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.

Interior minister approved action against Musharraf, court told

ISLAMABAD: Interior Secretary Shahid Khan on Wednesday told the Special Court trying former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason that the prime minister did not approve the complaint against Musharraf but the interior minister did.

A three-member bench of the court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, heard the case. Defence counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem started cross examination of the interior secretary and the complainant Shahid Khan. The counsel asked the secretary who gave the approval to take action or lodge the complaint against Musharraf. He also questioned was the PM’s statement recorded in the case, was the Law and Justice Ministry consulted, and who drafted the complaint against Musharraf?

Shahid Khan said the interior minister approved action against Musharraf after receiving the investigation report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the case. However, the PM and federal cabinet did not give approval of action against the former president under Article-6, he added.

Shahid Khan said, “No statement of the prime minister was recorded in the case.” Before lodging the complaint against Musharraf, the Law Ministry was consulted several times in the light of the FIA investigation report and then the decision was taken to register the complaint under Article-6.

He said although several drafts were prepared to lodge the complaint against Musharraf but he himself drafted the final complaint.Farogh Naseem said the complaint was registered against Musharraf based on malicious intent. The special court adjourned the hearing till Thursday.

Punjab CM shows law minister the door

 

LAHORE: After an announcement from Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday evening, Punjab Minister for Law and Local Government Rana Sanaullah Khan resigned from the cabinet, while Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Tauqir Shah was also removed in the wake of the Model Town incident.
Shahbaz Sharif, during a press conference on Friday evening, claimed that steps had been taken to fulfil the norms of justice. Shahbaz said Rana Sanaullah was his close friend and had rendered invaluable services for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said when there was a martial law in the country, Rana Sana was in jail. Similarly, he added, Dr Tauqir was like his younger brother and he had been performing his duty honestly and devotedly for the last 15 years. After Rana Sana’s resignation, Education Minister Rana Mashood has been given the additional charge of law and local government departments.

The Punjab chief minister said tough decisions had to be taken for upholding the norms of law and justice as he considered himself answerable to Almighty Allah, the people and history. Shahbaz said he had full confidence in high court and ifapplication in the Supreme Court for the change of judicial commission. He said if the SC took suo moto notice of the incident, even then he had no objection.

Shahbaz said he was grieved at the tragic incident and, to fulfil requirements of justice, he had formed a judicial commission. He said the case registered against sons of Tahirul Qadri was withdrawn the same night. He said with the blessings of Allah Almighty, he survived a deadly disease like cancer and returned to the country and started serving masses. He said his six years’ tenure as Khadim-e-Aala Punjab was before the people. Shahbaz said he was the person who served the affected people round-the-clock during flood and other natural calamities. He said he always helped the oppressed whether cruelty was committed against girls in Sahiwal or in Muzaffargarh and spared no effort to take to task the powerful and cruel people.

The CM said those doing politics of dead bodies were levelling allegations against him that God forbid he was involved in the murder of the innocent people. He said when 42 people were killed in Karachi in 2007, those shedding crocodile’s tears and “Shaikh-e-Haram were celebrating Jashan with those waving fist in Islamabad”. He asked where those people were at that time who were now talking about justice and demanding resignations. Shahbaz said his past stood witness to the fact that he never compromised on justice and reiterated that he would not take rest till justice was provided in the Lahore incident. He said orders had been issued for immediate arrest of those who opened fire on innocent citizens and all-out steps would be taken to uphold the norms of justice. He said he would not compromise nor allow any hindrance in the way to justice.

Shahbaz said the day was very unfortunate for him when he put behind the bars his own son-in-law with handcuffs. He said God forbid such a time came to even an enemy. He said he was not praising himself but giving an example so that no one should raise a finger at him and those criticising him should know about his character. Shahbaz said he wanted that only doing justice was not enough but it should be seen being done so.

Replying to questions of journalists, the CM said he was not taking a defensive position and he had no concern with the demands of Shaikh-e-Haram. He said when the country was passing through difficult times and he was going to every nook and cranny of the province including Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan and Muzaffargarh to help the people, those enjoying cool breeze and recreational foreign trips were saying that he was doing jugglery. The CM said by the grace of Almighty Allah the south Punjab gave the PML-N the biggest mandate of the history of the country, which was a proof of the fact that Allah Almighty did not waste services and hard work of any one.

Shahbaz said they decided to send a delegation comprising ministers to Minhajul Quran for expressing condolences, but they refused to receive. The CM said he was Khadim of the people and he was deeply shocked over the loss of precious human lives. If Minhajul Quran authorities permitted, he was ready to go there for offering Fateha. He said the people of Punjab were like his family members and those who died in the incident were his own people and he fully realised the grief of the heirs of the deceased. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal and Punjab governments and the entire nation equally shared the grief of the bereaved families.

