Govt to provide one million houses to retired govt employees: Gilani

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday said the government would provide one million housing units to the retired government employees. Replying to a question during Question Hour in the National Assembly he said the construction of these housing units would be undertaken very soon.
“It is part of our 100 days programme to provide one million housing units to the government employees when they retire from service,” he added.
The Prime Minister said the provincial governments would also start implementing the programme.
Replying to another question on tourism, the prime minister said the 2005 earthquake badly affected the tourism industry in the country.
The other reason, he added, was law and order situation which deteriorated in the past in tourist potential areas.
He said tourism flourishes if the law and order were under control.
Prime Minister Gilani said under the tourism policy not only the facilities in tourist areas would be improved but the government will also ensure the restoration of law and order.
He said in areas like Swat, Kaghan and lake Saiful Malook, infrastructure and tourist facilities were badly damaged by the devastating 2005 earthquake.
He expressed the hope that once the infrastructure and facilities in these areas are fully restored, the flow of tourists will also improve significantly.

حکمران بدل چکے ہیں لیکن عوام کا مقدر بدلنا باقی ہے ۔ وزیر اعلی پنجاب

٭۔ ۔ ۔ سابق دور میں مسلم لیگ (ن) پیپلز پارٹی ایم ایم اے وکلاء صحافیوں اور سول سوسائٹی کے کارکنوں کے خلاف بنائے گئے سیاسی مقدمات کو شفاف طریقہ کار سے ختم کریں گے ۔ اعتماد کا ووٹ لینے کے بعد وزیر اعلی کا خطاب
لاہور ۔وزیر اعلی پنجاب سردار دوست محمد کھوسہ نے کہا ہے کہ حکمران بدل چکے ہیں لیکن ابھی عوام کا مقدر نہیں بدلہ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ صوبہ میں امن و امان کا قیام مہنگائی غربت بے روزگاری کا خاتمہ عوام کو تعلیم و صحت اور انصاف کی فراہمی ہماری اولین ترجیحات ہیں ۔ انہوں نے فوری طور پر صوبہ بھر میں شادی بیاہ کے موقع پر سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلہ کے مطابق کھانے کی ون ڈش پر عملدرآمد کو یقینی بنانے کا بھی اعلان کیا ۔ وہ پنجاب اسمبلی میں اعتماد کا ووٹ لینے کے بعد ایوان سے خطاب کر رہے تھے ۔ اپوزیشن نے اعتماد کے ووٹ کے دوران اجلاس کا بائیکاٹ کیا جبکہ مسلم لیگ (ق) فارورڈ بلاک کے ارکان بھی ایوان میں نہیں آئے ۔ سردا ر دوست محمد کھوسہ کو 264 ارکان صوبائی اسمبلی نے ووٹ دیئے جبکہ اس سے قبل ا نہوں نے اپنے قائد ایوان منتخب ہونے کے موقع پر 262 ووٹ حاصل کئے تھے ۔ اس دوران ان کے والد سردا ر دوست محمد کھوسہ اور مسلم لیگ (ن) پنجاب کے سیکرٹری جنرل راجہ اشفاق سرور بھی ایوان کی گیلری میں موجود تھے ۔ سردار دوست محمد کھوسہ نے کہا کہ ملک میں جمہوری نظام کا سورج طلوع ہو چکا ہے یہ بہت اہم لمحہ ہے کیونکہ آمریت کی آہنی زنجیروں کو عوام نے اتار پھینکا ہے ۔ انہوں نے ملک میں جمہوریت کی بحالی کیلئے پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے قائد میاں نواز شریف صدر میاں شہباز شریف نے پیپلز پارٹی کی چیئرپرسن محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو اور شریک چیئرمین آصف عل یزرداری و سیاسی کارکنوں کی قربانیوں کو بھی خراج تحسین پیش کیا ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ان قائدین نے جلا وطنی اور قید و بند کی صوبتیں برداشت کیں جبکہ محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو نے اپنی جان کی قربانی بھی دی ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ میثاق جمہوریت اور اعلان مری ملک میں جمہوریت کی بحالی اور عدلیہ کی آزادی کیلئے نسگ میل کی حیثیت رکھتے ہیں ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ملک میں جمہوریت کی نی تاریخ لکھی جارہی ہے ۔ آمریت کی رسوائی تو ہوئی لیکن ابھی ہمارا ایجنڈا ادھورا ہے کیونکہ یہاں حکمران تو بدل گئے ہیں لیکن عوام کا مقدمہ بدلنا ابھی باقی ہے ۔ عوام کو مہنگائی امن و امان بے روزگاری بجلی و گیس کی عدم دستیابی اور بہت سے دوسرے مسائل دریش ہیں ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم نے بعض اقدام فوری طور پر اٹھانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے ۔ اپنے وعدہ کے مطابق وزیر اعلی ہاؤس کے 8 کلب کے حصہ کو خواتین کی آئی ٹی یونیورسٹی میں تبدیل کرنے کا اعلان کیا جاچکا ہے ۔ وزیر اعلی ہاؤس کے اخراجات جو کہ 40 کروڑ روپے تھے ان میں 70 فیصد کمی وزیر اعلی ہاؤس کے افسران و ملازمین میں کمی اور عوامی وسائل کو ذاتی تشہیر کیلئے استعمال نہ کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے ۔ کابینہ بھی مختر بنائی جارہی ہے جبکہ وزراء اور سرکاری افسران کو صرف قانون کے مطابق ہی سہولتیں فراہم کی جائیں گی ۔ انتظامی ڈھانچے میں بھی بنیادی تبدیلیاں کی جائیں گی ۔ سرکاری خزانہ کو بے دریغ استعمال کرنے والوں کا احتساب کیا جائے گا اہم عہدوں پر فرض شناس افسران کو تعینات کیا جائے گا ۔ وزیر اعلی نے کہا کہ مقامی حکومتوں کا فیصلہ بھی درست کیا جائے گا اور ان کی کارکردگی پر حکومتی توجہ د یجائے گی ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ بے گھر غریب عوام کو مرحلہ وار سکیم کے تحت سستے گھر فراہم کئے جائیں گے اور مستحق طلبہ کی تعلیم کا خرچ حکومت اٹھائے گی ۔ شادی بیاہ پر ون ڈش کھانے کے قانون پر عملدرآمد کو یقینی بنایا جائے گا اور اس کا اطلاق بغیر کسی تفریق کے ہو گا ۔ محکمہ مال کو مال بنانے کی اجازت نہیں دیں گے ۔ صحت کے دیہی مراکز کی حالت زار کو بھی بہتر بنایا جائے گا ۔ اگر ہم یہ سب کچھ نہ کر سکے تو اقتدار کو ٹھوکر مار دیں گے ۔ انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ سابق دور میں مسلم لیگ (ن) پیپلز پارٹی ایم ایم اے کے کارکنوں وکلاء اور صحافیوں کے خلاف جو سیاسی مقدمات بنائے گئے ہیں انہیں شفاف طریق کار کے تحت ختم کیا جائے گا ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم قطعا انتقامی سیاست نہیں کریں گے بلکہ ہماری جنگ غربت نا انصافی اور دہشت گردی کے خلا ف ہے ۔ بے روزگاری کے خاتمہ کے لئے نوجوانوں کو ووکیشنل تعلیم دی جائے گی ۔

