S Deedar Hussain appointed Chairman NAB

ISLAMABAD: In another strange move, the PPP-led government has appointment Justice (Retd.) Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Geo News reported Friday.

The decision was made at a consultative meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani here.

Sources told Geo News that the meeting was by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Babar Awan and some other members of the federal cabinet.

The meeting agreed to appoint Justice (Retd.) Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman NAB before the expiry of the period allowed for the purpose by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

According to sources, President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the summary proposing the appointment of Justice (Retd.) Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman NAB. The notification in this regard will be issued by tonight or tomorrow.

Opposition leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar had already rejected the name of Deedar Hussain Shah for the position of NAB Chief. Chaudhry Nisar referred to Deedar Hussain Shah’s election as MNA on PPP ticket in the past, thus, considering the latter ineligible for the position of Chairman NAB.

The meeting Chaired by the Prime Minister also said that a strategy is all set to deal with the complications that might arise as a result of his appointment.

The decision is bound to trigger fierce debate and controversy, as the government has apparently failed to engage the opposition in the process of consultation prior to the appointment of Chairman NAB, which has been made mandatory through the passage of 18th amendment bill.

Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Pervez Rasheed said in reaction to the latest development that the opposition leaders were not taken on board in the decision of the appointment of Justice (Retd.) Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman NAB.

“We had no knowledge whatsoever in this regard, so it is going to be difficult for us to accept this decision,” he said.

US regrets Pakistani soldier deaths: Mullen

ISLAMABAD: The top US military official conveyed his "most sincere condolences" to Pakistan's army chief Thursday, over a fatal cross-border Nato strike that strained relations between the countries.

"We take this incident very seriously," Admiral Mike Mullen said in a letter to Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, the US embassy said.

"I wanted to send my most sincere condolences for the regrettable loss of your soldiers killed and wounded on 30 September near your border with Afghanistan."

Mullen said senior commanders would review an investigation into the incident thoroughly in the hope of "avoiding recurrence of a tragedy like this."

"The death of our soldiers in combat is always tragic, but under these circumstances, it is even more difficult to accept," he said.

The letter was made public a day after US ambassador Anne W. Patterson issued an apology for the incident last Thursday in which a cross-border Nato chopper strike killed at least two Pakistani soldiers mistaken for militants.

Chimp Charlie dies at 52 despite smoking habit

A chimpanzee famous for smoking cigarettes has died at a South African zoo, aged 52.

Charlie the chimp started smoking when some visitors to Mangaung zoo, in Bloemfontein, threw him lit cigarettes.
Zoo spokesman Qondile Khedama said Charlie had become an institution, entertaining thousands of visitors every year with his antics.
An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.
For years, zookeepers had been trying to get the chimp to kick the habit, and they discouraged visitors from giving him cigarettes.

But Mr Khedama said he did not believe the addiction had ended Charlie's life prematurely, as he had lived around 10 years longer than the average chimp.

"He was on serious medications and in and out of the vet," he said.
"Even though he has been receiving special care, and a special diet including protein shakes, vitamin and mineral supplements, he succumbed to old age."
Charlie is not the only chimp to have picked up human bad habits.
In February, it was reported a Russian chimpanzee was being sent to rehab after he started pestering visitors for alcohol and cigarettes.
Mr Khedama said the zoo hopes to find a new companion for its female chimp, Judy.
But he said: "We realise it will be almost impossible to replace a character like Charlie."

Rs18 bn paid for only 90 MW electricity: Justice Ramday

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry Wednesday hearing a case on alleged corruption in Rental Power Plants said in his remarks that the government cannot go ahead with an agreement that is impractical while Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday expressed his shock saying ‘how strange it is that only 90 MW electricity was obtained after making payments amounting to Rs18 billion’.

Member National Assembly Faisal Salah Hayat presented before the apex court documents in connection with alleged corruption for executing the projects of Rental Power Plants (RPPs).
He said trumped up figures of power shortfall were highlighted for acquisition of rental power projects against which, he said, 55 million dollars were paid in advance although the project’s actual worth is 25 million dollars.
Faisal further stressed the report of Asian Development Bank (ADB) on rental power projects, is a charge sheet against the government, adding the report uncovers several violations.

