You want Geo on its knees, once, twice, three times: Asma

LAHORE: Human rights activist and former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir has said she supports freedom of expression and the independence of the media, and punishing any TV channel is not an act of any pillar of the state but of dictators.

Addressing a lawyers gathering at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal here on Thursday, Asma said whatever Geo did was not fair. No journalistic ethics permit putting the picture (of any official) on the TV screen for hours over mere allegations, she said, adding that there was nothing new in this, however, as “Geo as well as all other TV channels have done it to us all in the past”.

“You may fine it (Geo) for the mistake, you may force them to apologise”, but what is this attitude, she asked. “You say no pardon, you say you will bring this organisation to its knees, once, twice, thrice, and there seems to be no end to it,” she added. She said if the army rulers believe they can strangle the freedom of expression in this country, they are mistaken.

Asma said when the judiciary indulges in politics instead of providing justice, we criticise it. “We did it earlier, and we do it even today,” she added.

Asma regretted that the media have started dictating even to lawyers. “They say a lawyer must ask them (the media) before taking up any case. If they will permit, you take up a case, and if they don’t want you to, you don’t go for it,” the lawyer leader said.

Asma said the government claims that their heart bleeds at the misuse of public money. “If it is public money then why have you provided six employees at government expense to the former CJ, whose son is still staying in the guest house,” the rights activist asked. She also questioned the appointment of Faqeer Hussain as the director general of the Federal Judicial Academy after his retirement as the Supreme Court registrar, and termed it in violation of merit.

There’s greatness in forgiving: Pervaiz Rashid

 

ISAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Information, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, on Thursday said shutting down a TV channel was no solution if it had made a mistake.
“We want to see the media getting stronger,” the minister said while speaking at a seminar held under the aegis of Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) here.The minister contended that in the past, nations had made mistakes and on tendering an apology, they were forgiven as a token of magnanimity.

He came down heavily on the PTI Chairman Imran Khan for his strong opposition to the ongoing military action against the terrorists in North Waziristan.“Imran Khan calls the army’s war of defence of Pakistan as the war of the US. He should tell the nation whose war the Taliban are waging on Pakistan,” the minister asserted.

Imran had more than once declared to stand behind the army in case of a military operation against the Taliban but to the shock of many, the other day in a news conference here he said efforts were being made to separate North Waziristan from Pakistan while referring to the targeted action against the TTP.

Senator Rashid predicted doom for the PTI even in the next general election and said at that time also, Imran would allege that he was defeated through rigging.He pointed out that Imran had organised public meetings in Islamabad and Faisalabad but never bothered to visit the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where his own party was in power.

If Imran, he noted, had no time to stay in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and administer polio drops to children, then why should people vote for his party.“Imran was defeated in the polls because of his irresponsible statements,” he said.

Three chief ministers, he noted, were independent in their working while the fourth one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was always seen heading towards Bani Gala.The minister asked if Imran had bothered to inquire after those injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Senator Rashid said Imran had no objection if the road leading to Bani Gala was constructed but he would oppose the building of a motorway. Imran has his sprawling residence in Bani Gala, near the Rawal Lake.

The minister alleged Imran was controlling the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government while sitting in Bani Gala.He criticised PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and senior leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid and questioned what had been their contribution to Pakistan.

The minister talked about various power projects being launched to overcome power loadshedding. He made a mention of the key decision of eliminating secret and discretionary funds.

To a question, the minister made it clear that they could not support Imran’s demand for closing down a media group. He said the PTI chief was out to weaken the powerful media whereas the government wanted to see it gaining further strength.The minister emphasized that media persons should also use their camera, pen and mike with caution and responsibility.

Worst-ever confrontation with judiciary by cable operators, hidden backers

 

ISLAMABAD: After the complete and shocking failure of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to get the transmission of Geo News restored despite the clear and strict judgment of the Supreme Court and inaction of the authority against the cable operators, Geo has written a letter directly to all the cable operators, pressing them not to ridicule the orders of the Supreme Court.
In its letter, Geo has reminded all the cable operators that though Pemra has conveniently failed to get the orders of the apex court implemented, the cable operators themselves were also violating the terms of their licence by first shuffling the Geo News number and later suspending the transmission.

