PML-N submits privilege motion against Altaf Hussain

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday submitted a privilege motion against the statements issued by Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

At least 87 PML-N members signed the privilege motion which was submitted in the National Assembly Secretariat.

The motion says that the statement issued by Altaf Hussain is against the spirit of democracy and the sanctity of the parliament. The motion will be forwarded to the national assembly’s standing committee on privilege.

President Zardari slams MQM chief’s pro-martial law statement

Reacting to MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s support to martial law to weed out corrupt politicians and feudal lords, President Asif Ali Zardari said no one in his right mind will want to take this responsibility and that only democracy can carry this yoke.

In an interview to Western journalists,  Zardari denied that the country’s worst humanitarian disaster would impair the military’s fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants, conducted under US pressure in the northwest.

The president called on Washington to make more efforts to win over hearts and minds from entrenched anti-Americanism, such as by reducing tariffs on cotton exports.

Zardari denied that the country’s worst humanitarian disaster would impair the military’s fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Musharraf’s political party launched

KARACHI: With self-exiled retired General Pervez Musharraf as its chief, the All-Pakistan Muslim League was launched by his close aides here on Tuesday.

Equating the present situation with that of 1906 when the All-India Muslim League was launched, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, a central leader of the new party, said that as the AIML overcame hurdles on its way to success, “God willing, ours would also become a popular political party and play its role in Pakistan’s progress.”

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club with retired Major-General Rashid Qureshi, another central leader of the party, Mr Saif said the party was against hereditary politics and would carry out its politics in a democratic manner to serve the people.

MQM opposes VAT, seeks power tariff hike withdrawal

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has expressed reservations over the government’s plan to impose the value-added tax and called for withdrawal of the recent increase in the electricity tariff for consumers in Karachi.

The issues were raised during a meeting between an MQM’s parliamentary delegation, headed by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar, and the government’s team of finance managers led by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, sources told Dawn on Saturday.

MQM’s legislators urged the government to accord priority to the mass transit system for Karachi. The finance minister had especially invited Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadimul Haq to the meeting to listen to the points in support of the mass transit system.

Opposition, MQM embarrass government in budget debate

ISLAMABAD: The government faced embarrassment in both chambers of parliament on Tuesday as not only the opposition but also its staunchest ally, the MQM, launched a blistering attack on the new budget and staged separate walkouts.

The opposition in the National Assembly called for addressing ‘structural imbalances’ in Pakistan’s economy and bringing agriculture under the tax net before it staged a walkout that was also joined by one of the government’s key allies to protest price hike and ‘visionless’ budget.

At the opening day of debate on budget in both the houses of parliament, the government suffered multiple setbacks when its economic policies came under fire from both sides of the political spectrum.