Pakistan's new balance of power

[MOSABJA]

Fahim is an intelligent person .PPPP wont just go and Get rid of Musharraf.


First of all its very obvious that PPP + PML N + ANP will have the 2/3 majority in parliament with the help of Independents.

This means they will easily have the power to Impeach Mr.Musharraf.

And once the impeachment notice is issued then President is no more able to dissolve the assemblies.

Thats what PPPP is going to do in future as they simply dont want to run with a 58 2 B president.


BUT FAHIM AS AN INTELLIGENT PERSON WILL NOT IMPEACH HIM IMMEDIATELY HE WILL FIRST SETTLE DOWN AND POST HIS OWN IGs IN POLICE.STATION HIS OWN GOV and Get all the STATE APPARATUS in their hand.

Then after 2 or 3 months I BET .They are gonna first impeach Musharraf.
He wont be able to use 58 2 b
Then pass a resolution in Parliament to restore judiciary.
as its restoration doesnt need a constitutional amendment.

AND MUSH's TIME IS OVER.
JUDICIARY IS RESTORED.

 

[mujahideen]

Row over amended Constitution likely: Inaugural NA session

By Nasir Iqbal and Ashraf Mumtaz

ISLAMABAD / LAHORE, Feb 23: Controversy lies in store for the opening session of the new National Assembly as the interim government’s legal experts have decided to get printed a fresh edition of the Constitution, incorporating all amendments introduced by President Pervez Musharraf during the emergency rule.

The question haunting the PML-N and PPP’s legislators-elect alike is: will they take oath under the amended Constitution, which has been ‘validated’ by the Supreme Court?

Both parties have already rejected these amendments and termed them “unconstitutional and invalid”. They contend that the amendments have been made by an individual instead of the parliament.

The government insists the imposition of emergency (on Nov 3), the enforcement of the Provisional Constitution Order, sacking of judges and other steps taken by the president during emergency had been validated by the apex court and made part of the Constitution.

It also asserts that the legislators-elect taking oath under the amended Constitution would, by implication, be endorsing all these steps.

The PPP has said that it would not give a blanket cover to all steps taken by President Musharraf during emergency.

A PML-N leader said on Saturday that the matter was under consideration and some solution would be found by the time the National Assembly holds its inaugural session.

“Obviously (the new version of) the Constitution would contain Article 270AAA under which amendments made before and during the … emergency rule were given perpetual legal cover,” said a senior government official.

He said if the printing was delayed “we will have to manually affix the corrections in the constitution”.

Normally, the law ministry and the National Assembly secretariat are authorised to print the Constitution.

Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum is on record as having said that no constitutional provision required validation by parliament, adding that changes like the Eighth and the 17th amendments were ‘ceremonial’.

A similar situation had cropped up after the 2002 elections as the Legal Framework Order (LFO) was made a part of the Constitution. A large number of legislators-elect had refused to take oath under the amended Constitution, prompting the then speaker, Illahi Bux Soomro, to show the protesting members his copy of the Constitution and declare that LFO was not part of it.

However, Article 270AAA is a major bone of contention between the president and his legal experts, on one side, and the opposition and the lawyers’ community, on the other.

The lawyers contend that the Constitution cannot be amended without a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.

Row over amended Constitution likely: Inaugural NA session -DAWN - Top Stories; February 24, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

No deal with PML-Q in Punjab, NWFP: PPP

By Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has dismissed the idea of forming provincial governments with the help of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) in either Punjab or the NWFP.

The party’s newly elected legislators called for correcting the power disparity between the presidency and parliament.

Two separate meetings were held at the Zardari House in which PPP’s parliamentary groups from Punjab and the Frontier discussed options in the post-election scenario.

Punjab’s former chief minister Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo and NWFP’s Anwer Saifullah Khan also called on PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari separately and discussed possible future political scenarios.

