SC orders medical checkup of seven detainees

ISLAMABAD: Seven men allegedly held by the intelligence services on Monday appeared in the Supreme Court.

The men appeared frail, weak, unable to talk and unable to walk properly when they appeared before Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, more than a year and a half after being allegedly arrested.

The judge ordered a full medical examination. Intelligence agencies last month handed over the men to the custody of the provincial government in the northwest, after the Supreme Court took up the case.

Four of the men were reportedly held in Peshawar and three in the tribal region of Parachinar.

“There should be proper medical treatment and they shall not be shifted to internment centre in Parachinar, so long as the matter is pending before the court,” Chaudhry said.

“A medical board shall be constituted to examine their health,” he added.

Lawyer Tariq Asad, who represented the detainees, said the court ordered the ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) to submit details at the next hearing on March 1 about their detention and under which law they were held.

“The report will contain details about what happened to them during their detention over one year and a half and whether any trial took place,” he said.

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Only 18 percent of total budget is allocated for Pakistan Army:Kayani

JACOBABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has said that only 18 per cent of country’s total budget is allocated for armed forces while wrong facts and figures are quoted in TV talk shows in this regard.

Speaking at the Shahbaz Airbase during a ceremony on Monday, the army chief said that out of 18 percent Pakistan Army got only 8 to 9 per cent budget.

He said that the army had not received Rs1.5 billion in account of Coalition Support Fund. General Kayani said that new F-16 Block-58 fighters would prove a great asset for the Pakistan Air Force and would strengthen its defence capabilities.

When asked whether the new F-16 fighters would be used in tribal region where the armed forces have been battling insurgents, the the army chief said although it was not an appropriate forum to discuss the issue, nominal force would be used in the insurgency stricken region.

Speaking about restoration of Nato supply routes and relations with the United States, Kayani said that the prime minister had given a categorical statement that the parliament would take any decision in this regard. He said that the Pakistan military had capability to respond in befitting manner to any Indian aggression.

Speaking on the occasion Air Chief Rao Qamar Suleman said that Shahbaz Air Base was in under complete control of the Pakistan Air Force.

Answering a question regarding extension in his term, the air chief said the question should be asked to the government.

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Nawaz Sharif criticises govt’s allies for supporting ‘corruption’

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif has said that government allies’ support to the government for not complying with the Supreme Court orders is against the will of people.

Talking to media after a meeting with Sindh National Front Chairman Mumtaz Bhutto on Monday, the former prime minister said that the allies should rethink that on what matter they were supporting the government.

He said that the national wealth lying in Swiss banks should be brought back in Pakistan as it belonged to people of Pakistan. “Why government was avoiding to return people’s money” he said.” Whether prime minister’s loyalty is with the country or plunder”.

He said that the government was blaming judges for its deeds. Replying a query regarding the perception that the PPP was seeking political martyrdom, the former prime minister said that martyrdom was a great position and he could do nothing if anybody wanted to embrace martyrdom for corruption.

Mr Sharif said that resignations from the parliament were not a big deal for him. He said had the PML-N not struggled for restoration of deposed judges of the Supreme Court, there would have been Dogar Courts in Pakistan.

He said that the nation would standby the apex court to get its decisions implemented.

Speaking on the occasion SNF chairman Mumtaz Bhutto said that he had met Nawaz Sharif to discuss caretaker government. He said that he did not trust the incumbent government for holding free and fare election. Mr Bhutto said the people were committing suicides due to aggravated situation in the country.

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