دولت مشترکہ نے پاکستان کی رکنیت بحال کر نے کا فیصلہ کر لیا

لندن ۔ دولت مشترکہ نے پاکستان کی رکنیت بحال کرنے کا فیصلہ کیاہے اس سلسلے میں دولت مشترکہ اور پاکستان کے درمیان مذاکرات بارہ مئی کو ہوں گے۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق مذاکرات کا مقصد دولت مشترکہ سے پاکستان کی معطلی اور پابندیوں کے خاتمے کے فیصلے پر نظر ثانی کرنا ہے ۔گزشتہ سال 2007 ء کو صدر مشرف کو ملک سے ایمرجنسی اٹھانے اور اپنے آرمی چیف کے عہدے سے مستعفی ہونے کی ڈیڈ لائن دی تھی جس پر اقدامات نہ ہونے کے باعث دولت مشترکہ نے 53 ممالک کی فہرست میں سے پاکستان کا نام خارج کر دیا تھا دولت مشترکہ کے وزراء کا گروپ ادارے کے قوانین کے مطابق جمہوریت کی بحالی کے لیے اقدامات کا ذمہ دار ہے۔ یہ گروپ بارہ مئی کو لندن میں پاکستانی حکام سے دولت مشترکہ کی رکنیت کی بحالی کے حوالے سے مذاکرات کرے گا۔ دولت مشترکہ کے بیان میں مزید کہا گیا ہے کہ ادارہ پاکستان میں انتخابات کے اطمینان بخش نتائج کے بعد دوبارہ دولت مشترکہ کا رکن بنانے پر متفق ہے ۔ دولت مشترکہ کے ترجمان نے کہاکہ صدر مشرف فوجی عہدے سے مستعفی ہو چکے ہیں ۔ پاکستان میں نئی حکومت بن چکی ہے اس لیے پاکستان پر دولت مشترکہ کی جانب سے لگائی جانے والی پابندیاں دوبارہ ہٹائی جاسکتی ہیں اور اس حوالے سے دولت مشترکہ کی ٹیم پاکستانی حکام سے ملاقات بھی کرے گی ۔

سپریم کورٹ میں گریجویشن شرط کے خلاف پٹیشن کی سماعت ٢١ اپریل تک ملتوی

گریجویشن شرط سے 97 فیصد ووٹر متاثر ہوئے ہیں ختم کی جائے ‘ اٹارنی جنرل
اسلام آباد ۔ سپریم کورٹ 21 اپریل کو ممبران پارلیمنٹ کے لئے گریجویشن کی شرط کے خاتمے کے لئے دائر پٹیشن کی سماعت کرے گی جمعہ کے روز پٹیشن کی سماعت کے موقع پر اٹارنی جنرل ملک محمد قیوم نے کہا ہے کہ انتخابات میں گریجویشن کی شرط امتیازی ہے جس سے 97 فیصد ووٹر متاثر ہوئے ہیں ۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق اٹارنی جنرل آف پاکستان ملک محمد قیوم نے فاضل عدالت میں گریجویشن کے اعداد و شمار کرتے ہوئے موقف اختیار کیا کہ پاکستان کی کل آبادی 16 کروڑ سے زائد ہے جس میں 6 کروڑ 81 لاکھ رجسٹرز ووٹرز کی تعداد ہے ۔ اور ان میں سے گریجویشن ووٹرز کی تعداد 25 لاکھ 45 ہزار ہے جو کہ کل آبادی کا 1.4 فیصد بنتے ہیں جبکہ رجسٹر ووٹر کا یہ 3.2 فیصد بنتے ہیں ۔ اس موقع پر اٹارنی جنرل نے گریجویشن کی تعداد کا چارٹ پیش کرتے ہوئے سپریم کورٹ آف پاکستان سے درخواست کی کہ اس شرط کو غیر آئینی قرار دیتے ہوئے ختم کیا جائے ۔

نواز شریف حلقے “ این اے ١٢٣ “ سے ضمنی انتخاب میں حصہ لیں گے

لاہور۔ ذرائع کے مطابق پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن کے سربراہ میاں نواز شریف لاہور کے قومی اسمبلی کے حلقے NA۔123سے ضمنی انتخاب میں حصہ لیں گے۔اس سے قبل 18فروری کے انتخابات میں حصہ لینے کے لیے دونوں بھائیوں نواز شریف اور شہباز شریف کے کاغذاتِ نامزدگی مسترد ہو گئے تھے۔پارٹی کے ذرائع نے بتایا ہے کہ میاں نواز شریف نے متعلقہ پریزائیڈنگ افسر سے کاغذاتِ نامزدگی حاصل کرلیے ہیں جب کہ ان کے بھائی شہباز شریف نے پنجاب اسمبلی کی نشست PP۔154سے ضمنی انتخاب میں حصہ لینے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔ذرائع نے بتایا ہے کہ اب جب کہ تمام عدالتوں نے کہہ دیا ہے کہ شریف برادران نے کسی بینک یا ادارے کا ایک پیسہ بھی نہیں دینا، پھر یہ کہ وہ پاکستان میں موجود بھی ہیں، اِس لیے ان کے کاغذاتِ نامزدگی مسترد ہونے کا سوال ہی پیدا نہیں ہوتا۔انہوں نے یہ بھی بتایا کہ شہباز شریف کا نام سبزہ زار کیس کے ملزمان کی فہرست سے خارج ہو چکا ہے۔خیال رہے کہ شہباز شریف الیکشن جیت کر وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب بننے کا ارادہ رکھتے ہیں جب کہ میاں نواز شریف کے قومی اسمبلی میں آنے سے، مبصرین کے بقول، صدر پرویز مشرف پر پی ایم ایل ن کے قائد کی براہِ راست تنقید میں اضافہ ہو سکتا ہے۔

