Punjab PA?s resolution against Nov 3 steps
LAHORE : The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution, amid a walkout by the Opposition, to condemn the imposition of emergency by G
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Aerial firing, firecrackers ring alarm bells in people?s minds
Rawalpindi
The passion for aerial firing and firecrackers, especially during marriage ceremonies, has become a nuisance for the residents of Ra
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Pakistan News
PML-N again raises NRO issue at NA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Mulsim League-N Wednesday once again took up the issue of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) at the National Assembly where Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said the matter stands withdrawn.
Responding to a point of order raised by the PML-N MNA Ahsan Iqbal, the parliamentary affairs minister said under the Constitution, the Prime Minister being Leader of the House may consensually withdraw any ordinance when it is transformed into bill after its presentation in the House.
National Assembly unanimously passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2009 to amend Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure and provide protection to women against harassment at workplace.
Minister for Law and Justice, Muhammad Afzal Sindhu moved the bill to the House as passed by the Standing Committee, and all of its three clauses were passed unanimously with opposition neither opposing it nor proposing any further amendments.
The bill provides protection to working women at workplace from sexual advances and intimidation and violators will be punished with three years imprisonment or Rs. 500,000 fine or both.
The Bill states, ?whoever makes sexual advances, or demands sexual favors or uses written or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which intends to annoy, insult, intimidate or threaten the other person or commits such acts at the premises of workplace, or makes submission to such conduct either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual?s employment, or makes submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual, a basis for employment decision affecting such individual, or retaliates because of rejection of such behavior, or conducts such behavior with the intention of unreasonably interfering with an individual?s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or fine up to Rs 500,000 or with both.?
In the next clause the bill elaborate the dispensation mechanism for the bill where the word ?sexual harassment? has been included to already existing entries of ?uttering word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of women etc.
The same clause clarified the fine amount to Rs 500,000 also elaborating that the accused will not be arrested without warrant, warrants will be bailable and the case will be presented to the court of Magistrate of First Class.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons reveals that the amendment will not only make the public and work environment safer for men and women but will open up the path for more women in particular to pursue their livelihood with dignity. It will reduce poverty as more and more women will get the courage to enter the job market.
This amendment will also open up opportunity for private and the government sector to get competent human resource that will result in better production and improved quality of service. The social benefits, as a result of providing protection against harassment will become a major contribution to the development of the country.
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Minus 342 possible but not mines one: Taseer
LAHORE: Governor Punjab Salman Taseer Wednesday ruled out the minus one formula, saying President Asif Ali Zardari will complete his five-year term.
Talking to media here, Salman Taseer said: ?There is no possibility of any minus one,? adding, if worst happens then ?there could be minus 342?.
Earlier, he condoled the death of the wife of Lahore?s columnist and poet Zafar Iqbal.
?President Zardari is linchpin of the Federation and he has put up prolonged struggle for democracy,? Governor Punjab maintained.
He said President Zardari is the elected President, but still he is being targeted and ridiculed by the media.
Mid-term elections are nothing but desires of losers who have not been hearing the rumble of the boots.
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NWFP endorses 2-day weekly holiday proposal
PESHAWAR: The NWFP government has endorsed the proposal of observing 2-day weekly holiday in the province, Geo News reports on Wednesday.
Talking to Geo News NWFP Law Minister, Arshad Abdullah said that Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has consented over the proposal of two weekly holidays for all the public sector institutions.
He revealed that there has been a contact, in connection with the proposal, between CM Hoti and PM Yusuf Raza Gillani.
Law Minister NWFP said that 2-day weekly holiday will not affect the functioning of government offices. Instead, he believes that the performance of government officials will improve if they would work hard in 5-day working week with dedication.
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Man United come from behind to draw against Moscow
PARIS: English giants Chelsea and Manchester United made hard work of it but ended up coming from behind to both qualify for the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.
French champions Bordeaux joined them as they earned an impressive 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Munich, while Porto can also look forward to Champions League football in the spring after winning 1-0 at APOEL Nicosia.
However, things look stark for Bayern Munich and their Champions League-winning coach Louis van Gaal as his side trail second-placed Juventus by four points in Group A with two matches remaining.
Chelsea came from 1-0 down to draw 2-2 with Atletico Madrid - Didier Drogba scoring both goals on his return from a three-match Champions League suspension.
United had to come from even further behind as they trailed 3-1 late into the match against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford before two goals levelled matters and pushed them through.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was relieved to have progressed but was left less than happy by the referee’’s performance, especially over a penalty that was not awarded for a trip on Darren Fletcher - the Scottish midfielder being booked instead.
AC Milan and Real Madrid’’s group has become one of the tightest as the two giants fought out a 1-1 draw in Milan, while rivals Marseille thrashed FC Zurich 6-1 to stand just a point behind the duo.
Milan and Real shared the spoils at the San Siro, with both goals coming in the first half.
Karim Benzema got his first goal in seven matches for the visitors before Ronaldinho drew Milan level from the penalty spot.
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Govt decides to import 1 mln tones sugar
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday said the Federal Cabinet has granted approval to three important policies.
Briefing the media after the Federal Cabinet?s meeting, the Minister said decision has been made to undertake gas load-management from November 15, 2009 to March 15, 2010.
He said the decision has been made under compulsion. However, he added that gas supply to domestic and commercial consumers will continue without any interruption.
Kaira said it has not been made mandatory for the industries to remain closed for two days. The industries can depend on oil and/or furnace oil as well as sources of alternative energy.
He said new gas connections will not be provided to industries and CNG stations between December 2009 and February 2010. This decision will not applicable for Balochistan, he added.
He told the reporters that gas supply will continue to the factories engaged in producing DAP fertilizers.
The Information Minister said 60 per cent gas will be saved by undertaking gas load-management.
He said some of the electricity generating KESC plants will also be affected.
Sugar Policy 2009 has also been approved, Qamar Zaman Kaira said.
He said there is no dearth of sugar in the country. The problem only relates to the distribution of the commodity, he observed.
The Federal Cabinet has approved import of one million tones sugar to meet the country?s requirement.
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Teachers? mobility allowance raised
LAHORE
THE Punjab government has enhanced the mobility allowance from Rs 450 to Rs 900 per month with effect from December 1, 2009 to all such
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?Damaged signal system may have caused Landhi collision?
Karachi
The Pakistan Railways signal system from Karachi to Sukkur, which was damaged by mobs after the assassination of Benazair Bhutto on Dec
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Security forces capture Fazlullah?s close aide in Swat
MINGORA: The security forces have apprehended commander Saifullah, a close aide of Fazlullah during search operation in Koza Bandia area of Tehsil Kabal, Swat.
Saifullah, who had been involved in several militant attacks on the security men, is said to be a close aide of Fazlullah, the chief of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, sources said.
Sources said that Saifullah has been shifted to an unknown place for interrogation.
Meanwhile, security forces have nabbed 2 persons accused of involvement in the killing of inspector Zota Khan, who was gunned down two days back in Kalakot area of Tehsil Matta.
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Pakistan News