PESHAWAR: Former Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain Ahmad has termed Malakand operation as US conspiracy to break the country. Addressing a meeting of JI office bearers of NWFP and leaders from Malakand Division at Al-Markaz Islami, Peshawar on Saturday, he said the US was working on long term agenda to capture Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

He said the government has started inhuman operation in the name to defeat Taliban on the US directives.
Qazi said this operation will turn the people of Malakand against the country and Pakistan will get no positive results but destruction and people casualties. “We should unite the people to get up against such operations”, he said.

He said the Prime Minister has announced a war against his own people. Qazi further said no country can displace its own people with his own hands. He said all the political parties should break this silence to play their positive role in this precarious situation. NNI

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday appointed Justice (Retd.) Hamid Mirza as new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). President Zardari’s Spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirmed the appointment of Justice (Retd.) Hamid Mirza as new CEC. Mirza will replace Qazi Farooq who will retire on March 14 while the notification for his appointment will be issued soon. Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal administered the oath in Supreme Court building.

The appointment of Mr. Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza as ad-hoc Judge of Supreme Court has been extended for a further period of six months w.e.f. March 14, 2007. Mr. Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza was born on September 14, 1940. His qualification is B.Sc., LL.B. He joined bar in 1961 and practiced till 1973.

He joined provincial judicial service, Sindh on December 10, 1973 and was elevated as Judge, High Court of Sindh on April 10, 1995. Mr. Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza was elevated as judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 28, 2000 and retired on September 13, 2005. He was appointed as ad-hoc judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on his retirement w.e.f. September 14, 2005. His previous ad-hoc term expired on March 13, 2007 and his appointment has been extended further for a period of six months w.e.f. March 14, 2007.

The Election Commission of Pakistan was created on 23rd March 1956 under the Article 137 of the Constitution of 1956 with the Chief Election Commissioner as its head. The first Chief Election Commissioner was appointed on 25th June 1956. The Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent and autonomous constitutional body charged with the function of conducting transparent, free, fair and impartial elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies. The holding of elections to the office of the President and the Senate are, however, the functions of the Chief Election Commissioner. Under the existing laws the conduct of Local Government Elections is also the responsibility of the Chief Election Commissioner.

WASHINGTON: A US lawmaker has advocated the need to encourage India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. “We heard in recent reports that India and Pakistan were meeting secretly in the last year or so to try to resolve Kashmir. All of this has to be encouraged now,” Congressman Ed Markey said while talking to reporters.

A New York magazine in its latest issue said India and Pakistan had secret talks for four years aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue and had in fact almost reached an agreement before General Pervez Musharraf got bogged down in his country’s domestic problem. Markey was part of a Congressional delegation led by House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi that visited Afghanistan last week, wherein she met top US military leaders in the country, besides meeting the Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

After reports that the covert talks between India and Pakistan on occupied Kashmir were about to yield results, the JK chief minister Omar Abdullah has called on the two-countries to revive the secret talks to resolve the vexed Kashmir issue.

In an interview, Omar Abdullah said, “India has been granted a ‘lifeline’ after most Kashmiris voted in landmark elections but the government must avoid complacency and intransigence if it is to bring peace”.
He, however, said that the bad timing of an economic slowdown, a general election and the diplomatic aftermath of November’s Mumbai attacks mean quick progress in the disputed region will be almost impossible.

Omar said that New Delhi has really been handed a lifeline through this election and they need to capitalise on that. “The opportunity is enormous,” Chief Minister Abdullah said in a house surrounded by photos of a family that has dominated Kashmir for decades. “But we shouldn’t underestimate the extent of the challenges we face. There is a bad timing,” he said.

Abdullah, 38, emerged as chief minister after his National Conference party and the ruling Congress party won the assembly election and forged a coalition government. Many Kashmiris saw his victory as bringing hope that some deal could be reached to help end a conflict that has provoked two of India and Pakistan’s three wars. “The fact that the two-decades-old insurgency has waned should not be taken as an excuse to sit back,” Omar said.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday registered cases against 13 peoples including Ajmal Kasab allegedly involved in Mumbai attacks here. According to sources, the cases were registered in the light of investigations conducted by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and recommendations of Defense Committee of the Cabinet. The sources claimed that 3 people were arrested from Karachi out of 13; however, Ajmal Kasab was already in prison in India and 9 others were identified by FIA. The case was registered under Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act.

