Khursheed seeks end to jurist condition for CEC

ISLAMABAD: PPP stalwart and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday proposed an amendment to the Constitution, paving way for senior bureaucrats and lawyers to head the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

“It is a mandatory requirement that the chief election commissioner (CEC) should be a retired judge, but I propose an amendment to the Constitution so that not only a retired judge but also senior bureaucrats and lawyers, could make it to the post,” said Khursheed while talking to media persons at the Parliament House.

He said limiting the post in question to a retired judge blocked other options and the clause concerned should be amended to do the needful.The PPP leader suggested a number of proposals for reforms in the electoral process.He also proposed a constitutional amendment for reducing the government’s constitutional term from five to four years. “Reducing the tenure to four years will resolve all issues,” he argued.

He further said once democracy took roots, the government’s term could be reverted to five years. Khursheed said he had proposed the constitutional amendments after much brainstorming and added that the amendments would accrue positive results.

Bilour seeks setting up of more camps for IDPs

PESHAWAR: Demanding establishment of more relief camps, former federal minister and senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) Ghulam Ahmad Bilour Sunday renewed call for properly handling the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan and providing them maximum facilities.

“The IDPs from Waziristan have been offering sacrifices for the greater cause of the country and nation and they should be extended wholehearted support,” he told a press conference. Ghulam Bilour, who is member of the National Assembly from Peshawar, said Pakhtuns were being killed in the name of religion. “On whose hand should I seek the blood of my sons, brothers and sisters - the United States, the rulers of my country, religious parties or jihadi organisations?” he posed a question.

Pakhtuns have been targeted since 1979 and their sufferings were long drawn, he added. He said the Pakhtuns were being pitted against each other through a conspiracy. “For God’s sake, they should not be killed anymore and there should be an end to this massacre,” he added.

He also appealed to the Ulema to help stop killing of innocent people in the name of religion. He said that at least 20 camps should be established for the IDPs in Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar and they should be provided maximum facilities.

“The Sindh and Punjab governments and people should host the IDPs and extend them full support as they have been rendering sacrifices for the national cause. They left their homes and scenic valleys for the restoration of peace in the country, not for personal gain,” the ANP leader stressed.

To a question, he recalled that the ANP-led provincial government had made all arrangements for the IDPs from Malakand division.Ghulam Bilour said his party always stood for democracy and did not support dictators. However, he said he and his party was worried about the bad conditions of IDPs and killing and displacement of Pakhtuns.

The ANP leader said it was right time to bring an end to the sufferings of people from this part of the world and let them pass peaceful life. To a question about the issue of moon-sighting, he said he kept fast because of love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and followed the people of his city Madina where people were fasting.

“I didn’t follow Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai or any other religious leader’s announcement,” he said, adding that the moon-sighting issue should be resolved with consensus and it should not be made a matter of ego.

Pakistan approves, seeks drone attacks in Waziristan

 

ISLAMABAD: Two top government officials told Reuters on Thursday the two drone strikes on Wednesday in Waziristan were carried out as a coordinated “joint Pakistan-US operation”.
A Reuters report from Islamabad said 10 militants were killed in this year’s first two drone strikes in Pakistan, officials said on Thursday, six months after the attacks were suspended by Washington to give it space to pursue peace talks with the Taliban.

The report said: “Two top government officials said Pakistan had given the Americans ‘express approval’ for the latest strikes — the first time Pakistan has admitted to such cooperation.”“Baseless” was the one word comment when a correspondent for The News contacted the Foreign Office after Reuters released this report.

“The attacks were launched with the express approval of the Pakistan government and army,” said a top government official, requesting not to be named as he was not authorised to discuss the issue with the media.

“It is now policy that the Americans will not use drones without permission from the security establishment here. There will be complete coordination and Pakistan will be in the loop.”“We understand that drones will be an important part of our fight against the Taliban now,” the official added.

“Another official was quoted by Reuters as saying Pakistan had asked the Americans for help after the attack on Karachi airport, and would be intensifying air strikes on militant hideouts in coming days.

“Pakistan has always publicly opposed the US drone strikes, saying they kill too many civilians and violate its sovereignty, although in private officials have admitted the government supports them.“The Pakistani government is weighing all options after the Karachi attack.”

TTP seeks two days to decide venue for direct talks

 

PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has asked for two days to decide the venue of a meeting between the TTP Shura and the government committee, a private TV channel reported on Saturday.
The TTP made this request after the Taliban peace talks committee contacted the TTP Shura. Member TTP negotiation committee Professor Mohammad Ibrahim confirmed the TTP request.

