Polio vaccine a must for exit travelers from June 1

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will require all travelers leaving the country to obtain a polio vaccination from June 1, 2014, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

A statement from the ministry said the restrictions comply with a decision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) advising travelers of all ages to be vaccinated by next month.

It said all provinces have been provided necessary guidance and material to set up special counters at hospitals and airports for polio vaccination and certification.

Related: Polio virus found in Lahore, Karachi sewage samples

The ministry spokesman Sajid Shah said pregnant women traveling abroad are not exempted from the restrictions and the vaccination was not injurious for them.

The WHO has declared the spread of polio an international public health emergency and identified Pakistan, Syria and Cameroon as having allowed the virus to spread beyond their borders.

NTDC announces end to loadshedding

ISLAMABAD: The power sector is setting new records as it has started receiving more than 30,000 tons of furnace oil a day following Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s directive last week for reducing the duration of loadshedding.

As a consequence, the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) announced on Tuesday that it had ended loadshedding across the country after the temperature declined because of widespread rains. “There was no loadshedding anywhere in the country on Tuesday as the maximum demand was met,” an official said.

He said the total demand stood at 11,100MW at 8pm (peak demand time) which was fully met. The demand went down from 17,000MW to 12,000MW because of a sudden drop in temperature over the past few days.

Independent power producers (IPPs) contributed about 5,920MW to the national grid, thermal power plants 1,500MW and hydropower resources 3,680MW.

Officials said a surprise visit by acting water and power secretary Saifullah Chattha to the Indus River System Authority last week also helped increase water discharges from water reservoirs, taking hydropower generation from 2,668MW last week to 3,680MW on Tuesday.

The power sector received a maximum of 35,980 tons of furnace oil on Tuesday. An official in the NTDC said it was the highest fuel supply to the power sector in more than four years and followed Rs20 billion disbursement to the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) whose receivables were still in excess of Rs150bn.

On Monday, the power sector received about 29,061 tons of fuel and power shortfall stood at 769MW, resulting in less than two hours of loadshedding. On Saturday, it received 32,000 tons of furnace and power shortage stood at 1,000MW. The sector got 32,161 tons last Friday.

Thermal power stations in public and private sectors require a maximum of 36,000 tons of furnace to run all plants on full capacity. However, the power sector had been receiving less than 24,000 tons of fuel over the past four years because of liquidity problems. In some cases, PSO provided less than 3,000 tons of fuel per day to the sector.

A power sector official said the sector was also getting 173 million cubic feet per day of additional gas following the prime minister’s orders, resulting in additional generation of about 800MW. This included 55mmcfd to Kapco, 28mmcfd to Kotri, 52mmcfd to Guddu and Faisalabad plants and 38mmcfd to Halmore.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

PM approves interest-free loan scheme 14 may 2014

ISLAMABAD: The federal government will disburse Rs3.5 billion under an interest-free loan scheme.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the scheme during a meeting held here on Tuesday.

One million applicants — 50 per cent of them women from across the country — will be able to get loans under the scheme.

“I am convinced that if our youth are given proper guidance and financial support through micro credit schemes and better access to innovative technology, they can play their positive role in development of the country,” an official press statement quoted the prime minister as saying during the meeting.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chairperson of Prime Minister Youth Scheme (PMYS) Maryam Nawaz, Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood and other senior government officials attended the meeting.

The prime minister said micro finance schemes were the catalysts for political and economic development while micro credit was an instrument of change for the poor segment of the society, especially women.

Spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Dr Shireen Mazari, on the other hand, has termed the government’s decision as a gimmick. The scheme, according to her, is not going to solve the real problems of poor people, such as inflation, loadshedding of electricity and unemployment. “This is the time the government should stop gimmickry and seriously tackle basic issues confronting the country,” she added.

Maryam Nawaz, during the meeting, said that the money would be distributed through Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund. Under the scheme each beneficiary would receive up to Rs50,000. To facilitate applicants, adequate loan and business support centres would be formed, she added.

She briefed the meeting on progress of other programmes of the PMYS.