The channel has reminded all the cable operators that suspending the transmission of a channel was the worst violation of the Constitution and law and after the SC verdict it was tantamount to making a mockery of the institutions and the state.

Regarding the cable operators’ claim about threats to them, it is also stated that the cable operators have been either blacking out the Geo channels or shifting them to the furthest numbers since April 24, but they have never contacted the police or the authorities concerned with proof. They never gave the police any phone number from where the threats were received. The cable operators were also reminded that when in the past they changed Geo position, the Supreme Court issued strict orders to them, Pemra and the government to set the things right.

Geo has highlighted that due to mysterious reasons, the cable operators were openly confronting the apex court and were punishing the Geo/Jang Group for taking its case to the Supreme Court to get justice after operators across the country blocked the transmission of all other channels of the group, including Geo Super, Geo Tez, Geo Kahani and Geo Entertainment.

This attitude of cable operators and hidden forces backing them is the worst example of confronting the judiciary.The letter was sent to all the cable operators and also copied to Pemra, all members of the authority and the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting by the legal counsel for Geo Faraz Raza.

The relevant portions of the letter are reproduced here:

1. For the last several weeks, you have been violating the terms of your license by deliberately and illegally first shuffling the channel from its normal position and then completely suspending the transmission of Geo News.

2. Our client repeatedly reported your violation of license to Pemra, requesting that Pemra must take immediate steps to have transmission of Geo News restored but Pemra illegally in violation of its statutory obligation, failed to get Geo News transmission restored at its previous position.

3. Your continued violation of your license, and Pemra’s illegal omission to have Geo News transmission restored, left our client with no option but to approach the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan with the grievance that Pemra is not implementing the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court of 2010 in which, relying on the Court’s appointed Mediator Mr. Javed Jabbar’s Report, Honourable Supreme Court had directed Pemra to ensure that two channels Geo News and ARY News were not shuffled from their current position.

4. On 26.05.2014, the honourable Supreme Court disposed off our client’s petition on the basis of Pemra’s counsel Mr. Ibrahim Satti and Pemra’s Head Legal Department Mr. Zahid Malik, undertaking that 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.”

5. It may be noted that the illegal so-called order supposedly passed by three members of Pemra, preceded the hearing of our client’s petition in the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Neither Pemra accepted the so-called decision of three private members, nor did Pemra or any anyone else bring it to the Honourable Court’s attention at the time of hearing and the order of Honourable Supreme Court does not even mention the illegal meeting of three private members who have been announcing their decision on rival TV channels.

6. You therefore have absolutely no excuse to disobey the clear orders of Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan.

7. However, it is shocking to note that despite the above clear direction of Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan, you still continue to keep Geo News ‘transmission suspended without realising that it is not only illegal and a clear violation of your license, but now it amounts to contempt of court too’.

8. For your easy reference, we are producing below certain relevant excerpts of the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan on a petition filed by our client and that was clubbed with a petition of ARY News, titled Shahid Masood versus The Federation of Pakistan and published PLD 2010 SCMR 1849, that the Supreme Court has now directed to be implemented:

“11. Such was then the importance attached to the obligations, inter alia, cast on the Cable T.V. Network Operators offering the distribution of services and the importance attached to the undisturbed distribution of the said services by such operators. It would also be noticed from the said provisions that:

(iii) the license of any such operator causing any interference/obstruction in the distribution of any broadcast could result in suspension or even revocation of the license granted to such an operator;’ and

(iv) such an act of interference and obstruction was also a penal offence carrying a sentence of imprisonment up to three years or a fine of rupees ten million or both and such an offence was a cognizable offence authorizing the police to arrest the accused persons without any warrant. [emphasis provided]

The reason for such weight being attached to the said business is not far to find as the same stems out of the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, expression and of press as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution and equally importantly, if not more, the right of every citizen to have access to information in all matters of public importance as guaranteed by the recently inserted provisions of Article 19-A of the Constitution.

