Israel strike on Iran would spell doom for US Empire: Analyst

<p style="text-align: justify;">TEHRAN:If Israel launches a military attack on Iran, it will end the US Empire which might be more accurately termed as the New World Order bankster empire, a political analyst says.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">“If Netanyahu attacks Iran and succeeds in dragging the US and Russia into the war, this week could witness not just the end of the US Empire, but the beginning of the end of civilization,” Kevin Barrett, a professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, wrote in an article for Press TV website.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">He added that while irrational attachment to Israel has lured the Empire into a series of disastrous attacks on Muslim-majority states, US President Barack Obama has thus far resisted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders to attack Iran.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">“The US is still doing the bidding of the Zionist bankster oligarchs who are the real power behind the Western throne. And those oligarchs – or at least the hawkish among them – are still pushing for world war,” the analyst said.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">He said the oligarch hawks and the Israeli premier as their front man, frustrated by US resistance to attacking Iran, are trying to start World War III in less direct fashion.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">“Now, with the great powers on hair-trigger alert, Netanyahu, who has spent $3 billion preparing a go-it-alone plan to attack Iran, can light the fuse of World War III any time he chooses,” Barrett explained.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">He pointed to the Malaysian Flight 370 incident and suggested it might have been an attempt to inflame Western public opinion against Iran.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">Following the disappearance of the Malaysian plane, many American and Zionist propaganda outlets focused suspicion on a fabricated story about two Iranian men who supposedly boarded Flight 370 on stolen passports, he added.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">The commentator pointed to the apparent photoshopping of the two Iranians boarding Malaysian Flight 370 and asked, “Was this yet another attempt to incite wars against Israel's enemies?”</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">“Even if the Empire's lunatic fringe [the Israel-centric neoconservatives] is stymied this week, they will have many future opportunities to wreak havoc – unless relatively rational Western leaders, assuming that any exist, decide to expose the neocons' gravest misdeeds and put an end to their reckless warmongering,” Barrett concluded.</p>

Israel strike on Iran would spell doom for US Empire: Analyst

TEHRAN:If Israel launches a military attack on Iran, it will end the US Empire which might be more accurately termed as the New World Order bankster empire, a political analyst says.“If Netanyahu attacks Iran and succeeds in dragging the US and Russia into the war, this week could witness not just t…

Read more »

Berlin:LUMS'S student visited Pakistan Embassy

BERLIN:A group of students of Dramatic Society(Drama line) from the Lahore University of Managements Sciences(LUMS) visited Pakistan Embassy and called on Charge d' Affairs Dr. Mazhar Javed. Earlier, the students presented a performance on Traditional Pakistani Wedding ceremonies at Nowruz-Spring Festival organized by the Museum of Ethnology and the German Foreign Office in Berlin. Nine Embassies of Central Asian countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran participated in this event and presented their respective cultural and traditional music and food

Berlin:LUMS'S student visited Pakistan Embassy

BERLIN:A group of students of Dramatic Society(Drama line) from the Lahore University of Managements Sciences(LUMS) visited Pakistan Embassy and called on Charge d' Affairs Dr. Mazhar Javed. Earlier, the students presented a performance on Traditional Pakistani Wedding ceremonies at Nowruz-Spring Fe…

Read more »

Pakistanis in UAE celebrated National Day with gaiety and fervor

ABU DHABI:Pakistani nationals in the Abu Dhabi celebrated their National Day with gaiety and fervor.His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture,Youth Affairs and Community Development was the c<a href="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/UAE4.jpg"><img alt="UAE4" class="wp-image-525 alignright" height="364" src="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/UAE4-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a>hief guest at a reception hosted by Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Asif Durrani in celebration of Pakistan's National Day. The reception was attended by large number of senior UAE officials, heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of the Pakistani community in the UAE.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/UAE2.jpg"><img alt="UAE2" class=" wp-image-524 alignleft" height="223" src="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/UAE2-300x200.jpg" width="335" /></a><br/><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Asif Durrani recalled the struggle of the nation's forefathers and saluted their vision, under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to establish a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">He said that Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have deep-rooted,historic, fraternal relations that began with the creation of the UAE and that have gone from strength to strength with each passing year. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif accords highest priority to Pakistan's relations with the UAE, particularly in trade and investment, he said.</p><br/><p style="text-align: justify;">Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates cooperate closely in a wide range of issues ranging from economy, investment, trade, and labour to education,defense, and culture.On this occasion, the Ambassador invited investors to enter Pakistani markets and benefit from the attractive investment policies of the present government. Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), the apex body of engineers and contractors from Pakistan and co-sponsor of the reception, arranged an exhibition showcasing their products and services.During the reception, students of Pakistani schools in Abu Dhabi presented a cultural performance which included folk dances and tableau.</p><br/> 