She said training of selected youth in the PM youth skill development programme was initiated on May 12. In total 25,000 youth, of the lesser developed areas from all over the country, would be imparted training in 100 disciplines under the programme at a cost of Rs800 million. The allocation of seats is according to the population in the federating units, based on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

The basic aim of the scheme is to train youth in different vocation in order to make them self sufficient. Similarly, under the PM fee disbursement scheme approximately 33,000 eligible students of M. Phil and PhD from 59 districts will avail provision of tuition fee and other education charges.

The meeting was also informed that the company which had been given the contract to provide laptops had agreed to assemble 10,000 laptops in Pakistan. Therefore, from next year 100 per cent laptops which the government has planned to distribute among students will be assembled in Pakistan.

The company will establish E-education rooms in two universities of the country where 14 software will be installed free of cost. The distribution of laptops will start in June with first tranche of 10,000 laptops. The company will also offer internship to selected students.

ISI Challenges GEO/Hamid Meer in Investigations 13 may 2014

ISI claims investigations reveal Hamid Meer’s personal guard did fire gunshots when their car was attacked. Lt. General Zaheer-Ul-Islam orders the department to develop a three member committee of expert officers to lead an investigation of the incident and unveil the parties involved and motives behind it. The conclusive report will be sent to the dg himself and also to the prime minister. Analysts claim geo/Jung group showing signs of defeat through contradictory remarks on the issue. 

Islamabad: Department of Defense, ISI, has begun investigating the attack on lead GEO anchor
Hamid Meer. As per officials, if required, ISI is also determined to clear its name of the allegations made upon it by GEO
 by recording an official statement in front of the legal commission in Court. It is also being speculated that the three member 
committee established by D.G ISI Zaheer ul Islam has already began investigations in this regard. As per the preliminary investigations 
conducted by this committee, private media groups are uncertain about their own views and are consistently deviating from their own 
opinions, which is worth noting. Evidence gathered under this investigation has also revealed proofs of Hamid Meer’s personal guard 
firing a couple of rounds while he was with him in the car. Two shells discharged as a result of such firing were found by the investigating
 team, which it presented to support its conclusions.


On the other hand, the Jung/GEO group is having a hard time deciding what to present to the people in its defense against the ISI’s 
investigation teams’ conclusions. Actually, according to some analysts, such attitude of the Jung/GEO group is the cause ofISI’s 
decision to take matters into its own hands and to prove itself a clean and truly patriotic institution as against its image thatGEO 
and the Jung group has presented to the world.


The team organized by ISI is following scientific methods in cracking down this case, with senior officers providing their best in this 
regard, to the department.


This team will not only submit its final report to Lt. Gen. Zaheer ul Islam, but will also send official copies to Chief of Army staff 
General Raheel Sharif and the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, so that everyone gets a fair share of the truth.


Investigations are being conducted with the view of uncovering the truth behind the attack on the lead GEO anchor and to
 present in front of the nation those involved in organizing this criminal act, said officials.


ISI has also clarified through the ministry of defense that if felt necessary, it will also present the results of this investigation in front 
of the three member committee created by the government in form of official and authorized statements in order to clarify the issue.

