LAHORE: Former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Aitzaz Ahsan Monday confirmed that he was offered a position by the government.

Talking to media at Aiwan-e-Iqbal here, Aitzaz said he is associated with Pakistan People’s Party and that he finds nothing wrong in accepting a position in the government. However, he said, if he disclosed more details about the offered position it will result in sleepless nights for some people.

Earlier, addressing a seminar on the occasion of birth anniversary of national poet Dr. Allama Iqbal, he said after 62 years Pakistan finally has independent judiciary and now nothing can stop it from progressing.

Aitzaz advised the people, who were protected in criminal cases under NRO, to get themselves pre-arrest bails while those whose cases were in NAB should approach the Supreme Court.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday condemned the suicide attack in Peshawar.

The two leaders reiterated their resolve in countering terrorism and not to allow anyone disrupt peace in the country.

In separate messages the two leaders expressed deep sorrow over the death “of a police constable and two passersby who lost their lives when a suicide attack.

They prayed to Allah Almighty to shower his blessings on the departed souls and for courage to their families to bear the irreparable loss.

They also directed best possible medical treatment for the injured.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday said he had submitted the recommendations by the four chief ministers regarding local bodies system to the President who had further forwarded it to the Law Ministry for comments.

He was talking to media after his visit to the Auditor General of Pakistan where he was briefed about the working of the institution.

The Prime Minister said the process of accountability of both present and previous governments would be initiated simultaneously without any political victimization.

“The government will ensure transparent accountability keeping in view its hairline difference with political victimization,” he asserted.

Flanked by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and Chairman Public Accounts Committee Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Gilani said it was matter of satisfaction that an elected prime minister was visiting the Auditor General for the first time in support of the leader of the Opposition.

“We want to ensure transparency and good governance in the country which is linked with accountability of public offices,” the Prime Minister said.

Gilani stressed the need for making the Auditor General of Pakistan as an effective institution, adding that an active Public Account Committee of the parliament could make the democratic system more productive.

The Prime Minister said audit reports were being prepared to find weakness of the government.

He said, “We want that accountability of the present government should start right now.”

He said the Chairman of Public Account Committee had assured that audit of previous years as well as present government would be done simultaneously.

Replying to a question, he said, the Auditor General can take decision by himself for setting up more departments of accountability, if needed.

Referring to the importance of impartiality and transparency in the audit report, the Prime Minister said, “I spent five years in jail on audit report on political victimization.”

Chairman PAC Chaudhry Nisar said previously it took almost 10 years for the preparation audit report, however this time three reports have been prepared in 10 months.

He said the reports would be presented before the parliament during the session after Ramazan.

Nisar appreciated Prime Minister Gilani for his complete support which was meaningful for carrying out the process of accountability.

MARDAN: Hundreds of houses have come down after flash floods hit Mardan and Swabi where so far thirteen deaths have been confirmed.

Vehicular traffic continues to remain suspended on the second consecutive day on Swabi-Mardan Road after the flash flood washed away Kalu Khan Bridge.

Torrent rain and flash flood mostly affected the Guryala and Kagano Camp of Afghan Migrants in Mardan, the ancestral district of the Chief Minister NWFP, while in Swabi Kalu Khan, Khatkaly, Ismailia and other rural regions have been worst hit.

More than 100 houses were damaged in Guryala and its adjacent areas, while about 200 mud-houses collapsed in Kagano camp of the Afghan Migrants.

Meanwhile, the Relief Commissioner and Head of Emergency Response Unit, NWFP Azam Khan told Geo News that relief work is underway in the affected regions while assessment of losses is also being made.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday once again called upon the US to provide drone technology to Pakistan and demanded an end to the predator strikes within its territory.

US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke met with the Prime Minister here at PM house where Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, State Minister for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar, US ambassador Ann W Patterson and other officials were also present.

The Prime Minister was of the view that drone attacks are a cause of concern for Pakistan as it is difficult to identify the terrorists present among the civilians.

He argued that the US should provide the drone technology to Pakistan so that its own army can take action against the militants.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday said the landmark verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan will stabilize democracy and close doors to the dictatorship.

Speaking in National Assembly, the Premier said implementation on the judgment of the apex court has been started.

“The government stopped 76 judges from continuing their duties and appointed Sarmad Jalal Usmani Chief Justice of Sindh High Court,” he said.

He said, for the first time the Parliament refused to endorse the injustice to the judges.

The historic decision of the Supreme Court has ratified the last years general elections and upheld the supremacy of the Parliament.

The Prime Minister described his meeting with the Indian counterpart as positive. “India expressed commitment to the resolution of pending issues between the two countries,” he added.

He said the government enjoys national support for holding negotiations with India.

“We wish to resolve all the issues with India including Kashmir and the one relating to water,” he asserted.

He said Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and it has been made clear to India that dialogue is the only way forward.

The Pak-India joint statement recognized terrorism as common enemy of the two countries, he pointed out.