President's message on the occasion of 05th July‏

Islamabad, 04 July 2012: Co-Chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari has said that July 5th would be remembered in the annals of our history as the darkest day as on this day a dictator driven by his self-serving and delusory motives attempted to seal the fate of a progressive and a moderate society by deposing a constitutionally and directly elected prime minister of the country and systematically dismantling legal and constitutional edifice of the country. It was on this day when a bigoted vision tried redefining the future course of the country by shaking the foundations of democracy and interrupting the political process, he said in his message on the occasion.    



“Today there is some consolation in the thought that the Constitution has been restored to its original form by the elected representatives of the people.”



Co-Chairman PPP said that the Constitution that was once disfigured by the dictator was restored by the government of the same Party whose founder was executed through a judicial murder. The struggle of the Party and the people of the country to reach at this point was no doubt a long one and many had to shed their blood for democracy, he said.



However, the dream of a genuine democratic order in which the principle of trichotomy of powers is respected and in which no institution of the state trespasses in the domain of other institutions is yet to be fully realized. The democratic forces must pledge today to resist the new forms of dictatorships that appear to be raising their ugly heads in different forms and manifestations, he said.



President Zardari said that the era of packing the Parliament by the dictators is over for all times and no back doors and side doors will be allowed to be reopened for sending the real representatives home.



Let us on this day also reiterate our commitment to the values of supremacy of the Parliament and the Constitution and the building of a modern, egalitarian and pluralistic society in which everyone is allowed opportunity to help shape his or her own destiny--values for which Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto stood and fought for and when the time came even laid down his life for it instead of bowing his head before a usurper, he said in his message.



Co-Chairman said that the Party, the people and the democracy survived the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the abuse of judicial processes to chase and hound daughter of the visionary leader and the accusations and witch hunting of its leaders and workers and it will continue to defy all odds.



The PPP Co chairman also paid homage to the martyrs of democracy saying that “on this day, let us also remember all our martyrs who offered their blood to restore democracy in the country and to secure peace, honor and freedom for the future generation.” Let us also remember those brave sons of the soil representing all segments of society who endured torture of the worst degree but continued struggling for the sake of democracy and ridding our society from the menaces of bigotry, repression, sectarianism and militancy. We salute their courage and their services to democracy, he said.

NA SESSION SUMMONED ON 6TH JULY, 2012 AT 11AM

NA SESSION SUMMONED ON 6th JULY, 2012 at 11.AM.

Islamabad July 4, 2012: In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President has been pleased to summon the National Assembly to meet in the Parliament House, Islamabad on Friday, the 6th July, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

Senior Vice President China Three Gorges Corporation Mr. Wang Shaofeng calls on the President‏

Islamabad, 04 July 2012;

President Asif Ali Zardari today called for expediting, on fast track, the projects of electricity generation which were being undertaken in cooperation with Three Gorges Corporation of China.

This he said during his meeting with a Chinese delegation headed by Senior Vice President China Three Gorges Corporation Mr. Wang Shaofeng, here at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.

Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the projects being undertaken with the assistance of Three Gorges Corporation of China would add into the system around 2500 MW of electricity of which approximately 1950 MW would be the hydro electricity and the rest would be generated through wind and solar means.

The President during meeting while highlighting all weather Pak-China friendship appreciated Chinese assistance to the country especially in the power sector. He said that Three Gorges Dam Project was a living testament to the genius and vision of the Chinese people and their leadership and Pakistan was eager to learn from the Chinese experience of growth and development.

The President said that Pakistan was also keen to have Chinese assistance in conservation of its water resources. While appreciating the company’s involvement in various electricity generation projects, solar power project and the wind project in Sindh, the President invited the company to also invest in new projects and to participate in the construction of small and medium sized dams in various parts of the country.

He reiterated Government’s assurance of all possible facilitation to the Three Gorges Dam Project Company in construction of dams and alternate energy projects in the country.

Spokesperson said that China Three Gorges International Corporation a large scale clean energy group that specializes in the development and operation of hydropower project construction and management, electric power generation and providing professional technical assistance was assisting Pakistan in various projects that aim at overcoming the energy shortages. The Company is also involved in building a run of the river hydro project at Sukkur Barrage of 120 MW.