Mr Wattoo, who remained with the PML-Q for the past five years, contested the election as an independent candidate. His daughter, former MNA Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, has also won a National Assembly seat from Okara as an independent candidate. Rubina Wattoo had won the previous election from the platform of PML (Jinnah), but was later associated with the PML-Q.

Interestingly, her name also appears in the Election Commission list as a PML-Q candidate for women’s reserved seats. It is not clear why Mr Wattoo met Mr Zardari and in which capacity.

A source said that Mr Wattoo had brought with him a chart with some numbers and tables.

Anwer Saifullah Khan has won a provincial assembly seat as an independent candidate. His brother Humayun Saifullah has also won a seat in the NWFP Assembly on the PML-Q ticket.

Talking to Dawn, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the PPP’s MPAs from Punjab and Sindh had expressed their views on the pros and cons of alliance with the Awami National Party (ANP) in the Frontier and PML-N in the centre and in Punjab and analyzed various political aspects of such alliances.

Mr Babar said the participants had ruled out any alliance with the PML-Q, saying: “The King’s party no longer exists and has been banished by voters.”

He said the participants also reviewed the political situation and felt that circumstances were favourable for correcting the imbalance of power between the presidency and the parliament and for the restoration of parliament’s supremacy. They said the party would not falter on its commitments made in its manifesto and the Charter of Democracy. Mr Babar said the PPP was not making any effort to form governments in the NWFP and Punjab as it recognised the mandates of the ANP and the PML-N there. He, however, said the party would definitely nominate its parliamentary leader in both the provincial assemblies.

Both the meetings were presided over by PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari. Vice-chairmen Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Syed Yousuf Rasa Gillani, secretary-general Jahangir Badar and Raja Pervez Ashraf also attended the meetings.

The members paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto and reiterated that her assassination should be probed by the UN.

Mr Zardari said the party would formulate its policies in the light of the advice of its members and the party members had to brace themselves for post-election challenges. He said the PPP and other political forces had to offer solutions to national political problems.

Mr Zardari said if the elections had not been “selectively rigged,” the party would have fared much better.

Mr Babar said a meeting of the MPAs-elect from Balochistan would be held in Islamabad on Sunday morning following by another meeting of the MPAs-elect from Sindh in the afternoon. Meetings of the losing candidates of National and provincial assemblies will begin from Monday and continue for three days, he said.

No deal with PML-Q in Punjab, NWFP: PPP -DAWN - Top Stories; February 24, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

18 lawmakers willing to join PML-N in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: As many as 18 newly elected independent candidates of the Punjab Assembly have contacted the PML-N to join the party for forming the government in the province, sources in the party said on Saturday. They said several other newly elected lawmakers were initiating contacts to join the PML-N, leading the count with 105 seats for the Punjab Assembly in February 18 elections. They said the PML-N’s top leadership had welcomed those willing to join the party. However, they added that no final decision had been taken and the matter would be discussed in the first meeting of the party’s Punjab parliamentary committee in Lahore on Tuesday. They said PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif would chair the meeting. The party’s committee that met on Friday nominated Shahbaz as its parliamentary leader in Punjab.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

'Mother' party seeks divorce from ‘father’

