On 4th January, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer was assassinated in Islamabad in afternoon when he was returning after taking dine from a hotel at Kohsaar Market at Islamabad. His security guard Mr. Malik Mumtaz Qadri opened a burst on him and fired 29 bullets. There are 27 bullets scars found on his body via post mortem report. Assassin had claimed that Governor was the victim and he had committed blasphemy activities, he was planning since last three days and his mates were also informed about his plans. The dead body was taken to the hospital when he was seriously injured where they declared him dead. For post mortem of governor, his deceased body was taken to Pims and after a complete inspection; they told that 27 bullets marks are found on his body and at 4 – 5 feet distance, assassin fired on him. Next morning, he was taken to Lahore at Governor House where his funeral prayers were offered and buried him at Cavalry Ground cemetery at Lahore in the afternoon.
People’s party (PPP) leaders declared his slay as a political murder and they declared a two weeks mourning and abandoned all political activities. Punjab Government declared a holiday in Punjab due to grief at assassination of Governor Punjab. There are many issues raised on this occasion like political issues, security issues, religious problems etc. President of Pakistan declared it to try to abolish democracy. All the political leaders have condemned and appealed for better security for very important persons (VVIP). Many people’s party workers blazed the tyres, protested at different cities of Pakistan. A strike was observed all over the country due to the murder of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer. All the trading activities, courts, banks were closed. Now Rehman Malik ordered a complete investigation regarding the hot issue because his murder is much unusual as compared to Benazir Bhutto, Liaqat Ali Khan. Assassin has handed over himself after murder to police and his investigation is continued.Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Pakistan’s Premier Fights to Save Government
Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani was struggling to congregate support for his Government on 5th January, a day after a second ally renounced the ruling coalition with his Pakistan Peoples Party. But at a time when the economy is shaking, public discontent is growing over inflation and a worsening power crisis, and the United States is seeking to expand cooperation in the war against terrorism, no political party looks keen to take the reins of the government.
So there seemed to be growing consensus amongst opposition politicians and analysts here that Mr. Gilani would remain in office despite the crisis, but would be deeply weakened and even more unable to govern this fractured and tumultuous country.
President Asif Ali Zardari, who is the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party, issued a strongly worded statement of support for Mr. Gilani that Government will complete its 5 years tenure. He also said that the prime minister is not alone; he will not be left alone. The People’s party (PPP) stands behind him through thick and thin. Let there be no qualm or gaffe about it.
The two parties that have left the coalition at the federal level are the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM),, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal. The first left late on 4th January, the second last month. But both remain in coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Sindh and Baluchistan provincial governments, leading analysts and politicians to wonder that both are mainly focused on trying to extract indulgence. Only the Jamiat has claimed Mr. Gilani’s resignation.
Leaders of M.Q.M. stressed that the government had done nothing to improve deteriorating economic conditions and urged the government to take immediate steps to alleviate rising fuel prices and other domestic burdens.
As part of Mr. Gilani’s efforts to avert a no-confidence vote in Parliament, he held talks with Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab Province and the younger brother of the opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Officials of Mr. Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, say that they are proceeding cautiously as the political crisis unfolds. Mr. Gilani also met Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid political party, which is the next largest opposition party. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, a leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal, reiterated his party’s demand on Monday that Mr. Gilani quit, saying he no longer had a majority in the Parliament.Petrol prices Hike, a New Year gift for Pakistani Nation!
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) gave a New Year gift to the nation on Friday by raising prices of petroleum products by up to PKR7.69 per liter, or nine per cent.
They declared this trudge in prices after getting a green signal from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. As a result, the rate of petroleum levy, which had been reduced last month, increased to PKR1.71 ($0.02) per liter on diesel, 16 paisa ($0.002) on HOBC, 31 paisa ($0.004) on kerosene and 73 paisa ($0.009) on light diesel oil.
According to a notification issued by OGRA, the price of petrol increased by PKR6.71 ($0.08) (9.2 per cent) per liter to PKR79.67 ($0.93) from PKR72.96 ($0.85), HOBC (high octane blending component) by PKR7.69 ($0.09) (8.9 per cent) to PKR94.36 ($1.10) from PKR86.67 ($1.01), kerosene by PKR4.04 ($0.05) (5.7 per cent) to PKR74.99 ($0.87) from PKR70.95 ($0.83) and LDO (light diesel oil) by PKR4.36 ($0.05) (6.55 per cent) to PKR70.97 ($0.83) from PKR66.61 ($0.78).
OGRA spokesman Syed Jawad Naseem, who pronounced the new prices, said that prices of kerosene, HSD, petrol and furnace oil had increased by 8.8, 9.3, 12.7 and 7.4 per cent, respectively, in the international market.
The industry has already been under pressure because of higher electricity and gas rates and energy shortfalls. As a result of the increase in petroleum prices, the size of GST has increased proportionately because the tax at 16 per cent results in higher windfall revenue for the government.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar said that the government had to increase prices of petroleum products because of a surge in international prices. He spoke that in the international markets the price of crude had jumped from $80-$82 to $94-$95 a barrel due to economic growth in the West. And because up to 85 per cent of the crude is imported, the government had to enhance the local prices of petroleum products.
Mr. Qamar said the existing fiscal position in the country did not allow the government to reduce the taxes or offer subsidies to people. However, the authorities were trying to mitigate the effects of the taxes.
The minister said the government did not want to resort to deficit financing, as had been done by the previous government, because this would fuel inflation further. “So, we all have to take this bitter pill,” he remarked.
In the next budget, revenue generation would have to be improved coupled with better resource mobilization in order to “take the public sector development program to a somewhat reasonable level”, the minister said.
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