BRIEF NEWS UPDATE: 04.01.2012

BlackBerry maker vows privacy safeguard amid memo probe

OTTAWA: Research In Motion vowed Tuesday to defend the legal privacy rights of BlackBerry users after a judicial commission in Pakistan ordered copies of smartphone communications in the memo probe.
The Canadian firm reacted to news that a Pakistani commission was seeking records for a probe into an unsigned memo purported to ask for Washington’s help to rein in Pakistan’s military.
The highly controversial memo was allegedly an attempt by Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US and a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, to enlist the US military’s help to head off a military coup in May in Pakistan.
It was made public in October by American businessman Mansoor Ijaz.
On Monday, the commission directed Pakistan government officials to obtain the BlackBerry “record of conversation” between Ijaz and the former envoy accused of crafting the memo.
Haqqani resigned over the affair and the Supreme Court has stopped him from leaving Pakistan. He has denied any involvement in the scandal.
Canada-based RIM, which makes the BlackBerry, said, “Like others in our industry, from time to time, we may receive requests from legal authorities for lawful access assistance.”
The company statement added: “We are guided by appropriate legal processes and publicly disclosed lawful access principles in this regard as we balance any such requests against our priority of maintaining the privacy rights of our users.”

Last chance for govt on NRO implementation: SC

ISLAMABAD: A five-member Supreme Court bench hearing NRO implementation case told the government that it was its last chance to follow court orders. After that no order would be issued, instead, action would be taken, Geo News reported Tuesday.Meanwhile, the court summoned Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on January 10. The bench ordered investigations against former OGDCL chief Adnan Khwaja. ?How were Adnan Khwaja and Ahmed Riaz appointed, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa asked.

Ban on rallies in Karachi`s `red zone`

KARACHI: Due to security concerns, the Sindh government banned on Tuesday rallies and all political activities in the `red zone` of Karachi.
The move may be aimed at stopping the Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) sit-in it plans to stage outside the Governor`s House on Jan 6 in protest against registration of an FIR against its leader.
City police chief Akhtar Gorchani said in a TV interview that it was decided that no rally or other political activity would be allowed in the `red zone`.
He said the decision was taken at a meeting after hundreds of Pasban-i-Jafria activists gathered outside the Governor`s House, demanding registration of an FIR against the rival party leader.

Imran says govt has lost mandate to rule

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday his party would decide whether to go for a civil disobedience campaign or use other means to oust the government during its Central Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, adding that the government had lost the confidence of the people.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr Khan, flanked by information secretary of his party Shafqat Mehmood, said there was nothing wrong in calling early elections because the government`s mismanagement and corruption had undermined every institution and led to a breakdown of law and order.
He said the government`s energy policies had rendered four million people jobless in Punjab alone because of shutdown of businesses and industrial units. He said his decision of boycotting the 2008 elections was correct because those polls were meant to bring about a government which was subservient to the US dictates and better served American interests at the expense of the people of Pakistan.
“There is nothing wrong with the demand of early polls to keep the democratic order on track as there are several examples of repeated elections in different countries in the recent past, including Turkey,” he said.
The PTI chairman reiterated his party`s stance that it would not contest the elections unless the Election Commission implemented the judgment of the Supreme Court about names of fake voters in electoral rolls.
Referring to power and gas riots across the country, Mr Khan said only 185,000 consumers were paying their electricity bills though there were 28,00,000 air conditioners and there were 400,000 illegal connections owned by influential people who used free electricity and the poor had to pay their bills also.
Referring to corruption in the fertilizer sector, the PTI chairman said that media would soon be provided with details of the corruption in this sector, which had badly hit farmers throughout the country. About deteriorating law and order situation, he said that cases of car snatching had touched new heights last year while kidnapping for ransom had now become a massive industry, forcing several industrialists to close their businesses in the country move to other countries.
He accused the government of mismanagement in state affairs and reneging on agreements, leading to massive gas and power loadsheddng which had closed hundreds of industries and businesses, rendering millions of people jobless and pushing them and their families to starvation.
He attributed all these problems to US-brokered PPP-Musharraf deal known as NRO and because of this deal an inefficient, incompetent and corrupt government was put in place only to continue to serve US interests.
He accused the government of destroying all key institutions, including PIA, PSM and Pakistan Railways.
The PTI chief supported the demand of new provinces of Hazara, south Punjab and Bahawalpur, but only on administrative grounds and not for political point scoring or gaining party votes, adding that countries like Japan and others had done so to streamline their administrative work and to facilitate their masses.

