Pakistan will not compromise on its sovereignty: Mukhtar

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar on Wednesday said Pakistan will not compromise on its security and sovereignty and regain control of Shamsi Airbase, according to the deadline.
“We will take over the Shamsi base on December 11 in any case and no drone will be allowed to fly from here after the deadline,” he said this while talking to the media persons at the convocation of Preston University here.
The minister said Pakistan does not want conflict with US but cannot tolerate attacks on its sovereignity.
He said that Pakistan will review other agreements with the US in different sectors and all the decisions will be taken in the supreme interest of the country.
Answering a question, Mukhtar said Pakistan’s nuclear assets are fully secured.
About Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s recent statement,the minister said, Qureshi did not point out any flaw in the system when he was minister.
Mukhtar advised Qureshi to avoid issuing statements which are not in conformity with the national spirit.

News from Narowal

Merkel ‘very sorry’ about Pak boycott of Afghan meet

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday she was “very sorry” about Pakistan’s announced boycott of a Bonn conference next week on the future of Afghanistan and would try to convince it to attend.

Merkel said Germany would still “see what could be done to change” Islamabad’s decision to bow out of the meeting in the western German city, taken in protest at NATO air strikes which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

“We are both interested in constructive development of Afghanistan,” Merkel told reporters at a joint press conference with visiting King Abdullah II of Jordan.

“Which is why I consider the conference hosted by the (German) foreign minister to be very important. We always said that conflicts can only be resolved in the region and Pakistan is part of this region which is why we are very sorry that this cancellation came today.”

Merkel said that Berlin had not given up on convincing Islamabad to reverse its decision and attend the Bonn meeting, which will bring together foreign ministers from around 100 countries to discuss commitments to the war-ravaged country after the withdrawal of NATO troops in 2014.

“I understand Pakistan’s concern about the loss of human life due to NATO troops but this should not distract from the fact that this Afghanistan conference is a very, very important conference,” she said.

“There was a loya jirga (grand assembly) in Afghanistan and there is now a very, very good chance for a possible political process. On the one hand I can understand (the boycott) but on the other, we will see what still can be done.”

A Pakistani official told AFP that Islamabad would boycott Monday’s conference in Bonn over the deadly NATO air strikes at the weekend.

Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan talking to participants of Pak Army Gunnery Staff Course at Governor House

Qureshi slips into history's dustbin: Khosa

LAHORE: Criticising Shah Mehmood Qureshi for joining hands with the PTI, the PPP leadership has said his political future will not be different from other turncoats who left the party for the sake of their own interests.
PPP leaders, rejecting allegations leveled against President Zardari for being a threat to nuclear assets, termed the speech of Shah Mahmood Qureshi a 'pack of lies' and asked why didn't break the silence while he was serving as foreign minister. Some party leaders also held the view that Qureshi had become part of a party being run by some forces of the establishment and would have a bleak future.
Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, while talking to our sources said that it was strange that Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was removed from the office for his poor performance as foreign minister, was now finding faults with leaders of his former party. He said that at a time when he was serving as foreign minister of the country, he had no problem with his leaders and everything was fine but when the post was taken from him for not delivering, he developed a different feeling.

Pakistan permanently closes borders to Nato after air strike

Closing the crossings will choke off almost half of all supplies destined for the Nato-led force.

Accounts still differ about what actually happened in the early hours of Saturday morning when American aircraft attacked two border posts on Pakistani soil.

However, no one doubts that the incident has taken US-Pakistani relations close to collapse.

Pakistan immediately shut its borders to convoys taking fuel and supplies to forces in Afghanistan and says it is reviewing all military and diplomatic ties with the US and Nato.

Last year the main crossing between the two countries was shut for 11 days but reopened when the US apologised for an attack that killed two Pakistani personnel.

Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan presiding over a meeting regarding loadsheding affairs at Governor House.

Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan presiding over a meeting regarding loadsheding affairs at Governor House.

Morocco Islamists poised to win parliamentary vote

(Reuters) - Morocco's moderate Islamist PJD party is on course to win a parliamentary election, partial results showed on Saturday, in what would be the second victory for Islamists in the region in the wake of the "Arab Spring" uprisings.
Incomplete results from Friday's vote indicate that PJD will lead a coalition government in partnership with the secularist party of the outgoing prime minister and two other groups.
Tunisia, birthplace of the Arab Spring, sent ripples through the Middle East last month when a moderate Islamist movement won the country's first democratic election.
Morocco has not had a revolution of the kind seen elsewhere in the region, with its ruler, King Mohammed, still firmly in charge. But it has witnessed some protests inspired by Arab uprisings, mostly to demand fewer direct powers for the monarchy and an end to corruption. In response, the king has introduced limited reforms.
Ali Anozla, editor of the independent Lakome.com news portal, said the monarchy emerges as the main winner of the election. "It now has a lot of time to hold back real reform.
"PJD should hold the biggest number of portfolios in the next government. But how will it be able to govern when the palace holds sweeping prerogatives?" he said.
The party has said it will promote Islamic finance though it will steer clear of imposing a strict moral code on society. The party, whose deceased founder was a physician of King Mohammed's grandfather, is loyal to the monarchy and backs its role as the supreme religious authority in the country.
STRONG LEAD
Announcing the partial count from Friday's election, Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui told a news conference the PJD was on course to be the biggest contingent in parliament.
With results known for 288 seats in the 395-seat parliament, the PJD had 80 seats, said Cherkaoui, whose ministry organised the election. The Istiqlal party, headed by outgoing prime minister Abbas Al Fassi, was in second place with 45 seats, he said.
Asked if his party was willing to form a coalition with the PJD, Al Fassi told reporters: "Yes, yes. The PJD's victory is a victory for democracy."
The partial count gives the PJD, Istiqlal and two smaller parties -- which said before the election they would govern as a coalition if they won -- a total of 170 seats in parliament, just short of a majority.
Abdelali Hami-Eddine, a member of PJD's General Secretariat, told Reuters his party was on course to win at least 105 seats.
Their rivals, a grouping of eight liberal parties with close ties to the royal palace, lagged behind with about 112 seats, according to the partial vote.
PJD's strong showing came on the back of promises for greater democracy, less corruption and to tackle acute social inequalities. Youth unemployment is at 31 percent and nearly a quarter of the 33 million population live in severe poverty.
"This is a huge responsibility considering major challenges we have to face and the difficult context. The key challenge is to ensure a smooth transition and meet the demands of those who protested," said Lahcen Daodi, PJD's deputy leader.
PJD plans to push for a tax reform to "spare the state additional borrowings", said Daodi. "We want value-added-tax on luxury products, we want to reform the income tax system and introduce taxes on owners of unoccupied property. It should help us boost consumption and create more jobs."
"TEMPLATE" FOR ARAB MONARCHIES
Under new rules introduced earlier this year as part of a package of constitutional reforms backed by the king, the prime minister will be drawn from the biggest party in parliament.
Morocco's election is being closely watched by other Arab monarchies for clues on how to respond to the "Arab Spring" without relinquishing their hold on power.
Rabat says it can serve as a template for a gradual approach to reform, instead of the convulsions seen in countries like Libya and Syria.
Since his enthronement in 1999, King Mohammed has won international praise for his effort to repair a dark legacy of human rights abuses under the 38-year rule of his father King Hassan. But the reform drive of his earlier years in power has lost momentum in the last few years.
When demonstrations inspired by the Arab Spring flared in February, he revived the reform process with constitutional amendments that took the wind out of the protest movement.
He ceded some of his powers to elected officials, while keeping the final say on issues of defence, national security and religion.
But there remains a vocal minority who say his reforms are not enough. Thousands of people joined protests in several cities last weekend to back calls for a boycott of the election. Fresh protests are planned on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4.
(Writing by Christian Lowe and Souhail Karam; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

