Nisar orders high security alert in twin cities

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday directed the police and district administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to keep the twin cities’ security on high alert, as the situation was sensitive in the wake of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.

He said this while chairing a meeting of the district and police administration of the twin cities here.

The minister said the security agencies need to work beyond their call of duty and show utmost responsibility to counter any unfortunate incident.

Reviewing the overall security plan of the twin cities, the minister said there should be flawless coordination between the security apparatus for effectively tackling emergency situations.

He also directed the police to further enhance their capacity through physical training and modern equipment.

The minister directed tightened security of sensitive places. He said surprise search operations, especially in adjoining areas of Islamabad Airport, be made more intensive.

He said joint patrolling teams of the Rangers and police had given a sense of security to the residents but their services need to be made more target-oriented and effective.

Despite Pemra orders, Geo not yet fully restored

 

ISLAMABAD: Despite the clear orders of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Geo News is still not accessible to a large number of viewers across the country, putting a big question mark on the writ of the government and rule of law in the country.
Reports from across the country suggest that hidden forces are preventing the restoration of Pakistan’s most popular channel even after the written directives of Pemra issued after the expiry of the 15-day ban on June 20, 2014.

In another blatant violation of the Supreme Court order, the channel numbers of Geo News and other members of Geo family including Geo Tez, Geo Super and Geo Kahani have been changed illegally.

The apex court, while disposing of Geo News petition on May 26, directed Pemra to restore Geo News on its original position but the channel is either completely blocked or placed on last numbers where signal quality is too poor to show the clear transmission.

On the other hand, while Pemra has imposed one-month suspension on Geo Entertainment for showing blasphemous content, it has taken no action against other channels which aired the same content in their morning shows. A private channel has even reproduced the same content repeatedly but Pemra has turned a blind eye towards the issue. It seems that Pemra has become a helpless regulator as it has failed to ensure implementation of its orders in letter and spirit.

On June 20, Pemra suspended the licence of a private TV channel for 15 days for airing anti-judiciary programmes but the authority could not fully implement the orders and the transmission continued in violation of law. Four days later, Sindh High Court (SHC) restored the transmission of the private channel and it was back on air immediately.

But the same could not happen in case of Geo News. The authority had suspended the licence of Geo News for fifteen days on June 5. The channel respected the law and suspended transmissions in Pakistan on the same day.

Upon completion of the suspension period on June 20, Pemra forwarded the notification of restoration of Geo News to all its regional offices with direction that the country’s cable operators should obey the order of the Supreme Court according to which the position of Geo News on cable TV network should be the same as was in the second week of April, 2014.

However the directions of authority were not taken seriously by the cable operators in several parts of the country.The management of Geo News has already suffered huge financial losses worth billions for illegal blockade and repositioning of Geo and other channels of the family including Geo Tez, Geo Kahani and Geo Super.

Saudi king orders steps against "terrorist threats"

RIYADH: King Abdullah ordered all necessary measures to protect Saudi Arabia against potential "terrorist threats" after chairing a security meeting to discuss the fall-out from Iraq, the state news agency SPA said on Thursday.

The world´s top oil exporter shares an 800-km (500-mile) border with Iraq, where the militant Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other Sunni Muslim groups have seized towns and cities in a lightning advance this month.

Riyadh has long expressed fears of being targeted by jihadists, including some of its own citizens, who have taken part in conflicts in Iraq and Syria, and earlier this year decreed long jail terms for those who travel overseas to fight.

"Concerned for the national security of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any measures that terrorist organisations or any other groups might resort to ..., (the king) has ordered all necessary measures to protect the gains of the homeland and its stability, and the security of the Saudi people," SPA said.

King Abdullah acted a day before he was due to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Jeddah to discuss the crisis in Iraq and Syria, and a day after two Saudi men were involved in a suicide bombing in Lebanon.

The Saudi ambassador in Lebanon said on Thursday he was not able to rule out that Wednesday´s attack in a Beirut hotel, which killed one of the Saudis and injured three security guards, was intended to target the embassy, located nearby.

Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia has been one of the biggest supporters of mainly Sunni rebels in Lebanon´s neighbour Syria fighting against President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Riyadh´s main regional adversary, Shi´ite Muslim Iran.

However, it has shied away from arming rebel groups like ISIL that it fears are connected to al Qaeda, which waged a campaign of attacks inside the kingdom a decade ago led by veterans of jihad in civil wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabia´s envoy in Lebanon, Ali Awad Asiri, said it was important to find out who was behind Wednesday´s bombing in Beirut, in which local security forces said the Saudi bomber was killed and another Saudi wounded and then arrested at the scene."We want to know why a Saudi citizen was involved in such a criminal act," Asiri told television channel al-Hadath.

His comment that the attack may have been directed at the Saudi embassy came in a later interview broadcast on the al-Arabiya channel.

"We need to know how they were lured into this, who finances them, why they were in that place to carry out this criminal act. We have special ties with the security forces in Lebanon and the Lebanese government," he said.

SC orders arrest of main accused within a week

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, while issuing an order to the Ministry of Interior to arrest the main accused allegedly involved in the anti-judiciary campaign within a week, expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Interior’s report about the action taken in this regard. The apex court also summoned a report within a week about the arrest of the accused.
Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked, “We don’t want a blank report. Tell us what the outcome of this report is. How many accused have been arrested so far and what guidance has been given by them to the law enforcement agencies. Security personnel are present everywhere and they have not spotted anyone placing the banners.”

Justice Jawwad S Khawaja reply is not satisfactory. It means judiciary is insecure. Are there no CCTV cameras there? Are the entries not made on barricades? Is the state so much helpless that every one enters Red Zone and returns after doing whatever he wants?”

A three-member SC bench presided over by Justice Nasirul Mulk took up anti-judiciary campaign case for hearing Wednesday.Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Ahmad Saeed presented the interior ministry and IB report in the court. He made it clear that the government had made safe city project with reference to security which was annulled by the SC.

