If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers. — Nelson Mandela
I’m hEaDIng homE COAS KAYANI SAYS NOT SEEKING ANY EXTENSION IN SERVICE WSJ REPORT READS KAYANI COULD BE BE MADE AMBASSADOR TO US HYDERABAD
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STAFF REPORT
HIEF of Army Staff Ashfaq Kayani on Sunday said he has no intention of getting another extension and would retire on November 29. According to an Inter Services Public Relations press release, the general dispelled rumours about him trying to occupy a new, powerful position. Speaking at army field exercise, Azm-e-Nau 4 in the desert close to Hyderabad, General Kayani said, “For quite some time, my current responsibilities and likely future plans have been debated in the media with all sorts of rumours and speculations doing the
Imran condemns attacks on relief providers in Balochistan
rounds. The subject of being entrusted with new duties has also come up in several reports. I am grateful to the political leadership and the nation for reposing their trust in me and Pakistan Army at this important juncture of our national history. However, I share the general opinion that institutions and traditions are stronger than individuals and must take precedence.” "As I complete my tenure the will of the people has taken root and a constitutional order is in place. The armed forces of Pakistan fully support and want to strengthen this democratic order." Sources privy to the development had said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was keen to induct Kayani as chairman of a new and powerful Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC). An intelligence official said Nawaz planned to renew the JCSC into a “central defence body” by restoring its command over the military establishment and making it more powerful. “The new JCSC chief will be incharge of the nuclear arsenal. He will decide to take action against terrorists,” the official said. He also said the new chief would be empowered to promote and transfer senior officials. A Wall Street Journal report citing
military and civilian officials read that Kayani was prepared to “accept a revamped JCSC chairman job, currently a largely ceremonial post that would be given more authority, or to become defence adviser to the government”. The report also quoted army officials saying that Kayani could also be made ambassador to the US. Pakistan's army chief is considered
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman has condemned the continued attacks on relief providers working in Balochistan. The PTI chairman said security forces were reaching out to victims in inaccessible areas in Awaran district and those targeting these relief efforts were enemies of the poor people of Balochistan. “To target humanitarian relief efforts when the victims are totally dependent on this aid coming through is simply inhuman”, he added He said militants, if they truly cared about their Baloch brethren, should be providing humanitarian relief to earthquake victims instead of attacking relief providers in their hour of need. The PTI chairman thanked all those who helped the PTI send aid to the earthquake victims.
the most powerful man in the country, commanding a force of around 600,000 and guiding policy in defence as well as in foreign and home affairs. The country has suffered three coups and been ruled for more than half of its 66year history by the military. Kayani is generally seen as a supporter of democracy, who helped the country complete its first democratic transition of power earlier this year and has also led the military in the socalled war on terror. He played a key role in convincing former dictator General Pervez Musharraf to resign in 2008 and pushing then president Asif Ali Zardari to reinstate sacked judges in 2009. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will announce a new army chief, who will take on the problems of Islamist militants and renewed border tensions with India.
Govt seeking to end terror through talks: Nisar INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS PM HAS SAID USE OF FORCE SHOULD BE AVOID
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Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Sunday that the government's priority was to root out terrorism through dialogue. The minister, in a policy statement, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had wished for the talks, which was also endorsed by the political and military leadership at the recent all parties conference. He said the government praised the efforts of the clerics for seeking a permanent solution of terrorism and would extend them full support in this regard. Nisar said the dialogue process had full backing of the military leadership. He was sure that the way the army was ready to protect the borders and lives of the people, it also wanted to see the peace prevail. Nawaz, he said, had persistently said the use of force should be avoided to bring peace in the country. Even in his first address to the nation, the Prime Minister had expressed the same sentiments. Talking about
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KhurShID Shah haILS KayanI’S DECISIon of rETIrEmEnT
I aM gratefuL to the poLItICaL LeadershIp and the natIon for reposIng theIr trust In Me and pakIstan arMy at thIs IMportant junCture of our natIonaL hIstory
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drone attacks, the minister said Nawaz was the first leader, who had raised this issue at the United Nations General Assembly session, which depicted the government's stance on the matter. He said the government had made it clear that the drone attacks were not only against Pakistan's independence and sovereignty but were also fueling extremism. Nisar said all out efforts would be made to get the country out of the menace.
ISLAMABAd : General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani’s decision not to stay on as chief of army staff any longer will go a long way in establishing a remarkable example in the armed forces institutions, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah said in a statement on Sunday. He said after the landmark transition of power in the democratic system, it was another meritorious step to set good values and strengthen the institutions in the country. “This decision has not only brought the speculations on the matter of extension to an end, but has also made it easy for decision makers to take a right step as per laid down criteria and that is none other than preferring merit,” the PPP leader said. Shah also praised General Kayani’s services both for country and democracy at a very critical juncture of time. “His measures to distance military from politics and play his role remaining within the dictates of constitution are very laudable,” he added. He also noted that General Kayani’s honesty of purpose reflected in his statement and “we hope that the coming chief will follow the steps he has taken to safe guard the country and strengthen the democratic institutions in Pakistan”. “This is because the future of the country is in respecting the will of the people and that is democracy,” he said. STAFF REPORT
moon SIghTED: PaKISTan To CELEBraTE EID on oCToBEr 16 The Zilhaj moon was sighted in major cities of Pakistan and Eidul Azha will be celebrated across the country on October 16, Express News reported on Sunday. Ruet-e-Hilal committee chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman presided over the session of the central committee in Karachi while sessions of Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committee continued in other cities. The central committee makes the final decision on the basis of moon sighting testimonies from across the country and makes the final announcement of moon sighting. “The decision of the moon sighting will be taken after reaching a unanimous agreement with zonal committees,” said Rehman. uetta was the first city in which the moon was sighted. For Lahore, it was expected that the moon would be visible at 6:33 PM. Officials from the meteorological department were present in the sessions convened to sight the moon. In the Islamic calendar, Eidul Azha falls on the 10th day of Zil Haj and lasts for three days. In the Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year. MOniTORing DESk
Coas set posItIve preCedent: aLtaf MQM CHIEF CALLS ON TALIBAN TO STOP KILLING INNOCENT CIVILIANS MonItoRIng DESk Muttahida Quami Movement Chief Altaf Hussain has said General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has set a positive precedent by announcing his voluntary retirement on the completion of his constitutional term. In a statement on Sunday, Hussain said the country faced many crises under the leadership of General Kayani. He could have easily toppled the democratic government, but he did not which enabled democracy to flourish in the country, he added. Hussain said Kayani faced serious crisis during his service but the armed forces defended their eastern and western borders under his leadership. Earlier in the day, Altaf Hussain appealed to terrorists to stop the bombings in the country for the sake of peace. Addressing the party workers at the MQM's In-
ternational Secretariat London, he also called upon the citizens of the metropolis to exercise patience during the operation and avoid outrage over any unjust measure. The negotiations, he remarked, between the government and the Taliban were a vital issue in Pakistan; some people favour them while others oppose them. The situation demanded that those at the helm of affairs including political and religious leaders should make in-depth deliberation and take the entire nation into confidence for whatever decision they make in this regard. Making an impassioned appeal to the Taliban, the MQM chief asked them to halt sabotage activities in the country with no more assaults at soldiers, troopers and citizens on public and military places. They should ponder over the agenda of negotiations offered by the government, he added.
LANdON: MQM chief Altaf Hussain giving a lecture on ‘National and international social economic and regional situation’ to party leaders at MQM’s international secretariat. inP