Spot fixing scandal: Salman Butt to be freed early, says father

Disgraced former Test captain Salman Butt is to be released early from prison in Britain, his father claimed on Wednesday.The 27-year-old was jailed for 30 months last November on charges of accepting illegalpayments during the Lord’s Test against England in August 2010.Butt, team mates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, and agent Mazhar Majeed were accused of contriving deliberate no-balls in return for money.Aamer was released in February after serving half his six-month sentence while Asif, jailed for 12 months, was freed in May.Butt’s father...

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Rupee hits life-time low against dollar

The rupee opened weak on Thursday morning at 56.35 to the dollar and touched a life-time low in morning trade.It had closed at 56.15 on Wednesday evening.The rupee has been testing new lows this week. Today, it touched a low of 56.48 before pulling back a bit and was trading at 56.39 to the dollar at 11.35 am.The domestic unit has depreciated 25 per cent over the past year.Three weeks ago, there were indications that policy tools would be used to keep the rupee close to Rs 53 to 54 to the dollar.There have been a spate of bad news for the economy...

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PTCL to provide free wi-fi modem

Islamabad—The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has decided to provide free wi-fi modems to its valued customers with every new connection. The new offer allows PTCL landline customers to avail free wi-fi modem by ordering a PTCL Broadband Pakistan Internet connection. These free wi-fi modems will be provided without any monthly recurring charges to new customers of all packages, excluding 256Kbps and 1Mbps Student Package, says press release.All existing wired modem subscribers of 1Mbps regular and above will be charged Rs 750...

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Next loan programme: High defence spending to come under spotlight

Pakistan’s defence budget will come under scrutiny in any future arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, as it will be difficult for the IMF to present a case in its board where defence spending is higher than development expenses, says a former IMF official. Giving a lecture on ‘the IMF and Pakistan, a road to nowhere’, Dr Meekal Ahmed, former senior adviser to IMF executive director, said in Pakistan’s present security environment, the IMF stayed away from suggesting cuts in defence spending (under the previous $11.3 billion programme)....

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Textile exports likely to drop 30%

Lahore Pakistan: With the number of days a factory staying shut rising due to ever-increasing energy outages, textile exports are likely to dip 30%. The drop in May will take overall exports to hardly $12 billion against the projected $16 billion, says All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Chairman Mohsin Aziz. The huge spike in outage has dropped the revenue to $800-900 million from an average of more than a billion dollars posted in the last two months, said Aziz. He said that persistent electricity and gas cut to the industry...

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US Federal Reserve extends stocks mostly lower

United States (US) stocks closed mostly lower Wednesday after the Federal Reserve extended its bond-swapping programme, known as 'Operation Twist', for six months to help boost the flagging economy. The programme, scheduled to expire at the end of June, was extended through the end of the year, the central bank's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee announced after a two-day meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the session down 12.94 points, or 0.10 per cent, at 12,824.39. The S&P 500-stock index fell 2.29...

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LAHORE: Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court (LHC), on demand of lawyers’ organisations, released a grant of Rs 16.6 million for all bar associations of the province. A cheque of Rs 16.6 million will be handed over to Punjab Bar Council vice chairman. The vice chairman or any other authorised person will distribute the allocated amount for each bar association through its president or general secretary as per rules. All bar associations are required to ensure that financial grants are utilised for the purchase of law books only. After expenditure, intimation with support of vouchers of purchase shall be sent to the LHC.

20/06/12  Protest demonstrations in various areas of Punjab continued. Hundreds of protestors booked.  Hundreds of residents took to the streets Wednesday on the third consecutive day of violent protests against widespread power cuts that have plagued the country during the hottest part of the year.  After years of underinvestment and bad management in the energy sector, many residents receive only a few hours of electricity a day during the sweltering summer months.  Many in the country s Punjab province, which...