He said that IB report was secret.Justice Jawwad S Khawaja inquired what the secret was therein.The DAG told the court that IB report was based on the progress made in the case.The court remarked, “What progress is there that it has not been ascertained so far how many accused were there and what action was taken against those involved in placing banners.”

The DAG said that efforts were underway to locate prime accused. Two accused had been arrested and information was being taken from them. Give us one week and we will take action against the culprits and give report.”Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked, “It means we are not fully covered.The hearing of the case was adjourned till July, 2.

Geo facing blockage despite Pemra orders: CPJ

ISLAMABAD: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has declared that the Pakistan government had failed to fulfill its commitment on the seven basic points agreed with the world journalistic body a few months ago in order to ensure the freedom of the media.

The CPJ expressed its deep concern about the deteriorating climate for press freedom in Pakistan, which undermines the recent commitments made by the government. The body also urged the government to reinstate Geo in the country.

The CPJ in its letter written to the Prime Minister of Pakistan urged him to follow his pledges to address media freedoms with meaningful action. In its letter, the CPJ reminded the prime minister and the government of fulfilling the promises that they made to the CPJ’s delegation.

“Since our meetings, conditions for journalists working in Pakistan have drastically deteriorated. In April 2014, gunmen shot Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir. Mir survived the attack but sustained wounds to his abdomen and pelvis”.

Similarly, the next month, two foreign journalists were expelled from the country after being told their visas would not be renewed.The Hindu correspondent Meena Menon and Snehesh Alex Philip, correspondent for the Press Trust of India, left Pakistan within seven days.

“On May 20, some members of Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) announced that licenses for Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Tez, channels under the Geo TV Network, had been suspended. Later that day, Pemra issued a press release saying the order had “no legal standing” since the meeting had been attended by only five of its 12 members, the CPJ stated in its letter.

Zafar Aheer, an editor of Daily Jang, was beaten by six armed men as he was returning home from work on June 3. The assailants confiscated his phone and fired shots around his car before fleeing. Aheer told BBC Urdu that the assailants accused employees of the Jang group of being traitors, Jews, and Indian agents. He also said he had received death threats in connection with his affiliation to the media group.

The staffers at The News—including Umar Cheema, who wrote critically about the attack on Mir—have received threats. Vans carrying Jang’s newspapers have been torched in Lahore, Lodhran, and Rawalpindi.

Expressing its severe concerns about the behavior of cable operators on the Geo News issue, the CJP states, “On June 6, Geo News was fined and given a 15-day suspension by Pemra. The channel went from providing news to millions of people to a blank screen. Pemra allowed the channel to begin rebroadcast after 15 days, but news reports said cable operators were continuing to block the channel”.

On June 20, Pemra suspended Geo Entertainment’s license for 30 days and ARY News’ license for 15 days and imposed on each outlet fines of 10 million rupees. News reports said Geo was banned for “insulting the religious sentiments of viewers” in one of its morning shows, and ARY was banned for “bringing the high courts into disrepute” in connection with a critical programme.

This sets a very dangerous precedent and opens the door for future attempts to shut down news channels that are critical of the state and its agencies. More than 7,500 people are employed by Geo, and their livelihoods and safety are directly affected by the threats to Geo.

The CPJ called on the government to reinstate Geo’s ability to operate and broadcast in the country and it should ensure journalists at all news outlets are able to work safely and freely in Pakistan.

The international body for journalists further urged the constitution of a joint government-media commission to review anti-press attacks and improve security. This would be a great step toward improving the climate for press freedom in Pakistan.

The CPJ further reminded the government of recognising the scope of the crisis that journalists face in Pakistan and the damage that the country’s record of impunity in the murder of journalists has done to its international reputation.

SC orders recovery of 56,939 acres of encroached land in Karachi

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Board of Revenue (BoR) to retrieve 56,939 acres of encroached land in Karachi within six months.

Hearing the Karachi law and order suo moto implementation case, the Supreme Court’s three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani inquired of the BoR members what efforts were being made to retrieve the encroached land.

The BoR member Zulfiqar Ali Shah and senior member BoR Malik Israr have submitted that about 59,803 acres and 39 ghuntas is the encroached land, which included both institutional and individual encroachments. They further stated that an area of 2,864 acres has been retrieved and the remaining is still under encroachment.

To a court query, Zulfiqar Ali Shah submitted that institutional encroachment is 52,130 acres and it includes both federal and provincial institutions. He submitted that efforts were being made to have the land vacated but it may take a few months.

However, on a specific query about the timeline, the BoR officials submitted that the BoR would be able to have the land vacated within a period of six months and sought time. The court directed the BoR to retrieve the government and private encroached land within six months and submit the compliance report before the court.

On the encroachment of 1,446 acres of forest land at Deh Shah Bukhari, Qasimabad, the applicant Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi submitted that despite the removal of the encroachment the land in question has been again re-occupied by the land grabbers and a construction has been raised. Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Mohammad Nawaz submitted that pursuant to the order of the court, a piece of land measuring 1,446 acres was retrieved and its possession was handed over to the Forest Department on May 4, 2013.

Conservator Forest Mohammad Sadiq Mohal confirmed the statement of the DC Hyderabad. However, he apprehended that the encroachers might take over the land again and the DPO concerned has been requested to establish a picket at the spot to prevent fresh encroachment, which has not been done. He submitted that Forest Department has prepared a comprehensive plan to plant trees on the entire area and for that PC-I has also been prepared, which has been approved by the provincial government and in the current budget funds would be allocated.

The court directed the advocate general Sindh to get in touch with the chief minister to ensure that the requisite funds are made available to the Forest Department. The court also directed the DPO Hyderabad to deploy a picket as requested by the Forest Department to prevent any encroachment. The court observed that since both the deputy commissioner and the conservator forest have submitted that the possession was handed over to the Forest Department on May 4, 2013, therefore any order of status quo would ensure benefit of the Forest Department which had already taken possession on the afore-referred date.

