Siasat Wala Blog

KARACHI: Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah has decided to cut his Islamabad visit short and will return back to Karachi in the wake of the tense situation in the province after Supreme Court verdict in the Asia Bibi case. Chief Minister of Sindh has contacted with the Director General (DG) Rangers and I.G. Sindh and directed them to restore traffic flow on roads in Sindh province. According to sources, provincial government has prepared a strategy to end the protest sit-ins in various cities of the province and decided to fully implement the directives of the federal government. The law and order will be maintained at any cost, the government sources said. The police and other security agencies will ensure protection of life and property of the general public at any cost. The law enforcement agencies will ensure implementation of the Article 144, which has announced to be enforced across the province, officials said. The contingents of Police and Rangers have been deployed at

ISLAMABAD: Giving his remarks after the Asia Bibi case judgment, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar says “we are not just the judges for Muslims, but for the entire Pakistan,” ARY News reported. The CJP said the judges who announced the verdict in Asia Bibi case were no lesser ‘Aashiq-e-Rasool’ (lovers of the Prophet). “One must go through the verdict, it’s mentioned that our faith is incomplete without believing the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” We are, he said, ready to render sacrifice for the love of Prophet, said Mr Nisar, adding the courts were supposed to mete out justice. “Should we punish a person even his/her crime hasn’t been proved,” asked the CJP. He quoted the prime minister’s statement that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the state. “The state must now fulfill its responsibility.” The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the conviction of Asia Bibi, the Christian woman condemned to death for blasphemy. Mr. Nisar read out the verdict, exonerating Asia B

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the government plea regarding appointment of inspector general police (IGP) Islamabad, and instead ordered for bringing to charge an interim police chief, ARY News reported. The federal government had approached the apex court regarding appointment of IG Islamabad after a recent contention with incumbent capital police chief, Jan Muhammad, who is currently out of country. The court permitted the government to appoint interim IG Islamabad to control the law and order situation. The top court on Monday suspended a notification regarding removal of IG Islamabad Jan Muhammad when it was informed that he was removed on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, expressed extreme displeasure over the removal of the IG Islamabad, saying the way he was sent packing is deplorable. Attorney General Anwar Mansoor informed that the IGP was removed on the verbal directives of the

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court to record the statement of erstwhile Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia reference on Thursday (today). Judge Arshad Malik to resume hearing into the corruption reference at 11:30am today, filed against Sharif on the orders of the supreme court in light of Panama case verdict. Recording of the statement of  the elder Sharif is linked to the presence of his counsel, Khawaja Haris, as he pleaded the court to record his client’s statement in his presence. AC Judge, Arshad Malik has prepared a questionnaire to quiz Nawaz Sharif in the reference by himself. During the proceedings on Wednesday, former prime minister was allowed to leave the hearing due to protest in Islamabad against Aasiya Bibi’s acquittal. An accountability court on Tuesday ruled that it would record statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference on next hearing. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor Wasiq Malik informed Judge Muhammad Arsh

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will preside over meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad today (Thursday). The federal cabinet meeting has been summoned to review issues regarding eight-point agenda. The prime minister will also take the cabinet members into confidence over his upcoming visit to China. The cabinet will endorse reconstruction of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), while resignation of Chairman Wage Board will also be approved. Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to fly China on his first trip after assuming his office today. During the visit, according to the Foreign Office, the premier will hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang and review the bilateral relations. Both sides will sign several Agreements/MoUs of cooperation in diverse fields, the Foreign Office said. After his visit to Beijing, the premier will visit Shanghai to participate in First China International Import Expo in Shanghai, where Pakistan is exhibiting a w

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over ‘police crackdown’ on tobacco sellers and sought comprehensive report in this regard, ARY News reported. Hearing the case regarding sale of gutka across the city, the SHC bench asked the police counsel to furnish evidence that crackdown was bearing fruits. The court said: “how long it will take to initiate action against gutka sellers?’. The police was directed to launch decisive crackdown on gutka sellers to end the menace once and for all. Station house officers of all the zones also submitted their report regarding action against gutka dealers in their respective remits. The court adjourned the hearing, seeking comprehensive report of the police action by Nov 13. The Rangers in June this year had issued a statement, claiming to have foiled a bid to smuggle Indian gutka into the metropolis. The spokesperson of the paramilitary force said they were conducting snap checking on Mauripur Road in Lyari when

