http://www.indiantoday.com/rss/Pakistan.xmlIndia, Bharat, News, Cricket, Politics, Finance, Stock Market, Stock Exchanges, Indian Today, bollywood news, hindi movie, indian movie,indian entertainment, NRI, Immigration, Interview, Travel, Recipe, Yogahttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2ffront-page%2ffm-thanks-india-for-%25245m-donation-980http://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2ffront-page%2ffm-thanks-india-for-%25245m-donation-980<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/mLBGBO2d_my9UGU5-nCGli7xJPY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/mLBGBO2d_my9UGU5-nCGli7xJPY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/mLBGBO2d_my9UGU5-nCGli7xJPY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/mLBGBO2d_my9UGU5-nCGli7xJPY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/1e56290043a1cfa78bb0afaa214d0cad/qureshi_80.jpg?MOD=AJPERES" width="80px" height="80px"><STRONG>NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi made an impassioned appeal to the international community on Wednesday to help Pakistan overcome the massive flood disaster. Over six million needed immediate help, he said. <BR></STRONG><BR>At a press conference, he acknowledged that the US was the first in contributing money and equipment to help the Pakistanis impacted by the devastating flood. “Other countries, including China and Saudi Arabia, have also come forward to help,” he added. <BR><BR>Mr Qureshi announced that India had offered a $5 million donation for the relief of flood victims and profusely thanked India’s top diplomat here for the offer. <BR><BR>He told reporters that he had received a telephone call in New York from Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.—Correspondent<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=qbkOV9JRgZQ:8FuAAm530xI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dawn-All-News/~4/qbkOV9JRgZQ" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:00:56 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2fnational%2fnext-seven-days-critical-for-sindh-980http://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2fnational%2fnext-seven-days-critical-for-sindh-980<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/trIRWpfVsOQs3T73qulRFZ4qW-I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/trIRWpfVsOQs3T73qulRFZ4qW-I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/trIRWpfVsOQs3T73qulRFZ4qW-I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/trIRWpfVsOQs3T73qulRFZ4qW-I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/07ef520043a1d6b89025bcaa214d0cad/ffd-80.JPG?MOD=AJPERES" width="80px" height="80px"><STRONG></STRONG><STRONG>LAHORE: The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said on Wednesday that next seven days were critical for Sindh because of the existing ‘exceptionally high flood’ in the Indus at Guddu and Sukkur. Water level is also rising at Kotri.</STRONG> <BR><BR>The FFD said there was less likelihood of monsoon activity in the next three to four days. But moderate flooding was likely due to hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts following some heavy rains in the Suleman Range during the next 24 hours. <BR><BR>According to the FFD, the second flood wave in the Indus was still crossing Guddu and Sukkur barrages. It said the discharge at Guddu was 1.18 million cusecs and at Sukkur 1.19 million cusecs, and was gradually decreasing. <BR><BR>However, the flow at the two points was likely to remain over 950,000 cusecs in the next 24 to 48 hours. <BR><BR>The peak is now moving to Kotri where the flow on Wednesday was 384,037 cusecs. It is expected to rise to 400,000 to 500,000 cusecs in the next 24 to 48 hours. <BR><BR>The FFD said the high tide next week could aggravate the situation, especially in southern Sindh. “Next seven days are critical for Sindh.” <BR><BR>Inundation and riverine flooding are expected in low-lying areas of Khairpur, Jacobadabad, Ghotki, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and Naushehro Feroze districts. <BR><BR>The FFD said the Indus upstream, Taunsa and Jhelum, and the Chenab River upstream, at Panjnad, were falling and expected to be normal in two days. <BR><BR>Isolated rains are expected in upper and eastern parts of Punjab and Kashmir during the next three to four days. <BR><BR>During the last 24 hours, Dera Ghazi Khan received 5mm of rain, Lahore 5mm, Sialkot 2mm and Parachinar 1mm.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=EVQs7VNzHE4:p1_1OKU1-z8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dawn-All-News/~4/EVQs7VNzHE4" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:00:51 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2ffront-page%2fairbase-near-jacobabad-under-us-control%252C-senate-panel-told-980http://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2ffront-page%2fairbase-near-jacobabad-under-us-control%252C-senate-panel-told-980<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yCOGMT2YNSSY4NrZS_Uav9ymtlo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yCOGMT2YNSSY4NrZS_Uav9ymtlo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yCOGMT2YNSSY4NrZS_Uav9ymtlo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yCOGMT2YNSSY4NrZS_Uav9ymtlo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/0f1cae8043a1cf9a8b62afaa214d0cad/US_AFP_80.jpg?MOD=AJPERES" width="80px" height="80px"><STRONG>ISLAMABAD: Health relief operations in Jacobabad are not possible because the airbase in the area is controlled by the US.