Judge interrupts Maryam Nawaz as she reads commas and full stops in written statement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday recorded her statement in Accountability Court in connection with Avanfield corruption reference.Judge Muhammad Bashir had to cut her off when she started  reading  a written statement along with comas and full stops.When the judge asked her not to read the commas and full stops, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said her lawyer had asked her to read the full statement.According to Geo News, Maryam Nawaz recorded asnwers to 46 questions out of 128 when the hearing was adjourned to Friday. Before Maryam,  ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif had answered 128 questions in the court.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2s4iV1n

Fauzia Kasuri to join PSP

KARACHI: Founding leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Fauzia Kasuri has decided to join the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), Geo News reported on Thursday.Citing unnamed sources, the TV channel reported that the Fauzia Kasuri would announce her decision to join the PSP at a press conference.Known as mother of PTI, Fauzia Kasuri on Wednesay announced that she was leaving the party as she was “no longer able to defend her party’s actions.”Kasuri made the announcement on Twitter, where she shared a copy of her resignation addressed to PTI chairman Imran Khan.“I have sent this message of resignation to Imran Khan and other leaders in the party a few minutes ago. A message to my supporters in and outside PTI will follow shortly, May Alllah guide us all,” she tweeted.In her letter, Ms Kasuri wrote that she had become increasingly disenchanted by the direction of the party has taken and no longer see it as representative of the aspirations of the millions of undeserved citizens seeking transformative change in Pakistan.She said that Imran Khan had handed the reigns of the party to electables PTI had fought against since its inception.“Sadly this was the final nail in the coffin. Moreover, since I am no longer able to defend the party’s action, I would like to accept this letter as formal resignation from the party,” she added.She, however, wished Imran Khan all the best for the coming elections.“I wish you best of luck and hope If you are granted the opportunity to form a national government, you shall strive to bring about the change you once promised,” she added.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2LpwCjD

Saad Rafique accuses PTI of weakening democracy

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Thursday said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had played a major part in weakening democracy in the country.“We all know very well who was calling the umpire,” the minister said while responding to various points raised by PTI central leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the National Assembly.The minister said the Parliament was dubbed as ''fake'' and politicians were allegedly called as ''thieves'' without any evidence.He said the Parliament was defamed during the sit-in and derogatory remarks were passed for parties, sitting in this august House.“Not only fence of the Parliament premises was broken but the gate of the Prime Minister House was also damaged while Imran Khan congratulated vociferously Tahriul Qadari after attacking Pakistan Television,” he said.He said difference of opinion was the hallmark and essence of democracy but PTI did sow seeds of hatred, resulting in hurling of shoes and ink on politicians besides a slapping incident in TV talk-show.He said that it was Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) who had brought back PTI members to this House after tendering resignation during the sit-in.Regarding Pervaz Musharraf exit from the country, the minister said everyone was well aware that the name of former dictator was removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) in line with legal proceedings.The minister said he was totally against the disqualification procedure of all politicians including Jehangir Tareen.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2s8Kmq3

Judiciary committed to take measures for smooth implementation of CPEC: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Thursday said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project of One Belt One Road Initiative (BRI) and judiciary of Pakistan fully supports it and committed to take measures to ease out commercial disputes for smooth implementation of CPEC projects.He said this in a meeting with President of the Supreme Peoples Court of China Zhou Qiang, in Beijing, a press release said.The chief justice is on an official visit to China to attend the thirteenth meeting of the Presidents/ Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.During the meeting, he said Pak-China relations are supported by peoples of the both countries.He apprised Zhou Qiang on the implementation of an Memorandum of Understanding signed between the judicial institutions of the two countries last year, during the visit of chief justice to China.The judicial cooperation between two countries has started gaining momentum and there is a huge potential for bilateral exchanges in the fields of arbitration, judicial training, automation of judicial systems and use of technology, he added.He said Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has recently held a detailed meeting of all federal departments/ ministries with special focus on CPEC.The SCP has also issued directions to the lower courts not to issue injunctive orders on CPEC projects unless the other parties have been heard.He also briefed the Zhou Qiang about the recently concluded Islamabad Judicial Conference.President Zhou Qiang appreciated the initiatives taken by the SCP.He maintained that Pakistan China relations enjoy full confidence of the leadership of two countries and our bilateral cooperation has transformed into comprehensive strategic partnership.Saqib Nisar also invited Zhou Qiang to visit Pakistan to attend the upcoming judicial conference on arbitration.He was accompanied by Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Umer Ata Bandial, during the meeting.President Zhou Qiang was accompanied by Pei Xianding, Head of the criminal tribunal of SPC and Yang Qingming, President of Beijing High Peoples Court.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2GLKlh9

