Next PM will be from Karachi: Miftah

KARACHI: Former finance minister and PML-N leader Miftah Ismail has claimed that Pakistan’s next Prime Minister will be from Karachi. “If Karachi is facing a water shortage crisis, the Sindh government is to blame,” said Ismail while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday. “Our government improved law and order in Karachi and if we come into power again, we will provide water and clean environment to the city,” he said. The former finance adviser said that the PML-N government had spent money on installation of RO (Reverse Osmosis) plants and improved power generation. “Owing to water shortage, we well short of our target of power generation by 1500 megawatts,” he said. He questioned the failure of Zardari government to build motorways. “Peshawar metro bus project was launched with an estimated cost of Rs8 billion but now it has reached Rs13 billion,” he pointed out.Ismail also took a dig at the performance of PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying  the Metro bus project could not be completed despite digging the entire city of Peshawar. 

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NADRA officials reject data leak claims

ISLAMABAD: Officials at National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) have rejected suggestions that the authority has leaked voters’ data to a political party. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, four NADRA directors said that no data had ever been breached by the authority. “We have never shared the data of any citizen at any platform,” DG NADRA Zulfikar Ali said. “Our press conference has nothing to do with the statement of any political party.” “We are neither denying nor verifying any political statement about the data breach,” he said. He said that an old email was run by a TV channel, which had nothing to do with the data leakage. He said that a NADRA officer, Syed Muzaffir Ali, who was sacked on corruption charges, has leveled allegations of data leakage. Ali said that the Supreme Court had commended NADRA’s work in dual nationality case. He said that such allegations had been levelled in the past also. On Monday, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wrote to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) Chairman Usman Yousaf Mobin, over an alleged voters data leak to outsiders, fearing a potential threat to the computerised electoral rolls system (CERS).The ECP wrote a letter to the Nadra chairman and sought urgent measures and actions before the act impacts the credibility of Nadra and the ECP at large as custodian of the electoral rolls.The letter with subject “Confidentiality and security of electoral rolls data”, the ECP reminded the Nadra chairman that as per the contract signed between the ECP and Nadra in June 2011, Nadra is acting as a faithful service provider to the ECP and is at all times supposed to support and safeguard the ECP’s legitimate interests.“However, the competent authority has observed with great concern that there exists a potential threat to security of data relating to the computerised electoral rolls system. Apropos to the article/report published on May 25 and May 28 in a English daily, showing that there are insiders who have crept into the system and provided the information to outsiders,” it said.The ECP wrote that it might also be noted that the report was desired by this commission but on the contrary, the report was shared with non-recipients before it reached this commission, thus raising eyebrows. It also supported the apprehension that other data related to voters might also have been shared with unauthorised hands when such data reports are being shared. “This act is a clear violation of the term 3.11 and 3.3 of the contract and is not acceptable at any cost. It requires urgent measures and actions be taken before it impacts the credibility of Nadra and the ECP at large as custodian of the electoral rolls. It may be noted that all such information and reports are only intended for use of the ECP, whereas Nadra’s role is to maintain and preserve the information/data,” the letter says.The ECP emphasised that all such persons, who had indulged in this act, need to be taken to task and necessary tangible measures are required urgently to avoid such incidents in future. “Your responsein this regard is keenly awaited and should reach this commission by May 31,” positively.In a statement, the ECP also put aside the impression, created by some media reports that the letter was written after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had moved the ECP. A spokesperson for the ECP said that nothing hitherto had been received from the PTI in this connection, whereas the letter to Nadra chairman was written by the commission on its own.It merits a mention here that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had called for removal of Nadra chairman and also alerted senior vice-president of the party Dr Babar Awan, a day before Eid, to file a petition in the Election Commission.

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BDS and police defuse hand grenade in Islamabad?s Sector I-10

ISLAMABAD: Bomb Disposal Squad workforce along with the police disposed a hidden hand grenade warding off a terror attack in Sector I-10 as reported by Geo News, here on Tuesday.Geo News, citing SHO of the Sabzi Mandi police station, informed that the hand grenade was defused following apt operation by police and BDS personnel.Arriving at the site, the forensic experts have collected fingerprints on the grenade after which a probe has been initiated to look into the incident.

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Women?s rights activist shot dead in DG Khan

The van Asiya Akbar was travelling in prior to her murder. Source: Geo News DERA GHAZI KHAN: A women’s rights activist was shot to death in Dera Ghazi Khan allegedly by her sister's father in law in a gist to kill for honour on Tuesday.The victim, identified as Asiya Akbar, was traveling to Khanpur when two men forced her to get off her van and fired at her in Foja Basti area of Dera Ghazi Khan, Geo news reported.According to police, father-in-law of Asiya’s younger sister suspected that she was brainwashing her newly-wed sister Iqra against the in-laws. Asiya was accused of bringing home her sister just fifteen days after the bride had moved to Khanpur with her in laws.The suspect managed to abscond from the location of the murder.Akbar had filed a case stating that Asiya's sister had been missing, the officials pointed out.The police added that raids are being carried out to further the legal processes on the matter.

