Pakistan News update
News-Update
NEWS UPDATE
Counter-affidavit: Durrani concedes ISI role in poll rigging
May 17th
Lt Gen (retd) Assad Durrani says ISI act of distributing funds was lawful. Lt Gen (retd) Assad Durrani says ISI act of distributing funds was lawful.
ISLAMABAD:Former Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Assad Durrani has conceded the role of ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) in rigging the 1990 parliamentary elections.
Durrani submitted an affidavit in response to the one submitted by Gen Mirza Aslam Beg blaming the ISI for corrupt practices. Durrani stated that then-army chief, Aslam Beg, knew about the plan. Defending his position, Durrani insisted that the role of ISI and MI in distributing funds among More >
South American butterflies cause Darwinian flutter
May 17th
Different species of the Heliconius butterfly are sneakily cross-breeding in order to get superior wing colours, according to a comparison of their DNA codes. – Reuters Photo
PARIS: Bright black-and-red butterflies that live on the fringes of the Amazonian rain forest have developed extraordinary techniques of gene-swapping to survive, scientists reported on Wednesday.
Different species of the Heliconius butterfly are sneakily cross-breeding in order to get superior wing colours, according to a comparison of their DNA codes.
Genetic sharing among species, also called hybridisation, is extremely rare in the wild.It usually ends in an evolutionary dead end because the mixed-gene offspring rarely get More >
President Zardari will attend NATO summit: FO
May 17th
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will attend the upcoming NATO summit in Chicago, CNBC reported on Thursday.
The summit will start from May 21st in which President Zardari will be accompanied by the Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary.
According to the Foreign Office, the president will address the Expanded ISAF Meeting of NATO and also meet various Heads of State and Government.
President Zardari was given an unconditional invitation to the Chicago Summit by NATO Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen.
The president will discuss the Pakistan’s point of view on peace in Afghanistan and role of the country in ending terrorism, the FO More >
SC demands explanation over new Chairman OGRA’s appointment
May 17th
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken notice of new OGRA Chairman Saeed Ahmad Khan’s appointment today and demanded an explanation within 14 days from the Ministry of Petroleum and Cabinet Division, CNBC reported on Thursday.
According to the Petroleum Ministry sources, the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court has demanded the explanation, on orders of the Chief Justice Iftikhat Muhammad Chauhdry, from the concerned departments over appointment of the new OGRA Chairman, Saeed Ahmad Khan.
After receiving replies of the Cabinet Division and Ministry of Petroleum, the Supreme Court will decide upon further proceedings over OGRA Chairman’s appointment.
The More >
NAB begins inquiry against Sharif brothers in money laundering case
May 17th
Decision to initiate inquiry came after President Asif Ali Zardari gave the green signal. The decision to initiate the inquiry against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif came after President Asif Ali Zardari gave the green signal. PHOTO: TMN/FILE
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formally initiated an inquiry against the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leadership in a money laundering case. It has been alleged that over $32 million had been laundered.
The decision to initiate the inquiry against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif came after President Asif Ali Zardari gave the green signal.
“President Zardari in his message directed the More >
Famed art collection finds new Philadelphia home
May 17th
PHILADELPHIA: The Barnes collection, with more than 4,000 works of art including paintings by Renoir, Van Gogh and Cezanne, opens at its new home on Saturday in Philadelphia’s cultural center.
The opening in the modern $150 million facility on a 4.5-acre (1.8-hectare) site comes after a nearly decade-long fight over the move from its historic home in a suburb outside the city.
“This is a world-class collection and we decided to give it a world-class home,” Joseph Neubauer, vice chairman of the board of The Barnes Foundation, said on Wednesday. “The pictures have never had a better home than they have today.”
The More >
Karachi: 24-hour death tally rises to 10
May 17th
Staff ReportKARACHI: Body of a youth was recovered from Lines Area of the city this morning, pushing the overall death toll in the unrelenting violence during the last 24 hours to 10, CNBC reports Thursday.
According to details, body of a youth bundled into a sack, was found near a technical school located in Lines Area this morning.
Meantime during the past 24 hours, former UC Nazim was gunned down in Malir, two brothers Saeed and Mujeeb in Baldia Town and Malik Hasnain was killed in Orangi Town firing incident.
Also, bodies of three people were recovered from Lyari’s Khadda Market, Malir and More >
Gilani backtracks on printing currency to end loadshedding
May 17th
Gilani questions why provincial governments did not take steps for generating power. Gilani questions why provincial governments did not take steps for generating power. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Dispelling the impression of printing currency notes to overcome the power crisis in the country, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that all available resources except for printing currency will be used to end unannounced loadshedding.
Gilani was speaking to the media after attending an event organised by the Ministry of Information Technology.
The prime minister had earlier suggested that the government should print currency notes and pour capital into the electricity sector in order to overcome More >
Shah Rukh Khan faces police probe over cricket row
May 17th
MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan faced a police probe and a lifetime ban from Mumbai’s main cricket stadium on Thursday following a furious late-night row with staff at the ground, officials said.
The actor, who co-owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders, took a group of youngsters including his daughter Suhana onto the pitch of the Wankhede Stadium after a match on Wednesday night.
A security guard tried to stop them from playing, leading the multi-millionaire actor to argue angrily for 10-15 minutes before finally giving up and leaving the stadium, an AFP photographer witnessed.
“Security officials told him More >
Karachi: Rangers arrest six suspected militants in targeted op
May 17th
Staff Report
KARACHI: Rangers in Karachi on Thursday claimed to have arrested six members of a banned militant outfit, recovering arms and ammunition from their possession, CNBC reports.
Spokesman of the Rangers said a ‘targeted’ operation against criminals was underway in Karachi’s different areas in the wake of recent firing incidents, arresting 18 suspected offenders.
Six members of a banned outfit were captured from Bin Qaism Town area during the crackdown, officials said, adding that “they were planning terrorist activities in the city.”
Rangers say four explosive devices, arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the suspected terrorists. — CNBC
