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PR
No. 161 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani contacted the son of Qazi Hussain Ahmad on telephone to inquire about the health of his father Qazi Hussain Ahmad and prayed for his early recovery. The Prime Minister also telephoned Mr. Zahir Shah, Provincial Health Minister NWFP and asked him to see Qazi Hussain Ahmad on his behalf to inquire about his health and ensure best medical care for him. **PMCO/Ahmad**
PR No. 162 “The overall vision of Population Policy is to achieve population stabilization by 2020 through the expeditious completion of the demographic transition that entails declines both in fertility and mortality rates”, says the Federal Minister for Population Welfare while talking to the journalists at Lahore. She further said that the Ministry is striving to help family planning services and improving the overall status of women. The most important of actions include: expanding family planning concept, health services, generating positive approach among public and political officials, organizing effective media campaign, improve existing service quality, involving men by providing reproductive services, strong stress on women social status and education, involving religious leaders voice to endorse the programmes and the role of donor agencies to continue to support a struggling economy. We hope that vision of the present government will help greatly improve female status in Pakistan, she further elaborated. She also informed that coupled with poor human development indicators such as low literacy, high infant mortality and low economic growth rates, high growth rate of population will undermine efforts being undertaken to reduce poverty and to improve the standards of living of the populace. Arresting rapid population growth and achieving stabilization is a gigantic yet essential task. **SNA/Ahmad**
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi has said that the present government is fully determined to promote interfaith harmony and to remove all misunderstandings amongst the various communities living in Pakistan. He said that religion Islam teaches peace and tranquility. Pakistan is perusing the teaching of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to provide liberty and freedom to all minorities living in this country to practice their religion without fear. He added that Pakistan is lone country in the world that having less than 5% minorities, a separate full Ministry, headed by a Minister of a minority community, is working to look after the affairs of minorities including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs etc in the country. The Minister made these observations while talking to a 21-members delegation of Bishop and Ulemas of Philippine, led by Ms. Isabel G. Tobias, Secretary General, Presidential Council on Interfaith Initiatives, which called on him here today. Federal Secretary, Religious Affairs, Serwar Raza Qazalbash, President, International Islamic University, Mr. Anwar Hussain and senior officers of the Ministry were present on this occasion. He was of the opinion that peace and Islam were derived from the same root and were considered synonymous. All religions preach peace in all respects of life at individual, family, community, national and international levels, he added. The Minister viewed that the Muslims have to practice Islam as a progressive religion with emphasis on balance, due proportion and tolerance, the non Muslim need to review their role in the international politics and base it on solid foundations of justice and fair play. He informed the delegation that there should be a more enlightened and objective inter-civilizational dialogue and discourse. Once there is a greater familiarity on this account, there would be greater tolerance of the diversities and peculiarities of the cultures, values, hopes and aspiration of each other, he added. The minister further said that media can play a vital role in bringing about greater harmony and building a good equation between the Muslim World and the non-Muslim World for which there has to be a will in the formal as well as informal sector. The Minister also condemned the present wave of terrorism and informed the delegation that Pakistan is main target of terrorist’s activities but we are fighting against terrorism. In general, the Muslims in Pakistan have a firm belief in their religion and they manifest their commitment to the cause of Islam in some way or the other, he concluded. The delegation appreciated the efforts of Pakistan for fighting against terrorism and promoting of interfaith harmony in the country. They also lauded the govt of Pakistan for providing equal opportunities and facilities to the minorities in Pakistan. **AJM/Ahmad**
PR No. 164 The Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Recalling the Tehran Declaration adopted at the conclusion of the first Trilateral Summit of Heads of States of the three countries held in Tehran on 24 May 2009. Recalling further the decisions of the earlier meetings of Foreign Ministers and Senior Officials, in Kabul and Islamabad respectively in April 2009. Emphasizing the deep historic, religious, spiritual, cultural and commercial bonds among Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Recognizing the continued suffering of the region and its people from insecurity, terrorism, extremism, arms trafficking and drugs smuggling. Acknowledging the common vision and aspiration of the peoples of the three countries for durable peace and prosperity. Affirming the deep desire of the three Governments to promote to this end, mutually beneficial stability and development. Underscoring the salience of trilateral cooperation for achieving common objectives and stressing in this regard, the need to commence substantive work within the trilateral framework. Reaffirming commitment to uphold the principles of the UN Charter. SECURITY AND STABILITY Agree that regional stability and security can only be advanced through sincere and strict adherence to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of each other as well as respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Affirm that the three countries bear a shared and common responsibility for security and stability in the region. Commit not to allow their territories to be used for activities detrimental to each other’s interests. Acknowledge that terrorism poses a common challenge that could only be addressed through concerted efforts. Reiterate their desire to supplement national counter terrorism efforts through trilateral intelligence sharing and greater coordination and cooperation at the operational plane. Support Afghan national process of promoting national reconciliation and reintegration in accordance with the Constitution of Afghanistan, and stress that any initiative in this regard must be Afghan-led and Afghan-driven. Commit to further deepen cooperation to interdict trafficking of narcotics and precursors, arrest cross-border illegal