Former Federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Sher Afghan Khan Niazi has said that the decision of Supreme Court to summon Former President Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf on July 29 was malafide.
The decision was aimed to disturb Musharraf and take revenge from him because he dismissed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges for not taking oath under Provincial Constitutional Ordinance (PCO), he said this while talking to media men on Thursday. The decision has no constitutional value, he said.
He also termed the decision as part of judicial activism. A larger bench of Supreme Court validated the steps taken by Musharraf on November 03 and now the same Supreme Court has summoned him, he said.
The Supreme Court instead of concentrating towards national issue was opening a new Pandora box, he said, adding that, the country is already facing several crises and can not bear more. The decision can also cause negative impact on ongoing operation Rah-e-Rast and Rah-e-Nijat against militants in Swat and South Waziristan as well as country's sovereignty. There was no room in constitution to summon Former President and Chief of the army staff, he claimed.
He went on to say Prime Minister is Chief Executive of Federation instead of President.
Govt decides to retain coalition partners' ministries
The government has decided in principle to extend and reshuffle the federal cabinet but would not change the ministries of coalition partners, reliable sources said on Wednesday.
According to official sources, the performances of some PPP ministers were not satisfactory and were hesitating to take new ministries despite the Prime Minister's decision to change portfolios of some ministers.
Sources said that Trade Minister Amin Fahim is also included among those whose ministries would be changed and ministry of inter-provincial coordination has been offered to him but he refused leaving his trade ministry.
According to sources, the notification of acceptance of PPP senior leader Raza Rabbani's resignation has not been issued yet and law ministry has been offered to him but he has no interest in it.
Mian Raza Rabbani would be given ministry of interior, while Information Minister Qamar-uz-Zaman would retain his ministry over his brilliant performance.
According to sources, Privatization Minister Naveed Qamar would be given petroleum ministry in place of advisor to the PM Dr Asim Hussain, while Investment Minister Waqar Ahmad Khan and Benazir Income Support Program chief Farzana Raja were expected to get important responsibilities.
Sources said Prime Minister has expressed dissatisfaction over the present poor law and order situation and terror events several times and also in his recent statements after which the ministries of Rehman Malik and Ejaz Jakhrani would be changed.
The changes are expected to take place within a week, sources added.
The Pak. American Advocates for Civil and Human Rights and Pak. American Lawyers Bar Association has announced that the President of Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association, and the hero of the restoration of the judiciary, Mr. Ali Ahmed Kurd, will be in New York to address a large open meeting and to present the Justice Award to the supporters of Lawyers Movement in America.
The details are as follows:
When: Saturday evening, August 15th, at 7.00 p.m.
Where: Paradise East Hall, located at 1223 Coney Island between Avenue H & I, Brooklyn (Little Pakistan), New York 11232; Phone Number (718) 758-2815
All groups and individuals are invited without any restrictions to participate in this exclusive historical event.
For further information please contact:
Ramzan Rana Counselor at Law (516) 376-1868
Sajid Jaffrey Attorney at Law (917) 399-8123
Khalid Azam Attorney at Law (917) 825-4042
Shahid Mehar Legal Scholar (917) 496-8686
Invitation issued by the Pak. American Advocates for rights and Pak. American Lawyers Bar association.
Commending decision of the Supreme Court regarding summoning Pervez Musharraf in PCO judges case, former Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayum has said that he could think to defend Pervez Musharraf if the former president asked him to do so.
Talking to media men here on Wednesday, Malik Muhammad Qayum has said that any party has the constitutional right to defend himself and he believes that former President should appear before the court and defend his actions.
Responding to a question, the former Attorney General said that he had met with Pervez Musharraf two months ago, saying he (Musharraf) should be given opportunity to defend himself. He said that Pervez Musharraf took November 3 steps as Chief of Army Staff and not as President.
