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04 News Shujaat jumps in to defend Zardari from memo
PPP leaders write to Gilani seeking good governance ISLAMABAD IRFAN BUKHARI
LAhore: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday leapt forward to defend President Asif Ali Zardari, claiming that he could not write a memo to former US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen. “I can’t expect a naïve act from Zardari, as he is not a child that first he would write a letter and then sign it,” Shujaat told reporters at Wahga before leaving for India to watch the final match of Kabaddi. Commenting on the ‘Go Zardari Go’ rallies being organised by the PMLNawaz, Shujaat said the party’s unnerved leadership was holding public gatherings to regain its position offset by Imran’s popularity. STAFF REPORT
Monday, 21 November, 2011
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F T E R charges of corruption and bad governance against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led coalition government from the outside, now the PPP leaders and workers too have started questioning their own party over its poor governance, with four party leaders from Punjab sending a letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, asking him to follow the footprints of the Bhuttos and not toe the line of former president Pervez Musharraf in running the affairs of the government. Questioning some policies of the government, Haider Ali Khan Kharal, former MPA and ticket-holder NA-49 (Toba Tek Singh), Rao Iqbal Ahmed Khan,
ticket-holder PP-89, Chaudhry Khizar Abbas, ticket-holder NA-77 (Faisalabad) and PPP Toba Tek Singh Senior Vice President Rana Iftikhar Khan have told Prime Minister Gilani in the letter, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, that because of the irresponsible and irrational attitude of a few people, “the whole government and the political dispensation is at risk”. “We believe as the torch bearers of the Pakistan People’s Party in our constituencies that it is increasingly becoming difficult for us to approach and face our constituents in the coming General Elections because of such irrational polices which directly affect the common citizen of Pakistan,” they wrote. As candidates of Pakistan People’s Party, they urged Gilani to abolish the Rental Power Policy, further
asking the premier to “cancel all the corruption-infested agreements with the Rental Companies and take strong action against Raja Pervez Ashraf and all Secretaries and PEPCO AAD’s who have played havoc with the party and people of Pakistan”. “For the last three and a half years we think that the PPP government has taken various measures for the betterment of the common Pakistanis. However we feel that some elements in the government and bureaucracy have been undermining the sincere efforts of the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party. The people of Pakistan in general and our constituents who have voted for the party have been asking us to provide relief to the common man. They particularly question the wisdom behind the continuation of such policies which were started during the rule of
Gen Musharraf. The policy of Rental Power is one such example for which the party has to face a lot of criticism,” the letter says. “It is the duty of a political worker and a public representative to point out the wrongs being done and protect the people of the country from extortionists and black sheep. It is important that people should have faith in their representatives that they would stand by them when the forces of loot and plunder are out to suck their blood in the name of these ponzi schemes,” it adds. The letter says further: “Because of the irresponsible and irrational attitude of a few people the whole government and the political dispensation is at risk. The workers of Pakistan People’s Party ask us that why the whole party and country should suffer because of the greed and lust for money of
a few individuals. We belong to the political legacy of Shaheed Bhutto and Mohtarma Shaheed and must keep clear from all such individuals who have plundered the whole nation and pushed us into darkness.” Further criticising rental power policy, the PPP leaders wrote to Prime Minister Gilani: “The Supreme Court on various occasions has pointed out that the Rental Power Policy is a failed policy of the Gen Musharraf government and our party, which came into power as per the aspirations of the millions of Pakistanis, had no reason to continue with such a failed policy which will push us into further darkness. It has been pointed out in the Supreme Court that the People of Pakistan are forced to buy electricity at an exorbitant rate of Rs 52 per unit from one such Rental Power Plant.”
if Haqqani found involved, PM will deal with it: Mukhtar LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said on Sunday that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would be considered responsible, not the president, if Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani was found involved in the Washington memo scandal. The defence minister told a press conference that the Presidency was not involved in the issue and if Ambassador Haqqani was found to be involved, it would be a matter pertaining to the prime minister and his cabinet. He categorically stated that diplomats were part of the prime minister’s team and if Hussain Haqqani was found to be involved in what was being called ‘Memogate’, he and not the president would be held responsible. The minister said the details relating to the memo issue would soon come
‘Q’ MPs for end Continued from Page 1 tolerate the party’s alliance with forces that were involved in a conspiracy against the state. He said he had opposed the PML-Q top command’s decision to forge an alliance with the PPP to begin with. Nosheen Saeed, another PMLQ MNA, also supported the idea of PML-Q parting ways with the PPP if the government’s involvement in the scandal was proven. “It is out of the question for the PML-Q to remain associated with a government that is conspiring against its own institutions… if Haqqani and the PPP leadership’s connection with the antiPakistan memorandum is established, we must not wait a minute to quit the ruling coalition as no democratic party can compromise on national security,” she said.
