PM links country's progress with Balochistan development

QUETTA: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday said the western route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar Port would  transform Balochistan into a trade and energy hub.Addressing a gathering after inaugurating expansion and renovation of Quetta international airport, he said the progress and development of Balochistan was linked with the development of rest of the country.He said peace in Balochistan had been restored and urged the provincial government and political leadership to work together for development and progress of the province.He said the western corridor and the Gwadar seaport would provide an easy access to the Central Asian countries and China.Pakistan would provide easy access with immense opportunities of connectivity through a huge maze of motorways and highways.Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Anusha Rehman were also present during the ceremony.He assured federal government’s support but maintained that it was the provincial leadership which should take the lead for the progress and development of the province by concentrating on the availability of huge natural resources and connectivity potentials.He said work on Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project was being fast tracked whereas efforts were also being made for the rail, road and IT connectivity.

Deadlock persists over caretaker CM?s name in KP

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and opposition have failed to pick a new name for the position of caretaker Chief Minister as the deadlock persisted over the withdrawal of Mazoor Afridi’s candidature. According to sources, opposition leader has refused to propose a new name and insists that Manzoor Afridi be named the caretaker CM as agreed upon by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. The provincial government, however, proposed the name of Himayatullah Khan. “Manzoor Afridi is a respected business personality and a non-controversial figure. It is unfortunate that some opposition parties created a controversy regarding his nomination,” PTI’s minister Shaukat Yousafzai told media. He, however, said that two sides would finalize a new name today. Another source told Geo that former bureaucrat Ghulam Dastgir was under discussion. In addition, Justice (retd) Dosh Muhammad and Justice (retd) Mian Ajmal are being named for the post. 

ECP s online scrutiny system to be used for 2018 polls candidates

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is planning to use its online system for transparent scrutiny of candidates for the general election 2018. A meeting was held here at ECP headquarters in this regard which was attended by DG Information Technology and other officials of ECP and representatives of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and NADRA.In the previous ECP meetings, it was discussed that there should be online scrutiny system under which FIA, NAB, SBP and FBR will be linked with the ECP to provide necessary information about the contesting candidates to all Returning Officers.The objective behind introduction of this system was to ensure transparency in scrutiny process of candidates.Through this software, all details of candidates will be provided to NADRA and the NADRA will further provide details of candidates to ECP and department concerned like FIA, FBR, NAB and SBP.The ECP will ensure that all details of candidates are available with all Returning Officers during scrutiny process.

Captain Safdar left alone to face trial by ‘busy’ Nawaz, Maryam

Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar on Tuesday recorded his statement in the Avenfield Apartments reference.

During the statement, neither Nawaz Sharif nor Maryam Safdar, ministers, political workers, lawyers and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters stayed behind to support him. Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz briefly appeared before the court and left as Maryam Nawaz was scheduled to hold a press conference at Punjab House at 11am.

Safdar stood alone and answered many of the questions that were from the period when he was not married to Maryam and part of the Sharif family. “Some questions pertain to the period prior to my marriage,” Safdar quipped when questions were being read to him.
During Safdar’s statement, NAB prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi also left it to other NAB prosecutors and sat in a chair in the front row until the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir inquired about his stance on something. At one moment, there were only two NAB prosecutors, defence counsel Amjad Pervaiz, one reporter and two security officials on each side who stood near Safdar.

During the 15-minute break, when court reporters asked Safdar why everyone left him alone in the courtroom, Safdar said, “It was my wish that Nawaz Sharif and family members are not present during my statement…having the judge in front of you and Nawaz Sharif on your back adds extra pressure.”

A reporter inquired about Maryam Nawaz leaving the courtroom to which Safdar said, “Maryam is with me for the last 25 years…Isn’t that enough that she has stayed with an empty-pocket man for 25 years.”

He said that Maryam Nawaz left the hearing because “he needs her the most at this moment” and added that the ministers left since they had work in they had to “attend important sessions in the last working days.”

While answering the court questions, Safdar said, “My name did not find mention in any of the documents known as PANAMA LEAKS.”

