Saturday, November 21, 2009

A WEEK ON STREET

As a PPP activist we are witnessing a complete media blackout of our democratic and peaceful public procession in this trouble times which itself is an great effort on the behalf of workers considering the security situation of the country . Jiye Worker !



we stand by Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and we condemn heinous blackmailing of Shaheen Shebai and Dr Shahid Masood and we will unfold evil intentions behind their series of newspaper articles and TV programmes suggesting there will be no major reaction in Sindh if Asif Ali Zardari's government is dismissed today .I want to warn them if they think by starting get Zardari campaign sindh will be not disturb then that is their big mistake by doing so not Sindh ,Punjab ,NWFP and Baluchistan but It will also effect Democratic process of Gilgit-Baltistan and a recent removal of FCR will become irrelevant from tribal areas and it will jeopardize proposed party based election in there .



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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

NA body unanimously passes Competition Bill


NA body unanimously passes Competition Bill 


Wednesday, 11 Nov, 2009 
   
 
Chairman CCP Khalid Mirza said the bill prohibits abuse of market dominance, anti-competitive agreements, deceptive market practices and mergers of undertakings that substantially reduce competition. - File photo 

 

ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday thoroughly deliberated and examined the Competition Bill, 2007 (Competition Ordinance, 2007) and unanimously passed the bill.

The committee met here with Fauzia Wahab in the chair to re-consider and re-examine the Competition Ordinance, 2007.

Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) briefed the committee and said that enactment of the Competition Bill, 2007 and establishment of a dedicated competition agency is a need of time.

The promulgation of the bill itself is a stepping stone towards achieving improvement in the competition law and policy of the country.

The bill primarily based on the Treaty of Rome has been tailored to take into account the socio economic realities.

However, by doing so, it is still on all counts in accordance with international best practices and conforms to the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other international regional bodies, he added.

He further said that it prohibits abuse of market dominance, anti-competitive agreements, deceptive market practices and mergers of undertakings that substantially reduce competition.

It avoids procedures that may pose unnecessary transaction or compliance costs on firms, obstacles to beneficial mergers and acquisitions and unnecessary restrictions on innovative horizontal and vertical arrangements among firms.

The meeting was attended by MNAs including Nafisa Shah, Khalida Mansoor,Riaz Fatyana, Aftab Shaban Mirani and Arif Aziz Shaikh besides other senior officials from Ministry of Finance and Competition Commission of Pakistan.—APP

SOURCE


SUGAR FIASCO


 Blog by: Humza Ikram


   

The recent sugar fiasco shows the volatile civil administrative structure of our society. In terms of western capitalist economist point of view it’s a result of non-documented trade which exists in our trade culture and lack decision making in real time environment. But the even worse part of the story is our reaction to the problem. 



A very bad trend has emerged in the society where whenever a problem occur in the country suddenly everyone becomes a Prophet and the television anchors becomes the chosen one who gets the revelation from God. And then race starts every anchors tries to prove his revelation is real and pure and other tries to prove his God is real and he doubts the others God’s actual existence. This happened in the series of event his happened in recent history.



Right from the Lal Masjid episode these TV anchors tried to outdo the others. And one anchor (Kamran Khan) did the unimaginable he tried to offer mediation between the cleric and government official. And thank to him we saw 24/7 reality television like no where in world. Same pattern can be observed in the event followed that like Lawyers movement, Brigader Imitiaz episode, High treason case against musharaf, minus one formula and even the administrative issues like Petrol development levy (PDL) issue and the recent sugar crises.

When some liberal writers and commentator used to advise them not to glorify Taliban; they termed them as a western agent like in the case of Prof. Pervez HoodBhoy and social commentator Nadeem Farooq Paracha. And I remember when BB raised her voice against lal masjid activities and showed her concern we saw round the clock television analyzes why BB is raising her voice from London on these innocent Muslim missionaries.

