PM approves postings / transfers

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PRIME MINISTER’S HOUSE
(MEDIA OFFICE)
*****
PRESS RELEASE

Islamabad:  July 06, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has approved following postings:

i.                    Mr. Ayub Qazi, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister
ii.                  Mr. Taimur Azmat Osman, Secretary Establishment
iii.                Ch. Rasheed Ahmad, Secretary Information & Broadcasting
iv.                Mr. Javed Iqbal, Secretary  EAD
v.                 Dr. Waqar Masood, Secretary  Petroleum and Natural Resources

vi.               Mr. Imtiaz Inayat Ilahi Secretary Regulation and Services
vii.              Mr.  Israr Rauf, Secretary CADD
viii.           Mr. Kamran Qureshi, Secretary  Kashmir Affairs
ix.               Maj Gen Tawqeer, MD PASCO,
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President approves nominations for NEC‏

Islamabad, 06 July 2012;
President Asif Ali Zardari today, on the advice of Prime Minister, has nominated following four members of the Federal Government on the National Economic Council in terms of Article 156(1) of the Constitution;
Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan, Federal Minister for Communications (MNA from Khyber Pakhtunkhawa)
Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Water and Power (MNA from Pubjab)
Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Finance, Revenue, Planning and Development, Economic Affairs and Statistics (Senator from Sindh).
Mir Changez Khan Jamali, Federal Minister for Science and Technology (MNA from Balochistan)
 The President has also approved the nomination of Mr. Hasnain Mirza, MPA from Sindh as the member of NEC from Sindh.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that according to Clause 1 of Article 156, the NEC comprises of the Prime Minister, the Chief Ministers and one member from each province to be nominated by the Chief Minister. The Prime Minister may also nominate four other members from time to time.
He said that although it was neither mandatory nor constitutional requirement yet the former Prime Minister had nominated the above federal ministers, one from each province, on the NEC.   However, they ceased to be the member of the NEC on their ceasing to hold office of the Minister on 19th June 2012, notwithstanding their fresh oath taken on 22 June 2012. Besides, it is prerogative of the Prime Minister to make nominations on the NEC which require approval of the President, he said.
Spokesperson further said that the nomination of  Mr. Hasnain Mirza, MPA from Sindh as the member of NEC from Sindh was made by the Chief Minister Sindh replacing his Advisor on Planning and Development. The nomination after its approval from the Prime Minister’s office has also been approved by the President also.

Senator Prof. Khurshid Ahmad has strongly condemned the PPP coalition government’s attempt to change the law of contempt

Islamabad (July 5, 2012):  In a press statement issued today the Naib Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan ex-Senator Prof. Khurshid Ahmad has strongly condemned the PPP coalition government’s attempt to change the law of contempt and also to subvert the constitutional scheme of closing the doors of the Parliament to those who have nationality of a country other than Pakistan as well. Prof. Khurshid said, it seems that the Government is trying to hoodwink the people and the Parliament whose present focus is on the Government’s treacherous act to open US and NATO supplies.

Prof. Khurshid Ahmad noted that the change of law of contempt clearly shows the Government’s intention to subvert the process of justice and rule of law in the country and create a class of privileged persons who would be above the law. This is a clear violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, which categorically forbids all such discriminations under its Articles 4 and 25. “This is a direct attack on basic rights of the citizens and shows malafide intent of the present government; and the Parliament and the people of Pakistan must resist this attack on the Constitution and the Judiciary”, he stressed.

“The issue of election to the Parliament and holding the political office must not be confused with the right to vote to those Pakistan expatriates who are citizens of Pakistan. All Pakistani citizens in the country and abroad enjoy right to vote under the Constitution and the attempt to make provision for discharge of this right by Pakistani citizens abroad is acknowledged in the Constitution as well. Such an arrangement is not only constitutional but correct for the point of view of the citizens’ basic rights. Other countries of the world have made similar arrangements for their citizens”, he observed and added that most of the Pakistanis abroad generally do not have dual nationality. Over 65% of the Pakistanis are in the Middle East and other African and Asian countries do not enjoy dual nationality.