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Lawyers get Rs 16.6m funds

LAHORE: Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court (LHC), on demand of lawyers’ organisations, released a grant of Rs 16.6 million for all bar associations of the province. A cheque of Rs 16.6 million will be handed over to Punjab Bar Council vice chairman. The vice chairman or any other authorised person will distribute the allocated amount for each bar association through its president or general secretary as per rules. All bar associations are required to ensure that financial grants are utilised for the purchase of law books...

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It’s shoe for everyone in Punjab Assembly

The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday turned into a fish market after members from the treasury and the opposition hurled shoes at one another and exchanged objectionable remarks which had to be expunged from the assembly proceedings. The Opposition woman member hurled a shoe at Sheikh Alla ud Din of PML-Q (unification bloc) after they passed objectionable comments against them. The Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Mohammed Iqbal warned the members to avoid resorting to such an act otherwise, he warned, their members could be suspended. Despite...

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Missing persons: AGP tells Supreme Court about steps taken by body

Expressing displeasure over slow pace of progress to recover missing persons, Supreme Court on Wednesday asked federal secretary defence, chief secretary, home secretary, inspectors general police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) Balochistan to recover missing persons without further loss of time.  Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) Irfan Qadir submitted a report to the court regarding measures taken by a committee formed by the then prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad...

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MQM chief assures Asma Jahangir of full cooperation

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has telephoned the noted human rights activist Asma Jahangir and assured her of full co-operation, stating that MQM would stand by her in the difficult times and in her struggle for democracy and human rights in the country. During the conversation on Wednesday, the MQM chief said that it was highly unfortunate to call the people, who were struggling for the stability of the country, survival of democracy and the basic human rights of the deprived people, traitors. He expressed sorrow...

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No secret agreement signed with US on drone strikes, PHC told

PESHAWAR: The Ministry of Defence through an affidavit submitted in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) claimed that neither the federal government nor the top brass of the armed forces had inked any secret agreement with the United States to allow drones attacks in the tribal areas. Deputy Attorney General (DAG), Muhammad Iqbal Mohmand submitted the written reply of the Ministry of Defence in the division bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth. During the previous hearing the bench had directed the DAG to...

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Shahabuddin's name finalised for new PM

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has finalized the name of Makhdoom Shahabuddin for the next Prime Minister, sources said. Meanwhile, Raja Pervez Ashraf will file nomination papers in the Election Commission before 2 pm on Thursday as a covering candidate for the PM slot, sources said. Presently a member of the National Assembly (February 2008 onwards) and textiles minister, Shahabuddin has earlier held the portfolios of federal minister for finance and health in the Gilani-led government. Coming from Punjab province's Rahim Yar...

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Pakistan plagued by economic problems

Pakistan's president has asked parliament to meet on Friday to elect a new prime minister. The dismissal of Yusuf Raza Gilani by the Supreme Court on Tuesday has added to the political instability in Pakistan. It is not rare for people to take to the streets to vent their anger at the chronic and prolonged power outages that plague Pakistan, particularly during hot summer months. The most recent protests appear different, however, as rarely has Pakistan seen the property destruction and violence that has erupted in several cities across...

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Nawaz says PML-N to bring country out of present crisis; says masses had not voted PPP to clash with SC

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the PML-N would bring out the country from the present crisis, adding that the masses had not voted PPP to clash with Supreme Court of Pakistan. While addressing a mammoth public gathering at the Grassy Ground in Swat, Nawaz Sharif said that the vigor of the Swat masses shows that the PML-N will achieve victory in next elections as it had used to win in past, adding that I congratulate Engineer Amir Muqam over holding a mammoth gathering, who never served PML-N...

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Pakistan trader hails holding Chinese building material fair in UAE‎

BEIJING: A Pakistani trader welcomed holding of Guangdong Build United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2012, the first fair and exhibition on building materials by companies from China's Guangdong province in the Gulf state, started on Monday in Dubai's neighbouring sheikhdom Sharjah, reports local media here. The visiting Mohamed Sharif, a Pakistani businessman who runs his own General Trading company in Sharjah, was impressed by the assortment at the fair. "China and Pakistan have always been close trading partners and my company has distribution...

