Author: newsdesk

  • PPP wants Yusuf Raza Gillani as Chairman Senate

    PPP wants Yusuf Raza Gillani as Chairman Senate

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has made a decisive move in selecting former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as its nominee for the position of Senate chairman.

    Gilani, who recently resigned from the Senate and subsequently took oath as a member of the National Assembly, has emerged as the party’s top choice for the role of Chairman Senate.

    Despite the resignation, PPP leadership remains steadfast in their decision regarding Gilani’s candidacy for the Senate chairmanship, according to a report by The News on Saturday.

    The Bilawal Bhutto-led party is actively consulting its legal and political experts to determine the most appropriate path for Gilani’s re-election to the Senate.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has scheduled Senate by-elections for March 14 to fill vacant seats, but the timetable for the upcoming main Senate elections, due to the retirement of half the senators on March 11, has not yet been announced.

    PPP insiders reveal that the party’s legal team is weighing the options available for Gilani’s return to the Senate, whether through the by-election or the subsequent Senate elections for a six-year term.

    The final decision, expected within a day or two, will hinge on the advice of PPP lawyers, who will obtain nomination papers for the Senate by-election on the seat vacated by Gilani.

    If approved by the party leadership, Gilani will file his nomination for the Senate by-election from Islamabad, the constituency he won after resigning from the Senate.

    However, this course of action may change if PPP leadership opts for Gilani to contest the main Senate elections instead.

    Sources within the PPP also indicate that Gilani remains a top contender for the Senate chairman position, with details of his candidacy finalized in coordination with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Gilani has entrusted the decision to PPP’s top leadership.

    If elected as Senate chairman, Gilani would achieve a unique distinction, having served in the top three constitutional posts in the country: Speaker of the National Assembly, Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Chairman of the Senate.

    While Gilani previously contested the Senate chairman election in 2021, he narrowly missed out on victory after seven of his votes were deemed invalid, leading to the election of Senator Sadiq Sanjrani as Senate chairman.

    He won the seat of the National Assembly in general elections which was contested by his rival. On February 11, after the recount in National Assembly constituency NA-148, the number of votes obtained by the former PM increased.

    Upon the request of Independent candidate Barrister Taimur Malik, the process of verification of Form 45 was carried out in the RO office.
    Resultantly, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani secured victory with 67,377 votes, while Taimur Malik remained runner-up with 67,047 votes. According to Form 47, Gilani had defeated Taimur Malik by a lead of 293 votes previously in the first count. After recounting, Gilani’s lead increased to 330 votes.

  • Start Earning Money with NBP Funds Today: 19.2% p.a return in January 2024 in NBP Islamic Mahana Amdani Fund

    Start Earning Money with NBP Funds Today: 19.2% p.a return in January 2024 in NBP Islamic Mahana Amdani Fund

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    In these challenging times, with inflation soaring at an alarming rate, one cannot rely on a single source of income and need to invest their savings smartly to earn attractive returns and monthly income.

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  • PPP’s Sarfraz Bugti elected CM Balochistan unopposed

    PPP’s Sarfraz Bugti elected CM Balochistan unopposed

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sarfraz Bugti was elected on Saturday as the unopposed leader of the house in the Balochistan Assembly. The newly-elected chief minister got 41 votes.

    Bugti will take the oath today, with the swearing-in ceremony to be held at the Governor House at 3 p.m, where Balochistan Governor Abdul Wali Kakar will administer the oath.

    Sarfraz Bugti’s nomination was announced in the Balochistan Assembly’s session today.

    The former federal minister submitted his nomination papers after instructions from PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardrai and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

    He is also supported by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri and Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki.

  • Shoaib Akhtar has become father to baby girl

    Shoaib Akhtar has become father to baby girl

    Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has announced the birth of third child and this time it’s a baby girl.

    The Rawalpindi Express shared a photo of his newborn daughter on his social media accounts on March 1. The birth of the little girl follows two sons.

    Sharing a picture with his daughter, Shoaib Akhtar wrote in the caption, “Mikaeel & Mujaddid have a baby sister now. Allah taala has blessed us with a baby daughter. Welcoming Nooreh Ali Akhtar, born during Jumma prayers, 19th of Shaban, 1445 AH. 1st of March, 2024. Aap sab ki duaon ka talab gaar, Shoaib Akhtar.”

    Shoaib Akhtar married Rubab Khan on 11 November 2014.

  • Mahmood Khan Achakzai nominated for President by Sunni Ittehad Council after fiery speech

    Mahmood Khan Achakzai nominated for President by Sunni Ittehad Council after fiery speech

    Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has put forward the name of Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the leader of Pashtun­khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), as their candidate for the upcoming presidential election in Pakistan.

