Friday, May 23, 2008
Pak, India want to move forward: Menon
NEW DELHI : Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon has said Pakistan and India want to move forward in their bilateral relations. While referring to Kashmir issue, he said the Pakistan government has an open mind on the issue. Both Pakistan and India have their own position on the Kashmir dispute, he noted.
“Without prejudicing their own position we are trying to find out ways to deal with the welfare of the people in mind,” he said while talking to newsmen on the sidelines of a book launching ceremony here.
Referring to the issue of Sarabjit Singh’s death sentence in Pakistan, Shivshankar Menon said India has to deal with the issue “quietly and gently”.
Menon who was in Pakistan on May 20 and 21 for talks with Pakistani side suggested that more intense spotlight on the issue makes the matter more difficult to resolve.
“It is hard to say. I am not sure that the public attention and singling one person out makes it easier to resolve it on humanitarian grounds,” media reports quoting him said.
“We will keep trying. Most we have to do it is quietly and gently,” he added. When asked whether the government is still hopeful about the Indo-US nuke deal, he said “we keep hoping and that is why we did it (deal).”
US will be willing to support peace pact if it curbs terrorist violence
WASHINGTON : The United States has indicated that it would support Pakistan’s peace agreements in its restive tribal regions bordering Afghanistan provided such pacts curb terrorist violence and address international concerns.
“We certainly have seen similar kinds of agreements or agreements of this type in the past. They have not worked out?at the same time, though, you know, we’re willing to see what results of any of these kinds of agreements are and certainly would be supportive if, in fact, it leads to an end to terrorist violence, the bringing in of individuals outside the political process into the political process and support for the continued development of Pakistan and Pakistan’s institutions,? State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said.
Responding to a question at the daily briefing, the spokesman said there is a performance standard for any agreement and the standard isn’t whether they’ve talked with tribal militants or whether they’ve talked with individual groups or not.?
Continuing, he stated, the bottom line is whether any agreement that is reached actually responds to Pakistani and US concerns for providing additional security, for ending cross-border violence and for being able to address international and domestic terrorism concerns.
CPJ slams Pakistani journalists’ murder
NEW YORK : The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based watchdog, has condemned the fatal shooting of a Pakistani TV reporter, Mohammed Ibrahim, near the Pak-Afghan border on Thursday.
‘We offer our condolences to Mohammed Ibrahim’s family and colleagues,’ CPJ Asia Programme Coordinator Bob Dietz said in a statement. ‘The new government must take immediate steps to investigate this murder and safeguard the journalists who are providing important reporting from this volatile border region.’
Ibrahim, a reporter for the Express News channel, was gunned down by unknown men outside Khar when he was returning by motorcycle from an interview with local Taliban spokesman Maulvi Omar.
‘I have no expectations from anyone’
SUCCESS COMES at a cost and Preity Zinta knows it. Her jadoo ki jhappis to her boys in the Mohali team after their every win,
are making news but what people have forgotten are the jibes that came her way when she first got into the business of cricket.
She was mocked as the girl who hardly understood the game but had bought a team, she was sneered at when the VIP box during her matches was strangely bereft of any VIPs and Ness’ mother Maureen Wadia reportedly even wondered if her son would be a victim of fraudulent practices after investing in the IPL team with her.
With all the success that her team has gathered and her Cannes appearance, a lot of people have to eat crow, and PZ has something to crow about.
Here’s all: ‘You need to have that kind of stature to reach Cannes’: I was supposed to walk the red carpet at Cannes but I missed it because my flight was delayed. And to think I flew some 17 hours for that one appearance! But I did attend the dinner and the next day’s event.
I enjoyed Cannes because I got to play an actress after so long. These days, IPL sees me dressed in tees-jeans and no makeup. Here, I wore a designer gown, emeralds and a 1930s hairstyle. For me, the red carpet is about looking like a complete doll. If I do this kind of thing here, people will think I am crazy. Also, you need that kind of stature to be at an event like Cannes.
There, I met Cate Blanchett, Misha Barton, Gillian Anderson among others. Also, when I was out shopping in Cannes, a group of French women came to me and called me Zaara as they had seen Veer-Zaara. India is sure going places! ‘Cricket is my passion now’: I am back so soon from Cannes because I won’t miss IPL for the world. I never thought that it would become my passion. I never expected to get so attached to the game. Its highs are so high and its lows are so low! The boys are great but they will make mistakes sometimes. And it is terrible when they do.
Such is the madness of the game that I forget I am an actress and I have a certain protocol to follow in front of those 40,000 spectators. It is just too real for me to keep any appearances. In fact, I still remember the way I was looked at when I entered the dressing room for the first time. When I asked everybody what was the issue, they told me they have never had a woman in the dressing room before.
‘Who has time for films now?’: It is not sensible to make films with IPL in full flow. If everybody is hooked on to matches, who will go and watch films? But that doesn’t mean I have lost interest in Bollywood or I am not that great an actress any more. I have an amazing line-up of films in my kitty. The minute IPL gets over, I have Har Pal, The Last Lear, Heros and Heaven on Earth releasing. And there is a sur prise movie that I shall start shooting for very soon. Also, I have the world tour with the Bachchans in the offing.
‘This series is an emotional experience for me’: IPL is a very emotional experience for me. It is my first business venture and I have put my hard-earned money in to it. I have worked really hard to earn it all — dancing in minus four degrees in a thin chiffon saree is not easy. People have spoken about how my friends are not there to cheer my team. Well, I have told them that they are most welcome if they want to come. But I don’t need anyone to stand with me and cheer. I can stand on my own, be out there and do it for myself. I have that conviction. If people choose to come along with me, it’s great. However, I don’t have any expectations.
Dashing Deepika
She has a successful modelling career behind her. And at the age of 22, she is all set to become a top Bollywood star. JAMILA QADIR met up with Deepika Padukone, when she was in Dubai recentlty …
Would Prakash Padukone, ace badminton player ever have dreamt of a better future for his offspring? Or, maybe, her parents had reasons for calling her Deepika, which translated from Sanskrit means, “what brings light”.
Deepika said once, “My father has always taught us to be humble, down to earth and simple and we learnt to be that way. But when I used to watch people come to him for autographs, I used to wish that it would happen to me someday - to get as much recognition as he has, in a field of my choice.”
She has come a long way from a little girl watching her father’s glory to become a young successful lady, who weighs every word she utters, knows what she wants and does whatever she does with confidence, albeit she is still humble and down to earth.
We talk in Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, after a press conference she attended as a brand ambassador for a local real estate company. We have little time, there is a queue of interviewers from numerous publications and it is very difficult to concentrate.
But Deepika makes me comfortable; she is not showing any sign of impatience while I try to disperse the crowd to give us some space. I’m in a hurry, but slowly I calm down. Our short conversation gradually becomes a more relaxed one. And soon it seems as if two friends have surprisingly met after a period of time.
Despite many differences, we understand each other well, we have the same likes and dislikes and share a common admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, Rekha and Sushmita Sen.
Deepika says she grew up watching Sushmita Sen and Rekha and considers them very stylish. “Both of them are extremely glamourous and confident in whatever they do,” she adds.
Well, confidence seems to be Deepika’s middle name, too. After all, before rubbing shoulders with Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om, she was already being touted as a supermodel in the modelling industry. _ _Then the questions begin
Who is you favourite actor?
Deepika: Shah Rukh Khan. I’ve grown up watching his movies.
How did you come to movies?
Deepika: Frankly, I never thought I would get into movies. I did a couple of commercials. Farah Khan, who was looking for a female heroine at that time, happened to see them, she approached me and the rest is history.
How was it acting in Om Shanti Om?
Deepika: Oh, it’s been wonderful. It was a dream debut and acting opposite Shah Rukh Khan was an amazing experience. I would like to make more films with him.
You have starred in a Kannada film at the beginning of your career. Would like to do more South Indian movies?
Deepika: Yes, I would given the right script.
: Who is your role model in Bollywood?
Deepika: Rekha and Hema Malini. I’ve grown up watching their movies.
: Who is your role model in life?
Deepika: My mother. She is so amazing and has always managed to get the balance right in our family. I would like to be like her.
: Are you a family person or more like a socialite?
Deepika: I am a family person. In whatever I do, I always ask my family’s view.
: Do you have siblings?
Deepika: Yes. I have my younger sister Anisha.
: They say sisters always fight. Did you fight as kids?
Deepika: No, not really. We are very different. She is an introvert and a very calm person, while I’m more open. There are no major clashes between us.
: You are a sporty person, but gave up playing?
Deepika: I used to play badminton till Class 10 and even reached the state level championships, but one day, I realised that I was playing the game only because it ran in the family. So, I asked my father if I could give up the game and he wasn’t upset at all. He has always told my sister and me to do what we are whole heartedly interested in, and to do it well.
: What would you do in life if you were not an actress?
Deepika: I would like to be an interior designer. I’m really interested in doing that although right now I am busy with my acting career and I don’t have time for other activities. But I would like to design my own dream home. _
: Lots of girls want to become models or act in movies. What would you like to advise them?
Deepika: In whatever you do, be it modelling, acting or anything else be confident and interested in the field you have chosen. Then you can strike it right.
Deepika’s Career
While doing her studies in college, she decided to pursue a career in modelling due to her tall slender figure. Over the years, she has modelled for famous Indian brand names like Liril, Dabur Lal powder, Close-Up toothpaste and Limca.
She received many prestigious modelling offers, which included her becoming the brand ambassador of the Jewels of India. Padukone hit the international scene when Maybelline made her their new international cover-girl face.
After pursuing a successful career in modelling, Padukone branched out a career into acting. She started by starring in the music video for the song Naam Hai Tera from the independent pop album Aap Kaa Surroor by Himesh Reshammiya.
In 2006, Padukone made her cinematic debut in the Kannada film, Aishwarya staring opposite actor Upendra. She later made a successful Bollywood debut in 2007 with Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om opposite Shahrukh Khan.
The film went on to become the biggest hit of the year, both in India and abroad, and her performance was well received. The film featured her portraying Shantipriya - a 1970s superstar, and later as Sandy - a contemporary teenager.
She currently has two releases, including Bachna Ae Haseeno (August 15) and Chandni Chowk To China (October 29).
Awards and nominations
Deepika Padukone received the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and was nominated Best Actress Award for Om Shanti Om in 2008,
She received the Sony Head N Shoulders Fresh Face of the Year Award, in Om Shanti Om
Star Screen Awards
She was the winner of the Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female; Om Shanti Om
Received the Star Screen Award Jodi No 1 along with Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om.
Zee Cine Awards
Winner
2008: Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut; Om Shanti Om
Nominated
2008: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor - Female; Om Shanti Om
Stardust Awards
Nominated
2008: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female; Om Shanti Om
Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards
Winner
2008: Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards’ Best Female Debut; Om Shanti Om
Reporter shot dead in troubled Pakistani tribal area
KHAR, Pakistan - A journalist was shot dead by unknown gunmen after he interviewed a spokesman for local pro-Taleban in a Pakistan tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials and witnesses said Friday.
Muhammad Ibrahim, 44, a reporter for Urdu language Express newspaper, was killed Thursday evening as he was returning to Khar after interviewing Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (Pakistan Taleban Movement) spokesman Maulvi Omar, they said.
Khar is the main town of restive Bajaur tribal district, where pro-Taleban militants are active.
Tribal administration official, Muwaz Khan, confirmed the killing, saying no one had claimed responsibility.
Witnesses said Ibrahim was travelling on his motorcycle when he was intercepted by unidentified men in a black car who snatched his cell phone, camera and notes and then shot him.
The gunmen also stole Ibrahim's motorcycle, residents said.
Bajaur chief of Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad -- also a deputy of Al Qaeda linked militant commander Baitullah Mehsud -- condemned the incident.
Muhammad and Omar visited Ibrahim's home late Thursday to express their grief over the killing, residents said.
The local press club also condemned the murder, with journalists saying they would hold a protest later Friday.
Muhammad Ibrahim, 44, a reporter for Urdu language Express newspaper, was killed Thursday evening as he was returning to Khar after interviewing Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (Pakistan Taleban Movement) spokesman Maulvi Omar, they said.
Khar is the main town of restive Bajaur tribal district, where pro-Taleban militants are active.
Tribal administration official, Muwaz Khan, confirmed the killing, saying no one had claimed responsibility.
Witnesses said Ibrahim was travelling on his motorcycle when he was intercepted by unidentified men in a black car who snatched his cell phone, camera and notes and then shot him.
The gunmen also stole Ibrahim's motorcycle, residents said.
Bajaur chief of Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad -- also a deputy of Al Qaeda linked militant commander Baitullah Mehsud -- condemned the incident.
Muhammad and Omar visited Ibrahim's home late Thursday to express their grief over the killing, residents said.
The local press club also condemned the murder, with journalists saying they would hold a protest later Friday.
Pakistan frees 96 Indian fishermen
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday released 96 Indian fishermen caught two years ago for fishing illegally in its territorial waters, local media reported.
Islamabad announced it would free the prisoners as ‘a goodwill gesture’ on Tuesday ahead of a ministeriAl level review of the slow-moving peace process between the nuclear-armed arch rivals.
The group detained in Malir Jail in the southern port city of Karachi was sent to Punjab's capital Lahore from where they would be repatriated to their country via the Wagah border crossing on Saturday, the Aaj television network said.
Most of the returnees hailed from India's western state of Gujarat that is separated from Pakistan's southern Sindh province by the disputed Sir Creek marshlands.
