Nawaz for result-oriented politics amid

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is personally overseeing preparation of comprehensive short and long-term reforms precipitated by the general public pressure to take result-oriented measures at an early date.

While people at large are keen to see visible and perceivable change in their lives, the government is quite attentive and alert about producing positive outcomes, a senior official told The News, wishing not to be named.

He said that instead of handing over the formulation of reforms to anyone else, the prime minister himself had taken charge of the job. “Nawaz Sharif has sought input from different ministers and a small set of close and credible aides and bureaucrats, who have knack to make some contribution.”

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Three buses catch fire in Korangi, Karachi

KARACHI: Three buses caught fire near Football Chowk in Korgangi Town bloc-L on Tuesday.

According to the city’s Fire Brigade officials, initially it was one bus that caught fire which later engulfed other two that were parked next to it.

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Rich tributes paid to Karbala Shuhada on Ashura

KARACHI: Ashura processions taken out amid strict security to pay tributes to the Shuhada (martyrs) of Karbala in all the big and small cities and towns of the country culminated peacefully on Tuesday evening.

Extraordinary security measures had been put in place by the law enforcement agencies and concerned administrations to ensure safety to the life and property of the people on Ashura (the tenth day of the holy month of Moharramul Haram).

Mobile services also remained suspended during the day

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Qadri ends capital sit-in, lets workers go home

ISLAMABAD: Ending his sit-in in Islamabad after more than two months and allowing his workers to go home, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday announced to hold sit-ins across the country.

Speaking to his workers here, Qadri announced to hold a sit-in in Karachi on December 25. He said he would go to cities and towns across the country and hold two days of sit-ins.TV channels showed Qadri coming out of his container, with his workers and supporters raising slogans.

Qadri announced that his party would continue to pursue its revolutionary agenda come hell or high water. He said reforms would be brought either through the ballot or through a national government.

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NA bill seeks approval for dual nationals to contest polls

ISLAMABAD: A bill was submitted in the National Assembly (NA) seeking to allow participation by dual nationality holders in elections.

Moved by SA Iqbal Qadri and others, the bill was referred to the concerned standing committee for debate and submission of a report to the House. Overall, 11 amendment bills, including the Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014, were introduced in the NA and were referred to the concerned standing committees on Tuesday.

The NA, however, rejected a constitutional amendment bill for an amendment in Article 1 of the Constitution for the creation of new provinces, namely South Punjab and Hazara, which were sought to be introduced by Jamshed Dasti who hails from Muzaffargarh. The move was opposed by the government and later rejected by the House.

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LG polls not possible before July, says ECP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally cancelled the election schedule for the local government elections in the Punjab and Sindh.

According to media reports, notifications to this effect issued by the commission says that new election schedules will be issued for the conduct of local government elections in the two provinces after taking necessary steps and completion of pre-requisites in due course of time.

Meanwhile‚ Secretary Election Commission Ishtiak Ahmed has said new schedules for local bodies elections in the Punjab and Sindh will be issued after completion of amendment in laws‚ rules and delimitation process.

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Martial law threat subsides as mid-term polls loom: Siraj

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said on Tuesday that the danger of martial law had subsided but mid-term elections could be held.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) had shown their willingness to resume the dialogue and discussion was going on all issues except the prime minister’s resignation.

Talking to journalists after leading the funeral of Shabab-e-Milli’s former district president Haji Tahir in Islamabad, he said that a deadlock persisted on the issue of the prime minister’s resignation.

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30 militants killed as aircraft attack terrorist hideouts in NWA

MIRANSHAH: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets on Tuesday blitzed suspected terrorist hideouts in the North Waziristan Agency and reportedly killed 30 militants, including a Taliban commander.

Security officials said the fighter jets targeted sanctuaries of the militants in Madakhel, Dattakhel and Shawal Valley of North Waziristan.According to security officials, seven sanctuaries of militants were destroyed in the air strikes. The officials said 30 militants, including a Taliban commander, Daud Wazir, were killed and over a dozen others sustained

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MQM quit Sindh, Azad Kashmir governments

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced that it will no longer be part of the Azad Kashmir government. Dr.Farooq Sattar announced the decision during a press conference.

