SC cancels stay order against Ashiana

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC), while vacating its stay order regarding the construction of Ashiana Housing Scheme on the land of a shrine on Thursday, observed that the Punjab government could carry on the construction work on the land on its own responsibility.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard a petition, filed by the custodian of a shrine, Noor Shah, against the construction of Ashiana Housing Scheme on the land of a shrine
The petitioner pleaded to the court that the government of Punjab had occupied the shrine’s land for building houses and carrying out other construction related activities at the Ashiana Housing Scheme. Punjab Advocate General Khawaja Haris informed the court that Ashiana Housing Scheme was a project meant for people belonging to low-income groups, as the Punjab government had invested Rs 2 billion on the project. The chief justice remarked that grabbing others’ lands for building housing schemes was not justified. The petitioner submitted that the Punjab government had grabbed the shrine’s land for this project. “However, the government allotted the land 25 miles away from the shrine as compensation,” he added.
The CJ observed that according to the Punjab Land Ordinance, substitute lands could not be allotted against previously allocated land, adding that this scheme could be launched somewhere else. The CJ inquired from the Punjab Advocate General as to why the Punjab government had chosen this land for the project.
Khawaja Harris submitted that 500 hundred units would be constructed for low-income people under this scheme, whereas structures of 700 units had been completed for further construction.

Deployment of army in Karachi upto Sindh Govt: Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said situation in Karachi is different from Balochistan and stated that India was not involved in every trouble in Pakistan.

Talking to media persons here in Multan on Friday, the Prime Minister said the government was making all out efforts to restore peace in Karachi. He said it is for Sindh Government whether to call in the army or not. He said Pakistan's security issues had an inextricable link with the conflict in Afghanistan.

"Situation in Pakistan would not improve until there was normalcy in Afghanistan" the Prime Minister remarked.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the government would take on board all the stakeholders regarding the issue of new provinces. He said the Manifesto Committee of the PPP is also working on this issue and its recommendations would be implemented. He said the committee was also engaged in consultation with all stake holders.

Gilani also said his government has maintained working relationship with all political parties.

To a question, the Prime Minister said the country suffered massively due to floods in Pakistan last year. He said rehabilitation and reconstruction was carried out with the help of Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other countries.

About financial position, the Prime Minister said the foreign exchange reserves have crossed $ 18.30 mark, while exports have also peaked to $ 26

billion which is a good sign. The Prime Minister said eight major state institutions including Pakistan Railways were being restructured.

3 more killed, 8 injured in Karachi violence today

At least three more persons have been killed and eight injured in ongoing row of violence in Karachi today, report said on Friday. According to police, one tortured youth’s hands and legs tied dead body was recovered near KMC Worlshop on Lawrance Road in Eid Gah area. Some unknown culprits kidnapped and tortured him brutally before killing. Another 30-year-old person Ramzan was gunned down by unknown armed attackers near Muhammadi Market in Malir, Khokhrapar area. His dead body was move to Jinnah Hospital. The police have informed that deceased Ramazan was a resident of Khokhrapar No-1 and after his killing tension prevails in the area. In a separate incident of firing, six persons sustained bullet wounds near Tribal Mosque in Baldia Town’s area Nayabad Sector 4-C. All inured including Naeem Khan, Shaukat, Zahid Khan, Yar Muhammad, Razzaq and Fida were moved to Civil Hospital. Later on, one injured succumbed to injuries.

PML-N agrees in principle to form new provinces

LAHORE: The PML-N has approved in principle the formation of new provinces on administrative basis, however any division based on ethnic and racial basis would not be accepted.
PML-N sources told Geo News reporter Irfan Nazeer that the special committee formed by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif held three meetings in the last five days. The recommendations of the committee will be sent to Islamabad for Nawaz Sharif’s approval next week.
The committee has also advised that any formation based on ethnic and racial basis would cause trouble between the provinces and that is why a package should be presented for the formation of new provinces.
The opposition has called for a meeting in the National Assembly on 11th August to present the resolution of the division of Punjab, whereas the President and Prime Minister have also hinted to the formation of a Seraiki province by 14th August.