No loadshedding in industrial areas from tomorrow: Asim

Karachi —The Federal Minister for Petgroeum Dr. Asim has said that there would be no load shedding of electricity in industrial areas from Monday. The industrial associations have welcomed the government’s move to stop load-shedding in industrial areas. The Patron In-Chief Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, S M Muneer, Chairman Ehteshamuddin, former Chairman Mian Zahid Hussain and Vice Chairmen, Hasham A Razzak and Tariq Malik while appreciating the assurance of Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim Husain to end up load-shedding in industrial areas from Monday.

Chairman KATI Ehteshamuddin said that in an exclusive meeting with KATI’s office bearers on Thursday were assured by the government of Sindh to eliminate load-shedding from industrial areas and now the Petroleum Minister has confirmed that KESC would exempt industry from long hours load-shedding. He said that industry is facing extremely hard time now –a-days and is not at all able to sustain any further blow like electricity or gas load-shedding. He advised the government to ensure that KESC should not resort to any such action save energy at the cost of industry.

Meanwhile, at KCCI, the Federal Minister held that President, Prime Minister and Ministers were aware of the power dilemma. He said that on his suggestion in the last cabinet meeting a cabinet meeting was called on Tuesday (Nov. 29) that would focus only on power crisis.

He further informed that under the Ministry of Finance a meeting with KESC was scheduled next Wednesday during which impasse would be discussed. He said that the circular debt predicament would also be addressed in the meeting.

Petroleum Minister while warning that future global wars would be fought over energy securitization, maintained that energy crisis, that Pakistan was facing today, was the result of wrong policies of yesteryears. He said that the institution of energy security was the weakest in the country and hence people would have to take the ownership. He said that due to ill planning in the past domestic gas connections were increased six folds and there was an enormous escalation in the number of CNG stations, as a result precious gas had been wasted on throwaway price. He said that gas should have been reserved for Industries, Power Generation and Fertilizer Manufacturers while for domestic usage and transportation alternates should have been explored.

Petroleum Minister warned that the nation should be ready for worst times as in the next couple of years there would be a severe shortage of gas. However, in an optimistic pitch Dr. Asim Hussain stated that result of Thar Coal was expected in three years while his ministry was working to bring LNG in the country. He said that despite US sanctions Iran was exporting oil all over the world and he was hopeful that the proposed gas would eventually be available here. Asim Hussain observed that there were different cartels - like LNG and LPG - operating in the country that was one of the causes leading to the energy crisis. He pointed out due to past policies entities like KESC, IPPs and Rental Power Plants etc were given preferential treatment.

Minister maintained that business and industry were engines of development and if they were not satisfied with KESC they should get rid of it. He said that since government lacked expertise, technical knowhow and manpower, businessmen and industrialists should make a plan (to takeover and operate KESC) and the government was with them. He said that the government and cabinet believed that if there was no legal snag there was no reason why it should not be done.

Earlier KCCI President Mian Abrar Ahmad said that Karachi contributed 68% of the taxes collected all over the country and paid 98% of the KESC revenue. Yet he said that for the last few years there had been a problem of load shedding that aggravated in the last few months making running of industries impossible. He said that KESC had the capacity but no will to generate required electricity. He blamed that KESC was fleecing the industrialists, blackmailing the government and siphoning revenues out of the country.

Mian Abrar pointed out that in the 64-year-old history of Pakistan it was the first occasion when industrialists took to the streets. He reiterated that since they could not agitate they would simply stop paying the bills to KESC and instead deposit the amount with their relevant associations in the form of pay orders. He said that government should realize how industrialists in these circumstances could meet export targets, failing that would mean losing international clients. He said that there were some 16,000 industries operating in the seven industrial zones of Karachi that directly and indirectly provided livelihood to seven million people. He said in case of closure these people would be rendered jobless and ultimately resort to agitation. Abrar Hussain said that provision of furnace oil and gas was not their concern but the problem of the government.

"GREAT OUTRAGE" FOR NATO ATTACK IN ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

AGI) Islamabad - The Pakistani Government affirmed feeling "great outrage" for the NATO raid that killed 28 soldiers. The accident marked a breakdown in relations between Islamabad and NATO forces in Afghanistan, especially with the US component .
  The Pakistani government ordered that the US leave the Shamsi air force base, the outpost used by the CIA for secret operations in the Pakistani desert, within 15 days and announced a block on supplies for the Alliance's troops in Afghanistan. . .
 

Nato helicopters 'attack Pakistan checkpoint'

Pakistani officials have accused Nato helicopters of firing on a military checkpoint near Pakistan's Afghan border, killing up to eight soldiers.

