Pakistan Bee » Politics

Zardari using Google Earth to check land encroachment

PakBee — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:12:58 +0000

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari Friday said that the government has initiated a drive against the encroachers and ordered a survey of all those areas which had been encroached upon, adding, all the encroached areas would be cleared of the encroachers.

He suggested the authorities to use the Google Earth to check whether the Goths of Karachi were old and not encroached upon.

“We welcome all those who are coming to Karachi, as it is their constitutional right, but not in the form of ‘Qabza groups,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony of 11th draw of Waseela-e-Haq and Smart Cards programmes of Benazir Income Support Programme here, he said, the government would fulfil the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto of women empowerment.

The president congratulated the gathering that the Parliament has unanimously passed the Benazir Income Support Programme bill as all the political parties, under the reconciliation policy and showing maturity has acknowledged that it should be continued in future as well as it is in the best national interest and benefits the downtrodden section of the society.

“Government is committed to steer the country out of the present crisis and we all will together give a better Pakistan to our coming generations,” the President said.

He said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has done his B.A Hons and got the same marks which Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had obtained. He said, “now we will start his training-the politics is in his genes”.

“We will give the youth of Pakistan in his hand and he (Bilawal) will make progammes for the coming generations,” he said.

President Zardari said that presently the users of internet in the country are 20 million and in coming years they would reach to 200 million, adding, the present government wanted to provide internet service and a laptop to every home.

He said that now the time has come that the son of a ‘Hari’ in Sindh should know the outflow of River Indus.

The president said that he had raised the issue of water with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the UN summit two years back and he (Singh) had said that Pakistan can take the issue to the World Bank.

He said that the government had hired an international arbitrator who would talk with India on the issue.

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Javed Hashmi Hospitalized Over brain Hemorrhage

PakBee — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:14:35 +0000

MULTAN: A leader of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Makhdoom Javeed Hashmi has been admitted to ICU ward at Nishter Hospital here, after he suffered Brain Hemorrhage, media reports said quoting family sources as saying on early Tuesday.

According to family sources, following he suffered Brain Hemorrhage, his body also suffered stroke due to internal bleeding.

Given his serious condition, saying anything about his health would be too premature, hospital sources said.

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Hectic political efforts to end deadlock

PakBee — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:54:33 +0000

ISLAMABAD: All major political parties are making hectic efforts to end the deadlock created by a sudden change in PML-N chief’s stance on the 18th amendment, although Mian Nawaz Sharif reiterated his demand on Monday for changes in the provision about judicial appointments in the draft prepared by the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms.

And the issue on which the committee had failed to arrive at a consensus, the renaming of the NWFP, remained unresolved but the government was optimistic about reaching an agreement among all parties in a few days.

ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan told reporters after a meeting with Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, chairman of the committee for constitutional reforms, that the committee’s mandate was to resolve all issues, including the renaming of the NWFP.

Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif held a press conference and again justified the change in his stance and rejected allegations that he had taken a U-turn.

According to sources, the ANP leadership was assured by PML-N leaders in the evening that the issue of NWFP’s new name would be resolved after a meeting of the N-League scheduled for Tuesday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani contacted Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour who belongs to ANP and some PML-N leaders to discuss various steps to resolve the contentious issues.

Sources at the Prime Minister’s House said the government was hopeful of reaching an accord on the constitutional package by Wednesday.

According to sources, the chief of ANP’s NWFP chapter, Senator Afrasayab Khattak, led a delegation to the residence of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to discuss the possibility of getting the constitutional reforms approved by parliament without the support of the PML-N.

PML-Q’s provincial chief Amir Muqam told the ANP delegation that his party would not accept ‘Pakhtunkhwa’ as the new name of the NWFP, but promised to cooperate if Abasin, Khyber or Afghania was added to it.

The PML-Q constituted a five-member committee headed by Mr Muqam to hold talks on the issue.