There still remain 374 Indian detainees in different prisons of Karachi, Aaj channel quoted a senior police official as saying.
Maritime agencies of the South Asian neighbours regularly arrest fishermen who either stray into or frequently enter rival's territory for a bigger catch.
Pakistan and India are believed to be holding scores of each other's nationals who continue to languish in prisons with little chances of repatriation. However, both governments have been voluntarily releasing batches of detainees to stimulate their peace dialogue.
The arch rivals, who have fought three wars and nearly went for a fourth one in 2002, on Wednesday also agreed to allow consular access to prisoners, which would help remove suspicions over the number of detained people.
Islamabad announced it would free the prisoners as ‘a goodwill gesture’ on Tuesday ahead of a ministeriAl level review of the slow-moving peace process between the nuclear-armed arch rivals.
The group detained in Malir Jail in the southern port city of Karachi was sent to Punjab's capital Lahore from where they would be repatriated to their country via the Wagah border crossing on Saturday, the Aaj television network said.
Most of the returnees hailed from India's western state of Gujarat that is separated from Pakistan's southern Sindh province by the disputed Sir Creek marshlands.
There still remain 374 Indian detainees in different prisons of Karachi, Aaj channel quoted a senior police official as saying.
Maritime agencies of the South Asian neighbours regularly arrest fishermen who either stray into or frequently enter rival's territory for a bigger catch.
Pakistan and India are believed to be holding scores of each other's nationals who continue to languish in prisons with little chances of repatriation. However, both governments have been voluntarily releasing batches of detainees to stimulate their peace dialogue.
The arch rivals, who have fought three wars and nearly went for a fourth one in 2002, on Wednesday also agreed to allow consular access to prisoners, which would help remove suspicions over the number of detained people.
China says quake rebuild to take 3 years
CHENGDU, China - China will need to rebuild whole towns and villages from scratch to rehouse the millions displaced by last week's earthquake, a task which could take three years, a top provincial official said on Friday.
Eleven days after the 7.9 magnitude quake shook the mountainous province of Sichuan, hundreds of thousands of soldiers, relief workers and ordinary residents are now focused on reconstruction.
Some towns in the earthquake zone in southwestern China will need to be relocated altogether because the terrain is not safe, officials have said.
The known death toll from the quake already exceeds 55,000, but more bodies are expected to be found as the debris from the dozens of flattened cities, towns and villages is cleared.
With the rainy season due within weeks, there is an urgency to their work. The government's main concern is that aftershocks and heavy rain could cause secondary disasters such as flashfloods and landslides.
"The rebuilding work faces a lot of difficulty in the region, where the mountains have been shaken loose in the earthquake and there have been more than 7,000 aftershocks," Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan, told a news conference in Beijing.
Relief workers are also concerned that poor hygiene could cause disease outbreaks. Li said this was a "peak period for outbreaks of diseases", describing the situation as very grim.
But the government has also found what it termed 50 "hazardous sources of radiation", deputy environment minister Wu Xiaoqing said, though insisted the situation was under control.
"Three are buried in rubble and another 12 are in dangerous buildings, which staff cannot go into," he told a news conference. "At present, tests from the scene show that there has yet to be an accidental release of radiation."
China has pleaded with the international community to provide millions of tents for the homeless. It is also sending tonnes of heavier building equipment and supplies into the area.
"We will strive to provide safe, economical and convenient temporary housing for 98 percent of the residents within the next month," Li said.
"The priority work in the reconstruction is to find proper locations for rural residents to build houses. We will strive to make such village houses ready for them before winter comes."
In Chengdu, some volunteer relief convoys reported being held up by hungry residents, one at gunpoint. There were reports of two people being beheaded by helicopter blades, one at the Wolong panda reserve, sources in Sichuan and local reporters said.
"Quake lake" danger
Premier Wen Jiabao, making his second visit to the disaster zone, visited hospitals and tents sheltering quake refugees on Friday in Mianyang and Beichuan county, one of the worst-hit areas.
In a temporary shelter for the Beichuan Middle School, which lost up to 1,000 students and teachers in the quake, Wen tried to cheer up children, writing a line on the blackboard reading "Deep distress resurrects a nation".
Wen, a trained geologist, had earlier ordered rescue workers to eliminate the danger of dammed rivers, waterways and bulging newly formed lakes "through engineering means" while swiftly evacuating people in their path.
The May 12 quake, the worst to hit China in a generation, changed the landscape of northern Sichuan forever.
In Hongguang, in the province's northeast, the quake caused both sides of a valley to slide, burying three villages and 900 people. The Qingzhu River is trapped behind.
"The mountains merged," said Gao Xiao, who barely escaped a landslide that roared past her house.
The Qingzhu landslides have formed five lakes, the biggest of which is almost 30 metres (100 feet) deep. A flood control team monitors the natural dams constantly, for fear they will burst and unleash a wall of water on the valley below.
The more than 30 "quake lakes" were safe for the moment and residents under threat had been evacuating, Zhu Bing, a Sichuan water resources official, told the news conference.
"There is a possibility of (the dam) collapsing entirely in the case of a strong aftershock or rainstorm," Zhu said of the Tangjiashan barrier lake in Beichuan which Wen toured on Thursday.
Heavy rain is forecast, making life even more difficult for rescuers, relief workers and the 5.48 million either living in tents or under makeshift cover as they mourn their dead.
Eleven days after the 7.9 magnitude quake shook the mountainous province of Sichuan, hundreds of thousands of soldiers, relief workers and ordinary residents are now focused on reconstruction.
Some towns in the earthquake zone in southwestern China will need to be relocated altogether because the terrain is not safe, officials have said.
The known death toll from the quake already exceeds 55,000, but more bodies are expected to be found as the debris from the dozens of flattened cities, towns and villages is cleared.
With the rainy season due within weeks, there is an urgency to their work. The government's main concern is that aftershocks and heavy rain could cause secondary disasters such as flashfloods and landslides.
"The rebuilding work faces a lot of difficulty in the region, where the mountains have been shaken loose in the earthquake and there have been more than 7,000 aftershocks," Li Chengyun, vice governor of Sichuan, told a news conference in Beijing.
Relief workers are also concerned that poor hygiene could cause disease outbreaks. Li said this was a "peak period for outbreaks of diseases", describing the situation as very grim.
But the government has also found what it termed 50 "hazardous sources of radiation", deputy environment minister Wu Xiaoqing said, though insisted the situation was under control.
"Three are buried in rubble and another 12 are in dangerous buildings, which staff cannot go into," he told a news conference. "At present, tests from the scene show that there has yet to be an accidental release of radiation."
China has pleaded with the international community to provide millions of tents for the homeless. It is also sending tonnes of heavier building equipment and supplies into the area.
"We will strive to provide safe, economical and convenient temporary housing for 98 percent of the residents within the next month," Li said.
"The priority work in the reconstruction is to find proper locations for rural residents to build houses. We will strive to make such village houses ready for them before winter comes."
In Chengdu, some volunteer relief convoys reported being held up by hungry residents, one at gunpoint. There were reports of two people being beheaded by helicopter blades, one at the Wolong panda reserve, sources in Sichuan and local reporters said.
"Quake lake" danger
Premier Wen Jiabao, making his second visit to the disaster zone, visited hospitals and tents sheltering quake refugees on Friday in Mianyang and Beichuan county, one of the worst-hit areas.
In a temporary shelter for the Beichuan Middle School, which lost up to 1,000 students and teachers in the quake, Wen tried to cheer up children, writing a line on the blackboard reading "Deep distress resurrects a nation".
Wen, a trained geologist, had earlier ordered rescue workers to eliminate the danger of dammed rivers, waterways and bulging newly formed lakes "through engineering means" while swiftly evacuating people in their path.
The May 12 quake, the worst to hit China in a generation, changed the landscape of northern Sichuan forever.
In Hongguang, in the province's northeast, the quake caused both sides of a valley to slide, burying three villages and 900 people. The Qingzhu River is trapped behind.
"The mountains merged," said Gao Xiao, who barely escaped a landslide that roared past her house.
The Qingzhu landslides have formed five lakes, the biggest of which is almost 30 metres (100 feet) deep. A flood control team monitors the natural dams constantly, for fear they will burst and unleash a wall of water on the valley below.
The more than 30 "quake lakes" were safe for the moment and residents under threat had been evacuating, Zhu Bing, a Sichuan water resources official, told the news conference.
"There is a possibility of (the dam) collapsing entirely in the case of a strong aftershock or rainstorm," Zhu said of the Tangjiashan barrier lake in Beichuan which Wen toured on Thursday.
Heavy rain is forecast, making life even more difficult for rescuers, relief workers and the 5.48 million either living in tents or under makeshift cover as they mourn their dead.
EU readying freeze on Iran's biggest bank
BRUSSELS - The European Union is preparing sanctions against Iran's biggest bank but wants to see how Teheran responds to a new offer by major powers on its nuclear programme before acting, diplomats said on Friday.
An EU diplomat said the 27-nation bloc was making legal and technical preparations for an asset and funds freeze on state-owned Bank Melli -- a measure long sought by the United States to raise pressure on Iran to halt uranium enrichment.
But a source in the EU's Slovenian presidency said Brussels would await an Iranian response to an updated offer of political and economic incentives, due to be delivered to Teheran soon by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, before ministers decide to approve the sanctions.
The West suspects Iran of seeking the ability to make nuclear weapons while the oil-producing Islamic Republic insists its secretive programme is purely aimed at generating energy.
The UN Security Council passed a third sanctions resolution against Iran last month and Washington has been pressing the Europeans to deny targeted Iranian banks access to the international financial system.
At the same time, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have agreed in principle to send a renewed offer of cooperation in areas ranging from civilian nuclear energy to aviation, trade, the fight against drug smuggling and security if Teheran complies with UN demands.
US Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, who has been leading the banking sanctions drive, said last month the world's top banks have already largely stopped dealing with Iran.
An EU diplomat said the 27-nation bloc was making legal and technical preparations for an asset and funds freeze on state-owned Bank Melli -- a measure long sought by the United States to raise pressure on Iran to halt uranium enrichment.
But a source in the EU's Slovenian presidency said Brussels would await an Iranian response to an updated offer of political and economic incentives, due to be delivered to Teheran soon by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, before ministers decide to approve the sanctions.
The West suspects Iran of seeking the ability to make nuclear weapons while the oil-producing Islamic Republic insists its secretive programme is purely aimed at generating energy.
The UN Security Council passed a third sanctions resolution against Iran last month and Washington has been pressing the Europeans to deny targeted Iranian banks access to the international financial system.
At the same time, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have agreed in principle to send a renewed offer of cooperation in areas ranging from civilian nuclear energy to aviation, trade, the fight against drug smuggling and security if Teheran complies with UN demands.
US Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, who has been leading the banking sanctions drive, said last month the world's top banks have already largely stopped dealing with Iran.
US House OKs defense bill despite veto threat
WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a $601.4 billion defense spending bill despite a veto threat by the White House.
The House passed the bill to fund the Pentagon operation for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1 on a 384-to-23 vote after many hours of debate about the measure and 58 amendments.
The White House on Thursday objected to the bill over 10 provisions, including a cut of over $700 million in missile defense and a move to review the role of foreign subsidies in a $35 billion aerial tanker deal.
‘If the final bill presented to the president contains any of the following provisions, the president's senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill,’ the White House said in a statement.
The House Armed Services Committee last week on a 61-to-0 vote adopted many amendments despite the White House veto threat.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has already passed a similar bill, which is due to be debated in the full Senate in June. Once each house has passed its version of the spending bill, it must be reconciled by House and Senate negotiators before the president can sign it into law.
The White House argued that the House bill would ‘retroactively change the rules of the KC-45 tanker competition, risk extended litigation, and could delay the Air Force's ability to obtain equipment that is critical for combat and humanitarian relief operations.’
The Government Accountability Office is due to rule by June 19 on a protest by Boeing Co about the aircraft contract, awarded in February to Northrop Grumman Corp and its European subcontractor, Airbus parent EADS
But lawmakers who back Boeing have vowed to block the Northrop deal regardless of how the protest is decided.
The veto threat also covers provisions that would require the videotaping of all intelligence interrogations and would ban private contractors from carrying out interrogations, a job lawmakers said should be reserved for the government alone.
The White House said the measures would limit the United States' ability to obtain intelligence needed to protect Americans from attack and could have unintended consequences.
Unrequested weapons
The Bush administration also objected to -- but refrained from issuing a veto threat about -- more than 20 other provisions, including the addition of more than $9 billion in funding for weapons not requested by the Pentagon.
The White House said cuts to funding to start building missile-defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic could jeopardize US security and delay the fielding of weapons meant to protect against an emerging missile threat from Iran.
The Democratic-controlled House approved $10.2 billion in funding for missile defense, $719 million less than the Pentagon requested, but $212.6 million above the current level.
The Senate Armed Services Committee bill fully funded the administration's plan to start deploying up to 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic.
The White House also threatened to veto the overall spending bill if it did not drop a provision that would shield the measure from a recent executive order against earmarks.
President George W. Bush issued the order to halt ‘wasteful and excessive pork-barrel spending’ and make the budget process more transparent and accountable, the White House said.
But Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat who chairs the committee, and the ranking Republican, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, argued that lawmakers needed flexibility to add weapons to the budget that had been forgotten by the Pentagon.
‘We've put in systems that save lives that the Pentagon did not think about,’ Hunter said on the floor of the House, citing added funding for armor for Army trucks, greater use of unmanned airplanes, and equipment to defuse roadside bombs.