A military spokesman said the attack had taken place in the Pakistani tribal region of Mohmand.
Nato said it was aware of "an incident" near the border and that it was investigating.
The Pakistani military said it was an "unprovoked and indiscriminate" attack.
"Casualties have been reported and details are awaited," a military spokesman said.
The alleged attack took place at the Salala checkpost, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, Reuters reports, at around 02:00 local time (21:00 GMT).
"The firing left seven soldiers and one major dead," an unnamed local intelligence official told Agence France Presse.
Pakistani troops are involved in fighting the Taliban in the crucial border region area. Some 5,000 militants have been resisting attempts by the security forces to clear them from southern and south-eastern parts of the district.
The US has been targeting militants in Pakistan's tribal areas near the Afghan border for several months.
Last year, US helicopters accidentally killed two Pakistani soldiers near the border, prompting Pakistan to temporarily close the border to supplies shipped through the country to Nato troops in Afghanistan.
In October, Pakistan's army chief Ashfaq Kayani warned the US against taking unilateral action in nearby North Waziristan.
He said that the US should focus on stabilising Afghanistan instead of pushing Pakistan to attack militant groups in the crucial border region.
Washington has for many years urged Islamabad to deal with militants in the area.

Misbah, Cheema take Pakistan to five-wicket win

Sharjah: There was no respite for Sri Lanka. In one of the more closely-fought encounters on this tour, it was Pakistan who prevailed by five wickets after their opponents promised to deliver better, only to falter and give it away. First, with their batting, when they began aggressively and scored at around nine an over in the first ten overs before slowing down considerably and eventually capitulating in the second half. And then it happened with the ball, their spinners putting them in control through tight spells and wickets, not knowing Dilhara Fernando and some fielders would fail to hold their nerve at the death.

Misbah-ul-Haq stood tall for Pakistan, doing what Dinesh Chandimal, who made an enterprising half-century, failed to achieve after guiding the innings - seeing his team through to the end and finishing on a high. Pakistan's seamers did what their counterparts failed to do - Aizaz Cheema and Umar Gul cleaned up the innings, taking five wickets in the last two overs, to restrict the visitors to a chaseable score; on the other hand, Fernando doled out length deliveries that brought down the required-rate considerably.

Ajantha Mendis, returning from injury, and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan restrained Pakistan in their pursuit of 142 after Imran Farhat began brightly. He inaugurated the innings with three crisp boundaries off the first over of the innings but brought on to bowl in the sixth over, inside the Powerplay, Mendis struck, removing Farhat, who holed out. Umar Akmal's first-ball duck was crucial in reducing the tempo of the innings further when he adventurously made room to Dilshan and was bowled playing inside the line.

The next four overs yielded just 19, but at one end was Misbah, building up for a flourish at a later stage. He warmed up by slogging a six off Dilruwan Perera over midwicket and triggered the turn in the tide when 43 were needed off four overs, Afridi just having joined him at the other end.

Fernando dropped slightly short to be pulled to the square boundary, and then overcompensated by bowling too full; Misbah unleashed a cracking drive through cover and whipped a full toss behind square to make it 14 in the over. Mendis still had an over left, but Dilshan gave Fernando another go, much to, presumably, his regret. Two length balls followed in the penultimate over - Cheema picked up three wickets at the same stage in the Sri Lankan innings while aiming at the blockhole - and Afridi dispatched them over long-on and deep midwicket. Though he fell off the final delivery, he'd brought down the equation to nine off the last over.

The win was hastened by a botched-up fielding attempt. The first ball of the final over, Misbah drove Malinga to long-off. What should have been a single became two as the fielder took time to get to the ball, and if that wasn't enough, his wayward throw, missed first by Kumar Sangakkara and then by the short fine leg backing up awkwardly, resulted in six runs in total. With two needed off four, Shoaib Malik edged one wide of third man to seal victory with Sri Lanka still appealing desperately, thinking it was a deflection off the pad.

Though Cheema was the star towards the end of Sri Lanka's innings, it was Saeed Ajmal who started the slide. Ajmal's variations have played a major role in his rise to the No.1 spot in the ODI rankings and with expert changes in flight, pace and his mastery over the doosra, he choked Sri Lanka. In a potentially risky move, he was brought on inside the Powerplay, like Mendis, and was launched over mid-off not long after. The next ball, though, was generously flighted and Dilshan was tempted into the slog-sweep which he top-edged to offer a comfortable catch. Ajmal was particularly effective round the wicket, the batsmen often caught confused about the direction of his turn.

Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez slowed down the innings further, making boundaries a rare commodity. Sangakkara, Sri Lanka's best batsman, chipped a catch back to Hafeez while Angelo Mathews and Chamara Silva, from whom the visitors would have expected a surge at the death, were run out. Racing to 91 for 3 at the end of 10 overs, Sri Lanka only managed 50 in the next ten. Cheema added the finishing touches by making up for his troubles early on. In the penultimate over, he trapped Chandimal in front, had Thisara Perera caught behind and bowled Malinga. Sri Lanka fell way short of the target they were on track for. They met with the same fate with the ball.

Mixed reaction on NRO ruling

Islamabad—Different government figures voiced quite varied reaction to the verdict of the Supreme Court (SC) delivered on Friday in National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review case.

Talking to media persons here, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, accepting the court’s ruling, said the matter pertains to Law Ministry.

Minister for Information Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan revealed that the NRO ruling will be taken stock of in a meeting of the party’s Core Committee.

Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan seems sure that the government will definitely act upon the ruling but voiced for the immunity of the president. Renowned lawyer SM Zafar believes that issues will

intensify now in case the ruling was not implemented, adding the judiciary must have certainly realized the government is not going to implement the ruling. Famous lawyer Salman Akram was of the view that there was nothing new in government’s review petitions. —INP

Operation against Haqqani

The latest ‘memogate’ controversy has surely made ambassador Hussain Haqqani quite popular as prior to this episode not many Pakistani were aware of his identity as such a significant personality. With a majority of people claiming that they had heard about him and that he was someone as dangerous as OBL – a public opinion poll aired on a national tv channel - displays the fact quite perfectly. Since the Americans were hell bent upon Pakistan for eliminating the Haqqani presence in Pakistan is surely the only reason why the poor public has linked only terrorism and deception with the name. Can anyone blame them? Surely not! Pakistan, it seems has taken the task provided by the US to heart and has opened up an honest operation against Haqqani. Well, does it matter which Haqqani network it is as long as it threatens the nation and compromises the state’s sovereignty? One thing is sure in this backdrop that an operation is launched against the Haqqani Network would become a full fledged war for Pakistan. How correct our political and security analysts had been. This is just the first part of the battle, the real show is yet to follow. Let’s hope the nation emerges out of it triumphantly.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Abdul Rauf Khalid