Shahbaz said maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government and it would discharge its responsibility efficiently.The CM said Nandipur power project was completed within a record period of seven months and Chinese also termed it a miracle. He said those not aware of the miseries of the poor people of Balochistan, KP, Sindh and Punjab must know that a number of programmes had been launched for reducing sufferings of the people. “Is stopping energy projects a service to Pakistani nation?” he asked.

Rana Sanaullah resigns as Punjab Law Minister

LAHORE: Rana Sanaullah has resigned as Law Minister after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif summoned his resignation.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore Shahbaz Sharif said he had asked Rana Sanaullah to resign over the Model Town tragedy in which nine people lost their lives.

Sources add that Rana Sanaullah has tendered his resignation and has sent it to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Punjab government sources further add that Rana Mashhood, provincial minister for education and sports, is likely to be made law minister.

Cable operators have no authority to close channels: minister

 

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said the law was taken into their hands on the Geo TV issue and that cable operators have no authority to decide which channel can go on air and which cannot.
Also, he added, the army and the government stand united over the issue of national interests.

Talking to the media here on Saturday, the minister said the cable operators were not authorised to ban any TV channel and warned that strict action would be taken against those who violated the law and banned channels.

Pervaiz Rashid said the Pakistan Army is standing by the government to improve ties with India. He said it was not the army but an individual Pervez Musharraf who took the decision on Kargil and then had to go down on his knees before the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said the army as an institution had never intervened to sabotage Pakistan-India relations and stated he was hopeful it would not be done in future.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid said we as a nation should look forward and put behind the past bitterness with India, adding that Narendra Modi had been elected by the Indian people and we respect their decision.

About the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s protest call against rigging in the last general elections, he said bringing some people on the streets did not mean a protest. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan had already rejected Imran’s objections of rigging in Sargodha.

He said the government would hold a dialogue with those who wanted peace and the elements disturbing peace would be dealt with strictly.

APP adds: Pervaiz Rashid said talks with the Taliban had not ended yet, adding that few people did not want talks.

He said Pakistan could not ignore changes in its neighbourhood as it would have to deal with the new government of India, adding the elected people would formulate foreign policies for the next five years.

The minister said: “Pakistan is responsible for its deeds and India for its own and we should keep our deeds correct.”

The minister said it was unfortunate that big media houses had given ‘scissors’ in the hands of cable operators, adding cable operators could not be allowed to violate the law. “It is good news that cable operators are reverting,” he added.

The minister said Pemra had initiated action and hoped that cable operators would do their own job and let the authorities do theirs.

“People want a completion of the journey to success and prosperity and they have brought Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the government for it,” he added. He said no one could derail the government as such attempts remained unsuccessful in the past by some people, adding, statements of PTI Chairman Imran Khan should be ignored. “How could he criticise us when he was unable to run the KP government properly?” he added.

To a question about the transfer of the CCPO Karachi, he said Shahid Hayat was a good officer who had maintained law and order in the city and Sindh ministers had appreciated his role and it would have been better if he had remained the CCPO.

Ukraine army expands military ops in east: minister

KIEV: Ukraine´s army on Saturday broadened a military offensive to retake control of rebel-held towns and cities in the chaotic east of the country, the Ukrainian interior ministry said.

"The active phase of the operation is continuing. We will not stop," said Arsen Avakov on his Facebook page.

"Overnight, forces participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Kramatorsk took control of the TV tower that was previously held by the terrorists," added the minister.

Kramatorsk lies some 17 kilometres (10 miles) to the south of the flashpoint town of Slavyansk, where the army mounted a major offensive on Friday that claimed at least nine lives, including two servicemen as rebels shot down a pair of army helicopters.

The dawn raid on Kramatorsk comes after Ukraine suffered its bloodiest day since the Western-backed government in Kiev came to power.

In addition to the nine killed in Slavyansk, more than 30 people died in what Avakov called a "criminal" blaze in the southern port city of Odessa following deadly clashes between pro-Russian militants and supporters of national unity.

The authorities in Kiev have admitted the police are "helpless" to contain the pro-Moscow insurgency that has swept through more than a dozen towns and cities in the eastern part of the country.

The Ukrainian government and the West believe that the Kremlin is fomenting the chaos in a bid to destabilise the former Soviet republic ahead of planned May 25 elections.

Moscow denies the charges and has warned that Kiev faces "catastrophic consequences" if it continues what it sees as a military operation against its own people.

Russia has an estimated 40,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and Kiev has reintroduced conscription and put its armed force on full combat alert, fearing an imminent invasion.

