KHI 18-03-2013_Layout 1 3/18/2013 6:33 AM Page 3
Dictators and corrupt politicians have taken the country to the verge of destruction, — Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan
shujaat hopes parliamentary body will resolve caretaker Pm’s issue LAHORE INP
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday hoped that the issue of caretaker prime minister would be resolved in the parliamentary committee. Talking to reporters during his visit to Joseph Colony, the PML-Q president said his party had proposed the name of Dr Ishrat Hussain for the caretaker PM, while Justice (r) Zahid Hussain Bokhari and Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa have been nominated for the Punjab CM slot. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was also being consulted in this regard. PML-Q GeneralSecretary Mushahid Hussain said the Punjab government’s failure had been proved in Joseph Colony tragedy. He slammed police and administration’s negligence in this regard.
Punjab govt survived with support from musharraf’s aides: Kaira ISLAMABAD ONLINE
Former federal information minister and PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Punjab government survived because it had support from associates of former President Pervez Musharraf. During discussion on a private TV channel, he quoted opposition leader Chaudhry nisar Ali Khan’s statement that associates of former President Pervez Musharraf were also supporting PML-n. “Did this imply the Punjab government survived with Musharraf’s support?” he questioned. He also expressed strong reservations over impartiality of Justice (r) nasir Aslam Zahid, who had been nominated by PML-n for the post of caretaker prime minister; since the killing of nasir’s brother-in-law had been blamed on President Zardari. “While Palejo’s, another PML-n nominee for caretaker PM, son Ayaz Latif Palejo is PPP’s bitter rival in Sindh,” he said, rejecting Palejo’s nomination also.
terrorists bomb 4 Cd shops near Peshawar INP
Unidentified terrorists set on Sunday blew up four CD shops in the Mattani area in the outskirts of Peshawar near main Kohat road. However, no casualties were reported. A pamphlet was found at the explosion scene which warned of more attacks against those engaged in ‘un-Islamic’ businesses. A trader confirmed that they had received the pamphlet according to which all ‘immoral’ businesses would face the same fate. According to police sources, one kilogramme of explosive was used in the bombing, adding that no one was harmed in the attack.
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Monday, 18 March, 2013
Pml-n fails to convince Jui-f on Justice (r) Jan’s withdrawal uNhaPPy fazLwaNts reiNcLusioN of shakiruLLah JaN’s NaMe iN List of caretaker PM caNdidates ISLAMABAD ANwER ABBAS
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ESPITE strong efforts from the Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz on Sunday, negotiations over the withdrawal of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan’s name for caretaker PM failed to move ahead, with an unhappy Maulana Fazalur Rehman leaving the meeting after the first round of talks. The PML-n negotiating team reached Ministers Colony on Sunday to redress reservations of JUI-F chief Fazalur Rehman. Led by Senator Ishaq Dar and Raja Zafarul Haq, the PML-n team held talks with JUI-F chief, who was assisted by Senator Maualana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Maulana Amjad. During the talks, Fazl made it clear to the visiting PML-n delegates that he was having strong reservations over the issue of PML-n’s sudden and hasty withdrawal of name of Justice (r)
PPP aPProaches Jui-f after coLLaPse of taLks with PML-N
Leaves MeetiNg without hoLdiNg secoNd rouNd of taLks
Shakirullah Jan from the list that was prepared by Leader of the Opposition nisar Ali Khan and his party were not taken on board over the issue, terming the decision illogical and hasty. According to a source in the meeting, Fazl made it clear to PML-n leaders that he was concerned that he was bypassed without taking his party into confidence. “The JUI-F does not have to do anything with the confusion that was created because of the PML-n move and all responsibilities lies on the shoulders of the PML-n,” the source quoted Fazl as saying. “Due to the present situation, the JUI-F has decided to quit the consultations,” Fazl added. Source told Pakistan Today, that Fazal had maintained that the only way to make the negotiations successful was to again include the name of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan in the list of names for caretaker prime minister. The PML-n delegation asked for time to consult the issue with PML-n
current political situation in the country. Fazlr informed Fahim about his reservations regarding PML-n’s decision of dropping the name of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan as a candidate for the interim PM’s slot.