Pakistanis in UAE celebrated National Day with gaiety and fervor

ABU DHABI:Pakistani nationals in the Abu Dhabi celebrated their National Day with gaiety and fervor.His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture,Youth Affairs and Community Development was the chief guest at a reception hosted by Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Asif Durrani in ce…

Read more »

Pakistan Day Special Memorial Service held at the Westminster Abbey

LONDON: In keeping with past practice, the Westminster Abbey organized a special Evensong to coincide with the occasion of National Day of Pakistan. The special Memorial Service was held on Monday. Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Mr.Wajid Shamsul Hasan accompanied by officers of the High Commission and their spouses besides a number of local persons attended the event.<br/><br/>Special prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and its people as well as for the continued friendship between the two countries. From the High Commission, Deputy High Commissioner Muhammad Imran Mirza read out excerpts from the Bible.

Pakistan Day Special Memorial Service held at the Westminster Abbey

LONDON: In keeping with past practice, the Westminster Abbey organized a special Evensong to coincide with the occasion of National Day of Pakistan. The special Memorial Service was held on Monday. Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Mr.Wajid Shamsul Hasan accompanied by officers of the High Commissio…

Read more »

Being Christian is not a crime: RoulaGhani

Kabul: In an interview with Foreign Policy Mrs. RouylaGhani stated her views about Afghanistan’s political future and her husband’s programs for the country’s development.<br/><br/>In answer to first question about her husband’s main program she said:<br/><br/>“Dr. Ashraf Ghani has a very intellectual approach to his country’s affairs and believes in cooperation with all countries in the world for Political and economic reconstruction in Afghanistan. He believes that there is no reason to cut relations with any country in the world and just setting up a relationship with them is important. Dr. Ashraf Ghani believes that both Palestine and Israel should Simultaneously have representation in Kabul and there is no political obstacle in the way.”<br/><br/>She added: “although I couldn’t live in Afghanistan during my marriage, I am familiar with Afghans’ behaviors and, as the country’s first lady; I can easily communicate with the public, especially women.”<br/><br/>In response to the question of whether you, as a Christian, would have any problem in playing the role of presidential spouse in a country with more than 99 percent of Muslims, she said: “being Christian is not a crime; however, my mother is a Jew. I believe that Afghan women have converted to Islam under pressure, because there have not been another way. If you describe Christianity for them, no doubt, more than half of them will be converted to this religion. During past ten years, I have indirectly supported the works of some Evangelical Christian groups in the central, northern regions as well as Kabul.<br/><br/>If I am present in presidential palace, surely I will expand this job. Because Afghan people should know that Christianity isn’t what Mullahs have told them. Women's freedom will be so sweet on its own that will solve the issue of my Christianity.

Being Christian is not a crime: RoulaGhani

Kabul: In an interview with Foreign Policy Mrs. RouylaGhani stated her views about Afghanistan’s political future and her husband’s programs for the country’s development.In answer to first question about her husband’s main program she said:“Dr. Ashraf Ghani has a very intellectual approach to his c…

Read more »

RFE/RL's Baghdad Bureau Chief Shot Dead

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi presidential guard has shot dead the Baghdad bureau chief of RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI), Mohammed Bdaiwi Owaid.<br/>The shooting occurred on March 22 at the gate of the compound housing RFI's offices in Jadriyah neighborhood.<br/>Witnesses said Owaid was driving his car through the guarded gate, when he had a verbal argument over the right of passage with a member of the Kurdish peshmerga forces traveling in a vehicle. The officer shot Owaid before fleeing the scene.<br/>The peshmerga militia is responsible for guarding the compound controlled by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, an ethnic Kurd, which also houses the presidential residence as well as offices and private residences.<br/>Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki met briefly with members of Owaid's family at the scene of the killing, and promised them to bring the killer to justice.<br/>Maliki later followed the head of Baghdad security forces into the office of the unit guarding the compound. Two attack helicopters were seen hovering over the area.<br/>Media activists held a demonstration in the area of the shooting.

