PML-N blocked PPP move to let Musharraf go: minister

 

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said that the Pakistan People’s Party wanted to give indemnity to former president Pervez Musharraf but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) blocked the move.
Talking to the media here, the minister said the PML N leadership never conceded to the PPP’s demand of indemnity to a former dictator and it had never been a part of any deal. “We have not greeted Musharraf in his medicine of violence like handcuffs and exile as he forced Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to exile twice,” the minister said.

Pervaiz Rashid said lawlessness had been the rule in the dictatorial regimes while the law takes its due course in a democracy, adding the courts would decide the fate of Pervez Musharraf.

The information minister said that this year’s Independence Day will be marked by a central ceremony at the D Chowk to tell the world that the nation is united under one flag.

Only the national flag will flutter high on August 14 and all other flags would be at half mast as the entire political leadership will be invited to the national ceremony to mark solidarity unity and oneness, he said.

He said the whole nation would sing the national anthem together on August 14, adding that all would be free afterwards to follow their heart’s desire.

Regarding Imran Khan’s call for the August 14 D-Chowk rally, Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan should not send a message on Independence Day that the political leadership was divided at a time when the armed forces were busy in an operation in North Waziristan for the security of the country, and a message of unity must be sent to all.

Imran Khan should not weaken Pakistan’s bunkers within Pakistan as the politics of the street may lead to instability and be beneficial to the terrorists, Pervaiz Rashid stressed.

To a query, he said Arsalan Iftikhar was at daggers drawn with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the PTI chairman’s provocative speech against his father (former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) at Bahawalpur, adding that there is always an Arsalan Iftikhar for every Imran Khan in the world.

To a question, the information minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was awarded one percent more funds under the NFC Award to the provinces for the war against terror, adding that it would get Rs22 billion extra under the NFC and this amount should be used by the KP government for food and shelter of the IDPs. He said the KP government should also account for Rs80 billion paid by the federal government under the NFC for the same purpose during the past four years.

About the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the federal minister Pemra has written to all cable operators regarding the issue of placement of channels and it has to wait for 15 days for the implementation of its instructions as per the law.

To a query regarding consultation with politicians, the minister said the passage of Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan Bill was made possible through consultation with the all political parties and the government has no inhibition to contact any political party in the larger interest of the country, adding that the doors are always open for all political forces. To a question, he said the Pakistan Army had been playing its due rule for peace, adding that the armed forces and democratic institutions have been helping the affected people of North Waziristan.

He said the mischief makers against the armed forces will lick the dust, adding that the powers to the forces are in line with the Constitution of the country and all-out resources and legal umbrella will be provided to them.

Regarding the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri, the minister said Dr Qadri was known for his political somersaults, adding that the PAT chief made a similar attempt against democracy last year as well. He said Tahirul Qadri had deserted his followers in the lap of pneumonia last year and flown to foreign lands on a cosy business class seat.

To a question, the minister said the duration of loadshedding will be cut to the minimum every year, adding that the power transmission lines could not bear the extra power load and the government has decided to set up a separate company to strengthen power transmission lines in the country. — Agencies

Our correspondent adds: Meanwhile, speaking at a discussion, held at the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma), PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has disclosed that the issue of getting rid of Pervez Musharraf was raised by Mian Nawaz Sharif when Asif Ali Zardari had gone to his place to offer condolences over the death of his father.

Kaira said Zardari told Nawaz Sharif that getting rid of Musharraf was not possible as he enjoyed powers under 58-2b as well as the support of the military and various global powers. Zardari proposed amendments to 58-2b before proceeding with any such plan, said Kaira.

He said the PPP government had contacted all parties, the PML-N and Awami National Party (ANP), to discuss the issue. Every party was on the same page and they all gave their consent for letting Pervez Musharraf go so that the country could move forward on the democratic path. He said a political crisis and a tussle among the state institutions started when the PML-N government backtracked on its understanding over the issue.

About the Pakistan Protection Ordinance, Kaira expressed his reservations and said the law had all the ingredients that could be exploited for political victimisation. Such actions would drag the country back three decades and the progress made regarding the politics of negotiation and consensus would be lost.

He said the Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Tahirul Qadri talks about bringing a revolution in the country and it is his right like any other Pakistani. However, he asked how he is going to bring about a revolution given he represents only one faction of the nation. He said it is difficult to assume that a majority of the people in the country identify themselves with his ideological premise.

Govt not to let anti-democracy forces win, says Nawaz

 

LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said the PML-N-led government, together with pro-democracy forces, would foil all conspiracies being hatched by elements of a particular mindset to derail the ongoing democratic system.
Geo TV reported that Premier Nawaz Sharif will be meeting former president Asif Ali Zardari in the next few days and for this purpose he is likely to visit Sindh.Other senior leaders of the party will also be accompanying him.