The senior MQM leader said that the party will no longer be part of the Azad Kashmir and Sindh government with chances of a change in decision bleak.

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Bomb defused in commercial area in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A terror plot was foiled in Peshawar when a 10 kilogram bomb found in a commercial plaza was defused.

According to details a bomb was found in a shop of a commercial plaza situated near Jamrod Road.

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Air strikes by Pakistan army kill 28 terrorists

RAWALPINDI: 28 terrorists including foreigners have been killed by air strikes by Pakistan army in Northern Waziristan.

According to ISPR operation Zarb-e-Asb launched against the terrorists in N.Waziristan has been a success.

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Sajna, Ramzi included in terrorist list by US State Dept

WASHINGTON: United States State department has included banned Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan’s Khan Sajna and Osama bin Ladin’s former doctor Ramzi Mowafi in the list of international terrorists.

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SHC revokes stay order against flyover work

KARACHI: Sindh high court (SHC) has revoked the stay order against the Bahria Town flyover and given permission to Bahria Town to continue the construction work.

After the court decision Bahria Town’s council told the media that the court had revoked its earlier decision after reviewing the environmental report.

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MQM Rabita Committee felicitates Altaf over Iftikhar Hussain release

LONDON: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has termed Scotland Yard decision to release Iftikhar Hussain, , a suspect in Dr Imran Farooq murder case, a victory of truth and said that a conspiracy against the movement has once again failed.

In a statement issued here on late Tuesday night, the MQM felicitated its chief Altaf Hussain and Iftikhar Hussain.

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SC seeks report from Punjab, Sindh by Oct 30

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed Sindh and Punjab to complete the legislation process by October 30 and hold LB elections in the provinces.

The court also directed the ECP and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to complete the process and submit a report within a month so that the ECP could announce a final date for holding LB elections in the province

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the local bodies (LB) election case. During the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Asam Butt informed the court that the federal government had issued two ordinances — one pertaining to the empowerment of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct the delimitation of constituencies and the other relating to the preparation of voters’ lists.

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Fazl-ur-Rehman cancels no-confidence move against KP CM

ISLAMABAD: Amir Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Tuesday said he had canceled the no-confidence move against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak.

Addressing a press conference here, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said the objective of no-confidence move has been achieved, therefore, his party has decided to cancel the plan to pursue it.

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Suspicious man arrested, arms recovered near MQM’s 90

KARACHI: A suspicious person was arrested near Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters Nine Zero (90), Geo News reported.

The party sources said the man was making video of ‘90’ and its adjacent areas.

Arms were also recovered from the possession of the accused

, who was later handed over to police.

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COAS holds discussions with Indonesian military leadership

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif met General Gatot Nurmantyo, Chief of Staff of Indonesian Army.

According the Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing, the COAS who is on an official visit to Indonesia discussed matters of mutual interest with General Nurmantyo.

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No increase in power tariff for consumers

ISLAMABAD: In line with the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government has decided not to burden the electricity consumers with new tariff for the year 2013-14 as determined by NEPRA and maintains it at the level of current tariff.

The average national tariff for the year 2013-14 as determined by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is Rs 13.81 per unit while the current average national tariff is Rs 11.52 per unit.

It may be recalled that recently the government has notified 29 paisa unit equalization surcharge which has been decided to offset with a reduction of 30 paisa unit due to fuel price adjustment resulting in zero impact on the consumers, said a press release of Media Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

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Amir Dogar calls on Javed Hashmi in Multan

MULTAN: MNA-elect from NA-149 Multan, Amir Dogar has started what will be a welcome trend in Pakistani politics. The victor of Thursday’s by-election called on runner up Makhdoom Javed Hashmi at his residence on Tuesday.

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