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Pakistan reacts strongly at Modi's claim over 'surgical strikes'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reacted strongly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim about 'surgical strikes'.The Foreign Office spokesperson, in his weekly press briefing on Thursday, said that Pakistan has earlier rejected these so called 'surgical strikes' of India as fabricated and repetition of these false claims doesn't make them true.Speaking at an event in London, Modi claimed that before making the news of the 'surgical strikes' public, India had repeatedly attempted to contact Pakistan government to inform them about it.On Modi's accusation of terming Pakistan a 'terror export factory', the spokesperson said arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhdav from Balochistan is a proof that who is running terror factory.New Dehli is apparently upset over massive protests in London over India's human rights violation against Kashmiris and Sikhs.Thousands of Sikhs, Kashmiris, Dalits, women’s groups and human rights activists demonstrated in Parliament Square and outside 10 Downing Street against Narendra Modi who is here to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and to sign an estimated £1 billion of investment deals with Britain.The focus of the demonstrations was Narendra Modi whose extreme Hindu right wing government is accused of trying to turn India into an exclusively Hindu state run by upper caste Hindus at the caste of minorities. The demonstration was organised by prominent Sikh organisations Sikh Federation UK, Del Khalsa and others.The protestors accused Modi government of being involved in persecution and mob lynching of opponents. They said Modi wasn’t welcome in the UK and that he is a terrorist who supports acts of terror against Sikhs, Kashmiris, Dalits, women and children. Protesters chanted "Modi go back", “Khalistan Zindabad”, “Khalistan is our dream and our birth right”, "Modi is a terrorist", “Justice for Asifa”, “Free Jaggi now”, “Kashmiris want justice”, “Modi go home,” “We stand against Modi’s agenda of hate and greed,” and “Kashmiris want freedom from India”.

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Senior PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan meets Imran, likely to join PTI on April 25

ISLAMABAD: Senior leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Nadeem Afzal Chan is likely to join the Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf on April 25. A close aide of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chan is the latest to jump ship after many other stalwarts from the party joined the PTI recently.According to a statement issued by the PTI, Mr Chan has held a meeting with Imran Khan at Banigala and invited him to visit his residence on April 25.The statement said, Jahangir Khan Tareen, Shah Mehmood Qureshi were also present during the meeting. The PPP leader is expected to announce his joining during his meeting with Khan at his residence on April 25th .The party is going through the worst crisis of its history in Punjab as it has lost most of the by-elections recently held in the province.Earlier, Firdos Ashiq Awan, Nazr Gondal and many other left the PPP to join the Imran Khan led party., Reports about Chan joining the PTI has been doing the rounds for the last few months .

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PEMRA issues show-cause notice to channel for airing 'bawdy content' in 'The Prestige'

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a show cause notice to an entertainment TV channel for airing content that is "highly offensive and against the commonly accepted standards of decency as well as religious and cultural norms of the country".According to a statement posted on its official Twitter account, the media watchdog, said "WB" on April 4 broadcasted a movie titled "Prestige", wherein, "indecent, obscene and bawdy content aired at around 04:17 pm".The statement noted the legal provisions that has caused the PEMRA to issue show cause notice to the channel.The PEMRA has directed the CEO of the channel to "show cause in writing as well as appear for personal hearing" to explain as to why the "idecent content" was aired. The media regulator warned that failure to comply with the notice will lead to initiation of ex-parte proceedings against the TV channel.Directed by celebrated Hollywood director Christopher Nolan, "The Prestige" is a 2006 British American film featuring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Scarlett Johansson.The movie received strong box office results as well as Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.