Maqbool Malik

ISLAMABAD - The former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) has technically abandoned its creator President Pervez Musharraf, TheNation has learnt from the party sources.
The party which contested general elections in 2002 with its original title PML-Q so proudly ‘fathered’ by the author of ‘In the Line of Fire’ has somehow maneuvered to register itself as Pakistan Muslim league (PML) and now become ‘mother’ political entity.
Background interviews and discussions with the party members suggest that the move to change the party title was done some time last year to set it out for the general elections.
“Do not call us Q-league, please. Call us Pakistan Muslim League (PML)”, Party’s Punjab President and former Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi reminded this scribe during the press conference here on Saturday. Despite repeated efforts to seek clarification, neither Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi nor any other central leader was available, however it was learnt from other senior members that party had been reformed last year.
Some members took it as a conspiracy against the President in a bid to marginalize his future political standing. However, few close to the central leadership believed it was done on the recommendation of party’s Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who, with ‘all sincerity of purpose’ intended to reform the party in order to serve as effective political tool.
“We are proud to be mother of all the factions of Pakistan Muslim League,” a senior women wing leader told TheNation.
When asked how come the party could be regarded as ‘mother’ of all the factions of Pakistan Muslim league since it was created out of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), she simply declined to answer.
Party sources however narrated a sorry tale of the party meeting held at the Muslim League House Saturday that was called to do soul-searching for the political defeat in the general elections. The meeting was dominated by calls for the central leadership to accept the responsibility and step down.
According to the insiders former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri and Riaz Pirzada were more vocal in demanding explanations from the leadership as to why party had denied tickets to several members including Shaukat Aziz.
They further said that several former ministers including Hamayun Akhtar Khan had wilfully missed the meeting.
President Pervez Musharraf, formerly also the COAS, had created PML-Q by bundling up majority members of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and using NAB as part of his strategy aimed at seeking honourable exit in testing times.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Q-League leadership under pressure to resign

ISLAMABAD: After the defeat in the general election, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)’s top leadership came under severe criticism, and voices are being raised within the party for the change of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s leadership with a demand of his resignation.
The PML-Q meeting held here on Saturday, participated by successful and losing candidates, proved to be hot session for its leadership when the losing candidates of the party started blaming the leadership and caretakers for their defeat. The voices for replacing the leadership were raised by a majority of those who lost the elections and blamed the party leaders and their policies for their defeat.

Besides criticising the party leadership, the participants said the issues of Lal Masjid and judges and price-hike and caretakers’ policies were main reasons for the party defeat. Participants belonging to Sindh blamed the caretakers for supporting the PPP candidates in Sindh.

Majority of the meeting participants was of the view to sit on the opposition benches while another group of the party leaders comprising former Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri was of the view that the party should join the national government if invited.

During the meeting some wining party candidates, including Riaz Hussain Peerzada, raised the first voice for changing the leadership in the pattern of year 2002, when party replaced Mian Azhar, who lost election from two constituencies.

In his speech, he said after the election of 2002 Mian Azhar was replaced and now after the defeat of the party only the leadership should be held responsible and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain should resign from the post to give a chance to the party to elect a new leader.

According to sources, Raiz Hussain Peerzada made a hard-hitting speech against the leadership of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and asked the top leadership to accept the defeat and pave the way to elect new party chiefs in center and Punjab province.

Sources said though Khurshid Kasuri did not support Riaz Hussain Peerzada, yet he asked the leadership to convene a meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the party to take up the issue as soon as possible.

According to sources, Kasuri suggested that party should find the reasons for the its defeat and it should also analyze that why the ticket to former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was denied. “We all want to know the reasons for not awarding the ticket to Shaukat Aziz to contest the elections,” sources said while quoting Kasuri.

During his speech, Kasuri also suggested that if the party was being contacted for the national government then should give a positive response otherwise to sit on the opposition benches.

He was also critical of the differences within the party and said a close aide of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi contested the elections from his constituency as an independent, and he lost the election. “The party made no attempt for the withdrawal of another party candidate against me and I suffered a defeat,” he said.

Senator Nilofar Bukhtiar also criticized the top leadership and opposed the party policy on judges’ issue, saying that judges should be reinstated.

In her speech in the meeting, sources said Nilofar Bukhtiar also held the caretakers responsible for party defeat in the elections, saying that the opposition have gained clear majority in the elections by catching judiciary issue from citizens of the country. “The reinstatement of deposed judges who refused to take their oath under the Provincial Constitution Order (PCO) should had been the PML-Q slogan instead of the opposing it during the elections campaign,” sources quoting her saying.

Main Manzoor Watto accused the leadership of making wrong decisions on distributing the party tickets for the elections.

