjun opens his heart to Bombay Times. Excerpts:

Talk about your father Boney Kapoor?
I look like my mother, but behave like my father. My father is a genuinely nice guy and very generous to anybody and everybody. He likes to live life kingsize and he doesn't know any other way and I love that about him. He is as emotional as I am, but his emotions are more visible than me. Learning from his mistakes, I am more guarded. The fact that he is emotional leads to more problems at times than solving problems. You can call him at 3 am and he will be there. He gets emotional about me also and what makes him most proud about me is the fact that I have made it on my own. I, too, am very proud to be his son and he knows that. Whatever I do, I am representing him in this profession. I always wanted to make my mark and make him proud. His BB status when Ishaqzaade released was 'Father of Arjun Kapoor.' It's very easy to use what happened between my parents as a crutch to ruin my life. I could have been just sitting around, sulking and grumpily feeling how life had dealt me a pathetic game and I had to fold. But I have battled my way through reasonably well and he likes the fact that I am independent and yet go to him if I need advice and always keep his thought process in mind.

Is it cathartic shooting Tevar with your father in Agra?
This is the most amount of time I have spent with him at a stretch. I have never lived with him and so, this is extremely special for me that he is in the next room as mine. My equation with him has only grown stronger with this film. My most favourite time is when he is with me on set, seeing me take a shot. What I love about him is that he is a person who gives you a lot of privacy, be it before I became an actor and even now, when he can interfere far more. Since we did not live with him, he didn't know that I carry my food from the hotel on shoot or whether I work out before or after or how I don't get out of my room post shooting or how much masti I do on set. Work is our bonding factor.

Let's talk about your mom?
My mother was the nicest person in the world. I still have people coming to me to say how she was so warm, generous and kind-hearted. She never washed her dirty linen in public. She always maintained her equations with people. She had an equation with all the family members. She made a selfless choice by not shifting out of my grandparents' house, as she wanted us to live with our family and having a wholesome environment. And we got so much love and care, which is what will sustain us for the rest of our lives. She never lived with negativity. If she would have, then, it would have festered through me and I wouldn't be sitting in Agra shooting Tevar for my father. I represent her at many levels. She was clear that whatever happened with her will not influence how we are with him. She wanted to be independent and put all her energy to becoming that. And that was commendable as she started only at 35. Till my parents were together, she was not working, but post their separation she had to fend for herself. She had learnt being around my father and post their separation, started a five-floor TV studio in Goregaon with my nani and mausie, which, after she died, they run. I also know for a fact that our father has always been there for whatever we needed as kids, even though he has been through his own ups and downs and made his choices.

What did your mom want to correct about you?
She saw my appetite for working hard when I had to and knew that laziness was not inherently part of my daily structure, but just something I went back to be in my comfort zone. She knew my sense of responsibility, but allowed me to be my own person. So today my success, my failure, my discovery of myself, my misgivings about me as a person, is because of what I have done in these 28 years. She liked that I was emotionally pretty sensible and dealt with it reasonably well, otherwise I could have made life hell for her and for my father. She always told me, 'You have been good kids and the least of my problems.' She said that she needed to be concerned about us, but never worry about us. Today, I am a very independent, emotional person. If anyone knew my emotions, it was only my mother. She understood even before I could speak. I grew up knowing that my mom anyway had to deal with a lot, so I never wanted my baggage to be anyone else's and always handled my own shit. She was my friend and I miss her every moment, but more in good moments. Bad moments I know anyways I would have dealt with myself. When I went to Ishaqzaade in a normal hall and people came and took pictures of me, I wished she had been there to see that. I wanted my mother to see that she had brought me up well enough and that I could survive. She was discovered in the third stage of cancer and when I look back, I can only wonder what hell she must have gone through to put me through that ease of shooting in Lucknow. She was undergoing chemotherapy, losing her hair and taking care of herself. And she had survived all that and celebrated her birthday on February 3 and then suddenly, she collapsed in front of me in my arms on March 25. Her cancer had spread to the brain and even though doctors had told us that she had six months, she died all of a sudden. Four months into her illness, nobody knew that she had cancer till my grandfather passed away, as she didn't want to tell anybody. Just my nani, mausie, Anshula and I knew. She didn't want it to come out and it didn't. She was a very strong person.