Expressing his views on decision of the Supreme Court, he said that the decision was taken in accordance with law and praise worthy. He added that if the former general contacted him for counseling than he would consider it
The ruling Pakistan Peoples' Party ministers in the federal cabinet have expressed strong reservations over the performance of ministers of the coalition partner, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) and informed the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani in this regard, sources said on Wednesday.
According to sources, the Prime Minister assured the ministers of discussing the issue with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and President Asif Ali Zardari.
During informal chat with this Agency, one federal minister who did not want to be identified, said the coalition partner JUI-F has three ministries, including Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman, brother of JUI-F chief as tourism minister and Rahmat Ullah Kakar as housing minister.
According to the minister, if any work from other ministries is sent towards both these ministries, then they either keep it pending or say sorry instead of doing it.
He alleged that Rehmat Ullah Kakar did not do valid work even on the recommendations of other ministers, while slogans of PPP were 'roti, kapra aur makan', however, JUI-F was doing high handedness in this regard.
President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday launched the Monsoon tree plantation campaign by planting a sapling at Aiwan-e-Sadr urging the nation to make Pakistan green by enthusiastically participating in the national cause.
"It is our national and religious duty to grow more trees and protect existing forests and trees", the President said in a message on the occasion.
The tree planting ceremony was also attended by the Environemnt Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Kamal Majidullah SAPM, Mr Salman Faruqui Secretary General, Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and other senior officials.
The children of the President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtwar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also separately planted saplings of lychee on the occasion.
Spokespersons to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President congratulated the nation and the Ministry of Environment for setting a new world record on July 15 this year of planting 5,41,176 trees in one day at Keti Bundar, inThatta, Sindh. This signifies our resolve and commitment to make Pakistan green and environmentally friendly, the President said.
The President said that genuine and lasting development had to be sustainable. Sustainability of development demands that we protect and enhance the quality of environment, he said.
He said that trees and forests were an essential part of the ecosystems regulating water supplies. "In the year 2009 that has been designated as the Environment Year I ask the people to grow trees to improve the ecosystems and enhance the environment".
The President said that the government planned to launch tree plantation twice a year to increase forest cover of land. I urge all stakeholders including farmers, local communities, forest owners and right holders, civil society organizations, the private sector and students to participate in the drive, the President said.
Farhatullah Babar said that the President also cautioned against the continuous depletion of forest reserves over the past several years and called for reversing the trend by strengthening the existing forest monitoring system.
As forestry is a provincial subject I would strongly urge the provincial governments to employ all available legal instruments to stop illegal cutting of trees, the President said, adding, "We also need to introduce new technologies and concept both in commercial and environmental forestry". "I invite all citizens to participate in our national effort to cover Pakistan with trees and make the country lush green. This is the only way to achieve the goal of sustainable social and economic development", the President said.
Federal Minister for Railway Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has threatened to halt train service in Punjab if attacks on train were not stopped.
Talking to media men during visit to Railway carriage factory here on Thursday, he said, attacks on trains in some areas of Punjab was a conspiracy against Punjab Government.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf and Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik should compensate Pakistan railway over loss to trains, he demanded.
It seems that the attacks on train in Punjab were a conspiracy against Punjab because such type of incidents was not reported in Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP, he said.
Replying to another question, the minister said, Pakistan railway should not be privatized because due to this more than 90,000 families are earning their livelihood.
Earlier, he made surprise visit of Railway carriage factory and expressed annoyance over absence of high level officers including MD Railway.
After reviewing the work of workers in carriage factory, he announced Rs. 2, 000 for them and the workers would get this bonus along with salaries next month.
PPP Senator Dr. Javed Leghari has resigned from his senate post due to his ill health.
Senate secretariat sources confirming the resignation told that Dr Leghari in his resignation has said that due to his ill health he is unable to fulfill his responsibilities in the senate.
He sent his resignation letter to the Chairman Senate on Wednesday.
When Dr Leghari was contacted in this regard his family sources told Online that his health is deteriorating due to which he is unable to perform his duties and his resignation has nothing to do with any differences with the party.