INP adds: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif huddled together at Jati Umra on Sunday to review issues like the All Parties Conference (APC) called by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), provision of succor to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI)’s threatened long march.

Sources said the prime minister discussed in detail the consequences of the Model Town incident and the issues being agitated by the opposition political parties to destabilise the government.

The two Sharifs expressed confidence and vowed to implement the report prepared by the judicial commission on the Model Town incident which left some one dozen people dead and over 100 injured in Lahore two weeks ago.It was reportedly decided in the meeting that the government would initiate contacts with all the political parties.

The prime minister said those indulging in anti-democratic activities, including the long march, were following an agenda to deny Pakistan of development and prosperity but the government would not allow them to succeed. He said democracy and every institution would be strengthened.

He said the nation needed unity in the wake of the ongoing military operation against the terrorists but unfortunately certain elements were involved in the politics of violence for political gains.

He said the people had given a five-year mandate to the PML-N and asked the opposition parties to wait for the next elections.According to reports, the PM and CM Shahbaz welcomed the decision of the PPP and ANP to not attend PAT’s all-parties conference.

Bangladesh says ICC let fixed matches go ahead

DHAKA: Bangladesh has accused anti-corruption investigators from the International Cricket Council of allowing a match in a scandal-plagued Twenty20 tournament to go ahead even though it knew it was fixed.

A report from a special tribunal set up by the Bangladesh board said the ICC´s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) was aware beforehand that a match in the Bangladesh Premier League was going to be fixed but decided to keep organisers in the dark rather than alert them. "The evidence is clear that the fixed match between DG (Dhaka Gladiators) and CK (Chittagong Kings) played in Chittagong on the 2 February 2013 was played with the consent of ACSU," the tribunal´s report said. "It is obvious that the focus of ACSU was on gathering evidence and not on prevention of (the) fixed match," the report added.

The report, a copy of which has been obtained by AFP, was handed to the ICC on June 8. The tribunal, headed by a retired judge, was set up by the board last September after the ICC brought charges against nine people over fixing.

Organisers had hired the ICC´s investigators to monitor the BPL after its inaugural edition in 2012 was tainted by similar allegations.

The tribunal has subsequently convicted one of the owners of the Dhaka Gladiators of match-fixing, while three international players pleaded guilty over the 2013 scandal.

Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent pleaded guilty to breaching the ICC´s code of conduct for failing to tell authorities when a bookmaker approached him about fixing a match.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and Sri Lanka´s Kaushal Lokuarachchi have also pleaded guilty.

The report said Dhaka Gladiators coach Ian Pont alerted the ACSU that he had been approached by one of the team´s owners about fixing the February 2 match but was instructed to go ahead and play.

ICC spokesman Sami Ul Hasan declined to comment on the report´s allegations. "We are reviewing the written judgement and have no comments to make at this stage," he told AFP in an email.

The tribunal said ICC investigators were obligated to inform the BCB of any wrongdoing. "The chairman of ACSU, Sir Ronald Flanagan, expressed his regret about this failure to inform BCB of this significant matter and made a personal unreserved apology on behalf of ACSU for not involving BCB at that stage." (AFP)

For God’s sake, let Pakistan progress: Nawaz

 

NANDIPUR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has come down hard on certain opposition parties for making attempts to sabotage his government’s ‘progressive’ agenda.
After inaugurating the 95-MW thermal power plant at Nandipur on Saturday, the prime minister took his detractors on, saying that the protest-mongers were working on an agenda to destroy the country.

“Why are these parties protesting at this point in time when the government has launched a solid progressive agenda for the betterment of the country? I fail to understand their objectives,” he added.

Nawaz was concerned about what he believed was a futile exercise being conducted from Canada, London and back home. “For God’s sake let this country progress. Haven’t you done enough damage to Pakistan in the last 67 years?

“Are these protests against the government’s programmes for bringing prosperity in the country? We are working hard to come up to the trust of the people, who have given us the mandate, and are endeavouring hard to put Pakistan on the right track,” he added.

Instead of lending a helping hand to the government at this crucial juncture, the opposition had preferred banking on the politics of agitation. They should see how sincerely the present government is working day in and day out for the betterment of the country, he said.

“They should not create hurdles in our progressive agenda. The initiative that the government has taken in Karachi is an attempt to bring about peace in the economic hub of Pakistan.

“It’s a move to end the reign of terror, where kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion is rampant. This operation has been launched to end all these evils, and the move has already started paying dividends,” the prime minister added.