Pakistan, Iran to give impetus to gas pipeline 12 may 2014

Nawaz meets with President Rouhani | Desires enhancing trade to $5 billion | Proposes joint border markets | Eight MoUs, agreements signed
TEHRAN - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have agreed to continue with the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and they reiterated their commitment to enhance bilateral trade between the two countries.
Both the countries also signed eight MoUs/agreements to enhance their cooperation further in various fields.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri witnessed the signing ceremony.
The following MoUs/agreements were inked during the ceremony: 1. Agreement on Transfer of Offenders (Transfer of Sentenced Persons). 2. MoU on Anti-Money Laundering. 3. MoU on Statistical Cooperation. 4. Renewal of the Cultural Exchange Programme. 5. MoU on Sports Cooperation. 6. MoU on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Pollution from Ships. 7. MoU on establishment of Joint Border Commission. 8. MoU between TDAP and IIEC.
PM Nawaz Sharif arrived in Tehran on Sunday to meet with senior Iranian officials and explore avenues for the further improvement of ties and cooperation with the country in all fields. His two-day visit, which takes place at the invitation of President Rouhani, is his first since he took office again last year.
“I am here to open a new chapter in Pakistan-Iran relationships... As prime minister, I visited Iran firstly in 1999 and have always found the Iranians more affectionate on every visit,” Pakistani prime minister told the Iranian president at a meeting held at Saadabad Palace.
Nawaz Sharif said that he was there with his team of finance, petroleum and interior to resolve all the matters which were creating hindrance in the project. He said there was lot of scope of increasing the trade volume and they wanted to enhance it to $5 billion.
President Rouhani said Iran-Pakistan relations had historical connections. Apart from being neighbouring countries, both Muslim countries have the common traditions and relations based on the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). PM Nawaz Sharif’s visit would further boost the brotherly relations, he added.
Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Balochistan Governor Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatimi were also present during the meeting.
The prime minister told the president that some miscreant elements were trying to sabotage the bilateral relations. He said they would deal with all such elements firmly and would not let them sabotage these relations. “We want security for development and development for security”.
Both the leaders also discussed the border security matters between the two countries. They agreed that better border management and improved security measures would result in increased bilateral trade and strengthening relationship and cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Nawaz extended invitation to President Rouhani to visit Pakistan which he accepted. Later, the Iranian president hosted a luncheon in honour of the prime minister and the visiting delegation.
The prime minister also held a meeting with First Vice President of Iran Eshaq Jehangiri in which matters of mutual and bilateral interest were discussed and Nawaz underscored that expansion of ties and cooperation with Iran was a top priority of his government.
He referred to the two countries’ lengthy common borders, and called for the establishment of joint border markets to facilitate trade and prevent smuggling of goods.
Nawaz also stressed the importance of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline for Islamabad, and said his country will provide Tehran with a new proposal in this regard, adding that Islamabad welcomes multilateral cooperation with Iran in the oil and gas sectors.

Corrupt rulers to be kicked out soon: Qadri

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri on Sunday said corrupt rulers would soon be kicked out of the country as a silent revolution was nearing. He claimed that there was neither democracy nor any system in the country.

Addressing a large gathering at the Liaquat Bagh, Qadri said there was nothing like democracy and an organised system in the country. “No parliament exists in this country. The present parliament came into existence through violating Article 63 and 62,” he alleged.

Qadri said hundreds of thousands of people were attending the rally. “I wanted to show people’s power by staging today’s rally.”“The time has come to rebuild Pakistan as some families are occupying the country,” Qadri added.

The PAT leader announced that he would soon return to Pakistan and give a call for the final phase of his peaceful revolution to transfer power back to people.He rejected criticism about leading the campaign from Canada. “It is the right of people to reject or accept my call from Canada. If they respond to my call, nobody else has the right to object,” he said.

“There is no hope from the parliament which was formed through rigged elections,” he said, adding that under the Constitution of Pakistan, elimination of the present government system had become mandatory.

About 5000 to 6000 party workers participated in the rally. It started from Chandni Chowk and culminated at Committee Chowk. PML-Q Senior Vice President Bashrat Raja, J Salik, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, Baba Haider Zaman of Hazara Tehreek and others also participated in the rally.Qadri said drastic changes in the present system would be introduced with setting up of 30 new provinces, including an administrative unit for Hazara.He said under the new structural setup of the country, homeless people would be provided houses besides job opportunities for unemployed.

Asim Hussain adds from Lahore: The rally, which was meant to judge ‘the preparedness of 20 million ‘Namazis’ for Qadri’s much-awaited prayer call’, proved to be an unimpressive show despite mobilising huge resources for bringing people from adjoining districts and towns to the provincial metropolis.

What should have been most perturbing for the organisers was the disinterest shown by Lahorites as an estimated 70 per cent participants were from outside the city with their numbers estimated around 5,000 to 6,000.

The PML-Q joined the rally led by some former and sitting women MPAs, including Amna Ulfat, Majida Zaidi, Samina Khawar Hayat, Kanwal Naseem and others.The rally which started from Nasir Bagh amidst tight security measures proved to be a slow and sluggish affair as it began its march 90 minutes behind the schedule.