The entire leadership of the PML-N, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was in Islamabad, apparently anticipating a meeting with top government leaders.

Nawaz Sharif, who also had an off the record interaction with senior journalists, rejected a perception that he had sabotaged the reforms and said he had acted in national interest.

Mr Sharif put all the blame for the discord on Law Minister Babar Awan and said that premature announcement made by him about the package had caused the logjam.

He said it was wrong to assume that a consensus had been reached on the issues of renaming the NWFP and the procedure for appointment of judges.

He said it was better for the committee to deliberate for a few more days rather than letting the issues become contentious in parliament.

Mr Sharif said his party did not trust the PPP leadership which dissolved the PML-N government in Punjab and got him and his brother disqualified by what he called a ‘kangaroo court’.

He also said that he had no regrets over the stand he had taken on the crucial issue.

Mr Sharif blamed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for the current political chaos and said it was trying to link every issue with repeal of the 17th Amendment.

He said the PPP wanted to include a senior judge of its choice in the judicial commission. “It was unacceptable because three of the seven members were already representatives of the government.”

He described as ‘half-baked’ the constitutional package which was to be tabled in parliament.

He said some matters were still under discussion when the government announced that it would table the document in the National Assembly and that President Asif Ali Zardari would address a joint session of the two houses of parliament before that.

Mr Sharif also called for curtailing the president’s powers in ‘one go’ before moving to other reforms contained in the constitutional package.

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Ejaz warns against tempering with Zia’s titile

PakBee — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:50:17 +0000

KARACHI: Muslim League Zia President Ejaz ul Haq on Monday said that if title of General (r) Zial ul Haq as President of Pakistan was removed from the Constitution then all titles of former PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto would also have to be removed.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club (KPC), he said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the country’s first civilian martial law administrator.

About renaming of NWFP as Pakhtoonkhwa, Haq said that no party has got the right to change the name of any province.

To a question, he said that Mian Nawaz Sharif was a seasoned politician, who could not change his stance on just one phone call.

He further said that recently held Punjab by-elections were the referendum of people.

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Awards night

PakBee — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:33:32 +0000

Hello people, and welcome to the First Annual Pakistani Private TV Channels Awards. I, Wamid Mir, will be your host for the evening and with me will be the lovely, Dr. Shireen Blackwater Baymaari. Let’s kick off this grand event, but first, a choti se break, and a word from our main sponsors, Aafia Fairness Cream.

Yes, people, every Pakistani daughter, wife, mother and sister should be using this cream, made from natural Jalalabad almonds, ripe Swati lemons, and scintillating Afghan gun powder extracts. Experience a great sense of non-Caucasian fairness with Aafia Fairness Cream … otherwise you’re a traitor!

Over to you Shireen.

Thank you, Wamid. I hate the US!

That’s nice to know, Shireen. Now, can we know who the nominees for our first award are?

No! Not unless you expel the Blackwater agents planted within the audience.

Okay. Can you help us pinpoint them?

There! There’s one!

What? That’s an empty chair!

Well, that’s what Blackwater would want you to believe. Get him out!

Right. We will. Now can you please announce the nominees for our first award?

Okay. The first award is for the Loudest Talk Show Host. And the nominees are: Dr. Deafeningly Danish and Meher Blah Brunette Bokhari.

And the winner is: Dr. Deafeningly Danish! Dr. Deafening, please come up the stage and accept your award.

THANK YOU, SHIREEN!! THANK YOU WAMID! CAN YOU HEAR ME??

Ahem, yes, we can Dr. Deafening. Can you kindly take the award without delivering a speech? I don’t think our mics and speakers have enough watts in them to handle your voice.

OKAY, WAMID SAHIB! AND SORRY, MEHER, I BEAT YOU!!

OH, YOU SHUT UP, YOU URDU-MEDIUM MAN-SIREN!! THIS IS NOT FAIR!! I AM LOUDER AND DUMBER! CAN YOU HEAR ME??