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Extremism can be eliminated by creating opportunities in Pakistan: Cameron Munter

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of United States to Pakistan, Cameron Munter said Wednesday that extremism in Pakistan can be appeased by creating opportunities for the people of the country. Speaking here at a farewell party given in his honour by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), the US Ambassador termed extremism as the biggest hindrance in way of foreign investment in the country saying the extremism can be stopped by creating business opportunities to the people in the country. Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood was also present...

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PTCL revamps its VMS with new features

KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) has revamped its Voice Mail Service (VMS) platform with enhanced new features of voice mail, fax-to-email, voice-to-email, Kehdo SMS, remote log-in, missed call alert service and advanced features of remote access under one umbrella. PTCL customers can access their VMS 24/7-even in power outages and if their answering machines stop working. Never letting a call go unattended, PTCL VMS allows callers to leave voice message for a VMS subscriber, which can be retrieved by dialing 1277 IVR...

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‘US supports Pakistan’s growing pharma industry’

ISLAMABAD: Pharmaceutical sector offers invaluable benefits-health care for the Pakistani people and the growth of industry and economy, said United States (US) embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Hoagland on Tuesday.  The US values its relationships with Pakistani business leaders and will continue to support Pakistan’s growing pharmaceutical industry, he said. Meeting with pharmaceutical manufacturers to discuss American support for the growing industry and health sector in Pakistan, he said US has partnered with Pakistan to support...

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Pakistan termed good investment destination‎

LAHORE: Pakistan is a good destination for investment as it offers an excellent platform to UK businessmen for being a gateway to landlocked Central Asian states and the Middle East in supply of goods and services. These views were expressed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh while speaking at a seminar on “Business prospects in Pakistan”, arranged by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday. The LCCI president, who was leading a 37-strong business delegation, said Pakistan being...

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PML-N to serve people as it did in past: Nawaz

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif has said that government’s injudicious behaviour towards judiciary backfired at last. Addressing a large gathering here in Swat, he said that PML-N had been demanding that Yusuf Raza Gilani quit as prime minister right after he was convicted. “He should have had gone home, but he brazenly refused to do so, which was a shame”, he said. “PML-N will change things here and serve the people as it has done in the past,” he stressed. Criticizing the incumbent Pakistan Peoples Party-led government,...

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Zardari cancels Russia visit amid Pakistan turmoil

President Asif Ali Zardari has cancelled his visit to Russia in order to minimize the domestic crisis set off by a Supreme Court decision to disqualify his prime minister. Zardari was planning to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday cancelled a visit to Russia in a bid to contain a domestic crisis sparked by the Supreme Court disqualifying his prime minister, a spokesman said. Zardari was due to attend the June 20-22 St Petersburg International Economic Forum but would now...

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The History of Swiss Case of Zardari

Contrary to the views of many in Pakistan, June 19, 2012 was one of the bleakest days for democracy in the country. An elected prime minister was disqualified by the highest bench of the judiciary on charges of contempt of court. The case made history as it remains the only case in Pakistan which resulted in the termination and disqualification of an elected representative of the parliament. The contempt of court case was initiated against Yousuf Raza Gilani when he refused to correspond with the Swiss authorities to reopen money laundering...

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General elections to be held in eight months, says Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari discussed the country’s current political crisis at a meeting of the Pakistan People’s Party’s leadership here Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s verdict disqualifying his prime minister. Addressing the meeting of the PPP’s Parliamentary Party members at the Presidency, the president said that the decision to nominate a new leader of the House would be taken in consultation with the coalition partners and in the larger national interest. The president said that the PPP had temporarily accepted...

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MQM's token walkout against killing of its members

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a token walkout from the Sindh Assembly (SA) session here on Tuesday to protest against the killing of its members and sympathisers. Before walkout, MQM Deputy Parliamentary Leader Faisal Sabzwari said that the series of gunny bag-packed bodies founding was continued and if it continued for more time, then people would loose their patience and made their decisions on their own, which would turn the situation from bad to worst. He demanded that culprit should be considered as culprit. He further said...

