Government should have registered a case on Bugti's murder: Nawaz

QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the people of Balochistan were not satisfied with government’s Balochistan package and stressed adequate steps should be to solve the problems of the Baloch people.

Sharif was talking to newsmen after meeting Talal Bugti, the son of former Jamhoori Watan party chief late Nawab Akbar Bugti. He also asked why had the government failed to prosecute the murderers of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Reacting to news that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party was more concerned about pushing for early elections than Balochistan. Sharif added that early elections was “a demand of every Pakistani.”

Nawaz Sharif said Balochistan package was “ineffective for the healing of their wounds. National conference should be held soon to find a way to solve Balochistan issue.”

'There is no war,' Zardari allays concerns of clash of institutions

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari sought on Friday to allay concerns that tensions between his government and the powerful military could deepen, and a clash between the executive and the judiciary.  

The biggest pressure is from the memogate scandal over an unsigned memo that accused the military of plotting a coup after it was humiliated by the unilateral US special forces raid that killed Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil in May last year.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court is investigating who could have been behind the memo which the media and Zardari’s opponents have suggested was an act of treason.

SC declares petitions on memogate hearable

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared petitions on memogate hearable and ruled that a four-member commission would decide the issue within four weeks. The nine-member bench of the apex court gave ruling on the initial hearing of the memogate, an issue that has been roiling the country and plunged the relations between civilian and military leadership to new low. Moreover, the apex court ordered a three-member judicial commission, based  three high court judges, to be formed to further investigate the issue. The commission will be headed by the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court.

PAKISTAN, DEATH TOLL FROM CAR BOMB IN QUETTA RISES TO 15

(AGI) Quetta - The death toll from yesterday's attack in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province in Pakistan, has risen to 15. Police spokesman, Nazir Ahmad Kurd, reported the discovery of seven more bodies among the rubble left by the explosion of a car bomb. About fifty people were hurt, only ten of whom have as yet been discharged from hospitals. The car packed with explosives, went up in front of the house of the son of Naseer Mengal, former head of the provincial government and ex Federal Minister of Labour. The bombing could have been even worse, as bomb defusal experts had previously managed to defuse a rudimentary 8-kilo bomb planted alongside seven hand grenades.

No chance of early elections in Pakistan: Gilani

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has dismissed any chance of early polls and said the general elections would be held after the country’s parliament completes its tenure.

Gilani said Friday that the demand for early elections was the “old technique of the have-nots to become haves”, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

“However, we will act according to the constitution,” the prime minister said.

On cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party that was drawing huge crowds at political rallies, Gilani said: “Such parties are made overnight and come to their end overnight.”

He said the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was an “ideological” party and would not be affected by parties such as the PTI.

The prime ministers said the hue and cry for early polls was aimed at sabotaging the upcoming elections to the senate—the upper house of parliament—in March.

Karachi: Thousands converge for Imran Khan's rally

Karachi: Thousands of people, including women and children, converged in Karachi on Sunday for Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party's massive rally seeking a "change" in the country, with the organisers dubbing it as a "tsunami".

All roads leading to the Quaid-e-Azam Park, the venue of the rally adjacent to the mausoleum of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, were jammed with buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles and pedestrians who were eager to reach the place.

Mindful of the response to Imran's call for Karachiites to attend the rally in large numbers and show their support for a change in the country and against corruption, the organisers had set up giant video screens outside the park for people who could not find a place inside.

A sea of of people, including women, children and even disabled persons, stood shoulder-to-shoulder braving the afternoon heat as they listened to Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders' speeches, but waited for Imran to make his much-awaited appearance.

Imran, who was yet to reach the venue, was the notable absentee at the main centre stage set up for the rally as other leaders of the party started their speeches, with crowds singing and raising slogans like "Imran Khan Zindabad", "Tehreek-e-Insaaf Zindabad" and "Pakistan Zindabad."

The Quaid-e-Azam park was swamped by people carrying the red and green Tehreek-e-Insaf flags and wearing party caps. People had started converging at the venue since morning, hours before the rally was to begin.

"We are here because of Imran Khan. We believe he can make a better Pakistan and bring changes," shouted Maleeha, a hijab-clad woman who had come with her fiance to the rally.

