Election preparations: Army, ECP to meet on December 13

Pakistan Army officials contacted the ECP and officials will now meet on the given date.

The Supreme Court earlier ordered the ECP to carry out door-to-door voter verification in Karachi with the army and Frontier Corps (FC) asked to assist.

The court had also ordered the election commission and the Sindh government to complete the delimitation of constituencies in Karachi.

These steps were taken after petitioners alleged that approximately 50% of the voters in Karachi had their vote shifted to other parts of the country to their permanent addresses; and, in their place, names of unverified voters had been inserted.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had moved the court seeking verification of voter lists, while, significantly, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had raised objections to the move.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/476983/election-preparations-army-ecp-to-meet-on-december-13/

Spanner in the works: ECC body revises gas supply plan for fertiliser firms

The new plan will be taken up by the ECC in its meeting to be held on Tuesday next week.

The petroleum ministry has called for ensuring supply of 202 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) to the fertiliser industry as persistent gas shortage has disrupted their production process and slashed output.

Of the 202 mmcfd, OGDC will provide 130 mmcfd from Kunnar Pasakhi Deep field, 15 mmcfd from new Bahu field and 10 mmcfd from the new Reti Maru field. Mari Gas Company will supply 22 mmcfd and MOL will provide 25 mmcfd from Makori East Tal block.

In a previous summary, the petroleum ministry had proposed spending of $400 million by fertiliser companies on laying a 1,000km pipeline to get supplies from dedicated sources and the amount would be adjusted against GIDC.

According to the revised plan, gas distribution companies – Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) – will claim 17.5% return on the pipeline supplying gas to the fertiliser companies along with a toll.

Fertiliser firms will slap penalties on the state-owned gas utilities if the committed gas supply is diverted to other consumers, the plan says. Gas utilities will also be bound to give guarantees to ensure supplies to the fertiliser plants in gas sales agreements and gas transmission agreements.

According to the plan, SNGPL and SSGC will use their main supply lines to transmit gas to the dedicated plants after some quick investments in looping and enhancing capacity at different points.

The gas utilities will only charge a toll for this service, which will be determined by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) as per third party access rules framed for import of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A consortium of fertiliser plants will ink formal gas sales agreements with gas producers on ‘take or pay’ basis. The consortium will also enter into gas transportation agreements with the gas utilities for the transmission of gas through existing main lines from the agreed point of entry to the designated point of delivery under Third Party Access Rules 2011 and pay a toll as determined by Ogra.

The investment required for augmenting the capacity of main lines will be made by the utility companies as they will be entitled to a rate of return on their investment as well as the toll to be charged from the consortium.

The ECC sub-committee comprises adviser to the prime minister on petroleum and natural resources, ministers for law and information, deputy chairman of Planning Commission and water and power secretary with the task to review the plan for gas supply to fertiliser firms from dedicated sources.

According to sources, the sub-committee was required to develop modalities for legal arrangements to execute a long-term project, determine mechanism for involving the private sector, review long-term gas sales agreements, develop formula for financing the project and determine a better cost-effective structure including gas from other sources as well as imports.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/477169/spanner-in-the-works-ecc-body-revises-gas-supply-plan-for-fertiliser-firms/

Days of manipulating elections are over: Pervez Ashraf

Addressing a huge public gathering here at Pakistan’s textile hub, the Prime Minister said whenever there are free, fair and transparent election, the PPP succeeds with an overwhelming majority.

Citing the historic verdict in the Asghar Khan case by the Supreme Court, the Ashraf said it was an eye-opener and showed how the results were manipulated in the past. He said the case has unveiled many things and the workers need to study it to be aware of those who try to manipulate results.

The Prime Minister said that today, there are no more fake voters and that the100,000 bogus votes of all constituencies of Faisalabad were now a thing of past.

Ashraf said that the PPP has done solid work to back it in the forthcoming election. “We are helping 7 million households through the Benazir Income Support Program, across the country,” he pointed out and announced that the program will be increased four fold, if the party succeeds in the next polls.

The Prime Minister said despite the claims of the opponents the PPP will succeed in the end, as it took practical measures and has completed unprecedented development work to serve the masses.

Ashraf said he was here as a “worker Prime Minister” addressing his fellow workers and was proud to be part of a party that was really representing the people of Pakistan. He said he was also proud to belong to the middle class and has risen from the ranks of a common worker.

The premier said the post of the prime minister of Pakistan was equally open for all workers of the party, without any discrimination. Unlike many other parties spoke about democracy, but never exercised it practically, they can not match the PPP in this aspect.

The Prime Minister said the government has more than doubled the salaries of government employees and the workers and said the support price of wheat has also been raised from around Rs600 to Rs1200 per 40 kg in the past four years to bring prosperity.

The Prime Minister said there was a time when everyone believed that it was impossible to get rid of the dictatorial regime of former President Pervez Musharraf. However, it was the political acumen of President Asif Ali Zardari that led to the ouster of the dictator. He said it also goes to the credit of President Asif Ali Zardari that all the powers of the President of Pakistan were handed over to the parliament, as he followed the vision of Benazir Bhutto, and made it supreme.

