50 Issue | Zarb-e-Jamhoor e-Newspaper | 18-24 Dec, 2011

Republic Day NIGER- D e c 1 8

December 18th 1958 is commemorated in the Republic of Niger as Republic Day, the national holiday.

of date Importance Although not the date of formal, complete inde-

pendence from France, December 18 marks the founding of the Republic and creation of the Presidency of the Republic of Niger, following the constitutional changes of the French Fifth Republic, and the elections of 4 December 1958 held across The French Colonial possessions. Nigeriens consider this date to be the founding of their national institutions. Between December 18th, 1958 and August 3rd, 1960, Niger remained a semi-autonomous Republic with in the French Community.

Queen's Birthday SWEDEN - D e c 2 3

Queen Silvia of Sweden (née Silvia Renate Sommerlath; born 23 December 1943 inHeidelberg) is the Queen consort of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Styled Her Majesty The Queen, Silvia is the mother of the heir apparent to the throne, Crown Princess Victoria.

Childhood Queen Silvia was born in Heidelberg, Ger-

Commemoration

Since 1958, the 18th has been an historic anniversary, widely commemorated, but not a national festival. In 2005, the government of the Fifth Republic of Niger declared the 18th a national holiday, in conjunction with the August 3rd Independence Day. The 18th is celebrated in Niger with official festivals and appearances of political leaders, as well as public parties and festivities. It is a Public Holiday, in which government offices and many businesses close. The 50th anniversary celebrations were held in 2008, centered not in the capitol, but in the regional center of Tillabéry, and surrounded by sports, musical and arts competitions, the opening of new buildings, a National Youth Festival, and other public festivities. Since the beginning of this national festival in 2006, the official commemorations have always taken place at Regional capitals. Zinder was chosen for 2006 (the 48th anniversary) and Tahoua for 2007. The National Youth Festival, previously held at other dates, has been tied to the new Holiday.

Separation Day ANGUILLA - D e c 1 9

December 19, 1980 was the day that Anguilla separated itself politically from the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The association with Saint Kitts was never favorably seen in Anguilla. Even though today Anguilla still remains under Britain’s influence, it is with joy that they celebrate Separation Day. This day may sometimes be referred to as Anguilla’s Heroes and Heroines Day, but this is not correct.

many, on 23 December 1943. She is the daughter of the late Walther Sommerlath and his Brazilian wife Alice, née de Toledo, also deceased. Her maternal grandfather was Artur Floriano de Toledo (1873–1935), a descendant of King Afonso III of Portugal and his concubine Maria Peres de Enxara. The Queen has two older brothers: Ralf and Walther Sommerlath. Her third brother, Jörg Sommerlath, died in 2006. The Sommerlath family lived in São Paulo, Brazil, between 1947 and 1957, where the Queen attended the traditional German school Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro and Walther Sommerlath held various positions, including President of the Brazilian subsidiary of Swedish company Uddeholm. The family returned to West Germany in 1957.

Career Before her marriage to the King of Sweden,

Silvia Sommerlath worked at the Argentine Consulate in Munich, was an educational host during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, and served as the Deputy Head of Protocol for the Winter Games in Innsbruck in Austria.

She also was briefly a flight attendant.

She is a trained interpreter and speaks six languages: Swedish, her native languages German and Portuguese, as well as French, Spanish, and English. She has some fluency in Swedish Sign Language, a national sign language used by the deaf community in Sweden.

Marriage

HISTORY

Anguilla was first colonized by the English coming from the island of Saint Kitts in 1650, growing tobacco and corn. In the meantime the Carib Indians invaded Anguilla in 1656 and burned down the settlements. Ten years later, the French invaded the island. The British regained possession of Anguilla in 1667 and stoically remained through years of drought and famine that followed.

By 1824, Anguilla was placed by the British under the administration of Saint Kitts, later to be the colony of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. Anguillans never liked this idea since they faced discrimination by the Saint Kitts administration. It was in the 1960s that the protests of Anguillans found some attentive British ears. In 1967 the territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla was granted some self-governance powers, so Anguillans took the opportunity to distance themselves from Saint Kitts. In the same year, the Saint Kitts police were evicted from the island, and Anguillans asked to be placed under the administration of the United States. However, the request was denied.

A referendum was held, and the people of Anguilla almost unanimously wanted to secede from Saint Kitts. After some political back and forth, a second referendum was held, and Anguilla declared itself as an independent republic.

The British countered the declaration with paratroopers and police from London. Finally, on December 19, 1980, Anguilla seceded from Saint Kitts to become a separate British dependency. Saint Kitts and Nevis later became fully independent from Britain, yet Anguilla still remains a British overseas territory.

During the 1972 Summer Olympics, Silvia Sommerlath met Crown Prince Carl Gustav. In a later interview, the King explained how it just "clicked" when they met.

After the death of King Gustaf VI Adolf on 15 September 1973, Carl XVI Gustav was enthroned on 19 September that year.

He and Silvia announced their engagement on 12 March 1976 and were married three months later, on 19 June in Stockholm Cathedral("Storkyrkan Cathedral") in Stockholm. It was the first marriage of a reigning Swedish monarch since 1797. If he had married Silvia during the reign of his grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, he would have lost his position as heir to the Swedish throne. This was due to the inflexibility of his grandfather, who believed that royalty must marry royalty. This was also the reason why Carl Gustav's uncle, Prince Bertil, did not marry until after Gustaf VI Adolf's death. (Bertil was second-in-line to the throne until his nephew produced an heir, and was therefore unable to marry the Welsh commoner, now his widow, Princess Lilian, with whom he had been in love for decades, until 1976.)

In celebration of the forthcoming wedding of the King and the soon-to-be-Queen, Silvia, the internationally famous pop group ABBA performed the song Dancing Queen on Swedish television the night before the ceremony, although the song was not actually written for Queen Silvia.

The King and Queen of Sweden have three children.

• Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, Duchess of Västergötland, born on 14 July 1977. She was married on 19 June 2010 to Daniel Westling, who was born on 15 September 1973 (the same day that Carl Gustav ascended to the Swedish throne). The wedding took place on her parents' 34th wedding anniversary.

• His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip Edmund Bertil, Duke of Värmland, born on 13 May 1979.

• Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, born on 10 June 1982.

CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES TRADITIONS, with the press Relationship Separation Day is celebrated on this island with dancing, arts and crafts fairs, street parades, and sports competitions Though initially cool to the idea of a commoner

like boat racing and cricket. Anguillans will flock to the beautiful beaches for family picnics and watch people engage in Anguilla’s national sport, boat racing. Although not one of the biggest holidays on the island, it is a day off that gives the population an opportunity to enjoy the sunny weather in December and welcome the many tourists that choose this Caribbean island as their holiday destination.

Forefather's Day US - D e c 2 1

Forefathers' Day is a holiday celebrated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 22 . It is a commemoration of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 21, 1620. It was introduced in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1769. In adjusting the date to the Gregorian calendar, the anniversary was erroneously established on December 22 instead of December 21.

Forefathers' Day is a well known and well celebrated holiday in Plymouth.

Tenno Tanjobi JAPAN - D e c 2 3

The Emperor's Birthday (天 皇 誕 生 日 Tennō tanjōbi) is a national holiday in the Japanese calendar. It is currently celebrated on 23 December.

The date is determined by the present Emperor's birthdate. Emperor Akihito was born on this date in 1933.

During the reign of Hirohito (Showa period, 1926–1989), the Emperor's birthday was observed on 29 April. That date remained a public holiday, posthumously renamed Greenery Day in 1989 and Showa Day in 2007.

Prior to World War II, it was called Tenchōsetsu ( 天長節?), or Emperor's Birthday, but after the war the new government renamed it Tennō tanjōbi, less formal language with the same meaning, in 1948, when it was established as a holiday by law. Under the law, the Diet of Japan must convene and change the holiday date before the reigning emperor's birthday becomes a public holiday. Thus, there exists a small chance that the former emperor's birthday may come before the change can be made.

On 23 December, a public ceremony takes place at the Imperial Palace which, usually off limits to the public, opens its gates. The Emperor, accompanied by Empress Michiko and several other members of the Imperial family, appears on a palace balcony to acknowledge the birthday congratulations of crowds of festive well-wishers waving tiny Japanese flags. Only on this occasion and on 2 January may the general public enter the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace.

When the Emperor ceases his greeting (however brief), the crowd starts waving the flags again and the Imperial Family wave back.

Festivus US - D e c 2 3

Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as a way to celebrate the holiday season without participating in its commercialism and religious aspects. It was created by writer Dan O'Keefe and introduced into popular culture by his son Daniel, a screenwriter for the TV show Seinfeld, as part of a comical storyline on the show. The holiday's celebration, as shown on Seinfeld, includes an unadorned aluminum "Festivus pole", practices such as the "Airing of Grievances" and "Feats of Strength", and the labeling of easily explainable events as "Festivus miracles". Celebrants of the holiday sometimes refer to it as "a Festivus for the rest of us", a saying taken from the O'Keefe family traditions and popularized in the Seinfeld episode to describe Festivus's non-commercial aspect.