</STRONG> <BR><BR>The stunning statement was made by Health Secretary Khushnood Lashari during an appearance at the Senate Standing Committee on Health on Wednesday. <BR><BR>“Health relief operations are not possible in the flood-affected areas of Jacobabad because the airbase is with the United States,” Mr Lashari said while answering a question asked by Senator Semeen Yusuf Siddiqui of PML-Q. <BR><BR>Dr Jahanzeb Aurakzai, coordinator of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Centre, said: “Foreign health teams could not start relief operations in remote areas because there are no airstrips close to several areas, including Jacobabad.” <BR><BR>The town has been evacuated and 500,000 to 700,000 people have been affected. People displaced from Jacobabad, Thul, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Ghouspur and Karumpur are camping in Dera Allahyar. <BR><BR>“It is very unfortunate that Americans can launch a drone attack from Shahbaz airbase but the government is helpless even in using the country’s base for relief operations,” Senator Semeen said while talking to this correspondent. <BR><BR>She said the health ministry should have requested the army to ask the US to allow relief operation from the base. <BR><BR>“I don’t know why the health minister failed to report the matter to the quarters concerned, specifically the Pakistan Army. <BR><BR>“The airbase, which I think the government has given on lease to the Americans, should be used to provide immediate health relief to the flood-affected people.” <BR><BR>The committee, headed by Senator Kulsoom Parveen, was briefed by officials on health-related operations in the affected areas. <BR><BR>APP adds: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has ordered PAF to form an air bridge of relief supply for Jacobabad which has been cut off from the rest of the country and make operational an airfield near Sibi for immediate supply of relief goods to flood-hit areas in the vicinity. <BR><BR>Presiding over a meeting, he asked the air staff to use all available human and material resources to provide timely relief to the affected people.<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=gXLXuDktkEI:lzM-3d9vaL4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dawn-All-News/~4/gXLXuDktkEI" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:00:51 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fnews%2fpakistan%2fmetropolitan%2f06-suspects-arrested-in-raza-haider-assassination-rs-04http://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fnews%2fpakistan%2fmetropolitan%2f06-suspects-arrested-in-raza-haider-assassination-rs-04<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/NLp2zOyh7bMQW3aknIJguYL95xg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/NLp2zOyh7bMQW3aknIJguYL95xg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/NLp2zOyh7bMQW3aknIJguYL95xg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/NLp2zOyh7bMQW3aknIJguYL95xg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/6b28f30043a11bc28194adaa214d0cad/rangers-reut.jpg-80.jpg?MOD=AJPERES" width="80px" height="80px"> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>KARACHI</st1:place></st1:City>: The police claimed on Wednesday that they had arrested two suspected members of the proscribed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi who were allegedly involved in the recent string of sectarian killings, including the assassination of Sindh legislator Syed Raza Haider, who was targeted in a mosque on Aug 2.</STRONG> <BR><BR>Speaking at a press conference, Inspector-General of the Sindh police Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak said that apart from the killing of the MPA, the suspects were involved in the killing of two brothers — Syed Shahzad Raza and Syed Asif Raza — Agha Abid Shirazee, Dr Syed Abbas Haider and Junaid Shakir. <BR><BR>The suspects have killed 11 persons in the city during the first six months of the year. <BR><BR>The arrests were carried out in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Orangi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Town</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> late on Tuesday night by a team of the CID police. <BR><BR>Identifying the two suspects as Waseem alias Barudi and Abdullah alias Taimoor, the IG said Waseem earlier lived in <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Orangi</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Town</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> before relocating to F.B Area. He had taken his BSc examination, whose results have not yet been declared. The suspect was arrested in 2001 in eight criminal cases but was released in 2008. He again got actively involved with the sectarian group. <BR><BR>The family of Abdullah alias Taimoor was from <st1:City><st1:place>Sialkot</st1:place></st1:City>, but he was born and brought up in <st1:City><st1:place>Karachi</st1:place></st1:City>. <BR><BR>He got his early education in Landhi, where he was working as a tailor. In 2004, he had a dispute with some neighbours and subsequently joined the LJ and became its active member, the provincial police chief said. <BR><BR>Taimoor had also gone to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> to get training. He was arrested in Sukkur in 2005 for being in possession of two suicide vests. However, he was released from jail in 2008, the IG said. <BR><BR>The other associates of the suspects are Qasim Rashid, Ayaz Abid and Akhlaq. Police have seized an AK-47 rifle, two pistols and explosives from the suspects. <BR><BR>Mr Khattak said the two belonged to the Shakil Burmee and Asif Chhotu groups of the banned outfit. <BR><BR>Pointing to the forensic evidence, the provincial police chief said irrefutable forensic evidence had been collected in some of these cases of sectarian killing. <BR><BR>A video clip showing the suspects’ confessional statements was played at the press conference. Except for the eyes, the suspects’ faces were covered in the video.