On application of Salahuddin Siddiqui, who was denied possession and access of 10 acres long lease land for automotive parts near Steel Mills, Chairman of the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Agha Jan Akhtar submitted that the 10 acres of land allotted to the applicant in Eastern Industrial Zone is owned by the Sindh government but the subject land is situated between the PQA establishment and the Pakistan Steel Mills and that there is no road access and other amenities available for proper land utilisation.

He submitted that the PQA has certain issues with the provincial government regarding ownership of land and there is misconception in certain quarters that there was some encroachment by the Authority. He said that he had a meeting with the chief secretary Sindh recently and hopefully all the issues are likely to be settled.

Regarding the grievance of the applicant, he said the land allotted is owned by the provincial government but in deference to the proceedings of the court and the fact that the applicant is a potential investor, the PQA shall provide access road to the applicant on payment of due charges, if possible, from the land owned by the PQA and otherwise an alternative solution in this regard shall be found in conjunction/consultation with BoR and Pakistan Steel Mills.

The deputy commissioner Malir having visited the spot confirmed that such an alternate solution could be found and the applicant readily agrees. The deputy commissioner shall carry out this exercise and complete the same within a fortnight under intimation to the assistant registrar (Karachi) of the court. Siddiqui informed the court that 10 acres was allotted on a long lease for the construction of automotive parts industry and he made payment of Rs20 million approximately as required but despite the lapse of all these years possession has not been given on account of which the industry has not been established. He submitted that Deputy Commissioner Malir Kazi Jan Mohammad sent a possession letter along with a site plan two days back when the case is fixed Tuesday before the court, however there was no access to the said land. The court adjourned the hearing of the case.

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.

Punjab CM issued orders for firing, must resign: Qadri

 

LAHORE: Dr Tahirul Qadri, the chief of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT), while rejecting the removal of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and terming it an eyewash, said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered the police to open firing at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town, Lahore, and he should tender his resignation.
He was addressing a press conference on Friday via video link as many opposition leaders were also present on the occasion. All the opposition parties gathered at the Minhajul QuranInternational (MQI) Secretariat on Friday to reiterate the demand that top ruling personalities including the prime minister, Punjab chief minister, some federal and provincial ministers, senior bureaucrats and entire team in Lahore operation should resign by accepting responsibility for the killing of its 11 workers.

On the other hand, Dr Tahirul Qadri said his workers had exercised restraint; otherwise, they would have set the whole country ablaze.

MQI Federal Council Chairman Hasan Mohiuddin Qadri – the eldest son of Qadri - addressed a press conference along with senior leaders of PPP, PML-Q, MQM, PTI, MWM, MYC, SIC and religious personalities. They demanded that a three-member judicial commission of impartial Supreme Court judges should hold inquiry with the help of unbiased officials of ISI, Military Intelligence and Intelligence Bureau to fix responsibility.

They termed the anti-encroachment operation at MQI secretariat state terrorism and slaughter of MQI workers to deter Qadri from returning to the country for launching anti-government movement.

The senior opposition leaders present on the occasion — PPP Secretary General Jahangir Badr, PPP Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, MQM’s Rasheed Godale, PTI Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhry, Imtiaz Naqvi of MWM - stressed that they would stand by Qadri in his movement for restoration genuine democracy, electoral reforms, elimination of corruption and realisation of the fundamental rights of the people.

Hasan, who read out the demands, said the meeting of opposition leaders decided that the FIR registered by police should be discarded and all the arrested be released, as he also called for recovering the missing workers.

He thanked all the opposition parties for expressing solidarity with the MQI and said justice could be provided only through Qisas. He said Qisas for the martyred workers was the destination of revolution which was clear in the sight.

Later, Qadri addressed the press conference and said his workers had exercised restraint after the Model Town tragedy; otherwise, they would have set the whole country ablaze. He reiterated that the barricades around the MQI Secretariat and his house were not erected by his party but by the police on the orders of Lahore High Court (LHC) and if police wanted to remove them the issue could have been resolved amicably.

He rejected the reports that people of the area had lodged complaints against him for closing down several roads. He said if there were complaints, why the government did not address them earlier and why it removed the barricades when he was about to launch the anti-government movement.

Qadri alleged that the PML-N leadership had gone mad on the thought of him launching a movement to re-establish rule of law in the country and eliminate corruption, bad governance, and plunder of public wealth.

He alleged that the Punjab chief minister was actually (Qatil-e-Ala) who had written a historic chapter of brutality and barbarism by attacking MQI Secretariat and his house.

On the reports of removal of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and CM’s Principal Secretary Dr Tauqeer Shah, he said it was the victory of his stance that the provincial government had committed a gross injustice. He, however, said removal of one or two persons was just eyewash and demanded that entire team involved in the operation, including the prime minister and chief minister, must be removed.

Qadri opined that Rana Sanaullah was not actually removed but sent on ‘honeymoon’, so that he could be brought back any time. He said by Sana’s removal, Shahbaz Sharif had changed the earlier stance of his government and vindicated MQI’s position.

Earlier, the meeting of opposition leaders also passed a resolution on the murder of MQM MNA Tahira Asif and demanded an inquiry to identify the culprits. Manzoor Wattoo, Zaheeruddin, Rasheed Godale, SIC leader Sahibzada Hasan Raza, Ijaz Chaudhry and others also spoke on the occasion.

SHC orders removal of Musharraf's name from ECL

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday ordered the removal of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf´s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), however the court has suspended the operation of its order for 15 days.

During this 15 day period, the government may appeal before the Supreme Court against the order. If the government does not appeal in the stipulated time, Musharraf will be free to travel.

A two-judge bench of the SHC comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Shahnawaz Tariq delivered the verdict on the petition against the placement of Musharraf’s name on the ECL.

