Malick allowed to continue as MD PTV

ISLAMABAD: A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here Thursday allowed Managing Director (MD) Pakistan Television (PTV) Mohammad Malick to keep his job till he receives written orders of an IHC single bench.

An IHC single-member bench on June 24 had declared the appointment of the MD PTV as illegal and Mohammad Malick then challenged the orders through an intra-court appeal (ICA) before an IHC division bench.

The division bench comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Athar Minallah however excused from hearing this ICA after Justice Athar Minallah said that the second contesting candidate against the post of MD PTV Jamal Shah had approached him for engaging him as counsel when the appointment of MD PTV was made by the federal government.

Counsel for Mohammad Malick, Akram Sheikh advocate however argued before the court that they have complete trust in the impartiality of the bench. Akram Sheikh referred to an article of law by virtue of which a judge could also suspend his own orders. Senior member in the bench Justice Qureshi said the bench would refer this matter to the IHC chief justice for appropriate order.

Akram Sheikh contended before the court that at the moment there was war on terror going on and the presence of national media was utmost important. “My client was properly appointed by a commission and till this time there is no written order of the IHC single bench,” he said.

He said the IHC single bench on June 24 had orally announced the orders and till this time there is no written order. The division bench then decided that this ICA will be heard by another division bench on Monday, June 30. However, the Mohammad Malick could keep up with his office as MD PTV till he receives written orders.Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the IHC on June 24 had declared the appointment of Mohammad Malick as illegal while observing that it was not made in a transparent manner.

Geo News resumption: Cable operators continue to defy PEMRA, SC orders

KARACHI: Cable operators continued to defy the orders of Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) and Supreme Court pertaining to the restoration of Geo Network channels across Pakistan.

The channel’s transmission had earlier been suspended on June 6, 2014 on the complaint filed by the Ministry of Defence. A fine of Rs10 million had also been imposed on the channel.

A notification (dated June 20, 2014) issued by PEMRA states that Geo News is allowed to resume transmission at 12am on June 21, 2014, however, cable operators have claimed that they have not received any such notification and continued to defy PEMRA and Supreme Court orders.

The notification directs all the regional offices to direct distribution networks in their respective regions to begin relaying Geo News at the above mentioned time and date.

A special reference has also been made to the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The order states:

2. The grievance of the applicant, as raised by its senior counsel, was that the PEMRA was not abiding by the report of Mediator and the subsequent orders passed by this Court on it. Raja Muhammad Ibrahim Satti, learned Sr. ASC for PEMRA was present in the Court as a Caveator along with Mr. Zahid Malik, Head of Legal Department, PEMRA, and on instructions from Mr. Zahid Malik, Raja Muhammad Ibrahim Satti, learned Sr. ASC stated that the PEMRA shall abide by the terms of order dated 13.08.2012 passed in Constitution Petition No.51 of 2010, by which the report of Mr. Javed Jabbar, the Mediator, was made part of the said order and that the PEMRA will ensure that there is no shifting of the channels contrary to or in violation of the order dated 13.08.2012

The PEMRA notification directs all regional general managers to strictly comply with the above quoted orders by directing all distribution networks to restore Geo News to its original position to avoid any contempt of proceedings in the Supreme Court.

ARY News, which was suspended by PEMRA on Saturday, continued to be relayed by cable operators on their networks.

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.

Pak, India should continue steps to improve relations: US

WASHINGTON: Pakistan and India should continue with efforts to mend their relations as improvement in relations is vital for the South Asian neighbours, a State Department spokesperson said.

Broadly speaking we believe that India and Pakistan should continue steps to improve the relationship between the two countries, Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said.

Her comments at the daily briefing came in the backdrop of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's travel to New Delhi where he held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi after attending the new Indian leader's inaugural ceremony.

Obviously it is incredibly important for them to do so the spokesperson said when asked about Washington's position on improvement in relations between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Harf however did not have more specifics about what that should look like or what it might entail. The spokesperson agreed with a reporter who saw hope in future relations between the two countries in view of an early meeting between their leaders and the exchange of gifts between them.

