LAHORE, Aug 11 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Monday termed passing of resolution against Pervez Musharraf from Punjab Assembly a victory of democratic forces. Talking to newsmen after passing the resolution at the assembly building here, he congratulated the members of PA for favouring the resolution and said it has been approved that masses are against the policies of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said that after the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf the coalition government would restore the judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary.
He said that the recent crises in the country like price hike, power and atta shortage, inflation and law and order was due to wrong policies of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said that Pervez Musharraf had violated the constitution for his election and conducted an illegal operation against the innocent students of Jamia Hafsa.
He lauded the decision of PML-N Chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for impeaching Prevez Musharraf.
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Flood-affected Peshawar area receiving UN food aid
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 12 (APP): The World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food aid to villagers around Peshawar who are coping with the impact of last week’s deadly floods, The U.N. agency announced Monday. A UN assessment has found that nearly 100 villages, with about 500,000 people, were affected after torrential rains flooded the local Thara Khur stream which flows from Landi Kotal to Charsada in Peshawar district.
The floods completely destroyed the maize crop, washed away most of the mud houses and roads in the affected villages and led to the loss of some 15,000 livestock, the agency said. Drinking water resources have also been destroyed and health problems are on the rise.
“WFP will provide 741 tons of wheat flour, 55 tons of cooking oil and 22 tons of biscuits to support nearly 89,000 people in Peshawar district, where food assistance is badly needed,” the head of WFP’s provincial office in Peshawar said.
WFP has already distributed food to 1,200 beneficiaries in the areas of Kankola and Larama, and further distributions are planned for more than 3,500 people in Matra, in close coordination with local authorities.
The agency has also started an immediate response emergency operation to provide food rations for one month through a one-time distribution. It stresses that additional aid, including food, is needed to meet the minimum food consumption requirements of all the worst-affected people.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have provided medicines, while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has contributed tents.
The floods completely destroyed the maize crop, washed away most of the mud houses and roads in the affected villages and led to the loss of some 15,000 livestock, the agency said. Drinking water resources have also been destroyed and health problems are on the rise.
“WFP will provide 741 tons of wheat flour, 55 tons of cooking oil and 22 tons of biscuits to support nearly 89,000 people in Peshawar district, where food assistance is badly needed,” the head of WFP’s provincial office in Peshawar said.
WFP has already distributed food to 1,200 beneficiaries in the areas of Kankola and Larama, and further distributions are planned for more than 3,500 people in Matra, in close coordination with local authorities.
The agency has also started an immediate response emergency operation to provide food rations for one month through a one-time distribution. It stresses that additional aid, including food, is needed to meet the minimum food consumption requirements of all the worst-affected people.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have provided medicines, while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has contributed tents.
Pakistan embassy asks US to ensure Aafia gets treatment, no humiliation
WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (APP): The Pakistani embassy in Washington has asked the United States to provide immediate medical treatment to Dr Aafia Siddiqui and ensure that she is not subjected to any humiliation on the pretext of body searches before and after visits by her lawyers.
On the instructions of Ambassador Husain Haqqani, the embassy asked the State Department that Ms Siddiqui, who is suffering from bullet wounds, be provided proper medical treatment.
The embassy sought the State Department’s intervention in ensuring that Ms Siddiqui is not subjected to any humiliation or degradation on the pretext of body searches before and after visits by her attorneys, as such a practice is unacceptable in Islamic culture.
Ms Aafia Siddiqui, a 36-year old neuroscientist who studied at a U.S. university before her return to Pakistan in 2003, is under detention in New York on charges of attempted attack on U.S. officials. Her lawyers have rejected the charge as ‘absurd’ and Monday complained that she had not received medical treatment since her arrival last week following which the judge ordered immediate medical attention for her.
Meanwhile, the embassy has detailed a diplomat at the Pakistani consulate in New York, Saqib Rauf, to stay in contact over the issue.
On Monday, a frail looking Ms Siddiqui appeared before a district court judge in New York City in a wheelchair for a bail hearing, which has been postponed to September 3.
Two Pakistani diplomats met with Ms Siddiqui Sunday in the Brooklyn detention centre after Washington acceded to a request for consular access made by the Pakistani embassy. A mother of three children, Ms Siddiqui requested a fair trial, respect for her rights as a prisoner, medical treatment, a copy of the holy Quran and halal food. The diplomats asked the U.S. authorities to extend all possible assistance in response to her demands.
On the instructions of Ambassador Husain Haqqani, the embassy asked the State Department that Ms Siddiqui, who is suffering from bullet wounds, be provided proper medical treatment.
The embassy sought the State Department’s intervention in ensuring that Ms Siddiqui is not subjected to any humiliation or degradation on the pretext of body searches before and after visits by her attorneys, as such a practice is unacceptable in Islamic culture.
Ms Aafia Siddiqui, a 36-year old neuroscientist who studied at a U.S. university before her return to Pakistan in 2003, is under detention in New York on charges of attempted attack on U.S. officials. Her lawyers have rejected the charge as ‘absurd’ and Monday complained that she had not received medical treatment since her arrival last week following which the judge ordered immediate medical attention for her.
Meanwhile, the embassy has detailed a diplomat at the Pakistani consulate in New York, Saqib Rauf, to stay in contact over the issue.