Apparently, the organisers kept waiting for the participants since only a few hundred workers could reach the venue till 3 pm, the scheduled time. Majority of those who reached Nasir Bagh were women and children, and the bulk of them were the students of the TMQ-run educational institutions and colleges who had come along with their family members.

To engage the participants in the absence of PAT and TMQ central leaders, the organisers kept playing party songs on loudspeakers. Many boys and girls kept dancing to the tunes.The bigger chunk of the participants had come from nearby districts and towns like Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Kasur, Okara, Muridke, Pattoki and Nankana. A number of rural women in the rally looked overtly indifferent as they kept sitting on pavements, holding and paying attention to their children. Same was the case with many men and youth coming from other areas as they looked more interested in lying or sitting on footpaths then joining the rally to raise slogans. Before the rally began, the organisers spent quite a time requesting them to get up and join the rally.

The rally led by TMQ Lahore Ameer Irshad Tahir, Lahore Nazim Ghulam Farid and PAT President Chaudhry Afzal Gujjar began marching at a slow pace and not as part of single rally, but in shape of small clusters of workers walking as separate groups. PAT Secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur joined the rally later, when it had almost reached Faisal Chowk. Qadri’s son Hasan Mohiuddin Qadri, who was scheduled to lead the rally, reached Faisal Chowk after 7pm. They participants kept shouting slogans against the ruling PML-N leadership and holding banners and placards demanding revoking of existing electoral laws and implementation of Article 38 of the Constitution.

Strangely, the central and local leadership refrained from addressing the participants after the rally had reached Faisal Chowk, and suspended the proceedings for over an hour (from 5.45pm to 7 pm) apparently waiting for Qadri’s signal from Canada.

However, several hundreds of participants coming especially from Kot Abdul Malik, Muridke, Shahdara and Gujranwala also reached the venue, enlarging the size of the rally. After much delay, the PAT leadership began addressing the rally after 7.30 pm and the speech of Gandapur was cut short after a few minutes when Qadri began his televised address from Canada.

Our correspondent adds from Bahawalpur: The PAT workers took out rallies amid strict security measures.At Chowk Fawara, they listened to Qadri through a video link. The rally started from Chowk Fawara to Rafique Shah Chowk. In Rahim Yar Khan, another rally started from Jinnah Hall to Railway Chowk amid security measures.

Abdusatar edhi says he is fine 11 may 2014.....fake news running on social media about his illness.

Karachi

Renowned social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi urged the people on Saturday not to pay any heed to the fake news running on social media about his illness.

He expressed these views during a media briefing held at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT). Director SIUT Dr Adib Rizvi, Faisal Edhi and Dr Tahir Aziz were also percent on the occasion.

Edhi requested the public not to pay any heed to such rumors, saying that spreading such misinformation was unethical. “I am fine and living a normal life and there is no authenticity in fake news on social media about my serious illness,” he said, adding, “I visit SIUT twice a week for my normal routine treatment of dialysis and am not admitted at the SIUT ICU or elsewhere.”

PTI cries foul over protest rally 11 MAY 2014

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Saturday alleged federal and Punjab governments of harassing transporters as well as its workers and creating hurdles in their way to prevent them from participating in the May 11 protest rally in Islamabad.

