Pak President Zardari signs bill stripping him of his key powers

( Omer Farooq Khan )

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday signed into law the constitutional reforms, relinquishing his key powers to sack the prime minister, dissolve the parliament and appoint the chiefs of armed forces, at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. The 18th constitutional amendment has been hailed as an enormous triumph for President Zardari, a key US ally in the war against al-Qaeda and Taliban but an unpopular president in Pakistan, where the government is under pressure from the superior judiciary to re-open graft cases against him. Under the law, the president would no longer have the power to dismiss the prime minister, dissolve parliament — as enacted multiple times in the past — or appoint the heads of the country’s armed forces. The amendment transferred greater autonomy to the provinces and renamed North West Frontier Province as Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa. Addressing the gathering, President Zardari termed the signing of the bill as an important milestone that aimed at undoing the constitutional changes made by the undemocratic forces. "With the signing of this bill, the doors for dictators had been closed forever", Zardari remarked. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said, "This crowning achievement will be remembered for all times to come". Let’s uphold the democratic values, he added. Senator and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) Raza Rabbani praised all the members of the committee for what he said their "political maturity and political sagacity" for making possible the finalization of the 18th amendment. Raza Rabbani said the 18th amendment bill is unique in three ways. First, it is for the first time that a duly elected president is giving his powers willingly to the prime minister and the parliament. Secondly, it removed he the name of Zia-ul-Haq from the constitution besides bringing the 1973 constitution to its original form. Former military rulers mutilated the constitution with to perpetuate their power.

( Courtesy : Times Of India )

Prabakaran mother's name was on ‘Warning Circular' list

CHENNAI: The immigration authorities at the Chennai airport were surprised to see Parvathi, mother of slain LTTE leader Prabakaran, when she landed from Malaysia with a valid medical visa at the airport here on Friday night.
The reason: her name was on the ‘Warning Circular' list of the Union government. Whenever a person's name finds a place in the list, the visa issuing authorities must obtain the approval of, or consult, officials of the Home Ministry before issuing him or her a visa.
Though Ms. Parvathi's name was on the list, she got a medical visa.
Sources in the Immigration said both Velupillai and his wife Parvathi were living in Tiruchi till 2003.
Soon after they migrated to Colombo, the Tamil Nadu government requested the Centre, in the same year, to ban their return.
Accordingly, the Union government banned their entry into the State and put their names on the list.
Ms. Parvathi was sent back to Malaysia by the same flight.
( Courtesy : The Hindu )

Justice Dinakaran asked to go on leave
New Delhi: The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan has advised Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran to go on leave. Since December last, Justice Dinakaran has not been performing judicial work. In his place, the acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Madan B. Lokur, is being appointed Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.
According to highly placed sources, the decision to advise Justice Dinakaran to go on leave was taken by the collegium on Thursday, following representations that in the absence of the Chief Justice at the helm of affairs, judicial work in Karnataka suffered to a great extent.
It was felt that the three-member committee headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar might take at least a year or so to complete the probe into charges against Justice Dinakaran and till then the High Court could not remain idle without a regular Chief Justice.
Madan B. Lokur
After Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari admitted a motion seeking his removal on charges of corruption, land-grab and abuse of judicial office, Justice Dinakaran has not been performing judicial functions.
It all started in August 2009 with the collegium recommending the elevation of Justice Dinakaran as Supreme Court judge along with four others. The Chennai-based Forum for Judicial Accountability, in September 2009, furnished a list of charges against Justice Dinakaran, including allegations of land encroachment at Kaverirajapuram in Tamil Nadu.
After this allegation was confirmed by the Tiruvallur Collector in two reports, the collegium dropped Justice Dinakaran's name for elevation. Thereafter on a complaint from 76 members of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha Chairman admitted a motion for the removal of Justice Dinakaran. Pending the completion of enquiry, he is now being asked to go on leave.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)

Sajjan Kumar to face trial

Delhi court rejects his plea, refers anti-Sikh riot cases to Special CBI Court
New Delhi: The former Congress MP, Sajjan Kumar, will face trial in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases as a Delhi court on Saturday referred the cases to a Special CBI Court, rejecting a plea of his. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar Sharma declined to take on record an application of Mr. Kumar seeking certain documents related to the charge sheet filed against him in two cases and directed the Congress leader and others to appear before the special judge on March 27.
“I am not impressed with the arguments and contentions of the accused. It seems that the application has been filed to cause further hindrance in committing the case to the Sessions Court,” the ACMM said.
“Under the garb of application, the accused is trying to set up his defence by placing his documents and records,” he said.
Mr. Kumar had sought certain documents and statements of witnesses recorded by the investigating agency during the probe.
“So far as withholding of records is concerned, it is for the prosecuting agencies to suffer the consequences,” the court said.
The Delhi High Court on February 8 asked the trial court to put the anti-Sikh riot cases on a fast track with a direction to wind up the proceedings within six weeks.
Senior advocate I.U. Khan, appearing for Mr. Kumar, submitted that the CBI had failed to supply the documents necessary for the just decision of the court. He had a tough time convincing the court on the contents of the documents running into over 100 pages.
“I have gone through the contents of the application and perused the documents. The bunch is so bulky, it is humanly impossible to examine it within a short span of time,” Mr. Sharma said.
Meanwhile, the court directed all the accused to appear before a Special CBI Court on March 27 while referring the file to the District Judge.
The High Court on February 26 granted bail to Mr. Kumar citing delay in the deposition of witnesses against him. — PTI

