PML-N’s testing time at Punjab Assembly

LAHORE:

For the first time in the history of Pakistan, one federating unit, Punjab, is facing a unique situation regarding the creation of a new province, since the opposition has submitted a resolution to initiate the subject at the largest provincial legislative house, which will be seeing the daylight on August 11, when the Punjab Assembly meets for its 29th session.

Political analysts are of the considered opinion that now it will be the test of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s political acumen and pragmatism, and provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s constitutional wisdom. However, it is yet to be seen how they respond to a ‘unique’ move. Also, it remains to be seen whether the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s resolution is technically knocked out during the business committee meeting on the given day or it is placed before the House for debate, followed by voting.

The speaker has the authority to say no to the resolution and deny making it part of the agenda under the pretext of ‘public interest’. If he does so, even then the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will be exposed for being against the idea of new province. If he allows, and reaches the stage of voting, and the N-League opposes it, the party will be on the slippery pitch again.

The reason for the resolution is to put the PML-N to test since the PPP-PML-Q duo knows very well that it does not have the mandatory two-thirds majority in the assembly.

Certainly, whatever Punjab legislators are going to decide, it will have a lasting impact on the next general elections, which are not too far in the future even if the current assemblies complete their constitutional term.

Also, a huge pressure is mounting on the provincial legislators, to the likes of Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood, Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari and others, since they will be closely watched by all and sundry across the province, whether they would rise above their party affiliations, and address the issue, which they have kept close to their hearts since long. Also their electorate will be watching them whom they have many a time fed on the sloganeering regarding the creation of a province. However, it is believed that MPs from southern Punjab would outplay their colleagues from the rest of Punjab in delivering sermons and dishing out advices enumerating benefits of one more province.

To some experts, passing of the resolution from the Punjab Assembly is not doable, and even if the first stage is completed after constitutional requirement of doing it with two-thirds majority is actualised, it will open many fronts leading to further divisions of provinces on either linguistic or ethnic basis, which nobody will ever envy.

Political pundits maintain that the ruling party of the province, PML-N, in its heart of hearts does not want a new province since it will lead to divide its own strength as well as resources, while lesser is believed to be pouring in from southern Punjab, except in the form of raw material. No-one has answered the question, “Which part pays more taxes?” Similarly, the PPP, which is deemed to be playing a political card to make the N-League cripple under pressure and lose ballot, does not intend to complete the move since Sindh would also stand divided into Sindhi and non-Sindhi at some point of time, if not now. One part will have majority of the Urdu-speaking and Pashtuns with Sindhis in minority, while in the second, the situation will be reversed with certain other elements coming to the fore. Also, other provinces will demand the same division. Already, the Hazarites of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are demanding Hazara as a new province, while Balochs are for separating Pashtuns from them after dividing Balochistan.

The constitutional experts believe that if the Punjab Assembly passes a resolution, and other mandatory steps are actualised, then Punjab would have 40 seats in the Senate, while the other province would have 25 each. This would create more bitterness among the other federating units, who have been repeatedly alleging Punjab of dominating other parts of the country.

Nevertheless, the PML-N is sitting on a hot seat, and PPP’s political move, which is primarily aimed at denting its adversary’s vote bank and eroding its credibility, is so far gaining moss, and has successfully diverted people’s attention from other pressing issues of huge importance.

‘US has plan to seize Pak nuclear weapons’

NEW YORK.

The fact that the US has a contingency plan to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons – if it feared they were about to fall into the wrong hands – if is no longer a secret, a major American television network says.

“It is no secret that the United States has a plan to try to grab Pakistan’s nuclear weapons – if and when the (US) president believes they are a threat to either the US or US interests,” NBC reported.

“As US-Pakistani relations spiral downward, the spectre of a showdown between the increasingly antagonistic allies is garnering more attention, including the worst-case scenario of the US attempting to snatch Pakistan’s 100-plus nuclear weapons if it feared they were about to fall into the wrong hands,” the report said.

It added that ensuring security of those weapons has long been a high US security priority even before 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The NBC said, “There were increasing suspicions among US officials that Osama had support within the ISI and the Abbottabad operation had emboldened those in Washington who believe an orchestrated campaign of raids to secure Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could succeed.”

“In the aftermath of the bin Laden raid, US military officials have testified before Congress about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and the threat posed by loose nukes – nuclear weapons or materials outside the government’s control. And earlier Pentagon reports also outline scenarios in which US forces would intervene to secure nuclear weapons that were in danger of falling into the wrong hands.” In an interview with NBC News, former president Pervez Musharraf warned that a snatch-and-grab operation would lead to all-out war between the countries, calling it total confrontation by the whole nation against whoever comes in. “These are assets which are the pride of Pakistan, assets which are dispersed and very secure in very secure places, guarded by a corps of 18,000 soldiers,” said Musharraf.

“This is not an army which doesn’t know how to fight. This is an army which has fought three wars. Please understand that,” he said.