From the Seinfeld episode: Elaine: What?

George: Nothing. It’s a card from my dad.

Elaine: What is it? “Dear son, Happy Festivus”? What is Festivus?

George: It’s nothing.

Jerry: When George was growing up — George: Jerry, NO! Jerry: — his father hated all commercial and religious aspects of Christmas, so he made up his own holiday.

Elaine: Ohhhhh, and another piece of the puzzle falls into place.

George: Alright.

Jerry: And instead of a tree, didn’t your father put up an aluminum pole?

George: Alright, Jerry, stop it!

Jerry: And weren’t there always Feats of Strength that always ended up with you crying?

George: I can’t take it any more, I’m going to work! You happy now?!

Christmas Eve Worldwide - Dec 24 Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, awidely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25. It is a culturally significant celebration for most of theWestern world and is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. One reason celebrations occur on Christmas Eve is because the traditional Christian liturgical day starts at sunset, an inheritance from Jewish tradition, which in turn is based in the story of creation in Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day." This liturgical day is followed for all days in the Eastern rite and the custom of beginning Christmas celebration (as well as Sunday and the other major festivals) in the preceding evening is preserved in western Churches that have altered the liturgical day to start at mid- Julaftonen (Christmas Eve), a 1904–05 watercolor night, for example the Roman Catholic painting by Carl Larsson Church. Many churches still ring their church bells and hold prayers in the evening before holidays; for example the Nordic Lutheran churches. In some languages, such as the Scandinavian, Christmas Eve is simply referred to as "Christmas Evening".

Since Christian tradition holds that Jesus was born at night (based in Luke 2:6-8), Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, in commemoration of his birth. The idea of Jesus being born at night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to as "Heilige Nacht" ("Holy Night") in German, "Nochebuena" ("the Good Night") in Spanish and similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality, such as the song "Silent Night, Holy Night".

Nominally religious people, or people who are not formal with definitions, may see the whole day as a day of celebration or as just the day before Christmas. Millions of people around the world with no Christian or religious affiliation or background also celebrate Christmas and Christmas Eve. The emphasis of celebration on Christmas Eve varies from country to country and region to region.

Religious traditions Western Churches:

Roman Catholics and Anglicans traditionally celebrate Midnight Mass, which begins either at or sometime before midnight on Christmas Eve. This ceremony, which is held in churches throughout the world, marks the beginning of Christmas Day. In recent years some churches have scheduled their "Midnight" Mass as early as 7 pm In Spanish-speaking areas, the Midnight Mass is sometimes referred to asMisa del Gallo, or "Missa do Galo", in Portuguese ("Rooster's Mass"). In thePhilippines, this custom lasts for nine days, starting on December 16 and continuing daily up to December 24, during which Filipinos attend dawn Masses, usually starting at around 4:00–5:00 am In 2009 Vatican offi- Traditional Midnight Mass with Shepherds in cials scheduled the Midnight Mass to start at Provence.

10 pm so the 82 year old Pope Benedict XVI would not have too late a night.

Whilst not performing any kind of Mass per se, the Church of Scotland has aWatchnight (similar to the one on Hogmanay) service beginning just before midnight, wherein carols are sung.

Lutherans traditionally practice Christmas Eve Eucharistic traditions typical of Germany and Scandinavia. "Krippenspiele" (Nativity plays), special festive music for organ, vocal and brass choirs and candlelight services make Christmas Eve one of the highlights in the Lutheran Church calendar. Christmas Vespers are popular in the early evening, and midnight services are also widespread in regions which are predominately Lutheran. The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas Vigil in the early morning hours of Christmas Day (Christmette) can still be found in some regions. In eastern and middle Germany, congregations still continue the tradition of "Quempas singing": separate groups dispersed in various parts of the church sing verses of the song "He whom Shepherds once came Praising" (Quem pastores) responsively.

Methodists celebrate the evening in different ways. Some, in the early evening, come to their church to celebrate Holy Communion with their families. The mood is very solemn, and the only visible light is the Advent Wreath, and the candles upon the Lord's Table. Others celebrate the evening with services of light, which include singing the song "Silent Night" as a variety of candles (including personal candles) are lit. Other churches have late evening services at 11 pm, so the church can celebrate Christmas Day together with the ringing of bells at 12 am Others offer Christmas Day services, as well.

The annual "Nine Lessons and Carols" broadcast from King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve, has established itself as one of the signs that Christmas has begun in the United Kingdom. It is broadcast outside the UK via the BBC World Service, and is also bought by broadcasters around the world.

Other churches hold a candlelight service. Some services reenact the Nativity. Each church is able to celebrate Christmas Eve evening and Christmas Day in its own special way.

Eastern Churches:

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Christmas Eve is referred to as Paramony ("preparation"). It is the concluding day of the Nativity Fast and is celebrated as a day of strict fasting by those devout Orthodox Christians who are physically able to do so. In some traditions, nothing is eaten until the first star appears in the evening sky, in commemoration of the Star of Bethlehem. The liturgicalcelebration begins earlier in the day with the celebration of the Royal Hours, followed by the Divine Liturgy combined with the celebration of Vespers, during which a large number of readings from the Old Testament are chanted, recounting the history Russian icon of the Nativity. of salvation. After the dismissal at the end of the service, a new candle is brought out into the center of the church and lit, and all gather round and sing the Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast.

In the evening, the All-Night Vigil for the Feast of the Nativity is composed of Great Compline,Matins and the First Hour. The Orthodox services of Christmas Eve are intentionally parallel to those of Good Friday, illustrating the theological point that the purpose of the Incarnation was to make possible the Crucifixion and Resurrection. This is illustrated in Orthodox icons of the Nativity, on which the Christ Child is wrapped in swaddling clothes reminiscent of his burial wrappings. The child is also shown lying on a stone, representing the Tomb of Christ, rather than amanger. The Cave of the Nativity is also a reminder of the cave in which Jesus was buried.

The services of Christmas Eve are also similar to those of the Eve of Theophany (Epiphany), and the two Great Feasts are considered one celebration.

In some Orthodox cultures, after the Vesperal Liturgy the family returns home to a festive meal, but one at which Orthodox fasting rules are still observed; i.e., no meat or dairy products (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.) are consumed (see below for variations according to nationality). Then they return to the church for the All-Night Vigil.

The next morning, Christmas Day, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated again, but with special features that occur only on Great Feasts of the Lord. After the dismissal of this Liturgy, the faithful customarily greet each other with the kiss of peace and the words: "Christ is Born!", to Traditional Polish Wigilia meal. which the one being greeted responds: "Glorify Him!" (these are the opening words of the Canon of the Nativity that was chanted the night before during the Vigil). This greeting, together with many of the hymns of the feast, continue to be used until the leave-taking of the feast on December 29.

The first three days of the feast are particularly solemn. The second day is known as the Synaxis of the Theotokos, and commemorates the role of the Virgin Mary in the Nativity of Jesus. The third day is referred to simpy as "the Third Day of the Nativity". The Saturday and Sunday following December 25 have special Epistle and Gospel readings assigned to them. December 29 celebrates the Holy Innocents.

Orthodox Christians observe a festal period of twelve days, during which no one in the Church fasts, even on Wednesdays and Fridays, which are normal fasting days throughout the year. During this time one feast leads into another: December 25–31 is the afterfeast of the Nativity; January 2–5 is the forefeast of the Epiphany.

Meals:

In some parts of Central and Eastern Europe such as Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve Supper is served on Christmas Eve before opening gifts. This is known as the "Holy Meal".

The table is spread with a white cloth symblic of theswaddling clothes the Child Jesus was wrapped in, and a large white candle stands in the center of the table symbolizing Christ the Light of the World. Next to it is a round loaf of bread symbolizing Christ Bread of Life. Hay is often displayed either on the table or as a decoration in the room, reminiscent of the manger in Bethlehem. The twelve dishes (which differ by nationality or region) symbolize the Twelve Apostles.

The Holy Meal was a common Eastern Orthodox tradition in the Russian Empire, but during the era of the Soviet Union it was greatly discouraged as a result of the official atheism of the former former regime. It is coming back in Russia and continues to be popular in Ukraine.

The main attribute of Holy Meal in Ukraine is kutia, a sweet grain pudding. The other typical dishes are borscht, Vareniki, a traditional Christmas compote called uzvar and dishes made of fish, phaseolus and cabbage.

In accordance with the Christmas traditions of the Serbs, their festive meal has a copious and diverse selection of foods, although it is prepared according to the rules of fasting. As well as a round, unleavened loaf of The Magi who followed the Star of Bethlebread and salt, which are necessary, this meal may hem wisely brought presents, knowing chilcomprise roast fish, cooked beans, sauerkraut, noodles dren appreciate them. with ground walnuts, honey, and wine.

In Bulgaria, the meal consists of an odd number of lenten dishes in compliance with the rules of fasting. They are usually the traditionalsarma, bob chorba (bean soup), fortune pita (pastry with a fortune in it), stuffed peppers, nuts.