13. In this view of the matter, we find that the act of the respondent Operators of the Cable T.V. Networks blocking/obstructing the transmission of ARY News and GEO News and the consequent denial of distribution service to the said Channels and to the viewers who were paying the said operators for the said service, prima facie, was a gross violation of the terms and conditions of the licenses granted to them under sections 20 and 24 read with the provisions of sections 27 and 28 of the said Ordinance of 2002 and thus attracted penal provisions of sections 30 and 33 of the said Ordinance in respect of not only the ones committing the said violations but also those abetting the same. [Emphasis provided].

15. ... ... ... The said blockade, prima facie, was not only a denial of duty towards the law, towards Pemra and towards the two broadcasters, but was also a serious breach of the constitutional, legal, moral and financial obligations of the cable operators in question to the hundreds and thousands of subscribers who had the right to information and who had paid for their right to viewership. ... ... ...

17. Having thus examined the factual, the legal and even the constitutional aspects of the matter; the factually incorrect claims being made before us and the consequent legal violations, it is ordered, for the present, as under:

(i) .... Pemra shall ensure immediate distribution of broadcast services of Pemra licensed channels, namely, ARY News and GEO News, even if the same involves strict legal action against the delinquent cable T.V. operators, if any;

(ii) ... Pemra shall personally monitor and ensure that the transmission of the broadcast of the said two channels i.e. ARY News and GEO News is continued to be aired without any hindrance or obstruction of whatever kind.”

9. It is in view of above clear directions of Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan that we call upon you to immediately restore transmission of Geo News on its original position at which you were showing it a month ago.

10. As, despite above clear direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan, you have illegally continued to keep Geo News off air, Pemra was required by the statute as well as under the above-quoted direction of Supreme Court to not only proceed with formalities to suspend and then revoke your license, but also to prosecute you for the offence of causing obstruction in the broadcasting of Geo News. Unfortunately, to-date, Pemra has failed to do either of the above.

11. This letter is being copied to Pemra and Ministry of Information. In case Pemra still fails to have Geo News’ transmission restored, our client shall have no option but to approach the Honourable Court for appropriate actions that may be available under law against any person who may be committing the offence of disobeying clear orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan or being party to an effort not to allow the Court’s order to be implemented.

12. In addition to what has been stated in this letter, it is shocking to discover that instead of complying with the direction of Honourable Supreme Court by restoring the transmission of Geo News to its original position, as if in order to punish us for approaching Supreme Court for relief or to show extra contempt to Honorable Court, you have illegally suspended the remaining channels of Geo TV network too, namely Geo Tez, Geo Kahani, Geo Entertainment and Geo Super. There could not be worse example of showing contempt to the Honorable Court.

13. Suspension of all our channels is causing huge losses to Geo TV network on a daily basis for which, apart from other legal remedies against you, we shall seek compensation from you for the financial damages that you are causing to our client by illegally suspending all the channels of Geo TV network.

Non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, Faheem issued

KARACHI: An anti-corruption court in Karachi on Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Faheem.

The warrants against the two were issued in a case relating to financial irregularities in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing till June 17.

The case in this regard had been registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when Amin Faheem was Commerce Minister.Gilani and Fahim had been accused of involvement in Rs7 billion financial scam in TDAP. Muhammad Firdous, the key accused, turned approver against the former prime minister and former federal minister.

The court had previously issued three notices to Gilani and Faheem, requiring them to appear before it. The notices were ignored after which bailable arrest warrants were issued against both the leaders. On Thursday, however, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants and adjourned the hearing till June 17.

Meanwhile, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that he would appear in the Accountability Court, Islamabad on June 4 and also ATC court in Karachi in TDAP case adding he had been facing fabricated cases in the past and would face these now as well.

In a statement issued here Gilani said that he was only one who had received the notices to appear in the court adding that he was determined to defend himself as he had done in the past.

He said if the competent appointing authority was to be held responsible, no one could be spared if the intentions were motivated by vendetta.He advised the Ministry of Interior and the present government to bring out all the cases against him and his sons in order to avoid the implications of double jeopardy.

