PPP, PML-N reach consensus on 20th Amendment Bill

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday reached a consensus on the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2012, which is aimed at giving constitutional cover to the by-elections held under incomplete Election Commission after 18 Amendment.

Senior PPP leader and Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshi Shah told media that the two parties evolved consensus on the bill, which would be passed unanimously.

Earlier, the PML-N had refused to back the amendment bill, setting tough conditions for extending its support. It had announced that it would only support the amendment provided the government ensures an independent election commission by enhancing the tenure of the EC members from existing two years to 5 years, appointing Chief Election Commissioner with opposition’s consensus and guaranteeing neutral caretaker set up for conducting upcoming general elections.

A government team headed by Khursheed Shah had held negotiation with the PML-N leadership over the amendment bill. On Monday, Shah announced that the two parties had reached a consensus on the bill and now it would be passed unanimously from the parliament. He said that the government had accepted PML-N demands to raise the tenure of CEC members and appointment of Chief Election Commissioner in consultation with opposition.

He said that before next general election a neutral caretaker set up would be established for holding free, fair and independent elections.

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SC suspends membership of 28 lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has suspended the membership of 28 parliamentarians who were elected to their National Assembly and Senate seats through by-polls held after the 18th amendment.

The order came on Monday as Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, requesting the apex court to block by-elections until the Election Commission of Pakistan prepares corrected electoral rolls that do not contain bogus voters.

The court struck down the memberships of those MPs who were elected through by-polls after the 18th amendment, saying that they will remain suspended until the 20th amendment is passed which will legitimise their election to their respective seats.

Among the suspended members are 11 provincial assembly members, nine National Assembly members and three senators. MNAs include Jamshaid Dasti, Owais Leghari and Badshah Qaiserani, while Senators include Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain.

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Pakistan will always remain relevant for Afghanistan's future: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, talking to the media before heading for Qatar on Monday, said that Pakistan will always remain relevant in determining the future of Afghanistan.

Gilani headed to Qatar to discuss Afghan peace efforts in the ultra-rich Gulf state where the Taliban and US officials have begun preliminary contacts.

Pakistan, which last week sought to reach out to Afghanistan following a period of particularly bad relations over violence plaguing both countries, insists that any process to end the 10-year war in Afghanistan be Afghan-led.

Accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim, Gilani told reporters that there were lots of opportunities that need to be explored in Qatar.

He added that it was the first visit to Qatar in nine years and Pakistan, which is currently facing energy shortages, would look for the import of Liquefied Natural Gas and investments in its energy sector.

Prime Minister Gilani would also be looking at more job opportunities for Pakistani skilled and non-skilled manpower.

The premier said that the two sides would also discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.

“We would support any process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned,” Gilani said.

He said Pakistan, being the immediate neighbour, was the frontline state in the war against extremism and terrorism and has rendered numerous sacrifices.

About Qatar’s support to Pakistan in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Gilani said all the member countries support Pakistan.

Responding to a question, Foreign Minister Khar said that Qatar has been supporting Pakistan for an FTA with the GCC and hoped after Prime Minister Gilani’s visit the support would be more forthcoming.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is believed to have felt sidelined by contacts between the United States and the Taliban, who are leading an increasingly deadly insurgency against his government and 130,000 US-led foreign troops.

Islamabad has officially billed Gilani’s three-day visit to Qatar as an opportunity to boost ties and maximise trade.

“He will meet among others the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr al Thani,” foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

“The prime minister’s visit is aimed at opening new vistas for enhanced mutual cooperation and activating the existing structured mechanisms and institutional linkages,” he added.

The Taliban confirmed last month that they planned to set up a political office in Qatar ahead of possible talks with the United States. Contacts between both sides have already begun, focused on a possible prisoner exchange.

“There are certain ideas and suggestions on Afghan reconciliation and when Prime Minister Gilani meets Qatar’s leadership, these will certainly come under discussion,” a senior Pakistani official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The Americans have been briefing us on all developments aimed at pushing forward the peace process in Afghanistan and we have clearly told them that Islamabad strictly adheres to a policy of non-interference,” he added.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said last week that Pakistan was willing to do whatever the Afghans wanted to end the war, but insisted the process should not be led by the Americans or any other foreign power.

The senior official said it was “important to engage all Afghan factions including Taliban in the process to achieve a lasting peace”.

Khar visited Kabul last week and sought to refute perceptions that Islamabad was an obstacle to peace, and denied accusations in a leaked Nato report that her country was secretly supporting the Taliban.

Kabul has given its blessing to the Taliban office in Qatar, but has insisted on a central role in any negotiations.

