Posts for 'Politics' Category

While approving the setting up of 13-member National Disaster Management Oversight council, the CCI gave the approved body the role to ensure transparent distribution of assistance among the flood-affected people and judicious utilisation of resources in the flood-hit areas.

The Oversight Council would consist of notables of good reputation. The federal government would nominate three members, every province would nominate two members each while Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan would nominate one member each for the council.

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Condemning today’s car bomb blast at a police station in Lakki Marwat, President Asif Ali Zardari termed the attack a cowardly act of terrorism. In a statement issued from the President House on Monday, President Zardari said his government, police and nation are fully determined to root out the menace of militancy.

Describing the martyred policemen as national heroes, he said the government would leave no stone unturned for the complete elimination of terrorism. He directed authorities to provide the best treatment available to injured policemen. At least 17 people, including nine policemen, were killed and several others injured following a powerful suicide car attack at a police station in Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa early Monday morning

President Asif Ali Zardari said that Altaf Hussain's recent statements on martial law and bringing about a revolution reflect his personal views as he has complete freedom of speech, however, I do wish to wrangle in this connection. He was talking to newspaper editors and anchors of private TV channels at Bilawal House on Friday. One's personal views cannot result in Martial Law, he maintained adding that no political party is against democracy; besides the democratic process is under no danger.

The political puppets have to wait for their term, President Zardari flayed adding that the PPP led government will complete its term. The President said that he has no objection if a commission is constituted to investigate the breaching of the Tori dyke. President Zardari went on to say that terrorism is a monster and vowed to eradicate it. Regarding the water dispute with India , he said that "we desire a solution of the issue and have entered in dialogue with the Indian prime minister; adding that "we need meaningful dialogue on all issues". President Zardari highlighted that the democratic governments have always faced conspiracies and the forces have been conspiring against the PPP since Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan again.

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The figure is equivalent to the loss suffered due to terrorism over nine years. Chairing a somber meeting of the federal cabinet on Wednesday, the prime minister said that the country would need at least three years to recover from the crisis, and that too only if international help matches the scale of the disaster. Gilani announced that the government would hold a conference of multilateral donors towards the end of October or early November.

International donations will be sought once the damage need assessment (DNA) is completed by the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), he added. The cabinet, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters later, had decided to lower estimations for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to 2.5 per cent compared to the initial target of 4.5 per cent for the current fiscal year.

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Zardari Vows To Convert Disaster To Opportunity: Pakistan would convert the disaster caused by the floods, with help of its people and the international community, into an opportunity, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday. Talking to editors of Sindhi newspapers and TV channels at the CM’s House, he said the efforts to restore normalcy would be long drawn, and would take at least two to three years.

“We have launched an international appeal and the response is very encouraging. We are determined to rebuild the entire damaged infrastructure,” he added.

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Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing visit to China will further consolidate the traditional bond between Beijing and Islamabad. Beijing regards Islamabad as an all-weather friend and a strategic partner. The two nations’ ties have withstood the vicissitudes of times. Mutual trust and support are the cornerstones of the Sino-Pakistani relationship, said an article published in mass circulated English language ‘China Daily’ newspaper.

Apart from a need to pursue economic and social progress, China and Pakistan also share many mutual concerns. The two nations face the common threat of the “three forces” - terrorism, separatism and extremism.
China has always commended the Pakistani government’s efforts to firmly combat the “three forces” and is willing to step up cooperation with its neighbor in this regard. The joint anti-terrorism drill between the two militaries, being held in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, will upgrade their capabilities in jointly dealing with terrorism.

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Pakistan's prime minister convened urgent deliberations on the country's law and order situation following a major attack on the most popular Sufi Shrine last week. The double suicide bombing in the heart of Lahore at a place of worship central to the lives of millions of Pakistanis has jolted the nation and trained a spotlight on the failure of law enforcement agencies to safeguard the public.

Faced with what he called "political posturing" by Republicans over immigration reform, President Obama fought back on Thursday with some grade-A political posturing of his own.

"The system is broken, and everybody knows it," Obama said in a speech at American University. "Unfortunately, reform has been held hostage to political posturing.

And special-interest wrangling and to the pervasive sentiment in Washington that tackling such a thorny and emotional issue is inherently bad politics."

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Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has reiterated his government’s resolve to overcome the worst energy crisis, saying the PPP government is capable enough to steer clear the country of current power crisis. “The history of PPP bears the testimony to the fact that it has, with its abilities, overcome crises including political in the country.”

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Gulf Rental Power Project here on Sunday, Gilani said the commissioning of this project would prove a milestone towards achieving self-reliance in the energy sector. “Pakistan has been constructing 850 megawatts Sukki power project with an estimated cost of $1.4 billion which will be the largest hydel power project in Asia,” he disclosed. Gulf Rental Power Project has a capacity of 62 megawatts and has been built at a cost of $350 million at Eimanabad, some 10 km south of Gujranwala.
Federal Water & Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Federal Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Federal Population Welfare Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and State Minister for Communications Ch Imtiaz Safdar Warraich also accompanied the PM.

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Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is likely to announce his future political plans today (Tuesday, May 18) during a meeting with his supporters here, sources close to him have revealed.Buzz up!
According to one of Musharraf's close aides, the general would meet his supporters and regional coordinators of Pakistan First, an organisation that works to promote Pakistan's interests in the US. Meanwhile, Musharraf reportedly called several political leaders in Pakistan to garner support for his recently floated party- the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).

Insiders said Musharraf telephoned several prominent leaders belonging to Dera Ghazi Khan, Sindh and Mian Muhammad Azhar in Lahore. They said Musharraf also had a chat with former President Farooq Leghari to discuss various political aspects. It is reported that they discussed about certain 'disappointed' political leaders who could join the APML.

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