UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (APP): Pakistan is combating international terrorism “actively”, a U.N. spokesman said Monday.
“Pakistan is actively involved in the fight against global terrorism,” Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the regular noon briefing.
He was responding to a question from an Indian journalist
who asked whether Pakistan was doing enough to go after terrorists.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): The week-long youth drama festival concluded here at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Monday.
Director General Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA)
Iftikhar Babar was the chief guest at concluding session of the drama festival.
Addressing on the occasion, he said that the youth drama
festival is part of PNCA’s activities to introduce the trend of
theater in the twin cities.
“The PNCA organized various drama festivals during recent past to promote the trend of quality and thoughtful theater which plays an important role in highlighting and resolving the issues like education, training and social problems”, said Director Drama Art Waqar Azeem.
Besides giving quality entertainment, the event also promotes healthy activities among the youngsters.
“Making an effort towards encouraging the youth to explore
their creative potentials and promote the diversity that exists
within the youth community of this country, PNCA has taken this initiative to bring together talented individuals within our youth to excel in front of live audiences,” he said.
He said that the prime purpose of the Youth Drama Festival is to provide a showcase for participants to demonstrate their unique talents in drama art.
Drama and theater in any country has been the source of
entertainment for centuries.
Later, he also distributed certificates among the participants
of the festival.
UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (APP): United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday urged the global community to shape a different future for the world.
“We are all here because global humanitarian action
is unprecedentedly strained,” the secretary-general told world leaders and thousands of participants attending the opening ceremony of the two-day summit in Istanbul, which featured creative performances and inspiring words by renowned stars including Forest Whitaker, Ashley Judd and Daniel Craig, according to information released at UN Headquarters in New York.
“I proposed this Summit four years ago out of concern
for rising humanitarian needs and declining political will. Today, the urgency has only grown,” the Secretary-General stressed.
As part of a moving spectacle that emulated dust storms
and earthquakes, and projected images of authentic footage
inspired by personal human stories, Malian singer Inna Modja kicked off the historic Summit with a soulful poem.
The United Nations estimates that a record number of people – 130 million – currently need aid to survive. More people have been forced from their homes than at any time since the end of the Second World War.
“This is a 21st century United Nations gathering,” Ban said describing the Summit, adding that its Agenda for Humanity, the document he recently issued to guide discussions
and action, is based on three years of consultations with 23,000 people in more than 150 countries.
Over the next two days in Istanbul, WHS is bringing together stakeholders who have a vested interest in improving the global humanitarian system, including more than 65
Heads of State and Government as well as leaders from the public and private sectors.
The UN chief underlined that the world is looking to them for commitments to five core responsibilities: Prevent and end conflict, Respect rules of war, Leave no one behin , Working differently to end need, and, Invest in humanity
We are here to shape a different future,” the secretary-general concluded. “Today we declare: We are
one humanity, with a shared responsibility.”
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the Summit would lead to “auspicious outcomes” for hundreds of millions of people struggling to sustain their lives under great distress.
“Pain knows no colour, race, language or religion,”
Erdogan said, noting that it was with that in mind that Turkey
carried out its aid and development projects in more than
140 countries around the world, hosting more than three
million refugees from Syria and Iraq.
“We will never close our doors or our borders to
people,” he insisted. “We as leaders and responsible individuals of the international community can only succeed if we work under common principles and goals.”
The President also stressed that Turkey would not
stop pursuing “blood-shedding dictators” and will ensure
that crimes against humanity do not go unpunished.
Prior to these remarks, survivors of humanitarian catastrophes-both human-made and natural spoke
to the audience in emotional addresses, recounting their ordeals and how they overcame them with the desire to now support others.
Victor Ochen, a former child solider from northern Uganda,
spoke about growing up with violence everywhere around him. At the age of 13, he chose a different path, forming a peace club in his refugee camp to discourage children and young people from joining the armed forces. “Peace comes from within,” he said. “Be human and act human.”
Victoria Arnaiz-Lanting described her experience
surviving Typhoon Haiyan which hit the Philippines in 2013, saying that it was a miracle she survived. She lost many friends and colleagues in the storm, dead bodies filled the streets, and trees and electric posts fell to the ground like match sticks.
The typhoon also made thousands of people internally displaced, who, driven by hunger and grief, looted the supermarkets.
