KHI 16-01-2013_Layout 1 1/16/2013 2:52 AM Page 3
News 03 ARtS & ENtERtAiNmENt
BuSiNESS
SPoRtS
Spielberg’s lionizes him, but was Lincoln racist?
Amidst crisis, pakistan gas and oil outputs rise in 2012
pakistan’s matches may be shifted
EditoRiAl
Invitation to anarchy:
Qadri’s antics threaten democracy.
CommENt Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi says; Losing the initiative: Pakistan-India relations and the Indian military.
Rabia Ahmed says; What’s the rush?: Mr Qadri has a lot of explaining to do.
Story on Page 14
Story on Page 18
Story on Page 15
Articles on Page 10-11
Resign Mr Zardari, Nawaz rejects Qadri’s demand of govt ouster demands Imran lAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan demanded President Asif Ali Zardari immediately resign from office, as he read out his seven-point agenda to the nation on Tuesday. Khan said Zardari’s ouster was necessary to hold free and fair election. “Free and fair elections cannot take place until Zardari is the president. he is the reason for Pakistan’s destruction,” Khan said. “Zardari appointed three prime ministers in his tenure but all of them were corrupt,” the PTI chief added. The PTI chairman’s seven point charter included the announcement of date for general elections and a neutral caretaker setup that was free of “muk muka” or “understanding”. he accused the government of embezzling funds and using the money to “buy” elections, even saying that the president was working against the constitution. Khan called on the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) to take notice of pre-poll rigging done by several parties at the expense of public money. The party had lodged a complaint with the election commission about how the Punjab government and the central government were engaged in pre-poll rigging through the distribution of laptops and the Benazir Income Support Programme. But the PTI chief regretted that the eCP had not replied to any of his party’s complaints. Though he expressed confidence in the chief election commissioner, he doubted the sincerity of eCP officials. Warning that the party would take to the roads if the SC verdict in RPP case was not implemented, he called for the arrest of PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. he also demanded the arrest of terrorists involved in the killings of hazara Shias in Quetta. STAff REpoRT
Angry PPP supporters resort to violence in Sindh
lAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) has rejected demands put forth by Dr Tahirul Qadri, chief of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ), terming them unconstitutional. A consultative meeting of the PML-N was held at Raiwand on Tuesday with the party chief, Nawaz Sharif in the chair. The meeting discussed the situation after the long march and the subsequent demands by the TMQ head. According to a party spokesman‚ the meeting agreed that change of the government in an unconstitutional manner was unacceptable and the PML-N would not allow anybody to derail the democratic system in the country. The PML-N also agreed that the democratic forces would have to show unity. It said threats and demands by Qadri were unconstitutional and he should not endanger lives of the people in this regard. Senator Pervez Rasheed of the PML-N said had Qadri made these kinds of utterances in Canada, he would have been in jail by now. Rashid also demanded the chief justice of Pakistan take suo motu action on the situation. Ahsan Iqbal said Qadri‚ “who had lost his mind‚ has no authority to issue decrees”. he said majority of Pakistani people wanted the rule of law and continuation of the democratic dispensation. he said Qadri was staging a drama for the postponement of elections. STAff REpoRT
The boots are coming! Asma Jahangir says SC order a pre-planned conspiracy Aitzaz Ahsan says Ashraf to remain Pm even if jailed SHCBA president says long marchers are enemies of democracy KBA general secretary says lawyers will launch massive movement to save democracy g
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HYDERABAD: Armed supporters of the pakistan people’s party forcibly shut down markets after the SC verdict against prime Minister Raja pervaiz Ashraf on Tuesday. INP KArACHi AfTAB CHANNA
Following the Supreme Court (SC) verdict to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers and supporters took to streets in Karachi and other districts of the province to lodge their protest against the court’s decision. PPP workers took to streets in many areas of the metropolis, resorting to aerial firing; setting tyres ablaze and forcibly closing business centers. Initially, the protesters blocked the Shahra-eFaisal and later the protest engulfed several other areas where incidents of aerial firing and forced closure of markets were reported. These areas include PPP’s stronghold Lyari, Kala Pull, Korangi Industrial Area, Sachal Goth, Quaidabad, Gulshan-e-hadeed, Pipri, Kemari, Shershah, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Shanti Nagar, Stadium Road, Jauhar Morr, Safora Chowrangi and Mosmiyat, where protesters set tyres on fire and blocked roads, causing massive traffic jams in all parts of the city. The incidents of aerial firing and forced markets closure were also reported in various districts including hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Shahdadkot, Tharparkar, Mithi, Sanghar, Badin, Thatta, Nawabshah, Nausherho Feroz, Dadu, Jamshoro and Jacobabad where party supporters took to streets. In Larkana and Sukkur, masked PPP workers, carrying banners and placards of President Asif Zardari, openly resorted to aerial firing, compelling the public to remain indoors.
