LHR 24-01-2012_Layout 1 1/24/2012 7:27 AM Page 1 Zardari doesn’t need Senate resolves to British woman to move court for arrest Pervez claims new immunity, says Aitzaz Musharraf on arrival Antarctic solo record PAGE 03 PAGE 22 PAGE 16 rs15.00 vol ii no 208 22 Pages lahore edition pakistantoday.com.pk tuesday, 24 january, 2012 safar 29, 1433 Mansoor Ijaz won’t be coming after all g Counsel says Ijaz is open to testifying from London or Zurich g No more chances for Ijaz please, pleads Haqqani ISLAMABAD application in the judicial commission’s fore it on January 26. Interior Min - MASOOD REHMAN secretary office to record Ijaz’s testimony ister Rehman Malik had said if the outside Pakistan with a plea that the apex committee desired, Ijaz’s name HE memo drama takes a new court had given a clear mandate in its could be included in the Exit Con - turn as the government finally order to the commission to collect evidence trol List (ECL). “It seems like a succeeded in scaring away Man - within and outside Pakistan according to well-orchestrated trap to hold Man - soor Ijaz, who has decided not to prevailing laws on the subject. Prime Min - soor Ijaz indefinitely in Pakistan appear before the three-member ister Yousaf Raza Gilani had told reporters after his deposition before the Tjudicial commission probing the contro - during his recent visit to Lahore that it commission, therefore, Ijaz versy, saying he was ready to depose before seemed as if Ijaz was some viceroy who has decided to make a re - the commission in Zurich or London in - was coming to Pakistan and the govern - quest to the commission to stead of coming to Pakistan. ment had to arrange for his security as sub - record his statement in The counsel for Ijaz, the Pakistani- servient people, also making it clear that strict compliance with the American businessman at the centre of the the government would not spend billions order of the Supreme memo controversy, expressed his reserva - on his security. Gilani categorically stated Court of Pakistan... in tions on the security arrangements meant that under the constitution and under the London or Zurich,” for his client’s appearance before the judicial system, it was the duty of the Interior Min - said Shaikh. He commission, saying his client would be istry to provide Ijaz security. added that his ready to record testimony before the com - Shaikh added that Ijaz’s arrival under client had de - mission either in London or Zurich. The protection of a station house officer (SHO) cided to file an commission had told Ijaz to appear before it as announced by the prime minister on application to personally to record his statements on Jan - Sunday was highly deplorable, adding that the commission uary 24. His counsel, Akram Shaikh, told re - Ijaz had a concrete fear that electronic ev - to record his porters at the Supreme Court building that idence in the memo case could be com - statement outside he had held a teleconference with his client pletely destroyed or tampered with. Pakistan after review - after meeting the Islamabad Police inspector Shaikh added that Ijaz was also concerned ing security arrange - general and had briefed him on security that Pakistan’s money should not be ments for his planned arrangements that had been made for him wasted and thus did not want law enforce - visit. The lawyer said he for his appearance before the commission. ment agencies to waste their money on had informed Ijaz of “fun - The statement from Shaikh ended him. “So, he wants to record his statement damental changes” in the speculations about Ijaz’s appearance be - while sitting in his office in London. He is security arrangements, fore the commission today (Tuesday). ready to tell the truth and present all grafts which he claimed were a Sheikh said his client underlined that he to the commission.” Days before Ijaz’s “stark violation” of the had been given no assurance by any person planned visit to Pakistan, the Parliamen - commission’s orders issued on behalf of the Pakistan government to - tary Committee on National Security, on January 9 and 16. wards his apprehensions about his secu - which too is investigating the memogate, Commission to deCide further on mansoor ijaz’s testimony:ag | Page 02 rity. Later on, Shaikh also filed an had issued summons to Ijaz to appear be - Continued on Page 04 mansoor’s revelations are a PubliCity stunt, says rehman malik | Page 03 US-Iran standoff to send ECP snubs SC’s fuel prices through the roof ‘electoral jurisdiction’ g Says if SC insists on delaying by-elections, it would be g Massive increase likely in POL prices from February against the law and constitution