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OGRA chief’s LLM degree dubious

April 17, 2011 on by Kashif Abbasi

OGRA chief’s LLM degree dubious

April 17, 2011 on by Kashif Abbasi

ISLAMABAD – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Thursday declared that the university which had awarded LLM degree to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Chairman Tauqir Sadiq was neither recognised by the government of Pakistan nor the United Kingdom and the US.
The OGRA chairman claimed that he had obtained a Master’s in Law from American University of London which, according to the HEC was not recognised both in the UK and the US. The OGRA chairman’s degree and his

Senate body asks FO to summon Saudi envoy

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Interior directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday to call the ambassador of Saudi Arabia immediately and ask him to annul the decision of executing three Pakistanis as they had paid blood money (Diyat) to the heirs of the killed persons in Pakistan.
The Pakistani citizens had been awarded death sentence in a murder case in Saudi Arabia but they had not been released so far despite the payment of Rs 4 million as blood money

Threat of more floods loom like Damocles’ sword

April 17, 2011 on by Arif Taj

ISLAMABAD – With the breaches in many embankments that were washed away in last year’s flood still un-repaired, the residents of the flood-hit areas are haunted by the threat of fresh deluge which could prove even more disastrous.
According to the Flood Reconstruction Plan 2010-11 of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, around 78 districts of the country covering 50,000 square kilometers were inundated last year, leaving 20 million affected and rendering 1.6 million homeless.

Second phase of Mehsud IDPs repatriation from 30th

April 17, 2011 on by Haq Nawaz Khan

PESHAWAR – Elders of the Meshud tribe have agreed to restart the repatriation process to South Waziristan, suspended for nearly six months, from April 30 after security assurances given by the Pakistan Army.
However, the displaced Meshuds are still reluctant to return to South Waziristan in the prevailing circumstances and want to wait and see until the revival of routine life in their native areas, some tribesmen told Pakistan Today.
The killing of a young Mehsud tribesman

Dr Asim Hussain elected senator unopposed

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Chief Election Commissioner Justice Rtd Hamid Ali Mirza on Saturday notified that Dr Asim Hussain was elected unopposed as a result of bye-election to the Senate of Pakistan. Asim was elected unopposed against a general seat from Sindh fallen vacant due to resignation of Senator Dr Khatu Mal Jeewan for the unexpired term of office that is due to expire on March 11, 2015, said a statement issued here.
Former advisor to the prime minister on Petroleum, who is

KP to allocate special fund for poets, artists

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

PESHAWAR – Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain said on Saturday that the provincial government would continue to encourage artists and poets and allocate special funds for their welfare.
He expressed theses views on the occasion of a comedian poetry gathering in the Peshawar Press Club organised by the Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ). He said that the provincial government was active for the development and preservation of all cultural sites around the

Destruction of schools – These things do happen in wars: Fazl

April 17, 2011 on by Monitoring Desk

LAHORE – Maulana Fazlur Rahman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F, in an exclusive interview has said that the destruction of educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA is nothing new, as similar crimes are committed in wars, reported Radio Free Europe.
He was asked about the destruction of schools in tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Look, this is war and such crimes are committed from all parties,” Rahman said. “In this connection, the leadership of the Afghan

Karachi police identify killers of MQM-Afaq leader

April 17, 2011 on by Tariq Habib

KARACHI – The Karachi police have reportedly identified the men involved in the killing of Akhter Hussain, the vice chairman of Muhajir Qaumi Movement (Afaq), and his two aides, it was learnt on Saturday.
A Karachi police official said the suspects were being searched for and would be arrested soon. Hussain and his two aides were killed on Shaheed-e-Millat Road near Bahadurabad on April 12. A police mobile van was present in the surroundings when the incident took place and gave

