NRO Hearing Underway In Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court full bench hearing of petitions against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was underway here today (Tuesday).

Deputy Attorney General filed a plea from the government to expunge a contentious paragraph from the government petition.

An attorney for the federal government – Barrister Kamal Azfar – will in writing clarify his statement in court on Monday, in which he claimed before the bench that the US CIA and General Headquarters pose a threat to the government.

Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday during the hearing in his remarks said if the government fears any extra-constitutional step it should inform the court. The learned court can issue an order to this respect like it had issued on Nov. 3.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials submitted the record about withdrawal of the cases from Swiss court.

The court has summoned former Attorney General Malik Qayyum to highlight the name of the authority on whose orders the cases were withdrawn.

Supreme Court NRO Hearing Underway

ISLAMABAD: The hearing of petitions challenging the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), has been underway at Supreme Court  today.

The 17-member bench is headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

Attorney General in his statement before the court said the government will not defend the (NRO)

The learned court asked question about the status of the ordinance in the parliament and also called the text of the Prime Minister’s speech with regard to the law.

NFC Meeting Underway In Karachi

KARACHI: A two-day meeting of National Finance Commission (NFC) is underway here today with Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on the chair.

All key ministers, along with their respective finance ministers attending the meeting in addition to the private members of Mirza Abdul Ghafoor provinces including Punjab, Qaisar Bangali from Sindh, NWFP Haji Adeel and Dr. Gulfraz of Baluchistan.

NWFP team has come to Karachi to attend the two-day meeting of National Finance Commission (NFC) Tuesday after the province received the Series 10 billion rupees first of the net hydroelectric power quotas.

NWFP Humayun Khan, Minister of Finance before his departure to Karachi, told reporters that the provincial government had ordered release of Rs 10 million early in the morning after the provincial team decided to attend the meeting of the National Conference.

9 Militants Killed As Fierce Fight Underway

WANA: At least nine militants were killed and three wounded in clashes with security forces, as the Pak army settlement of the first phase of the offensive in South Waziristan, Rah-e-Nijat.

The soldiers, after an intense battle, have secured key boltholes Taliban insurgents, and move towards Makeena, Ladha and SWA Aasman MINZA areas with heavy shelling by helicopter gunships and fighter jets.

The Pakistan Army on Wednesday laid siege to the city of Ladha during the ongoing operation on a day that saw fierce street battles with the Taliban.

“The security forces advanced on the strength of the terrorists, Ladha town amid heavy fighting and street to street fighting,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Athar Abbas. He said forces were engaged in intense fighting with terrorists and has so far killed at least 10 Taliban.

The military also cleared most of Sararogha, killing at least 16 Taliban. Seven soldiers were wounded in the fighting. Narai Prato also secured 16,242 and point west of Sararogha.

Supreme Judicial Council Meeting Underway

ISLAMABAD: Meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council is taking place on Saturday, chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

On the second day of the meeting, it is expected that important decisions are taken by members of the judiciary.

Supreme Judicial Council Meeting Underway

Islamabad: The meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council launched the Supreme Court building with the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, in the chair.

The procedure of the Council on allegations of corruption and irregularities against the judge of Sindh High Court Justice Muhammad Afzal Soomro.

The meeting was attended by Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Sardar Mohammed Raza Khan, the Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mr. Justice Tariq Pervez, the Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mr. Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif and SC Secretary and Dr. Faqir Hussain SJC.

Repolling in Chhattisgarh Underway

Raipur: Re-polling was underway Monday in 25 booths in three Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh where Maoists had disrupted the electoral process Thursday.

Polling began at 7 a.m. at 20 booths in Maoist stronghold Bastar, four in Rajnandgaon and one in Korba. Poll booths will close at 3 p.m. in Bastar and at 4 p.m. in the other two constituencies.

Election officials said that 10-12 percent polling was recorded by 10.30 a.m.

Heavy security arrangements have been made, especially in Bastar, where two choppers are undertaking aerial surveillance.

Maoist rebels have called for a boycott of the parliamentary polls and threatened to chop off the hands of those casting their votes.

The state went to polls for all 11 Lok Sabha seats April 16. The Election Commission ordered the re-polling in 25 booths due to disruption of voting by Maoists.

On the day that the state went to the polls, Maoists killed seven people – five poll officials in a landmine blast in Rajnandgaon district and two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in a gunbattle in Dantewada district of Bastar region.