From these patterns you can conclude one thing and to describe that I want to Quote Colin Powell famous telephone call to Musharaf “either you are with us or against”. Same goes for these television anchors. These television anchors are authority on law, business, investment, security, defense, diplomacy you name it they know everything and trust me they do their home very well you can which can be seen in recent case of national embarrassment because of Talat Hussain’s stupid arguments with Hilary because of his incorrect stats . Thank God Zaid Hamid was not in the panel.

The even worse phenomena which is developing is the superior courts are also following the act of the media and respected judges are trying to become like chief economist of the country that can be seen with carbon surcharge case which was part of this budget and which also the only few unanimous budgets of our history like the year 2008-09. Which was later challenged by PML_N in the Supreme Court on the second thought after they voted for it the parliament days before that after they were humiliated by TV anchors of showing impotency while passing the budget? And Supreme Court judges acted like the chief economist of country.


Let us analyze the recent sugar crisis and the role of media, government and judiciary.

WEEK 1: TCP delayed the decision to import sugar to benefit some key politician.

Stance of media and which was later adopted by Punjab government: it’s the negligence of federal government what can we do.



WEEK 2: key politician are hoarding sugar. Punjab government responded quickly and started series of operation on mills and distributors .they received acclaimed from all over Pakistan and media teams even started to count the quantity of sugar collected by Punjab Government each day and one poor lady TV anchor even said in one of her program if Punjab government can confiscate four months of required sugar for Pakistan in a week whether we actually required to import sugar. Later news reports suggest PML-N MPA’s were storing sugar at the places and report of Sheikh Mumtaz Hashmi and his brother in law involved in hoarding 600 bags of sugar, story become instant hit at youtube and social networking sites like Facebook. 

 


WEEK 3: Peshawar and Lahore High courts took suo mou moto action against hoarding.

WEEK 4: week four ended with all kinds of speculation what could be the court judgment.

WEEK 5: finally the wait was over the courts announced there decision.

Client features of court decision
• NWFP government should look into smugglings of sugar to Afghanistan. (this remarks actually negates the LHC remarks if Punjab government is failed to stop inter-provincial smuggling of sugar how could NWFP could stop smuggling of sugar to Afghanistan where price is huge as compare to Punjab TO NWFP and where NWFP does not have control over Tribal Areas since there is no provincial police.

• There was no actual shortage of sugar.
• LHC CJ khawaja sharif suggested to bring back nationalization of sugar mills if sugar mills , not actually confronting his argument but I want to remind him he was previously Attorney general of Zia in Punjab and his previous boss and mentor Zia use to say “Socialism is haram”.

• Most astonishing was the LHC out did the PHC they also calculated the price ex mill price of the sugar.


WEEK 6: Week six provide to be the contradiction of week 1 now all the brilliant TV commentators were convinced that there was no sugar shortage in the country and funny part is if they are now convinced that there is no sugar shortage why the media brigade humiliated Watoo?

WEEK 7: Sugar mill association went to Supreme Court because they felt court didn’t listen to them and announced the decision in haste.

Current situation sugar have reached from 47 to 100 at some please since the courts intervention which halted the normal market mechanism and actually give provided the environment for the opportunist for hoarding and to earn quick buck .and the million dollar question is where is all the sugar which Punjab government confiscated. 



WEEK 9: from late decision of importing sugar to no sugar shortages we have reached the debate of good governance mixed with kerry lugar bill, NRO and other legislative issue to finally stage which can be described in article of Shaheen Shebai “have counted already started ?”To suggest Asif Ali Zardari’s days at presidency are over.”

In my opinion media did not bother to address the real problem they are actually running a campaign to show governments inability to run the state affairs. My suggestion we should once and for all have to decide whether we will remain hostage to their 24/7 campaign or try to understand things objectively.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Criminal Law (Amendment) Act

Criminal Law (Amendment) Act bill is approved in the National assembly its a part of effort to protect working woman rights and other important bill in this regard called WORKING WOMAN HARRASAMENT BILL is also expected to be presented in the parliment in next session  after it was approved in sindh assembly. Former Minister Sherry Rehman produced this bill in the parliment last year.

