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Apr
19
Oil price touches record
Filed Under Karachi, Pakistan | Leave a Comment
It seems that oil prices will destroy the middle class in our country. The prices have reached a record 117 dollar per barrel and it seems that it will go still higher. Petrol is now becoming a luxury.
The government has increased petrol prices several times during the past two months and it is expected that the petrol prices in the country will be increased again in a few days.
An increase in petrol prices leads to an increase in all other essential items. People are finding it difficult to make both ends meet and if something is not done soon, the government will lose it popularity before long. The new government had promised the people that it will work to bring down the prices. Lets see if the government fulfills its promise.
Apr
19
Pakistani envoy in Taliban custody
Filed Under Pakistan | Leave a Comment
The Pakistan’s to Afghanistan who had disappeared nearly two months ago while he was going to Kabul by road has appeared on an Arabic TV channel and said that he was in Taliban custody. It is for the first time that something has been known about the missing ambassador.
The ambassador is shown surrounded by armed militants and has appealed to the Pakistani government to accept the demands of the militants to save his life.
Such incidents indicate the state of affairs in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is this region of the country where the law of the country does not hold ground and anything can happen. I think that the government should try to secure the release of the ambassador. The government must also introduce reforms in the Northern Areas and bring it under the law of the land. I admire President Musharraf for taking strong actions against the militants who infiltrate here from the neighboring Afghanistan.
Update : The Talibans have demanded the release of 12 people for the setting free the ambassador. The twelve people includes five Taliban militants, the Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz and the people allegedly involved in the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The fact that the kidnappers have demanded the release of Abdul Aziz clearly establishes his links with militants.
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Apr
19
The co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Asif Ali Zardari has said that if need be he would become the prime minister. He said this while giving an interview to the BBC Urdu. Asif Zardari has said that he will contest on a National Assembly seat in the coming by-election.
Interestingly the supreme court is hearing a petition challenging the graduation condition which was inserted in the political parties act by President Pervez Musharraf and it enjoys constitutional protection given to it by the Constitution seventeenth amendment.
It is expected that the supreme court will strike down this condition in a few days and Mr. Zardari will be able to contest the election. The date for by-election has already been moved forward without any valid reason. I think that this has been done to facilitate Mr. Zardari.
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Apr
19
Jimmy Carter meets Hamas Leader
Filed Under Middle East | Leave a Comment
Former US president Jimmy Carter has met the Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in the capital of Syria. The meeting took place under tight security and media persons were not allowed to cover the event. The Bush administration and Israel has strongly criticized the meeting. Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union. It has carried out attacks against Israeli targets and has vowed to carry out attacks in future as well.
The meeting is very significant as perhaps for the first time and international figure has met the Hamas leader. I think that Mr. Carter has done a right thing by meeting Khaled Meshaal as in my opinion it will help in finding a solution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Simply branding Hamas as a terrorist organization and refusing any contact with it is not going to do any good. Hamas has mass support and had won the previous elections in the Palestinian Authority. The Government of Hamas was dismissed by President Mahmud Abbas after the donor countries stopped the financial aid and created a financial crisis.
I think that Mr. Carter must use his influence to bring all the parties in the conflict on table and start meaningful dialogues in order to find a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. If somehow this issue is solved it would bring a healthy change in the region and it will be seen that militancy will also decrease.
According to Reuters Mr. Jimmy Carter has set out a plan for cease fire between Hamas and Israel. The second round of talks would discuss the proposals put forward by Mr. Carter for the cease fire.
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