Zardari, Rajapaksa agree to increase bilateral trade to $2b

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to jack up their bilateral trade to $2 billion in the next three years, as President Asif Ali Zardari met his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday.

Currently, bilateral trade is valued at $375 million, and includes import of rubber and tea from Sri Lanka and export of cotton and cereal grains.

The Sri Lankan president, who is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan, held a one-on-one meeting with President Zardari followed by delegation-level talks at the Presidency, said an official statement.

According to the statement, Zardari called for stepping up efforts to fully realise the potential of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Colombo was among the first to enter into an FTA with Islamabad.

The president also suggested a currency swap agreement with Sri Lanka in order to provide incentives to business houses in both countries to actively explore and enhance business linkages using local currencies for trade.

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the two heads of state also discussed matters regarding bilateral diplomatic relations, mutual cooperation with special reference to trade and commercial ties and regional and international issues. The president himself welcomed President Rajapaksa and members of the Sri Lankan delegation to the Presidency.

Zardari remarked that relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka have also been marked by a measure of consistency and commonality of views on important regional and global issues. “The two countries have stood together and supported each other in all important matters concerning our two countries,” he said.

The president urged the business community and the chambers of commerce of the two countries to fully avail the huge trade and business potential that the two countries offer in diverse fields, including the financial and banking sector, science and technology, defence, agriculture, tourism, gems and jewellery besides promoting cultural exchanges.

He proposed the establishment of a direct shipping service between the two countries, which he said would help enhance the level of bilateral trade.

The president appreciated the Sri Lankan government for the important contribution it had made in assisting Pakistan cope with the outbreak of dengue fever last year, which killed hundreds across the country. He proposed that Sri Lankan experts train Pakistani nurses to deal with such an epidemic should it break out in the future.

He also assured Pakistan’s continued cooperation to Sri Lanka in various fields, including defence and security.

Babar said that Rajapaksa thanked President Zardari and the Pakistan government for according him and his country’s delegation a warm welcome.

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Police vehicle attacked after PTI rally in Swabi

SWABI: Attackers hurled two hand grenades and opened fire on a police van following the PTI rally in Swabi. FTNews reported.

Four police officials were among the ten injured as a result of the attack.

Police opened retaliatory fire following the explosions.

The area has been cordoned off by the police and the bomb disposal squad has reached the site.

Speaking to FTNews, PTI chairman Imran Khan said he was unhurt and safe.

Khan said the attack took place after he had left the venue of the rally.

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Imran says will shoot down drones if comes to power

SWABI / KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said that those in power should be embarrassed about the ongoing drone attacks that violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and kill innocent people.

At a rally in Swabi, Imran said the PTI will not let US attack Pakistan via drone strikes and will shoot their drones down.

“We will help them [US] to get out of Afghanistan but we will not become a part of their war,” Imran explained.

He further said that if the PTI comes to power, it will free the people of Pakistan from US slavery. “We won’t beg, we won’t take loans and will generate our own funds,” he said.

Bowling out the competition

Making predictions about the success of his party, Imran said even if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) unite, PTI will “bowl them all out on the first ball.”

“The nation has decided it wants a change and no political party can defeat PTI’s tsunami,” Imran said.

Respectful green passport

Promising a better Pakistan under PTI’s leadership, Imran said his party will bring investment to the country and will tax the rich. He also said that his party will fix the education sector and will put in place a uniform education system.

“Green passport will be respected and people from abroad will come to Pakistan in search of jobs,” Imran stated.

“Pakistan is a rich country and we will make it better,” he added.

By the end of the rally, a police van was attacked by unknown men. The incident left seven people injured including four policemen.

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‘Govt to table 20th Amendment bill on Feb 14’

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Maula Bux Chandio Friday said that the Twentieth Constitutional Amendment bill would be tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, Chandio said all institutions are working in their constitutional domain and there was no of confrontation among them.

To a question, he said, the government is respecting and implementing the decisions of the Supreme Court.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had appeared before the apex court and he (PM) will reappear on February 13, the minister added.

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PPP not afraid of courts, says Mukhtar

LAHORE: Federal Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar on Friday termed the memo issue as the most significant, FTNews reported.

Speaking to the media representatives at Lahore airport, Mukhtar said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) respects judiciary and said that we were not afraid of courts.

The defence minister blamed the Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif for not taking any more interest in the memo case and said that the opposition leader left for London after raising the issue.

He said the prime minister had spent many years in imprisonment and that he was not afraid of jails, adding that Mr Gilani respects the judiciary and will appear before the Supreme Court.