NA passes bill on harassment against women  

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4 (APP): National Assembly Wednesday unanimously passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2009 to amend Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure and provide protection to women against harassment at workplace.

Minister for Law and Justice, Muhammad Afzal Sindhu moved the bill to the House as passed by the Standing Committee, and all of its three clauses were passed unanimously with opposition neither opposing it nor proposing any further amendments.
The bill provides protection to working women at workplace from sexual advances and intimidation and violators will be punished with three years imprisonment or Rs. 500,000 fine or both.
The Bill states, ‘whoever makes sexual advances, or demands sexual favors or uses written or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which intends to annoy, insult, intimidate or threaten the other person or commits such acts at the premises of workplace, or makes submission to such conduct either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, or makes submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual, a basis for employment decision affecting such individual, or retaliates because of rejection of such behavior, or conducts such behavior with the intention of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or fine up to Rs 500,000 or with both.’ 
In the next clause the bill elaborate the dispensation mechanism for the bill where the word ‘sexual harassment’ has been included to already existing entries of ‘uttering word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of women etc.
The same clause clarified the fine amount to Rs 500,000 also elaborating that the accused will not be arrested without warrant, warrants will be bailable and the case will be presented to the court of Magistrate of First Class.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons reveals that the amendment will not only make the public and work environment safer for men and women but will open up the path for more women in particular to pursue their livelihood with dignity. It will reduce poverty as more and more women will get the courage to enter the job market. 

This amendment will also open up opportunity for private and the government sector to get competent human resource that will result in better production and improved quality of service. The social benefits, as a result of providing protection against harassment will become a major contribution to the development of the country.

THENEWS Editorial :

 A win for women



Friday, November 06, 2009
It is easy to say that we have a situation in which there is virtually no governance at all. This is true in most spheres, but there are exceptions. One of these is in the passage of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of women and other vulnerable groups, including children. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, passed unanimously by the National Assembly, amends existing legislation to impose a jail sentence up to three years and a fine of up to 500,000 for sexual harassment. Previously, the crime was rather loosely defined and provided for a sentence of up to a year. The law is the second within three months which seeks to improve the situation for women victims of violence. In August a bill on domestic abuse was adopted by both houses of parliament. Another bill, seeking penalties for harassment in the work place, is also likely to be tabled within weeks. 

The credit for all this goes to women activists, both within and outside parliament, who have worked tirelessly for a cause they believe in. According to the figures from international human rights groups, up to 80 per cent of women in the country face violence in one form or the other, and this goes to show how significant this legislation is. The passage of the laws highlights advantages of having a larger number of women in parliament. It is true that only a handful among them are directly elected and that a significant number are the relatives of key male politicians. But despite this their presence has resulted in issues that have an impact on the lives of women being discussed far more frequently, thus giving a louder voice to 50 per cent of citizens who so often go unheard.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

CRITICAL REVIEW OF NAJAM SETHI ON KERRY LUGAR BILL

check out this link and review the bill your self.

http://www.awaz.tv/playvideo.asp?pageId=5747

Myths and facts about Kerry-Lugar bill

The reactionary media and right wing political parties are distorting the facts of the kerry lugar bill .

Myths and facts about Kerry-Lugar bill
By Our Correspondent
Saturday, 10 Oct, 2009
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US Senator John Kerry. — AFP Photo

WASHINGTON: US Senator John Kerry, one of the co-authors of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, has issued a list of 'myths and facts' about the proposed legislation also known as the Kerry-Lugar bill.

This is how he explained the bill:

Myth: The $7.5 billion authorised by the bill comes with strings attached for the people of Pakistan.

Fact: There are no conditions on Pakistan attached to these funds. There are, however, strict measures of financial accountability on these funds that Congress is imposing on the US executive branch — not the Pakistani government, to make sure the money is being spent properly and for the purposes intended.

