No One May Violate the Law: Nawaz

BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan News: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Thursday said the President Asif Ali Zardari has violated the promises on Charter of Democracy.

“The country can’t be run by violating the Constitution and courts verdicts. Zardari has not fulfilled his promises of implementing Charter of Democracy,” the PML-N chief said while addressing a party workers’ convention here.

“Nobody will be allowed to break the law and violate Constitution; we have no desire to come into power as the passing through crucial phase,” he said.

Sharif said former army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf was involved in the extra judicial killing of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti which triggered separatism in the province, “however the rulers gave him a guard of honour and failed to impeach the dictator on his deeds.”

High Meeting to Discuss Law and Order Situation in Karachi

Karachi, Pakistan News: A high level meeting to discuss law and order situation in Karachi has been called today. Interior Minister Rehman Malik will also attend the meeting.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Yoursaf Raza Gilani telephoned MQM leader Altaf Hussain and the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah to discuss the law and order situation prevailing in Karachi.

PM and Altaf Husain have agreed to continue the process of political reconciliation. The PM advised the CM Sindh to take measures to bring Karachi’s situation back to normal.

Earlier, a meeting between the President and the PM in the presidency reviewed several issues including the ongoing wave of violence in Karachi, implementation of decision on NRO and the progress in war on terror. It was decided that concrete steps would be taken to improve the law and order situation in Karachi.

President Zardari has spoken to Sindh Provincial Minister Zulfikar Mirza and Aga Siraj Durani. In the telephonic conversation, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and MQM leader Altaf Hussain agreed to take steps to normalise situation in Karachi. They agreed to take action against land mafia and criminal gangs.

CJ Iftikhar Urges Institutions to Ensure Rule of Law

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said it is the duty of courts to define constitution and courts are working according to constitution.

Addressing the function of lawyers’ enrolment, chief justice said providing justice to public is the responsibility of the government and courts and lawyers are also equally responsible for this.

He urged the lawyers to play due role for the supremacy of law. No other ideology except supremacy of law is acceptable. All institutions make sure rule of law.The judiciary has pivotal role in the country. We should work to strengthen institutions, he added.

Draft VAT Law Sent to Provincial Govts: FBR

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News Updates: The Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Sohail Ahmed has said 50 billion rupees have been received thus far from estimated 125 billion rupees tax target of the month of December.

Talking to media here, he told FBR will try receiving taxes of total 140 billion rupees by the end of current month.

The draft of Value Added Tax (VAT) law has been sent to provincial governments, which is scheduled to be tabled in National Assembly till December 31, he informed, adding, the submission of taxes from lawyers, who charged heavy amount of money in terms of advocacy fees in Haris Steel Mills case, will be reviewed.

Asif Ali Zardari, Altaf NRO Among Beneficiaries

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Government of Pakistan Saturday released the list of the beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance on the directives of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

State Minister for Law Afzal Sindhu in a news conference here said that a total of 8041 people including 34 politicians, bureaucrats and three ambassadors took benefit from the ordinance.

On top of the list is the name of President Asif Ali Zardari while his several close associates, both political and bureaucratic, including Rehman Malik, Salman Farooqi and his brother Usman Farooqi and Hussain Haqqani are also included, he said.

The list, which also reflects a brief introduction of the cases dropped against each name under the NRO, also includes the name of serving and former ministers, federal and provincial secretaries, ex-chief secretaries, existing or former members of the national and provincial assemblies and others, he added.

The politicians that benefited from the ordinance include Nawaz Yousaf Talpur, Ex-MNA and former minister, Nusrat Bhutto, Ex-MNA and the PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar, Ex-minister for commerce and Presently Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Ex-MNA Malik Mushtaq Ahmed Awan, Ex-MNA Rana Nazir Ahmed, Ex-MPA Mian M Rashid, Ex-MPA Tariq Anees, Ex-MPA Mian Tariq Mehmood Dina, Ex-Minister of education Sindh Agha Sirajuddin, Former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Ex-Provincial minister Ghani-ur-Rehman, he said.

Ex-senator Haji Gulsher, Ex-Provincial Minister Habibullah Khan Kundi, Ex-MNA Mir Baz Muhammad Khan Khethran, Ex-Federal Minister Anwar Saifullah Khan, Ex-Provincial Minister Sardar Mansoor Laghari, Ex-Mayor Sargodha Ch Abdul Hameed, Ex-chairman Zila Council Lahore Ch Shaukat Ali, Ex-MNA Haji Kabir are also included in the list.

