Pakistan wants to base ties with other countries on mutual respect: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Pakistan wanted peace and friendly relations with other countries based on mutual respect and national interests stemming from the best practices of diplomacy.

He was talking to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shamim Wyne, who called on him at the PM House and discussed with overall security situation in the country in the wake of Mohmand Agency incident.

The Prime Minister said the democratic government had taken a clear stance on the Nato attack that the infringement on the territorial integrity of Pakistan was unacceptable.

The Prime Minister said the nation stood by their armed forces and was ready to offer any sacrifice in defence of the national frontiers.

He added that the resolutions of the joint session of the Parliament and of All Parties Conference clearly manifested the national resolve to protect the security of the country.

General Khalid Shamim Wyne said the security forces of the country were fully alert to defend the country, adding that any sacrifice would be rendered to preserve and uphold the sanctity of the motherland.

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Posted in: NATIONAL

No possibility of change without exercise of right of ballot: Kaira

MIRPUR: Secretary Information Pakistan Peoples Party and former federal minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said that vote is the only way for bringing about any change in the country.

“There is no possibility of any change in the country without the exercise of the right of franchise,” Kaira said while speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony held here, in connection with the election campaign for the office bearers of Pakistan Engineering Council. AJK Minister for electricity Arshad Hussain presided over the ceremony.

Kaira said that vote was a strong power. The true use of the right of vote could bring about a change in the society and the country. He said that certain elements were talking high of change in the country.

The PPP leader advised the engineers of AJK to use their right of vote in the scheduled elections to Pakistan Engineering Council to pave the way for emerging of quality leadership harmonious to the high status of the PEC.

He observed that the power of vote could be assessed after the electorates exercise the accountability through the power of vote. He added that the wise use of the right of franchise was the only way to exercise the public accountability.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said it was the paramount national duty of all segments of the society, including engineers, doctors, lawyers and educationists to use their right of vote truly whenever they were provided with the opportunity to exercise their right of franchise.

He added that if the educated class would not use the right of vote wisely, what could be expected from the people belonging to other classes of the society.

The PPP leader opined that the drive for holding elections through democratic way by the Pakistan Engineering Council would help in to improve and raise the working and abilities of the PEC – since only democratic system brings the nation and the country on the path of speedy progress and prosperity, he added.

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Posted in: NATIONAL

CJ tells NAB to produce details of references against Sharifs

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday called for the details of NAB references against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, FTNews reported.

The apex court was hearing NAB’s appeals against the Sharif brothers.

During the hearing, Prosecutor-General NAB K K Agha said the Sharif brothers had left the country through a deal and had voluntarily surrendered their properties to the NAB.

Chief Justice Iftikhar inquired as to why the prosecutor had not produced a copy of the deal before either the High Court or the Supreme Court.

Agha also told the court that NAB wanted to hold the property of Sharif brothers until the case was resolved.

Responding to which, Chief Justice Iftikhar remarked that NAB had no authority to hold the property until a reference could be presented against the Sharif brothers.

The hearing was subsequently postponed to the third week of January.

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Posted in: NATIONAL