Ombudsmen establish their own forum

April 17, 2011 on by Press Release

ISLAMABAD – A farewell party was held in the federal capital on Friday in honour of outgoing Federal Ombudsman Javed Sadiq Malik and Justice Syed Ali Aslam Jafri, former Insurance Ombudsman.
The participants praised the services of the retiring officeholders for providing the aggrieved public speedy and inexpensive access to justice.
The meeting decided to establish a Forum of Pakistan Ombudsmen (FPO) with Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Shoaib Suddle as president while Provincial

Nepotism haunts educated youth: survey

April 17, 2011 on by Ghulam Hassan

PESHAWAR – The massive corruption and favouritism in the country has played havoc with talented and educated people spoiled their future, a survey conducted by Pakistan Today said. According to the survey, influential people have divided vacant posts among their kith and kin while there is no job for poor educated youth.
Bright future for their children is the dream of parents. They make vigorous efforts and offer many sacrifices for their education. In view of the corruption and

Documentary speaks of Pakistan’s unsung heroes

April 17, 2011 on by App

LONDON – A documentary by the British Television Channel 4 screened on Saturday has spoken of Pakistan’s unsung heroes as they race in their ambulances to help those in need, injured in road accidents or fallen victims to crime in Karachi. Reporter Peter Oborne spent two weeks living in the Edhi Ambulance Centre for making the documentary about the courageous individuals who risked their lives to make the city a safer place.
He wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the

Judicial Commission meeting postponed

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

ISLAMABAD – The meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has been postponed until April 23 without taking up the agenda. The commission, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, met Saturday for considering confirmation or appointments of additional judges to the Lahore and Balochistan high courts, but the agenda was not completed due the non-availability of the law minister.
The law minister-designate, Maula Bux Chandio, attended the meeting without taking oath,

Recipients of BISP aid protest against post office staff

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

FAISALABAD – Dozens of women recipients of government aid under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) gathered outside Kanjwani Post Office Samundary to protest against the embezzlement of funds by the post office staff.
Reportedly, they said that they had been coming to the post office daily for many days but the authorities were turning them away on lame excuses to force them to offer bribes to get their money. They added that the post office staff had started deducting Rs

Son kills father over monetary dispute

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

KASUR – Chuniaan police registered a case against Gulzar Ahmed for allegedly killing his father at Mughlanpur village. Reportedly, Gulazar exchanged hot words with his father Shafi over a monetary issue and shot him dead.
TWO BLIND MURDERS’ MYSTERY SOLVED: Kasur police on Saturday claimed they had traced two blind murders. According to Station House Officer (SHO) Mian Muazzam, the accused Hassan Ali killed Bashir over the suspicion that he had developed illicit relations with his

Fresh polls only solution to problems: Baloch

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

TOBA TEK SINGH – Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Liaquat Baloch has said that fresh general elections were the only solution to the problems being faced by the country as the present democratic setup has failed to deliver and solve the problems of the people.
Addressing a press conference at the local JI office in Garden Town the other day, he stated that President Asif Ali Zardari should quit the presidential slot as he was not acceptable to the nation. He also demanded the

Early completion of Sialkot-Gujranwala-Daska road ordered

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

GUJRANWALA – Gujranwala Division Commissioner Saeed Wahla has directed Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to complete the project of Sialkot-Gujranwala-Daska road before the start of the rainy season.
He was addressing a meeting to review work on the project on Saturday. The meeting was attended by DCO Barrister Nabil Ahmad Awan, Director Development Anwar Aziz, FWO Project Manager Colonel Sibte Hassan Rana, Colonel Umar, Colonel Imran Zafar, Major Imran, XEN Provincial Highways

‘Land record being computerised to end patwari culture’

April 17, 2011 on by Staff Report

HAFIZABAD – Punjab Food Secretary Irfan Elahi, who is also project director, land record management information system, has said the government is spending a huge amount on the computerisation of land record to eradicate traditional patwari culture from the province, curb corruption in the revenue department and provide relief to landowners as well as the common man.
Addressing a meeting at District Complex Hafizabad, he said in this modern age, information could not be concealed

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