Pakistan army chief denies coup plan

Pakistan’s army chief on Friday said that the military strongly dispelled speculation that it planned a coup, as tensions escalated after the country’s prime minister warned a conspiracy was under way to oust the civilian government.General Ashfaq Kayani, Pakistan’s army chief, was quoted on Friday in a military statement saying the “army has and will continue to support democratic process in the country.”

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Meanwhile, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan’s prime minister, on Thursday evening told youth party members in Islamabad that the nuclear-armed nation risked the return of military rule.

“I want to tell you clearly that conspiracies are under way to remove this elected government,” said Mr Gilani. “Now people have to decide whether you want elected people or dictatorship.”

“There cannot be a state within a state ... every institution of this country, including Ministry of Defence, is under the prime minister of Pakistan,” the premier added.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, Supreme Court Chief, played down the risk of a military coup. “There is no question of a takeover. Gone are the days when people used to get validation for unconstitutional steps from the courts.”

Husain Haqqani submits statement to Abbottabad commission

Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani on Monday submitted his written reply to the Abbottabad commission.

After the statement’s submission, the commission directed Haqqani to appear before it again.

Moreover, a statement from Sheikh Rashid, president of the Awami Muslim League, was also submitted during of the commission.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court was also hearing petitions on the memo affair filed by PML-N president Nawaz Sharif and others.

Earlier, the commission’s head, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, had said that the former ambassador was being summoned because the panellists wanted to find out the details of the visas issued by Pakistan’s embassy in Washington during his service.

Haqqani had resigned from his position of ambassador days after Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz accused him of being behind the memo that said the military was plotting a coup and appealed to the Pentagon to help ward it off. Haqqani has denied any connection with the memo.

Pakistan Mulls Terms Of Future NATO Cooperation

Islamabad is preparing turn a new page in its relationship with NATO, meaning the days of verbal agreements and secret arrangements appear to be over.

Top government officials have been consulting with two parliamentary committees established to help define "rules of engagement" that lawmakers familiar with the discussions have said could include taxes on NATO supply convoys and a strict ban on drone strikes on Pakistani territory. Committee are expected to become official government policy upon parliamentary approval, expected in the coming days.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said after briefing a joint session of the two committees on December 15 that Pakistan's collaboration with NATO in the "political, diplomatic, military and intelligence" spheres will be addressed.

​​"It will be a partnership which will be on a clearly defined mandate," she said. "It will be a partnership -- which has less gray areas -- which has a clear mandate [from] the public and parliament of Pakistan. And therefore, we will be able to pursue this partnership much more vigorously."

Zardari returns to Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari, who was treated for a heart condition in Dubai, returned to Pakistan on Sunday night.

The 56-year-old President returned to the port city on a special flight amidst heavy security, putting an end to rumours about his health and the future of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party government.

His return to the country comes just one day after a significant meeting between Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army chief, Pervez Ashfaq Kiyani.

Mr. Zardari’s abrupt departure for Dubai on December 6 to seek treatment for a heart condition triggered speculation that he might be facing pressure from the powerful military to resign following the emergence of a secret memo sent to the U.S. military.

The memo had sought U.S. help to prevent a coup in Pakistan in the wake of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May.

The government dismissed reports that Mr Zardari had suffered a stroke and that he would step down.

Memo petition filed on demand by taking dictation: Awan

ISLAMABAD: Senator Babar Awan on Monday said that recent petition in Supreme Court on memogate issue was not constitutional but filed on the demand by taking dictations and suggestions.
Speaking to media representatives at the parliament, he said he could even produce evidence that all six petitions were written by a single person.
He said the petition was filed by the political party (PML-N) which did not dare to file petition against the dictator when their own government was toppled in 1999.
Babar Awan said nobody could frighten Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from fighting for democracy, freedom of speech and expression. He urged the media to tell nation the truth on every issue and speak against all as nobody is “sacred cow.”
He said after incorporation of clause 2 in the Article 6 of the constitution, the courts could not indemnify any unconstitutional step, adding now Bangladesh and Burma model would not be implementable and acceptable.

