BALTISTAN: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Tuesday said the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan on November 12 would prove that PML-Q is the only party in Pakistan which is up to resolve problems.

Talking to party?s General Secretary Mushahid Hussain Syed by telephone, Shujaat Hussain said that PML-Q?s efforts would prove fruitful in Baltistan.

He lauded the election campaign spearheaded by Senator Wasim Sajjad, Marvi Memon, Sher Afghan Khan Niazi and Aleem Adil Sheikh.

Meantime, the Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheerud Din said in a meeting Punjab government is using up all its resources to suppress the Opposition.

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KARACHI: Sindh Law Minister Mohammed Ayaz Soomro Tuesday said 3576 cases were withdrawn under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in Sindh, among them, are included corruption and criminal cases.

Talking to media after the meeting of law officer at Sindh Assembly, he said the NRO beneficiaries include politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists and capitalists.

Presiding a meeting of the officials of Law Department, he said that he is satisfied with the performance of government lawyers but there is need to improve it further to achieve 100 percent results.

The Minister said that by recruiting law officers, the present government has overcome the shortage of government lawyers in all the courts and there is not a single court left without a government prosecutor.

He told the meeting that recommendation will be made to the Chief Minister for providing vehicles and other facilities for law officers to help improve their working.

On the occasion District Public Prosecutor informed the Minister that the FIRs sent to them by police are quite sub-standard and even non-readable.

He said the police be made bound to send clear and readable copy of the FIR.

The Minister asked the CCPO present in the meeting to take immediate steps in this regard.

On the occasion Ayaz Soomro told the meeting that terrorists cannot be spared, no matter to which group of jehadi organisation they may belong to.

Suicide bombers are killing innocent people just for few rupees and defaming Islam and the country, he said.

Among others, the meeting was attended by CCPO Karachi, Secretary Law Ghulam Nabi Shah, Prosecutor General Shahadat Awan, Solicitor Sindh, Additional Secretary Law and Law Officers of Karachi Division.

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SKARDU: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday assured of holding free, fair and transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and said ensuring level-playing field by the government encouraged all political parties to run for the polls.

Addressing a large public gathering organized by Pakistan Peoples Party at Police Ground here, the Prime Minister termed it ?his government?s success? for encouraging participation of all political parties in the polls that once boycotted the 2008 general election.

The Prime Minister said Gilgit-Baltistan Self Governance Order 2009 not only gave identity to its people, but also provided opportunity to political parties to play their part for the development of new self-autonomous region.

He said from election onward, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would enjoy complete internal autonomy with their own chief minister, independent Public Service Commission, separate judiciary and Election Commission.

Gilani declared Skardu as ?big city? similar to his earlier announcement for Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. He mentioned that Skardu had already been upgraded to divisional level.

He announced that 200 schools and 100 dispensaries in Skardu would be made functional by the year?s end. He said the already allocated Rs 2 billion for education and one billion for health would be enhanced if required for more such projects.

He announced Hill Allowance for the employees of Grade 1-15 and fixation of Rs 6,000 as minimum salary.

Gilani announced upgradation of Skardu airport to international level in view of great tourism potential of the area.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani announced upgradation of Chalt and Denyore in Hunza district to tehsil level and directed to promptly submit him the case on Shigar, Gultari and Kharmang to make them districts.

He said Shatoon Nullah would be linked with Satpara Lake in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Prime Minister said hydel power had big potential in the area with a capacity of 40,000 Megawatt and added that Rs 5 billion would be spent on such projects.

He directed for the early implementation of Bhasha and Bunji dams projects at fast pace, adding that foreign investment to the area would bring a big economic revolution. He asked for providing early compensation to the affected and dislocated people due to construction of these dams.

He also pledged that the affected people of district Ghanche would be compensated soon.
He said the already allocated Rs 100 million had the target to buy 100 buses for students of Gilgit-Baltistan, out of which 33 had been purchased.

He said the salaries of police personnel would be equalized with their federal counterparts and said 5,000 more staff would be inducted in the police force on quota at district level.

He announced to double the amount of Benazir Bhutto Income Support Program for Gilgit-Baltistan and expressed the government?s intent to utilize it for health insurance and children school fee.

Gilani said ?langars? (free food) would be set up in all districts and mentioned that ?Sweet Homes? had already been set up for orphans with their centre at each district.

The Prime Minister directed Ministry of Youth Affairs to include Gilgit-Baltistan in its scheme of employing youth. He asked Ministry of Finance to soon approve PC-4 for all halted projects for their prompt initiation.