نومنتخب وزیر اعلی پنجاب دوست محمد کھوسہ نے اسمبلی سے اعتماد کا ووٹ لے لیا

لاہور۔ نومنتخب وزیر اعلی پنجاب سردار دوست محمد کھوسہ نے پنجاب اسمبلی سے اعتماد کا ووٹ حاصل کرلیا ہے۔ ان پر٢٦٤ ارکان نے اعتماد کا اظہار کیا۔۔ وزیر اعلی پر اعتماد کی قراداد رکن اسمبلی ندیم کامران نے پیش کی۔ اسپیکر نے وزیر اعلی پر اعتماد کے اظہار کی کارروائی کے سلسلے میں چار رکنی پینل تشکیل دیا۔ جس کے بعد ایوان میں پانچ منٹ تک گھنٹیاں بجائی گئیں اگلے مرحلے میں وزیر اعلی کے حامی ارکان نے اسپیکر کے دائیں جانب والے دروازے سے گزر کر ان پر اعتماد کا اظہار کیا۔ جس کے بعد اراکین کی گنتی کے بعد ڈویڑن کے طریقہ کار کے ذریعے نتیجے کا علان کیا گیا۔پنجاب اسمبلی کا اجلاس اسپیکر رانا محمد اقبال کی زیر صدارت جب شروع ہوا تو حکومتی ارکان اسمبلی نے ایوان میں شدید شو ر شرابہ اور نعرے بازی کی۔ پنجاب اسمبلی میں مسلم لیگ نواز اور پیپلز پارٹی کے اراکین نے اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں صدر مشرف کے خلاف شدید نعرے بازی کی پوائنٹ آف آرڈر پر مسلم لیگ نواز اور پیپلز پارٹی کیاراکین نے مہنگائی کے بحران کو گزشتہ حکومت کا پیدا کردہ قرار دیا ۔ جبکہ اپوزیشن اراکین نے یہ مؤقف اختیار کیا کہ انہیں ایوان میں بولنے کا موقع نہیں دیا جا رہا ہے۔ جس کے بعد اپوزیشن اراکین اجلاس سے واک آؤٹ کر گئے۔ جنہیں منانے کیلئے اسپیکر نے سنئیر وزیر راجہ ریاض کو بھیجا تاہم اپوزیشن نے اجلاس میں واپس آنے سے انکار کردیا ۔ پنجاب اسمبلی/ وزیر اعلی اعتماد ووٹ لے لیا۔

حکومت اپنے ابتدائی سودنوں کے پروگرام کے دوران ١٠ لاکھ گھروں کی تعمیر کا کام شروع کردے گی ۔ سید یوسف رضا گیلانی

۔ وزیراعظم سید یوسف رضا گیلانی نے اس عزم کا اعادہ کیا ہے کہ حکومت اپنے ابتدائی سودنوں کے پروگرام کے دوران 10 لاکھ گھروں کی تعمیر کا کام شروع کردے گی ۔ جمعہ کے روز وقفہ سوالات کے دوران وزیراعظم نے کہا کہ ہاؤسنگ پالیسی کا ایک جامع منصوبہ بنا رہے ہیں اس سے قبل 1985 ء میں بھی ہاؤسنگ سکیم کا منصوبہ شروع کیا تھا جو انتہائی کامیاب رہا تھا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ حکومت سرکاری ملازمین کو گھر بنانے کے مسائل کم کرنے کی بھرپور کوشش کررہی ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہماری حکومت نے پہلے سو دنوں کاپروگرام شروع کیا ہے جس کے تحت مزید 10 لاکھ گھر تعمیر کرنے کا کام شروع کردیا جائے گا۔ انہوں نے کہاکہ ہاؤسنگ سکیم کے اچھے نتائج برآمد ہوئے ہیں جسے جاری رکھا جائے گا ۔ دریں اثناء بیگم بیلم حسنین اور دیگر کے سوالوں کا جواب دیتے ہوئے وزیر مکانات و و تعمیرات حاجی رحمت اللہ کاکڑ نے ایوان کو بتایا کہ 13 مارچ 1995 ء کو کابینہ کے فیصلے کے مطابق اسلام آباد اور راولپنڈی میں وفاقی سرکاری ملازمین کے لیے کوئی نئی سرکاری رہائشی سکیم شروع کرنے کی کوئی تجویز حکومت کے زیر غور نہیں ہے ۔ درین اثناء وزیر صنعت و پیداوار سید نوید قمر نے پوچھے گئے سوالوں کا جواب دیتے ہوئے ایوان کو بتایا کہ مالی سال 2006-07 ء کے دوران ملک میں خوردنی تیل / گھی کی مجموعی پیداوار تقریبا 29 لاکھ ٹن ریکارڈ کی گئی ہے جبکہ ملک میں خوردنی تیل کی مجموعی سالانہ ملکی طلب تقریبا 27 لاکھ ٹن ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پابندیوں سے ذاد ہے تاہم قیمتوں میں کمی کرنے اور ان میں استحکام لانے پر رسد میں اضافہ کرنے کے لیے کیے گئے اقدامات کے تحت حکومت یویٹیلٹی سٹورز کارپوریشن کے مراکز کے ذریعے 67 روپے فی کلو کی رعایتی قیمت کے حساب سے یوٹیلٹی سٹورز کارپوریشن برانڈ کا گھی / پکانے کا تیل فراہم کررہی ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ حکومت نے وزیراعظم سیکرٹریٹ میں فیڈرل فوڈ کمیٹی قائم کی ہے جو طلب اور قیمتوں پر نظر رکھے ہوئے ہیں اس کے ساتھ ساتھ پاکستان آئل سیڈ ڈویلپمنٹ بورڈ ، وزارت خوراک زراعت و لائیو سٹاک روغنی بیجوں کی کاشت کو فروغ دے رہا ہے تاکہ ملکی پیداوار میں اضافہ ہو ۔ سید نوید قمر نے مزید بتایا کہ کاروں کے لیے ای ایف آئی انجن اب ایک ترقی یافتہ ٹیکنالوجی ہے ۔ پاکستان میں تیار کی جانے والی زیادہ تر کاروں کے ماڈلوں میں ای ایف آئی انجن استعمال ہوتے ہیں تاہم کم / تعداد کی کاروں میں ای ایف آئی انجن نہیں ہیں۔ زیادہ فاصلہ کارکردگی اور طاقت کے حوالوں سے ترجیح حاصل کرنے کے لیے کار انڈسٹری میں مسابقت کاریں تیار کرنے والوں میں اپنی گاڑیوں کے انجن کی خصوصیات ا ور ٹیکنالوجی میں بہتری پیدا کرنے کی ترغیب دیتی ہے۔ تاہم کاریں تیار کرنے والوں کے لیے صرف ای ایف آئی انجن کی کاریں ہی تیار کرنے کی کوئی پالیسی یا شرط نہیں ہے ۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ اگر تمام گاڑیوں کو سی این جی پر منتقل نہیںکیا جاسکتا تاہم اس شعبے کو مزید مراعات دینے کی ضرورت ہے انہوں نے کہا کہ پی پی پی کی سابق حکومت نے توانائی کے حوالے سے بہترین پالیسی بنائی تھی کو گزشتہ حکومت نے اگرچہ بعض صنعتیں لگائیں مگر ناقص منصوبہ بندی سے یہ صنعتیں اس لیے نہ چل سکیں کہ آج ملک میں توانائی کا بحران ہے مگر ہماری حکومت گیس کے استعمال میں اسی صورت ہی اضافہ کرے گی جب گیس کی سپلائی میں اضافے کویقینی بنایا جائے گا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ گیس کی اگر قلت ہے بھی تو ہم اسے دور کریں گے۔