Islamabad - Renowned television writer, director, artist Abdul Rauf Khalid died on Thursday in a road accident at motorway when he was on his way to Sheikhupura.
Reports said the tyre of his car burst and it crashed into roadside fence, killing Rauf on the spot.
The late actor was son-in-law of late provincial minister Syed Zafar Ali Shah and brother-in-law of Provincial Health Minister Syed Zahir Shah. He is survived by a wife two sons and a daughter.
According to the family sources, his Namaz-e-Janaza will be held after Juma prayer at the residence of Syed Zahir Ali Shah at Shami Road.
Rauf Khalid was the founder president and chancellor of the National Institute of Cultural Studies, Lok Virsa Islamabad.
He was known for his Kashmir-based patriotic plays. He also worked as an actor in TV and film. Besides, Rauf Khalid was a painter, lyricist, speaker and an educationist.
His paintings have been exhibited in the World Fine Art Gallery at New York and the Omma Art Gallery in Crete Greece. He remained a student at Islamia College Peshawar.
In 1989, he wrote and partially directed PTV's thriller, Maddar, a seven-episode serial, exposing drug trafficking, from PTV Quetta centre. In 1991, he wrote Guest House, a 52-episode comedy series that turned out to be a popular comedy series for PTV. In 1995, Rauf Khalid directed, produced and acted in drama serial "Angaar Wadi'.
In 1998 he directed, produced and acted another 27-episode drama serial 'Laag'.
In 2003, Rauf Khalid released his debut film Laaj, as (writer, director, producer and actor). The film Laaj won 12 Bolan Awards, 14 Graduate Awards, 4 National Film Awards and Luxstyle Award. In 2008, Rauf Khalid also produced his third television serial 'Mishaal' as writer and director.

Govt committed to enhancing status of women: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government is committed to the cause of empowerment of womenfolk and enhancing their status, dignity and prestige in the society.
In a message on International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women falling on November 25, he said violence against women is a global phenomenon.
It has various forms and manifestations and violence not only means physical harm and psychological scar but also the degradation of moral, social and human values, he said adding the purpose of observing International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is to raise awareness among the womenfolk about their rights and also to sensitize the society to the imperative of respecting women rights.
He said the United Nations General Assembly, through its Resolution No 54/134 on December 17, 1999, urged the governments, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and human rights groups to observe November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
He said Pakistan joins the world community in observing this day and the phenomenon of violence against women needs to be addressed through holistic policy reform agenda.
The Prime Minister said the introduction of political, legislative and economic reforms is a key to creating conditions essential for empowerment and emancipation of womenfolk.
The affirmative actions on the part of the state and society can help open up vistas of opportunities for women, he said adding Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a great torch-bearer of the women rights and advocated the cause of their well-being at the international fora.
Gilani said in a famous speech she delivered at Beijing on September 4, 1995, Shaheed Mohtarma said that “the plight of women in the developing countries is unspeakable. Hunger, disease and unremitting toil is their fate.
The Prime Minister said weak economic growth and inadequate social support systems affect them most seriously and directly. They are the primary victims of structural adjustment processes, which necessitate reduced state funding for health, education, medical care and nutrition.
“Curtailed resource flows to these vital areas impact most severely on the vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.  This is not acceptable. It offends my religion. It offends my sense of justice and equity. Above all, it offends common sense,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, “I regard the empowerment of women as my personal mission. In line with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the present democratic government has taken a number of steps that signal radical change in the status of women.”
The government has enacted a number of pro-women laws such as “Protection against Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010”, “The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Bill 2008” to enable women to play their unhindered role in national life, he added.
The Prime Minister said, “I also declared December 22 to be observed as the National Day of Women to highlight the women issues at the national level. We have also announced the conferment of Fatima Jinnah Awards on outstanding women in recognition of their meritorious services. The government has also approved the induction of lady officers in Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force.”
He said the government has appointed women to top University and Ambassadorial positions. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and the Speaker of the National Assembly are women.
Benazir Income Support Programme is a premier social safety net, which particularly targets vulnerable women and is playing its role in helping them stand on their feet in economic terms. Fighting off the anti-women practices requires a participatory approach on the part of the media, religious scholars, academia, opinion makers and civil society organizations, he added.
“We need to launch dialogue at different levels aimed at espousing the cause of women. Our great religion Islam emphasizes equality of rights between men and women.”
The Prime Minister said the last sermon delivered by the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) details the rights of women and how important it is for the Muslims to fulfill those.
“On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we must make a pledge to keep working for the empowerment of women because it is their empowerment, which would not only eliminate negative tendencies against women but also give them their due status promised by Islam and the Constitution of Pakistan,” he added.

Latest interview of Rauf Khalid

Behind the scenes, Rauf Khalid is a workaholicBehind the scenes, Rauf Khalid is a workaholic. He doesn't sit until he achieves the desired result. He is known to have temper tantrums that would scare the living day light out of any reasonable human being and demands perfection every time, like there is no tomorrow. However when relaxed, he appears to be a completely different man.

Dressed in a pair of old jeans and white T-shirt; he looks nothing like the person whom I found yelling at the crew a couple of minutes ago on the set. Therefore, it was with much deliberation that I finally managed to convince him for an interview exclusively for 'Mag4You'.

His addiction to drama didn't take toll on him in his adulthood. He used to write for Radio Pakistan when he was still a junior school student. His play 'Rozgaar' was an instant hit, and all regular radio listeners still remember the play, which was later taken up by PTV.

He also has a few short stories to his credit including the quite famous at one time, 'Neeli Gurya' (The Blue Doll). He kept writing for PTV and gave some memorable masterpieces like 'Payya aur Patri', 'Lambee Sarak', 'Bara Ghantay', and 'Bhola' which brought outstanding popularity and critical acclaim.

In 1989, he wrote and partially directed PTV's first-ever thriller, 'Madaar', a seven-episode serial exposing drug trafficking. 1991 started with a bang when Rauf wrote 'Guest House' a 52-episode comedy series that turned out to be the money-making machine for PTV.

Its characters became household names. Film star Afzal Khan, who played 'Rambo' in the serial, came to be permanently known with the name even in his career in the filmdom.

