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LAHORE: The spokesman for the National Transmission and Dispatch Company Limited (NTDCL) has said that the Government of Pakistan has signed an agreement with Iran to import 1,000 megawatts of electricity. The agreement was signed by a delegation of Pakistan, headed by NTDCL Managing Director Rasul Khan Mahsud and Iran’s deputy Minister for Energy Muhammad Behzad.

According to the agreement, 70% of the funding for the project will be provided by the Iranian Government, whereas 30% will be arranged by the Government of Pakistan.

The spokesman revealed that the project will be completed in three years. As per negotiations between the delegations, the rate of electricity has been finalised at eight cents per unit; whereas in case of a rise in international oil prices a maximum of 11 cents will be charged.

The spokesman further said that the signing of the agreement is the outcome of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad`s visit to Pakistan, during which President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had shown interest in importing power from Iran to mitigate the prevailing energy crisis in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2012.

ISLAMABAD: With the government adamant on creating the Seraiki and Bahawalpur province, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday sent a reference to the Speaker National Assembly to constitute a commission to oversee the creation of the new provinces.

According to a notification from the Presidency, the commission will comprise six Senators to be nominated by Senate Chairman, six MNAs to be nominated by Speaker NA, and two members from the Punjab provincial assembly, to be nominated by the Speaker Punjab Assembly.

Earlier, he had presided over a meeting of Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentarians at Bilawal House in Karachi. He said that creating a separate province in South Punjab was in accordance with the aspirations of people, based on ‘solid ‘political reasons,  and not an election stunt.

In the reference, Zardari has called for the creation of two new provinces namely Multan and Bahawalpur in Punjab and to initiate the process of amendments in the Constitution for this purpose.

Spokesperson to President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the Commission will submit its report within a month to be followed by the process of Constitutional amendments for making the two new provinces.

He said that the Reference draws attention of the Speaker to the Resolutions passed by the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly of Punjab calling for the creation of the new provinces.

Following is the text of the Reference sent to the Speaker Thursday night:

“Reference in the matter of implementation of resolutions passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan and provincial assembly of Punjab for the creation of two new provinces namely of Multan and Bahawalpur from the existing province of Punjab.

Madam Speaker, The National Assembly in its 41st Session in its meeting held on May 3, 2012 passed a resolution to the effect that in order to address the grievances and to secure the political, administrative and economic interests of the people of the Southern Region of the Province of the Punjab and to empower them in this regard, a new province to be known as Province of Janoobi Punjab be created from the present Province of the Punjab. The Provincial Assembly of Punjab has also passed a similar resolution demanding the Parliament and Federal Government to create a new Province of Janoobi Punjab and also to revive the earlier status of Bahawalpur as a Province(copies of resolutions are annexed). 2.  In order to implement the aforesaid resolutions and before a process is initiated to amend the Constitution in terms of Article239 thereof it is expedient that a Commission may be constituted comprising of six members from the Senate to be nominated by the Chairman, six members from the National Assembly to be nominated by the Speaker and two members from the Provincial Assembly of Punjab to be nominated by the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. The Commission shall look into the issues relating to the fair distribution of economic and financial resources, demarcation, allocation/re-adjustment of seats in the National Assembly, Senate and the concerned Provincial Assembly and allocation of seats in the new Province on the basis of population, including seats of minorities and women and other constitutional, legal and administrative matters. The provisions of the Constitution which would require amendment inter alia include Articles 1(2), 51, 59and 106 of the Constitution.3. The Commission shall submit its report to Speaker as well as to the Prime Minister within thirty days of its notification in the official gazette, which will be followed by initiation of the process of amendment of the Constitution.”

ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan on Thursday signed an agreement with Iran for the import of 1000 MW electricity.

The agreement was signed between a delegation of Pakistan, headed by Managing Director NTDCL Rasul Khan Mahsud and deputy Iranian Minister for Energy, Muhammad Behzad.

A spokesperson for the National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDCL) said in a statement that according to the agreement the 70 per cent funding for the project will be provided by the Iranian government whereas 30 per cent will be arranged by the government of Pakistan.

Talking about the project, the spokesperson said that it will be completed in three years. As per the negotiations between delegations of both countries, the rate of electricity was finalised at 8 cents per unit whereas in case of a rise in oil prices in the international market, a maximum tariff of 11 cents will be charged.

Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar, who had dispatched a negotiation team to Iran for purchasing electricity, said that Government is taking all necessary steps to facilitate the people of Pakistan. With the import of electricity from Iran, Qamar, said the industrial, commercial and domestic consumers based in Makran coastal belt and Balochistan will also be able to take benefit from it.