On Monday, a frail looking Ms Siddiqui appeared before a district court judge in New York City in a wheelchair for a bail hearing, which has been postponed to September 3.
Two Pakistani diplomats met with Ms Siddiqui Sunday in the Brooklyn detention centre after Washington acceded to a request for consular access made by the Pakistani embassy. A mother of three children, Ms Siddiqui requested a fair trial, respect for her rights as a prisoner, medical treatment, a copy of the holy Quran and halal food. The diplomats asked the U.S. authorities to extend all possible assistance in response to her demands.
Foreign Minister urges balanced approach towards nuclear non-proliferation
ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday stressed the need for a balanced approach towards incorporating disarmament, non-proliferation and access to peaceful use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. In a meeting with Gareth Evans, Co-chairperson of International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, the Foreign Minister exchanged views on international disarmament and non-proliferation issues.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on nuclear non-proliferation and said it can only be strengthened by the application of norms in a non-discriminatory and equitable manner.
Evans, who is also the former minister of Australia and the President of International Crisis Group discussed with Foreign Minister the issues related to nuclear energy.
The International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament is a joint initiative of the governments of Australia and Japan.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on nuclear non-proliferation and said it can only be strengthened by the application of norms in a non-discriminatory and equitable manner.
Evans, who is also the former minister of Australia and the President of International Crisis Group discussed with Foreign Minister the issues related to nuclear energy.
The International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament is a joint initiative of the governments of Australia and Japan.
Fighting terrorism is top priority: PM Gilani
BEIJING, Aug 12 (APP) - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said fighting terrorism is the top priority of his government for the economic and social uplift of the people of Pakistan. In an interview to mass circulation English language China daily during his recent visit here to attend the Beijing Olympics opening the prime minister said terrorism caused flight of capital.
“If there is one bomb blast, people will take money out of Pakistan. Investors are scared,” he said, adding that the terrorist threat had destabilizing impact on the economy.
The country has had to face violence related to terrorism and the direct threat of Al-Qaida and the Taliban, he said.
“The priority of my government is to stop terrorism and extremism so that our
friends from all over the world who are investing in Pakistan can feel confident.”
Gilani said that a major source of instability was the large number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“Because of their presence in Pakistan, there are a lot of complaints about cross-border activities,” he said, expressing the hope that the refugees would return home.
“When there is stability, prosperity and development in Afghanistan, then the refugees will certainly return to their own country,” Gilani said.
More than three million refugees still living in Pakistan have not returned due to chaos in their homeland.
Prime Minister Gilani said that a stable Afghanistan is in the interests of Islamabad.
To help check illegal cross-border movement, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed in June to introduce a biometric control system, which requires the fingerprints of people wanting to cross the frontier.
Gilani said that this measure will help to identify any militant crossing the
border.
However, he said that fully securing the 2,430-km frontier would be an almost impossible task. “We have established 1,000 checkpoints, but there are only 100 on the other side,” he added.
Regarding the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics he said, “it was fabulous and we really enjoyed it.”
When asked to predict the performance of Pakistani athletes, Gilani said he thought the country would hopefully win medals. “But our main purpose is not to win, but to take part,” he said.
During his stay here Prime Minister Gilani also met with Chinese leadership including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao and exchanged views with them on matters of common interest.
“If there is one bomb blast, people will take money out of Pakistan. Investors are scared,” he said, adding that the terrorist threat had destabilizing impact on the economy.
The country has had to face violence related to terrorism and the direct threat of Al-Qaida and the Taliban, he said.
“The priority of my government is to stop terrorism and extremism so that our
friends from all over the world who are investing in Pakistan can feel confident.”
Gilani said that a major source of instability was the large number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“Because of their presence in Pakistan, there are a lot of complaints about cross-border activities,” he said, expressing the hope that the refugees would return home.
“When there is stability, prosperity and development in Afghanistan, then the refugees will certainly return to their own country,” Gilani said.
More than three million refugees still living in Pakistan have not returned due to chaos in their homeland.
Prime Minister Gilani said that a stable Afghanistan is in the interests of Islamabad.
To help check illegal cross-border movement, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed in June to introduce a biometric control system, which requires the fingerprints of people wanting to cross the frontier.
Gilani said that this measure will help to identify any militant crossing the
border.
However, he said that fully securing the 2,430-km frontier would be an almost impossible task. “We have established 1,000 checkpoints, but there are only 100 on the other side,” he added.
Regarding the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics he said, “it was fabulous and we really enjoyed it.”
When asked to predict the performance of Pakistani athletes, Gilani said he thought the country would hopefully win medals. “But our main purpose is not to win, but to take part,” he said.
During his stay here Prime Minister Gilani also met with Chinese leadership including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao and exchanged views with them on matters of common interest.
PM cancels Independence day reception
ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): The Prime Minister on Tuesday cancelled the Independence Day reception, as part of government’s “austerity drive”. A statement released from the PM House said “Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has cancelled the 14th August reception in the wake of his drive to cut off expenses on various non-developmental activities.”
The reception was scheduled to be held at the Serena hotel on August 14.
On the special instructions of the Prime Minister “the budget of the PM House has already been drastically cut by 40 percent”, the statement said.
The reception was scheduled to be held at the Serena hotel on August 14.
On the special instructions of the Prime Minister “the budget of the PM House has already been drastically cut by 40 percent”, the statement said.
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