The opposition party severely condemned both the PML-N led governments on the issue, which it took so seriously that it held two emergency press conferences on Saturday – one by PTI chief Imran Khan and other by its vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence, Imran Khan said the federal and Punjab governments were creating hurdles in smooth holding of their May 11 protest rally and they would be responsible for any untoward incident happened as a result of their ‘shameful’ acts. “The workers of PTI will reach Islamabad with full zeal and fervour after crossing all hurdles from across the country and protest against the rigging in 2013 general elections.”
Khan said that Punjab government was pressing the transporters for not lending their busses for the protest rally and harassing its workers. He said the protest was being held to strengthen the democracy and for transparent elections in the country, and the government’s interference depicted its dictatorial style of governance. He said such steps were strongly condemnable and extremely regrettable.
He said that earlier the workers of PTI despite weather hardships and all other hurdles had travelled to Waziristan against US drone attacks and made public opinion to bring the matter to UN. “And this time the workers would come to Islamabad to start a movement to bring reforms in electoral system with full zeal and patience,” he said.
PTI chief termed Punjab government’s intimidating PTI workers and transporters shameful and said all responsibility would fall on the Punjab government in this connection. He also condemned the federal government alleging that it was stopping the journalists from covering the rally in the name of registration. He also said the central government was creating hurdles in the smooth arrangements of the rally. But, he said the efforts to suppress the voices being raised against election rigging would not be successful.
Earlier in the day, PTI vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressing an emergency press conference along with party’s Secretary General Jehangir Tareen and Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari said Punjab government was pressurising transporters in all districts of the province through districts coordination officer (DCOs) and RTOs to ensure they do not to lend their vehicles to the PTI workers. He said that police posts had been established at all the entry and exit points of all Punjab districts through district police officers (DPO) under the direction of Punjab government to stop their workers from attending the rally. He said Imran Khan would present the party’ charter of demand in the rally.
The party leaders said that it was condemnable that important avenues of the capital had been dug up before the rally. The leadership said that the undemocratic acts of the federal and Punjab governments cannot stop them from reaching their destiny. To a question, Qureshi said that Geo media group while remaining partial had started a campaign against the PTI chief. He said it was condemnable and this was the reason to boycott the media group.

Hatf III ballistic missile test-fired successfully 09 may 2014

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Thursday successfully conducted a training launch of short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi), capable of delivering nuclear and conventional warheads up to a range of 290 kilometres.

According to the statement released by ISPR, the successful launch was the culminating point of the Field Training Exercise of Army Strategic Forces Command which was aimed at testing the operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group besides up-gradation of various weapon systems.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Lt General Zubair Mehmood Hayyat witnessed the demonstration.
Monitoring Desk adds:
According to a private TV channel, the Chief of Army Staff while addressing the soldiers appreciated them on displaying a high standard of proficiency in handling and operating strategic weapon systems.
He expressed his confidence over the professionalism of the soldiers and urged them to maintain the high standards. “Pakistan has configured one of the best command and control systems, and the armed forces are fully capable of safeguarding Pakistan’s security against any aggression,” remarked the army chief.

One killed as earthquakes measuring 4.6 strike Nawabshah 09 may 2014

Two earthquakes measuring 4.5 and 4.6 on the Richter scale rocked Nawabshah early on Friday morning, and killed one woman, Express News reported.

According to data from the US geological survey department, the first earthquake struck at around 3.50 am and measured 4.5 on the Richter scale. The quake’s epicentre was eight kilometer south-south east of Daur in Sindh, around 16 kilometers from Nawabshah.

The depth of the earthquake was recorded at 14.7 kilometer.

The second earthquake, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, struck an hour later. Its epicentre was 12km south east of Daur, just 13km north of Nawabshah and 15.3km deep.

The earthquake was severe enough to cause the local populace to temporarily leave their homes.

Houses of some roofs were also reported to have collapsed. This caused the death of at least one woman and injured a number of others.

The local administration has also decided to close all schools.

'FBI agent' detained in Pakistan

Pakistani police on Wednesday questioned an American who allegedly attempted to board a plane with ammunition and knives after US authorities said an FBI agent on an anti-corruption taskforce had been arrested there.

Pakistani police officer Rao Anwaar declined to say whether the detained American was the FBI agent.

He said investigators had not received any written evidence proving the man worked for the US Embassy in Pakistan.

The American arrived in Karachi on May 1 and was detained on Monday when he was about to board a flight for Islamabad, Anwaar said.

He said officials found the man carrying ammunition and three knives, as well as electronic devices that were being examined.

"We have sent his laptop and other gadgets for forensic examination," Anwaar said. He declined to comment further.

A law enforcement official in the US identified the man as an FBI agent and said he was in Pakistan as part of a multi-agency, anti-corruption programme.

The official said the agent appeared to have made a mistake and that there was no indication he was trying to carry bullets aboard the plane.

The official said authorities were hopeful the situation would be resolved soon with the agent's release.