The White House also cited objections, but no veto threat, to the addition of $3.9 billion for 15 additional Boeing C-17 cargo planes and $523 million as a down payment on 20 more Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 fighters in fiscal 2010.
It also criticized the addition of $526 million to keep General Electric and Britain's Rolls-Royce working on an alternate engine for the F-35 fighter jet.
The second engine would vie against an engine built by Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended adding $465 million to support the alternate engine.
The House passed the bill to fund the Pentagon operation for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1 on a 384-to-23 vote after many hours of debate about the measure and 58 amendments.
The White House on Thursday objected to the bill over 10 provisions, including a cut of over $700 million in missile defense and a move to review the role of foreign subsidies in a $35 billion aerial tanker deal.
‘If the final bill presented to the president contains any of the following provisions, the president's senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill,’ the White House said in a statement.
The House Armed Services Committee last week on a 61-to-0 vote adopted many amendments despite the White House veto threat.
The Senate Armed Services Committee has already passed a similar bill, which is due to be debated in the full Senate in June. Once each house has passed its version of the spending bill, it must be reconciled by House and Senate negotiators before the president can sign it into law.
The White House argued that the House bill would ‘retroactively change the rules of the KC-45 tanker competition, risk extended litigation, and could delay the Air Force's ability to obtain equipment that is critical for combat and humanitarian relief operations.’
The Government Accountability Office is due to rule by June 19 on a protest by Boeing Co about the aircraft contract, awarded in February to Northrop Grumman Corp and its European subcontractor, Airbus parent EADS
But lawmakers who back Boeing have vowed to block the Northrop deal regardless of how the protest is decided.
The veto threat also covers provisions that would require the videotaping of all intelligence interrogations and would ban private contractors from carrying out interrogations, a job lawmakers said should be reserved for the government alone.
The White House said the measures would limit the United States' ability to obtain intelligence needed to protect Americans from attack and could have unintended consequences.
Unrequested weapons
The Bush administration also objected to -- but refrained from issuing a veto threat about -- more than 20 other provisions, including the addition of more than $9 billion in funding for weapons not requested by the Pentagon.
The White House said cuts to funding to start building missile-defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic could jeopardize US security and delay the fielding of weapons meant to protect against an emerging missile threat from Iran.
The Democratic-controlled House approved $10.2 billion in funding for missile defense, $719 million less than the Pentagon requested, but $212.6 million above the current level.
The Senate Armed Services Committee bill fully funded the administration's plan to start deploying up to 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic.
The White House also threatened to veto the overall spending bill if it did not drop a provision that would shield the measure from a recent executive order against earmarks.
President George W. Bush issued the order to halt ‘wasteful and excessive pork-barrel spending’ and make the budget process more transparent and accountable, the White House said.
But Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat who chairs the committee, and the ranking Republican, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, argued that lawmakers needed flexibility to add weapons to the budget that had been forgotten by the Pentagon.
‘We've put in systems that save lives that the Pentagon did not think about,’ Hunter said on the floor of the House, citing added funding for armor for Army trucks, greater use of unmanned airplanes, and equipment to defuse roadside bombs.
The White House also cited objections, but no veto threat, to the addition of $3.9 billion for 15 additional Boeing C-17 cargo planes and $523 million as a down payment on 20 more Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 fighters in fiscal 2010.
It also criticized the addition of $526 million to keep General Electric and Britain's Rolls-Royce working on an alternate engine for the F-35 fighter jet.
The second engine would vie against an engine built by Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended adding $465 million to support the alternate engine.
Cover Stories: strong debuts on prize list; the Bhutto perspective; Linley deal; Doyle's farewell
By The LiteratorFriday,
* Good to see that "sparkling new fiction" doesn't necessarily equal chicklit and beach reads. The shortlist for the first Desmond Elliott Prize, announced this week, highlights some strong debuts: there's Sunday at the Cross Bones by John Walsh of this parish (Fourth Estate); Gifted by Nikita Lalwani (Viking); and Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster). The 1/2 favourite, it is set in Stalin's Russia, where a serial killer is on the loose. The novel has been published in 22 countries – Russia is not one of them. The £10,000 winner will be announced on 26 June at Fortnum & Mason, where Elliott used to do his grocery shopping.
* Fatima Bhutto, Benazir's niece and the granddaughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, executed in 1979, is at work on a book that will explain the complexities and contradictions of the Bhutto clan and Pakistan itself. Born under Kabul's curfew and educated in the west, Fatima – a journalist and writer who published a poetry collection at 15 – "challenges the con-ventional wisdom about Pakistan", examining the politics of family and the relationship between women and power. Cape will publish in two years.
* Who else but Caroline Michel of PFD would be agent to David Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret and thus the Queen's nephew? This week she sold his book Star Pieces: A Passion for Furniture, co-written with Christie's Charles Cator and journalist Helen Chislett, to Thames & Hudson. The book will examine how furniture is an integral part of a room's overall design, providing "visual excitement" and an outlet for designers to express themselves. Indeed, Linley describes it as "sculpture".
* Heavy hearts at Macmillan, where Deputy Publisher and Picador stalwart Ursula Doyle leaves today. Doyle, who acquired Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, will be missed for her genuine literary nous.
* Good to see that "sparkling new fiction" doesn't necessarily equal chicklit and beach reads. The shortlist for the first Desmond Elliott Prize, announced this week, highlights some strong debuts: there's Sunday at the Cross Bones by John Walsh of this parish (Fourth Estate); Gifted by Nikita Lalwani (Viking); and Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster). The 1/2 favourite, it is set in Stalin's Russia, where a serial killer is on the loose. The novel has been published in 22 countries – Russia is not one of them. The £10,000 winner will be announced on 26 June at Fortnum & Mason, where Elliott used to do his grocery shopping.
* Fatima Bhutto, Benazir's niece and the granddaughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, executed in 1979, is at work on a book that will explain the complexities and contradictions of the Bhutto clan and Pakistan itself. Born under Kabul's curfew and educated in the west, Fatima – a journalist and writer who published a poetry collection at 15 – "challenges the con-ventional wisdom about Pakistan", examining the politics of family and the relationship between women and power. Cape will publish in two years.
* Who else but Caroline Michel of PFD would be agent to David Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret and thus the Queen's nephew? This week she sold his book Star Pieces: A Passion for Furniture, co-written with Christie's Charles Cator and journalist Helen Chislett, to Thames & Hudson. The book will examine how furniture is an integral part of a room's overall design, providing "visual excitement" and an outlet for designers to express themselves. Indeed, Linley describes it as "sculpture".
* Heavy hearts at Macmillan, where Deputy Publisher and Picador stalwart Ursula Doyle leaves today. Doyle, who acquired Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, will be missed for her genuine literary nous.
PPP serious in resolving Judicial crisis; Gilani
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Thursday said Pakistan Peoples Party was serious to resolve the Judicial crisis as it believes in strengthening all institutions of the country. “People have given us the mandate for restoration of democracy, for supremacy of Parliament. We have to strengthen all institutions of the country, including judiciary and we are committed to restore the judges,” Prime Minister Gilani said while addressing columnists and editors from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad here at the PM House.
“This is our commitment with the nation,” Gilani said.
The Prime Minister dispelled the impression that the Pakistan Peoples Party was not serious about resolving the judicial crisis.
“We are far ahead of everybody. We are serious and Inshallah that would be resolved by Pakistan Peoples Party.”
Prime Minister Gilani said even before the general election his party had been advocating for the independence of judiciary and always stressed for supremacy of the parliament and not to make it a mere rubber stamp.
“We accord highest respect to the judges and it is our priority to do a lot for them,” he said.
Gilani recalled that soon after becoming the leader of the house, he announced release of the detained judges.
Prime Minister Gilani said the resolution of the issue had delayed as the legal experts believed in different modus operandi. “As soon as they agree the matter will come to me. Rest assured and do not have any doubt on my sincerity,” Gilani said.
When asked about the balance of power between different institutions he said, “we already have the powers, but if we need more, we have to follow the constitution.”
He said the government already has the full powers.
“If the nation, the parliament, the cabinet feel that there should be a balance of powers, it will be done in consultation with the coalition partners and the people of Pakistan,” he said.
“There should be no doubt that the powers are with the Prime Minister. These are with the Prime Minister,” he emphasized.
When asked about the period spent in jail he said, “for the national interest I am not bitter at all about it.”
Gilani said he did not want to pursue the bitter politics of immaturity of the past and mentioned the Charter of Democracy inked by late Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif. He said the parties had also sought forgiveness from the people of Pakistan for their past mistakes.
When asked whether he sought any change in the existing “system”, Gilani said he will do whatever the constitution permitted him to do.
He said even the opposition was willing to take the country out of the turmoil it was currently experiencing.
He said people attach high hopes with the new government and have given mandate to the major political parties.
“We are bound to honour this mandate,” Gilani said and warned that “neither party can afford to show any immaturity as the people have high hopes from PML-N and PPP.”
The Prime Minister however pointed out that certain forces never wanted the two major parties to unite.
“Despite the differences between the two parties, the efforts to create a wedge between the PPP and PML-N by vested interests will foil,” he added.
He said now the responsibility of maintaining the coalition was with its leadership. “They should lead rather than being led. Leaders should act wisely,” he said.
About indemnifying the actions taken on Nov 3, he said, “I will follow what the parliament tells me to do. Parliament is supreme. It is the responsibility of each and every member to act wisely.”
Asked whether his party would be seeking resignation of the President, he said his party has always spoken about the supremacy of the parliament, of democracy and will do everything in a democratic way.
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by Minister for Information Sherry Rehman and Information Secretary Akram Shaheedi, spoke at length about the food crisis the country was experiencing. He said he was not blaming the government of the past and was willing to take full responsibility.
“The people rejected those whose policies failed despite their claims of good governance.”
He said since the people have reposed confidence in his government, he would take responsibility and address the issue.
He said in his meetings with the world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Egypt te issue of food shortage was raised. He said the international fuel prices have experienced a sharp increase, and the countries are trying to get out of this shock.
The Prime Minister said the country was also responsible for the around three million Afghan refugees, while a large quantity of wheat was being smuggled into Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan.
About his talks with President George W Bush he said they discussed bilateral matters covering defence, economy, science and technology, health, education, military assistance, energy and food security.
He said the President assured cooperation and support to Pakistan.
About country’s foreign policy he said it will be based on dignity, self respect and national interest. He also dispelled impression that Pakistan was fighting some other country’s war against terrorism.
“It is the responsibility of the government to protect the life and property of the people.”
Pakistan Supreme Court wants new hearing of Malik appeal
KARACHI - Pakistan's Supreme Court wants Salim Malik's appeal against his life ban from cricket to be heard again by a civil court.
The Supreme Court said on Thursday it wanted a decision reached within two months. The lower court had previously rejected the appeal.
Former captain Malik received a life ban from the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2000 after being found guilty of involvement in a match-fixing scandal that rocked international cricket in the late 1990s.
The 45-year-old, who played 103 tests and 283 one-day internationals, said he was very happy with the directions issued by the court.
"I now have hope that finally I will get a verdict against the ban in two months time, he told reporters after the hearing.
"I have only wanted justice and I have maintained I am innocent. This case has lingered on for too long. But now I am confident my appeal would be heard and be successful."
The batsman, who also played for Essex in the English county championship, acknowledged his playing career was over but said he wanted to get into coaching and give something back to cricket.
The PCB's legal counsel Tafazzul Rizvi said the life ban would remain until the case was resolved.
The Supreme Court said on Thursday it wanted a decision reached within two months. The lower court had previously rejected the appeal.
Former captain Malik received a life ban from the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2000 after being found guilty of involvement in a match-fixing scandal that rocked international cricket in the late 1990s.
The 45-year-old, who played 103 tests and 283 one-day internationals, said he was very happy with the directions issued by the court.
"I now have hope that finally I will get a verdict against the ban in two months time, he told reporters after the hearing.
"I have only wanted justice and I have maintained I am innocent. This case has lingered on for too long. But now I am confident my appeal would be heard and be successful."
The batsman, who also played for Essex in the English county championship, acknowledged his playing career was over but said he wanted to get into coaching and give something back to cricket.
The PCB's legal counsel Tafazzul Rizvi said the life ban would remain until the case was resolved.
Chinese engineers move to empty ‘quake lakes’
GUANZHUANG, China - Chinese engineers are starting to make headway against lakes that have formed behind landslides, threatening yet more devastation on the earthquake-stricken valleys downstream.
Last week's big tremor changed the landscape of northern Sichuan province, as mountainsides were obliterated along the Longmenshan fault.
In Hongguang, in northeastern Sichuan, the earthquake caused both sides of a valley to slide, burying three villages and 900 people. The Qingzhu River is trapped behind.
"The mountains merged," said Gao Xiao, who barely escaped a landslide that roared past her house.
The Qingzhu landslides have formed five lakes, the biggest of which is almost 30 meters deep. A flood control team monitors the natural dams constantly, for fear they will burst and unleash a wall of water on the valley below.
"It's a lucky thing we haven't had a downpour recently," said Lu Lujun, an official with the Guangyuan county propaganda department.
The water level fell by about 10 cm (4 inches) on Thursday, as it was released through a sluice, he said.
Similar efforts are underway at 33 other quake lakes in the province, state media reported.
Sluices will be blasted or dug out by cranes, bulldozers and trucks to discharge water from the lakes after the remaining residents are evacuated, said Zhang Jian, chief of the water resources brigade of the local disaster relief headquarters of Mianyang.
