President Asif Ali Zardari has said that his weaknesses has proved his power.
Addressing International Conference on Global Peace and Sufism at Islamabad, the President said that he was not afraid of death, rather waiting to meet it.
He added that Benazir Bhutto in her first address said that she was not afraid of death and she was alive for death. The president said that the Sufis’ concept of love, peace tolerance be needed to transform Taliban.
He said that dictators exploit the human emotions for their vested interests, adding that even today some people do exploit religion for their interests.

WASHINGTON: Pakistan had to do more to combat terrorists on its soil if it wanted to continue to receive substantial US aid, says John Kerry, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate.
Kerry said the weekend bomb blast in Pune shouldn’t derail the resumption of diplomatic talks between India and Pakistan.

Senator Kerry also suggested that the Pune blast should be the first item on the agenda if India found a Pakistani link to the attack.

“The right thing is to talk; you lose nothing by talking,” said the senator who was the Democratic presidential candidate in 2004. “I hope India will have that conversation with Pakistan and, if they have evidence to that effect, that should be the first thing on the table and Pakistan has to deal with it.”

He reiterated the US stance that Pakistan had to do more to combat terrorists on its soil if it wanted to continue to receive substantial US aid. “Pakistan has got to make clear its willingness to take on internal enemies,” he said.

Senator Kerry said that in his view discussions over Kashmir should not be a “prerequisite” in the initial conversation between the two nations and that the US stood ready to assist either side if asked. But, he said, “I do not think we should impose ourselves in any way.”

The senator called on Pakistan’s army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani after his arrival in Islamabad. He will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: President Asif Ali Zardari Monday said I will respect Supreme Court (SC)’s ruling regarding judges’ appointment. An executive order, seeking approval of judges’ restoration, will soon be tabled in joint session of assembly.

There are no imminent of midterm elections in country, he said adding, PPP understands very well how to run democracy and we will respect apex court’s verdict pertaining to appointment of judges.

According to sources, addressing the meetings of Senate and National Assembly’s parliamentary committees of PPP here at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Zardari said there is a big difference in being exiled and jailed as I lost precious 8 years in imprisonment while some one else remained exiled for the same period.

Referring to latest tremor in political scenario, he said political actors are politicizing issues, as it always happens in politics but they are not going to be allowed to exploit matters of national interests to derail democracy; besides they must be rest assured of the completion of 5-year-term of our government.

Advising the nation, President said people should not turn the attentive ears to negative propagandas of opposition parties, forbidding the activists of PPP from counter protest.

Meanwhile, spokesman to presidency Farhatullah Babar quoted President Zardari saying 2010 is the year of Local Bodies elections.

According to him, the president said PPP will engage its coalition partners in thorough consultation before reaching any decision regarding LB elections.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: A 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the notification of judges’ appointment hours after its issuance by the government on Saturday.

The special bench held a meeting soon after its formation by the Chief Justice of Pakistan and suspended the President’s decision of judges’ appointment, declaring it a violation of Article-177 of the Constitution. Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif and Justice Mian Saqib Nisar will continue to serve as Chief Justice of Lahore High Court (LHC) and senior judge LHC respectively, the bench said.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry taking suo motto notice of the notification of judges’ appointment Saturday evening formed a 3-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan with Justice Raja Fayaz and Justice Jawad S. Khwaja as its members.

Meanwhile, Additional Registrar Supreme Court Qasi Sajid provided the details/ records in connection with judges appointment to the special bench.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari elevated Justice Khwaja Sharif as SC judge and Justice
Saqib Nisar as Acting CJ of LHC through an official notification.

However, Justice Khwaja Sharif and Justice Saqib Nisar refused to accept the decision of the government.

Later, the special bench adjourned its proceeding till February 18.

The 5-member SC bench which had been constituted for taking up the case of delay in judges’ appointment will take the proceeding ahead.

Additional Secretary Law, Attorney Generals of Pakistan and the four advocate generals have been summoned.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry taking suo motto notice of judges’ appointment by President Asif Ali Zardari formed a 3-judge bench.

The 3-judge special bench headed by Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan comprises Justice Raja Fayaz and Justice Jawad S. Khwaja as its members.