Request for Quotation

Request for Quotation (Rutgers Pakistan) - Islamabad

f....[more]

from BrightSpyre Jobs https://ift.tt/2IKY1uH

NA votes to approve FATA's merger with Khyber Paktunkhwa

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday voted to approve  an amendment bill seeking merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Paktunkhwa.The bill was  approved by two third majority as 229 members  favored  it while 29 lawmakers chose to oppose.Clause by clause approval of the amendment was still underway. The 31st amendment bill was tabled by law minister Bashir Virk during the National Assembly session which was also attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan.Government allies Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood Khan Achakzai were not present in the house as their parties continued their opposition to the bill.Commenting on lack of adequate members in the house, the prime minister took the floor and said the bill belongs to all the parties. Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said the PPP was ready to wait for the members to come.FATA ReformsUnder the FATA reforms bill, the number of National Assembly seats (12) and Senate seats (8) will remain unchanged while elections for the Provincial Assembly seats allocated for FATA would be held next year.According to the bill, the powers that president and the governor had in FATA would no longer be effective while it would also abolish the FCR.FATA would also acquire additional Rs100 billion beside Rs24 billion under the National Finance Commission.FATA would also get a special fund of Rs1000 billion.The jurisdiction of Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court would be extended to FATA.The areas would also be granted exemption from tax for five years.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2KR1o3E

Project Officer

Project Officer (Confidential) - Islamabad

f....[more]

from BrightSpyre Jobs https://ift.tt/2KS9rxt

Project Field Engineer

Project Field Engineer (Tetra Tech ES, Inc.) - Islamabad

f....[more]

from BrightSpyre Jobs https://ift.tt/2KPef6w

Project Coordinator

Project Coordinator (Tetra Tech ES, Inc.) - Islamabad

f....[more]

from BrightSpyre Jobs https://ift.tt/2rZBe87

Network System Analyst

Network System Analyst (Tetra Tech ES, Inc.) - Islamabad

f....[more]

from BrightSpyre Jobs https://ift.tt/2ILJ9vY

ISPR issues cyber alert over malicious email

RAWALPINDI: Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the military, has issued a cyber alert, saying a malicious email is being sent from invite@ispr.press using name of ISPR.According to the alert, it is clarified that this is a phishing email which has no link to ISPR. If received please don’t open it, report it as spam and delete. If opened inadvertently please don’t click on any link asking for information to be entered into a form or to unsubscribe. Clicking any link can compromise security of your PC /cell phone / iPad etc. ISPR Official domain name is ispr.gov.pk. There is no other domain, the press release said.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2klyptV

Malala calls Sabika Sheikh?s father, extends condolences

LONDON: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on Wednesday telephoned father of Sabika Sheikh and condoled over the death of his daughter.During her conversation with Aziz Sheikh, Malala said the nation has been deprived of a brilliant girl.She also spoke with Sabika’s sister. Malala said she shared the grief of Sabika’s family.Sabika Sheikh’s father said he wanted that voice should be raised against gun violence.Over this Malala assured Aziz Sheikh she would support him over the matter.Sabika was among the 10 students killed in a mass shooting when a student armed with a shotgun and revolver opened fire at Santa Fe high school in Texas last Friday.Sabika, resident of Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, was part of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programme for her stay in the US and had to return home in June. She was among 75 Pakistani students who were selected to study abroad under the scholarship programme.AFP Adds:Earlier, following the funeral of Sabika, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai -- who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls´ rights to education -- also weighed in, calling for an end to school violence."I hope leaders in the US, Pakistan and around the world will do justice to the lives of Sabika, her classmates and their teachers by doing more to stop violence in schools," said Yousafzai in a statement.Sheikh had been in the US on a State Department-sponsored exchange programme but was due to return home in mere weeks ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2IJdziy

Junaid Jamshed Mosque opens its doors to public

KARACHI: The metropolis has opened to public the doors of a mosque built to commemorate the life of the late religious scholar Junaid Jamshed on Wednesday.Situated at Singer Chowrangi in Korangi’s J. Unit Two area, the Junaid Jamshed Masjid stands in memory of the deceased singer-turned- religious intellectual.The news of the mosque’s opening was shared by actor and TV presenter Sanam Baloch on Twitter along with pictures of the place of worship.“The Junaid Jamshed Masjid’ has been inaugurated today at Singer Chowrangi, Korangi at J. Unit 2, Karachi. Such a beautiful mosque. It has been named in loving memory of our beloved and dearest JJ. Please do remember Junaid Bhai in your prayers,” stated the actor’s tweet.Junaid Jamshed, who in his earlier part of life was a lead vocalist of a popular Pakistani boy band Vital Signs, changed his route at the climax of his singing profession, to follow religion actively.The late religious scholar breathed his last on December 7, 2016 following a PIA Flight-661 plane crash en route from Islamabad to Chitral.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2IFia9l

Saudi Ambassador visits AFIRM Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Saeed Al-Malkiy visited Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFIRM), Rawalpindi on Wednesday.According to Inter Services Public Relations, the Ambassador met the war wounded soldiers and inquired their well being. He was given detailed briefing on the role and contributions of AFIRM, the premier rehabilitating institute for the war wounded soldiers who have sacrificed their limbs during various military operations. This State of the Art facility also provides services to both military and civilians affected by accidents, calamities, any kind of violence and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The visiting dignitary appreciated the high morale of soldiers and paid tribute for their contributions for peace and stability in the region.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2s36wLp