Governor’s rule imposed in Punjab as Sharif brothers disqualified

The News – By Shakil Shaikh – Thursday, February 26, 2009

Under this proclamation, it is presumed that the constitutional machinery has failed in the province and the president is satisfied that the government of the province cannot be carried on in accordance with the provision of the Constitution. Now, Salmaan Taseer will call shots in the Punjab.

The president took the decision hours after the Supreme Court’s decision of disqualifying the Sharif brothers. The proclamation reads as follows:

“WHEREAS I, Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on receipt of report from the Governor of the Punjab and other information made available, am satisfied that the situation has arisen in which the Government of the Province of the Punjab cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

“AND WHEREAS an unprecedented and unique constitutional void has been created in the Province consequent upon the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan on 25 February 2009 in the matter of disqualification/unseating of Mian Shahbaz Sharif as Member of Provincial Assembly.

“Now, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 234 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I hereby -

a) “Direct the Governor of the Punjab to assume on my behalf the functions of the Government of that Province;

b) Make the following incidental and consequential provision which appear to be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the objects of this Proclamation:-

i) the Chief Minister and Provincial Ministers of that province shall forthwith cease to hold office;

ii) in the exercise of the functions which the Governor has been directed to assume hereinbefore stated, the Governor shall act to such extent and subject to such conditions as I shall, from time to time, deem fit to give or impose. ♣

“This Order shall, unless revoked earlier, remain in force for a period of two months”.

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 سپریم کورٹ نے نواز، شہباز کو نااہل قرار دیدیا