He requested the court to ask National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) as to what procedure it follows to arrive at power tariffs.

Zawwar out, Sohail in; lawyers continue strike

 LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) sent District Session Judge Lahore Zawwar Ahmed Sheikh on four-month leave and appointed Sohail Nasir to act as the District Session Judge Lahore,

Meantime, the lawyers are continuously on strike in the entire Punjab province including Lahore on call by Punjab Bar Council.

It should be mentioned here that the lawyers and judges were locked in a dispute over the transfer of Zawwar Sheikh for four months and the issue aggravated for past six days.

The LHC, in a bid to diffuse the standoff, appointed Sohail Nasir to replace Zawwar Ahmed Sheikh.

Punjab Bar Council demanded strict action against police personnel involved in torture on the lawyers; otherwise, the spate of protest will continue.

Sindh govt approves flood tax

KARACHI: Sindh government has approved the imposition of one time flood tax in the province, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab said Monday.

Meanwhile, MQM, a coalition partner of PPP led government, has condemned the unilateral decision. Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed and Youth Affairs Minister Faisal Sabzwari said that their party was not taken into confidence.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had rejected and vehemently criticised the imposition of 'Flood Surcharge', saying it would further burden the salaried class while asking the government to impose the new tax on the agricultural income of feudal lords.

A four-member delegation led by MQM's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar conveyed the rejection of the proposed tax to the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in a meeting in Islamabad last Thursday.

SC takes suo moto notice of torture on lawyers

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday took suo moto notice of an incident of Friday which occurred on the premises of District Courts (Aiwan-e-Adl), Lahore, in which reportedly police brutally beat up lawyers.
“The use of excessive force and resorting to high headedness and brutality clearly violate the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights i.e. right to life, liberty and dignity. Therefore, the matter has been registered under Article 184(3) of the Constitution,” says a press note issued here.
According to reports after the police torture, lawyers were seen throwing stones on police and beating up media personnel on Saturday.
The notices were issued to the Home Secretary, Punjab, Commissioner and DCO Lahore, PPO, Punjab, CPO, Lahore, DIG, Operations and concerned Superintendents of Police, through PPO, to appear in person on Monday and explain the untoward incident in which excessive force was used resulting in injuries to lawyers including female lawyers.
They are also required to explain their position and produce record, if any, showing whether any action has been initiated against police personnel responsible for using excessive force. Notices have also been issued to the Attorney General for Pakistan well as the Advocate General, Punjab to assist the Court.
The TV Channels and media persons have also been asked to provide CDs/DVDs of the incident. It would also be appreciated if they could play the CDs/DVDs in the Court, if required.
The suo moto was taken on reports of electronic and print reports which showed that the police personnel entered the court premises including bar rooms and library and brutally beaten the lawyers resulting in injuries to many, including females. – Agencies

Punjab Bar bans Justice Sharif, Qazi Anwar, Aitezaz

LAHORE: Punjab Bar Council banned Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice, Justice Khawja Sharif, his two lawyer sons, son-in-law and Punjab law minister and 11 other senior lawyers hailing from Hamid Khan’s group to enter the bar rooms, Geo News reported Saturday.

The Bar banned them to enter the bar rooms and cancelled their licenses.

The lawyers whose licenses were cancelled include Lawyers’ leader Hamid Khan, Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan, Former President High Court Bar Justice (rtd) Nasira Javed, President Supreme Court Bar Qazi Anwar and Justice (rtd) Tariq Mehmood and Athar Minallah.

Punjab Bar Council also banned the bar rooms entry for Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Lahore High Court (LHC) chief Justice, Justice Khawja Muhammed Sharif, his two sons—Khawja Bilal and Khawja Lateef and his son-in-law Azhar Hameed and cancelled their licenses.