The official, who did not provide the agent's name or age, spoke on condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivities of the case.

Court appearance

Pakistani television channels aired footage on Wednesday of police presenting the American in court on Tuesday, which allowed the investigators to question him for four days. The footage showed the man in handcuffs, wearing a blue, striped shirt while standing in the dock.

Washington needs Pakistan's help fighting al-Qaeda and stabilising neighbouring Afghanistan, as NATO uses Pakistani roads to supply its troops.

However, relations have strained over a series of incidents. CIA contractor Raymond Davis shot and killed two Pakistani men in Lahore in January 2011.

The US killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in May 2011 and American forces accidentally killed 24 Pakistani troops along the Afghan border the same year.

US drones strikes in the country also have angered Pakistanis.

3 killed, 20 injured as Karachi-bound train derails in Pakistan 07 may 2014

Karachi: Three persons were today killed and 20 others injured when an engine and three bogies of a Karachi-bound train derailed in Pakistan's Sindh province. 

Karakoram Express - travelling from Lahore to Karachi - derailed near Bandhi station, some 30 kilometres from Nawabshah. 

Railway officials said the incident took place due to technical fault at a railways crossing point.

Three persons were killed in the accident while 20 others suffered injuries.

The government has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the heirs of each deceased and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured passengers.  

PTI

First Published: Wednesday, May 07, 2014, 17:40

Khan warns PML-N of danger against disrupting May 11 protest 07 may 2014

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan today said theNawaz Sharif government will be in "danger" if it tries to stop its May 11 protest. 

"The PML-N government will be in danger if it tries to stop the Tehreek-e-Insaf workers to participate in May 11 peaceful protest in Islamabad against the last year's election rigging," the cricketer-turned-politician said at a press conference here.

"There will be no threat to democracy from our protest but I give no guarantee if the government stops us by force. We have street power and launch protest across the country then the government will be responsible for its outcome," Khan said. 

The PML-N is of the view that Khan is launching the anti-government campaign at the behest of the military establishment. 

The PPP, an opposition party, said at the time when there has been civil-military tension the Tehreek-e-Insaf's protest will do no good for democracy. 

"The PTI's protest may harm democracy. Therefore Imran Khan should better use the forum of parliament for his grievances," PPP Punjab president Manzoor Wattoo told PTI. 

Khan has also declared war on Jang/Geo group owner Mir Shakilur Rehman. 

"I have learnt that MSR is going to launch a character assassination campaign against me but I will face him and will not be blackmailed (by him)," he said adding he would follow MSR to Dubai where he is residing. 

The Tehreek-e-Insaf has boycotted Jang/Geo group for his role in rigging in the last elections. 

"...Media rights were given to Geo Super (a sports channel of Geo group) as a reward to help PML-N come to power through rigging," he said. 

Khan said former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry was also involved in rigging. 

"Iftikhar deliberately didn't take up PTI's plea of verifying votes in four constituencies showing his collusion with the PML-N," he alleged. 

Exactly a year after the historic general elections, former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League and Canada-based cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehreek along with the Tehreek-e-Insaf have announced to stage protests on May 11 over the issue of alleged vote rigging and corruption. 

Khan's protest is being supported by the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami.

Rawalpindi: Rate approved for land acquired in metro bus project 07 may 2014

Rawalpindi- Punjab government has accorded approval to rate to be paid to the owners in respect of the land acquired from them in connection with Metro Bus project.

Sources said cost of land will be paid to owners at the rate of Rs 3 million per marla. The tenants will be paid compensation equal to the rent of one year.
Acquisition cost is estimated at Rs 65 million as per formula based on double of DC rate plus 15 percent structure cost. KP has obtained the contract against 23 percent lowest bid in respect of Metro bus Islamabad package 4-Z. Cost of package stood at Rs 74 billion. Five companies took part in the bid. The previous bid held on this count was cancelled.

HomeNewspaperFront Page Nawaz hopeful of Taliban talks success 6 may 2014

LONDON: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he still hopes that talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan can succeed, despite the militants having ended a ceasefire.

