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.

Rabbani demands Musharraf�s trial under Article 6

ISLAMABAD: PPP’s Senator Raza Rabbani has asked the government to register a case under Article 6 of the Constitution against former dictator Pervez Musharraf for abrogating the Constitution twice, and also said Musharraf should be arrested for the murders of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Senators belonging to the PML-N and ANP endorsed Rabbani’s demand to try Musharraf under Article 6. Speaking in the Senate which began its winter session on Tuesday Raza Rabbani, who is also chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, presented a 10-point charge sheet against Musharraf for his trial under Article 6. He said Pervez Musharraf was the person who gave the country’s airbase to foreigners and thus endangered national security. “Not only did he hand over the Shamsi airbase to the Americans, there was no written agreement for this and neither the defence ministry nor the ministry of foreign affairs has any record in this regard,” he said.

Rabbani said Musharraf was responsible for the Balochistan operation and had sacked and arrested judges of the superior courts. “General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf twice abrogated the Constitution and imposed emergency on November 3 which was not only an act of treason but also an open war against the Supreme Court,” he said.

Raza Rabbani, who had refused to take oath as a federal minister under the former dictator, said the Supreme Court’s decision clearly declared the imposition of emergency of November 3, 2007 as a violation of the Constitution and in the light of this decision the federal government should file a case of treason against Musharraf. “If he returns he should be sent to jail in the murder case of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in which he has been declared an absconder,” he added.

Raza Rabbani, who is also deputy secretary general of the PPP, said that Musharraf is also named in the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti. He said Musharraf not only played havoc with the federation but also weakened the provinces by sowing the seeds of mistrust among them.

PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq endorsed Rabbani’s views and labeled Musharraf a national criminal. ANP’s Zahid Khan said not only Musharraf but Ziaul Haq too was a national criminal who threw the country into the quagmire of terrorism. He said every one protested drone attacks but no one protested the use of Pakistani soil by foreign militants, which was also a violation of sovereignty. “We often hear that Arab or Chechen militants were killed in a drone attack. The presence of these militants on our land is a violation of our sovereignty. We should be told who brought them here,” he said.

The opposition in the Senate asked the government to order that US drones, which have resumed attacks after a pause of one and a half months, be shot down. Drone attacks were apparently suspended after Pakistan suspended Nato supplies following the attack by Nato forces on the Salalah check-post.

Raising the issue on a point of order, Professor Khursheed Ahmed said following the attack on the Salalah check-post the military leadership had assured the Parliamentary Committee on National Security that in the future no drone attacks would be allowed but these attacks had been resumed now and no action was being taken to shoot them down.

Rabbani demands Musharraf�s trial under Article 6

ISLAMABAD: PPP’s Senator Raza Rabbani has asked the government to register a case under Article 6 of the Constitution against former dictator Pervez Musharraf for abrogating the Constitution twice, and also said Musharraf should be arrested for the murders of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Senators belonging to the PML-N and ANP endorsed Rabbani’s demand to try Musharraf under Article 6. Speaking in the Senate which began its winter session on Tuesday Raza Rabbani, who is also chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, presented a 10-point charge sheet against Musharraf for his trial under Article 6. He said Pervez Musharraf was the person who gave the country’s airbase to foreigners and thus endangered national security. “Not only did he hand over the Shamsi airbase to the Americans, there was no written agreement for this and neither the defence ministry nor the ministry of foreign affairs has any record in this regard,” he said.

Rabbani said Musharraf was responsible for the Balochistan operation and had sacked and arrested judges of the superior courts. “General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf twice abrogated the Constitution and imposed emergency on November 3 which was not only an act of treason but also an open war against the Supreme Court,” he said.

Raza Rabbani, who had refused to take oath as a federal minister under the former dictator, said the Supreme Court’s decision clearly declared the imposition of emergency of November 3, 2007 as a violation of the Constitution and in the light of this decision the federal government should file a case of treason against Musharraf. “If he returns he should be sent to jail in the murder case of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in which he has been declared an absconder,” he added.

Raza Rabbani, who is also deputy secretary general of the PPP, said that Musharraf is also named in the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti. He said Musharraf not only played havoc with the federation but also weakened the provinces by sowing the seeds of mistrust among them.

PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq endorsed Rabbani’s views and labeled Musharraf a national criminal. ANP’s Zahid Khan said not only Musharraf but Ziaul Haq too was a national criminal who threw the country into the quagmire of terrorism. He said every one protested drone attacks but no one protested the use of Pakistani soil by foreign militants, which was also a violation of sovereignty. “We often hear that Arab or Chechen militants were killed in a drone attack. The presence of these militants on our land is a violation of our sovereignty. We should be told who brought them here,” he said.

The opposition in the Senate asked the government to order that US drones, which have resumed attacks after a pause of one and a half months, be shot down. Drone attacks were apparently suspended after Pakistan suspended Nato supplies following the attack by Nato forces on the Salalah check-post.

Raising the issue on a point of order, Professor Khursheed Ahmed said following the attack on the Salalah check-post the military leadership had assured the Parliamentary Committee on National Security that in the future no drone attacks would be allowed but these attacks had been resumed now and no action was being taken to shoot them down.