The militia has denied any plans to hold separate talks with the Afghan government in Saudi Arabia, which Pakistan had reportedly offered to assist.

Asked how Pakistan viewed the Taliban’s office in Qatar, the official said: “now they have an address and all those wanting peace can have a contact.”

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Pakistan aspires for diplomatic solution of Kashmir dispute: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan, as a responsible country and nuclear power, aspires to use responsible, diplomatic measures to resolve the long-standing Kashmir dispute.

“Four wars have already been fought over the issue and the region remains a flashpoint. However, in the 21st century, we cannot afford any more wars,” Gilani told a Kashmir Convention at the Prime Minister Secretariat held to mark Kashmir Day. 

“We want to resolve the matter through dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy and national consensus.”

Gilani said that Kashmir remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government has focused on Kashmir policy. “We are committed to continue moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris. The entire nation, including all political parties, is united over the cause.”

The prime minister, contrasting the success of policies made through consensus and those formulated by dictators, said that the country’s policies should be made by chosen representatives of the people, not by individuals.

Comparing Pakistan’s exemplary relationship with China to bilateral ties with Afghanistan, Gilani said that question marks were hanging over the Afghan policy because it was made by a dictator who wore four hats but could not sustain pressure by the US. On the other hand, he said, following the Nato attack on the Salala checkpost, the PPP government reacted with defiance against the US.

Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, said in his welcome address that it was to the credit of the democratically-elected PPP government that it forced India to resume the dialogue process.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chairman of the parliamentary committee on Kashmir, said that the Kashmiri leadership was not satisfied with the explanation given to them by the commerce ministry on the issue of granting Most-Favoured Nation status to India. “The platform of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation should be used to highlight the Kashmir cause,” he suggested.

Meanwhile, a message from the prime minister was read out in a joint session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the AJK Council held in Muzaffarabad on Sunday to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day.

“A peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute that accords fully with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people is essential for peace and prosperity in the region,” the prime minister said in the statement read out by the assembly’s speaker.

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Twelve killed, several trapped in Lahore factory collapse

LAHORE: A factory building collapsed on Monday in Lahore after a gas explosion, killing at least twelve people and trapping over 30, emergency officials said.

“The factory has completely collapsed and two houses next to it as well,” an emergency official at the site told Reuters by telephone, adding authorities were having trouble getting heavy rescue machinery to the area because of narrow streets.

Rescue workers had managed to rescue people, including two women, from under the rubble.

Karamat Ali, a spokesman for the government Rescue 1122 emergency service, said 17 women and 45 men were at work when the factory, which produced veterinary medical products, crumbled, and the death toll was expected to rise.

Rescue workers and residents were shifting rubble by hand.

An AFP photographer saw women and children being taken out with injuries and covered in dust.

Witnesses said that up to 150 people normally worked at the factory.

The incident is likely to raise fresh questions about Pakistan’s industrial safety. Building and zoning regulations are weak and often not enforced, critics say.

A senior city official said the factory should not have been operating.

“The factory was supposed to be sealed. We will investigate why it was still running,” city official Ahad Cheema told reporters.

It was not clear why it had been ordered sealed.

“My house is near the factory. I felt a strong jolt and my house shook. I thought it was a bombing,” said Awais Raza.

Emergency workers and residents were shifting rubble by hand as authorities struggled to move a large crane to the site to help with the rescue.

“We are looking for voids in the destruction where there are likely to be survivors,” Rizwan Naseer, head of Rescue 1122, told reporters at the site.

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Punjab archaeology sites to be on Google Maps

LAHORE: The Punjab government and the search engine giant Google have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote archaeological sites of the province using Google Maps, FTNews reported.

After signing the deal here at the Arfah Information Technology Park, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed the hope that after the agreement’s implementation, Pakistan’s historical sites would be easily viewable all over the world.

He said that it would also help in promoting tourism by removing misperceptions about the country.

A representative from Google was present on the occasion and said that they wanted more such agreements in the future.

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At least two killed, five injured as roof collapses in Pishin

PISHIN: Atleast two persons were killed and five others injured when roof of a building collapsed in Khanozai area of Pishin district on Monday.

Police sources told APP that roof of a restaurant caved in due to heavy snowfall.

Resultantly, two men sitting inside the hall of the restaurant were killed and five others received wounds. Rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to nearby hospital where condition of the some was stated to be serious.

An official of the district administration Pishin said that they had been investigating the incident.

It is pertinent to mention here that Khanozai, a small town located on Quetta-Zhob highway is famous for its highest literacy rate regarding girls across Balochistan province.

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