And yet, she expressed how unbelievable it was to see how
quickly people started to rebuild their lives. The Philippines Red Cross and victims themselves began treating the wounded and liaising with the Government and other humanitarian actors.
“This is humanity in action,” she said, noting that disasters affected more than 200 million people a year and that preparedness must become a way of life. She encouraged every nation, large and small, to invest in local actors.
Speaking of the Syrian conflict, Adeeb Ateeq said war has
inflicted much suffering on the people. Mines have blown apart men, women, and children, with many afraid to seek medical care for fear of encountering other unexploded ordnance.
WASHINGTON, May 23 (APP): The Afghan government is using US funds in giving financial and military support to a breakaway Taliban faction, a report in the Wall Street Journal said on Monday quoting some unnamed Afghan, US and coalition officials.
“Senior Afghan and U.S. diplomatic, military and
intelligence officials, including several who had roles in
creating the programme, described its details and said that
resources provided by the U.S. were used to support it,”
the report said.
A US drone strike close to Pak-Afghan border claimed to
have killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansur though Pakistan has not yet confirmed, if he was killed in the attack last week.
According to the report the Afghan intelligence agency was
leading the drive to “recruit new Taliban assets.”
“The agency relies on the U.S. for most of its funding and is still mentored by the Central Intelligence Agency.”
The CIA declined to comment for this article, the WSJ report said.
The United States has invested billions of dollars
in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan but the country still depend on aid for most of its funding and the US pays more than $4 billion a year for its security forces.
The goal of funding the breakaway faction of Taliban is
to exploit divisions that emerged after the death of Taliban
leader Mullah Mohammad Omar. The programme targets southern Zabul, Helmand, eastern Paktika and western Farah and Herat provinces, where groups of insurgents and their commanders, unhappy with the Taliban’s leadership, have defected to a commander named Mullah Mohammad Rasool.
“Afghan and U.S. officials said Mullah Rasool’s faction
and other fractious Taliban groups have been receiving cash,
ammunition and weapons from the Afghan government,” the
report said.
A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani denied if there was any alliance between any Afghan agency and any Taliban group.”
“The Afghan government does not support any Taliban
groups and we categorically reject such claims as baseless,”
the report said quoting spokesman, Sayed Zafar Hashemi.
“In response to queries about coalition resources and
facilities being used to assist Mullah Rasool’s group,
a coalition spokesman said it was “possible that the
breakaway Taliban factions have been able to acquire some”
weapons or other equipment, but they weren’t given to
the insurgents “directly or indirectly,” according to
the report.
“The programme carries significant risks. Recruited
Taliban commanders, who have yet to commit to peace talks with the government, may turn against Afghan and foreign forces in the country with the ammunition supplied to them,” the report said quoting Afghan and U.S. security officials.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Monday paid rich tribute to the revolutionary poet (late) Habib Jalib here at a special function organized by Lok Virsa.
Addressing on the occasion, he said that Habib Jalib struggled
for the rights of poor people of the country.
He said that Habib Jalib used his poetry for the poor and
downtrodden and also highlighted their problems.
Chairman Senate said that the best way to pay tribute to
Jalib was to follow his verses and stand up to tyranny and
injustices.
He lauded the contribution of the revolutionary poet Habib
Jalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
He also appreciated Lok Virsa for organizing the event to pay
tribute to the poet Habib Jalib.
Mian Raza Rabbani said that Habib Jalib was not only a great
poet, but also an intellectual, who was put behind bars for speaking and writing the truth.
Senator Afrasiab Khattak and Senator Hasil Bazinjo also spoke on the occasion and paid rich tribute to Habib Jalib.
They highlighted the efforts and struggles of the poet Habib
Jalib and said he always registered his stance on every issue of the country including social issues.
They also recited verses from the poetic collection of Habib
Jalib on the occasion.
A short documentary of Habib Jalib reciting his poem also
screened on the occasion.
Indu Mitha’s team also performed a special dance to honour
Habib Jalib who still rules our hearts.
Mujahid Bralevi, a journalist has written two books, Jalib
Jalib and Jalib and Ghalib also displayed on the occasions.
Mujahid Barelvi shed light on the book and different aspects
of Jalib’s life and struggle against oppression in the society.