He lamented that no case in this country was completed without implicating him whether it was case of Ogra, NICL, NRO, TDAP or Haj scam. The beneficiaries of the NRO had been exonerated but he was still facing the music. “These are classic examples of miscarriage of justice,” he said.

He said that his sons had been implicated in false cases while his other son was kidnapped and they knew the amount of torture his family was going through.He asked the government to avoid crossing the limits of victimisation and unleash it to the extent they could also bear it tomorrow. They had no stomach to tolerate even the fraction of what was going on against him, he observed.

IHC declares regularisation of daily wage, contract employees void

 

ISLAMABAD: Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday declared null and void recommendations of the former PPP government’s cabinet subcommittee, headed by Syed Khursheed Shah, for the regularisation of daily wage and contract employees of the federal government.
Justice Siddiqui, in his decision, observed that the recommendations regarding the employees who were appointed without following rules and competitive process carry no weight. He directed all the institutions/organisations of the federal government to properly examine and verify the record of the regularised employees and only endorse regularisation of those employees who fulfil the criteria in respect of educational qualification, experience, age and domicile.

The petition was filed in the court by the senior employees of National Highways Authority (NHA), seeking de-regularisation of contractual and daily wage employees who were regularised by the former government’s cabinet subcommittee.

Counsel for the NHA employees Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri argued before the court that all these employees were first appointed at nepotism basis in complete disregard to educational qualification, age, experience, domicile and vacant posts. These employees were inducted without any test or interview, and later the cabinet’s subcommittee recommended their regularisation. The committee’s decision has been affecting the seniority of previous employees.

Jehangiri produced a list of around 350 employees before the court and told the court around 90 people in this list belong to Multan, 60 to Sukkur and the rest to the electoral constituencies of some other MNAs of the former PPP government.

Jehngiri further told the court that the NHA has been paying Rs12 billion per annum on account of salaries to these persons. The Rs12 billion is taken from the amount that the NHA had to spend for road development.

Referring to a Supreme Court judgment, Jehangiri said that the Supreme Court, in the case of Employee Old Age Benefits on March 17 this year, had declared the appointments of 238 employees as null and void. For the recently regularised employees, no posts were created before their induction.

The defence counsel counter argued that if the cabinet subcommittee’s recommendations were declared null and void, thousands of workers would get unemployed. Justice Siddiqui remarked that we have buried the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ and everything should be done on merit.

NEC approves Rs1.310 trillion development budget for 2014-15

 

ISLAMABAD: The National Economic Council that met here on Thursday with the prime minister in the chair accorded approval to the country’s largest ever development budget of Rs1.310 trillion for 2014-15 with projected GDP growth of 5.1 percent and an inflation target of 8 percent, a senior official who was part of the meeting told The News.
The supreme economic body also approved the Pakistan Vision 2025 with the prime minister saying that this vision was our development roadmap and Pakistan would grow as this vision would ensure the best usage of our resources as was done by developed countries.

The NEC also approved allocations for the Diamer Bhasha Dam, Karachi Coastal Power Project, Dasu hydropower project, Neelum Jhelum hydropower project, Chashma NPP, Jamshoro power project, Tarbela Extension IV project, Nandipur power project, Chichon-ki-Malyan power project, Gomal Zam project, the Kurram Tangi Dam and Golan Gol hydropower project.

Citing the significant allocations for power projects, the prime minister commented that it showed the seriousness and commitment of the government towards alleviating power scarcity. The PM said that they had released Rs37 billion for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam in one calendar year in order to expedite the project.

Infrastructure projects including the Lahore-Karachi Motorway, Hasanabdal-Havelian-Mansehra Road project, Peshawar Northern Bypass, Raikot-Islamabad project, Gwadar Airport, Gwadar Free Economic Zone and the construction of jetty and infrastructure development at the Gadani Power Park also received approval of the NEC. A feasibility study for the construction of the Havelian-Raikot railway line was also approved. The PM said that the Rs53.5 billion was the land acquisition cost of the Lahore-Karachi Motorway of which Rs25.5 billion have already been released.