Nawaz said the federal government had launched development projects in the provinces where the PML-N was not in power. “Let the opposition raise a hue and cry but it will not deter my resolve to fulfil the government’s objective of bringing prosperity to every nook and cranny of the country - from Khyber to Karachi and from Khunjerab to Gwadar,” Nawaz added.

The premier specifically recounted his government’s initiatives in the power, agriculture, communications, industrial and general welfare sectors. He said the government had launched numerous projects for reaping long-term benefits in all areas. Some of them have already been launched or are being initiated, including the Kashghar-Khunjerab Pass-Islamabad Highway, Lahore-Karachi Motorway (Rs55 billion already allocated), construction of a state-of-the-art airport and seaport at Gwadar, laying of rail-track from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad, initiating the Diamer-Bhasha (for which the government has launched a land purchase drive and allocated Rs40 billion) and Dasu dams (with the capacity to generate 4,500-MW each), completing the Neelam-Jhelum project, launching of coal and thermal power-plant projects at various sites all over Pakistan, introducing the Youth Employment Scheme etc. Nawaz also mounted a challenge to the opposition to identify just one area where his government had faltered so far.

“The government has made headway in putting a lid on corruption, and is trying to strengthen the democratic institutions.

“We have fulfilled the promise of introducing the concept of good governance. My aim is to bring about prosperity in all parts of the country, even those areas where the PML-N had not got the mandate during last year’s general elections or where it was not in power.

“What is bothering the opposition? The people of Pakistan need to know the reason for their agitatation,” he said.

About the government’s priority area, the power sector, the prime minister said the total power-production capacity of the country stood at 23,000-MW. However, he added, in view of the shutting down of several power plants, that figure had gone down considerably. He said the government managed to push up the production to 16,000-MW last year during the summer with ample water availability. This time round, he hoped, it could be further enhanced. He vowed to equip the country with more power plants in the next six to eight years, adding another 21,000-MW to the system.

“China has been of great help in this regard. The Chinese leadership has been very supportive in resolving the power crisis in Pakistan. China has helped us set up these plants in Karachi, Gadani, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and also helped us in hydel power generation,” Nawaz added. He thanked China for its massive support for bailing Pakistan out of the situation.

Nawaz further said the government had already worked on plans for bringing a marked change in all sectors. He said the government would come to the rescue of agriculturists by furnishing fresh incentives apart from the relief they would get in the form of ample water resources once the two big dams became operational. He said the government had also focused on the industrial sector, healthcare facilities and the education sector. All these projects, he believed, would change the fate of the nation.

The prime minister announced the Tamgha-e-Jurrat (medal for valour) for the director project, Nandipur Power Plant, Captain Mehmood. He thanked the entire team involved in establishing the plant in just seven months despite hindrances like wear and tear of the machinery because of the three-year delay in the project as the previous the PPP government had held the machinery back at the port all this time for political reasons. He announced three-months bonus for all workers and senior staff at the project on behalf of the federal government in addition to the already announced similar reward by the Punjab government. Nawaz also appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s untiring efforts in controlling the damage done because of the delay. He lauded the Punjab government’s security arrangements, besides its initiatives for the provision of other facilities to the staff, especially the Chinese workforce engaged there.

In his address, Shahbaz Sharif termed the generation of electricity in a record period of seven months from the first turbine of the Nandipur Power Plant a success story of commitment and determination.

He disclosed that the project could have been completed three years ago if the previous government had not created hurdles for the previous Punjab government. The country would not have faced an economic loss of Rs165 billion and an additional amount of Rs30 billion would not have to have been spent for reviving the dead project.

While strongly criticising, what he termed the criminal negligence on the part of former rulers vis-a-vis the Nandipur Power Project, he said it was just one of many tragic incidents of the past. He said the machinery of the plant was kept rusting at Karachi Port.

Shahbaz said he was not levelling allegations against anyone; however, it was the nation’s right to know the facts about the loot and plunder with regard to this project. “Like this project, which has been completed in a record time period under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the other energy projects will be completed as soon as possible,” the Punjab chief minister added.

He said the Chinese company Dongfong restarted the work on the project in view of the faith it had in the present government. He said the Chinese company had promised to make the first turbine functional by November 2014, but when the project commenced after a lapse of three years, the Chinese officials were surprised to see the pace of work. It was the hard work put in collectively which ensured the completion of the project before the stipulated time period. He further said Pakistani and Chinese experts worked on this project round-the-clock with determination.

Shahbaz was hopeful that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the country would come out of its existing problems. He further said the projects like the Nandipur Power Plant were a ray of hope in the prevailing circumstances.

He also expressed the hope that all energy generating projects would be completed speedily in the valleys of Mehran, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the country would be transformed in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal in the real sense, where everyone would have an opportunity to excel and enjoy equal rights.