The gathering was also attended by Governor Punjab Latif Khosa, PPP Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo, Raja Riaz, Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, Minister of State for Science and Technology Raheela Baloch.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/477178/days-of-manipulating-elections-are-over-pervez-ashraf/

Judiciary supported by media, society rendered landmark judgements: CJP

“All and sundry to follow rule of law and there is no immunity for anyone come what may,” the chief justice said, was the one and only one baseline of these landmark decisions.

Addressing the roll signing ceremony of Supreme Court lawyers in Islamabad on Saturday, he said it was high time that this sea of change in constitutional and political history is accepted by all without any ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’.

Welcoming the lawyers enrolling in the Supreme Court, he said it was a significant acknowledgement of their life-long commitment to the profession of law. He said the profession of law is undoubtedly a noble one because as a practitioner of law, lawyers have to behave like an epitome of rule of law and incarnation of supremacy of Constitution in the country.

“On the one hand, you have to assist the highest Court of the land in ensuring complete justice is meted out to the litigants in all manners of cases and on the other hand, you have to build and enforce the public opinion about ensuring rule of law in the country”.

The Chief Justice said the country has witnessed unprecedented changes in the wake of lawyers’ movement resulting into a healthy debate about the need to change our old habits where many expediencies held sway over rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution.

Justice Chaudhry remarked that this was a new Pakistan where old structures are crumbling and past demons of extra constitutional deviations are being exterminated one by one. “We have learned from history that no country can realise the dream of progress and prosperity for its people without following the route of rule of law and supremacy of Constitution,” he commented.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/477046/judiciary-supported-by-media-society-rendered-landmark-judgements-cjp/

Pakistan dismisses Karzai's allegations of attacking Afghan spy chief

The foreign office, in a statement issued in response to Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s statement, urged Kabul to share evidence before leveling any charges.

President Karzai alleged that the recent assassination attempt on National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief Asadullah Khalid was carried out by a suicide bomber from Pakistan. The attack seriously wounded the Afghan official.

Pakistan urged Afghanistan to order an investigation into the security lapses around the NDS chief.

“Before leveling charges, the Afghan Government would do well if they shared information or evidence with the government of Pakistan that they might have with regard to the cowardly attack on the head of NDS,” the FO statement said.

“They would also do well by ordering an investigation into any lapses in the security arrangements around the NDS chief.”

The Foreign Office said on its part, the government of Pakistan was ready to assist any investigation of this criminal act.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/477141/pakistan-dismisses-karzais-allegations-of-attacking-afghan-spy-chief/

Mumbai attacks: ‘Pink foam’, other evidence presented in court

The articles were found by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) camps in Karachi, Mirpurkhas and two other places in Sindh.

The pink foam has emerged as a crucial piece of evidence in investigations into the Mumbai attacks on both sides of the border. Indian investigators found samples of the pink foam at three sites where attackers planted bombs in Mumbai in November 2008.

Samples of the foam were also found in a rucksack used by Ajmal Kasab.

Read More: http://tribune.com.pk/story/477225/mumbai-attacks-pink-foam-other-evidence-presented-in-court/

Special visit: Zardari lifts Malala’s spirits with tribute visit

The 15-year-old activist was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by the Taliban in Swat on October 9.

According to a press release issued by the president’s office, President Zardari, accompanied by his youngest daughter Aseefa Bhutto, paid the visit to inquire about Malala’s condition and also to express solidarity with her and laud her courage.

The medical director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dr Dave Rosser, informed the president that Malala was on the way to full recovery.

On the occasion, the president said the nation’s spontaneous response to the cowardly attack on her and her friends demonstrated that the people of Pakistan rejected extremism and militancy.

Pakistan is proud of Malala and her schoolmates Shazia and Kainat, he said, adding that the government was determined to equip children, particularly girls, with education.

Malala expressed her gratitude to the president and Aseefa for visiting her and said that her entire family and the people of Swat were grateful to the government for the prompt arrangements for her evacuation and subsequent treatment at best hospitals in Pakistan and in the UK.

She also said that former premier Benazir Bhutto was her role model and she would endeavour to follow in her footsteps.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/477233/special-visit-zardari-lifts-malalas-spirits-with-tribute-visit/

Redirecting funds: To accommodate PM, govt slashes FATA budget by Rs4b

Instead, the government has handed the funds to Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to spend on his choice of constituencies ahead of the general elections.

The decision is likely to undermine efforts initiated to tackle militancy and eradicate poverty in Fata through development projects and is likely to cause delays in the completion of ongoing projects in the tribal areas.

The move is also contradictory to the National Economic Council’s decision that equitable development would be carried out across the country by ensuring better allocation of resources – as well as to the spirit of the president’s Independence Day announcement that Fata would be given local government in a bid to further empower the region.

Sources in the Planning Commission (PC) told The Express Tribune that, in order to provide more discretionary grants to Prime Minister Ashraf, the PC has cut Fata’s development budget by Rs4 billion. As against its annual allocation of Rs16 billion, the tribal areas will now receive Rs12 billion.