Sources said Mian Azhar, during his speech, opined that the party suffered a huge defeat, for following President Pervez Musharraf’s policies. “It was not Q-League rejection but President Musharraf’s policies,” sources said while quoting Mian Azhar.

Sources said the participants of the meeting belonging to Sindh alleged that rigging were made for the defeat of the Q-League candidates and officials of the provincial government openly supported the PPP candidates.

Sources said out of 38 successful candidates of the Q-League around 17 newly elected party parliamentarians “abstained” from its first ever meeting of the newly elected parliamentarians and contesting candidates of PML-Q after election.

Sources said though Hamid Nasir Chattha, Manzoor Wattoo and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed attended the meeting, yet they left the meeting much before the conclusion.

Pakistan News Service - PakTribune

 

[mujahideen]

Public speaks

This is not gallop survey or western frenzy human right organisation’s guess work, people of Pakistan in reality have given verdict and have shown serious dissent to the policies of general Musharraf and his way of governance, in particular to his treatment to top judiciary of Pakistan and his own handpicked Q league stalwarts have lost their own home seats which is a clear sign of charged mood of the nation.

Sharifs and Bhuttoo’s party have landslide in Punjab and Sindh respectively and moderates in NWFP showing red card to the bearded Prime Ministerial aspirant Maulna Fazal u Rehman. These parties if can carefully muster a coalition government, it will be a big victory for the people of Pakistan which will bring continuity, stability and strength in governance. However, the task ahead is not small as they will have to be wise enough to acknowledge lawyers, media and civil society’s movement for justice and they must invite open heartedly Imran Khan, Qazi and APDM components to join them too in their coalition. Lawyers will be content if pre 3 Nov judicial position is restored and Chief Justice is brought back to his position along with his colleagues with honour and order of 7 member SC bench is given due respect and preference. Media men who were banned from reporting must be asked to resume at once especially Hamid Mir. And Dr Shahid Masood, however a code of conduct must be discussed along with setting up an independent complaints body for consumers and public separate from PEMRA and law of compensation for sleazy, and slanderous reporting must be introduced which will pave way for the due role of media which is acknowledged by all in the run up of election(s). I think printing and electronic media representatives may jointly draft a code which is reflective of the need of the state as well as encompassing the international norms.

Having said that, opposition voice must be protected too, now that the winning party is in government, they must treat the opposition the way they wished the treatment for themselves which they never received. Opposition plays an important part in democracy, and winning graciously is the key and ‘forgiveness’ and ‘live and let live’ principle must not be ignored. Any component of opposition may not be barred from going from one province to another, their families must not be disturbed and no false and trump up charges should be brought against them. Even if charges are made, they must be offered due process of law and fair trial ideally in the court before Justice Choudhry. I believe that political defeat by vote is the biggest revenge one may take from their opponent.

I for one am not in favour of selective accountability. Sharifs idea of holding people accountable through Saif ur Rehman and General Musharraf’s pardon through NRO are not ideal solutions and give rise to suspicion of selective accountability which people dissent. I feel accountability trials may be conducted through normal courts, higher as well as superior courts if public representatives have violated the law, they must be brought to justice and no sacred cows must be left unattended in law. However what these two parties can do is to create a political will to strengthen the judicial process, as well as the existing court system and the way judges are appointed. If judiciary is strengthened, then that truly can stop military intervention as it can play a role of a buffer zone where a military man does not need to jump in on the name of wiping out corruption. I think winners must bring true meaning to the slogan of servants to people in its true form too as people do not like big cars, grand offices and luxurious foreign trips when there is a shortage of flour, oil, gas, and sugar in the country and people are dying of suicidal attacks so simplicity could be the key to avoid any suspicion of mal administration and government should be reflective of the people it serves, a poor state in debt over head and heels.

