ISLAMABAD: A young PPP MNA, who thrashed JUI veteran Maulana Fazlur Rehman by about 40,000 votes, will now sit on the backbenches while the defeated Maulana will again be a minister in the PPP-led coalition cabinet.
Faisal Kundi, who was educated in London and was specially groomed by Benazir to beat Maulana Fazlur Rehman, appears to be the first casualty of the Zardari-Fazl romance, thanks to the ironies of coalition politics.
Last year, Benazir Bhutto had particularly sent this young graduate from London with the mission to defeat the MMA leader and this young man fulfilled her wish, though after her death.
Now with the changing situation, Kundi is facing taunts from his voters as he had assured them he would politically eliminate the chief supporter of Taliban.
Despite suffering a massive defeat at the hands of this young man, Fazlur Rehman is now having the last laugh as he successfully got a promise from Zardari to get his party in the future cabinet in the name of "reconciliation".
Faisal, who was expecting a ministerial job at Islamabad as a reward after defeating the JUI leader, is now puzzled as he would be sitting on the backbenches like an ordinary MNA. Kundi is practically hiding from his voters in Islamabad, as he keeps on receiving phone calls from his constituency.
Maulana Fazl, trying to pressurise Benazir Bhutto to withdraw him from Dera Ismail Khan, in return offered Benazir Bhutto to withdraw the MMA candidate from Larkana. Benazir Bhutto, at one stage, had seriously started considering withdrawing Kundi in her bid to ensure her return to parliament. But, when Kundi argued that he was in a position to win the seat quite comfortably, Benazir also agreed so that she could tell the Western countries that her party had defeated the chief supporter of Taliban.
Secondly, she wanted to eliminate Fazl’s chances of manipulation to become the prime minister with the help of the establishment.
The Maulana, who knew that he would not win against the popular Kundi, also tried his connections with Asif Zardari to get Faisal out of the way. But once again, Kundi presented his case before Zardari and succeeded in staying in the race.
Faisal used to tell his party leaders that he would defeat the mighty Maulana with a margin of 35,000 votes. Many used to laugh over his claim but when the results came, everybody was shocked to see how a young London graduate had trounced the MMA leader.
The young man now is being sacrificed at the altar of reconciliation and pragmatic coalition politics of national consensus.
Talking to The News, Faisal confirmed that he was facing taunts and sarcastic comments from his voters who had voted for him in the name of change in the area.
He sounded very disappointed over the developments taking place as he did not know whether he would be given any position in the cabinet to fulfill the promises he had made with his voters to defeat the MMA leader.
(http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=101103)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
PML-Q fails to convene NWFP parliamentary party meeting
PESHAWAR: Owing to differences between provincial leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Q and its MPAs-elect, the former ruling party is yet to convene its parliamentary party meeting to elect the leader in the Frontier Assembly.
The PML-Q got five provincial assembly seats in the February 18 elections in the Frontier province whereas Nighat Yasmin Orakzai, party provincial information secretary, was elected on women reserved seats.
However, PML-Q Provincial President Amir Muqam and General Secretary Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani failed to reach the NWFP Assembly. Former provincial minister Sanaullah Miankhel, Dera Ismail Khan, Wajih-uz-Zaman, Mansehra, Haji Qalandar Lodhi, Abbottabad and Muhammad Zahir Shah, Shangla, and Ghulam Muhammad, a new face from Chitral, made it to the Frontier Assembly on PML tickets.
Talking to The News, an MPA-elect said that after losing elections on two provincial assembly seats, Amir Muqam was no more interested in the party affairs in the province. He said Muqam was visiting other provinces but did not bother to convene a parliamentary party meeting of the elected MPAs in NWFP.
The party has no plan whether it would sit on the opposition or treasury benches in the NWFP Assembly, added the MPA-elect, who requested not to be named. He said that Muqam was not a politician but a contractor, who joined the ruling party just to protect his business interests and promote his construction firm.
"His interest in the Frontier politics vanished after the party failed to get considerable strength in the provincial assembly as he [Muqam] was vying for chief minister's slot," the MPA said and added that the central leadership of the PML-Q should admit the defeat and reassess its policy and role in the future politics.
"We cannot take single step without guidelines from party leaders," the MPA-elect said, adding that even the party provincial secretariat in Peshawar had been closed after general elections. "Due to lack of interest by the party provincial leadership the independent MPAs-elect like Fazlullah from Shangla and Javid Khan Tarakai from Swabi, who were openly supported by the party during election campaign, did not join the PML," he pointed out.
The Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao, on the other hand, has convened its parliamentary party meeting and elected Pervez Khan Khattak as its parliamentary party leader in the NWFP Assembly. The Sherpao group has also extended its support to the ANP-PPP coalition government in the province.
Pervez Khattak told this scribe that they were enjoying the support of five independent legislators-elect, who had met PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and extended their support to the PPP in the Frontier province. He said the party would convene another parliamentary party meeting before the maiden session of the NWFP Assembly.
(http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=13529)
The PML-Q got five provincial assembly seats in the February 18 elections in the Frontier province whereas Nighat Yasmin Orakzai, party provincial information secretary, was elected on women reserved seats.