Pakistan has been under pressure from the US to desist entering into energy related deals with Iran.

WASHINGTON: Congressman Dennis Kucinich and ten other members of the US House of Representatives have asked US President Barack Obama to explain the targeting criteria for drone strikes and the legal justification for them, without which, the drones are part of US’ undeclared wars.

A letter, circulated by Democrat Kucinich, expresses concern over the use of drone technology against suspected militants by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).

In a press release, Kucinich said that “these drone strikes are conducted in the name of our national security and yet the Congress and the American people have not been provided with the legal justification for such strikes.  The use of drones must be subject to the same legal constrains and oversight as any other weapon. These attacks undermine the moral values and the strategic goals of the United States. The fact that they are conducted with complete impunity and with no accountability threatens to set a dangerous precedent that could unravel the very laws and international standards the US helped to create.”

The letter, says that “as members of the Congress, we are deeply concerned about the full impact of drone strikes.” It asks the President to provide the “targeting criteria for “signature” strikes; mechanisms used by the CIA and JSOC to ensure that such killings are legal; the nature of the follow-up that is conducted when civilians are killed or injured; and the mechanisms that ensure civilian casualty numbers are collected, tracked and analysed.”

Earlier, speaking on the floor of the House, Congressman Kucinich, had said that the use of drones had taken them into an undeclared war in Pakistan. “Gore Vidal called it ‘perpetual war for perpetual peace.’ The Administration’s unrestricted use of drones has taken us into undeclared wars in Pakistan, Yemen, Somali, Sudan and who knows where else, destroying not only alleged militants but making a direct hit on international law and the US Constitution.”

He also questioned the criteria which determine drone, and or air strikes, all without any retribution or explanation as to why. “Drone strikes are killing militants now identified as males of fighting age. What are the rules? Trust us. What are the legal justifications? Trust us. Haven’t 350 innocent civilians been killed? Trust us, we’re told. No transparency, no accountability and until now, no Congress,” he lamented.

“The Constitution requires Congress to weigh in and demand information and legal justification for drone strikes. That is what my letter to the Administration seeks. Drone strikes absent a Constitutional basis sanctions the wholesale slaughter of innocents,” Kucinich asserted.

“One nation’s drones over another nation’s air space is an act of war.”

With 50 nations exploring the development of drones, a $100 billion business, we cannot permit this nation to further incite ‘perpetual war for perpetual peace.”

The letter follows an article published in The New York Times earlier this week that stated that the President not just signed off on drone strikes, but also had a kill list.

The US, including President Obama have conceded conducting drone strikes in a number of countries including Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

China has urged Pakistan to take effective measures to stop the activities of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (TIM) militants present in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), reported BBC Urdu on Thursday.

According to the report, the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi currently visiting Pakistan said that it was their belief that militants belonging to the TIM are influencing the Chinese province Xinjiang, which has a Muslim majority population.

Xinjiang, which is home to the Uighur Muslims, has faced increased terrorist activities in recent years, inviting a crackdown by Chinese forces. The restive province which shares a border with Pakistan, has been under heavy security since July 2009, when the Uighurs launched attacks on Han people in the regional capital Urumqi.

Sources within the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on condition of anonymity, told BBC that Chinese officials discussed the matter with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari along with other officials during several meetings, where the Pakistani foreign secretary was also summoned.

The BBC Urdu report added that most of those belonging to the TIM have taken refuge in Pakistan’s tribal areas, from where they cross the border into China after receiving training.

Jiechi is also due to meet with Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Thursday to discuss the situation further.

China has urged Pakistan to take effective measures to stop the activities of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (TIM) militants present in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), reported BBC Urdu on Thursday.

According to the report, the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi currently visiting Pakistan said that it was their belief that militants belonging to the TIM are influencing the Chinese province Xinjiang, which has a Muslim majority population.

Xinjiang, which is home to the Uighur Muslims, has faced increased terrorist activities in recent years, inviting a crackdown by Chinese forces. The restive province which shares a border with Pakistan, has been under heavy security since July 2009, when the Uighurs launched attacks on Han people in the regional capital Urumqi.

Sources within the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on condition of anonymity, told BBC that Chinese officials discussed the matter with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari along with other officials during several meetings, where the Pakistani foreign secretary was also summoned.

The BBC Urdu report added that most of those belonging to the TIM have taken refuge in Pakistan’s tribal areas, from where they cross the border into China after receiving training.