</P><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=7bcH4NxLQwo:LyK5jo6h-1w:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dawn-All-News/~4/7bcH4NxLQwo" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:00:50 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2ffront-page%2fjudiciary-wants-to-strengthen-parliament%252C-says-cj-980http://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.dawn.com%2fwps%2fwcm%2fconnect%2fdawn-content-library%2fdawn%2fthe-newspaper%2ffront-page%2fjudiciary-wants-to-strengthen-parliament%252C-says-cj-980<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bULLWdOIy1j-TB8EKDk16Jolsh4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bULLWdOIy1j-TB8EKDk16Jolsh4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bULLWdOIy1j-TB8EKDk16Jolsh4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bULLWdOIy1j-TB8EKDk16Jolsh4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/9dd5ff0043a1cf8b8b14afaa214d0cad/Justice_80.jpg?MOD=AJPERES" width="80px" height="80px"> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"><STRONG>ISLAMABAD: A few days after coming down hard on those arguing for unfettered powers of parliament to alter the Constitution, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry appeared to be in a different mood on Wednesday and reiterated his earlier stance that the judiciary wanted to strengthen parliament.</STRONG> <BR><BR>“This was the reason why the judiciary referred to parliament for affirmation instead of annulling all ordinances, including the controversial NRO, in its July 31 verdict holding the Nov 3, 2007, actions unconstitutional,” observed the chief justice, who is heading a 17-judge full court hearing petitions challenging the 18th Amendment. <BR><BR>“Why are we repeatedly inquiring about the role of the chief executive in the new mode of appointment of judges because we are here to strengthen parliament.” <BR><BR>The chief justice made the observation when Advocate Shahid Hamid, the counsel for the Punjab government, quoted from a book of Albert Venn Dicey, a British jurist and constitutional theorist, and tried to establish that striking down a constitutional amendment on the touchstone of the basic structure theory might open a Pandora’s Box and, therefore, should be avoided. <BR><BR>“You want judges and courts in the role of a handmaiden of parliament,” Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said. <BR><BR>“How I can say this,” Advocate Hamid said, adding that he was only quoting what Dicey had said. <BR><BR>When the counsel referred to Britain’s Act 98 under which courts in that country were given the power of judicial review and also cited the concept of judicial activism, Justice Ramday invited him to join the evening proceedings of the court to see how important judicial activism was. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">“When daughters of the hapless are picked up by the dominant and when police go extra mile in assisting the influential in such kidnappings and when the children are forcibly separated from mothers and nobody is there to help then you realise how important the judicial activism is,” the judge said. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">“Such type of judicial activism is always favoured,” Advocate Hamid said, adding that such acts of the judiciary always added to its prestige. <BR><BR>The chief justice asked the counsel to read an article by columnist Kamran Shafi in Dawn and a reported letter of Senate’s Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammad Jamali, inviting the attention of the chief justice to the need of accountability of all sections of society and breaches of embankments, and observed that such was the helm of affairs in the country where the apex court received letters in large numbers day in and day out. <BR><BR>Justice Asif Saeed Khosa referred to a book authored by Pakistan’s most revered judge, Justice (retd) Dorab Patel, in which he stated that the appointment of judges in superior courts was too serious a business to be left to the judiciary alone. “This is an eye-opener,” he said. <BR><BR>The judge also referred to a statement made by Justice Liver Wendell Holmes, a famous US Supreme Court judge known for his blunt and pithy opinions, that if the people of his country decided to go to hell, his job as a judge would be to give effect to this will. <BR><BR>On another occasion, Justice Khosa cited one of his own observations in an earlier judgment in which he had stated that courts might have the last word, but parliament might have the last laugh. <BR><BR>Advocate Hamid argued that to date the apex court had exercised judicial restraint by not striking down any constitutional amendment enacted by an elected parliament and even held that a challenge to constitutional amendments had to be made to the ultimate political sovereign, the people of Pakistan. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Also while deciding cases, the apex court has either harmonised conflicting provisions or held that amendments should not conflict with the existing provisions or basic features. <BR><BR>Similarly, he said, parliament also had never enacted any constitutional amendment that impinged adversely on the independence of judiciary. <BR><BR>The counsel was of the opinion that the apex court should continue with its consistent past practice of not striking down constitutional amendments enacted by an elected parliament. He said the basic features and power of judicial review were non-issues having been decided more than once in previous judgments by the Supreme Court. <BR><BR>It would be unfair to say, Advocate Hamid argued, that the present parliament had no electoral mandate to make an amendment such as Article 175-A because Pakistan’s two largest political parties campaigned on the basis of their manifestoes, inclusive of the Charter of Democracy, that bound them to work for a change in the method of appointment of judges to ensure future appointments on merit in a transparent manner on the basis of recommendations made by a judicial commission. <BR><BR>The counsel rejected a perception that the 18th Amendment had set at naught the convention developed under the 1996 Al-Jihad Trust case that gave primacy to the recommendation of the chief justice in matters of appointment of judges.