Finally, the main man himself, I think General Musharrf must consider where he went wrong, his advisors made him a deaf and dumb and showed him a true picture of his governance and he lost the pulse of the people. He did not learn even from the build up of dissent on 5th of April in Lahore when obedient subservient Chief Justice was admired as a bold courageous man for saying ‘No’ to the dictator, however he rather than understanding the will of people tried to show muscle on 12th May like a genuine public leader resulting in many deaths. Hired spectators can never make one a leader similarly a serving General devoid of legitimacy can never be a legitimate elected leader as he never has roots in the masses. He lost his constituency when he shed off his uniform and rest is history. We can divide his rule between pre and post 9th of March 2007 and he is a victim of his own deeds and may be considered an ignition of waking this slept jinni a nation of 160 million who only wake up when they are to loose everything and they woke up when they saw the country loosing its ground and institutions started crumbling. In all honesty, he could have been a leader if he had not gone for his own elections first and had held these elections post 20th July accepting Supreme Court verdict but end of the day he was a man not a saint. Its for him to decide how to manipulate his exit as military has honourably distanced themselves from him and civilian politics. However, whatever happens the game is on and people once again have vetoed against the turn coats.

Pakistan News Service - PakTribune

 

[mujahideen]

PPP pledges to give maximum autonomy to all provinces

* Demands release of political prisoners
* Apologises to Baloch for atrocities
* PPP Sindh opposes alliance with MQM By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People Party (PPP) on Sunday promised maximum autonomy to the provinces within the framework of the 1973 Constitution. In a meeting of its elected provincial assembly candidates at the Zardari House on Sunday, the party unanimously passed a resolution apologising, “on behalf of the people of Pakistan”, for “the atrocities and injustices committed against” the people of Pakistan. It demanded an end to the military operation in Balochistan, the release of all political prisoners including Akhtar Mengal, and that the Levies, and not the police, be deployed in the province. Balochistan: The Balochistan chapter of the party decided in the meeting to join hands with the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and independent members of the provincial assembly to form a government in the province. PPP Balochistan President Lashkari Raisani briefed the leaders on the party’s position in the province. Party sources said his brother, Aslam Raisani, had been recommended for the seat of the chief minister. Sindh: The Sindh chapter of the PPP opposed, in a separate meeting on Sunday, an alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the province and in the centre. The Sindh chapter of the party opposed an alliance with the MQM because it was part of the previous government. It also opposed alliance with provincial assembly candidates elected on tickets by the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and the National People’s Party. Individual exceptions might be considered, they said, if the party’s leadership considered it appropriate. The meeting considered the names of Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Manzoor Wasan, Pir Mazharul Haq, Nadir Magsi and Agha Sirajul Durrani as frontrunners for the slot of the chief minister, but authorised PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari to name a final candidate. The party re-iterated its demand for a United Nations-led investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s murder. Three independent candidates elected to the National Assembly also met Asif Zardari, as Zardari House remained the centre of political activities on Sunday. Humair Hayat Rokhari, elected in the NA-72 constituency of the National Assembly, Humayun Aziz Kurd, elected in the NA-267 National Assembly constituency, and Jawad Hussain, elected in the NA-39 constituency, assured Zardari of their support. Anwar Saifullah Khan, elected as an independent candidate on two NWFP Assembly seats, announced joining the PPP and said he would try to muster more support from candidates elected independently. A PPP source, commenting on the support of independents to the party, said the PPP would gain the support of at least a hundred like-minded elected parliamentarians before the first National Assembly session. “The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will also cross the figure of 80,” he added. According to the rules, independently elected National Assembly candidates must join a political party within three days of the official notification of their victory. Although the PPP has not formally announced Makhdoom Amin Fahim as candidate for prime minister, there were all indications from within the party and its allies that he would be the new prime minister. There were also reports of Fahim being provided with a VVIP protocol, but his personal secretary denied them. He was being given enhanced security since he began the party’s election campaign, his personal secretary told Daily Times. Also on Sunday, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at his residence in Islamabad. Asif told reporters after the meeting that Zardari would call a meeting of allied parliamentarians and ask the government to summon a National Assembly session. He said Nawaz Sharif would also attend the meeting.

