Addressing a public gathering, federal minister claimed that the load shedding would end till 2014-15. He said that the current government’s policies would lead to mark 2014-15 as the ‘year of lights.’
He said that the electricity would be supplied at Rs 5 per unit with in few years whose current cost is Rs 18 per unit. (The News Pk)
However, the ambassador, who was a member of the Parliament until her appointment as envoy to Washington, would not speak specifically about Islamabad’s position on Pakistan-US wide-ranging ties as it is the Parliament’s preregative to come out with a detailed advice after the completion of an ongoing review, undertaken in the aftermath of November 26 cross-border attacks on Mohmand border posts.
A re-think in Pakistan-US relations was needed for a number of very good reasons, she told a packed hall of the U.S. Institute of Peace located in front of the State Department building.
“Some of these (reasons) were structural, while some of the famous “trust deficit” gaps were informed by a profound cognitive, and even institutional, disconnect,” she said at the event, anchored by former U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Headley.
Many of the gaps can be mitigated, she felt, “if we step back, give pause and re-construct.”
“But on the strategic end, this relationship has been burdened with too many expectations, and invested with an inordinately high wattage of emotion,” she pointed out.
Ambassador Rehman referred to the state of strategic flux the region faces at a time of unprecedented challenges, and the responsibilities such transitions bring with it and noted that “this is too important and too sensitive a relationship to carry this volume and scale of unregulated hyperbole.”
The envoy said Pakistan is functioning as a democracy and can no longer make strategic decisions based on one phone call.
“We will of course seek to renew our important relationship with the US by reinvigorating it with new terms of engagement. We hope that by bringing greater clarity, coherence and operational coordination, we can move towards a partnership that is better hardwired for critical metrics of success, such as mutual respect and mutual benefit.
We clearly have converging goals in seeking stability in the ‘region, and hope that they can soon be pursued with greater vigor, openness and clarity.
“Pakistan can no longer make crucial strategic decisions based on one phone call, and I thank all US officials and other interlocutors who have worked so hard to welcome me to Washington and to exercise patience throughout this “strategic pause” in our bilateral engagement.”
At the same time, she sounded confident that the two sides would be able to carry forward the relationship in a mutually meaningful and beneficial way.
“The good news is that many of us on both sides think it is time that this relationship matured into a more consistent, stable and transparent equation, with weight given to mutual respect, but once again that would be the subject best reserved right now for our parliament to decide.”
“Our challenge in the days ahead is to not only re-set this relationship in seminal ways so that we avoid being caught in the cross-hairs of a tough conflict in a very tough neighbourhood, but also build on vital gains that can bring more light than heat to any given situation.
“Among other tangibles, we clearly need a series of codified protocols where episodes stay off the red line radius, and therefore not contingent on the infrastructure of crisis management.
The current rules of engagement, if you like, leave this vital relationship too vulnerable to the enemies of peace, as well as to our own gaps in communication.”
Ambassador Rehman informed the gathering of experts, think tank analysts and diplomats that she is not in Washington with a victim narrative but the fact remains that the Pakistani soldiers, police, people and leaders have sacrificed the most in the fight against terrorism since Islamabad joined the anti-terror effort following September 11, 2001 attacks.
“I would take this opportunity to say that the tragedy at Mohmand really
served as an end-line trigger that called for a fundamental re-set. It was indeed shocking for the Pakistani nation to see the flag-draped bodies of 24 soldiers martyred in the line of active duty on the international border with Afghanistan, at the hands of our allies. In the absence of an immediate apology, this did cause the Pakistan street to erupt with questions about the egregious asymmetry in the calculus of comparative sacrifice between our two nations in terms of blood and reasure.”
However, she said, the Mohmand incident was not the sole motive for the Pakistani call for a re-think as it happend on the heels of a long line of bilateral catastrophes in 2011.
Today, she said, in a democratic Pakistani the entire government speaks with one united voice vis-a-vis relations with the United States.
“As far as this bilateral equation is concerned, as with all national security challenges, we are now on a road where we speak as one united government, where the military defends our borders, and the civilian leadership stands up for its soldiers, just as strongly and clearly as your leadership does for its military in the United States.”