Haji Nawaz Khokhar late, Altaf Hussain, Babar Ghouri, Farooq Sattar, Saleem Shahzad, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Ch, Haji Qadeer, Malik Mushtaq Awan, Mian Muhammad Rasheed, Mian Tariq Mehmood, Shoaib Bukhari are also included in the list of Politicians who took benefit from NRO.

Amongst Government servants and others, who had benefited from NRO and got themselves cleared from NAB cases include Ex-Additional Director General FIA and Presently Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US Husain Haqqani, Principal Secretary to the President Suleman Farooqi, Ex-Advisor to Prime Minister A R Siddiqi, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shams-ul-Hassan, Ex DG Intelligence Bureau Brig Imtiaz, Ex-MD Printing Corporation of Pakistan Pir Mukarram.

The minister said that the number of politicians who benefited from the NRO is very few. Out of total 8041 persons who benefited from the law 7793 belong to Sindh province, he said.

“The spouse of the prime minister was not among the beneficiaries of NRO,” the state minister said. The minister said that three diplomats, including Hussain Haqqani, Wajid Shams-ul-Hasan and AR Siddiqui also benefited from the law.

Sindhu said that total 71 cases including 31 murders and 11 attempts to murder against MQM chief Altaf Hussain were withdrawn under the Ordinance.

Answering to a question, he said, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was honorably acquitted by the court.

The cases against politicians were constructed for political victimization, he said, adding that, Cases against PPP leadership were made during the period of Chief Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif for that he has regretted the act.

It was also mentioned in the charter of democracy that most of the cases were constructed to victimize political opponents, he said. Cases made during the period of former President Farooq Leghari were also based on malafide intentions, he said.

Till 28 November, 2009, NRO is protected under constitution and it will lapse after 28 November, he said. Situation will get cleared after November 28. We will accept the verdict of Supreme Court on the issue, he said.

If any beneficiary of NRO found guilty will be dealt in accordance with the law, State Minister for Sindh said this while answering to a question. “We will accept the verdict of Supreme Court with open heart. We will accept the court decision even against President. We must live in the Present,” Sindhu added.

“The article 48 of the Constitution provides amenity to the President. President is symbol of federation. We must honor the office of President,” he said.

Beneficiaries of NRO may be politicians, may be bureaucrats will be dealt according to law, he said.

“We had pressure of NRO even before elections. It was misinterpreted and people were misguided on the subject during election campaign. We contested election under NRO. I do not have any moral pressure. Pressure should be on those who constructed baseless cases,” he said.

Thirteen Trained Militants Arrested in the Indian Consulate

LAHORE,Pakistan: Law Enforcement agencies have arrested thirteen militants including three foreigners trained at Indian consulate in Afghanistan from various cities of Punjab province.

According to the report, three militants Hakim Safeer, Shakirullah and Baqarullah were arrested from Lahore and identified as Afghan nationals, while, Muhammad Hussain, Hafiz Muhammad Anwar, Muhammad Sufyan and Ziaullah were arrested from Sargodha.

During investigation, Muhammad Sufyan told that he used to take youngsters from South Punjab to Afghanistan for training to target Pakistan.

Militants also revealed that that they were trained at Indian consulate in Afghanistan to create insurgency in Pakistan.

Bone Marrow Donation

Bone Marrow Donation: When it comes to donating bone marrow, current law states that donors can not be compensated. However, a lawsuit can cause bone marrow donation profitable.
The Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a complaint against the Attorney General Eric Holder Jr., requesting that he be barred enforcement of federal criminal prohibition on compensating for bone marrow donors. The prohibition is contained in the National Law on Organ Transplantation (NOTE) 1984.

Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include patients suffering from blood diseases like leukemia.

The plaintiffs argue that the prevention of patients who need bone marrow transplants offer compensation to donors that could make transplants possible, violates the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Bone marrow contains cells that are capable of becoming other types of blood cells. So it can be very beneficial and therapeutic for people with certain blood diseases.

A counter argument is that compensation for bone marrow donors could attract high-risk.
Source: examiner.com

Maine Gay Marriage Vote

Latest updates about Maine Gay marriage vote, Maine Gay Marriage Vote: Too Close To Call, Gay marriage vote in Maine on Tuesday, was closely followed by a referendum, that gay-rights activists around the country wanted to demonstrate for the first time, that their cause can not win at the ballot box.
Voters had to decide to repeal or adopt the state law that would allow gay couples-Wed. Adoption of a law by the legislature in May, but never force, since the petition drive conservatives.

