Governor-rule imposed in Punjab for two months

LAHORE: The federal government has imposed the Governor-rule in Punjab for a period of two months, the Presidential spokesman said on Wednesday.

According to spokesman, the Governor-rule has been imposed on the directives of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani under article 234 of the constitution.

Earlier, Punjab Assembly members had submitted a requisition to convene provincial assembly session.

People not accepted February 25 verdict: Deposed CJ

DG KHAN: Deposed chief justice, Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry has said people of Pakistan have not accepted the verdict of February 25.

Addressing the lawyers convention here on Wednesday night he said; “All decisions must have popular support and the people have not accepted the decision of February 25.” Unpopular decisions could lead to risk, he said.

The deposed CJ said there was no Constitutional crisis in the country on November 3, 2008 which called for imposition of emergency.

“The steps taken on November 3, 2008 were completely in violation of the Constitution. There was no Constitutional crisis in the country at that time which called for imposition of emergency,” Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said.

All the institutions and governments were functioning when the extreme step of declaring emergency in the country was taken and serving judges were sent home.

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the present government has reappointed the deposed judges and not reinstated them.

He said the government is earning Rs12 billion per moth from petrol but no court is taking notice of this. The Finance Advisor has admitted this on record, he added.

Earlier, President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ali Ahmed Kurd and former SCBA president Aitzaz Ahsan also addressed the lawyers.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan condemned the declaration of Governor rule in the province of Punjab. He said such steps will prove detrimental for Pakistan People’s Party.

“If we want to change our fate, then there is no other option than to have independent judiciary,” Aitzaz Ahsan asserted adding “now there is no time to sit at home.”

Ali Ahmed Kurd on the occasion said if Mian Sahab (Mian Nawaz Sharif) is with us then we are with him too.

“We do not recognise the existing Supreme Court,” he said adding “people’s support is with us.”

Qureshi meets with Clinton

WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with his American counterpart Hillary Clinton here on Tuesday.

Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Shuja Pasha and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqqani were also present in the meeting.

According to sources, two sides exchanged views on Pak-Afghan policy review, Swat truce deal and economic aid to Pakistan.

It may be mentioned here that earlier, U.S. Senator John Kerry called for urgent aid of 4-5 billion dollars for Pakistan.

Speaking to newsmen following the meeting, Clinton said that she was "very grateful for the minister's advice and counsel" and would consult closely with Pakistan as part of the strategic review.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Qureshi told reporters: "Pakistan is willing to work with the American administration to fight extremism and terrorism."

"We are determined to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," he said.

Report released over Shershah bridge collapse

KARACHI: On the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari, an inquiry report into Shershah bridge collapse has been released here on Tuesday.

According to the report, design consultant firm is mainly responsible for the bridge collapse.

Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) Chaudhry Altaf, former chairman Major General Farrukh Javed, members Nosherwan and Barkbari also displayed negligence, the repot said.

The ministry of communication will frame the cases in this regard.

Besides, it has also been recommended to blacklist the consultant firm for its faulty design which led to the bridge collapse.

Pakistan urgently needs 4-5 billion dollars: Kerry

WASHINGTON: The United States and Europe must give Pakistan 4-5 billion dollars in urgent aid or risk seeing the nuclear-armed country slip into chaos, two leading US foreign policy voices warned Tuesday.

Democratic Senator John Kerry and Republican former senator Chuck Hagel, now chair of the Atlantic Council think tank, were to release a formal report on Wednesday appealing for international help to stabilize Pakistan.

"If we fail, we face a truly frightening prospect: Terrorist sanctuary, economic meltdown, and spiraling radicalism, all in a nation with 170 million inhabitants and a full arsenal of nuclear weapons," Kerry said in a statement released by the council.

Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he and Republican Senator Richard Lugar would soon introduce legisation aiming to provide Pakistan with 7.5 billion dollars in non-military aid over five years.

The legislation, known as the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, would advocate the same amount which would be triple current US levels of non-military aid -- over the next five years, aides said.