Pervez Hoodboy too says a US attempt to take control of Pakistan’s nukes would be foolhardy. “They are said to be hidden in tunnels under mountains, in cities, as well as regular air force and army bases,” he said. “A US snatch operation could trigger war; it should never be attempted.”

Despite such comments, interviews with current and former US officials, military reports and even congressional testimony indicate that Pakistan’s weaponry has been the subject of continuing discussions, scenarios, war games and possibly even military exercises by US intelligence and special forces regarding so-called “snatch-and-grab” operations

PM approves to de-notify PCO judges

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani has approved the summary for de-notifying the PCO judges, Geo News reported.
The PCO judges included: Justices Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi, Hasnat Ahmed Khan, Syed Hamid Ali Shah, Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah of Lahore High Court and Ms Yasmeen Abbasey of Sindh High Court.
The Supreme Court had given the deadline August 9 for the government to de-notify the PCO judges.
PM House spokesperson said that the government respects the decision of the courts, its implementation would be assured by all means and the conspiracies to confront the institutions would be foiled

Nato investigates deadly Afghan helicopter crash

KABUL: Foreign forces in Afghanistan were investigating on Sunday the crash of a helicopter believed to have been shot down, killing 30 US soldiers, seven Afghans and an interpreter in the deadliest single incident for foreign troops in a decade of war.
The Taliban quickly claimed to have shot down the troop-carrying helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, although the militant group often exaggerates incidents involving foreign troops or Afghan government targets.
In Washington, a US official said the helicopter was believed to have been shot down. The Pentagon and the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said overnight the cause of the crash was being investigated.
The crash and its high death toll occurred two weeks after foreign forces started a security handover to Afghan troops and police – to be completed by the end of 2014 – and at a time of growing unease about the increasingly unpopular and costly war.
The Chinook crashed in central Maidan Wardak province, just west of the country’s capital Kabul, on Friday night.
“No words describe the sorrow we feel in the wake of this tragic loss,” General John Allen, who took over from General David Petraeus three weeks ago as ISAF commander, said in a statement released overnight.
“All of those killed in this operation were true heroes who had already given so much in the defense of freedom.”
A US official said some of the dead Americans were members of the Navy’s special forces SEAL Team 6 – the unit that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May in Pakistan, but that none of the dead had been part of the bin Laden raid.
The crash was the deadliest single incident for US troops in Afghanistan, ISAF said.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a statement on Saturday that the United States would “stay the course” to complete the mission in Afghanistan, a sentiment echoed by Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
The crash will likely raise more questions about the security transition and how much longer troops should stay. All foreign combat troops are due to leave by the end of 2014, but some US lawmakers question whether that is fast enough.
US and other Nato commanders have claimed success in reversing a growing insurgency in the Taliban’s southern heartland, although insurgents have demonstrated an ability to adapt their tactics and mount attacks in other areas.
But violence is at its worst in Afghanistan since US-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban government in late 2001, with high levels of foreign troop deaths, and record civilian casualties during the first six months of 2011.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai “shared his deep sorrow and sadness” with his US counterpart, Barack Obama, and the families of the victims, his palace said on Saturday.
Last year was the deadliest of the war for foreign troops in Afghanistan with 711 killed.

The crash in Maidan Wardak means at least 375 foreign troops have been killed so far in 2011. More than two-thirds were American, according to independent monitor www.icasualties.com and figures kept by Reuters.

PPP and MQM clinch deal on LG system

KARACHI: Barring minor differences that might arise during the course of talks, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was all set to rejoin the coalition led by the Pakistan People’s Party on Saturday night after hectic consultations first in Islamabad and then at the Governor’s House in Karachi.

