President Summons Mirza to Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Ali Mirza immediately to Islamabad to discuss the talks with allies on law and order situation in Karachi.

Mirza had raised his objections over the recent operation by rangers in Orangi Town of Karachi. 
He said that he was not taken into confidence about the operation.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik also admitted that Mirza was not taken on board about the decision.

President Zardari will discuss with Sindh home minister about his differences with Interior Minister Rehman Malik. 

Nabeel Gabol Meets Prime Minister Gilani

ISLAMABAD: People's Party MNA from Lyari Nabeel Gabol, who has recently tendered resignation as the state minister for ports and shipping, called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday.

Gabol discussed the situation of Karachi with Prime Minister Gilani and expressed his reservations over operation in his constituency without taking him into confidence, sources said. 

Prime Minister Gilani told him that his resignation was not approved so far and directed him to resume his responsibilities, sources further said. 

According to sources, Nabeel Gabol will take his resignation back after assurances from the prime minister. 

He will also meet with President Asif Ali Zardari during his stay in Islamabad.

Qaim Says Not Gave Operation Orders

BHITSHAH: Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah Friday said he did not give orders for rangers operation in Karachi.

Talking to media persons at Bhitshah on Friday Qaim said what the Rangers did was in their power. Shah said there is confusion regarding the operation. He said the police know the city's condition better, but rangers have been given police powers and can take action.

He said in result of the operation in Karachi several target killers have been arrested.

Replying a question about amendments in the local government law, Sindh Chief Minister said that the final decision can be made after consultation with the coalition partners.  

PML Q Leaders Visit Nine Zero

KARACHI: The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) reached a consensus on Friday after a meeting at the MQM headquarters (NineZero).

“The leadership of the two parties have reached a general agreement to steer the country out of socio-economic problems,” said Deputy Convener of MQM, Dr. Farooq Sattar

The PML-Q delegation was led by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed and others while MQM leadership was represented by Dr. Farooq Sattar, Wasim Aftab, Nasrin Jalil, Babar Ghouri, Haider Abbas Rizvi and others.

Farooq Sattar said that the various issues discussed included law and order, shortage of supply of natural gas to the province of Punjab, crisis in the industrial sector of Faisalabad, situation in the province of Balochistan and overall situation regarding socio-economic problems of the country.

Parliamentary Exchanges to Take Pak-Sri Lanka Ties to New Heights

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday called for enhanced parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Sri Lanka to take the existing cordial friendly ties between the two countries to new heights.
The Prime Minister stated this in a meeting with Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa, Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, who alongwith a parliamentary delegation called on him at the PM House here on Tuesday afternoon.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan greatly values its relations with Sri Lanka which are based on mutual and shared interests in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. He added that Pakistan fully supports the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

 The Prime Minister congratulated the government and people of Sri Lanka in eliminating terrorism from their country and also asked the Speaker to convey his profound felicitations to the Sri Lankan President on his re-election for the second term. He also asked the Speaker to convey his invitation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to undertake his long awaited official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience in 2011.

The Prime Minister, while expressing his satisfaction on the overall status of bilateral relations, hoped that the next round of consultations for expansion of the ambit of Free Trade Agreement between the two countries to make it a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) will be scheduled soon to open new vistas of enhanced trade, investment and economic ties between the two sides.
Noting that Sri Lanka was the major beneficiary of the training offered by Pakistan for its defence personnel, the Prime Minister called for expansion in defence cooperation and offered sale of defence equipment to meet the Sri Lankan needs. He also underlined the need of cultural cooperation, particularly through religious visits from Sri Lanka to the historical Budhist sites of Pakistan.
The Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament, while conveying the best wishes of his younger brother and President of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister, thanked the later for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during their visit and agreed to the proposal of strengthening the parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts to bring the two countries ever closer.
He also underscored the importance of expansion in trade and economic ties and informed the Prime Minister that a Sri Lankan technical team would soon visit Pakistan for negotiating the expansion of FTA to CEPA.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan, Senate Chairman Farooq H. Naek, Secretary Senate and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.