RFE/RL's Baghdad Bureau Chief Shot Dead

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi presidential guard has shot dead the Baghdad bureau chief of RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI), Mohammed Bdaiwi Owaid.The shooting occurred on March 22 at the gate of the compound housing RFI's offices in Jadriyah neighborhood.Witnesses said Owaid was driving his car through the guard…

Read more »

AFP reporter Sardar Ahmad killed in Kabul hotel attack

KABUL:Sardar Ahmad, a staff reporter at the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, was killed in a Taliban attack on Kabul's Serena hotel, it was confirmed Friday.<br/><br/>Ahmad, 40, was shot dead along with his wife and two of his three children when four teenage gunmen attacked the hotel on Thursday evening.<br/><br/><iframe src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/c/embed/192a67ce-d83f-4dbf-af9d-30a451a87168" height="360" width="480" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe><br/><br/>An AFP staff photographer identified the four bodies at a city hospital and said the family's youngest son was undergoing emergency treatment after being badly wounded in the attack.<br/><br/>Four teenage gunmen with pistols hidden in their socks managed to penetrate several layers of security to attack the hotel, a prestigious venue favoured by foreign visitors to the capital, on Thursday night.<br/><br/>The assault came on the eve of Nawroz, the Persian New Year which is a major holiday in Afghanistan, and the hotel was hosting special celebrations.<br/><br/>Hired in 2003 to cover daily briefings by the US-led coalition at Bagram airbase, Ahmad went on to become AFP's senior reporter in Kabul, covering all aspects of life, war and politics in his native country.<br/><br/>He was a specialist in security issues, with strong contacts on both the government and Taliban sides, allowing him to file balanced stories on the complex conflict wracking Afghanistan.<br/><br/>Ahmad was a versatile journalist with an eye for unexpected stories that opened a window on life in Afghanistan away from the bombs and blast walls.<br/><br/>His last feature for AFP, filed on Tuesday, was about a lion rescued by animal welfare officials from living on a rooftop in Kabul -- a follow-up to a story Ahmad himself broke last year.<br/><br/>His time covering the briefings at Bagram allowed Ahmad to achieve an impressive level of fluency in English -- and a distinctive American accent.<br/><br/>Outside AFP, Ahmad founded the successful Kabul Pressistan local news agency which provided fixing and translation services for numerous foreign reporters coming to Kabul.<br/><br/>A total of nine people were killed in Thursday's attack, officials said, including four foreigners.<br/><br/>The Afghan interior ministry spokesman said that while investigations were ongoing, the details of the assault pointed to a lapse of hotel security.

AFP reporter Sardar Ahmad killed in Kabul hotel attack

KABUL:Sardar Ahmad, a staff reporter at the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, was killed in a Taliban attack on Kabul's Serena hotel, it was confirmed Friday.Ahmad, 40, was shot dead along with his wife and two of his three children when four teenage gunmen attacked the hotel on Thursday eveni…

Read more »