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Nawaz, Maryam enquire after Begum Kulsoom in London

LONDON: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif late on Wednesday arrived in London with his daughter Maryam Nawaz to visit his ailing wife Kulsoom.Soon after their arrival at London airport, they left for hospital to inquire after Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, who has been under treatment in London as her condition is said to be serious. Nawaz spent few hours with her ailing wife in hospital and then left for his son's residence.In his brief talks with media out side the hospital, Nawaz said ; " I will not talk on political issues today," responding to a question about his return schedule, Nawaz said that it will be confirmed by tomorrow that how long he would stay in London. He asked the nation to pray for his ailing wife. Some analysts speculated that he might not come back because of a likely conviction in the three corruption cases against him.The National Accountability Bureau has summoned Sharif for allegedly misusing his authority for the illegal construction of a road leading to his residence and Raiwind. Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court last year, is due to appear in court on April 23 in a corruption case.The NAB had asked the government to include the names of Sharif, his children Hassan, Hussain and Maryam, and his son-in-law Safdar Muhammad on the Exit Control List — all of them are being tried in courts cases related to the Panama Papers leaks. However, the government has not added their names to the list so far.

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Uzbek delegation calls on General Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: An Uzbek government delegation headed by Lieutenant General Makhmudov Victor Vladimirovich, Secretary Security Council under the President, Uzbekistan called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday at General Headquarters (GHQ).During the meeting matters of mutual interest including security situation in the region were discussed, said a statement issued here by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).The visiting delegation acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts and sacrifices in the war against terrorism and for stability in the region.The Uzbek side underlined the need for actualizing the great potential for cooperation among the two brotherly countries in all fields including trade, connectivity, security and military-to-military cooperation.The COAS thanked the delegation for their sentiments and assured full cooperation and support from Pakistan in all initiatives aimed at improving regional cooperation, peace and stability.

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Murad for early completion of bridges being built on railway crossings

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed Works & Services Department to complete three under construction overhead bridges on railway crossings at Tando Adam, Kotri and Jacobabad by June 2018 because the incomplete work has caused serious hardships for the people.This he said while presiding over a meeting to review the progress of the incomplete schemes and the schemes started under repair and maintenance (M&R) head here at the CM House Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Works Aijaz Memon, chief engineer (roads) and other concerned officers.The chief minister said that during his visit to Tando Adam in January last he had visited the overhead bridge, including approaching roads to Railway Crossing but noted that the works department leaving the railway portion has almost been completed the scheme. Discussing the overhead bridge on railway line between Kotri City and the Industrial Area, Kotri, the chief minister said that he had visited the bridge in first week of February. He added that the work on the bridge has been left complete. The secretary works told the chief minister that the Sindh High Court Circuit Bench, Hyderabad has issued stay order in September 2017. On this the chief minister directed him to pursue the case in the court properly and get the stay order vacated and start the work. He also advised him to see if the railway authority has issued the NOC or not so that this matter could also be addressed accordingly.Murad Ali Shah also said that work on Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Flyover bridge on Jal Phatak (railway crossing) Jacobabad is also incomplete. Meanwhile, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reviewing the Repair & Maintenance (M&R) works said that this year, 2017-18, he had allocated Rs5.32 billion for repair and maintenance of different roads and so far Rs5 billion have been released. “The funds were allocated district-wise so that old roads could be improved for smooth flow of vehicular traffic. The chief minister was informed that under M&R work on four Tando Mohammad Khan Roads have been started. They are TM Khan -Mullah Katiar Road to village Lal Khan Brohi Road for Rs21.3 million, to village Achar Patel for Rs27.2 million, to village Luqman Khaskheli for Rs19.1 million and village to Anwar Khan Nizamani village for Rs24.5 million. The chief minister directed P&D Chairman to send his Director General to inspect all the roads being repaired under M&R budget and report him about their quality.

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New Islamabad International Airport opening delayed