In 1995, Rauf Khalid rose with a masterpiece called 'Angaar Wadi', a 15-episode serial for which he was an actor, director and a producer apart from writing it. It was a great hit and broke all the previous popularity records. Moreover, it was also rated as the most-watched programme in the whole Asia.

The play was even hackneyed by Bollywood, where a film was made copying the same title. In addition, India's national TV channel Doordarshan made a serial using the very same name. The Government of Pakistan awarded Rauf with the prestigious 'Pride of Performance' award in appreciation of the play.

In 1998, Rauf Khalid struck again with 'Laag', a 27-episodes serial (again written, directed, produced and acted in by him), which broke the previous rating-records of PTV programmes, as per the Gallup Survey of Pakistan and remains unbeaten todate. Follows the interview with Rauf Khalid:

We have heard that you were a bureaucrat? How did this switch of profession occurred and in what circumstances it triggered? I think anyone who is a 'yes man' can be a bureaucrat in Pakistan. I am primarily a writer and I am involved in drama and film-making, and not in showbiz! TV plays or film is a very powerful media of education and information.

Just like a book which is written once and remains there in the market with all the information and education, a well produced drama or film with a message also serves the responsibility of disseminating information and education.

What motivated you to steer your way towards filmmaking as you were having quite a good rapport with TV? I visited the Evernew Studio in 2000. A man while shaking hands with me said, "Please come to make a film, we need people like you to change our destiny." It made me think if I will be received here.

Like, I have some place here. Though, I also thought what if I fail to change their destiny. And I said I wouldn't repent. However, I would surely have repented had I not tried it at all.

You are considered a product of television. How do you view the trends prevailing on the tube...? The TV market is, these days, flooded with grind of the mill light plays. The commercialism has left no place for quality products. This swarm of channels is simply looking for free/cheap programmes or otherwise those they can get for deferred payment at will.

The undercuts and gratifying mafia has also corroded the PTV that will take years for it to mend. I will surely work for TV, if, it does not bring disrespect.

Why didn't you start with comparatively lighter scripts. For instance on TV, you concentrated on topics like Kashmir. Don't you think it is cashing the hot issues? I want to use my pen for my own people and my country's problems. If I was an American I would have written about their problems, since I am a Pakistani, I write to educate people about issues that are ours.

Had Kashmir ever been a cashing thing the private production houses would have milked it to death. However, no one else came to work on the subject. My plays did make money, but it was the story, the direction and the acting that made money.

Don't you think that our film audience that normally comprises of rickshaw walas and sabzi walas, is mature enough to relate to a subject based on an epic...? It is wrong to say that rickshaw walas are animals and have a lesser IQ than that of a general's son. Due to the influx of information, the common man of today is more aware. Now, he wants quality and vote for a change.

That's why all the run of the mill productions flopped. This is a time that we understand the importance of modern arts and sciences and stop condemning these fields as a threat to religion. Let the intelligentsia take over all fields including filmmaking and cater the masses with some thing compatible with a changing world.

This year we have the biggest flops and most of them were directed by the television people. If for instance, your movie doesn't do well what will be your reaction?Then I will make another movie. In addition, I guess the effort that my whole team has put in will meet the desired objective that we have kept before. The initiative that I have taken for a better and meaningful cinema, I would like to see other people joining me too in order to revive what we have miserably lost.

Do you think our audience is mature enough to welcome a change that you are trying to bring about? I don't know why we under estimate our people. If you don't give them something that invites their attention to focus on, then how can you figure out their incapability? In fact, we have never tried to give them something, which may activate them.

They have been provided the same stuff with the same chemistry over-and-over again. Nobody has positively tried to bring a change. Some people who tried later proved to be so short-tempered that they disappeared from the scene when their product was not welcomed by the masses. I guess they shouldn't have given up because the way our industry has deteriorated it will take sometime to make our people aware of the cinema boundaries.

Tell us more about 'Laaj', and when the audience will have it ready for their eyes?
'Laaj' is the most prestigious project of my life. I have tried my level best to give my people something very original, something that they can relate to. Like other film-makers, I don't believe in making tall claims and at the end not to come up with something concrete, but usual crap. In fact, the way people have admired my plays 'Angar Wadi' and 'Laag', it has really boosted my strength to go ahead with this international project.

The task was big and everybody from the industry discouraged me, but with every blow of discouragement, I found my enthusiasm enhanced with the same degree. At some far flung locations of NWFP, we were even threatened of losing our lives by the local people, but we kept moving ahead and finished the project satisfactorily.

The story of 'Laaj' is a period drama based on a real love story about a Hindu girl and a Pathan Muslim in the backdrop of undivided subcontinent. This invited a great agitation in both communities and the mean interference of the British rulers added fuel to fire so that they may prolong their rule.

We have tried to create a real impact by making sure that whatever equipment weapons, locations and set designing is done, must reflect the period that the film is all about.

Moreover, the roles of British rulers are performed by the foreign artistes, which makes it more realistic. With Resham, Zara and Imran in the main lead, this film will offer the people of Pakistan with something, which they may relate to.
thanks:www.mag4you.com

Rauf Khalid has died in accident

Rauf Khalid famous director ,playwright and film producer,"angaar wadi" fame has died in accident this evening ,he was traveling from Shakhupura to Islamabad.

Nawaz file application to include Haqqani in ECL

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif has placed an application in Supreme Court on Thursday to put the name of Husain Haqqani in exit control list, DawnNews reported.

This application submitted through Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, the lawyer of Nawaz Sharif.

In this application, a request has been made that until the investigation of the memogate is not completed, the Pakistani ambassador should be listed in the exit control list of United States.

Not to forget, Nawaz Sharif has sent an application to the supreme court with respect to the investigation regarding memogate scandal.

Pakistan Appoints New Ambassador to United States

Sherry Rehman replaces Husain Haqqani, who resigned after being accused of authoring a memo that said the military was plotting a coup
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan appointed a former information minister and human rights campaigner as its ambassador to the United States Wednesday, moving quickly to fill a post left vacant after tension between the civilian government and military.

Sherry Rehman replaced Husain Haqqani, who resigned on Tuesday, days after a Pakistani-American businessman accused him of being behind a memo that said the military was plotting a coup and appealed to the Pentagon to help ward it off.

Haqqani, who has denied any connection with the memo, wished Rehman well on his Twitter feed and called her a "dedicated democrat."
The controversy has thrown a spotlight on the fundamental tension in Pakistani politics since the nation, a U.S. ally in the war on terror, was founded in 1947 -- competition for power between civilian politicians and military commanders.