He recited verses from the poetic collection Jalib had
contributed during various rules in the past, right from Field
Marshal Ayub Khan to General Yahya Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and General Ziaul Haq.
Mujahid Barelvi also recalled his long association with Jalib
that spanned two decades. The 171-page collection consists of Jalib’s poetry, letters, stories of his imprisonment and bold
politics. It was launching of the 4th edition of the book.
Some of his poems like “Aise dastoor ko, subh-e-benor ko, main nahi manta, main nahi janta”; “Mohabat golion se bo rahe ho, watan ka chehra khun se dho rahe ho” were read out on the occasion.
Senator Farhatullah Babar, Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr.
Fouzia Saeed, scholar Kishwar Naheed, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Prof. Dr. Qasim Bughio and large number of people from different walks of life attended the event.
Later, Habib Jalib award was also announced and confered to
Nasreen Azhar on the occasion.
Jalib died on March 12 in 1993. He is among the most well-
known poets of the country who openly criticised dictators and expressed democratic views through his literary works for which he was imprisoned several times.
Jalib was born on March 24, 1928 in a village near Hoshiarpur in India. He migrated to Pakistan after Partition and worked as a proofreader for Daily Imroze of Karachi.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar stressed for enhancing economic cooperation between the Pakistan and Saudi Arab with particular emphasis on augmenting bilateral trade.
The present government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif wishes to further consolidate the brotherly relations and take them to even greater heights, encompassing all important spheres of cooperation, Ishaq Dar said in a meeting with Minister and Advisor, Saudi Royal Court Ahmed Al-Khateeb here on Monday.
Finance Minister while welcoming the visiting Saudi dignitary
said both the countries are bound by strong feelings of Islamic brotherhood and enjoy exemplary ties, said in statement issued by the Ministry of Finance here.
He also had discussion with the visiting Saudi dignitary about
investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in petrochemical and energy sectors and said that the Saudi government, investors and public sector organizations are welcome to explore these opportunities.
He said that the improved economic and security situation
and implementation of government’s infrastructure related plans is attracting the attention of foreign investors.
Finance Minister said that Pakistan offers the most liberal
investment regime and Saudi investors are most welcome to take advantage of it for mutual benefit of the two countries.
Mr. Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that Saudi government would
encourage different Saudi companies to explore investment
opportunities in Pakistan.
He shared the desire of the Saudi leadership with the Finance Minister for increasing efforts to enhance economic cooperation which could be reflective of the deep rooted relations between the two countries.
The Minister thanked Mr. Al Khateeb for his visit and asked
him to convey his best wishes and respects to Khadim al Haramain Shareefain and the Saudi leadership.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP):The Economic Coordination
Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) here on Monday approved Special Ramadan Package worth Rs 1.75 billion for providing relief to consumers in the holy month, as compared to Rs 1.5 billion given last year.
The Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq
Dar chaired the meeting of the ECC held at the Prime
Minister’s Secretariat.
The Ramadan package would cover 22 essential items available at the Utility Store Corporation of Pakistan (USC) according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance here on Monday.
The meeting was informed that as directed by the Prime
Minister the USC was already providing concession on different items since April 27 which would also continue in Ramadan. The relief on different items ranges from Rs 4 to Rs 50.
It is pertinent to mention that overall USC would provide 5 to 10% discount on more than 1000 items for the month
of Ramadan through arrangements with vendors or reducing its own profit margins.
The ECC also approved grant of Tax Exemption under
Gwadar Port Concession Agreement for Operation and Development of Gwadar Port.
Tax Holiday shall be provided to the businesses to be
established in the free zone for a period of 23 years.
The ECC also granted approval for the allocation of
60MMCFD additional available gas from HRL (Habib Rahi
Limestone) Reservoir of Mari Gas to Thermal Power Station
Guddu (TPSG) /GENCO- II.
On this occasion Secretary Water and Power, Younus
Dhaga, informed the Committee that as compared to May 2015, when the total power generation was 14100 MW, this year “we have optimized generation and took it to 16300 MW in the current month”.
The Finance Minister appreciated the efforts of the Water and Power Ministry in effectively dealing with energy crisis and said that “we shall make available 10,000 additional MWs by 2018 as promised by the PML-N in its manifesto.”