 ‏روزنامہ جنگ ۔ جمعرات‏، 26‏ فروری‏، 2009 اسلام آباد (نمائندہ جنگ) سپریم کورٹ نے مسلم لیگ ن کے سربراہ میاں نوازشریف اور وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب میاں شہبازشریف کو نااہل قرار دے دیا ہے۔ عدالت نے میاں شہبازشریف کے پی پی 48 بھکر سے کامیابی کے نوٹیفکیشن کو منسوخ قرار دیتے ہوئے ان کی پنجاب اسمبلی کی رکنیت ختم کر دی ہے۔ عدالت کے فیصلے کے بعد میاں شہبازشریف وزارت اعلیٰ پنجاب کے عہدے سے فارغ ہو گئے ہیں۔ جسٹس موسیٰ کے لغاری کی سربراہی میں جسٹس سید سخی حسین بخاری اور جسٹس شیخ حاکم علی پر مشتمل تین رکنی بینچ نے مختصر فیصلہ سناتے ہوئے اہلیت کیس میں دائر کردہ تمام درخواستوں کو خارج کر دیا ہے اور صرف سید خرم شاہ کی جانب سے دائر ایک درخواست کو منظور کیا، جس میں عدالت سے استدعا کی گئی تھی کہ میاں شہبازشریف کی پی پی 48 بھکر سے کامیابی سے متعلق الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان کے نوٹیفکیشن کو کالعدم قرار دیا جائے۔ سپریم کورٹ نے نواز شریف کے تجویز کنندہ اور تائید کنندہ میر ظفر اقبال اور شکیل بیگ کو عدالت کا وقت ضائع کرنے پرایک ایک لاکھ روپے جرمانہ کیا۔ عدم ادائیگیِ جرمانہ پر دونوں کو تین تین ماہ قید کی سزا بھگتنا ہو گی۔فاضل عدالت گزشتہ 8 ماہ سے شریف برادران کی اہلیت کیس کی سماعت کر رہی تھی جبکہ عدالت گزشتہ 6 ہفتوں سے اس کیس کی روزانہ کی بنیاد پر سماعت کر رہی تھی۔ عدالت کے روبرو اٹارنی جنرل سردار لطیف کھوسہ نے دلائل دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ اہلیت کیس میں چیف سیکرٹری پنجاب اور اسپیکر پنجاب اسمبلی متاثرہ فریق نہیں ہیں۔ یہ بات بڑی عجیب معلوم ہوتی ہے کہ اہلیت کے معاملے میں چیف سیکرٹری اور اسپیکر نے بھی درخواستیں دائر کر رکھی ہیں۔ اس طرح تو اسپیکر کسی بھی ممبر کی اہلیت کے معاملے میں درخواست دائر کر سکے گا۔ قبل ازیں لاہور ہائی کورٹ نے بھی چیف سیکرٹری اور اسپیکر کی درخواستوں کو خارج کر دیا تھا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ججز کے پی سی او کے تحت حلف کی بات غیر متعلقہ ہے کیونکہ اس وقت تمام ججز نے آئین کے تحت حلف اٹھا رکھا ہے جبکہ اس کیس میں جج صاحبان کے ذاتی تعصب کی بات درست نہیں ہے کیونکہ یہ کیس جج صاحبان کے ذاتی مفاد کا کیس نہیں ہے۔ اگر کسی کیس سے جج دستبردار ہوتا ہے تو یہ اس جج کا ذاتی فیصلہ ہوتا ہے جبکہ جج کا کیس سے دستبردار ہونا عدلیہ کی آزادی اور وقار کے لئے درست اقدام نہیں ہے۔ کسی کیس میں بینچ تشکیل دینا چیف جسٹس آف پاکستان کا اختیار ہے یا پھر کسی کیس کو نہ سننے کے بارے میں جج خود فیصلہ کرے۔ انہوں نے دلائل آگے بڑھاتے ہوئے کہا کہ میاں نوازشریف اور شہبازشریف کے تجویز و تائید کنندہ اُس وقت فریق بن سکتے تھے، جب عدالت ان کو اجازت دے، تجویز و تائید کنندہ کا فریق بننا ضروری نہیں ہے۔ میں اس کیس میں میرٹ پر دلائل نہیں دیتا۔ میرٹ پر دلائل دینا فریقین کا کام ہے۔ میں صرف عدالتی معاونت کے لئے پیش ہو رہا ہوں۔ پاکستان میں تحریری آئین موجود ہے ۔عدالتوں نے مکمل انصاف کرنا ہے اور آئین و قانون کے دائرہ کار میں رہتے ہوئے اپنا فیصلہ سنانا ہے۔ عدالت کو کوئی یہ نہیں کہہ سکتا کہ آپ کس حد تک بڑھ کر فیصلہ سنائیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ عدالت میں کسی کیس میں، متاثرہ فریق ہی پٹیشن دائر کر سکتا ہے۔ وفاق کو ہائی کورٹ میں بھی فریق بنایا گیا، اس کو غیر ضروری فریق نہیں کہا جا سکتا۔ اٹارنی جنرل کے دلائل کے بعد میاں نوازشریف کے تجویز و تائید کنندہ کے وکیل اکرم شیخ اور جج صاحبان کے درمیان بحث، تکرار اور تلخ جملوں کا تبادلہ ہوا۔ ایڈووکیٹ اکرم شیخ نے عدالت سے کہا ججز کو روزِ آخرت فیصلے کا جواب دینا ہو گا اور جواز دینا پڑے گا کہ انہوں نے فیصلہ کس طرح کیا۔ میں نے ابھی کہا کہ میرٹ پر دلائل نہیں دیئے۔ جسٹس شیخ حاکم علی نے کہا کہ ہم نے تو کہا تھا کہ میرٹ پر دلائل دیں اور اس کے لئے آپ کو جی بھر کر دلائل دینے کا موقع بھی دیا۔ عدالت نے دلائل سننے کے بعد شریف برادران کو نااہل قرار دیتے ہوئے میاں نوازشریف کے تجویز و تائید کنندہ شکیل بیگ ، سید ظفر اقبال، اسپیکر پنجاب اسمبلی، چیف سیکرٹری پنجاب سمیت دیگر درخواستیں خارج کر دیں جبکہ صرف ایک درخواست منظور کی جو کہ شریف برادران کے مخالف سید خرم شاہ کی جانب سے دائر کی گئی تھی، جس کے تحت میاں شہبازشریف کی کامیابی کے نوٹیفکیشن کو منسوخ کیا گیا۔ فیصلے کے وقت عدالت میں ایڈووکیٹ اے کے ڈوگر، احمد رضا قصوری اور ڈاکٹر محی الدین قاضی موجود نہیں تھے۔ میاں شہبازشریف کی نااہلی کے بعد بھکر سے صوبائی اسمبلی کی نشست خالی ہو گئی ہے۔ قبل ازیں لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے میاں نوازشریف کو نااہل قرار دے دیا تھا اور میاں شہبازشریف کو وزارت اعلیٰ کے عہدے پر کام جاری رکھنے کی اجازت دیتے ہوئے الیکشن کمیشن کو تین جج صاحبان پر مشتمل ٹربیونل تشکیل دینے کی ہدایت کی تھی۔ جبکہ سپریم کورٹ نے الیکشن کمیشن کے نوٹیفکیشن کو ہی مسترد کر دیا ہے۔

