Ready to talk to everyone on national issues, says Nawaz

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said he was ready to talk to all on important national matters. He said this while talking to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at the Prime Minister’s House here.

Nawaz said the Operation Zarb-e-Azb would continue till the elimination of terrorism in the country. He said the nation stood behind the armed forces.The finance minister informed the premier about the funds released for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The two also discussed the military operation at length.

Nawaz directed all possible measures to reduce the hardships of IDPs.Later, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, sources at the PM House disclosed. Sources said the two leaders discussed the internal security matters.

Ex-senator Saranjam Khan also called on the PM and discussed national and political issues with him. Saud Majeed, ex-MNA, was also present in the meeting. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Punjab Minister for Labour, also called on the PM.

National Assembly approves Finance Bill 2014-15

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Saturday approved the Finance Bill for fiscal year 2014-15 with total outlay of Rs 4.3 trillion, accepting some amendments moved by the government and rejecting all ones from the opposition benches.

Following nine-day discussion, the 149-page Finance Bill was moved by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar that was passed by the House with majority in clause by clause reading. The passage of the Finance Bill has successfully brought to an end the budgetary process started on June 3 with the budget speech of the finance minister at the National Assembly.

The bill now will go to the President for assent who will sign it into law making it will be applicable from July 1 2014. The House echoed with desk thumping as the House passed the budget in presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who also witnessed the budget s passage.

The Senate had made 133 recommendations out of those the government accepted 57 and were incorporated in the federal budget full or partially. Once signed into law, the bill will increase monthly stipend from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 billion for those receiving income support and number of families for the Benazir Income Support programme will be increased from 4.1 million to 5.3 million.

The crop insurance will be increased to 25 acres and prices of fertilizers will be reduced by Rs 300 per bag. The bill will also help reduce GADC to Rs 100 on power zero on cement Rs 150 on general industry Rs 200 on captive power and zero on commercial sector.

The government will also impose uniformed income tax of 4 percent on first class air travel and reduce sales tax on solvent extractors from 17 to 16 percent. The government will withdraw the exemptions of Rs 103 billion under its endeavor for phased elimination of SROs aimed at favoring influential ones.

The Finance Bill also provides a special package of Rs 36 billion for all provinces out of that Balochsitan will get Rs 14 billion, Sindh Rs 8 billion, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Rs 4 billion, FATA Rs 4 billion, AJK Rs 3 billion and Gilgit Baltistan Rs 2 billion.

As part of the budgetary approval, the House has also approved demands for grants worth Rs 2.6 trillion besides charged expenditures. Following the passage of the budget, the finance minister felicitated the National Assembly Senate and the whole nation on approval of the budget saying the government was committed to take the country to its bright future as per vision of founder of the nation Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He informed National Assembly that the country s foreign currency reserves had reached to US 14.2 billion. He said that due to its prudent policies the government had managed to cross 14 billion mark and in future it would continue taking steps for further improving foreign currency reserves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PM Nawaz chairs high level meeting on national security

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif is currently chairing a high level meeting on national security in the capital city on Monday to discuss the internal and external threats faced by Pakistan, Geo News reported.

According to the sources, the country’s top military and civilian leadership is present in the meeting including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Director General Inter Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lieutenant General Zaheerul-Islam, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, special assistant to the PM Syed Tariq Fatemi, and other high rank officials.

During the meeting, the leaders are likely to discuss the internal and external threats the country is currently facing in the backdrop of the talks with the Taliban. Also, the members will discuss the situation in Afghanistan post presidential elections.

Jang, Geo have played historic role for national stability: LHCBA Slams attack on Hamid Mir

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) has condemned the attack on Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, terming it an attack on the freedom of the press.

Addressing a press conference, bar president Shafqat Mahmood Chohan, vice president Amir Jalil Siddiqui, secretary Mian Ahmad and finance secretary Mian Iqbal said the Jang group and Geo have played a historic role in stability of state institutions, an independent judiciary and restoration of democracy.

They said lawyers will stand by the journalists who speak and write the truth fearlessly and serve the nation. They said media men suffered punishments, brutalities along with lawyers for the independence of the judiciary. They demanded early arrest of attackers of Hamid Mir and punishment.

On the occasion, Amir Jalil said Hamid Mir studied along with him at the university. Hamid Mir had never compromised on his principles. Secretary Mian Chachar said Hamid Mir was dauntless in speaking the truth, and the attack on him was a show of cowardice.

He said lawyers were with journalists and while a judicial commission had been established, any view can be expressed only after a report was presented by the commission. Mian Iqbal said the attack on Hamid Mir was an attack on the freedom of the press. They demanded that Pervez Musharraf should be sentenced after his trial. They pledged to resist unendingly if any despot tried to take such a step. He said if any tilt was shown in the Musharraf case, court will also be blamed for it.

ISI’s role crucial in national security: Gen Raheel

 

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to boost the morale of the beleaguered ISI in the wake of an allegation that some of its men were involved in the murderous attack on senior Geo News anchor Hamid Mir in Karachi, army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif on Tuesday said the premier intelligence agency was a ‘strategic institution’ that had been working to protect the interests of the motherland.
Gen. Raheel visited the ISI Headquarters where its Director General Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam gave him a detailed briefing on the internal and external security situation.The army chief commended the work done by the ISI to counter both the internal and external threats to the country.

Gen Raheel was also briefed on the intelligence input being provided to the law enforcement agencies against the miscreants.The army chief said the officers and men of armed forces had rendered marvellous services for protecting national security and never hesitated to sacrifice their lives to defend the motherland.