Talking to mediapersons, Professor Ibrahim hoped that the ongoing peace talks between the government and the TTP would yield positive results.

On April 23, government negotiators and Taliban intermediaries had agreed to form a subcommittee to look into reservations from both sides in an effort to keep the nascent peace dialogue process. This was done at a joint meeting of the government negotiating team and the TTP’s intermediary committee.

The government has already made it clear that it would not be possible to move ahead with talks in the absence of a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the federal government has decided to release 13 more non-combatant Taliban prisoners in an apparent bid to get the peace talks back on track. The Taliban too have hinted at releasing some of the hostages, sources told the private TV channel.

SC seeks report on court martial of army officers

 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday sought a report from the Ministry of Defence on the proceedings being initiated against military officers under the Army Act for their involvement in enforced disappearances.
The court summoned by May 6 the DNA test report from the Punjab government forensic laboratory of the bodies recovered from the Khuzdar mass grave.Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked: “Why is a long period of time being spent on the DNA tests of the bodies? Maintaining law and order in the province is the legal and constitutional obligation of the state. The occurrence of such incidents daily is alarming and these cannot be overlooked. We cannot see the chaos in Balochistan. The elements involved in enforced disappearances should be punished as per the law.”

Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked: “The recovery of bodies from mass graves is a matter of grave concern. The problems will not be solved unless the rule of law and Constitution prevails in the country. Balochistan is burning and no one cares for it.”

A two-member SC bench, led by Justice Nasirul Mulk, took up the Balochistan violence case for hearing on Tuesday.The court was told that the government had decided to try under the Army Act the FC and army officers found involved in enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

The court inquired what action had been taken so far. “Details in this regard be presented before us,” the court remarked.The report on the recovery of bodies from mass graves in Khuzdar was presented before the court wherein it was said that the DNA test could take four to five months as 7 to 8 weeks were required for DNA test of one body.

The court showed its annoyance and asked why such a long period was needed for the purpose. “Present the DNA test report by May 6 and the court be apprised about the army officers who are being tried under the Army Act.”The court adjourned the hearing till May 6.

ECP seeks 6-9 months time for LB polls in Sindh, Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought more time for holding local bodies (LB) polls in Sindh and Punjab.

The ECP on Tuesday submitted a plea in the Supreme Court (SC) in which it had prayed that 6 to 9 months are required for delimitation of constituencies, therefore, more time is required for holding LB elections in Sindh and Punjab.

The commission said it will take 6 to 9 months for LB polls in both the provinces.

Judicial commission seeks reinvestigation of Parveen Rehman’s murder

ISLAMABAD: The suo moto case of the murder of Orangi Pilot Project Director Parveen Rehman was heard by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

During proceedings the report of the judicial commission was presented before the court. The report sought an independent reinvestigation of the murder case.


The report prepared by the district and sessions judge in Karachi claimed that the initial investigation was manipulated. Human Rights Commission lawyer, Kamran Shekih agreed with the findings of the report and said the reinvestigation should not be carried out by the Sindh police. He called for the formation of a joint investigation team. Additional Prosecutor Sindh opposed the formation of a joint investigation team.

The apex court observed that Parveen Rehman was a social worker and did not have a personal enmity with anyone and she was working against the land mafia.

Rehman was gunned down near the Banaras flyover when she was returning home from work last year.

Modi seeks to reassure Muslims to respect their traditions

NEW DELHI: Hindu hardliner Narendra Modi, tipped to be India’s next premier, sought on Saturday to reassure the nation’s big Muslim minority he would respect their traditions, as 14 people died in the worst violence since the start of a marathon election.

Modi´s statements in a rare television interview to be aired late on Saturday came as police confirmed Maoist rebels in insurgency-hit central India killed 14 people, most of them involved in helping stage the general election.

Protection of majority Hindu India’s secular status has surfaced as a key election issue with critics worrying Modi´s Hindu nationalist rhetoric could stoke religious tensions in a country where 13 percent of the 1.2-billion populations is Muslim.

In interview exerpts on India TV’s website, Modi, leading the campaign of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said he refused to don a skullcap presented to him by a Muslim cleric three years ago because he did not want “to hoodwink people”.

“I believe in respecting traditions of all religions. But at the same time, I have to respect my own tradition as well although I respect all traditions. I can’t hoodwink people by wearing such skullcaps.”

