Saturday, 30 July 2011
Top Turkey's military brass resign from posts
Turkey’s military command echelon resigned late Friday from their posts amid an ongoing spat with the government over the growing number of arrested generals. The mass resignations, which marked a first in the country’s history, immediately caused a state crisis.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner, Land Forces Commander Gen. Erdal Ceylanoglu, Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay and Naval Forces Commander Adm. Esref Ugur Yigit quit their posts days before the Supreme Military Council, or YAS, was supposed to meet to discuss key military promotions. Kosaner had another two years left in the office.
Gendarmerie Forces Commander Necdet Özel did not resign.
The resignations came hours after a prosecutor demanded the arrest of a top military official, Gen. Hüseyin Nusret Tasdeler, the commander of the Aegean Army. Sources said disagreements over promotions and the arrests of numerous generals peaked to an unacceptable level following the legal action against Tasdeler.
Tensions between the military and the government have been high in recent years as hundreds of high-ranking officers were put behind bars in the ongoing “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) and Ergenekon coup-plot cases.
It was not yet sure as of late Friday whether this year’s YAS, set to begin Aug 1., would take place as scheduled.
Consecutive meetings between Kosaner, President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the last 10 days were not sufficient to avert the crisis. Kosaner, Gül and Erdogan met Friday morning, after which Erdogan met with Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin. Gül tried unsuccessfully to calm down the tension through a statement he made Friday afternoon, before the resignations were announced.
“I hope that everything will be solved in a good way,” Gül told reporters after Friday prayers. Asked by a journalist if the recent meetings were “a sign of a problem” between the government and the military, the president said they were not.
Right after Gül made his statement Friday, however, an Istanbul court demanded the arrest of the commander of one of the country’s most strategic armies, threatening the efforts by the government and military to avert a crisis over the promotions of senior generals.
The 13th Istanbul Court for Serious Crimes on Friday unanimously accepted the indictment prepared by Prosecutor Cihan Kansiz, demanding a life sentence for Gen. Tasdeler, who served as Erdogan’s military advisor in 2007-2008.
Erdogan met with Ergin after the prosecutor’s demand was made public.
This year’s YAS was set to decide on key promotions to the positions of commander of the air and naval forces. Naval Forces commander Yigit, and Air Force commander Aksay were both scheduled to reach the end of their terms on Aug. 30.
The commander of the Turkish Land Forces, Gen. Ceylanoglu, had also been expected to retire due to age. However, filling the empty seats was already expected to cause problems with so many high-ranking and eligible generals behind bars in the Balyoz case. The only eligible candidate to replace Aksay had been considered to be is Lt. Gen. Mehmet Erten, who would have had to be promoted to the rank of general and then be appointed as the commander.
Balyoz is the code name for an alleged military coup plot against the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, drafted in 2003. According to the allegations, the military planned drastic measures to foment unrest in the country in order to remove the AKP from power.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner, Land Forces Commander Gen. Erdal Ceylanoglu, Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay and Naval Forces Commander Adm. Esref Ugur Yigit quit their posts days before the Supreme Military Council, or YAS, was supposed to meet to discuss key military promotions. Kosaner had another two years left in the office.
Gendarmerie Forces Commander Necdet Özel did not resign.
The resignations came hours after a prosecutor demanded the arrest of a top military official, Gen. Hüseyin Nusret Tasdeler, the commander of the Aegean Army. Sources said disagreements over promotions and the arrests of numerous generals peaked to an unacceptable level following the legal action against Tasdeler.
Tensions between the military and the government have been high in recent years as hundreds of high-ranking officers were put behind bars in the ongoing “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) and Ergenekon coup-plot cases.
It was not yet sure as of late Friday whether this year’s YAS, set to begin Aug 1., would take place as scheduled.
Consecutive meetings between Kosaner, President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the last 10 days were not sufficient to avert the crisis. Kosaner, Gül and Erdogan met Friday morning, after which Erdogan met with Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin. Gül tried unsuccessfully to calm down the tension through a statement he made Friday afternoon, before the resignations were announced.
“I hope that everything will be solved in a good way,” Gül told reporters after Friday prayers. Asked by a journalist if the recent meetings were “a sign of a problem” between the government and the military, the president said they were not.
Right after Gül made his statement Friday, however, an Istanbul court demanded the arrest of the commander of one of the country’s most strategic armies, threatening the efforts by the government and military to avert a crisis over the promotions of senior generals.
