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KP govt to purchase 380 buses from China

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to purchase three hundred and eighty buses from China for Rapid Bus Transit service.A spokesman of the government told that a delegation will visit China for the purpose on Friday.The buses will ply on twenty-six-kilometer-long route from Chamkani to Hayatabad, Radio Pakistan reported.The project on completion will help solve traffic problem of Peshawar city.

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Baloch activist Mustikhan says he heckled Nawaz Sharif on behest of India

Ahmer Mustikhan being whisked away by security personnel during an event at the USIP in October 2015. Mastikhan now says he heckled Pakistani PM on behest of notorious Indian spy agency RAW.LONDON/WASHINGTON: A prominent Baloch activist has claimed that he heckled former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his speech in October 2015 in Washington on the behest of Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).Ahmer Mustikhan, a senior journalist from Balochistan who has worked in newsrooms in Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and the United States and is now based in the US capital, has released three video statements in which he claims he was "let down" by RAW operatives working from the Indian Embassy in Washington. He named one of the RAW operatives as Nagesh Bhushan, saying he worked on the Indian spy agency's Balochistan Desk.On October 22, 2015, Ahmer Mustikhan had heckled Pakistan’s visiting prime minister during his speech at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) for many minutes before he was whisked out of the room by security personnel. Indian news channels used the heckling incident to run news and talk shows, featuring Ahmer Mustikhan and his views.Mustikhan now claims the Indian spy agency had asked him to heckle then-prime minister Sharif and embarrass him by bringing up the issue of Balochistan during the event.Mustikhan says in a series of videos that he "was promised huge help by those who were interested in the heckling of Nawaz Sharif. None of those promises were ever fulfilled. There was this gentleman in the Indian Embassy who left (for India) in January and never fulfilled his promise. There were other things that happened too," said Mustikhan in his broadcast.During the same visit when Sharif addressed the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, Mustikhan led a protest against Pakistan outside the venue for an organisation called “Free Balochistan Campaign USA” and accused the Pakistani premier of being involved in human rights violations in Balochistan and supporting Bin Laden.Mustikhan said in the first video that he been a long-standing friend of India and openly sang "Jeeay Hind, Banday Mahatram and Long Live India", but his heart has been broken and that he was let down by RAW operatives.He alleged in the video that RAW had given three Baloch militant groups $15 million each in the last few years."RAW's system is so corrupt that its high officials keep 40 percent of what's earmarked. India should have been engaged in public diplomacy and helping those who are involved in raising the profile of Balochistan issue but while China is trying to build, India is choosing to bomb. India is going in the opposite direction—it should have helped the people who are involved in diplomatic effort," he said."Modi promised to have a clean government but that's not happening. They (RAW) are promoting militants and people like Nagesh Bhushan are running dirty campaigns against me."In the third video, Mustikhan named three Balochistan-based militant groups which, he alleged, received funds from India for militant activities. Among others, he also named the World Baloch Organisation (WBO) and Balochistan House which have been running poster campaigns against Pakistan in Geneva, London, Washington and New York.He alleged that Balochistan House was run by Mehran Baloch, a former unofficial representative of Balochistan at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva whose entry into the country was recently banned by the Swiss government. Mehran Baloch has denied having any links with militancy and has launched an appeal against his ban.Mustikhan said that the "Free Balochistan" campaign in America was funded by the Indian Embassy in Washington. "This is waste of Indian taxpayers' money. RAW is a bogus organisation. Is there any accountability for RAW? How can they put adverts for militant groups?" questioned Mustikhan.Allegations by Mustikhan against RAW are significant because he has been promoted widely on the Indian media in recent years. He has been a regular guest on right-wing talk shows and Indian news media has often quoted him on his anti-Pakistan activities.Mustikhan is founder of the American Friends of Balochistan (AFB), which has organised protests against Pakistan in Washington and elsewhere and has campaigned in support of India. He has recently campaigned in favour of Kulbushan Jadhav, an Indian intelligence officer arrested in Pakistan on espionage charges, demanding his release and alleging that his trial "violated all norms of international law".He staged a protest recently in favour of Chetankul Jadhav, wife of Indian intelligence officer Jadhav. He has written articles in praise of Senator Rand Paul and House of Representatives members Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert, Steve King, Brad Sherman, and Tulsi Gabbard and other lawmakers who have spoken against Pakistan.