However, PML-Q Provincial President Amir Muqam and General Secretary Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani failed to reach the NWFP Assembly. Former provincial minister Sanaullah Miankhel, Dera Ismail Khan, Wajih-uz-Zaman, Mansehra, Haji Qalandar Lodhi, Abbottabad and Muhammad Zahir Shah, Shangla, and Ghulam Muhammad, a new face from Chitral, made it to the Frontier Assembly on PML tickets.
Talking to The News, an MPA-elect said that after losing elections on two provincial assembly seats, Amir Muqam was no more interested in the party affairs in the province. He said Muqam was visiting other provinces but did not bother to convene a parliamentary party meeting of the elected MPAs in NWFP.
The party has no plan whether it would sit on the opposition or treasury benches in the NWFP Assembly, added the MPA-elect, who requested not to be named. He said that Muqam was not a politician but a contractor, who joined the ruling party just to protect his business interests and promote his construction firm.
"His interest in the Frontier politics vanished after the party failed to get considerable strength in the provincial assembly as he [Muqam] was vying for chief minister's slot," the MPA said and added that the central leadership of the PML-Q should admit the defeat and reassess its policy and role in the future politics.
"We cannot take single step without guidelines from party leaders," the MPA-elect said, adding that even the party provincial secretariat in Peshawar had been closed after general elections. "Due to lack of interest by the party provincial leadership the independent MPAs-elect like Fazlullah from Shangla and Javid Khan Tarakai from Swabi, who were openly supported by the party during election campaign, did not join the PML," he pointed out.
The Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao, on the other hand, has convened its parliamentary party meeting and elected Pervez Khan Khattak as its parliamentary party leader in the NWFP Assembly. The Sherpao group has also extended its support to the ANP-PPP coalition government in the province.
Pervez Khattak told this scribe that they were enjoying the support of five independent legislators-elect, who had met PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and extended their support to the PPP in the Frontier province. He said the party would convene another parliamentary party meeting before the maiden session of the NWFP Assembly.
(http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=13529)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Rahimdad denies rift in PPPP
PESHAWAR: Pakistan People's Party provincial president has dispelled the impression of any rift in the party ranks, saying the PPP is fully united under the leadership of its Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
Addressing a press conference here Monday, Rahimdad said the PPP was committed to work for political stability, restoration of undiluted democracy, strengthening of institutions and independent judiciary in the country.
NWFP PPP chief termed the power sharing and consensus between PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on important national issues as a landmark step towards democratic and prosperous Pakistan.
He said people wanted both parties to work jointly for finding a solution to their problems. Rahimdad demanded immediate summoning of the National and Provincial assemblies sessions to pave the way for the revival of a genuine democracy in the country.
About the formation of the coalition government at the Centre and NWFP, he said that names for the offices of speakers of NWFP and National Assembly would be announced soon, adding the PPP would also name the members from the party for the NWFP cabinet.
Highlighting his party stance on the renaming of the NWFP, Rahimdad said a consensus among people from every walk of life was a must before changing the name of the province. "People of Hindko-dominated areas such as Hazara and Dera Ismail Khan will be taken into confidence in this regard," he added. The PPP provincial chief requested the media to play a role in bringing people closer through creating the message of hope and unity.
Addressing a press conference here Monday, Rahimdad said the PPP was committed to work for political stability, restoration of undiluted democracy, strengthening of institutions and independent judiciary in the country.
NWFP PPP chief termed the power sharing and consensus between PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on important national issues as a landmark step towards democratic and prosperous Pakistan.
He said people wanted both parties to work jointly for finding a solution to their problems. Rahimdad demanded immediate summoning of the National and Provincial assemblies sessions to pave the way for the revival of a genuine democracy in the country.
About the formation of the coalition government at the Centre and NWFP, he said that names for the offices of speakers of NWFP and National Assembly would be announced soon, adding the PPP would also name the members from the party for the NWFP cabinet.
Highlighting his party stance on the renaming of the NWFP, Rahimdad said a consensus among people from every walk of life was a must before changing the name of the province. "People of Hindko-dominated areas such as Hazara and Dera Ismail Khan will be taken into confidence in this regard," he added. The PPP provincial chief requested the media to play a role in bringing people closer through creating the message of hope and unity.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
ANP-led alliance gets support of 85 MPAs in NWFP
PESHAWAR: A tripartite alliance of the Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has succeeded in mustering the support of 85 MPAs-elect in the NWFP Assembly, leaving the opposition with little chances of fielding their candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker offices.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has notified the official results for 117 seats in the Frontier Assembly, including reserved seats for women and minorities in the 124-member house. Polling on three provincial constituencies had been postponed due to the deaths of candidates prior to the February 18 elections.
Besides the unambiguous support of 85 members, Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) has also extended its unconditional support to the PPP, while Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has yet to decide its future role in the assembly.
The ANP's strength reached to 46 MPAs-elect in the assembly after the inclusion of nine women lawmakers on reserved seats and one minority MPA.
Five independents formally joined the nationalist party while two independents, Malik Hayat from Dir and Mehboob Alam from Kohistan, announced their support to the ANP.
