Ban On Rallies Not To Curb Political Activity: Pak Govt

PAKISTAN'S MILITARY Government has clarified that the latest ban on political rallies and strikes was neither meant to curb political activity in the country nor it had any connection with President Clinton's visit.

The national political parties are an asset of the country and the military government is not working on any agenda aimed at their annihilation, Interior Minister Lt-General Moeenuddin Haider told a Press conference yesterday.

He also indicated that these restrictions might be lifted in a few weeks provided if the political parties upheld healthy traditions and desisted from activities that were detrimental to the country's economy.

We can't afford to have politics of killings, strikes and damage to state property, the Minister said adding that the government has not arrested any political leader merely because of his political activities since the military coup last year.

 

Lahore court verdict flayed: Leading lawyers and human rights activists have criticised the verdict by a Lahore court to child serial killer Javed Iqbal yesterday saying there was no example of state ordering to cut into pieces the bodies of convict and dissolve them in acid.

The country's top human rights activist and UN rapporteur Asma Jehangir said heinous acts of an individual could not be paid back through State barbarism.

This only dehumanises society and gives rise to fascist tendencies. The law in Pakistan allows interpretation of a nature imposing such punishments. This has to be tampered with mercy and justice. The ends of justice are never met through anger and emotion, she stated.

Pakistan Bar Council member and former Lahore High Court Bar Association president Hamid Khan said it was cruel and unusual punishment because the state could not match the barbarity of a convict how cruel he may be. It has to be reasonable, he said.

Sharif shifted to Naval Hospital: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, the principal accused in the plane conspiracy case, were shifted to a naval hospital, PNS Shifa, in Karachi after they had complained of health problems.

However, Nawaz Sharif was shifted back to prison after an overnight stay at the hospital after thorough medical check-up.