Awaz Apni: |
- Ch Nisar challenges Deedar appointment
- Rangers warn of suicide attack during by-polls
- Qazi Anwar raps Babar Awan statement
- India orders probe into Delhi Games corruption
- India orders probe into CWG corruption
- Karachi by-polls arrangements finalized
- 18 Pakistanis released from Yemen reach Karachi
- One billion hungry on World Food Day: UN
- FoDP urges on Pak economic reforms
- Sindh minister’s car snatched in Karachi
| Ch Nisar challenges Deedar appointment Posted: 16 Oct 2010 04:07 AM PDT Geo436 Chaudhry Nisar's counsel Akram Sheikh Advocate filed the petition under Article-184(3) of the Constitution. The petition said Justice (rtd) Deedar Hussain Shah has been appointed in violation of the Constitution and the Law. The petition has made the Law Ministry and Establishment Division besides the Nab Chairman the party to the case. Chaudhry Nisar also filed a petition pleading for a stay order to stop the Chairman from working in his office. It should be mentioned here that the PML-N said earlier no consultations were held over the appointment of the Nab chief. |
| Rangers warn of suicide attack during by-polls Posted: 16 Oct 2010 03:04 AM PDT Geo436 He was addressing a briefing at Rangers Sports Complex here today. DIG West Sultan Khwaja was also present. The Rangers official told media man that they have received some intelligence reports about the threats during Karachi by-polls in PS-94. Some terrorists elements might attack poling stations, he said. The official warned against the likelihood of suicide attacks, firing incidents and blasts. The security arrangements have been finalized for the by-elections. At least 21 of 89 polling stations have been declared 'sensitive' in Orangi Town comprising five union councils. 'More than 1000 Rangers and more than 2600 police personnel would be deployed to handle any untoward situation.' DIG West said ten suspected have been arrested. No unconcerned persons would be allowed at the polling stations with a police officer assisted by 15 policemen to be deployed at every polling station. Police in plain clothes also would be positioned outside the polling stations. Meantime, additional contingents of police have been called in. No one would be allowed to brandish weapons. |
| Qazi Anwar raps Babar Awan statement Posted: 16 Oct 2010 02:12 AM PDT Geo436 Addressing the session of General Body of Rawalpindi District Bar, he said Supreme Court (SC) is the emblem of Pakistan judiciary and now a new challenge with new government designs has surfaced for the lawyers. The lawyer fraternity of Rawalpindi, in a bid to express solidarity with the higher judiciary, held a session and took out a rally. They are slated to go the apex court on Monday. The General Body also adopted a resolution in support of judges, saying, the lawyers are standing by the judges and Rawalpindi Bar is the lawyers' 10th Corps. Addressing the session, the orators stressed upon the government to shun using pressure tactics against the judiciary, as no step regarding removal of the judges would be accepted. |
| India orders probe into Delhi Games corruption Posted: 16 Oct 2010 12:54 AM PDT Geo436 NEW DELHI: The Indian government has launched an official investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement during the preparations for the Delhi Commonwealth Games, reports said Saturday. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) national watchdog ordered the probe into various Games-related projects a day after Thursday’s closing ceremony, the Press Trust of India said. “The audit work for the Commonwealth Games is related to work payments, contracts and leasing of sports equipment among others,” the official news agency said. A high-powered panel of investigators headed by a former chief of the CAG will submit its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by January. The panel will look into “the organisation and conduct of the Games, fix responsibility for the alleged irregularities and also prepare a dossier on the lessons learnt for |
| India orders probe into CWG corruption Posted: 16 Oct 2010 12:26 AM PDT Geo 436 The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) national watchdog ordered the probe into various Games-related projects a day after Thursday”s closing ceremony, a local news agency said. “The audit work for the Commonwealth Games is related to work payments, contracts and leasing of sports equipment among others,” the official news agency said. A high-powered panel of investigators headed by a former chief of the CAG will submit its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by January. The panel will look into “the organisation and conduct of the Games, fix responsibility for the alleged irregularities and also prepare a dossier on the lessons learnt for future events,” a local newspaper said. The October 3-14 event involving 71 nations was the costliest Commonwealth Games in history, with an initial organising budget of two billion dollars that was estimated to have swollen to at least three times that size. Sports Minister M.S. Gill in July said the cost of organising the sporting extravaganza had risen 17.5 times since the bid was made in 2003. The soaring costs and highly publicised construction delays fuelled intense criticism of the Games organising committee, in particular its chairman Suresh Kalmadi. Under-fire Kalmadi, a senior member of India”s ruling Congress party, insists that the accusations of poor construction have nothing to do with his committee. Other reports said federal revenue authorities will separately probe charges of financial wrongdoing while the Central Bureau of Investigation will scrutinise tenders handed out by Kalmadi”s team for the purchase of sports equipment. India”s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) meanwhile urged the government Saturday to unveil the statutory “terms of reference” of the various