Defence committee to be briefed at ISI headquarter

ISLAMABAD:The session of senate standing committee for defence, would be held on Thursday at the headquarters of ISI in Islamabad, However, three of the members including Raza Rabbani have excused for not attending the session, FTNews reported.

The director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha and other officers of the institute will give a briefing to the members of standing committee regarding the duties and responsibilities of the sensitive national institute.

During the briefing, the members of standing committee will be informed about the operations of counter-terrorism and the role of ISI in safeguarding the national security.

On the other hand, member of committee, Senator Raza Rabbani, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi and Senator prof. Khursheed Ahmed had already excused for not attending the session.

The stance of Raza Rabbani is that ISI should give the briefing in the parliament house.

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Court decisions being dismissed: Nawaz Sharif

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday said that the decision of the courts are being dismissed and national security is at stake, while national security institutes are being closed one after another, FTNews reported.

While addressing the Provincial Council Meeting of Muslim League-N in Peshawar, Mian Nawaz Sharif said that, former president Pervez Musharaf is responsible for the destruction of the tribal areas.

Moreover he said that 35,000 people were killed by drone and terrorist attacks. Pakistan’s independence and sovereignty is being violated, he added.

Nawaz said that if he is given the opportunity again, he will work for the development of the country.

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Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal meant for deterrence: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party’s Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday said Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was meant for deterrence and not for belligerence against any country.

He made it clear when it would come to defend the country, those weapons would be engaged for sure.

He expressed these views while commenting on Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s irresponsible statement regarding Pakistan’s nuclear assets. He said it was nothing more than a ‘cheap shot’.

Talking to a private news channel, he said Mr Qureshi, after defecting his party, was trying to win Imran Khan’s trust by unfair means.

He said every person has the right to join any political party, and Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali left the PPP on the issue of a ministry, he added.

He said the ideological people would not leave their political parties.

The PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-N are united on the issue of a democratic system in the country, he added.

Kaira expressed the hope that the government will complete its tenure and elections will be held according to the schedule.

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Three suspected militants killed in Orakzai

PESHAWAR: Security forces on Wednesday bombed militant hideouts in upper Orakzai agency, killing seven suspected militants, FTNews reported.

According to security sources, the heavy shelling was carried out in Mamozai, Khadizai and Chapar kali areas of Orakzai agency, destroying four militant safe-houses.

Moreover, security forces recovered over 40 rockets and a large number of landmines in a major search operation in Arhang, Zakhtun and Gandi Tal areas.

Meanwhile, five other suspected militants were killed in clashes with armed forces in Kurram Agency.

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Haqqani being deprived of fundamental rights: Asma

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the memogate case till Thursday, FTNews reported.

A nine-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was hearing the case here today.

Asma Jahangir, the counsel for former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, argued before the Supreme Court that her client’s fundamental rights would be violated if direct investigation was carried out in the memogate scandal.

Jahangir, during the hearing, said that the court should not deprive her client of his fundamental rights on the pretext of national security, adding that Haqqani was being made a scapegoat in the controversy.

The counsel said that her client was in favour of the investigation of the issue but only in an appropriate forum, stressing that the parliamentary committee should complete its investigation.

During proceedings, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry mentioned in his remarks that a forum for the memogate probe could not be ‘chosen’ by the parties.

The chief justice remarked that investigation carried out under the Supreme Court’s supervision would be more transparent, adding that matters would not be kept secret like that of the Hamoodur Rahman commission.

Justice Tassaduq Hussain said that facts behind the scandal could only be established after the investigation.

She noted that the constitutional oaths of the chief justice and the prime minister are different.

She argued that a government could take action against traitors, judges could not.

Justice Jawad Khwaja during the hearing said that only a probe would help in assessing the violation of fundamental rights.

Jahangir also questioned the role of the media and said that news headlines were being made on the remarks and questions of the judges.

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