Awaz Apni

Awaz Apni KARACHI: MQM has claimed that 7 MQM activists have been severely wounded by the ruling party’s armed elements in Skardu during election campaign for Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) legislative assembly. A statement issued by MQM’s headquarters Thursday, said that MQM activists have been assaulted by armed men in the presence of Mehdi Shah, ruling party candidate at Sakey ground school polling station. The wounded MQM district committee activists are identified as Mohammad Sharif Kakar, Munnawar Hussein, Shujat Hussein, Shabbir Hussein, Mohammad Ismail, Mohammad Muddassir and Zahid Ali. The MQM has strongly condemned assault on innocent activists, and declared such attacks as undemocratic tricks to subside MQM as opposition fears MQM’s win in G-B legislative assembly elections. MQM has demanded President Zardari, PM Gillani and election commission to take action against the assailants of MQM activists at Sakey ground school polling station.

Awaz Apni GILGIT-BALTISTAN: Pakistan People’s Party’s Syed Mehdi Shah has emerged successful with 5,295 for LA-7 Skardu-1 in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative elections, according to an unofficial result. Wazir Wilayat of Pakistan Muslim League-Q is runner up with 2,270. Independent candidate Deedar Ali wins LA-2 Gilgit 2 by bagging 4,535 votes while PPP’s Jamil Ahmed received 2,774 votes and remained second. PPP’s Wazir Baig emerged victorious on LA-6 Gilgit 6 with 3,571 votes, leaving MQM’s Kamil Jan behind who bagged 2,240 votes. JUI(F)’s Gulbar Khan received 2797 and won LA-18 Diamir 4. Independent candidate Malik Muhammad Miskeen is runner up with 1,535 votes. PPP’s candidate Wazir Shakil won the seat of LA-9 Skardu 3 with 6,423 votes in Gilgit-Baltistan elections. PML-N’s Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad stands second with 2,592 votes. PML-N’s Muhammad Abdullah wins LA-23 Ganche 2 with 4,240 votes while Amina Ansar of PML-Q’s loses with 3,963 votes. PPP’s Muhammad Ismail Engineer clinche...

CNews DAVOS: President Pervez Musharraf Thursday said Pakistan is fighting war against terrorism and extremism. Speaking to the annual gathering of the world's political and business elite at World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Musharraf said Pakistan is advancing towards genuine democracy and with free and fair elections in February democracy will be more stable in the country. He said the media has been given freedom in Pakistan. “When I assumed power there was only on television channel in the country but the number has now reached to more than 50”. Musharraf said Pakistan is fighting against terrorism and extremism and pursuing a multidimensional strategy in this respect. Talking on Pakistan’s nuclear programme President Musharraf said the nukes have no threat from terrorists. He questioned labeling Pakistan’s nuclear bomb as “Islamic bomb.” He asked why the other bombs not being named as Hindu bomb or Zionist bomb? It is incorrect to dub Pakistan nuclear bom...

CNews NAUDERO, Pakistan — Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son was chosen Sunday to succeed her as chairman of her opposition party, extending Pakistan's most famous political dynasty but leaving the real power to her husband, who will serve as co-chairman. Both major opposition parties also decided to run in parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan. 8, apparently ending the threat of a wholesale boycott as Pakistan struggles to move to full democracy after years of military rule. But earlier, a spokesman for the country's ruling party said the vote may be delayed up to four months, claiming the parliamentary elections would lose credibility if held as scheduled. He expected a formal announcement within 24 hours. "How long the postponement will be for will up to the Election Commission," Tariq Azim, information secretary of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q, told The Associated Press. "I think we are looking at a delay of a few weeks ... of up to three or four...

NABEEL ARSHED, STUDENT, RAWALPINDI Nabeel Arshed feels the country is spiralling out of control I was in Rawalpindi town at the time of the assassination. I heard an explosion but suicide bombs have become routine in this country so I didn't give it a second thought. When I turned on the news I got the shock of my life. I come from a family with rightist sympathies but we all feel as if our mother had died. She was a liberal force, a hope for a Pakistan overrun by militancy. Now there is a great vacuum. My fears are for Pakistan's unity. She went to the restive province of Balochistan and handed her support to the people there. Whatever we were going through, I felt as if she had the power to unite the provinces of Pakistan. Now you can already hear the separatist movement. Those voices are becoming stronger now that there is no national leader in Pakistan. We were already in a downward spiral, heading towards extremism. This was the last straw: killing a stalwart for democracy...

