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Zardari doesn’t need to move court for immunity, says Aitzaz
Senate resolves to arrest Pervez Musharraf on arrival
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British woman claims new Antarctic solo record
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pakistantoday.com.pk
rs15.00 vol ii no 208 22 Pages lahore edition
tuesday, 24 january, 2012 safar 29, 1433
Mansoor Ijaz won’t be coming after all Counsel says Ijaz is open to testifying from London or Zurich g No more chances for Ijaz please, pleads Haqqani g
ISLAMABAD
T
MASOOD REHMAN
HE memo drama takes a new turn as the government finally succeeded in scaring away Mansoor Ijaz, who has decided not to appear before the three-member judicial commission probing the controversy, saying he was ready to depose before the commission in Zurich or London instead of coming to Pakistan. The counsel for Ijaz, the PakistaniAmerican businessman at the centre of the memo controversy, expressed his reservations on the security arrangements meant for his client’s appearance before the judicial commission, saying his client would be ready to record testimony before the commission either in London or Zurich. The commission had told Ijaz to appear before it personally to record his statements on January 24. His counsel, Akram Shaikh, told reporters at the Supreme Court building that he had held a teleconference with his client after meeting the Islamabad Police inspector general and had briefed him on security arrangements that had been made for him for his appearance before the commission. The statement from Shaikh ended speculations about Ijaz’s appearance before the commission today (Tuesday). Sheikh said his client underlined that he had been given no assurance by any person on behalf of the Pakistan government towards his apprehensions about his security. Later on, Shaikh also filed an
application in the judicial commission’s secretary office to record Ijaz’s testimony outside Pakistan with a plea that the apex court had given a clear mandate in its order to the commission to collect evidence within and outside Pakistan according to prevailing laws on the subject. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had told reporters during his recent visit to Lahore that it seemed as if Ijaz was some viceroy who was coming to Pakistan and the government had to arrange for his security as subservient people, also making it clear that the government would not spend billions on his security. Gilani categorically stated that under the constitution and under the system, it was the duty of the Interior Ministry to provide Ijaz security. Shaikh added that Ijaz’s arrival under protection of a station house officer (SHO) as announced by the prime minister on Sunday was highly deplorable, adding that Ijaz had a concrete fear that electronic evidence in the memo case could be completely destroyed or tampered with. Shaikh added that Ijaz was also concerned that Pakistan’s money should not be wasted and thus did not want law enforcement agencies to waste their money on him. “So, he wants to record his statement while sitting in his office in London. He is ready to tell the truth and present all grafts to the commission.” Days before Ijaz’s planned visit to Pakistan, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, which too is investigating the memogate, had issued summons to Ijaz to appear be-
fore it on January 26. Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said if the committee desired, Ijaz’s name could be included in the Exit Control List (ECL). “It seems like a well-orchestrated trap to hold Mansoor Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan after his deposition before the commission, therefore, Ijaz has decided to make a request to the commission to record his statement in strict compliance with the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan... in London or Zurich,” said Shaikh. He added that his client had decided to file an application to the commission to record his statement outside Pakistan after reviewing security arrangements for his planned visit. The lawyer said he had informed Ijaz of “fundamental changes” in the security arrangements, which he claimed were a “stark violation” of the commission’s orders issued on January 9 and 16.
Commission to deCide further on mansoor ijaz’s testimony:ag | Page 02 mansoor’s revelations are a PubliCity stunt, says rehman malik | Page 03
Continued on Page 04
ECP snubs SC’s US-Iran standoff to send fuel prices through the roof ‘electoral jurisdiction’ g g
Massive increase likely in POL prices from February Petrol price likely to be increased by Rs 5.45 per litre ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Consumers will be faced with a massive increase in the prices of petroleum products because of the brewing crisis between Iran and the United States on the Strait of Hormuz, as the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has estimated an increase of Rs 3 to Rs 6.45 per litre on different POL products for the month of February. An official source said an increasing trend in POL prices was witnessed during the last few days because of the intensification of statements
between Iran and the US. He said usually POL prices started falling from January but this year, an increasing trend was witnessed because of the confrontation. He said the initial estimates of OGRA pointed out that the price of motor spirit (petrol) would have to be increased by Rs 5.45 per litre, High Octane Blended Component (HOBC) by Rs 6.45 per litre, High Speed Diesel (HSD) by Rs 3.13 per litre, Light Diesel Oil (LDO) by Rs 3.87 per litre and kerosene by Rs 2.98 per litre. OGRA would be making its final recommendations after a meeting to decide on the inland freight equalisation margin scheduled to be held on January 27.
OGRA had earlier notified an increase in petrol price by Rs 1.65 per litre to Rs 89.54 per litre and HOBC by Rs 5.13 to Rs 111.91 per litre with effect from January 1, 2012. The prices of HSD, LDO and kerosene were retained at last month’s level of Rs 98.82, Rs 86.78 and Rs 89.24 per litre respectively. To save the people from the negative impact of high inflation resulting from the increase in POL prices, OGRA had recommended lowering the Rs 10 per litre petroleum levy (PL) on POL products. However, the Finance Ministry had rejected the proposal. The government collects Rs 23 billion per month on taxation of POL products, Rs 16 billion per month in sales tax on POL and another Rs 7 billion as PL.
Says if SC insists on delaying by-elections, it would be against the law and constitution g Secretary says ECP has no Aladdin’s lamp, can’t complete electoral rolls before May g
ISLAMABAD KASHIF ABBASI
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asserted its independence on Monday by snubbing the Supreme Court and telling it not to interfere in its constitutional jurisdiction, and announced that the electoral rolls could not be completed before May. Staying several by-elections, the apex court had asked the ECP to finalise the electoral lists by February 23. However, the ECP also challenged the Supreme Court order, taking a position that delaying by-elections would be unconstitutional. The ECP also said if the Supreme Court insisted on delaying by-elections, it would do so but this would not be in accordance with the law and the constitution. “The outside interference in the matters of the ECP will be against the principle of trichotomy,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza said at a consultative meeting of the representatives of political parties held here at the ECP. He said Article 224 of the con-
stitution clearly made it mandatory for the ECP to hold elections within 60 days of a seat becoming vacant. The CEC said if any other institution of the state was to hold elections, as the ECP saw sometimes such desire on part of some quarters expressed through media, then the right course was to amend the constitution. He said responsibilities of every institutions were chalked out clearly in the constitution and unnecessary interference in the ECP’s matters meant negation of the constitution. The meeting was attended by representatives of 14 political parties. A source told Pakistan Today that PML-N and JI strongly opposed the ECP’s stand on electoral rolls. Later, addressing a press conference, ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed said it would be unfair to prepare the new voter lists in urgency. He said new electoral rolls to hold the 2013 general elections could not be finalised before May this year. Continued on Page 04
Polls on unverified lists will be unjust: sC | Page 22