 |
| |
WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
 |
 |
 |
|
| US, EU concerned over violation of SC ruling |
|
|
|
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
By Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: The United States and the European Union have taken exception to the fact that despite clear orders from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was once again sent into forced exile to Saudi Arabia.
Spokesperson at the US Embassy in Islamabad told The News: “The Pakistani government’s decision to deport Mr Sharif to Saudi Arabia runs contrary to the Pakistani Supreme Court’s decision on his return. Since this is still a matter under legal consideration, we’re not going to offer further comment at this time.”
“It is important that the transition to a new, elected government proceed in a legal and constitutional manner,” he said. “With regard to the pledge that Mr Sharif made not to return to Pakistan, these are matters between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Mr Sharif himself. The United States plays no part. We hope that all involved in the current political transition will act peacefully and avoid violence. The question of Mr Sharif’s legal status is an internal matter of Pakistani law. I refer you to the Pakistani authorities regarding further information available on Mr Sharif,” the US embassy spokesperson concluded.
The EU was also quick in its response even before one could hear from Washington and it clearly stated that Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to return from exile and be given the chance to defend himself against corruption charges in a Pakistani court.
EU spokeswoman Christiane Hohmann told reporters in Brussels that Pakistan’s government should respect an August ruling by the country’s Supreme Court that Sharif should be allowed to return to Pakistan and that authorities should not obstruct him. “In our view the Supreme Court ruling is very clear and should be respected,” Hohmann said. “So if there is any legal case against Mr Sharif, he should have a chance to defend himself in a Pakistan court,”she said.
The United Kingdom from where Nawaz Sharif came to Pakistan has also expressed its apprehensions on the deportation of the former prime minister. Agencies add: The White House on Monday described deportation of Nawaz Sharif as an "internal matter" of Pakistan but urged the upcoming elections to be "free and fair". "This is an internal matter for the Pakistanis to deal with," said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. Asked what impact the deportation might have on Pakistan's upcoming election, Johndroe said: "We will continue our discussions with various Pakistani parties" for there to be "free and fair elections."
India also said the deportation was "an internal matter," but hoped Pakistan would remain peaceful and stable. "This is an internal matter," Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters, when asked about political "instability" in Pakistan, following Nawaz's brief return to Islamabad and subsequent expulsion. "We want a peaceful, prosperous and stable neighbour," Mukherjee said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said on Monday the EU statement about the return of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has not taken into account the background of this matter. "There is a background to this matter which the EU statement has not taken into account", the spokesperson stated when asked to comment on the EU statement regarding former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The spokesperson, however, added the interior minister has already responded stating that Nawaz Sharif's return to Saudi Arabia was in accordance with the law.
|
|
|
| Back
| Send
this story to Friend | Print
Version |
|
|
‘Al-Qaeda, Taliban leaders not in Pakistan’
ISLAMABAD: Strongly reacting to some of the reports of the presence of al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan by the US newspapers and some intelligence agencies, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said more |
|
|
Mulla Omar in Karachi, claims WT
WASHINGTON: Mulla Muhammed Omar, the leader of the Afghan Taliban, has fled Quetta and found refuge from the potential US attacks in Karachi with the assistance of Pakistan’s intelligence, the Washington Times more |
|
|
Will PM intervene or will robber barons kill CCP?
By Mehtab Haider
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has warned that it will cease to exist and its actions will become invalid in case the government fails to re-promulgate the Competition Ordinance on or b more |
|
|
Eight militants die in US drone attack
By our correspondent
MIRAMSHAH: Eight militants were killed and two others injured when a US drone hit a house in the Michikhel area in North Waziristan on Friday, the second such attack in less than 24 hours.
Tribal sources sai more |
|
|
19 militants killed in SWA, Khyber, Bajaur clashes
By our correspondents
WANA/BARA/KHAR: Nineteen militants were killed in clashes with security forces in South Waziristan, Khyber and Bajaur tribal regions on Friday.
Tribal and officials sources said five militants were kille more |
|
|
|
Pakistan has nothing to fear from India: Singh
WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India is ready to resolve all outstanding issues with the country on the condition that it will not allow its territory to be used against its neighbour more |
|
|
|
Qureshi wants result-oriented dialogue with India
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmud Qureshi said on Friday Pakistan wanted meaningful and result-oriented bilateral negotiations with India.
Addressing a press conference at the airport here, h more |
|
|
|
Only 15 pc believe Pakistan is going right
By Gibran Peshimam
KARACHI: Pakistan’s youths are losing confidence in the future and a mere 15 per cent believe that the country is heading in the right direction, while 72 per cent feel economically worse off than a year ago. O more |
|
|
|
Mustafa Jatoi passes away
ISLAMABAD: Former caretaker prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi breathed his last at the St Marry Hospital in London on Friday after a protracted illness. He was 78.
He leaves behind six sons and three d more |
|
|
|
Slaughter of animals, NRO beneficiaries begins on Eid
By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will soon announce its strategy to deal with the cases which are going to reopen on Nov 28, a NAB spokesman told The News on Friday.
“The NAB chairman more |
|
|
|
WFP, Rescue 15 attacks’ mastermind arrested
By Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Police on Friday arrested the mastermind behind the attacks on the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Rescue 15 offices in Islamabad.
The terrorist, identified as Jamshed Ahmad more |
|
|
|
Mushahid asks Karzai not to allow use of Afghan land against Pakistan
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Secretary General Pakistan Muslim League-Q Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Friday asked President Hamid Karzai not to allow the use of Afghan land against Pakistan under Indian designs.
“Pakistan wa more |
|
|
|
No Indo-Pak FMs meeting: Nirupama
NEW DELHI: India on Friday said no meeting had been scheduled between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India in Port of Spain later this month on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( more |
|
|
|
US to tighten control of Afghan contracts: Gates
HALIFAX: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday that the United States must tighten control of Afghan development contracts as a first step towards stemming rampant corruption.
“The reality is more |
|
|
|
China has stake in Kashmir: Mirwaiz
News Desk
HELD SRINAGAR: As he plans to visit China, Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday kicked up a controversy by saying that Beijing has a “direct link” with the Kashmir issue, drawing strong obje more |
|
|
|
Clinton favours Indo-Pak dialogue on Kashmir
WASHINGTON: The United States is encouraging Pakistan and India to resume their dialogue to address Kashmir and other outstanding disputes but any solution must come from the two countries, Secretary of State H more |
|
|
|
Competition Commission forces PIA to fly fair
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Silent prayers of many Hajis have apparently been answered as the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has ordered PIA to refund within 60 days the excessive fares charged from the passengers, wh more |
|
|
|
Attack on policemen in Peshawar
By Javed Aziz Khan
PESHAWAR: The death toll in the bomb attack on police party in Yakatoot rose to three after a sub-inspector and another cop succumbed to injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Friday as the city mourned more |
|
|
|
‘Musharraf funnelling money to improve image’
ISLAMABAD: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has reportedly funnelled a large amount of money to his former aides in the country in order to improve his image, as he is planning a return to the c more |
|
|
|
Sen Lugar’s wife arrested, charged with drinking, hit-and-run
News Desk
WASHINGTON: The wife of Republican Senator Richard G Lugar was arrested in the suburb of McLean on Wednesday night after crashing into a parked car, and she was charged with drunk driving and hit-and-run, the F more |
|
|
|
briefs...
Bombers kill 23 in Afghanistan
HERAT: Bomb attacks on Friday killed 23 people in Afghanistan, a deadly start to President Hamid Karzai’s second term that underscored spiralling insecurity nine years into more |
|
|
|
ISSN 1563-9479 