"The court has allowed our appeal and ordered to strike down Musharraf´s name from the Exit Control List. The order will be executed after 15 days," said Musharraf’s lawyer Farogh Naseem.

The delayed execution of the order "will give time to the government to appeal in a superior court if they so desire," he added.

The court had reserved its order on May 29 after the defending counsel Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem, Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt and advocate Maulvi Iqbal Haider, who became a party in the case in favour of keeping Musharraf’s name in the ECL had completed their arguments.

It may be mentioned that the federal government had opposed the petition of the former president and contended that his name had been placed in the ECL on the direction of the Supreme Court in high treason case and high court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain and adjudicate the matter.

Musharraf, 70, flew to Karachi in April to undergo medical tests. He has said he wants the travel ban lifted so he can visit his sick mother in Dubai, but many in Pakistan see it as a ruse to flee the country and avoid the litany of criminal cases against him dating back to his 1999-2008 tenure.

Musharraf was indicted for treason in March over his imposition of emergency rule in 2007 -- a case seen as a test of civilian authority in a country long dominated by the military. He also faces several murder cases.

Ukraine orders civilian corridors in war-ravaged east

KIEV: Ukraine´s new Western-backed president Tuesday ordered the creation of humanitarian corridors in the separatist east that could save civilians and advance his plan to end nearly two months of fighting by the end of the week.

Petro Poroshenko´s initiative meets a major demand put forward by Moscow and helps address growing concern among rights groups about Kiev´s use of tanks and air power in heavily populated areas to suppress the pro-Russian insurgency.

But the 48-year-old chocolate baron and political veteran stopped short of accepting the Kremlin´s request to allow Russian aid into the eastern rustbelt -- a move Kiev fears could be used to help arm the rebels.

"In order to avoid new victims in the zone of the anti-terrorist operation, the president has ordered the responsible ministers to bring about all necessary conditions for civilians who want to leave," Poroshenko´s office said in a statement.

Russia said the decision was "welcome" but left room for concern that Poroshenko might only step up his offensive once civilians leave for safer parts of Ukraine.

"Military operations are continuing and even intensifying in a number of cases," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting his German and Ukrainian counterparts in Saint Petersburg.

But German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he saw "the light at the end of the tunnel" and a "readiness from all sides to act to de-escalate the crisis".

Poroshenko has unveiled plans to end a rebellion that has killed more than 200 and shaken the very foundation of the splintered ex-Soviet state by the end of his first week in office.

The peace push came after the first of what are meant to be nearly daily meetings with Moscow´s ambassador to Kiev and a representative from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The high-stakes negotiations include efforts to stave off a Russian gas cut that would also impact Europe and plunge his economically-devastated country into even deeper recession.

A marathon round of EU-mediated gas talks broke up in Brussels early Tuesday for consultations and another session is due to begin at 1900 GMT.

PEMRA continues to disregard SC orders

ISLAMABAD: It has been five days since the Supreme Court ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to restore Geo channels on cable networks but the regulator has failed to do so.

The Supreme Court in its order on May 26 ordered PEMRA to restore Geo channels stating that cable operators did not have the authority to remove or reposition channels. Referring to its ruling in 2012, the apex court stated that channels can only be blocked if their license is suspended or cancelled by PEMRA.

Despite the Supreme Court orders, PEMRA has failed to take any action to restore Geo channels which cannot be seen in 90% of the country. People have been deprived of their favourite Geo channels over PEMRA’s failure to implement SC orders.

Meanwhile the Geo/Jang groups continue to be the target of attacks. On Friday a van carrying bundles of The News and Daily Jang was attacked and set on fire in Rawalpindi. In a similar attack on May 25 another van carrying publications of the group was attacked in Lahore.

Invisible govt least cares about court orders: Hamid Mir

 

ISLAMABAD: Senior anchorperson of Geo Hamid Mir on Friday said that verdicts and orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan are nothing for the invisible forces that are governing the country.
Addressing an event organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the National Press Club in connection with the ‘Hamid Mir Week’, the Geo anchor said that there are two types of governments that are ruling the country at the same time; one is the government that is visible while the other one is invisible. He said the invisible government wants that it should not be named even if it attacks you. If you name it, you will have to apologise. The invisible government considers itself above the law and the SC orders are not being implemented on it.

Speaking to a large number of audience through a video few black sheep in the media were engaged in defaming journalism.However, the senior journalist, who narrowly survived when attacked by unknown assailants last month in Karachi, told the media persons: “You are being tested even today and your presence here in large numbers shows that bid to split journalists has failed. On 19 April the attack was not only on Hamid Mir but was on the freedom of media. Unity is a must.”

Hamid Mir said that journalists are being harassed and bullied but they will remain united and in no way be deterred from doing their job as they had stood their ground in the past. He said that some unscrupulous people are fanning hatred using the name of religion.

Hamid Mir maintained that the government had not been able to ensure implementation of the Supreme Court order with regard to the Geo and Jang.The ace anchorperson lamented that the government was building the metro bus and motorways but was unable to get implemented the apex court decision on Geo and Jang.

Later, a rally, comprising mostly of media persons was staged from the National Press Club to the Jang Plaza here as a mark of solidarity with Geo and Jang Group’Senior journalists expressed concern over the prevailing situation with regards to the media and feared a campaign had been launched against the free media.

They contended that if the government or the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had not shut down Geo then who had done so, saying it was a matter of grave concern.

Senior journalists while speaking to the rally, charged that the Pemra had not acted with neutrality on Geo issue and they made it clear that Geo would not be allowed to be shut down come what may.

About the unfortunate incidents of torching of Jang van and copies of ‘The News’ and Daily Jang, PFUJ President Afzal Butt pointed out that by resorting to these actions, sacrilege of the Holy Quran verses, Ahadees and sacred names was being committed.

He challenged those, who had issued fatwa against Geo, to now do the same against those, who were setting ablaze copies of newspapers and thus indulging in sacrilege of the divine and sacred content.