An early return was close to the competition, as expected. With 229 608 pedestrian precincts reporting, each side was 50 percent.

The vote to respect the law should mark the first time that the voters of any state support for gay marriage. This could energize activists nationwide and the blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage has been foisted on state judges and legislators in the course is public.

However, repeal – New England, the region supports the country’s largest gay couples – would be another heartbreaking loss for the marriage equality movement, then opposed gay marriage in California a year ago.

It would also mark the first time voters had torpedoed the gay marriage law enacted by the legislature. When Californians rejected same-sex marriage, it was a response to the court’s decision, not legislation.

Maine Secretary of State, Matthew Dunlap, said turnout appeared higher than expected in the off-year elections, and voter interest came out strong. Even before Tuesday, more than 100,000 people – out of about 1 million registered voters – had voted absentee voting or polling.

Five other states have legalized gay marriage – Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut – but it was all so by law or court decision, not popular vote. Instead, constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage has been approved in all 30 Member States, where they have been in the vote. Source

Maine Voting Results 2009

Maine Voting Results 2009, According to new survey data, 51.8 percent of people plan to vote in November say they will vote or are not inclined in that direction in question 1, the veto of the people of the same law of Maine-sex marriage . The survey shows that 42.9 percent planned to vote yes, or are leaning that way.

A “no” law allow same-sex marriage on foot. A “yes” would repeal the law.

The survey was Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group, which released its Omnibus poll drop today. The survey examines the state referendum questions and the governor’s race and national policy issues.

According to Pan Atlantic, the survey of 401 Mainers who identified themselves as “likely” voters in the November 3 elections. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percent confidence level of 95 percent.

In question 2, the issue of excise duty, 48.3 percent said they support it or are leaning that way, while 46.1 percent said they would vote against, or are leaning that way. It said that 5.5 percent are still undecided.

On the issue of repealing Maine’s consolidation law school, 46.1 percent said they supported or leaned that way, while 41.1 percent were against, or leaning that way . There were still 12.7 percent undecided.

And on the question of TABOR II, 52.8 percent were for, or leaning that way, while 38.7 percent opposed, or leaning that way. There was a 8.5 per cent of respondents who were undecided, the poll found.

Source MaineToday

We will Oppose Tooth and Nail NRO: Nawaz

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that PML-N would oppose the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) tooth and nail, declaring the party would mobilize people against, what he tagged, the black law if the Parliament approved it.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab House after chairing an important meeting of PML-N parliamentarians, which was convened to evolve a strategy regarding NRO, Nawaz Sharif said NRO should not have been brought to the parliament. He said PML-N would not only vote against NRO in the parliament but also mobilize people against the Ordinance if it was passed by Parliament.

Nawaz was of the view that the Parliament was deprived of the credit for restoration of the sacked judiciary and it should not be put to yet another test by brining the black law in the House for approval. “I sincerely suggest PPP to avoid brining such laws to the Parliament which would cause a dent on democracy, bring a bad name to politicians and undermine the supremacy of the Parliament,” he maintained.

“If any party abstains or uses any other tactics instead of voting against NRO in the Parliament, such act will be considered a favour to the black law”, Nawaz commented. To a question, the PML-N Chief said the law could be challenged in the courts if it was passed by Parliament, as it is against the Constitution. He said the law could also be annulled through the parliament in future if it was approved now. Nawaz demanded of the government to disclose the names and identity of the beneficiaries of NRO.He said that his party leaders were in contact with other parties to develop broad consensus for the rejection of NRO in Parliament, saying that NRO militates against the spirit of the Constitution. “We will not support a law if it brings disrepute to the Parliament or creates problems in smooth running of government affairs”, he remarked.

Nawaz criticised the statement of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, saying: “How he blames others when he himself was among the architects of the NRO.”

He said Shujaat had himself advised the then President Pervez Musharraf to give NRO to the PPP instead of lifting the ban on third time premiership. He further said that PML-Q was also equally responsible for many of the Musharraf’s unconstitutional and illegal acts including killing of Nawab Bugti, operation in Lal Masjid and the sacking of judges.

To a question, Nawaz Sharif said his party had always supported the present government for the sake of democracy despite the fact that media taunted his party as a “friendly” opposition. He said that they had no personal enmity with any party and supported the PPP government in national interest. To a question, Nawaz Sharif said that if India was involved in Balochistan insurgency it should be exposed and the government should take stand against it. PML-N chief also opposed the government move to give plots to senior bureaucrats.

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