Supreme Court instructed inquiry into UK Journalist home Qabaz by judge

<a href="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/awaazlogo.jpg"><img alt="awaazlogo" class="aligncenter wp-image-499" height="177" src="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/awaazlogo-300x96.jpg" width="558" /></a>LONDON: Justice Tasdiq Gillani, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan <a href="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/safdarbhatti-1.jpg"><img alt="safdarbhatti-1" class="size-medium wp-image-500 alignright" height="300" src="http://www.awaazdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/safdarbhatti-1-248x300.jpg" width="248" /></a>instructed an enquiry into the Qabza group run by Safdar Bhatti additional session judge Lahore. An official at Supreme Court of Pakistan, Human Rights Cell told senior British Journalist Dr Shahid Qureshi that his home Qabza case by Safdar Bhatti has been referred to the District and Session Judge Lahore for enquiry and submit report with two weeks on 10^th March 20014’. Supreme Court case reference number is: 4354 – E-2014.<br/><br/>The case was presented to the Justice Tasdiq Gillani, Chief Justice Supreme of Pakistan who instructed director of human rights cell at the Supreme Court to immediately instruct District and Session Judge Lahore to submit report on the matter within two weeks. A senior District and Session Judge head the human rights cell.<br/><br/>While speaking on a British Radio program News26 on Friday 14^th March 2014, Shafqat Choan President Lahore High Court Bar Association said, ‘I will take up this matter with Chief Justice Lahore and expose this additional session judge Safdar Bhatti’. All the relevant documents have been sent to the Lahore High Court Bar Association Secretary Mohammad Ahmad. Mr Ahmad said, ‘It will be discussed in the bar meeting’<br/><br/>Family of Senior British journalist rented his house (built in 2004) on the request and guarantee of Safdar Bhatti to his close friend Javeed Iqbal Hashmi and his younger brother Mukthar Bhatti signed as a guarantor on the tenancy agreement which was duly submitted to the Johar Town Police Station as required by the law and terrorist threat.<br/><br/>Since Mr Safdar Bhatti moved in the area in 2006 cases of land grabbing and Qabza group activities skyrocketed as reported in Pakistani media.<br/><br/>While speaking to senior journalist Dr Shahid Qureshi Senator Zafar Ali Shah senior vice president of PML-N said: ‘I will raise this matter in the Senate as question the government of Punjab to submit a report immediately<br/><br/>Shafqat Mahmood MNA also told Dr Shahid Qureshi that: ‘he would submit question in the National Assembly as an urgent matter and problem overseas Pakistanis are facing due to the criminal activities of these groups”.<br/><br/>Dr Ashraf Chohan former MPA also submitted a question on the issue in Punjab Assembly. Dr Chohan strongly condemned this qabza by additional session judge Safdar Bhatti in ARY TV Channel popular show Khara Such with Mubashar Luqman (pure truth) aired on 4^th March 2014.<br/><br/>Earlier on HE Wajid Shasulhassan , High Commissioner of Pakistan in London also wrote to the Governor of Punjab Mohammad Sarwar but these qabza mafias are too strong for a Governor and CM Punjab?<br/><br/>It is to be noted that President British/Pakistan lawyers association and legal advisor Pakistan Journalist Association UK Barrister Amjad Mailk referred this case to the Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan on behalf of the Dr Shahid Qureshi.<br/><br/> 

Supreme Court instructed inquiry into UK Journalist home Qabaz by judge

LONDON: Justice Tasdiq Gillani, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan instructed an enquiry into the Qabza group run by Safdar Bhatti additional session judge Lahore. An official at Supreme Court of Pakistan, Human Rights Cell told senior British Journalist Dr Shahid Qureshi that his home Qabza…

Read more »

Crimea declares independence

The Supreme Council of the Crimea adopted a decree "On the independence of the Crimea."<br/><br/>"The extraordinary plenary session of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea, on March 17, 2014 adopted the resolution "On the independence of the Crimea." Eighty-five deputies voted for the document," the press-center of the Supreme Council of the Crimea said.<br/><br/>The adopted document also states that the Republic of the Crimea in the face of the Supreme Council addresses the Russian Federation with a proposal to accept the Crimean Republic in the structure of the Russian Federation as a new entity with a status of a republic.<br/><br/>The adopted document states: "The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea, on the basis of direct will of the peoples of the Crimea expressed at the referendum of 16 March 2014, which showed that the people of the Crimea want to join Russia, and, consequently, separate from Ukraine and create an independent state, guided by the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Crimea, adopted at an extraordinary plenary session of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on March 11, 2014, and the extraordinary plenary session of Sevastopol City Council on March 11, 2014, decides: to proclaim the Crimea an independent sovereign state - the Republic of the Crimea, in which the city of Sevastopol has a special status."<br/><br/> <br/><br/> 

Crimea declares independence

The Supreme Council of the Crimea adopted a decree "On the independence of the Crimea.""The extraordinary plenary session of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea, on March 17, 2014 adopted the resolution "On the independence of the Crimea." Eighty-five deputies voted for the …

Read more »

Ticker only in ticker

Ticker only in ticker

…

Read more »

Pakistan and pakistan and what again pakistan

Thank you very much

Pakistan and pakistan and what again pakistan

Thank you very much…

Read more »