The PPP, which had initially secured 18 general seats, is now enjoying the support of 30 MPAs-elect in the assembly after six independents joined the party, while six on the women reserved seats and one on minority have also been elected to the provincial assembly.
The PML-N enjoys the support of nine members, who would back the ANP-PPP coalition government in the province. Likewise, PPP-S has shown its unconditional support to the PPP in the province. Two independents, Murid Kazim of Dera Ismail Khan and Habibur Rehman Tanoli associated with the PPP-S in the past, would support their party.
After ANP and PPP, the MMA emerged as the third largest party with 14 members in the House.
The tally of independent MPAs has shrunk to six from 22. Pakistan Muslim League-Q, with six MPAs-elect, would have no other option but to sit on the opposition benches in the 117-member assembly.
On November 27, 2002, the combined opposition had proposed the names of Syed Qalb-e-Hasan of the ANP and Nighat Yasmin Aurakzai of the PML-Q for the offices of speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, against the MMA's Bakht Jehan Khan and Ikramullah Shahid.
The ANP, PPP, PPP-S and PML-Q had formed the combined opposition against the religious parties' alliance at that time.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has notified the official results for 117 seats in the Frontier Assembly, including reserved seats for women and minorities in the 124-member house. Polling on three provincial constituencies had been postponed due to the deaths of candidates prior to the February 18 elections.
Besides the unambiguous support of 85 members, Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) has also extended its unconditional support to the PPP, while Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has yet to decide its future role in the assembly.
The ANP's strength reached to 46 MPAs-elect in the assembly after the inclusion of nine women lawmakers on reserved seats and one minority MPA.
Five independents formally joined the nationalist party while two independents, Malik Hayat from Dir and Mehboob Alam from Kohistan, announced their support to the ANP.
The PPP, which had initially secured 18 general seats, is now enjoying the support of 30 MPAs-elect in the assembly after six independents joined the party, while six on the women reserved seats and one on minority have also been elected to the provincial assembly.
The PML-N enjoys the support of nine members, who would back the ANP-PPP coalition government in the province. Likewise, PPP-S has shown its unconditional support to the PPP in the province. Two independents, Murid Kazim of Dera Ismail Khan and Habibur Rehman Tanoli associated with the PPP-S in the past, would support their party.
After ANP and PPP, the MMA emerged as the third largest party with 14 members in the House.
The tally of independent MPAs has shrunk to six from 22. Pakistan Muslim League-Q, with six MPAs-elect, would have no other option but to sit on the opposition benches in the 117-member assembly.
On November 27, 2002, the combined opposition had proposed the names of Syed Qalb-e-Hasan of the ANP and Nighat Yasmin Aurakzai of the PML-Q for the offices of speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, against the MMA's Bakht Jehan Khan and Ikramullah Shahid.
The ANP, PPP, PPP-S and PML-Q had formed the combined opposition against the religious parties' alliance at that time.
22 cities hit harder by high prices
ISLAMABAD • The State Bank of Pakistan data has revealed that nine cities of the Punjab, four of North west Frontier Province, six of Sindh and three of Balochistan remained the worst hit by inflation in 2007-08.
These cities faced more than six percent increase lit the aggregate inflation hitting all baskets of consumption while the rest of the country was subjected to more than 5.4 percent hike, the latest SBP data shows.
Income Group-wise Inflation rate examined by the SBP during January 2008 reveals that inflation for various income groups, three out of four income categories have experienced higher than the overall average Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation: general, food and non-food.
The only category that displayed lower inflation than the overall CPI inflation was the income group earning Rs12,000 or above.
The highest Year on Year (YoY) CPI inflation was recorded for the income group of up to Rs3,000 that recorded double-digit inflation for the fourth consecutive month (14.7 per cent), followed by income group of Rs3,001 to
5,000(14.5 per cent) and income group Rs5,001 to 12,000 (13.0 per cent) while the highest income group, with incomes above Rs12,000, experienced the lowest inflation in all categories (10.2 per cent). City-wise data of income groups exhibits that the lowest YoY inflation was recorded in Rawalpindi by the group with income up to Rs3,000 followed by Sialkot (for the group with incomes in the range of Rs3,001 to 5,000, and for the group with income in the range of Rs5,001 to 12,000).
Rawalpindi recorded the lowest inflation for the income groups with earnings of above Rs12,000 per month. The highest YoY inflation was recorded in Bannu for all income groups.
In all, price hike data of 35 most impacted cities was examined, to find that 25 cities were in the category of high-inflation towns. The data exhibited that the highest level of year-to-year inflation was recorded in Bannu.
The inflation in CPI of January 2008 in the following cities showed on the extreme: Bannu, Attock, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Nawabshah, Jhelum, Khuzdar, Karachi, Shahdadpur, Bahawalpur, Samundari, Okara, Vehari, Lahore, Loralai, Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Islamabad, Turbat, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Larkana, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mardan, Gujranwala, Abbotabad, Mirpur Khas, Kunri, Dera Ismail Khan, Jhang, Multan Quetta, Faisalabad and Peshawar.
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