But I believe in taking action against those who show disrespect to other’s caps,” said Modi, chief minister of the western of Gujarat. Many Muslims wear skullcaps.

Modi, whose state has thrived economically under his leadership, paints himself as a pro-business reformist who alone can revive the economy of the world’s largest democracy and opinion polls favour the BJP to win the elections, ousting the scandal-tainted Congress party after a decade of rule.

But Modi remains a divisive figure after being accused of failing to swiftly curb 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat in which at least 1,000 people, died.

Modi has repeatedly rejected opponents´ accusations of wrongdoing and investigations have never found grounds to charge him.

Meanwhile, two landmine blasts left 14 dead in the impoverished Chhattisgarh state, marking the deadliest violence since polling began last Monday and highlighting security issues around the election. Seven polling officials died when Maoists blew up their bus, senior police officer Gurjinder Pal Singh told AFP.

Five security men carrying out an election safety sweep who hitched a ride in an ambulance were killed in another attack. The ambulance driver and a paramedic were also killed.

Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, setting the stage for a high-profile, three-cornered contest in the family fortress Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi’s mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi was by his side when he filed the nomination papers at the Amethi collectorate this afternoon.

Khursheed seeks release of sons of Gilani, Taseer

SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah has said that if Ali Haider Gilani and Shahbaz Taseer were not released after negotiations with the Taliban, then no one will recognise the peace talks.

He stated this while talking to the media here at the Sukkur airport on Saturday.

Shah said that he had written a letter to Shahbaz Sharif regarding the threat letter sent to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

He demanded of the Punjab government to investigate the matter.

He said that the PPP never opposed talks with the Taliban but had asked the PM not to confuse the nation with his unclear policy.

He clarified that there is no reality in the media reports pertaining to the removal of CM Qaim Ali Shah.

Iran seeks UN’s help for release of border guards

 

TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged the United Nations to help secure the release of Iranian border soldiers abducted by extremists, the media reported on Thursday.
Zarif sent a message to UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday evening demanding action from the international community, saying “mere condemnation of acts of terrorism is not enough.” His urgent plea to the UN chief came after Jaish-ul Adl, the rebel group operating in southeast Iran, claimed to have killed one of the five abducted soldiers and threatened further executions. Ban had on Tuesday condemned the reported killing as an “appalling act” and urged that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

The young soldiers, who were serving their 24-month mandatory military service, are believed to have been taken into neighbouring Pakistan after being kidnapped in February. Zarif linked the abduction to what he termed a series of “terrorist atrocities against Iranian citizens, including diplomats and other officials”, according to a copy of his letter to Ban posted on his Facebook page.

He decried action against Iran by “state-sponsored extremist groups, with similar patterns of funding, coordination, support and direction”. Zarif did not name any countries but Iranian officials have pointed the finger of blame at regional rivals for a number of attacks against Iranian diplomatic missions in Lebanon, Pakistan and Yemen.

A diplomatic source in Tehran said the letter could pave the way for a debate within the UN as “state-sponsored terrorism” was a regional issue. Jaish-ul Adl warned of further executions should Tehran refuse to release their prisoners. It claimed responsibility for killing a local prosecutor and 14 Iranian border guards in an ambush in 2013.

Ties with Islamabad have taken hit since the abduction, with Iran criticising what it calls Pakistan’s inability to secure its borders and purge its soil of militants. In a phone call with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded “serious and swift action” to free the soldiers.

Our correspondent adds: Meanwhile, Pakistan categorically denied that the recent killing of an Iranian Border Guard took place on the Pakistan territory and said that managing any border was the responsibility of both the sides.

“We are neither apologetic nor we are expected to be aggressive. As both the sides have repeatedly said, we have a very strong relationship and we will continue to work together with Iran to further strengthen it,” said the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson.

Five Iranian Border Guards disappeared 10-15 kilometres inside the Iranian territory in the Sistan-Baluchestan province, but Pakistani authorities, after thorough investigations, could not find them nor were there any signs that they were brought inside Pakistan, the FO spokesperson said.

About the recent Iranian rhetoric mostly for domestic consumption, Pakistan says it does not want to take up a very sensitive issue using the media.“We have condemned the killing of the Iranian guard and we have full sympathy with the families and with the Iranian government. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We stand ready, as we have done in the past, to help Iran locate them but we have no indication that they are in the Pakistani territory,” said the spokesperson.

