?Karachi

Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq on Monday said that the security of teachers and students was among the to

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira said President Asif Ali Zardari is willing to curtail the presidential powers vested in the presidency through 58-2b.

Kaira said there is no estrangement between Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan People?s Party (PPP).

The federal minister said the President Zardari has come round to depute to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani the powers regarding the appointment of services? chiefs.

President is geared up to quash Article 58-2b of the Constitution.

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday said the government is intent on clinching success in war against terrorism at all costs and those challenging the government?s writ would not be forgiven.

Addressing the media and the FC personnel in Peshawar, he said the government is resolved for the extermination of the terrorism and the mean stratagems of the extremists can never dispirit the government.

Rehman Malik said the government has no option of defeat on table in this war.

On this occasion, the federal minister lauded the FC personnel and announced privileges for them.

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LAHORE: The mastermind of attack at the military General Headquarters (GHQ) Qari Ishtiaq has been arrested, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to sources privy to intelligence agencies, a huge catch of modern arms and ammunition has been taken in custody from his possession.

Qari Ishtiaq is being said as the central commander of Punjabi Taliban.

The sources said more seven terrorists have been arrested on identification by Qari Ishtiaq during interrogation.

Of the extremists, three extremists were nabbed from Sargodha, three from Gujranwala and a terrorist has been arrested from Mailsi.

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KARACHI: People still continue to suffer for having to buy sugar at exorbitant prices across the country, as the commodity is available at Rs100/kg in some parts of the country, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to sugar industry sources, the sugar mills have 450,000 tonnes of sugar, whereas, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has at its godowns 153,332 tonnes of imported sugar and 35,159 tonnes of locally purchased sugar.

Two ships arrived at Port Qasim with 37,534 tonnes of TCP-imported sugar; thus, a total of 676,000 tonnes of sugar are currently present in country, which is enough for two months of consumption in the country.

But despite the presence of the sugar stocks, the country is still in the grips of intense sugar crisis, as the commodity is being sold at Rs100/kg in South Punjab districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

According to market sources, the people started using the artificial sweeteners. The sugar wholesale market presents deserted look. Meantime, Wholesale Grocers Association Chairman Anees Majid said the provincial government assured the provision of sugar at Rs36/kg from the sugar mills; but, nothing happened.

The government seems absolutely failed in providing sugar at Rs40/kg in Peshawar as well, as the commodity is barely available even at Rs60 to Rs80/kg.

Similarly in Quetta, sugar is available at Rs40/kg at centers; but, in retail markets, the sugar is being sold at Rs48 to Rs50/kg.

In Punjab also, the sugar is being at the same price of Rs48 to Rs50/kg and is barely available.

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ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice Supreme Court Justice (rtd) Abdul Hameed Dogar Tuesday denied the validity of verdict of seven-judge bench on November 3, 2007.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the verdict regarding the court contempt was issued seven months after his retirement, adding he took oath under the PCO and Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry also twice took oath under the same PCO.

He said no judges who took oath under the PCO including him committed contempt of court.

Abdul Hameed Dogar said he came to know about the verdict of 7-strong bench delivered on November 3, 2007 by reading the newspapers of the next day, adding he would defend his case like other PCO judges.

The reinstatement of the judges through administrative order is unconstitutional which he has challenged, he stressed making his point that if the oaths administered to former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf and President Asif Ali Zardari were constitutional then how could oaths administered to the PCO judges be unconstitutional.

Justice (rtd) Dogar said he administered oaths to Justice Sardar Raza Khan, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassadduq Jilani and Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani; but, all of them are currently performing at the SC as judge.

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KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has initiated the process of bringing other currencies in the country?s pool of foreign exchange reserves with a view to protect its total reserves position.

The decision has been made in view of the diminishing value of dollar which mainly forms Pakistan?s foreign exchange reserves.

It is learnt that information regarding other currencies to be added in the country?s foreign exchange reserves and their proportions will not be disclosed.

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Pakistan News

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) summoned the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) chairman for explanation on the petition of contempt of court, Geo News reported Tuesday.

It should be mentioned that the former president of Karachi Bar Association filed a petition in 1993 which said every registered company is bound to appoint three legal advisors under Legal Advisors Act 1973; but, this law is not being practiced with effect that the rights of young lawyers are being infringed. Therefore, the SECP should ensure the implementation on the binding obligation.

The court ordered the SECP in 1999 to provide the list of all such companies which did not appoint at least three advisors, so that action could be taken against them.

This court order was not acted upon, accordingly, contempt petition was filed.

After hearing today, the Commission Chairman has been summoned to the court on November 17 with the explanation.

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Pakistan News

LAHORE

THE Lahore High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed on behalf of Hamesh Khan, former president of the Bank of Punjab, challengin

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ISLAMABAD: The cellular industry has shared its complete data on a central platform to authenticate the details of subscribers and block illegal SIMs,

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