to the fore, but digging out who was the mastermind behind the memo conspiracy would take some time. Mukhtar denied there was any commotion in the military hierarchy or possibility of imposition of martial law in the country, and added that the next few days would be tough for politics. Calling Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, a key figure in the memo controversy, a conspirator Mukhtar said: “Mansoor Ijaz is an intriguer, who had been in-
volved in such intrigues earlier also. However, any conclusion can only be drawn after Haqqani’s explanation.” He said that a charge sheet would be issued if necessary after Haqqani’s clarification. Haqqani, has arrived in Islamabad to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani and explain himself over the issue. He added that a Blackberry Messenger conversation reported to have taken place between Ijaz and Haqqani was also under investigation after it was leaked to Pakistani media this week in an apparent bid to prove the ambassador’s involvement in the memo scandal. Mukhtar accused certain powers of trying to get rid of democracy in Pakistan, adding that if Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif wanted to topple the government, he should entertain his wish. “Our target is to save the government,” he added.
nation united against all challenges, says Gilani LAHORE APP
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday the people of Pakistan, their democratic government and armed forces stood united to defend the country’s independence and sovereignty and would not hesitate to make any sacrifice for this great task. Talking to APP here, the prime minister said the resolution of the All-Parties Conference (APC) was a clear cut message to the world that the nation was united to safeguard its security and integrity. “Political differences can be put aside without the slightest hesitation in case national sovereignty is threatened,” Gilani said.
He said the National Assembly speaker had already constituted a representative committee of the House, mandated to monitor the implementation of the resolution. He said the resolution stipulated that peace should be given a chance and negotiations should be held with militants to persuade them to join the peace process and renounce violence. The prime minister said the nation stood together and the credit went to the democratic government for taking ownership of the war on terrorism by taking the people of the country along. The people of Pakistan were determined to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he added.
KARACHI: A woman purchases a chick at the Bird’s Market in Liaquatabad. online
walima of PM’s son held LAhore: The Walima ceremony of Ali Musa Gilani, son of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, was held on Sunday at phase 8 garden, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), which was attended by several prominent politicians. The wedding guests included National Assembly Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza, NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa and the federal ministers for Information, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Kashmir Affairs. STAFF REPORT
5 injured in Karachi cinema blast KARACHI FAISAL IRSHAD
At least five people were injured in a low-intensity blast inside a mini-cinema in Lee Market, the old city area of Karachi, on Sunday night in the Napier Police precincts. The blast took place at around 10.20pm, causing panic among the people present in the cinema. Sources at Civil Hospital Karachi said five people were brought to the hospital with minor injuries and were
out of danger. They were identified as Ghulam Hussain, Rizwan, Ashfaq Ali, Sadiq and Abu Bakar. South District Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Naeem Sheikh the explosion was most likely caused by a timed device hidden under one of the seats, and took place when most people were outside the cinema for the interval. He said a business dispute could be the reason behind the incident but police were also investigating the case from various other angles.
Probe memo or we’ll leave assemblies, Nawaz warns govt Continued from Page 1 The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was growing at 8 percent during his tenure, he said, which had now been reduced to a mere 2 percent. He said the dream of economic revolution in the country was aborted by former president Pervez Musharraf. Thousands of PML-N activists streamed into the Dhobi Ghaat ground in Faisalabad to attend the public gathering, an event that was being debated among political analysts as the PML-N’s show of strength. Nawaz Sharif’s motorcade, comprising more than 30 vehicles and heavily guarded by Punjab Police, was welcomed by cheering party loyalists as it entered Faisalabad through the motorway. Other speakers at the rally included National Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Abid Sher Ali and party veteran Javed Hashmi. Nisar challenged President Zardari to hold a rally at Dhobi Ghaat matching the strength of the PML-N’s gathering. Referring to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statement that he would “bowl out” both PPP and PML-N, Nisar said Imran should know a bowler could not take two wickets with one delivery. However, if the umpires were with Imran, he could take three wickets in a single delivery. Nisar repeatedly mentioned the “unseen forces” allegedly helping the PTI. He called Imran a bubble on the political waters of Pakistan and challenged him to take his asset declaration mantra to the Supreme Court if he was serious.
Haqqani quietly meets Zardari, set to face troika Continued from Page 1 This scandal has, however, not only brought Haqqani in the eye of the storm but has also exacerbated tensions between the civilian government and the army leadership. The Presidency kept silent over the meeting between the president and Haqqani on Sunday throughout the day but an official, seeking anonymity, said it was an informal meeting, which would be followed by the troika meeting in the next 48 hours.
MQM announces 42-member CeC KARACHI STAFF REPORT
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Coordination Committee on Sunday announced the formation of a 42 member Central Executive Council (CEC) led by Daily Aman Editor Ajmal Dehlvi. MQM Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar at nine zero said the CEC will be an advisory body to offer suggestions time-to-
time to the CEC Coordination Committee on different subjects. MQM announced it will create a CEC in a press conference on 27 March and formed it six months after the announcement. Council members hail from Azad Kashmir, GilgitBaltistan, Punjab , Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The MQM said representation from all nationalities, religious minorities and spheres of
life has been ensured. Sattar said the council will assist the coordination committee in restructuring the party organization, policy issues, propagating party policies and preparing the party manifesto and holding party programmes. It shall meet on a quarterly basis under the co-ordination committee to exchange views and advise the co-ordination committee on national issues. He said, “The strug-
gle of Altaf Hussain meant every religious and political party was talking about eliminating the corrupt feudal and political culture that had been supporting the system.” He said even the bitterest opponents of Altaf Hussain admit he has not taken part in elections nor given tickets to any family members. He said the MQM does not auction party tickets and gave a chance to educated and qualified workers.