Answering a question about the PIA affairs, Mukhtar said that he was trying to resolve the issues of the airlines’ employees.

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Sherry Rehman condemns US hearing on Balochistan

WASHINGTON: Taking strong exception to a controversial Congressional hearing on Balochistan this week, Pakistan has termed it an ill-advised move that would be detrimental to building trust between Pakistan and the United States.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington Sherry Rehman raised the issue of an exclusive hearing on Balochistan by a House Foreign Affairs sub-committee in her meetings with the members of the Congress and senior officials of the US administration, said a Pakistani official on Friday.

Ms Rehman said Islamabad strongly rejects the purpose and findings of the hearing and considers it an “ill-advised and ill-considered” move that will have serious repercussions for the bilateral relations.

The government has a strong commitment toward protecting fundamental rights and freedom in all parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan, she added.

“Pakistan views this hearing with serious concern and considers it unacceptable in no uncertain terms. This kind of an exercise constitutes interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. The hearing will be detrimental to building mutual trust and confidence and will add to suspicions in Pakistan about the US motives in the region and concerning Pakistan,” the envoy said.

The bilateral relationship and the joint Pakistan-US fight against terrorism would be major casualties at a sensitive moment when the two countries need to focus the most on defeating their common enemy, the official quoted the ambassador as saying.

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Arrest Domki murderers by Feb 24, SC orders IG Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Inspector-General (IG) Sindh to arrest the culprits involved in the murder Mir Bakhtiar Domki’s wife and daughter by February 24.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, rejected the report presented by the IG Sindh and also ordered a detailed report to be submitted by Feb 24.

The bench was hearing a case over a petition moved by Shakeel Hadi, former president Balochistan High Court Bar Association, on the law and order situation in Balochistan and a suo motu notice taken on murder of wife and daughter of Mir Bakhtiar Domki in Karachi on January 30.

During the early hours of Jan 31, at around 1:30 am, armed assailants had killed Mir Bakhtiar Domki’s wife Jhumar, 32, daughter Janna, 13, and their driver at a deserted street close to the Gizri bridge within the remit of the Clifton police station in Karachi.

Mir Domki’s wife was the sister of Brahmadagh Bugti and the granddaughter of slain Nawab Akbar Bugti.

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India releases five more Pakistani prisoners

LAHORE: India handed over five prisoners, who had mistakenly crossed the border, to Pakistani Rangers’ officials at Wagah border on Friday, FTNews reported.

According to the officials, three belonged to Sindh while two were from Punjab.

Three of the released detainees had already completed their sentences while the trials of two others were in process in Indian courts.

These prisoners were released under a prisoner-release agreement signed by the two countries.

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PCNS not to record Ijaz’s statement abroad

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on Friday decided not to record statement of Mansoor Ijaz in connection with the memo issue, outside the Parliament.

“It has been the consistent position of the committee that it always avoided to visit abroad on several occasions for such purposes because it is contrary to the parliamentary traditions and norms,” chairman of the committee, Senator Raza Rabbani told reporters after its meeting held at the Parliament House.

The meetings of the parliamentary committees should be held within premises of the parliament, keeping in view that it is the supreme institution of the country, he said.

“Whosoever is called to appear should come in the parliament house.”

He said the committee also empowered its chairman to keep a vigil on the proceedings of the memo commission and summon the meeting of the committee if any meaningful situation arises.

The committee also decided to request the memo commission, in accordance with the Supreme Court order, to share any substantial evidence which comes before it, he added.

About statement of the US ambassador regarding Nato supply, Rabbani said the committee has taken a very serious notice of the statement and directed the secretaries and ministries of foreign affairs and defence to explain it.

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Sri Lankan President arrives in Pakistan on three day visit

ISLAMABAD: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived here Friday on a three-day state visit to Pakistan to further strengthen political, economic and defence ties between the two countries.

He was received at Chaklala Air Base by Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Eng Shaukat Ullah, and other officials.

The Sri Lankan president is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of President Asif Ali Zardari.

A formal welcome ceremony for the guest would be held at the President House this afternoon when he arrives there to meet President Zardari.

During his visit, President Rajapaksha, besides meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The talks between the two countries would cover political, defense, cultural, tourism, media, economic, business and trade relations. A number of bilateral agreements are also expected to be signed between the two sides.

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Govt offers olive branch to Baloch separatists

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday claimed that a third force is trying to destabilise the situation in Balochistan and said that the government is ready to hold a dialogues with Baloch separatists, FTNews reported.

The Senate session today discussed the law and order situation in the province. Malik defended the security forces by saying that the Army, Frontier Constabulary (FC) and other security agencies were trying to save Pakistan.