Rehman's appointment was seen as a compromise but her appointment came as a surprise to many analysts who had expected someone even closer to the military.

"We have many challenges (in Pakistan)," she said. "We have given many sacrifices. These sacrifices should not go waste. This blood should not go to waste and we have a firm resolve. We will plead our case everywhere with one voice."

Pakistan is seen as critical to the U.S. drive to end the conflict in Afghanistan but U.S.-Pakistan relations plummeted after U.S. special forces found and killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May in a secret raid on a Pakistani garrison town.

'A NATION THAT LIES'

Pakistan's stock in Washington is especially low among Republicans, who control the U.S. House of Representative, some of whom have called for a cut in aid following the bin Laden raid, the jailing of a CIA contractor and U.S. accusations that Pakistan backed a militant attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

During a Republican presidential debate Tuesday, candidates questioned whether the United States could trust Pakistan. Texas Governor Rick Perry called Pakistan unworthy of U.S. aid because it had not done enough to help fight al Qaeda.

Representative Michele Bachmann, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said the United States should demand more from a "violent and unstable" Pakistan with nuclear weapons.

She called it "a nation that lies, that does everything possible that you could imagine wrong. At the same time they do share intelligence data with us regarding al Qaeda."

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said U.S. aid to Islamabad could help "bring Pakistan into the 21st century, or the 20th century for that matter."

Rehman is a veteran member of President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and staunch proponent of civilian rule.

"She has been on the security panel of the parliament," said retired general turned analyst Talat Masood. "She understands security issues and at the same time she is on reasonably good terms with the military."

The military has ruled the nuclear-armed South Asian country for more than half its history.

Political analyst Nasim Zehra said the president, the widower of assassinated former prime minister and pro-democracy leader Benazir Bhutto, appeared keen to ease friction with the military.

"President Zardari is a man who is extremely smart and in a situation like this he obviously wants to reduce tension and the possibility of tension," said Zehra.

Military affairs analyst Ayesha Siddiqa said Rehman was acceptable to both sides of Pakistan's political divide.

"If you send Sherry, you present the establishment's position and yet she has this human rights side and represents the PPP," Siddiqa said.

Pakistan Ambassador Husain Haqqani Resigns

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's envoy to the United States says he has resigned over claims he wrote a memo to Washington asking for its help in reining in the country's powerful military.

Hussein Haqqani denied Tuesday any role in writing or delivering the memo.

The affair has highlighted the divide between Pakistan's weak civilian government and the military, as well as the role the United States plays in the affairs of the country.

After the allegations were made last week, Haqqani was summoned to Islamabad to meet the army and intelligence chiefs.

He told The Associated Press, "I have resigned my services as ambassador and am happy to face an inquiry."

PML-N to stage big show in Faisalabad today

Faisalabad: The stage is set for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) public meeting “Go Zardari Go” which will be held at Dhobi Gat ground in Faisalabad city of Pakistan today.

The meeting is expected to be attended by a large number of party members from the city and other parts of Punjab. PML-N president Nawaz Sharif and chief minister Shahbaz Sahrif would address a key note in the meeting.

The PML-N has finalized arrangement for the public gathering which according to the party members, 15,000 chairs have been placed in the ground.

Govt in no mood to move against Haqqani

Peshawar—Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has hinted his government was in no mood to proceed against Pakistan ambassador to US Hussein Haqqani in the back drop of leaked memorandum written to Admiral Mike Mullen which created stir in Pakistan’s politics. He declared in categorical tone that the controversy was posing no threat to his coalition government which he claimed was strong and stable.

“I think it is unjust and against the norms of justice to draw conclusion in the matter without listening to the point of view of the Hussein Haqqani”. The Prime Minister was talking to media at the Walima reception of the son of Barrister Masood Kausar Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa here Friday afternoon.

He said the Pak envoy to America has been summoned to Islamabad in the wake of the leaked memo controversy to explain his position to the country’s top leadership and that his government has no intentions to condemn him without being unheard yet added the matter will be taken to the logical end in the best interest of the nation.

Premier Gilani said his government was enjoying exemplary working relationship with the establishment and warned that any step contrary to the law and constitution would not be accepted. The opposition has the legal options available with them for removal of the popularly elected Pakistan People’s Party government.

He however, maintained that the elements dreaming of changing the government through unconstitutional methods were living in fool’s paradise and his government was strong and stable.

He claimed that there was total understanding and harmony between the state institutions which had not been seen in the past in any civilian government. The entire nation was standing like rock against the anti-state elements and was well aware of protecting their national interest.

Prime Minister Gilani said the present government confronted a lot of difficulties both internally and externally one after the other since coming into power “yet we faced the challenges and countered allegations with patience and courage in our tenure and all the controversial issues will be resolved in line with justice and national interest”. Maintained the Prime Minister.

He refused to comment on the impression that the establishment was supporting Imran Khan adding it was premature to comment on it. When Imran’s Tehreek-Insaaf forms the government then we will see who was supporting whom.

To a query the Premier dispelled the impression that certain elements might be out to pitching government against the military adding we are a responsible government and took every matter to the logical end with consensus by taking the parliament and mainstream national leadership into confidence.

Gilani claimed his government had accepted all the demands of the opposition on issues involving national interest and called joint session of the parliament and formed judicial commission on their request saying for the first time in the political history of the country the services chiefs have been made answerable to the parliament. Likewise, when the US threatened to attack Pakistan, the government took all stakeholders on board by calling the All Parties Conference (APC). PM said and added “Our government had been tested so many times before and we always displayed patience”.

He lauded the “positive role of the men in uniform in the nation building. He said Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Fata were under main focus of his government as terrorism and extremism were twin menace needing to be rooted out on war footings.

Husain Haqqani, was behind the memo.

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's envoy to the United States says he is flying home to answer allegations he wrote an explosive memo that asked for Washington's help in reining in the Pakistani military.
Pakistan's civilian government has been facing a crisis following a claim by Mansoor Ijaz, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani origin, that he delivered a memo to then-U.S. military chief Adm. Mike Mullen a week after the U.S. raid killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani garrison town.

The memo allegedly requests U.S. help in installing a "new security team" in Islamabad friendly to Washington.

Ijaz says that the ambassador, Husain Haqqani, was behind the memo.