CNews CRAWFORD, TEXAS: The United States appealed for calm and urged its "war on terror" ally Pakistan to press on with its elections after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday.Condemning the "cowardly" suicide attack that killed her, US President George W. Bush urged Pakistanis "to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life."The attack at an election rally in the Pakistani city Rawalpindi sparked deadly riots and fears for stability in the nuclear-armed country, as well as overshadowing next month's planned elections, which Bhutto had been tipped to win.Bush telephoned Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to discuss the situation, the White House said, while US officials appealed for calm in Pakistan amid deadly riots following Bhutto's murder."The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakis...

CNews LAHORE: President Pervez Musharrafs, welcoming participation of maximum number of parties in upcoming elections, has directed caretaker government to ensure free and fair elections.Addressing caretaker Punjab cabinet today, President Musharraf said participation of maximum number of political group in elections would strengthen democratic system in Pakistan. He directed caretaker set up to make all out measures for free and fair elections.He said the government would ensure continuity of efforts to curb extremism. Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Ejaz Nisar said Punjab Government is using all resources for ensuring fair elections. Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool was also present.

Reactionary forces opposing free polls: Bhutto Updated at : Tuesday, December 11, 2007 MARDAN: Peoples Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has said parliamentary elections must be free and fair to thwart lawlessness and extremism in the country adding that reactionary forces are opposing transparent polls. Addressing party workers convention in Mardan Bhutto said the former ruling party planning to rig the elections. They want to use police and other government machinery to rig the polls. ``We want fair and free elections to thwart lawlessness in the country,” she said .... Militants’ important commander Ibn Aameen killed in Swat Tuesday, December 11, 2007 SWAT: Militants’ one of the significant commanders Ibn Aameen and three other militants are reported to have been killed as a result of an offensive l ... Karsaz Tragedy Inquiry: Police official testifies Tuesday, December 11, 2007 KARACHI: The tribunal inquiring the October 18th attack on Benazir Bhutto's convoy resu...

Draft receiving final touches for emergency lifting ISLAMABAD: The legal advisors are Saturday giving final touches to the draft of Provisional Constitutional Amended Order-II at the President House for lifting the emergency on December 15 and several new amendments are being recommended in the constitution.The suggested amendments include the accountability of the judges of higher judiciary and deleting the words regarding the appointed timeframe for the presidential election.According to the sources, the legal advisors are mulling over amending Clause-3 of the Article 41 of the amended PCO related with the presidential election. Under this article, the presidential election can be held prior to end of its stipulated tenure; also, thought is being given to eliminating the words related with the timeframe for this election from August 17, 1988.Phrase ‘subject to constitution’ is being replaced by ‘notwithstanding anything contained in the constitution’ in Sub-clause II of Article 44 dw...

RAWALPINDI: A high-level meeting, which was presided over by president General Pervez Musharraf here on Wednesday considered a plan to hold the general elections in the country under supervision of Pakistan army. The Governors and Chief Ministers of all the four provinces and high-ranking military officials attended the meeting. President General Pervez Musharraf also held separate meeting with his top aides and key military officials.

DERA ALLAHYAR: Former Prime Minister, Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali has said that the general elections could be put off for some time due to the existing prevalent situations in the country.Talking to CNews News at the Jafferabad area here, he said that the final decision regarding elections have to be essentially made by the government and the Election Commission, but the law and order situation in the country would definitely impact on the elections.“No one can get to govern in the name of God and the parties, whom the people will make victorious, will get into the government,” he observed. Replying to a question on the Reconciliation Ordinance, Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali said that pardon for nothing to some, while some other remaining deprived of should not happen—the law should be identical for all the citizens of the country. He said that all the politicians including Benazir and Chaudhry Shujaat should make their security arrangements on their own in accordance with the dictates of S...

CNews RAWALPINDI: A high level meeting presided over by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was underway here on Tuesday, sources said.Provincial governors, chief ministers and other top officials are attending the meeting at presidential camp office here.The participants discussing law and order, upcoming general elections, caretaker setup and other issues in the meeting, sources added.

