Divided PML-Q seeks guarantees from PPP

He thinks that cases against a son of the former Punjab chief minister had made the Chaudhrys more vulnerable and they may have to go to any extent to save his political career. In case Moonis Elahi is convicted on corruption charges, there will be nobody left in the family of Chaudhrys to take their dynastic politics forward, he argued. “They have to save him at all costs”. He recalled that the first effort to make a PPP-PML (Q) coalition was made by former president Pervez Musharraf.

Pak Navy bus attacked again, 5 dead

KARACHI: A roadside bomb hit a bus carrying Pakistani Navy officials on Thursday, killing five people and wounding eighteen others, officials said, the third attack on the navy in less than a week.

Pakistan navy spokesman said four navy officials aboard the bus were killed. A hospital official said a passerby was also killed.

"The bus was taking navy officers to a dockyard when a planted bomb exploded nearby," senior police official said. A civilian car and motorcycle were also damaged.

Death toll reaches to 25 in US drone attack امریکی ڈرون حملے میں مرنے والوں کی تعداد 25 تک پہنچ گئی

MIRANSHAH: Three women and five children among 25 people were killed while several others injured in a US drone attack on a compound in North Waziristan, Geo News reported.

US drones fired five missiles on a compound in Spinwam, 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of Miranshah.

Imran gives ultimatum to stop drone attacks

PESHAWAR Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) has given a five point demand to the government to bring an end to the murderous drone attacks and protect the life and liberty of its citizens, otherwise it must tender resignation.

The five point “Peshawar Declaration” adopted at the conclusion of two day sit in(Dharna) in Peshawar on Sunday demanded of the government to immediately implement the joint resolution of Parliament on the War on terror, end the Hippocratic double fa

What if everyone starts seeking review, asks CJ

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday asked Babar Awan, appearing as counsel in a presidential reference, to assist the court on the relevant question of law leading to the reopening of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s murder case.

“To appreciate your reference, we would have to appreciate the evidence of the ZAB case. Would it be possible to do so

Ijaz recalls Babar Awan’s love for his dad - abar demanded hanging of Bhutto in public protests and distributed sweets in Rawalpindi courts on the day of his execution,” Ijazul Haq,

ISLAMABAD: “Babar Awan was General Ziaul Haq’s energetic activist during his lifetime and even after his death. When PPP chief Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was in jail, Babar demanded hanging of Bhutto in public protests and distributed sweets in Rawalpindi courts on the day of his execution,” Ijazul Haq, the son of the third military ruler, confirmed to The News. 

SC takes FIA to task for inaction against PSM scam accused

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that despite evidences against certain accused of M/s Abbas Steel Mills and others, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was not taking appropriate steps.

A three-member bench of the supreme court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice

Bijli he nahi aur >>>>>Nepra allows KESC to increase per unit price

KARACHI (Dawn): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), under the fuel price adjustment, has allowed KESC to increase the per unit price by 53 paisas, DawnNews reported on Friday.

Security guard, bandits rob bank of Rs9m

KARACHI, April 14: A guard of a private security company posting at a bank branch in Jodia Bazaar with the help of his five armed accomplices held the staff hostage, tied them up and ran away with more than Rs9 million in the city`s biggest heist this year on Thursday, police said.

US keeps up missile strikes despite Pakistan request to limit program; 6 die

ISLAMABAD — Two U.S. missile strikes killed six reputed Afghan Taliban fighters in a Pakistani tribal region Wednesday, drawing sharp condemnation from Pakistan's government just days after it asked Washington to limit such attacks.

The U.S. relies heavily on the covert, CIA-run missile program to kill al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in Pakistan's northwest — a program Pakistan publicly denounces but has secretly helped. The Obama administration said Tuesday it is negotiating a possible reduction in U.S. intelligence operatives and special operations officers in Pakistan as the two countries try to mend relations badly strained by the detention of a CIA contractor for killing two Pakistanis.

Time to save the Higher Education Commission - By Attaur Rahman

There is an impending disaster looming in front of us (something also mentioned in a recent editorial in this newspaper on the matter of devolving the functions of the Higher Education Commission [HEC] to the provinces). What has been decided by the cabinet (on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee on devolution headed by Raza Rabbani) is to tear higher education to shreds and hand over the pieces to the provinces.

Good News: SC rejects petitions against HEC devolution

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed all petitions against the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The apex court added that the regulatory body will function till the government amends the presidential ordinance upon which HEC was formed.