Jiechi is also due to meet with Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Thursday to discuss the situation further.

ISLAMABAD: Terming it the highest in the past three years, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh announced that the government achieved a growth rate of 3.7% this year as compared to 3% last year. “It has been constantly growing, but not as fast as we wanted. Our medium-term goal is to take it up to 5-6%.”

The minister, addressing the media at the Economic Survey 2011-12 launch on Thursday, said that the government could not achieve the growth rate it wanted due to several certain factors, including the unstable security situation which made international investors reluctant to invest in Pakistan. He added that the monsoon season last year also hindered growth as it destroyed crops in Sindh and Balochistan and caused a loss of $3 billion.

Curbing inflation

Shaikh added that in order to bring down inflation in the country, the expenses of the civilian government were cut and it was 10% lesser this year in comparison to the last year.

“The government’s first priority is to curb inflation. The government has done everything which was in its capacity for the purpose,” said Shaikh.

The minister outlined the three ways of measuring inflation: consumer price index, wholesale price index and the sensitive price index. “The average consumer price index this year was 10.8% as compared to last year’s 13.8%… The wholesale price index was 21% last year, but this year it was 11.2%. The sensitive price index was also brought down from 18% last year to 8.5%.”

Shaikh maintained that despite these reductions, the results have not been good enough. “People are facing inflation… But the government is trying its best to get rid of the problem.”

Tax revenue collection

The minister highlighted that the tax revenue, one of the ways for the government to curb inflation, needs to be collected to ensure self-sustenance of the country. “This is a very difficult job. There are powerful people, groups and representatives of industries, who do not want to be burdened by tax.”

But, he added, the government brought down the federal excise duties, special excise duties and reduced the taxes.

“The tax collection in the first 10 months of this year amounted to Rs1,449 billion, while in the same 10 months last year, it was Rs1,250 billion.”

“The tax revenue collection in one year was 25%, which is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan.”

Budget allocation to provinces

The minister said that the government provides all provinces with their due shares right away. “Around 65-70% of the budget is given to the provinces on the very first day. The federal government is then left with only 30%, in which it has to oversee a lot of things including the defence budget, federal government’s expenses and loan repayment.”

The minister said that the government has allocated more money to provinces to strengthen the country. “The provincial governments can directly help its people and fulfill their needs.”

Terming it as the biggest expense, the minister said that Rs300 billion were allocated for developmental projects.

Highlights of Economic Survey 2011-12 can be read here.

ISLAMABAD: Following a fall in global crude oil rates, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) issued a notification for reduced petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) prices on Thursday, Express News reported.

Petro price was reduced by Rs3.39, bringing it down to Rs99.97. High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) price was cut by Rs10.74, bringing it to Rs125.07. Kerosene oil price stood at Rs94.05 with a Rs5.90 price reduction and light diesel at Rs91.59.

Earlier, Orgra, in its monthly review, proposed reducing petroleum prices by up to 9.7% from June 1, following a fall in global crude oil rates.

In a summary sent to the Finance and Petroleum Ministries on Wednesday, Ogra suggested passing on the reduction in international oil prices to the consumers from June.

LAHORE: Contrary to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s statement, Punjab government announced on Thursday to hold local body elections on non-party basis.

The Punjab cabinet has approved the Punjab Local Government Bill 2012 during a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. A committee was also formed during the meeting to further amend the bill. Once finalised, the bill will be presented in the Punjab Assembly.

According to the bill, local body elections will be held on non-party basis, the position of deputy commissioner, mayor and local bodies chairman will be reinstated, new job quotas are introduced with 5% allocated for youth and 33% for women. A job quota for minorities is also allocated.

Earlier, Gilani stated that the local body elections should be held on party-basis as per the ruling of the Supreme Court and clauses of the Charter of Democracy. However, the Punjab government decided to do otherwise.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif along with other senior party members reviewed the draft of the bill during a meeting on Wednesday. Nawaz approved the draft and allowed it to presented in the assembly.

The Punjab government had submitted a reply to the Supreme Court and said that once the bill is drafted, it will hold the local body elections.

The Punjab cabinet, on Thursday, approved the Local Government Ordinance 2012, according to which local body elections will now be held on non-party basis, Express News reported.

The decision was taken during a session of the Punjab cabinet in Lahore and was chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

During the session, the deputy comissioner’s post was reinstated and it was also decided that women and youth would be allotted a quota of 33% and 5% respectively in the local government.