On Saturday, thousands of survivors were evacuated from the area around Beichuan over concerns a lake formed by the Qianjiang River would burst.
Premier Wen Jiabao, a geologist by training, flew in a helicopter over that lake on Thursday, in his return visit to Sichuan. Wen first arrived in Sichuan within hours of the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on May 12.
"All of the roads have been destroyed, and it's not possible at this stage to get the equipment in by road," said Zhang, adding helicopter landing pads must be built.
"The risks increase by every metre that the water level rises. Downpours last night raised the water level by 3.7 metres," he said, referring to the lake above Beichuan, one of the largest, which he called "stable".
Last week's big tremor changed the landscape of northern Sichuan province, as mountainsides were obliterated along the Longmenshan fault.
In Hongguang, in northeastern Sichuan, the earthquake caused both sides of a valley to slide, burying three villages and 900 people. The Qingzhu River is trapped behind.
"The mountains merged," said Gao Xiao, who barely escaped a landslide that roared past her house.
The Qingzhu landslides have formed five lakes, the biggest of which is almost 30 meters deep. A flood control team monitors the natural dams constantly, for fear they will burst and unleash a wall of water on the valley below.
"It's a lucky thing we haven't had a downpour recently," said Lu Lujun, an official with the Guangyuan county propaganda department.
The water level fell by about 10 cm (4 inches) on Thursday, as it was released through a sluice, he said.
Similar efforts are underway at 33 other quake lakes in the province, state media reported.
Sluices will be blasted or dug out by cranes, bulldozers and trucks to discharge water from the lakes after the remaining residents are evacuated, said Zhang Jian, chief of the water resources brigade of the local disaster relief headquarters of Mianyang.
On Saturday, thousands of survivors were evacuated from the area around Beichuan over concerns a lake formed by the Qianjiang River would burst.
Premier Wen Jiabao, a geologist by training, flew in a helicopter over that lake on Thursday, in his return visit to Sichuan. Wen first arrived in Sichuan within hours of the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on May 12.
"All of the roads have been destroyed, and it's not possible at this stage to get the equipment in by road," said Zhang, adding helicopter landing pads must be built.
"The risks increase by every metre that the water level rises. Downpours last night raised the water level by 3.7 metres," he said, referring to the lake above Beichuan, one of the largest, which he called "stable".
Probe ordered into targeted killing of cops
KARACHI — Inspector-General (IG) of Sindh Police Shoaib Suddle has ordered a probe into the cases wherein various police officers were targeted in the city. He has also ordered an investigation into the May12, 2007 and April 9 incidents. In this regard the IG has appointed DIG Investigation Ghulam Qadir Thabo as chairman of the inquiry team.
Suddle presided over a meeting of senior police officers and discussed the progress of cases pertaining to the target killing of police officers as well as the victims of May 12 mayhem and April 9 incidents in which five persons, including lawyers, were burnt alive.
Suddle presided over a meeting of senior police officers and discussed the progress of cases pertaining to the target killing of police officers as well as the victims of May 12 mayhem and April 9 incidents in which five persons, including lawyers, were burnt alive.
Significant progress in Pakistan-India talks
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and India ended their latest round of peace talks yesterday, saying that they had made significant progress and had signed a pact on giving consular access to prisoners.
The Pakistani and Indian foreign ministers met in Islamabad to resume the slow-moving, four-year-old dialogue between the nuclear-armed rivals after it had been put on hold for several months by political turmoil in Pakistan.
“We made a lot of progress in our interaction and we hope to maintain this in the next round of talks which is expected in mid-July,” Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said at a joint Press conference with his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee.
“Talks are progressing in a constructive manner on the issue of Kashmir,” Qureshi said.
Qureshi said the consular agreement would facilitate the early release of prisoners held in each others’ jails after they had been identified. Hundreds of detainees remain in prisons on both sides of the border.
The foreign ministers agreed to carry forward the composite dialogue and hold its fifth round in mid-July on an eight-point agenda that includes Kashmir, trade and anti-terrorism.
It was also announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake his long over-due visit to Pakistan this year. The mutually convenient date for the trip would be worked out soon. Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has accepted an invitation to visit New Delhi in June.
Qureshi said his Indian counterpart Parnab Mukherjee described their negotiations as fruitful, friendly and candid. Mukherjee said in his meetings with the new political leadership of Pakistan he found strong commitment to strengthen the peace process and carry forward bilateral dialogue for their mutual progress and development and making South Asia a region of peace and stability.
Mukherjee said India is keen to discuss and resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir, terrorism and cross-border infiltration through bilateral dialogue. Even during his interaction with entire spectrum of Pakistan’s new leadership, he particularly emphasised the urgent need for enhancing economic ties by promoting trade and investment and creating an enabling atmosphere by amending their trade policies to mutual benefit. It has been decided to expand railway links and construct more facilities for this purpose in order to enhance trade. He referred to Indian import of Pakistani cement and said trade relations would be strengthened in other fields as well.
The Pakistani and Indian foreign ministers met in Islamabad to resume the slow-moving, four-year-old dialogue between the nuclear-armed rivals after it had been put on hold for several months by political turmoil in Pakistan.
“We made a lot of progress in our interaction and we hope to maintain this in the next round of talks which is expected in mid-July,” Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said at a joint Press conference with his Indian counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee.
“Talks are progressing in a constructive manner on the issue of Kashmir,” Qureshi said.
Qureshi said the consular agreement would facilitate the early release of prisoners held in each others’ jails after they had been identified. Hundreds of detainees remain in prisons on both sides of the border.
The foreign ministers agreed to carry forward the composite dialogue and hold its fifth round in mid-July on an eight-point agenda that includes Kashmir, trade and anti-terrorism.
It was also announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake his long over-due visit to Pakistan this year. The mutually convenient date for the trip would be worked out soon. Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has accepted an invitation to visit New Delhi in June.
Qureshi said his Indian counterpart Parnab Mukherjee described their negotiations as fruitful, friendly and candid. Mukherjee said in his meetings with the new political leadership of Pakistan he found strong commitment to strengthen the peace process and carry forward bilateral dialogue for their mutual progress and development and making South Asia a region of peace and stability.
Mukherjee said India is keen to discuss and resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir, terrorism and cross-border infiltration through bilateral dialogue. Even during his interaction with entire spectrum of Pakistan’s new leadership, he particularly emphasised the urgent need for enhancing economic ties by promoting trade and investment and creating an enabling atmosphere by amending their trade policies to mutual benefit. It has been decided to expand railway links and construct more facilities for this purpose in order to enhance trade. He referred to Indian import of Pakistani cement and said trade relations would be strengthened in other fields as well.
Deposed CJ to get full protocol in Punjab, says minister
LAHORE — In what may annoy or embarrass its coalition partner PPP, a minister of the Punjab government belonging to the PML-N says deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry will be given full protocol when he visits various cities of the province in connection with the lawyers’ struggle for the restoration of the sacked judges.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah said at a news conference at the Punjab Assembly Committee Room the PML-N regarded Justice Iftikhar as the legitimate chief justice. However, senior minister Raja Riaz who represents the PPP said that there could be only one chief justice at a time.
Lawyers plan to hold convention in Faisalabad and Lahore at the start of their long march scheduled for June 10 and Justice Iftikhar would address them.
Rana Sana, lauding the lawyers’ movement, said after the Pakistan Movement it was the second biggest and important movement in Pakistan’s history. He said the sacrifices of the lawyers, civil society representatives and people would not go waste. He said that those who removed the judges would be taken to task and this would be done to ensure justice and not to take revenge.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah said at a news conference at the Punjab Assembly Committee Room the PML-N regarded Justice Iftikhar as the legitimate chief justice. However, senior minister Raja Riaz who represents the PPP said that there could be only one chief justice at a time.
Lawyers plan to hold convention in Faisalabad and Lahore at the start of their long march scheduled for June 10 and Justice Iftikhar would address them.
Rana Sana, lauding the lawyers’ movement, said after the Pakistan Movement it was the second biggest and important movement in Pakistan’s history. He said the sacrifices of the lawyers, civil society representatives and people would not go waste. He said that those who removed the judges would be taken to task and this would be done to ensure justice and not to take revenge.
Three relatives of MNA, driver shot dead
PESHAWAR — Unnown gunmen shot dead four persons belonging to an influential religious family from the border Landikotal tehsil of Khyber Agency near Peshawar early yesterday morning.
Three out of four killed persons were close relatives of Senator Maulana Abdul Malik and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Noorul Haq Qadri.
Those killed have been identified as Hafiz Abdul Azeem Qadri, his brother Humayun Qadri, nephew Nooruddin Qadri, brother-in-law Salim and driver of MNA Noorul Haq Qadri and senator Hafiz Abdul Malik.
Three out of four killed persons were close relatives of Senator Maulana Abdul Malik and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Noorul Haq Qadri.
Those killed have been identified as Hafiz Abdul Azeem Qadri, his brother Humayun Qadri, nephew Nooruddin Qadri, brother-in-law Salim and driver of MNA Noorul Haq Qadri and senator Hafiz Abdul Malik.
Cop killed in Swat attack
PESHAWAR — One policeman was killed and two others were injured when unknown miscreants attacked a checkpost in Ningolai village of Matta sub-division of Swat district in early hours of yesterday. Militants also blew up two schools in the area.
As per details, a group of miscreants attacked the police checkpost in Ningolai village with modern and sophisticated weapons. As a result of firing one constable namely Mushtaq was killed while his colleague Izhar and a passer by were injured seriously. The injured persons were admitted to a Saidu Sharif hospital.
As per details, a group of miscreants attacked the police checkpost in Ningolai village with modern and sophisticated weapons. As a result of firing one constable namely Mushtaq was killed while his colleague Izhar and a passer by were injured seriously. The injured persons were admitted to a Saidu Sharif hospital.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Musharraf’s November 3 actions were extraconstitutional: PML-Q
ISLAMABAD — A panel of four leading constitutional experts set up by the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has termed as extra-constitutional President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s actions of November 3, 2007, including purge in judiciary and recommended to the party to support the move for restoration of deposed judges.
The committee, however, opined that a constitutional amendment is needed for judges’ reinstatement. It asked the PML-Q to support such an amendment which provides for such a restoration, should not disturb the present judges who must be retained.
The committee comprised Senators Wasim Sajjad, S.M. Zafar, Mohammed Anwar Bhinder and Dr Khalid Ranjha.
PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat has said his party will move its own resolution if the ruling coalition failed to do so. The committee said it would meet again after the PPP submitted its constitutional package in parliament.
Former Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad said tabling a resolution was “not a bad idea”, but the resolution should also contain guidelines for the judges’ reinstatement.
He said that in the opinion of the committee, the present judges needed to be retained through an amendment in the Judges Act of 1997.
The committee, however, opined that a constitutional amendment is needed for judges’ reinstatement. It asked the PML-Q to support such an amendment which provides for such a restoration, should not disturb the present judges who must be retained.
The committee comprised Senators Wasim Sajjad, S.M. Zafar, Mohammed Anwar Bhinder and Dr Khalid Ranjha.
PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat has said his party will move its own resolution if the ruling coalition failed to do so. The committee said it would meet again after the PPP submitted its constitutional package in parliament.
Former Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad said tabling a resolution was “not a bad idea”, but the resolution should also contain guidelines for the judges’ reinstatement.
He said that in the opinion of the committee, the present judges needed to be retained through an amendment in the Judges Act of 1997.
US Gen Petraeus may urge more troop cuts in Iraq
WASHINGTON - The top US commander in Iraq said on Thursday he expects to recommend further cuts in US forces in Iraq before he relinquishes command in September because of improved security.
"My sense is I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions," General David Petraeus said in confirmation hearings on his appointment to become head of the US Central Command.
At the same time, Petraeus acknowledged that the US goal of turning all 18 provinces to Iraqi security control by the end of the year will not be met, in part because of violent conditions around Mosul in northern Iraq.
And he said provincial elections, a crucial step in Iraq's political consolidation, are likely to slip from October to November.
Petraeus said he would make the recommendations on further troop cuts following the withdrawal of the last of five surge brigades in July and a 45-day period of consolidation and assessment.
"I do not mean to imply that that would be a BCT (brigade combat team) or some major formation -- but it could," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"But I do believe that there will be certain assets that, as we are already looking at the picture right now, we'll be able to recommend can be either redeployed or not deployed to the theater in the fall," he said.
A combat brigade consists of about 3,500 troops.
The general said security conditions have continued to improve despite the withdrawal of three of the five surge brigades, with security incidents falling last week to the lowest point in more than four years.
"This week's is even significantly lower," he said, without providing specifics.
The general attributed the improvement to military operations against Iranian-backed Shiite militias in the southern city of Basra and Baghdad's Sadr City.
The exposure of Iranian activity in Basra has galvanized "a degree of opposition, resentment and so forth" against Iran in the Shiite led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, he said.
Petraeus said he was looking for signs of Iran pulling back in the wake of a recent visit to Tehran by an Iraqi delegation who conveyed the Maliki government's concerns.
"We know, though, that a number of the special group leaders have gone back to Iran, as they have been put under pressure in first Basra then other areas in the southern provinces and now in Sadr City," he said.
Petraeus was joined at the hearing by General Raymond Odierno, his former number two in Iraq and the Pentagon's choice to succeed Petraeus as the top general there.
The generals' performance was roundly praised on both sides of the aisle, and their confirmation appeared assured.
Senator Carl Levin, the committee chairman, said they would bring "unprecedented continuity of senior military leadership" and provide "unparalleled knowlege of the situation on the ground."
