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"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity".
(surah Al-Imran,ayat-104)
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User Name: aghappp
Full Name: Agha Tanveer
User since: 6/Jun/2007
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PAKISTAN PEOPLES PARTY GREATER LONDON
BY :AGHA TANVEER IQBAL


: Pakistani leader seeks new US policy

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) "” Pakistan's leader said Monday he expects President-elect Barack Obama to re-evaluate the need for U.S. military strikes on al-Qaida and Taliban targets on Pakistan's side of the Afghan border.

In an interview with The Associated Press, President Asif Ali Zardari warned that the surge in missile attacks since August was hurting Pakistan's own fight against the militants "” a campaign he said was succeeding nonetheless.

The 52-year-old president is under intense U.S. pressure to take firmer action against militants in the rugged and lawless northwest border zone, a possible hiding place for Osama bin Laden and what many consider to be the global front line in the fight against al-Qaida.

In what is seen as a sign of American frustration with Islamabad's perceived inability to deal with the militants, the U.S. military is believed to have carried out at least 18 missile attacks on suspected militant targets close to the border in Pakistan since August.

The missiles are believed to be fired from unmanned planes launched in Afghanistan, where some 32,000 U.S. troops are fighting a resurgent Taliban insurgency.

Zardari said he believed Obama would re-examine that strategy, but acknowledged that the Democrat "” who struck a sometimes-hawkish tone on dealing with Pakistan during the election "” may continue with the attacks.

Obama has openly supported U.S. strikes in the lawless and rugged border region, and has questioned whether Pakistan has done enough to fight militants despite receiving billions of dollars in U.S. aid since 2001.

During the campaign, Obama said if he is elected, he could launch unilateral attacks on high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan as they become exposed and "if Pakistan cannot or will not act" against them.

"I think there is definitively going to be a new look at all the issues that have been on the table of the United States, and this is one of the large issues," said Zardari, who sat in front of two photos of his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, a U.S.-allied moderate Muslim leader who was killed by suspected al-Qaida militants in December 2007 as she campaigned in parliamentary elections.

Zardari took over Bhutto's party after her death and was elected president in August, facing a crushing economic crisis and soaring violence by militants also blamed for attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The U.S. attacks have killed some militants, but many of the dead have been civilians, including women and children, stoking anger among locals, Pakistani officials say.

"We feel that the strikes are an intrusion on our sovereignty, which are not appreciated by the people at large, and the first aspect of this war is to win the hearts and mind of the people," Zardari said.

Washington rarely comments on the strikes, but Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said last week that the recent attacks had killed three top extremists leaders.

According to a report Monday in The New York Times, the U.S. military has also conducted nearly a dozen secret operations against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups in Pakistan, Syria and other countries since 2004.

Citing anonymous U.S. officials, the Times story said the operations were authorized by a broad classified order that then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld signed and President Bush approved in spring 2004. The order gave the military authority to attack al-Qaida anywhere in the world and to conduct operations in countries that were not at war with the U.S.

In one mission in 2006, Navy SEALs raided a suspected terrorist compound in Pakistan's tribal areas, the Times reported.

A Defense Department spokesman had no comment Sunday night on the Times report.

Pakistan insists it is taking on the militants, pointing to a military offensive in the Bajur tribal district that began in August and has killed 1,500 suspected insurgents.

"I think from where it was when we took over, we are in a much better place," said Zardari. "We used the force of the government and they (the militants) realized that there is a force here, that the people of Pakistan are to be reckoned with."

Zardari also inherited an economy battered by high inflation, a plunging currency and desperately short of foreign currency reserves needed to avoid defaulting on some $5 billion of sovereign debt due for repayment next year.

The financial crisis was caused in part by the previous administration of President Pervez Musharraf, which subsidized fuel and food as international commodity prices soared last year.

The International Monetary Fund is preparing an emergency loan package for the country, which is also seeking funds from wealthy allies such as the United States, China and Saudi Arabia.

Zardari said there was no chance of "economic meltdown" as some observers have predicted and defended the country's decision to turn to the IMF, which he said would make the country cut its spending before dispersing the cash.

"I think it's a difficult pill, but one has to take medicine to get better," he said. "The IMF want to spread the risk factor and make sure that people only spend as much they as carry in their pocket, and countries and individuals have the habit of overspending."




Squash Complex inaugurated in Rawalpindi


RAWALPINDI: The Benazir Bhutto Squash Complex, consists of five courts in the sports complex Rawalpindi, was inaugurated on Monday.

Federal Minister for Water and Electricity Raja Pervez Ashraf inaugurated the Squash Complex after which the last match of the qualifying round in the Pakistan Open Squash Championship.

The match was played between Danish Atlas of Pakistan and Azan Ashraf of Malaysia and Danish Atlas won the match and has been placed in the main round..

On this occasion, president Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Air Marshall Tanvir Mehmood presented a souvenir to the chief guest.

Federal minister Raja Pervez Musharraf announced a grant of Rs 100,000 for the complex and also announced that the government would bear all electricity expenses.


SHC hears Sanam Bhutto's lawsuit



The Sindh High Court (SHC) hearing the succession matter of late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sought details of late Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto's legal heirs.

The court was hearing the lawsuit filed by Sanam Bhutto regarding administration and distribution of ZA Bhutto's movable and immovable properties to his legal heirs in accordance with the law.

