Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts

RAWALPINDI: PML-Q leader and senior federal minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi issued an ultimatum to the PPP government to solve the power crisis or his party would go its separate way.

Speaking to party workers in Rawalpindi, Elahi also criticised the PML-N saying that they were raising the power crisis issue for their own gain.

Elahi claimed that if the formula put forward by Chaudhry Shujaat was implemented than the power crisis would be solved.

He said that during the tenure of the PML-Q government there were four projects for power generation while during the tenure of the PML-N government in Punjab there have been none.

PESHAWAR: At least seventeen militants were killed and several injured, while three hideouts were destroyed in security forces actions in Khayber and Kurram Agencies, Geo News reported.

On the other hand, one Razakar of Aman Lashkar died and four were injured in an attack of the militants in Mohmand Agency.

Security sources said that nine militants were killed, several injured, while three hideouts were destroyed at Kot in central Kurram area in an action by the security forces.

Security forces while moving ahead at Shalobar in Tehsil Bara area of Khayber Agency clashed with the militants leaving eight militants dead, while the other took to their heels.

In Mohmand Agency, the militants attacked the joint check post of the Levies and Aman Lashkar ar Tehsil Khawezai triggering a shootout that left one Razakar dead and four wounded.

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will show its strength in Kammu Shaheed area of district Ghotki while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will hold rally in Khushab city of Punjab.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Syed Khursheed Shah and various other central and provincial leaders of PPP will address the public gathering.

Chief Minister and President PPP (Sindh) Syed Qaim Ali Shah told the media on Friday that they did not want to confront the PML-N but it was the right of every party to demonstrate its 'political strength'.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif among various other leaders of PML-N will address the rally in Khushab.

On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will visit Bahawalpur where he will meet the party office bearers in Circuit House and address the party workers.

Shahbaz will also meet leaders of Bahawalpur movement.

PESHAWAR: One cop was killed and seventeen others were injured in a blast that targeted a police convoy near Gulbahar police station at GT Road on Saturday, Geo News reported.

According to police, a remote-controlled bomb exploded as a police van carrying four prisoners passed by an abandoned tin of vegetable oil in Peshawar city, killing one policeman and wounding 17 others. A woman and four policemen were among those wounded who were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.

Several vehicles including a police mobile were damaged in the blast.

Initial investigation by the bomb disposal unit unveiled that at least five kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

Soon after the explosion, security forces reached the scene and cordoned off the area while further investigations are underway.

It is pertinent to mention that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Banaras Khan narrowly escaped a life attempt when a remote-controlled bomb exploded at Chughul Pura road in the jurisdiction of Faqirabad Police Station on Friday.

Unknown miscreants had planted IED containing one kg explosives near a manhole in Chughal Pura that exploded with a bang, however, the DSP remained safe.

LONDON: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Wednesday said he was not surprised at the detailed verdict of the Supreme Court, convicting him in a contempt case.

In his reaction to the detailed judgment of the apex court against him, the PM, who is on an official visit to UK, said he had known the ruling would be issued in detail once he traveled out of Pakistan.

"I have a right to appeal against the verdict and under that right I would file my plea (with the court)," he said.

The Premier said if Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif were going through more pain, they should first become National Assembly members and then talk to me.

Talking to Geo News about his current UK tour, the Prime Minister said the visit was extremely essential one and that it was going on in a successful fashion.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has finalised preparations to stage a march in support of the judiciary here today (Sunday), a day after the PML-N held an impressive public meeting in Taxila.


Banners and portraits of Imran Khan and local leaders have been displayed at prominent intersections and market places to highlight the significance of the proposed event.


Dr Shahzad Wasim, who was once a close aide of ex-President General (R) Pervez Musharraf, also put up his portraits at various points across the federal capital.


The PTI chairman Imran Khan will lead the march from China Chowk to D-Chowk, where he will speak to the participants. Other senior leaders including Javed Hashmi and Shah Mehmood Qureshi are also expected to speak on the occasion.


During a recent news conference, the PTI chief had announced to hold the solidarity march in the federal capital in support of the Supreme Court and its Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.


“The rulers are by design flouting the apex court's judgments and orders to hide their corruption and push the country towards chaos and anarchy,” asserted PTI central spokesman Zahid Hussain Kazmi while talking to The News here.


