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| Zardari lashes out at ‘political actors’ |
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Gives establishment clean chit; vows to resist conspiracy against democracy; wants to see PML-N strong
By Imtiaz Ali
KARACHI: PPP Co-chairperson President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday claimed that the establishment was not conspiring against the government.
“Neither the establishment nor parliament or any political party is conspiring to derail the democratic system,” he declared in his video address from the President House in Islamabad to a rally near the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in connection with the PPP’s 43rd foundation day.
He said a conspiracy against the government was being hatched by a few “actors”. “Masses have given the mandate to the PPP and it is our democratic right to complete our tenure,” he added. He said if any conspiracy was hatched, he would resist it. He said that certain “actors” were proclaiming that he could leave the Presidency in an ambulance, but he was ready for this as he was not afraid of death. He said he would never desert the masses and was not afraid of any “dates” being given for his departure.
He severely criticised what he called political actors. “These political actors think that they can snatch people’s right through their acting,” he said in a thinly-veiled reference. He said these political actors also did not understand the culture of Sindh. He also severely criticised what he called “new politicians” who, instead of going to the masses, came on TV channels.
He declared that he wanted to see Mian Nawaz Sharif’s party (PML-N) to be strengthened so that democracy could be strengthened. He said he was happy when their allies and opponents held rallies because it reflected that democracy was flourishing in the country. He said in politics, he hears the voice of people and respects opinion of even smaller parties.
The PPP government has apologised over the atrocities committed against the Baloch in the past. It has presented “empowerment package” for Balochistan and Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan as well, he said.
He said the PPP government had achieved “milestones” within its two years’ rule, which could not be achieved in over 60 years. He said cancer of terrorism snatched his wife from him but they gave “political ownership” to the fight against terrorism. He said now Pakistan was serious in eliminating terrorism and the people also knew that these extremists were their enemies. He said for the first time in history, 2.5 million people were displaced internally and they returned to their homes.
He said he wanted to give such Pakistan to the new generation where no one rushes to fight with each other over small cause or no cause at all and no one pulls each other’s legs without any justification.
He opined that PPP’s good performance was visible from its victory in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, which he termed a mirror for others. The president ended his speech with the slogan of “long live Pakistan” and “long live Bhutto.”
Earlier, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, in a hard-hitting speech, warned that the government might reopen 3,500 cases of murder, kidnapping, bank robberies and rapes in Sindh. He said he was presenting himself for accountability before the chief justice of Pakistan in the capacity of home minister and home ministers of the last 10 years should also present themselves for accountability.
He said the PPP would use the “Sindh Card” if needed and would do so with great pride. He said if the Sindh Card could be used to form Pakistan, then it could be used to save Pakistan, too.
He said there was no date for the NRO and that if some cases were being dismissed before a particular date, then all cases should be dismissed. Otherwise, he said, all cases should be reopened.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah recalled that Sindh Assembly had presented the resolution in favour of creation of Pakistan, and because of this Pakistan had come into being. He said Asif Zardari did not come into power through backdoor or barrel of a gun. Instead, he came into power after the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto and with the mandate of the masses. He said certain elements had gone berserk because the government was serving the masses in a better way.
Federal minister Khursheed Shah, PPP Sindh General Secretary Taj Haider, PPP Karachi Division President Syed Najmi Alam, general secretary Karachi Saeed Ghani, ND Khan, ministers Rafiq Engineer and Zahid Bhurghari and others also spoke.
When the rally ended, some youths “forcibly” entered the premises where the stage was erected and threw stones on some remaining workers. PPP’s volunteers told newsmen that they did not know who these people were.
At the time of the president’s speech, streetlights were closed. Though the PPP leaders claimed that hundreds of thousands of people attended the rally, a senior police officer told newsmen that only around 18,000-20,000 people had attended it.
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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.
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
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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.
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Govt taking court for a ride
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
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KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
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The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
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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 
