Govt to pursue LNG import project: Dr Asim - The News International

ISLAMABAD: Dr Asim Hussain Adviser to the prime minister on petroleum and natural resources said on Friday that the government has been pursuing liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as the country needs enhanced gas supplies for various sectors.

He was chairing the first meeting of the committee on LNG infrastructure projects, constituted by the prime minister, an official statement said.

The meeting was also attended by other committee members including minister for water and power, secretary finance, secretary water and power, representatives of the ministry of law and justice, Gohar Ejaz, Razak Dawood, Ahsan Bashir, chairman of All Pakistan Textiles Mills Association (APTMA) and senior officials of the ministry of petroleum and natural resources.
The committee members were briefed about the LNG import project and the previous decisions of the economic coordination committee (ECC), the statement said. Detailed discussions were held on the framework for LNG import, including fast track imports and the long-term import components.
The committee members unanimously agreed that the LNG import projects are necessary, keeping in view the current energy crisis in the country. They said that SNGPL–SSGC joint venture company should be established with major shareholding of the federal government that should undertake infrastructure development for LNG import.
Moreover, it was also recommended that the import initiatives already undertaken by the SSGC should run parallel to infrastructure development to ensure an early LNG import.
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Nisar demands 50 percent representation for PML-N - The News International

ISLAMABAD: Expressing serious reservations over the inclusion of certain individuals in the parliamentary commission for the creation of new provinces in the Punjab, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has demanded that the Speaker de-notify the commission, adding that if the commission notified by the Speaker pertains only to the division of the Punjab province, then all of its members must also hail from the Punjab while the PML-N, which is the majority party in the provincial assembly, should have at least 50 percent representation in the commission.

Nisar dubbed the notification of the present commission as “yet another political conspiracy on the part of President Asif Zardari,” while lamenting that the PML-N was not even consulted over the names of members of the commission.
Talking to a group of newsmen here at the Punjab House, Chaudhry Nisar said the role of the PML-N had been marginalised with the inclusion of only three members in the commission.
Nisar questioned the inclusion of Farooq Sattar, Farahtullah Babar, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Haji Adeel Khan in the commission, asking why they should be a part of the commission when they did not belong to the Punjab.
Responding to a question, the opposition leader said he would ask the Speaker to de-notify the parliamentary commission and he would certainly demand that the body be modified. To another question, he said that the PML-N would strongly oppose any move for the division of Sindh province, as it would not be in the national interest.
He complained that the National Assembly Speaker had once again become a part of the government’s conspiracy and issued the notification while sitting in the United States. “She did not even wait for the list of names from the PML-N,” he said.
Nisar told journalists that he had received a message from the government to forward the names of PML-N parliamentarians for the commission. “But the Speaker notified the commission before the PML-N leadership could even discuss the names and terms of references for the body,” he said.
The opposition leader said if this was truly a national commission, then why the names of Hazara and Fata were missing from the notification. He added that if President Zardari was really sincere in creating new provinces, he should take meaningful, constitutional and legal measures for the purpose. “Zardari and his government want to turn the creation of new provinces in the Punjab into a political football match,” he said.
Nisar demanded that the commission should also address the issues like the division of economic/administrative responsibilities and political aspects like division of assets and distribution of Senate seats for the new provinces.
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Al Quds rally participants attacked: Two killed in Karachi blast - DAWN.com

KARACHI, Aug 17: At least two people were killed and 12 others injured when a bomb exploded near Safari Park on the city’s busy University Road on Friday.
Police sources said about 2 kgs of explosives had been planted near the KESC substation to target a bus carrying people going to attend the Al Quds Day rally.
The bus coming from Karachi University carried mainly students belonging to the Imamia Students Organisation.
The bus, a car and some motorbikes were part of a small caravan going to the Numaish area for the rally.
DIG East Shahid Hayat said the car bore the brunt of the blast when the explosives were detonated by remote control.
Its roof was almost blown up and the front seats were soaked in blood. People ran for cover when ambulances taking the injured to hospital came under fire in the Jauhar area.
The deceased were identified as Maulana Manzoor Hussain, 30, and Imtiaz Ali, 25.
Special Secretary Health Dr Suresh Kumar said that of the injured, two were undergoing laparotomy, one was in the neurosurgery ICU, two were admitted to the orthopedic ward of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and two others were at the Aga Khan University Hospital.
Dr Kumar said that five of the injured were in serious condition.
SP Raja Umar Khattab pointed out the attack was similar to those carried out in the city against Rangers and Navy buses.
He suspected that one particular group was behind the roadside bomb attacks in the city.
Bomb disposal personnel said that the explosives had been laced with ball bearings.
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JI asks PM to appear before SC on 27th - The News International

Karachi

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called upon Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to maintain the supremacy of the judiciary by appearing in the Supreme Court on August 27.
Talking to The News on Friday, a JI spokesman said that the confrontation between the judiciary and the institutions would be dangerous for the solidarity and integrity of the country.
The JI asked President Zardari to ensure implementation of Supreme Court orders in letter and spirit. “Zardari should also ensure that this time Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf writes a letter to Swiss authorities if he is not corrupt.”
The party demanded of the government to ensure welfare and protection of the citizens as well as maintaining the supremacy of the judiciary.
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SC gives FIA two weeks to recover Rs420 million in NICL scam - The News International

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Friday directed the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) director general to ensure the recovery of Rs420 million in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam case within two weeks and submit the compliance report.