The meal is often accompanied with wine or Bulgaria's traditional alcoholic beverage rakia.

While other Christian families throughout the world celebrate the Christmas Eve meal with various meats, Italians and Sicilians celebrate the traditional Catholic "Feast of the Seven Fishes" which was historically served after a 24 hour fasting period. Although pre-Christmas fasting is not a popular custom still practiced, Italian-Americans still enjoy meatless Christmas Eve feast and attend the Midnight Mass.

In various cultures, a festive dinner is traditionally served for the family and close friends in attendance, when the first star (usually Sirius) arrives on the sky.

Families in some Slavic countries reserve a place for guests (alluding to Mary and Joseph looking for shelter in Bethlehem).

Gift giving

During the Reformation in 16th–17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve. It is the night when Santa Claus (or some variant thereof) makes his rounds delivering gifts to good children.

In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Hungary, where St. Nicholas (sveti Mikuláš/szent Mikulás) gives his sweet gifts on December 6, the Christmas gift-giver is the Child Jesus (Ježíšekin Czech, Jézuska in Hungarian, Ježiško in Slovak and Isusek in Croatian).

In most parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, presents are traditionally exchanged in the evening of December 24. Children are commonly told that presents were brought either by theChristkind (German for: Christchild), or the Weihnachtsmann (German name of Santa Claus). Both leave the gifts, but are in most families not seen doing so.

In Finland, Joulupukki, and in Sweden Jultomten, personally meets children and gives presents in the evening of Christmas Eve. In Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Quebec, Romania, Uruguay, and Sweden, Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th, – this is also the tradition among the British Royal Family, due to their mainly German ancestry – while in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, English Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, this occurs mostly on the morning of Christmas Day. In other Latin American countries, people stay awake until midnight, when they open the presents.

In Spain, gifts are traditionally opened on the morning of January 6, Epiphany day ("Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos"), though in some other countries, like Argentina and Uruguay, people receive presents both around Christmas and on the morning of Epiphany day.

In the Netherlands, gift giving on Christmas Day is a fairly new phenomenon, because of the Dutch celebration of Sinterklaas on December 5.

Christmas Eve around the world Christmas Eve is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. Elements common

to many areas of the world include the attendance of special religious observances such as a midnight Mass or Vespers, and the giving and receiving of presents. Along with Easter, Christmastime is one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar, and is often closely connected to other holidays at this time of year, such as Advent, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, St. Nicholas Day, St. Stephen's Day, New Year's, and the Feast of the Epiphany.

For more details on Christmas Eve traditions around the world, see Christmas worldwide.

Jewish Traditions on Christmas Eve The significant amount of vacation travel, and travel back to family homes, means that Christmas Eve is also fre-

quently linked to social events and parties, worldwide. Due to the family gathering and religious worship activities that are central to Christmas Eve forChristians but which Jews do not typically engage in, a series of events on the night of December 24 have been made available to Jews in various regions of the world. Matzo Ball events and parties are an option for single Jews. Jews in interfaith relationships may prefer to participate in Chrismukkah events and parties. However, Jewish people are invited to Christmas Eve parties and plenty will attend, and some host Christmas Eve parties for others.

Historical events Christmas truce:

During World War I in 1914 and 1915 an unofficial Christmas truce took place, particularly that between British and German troops. The truce began on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1914, when German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium, for Christmas. They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols, most notably Stille Nacht (Silent Night). The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols. The two sides shouted Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the "No man's land" where small gifts were exchanged. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Funerals took place as soldiers from Inside the Basilica of Our Lady of both sides mourned the dead together and paid their re- Guadalupe, in Mexico City. spects. At one funeral in No Man's Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage from Psalm 23. The truce occurred in spite of opposition at higher levels of the military command. Earlier in the autumn, a call by Pope Benedict XV for an official truce between the warring governments had been ignored.

Apollo 8 reading from Genesis:

On December 24, 1968, in what was the most watched television broadcast to that date, theastronauts Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman of Apollo 8 surprised the world with a reading of the Creation from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the moon. Madalyn Murray O'Hair, anatheist activist, filed a lawsuit under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The suit was dismissed by the US Supreme Court.

SC questions Awan’s statements against judiciary (Online) Heading a nine-member bench during the hearing of the Memogate case on Monday, Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani should have taken notice of the December 1 press conference held by Awan in which he lashed out against the judiciary.

During a press conference on December 1, Awan had said that by ordering the judicial probe, the Supreme Court had denied a bipartisan and bicameral parliamentary committee on national security its right to hold an inquiry into the scandal, which has been seen as the latest rift between the country’s political and military leadership.

The CJ commenting on the press conference said: “We can suspend the secretary who was present in the press conference.”

He added that the government functionaries ridiculed the judiciary in flagrant violation of the dignity of the court.

Justice Jawad S Khwaja observed that the judiciary was an

independent organ of the state and was answerable to the people not the parliament.

When the chief justice asked the attorney general to move a contempt case to bring to book the people involved in the press conference, he said that he was restricted by the rules of business on his role in contempt proceedings.

The court asked him to arrange for the recording of the press conference to be played inside the courtroom so everyone could see what was said of the judiciary. The CJ also criticised former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani’s counsel Asma Jehangir by saying that lawyers such as Jehangir watched the judiciary’s criticism in silence.

Jehangir, in reply, told the court: “I haven’t been watching television for the last seven days; still I condemn such an attitude.”

When Advocate Rashid A Rizvi took the rostrum to represent Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, the chief justice asked

him to argue on the maintainability of the petitions filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

The CJ observed the court in its December 1 order had raised the question of maintainability.

The chief justice said that Awan had brought bad reputation to the family of Tariq Khosa, whom the court had named for heading the commission, by saying that he was appointed because he was the brother of Supreme Court judge Asif Saeed Khosa. Tariq Khosa had refused to head the commission after Awan’s conference.

The Supreme Court also asked the attorney general to place on record a copy of Haqqani’s resignation along with a copy of the notification of former SC judge Justice Javed Iqbal’s appointment to head the Abbottabad commission.

The CJ adjourned the case till Thursday and decided to put off the case at the request of Jehangir.

Balochistan will not remain with Pakistan, says Mengal (Online) Senior Baloch leader and former Balochistan chief minister Attaullah Mengal said the province would refuse to be part of Pakistan until atrocities against the Baloch people were not stopped.

However, Mengal told Nawaz that the PML-N chief had no authority over the army and could not stop the action against the people of Balochistan. Mengal said Nawaz was not in a position to make any decisions and the “youth who were forced to go to hills will now decide the future of Balochistan”. Nawaz told Mengal that he would do something for the people of Balochistan before coming to meet him again. After the meeting, Mengal told reporters that the people of Balochistan had been driven to the point of no return. “I cannot lie or sell hope falsely, noth-

ing is in my hand. All decisions are made by the youth who are living in the hills,” he said.

Mengal said he did not think Nawaz had the power to control the army, because he would not have been sent to Saudi Arabia.

“All powers are with the army of the country.”

“Today I want to declare and make it clear that Balochistan will not live with you anymore.

This decision has been made by the youth of Balochistan. They are not willing to live in a country where they find a tortured body everyday,” he said. “Rehman Malik threatens us everyday and asks us to put down weapons first. I ask Malik what language does he understand, I will explain in that language,” Mengal said.

To a query on President Asif Ali Zardari, Mengal said he had

nothing to say for a person whose family did not agree with him.

Nawaz told reporters that he was pleased that Mengal had been straight forward. “What Mengal is saying is right. It is a fact that ruthlessness was committed in Balochistan. I agree with him and we have come forward to resolve the problem. We will fight the case of Balochistan. My party and I will fight the case of Balochistan across the country,” he added.

He reiterated his demand for the arrest of Akbar Khan Bugti’s murderers, adding that the government must come forward to resolve the issues of Balochistan. To a question, Nawaz said his party would happily form an alliance with the Balochistan National Party (BNP) if Sardar Attaullah Mengal allowed.

queen, the Swedish press quickly warmed to Queen Silvia and soon began publishing admiring articles about how easily she fit into the country's expectations of queenly deportment. As the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet noted in 1994, on the occasion of the Queen's 50th birthday, she had revived the popularity of the monarchy. "With Silvia, the republic died. You could put it that way. Even if Silvia's arrival was like kicking someone lying down. Or hitting a guy with glasses.

The guy with glasses was mostly to be found with the Social Democrats. A few lines in the party manifesto, ever more vague over the years. It has always been there, but nobody has ever done anything to implement it." In 2003, Queen Silvia told a Swedish reporter that she and the royal family would like to be more open to contact with magazines and newspapers but that false articles about the family's lives – including photograph montages purported to show the Crown Princess and Princess Madeleine with their "secret" babies, published in the German magazine "Frau mit Herz" – had made them wary. As she told the Swedish news agency TT, "If a person is hurt too much, the natural reaction is to withdraw. That is a pity, because I really think our children are very natural and open toward other people and toward journalists."