Afzal Butt urged owners of media houses to ensure implementation of labour laws and lamented the media houses in Pakistan were like ‘labour camps’.He said if the Jang Group was ready to give all rights to its workers, then a massive campaign would be launched from Khyber to Karachi in support of it.

Noted media persons called on the government to play its mediatory role to resolve the Geo and Jang issue. They also emphasised for reconstitution of the Pemra. They warned against any action against the Jang Group and said that it would render some 50,000 media workers jobless, which they would never let happen.

Speakers said that the electronic media was just a ten-year-old baby and one could not expect it to behave like a 50-year-old mature person. The rally was informed that the PFUJ had formed a committee of senior journalists to thrash out code of conduct, consulting the stakeholders.

They pointed out that in the past, mistakes were made, but no one asked about it, and today, there was a wish to close down a television channel (Geo).Those who spoke on the occasion, included senior journalist Mazhar Abbas, Akbarfarosh Union President Tikka Khan, National Press Club President Shaharyar Khan and anchorperson Kashif Abbasi.

Jang Group being silenced apparently on military orders, says Amnesty

 

ISLAMABAD: Amnesty International, the world human rights watchdog, has said that up to 80 percent of the Jang Media Group’s distribution in print and on the airwaves has been disrupted by media industry bodies, apparently under the orders of the Pakistani military.
The Pakistani authorities should immediately investigate the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the military’s premier spy agency, over its alleged involvement in journalist attacks, said the Amnesty International on the third anniversary of the abduction and killing of journalist Saleem Shahzad.

“Failure to investigate such incidents thoroughly, impartially and transparently and to hold perpetrators accountable fosters a culture of impunity for attacks against independent media in Pakistan,” said David Griffiths, Asia-Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International.

In an open letter, Amnesty International and nine other human rights organisations called on the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to fulfil his promise to end the impunity enjoyed by individuals and groups who attack journalists.

The nine other organisations are: Article 19 (UK), Human Rights Watch, Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom House, International News Safety Institute, Internews, Pakistan Coalition on Media Safety, Pen International and Reporters Without Borders.

“Saleem Shahzad’s killing was one of the worst manifestations of the threats journalists face across Pakistan every day. The authorities’ inability to investigate officers of the ISI properly and bring to justice those responsible for Shahzad’s death is unacceptable – he was abducted in broad daylight in the heart of Islamabad, the national capital,” said David Griffiths.

“Pakistan must immediately restart the criminal investigation into Shahzad’s death, as has been promised by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on multiple occasions. Events of the past few weeks have again highlighted how precarious the situation for Pakistani media is. Continued impunity will only fuel the violence.”

Last month journalist Hamid Mir narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Karachi. He has accused the ISI of being responsible for the attack.

“According to Amnesty International’s research, the ISI is the state organ most regularly accused by journalists of carrying out harassment, intimidation or abuse against them or their colleagues. This does not necessarily mean that the ISI is always to blame. But if ISI officials are innocent of the accusations they have nothing to fear from thorough investigations and due process,” said David Griffiths.

“We cannot determine who exactly is responsible for these high-profile attacks against journalists until there is proper investigation. All suspects must be presumed innocent until proven guilty and afforded a fair trial in line with international standards.”

To demonstrate their expressed commitment to the rule of law and respect for human rights, Amnesty International calls on the ISI and all other state institutions to cooperate fully with the criminal investigations into the Shahzad, Mir and other attacks.

Saleem Shahzad, an Asia Times Online correspondent, was abducted on 29 May 2011 in Islamabad, and his body was found dumped two days later bearing marks of torture. Shahzad had written articles on a range of sensitive national security issues, including alleged al-Qaeda infiltration of the Pakistani military and the state’s relationship with the Taliban.

Less than a year before his death, Shahzad had told colleagues of an alleged death threat from the ISI. The Pakistani government in 2011 set up a high-level investigation into his death but key evidence mysteriously disappeared and no one has yet been brought to justice.

At least 34 journalists have been killed in relation to their work in Pakistan since the restoration of democracy in 2008, but in only one case during this period have the perpetrators been brought to justice.

In a report released last month, Amnesty International documented how media workers in Pakistan live under the constant threat of harassment, violence and killings from a range of state and non-state actors.

Since the release of the report, a standoff between the country’s largest private broadcaster Geo TV (part of the Jang Media Group) and the authorities has intensified after the network accused the ISI of being behind the assassination attempt on journalist Hamid Mir.

Several Jang Media Group journalists have told Amnesty International that they have received daily threats and harassment by unknown individuals by phone and in person. Many dare not enter their offices or identify themselves as belonging to Geo TV or other Jang Media Group outlets for fear of being attacked.

“There is absolutely no justification for the vicious, organised campaign of harassment against Jang Media Group staff across Pakistan,” said David Griffiths.“It is particularly disappointing that rival media channels and some political parties have joined the chorus to attack Jang Media Group, rather than demand a full and impartial investigation of the circumstances surrounding the attack on Hamid Mir.”

Some government officials have also tried to pull Geo TV off the air over allegedly “anti-state” and “blasphemous” content, and up to 80 percent of Jang Media Group’s distribution in print and on the airwaves has been disrupted by media industry bodies, apparently under the orders of the Pakistani military.

“Attempts to take Geo TV off the air are clearly politically motivated, and constitute a serious attack on freedom of expression in Pakistan,” said David Griffiths.“The last thing Pakistan needs now is a mudslinging campaign against Geo TV, the ISI or anyone else. Pakistan’s long-suffering journalists deserve protection from attacks and justice when they fall victim to abuse. It is the responsibility of Prime Minister Sharif’s government to deliver both. They should start by immediately resuming the investigation into Shahzad’s death.”