chief nawaz Sharif, but Fazlur Rehman left for Peshawar and the chances for holding the second round of talks in the evening collapsed. However, it was decided to continue the negotiations later to resolve the issue. Another source said that after the negotiations failed to break the ice between the two parties, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Dr Qayoum Soomro from the PPP contacted the JUI-F chief over the issue. They told Fazl that they had worked as coalition partners and could sustain the past relations in the future as well. During his meeting with the JUI-F chief, Fahim discussed the names of possible candidates for the appointment of the caretaker prime minister and
Arshad Pappu among three killed in Lyari Pakistan awami tehreek rivaL gaNg kiLLed arshad PaPPu, his brother yasir arafat aNd aide shera PathaN KARACHI AGENCIES
PESHAWAR
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One of the key accused of the Lyari gang war, Arshad Pappu, was killed along with his with his brother and an associate in Lyari, police said on Sunday. Three people were killed in a shooting incident near Brohi Chowk in Lyari area. The victims were later identified as Arshad Pappu, his brother Yasir Arafat and an associate Shera Pathan. The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. They were wanted by the government, whereas Pappu was considered
four PeoPLe kiLLed, six iNJured iN various iNcideNts of vioLeNce across city one of the central characters of the gang war in the old city area. Pappu was wanted by police in more than 50 cases, including murder, attempted murder and kidnapping. A bounty of Rs 2 million was offered for the gangster’s arrest. Sources said Pappu’s opponent group had killed these notorious gangsters and threw their bodies in the area. Police said that the bullet-riddled bodies also bore marks of torture. Police and Rangers had conducted a number of operations against these gangs, but had not been able to achieve a break-
through. In most of the cases rival gangsters not the law enforcers killed other gangsters. Soon after the incident, a large number of people took out to the streets and blocked police access to the area for hours. Separately, another four people were killed and six were injured in various incidents of violence across the city. Two people were shot dead near Memon Masjid in Boulton Market. Another man was killed for putting up resistance during a robbery in Landhi’s Zafar Town area. Separately, a trader was killed near new Sabzimandi on Super Highway. A number of charged people took out a protest after the incident. They pelted stones at cars and blocked traffic on the Super Highway. Meanwhile, a father and son were injured for resisting a robbery in nazimabad. Three persons were injured in Sariya Galli in Kharadar. Another man was injured in the Moosa Lane area of Lyari.
will not contest elections: Qadri RAWALPINDI INP
Dr Tahirul Qadri has announced that the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) will not contest the upcoming general elections. Addressing a rally here at Liaquat Bagh on Sunday, Qadri said the PAT would hold sit-ins at polling stations across the country on the election day. Qadri said electoral reforms promised to him were not fulfilled and he was not willing to become part of the current corrupt political system. He said members of parliament should not be given development funds. He said the formation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was not under Article 213 of the constitution, adding that the commission should be impartial and formed again, adding that he was ready to withdraw his claim that the ECP was unconstitutional if members of the commission took an oath that their posting was in line with the constitution. The PAT chief called for the election of the prime minister through popular vote instead of the national Assembly.
Opposition gains majority in Balochistan Assembly coNfusioN PrevaiLs as tariq Magsi cLaiMs suPPort of 8 PPP, 16 PML-q MeMbers QUETTA SHAHZADA ZuLFIQAR/AGENCIES
The political crisis took a new turn in Balochistan as Opposition leader nawabzada Tariq Magsi gained majority in the provincial assembly over Chief Minister nawab Aslam Raisani. Per details, the resigned ministers of Balochistan have made a political alliance with the opposition. Eight MPAs of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and 16 of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have also joined
PPP’s Jattak says goverNMeNt has suPPort of 47 MeMbers the opposition. The new alliance has refused to accept name of Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamFazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Wasay as leader of the opposition. Sources said the political crisis in Balochistan had created difficulties for dissolution of the assembly. The cabinet meeting, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday evening, was also postponed after the development. On the other hand PPP Deputy Parliamentary Leader Ali Madad Jattak said the
Balochistan Assembly would be dissolved on March 19 and interim setup would take place with consensus of all parliamentary parties. Addressing a press conference on Sunday at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Jattak assured all parliamentary groups that they would be taken on board on all affairs, including formation of interim setup. He said that we had also taken on board coalition partners, adding that no decision would be made without their consent and consensus interim set up would be in saddle. Referring to the cabinet meeting, the minister said the government had support of 47 members and the cabinet and Balochistan Assembly meetings would be called soon. He said the incumbent government had completed its tenure with coalition partners which would indeed provide an opportunity to democracy to further
strengthen in the country. Jattak added that on March 19, the Balochistan Assembly would be dissolved and interim set up would take place with the consult of both opposition and coalition partners. He said Chief Minister Aslam Raisani had met President Zardari in Islamabad and all his reservations had been removed. The PPP leader added that the party would take disciplinary action against those members, including provincial president, who had violated party discipline by sitting on opposition benches. “We would take up this issue with party leadership because still the PPP government is intact and the party provincial president and some other members joined opposition and harmed the party interest.” Jattak said those claiming support of 40 members had spent last five years in the treasury, enjoyed perks and privi-
leges, and had now suddenly announced to sit on opposition benches. He said that they would file an application against these members in Election Commission. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani said his government was sacked because of his principled stance over Reko Diq Project. Talking to reporters, he said the provincial government had taken a principled stance over Reko Diq and Gwadar Port for five years, but his stand annoyed the rulers and under a pretext of law and order in Balochistan, they suspended his government. The chief minister said the federal government sacked “my government so that it could hand over Gwadar Port to China in accordance with their desire”. He added that he would send an advice to the governor regarding the dissolution of the provincial government on March 19.