The 13th Istanbul Court for Serious Crimes on Friday unanimously accepted the indictment prepared by Prosecutor Cihan Kansiz, demanding a life sentence for Gen. Tasdeler, who served as Erdogan’s military advisor in 2007-2008.
Erdogan met with Ergin after the prosecutor’s demand was made public.
This year’s YAS was set to decide on key promotions to the positions of commander of the air and naval forces. Naval Forces commander Yigit, and Air Force commander Aksay were both scheduled to reach the end of their terms on Aug. 30.
The commander of the Turkish Land Forces, Gen. Ceylanoglu, had also been expected to retire due to age. However, filling the empty seats was already expected to cause problems with so many high-ranking and eligible generals behind bars in the Balyoz case. The only eligible candidate to replace Aksay had been considered to be is Lt. Gen. Mehmet Erten, who would have had to be promoted to the rank of general and then be appointed as the commander.
Balyoz is the code name for an alleged military coup plot against the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, drafted in 2003. According to the allegations, the military planned drastic measures to foment unrest in the country in order to remove the AKP from power.
Firing at Spini Road kills 11 in Quetta
Unidentified men opened fire on a van at Spini Road in Quetta that killed eleven persons including a woman and injured three Saturday, Geo News reported.
According to police sources, the firing incident took place near a bus stop at Spini Road when some unknown men attacked a vehicle that killed three people, including a woman on spot while eleven others got injured.
Seven persons lost their lives on their way while one succumbed to injuries after reaching to the hospital.
The injured have been shifted to Bolan Medical Hospital.
The area is gripped by fear while security forces have reached the spot to investigate the incident and cordoned off the area.
The relatives of the victims reached the hospital and protested against the incident while Tahaffuz-e-Azadari Council has announced 40-day mourning
According to police sources, the firing incident took place near a bus stop at Spini Road when some unknown men attacked a vehicle that killed three people, including a woman on spot while eleven others got injured.
Seven persons lost their lives on their way while one succumbed to injuries after reaching to the hospital.
The injured have been shifted to Bolan Medical Hospital.
The area is gripped by fear while security forces have reached the spot to investigate the incident and cordoned off the area.
The relatives of the victims reached the hospital and protested against the incident while Tahaffuz-e-Azadari Council has announced 40-day mourning
Friday, 29 July 2011
Notification making Sohail Ahmed OSD non-practical: SC
The Supreme Court (SC) has termed the notification making Sohail Ahmed OSD non-practical and ordered that the competent authority appoint him any appropriate position in seven days, Geo News reported Friday.
On the reinstatement of Hussain Asghar, the apex court said he should be given charge in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when he joins.
Earlier during proceedings of the Hajj scandal case, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told a six-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that Chief Minister
On the reinstatement of Hussain Asghar, the apex court said he should be given charge in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when he joins.
Earlier during proceedings of the Hajj scandal case, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told a six-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that Chief Minister
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Syed Mehdi Shah had stopped Hussain Asghar from returning and he was in Kachura.
While hearing the case, CJ remarked that a simple issue has been turned complicated unnecessarily.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned for an indefinite period.
The court had directed the AG to submit the prime minister's response by today. Other members of the bench hearing the Haj corruption case are Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim.
The order stated that the parliamentarians had brought the hajj corruption issue to the court also a Saudi prince wrote a letter to the SC regarding mismanagement in hajj affairs.
While hearing the case, CJ remarked that a simple issue has been turned complicated unnecessarily.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned for an indefinite period.
The court had directed the AG to submit the prime minister's response by today. Other members of the bench hearing the Haj corruption case are Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim.
The order stated that the parliamentarians had brought the hajj corruption issue to the court also a Saudi prince wrote a letter to the SC regarding mismanagement in hajj affairs.
Meeting at Presidency to discuss SC orders
A meeting with the government’s coalition partners has been called at the Presidency to discuss the orders of the Supreme Court, Geo News reported Friday.
According to sources, the meeting will be chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and attended by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani , Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), along with the Chief Ministers of Sindh, KP, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan
The opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz and Senator Babar Awan have also been invited to attend the meeting, sources added.