Syrian army captures strategic border town

DAMASCUS:Syrian forces, backed by Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, are in full control of Yabroud after clearing out rebels holed up in the strategic Syrian town for months, Syrian state media and opposition activists have reported.<br/><br/>Capturing Yabroud, the last major rebel bastion near the Lebanese border north of Damascus, will help President Bashar al-Assad secure the land route linking his Mediterranean coastal stronghold with the capital Damascus, and choke off a cross-border rebel supply line from Lebanon.<br/><br/>"The Syrian army is now in full control of the town of Yabroud in Damascus [province] and are now combing through the city and dismantling the roadside bombs planted by terrorists," SANA news agency reported on Sunday.<br/><br/>"We took total control of the town ," an army officer confirmed to the AFP news media as visibly exhausted soldiers rested on pavements lining the streets.<br/><br/>"This was the most difficult battle we have fought because the rebels were in mountains surrounding the town, and in buildings in Yabrud," the officer said.<br/><br/>"First we had to occupy the hills, and then on Saturday we entered the town through the east, up to the sports centre. Today we finished the work."<br/><br/>A military source told the Reuters news agency that most of the rebels had pulled out of Yabroud around dawn on Sunday, a day after pro-government forces had entered eastern districts of the town and captured several strategic hilltops in the surrounding Qalamoun mountains.<br/><br/>Abu al-Huda al-Homsi, an activist in Qalamoun, told Al Jazeera that the Syrian regime soldiers and Hezbollah stormed into Yabroud under a cover of heavy aerial and artillery bombardment.<br/><br/>"They used a scorched-earth policy, showering us with tens of shells every day until he fighters were forced to withdraw," he said.<br/><br/>But a spokesman for the rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda's official affiliate in Syria, said Assad's forces had not captured the city and that fighting was continuing on the outskirts of Yabroud.<br/><br/><b>Fighters flee</b><br/><br/>A fighter in Yabroud from Jabhat al-Nusra said the rebels were heading towards nearby rebel-held villages including Hosh Arab, Rankous and Flita.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, a Lebanese military source was quoted by Lebanese local channel LBC on Sunday as saying that more than 1,000 fighters fled to the mountainous border area near the Lebanese town of Arsal, a crossing point 20km to the northwest which rebels and refugees have used regularly.<br/><br/>The Jabhat al-Nusra fighter, however, told Reuters the rebels did not plan to withdraw to Arsal.<br/><br/>Ahmad Fliti, the vice mayor of Arsal, told Al Jazeera that the Syrian airforce launched two strikes on the outskirts of Arsal on Sunday. The Sunni town has been exposed to frequent aerial bombardment by the Syrian regime over the past year.<br/><br/>Al-Manar TV, the mouthpiece for Hezbollah, which spearheaded the fight to dislodge fighters from Yabroud, aired footage showing soldiers searching the town.With the fall of Yabroud, Hezbollah managed to sever a key rebel supply line to Arsal.

Syrian army captures strategic border town

DAMASCUS:Syrian forces, backed by Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, are in full control of Yabroud after clearing out rebels holed up in the strategic Syrian town for months, Syrian state media and opposition activists have reported.Capturing Yabroud, the last major rebel bastion near the Lebanese border…

Read more »