investigations that are scheduled to start. “We want a fast, transparent and impartial enquiry which will make the concerned people accountable and these people should be booked immediately,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar said. “They (government) are saying it will take three months for the probe report to be ready and so they should start the process immediately,” the spokesman added. “Let us also see the terms of reference of this enquiry,” Javdekar added. An Indian anti-corruption body in August reported a plethora of problems with construction work, including the use of poor-quality materials and dubious contracts. The allegations also sparked two days of heated debate in parliament in August. In a poll published Saturday in the Times of India, 86 percent of respondents said the corruption charges should be fully investigated and the guilty brought to book. The Games were seen as a chance to spotlight India”s emerging economic superpower status after the success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but a series of high profile public embarrassments took the shine off the event and left India on the international defensive. |
| Karachi by-polls arrangements finalized Posted: 16 Oct 2010 12:01 AM PDT Geo436 At least 22 of 86 polling stations have been declared 'extremely sensitive' and the rest sensitive in Orangi Town comprising five union councils. No unconcerned persons would e allowed at the polling stations with a police officer assisted by 15 policemen to be deployed at every polling station. Police in plain clothes also would be positioned outside the polling stations. Meantime, additional contingents of police have been called in. No one would be allowed to brandish weapons. It should be mentioned here that the political parties taking part in the elections demanded the deployment of Army; however no orders in this regard came to the fore. Besides independent candidates, Saifud Din Khalid of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Riaz Gul of Awami National Party (ANP) are contesting the polls. |
| 18 Pakistanis released from Yemen reach Karachi Posted: 15 Oct 2010 11:59 PM PDT Geo436 Staff Report KARACHI: Eighteen Pakistanis released from different jails in Yemen arrived at the Karachi airport on Saturday. Yemeni authorities had arrested 20 Pakistani fishermen over violation of territorial seas and other offenses. They were detained at the airport by FIA. Four of the released men hail from Karachi and the remaining are from Peshawar. Advocate Nisar Mujahid told Geo436 that two fishermen are still languishing in a prison in Yemen. Geo436 |
| One billion hungry on World Food Day: UN Posted: 15 Oct 2010 11:40 PM PDT Geo436 NEW YORK: The United Nations has called for a united front against hunger on World Food Day, with nearly one billion people suffering from food shortages worldwide. “We are continually reminded that the world’s food systems are not working in ways that ensure food security for the most vulnerable members of our societies,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in his message for World Food Day, which is Saturday, October 16. “When people are hungry, they cannot break the crippling chains of poverty, and are vulnerable to infectious diseases,” the UN secretary general noted. “When children are hungry, they cannot grow, learn and develop,” Ban added. On October 11, a new global hunger index released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) showed that one billion people face hunger this year. The 2010 Global Hunger Index |
| FoDP urges on Pak economic reforms Posted: 15 Oct 2010 11:33 PM PDT Geo 436 It was stressed during the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) held here on Friday and was preceded by a Senior Officials' Meeting. Hosted by the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, the Ministerial Meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Also attending were the foreign ministers and senior representatives of 20 countries and four multilateral institutions. "The meeting expressed condolences for the loss and hardship caused by the devastating floods across Pakistan, which have affected 20 million people. "The ministers noted that the unprecedented need of post-flood reconstruction and rehabilitation should be met by a strong signal of solidarity and tangible support from the international community", according to the Joint Communique issued after the Third Minister Meeting of FoDP. The meeting welcomed the Arab Republic of Egypt as a new member of the FODP. Foreign Minister Qureshi conveyed his appreciation and gratitude to the EU High Representative for organizing the FoDP ministerial meeting and enabling such high level attendance, which was a clear expression of international support for Pakistan. The Foreign Minister also thanked the FoDP members for their participation, as well as their support for Pakistan's development and prosperity and conveyed deep gratitude for their generous flood relief assistance. The FoDP members recognised that reconstruction requirements were daunting and that the Damage Needs Assessment being carried out by the Government of Pakistan, together with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank should be a good basis for an effective and sustainable national strategy aimed at early recovery and long-term reconstruction based on the concept of 'build back better'. The meeting welcomed the resolve of the Government of Pakistan to develop a comprehensive plan of action. The FoDP members appreciated the steps taken by the government in constituting the National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) and the government's commitment to ensure transparency, accountability and effective utilisation of resources. The FoDP also noted the need for continued efforts by the Government of Pakistan under its reform programme towards economic stabilization and sustained