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Tradition of accusing people of treason should end: Altaf Hussain

The tradition of accusing people of treason just because they follow a different ideology should end, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain said on Wednesday. Speaking to human rights activist Asma Jahangir over the phone, Hussain expressed sorrow over Jahangir being called a traitor and being prevented from entering the bar association. The MQM chief said that his party had been labelled as traitor earlier and now Husain Haqqani and Jahangir along with other known names are accused of disloyalty. Hussain assured Jahangir of...

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CM reviews monsoon arrangements; calls on depts to work collectively

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has directed authorities concerned to complete necessary arrangements before onset of monsoon and all departments to work in a coordinated manner so that people would not have to face any inconvenience. He said that any preventive model adopted for the monsoon in the metropolis should be replicated in all cities of the province. He said that instead of relying on electricity, alternative sources should be utilised for uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the citizens. He said that all...

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Democratic process will continue, says PPP

Back in the Eighth Amendment days of yore, the Supreme Court of Pakistan was often called upon to determine whether a president or governor’s dismissal of the national or provincial assembly was constitutional. The Court didn’t swing the axe itself; it merely decided whether the blow was justified. With June 19’s Supreme Court ruling that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani ceased to hold office from April 26 on account of his conviction for contempt of court, the Court has, for the first time, dismissed a government. I don’t know Syed...

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China to finance 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum project

LAHORE - CDWP approves revised PC-I of Rs 274.88 billion for the projectPakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Shakil Durrani on Tuesday said that the China EXIM Bank would provide US $448 million to help complete the strategically important 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP).He presided over a meeting to review progress on the project being constructed on Neelum river in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where he also informed that the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had also approved revised PC-I of...

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Chairman CNG demands suspension of gas to Captive Power

Islamabad—Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha has demanded that gas supply to Captive Power should be immediately cut of for urgent relief from energy crises and electricity shortage as its 344 Mmcfd gas could be transferred to power stations to produce 1720 MW electricity.While giving suggestions to the Prime Minister’s Energy Committee Ghiyas Paracha said that Industry is getting enough gas for processing,. To stop wastage ,gas load shedding should be equalized to CNG which will resolve the the electricity crisis by...

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Japan May trade deficit jumps on soaring energy costs

TOKYO — Japan logged a bigger-than-expected trade deficit of $11.5 billion in May, hit by soaring energy costs and weakening demand from struggling Europe, official data showed on Wednesday.The figures, which showed a 907.3-billion-yen shortfall in May from a year earlier, revealed that Japan had its first monthly trade deficit with the European Union since records started in 1979.Demand from the continent, a major market for Japanese products, continues to suffer with Tokyo repeatedly warning that the eurozone debt crisis was the biggest risk...

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Gas supply to fertilizer sector stopped

The government has directed the Sui Northern Company to stop supplying gas to the fertilizer sector due to the ongoing power crisis in the country. The government has directed the Sui Northern Company to stop supplying gas to the fertilizer sector due to the ongoing power crisis in the country.The government has directed the Sui Southern to cut supply to fertilizer manufacturing companies and instead ensure supplying maximum quantity of gas to power producers to help produce as much electricity as possible.The fertifitizer companies have intimated...

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Pakistan in crisis talks to find new PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's president was forced into a second day of crisis talks to find a new premier acceptable to his fractious coalition on Wednesday after the Supreme Court ousted the incumbent for contempt.The nuclear-armed country - facing a Taliban insurgency and the object of US wrath over havens for Al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting the Americans in Afghanistan - has been plunged into political chaos by Tuesday's court ruling.Yousuf Raza Gilani, who became prime minister following the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) election win in 2008,...

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UN calls for U.S. to justify deaths by drone attacks

GENEVA — A UN investigator has called on the Obama administration to justify its policy of assassinating rather than capturing al-Qaeda or Taliban suspects, increasingly by using unmanned drone aircraft that also kill civilians.Christof Heyns, UN special rapporteur on extra judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, urged Washington to clarify the basis under international law of the policy, in a 28-page report to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.The U.S. military has conducted drone attacks in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia...

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