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RFQ-FIRE WALL NETWORK SECURITY

RFQ-FIRE WALL NETWORK SECURITY (USAID-AMD) - Lahore

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The inside story: Fawad Alam 'cried over rejection'

ISLAMABAD: The Fawad Alam saga continues to haunt Pakistan cricket since the announcement of squad for England tour in which the left-handed batsman was ignored while chief selector's nephew was included.According to Geo News, Fawad Alam couldn't control over his emotions and burst into tears when he was informed that he was not selected. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was with Alam at that time, too shed tears and consoled the dejected player, the report added.Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is under fire since the announcement and several cricket legends including Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif have questioned the logic of sidelining Alam despite good domestic performance.Pakistan named four uncapped players in their test squad for the team's upcoming tour of Ireland and England on Sunday.Left-hander opener Imam-ul-Haq, who has played four-one-day internationals, scored a century on his debut against Sri Lanka last October.The other new faces in the 16-member squad include batsmen Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali and Usman Salahuddin.Ireland play their inaugural test against Pakistan from May 11-15 before the South Asian team take on England in tests at Lord´s (May 24-28) and Headingley (June 1-5).Pakistan will also play two Twenty20 Internationals against Scotland on June 12 and 13, both at Edinburgh´s Grange Cricket Club Ground.Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Faheem Ashraf.

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Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed seeks liver donor to save life of ailing niece

Suffering from a liver condition, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed's niece is in desperate need of a life-saving donor.The cricketer has made an emotional appeal for a donor to step forward to save the life of his niece.Sarfraz Ahmed used his Twitter account to seek support for Ayeza who he said has already gone through one surgery and needs a life saving donor."This is a message for all the people as a very personal support. It's a fact that gratitude reciprocates", he said."I am advocating on behalf of my young niece whose fighting spirit has been the source of our strength.The skipper also asked his twitter followers to spread his message to save this precious little life."We have done that and with your help, Ayeza will get through this, your contribution will save my niece's life and changes ours forever.

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Pakistani-American sculptor Huma Bhabha brings politics to NY's Met rooftop

Huma Bhabha created "We Come in Peace" for the sixth annual commission at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's roof garden. Photo: AFPNEW YORK: A Pakistani-American sculptor brings dark times, science fiction and a desire to provoke to New York's famed Metropolitan Museum of Art for this year's rooftop installation overlooking the Manhattan skyline.Huma Bhabha's "We Come in Peace" depicts a towering 12-foot (3.6-meter), five-headed figure weighing 1.5 tons and an 18-foot long prostrate figure covered in a trash bag and called Benaam, or "without name" in Urdu.The installation, which opened Tuesday, is the sixth annual commission at the illustrious US museum's roof garden, a popular summer spot that draws nearly half a million visitors every year.Karachi-born Bhabha, who lives in New York state's Hudson Valley, is the first Pakistani American selected for the honor. Imran Qureshi, based in Pakistan, was the first Pakistani artist to present work for the commission, in 2013.Bold, dramatic and thought-provoking, the weather-proof figures cast in bronze have political undertones, reflect social concerns and reference ancient African and Indian sculpture, according to the Met."It's what is brewing in your head," Bhabha told AFP, insisting she wants visitors to make their own interpretations."I don't want to necessarily say it's this or that because that closes the conversation, but there are lots of different scenarios that one can come up with."Nor does she join the chorus in Democrat-heavy New York that focuses blame on US President Donald Trump for what many in the city see as the country's ills."It goes beyond Trump," she said. "Yes, he has made everything very vulgar and very in your face. But I think there are problems that have been existing much before he took over," she said. "I think we're in very dark times."- 'Numerous levels of meaning' -The work was at least partly inspired by 1951 science-fiction film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" in which an alien arrives on our planet telling humans they must live peacefully or face destruction."Huma's work felt right for this particular moment," explained Shanay Jhaveri, assistant curator of South Asian art."There are numerous levels of meaning embedded in them and I think we just wanted people to step back and to be provoked a little bit," he said in an interview."There is politics in it. What is happening under that garbage bag? What is the form?" Jhaveri said.He urged viewers to "think through various kinds of concerns that they are seeing around them in these times of anxiety and paranoia and danger and collapse."Bhabha specializes in figurative sculpture and has addressed themes such as colonialism, war and displacement in her work.Her work has been exhibited at New York's MoMA PS1, as well as the Venice Biennale and the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea, among others.The installation is scheduled to remain open until October 28, weather permitting.