The previous year, the Queen had become the unwelcome subject of international curiosity when an article published in the syndicalist newspaper Arbetaren in 2002 reported that German state archives record that the queen's father, Walther Sommerlath, joined the Nazi party's foreign wing, the NSDAP/AO, in 1934, when he was living in Brazil and working for a German steel company.

Rumors had long circulated about Sommerlath's life and career during World War II, especially so when his daughter's relationship with the future King of Sweden became known, but until his death Queen Silvia in Oslo during the celebration of in 1990, the businessman denied any connection to the Nazi Party. However, study of state records the 100th anniversary of the end of the further revealed that Sommerlath, in 1938, through Swedish-Norwegian union the aryanization policies in effect in Germany at the time, became the owner of a steel-fabrication plant that "produced components for the German war effort, including parts for Panzers, as well as gas masks," according to the Scotsman (20 July 2002). When the revelations about Walther Sommerlath broke in the Swedish press, a palace spokesman said, "The Queen’s father has never been a part of the Royal Family and therefore I have no comment."

In December 2010, she wrote a plaintive letter to Jan Scherman, the CEO of the television company that had produced a documentary about her father's alleged Nazi past. A report compiled by World War II expert Erik Norberg which was commissioned by Queen Silvia argued that her father had in fact helped a Jewish businessman escape from Germany by taking over the factory.

Charity involvement

Queen Silvia is involved in numerous charity organizations, especially in the area of disadvantaged children, and has made several public statements about human rights and the sexual exploitation of children. On her own initiative, she alone watched videos confiscated by the police, of sexually abused children in an early pedophile tangle. The statement she made to the press became an eye opener for many people that the problem exists.

She was a co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation in 1999. She also works actively for the handicapped, including as Chairman of the Royal Wedding Fund and Queen Silvia's Jubilee Fund. In 1990, she was awarded the prestigious German prize "Deutscher Kulturpreis" for her work for the handicapped. The Queen is also an honorary board member of The Mentor Foundation International, that works against drug use in adolescents and young adults.

She is also the Patroness of the "Queen Silvia Fund" operated by the World Scout Foundation which raises funds for Scouts with disabilities.

Her commitment to the work with dementia and the care of the elderly at the end of life is also well known and respected. On her initiative, Silviahemmet was established in Stockholm. It works to educate hospital personnel in how to work with people suffering from dementia, and also initiates research in the area.

The Queen also has brought the subject of dyslexia into the public arena in Sweden. For many years, it was widely rumored that the King has dyslexia. Journalists noted that he misspelled his name when signing his accession document, and in 1973, when visiting a copper mine, he misspelled his name when signing it on a rock wall. In an interview on Swedish television in 1997, the condition was admitted publicly when the Queen addressed the issue.

"When he was little, people did not pay attention to the problem," she said. "He didn't get the help he needed."

Acknowledgement of support to the victims of the racist murders (Online) On 11 December 2011, as part of a closing conference organised for International Human Rights Day, the independent Roma organisation Phralipe assessed the outcomes of the programme aimed to give support to the victims of the racist murders which claimed the lives of several Roma individuals. Ágnes Daróczi, Vice-chair of the organisation, reminded the audience of the most relevant parts of the aid process, and the main elements of the housing support process. Press Release.

Approximately 100 people took part in the conference, among them relatives of the victims, regional Phralipe representatives, mayors, and representatives of Hungarian and interna-

tional sponsors.

Speaking as sponsor of the programme Zoltán Balog, Minister of State for Social Inclusion at the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, thanked those involved for their support in a broad social and international cooperative exercise; he acknowledged the selfless work of participants. He emphasised the resoluteness and devotion of Phralipe, thanks to which seven Roma families have gained access to decent housing conditions.

Minister of State Balog said that the human loss is irreplaceable, but the grief and heartache may have been eased somewhat by government help, and by compassionate organisational support. He also praised the

work of Mr. Romani Rose, Chair of the Association of German Roma and Sinti, who arranged for the German international football squad to play in a charity match in Hungary, and who organised many volunteer helpers.

In April 2010 the State Secretariat granted HUF 8.5 million to Phralipe after a competitive tender, in order to accelerate housing provision for four Roma families, and also provided HUF 1 million to one family in order to purchase their own home. The Hungarian government provided a significant part of the total investment of nearly HUF 17 million , and in so doing it greatly contributed to the improved living conditions of families in need.

HUNGARY NEWS Dr. Csaba Hende Visited Afghanistan (Online) The delegation led by the Minister of Defence Dr. Csaba Hende, which paid a five-day visit to the Hungarian military units serving in Afghanistan, arrived at the Debrecen Airport on Saturday, December 10.

The Minister of Defence heard eight commander’s reports in four garrisons and seven bases, and held six staff meetings. The Minister was briefed about the security situation and tasks of our troops, and had talks with the Commander of the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A), with the Deputy Commander and the Hungarian Chief of Staff of ISAF Regional Command North (RC North), as well as with the Governor of Baghlan Province.

During the talks conducted with the Commander of NTM-A, it came to light that the US General, who knew well the preparedness and the activities of the soldiers, had a very high opinion of the Hungarian servicemembers’ professional task-execution and sense of vocation.

The members of the delegation first travelled to Kabul, where they met the contingents of the HDF Special Operations Group (SOG) taking part in the Hungarian–US joint operations, with the HDF Logistic Mentor Team (LMT) providing logistic training, and the HDF Air Advisory Team (AAT). The contingent of the latter unit is tasked with providing helicopter (further) training for the Afghan soldiers fighting with the Taliban, and

besides they also perform operational tasks with limitations.

From Mazar-e Sharif the delegation continued its journey by US MRAP MaxxPro vehicles on the main road to Pol-eKhomri. There, in the camp of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) the commander of the HUN PRT-11 Col. Dr. Romulusz Ruszin received the delegation, and then the Minister of Defence greeted the troops. The Commander reported on the tasks executed in the past period.

On the third day the delegation visited the Governor of Baghlan Province, Mr. Munsi Abdul Majeed, and inspected the observation post, the so called OP WEST, which is of priority importance in respect of the camp’s security. After returning to the camp, a staff meeting was held, where Dr. Csaba Hende thanked the Contingent of the HUN PRT-11 for their readiness to make sacrifices, and wished them strength and perseverance to the further performance of their duties.

In what followed the service-mem-

bers of the HUN PRT accompanied the delegation to Khilagay, where a meeting took place with the Hungarian troops of the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) who provide training and mentoring for the Afghan soldiers. It became manifest from the report that the Hungarian OMLT has recently carried out a successful operation in an area which neither the Soviet, nor the Taliban forces were able to occupy or bring under their control earlier. According to the report the weapons and the ammunition found in the area were destroyed by the Afghan and the Hungarian troops.

The members of the ministerial delegation paid tribute to the memory of the Hungarian heroes at the Heroes’ Wall, and lit a candle in honour of the Hungarian soldiers who fell in Afghanistan. The delegation had the opportunity to meet with the contingent of the National Support Element (NSE) and with the soldiers serving in individual staff positions on the very same day.

The entourage of the Minister of Defence on his visit – throughout of which a close protection team was provided by Hungarian soldiers – included MP Gábor Tóth, Maj. Gen. László Domján, the Commander of the HDF JFC, Péter Siklósi, the MoD Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy, and the Head of the MoD Cabinet Office Dr. Gábor Szarka.

Tibor Navracsics responds in writing to Viviane Redding (Online) Today the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice replied to a letter received from the vice-president of the European commission, which was sent on 12 December. Viviane Redding asked for information from the Hungarian government following a petition from Hungarian Socialist MEP Kinga Göncz related to the restructuring of the court system and of the institution of the Commissioner for Data Protection in Hungary. The petition was submitted on 30 November in Brussels, following adoption of the relevant Acts in the Hungarian parliament.

In its reply the Government stated that, by restructuring the institution of the Commissioner for Data Protec-

tion, an authority with stronger powers related to data protection will rethe current weaker place ombudsman’s office. This is the case in a number of other EU Member States, and conforms to requirements set by the European Union in this area. Hungary is entitled to decide on the most effective institutional form, just as are other Member States. In the Hungarian government’s opinion to maintain a less effective form of ombudsman’s institution would itself be incompatible with EU law.

The Government reply clarifies the aims behind the restructuring of the court system. The changes make a clear separation between profes-

sional and administrative management. The advantage of the new admodel is that ministrative professional and administrative remits will not overlap or conflict with each other: the President of the Curia will be responsible for professional matters, and the President of the National Courts Authority (OBH) will decide on administrative questions. The internal organisation of tasks will not affect the independence of judges, however. Thus the new legislation conforms is in every respect with fundamental, guiding EU and international principles and requirements related to the administration of justice.

State secretary presents extra health care funding (Online) More than 21 billion forints can be in distributed the health sector as a result of leftovers found in the health fund, state secretary for health Miklos Szocska said on Friday.