Prof. Khurshid pointed out that even Pakistani law does not allow dual nationality for its citizens in respect of all countries of the world.  It is only the Commonwealth countries that historically enjoy this facility. There is no common nationality between Pakistan, India, USA and most of the other countries. Our Constitution expressly provides that anyone holding nationality other than Pakistan’s cannot become the Member of the Parliament or occupy key-political posts. Hence, the right to vote and right to become member of the Parliament must not be confused. One can be a voter at the age of 18 years but he cannot become Member of the Parliament or the National Assembly until his or her age is 25 years. A voter cannot become a Member of the Senate until his or her age becomes 35 years. He cannot become the President of Pakistan unless he is 45 years of age. Similarly, Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution have laid down a number of other conditions which do not affect voters but make it imperative that those elected to the Assembly and Senate must also have certain qualifications.
It is very unfortunate, Prof. Khurshid said, that PPP and its allies are trying to subvert the entire constitutional scheme which was unanimously adopted by the framers of the Constitution in 1973 and unanimously reaffirmed through 18th Constitutional Amendment. Prof. Khurshid Ahmad warned the Government not to play this havoc with the Constitution, the political process of vital interests of Pakistan’s sovereignty and strategic imperatives.

Opening of NATO supplies in the national interest: PM

Islamabad: the 5th of July, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pevez Ashraf has said that the decision to open Ground Lines of Communications (GLOCs) for passage of NATO supplies through Pakistani territory was taken in the best national interest in the light of recommendations of Parliament.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while talking to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, President of PML-Q, and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Deputy Prime Minister who called on him at the PM House today.

The Prime Minister said that as the drawdown of the NATO/ISAF forces gets underway, Pakistan wanted to facilitate the process in the interest of regional peace and stability. He said that peace and stability in Afghanistan was closely linked to peace and stability in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan was partner of the international community and playing its leading role against forces of terrorism as a frontline state. He said that prolonged deadlock over the issue of NATO supplies could have hurt the country’s relations with the NATO countries, which included friendly countries as well as brotherly Muslim countries such as Turkey, Qatar and UAE.

The Prime Minister referred to passage of legislation from the European Parliament, which would enhance market access for the Pakistani exports from 2014 onwards under the Generalized System of Preference (Plus), which, he said, would not have been possible without the active support of some of the EU countries who are part of NATO.

The Prime Minister said that it was for the first time in the country’s history that a bipartisan parliamentary consensus was evolved on the broad contours of the foreign policy. He said that Pakistan made it clear that its red-lines should be respected and added in the same context that the new terms of engagement as approved by Parliament were visibly heeded by the US and NATO countries.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain supported the government’s decision to open NATO supplies, adding that no country could afford international diplomatic isolation. He said that the presence of US, NATO, ISAF forces in Afghanistan represented about 50 countries of the world under the UN mandate including brotherly Islamic countries such as Turkey etc. He said that the diplomatic impasse over the issue could have created problems for Pakistan at the UN.

He said that foreign policy decisions needed to be taken in a dispassionate and cool-headed manner as stakes are too high to be left at the mercy of emotions and irrational behaviour.

PM GREETS CHINESE COUNTERPART ON THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF SHENZHOU IX SPACECRAFT

Islamabad: July 5, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has sent a message of greetings to Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Wen Jiabao, on the successful launch of Shenzhou IX spacecraft.
In his message, the Prime Minister said “My special praise is for the scientists who are involved in this project, especially the three astronauts who have created history by manually docking the spacecraft with the Tiangong-I space lab module. Their professionalism and dedication is praiseworthy.
Excellency, we are proud that China is making rapid strides in the development of space technology which would bring enormous benefits for the whole world, especially the developing nations. China has always achieved in the shortest possible time what others have failed – launch and docking of Shenzhou IX spacecraft is one such example.
Pakistan would like to forge closer space cooperation with your great country and learn from your experience. We are thankful to China for helping us build and launch PAKSAT-IR satellite. Hopefully, with your support we would be able to launch a Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite soon.
My heartiest felicitations once again to you on the historic launch of Shenzhou IX spacecraft. .”

PAK,INDIA BILATERAL TALKS IN NEWS DELHI ON JULY 04,2012

President takes notice of a report about the use of expired Polio Vaccine in Shakai Valley‏

Islamabad;  July 4, 2012:



President Asif Ali Zardari taking strong notice of a report appearing in the media about the use of expired Polio Vaccine in Shakai Valley of South Waziristan Agency has called for a report and has directed the concerned authorities to take strict action against those responsible for such negligence.



Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President has directed all concerned to show zero tolerance to any incident of negligence with regards of Polio vaccination campaigns that are undertaken throughout the country at regular intervals.



The President has also directed the concerned to ensure timely supply of vaccine to the various parts of the country especially in the far flung areas and also to ensure that complete and updated record is maintained at provincial and districts level of both the used and unused vaccines.