Pakistan’s former prime minister and a member of his cabinet have been controversially barred from contesting next month’s general election. It is the latest in a series of blows to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party that have fuelled accusations the country’s military is trying to deny the party a second term. On Thursday, the supreme court found the former privatisation minister Daniyal Aziz guilty of contempt, disqualifying him from parliament for five years. The verdict came one day after an election tribunal barred ex-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from contesting his home-constituency of Murree. A single-judge bench ruled that Abbasi was “guilty of concealment of facts” on election papers and therefore disqualified from politics for life under article 62 of Pakistan’s constitution. That clause, which requires politicians to be “honest and righteous”, was also used in 2017 by the supreme court to justify the ousting … [Read more...] about Former Pakistan prime minister barred from re-election
Pakistan
Over 60 die of heatstroke in Pakistan’s largest city
More than 60 people have died from a blistering heatwave that has gripped the port city of Karachi -- the country’s commercial capital -- in the last 72 hours, according to rescue officials Monday. The heatwave, which the Pakistan meteorological department predicts would continue for at least the next three days, has mainly affected laborers who work under the boiling sun at construction sites or in industrial units that lack proper facilities. Faisal Edhi, head of Edhi -- one of the largest nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan, told Anadolu Agency that most of the deaths had been reported from Korangi and Landhi, the city’s two major industrial districts, where a large number of laborers could not cope with the intensity of the heat. He said the death of 64 in last three days also includes several women. “Unfortunately, a majority of industrial units do not have proper cooling facilities, which has increased the risk of more casualties if the ongoing heatwave … [Read more...] about Over 60 die of heatstroke in Pakistan’s largest city
Pakistan placed on global terror financing watchlist: foreign office
Pakistan has been placed on a global terror financing watchlist, its foreign office said Thursday, tainting its image ahead of a general election and as it touts dramatic improvements in security. Members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an anti money-laundering watchdog based in Paris, voted earlier this year to place Pakistan on the list of countries that are not doing enough to combat terror financing. It was given three months to make enough changes to avoid the listing. But on Thursday Dr Mohammad Faisal told reporters at a weekly briefing that the country has been grey-listed by FATF. "Now after negotiation of an action plan, Pakistan will enforce that action plan, will implement it while remaining in the grey list," he said. "We have conveyed our concerns to them and they have told us theirs." The decision, which has not yet been announced by FATF, came as Pakistan removed the head of a hardline Sunni sectarian group from its terror watchlist. Hasan Askari, the … [Read more...] about Pakistan placed on global terror financing watchlist: foreign office
Italy committed to assist Pakistan manage water crisis
AGI International > News by Shadi Khan Saif 06.28.2018 14:02 share tweet share share share mail Italy pakistan stefano pontecorvo water Karachi - The Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, Stefano Pontecorvo, has expressed commitment to assist Pakistan in the field of water rationalization through Italian Pakistan Partnership. Pakistan’s water woes are evolving into a grim crisis with the country’s biggest city, Karachi, receiving roughly half of the 1.1 billion gallons it needs daily. Observers fear Karachi might well become another Johannesburg or Cape Town with much worst ways and means in the face of an acute water shortage. A number of Italian experts have briefed international conference on Training and Capacity Building in Sustainable Agricultural Water Management to address Food Security and Social Instability in Pakistan at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University … [Read more...] about Italy committed to assist Pakistan manage water crisis
Pakistan’s national security advisor resigns
World Bulletin / News Desk Pakistan's National Security Advisor Retired Lt. Gen. Nasser Khan Janjua resigned on Wednesday, his office said. After submitting his resignation to the prime minister he vacated his office. The cabinet confirmed the resignation in a notification, without elaborating on any reasons. Local media reported that Janjua resigned over some differences with the caretaker government. Legal Notice: Copyright, trade marks and other intellectual property rights in this website can not be reproduced without the prior permission. … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s national security advisor resigns