Courtesy Daily Times

 

[mujahideen]

78pc Pakistanis want next PM to be more powerful

LAHORE: A majority of Pakistani voters believe that the next prime minister should wield more powers than the president, a poll conducted by Gallup-Pakistan has said. In the aftermath of the February 18 elections, with President Pervez Musharraf’s opponents winning a majority in the parliament, about 78 percent of Pakistani voters surveyed through an exit poll believed the next prime minister should have more authority. However, only 60 percent believed that this would actually happen and the remaining 40 percent believed that the president would hold more power. Gallup declared the sample size as 5,538 men and women, who were surveyed after they stepped out of polling stations. daily times monitor

Courtesy Daily Times

 

[mujahideen]

PML seeks share in power

By Ahmed Hassan

ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Pakistan Muslim League (Q) appeared on Sunday to be having second thoughts on its earlier announcement that it would sit in the opposition in the National Assembly.

In a meeting of the party’s MNAs-elect held at the residence of its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, a number of participants said efforts should be made for power-sharing in a coalition government.

“This meeting of the PML-Q parliamentary party expresses its full confidence in the leadership of party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and empowers him to hold talks with other parties,” a resolution adopted at the meeting stated.

Chaudhry Shujaat told journalists that all but three MNAs-elect of the party had attended the meeting. Sources said former chief minister of Punjab Mian Manzoor Wattoo, who had attended the meeting on Saturday, did not turn up on Sunday. Mr Wattoo is reported to be working on forming his own group to negotiate with the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).

A PML-Q leader said Mr Wattoo had contested the election as an independent candidate and he would be invited to the parliamentary group’s meeting only if he joined the party.

Chaudhry Shujaat was quoted as saying that there was no second opinion about the party’s continued support for President Pervez Musharraf as it had elected him for a five-year term.

He alleged that the PML-N wanted to occupy the Supreme Court on March 9 just like its workers had stormed it when they were in power.

The PML-Q president said the party was united and ready to play the ‘second round’ in parliament.

He said the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly would be named in a couple of days.

Former chief minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi said all decisions in the meeting had been taken unanimously.

The party’s chiefs in Sindh and Balochistan, Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Hamadan Bugti, and secretary-general Mushahid Hussain also attended the meeting.

Chaudhry Shujaat will preside over a meeting of the party’s senators on Monday morning to chalk out a strategy for the next Senate session.

PML seeks share in power -DAWN - Top Stories; February 25, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

Cabinet-in-waiting

Gillani may get Defence Ministry
NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD- Hectic lobbying is being witnessed within the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for securing the ministerial slots in the upcoming cabinet, sources privy to the developments disclosed to TheNation.
According to the sources, most of the elected MPs of the party wanted to see Senior Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim as a Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly and they are playing their role in this connection. However, some MPs have tossed the name of Shah Mahmood Qurashi and Yousaf Raza Gillani for the coveted slot.
The sources said that though there is no direct move from either Shah Mehmood Qurashi and Yousaf Raza Gillnai in this regard, they have activated their close associates in the party who have initiated lobbying for these two heavyweights.
The sources said that Taj Haider or Nafis Saddiqui for the slot of Sindh Governor.
The names of Senators Farooq H Naik and Latif Khosa are echoing in the top corridors of the party for the post of Law Minister. Similarly, Noman Islam Sheikh is being propped for Water & Power.
The sources said the name of Nawab Yousaf Talpur is being tipped as Minister for Food & Agriculture. While the name of PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar is being discussed for the important Information portfolio, probably for his strong media background. Similarly, the sources said that the names of Syed Khurshid Shah and Shenaz Vazir Ali are under consideration for Education Minister.
The sources said that Taj Muhammad Jamali is likely to become Railways Minister while Syed Naveed Qamar is a strong contender for the Ministry of Finance. The sources said Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi is also probable for Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination. The name of Ahmed Mukhtar is also being discussed for Commerce Minister, the sources added.
The sources said that the names of Dr Babar Awan and Rukhsana Zuberi are being considered for Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. Similarly, Fahmida Mirza and Azra Afzal are being considered for Health Minister, they said.
These sources said that Yousaf Raza Gillani is also discussed for Defence Minister.
Last, but certainly not the least, PPP Secretary General Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamaruz Zaman Qaira are likely choices for the important post of Interior Minister.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Civil society forecasts tough battle for new govt