While Advisor for Prime Minister on interior Rehman Malik Wednesday denied the media repots that Pakistani authorities have registered case against Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving in Mumbai terror attacks. Talking to newsmen Rehman Malik said no case has been registered in this regard. He urged media to avoid overstating the issue.-SANA

[image: New Jersey Blog]

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan and the new US Administration must base their relationship on trust, cohesion and understanding of each other’s strengths and constraints in their struggle against extremism and terrorism. The Prime Minister was talking to the US Special Representative Mr. Richard Holbrook who called on him here at the PM’s House on Tuesday.

He said that Pakistan would like to engage with the US to build a new global strategic consensus for peace, security and stability in the region. He underlined the importance of enhanced cooperation in defence and intelligence sharing. The Prime Minister underscored the need for developing a comprehensive strategy to deal with the issue of terrorism, militancy and extremism with emphasis on dialogue and development.

The Prime Minister said Obama’s administration should reconsider the policy of the US incursions as such actions have proved counterproductive and are promoting anti-American feeling in the area while severely undermining the public support for the counter terrorism measures.

He also underlined the need for taking steps for the elimination of drug money which is the main source of funding to the terrorists. Deliberating upon the outstanding issue of Kashmir which bedeviled Pakistan-India relations for over six decades, the Prime Minister called for the early resolution of the dispute to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.

Referring to the importance of early passage of legislation pertaining to ROZs, the Prime Minister said that this would help address the root causes of extremism and terrorism which stem from economic deprivation and social inequality.

Richard Holbrook said that he has come to listen to the Pakistani leadership to understand the ground situation. He said he is neither carrying any messages from his leadership nor has any demands to make. He said that the US despite its economic difficulties will fully support Pakistan in overcoming its current economic problems.

He specifically mentioned that President Obama feels close affinity towards Pakistan as he in his younger days had widely traveled the country. Holbrook agreed with Pakistan’s proposal to form a parallel group to coordinate with his team to review new US strategy towards Afghanistan, Pakistan and terrorism. He urged that a Pakistani team comprising all the important and relevant departments may visit the US in March as the new US administration would like to complete its strategic review before the forthcoming NATO summit.

Holbrook also requested the Prime Minister for his government’s assistance in locating and releasing of New York Times journalist, Mr. David Rhodes, who has been abducted in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister assured his government’s full support in this regard. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar and other senior officials. US Ambassador Ms. Anne W. Patterson was also present in the meeting.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commission (CEC) Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq set up Appellate Authorities to conduct hearing of the applications against the rejection of the nomination papers of the candidates for the Senate elections.

The authorities were set up at federal and provincial levels; however, Justice Farooq would himself review the applications of Sindh’s candidates as they would have to file their application in Islamabad Election Commission Secretariat if any one of them was going to appeal against the decision of Returning Officer.

Lahore High Court Judge and member of the commission Justice Naseem Sikandar would head the Appellate Authority for Federal and Punjab cndidates. Peshawar High Court Justice Jehanzaib Rahim was appointed as head of the NWFP and FATA Appellate Authority whereas Balochistan High Court Justice Ahmed Khan Lashari would head Balochistan Appellate Authority.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government would take all necessary steps for ensuring improvement in the security situation in Swat, and for providing relief to all IDPs in NWFP and Balochistan on an urgent basis. The Prime Minister said this while discussing the issue with Chief Minister, NWFP, Mr. Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Chief Minister, Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raeesani who called on him at the PM’s House on Wednesday.

The meeting discussed the Swat situation comprehensively. The Prime Minister said the government is focused on restoring peace to the area through its Three-D policy. He asked the NWFP government for providing full security to the international development agencies working in the area.

The Prime Minister also directed the National Disaster Management Authority to immediately cater for the needs of the IDPs, particularly during the winter. Prime Minister was briefed on various public welfare projects under way in NWFP and Balochistan as well as the overall security situation in the provinces. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman and Minister of State for EAD, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar also attended the meeting.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The only durable solution to the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute lies in the implementation of UN resolution and giving Kashmiris their birth right of self-determination, said a declaration issues at the end of the National Kashmir Conference (NKC) held here under the auspices of Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu & Kashmir (JI-AJK) on Tuesday.