Condition of Graduation in elections is discriminatory: Attorney General

ISLAMABAD: The Attorney General of Pakistan Justice ® Malik Qayyum has said condition of Graduation in elections was discriminatory and affects 97 percent voters. During a hearing of writ petition filed by a citizen in the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding condition of Graduation, the Attorney General presented statistics of Graduate citizens in the court that shows number of Graduates in Pakistan is more than 2.5 million.

Warrants for Baitullah

PESHAWAR - An anti-terrorism court in Dera Ismail Khan yesterday issued non-bailable arrest warrants of militant commander Baitullah Mehsud and his three associates.
The court of senior judge Fayazullah Khan while issuing arrest warrants of Baitullah Mehsud, Qari Hussain and Imran, directed the NWFP police to produce them on April 25.
According to prosecution, Baitullah Mehsud, Qari Hussain and Imran were nominated in an FIR pertained to a suicide attack against police in July last year. At least 18 people were killed and 17 others injured in the suicide attack.

Arbab among 1,200 put on ECL

KARACHI - The new coalition government has placed about 1200 high-profile personalities of the country on the Exit Control List (ECL), Khaleej Times learnt.
Among those who are banned from proceeding abroad include politicians, government officials, retired security personnel and industrialists. A prominent individual on the notorious list is the former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
According to an interior ministry order, a fresh list of 854 people had been made that included 248 people from Punjab, 211 from Sindh, 93 from NWFP, 133 from Balochistan and 169 from Islamabad on the recommendation of the National Accountability Bureau. The new entrants are mostly those people who were apparently near the previous government or had close contacts with the decisions makers of the PML-Q-led alliance.

Ex-judge says current SC is unconstitutional

LAHORE - Former senior most judge of the Supreme Court Justice Rana Bhagwandas has said the existing ‘apex court’ is unconstitutional and illegal and the validity it gave to the November 3 Proclamation of Emergency has no worth and justification.
Addressing the Lahore High Court Bar Association yesterday, he said since the status of the existing Supreme Court was not constitutional, the position of its judgment under which it validated the unconstitutional, illegal and immoral acts of November 3 was also of no consequence.
The speech was studded with couplets of various poets and the lawyers, through slogans, reiterated their resolve to continue their struggle for the restoration of pre-November 3 judiciary.
Some slogans meant that the struggle would continue till the ‘destruction’ of Gen. Musharraf. The former judge, who had acted as chief justice after President Pervez Musharraf had first filed a reference against Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, advised the lawyers not to involve themselves in sloganeering. “It’s the actions, not slogans, that can ensure the victory of the struggle.”
Justice Bhagwandas, who lost his job as a result of the imposition of emergency and introduction of PCO on November 3, stands superannuated and has no chance to get reinstated even if parliament, one way or the other, restores the other five dozen judges.
He said only parliament could validate President Musharraf’s steps by a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament. And unless the bicameral legislature did so, the apex court’s validation would be a futile exercise.
Referring to the criticism that of the sacked judges there were many who had taken oath under the PCOs in the past, Justice Bhagwandas said the PCO enforced by President Musharraf on November 3 was different from the ones promulgated in the past.
While the PCOs brought in 1981 and 2000 had affected all institutions, the one enforced on November 3 specifically aimed at ‘strangulating’ the judiciary. He praised all judges who had refused to take oath under the unconstitutional document.
He lamented that all governments, civilians and others, wanted a weak judiciary for their own interests. However, he said, a weak judiciary could not deliver or come up to people’s expectations.
He urged the lawyers to continue their struggle, assuring them that they were about to achieve their goal. He was confident that as a result of the ongoing struggle the judges would be back to their position in the near future. He was equally confident that parliament would not endorse the unconstitutional acts of President Musharraf.
The lawyers boycotted the courts yesterday and held a rally in the city. On the way, they raised slogans. Leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and the Khaksar Tehrik and the Muslim Students Federation also participated in the rally.
Leaders of the Lahore High Court Bar and the Lahore District Bar demanded the dismissal of Attorney-General Malik Qayyum. They also said that President Musharraf should be tried for the unconstitutional steps he had taken during his period.

Two Pakistani soldiers killed by roadside bomb

ISLAMABAD - Two paramilitary soldiers were killed Friday in a roadside bombing in south-western Pakistan, officials said.
"It was a remote-controlled bomb that destroyed the vehicle of the paramilitary Frontier Corps," a local police official said.
"One soldier was also injured in the attack," added the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The blast occurred near the town of Dera Bugti, about 300 kilometres south-east of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.
No one had accepted responsibility for the attack, but Baloch nationalists seeking autonomy and a greater share of the province's oil and gas wealth have carried out such attacks as part of their three-year guerrilla campaign against security forces.
The government of President Pervez Musharraf has used military and paramilitary forces to suppress the rebellion, but the new provincial government, made up Musharraf's rivals, has vowed to hold peace talks with the tribal insurgents.
"We should start the process of reconciliation so we may bring peace and prosperity to this federal unit, especially, and, on a larger scale, to the country," newly elected Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani told the local legislative assembly last week.