We can hear you both loud and clear. Now will you kindly keep quiet?

OKAY!

Phew. Thank you. Do I hear whistling in the hall, or is it just my ears ringing? Anyway, on to our next award. Shireen, can you take us through it?

No!

Now what?

I can see CIA agents.

Where?

In your ears.

In my ears? But it’s just wax.

Precisely.

Okay, I’ll get rid of it.

Good boy. Okay, our next award is for the most Blessedly Warped TV Personality. And the nominees are: Zion Hamid; Dr. Aamer Aafat; and Dr. Shahid Barood. This is a tough one. But, alas, the winner is the great Zion Hamid. Zion sahib, kindly come and take your award from Wamid Mir saheb.

Zion sahib is in India at the moment, Shireen. He will be with us via satellite. You can see and hear his acceptance speech on this big screen behind me. Yes, Mr. Zion.

Hello, Wamid. Hello people. I am speaking to you live from the Red Fort in New Delhi. And I want to give the nation the good news that my army has taken over India. Rejoice!

That’s India? You are sitting in front of a video backdrop of the Red Fort.

Shut-up, Wamid. What do you know? You’re a CIA agent, anyway. I am in India, and to prove it, I have with me, Muhammad Bin Qasim! Say hello to our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, Qasim bhai.

That’s Ali Azmat!

Shut-up, Wamid. He is Muhammad Bin Qasim. Every Pakistani is Muhammad Bin Qasim!

Even the women?

Especially the women! Have you ever seen Maria B without make-up?

You are making fun of your own supporter?

We are at war. And war is fun.

Err … Zion sahib, the Red Fort backdrop was just replaced by a backdrop of a beach in Honolulu.

It was? Oh … umm … that’s not Honolulu. That’s a beach near Mumbai.

Really? Since when have Mumbai beaches got Hawaiian women dancing on them?

Well … err … its tourism season here in Mumbai.

But we thought you were in Delhi.

I am! I can prove it. I have with me Aishwarya Rai. Say hello to your new rulers, sister Aishwarya.

What? That’s Ahmed Qureshi in a sari!

How dare you! Enough! I can’t accept this stupid USA-India-UK-Papua New Guinea-sponsored award of yours. I have better things to do.

Like what?

Like conquering Israel! My next speech to the nation will be delivered from Tel Aviv.

I see. Well, good luck, Zion sahib. By the way, before you go, just wanted to tell you your backdrop has changed again. And it looks very much like Disney Land.

Alhamdulillah! It seems we’ve conquered the United States as well. Rejoice!

So, Shireen, whom do you want to give this award to now?

Well, I always thought the award should have been shared by all the nominees. They’re all so blessed. Come on up, guys, come to mama, and take your Most Blessedly Warped TV Personality Award!

Nice. Shahid Barood, would you like to say something?

I can’t, Wamid. The evil government is out to destroy me. I’m in hiding.

But you’re right here. We can see you.

No, Wamid, you can’t. I’m not here.

You are very much here, now speak!

Mama Shireen, kindly explain the sensitivity of the issue to Wamid.

Wamid, since Barood is in hiding, we’ll have to call Aamer Aafat to receive this prestigious award.

But he’s right here. I can see him. You can see him. The whole world can see him!

See who?

Shahid Barood!

Where?

Here! Right in front of you!

Stop hallucinating, Wamid. It seems that ear-wax of yours has gotten into your eyes as well. Good luck, Barood, wherever you are, and may the force of brave journalism be with you.

Thank you, mom, I will only come out of hiding after this corrupt government is toppled by gallant journalists like you and me.

Hey, me too!

Okay, you too, Wamid.

Thanks, Shahid.

Sigh. Life is not easy when one’s in hiding.

Where are you hiding?

I am in a bunker designed specially by Peo TV for my brilliant talk show, ‘Meray MutaBak-Bak.’