With regards to the Gulf Steel Mill’s establishment in 1974, GSM’s sale 75% of shares of in 1978 and 25% in 1980, subsequent 12 million AED’s investment with Qatari Royal family who purchased Avenfield apartments through company Nielson and Nescoll, co-accused Hassan and Hussain’s stay in the apartments and final settlement with Qatari family in 2006, Safdar said that all these subjects do not relate to him. However, he said that “it is correct that co-accused Maryam Safdar was made trustee and I signed the trust deed as witness.”

Meanwhile, a lawyer who regularly appears before the court regretted that all other cases pending in the court haven’t been properly heard for the last eight to nine months. He revealed roughly 50 cases were pending before the court but only Panamagate trial is being regularly heard. Safdar would resume his statement on May 30.

Nawaz Sharif told the reporters outside the accountability court that the commission ought to comprise of judges, military men, lawmakers and other notables.

He added that the proposed commission would identify who made what kind of policies and also reveal their part in it.

Commenting on the recent naming of Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk as caretaker premier, Sharif lavished praise on the ‘English’ judge. Terming Mulk an “outstanding” chief justice, the former prime minister said he had done great service to the nation.

Balochistan’s minister seeks election delay

A resolution demanding one-month delay in general elections was submitted in Balochistan Assembly on Wednesday.

The resolution, submitted by Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, sought that elections be held in August, instead of July this year, because “a majority of the public wants to undertake Hajj for which [many] would be travelling to Saudi Arabia in July” and hence, they would be unable to vote in the elections.

Expressing “concern” that the province receives monsoon downpours during the month of July, the resolution states that many districts face flooding and a lot of residents are forced to move to other areas for shelter. Such a situation would deprive these people of the opportunity to vote.
The resolution urges the provincial government to keep these concerns in mind and ask the federal government to instead hold the elections in the last week of August so that everyone can exercise their constitutional right to vote, the resolution adds.
Last week, President Mamnoon Hussain had approved holding the General Elections 2018 on July 25 this year for both the Centre and provinces.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had proposed July 25-27 as possible dates for the upcoming elections and forwarded a summary in this regard to President Mamnoon Hussain, requesting him to set one of the proposed dates as the day of the polls according to Elections Act 2017, Section 57(1).

The current government will complete its five-year term on May 31. The caretaker government will then take over to ensure a smooth transition of power after the elections.

PTI withdraws Nasir Khosa?s name for interim CM over 'public backlash'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has withdrawn the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa for the post of caretaker Chief Minister in the interim setup over "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 the candidature of Nasir Saeed Khosa. We are a political party which cannot ignore the public perception,” he said. He, however, said that Khosa was  a man of integrity and good reputation. Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mahmood ur Rashid also confirmed  PTI’s withdrawal of Khosa’s name. “We will propose a new name in a few hours and consult with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” he said, adding that perception was developing that Nasir Saeed Khosa was loyal to Nawaz Sharif.Yesterday, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the name of  Khosa after consultation with the opposition leader. “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.

Islamabad biology professor faces inquiry over harassment allegations

ISLAMABAD: A private collage in Islamabad has requested Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) to open an inquiry against a biology professor accused of harassing and abusing scores of female students during exams. According to a source, the federal board has set up a committee under Controller Examination to investigate the matter. The committee has already visited the college and recorded statement of the professor. The professor told the committee that he was very upset and that this was the first time he was accused of sexual harassment during his entire  career. “I have been vising various schools and colleges for 12 years for exams and there has never been a single complaint of this nature,” he told the committee. The professor has been asked to submit his written statement by Thursday. Sources add that the private college had also contacted students to get their version after the matter first surfaced on social media. According to college principal, students complained that the professor had sexually harassed them and made inappropriate remarks. The principal told Geo that professor had also threatened the students. The matter came into limelight after one of her victims spoke out against the professor’s inappropriate behavior on her Facebook page. Top celebrities including Mahira Khan and Hareem Farooq, joined the online debate and praised the girls for naming and shaming the professor. “Name and shame this man!! Shame on #SadatBashir!! Make an example out of him. May justice be served to all these brave girls and God knows how many before them,” Mahir Khan tweeted."I cant even begin to imagine the horror these innocent students went through! Shame on him! And more power to people like #sabaali who gather the courage to speak up against such monsters!!! LETS STOP HIM BEFORE HE FINDS ANOTHER VICTIM," Hareem Farooq wrote on the photosharing app.