میرٹ کے چور جعل ساز ڈگری خور ا: اٹھو جاگو پاکستان بلاگ سے دفرحان دانش

قوم کے لئے کتنی شرمندگی کی بات ہے کہ آجکل پاکستان میں جعلی ڈگریوں کا میلہ لگا ہوا ہے۔ اوران پڑھ لوگ پڑھے لکھے لوگوں پر حکومت کر رہے ہیں۔ سیاستدانوں نے جعلی ڈگریاں حاصل کیں اور انہیں اپنے مقصد کے لئے استعمال بھی کیا ۔مزے کی بات یہ ہے کہ ان جعلی ڈگریوں والے اراکین میں مرد حضرات ہی نہیں خواتین کی بھی خاصی تعداد ہے۔

37 mn bogus votes casted in 2008 election

ISLAMABAD (ARY News): A staggering 37 million questionable entries have been detected in Pakistan's electoral rolls, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) disclosed Wednesday.

An exercise undertaken by the NADRA showed there were 37 million questionable entries in the electoral rolls used for the last general elections in 2008.

Govt formed on bogus votes: PTI

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has filed a constitutional petition seeking revision of electoral rolls and reforms in the electoral proc-ess.

Disclosing the details of the Constitutional petition filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, PTI Chairman Imran Khan stated in a press conference that the recent revelation by the Election Commission that almost

Karachi’s bloody March: 158 target killings in 22 days - کراچی کے خونی مارچ : 22 دنوں میں158 ٹارگٹ کلنگ

ISLAMABAD: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a total of 158 people in target killings in just 22 days of March in Karachi, averaging over seven persons murdered every day, a consolidated figure compiled by an intelligence report reveals.

The data covers the period between March 4 and April 1, both days included. According to the report, there were no target killings on seven days -- March 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 29, it says.

Pakistan's inflation outlook disheartening - c.bank

(Reuters) - Pakistan's inflation outlook is a cause for concern while increasing the tax base is the toughest structural reform to implement, the country's central bank said in its quarterly report on Friday.

The State Bank of Pakistan forecasts average inflation for fiscal year 2010/12 to be between 14.5 and 15.5 percent.

Pakistan's inflation outlook disheartening - c.bank

(Reuters) - Pakistan's inflation outlook is a cause for concern while increasing the tax base is the toughest structural reform to implement, the country's central bank said in its quarterly report on Friday.

The State Bank of Pakistan forecasts average inflation for fiscal year 2010/12 to be between 14.5 and 15.5 percent.

"The outlook for inflation is not heartening ... We fear that inflationary expectations are being ingrained," the report said.

The bank on Saturday left its key policy rate unchanged at 14 percent for the next two months, citing a smaller current account deficit and lower government borrowing in saying that immediate risks to macroeconomic stability had subsided.

The report said local fuel prices would have to rise to reflect international oil prices, due to a lack of fiscal space available, which would add to inflation.

On the fiscal side, the central bank forecasts the budget deficit for the year ending June 30 to be between 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent of GDP, compared with the government's target to keep it under 5.5 percent of GDP.

"We still think government's revenue targets are ambitious," the SBP said adding that broadening the tax base was the toughest structural reform to implement and "one that needs the greatest political will."

The central bank maintained its growth forecast of 2 to 3 percent for fiscal year 2010/11.

State Bank warns extreme economic challenges amid rising international oil price

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday warned of extreme economic challenges in the wake of rising international oil prices, which will lead to further energy shortfall, besides increasing social and political pressure.

In its second quarterly report for FY11, the SBP while maintaining the GDP growth rate at two-three percent during the current

Corruption, discrimination rampant in Pakistan: US report

WASHINGTON: A US report said on Friday that Pakistan had a “culture of impunity” on human rights abuses and stated that security forces were operating outside the control of the civilian government. An annual State Department survey on human rights reported widespread concerns in Pakistan including violence against women, child labour, corruption and discrimination against religious minorities.

Degrees of over 250 MPs remain to be verified: Dr Atta

Karachi —While about 50 degrees of the elected representatives in the House of legislation verified by Higher Education Commission under the instructions of the Supreme Court were found invalid, some 250 degrees held by the parliamentarians are yet to be verified.This was stated by Dr. Attaur Rahman President of Pakistan Academy of Sciences and former Chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) at a crowded Press Conference here Friday evening. He was accompanied by Barrister Shahida Jamil former minister of education and other senior members of “Save HEC” which is in the process of devolution under 18th amendment of the Constitution.