Pakistan activist seeks prosection of Musharraf

ISLAMABAD - A Pakistani activist has demanded police register a criminal case against President Pervez Musharraf over a crackdown on a militant mosque that left at least 100 people dead.
Khalid Khawaja said he submitted the application to police in Islamabad on Friday. It accuses Musharraf and other officials in the deaths of a senior cleric and others in the commando raid on the capital’s Red Mosque last July.
About 200 Islamic hard-liners rallied outside the mosque before marching to the police station with Khwaja.
Officer Shabbir Hussain confirmed police had received the application but did not say whether they would register a case against the president.
Hussain said police would proceed “according to the law.”

Militants kill female health worker in Pakistan

PESHAWAR- Suspected militants shot dead a female health worker overnight in a Taliban-infested district in northwest Pakistan, residents and officials said Friday.
An unknown number of assailants raided a health facility late Thursday and gunned down 35-year-old Nihar Begum in the village of Baotha in the Mohmand tribal district which borders Afghanistan.
Residents blamed local Taliban gangs for the killing.
“They oppose women’s activities in every field,” a resident told AFP by telephone.
Local official Haseeb Khan confirmed the incident but said it was not immediately clear whether the attackers were local Taliban.
“We have arrested three suspects and are interrogating them,” Khan said.
Armed men abducted and beat 11 health workers sent to a Pakistani tribal area to administer polio vaccinations forcing the suspension of the campaign in August last year.
In February 2007, a Pakistani health official in charge of a polio inoculation campaign was killed in neighbouring Bajaur district in a bomb blast.

Govt to provide one million houses to retired govt employees: Gilani

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday said the government would provide one million housing units to the retired government employees. Replying to a question during Question Hour in the National Assembly he said the construction of these housing units would be undertaken very soon.
“It is part of our 100 days programme to provide one million housing units to the government employees when they retire from service,” he added.
The Prime Minister said the provincial governments would also start implementing the programme.
Replying to another question on tourism, the prime minister said the 2005 earthquake badly affected the tourism industry in the country.
The other reason, he added, was law and order situation which deteriorated in the past in tourist potential areas.
He said tourism flourishes if the law and order were under control.
Prime Minister Gilani said under the tourism policy not only the facilities in tourist areas would be improved but the government will also ensure the restoration of law and order.
He said in areas like Swat, Kaghan and lake Saiful Malook, infrastructure and tourist facilities were badly damaged by the devastating 2005 earthquake.
He expressed the hope that once the infrastructure and facilities in these areas are fully restored, the flow of tourists will also improve significantly.

PM creates history by answering questions during Question Hour: Sherry

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman Friday said Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has created a history by answering questions during Ministers Question Hour in the National Assembly.
“No Prime Minister in the world answers questions relating to his cabinet ministers and Mr. Gilani has set a new tradition by doing so,” she said this while responding to a point of order by Opposition member Dr. Donia Aziz.
The Minister recalled during his inaugural speech, the Prime Minister had announced that Prime Minister’s Question Hour would be initiated in the National Assembly and from the next session the practice would be started as there is a requirement for giving due notice for the purpose.

Condition of graduation in elections is discriminatory: AG

ISLAMABAD : Attorney General Malik Qayyum has said, condition of graduation in elections was discriminatory. He stated this during hearing of a writ petition filed by a citizen in the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding condition of Graduation, private news channel GEO reported.The Attorney General presented statistics of graduate citizens in the court which showed that the number of graduates in the country is more than 2.5 million, .

Strict directives issued to stop wheat, rice, pulses smuggling

ISLAMABAD : Pakistani border security forces have been given short-term authority for combating smuggling of rice, pulses and wheat to neighboring countries including Afghanistan. According to a private news channel, FBR in its handout said that SRO 330 has been amended for checking smuggling of rice, pulses, wheat and items made of wheat to Afghanistan and other countries.
This amendment in SRO empowered the FC in NWFP and Baluchistan and Rangers in Punjab and Sindh for arresting smuggling of these items.
It further said that these powers would rest with them until May 15.

Govt will not allow foreigners access to NCCA: Qureshi

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday categorically stated that the government would not allow foreigners to attend the meeting of National Command and Control Authority (NCCA).
“Pakistan will not permit any access to anybody to its sensitive installations and NCCA meeting,” Qureshi assured National Assembly in response to a calling attention notice.
“There is nothing to be concerned. Neither any US official has asked to attend the NCCA meeting nor the government had allowed anybody,” he added.
MNAs Dr Attiya Inayatullah, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Shahnaz Sheikh and Nosheen Saeed had drawn the attention of the Minister towards placement of a permanent American official at the US Embassy in Pakistan to deal with Pakistan’s nuclear issues who would have direct access to the National Command Authority.
Qureshi said, “Pakistan’s nuclear programme is safe and in safe hands. Whole the nation has consensus that nuclear programme is deeply related to national security.
He said the government had received no such request from the United States.
The members have based their notice on a news item, he said, adding “and I categorically rebut it and assure that Pakistan would manifest complete wisdom and self respect in the matters of national defence and foreign policy.”
To a question about international concerns on Pakistan’s nuclear programme, the Foreign Minister said, “We are following the best practices to address international concerns. The government had invited the diplomats and briefed them to address their concerns.”
“Our nuclear programme is secure and there is no need for any concern what so ever,” he added.
To another question whether other countries would not be allowed to visit the nuclear installations, the minister said, he had already assured it.

Govt to take up dams construction issue with Indian FM

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday assured National Assembly to forcefully take up the upstream dams construction issue with the Indian Foreign Minister during his visit to Pakistan.
“We are cognizant of the issue. Certain violation of the Indus River Treaty have been committed by India and the government would take up the issue with visiting Indian Foreign Minister in May,” Qureshi informed the House in response to a calling attention notice.
MNAs Marvi Memon, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada had drawn the attention of the Minister towards construction of controversial water projects by India on rivers Jehlum and Chenab.
The minister said, India has started some projects on these rivers upstream, that have been designated for Pakistan under 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
“Pakistan forcefully took up the Wooller Barrage construction issue earlier with the Indian government through Commission’s permanent representative,” he said.
The minister maintained that an effective monitoring mechanism is in place. Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Water and Power are cognizant of the issue and have raised it with India.
“Water issue is very sensitive. We are not negligent to it and I assure not to repeat the follies of the past,” he said, adding, “this issue has also been made the part of Composite Dialogue.”
To a question, the minister said, though these violation continued over the years, yet the Treaty provides basis for their resolution. “As soon as the matter came to our notice, our representative raised it with Indian government.”
Later, he said, a neutral expert was appointed to investigate the matter and Islamabad had raised four objections with the expert out of which three objections were established as valid.
In case of fourth objection, he said, though it was also valid in our point of view but the expert assessed it according to international standards.
To another question, the minister said, Pakistan desires better relations with neighbouring countries and believes in resolution of disputes through dialogue.
Qureshi said it has been written in the treaty that Pakistan has its right on Jehlum, Chenab and Indus rivers and flow of water cannot be stopped in these rivers.
However, he said, the Treaty provides for use of water from these rivers for domestic, non-consumptive and hydro power generation purposes.
“But, India violated treaty in terms of designs of dams or otherwise, and Pakistan is raising this issue at appropriate forum,” he said and assured, “we would not allow anything that harms our national interest.”