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PM Abbasi arrives in London to attend C?wealth summit

LONDON: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi late on Tuesday arrived in London to attend a three-day summit of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018.Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was received by Pakistan's Ambassador to Britain Ibne Abbas alongside other high officials of UK government at the airport. The United Kingdom is hosting the summit where the World leaders will address the shared global challenges and will exchange views to create a better future for all.At the business forum of the summit, Prime Minister Abbasi will highlight the importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other opportunities Pakistan offers to the world investors to invest in the country.Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also hold talks with the British Prime Minister Theresa May, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Henry of Wales during his visit to the UK .The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 53 nations and more than 80 organisations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace.

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China Southern Airlines to start Kunming-Islamabad flights

The China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd will be starting flights between Kunming and Islamabad from mid of this year.This was underlined in a meeting of the Airline’s Executives with Pakistan’s Consul General to Chengdu, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu. The delegation of the airlines Tuesday met the CG in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, and included Hu Yaohui, Director International Marketing, Ma Yun Deputy Manager and airline’s staff. China Southern Airlines operates the largest fleet, most developed route network and largest passenger capacity of any airline in China. The Airline fleet is ranked the first in Asia and the fourth in the world. It operates more than 2000 daily flights to 224 destinations in 40 countries and regions across the world. Hu Yaohui in the meeting underscored that, ‘given the depth and breadth of China-Pakistan relations, Pakistan’s strategic location, it’s tourism potential, as well as Pakistan’s economic growth the China Southern had been planning to start three-day-a-week flights from June this year. The flight will fly on Guangzhou-Kunming-Islamabad route. The Kunming-Islamabad route’s flight time will be nearly four hour while the return flight will take five hours’. He added that with commencement of this flight trade, economic, commercial, and tourism ties will expand between China and Pakistan and the broader region. He hoped that passengers would be able to transit from Islamabad to other Middle Eastern countries via this flight. The China Southern has approached the Chinese government to authorize start of the flight, the Director maintained.The Consul General, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu welcomed the start of the flight and emphasized that it was a clear demonstration that Pakistan’s relations with China were vigorously expanding in a host of areas. The CG hoped that as a consequence of CPEC and OBOR initiatives, as well as Pakistan’s growth trajectory, wider economic and commercial opportunities will be generated necessitating enhanced connectivity between Pakistan and the western China. The CG underlined that in recent years Pakistan’s tourism industry was significantly flourishing and direct flights will provide impetus to both Pakistan and China’s tourism potential. The CG offered full co-operation and support to the Airlines for smooth operations of the flight and hoped that Airlines will continue to deepen and expand its relations with Pakistan in future.

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Nawaz, Maryam to depart for London as Kulsoom Nawaz hospitalised again

LAHORE: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz will be departing for London on Wednesday as Kulsoom Nawaz was hospitalised again.This was announced by the spokesman for the Sharif family. Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz will leave for London on Wednesday, the spokesman said.The spokesman further said Begum Kulsoom Nawaz is critically ill and admitted to a hospital since the past few days.Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, also took to twitter to inform about her mother’s critical health and requested the public to pray for her quick recovery."My mother is hospitalized again. Please remember her in your special prayers, I know prayers can do wonders. Allah answers prayers. Thank you," stated the tweet.

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CJP clarifies LHC did not bar speeches of any political leader

ISLAMABAD: Lahore High Court (LHC) did not bar ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other political leaders, from making speeches, clarified Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.The Chief Justice on Tuesday took suo motu notice of Lahore High Court order to ban transmission of anti-judiciary speeches of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and other leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.The apex court had issued notices to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and also sought the record of the LHC order after taking sou moto notice.During the hearing of the suo moto, the Supreme Court was annoyed at the media coverage of the LHC order. The court cannot curtail fundamental rights of any person, the court observed.Justice Saqib Nisar remarked nowhere does the LHC order mention that Nawaz and Maryam’s speeches have been banned.According to Geo News, the bench observed that the high court has only ordered the regulatory body PEMRA to enforce the law. Giving the decision on over two dozen petitions filed against the ‘anti-judiciary’ speeches uttered by party leaders, the LHC bench — headed by Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi and comprising Justice Atir Mahmood and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir — had ordered the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday to decide on the complaints pending with it regarding the alleged contemptuous speeches within 15 days and until that time abstain from airing any contemptuous remarks or speeches.On Tuesday, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said he was seeing widespread chaos in the country if people's voice were not heeded.Speaking to media, he said the world was changing and "we too will have to change" while avoiding old mistakes.In a reference to Lahore High Court's orders to PEMRA against airing his speeches, he said "We will win no matter how much restrictions are placed".

