Overseas Pakistanis given right to vote

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ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday approved recommendations allowing overseas Pakistanis to elect country’s leadership by voting in general elections, TrendPK reports.
 
The landmark decision came at a meeting of Election Commission chaired by its secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan in Islamabad today.

The meeting allowed Pakistanis in overseas to use their right of vote, electing leadership of the country in general elections.

Sources said NADRA database would be used for overseas Pakistanis’ new electoral rolls, and that ballot papers would be sent to them via postal service. TrendPK

Cabinet approves draft of 20th Amendment Bill

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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet has approved draft of the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill, preventing 28 lawmakers for disqualification, TrendPK reports.

The bill is now going to be tabled in National Assembly today for a debate and subsequent passage.

The cabinet, met with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in chair, also proposed to extend tenure of the Election Commission members from two to five years.

Sources said the meeting has decided to set up a parliamentary committee in case of disagreement between Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and the Prime Minister over formulation of an interim setup ahead of general polls.

They said the matter would be referred to ECP in case the committee failed to reach any decision within three days.

The cabinet, today, also endorsed Economic Coordination Committee’s decision to raise sugar price by Rs3 to Rs 45 per kg at Utility Stores. TrendPK

Karachi: Five newborns found dead in garbage dump

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KARACHI: In a rare and deplorable incident on Tuesday, dead bodies of five newborn babies were found in a garbage dump at Karachi’s Akhtar Colony, TrendPK reports.

Officials said Recue 15 teams informed the police about presence of five dead bodies in a garbage dump in Sector E of Akhtar Colony, within the remit of Mehmood Abad police station.

“All the five bodies were put in a big plastic jar and might have been dumped last night. We have shifted them to Jinnah hospital for medico-legal formalities,” the area SHO, Muqeem Khan, told TrendPK.

He said the newborns aged less than three months, suspecting that they may have been dumped by any illegal maternity center of the area. TrendPK

US man released after "bullets found in baggage"

PESHAWAR: A U.S. embassy employee was released after being held for questioning in Pakistan on Tuesday when airport security officials discovered bullets in his luggage, police said.  

The American was about to to fly from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the capital Islamabad when he was taken into police custody, said Tahir Ayub, a senior police superintendent.  

He was released after four hours when officials from the U.S. consulate in Peshawar produced documents to show the man worked at the consulate.  

“He’s been released to the consulate,” a U.S. official in Islamabad said. “He’s at the consulate now.”   

The American is an embassy employee usually based in Islamabad but was temporarily assigned to the Peshawar consulate, the official said.  

Police officers had earlier said they would hold the man until his identity had been verified by the foreign office in Islamabad and a U.S. official in the capital had said the embassy was looking into the details of the reports.  

“He has diplomatic status,” the official said. “We’re in contact with Pakistani authorities on the details on the case.”  

Ayub said a pistol and 12 magazine rounds had been recovered from the man’s luggage, while another police officer said security officials had only found bullets.  

The detention was likely to revive memories of Raymond Davis, an American CIA contractor who shot and killed two Pakistanis in the eastern city of Lahore in January 2011.  

A third Pakistani died when he was hit by an embassy vehicle racing to extract Davis from the scene where an angry mob had gathered.  

After initial confusion, the U.S. embassy in Islamabad said Davis had diplomatic immunity, which Pakistan refused to recognize. Davis spent almost two months in jail before being released after the payment of compensation to the families of the two men killed.  

The incident was a major blow to the relationship between the United States and Pakistan, a key ally in the war on terror.  

Ties were just beginning to thaw when U.S. commandos killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani military town on May 2 in a secret raid which infuriated Islamabad. AGENCIES

Lioness kills South African zoo employee

JOHANESBURG: A lioness has attacked and killed a South African zoo employee at a rural lion farm, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

“Apparently he was either feeding or cleaning an enclosure when he was attacked by a lioness,” Johannesburg Zoo spokeswoman Letta Madlala told AFP.

“The other employees heard him screaming and rushed to assist.”

After the attack Monday, 63-year-old Joe Ramonetha, was taken to hospital but was declared dead on arrival, Madlala said.

Ramonetha had been employed at the zoo since the 1970s and was an experienced animal handler, she said.

The 11-year-old lioness was tranquillised after the incident and has been isolated in her own cage. Madlala said zookeepers were uncertain whether to keep the animal alive or cull it.

“At this point a decision has not been taken,” she said.

The attack occurred at the zoo’s lion breeding farm near the town of Vredefort, 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of Johannesburg. AGENCIES

Multan residents catch 4 dacoits

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MULTAN: Four dacoits, including a woman, have been caught by residents of Sharif Pura area of the city on Tuesday.