    The announcement was made on Saturday by the SIC, endorsing Achakzai to vie for the country’s highest constitutional position against Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman, who is backed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other allied parties forming a coalition government.

    Achakzai, who secured a National Assembly seat from Balochistan’s NA-266 constituency, received backing not only from his party but also from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan. Despite Khan’s current incarceration in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, he urged his party members to support Achakzai’s candidacy.

    In 2014, Khan had made fun of Achakzai in a public rally during his dharna, mimicking the Baloch leader’s shawl with a duppata.

    Confirming the nomination, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan affirmed their support for Achakzai in the presidential poll. This move comes following PTI’s efforts to gather political support against alleged electoral irregularities, with a recent meeting between PTI representatives and Achakzai, along with Balochistan National Party (Mengal) chief Akhtar Mengal.

    During the meeting, Achakzai expressed his party’s commitment to support any political entity advocating for constitutional supremacy and parliamentary empowerment.

    The presidential election, scheduled for March 9, is set to follow a stringent timeline outlined by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The deadline for the submission of nomination papers is today, with scrutiny scheduled to be completed by March 4. Candidates have until March 5 to withdraw their nominations, following which the final list of candidates will be published on March 6, preceding the polling.

    The current President, Dr. Arif Alvi, completed his five-year term on September 8, 2023, making him the fourth democratically elected president to do so. However, due to the absence of the required electoral college, he continues to hold office until his successor is elected.

    According to constitutional provisions, the president is elected by members of the National Assembly, Senate, and the four provincial assemblies. The oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected president will be administered by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa following the election process.

    During his fiery speech yesterday in parliament, Achakzai asked the speaker to have four resolutions passed from the house including, “This parliament announces that there will be no role of Establishment and intelligence institutions in the politics of Pakistan. This parliament will be the representative of internal and external affairs of Pakistani politics. No General will come in between.”

    He accused certain individuals of attempting to turn the parliament, representing 220 million people, into a marketplace. He emphasized the importance of upholding the Constitution and resisting any efforts by the establishment to manipulate it and further stated that just as Nawaz Sharif advocated for respecting the vote, Imran Khan has also risen to power through the people’s support.

    The PKMAP leader raised concerns about attacks on the parliament, stating that the recent attempt was futile as the people had thwarted it. He called for accountability for those seeking to undermine the democratic process.

    The presidential candidate for SIC also criticized the military and intelligence agencies’ involvement in politics, stating that they must refrain from such interference and focus on their designated roles.

    In his impassioned speech, Achakzai underscored the importance of honoring judges who did not support martial law by recognizing them as heroes, while suggesting that those who did support such measures should have their salaries revoked.

  • House help, 12, beaten to death with iron rods in Sargodha

    House help, 12, beaten to death with iron rods in Sargodha

    A 12-year-old girl working as domestic help was allegedly tortured to death by her employers in Sargodha.

    The horrific incident happened in Village 84 South, a suburb of Sargodha, where Ayesha worked as a house helper. She was employed by a landlord named Jawad Bhatti, reported Geo News.

    Bhatti and his wife reportedly struck the child with iron rods and sticks. After the child died, the suspects telephoned Ayesha’s family members and informed them that their daughter had an accident because of which she is severely injured.

    When the family reached the place, they found out that the girl had been tortured and killed, as per the local police.

    Bhatti and his wife ran away to escape arrest.

    Providing details about the suspect, the police said that Bhatti is a contractor of the toll plaza.

    The police said that a murder case has been registered against the suspect and his wife at the Laksian Police Station on the complaint of the girl’s father. A search is also underway to arrest the suspects.

    The child’s body was shifted to a hospital for autopsy.

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken notice and immediately sought a report from the Inspector-General of police.

    On February 26, another child worker named Ayesha was killed, reportedly by her employers, in Faisalabad while the parents were being forced to reconcile with the alleged murderers.

  • Rain emergency in Rawalpindi, below zero in Quetta as cold wave takes over

    Rain emergency in Rawalpindi, below zero in Quetta as cold wave takes over

    The weather in Quetta became colder after rain and snowfall while a rain emergency has been imposed in Rawalpindi after heavy rains.

    The Department of Meteorology has stated that weather in Quetta Valley and its surroundings will remain partly cloudy today. After yesterday’s rain and snowfall, the temperature in Quetta has dropped to minus five, reports Geo.

    Due to severe cold in Quetta, rainwater has frozen on the sides of roads. Consumers are also facing a reduction in natural gas pressure.

    Additionally, the Meteorological Department has said that the weather will remain very cold and dry in the northern districts of Balochistan. Rain is expected at a few places in Ziarat, Zhob, Barkhan, including Quetta, and snowfall is expected in the mountains.

    The lowest temperature has been recorded as minus 7 in Kalat.