Haqqani, who denies he was behind the memo, tweeted on Saturday he was heading to the "motherland". Officials confirmed his return.

___

I was pressured to grant immunity to Davis: Qureshi

MULTAN: Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Tuesday he had resigned from the position of foreign minister because he was forced by President Asif Ali Zardari to grant diplomatic immunity to US national Raymond Davis.

Talking to the media at the Multan airport, he said the Raymond Davis incident had taken place on January 27 and he had resigned on January 30 in the presence of President Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. About joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said he would announce his political plans at a rally in Ghotki on November 27.

Responding to criticism from the PPP, he said he would not deny that his father did indeed have an association with General Ziaul Haq. "Some PPP leaders got emotional and also spoke about me and Ziaul Haq. They should not forget that it was under a military dictator that [Prime Minister Yusuf Raza] Gilani took oath as railways minister," he added.

The former foreign minister said: "The [PPP] people think that they are smarter than Benazir. Their political vision is not even equal to her shoes."

Qureshi said he had himself said he had supported Nawaz Sharif in the past and that he still maintained 'excellent' relations with the former premier. "I met him in the past and will meet him tomorrow if he asks me to," he said, adding that he was going to Dubai to speak at a think tank and would meet Nawaz Sharif after his return. "I believe in transparency and transparent politics," Qureshi said, adding: "Now is not the time to save your seat but to save Pakistan".

The former foreign minister lashed out at the PPP leadership and said neither Zardari nor Gilani had solutions to Pakistan's external and internal problems. "They do not have the substance or intellectual depth to help the country solve its problems," he added.

Qureshi will be a great addition: Imran Khan

KARACHI:

Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be a great addition if he joins the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf, the party’s chairman Imran Khan has said.

Speaking at Express 24/7’s talk show Witness with Quatrina, he said that Qureshi will bring with him a great deal of political experience and a vote bank that the young party lacked. “Qureshi, like Mian Azhar, is an honest politician and no one could accuse him of corruption.”

However he quickly added that in a country like Pakistan they could not expect to get anyone who was squeaky clean. “You can’t find angels in Pakistan but we will get relatively better stock of politicians in the PTI.”

Though, he said that he would not get any one and every one into the party, “anyone can join the party – well not just anyone, known crooks cannot join PTI but there are shades of grey,” he said.

Terming the core group as an invaluable asset of the party Khan said that the core office bearers who have been there for the past 15 years in the wildernesss the ideological people made up the spine. However they needed people to join the party and for that if they kept too narrow a focus, they would not end up with anyone. Hence they broadened the scope for those who even had ideological differences limited the scope of filtration to financial corruption.

Ending corruption

Khan stressed that his main campaign was to have declare true assets as financial corruption was the root of problems of Pakistan. “If you can get rid of corruption, you can make Pakistan viable”.

In this regard he explained why the politics and the mainstream parties were vying from a status quo. Referring to the Sharif’s he narrated a statement of Interior Minister Rehman Malik following Shehbaz Sharif’s rally on October 28 in Lahore that ‘the Sharif’s ought to be careful as we know about all of the PML-N leaders’ accounts and assets and you do not want to cross that line’. Khan said that the statement brought to fore how the two politically opposing parties had been enjoying their status quo in despite the Supreme Court decision revoking the National Reconciliation Ordinance.

This, Khan said, is where the PTI comes in. He said that only a government that was “clean” and had the will would be the one that would bring laundered money back to Pakistan.

“I earned abroad, but my money is in Pakistan and declared and in my name, however, the only reason that their (Zardari and Nawaz) assets are all outside Pakistan is because they made their money by plundering Pakistan”, the PTI chief alleged.

It is for this reason the PTI was now creating a cell which would unveil the true assets of politicians, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2011.

Turkmenistan, Pakistan sign gas deal

urkmenistan and Pakistan have signed a joint declaration on the purchase and sales of gas via the gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) in Islamabad, Trend reports.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Gillani.

The TAPI project is one of the key factors for Pakistani economic growth, industrial and infrastructure development. The project is supported by the Asian Development Bank which finances the feasibility studies. The basic document for TAPI realization was signed in Ashkhabad in December 2010.

The pipeline will be over 1700 km long with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters annually. The project is worth $7-8 billion.

Besides the gas field of Dovletabad, the pipeline will use resources of Yeloten, one of the world's largest reserves with 21.2 trillion cubic meters of gas.

I grew up hating India: Imran Khan

Former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan said his views and misconceptions about India changed after he visited the neighbouring country to play cricket, Indian media reported.

In an interview with CNN-IBN, Khan said that he grew up “hating India” due to the bloodshed and violence associated with the partition.

“I grew up hating India because I grew up in Lahore and there were massacres of 1947, so much bloodshed and anger. But as I started touring India, I got such love and friendship there that all this disappeared,” Khan said.

“As time passed, I realised that there’s so much we have in common. We have a similar history, there’s so much in culture that’s so similar compared to Western countries. Above all, there is so much the people of two countries (can) benefit from if we have a civilised relationship,” he added.

Talking about his policy related to the future relationship of the two countries, Khan said if his party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power in the next general election, he would do his utmost to improve relations between the two countries.

“I can give my best shot. I can fight to the last ball. We can only try. Success is sometimes not in our hands, it is in hands of the Almighty. So I can say that I will give it my best shot,” he said.

The PTI chairman said he prayed to god to allow him to work for better India-Pakistan relations “because I, for one, have received so much love in India”.

Khan said: “Absolutely, I have no prejudice against any country, and more specifically, India.”

Referring to Indian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in 2005-06, Imran said: “Id never seen two countries as close as that. So its very sad that Mumbai happens (and) we were back to square one”.

12-hour-turkish-ferry-hijack-ends-as-hostage-taker-shot-dead

COMMANDOS disguised as civilians ended ferry ­passengers’ 12-hour hostage ordeal yesterday – sneaking on board and shooting dead the lone hijacker.

The Turkish soldiers crept on to the boat off the coast of the country and killed Kurdish rebel Mensur Guzel, who was carrying 450g of plastic explosives.

The 24 passengers and crew taken hostage in the Sea of Marmara on Friday were ­released unhurt.

Ceyhun Sezer, who was freed, said: “We saw the ­commandos, heard three shots then three more.”

Opposition’s unconstitutional steps not to be tolerated: Gilani

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that unconstitutional steps of the opposition against an elected government would not be tolerated, stressing that government’s reconciliatory policy should not be construed as weakness.

