Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘I am the spokesperson of the cabinet, words are not my own’: Fawad Chaudhry apologises to ECP

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has apologised to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for his disrespectful remarks against the institution, reports Geo News.

    The minister arrived at the ECP today for the hearing before a two-member bench comprising ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Mohammad Jatoi. During today’s hearing, the minister told members that he is a lawyer himself and does “not want to get caught up in show-cause notices”.

    The show-cause notices were sent in October to Fawad over calling ECP an “Opposition’s mouthpiece” and Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati for accusing ECP of always “rigging polls” and his statement that “such institutions should be set on fire”.

    However, according to Swati’s co-counsel, he could not appear for the hearing as he was busy with the Senate proceedings and asked for more time, adding that a reply would be filed by tomorrow.

    Chaudhry, after the hearing, said, “I am sorry, I apologise for my words.”

    “I am the spokesperson of the cabinet. At times, I say things but the words are not my own,” he added while saying that he personally respects the CEC and did not abuse anyone.

    The members of the election commission directed Chaudhry to submit his apology in writing and warned that charges would be framed on the next hearing whether a reply was submitted or not and adjourned it to December 3.

    Before the show-cause notices, the election commission had issued notices to the two ministers on September 14, asking them to provide evidence about the allegations made by them against ECP and the CEC.

    Later, on September 23, Chaudhry had sou­ght six weeks to submit a reply but was given three weeks, which ended on October 19. However, Swati chose not to respond at all to the ECP notice. The ECP had then issued a notice to Chaudhry asking him to appear before it on October 27 but neither of them had turned up for the October 27 hearing, prompting the ECP to issue a show-cause notice for November 16 (today).

  • Pakistan names 20-member squad for Bangladesh Tests, including Imam

    Pakistan names 20-member squad for Bangladesh Tests, including Imam

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced 20-member squad for Bangladesh Test match series. Opener Imam-ul-Haq is making a comeback to the national team.

    The opener has been recalled on the back of a blistering form in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he has so far amassed 488 runs in five innings. Middle-order hitter Kamran Ghulam and off-spinner Bilal Asif likewise track down a spot in the 20-part crew.

    Bilal Asif has replaced leg-spinner Yasir Shah who is yet to fully recover from the thumb injury he suffered while playing in the domestic T20 tournament. Kamran also returns to the squad after being left out during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies. Pacers Haris Rauf and Shahnawaz Dahani have been left out and will be allowed to travel back to Pakistan after the T20I leg of the tour.

    The first Test will take place in Chittagong from November 26 with the second match taking place in Dhaka between December 4-8.

    Pakistan squad:

    Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Bilal Asif, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mahmood

  • Fazl summons meeting to finalise PDM’s anti-govt strategy, Nawaz will attend

    Fazl summons meeting to finalise PDM’s anti-govt strategy, Nawaz will attend

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah disclosed that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) head Maulana Fazlur Rehman had called for a virtual meeting, which is reportedly to finalise its anti-government strategy today (Monday), reports Geo News.

    Hamdullah said leaders of the Opposition alliance will consult each other on anti-government protests and finalise PDM’s strategy. 

    Major political figures will participate in the meeting, which includes former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Former Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Sherpao, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Professor Sajid Mir, and Shah Owais Noorani.

    The official Twitter handle of PML-N shared a glimpse of the meeting.

    The meeting will discuss important issues such as the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), electoral reforms, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance, and granting the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. 

    The PDM has started its anti-government protests. The stage will be set in Karachi first. The next one will be held in Quetta on November 17 and in Peshawar on November 20.

  • ‘Nawaz can only come back to Pakistan in a coffin just like his ancestors’: PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar

    Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif can only come back to Pakistan in a coffin.

    While responding to a question that there are speculations about Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, Ghulam Sarwar commented, “If Nawaz comes back alive, he would go straight to jail. He can only come back in a coffin just like his ancestors.”

    The former PM has been in London since 2019 for his medical treatment.