HEC devolution to be a monumental disaster: Atta

A former chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has warned that the devolution of the commission will be a monumental disaster, fearing that the government’s decision will pose a danger to the existence of the country as it strikes at the very fabric of a single and united Pakistan. 

Addressing an emotionally charged press conference at a local hotel here on Friday, Prof Dr Atta ur Rahman appealed to the president

Professor Atta reveals Punjab, KP against HEC’s abolition

ISLAMABAD: The former Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Prof Attaur Rahman, says corrupt politicians, having their eyes on Rs40 billion annual budget of the HEC and on prime lands worth billions, are out to destroy it (HEC), but Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are against its dissolution.

corrupt politicians, having their eyes on Rs40 billion annual budget of the HEC and on prime lands worth billions, are out to destroy it (HEC), but Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are against its dissolution.

“This will be a national disaster of horrendous magnitude that will push Pakistan back by 40-50 years. We have already seen the mess in the provinces at school level education through the multiplicity of standards

People being made slaves in independent country: Imran

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan Wednesday said that present generation had been made slave in an independent country, adding, fate of the nation was being decided somewhere else, Geo News reported.

He said this in his address on the occasion of 375 doctors coming into the folds of Tehreek-e-Insaf here.

Imran Khan said his party would stage a sit-in in Peshawar and that NATO supply line would be blocked.

“The interests of the rulers have nothing to do with those of Pakistan; they (rulers) live in fortresses and are

VCs of 133 varsities for HEC’s continuation

Islamabad—Vice Chancellors of 71 public and 62 private sector universities through a resolution here on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari to let Higher Education Commission (HEC) to continue its function as a central coordinating body.

Be ready for 14-hour power cuts, warns KESC

Karachi: The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has warned that loadshedding duration across the city would be increased to 14 hours a day when gas supply from the Sui Southern Gas Company decreases by up to 80 Million Metric Cubic Feet Daily (MMCFD) due to the Annual Turn-Around (ATA) of Bhit Gas Field that starts from April 11.

The KESC Chief Financial Officer, Tayyab Tareen, told newsmen at a briefing on Thursday that talks were on with SSGC officials and other authorities concerned that gas supply to the KESC should not

SBP report provides a lot of food for though

Via Business Recorder - State Bank of Pakistan Annual Report 2009-2010, Statistical Supplement lowered Pakistan’s growth estimates from 4.5 percent to 3 percent for the current year no doubt owing to the financial losses suffered due to the floods estimated at 9.3 billion dollars. Pakistan’s growth for the last fiscal years, according to this report, was 2 percent.This is markedly lower than the provisional growth statistics released by the Economic Advisor’s Wing on June 4, 2010 based on nine months data for the last financial year: 4.1 percent. The difference of a hefty 2.1 percent between statistics released by the State Bank and the Economic Advisor’s Wing reflects that the economic slowdown had started before the floods. Public confidence in official data will be enhanced if the proposal to make FBS an autonomous corporate body is implemented in true spirit.And, the SBP is empowered to say ‘no’ to government borrowing for budgetary support, and keep within the agreed limits fixed by SBP to find the growth. This brings immediately to mind the famous remarks of the then chairman of the US Federal Reserves, Alan Greenspan, telling the then US President, Bill Clinton, quite bluntly that “I ain’t going to lower the short-term interest rates until you get some more control over budget deficit”.

HEC Devolution: Govt sticks to HEC Devolution plan

Students chant slogans in favor of their demands during protest demonstration at Higher Education Commission (HEC) building in Islamabad on Tuesday, April 05, 2011.

ISLAMABAD: The government has refused to listen to the increasing voices against devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) under the 18th amendment, although the institution had played a major role in improving university education over the last one decade.

Public money must be recovered, says CJ

ISLAMABAD (Via Dawn): During a hearing of the loan write-off case on Thursday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said that despite the fact that the matter was in court, banks were still writing off loans, DawnNews reported.

The court was hearing a case relating to Rs256 billion loans written off by banks between 1971 and 2009.

HEC ISSUE: Time to save the Higher Education Commission by Dr. Atta Ur Rehman

There is an impending disaster looming in front of us (something also mentioned in a recent editorial in this newspaper on the matter of devolving the functions of the Higher Education Commission [HEC] to the provinces). What has been decided by the cabinet (on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee on devolution headed by Raza Rabbani) is to tear higher education to shreds and hand over the pieces to the provinces.

Cricket World Cup: Was Pakistan vs India Semi-Final FIXED?