The bill would make the aid available on the condition that the US secretary of state certifies that Pakistan's security forces are making concerted efforts to prevent Al-Qaeda, associated terrorist groups, and the Taliban, from operating from Pakistani territory.

The report entitled Needed: A Comprehensive US Policy Towards Pakistan, "calls for an additional 4-5 billion dollars of immediate financial aid for Pakistan to avert an economic meltdown," according to a statement from the council.

Bull-run continues as KSE gains 25 points

KARACHI: Investors buying in energy sector here on Tuesday kept the bullish trend prevailed in the Karachi Stock Exchange for the second day of the week that pushed the market upward.

The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 25 points to close at 5,875 points. Volume remained at 130.7 million shares. According to records, this volume level is below the average 250 million shares traded on a daily basis last year.

A senior trader at a brokerage was of the view that the market sentiments were bullish since the start of trading on buying and despite profit taking. Though the market sank several times to negative zone but it immediately recovered and index ultimately closed in the positive zone. Rally in the banking and oil and gas sectors derived the bourse upward, he added.

Earlier, the market opened with positive note but immediately after sank to the upper level of negative zone for a short while and then recovered on the purchase phenomenon. Afterwards, this trend of gaining remained intact throughout the both sessions of the day and bourse ultimately ended with moderate gain.

Younis makes history hitting triple ton against SL

KARACHI: Skipper Younis Khan created history by scoring a triple hundred, only the third by a Pakistani in Test cricket – here at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

His extra-ordinary innings not only helped his team to make a huge total of 574 runs for the loss of five wickets in reply to Sri Lanka’s 644-7 declared in the first innings by the end of the fourth day’s play in the first Test.

Younis Khan is still at the crease batting for almost 12 hours and he is looking towards the Test record for the highest individual innings, set by Brain Lara of the West Indies who made 400 not out in 2004. He has an ample time for creating this record as the match is heading towards a draw.

The new Pakistan captain was well supported by former captain Shoaib Malik (56), Misbah-ul-Haq (42) and Faisal Iqbal (57) and was involved in three consecutive century wicket partnerships – 149 for the third, 130 for the fourth and 174 for the fifth wicket, respectively. The fifth wicket stand is a new record against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan bowlers toiled hard throughout the day but could not affect the concentration and determination of the King Khan who has so far hammered 27 fours and four sixes in his unbeaten innings. He overpowered all the opponent bowlers including magician spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and uprising spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Younis took 681 minutes and faced 510 balls becoming the third Pakistani and the 20th batsman in Test cricket to reach 300 runs in an innings. The two earlier Pakistanis were Hanif Mohammad (337) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (329).

Besides, Younis is the first batsman to hit a Test triple hundred against Sri Lanka as the highest individual score against them was 299 by Martin Crowe of New Zealand.

Qureshi meets Holbrooke in Washington

Qureshi meets Holbrooke in Washington WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke met here on Tuesday.

According to Geo News correspondent, Pak-Afghan situation, war on terror, Swat truce deal and several other key issues came under discussion in the meeting lasted for about 30 minutes.

Holbrooke expressed profound grief and shock over slaying of Geo News correspondent Musa Khankhel in Swat valley.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to the people of Pakistan in this hour of sorrow," he said.

It may be mentioned here that army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and US Ambassador to Islamabad Anne W. Patterson are also present in United States.

Following the meeting, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqqani hosted a reception in honour of army chief, foreign minister and Richard Holbrooke.

Taliban declare unilateral ceasefire in Bajaur

Taliban declare unilateral ceasefire in Bajaur PESHAWAR: After months of fierce fighting between militants and security forces, the Taliban militants on Monday announced a unilateral ceasefire and secretly signed a peace accord with the government, pledging to remain peaceful.

Following the signing of the accord, in which the government reportedly announced amnesty for the Taliban, Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, Taliban commander in Bajaur and deputy leader of the Baitullah Mahsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), announced unilateral ceasefire through his widely listened FM radio on Monday evening.