Business News

 Tue, 3 Jan 2012

-Rupee trades at record low of 90.20
KARACHI: The Pakistani rupee traded at a record low on Tuesday because of increased import payments and a deterior 

-Oil eases in Asian trade after overnight surge
SINGAPORE: World crude prices inched lower in Asian trade Wednesday after soaring overnight over tensions between 

-CNG, transporter associations call off strike
ISLAMABAD: The talks between the Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry and Chairman All 

-Banking stocks lead KSE to 11402 points
KARACHI: Share prices at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) rose on Tuesday mainly as a result of traders interest in b 

-Oil higher in Asia
SINGAPORE: Oil rose in Asian trade Tuesday, underpinned by positive economic data out of China and geopolitical te 

-Euro firms against dollar in Asian trade
SINGAPORE: The euro rebounded against the dollar in Asian trade Tuesday but ongoing worries over Europe s debt woe 

-Asian shares rise on China economic data
HONG KONG: Asian shares rose Tuesday, taking a lead from European markets which started 2012 in positive territory 

-Ban on filling CNG in public transport vehicles to be suspended for 15 days
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Petroleum Natural Resources Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry held a meeting with Ghyas Paracha Chairman 

-Consumer price index jumps 9.75pc in Dec
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan s consumer price index (CPI) rose 9.75 percent in December from a year earlier, the Federal Bu 

-OGDC, shaky economy dent KSE
KARACHI: Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) ended lower on Monday as investors sold shares of heavyweight Oil and Gas De 

-CNG situation being distorted: Petroleum Minister
KARACHI: Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain said on Monday that some people were trying to fool the public about t 

-Gas crisis: Punjab traders to go on protest
LAHORE: All the chambers of commerce and industry and trade organisations of the Punjab have decided to launch a p 

-CNG stations observing strike in KPK
PESHAWAR: CNG stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are observing strike across the province from today, Geo News reporte 

-Petrol price hiked; diesel kept unchanged
ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday hiked the price petrol and HOBC but withdrew rise i 

-ISE elects directors for 2012
ISLAMABAD: The general body of Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) on Saturday elected five directors for the year 2012

  LATEST/BRIEF NEWS:

·       Cabinet meeting on energy crisis today

·       Edging closer: Taliban insurgents drop precondition for peace talks

·       Maulana Johar being remembered today

·       PM not for army courts in Karachi

·       US to release Taliban leaders: UK paper

·       Nato attack: PCNS meeting today

·       Salmaan Taseer's death anniversary today

·       US hopes Pak will open supply routes

Mohammed Saleem Mansoori

BRIEF NEWS UPDATE: 03.01.2012

 President wants better drainage for Sindh

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Monday reiterated his call for chalking out a workable comprehensive Master Plan for dealing with the issue of drainage of stagnated water.
President Zardari stressed on a drainage system with a view of restoring, remodeling and enhancing the discharge capacity of the existing drainage system for 20 years frequency flood on one hand and to identify, activate and utilize old abandoned natural Dhoras like Naro Dhoro, Hakro Dhoro and others, on the other.
He also advised the district and PDMA officials to remove all bottlenecks and facilitate various banks to initiate their operations of distribution of Pakistan Cards even in those areas which have, so far, remained unattended due to various constraints.
During two separate briefings held at Bilawal House Karachi Monday, the President reviewed situation vis-a-vis drainage of stagnated water in various parts of flood affected areas of Sindh and the progress made in distribution of Pakistan Cards among the flood affectees.
Briefing the media, spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that during briefing on drainage of stagnated water it was informed that the rain water for about 97 per cent area has been drained out whereas in some areas of Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Umer Kot there were still some pockets with stagnated water.
The President was informed that in compliance with his earlier directives, the irrigation department has prepared a conceptual Master Plan in two months and a foreign consultant M/S Louis Berger would submit a detailed Master Planning report by February 2012.
The President, after being briefed about the salient features of 20 years irrigation revamping plan, directed to rationalize the plan and generate the revenue for this plan by strengthening tax collection system.
He said that he would visit the rain affected areas to see progress on dewatering and also deputed Nadir Magsi to visit the areas and report to him about the prevailing situation within 48 hours.
The President expressed satisfaction that despite heavy downpour, the country had sufficient wheat stock available. He also asked for exploring market in the neighbourhood for wheat export.
The Spokesperson said that Chairman NADRA while briefing the President about progress in the distribution of Pakistan Cards informed that out of approximately 13 lacs eligible beneficiaries identified by district administrations and PDMA, around 11 lacs have so far been provided with Pakistan Cards.
He informed that NADRA deployed 91 Pakistan card sites out of planned 96 outlets in various flood affected districts of Sindh out of which 53 sites have been successfully closed while 38 were still operational.
He also informed that so far an amount of Rs9 billion has been distributed among the eligible beneficiaries of Pakistan Cards.
It may be recalled that on the directives of the President NADRA issued special ‘Pakistan Cards’ on the pattern of ‘Watan Cards’ for registering the flood victims of 2011 to receive assistance in cash, food and kind.
Chairman NADRA said that second phase of house construction under Watan Cards that pertains to 2009 flood victims would begin in April this year with the donors’ assistance to the tune of Rs14 billion adding that agreement with World Bank in this regard was already reached. About 350,000 houses will be rebuilt in Sindh, he informed.
The President advised NADRA and other concerned authorities for early completion of distribution process of Pakistan Cards in all the 16 affected districts of Sindh and also to facilitate various banks start their operations even in those areas which have so far remained unattended.
He also advised the government to ensure release of necessary funding so that the process of providing direct relief to the beneficiaries remains unhindered.
He also advised the concerned district administration and PDMA officials to mobilize and facilitate the remaining beneficiaries at Pakistan card sites.
Those who were present during the briefings included among others Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Provincial ministers Murad Ali Shah, Agha Siraj Durrani, Nadir Magsi, Shazia Marri, Muzaffar Ali ShujraJam, Saifullah Dharejo, Sharmila Farooqui, Kamal Majidullah, SAPM, Chairman NADRA Ali Arshad Hakeem ,Chief Secretary Sindh and other senior officials. –INP

