Punjab tussle: Zulfiqar Mirza warns PML-N of consequences

Tribune

FAISALABAD: Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza has warned PML-N of “consequences”  if the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is forced out of the Punjab coalition.

Speaking at a public gathering in Lyari on Sunday, Mirza asserted that the PML-N was hatching conspiracies to eliminate the PPP from Punjab. He warned the PML-N that any undemocratic step against the PPP government would result in anarchy in the country.

Mirza’s warning follows statements by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who  said February 22 will be the final day of talks with the PPP on the PML-N’s 10-point agenda.

Talking to the media in Faisalabad on Sunday, Shahbaz said the PML-N will decide on February 22 if it wants to have the PPP as a coalition partner in the Punjab government. Party chief Nawaz Sharif had earlier ruled out giving more time to the PPP to implement the 10-point reforms agenda.

PML-N, the main opposition group, has been engaged in negotiations with government interlocutors on economic and governance reforms linked to a 10-point agenda it had given to the PPP. Nawaz Sharif has given a 45-day deadline to implement the agenda, starting from January 10. Failure to deliver on the economic cum political agenda may lead to the parting of ways for both parties in Punjab.

Tension in Punjab

In an earlier report in The Express Tribune, the PML-N had refused to propose two members from its party to be part of a committee to discuss the 19-point agenda put forward by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regarding governance in Punjab.

The agenda – presented to the Punjab government by the PPP in seeming retaliation to a 10-point agenda given to it by the PML-N in the centre – was termed ‘useless’ and a ‘waste of time’ by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.

The PML-N had to announce its members on February 15, but Sanaullah has now categorically refused to implement the PPP’s agenda in Punjab. When contacted, Raja Riaz refused to comment on the issue.

Taliban warns Pakistan against releasing Raymond Davis

Tribune

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Taliban warned the government on Tuesday it would punish any move to release a US consulate employee accused of murdering two Pakistanis in a case that has inflamed already strained ties with Washington.

“If (Pakistani) rulers hand him over to America then we will target these rulers. If Pakistani courts cannot punish Davis then they should hand him over to us,” said Azam Tariq, spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Taliban movement of Pakistan).

“We will give exemplary punishment to the killer Davis.”

The warning from the al-Qaeda linked Taliban, which has kept up suicide bombings to destabilise Pakistan’s government despite several army offensives, underscores the charged atmosphere surrounding Davis’ case.

US Senator John Kerry was due in Pakistan as part of the Obama administration’s efforts to resolve the crisis.

Raymond Davis, the US consular employee jailed in Lahore for shooting two Pakistanis last month, says he acted in self-defence during an armed robbery.

Washington insists Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released but the Pakistani government, fearful of a backlash from Pakistanis already wary of the United States and enraged by the shooting, says the matter should be decided in court.

On Thursday, the United States is expected to present a petition to a Lahore court to certify that Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released.

Religious parties don’t win many votes in elections. But the government can’t afford to ignore the groups who often seize on issues concerning the United States to promote their cause.

“Of course he (Davis) should not be released. He has committed a crime and he should be punished. He doesn’t have immunity,” said Yahya Mujhaid, a spokesman for Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which was blacklisted by the UN over its links to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group blamed for the 2008 attack on Mumbai. It denies it has links to the LeT.

“If he is released, we will register our protest but in a peaceful way. We will hold rallies … Not only us, the whole of Pakistan will protest against any such move.”

Supporters of the slain men have held protests and burned US flags. In addition to the two men Davis shot, a third man was killed when a U.S. consulate vehicle, apparently trying to rescue Davis, struck and killed a passer-by.

Don't take us lightly, warns Afridi

GEO
DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Saturday warned World Cup rivals not to underestimate his team, saying the players had turned a new leaf after the match-fixing scandal.

Afridi admitted Pakistan had been blown away by the scandal, which saw former captain Salman Butt and two leading pacemen, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, punished for their alleged involvement.