The PTI spokesman reiterated his party's stance that after the Supreme Court conviction of Gilani, he was no more the chief executive of the country. He is not even an MNA now after his conviction. He must go home he asserted.


Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will hold a massive rally against the prime minister in Gujranwala.

Addressing a press conference, PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri and Khurram Dastagir announced to hold rally against the prime minister here

TAXILA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the rulers are too stubborn to accept logic they only understand the language of “boot”, Geo News reported.

He was addressing a large public gathering in Taxila - the very first rally of PML-N held as part of its 'Go Gilani Go' campaign.

Nawaz lauded the residents of Taxila for turning up at the rally to make it successful and that too at such a short notice of just three-days.

Giving a broadside to President Asif Ali Zardari he said Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) co-chairman breached the Charter of Democracy (CoD), which he (Nawaz) had cosigned with the late Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

“He was not sincere in implementing the CoD, that’s why we parted ways with the PPP”, he said.

He did not stop there and went ahead to add that PPP was devious in its dealings, thus it could not be trusted anymore.

“The rulers even backtracked on the restoration of judiciary, only we made it possible with our long march”

Going forward he said that PML-N would not let anyone trample the constitution of Pakistan.

On the Swiss bank accounts, he said, he will not rest till the repatriation of plundered $60 million back to Pakistan.

Nawaz said if he could lock horns with a Super Power then Zardaris stood nowhere.

No one was serious in bringing about peace in Karachi, he added.

He said that former dictator Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf had his nomination papers rejected, which was tantamount to rigging of elections, but even then PML-N embraced the results.

He further said that none other than the rulers were responsible for the devastation Pakistan was going through.

Glorifying his past deeds he said that as the prime minister of Pakistan he never bowed down before the Superpower.

“Masses topped all of our priorities whenever we held talks with America”, Nawaz said

A supercharged Nawaz invited the masses to join ranks with PML-N in their war against the corrupt rulers.

“Nation will have to stand up against this group of graft and wage a war on it until it was destroyed.”

In his concluding remarks he said that Pakistan was an endangered country facing myriad threats from all sides and his coming to Taxila was a part of his efforts to save the country with the help of people.

“Prepare for the long march,” he said before leaving the podium.

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday released 17 documents found at Osama Bin Laden's Pakistani compound in the raid that killed the Al-Qaeda chief a year ago.

The White House allowed the declassified documents to be published online by the Combating Terrorism Center at the West Point military academy. The papers include letters or draft letters dated from September 2006 to April 2011, a total of 175 pages in the original Arabic.

The documents recovered show that Osama bin Laden was apprehensive about dysfunction in his network and the loss of trust from Muslims he wished to incite against their government and the West.

Despite problems within the organization, the documents indicate that bin Laden was focused on attacking US nationals and coming up with plots, to assassinate US leaders.

Osama bin Laden wished specially to target airplanes carrying Gen. David Petraeus and even President Barack Obama, reasoning that an assassination would elevate an “utterly unprepared” Vice President Joe Biden into the presidency and plunge the US into crisis

QUETTA: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing the Balochistan law and order case at the Quetta Registry Wednesday, Geo News reported.

The bench expressed anger over not recovering the missing persons. Advocate General Balochistan told the court that a meeting was called to discuss the recovery of missing persons on Tuesday which was attended by IG FC.

On this, Justice Khilji remarked that your meetings are not concluding while people are suffering.

CJ iftikhar Chaudhry remarked that law is being violated in Balochistan and if you are helpless then tell the court.

Later, the court summoned the IG FC and provincial intelligence officers at 11:30 am.

LAHORE: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said the Office of Prime Minister of Pakistan is vacant after the judgement of Supreme Court convicting Yousuf Raza Gilani of contempt of court, Geo News reported.

Briefing the media after a consultative meeting to discuss the post-SC verdict situation, Nawaz said party's Central Working Committee would elaborate more on the matter in a meeting to be held Monday in Islamabad.

PML-N was of the view that Yousuf Raza Gilani is no more a member of National Assembly let alone being the Prime Minister, he said.

All the actions carried out by the PM and his ministers have no legal authority, PML-N chief said.

Threatening to launch an all out campaign against the PM, Nawaz announced to protest at all levels if he continues to hold the office. He said all options are open including Long March and protest in and outside the parliament.

Nawaz said people like Gilani must be punished adding that the SC has declared him ineligible for five years.

