Saturday, November 28, 2009
By Riaz Khan Daudzai
PESHAWAR: The traders of the NWFP in general and those of the provincial metropolis in particular have paid the highest price on Eid for the ongoing militancy, price-hike and scare in the wake of terror acts that rocked the city and scattered places elsewhere in the province in succession over the last two months.
During a survey just a day ahead of Eidul Azha, it was found that the overall business activities fell by 70 per cent while the fashion houses, both in the downtown city and cantonment and those at the posh University Road, Tehkal, Abdarra Road, lost their 80 per cent business to the militancy that scared off shoppers as security threats continued to grip every bazaar of the provincial capital for last three months.
Four powerful blasts shattered the major business centres of the provincial metropolis, including Khyber Bazaar, Chiri Koban Meena Bazaar, Khyber Bazaar and cantonment, during the last two months that inflicted around Rs1 billion losses on the traders and common people.
Major fashion houses continued to pass through the lean period of their business history as the major outlets like Imperial, Wadoosd’s Sons, Day to Day, Shah Posh, Joly, R-Sheen and Surkhab (just to mention a few) faced a 30 per cent slump, while the fashion houses like Novelty Store, which were once hot spots for fashion enthusiasts, remained closed on Friday, just a day before Eid.
Malik Mehar Ilahi, general secretary of the Action Committee of Tajiran, a conglomerate of six trade bodies formed after the militancy hit the business centres, also blamed the government partially for the poor business activities.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Dr Shahid to stand his ground come what may
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
News Desk
RAWALPINDI: Renowned anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood on Monday revealed that he had been facing a ‘campaign of incentives and abuses’ from the most important personalities of the country for quite some time. But recently he was conveyed death threat in obvious words.
Talking in Geo TV programme ‘Meray Mutabiq’, he said he had conveyed the names of these important personalities to the Geo network and Jang Group management and owners. He said the people must have understood who are the personalities, as he did not want to discuss their names at present. However, he said he had told his organisation to let the people know these names if something happened to him.
Dr Shahid said he was advised by his friends and well-wishers several times to be diplomatic while commenting on different incidents of huge importance. He recalled that Pervez Musharraf had closed down his and Hamid Mir’s programmes and later shut down Geo TV.
Similar tactics are being used by the democratic government, he said, adding that he does not know what pressure is being endured by the Jang Group and his other colleagues in performance of their duties. He said he does not know what decision Geo TV and Jang Group management would take after such an intense pressure. He said it was being alleged that only one media group was hatching conspiracies at the behest of undemocratic powers.
“Sometimes it is alleged that it is working on American agenda and receiving billions of rupees to destabilise the country. Sometimes it is blamed as pro-Taliban.”
He said similar allegations were levelled during the last days of Pervez Musharraf when ‘we talked about an independent judiciary’. “After his ouster, Musharraf himself admitted that his biggest mistake was to remove Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. What was wrong in what we had said?” he asked.
He said: “Neither we have written or said anything about Musharraf’s personal life nor we are writing or saying anything about Zardari’s personal life though it is people’s right to know everything about their leaders.”
He said: “We are just reminding the people that Rs165 billion of their money has been looted whereas you are forced to stand in queues to buy flour and sugar, despite being subjected to terrorism.”
He said he was missing Benazir Bhutto and wondered that what would have been her reaction had she been alive. She left this world with the promise to hoist the national flag on the residence of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. “Had she been alive, today’s rulers would not have been in their current positions.”
Expressing his sorrow and shock over the closure of ‘Meray Mutabiq’, senior analyst Shaheen Sehbai said this undemocratic act in a democratic government had reminded of the regime of Pervez Musharraf. He said nobody could strengthen his rule by threatening and harassing journalists and anchorpersons, rather the rulers who do so lose the power soon. This is very dangerous for the country, he said, wondering as to what type of these popular and elected public representatives are if a journalist could shake them.
Supporting Dr Shahid Masood’s viewpoint, Sehbai said Pakistani laws are not applicable in Switzerland and if the cases against the president are opened in Swiss and Spanish courts after the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) lapses, those courts could penalise the PPP co-chairman and could also get red warrant issued by the Interpol.
Talking to Dr Shahid Masood, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi said the media plays the role of ears and eyes if the government sees it in its true perspective. He said if the media people talk of corruption, they are in fact helping the government. He said ridiculous things that take place in Pakistan do not occur in the world.
He said the Agosta Submarines issue has not been revived by the Pakistani media but was highlighted abroad. He said is it a matter of pride for Pakistan whatever appeared in the French media. He said there could be no indemnity abroad and according to a legal expert the Swiss court was proceeding with the cases.
News Desk
RAWALPINDI: Renowned anchorperson Dr Shahid Masood on Monday revealed that he had been facing a ‘campaign of incentives and abuses’ from the most important personalities of the country for quite some time. But recently he was conveyed death threat in obvious words.
Talking in Geo TV programme ‘Meray Mutabiq’, he said he had conveyed the names of these important personalities to the Geo network and Jang Group management and owners. He said the people must have understood who are the personalities, as he did not want to discuss their names at present. However, he said he had told his organisation to let the people know these names if something happened to him.
Dr Shahid said he was advised by his friends and well-wishers several times to be diplomatic while commenting on different incidents of huge importance. He recalled that Pervez Musharraf had closed down his and Hamid Mir’s programmes and later shut down Geo TV.
Similar tactics are being used by the democratic government, he said, adding that he does not know what pressure is being endured by the Jang Group and his other colleagues in performance of their duties. He said he does not know what decision Geo TV and Jang Group management would take after such an intense pressure. He said it was being alleged that only one media group was hatching conspiracies at the behest of undemocratic powers.