All three were banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council, which ruled them out of the World Cup, and also face criminal proceedings in England.

"I think we're really going through a very tough situation," Afridi told reporters in the Bangladeshi capital ahead of the marquee tournament opening on February 19.

"But I am very happy because we are trying to rebuild the team and keep the morale high. I am confident the team is in very good shape now.

Afridi's team will play practice matches against Bangladesh and England in Dhaka over the next few days, before their first Cup match against Kenya in the Sri Lankan town of Hambantota on February 23.

The Pakistan captain said his team was "focussed and united" under his leadership.

"They feel hungry to win a big event and want to play good cricket," he said, adding recent wins in New Zealand had bolstered the team's morale.

Afridi said fans would see a vastly improved Pakistan in the World Cup. "Inshallah (God willing), we will achieve our goal," he said.

Afridi paid tribute to manager Intikhab Alam and coach Waqar Younis for keeping the team in good spirits amid the controversy.

Pakistan was initially due to co-host the tournament with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but were stripped of hosting rights after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in March, 2009.

Pakistan, World Cup winners in 1992, have been drawn with reigning champions Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Canada in group A of the preliminary league.

Four teams from the group will advance to the quarter-finals.

Afridi said he wanted Pakistan to meet India in the April 2 final at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.

"That would be the perfect final for the cricket-loving people in both countries," he said.

MQM’s Qaumi Unity Conference : Agencies warn of attacks on rallies

Tribune
Violence could lead to a spate of target killings, ethnic violence, officials fear

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s efforts of showing that it is quintessentially a national party may be marred by security concerns. Intelligence agencies have warned of possible attacks on the participants at its Qaumi Unity Conference to be held on Sunday (today) at Jinnah Ground, Azizabad.

People from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds living in Karachi — except those belonging to Urdu-speaking families — will participate in the conference where MQM chief Altaf Hussain will address the assembly by telephone. He is expected to express his views on the national issues that have gripped the country.

Scores of people are expected to gather for Qaumi (national) Unity — as its name suggests — from different parts of the metropolis in the form of rallies, processions and reception camps that have been set up across Karachi.

However, security agencies have cautioned of an expected attack on the rallies and processions as well as the reception camps. All town police officers have also been directed to take extraordinary security measures, officials revealed.

A senior police official told The Express Tribune that the police have information of threats ranging from crime to terrorism. “The culprits might target the rallies and reception camps by firing,” said the officer. It is also feared that any untoward incident might provoke ethnic violence and targeted killings in the city, he added.

Security forces have also declared some areas most sensitive, including Bin Qasim, Shah Latif, Sachal, Gadap, Surjani, Orangi town, Keamari, Mauripur, Baldia and Neelum Colony.

Meanwhile, an MQM leader, requesting anonymity, said that keeping in view that this public meeting will be attended by non-Urdu speaking people, it will have its uniqueness and it will amply demonstrate the MQM as a political party that has transcended beyond caste, colour, creed and ethnicity. “It is not for the first time when MQM has [received] threats. We have been facing threats [ever] since MQM chief Altaf Hussain openly spoke on extremism and Talibanisation,” he said. “Any third party would be responsible if target killing or ethnic violence began after this conference.” MQM deputy convenor Dr Farooq Sattar also visited camps that have been set up to welcome rallies arriving from different parts of the city for the convention. He praised the efforts of MQM activists on duty at the camps.

Despite the looming fear, text messages are also being circulated that are also fuelling panic among those who want to participate in the conference.

JUI-F warns PPP leadership

JUI-F warns PPP leadership

Dunya News
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, who had quitted the government, had strongly criticized the PPP led government. We have no lust of power, but his party in the greater interest of the country has quit the government, Maulana Fazl ur Rehman said. He flayed the PPP-led government for carrying out US-backed war on terror in the country, demanding that National Assembly’s resolution should be implemented. He said his minister was not kicked off due to disciple but the government has its own interest adding that prime minister should take his party in confidence before any decision.