Senator Shahid Bugti raised the issues of missing persons and political murders in Turbat and asked the interior minister to inform the upper house on progress made on these issues.

Furing the session, Deputy Chairman Speaker Jan Mohammad Jamali requested Malik to brief the Senate on the Balochistan situation.

The minister said he was ready to give a detailed in-camera briefing to the Senate on the law and order situation in the province.

He further said that conspiracies were being hatched to separate the province from Pakistan, and urged the need for every one to take the issue seriously.

He also condemned drone attacks in the tribal areas.

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PM will appear before SC on Feb 13, confirms Ahsan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday threw out an appeal from embattled Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani against contempt charges, paving the way for him to be indicted next week.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Barrister Atizaz Ahsan, the PM’s counsel,confirmed that the prime minister would now appear in court on Monday.

The eight-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry upheld a summons for Gilani to appear on February 13 to face indictment for the government’s two-year refusal to ask Swiss authorities to re-open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

If convicted of contempt of court, Gilani faces up to six months in jail and being disqualified from office.

“The appeal is dismissed,” the chief justice told the court, upholding the February 2 summons for Gilani to appear on Monday.

The chief justice said that “the court can go to any extent to implement its verdict”.

He wanted a clear answer on whether the prime minister would write to the Swiss, telling his lawyer: “We are ready to give you 10 minutes to talk to the prime minister on the phone and let us know.”

Tell the prime minister this is not in the interests of the country (to defy the court order).”

“I have no mandate to do that,” replied Ahsan, adding: “It may not be possible for the PM to seek instructions by Monday as he will require more time to do so.”

Throughout the hearing, Ahsan provided the members of court with citation from various cases pertaining to contempt of court charges. However, the chief justice dismissed his arguments by saying that the precedents he mentioned are of civil nature whereas the current case is of criminal nature.

After conclusion of Ahsan’s arguments, the chief justice announced a detailed verdict in which he recalled previous National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) hearings as well as the government’s refusal to correspond with the Swiss authorities.

He also reiterated that the NRO was declared unconstitutional in December 2009 and all the corruption cases which were closed in Pakistan and abroad now stand reopen.

Political analyst Nazir Naji had expressed fears that after this new development the Senate elections could be postponed and that the government could also be changed after the budget.

Justice (r) Shahid Usmani told FTNews that a contempt case could be dismissed at any time if an apology was sought from the court.

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Produce detainees come hell or high water: CJ orders ISI, MI

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday ordered the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) to produce seven detainees picked up the agencies outside the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, today at till 3pm.

“Bring the detainees in court we are here till evening 7pm,” the CJ ordered Raja Irshad Kayani, counsel for the ISI and the MI. He said the agencies would have to produce them even in a helicopter.

“If prime minister could come here, then everybody could be brought here” Justice Chaudhry remarked.

He said that the agencies have taken them into custody and now they were responsible to produce them.

It is to mention here that, eleven prisoners, convicted for attacking the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the ISI’s Hamza Camp, had gone missing from the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi and later the agencies conceded that the missing persons were in their custody. Four of the detainees were later found dead.

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Ijaz to record statement via videolink on Feb 22

ISLAMABAD: The judicial commission formed by the Supreme Court to probe the memogate scandal will record Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz’s statement through video link on February 22, FTNews reported.

The meeting of the judicial commission commenced at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday to resolve the issue of recording Ijaz’s statement. The commission was headed by the Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Qazi Faiz Essa.

It was decided that Ijaz’s statement would be recorded at the Pakistani High Commission in London through video-link.

It was also decided that the secretary of the memo commission Jawad Abbas would travel to London before the statement is recorded, and would collect all documentary and physical evidence provided by Ijaz.

Copies of all documents received would be provided to all parties, and Ijaz may even be cross-examined if required.

Ijaz’s counsel, Akram Sheikh reassured the commission that his client would be present at the Pakistani High Commission in London on Feb 22 to record his statement.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq only showed conditional acceptance to recording the statement through video. He argued that the verification and examination of the evidence would be difficult through video.

However, former Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani’s lawyer Zahid Bukhari argued that his client should also be allowed to record his statements through video-link if Ijaz is allowed to do so.

Meanwhile, Raza Rabbani, who heads the parliamentary committee also probing the memo issue, said that a statement from Ijaz had still not been received by the committee. Rabbani said that – unlike the judicial commission – the parliamentary committee would not record Ijaz’s statement through video-link, and that the Pakistani-American businessman would have to appear before the committee to testify.

Earlier during the day, Akram Sheikh had confirmed that the affidavit of his client stating that he would be presented before the commission in London would be expected within the two hours.