    Commenting on the recent Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the government’s negotiations, Ghulam Sarwar stated that this deal is in the best of public interest and their security.

    Recently, the Punjab government removed TLP Chief Saad Hussain Rizvi’s name from the Fourth Schedule — a list of proscribed individuals who are suspected of terrorism or sectarianism under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.

  • ‘No smog in Lahore for last two years’: PTI’s Muhammad Rizwan

    ‘No smog in Lahore for last two years’: PTI’s Muhammad Rizwan

    Provincial Minister of Punjab for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan claimed that there has been no smog in Punjab, including Lahore, for the last two years.

    According to the minister, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lahore which is being observed nowadays is different and the actual rating as per Pakistan Meteorological Department is 134.

    Muhammad Rizwan, while speaking to City 42 News, said that people don’t know how to install air quality monitors. He announced that the administration is starting a plan in which people will be given education and training related to this.

    Furthermore, while maintaining his stance, he stated: “Today our department has recorded AQI 134 mark while Town Hall has 192 and Model Town has 186.”

    After this, the host of the programme said that today (Friday) the city’s quality index was at 337 and previously Lahore was on the list of the most polluted cities.

    To which he replied, ”I can say with full confidence that there has been no smog in the last two years in Punjab, including Lahore.”

    He said that even if there is no fog, the presence of smog was not possible.

    On November 13, Lahore recorded a particulate matter (PM) rating of 364, which classifies the city under the “hazardous” category of air quality.

    However, today Lahore stands at second place after Delhi and has recorded AQI 209 mark while Karachi is at fifth place with the 175 mark.

  • Govt plans to provide gas three times a day for cooking only

    The government has decided to provide gas to the residential sector only three times a day for cooking purposes throughout December to March to minimise gas shortages in Pakistan, reports Dawn.

    “Gas to residential sector shall be provided three times a day for cooking only,” the meeting was informed by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Divi­sion), who added that Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) diversion to domestic consumers is to be made bare minimum for stability.

    Gas supply to power and fertiliser sectors of the country is expected to remain stable. Their supply and demand would remain unchanged.

    This was all decided by Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) during a meeting presided over by Minister for Planning and Develop­ment Asad Umar. This is part of the Gas Load Management Plan for winter 2021-22, which was presented to the committee.

    It should be noted that the world is experiencing a fuel and gas shortage as recently it has been reported that the United States (US) government urged its citizens to leave Haiti because of the severe lack of fuel and closing down of gas stations in the country that have affected hospitals, schools, and banks.

    During the meeting, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) also presented their additional measures against illegal gains and other revised rules according to which fines have been revised for licensees. The maximum penalty for major violations now starts from Rs10 million to Rs500 million.

    Like every year, Pakistan is expected to be hit by a major gas crisis, reports Geo News.

    One of the reasons is that local discoveries of gas have witnessed a dip, so the domestic gas reserves are reduced, the sources explained, adding that the local gas supply stood at 4,300 mmcfd a few years back but now it has depleted and stands at 3,300 mmcfd. 

  • Taliban given a clear message to uphold international legal obligations: Troika meeting

    Taliban given a clear message to uphold international legal obligations: Troika meeting

    A meeting of the Troika Plus, hosted by Pakistan, including China, Russia, and the United States (US), was held in Islamabad on Thursday.

    The Taliban government in Afghanistan was given a clear message to uphold its international legal obligations, including universally accepted principles of international law and fundamental human rights, reports Geo News.

    During the meeting, alluding to the US, Pakistan said efforts should be made to enable Afghanistan to access its frozen funds, which would dovetail into efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi took to Twitter and said, “The meeting reflects our common desire to see a peaceful, stable, unified, sovereign & prosperous Afghanistan; a shared responsibility.”

    A joint statement issued after a meeting of the Troika Plus stressed that the representative government should protect the rights of all Afghans and provide equal opportunities to women and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society.

    The forum agreed to continue practical engagement with the Taliban to encourage the implementation of moderate and prudent policies that could help achieve a stable and prosperous Afghanistan as soon as possible.