The current quota for minorities was also set at 33%. In local institutions, the posts of mayor and chairman were also restored.

Many proposals for the budget were also brought forth in the cabinet meeting.

Elections have not taken place since the last local government tenure ended in 2009.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had earlier remarked during a hearing in Balochistan that powers to hold local bodies election have been devolved to the provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, but they have not fulfilled their constitutional obligation.

PESHAWAR: The militants accused in court of conspiring with Dr Shakil Afridi who was recruited by the CIA to find Osama bin Laden said Thursday they had nothing to do with him and would kill him if they had the chance.

Shakil Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in jail after he was found guilty of treason.

Afridi was convicted by the court of treason under the penal code, but for alleged ties to Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) and not for working for the CIA.

LeI, led by Mangal Bagh, is a militant organisation feared for kidnappings and extortion in the Kyber district.

The court order said Afridi had “close links” to the group, saying the doctor’s “love” for Bagh and his “association with him was an open secret”.

But a commander in the organisation told AFP that they had nothing to do with Afridi.

“We have no link to such a shameless man. If we see him we’ll chew him alive,” the commander said on condition of anonymity.

The court said Afridi paid Rs2 million ($21,000) to Lashkar-e-Islam and helped to provide medical assistance to militant commanders in Khyber.

But the commander said the $21,000 was a fine imposed for over-charging patients.

“Afridi and his fellow doctor were fleecing tribesmen, giving them fake medicines and doing fake surgeries. We had a lot of complaints against them and imposed a fine of two million rupees on them,” he said.

Local residents also told AFP that Bagh fined Afridi for performing “unnecessary surgeries and over-charging” patients at his private clinic in the town of Bara.

PESHAWAR: The militants accused in court of conspiring with Dr Shakil Afridi who was recruited by the CIA to find Osama bin Laden said Thursday they had nothing to do with him and would kill him if they had the chance.

Shakil Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in jail after he was found guilty of treason.

Afridi was convicted by the court of treason under the penal code, but for alleged ties to Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) and not for working for the CIA.

LeI, led by Mangal Bagh, is a militant organisation feared for kidnappings and extortion in the Kyber district.

The court order said Afridi had “close links” to the group, saying the doctor’s “love” for Bagh and his “association with him was an open secret”.

But a commander in the organisation told AFP that they had nothing to do with Afridi.

“We have no link to such a shameless man. If we see him we’ll chew him alive,” the commander said on condition of anonymity.

The court said Afridi paid Rs2 million ($21,000) to Lashkar-e-Islam and helped to provide medical assistance to militant commanders in Khyber.

But the commander said the $21,000 was a fine imposed for over-charging patients.

“Afridi and his fellow doctor were fleecing tribesmen, giving them fake medicines and doing fake surgeries. We had a lot of complaints against them and imposed a fine of two million rupees on them,” he said.

Local residents also told AFP that Bagh fined Afridi for performing “unnecessary surgeries and over-charging” patients at his private clinic in the town of Bara.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan conducted a successful test flight of the indigenously developed air-launched cruise missile, Hatf-VIII (Ra’ad) on Thursday.

A statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Ra’ad Missile, with a range of over 350km, enables Pakistan to achieve strategic standoff capability on land and at sea.

‘Cruise technology’ is extremely complex and has been developed by only a few countries in the world.

The Ra’ad cruise missile with stealth capabilities is a low altitude, terrain-hugging missile with high maneuverability, and can deliver nuclear and conventional warheads with pin point accuracy.

A major additional feature of today’s test was the effective employment of the National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS).

It has enabled robust Command and Control capability of all strategic assets with round the clock situation awareness in a digitised network centric environment to decision makers at National Command Centre (NCC).

The system has the added capability of real time remote monitoring of missile flight path.

The successful launch was commended by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee who congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.

Pakistan on Thursday denied reports of the United States sending military trainers back into Pakistan to instruct Frontier Corps (FC) trainers in counter-insurgency warfare. The statement was backed up later by a Pentagon spokesperson.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesperson, the report released by the foreign media is “incorrect”.

The report had said that fewer than 10 US special operations soldiers have been sent to a training site near Peshawar.

“It is not true. American trainers have not returned to Pakistan,” a senior Pakistani military official told Reuters.

The Pakistani official declined to comment when asked why he thought a US official was saying US trainers had returned.

The number of American military instructors in Pakistan dropped to zero after an attack on a check post killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in late November. Nato labelled the border incident an accident but it enraged Pakistanis and sent already tense ties with the United States into a tailspin.