Ukraine army expands military ops in east: minister

KIEV: Ukraine´s army on Saturday broadened a military offensive to retake control of rebel-held towns and cities in the chaotic east of the country, the Ukrainian interior ministry said.

"The active phase of the operation is continuing. We will not stop," said Arsen Avakov on his Facebook page.

"Overnight, forces participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Kramatorsk took control of the TV tower that was previously held by the terrorists," added the minister.

Kramatorsk lies some 17 kilometres (10 miles) to the south of the flashpoint town of Slavyansk, where the army mounted a major offensive on Friday that claimed at least nine lives, including two servicemen as rebels shot down a pair of army helicopters.

The dawn raid on Kramatorsk comes after Ukraine suffered its bloodiest day since the Western-backed government in Kiev came to power.

In addition to the nine killed in Slavyansk, more than 30 people died in what Avakov called a "criminal" blaze in the southern port city of Odessa following deadly clashes between pro-Russian militants and supporters of national unity.

The authorities in Kiev have admitted the police are "helpless" to contain the pro-Moscow insurgency that has swept through more than a dozen towns and cities in the eastern part of the country.

The Ukrainian government and the West believe that the Kremlin is fomenting the chaos in a bid to destabilise the former Soviet republic ahead of planned May 25 elections.

Moscow denies the charges and has warned that Kiev faces "catastrophic consequences" if it continues what it sees as a military operation against its own people.

Russia has an estimated 40,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and Kiev has reintroduced conscription and put its armed force on full combat alert, fearing an imminent invasion.

Ukraine army expands military ops in east: minister

KIEV: Ukraine´s army on Saturday broadened a military offensive to retake control of rebel-held towns and cities in the chaotic east of the country, the Ukrainian interior ministry said.

"The active phase of the operation is continuing. We will not stop," said Arsen Avakov on his Facebook page.

"Overnight, forces participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Kramatorsk took control of the TV tower that was previously held by the terrorists," added the minister.

Kramatorsk lies some 17 kilometres (10 miles) to the south of the flashpoint town of Slavyansk, where the army mounted a major offensive on Friday that claimed at least nine lives, including two servicemen as rebels shot down a pair of army helicopters.

The dawn raid on Kramatorsk comes after Ukraine suffered its bloodiest day since the Western-backed government in Kiev came to power.

In addition to the nine killed in Slavyansk, more than 30 people died in what Avakov called a "criminal" blaze in the southern port city of Odessa following deadly clashes between pro-Russian militants and supporters of national unity.

The authorities in Kiev have admitted the police are "helpless" to contain the pro-Moscow insurgency that has swept through more than a dozen towns and cities in the eastern part of the country.

The Ukrainian government and the West believe that the Kremlin is fomenting the chaos in a bid to destabilise the former Soviet republic ahead of planned May 25 elections.

Moscow denies the charges and has warned that Kiev faces "catastrophic consequences" if it continues what it sees as a military operation against its own people.

Russia has an estimated 40,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and Kiev has reintroduced conscription and put its armed force on full combat alert, fearing an imminent invasion.

Saudi health minister sacked as MERS toll rises

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia dismissed its health minister on Monday just days after he visited a hospital at the centre of growing concerns about the kingdom's handling of the MERS virus.

Abdullah al-Rabiah was named adviser to King Abdullah and replaced by Labour Minister Adel Fakieh, said a royal decree carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia has registered by far the largest number of infections with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome since the disease's discovery in September 2012.

Of 243 confirmed cases across the planet, 231 have been in Saudi Arabia, according to the World Health Organisation.

Of those, 81 people have died, most recently two foreigners in the commercial capital Jeddah where there have been mounting fears of a potential surge in infections.

Panic over the spread of the virus among medical staff in Jeddah triggered the temporary closure of a hospital emergency room in the city earlier this month.

The now fired minister visited the facility last week in a bid to reassure the public but on Wednesday at least four doctors at the King Fahd Hospital reportedly resigned after refusing to treat MERS patients.

MERS was initially concentrated in eastern Saudi Arabia but it now affects other areas.

The virus is considered a deadlier but less-transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, nine percent of whom died.

Experts are still struggling to understand MERS, for which there is no known vaccine.

Saudi health minister sacked as MERS toll rises

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia dismissed its health minister on Monday just days after he visited a hospital at the centre of growing concerns about the kingdom's handling of the MERS virus.

Abdullah al-Rabiah was named adviser to King Abdullah and replaced by Labour Minister Adel Fakieh, said a royal decree carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia has registered by far the largest number of infections with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome since the disease's discovery in September 2012.

