At least 75 killed in Myanmar earthquake

At least 75 killed in Myanmar earthquake

Pardee Homes highlights Solamar in northwest

Pardee Homes' Solamar neighborhood in northwestern Las Vegas features several homes that are ready for move in, according to Pardee Homes' Regional Sales Director Rob Tuvell.

He said the market continues to favor new-home buyers in Southern Nevada, including at the builder's eight valley neighborhoods.

"In our buyer's market, there are many terrific opportunities to own a brand-new, energy-efficient home with many upgraded amenities and that includes a select number of move-in ready homes at our Solamar neighborhood," Tuvell said.

Situated on a pool-size corner home site that measures 6,430 square feet, a Solamar Plan 4A at home site No. 143 measures 3,084 square feet with four bedrooms, three baths, three-car garage, playroom and loft.

Priced at $293,500, the home includes granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances including a side-by-side refrigerator and upgraded flooring.

A Solamar Plan 2C at home site 264 measures about 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms, 2½ baths, three-car garage, den and playroom.

Priced at $290,750, the home includes a stainless-steel appliances including side-by-side refrigerator, granite countertops, upgraded flooring and rear yard landscaping.

A Solamar Plan 5B at home site No. 117 measures 3,959 square feet with six bedrooms, four baths, three-car garage, library and loft.

Priced at $336,100 the home includes stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and buyer's selection of flooring.

For additional information on these homes or others, visit the sales office; call 702-645-3666 or visit www.pardeehomes.com/solamar.

All of Pardee's newly designed homes, including those at Solamar, are part of the builder's LivingSmart brand, a program with standard and optional measures that boost energy efficiency, save water, improve indoor air quality and encourage material conservation and the use of recycled or sustainable resources in new homes.

Home prices start from $270,450 at Solamar and the one- and two-story floor plans range from 2,491 to 3,959 square feet with up to six bedrooms.

Solamar's northwestern Las Vegas location is near new retail, services, schools and major transportation links including the recently opened Centennial Hills Transit Center. Also nearby are Silver Stone Golf Club, Mountain Ridge Park, Las Vegas' Extreme Sports Park and Centennial Hills Hospital.

To visit Solamar from U.S. Highway 95 North, exit to the 215 Beltway west. Exit on Durango Drive and turn right. Turn left on Deer Springs Road, right on Grand Canyon Way, then right on Bay Ledge Street to the models.

Visitors are welcome from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.

For the second consecutive year the Southern Nevada Division of Pardee Homes has received the highest rankings from J.D. Power and Associates for overall customer satisfaction and new home quality in the Las Vegas Market.

One of the West's largest and longest-established home builders, Pardee has built homes for more than 40,000 families in Southern Nevada since 1952.

PPP govt did not validate, condone acts of Musharraf, says CJ

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said that whenever a country is ruled by the chosen representatives under the dispensation of the Constitution the system of good governance is strengthened.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 17th Commonwealth Law Conference in the Indian city of Hyderabad on Sunday, he said an independent judiciary was necessary for the enforcement of fundamental rights, trade and commercial activities.

Dilating upon the theme of the conference “Emerging economies and the rule of law: opportunities and challenges,” the chief justice said that rule of law bore a substantial impact on the economic development across the globe.

The judiciary in Pakistan has passed through different phases where efforts were made to adopt unconstitutional measures, a press release received here quoted the CJ as saying.

“But the judiciary ensured its independence in all the circumstances because it is of the opinion that when there is constitutionalism and rule of law, it guarantees a democratic system in the country instead of military rule,” he added.

Referring to the steps taken on Nov 3, 2007, Justice Iftikhar said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan the judiciary asserted itself and the Supreme Court declared those measures unconstitutional and illegal in its landmark order issued on the same day.

The superior judiciary, sacked unconstitutionally, was ultimately restored and the democratic government did not validate or condone the acts and actions taken by the military ruler, he added. The chief justice said that constitutionalism and the rule of law guaranteed enforcement of human rights and thus helped flourish industrial and commercial activities. “The rule of law and equality before law are the hallmark of Islamic thought and philosophy, which derives its authority from the Holy Quran and traditions of the Prophet (PBUH).”

