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Ch.Ahsan PremeeStaff writerASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICEISLAMABAD :
Federal Cabinet Wednesday decided to add 2200 MW electricity to the national grid system in one year to meet energy needs and provide relief to the people. Ministry of Water and Power has already added 310 MW through saving of line losses, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms Sherry Rehman while addressing a press briefing on the decisions taken by Federal Cabinet which met here with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair.
She said Prime Minister had outlined an action plan in his policy speech, whereby 2200 MW of additional electricity generation will be added in the national grid system.
Sherry Rehman said present government realizes that the people are suffering owing to load shedding, therefore, it is pursuing different means to meet the shortfall.
The Minister said the Cabinet deliberated upon the severe energy shortage and probed into the possibilities of various measures that could be adopted to conserve energy.
However, she said before any measures are adopted, all the stakeholders will be taken on board including the private sector and for this very purpose, a one point agenda meeting of the Cabinet will be held soon.
The special cabinet meeting will come up with a constructive policy for saving energy and power generation, Sherry Rehman said.
She informed that the Prime Minister said the conservation efforts need the support of all sections of the society - every family, every institution and every sector.
“All of us have to contribute our share in this national exercise, workers and the common man, all have to sacrifice a bit of their need and accordingly determine for themselves how to reduce the consumption of electricity, gas and fuel,” she added.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman said the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Housing and Works to come up with concrete proposals in consultation with all stakeholders to build one million housing units every year for low income sections of the society at affordable price.
She said Minister for Housing apprised the Cabinet that a contract will be awarded to start work on housing units in various cities prior to the completion of 100 days of the present democratic government.
Sherry Rehman said the Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Interior to computerize the record of the Kachi Abadis with a clear objective of development planning of the Abadis to provide civic amenities to the residents. It was also meant to discourage the land grabbers and save the inmates from the curse of litigation, she added.
The Minister further informed that the meeting decided to transfer the subject of “Kachi Abbadi” to the Ministry of Local Bodies.
Highlighting the other decisions of the Federal Cabinet, she said it also decided that henceforth all MoUs signed with other countries would be followed up and implemented in letter and spirit unlike the past.
She said the Cabinet approved in principle to start negotiation on draft agreement on security cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.
It also approved the decisions including avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion of income tax and the ratification of agreement between governments of Pakistan and Zimbabwe on deputation of Pakistan Armed Forces Personnel to Zimbabwe.
The Minister said the Cabinet accorded ex-post fecto approval for initiation of negotiations for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Government of Pakistan and Government of Malaysia in the field of agriculture, livestock and trade.
Replying to a question, she said the government wants that the bye-elections should be held in June.
Sherry Rehman said “The committee on the judges is holding meetings and would come up with a comprehensive plan to reinstate as well as carry the current judges that we have with us.”
When asked about the postponement of bye-election, she said Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani and Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari have discussed the matter and the government hopes that the Election Commission would fulfill its constitutional responsibility by conducting the polls in June.
On price hike and inflation, she said prices of edible commodities and oil in the international market have risen which has left an adverse impact on national economy.
However, realizing this fact, she said the government is planning to provide a special relief to the poor by the coming budget.
Sherry Rehman said it was unfortunate that the previous regime handed over power to the peoples’ representatives with economy in dire straights and added this government is ready to face challenges and would surely provide relief to the masses as it did in the past.
The government was making all out efforts to bring stability in the prices of daily use items.The aim of the government is to facilitate the poorest of the poor and in this regard it is already taking measures to launch a scheme for provision of food items on subsidized rates.
Answering another question, she said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the Cabinet that within next 14 months, the economy would be able to turn around.
On energy policy, she said “conservation was discussed in detail during the meeting, but certainly there was need of comprehensive energy policy in the country.”
She said the present government would promote the policy of constructing small dams and utilize all resources like solar, wind, coal to meet the energy demand.
The Minister said the past government should have thought about the increasing power demand as without enough power wheels, the economy cannot move forward.
A meeting of experts on energy sector both from public and private sectors would be held soon to devise methods to overcome this crisis.
“Load shedding is crippling both economy and the user and a special cabinet meeting would be called soon for specifically addressing this issue,” she told another questioner.
ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICEISLAMABAD :
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday again revised the schedule for bye-polls setting June 26, 2008 the new date for polling on 38 National and Provincial Assembly seats.
The constituencies for polling include eight National Assembly seats and 30 Provincial Assembly seats from Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan provinces.
In National Assembly seats five have been vacated by those who have won on more than one seats and election was terminated in two seats due to the death of candidates.
Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad stated that stages of schedule would now commence from the filing of nomination papers from May 8 to 13.
Dates for scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officers have been set for May 14 to 20, last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the Returning Officers on rejecting or accepting nomination papers would be May 24 and last date for deciding appeals by the Tribunals has been set for May 31.
Last date for withdrawal of candidature would be June 2, publication of revised list of candidates would be made the same day and polling would be held on June 26.
Giving details, the Secretary Election Commission said, the National Assembly constituencies of polling include NA-11 Mardan-III, NA-52 Rawalpindi-III, NA-55 Rawalpindi-VI, NA-119 Lahore-II, NA-123 Lahore-VI, NA-131 Sheikhupura-I, NA-147 Okara-V and NA-207 Larkana-cum-Shikarpur-cum-Kamber Shahdadkot (Old Larkana-IV).
For the provincial assemblies constituencies he mentioned were PP-10 Rawalpindi-X, PP-48 Bhakkar-II, PP-59 Faisalabad-IX, PP-70 Faisalabad-XX, PP-99 Gujranwala-IX, PP-107 Hafizabad-III, PP-118 Mandi Bahauddin-III, PP-124 Sialkot-IV, PP-141 Lahore-V, PP-154 Lahore-XVIII, PP-171 Nankana Sahib-II (Old Sheikhupura-X), PP-219 Khanewal-VIII, PP-229 Pakpattan-III, PP-243 D G Khan-IV, PP-258 Muzaffargarh-VIII, PP-277 Bahawalnagar-I and PP-295 Rahimyar Khan-XI as constituencies for Punjab Assembly.
In Sindh, the constituencies of polling include PS-30 Khairpur-II, PS-44 Mattiari-cum-Hyderabad (Old Hyderabad-II) and PS-62 Tharparkar-III and in NWFP Assembly the constituencies are PF-20 Charsadda-IV, PF-45 Abbottabad-II, PF-59 Battagram-I, PF-75 Lakki Marwat-II, PF-81 Swat-II, PF-91 Upper Dir-I and PF-92 Upper Dir-II.
From Balochistan province, the constituencies are PB-9 Pishin-II, PB-32 Jhal Magsi (Old Kacchi-III) and PB-44 Lasbela-I.
Dilshad clarified that candidates who have already filed nomination papers with the Returning Officers concerned by May 5, need not to file their nomination papers afresh.
However, the candidates who filed their nomination papers on May 6 will be required to file their nomination papers afresh within the time specified in the notifications for filing their nomination papers.
ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE
ISLAMABAD :
Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday expressed Party’s commitment with regard to restoration of deposed judges, saying “it (restoration) is decided as only modalities are being worked out by the judges restoration committee.”
PPP Co-Chairman made these remarks in an exclusive interview with private television channel (ARY One World).
He said, PPP was optimistic about restoration of the deposed judges by May 12 as it was already decided that judges would be restored and only modalities are being worked out.
Zardari said, PPP has political will to reinstate the deposed judges, saying “I am with the PML-N Quaid, Mian Nawaz Sharif in his each and every political will.”
A committee of experts has been constituted to remove legal impediments as the judges resolution would be drafted, defended and implemented. If flaws are left, the opponent forces will take benefit out of the situation.
To a question about commitment of Law Minister Farooq H. Naek to restoration of the judges, PPP Co-Chairman said the party would fully support him in achieving the task.
It is a mater of principle that both the parties must fulfil the promises made to people of the country, he added.
The committee has representation from both the political parties, he said adding that political impasse is not on restoration of the judges but, only on modalities of restoration. Modalities would be formed in accordance with the constitution.
He said, tabling of the draft was not an easy task as the proposed suggestions have to be given a draft shape, which later has to be defended and implemented.
“I am not a lawyer. They (committee members) have to articulate the language, the law and then bring it into the parliament as we do not want to be laughing stock.”