KArACHi AfTAB CHANNA
The Supreme Court’s (SC) judgement into the Rental Power Plants case ordering arrest of Premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has exposed the real face of the establishment’s organs, including the judges, said former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Asma Jahangir on Tuesday. She was addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club. Sindh high Court Bar Association (ShCBA) President Mustafa Lakhani and Karachi Bar Association General Secretary Naeem Qureshi were also present. “The long march, headed by Dr Tahirul Qadri, and the timings of the judgement of the SC regarding arrest of the sitting prime minister are a conspiracy to derail the democracy. It is a pre-planned conspiracy and the boots [army] are coming,” she said. “The ‘black snakes’ of the judiciary have today bitten democracy and the rule of law. The legal fraternity and the public, political parties should play their pivotal role for democracy,”
she said, adding that the practice Dr Qadri was introducing would affect the country’s institutions. She said that if 50,000 people gathered in the capital and forced the government to bring changes as per their wishes, then the political parties could also do whatever they wished by gathering thousands of people. Asma said there would be no democracy in the country without the political parties and these parties should accept their mistakes and improve themselves. The former SCBA president said these forces should play a positive role to save democracy and the people with black coats leading them. “We don’t have any objection on removing multiple premiers. however, my question to the chief justice is what are the reasons for taking such a hard decision in a haphazard manner, either the premier was fleeing from the country or else. It is just a political conspiracy by the establishment,” she said. “Dr Tahirul Qadri used to ride a motorcycle in 80s. he must tell the nation from what sources he has earned millions of rupees. If there were no lawyers in the movement for democracy and the restoration of judges, many people must have signed an agreement with the establishment. The judges who were restored with the struggle of the lawyers have been unmasked through such decisions,” she said. Sindh high Court Bar Association President Mustafa Lakhani said that the lawyers had already rejected the long march aimed at derailing democracy and the marchers were the enemies of democracy. “The premier’s arrest order is a pre-planned and well-organised conspiracy against the elected government and we will protect the
democracy. The order was issued without sensing or observing the critical situation the country is passing through,” he added. “We are waiting for the detailed decision of the judgement after which the bar, under the aegis of the SCBA, would chalk out future course of action by tomorrow,” Lakhani said. Karachi Bar Association General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi said, “We will once again launch a massive movement to save the democracy. And, no one can change the constitution and parliament by bringing 50,000 people in the federal capital,” he said. Meanwhile talking to a private TV channel, senior lawyer and PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said that with the arrest of the PM the premiership does not end and even if Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is arrested he would continue to remain the PM. Talking to a private TV channel, he said that the only constitutional way to remove the PM is to table a no-confidence motion. he said that the court does not declare anyone a criminal until charges are proven against him, similarly until Raja is proven guilty he would continue to remain PM even in jail.
with you for democracy, political leaders assure Pm iSLAmABAD STAff REpoRT
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif, Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mehmood Khan Achkzai, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf hussain and PML-Quaid chief Chaudhry Shujat hussain on Tuesday, all of whom expressed their support to the PM to uphold the constitution. During his conversation with political leaders, there was a consensus on upholding the constitution and the democratic system. The leaders noted that democracy had been upheld in the country after great sacrifices and struggle by the people of Pakistan and it will be defended at all costs. Any attempt to subvert the constitution, derail the democratic dispensation or adopt unconstitutional measures should be dealt with firmly, they concluded. The PM said the government is exercising restraint, patience and tolerance, which should not be taken as a sign of weakness. “Nobody will be allowed to impose his personal agenda,” said Ashraf. The leaders also agreed that the entire focus of democratic and political forces should be on preparations for the next general elections and ensuring they are held in a free, fair and impartial manner under the supervision of election Commission of Pakistan (eCP).
Polls to be held on time: CJP iSLAmABAD NNI
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry on Tuesday said elections would be held within the stipulated time and the court has nothing to do with any activity going on in the federal capital. The election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) should remain all geared up to hold elections in the country, he said while hearing a case regarding the implementation of SC ruling on electoral reforms. Justice Chaudhry said the court proposed to make it compulsory for everyone to vote in the elections and legislation in this regard should take place at the earliest. elections, he reiterated, would be held on time and the court would make no compromise in this connection.
wednesday, 16 January, 2013