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Independent Balochistan not US policy: embassy
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pakistantoday.com.pk
Monday, 20 February, 2012 rabi-ul-awal 27, 1433
Only the fortunate embrace martyrdom: PM Gilani says completion of government’s tenure to bring stability to the country g apC on Balochistan convened to resolve province’s issues through collective wisdom g
PIR JO GOTH
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RIMe Minister Yousaf Raza on Sunday said that only the fortunate embraced martyrdom. “I don’t know whether we will embrace martyrdom or emerge as Ghazi (triumphant). But only the fortunate embrace martyrdom,” Gilani said in response to a question while talking to reporters after visiting the residence of Pir of Pagara Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi to condole the death of Pir Pagara Shah Mardan Shah. To a question, the prime minister said the completion of five-year mandate by the parliament and the government would bring political stability in the country. “Conspiracies were hatched against every democratic government in the past. If the governments in the past were allowed to complete their terms, the situation would have been far better,” he added. Gilani, however, did not rule out the possibility of early election, saying the issue could be discussed after the Senate election, which will be held in March, and the presentation of budget in May. “I do not rule out it,” he added. To another question, Gilani said 80 percent implementation of the Charter of Democracy had been achieved, adding that the passage of the 20th Constitutional Amendment by the National Assembly was
KaRaChi: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani meets Sindh Governor Dr ishratul Ebad Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed qaim ali Shah at the Governor’s house on Sunday. afp a great political milestone. He said under the 20th Constitutional Amendment, an independent election Commission of Pakistan had been guaranteed, ensuring free, fair and transparent elections. The 20th Amendment also provided the establishment of caretaker governments at the Centre and in the provinces in consensus with the opposition, he said. To a query, the prime minister said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had himself
stated that the president enjoyed immunity. “Now if he has changed his views, I cannot say anything,” he added. Commenting on Balochistan, he said he had called for convening an All Parties Conference (APC) on the situation in the province. He said the government, in consultation with all political parties and following appropriate homework in this respect, would convene the APC so that the issues of Balochistan could be discussed and ad-
dressed through collective wisdom. Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi would also be requested to attend the APC on Balochistan, he added. To a question on the situation in Afghanistan vis-à-vis talks with the Taliban, Gilani said Pakistan was supportive of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and was ready to facilitate such a process. Continued on page 04
Govt fails to rein in fiscal deficit during 1st half of current year ISLAMABAD TahiR Niaz
The government has failed to rein in the fiscal deficit that has soared to Rs 545 billion during the first half (JulyDecember) of the current fiscal year, translating to 55 percent of the revised budget deficit projection and 2.5 percent of the GDP, against an estimated 2.35 percent of the GDP, says the Mid-Year Budget Review 2011-12. Besides other factors, the reasons for the spiralling deficit include zero receipts against the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) payments that were projected at $1.2 billion in the budget 2011-12, the process for auction of 3G licences having left incomplete and a loss of Rs 50-100 billion during the current fiscal year due to a delay in implementing reform initiatives in the power sector. According to the review, a copy of which is exclusively available with Pakistan Today, the overall fiscal deficit in the budget 2011-12 was estimated at Rs 851 billion (4 percent of the GDP), which, however, was revised to Rs 986 billion (4.7 percent of the GDP) - an increase of 0.7 percent - due to heavy rains and floods in Sindh and previous obligations relating to relief work for the people affected by the 2010 flood, revision of CSF receipts from $1.2 billion to $800 million, a shortfall in revenue from oil and gas sector due to delayed passage of reduced duty and the outstanding circular debt. Marginal increase in power tariff differential subsidy due to delayed revision of power tariff increase also contributed to a revision in the fiscal deficit from four percent to 4.7 percent of the GDP. Continued on page 04
Steer clear of Balochistan, pakistan to tell US delegation g
US congressional delegation arriving this week to take up a host of issues ISLAMABAD Shaiq hUSSaiN
As tensions rise between Pakistan and United States over a resolution introduced in the American Congress seeking a sovereign country for the Baloch people, a fivemember Congressional delegation from Washington is arriving this week to discuss the resumption of NATO supplies and other conflicting matters with Pakistani leaders, who will use the opportunity to convey a plain and clear message to the US that meddling in Balochistan will harm bilateral ties. The US Congressional delegation, to be led by Representative David Dreier (Republican from California), who is also the chairman of the House Rules Committee, is arriving on February 24 and his visit is very significant as it is the first of its kind after months of tensions between Islamabad and Washington that erupted in November last year when NATO attacked two Pakistani border posts and killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The delegation will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other senior Pakistani officials. “As it is a Congressional delegation, it will provide the Pakistani leadership a good opportunity to convey to them clearly that Washington’s interference will not be tolerated in a Pakistani province and it will
From Left to Right: US Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert and Steve King who moved the resolution on Balochistan. file photo further harm the already strained ties,” said a Pakistani official on Sunday, requesting anonymity. Introduced by California Republican Dana Rohrabacher and co-sponsored by two other Republican Congressmen Louie Gohmert (Texas) and Steve King (Iowa), the US House of Representatives Concurrent Resolution says that the Balochi nation has
a “historic right to self-determination”. Stating that Balochistan was currently divided between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan with no sovereign rights of its own, the resolution alleges that in Pakistan especially, the Balochi people are being subjected to violence and extrajudicial killing and, therefore, the Balochi people should have the right to self-determination
and to their own sovereign country and they should be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status. The resolution has led to deep anguish and anger in Pakistan, both among policy makers and citizens, with some seeing it in the context of a ‘new great game’ in the region, fearing it was all about the conspiracy that is on for the so-
called ‘Greater Balochistan’. “Yes some serious concerns are prevailing among policy makers in Islamabad and if they don’t necessarily believe in theories like ‘Greater Balochistan’, they still hold the view that the US has started twisting Pakistan’s arm,” said the diplomat. “It is believed by some that all this on part of the US is in response to Islamabad’s decision to move further closer to its timetested friend China after the covert US raid in Abbottabad last year in May that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and NATO’s Salala airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers,” he said. He said the US Congressional delegation would be told to refrain from indulging in Pakistan’s internal matters, as it could be also harmful for counter-terrorism cooperation between Islamabad and Washington. The US delegation, he said, would also discuss with Pakistan other important matters such as the restoration of blocked NATO supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistani soil, drone strikes, presence of US military trainers and the almost suspended supply of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to Islamabad. Continued on page 04
govt to prove us, indian role in baloChistan | page 28