Babar Awan is expected to brief the meeting on legal matters, while the meeting will also discuss matters between the center and provinces
According to sources, the meeting will be chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and attended by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani , Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), along with the Chief Ministers of Sindh, KP, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan
The opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz and Senator Babar Awan have also been invited to attend the meeting, sources added.
Babar Awan is expected to brief the meeting on legal matters, while the meeting will also discuss matters between the center and provinces
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Musharraf's APML in tatters
Despite the fact that Pervez Musharraf had very cordial and encouraging meetings with some US Congressmen and senators and was assured of some support in his mission to return to Pakistan next March, he had to face strong criticism from his own friends and political supporters of his party, the APML.
His close confidant for the last nine years and former chairman of Pakistan Cricket Control Board, Dr Nasim Ashraf, has resigned from all positions and basic membership of the party. He was the top boss of his party in North America with the title of Chief Coordinator of APML in North America. Dr Ashraf had established 11 chapters of APML - eight in USA and three in Canada.
The reasons for his resignation are not known and all efforts to reach Dr Nasim Ashraf failed. He did not respond to phone calls. However, Pervez Musharraf did attend the wedding of Dr Nasim Ashraf's daughter in Virginia on July 22 before he left USA.
Another staunch supporter of Pervez Musharraf since his days in power has also announced his complete dissociation with Musharraf and his party. Arshad Khan, a New Yorker, who held rallies to support Pervez Musharraf till recently, has publicly blamed Musharraf for making wrong decisions, promoting his relatives and those who can organise colourful evenings for him. "We cannot support his objectionable activities and wrong decisions any more. I have been supporting him for too long, even after he had resigned; but now I cannot take his nepotism, faulty decisions and struggle to capture power again," said Arshad Khan of New York's Pak-America Rabita Council. He also pointed out that Pervez Musharaf's public meeting in New York was a total failure as hardly 250 people came to listen to him.
Nasim Ashraf's resignation has caused gloom among APML supporters in New Jersey, Houston and other parts of USA. Imran Siiddiqi, who was made APML coordinator for Canada by Pervez Musharaf last week, however, claims that there is no rift or unrest in his party in Canada and he will do his best to resolve issues through dialogue among members. But sources say that other party chapters in Canada have not accepted Pervez Musharaf's decision to promote Imran Siddiqui from Ontario to the top party post.
Insiders have disclosed to The News that Dr Nasim Ashraf has informed Pervez Musharaf about his plan to quit politics completely. He plans to return to his medical profession after long absence. According to his family sources, Dr Ashraf plans to spend some time with a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
His close confidant for the last nine years and former chairman of Pakistan Cricket Control Board, Dr Nasim Ashraf, has resigned from all positions and basic membership of the party. He was the top boss of his party in North America with the title of Chief Coordinator of APML in North America. Dr Ashraf had established 11 chapters of APML - eight in USA and three in Canada.
The reasons for his resignation are not known and all efforts to reach Dr Nasim Ashraf failed. He did not respond to phone calls. However, Pervez Musharraf did attend the wedding of Dr Nasim Ashraf's daughter in Virginia on July 22 before he left USA.
Another staunch supporter of Pervez Musharraf since his days in power has also announced his complete dissociation with Musharraf and his party. Arshad Khan, a New Yorker, who held rallies to support Pervez Musharraf till recently, has publicly blamed Musharraf for making wrong decisions, promoting his relatives and those who can organise colourful evenings for him. "We cannot support his objectionable activities and wrong decisions any more. I have been supporting him for too long, even after he had resigned; but now I cannot take his nepotism, faulty decisions and struggle to capture power again," said Arshad Khan of New York's Pak-America Rabita Council. He also pointed out that Pervez Musharaf's public meeting in New York was a total failure as hardly 250 people came to listen to him.
Nasim Ashraf's resignation has caused gloom among APML supporters in New Jersey, Houston and other parts of USA. Imran Siiddiqi, who was made APML coordinator for Canada by Pervez Musharaf last week, however, claims that there is no rift or unrest in his party in Canada and he will do his best to resolve issues through dialogue among members. But sources say that other party chapters in Canada have not accepted Pervez Musharaf's decision to promote Imran Siddiqui from Ontario to the top party post.
Insiders have disclosed to The News that Dr Nasim Ashraf has informed Pervez Musharaf about his plan to quit politics completely. He plans to return to his medical profession after long absence. According to his family sources, Dr Ashraf plans to spend some time with a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
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