JAKARTA: Indonesian search and rescue workers believe an underwater “pinging” sound they have detected is from the black box of a passenger jet that crashed into the sea with 189 people on board, the country’s military chief said on Wednesday. Ground staff lost touch with flight JT610 of Indonesian budget airline Lion Air 13 minutes after the Boeing 737 MAX 8 took off early on Monday from Jakarta, on its way to the tin-mining town of Pangkal Pinang. Military chief Hadi Tjahjanto said that divers had already gone down to check the location from where the signal was picked up by a search and rescue team late on Tuesday, but were contending with strong currents. “We hope tonight we can drop anchor and release the ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) again and I am sure we will find a black box given the strong indication, and, not far from there, the main body of the plane,” Tjahjanto said. Search and rescue agency chief Muhammad Syaugi said the current was so strong it had shi

KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday said that Sindh is a resource-rich province of the country which generates 70 percent of revenue. Addressing a delegation of Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP) officers of 38th Specialized Diplomatic Course here at CM House, the province is rich in resources and the resources only need to be utilized in a productive manner. Talking about Thar coal, CM Murad said, “it is black gold and there are huge deposits in the desert. The coal mining and power projects were started by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in her second tenure but her successive government could not understand their national benefits and scrapped them in their entirety.” He said that the mining work was in full swing and the power project was near completion. “By the end of December 2019 we would start power generation,” he said and added “it would be a great realization of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s dream and it would be the beginning of ending energy crisis in the countr

LOS ANGELES: Three weeks after a bizarre White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, rapper Kanye West said on Tuesday he was distancing himself from politics. West, Trump’s biggest celebrity supporter, also sought to distance himself from a new campaign that encourages black Americans to quit the Democratic Party.  “My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative!!!” West tweeted, without mentioning Trump, who is a Republican, or any other names. The singer and fashion designer, who has said he is bipolar, also said he “never wanted any association” with a campaign launched last weekend called Blexit that seeks to draw African-Americans away from their long-standing support for Democrats. West, 41, was linked to the campaign after its leader, conservative activist Candace Owens, said he had designed the logo for the movement’s hats and T-shirts.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar chaired meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) here Tuesday. The Secretary Privatization Commission made a detailed presentation to the committee on the privatization program pursued by the government over the last two decades.The committee discussed the objectives and rationale of the privatization program. It was noted that only one entity was privatized during the last five years, apart from divestment of shares in a few already privatized entities. The committee gave the go-ahead to Privatization Division to undertake the process for privatization of newly established 1233 MW Balloki Power Plant and the 1230 MW Haveli Bahadur Power Plant. The CCOP also approved the proposal for privatization of the following entities: (i) SME Bank Ltd (ii) First Women Bank Ltd (iii) Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad (iv) Lakhra Coal Mines (now Lakhra Coal Development Company) (v) Services International Hotel, Lahore. The committee note

ISLAMABAD: A Fiscal Coordination Committee (FCC) meeting chaired by the Finance Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday reviewed the bi-annual implementation of the National Finance Commission Award (NFC Award) for the period July-December, 2016, January-June, 2017 and July-December, 2017. According to a statement released from the ministry, the meeting also reviewed the federal government Public Financial Management (PFM) program which was being run with the help of World Bank. The meeting decided to constitute a sub-committee and technical committees to review various actionable items in the PFM Program. The meeting was briefed by the ministry of finance regarding the fiscal consolidation program of the federal government, reads the statement. Provincial finance ministers assured the federal government of their full support for the fiscal consolidation efforts as it was need of the hour. Governor State Bank was assigned the task to chalk-out a simplified procedure in this regard. Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday incr­eased the prices of diesel and petrol by Rs5 and Rs6.37 per litre, respectively, for the month of November. “The government has decided to absorb the substantial impact of increase in the prices of petroleum products and only partially pass on the increase to the consumers for the month of November. The decision has been taken to minimize the burden on the public at large,” reads a statement issued by finance ministry. The statement says that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had recommended an increase of Rs9.02 per litre in the price of petrol but an increase of Rs5 has been allowed by the government. Likewise as against the recommended increase of Rs13.22 per liter in the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD), an increase of Rs. 6.37 has been approved. For Kerosene Oil (SKO),  the recommended increase was Rs6.47 per litre but the government allowed an increase of Rs.3.0per litre only. As for Light Diesel Oil (LDO), the reco

