Supreme Court’s security beefed up

ISLAMABAD: Security of the Supreme Court was beefed up on Thursday after it summoned Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to appear on Feb 13 in a contempt of court case, FTNews reported.

Police sources said that decision to upgrade the security was taken to avoid any untoward incident.

District administration of the capital city had decided to deploy a large contingent of police personnel outside the apex court building in the marked Red Zone.

Police said that special arrangement would be made on the day when the premier would appear before the court.

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Gilani summons PPP, coalition leadership meeting

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has summoned a meeting of senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders and coalition partners in Islamabad, FTNews reported on Thursday.

The meeting has been called to discuss Gilani’s summoning by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and will also be attended by Aitzaz Ahsan – the prime minister’s lawyer, who will brief him on today’s proceedings.

Gilani has been summoned by the court on February 13, to be indicted with contempt over his refusal to pursue corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The court said today that it was “satisfied prima facie that there is enough case for further proceedings.”

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‘Third party’ can take advantage of rift, says Aitzaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s counsel Aitza Ahsan on Thursday said that any ‘third party’ could take advantage amidst the growing tension between the judiciary and the executive, FTNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Supreme Court building, he lamented over the apex court’s verdict against the premier and asked: “Why only civilian prime ministers are indicted for contempt of court…and not any military generals?”

Earlier, the apex court had ruled that contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against the prime minister on Feb 13.

The ruling came after a seven-judge bench of the apex court heard the contempt case against Prime Minister Gilani.

The bench ruled out Ahsan’s plea for more time to present his arguments and summoned his client to appear before the court on Feb 13.

Aitzaz Ahsan said that his client had the right to appeal against the verdict and that he would advise the prime minister to do so.

However, he said that the prime minister could only be dislodged from his post through constitutional means. “Gilani can remain prime minister even if he is convicted,” he claimed.

In a related development, the prime minister called a ‘high level’ meeting of the heads of the coalition partners to discuss the verdict.

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SC to indict PM for contempt on Feb 13

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court concluded its hearing of the contempt case against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday and summoned the premier on February 13, reported FTNews. The court said that it will frame charges against the prime minister during the hearing.

“After the preliminary hearing, we are satisfied prima facie that there is enough case for further proceedings,” announced the court.

During today’s hearing, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan strengthened his argument by presenting Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s earlier order which stated that the prime minister is obliged to take advice in all matters before taking any decision.

Ahsan had stressed in the last hearing that Gilani did not take the decision of not writing the letter to Swiss authorities himself, but was instead advised to take the step.

He argued that following the chief justice’s earlier order, Gilani was supposed to seek advice from the Law Ministry and the Human Rights Division before taking any action, and the advice he received in the NRO implementation case was not in favour of the court’s decision.

“In any civil or military issue, the government has to consult the Law, Justice and Human Rights Division,” he remarked. “According to the Rules of Business 1973, the prime minister should have consultations before taking any decision.”

Justice Nasirul Mulk, heading the nine-member bench, remarked that the premier was efficient in listening to the Law Ministry and the Human Rights Division, but did not give due consideration to the court’s orders. “The prime minister has the right to turn down Law Ministry’s advice,” Justice Athar pointed out.

The court said that if Ahsan ensures that its order in the NRO implementation case is followed, then the contempt case will be closed; however, Ahsan did not provide any assurances.

‘No Swiss cases against president, prime minister’

In a surprising revelation, Ahsan presented to the court a summary from September 23, 2010, which stated that there were no cases against the prime minister and the president in Switzerland.

He told the court that the Swiss authorities wrote a letter to Pakistani authorities asking for evidence, in reply to which, the government assured them that all the cases were closed in the country owing to the NRO.

The Swiss authorities closed the cases on lack of evidence, said Ahsan.

The court expressed surprise over the summary and asked why it has never been presented in any of the previous hearings, adding that if the cases are closed, then why is the government afraid of writing the letter.

The government should write the letter for our satisfaction, and then we will see what the Swiss authorities have to say in reply, the judicial bench maintained.

Ahsan also questioned the court that if it can send notices to Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Gilani, then why it can’t initiate any action against the generals who were involved in arresting the judges.

Saving the court from embarrassment

Ahsan remarked that he wants to save the court from embarrassment, which can happen if a letter is written to the Swiss authorities.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa responded to the statement by saying that Ahsan is fine with the court being embarrassed inside the country, but claims to save it from embarrassment internationally.

The bench said that a letter should still be written as the court does not care about the consequences.

Ahsan says option of appeal available

Aitzaz Ahsan, while talking to the media after the hearing, said that there is “definitely” an option of filing an appeal against the court’s decision.

“My advice to my client would be to file an appeal, but the decision rests with him,” he added.

He emphasised on his earlier stance that the show cause notice issued to the prime minister should be discharged. The prime minister, he said, acted upon the advice of the law minister and law secretary – which was sent in a written form – and thus, did not commit any contempt of the court.

He stressed that he wants democracy to prevail in the country and wants the clash of institutions to end.

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Pakistan will do whatever Kabul wants for peace: FM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is willing to do whatever the Afghans want to help facilitate an end to 10 years of war with the Taliban, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told reporters on Thursday.

Speaking a day after talks with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul billed as a fence-mending visit designed to ease frosty ties, Khar sought to refute perceptions that Islamabad was an obstacle to peace.

“We’re willing to do whatever the Afghans want or expect,” Khar told reporters when asked whether Pakistan was ready to push the Haqqani network towards peace negotiations, but stopped short of naming the group or commenting further.