Asif Ali Zardari conferred on Human Rights Award

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE



KARACHI : Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of PPPP would be conferred on Human Rights Awards, announced Aqil Lodhi advocate, President of Lawyers Committee for Human Rights Pakistan and chairman of Human Rights Committee of Sindh Bar Council.
According to a press release here Friday, the award will be conferred on Zardari at a simple and impressive ceremony at the federal capital.
The award was being conferred on in recognition of his eight years long imprisonment, efforts to end terrorism in the country, efforts to solve problems in tribal areas of the country and announcement to solve the Kashmir issue through dialogue.
According to the press statement, the decision was taken after a long debate for two days.
The chairmen of different Human Rights bodies including UN Committee on HR would be present on the occassion. The heads of all political parties would also be invited to the ceremony, announced Aqil Lodhi advocate.

Khosa secures confidence of 264 MPAs

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

LAHORE -Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa secured confidence of the house by securing 264 votes in the Punjab Assembly on Friday.
Sardar Khosa, the youngest chief executive of the province, sought vote of confidence, under article 130(3) of the constiution, from the Punjab Assembly as it met this morning.
MPA Malik Nadeem Kamran moved the resolution for formally initiating the process of voting while the session was chaired by Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mohammed Iqbal.

Pentagon institute calls Iraq war 'a major debacle' with outcome 'in doubt'

By Jonathan S. Landay and John Walcott, McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — The war in Iraq has become "a major debacle" and the outcome "is in doubt" despite improvements in security from the buildup in U.S. forces, according to a highly critical study published Thursday by the Pentagon's premier military educational institute.

The report released by the National Defense University raises fresh doubts about President Bush 's projections of a U.S. victory in Iraq just a week after Bush announced that he was suspending U.S. troop reductions.
The report carries considerable weight because it was written by Joseph Collins , a former senior Pentagon official, and was based in part on interviews with other former senior defense and intelligence officials who played roles in prewar preparations.
It was published by the university's National Institute for Strategic Studies , a Defense Department research center.
"Measured in blood and treasure, the war in Iraq has achieved the status of a major war and a major debacle," says the report's opening line.
At the time the report was written last fall, more than 4,000 U.S. and foreign troops, more than 7,500 Iraqi security forces and as many as 82,000 Iraqi civilians had been killed and tens of thousands of others wounded, while the cost of the war since March 2003 was estimated at $450 billion .
"No one as yet has calculated the costs of long-term veterans' benefits or the total impact on service personnel and materiel," wrote Collins, who was involved in planning post-invasion humanitarian operations.
The report said that the United States has suffered serious political costs, with its standing in the world seriously diminished. Moreover, operations in Iraq have diverted "manpower, materiel and the attention of decision-makers" from "all other efforts in the war on terror" and severely strained the U.S. armed forces.
"Compounding all of these problems, our efforts there (in Iraq ) were designed to enhance U.S. national security, but they have become, at least temporarily, an incubator for terrorism and have emboldened Iran to expand its influence throughout the Middle East ," the report continued.
The addition of 30,000 U.S. troops to Iraq last year to halt the country's descent into all-out civil war has improved security, but not enough to ensure that the country emerges as a stable democracy at peace with its neighbors, the report said.
"Despite impressive progress in security, the outcome of the war is in doubt," said the report. "Strong majorities of both Iraqis and Americans favor some sort of U.S. withdrawal. Intelligence analysts, however, remind us that the only thing worse than an Iraq with an American army may be an Iraq after a rapid withdrawal of that army."
"For many analysts (including this one), Iraq remains a 'must win,' but for many others, despite obvious progress under General David Petraeus and the surge, it now looks like a 'can't win.'"
The report lays much of the blame for what went wrong in Iraq after the initial U.S. victory at the feet of then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld . It says that in November 2001 , before the war in Afghanistan was over, President Bush asked Rumsfeld "to begin planning in secret for potential military operations against Iraq ."
Rumsfeld, who was closely allied with Vice President Dick Cheney , bypassed the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the report says, and became "the direct supervisor of the combatant commanders."
" . . . the aggressive, hands-on Rumsfeld," it continues, "cajoled and pushed his way toward a small force and a lightning fast operation." Later, he shut down the military's computerized deployment system, "questioning, delaying or deleting units on the numerous deployment orders that came across his desk."
In part because "long, costly, manpower-intensive post-combat operations were anathema to Rumsfeld," the report says, the U.S. was unprepared to fight what Collins calls "War B," the battle against insurgents and sectarian violence that began in mid-2003, shortly after "War A," the fight against Saddam Hussein's forces, ended.
Compounding the problem was a series of faulty assumptions made by Bush's top aides, among them an expectation fed by Iraqi exiles that Iraqis would be grateful to America for liberating them from Saddam's dictatorship. The administration also expected that " Iraq without Saddam could manage and fund its own reconstruction."
The report also singles out the Bush administration's national security apparatus and implicitly President Bush and both of his national security advisers, Condoleezza Rice and Stephen Hadley , saying that "senior national security officials exhibited in many instances an imperious attitude, exerting power and pressure where diplomacy and bargaining might have had a better effect."
Collins ends his report by quoting Winston Churchill , who said: "Let us learn our lessons. Never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. . . . Always remember, however sure you are that you can easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think that he also had a chance."

Kareena and Deepika to dance for SRK

Item songs have become a crucial part of film promotions. The recently released Krazzy 4 had three item numbers done by Hrithik, SRK and Rakhi Sawant. Reportedly Karan Johar’s forthcoming film will have two item numbers featuring Shilpa Shetty and Shah Rukh. And now two sexy sirens of Bollywood, Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will be seen in sizzling hot item numbers for Priyadarshan’s Billoo Barber. Reportedly Kareena, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone will be opposite Shah Rukh Khan as he is plays an actor in the film. We have been informed that apart from a cameo, Kareena and Deepika will be doing item songs for this film. It can be recalled that before this Kareena has done an item number for her director friend Lovely Singh’ Kya Love Story Hai. A unit hand informs that Kareena has already shot for her part on Baisakhi at Mehboob studio. Her song has been choreographed by Ganesh Hegde while Deepika who is shooting for Siddharth Anand’s Bachna Aye Haseeno will shoot later in this month. Billoo Barber is an adaptation of the story between Lord Krishna and Sudama which will be produced by SRK’s production house Red Chillies Ent. It’s a story of friendship between two friends - one rich and the other a poor villager, which will have SRK in a completely new avatar. Apart from SRK, Irrfan Khan will be seen in a prominent role and Lara Dutta will be seen opposite Irrfan.