On the challenge of terrorism, she said, “this is not an existential or state identity crisis, in my view, neither is this a permanent condition.”
“No government, or even military, can take on such a toxic and lethal combination in one go,” she said and cited Pakistan’s massive operations against militants in Malakand region.
“The extremists find succor among terrorists to advance their agenda, and civil society and political majorities of the kind that Islamabad votes in need time and capacity to turn back this tide.”
Pakistan votes in progressive political parties by and large, which if empowered over time, can and must reverse the advances that the extremist idiom and militant muscle has made since Pakistan allied with the US against the war against Communism in Afghanistan, she added.
Pakistan, she stressed, has strong commitment to the effort against extremism, militancy or terrorism today.
“It is impossible to open all fronts at one time, especially given the conflict in Afghanistan constantly spilling over into Pakistan both twenty years ago, and once again today. So this is a capacity issue as much as a sequencing challenge, and we often feel we are fighting this long battle with one hand tied behind our backs.”
Today Pakistan’s internal terrorism challenge is mostly a function of its location as well as its capacity in the face of high numbered daily casualties, both civilian and military, she said.
Ambassador Rehman reiterated that the democratic government in Pakistan - led by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani - is committed to a vision of pluralism and protection of women, minorities and vlunerable segments in line with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam and martyred PPP leader and two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
“As part of our vision for a secure, plural, democratic and prosperous Pakistan, we are firmly committed to playing a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in our region.”
Islamabad is engaged in a diglaogue with its eastern neighbor India. Islamabad wants to enhance its talks with New Delhi to make it productive and result oriented, with the hope that the Kashmir dispute finds just and peaceful resolution.
Pakistan is also reaching out to Kabul on its Western border, where Pakistani Foreign Minister recently “met all political coalitions, in order to deepen trust and build mutual capacity for stresses the two countries continue to face, as civilian casualties from the conflict in Afghanistan reach their highest number in ten years.”
“At this point I want to clearly state that Pakistan will support a peace process that is Afghan-led and Afghan owned, in real-time practice, not just as a policy platitude. We do not consider Afghanistan our strategic backyard, as many claim we do, but we do have the highest stakes in Afghan stability since we simply cannot afford the blowback from either a civil war there again, nor any other kind of surge into Pakistan, with its long, porous border. Our motives in the region are driven by a legitimate anxiety about the security transition in a post-US drawdown timeline in Afghanistan, certainly not ambition,” she added as the U.S. and its NATO allies worked toward handing over security responsibility to Afghans to meet the 2014 pullout deadline.
Khan was addressing a press conference on the occasion of former federal minister Chaudhry Nauraiz Shakoor and former MPA Maha Raja Tareen Advocate's joining of PTI.
Criticizing President Asif Ali Zardari's way of doing politics, Imran Khan said Asif Zardari had put a price tag on every political party and politician.
Commenting on the passage of bill for the 20th amendment to the Constitution, he said it was not a Constitutional amendment but a deal (muk muka) for selfish gains.
He termed the next general elections as the most important elections in Pakistan's history and doubted if the government would form an independent election commission.
Source: The News pk
LARKANA: Jamat-e-Islami started massive country wide campaign for change and demanded for an interim government to play role for new election process transparently here in Larkana on Tuesday.A rally led by JI central leaders among Ameer Jamat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan, Liaqat Baloch Secretary General, Sindh JI Ameer Assadullah Bhutto and others slammed the PPP, MQM led government for corruption, increase of country issues among inflation, poverty, lawlessness, interference of US, India aggression in Kashmir for water conspiracy, terrorism, anti-Sindh policies of the MQM along with ruling government and other issues.
Speaking to a large rally gathering here at Larkana Jinnah Bagh Chowk, JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hassan said that revolution is knocking the door for changing the system in country; masses want an Islamic revolution not a political.
He further said the PPP rulers have disappointed poor masses for 40 years and they have gifted Inflation, Poverty, Lawlessness, corruption, US and Indian interference and other water crisis, that doubled the problems instead of reduction he said.