Some 17 billion forints will be spent on hospitals and out-patient facilities. A total of 3 billion forints will be for available emergency services, 1 billion forints on intensive care and 200 million forints on improving "neuro-invasive services," Szocska said.

Some 247 million forints will be granted to cover extra costs of health services, and additional 10 million forints will be spent on those that help treat victims of a bus crash in Egypt last month. A total of 1.7 billion

forints will be spent on financing laboratories, Szocska said, adding that an increase in TBC infections had been reported in certain regions.

Additional funding will be made available to improve the working conditions of health care employees, Szocska said. New European Union funding totalling 6.6 billion forints will

become available by the end of this year, he said.

Additionally, a 300-millionforint leftover from the "resident fund" will be used to create jobs for GPs and pediatricians, he said. A total of 600 doctors and 16 pharmacists have participated in resident a scholarship scheme, which was more than originally expected.

Government spokesman Andras Giro-Szasz said it was a priority for the government to rescue Hungarian health care. As part of these efforts, the government will do all in its power to improve working conditions and introduce measures to improve the situation of workers.

New measures to plug budget gap (Online) The economy minister on Thursday announced new measures aiming to compensate for a lower growth and weaker exchange-rate target next year.

The government now bases its 2012 budget on economic growth of 0.5 percent and a rate of 299 forints to the euro. The new assumptions mean that a gap of 320 billion forint gap must György Matolcsy be plugged. original The He said the government had apbudget bill calculated with a proved measures aiming to keep the HUF/EUR rate of 268 and GDP budget deficit at 2.5 percent of gross growth of 1.5 percent. New meas- domestic product (GDP) next year, ures include tapping 200 billion placing Hungary among seven EU forints of reserves while generating member states which have managed an extra 120 billion by diverting pri- to push their deficit to below 3 pervate-pension contributions next year, cent of GDP. At the same time the raising 20 billion forints by hiking ex- public debt will be reduced, he cise duty on tobacco products, while added. Matolcsy said these achieveanother 52 billion come from new ments had been compromised by the ministry reserves. Matolcsy said the crisis in the euro zone and the slowfuture of the entire pension system ing global economy, as well as the would have to be reconsidered. banking crisis.

Commenting on the European Central Bank's (ECB) statement that the Hungarian government had not consulted on the p l a n n e d merger of the central bank and financial watchdog PSZAF, Matolcsy said the government had initiated consultations with the ECB upon making the proposal.

Andras Girothe Szasz, government's spokesman, said the government wants to preserve central bank's independence, and insisted that the government had consulted every player involved, including the ECB. Giro-Szasz added that the government was committed to its euro convergence plan and deficit target, and believed that changes in the budget, the economic Szell Kalman plan and the convergence plan could be managed.

forward.”

In most actions, an appellate court will not review a district court’s decision unless, and until, there has been a final judgment. There are, however, circumstances where a court’s decision at the motion to dismiss stage may be of such importance that the district court will certify the decision for immediate, or interlocutory, review. In late September, Hungary filed a motion asking that the district court certify the potentially dispositive issues (e.g., whether the doctrine of forum non conveniens warrants dismissal, whether the case presents non-justiciable political questions, whether the act of state doctrine bars plaintiffs’ claims) that the court had rejected at such an early stage in the case.

Recognizing that these issues: (1) involve controlling questions of law; (2) a substantial ground for difference of opinion concerning the judge’s ruling exists, and (3) an immediate appeal would materially advance litigation, the district court took the rare step of certifying the September 1, 2011, decision for interlocutory appeal.

The Republic of Hungary, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Applied Arts, and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics are represented by Thaddeus J. Stauber and Sarah E. André, Nixon Peabody LLP’s International litigation team, and Dr. Orsolya Bánki of the e|n|w|c Attorneys at Law in Budapest, Hungary.

Animating the Hungarian–Indian Defence U.S district court agrees with Republic Of Cooperation Hungary that Herzog Decision should be reviewed by the appellate court sion will be (Online) A minheld in the fall isterial-level delof 2012 in Buegation led by dapest. During Deputy MoD the three-dayState Secretary visit the memDefence for bers of the Dr. Economy Hungarian delMárki Gábor egation had conducted netalks with the in gotiations representaIndia between tives of the 2 November R&D institutes and 4 of 2011. and compaThe main goal nies subordiof the visit was nated to the to hold the next Indian Ministry session of the Defence, of Hungarian–Inand with the dian Joint Milileaders of seva r y t eral privately Commission deowned with Co-chairfence indusman Shekhar t r i a l the Agarwal, companies as of MoD Deputy State Secretariat for Defence Economy Secretary well.

Defence Proological attacks and tank overhaul. duction of the Indian Ministry of De- In what followed they identified the The Hungarian Government regards fence. major future areas upon which they India as one of its most important We renewed the bilateral military-to- will focus in the course of the co-op- partners in Asia. The negotiations of military relations with India in 2003 by eration in the coming period. Such the portfolio also prepare the agenda signing a co-operation agreement, topics are for instance: the renewal related to defence and armaments the implementation of which in prac- of the military technology systems, for the Prime Minister’s visit to India, tice is controlled by the joint commis- the modernization of the planned for the first quarter of 2012. sion sitting annually. The duties of the Soviet/Russian type armoured com- As for the Hungarian companies, the Co-chairman are discharged by the bat vehicles and the radar systems, appearance on the DefExpo 2012 MoD Deputy State Secretary for De- the exchange of the experts’ experi- Defence Technology and Products fence Economy of the day. In the ences, military medicine and the es- Exhibition of worldwide rank, to be meeting the representatives of the tablishment of joint ventures, the staged in New Delhi between March two Defence Ministries examined the R&D projects, and the utilization of 29 and April 1, 2012, may provide a new possibility for the further develresults of the co-operation achieved the equipment withdrawn from use. until now in the fields of education, The next regular session of the Hun- opment of the defence industrial recountering nuclear, chemical and bi- garian–Indian Joint Military Commis- lations.

Dialogue between the Hungarian government and Jewish communities is continuing (Online) Government Commissioner Dr. András Levente Gál has initiated a preparatory meeting with representatives of Jewish religious communities concerning the system for payment of subventions.

Major changes have taken place in the organisation of Jewish religious communities in Hungary since the creation in 1998 of agreements on church subventions, and on 1 January 2012 the new Act on Churches adopted by Parliament will come into effect.

At the Jewish Community Round Table meeting on 22 September 2011, in relation to re-examination of the issue Dr. András Levente Gál said that negotiations should start between the Jewish religious com-

munities. Recognising the changed situation, the Alliance of Hungarian Jewish Communities of Faith (MAZSIHISZ) made a proposal after the September meeting of the Round Table, but the parties could not agree on the rights and method of payment.

As a result, the Government Commissioner has initiated discussions with the three Jewish religious communities listed in the new Act, as well as with representatives of Hungarian Reform Judaism, who have applied for registration under the Act; in a letter Péter Feldmájer indicated that he would not be able to take part, partly because of the short notice given.

The parties agreed to hold official talks on 14 December 2011, in which, for the sake of completeness, all doc-

uments created so far related to subventions will be reviewed; any differences of opinion will be discussed, and in the light of this the range of standpoints on the distribution of subventions will be determined.

8 December 2011, Budapest Egységes MagSignatories: yarországi Izraelita Hitközség (the United Hungarian Jewish Community of Faith); Magyarországi Autonóm Orthodox Izraelita Hitközség (the Hungarian Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community of Faith); Szim Salom progresszív Zsidó Hitközség (Sim Shalom Progressive Jewish Congregation); Dr. András Levente Gál, Government Commissioner.

Go-Ahead for Beef Exports to Algeria (Online) In Algiers, Endre Kardeván and his Algerian colleague, Chief Veterinarian Rachid Bougueddour, have agreed on the joint acceptance of animal health certificates for calves and beef cattle. This means the last obstacle impeding the export of Hungarian beef has now been removed.

The Hungarian State Secretary responsible for food safety travelled to the North African country in the interests of developing Hungarian-Algerian foreign trade in agriculture.

During the meeting, an agreement may be reached regarding the fact that in future, grain, meat products, fruit and vegetables, milk powder, agricultural seeds, honey, paprika powder and several other Hungarian food commodities and processed products may be imported to Algeria.

The Hungarian State Secretary will also meet with the Algerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Develop-

ment on Tuesday afternoon. Rachid Benaissa visited Hungary recently during the 75th National Agriculture and Food Exhibition in October, and signed an agricultural cooperation agreement with Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas.

According to the agreement, Hungary will now be able to export genetically valuable stock bulls and reproductive material to Algeria, in addition to which Hungarian experts will take part in the setting up of an demonstration and training centre, and in joint research programmes.

Algeria would like to significantly increase the country's level of poultry consumption. As a result, the Agriculture Ministry is planning large-scale projects. On the basis of the agreement signed in Budapest, Hungarian experts will help the modernisation and development of Algerian poultry farming. It is the determined goal of both countries, that commercial con-

tacts and cooperation between the two countries' corporations intensify.

