Pakistan ready to facilitate Afghan peace process: PM

KABUL: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Thursday met a delegation of Afghanistan's opposition party Afghan National Coalition (ANC) led by Dr Abdullah Abdullah and said Pakistan is ready to do, whatever was in its capacity, to facilitate peace in Afghanistan. In a meeting held at the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, the prime minister said long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan is only possible through an intra-Afghan political settlement. Prime Minister Ashraf said opposition groups can play an important role in the achievement of stability, progress and development in Afghanistan. He said Afghans have the right to choose their governance system, whether presidential or parliamentary system. He said Pakistan abides by the principle of non-interference in the internal Affairs of Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, advisor on interior Rehman Malik and Minister of State for commerce Abbas Ahmed Afridi were present during the meeting. The Afghan side comprised ANC leaders Younis Qanooni and Ahmad Wali Masood.

Nawaz vows 'economic blast'

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said earlier his government had conducted an atomic blasts and now they will carry out an 'economic blast', Geo News reported. Nawaz was talking to the journalists upon his arrival at the Karachi airport where he was welcomed by party workers in large numbers. Nawaz said everyone knew about the people who were instrumental in reopening NAB cases against Shahbaz Sharif and him, and are running anti-PML-N media campaigns. Commenting on news reports of an army takeover, Nawaz said these were just rumours and media should behave responsibly while disseminating such reports.

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Constitution is supreme: CJP

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Ifitikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Saturday said that the constitution was supreme, while in the eyes of law all the citizens of the country were equal. CJP without mincing words declared no compromise could be made on the independence of judiciary. The chief executive lost his job on court’s action, under Article 5 all citizens were bound to be loyal to the state, he said. Addressing the lawyers on the occasion of issuance of practice licences to the lawyers here, Chief Justice said that whatever position or post one holds the law was same for everyone. Action on contempt of court was taken against the chief executive for not obeying the court order and he lost his position. Chief Justice said that he wanted the rule of law and the constitution in the country and added that it was mandatory for the citizens of the country as well as the foreigners living here to abide by the state’s constitution and the laws. He said that the law and constitution would be protected. He further said that the judiciary could declare void actions in contravention of the constitution. The Apex court has already given verdict in unambiguous terms on this issue. It was only the constitution that is supreme, which has to be followed. The constitution has given the powers to the higher courts and no compromise would be made on the independence of judiciary, he re-iterated.

Eminent scholar Obaidullah Baig passes away

KARACHI: Eminent scholar, author and tv host Obaidullah Baig passed on to the great beyond in Karachi Friday morning, Geo News reported. he's survived by a wife and 3 daughters. His funeral are going to be held nowadays once Friday prayers at Sultan Masjid, Defence, family sources told. The veteran was a famous Urdu author, novelist, columnist and media professional from Karachi. Obaidullah Baig teamed up with Iftikhar Arif in Nineteen Seventies and then with Ghazi Salahuddin and Quraish Pur in Nineties and won renown for the famous quiz show “Kasauti”. He was awarded a 'Pride of Performance' (August fourteen, 2008) for his achievements within the Pakistani media.

PPP nominates Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as PM candidate

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its coalition partners have nominated Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for the post of prime minister, Geo News reported Friday. Speaking alongside MQM’s Haider Abbas Rizivi and ANP’s Afrasiab Khattak, senior PPP leader Khrshid Shah created the announcement. Prior to this announcement, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was the covering candidate for former PPP frontrunner Makhdoom Shahabuddin whose name was later dropped owing to his involvement within the Ephedrine scandal case and therefore the ANF issuing a non-bailable warrant for his arrest. Apart from Ashraf and Shahabuddin, Qamar Zaman Kaira from the PPP, Maulana Fazlur Rehman from the JUI-F and Mehtab Abbasi from the PML-N had filed their nomination papers. The next prime minister of Pakistan are selected throughout the National Assembly session that has been convened these days within the evening.