( The Hindu )

LOVE : AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Today a large community of love-makers worldwide is celebrating "Valentine-Day". They are keeping themselves engaged in expressing their love, in exchanging gifts & in much more of the likewise traditional activities. This author needs not go into details what in general this word (valentine) means. Yet he feels its different aspects essentially deserve to be studied with an analytical scrutiny & in a bit wider prospect. The Times Of India (Bangalore edition) of this day has published some beautiful materials on this occasion & I propose my readers to enjoy my view-points upon them. On this single day the newspaper places three different angles before its readers, through three different kinds of reading materials, each of which gives a separate scope towards a sincere study of "LOVE" with due significance. The angles are :

(1) A page full of love-messages : ( A Valentine's Special )
(2) A cheap " FILMY " action : ( Lovelorn .... Sholay act )
(3) A philosophical analysis of 'love' : (All ...About Love)

A Valentine's Special :

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In the crowd of common love-messages what appealed to me significantly were a few uncommon messages. Dr. Catherine conveyed her sincere love-remarks, thanks and congratulation towards A HAPPY VALENTINE BIRTH DAY to her mother. It denoted that valentine day is not merely meant to the "Romeo-Juliet" type love makers (or a husband-wife) rather it extends to other relationships as well - where the central feeling of love, affection, gratitude and regard etc. exists. (Someone named "Chini" also conveyed a Valentine-Day message to his/her parents, on the similar lines, & so the author does not require to go in its further details).

Another uncommonity was embedded in the message of one "ArTi" (only God can confirm whether she is an "R.T." or someone else) that she sent to a group of her friends (Abhi, Yachana, Puneeta, Surabhi and, of course, Nepu). Here, too, there is something that denotes the same reflection of its meaning in a different way. It was also not a message sent by a lover to his beloved or vice-versa.

I must not spare mentioning conveyance of a Valentine-Day message from Nicholas to Priya Chandi. In this case, however, it is difficult to recognize as to what kind of relationship grows between them. He claims to be her brother at a place and a friend at the other. Maybe, an extra-ordinary relationship has been developed between them that might equally comprise brotherhood and friendship. (See, this looks like a different situation where a brother & sister ( a blood-relation) remain friendly in our common families). Whatever their relationship might be, the same reflection of its meaning, differently, crops up ----- -----"Valentine-Day is not confined to the lover and beloved ones ".

Lovelorn Youth Does A Sholay act

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It happens only in films ( like in Hindi "Sholay" - remember Beeru, Jai, and Gabbar Singh etc.). But this time, unfortunately, it happened in real in Banglore on the eve of Valentine-Day.In order to commit suicide Kumar, purportedly drunken, jumped (who bothers to ascertain whether he jumped simply because he lost his balance !) from the third floor of a super market building to commit suicide in event of his failure to find his love, “Padma". Good Heavens ! Had he sensibly noticed Padma’s approval ( even if a false one ) he would perhaps not have thrown his life in danger.

Now, when he is survived to face the legal consequences his such “bravery” leaves a question, “ Was this not a different kind of love ? ”

The Speaking Tree / All You Ever Wanted To Know About Love******************************************

Ashok Vohra (H.O.D. Philosophy Delhi University) has scholarly thrown light on several aspects of love we hardly think about. Like ever before, also this of his articles remain thought-provoking. The essence of this article lies in the following facts :

(a) Although love is a basic emotion you can’t plan to fall in love or create conditions for being in love.

(b) Love & exclusive possession (of the object of your love) can never go together. Where there is perfect love there must be perfect non-possession.

(c) There can’t be any sort of bargain in love. It does not recognize reward or punishment. In love you do not desire a favour in return.

(d) The notion of “giving” is consequential to love.

(e) Love requires annihilation of “ego”. It is a total merger, a complete synthesis with the beloved. The sense of your own identity & individuality vanishes.

(f) Love knows no fear. In love there is no place for desire.

(g) You love what you consider to be the best.

(h) Love requires no reasons or arguments. A lover does not depend upon inferences but depends upon direct perceptions & lived life experiences.

Feeling enchanted ?

Expression Of Joy

Today I am very happy to have made my own website through which I shall be able to share my views with rest of the world & at the same time shall be fortunate to get others' views for my considerations.
I hope this will open new doors towards my overall progress & development.
I wish all an excellent future ever.
Amen !