“Sometimes it is alleged that it is working on American agenda and receiving billions of rupees to destabilise the country. Sometimes it is blamed as pro-Taliban.”
He said similar allegations were levelled during the last days of Pervez Musharraf when ‘we talked about an independent judiciary’. “After his ouster, Musharraf himself admitted that his biggest mistake was to remove Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. What was wrong in what we had said?” he asked.
He said: “Neither we have written or said anything about Musharraf’s personal life nor we are writing or saying anything about Zardari’s personal life though it is people’s right to know everything about their leaders.”
He said: “We are just reminding the people that Rs165 billion of their money has been looted whereas you are forced to stand in queues to buy flour and sugar, despite being subjected to terrorism.”
He said he was missing Benazir Bhutto and wondered that what would have been her reaction had she been alive. She left this world with the promise to hoist the national flag on the residence of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. “Had she been alive, today’s rulers would not have been in their current positions.”
Expressing his sorrow and shock over the closure of ‘Meray Mutabiq’, senior analyst Shaheen Sehbai said this undemocratic act in a democratic government had reminded of the regime of Pervez Musharraf. He said nobody could strengthen his rule by threatening and harassing journalists and anchorpersons, rather the rulers who do so lose the power soon. This is very dangerous for the country, he said, wondering as to what type of these popular and elected public representatives are if a journalist could shake them.
Supporting Dr Shahid Masood’s viewpoint, Sehbai said Pakistani laws are not applicable in Switzerland and if the cases against the president are opened in Swiss and Spanish courts after the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) lapses, those courts could penalise the PPP co-chairman and could also get red warrant issued by the Interpol.
Talking to Dr Shahid Masood, senior journalist Ansar Abbasi said the media plays the role of ears and eyes if the government sees it in its true perspective. He said if the media people talk of corruption, they are in fact helping the government. He said ridiculous things that take place in Pakistan do not occur in the world.
He said the Agosta Submarines issue has not been revived by the Pakistani media but was highlighted abroad. He said is it a matter of pride for Pakistan whatever appeared in the French media. He said there could be no indemnity abroad and according to a legal expert the Swiss court was proceeding with the cases.
Zardari, Gilani discuss constitutional package
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday night held another meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, focusing on bringing the constitutional package in parliament after presenting the Balochistan package. It was their second meeting in as many days.
Political sources said the government’s focus has now shifted to presenting the constitutional package by the end of the current year so that it could be passed early next year. The idea is that issues relating to the repeal of the 17th Amendment and 58-2(b) should be settled before the president addresses the joint session of parliament.
The presidential sources described the meeting as routine, saying such consultations were common.
The president congratulated the prime minister over the announcement of the ‘Aghaz-e-Haqooqe Balochistan’ package in the joint sitting of parliament. He hoped that the package would be instrumental in winning the hearts and minds of the people of the province.
He advised the government that an effective monitoring mechanism should be put in place to check the implementation of the package.
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday night held another meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, focusing on bringing the constitutional package in parliament after presenting the Balochistan package. It was their second meeting in as many days.
Political sources said the government’s focus has now shifted to presenting the constitutional package by the end of the current year so that it could be passed early next year. The idea is that issues relating to the repeal of the 17th Amendment and 58-2(b) should be settled before the president addresses the joint session of parliament.
The presidential sources described the meeting as routine, saying such consultations were common.
The president congratulated the prime minister over the announcement of the ‘Aghaz-e-Haqooqe Balochistan’ package in the joint sitting of parliament. He hoped that the package would be instrumental in winning the hearts and minds of the people of the province.
He advised the government that an effective monitoring mechanism should be put in place to check the implementation of the package.
Nation not to be robbed of its rights thr’ farce: Zardari
KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari said that none can rob people of their rights just by farcing, Geo News reported Wednesday.
Addressing a large public gathering on the Foundation Day of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) here, he said a public leader comes into existence only by having recourse to his people, adding he does not fear any conspiracy and every plot would be braced.
In emotionally charged speech the President said said, ‘Our existence is contingent upon the existence of Pakistan, as we are nothing if there is no Pakistan; we want a new Pakistan for the new generation.’
‘This is the day of Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto,’ Zardari said adding Parliament and the opposition do not want to derail the democracy.
‘We would not flinch back from even going to gallows by following the footsteps of Bhutto,’ Zardari said adding the slogans of ‘Jiey Bhutto’ are being raised from Gilgit-Baltistan.
President Zardari said, ‘We want the strength for Mian Nawaz Sharif and his party and those fond of politics, should wait for next elections.’
"Even after the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, I still assert 'Pakistan Khapay'," he added.
Addressing a large public gathering on the Foundation Day of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) here, he said a public leader comes into existence only by having recourse to his people, adding he does not fear any conspiracy and every plot would be braced.
In emotionally charged speech the President said said, ‘Our existence is contingent upon the existence of Pakistan, as we are nothing if there is no Pakistan; we want a new Pakistan for the new generation.’
‘This is the day of Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto,’ Zardari said adding Parliament and the opposition do not want to derail the democracy.
‘We would not flinch back from even going to gallows by following the footsteps of Bhutto,’ Zardari said adding the slogans of ‘Jiey Bhutto’ are being raised from Gilgit-Baltistan.
President Zardari said, ‘We want the strength for Mian Nawaz Sharif and his party and those fond of politics, should wait for next elections.’
"Even after the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, I still assert 'Pakistan Khapay'," he added.
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