PPP Core Committee to discuss ‘core’ issues Wednesday

TrendPK.com

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has called meeting of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Core Committee in the Presidency on Wednesday night to take up key political issues, TrendPK reports.

Sources said, Zardari, which is also PPP’s Co-chairperson, would chair the meeting summoned to chalk out a plan of action against the recent challenges facing the government, including contempt of court notice served to PM Gilani, 20th Constitutional Amendment, upcoming Senate elections.

They said the meeting would also discuss joint parliament session likely to be held next week. TrendPK

Senate polls: President directs PPP ministers to consult allies

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has directed PPP’s Sindh ministers to consult all coalition partners to build a consensus for unopposed Senate polls.

This he said while heading a meeting of party’s ministers in Sindh cabinet at Bilawal House today (Monday).

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah also attended the meeting.

On this occasion, President Zardari also reviewed the under construction development projects.

President Zardari also directed the ministers to initiate measures that could prevent more flood devastations in the coming days.

 Following the meeting, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said only Senate elections would be held this year while the parliamentary elections would take place as per schedule. TrendPK

Akshay Kumar gives the title Son Of Sardar to Ajay Devgn

Few days back, we had reported that Ajay Devgn was all set to star in Ashwini Dhir’s next. However the film which was to be titled Son Of Sardar was facing problems with the title as the same was registered with Akshay Kumar, who was reticent to part with it.

Now it seems that the two actors, who have worked together in the past, have sorted the issue amicably when Ajay recently stopped by Akshay’s sets of Rowdy Rathore. If what we hear is anything to go by then the meeting proved fruitful as Akshay more than willingly gave away the title of Son Of Sardar to Ajay.

Confirming this, Ajay says, “I had asked Akshay for the title. The title was extremely close to his heart. It is a very good gesture on Akshay Kumar’s part and I am indebted to him for it. We will start the film in January.”

PML-N, PML-Q Likeminded forge alliance

Leaders from both sides had a meeting where they decided to form the alliance.

PML-N was represented by Senator Ishaq Dar, Mehtab Abbasi, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and PML-Q Likeminded by Senator Salim Saifullah, Humayun Akhtar and Senator Ghafar Qureshi.

As the matter of PML-Q Likeminded and the PML-Q objections to the splinter is pending in the Lahore High Court, both parties decided to retain their separate identities despite agreement on forming an alliance.

Sources said issues relating the economy, establishment of new provinces and the law and order situation were also taken up in the meeting.

Muhammad Ilyas appears before PCBs disciplinary committee

Muhammad Ilyas appeared before two-member disciplinary committee headed by Sultan Rana at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and presented his stance.

Talking to media after the meeting, Muhammad Ilyas said that he answered committee’s queries and the proceedings remained positive.

He said decision regarding appeal would be taken after receiving decision of the committee.

Load shedding to continue until 2018: WAPDA

The National Assembly Standing Committee for Water and Power meeting was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Ghulam Mustafa Shah.

Briefing the committee, Water and Power Development Authority Chairman Shakil Durrani said that Mangla Dam would be filled up to 1210 feet by the end of this year. This will enhance the water storing capacity of the dam by 0.8 million acres.

He said that hydro power cost Rs 1.05 per unit while the power generated by the IPPs cost Rs 10.18 per unit.

He said that hydro power generation saved Rs 41 billion for the national exchequer in 2010.

The WAPDA chairman said that load shedding cannot be overcome until 2018 and power demand would soar to 130,000 megawatt by 2030.

He said that India could not build dams on three western rivers, adding that the 16 kilometre long tunnel of Jhelum Hydro Project had been constructed.

During the meeting, Standing Committee for Water and Power member Sajjadul Hassan said that the power outage of 22 hours a day was unacceptable and the PEPCO office in Okara would be burnt, if load shedding were not stopped.

Task Force to curb Gray Traffic, unauthorised SIMs

A high level meeting was held in the Ministry of Interior under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Interior, Senator Rehman Malik to examine the ways and means to curb Gray Traffic in Pakistan. Secretaries of Interior and Information Technology Ministries, Director General FIA, representatives of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other government departments were present on the occasion. Different issues were discussed in the meeting including capacity of monitoring system which is presently only 30% and needs to go to the level of 100%. Ministry of Information Technology has been requested to pursue the matter for sanction of funds.

People have been advised that all those who have got more than the prescribed limits of SIMs should surrender immediately to PTA as a thorough scrutiny of the SIMs has been ordered and any body found in possession of those SIMs shall be proceeded with in accordance with the law.
It was decided in the meeting that the punishment/penalty for the violators would be enhanced from three years to seven years and fine from Rs. 10 million to Rs. 50 million besides making it non-bailable offence.

It was also decided that 20 million cash reward shall be given to anyone who will point out the Gray Traffic to the authorities and 10% of the recovery will also be given to the informer.

A Task Force has been announced whereby a team will be headed by Director, FIA Shahid Nadeem Baloch and sub task forces comprising of representatives from ISI, IB, PTA and local police will also be constituted.

The Task Force will submit, every fortnightly, report of their progress on the cases/raids to curb gray traffic.

It has also been decided by the Government that there will be zero tolerance for gray traffic in Pakistan and its progress/monitoring shall be jointly done by the Secretary Interior and Secretary Information Technology.

Doctors threaten to resume protest

Young Doctors Association has decided to resume the protest movement saying the official committee formed to solve the issue has already taken 15 days without any outcome. The attitude of the committee is intimidating, alleged the doctors.

If Shahbaz Shraif calls the meeting by this Wednesday then they would meet him, otherwise the protest will start again, doctors warned.
Doctors appealed to the civil society to join hands with them to press their demands.

US envoy welcomes Pak-India premiers’ meeting

The US ambassador in India, Timothy Roemer, said that the meeting between India and Pakistan’s prime ministers is a good omen and was only possible through sports diplomacy.

Roemer said that the United States has also welcomed the Premieres meeting and said that the cricket diplomacy could dilute the hostility between the two countries. He expressed hope that Pak-India talks will continue talks and look to resolve sensitive issues.

Davis has no immunity: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has said on Wednesday that US embassy employee Raymond Davis did not enjoy complete immunity.

“US must keep in mind Pakistan’s sacrifices,” said Qureshi, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after his meeting with US Senator John Kerry.

He said that his meeting with Kerry was on the wishes of US senator.
Criticizing the statements of party leaders, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Qureshi said that his stance on the issue, Raymond Davis, was principled not personal. “I was briefed that Raymond has no complete immunity. I instructed foreign secretary to follow law.”

He said both the countries, US and Pakistan, need each other. TrendPK

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