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25 killed in Held Kashmir bus accident

کشمیر میں بس کے حادثے میں 25 افراد ہلاک ہوگئے۔۔۔۔ حادثہ ڈوڈہ صلع میں پیش آیا، حارثے میں 17 مسافرزخمی ہو گئے ہیں۔۔۔

The Nation – February 25, 2009

Twenty-five passengers were killed and 17 others injured, some of them seriously, when a bus rolled down into Neeru River in Doda district in Held Kashmir on Wednesday. The bus skidded off the road and rolled down into the river at Nalti-Galgandhar, Deputy Inspector General said. The bus belonged to a private operator.

Chitralis not happy with Nizam-e-Adl

نظام عدل کے نفاذ سے چترالیوں کو کوئی خوشی نہیں۔۔۔

Dawn – By Sadia Qasim Shah

PESHAWAR: The government’s claim that the proposed Sharia-based judicial system was in accordance with the aspirations of the people could be true for Swat and Dir districts but the people of Chitral, a district also included in Malakand division, say they didn’t ask for the Islamic law.

The people of Chitral have expressed concern that introduction of Sharia based judicial system might encourage religious leaders as was the case of Maulana Fazlullah in Swat to meddle with the personal lives of people of Chitral who have been so far living in religious harmony and peace.

“Our quiet district, largely bordering Afghanistan and also bordering restless Dir and Swat, is as yet peaceful and our population of Sunnis, Ismailis and Kalash live in perfect harmony,” said Sirajul Mulk, a local elder associated with tourism business.

“We have wrongly been placed in Pakhtoonkhwa. We are not Pukhtun and should have been placed in the Northern Areas. We have been further misplaced in the Malakand Division and are now, whether we like it or not, we are going to  get this Sharia-based judicial system,” Mr. Mulk said.

Chitral  with more than 400,000 population is different from the rest of the districts in Malakand division in its location, language called Khowar and 13 dialects and its religious groups living in harmony with each other.

“The people of Swat demanded Sharia. We didn’t ask for it. Militancy is not our issue and we are living in peace and we want to relish it”, Mr. Mulk said.

He said many Chitralis like him were concerned that a handful of religious leaders would get a chance to exploit this situation as their voice would be louder than the large silent population on different issues.

North West Frontier Province Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti had said the Sharia-based judicial system for Malakand division would not be similar to the one introduced by Taliban in Afghanistan but the West had been looking with concern at the NWFP government’s peace accord with the Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat Mohammadi. The people of Chitral  also feel it would discourage foreign tourists from visiting the scenic valley economically dependent on tourism industry. Sardar Hussain, a social and political activist based in Booni, highlighting the fact that position of Chitral was quiet different from Swat or any other district in Malakand division elaborated that Chitral was unique as world focused on this area due to its festivals and tourism potential. The so-called pro-Taliban militants demanding Sharia have killed and destroyed Swat. They have earned this region a bad name.

“A foreigner tourist wouldn’t come here as he would not be able to differentiate between Sharia and Nizam-i-Adl Regulation. They would just know that Sharia was the demand of Taliban and government had given in to their demand,” Sardar feared.

 “It is not the demand of the people of Chitral but rather the militants. The people of Swat fatigued with war were happy not because of Sharia but the peace. Peace is what we have and we don’t want any changes which pose a threat to it, he said.

Sardar Hussain said people of Chitral, once a princely state, always wanted regular laws which are enforced in the rest of Pakistan.

 He claimed that there were rarely any crimes like murder and theft in their area. The literacy rate among girls was higher than boys. People celebrate different festivals and live in harmony with other ethnic and religious groups.