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Private  Schools Federation (APPSF)  has announced to keep the schools close, on Thursday, across the country. According to a statement released by the APPSF, all the private schools will remain closed on November 1, Thursday. APPSF President Kashif Mirza said the decision was taken in the best interest of the students and the schools’ staff. He advised the students to restrict their movement till Thursday as a safety measure. On the other hand, Sindh government has announced that all the schools will remain open on Thursday across the Sindh. It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh government has also imposed a ban on pillion riding for 10 days in view of the current law and order situation across the province. The reason for ban had  been particularly specified by the government, but according to reports, the decision had been taken in the wake of protests and rioting fears after the Supreme Court verdict ordering acquittal of Asia Bibi. The provi

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday gave go ahead to the Ministry of National Food Security & Research to develop three major projects for conservation of 9  million acre feet (MAF) water, ARY News reported. Chairing a meeting on water conservation at PM Office, the PM approved three projects aimed at conserving water through lining of the watercourse across the country and laser leveling of the fields, enhancement of 6,00,00 acres of command area of small and mini dams and water conservation in Barani areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “These interventions are in line with the agenda of the PTI Government. The Prime Minister’s first 100 days agenda includes massive expansion in water conservation efforts through smart interventions to reduce water losses,” reads a statement issued from PM Office in this regard. A project named “National Program for improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan Phase-II”, would be undertaken across the country with a target of lining of over

ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Javad Zarif called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today and conveyed a message of President Hassan Rouhani. According to a statement released from the PM office, Iran’s FM Javad Zarif conveyed personal greetings and commitment of President Rouhani to work closely with Prime Minister Imran Khan for further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Reciprocating President Rouhani’s message, Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated his desire to further strengthen political and economic relations with Iran. He said that improving relations with all neighbouring countries was one of his government’s key foreign policy priorities. PM Imran expressed his concern at the absence of unity and continued conflicts among Muslim countries. He lamented the humanitarian crisis facing the people of Yemen and offered his personal mediation to help resolve the crisis in Yemen. He conveyed his best wishes for the leadership and the peo

LAHORE: Punjab government has announced that all the public and private schools in Lahore will remain closed on Thursday keeping in view the current law and order situation. According to a statement released by the Punjab School Education Department, all schools in Lahore, both public and private, will remain closed tomorrow due to possible traffic congestion. Tariq Hameed Bhatti, spokesperson of Punjab Education department, has said that the decision is taken to avoid any untoward incident. Whereas Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah has said that they are monitoring the situation and will make the decision about about the schools at 11 pm tonight. He said they wanted students will go to schools in a peaceful situation. Earlier in the day, All Pakistan Private  Schools Federation (APPSF)  had announced to keep the schools close tomorrow in connection with security concerns and fear of protests. According to a statement released by the APPSF, all the private schools wi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the report of the United Kingdom Parliament’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir (APPKG) on the human rights situation in occupied Kashmir and its recommendations. The report of the UK Parliament’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir (APPKG), on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir, has detailed severe Indian human rights atrocities in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoK). “Pakistan believes that the lasting solution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute is essential for peace, security and stability of South Asia and beyond. India’s denials of this reality, its unwillingness to engage in dialogue and suppression of Kashmiri aspirations for freedom continue to endanger regional as well as international peace and security,” reads a statement issued by foreign ministry. The APPKG report echoes many of the findings of the UN OHCHR Report on Jammu and Kashmir and is critical of the human rights atrocities being committed w

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has improved its ranking by 11 points and moved from 147 to 136 in World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2019, Board of Investment announced on Wednesday. Board of Investment, being the secretariat of ‘Prime Minister’s Steering Committee on Doing Business Reforms’, briefed the press on the reforms behind improvements made in Pakistan’s ranking and reforms being introduced to improve it further. Talking to the media, Mrs. Fareena Mazhar, Executive Director General BOI, explained that in addition to introduction of reforms, other positive data corrections also contributed to the unprecedented improvement in ranking of Pakistan. She acknowledged the efforts of dedicated teams of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue , State Bank of Pakistan, Planning and Development department, Punjab and Sindh Boards of Investment. Three reforms that have been acknowledged Pakistan made starting a business easier by introducing the online one-sto

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar has offered United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment opportunities in energy sector. According to a statement released from the ministry, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar has offered the opportunities during a meeting with the UAE ambassador Hamad Obaid Alzaabi, who called on him in the federal capital today. The minister said that Pakistan and UAE enjoy cordial bilateral relations and emphasized the need to further broaden the scope of partnership. He added that Pakistan’s energy sector has huge investment potential especially in petrochemicals and hydel energy generation. The minister stated that there were many areas in which both countries could work together for gaining mutual benefit. Khusro Bakhtyar added that Pakistan offers investment friendly policies and the government is committed to attract foreign investment to put the national economy on growth trajectory for achieving its socio-economic ta