Rs7m spent on ex-CJ’s temporary residence

ISLAMABAD: After his retirement last December, former Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has comfortably settled into a government house next to his old official residence for six months. However, what is disturbing is that the renovation and maintenance work done at his ‘temporary’ abode has cost over Rs7 million.<br/><br/>According to official details of renovation and maintenance at the residence of the former CJ available with Dawn, the amount has been spent on the purchase of new furniture, bathroom fittings, curtains, wooden floor and rugs.<br/><br/>Just the purchase of new furniture cost Rs1.6m and renovation of bathrooms ran up a bill of Rs1.4m.<br/><br/>The ex-chief justice, who retired on Dec 11, left his former official residence and was given house No 12 in the Judicial Enclave, where a judge of the apex court was residing.<br/><br/>According to official details of renovation work, Rs1.6m was spent on the purchase of new furniture, Rs1.4m utilised on renovation of bathrooms, Rs0.6m on bathroom fittings, Rs0.27m on whitewashing, Rs0.75m on purchase of new curtains, Rs0.15m on supply of new rugs, Rs0.6m on construction of a shed, Rs0.35m on laying of wooden floor, Rs0.35m on purchase of floor tiles, Rs0.25m on roof treatment and Rs0.2m on purchase and fixing of marble slabs.<br/><br/>It has been learnt that some of the work is still in progress and the details of these expenses will be known later.<br/><br/>The opposition has already obtained information about what it termed ‘extravagance’ committed in the name of maintenance and brought the matter to the notice of parliament.<br/><br/>An inside source said the former CJ, who gave a number of historical decisions during his five-year term in office, asked for renovation and maintenance work in his present official residence soon after he shifted his family there.<br/><br/>The order was conveyed to the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), which is responsible for maintenance work in many government buildings, including the Prime Minister House, the Presidency, Supreme Court building, Ministers’ Enclave and Judicial Enclave.<br/><br/>However, a senior official of the Pak PWD, under whose domain the Judicial Enclave fell, refused to carry out heavy maintenance work in the residence. He said he did not have the funds required to meet the expenses of the extraordinary maintenance work.<br/><br/>Later the case was referred to the Pak PWD headquarters and the department’s top brass gave approval for the work.<br/><br/>The Pak PWD Director General, Attaul Haq Akhtar, said he was not aware of any expenditure in the house of the former CJ. He, however, said it would not be around Rs7m. “Normally we carry out petty maintenance work at government houses but not for that huge [an] amount. How is it possible that Rs7m have been spent on the maintenance of a three-bedroom house?”<br/><br/>The DG said whatever amount had been spent on the residence of the former CJ had not been approved by him. “I have neither seen any such estimates nor approved them,” he claimed.<br/><br/>In reply to a query, Mr Akhtar said the former CJ has been provided a house in the Judicial Enclave for six months, for which he was authorised.<br/><br/><strong>Opposition curious</strong><br/><br/>An opposition politician, Senator Farhatullah Babar, said he had sent a question to the Senate Secretariat asking for details of the amount spent on lodging, security and stay of the former CJ in his new house. “We have already invoked parliamentary instruments to find the truth behind reports of extravagance at public expense in massaging the ego of individuals. We will then [raise] the issue in parliament appropriately,” he added.<br/><br/>“One is not surprised given the well-known penchant of the former CJ for protocol, security, pomp and show,” Mr Babar said.<br/><br/>Supreme Court Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain told Dawn he was not aware of the maintenance and renovation work.<br/><br/>The registrar agreed that he would reply to queries on the renovation work if they were e-mailed to him, but was unable to answer them even two weeks after the questions were sent to him.<br/><br/>“I have checked such kind of renovation work at my end but could not find anything. I came to know that all such details would be available with PWD so it is better to contact the PWD people to confirm your report,” the registrar told this reporter.On the other hand, sources said the registrar was fully aware of the work done in the residence of the former CJ because he was coordinating with officials of Pak PWD on the matter.<br/><br/>Information Minister Pervez Rashid, who also holds the portfolio of law, was reluctant to comment on the issue, saying he was not aware of any such renovation and maintenance work.<br/><br/>He, however, said that maybe the condition of the official residence provided to Mr Chaudhry required such a heavy maintenance work. “If such a heavy amount has been spent on that house, even then it would be considered as value addition to an official residence that would be handed over to any other judge after six months’ stay of the former CJ.”

Rs7m spent on ex-CJ’s temporary residence

ISLAMABAD: After his retirement last December, former Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has comfortably settled into a government house next to his old official residence for six months. However, what is disturbing is that the renovation and maintenance work done at his ‘tempora…

Read more »

US warns Russia against further military moves in Ukraine

WASHINGTON:Top US officials warned against further Russian military aggression into eastern Ukraine as Americans and Western allies prepared to slap more sanctions on Russian officials and to protect the new government in Kiev.<br/><br/>Sanctions could be announced as soon as Monday, officials said, and would send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin following Sunday's vote on a Russian-backed referendum to split Crimea from Ukraine. The US rejected the vote and top lawmakers called it a sham.<br/><br/>"We are putting as much pressure on the Russians as we can to do the right thing," Dan Pfeiffer, a senior adviser at the White House, said Sunday on "Meet the Press."<br/><br/>White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a statement rejecting Sunday's referendum in the Crimean region and called Russia actions "dangerous and destabilizing."

US warns Russia against further military moves in Ukraine

WASHINGTON:Top US officials warned against further Russian military aggression into eastern Ukraine as Americans and Western allies prepared to slap more sanctions on Russian officials and to protect the new government in Kiev.Sanctions could be announced as soon as Monday, officials said, and would…

Read more »

TXT

TXT

…

Read more »