economic revival, including widening the tax base, and taking other necessary structural measures to generate and enhance the maximum possible domestic resource mobilisation for reconstruction and long term development. In this context, the Friends attached importance to the forthcoming meeting of the Pakistan Development Forum in Islamabad on Nov 14-15, 2010, and looked forward to presentations on Pakistan's economic stabilization plans and a national plan for reconstruction. The Friends affirmed that the FODP is a Pakistan-led process where international cooperation can be expressed for Pakistan's aspirations to build a strong and prosperous society for its people and looked forward to progress on economic reform. It was agreed that the success of Pakistan's experience in developing a strong democratic system, the welfare and well-being of its people, combating extremism and terrorism and Pakistan's economic prosperity and stability were critical for regional and global peace and stability. They acknowledged that socio-economic challenges had been compounded by the devastation caused by the floods. The Friends noted that better trade opportunities would facilitate economic recovery. In this context, the EU decision to seek a Pakistan-specific WTO waiver was appreciated and should be supported. The FoDP members noted progress on the Malakand Development Strategy and considered the Post-Crisis Needs Assessment (PCNA). They endorsed the PCNA and confirmed their commitment to support all its recommendations, welcoming the Government of Pakistan's commitment to lead on urgent implementation of the report. They agreed that progress will be reviewed at the next FODP Senior Officials Meeting. In this context, they expressed satisfaction with the operationalisation of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for financing development projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistan's energy needs were considered in the context of the Integrated Energy Sector Recovery Report and Plan. The meeting thanked the Government of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank for the excellent work carried out by the Energy Sector Task Force. The meeting endorsed the report and underlined that implementation of its recommendations would help stabilize the energy sector in Pakistan. The meeting acknowledged water management as an important priority for the Government of Pakistan. It was agreed that the Asian Development Bank, through a Task Force, will prepare a strategy on water management in consultation with the Government of Pakistan. The strategy would take into account all aspects of the issue and its critical relevance to agriculture, development and disaster prevention. It was agreed to have an update on progress at the next Senior Officials' Meeting. The FoDP members supported Pakistan's determination to enhance its institutional and administrative capacities and in this context the emphasis laid by the Government of Pakistan on long-term Public-Private Partnerships. They noted that sharing of best practices on effective governance, efficient service delivery, transparency and accountability would significantly help the reform process. The meeting noted the intention of the Government of Pakistan to hold the second Public-Private Partnership conference in Islamabad some time next year and expressed its full support for its success. It was agreed that more regular meetings among officials should be organized in Islamabad to review progress of FoDP activities. The meeting agreed that a work plan of activities under the FoDP process will be useful. The FoDP members welcomed the offer by Turkey to host a meeting of the FoDP Working Group on Institution-Capacity Building at a mutually agreed date in the near future. The next Ministerial Meeting of the FoDP will be held in the first half of 2011. |
| Sindh minister’s car snatched in Karachi Posted: 15 Oct 2010 11:29 PM PDT Geo436 Staff Report KARACHI: Gunmen snatched the official vehicle of Sindh's Youth Affairs Minister, Faisal Sabzwari, from Gulsan-e-Iqbal in Karachi Saturday morning. Gulshan's SSP Naeem Sheikh confirmed that armed persons stopped Faisal Sabzwari's vehicle outside his residence and forced the driver to get out of the car before they took the vehicle away. The minister was not in the car at that time. Police registered a case against unknown burglars and started an investigation. Geo436 |
ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader in the National Assembly and Central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) the appointment of Justice (rtd) Deedar Hussain Shah as the chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Geo News reported Saturday.
KARACHI: There were some serious threats during tomorrow's by-polls in PS-94 including suicide attack and firing, Commander Sachal Rangers Brigadier Wasim Ayub citing intelligence reports said.
RAWALPINDI: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Qazi Anwar said the present parliament is bogus and the statement of Federal Law Minister Dr. Babar Awan against the judiciary is deplorable, Geo News reported Saturday.
NEW DELHI: The Indian government has launched an official investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement during the preparations for the Delhi Commonwealth Games, reports said Saturday.
KARACHI: The security arrangements have been finalized for the by-elections of PS-94 Orangi Town area of Karachi, Geo News reported Saturday.
BRUSSELS: The Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) has stressed the need for a strong solidarity and support by international community to Pakistan to meet the unprecedented needs of reconstruction and rehabilitation, after the recent devastating floods which affected 20 million people and caused loss and hardships.| You are subscribed to email updates from Geo436 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