On the basis of the agreement, Hungarian experts will supply forestry plans and share their experience to aid in the programme designed to protect and restore the natural environment of the capital city, Algiers.

The document also includes the fact that Algeria has requested that model farms be fitted with water-saving and non-conventional irrigation equipment.

Endre Kardeván will be discussing the details of the agreement signed in Budapest with the Algerian Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development. Following these discussions, he will visit the National Artificial Insemination and Genetic Development Centre, the Animal Husbandry Engineering Institute, and the National Veterinary Institute.

The Government plans to build new cycle routes (Online) The Hungarian government is planning the development of cycle routes between Hungary’s main tourist attractions. The first phase envisages a Danube cycle route between Rajka and Budapest; a further plan in the first phase is for a cycle route network between Budapest and Lake Balaton, and to Etyek (famous for its wine festival); a high priority state investment would be the comprehensive upgrading of cycle routes around Lake Balaton. Project preparation is the responsibility of István Garancsi, who was appointed

by the Prime Minister.

The development concept for hiking and cycle tourism will be completed

by January 2012, followed by realisation using EU funds, according to the Government’s plans. Hungarian SMEs are interested in cycle tourism which can integrate with village tourism and ecotourism, gastronomy and recreation. According to Mr. Garancsi – who is himself a keen hiker and cyclist – experience across Europe has shown that this field offers endless market potential.

Mr. Garancsi said that the develop-

ment has two main aspects: infrastructure and legislative; therefore he also sees it as his task to create legislation needed for the development of cycle tourism. The goal is to build cycle routes of international quality, and to make the existing ones safe and up-to-date. Newly-built routes are to connect to existing infrastructure, necessitating a cycle route network. The elements that may link to the new route network are known: rest stops, services, bike rental outlets, restaurants or accommodation.

Hungary faces stormy year ahead (Online) The euro-zone crisis promises to be protracted and the year ahead is expected to be stormy both in Europe and in Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an address to parliament on Monday.

Orban said mechanisms to ensure swift and non-risk crisis-management

had been rejected at the Brussels summit of EU leaders last week, and the euro-zone countries had decided not to endorse eurobonds or the European Central Bank's purchase of state bonds.

He added that member states had not put together enough money for

its crisis-stability fund, necessary for calming the markets. He added that it could be deduced that the next year, and especially its first half, promised to be stormy in Europe "and the storm will be here, too".

Hungary’s public health tax on food products a hit: 42,000 healthcare workers to receive bonuses this year (Online) It seems that the Hungarian ‘chips (or crisps) tax’ is achieving its goal. After its first quarter the Government can already pay bonuses to 42,000 healthcare workers. With the intention of improving the level of health among the population, since 1 September 2011 the tax has been levied on food products proven to have harmful effects on health.

In introducing it the Government has undertaken to use revenues from the sale of products high in salt, sugar or carbohydrates to help fund public healthcare. The experiences of its first quarter have borne out expectations: several producers have

changed unhealthy ingredients or reduced the levels of these (e.g. salt and sugar) in their food products.

The state budget has also benefited from this tax to the tune of HUF 2.347 billion (to 25 November 2011).

Workers with extreme workloads and increased risk will receive a one-off payment from this year’s tax revenue equal to bonuses for three months.

This means that nearly 42,000 healthcare workers will receive oneoff payments of HUF 21 600, HUF 72 000 or HUF 90 000, in a package totalling HUF 3.4 billion. This time workers receiving the payment will include those exposed to increased

physical and psychological burdens as a result of working directly in patient care, or in contact with other potential health risks.

This one-off bonus relates to workers in all institutions providing services financed from the E-Fund (e.g. ecclesiastical or civilian business organisations), professional healthcare workers in hospitals related to penal institutions, healthcare workers in the Hungarian Army, and public servants employed in institutions funded from the central budget. Parttime employees will receive proportionate payments. The bonus will be paid by 16 December 2011.

(Online) The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a decision granting the Republic of Hungary’s Motion for Certification. The Court’s decision grants Hungary’s request for immediate review of decision and illustrates that there are valid grounds for difference of opinion as to whether the Herzog case can proceed in U.S. courts.

“We are pleased the district court recognized that its initial decision allowing the Herzog case to proceed in the United States should be reviewed,” said Thaddeus J. Stauber attorney, equity partner of Nixon Peabody LLP. He added, “Thus, the Judge agreed the district court proceedings should be stayed so the appellate courts can immediately consider whether the case should go

Government Commissioner Dr. András Levente Gál meets representatives of Jewish religious communities (Online) Today Government Commissioner Dr. András Levente Gál held another meeting with representatives of Jewish religious communities concerning the system for payment of subventions.

Leaders of all Jewish religious communities in Hungary took part in the meeting; for the sake of completeness they reviewed all existing legislation, rulings by the Constitutional Court, agreements and other documents created so far related to subventions; differences of opinion were also discussed.

Gusztáv Zoltai represented the Alliance of Hungarian Jewish Communities of Faith (MAZSIHISZ) at the meeting as an observer, and he made his organisation’s standpoint

clear: MAZSIHISZ is prepared to support the other Jewish religious communities, but not from the subvention. He also made it clear that MAZSIHISZ does not wish to see the current agreement changed in any way whatsoever.

Representatives from the other religious communities (EMIH, MAOIH, and the Reform Judaism community of faith) declared their intention that, subject to agreement, they are prepared to contribute to the operating costs of the institutions currently maintained by MAZSIHISZ from funds they receive from the subvention.

Significant structural changes have occurred within Hungarian Jewish religious communities since signing the

agreements on the payment of church subventions in 1998, and also as a result of the new Church Act coming into effect on 1 January 2012. At the Jewish Community Round Table on 22 September 2011, Dr. András Levente Gál suggested negotiations on changes should commence; MAZSIHISZ – acknowledging the altered circumstances – offered to resolve the issue of subvention, however no agreement was reached on the legal title and the method of payment. During today’s negotiations the parties agreed to respond to the matters raised in writing by 20 December, and they will convey this to the government representative.

Hungarian Grey Cattle Meat gains Protected Status (Online) The European Commission has registered the name "Magyar szürkemarha hús" (Hungarian Grey Cattle Meat) among the protected geographical indications and designations of origin. The Commission has registered more that 1000 names, of which around 120 are in the fresh meat category.

One of the advantages of registration is that it provides protection against false use of the name, as registered names may not be used by other EU countries. The other advantage involves the use of the EU symbol. It makes the Hungarian product recognisable and easily differentiated by consumers.

The registration of the name means that "Hungarian Grey Cattle Meat" is now officially included among such well-known meats as the United Kingdom's Welsh Beef and Scotch Beef, and the French Maine-Anjou and Génisse Fleur d'Aubrac.

The presence of the symbol makes is obvious to all European consumers that the product's unique characteristics stem from its geographical origin, which also increases consumer confidence in the

product.

Starting from the date of registration (December 9, 2011), the labels of all products put into circulation using the name Hungarian Grey Cattle Meat must include the EU symbol showing protected geographical status, in accordance with the description of the product.

The EU registry now includes nine Hungarian geographical product names. In addition to Hungarian Grey Cattle Meat, the registry also lists "Szegedi (téli) szalámi" ("Szeged [Winter] Salami"), "Budapesti téliszalámi" ("Budapest Winter Salami"), "Csabai kolbász/Csabai vastagkolbász" ("Csabai sausage and Csabai thick sausage") and "Gyulai kolbász/Gyulai pároskolbász" ("Gyulai sausage and Gyulai thick sausage"), as well as "Hajdúsági torma" ("Hajdúság Horseradish"), "Makói (vörös) hagyma" ("Makó Onions"), "Gönci kajszibarack" ("Gönc Apricots") and "Szegedi paprika" ("Szeged Paprika Powder").

In 1992, the European Union created an accreditation system for the protection and preservation of agricultural products and foods that are

officially designated as being of protected geographical indication or protected geographical origin. The goal of the programme is to motivate increased variety in agricultural production, and to support the products acknowledged in this way; it is a tool with which those involved in the agricultural economy may increase the market value of their products and protect the member states' products of recognised geographical origin from fraud and abuse, thus assuring their preservation and uniform quality. To receive the protection of the Community, the manufacturer of the product must prepare a detailed product description. If the documents presented when requesting registration support the fact that the product is entitled to protection, the Ministry of Rural Development – on the basis of the proposal of the Hungarian Council for the Protection of Appellations of Origin, and in conjunction with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office – passes the official decision and forwards the application for registration to the European Commission.

Hungary's deputy PM raises concern over Slovak law with EU (Online) Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics said he had raised concern over Slovakia's citizenship laws at a private meeting with the EU's Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, arguing the law breached the Union's charter of fundamental rights.

Navracsics, who is attending a meeting of EU justice ministers in Brussels, said that in Monday's meeting with the Vice President of the European Commission in charge of justice, he reiterated Hungarian concerns already outlined in a letter addressed to Reding last week.

Navracsics, who is also minister of justice, said the Slovak law ran con-

trary to the free choice of identity.

