ISLAMABAD: Emir of Jamaat-i-Islami Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday gave a call of protest rally in Lahore on May 16 to express solidarity with farmers who are already protesting against the government for not procuring fresh crop of wheat in the country. Speaking at a press conference, the JI chief warned the provincial government of Punjab to refrain from blocking the route of the Jamaat rally otherwise the government will be responsible for any untoward incident at the Mall Road, Lahore. “We are going to hold a peaceful rally in Lahore on May 16 along with farmers and if the government tries…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: As unaffordable power supplies affect demand and push consumers out of the national grid, question marks are being raised over the procurement of imported coal for power plants in the long term despite the government’s and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) overall policy direction for localisation and import substitution. The power plants are getting into long-term coal import — a market where liquidity and availability are in plenty — after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) streamlined spot imports through procurement guidelines, causing coal prices to tumble by almost half. While feeling delinquency, former caretaker power minister Muhammad…
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: After a war of words between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for several days, the former on Sunday vowed to extend all possible support to provincial government for resolving issues of people rather than indulging in confrontation. Addressing a press conference at Kundi Model Farm, he said that after taking oath as governor, he always wanted to work for the betterment of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including former Fata. “I repeatedly wished to work together with the provincial government for the development and welfare of the province,” he said. Mr Kundi said…
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not asked Pakistan to hike up energy prices but does want it to withdraw subsidies granted in various sectors, including energy, according to Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. IMF official Esther Perez Ruiz informed Dawn.com that a delegation from the lender will meet Pakistani authorities next week to discuss the “next phase of engagement”. “A mission team led by Nathan Porter, IMF’s mission chief to Pakistan, will meet with authorities next week to discuss the next phase of engagement,” she said. “The aim is to lay the foundation for better governance and stronger, more inclusive, and resilient economic…
HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ruled out any change in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, saying neither the federal government nor any other official has discussed any such amendment. He made these remarks while talking to reporters at the Hyderabad Press Club on Sunday. When asked about reports of an IMF suggestion to renegotiate the resource distribution formula among provinces, Mr Shah said he only heard about this in the media. “I have seen it only in the media because nobody has talked to me regarding any rethink of the NFC resource distribution formula.” Urges media to ‘not glorify’ bandits;…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved the immediate provision of Rs23 billion to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after the region witnessed clashes and protests in the past few days. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has traders at the forefront in most parts of the state, has been seeking the provision of electricity as per hydropower generation cost in AJK, subsidised wheat flour and an end to the privileges of the elite class. On May 9 and 10, around 70 activists were arrested by police in a bid to prevent a long march — announced by the…
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday suspended the notifications of 75 returned candidates on reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies till further orders. The lawmakers include 27 Punjab Assembly lawmakers — belonging to the ruling coalition — suspended last week by Speaker Malik Mohammad Ahmed Khan and barred from joining the house proceedings. In a notification issued today, the ECP said the decision was made pursuant to the Supreme Court’s May 6 order, wherein it had suspended the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) verdict denying the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) reserved seats for women and minorities. The suspended lawmakers comprise those given additional…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stepped aside from his position as the PML-N president, saying stated that “the time has come” for his brother Nawaz Sharif to retake his “rightful place as the president of the party”. Nawaz was removed as the president of the party in 2018 after a Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by then-chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar ruled that an individual disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution cannot serve as head of a political party. The apex court’s verdict was in response to 17 petitions challenging the controversial Elections Act 2017,…
Jim Parsons is slipping back in the shoes of Sheldon Cooper for the series finale of his iconic sitcom’s spinoff, Young Sheldon. Speaking to People Magazine ahead of the final episode, Parsons, 51, expressed that reprising his role was “really special,” but admitted that he was unsure at first. “I felt a slight hesitancy when they first asked, just as I thought, I don’t really want to go revisit the character,” he reflected. However, Parsons – who is an executive producer and off-screen narrator on Young Sheldon – changed his mind upon reading the script. He recalled, “But the way that they…
Meghan Markle was slammed for going against her self-proclaimed values of being a feminist with her visit to Nigeria. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told GB News that given that Meghan is a “feminist,” Nigeria is an “interesting venue” for her and Prince Harry and many human rights violations happen in the country. The Duchess of Sussex previously revealed in her Archetypes podcast that she is 43 percent Nigerian and referenced her heritage during her three-day visit to the African country. Schofield noted that the US Department of Justice is “concerned with things like child brides and child labourers in Nigeria” including…
