Clash among parties harm democracy, says Firdous

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said here on Friday that steps taken beyond law and clashes among parties harm democracy.

While talking with the media outside the Parliament House she said ruling in Punjab with the help of unification group is against constitutional and ethical principles.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not make itself part from the Punjab government and if PPP is expelled out, then it will use its constitutional right, Firdous said.

Stressing on continuing talks, the minister said the PPP’s one point agenda is to do politics of reconciliation. TrendPK

Pakistan seeks TPS for its nationals in US

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has formally asked the United States to consider grant of temporary protected status for its nationals currently living in the US without proper documentation in view of flooding devastation in the country, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said.

Kaira said Pakistan handed over a letter to the Homeland Security Department on the second day of Pakistan-US strategic dialogue, requesting the grant of the temporary immigration status.

The United States gives TPS to nationals of designated countries which face situations like environmental disasters or armed conflicts.

The Homeland Security Department will look into the request.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the day-long deliberations by various working groups, Kaira stated the Obama Administration has committed to step up efforts for a requisite

ECP still waits for 602 law makers financial statements

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: In spite of passing deadline on Thursday for submitting financial statements, yet 602 law makers including several federal ministers have not submitted their financial statements to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced September 30 the deadline for submitting financial statements of parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies.

Sources told SAMAA that the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Khursheed Shah, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Samsaam Bukhari, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Naveed Qamar, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Hina Rabbani have not contacted ECP about their financial statements.

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Amir Maqam, Abid Sher Ali, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Javed Hashmi, Pervez Rasheed,

40 militants perish in Khyber blitz

PESHAWAR: At least 40 suspected extremists have been killed in bombardments by security forces carried out in Tirah Valley of Khyber District on late Tuesday, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said killed also included women and children after falling victim to bombardment.

According to ISPR sources, security forces launched attacks on terrorists’ various hideouts established in Nari Baba, Nakai, Takhta-e-Kai and Qilla areas of Khyber Agency.

Security forces pounded militants’ sanctuaries; training centers, FM radio station and vehicles meant for carrying out suicide attacks in Tirah Valley, resulting in perishing nearly 40 extremists, sources told media.

Also, forces claimed that militants were planning suicide attacks in different parts of Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas on massive scale before Eid-ul-Fitr.

FC sources said security forces are in operation against extremists in Tirah Valley following secrete intelligence regarding their presence in huge numbers.

Militants were abusing women and children being ‘Human Shield’ in Tirah Valley who were targeted amid forces’ operation conducted on Tuesday, FC sources claimed.

Meanwhile, two local men, sustained injuries during blitz, have been shifted to Hayatabad Medical Complex who had fallen victim to bombing on way back to home after praying for souls of deceased siblings at a graveyard, relatives told media persons.

Killed also included children and women, they said further.

No flood surcharge under consideration: Karia

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Kamar Zaman Kaira said that Government was not in consideration of imposing flood surcharge, adding that international community has pledged donation mounting one billion dollar in aid for the flood victims.

Addressing a press conference with federal secretary of information and broadcasting Mansoor Sohail, on Monday at Press Information Department (PID) here, the minister said that 1.4 million children will be vaccinated for protection against epidemic diseases from September 1 to October.

In first step, worse flood-affected 40 districts will be covered, and in next step the children residing in other 37 districts, will be vaccinated.

“Prime Minister has directed the provinces to identify their 3 month medicine needs.
And consultancy with Chief Ministers is underway to call a meeting of Federal Council of Common Interest (CCI)”.

“We are hopeful that the meeting will be called by this week, but provinces have not endorsed recommendations of Mian Nawaz Sharif about flood fund. If anyone has objections then it will be settled in meeting”, he added.

He said that the critics are urging us to do relief work for flood affeecties quickly but on the other hand they also call for transparency.

Govt to maintain press freedom, vows Kaira

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the government will maintain press freedom.

Go here to see the original: 
Govt to maintain press freedom, vows Kaira

Kamal Haasan film festival in Delhi to mark his golden jubilee in cinema

Kamal Haasan is one superstar who is known for his talent not just in south or Bollywood but also globally. The man who has shown his skills in the world of cinema both, in front and behind the camera, and has managed to mesmerize the audiences with his work completes 50 years in Indian cinema this year.

In order to commemorate this grand occasion, a three-day festival of Kamal Haasan’s films is being organized in New Delhi from July 2, which is to be inaugurated by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni. In all, there will be seven movies of the actor that will form the retrospective, which will start with the Hindi film Hey Ram and will be followed by regional films like Anbe Sivam, Virumaandy, Thevar Magan, Dasavatharam, Nayagan and Sagar Sangamam.

WCup broadcasters filtering vuvuzela sound

JOHANNESBURG: The company that provides the broadcasting feed for the World Cup is doubling its audio filters to reduce the constant blaring buzz of vuvuzelas.

Here is the original:
WCup broadcasters filtering vuvuzela sound

Deprived areas being developed: Gilani

BAHAWALPUR: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government is paying attention to the development of deprived areas and steps are being taken to bring them at par with developed areas.

Talking to the office-bearers of Pakistan Peoples Party Bahawalpur and notables at airport on Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister said the government would utilize all available resources to provide basic necessities to the people.

He said the role of elected representatives is very vital in this regard. They should point out development projects and monitor them till their completion, he added.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Advisor to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul and Senator Sughra Imam were also present on the occasion.

Lawyers are not elected representative: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said the government has decided to defend the 18th Amendment in the Supreme Court.

He was talking to media men here today.

The Chef Justice would appoint judges and the parliamentary committee could not change the recommendation made by the commission, he explained.

The process of appointment is not malafide, the minister said.

He pointed out that parliamentarians are entrusted with the authority to legislate not the lawyers.

Replying to a question regarding Pervez Musharraf role in assassination of Benazir Bhutto Kaira said he would be brought back if required.

Next Page »