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| Gilani accuses Musharraf of usurping provincial powers |
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Avoids commenting on SC order
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday accused former president Pervez Musharraf of violating the Constitution and usurping provincial autonomy, saying the previous government ‘illegally and unconstitutionally’ put the local governments in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. But he said his government had given the provinces their subject back in line with the democratic government’s resolve to respect the provincial autonomy.
“It is now up to the provincial governments to appoint administrators or hold local government elections and the Federation has nothing to do with it as it is a provincial subject,” he said while talking to newsmen here after performing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ministry of Science and Technology building.
Responding to queries regarding the criticism by local governmentsí representatives on the appointment of administrators, the prime minister said the term of the local bodies was ending, so he convened a meeting of the four chief ministers, the AJK prime minister and the chief executive of the Northern Areas for consultations on the issue and they unanimously agreed on suggestions that would now be submitted to the president.
“I would advise the president within the next few days that the local government is a provincial subject and let the provinces take decisions on holding fresh elections or appointing administrators,” he said.
He said the PPP was a federal party and, being in power in all the provinces either on its own or as a coalition partner, it believes in provincial autonomy. With a unanimous decision, it had asked the provinces to make their own decisions on the fate of the local governments.
To a question, Gilani said the entire National Assembly had supported the Finance Bill containing the proposal for imposition of the Carbon Surcharge. “The National Assembly that represents 160 million people unanimously passed the Finance Bill,” he added.
However, he avoided making a comment on the Supreme Court’s short order on the suspension of the Carbon Tax, saying: “I would not make a comment on it as the matter is sub judice.”
When asked about the PML-N’s opposition to the hike in petroleum prices despite being in coalition with the PPP in the Punjab government, the prime minister said both the parties were coalition partners in the Punjab and the PML-N had even extended its support to him. “I have a firm belief that they would continue to support me,” he added.
He said the PPP was a democratic party and it was its responsibility to bring the country back on track economically. “I had not remained in jails for becoming the prime minister but for the cause of people. The country is passing through a most difficult period, so the elected government had to take some unpopular decisions for the sake of stability of the country.
“I would not say that these are good decisions but difficult decisions are being taken for the stability of the country and strengthening of its economy.” He said the country was facing two challenges. “We have to improve the law and order situation and promote economic stability as these are inter-related and there would be investment only if the law and order situation improves,” he added.
He said initiation of the Army action was a difficult decision and some circles had then opposed the move. However, he added, after witnessing what happened in the troubled areas, they were now supporting the military operation.
The prime minister said the decision to launch the operation was taken for the survival of the country as Pakistan was being labelled as a failed state. “We have eliminated most of the militants and the IDPs would be going back to their homes from Monday with dignity and honour,” he added.
Asked about the agenda of the scheduled meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Sharam el-Sheikh in Egypt on the sidelines of the NAM Summit, Prime Minister Gilani parried the question, saying that he had not yet decided about the agenda.
Earlier, addressing the ceremony, the prime minister announced that the government would soon launch a new scheme to attract talented youth towards scientific careers. He pointed out that some useful programmes initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology had resulted in significant enhancement in the number of scientific publications in the country.
He, however, said scientific capacity indicators for Pakistan were highly unfavourable even with respect to other developing countries and, therefore, there was a need to turn things around and allow science and technology to play its due role in national development.
He urged the ministry and all others involved in scientific matters to play a leading role in putting science and technology at the forefront of the economic revival. He proposed setting up of a forum comprising reputed scientists, academicians, engineers, industrialists and media persons for regular interaction to help remove the bottlenecks in the way of scientific progress.
“Such a forum would ensure greater coverage and better quality of education at all levels,” he added. “We should also benefit from the experience of private sector and fully utilise the technical assistance of international agencies offered for promotion of various technologies,” he said.
The prime minister underlined the need for strengthening and developing the indigenous technology base to keep pace with the rest of the world. “We can achieve this objective as the country is bestowed with immense natural and human resources. Our manpower is versatile, hardworking and intelligent,” he added.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