"I believe the European Union must go further than saying this is a Hungarian-Slovak conflict [...] because it violates the charter of fundamental rights," Navracsics said. The treaty guarantees the right to freely choose one's identity for EU citizens. The European Commission, which guards EU rights, including the charter of fundamental rights, must take action if they are violated, he added.

"If a democracy robs its own citizens of their citizenship by applying sanctions against people who practice their right to a free choice of identity, I believe it becomes a problem of democracy," he said. The free choice

of identity is a basic right in modern democracies, he added.

Navracsics said Reding had assured him that the issue would be thoroughly examined in Brussels and a written reply would be sent to Hungary.

Reding also inquired about Hungarian regulations on the retirement age of judges and asked whether they were not discriminatory, Navracsics said. He said he had explained to her that the new regulations were in line with the trend to apply a general retirement age limit in all professions.

He added that former judges can decide to continue working for instance as legal advisors.

Zoltán Illés holds talks with Danish Environment Minister (Online) State Secretary for Environmental Affairs Zoltán Illés held discussions in Budapest today with Danish Minister of the Environment Ida Auken on, amongst others, the issues of hazardous materials, GMO crops and sustainable development.

Denmark will be taking over the rotating presidency of the EU for the first half of 2012; the meeting involved discussions on the conciliation of environmental priorities. In the interests of the Zoltán Illés and realisation of EU environmental goals, Hungary will be supporting the endeavours of the Danish Presidency.

During the first half of 2012, Denmark will be continuing conciliatory discussions on the regulatory proposals already discussed by previous Presidencies. Of top priority will be the prevention of and protection against serious accidents concerning hazardous materials, the issue of the export an import of dangerous chemicals, and the proposal on the reduction

Ida Auken of the sulphur content of fuels used in marine transport. The debate between the member states and the European Parliament on the various proposals for legislation with therefore continue during the Danish Presidency.

The fact that Denmark places special emphasis on the issue of GMOs is also of significant importance to Hungary. One of their goals is for the positions of the member states to converge to some extent on the issue of the proposal for new

legislation regarding the freedom of member states with regard to the cultivation of genetically modified organisms.

One of the priorities of the next Presidency will also be accentuated measures on the part of the EU against dangerous chemicals, and the beginning of the debate between member states on the proposal regarding the 7th Environmental Action Programme, which is expected to be issued by the European Commission early next

year.

To enable the realisation of the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Danish Presidency views the implementation of the Resource Efficiency Roadmap and the Eco-innovation Action Plan, which will be issued shortly, as two of their most important tasks. Denmark's environmental programme includes preparations for the international debate on sustainable development, next year's Rio+20 conference.

NEWS FROM PAKISTAN EC declares dual nationality holders ineli- PM insists no martial law, no caretaker set-up gible to contest polls (Online) The Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) on Monday declared individuals holding dual nationalities ineligible to take part in elections.

A press release states that the Election Commission has observed that according to Article 63-1(c) of the Constitution read with Section 99 (1A) (c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, the law disqualifies

such people from being elected, or chosen as, and from being a member of the Parliament.

Article 63(1) (c) of the Constitution states that: A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-eShoora (Parliament), if he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan or acquires

the citizenship of a foreign state.

This provision of the constitution will be implemented for the first time during the Senate by-elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Nomination papers are to be filed on December 20 and 21, and polling will take place at the Provincial Assembly building in Peshawar on January 4, 2012.

Army mutes rumours on Zardari-Kayani call (Online) Sometimes in politics, it seems, there can be smoke without fire.

However, a statement from Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has to a great extent rubbished the conspiracy theories. It appears the phone call between Kayani and Zardari lasted only for a minute and focused exclusively on the president’s health.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, during a meeting with the army chief, received a call from Zardari, the press release stated. Zardari, during his conversation with the PM, conveyed his regards to the army chief, on which Kayani said he would like a word.

The PM certainly backs up the story.

“When I informed the president that I was having a meeting with the army chief, the president asked me to convey his regards to General Kayani.

On this, the COAS showed his desire to speak to the president,” Gilani said.

Of more concrete foundation, President Zardari is set to reveal some important facts on the Memogate issue during his speech at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh in Larkana.

Sources in the party told The Ex-

press Tribune that the president has started consultations with his senior party leaders to prepare two important speeches. Zardari will speak on the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on December 27; he will also address a joint parliament session, which is yet to be scheduled.

The sources further said that the president would respond to all the allegations and speculations which surrounded his stay in Dubai, the Memogate case and the Abbottabad incident in which Osama bin Laden was killed. “The president will use this platform to expose the real elements who are hatching the conspiracy against democracy,” a senior PPP leader said.

According to a spokesman for Bilawal House, the president did not hold any official meetings on Monday, having arrived early in the morning. However, some party leaders, including Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, and Chairman Senate Farooq H Naik did visit the president. He was also seen by his personal doctor, Colonel Suleman. In addition, the Turkish President Abdullah Gul phoned Zardari.

Regarding the president’s health,

sources said that he was active, even saying to various people, according to a source, that he had “come back to save democracy in Pakistan. The speculation against me was rife, but I will respond to these people at the right time.”

Sources added that the president, who is likely to stay in Karachi for a few days, will hold meetings with his party leaders on Tuesday (today) at Bilawal House.

The president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that, regarding Memogate, the federal government had already submitted its statement to the Supreme Court and the president would consult the Attorney General Pakistan on the matter. “The AG is representative of federal government, who represents the prime minister and president respectively. I think there is no need to submit the president’s statement to the Supreme Court,” he said.

Meanwhile, despite health concerns, the presidency still seems to be in a combative mood. A statement issued

by Bilawal House criticised the PMLN leadership, saying that the Sharif brothers believed in the politics of revenge and are trying to destabilise the democratic government.

Only 29% of non-military US supplies go through Pakistan”: Report (Online) As supply routes in Pakistan remain closed in the aftermath of the NATO airstrike that led to the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers, a new Senate Foreign Relations Committee report says that “American strategy is focused on Central Asia in part as a response to the challenges of transiting supplies through Pakistan for the Afghan war.”

“Close to 75 per cent of ground sustainment cargo is now shipped via the NDN.” The NDN, according to report, is made up of three land routes.

“One stretching from the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti, through Baku, Azerbaijan, across the Caspian Sea, and into Central Asia; one from the Latvian port of Riga through Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan; and a final route that originates in Latvia and travels through Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and passes into Afghanistan via Tajikistan.”

Citing figures from the US Transportation Command, only 29 per cent of cargo goes through Pakistan, whereas 40 per cent goes through the NDN, and the rest is shipped by air. However, the committee report says that the NDN is not an ideal replacement for current supply routes in Pakistan. The NDN only allows goods to be sent to Afghanistan and not back, and also only allows for the transit of non-lethal supplies. “Sensitive and high-technology equipment is transported by airlift.”

The NDN supply route also costs the United States more money. An additional $10,000 is spent on sending a 20-foot container to ship via the NDN as opposed to sending it through Pakistan. Airlifting supplies into Afghanistan is the costliest – with an additional $40,000 per 20-foot container spent on sending it by air.

The report also highlights the challenges faced by the United States in allying with Central Asian states. “In many cases, the United States is forced to rely on highly corrupt, authoritarian governments in countries whose populations are suspicious of

US intentions.” Citing fears that Russia and China has about US involvement in the region, the report says that China is “even more nervous about the risk of instability in Afghanistan should the United States and its partners fail to help stabilise the country.”

Recommendations presented in the report including striking a balance between security and political priorities in Central Asia, working on regional cooperation especially in controlling narcotics trafficking, and working on the New Silk Road vision, outlined by Secretary Clinton earlier this year, and helping connect South and Central Asia via Afghanistan.

US spending cuts “reduce” not “freeze” aid US spending plan for fiscal 2012, which began October 1 the House of Representatives approved the bill on Friday and the Democratic-run Senate approved it on Saturday.

The legislation allocates $850 million for a fund to help Pakistan’s military develop counter-insurgency capabilities to fight Islamist militants within its borders. This is actually a slight increase from last year’s $800 million but less than the $1.1 billion President Obama requested for the fund in 2012.

However, a massive defense bill Congress passed on Thursday freezes 60 per cent of this amount, or $510 million, until the US defense secretary provides lawmakers with assurances that Pakistan is working to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). US lawmakers say that many Afghan bombs that kill US troops are made with fertiliser smuggled by militants across the border from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

No number was included for economic aid to Pakistan, leaving the Obama administration to specify the amount in consultation with Congress. This is a comedown for Pakistan; in each of the past three years, about $1 billion or more in economic aid for

Pakistan was written into spending bills, in part to meet pledges made under 2009 legislation sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar.

Economic as well as security aid was made conditional on Pakistan’s cooperation in fighting militants such as the Haqqani network. Many lawmakers have been calling for aid to Pakistan to be reduced since US special forces found and killed al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani military town May 2 Uzbekistan restrictions waived to facilitate supply to US troops in Afghanistan The legislation would allow the United States to waive restrictions on aid to Uzbekistan if the Secretary of State certifies this is needed to obtain access to and from Afghanistan. US military aid to Uzbekistan has been restricted since 2004 because of its poor human rights record. But the United States is also expanding US use of the central Asian country as a route to supply troops in Afghanistan.

