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LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) spokesman Siddiqul Farooq asked Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain to return to Pakistan to face cases, so that he could prove his weight.
Farooq urged Altaf Hussain to come to Punjab, saying, ‘We will provide him the bullet-proof vehicles and receive him in Lahore.’
PML-N mouthpiece said his party acknowledges the MQM and its mandate; but, we do not accede to the politics of ethnicity and bias.
‘We respect the immigrants and their offspring; but, we do not accept the All Pakistan Mohajir Qaumi Movement, which was based on the very ethnicity,’ he reiterated.

ISLAMABAD: Secretary Information PML-N Ahsan Iqbal has underlined that the military has not taken the Government into confidence in 1992, as the Military carried operation against MQM without political consultation.
Talking in a media program here on Monday, he emphasized that MQM Chief has been airing allegations against PML-N for being responsible for the military action of 1992 in Karachi city by stating that General Asif Nawaz initiated the operation in Karachi against MQM without the approval of the Government at that time.
Ahsan Iqbal further elucidated that if, PML-N was to be held accountable for 1992 operation then MQM should also seek explanation from PPP for the operation that was launched before 1992 during the PPPP’ s regime.
Secretary Information PML-N also acknowledged that in past, the democratic regimes were not authorized completely, but today MQM after serving a term with Former Dictator Pervez Musharraf for 5-years rule, was now airing allegations, “if they were so innocents, why did not MQM voiced during the tenure of the dictator” he remonstrated.
He also emphasized that MQM has been airing allegation at this juncture of time to avert the attention from the 12th May 2007 incident’s investigations, since MQM did not ask for the accountability for bloodshed of its members during the military action of 1992.
“The establishment has never conceded the Supremacy of the democratic regimes and for the supremacy of democratic institutions PML-N made agreements under CoD with (L) Benazir Bhutto to ensure the supremacy of the democratic institutions over the establishment.” He elucidated.

ISTANBUL: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that breaking the series of Indo-Pak dialogue will equally leave damages on the interests of both neighbouring states.
This FM said to media following Friends of Pakistan (FoP) meeting held here on Monday.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said government of Pakistan requires foolproof evidences to prosecute Hazif Saeed, the chief of banned Jamat-ut-Dawah outfit but Indian government has not provided proofs as yet.
We will review new Indian dossier with open mindedness because the judiciary here in Pakistan is independent, he claimed.
FM Qureshi said government of Pakistan awaits for the results of Afghan polls, urging that Afghanistan needs political stability.

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the talks about trial against Musharraf under Article six were not came to an end and he was in contact with Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Mian Nawaz Sharif. Gilani said the Peoples Party and PML-N have differences over the mechanism.
The prime minister was talking to media on Sunday after extending condolence with Peoples Party leader Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali over the demise of his mother.
Gilani said there was no minus-one formula in democracy, “Nawaz Sharif is not disappointed with us. Muslim League (N) and Peoples Party have several common points. The leaders of both parties have suffered afflictions and faced cases,” Gilani said.
Replying a question Prime Minister Gilani said the back of terrorism has been broken and the miscreants were now hiding their faces.
He said his government was taking all possible measure to control the crises of sugar and flour shortage.

KARACHI, PAKISTAN: The new Ramazan moon may not be sighted today (Friday), according to astronomical parameters. Therefore, Ramazan One, 1430 AH may fall on Sunday. The moon crossed the conjunction line yesterday (Thursday) at 1602 Pakistan Summer Time (PST). The sunset today will be at 2002 PST, and the evening civil twilight (ECTL) will be at 2026 PST. The moon will set at 2036 PST.
Thus the age of the new moon will be 28 hours and 24 minutes at ECTL. It will set 34 minutes after sunset and ten minutes after ECTL. At ECTL the moon will be at an altitude of two degrees and three minutes and at an azimuth of 268 degrees and 13 minutes. At sunset the moon will be at an altitude of seven degrees and 22 minutes. It will be at an azimuth of 269 degrees and 25 minutes. According to astronomical parameters, there is a very very slight chance of sighting the new moon for

QATAR: The moon of the holy Islamic month of Ramazan has not been sighted on Thursday in countries Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt so there will set-in the Ramazan on Saturday in aforesaid countries, Geo news reported on Thursday night.
According to an Arab television, the meeting on the sighting of Ramazan moon in the Gulf courtiers is underway at the moment.