SC extends Aug 9 deadline to govt for implementation of verdict on PCO judges

The Supreme Court, while expressing anguish over non-implementation of its verdict in the PCO judges' case, gave August 9 deadline to the federal government for de-notification of the PCO judges.

A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani and Justice Amir Hani Muslim heard the suo moto case on Friday, while the Federation was represented by Senator Babar Awan.

Babar Awan informed the court that a summary regarding the PCO judges had been sent to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, to which the chief justice replied that this was a court order and required no summary. The chief justice remarked that no one would be allowed to sabotage the authority of the court.

Justice Iftikhar enquired from Babar Awan was that true that the court decision was criticised in the cabinet meeting. Babar Awan replied that these were mere media speculations. The chief justice further asked whether the court verdicts will not be implemented if these were not acceptable to the government.

Babar Awan informed the court that the prime minister was not in Islamabad and requested two days time. The Supreme Court summoned the law secretary and attorney general and gave the government time till August 9.

In its May 18 decision, the Supreme Court had declared that seven High Court judges who had taken oath under the PCO were illegally appointed, therefore, their appointment should be de-notified. The government had assured the court that it would implement this decision but despite this assurance the judges were never de-notified.

Confusion over FC deployment in Karachi

ISLAMABAD: Uncertainty prevailed on the issue of deployment of Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel in Karachi as Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Thursday that no FC man had been deployed in the city and MQM leaders expressed ignorance about the matter.
“I have talked to Interior Minister Rehman Malik and he said that no FC personnel have been deployed in Karachi,” President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn.
The interior minister claimed that some FC personnel were already present in Karachi but they were engaged in providing security to diplomats.
The spokesman quoted the interior minister as saying: “The FC are on standby and will be deployed only when they are required to control the situation.”
However, media reports said that Sindh home department had issued a notification last week that stated: “In pursuance of the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan’s notification dated 2nd August, 2011, the Government of Sindh grants powers of police to Frontier Constabulary personnel deployed in Karachi to apprehend criminal elements involved in firing and killing of innocent citizens in various areas and zones of the city (where situation warrants deployment of FC). They are authorised to cordon, search and use force in controlling firing by criminals in affected areas.”
The Sindh government has already given powers of police to Rangers in Karachi.
Interestingly, there was no mention about deployment of the FC in Karachi in a recently-held high-level meeting at the Presidency.
When contacted, MQM Rabita Committee chairman and Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Raza Haroon said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had announced deployment of 1,000 FC personnel.
“But on the ground, we have not seen FC Jawans in Karachi streets,” he said.
He said deteriorating law and order situation in the city could be controlled if police and Rangers made sincere efforts without being influenced or pressurised politically.
“The Rangers and police are capable of controlling the situation and thus there is no need for FC deployment,” he said.
Mr Haroon said that station house officers (SHOs) of police stations enjoyed enough powers and if they were backed by Rangers there was no question they could not restore peace to areas of their jurisdiction.
“Lame excuses by police that trouble makers are supported by political parties do not only reflect weakness of police but also encourage criminals to continue their agenda of looting and killing innocent people,” he said

Govt to take all stakeholders on board on new provinces: PM

MULTAN: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said that the government would take on board all the stakeholders regarding the issue of new provinces, DawnNews reported.

Calls for creating new provinces have been growing louder with politicians and activists demanding provincial status for Bahawalpur, Hazara and Seraiki belt.
Speaking to media representatives in Multan, Prime Minister Gilani said law and order in the cases of Karachi and Balochistan were essentially provincial issues.
He further expressed hope that peace would be restored in Karachi and said Pakistan’s security issues had an inextricable link with the conflict in Afghanistan