In late night development, the commissioner system in Karachi and Hyderabad was rolled back and the old status of the districts prior to the introduction of the commissioner system was restored. In this context two ordinances were issued.
Announcing details of the agreements reached at the Governor’s House in the presence of Governor Ibad and Chief Minister Shah, Mr Awan unfolded the decisions.
Accordingly it was decided that Karachi and Hyderabad districts will be excluded from the application of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2011. It was also agreed that the police act revived recently should continue.
The two parties — with the MQM represented by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and the PPP by former law minister Babar Awan and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah — thrashed out a formula for the rural and urban areas of the province.
At times marred by differences, the talks at the Governor’s House were a follow-up to a meeting held in Islamabad between Dr Ibad and PPP’s troubleshooter and former law minister Babar Awan earlier in the day to sort out differences between the two parties.
Mr Ibad flew to Islamabad on Friday to hold a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in which the trade-offs for an accommodation were discussed. Mr Awan flew to Karachi along with Governor Ibad after their meeting.
The meeting was aimed at finalising a legal draft for accommodating MQM’s demand for the restoration of district governments in Karachi and Hyderabad.
But before making it public, concurrence of President Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London was being sought.
Television channels reported that Dr Ibad had a late-night conversation with Mr Hussain over the phone during which the MQM chief was briefed on the final shape of the ordinance being drafted to restore the local government system.
The governor had yet to sign the ordinance by the time we went to press. As the talks continued at the Governor’s House, provincial ministers like Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani and Revenue Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dhar joined the participants of the meeting.
Top bureaucrats like the Karachi commissioner and the law secretary also attended the meeting.
The Muttahida is not willing to let anyone eat into its power base in Karachi and Hyderabad and has taken a hard line against the government’s move to revive the commissioner system in Sindh.
It has opposed the termination of city district governments established under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance of 2001.
The Muttahida said that although it was against the commissioner system, it would suggest making it akin to the SLGO through amendments.
At a recent high-level meeting, the Sindh chief minister had hinted at accommodating the MQM’s demand, but made it clear that any amendment to the Local Government Law of 1979 would not lead to restoration of city district governments.
The major headache for the government is that it cannot afford to have two systems of the third-tier of government because it will institutionalise the rural-urban divide.
The PPP will find it hard to make the arrangement palatable to its supporters in the interior of Sindh.
A number of PPP leaders and activists were of the view that such a decision would lay the foundation of partition of Sindh which no one could accept.
Meanwhile, the Awami National Party’s Sindh chapter has opposed the reported move for a separate local government system for Karachi and Hyderabad and termed it depriving the people of the province of their rights.
The ANP said that restoration of the old system of Nazims would amount to a conspiracy against the people of Sindh. However, it welcomed the inclusion of Shaheed Benazirabad district in Hyderabad division and supported the call for creating a separate district for Lyari.
Iftikhar A. Khan adds from Islamabad: The meeting between Dr Ibad and Mr Awan agreed to stop trading charges against each other, create political harmony and jointly work for peace in Karachi.
Sources told Dawn that the two sides had discussed a new local government law for Karachi and Hyderabad, adding that the PPP had softened its stance on the local government system in Sindh.
The commissioner system was revived in Karachi after the MQM parted ways with the government. The move evoked a strong reaction from the MQM which described its revival as a conspiracy to divide Urdu- and Sindhi-speaking people of the province.
The sources said the PPP was against the revival of the old local government system, but had shown flexibility on the issue and efforts were on to find a middle path.
They said the proposed draft law was ready and its legal aspects were being discussed now, adding that the law would initially apply in Karachi and Hyderabad.
The sources said the two sides had agreed on an across-the-board action against criminal elements to ensure peace in violence-hit Karachi.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Governor Ibad said that political and administrative steps would be taken for harmony and stability in Karachi and the rest of the country.
He said the country was suffering because of political turbulence and steps would be taken to protect the country and its institutions. He was of the opinion that criminal elements were taking advantage of political differences to destabilise Karachi.
Mr Awan said President Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain were working to strengthen democratic institutions and dialogue would be initiated to stop the blame game. All issues would be tackled with sincerity and the path of dialogue would be followed to move forward.
The PPP leader said the issue of return of the MQM to the government fold was not discussed. The meeting focussed on political and administrative matters.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called PML (Functional) chief Pir Pagara on Saturday and apprised him of the ongoing negotiations between the government and the MQM.
The prime minister said the government would pursue its policy of reconciliation to protect democracy.
He said the MQM had been a government’s ally and supported it on several important occasions, especially during the passage of the 18th Amendment

PPP-MQM talks progressing, says Ishratul Ibad

ISLAMABAD: Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad on Saturday said consultations were going on to take political and administrative steps in order to improve Karachi’s security situation, DawnNews reported.
He further said that “why should we allow the conditions to deteriorate to a point that we have to call in the army?”
Dr Ibad was speaking to media representatives in Islamabad after a meeting with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Babar Awan.
Moreover, Dr Ibad said that the result of meeting with the senior PPP leader would soon be evident.
Problems between political parties have a negative effect on the country and certain elements use the situation to their advantage, he said, adding that talks between the PPP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were ongoing.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Awan said his meeting with Dr Ibad took place in a favourable atmosphere.

Dr Awan further said that President Asif Ali Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain had played a significant role to strengthen democracy in Pakistan

President asks MQM to rejoin govt, Ebad calls on Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Presidency on Friday, fueling speculation that both the parties were about to resume cooperation as coalition partners.
The meeting between Zardari and Ishratul Ebad was the outcome of a meeting held two days back at the Presidency in which the PPP’s coalition partners in the Sindh government authorised the president to hold negotiations with the MQM to bring them back into the fold of the coalition government and restore peace in the violence-hit Karachi.

The official announcement from the Presidency said that the law and order situation was discussed at the dinner meeting. However, sources close to the PPP say it was an important meeting in which the president offered that amendments in the commissionariate system in Sindh could be made as per the choice of the MQM. Sources said President Zardari also once again asked the MQM to rejoin the ruling coalition and become a part of the reconciliatory process.

According to sources, there was a consensus that peace in Karachi would have a positive impact on the economy of the country. The MQM has assured the president it will respond to his offer soon.

Sources also say there is a possibility of a telephonic contact between President Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain soon. Political observers are of the view that the MQM could rejoin the ruling coalition after differences on the commissionerate system are resolved after Eidul Fitr