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PROFIT | PAGE 01
pakistantoday.com.pk
Rs15.00 Vol ii no 166 22 pages Karachi — edition
tuesday, 13 december, 2011 Muharram-ul-Haram 17, 1433
Envoys warn against breakdown in US ties Recommend long-term relationship based on mutual respect Envoys’ moot discusses levying taxes on NATO trucks and tankers g Pasha says US frustrated over setbacks in Afghanistan g g
ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar presides over a conference of Pakistani envoys. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Khalid Shamim and Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Ahmed Shuja Pasha are also seen in the picture. inp
Nawaz ‘won’t support any unconstitutional move against govt’ LAHORE STAFF REPORT
pro-women bills sail through Senate ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that every decision of the Supreme Court would be implemented and no unconstitutional move would be supported in the country. Addressing a meeting of the Muslim League Members Assembly, office-bearers and other leaders belonging to Gujranwala division here, Nawaz vowed not to support any unconstitutional and unlawful move in the country. He said the PML-N had to play an active role to make Pakistan a dignified, independent and prosperous country in the real sense. He said the PML-N would again give the nation a Pakistan where the ratio of progress was much more than the rest of the region, where job opportunities for the youth were increasing, where the Continued on page 04
Following the National Assembly, the Senate also unanimously passed a landmark legislation on Monday to provide protection to women against centuries-old brutal traditions and social practices and disfiguring of human body and organs by corrosive substances like acid and other means. MQM Senator Tahir Mashhadi also introduced a bill regarding digging up or damaging graves in a desecrating manner. The Senate passed the two bills, as passed by the National Assembly, whereby Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 would be amended after formal approval of the president. Both bills were moved by Senator Nilo-
far Bakhtayar in the Senate. The legislation meant for protecting women against exploitation and discrimination by declaring many things like forced marriages, Wani or Swara or any other custom or practice under any name in consideration of settling a civil dispute or a criminal liability, as punishable acts. “Whoever gives a female in marriage or otherwise compels a woman to enter into marriage, as badal-e-sulh, Wani, or Swara or any other custom or practice under any name in consideration of settling a civil dispute or a criminal liability shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and shall not be Continued on page 04
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SHAIQ HUSSAIN
AkiSTANi envoys based in important world capitals on Monday cautioned the ruling circles against a complete breakdown in ties with the United States, saying it could harm the national interests, but also asked for a long-term relationship with the world’s sole superpower based on mutual interests and not just a security-based partnership. islamabad on Monday opened its two-day ‘Envoys’ Conference’ here to discuss various aspects of foreign policy with focus on revising the country’s policy on ties with Washington, which have been strained in the wake of the recent deadly NATO air strike against two Pakistani outposts in Mohmand Agency in which 24 soldiers were killed. Pakistani envoys to US, China, European Union, Russia, Germany, iran, india, Afghanistan and Turkey are participating in the conference, which is presided over by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani khar. inter-Services intelligence (iSi) Director General Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General khalid Shameem Wyne and Finance Minister Abdul Hafiz Shaikh also attended the ambassadors’ moot on Monday, which went on for the whole day. “One important proposal that was discussed and vetted at the envoys’ conference on day one was to start taxing the NATO trucks and tankers in case of resumption of NATO supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan,” said a Pakistani diplomat, requesting anonymity. Pakistan closed its borders to NATO supplies along with issuing orders to the US to
vacate the Shamsi air base and boycotted the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan as a protest against the NATO strike. “The taxation could bring millions of dollars in annual taxes on NATO trucks and fuel tankers but the step could be taken only if the supplies are resumed and Pakistan decides to allow them to cross into Afghanistan,” he said. He said the envoys who came from important world capitals observed that Pakistan could not afford complete breakdown in relations with US and steps must be taken to have a long-term relationship with Washington based on mutual interests if there was a firm assurance by the Obama administration that islamabad’s sovereignty would be respected and there would be no violation of it in future. He said the ambassadors were of the view that there could be no compromise on national sovereignty but if the US apologised for the NATO strike, steps should be taken towards normalisation of ties with Washington as otherwise the country’s economy would suffer serious harm and damage. US FRUSTRATED: Addressing the conference, Lt General Pasha said that the NATO attack was tantamount to disregard of Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism. “The US and its allies are frustrated because of setbacks in Afghanistan and the attack on Pakistani border posts was a result of that frustration,” said Pasha. “The US has no idea of ground realities in the region and in Afghanistan,” a source privy to the moot quoted General Pasha as saying. However, the source said that some of the envoys differed with General Pasha’s remarks, but they expressed that only when he had left. Continued on page 04