The change will put Petraeus in command of a vast portfolio of security challenges in a region that stretches from Afghanistan to Lebanon, and where demand for US military forces has exceeded the supply.
He faces a reconstituted al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan, a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, an emboldened regime in Tehran, political strife in Lebanon, and instability in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
"Engagement will be a central aspect of my responsibilities as the CENTCOM commander, if confirmed," Petraeus said.
"In most of the issues we'll address, a purely military approach is unlikely to succeed and our strategy must recognize that," he said.
Petraeus said one of his first trips as the Centcom commander would be to Pakistan, whose new government has struck a peace deal with Taliban insurgents.
He highlighted the need to strengthen Pakistani security forces, which he said were not adequately equipped to "deal with the growth of terrorist elements and the insurgency in the FATA (Federal Administered Tribal Areas)."
"It is clear that we and other countries supporting Pakistan should support Islamabad as Pakistani leaders develop a comprehensive approach to countering extremist and insurgent activity," he said.
"My sense is I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions," General David Petraeus said in confirmation hearings on his appointment to become head of the US Central Command.
At the same time, Petraeus acknowledged that the US goal of turning all 18 provinces to Iraqi security control by the end of the year will not be met, in part because of violent conditions around Mosul in northern Iraq.
And he said provincial elections, a crucial step in Iraq's political consolidation, are likely to slip from October to November.
Petraeus said he would make the recommendations on further troop cuts following the withdrawal of the last of five surge brigades in July and a 45-day period of consolidation and assessment.
"I do not mean to imply that that would be a BCT (brigade combat team) or some major formation -- but it could," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"But I do believe that there will be certain assets that, as we are already looking at the picture right now, we'll be able to recommend can be either redeployed or not deployed to the theater in the fall," he said.
A combat brigade consists of about 3,500 troops.
The general said security conditions have continued to improve despite the withdrawal of three of the five surge brigades, with security incidents falling last week to the lowest point in more than four years.
"This week's is even significantly lower," he said, without providing specifics.
The general attributed the improvement to military operations against Iranian-backed Shiite militias in the southern city of Basra and Baghdad's Sadr City.
The exposure of Iranian activity in Basra has galvanized "a degree of opposition, resentment and so forth" against Iran in the Shiite led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, he said.
Petraeus said he was looking for signs of Iran pulling back in the wake of a recent visit to Tehran by an Iraqi delegation who conveyed the Maliki government's concerns.
"We know, though, that a number of the special group leaders have gone back to Iran, as they have been put under pressure in first Basra then other areas in the southern provinces and now in Sadr City," he said.
Petraeus was joined at the hearing by General Raymond Odierno, his former number two in Iraq and the Pentagon's choice to succeed Petraeus as the top general there.
The generals' performance was roundly praised on both sides of the aisle, and their confirmation appeared assured.
Senator Carl Levin, the committee chairman, said they would bring "unprecedented continuity of senior military leadership" and provide "unparalleled knowlege of the situation on the ground."
The change will put Petraeus in command of a vast portfolio of security challenges in a region that stretches from Afghanistan to Lebanon, and where demand for US military forces has exceeded the supply.
He faces a reconstituted al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan, a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, an emboldened regime in Tehran, political strife in Lebanon, and instability in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
"Engagement will be a central aspect of my responsibilities as the CENTCOM commander, if confirmed," Petraeus said.
"In most of the issues we'll address, a purely military approach is unlikely to succeed and our strategy must recognize that," he said.
Petraeus said one of his first trips as the Centcom commander would be to Pakistan, whose new government has struck a peace deal with Taliban insurgents.
He highlighted the need to strengthen Pakistani security forces, which he said were not adequately equipped to "deal with the growth of terrorist elements and the insurgency in the FATA (Federal Administered Tribal Areas)."
"It is clear that we and other countries supporting Pakistan should support Islamabad as Pakistani leaders develop a comprehensive approach to countering extremist and insurgent activity," he said.
اب پاکستان کے ساتھ مذاق نہیں ہونے دیا جائے گا۔معزول چیف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری
کراچی ۔ معزول چیف جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نے کہا ہے کہ پی سی او کے تحت حلف اٹھانے والے جج قوم کے سامنے جوابدہ ہیں ۔ کراچی بار سے ٹیلی فونک خطاب کرتے ہوئے انہوں نے کہا کہ اگر ماضی میں عدلیہ آمروں کے سامنے نہ جھکتی تو آج حالات کچھ اور ہوتے لیکن ماضی کی طرح اب پاکستان کے ساتھ مذاق نہیں ہونے دیا جائے گا ۔ انہوں نے وکلاء میڈیا اور سول سوسائٹی کو خراج تحسین پیش کرتے ہوئے کہاکہ پہلی مرتبہ سولہ کروڑ عوام قانون کی حکمرانی کی جدوجہد کر رہے ہیں ۔ پاکستانی قوم اب غیور ہو چکی ہے اور اپنا دفاع کرنا جانتی ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ وکلاء کی تحریک چودہ ماہ سے کامیابی کے ساتھ جاری ہے اور مسلم لیگ ن نے عدلیہ کی بحالی کے لیے وزارتوں کی قربانی دی ہے ۔ یہ قدم پاکستان کو اس کی منزل تک پہنچائے گا معزول چیف جسٹس نے کہاکہ اٹھارہ فروری کے بعد پاکستان میں نظام تبدیل ہو چکا ہے ۔ پرویز مشرف خود تسلیم کر چکے ہیں کہ تین نومبر کے اقدامات غیر آئینی تھے ۔ جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نے کہاکہ ساٹھ ججوںنے ان کا ساتھ دیا مگر انیس ججوں نے خود کو حالات کے حوالے کر دیااور پی سی او کے تحت حلف اٹھایا جس کاانہیں بے حد افسوس ہے۔ اس موقع پر انہوںنے 24 مئی کو فیصل آباد بار اور 31 مئی کو پشاور بار سے خطاب کا اعلان بھی کیا۔
۔۔۔۔تفصیلی خبر ۔۔۔۔۔
وکلاء اور ججوں کے پاس سمجھوتے کی کوئی گنجائش باقی نہیں ہے, کسی نے سجھوتا کیا تو قوم اسے معاف نہیں کرے گی
معزول چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان افتخار محمد چوہدری کا جمعرات کو وکلاء تنظیموں کے مشترکہ جنرل باڈی اجلاس سے خطاب
معزول چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان افتخار محمد چوہدری نے کہا ہے کہ اب وکلاء اور ججوں کے پاس سمجھوتے کی کوئی گنجائش باقی نہیں ہے۔ کسی نے سجھوتا کیا تو قوم اسے معاف نہیں کرے گی۔ شخصی حکومت کا حلف اٹھانے سے انکار کرنے والے جج قابل تحسین ہیں جنہوں نے اصولی موقف پر کوئی سمجھوتہ نہیں کیا۔ ان خیالات کا اظہار انہوں نے جمعرات کو وکلاء تنظیموں کے مشترکہ جنرل باڈی اجلاس سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کیا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ وکلاء کے ساتھ وہ جج صاحبان مبارکباد کے مستحق ہیں جنہوں نے غیر آئینی اقدامات کو تسلیم کرنے یا شخصی حلف اٹھانے سے انکار کر دیا۔ معزول چیف جسٹس نے کہا کہ ماضی میں آمروں نے ہمیشہ نظریہ ضرورت کے تحت تحفظ حاصل کیا اور بحیثیت چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان میں ان تمام حالات میں عدلیہ کو مبرا نہیں سمجھتا اگر عدلیہ 1952ء سے لے کر 2002ء تک غیر آئینی اقدامات کی حوصلہ افزائی نہ کرتی تو یہ حالات پیدا نہ ہوتے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ اب 60 سال بعد یہ وقت ایسا آیا ہے جہاں وکلاء، جج صاحبان، سول سوسائٹی اور عوام نے یہ تسلیم کرلیا ہے کہ آئین کی بالادستی کے بغیر مملکت کو چلانا مشکل ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ 3 نومبر 2007ء کو غیر آئینی مارشل لاء لگانے کی کوشش کی گئی مگر اعلیٰ عدالتوں کے اکثر جج صاحبان نے ان غیر آئینی اقدامات کو اٹھا لیا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ عبوری آئینی حکم نامے کا حلف نہ اٹھانے والے جج صاحبان تمام تکلیف دہ حالات کے باوجود ڈٹے ہوئے ہیں جو قابل تحسین ہے۔ معزول جسٹس افتخار محمد چوہدری نے کہا کہ ہائی کورٹ کے ججوں کو دوبارہ تقرری کی پیشکش کی گئی مگر انہوں نے اس لئے انکار کر دیا کہ ایسا کرنا 3 نومبر کے اقدامات کو تسلیم کرنے کے مترادف ہوگا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ اب عام آدمی کو معلوم ہو چکا ہے کہ جج آزاد ہوں گے تو مجرموں کو سزا بھی ملے گی اور باقی مسائل حل ہوں گے۔ انھوںنے کہا کہ پی سی او کا حلف اٹھانے والوں کو میں جج نہیں سمجھتا۔معزول چیف جسٹس نے کہا کہ آج پاکستان کے طول و عرض کے عوام معزول چیف جج صاحبان کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں اب وکلاء کی ذمہ داری ہے کہ وہ خود کو مزید آزمائش کیلئے تیار کریں۔انھوں نے کہا کہ وکلاء تحریک کی کامیابیوںمیں میڈیا کے کردار کو کبھی فرا موش نہیں کیا جاسکتا۔انھوں نے کہا کہ تاریخ میں اتنی بڑی تحریک کی مثال نہیں ملتی۔
دہشت گردی کے عزائم ناکام بنائیں گے ، سید یوسف رضا گیلانی
اسلام آباد ۔ وزیر اعظم سید یوسف رضا گیلانی نے دہشت گردی کے مذموم عزائم ناکام بنانے کا عزم دہرایا ہے۔ وہ امریکا کی انٹرنیشنل سٹریٹجک سٹڈیز ایسوسی ایشن کے صدر گریگوری آرکوپلے سے باتیں کر رہے تھے جنہوں نے آج جمعرات کو یہاں ان سے ملاقات کی۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ وہ انتہا پسندوں کو اس بات کی ہرگز اجازت نہیں دیں گے کہ وہ ملک کو بدنام کریں اور اسے اپنے غلط نظریات کے ذریعے یرغمال بنائیں جواسلام کی روح کے قطعی برعکس ہیں۔ وزیر اعظم نے واضح کیا کہ پاکستان ایک اعتدال پسند ملک ہے جو حالیہ قومی انتخابات کے نتائج سے واضح ہو گیا ہے جس میں عوام نے قومی دھارے کی بڑی سیاسی جماعتوں کو بھاری اکثریت سے ووٹ دئیے اور انتہا پسند عناصر کو مکمل طور پر مسترد کر دیا ۔ وزیر اعظم نے پاکستان کے بارے میں کتابچہ چلانے پر امریکا کی بین الاقوامی سٹریٹجک سٹڈیز ایسوسی ایشن کے اقدامات کو سراہا تاکہ پاکستان کو تحقیق کاروں طلبہ صحافیوں اور عام لوگوں کے لیے اپنے سٹریٹجک طریقہ کار میں شامل کیا جاسکے ۔انہوں نے امید ظاہر کی کہ کتابچے سے نہ صرف موجودہ خلا کو پر کرنے میں مدد ملے گی بلکہ یہ پاکستان اور اسلام کے بارے میں غلط فہمیوں کو دور کرنے کے لیے ایک اہم دریعہ ثابت ہوگا۔ گریگری کوپلے نے وزیر اعظم کو اپنے ادارے کے اغراض و مقاصد اور کارکردگی سے آگاہ کیا۔ جبکہ پاک سوزوکی موٹرز کے چیف ایگزیکٹو افسر کم چی آیو کاوا سے باتیں کرتے ہوئے وزیر اعظم نے کہا کہ حکومت ملک میں بڑھتے ہوئے متوسط طبقے کی ضروریات پوری کرنے کے لیے کم وقت اور کم ایندھن خرچ کرنے والی گاڑیوں کی پیداوار کی حوصلہ افزائی کرے گی ۔ انہوں نے کہاکہ سی این جی گاڑیوں کے استعمال کی حوصلہ افزائی کی جائے گی کیونکہ یہ ماحول دوست اور متوسط طبقے کی پہنچ میں ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہاکہ دیہی علاقوں میں سی این جی سے چلنے والی جیپوں کی بڑی مانگ ہے اور انتظامیہ کو کم قیمت سی این جی جیپوں کی تیاری کو ترجیح دینی چاہیے آیوکاوا نے وزیر اعظم کو پاک سوزوکی کی کارکردگی کے بارے میں بتایا
پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی میں بغاوت کے حوالے سے کوئی بیان نہیں دیا، کسی بھی جماعت میں دراڑیں جمہوریت اور وفاق کو ناقابل تلافی نقصان پہنچا سکتی ہیں۔ میاں نواز
