 |
| |
WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
 |
 |
 |
|
| No talks until Zardari acts on CoD, 17th Amendment: PML-N |
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Shahbaz says PM told of party reservations about Balochistan package; Ahsan demands resignation of NRO beneficiary ministers
By Babar Dogar
LAHORE: A crucial meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz decided here on Monday that the party leaders would not meet President Asif Zardari or hold talks with him “until he implements the Charter of Democracy (CoD) and gets repealed the 17th Amendment by parliament.”
The meeting, chaired by PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif at the Chief Minister Secretariat, was attended by Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal, Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, PML-N Sindh President Ghaus Ali Shah, PML-N Balochistan President Yaqoob Nasir, PML-N Punjab President Zulfiqar Khosa and others.
The meeting reviewed the political situation in the country and was of a unanimous view that President Asif Zardari would make an attempt to have a meeting with the PML-N leadership with the objective of gaining political mileage. The paricipants of the meeting were of the opinion that the country was reverberated with the issuance of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries’ lists. They said PresidentZardari might make an attempt for a scheduled meeting with the second leading political party of Pakistan to come out of the prevailing political situation. There was consensus among the meeting participants that any other meeting with President Zardari would prove fruitless like the previous ones unless he takes some visible and concrete measures to ensure the implementation of the CoD and repealing of the 17th Amendment and insertion of the 18th Amendment in the Constitution.
The meeting also reiterated its commitment that they would not become part of any attempt to derail the political process in the country, but President Zardari should also exhibit his commitment and sincerity towards strengthening of the system.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif informed the meeting about his talks with the prime minister in which he had conveyed to him the PML-N’s reservations about the forthcoming Balochistan package. Shahbaz said he told the prime minister that the Balochistan package would not be enough and the federal government should adopt measures to win the hearts of masses by undoing injustices committed against them in the past.
Later, talking to media persons, PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said the meeting reviewed the political situation in the country and reorganisation of the party after dissolution of previous committees.
He said PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif had given a final shape to the national, provincial and district committees, and announcement in this regard would be made soon. He said the meeting discussed the National Reconciliation Ordinance and reiterated its commitment that they wanted supremacy of the rule of law in the country.
He said fake cases were registered against the PML-N leadership in the past as well as during President Pervez Musharrafís regime. However, they did not get benefit from the NRO. He said the CoD provided for establishment of an Independent Accountability Commission, to hold fair and impartial accountability of the NAB victims. He said the NRO beneficiary ministers should quit their offices immediately for a fair and free trial. He said they should defend themselves in the courts after vacating the public offices and they could rejoin their offices after getting a clean chit from the courts.
Answering a query whether they had demanded the resignation from President Asif Zardari after inclusion of his name in the NRO list, Ahsan Iqbal said the president would have to decide on the issue on his own. He said the Punjab chief minister had approved resignation of his Adviser, Saeed Mehdi. He claimed that the PML-N MNA Rana Nazeer was in the PML-Q when he benefited from the NRO. He said Rana Nazeer was not holding any public office, so there was no question of demanding his resignation.
He deplored that the NRO record was being destroyed by the government and demanded of the government to establish an independent accountability institution and appoint its chairman in consultation with the opposition.
Meanwhile, Ghaus Ali Shah told journalists that the PML-N wanted the PPP government to complete its five years in government, but the government would have to defend itself by performing in a better way.
PML-N Balochistan President Yaqoob Nasir said the government should win hearts of annoyed Baloch leaders and the people of Balochistan. He termed the Balochistan package worthless until the government solves people’s problems in the province.
|
|
|
| Back
| Send
this story to Friend | Print
Version |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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.
more |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
ISSN 1563-9479 