Following is the text of the letter:

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF

Joint statement of shared concerns about attacks on journalists in Pakistan

29 May 2014

Dear Prime Minister

Three years ago today, journalist Saleem Shahzad was abducted a short distance away from his Islamabad home and later found dead, his body bearing marks consistent with torture. We, the representatives of the undersigned group of civil society organisations working in human rights and media, call on you to fulfil your promise to end the impunity enjoyed by individuals and groups who threaten, attack, abduct, torture and kill journalists in Pakistan. In order to address these attacks on journalists, we urge you to follow through on the commitments you made in March, and as a first phase country for the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, and to take further concrete steps along the lines set out below.

Based on our collective experiences monitoring human rights globally, Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, judging by the severity and extent of threats and attacks on media professionals due to their reporting. Dozens of journalists have been killed in Pakistan in direct response to their work over the last decade. At least eight journalists have been killed since your government came to power in June 2013.

Journalists and other media workers from across Pakistan face harassment, abduction, torture and attempts on their lives by state intelligence officers, members of political parties and armed groups like the Taliban. Journalists reporting on national security and human rights, and those reporting from the conflict-affected northwest, violence-ravaged Balochistan and the city of Karachi are most at risk as they rarely enjoy protection from the state or support from their employers.

We are deeply concerned at the failure of successive Pakistan governments to carry out prompt, impartial, independent and thorough investigations into abuses against journalists, or to bring those responsible to justice. Attempts on the lives of Hamid Mir and Raza Rumi and the abduction and killing of Saleem Shahzad exemplify the enduring challenge to justice when journalists come under attack: as far as our organisations are aware, no one has been brought to justice for any of these attacks. Only in two cases of journalist killings have the perpetrators ever been convicted in Pakistan.

The failure to bring those responsible for attacks on journalists to justice sends a signal that the media can be silenced through violence and that the perpetrators can literally get away with murder and other abuses. It also has a chilling effect on freedom of expression in Pakistan, with journalists increasingly resorting to self-censorship to avoid the risk of harm.

It is the Pakistan government’s duty under international law to protect the rights to life, liberty and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all individuals within its territory and under its jurisdiction, including journalists. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Pakistan must also ensure the media is free to carry out its critical function of facilitating and promoting freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the ICCPR. Journalists play a vital role in exposing human rights abuse. Ensuring that journalists are able to undertake their work free from harassment and abuse is therefore an essential cornerstone in the protection and promotion of human rights in Pakistan.

We call on your Government to urgently take the following steps, in line with Pakistan’s international legal obligations, so that journalists may carry out their work free from harassment and abuse:

* Re-start the criminal investigations into the abduction and killing of Saleem Shahzad, as promised by the current Pakistan government, and ensure that all potential suspects, including members of any military and intelligence authorities, are subjected to a full, independent and impartial investigation.

* Ensure prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into human rights abuses against journalists, including abductions, enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment, extrajudicial executions and other unlawful killings.

* Ensure that all persons suspected of crimes involving human rights abuses against journalists, regardless of their status, rank or affiliation with state or non-state groups, are brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.

* Implement the Prime Minister’s announced plan to establish a public prosecutor at the federal and provincial levels tasked with investigating attacks against journalists, and ensure that it is independent, adequately staffed and resourced, and has authority to investigate the military and intelligence services in addition to civilians. Also implement the Prime Minister’s commitment to expedite the prosecution of the killers of journalists by changing trial venues and expanding witness protection programs.

* Ensure, in line with the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, that media companies adhere to requirements on due diligence, health and safety, among other standards in national law and policy; and introduce systemic legal and policy reforms where such requirements either do not exist in national law or are inadequate.

We welcome your concern about the situation for journalists in Pakistan and look forward to the Pakistan government taking real steps to improve the working environment for journalists in Pakistan.

Yours faithfully

1. Amnesty International – Salil Shetty, Secretary General

2. Article 19 (UK) – Thomas Hughes, Executive Director

3. Committee to Protect Journalists – Joel Simon, Executive Director

4. Freedom House - Karin Karlekar, Project Director, Freedom of the Press

5. Human Rights Watch – Brad Adams, Executive Director, Asia Division

6. International News Safety Institute – Hannah Storm, Executive Director

7. Internews – Jeanne Bourgault, President

8. Pakistan Coalition on Media Safety – Owais Aslam Ali, Head of Secretariat

9. Pen International – Ann Harrison, Programme Director

10. Reporters Without Borders - Christopher Deloire, Secretary-General

PEMRA ignores SC orders to restore Geo

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PERMA) has disregarded Supreme Court orders of restoring Geo channels on cable networks across Pakistan.

According to a report published in The News by Ahmad Noorani, Geo television has decided to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court again by moving a contempt of court petition against PEMRA after the apex court’s orders to restore Geo transmission were completely ignored.

The Supreme Court in its order on May 26 ordered PEMRA to restore Geo channels stating that cable operators did not have the authority to remove or reposition channels. Referring to its ruling in 2012, the apex court stated that channels can only be blocked if their license is suspended or cancelled by PEMRA.

Despite the Supreme Court orders, PEMRA has failed to take any action to restore Geo channels which cannot be seen in 90% of the country. People have been deprived of their favourite Geo channels over PEMRA’s failure to implement SC orders.

PEMRA fails to implement SC orders to restore Geo’s channels

ISLAMABAD: TV channels of Geo Network continue remain shut across the country, as Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) failed to implement the Supreme Court’s orders to restore Geo’s channels that had been illegally put off air by the cable operators.

In blatant violation of the Supreme Court’s judgment on Monday, the PEMRA remained completely unmoved due to mysterious reasons and failed to get the Geo News and other channels restored despite the fact that the apex court had declared that criminal proceedings would be initiated against those creating hurdles in restoration of transmission of the channels, writes Ahmad Noorani.

The Supreme Court has ordered that not only all the channels of Geo family shall be restored but also their position must not be changed/altered or obstructed.

Clearly knowing that not implementing the order will be contempt of court, the Pemra officials remained unmoved and Geo News and other channels of the group remained off air in majority of the areas of the country.