She said an effective peace process was still “miles away” but that the process should be “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, Afghan-driven”.

“Once the Afghan people decide the way forward, whatever assistance Pakistan can give, it will give,” she said.

Khar arrived in Kabul on a one-day visit on Wednesday to hold talks with her Afghan counterpart, which aimed at thawing frosty ties between the two neighbours.

Pakistan signals imminent end to NATO blockade

Pakistan signalled that it could shortly end a more than two-month blockade on Nato supplies entering Afghanistan for foreign forces.

Khar told reporters that parliament, tasked with adopting the review, would “hopefully” meet next week.

“I cannot pre-empt what the parliament is going to decide but I would assume that should not be so much of a problem,” she said when asked if the recommendations would include re-opening the border.

Responding as to when parliament would pass the review, she said: “I’m going to hopefully ensure and push it very hard that it is no later than within a week… first half of February is probable.”

Islamabad rejects any blame for the November strikes, which brought its relationship with the United States and Nato to an all-time low.

When the route eventually re-opens, it is widely expected to tax Nato convoys carrying supplies shipped to its port in Karachi and trucked through its territory to landlocked Afghanistan.

The United States has made increasing use of alternative routes into Afghanistan through the north in order to mitigate against losses in Pakistan.

The Nato supply routes were shut in the aftermath of air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26, in what Nato and the US military later blamed on a series of mistakes by both sides.

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Sherry meets Mattis, stresses need for transparent Pak-US ties

Pakistan’s new Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman met with the Centcom Commander General James Mattis in the US capital on Wednesday.

In a press release issued by the Embassy of Pakistan, Ambassador Rehman “stressed the need for both countries to work together to build a relationship that is equitable, transparent and predictable.”

Rehman added that Pakistan had endured the most sacrificies than any other country in the war against terror, and that they had also contributed the most towards successes in the war.

The press release adds that the Centcom Commander “acknowledged Pakistan’s contribution, especially the close cooperation of Pakistani military with Nato/Isaf forces in Afghanistan.”

General James Mattis also stressed on the importance of continued collaboration between both countries at all levels, to take the relationship forward “in a mutually beneficial manner.”

The meeting comes at a time when relations between both countries remain strained after the November 26 Nato airstrike which led to the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers. The two leaders met a day after the BBC published excerpts from a leaked Nato report that says Pakistan is supporting the Afghan Taliban.

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Three policemen killed, one injured in Lakki Marwat attack

PESHAWAR: Three policemen were killed and one injured in an attack by Taliban militants in the Shahbazkhel area of Lakki Marwat late Wednesday night. Security forces launched a search operation in the area immediately after the attack.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has seen a rise in militant attacks since the start of the new year, with the southern parts of the province suffering the brunt of these attacks.

“Four men were on a routine check when an explosion took place on the opposite side of the road when they reached the stop at Bulandkhel,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Syed Nawaz Marwat while talking to FTNews. Militants, in an ambush, opened fire on the security personnel when they got out of their vehicle.

“It seems that the explosion was a distraction. Even though our men tried to counter the attack, the militants hid at an intermittent distance and kept on firing,” said Marwat.

Those killed today were identified as Jan Muhammad, Munawwar Khan and driver Zahid Ullah. Islamuddin was injured in the attack.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shah Hassan Khel spokesperson, Mansoor called media personnel and claimed responsibility for the attack. He said it was in reaction to a search operation where a number of TTP men had been taken into custody.

“If they are not released, we will continue,” he said.

Shah Hassan Khel was one of the biggest ‘militant training centres’ prior to the launch of a full-fledged operation by security forces in 2009. A suicide bomber had struck at a volleyball match in the area on January 1, 2010, killing more than 100 people.

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The upper house convenes: Senate revs up on petrol price increase

ISLAMABAD: The government is facing stiff resistance in Parliament – not only from the opposition parties but also some of its allies – against the recent rise in the prices of petroleum products.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), an ally of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, joined hands with opposition parties in the Senate in what the parties termed a ‘serious walkout’ to register their displeasure with the new hike.

Along with the MQM, Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded (PML-LM), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) made it clear to the government that their protest is not a cosmetic move. They will, they say, continue to press the government till it takes back its decision.

Sensing the mood of the house, Chairman Farooq H Naek tactfully attempted to soothe the enraged members, and announced that he would let the house discuss the matter for two hours at an ‘appropriate’ time.

Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, while opposing the motion, said petroleum prices were not in the hands of the government. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) calculates prices on a monthly basis, he said, adding that the change in dollar-rupee parity affects fuel prices. He pointed out that there had been increase in petroleum prices internationally.

Dr Hussain was of the view that the general sales tax (GST) and petroleum development levy (PDL) were part of a bill that cannot be reversed. “If someone has an objection, he must adopt the proper procedure”, he said, meaning that legislation would be required for it.

Parliamentary leader of the PML-N Ishaq Dar was, however, not convinced with the argument as he pointed out that GST and PDL had been withdrawn through an administrative order last year.

The absence of ministers during the question hour once again caused embarrassment for the government.

Ishaq Dar went to the extent of proposing that the chair use his powers to withdraw for one week the flag and squad of the ministers ignoring the house proceedings. Chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security, Raza Rabbani, also observed that rule 237 of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Senate, 1988, empowers the chairman to take appropriate measures if the proceedings of the house are hindered. Farooq Naek reserved his ruling on the issue.

Law Minister Moula Bux Chandio was the only minister in the house when the issue was raised. Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghouri, Dr Hussain himself, and Minister for Postal Services Sardar Umer later came to the house.

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