ISLAMABAD: The opening of new Islamabad International Airport has been delayed and it will be now functional from May 3 instead of April 20, a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official said Wednesday.Geo News quoted CAA director planning Nadir Shafi Dar as saying the flight operation at new Islamabad Airport could begin on May 3.The official said domestic and international airlines had been conveyed the message of delay in opening of the airport.Earlier, Secretary Aviation Sqn Ldr (R) Muhammad Irfan Elahi had told The News on Monday that Despite non-availability of gas and some other issues beside a major water pipeline leakage, the New Islamabad International Airport is set to be operational on Friday (April 20).A video showing huge inundated area of the airport went viral on social media on Monday night along with rumours that the inauguration of the airport has been cancelled. Aviation secretary confirmed that formal inauguration has been moved from April 23 to May 1 without clearly spelling out the reason for the postponement. However he insisted that airport would become functional on April 20 as per the original plan.The News, citing sources, had reported that the airport is not 100 percent ready to be operational owing to non-completion of some blocks for Airport Security Force, non-availability of fuel gas, and poor state of cleanliness. The airport cost has already crossed Rs81 billion. They added that ASF basecamp is not complete and only blocks have been prepared so far which can accommodate 1,100 ASF personnel while the actual required ASF strength is 2,500. Currently there is no electricity and potable water available at ASF basecamp and a generator is being used to run the electronic equipment, sources said.There are no arrangements for the residences of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) staff. Kitchen for Pakistan International Airline is also not ready.

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Indian Sikh pilgrim accepts Islam, marries Muslim boy in Pakistan

LAHORE: An Indian Sikh pilgrim girl, Kiran Bala daughter of Manohar Lal, has accepted Islam and married to a Pakistani boy in Lahore.According to Geo News, Kiran Bala accepted Islam at Jamia Naeemia Lahore. Her Islamic name is Amina Bibi.Amina Bibi married to Mohammad Azam, son of Khadim Hussain, soon after she was converted to Islam.Following the development, Amina Bibi has filed a plea for extension of her visa in Pakistan.In the plea, Amina has prayed that she fear life threat in India on return.

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Khawaja Asif attends SCO foreign ministers meeting in Beijing on April 24

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Spokesperson said on Wednesday, foreign ministers of the SCO meeting will be held in Beijing on April 24. Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the meeting.Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s said Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting. The foreign ministers of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India as well as the secretary-general of the SCO Rashid Alimov and director of the Executive Committee of SCO Regional Counter Terrorism Structure will also participate in the meeting.“All parties will exchange views on SCO cooperation and major regional and international issues” she added.Besides foreign ministers of Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan will also make the visit to China.She further said that foreign ministers meeting will be the first one after the enlargement of SCO which is meant to lay a groundwork for the SCO Qingdao Summit in June. During the meeting, the Chinese leadership will have a group meeting with the heads of the delegations.She remarked that the foreign ministers will exchange views on all-round cooperation and important international and regional issues. He will witness the signing of the outcome documents and issue a press release based on the consensus of the meeting.“We believe that all sides will pick the opportunity of the meeting to build on consensus, reach more cooperation measures into the success of Qingdao summit and move forward the SCO,” she said.Hua also believes that Summit will achieve fruitful results and promote greater development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.The upcoming SCO summit will be held in June this year in Qingdao Shandong province of China. President of Pakistan Mamoon Hussain is expected to attend this summit while defense minister of SCO members meeting is also scheduled to be held this month and Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan will lead the Pakistani delegation.Chiefs of Defence Staff meeting and a working-level meeting on Drug Control of the SCO-member states will also be held this year.

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Imran releases names of PTI MPs who sold their votes in Senate elections

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan has disclosed the names of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers who swapped their votes for money in Senate elections.Addressing a press conference here Wednesday, Imran Khan said a committee was constituted to investigate the names of lawmakers who sold their votes in Senate elections in March. The committee has fully investigated the matter and we have received its report.Those who sold their votes for money could no longer be part of the PTI, Imran said, adding that he could tolerate expelling 20 MPs from the party rather selling of conscience.Imran said he was expelling 20 lawmakers from PTI and they would be served show-cause notices.If the part failed to get proper reply from these 20 MPs after show-cause notice, their names would be forwarded to National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Imran warned . Those who sold their votes include Sardar Idress, Obaid Mayar, Zahid Durrani, Abdul Haq, Qurban Khan, Amjid Afridi, Arif Yousaf, Javed Naseem, Yasin Khalil, Faisal Zaman, Sami Alizayi, NArgis Ali, Deena Naaz, Nagina Khan, Fauzia Bibi, Naseem Hayat, Meraj Hamayun, Khatoon Bibi, Babar Saleem and Wajid Uz Zaman.According to PTI twitter handle, these MPs are no longer part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, PTI is taking legal action against them.

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