Nasir Durrani recuses himself from caretaker Punjab CM post

LAHORE: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Nasir Durrani has recused himself from becoming the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab over health reasons. Durrani told Geo that his health doesn’t permit him to assume the office of chief minister. “I have informed both the PML-N and the PTI leaders about my decision in this regard,” he said.His refusal came shortly after PTI suggested his name along with Professor Hassan Askari. “PTI has suggested the names of renowned writer and Analyst Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi and Nasir Durrani as Caretaker CM of Punjab,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted. Earlier, former bureaucrat Nasir Khosa also announced that he was withdrawing his name for the position of caretaker chief minister. Khosa told Geo News that he has decided not to assume charge as the caretaker chief minister in light of the recent controversy surrounding his candidature.“I was made controversial in the media [after withdrawal of support] for my candidature for Punjab CM. Given the [current situation], I have decided not to [take charge] as the chief minister,” he said.Khosa labeled the propaganda against him as “baseless” and regretted that it would have been better if he had been consulted before his name was first put forward for the position.

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Nasir Khosa withdraws from race for caretaker Punjab CM

LAHORE: Former bureaucrat Nasir Khosa announced on Thursday he was withdrawing his name for the position of caretaker chief minister of Punjab. His announcement came a day after PTI reversed its decision to appoint Khosa as the caretaker CM in the interim setup. He was named as a consensus candidate following consultation  between Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PTI's opposition leader Mahmood ur Rashid. Khosa told Geo News he has decided not to assume charge as the caretaker chief minister in light of the recent controversy surrounding his candidature.“I was made controversial in the media [after withdrawal of support] for my candidature for Punjab CM. Given the current situation, I have decided not to take charge as the chief minister,” he said.He labeled the propaganda against him as “baseless” and regretted that it would have been better if he had been consulted before his name was first put forward for the position.PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry told Geo News that Khosa's name was withdrawn because public opinion was not in favour of the candidate.

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Nisar hits back at Shahbaz over 'immaturity' remarks

ISLAMABAD: Disgruntled  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has asked  Shahbaz Sharif to refrain from mentioning things that happened 30 years ago.In a statement issued on Thursday,  Nisar Ali Khan said Shahbaz Sharif  Shahbaz Sharif should instead spend his energies in steering the party out of troubles ."Non-seriousness is that despite being president, Shahbaz Sharif is unable to  redress the issues facing the party," said the mercurial leader of the PMLN."Immaturity is the  the trait  that  their party leadership have adopted," he said responding to  Shahbaz Sharif   remarks during a media talk that Nisar is immature  and some times needs to be dealt with like a child.

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Minister says Islamabad examiner being investigated for harassment

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Muhammad Baligh-Ur-Rehman on Thursday informed National Assembly that the Government has ordered an inquiry to investigate allegations of harassment against an examiner accused of harassing female students during examinations.Responding to a point of order raised by women parliamentarians in National Assembly, he said the government has taken action against the examiner.He said that the investigation results of the inquiry would be shared with the parliamentarians.The aforementioned examiner has also been declared as disqualified from being appointed as examiner in future.Meanwhile, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq informed the House that he had discussed the issue of Pakistani arrested in Indonesia with president of Indonesia for his release.“I informed the House that I had discussed the issue with the Indonesia president during his visit to Pakistan and I am hopeful for his earlier release.”

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Pakistani singer to contest election against Imran, Bilawal, Shahbaz

LAHORE: Renowned Pakistani singer Jawad Ahmad has announced to take part in the upcoming general election.Speaking at a press conference, the singer said he would  contest the election for the National Assembly from the platform of Barabri Party Pakistan.He said he contest election against  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan,  Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shahbaz Sharif."All these leaders are same, they are not with  the people. Elections  are contested here with on the basis on money," he said.He expressing the hope that people would vote for him in the election.  The vocalist  applied for registration of his political party to formally enter the electoral politics last year.

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FATA becomes part of Khyber Paktunkhwa

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnnoon Hussain on Thursday approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to merge the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Paktunkhwa.After signing the bill, the president of the Islamic Republic  congratulated the people of FATA and Khyber Paktunkhwa over the mainstreaming of the   tribal areas.The 25 Amendment Bill was   passed by the National Assembly, the Senate and the Khyber Pakhtnuknwa Assembly before being sent to the president for formal approval.

