Nation in shock as fuel prices rise to historic 330/litre
In a move that has sent shockwaves to the nation, the caretaker government pushed through another hike in the prices of petrol by Rs26.02 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs17.34 per litre. It added that the decision was taken owing to the increasing trend of petroleum prices in the international market. The price increase comes on the heels of an already massive hike on Sept 1, when the interim government raised fuel prices by up to Rs18 per litre. That jump in petroleum prices had come after similar hikes by the interim government on Aug 15. The price hike is based on existing tax rates and import parity prices, mainly because of currency fluctuation and a slight increase in international crude prices.
Source:The Nation
September 16, 2023 05:03 UTC
Implications of SC verdict
ISLAMABAD - A three-member bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued verdict on the NAB amendments bill by 2-1 through which cases on public office holders have been restored which were withdrawn after the amendments in the NAB Law bill. The amendments done by the parliament have turned out to be a futile exercise by this decision,” he said. When asked about many politicians consider NAB laws as draconian laws, Haq said, “laws are good but there’s no implementation of the laws, they were used for witch-hunting and match fixing. If the full court has been made on September 18th, this decision might also be an exercise on futility. Talking about the tenure of outgoing CJP Bandial, Sohail Warraich said, “it was very confusing tenure.
Source:The Nation
September 16, 2023 02:06 UTC
96 unclaimed bodies lying in morgues, 5,668 weapons looted in Manipur
IMPHAL: The Indian Manipur state police have said that over 175 people have been killed, 1,118 injured and 33 are still missing since violence broke out in disturbed Manipur state in India on May 3, 2023. The state’s police said 96 unclaimed bodies are lying unclaimed in morgues. At least 5,172 cases of arson have been reported, which include 4,786 houses and 386 religious places (254 churches and 132 temples). As many as 5,668 weapons have been looted from the state armoury since the beginning of the violence. Of this, Indian army and paramilitary forces have recovered 1,329 weapons, 15,050 ammunition and 400 bombs, the police report claimed.
Source:Pakistan Today
September 15, 2023 20:32 UTC
Namira’s journey to space to be major achievement for nation: Solangi
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said on Friday that Namira Saleem’s upcoming journey to space is a sign of Pakistan’s growing presence in space exploration and a major achievement for the nation. This he said during a meeting with Pakistan’s first female astronaut Namira Saleem who met him here. Namira Salim briefed the caretaker minister about the preparations for her space journey on October 5 this year. Solangi congratulated Namira Saleem on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and the people for starting the space journey and expressed good wishes for her success. “This effort of Namira Saleem will highlight the positive image of Pakistan as a peace-loving and progressive country,” Murtaza Solangi maintained.
Source:The Nation
September 15, 2023 18:50 UTC
Pakistan may not ratify fisheries deal
photo: fileThe Chief of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo, has called upon member states to ratify the fisheries subsidies agreement. In an interaction with a group of journalists from developing countries, the Director-General of the WTO urged member states, including Pakistan, to ratify the fisheries subsidies agreement so that it can enter into force next year. The first deliverable for the 13th Ministerial Conference is entering into force the fisheries subsidies agreement, said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Pakistan also wants prioritisation of capacity building, sustainable practices, and tailored support for developing countries. There would be no agreements underpinning world trade, which will result in an anarchic situation,” said the DG.
Source:The Express Tribune
September 15, 2023 16:58 UTC
One party conspired to throw out PPP from Punjab: Bilawal
Read more: PPP may reassess polls demandIn an apparent reference to PML-N, he said a political party, in connivance with General (retd) Shuja Pasha and former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, “conspired to throw PPP out of the political landscape in Punjab”. However, he added that the party “paid the price” itself in what Bilawal described as a “political mistake”. In 2018, Bilawal continued, another political party — referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) this time — General (retd) Faiz Hameed and former chief justice Saqib Nisar also conspired against PPP. Also read: PPP to 'merge' Zardari, Bilawal’s opposing stancesOn a possible political alliance with PTI, Bilawal said that his party was in favour of holding talks with the former ruling party. He further said that the PPP was open for negotiations with any party not involved in militant activities.
Source:The Express Tribune
September 15, 2023 16:45 UTC
Moody Middle School students to begin instruction on anti-drug and violence curriculum
From The Tribune staff reportsMOODY — Around 200 fifth grade students at Moody Middle School will begin instruction on the curriculum implemented by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence on Sept. 20. Students will be instructed by Jason Townes of Moody Police Department, the first School Resource Officer (SRO) at his department who’s been trained to teach the proven effective curriculum implemented by L.E.A.D. During the school day, fifth graders in Moody will learn about the risks of drugs and violence as well as how to set attainable goals, manage their emotions and make wise decisions. instructor, helping us with our goal of advancing police-community relationships, and look forward to seeing the positive impact that L.E.A.D.
Source:The Express Tribune
September 15, 2023 16:10 UTC
Seminar for countering BJP’s electoral tactics in India
ISLAMABAD - During Thursday’s seminar in Islamabad, speakers emphasized the need for a multifaceted approach to counter the BJP’s electoral tactics in India, calling for strategic diplomacy, robust military preparedness, and a strong media landscape. They highlighted past incidents where military provocations by India benefited the BJP’s re-election bid but had negative consequences for ordinary Indians. He also emphasized the role of the Indian media in stoking tensions, suggesting that it aligned with the BJP’s electoral narrative. Dr Muhammad Mujeeb Afzal highlighted the proliferation of Hindu nationalist themes in Indian media, including television and Bollywood. He noted that anti-Pakistan sentiment had become a prominent tool for mobilization in India, especially around major electoral periods.