PESHAWAR, May 23 (APP): People from different faiths and cultures celebrated “World Cultural Diversity Day” with an aim to promote peace and religious harmony and ensure a safe place for people of all ethnicities to live together.
To mark the day, an event was jointly organized by Peace Education and Development (PEAD) foundation in collaboration with Norwegian Church Aid here at historical Tehsil Gorghatri.
Participating by representatives of different faiths, creeds and
cultures, prominent among them were district councilor Asia Khattak, Gurpal Singh, Reena Patrek, Kabir Das, PEAD representatives Shagufta Khaliq, Nida Jameel, NCA coordinator Faisal Jalil and others. On the occasion, a skit was presented on the theme of social cohesion followed
by peace songs.
Addressing the occasion, Shagufta Khaliq said that the purpose of the event was to gather people from different faiths and cultures living in Peshawar and spread love among them.
She said unfortunately cultural variations have resulted in conflicts, which has destroyed the peace of the country.
Cultural diversity is the beauty of life and we must tolerate each others, she said adding that the day provides us with an opportunity to deepen understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together” she added.
Other speakers were of the view that there will be no peace among the religions without dialogue. It is the call of the day to bridge the widening gap between faiths and cultures through such events.
At the end of the ceremony, special prayers were offered for
peace and stability of the country.
LAHORE, May 23 (APP):- Pakistan’s tennis ace, Aisam ul Haq will be representing Pakistan in French Open Grandslam Tennis Championship which started on Sunday.
This will be his 9th appearance in the French Open and 34th in Grandslam events. The super sportsman of Pakistan continues to bring laurels for his country. This year Aisam is partnering with Daniel Nestor of Canada and they are seeded 14 in the Doubles event of this championship.
Aisam’s best performance in French Open was reaching the Semi Final in 2012. He was also the runner up in US Open in 2010.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Businessmen in a meeting at
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Monday hailed the 25 basis point cut in the benchmark interest rate bringing it down from 6% to 5.75% and termed it a positive move as it would be instrumental in reducing cost of credit for private sector and spurring economic activities in the country.
Addressing the meeting, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President,
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry hoped that cut in policy rate to over 40-year low would support the economy to perform better.
He said the low policy rate has a direct impact on
industrial growth as it reduces the cost of production and
provides credit to private sector at affordable cost.
Therefore, this move should help private sector in reviving
the economy.
Atif Ikram Sheikh said that despite grant of GSP Plus status by EU to Pakistan the textile exports had declined by 7.68 percent coming down to $10.395 billion during the first 10 months of the current year (July-April) as compared to $ 11.26 billion during the same period of last fiscal year.
However, he was optimistic that historic cut in benchmark interest rate would help the industrial sector to avail low cost credit for upgradation of technology and machinery as one of the major reasons of fall in exports was that the local industry failed to invest in modernization and diversification to explore new exports avenues.
The businessmen were of the view that the industry was
accounting for nine percent to GDP and more than 60 percent to exports, however, it was facing liquidity crunch on account of delay in export refunds of about Rs 50 billion by the FBR due to which the exporters were losing competitiveness in the international market.
They urged that FBR should ensure timely clearance of
refund claims to facilitate the exporters that would help them
in overcoming liquidity issues and reviving exports of the
country.
LAHORE, May 23 (APP):- Pakistan Hockey Federation has hailed the announcement of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Patron-in-Chief, PHF, for laying a synthetic hockey field at SWAT Hockey Stadium.
“PHF is truly indebted to the Government of Pakistan for making sincere efforts for developing the physical infrastructure of hockey in Pakistan,” said a spokesman of PHF here on Monday.
This kind of gesture of the Prime Minister will encourage talented players of Swat to take part in their national game with pride and honour.
“This will also provide the PHF an opportunity to establish training camps of senior, junior & women hockey teams at the venue,” he said.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain
Monday said that operation Zarb e Azb had produced positive results and situation was returning to normalcy in seven agencies of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Talking to a delegation of tribal elders from FATA that
called on him at the Aiwan e Sadr, here, the President said
the government had allocated a large sum for resettlement of displaced persons.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Pakistan on Monday expressed
its concern over the drone strike in its territory on Saturday
and described it “a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and a
breach of the United Nations Charter”.