Speaking to BBC Urdu in an interview in London, he said talks offered the ‘best option’ of ending the country’s long conflict.

Accoprding to a report on BBC website, the prime minister said he believed his talks strategy could “bring peace without any further bloodshed”.

“If we can make this process somehow successful, I think it will be the best option.”

There are reports that some people in Pakistan are worried the talks will allow the militants time to gain strength and regroup. And observers doubt the militants are willing to respect the constitution.

From its bases mainly in the north-west, the TTP is committed to enforcing its austere version of Islamic law or Sharia across Pakistan.

But Mr Sharif said the militants would have to respect the constitution and lay down their arms.

“This of course is the number one condition that has to be met.

“We are making progress on these issues. Let us see if the next round of meetings are successful and we can find a way to make headway in the talks we are holding with each other.”

Few observers, the BBC report says, think it likely the militants will accede to the government’s demands. On the other hand, the powerful army is watching the talks anxiously, reluctant to hand over hard-won gains to the militants.

Two rounds of negotiations have already been held. The prime minister said it would take two or three more meetings for the sides to know “how sincere we are with each other and how the talks are progressing”.

He added that security had improved while the talks have been under way.

Violence has fallen from the levels seen last year, but since the brief ceasefire ended in mid-April, there have been more attacks in Pakistani cities. Air strikes on militant strongholds in the country’s tribal regions have resumed.

The Taliban say they remain committed to peace talks, but accuse the government of being silent about their demands – which include the release of prisoners.

US citizen arrested at international airport in Karachi - 05 May 2014

KARACHI: Security forces have arrested a United States (US) citizen over recovery of weaponry material from its possession at Karachi Airport on Monday.

A US citizen, reportedly named as Jewel, has been arrested reportedly at Jinnah International Airport Karachi, the metropolis of Pakistan, on Monday over carrying bullets, local media reported.

Airport security forces took rapid action after recovery of illegal material including 5 bullets of 9mm pistol and a magazine from his possession and detained him on the spot.

The US citizen’s case was filed in Airport police station while security agencies have started further investigation.

Earlier, the person was shifted to an undisclosed location initially for interrogation process.

MQM extends ultimatum for recovery of missing workers by two weeks

Earlier on Friday, MQM had given 72 hours ultimatum after bodies of four MQM workers were found from Memon Goth in Karachi. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

On Monday evening Coordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) extended its ultimatum for the recovery of its missing workers by two more weeks,Express News reported.

After the assurances from the Sindh government to address their grievances, MQM decided to extend its ultimatum for another two weeks.

According to sources Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad Khan and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Rahman Malik played important role in reconciling relations between MQM and PPP.

Last Friday, MQM had given 72 hours ultimatum after bodies of four MQM workers were found from Memon Goth in Karachi. The party had demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz should form a judicial commission to investigate the extra-judicial killings of the MQM workers and a monitoring committee should also be formed to oversee the ongoing Karachi operation.

They had also requested the Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Corp Commander Karachi Sajjad Ghani to form an inquiry commission to look into the matter of missing MQM workers.

It has been just two weeks since MQM joined the Sindh government.

On Monday, MQM members in the National Assembly staged a walkout to protest the extrajudicial killing of their workers.

Khar's son booked for 'killing' youth 5 may 2014

Police booked Bilal Khar, son of former governor Punjab Ghulam Mustafa Khar, and others on the charges of killing a youth, here on Sunday. Reports said that Bilal Khar resorted to indiscriminate firing in Mauza Bait Angara, a village near Muzaffargarh, while spearheading a squatting drive to occupy disputed agrarian land his uncle Ghulam Murtaza Khar has laid claim to. 

"He was shooting in all directions and people were running for their lives. Then a young man got hit. He later died in the hospital," media reports said. 

The death of a fellow villager at the hands of the powerful feudal lord triggered agitation in the area. As a protest the bereaved family members and local residents carried the body of the deceased all the way to the GT Road and blocked it. 

The protestors were demanding the arrest of Bilal Khar, who has a long history of barbarity. 

According to latest reports, on the complaint of the deceased father a case was registered against Bilal Khar and other unknown persons in Kot Addu police station.