Source:The Nation
September 15, 2023 15:47 UTC
Mushaal vows to continue raising Kashmiris’ issues
ISLAMABAD - Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Human Rights and Women Empowerment, Mushaal Hussein Mullick Thursday vowed to continue raising issues of oppressed people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) at all international forums. Addressing ‘Pehchan Pakistan’ conference here at a private university, she said Kashmiris were struggling for the past seven decades for their inalienable right to self-determination as promised by the United Nations. Mushaal Mullick said India had miserably failed to suppress voice of Kashmiris for freedom despite deployment of more than a million troops in IIOJK. The special assistant said fake and expired medicines were being supplied to continue genocide of Kashmiri people. Mushaal Mullick urged the people in Pakistan and Pakistani Diaspora to support Kashmiri people in attaining their right to self-determination under the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Source:The Nation
September 15, 2023 15:08 UTC
Pakistan’s football body announces squad for six-nation women’s tournament in Saudi Arabia
Neither they have come on a visa, nor they have any legal documents,” Kakar told reporters after the meeting. According to the UNHCR, more than 4.4 million Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland since 2002 under a UNHCR-assisted voluntary repatriation program, but around 1.4 million still live in refugee camps, villages and urban centers across Pakistan. But a senior diplomat from Afghanistan and a human rights activist said that many of those apprehended possessed valid documents. “And an illegal industry of currency, our crackdown on that will be very consistent and this message should be conveyed repeatedly,” he said. The hikes came as part of the conditions agreed with the IMF for the $3 billion bailout deal.
Source:The Nation
September 15, 2023 14:03 UTC
An unfortunate happening
Judicial activism since the restoration of judiciary headed by Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry after the movement by lawyers has further aggravated the situation. All the aforementioned verdicts reflected will of the judges rather than adherence to the constitution and law. These constitutions invariably delineate an arrangement for distribution of powers between the pillars of the state known as the trichotomy of powers. They have also pitched the judiciary against the executive as well which can have disastrous consequences for the country. Nevertheless this unfortunate happening is a lesson for those occupying seats at the highest court to refrain from being partisan or playing politics which is none of their business.
Source:The Nation
September 14, 2023 21:10 UTC
SBP keeps policy rate unchanged at 22% against expectations
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) surprised financial markets on Thursday by leaving its benchmark policy rate – the cost of bank lending – unchanged at 22%, against the expectation of an aggressive hike of up to 300 basis points. In a statement, the SBP said that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to maintain the policy rate at 22%. 1/4 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to maintain the policy rate at 22 percent in its meeting today. https://t.co/Rns1WF4AsB#SBPMonetaryPolicy pic.twitter.com/HT9w9wWZAU — SBP (@StateBank_Pak) September 14, 2023As such, the real interest rates continue to remain in positive territory on a forward-looking basis. "This has helped in narrowing the gap between the interbank and open market exchange rates," the bank maintained.
Source:The Express Tribune
September 14, 2023 16:51 UTC
Did Russell Wilson wear eye black in his team photo? An SB Nation investigation
The Denver Broncos team site has Wilson with no eye black, however, we cross-referenced with ESPN, and we found our white whale. Russell Wilson, in eye black:Then we went and checked other websites to see if there was any eye black on those. I think we can also rule out that Wilson took two separate photos, one with eye black and one without. Which leaves us one option here: someone either photoshopped the eye black on or off Wilson and then sent it out. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that Wilson took two separate photos, one with eye black and one without.
Source:The Nation
September 14, 2023 16:34 UTC
Sindh CM orders operation to curb street crime in urban centres
He expressed these remarks during a meeting of the provincial cabinet held at the Chief Minister House in Karachi. Karachi (September 14th, 2023) Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar presides over a cabinet meeting at CM House. Media Cell TeamSindh Chief Minister House. The chief minister in today's meeting issued directives to the police and law enforcement agencies to curb street crimes in urban areas of the province. All ministers, advisors, special assistants to CM, Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Fakhar Alam, IG Riffat Mukhtar, Principal Secretary to CM Hassan Naqvi, Advocate General, Prosecutor General and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
Source:The Express Tribune
September 14, 2023 16:20 UTC
PAF offers full coop to Azerbaijan for tactical training
ISLAMABAD - Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Pakistan Khazar Farhadov called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office on Wednesday. Amidst the discussions, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu shared his strategic vision for Pakistan Air Force and reiterated his unwavering commitment to modernize its capabilities across the realms of air, space, cyber and electronic warfare. The discussion primarily focused on the areas of joint operational training and comprehensive cooperation in cross-domain, multi-spectrum operations. He offered his full cooperation for comprehensive training programs, starting from the basic level and progressing to tactical training of Azerbaijan Air Force air and ground crew in order to strengthen their technical skills and foster greater interoperability between the two air forces. The visiting dignitary reaffirmed that Pakistan and Azerbaijan, with their strong diplomatic and defence ties, are poised for an even stronger alliance in future.
Source:The Nation
September 14, 2023 13:05 UTC