He said we would all work as members of the PM’s team for making Pakistan a great country.

The chief minister thanked the Chinese president, premier, people and officials of the Dongfong Electric Company, saying the Chinese government and leadership were fully supporting Pakistan. He also thanked Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Col Shuja Khanzada, chief secretary and IG Punjab, commissioner Gujranwala, DCO, RPO, CCPO as well as engineers and workers of the Dongfong Company, Pakistani engineers, workers and Project Director Nandipur Captain Mahmood for their cooperation and hard work. He also recommended to the prime minister to award the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz to Captain Mahmood for his contribution in establishing the plant in such a short time period.

Various members of the Nandipur Power Plant, including the Chinese officials, were awarded certificates for their achievements in making the project a great success. The project has the aggregate capacity of generating 425-MW power, and it would reach its peak by the end of the current year.

Online adds: PM Nawaz Sharif said the upcoming budget would contain several relief measures for farmers and the business community.

Nawaz decides not to let Musharraf get away

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has made up his mind that no extraordinary concessions which in any manner may be construed as discriminatory and against the rule of law, would be offered by the government to General Musharraf.
A key adviser of the prime minister confided to The News here on Tuesday that the premier was consulting the civilian and military authorities but Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet ministers had no intention to allow Musharraf to go abroad for treatment or to visit his ailing mother.

The source said the government may formally say “no” today (Wednesday) to the request made by Musharraf’s counsel for the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL). Everybody is clear in the government that once Musharraf goes abroad, he, like a former diplomat, will never come back.

“There is no ambiguity in the minds of those who have to take the decision,” the source said, adding that it was also wrong to suggest that there was a great division in the cabinet on the issue of allowing Musharraf to get off the hook.

The source said that not only the government would reject Musharraf’s plea for removing his name from the ECL but would also contest it if such an application was moved before the court of law.

“The consequences of allowing Musharraf go abroad in the middle of the high treason case would be too serious for both the system and the rule of law,” the source said.Regarding the Monday night’s speculation of Musharraf’s possible exit, the government source said the advisers of the VVIP accused were behind this rumour mongering. It is said that Musharraf and his advisers are cleverly playing their cards.

It is said that starting from his doubtful “illness” and dash to the AFIC, to his and his mother’s admission to the intensive care units a day before his indictment, everything seems to be cleverly orchestrated to escape from the high treason case.

The source, while referring to media reports, wondered as to why Musharraf’s two brothers and other close relatives could not reach Dubai to attend their old mother.The government, however, would stick to its offer of providing all possible means to get Musharraf’s old and ailing mother shifted to Pakistan.

When asked about the foreign pressure to give a safe exit to Musharraf, the government source insisted that the decision to try Musharraf under Article 6 was taken after due consideration of all such pressures, whether internal or international.So far, Musharraf has approached different courts to get his name removed from the ECL but none of the courts accepted the frustrated plea of the former dictator.

Yahoo won’t let users Google, Facebook authentication for Flickr

"Yahoo is continually working on improving the user experience, the company said in a statement.

Yahoo Inc will stop letting consumers access its various online services, including Fantasy Sports and photo-sharing site Flickr, by signing-in with their Facebook Inc or Google Inc credentials.
The change, which will be rolled out gradually according to a Yahoo spokeswoman, will require users to register for a Yahoo ID in order to use any of the Internet portal’s services.
The move marks the latest change to Yahoo by Chief Executive Marissa Mayer, who is striving to spark fresh interest in the company’s Web products and to revive its stagnant revenue.
“Yahoo is continually working on improving the user experience,” the company said in a statement, noting that the new process “will allow us to offer the best personalized experience to everyone”.
The first Yahoo service to require the new sign-in process is Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick’Em, a service focused on the NCAA college basketball tournament which begins later this month. News of the change to Yahoo’s Tourney Pick’Em sign-in process was first reported by the technology blog Betanews.
Since Mayer took the reins in 2012, the company has rolled out new versions of many of its key products, including Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Finance. Last year, Yahoo announced a program to recycle inactive Yahoo user IDs, letting new users claim email addresses that have not been used for more than 12 months.
In eliminating the Facebook and Google sign-in features, Mayer, a former Google executive, is effectively reversing a strategy that Yahoo adopted in 2010 and 2011 under then CEO Carol Bartz.
The change to the Tourney Pick’Em sign-in process began on Monday, the Yahoo spokeswoman said, noting that users could still access other services with Google or Facebook IDs.
The sign-in buttons for Facebook and Google will eventually be removed from all Yahoo properties, the Yahoo spokeswoman, though she declined to provide a timeframe.