flow of weapons and check trans-national organized crime, by among other means, strengthening national capacities to address these challenges. DEVELOPMENT Reaffirm commitment to play their due role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and stress the importance of creating conditions within Afghanistan conducive to the safe, voluntary, gradual and dignified return and reintegration of Afghan refugees with the support of the international community. Agree further to enhance regional connectivity through establishment and development of energy and transport corridors and to encourage participation by respective private sectors in regional development programmes and undertaking joint ventures. Encourage exchange of views, sharing of best practices and project-based cooperation in the areas of energy, transport, industry, mining, agriculture, livestock and environment. Agree to commence preparations for establishing trilateral economic, industrial and planning commissions, as well as launch of feasibility study on Joint Investment Fund to support trilateral projects. REGIONAL PROCESSES Support on-going regional processes aimed at developing a regional consensus for peace, security, stability and development. Strongly believe that their trilateral cooperation is the key to regional peace and stability and reiterate their commitment to strengthen this cooperation. Stress that these processes must be indigenous, and have the ownership of all immediate neighbours of Afghanistan. Stress that international engagements on Afghanistan must underscore the importance of Afghanistan’s ownership of its own plans and priorities. Stress further that any regional or international conference should acknowledge the salience of their trilateral engagement and cooperation for achieving common objectives and lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. IMPLEMENTATION To oversee the implementation of the trilateral agenda, the Foreign Ministers agree to establish expeditiously a Joint Committee of National Coordinators. The Committee will be headed by Deputy Foreign Ministers of the three sides, who may co-opt experts, as needed, for promoting cooperation in specific sectors. This Committee will also determine practical measures and chalk out the timetable for the holding of specialized meetings. In pursuance of the Tehran Declaration, the Foreign Ministers reiterated the Summit decision to hold the Second Trilateral Summit in Islamabad at the earliest. Agree that prior to the Summit, trilateral meetings of the Ministers for Interior would be held in Islamabad, Ministers for Finance/ Commerce in Kabul and Security/ Intelligence Chiefs in Tehran. Further agree to pursue holding of Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan and its immediate neighbours following the Trilateral Summit. Done in Islamabad, on 16 January 2010.
PR No. 165 The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry spent a busy day in Karachi today. Various delegations of lawyers called upon Chief Justice. The delegation of lawyers led by Mr. Mahmood-ul-Hassan and Mr. Rashid A. Rizvi called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan alongwith other leading lawyers. The Chief Justice of Pakistan exchanged views with the lawyers about the challenges faced by the judicial machinery in the country. He asked the lawyers to suggest measures and steps to eradicate corruption from the judicial service of the country. He emphasized the need to put in all possible efforts to provide quick and cheep justice to the people at large. He expected that the lawyers community should expedite the similar enthusiasm and motivation to exhibit the proceedings of various cases as was done by them at the time of restoration of Chief Justice of Pakistan and other Hon’ble Judges of the superior courts, says a press release received from Supreme Court of Pakistan, Branch Registry, Karachi here today. Another delegation representing the elected members of Supreme Court Bar Association called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan at Branch Registry, Karachi. The delegation was led by Qazi Muhammad Anwar, President Supreme Court Bar Association. Representatives of the Association from all the four provinces including Mr. Ihsanuddin General Secretary and Mr. K.A. Wahab, Vice President were prominent among others. The members of the Association assured the Chief Justice of Pakistan their unstinted co-operation to achieve the objectives of National Judicial Policy 2009. However, the delegation strongly underlined the need to appoint judges against the vacant posts in the High Courts of the country as well as in the lower Courts. The Chief Justice of Pakistan fully endorsed the views of the members of the delegation and informed them that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will take all possible measure to expedite the appointment of judges in various High Courts of the country. The Chief Justice of Pakistan emphasized the need to tackle the backlog of cases on top priority. He told the delegation that both the Bench and Bar should expedite the cases related to violation of fundamental rights, bail matters, family cases, juvenile offences, rent matters, drug and terrorism cases. The Chief Justice of Pakistan also chaired a meeting of the Building Committee of the Supreme Court Branch Registry, Karachi. Three other members of the Committee Mr. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Mr. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Mr. Justice Ghulam Rabbani also attended. The Secretaries department of Finance, Law, Works & Services and Chief Engineer, Works & Services alongwith other relevant representatives of concerned departments attended the meeting. The Chief Justice of Pakistan expressed his satisfaction at the pace of renovation work in the Supreme Court Branch Registry which is housed in a traditional old building on M.R. Kiani Raod, Karachi in the heart of the city. Chief Justice of Pakistan along with the other members of the committee also visited the Judges Rest House at Bath Island and inspected the under construction Judges’ Lodge. He expressed the hope that the construction work will be completed within the stipulated time. The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan also directed the concerned authorities to construct detention center at the premises of the Supreme Court Branch Registry Karachi. He observed that the under trial prisoners have a lot of inconvenience during their hearing at the Supreme Court of Pakistan as they have to sit in the police vans for long hours under inhuman condition. It is also worth mentioning that the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Mr. Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany arranged a luncheon reception in the honour of the Hon’ble Chief of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the Defense Golf and Country Club. All the other Judges of the High Court were also present on the occasion.
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