ANKARA: Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and then “cut into pieces”, Turkey’s chief prosecutor said Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time. A statement from the office of prosecutor Irfan Fidan said meetings with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, who visited Istanbul this week, had produced “no concrete results” on the killing, which it said was premeditated. Khashoggi, a 59-year-old Washington Post contributor, was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork ahead of his upcoming wedding. His body has not been found. The statement comes hours after Saudi Arabia’s chief public prosecutor ended his visit to Istanbul, during which he met Fidan twice and visited the kingdom’s consulate and the regional offices of the Turkish intelligence agency. Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb reportedly refused to share information from Riyadh’s own investiga

ISLAMABAD: Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, the sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, on Wednesday called on Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari here in Islamabad. According to a statement released by the ministry, Dr Fauzia Siddqiui and Dr Shireen Mazari discussed the ways how to move ahead in bringing Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan. The minister assured Dr Fauzia that the government is trying its best to bring Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan. Dr Mazari said that she is well aware of the problems and anguish of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s family and assured Dr Fauzia of her full support in their struggle for her sister’s release. Neuro-scientist, Aafia Siddiqui, is serving 86-year prison sentence after being convicted of seven counts of attempted murder and assault on US military personnel in Afghanistan. Dr Siddiqui, who received her graduation degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University in biology and neuroscience while living in the US between 1991

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan is addressing the nation ahead of his visit to China. The post WATCH LIVE: PM Imran Khan addresses nation appeared first on ARYNEWS .

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting at his office in which progress on 100 days agenda was reviewed in detail, ARY News reported. According to a statement released from his office, the CM directed to expedite work on 100-day agenda adding that different departments should work hard to achieve their respective targets because the initiative is aimed at bringing Pakistan on the road to peace and prosperity. “Punjab will lead with regard to implementation on this agenda as I am personally monitoring progress on the plan,” said the CM. He added that creating new job opportunities for the youth is an important part of the agenda, adding that all the targets set as part of the plan can only be achieved with joint efforts of all the concerned departments. Senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan, provincial ministers, chief secretary, chairman P&D and administrative secretaries attended the meeting. CM CONDEMNS FIRING AT LABORERS IN G

KARACHI: Chairman Brave Pakistan Salman Iqbal on Wednesday termed the participation of six Pakistani fighters in first-ever international mixed martial arts (MMA) event Brave 17 “a good omen for future of sports in Pakistan”. Speaking exclusively to ARY News, President and CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal said that he will continue to work for promotion of sports in the country and give the Pakistani sportsmen opportunities they crave for showcasing their talents. “We are trying to bring MMA events to Karachi and Islamabad so more and more people can watch and participate in the event,” said Salman Iqbal.  Salman Iqbal, who also owns Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings, maintained that, in the past, security situation didn’t allow such events to be take place in Pakistan but now, with peace restored, even PSL matches are being played in the country. “When Pakistani and Muslim sportsmen get opportunities to showcase their skills before the world, they help b

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday postponed the all parties conference for few days. While  talking to journalist, Fazlur Rehman said that a high-level meeting of his party has decided to convene a parliamentary leaders meeting ahead of the APC. He said thatPML-N leadership will be informed about the decision. Fazlur Rehman said that PML-N’s proposals about the APC and other issues were came under discussion in the meeting. It is pertinent to mention here that the differences between two major opposition parties – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had turned the prospects of a successful APC bleak. sources said, in order to patch up with the PPP, the leadership of PML-N had put forward the need to restore trust as its foremost precondition. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership had conditioned its participation in the opposition’s all parties conference (APC) convened by Maulana

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday (today) inaugurated Dhabeji Express, on route between Karachi’s City Station and Dhabeji in Thatta district. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, President Arif Alvi lauded the performance of the Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid and congratulated him over yet another addition of train service in family of Pakistan Railways. “Transport is major problem of Karachi, this shuttle train service will help to ease it a bit”, contended the President, adding that incompetency in past ruined the Railway department. Addressing the ceremony, Sheikh Rashid said government is striving hard to serve masses despite having limited resources. “ Dhabeji Express is a gift from Prime Minister for the people of Karachi,” said the minister for railways, adding, the fare of shuttle train service will vary between Rs 40 to 80, he added. ” More trains to be inaugurated in the metropolis after return from the scheduled visit of China.” maintained Rashid, addin