Allies back Raja Ashraf as PM candidate: Sources

ISLAMABAD: The coalition partners have, at a meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari, authorized Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to nominate the next prime minister whose name will be announced officially at 11:00 AM Friday, Geo News reported Thursday. However, according to sources, President Asif Ali Zardari took the coalition partners into confidence over his decision to nominate Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as PPP's candidate for the post of prime minister who will be elected by the Lower House on Friday. During the meeting, the allies of PPP-led government unanimously approved the name of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for the coveted post of prime minister, sources added. According to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, the allied partners during the meeting pledged their support for the PPP candidate whose name will be formally announced by the party at 11:00 AM tomorrow. The meeting was attended among others by Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Khan Ghauri, Awami National Party's Afrasyab Khattak, Israr Zehri, Munir Khan Orakzai, PPP's Khursheed Shah, Manzoor Wattoo and Naveed Qamar.

SC hears NA speaker ruling case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has resumed hearing of the identical constitutional petitions, challenging the 27th May ruling of Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahimda Mirza over the disqualification of PM Gilani. A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain is hearing the case. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for the PM, challenged the hearing of case by the SC, arguing that neither provincial government become the party in it nor anyone's fundamental right was affected. 'The court can not go beyond its jurisdiction, the petitioners should have approached the high court first.' On this, the CJ remarked that how come a verdict of seven-member SC bench could be taken up by the high court. 'The petitioners have argued that the person in question (the prime minister) is not only an MNA but a representative of 180 million people.' He also asked Aitzaz Ahsan to quote a similar example. Meanwhile, Attorney General Irfan Qadir, interrupted the proceedings and said if the seven-member bench rules against the wishes of the people it is also unconstitutional. The bench stopped the AG on that point and instructed to speak on his turn. Aitzaz, while continuing his arguments referred to a case of former dictator Musharaf's election in uniform. The CJ asked him why he is quoting this example, while being a flag bearer of democracy and constitution. This is a case about which no one wants to talk, the CJ added.

PM convenes energy conference

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani took notice of loadshedding protests across the country and convened energy conference on Tuesday, Geo News reported. PM Gilani, who is in Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral prayer of Crown Prince Naif, issued the instructions to ministries of Water and Power and Petroleum to resolve the matter. The PM is expected to come back Monday evening. He will chair the energy conference tomorrow. Violent protests against incessant loadshedding continued in several areas of the Punjab today where protestors took to streets and registered their protest. However, police and other law enforcement agencies let the protestors ransack the public and private property.

Govt backed loadshedding protests across Punjab

LAHORE: Violent protests against incessant loadshedding continued in several areas of the Punjab where protestors took to streets and registered their protest. However, police and other law enforcement agencies let the protestors ransack the public and private property, Geo News reported Monday. In Faisalabad, demonstrators blocked Samundri Road and protested against unannounced power cuts while factory owners reached Mepco’s office. Protests also took place in Gojra and Mandi Bahauddin where demonstrators blocked the main intersection. In Sargodha, angry residents of the suburban areas damaged Wapda office where police were called to disperse the crowd and control the situation. The protestors in Chakwal blocked the Lahore-Islamabad motorway. They burnt flags of a political party and chanted slogans against the government. A large number of students also resorted to protest against power outages in Lower Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blocked the Dir-Afghanistan highway. On Monday, frustrated with persistent loadshedding, enraged residents torched the city police station gate and several police motorcycles in Chicawatni. They also attacked an MNA’s house due to which police has registered a case against 1,200 persons and arrested ten others who were allegedly involved in the violence.

Nawaz justifies CM Punjab’s loadshedding protests

MURREE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Sunday said that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif’s actively protesting the scourge of loadshedding along side the masses was an attempt to make the voice of the poor people heard, Geo News reported. He said this while presiding over a meeting convened to mull development programs for Punjab. During the meeting he stressed that the most underdeveloped areas of the province should receive the most of development works. CM Punjab told the meeting that extraordinary funds have been allocated for education, health, and transport along with special focus on women’s empowerment. The meeting was attended by PML-N leaders inkling CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Parvaiz Rashid, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and other concerned officials.

End drone hits, or risk polio spread: Taliban

ISLAMABAD: A powerful Taliban faction has said it will not allow an anti-polio campaign to be conducted in its stronghold of North Waziristan tribal region as long as US drone strikes continue in the area. The group led by commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur distributed a pamphlet yesterday that announced the ban on the government's polio vaccination campaign. The ban has raised concerns about the spread of polio in a region with poor healthcare facilities, and local tribesmen said they had no option but to accept the Taliban's directive. The pamphlet in Urdu, distributed in Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, said: "We announce a ban on polio vaccination campaign from today (Saturday)." It warned local residents

Heat wave grips Balochistan

QUETTA: Several areas of Balochistan have been under the grip of a severe heat wave for the last few weeks. Due to the heat wave business activity in these areas has come to a standstill. The areas under the grip of the heat wave include Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Bolan and Sibi. Residents of these areas have been confined to their homes and their troubles have increased due to daily loadshedding of up to 18-20 hours.