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan:- PML-N walked out from the National Assembly session Thursday protesting over yesterday’s speech by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the house in which he had ruled out his government would seek a trial of former military president Pervez Musharraf for high treason.
Speaking on a point of order, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that why consensus was needed to invoke the Article 6 of the Constitution for trial of former president Pervez Musharraf.
Responding to the point of order, Dr. Babar Awan said Pakistan Peoples’ Party believes in promoting politics of consensus and consultation for strengthening the democratic norms in the country.
“There are PPP allies in the Federal and the provincial governments, who are always taken on board on all important national issues,” the Minister said.
Babar Awan said on one hand Chaudhry Nisar appreciated Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for creating consensus among political forces on several national issues, while on the other he was questioning about evolving consensus in political parties regarding the Article 6.
He said these two points of the PML-N leader negate each other.
The Minister said PPP and allied parties are fully backing the comments of the Prime Minister, which he made during his speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
He said whatever the Prime Minister said in his speech was not based on personal and political victimization or personal interests but it gave a new ray of hope to democratic forces.
Awan while addressing the Prime Minister said “Mr. Prime Minister we are on your back. The Parliament is on your back. Your coalition is on your back.”

MIRANSHAH: At least three people were killed in suspected US drone strike in the Danday Darpa Khel area of Miranshah early on Friday before dawn, meanwhile following the drone attack, the suspected militants carried out attacks on various security forces check posts set up in the area, Geo news reported.
According to sources, a missile was fired from a US drone plane, killing three miscreants which enraged militants who late on, launched attacks on security forces check posts located near Miranshsh airbase namely; Ameen check post, Colony check post, and Ghulam Khan Road check post.
The security forces retaliated militants’ attack while the exchange of fire between security forces and miscreants was continued as per latest information, sources said.
Curfew for an indefinite period has been clamped in Miranshah following the incident, sources claimed.

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Khurshid, a close ally of Fazal Ullah, along with 60 comrades voluntarily surrendered to District Coordination Officer Mingora at Saidu Airport on Thursday.
According to ISPR here on Thursday, the surrender was also witnessed a number of notables of the area, while the operation, Rah-e-Raast is continuing in Swat and Malakand Division.
Security forces conducted search operation at Kukarai whereby killing two terrorists while, apprehending five Afghan nationals from Charbagh.
Security forces apprehended three suspects during routine checking at Rashagatta and destroyed a terrorists training camp besides demolishing 10 houses and discovered a cave of about 20 feet length in Dir.
So far, 256,081 cash cards have been distributed amongst the IDPs of Malakand who have also been handed over 15 trucks load of Atta.

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said he forgave former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf on his resignation; however, if the parliament brings a consensus resolution against him (Musharraf), he would support it.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said the Leader of the Opposition does not have the majority to get the resolution approved.
The judiciary, having played their role, said the rest lies with the parliament, he said.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto held the democracy the best revenge, he said.
Gilani said he has come to the House, now it is time to bolster democracy, adding it is the first time that he ascended the premiership as the consensus candidate and MQM supported him at a time when it was not a coalition partner.
The PM Gilani said he wants to take all the allies in confidence and the strength of his government comes from the alliance.
All the resolutions were adopted with consensus in 17 months, he added.

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Thursday approved 44 projects during its meeting.
Talking to newsmen here after the meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcast Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the ECNEC considered 26 projects including 17 ongoing and 27 new projects, adding that the total cost of new projects was about Rs.1136.30 billion while that of the ongoing ones is Rs.82.30 billion.
The ECNEC approved six projects, costing Rs.37.49 billion, including FEC Rs.18.44 billion for all Pakistan, the minister said.
The main projects approved by ECNEC include construction of Diamer Basha Dam, revival of Karachi Circular Railway as Modern Commuter system, procurement/manufacture of 202 new design passenger coaches and Duber Khawar hydropower project (130 MW).
Reportedly, the Council gave approval to 6 projects, costing Rs.37.04 billion, for Punjab province, 10 projects of Rs.145.97 billion for Sindh, 7 projects costing Rs.22.02 billion for Balochistan and 6 projects costing Rs.36.61 billion for NWFP.
The Economic Council also considered two projects costing Rs.16.24 billion for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 6 projects worth Rs.909.03 billion for Northern Areas and one project costing 14.21 billion for FATA.
Of these, 32 projects, costing Rs.1170.70 including FEC of Rs.363.03 billion are related to infrastructure development while 7 projects costing Rs.44.36 billion of social sector and one project of Rs.3.54 billion of other nature.