Cable operators in different cities refused to restore the Geo News transmission even when citizens informed them of the verdict of the Supreme Court penned down on Monday.But the Pemra officials remained indifferent to all these issues and the apex court’s orders.

Judges detention case: Court orders Musharraf to appear on June 13

ISLAMABAD: While granting exemption from today’s hearing, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has summoned former president Pervez Musharraf on June 13 in the judges detention case, Geo News reported on Friday.

ATC Judge Atiqur Rehman had summoned Musharraf in today’s hearing, however, his lawyer furnished an application with the judge seeking an exemption for his client from today’s court appearance that was accepted by the judge. However, the judge ordered him to appear on June 13.

Musharraf’s lawyer has also filed an application for permanent exemption for his client. The defense counsel was of the view that the court had granted exemption after the indictment.

On the other hand, the prosecutor has requested for more time to provide the relevant documents to Musharraf’s defense lawyers in treason case. The court accepted the request and granted time till June 3 and adjourned the hearing.

The lawyers of the former president had sought the list of witnesses and complete record of Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) inquiry in the treason case.

It may be mentioned here that the court had warned of action against the guarantors of Pervez Musharraf if he failed to appear before the court today.

Sindh CM orders strict security for Hamid Mir

 

KARACHI: Ordering strict security for the injured Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Sunday directed the police and law enforcement agencies to find those involved in the attack.
He was chairing a meeting at the Chief Minister House here to review law order and the performance of the Sindh Police and law enforcement agencies.Qaim directed strict security of the senior anchor person after getting information about the movement of suspicious people at the hospital.

He lauded the police efforts for collecting data with regard to the attack on Hamid Mir and directed the officers to take a lead in identifying the culprits involved in this incident.He further directed the police to be helpful to the judicial commission announced by the Supreme Court to probe into the murderous attack.

The chief minister directed the police to expedite the targeted operation against terrorists and keep an eye on all sensitive markets, institutions and religious places in the city. He directed them to activate their intelligence network in the field to find the hideouts of criminals and strike at them before they could attack innocent people.

Qaim said the recent bomb blasts indicated that instead of dialogue with the central government the terrorists had not spared Karachi and directed the Sindh Police and law enforcement agencies to be fully alert to deal with any eventuality.

Similarly, taking serious notice of kidnapping cases in the Interior Sindh reported in the press, the chief minister directed the IGP Sindh to immediately launch a vigorous operation against dacoits and their patrons and keep the province clean of such elements.

Qaim said he had made many decisions to equip and strengthen the police and put Rs0.5 billion at their disposal for the purchase of the latest arms, bulletproof vehicles and helmets. He said APVs alarm detecting equipment was one of these decisions but the Sindh police had not yet procured the items in question.

He directed the authority concerned to procure arms and vehicles in question before June 2014 without fail. Shah also directed the police and intelligence agencies to identify the culprits and their groups involved in the recent bomb blast in the city.

PM orders judicial inquiry into attack on Hamid Mir

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the attack on senior journalist and Geo news anchorperson Hamid Mir.
In this regard, the prime minister decided to constitute a three-member judicial commission to probe the murder attempt on Hamid Mir. A formal request would be sent to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to nominate three members of the commission.

The government also announced a reward of Rs10 million for any information leading to the arrest of the culprits.Meanwhile, journalists and civil society members held countrywide protest demonstrations against the attack on Hamid Mir and demanded of the government to take immediate measures to provide protection to journalists.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists, and the National Press Club held a protest demonstration against the attack on Hamid Mir and demanded the arrest of the culprits involved in the attack.

Journalists of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad gathered in front of the Press Club and called for providing security to the journalist community. Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the journalist community said freedom of the press could not be muzzled through such cowardly attacks.

They demanded that the culprits involved in the attack on Hamid Mir should be brought to justice at the earliest.The journalists prayed for the early recovery of Hamid Mir and paid tributes to him for his professionalism and dedication.

Meanwhile, journalists, politicians, lawyers, intellectuals and notables from civil society along with a large number of people protested against the attack on Hamid Mir at the Lahore Press Club.

The protest was jointly called by the Lahore Press Club, Punjab Union of Journalists, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Electronic Media Reporters Association, Electronic Media Cameramen Association and Photojournalists Association.

The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against curbs on the freedom of press. They demanded that the inquiry into the incident be made public and those responsible be given exemplary punishment.

Geo Lahore Bureau Chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi said journalists had braved the most excruciating tortures and life-threatening situations in Pakistan which continued to be among the most dangerous countries for journalists. But it had not deterred media persons from performing their duties. He said Hamid Mir had always been the torch-bearer of truth and journalism.

Imtiaz Alam and Asma Jahangir said the situation was now beyond the limit of endurance and the role of the security apparatus and agencies in deciding who was a patriot would not be allowed any more. They said even if the agencies were not involved in the attack, they should bring to justice the responsible persons and any lapse in this regard would reek of their involvement.

IA Rahman, Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin said the attack on Hamid Mir would not be allowed to become another Saleem Shahzad case, the results of which were never shared and those responsible were never brought to justice. They said it was unacceptable that anyone could dictate through bullets what the media should report or not.

They said the matter was a test case for the government because it would decide if the actors behind the brutal act would be deterred or encouraged.PTI leaders Shafqat Mahmood, Andaleeb Abbas and Ejaz Chaudhry also participated in the protest as did the PPP’s social media team. They condemned the attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of Hamid Mir while assuring that they would stand with the media and for freedom of the press.

Hina Jilani while condemning the attack said absolute transparency was required in the investigation and it was imperative that the results of the probe be compiled as soon as possible.In Nankana Sahib, members of the press club and District Union of Journalists took out a rally against the attack on Hamid Mir in Karachi.

The rally started from the press club and concluded at Burewala Chowk. Speaking on the occasion, press club office bearers said that nobody can surpress the voice of rights through cruel actions. They said that the media was the fourth pillar of the state and such cowardly acts cannot stop journalists from doing their duty. They demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.