The bench is expected to hold its initial meeting shortly.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari elevated Justice Khwaja Sharif as SC judge and Justice
Saqib Nisar as Acting CJ of LHC through an official notification.

However, Justice Khwaja Sharif and Justice Saqib Nisar refused to accept the decision of the government.

Islamabad, Pakistan News :- Supreme Court’s 3-member bench while hearing the suo moto notice on judges’ appointment has suspended Presidential order. A short judgment has been issued in this regard. According to the short verdict, the notification is contradictory to Article 177 of the Constitution. Justice Khawaja Sharif and Justice Saqib Nisar will continue serving their incumbent posts as chief justice Lahore High Court and judge LHC respectively. The bench – headed by Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and comprised of Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Jawad S. Khawaja – heard the case.

Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has taken suo moto notice on judges’ appointment. Supreme Court’s 3-member bench is reviewing the suo moto notice. Attorney General has been called in the Supreme Court by the bench in this regard.

Rejecting the summary sent by the CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for judges’ appointment, President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed LHC Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif as judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Saqib Nisar has been appointed as Acting Chief Justice of LHC. However, both the judges have refused President’s decision and said that they cannot decide anything without consultation with the CJP.

Notification for judges appointment has been issued. According to sources, it has happened for the first time in the history of Pakistan that any senior most judge has been appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Lahore High Court.
Justice Khawaja Sharif said that he will not accept any decision without consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan while Justice Saqib Nisar said that he will act upon CJP’s orders and he will not go to Governor House to take oath of the post.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had sent summary to the President recommending the name of Justice Saqib Nisar for the appointment in Supreme Court. CJP also recommended the President to retain Justice Khawaja Sharif as Chief Justice of LHC.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the Presidency in which country’s situation came under discussion. Before his meeting with PM Gilani, President also met with Babar Awan and Latif Khosa in which judges’ appointment issue was discussed. On this occasion, situation prevailed after Supreme Court’s decision on NRO was also reviewed.

PORT-AU-PRINCE: More than 200,000 people were killed in the earthquake that shook Haiti on Jan. 12, Prime Minister Jean Max Bellerive said.

The prime minister said 300,000 people were injured, including 4,000 amputees.

The 7.3-magnitude quake has put the country into a total mess. At present, doctors from some countries and international organizations are orchestrating vaccination efforts against diseases that may spread in the tent cities.

Children are main vaccination targets and vulnerable adults will also get vaccine shots in temporary residence areas which are mostly large tents in open places.

BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan News: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Thursday said the President Asif Ali Zardari has violated the promises on Charter of Democracy.

“The country can’t be run by violating the Constitution and courts verdicts. Zardari has not fulfilled his promises of implementing Charter of Democracy,” the PML-N chief said while addressing a party workers’ convention here.

“Nobody will be allowed to break the law and violate Constitution; we have no desire to come into power as the passing through crucial phase,” he said.

Sharif said former army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf was involved in the extra judicial killing of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti which triggered separatism in the province, “however the rulers gave him a guard of honour and failed to impeach the dictator on his deeds.”

Former batting maestro and director general Pakistan Cricket Board Javed Miandad joined the former cricketers in their campaign against PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, calling him too old to carry on as head of the country’s premier sport.

Miandad in a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, who is patron of the PCB, has called Ijaz Butt too old to carry on at such an important position and with his old age he even forgets his official assignments.
Ijaz Butt was made chairman of the PCB in place of Dr Nasim Ashraf after the latter resigned with the resignation of General Pervez Musharraf.

Lahore, Pakistan News :- At the time when all is not well with the PCB, federal Sports Minister has asked Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani to submit a report on the national cricketers debacle in Australia.

Pakistan lost both the test and one-day series in a rather spineless show of performance.

The minister was also critical of the PCB’s internal affairs. His demand came at a time when reports are doing the rounds of drastic changes in the board. The Federal Sports Minister said he has asked the PCB for an inquiry report on the “shameful” performance of the team in Australia.

He said that he would be asking the President Asif Ali Zardari, who is chief patron of the board for wide range changes in the cricket set up.

“The team’s performance was shameful and disappointing for everyone. We have already told the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt to send us an inquiry report on the team’s performance in Australia,” he said.