Ukraine’s Crimea seeks to become an independent state

crowd chanting "Rossiya! Rossiya!" and waving the Russian tricolour.

The Crimean parliament voted on Tuesday that the Black Sea peninsula will declare itself an independent state if its residents agree to split off from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum. Crimea’s regional legislature today adopted a “declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.” The document specified that Crimea will become an independent state if its residents vote on Sunday in favour of joining Russia in the referendum.
Western nations have said they will not recognise the vote as legitimate. But the move might be used as an attempt to ease tensions with Crimea existing as a self-proclaimed state without Russia moving quickly to incorporate it into its territory.
After a brief war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, some leaders sin Georgia’s breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia also asked to join Russia, but their request was never granted. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s acting president today called for the formation of a national guard and for the mobilisation of reserves and volunteers into the country’s armed forces.
Oleksandr Turchynov asked the national parliament to approve turning the country’s Interior Ministry troops into a National Guard “to defend the country and citizens against any criminals, against external and internal aggression.” Turchynov said that the mobilisation will include those who have previously served in the army and volunteers. Russian forces have strengthened their control over Ukraine’s Crimea region in the run-up to a referendum set for Sunday on whether to split off and become part of Russia.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who will fly to Washington to meet with Barack Obama tomorrow, called on Western nations to defend Ukraine against a nation “that is armed to the teeth and that has nuclear weapons.”

Pakistan court seeks explanation over Pervez Musharraf security alert

Former Pakistani military dictator Pervez Mushraff. (Reuters)

The special court conducting the high treason trial against Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday summoned top intelligence officials for an in-camera session to explain the recent security alert warning of a possible attack on the former Pakistani military dictator.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Faisal Arab, is hearing the case relating to treason charges against the former president for imposition of emergency rule in 2007. During the hearing, Justice Arab said the court wanted to be apprised of the nature and seriousness of the threat against Musharraf.
“He (Justice Arab) took the intel alert warning attacks against Musharraf seriously. He wanted to be briefed about the issue and has asked for the head of intelligence agency responsible for the alert to come tomorrow,” a court source said.
Asked who is likely to appear before the court, he said, “Most likely the Interior Secretary would be accompanied by senior officials of the intelligence agency”. The hearing of the case was adjourned until Thursday.
Meanwhile, lawyer Rana Ijaz of the defence team representing Musharraf, 70, reached the court for the hearing but the security personnel prevented him from entering the court premises on Wednesday.
Ijaz was barred from entering the court on a written order of Registrar Abdul Ghani Soomro in wake of his verbal attack on Justice Arab during the treason trial yesterday.
Justice Arab had asked security personnel to remove Ijaz from the courtroom after the lawyer said that he had received “life threats” and presumed that Justice Arab was behind them.
Talking to the media outside the court, Ijaz said that he had been told to apologise for his attitude and on his refusal to do so his entry into the court has been banned. He said he was Musharraf’s lawyer and he was being prevented from defending his client. Musharraf is slated to appear before the special court on Friday and would be indicted.
The former army chief did not appear in court on Tuesday following a security alert issued by the interior ministry saying that he might be targeted by al-Qaeda or the Pakistani Taliban.
The ministry told the court that the alert was a copy of information received from intelligence officials.
This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former military chief is on trial for treason.

Salman Khan ensured Iulia Vantur’s song seeks his approval

According to India Today Romanian model Iulia Vantur’s item number ‘Ummbakkum’ of the film ‘O Teri’ sought superstar Salman Khan’s approval before being released.

The news has already been making the rounds that Khan has helped launching his alleged girlfriend Vantur in Bollywood with his brother in law’s home production.

Now reports reveal the ‘Jai Ho’ star checked the final-cut of the song as he wanted to make sure it is up to the mark.

India Today quoted a source as saying, "Salman saw the final cut of the song before it was released. He looked into the edit and final presentation of the number too. He wanted to make sure it looks good."

"And for this song in particular, he wanted to make sure that it is not released without a go-ahead from him."

Confirming the news, India today quoted producer Atul Agnihotri as saying, "Yes, Salman watched the song before it went on air. He has actively been looking into all the details (of the film)."

‘O Teri’ is an upcoming comedy film which will feature Pulkit Samrat, Sarah-Jane Dias, Sara Loren, Bilal Amrohi and Mandira Bedi. It is slated to release on 7th march 2014.

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.