Blaming President Zardari for all the ills facing the country, Nawaz said the whole nation has been forced to suffer on $60 million looted money deposited in Swiss accounts.

“If we allow and accept the convicted PM and ineligible cabinet to continue, we have no right to be in politics," He added.

ISLAMABAD: Addressing the National Assembly for the first time following his conviction in the contempt of court case, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that he could only be de-notified by the speaker.

“My crime is that I protected the constitution,” Gilani said while addressing the parliament.

Gilani spoke of presidential immunity stating that it was not him rather the constitution which had granted this.

“Nobody dissented in parliament from giving the president immunity,” Gilani reminded lawmakers’.

The prime minister was also critical of the PML-N and expressed regret over the attitude of opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Gilani said parliament was supreme and all institutions derived their strength from it. Commenting on the Army Chief Kayani, the prime minister said that he was pro-democracy.

ISLAMABAD: The counsel for Prime Minister in the contempt of court case Aitzaz Ahsan said Thursday that the Supreme Court charged Gilani for scandalizing the court which was not in the charges framed.

“The prime minister was not convicted according to charges,” Aitzaz told reporters during a news conference alongside Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.

The counsel for Prime Minister Gilani said the order condemned his client for judicial and criminal contempt adding that “new charges warrant a new trial.”

A decision has been made by the Prime Minister,cabinet and coalition partners that an appeal would be filed against the contempt conviction which would go before a larger bench, Ahsan said.

The PM’s counsel further said that he would seek suspension of the verdicts operation and they had 30 days to file an appeal.

Ahsan clarified that under the order there was no automatic or immediate disqualification for the Prime Minister.

Earlier the Supreme Court found Prime Minister Gilani guilty of contempt for his refusal to write to Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against President Zardari.

ISLAMABAD: A seven-member bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday convicted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt of court proceedings against him for refusing in complying with an order to write a letter to the authorities in Switzerland to ask them to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The ruling said that Gilani was guilty of contempt, but would serve a sentence only "until the rising of the court," or by the time the judges left the chamber. That happened about three minutes after the verdict was handed down.

"For reasons to be recorded later Prime Minister and chief executive Yousuf Raza Gilani is found guilty and convicted for contempt of court," Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, the head of the seven-judge Supreme Court bench, said.

Counsel for Premier Aitzaz Ahsan said he would appeal the verdict, further delaying any action that could see Gilani lose his job.

According to the order issued by the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Gilani was found guilty and convicted for contempt of court under Article 204(2) of the constitution read with section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance for willful flouting, disregard and disobedience of this Court’s direction.

The court’s order further stated that as regards to the sentence to be passed against the convict we note that the findings and the conviction for contempt of court recorded above are likely to entail some serious consequences in terms of Article 63(1)(G) of the constitution which may be treated as mitigating factors towards the sentence passed against him. He is, therefore punished under section 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance with imprisonment till the rising of the Court today.

Prime Minister Gilani stood before the SC to hear the verdict in contempt case for not implementing the apex court’s ruling on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and smiled when the verdict was read out in a packed court house.

Under Pakistan's constitution anyone convicted of defaming or ridiculing the judiciary is barred from being an MP, but legal experts say the process to disqualify Gilani could be a lengthy one, involving the parliamentary speaker and the Election Commission.

Gilani is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Pakistan, where civilian governments have repeatedly been toppled by the country’s powerful military, often with the support of the Supreme Court, which critics allege is heavily politicized. Corruption charges have routinely been used to target those in power, or seeking to return.

It is pertinent to note here that the court issued contempt notice to the premier in February for refusing to write to the Swiss authorities to re-open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari The prime minister has appeared twice before in court and has maintained his innocence throughout, saying he had done nothing against the rules of business. Aitzaz, meanwhile, had argued that the bench was not eligible to hear the case as it had taken the notice itself.

It should be mentioned here that it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister appeared before the court and was convicted of contempt.

SLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was found guilty in a contempt of court case, is chairing an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet to review implications of the court's verdict, Geo News on Thursday.

The Supreme Court found him guilty in the contempt of court case for failing to act on its directives to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The ministers welcomed the premier with desk thumping. PM Gilani told cabinet members that he has never insulted the courts.

All the chief ministers except Punjab's Shahbaz Sharif are attending the meeting. The cabinet expressed solidarity with him.