The legislation also included a requirement that the Secretary of State report to Congress on any diversion of US aid for “corrupt purposes” in Uzbekistan.

Aid to Palestine to continue despite joining UNESCO The legislation allows US economic aid to the Palestinians to continue next year so long as Palestine is not admitted as a state to any more U.N. organizations. It ignores the UN organisation they have already joined – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

“It is linked to the UN because what we’ve said … If the Palestinians went to the United Nations, it means they walked away from the negotiating table (with Israel),” Representative Kay Granger, Republican chairman of the House subcommittee on foreign aid, said recently in explaining the conditions.

Zardari to break silence on December 27 (Online) Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari will address “a mammoth public gathering” at the Bhutto’s hometown Naudero on December 27 on the occasion of the party’s assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto’s fourth death anniversary.

The president has meanwhile restarted his political activities with an overnight meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad. Pictures of the meeting released by the authorities show Zardari healthy and normal.

Party sources said Zardari will

stay in Karachi for around a week and will resume work at the Presidency in Islamabad after a week’s rest. They said Zardari will go to Naudero, Larkana to attend the fourth death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.

During his stay in Karachi, he is expected to hold political meetings with PPP leaders and allies.

He will listen to and resolve issues being faced by the MQM and PML-Q regarding the coalition set up. Allies, including PML-Q leaders, are said to have reservations about ministries and issues regarding the local

government system in Sindh.

Zardari returned a few hours before PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif started his three-day visit to Karachi o overshadow the significance of Nawaz’s visit. The week will see important political leaders in Karachi with political campaigning between President Zardari, Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif under way. PPP, PML-N and PTI leaders have hired and encroached on a number of billboards, especially those on Shahrah-e-Faisal.

(Online) It was apparent during the National Assembly session on Monday that President Asif Ali Zardari’s return to Pakistan had done little to assuage fears in parliament.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, for his part, said: “I assure this house that there will be no martial law, no caretaker setup and techno nocrats,” while urging the MPs “not to provide any opportunity that could derail democracy.”

The premier’s statement came in response to leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s commitment that his party would never support any ‘undemocratic force’.

“I can give you in writing that we will be with you if there were any threat to democracy and parliament,” Nisar vowed during his speech when both the archrivals – PML-N and PPP clashed, inevitably, over the Memogate.

Nisar questions Memogate contradictions Try as it might, the government has been unable to downplay the memo scandal as much as it has wanted to.

The session started with a discussion over gas load shedding for domestic users in Rawalpindi, but the proceedings of the house drifted towards the memo controversy as Nisar pointed out the absence of Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain from the session, saying he could accompany the president but seemed unconcerned about the issues of the people.

“The government has become so

fragile that the prime minister held a meeting with the chief of army staff

(COAS), which was covered by the media to prove things were under control,” he said.

“Pakistan is not a banana republic or a security state that the PM needs a meeting with the COAS to regain confidence. The government should gain confidence from Parliament,” he added. “The matter is in the Supreme Court, the army is saying the memo is a reality but the prime minister says whatever James Jones has said is true,” Nisar said while demanding an explanation from the PM. Getting personal The opposition leader also responded to PPP Information Secretary Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira’s speech at the previous session.

Nisar said that being in the opposition, it was his right to hold the government accountable. He said Nawaz Sharif was not the only leader who left the country while asking “who had fled in 1981, 1999 and 2003?”

He added: “Whenever we question the performance of the government,

elegies of sacrifices are told… we are not interested in these stories since we know who was behind the long march of 1993 and who struck a deal through National Reconcili a t i o n Ordinance (NRO)”. Kaira stood up to respond but Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali intervened and asked Kaira to let it go.

Religious Affairs Minister KhurSyed sheed Shah, on the other hand, responded to the opposition leader and said “Judges were used in the past through such issues and everyone is well aware of what Sajjad Ali Shah (former chief justice of Pakistan) had done and your party had shown the real reaction,” Shah added – referring to the government-judiciary clash during Nawaz’s tenure as prime minister.

Javed Hasmi lashes out Meanwhile, PML-N leader Javed Hashmi had other things on his mind, and furiously demanded an apology from the PM himself for assertions made during the previous session that Hashmi had received 30,000 pounds as assistance from the government for medical treatment. “You have to apologise. If not here, then I will make you apologise in Multan,” Hashmi said angrily, adding that he had refused such assistance. Gilani responded calmly, saying “I will hold an inquiry and will apologise if your claim is true”.

Rio+20 conference.

Questions Raised: Pressure on Pasha (Online) Asma Jahangir, the counsel for former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, said on Monday that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Shuja Ahmed Pasha “should have resigned immediately” after the May 2 raid in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden.

Speaking to the media after the Memogate case hearing, Jahangir said she did not understand why the DG ISI felt the need to travel abroad in order to investigate the matter. Jehangir also questioned Pasha’s meeting with Mansoor Ijaz.

Asma said she was baffled by Pasha’s meeting with Ijaz. “I don’t understand his interest in the Memogate affair,” she added.

“Under whose authority did he go abroad?” she said, referring to the permission Pasha had required from the prime minister. Ijaz, in his reply, had stated that Pasha told him that he was meeting him with the knowledge of the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Petition against Pasha Communist Party Chairman Engineer Jamil Ahmed Malik has also applied pressure on General Pasha. On Monday he pleaded with the Supreme Court to take action against the ISI chief for allegedly meeting Arab rulers.

Filing a petition in the SC on Monday, Jameel asked the court to remove Pasha, claiming he has lost the right to remain in service after his involvement in the Memogate affair.

Jamil said that, although reports regarding Pasha’s meeting with senior

Arab leaders were carried in the press, neither ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations) nor Pasha had contradicted them. In the ‘Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto versus President of Pakistan’ case, the SC had decided that “facts given in newspapers, having not been denied, would be considered as undisputed fact”, Jamil said.

Jamil’s argument, therefore, is that news on the meeting indicated that Pasha and the army were involved in politics, which was contrary to their oath under Article 244 of the Constitution. He added that the SC in a 2004 case had barred all government employees from taking part in politics during service. “…the ISI chief has hatched a conspiracy against an elected government and the president and he deserves a court martial under the Pakistan Army Act, 152,” Jamil said.

Last week, a parliamentarian from the ANP, Bushra Gohar made a similar demand on the floor of the house – demanding that Pasha either resign or be sacked and face an inquiry on the coup plotting charges.

Abbottabad commission abuzz Most of the political leaders interviewed by the panel have suggested that it should recommend removal of top individuals from the country’s security establishment if it is proved that slain al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden conveniently lived in Pakistan for years.

The most obvious of these ‘top individuals’ would be spy chief Lt Gen Pasha – given that the incident points

in the direction of either an intelligence failure or collaboration.

Last week, top leaders from Awami National Party (ANP), Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) appeared before the body with recommendations by their respective political parties.

Headed by former Supreme Court judge Javed Iqbal, the commission is tasked to probe the exact circumstances surrounding the terror network leader’s killing in a night raid by American commandoes in the garrison city of Abbottabad in May this year.

The commission is currently seeking recommendations from the top leaders of political parties.

“The one question they (body’s members) asked everyone is what should be recommended if bin Laden living in the Abbottabad compound for years is proven,” said one of the political leaders who appeared before the commission last week.

“And we have told them some heads must roll…perhaps at the top. Why not?” said the political leader, who did not want to be named.

Another ‘hot’ issue under discussion revolves around what should be proposed if it was proved that Pakistan’s political leadership had prior knowledge of the raid by the US navy SEALs. “They asked this but most of the politicians posit that apart from intelligence authorities, no one might have prior knowledge of the raid,” said the leader.

President, legal team mull reply to SC (Online) Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday that discussions on the matter were under way and the outcome would be announced.

Bilawal House has come to life after an extended nervous lull, and a number of meetings were held by the president on Monday. According to the president’s spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, Zardari would come to Islamabad within a few days and will resume his charge at the Presidency.

A sitting minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari’s return should have made it clear that he isn’t afraid of facing challenges confronting him.

Though the president’s return has taken a lot of pressure off the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, particularly

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, party members feel that the worst is not over for the government.

Most PPP members give credit to Prime Minister Gilani for handling the situation tactfully despite the fact that he was burdened with the responsibilities of the state as well as the presidency.

PPP parliamentarians, who spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of

a n o n y m i t y, said that the prime minister was the key player in the absence of President Zardari – and even met with the army chief in an attempt to lower tensions.

A member of the PPP central executive committee said that party members trusted Prime Minister Gilani and his strategy of reconciliation. They said that members were assured during the PPP’s parliamentary party meeting that the situation will normalise soon – an indication that things were, after all, not normal at all, despite the premier’s assertions to the contrary.