لاہور۔ پاکستان مسلم لیگ(ن)کے قائد محمدنوازشریف نے کہا ہے کہ 3نومبر 2007ء کے غیرآئینی اقدام کے بارے میں کوئی بھی موقف اختیارکرنا پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کا اندرونی معاملہ ہے اور میں کسی بھی جماعت کے اندرونی معاملات میں مداخلت کرنا جمہوری قدروں کی خلاف ورزی سمجھتا ہوں۔پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی میں بغاوت کے حوالے سے میں نے کوئی بیان نہیں دیا، میں جمہوری جدوجہدمیں شریک صحافیوں کو ساتھیوں کے طور پر اپیل کرتا ہوں کہ وہ موجودہ نازک سیاسی صورتحال میں رپورٹنگ کرتے وقت انتہائی احتیاط برتیں تاکہ جمہوری قوتوں کے درمیان خلیج پیدا کرنے والی سازشی قوتوں کو کھیل کھیلنے کا کوئی موقع میسر نہ ہو۔کسی بھی جماعت میں دراڑیں صرف اس جماعت کو نہیں بلکہ جمہوریت اور وفاق کوبھی ناقابل تلافی نقصان پہنچاسکتی ہیں، جن کا میں کبھی تصوربھی نہیں کرسکتا۔ان خیالات کا اظہار انہوں نے معروف کالم نویس عطاء الحق قاسمی کی ر ہائش گاہ پر دانشوروں اور کام نگاروں سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے کیا۔ محمدنوازشریف نے کہا کہ اصولی موقف کو نظرانداز کرکے چند وزارتوں کو تو بچایاجاسکتا تھا لیکن اس سے ملک وقوم کا مستقبل طویل عرصے کیلئے تاریکیوں میں ڈوب جاتا۔انہوں نے کہا کہ 3نومبرکے غیرآئینی اقدامات کوتسلیم کرنا جمہوریت کو ہمیشہ ہمیشہ کیلئے قتل کردینے کے مترادف ہوگا۔ انہوںنے کہا کہ ججوں کی بحالی اور عدلیہ کی آزادی کی تحریک کسی طرح بھی عوام کو ریلیف دینے میں حائل نہیںاور ان کی جماعت عوا م کو ریلیف دینے کے ہر قدم کی غیرمشروط حمایت کرے گی۔انہوں نے کہا کہ وہ پنجاب حکومت کے مسلم لیگی وزراء کو ہدایت جاری کرچکے ہیں کہ وہ ہنگامی بنیادوں پر روزگار،رہائش ،ٹرانسپورٹ ،تعلیم اور علاج معالجے کی سہولتیں مہیا کرنے ،مہنگائی کو روکنے اور بنیادی اشیاء خوردونوش کو بہترین حد تک عوام تک پہنچانے کی عملی کوششوں کیلئے اپنے آپ کو وقف کردیں تاکہ عوام کو سیاسی حقوق کے ساتھ ساتھ معاشی انصاف بھی مہیاہوسکے۔
صدر پرویز مشرف کو گھر بھیجنے کے لیے موجودہ حکومت پر شدید دباؤ ہے ۔آصف علی زرداری
نئی دہلی ۔ پیپلزپارٹی کی شریک چیئر مین آصف علی زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ پاک بھارت سرحد پر اکنامک زون قائم کرکے دونوں ممالک کے درمیان تعلقات کو مضبوط بنایا جا سکتا ہے ۔ مقبوضہ کشمیر سے فوجوں کی کمی 60 سالہ پرانے مسئلے کو حل کرنے میں مدد گار ثابت ہوگی ۔ صدر پرویز مشرف کو گھر بھیجنے کے لیے موجود ہ حکومت پر شدید دباؤ ہے ۔ بھارتی خبررساں ادارے کو دئیے گئے ایک انٹرویو میں آصف علی زرداری نے کہا کہ مقبوضہ کشمیر سے بھارتی فوج میں کمی قابل تحسین ہے ہم پاک بھارت سرحد پر اکنامک زون بنانا چاہتے ہیں انہوں نے کہا کہ مقبوضہ کشمیر میں فوج کی کمی کو نیم فوجی دستوں اور پولیس سے پورا کیا جا سکتا ہے جو 60 سالہ پرانے کشمیر کے مسئلے کو حل کرنے میں مدد گارثابت ہو گا۔ آصف علی زرداری نے کہا کہ پاک بھارت تعلقات کو سرحدوں پر اکنامک زون بنا کر مضبوط بنایا جا سکتا ہے اورتھرمیں موجود کوئلے کے ذخائر کو توانائی کے حصول کے لیے استعمال کیا جا سکتا ہے اور ان کوئلے کے ذخائر کو بھارت برآمد بھی کیا جا سکتا ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پاکستان بھارتی معیشت میں توانائی جیسے اہم شعبے میں تعاون کرکے اپنا کردار ادا کر سکتا ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ میں اسی نظام میں رہ کر کام کرنا چاہتا ہوں اور صدر سے کوئی ٹکراؤ نہیں چاہتا ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ صدر پرویز مشرف جمہوریت کی راہ میںبڑی رکاوٹ ہیں اور مشرف کو گھر بھیجنے کے لیے موجودہ حکومت پر شدید دباؤ ہے ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پیپلزپارٹی اور مسلم لیگ(ن) چاہتی ہے کہ پاک بھارت ویزہ سسٹم کو آسان بنایا جائے تاکہ دونوں جانب کے عوام کو سفری سہولیات میں آسانیاں ہوں ۔
روپے کی قدر میں تنزلی کی وجہ سٹہ بازی ہے ۔گورنر اسٹیٹ بنک
کراچی ۔ گورنر اسٹیٹ بنک آف پاکستان ڈاکٹر شمشاد اختر نے کہا ہے کہ جاری کھاتوں کے خسارے میں اضافہ ہوا ہے اور روپے کی قدر میں تنزلی کی وجہ سٹہ بازی ہے۔ان خیالات کا اظہار انہوں نے کراچی میں پریس کانفرنس میں کیا۔ڈکٹر شمشاد اختر نے کہا کہ اسٹیٹ بنک آف پاکستاں آزادانہ پالیسی پر یقین رکھتا ہے تاہم کسی کو شرح تبادلہ میں مصنوعی اضافے کی اجازت نہیں دی جائیگی۔انہوں نے اس موقع پر شرح سود میں 150بیسز پوائنٹس اضافے کا بھی اعلان کیا جس سے ڈسکاؤنٹ ریٹ کی شرح10.5فیصد سے 12فیصد ہوگئی ہے۔انہوں نے کہا کہ براہ راست غیرملکی سرمایہ کاری اور پورٹ فولیو سرمایہ کاری میں کمی ہوئی ہے جبکہ گزشتہ 4سے 5ماہ میں حکومت نے اسٹیٹ بنک آف پاکستان سے بہت زیادہ قرضے لئے جس سے جاری کھاتوں میں خسارے میں اضافہ ہوا ہے۔انہوں نے بتایا کہ پاکستان کا تیل کا درآمد بل بھی عالمی منڈی میں تیل کی قیمتوں میں اضافے اور روپے کی قدر میں تنزلی کے باعث ہوشربا سطح پر پہنچ چکا ہے۔انہوں نے پریس کانفرنس میں مزید بتایا کہ یکم جون سے کمرشل بنک کھاتیداروں کو سیونگ اکاؤنٹس پر5فیصد شرح سود دیں گے جبکہ کھانے پینے کی اشیاء کیلئے ایل سی کھلوانے پر35فیصد مارجن وصول کیا جائیگا۔ڈاکٹر شمشاد اختر نے بتایا کہ اکتوبر2007ء سے غیر ملکی ذرمبادلہ میں 7.6فیصد کمی ہوئی ہے اور 2006ء سے اب تک 4.6ارب ڈالرز کا خسارہ ہوچکا ہے۔انہوں نے بنکوں اور ایکسچینج کمپنیوں کو اضافی غیر ملکی کرنسی اسٹیٹ بنک آف پاکستان کے پاس محفوظ کرانے اور حکومت کو مالیاتی ایکٹ میں ترامیم کی بھی تجویز دی۔
صدراور پارلیمنٹ کے اختیارات میں توازن چاہتے ہیں کوئی ناراض ہوتاہے تو پرواہ نہیں ، فرحت اللہ بابر
اسلام آباد۔ پیپلز پارٹی کے ترجمان فرحت اللہ بابر نے کہاہے کہ پیپلز پارٹی صدر اور پارلیمنٹ کے اختیارات میں توازن چاہتی ہے اور اگر اس سے کوئی ناراض ہوتا ہے تو انہیں کوئی پرواہ نہیں ۔ جمعرات کو میڈیا میں شائع ہونے والی خبروں کا نوٹس لیتے ہوئے ان کی مذمت کی اور کہاکہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اور اس کے شریک چیئرمین آصف علی زرداری کو عوام کے اعتماد کی ضرورت ہے صدر مشرف کے اعتماد کی ضرورت نہیں ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم ایوان صدر اور وزیر اعظم کے درمیان اختیارات کا توازن چاہتے ہیں اور اس پر اگر کوئی ناراض ہوتا ہے تو اس سے انہیں کوئی غرض نہیں ہے ۔ یاد رہے کہ میڈیا میں خبریں شائع ہوئی تھیں کہ اگر صدر پرویز مشرف کے اختیارات کو محدود کرنے کے لیے کوئی آئینی پیکج آیا تو صدر پرویز مشرف اسے ناکام بنانے کے لیے اپنے اختیارات کا استعمال کریں گے
وکلاء پر لاٹھیاں برسانے سے ہماری حکومت بچتی ہے تو ایسی حکومت کو خود گرادیں گے۔ رانا ثناء اللہ
لاہور ۔صوبائی وزیر قانون رانا ثناء اللہ خان نے کہا ہے کہ اگر وکلاء پرسڑکوں پر لاٹھیاں برسانے اور انہیں جیلوں میں بند کرنے میں ہماری صوبائی حکومت کی بقاء ہے تو ہم ایسی حکومت کو اپنے ہاتھوں سے گرا کر وکلاء کی اصولی تحریک میں شامل ہوکر آئین اور عدلیہ کی بحالی کی جدوجہد کریں گے۔ آمریت کا علاج صرف سرجری ہے ورنہ یہ پورے جسم میں ناسور کی طرح پھیل جائے گی۔ پرویز مشرف تسلیم کرچکے ہیں کہ ان کا 3نومبر کا اقدام غیر آئینی تھا اسی لئے افتخار محمد چودھری ملک کے آئینی وقانونی چیف جسٹس ہیں ہم انہیں ان کے عہدے کی مناسبت سے پروٹوکول دیں گے۔ ان خیالات کا اظہار انہوں نے آج لاہور ہائی کورٹ بار سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کیا۔ تقریب سے لاہور ہائی کورٹ بار کے صدر انور کمال اور سابق صدر احمد اویس ایڈووکیٹ نے بھی خطاب کیا۔ رانا ثناء اللہ نے کہا کہ بعض افراد کو یہ غلط فہمی ہے کہ وکلاء تحریک کو دبایا جاسکتا ہے۔ ایسا ناممکن ہے اور نہ ہم ایسا ہونے دیں گے۔سو سال کی جدوجہد اور قربانیوں کے بعد ہمیں آزادی تو مل گئی مگر اصل مقصد حاصل نہ ہوا۔ 60سال کی مزید جدوجہد کے بعد کالے کوٹ کی شکل میں دیدہ ور پیدا ہوا ہے۔ بہت جلد چمن میں بہار بھی آئے گی۔ ہمیں آئینی پیکج پر اختلاف نہیں ۔ ہم سردار لطیف کھوسہ، بابر اعوان اور فاروق ایچ نائیک کی عزت کرتے ہیں مگر ان کا آمریت کے خاتمہ کیلئے اختیار کردہ طریقہ علاج ہومیوپیتھک ہے جبکہ مرض تقاضا کررہا ہے کہ اس سے قبل کہ آمریت کا سرطان پورے جسم میں پھیلے سرجری کردی جائے۔ بار سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے احمد اویس ایڈووکیٹ نے کہا کہ کالے کوٹ والوں نے ڈٹ کر مقابلہ کرکے خاکی وردی والوں کو گراؤنڈ کیا ہے۔ ہم پارلیمنٹ ہاؤس کے گھیراؤ سے قبل آرمی ہاؤس پر پڑاؤ ڈالیں گے۔ پاکستان کا کوئی فوجی پرویز مشرف کی حمایت میں باہر نہیں نکلے گا۔ ہم آئین سے غداری کے آرٹیکل سکس پر عملدرآمد کروائیں گے۔
٭۔ ۔ ۔ میں آج زندہ ہوں تو یہ وکلاء کے احتجاج کا نتیجہ ہے وگرنہ میرا خاندان گمشدہ افراد کے لواحقین کے ساتھ میری تصویر اٹھائے سڑکوں پر احتجاج کررہا ہوتا۔ رانا ثناء اللہ خان
میں اگر آج زندہ اور آپ کے سامنے موجود ہوں تو یہ وکلاء کے احتجاج کا نتیجہ ہے ورنہ میرا خاندان بھی میری تصویر اٹھا کر گمشدہ افراد کے لواحقین کے ساتھ احتجاج کررہا ہوتا۔ ان خیالات کا اظہار صوبائی وزیر قانون رانا ثناء اللہ خان نے لاہور ہائی کورٹ بار سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کیا۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ اکتوبر 1999ء اور مارچ 2003ء میں دو بار حکومتی ایجنسیوں نے انہیں اغواء کرکے تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا۔ لاہور ہائی کورٹ بار جس کا رکن ہونے پر مجھے فخر ہے نے بھرپور احتجاج کرکے میری جان بچائی ورنہ آج شائد میں زندہ نہ ہوتا یا میرا نام بھی گمشدہ افراد کی فہرست میں ہوتا اور میرا خاندان میری تصویر اٹھاکر حکمرانوں کے خلاف سڑکوں پر احتجاج کررہا ہوتا۔
٭۔ ۔ ۔ میں آج زندہ ہوں تو یہ وکلاء کے احتجاج کا نتیجہ ہے وگرنہ میرا خاندان گمشدہ افراد کے لواحقین کے ساتھ میری تصویر اٹھائے سڑکوں پر احتجاج کررہا ہوتا۔ رانا ثناء اللہ خان
میں اگر آج زندہ اور آپ کے سامنے موجود ہوں تو یہ وکلاء کے احتجاج کا نتیجہ ہے ورنہ میرا خاندان بھی میری تصویر اٹھا کر گمشدہ افراد کے لواحقین کے ساتھ احتجاج کررہا ہوتا۔ ان خیالات کا اظہار صوبائی وزیر قانون رانا ثناء اللہ خان نے لاہور ہائی کورٹ بار سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کیا۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ اکتوبر 1999ء اور مارچ 2003ء میں دو بار حکومتی ایجنسیوں نے انہیں اغواء کرکے تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا۔ لاہور ہائی کورٹ بار جس کا رکن ہونے پر مجھے فخر ہے نے بھرپور احتجاج کرکے میری جان بچائی ورنہ آج شائد میں زندہ نہ ہوتا یا میرا نام بھی گمشدہ افراد کی فہرست میں ہوتا اور میرا خاندان میری تصویر اٹھاکر حکمرانوں کے خلاف سڑکوں پر احتجاج کررہا ہوتا۔
انسانی حقوق کے اداروں کی پاکستان کے یو این کونسل کا ممبرمنتخب ہو نے پر تنقید
نیویارک ۔ حقوق انسانی کے گروپوں نے پاکستان، بحرین، گبون اور زیمبیا کے اقوام متحدہ کی جنرل اسمبلی کی جا نب سے حقوق انسانی کونسل کے لیے ر کن منتخب ہو نے پر تنقید کی ہے اور کہا ہے کہ ان کے ریکارڈ کو دیکھتے ہوئے ایسا معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ یہ کونسل حقوق انسانی کی خلاف ورزیاں کرنے والوں کا کلب بن گیا ہے۔ یورپ کے لیے کونسل کی دو نشستوں پر فرانس اور برطانیہ نے کامیابی حاصل کی جبکہ سپین کوصرف ایک ووٹ سے شکست کا سامنا کرنا پڑا۔ فرانس کو ایک سو تیئس، برطانیہ کو ایک سو بیس ووٹ ملے جبکہ سپین کو ایک سو انیس ووٹ ملے۔ ہیومن رائٹس کونسل کا انتخاب علاقی گروپ خفیہ رائے دہی سے کرتے ہیں۔ایشیا کے لیے چار نشتوں پر پاکستان، جاپان، بحرین اور جنوبی کوریا نے کامیابی حاصل کی ہے جبکہ سری لنکا اور مشرقی تیمور کامیاب نہیں ہوسکے ہیں۔ لاطینی امریکہ سے ارجنٹینا، برازیل اور چلی کونسل کیممبر منتخب ہوئے ہیں۔ممبران تین سال تک کونسل پر کام کریں گے۔ امریکہ اقوام متحدہ کی حقوق انسانی کونسل کا واحد مخالف ہے اور خود کو اس کی رکنیت سے باہر رکھا ہے۔ امریکہ کا خیال میں نئی تنظیم ممبر ممالک کو انسانی حقوق کی پامالی سے نہیں روک سکے گی۔
برطانیہ پاکستانی حکومت اور قبائلی رہنماؤں کے مابین سمجھوتے کے حق میں ہے‘ ڈیوڈ ملی بینڈ
واشنگٹن + لندن۔ برطانیہ کے وزیرخارجہ ڈیوڈ ملی بینڈ نے اپنی ایک تقریر میں کہا ہے کہ برطانیہ پاکستانی حکومت اور قبائلی رہنماؤں کے مابین سمجھوتے کے حق میں ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا ہے کہ افغانستان اور پاکستان میں شدت پسندی روکنے کا فوجی حل نہیں ہو سکتا لیکن سمجھوتہ یا بات چیت انہی لوگوں سے ہونی چاہیے جو خون خرابہ چھوڑنے کو تیار ہو۔ یاد رہے کہ بدھ کو صوبہ سرحد کی حکومت اور سوات کے مقامی طالبان کے مابین پندرہ نکاتی امن معاہدہ طے پایا ہے جس کے تحت سوات کے مقامی طالبان پاکستانی ریاست، صوبائی اور مرکزی حکومتوں کی عملداری تسلیم کرتے ہوئے ان کے دائرہ کار کے اندر رہیں گے جبکہ معاہدے کے مطابق حکومت مالاکنڈ ڈویڑن میں بہت جلد شریعت محمدی کا نفاذ عمل میں لائے گی۔ امریکہ کا کہنا ہے کہ پاکستان کے صوبہ سرحد کے ضلع سوات میں حکومت اور مقامی عسکریت پسندوں کے درمیان ہونے والے امن معاہدے کو دہشتگردی کی منصوبہ بندی کی آڑ کے طور پر استعمال نہیں ہونا چاہیے۔امریکہ کے دفتر خارجہ کے ترجمان شان میکارمک نے کہا ہے کہ ہم یہ نہیں دیکھنا چاہیں گے کہ سمجھوتے کی آڑ میں شدت پسندوں کو دہشت گردی کی منصوبہ کی آزادی مل جائے۔ واشنگٹن میں دفترِخارجہ کے ترجمان شان میکارمک نے کہا کہ وہ یہ دیکھنا چاہیں گے کہ جو لوگ پہلے سیاسی عمل کا حصہ نہیں بننا چاہتے تھے کیا وہ اب اس میں شامل ہوں گے اور خون خرابہ چھوڑ دیں گے۔ دوسری طرف برطانیہ نے حکومت پاکستان کی قبائلی علاقوں میں امن بات چیت کی حمایت کی ہے۔