 He said it would not be possible to implement a unanimous Sharia as there were several sects with different legal opinions on a single issue.

Another Chitrali representing the Ismaili religious community, which is about 40 per cent of the total population of the district, said people of Chitral didn’t want this kind of judicial system. “We save time and money by consulting our own arbitration and reconciliatory body,” he said.

“Chitral has unique location, culture and people of different ethnicities live here in peace. We don’t feel we have any connection with the rest of Malakand division,” he said while giving reason why they didn’t want any change in the present judicial system.

 “We respect the law of Pakistan and don’t demand any Sharia-based judicial system as Sharia is often misinterpreted,” he said while expressing fears that usually different kind of interpretations create complications. An educated youth from Kalash associated with tourism business said  his people were not much aware of Sharia but as a non-Muslim he felt unsure of situation in future.   

 People of Chitral who feel “forgotten” both by the provincial and central governments feel the proposed judicial system for Chitral is unwanted.

 “We no longer crib about being forgotten because in this process we find that we have what our other countrymen are fast losing — peace and harmony with our traditional values intact. Our present legal system is faulty but surely a debate ought to have taken place to determine our peculiarity and population mix before we were forced into going the way of Swat? What message is this going to give our people? All this coming at a time when the Lowari Tunnel is going to make it easier for rogues to enter our district does not bode well for Chitral”, Sirajul Mulk opined demanding the government to reconsider the proposal as far as Chitral is concerned.–Courtesy Dawn

Flights cancelled to Northern Areas – what to do

شمالی علاقوں کے لئے پروزیں منسوخ ہوگئیں ۔۔ کیا کریں

The News – Sunday, February 22, 2009, By By Moeed Ur Rehman

Why we are being subjected to the constant problem of cancelled flights. Why can’t we have flights between Gilgit and Skardu as it was done in past? Why can’t the relevant authorities start flight operations between Xinjiang/Urumchi in China and Gilgit, to boost trade? These are regular questions being raised by people of the Northern Areas, especially people of Gilgit who are facing the brunt of cancelled flights throughout the year.

In each corner meeting or social gathering attended by this writer during his fifteen-day visit of the Northern Areas, people kept asking these questions and gave arguments in support of their long standing-demands of an international airport for flights between Gilgit and Skardu and the search for new routes to avoid cancellation of regular flights.

PIA is operating two ATR aircraft daily from Islamabad for which passengers have to book their flight from PIA’s Northern Area office on Mall Road, Rawalpindi. No other office, even the one at Islamabad airport, is authorised to reserve or give a confirmed ticket for this sector, including the offices at Skardu and Chitral.

At the moment, Gilgit suffers the highest number of cancelled flights throughout the year. As per information gathered by this scribe last year, about 40 per cent flights were cancelled whereas till October 2008 the number of cancelled flights had increased.

Skardu is where PIA operates Boeing 737 that stood at second place in terms of cancelled flights while Chitral where ATR flights go remained third. As headquarters of the Northern Areas, Gilgit is the centre of political and social activities. It has an airport which is small but full of tradition and history.

In 1939, a Katcha ground was built apposite the Gilgit River in “Konodas” known as “Bedrodeas” by using funding from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Army to meet military requirements of the British. In those days, light aircraft like Howard, Mosquito, Tempest and Tiger Moth would land from Peshawar.

The first Political Agent also landed in the same ground on 16th November 1947. This ground remained in use till the construction of Sonikot landing ground, later known as Gilgit airport.

The pretty little station of Gilgit (4,800 feet above sea level) spreads itself in the terraces above the right bank of the river nearly opposite the opening leading to Hunza, almost nestling under the cliffs of the Hundu Koh. Gilgit has an area of 38,021 sq km. The region is significantly mountainous, lying on the foothills of the Karakorum Mountains and it has an average altitude of 1,500 metres(5,000 ft).

There was no road link in the area. People used to travel by foot or on back of horse or donkey and it would take days or weeks to go from one place to another. Due to tough terrain as well as absence of any road link in the area, the need for air link was felt to cater for logistic and socio-political requirements. After World War 1, the British felt the need for an air link to meet their military and strategic requirements.