He directed his fighters to stop fighting security forces and help restore peace to the militancy-torn tribal region as an understanding had been reached with the government. Military spokesman and Director-General ISPR Maj Gen Athar Abbas, when reached on telephone, said they had heard about militants’ announcement of ceasefire but the government had not yet reciprocated.

He said the chief of the Frontier Corps (FC), after discussion with the civilian administration, would decide about government’s stance today (Tuesday) in response to militants’ ceasefire. Official and tribal sources told The News that besides pro-government militant commanders, prominent tribal elders, including Malik Abdul Aziz, Malik Ayaz and Malik Manjapar, helped in peace talks between the government and the Faqir Mohammad-led Taliban in Bajaur.

However, the sources said Political Agent Shafeerullah Khan, two transporters Haji Sarzamin Khan, Haji Muhammad and tribal elder Saz Muhammad played a key role in bridging the gulf between the government and the Taliban.

The sources said after a few rounds of talks between the government and the Taliban through the tribal Jirga, the two warring sides agreed to resolve their major differences through talks instead of fighting.

The sources said senior militant commanders, including Faqir Mohammad and TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar, signed the peace agreement on behalf of the Taliban while Political Agent of Bajaur Agency Shafeerullah Khan, Commissioner of Malakand Syed Muhammad Javed and a few other senior government and military officials inked the truce from the governmentís side.

According to the sources, the government promised to compensate the militants and the tribesmen for their human and material losses they had suffered during the military operation. Faqir Mohammad said 24 of his fighters had been killed in the military operation. He, however, said he had no information about the losses suffered by security forces.

It is interesting to recall here that the government had earlier claimed that more than 1,500 militants had been killed in the military operation launched on August 6, 2008 in Bajaur. Similarly, the two sides promised in the accord to swap prisoners while the government would provide assistance to the displaced tribesmen to return to their homes from various refugee camps in Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan and Dir districts.

Also, the government would reinstate all government employees sacked during the operation on charges of having links with the Taliban. The Taliban also agreed to quit their earlier rigid stance of demanding pullout of the Army from Bajaur.

In the peace accord, they agreed not to create any hindrance in the movement and deployment of the Army troops anywhere in Bajaur. In his 40-miniute speech, Maulvi Faqir said: “We and the Army are the same but some selfish people created differences between us. We did whatever we felt was better in our national interests.”

He said they announced ceasefire in the interest of the country and the nation as war was no solution to the conflict. Maulvi Faqir said his men would no more attack the security forces and government installations, particularly schools in Bajaur.

Faqir said they had full trust in the Pakistan Army but said that the rulers should avoid becoming US puppets. He said they would foil all nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan and render every sacrifice for protection of the country.

Tribal sources informed The News from Bajaur’s various towns that the news of peace accord between the government and the Taliban generated hopes among the people.

Some of them were seen resorting to festive firing out of excitement over the truce which they hoped would restore peace and normalcy to their war-torn region. The tribal sources said that the longest-ever military operation had weakened militants in Bajaur and they were no more in a position to fight the troops.

US senators urge rethink on Pakistan aid

WASHINGTON: US senators on Monday urged a rethink on aid to Pakistan after a watchdog said more than 12 billion dollars in US spending had failed to eliminate the country's militant haven.

The call came as the foreign ministers of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan start a week of talks in Washington with President Barack Obama's administration on how to combat extremism.

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found the United States has spent 12.3 billion dollars since 2002 aiming to end the "terrorist threat" on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

"Despite six years of US and Pakistani government efforts, Al-Qaeda has regenerated its ability to attack the United States and continues to maintain a safe haven in Pakistan's FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas)," it said.

The tribal areas, which border Afghanistan, have never been fully under Pakistani control and are believed to be the hideout for Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants forced out of Afghanistan following the 2001 US military offensive.

Senator Robert Menendez, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on international assistance, said the report showed US aid to Pakistan was not working.

"It's clear that the strategy in place over the past seven years must be rethought if we are to improve our security," said Menendez, a member of Obama's Democratic Party.

"I look forward to working on a policy that focuses assistance on institutions that help ensure long-term stability and minimize the threat in Pakistan," he said in a statement.