That singing feeling

After singing with Asha Bhonsle for her music album, Asha And Friends, Sanjay Dutt will pick up the mike again for Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming film, Kkompany. The track will not only have Sanjay singing, he will also be featured in the video. The song, which is expected to be the title track of the film, is composed by Anand Raaj Anand and Sanjay is yet to record it. When contacted, Ramesh Sippy, CEO Balaji Motion Pictures, said, “The production team thought about it suddenly, while doing a dummy recording of the song. We then concluded that the song can’t be featured on any of the three lead characters Tusshar Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav and Anupam Kher since all of them are being introduced through this song. So, Dutt came to mind and we approached him. Sanju agreed to do it.” The video will be directed by Rahul Sud. Sippy added, “The song will be played in the background and Sanju will introduce each character through it. He will be the sutradhar. Sanjay has to come and dub for the song now.”

چین 50 کروڑ ڈالر نقد دے گا: قریشی

چین بھاشا ڈیم کی تعمیر کے لئے قرض اور تکنیکی مدد دے گا: قریشی
چین پاکستان کو پچاس کروڑ ڈالر کیش اور بھاشا ڈیم کی تعمیر کے لئے مالی اور تکنیکی تعاون فراہم کرے گا۔
یہ بات دفتر خارجہ میں ہونے والی ہفتہ وار بریفنگ میں وزیر خارجہ شاہ محمود قریشی نے خصوصی طور پر شرکت کرتے ہوئے کہی۔ وہ صدر مملکت پرویز مشرف کے دورہ چین کے حوالے سے بریفنگ دے رہے تھے۔
صدر مشرف کے حالیہ دورہ چین کے دوران چینی قیادت نے پاکستان کو درپیش مالی اور توانائی کے بحران سے نکالنے کے لئے متعدد فوری اقدامات کا اعلان کیا ہے۔
دس سے پندرہ اپریل کے دوران صدر مشرف کے دورہ چین کے دوران ہونے والے معاہدوں کے بارے میں تفصیلات بتاتے ہوئے وزیر خارجہ نے کہا کہ پچاس کروڑ ڈالر کی یہ رقم آسان قرض کی صورت میں ہوگی جو فوری طور پر پاکستان منتقل کر دی جائے گی۔
وزیر خارجہ کے مطابق یہ رقم پاکستان پر واجب الادا رقوم میں عدم توازن (بیلنس آف پے منٹ) کو ختم کرنے کے لئے استعمال کی جائے گی۔
چین پاکستان میں توانائی کی فوری ضروریات پوری کرنے کے لئے درآمدی کوئلے سے بجلی پیدا کرنے کے پلانٹس بھی لگائے گا۔

وزیر خارجہبھاشا ڈیم کی تعمیر کے لئے چینی تعاون کی تفصیل بتاتے ہوئے شاہ محمود قریشی نے کہا کہ چین اس منصوبے کے لئے نہ صرف آسان اقساط پر قرض فراہم کرے گا بلکہ ڈیم کی تعمیر کے لئے تکنیکی مدد بھی دے گا۔
’اسکے علاوہ پاکستان میں توانائی کی فوری ضروریات پوری کرنے کے لئے درآمدی کوئلے سے بجلی پیدا کرنے کے پلانٹس بھی لگائے گا۔‘
اسکے علاوہ چین نے بھارت اور ایران کے ساتھ مشترکہ پائپ لائن منصوبے میں بھی شامل ہونے میں دلچسپی ظاہر کی ہے اور اس گیس پائپ لائن کے علاوہ پاکستان کو تیل کی فراہمی کے لئے بھی چین سے ایک تیل پائپ لائن بچھانے کا منصوبہ بھی تجویز کیا گیا ہے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ چین نے افغانستان میں اپنے تعمیراتی منصوبوں کے لئے پاکستان کو سپلائی روٹ کے طور پر استعمال کرنے کا بھی فیصلہ کیا ہے۔
چین نے بھارت اور ایران کے ساتھ مشترکہ پائپ لائن منصوبے میں بھی شامل ہونے میں دلچسپی ظاہر کی ہے اور اس گیس پائپ لائن کے علاوہ پاکستان کو تیل کی فراہمی کے لئے بھی چین سے ایک تیل پائپ لائن بچھانے کا منصوبہ بھی تجویز کیا گیا ہے۔

وزیر خارجہوزیر خارجہ نے کہا کہ چینی قیادت کو بتایا گیا کہ پاکستان میں چینی سرمایہ کاروں اور کارکنوں کی حفاظت یقینی بنانے کے لئے مرکزی اور صوبائی وزارت داخلہ میں خصوصی سیل قائم کئے جا رہے ہیں۔
’پاک چین تجارت اگلے تین برسوں میں پندرہ ارب ڈالر تک پہنچ جائے گی جو پاک چین گہرے رشتوں کی مثال ہے۔‘
وزیر خارجہ نے ملک کی خارجہ پالیسی کے لئے سمت کا تعین کرنے کے لئے دو خصوصی ٹاسک فورسز بنانے کا بھی اعلان کیا۔
ان میں سے ایک ٹاسک فورس اقتصادی بنیادوں پر خارجہ پالیسی کی ترجیحات کا از سر نو تعین کرنے کے لئے تجاویز مرتب کرے گی جبکہ دوسری ٹاسک فورس یہ طے کرے گی کہ دس سال بعد بین الاقوامی برادری میں پاکستان کی حیثیت کیا ہونی چاہئے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ دانشور اور ٹیکنوکریٹس پر مشتمل یہ ٹاسک فورسز پاکستان کی خارجہ پالیسی کی بنیاد فراہم کریں گی۔
اس سوال کے جواب میں کہ بحیثیت وزیر خارجہ صدر پرویز مشرف کے ساتھ اس دورے کے دوران انکے معاملات کیسے رہے تو شاہ محمود قریشی کا کہنا تھا کہ انہوں نے اتنے اہم دورے کے لئے تیاری نہ ہونے کے باعث جانے سے معذرت کی تھی لیکن حکومت کے حکم پر انہیں اس دورے پر جانا پڑا۔ تاہم انہوں نے کہا کہ یہ ایک خوشگوار تجربہ رہا۔

