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WEEKLY
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| Govt to implement CoD, not to table NRO in NA: PM |
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Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Assures repeal of 17th Amendment, 58-2(b)
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Just a day after the government’s decision not to table the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the National Assembly (NA), Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged to fulfill the promises of the implementation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) and to transfer powers from the Presidency to the PM House by repealing the 17th Amendment as well as Article 58-2(b) of the Constitution.
Addressing the NA on the eve of November 3, when a dictator had imposed emergency besides detaining the judges and gagging the media, the prime minister, wearing a black ribbon on his left arm, declared November 3 as the ‘day for democracy’ and said that he had asked the chairman of the parliamentary committee to work on a fast track for repealing the 17th Amendment and to implement the Charter of Democracy.
“We will also fulfill the promise of introducing an accountability law envisioned in the CoD,” he added.The members from both sides of the aisle thumped desks to show solidarity with the prime minister.
The speech that was described as the ‘government agenda’ for the coming days in which the prime minister pledged to bring good governance and sought cooperation of the opposition for resolving the real problems of the people.
On the government’s move to bow before the will of the people for not bringing the controversial NRO in the NA, he said the government has adopted a policy of political reconciliation, therefore, keeping in view the sense of the House, it has been decided not to table the NRO in the NA.
He said that the government did not make the NRO a point of ego but respected the views of the majority of the House members in this regard. “Before coming to the House, I had talked to Mian Nawaz Sharif and told him that the PPP in its meeting would make a decision on the NRO and the party in its meeting endorsed my decision,” he said.
He said now the government wanted the court to decide about the NRO and whatever decision is given the government will accept it. The prime minister also thanked the coalition partners for their guidance on the NRO issue. Condemning the action of 3rd November 2007, the prime minister said the PPP never accepted emergency and the PCO imposed by a dictator and rendered matchless sacrifices, along with other parties, for the restoration of democracy.
He said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and a large number of political workers laid down their lives for this purpose and he himself led a long march in Lahore to protect the rights of the people, the media and the judiciary.
He said as a result of this struggle, the country achieved the goal of democracy but it will remain fragile until we get united to strengthen state institutions, something indispensable for a strong democratic system.
The prime minister assured the House that a special cabinet meeting would be convened shortly to discuss the problems being faced by the people and devise a workable strategy to overcome these with an objective to address the grievances of the common man.
He said special meetings have also been convened to resolve the issue of paddy price, gas load shedding and other problems confronting the common man.He said the government will launch an austerity drive to divert national resources towards socio-economic development of the people.
The prime minister said that focus of the government would be on real issues and sought the cooperation of parliament to move forward. MNAs from the opposition came to the prime minister immediately after he ended his speech to express their appreciation of his speech.
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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 