PM hopeful of ISSA’s handbook on Pakistan to remove misperceptions
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday appreciated International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA), USA for publishing a handbook on Pakistan’s strategic situation, and hoped it would help remove misperceptions about the country. Talking to Gregory R. Copley, President ISSA at PM House, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that handbook would prove as authentic research material on Pakistan, and be helpful for researchers, students, journalists and the general public.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is a moderate country, which was also proved by the results of national elections where people overwhelmingly opted for moderate political parties and totally rejected the extremists.
Gilani said his government was determined to defeat designs of extremists and would not allow them bring bad name to the country through their misguided ideology, which was against the spirit of Islam and raison d’etre of Pakistan.
Copley briefed the Prime Minister about objectives and activities of his organization and said his organization would continue to promote international understanding and cooperation.
Present setup to usher in new era of media freedom: Sherry Rehman
ISLAMABAD : Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman Thursday said the present coalition government was well aware of the problems of media persons and it was working to usher in a new era of media freedom. “Freedom of media is not a gift of government but a hard earned right. We believe in complete freedom of speech because present setup led by Pakistan Peoples party (PPP) always supported cause of media,” she said while addressing a meeting with columnists and editors.
“Our government wants to engage media on permanent basis and the consultative meeting with columnists and editors is a step in this regard,” she said.
Sherry Rehman said such consultations are also important to remove misunderstandings, adding that the government wants good wishes, guidance and cooperation from media.
The Minister assured that the government would not create any hurdle in the way of licensing process for any channel, rather it would continue its efforts to facilitate and promote media. There will be no delay in the issuance of licenses to TV channels, she added.
The Minister said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been made facilitator and added Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto started the liberalization process of media and “we will remove all those laws which can hinder media freedom.”
Governor Punjab calls on Asif Zardari
ISLAMABAD : Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer Thursday called on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari here at Zardari House. Senior minister of the government of Punjab Raja Riaz also accompanied him. Political and administrative issues particularly the situation arising out of the resignations of PML-N ministers, the major coalition partner of the government, Judicial crisis and party matters were discussed in the meeting.
Sources said Co-Chairman directed Governor and Senior minister to move forward for improving relationship with coalition partners in Punjab government and pay heed to reservations of PML-N top leadership.
The Governor also presented a report to Asif Zardari on distinct political and managerial issues and consulted him.
The Co-Chairman also stressed developing enduring relations of party’s leadership with workers and resolving their problems. Zardari maintained that federal and provincial ministers would hold Kutcherys at party offices and their respective districts.
There was a consensus that problems of the commonman must be resolved at their doorstep to restore their confidence in PPP.
Pakistan to request to UN for setting up International Commission to probe Benazir’s assassination
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Thursday decided to send formal request to the UN Secretary General to establish an ‘International Commission’ to probe the assassination of former Prime Minister and leader of Pakistan People Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Law Minister Farooq Naek briefing newsmen here at Foreign Office said they will meet UN Secretary General next month to formally hand over the request from Pakistan government to constitute the International Commission to probe and trace the culprits involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto who was killed in Rawalpindi on December 27, last year.
The Foreign Minister said national sovereignty and integrity would be protected at all cost and there will be no compromise on it during the investigation by International Commission in this case.
Giving details of the procedure being adopted in this regard, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said a formal request has been sent to the UN Secretary General through Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Munir Akram for a meeting with him and Law Minister so that formal request from Pakistan government can be handed over to him.
The Foreign Minister said the basic aim of requesting the UN to constitute International Commission for probing the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as it was a great loss to the country and international community because her death as she was a great leader.
He said, the probe by International Commission is only to find the culprits behind the assassination and it is not a matter of witch-hunting or to achieve any political benefit.
Qureshi said the request for probe to UN is being sent after unanimous resolutions passed by National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies and on the directive of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
He said Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law and Interior worked together and consulated each other before finalising the formal request to be sent to the UN for establishing an International Commission to probe the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He said following the passage of unanimous resolutions, the request has public support and mandate and it reflects aspirations of the people of Pakistan.
Qureshi said during their visit to United Nations, they will also consult the matter with other countries especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The Law Minister Farooq Naek said co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari wanted to have enquiry by UN Commission but the UN treated requests only from the government, therefore, now the government has decided to send such proposal in a formal manner.
He said the main objective to the International Commission would be to probe the culprits, who financed the murder, and who were responsible for it.
Referring to the statements of officials during the caretaker government, Law Minister said, there were reports that Baitullah Mahsood could be involved in the murder of Benazir Bhutto, therefore, it was necessary to go in detail into the murder through a international investigation.
“We want fair, impartial and natural investigation,” said Shah Mahmood Qureshi adding that the government has no intention to point finger on any one in this case.
The Foreign Minister said, “We want that the investigation process should be completed in a way that no one could be criticised of victimised.
Replying to a question for the justification to send the request to UN for investigation, the Law Minister said as Baitullah Mahsood has links with Al-Qaida and its has been operating from different countries and Pakistani investigative agencies have limitation and restriction to reach to such international factors.
About sharing the terms of reference and other details being mentioned in the formal request to be delivered to the UN Secretary General, the Foreign Minister said once the request will be delivered to the SG then its details could be shared with the media.
The Foreign Minister said as Baitullah Mahsood has denied involvement in the assassination, therefore, it was more essential to probe the incident by a international commission.
Regarding the investigations done by a team of Scotland Yard, the Foreign Minister said the team came to Pakistan with limited reference and the cause of the death was the main objective for them.
The Foreign Minister said all documents, letters of Benazir Bhutto about threats to her life, and investigations done in this regard would be presented to the members of the International Commission including the report that some officials had washed the crime scene.
Coalition govt committed to Peace with India: Nawaz
ISLAMABAD : Former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that irrespective of the domestic compulsions, the new government is committed to peace with India.
Nawaz Sharif in an interview with an India Channel NDTV said that he believed in India-Pak dialogue process. “We laid the foundation by signing the historic Lahore document with Mr Vajpayee for initiating the dialogue process effectively”, he said.
The PMLN head said he was very serious and sincere to resolve all the outstanding issues between the two countries and also move forward the field of economic development adding a good beginning was made during his tenure as Prime Minister.
The phase of composite Pak-India dialogue process was launched in 2004 which was a strong step toward resolving the disputes, he added.
To a question regarding Kashmir dispute, he said there is need to build more confidence to resolve this issue.
He said that both the sides should make a serious resolve for amicable solution of this longstanding issue.
Haqqani urges a comprehensive strategy to eliminate terrorism
ISLAMABAD : Time is ripe for Pakistan to devise its own strategy to fight and eliminate terrorism from the whole region, Pakistan ambassador designate to USA Hussain Haqqani said Thursday. It is in America’s interest that Pakistan should be allowed to fight terror in its own way as the leadership of the country better know ground realities here as compared to people sitting thousands of miles away and ordering to bomb anywhere without checking the facts, he said.
He said goodwill for democratic forces has already been created in US media,Congress and other important institutions by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and country should take benefit of it.
“ A window of opportunity has already been provided by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to devise our role by ourselves,” he told Aaj TV.
Advisory groups of three American presidential candidates are agreed that if Pakistan made a comprehensive strategy to deal terror in its own way they will extend cooperation to Pakistan, he added.
The only need is to strengthen the institutions and avoid confrontation in the country.Pakistan will never compromise on democracy and supremacy of constitution, he added.
Both Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) are agreed to strengthen democracy and not to indulge in any form of confrontation as it has already weaken democratic forces.
Both the coalition partners are agreed to restore the deposed judges as their reinstatement is an integral part of supremacy of democracy.