After the independence of Pakistan, a new landing ground was built at a place in Sonikot. The meaning of Sonikot in Shina language is the living place of queen. The area was known as Bakshi Bagh, a big playground having an area of 300 kanals. In the time of Sardar Muhammad Alam Khan, the land towards south and east was acquired.

The people of the area took part in the construction of the landing ground voluntarily and the work was completed in 1949. Air Vice-Marshall Archer made the first successful landing by a DC-3 aircraft by the end of 1949. Orient Airways which was registered in October 1946 and after independence shifted its head office to Karachi from Calcutta, started relief operations with the help of BOAC aircraft. Orient Airways continued to serve Gilgit as per domestic schedule till 11th March 1955, when it was merged with government-proposed airline and gave birth to PIAC. However in 1956 PIAC ordered two Lockheed constellation / five Viscounts to meet its fleet requirements and continued to serve Gilgit as per domestic schedule, as air link was the only available form of transport between Gilgit and other parts of the country. In 1962, PIAC ordered B720, Fokker F-27 and Sikorskey Helicopters S-61. In 1966, Viscounts were phased out by Tridents, later on sold to CAAC. The KKH (Silk Road) was constructed from 1966 to 1978 by Pakistan and Chinese engineers, which is the 8th wonder of the world. PIA continued to serve Gilgit since 1962 till the cessation of Fokker operations after the Multan crash. PIA has planned to replace its F27 fleet with ATR-42 500 in 20056/2007. PIA has chartered C130 from the PAF and is continuing to serve the area as an interim arrangement.

Today the airport is providing all the basic facilities to passengers and the inhabitants of Gilgit, Hunza and other inhabitants of the adjacent areas. The CAA has reportedly planned expansion of the terminal building with all modern facilities. At the moment, PIA is operating two daily flights from Islamabad to Gilgit.

However, people are not satisfied with the constant cancellation of flights and government policies towards Gilgit with reference to air facilities. They ask the government to expand the airport. However, aviation experts are of the view that due to natural obstruction flights can’t be operated in bad weather. Only small aircraft can be operated due to technical reasons and natural obstructions.

There was an airstrip at Chillas about one and half hours drive from Gilgit on KKH where small or medium aircraft can land in emergency but that airstrip is being abandoned due to the construction of Basha dam. There is no other site close to Gilgit where flights can land in all weather, aviation experts say.

However, people are of the view that during recent past the aviation industry has gone very high and a lot of new changes and research have been carried out. “If the government makes honest efforts, it can overcome the cancellation of flights.”

The business community of the area is of the view that there should be regular flights between Gilgit and Skardu so that people can save their time. They say there should be flights at least twice a week between Gilgit and China (Xinjiang province) because Gilgit has become a business hub and can be used as a gateway to both the countries. Pak-China trade can be more effectively increased if the government starts flights between the two countries from Gilgit as well, they say.

Thousands of tonnes of cargo go to China and are brought from there through Gilgit by road and take dozens of hours to reach their destinations. If the facility of carriage by air is extended through Gilgit, millions can be saved, Kosar Naqvi, chief executive of an NGO, observed.

Fruits worth millions of rupees could not be dispatched to their destinations due to long and difficult journey by road, and if air cargo facility is available between the two countries, it will boost the border trade as well besides providing access to new markets, he added. Furthermore, he is of the view that Chinese Hajis also can benefit if proper flight plan is organised by the authorities; it will bring more foreign currency.

M4moeed@hotmail.com

20 killed in D.I Khan suicide attack

ڈیرہ اسماعیل خان میں خود کش بم دھماکہ 20 افراد ہلاک ہوگئے، حالات پر قابو پانے کے لئے رینجرز کو بلا لیا گیا ہے۔۔

 The News – Friday, February 20, 2009  

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The death toll of Dera Ismail Khan suicide attack has reached to 20.

Army took the control of the city due to deteriorating law and order situation. According to initial reports, a suicide blast occurred in funeral procession near imam baragah Kotli Imam Hussain killing 20 and injured several people. Police said the explosion happened near Shobra hotel.

The injured were shifted to district headquarter hospital and emergency has been imposed in the hospitals. All markets were closed after the blast as angry person set on fire a bus.