Spokesperson said that China has offered financial and technical assistance to massively develop hydro and wind power, up-grade the existing transmission system and provide an integrated solution to the problems of power shortages and disruptions in Pakistan.

The President during today’s meeting reiterated his call that besides expediting the ongoing projects, attention must also be given to build a number of small power stations of 20 MW to 30 MW, depending upon the capacity on the various distributaries in various parts of the country.

Mr. Wang Shaofeng thanked the President for meeting and assured his company’s continued assistance to Pakistan in the field of its expertise.

Those who were present during the meeting included from Chinese side Mr. Mubashir Malik, CEO Associated Technologies, Mr. Sheng Zhendongm Mr. Cui Lizhong, Mr. Liu Lanbo, and others. Pak side included Dr. Asim Hussain, Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General, Ms. Nasreen Haque, Special  Secretary, Mr. Khalil Ahmed, Ambassador at Large, Mr. Ghiasuddin Ahmed Acting Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Arif Alauddin, and other senior officials of the concerned departments.

DELEGATION OF KABAL SUB-DIVISIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION CALLS ON HCJP.

A 10 Member delegation of Kabal Sub-Divisional Bar Association headed by its President Sardar Ahmed Khan Yousafzai and comprising other office bearers and members called on the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary today on 04.07.2012 in the Supreme Court Building, Islamabad.

Talking to delegation, the Hon’ble Chief Justice said that the lawyers must try their best to plead the cases of litigants so as to provide them inexpensive and speedy justice.

The delegations discussed with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan, the issues and matters of legal fraternity. They informed his lordship about their hardships like early starting of construction work on judicial complex Kabal for which funds have already been released and land has also been allotted, functioning of ATC Judge already notified by provincial government and told about the violation of human rights in Swat and requested his lordship to take action. They also apprised his lordship that jails are in Timergara and Boner and the prisoners and lawyers face great hardships in making appearance at Kabal. They find it difficult in pleading the cases of under trial prisoners and requested for construction of jails in Mingora and Kabal. The Hon’ble Chief Justice assured them to take up the matter with concerned quarters.  

The delegations paid tributes to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for his lordships untiring efforts to ensure justice at the door steps of public at large. The delegation assured of full support to assist and cooperate Bench in dispensation of justice.

         

DCC DECIDES TO REOPEN GROUND LINES OF COMMUNICATION THROUGH PAKISTANI TERRITORY TO AFGHANISTAN FOR NATO FORCES

ISLAMABAD, July 3, 2012
        The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) which met under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf today at Prime Minister’s House decided to  reopen the Ground Lines of Communication through Pakistani territory to and from Afghanistan to facilitate the transition and the subsequent transformation process in that country.
The DCC also decided that no lethal cargo will go into Afghanistan except equipment for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), essential for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The DCC reconfirmed that Pakistan will continue not to charge any transit fee but the issue in the first place was not of financial gains but of the principle of sovereignty.
         The DCC reaffirmed that it will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Parliament in future as well.
         After the unfortunate incident of Salala, last year on 26th November, 2011, the DCC took the following decisions:
a.    Asked for vacation of Shamsi Base.
b.   Blocked the Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs) through Pakistani territory to Afghanistan.
        These decisions were dictated by Pakistan’s principled stance on the issue of sovereignty, which should be respected at all costs and in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.
        The Foreign Minister briefed the DCC on recent discussions with senior US officials on the resetting of the Pakistan-US relationship in line with the Parliamentary recommendations.
         The DCC stressed that it was in Pakistan’s interest to support the transition and the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan as NATO/ISAF forces drawdown by 2014. To enable a smooth transition in Afghanistan it was essential for the military drawdown at a lower cost and through an efficient transit facility.
         The DCC further noted that, in view of our larger objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region and also our cooperative relations with the 50 member states of NATO/ISAF, Pakistan wanted to facilitate the transition process and help enable Afghanistan’s national institutions to exercise full sovereignty over their country.
         The DCC reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the elimination of terrorism for the sake of a secure future for Pakistan.  The DCC further reiterated Pakistan’s stance on drones and agreed to continue to engage the US on counter-terrorism cooperation and counter-terrorism tools that are in line with international law and practice.
         The DCC stressed that, as recommended by the Parliament, Pakistan’s future relations with the US must be based on mutual respect and mutual interest and conducted in a transparent manner.
 The meeting was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministers for Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defence Production and Information and Broadcasting, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior, Chairman JCSC, three Services Chiefs, DG ISI and DG IB

56 bureaucrats 14 Judges received two plots each: PAC informed

ISLAMABAD, July 03 (SANA): Three existing and twelve retired judges of the Supreme Court received two residential plots each worth millions of rupees in expensive sectors of the federal capital, said a report presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday meanwhile it was also informed to PAC that 56 bureaucrats including Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani , Secretary General to Presidency  Salman Farooqui and former interior secretary Syed Kamal Shah  also grabbed two plots each in the federal capital and 156 received one plot each.

