I don’t want to meet Nawaz, claims Malik Mumtaz

Important Player in Operation Midnight Jackal Malik Mumtaz Ahmed has once again made it clear that he has never expressed his sheer desire to meet PML-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif urging he does not accept leaders who have fled country in utter darkness and left country and Nation in desolation.

While giving his reaction on a statement issued by PML-N Spokesman senator Pervez Rashid on Monday, Malik Mumtaz said that there are baseless rumors that he tried to meet Mian Nawaz Sharif for five times adding he has no desire to meet twice prime minister.

He said that he hates dictatorship and has never perform duties in former PM’s tenure Benazir Bhutto nor Nawaz Sharif.

He said that during his meeting with CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif in London, he only asked about deportation.

He further said that Senator Pervez is murmuring words of brigadier retired Imtiaz stressing entire Nation now has seen the face of PML-N thick. and thin.

He said that agencies are involved in establishing PML-N.

He further added that PML-N must work for the National interests of the country rather than running after sacks of Atta and in the process fooling masses.

Federal Cabinet Approves National Drinking Water Policy

The Federal Cabinet in its meeting held on 28th September 2009 approved the National Drinking Water Policy, formulated by the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with UNICEF to protect the public health and offset the huge environment and natural resource damage cost to Pakistan economy.

The Ministry of Environment in collaboration will coordinate implementation and monitoring of this Policy with Provincial, AJK, FANA and FATA Governments. Following the approval of the Policy, the Federal, Provincial, AJK, FANA and FATA Governments will develop comprehensive strategies and action plans for its implementation. Federal, Provincial, AJK, FANA and FATA Governments will allocate necessary funds for implementation of the Policy in line with the respective strategies and action plans. Reports on the progress of implementation of these strategies and plans will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment on bi-annual basis.

The World Bank Country Assessment Report, 2007, estimates that environment and natural resource damage costs Pakistan economy about Rs 365 billion annually. Of this, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases have been estimated to cost about Rs 112 billion per year, or over Rs 300 million a day.

The Policy aims to improve the quality of life of people of Pakistan by reducing incidence of death and illness caused by water-borne diseases through ensuring provision of adequate quantity of safe drinking water to the entire population at an affordable cost and in an equitable, efficient and sustainable manner. Towards this end, the Policy provides specific guidelines for increasing access to safe drinking water, protection and conservation of surface and groundwater resources, water treatment and safety, appropriate technologies and standardization, community participation, public awareness, capacity development, public private partnership, research and development, emergency preparedness and response and coordinated planning and implementation.

University in Quetta reopens after being remained closed for two months

The biggest university of Balochistan in Quetta reopened on Monday after being remained closed for two months due to security concerns and formal classes started here on Monday.

The government had closed the university on August 1st due to some security concerns and all students had been expelled from hostels.

According to officials, about 40 teachers had been killed during the last one-year, in an apparent target-killing spree, among which most belonged to Punjab.

According to them, hundreds of teachers, including professors of colleges and universities had given applications for transfers to other provinces.

Professor Kaleem Ullah, President of Academic Staff Association told Voice of America that all teachers of the university were present on Monday but students attendance remained low, adding, majority of the students belonged to far away areas, and therefore, they would arrive within two days.

According to him, police and paramilitary force officials were deployed at main gate and hostels, which were checking people before entry to the university, while the entry of irrelevant persons had been strictly banned.

Kaleem Ullah said the security concerns on which the university had been closed, still existed and the government should take solid steps for the security of teachers.

Kabeer Afghan, leader of one student organization said he is very happy over the opening of the institution and in this regard he protested and took out protest demonstrations.

However, he expressed concerns over deployment of security forces inside the varsity, adding, teaching and learning environment could not evolve in the presence of rifles.

It may be mentioned that the university has about 500 teachers and more than 6000 students.

Mullah Omar in Kandahar, says Rehman

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday said that the information relating to the presence of Head of Taliban Mullah Omar in Quetta is incorrect and baseless urging he is in Kandahar.

While talking to a Private TV on Monday, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik that US will not be allowed for drone attacks in Balochistan at any cost.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik again made it clear that Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are not present in Pakistan adding some anti state elements are propagating negatively for their own personal gains.

He said that Taliban’s back has been broken in Pakistan and the government’s target was Baitullah Mehsud.

Replying to a question, he said that he is in contact with all the Baloch leaders and the nation would soon hear good news.