The conference also made it clear that if other formulas or means were used to resolve this vexed dispute would harm the struggle of the Kashmiri people for their liberation.

The NKC rejected Indian plan to malign the Kashmir freedom struggle and to label it as terrorism in a bid to cover their inhumane crimes like violations of basic human rights, killings of people, demolition of houses and shops, gang rape of Kashmiri women, and incidents like mass graves and forced disappearance of the peoples. The conference demanded of the United Nations to prevail upon India to immediately stop the violations of basic human rights in Kashmir.

The NKC also stressed for the need of launching an international campaign to expose the Indian hegemonic designs, which New Delhi particularly after crushing the popular uprising in wake of Shrine Board land dispute through state terrorism.

India wanted to accomplish this plan by staging election farce in occupied Kashmir, turning Pakistan into a barren land by construction dams on rivers flowing into Pakistan and isolate Islamabad in the comity of the nations through staging incidents like Mumbai blasts.

The Conference called for convening a special OIC meeting for raising the issue across the world to counter India nefarious designs. The conference called for halting military operation is Swat and FATA in light of the unanimously adopted resolution of the Parliament and for reinforcing the defence of the borders by deploying armed forces on eastern border and along the line of control. The Conference also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian, and condemned the Israeli aggression against the innocent people of Palestine.

The conference was addressed by Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman Kashmir Committee Mualana Fazal-ur-Rehman, PML-N Leader Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, PML-Q Leader Ijaz-ul-Haq, Senator Prof. Khurshid, Former Senator Akram Zaki, Gen. (Retd.) Hameed Gul, President AJK Raja Zulqurnian Khan, Speaker AJK Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, Amir JI-AJK Abdul Rashid Turabi, PPP-AJK President Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Former President AJK Sardar Anwar Khan, Former Prime Minister AJK Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and others.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Kashmir Committee of the National Assembly Mualana Fazalur Rehman has said that Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris for their right to self-determination. Talking to media men after chairing a meeting of the Committee here on Tuesday, he urged the United Nations to take steps for the implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir.

He said Pakistan fully stands on its stance to ensure just right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people and no bilateral agreement prevents it from raising the issue on international fora. He dismissed the Indian argument that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and said according to Simla Accord Pakistan has option to go to international fora if there be any need for its resolution. He said the Indian behaviour in this regard is self-contradictory as it has raised Mumbai attacks at international level despite the fact that it was a bilateral issue.

Speaking on the occasion, the AJK Prime Minister Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob appreciated Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir and its support to Kashmiri people struggling for their just right. Earlier, the Committee discussed and finalized various programmes for observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on Thursday.-SANA

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party (Nationalist), President, Ghulam Hassan Mir has ruled out a pre-poll alliance with any political party. He, however, said his party would enter into alliance with a party which would support or adopt its policy laid down in its manifesto. “If they (any party) would adopt our policies and accommodate our basic issues, then only shall we enter an alliance with them,” Mir told reporters at his residence.

He said the Third Front was going to play a vital role in the state politics. “Given the voter turnout in the first two phases of polls, the conventional family rule will soon end. Instead the third front is going to play a vital role in the state politics,” he said. “The third front will not only give new direction to the politics but change the political dimensions of state.”

Mir said that eradication of unemployment was the foremost priority of his party and if voted to power, it would announce a 30,000 crore employment package for the youth of the state. “The biggest problem of state was unemployment, which had frustrated the youth and as a result of which they found their future bleak. But employment is our thrust area. We have a 30,000 crore package for eradicating unemployment from the state,” he said
“Of the 30,000 crore, he said, 5000 crores would be provided by the government while remaining 25,000 crores would be provided by various financial institutions, “he added.

The unemployed youth, he said, would also receive the unemployment allowance from the government, till they were employed. He said other parties too were making promises of removing unemployment. “But their promises are vague. They have always exploited the youth,” he said, adding, “Ours is a practical policy.” Mir condemned the killings of youth by police and CRPF in Varmul and Sopur. “We condemn such incidents and urge government to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” he said.-SANA