|
Sunday |
| |
Pakistan Peoples Party has led by-elections held in six National Assembly and four Provincial Assembly constituencies.
According to unofficial results‚ the Pakistan Peoples Party has secured two out of six National Assembly in the by election. The winning candidates seats and their constituencies are: NA-9 Mardan-I‚Hamayatullah Mayar ANP; NA-140 Kasur-III‚ Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi independent; NA-148 Multan-I Syed Ali Musa Gilani PPP; NA-149 Multan-II Sheikh Tariq Rasheed PML-N; NA-168 Vehari-II‚ Natasha Daultana PPP; and NA-195 Rahim Yar Khan-IV‚ Syed Mustafa Mahmood Pakistan Muslim League-Functional. The PPP won two out of four provincial assembly seats while result on one constituency is awaited. The winning candidates and their constituencies are: PP-44 Mianwali-II Adil Abdullah Rokhri PML-N; PS-53 Tando Muhammad Khan-cum-Hyderabad Waheeda Bibi PPP; and PS-57 Badin-I Barrister Hasnain Mirza PPP. The final result for PP-18 Attock-IV is awaited. Meanwhile‚ one person was killed in firing in a rally held in Multan to celebrate the victory of Ali Musa Gilani.
|
The Information Minister says the government wants to empower media to strengthen democracy.
Information Minister Dr.Firdous Ashiq Awan says the government strongly believes in freedom of expression and media but the freedom must be coupled with responsibility and in conformity to societal norms. In a statement in Islamabad on Saturday she said the government does not in any way intend to put curbs on the electronic media as democracy and media independence goes hand in hand. She said we want to empower media to strengthen democracy. Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Government has given unprecedented freedom to media and it goes to its credit that it lifted sanctions on it imposed by previous dictatorial regime. She said PEMRA has always framed laws for facilitation of media and not to put curbs on their freedom.
The Information Minister brushed aside the news item attributed to the present Government by section of a press on Saturday which has created a perception that the government is framing such regulation aimed at curtailing media freedom. There is not a single clause in proposed Content Regulations that may be presumed anti-media. All the media rules and regulations either framed or amended have been in consultation with all the stakeholders. The Minister said there is no harm if the request is made to media to ensure balanced‚ objective and unbiased converge and preserve the sanctity of religions‚ any sect‚ ethical values‚ morality and decency.
|
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has clarified that only political cases against Baloch leaders would be quashed while the cases filed by a third party cannot be withdrawn.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has clarified that only political cases against Baloch leaders would be quashed while the cases filed by a third party cannot be withdrawn. Talking to newsmen in Islamabad‚ he said withdrawal of political cases against Baloch leaders is in accordance with Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan.
He said the government has taken various steps for the development of the province. The federal government will create more job opportunities for people of Balochistan. To a question‚ the interior minister said that except a few districts‚ overall law and order situation in Balochistan is good. About former President Pervez Musharraf‚ Rehman Malik said he would be brought back to Pakistan through Interpol.
|
A U.S. drone has crashed in Machikhel area of North Waziristan Agency near the Pak-Afghan border.
Taliban have claimed that they had shot it down as it was flying at low altitude. They said they had collected wreckage of the destroyed drone and would provide its pictures to media on Sunday. The US officials have rejected the Taliban claims on shooting down the drone. Meanwhile‚ Pakistani security officials said they did not know what caused the drone to crash. However‚ they are investigating the matter.
|
Indian Lok Sebha Speaker Meira Kumar has said she is returning home with the message of peace and love from the people and the government of Pakistan.
Talking to media at Lahore airport before her departure, she said her five-day visit to Pakistan was very successful. Indian speaker thanked the people and the government of Pakistan for warm welcome and hospitality. Praising the scenic beauty of the provincial capital, Meira Kumar said Lahore is a beautiful city.
|
The Syrian government is holding a national referendum on a new constitution, amid continuing violent unrest and a boycott by the opposition.