“The Ambassador of the United States, David Hale was
called in today by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on
Foreign Affairs (SAPM), Syed Tariq Fatemi, to express concern over the drone strike on Pakistani territory on Saturday, May 21, 2016,” a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said.
In the meeting, Tariq Fatemi pointed out that the drone strike was a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and a
breach of the United Nation’s Charter that guarantees the
inviolability of the territorial integrity of its member
states.
He also emphasized that such actions could adversely
impact the ongoing efforts by the Quadrilateral Coordination
Group (QCG) for facilitating peace talks between the Afghan
Government and the Taliban.
The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister also underlined that Pakistan and the United States had been closely coordinating in the fight against the menace of terrorism and that this cooperation needed to be maintained, the press release added.
ISLAMABAD, 23 May 2016: Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday directed Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to establish a Special Cell to check illegal land grabbing in Capital.
Chairing a meeting here, he directed, “Establish a Special Cell
comprising Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Superintendent of Police, Islamabad and officials of revenue department to address land grabbing issue in Islamabad.”, a Spokesman quoted the Minister as saying.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Interior, Chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Director General Immigration and Passport, ICT administration and senior officials of the Ministry.
Ch. Nisar said, “Innocent and poor owners of land in ICT rural
areas are hoodwinked by land mafia on rates far lower than original market rates and this practice must be stopped.”
The Minister said, he would fully support all schemes and
housing societies, aimed at providing residential facility to
low income government employees.
Ch. Nisar said, he has no objection on land acquisition
in city subject to fact that buyer and seller of land are mutually agreed and the land is purchased at market rates.
He directed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit
short term, medium term and long term plan for re-organization of the Agency with a set timeline.
The Minister also approved in principal a proposal by Capital
Development Authority (CDA) and ICT administration for establishment of new sectors in Federal Capital to cater to ever growing needs of low income government employees.
Meanwhile, with upcoming month of Ramadan, he directed ICT administration to ensure reasonable prices of daily kitchen items for consumers and speed up anti-adulteration campaign in the city.
“The traders must be taken on-board for the campaign of
controlled pricing of kitchen items and in action against the
adulterators,” directed the Minister.
The Director General Immigration and Passport, and Chairman NADRA briefed the Minister over progress of suspension of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and passports of proclaimed offenders and absconders.
Chairman NADRA informed, “NADRA was in process of making a centralized data bank of proclaimed offenders and absconders.”
The Chairman said so far it has received a list of 7,678
proclaimed offenders and absconders from FIA, ICT Police and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).
A proposal of hosting Executive Members Committee meeting of Geneva based International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) in Islamabad in 2017 was also approved by the Minister.
The Minister was apprised by Director General Civil Defence
that Pakistan’s membership of executive body of ICDO has been extended for term of another four years by Geneva based organisation.
The DG Civil Defence said hosting of executive body meeting
would contribute to soft image of Pakistan and would help in
highlighting its positive role in achieving overall goals and
objectives of ICDO.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): The economic outlook in Pakistan is at six-year high with significant improvement in the confidence of foreign investors due to political stability and improved security situation in the country, a survey revealed.
The survey titled, Business Confidence Index is conducted
twice a year to assess the country’s economic outlook and sponsored by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI).
The OICCI is a representative body of 196 multinational companies operating in Pakistan since 2010.
The survey revealed that the business confidence in Pakistan
has improved to a positive 36% during last six months from October 2015 to March 2016. It shows a surge by 14 percentage points compared to 22% during previous six months.
The survey findings also show a record increase of 55 percent in the confidence level of foreign companies operating in the country, what it said was record high during last six years.
The positive improvements in country’s economic outlook has been achieved consequent to relative political stability, improving security situation, low inflation due to record low international oil prices and 42-year low interest rates. These are some of the factors that have created an atmosphere in the country in which investors are looking for investment opportunities, the survey said.
It says that the business confidence has changed significantly
during last two years. Economic outlook has gradually improved by 36 percent during last three biannual surveys that had remained stagnant for one and half years.
According to the survey, when the PML-N government came into power in 2013, the business community was much enthusiastic and confident but it dropped as the opposition parties went for a sit-in lasting four months.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Rain-thunderstorm is expected at few places of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Federal Capital, FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir while hot and dry conditions would continue elsewhere in the country.