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Pakistan rejects Indian allegations of inciting Sikh pilgrims on Khalistan issue

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, while categorically rejecting the Indian allegations of “attempts to incite Indian pilgrims” on the issue of ‘Khalistan’ on Tuesday said that by spreading such falsehoods, India has chosen to deliberately stoke further controversy around the visit of Sikh pilgrims who are currently attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa Janamdin ceremonies in Pakistan.According to a Foreign Office, Pakistan welcomed Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India to attend Baisakhi and Khalsa Janamdin ceremonies in the country.The FO statement further said that Pakistani authorities have always made arrangements to extend maximum facilitation to the visiting Sikh Yatrees.The members of the Sikh community appreciated the assistance and cooperation extended to them during their visits to sacred places in Pakistan.The Sikh community has been protesting against the Government of India for screening a controversial movie in India, which hurt their religious sentiments.These protests had started in India and other parts of the world before the Sikh Yatrees arrived in Pakistan.In view of the charged situation and the explicit refusal of the Sikh Yatrees to meet Indian officials, the Indian High Commissioner cancelled his visit on 14 April 2018. Indian attempts to distort the truth and obfuscate facts are unethical and regrettable.“It is ironic that the country whose highest officials are on record for statements against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan, choose to indulge in blatant hypocrisy by twisting facts.”The FO statement added, “We remain committed to continuing such cooperation, which is in line with our religious ethos, traditions of hospitality, and provisions of the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines.“No amount of Indian propaganda could succeed in turning this right into a wrong.”The Government of India should respect international and inter-state norms, respect all religions, especially minorities, and refrain from indulging in pointless provocation which only vitiates an already charged environment to the detriment of all, it added.

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Naval Chief Admiral Abbasi visits China

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi is on an official visit to China. During the visit, the Naval Chief called on Commander PLA (N) Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong and Deputy Administrator of State Administration for Science, Technology & Industry (SASTIND), Mr Xu Zhanbin.Upon arrival at PLA(N) Headquarters, Beijing, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi was received by his counterpart Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong. A smartly turned out contingent of PLA(N) clad in ceremonial dress presented him the Guard of Honour.Later, Chief of the Naval Staff called on Commander PLA(N), Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong. During the meeting, discussions on professional matters including bilateral naval collaboration and security environment in Indian Ocean Region were held. Various avenues of cooperation between the two Navies were also focused. A comprehensive brief on PLA(N) was given to Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi highlighted Pakistan’s commitment and contributions in fight against terrorism including participation of Pakistan Navy in multinational Task Forces against piracy and maritime terrorism. PLA (N) Commander lauded Pakistan Navy’s efforts and focused commitments in support of collaborative maritime security in the region. Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong said that Pakistan Navy is playing a pivotal role for maritime security and stability in the region, which has greatly helped in shaping a secure environment for freedom of navigation in the region.Earlier, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi met Deputy Administrator of State Administration for Science, Technology & Industry, Xu Zhanbin at SASTIND Headquarters. During the meeting, matters of mutual interests including collaboration in development of military industry were dilated upon.The visit is expected to greatly augment the bilateral cooperation between both the countries in general and Navies in particular.

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Ahad Cheema?s plague extends with NAB?s inquiry in HEC Laptop Scheme

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched its inquiry into Higher Education Commission (HEC) Laptop Scheme, strangling former director Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Ahad Cheema in the investigation.The NAB has brought the probe in nexus, with an earlier contempt case of corruption in the Aashiana Housing Scheme, which announced arrest of Ahad Cheema on February 21.It is pertinent to mention that the police has put Ahad Cheema on a physical remand since his arrest. According to sources, NAB has decided upon running additional investigation which tantamount to any involvement in finances of the national exchequer and has already launched its probe in the HEC Laptop Scheme.The probe will examine within the latency that the purchase of the scheme laptops were overly charged under Ahad Cheema’s responsibility. The investigatory body has acquired the reports that read into the distributions that were handled during Ahad Cheema’s tenure in the Laptop Scheme.On the other hand, the accountability court brought Ahad Cheema, a private company contractor Shahid Shafeeq, and other two convicts to appear for a hearing on completion of 14 day remand on Tuesday, under a strict contingent of police.

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