Economic Challenges to be Shared with Political Leadership, Says PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the Economic Challenges of Pakistan would be shared with all the political leadership of the Parliament to seek their proposals for resolving the financial difficulties of the country and the people.
The objective behind the reconciliatory process and consultation with political leadership is to develop consensus and take decisions in the larger national interest.

The Prime Minister was chairing the Mid Term Economic Review meeting held here at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat today. The economic review  meetings are held regularly every month.

The Prime Minister said that since the Budget was passed unanimously by the Parliament, the financial challenges of the country also need to be shared to find solution through collective wisdom. The people of Pakistan, he directed, be kept informed of the economic challenges and measures to be taken to confront these challenges.
The Prime Minister directed that five member Committee formed for dialogue with all the Parliamentary parties should immediately contact the leadership of the parties to ascertain their availability for consultation on National Economic Challenges.

The Minister for Finance briefed the participants on the state of national economy and the economic challenges being faced by the country in wake of the devastating floods, war against terrorism, national security needs and international recession.
            
The Secretary Finance in his presentation apprised the participants of the meeting about the budgetary position and probabilities at the close of financial year.  He also elaborated upon the impact of floods, war against terror, energy shortage and international price hike on the economy in general and the Budget in specific.
As per details, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday urged political leadership of the country to stand united to collectively find a solution to the economic challenges. Chairing the mid-term economic review meeting here at the PM Secretariat, Gilani said since the Budget was passed unanimously by the Parliament, the financial challenges of the country also need to be shared, to find a solution through collective wisdom.
The Prime Minister directed that a five-member committee be formed for dialogue with all the parliamentary parties and it should contact their leadership to ascertain their availability for consultation on national economic challenges. He said the political leadership needs to come up with proposals for resolving the financial difficulties of the country.
Gilani said the people of Pakistan need to be kept informed of the economic challenges and the measures being taken to confront these.
The Minister of Finance briefed the participants on the state of national economy and the economic challenges being faced by the country in wake of the devastating floods, war against terrorism, national security needs and international recession.
He said the objective of the reconciliatory process and consultation with political leadership was to develop consensus and take decisions in the larger national interest.
The Secretary Finance in his presentation apprised the participants of the meeting about the budgetary position and probabilities at the close of financial year. He also elaborated upon energy shortage and international price hike, the state of economy in general and the budget in particular.

Govt has No Plan to Amend Blasphemy Law, Says Rehman Malik

NOWSHERA: Interior Minister, Rehman Malik on Thursday reiterated that government has no intention to bring any amendment in blasphemy laws, owing to its sensitivity, the people should not play up the issue after the government categorical stance on the subject.
The Interior Minister was talking to newsmen after expressing condolence and offered Fateha for the departed soul of former Governor KPK and PPP leader late Gen Naseerul Babar at Pirpai here at Pirpai village.
The Interior Minister maintained that the matter would be taken up with noted Ulema and religious scholars of different schools of thoughts and office bearers of Wafaqul Madaris and the issue would be amicably resolved.
He said the government has no intention of repealing or amending the blasphemy law. We will ensure the respect of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as part of our faith. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is the last messenger of Allah Almighty and we believe in Khatm-e-Nabbuwat.
The Interior Minister announced to block all un-Islamic materials put on various websites and urged people to inform government if they found any matter of blasphemy on the Internet. He said the government has highest regards for judiciary and its decisions are being implemented in latter and spirit.
Eulogizing the sacrifices and contributions of former Governor KPK and Interior Minister Gen Nassesrullah Babar for the country and PPP, the Minister said that his death is a great loss for the country and people. He said that leaders like Gen Babar are born in centuries and was a brave leader. The vacuum created due to his death would hardly be overcome in near future.
Earlier, the Minister visited the residence of Gen Babar and condolence with his family over his sad demise. He remained there for sometime and offered Fateha for the departed soul.
Later, he visited to Gen Babar grave and laid floral wreath on behalf of resident Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani and Interior Ministry and offered Fateha. Tough security arrangements were made on this occasion.