He said Pakistan Peoples Party was a mission that based on providing rights and empowerment to the masses.

He vowed to continue pursuing the vision of ?two Shaheed Bhuttos? for making public strong in real sense and carrying forward the politics of reconciliation.
Gilani said the government would make every effort to take the country out of challenges.

He said he was proud of addressing the public gathering at the same place where Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had once addressed the area people and had vowed to give autonomy to them.

About Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam who arrived in Skardu alongwith Prime Minister onboard from Islamabad, said he was ensured by the JUI(F) chief for full support from his party with some understanding on adjustment of seats for the Gilgit-Baltistan polls.

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ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday informed National Assembly that first consignment of scanners from China will reach Pakistan by November 15.

“We want to ensure maximum security. Checking system is stringent across the world.

We also have a system in place and ensure maximum scanning of passengers at airports and other places under prescribed rules,” the minister said in response to points of order regarding law and order and security at the airports.

MNAs Nosheen Saeed, Omar Sohail Butt, Noor Alam, Engr Amir Muqam and Pervez Advocate had drawn attention of the House towards law and order situation and insufficient security checking system at airports as well as in big cities and roads.

“I agree, there should be scanners at entrances of all big cities as well as on important roads,” Interior Minister said and mentioned to capacity building of the law enforcing agencies.

“Even two days earlier a terrorist was killed on spot during checking. Scores others were arrested and I must acknowledge that security personnel were performing well,” he added.

Malik said criticism is easy but members should also realize the performance of security agencies despite paucity of funds. “We have to cut our development funds to build capacity of the security agencies.”

He revealed that loan amount for installing CCTV cameras in big cities has been received and “we shall be installing scanners and CCTV cameras not at airports but also on important roads and in big cities.”

The minister requested the Chair to arrange in-camera meeting of the House where he could apprise the members on the security concerns.

While responding to points of order raised by MNAs Noor Alam, Amir Muqamand Pervaiz Khan Advocate, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said that law and order was a provincial subject and the federal government had given the policy and appropriate measures have been taken to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

He said on the directions of the Prime Minister the provincial governments would establish Shuhada Fund for which seed money would be given by the Federal Government and details about this fund would be made public within a week. He said that capacity building of the law enforcement agencies was being done to fight terrorism.

Earlier Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Noor Alam said that incidents of terrorism in NWFP are increasing and there was need to take immediate steps to control this menace. Amir Muqam said that in Swat writ of the government has been established but rest of the province was facing serious law and order crisis.

ANP MNA Pervaiz Khan Advocate said that provincial government is blamed for present law and order situation but terrorism was the outcome of the result of former rulers wrong policies.

PPP MNA Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that Charsadda blast was condemnable and hoped that government would announce some compensation for the victims families.

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A suicide car bomb tore through a crowded shopping street in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing 32 people in the third militant attack to strike the nuclear-armed country in as many days.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said Pakistan is on the path to destabilization owing to anti-terror war being waged in its northern areas including South Waziristan Agency.

This he said while talking to ambassadors of various countries who called on him at his residence in Raiwind Farm. These meetings discussed regional matters and affairs of mutual interest.

Sharif urged the world fraternity to accord succour to Pakistan in economic and social sectors.

He maintained that the country wants peace in the region and better relations with all the countries on equality basis, adding also Pakistan wants to resolve all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir through negotiations.

The foreigner ambassadors appreciated the role of Pakistan in war against terrorism and assured Pakistan of their sustained support to Pakistan.

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ISLAMABAD: Leaders from both the treasury and opposition benches here Tuesday organized a solidarity march to express resolve for promotion and development of the country.

It was led by the minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, MNA of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Khwaja Saad Rafiq and Geo News anchor cum journalist Hamid Mir.

People form different walks of life along with the journalist community also participated in the walk, chanted slogans in favour of Pakistan and waved national flags.

The March started from the National Press Club and culminated near the office of a private television channel after passing through Sharah-e-Dastoor where the participants sang the National Anthem.

At the end, Babar Awan prayed for integrity, solidarity and rising morale of the nation to combat the current challenges, particularly terrorism with high spirit.

He urged the participants to be prepared to thwart any attempt that could damage the country’’s image and prestige.

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Pakistan News

Islamabad: Scientists are making progress toward development of an `artificial leaf? that mimics the process of photosynthesis, and converts sunlight

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KARACHI: Opener Shahzaib Hasan slammed a cracking 127 to enable Group B leaders Karachi Blues to score 297 in their first innings against Lahore Ravi

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?RAWALPINDI: Newly elected president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Qazi Anwar has accused the Presidency of hatching a conspiracy agains

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