Such accountability measures have been welcomed by Pakistani commentators to ensure that funds meant for schools, roads and clinics actually reach the Pakistani people and are not wasted.

Myth: The bill impinges on Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Fact: Nothing in the bill threatens Pakistani sovereignty.

Myth: The bill places onerous conditions on US military aid to Pakistan that interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs and imply that Pakistan supports terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Fact: The conditions on military aid reinforce the stated policy of the government of Pakistan, major Pakistani opposition parties, and the Pakistani military and are the basis of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.

Myth: The bill requires US oversight on promotions and other internal operations of the Pakistani military.

Fact: There is absolutely no such requirement or desire.

Myth: The bill expands the Predator programme of drone attacks on targets within Pakistan.

Fact: There is absolutely nothing in the bill related to drones.

Myth: The bill funds activities within Pakistan by private US security firms, such as Dyncorp and Blackwater/Xe.

Fact: The bill does not include any language on private US security firms. The issue of how private security firms operate in Pakistan has nothing to do with this bill. The laws governing such firms —which are employed by many US embassies and consulates throughout the world — are not affected by this bill in any way.

Myth: The bill aims for an expanded US military footprint in Pakistan.

Fact: The bill does not provide a single dollar for US military operations. All of the money authorised in this bill is for non-military, civilian purposes.

Myth: The United States is expanding its physical footprint in Pakistan, using the bill as a justification for why the US Embassy in Islamabad needs more space and security.

Fact: As the US Embassy in Islamabad works diligently over the next five years to properly distribute the $7.5 billion to the people of Pakistan, it will need to take into account its own personnel and security needs to make sure it has the right staff with the right expertise on hand. This is common sense.


source:

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/04-Myths-and-facts-Kerry-Lugar-bill-qs-02

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Monday, October 5, 2009

Zardari emerges as the most popular personality: Survey

source: letusbuildpakistanagain.blogspot.com

President Zardari's popularity ascends: Survey


Zardari emerges as the most popular personality: Survey

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has emerged as the most popular personality on the Pakistani political landscape as 51 percent of the people terming President Asif Ali Zardari as the most popular personality. While 67 percent people said that to accept the conditions on Kerry-LugarBill is not to surrender to the policies of the US, 64 percent people termed President Asif Ali Zardari’s address in the United Nation in accordance with Democratic Norms, while 58 percent said that the Friends of Democratic Meeting in New York remained fruitful. Democracy International and Public Poll International have conducted a survey to gauge public opinion about President Asif Ali Zardari to US and Kerry-LugarBill. The first question was about the popularity of President Asif Ali Zardari. The findings revealed that 51 percent of the respondents’ favoured President Asif Ali Zardari, 47 opposes it while 3 percent showed no response. The second question was about the President Asif Ali Zardari visit to USA and his meetings with US officials. The results showed that 33 percent favoured it while 60 percent go against his visit. The third question about the President Asif Ali Zardari address in UN. The findings showed that 64 percent favoured it while 33 go against his address. The fourth question was about the Friends of Democratic Pakistan. The findings revealed that 58 percent answered “Yes, it was fruitful” while 40 percent answered in the negative.—Agencies

http://www.regionaltimes.com/05oct2009/frontpagenews/zardari.htm



http://express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100729549&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20091005

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Gilani appoints Saba Khattak as member Planning Commission

First Pashtun and that also a woman Dr Saba Gul Khattak is appointed as a member of planning commission of Pakistan .


Gilani appoints Saba Khattak as member Planning Commission


ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved the appointment of Saba Gul Khattak as member of the Planning Commission.

She is a prominent social worker belonging to NWFP. In the Planning Commission, she will be member for social sector.




Dr Saba Gul Khattak


Dr Saba Gul Khattak is a human rights activist and has a PhD in Political Science. Dr. Khattak provides regular policy advice on women, governance and refugee issues to the government.

Currently she is the Exucutive Director of SDPI and serves on a number of national and international committees in a voluntary capacity.