Senator Tom Harkin said the previous administration of George W. Bush had "thrown billions of taxpayer dollars down a rabbit hole.

"This colossal foreign policy and national security failure is yet another legacy item of the Bush administration, one that we will work to turn around with President Obama and the new Congress," he said.

Imam Hussain’s Chehlum observed around country

Imam Hussain’s Chehlum observed around country LAHORE: Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and other martyrs of Karbala was observed across the country on Monday with traditional religious spirit amidst strict security.

Majalis were held in imambargahs to commemorate the Karbala incident and highlight the message of the martyrdom. Alam and tazia processions were taken out from different imambargahs to march on their respective routes.

In Karachi, the main congregation started from Nishtar Park at 11am where Maulana Taqi Naqvi addressed the mourners and recalled the speech of Hazrat Imam Hussain when he left for Karbala.

Men, women, children and the elderly wearing black clothes marched and chanted slogans, and paid homage to Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Hussain (AS), who was martyred along with his family and companions in the land of Karbala some 1,400 years ago.

The procession left Nishtar Park at about 1 pm and passed through its traditional route of M.A Jinnah Road. From there it proceeded to Saddar, old city areas and terminated at Imambargah Hussainiyah Iranian Kharadar after Isha prayers.

In Lahore, the central Zuljanah procession was taken out from Mubarak Haveli inside Mochi Gate in the morning and it passed through its traditional route before concluding at Karbala Gamay Shah at night.

Special measures were taken to ensure the security and facilitate thousands of chest beating and noha reciting mourners.

In order to avoid the possible conversion of participants of the procession and thousands of devotees, gathered at the concluding ceremonies of the three-day Urs at Data Darbar, the procession was scheduled to reach its conclusion at the nearby Karbala Gamay Shah late at night.

A majlis was held at Karbala Gamay Shah after the culmination of the procession where different zakerin highlighted the significance of the Karbala incident and the philosophy of martyrdom. The city district administration had tightened the security to maintain peace and avert any untoward incident and lawlessness on the occasion.

Thousands of regular and reserve policemen were deployed at sensitive areas and different imambargahs, especially along the route of the central Zuljanah procession to avert any eventuality.

Pakistan army vows to hold fire in Swat

Updated at: 1109 PST, Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's military on Tuesday vowed to hold fire and respect a controversial agreement signed between the government and militants to enforce Islamic law in the violence-torn Swat valley.

"The army works on the government's orders. The government has given it orders to hold fire. The army will not take any offensive action," chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told. The army will "certainly" respect the agreement, he said. "The army went there (Swat) at the request of the government. Whenever the government feels normalcy has been restored and the writ of government has been re-established, it will leave," added Abbas.

Monday's deal, widely seen as a government concession but billed by the authorities as a chance to restore peace to Swat, was signed between provincial ministers and a pro-Taliban but relatively moderate cleric, Soofi Mohammad.

JuD chief Nazir Ahmed arrested in Rawalpindi

JuD chief Nazir Ahmed arrested in Rawalpindi RAWALPINDI: Jamaat-ud-Dawah Rawalpindi chief Nazir Ahmed was arrested in connection with the November 26 Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan authorities have said that this is seventh arrest in the 26/11 attack probe.

Nazir along with other seven Jamaat leaders were put under house arrest in December last year by the Pakistan authorities. Later, their detention was extended by 60 days.

TNSM delegation reaches Swat

TNSM delegation reaches Swat TIMERGARA: The delegation of Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) led by its Chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad has reached the troubled Swat valley to fulfill its promise of restoring peace.

According to sources, the spokesman for the TNSM said that Maulana Sufi Muhammad would remain in Swat till restoration of calm. During his stay in Swat, he will convince Maulana Fazlullah of renouncing militancy after the enforcement of a Nizam-e-Adl Regulation.

The spokesman of TNSM Ameer Izzat Khan said that Sufi would hold public gatherings in the valley to persuade the people, particularly those who had picked up arms, stop fighting after the government Nizam-e-Adl Regulation had been promulgated.