JI Leader Munawar Hassan criticized policies of PPP government to declare India as favorite country, which is deplorable act, adding that India is an enemy of Pakistan and Sindh people and wants to destabilize the country, added that the India is distributing money and suicide bombs in Balochistan for uprising he said.
JI Ameer told US and NATO forces are facing defeat in Afghanistan and finding safe exit, it is better for US to leave Afghanistan territory, otherwise US and its allies will be treated like Soviet Union. JI Ameer advised to Central Asian countries including China that strong block should be formed against the increasing hegemony of US.
Syed Munawar Hassan said that at present country is passing through difficult Juncture of history, Government run institution are ruined while rulers are plundering national wealth and depositing in foreign banks. He said if JI comes in to power it will return all looted money from politicians.
He said despite of that PPP has its own President Prime Minister and Chief Minister Sindh conditions of several cities of Sindh and Larkana are not changed all roads are in miserable conditions.
The JI leader alleged that MQM has committed several crimes including target killings, extortion, terrorism; it needs to sit with government, he said it is beyond of our thoughts PPP having majority in Sindh why it made coalition partner to MQM.
Syed Munawar Hassan said that JI will boycott the upcoming General Elections if Government does not accept the three demands including establishing of new election commission and interim government.
Central General Secretary Liaquat Baloch in his speech he said Sindh Government has appointed Big Number of Minister and advisors even chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah can not know the names of his cabinet members. He said sovereignty of country is at stake, PPP government has no agenda to rule the country and to control unemployment, poverty, inflation, law and order situation, and masses are exhausted due to poor policies of government.
He said Allah has blessed natural resources to country but rulers are not capitalizing it due to which poor or becoming poorer. He said JI will eradicate 30 percent corruption within 6 month, if the masses gave mandate he told.
On the occasion provincial Ameer Jamat-e-Islami Sindh Assadullah Bhutto, Dr. Mumtaz Memon, Hafiz Hafeez Byrani, Mohammed Younis, Advocate Ashiq Ali Dhamrah and others also addressed.
He was talking to the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Muhammed Umer Daudzai, who called on him at his residence on Tuesday.
He said that in the past Pakistani regimes backed different Afghan groups instead of simply supporting what was good for Afghan people. But he hoped that the future would tie up both countries in exemplary ties.
Afghan Ambassador Umer Daudzai told the PTI Chairman that how different agreements were imposed on Afghan people throughout history since the Soviet invasion, including the arrival of US and NATO forces. He said that Afghanistan was not even represented in the resolutions presented in United Nation Security Council about their country.
Afghan Ambassador said that his country has been investing very huge resources in human development including higher education.
The ambassador explained that the forthcoming visit of President Karzai is different from past visits. Afghanistan wants to establish a relationship with Pakistan that is free from any other power, as they have done with Iran. But this has to be done with the whole country not just the government.
Discussion also focused on the new thinking within the Talibans which are more accommodating..
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has said that he regrets Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani being indicted for contempt of court in the NRO case.
A statement issued by the party quoted Altaf as saying, “I am very disappointed at what has happened today.”
The MQM leader also stressed that state institutions must respect each other’s constitutional ambit and avoid confrontation at all costs.
Altaf also advised the government to ‘show deference to the court proceedings’ by being patient and avoiding any hasty reaction which might prove detrimental to democracy in the country.
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| Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani waves as he arrive at the Supreme Court in Islamabad on February 13, 2012. PHOTO: AFP |
A two-page charge sheet was read out by Justice Nasirul Mulk, who headed the seven-member bench hearing the case.
The charge sheet said that the prime minister had violated Article 204 of the Constitution by not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities as ordered by the court. It added that the prime minister also violated paragraph 178 of the court’s verdict in the NRO implementation case.
Gilani pleaded not guilty and sought more time in the case. But, the court ordered Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to prosecute the prime minister and present more documents and proof to the court.
Gilani’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan told the court that he will present his arguments on February 22, while Gilani was ordered to bring sufficient evidence by February 27.
The prime minister was exempted from further hearings while the hearing was adjourned till February 22.