Dacoits entered into Abid’s home. They were caught when people in the home made noise and neighbors came.

The residents tortured the dacoits and then handed them over to police.

The residents handed the dacoits over to police after police convinced them that the dacoits would be punished. TrendPK

New Zealand win T20 as Zimbabwe end tour winless

HAMILTON:  New Zealand secured a dramatic five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the final Twenty20 international Tuesday to condemn the visitors to a winless tour.

Kane Williamson (20) scored 14 runs in the final over to seal the win with just two balls to spare after half centuries from openers James Franklin (60) and Rob Nicol (56).

The result capped a dismal tour for Zimbabwe, who proved competitive in two T20 matches but were outclassed by New Zealand in a one-off Test and three one-day internationals.

The tourists saved their best performance for the final match, choosing to bat after winning the toss and scoring 200 for two, their best ever T20 score, at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.

Determined to finally break the shackles, opener Hamilton Masakadza (62) and captain Brendan Taylor (75) anchored the innings but fell just short after Williamson, in only his third T20 international, steered the Black Caps home.

“Obviously it’s bitterly disappointing but I think our boys can hold our heads high,” Taylor said.

“If we’re going get that type of total we’re going to be a lot more competitive in the future.”

Taylor said he was pleased not to lose early wickets as Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri made a 76-run opening partnership, the first time the tourists’ openers have managed a stand exceeding 50 runs in the entire tour.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers also produced a much improved performance, with Kyle Jarvis taking two wickets in two balls in the penultimate over and Elton Chingumbura finishing with figures of two for 23.

In contrast, Michael Bates and Ronnie Hira were the only wicket takers for New Zealand but both proved expensive, with Bates leaking 47 runs off four overs and Hira going for 31 off three.

New Zealand’s batting proved too strong as makeshift opener Franklin, promoted up the order after the in-form Martin Guptill was rested, produced a man-of-the-match display.

New Zealand began their run chase tentatively, taking seven overs to bring up 50.

But the Black Caps then stepped up the pace and plundered 49 runs from the next three overs before Chigumbura dismissed Nicol for 56 with his first ball to break the 103-run partnership.

Franklin was growing in confidence and looking threatening before falling to a superb run out from Keegan Meth, who hit the stumps side-on from the boundary as the batsman scrambled for a second run.

Chigumbura slowed New Zealand’s momentum further when he skittled Colin de Grandhomme for eight, leaving the home side needing 41 off 20 balls.

The tourists looked set for an upset win when Jarvis dismissed New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum and his brother Nathan to bring debutant Andrew Ellis to the crease with the final over looming.

But Williamson secured the strike and hit a four off the second ball of Shingi Masakadza’s over, following up with a six then ensuring victory with another boundary.

New Zealand will face a tougher challenge against the touring South Africans this week, with the first T20 scheduled for Wellington on Friday. AGENCIES

PM contempt case: SC moved for selecting AG as Prosecutor

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ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition was filed in Supreme Court on Tuesday, challenging the appointment of Attorney General as Prosecutor in Prime Minister Contempt case.

Petitioner, Shahid Orakzai, argued that Under Article 100 of the Constitution, Attorney General is subordinate to the Prime Minister.

No subordinate official can initiate proceeding against the Prime Minister.

He further pleaded that any impartial lawyer should be made the Prosecutor in this case.

The petition said Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 has also no role for the Attorney General. TrendPK

India-Sri Lanka ODI finishes in tie

ADELAIDE: Skipper M.S. Dhoni hit three runs off the last ball to earn India a tie in their tri one-day series international against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Dhoni failed to hit a winning boundary off the last ball by Lasith Malinga, leading both teams to finish level at 236 for nine off 50 overs.

Dhoni, who won last Sunday’s ODI against Australia in the final over, came close to repeating that success but his swipe over extra cover was cut off, and the last two Indian batsmen scampered through for three runs.

Dhoni was named man-of-the-match with his unbeaten 58 off 69 balls and two catches in Sri Lanka’s innings.

The two points lifted India to the top of the tri series standings ahead of Australia with Sri Lanka still yet to win in their three games. AGENCIES

Land grabbing case: CJP summons Secretary Railways

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ISLAMABAD: Expressing displeasure over a report submitted to the Supreme Court by Railways on Tuesday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued summons to Secretary Railways for a personal appearance before the jury.

The secretary, Javed Iqbal, has been ordered to appear on Feb 27 to inform the court about government’s measures to retrieve Railway’s grabbed land in the light of apex court orders.

The Chief Justice, during the course of hearing of Railways’ land lease case, expressed displeasure over a ‘dissatisfactory’ report submitted by the department authorities in regards with steps to evacuate the land grabbed by private and commercial mafias. TrendPK

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