Well, good luck to you, my brave friend. Let me shake your hand. Oh, my, your palms are so cold. Do meet us whenever you come out of hiding.

I will, I wish you could see the state I am in.

But I can.

No you can’t!

Of course, I can’t. My bad. Anyway, Dr. Aamer Aafat, kindly collect the award from us.

Jazzakallah! Jazzakallah! I am honored. How much money am I getting with this award?

Err … none.

Mahshallah. And may I know how much money you are getting to host this show?

As much as you are getting to do that show of yours, ‘Zaalim Online.’

Alhamdulillah. Really happy to hear that. You see, brothers …

I’m a sister, dimwit!

Oh, a thousand apologies, sister Shireen. Wah! Kya naam hai. Shireen. The Sweetening. Mashallah.

Shukriah.

No, sister. Say Jazzakallah. We are, after all, Arabs.

But my ancestors were Jats from Punjab.

Wamid bhai, Punjab is in Arabia.

No, it isn’t.

Yes, it is pyare bhai. Can I see the soles of your shoes?

They’re green.

No wonder. Brother, green is the colour of Islam, it is the colour of Pakistan, and now it is also the colour of my hair. Here, see the green streaking in my hair and beard? Lovely, isn’t it? But, brother, it can’t be the colour of the soles of your shoes.

What are you talking about? You have a garden in your house that has green grass and on which you walk. And the carpet you are standing on right now, its colour is green too!

No, brother, you are obviously mistaken. The carpet is black. Isn’t it, Sister Sweetening?

Yes, it is. Blackwater black!

And the grass of your garden. Is that black too?

Arey, Wamid bhai. What are we talking about? Let’s talk about the message of love and peace that our faith gives. Let’s go out and stone a few heathens, lynch a few Jews, flog some women and …

Let’s just move on, shall we. The next award is for the most Ubiquitous Talk Show Guest. And the nominees are: Gymran Khan; Marvi Siren; Sansar Abbasi; and Haroon-i-Islami. This award will be given by the famous TV hosts, Kamran Can’t and Javed Sermon Chudary. The winner is, the super-fit, Gymran Khan!

Wamid, Gymran is not here. He’s busy negotiating with the Taliban.

Thank you, Shireen. He must be up in the mountains of Waziristan then.

No. Zaman Park, Lahore.

What? There are Taliban in Zaman Park?

No, that’s the name of the area where Gym lives.

So Gym has invited the Taliban to his place?

No. He has invited Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

So who is negotiating with the Taliban then?

Gym is, of course.

But he’s in Lahore.

So where else should he be? Mars?

He should be where the Taliban are!

Where are the Taliban?

Waziristan, Swat, Bannu, South Punjab …

Lies! All Blackwater propaganda!

Then with whom is Gym negotiating, if there are no Taliban?

I never said that!

You just did. Kamran Can’t is a witness. Right, Kamran?

Corruption, Zardari, Zardari corruption, Zardari, corruption, corruption, Zardari …

Never mind. Well, folks, I guess that’s about it. Take care of yourself, and I hope you enjoyed this disaster, but we are proud of it because it’s our very own disaster … and a mighty lucrative one as well.

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Awan in lead as vote count continues

PakBee — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:45:02 +0000

LAHORE: Vote count started following the completion of polling for by-election in NA-55 constituency here amid cries of foul play by Chief of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Unofficial results that have started pouring in show Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Shakil Awan in clear lead over Sheikh Rashid in a neck-and-neck competition between the two.

During the day a couple of incidents of fight were reported. However, the overall law and order situation remained satisfactory.

Pakistan Muslim League-N in reaction to Sheikh Rashid’s allegations of rigging said the latter is raising hue and cry as a way of face saving in view of his defeat in sight.

Early morning rain in the city affected the polling arrangements but later voters starting coming out as clouds started to clear the sky. The turnout grew with time and picked momentum towards the end of polling hours.