Who do you love the most in the world?
My sister Anshula. I am such a closed person in terms of my emotions, but my way of showing my emotions is to be doing things for her, rather than saying it. She understands me more than anybody else. She almost puts herself second, seeing the struggle I have had to go through to reach wherever I am. For her, my work is more important, my feeling emotionally correct is more important, my not feeling troubled is more important. She thinks I don't notice it, but I know that. She is a very sorted girl. I was always my mother's strength and Anshula, her emotional weakness, as she never got our father at all. My mom knew that since I had faced the storm with her, I would be able to handle life better than Anshula. My father, too, was more protective about her and is more attached to her. I am sorted versus the practicality of life, but my emotional fulcrum is totally messed up, as I lost my backbone. I can't discuss it with anybody, as no one can solve it. I can't make peace with it. I just have to live with it for the rest of my life and find happiness in the daily aspects of my life, be it my work, taking holidays or my friendships. The reminder of her not being there is a constant. My room is next to hers. It's something you can't forget or let go. Her room is exactly the way it was when she was there. Every time I walk in, I see her room and for me, she is there at home. When I am away, it is easier for me to deal with it than when I am at home. That is also one of the reasons I have this burning desire to keep working. I don't want to sit at home. She used to work and come back home. I was useless and jobless and would all the time be at home, hanging out in her room. There was a cupboard in her room, where she would stock all the goodies and knick-knacks, which you should otherwise not eat. She kept it there, as she knew that I would not barge into her room late night to eat. The goodies would be taken out when guests came and then put back.

Have you come to terms with your father's second family?
I am resilient like my mother and have the ability to face any kind of storm. For my mother, being emotional was her strength, whereas in my father's case, it is his weakness. He feels that the choice he made is his emotional choice and he has to carry it on his shoulder everyday. He has two more children and has another wife. I was a very happy fat kid. Eating was my way of release, so I would just go to McDonald's and just sit and eat. Even in school, when I could not face the uncomfortable questions asked, I would hide and eat. Eating was my escape. Sanju chacha was most concerned about me as he saw me everyday just wasting my time eating, watching movies, not moving my ass. My mother lived in my grandparents' house for our sake, but for my father's family, it was not that my mother was the only one and they respected his second wife, too. So for me as a child, it was not all hunky- dory accepting that my father's family had accepted his choice. I have tried to put it behind me, but it takes you time to come to peace with yourself. Of course I am vulnerable, but it's not something I flaunt. I was more emotionally sound till she passed away. I am an emotional mess now. Earlier I knew that whether I did something right or wrong, I could have gone back to her and asked. Now I can go back to nobody. My mother, without voicing it, had been furious that I had dropped out of Class XI. She wanted me to go abroad, to explore life, to become a more well-rounded person. I still plan to do something about it in the future as I can't go at this stage in my life. The independence my mother wanted me to get then is what I have got now. It's quite ironic that she had to go away for me to discover it.

PHC reserves decision on jurisdiction in Fata till April 7

PESHAWAR: A full-bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday reserved verdict on a point of its jurisdiction in Fata related to illegal detention and service matters till April 7.

A five-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Qaiser Rasheed Khan and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain reserved judgment after hearing arguments from senior lawyers, additional attorney general of Pakistan and law officers on the point of its jurisdiction in Fata.

During the course of hearing, Additional Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Waqar Ahmad Khan submitted before the bench that the high court could send a reference to the Parliament for removal of difficulties related to jurisdiction of the superior courts in Fata.

He pointed out that there was discrepancy between Article 10-A of the Constitution related to fair trial and Sub-Article 7 of the Article 247, because residents of Fata had no chance of fair trial under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).

However, Additional Attorney General Syed Muhammad Attique Shah submitted that the high court couldn’t ask the Parliament through a reference for amendment to Sub-Article 7 of Article 247 of the Constitution.

He submitted that if there were some missing points in the law, the court could point those out to the Parliament. To the court’s question, he promised to provide records of the Parliament’s debate on Article 247 of the 1973 Constitution to the court in a day or two.