Prime Minister Gilani said Speaker National Assembly has the authority to decide about the fate of public representatives. Hailing the support of coalition partners PM said the allies have backed us in trying times.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should step down from his position after being convicted by the Supreme Court (SC), Geo News reported.

While talking to Geo News’ senior anchor Kamran Khan, Nawaz Sharif said that the prime minister should resign from his office and pave way for a new elected prime minister.

"In light of the verdict, I think PM Gilani should resign immediately rather than prolong the issue," he said.

Nawaz said the government did not spare any chance to ridicule court and its orders. Whenever responsible and dedicated officers were appointed to investigate issues, they were replaced by the people of their own choice.

He said the coalition partners also played their role in increasing political chaos in the country which cannot be accepted.

The PML-N leader suggested the government to hold elections immediately and appoint a neutral prime minister who would write the letter to Swiss authorities.

“If the government is willing, the PMLN would support a caretaker setup for the federal and provincial governments.”

While commenting on SC’s stance he said, "I fully believe the Supreme Court has the high moral ground while the government is standing on the wrong wicket," Nawaz said.

The SC has ruled that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is guilty of contempt for refusing to obey an order to write to the authorities in Switzerland to ask them to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

PM Gilani was punished till the rising of the court for violating Article 63 (1)(g) of the Constitution.

LAHORE: A seven year old became the latest victim of the Lahore Railway Station Blast as he succumbed to his injures at the Mayo Hospital. The death toll in Tuesday’s blast has rise to three.

The blast occurred outside the business train's counter at platform No-2 where people queue up in large numbers to buy tickets.

Federal Minister for Railways, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has formed an investigation committee headed by IG Railways to probe the incident.

The Minister also announced compensation of Rs0.5 million each for the heirs of the dead and Rs0.1 million each for the injured.

ATTOCK: The bomb disposal experts, late Tuesday night, defused a bomb found in a bag on Peshawar-bound Awam Express at the Attock railway station, Geo News reported.

Police sources say the bomb disposal squad arrived at the scene after two hours to neutralize the twenty-kilogram “improvised explosive device” planted on the passenger train.

Railway authorities told Geo News, the train was green-signalled after a full clearance.

Earlier, two people were killed and at least 27 others injured in a powerful blast that ripped through the busy Lahore Railway Station on Tuesday.

According to rescue sources the number of injured was at least 40.

The injured were rushed to Mayo and Ganga Ram Hospitals.

Five of the injured are said to be in a critical condition.

The blast occurred outside the business train's counter at platform No-2 where a large numbers people were queued up in to buy train tickets.

LAHORE: CCTV cameras have not been working at the Lahore Railway Station since the past two months. Railway police sources have informed Geo News that the cameras were not working due to non-payment to a private security company.

Sources add that there were two spy cameras located at the site of the explosion which if operational would have helped in identifying the terrorist.

Geo News was also informed that installation work of CCTV cameras at the Business Train terminal had began on Tuesday.

KARACHI: A man allegedly involved in killing women and later cutting them up into pieces was arrested by police on Tuesday from Soldier Bazar area of the city, Geo News reported.

According to police, the serial killer along with his aide was arrested from the Soldier Bazar area today. The killers were involved in killing four women in three months who were found in pieces later from different areas.

Police told female body parts were found from Soldier Bazar, Jamshed Quarters, Gurumandir, MA Jinnah Road, Mazar-e-Qaid and others that used to be wrapped in plastic bags.

In March, one of the victims’ finely cut up body was found in four different places near the Aga Khan Jamaatkhana in Garden. She was later identified as Nasreen.

While police was investigating Nasreen’s case, they found out that Nasreen’s phone was used by the suspects till March 26, 16 days after she was killed.

On getting major leads, police traced a rickshaw driver who was arrested and when investigated he disclosed about the other culprit named Rafiq Soomro.

Police then conducted a raid at Patel Para and arrested Rafiq Soomro. He is a resident of Sukkur and had been convicted in a woman’s murder in Sukkur as well, police told.

LAHORE: CCPO Lahore Aslam Tareen said Tuesday that 6-8 kg of explosives was used in the Railway station blast.

According to the initial investigation report, the explosives were of high intensity. The CCPO further said that 2 people were killed while 27 others were injured in the explosion. He termed the blast as an act of terrorism.

Tareen questioned how the explosion took place near the counter of the Business Train despite all the security measures in place.