 

Taliban ready to continue talks Prof Ibrahim says they are serious

 

PESHAWAR/KHANPUR: A member of the Taliban negotiations team, Professor Ibrahim, has said the statement given by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was extraordinary but the Taliban are ready to continue peace talks even in the prevailing situation.
“We are serious people and we are holding talks with all seriousness. The statement of Chaudhry Nisar is extraordinary but we are ready to continue the talks process in the prevailing situation as well,” Prof Ibrahim said in his media interviews on Saturday.

“There are certain hiccups on the way to talks but we believe these will be removed soon. We have already said we are facing difficulties in the talks process, but the Taliban negotiations team was sincere in holding talks,” he said.

About the disbandment of the government negotiations team, he said the powers of the government negotiations team rested with the government. “Earlier a committee was formed and was abolished later but the Taliban committee will continue to make sure that talks bear fruit in this situation too,” he said.

He said that the timing and venue for the next meeting has not been finalised. Prof Ibrahim said contacts with the Taliban leadership are under way.

It may be recalled that interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said earlier in his statement that the government could not continue the talks process with the Taliban in the present situation.

Govt, Taliban committees agree to continue talks

ISLAMABAD: The government and the Taliban negotiating committees on Wednesday agreed to continue the peace talks.
Member of the Taliban committee Professor Ibrahim Khan, talking to APP, after a joint meeting of both the committees here, said the direct meeting between the government negotiation committee and Taliban Shura would be held in a week’s time.

He said all issues would be discussed in the direct meeting.Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan presided over the meeting.After the meeting, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami) chief and head of the Taliban talks committee Maulana Samiul Haq said both the committees had expressed satisfaction over the peace process despite certain reservations.

He said they reviewed the prospects and hurdles in the peace process. “The Taliban committee will continue efforts to make the dialogue process successful,” he added.

Maulana Sami said the committee would contact the Taliban Shura to finalise arrangements for direct talks. He said he would urge the Taliban to extend their ceasefire to take the dialogue process forward.

The Taliban had ended their 40-day ceasefire on April 10 after they claimed the government had failed to make progress on their two initial demands – release of non-combatant prisoners and vacating some areas in South Waziristan for future talks.

The Taliban had also alleged that the government had continued arrests and “extrajudicial killings” of their prisoners.Maulana Sami said the negotiators will soon contact the Taliban political council to revive the dialogue process. He said the Taliban intermediaries were now convinced that the political and military leadership was on the same page on the talks.

Asked to why the talks have not made any progress so far, he said there are complaints and reservations on both sides, adding that there was a need to bridge the trust gap.He said that the committees reviewed the difficulties in the dialogue and agreed to take steps to remove misunderstandings and speed up the process.

Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Ch Nisar called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed the ongoing dialogue process.Sources said the two leaders, besides exchanging views over law and order situation, discussed the next phase of direct talks with the Taliban militants. The prime minister directed that the peace talks be continued from the point where they were stalled.

Countrywide protests continue

 

ISLAMABAD: Journalists, lawyers and civil society members on Monday continued to stage rallies, demonstrations and sit-ins across the country to protest against the murderous attack on Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir in Karachi.
The journalist community, civil society, lawyers and others in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad staged protest rallies to condemn the incident. They chanted slogans in favour of their demand of bringing the attackers to book and called for providing protection to journalists.

The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) staged a protest rally at the Karachi Press Club and media persons and civil society activists gathered in front of the Hyderabad Press Club to express their solidarity with Hamid Mir.

In Lahore, media persons held a demonstration in front of the press club to vent their anger against the attack on Hamid Mir.The Multan Union of Journalists and civil society activists staged a demonstration in front of the Multan Press Club.