A US official on condition of anonymity had said, “There’s a lot more we want to do to improve it, but (the trainers’ return) is an important sign that at least in some areas we’re getting a healthy sense of normalcy.”

Two liaisons to be based in Peshawar

Pentagon spokesperson Captain John F. Kirby told media on Thursday that there are no military trainers currently in Pakistan, but said that two liaison officers have been stationed in Peshawar recently for border coordination.

The Pentagon spokesperson was responding to a story published by Reuters on Wednesday that said US military trainers had returned to Pakistan. He said that the two liaison officers will report to the Regional Command East headquarters in Afghanistan to meet with their counterparts in Peshawar.

The Pentagon spokesperson said that their purpose was to increase co-operation between the two military forces on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. “Tactical and operational co-operation is getting better,” said the Pentagon spokesperson, and cited the recent visit as an example of that. He added that the US does not have an agreement right now with Pakistan to send trainers. “The small number of trainers that were there earlier was at Pakistan’s request.”

In response to a question, Captain Kirby said that there had been no movement on the matter of reopening the NATO supply routes.

The latest directions were issued by the cabinet division after it observed that despite the policy’s implementation, officers are still misusing official cars meant for operational duty.  In some cases, according to the letter issued by Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi, the vehicles of various projects or sub-ordinate offices and organisations are also being misused by the ministries and divisions.

The letter does not mention the biggest violators, however, who are none other than the federal secretaries themselves.

According to the letter, all the officers had given the undertaking that they would not violate the compulsory monetisation policy, implemented from January this year. However, these officers have been using the cars in violation of the undertaking making them perfect cases for initiation of disciplinary action, it added.

The government is giving Rs98,000 to a grade 22 officer as car allowance, Rs78,000 to grade 21 officer and Rs68,000 to grade 20 officer instead of providing them official vehicles. But many officers are availing both the allowances as well as free rides on cars purchased and run using taxpayers’ money. The Public Accounts Committee has already taken notice of the misuse of official cars.

Bureaucrats have also been provided the option of purchasing official vehicles at throwaway prices.

However, the latest directions leave a major loophole since they do not specify who will take action against the secretaries if they violate the rules. Currently, almost all federal secretaries have been violating the policy. Even those who were at the forefront of implementing the monetisation policy have parked their cars at home and continuously use the official vehicles.

The cabinet division said the ministries and divisions should also surrender their surplus vehicles, as a report has to be furnished to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

The government is also considering eliminating the pool of vehicles maintained by every ministry and division to stop the misuse of vehicles at taxpayers’ expense.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.

However, the body, members of which will be appointed by a cross-party parliamentary committee, will not have the authority to address or investigate rights violations by members of the armed forces and intelligence agencies.

Passed unanimously by the National Assembly on May 4, 2012, the president authorised the bill into law at a ceremony held at Bilawal House.

Membership

According to the bill, the commission, which will have its headquarters in Islamabad, would comprise of 10 members, headed either by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or by a human rights expert. It will comprise of a chairperson, a member from each of the four provinces, Fata and Islamabad Capital Territory, minority communities and the chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women. In addition, there will be two reserved seats for women and another for a person belonging to a religious minority.

The names will be finalised after consultation between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. In case there is no consensus, separate lists will be forwarded by both to the parliamentary committee, which will then approve nominations.

Investigative powers

The commission will perform its function through petitions and can also take suo motu action. The body can also intervene in any proceeding involving human rights violations pending before a court, and has all the powers of a civil court.

The body will also recommend the adoption of new legislation or the amendment of existing laws.

In addition, the body or any person authorised by it may visit any jail, place of detention or any other institution under the control of the government or its agencies to determine the legality any detention and living conditions.

The commission would, however, be virtually powerless to investigate any allegation of abuse related to an intelligence agency, Human Rights Watch said. Section 15 of the proposed law states that the “functions of the commission do not include inquiring into the act or practice of intelligence agencies.” Should such a complaint be made to the commission it “shall refer the complaint to the competent authority concerned,” the law states. If the armed forces have been accused of committing a human rights violation, the commission can seek a report from the federal government.

The body will have complete financial and administrative independence. A National Commission for Human Rights Fund will also be established, which would include contribution from the federal government, unconditional contributions from donors and non-governmental organisations. The fund will be audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan, the law states.

A human rights court will be established in Islamabad and an advocate will be appointed by the federal government to ensure swift trials of cases involving human rights violations.