The new constitution calls for a multi-party parliamentary election within three months. The opposition has dismissed Sunday's vote as a farce and demands President Bashar al-Assad stand down. The vote comes amid ongoing violence, with activists saying more than 89 people died across Syria on Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said at least two people were killed in fresh fighting on Sunday.
|
NATO has withdrawn all its personnel from Afghan ministries after two senior US officers were shot dead in the interior ministry building in Kabul.
The shootings came amid five days of deadly protests over the burning of copies of the Holy Koran by US soldiers at a library near Bagram air base.
|
In Egypt‚ dozens of democracy activists including sixteen Americans go on trial on Sunday.
Forty-three foreign and Egyptian non-profit workers are accused of receiving illegal funds from abroad and carrying out political activities unrelated to their civil society work. The politically charged case has set off a crisis in relations between Cairo and Washington. A senior U.S. official said Washington and Cairo are holding intense discussions to resolve the crisis.
|
People in Senegal are set to vote in a presidential election, with incumbent Abdoulaye Wade seeking a controversial third term.
Mr Wade's re-election bid sparked protests in which several people died. Last month the country's highest court, the Constitutional Council, announced that he could stand for a third term despite a two-term limit. The court also barred world-renowned singer, Youssou N'Dour, from standing in the election.
|
In Yemen, 21 elite republican guards have been killed when a suicide bomber blew up a vehicle outside a presidential palace in Southeastern Yemen.
A military official said that "a pick-up truck driven by a suicide bomber exploded at the entrance of the presidential palace in Mukalla" as Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi was sworn in as the first new president in Sanaa since 1978. In an address to the nation straight after taking the oath of office, Hadi vowed to press the fight against Al-Qaeda and restore security across his impoverished nation.
|
England beat Pakistan by 38 runs in the second Twenty-20 cricket match at Dubai‚ leveling the three match series 1 - 1.
Batting first England scored 150 runs in the allotted 20 overs for seven wickets. In reply Pakistan were all out for 112 in the 18.2 overs. The third and final Twenty-20 match between the two sides will be played at Dubai on Monday.
|
South Africa beat New Zealand by six wickets in the opening one-day international at Wellington.
Skipper Ab De Villiers compiled a superb century to lead his side to an easy win over New Zealand . Batting first New Zealand scored 253 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in alotted 50 overs. Brendon Mccullum made 56 and Kane Williamson 55 while bowling for South Africa Tsotsobe took two for 41. In reply to New Zealand's 253 , South Africa reached 254 for four with 28 balls to spare. Captain Ab De Villiers top scored with an unbeaten 106 while Du Plessis remained unbeaten on 66. The second match of the series will be played in Napier on Wednesday.
|
The Prime Minister says the joint session of the parliament will be convened after Senate elections to finalize a new strategy on Pak-US relations and restoration of NATO supplies.
The joint session of the parliament will be convened after Senate elections to finalize a new strategy on Pak-US relations and restoration of NATO supplies.
Talking to newsmen in Islamabad‚ he said this decision has been taken to involve the new senators in decision-making on this issue. To a question‚ the prime minister said there is no military solution to Afghan problem and Pakistan supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process in that country.
He said the government is handling the problem of terrorism and extremism through its policy of dialogue‚ development and deterrence. Now the same policy is being pursued by the world community to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan.
About Balochistan issue‚ the prime minister said a committee has been constituted to contact political leadership to convene an all-parties conference on the issue.
He said the Baloch people are loyal to Pakistan and are very much committed to integrity‚ solidarity‚ progress and prosperity of their motherland. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package of the present government is the first step to ensure rights of the people of the province. To a question‚ the prime minister said the president has surrendered his powers to the parliament and now transparency of the elections would be ensured by an independent election commission and a neutral caretaker government. To another question‚ the prime minister said instructions have been issued to the finance ministry to make the forthcoming budget people friendly. He said the government will overcome the shortage of gas and electricity. Three thousand five hundred megawatt electricity has already been added to the national grid.
|
|
|
