Category: Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Australian High Commission has condemned the heinous, cowardly terrorist attacks in recent days on political candidates and their supporters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as they prepared to exercise their democratic right to vote in Pakistan’s national elections.

We extend our profound condolences to all victims and families and stand in solidarity with Pakistan in confronting terrorism in all its forms.

The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms Margaret Adamson said:

“I strongly condemn the attack on election rallies in Mastung and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I am deeply grieved to hear about the loss of so many precious lives.

Australia stands with Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and protect democracy by holding free and fair elections.”

Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Gilani, has said that Kashmiri people are pursuing a peaceful movement to achieve their right to self-determination.

In a statement in Srinagar on Saturday, he said Kashmiris will never succumb to the state terrorism unleashed by India to suppress their struggle.

He strongly condemned the curbs imposed by the occupation authorities to prevent a march by Joint Resistance Leadership towards Naqashband Sahib.

APHC Chairman said that India had turned occupied Kashmir into a military garrison.

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan has directed ministry of water and power not to carry out load shedding on 25th and 26th of this month.

The directions have been issued in a letter written to the secretary water and power.

The commission has directed the ministry to ensure uninterrupted supply of power on the polling day.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Saqib Nisar visited Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad on Saturday.

The Chief Justice met with the patients and their attendants and inquired about the medical facilities being provided at the facility.

He also inspected the quality of medicines at the pharmacy of Polyclinic.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders on Saturday said political developments and economic situation will not hurt the CPEC.

The recent terror incidents are condemnable but these will also fail to derail or interrupt the world’s biggest ongoing developmental project, it said.

The inauguration of Pak-China Optic Fibre Cable Project is a good development which will increase business, employment, boost telecom industry and reduce dependence on the submarine cable, said Patron Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Shahid Rasheed Butt.

He said that all the elements including enemy nations, opponents of the economic corridor at home and others have failed to slow the pace of the project.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that foreign media recently started a campaign against the project but China’s timely intervention put everything to rest.

The 3,218-km set-up of roads, railways and dry ports from Gwadar Port to Kashgar will enhance lives of about three billion people and help China to do trade with the half of the world through Pakistan, he said.

The energy master plan of power generation projects to overcome energy crises would also benefit Pakistan while providing a platform of cooperation in the industrial and agricultural sector and will boost the tourism industry of Pakistan.

To achieve maximum economic, industrial and agricultural benefits through CPEC, more consensuses in planning, research, coordination, security, and consultation is needed.

He noted that Pakistan is facing a serious balance of payment crisis while IMF is eager to know all the details of the plan which has been kept secret by Pakistan and China.

The lender’s condition for the loan is linked with access to the CPEC plans which should not be accepted as it is a matter of national security, he demanded.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday discussed the preparations by caretaker government for holding peaceful as well as free and fair elections on July 25, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

The Senate met for two hours and 26 minutes. The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1030 hours. The Chairman Senate presided over the entire sitting. The Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting. The Opposition Leader was present two hours and three minutes.

As many as 14 (13%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 12 (11%) at the adjournment of the sitting. The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, ANP, MQM, NP and BNP-M attended the sitting. One minority lawmaker was present

Chairman, Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development Division presented report of the Committee on a point of public importance regarding price hike on kitchen items in weekly bazars of Islamabad.

Moved by the Leader of Opposition, the House passed two motions under rule 204 authorizing the Chairman Senate to constitute Special Committees to examine the special audit report on causes of decline in Tax collection of tobacco sector and on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The House passed six motions under Rule 194 (1) granting extension to five Standing Committees for presentation of their reports on various parliamentary interventions.

Sponsored by the Leader of the Opposition, the House took up a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding the inclusion of Pakistan in FATF’s Grey List. It was responded to by the Minister for Finance.

Ministers for Interior and Law responded on the concerns expressed by lawmakers regarding free, fair and peaceful conduct of General Elections, 2018. Thirteen lawmakers also spoke on it for an hour and 15 minutes.

The House witnessed ministerial response on a matter of public importance regarding non-availability of electricity in Makran Division.

A lawmaker spoke on a point of order for six minutes while another legislator spoke on a point of personal explanation for one minute.

A PkMAP lawmaker walked out of the House for five minutes when the Chair did not allow him to speak on a matter.

The Chair disallowed the Leader of the Opposition to raise question on her CAN following which she walked out the House at 1255 hours. Only one minute after her walkout, the Chair adjourned the House to meet again on July 16, 2018 (Monday) at 1500 hours.

ISLAMABAD: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly has strongly condemned the bomb blast at convoy of former Federal Minister Akram Khan Durrani at Bannu causing loss of precious lives.

In his statement issued here Friday, the Speaker termed it a barbaric and shameful act of terrorism and expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. He said the elements involved in such activities were the enemies of the humanity and wanted to sabotage democratic process in the country.

He said such shameful acts cannot deter our firm resolve against terrorism. He called the authorities for bringing the perpetrators of the blast to justice.

He sympathized with bereaved families and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the souls of martyred in eternal peace. He also prayed for early recovery of injured.

Ends- PPI13: 07: 2018