The overall situation remained peaceful throughout the polling except for a few separate incidents of fights reported during the day.

Blaming the state machinery for alleged rigging, Sheikh Rashid said PML-N may go ahead and do whatever it wants, he will prove himself a tough competition.

Meanwhile, Jamat-e-Islam candidate Dr. Kamal expressed satisfaction on the election process and advised Sheikh Rashid to come forward with evidence of the alleged rigging.

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Nawaz not to contest by-polls due to Salman Butt: Liaquat

PakBee — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:34:03 +0000

LAHORE: The General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Liaquat Baloch has said Sunday, PML-N chief Mian Mohammed Nawaz Sharif decided not to contest on NA-123 seat in by-elections due to JI’s contender Hafiz Salman Butt, running for the same seat, Geo news reported.

Addressing the by-election campaign rally, he said JI’s nominee Salman Butt beat Mian Salahuddin in 1985 polls and defeated former Governor Pujnab Mian Azhar in 1990 polls on NA-123 seat, therefore, for fear of his defeat seemingly looming, Nawaz Sharif would rather avoid than to run in by-polls.

He hoped for JI’s Hafiz Butt to repeat history by winning by-polls once again.

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Lawyers gather to protest on Constitution Avenue

PakBee — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:30:04 +0000

ISLAMABAD: The lawyers went on countrywide strike and complete boycotts of courts against the issuance of the Presidential orders without consultation with Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry regarding the judges’ appointments, Geo News reported Monday.

The lawyers in large number rallied at Constitution Avenue and outside the Supreme Court (SC) and are raising slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari and Federal Law Minster Babar Awan.

The General Body of lawyers is slated to meet shortly at Constitution Avenue, amid heavy security there with several Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) stationed there.

Heavy contingents of police have been positioned at the important buildings including SC premises, Parliament House on Constitution Avenue. Also, the vehicles of Fire Brigade and ambulances have been put on alert on the spot to cope with any situation as it arises.

The lawyers in large number are arriving on Constitution Avenue from Rawalpindi to attend General Body meeting.

Talking to Geo News, Supreme Court Bar Association President Qazi Anwar said the conspiracy to split the lawyers fizzled out, as the courts’ boycott and strike by the lawyers proved that the lawyers stand united today as before.

Qazi asked the lawyers to gather outside the SC premises on February 18.

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Munawar slams Zardari, Gilani on judges row

PakBee — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:02:43 +0000

KARACHI: In a scathing attack on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hasan on Sunday descried them as two sides of a forged coin.

Speaking to newsmen after attending the party’s CEC meeting here, he demanded that the contempt of court action should be initiated against President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani in connection with issuance of illegal notifications about judges’ appointment.

“Prime Minister Gilani is not that innocent that he is unaware of presidential order,” he said, adding the present situation proves that the government has declared a showdown with state organs.

He was of the view that present judicial crisis would mostly dent the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

To a question, the JI Amir said that the state institutions were heading toward confrontation, which would deteriorate the situation even further. He also lauded the two judges for not accepting presidential orders about their elevation.

Hasan announced that the JI along with other parties and civil society would stage a demonstration outside the Supreme Court to express solidarity with judiciary. He also appealed to people for support for the supremacy of law.

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Imran for justice above roti, kapra, makan

PakBee — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:58:20 +0000

QUETTA: Tehrik-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan on Sunday said that Pakistan needed justice more than PPP’s slogan ‘roti kapra and makan’ (bread, clothing and shelter).

In a telephone address to his party’s workers at Quetta Press Club, he said that the government wanted to bring the judges of its own choice. However, he said that his party would fully resist any such move by the government.

Khan urged the need for waging a struggle to get social and education justice besides judicial justice.

The PTI chief also called for the formation of an independent election commission along with judiciary so that the foundation of a free and fair election could be laid down in the country.

“A section of the country is doing politics either in the name of Islam or Mahajar,” he pointed out.

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