Journalists staged a demonstration in Arifwala. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the attack. The members of the PML-N, JI, PPP, PTI, Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran, DBA, PMA and Apca also joined the rally. The speakers strongly condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and demanded a high-level judicial commission to launch an inquiry into the incident.

Journalists and civil society members held protest demonstrations in Bahawalpur and condemned the attack on Hamid Mir.

Journalists also took out a rally in Okara. The rally was led by Okara Press Club president and District Union of Journalists president. The rally started from the OPC and culminated at Gole Chowk. The journalists chanted slogans against the attackers who tried to kill Hamid Mir. They demanded the immediate arrest of the accused persons.

In Pakpattan, members of the press club staged a demonstration. Meanwhile, various politicians including PML-N leader Sardar Mansib Ali Dogar, ex-MNA Mian Ahmad Raza Khan Maneka, PML-Q leader MPA Pir Ahmad Shah Khagga, MPA Mian Naveed Ali, PTI leader Rao Naseem Hashim, PML-N district president Khan Imtiaz Ali Khan, PPP district president Mian Humayun Sarwar Bodla, ex-tehsil nazim Dewan Azmat, PPP leader Mian Naseem Mehmood, PPP leader Rao Jamil Hashim Khan, JI city ameer Rana Abdul Rauf and others condemned the cowardly attack on Hamid Mir and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

Protest demonstrations against attack on Hamid Mir were also held in Burewala, Lalamusa, Kasur, Hasilpur, Mubarakpur, Bahawalnagar, Haroonabad, Khanpur, Liaqatpur and Rahimyar Khan.

Journalists also held protest demonstration in Karachi and condemned the attack on Hamid Mir.In Naudero, journalists and civil society members staged protest demonstration outside Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Press Club.

The participants of the rally condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and chanted slogans against the government for its failure to arrest the culprits. They were holding banners inscribed with slogans ‘Don’t Kill the Freedom of Expression - Its a right’; ‘Provide security to Journalists - Don’t target them’.

Protest demonstrations were also held in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. People, mostly journalists, thronged the streets to register their extreme indignation against the attack on Hamid Mir in Karachi.

India orders probe into 'inflammatory' remarks by Modi aide

NEW DELHI: India's election authorities on Friday ordered police to investigate remarks by a top aide of prime ministerial frontrunner Narendra Modi that were allegedly aimed at inciting communal violence.

The powerful Election Commission also barred Modi's aide Amit Shah, 50, from holding public rallies, meetings and roadshows to keep a check on what it called his "undesirable activities".

Shah has been leading the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) general election campaign in the northern Uttar Pradesh state where Hindus dominate but there is a sizeable Muslim community.

The close confidante to Modi has been in the eye of a public storm after he reportedly told several Hindu leaders last week to seek "revenge" at the ballot box.

He was speaking in a part of the state torn apart by deadly Hindu-Muslim violence last September that left some 50 people dead.

The commission also ordered a similar probe into statements by Azam Khan, a leader of the regional Samajwadi Party which is the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh.

Khan reportedly used derogatory language against Modi, who is widely tipped to become India's next prime minister after the marathon elections wind up in May.

The commission said the alleged "provocative" and "highly inflammatory" statements of the two political leaders were "being made with deliberate and malicious intention" of disturbing peace and harmony in the country.

It also criticised the state authorities for not acting against the leaders with the "required alacrity".

The national election campaign, which has largely focused on development, has taken a religious tone in recent days.

Modi, 63, has accused ruling Congress president Sonia Gandhi of failing to deliver on pledges to improve the lives of Muslims, who at 13 per cent of the population are the largest religious minority in India.

Modi, chief minister of the prosperous western state of Gujarat, is reviled by many of India's Muslims due to religious riots that swept the state in 2002 when he began his rule.

At least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed but Modi has denied critics' claims he was slow to curb the bloodshed.

Opinion polls suggest Modi is set to lead the BJP to power after a decade in the political wilderness. He has been campaigning on a promise of reviving the country's battered economy and creating jobs.

The multi-phase elections, which started April 7, will close May 12 with results due four days later.

SC orders govt to empower ECP to carry out delimitation

 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the federal government to make necessary enactments to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out the delimitation of local government constituencies.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, announced a detailed judgment on the appeals and petitions filed by the Sindh government for the delimitation case.

“We are persuaded to direct the federal government to make necessary enactments to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to carry out the delimitation of constituencies of local governments,” says the detailed judgment.

The court also directed the Sindh government to make necessary corresponding amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013.The 65-page detailed verdict, authored by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, however, ruled that the judgment would not affect the local bodies elections in Balochistan held on December 7, 2013 on the basis of old delimitation. “Before we part with the judgment, we may like to observe that the elections to local governments in Balochistan were held on December 7, 2013 on the basis of delimitation of constituencies carried out by the provincial government in terms of the Balochistan Local Government Act, 2010. This judgment is prospective and shall not, in any manner, affect the validity of the said elections, the detailed verdict ruled.

Earlier, on March 20, 2014, the court in its short order ruled that the power to hold elections of the Local Government vested in the ECP in terms of Article 140A of the Constitution.The court observed that the ECP had been mandated to “organise and conduct election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against” (Article 218(3) of the Constitution);

The court had upheld para 60(e) of the judgment of the Sindh High Court of December 26, 2013.The court in its short order had further ruled that since the delimitation of constituencies of the local government was part of the process of organizing and holding elections honestly, justly and fairly which is the Constitutional mandate of the Election Commission of Pakistan, the power to carry out such delimitation should vest with the Election Commission of Pakistan;

It had also ruled that as the holding of election of Local Government had been delayed for more than nine years, which is violative of the Constitutional command, we are persuaded to direct the governments, federal and provincial (of Sindh), to carry out appropriate amendments/legislation to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to initiate and carry out the process of delimitation of constituencies for the Local Government Elections.