The journalist community termed the attack shameful and a meeting attended by Begum Shamim Chaudhry, Muhammad Akbar and Justice (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal said Pakistan’s journalists were hard working and appreciated for their contribution to society.

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) strongly condemned murderous attack on Geo News senior anchorperson Hamid Mir and termed it an attempt to stifle the free media.

In a press statement issued here Monday, LHCBA President Shafqat Mehmood Chohan, Vice President Amir Jalil Siddiqui, Secretary Mian Ahmed Chachar and Finance Secretary Mian Iqbal said, in Pakistan attempts had always been made to curb the voice of truth. The LHCBA had long tradition of raising voice against suppression and saluted Hamid Mir for bearing the torch of truth.

The bar members appreciated prime minister’s swift reaction to the incident and setting up a judicial commission and said the inquiry would expose the hidden hands behind the incident. They hoped that the responsible would be probed and prosecuted without fear and favour and awarded exemplary punishment.

Punjab University Pashtun/Baloch students expressing sympathies for senior journalist Hamid Mir have strongly condemned attack on him. In a press release issued here by Pashtun Educational Development Movement, they vowed to speak for the media protection and condemn such assault in future.

In Faisalabad, journalists Shahid Ali, Tanvir, Zafar Dogar, Sajid Aleem, Maqbool Lodhi and Sardar Akhtar condemned the murderous attack on Hamid Mir and demanded the constitution of a judicial commission to probe incident.

District Bar Association lawyers did not appear in courts to express sympathy with Hamid Mir. They demanded that the judicial inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif into the attack should complete its findings.

In Jaranwala, lawyers observed a complete strike and boycotted courts to protest against attack on Hamid Mir. Lawyers condemned the incident and said law and order was worsening and nobody was safe in the country.

Meanwhile, journalists led by Muhammad Ijaz Butt, President of Central Press Club, took out a procession and protested against the murderous attack on Hamid Mir. They raised slogans against the attackers and demanded action against the culprits.

In Bhakkar, journalists took out a rally under the leadership of senior journalist Rao Muhammad Shabbir to condemn attack on Hamid Mir. The protesting journalists demanded an inquiry into the attack and arrest of the culprits.

In Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur Union of Journalists Monday staged a demonstration and a sit-in at Chowk Fawara to condemn the attack on Hamid Mir.

The BhUJ sit-in was also joined by the members of Apca, JI, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, lawyers and socio-political and civil society members. The protesters also took out a rally and chanted slogans against the attack.

The rally was addressed by PFUJ VP Ameen Abbasi, BhUJ President A Majeed Gill, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Deputy Secretary Information Rao Javed Iqbal, JI City Ameer Dr Khalid and APCA leader Hafiz Iqbal.

The speakers condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and termed it an attack on the press freedom. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

PFUJ VP Ameen Abbasi said Geo and Jang Group had great respect for the army and all its institutions. He said the army should help trace out the attackers.

In Islamabad, journalists Monday boycotted the Senate proceedings to protest attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir.

Senate Chairman Nayyar Bukhari asked the opposition leaders to contact the journalists. The journalist fraternity has been protesting across the country against the brutal attack on Hamid Mir for three days.

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) also a protest demonstration at the Quetta Press Club to show solidarity with Hamid Mir for his unwavering stand against the injustice and excesses to the downtrodden and oppressed people in the province in particular and in the country in general. The BNP-M also staged rallies in Karachi against the brutal attack on the senior journalist.

The Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) held a protest rally in Dera Bugti to condemn the attack on the renowned anchorperson.The Pakistan People’s Party-Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) also took out a rally in Hyderabad to register their indignation against the attack on Hamid Mir.The journalists and lawyers also took out a rally in Mirpur, AJK to register their protest against attack on Hamid Mir.

20 more militants killed as clashes continue in Waziristan

PESHAWAR: Twenty militants were killed in three different incidents of violence as clashes between the fighters of two rival groups of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in South Waziristan and North Waziristan tribal regions continued on Friday.
The clashes began last Monday after unknown people killed two militant commanders, Kasheed Mahsud and Matiur Rahman, in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan along with three other fighters.