Of 243 confirmed cases across the planet, 231 have been in Saudi Arabia, according to the World Health Organisation.

Of those, 81 people have died, most recently two foreigners in the commercial capital Jeddah where there have been mounting fears of a potential surge in infections.

Panic over the spread of the virus among medical staff in Jeddah triggered the temporary closure of a hospital emergency room in the city earlier this month.

The now fired minister visited the facility last week in a bid to reassure the public but on Wednesday at least four doctors at the King Fahd Hospital reportedly resigned after refusing to treat MERS patients.

MERS was initially concentrated in eastern Saudi Arabia but it now affects other areas.

The virus is considered a deadlier but less-transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, nine percent of whom died.

Experts are still struggling to understand MERS, for which there is no known vaccine.

Hamid Mir attack dark side of the picture: minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid has said that the attack on Hamid Mir shows the dark side of the picture. He added that no allegation had been levelled against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and as such it was not an issue.

Talking to mediapersons at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre after inaugurating the National Book Day organised by the National Book Foundation (NBF) here on Tuesday, he pointed out that a logical approach should be adopted on the attack on Hamid Mir while some circles were presenting a negative picture of the incident.

“The people, the government and parliament respect the national security institutions. We have a relation of faith with them,” the minister said.Every institution was playing its part according to the role written in the Constitution, he said. “There is no difference of opinion among the institutions on the national agenda,” he noted.

The information minister said that the prime minister personally met Hamid Mir at hospital in Karachi. “We have a relation of love with the media,” he commented. In reply to a question, the information minister said that deadlock was a part of the dialogue process and stated that talks with the TTP were moving ahead. He hoped that there would be progress in this regard soon.

The minister said the talks with the Taliban were started in consultation with all the political parties and all the matters were going in the right direction. “Today, the state of Pakistan and national institutions are standing with scholars and intellectuals. They are standing with those who speak the language of arguments and not of weapons,” he stated.

He said that dialogue and tolerance should be promoted and difference of opinion should be acceptable.The minister said that the government had demanded of the TTP to release the Islamia University’s vice chancellor.

Responding to a question regarding Musharraf’s visit to Karachi, the minister said the movement of any citizen from one city to another did not matter as the rule of law was supreme everywhere, including Karachi and Islamabad.

Earlier, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the National Book Day, the minister said, “It will be a moment of happiness for Pakistan when a day comes when such book events are held in Waziristan and Fata, where schools and colleges were closed and extremist groups resorted to violence to achieve their goals.”The minister assured the government’s cooperation to the NBF in developing the reading habits among the people.

Minister sticks to his guns

 

Says some quarters disliked his statement; army, judiciary should not be criticised

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that some quarters disliked his recent statement about the armed forces but he sticks to his viewpoint on the issue. He however said that the judiciary and military should not be criticised.

The federal minister, speaking at a ceremony here on Sunday said, “the judiciary delivers justice while the army ensures our security,” adding that the armed forces and judiciary are sensitive institutions.

The armed forces of Pakistan were in a war with terrorists, he added.However, Saad Rafique reiterated that the nation would condemn it whenever the army was found involved in any unconstitutional step.“The army’s professional and lawful role is acceptable. But the nation will condemn whenever there is any unconstitutional move,” he told reporters.

Parliament is supreme: defence minister

 

ISLAMABAD: Two senior federal ministers, Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, on Tuesday strongly defended parliament in the National Assembly, saying that the people of Pakistan had not lost confidence in parliament and they fully supported the democratic system.
During a discussion on a motion on the formation of a committee to investigate the allegations against parliamentarians of not paying taxes, the two strongly objected to the use of the words ‘black sheep’ by Asad Umar of the PTI for those not paying taxes and said that parliament, being the supreme institution, enjoys full support of the public. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq later expunged the words ‘black sheep’ from the proceedings.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the active participation of the people in the 2013 general elections clearly showed that the people had full confidence in the system and wanted democracy to flourish in the country.

He said all institutions come up in the defence of their people, and the parliamentarians should not belittle their own institution. “We should be open for accountability but this should be done under a certain framework, which does not degrade the sanctity of the institution,” he said.

Khawaja Asif said the parliamentarians themselves should not undermine the dignity of the House and its members and words like ‘black sheep’ should not be used by any member. ‘There should also be some principles and rules regarding the verbal war,” he said.

He said parliament was the supreme institution of the country and they had to strengthen it. “Our own colleagues let us down whenever the democratic system is attacked,” he said, adding that through speeches no such impression should be given that parliament was not supreme.

