Aitzaz to represent PM in SC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan would be representing Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the contempt of court notice against him, DawnNews reported.

The prime minister was served a show-cause notice for contempt of court on Monday.

Ahsan met with the prime minister who later approved the barrister to represent him in the apex court.

Earlier on Monday, a seven-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk issued the order against the premier once it was evident that the government had no response to the six options laid down at the last hearing on the implementation of the NRO judgment.

The prime minister has been directed to personally appear before the court on January 19 for his refusal to write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Whoever wants to can initiate no-confidence motion: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said that he did not need to take a vote of confidence, DawnNews reported.
Whoever wants to initiate a no-confidence motion in the parliament, they are free to do so, he said.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly,  Gilani said everyone should respect the constitution and those who want to cut short the terms of the prime minister and the president should propose amendments to the constitution.
He further said that the government was not against any state institution.
“We have not come here to seek martyrdom, nor are we seeking support on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO),” the premier said.
“The opposition should tell us if the NRO was made by our government,” the prime minister questioned.
He further said that “if a new stage is set up, it would neither welcome the current government, nor the existing opposition”.
Regarding the judiciary, he said: “We went to prisons for the judges…faced treason cases for standing up for Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.”
Resolution tabled in favour of government, democracy
Also on Friday, chief of the Awami National Party (ANP), Asfandyar Wali Khan tabled a resolution in the NA in favour of the Parliament, government and democracy. The House will vote on the resolution on Monday, Jan 16.
Reading out the contents of the resolution, Wali said that the House believes in, and will ensure the supremacy of democracy and the Parliament.
The resolution also supports “the political leadership’s efforts to safeguard democracy”. It also adds that the institutions should act within their jurisdiction, while respect for the institutions is also essential for a stable democracy.
The NA session was adjourned till Monday, Jan 1

Firdous Ashiq Awan submitted her resignation as Minister

 

Firdous Ashiq Awan submitted her resignation as Minister

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan announced her resignation from her ministerial post during a cabinet meeting held on Sunday December 25, 2011.

Teary-eyed Awan delivered an emotional speech in the cabinet meeting, and criticized the policies of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). She went on to say that she still supports and is aligned with the PPP.

Addressing Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Awan said: “While endorsing your leadership, I don’t think I can continue as a member of the cabinet. With your permission, I would like to submit my resignation.”

She said that she does not need to be part of a ministry which poses problems for the party and does not consider her worthy of fulfilling her role as a minister any longer.

“I endorse your leadership (but) I think I am not competent enough to continue as cabinet member and hence submit my resignation,” Awan tearfully said at a televised cabinet meeting.

She did not cite any other reason behind her move, however certain reports suggest that Prime Minister Gilani had asked her to resign for her failure to defend effectively the government policies.

It was not immediately clear if she was forced to resign or if she quit voluntarily as some analysts say Awan may have been forced to resign due to her failure to convincingly defend the government in the Memogate scandal.

Following Sherry Rahman and Qamar Zaman Kaira, Awan is the third information minister who resigned from this slot during PPP government’s four-year rule.

No institution has right to create a state within state: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said conspirators were plotting to bring down his government, giving his most public indication yet that he fears being ousted from power.

“I want to make it clear today that conspiracies are being hatched here to pack up the elected government,” Gilani told a gathering at the National Arts Gallery, without naming anyone.

“But we will continue to fight for the rights of people of Pakistan whether or not we remain in the government,” Gilani said, declaring himself the country’s longest serving premier, with 45 months on the job.

Two weeks ago, Interior Minister Rehman Malik dismissed rumours that a coup could overthrow the government, but Gilani’s remarks appeared to show that members of the administration believe their early departure is all too possible.

Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday, PM Gilani said that the government respects the armed forces and has supported the military in the worst of times.

“They are a disciplined army and follow the constitution,” Gilani said. “They are under the government and will remain under the government.”

But heading off questions in parliament, he took aim at the military over reports that the defence ministry conceded to the Supreme Court that it had no control over the armed forces or ISI intelligence agency.

“If they say that they are not under the ministry of defence, then we should get out of this slavery, then this parliament has no importance, this system has no importance, then you are not sovereign,” he told lawmakers.

“They are being paid from the State Exchequer, from your revenue and from your taxes.”

All institutions are subservient to the Parliament, and no institution has the right to create a state within the state, added the prime minister.

“If somebody thinks that they are not under the government, they are mistaken. They are under the government and they shall remain under the government, because we are the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan.”

Appearing to lose patience, he said the government had stood by the security services over a storm of American pressure over the Osama bin Laden killing, the November 26 Nato attack and the 2008 attacks on Mumbai.

“In the worst circumstances we doubled their salaries. They have to be accountable to parliament.”

“We are being asked by the judicial commission (examining the May 2 US raid that killed bin Laden raid and how the al Qaeda leader lived in Pakistan undetected) about issuance of visas (to Americans).

“But I want to ask how was (bin Laden) living here for the past six years? On what type of visa was he living here? Why was security not taken care of, if he entered in Pakistan without a visa?”

SC dismisses govt’s review petition against NRO verdict

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the government’s review petition against its ruling declaring the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) illegal, DawnNews reported.
The apex court ruled that the government could not make a case for reviewing the judgment.
The petition was heard by a 17-judge full court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The NRO was struck down by a Supreme Court verdict on December 16, 2009.
The bench directed the authorities concerned to comply with its earlier detailed order on the issue in letter and spirit and without any delay.
Prominent lawyer and Pakistan People’s Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan told journalists outside the court building that the government was bound to implement the orders, adding that, the president, however, had immunity.
Moreover, Yaseen Azad, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), was of the view that the verdict should be implemented according to the court’s directions.
The court knows how to get its orders implemented, he added.

West says Iran deceives world on nukes

The U.S. and its Western allies bluntly accused Iran on Friday of deceiving the world and declared it could no longer dismiss evidence it is working secretly on making nuclear arms. The unusually tough accusations were bound to raise international tensions over Iran's nuclear program — even though the Western statements emphasized that the preferred solution was through diplomacy. Statements delivered to the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board by the United States, and on behalf of Germany, Britain and France, contained no mention of military action — an option that has not been discounted by either Israel or the U.S. if Tehran refuses to stop activities that can be used for nuclear weapons. Still, they pulled no punches, drawing heavily on a recent IAEA report based on intelligence from more than 10 nations that concluded that some alleged clandestine activities by the Islamic Republic could not be used for any other purpose than making nuclear arms.

PPP concerned over ‘memo gate’ scandal

ISLAMABAD: The core committee of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday discussed the controversy surrounding Ambassador to US Husain Haqqani over a secret memo alleged to have been sent by President Asif Ali Zardari to former chairman of US joint chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen.
The committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of President Zardari who is also the party’s co-chairman.
The president took the party’s top leadership into confidence over his meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and said that an investigation would be held into the matter.
Party stalwarts termed the situation grim and said that the opposition was taking advantage of the circumstances and attacking the government on this front.
President Zardari directed PPP leaders to effectively counter the opposition’s propaganda.
The president also discussed Zulfiqar Mirza’s London visit and his meeting with Scotland Yard officials with party officials and assured the core committee that he was not directing the former minister.