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated that the PPP as per its manifesto is committed to repeal the 17th Amendment from the Constitution.
“I think 17th Amendment is practically dead. I have called on the Parliament twice to repeal it. I do not consider it as an instrument. I do not rely on it. I do not intend to use it,” the President said in ARY NEWS’ programme “Eleventh Hour” telecasted Monday night.
“Being a politically elected President and accepting this position after the consensus within the party as well as resolutions adopted by the Parliament and provincial assemblies, why I would need the 17th Amendment?” the President questioned to the interviewer Jasmeen Manzoor.
The President said he has come to power through a political process as he fought the elections right from the Union Council and District Council to the National Assembly and Senate.
He said the PPP has a past and future as well, so how its co-chairman can think of not abiding by the party’s manifesto. “Will the (present) parliament allow itself to be dissolved,” the President remarked.
To a question about his relations with the Prime Minister, the President said Gilani is all powerful Prime Minister and the PPP nominated him for the position in the name of Benazir Bhutto.
He said there can be wishful thinking of some people about difference between him and the Prime Minister, maintaining “We all are with him. The PPP is behind him. He is a strong Prime Minister.”
To a question, the President said Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had asked him to become the Prime Minister, but the party after three months of deliberations nominated Gilani for the PM’s slot.
President Zardari said the PPP’s commitment to democracy and the Charter of Democracy can be gauged from the fact that Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, for the first time in history was also given the post of Chairman Public Accounts Committee.
He said some people wanted us to get into confrontation with state institutions “but we want to strengthen democracy and institutions. We are in the process of building institutions and not personalities”.
To a question about criticism on the government, the President recalled the situation in which the PPP government came into power after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
He referred to the federal budget 2009-10 and said some socio-economic vehicles have been created and some are being created for resolving the problems of masses.
The President did not agree with the view that the PPP’s popularity was on decline by saying the people of Pakistan voted PPP to power in the previous elections and the party will again clinch the majority in future as well.

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan has taken the recent statement of Indian Prime Minister “very seriously” and asked the neighboring country to share the information is supposed to have regarding any plans of attack on India by alleged Pakistani terrorist groups.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh on Monday told a security conference in New Delhi that some Pakistan-based terrorist groups were planning another Mumbai-like attack on India.
Talking to newsmen here Tuesday, the FM said that he asked the concerned officials of his ministry soon after the Manmohan Singh’s statement to summon the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad on the issue.
“We want an exchange of that credible information that India supposed to posses on which this allegation is based as the two countries had decided in Sharm El Shiek to cooperate in information sharing with each other for curbing menace of terrorism.”
“We can’t take any such statement lightly. Pakistan wants peaceful and friendly relationship with all its neighbors and that’s why it wants that the misunderstandings should be ratified. So, let’s see what they respond to us,” the FM told the media persons.
To a query, Qureshi said US wants a long-term relationship with Pakistan and its economic assistance for the country is a proof of its ambitions.

PAKISTAN, LAHORE: The government of Punjab has issued orders to the checkposts on border to remain alert in stopping countrywide sale of cheap priced flour from Punjab to other provinces of Pakistan.

Rana Sanaullah, Punjab’s law minister, has not banned the countrywide sale of wheat but he merely passed orders to remain ready against transportation of cheap-priced flour from Punjab to across Pakistan.

According to Punjab food department, Punjab provides other provinces 4000 to 5000 ton flour on daily basis but in the month of Ramazan, 20 kg sack of flour will be sold at Rs.200, so it could possibly be smuggled to other provinces.

According to sources, the orders came for discourage smuggling of cheap-priced flour to other provinces from Punjab and the ban will be lifted as soon as the scheme ends.

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has demanded transfer of drone technology to Pakistan.
In a meeting with US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on Monday the prime minister said that the drone strikes affecting Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terrorism.
The visiting envoy discussed the bilateral cooperation on war on terror, repatriation and rehabilitation of displaced persons of Malakand division and US aid and assistance for the development of various sectors of Pakistan.
The issue of US drone attacks was also came under discussion in the meeting, it was reported.