Sharif attacks Zardari, Pak military

Hindustan Times
Pakistan former prime minister and chief of his own faction of the Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif, has warned that Balochistan was "going the same way as East Pakistan" because President Asif Ali Zardari-led government had entrusted the province to intelligence agencies. "No lessons have been learnt,"
Sharif said while addressing PML-N workers convention on the occasion of 104th Founding day of the Muslim League.

He said that the influence of the non-democratic forces in the country was strengthening owing to bad governance and corruption. Sharif asked government to constitute a committee comprising lawmakers to sort out Balochistan issue.

He also strongly criticised the ruling government and the Pakistani military in his speech. 

"Record levels of corruption can be seen in government. It seems that the only criteria for a high-level government appointment is bad character and a crooked past," he said, amidst slogans raised by supporters for a change in the country.

He said that government and its allies "were beneficiaries of a military dictatorship."  He also took credit for the restoration of the suspended judiciary in the country, including the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Sharif said that PML-N's support for democratic process must not be construed as backing for 'corrupt' government's survival. We will not be party of any puppetry, he asserted.

Sharif also took former president Pervez Musharraf to task for sabotaging the peace process with New Delhi.

Strike in Balochistan against Shahzain Bugti’s arrest

DAWN

QUETTA: A shutter down strike was being observed on Friday in Quetta and in a number of districts in Balochistan province against the arrest of Jamhoori Watan Party’s provincial chief Shahzain Bugti and his personal guards.

Television reports said a partial shutter down strike was being observed in several areas of Quetta.

The administration had deployed police and Balochistan Constabulary across the city to avoid any untoward incident.

According to one report, JWP activists resorted to aerial firing in some parts of Quetta. Subsequently, the police seized their weapons and arrested at least nine persons who were forcing shopkeepers to shut down their businesses for the day.

On December 22, paramilitary troops arrested Shahzain Bugti, a grandson of the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, along with several personal guards, after finding a huge quantity of illegal arms and ammunition in vehicles of his convoy coming from the border town of Chaman.

Shujaat invites JUI-F to form government in Balochistan

SANA


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has invited the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam -Fazal (JUI-F) to from new coalition government in Balochistan.

This he said while talking to reporters after addressing the Charismas ceremony here at the PML-Q Secretariat, he said PML-Q and JUI-F could form the government in Balochistan.

Earlier, addressing the Charismas ceremony Shujaat Hussain said that legislation is required to stop the exploitation of the Blasphemy laws, adding that those who involved in the misuse of the Blasphemy laws should be punished.

He said that Asia Bibi refused to committing Blasphemy of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), adding that no law can allow to punish the innocents.

Akram Masigh Gill MNA has said that the participation of people from all schools of thought in the Charismas ceremony would promote interfaith harmony and unity among the nation.

Attia Inayat Ullah MNA said that according to the thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam all the minorities have the equal rights to live and serve the country. She said that PML-Q manifesto protects the rights of minorities in the country.

Ambassadors of China, Sudan, Greece, South Korea, Czech Republic, Palestine, Iraq, Netherlands, Philippine, Russia and the high commissions of British, Bangladesh and Switzerland also participated in the ceremony.

Shujaat Hussain cut the Charismas cake on the end of the ceremony.

President, PM exchange views on Balochistan govt

The-News


ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday and discussed prevailing political situation in the country. 

According to sources, they also discussed the reservations of MQM besides relations with coalition partners.

They discussed the recent visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan and the President’s forthcoming visit to Turkey, the spokesman for the President House said. 

They also exchange views on the rumors of change of Balochistan government.