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: While assessing expectations and challenges ahead, civil society representatives at a seminar on Monday forecast a tough battle for new government amid heavy responsibility of peoples’ mandate.

The seminar “Beyond elections: Challenges and expectation,” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) was attended by Zafarullah Khan of Centre for Civic Education (CCE), Harris Khalique of Strengthening Participatory Organisations (SPO) and Dr Farzana Bari of Quaid-i-Azam University.

Dr Bari, while speaking on structural and internal challenges to the new government urged realization of context and constraints in which the new government was going to be formed. She said Pakistan’s future role in the war on terror as front line ally and over-influence of international powers for the formation of new government would prove crucial in the process. She observed that capitalization of people’s mandate, end to military’s involvement from politics and corporate interests, increasing gap between haves and have-nots, tackling with militancy and Talibanization, restoration of democracy and strengthening of parliamentary system would require solutions at internal level. Bari stressed the need for strengthening the political parties and civil society, especially on fundamental issues.

Dr Abid Q Suleri of SDPI said that things still seemed hazy as whether peoples’ mandate would be saved from the hijacking of international powers. He said restoration of law & order, economic revival, Talibanization and militarization of the society were the serious challenges ahead to the new government.

Zafarullah Khan said war on terror, restoration of judiciary, rehabilitation of heavily dependent economy, sovereignty of parliament, polarization in the society and Talibanization would be key challenges to the new government.

Harris Khalique identified numerous challenges that the new government has to wisely deal with. He lamented that the previous government had not appropriately invested in energy, industry and agriculture sectors, which would be instrumental in huge price hike and shortage of oil & power in near future.

Haris urged the civil society for renewed struggle adding that it was not the end of struggle but a new start.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[voiceofaa]

Hi,

Has somebody ever thought that how important the party symbols were in this election---.

i did

i don't understand one thing from PML (N), they have leapard printed on voting slip, tiger on all banners/panaflaxes, but consider and use the word LION as their symbol, even election commission named LION. What exactly their symbol is

i heared one phrase in urdu which states.....

"Shair kabhi khud shikar nahin karta, bal k shairni k kie hue shikar par guzara karta hai"

This phrase suits Nawaz Sharif, as he got many votes (If not all) coz of sympathy he got after BB's assasination and all the drama on incident.

 

[roadrunner]

Wonder what heroics the "lion" did in battle to earn his nickname. What a joke (I'm referring to electing convicted criminals and also his nickname).

 

[mujahideen]

Elahi warns PML-Q members against defection

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Punjab President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday warned the party’s elected members of disqualification if they defected to any party. Addressing a press conference here, Elahi said anyone who changed his loyalty after winning elections on the PML-Q ticket would stand disqualified under Article 63 of the Constitution. He contradicted media reports that some PML-Q candidates were in contact with PML-Nawaz (PML-N) and might leave the party. He said if someone wanted to join any other party, they must resign and contest polls afresh. Elahi said some party members were of the view that the party leadership should accept a role if a national government was formed. However, he said they would sit on opposition benches and play a constructive role. He said PML-Q would back the next government’s “people-friendly” steps. He ruled out any possible negotiations with the PML-N. He said his party members would keep on pressing the treasury members in parliament to fulfil their promises. He said President Pervez Musharraf would not quit as parliament had elected him for five years.

Courtesy Daily Times