JUI-F wants opposition parties to unite for polls

PESHAWAR: Considering early elections a panacea for all problems faced by the country, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has urged all opposition parties to join hands to work out a plan for polls and pressure the government accordingly.

“We think free, fair and transparent election at the earliest is the solution to all the problems. It should be done in a legal and constitutional way. We would never support any extra-constitutional step for change,” said Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the JUI-F central secretary general, while addressing a hurriedly called press conference here on Monday evening.

The JUI-F wants to celebrate 2012 as the year of election, but for the purpose all the opposition parties would have to unite and work out a unanimous solution with regard to the month and date for the elections, he said, adding that the JUI-F had contacted other opposition parties, mainly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, for this purpose.

The Maulana said the government had failed on all fronts. “Robberies are taking place on national highways, law and order situation is presenting the worst picture in the country’s history, the economic situation has worsened and corruption has broken all records,” the JUI-F leader said. “One of the main reasons of the challenges facing the country is the support to the US-led alliance in the so-called war against terror. Even now there is time for the rulers to take the right decisions, otherwise it would become difficult for them to present the next budget,” he stressed. Ghafoor Haideri was in the provincial capital to condole the death of the sister-in-law of Abdul Jalil Jan, provincial secretary information of JUI-F who was present at the news conference. Ghafoor Haideri said the JUI-F had supported the government in the All Parties Conference convened by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, but the decisions taken in that conference for national security and sovereignty haven’t been implemented. He said the government made a welcome decision after the attack on check-posts in Mohmand Agency by cutting off supply line to the Nato troops in Afghanistan. The government is still sticking to that decision, he said, adding that the JUI-F would never allow resumption of the supplies. “We can even burn the Nato containers if the government dared to resume the Nato supplies,” he declared.

Elections on time, demands for early polls to fail: PM

SARGODHA: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said the government is committed to providing the basic needs of life to the people on their doorsteps and utilising all available resources for the uplift of the masses, who are the real strength of the democratic process.

Addressing a public meeting here, the prime minister said the Pakistan People’s Party, being an ideological party, has roots among the masses and it derives its strength from them. Earlier, he inaugurated various development projects and laid the foundation stones for a number of other schemes.

Gilani said those who are demanding early elections would fail. He said these would be held on time, and the PPP would seek a fresh mandate from people in 2013 on the basis of its performance.

The prime minister said only people’s power could ensure success of any political party in elections. “We are committed persons and will remain with you today and in future also,” the prime minister told the gathering. Gilani said every party needs workers, but the PPP workers are priceless, who remained committed to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who sacrificed his life for the masses.

About formation of new political parties, and talking of revolutions, Gilani said revolution is only possible with the support of masses, adding that these new entrants in politics did not have any support from the people of Pakistan. He said ‘Fasli Batairay’ (opportunists) could not bring about any revolution in the country and they were just misguiding the masses. He said some parties came to power on crutches of the establishment, but they washed away because they did not have roots among masses.

The prime minister said except for the PPP, all other parties are in conflict with each other. He said all major political parties like Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement were cooperating with the PPP. “It is our power that we are going along with all parties through reconciliation,” he added.

The prime minister said an agreement has been signed with Indonesia under which duty on export of Kinno has been waived off. This would help increase its export. He said development schemes worth Rs5.5 billion have been completed in power and gas sectors.

The prime minister said other political parties were misguiding masses. He said the new political parties did not have any concrete programme and manifesto. He said Baitul Maal has been directed to give sewing machines to deserving women to help them make an honourable living. He directed the Baitul Maal to provide free treatment facility to a handicapped girl and another ailing person. The prime minister said Rs3.5 billion projects have been completed in Sargodha in electricity and gas by the present government. The prime minister announced upgradation of the medical college to a teaching hospital in Sargodha.

As New Hampshire Heads To Polls, All Eyes Are On Mitt Romney

Enlarge Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney addresses a rally at McKelvie Intermediate School in Bedford, New Hampshire on Monday.

Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney addresses a rally at McKelvie Intermediate School in Bedford, New Hampshire on Monday.

Some in New Hampshire have already cast their votes this morning. As they do traditionally, voters in Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, both small northern New Hampshire towns, cast their ballots shortly after midnight.

The Washington Post reports on the results:

"Romney tied with former Utah governor Jon Huntsman (R) in Dixville Notch, with each candidate winning a total of two votes out of nine cast. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) took one vote, as did Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). The remaining three voters cast their ballots for President Obama.

"In Hart's Location, Romney took five votes, compared to four votes for Paul. Huntsman took two votes, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) took one and Gingrich took one."

As if we had to remind you, today is the second contest of this primary season and if you look at polls, the state is Mitt Romney's to lose. The former Massachusetts governor has had a sizable lead over his opponents. A University of New Hampshire poll released, yesterday, had Romney taking 41 percent of the vote. Ron Paul followed a distant second with 17 percent.

As CBS News puts it, if Romney manages a win, he becomes the first non-incumbent Republican to win both Iowa and New Hampshire "since the modern presidential nomination process was established in the 1970's."

We'll leave you with some early headlines:

— Time's Swampland says while Romney's New Hampshire win is looking close to certain, "an unexpected nail-biter could dampen the case for his inevitability."

— After, Newt Gingrich began criticizing Romney's business record, Slate asks if his biggest asset is also the "bain of his existence."

— NPR's Scott Horsley looked at Romney's record at Bain Capital on Morning Edition.

— And The Wall Street Journal has a bit more on what it calls Romney's ill-timed "You can fire them" comment from yesterday.

— The margine of victory matters, reports the Boston Herald: "... The margin could determine whether it's a John Kerry victory — one that makes him virtually unstoppable heading South — or a Paul Tsongas victory, where the second-place finisher (in Tsongas' case, Bill Clinton) gets the real momentum."

— Politico looks beyond News Hampshire and predicts a long primary fight.

— CNN reports some polls in the state close as late as 8 p.m. ET.

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