News

MQM holding talks with PPP over joining Sindh govt: Sabzwari

Mar 26 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The News International

KARACHI: MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari says his party is holding talks with the PPP over joining the provincial government in Sindh. 

Sabzwari added that the MQM had been approached three times over the last ten months by the PPP regarding joining the provincial government.

According to MQM leader no final decision had been taken on joining the Sindh government as the MQM was still evaluating the PPP’s invitation.

Sabzwari further said there needs to be a working relationship between both parties.

 

Education gets politicised as textbooks and heroes are changed

Mar 25 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

KARACHI: The Sindh Textbook Board has decided to dub Abdul Sattar Edhi, Malala Yousufzai and Arfa Abdul Kareem as national heroes in its textbooks for grades I to VI while ‘purging’ textbooks of references to “non-democratic heroes”.

The provincial education department’s special secretary, Syed Zakir Ali Shah, who holds an additional charge for the textbook board, confirmed the revisions to The Express Tribune.

Election tribunal orders re-election in NA-46 Khyber Agency

Mar 25 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

PESHAWAR: An election tribunal on Tuesday declared the election of an independent candidate from NA-46 Khyber Agency constituency illegal, Express News reported.

Independent candidate Nasir Khan Afridi had won the seat with 4,028 votes against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Muhammad Iqbal Afridi who bagged 3,547.

The winning candidate was accused of rigging during the elections and the results were challenged.

Today, the election tribunal declared the results invalid and ordered re-election.

K-P politics: Governorship takes centre stage as peace process moves forward

Mar 25 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

SHABQADAR / PESHAWAR: Since the governor will play a focal role in the negotiations between the Taliban and government due to his position as chief executive of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) – the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wants its own man in that position.

1 yr in prison, 50k fine or both for child corporal punishment suggested

Mar 25 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The News International

ISLAMABAD: A bill against corporal punishment was tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday seeking a Rs. 50,000 fine and, or a one year prison sentence for violators.

 

According to sources, the bill tabled by MNA Marvi Memon seeks to prohibit all kinds of physical punishment including striking by hand, using a stick, a belt, a shoe or any other object. The bill also seeks to prohibit pulling of hair and ears as well. The bill has proposed a fine of 50 thousand rupees and one year imprisonment for those found administering corporal punishment.

 

Strength in numbers: JSQM's 'Freedom March' turns into party's biggest-ever rally

Mar 24 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

KARACHI: Supporters and activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) converged at MA Jinnah Road in Karachi for the Freedom March on Sunday. The party managed to attract a respectable crowd, despite the recent killings of two of its leaders and the threats of possible attacks at the rally.

“Is it a sin to love your motherland? Have we ever adopted the path of violence?” questioned the party’s chairperson Sunan Qureshi while addressing the rally. He alleged that his uncle, Maqsood, and another party leader, Wadho, were killed by ‘hidden hands’.

JI demands an ‘Islamic Pakistan’ on Pakistan Day

Mar 24 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
KARACHI: The Demand for an ‘Islamic Pakistan’ was the hallmark of the Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan convention organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) at Nishtar Park on Sunday.

Thousands of people, waving the national and the political party’s flags, gathered at the venue in order to attend the event, which coincided with Pakistan Day, that had called for the creation of an independent state for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.

Sticking to their guns: PML-N vows to materialise dream of Hazara province

Mar 24 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
HARIPUR: Though the resolution for a separate Hazara province has divided opinion across the region, people from Hazara division have welcomed the step as a positive one.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, former MNA Gohar Ayub Khan lauded the move and assured the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to which he belongs will get the resolution approved from the Senate and Lower House.

MQM to have five ministries, two advisers

Mar 23 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have inched closer to announcing a formation of a coalition government in Sindh as five ministries are likely to be handed over to the MQM, party sources said on Saturday.

The leaders of the two parties are also expected to meet at Governor House in a day or two, where the portfolios would be finalised. The names of the potential ministers have been sent to MQM chief Altaf Hussain for approval.

K-P Governor respects replacement decision by federal govt

Mar 23 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan said that the federal government has decided to replace him and that he will leave the office in honour of that decision.

He said this while talking to journalists at the Governor House during a civil awards ceremony on Sunday.

Khan further said that every governor has to leave the office according to an established system, adding that he was glad that he spent all his time in public service as the Governor. He also appreciated the honesty and devotion of his team during his tenure.

Passing of the baton: G-B gears up for elections next year

Mar 23 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
GILGIT: Following the green light from Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Birjis Tahir, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led G-B government is set to complete its five-year term, with plans to hold elections next year.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the chief minister, PPP’s Secretary Information Rana Nazeem told The Express Tribune on Saturday, adding that elections would be held after the G-B Assembly’s five-year term ends on December 11.

LG polls: Apex court upholds SHC's decision against delimitation in Sindh

Mar 20 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a civil petition which challenged the Sindh High Court’s verdict against delimitation of constituencies in the province, Express News reported.

The petition was filed by the Sindh Government in the Karachi Registry of the apex court, appealing against the high court’s decision to nullify the delimitation process for the Local Government (LG) elections.

Balochistan govt crisis: Dr Malik to meet angry PML-N ministers today

Mar 19 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch will meet today the ministers from his government’s major coalition partner, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and hear their grievances.

The delegation of ministers will be led by senior minister and PML-N provincial chief Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.

“It has been decided that both coalition partners will sit together, discuss the grievances and resolve them amicably,” said the ruling National Party’s (NP) Secretary General Tahir Bizenjo, who is also expected to attend the meeting.

Women’s rights: ‘Anti-poor, anti-women CII should be abolished’

Mar 18 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
LAHORE: Several rights activists condemned a report of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) declaring the law requiring consent from first [second or third] wife for another marriage un-Islamic. The CII had said that Sharia did not bind a husband to seek permission from any of his wives before contracting another marriage.

Balochistan political crisis: PML-N no-show cancels cabinet meeting

Mar 18 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
QUETTA: The political crisis in Balochistan deepened on Monday after seven members of the provincial cabinet belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz refused to attend the scheduled cabinet meeting.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, who was going to chair the meeting, cancelled it and rushed to the residence of PML-N provincial chief Sardar Sanaullah Zehri to address the latter’s party grievances.

Local bodies: Re-elections held in five districts of Balochistan

Mar 17 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune
QUETTA: Re-elections for local bodies’ seats were held on Sunday in five districts of Balochistan – Loralai, Pishin, Killa Saifullah and Musa Khail.

Re-polling was held due to discrepancies in the results, the provincial election commission said.

“Elections were held peacefully. However, polling could not take place in Union Council Malik Yar Pishin due to error in symbols and law and order issue,” Election Commissioner Balochistan Sultan Bayzeed told The Express Tribune.

Local bodies’ elections: K-P govt seems unprepared to meet April 30 deadline

Mar 17 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are due on April 30 but with a long things-to-do list and disagreements, officials believe that both the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government and the Election Commission of Pakistan cannot meet the deadline.

Despite persistent pressure from the Supreme Court, none of the provinces, except Balochistan, have any working local government system – a promise all the political parties made in their manifestos before last year’s general elections.

It’s a man’s world: Women lawmakers asked to avoid suggesting development schemes

Mar 17 2014
Pakistan
Source: 
The Express Tribune

Women MPAs have no concern with development schemes such as construction and the paving of streets, and should refrain from doing tasks which fall under the duties of male MPAs and government departments, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak.

According to an official handout, the CM asked female MPAs to avoid suggesting such high-risk schemes, which could potentially result in the wastage of capital. These views were expressed by Khattak on Sunday while addressing a delegation of female legislators at the CM Secretariat.

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