It seems the leadership of two militant groups has decided not to forgive each other though members of the Haqqani network and the TTP Shura intervened and tried to persuade the combatants to stop the fighting.

The Taliban and tribal sources said the fighters of the two groups had spread out to different places in South Waziristan, North Waziristan and settled districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to search and kill their opponents.

The fresh clashes started early in the day when a pickup truck carrying 10 fighters of commander Said Khan alias Sajna came under a rocket attack in the remote and mountainous Shawal Valley of South Waziristan.Taliban sources said all 10 militants onboard died on the spot. Beside others, two commanders of Sajna group identified as Nek Badshah and Nizam were also killed in the attack.

According to Taliban sources, the militants of Sajna group had decided not to bury their slain colleagues before avenging their killing.By Friday evening, the militants of Sajna group reportedly hit a double-cabin pickup truck, carrying the fighters of rival group headed by Commander Sheharyar, with a rocket and killed five people.

Some people said the death toll was higher but the Taliban sources confirmed the loss of five militants in the latest attack.According to source, fighting between the two major and powerful factions of the TTP had become a major cause of worry for the Taliban leadership and almost all its Shura members had suspended their activities to focus on securing a ceasefire.

“Some members of the Shura had gone two days ago and they convinced the rival factions to stop fighting but they have again started killing each other. Now almost all members of the Shura are in the conflict area to bring fighting to an end,” a senior member of the Taliban said.

Pleading anonymity, he said fighting between the two factions had damaged the ongoing peace talks with the government.“Members of the Taliban negotiations committee made several attempts to approach someone in the Shura and talk with them for an extension in the ceasefire but they couldn’t find anyone, as all of them are engaged in reconciliation efforts in Shawal and Shaktoi areas,” the Taliban commander said.

Commander Sajna belongs to the late Maulana Waliur Rahman group, who served as deputy to Hakimullah Mehsud. Both Waliur Rahman and Hakimullah Mehsud were candidates to become the TTP ameer when Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike in August 2009 and their differences increased following Hakimullah Mehsud’s elevation to the position.

Taliban sources said Sajna as successor to Waliur Rahman and Sheharyar Mehsud as Hakimullah Mehsud’s successor continued to be rivals. There are reports that Sajna is in favour of peace talks with the Pakistan government while Shehryar Mehsud wanted the government to first remove his reservations before he could join the peace process.

In the third incident that took place on Friday near the Afghan border in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan, five members of the Afghan Taliban movement were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED), planted by unknown people, hit their car.Three militants were initially killed and two others injured in the blast succumbed to their injuries before receiving medical help.

Lavrov snubs Ukrainian but says talks will continue

PARIS: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday resisted Western pressure to meet his Ukrainian counterpart but said talks with the United States and others would continue in coming days.
At the end of a day of intense diplomatic negotiations in Paris, Lavrov left the French foreign ministry without having held a hoped-for meeting with acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya.
The United States, backed by Britain, France and Germany, had urged Lavrov to agree to a face-to-face meeting as a signal of Moscow's willingness to de-escalate the current stand-off with the West over Russia's actions on the Crimean peninsula.
In a short statement, Lavrov said his departure did not mean an end to efforts to resolve the current crisis. "We had a long day of discussions on Ukraine," the veteran Russian diplomat said. "We are all concerned at what it is happening there.
"We agreed to continue those discussions in the days to come to see how best we can help stabilise, normalise the situation and overcome the crisis. "The discussions will continue, and that's it."
Lavrov had earlier held two bilateral meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry. After the second session, the Russian claimed it had been agreed that Ukraine should uphold a February 21 deal signed between now-ousted president Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition.
US officials denied that this had been agreed, insisting that such a deal could be reached only with the involvement of the Ukraine government that has replaced Yanukovich's administration.