The Rs1.310 trillion development budget includes a federal development component of Rs525 billion and provincial component of Rs650 billion with Rs135 billion to be generated by Wapda, NTDC and Pepco for some vital projects, as against the consolidated development budget of Rs1.150 billion for the ongoing fiscal 2013-14.

However, the sources also said that the provincial chief ministers in the meeting said that as far as the provincial share of Rs650 billion in the development budget was concerned, it would have been better to first consult them as they would prefer to fix their development budget keeping in view their fiscal limits.

An amount of Rs40 has been allocated for the Pakistan Railways, Rs48 for nuclear energy, Rs 36 billion for the PM’s initiative for less developed areas that include allocation of Rs15 billion for Balochistan, Rs8 billion for Sindh, Rs4 billion for KPK, Rs3 billion for AJK, Rs4 billion for FATA and Rs2 billion for Gilgit-Baltistan.

The NEC approved allocation of Rs260 billion for the water and power sector (Rs166 billion for the power sector and Rs84 billion for the water sector), Rs1.5billion for MDGs and the community sector, Rs51 billion for education and health, Rs163 billion for transport and communication.

However, for the communication sector alone Rs113.576 billion has been allocated for the ongoing 57 schemes and Rs8.356 billion for new schemes in the communication sector. For the New Islamabad Airport, a new approach road worth Rs16 billion has been approved and an allocation of Rs10 billion for the next financial year and for the ongoing road project for the same airport, Rs2 billion allocation has been proposed.

The NEC also approved the projected GDP growth of 5.1 percent as had earlier been worked out by the National Account Committee (NAC) and then backed by the APCC. The projected target of GDP of 5.1 percent has been worked out keeping in view the projected growth of agriculture by 3.3 percent, industry by 6.8 percent and services by 5.2 percent. Nominal GDP is targeted to grow by 13.5 percent and GNP per capita is projected at Rs160,443.

However, the press release says, Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, outlined the seven pillars of Vision 2025 while briefing the NEC.

NEC allowed the Planning Commission to publish the details of this Summary in the form of a document titled “Pakistan Vision 2025” for public information and directed Ministries/Provinces/Special Areas and Public Sector agencies to make concerted efforts in coordination with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform to effectively implement the proposed Pakistan Vision 2025. Moreover, the Planning Commission was authorised for regular monitoring of progress to translate the Vision into reality through a Performance Delivery Unit against key performance indicators (KPIs) and approved the framework for the eleventh five year plan within the perspective of Vision 2025.

While discussing the development projects in Balochistan, the CM Balochistan pointed out the delay and corruption in the Quetta water supply scheme. He siad that Rs10 billion had been spent but on the ground there was no development. The prime minister directed to hold enquiry into the matter and fix the responsibility. He also asked CM Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik to monitor the projects himself.

The NEC also approved construction of a cancer hospital in Islamabad. The PM directed to prepare plan for constructing a cancer hospital in every provincial headquarters including Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and FATA.

Senior minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sirajul Haq raised the matter of the delay in the completion of the Lowari Tunnel project due to paucity of funds. The PM assured to look into the matter and directed to specify the required funds for completion of the project. He said that he would personally visit the project along with the governor and chief minister KPK to see the on-ground situation. The PM said that none of the development projects would be ignored. The PM also warned against delays in the projects.

Addressing the query of the governor KPK regarding development funds for Fata, the prime minister said that Fata needed special attention in our development strategy and the development funds for Fata would be rationalised.

Chief minister Balochistan raised the issue of funding of transmission lines for far flung areas, the issue of power shortages in Balochistan and water supply scheme for Gwadar. The PM said that nature had endowed Balochistan with vast resources of solar energy and we needed to tap this energy. He directed to prepare a feasibility for installing solar power panels in Balochistan. It would not only resolve the energy shortage but also provide affordable energy to locals, he added. Prime minister directed to plan the water supply scheme and assured funding by the federal government.

