Time to de-weaponise Pakistan: Sattar

Sattar says the MQM envisages a complete prohibition
of the illegal manufacture and trade of weapons.

Tribune

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar on Monday said that his party had submitted the draft of a de-weaponisation bill in the National Assembly.

He was talking to the media in Karachi.

Sattar said that the MQM envisaged a complete prohibition of, and the proper implementation of this prohibition, on the illegal manufacture and the illicit trafficking of weapons and arms. He said they wanted to encourage the parliament to respond to their call and also assess what flaws were present in the laws already in the books.

He said they would also present the bill in the Senate and appealed to all parties to support them on the bill, adding that the vision behind the step to submit a bill was to encourage the parliament to play its role in preventing the weaponisation of society.

The MQM leader said the country was facing many problems due to rising crime and violence. He said the greatest factor behind the rising crime and terrorism in the country was the proliferation of weapons, particularly illegal weapons, in the country.

Gilani seeks support from opposition

Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani met with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday in what analysts describe as a desperate bid to shore up support and make new allies following the MQM’s announcement of its defection to the opposition benches in the Senate and the National Assembly, which has stripped the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of its already slender majority in the parliament.

Gilani telephoned Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain early Monday morning seeking his support following the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM’s) decision to sit on the opposition benches. Gilani is expected to meet the PML-Q leader later today.

The ruling PPP has 125 members in the National Assembly, 47 short of simple majority to keep the government in office. It has support from Awami National Party (ANP) with 13 lawmakers, five from the Pir Pagara-led Functional League and around 17 independent members. The PPP needs at least 12 seats to survive and the prime minister is expected to talk about the possible alliance between PPP and PML-Q in today’s meeting.

Gilani faces an imminent no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, forcing the PPP to look for new allies. The PML-Q, which is the second largest opposition group with 51 seats in the National Assembly, said it will not move the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Gilani.

Shujaat said they will listen to Gilani and then consult other party leaders before reaching a conclusion.

PML-Q, JUI-F hold meeting in Lahore

Meanwhile, PML-Q and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) held a meeting in Lahore to discuss their future course of action. Addressing a press conference after the meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Gilani saying that it was better for him to resign with all his cabinet.

Iran seeks Pakistan's help in investigating Chabahar bombing

Rehman Malik assured the Iranian ambassador of all necessary
help from Pakistan in investigating the Chabahar bombing.

Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Iran asked Pakistan to help in the investigation of the suicide bombing which took place in the south-eastern city of Chabahar in Iran.

Iranian ambassador Mashallah Shakri called on interior minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad.

He gave him a letter from the Iranian government in which it is requested that Pakistan help in the investigation of the bombing which killed 35 people and wounded more than a 100.

The interior minister assured the Iranian ambassador that Pakistan would extend all necessary hep to Iran. Malik said that an investigation team would be sent to Iran if the need arises. He said that Pakistan would never allow anyone to use its land for terrorist activities against any other country.