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PTI proposes Nasir Durrani, Prof. Hassan Askari for caretaker Punjab CM

ISLAMABAD: A day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf withdrew the name of former bureaucrat Nasir Saeed Khosa for the post of caretaker Chief Minister in Punjab, Imran Khan’s party has finalized the names of Professor Hassan Askari and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Nasir Durrani.In a Twitter statement on Thursday, PTI said that it was proposing the names of Nasir Durrani and Professor Hassan Askari  after due consultation. Yesterday, PTI reversed its decision to agree on the candidature of Saeed Khosa for the top slot in the caretaker setup, saying it was facing a public backlash.“We have withdrawn the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa over public backlash and criticism from a section of media,” PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry told Geo Tv.“There has been a lot of criticism on social media about Khosa. We are a political party which cannot ignore the public perception,” he said.Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mahmood ur Rashid said Nasir Khosa was a Nawaz Sharif’s loyalist and had served as his Principal Secretary. On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the name of Khosa in consultation with the opposition leader as per the constitution.“Glad to announce that Leader of the opposition Punjab and I have agreed on the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa as caretaker Chief Minister Punjab for interim setup. Another step towards strengthening democratic process,” Chief Minister Sharif tweeted.On the other hand, Punjab government insists  there was no provision in the constitution to withdraw Khosa's name. Opposition parties and political commentators have criticized PTI's decision-making process, saying that the move could create a needless controversy and might result in delaying the elections that are scheduled to take place on July 25. 

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Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk to be sworn in as interim prime minister on Friday

ISLAMABAD: Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk will take oath of caretaker prime minister on Friday.The five-year term of the incumbent government would come to an end today at midnight.The oath taking ceremony of the interim prime minister wold take place at the President House in Islamabad.President Mamnoon Hussain would administer oath to the caretaker prime minister at a ceremony where Senate Chairman, Deputy Chairman, politicians and military officials would be present.According to Geo News, the interim prime minister is expected to take oath between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm.   

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Interior ministry asks NADRA to suspend Musharraf's CNIC

ISLAMABAD: Complying with orders of a special court, the Minister of Interior has  asked the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) through a letter to suspend the computerized National Identity Card (CNIC)of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Geo News reported on Thursday.NADRA officials, however, say although they are   informed about the letter being sent by the ministry, they have yet to receive it. Geo News correspondent  said that with the suspension  of the Musharraf's CNIC,  the  passport of the former president would  stand blocked and bank accounts in Pakistan frozen.The special court for high treason case against General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had directed the Ministry of Interior and all other departments, divisions and agencies of the government to take positive steps for the arrest of the accused, attachment of his properties abroad and suspension of his CNIC and passport if he fails to submit a written request for security during his appearance in the court within seven days. The bench, formed in 2013, has been  hearing the case of imposition of extra-constitutional emergency by Musharraf in November 2007.The bench headed by  Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Yahya Afridi  includes the Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Yawar Ali and Balochistan High Court (BHC) Justice Tahira Safdar.

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When did Karachi witness highest ever temperature?

KARACHI: The mercury soared to 45 degrees Celsius at 1:00pm making Wednesday the hottest day of the year 2018 after a fresh heatwave hit the city due to the formation of low pressure areas in the Arabian Sea.The Pakistan Met Department (PMD) officials have a day earlier warned that the next two days would be very hot and dry with the temperatures ranging between 42 and 44 degrees Celsius.Officials said Pakistan was in the grip of an intense heat due to a large high pressure area over most parts of the country, saying the intense heat was concentrated on the plains of Sindh and Balochistan where the temperature could soar to 48 degrees Celsius during next six to seven days.However, interestingly it is not the hottest day in the history of Karachi as the city had been hit by the highest ever temperature at 47.8 Celsius 80 years ago on May 09, 1938. But four years before the hottest day in the history, Karachi’s mercury dived to record low at 0.0 Celsius.Also, in June 2015, the temperature was recorded at 44.8 Celsius during which over 1200 people were killed.On 1 July 1977 heavy Rains and flooding in Karachi, killed 248 people, according to Pakistan meteorological department 207 millimetres (8.1 in) of Rain fell in 24 hours.

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Two soldiers martyred in IED explosion in North Waziristan: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Two security personnel were martyred when their vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in North Waziristan, Inter Services Public Relations said Wednesday.According to ISPR, the media wing of the military, two soldiers Lance Naik Momin Ali and Sepoy Saleem embraced Shahadat while three others injured when their vehicle struck the IED, planted on track by terrorists near Datakhel.The injured have been shifted to CMH Peshawar, the ISPR said.

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Job is not completed yet: COAS tells officers

QUETTA: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), said Pakistan was on a positive trajectory of peace and stability due to great sacrifices of security forces and the nation. "The job is not completed yet and we have to carry forward the gains towards enduring peace," General Bajwa while speaking to officers and faculty of Command and Staff Collage in Quetta on Wednesday. Acknowledging and hailing contributions and performance of young officers in the operations COAS advised them to continue excelling in profession.Later, COAS visited Headquarters Southern Command, Quetta where he was briefed about the progress of border fencing along the Balochistan portion of Pak-Afghan border, Quetta Safe City Project and ‘Khushal Balochistan’ initiative. The army chief expressed his satisfaction on progress of the socio-economic and security initiatives.

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