    Condemning in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, the forum called on the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a decisive manner, and deny space to any terrorist organisation operating inside the country.

    The participants reaffirmed their expectation that the Taliban will fulfil their commitment to preventing the use of Afghan territory by terrorists against its neighbours, other countries in the region and the rest of the world.

  • No specific reaction to Pakistan-TTP talks, says US official

    No specific reaction to Pakistan-TTP talks, says US official

    The United States (US) has refused to give a specific reaction when asked about Pakistan and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) deal, reports Dawn.

    The question was raised at the US State Department briefing where a journalist reminded Spokesperson Ned Price that the US still considered the TTP a terrorist outfit and asked him to comment on it.

    Price replied, “If we have a specific reaction on the Pakistani dialogue with the Pakistani Taliban, we will, of course, let you know,” while adding that Washington is in regular contact with Pakistan regarding their approach to Afghanistan.

    “We have heard both publicly and privately from our Pakistani counterparts that they too have an interest in seeing to it that the gains, including among Afghanistan’s minorities, including among its women and girls, over the past 20 years not be squandered,” the US official added.

    Moreover, he ensured, “There is quite a bit of alignment of interest when it comes to Afghanistan, and we’re continuing to have those conversations.”

    Earlier, it was announced that a new envoy for Afghanistan Tom West would visit Islamabad later this week to clarify US expectations of the Taliban.

    Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister (FM) Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on a three-day visit. It is the first to Pakistan by an Afghan minister since the Taliban came into power in August.

  • Pakistan set to face Australia in semi-finals, Shaniera is clear who is she supporting

    Pakistan set to face Australia in semi-finals, Shaniera is clear who is she supporting

    The second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 will be played today at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, will lock horns with Australia for a place in the summit clash.

    Read More – Shoaib Malik has ‘butterflies’ over facing Australia

    Pakistan’s bhabhi Shaniera Akram has said that she’d love Pakistan to win and nothing will make her happier but she’ll be happy too if Australia wins.

    Taking to Twitter she wrote: “My answer is I’d love PAK to win because nothing would make me happier than to see the cricket fanatic country I have grown to love go the distance. Lifting the #t20WorldCup would be a dream come true for Pakistan! But if Australia win, Of course I’d be really happy too #PAKvAUS.”

    She also said that whoever wins today, the match must be an entertainer.

    British High Commisioner Christian Turner, who said the England vs New Zealand match was a “rollercoaster”, also turned to his Twitter, wishing Pakistan luck for their semi-final match against Australia, saying: “I wait for my other team to go through – good luck Flag of Pakistan! Ab sab umeed Pakistan par hai!”

    He also congratulated the Black Caps for winning the first semi-final against England by five wickets and becomming the first team to reach in T20 World Cup’s finals this year.

    Babar Azam led team have been unstoppable in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 so far. They won all five of their Super 12 matches to finish at the top of the Group 2 points table. Meanwhile, Australia finished second in Group 1, recording four wins in five matches.

    Many fans will remember Australia and Pakistan battling in an ICC T20 World Cup semi-final match 11 years ago in the West Indies, where the Aussies emerged victorious. Pakistan will look forward to avenging that defeat today in Dubai.

  • Woman commits suicide with lover after parents force her into arranged marriage

    Woman commits suicide with lover after parents force her into arranged marriage

    A man and a woman reportedly committed suicide by consuming poisonous pills after their families did not agree to their marriage, The Express Tribune reported.

    The lovers, Adnan and Muqaddas, wished to marry each other but the woman’s parents had arranged her marriage elsewhere.

    On the wedding day, the disappointed couple committed suicide by consuming poisonous pills.

    Read More: Two arrested after minor girl’s body found in Metro station washroom

    After the incident was reported to the police, the officials took the bodies into custody. The bodies were handed over to the families after the legal formalities.

    According to the police, the marriage ceremony was about to happen when the incident took place.

    The funerals of both the deceased were held amid a gloomy atmosphere in the village.