In a question, he said that President Zardari’s visit to US was quite fruitful adding host of issues came under discussion of bilateral interest.

He further added Drone Attacks will not be tolerated in Pakistan’s soil.

Public looks at army when democratic govt’s fail, says Musharraf

Former President Pervez Musharraf has said that he did not leave the country under a deal with the current government underlining that public looks towards the army when the democratic government fails.

“I did not leave government through any kind of deal”, EX-President told Journalists and host of Pakistanis here on Monday.

He said that he doesn’t want to lambaste government, as he wants to create a positive impact of the country abroad as time is not to criticize but to mend ways thick and thin.

He said that when the public becomes disappointed with the democratic governments they look towards the army for rescue adding that army chief is never against the democratic government.

He said that he had plans for holding general elections in 2007 but due to the judicial crisis emerging out of deposing if Chief Justice it could not be implemented. However he believes that people still support his efforts which he accomplished during his long tenure.

He said that no corruption charges were proven against Benazir Bhutto that is why she was allowed to return. He said that he had warned Benazir not to return to the country immediately as her life was at risk but she didn’t listen to him and came back and the terrorists succeeded in their endeavor.

He said after Benazir’s return the Sharif brothers also started pressurizing through Saudi government for their return to the country.

He further hinted that Al-Qaeda is present in Pakistan and are taking refuge in the mountains.

Terrorism and Extremism are the biggest hurdles in Pakistan, he held.

We need to flush out militancy at the earliest, he added.

Talks with Pakistani FM, useful, meaningful: S. M Krishna

Addressing a press conference, immediately the talks, the foreign minister of India, S. M. Krishna termed the talks with Pakistan’s foreign minister as quite conducive and useful.

The talks, which have been termed as quite productive and meaningful, agreed that further talks and dialogue should be carried out, with a positive and realistic approach.

He agreed that good strong relations with Pakistan, shorn of any terrorism were must for peace and harmony in this region, and stressed that dialogue was the only way forward.

He also said that “Pakistan’s terrorist groups” were still dangerous for the peace and harmony of region, and said that his Pakistani counterpart had assured him that ‘elements involved in acts of terrorism’ would be strongly dealt with. He also expressed India’s strong resolve to monitor the ‘Mumbai attacks’ investigations.

He, however reiterated India’s maddening obsession with Hafiz Saeed Ahmad’s arrest, demanding immediate action against the leader of banned Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

Replying to a question, he said that in the aftermath of Sharm-al-Sheikh declaration, India had shown flexibility and softness in its attitude towards Pakistan and strived for better relations, and conditioned any success of comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan’s action against terrorists within its domain.

Referring to back-door diplomacy, he said that as along as direct diplomacy was actively present, he saw no need for any back-door diplomacy.

Nawaz had four meetings with Osama to topple Benazir Govt:Former DG FIA Mumtaz

Former DG FIA, believed to have played central role in operation ‘Mid Night Jackal’ has alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif had four meetings with Al-Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden to topple the government of Benazir Bhutto.

In an interview with a private TV channel here on Sunday, he said that all funds to topple the government of Benazir Bhutto were provided by Al-Qaeda, adding, allegations of tape recording regarding Mid Night Jackal operation were baseless, however Major Amir (Retd) had agreed for cooperation for no confidence motion against Benazir Bhutto.

According to him, he had good relations with Major Amir and he used to come to his office but he never went to his office, saying, Amir was from ISI and his duty was not to provide him information but had to provide him facilities being an engineer.

Mumtaz said that Amir told him that no confidence motion is being tabled against Benazir Bhutto and you are requested to cooperate with him and asked his known MNAs to cooperate in the motion, on which he (Amir) agreed.

He said that Amir told him that president Ghulam Ishaq wanted to dissolve assemblies and if “you stood with us then we can save assemblies “; after that he (Mumtaz) called Brigadier Akhtar and during meeting with him asked about any no confidence motion being tabled against Benazir.

Mumtaz said Brigadier Akhtar denied and asked about the informant, and was told about Major Amir, who had also told him that MQM had also withdrawn support from Benazir Bhutto.

He said there was one lobby in ISI, which was in favor of no confidence motion against Benazir Bhutto and has been against to Benazir Bhutto; especially Brig Imtiaz was against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari and its clear proof is that he never used word ‘Mohtarma’ for Benazir but always said this woman had to go as she served Indian interests.

Rejecting tape-recording allegations, he said he never did that it was the duty of Brig (Retd) Imtiaz, who was very much against Benazir and Asif Zardari.