However, petitioner Barrister Zafarullah blamed Ijaz for making up excuses to avoid his visit to Pakistan. He argued that the commission should not go abroad to record the statement.

The commission then took a break to discuss whether or not interviewing Ijaz through video link would be appropriate.

On Thursday, during its meeting the commission asked Akram Sheikh what guarantee he could give about his client’s appearance if he was asked to appear before the commission in London or Zurich.

After contacting Ijaz, Advocate Sheikh informed the commission that his client could not provide any guarantee.

The commission had also summoned Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and warned him of contempt proceedings if he failed to reach the IHC building within 30 minutes.

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One step closer: NADRA completes data entry of 85 million voters

ISLAMABAD: Scanning and data entry of 85million voters by the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) have been completed with printing now due to begin, a spokesperson for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Thursday.

In a statement issued by the body responsible for creating transparent and accurate voter lists, it read that NADRA has also handed over the Preliminary Rolls of ten constituencies where by-elections are scheduled to be held on Feburary,25.

The spokesman said a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza held in the ECP which reviewed the electoral preparedness. After completion of printing process, NADRA will deliver Preliminary Electoral Rolls to the ECP which will then be displayed at more than 50,000 display centres across the country later this month.

In addition, NADRA and ECP will work together for upgradation of Electoral Rolls in future also.

Secretary ECP Ishtiak Ahmed Khan in the statement said that holding elections was the constitutional obligation of the commission.

Regarding increased number of census blocks, Secretary Statistics Division informed the meeting that a notification to freeze the numbers of census block is being issued. The Commission was further informed that Population Census Organisation will provide data of all Census Blocks in a digitised form to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The Commission was also told that a telephone code 8300 was in the process of being approved by the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) to enable voters to get required information through SMS. This facility will be available to the public from March 1 at the cost of only Rs2.

To check election expenses during election campaigns, the ECP will collaborate with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure that election expenses remain within the prescribed limits and according to law.

In this regard, a high level meeting is going to be held soon.

The Issue of preparing ballot papers was discussed in detail to make it safe and secure having all possible special security features and to preclude the possibility of printing of bogus ballot paper by any quarter. The meeting agreed to import latest technology for this purpose and employ non-market special paper for preparation of ballot papers. Expert views of MD, Printing Corporation of Pakistan, representative of Security Printing Corporation, Post Office Foundation, United Nations Development Fund (UNDP)and IFES were also considered.

The meeting also decided to establish permanent polling stations so that the voters could be assigned polling stations well before the elections. Since it would require necessary legislation, therefore, after legislation, the lists of permanent polling stations shall be placed on ECP’s website for information of general public well in advance.

The Commission was informed that UNDP will provide transparent ballot boxes to cover the existing deficiencies as well as cater the need of ever-increasing numbers of voters. Seals for ballot boxes have already been manufactured and delivered to the Provincial Election Commissioners.

UNDP will also assist the ECP to have better and faster result management system to ensure complete transparency and quick announcement of election results.

Regarding voting rights to the Overseas Pakistanis, a meeting of the ECP with experts of UNDP and IFES will be held on February 14, to finalise a modus operendi regarding it.

Electronic Voting Machines have been fianlised and the ECP approved its specifications. This machine will be used in any by-election on a pilot project basis.

The training of District Returning Officer, Returning Officer and polling officers was considered in detail and representative of UNDP informed that they will train 1500 DROs, AROs while International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) will train five hundred thousand polling staff for coming elections.

As the population census report is to be published by the Pakistan Census Organisation in second half of 2013, and as no fresh delimitation is to be carried out for next general elections, therefore, the Commission decided that re-description of constituencies in Sindh shall be started from February 15 in Sindh, from March 15, in Balochistan, from April 15, in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and from May 15, in Punjab.

Secretary ECP said the he was in pursuance of Supreme Court orders, and will visit Sindh and will have a meeting with the Chief Secretary of Sindh.

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Military kills 11 militants in Kurram Agency

PARACHINAR: Pakistani forces killed 11 militants and wounded 19 in the northwest on Friday, security officials said, in a crackdown in the Kurram tribal region near the border with Afghanistan.

The military fired artillery shells at three suspected hideouts in the Mamozai area of Kurram, where dozens of people have been killed in fierce fighting between Pakistani soldiers and insurgents in the last few weeks.

The death toll could not be independently verified and militants often dispute official accounts.

Pakistan’s military has been conducting operations against militants in Kurram since the beginning of the year.

Kurram’s harsh terrain limits the movement of ground forces, and gunship helicopters and bombers are often called in for support.

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