Musharraf comeback looks remote: Analysts

Pakistan's ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf has spent two years building a Facebook following and cultivating the media but few believe his audacious plan to recapture power has any chance of success. Aside from the small matter of possible death or arrest if he steps foot on home soil, there is little sign he can win over the politicians he alienated, the judges he sacked, his former underlings at the military or the Americans.
From the comforts of self-imposed exile in London, the 67-year-old unveiled the All Pakistan Muslim League on Friday and has said he would contest elections in 2013.
The current climate could not be more uncomfortable for President Asif Ali Zardari and his Pakistan People's Party (PPP), facing an onslaught of criticism at home over perceived economic, political and governance failings.
With the military said to be mulling ways to shake up the coalition, the Supreme Court flexing its muscles and the media calling for Zardari's head, now could be the perfect time for the return of a leader remembered for his firm grip on power.
The government's perceived shambolic response to floods, a deadly threat from Taliban militants and an economy in meltdown have all shaken a country still getting used to democracy after almost a decade of military rule.
But aside from a tiny band of loyalists, none of the principal powerbrokers and few people on the street believe Musharraf is the answer.
"I wouldn't read too much into him announcing his party. The going would be very, very tough for him if he did decide to return," Pakistani political and security analyst Imtiaz Gul told AFP.
"Those chances are remote in the near term because Pakistani people already suffered him for nine years and neither the military nor the Americans would like to hedge their bet on a person who has outlived his utility."
No prominent politician has declared support for Musharraf. Both the PPP and its main rival, the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) loathe him.
When asked recently about Musharraf's possible return, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani snapped back that he would be "received by the chief justice."
The meaning was clear -- the current government wants Musharraf back in Pakistan only in the dock, standing trial in the highest court in the land.
To form a government and become prime minister, Musharraf would need to win at least 172 seats in the 342-member national assembly.
Pakistan's most popular politician today is Nawaz Sharif, head of the PML-N and considered the probable victor of the country's next election.
But relations with Musharraf could not be worse. It was Sharif whom he ousted as prime minister in his 1999 bloodless coup, then saddled him with hijacking and attempted murder charges.
Musharraf would have to reunite the parties who supported his rule the first time round -- but even former allies have remained silent.
"We are trying to unite all the factions of the Muslim League and then Musharraf will lead that alliance," Amoon Pasha, a self-described leader in the new All Pakistan Muslim League, told AFP in Islamabad.
That ambition for the moment appears to rest on Pir Pagara, the elderly head of Pakistan Muslim League-F, which has just one seat in the national assembly.
"Pagara has assured us full support and has started meeting with senior Muslim League's leaders and parliamentarians," said Pasha.
While Musharraf brushes off the threat of treason charges, he has admitted there are "other dangers", including assassination attempts from Islamists who twice tried to kill him when he was in power.
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have been blamed for killing more than 3,700 people in three years of devastating attacks, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto after her return from exile.
Nor do analysts rate Musharraf's chances of winning support in Washington, which appears determined to stick by civilian rule in ally Pakistan.
"Why would the Americans go to an ex-general? The Americans will look for a player who is relevant today. It could either be a political leader or a (current) general in the army," said political analyst Hasan Askari.
If Musharraf does return home, many expect Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to summon him over the 2007 arrests of senior judges -- Chaudhry included -- as the general attempted to cling onto power.
"On balance, the odds seem to be against Musharraf. It will not be entirely surprising to see him backtrack on his promise to return to Pakistan soon and let his enthusiasm cool," said a recent editorial in Dawn newspaper.

Imran Farooq assassination: Scotland Yard recovers Knife

Friday, October 01, 2010  LONDON: Scotland Yard has recovered the knife used to stab Dr Imran Farooq and a house brick killers used to kill him, Geo News reported. According to a press release issued by the police, detectives have recovered a five and a half inch-bladed kitchen knife and a house brick, which were used in the attack on Dr Imran Farooq in Edgware two weeks ago. The knife and brick were found in Green Lane where 50-year-old Dr Farooq was assaulted shortly before 17:30hrs on Thursday, 16 September. 'Officers are trying to trace two Asian men in connection with Dr Farooq's murder.' They retain an open mind as to a motive. No arrests have been made, statement added. 'A number of witnesses have already contacted police, but officers believe there are other people who may hold vital information about the incident and they continue to urge them to come forward,' news release said. 'Officers from the Specialist Operations Counter Terrorism Command want to speak to anyone who saw the attack or was in the area at the time.'