Plaintiff counsel Rizwan H Nadeem submitted that the legal heirs of late Benazir Bhutto be also included in the case as she died in December last year. SHC's single bench granted the application directed the counsel to name the legal heirs of Benazir Bhutto in the plaint within fifteen days and adjourned the hearing. The court had also appointed commissioner on the plaint to prepare the inventory regarding movable and immovable properties of ZA Bhutto.

PPP government takes revolutionary steps: Khursheed Shah



LONDON PPP: Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is striving hard to accomplish the mission of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He said to realise BB's mission revolutionary steps were being taken on top priority basis with focused approach to facilitate the poor masses of the country.

The minister talking to different delegations at his residence here on Monday, said that PPP leadership has laid down their lives for the cause of democracy while present government has cut down the prices of petrol and electricity to mitigate the sufferings of the hard pressed segments of the society.

He said the PPP is the party of poor people and added it has inherited various problems from previous government and hoped that President Asif Ali Zardari would overcome these problems with the active support of masses.

He said that Pakistan People's Party has come into power as a result of the unprecedented sacrifice offered by its leaders and workers adding that PPP is a true democratic force and its leaders as well as workers are rendering sacrifices for the betterment of democracy and Pakistani people.

He paid glowing tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and said that she has continued the legacy of sacrifices by offering her life to continue the mission initiated by his father Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He further said that that PPP can not forget people and would continue with its efforts to resolve peoples' problems at the earliest.

He criticised the undemocratic and extremist elements who are out to intimidate democratic elements.

On the occasion, the Federal Minister said that government is preparing a comprehensive plan with regards to the construction of roads in all the talukas of the Sukkur district and likewise, supply of electricity to the residents of all Talukas in the remote areas.

He further said that the government was also focusing on the eradication of unemployment among the youth.

"In this regard more than 100,000 jobs are being offered to the youth in first phase," he said and urged that youth in Sukkur must also apply for these vacancies according to their qualification merit.

Steps are also being taken to impart technical education of different trades to youth so that they could be able to avail the job opportunities in the private sectors in the country and outside the country too as in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, ", he added.

State minister visits graves of Bhuttos': The State Minister for Food & Agriculture, Rafique Ahmed Jamali visited the grave of assassinated Chairperson of PPP, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, some 32 kilometers from Larkana on late Sunday night.

He laid a floral wreath at the grave and offered fateha. Rafique Ahmed Jamali was accompanied by the leaders and workers of PPP of Dadu district. He and his companions remained there for some time.

The State Minister for Food & Agriculture also laid a floral wreath at the grave of founder-chairman of PPP and former Prime Minister, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and offered fateha.

He later offered fateha for other departed souls of the Bhutto family and those killed on October 18, 2007, at Karsaz Karachi and buried within the mausoleum premises.

In a brief talk with the media-men at Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto, Jamali paid rich tributes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for sacrificing her life to strengthen democratic system in the country.

He said that the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto will be completed in letter and sprit.

Agri, revenue collections of Thar to be suspended till situation improves: Sindh Relief Commissioner Ashfaque Memon announced that collection of all agriculture taxes and revenue for Tharparkar will remain suspended till the land situation improves and drought condition withers.

The Relief Commissioner who was accompanied by Additional Relief Commissioner Manzoor Memon further said new food ration cards will be provided to the Thari people and in this regard committees will be formed at UC levels.

The Relief official who is on a visit on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah earlier arrived in Mithi town and visited the different areas of Tharparkar. He also received a briefing regarding the famine condition in Tharparkar.

DCO Tharparkar Sameeuddin Siddiqui, local people, journalists apprised the Relief Commissioner about the famine condition in Tharparkar.

The relief official said wheat, bajra and rice bags will be provided to the Thari people soon. He said he will request the Chief Minister for providing a new fire fighting vehicle to the area because there is not a single such vehicle in entire Thar.

Talking to the media the Relief Commissioner said he will submit a report to the Sindh Chief Minister about the droughty situation, which has arisen due to lesser rainfall in entire Tharparkar.

Minister inaugurates new natural gas scheme: Sindh Minister for Information Ms Shazia Marri has said the government is fulfilling all promises which were made by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto with the masses because PPP is the real party of downtrodden people of Pakistan.

This she said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a new natural gas supply scheme at Birani town near Tando adam here.

Shazia Marri further said the government under the dynamic leadership of President Asif Ali zardari is achieving all the targets for the benefit of the masses.

On the occasion General Manager of Sui Southen Gas Company (SSGC) Sindh Chapter and PPP local leaders also spoke to the gathering.

Earlier, Ms Shazia Marri inaugurated the new gas supply line laid from Tandoadam to Birani. GM SSGC said on the occasion that the estimated cost on this scheme is Rs 97,000,000. It would be complete by June, 2009.

Services of two trains to be extended to Chhor: State Minister for Railway, Faquir Jadam Mangrio has announced that the services of Mehran Express and Shah Abdul Latif Express trains running between Karachi and Mirpurkhas will be extended to Chhor to provide better travel facilities to the people of District Umerkot.

More passenger trains will be started between Mirpurkhas and Khokhrapar, the State Minister added.

He was addressing a public gathering on his first visit to Umerkot after taking oath as a State Minister.

Jadam Mangrio said the government is striving hard and making sincere efforts to start trade between India and Pakistan through Khokhrapar-Monabao border with a view to strengthen the economy of the country.




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Agha Tanveer Iqbal
Secretary Information
Pakistan Peoples Party
Greater London
+447931445834
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