State Bank brings more monetary checks for macroeconomic stability
KARACHI : State Bank of Pakistan has decided to introduce certain tightening measures including increase in interest rate and discount rate to bring desired macroeconomic stability enabling the country to escape a structural downward shift and brightening the long-term growth prospects.
These measures along with the government’s consolidated fiscal program for the medium-term will help manage and cool-off inflation expectations and to tame the underlying dynamics, said Governor SBP, Dr Shamshad Akhtar while briefing media at SBP Head Office here on Thursday.
Highlighting these corrective measures, the SBP Chief announced to increase in the SBP policy discount rate by 150 bps to 12.0 percent w.e.f. May 23, 2008. This increase has been necessitated by the persistent and excessive government borrowing from SBP to meet the financing requirement of the budget deficit. Stock of government borrowing from SBP is more than double of last year’s level. For offloading this huge debt to the scheduled banks, this increase will act as a critical measure to induce scheduled banks to participate actively in T-bill auctions, which have been mostly unsuccessful in mobilizing receipts for the government in recent past.
She said that this will also help in pushing up the low and decline real lending rates necessary to curb the demand pressures and decelerate the current rapid rise in inflation.
An increase in interest rates is necessary to encourage savings in the economy, importance of which cannot be over emphasized given the state of fiscal and external current account deficits.
The increase in the policy rate will also calm down the sentiments in the domestic foreign exchange markets and make it attractive to lure more foreign inflows. It will also curb the second round impact of food inflation and oil price increase to headline CPI inflation going forward.
Secondly, she announced increase in the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for all deposits up to one year maturity by 100 bps to 9.0 percent while keeping the CRR for deposits of over one year maturity unchanged at zero percent. In addition, the Statutory Liquidity Requirement (SLR) is increased by 100 bps to 19 percent of the total time and demand liabilities.
The increase in the CRR is supposed to have an immediate impact on interbank interest rates by drying up excess liquidity. This can be ensured at present only with a concomitant rise in the SLR since the banks are already keeping government papers over and above the current requirement of 18 percent.
In case, the CRR is increased in isolation, she said, banks are likely to liquidate their investments to make up the liquidity shortages due to CRR increase , thereby diluting the impact of policy measures.
The net impact of the rise in both the CRR and the SLR would then be translated into an increase in market interest rates. An additional positive impact of this measure is likely to be on deposit mobilization as the banks would be forced to generate more deposits to cope with liquidity requirements for their operations, she said.
Thirdly, the SBP Governor told that effective 1 June 2008, all Banks are required to pay a minimum profit rate of 5 percent of Saving/PLS saving products. The saving deposits category account for more than 43 percent of all bank deposits and constitute 63 percent of the total number of countrywide deposit accounts. While on the margin deposits rates have risen, given the stock of deposits on which returns remain low the average return on all saving accounts is at 2.1 percent. The inelasticity of the deposit rates to the monetary policy signals of SBP makes the transmission of the monetary stance less effective. Impact of any increase in the discount rate by SBP is immediately transmitted through advances. However, there is little impact on the deposit rates and hence, there is no incentive for the currency in circulation to move into bank deposits.
She said SBP has been relying on moral suasion and competition among banks to encourage rise in returns on deposits. While this has facilitated greater awareness in banks and differential and higher returns by smaller banks, but by and large increment on deposit rates has happened principally for large deposit holders. In 2008, given the low returns, the growth of deposits has been impacted thereby affecting the capacity of the system to service growing economy wide requirements.
This measure is also necessitated by the slower growth in overall deposits. The rise in deposit rate will help bring in high level of currency in circulation into the financial intermediation process and allow banks to have higher level of resources to serve the credit requirements of the economy , she explained.
Fourth Corrective step which will be effective from 23 May, the Central Bank Governor , said the L/C margins on all imports except for oil and selective food imports is being imposed at 35 percent.
Fifthly, the Government is well advised to sterilize the expected foreign inflows by using the foreign resources to settle its obligations to SBP. Rather than use fresh foreign inflows to finance new expenditures, retirements of MRTBs will help reduce the reserve money pressures, she informed.
Sixth tightening step in this regard , she informed , is that the Government is being further advised to amend the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005 to incorporate appropriate provisions to restrict the debt monetization.
Most countries have disallowed government to borrow from central banks to allow smooth monetary transmission, while averting the inflationary consequence of debt monetization.
Currently, the Government has kept borrowings from the central bank outside this legislation which has eroded the fiscal discipline and diluted the impact of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. In FY08, it is estimated that up till now the Government will have financed around 80 percent of its fiscal deficit from SBP borrowings.
Excessive borrowings from the central bank has also resulted in rise in floating debt (that comprise of short-term instruments such as T-bills), raising its share in GDP from 11.1 percent at end-June 2007 to 14.7 percent by end-April 2008. On margin this heavy reliance on debt monetization helps the government reduce its financial cost. However, real economic costs of central bank borrowings cause enormous inflationary pressures, whose burden falls on businesses, industry and public at large. So the government is best advised to launch a program of scaling the SBP borrowing by reducing its stock of borrowing from the central bank over next few years, while not relying anymore on central bank financing.
She said this will infuse greater fiscal discipline as the real hard constraints are imposed on the budget.
Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar said during media briefing that these corrective steps would also enhance exchange rate stability for which the SBP has already taken several measures during the last three weeks including—Exchange companies have been directed to transfer foreign currency from their Nostro accounts held outside Pakistan to commercial banks in Pakistan and henceforth exchange companies will have to close all Nostro accounts abroad—Exchange companies have been encouraged to focus on promoting home remittances and companies can only affect outward remittances to the extent of 75 percent of the home remittances mobilized by the respective company—For meeting the demand of foreign currencies within Pakistan, the Exchange Companies have been directed to surrender their surplus foreign currency to State Bank earlier exchange companies were exporting most of the foreign currency, except dollars abroad. Now exchange companies, besides dollar, will not be able to export Pound Sterling, Euro and UAE Dirham’s—Exchange companies have been required to surrender a minimum of 15 percent, instead of earlier 10 percent, of foreign currencies received by them from home remittances to the interbank markets—Limits on advance payments that were relaxed last year have been tightened. Now advance import payments will only be allowed against letter of credits and that too only to the extent of 50 percent. Advance payments against contracts are now not allowed. Last year advance payments against letter of credit and firm registered contracts were allowed to importers via banks to the extent of 100 percent.
The Central Bank Governor informed that some reforms of the forward hedging mechanism available to importers / exporters have been introduced to ensure that there is no misuse of the facility other than true hedging.
State Bank of Pakistan has increased the frequency of surprise inspections on banks and exchange companies in relation to their compliance of all foreign exchange related regulations, she said.
The SBP Chief , speaking of the salient features of the last Monetary Policy Statement (issued on January 31st, 2008) , said the tightened monetary policy was issued in perspective of the trends and developments surfacing in the first two quarters of FY08.
She said the SBP had also enunciated clearly in the MPS the growing domestic vulnerabilities and risks facing Pakistan’s economy given the disruptions in 2007 both on economic and political front.
Dr Akhtar said renewed pressures are visible in the country as the domestic and international economic environment and outlook has changed significantly. Multidimensional global developments including the growing liquidity crunch and the rising global commodities prices as well as the rising domestic twin deficits reflect the significant aggregate demand.
Together these developments are now manifesting themselves into heightened inflationary pressures which unless curbed is expected to magnify further, she said.
The unfolding events on both international and domestic front have enhanced the economic stress worldwide as well as in Pakistan. Most countries, developed or developing, are likely to register a slowdown and have witnessed exceptional rise in inflation, which is now emerging as the biggest challenge facing the global economy.
Central Banks are and will be expected to play a key role in the current global scenario to strike a balance between growth and price stability. On the balance it is being acknowledged across all economies that managing domestic demand pressures is critical in avoiding further and steeper rise of inflation ; current rate of inflation has already started to impact economic growth and has induced fresh threats to economic stability.
Pakistan’s macroeconomic outcome for FY08 has deviated considerably from the original projections. This has necessitated re-examination of the monetary policy framework that was based on different assumptions related to fiscal and external current account deficit as well as output growth and inflation.
The slippages in twin deficits and borrowings of the government from the SBP have grown persistently every month. Equally concerning is steady rise, but now a sharp spike in year-on-year indicator of food inflation . These trends have reached a proportion that are now unsustainable and without corrective actions carry risk of creating more macroeconomic complications.
She said few developments stand out and reflect the unprecedented economy-wide pressures and highlight the urgency of an immediate monetary policy tightening.
1) External current account deficit has increased at a pace that is difficult to sustain the slowdown in financial inflows. The rising external current account deficit owing to widening trade deficit indicates that, despite a decent export performance , significant import demand pressures exist in the economy.
Underlying this alarming trend , most worrisome is the acceleration in import demand during the first four months of 2008 that has been rising unabated over the entire fiscal year. During this period , import bill has increased by 13.4 billion dollars while export revenues grew by only 6.9 billion dollars resulting in an increment of 6.5 billion dollars in trade deficit.
Most distinct is the extraordinary growth in the non-oil and non-food imports running at 42 percent during the same period. Consequently, the external current account deficit is projected to range between 7.3 to 7.8 percent of GDP , which is much higher than the initial projection of 5 percent for FY08. This is clearly unsustainable and calls for taking urgent corrective actions.
2) Original projections of balance of payments were casted assuming growth in foreign exchange inflows in line with the results of FY07. However, liquidity constraints in global financial markets and the domestic political uncertainty have impacted the net foreign inflows position. Burgeoning external current account deficit along with slowdown in foreign direct investment and foreign portfolio outflows has resulted in drawdown of reserves by US$3.7 billion over July 1- May 16 FY08 and by US$4.6 billion relative to end-October 2007.
3) Complications on financing of external current account deficit coupled with speculative positions in the domestic foreign exchange market have put enormous pressure on the exchange rate, she said.
Dr Shamshad Akhtar said that since end of June 2007, the Pak Rupee has depreciated by 14.9 percent up to May 21 , 2008 and most of this depreciation is concentrated in the last six weeks or so. By the end of March 2008 , the Rupee depreciated by only 3.9 percent and since then it has depreciated by 10.8 percent.
The effects of this depreciation on domestic inflation will emerge in the coming months . Recognizing the prevailing pressures on exchange rate , SBP is committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability which should help further stabilize exchange markets.
She said the monetary tightening along with the structural changes to limit Central Bank borrowings for budget should help infuse exchange rate stability. In tandem, SBP has launched structural reforms of exchange companies which are intended to activate them to augment inflows, while maintaining strict discipline and proper disclosure.
4) Given substantial slippages , budget deficit is projected to be significantly higher relative to the original budgetary estimates for FY08. By December 2007 (latest available data), it had reached Rs356 billion against the full year budgeted estimate of Rs399 billion and since has exceeded the budgeted target by a wide margin, she said.
The Governor SBP said the aggregate demand pressure from fiscal module compounded as the government opted to rely excessively from central bank borrowings which, being inflationary , have fuelled considerable inflationary pressures. Rather than retiring its borrowings from central bank , as mutually agreed at the beginning of FY08, government’s borrowing during July 1- May19, 2008 reached Rs 544.1 billion.
Stock of outstanding Market Related Treasury Bills (MRTBs) , an instrument through which government borrows from SBP on tap for replenishment , has reached Rs 945.9 billion ( almost 9.4 percent of GDP); highest ever in Pakistan’s history and more than double of last year’s level of Rs 452.1 billion.
The borrowings from the SBP are leading to enormous expansion in reserve money and overall money supply in addition to seriously complicating monetary policy management. This trend has reversed the decline in core inflation which had come down to 5.2 percent by May 2007 -- a success achieved as a result of few rounds of monetary tightening over the preceding 18 months.
5) Despite monetary tightening in January private sector credit has grown consistently and has outpaced last year’s growth. Credit to manufacturing, particularly textile sector that benefitted from additional incentives , has been steady . One plausible explanation for strong private sector credit growth is the fall in real lending rates. As a result of persistent increase in domestic inflation, real interest rates have fallen from 3.4 percent in December to a meager 1.9 percent in March 2008 . Real lending rates in Pakistan has been low now for quite some time. To suppress the aggregate demand pressures and rising inflationary trends, it is imperative for real lending rates to increase.
6) The SBP said that combination of these developments has raised the headline inflation to an alarming level. On year on year (YoY) basis, it has almost doubled in just four months; moving from 8.8 percent in December 2007 to 17.2 percent in April 2008. More disturbing is the trend of food inflation, which has also doubled spiking to 25.5 percent from 12.2 percent during the same period.
Although the importance of administrative supply side measures cannot be undermined in taming food inflation, the urgent need for further tightening to address their second round impact on headline inflation cannot be ignored either. Core inflation measures, depicting persistent and mounting demand pressures, also portray worrying trends, she said.
Non-food non-energy measure of core inflation has jumped from 7.2 percent in December 2007 to 10.8 percent in April 2008. Similarly, 20 percent trimmed measure of core inflation has peaked to 14.1 percent. These trends have undermined the past few years of monetary tightening which had significantly curbed by mid 2007. With oil price in the international market now hovering around US$ 130 per barrel, there is likely to be additional consequences for macroeconomic imbalances and inflation.
Significant slippages in domestic and external deficit for FY08 and the complications of its financing mix and requirements, particularly borrowings from the SBP, have reached unsustainable levels. Based on current macroeconomic trends, the average headline inflation for the entire FY08 is forecasted to be over 11 percent— almost double the target of 6.5 percent, the Governor State Bank said.
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