The previous government was not a true representative of the masses as they were just collection of opportunists put together and their way of working was different he added.
To a question, he said Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan represents Supreme Court Bar Association and he represents the PPP only on the political front.
On not fulfilling 30 days deadline to reinstate the deposed judges, he said PPP wants restoration of judges so there was need to remove some legal complications on this way.
The Co-Chairman said, the government inherited various problems from the previous regime, and there is need to resolve them by creating an atmosphere of reconciliation in the country.
He vowed to pull out the country of inherited crisis including electricity, flour and price hike to mitigate sufferings of the commonman. People want quick resolution of their problems, he added.
Zardari said, PPP would welcome positive criticism from the opposition parties to improve the functioning of the coalition government. Criticism for the sake of improving the situation would be welcomed.
About freedom of media, he said even before forming of the PPP led coalition government, banned TV channel programmes started airing again.
He said, Peoples Party is fighting for the people, adding it lost five Bhuttos and more sacrifices are being given for improving the fate of the people.
To a question, Asif Ali Zardari said PPP does not want to indulge in discussion of PCO or non-PCO judges as “PPP wants resolution of the issue”. Citing the example of test cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s case, he said phone calls were coming demanding that Shoaib should be allowed to go to India for playing cricket, so he directed to resolve the issue.
Zardari said, he was still on bail in fake cases including drug case adding
several journalists investigated it but found nothing concrete against him.
According to Charter of Democracy’s (CoD) spirit, all the judges are PCO judges and some allies are also questioning it, zardari said. Maulana Fazalur Rehman is saying that all PCO judges should be fired, but the Prime Minister has no authority to do so as there is a set procedure to fire the judges, he added.
Fazalur Rehman is adamant that CoD should be honoured, he said adding alliance with JUI-F will continue as PPP wants to revive the economy to bring prosperity in the country.
He said, PPP wants to promote economic friendship with neighbouring countries including India and stressed the need of establishing SAARC economic forum for welfare and progress of the south asian region.
“Advantage can be taken from Indian and Chinese markets for a generating 18 million jobs for our youth”, he added.
To a question, Zardari said, he spent eleven years in jail, paying price for the people and for the cause of democracy.
He said, judges restoration was on PPP agenda, however he admitted that it was not election slogan of his party as its slogan was “Roti, Kapra aur Makan.
He cited an example of PPP candidate Dr Israr who faced defeat in the general elections because the people voted for his opponent for restoration of the judges.
He said, menace of poverty was being faced across the world even in China and USA.
Zardari said, the coalition government was committed to improve living standard of the common citizens by providing them more opportunities of earning respectable livelihood.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said his party wants to see atmosphere of national reconciliation promoting in the country.
Commenting on 17th amendment, he said all and sundry are against the 17th amendment, and if the coalition undo the amendment then women seats, joint electorate and minority seats would be affected.
Coalition government wants to keep intact good things in the 17th amendment, and remove other clauses but, it lacks the required strength, he further said.
Zardari said, spirit behind the constitutional package will be to improve the situation in judiciary and ensure quick and cheap dispensation of justice to the masses.
“It is being said that poor do not get justice, and even he (Zardari) himself was in power but did not get justice”.
Backlog of supreme court cases was in hundreds and thousands, and if the number of judges is enhanced then “we do not have issue with that,” he added.
Under the constitutional package, in future the judges would be appointed in accordance with a package. Parliament will be involved in appointing judges of the superior courts, Zardari added.
He said, his personal political thinking is that there should be a proper procedure for appointment of judges.
There must be scrutiny of the appointment of Chief Justice of Pakistan. Every Pakistani has a right to debate appointment of CJP, PPP Co-Chairman said.
Judges should not judge each other. The Indian package is being contemplated. There should be a committee of ex-judiciary and senior judiciary to look into the complaints of Chief Executive or any citizen against a serving judge, which should be forwarded to the Parliament which should take decision on it.
Asif Ali Zardari said, procedure for appointment of judges is mentioned in the Charter of Democracy and the same will be adopted.
He urged all political parties to extend cooperation for implementation of Charter of Democracy.
Commenting on judges restoration committee, he said it has been decided that suggestions of the committee will be put up before PPP and PML-N leadership.
Ch.Ahsan Premee