Prime Minister Gilani was served a contempt notice in the NRO implementation case when the government did not follow the court’s orders of writing a letter to the Swiss authority to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is serving as Gilani’s lawyer in the case.
The Supreme Court has said it will only drop the summons if Gilani obeys its order to write to the Swiss authorities, asking them to re-open the cases.
If convicted, Gilani faces six months in jail and disqualification from office in a case that has fanned political instability and may force elections within months.
Express Tribune / AFP
Talking to media outside the Supreme Court here Monday he said, "there are no ifs and buts in politics and Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani is our Prime Minister." (APP)
Talking to media at Jinnah International Airport Karachi Khan said that government had caused a loss of Rs50 million during the last four years.
Imran Khan said that government should release poor people imprisoned for theft as the robbery of President Asif Zardari was even bigger than the collective amount of the poor prisoner’s theft.
He alleged that Zardari robbed the country of Rs15 billion.
The PTI chief said that all the government allies including Nawaz Sharif was the part of this corruption. “How could the politicians having their assets outside the country work for the prosperity of the country,” he added.
While replying a question regarding the alleged ISI’s support to PTI, Khan said that the Supreme Court had summoned ISI chief and would hear the petition of Asghar Khan on Feb 29 which would clear the position of all the political parties including the PTI.
He said that PTI would organize its next rally in Quetta on April 16 to redress the miseries of Balochistan.
The General Council meeting of PML-Q likeminded was held here for the party elections. Former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has been unopposed elected as a President of PML-Q likeminded.
During the meeting, the party condemned hearing of US congress Committee on Balochistan situation.
Former president of the party Saleem Saifullah congratulated Arbab Ghulam Raheem for being unopposed elected as PML-Q likeminded president.
Saleem Saifullah has been elected as a chairman of the party’s steering committee while Hamid Nasir Chatta has been reelected as a Chairman of the party, Humayun Akhtar as General Sectretary and Kashmali Tariq as Secretary Information.
The meeting passed various resolutions including demand to counter inflation and corruption. (The News pk)
Addressing a public gathering here, Imran Khan said that his party would get Pakistan released from slavery of US. He said that if drone attacks remained continue during his tenure then he would leave the government.
PTI Chief claimed that PPP and PML-N are once again coming closer due to the fear of ‘tsunami.’ He said that PPP-led government broke all the records of corruption.
He alleged that whenever Asif Ali Zardari set to leave Nawaz Sharif saved him. He said both the leaders don’t want change in the country but the nation has decided to bring change.
Imran Khan said that his party would bring revolution in the country and his government would not take loan.
Source: The News pk
Talking to media after his arrival at Jinnah terminal here, PTI leader said that the government should apologise to the apex court and implement the court order.
He advised prime minister to resign if he is hopeless, saying that the prime minister took oath for upholding the constitution.
Replying a question, Qureshi said that his party endorsed the stance of MQM regarding interim government setup.
He said that PTI would hold public gathering in Umar Kot on March 5. He said that leadership of the party is on Sindh visit to deal with organising affairs of the party in the province.
He said that if PML-N had played an active role then the situation of the country would have been different. He said that people of Sindh are not happy with the policies of PPP.
Source: The News pk
Addressing a press conference at the party’s Central Secretariat on Tuesday, he said that government has lost confidence of the people. He said that former Secretary State Condoleza Rice wrote truth in her book that the US which dug up the deal between Musharraf and Benazir, also get held the elections of the leaders which obtained the benefit from NRO.
He said that the present corrupt government is responsible for the shortage of electricity and gas. The rulers have ruined the national institutions including PIA, Railways and Pakistan Steel Mills. He said that soon he would bring the evidences of rulers’ corruption to the nation. The organizations, giving the revenue of billions of rupees, are facing severe financial crisis.
“I never met Joe Bidden, Altaf Hussain, Zulfiqar Mirza and Fatima Bhutto”, Imran Khan added.
He said that about four million people lost their employments only in Punjab due to energy crises. The incapability of the government has reached to an extent that some four million illegal power connections were detected but no action was taken even against one electricity thief.
