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Monday, 20 May 2013

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Obama to speak on counter-terrorism, drone policy -

WASHINGTON, May 19 (APP): U.S. President Barack Obama will address his administration’s plan in a speech this week to bring counter-terrorism policies, including controversial drone program and Guantanamo Bay prison in line with legal framework, an American newspaper reported Sunday. The Washington Post said Obama would deliver a speech Thursday at the National Defence University and according to a White House official, “discuss our broad counterterrorism policy, including our military, diplomatic, intelligence and legal efforts.”

Pakistanis remarkably tolerant, least racist: Survey -

WASHINGTON, May 18 (APP): Pakistanis are among the most racially tolerant people in the world, despite having less economic development and being located in the region housing some of the least racially tolerant populations, findings of a survey reveal. According to World Values Survey, which has been measuring global attitudes and opinions for decades, only 6.5 percent of Pakistanis object to a neighbor of a different race. In only three of 81 surveyed countries by Swedish economists, more than 40 percent of respondents said they would not want a neighbor of a different race, a report in The Washington Post said citing conclusions of the survey.

Pakistan stresses dialogue, development in terrorist-hit areas to combat scourge of terrorism -

UNITED NATIONS, May 18 (APP): Pakistan Friday called for sharper focus on dialogue and development in terrorist-hit areas, while maintaining military pressure as part of efforts to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. “When terrorists defy the writ of the state, kill civilians, spread terror, they have to be stopped; stopped by the use of force; stopped militarily,” Ambassador Masood Khan told more than 100 delegates attending a Pakistan-sponsored seminar at U.N. Headquarters in New York. “There is absolutely no doubt about that,” the Pakistani envoy said of using military means against terrorists. “But,” he added, “by killing the terrorists, we do not defeat terrorism. To eliminate terrorism, we have to go into the causes and deconstruct the mindset that launches them into terrorism.”

Outgoing Pakistan ambassador Sherry Rehman urges trade, end to drone strikes -

WASHINGTON, May 18 (APP): Pakistan's outgoing ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman has said the Pakistan and the United States have improved their ties considerably from a low-point in 2011 but asked Washington to end drone strikes in the tribal areas in order to help put the relationship on sustained upward trajectory. In a farewell speech to a gathering of senior American officials and Pakistani-Americans, Ms. Rehman who resigned from her post this week after May 11 election, also called for using trade as the engine for enhanced bilateral partnership.

Pak to become Chinese Beidou navigation system's fourth overseas user -

BEIJING, May 18 (APP): China's Beidou navigation system is set to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with Pakistan expected to become its fourth overseas customer later this month.Huang Lei, international business director of Beijing BDStar Navigation, which helps promote Beidou, or Compass, in the international market, told China Daily the company will build a network of stations in Pakistan to enhance the location accuracy of Beidou. These continuously operational reference stations will be built after the two countries sign a cooperation agreement, which will see Pakistan follow in the footsteps of Thailand, Laos and Brunei in becoming a Beidou customer.

Sport News

Cricket: Rain delays Pakistan’s clash with Scotland

EDINBURGH, May 19, (APP/AFP) - Pakistan’s one-day international against Scotland was delayed on Sunday due to a waterlogged playing surface in Edinburgh. The umpires ordered a 1200GMT pitch inspection at the Grange after taking a close look at the wicket three times before the scheduled start of play. Heavy rain in the Scottish capital on Saturday left areas of the outfield sodden, while there were also worries about the condition of the wicket.

Latest News

Information Ministry to hold seminar on social media on May 20 - Funds shortage behind energy crisis: minister - ECP orders recounting of votes in NA-103 - Imran to start walking after getting spinal brace - NP, PML-N, PKMAP to form next Balochistan government: Bazinjo - Nawaz to decide Leader of the House in Balochistan: Shahbaz

UN Working Group, not mandated to conduct investigations, fact-finding : Hina

ISLAMABAD, Sept 12 (APP): Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar Wednesday informed the National Assembly that UN working group on human rights is not mandated to conduct any investigation or fact finding. “This group is neither mandated to fact finding nor investigating,” she clarified in her policy statement regarding visit of UN Working Group which currently is in Pakistan on the issue of missing persons. “There should be no ambiguity about this visit. It has a clear mandate. Pakistan has also been the member of UN Council on Human Rights and presented two reports,” she added.

Furthermore, this Group has also visited over a dozen countries and 91 countries have extended standing invitation for a visit, she said. “The working group is visiting Pakistan on our invitation”, she added.

The Foreign Minister said : “Pakistan has a mechanism in place for protection of human rights. The commission on missing persons is working, the Supreme Court has taken suo moto and the government is all sincere in protection of human rights”.
She rejected the notions about fact finding or investigation by the Group and said there is no need to overemphasize this visit. The government is taking all measures for protection of human rights, she added.
She said Pakistan has also ratified many protocols and conventions of the UN regarding human rights and that shows the commitment of the government to protect rights of women, children, minorities and other vulnerable segments of the society.
Hina Rabbani Khar said the mandate of the working group is to engage with the governments to promote human rights. “It is not mandated to fact finding or investigation”, she added.
About the approval of the visit, the Minister said, the matter was discussed with all major stakeholders. Later, it underwent an inter-ministerial process and the summary was sent to the Prime Minister for approval, she added.
She mentioned three phases of the special procedure regarding the visit and said, the first one was a visit in May 2012, the second one was by UN Human Rights Council Chief in June 2012 and the present is the third one.
She said after the visit, the UN Human Rights Council Chief had appreciated Pakistan goverment’s steps and also raised the drone attacks issue with the US government.
She said the visit in conformity with the global norms and Head of Pakistan’s Commission on Missing Persons, Justice ® Javed Iqbal had also met the Group at Geneva.
“We should not be defensive to visit. We are a democratic and pluralist country where judiciary is independent, media is free and civil society is robust. All these features manifest that we protect human rights,” she added.
Hina Rabbani said “We in Pakistan are doing a commendable job and should be proud of the mechanism in place and the steps taken to meet the human rights challenges”.
She reiterated that the working group has a clearly crafted mandate and “we are sure that they will work within their mandate”.
“Pakistan remains committed to protect human rights regardless of color, creed, race and social status,” she said and recommended that especially the parliamentarians need to be careful and take the visit in its true context. “We need not to confuse it and be clear and mention to it in right context”,she added.

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