To a question, Mumtaz said Brig Akhtar wanted to transfer Major Amir and talked with General Durrani in this regard but failed and Brig Akhtar conveyed the message to Benazir through Naseerullah Babar, on which Benazir ordered transfers of all army officers except General Aslam Beg.

Rejecting allegations that he had 12 bungalows in satellite town, he said he had only one house, in which he has been residing since 1989 and if any one has proof in this regard, then present it.

He also rejected the report that a human smuggling group had taken him to India and while denying as to how he managed the Indian trip said he had gone to India on Pakistani visa and passport.

Pakistan-India foreign secretaries’ talks remain inconclusive.

The Pakistan-India foreign secretaries’ talk has been reported to have remained inconclusive.

Reliable sources of foreign office have confirmed the diplomatic skeptics, statements of foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qurieshi and overall reservations of Pakistan about the strong inevitability of ‘no breakthrough’ (!) over issues.

As anticipated, the talks between foreign secretaries were conducted in quite tense and uncertain environment. Pakistan’s Salman Bashir is reported to have welcomed his Indian counterpart with a smile and an encouraging, ” I am quite hopeful about the talks” agenda; while his Indian counterpart, Nerupa Rao simply retained his stoic silence in presence of media.

Pakistan dedicated the two and a half hour talks on such issues as the core issue of Indian Occupied Kashmir, restoration of comprehensive dialogue, and water theft; all of which were simply washed away by traditional Indian political, diplomatic and ‘cultural’, obduracy.

The Indian side remained glued and restricted to its rote issues of ‘planning of Mumbai attacks’, and blame-game, which caused quite tension in the atmosphere.

While the Pakistan’s delegation kept up its pressure on the Sharm-Al-Sheikh agenda, the Indian foreign secretary simply regretted any further parlays right during the occasion of planning of agenda for the forthcoming foreign ministers’ talks.

Generally, both delegations avoided media, but Pakistan’s Salman Bashir informed the media afterwards that India should not try to hound and restrict Pakistan with its rote condition of ‘Mumbai Attacks issue’; since Pakistan had always fully and responsibly participated in investigations, which was even lauded by Global community.

He also declared Pakistan’s intentions of retaining peaceful and meaningful relations with all international community, along with India.

Tourism suffered 400 million dollars losses in Swat, says minister

NWFP Minister for Sports, Culture and Tourism Syed Aaqil Shah has said that NWFP was the most suffered province from terrorism, adding, the tourism industry suffered about U$400 million losses in Swat at the rate of U$.50 million annually in the last eight years.

Addressing a ceremony held to mark the world tourism day under the auspices of NWFP Tourism Corporation here on Sunday, he announced that the provincial government under the leadership of Chief Minister Amir Haidar Khan Hoti would act upon on maser plan for the promotion of tourism, which would help strengthen the province economically.

Tour Specialist Fida Ullah Sehrai, Zahoor Durrani, former MD NWFP Tourism Corporation Ghaffar Mehmand, General Manager STC Mushtaq Ahmad and a large number of students affiliated with tourism and media persons attended the ceremony.

Syed Aaqil Shah said chairlifts would be installed from Naran to Saif-ul-Malook Lake for the promotion of tourism, while 2MW hydrel power station would also be established.

He said NWFP had archeological sites of Buddha in large number and the government was preparing a special package for the people of Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka to visit these sites.

The Minister said a great Lok Virsa Center is being established at Got Gatri and a cultural directorate has also been established, which would start work from October 15.

He said two-days cultural conference would be held in the last week of October, while the annual celebrations of 2500 years of Peshawar would be held in December.

Aaqil Shah said Pakistan is the only country in the world, which had most tourist sites, however ‘we did not get benefits from tourism industry, which should have been achieved’.

“The NWFP government was working on three projects for the promotion of tourism industry in the province, ” he added.

Twitter confirms major cash boost

Social networking website Twitter has confirmed that it has closed a “significant round of funding”. Co-founder Evan Williams said in a blog post that the site had secured money from five investment firms.

The site, which allows users to write and share 140-character messages, has more than 45 million users worldwide. Industry watchers have pointed out that the firm still has no way of making money. However, earlier this month the site revised its terms and conditions to allow advertising on its service.

Some analysts believe Twitter could eventually be acquired by one of the established Internet companies such as Google Inc, Yahoo Inc or Time Warner Inc’s AOL. Google CEO Eric Schmidt called Twitter a “poor man’s email.”