A report by the Ministry of Housing presented before the committee contained the details of allotment of two plots each to the Supreme Court Judges and bureaucrats.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Shakirullah Jan and former chief justice, Abdul Hameed Dogar were also among the beneficiaries.

According to this report these plots were allotted under rules framed by the former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during the tenure of former President Pervez Musharraf.

Justicew Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tasadduqe Jilani, Justice Nasirul Mulk are included among the existing judges, while Justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday, former chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Javed Batar, Justice Saeed Ashhad, Justice Sardar Raza, Justice Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faquir Khokhar, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Falak Sher, Justice Jamshed Ali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Zahid Hussain are included among the beneficiaries. Besides, former law secretary Justice (Retired) Mansoor Ahmad also received two residential plots. These plots are located in Islamabad’s prized residential sectors D-12, G-14, and G-13.

Appearing before the PAC meeting presided over by its Chairman Nadeem Afzal held here, Auditor General Akhtar Buland Rana explained his absence from previous meetings saying he was not in the country.

Member committee Noor Alam lost his temper and exchanged hot words over chairman committee defending the cabinet secretary and AG.

The details of judges and bureaucrats who had been allotted two plots in Islamabad were presented in a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, presided over by its chairman Nadeem Afzal Chann.

The PAC had earlier sought details of bureaucrats and judges who had been allotted two plots in Islamabad after they filed affidavits for not owning any land in the federal capital.

The PAC chairman directed for action against the bureaucrats and judges who had illegally benefited from the policy made during Gen. Musharraf's rule.

The committee was informed that 16 judges of the Supreme Court also allotted two plots each.

The PAC chairman said that 56 bureaucrats who grabbed two plots of land each in the federal capital are include principal secretary of former prime minister Khalid Saeed, former Secretary Culture Jalil Abbas, Naveed Ahsan of Ministry of Finance, former Interior Secretary Cabinet Major (retd) Syed Kamal Shah, Muhammad Jameel , Ismail Hussan Niazi , former secretary religious affairs Wakeel Ahmed Khan , former chairman Railways Muhammad Shakeel Durani, Ismail Qureshsi, Ijaz Rahim, Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, Abdullah Yousuf, Kamran Rasool, Muhammad Ashfaq Gondal, Shoaib Saddal and others.

It is worth mentioning here that in the era of former President General (retd) Pervaiz Musharaf the then Prime minister Shoukat Aziz announced the privilege package for officers of grade 22 which enabled  the bureaucrats to have the right to hold two plots.

Government to establish full diplomatic relations with South Sudan: Prime Minister

Islamabad:  July 3, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan is keen to enhance its relations with South Sudan both at bilateral as well as multilateral levels to advance common goals of peace, security and socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while talking to Mr. Nhial Deng Nhial, Foreign Minister of South Sudan, who called on him at the PM House today. Both leaders discussed various facets of relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister said that volume of bilateral trade between the two countries needed to be enhanced. There was immense potential for the private sectors of both countries to explore possibilities of expanding trade in commodities such as rice, textile, pharmaceutical products, agriculture, cement and food items, he added.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan supported all relevant resolutions and statements of the UNSC on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan and sought an urgent advancement on the resolution of all outstanding issues under Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005.

The Prime Minister said that the government of Pakistan had decided to establish full diplomatic relations with South Sudan. He said that Pakistan was ready to extend all possible assistance and expertise to South Sudan.

The South Sudanese Foreign Minister said that he had come to Pakistan to explore areas of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and South Sudan. He said that his country adhered to the policy of seeking peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues between South Sudan and (North) Sudan.

The Minister said that Pakistan, being a non-permanent member of UNSC, was an important country and wielded considerable influence within the UN system.
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