    In Punjab, intermittent rain is continuing in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. However, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has imposed a rain emergency in Rawalpindi.

    As per MD WASA, 25 mm of rain has been recorded in Rawalpindi. Teams are engaged in draining with heavy machinery while the flow of rainwater has been recorded as five feet at Katariyan in Nala Lai and four feet at Gawalmandi Bridge.

    Chief Meteorologist Sardar Faraz has predicted clear weather in Karachi with no expected rainfall, but cold and chilly winds are anticipated to lower temperatures, reports Hum News.

    Riders on a motorcycle wrap a plastic sheet over themselves to shelter as they make their way along a road amid rains in Karachi on March 1, 2024. — AFP

    The maximum temperature is estimated to range between 22 to 24 degrees Celsius.

    Currently, Karachi is experiencing winds at a speed of 18 kilometers per hour, with a humidity level of 49 percent.

    The met office also noted that Karachi’s weather today will be chillier compared to yesterday.

  • Pak Suzuki hikes prices, Cultus AGS now priced above Rs4.5 million

    Pak Suzuki hikes prices, Cultus AGS now priced above Rs4.5 million

    In response to inflationary pressures and rising overhead costs, Pak Suzuki has announced a significant hike in car prices, impacting models across the range.

    The adjustments, ranging from Rs80,000 to Rs180,000, are set to take effect on March 1, 2024.

    Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh, Head of Corporate Affairs at Pak Suzuki, explained the rationale behind the decision, citing factors such as inflation, increased overhead expenses, higher international raw material and accessory costs, and elevated shipment and freight charges.

    The latest adjustments mean that the top-of-the-line model, Alto VXL AGS, will now be available at Rs3.045 million, reflecting a price increase of Rs110,000.

    However, the most significant surge is observed in the Cultus AGS, with its new price set at Rs4.546 million, following an increase of Rs180,000.

    This move by Pak Suzuki aims to navigate the challenges posed by the current economic landscape, ensuring the sustainability of operations amid various cost escalations.

    Customers will experience the impact of these changes as they come into effect, marking a new pricing structure for Suzuki vehicles in Pakistan.

    Here are the new prices for all Suzuki cars:

  • Gold price in Pakistan surges to Rs216,800 per tola

    Gold price in Pakistan surges to Rs216,800 per tola

    In a noteworthy surge, gold rates continued their upward momentum on Friday, amplifying economic concerns for investors and traders.

    The price of 24-karat gold witnessed a significant surge, jumping by Rs1,100 per tola to reach Rs216,800.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association, a key player in the precious metals market, reported that the price of 10-gramme 24-karat gold also experienced a notable increase, settling at Rs185,871 per tola.

    This reflected a substantial rise of Rs943, prompting a reevaluation of investment strategies in the local jewellery market.

    Similarly, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold exhibited an upward trend, reaching Rs170,382 per tola, marking a gain of Rs865.

    This surge in gold prices is creating ripples across the domestic market, influencing the decisions of both investors and consumers alike.

    On the global front, the international spot gold market is witnessing an upward trend, with a $2.77 increase on the day, currently trading at $2,046.72.

    This surge in global gold prices is directly influencing the domestic market, with the gains seen locally being closely linked to the rally in the international gold market.

    The international gold market is on track for a third consecutive daily victory, driven by a relatively weaker dollar. The weakening of the dollar has bolstered gold prices, making it an attractive investment amid economic uncertainties.

    Furthermore, the Pakistani rupee recorded a marginal decline against the US dollar, depreciating by 0.03 per cent in the inter-bank market on Friday.

    At the close, the local unit settled at 279.19, reflecting a loss of Re0.08 against the greenback, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    This slight depreciation comes after a relatively stable period on Thursday, where the rupee settled at 279.11 against the US dollar.

  • OGRA announces ‘reduction’ of Rs0.81 per kg in LPG price

    OGRA announces ‘reduction’ of Rs0.81 per kg in LPG price

    The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has implemented a modest reduction in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by Rs0.81 per kg, effective from March 01, 2024.

    The previous consumer price for LPG stood at approximately Rs257.59 per kg. With the latest adjustment, consumers can now avail themselves of LPG at the revised rate of Rs216.79 per kg, indicating a notable decrease.

    For consumers relying on an 11.8 kg LPG cylinder, the cost has been adjusted to Rs3,030.12. This represents a decrease of Rs9.51 per cylinder from the previous price of Rs3,039.63, providing some relief to households and businesses alike.

    The move by OGRA to reduce LPG prices aims to alleviate the financial burden on consumers amid fluctuating economic conditions.

    This adjustment reflects the Authority’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and accessibility of essential commodities for the public.

    Consumers are encouraged to verify and adopt the new rates, as OGRA continues its efforts to maintain transparency and affordability in the energy sector.