KARACHI: Corruption has overshadowed the biggest crime in sports, which is doping, especially in cricket. Things have been made so scientifically orchestrated that even if one sees them happening one can’t make a final call whether it was all scripted or natural.

Corruption in Pakistan

Corruption has always been a big problem for Pakistan and is on the rise by the day. Apparently there are institutions like NAB, FIA and Ehtesab Bureau to curb corruption, but these have not succeeded in their efforts.

Corruption in Pakistan hurts common People and Breeds Extremism

The Transparency International has ranked Pakistan 139th among 180 countries in its 2009 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) issued in November 2009 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/nov/17/corruption-index-transparency-international#data). 

Pakistan’s 2009 vs. 2008 score further reduced by 0.1 (2.4 vs. 2.5). A recent World Bank report lists corruption and lack of transparency as the two core reasons that hamper Pakistan’s drive for development. However, these indices do not convey the terrible pain and sufferings that the brutal practice of corruption has caused to common people of Pakistan.

Every citizen of Pakistan owes over Rs.57,000 in debt: Report

Every man, woman and child in Pakistan owes over Rs.57,000 to foreign and domestic lenders, according to the country's Debt Policy Statement.

The statement said that Pakistan's total debt and liabilities touched the Rs.10 trillion-mark in September 2010, while the federal government had borrowed over Rs.5 trillion from domestic sources and approximately the same amount from international lenders.

The country's total registered population was 175 million, which means that each individual owes up to Rs.57,057, the Express Tribune reported.

As of June 30, 2008, Pakistan's total public debt stood at slightly over Rs.6 trillion, but over the past two-and-a-half-years the country has added Rs.3.5 trillion to the total debt stock.

One child dies every minute in Pakistan: Report

KARACHI: The situation of child health in Pakistan is abysmal and serious efforts are needed by the government and civil society to save lives of thousands of children who die every year from preventable diseases.

This grim picture of the deteriorating child health situation could be seen in the annual health report of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) for the year 2011, which says one child dies every minute from EPI (expanded program on immunisation diseases), diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI).

Revolution has only begun - By Missy Katner

Why should a La Crosse native care about events happening half way around the world? What do we make of recent revolution in Egypt? As President Barack Obama said in a statement on Friday, Feb. 11, "There are very few moments in our lives where we have the privilege to witness history taking place. This is one of those moments. This is one of those times."
The world seems to be holding its breath, waiting for a resolution to emerge from the chaos. For those wondering what exactly has been happening in Egypt lately, here is a recap.

Faces of the Facebook Revolution

As Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule drew to an end last month, attention turned to Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the home base for thousands of young revolutionaries. Photographer Micah Garen was there, on the ground with the wounded yet unwavering protesters. The portraits that follow attest to their sacrifice and their resilience. 

After arriving in the midst of the protests, I started photographing injured activists during a large demonstration in Tahrir Square on the morning of February 4,

Democratic Revolution of the Masses

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Revolution Scenario?

Will revolution spread to Pakistan? The Guardian, Tuesday 15 February 2011

As Hosni Mubarak reluctantly retired last Friday night, another revolt was reaching its climax in Pakistan. For four days the workers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national carrier, had been on strike. Some 25,000 passengers were stranded, including me.

I was stuck in Quetta, a tense, paranoid city near the Afghan border where the security forces are engaged in a ruthless cat-and-mouse game with nationalist rebels; it is also a supposed refuge for the one-eyed Taliban leader Mullah Omar. As the skies emptied of planes, guests from my hotel fled Quetta by car, crossing the sprawling deserts, or chancing the rickety 22-

Is Social Media Revolution Possible in Pakistan? Via ProPakistani.pk

After the successful social media led political revolution in Tunisia called “Jasmine Revolution” and later in Egypt which led to the overthrow of decade long dictator ships in these countries, many people have predicted that Pakistan can also become the center of such revolution.

People in support of such revolution argue that Pakistan too has enough population using social media (internet and mobile phones), that they certainly can trigger a change in the ruling elite class replacing it with a government truly democratic in its policies.

Pakistan on the brink of revolution - Express Tribune

It is an undeniable fact that a revolution is coming in Pakistan. Almost every leader seems to agree that major change is on the way – but every party has its own version what that change is.

On a TV show PPP Senator Syed Faisal Raza Abidi said that he sees the Taliban taking over Islamabad. CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif from the PML-N said he sees a “bloody revolution” if current mismanagement, corruption and lack of interest to help the displaced continue to prevail.