Pak-India talks underway on troop withdrawal from Siachen: Defence Minister

HYDERABAD: Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar has said that negotiation between Pakistan and India were in progress for the withdrawal of troops from Siachen and soon a better strategy will be formulated in this direction. The Minister said this while talking to the media at Tando Muhammad Khan after inaugurating various schemes of roads and electric supply in different villages of the district. Syed Naveed Qamar said Siachen possessed a unique status of the world’s highest border having no population in the area. The secretary level deliberations were recently held and it is hoped that both the countries will succeed in formulating a comprehensive strategy for withdrawal of troops from the area, he added.

Professor Afaq Siddiqui passes away

KARACHI: Pakistan’s prominent researcher, poet and writer Professor Afaq Siddiqui died here in Karachi on Sunday after protracted ailment. He was 86. “He will be laid to rest in Sakhi Hassan graveyard in the city,” his family said. Professor Siddiqui was born in 1928 in a house of a police officer in India. He migrated to Pakistan after partition of the sub-continent and was the only one from the family to come to Pakistan. Professor Siddiqui wrote 40 books, 18 of which are in Sindhi. He also translated “Shah Jo Rasalao”. His work was highly appreciated all over Sindh. He received more than 60 International awards. Amongst the various awards that he received, one is the Pride of Performance and the other is Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Excellence Award, which is the highest award of Sindh.

CM Punjab laments death of Fauzia Wahab

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here Sunday expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the sad demise of PPP leader Fauzia Wahab. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister has expressed sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity. (APP)

President, PM grieve Fauzia Wahab's death

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in their separate messages of condolence on Sunday expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow over the demise of Fauzia Wahab, MNA of Pakistan Peoples Party. The President paid great tributes to her services for the party saying that she was a steadfast loyalist of the party who braved difficult situations. Her services to the party would be long remembered. "She died while fighting to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions," the President said. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani prayed Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude. He lauded the services of Fauzia Wahab for the country and party. (APP)

Speaker, Dy Speaker NA condole Fauzia Wahab's death

ISLAMABAD: Dr Fehmida Mirza, Speaker and Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan have condoled the sad demise of Fauzia Wahab, Senior Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party. In their separate condolence messages to the members of bereaved family, Speaker and Deputy Speaker expressed their heartfelt grief and sorrow over the sad demise. They paid rich tribute for her services for promotion and restoration of democracy in the country. They said that Fauzia Wahab was a seasoned politician and legislator of high repute. She rendered valuable contributions during her tenure as member of National Assembly they added. They said that the vacuum created by her death is difficult to fill, her services for legislation and promotion of democracy in the country will be remembered for a long time to come. They prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.

PPP's Fauzia Wahab passes away

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party's senior leader Fauzia Wahab passed away after remaining under treatment at a local hospital for three weeks on Sunday night. Fauzia Wahab, 56, had undergone a gallbladder surgery at a local hospital but suffered serious post-operative complications, which proved fatal for the veteran politician. She is survived by two sons and a daughter. Her funeral prayer will be offered at Sultan Masjid in Defence Phase-4, Karachi after Zohar prayers on Monday the day after Shab-e-Miraj. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in their separate messages of condolence expressed heartfelt grief and

TTP accepts Kohat blast responsibility

KOHAT: Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accepted the responsibility of Kohat bomb blast that had killed seven including four policemen and wounded eight. Kohat DPO, Mubarak Zeb said that the militants had planted the bomb in a pushcart near ‘Nahar Lari Adday’, which was exploded by a remote control no sooner a police mobile passed by that killed four policemen aboard mobile and three passers-by on the spot. Earlier, 27 persons had died and over 50 injured in another blast at Landi Kotal Bazar in Khyaber Agency. At least 12 shops and 10 vehicles were also destroyed in the explosion. Khasadar Force said that a vehicle laden with