PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Reacting on Prime Minister’s remarks made in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the Prime Minister speech suggested that confrontation was about to take place between state institutions.

Speaking at the National Assembly on Thursday, Nisar Ali Khan said was the churning out of statements by President not enough that the Prime Minister also had to make such remarks.

He said that talks about President’s immunity should be taken to the Supreme Court, not in the Parliament.

“We will side with judiciary if it is about their (judiciary) independence,” he asserted.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday said that the government had never said it would not implement the decisions of the Supreme Court and that the President does enjoy immunity under Article 248.

Addressing the National Assembly here, the Premier asked the apex court to make interpretations on the matters which need spelling out and ‘we will act on the court’s decisions in light of the law and Constitution.’

“I cannot scrap the immunity that has been granted to the President by the Constitution and law,” he clarified.

He pointed out that the former attorney general neither belonged to his party nor to the opposition. “The former attorney general has filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s verdict; how can I take action on this matter until the petition is with the court?” he questioned.

He said the judiciary has its own process for accountability while the leader of the opposition is ‘good enough for our accountability’. The army has its way of court martial, but the Parliament cannot hold the judiciary accountable nor it can use the way of court martial because we cannot infringe on its domain.

The Prime Minister said we also want that our domain should also be respected in a similar fashion.

He said, “why only a single case of President is discussed out of a long list of 8034 cases?”

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday awarded approval to start 8 rental power projects in line with the recommendations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Moreover, the cabinet rejected 5 rental projects and decided to review 6 others.

Following the meeting, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said ADB had made 11 recommendations in its report, which were approved by the cabinet.

He further said that work on the approved projects would immediately get underway, which is expected to complete by June this year.

These projects will help generate 1,156 mega watts electricity, while legal aspects of 6 other projects will be reviewed.

Ashraf pointed out that these 8 projects will result in 6.1 percent increase in power tariff and this hike would have gone to 9.9 percent if all 14 projects have got the approval. He said old IPPs will be replaced by the new projects.

He said the government wants these plants to run on gas, but lack of availability in the international market has stopped the process.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has that he would reopen the Swiss cases if the Parliament scraps amnesty enjoyed by the President.

He said this while addressing the National Assembly here Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said the whole country seems to be in the grips of rumours, but added that democracy is not facing any threat. The judiciary, executive and media are playing their role with due responsibility, he said.

He maintained that the government is acting in accordance with the instructions given in the detailed NRO verdict by the Supreme Court.

Regarding action against former attorney general Malik Qayum, the Premier said that Malik Qayum has filed an appeal in the apex court and that once its ruling comes on the review petition the government will act in line with the court’s directives.

“In our government no action was taken against anyone on the basis of political retribution. On the contrary, the judge who had awarded sentence to me has been promoted by this government.”

He said the details of cases and the number of required judges has been sought from the NAB.

The Prime Minister said the President enjoys amnesty under the Constitution and it is the Parliament that has allowed this immunity.

DUBAI: Turkey has assured that it will play a leading role in overcoming the ongoing power shortage in Pakistan’s energy sector.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has said this at Friend of Democratic Pakistan conference in Dubai on Tuesday.

Addressing the participants, Arinc said Turkish companies will provide every help in boosting investment in Pakistan’s energy sector.

He further said Pakistan needed USD50 billions in the energy sector during next 10 to 15 years as country’s power demand is expected to go up by 6 to 7 percent per annum.

LAHORE: A local court on Tuesday granted three-day police remand to Chaudhry Naeem Advocate arrested in connection with Shazia murder case.

Chaudhry Naeem Advocate, the main accused in Shazia murder case, was presented in the court amid tense environment created by lawyers that also threatened media.

The accused produced before the Cantt court on Tuesday. The relatives of Shazia and large number of lawyers were presented at this occasion.

The lawyers blamed media for creating hype about the case and tried to stop them to cover the event. On the other hand, the relatives of Shazia were expelled from the court.

Earlier, additional district and session judge Shafiqur Rehman has granted the interim bail to Chaudhry Naeem’s wife and sister-in-law till February 3 and directed the police authorities to submit record. Chaudhry Naeem’s son had already got the interim bail.

LAHORE: The country is faced with a famine-like situation because of ongoing shortage of water in the rivers.

According to sources, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) is reconsidering its current Water Management Plan to deal with drought-like situation for the next Rabi crops.

During the last one year, the water level in Indus River has dropped to one-third level, due to which it is feared that the country will have to brace an agricultural dearth this year.

In view of this situation, the IRSA has asked the Met department for details of possible dearth during the next 6 months.

In addition, the IRS has also called a meeting of its Advisory Committee so that the current Water Management Plan could be reconsidered to handle the prevailing water shortage.

The sources told that the IRSA had to close Chashma, Jehlum, Taunsa and Pajnad canals over water shortage previous year but the situation is even more alarming this year, which needs emergency measures.

The Met office said that country has entered the third phase of drought this year, which could affect the cultivation, leading to a dearth-like situation.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that democracy could survive only if the Supreme Court’s orders would be honoured.

Speaking to newsmen after condoling Shazia’s family here, he said the nation’s sacrifices would go waster if the verdicts made by the Supreme Court were not honoured.

The PML-N chief said that Feb 18 polls had given us an opportunity to create a new Pakistan as all the parties were united. Allah Almighty awarded us a good opportunity in the form of democracy, but it was wasted, he remarked.

The former premier stressed that democracy must look different from dictatorship.

He further said that situation would have been totally different if the points mentioned in the Charter of Democracy (CoD) were implemented. He urged the government to honour it pledges.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction over a written reply of Interior Minister Rehman Malik on contempt of court notice issued in Pakistan Steel corruption case. The court said proceedings would continue on contempt of court notice.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in his remarks said court never intervened in the affairs of parliament.

Earlier, a two-member bench of Supreme Court heard Steel Mills corruption case. Rehman Malik was also present in the court. The interior minister submitted his written reply without lawyer.

Chief Justice while addressing Rehman Malik said you have no idea how much Steel Mills corruption case suffered because of you. Malik has informed the court that FIA is not eligible to audit Steel Mills therefore we are hiring a foreign firm.

In reply, chief justice said conducting audit of Steel Mills is not within the authority of interior minister. The court has adjourned the hearing till February 18 after Malik’s pleaded for lawyer.

LAHORE: The last rituals of maidservant Shazia tortured and killed by employers were offered in Cathedral church Lahore.

The Federal Minister for Minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, provincial ministers and members assembly, Shazia’s parents, members of Christian community and NGO’s attended the last rituals. The Bishop of Lahore Alexander John Malik and others performed the last rituals.

Talking to media at this occasion, Minority Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, Provincial Minister Kamran Michael, Member National Assembly Akram Maseeh Gill and MPA Tahir Khalil Sindhu said murder of Shazia is a murder of humanity and the trial should be conducted in special anti-terror court to create sense of protection among the minorities.