Polling in Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lodhran kicks off

LAHORE: The polling for by-elections has kicked off in Sargodha NA-68, Gujranwala NA-100 and Lodhran NA-155 constituencies of National Assembly in Punjab on early Thursday, Geo News reported.

Police together with Rangers’ parties have been deployed in three districts owing to maintenance of law and order situation during polling.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Shafqat Hayat Baloch are coming face to face in Sargodha, contesting elections on another seat of the National Assembly vacated over the issue of a fake education degree.

The National Assembly’s NA-68 seat was declared vacant due to the resignation of Syed Javed Hussian Shah, a PML-N MNA elected in the February 2008 general elections. He had to resign due to his fake degree and the Election Commission of Pakistan announced by-elections on the seat.

Syed Javed Hussain Shah had won the 2008 general elections by securing 80,174 votes. His opponent, Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi, bagged 56,959 votes, while Farakh Javed Ghuman got 38,516 votes.

As many as 19 candidates filed nomination papers for these by-elections. Out of these nomination papers, 10 candidates were rejected, while nine were declared ‘valid’.

This constituency is spread over the areas of three tehsils of district Sargodha. A complete tehsil of Sahiwal, the total population of tehsil Shahpur, excluding Jhawarian Town and Jhawarian qanungo halqas, and Sillanwali tehsil, excluding Sillanwali II qanungo halqa and the Patwar Circles of Chak no 119NB, 122NB, 130NB, 132NB and 135NB of the Sargodha district.

Celina copies American pop sensation Katy Perry!

MUMBAI: Celina Jaitley’s strikingly unconventional looks manage to turn heads everywhere.

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Celina copies American pop sensation Katy Perry!

Processed red meat possible cause of cancer !!

WASHINGTON: Red meat is back under the spotlight as a possible cause of cancer with a US study finding the chemicals that paint hot dogs pink and preserve cold cuts could also raise the risk of bladder cancer.

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Processed red meat possible cause of cancer !!

ECP summons fake degree holders record

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned the record of the fake degrees of the parliamentarians from the High Education Commission (HEC) till August 05.

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ECP summons fake degree holders record

Mulla Katiar protective bund declared sensitive

MULLA KATIAR: The flood protective bund at Mulla Katiar has been declared sensitive due to the fragility of the barrier.

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Mulla Katiar protective bund declared sensitive

Floods ravage parts of Punjab

MULTAN: Indus flood stream has entered in Dera Ghazi Khan after passing through Layyah and Taunsa, while flooding in Jhelum has inundated several villages in Jhang and Sargodha districts.

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Floods ravage parts of Punjab

Lashing rains kill 19 in various areas

LAHORE: At least 19 people lost their lives in rain-related accidents, as driving rains are in progress in various parts of the country, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The stormy downpours intermittently continued since last night in Dera Ismail Khan and the adjoining areas.

At least three children and a woman were killed as their house caved in in Aba Shaheed. The rainwater is still present in low-lying areas, rendering the life virtually suspended.

The rainwater after it rained overnight, accumulated in low-lying and interior areas of Sargodha, injuring at least six people, as the walls of houses crumbled down in katchi abadis.

Also, a man died of electrocution in Sargodha area of Phalarwan.

The spell of heavy showers are intermittently in progress in Gujranwala and its suburbs.

LHC issues stay order against NA-61 by-polls

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi bench of Lahore High Court issued stay order against by-elections in NA-61, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The court issued this order on petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Rains wipe out 70 houses in Bannu

LAHORE: The unabated spree of heavy downpours is continued in separate parts of country, resulting in the worst ever rain-inflicted incidents.

A man died after being trampled under his house roof due to incessant wave of showers, in Gujranwala, meanwhile, as many as 70 houses have collapsed in Bannu alone, witnesses and media reports said.

Overnight string of the torrential rains has left low-lying areas submerged under water in Sargodha while; the uncontainable water has entered into houses located in the heart of the district.

Six persons have reportedly been wounded due to collapse of walls in Katchi Abadis. Another person electrified to death in Sargodha after receiving power shocks.

The rescue officials are actively engaged in cleaning the route of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is carrying out inspection of worst affected areas, instead of providing relief to affetees.

Series of heavy showers, started last night in Gujranwala city and adjoining areas, is still ongoing with small recesses, sending people in turmoil and electricity broken down for many hours.

Meanwhile, in Faisalabad the rains cats-and-dogs have turned the weather pleasant, not only leaving the low-lying area deeply submerged under water but also prompting WASA crew to engage in cleanliness activities.

Two persons sustained injuries after being crushed by house walls in Faisalabad who have been shifted to hospital, while people are trying to rid of stagnant water from their homes on their own.

US wants stability of Pak economy, democracy: Clinton

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said her country wants the stability of Pakistan’s economy and the democratic institutions here, Geo News reported Monday.

Addressing a joint press conference along with her Pakistan counterpart Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at Foreign Office after Strategic Dialogues, she said the US would give Pakistan $7 billion in non-military aid over five years.

She said her meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani were positive and various issues relating Pakistani public were mulled over.

Clinton said the US wants lasting and enduring relations and cooperation with Pakistan, adding her country will cooperate with Pakistan in sectors including energy, health and education.

She told that dialogues focused on raising the standards of living of Pakistan’s people and the projects of water and electricity were discussed.

The US top official said, ‘The action is better than the speech and we are acting.’

Responding a query, he said, ‘We are ready to talk to those willing for peace in Afghanistan,’ acknowledging that Afghan army and people both suffered a heavy toll.

Hillary also voiced sympathy and condolences to the affectees of suicide attacks at Data Darbar and the victims of other bombings.

She also mentioned Pak mangoes saying they are delicious and she bought and savored them.

The FM Qureshi said the negotiations are in the interest of the two countries, adding trilateral relations and strengthening the ties between the two nations were mulled over in the dialogues.

Kerry-Lugar Bill is a document of long-term relations, he said adding he talked to the US top official about issues relating education, health, and Pakistani people.

Next round of talks will take place in Washington in October, the FM said.

Responding another query, he said Pakistan is faced with energy crisis which heavily impacted the economy and agriculture of the country.

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