Dr Khattak has undertaken research in areas like:

Gender and Security,

Trafficking of Children in Pakistan,

Forms of Child Labor in Pakistan,

Education and Child Laborers,

Food Security for Refugees,

The Rehabilitation of Refugee Affected Areas in the NWFP and Balochistan,

The effects of structural adjustment policies on women in Pakistan

and Violence aginst Women

Dr. Khattak specializes in comparative politics and her research is a political economy approach to development, feminist and political theory with a focus on state theory.

Her work is concentrates on issues of women’s economic empowerment, peace and violence, governance issues, refugee issues, and labor rights. She actively contributes to dialogues on these themes at different fora in Pakistan and abroad. Dr Khattak also delivers lectures on Gender and Development and has taught International Relations and Comparative Politics at the University of Peshawar and the University of Hawaii.

Dr. Khattak also undertakes solicited research and has recently completed work on . She has also worked on corruption issues in Pakistan and recently conducted a dialogue on the future policy options and durable solutions for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

She regularly contributes to journals and books and has presented her work at national and international conferences.

Currently she has coauthor the book, Hazardous Home-based Work: A Story of Multi Tiered Exploitation (OUP, 2005).

Her publications include,

“Inconvenient Facts: Military regimes and women’s political representation in Pakistan”, (SDPI, 2005),

“Adversarial discourses, Analogous Objectives: Controlling Afghan Women” (Cultural Dynamics, 2004); and “Insecurity: Afghan refugee camps and politics in Pakistan” (Journal of Critical Asian Studies 2003).

you can find her articles from the following link :http://www.thenews.com.pk/editorial_arc1.asp?wn=Saba%20Gul%20Khattak

Monday, September 28, 2009

AFTER CHICAGO ,ROME STREET IS NAMED AFTER BENAZIR BHUTTO





Chicago Street named after Benazir Bhutto




WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (APP): A portion of the Clark Street in Chicago (Roger’s Park district) has been named as “Benazir Bhutto Way” (Honorary) in recognition of the martyred prime minister’s long struggle and services for promotion of democracy in Pakistan . The local Pakistani‑American community initiated the proposal and got it approved from the city through the support of Mr. Joe Moore, the local area Alderman (Counsellor).


The unveiling ceremony of the plaque was jointly performed by Dr. Aman Rashid, Consul General, Pakistan Consulate Chicago, Alderman Joe Moore and Mr. Ijaz N. Farrukh, Senior Vice President of PPP , USA who traveled from New York to attend this event, a news release said Tuesday.

The ceremony was preceded by a small reception held in a hall at the Roger’s Park Auto Shop. It was attended by community leaders, activists and representatives of the local print and electronic media.




Saturday, September 19, 2009

US Commission on International Religious Freedom confers award on Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minster for Minorities

Shahbaz Bhatti received an award from US Commission on
international religious freedom but this big news is missing
in our reactionary print and electronic media.


Minister ready to die for religious freedom

Saturday, 19 Sep, 2009
Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was awarded a first-of-a-kind medallion by the Commission on International Religious Freedom in Washington for championing the rights of Pakistani minorities. — Photo by AFP

WASHINGTON: The Minister for Minorities Affairs promised on Thursday to work to amend blasphemy laws and said he was ready to die fighting.

Shahbaz Bhatti visited Washington at the invitation of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which awarded him a first-of-a-kind medallion for championing the rights of minorities in Pakistan.

‘The stand of the Pakistani government is to review, revisit and amend blasphemy laws so it will not remain a tool in the hands of extremists,’ Mr Bhatti told commissioners from the bipartisan US government agency.

‘They are using this law to victimise minorities as well as Muslims of Pakistan. This law is creating disharmony and intolerance in our society.’

Mr Bhatti said he had received threats for his work.

‘I personally stand for religious freedom, even if I will pay the price of my life,’ he said. ‘I live for this principle and I want to die for this principle.’ — AFP

source dawn