g Secretary says ECP has g Petrol price likely to be increased by Rs 5.45 per litre no Aladdin’s lamp, can’t complete electoral rolls before May ISLAMABAD between Iran and the US. He said usually OGRA had earlier notified an increase STAFF REPORT POL prices started falling from January in petrol price by Rs 1.65 per litre to Rs ISLAMABAD stitution clearly made it mandatory for the but this year, an increasing trend was wit - 89.54 per litre and HOBC by Rs 5.13 to Rs KASHIF ABBASI ECP to hold elections within 60 days of a Consumers will be faced with a massive nessed because of the confrontation. He 111.91 per litre with effect from January 1, seat becoming vacant. increase in the prices of petroleum prod - said the initial estimates of OGRA pointed 2012. The prices of HSD, LDO and The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) The CEC said if any other institution of ucts because of the brewing crisis be - out that the price of motor spirit (petrol) kerosene were retained at last month’s level asserted its independence on Monday by the state was to hold elections, as the ECP tween Iran and the United States on the would have to be increased by Rs 5.45 per of Rs 98.82, Rs 86.78 and Rs 89.24 per litre snubbing the Supreme Court and telling it saw sometimes such desire on part of some Strait of Hormuz, as the Oil and Gas litre, High Octane Blended Component respectively. To save the people from the not to interfere in its constitutional jurisdic - quarters expressed through media, then the Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has esti - (HOBC) by Rs 6.45 per litre, High Speed negative impact of high inflation resulting tion, and announced that the electoral rolls right course was to amend the constitution. mated an increase of Rs 3 to Rs 6.45 per Diesel (HSD) by Rs 3.13 per litre, Light from the increase in POL prices, OGRA had could not be completed before May. He said responsibilities of every institutions litre on different Diesel Oil (LDO) by Rs 3.87 per litre and recommended lowering the Rs Staying several by-elections, the apex were chalked out clearly in the constitution POL products kerosene by Rs 2.98 per litre. OGRA 10 per litre petroleum levy court had asked the ECP to finalise the elec - and unnecessary interference in the ECP’s for the month would be making its final recommenda - (PL) on POL products. toral lists by February 23. However, the ECP matters meant negation of the constitution. of February. tions after a meeting to decide on the in - However, the Finance also challenged the Supreme Court order, The meeting was attended by represen - An official land freight equalisation margin Ministry had rejected taking a position that delaying by-elections tatives of 14 political parties. A source told source said scheduled to be held on January 27. the proposal. The gov - would be unconstitutional. The ECP also Pakistan Today that PML-N and JI strongly an increasing ernment collects Rs 23 said if the Supreme Court insisted on delay - opposed the ECP’s stand on electoral rolls. trend in POL billion per month on tax - ing by-elections, it would do so but this Later, addressing a press conference, prices was wit - ation of POL products, Rs would not be in accordance with the law and ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed said it would nessed during 16 billion per month in the constitution. “The outside interference be unfair to prepare the new voter lists in the last few sales tax on POL and an - in the matters of the ECP will be against the urgency. He said new electoral rolls to hold days because other Rs 7 billion as PL. principle of trichotomy,” Chief Election the 2013 general elections could not be fi - of the inten - Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Hamid Ali nalised before May this year. sification of Mirza said at a consultative meeting of the state - representatives of political parties held here Continued on Page 04 ments at the ECP. He said Article 224 of the con - Polls on unverified lists will be unjust: sC | Page 22 LHR 24-01-2012_Layout 1 1/24/2012 7:27 AM Page 2 02 News Tuesday , 24 January , 2012 LAHoRe neWS FoReIGn neWS Today’s Time to push the panic buttion Nawaz, Zardari playing with country’s future: Imran Islamists take centre stage in Egypt parliament Quick Look Story on Page 07 Story on Page 05 Story on Page 17 WB links Pak economic growth with water, electricity availability ISLAMABAD ONlINE The World Bank has linked the economic growth and development of Pak - istan with the availability of water and electricity and underlined the need of better management, cost recovery and reducing subsidies.