To a court’s query, the additional attorney general said the high court had jurisdiction in service matters in Fata when the employees were serving in Fata on deputation from both the federal and provincial governments.

During the previous hearing, Tariq Afridi as amicus curiae submitted before the bench that the court had jurisdiction to take up petitions filed by tribal people against illegal detention and violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Khursheed to go on hunger strike till death

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Thursday threatened to go on hunger strike till death if the PML-N government went ahead with its plan to terminate the services of about 60,000 daily wagers and contractual employees.
“I will go on hunger strike in front of the Parliament House along with the daily wagers and contractual employees working in different departments,” Khursheed Shah said while speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly.

He said he had received reports that the government had finalised a plan to terminate the services of these employees while a number of employees serving in the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (Pemra) and the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) had also met him in this regard.

Warning the government to refrain from taking such decisions, the opposition leader reminded the PML-N leader that in the past such acts had resulted in premature end of their governments.

He said he had also talked to the prime minister whom he called an innocent and decent person and discussed the issue with him. “The prime minister told me that he is not aware of any such plan,” the PPP leader said.

But, he said, now he had received reports that the employees working on temporary basis were being shown the door.Syed Khursheed Shah also regretted the statement of the finance minister on the floor of the House that the government was not considering any raise in salaries and pensions for the next fiscal year. “What was the need to make such a statement that will only add to the frustration of the salaried people?” he asked.

The opposition leader claimed that the PPP government had raised the salaries of government employees by 125 percent in five years.

APP adds: Khursheed said that the youth of the country must not be made jobless as there had been no investment in the country for the last 15 years due to terrorism. The sacking of the youth might trigger a new wave of lawlessness as the unemployed youth might indulge in anti-social activities. The large-scale sackings might create frustration among the people, which would certainly benefit the anti-democratic forces.

Criticising the metro bus project of Rawalpindi and Lahore, he said over Rs80 billion was being squandered on such projects. Whereas the per annum salary of 100,000 employees was not more than Rs4 billion. He said the PPP government had regularised the services of 125,000 contractual employees without any discrimination. He said he personally knew that the financial position of the sacked employees of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) was pitiable. After the induction of new employees, during the PPP era, the profit of EOBI had jumped from Rs5.3 billion to Rs11 billion due to the efforts and hard work of these employees, he claimed.

Salman Khan hit-and-run case: Matter adjourned till April 8

 

The first three witnesses were slated to be examined today by the prosecution.

The trial in the 2002 hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan did not begin today as the witnesses did not appear in the sessions court.
The first three witnesses were slated to be examined today by the prosecution. One of them is the owner of a laundry in suburban Bandra, where the actor had run over his vehicle on people sleeping on the footpath, while the other two are panch witnesses.

Prosecutor Jagannath Kenjalkar told the court that the laundry owner could not appear as he had been paralysed. One of the five witnesses was not traceable, while the other had gone to Bangalore.

The judge D W Deshpande adjourned the matter to April 8 when the prosecution would examine another set of witnesses, who were injured in the mishap.

Salman also did not come to the court as he has secured permanent exemption from appearance. His lawyer Srikant Shivade was, however, present.

Sessions judge D W Deshpande had ordered a fresh trial in this case.
Although the prosecution has given a list of 64 witnesses, it would not examine all of them, according to the public prosecutor.
The prosecution had earlier submitted documents such as death certificate (of the person who was killed in the mishap) and injury certificates (of those who were injured in this case.

The court had admitted these documents after Salman’s lawyer submitted his say on admissibility of the documents.
Salman is facing the charge of running over his Toyota Land Cruiser on a group of persons sleeping on a footpath outside a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one and injuring four others.

On December 5 last year, the court had ordered a fresh trial on the ground that the witnesses had not been examined in the context of aggravated charge of culpable homicide, which was invoked against the actor midway through the proceedings.

The charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder attracts a 10-year sentence. The actor had earlier been tried by a magistrate for a lesser offence of causing death by negligence, which entailed an imprisonment of two years.

The case, dragging on for over a decade, had taken a twist earlier this year when the magistrate, after examining 17 witnesses, held that the charge of culpable homicide was made out against Salman and referred the matter to a sessions court, as cases under this offence are tried by a higher court.