Poor people are facing punishment for this theft by getting expensive electricity. Last year some 2.8 million air-conditioners were sold out but only 0.185 million people are paying their bills and the people are holding the load of remaining ones.
He said that he is in favour of making more provinces. The PTI handed over the proofs of rigging in Lahore bye-elections to the Election Commission but no action was taken so far. If ECP would not decide the matter , his party would not take part in any bye-elections.
Nawaz Sharif, he said, is holding rallies just to avoid the Senate polls. Talking to APP on phone, he said on the one hand Nawaz claims to be a champion of democracy while on the other he was hatching conspiracies to derail the democratic system.
Riaz said the country was passing through a critical phase and at this stage all political forces should show unity to strengthen the government. He advised the PML-N chief not to become a pawn in the hands of forces lurking to ambush democracy.
The PPP leader said those who wanted to grab power through the backdoor were spreading rumours against the government. Raja said Zardari was recovering fast and would soon return to Pakistan. He said the PPP was the biggest and most popular party of the country and no one could harm it. Via The News pk
Sources told DawnNews that Aziz sent a letter to the Balochistan government from Dubai.
A copy of the letter was also received by an investigation team of the police crime branch.
In his letter, Aziz said that constitutionally, the army could only act under the orders of the provincial government.
The letter moreover said that it was likely that the provincial government of the time was in contact with the then president Pervez Musharraf over the issue.
Musharraf was president and Aziz prime minister when Bugti died in a cave hideout during an army raid in August 2006.
Earlier, on November 1, the Balochistan High Court ordered the execution of arrest warrants issued by a judicial magistrate for Musharraf and Aziz in the Bugti murder case.
Source: Dawn.com
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Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. — Photo by Reuters |
Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Ahmed Shuja Pasha and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shah were also reportedly present at the meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
The meeting was expected to review Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Earlier, DawnNews quoted Khar as saying that the meeting would discuss Pakistan’s ties with the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).
Source: Dawn.com
Asghar Khan flanked by PTI chief Imran Khan announced this in a joint press conference here.
Talking to newsmen Asghar Khan said that he was stepping down as the Tehrik-e-Istaqlal chief handing the helms of its affairs to Imran Khan.
Sittig next to him, Imran Khan vowed to take Tehrik-e-Istaqlal along in all respects.
He thanked Asghar Khan for reposing such trust in him.
Asghar Khan replying to a query said that Pakistan had not seen a single fair, transparent, and unrigged election since it came into being, which was highly unfortunate.
Endorsing Asghar Khan’s stance Imran Khan pledged to continue his struggle till the elections were rigging-free.
To a question he denied ISI was sponsoring his political venture.
“I will quit politics if ISI’s funding Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf is proved”, said Imran Khan.
Source: The News Pk
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| Sherry Rehman |
Replying to a question she said she did not left politics at all but resigned from the then position only as she believed politics was to serve the nation and all those ambitions which come under its sphere needed to be fulfilled.
Sherry Rehman said she is the owner of Jinnah Institute in London and has also introduced the same in Pakistan which is based on the idealogy of Pakistan and Quaid-i-Azam’s August 11 ,1947 speech in the Constituent Assembly.
She quoted Jinnah’s words that in Pakistan each and everybody will be equal in this new state irrespective to cast, creed or gender with full religious freedom.
“We will keep our voice in the policy making and will suggest the government about different future strategies”.
Sherry Rehman said there is no gender bias as men and women are working together in the new political arena therefore the new generation should join political parties to bring about the change in the system. (APP)
He was talking to Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan, Liu Jian, who called on him here and conveyed best wishes from leadership of China and himself to President Asif Ali Zardari for his health.
Rehman Malik also exempted visa fees for all Chinese businessmen visiting Pakistan and said China has always shown its solidarity with Pakistan and stood by it in all-difficult times.
He said this friendship is bringing prosperity and understanding between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador appreciated the government for protecting the Chinese workers and employees and business community based in Pakistan.
He was happy to note that full protection is being provided to all Chinese working in Pakistan and they feel safe and well protected.
The two countries are celebrating 2011 as friendship year.
The celebration of friendship year is ending in December 2011 but giving the message that this will continue for coming centuries. (APP)