PM expresses grief over Chinese quake devastation • 05.15.08
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday expressed grief over the loss of lives in China due to massive earthquake, and said Pakistan stands by its brotherly country in this difficult hour.“The loss of human lives in China is also considered a loss for Pakistan. I assure you that at this odd hour, we are with you and stand by you,” the Prime Minister said during his visit to Chinese embassy to offer condolence with the ambassador on quake tragedy.The Prime Minister expressed sorrow over the colossal loss of lives and property in Sichuan province in the wake of 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region, killing more than 15,000 people. In his comments in the visitors’ book placed at the embassy, the Prime Minister wrote, “In these moments of grief for the Chinese people, the whole Pakistani nation join me in extending the families of the deceased most profound condolences.”The Prime Minister said he also conveyed his condolence to the Premier of the State Council and assured solidarity with the people of China.“We hope that the great Chinese nation will overcome the tragic phase at the soonest,” he said.Later in a separate meeting with the Ambassador of China Luo Zhaohui, the President expressed sorrow over the tragic incident that claimed thousands of lives.Gilani said Pakistan enjoys excellent relations with China, which stands as a cornerstone of its foreign policy.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain called on President Musharraf at the President House in Islamabad. “The president has consented that Chaudhry Shujaat will continue to lead the Pakistan Muslim League-Q”, sources said. The leader of opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Chaudhry Wajaat Hussain and senator Muhammad Ali Durrani also attended the meeting that was continued for three hours.The meeting was held amidst speculations of handing over the PML-Q top office to Pir Pagara or Hamid Nasir Chattha.The president had also met Hamid Nasir Chattha on Wednesday.
An election tribunal on Thursday accepted the nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has filed nomination papers to contest by-election from NA-123, Lahore, while party president Shahbaz Sharif filed papers for PP-154.The nomination papers of PML-N covering candidate Hamza Shahbaz were also accepted by the tribunal.Talking to media lawyer of Nawaz Sharif, Naseer Bhutta said that the additional session Judge Chaudhry Badaruddin rejects all allegations against Nawaz Sharif. Bhutta said the decision is a big blow to establishment. We will contest any appeal against the tribunal he added.
The lawyers’ movement for restoration of the deposed judges would resume on May 22, from the Supreme Court, President Rawalpindi High Court Bar here said. Talking to media after a meeting of the Rawalpindi Bar, Sardar Asmatullah said the clerics, traders and the civil society would also join ranks with the lawyers in the movement. He said the deposed judges were already restored with withdrawal of the emergency rule, now it is only the matter of their functionality. He said the voters by rejecting the pro-Musharraf candidates in general elections given mandate to the political parties for restoration of the judges but the newly elected government has yet been failed to reinstate them.
The government has submitted a report in Sindh High Court regarding withdrawal of a case against Asif Ali Zardari from a London court.Deputy Attorney General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui has submitted report regarding withdrawal of the Surrey Palace case before a division bench of SHC today.It was the last case against Asif Zardari withdrawn by the government of Pakistan from a foreign court.The counsels of Zardari prayed the court for some period to examine the report. The court granted their plea and adjourned the hearing for an unspecified period. The government had submitted a report in the court in last hearing regarding withdrawal of a money laundering case against Asif Ali Zardari from a Swiss court.
Former Federal Minister Salmaan Taseer has been appointed as new Governor of Punjab in place of Lt. Gen.® Khalid Maqbool.
The Head of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Mian Nawaz Sharif has said conspiracy activities are being undertaken to weaken democracy in the country but he will do utmost to foil any such attempts against PPP government. In an exclusive interview in Geo News program Capital Talk, Sharif said PML-N joined government at the promise that judges would be reinstated in 30 days. He said the Murree declaration also favored restoration of judges through a resolution. Nawaz Sharif said political reconciliation should be based on some principle and PML-N would support political parties and lawyers in their struggle to reinstate judiciary. He said Punjab government would not become a barrier in the struggle to restore judiciary and he would also invite Asif Zardari to sit in the “Judicial Bus”.
Angry residents of Damadola village stopped government officials on Thursday from approaching the ruins of a house struck by two missiles suspected to have been fired by a US drone.The missiles, which hit a house in the village of Damadola in the Bajaur tribal region, where pro-Taliban militants have been known to operate, killed eight people including three children and a woman on Wednesday evening, residents said. “It’s barbaric,” said villager Rehmatullah Khan.”They were innocent people,” he said, referring to the dead.Maulvi Omar, a spokesman for pro-Taliban militants based, said four of those killed were Taliban fighters and all the dead were innocent Pakistani.A security official in the area said between six and eight people were killed and he did not rule out the possibility some of them were foreign militants.The strike was the first since a new government was formed about six weeks ago.In January, 2006, a CIA-operated drone Predator aircraft fired missiles at a house in Damadola in the belief al Qaeda leader bin Laden’s deputy, Ayman al Zawahri, was visiting.He was not there and at least 18 people died in the strike, several of them believed to have been al Qaeda members.Before the Wednesday attack, US-controlled Predator aircraft had this year struck at least three sites used by al Qaeda operatives in northwest Pakistan, killing dozens of suspected militants.The house, which residents said belonged to an ethnic Pashtun tribesman, was almost completely destroyed. All that was left standing were badly damaged parts of some walls.
Pakistan and US Naval forces began exercise ‘Inspired Union 2008′ in the North Arabian Sea May 11, which will focus on air, surface and anti-submarine training, says a press release issued by US Embassy here on Wednesday.Pakistan forces from PNS Badr (D 184), PNS Shahjahan (D 186), PNS Nasr (A-47), and Pakistan Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal are participating in the bilateral exercise along with Sailors from USS Curts (FFG 38) and USS Ross (DDG 71). Other US forces participating include Destroyer Squadron 50, and Combined Task Forces 54, 55, and 57. “This exercise provides US and Pakistan forces the opportunity to work together and train across the spectrum of naval disciplines,” said Commander Yvette Davids, Curts’ Commanding Officer.”Inspired Union will improve the interoperability and tactical proficiency between our two nations and will enhance our navies’ effectiveness in supporting maritime security objectives.” US and Pakistan forces will conduct the bilateral exercise from May 11 to 21 as part of regional Maritime Security Operations (MSO). Inspired Union consists of two phases. The first phase will focus on air, surface, electronic warfare and subsurface exercises while the second phase will concentrate on Explosive Ordnance Disposal training.”The importance of Inspired Union cannot be minimized,” said Davids.”It is an opportunity to further develop our relationship with a very important partner that shares a similar commitment and desire for global maritime security.Exercises like these demonstrate our mutual respect for each other’s contributions to the overall effort and our commitment to building a stronger relationship.”"This is the first visit by a U.S ship to Karachi since September 2006 and we are grateful for the opportunity to visit Pakistan,” said Davids.”Visits by US Navy ships symbolize the continued friendship and partnerships between countries and military services - it allows us to increase our cooperative engagement and exemplifies our commitment to building trust and confidence among friends worldwide.”
Central leader of PML-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi on Wednesday said that his party will not indulge in any move to destabilize the PPP government at centre. In a telephonic interview with private TV he however said that if the PML-N is pushed to sit in opposition benches the leadership of the party is ready to play this role in democratic manners. He said that it has been the established view point of the PML-N leadership from day one that it is not striving to reach the power. The party has been doing the politics of issue he said adding it will not hesitate for a moment to sit on opposition benches if so required.He said the PML-N will not destabilize the system neither it will indulge in any conspiracy to topple the PPP government at centre either it remains in the coalition or sits in opposition benches.Hashmi said that his party will play a positive political role even if it goes into opposition.
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