Another Presidential Pardon: Zardari to Rehman Malik’s crony

Asif Ali Zardari has granted another pardon, his second in two days and this time to the right hand man and crony of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who was pardoned on Monday night in a hush-hush cover up of his crimes.

Only the previous day a documented scandal of getting two illegal passports had surfaced against Sajjad Haider, one as a government servant and another as a private citizen, obtained under pressure of the Interior Ministry by making false declarations on government forms and documents.

Sajjad Haider, who was sentenced along with his patron and whose conviction was also upheld by the Lahore High Court (LHC) with him on May 17, has been pardoned by President Asif Ali Zardari under Article 45 of the Constitution.

(via The News)

Target Killing: MQM blames Hazara community

The Hazara community refuted the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) claim that it was involved in targeted killings in Karachi. In a press statement, TSH said it believes in peace and condemns targeted killings. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Irshad Hussain Bokhari said, “The Hazara community and Pakhtuns are brothers and there is no clash between them.” Bokhari said none of the people who have been killed in the recent violence belong to their community. The press conference was called after MQM threw the blame of target killings in Karachi on the Hazara community.

(via Daily Times)

Ministers not answerable to any court: Babar

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Babar Awan yesterday stated that no federal or provincial minister was answerable before any court of law. “Despite this, I have decided to appear before the Supreme Court (SC) on the 25th of this month to present the Government’s point of view”, he maintained.

(via The Nation)