The SC also instructed the Lahore High Court (LHC) appointed commission to continue the probe in spurious drugs case.

The SC took suo moto notice of the deaths of more than 90 heart patients under treatment at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), either from spurious drugs or due to wrong prescription of blood thinning and lipid lowering medicines.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took notice of a note initiated by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and issued notices to the attorney general, Punjab advocate general, federal and provincial secretaries, DG FIA and IG Punjab.

A three-member bench, headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, heard the case. The Punjab Advocate General apprised the court of the investigation made by the Chief Minister Punjab Inspection Team. He told the bench that a forensic laboratory is also probing the matter.

Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani asked the Advocate General if no one is held responsible why the people are being arrested.

The FIA infomed the court that all the record is under possession of CM’s Inspection Team and it is not pessible for them to proceed.

The court then ordered the FIA and CM Inspection Team to submit reports by February 06.

According to official sources, thirty two security officials were also injured during the clashes which continue in the Kurrum agency.

AFP adds: Helicopter gunships were mobilised when the fighting broke out in the same Jogi area as clashes that killed six soldiers on January 25 in the district of Kurram, part of Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt along the Afghan border.

At the time, security forces claimed to have taken control of Jogi, which is strategically located near Orakzai district.

A senior military official told AFP that “more than 300 Taliban attacked” the checkpost at around midnight in central Kurram, which is on the Taliban route into North Waziristan and onto the Afghan border.

A doctor was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants at Malir Halt in the limits of Saudabad Police Station on Tuesday.

An official at the police station said the deceased was identified as Dr. Ashfaque, 55, son of Mushtaque. Some armed culprits opened fire on his car while he was passing railway crossing at Malir Halt. He died on the spot while the killers fled away after their swift action.

The body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities.

Mansoor Ijaz refuses to come to Pakistan and asks the commission to record the statement in Zurich or London or at any place deemed appropriate by the probe commission.

American businessman Ijaz implicated President Asif Ali Zardari in a secretive memo seeking US help to curb the power of the military, allegedly fearing an army coup after Osama bin Laden was killed in May.

The Commissioner told that the complete voters’ lists cannot be prepared by February 23 as the deadline given by the Supreme Court (SC). The commission has already sent two summaries regarding the delay, Mirza said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), political parties, civil society and media held a consultative session today to discuss key issues for ensuring credible and transparent elections in the country.

A detailed presentation was given to the participants aiming to share vital tasks to be completed before next general elections while steps were discussed that have been taken to make the electoral process more effective and ensure their transparency and credibility.

Meanwhile, the ECP and NADRA have redoubled their efforts to complete the gigantic task of publishing final voter lists as early as possible.

A total of 10,000 data entry operators are working in three shifts nowadays to complete the publication of Preliminary Electoral Rolls as soon as possible.

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will hand over computerized voter lists containing names pictures of 80.40 million voters to ECP. As many as 30.70 million unverified votes are being deleted and the names of youngsters having Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC) are being added in the new voter lists.

The final electoral rolls are likely to be published in May.

Farahnaz said she didn’t give interview to anyone adding that she respected ISI and Army. ‘I came here to meet my children and going home soon.’

Britain’s Sunday Times quoted Ispahani that she ran away from Pakistan fearing Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) might kidnap her to force her husband, Husain Haqqani, to sign a confession and implicate the president in the memogate scandal.

Christina Lamb, a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times, who filed story on Pakistan from Washington, is banned from entering Pakistan after being deported from the country in 2001.

Lamb wrote that the memogate scandal involving Husain Haqqani, who is facing trial for treason, was “trumped up”.

It is only the second time that the apex court has initiated contempt proceedings against a sitting prime minister.

The court summoned Prime Minister Gilani to explain his refusal to ask Switzerland to re-open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Giving his point of view before the seven-member bench, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the president enjoys complete immunity, not only in Pakistan but also in the world as enunciated by the Constitution.

He said that he could not even think of dishonouring or disgracing the court.

PM Gilani said he appeared in person to comply with court orders that indicated his respect and honour for the court.

About writing letter to Swiss Courts for opening of the cases, the premier said the president enjoys immunity within Pakistan and abroad, therefore, he did not write letter to the Swiss court.

“It will not give a good message to proceed against a president who is elected by a two-thirds majority.”

He said the leaders of PPP always respected and honoured the courts and complied with its orders.

Gilani said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Bhutto also appeared before the courts that indicated the respect and honour of these courts by the leaders.

He said the presence of leaders of coalition partners in the court, is the reflective of their respect for judiciary.

The prime minister said Benazir Bhutto was a great leader and politician, and he was following her mission.

He said the country is united and integrated due to the 1973 Constitution that has been restored by the present government in its original form.

Justice Asif Khosa, appreciating presence of Prime Minister Gilani in the court, said it indicated that there is rule of law as the Chief Executive of the country appeared in the court.

PM Gilani along with other leaders and his Cabinet members attended the court proceedings and personally presented his point of view before the bench.

He said he and President Asif Zardari had to face imprisonment but they never did any dishonour to the courts.

During proceedings, Aitzaz Ahsan said I am here only to defend PM Gilani, not Secretary Law.

‘Only Law Secretary can inform why he did not write a summary detailing the president’s immunity.’

He further said that until Asif Zardari is holding the office of president, letter cannot be written to Swiss authorities as he enjoys immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution.

Supreme Court’s verdict will be implemented when President Asif Ali Zardari is no longer president, said Aitzaz Ashan. This is not a normal case and need one month time to prepare, he pleaded.

Justice Khosa said the bench must be informed if anyone has immunity.

Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk remarked that these are merely preliminary proceedings and time has not come for the indictment.

Justice Usmani asked PM’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan that will the government write a letter to the Swiss authorities if it is proved that the president does not have immunity.

The court condoned the prime minister from court proceedings and adjourned the hearing till February 01.

The apex court ruled that by-elections should be held on authentic voters’ lists and the Election Commission should ensure free and transparent polls.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till February 6.

Briefing the media Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said no decision has been taken about restoration of NATO supplies adding Pakistan wanted relations with the US based on mutual respect.

Basit added that bilateral matters were discussed during the meeting between President Obama and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman.

About the visit of the American envoy Marc Grossman, Basit said the parliamentary process for the finalization of the terms of engagements with the United States and NATO was underway and Pakistan wanted the visit to be after that so that it is productive and result-oriented.

Commenting on reports of the presence of Norwegian intelligence network in Pakistan, the spokesman said Pakistan is in touch with the Norwegian Government and was seeking details.

Talking to media, PPP leader said that his opinion is different from the party on the issue of writing letter for reopening of Swiss courts, adding that president would have full immunity under article 248 of the constitution.

Replying a question, Aitzaz said that all the six options in NRO implementation verdict of 5-member bench of SC are advices for the larger bench of the apex court and not for the government.

He said that he submitted an application to the party for Senate seat.

PPP leader said that the movement for the impeachment of president is constitutional.