A three-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the NICL case and rejected the interim report presented by the FIA director legal, Azam Khan. The court asked him why recoveries were not being made in Lahore and who the in-charge of FIA there was. Azam Khan apprised the bench that Waqar Haider was the FIA director in Lahore. At this, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry recalled that Waqar Haider had stopped Zafar Qureshi from appearing before the bench on the court’s directives and was facing contempt of court.
The chief justice expressed dismay over the FIA’s performance and directed the FIA director general to recover Rs420 million, warning officials to get serious about the case. “It seems as if influential people are being protected,” he remarked.
On Thursday, the court had directed the FIA director legal to submit a written reply about the recoveries. In his remarks, Chief Justice Chaudhry had said it was also the duty of the court to recover the embezzled money.
Secretary Commerce Munir Qureshi informed the court about the appointment of former NICL head Sardar Ayaz Khan Niazi, saying the joint secretary commerce had conducted an inquiry into the appointment of Niazi, according to which the appointment was legal.
The chief justice, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the secretary commerce’s reply and remarked that the secretary was not abiding by the court’s earlier orders. The court directed the secretary commerce to submit a comprehensive report regarding the implementation of the court’s orders within two weeks and adjourned the hearing.
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Jumatul Wida observed with religious zeal and fervour - The News International

Rawalpindi: Like other parts of the country, residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad also observed ‘Jumatul Wida’, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan, with traditional religious zeal and reverence and under tight security arrangements.

‘Jumatul Wida’ has a special significance, as it is a prelude to the departure of holy month of Ramazan and its blessings.
Millions of fasting people offered Friday prayers at different mosques across the country.
In federal capital, the biggest gathering of ‘Jumatul Wida’ was held at Faisal Mosque. All big and small mosques in federal capital and Rawalpindi have been tastefully decorated and mosque administrations have made special arrangements to accommodate the extraordinary number of worshippers and to provide them with extra space outside mosques on the occasion.
Imams and ‘Khateebs’ in their sermons stressed upon Muslims to purify their souls through their full dedication to prayers, seek forgiveness of Allah Almighty and be kind to fellow beings. Ulema and religious leaders also urged unity of Muslim Ummah and called for making joint struggle for emancipation of the Muslim world.
On the occasion, special prayers were also offered for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, unity of Muslims the world over and their emancipation. Prayers also offered for independence of Kashmir, Palestine and other parts of world where Muslims were engaged in the struggle for their right to self-determination.
Earlier, more than six police constables including a sub-inspector deployed in front of every mosque to avoid any untoward incident during ‘Jumatul Wida’. Police have removed all fruit and vegetable sellers and vendors from mosque areas. There were foolproof security arrangements at majority of famous mosques including Central Jamia Mosque at Jamia Masjid Road, Makki Mosque at Chungi No22, Ahle Sunnat Mosque at Saddar, Zakria Mosque at Allahabad Westridge and some others. There were walkthrough gates, metal detectors and checking by the police officials also conducted. Nobody was allowed to enter in mosques without checking.
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Kayani rules out Waziristan action under foreign pressure - DAWN.com

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. – AP (File Photo)
ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Commander of US Central Command Gen James Mattis would continue consultations on an operation against the Haqqani network even though the visiting American General had to leave without a firm date.
Gen Mattis, who had arrived on Thursday evening, held talks with Gen Kayani and Defence Secretary Gen Asif Yasin Malik late on Thursday night. He departed on Friday morning.
Gen Mattis had arrived for the meetings on the day when an attack by heavily armed militants on a key PAF base in Kamra was foiled by Pakistani security forces.
As anticipated the discussions were predominantly about the North Waziristan operation. While the Pakistani side avoided any reference to the Haqqani network in its post-meeting statement, the US embassy’s media note clearly stated that the talks covered ‘militant network activities’ in addition to cross-border cooperation.
The US side declared the talks as ‘successful’ and said the generals “had agreed to continue to meet periodically to further common objectives on cross-border cooperation and regional security”.
There was also a hint from the Pakistani side that the talks had ended on a positive note. “Both sides expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation between the two militaries and resolved to continue it to further improve relations between the two countries,” military’s public affairs wing, ISPR, said.
According to a western source privy to the discussion, Gen Kayani tried to convey the impression that atmosphere for launching an operation in Waziristan wasn’t yet conducive.
The source believed that he was facing pressure both from political opposition parties and some of his aides who were opposed
to initiating ‘kinetic operations’ in the militant hotbed.
The source said Gen Mattis was appreciative of the strong stance taken by Gen Kayani against extremism and terrorism in his Independence Day anniversary speech at the military academy in Kakul.
Gen Kayani was quoted by ISPR as having told Gen Mattis that the timing of the military operation would be determined by “our political and military” considerations.
But at the same time the army chief noted that “we might, if necessary, undertake operations in NWA”.
In a statement directed towards the local audience, Gen Kayani said the operation “will never be a result of any outside pressure. Pakistan’s national interest continues to be the prime consideration for any decision in this regard”.
It was evident from Gen Kayani’s remarks released by ISPR that he did not deny planning an offensive in North Waziristan.
Rather, he focused on dispelling the impression generated from reports in the western media, based on leaks, that he had reached an understanding with Isaf Commander Gen John Allen over joint operations in North Waziristan.
The ISPR went to the extent of defining and differentiating between ‘a joint operation’ and ‘coordinated action’ in the statement.
Even a reference was made to Secretary Clinton’s statement on July 3, in which she said ‘sorry’ over Salala incident. In her statement, Mrs Clinton had talked of “coordinated actions against terrorists who threaten Pakistan and the region”.
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