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that Pakistan has already signed seven of the nine core international human rights treaties. Discussions are going on in respect of the remaining two, including one relating to enforced disappearances. He added that a resolution urging the government to sign a convention on preventing enforced disappearances be will taken up on the next private member’s day in the upper house.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.

Sources in both the organisations told The Express Tribune that even if the new lists were made public in coming weeks, there will still be a possibility of errors, which will have to be pointed out by voters so they can be rectified.

“You can say 98% of the work is complete,” an official associated with the project stated, adding that the lists will not be able to be made public in coming days.

The ECP had assured the Supreme Court that it would finalise what it calls ‘error free’ computerised electoral rolls by the end of May. The commission, for the first time in the country’s history, is preparing electoral rolls based on computerised national identity cards. Almost 47% of entries in the electoral rolls used in the 2008 general elections were declared dubious.

As part of its electoral reforms programme, the ECP launched a project to update electoral rolls, which was due to be completed by the end of 2011.

Officials said that, during the data compiling process by Nadra, many errors were detected and it is believed that the new draft will still carry mistakes, which can be fixed in coming weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.

In a summary sent to the Finance and Petroleum Ministries on Wednesday, Ogra suggested passing on the reduction in international oil prices to the consumers from June.

Ogra wants High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) price cut by 9.7% (Rs13.24 per litre), petrol 4.6% (Rs4.71 per litre), kerosene oil 6.9% (Rs6.88 per litre), High Speed Diesel (HSD) 5.3% (Rs5.64 per litre), and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) rate reduced by 6% (5.84 per litre).

The government will notify the new prices on Thursday after approval of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. A senior official of Petroleum Ministry said that consumers were unlikely to get the full benefit of the proposed price cut, as the finance ministry may insist on adjusting reduction in oil prices in petroleum levy to earn more revenue.

If the Ogra proposal is implemented, the price of petrol would come down to Rs98.65 per litre from existing Rs103.36 per litre, HOBC to Rs122.57 from Rs 135.81, HSD to Rs101.36 from Rs107, kerosene to Rs93.07 from Rs99.95, and LDO to Rs91.59 per litre from Rs97.43 per litre.

“Ogra has recommended passing on full reduction in oil prices to the consumers to provide relief to the end users,” the official said quoting the summary. He said the average decline in crude oil prices was 8%. “The average price of crude oil has dropped to $111 per barrel in ongoing month against $120 per barrel in April,” he said.

For the month of May, Ogra had also proposed cuts of Re1 per litre in the price of petrol, Re1.31 in HSD, Rs4.89 in HOBC, Rs2.13 in kerosene oil and Re1.64 per litre in LDO. But the federal government had turned down the proposal and kept the prices unchanged except that of light diesel oil (LDO), which was reduced by Rs1.31 per litre.

Currently, the petroleum levy for petrol is Rs8.86 per litre, HOBC Rs11.84 per litre, kerosene oil Rs5.15 per litre, LDO Rs3 per litre and HSD Rs4.20 per litre. During May, the government expects to collect around Rs24 billion on petroleum products including Rs6 billion in shape of petroleum levy and Rs18 billion as general sales tax (GST).

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.

Malik’s counsel M Azhar Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that his client had submitted an application regarding the citizenship renunciation on April 25, 2008 through mail along with a cheque for £229 as fee. However, he added, an officially signed and stamped copy has not been returned to his client so far.

Sources further revealed that Malik left for the UK from Islamabad on a ‘red’ passport.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.

The opposition is all set to steal the show at PPP’s presentation of its fifth budget, when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will be present, through a noisy protest.

In this regard, the PML-N held a meeting on Wednesday and decided to participate in the budget session after initial hesitation – some senior party leaders had decided earlier to not attend the budget session according to sources. The fifth budget of the incumbent government is set to be presented by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh on June 1.

“A meeting of the parliamentary party has been convened in order to finalise the strategy and assign roles (regarding the protest) to members,” an official from the PML-N told The Express Tribune. The parliamentary party of the PML-N will meet on June 1. The party has also advised all of its members to be present on the day.

“It is going to be the first encounter,” the official said, adding that they were ready for the ‘big day’. Placards, black armbands and sloganeering are all going to be used to disrupt the session and register their protest.

Earlier this week, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan visited Lahore in order to discuss the party’s strategy with PML-N president Nawaz Sharif.

Prime Minister Gilani was convicted by the Supreme Court on April 26 for contempt of court, after which the opposition warned it would let him enter the lower house. The premier did not attend the NA session that day.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.