ISLAMABAD: British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom Khan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Wednesday.  During the meeting, Amir Khan expressed his desire to play a role in promoting boxing in Pakistan. In his remarks, the prime minister said the country’s youth have a huge potential in sports and utilizing their abilities positively is priority of his government. He welcomed Amir Khan’s offer to work for promotion of boxing in the country. The PM’s special assistant on political affairs Naeemul Haq and others were also present in the meeting. Pleasure meeting @ImranKhanPTI today in Islamabad, Pakistan pic.twitter.com/zgi3rBiTya — Faryal Makhdoom Khan (@FaryalxMakhdoom) October 31, 2018 The post British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan, wife Faryal meet PM appeared first on ARYNEWS .

ISLAMABAD: Responding to the points raised by Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif regarding CPEC, Defense Minister Pervez Khattak firmly rejected the impression that the incumbent government is opposing CPEC, the mega corridor project. Speaking on the floor of the house, Khattak said that, he is living in a rented house and satisfied whatever God has blessed him with. “Being the chief minister of KP in the last government, only demanded province’s due share in the CPEC,” he said. Mr Khattak rejected the impression that the cost of Peshawar Bus rapid transit system is higher than those constructed in Punjab and Islamabad. He said buses for Islamabad-Rawalpindi metro bus project were taken on rent, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had purchased the buses for the BRT. The minister maintained that he has no role in leasing of forest department’s land in Malam Jabba, adding that he will appear before the bureau to clear his position without hue and cry. Earlier today, Shehbaz Sharif

KARACHI: The Sindh government has imposed a ban on pillion riding for 10 days in view of the current law and order situation across the province. The reason for ban hasn’t been particularly specified by the government, but according to reports, the decision has been taken in the wake of protests and rioting fears after the Supreme Court verdict ordering acquittal of Asia Bibi, who was facing execution over blasphemy charges. The provincial government has also banned processions and rallies as well as carrying of arms. Under section-144 of the government, a gathering of no more than four people will be allowed. As per the notification, the ban has been imposed for 10 days. Two days ago, the Sindh government had banned pillion riding for two days across the province on Chehlum of the martyrs of Karbala on Tuesday. Provincial home department in a notification said, the Sindh government imposed ban on pillion riding on motorbikes in exercise of powers under Section 144 (6) of the cri

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will embark on a first trip to China on the evening of November 1 (Thursday). As per details, the prime minister’s visit to the neighbouring country has been rescheduled as he would now depart for China on Thursday evening instead of Nov 2. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi chaired a meeting to review preparations for the premier’s upcoming visit to China. The Ambassador of Pakistan in Beijing and other senior officials of the embassy attended the meeting via video link. The foreign secretary, additional secretary (Asia Pacific), additional secretary (FMO) and director general (China) were also in attendance. The meeting discussed the significance of the visit as well as the proposed program, meetings, agreements to be signed and its overall objectives. Emphasizing the importance of the visit, the foreign minister highlighted that Pakistan and China are “all-weather strategic cooperative partners”. He underscored that high level

ISLAMABAD: Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said that “leg pulling” will not serve anyone’s cause, urged for combine efforts to steer the country out of the hot waters. “Democracy has its weaknesses, but it remains a best way to address critical issues faced by the country.” Expressing his views in National Assembly, Zardari said recent financial help is not the long time solution to improve the “ill” economy of the country, relations with countries are not meant to get financial assistance only, he maintained. Former President while extending his support to the government said, ” will suggest best solutions to address the problems being faced by the country, if government decides to sit with larger opposition.” Addressing the problem of water scarcity, Co Chairman PPP advised government to create consensus over construction of dams,  PPP is ready to support government on the issue, he added. ” I was jailed for 20 years over the charges of alleged

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs2 million on the K-Electric. According to a statement issued by the power regulatory authority, the K-Electric was penalized over non-compliance of performance standards, particularly its failure to restore power supply within the prescribed time frame and to ensure the safety of public in Karachi. Quoting media reports, it said large swathes of Karachi remained without electricity due to the tripping of almost 700 feeders during rainy weather in June last year, which resulted in long power blackouts ranging from 24 hours to 48 hours in almost 50% areas of Karachi. Further, there were also reports of fatal injuries to some people owing to electrocution. The Nepra took notice of the situation in Karachi and directed the K-Electric to immediately provide a detailed report on the tripping of feeders and electrocution incidents along with preventive and corrective steps taken by K-Elec