Business News

Tue, 3 Jan 2012

-Oil higher in Asia
SINGAPORE: Oil rose in Asian trade Tuesday, underpinned by positive economic data out of China and geopolitical te 

-Euro firms against dollar in Asian trade
SINGAPORE: The euro rebounded against the dollar in Asian trade Tuesday but ongoing worries over Europe s debt woe 

-Asian shares rise on China economic data
HONG KONG: Asian shares rose Tuesday, taking a lead from European markets which started 2012 in positive territory 

-Ban on filling CNG in public transport vehicles to be suspended for 15 days
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Petroleum Natural Resources Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry held a meeting with Ghyas Paracha Chairman 

-Consumer price index jumps 9.75pc in Dec
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan s consumer price index (CPI) rose 9.75 percent in December from a year earlier, the Federal Bureua 

-OGDC, shaky economy dent KSE
KARACHI: Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) ended lower on Monday as investors sold shares of heavyweight Oil and Gas Dev

-CNG situation being distorted: Petroleum Minister
KARACHI: Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain said on Monday that some people were trying to fool the public about t 

-Gas crisis: Punjab traders to go on protest
LAHORE: All the chambers of commerce and industry and trade organisations of the Punjab have decided to launch a p 

-CNG stations observing strike in KPK
PESHAWAR: CNG stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are observing strike across the province from today, Geo News reporter

-Petrol price hiked; diesel kept unchanged
ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday hiked the price petrol and HOBC but withdrew rise i 

-ISE elects directors for 2012
ISLAMABAD: The general body of Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) on Saturday elected five directors for the year 2012 

-CNG stations to remain close in protest
KARACHI: Chairman CNG Station Owners Association, Malik Khuda Bux has said that all the outlets would remain close 

-Transporters to observe strike against CNG closure
KARACHI: Transporters have announced to observe strike in Karachi against closure of CNG on Saturday, Geo News rep 

-Rupee weakens 4.82pc
KARACHI: The rupee ended almost flat on Friday but has weakened 4.82 percent in 2011, mainly because of import pay 

-KSE-100 loses 5.6pc in 2011
KARACHI: Country s main stock index ended 5.6 percent weaker at 11,347.66 points and average daily volume fell to

 LATEST/BRIEF NEWS:

·       No regrets for setting up military court: Nawaz

·       'Secret' talks with Taliban reach decisive phase

·       CNG’s 4-day closure begins; LPG on record highs

·       NATO hopes for reopening of Pakistan supply route

·       Karachi violence: 3 shot dead overnight

·       NRO implementation: SC to begin hearing today

·       President Zardari chairs meeting in Bilawal House

·       Iran shuts border with Pakistan

·       Japan developing cyber weapon: report

·       Bahauddin Zakaria’s 772nd Urs concludes

Mohammed Saleem Mansoori

BRIEF NEWS UPDATE: 02.01.2012

Restrictions on aid — new year US gift to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: In a move dubbed by the media as “a new year gift to Pakistan”, US President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill that could suspend a large chunk of the $1.1 billion military aid to the country.
The suspension is part of a massive $662 billion defence spending bill which President Obama signed on Saturday evening despite having “serious reservations” about some of its provisions.
“The fact that I support this bill as a whole does not mean I agree with everything in it,” Mr Obama said in a statement issued by his office. “Provisions in this bill could interfere with my constitutional foreign affairs powers.”
Mr Obama said he signed the bill chiefly because it authorises funding for the defence of the United States and its interests abroad and for vital national security programmes.
“As Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief, (I) will oppose any attempt to extend or expand them in the future, and will seek the repeal of any provisions that undermine the policies and values that have guided my administration throughout my
time in office,” he said.
But there seems to be a bilateral consensus in the US Congress over the provision that seeks to suspend up to $850 million from the Pakistan Counter-Insurgency Fund.
The fund, however, can be released if Secretaries of State and Defence report to Congress that Islamabad is making progress in the war on terror and is cooperating with the US in curtailing the use of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.
IEDs are manufactured from fertilisers produced in Pakistan and smuggled to Afghanistan and are one of the major factors responsible for the death of American troops in that country.
In his comments on the bill, President Obama also cited limits on transferring detainees from the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and requirements he notify Congress before sharing some defence missile information with Russia as problematic.
The bill, approved by Congress last week after its language was revised, also slaps new sanctions on Iran aimed at reducing its oil revenues but gives the US president powers to waive penalties as required.
This provision could also affect Islamabad’s effort to build the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline as it places new restrictions on dealing with Iran’s central bank.
The US wants Pakistan to explore alternative routes, such as building a pipeline from Turkmenistan, to meet its gas needs.
Pakistan fears that the situation in Afghanistan does not allow an early construction of this pipeline while its needs are urgent as its own gas reserves have been shrinking fast, leading to widespread gas shortages affecting its industry and daily life.

Business News

 Mon, 2 Jan 2012

-CNG stations observing strike in KPK
PESHAWAR: CNG stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are observing strike across the province from today, Geo News reporter 

-Petrol price hiked; diesel kept unchanged
ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday hiked the price petrol and HOBC but withdrew rise i 

-ISE elects directors for 2012
ISLAMABAD: The general body of Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) on Saturday elected five directors for the year 2012 

-CNG stations to remain close in protest
KARACHI: Chairman CNG Station Owners Association, Malik Khuda Bux has said that all the outlets would remain close 

-Transporters to observe strike against CNG closure
KARACHI: Transporters have announced to observe strike in Karachi against closure of CNG on Saturday, Geo News rep 

-Rupee weakens 4.82pc
KARACHI: The rupee ended almost flat on Friday but has weakened 4.82 percent in 2011, mainly because of import pay 

-KSE-100 loses 5.6pc in 2011
KARACHI: Country s main stock index ended 5.6 percent weaker at 11,347.66 points and average daily volume fell to 

-OGRA okays gas tariff hike from Jan 1
ISLAMABAD: Oil Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has greensignalled hike in gas tariff from January 1, 2012, Geo News 

-Gas/power loadshedding killing Fasislabad industry
ISLAMABAD: The hours long gas and electricity load-shedding has badly affected the Manchester of Pakistan (Faisalabad) 

-Sindh, Balochistan CNG stations shut for 24 hours
KARACHI: All the CNG stations in Sindh and Balochistan have been closed from 9am today and would resume operations 

-Oil higher in Asian trade amid simmering Mideast tensions
SINGAPORE: Oil rose in Asian trade Friday, sparked by heightened tensions between the US and major crude producer 

-Asian shares mostly higher on US figures
HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly rose on the last trading day of the year Friday following another set of positive 

-Euro remains soft after Italian bond auction
TOKYO: The euro stayed under pressure Friday during Asian trade although it rebounded from a 15-month dollar low o 

-LPG price increased up Rs 10 per kg
ISLAMABAD: The marketing companies on Thursday increased prices of the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Rs 5 to 

-Islamabad stocks stay bullish
Islamabad stays bullish ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE-10) here on Thursday witnessed bullish trend

LATEST/BRIEF NEWS:

·       KPK CNG stations shutdown

·       South Korea offers talks to Norths new ruler

·       PPP to back amendment bill for new provinces

·       Pak-US relations: Ties may thaw soon, as back channels intensify

·       Iranians held in Pakistan over cross-border attack

·       ‘Third force’: Gilani warns Nawaz that both lose if govt falls

·       Over 600 CNG stations closed in KP

·       Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has warned that any unconstitutional action to stop Senate elections to be held in March would have negative effect on the country.

·       Memo commission meets today

·       S.Korea upbeat on better ties with N. Korea

·       Funeral prayer of Askari Raza offered

·       Asma tells Haqqani to get another lawyer

 

Mohammed Saleem Mansoori