SC deadline on by-polls legislation ends today; 23 lawmakers to be disqualified

TrendPK.com
ISLAMABAD: Deadline given by the Supreme Court (SC) for giving legal cover to the by-polls is coming to an end today (Monday). As many as 23 members of the Parliament will be held ineligible if the government fails to get 20th Amendment passed.

A four-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry will hear the case regarding the voter lists.

It should be mentioned here the apex court stayed the process of by-elections on the present electoral rolls and held that the by-polls under an incomplete Election Commission are unconstitutional and illegal.

Meantime, the court gave time till February 6 to the Parliament to endorse the by-elections’ results; the deadline is coming to an end today.

National Assembly will meet today after an interval of two days to make an attempt for the passage of Twentieth Amendment. The government needs support from its coalition partners as well as the opposition parties for the purpose. TrendPK

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ECP reinstates membership of 15 more legislators

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday reinstated membership of 15 more legislators who had submitted their financial details.

According to the ECP, the membership of MNAs including Shehzada Muhiuddin, Rana Nazir Ahmed and Rana Abdul Sattar has been restored while the membership of seven members of Punjab Assembly, two of Sindh Assembly and three legislators of Balochistan Assembly has also been restored.

Earlier, the ECP suspended memberships of 141 law makers who did not submit their financial details on the deadline. The ECP has restored the membership of 104 public representatives who submitted their financial details. SAMAA

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,

HEC announces deadline for degree verification

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced September 24 as the deadline for universities to complete the degree verification process.

A HEC spokesman told SAMAA that HEC has verified and declared the degrees of 374 parliamentarians as genuine, while 50 are fake.

Earlier, universities were given a deadline of August 25, but they could not verify the degrees due to unavailability of required academic credentials of lawmakers. SAMAA

New Zealand to withdraw from Commonwealth Games over security

New Zealand likely to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi if security assessments conclude there is a risk to athletes, Kiwi officials said on Monday.
New Zealand will send its security delegation to India on Tuesday to make a final pre-Games assessment before the country’s squad of more than 190 athletes arrive later this month. Officials said some of the athletes were as young as 14 and their safety was top priority.
New Zealand Olympic Committee president Mike Stanley said his organisation would rely on government advice to decide whether it was safe to travel to Delhi. When asked about the deadline for a decision to pull out, Stanley said reviewing security was an ongoing process.

Five killed in Punjab rains

LAHORE: The spell of sporadic rain continued in different parts of Punjab including Lahore that turned weather pleasant on Tuesday.

Five people were killed in rain-related incidents in Lahore, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. Heavy showers lashed different areas of Punjab on Tuesday morning. However, water accumulation in low-lying areas disturbed routine life.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif visited rain-affected areas of Lahore and reviews rescue operation. Three persons including two children electrocuted in Shahidra and Taj Park areas whereas two dead in Sheikupura and Nankana Sahib.

Met office predicted more rains in next 48 hours. Rain recorded in Lahore 62 mm, Gujaranwala 86 mm, Mianwali 80 mm, Sialkot 69 mm and Chakwal 25 mm.

Power looms laborers protest in Faisalabad

FAISALABAD: Faisalabad is witnessing strike today on appeal by Labor Qaumi Movement to demand the raise in wages, Geo News reported Tuesday.

The laborers of power looms initiated strike this morning with strong protests as the deadline for wages raise came to end today.

In Sadhaar area of the city, the laborers clashed with factory guards in bid to get the factory shut down. Later on, a factory, motorbike and a car were set on fire.

In the meantime, various incidents of clashes between power looms laborers, factory owners and police personnel, took place in several areas, where people including factory owners were injured.

The efforts are afoot with shelling to break up the crowds of laborers. Also, various people have been arrested during this while.

Council of Looms Owners Chairman Waheed called an emergency meeting of power looms owners to mull over the present situation.

The laborers demand 17 percent hike in their wages. Contrarily, the owners said it is impossible for them to raise their wages in view of load shedding and raise in prices of raw materials.

Establishment of SBCA approved

KARACHI: Establishment of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has been approved in principle.

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Thursday presided the meeting of Sindh Local Government Department at Chief Minister House.

He discussed the matters pertaining to building control law in various cities and towns and said the present government intends to enforce building control law throughout the province.

The chief minister added law will regulate the construction of building and issues and problems, if any, will be resolved accordingly.

He in principle approved the proposed establishment of Sindh Building Control Authority.

He directed the Secretary Local Government, Secretary Finance and Chief Controller, Karachi Building Control Authority to finalize the issues and prospects, with regard to new authority to work at provincial level having offices at divisional and district level.

It was informed that Directors will look after assignments at divisional level while District Officers (Planning) at district level.

It was further informed that the law is already there and rules of Karachi Building Control Authority will be converted as Sindh Building Control Authority.

Chief Secretary Sindh informed that prior to formation of KBCA in 1979, the building control rules lied with KDA, while Director Town Planning situated at Hyderabad catered the needs of rest of the province.

The Chief Minister stressed that a set up of authority should be in every district headquarters.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani, Chief Secretary Sindh Fazal ur Rehman, Secretary Local Government Khursheed Naeem Malik, Secretary Law Sindh Syed Ghulam Nabi Shah, Secretary Finance Fazalullah Pechuho, Principal Secretary to C.M. Syed Sohail Akbar Shah, Special Secretary to CM Abdul Kabeer Kazi and Chief Controller Karachi Building Control Authority Manzoor Qadir.

PIA sacks 200 employees for holding fake degrees

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has terminated the services of its 200 employees for holding fake degrees.

According to the spokesman of the National Airline, the employees were sacked for submitting fake degrees for getting jobs.

Sources have learned that 750 employees of the National Flag carrier were identified in 2008 who had submitted fake credentials for obtaining jobs. However, they had been given two years to complete their education.

After the expiry of the deadline, PIA sacked 200 such employees who failed to complete the required education.

12 extremists killed in Orakzai action

PESHAWAR: At least 12 extremists were killed and nine others injured in an action by the security forces following attack on their check post, Geo News reported Monday.

According to sources, the extremists attacked on a security check post in Orakzai area injuring two security personnel including an officer.

Soon afterwards, the security forces returned the attacked killing 12 extremists and injuring nine others.

It should be mentioned here that offensive against extremists is underway in Orakzai Agency for last 11 weeks, where at least 1400 extremists have been killed thus far with 160 hideouts of the militants pounded.

Meantime, two factions entered in armed conflict over water issue in Kurram Agency, where three men were killed and various others injured.

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