</P><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?a=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Dawn-All-News?i=UStfB1CtG04:Vtd9SraIgpY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dawn-All-News/~4/UStfB1CtG04" height="1" width="1"/>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:00:44 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fAs-Pak-battles-flood-militants-strike%2farticleshow%2f6333506.cmshttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fAs-Pak-battles-flood-militants-strike%2farticleshow%2f6333506.cmsIslamist militants attacked police posts in Pakistan's northwest and killed two civilians active in an anti-Taliban militia, challenging a security establishment straining under a national flooding disaster.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:49:46 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fPak-airlifts-UK-ministers-caught-in-flood-protests%2farticleshow%2f6333352.cmshttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fPak-airlifts-UK-ministers-caught-in-flood-protests%2farticleshow%2f6333352.cmsPakistan on Wednesday airlifted two British cabinet ministers away from angry protesters after they visited an area ravaged by the country's catastrophic floods, the visiting delegation said.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:13:33 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fIndian-potatoes-to-the-rescue%2farticleshow%2f6333311.cmshttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fIndian-potatoes-to-the-rescue%2farticleshow%2f6333311.cmsDevastated Pakistan has started importing potatoes from India amid reports that rising waters have washed away the bulk of country's kharif crop. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:08:52 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex6.phphttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex6.phpWed, 18 Aug 2010 17:35:04 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex7.phphttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex7.phpWed, 18 Aug 2010 17:35:04 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex5.phphttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex5.phpWed, 18 Aug 2010 17:35:04 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex2.phphttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex2.phpWed, 18 Aug 2010 17:35:04 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex4.phphttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nation.com.pk%2fdaily%2fmay-2008%2f9%2findex4.phpWed, 18 Aug 2010 17:35:04 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f674129%2fcs%2f1%2fhttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f674129%2fcs%2f1%2fPolice had to resort to baton charging and use of tear smoke shells to disperse a mob at Tarigam village, Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir state on Wednesday, after a mob involved in forcibly closing down of shops attacked it by pelting stones.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:00:02 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fRussia-assures-more-aid-to-Pak-as-Medvedev-meets-Zardari%2farticleshow%2f6331561.cmshttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fRussia-assures-more-aid-to-Pak-as-Medvedev-meets-Zardari%2farticleshow%2f6331561.cmsRussia today promised all possible support to Pakistan in dealing with catastrophic floods, even as the second Russian Il-76 cargo plane with emergency relief is scheduled to land in Islamabad tomorrow.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:45:21 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fEU-boosts-flood-aid-to-Pakistan-to-70-million%2farticleshow%2f6331382.cmshttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2fworld%2fpakistan%2fEU-boosts-flood-aid-to-Pakistan-to-70-million%2farticleshow%2f6331382.cmsThe European Union nearly doubled its aid to flood-stricken Pakistan to 70 million euros on Wednesday and announced a trip by its top aid official after calls for Brussels to do more to help. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:03:33 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f673989%2fcs%2f1%2fhttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f673989%2fcs%2f1%2fPakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is reportedly launching his own emergency fundraising appeal for flood victims in the country after alleging that the government has failed victims of the tragedy.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:40:13 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f673988%2fcs%2f1%2fhttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f673988%2fcs%2f1%2fWhile millions of people struggle to wade through the devastating floods in Pakistan, the local administration is seen offering little help to the victims, and complaints regarding 'ghost' relief camps being set up during Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visits to affected areas are mounting by the day.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:40:12 GMThttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f673987%2fcs%2f1%2fhttp://www.indiantoday.com/news.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fstory.pakistantelegraph.com%2findex.php%2fct%2f9%2fcid%2f8c3d7d78943a99c7%2fid%2f673987%2fcs%2f1%2fEngland captain Andrew Strauss has described the 2006 Oval Test against Pakistan as a "slowly unfolding train wreck" that left an indelible stain on cricket's history books.Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:40:11 GMT