Rainfall was likely at Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan divisions, Islamabad, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Lahore divisions, FATA, GB and Kashmir.
Low pressure area lies over North Balochistan with its trough
extending southeastward. A fresh westerly wave is affecting upper and central parts of the country and may persist till Tuesday, an official of Met office told APP.
In last 24 hours weather remained very hot and dry in most
parts of the country. However rain-thunderstorm occurred at scattered places in upper Punjab, upper KP and Kashmir while at isolated places in Sh.Benazirabad during this time duration.
Rainfall recorded during this time span remained Parachinar
30mm, Rawalpindi 20mm, Sialkot A/P 18mm, Garhi Dupatta 17mm, Sialkot Cantt 16mm, Muzaffarabad 15mm, Jhelum, Balakot 09mm, Gujranwala 08mm, Murree, Rawalakot, Mirkhani, Saidu Sharif 07mm, Kamra, Pattan 06mm, Malamjaba, Sargodha , Drosh, Kalam 04mm, Kakul, Cherat,
Islamabad Z.P 03mm.
Maximum temperatures recorded on Monday were Sibbi,
Jacobabad, Sh Benazirabad, Bhakkar 50øC, Larkana, Moenjodaro, Noorpul Thal 49øC, Dadu, Sukkur, Rohri, Padidan 48øC, R.Y. Khan, D.I. Khan 47øC, Islamabad 42øC, Lahore 43øC, Karachi 37øC, Peshawar 44øC, Quetta 37øC, Gilgit 36øC, Chitral 37øC, Hunza 29øC, Muzaffarabad 40øC, Murree 31øC, Skardu 31øC, Faisalabad 45øC, Multan 45øC, Hyderabad 43øC, Dir 38øC and Kalat 32øC.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Minister of State for Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD), Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Monday said that the government would remove reservations of the opposition regarding terms of reference (ToRs) on Panama issue.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said the government wanted to develop a consensus about ToRs on Panama Papers as government was sincere to resolve the matter.
He said that the Prime Minister had announced a commission soon after revelation of Panama Papers.
He had presented himself and family for accountability despite of his name was not mentioned in Panama Papers.
Replying to a question, he said people would elect that
political party which served the masses of the country.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime
Minister, Dr Asif Kirmani Monday said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif wants to see Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) a progressive, developed and prosperous.
He was talking to Vice President, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) AJK Chapter Arshad Mehmood Ghazi and Additional Secretary General Sardar Abdul Khaliq, who called on him here.
Dr Asif said people of Mirpur have given a lot of sacrifices
which would not go waste, adding if people of AJK would show confidence in PML-N government, it would make the AJK as role model state.
Arshad Mehmood Ghazi informed the Special Assistant regarding problems of Mirpur and said all efforts would be made to ensure win for PML-N candidates.
He said, “We have always followed party’s discipline
and would follow the same.”
LAHORE. May 23 (APP): Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Monday said that Pakistan was making a strategy to deal with issue of executions of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Bangladesh.
Addressing a conference titled “Shuhada-e-Wafa”, organised by the Islamic Lawyers Forum at the Lahore High Court Bar premises, he said that Hasina Wajid-led government was instable and that was why it was increasing distances with Pakistan to enhance its relations with India.
“Until now, no country supported the revenge actions of Hasina Wajid-led government,” he added.
He said that executions of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Bangladesh was not only the problem of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan but also of every Pakistani.
He said that the government was making a strategy on the issue to stop Bangladesh from more executions and all stakeholder would be consulted in this regard.
He said that the Pakistani government would become a complainant for the executed Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, as it could not ignore those who supported Pakistan at that time.
He said that the government would raise the issue at all forums including the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the United Nations, wherever it was required.
Speaking on the occasion, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj ul Haq said that no crime proved against Jammat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rehman Nizami in the tribunal but he was convicted for supporting Pakistan.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Leader Chaudhry Sarwar condemned the executions of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Bangladesh and urged the government to play an effective role in this regard.
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): British High Commissioner to
Pakistan, Thomas Drew called on Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan here on Monday and discussed matters of mutual interest.
They also exchanged views on bilateral ties, security issues
and collaboration between the two countries in curbing human trafficking and organized crimes.
High Commissioner Drew said Pakistan is playing pivotal role
in peace, stability and development of the region.
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