Posts Tagged ‘Islamabad’
Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) Citing poll fraud, the Pakistani Supreme Court Monday suspended 28 MPs and legislators, including two ministers, one of whom is currently with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on an official visit to Qatar. Their memberships, however, have not been declared null and void.
Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain, who is accompanying Gilani, and Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh are among the 28 members of parliament and the provincial assemblies whose election had been challenged on grounds of poll fraud, Xinhua reported.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imrran Khan filed the plea, saying the current electoral rolls have over 30 million bogus voters.
All those who have been suspended were elected in by-polls in the last three years. Imran Khan also urged that no fresh by-elections be held till the Election Commission of Pakistan corrected the electoral rolls.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, who headed a four-member apex court bench, said in his order that despite giving the Election Commission time to rectify the rolls, the court had not received any clear indication of this.
Noting that the MPs and legislators had only been suspended and their memberships had not been declared null and void, Chaudhary said they will not get any privileges unless they are restored.
Tags: Islamabad
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will brief the Qatar leadership about Pakistan’s talks with Afghanistan during a three-day official visit to Qatar, a country where the Taliban is to open a political office.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Basit said the prime minister will apprise the Qatari officials on Pakistan’s discussions with Afghan officials, reported Xinhua.
The visit is aimed at strengthening ties with the Gulf state in multiple areas including import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the country’s energy demands, reported Associated Press of Pakistan from Doha.
Dawn had earlier reported that with Doha getting ready to host a political office of the Taliban, Afghan reconciliation will be a major theme during Gilani’s visit to Qatar.
Qataris appear to be willing hosts for the proposed Taliban liaison office, which is expected to serve as a base for any talks between Kabul, militants and other stakeholders, the media report said.
‘Afghanistan could be discussed, and certainly we too would be interested in being updated by the Qatari leaders on the contacts made so far and the progress towards setting up of the Taliban liaison office,’ a senior diplomat was quoted as saying.
Gilani Monday left for Qatar on a three-day official visit, the Prime Minister office said.
He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Asim Hussain, Minister for Technical and Vocational Education Riaz Hussain Pirzada and lawmaker Muneer Aurakzai.
This is the first visit to Qatar by a Pakistani prime minister after nine years.
Gilani said he will talk to the Qatar leadership to explore opportunities in the field of energy especially import of LNG. He added that cooperation in other sectors like infrastructure, construction, hydrocarbon and exploring job opportunities for skilled labour will also be discussed.
On the regional security situation, the prime minister reiterated the stance of his government to support Afghan-led and Afghan-owned initiatives for a stable Afghanistan.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Basit said the prime minister will also apprise the Qatari officials on Pakistan’s talks with Afghan officials.
Pakistan is interested in importing 500 million cubic feet per day of LNG from Qatar that produces 77 million tonnes per annum of LNG.
The imported LNG will be initially provided to the power houses in the country to generate 2,500 megawatt electricity.
During Gilani’s visit, the two governments are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority and Qatar’s Ministry of Energy.
The official said Gilani will take up the matter of absorbing Pakistani skilled labour in Qatar.
The demand of two million work force is anticipated for Qatar’s various infrastructure projects for holding FIFA 2022 World Cup in Doha, he said.
About 87,000 Pakistanis comprise 33 percent of the Qatar’s population.
Pakistan’s exports to Qatar mainly comprise food and agriculture products dominated by rice and meat, while the imports are petrochemicals. The remittances from Qatar increased by $354 million in 2010 as compared to $339.51 million in 2009.
Tags: Islamabad
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) Two people were killed when a three-storied building collapsed early Monday in Pakistan’s Lahore city. At least 50 others were feared trapped in the rubble of the collapsed structure, a media report said.
The building that housed a pharmaceutical company collapsed following a boiler explosion, reported Geo News.
Three houses adjoining the building also collapsed.
Two bodies have been recovered and five of the injured have been pulled out and taken to hospital, the report said.
Tags: Islamabad
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani begins Monday a three-day official visit to Qatar, a country from which Pakistan wants to import gas to feed its power generation units.
The visit is aimed at strengthening ties with the Gulf state in multiple areas including import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the country’s energy demands, reported Associated Press of Pakistan from Doha.
Gilani will also discuss with the Qatari leadership the issue of finalisation of transnational formalities to import LNG at the earliest, said a Foreign Office official.
Pakistan is interested in importing 500 million cubic feet per day of LNG from Qatar that produces 77 million tonnes per annum of LNG.
The imported LNG will be initially provided to the power houses in the country to generate 2,500 megawatt electricity.
During Gilani’s visit, the two governments are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority and Qatar’s Ministry of Energy.
The official said Gilani will take up the matter of absorbing Pakistani skilled labour in Qatar.
The demand of two million work force is anticipated for Qatar’s various infrastructure projects for holding FIFA 2022 World Cup in Doha, he said.
About 87,000 Pakistanis comprise 33 percent of the Qatar’s population.
Pakistan’s exports to Qatar mainly comprise food and agriculture products dominated by rice and meat, while the imports are petrochemicals. The remittances from Qatar increased by $354 million in 2010 as compared to $339.51 million in 2009.
Dawn had earlier reported that with Doha getting ready to host a political office of the Taliban, Afghan reconciliation will be a major theme during Gilani’s visit to Qatar.
Qataris appear to be willing hosts for the proposed Taliban liaison office, which is expected to serve as a base for any talks between Kabul, militants and other stakeholders, the media report said.
“Afghanistan could be discussed, and certainly we too would be interested in being updated by the Qatari leaders on the contacts made so far and the progress towards setting up of the Taliban liaison office,” a senior diplomat was quoted as saying.
Tags: Islamabad
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) A couple in Lahore has been arrested for torturing their nine-year-old domestic help, who was found with a swollen face and shivering in the cold.
The couple living in Sanpura area tortured the child who was working as a domestic helper for them, Geo News reported Monday.
The couple was arrested and the child was sent to hospital.
Local residents found Waseem standing at the roadside, shivering with cold and pain. On being asked, he said that he hailed from Larkana.
Tags: Islamabad
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Written by admin on 06 February 2012
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) As many as 50 people were feared to be trapped in the rubble of a three-storied building that collapsed in Pakistan’s Lahore city, a media report said Monday.
The building that housed a pharmaceutical company collapsed due to a boiler explosion, reported Geo News.
Three houses adjoining the building also fell.
Five of the injured have been taken to a hospital.
Tags: Islamabad
Posted in Asia, Pakistan | No Comments »