Having alluded to the history of rule of law, he said the concept had been further developed by the International Commission of Jurists, known as Delhi Declaration 1959. According to it, this formulation implied that the functions of the government should be so exercised as to create conditions in which the dignity of man as an individual is upheld.

“This dignity requires not only the recognition of certain civil or political rights but also creation of certain political, social, economic, educational and cultural conditions, which are essential to the full development of his personality,” he said.

About Pakistan’s Constitution and role of judiciary, the CJ said it had given necessary powers to the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental rights.

“The judiciary has to safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to life, liberty with its wide connotation and right to property. The courts have attempted to restore and enhance the confidence of all citizens and persons, including the trade, commercial and industrial class and foreign investor, in the system of governance in the country.”

Justice Iftikhar said that as an important organ of the state the judiciary played a key role in financial and economic discipline, promotion and strengthening of democratic institutions and ensured development of projects.

“Its decisions and rulings have impacts on the system of governance. A reformed and modernised legal system, administered through an efficient system of judicial administration, goes a long way in resolving conflicts, settling disputes, restoring rights/entitlements and redressing grievances, which in turn, leads to peace and tranquillity in society,” the press release quoted him as saying.

Such an environment, he said, was ideal for trade and commercial activities, investment and industrialisation, leading to economic growth and prosperity.

The chief justice said that Pakistan being a member of the World Trade Organisation had promulgated various acts and ordinances so as to bring itself on a par with international standards in terms of observance of trade laws and trends.—APP

Government seriously implementing reforms agenda: PM

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said his government is seriously implementing a 10-point reforms agenda given by the PML-N last month.

Talking to reporters at his residence here on Sunday, he said performance would be among the major considerations in appointing new ministers after the dissolution of the federal cabinet.

In an effort to allay fears of employees of loss-making national corporations, he said the institutions would be restructured and not privatised.

The prime minister admitted that there was pressure from the US on the issue of Raymond Davis, an American citizen accused of killing two men in Lahore.

“We agreed to the 10-point agenda only after weighing all its aspects,” he said. He mentioned some measures taken to implement the agenda for which the PML-N has set a deadline of Feb 20.

“As some of the points require just administrative decisions, we can do it. Where there is need for legislation, we can at least move a bill in parliament, while reconstitution of the Election Commission is in the offing and talks on tabling a unanimous accountability bill are also making progress.”

Referring to the call for sacking corrupt ministers and reducing the cabinet’s size to 11 per cent of the parliamentary strength as enshrined in the law, he said removing anyone from the cabinet would not mean that the person in question had not been up to the mark.

The prime minister hinted at curtailing the perks and privileges of the ministers “to give a symbolic message to the masses that their government means business, although these perks do not cost the national exchequer much”.

Trying to dispel a perception that the MQM and JUI-F would not rejoin the cabinet, he said: “Altaf Hussain has convened a meeting of the coordination committee after talking to me, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman too has been consulted by me and President Asif Zardari at the Kashmir solidarity conference.”

Answering a question, he said a formal invitation would be extended to the PML-N to rejoin the cabinet only when it would appear that the response would be positive.

Prime Minister Gilani disowned a deadline set by his party for the Punjab government to implement a 19-point agenda for improving governance in the province. PPP’s representatives in the Punjab cabinet have said they will stage a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly after the expiry of the ultimatum on Tuesday.

“Setting deadlines is not my policy. After all, we’re friends and not masters and petty differences between the coalition partners should be taken casually.”

The prime minister said the PPP and PML-N had agreed on restructuring the loss-making corporations instead of privatising them. “Their boards will be replaced and non-controversial persons with untainted careers and of world repute will be appointed to lead the corporations.”

He said progress had been made on improving the performance of the Pakistan Electric Power Company and a summary had been moved for the purpose.

Declining to comment on the sub judice matter of Davis, he admitted there was diplomatic pressure from the United States to release the accused. He said courts would decide the issue of immunity of the accused.

“In matters of national interest one must not play to the gallery, like some people have done by giving irresponsible statements,” he said and added that extreme caution should be exercised on sensitive issues.