Zardari rules out operation
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has ruled out any operation
against people taking part in Dr Tahirul Qadri’s sit-in.According to an official press release, the president said there would be no operation against the marchers and expressed the hope that Dr Qadri and his followers would remain peaceful.
The statement came after a fresh deadline was given to the government by the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran for the fulfillment of its four demands and Interior Minister Rehman Malik issued an ultimatum and asked Dr Qadri and his followers to leave Islamabad.
Otherwise, he said, a ‘targeted action’ would be carried out at an appropriate time. But the minister rejected the possibility of a full-fledged operation.
“I have four different intelligence reports that the TTP wants to attack Dr Qadri and his people. So please call off the sit-in to save the lives of the children and women who are there with you,” he said at a late-night press conference.
“If something happens, you, Qadri Sahib will be responsible for it,” he said.
The minister said a case would be registered against Dr Qadri and members of the committee of his organisation for violating the law. “I have sent the draft of the FIR to the law division for legal opinion,” he said.
Mr Malik said it had been decided that no ‘operation’ would be conducted but targeted actions would be taken to send Dr Qadri away from Islamabad.
“My leadership has ordered me to avoid any operation for the sake of the lives of children and women in the sit-in but targeted action can be conducted anytime. It may be tonight, tomorrow or the day after,” he said.
The interior minister read out four intelligence reports saying that the banned TTP and some other terrorists groups had planned to attack Dr Qadri in the Blue Area.
“Groups of Saifullah Baqi, Jundullah, the TTP and Tariq Gidar have sent their suicide bombers to Islamabad to target Dr Qadri,” he said.
Mr Malik said he had more than 15,000 security personnel, including police Rangers and Frontier Constabulary, to conduct any operation but he would not go for it and only a targeted action would be taken to get Dr Qadri.
On the other hand, followers of Dr Qadri raised their sticks after hearing about Mr Malik’s ultimatum.
Soon after the press conference, people at the sit-in formed a human chain around Dr Qadri and his bullet-proof trailer to foil any attempt by police to arrest him. “We have information that the government will try to arrest Dr Qadri and we are ready to repulse any such action,” a leader of the Tehrik told Dawn.
The minister said he had some options other than an operation to get Dr Qadri, adding that he could send the leader of the march out of the city within five minute. “I have my people among your followers who can hold you anytime,” he said.
“We have latest equipment and gadgets, like anti-riot gas that makes people unconscious for two hours. Another spray makes people blind for some time,” he said.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira also ruled out an operation. “We have no such plan but we request Dr Qadri to send the women and children back home from the venue,” he said.
“We believe that peaceful protest is a right of every citizen but it should not create problems for other people,” he added.
Mr Malik also said that the diplomatic community was safe and their security had been beefed up.
Later, he invited Dr Qadri for talks with the government for a logical conclusion of his protest. “He should form his team and tell us with whom he wants to talk — with the prime minister or any other person,” he said.
Why RPP order not implemeted, asks CJ
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed hearing of the rental
power plant case where Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry questioned that
why the court’s orders are not being implemented, Geo News reported Thursday.A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice is hearing the case today.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials including the chairman are present in the court today to respond over orders to arrest the prime minister and 15 other people on accusations of graft in 2010.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice said that the court had ordered to submit the challan and arrest the accused. He remarked that the accused include people who think themselves above the law, and no one is above the law.
The CJ questioned that why the investigation of the matter has not concluded yet when the NAB had the order since March 30, 2012. He remarked that the decision of the rental power case is based on the official credentials.
It may be mentioned that Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had ordered that all those accused of graft in power generation projects be arrested and for the chairman of the NAB to report to the court.
Coming as a populist cleric leads tens of thousands of protesters outside parliament to demand that the government resign, Tuesday's order sparked panic about an alleged judiciary-military plot to derail elections due by mid-May.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik threatened overnight to disperse the crowd unless leader Tahir-ul Qadri ends the demonstration; the largest political rally in the capital for years, but President Asif Ali Zardari later intervened to stop authorities from using force against protesters.
Asked if any arrests were made so far, as ordered by the court, NAB lawyer Aamir Abbas replied: "I am not aware about arrests."
There was a heavy media presence outside the court today morning and police stepped up security checks.
Commentators doubt that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf will be detained imminently given that the case has already been running for years.
Lawyers say that even if he is arrested for questioning over the allegations, which date back to his time as water and power minister, he can remain in office unless and until he is convicted.
'Political leadership has united'
ISLAMABAD: Chairman of National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) Fasih Bukhari said that it is a matter of great
satisfaction that the political leadership has united, Geo News reported
Thursday.
While talking to media outside the Supreme Court building
before the hearing of rental power case today, Fasih Bukhari applauded the
decision of the political leadership that nobody will be allowed to function
against democracy.
He said that he is happy the fact that the entire political
leadership has unified to save democracy.
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'Political leadership has united'
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Pakistan
EXCHANGE FOR CURRENCY NOTES:
U.S.A 98.37
S.Arabia 26.23
U.K 158.05
Japan 1.1167
Euro 130.68
U.A.E 26.78
BULLION RATES IN RUPEES PER 10 GRAMS
KARACHI
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Gold Tezabi (24-ct) Rs53,828
Silver Tezabi Rs972.85
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