ISLAMABAD: Polling in the elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association was completed after which counting of the votes continues. Votes were cast in eight cities including all the four provincial capitals for the election of the officials of the Supreme Court Bar Association. A large number of members availed their voting right in the Supreme Court Bar elections. Polling was held in peaceful atmosphere after which counting of the votes continues. The results will be officially announced on October 31. Contest is going on between Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan and Zafarullah Khan for the seat of president of the Supreme Court Bar Association while 11 candidates are contesting for four seats of vice-president. There is contest between three for secretary and two for additional secretary. Zaheer Ahmed Qadri has already been elected unopposed the finance secretary. There are 32 candidates for 14 seats of the executive committee whereas candidates for both the NWFP executive seats have already be...

Cnews KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that the powers of Town Nazims should be seized before elections.Fahim said that this is a wrong impression that PPP wants dissolution of local bodies. It is a duty of Election Commission to seize powers of town nazims before elections but they should remain continue their duties.About Karachi tragedy investigations, Fahim said that investigation should be carried out in a manner, which would satisfy the masses. He stressed usage of scientific methods for the investigation.

CNews ISLAMABAD: The United States Government will sponsor election observation programs in support of Pakistan’s general elections, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson announced Thursday. “The assistance from the United States is part of the international community’s desire to assist Pakistan in holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country,” Ambassador Paterson said. The United States Government has signed agreements with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and The Asia Foundation to conduct activities before, during, and after the election. IRI will deploy 12 long-term and 40 short-term international observers in Pakistan’s four provinces to conduct a pre-election assessment followed by election-day observation. The United States is also contributing to The Asia Foundation’s multi-donor efforts to place independent domestic observers at polling places nationwide. A coalition of 30 Pakistani civil society organizations will conduct nationwide monitoring of the pr...

CNews PESHAWAR: Shamsul Mulk took the oath of caretaker chief minister of Frontier here on Thursday. Frontier Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai has administered the oath. The oath taking ceremony was held in Governor House which was attended by chief secretary Frontier Riaz Noor, IG Frontier Constabulary Malik Naveed, former speaker Frontier Assembly Bakht Jahan Khan, Federal Minister for inter provincial coordination Salim Saifullah and other civil and military officials. Talking to media after taking the oath, Shamsul Mulk said that his first priority would be to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the province.

CNews ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Wednesday that the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies will complete their tenure and the caretaker governments will hold the general elections with 60 days. “ For the first time in the history of Pakistan the elected assemblies are completing their tenure,” he said. The federal caretaker government, the caretaker governments provinces will be formed after November 15, he added. The general elections will be held in early January next year, in the next crucial step in the nuclear-armed Islamic nation's return to democracy. Shaukat Aziz said the elections would be staged before January 15 and after the current session of the national parliament finishes. "Elections would be held in the first part of January," Aziz told reporters during a fast-breaking dinner at his residence. "The national parliament and provincial assemblies will complete their terms on November 15 and elections will be held 60 days after ...

Cnews ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf has advised self-exiled former Prime Minister and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto to delay her return to Pakistan, reported a foreign newswire on Wednesday. “ Benazir should not come back to Pakistan on October 18 and she should delay her return programme till the Supreme Court decision regarding the presidential election,” Musharraf was quoted as saying by an American news agency. “ I will not be sworn in before the Supreme Court decision about the eligibility to contest the presidential election, which I have won with overwhelming majority,” he said. Musharraf also said that he would doff the uniform till November 15.

CNews NAUSHEHRA: The decision has been made to appoint former provincial minister Shams-ul-Mulik, who has also been the chairman of WAPDA, as the caretaker Chief Minister of NWFP. Mr. Shams-ul-Mulik will be sworn as the caretaker Chief Minister of NWFP tomorrow (Thursday). The caretaker cabinet would be announced in few days time. NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai had dissolved the NWFP Assembly on the advice of the Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani. The Law Department had issued notification about dissolution of the provincial assembly. It merits a mention here that former Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani had turned down the request to continue as caretaker chief minister till the announcement of the election schedule for the general elections in mid November 2007.