He also discussed matters of professional interest with senior officials of the agency.Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited Hamid Mir at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi and ordered a high-level judicial probe into the incident.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, on Monday constituted a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman, to investigate the incident.

The chief justice approved the names of three judges for the judicial commission after a formal request from the government.Journalist Amir Mir, the brother of Hamid Mir, had blamed some members of the ISI for the attack. The Inter Services Public Relations — the military mouthpiece — however was quick to regret what it called the “baseless and misleading” finger-pointing at the ISI.

During a debate in the Senate on Monday, several opposition lawmakers demanded a detailed investigation into the incident and advised against criticising the national security institutions before reaching facts. They also urged the ISI to avail itself of this opportunity to clear its name by facilitating the judicial commission in probing the incident.

A PPP stalwart and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan said though he had been critical of the ISI’s interference in the country’s political affairs, he believed no one should jump to accusations against an institution.

Aitzaz also threw light on the ISI’s role in training Mujahideen for Jihad against the then USSR in Afghanistan, Operation Midnight Jackal and its involvement in the electoral process vis-à-vis the Asghar Khan case.

“The ISI should take the allegations as a challenge and extend its assistance in the investigations,” Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Senator Nasreen Jalil said.The upper house of parliament also adopted a unanimous resolution expressing deep concern over the series of attacks on journalists and urging the government to take steps to protect them.

At the beginning of the session, reporters covering the Senate proceedings walked out from the Press Gallery to protest the attack. However, they returned after both the treasury and opposition leaders promised to constitute a committee to look into a possible legislation for the safety and protection of journalists and their rights.

PM chairs national security meeting today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would chair a high-level meeting to discuss national security today.


The meeting will review the dialogue process with the Taliban and the situation arising in neighbouring Afghanistan following the presidential election. Sources add that relations with Iran will also be on the agenda.

The country’s top military and civilian leadership will be present during the meeting.

PM’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid will be present from the civilian leadership.

The heads of the armed forces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, DG ISI and DG IB will also be in attendance.

PM summons meeting to discuss national security

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has summoned a high-level meeting to discuss national security on Thursday.


The meeting will review the dialogue process with the Taliban and the situation arising in neighbouring Afghanistan following the presidential election. Sources add that relations with Iran will also be on the agenda.

The country’s top military and civilian leadership will be present during the meeting.

PM’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid will be present from the civilian leadership.

The heads of the armed forces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, DG ISI and DG IB will also be in attendance.

 

President stresses national harmony to counter challenges

QUETTA: President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday stressed the need for promoting national harmony and close association among the provinces to foil nefarious designs against the country.

‘We Pakistanis, living in all federating units are brothers of each other and have to play our due role to make our country most respectable and developed among other countries of the world,’ he said while talking to journalists at the Governor’s House here. President Mamnoon said the country is facing the challenges of terrorism and economy, and the government would steer it out of all crises.

‘The major need of the hour is to curb terrorism and restore peace in the country, as no foreign and local investment could be attracted to any region, without restoration of peace and maintenance of law and order,’ he said, adding that peace dialogues with Taliban were underway and these would bear fruits in the shape of restoration of peace.

He said there was need to take steps to bring improvement in national economy and added a better economy puts the country on track of development. ‘Presently, economy has got domination on politics globally. Thriving trade and industrialization not only provide a large number of people with employment, but they also earn good name and respect for a country among all nations of the world,’ he said.

Mamnoon said that Governor Balochistan Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and other stakeholders had been given task to conduct peace talks with disgruntled Baloch nationalists to bring them into the mainstream.

Referring to Pak-China trade agreements, President Mamnoon said execution of the project of 4,000km long road from Tashkent to Gwadar and then to Karachi, and laying of railway track along it would boost the national economy.

The ongoing power generation projects in collaboration with China would generate 22,000MW electricity in the country, he said. It would not only help in ending load-shedding, but would also enable the country to export electricity, he added.

National Assembly session today

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly will meet today (Monday) at the Parliament House.

The government is expected to take the lower house of the parliament into confidence over talks with the Taliban.

Sources said that issue of Saudi Arabia’s financial aid to Pakistan will also come under discussion over a calling attention notice.

Obama national security team meets on Ukraine options

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama's national security team met on Saturday to weigh policy options after Russia's parliament endorsed military action in Ukraine, a White House official said.
Obama's team met at the White House to consider options and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel earlier spoke by telephone with Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, as Washington tried to keep pace with the fast escalating crisis in Ukraine and Crimea.
Senior members of the Washington national security establishment, including General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were earlier seen heading into the White House for the rare Saturday meeting.
"The president's national security team met today to receive an update on the situation in Ukraine and discuss potential policy options," a senior White House official said.
"We will provide further updates later this afternoon."
Obama was not in the meeting with the full team, but was briefed by his national security adviser Susan Rice and other senior officials as he mulled his options, according to the White House official.
Officials said there was "no change" to the US military's presence in the region.
The meetings came a day after Obama warned that there would be "costs" to Russia infringing the territorial integrity of Ukraine, following the ouster of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych.
That message was ignored by President Vladimir Putin, who asked Russian lawmakers for the green light to send troops into Ukraine, a move that prompted authorities in the ex-Soviet Republic to put troops on alert.
Ukraine's Defence Minister Igor Tenyukh earlier said that Russia had already sent 30 armored personnel carriers and 6,000 additional troops into Crimea to help pro-Kremlin militia gain broader independence from the new pro-EU leaders in Kiev.