Media boycotts PML-N leader’s coverage in protest

KARACHI: The workers of Pakistan Muslim League-N misbehaved with media persons at Jinnah terminal of Karachi Airport on the arrival of their leader Mian Nawaz Sharif Monday afternoon and broke their cameras.

Due to mismanagement, two news reporters of private TV channels Samaa and Dawn News were also injured. As a result, journalists announced to boycott the coverage of the engagements of PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif who arrived here on a three-day visit to the metropolis.

Sharif left the airport for his destination without talking to the media.

Musharraf announces January 2012 return

LAHORE: All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) President Pervez Musharraf announced on Sunday that he will come back to Pakistan in January 2012.

Addressing a videoconference in Lahore from London, APML President stated that the solution for Pakistan’s prevailing challenges do not lie in undemocratic initiatives and that military intervention into politics would be fatal for Pakistan and its people.

The APML arranged a public gathering at Nasir Bagh Lahore, where party workers from across the country had gathered to listen to Musharraf’s address.

APML President asserted that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Army guarantee Pakistan’s solidarity and sovereignty and added that some elements were conspiring to defame the ISI and Pakistan’s security forces.

Commenting on the performance of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the current government, Musharraf said that both the leading political parties had been in power twice but had delivered nothing to the masses.

Musharraf urged that the people of Pakistan should cast their votes regardless of their caste and creed, linguistic, religious and provincial prejudices.

Endorsing the demand of Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, Musharraf said that politicians should submit details of their assets.

PPP to face all challenges: PM

ISLAMABAD - The PPP meeting convened by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has pledged to face all challenges and not to bow before any adversary.
Reliable sources said that the meeting, in which important issues like prevailing political scenario, Memogate scandal, replies regarding Memo-gate submitted in Supreme Court by government and Army, Senate elections of 2012 and others were deliberated, was also attended by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other senior ministers.
Sources said further that the prime minister would take the political and military leadership into confidence over the issue.
Addressing the meeting, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari termed PPP as a party which excelled in sacrifices.
He also regretted that why other national issues like hanging of Z A Bhutto, Kargil and efforts to destabilise the government were not treated as treason cases, while the Memogate issue was being touted as a treason. He urged all PPP leaders to take masses into confidence over the issu

Imran praises Nawaz for approaching SC over memo issue; Khawaja Hoti joins PTI

ISLAMABAD, MARDA(SANA): Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Imran Khan has hailed PML-N’s decision to approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan against memogate scandal; meanwhile Awami Nation Party MNA Muhammad Khan Hoti joined PTI after resigning from the national assembly membership.

This Imran Khan said while addressing a press conference at party secretariat and later addressing a public gathering at Mardan.

He said that “It was a right decision by Nawaz Sharif to move the court. The Supreme Court should reveal real culprits behind the memogate conspiracy… Pakistan is lucky that judiciary is free here enjoying nation’s confidence”, adding that government is spoiling the democracy in the country by not implementing the SC verdicts, adding that we would not accept any other system except democracy in the country.

He said that it is the biggest failure that the sitting government is that it could not arrest the killers of its party chairperson.

About his Dec 25 mass meeting in Karachi, Khan said “party’s future course of action will be announced in Karachi, and later similar gatherings will be held in Sindh interior and Balochistan.”

He criticized the government as usual. “The government is not abiding by court verdicts. Unemployment, poverty and inflation is a price masses are paying for ruling clique’s corruption.” 

Meanwhile former judge of high court justice (retd) Tariq including the leaders of lawyers from Rawalpindi division, former MPA from Pindhi Ghaib colonel (retd) Malik Muhammad Anwar and Pir Abbas of Makhad Sharif have joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

He that the tsunami of PTI is against the current system and status quo and the people enjoying status quo would see that their enjoyment would be ended.

He said that public is paying for corruption through inflation, adding that every body has joined PTI without any condition, decision of issuing tickets would be made the parliamentary party, and the tickets would be awarded on merit by keeping in mind track record and popularity in the constituency.

He said that I never took double position regarding the war against terrorism and relations with the US.

Secret memo exists, says General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani

ISLAMABAD: A secret memo to Washington that said President Asif Ali Zardari feared a military coup, in fact, existed and was an attempt to lower the morale of the army, Pakistan's powerful army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said in a submission to the Supreme Court.

Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz had revealed that the secret memo, leading to the resignation of Pakistan's envoy to the US Hussain Haqqani. Coup rumours resurfaced strongly following the abrupt departure of Zardari to Dubai over a heart ailment Dec 6.

Kayani in his submission to the Supreme Court said he was informed about ISI chief General Shuja Pasha's meeting with Mansoor Ijaz Oct 24 and Pasha was of the opinion that there was enough evidence to validate the authenticity of the memo, reported Geo News.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief said there was evidence to show Ijaz was in touch with Haqqani between May 9-11.

President Zardari warns of ‘consequences’ if Article 47 imposed

President Asif Ali Zardari who is in Dubai for health reasons has said that he was absolutely fine but doctors are not allowing him for travelling. Talking to a senior Pakistani journalist on Friday, the president said that how could Article 47 of the Constitution be imposed on him as he was absolutely fine. “If it is done, then my manifesto will be “Aisay Dastoor ko Main Nahi Manta” (I deny such institution)”, the president was quoted by the journalist as saying.

Imran Khan says media being used against PTI

Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Friday, alleged that the media was being used against his party.

Khan, while speaking at the residence of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan-who had recently joined the PTI in Mardan, said that the media was being bribed to further propaganda against the PTI.

Replying to a question by The Express Tribune, Khan said that he can name a number of people who were continuously launching negative propaganda against the PTI.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi further explained what Khan meant, adding that the “state-run television and radio along with the government machinery was being used against the PTI.”

Newcomers to PTI 

Recently former Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) leader, Shabbir Jokhio, along with supporters from Memon Goth in Gadap Town, has crossed over to the PTI. The move came after several meetings with the PTI’s leadership in Sindh.

Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan, who was heading the little-known Pakistan Tehrik-e-Istaqlal, also joined the PTI at a joint news conference with the PTI Chairman.

Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari went to Dubai 'because of threats to his life'

Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan's president, went to Dubai for hospital treatment because of threats to his life, according to Yousuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister

Speaking in the Senate, the Prime Minister said that the government and the president's family convinced Mr Zardari to go to Dubai for the treatment because there was a risk he would be attacked if he had treatment in a Pakistani hospital.

"He (President Zardari) was ill, he feared life threats in Pakistan hospitals, that was the reason he did not want to go to any hospital of Pakistan," the prime minister said in his address in the Senate.

Mr Zardari's spokesman earlier said that the president will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday after spending more than a week there but will remain in the Gulf emirate to rest.

The 56-year-old Mr Zardari flew to the United Arab Emirates last Tuesday after falling ill in the midst of a major scandal over alleged attempts by a close aide to seek US help to limit the power of Pakistan's military.

Mr Zardari, who has a long-standing heart condition, was being treated at the American Hospital in Dubai.

Pakistan truckers back NATO supply route blockade

Sleeping in a freezing cab, running out of money and worried about militant attacks, Ghulab is one of thousands of truck drivers stranded as a result of Pakistan's blockade of the Afghan border to NATO and U.S. war supplies.

But they and the businessmen who run what has been a lucrative trade for most of the last decade say they support the decision to shut the frontier in retaliation for coalition airstrikes almost two weeks ago that killed 24 Pakistani troops in two remote border outposts.

"We risk our lives and take these supplies to Afghanistan for NATO, and in return they are killing our soldiers," said Jan, whose fuel truck is parked in a terminal in the dusty, dangerous border town of Chaman in southwestern Baluchistan.

"This is unacceptable, and we unanimously support the government over closing the border."

Given the current anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan, drivers might not want to call publicly for the border to reopen. Even so, their stance illustrates the depth of anger in this country over the attack and the challenge the U.S. faces in repairing a relationship that is critical to its hopes of ending the Afghan war.

"I hope Allah grants my prayer that this NATO supply ends permanently," said Ghaza Gul, a 45-year-old driver who has been in the trucking profession since was he was 10 years old, when he washed the vehicles and made tea. "I would rather die of hunger than carry these shipments," he said, sitting on a dirty mat with other drivers at a terminal in Karachi, the port city where the supplies are unloaded.