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WEEKLY
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| Senators warn against IMF loan |
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Ask foreign deposits be brought back
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Not only the opposition but also some sympathisers of the PPP-led government in the Senate on Thursday opposed loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
They said that if at all such a step was unavoidable, the matter should be debated threadbare in parliament.However, all that fell on deaf ears as no one from the treasury cared to say a word on the issue. Similarly, urgings from different senators for bringing the money stashed in foreign banks back into the country went unheeded.
PPP Senator Enver Baig came hard on the “Friends of Pakistan” for its poor response to a friend who was indeed in need. “The time to break the begging bowl and learn to stand on our own feet has come,” he thundered.
Baig said Pakistan was the frontline state in the war on terror but “when we need the support of our allies, they throw cold water upon us. Rather than taking the begging bowl to donor agencies, we should stand on our own feet and exploit the connections with the Gulf States for sending Pakistani labour to these countries to earn billions through expatriate remittances,” he advised the government.
This was the seventh day of the Senate debate on the presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament. Majority of the senators warned the government to shun the IMF tentacles as this was bound to further burden the already crushed populace groaning under the rocketing prices and galloping inflation. The opposition once again reiterated its offer to support the government for repealing the Article 58(2)-b of the Constitution and doing away with the 17th Amendment.
The opposition protested over reports of privatisation of Qadirpur gas field, disinvestment of 25 percent shares of the National Bank of Pakistan and the Dadu Sugar Mills and sought reasons for the sale of national assets.
This protest led to an exchange of hot words between opposition leader Kamil Ali Agha and Minister for Housing and Works Senator Rehmatullah Kakar. Both accused each other’s governments of siphoning off money.
Another rowdy scene was witnessed when Information Minister Sherry Rehman lashed out at Senator Jamal Leghari while defending her government on criticism made by him. She reminded Leghari of the alleged ingratitude of his family to the PPP without mentioning that the party had made his father the president of the country but he dissolved the second government of Benazir Bhutto.
The opposition once again reminded the government of the delay being caused in formation of the parliamentary monitoring committee in the light of a joint resolution passed after the in-camera session.
Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani, however, claimed that the government was committed to implement the document in letter and spirit and all political forces would be taken into confidence. “We will take all political forces with us. There is no waiver for us on the abolishment of the 17th Amendment,” he stated.
Raza Rabbani said that the parliamentary committee on national security, as decided in the joint resolution, would be shortly constituted in consultation with all political leaderships. He said the government believed in the supremacy of parliament and it was for the first time that a threadbare discussion on foreign policy was held in the Senate and a joint session of parliament discussed the national security and adopted a consensus resolution. “We are not shy of parliament but believe in its supremacy. The government will seek guidance from parliament on all national issues,” he assured the members.
Rabbani said as per the commitment, the Foreign Office had summoned the US ambassador and told her about the Senate’s resolution on repeated border violations and the joint resolution. He said that this represented the sentiments of the people.
Regarding the murder of a girl in Khairpur, he said three of her uncles had been taken into custody for interrogation. The government has assigned the task of supervising the interrogation to Nafeesa Shah, MNA, who would submit a report within a day or two. “We have directed the provincial government to arrest the culprits as soon as possible and bring them to justice,” Rabbani added.
Meanwhile, Senator Saadia Abbasi also warned against the IMF loans and demanded that any decision in this regard should be taken with the consent of public representatives. She opposed the IMF facility due to its alleged negative impact on the national economy. She also opposed the privatisation of the Qadirpur gas field.
Senator Dr Malik advocated a change in the behaviour of politicians and said that sincerity should be their hallmark. “If we get sincere with our own people, we can get rid of corruption, social evils, financial and power crises,” he added.
Senator Prof Ibrahim criticised the government for not implementing the Charter of Democracy. He also called for nullifying all the unconstitutional steps by Pervez Musharraf, including against judiciary, and urged the government to implement the declaration of the All Parties Conference held in London.
Senator Enver Baig said the country should focus on export of manpower to friendly countries, which could double our remittances in one year. He suggested that youth from Fata and other backward areas should be sent to friendly countries, a step which would be helpful in fighting terrorism and extremism.
Senator Salim Saifullah deplored that while people were running from pillar to post for getting flour, incidents of terrorism in the country had increased. He said though the present government raised the slogans for provincial autonomy yet it had failed to appoint a federal minister for inter-provincial coordination. “Eight months have passed and the government has failed to complete its cabinet,” he added.
He also reiterated the cooperation offer of his government for repealing the Article 58(2)-b of the Constitution.He said instead of constructing an overhead bridge at Zero Point in Islamabad, the government should make payments to IPPs.
Dr Kausar Firdous called upon the rulers to bring back their deposits from foreign banks, cut their expenditures and let the members also forego their stipend for the days they availed leaves.
She also urged the government to come out with a clear stance on Kashmir. She also urged to redefine terrorism, and also declare bombing of innocent people by coalition forces as terrorism.The Senate was prorogued after a seven-day session. The debate on the presidential speech would continue in the next session of the Upper House of Parliament.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
more |
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
