Pakistan

LAHORE: Though the non-extendable four-year tenure of National Accountability Bureau chairman Javed Iqbal is ending early next month, Prime Minister Imran Khan is not willing to consult the Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of a new head of the anti-graft watchdog as he (Sharif) is an accused in corruption references filed against him by …

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Saturday said the government would adopt a gender roadmap to achieve equality. He was speaking at a meeting during which the member, social sector and devolution, presented the draft gender roadmap proposing gender integration across all national policies, programmes, offices and key management processes. The roadmap is designed to …

ISLAMABAD: Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Friday said security threats had increased in the country because of opposition by international powers to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the latest situation in Afghanistan. “Security threat is elevated,” he said in response to a question at a hurriedly called news conference, adding that no doubt development on CPEC was …

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s (JUI) former leader Mufti Azizur Rehman has approached a district and sessions court for the grant of a post-arrest bail, days after a similar petition of his was dismissed by a judicial magistrate. He is accused of subjecting a student of his madressah to sexual abuse, of which the victim has reportedly presented video evidence. He is currently confined in …

RAWALPINDI: Senior Journalist C.R. Shamsi died of cardiac arrest here on Friday. He was 62. He is survived by widow, four sons and a daughter. According to his friends, his funeral will be offered on Saturday. C.R. Shamsi worked for many national dailies in different positions — from reporter to editor. Hailing from Chakwal, he started his journalistic career back …

WASHINGTON: The Election Commis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) is a constitutional body, and the National Database and Regi­s­tration Authority cannot tell the commission what to do, says Nadra chief Tariq Malik. “We cannot tell them what to do but they can admonish us. They are a constitutional body. We are a technical institute,” the Nadra chairman said at a news briefing …

ISLAMABAD: The counsel for Zahir Jaffer’s parents Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee on Friday concluded arguments on their bail petitions in the murder case of Noor Mukadam. He accused the police of submitting selected evidence saying the police investigation made the case complicated. Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that it appeared that police did not know how to link clues during …

ISLAMABAD: Leading investors’ consortiums from China, South Korea and Russia have showed interest in investing in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) as roadshows for renowned international and national investors were being held in Islamabad. The Privatisation Commission which is arranging roadshows since Sept 13, says the revival of Pakistan Steel Mills would be a unique transaction as since its closure various …

ISLAMABAD: The first National Assembly session of the fourth parliamentary year did not proceed properly on Friday as quorum was pointed out by the opposition which termed it “hastily called”. The house was therefore adjourned till Monday, but not before a unanimous resolution was passed to pay tribute to Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani who had recently passed away in …

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif on Friday sent names of six nominees to Prime Minister Imran Khan for filling vacant posts of members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), but expressed displeasure that the government had not followed the Supreme Court’s ruling which required the PM’s “serious and meaningful” consultation with him on the matter. The names …