Muhammad Saleh Zaafir adds: While briefing the NEC, Federal Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal outlined the seven pillars of Vision 2025 including putting people first, Developing Human and Social Capital, Achieving Sustained, Indigenous and Inclusive Growth, Governance, Institutional Reform and Modernisation of the Public Sector, Energy, Water and Food Security, Private Sector-Led Growth and Entrepreneurship, Developing a Competitive Knowledge Economy through Value Addition and Modernisation of Transportation Infrastructure and Greater Regional Connectivity.

PTI, PAT, PML-Q leaders may form alliance

 

LONDON: Leaders of three parties have gathered in London giving rise to speculation that the stage is being prepared for an anti-government alliance between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Muslim League leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain arrived in London on Wednesday afternoon almost at the same time.

The PML-Q as a political unit has no presence in Britain because all the units defected to the PML-N but an aide of Chaudhry Shujaat said that Chaudhry was in contact with Imran Khan’s party and during his stay in London would like to meet Altaf Hussain as well.

He said a meeting with Dr Qadri and Imran Khan was on the cards but didn’t say when and where. He said the PML-Q will join any party that supports mid-term elections and ouster of the current government.

Speaking to ‘The News’ late on Thursday evening, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat confirmed that he will be meeting Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri along with his party delegation.

He said: “We have deep relations with each other and we will be meeting Dr Qadri. Our agenda is one point: betterment of Pakistan and empowerment of democracy. We agree with each other that the current government has failed and new alliances need to be made. We will release more details tomorrow after the meeting.”

On Thursday afternoon, PAT leader Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri also reached London unannounced. It’s the timing of Dr Qadri’s arrival that is of importance because the PAT sources had earlier said that he would be arriving here in the second week of June.

His party spokesman said that Dr Qadri had arrived in London for “medical check-up” although Dr Qadri himself has said that he prefers to live in Toronto, Canada, for medical reasons. A senior leader of PAT confirmed in a twitter message that PTI, PAT and PML-Q chiefs will “finalise anti-govt strategies in London” but later on retracted it.

When contacted by the News, a PAT source said that a meeting was likely and the three parties were in contact but “nothing is finalised yet”.

Dr Qadri was scheduled to reach London in June from Toronto and then fly out from here to Pakistan for what’s now called the “Shahadat Proof Bunker Dherna” but his sudden arrival in London means that he was asked to arrive for talks while the like-minded leaders were also around.

The PAT source said that all the three parties agreed on the need to launch a movement against the PML-N government. “The mandate of this government is fake and it needs to be ousted. We are contacting all the parties in this regard.”

A PTI source said that Imran Khan was in London to spend time with his two sons and “also to attend a fundraiser for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital on Saturday”. He didn’t deny that a meeting might take place between the three parties.

Some sources have said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will also be taken into confidence and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri will lead the efforts to bring the MQM on board.

“Dr Qadri is very close to the MQM and Altaf Hussain is his key supporter and has supported Dr Qadri whenever his campaign related to Punjab where both have a common enemy in the shape of the PML-N. Imran Khan and Shujaat also have the same agenda against the PML-N. Their alliance is natural. They have been once key allies of Pervez Musharraf and all of them benefitted from Musharraf in one way or the other. Pervez Musharraf needs them more than ever. This government needs to be brought under pressure to provide an exit route to Musharraf and that will happen when there is a grand opposition alliance in place as a cover,” said a source familiar with the London developments.

The MQM will have no issue giving its support to an opposition alliance as far as it concerns agitation in Punjab and in any case a movement against the PML-N government only benefits the MQM.Reports said that Chaudary Pervaiz Elahi has also been called to London.

Power bills to be deducted from provinces’ funds

 

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has managed to persuade the four federating units for at source deduction of 25 percent of their current electricity arrears as this will help eradicate the emergence of the circular debt.
Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah said that at source deduction of electricity bills of provinces would start from July 1, 2014 and the federal adjuster would deduct 25 percent of the electricity bills that the province would receive in the month of July. The issue of previous arrears would be reconciled within 30 days.

The 75 percent amount will be adjusted after reconciliation process between the federal government and the province concerned and in case it is found that the Centre has deducted an unjustified amount, it will be adjusted later next month. The federal adjuster will be appointed by the federal government in finance ministry.

Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, when contacted, also confirmed that the federal adjuster would deduct 25 percent of current bills and in order to clear the old arrears, the Ministry of Water and Power and the provinces would settle the issue through reconciliation.

He told the CCI meeting that the process would be in place from July 1, 2014 through the federal adjuster. The participantsof the meeting also stressed the need for reconciling the old dues. The meeting decided that representatives of the provinces would sit together to sort out the issue of old dues within 30 days and its report should be presented in the next CCI meeting.

Shah said that Balochistan chief minister had objected to the initiation of the population census process in the country saying his government had successfully held the local bodies’ polls in the province and the current security situation in the province was not good enough to carry out a census. In case the census was held, what would be the fate of the existing local governments? He wondered if the local bodies’ polls in the province would be held again.

However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab chief ministers said that they had no objection to holding of the population census in their provinces, but maintained that the local bodies polls should be held after the census.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif then said that he would personally consult the chief ministers of the four provinces and the issue would be discussed in the next CCI meeting for final decision.Shah also said that the provinces had refused to absorb the new employees recruited in those departments and ministries by the federal government which had been devolved to the provinces after the 18th Amendment.

However, the provinces were ready to accommodate those employees who were working in the said departments and ministries the time the 18th Amendment was passed.

Sindh objected to the summary of the KP seeking changes in the Irsa Act 1992 for monetary compensation from the province that consumes water from the share of other provinces, which it cannot utilise because of non-availability of required infrastructure. He said that Sindh had also objected to the move under which the federal government wanted to utilise the water of the river Indus for consumption of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. In the meeting, it was decided that the federal government would approach the Irsa (Indus River System Authority) to resolve this issue.

A press release says that the CCI meeting also approved the Pakistan Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2014 (PEEC) for placing it before parliament. The PEEC will formulate the national policy on energy conservation and will suggest measures in this regard. It will also create an awareness about energy conservation.

The meeting also approved an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) 1898 for restoration of executive magistracy.

While discussing the agenda item on inquiry into the Kacchi Canal, the prime minister expressed displeasure at the delay in the inquiry and directed the holding of the inquiry through international auditors to fix responsibility. He called for technical as well as financial audit of the scheme.

The agenda of the sixth population census was deferred till the next meeting. The prime minister directed that the concerns raised by the Balochistan CM should be discussed with the Balochistan government and a report be submitted within two weeks.

The CCI also approved amendments to the Gwadar Port Authority Act. It was decided that the chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority would be a nominee of the Balochistan chief minister. Regarding the matter of 50 percent membership of the Board of Governors of Gwadar Port Authority, it was decided that amendments to the Act would be made.

The CCI also approved permanent absorption of federal employees transferred to the provincial governments after devolution through the 18th Amendment. The meeting also decided to expedite the absorption process.

Senator Ishaq Dar briefed the CCI on public debt management and supervision policy. He said in order to improve the debt management operation, the government had initiated a process of preparing a comprehensive medium-term debt strategy in consultation with all the stakeholders. The strategy would facilitate in making strategic decisions for new borrowing, including an appropriate mix between domestic and external loans to finance the budget deficit, he added.The meeting also endorsed the Framework for the 11th Five-Year Plan (2013-18) and Pakistan Vision 2025.

Non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani, Fahim issued

KARACHI: Federal Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday issued arrest non-bailable warrants for former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and former minister for commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Geo News reported.

The Federal Anti-Corruption Court no. 01 Judge, Muhammad Azeem issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gilani and Fahim over irregularities in Trade Development Authority (TDA)

Former staff officer of Amin Fahim, Farhan Junejo, Imran Qadir and ex-deputy secretary PM House Zubair Ahmed are fugitive in the case.

The case 27/2013 was registered by FIA Crime Circle against the accused.

AG says govt cannot risk removing Musharraf’s name from ECL

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court heard a petition pertaining to removing the name of former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The petition was heard by a two member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar.

In his arguments, Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt said the government could not risk removing the name of the former president from the ECL.

The SHC has reserved its decision on removing Musharraf’s name from the ECL till May 31 stating that the lawyers of the parties should submit their documents in the court.