Babar Awan becomes PPP vice president

ISLAMABAD: Renowned politician and lawyer, Senator Babar Awan has been nominated Vice President of Pakistan Peoples Party.

The notification in this regard was issued on Thursday after the approval by Co-Chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari.

Awan, a writer of several books and a respected orator, was made member of Central Executive Committee of the party in 1997 by Late Benazir Bhutto. Later, he was also nominated as Coordinator of International Affairs Wing of the Party in 1999.

He held the office of Central Finance Secretary of the Party in 2000 while he was awarded the ticket of National Assembly during general elections 2002. He became Senator in 2005 on the only seat of PPP from Punjab and proved himself as an established legislator.

Being a lawyer, he defended several cases against Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari. He also remained counsel of Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto and Asifa Bhutto in the case of Peoples’ Foundation.

Awan is considered as a highly popular and trusted leader in PPP who voluntarily tendered his resignation from the portfolios of Minister of Law and Justice, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Information Technology to plead Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference sent to Supreme Court by the president.

He has also been defending successfully the constitutional and political affairs of the party for the last two decades and was appreciated by the party workers for his commitment to political thoughts of Bhutto and his perception about class division and economic inequalities.

His elevation to the office of vice president has also sent a wave of happiness among the workers of PPP who have congratulated him and wished well to disseminate his duties to the aspirations of the party and workers.

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India rejects Pakistan’s proposal to move artillery from LoC

NEW DELHI: India has rejected Pakistan’s proposal to move heavy artillery and mortars away from the Line of Control in disputed Kashmir claiming frequent ceasefire violations and asked Islamabad to come clear on its nuclear policy, including command and control over nuclear assets, Press Trust of India PTI reported on Thursday quoting unnamed sources.

This was conveyed to Pakistani officials by India during talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures on December 26-27, 2011 in Islamabad after gap of four years.

India cannot look at such proposals till the situation on the LoC improves, PTI report said. During talks India conveyed to Pakistan on need to demonstrate in practical measure restraint and responsibility in nuclear field and urged it facilitate talks on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is slated to visit Pakistan to review progress of talks and both sides are keen to have meetings between Home Secretaries, Water Resources Secretaries, Defence Secretaries and Foreign Secretaries before the visit.

On nuclear CBMs, India made it clear to Pakistan that views on nuclear doctrines could be exchanged only when official documents enunciating the policies are available in the public domain, PTI report said.

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Javed Hashmi resigns from National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: Senior politician and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi on Friday rendered hi resignation from the membership of National Assembly, FTNews reported.

Former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, who recently joined Imran Khan’s PTI rendered his written resignation to the Deputy Speaker NA Faisal Karim Kundi after an emotional farewell speech.

Members of the assembly appreciated the senior politician by beating their desks and giving him standing ovation.

Hashmi, during his speech, said that the former president Gen. Zia-ul-Haq offered him the seat of speaker National Assembly but he rejected it.

He said that eighth constitutional amendment by Zia was a conspiracy to make assemblies a ‘slave.’

Hashmi said that it was politicians’ responsibility to strengthen the parliament. “However politicians helped the dictator by passing the eighth amendment bill,” he added.

The former PML-N leader said that he opted not to become member of the cabinet when Nawaz Sharif won the elections by two-third majority in 90’s.

Hashmi said that he became secretary general when Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IGI) was formed by Nawaz Sharif. “We (politicians) did nothing to solve problems of the masses but created even more problems for them,” he added.

He said general public was astonished to see lavish life style of the politicians of a poor country. “People are quickly getting fade up with the assemblies,” he added.

Hashmi further said that he has respect for PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. “Mian sahib came to my home for bringing me into politics,” he added.

He honoured the PML-N chief by saying that he was a superior politician and said that he can not even think of measuring himself up against him.

Furthermore, about his new party chief, he said that the people wanted to see change and if they see Imran Khan bringing about that change then it was their right to vote for him.

“It’s about time to change the way of governance if we want to save the country,” said Hashmi.

He suggested that the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should resign and hold elections as the constitution allows him to do so. “Members are resigning from assemblies. When will the rulers wake up?….when there’ll be no one left to resign…?” asked Hashmi.

The Opposition Leader in NA and PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and his team was listening Hashmi intently throughout the speech.

Hashmi further said the enemies of the nation will be strengthened if the moral courage of the assembly dies.

His daughter Maimoona Hashmi and former PPP leader Sardar Asif Ali, who recently joined the PTI, also resigned from the National Assembly on Friday.

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