DELHI: India Wednesday inaugurated the world’s biggest statue with pomp, fireworks and tight security amid an outcry among local groups over the cost of the 182 metre (600 feet) high reproduction of an Indian independence hero.   Activists said about a dozen of their leaders had been detained before Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with an air force jet flyover, helicopters showering flowers on the statue and fireworks in the green, orange and white national colours. “Today is a day that will be remembered in the history of India,” said Modi who hailed Sardar Patel’s “strategic thinking” in bringing together the disparate country after independence in 1947 and the Statue of Unity as “a symbol of our engineering and technical prowess.” But around the statue in a remote corner of Gujarat state, more than 5,000 police guarded the huge site where construction work has taken nearly four years to complete the megaproject. Hundreds of

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Communications, Murad Saeed, has said the Opposition was panicked after Prime Minister’s austerity measures and action against misuse of public exchequer. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Saeed said irrelevant questions and debates from the Opposition was tantamount to wasting time of the nation as well as of the Parliament. He said the government would appoint competent persons, not blue-eyed ones, in all department to ensure good governance and make the country progressive. Referring to ongoing tiff between the government and the opposition, he said precious time was being wasted on hue and cry over non-issues. He took exception to the statement from opposition benches regarding Kashmir issue, saying Indian business giant Sajjan Jindal came to Pakistan with the same opposition in power then, “Are they rightful to raise this Kashmir issue,” he asked. Without naming any PML-N leaders, Murad Saeed said they were even fearful to name Kul

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif called on his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday in federal capital at the Foreign Office. “Both dignitaries discussed matters related to mutual interests between Pakistan and Iran”, said FO Spokesperson, Dr Faisal in a tweet. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi welcomed the visiting Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr Zarif at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), adding that detailed discussions on all issues of bilateral issues, reads tweet. Talks between Iran and Pakistan took place on all issues of mutual interest pic.twitter.com/KabsWr6znw — Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) October 31, 2018 Mr Javad Zarif arrived in Islamabad to hold bilateral talks with Pakistani leadership earlier today. He will also likely to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. The foreign minister’s visit comes in the wake of the kidnapping of border guards of Iran near its b

KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi to inaugurate Dhabeji Express, on the route between Karachi’s City Station and Dabheji in Thatta district on Wednesday (today). Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rashid said that Dhabeji Express is a gift from Prime Minister for the people of Karachi. “Going to China tomorrow, railways has key role in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), government wants to facilitate labourers to travel home on time without being forced to sit on bus rooftops, maintained Rashid. The minister vowed for the revival of Railways, adding that employees of the department will be promoted to ‘A’ grade. Addressing a press conference yesterday, the minister announced that the citizens will travel by the new train for free on 1st of Nov. He said the federal government is ready to provide all required facilities for revival of Karachi Circular Railway project.  Five more trains will be launched in Sindh in the first 100 days of the present government, he added. He said the

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday fired a broadside at Prime Minister Imran Khan, asking him to explain as to who asked him for a deal like the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).  Speaking on the floor of the house, Shehbaz further asked the prime minister to present witnesses to substantiate his claim of opposition politicians seeking an NRO. “Prime Minister Imran Khan should tender an apology to Parliament if he fails to prove [his claim],” he said, adding that they cannot be intimidated by threats. He alleged that there is an unholy alliance between NAB and the PTI government. “The prime minister was a suspect in the helicopter case. On what basis did the NAB chairman meet a suspect,” asked the opposition leader. He said the prime minister once again resorted to lying by giving a statement with regard to the NRO. “I curse the NRO,” asserted Mr Sharif. He said the Billion Tree Tsunami, Malam Jabba, and KP Accountabil

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has conditioned its participation in the opposition’s all parties conference (APC) convened by Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman. The differences between two major opposition parties – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) – have turned the prospects of a successful APC bleak. As per sources, in order to patch up with the PPP, the leadership of PML-N has put forward the need to restore trust as its foremost precondition. The former ruling party was enraged over the recent statement of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, in which he held PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif responsible for the cases against PPP leaders. According to sources, such remarks are a bone of contention between the two parties. Furthermore, the sources told that the PML-N has showed its reservation on Zardari’s style of politics and has reportedly sought explanation from the former president regarding his role in toppling Baloc