After consuming his entire annual allocation of Rs22 billion in just three-and-a-half months since coming into office, the premier had sought an additional Rs10 billon. The finance ministry had initially decided to give the amount as a supplementary budget, but later on asked the PC to create space within the Rs360 billion total annual development budget approved for the current fiscal year 2012-2013.

Of the Rs10 billion, the commission has so far given up Rs5 billion in favour of the prime minister’s discretionary budget – Peoples Workers Programme-II, and it has now been learnt that Rs4 billion was withdrawn from Fata’s development budget.

Of the annual federal development budget of Rs360 billion, the premier’s discretionary grant has now swelled to Rs32 billion, or 8.8% of the total budget.

Secretary Planning and Development Department of Fata Secretariat, Shahzad Khan Bangash confirmed to The Express Tribune that Fata’s funds have been cut by Rs4 billion.

The Fata Secretariat has flagged the issue to the parliamentarians belonging to the tribal belt, who have become agitated with the government’s decision and have decided to take up the matter with Premier Ashraf.

Bangash added that Khyber-Pakthunkhwa Governor Barrister Syed Masood Kausar will also raise the issue with the federal government.

Hameedullah Jan Afridi, an MNA from NA-46 in Khyber Agency, said the Fata Secretariat has apprised the parliamentarians of the ongoing development and have decided to take up the matter in the upcoming session of the National Assembly.

“The federal government begs for money from all over the world in the name of eradicating poverty and controlling militancy in the tribal areas, but when it comes to actually spending the money on the ground, the federal government discriminates [against] the region”, Afridi claimed.

The Planning and Development Division secretary, Javed Malik, was not available for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him. Three other senior functionaries of the PC spoke off-the-record and confirmed that Fata’s budget has been slashed.

They, however, maintained that the Fata Secretariat did not have the capacity to utilise the entire funds. The officials added that, if it consumed the entire remaining budget of Rs12 billion, the commission would provide more funds.

Read More:http://tribune.com.pk/story/477244/redirecting-funds-to-accommodate-pm-govt-slashes-fata-budget-by-rs4b/

Big Bash League, 2012/13 December 2012 written update

Big Bash League, 2012/13 December 2012 written update 

   

 

Date and Time	Match	Weather
Fri Dec 7           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars Docklands Stadium, Melbourne N/A Sat Dec 8           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder Sydney Cricket Ground N/A Sun Dec 9           07:00 GMT | 17:00 local 12:00 PKT Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane  20 - 28° C  Sun Dec 9           10:00 GMT | 18:00 local 15:00 PKT Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth  20 - 32° C  Wed Dec 12           09:00 GMT | 17:00 local 14:00 PKT Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth  17 - 23° C  Thu Dec 13           08:30 GMT | 19:00 local 13:30 PKT Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat Adelaide Oval  24 - 34° C  Fri Dec 14           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades Stadium Australia, Sydney  17 - 26° C  Sat Dec 15           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A Sun Dec 16           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers Sydney Cricket Ground N/A Tue Dec 18           08:30 GMT | 18:30 local 13:30 PKT Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane N/A Wed Dec 19           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes Docklands Stadium, Melbourne N/A Thu Dec 20           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers Stadium Australia, Sydney N/A Fri Dec 21           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A Sat Dec 22           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat Docklands Stadium, Melbourne N/A Sun Dec 23           05:30 GMT | 16:30 local 10:30 PKT Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder Bellerive Oval, Hobart N/A Sun Dec 23           08:30 GMT | 19:00 local 13:30 PKT Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers Adelaide Oval N/A Wed Dec 26           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Sydney Cricket Ground N/A Thu Dec 27           08:00 GMT | 18:30 local 13:00 PKT Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars Adelaide Oval N/A Fri Dec 28           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat Stadium Australia, Sydney N/A Sat Dec 29           10:00 GMT | 18:00 local 15:00 PKT Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth N/A Sun Dec 30           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers Stadium Australia, Sydney N/A Tue Jan 1           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers Bellerive Oval, Hobart N/A Wed Jan 2           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers Docklands Stadium, Melbourne N/A Thu Jan 3           08:00 GMT | 18:00 local 13:00 PKT Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane N/A Fri Jan 4           10:00 GMT | 18:00 local 15:00 PKT Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth N/A Sat Jan 5           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers Bellerive Oval, Hobart N/A Sun Jan 6           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A Mon Jan 7           08:00 GMT | 18:00 local 13:00 PKT Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane N/A Tue Jan 8           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder (1 v 4) Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A Wed Jan 9           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades (2 v 3) Sydney Cricket Ground N/A Thu Jan 10           08:30 GMT | 19:00 local 13:30 PKT Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers Adelaide Oval N/A Sat Jan 12           08:00 GMT | 19:00 local 13:00 PKT Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat Bellerive Oval, Hobart N/A Tue Jan 15           1st semi-final - TBC v TBC Venue TBC N/A Wed Jan 16           2nd semi-final - TBC v TBC Venue TBC N/A Sat Jan 19           Final - TBC v TBC Venue TBC N/A