Executive order can restore judiciary, says Bhagwandas

LAHORE: Former judge of the Supreme Court Justice Rana Bhagwandas has said that the only purpose of imposing the martial law on November-3 in the garb of emergency and the PCO was to strangulate the judiciary for protection of the illegitimate rule of an individual.Addressing the General House meeting of the Lahore High Court Bar Association prior to the lawyers’ weekly protest rally, he said it was later proven that neither the National Assembly nor the provincial governments were dissolved due to the unconstitutional act. Justice Bhagwandas said the judiciary in Pakistan was not attacked for the first time on Nov 3 but it happened for the first time that more than 60 judges declined to bow before a dictator. To a query, he said two-thirds majority was not required for the restoration of the judges. After passage of a resolution in the National Assembly, the judges could be reinstated through an executive order, he maintained. However, he said that curtailing the tenure of the CJ was a constitutional issue, which required two-thirds majority in parliament. He denied that there was no difference between the present judges and the previous ones who had not taken the oath under the PCO. He explained that in the past when the judges were removed under the PCO, they immediately accepted it and obtained their pension benefits. Later, Supreme Court condoned that unconstitutional steps and parliaments made them part of the Constitution by approving it with two-thirds majority.This time, however, the situation was different. None of the judges, nor the people of Pakistan, considered them as retired. They were still sitting judges because none of them had enjoyed pension and other benefits, he said. Earlier, Justice Bhagwandas was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival by hundreds of lawyers who showered rose petals on him. However, he stopped the lawyers from shouting slogans against Musharraf.

MNAs trade blames on Atta shortage

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing flour crisis in the country dominated the Thursday’s proceedings of the National Assembly as the treasury and opposition benches indulged in the blame game over the crisis.After a call attention notice moved by the opposition members on the shortage of flour in the market, the House debated the issue for more than one hour on points of order in which most of the speakers from the treasury benches reminded the opposition members of the flawed policies of the previous government which caused severe atta shortage. The opposition members blamed the government for making the commodity costlier instead of controlling its price. However, members of the treasury benches challenged the opposition members belonging to the previous government whose policies created flour shortage in the country.Speaker after speaker from the treasury benches reminded the opposition members that the flour crisis was a ‘gift’ of the policies of the Q-League government and demanded that former Prime Minister should be held accountable for this. Interestingly, no one from the opposition benches defended the previous government on the issue. Earlier, replying to a call attention notice Minister for Youth Affairs and Culture Khwaja Sa’ad Rafiq told the house that flour shortage was the result of mismanagement of the previous government.

Elahi raps govt for revenge bids

LAHORE: The Opposition Leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Thursday said the rulers have resorted to taking vengeance upon the political opponents instead of fulfilling their pledges.Addressing the parliamentary session of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Punjab here, he condemned the unjustified large-scale transfers in Punjab, saying, ‘The recent government actions in Sindh have reminded them of the past.’Pervaiz Elahi said that fake cases are being made against their party leaders and they are being put behind bars, adding he would not desert his political workers and would not let them be victimize with the government revenge bids.PML-Q leader urged the party MNAs and workers to stay united and despite all government ruses and comply with party discipline.

Iran’s nuke program not ‘peaceful’

WASHINGTON: The leaders of the United States and Britain on Thursday pledged a united effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, possibly by expanding sanctions against Tehran."Our position is clear: that we're going to work together along with other nations to make it abundantly clear to the Iranian regime that they must not have the capability of developing a nuclear weapon," President George W. Bush said at a Rose Garden news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.His comments came after Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran's progress in developing uranium enrichment is slow and that recent additions to its nuclear fuel production complex have only been older-model centrifuges."If they learn how to enrich, it is knowledge which can be used to develop a nuclear weapon," Bush said.The United States has been leading efforts at the United Nations to pressure Iran to halt its nuclear program, which Tehran says is only for civilian purposes."Iran continues to defy the will of the international community. And we are agreed on the need to strengthen the sanctions regime and ensure that these sanctions are effectively implemented," Brown said.The United States has repeatedly said it is pursuing a solution through diplomatic efforts. "And now is the time to confront the threat. And I believe we can solve the problem diplomatically," Bush said.Brown said he was talking with other European leaders about how to extend sanctions against Iran. "I make no apology for saying that we will extend sanctions, where possible, on Iran," he said."So in the next few weeks we want to extend the measures and sanctions to include investment in liquefied natural gas. I believe that sends another signal to the regime that what is happening is unacceptable," Brown said.A senior U.S. Treasury official in Washington said U.S. sanctions banning transactions with Iran's central bank are among the options in the Bush administration's "toolbox" to pressure Iran to limit its nuclear program.

Katrina Kaif is the face of Vijay Mallya's IPL team

Mumbai:Katrina Kaif joins the list of celebrities associated with Indian Premier League cricket teams. The gorgeous actress will support Vijay Mallya's Bangalore team.
"Let me clarify that Katrina is the face of Vijay Mallya's cricket team but not a brand ambassador to his Royal Challenge products," said a source close to the actress. The actress, who sizzled in the recently released thriller "Race", will be shooting an exclusive solo music video for Mallya's team to be directed by Sanjay Gupta. After starring in four hits last year, Katrina today ranks amongst the top league of actresses. Her next release is "Singh is King".

Don't starve yourself, Urmila tells young girls

Pune: Size-zero models have become a rage among young girls and they are starving themselves to be like them, but "Rangeela" star Urmila Matondkar disapproves of this and says staying slim doesn't necessarily mean being on a starvation diet.
The actress says the secret to her much talked about figure is a combination of diet and exercise. "More than staying slim, I aim for a healthy body, I am also thankful to god for good genes. I would advice youngsters not go on starvation diet and spoil their health. They should rather eat healthy and exercise," said Urmila, who was in town to inaugurate a slim instant obesity centre with French technology.She also feels that the Maharashtrian diet keeps her going. "Thankfully, our diet is not very greasy or heavy. At the same time it is wholesome, perhaps I am able to maintain because I stick to home cooked food."A regular visitor to Pune, Urmila finds the city very concrete now."I have been coming to Pune since childhood. The city seems to have lost its freshness."With respect to her acting career, Urmila said: "I don't plan much. I am not very picky. I am ready to accept any kind of roles offered to me." The '90s dancing sensation is currently busy with Sony's music based reality show "Var Parivar". In this show, the entire family will participate."It is going to be very interesting, watch out for it."