Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Good news’ about NFC Award soon, says Gilani
* Prime minister says govt devising new policy for Balochistan as joint security committee submits report

ROJHAN JAMALI: The federating units will soon hear “good news” about the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters at Rojhan Jamali town of Nasirabad district at the residence of late PPP leader Taj Muhammad Jamali who died earlier this month, he said President Asif Ali Zardari had already started contacts with the provinces and their cabinets for deciding and finalising the forthcoming award.

Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and other federal and provincial ministers were also present on the occasion.

The PM said that the government had initiated reconciliatory process for resolving the problems of Balochistan under which cases against many Baloch nationalist leaders had been quashed and they had been released from jails.

He declared Nasirabad, Jaffarabad and Jhal Magsi districts calamity-hit areas and announced Rs 500 million for the rehabilitation of the people.

He further announced that the government would relax terms of payments of agricultural dues for farmers in the districts.

Gilani also announced Rs 500 million for providing electricity to Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts from Och Power Plant, and said that he would send his recommendation to the finance adviser for reinstating sacked Customs and National Bank of Pakistan employees in the province.

He said the government would provide Balochistan with an irrigation water share equal to that of Sindh.

To a question, the PM said that no US drone attacks would be conducted in any part of Balochistan.

He said that there was complete harmony among the ruling coalition partners, adding that they would resolve minor differences amicably. To a question, the PM said that salaries of Balochistan police force had been brought at par with other provinces.

Joint security committee: Gilani said the joint security committee set up for Balochistan has submitted its recommendations and a policy is being prepared in the light of the report. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-4-2009_pg7_27

Balochistan ‘formula’ tabled in Senate
* Raza Rabbani calls for redefinition of national paradigm in 15-point recommendations
* Senators show concern over interior adviser’s absence

By Muhammad Bilal

ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Raza Rabbani on Tuesday tabled a 15-point ‘formula’ to address the Balochistan issue, as the Upper House continued debate on the worsening law and order in the province.

Rabbani said it was imperative that the national paradigm and national interest should be redefined for which the political forces across the board should hold a dialogue with the establishment.

Taking part in the debate on an adjournment motion, Rabbani said the government should initiate dialogue with political forces to resolve the Balochistan issue besides holding a judicial inquiry into the murder of three Baloch leaders. He called for releasing political prisoners against whom terrorism cases are not pending, expeditious recovery of missing persons and restructuring of laws and the role related to the civil armed forces in the province.

The PPP senator also suggested that the construction of new cantonments in Balochistan should be stopped until the fears of local population are addressed, and urged the removal of checkposts in the province and withdrawal of forces from Sui. Rabbani underlined the need for rationalisation of the royalty formula and to ensure a uniform rate for all provinces, and rationalisation of prerogative of the federal government to increase the excise duty and placing it in the divisible pool. He said the practice of levelling surcharges must be stopped.

He said the government should announce the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award in which population should not be the prime criteria but the size, revenue generation and backwardness should also be taken into consideration.

He went on to say that the government should define the quantum of provincial autonomy it is willing to concede, bring levies in the place of police and address the Baloch people’s concerns over mega projects. He informed the House that the coalition government has already taken a number of steps to remove feelings of deprivation among the Baloch people but the killing of three Baloch leaders have once again aggravated the situation.

Speaking about the absence of Interior Adviser Rehman Malik from the House, he said Malik’s absence indicated that he also had no solution in his mind to the Balochistan issue.

Rabbani said he believed a new phenomenon of Anglo-Indian imperialism was emerging in which Pakistan would be given a subservient role. He said the government should boldly tell the people about foreign forces involved in creating destabilisation and insurgency in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Farooq Naik asked Leader of the House Nayyar Bukhari to ensure the presence of the interior adviser in the House after members from both sides protested over his absence during an important debate. The atmosphere in the House became tense after remarks of PML-Q Senator Javed Ali Shah that the people of the NWFP could buy thousands of flourbags by selling one ‘packet’ (of drugs).

His remarks forced PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to apologise to angry ANP members. Shah also apologised for the statement later. Ports and Shipping Minister Babar Ghauri kept on pressing the chair to give a ruling over the statement of Swat cleric Sufi Muhammad that the courts and parliament were un-Islamic.

Naik said since the matter was not part of the House business, he would look into it if Ghauri brought it on the agenda items

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-4-2009_pg7_27

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