Minister for Information and said the people respected the parliamentarians despite misperceptions created by the undemocratic forces. “The impression that the people have lost confidence in Parliament is wrong and such impression often comes from the undemocratic forces,” he said.

He said the people have rendered great sacrifices for the supremacy of the Constitution and for strengthening democracy. “There is no difference between the people of Pakistan and the members of Parliament,” he added. The minister said the government’s view is the same as reflected in the army chief’s statement.

 

No area to be vacated for Taliban: minister

LAHORE: Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Saturday that no part of Pakistani land will be vacated for the Taliban.

Speaking to the media after visiting a book fair at Punjab University, Rana Tanveer Hussain said the military serves the federal government and can be deployed anywhere in the state. He added that no land will be vacated for the militants.

Rana Tanveer said the Taliban have provided a list of 250 of their captured men but only 19 extremists were released. “The option of a military operation is always there but the government wants to resolve the issue through dialogue,” he said, adding that operation would be launched in case of the failure of the talks.

The minister said the export of military arms is equal to none in the global market. He further said that the ammunition will be sold to other states, including Saudi Arabia, after receiving their assurance that it will not be used in any third state.

Poland evacuates consulate in Crimea: Foreign Minister

WARSAW: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Saturday Poland had evacuated its consulate in Ukraine's Crimea due to disturbances by Russian forces.
Sikorski said on Twitter: "Because of continuing disturbances by Russian forces there, we have reluctantly evacuated our consulate in Crimea, Ukraine."
The consulate is in Sevastopol, the home of both Russia's Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian navy, where Russian troops drove a truck into a missile defence post and took control of it overnight.

Finance Minister calls on Army Chief

RAWALPINDI: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Saturday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Raheel Sharif and discussed issues related to development programme of Pakistan Army.
According to ISPR, the Finance Minister said that present government accords topmost priority to national security and shall provide every possible assistance to the armed forces so that they can carry out their assigned mission of defending the motherland.

Ukraine’s ambassador in Moscow meets Russian deputy minister

MOSCOW: Ukraine's ambassador to Russia and a deputy Russian foreign minister held a "frank" meeting on Saturday, Moscow said, without giving details of any discussion of Russian-occupied Crimea.
Envoy Vladimir Yelchenko met deputy minister Grigory Karasin, the Russian foreign ministry said, and "issues of Russo-Ukrainian relations were discussed in a frank atmosphere".
Russia has denounced the overthrow of Ukrainian President President Viktor Yanukovich in mass protests last month as a coup, and declared the country's interim leadership illegitimate.
Russia has seized control of Crimea, a Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula with a Russian-speaking majority, where overnight confrontations between Russian troops and besieged Ukrainian soldiers raised tensions further on Saturday.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Friday Ukraine was ready for talks with Russia, but Moscow must first withdraw its troops, abide by international agreements and halt its support for "separatists and terrorists".
He said he had requested a second telephone call with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The two premiers spoke on March 1, the only high-level contact between the counntries since the crisis began.

Finance Minister chairs meeting to roll out preparation of next budget

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday chaired a meeting to roll out the preparation of next year's Budget at the Finance Ministry here.
Dr. Waqar Masood, Finance Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the next budget.
The Finance Minister expressed satisfaction on fiscal results for the first eight months of the current year which showed a deficit of 3.2pc as compared to the proportionate target up to February of 3.5%.
He stressed the need for continued vigilance on expenditure in line with revenue receipts so that the budgetary targets are achieved without fail.
Commenting on the preparatory exercise presented in the meeting, the Finance Minister emphasized that austerity will continue to remain the hallmark of PML-N's budget strategy and fiscal management.
He further underlined the need for clear and meaningful indications of budgetary ceilings to all federal ministries and for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) so that they can prioritize and formulate their expenditure proposals well in time.

Aitzaz calls for briefing by Interior Minister on terror attack

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan Tuesday urged Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to brief the House on the terror attack in Islamabad district courts.

Speaking in the Senate, Aitzaz said there was a security failure. The opposition was not doing politics on this issue. Had it been against the talks with Taliban, it would not have supported the government, he added.

Aitzaz said there were many loopholes in the National Security Policy, which should be removed. The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Act was complete law to deal with terrorism.

He said talks and terrorism could not go together. On the one hand, negotiations were underway and on the other, the terrorists were consistently killing innocent people in acts of terror, he added.

Whenever Taliban were in trouble, they went for cease fire. to They should not be given time and an immediate action should be taken against them to stop their brutalities, he added.

Interior Minister seeks report from DG NCMC on Islamabad courts attack

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Monday sought report from Director General National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) on terror attack in district courts here.
In a statement, the Interior Minister strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the federal capital.
He expressed sympathies with the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.