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Fauzia Kasuri?s nomination papers rejected

KARACHI: The nomination papers of former PTI leader Fauzia Kasuri were rejected on Tuesday after she failed to satisfy Returning Officer about the status of her dual nationality. Ms Kasuri, who has joined Pak Sarzameen Party after leaving the PTI, is seeking to contest from NA-247, Karachi, in the general elections. A report submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the Election Commission claims that Fauzia Kasuri holds US nationality.The PSP leader, however, said she has already submitted documents to prove she is no longer a US citizen. "I just submitted the US citizenship renunciation certificate and required proof to the RO of NA 247 at the City Court in Karachi. As stated by me earlier, I ceased to be a dual national on Mar 22, 2013," Kasuri tweeted.Meanwhile, former PPP worker Habib Jan’s nomination papers also got rejected by Returning Officer over his alleged foreign nationality. According to the Returning Officer, Habib also failed to given satisfactory answer regarding his dual nationality. “I have given up my dual nationality,” Jan told the RO. “I just forgot to bring my original CNIC to prove my nationality,” he said. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the nomination papers of PTI candidate Ziaullah Afridi to contest from NA-31 were accepted. 

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Imran Khan's nomination papers for NA-53 rejected

ISLAMABAD: The nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for NA-53 Islamabad have been rejected by the Returning Officer here on Tuesday.Earlier, the RO for NA-53 Islamabad reserved his verdict on objections to PTI chairman's candidacy.Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party candidate Abdul Wahab Baloch has challenged Khan's nomination,  who contended that the PTI chief did not fulfill the criterion under articles 62 and 63 on the issue of Sita White and her daughter Tyrian.

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Video of beggar on board Karachi-Bangkok flight goes viral

Footage of a man begging during a flight from Bangkok-bound flight from Karachi has gone viral, with social media users expressing shock as to how a pauper can manage to book a flight.The video circulating on the social media sites, shows the unnamed man begging as the air hostess attempts to stop him.Unable to stop the beggar, the air hostess calls male crew to her help but ti no avail. Driven by their urge to help a person in need, some passengers  hands some money to the beggar, without giving much thought about how the man bought  the ticket worth thousands of rupees to board the plane.

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Farooq Sattar's nomination for NA-245 rejected

KARACHI: The nomination papers of MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar for NA-245 have been rejected by the Returning Officer.The RO informed Sattar's counsel that the MQM-P leader is an absconder in two cases. The lawyer stated that his client is unaware of these cases.Sattar has filed nominations from three Karachi constituencies; NA-241, NA-245 and NA-247. 

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Nawaz, Maryam seek exemption from appearing in Accountability Court

ISLAMABAD: Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have sought exemption from appearing in the Accountability Court which is hearing corruption references against them.The former prime minister and his daughter are in London where Begum Kulsoom Nawaz has been undergoing treatment for cancer.She is said to be in a critical condition.According to Geo News, Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Haris appeared before Accountability Court judge Muhammad Bashir on Tuesday.The judge told the lawyer that his application to withdraw  power of attorney has been dismissed.Khawaja Haris told the judge that he has to submit another application as it was his right to adop a certain viewpoint.He then read out his application in the courtroom in whihc he stated his objections with regard to the trial.The counsel for Sharif questioned the Supreme Court's decision under which the Accountability Court has been asked to hear the cases everyday including Saturdays and Sundays.He argued that holidays and court timings have been decided under the rule of law, adding that court can't hold hearing on holidays.

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Imran fails to satisfy angry party protestors over 'unfair award of tickets'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan failed to satisfy protesting party workers on Monday, who had gathered outside his Bani Gala residence to oppose his decision of awarding tickets for the upcoming general elections. Despite his assurance of reviewing the decision, PTI workers continued to stage a protest against the “unfair award of party tickets.” According to Imran, the decision of awarding tickets came from parliamentary members on the basis of merit. He also added that he would not take the decision back just because of pressure, urging the party workers to submit review petitions which he would look into along with the party’s board in the following three days. “If I change my decision today because of you, tomorrow more people will come here… I am not saying this because of me or my honesty.. I am saying this because I fear Allah,” Imran had said earlier during the day. Later on, another group of protestors, amounting to 1500 to 2000, emerged outside Imran’s residence once again. Imran stated that the matter is being looked after by him for the last 12 hours. He also urged the workers to have faith in him. The workers then tried to storm inside, after which the police started to disperse them. Following that, PTI workers from Gujrat, who were protesting against the party's seat adjustment plans with PML-Q, managed to barge inside Imran's office before being shown out by private guards. Around 9pm Imran once again appeared outside in order to address the workers and laud them for their "commitment and passion.” 

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Will rather not expose Nawaz, Maryam due to Begum Kulsoom?s ill health: Chaudhary Nisar

RAWALPINDI: Addressing a corner meeting here on Monday, former Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar said that he wanted to expose the role of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, but would not  right now due to Begum Kulsoom’s illness.  “I wanted to [speak openly] about PML-N and Nawaz Sharif, about what has been happening in the past few months, and the role of Nawaz and Maryam, but now is not the time [due to Begum Kulsoom’s ill health],” said Nisar. He also added that he has been shouldering the burden of PML-N for the past 34 years. "Nawaz and his family are indebted to me. I do not owe [them] anything," he added. The estranged political leader also said that at the time of formation of the party, there were only 15 to 20 members and Nawaz was not very eligible, revealing that some other member had to become the party leader, but  it was decided that Nawaz would do it. "None of those [15, 20 members] is part of PML-N now. Nawaz either left them, or they left the party," he stated. Nisar also hinted at a possible separation with PML-N as he has never sold his conscience., or acted against his principles. 

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