“The opposition may bring no-confidence move against me (the prime minister) or an impeachment motion against the president if it has developed certain disliking against the both,” he said while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating various public development projects at Phalia.

The prime minister said PPP stood firm to its manifesto and the Charter of Democrcay (CoD) as per the vision and philosophy of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, adding that PML-N president Nawaz Sharif, one of the signatories of the CoD, had forgotten it.

He said that over 80 per cent of the Charter of Democracy has been implemented.

Gilani said PPP would not retreat from serving the public and strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in the country.

The premier announced to launch country-wide ‘Carvan-e-Tameer’ from Phalia, Mandi Bahauddin, adding that he would go from Karachi to Khyber to launch development projects.

AMERICA'S CIA FORCED TO RETHINK USE OF DRONES IN PAKISTAN

AGI- New York - According to WSJ sources, the CIA is to accept stricter rules concerning the use of drone attack aircraft.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are frequently used by the US armed forces in sorties over Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to Wall Street Journal sources the shorter leash on drones is the result of a compromise between the CIA, the State Department and the Pentagon, driven by concerns at the diplomatic fallout of the repeat attacks on Pakistani soil. . .

Pakistan recognizes Libya

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (APP): Pakistan on Thursday accorded formal recognition to the new government of Libya.Foreign Office Chairperson Tehmina Janjua told reporters here at the weekly briefing, “We recognize State and Government of Libya.”Wishing the people of Libya a prosperous future, she said Pakistan and Libya had maintained longstanding ties, which would be further promoted in future.Regarding the Most Favoured Nation status to India, the spokesperson said the Federal Cabinet had authorised the Minister of Commerce to pursue negotiations with India for normalisation of trade between the two countries leading to observance of MNF status to India.
Replying to a question Tehmina Janjua said Pakistan and India were in a resumed dialogue process and both the sides had agreed that friendly ties between the two countries were critical for development of the region.
She said all issues including peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir were discussed by the foreign secretaries and foreign ministers earlier this year.
She said trilateral meeting of the presidents of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan, assisted by foreign ministers, proved to be extremely useful.
During the meeting President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated full support and cooperation to trilateral partnership among Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey to ensure peace, security, stability and development in Afghanistan.
The President expressed the confidence that the summit would give further impetus to the joint efforts of the three countries for the progress and prosperity in the region.
She said two protocols were signed among the three countries for training of police personnel and conduct of mutual military exercises.
Earlier in her opening statement, the spokesperson updated the reporters on events in the context of recent meetings relating to Afghanistan.
She said Pakistan’s principled objectives with regard to Afghanistan were to promote stability, peace and prosperity in the brotherly country.
“This is important for peace and stability in the region as a whole. We have supported all initiatives for peace and stability and regional economic cooperation,” she added.
“We are actively participating in all trilateral processes with regard to Afghanistan. These include Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey, Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran, Pakistan-Afghanistan-US and the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan-Russia quadrilateral as well as the SCO sponsored processes and RECCA,” she added.
The spokesperson said President Asif Ali Zardari visited Istanbul on the invitation of President Abdullah Gul to participate in the Sixth Trilateral meeting among Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey and bilateral discussions with President Gul.
She termed the trilateral meeting in which President Zardari, President Abdullah Gul and President Hamid Karzai were assisted by the foreign ministers and military and intelligence heads of the three countries, as “very useful.”
At the trilateral summit, the President reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the trilateral partnership concept among the three countries. “We attach importance to the ongoing trilateral Ankara process”.
The trilateral meeting adopted a joint statement which underscored trans-regional development as a key priority and security cooperation as the main focus of the Sixth Trilateral Summit.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar represented Pakistan at the Istanbul regional Conference on Afghanistan and reiterated country’s stance.
She said the Foreign Minister extended assurance to the government and people of Afghanistan of Pakistan’s full support in their endeavours to overcome all challenges and to assure themselves a bright future of stability, peace and prosperity.
She said a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was vital for Pakistan’s own security and stability and that of our common region.
The Foreign Minister also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to promote socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the region by a mutually collaborative endeavour that optimizes the region’s collective development potential.
There was a support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of peace and reconciliation which was inclusive and lead to reestablishment of societal equilibrium that conforms fully with the aspirations of the Afghan nation, its customs and traditions.
Foreign Minister Khar stressed the importance of the return of three million Afghan refugees hosted in Pakistan to their homes in safety and with honour.
She stressed that existing regional organizations particularly ECO and SCO can play an important role.
The Foreign Minister said Pakistan would continue to endeavour to enhance its bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan to realize the vision of peace and prosperity contained in the three declarations signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The spokesperson said the Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan adopted a broad ranging document that stipulates certain principles and CBMs which constitute an expression of the regions solidarity and support for Afghanistan.
She said Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani returned from Perth, Australia, after participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting.
The theme of this year’s CHOGM was ‘Building national resilience, building global resilience” and Commonwealth’s theme for 2011 has been “Women as agents of change and youth development”.
She said the Prime Minister actively participated in the executive sessions and the retreat and addressed both issues, especially Pakistan’s commitment to the advancement of women and food security.
The Prime Minister also participated in a joint special event on polio eradication. The Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the President of Nigeria also participated in this event.
The spokesperson said Prime Minister Gilani had substantive meetings with the Prime Ministers of Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, on the sidelines.

Iran hails Palestinian membership to UNESCO

TEHRAN — Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday welcomed the Palestinian admission to UNESCO and criticised the US reaction to cease payments to the international organisation over the decision.

“The membership of Palestine is a symbolic act that (proves) global support for Palestinian rights,” ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said at his weekly media conference, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Turning to Washington’s decision to suspend payments to UNESCO in retaliation, Mehmanparast advised the US government to not jeopardise its “honour” by opposing the rights of other nations.

“The United States must know its blind support of the Zionist regime (Israel) has no place in world public opinion,” he said.

The Palestinian bid for UNESCO membership, which comes as the Palestinians also seek to become a United Nations member state, was approved Monday in Paris despite strong opposition from the United States and Israel.

The vote will cost the organisation its US funding, which makes up 22 percent of its budget, because US laws from the 1990s require Washington to cut funds to any UN organisation that admits Palestine as a full member.

The Palestinians could now seek full membership of other UN organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the World Health Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, or the International Atomic Energy Agency.