Thursday, May 21st, 2015
US expresses no concern over Axact issue: FO
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Qazi M. Khalilullah on Thursday said that the United States has conveyed no concern to Pakistan over local IT company Axact’s alleged fake degrees scam. Answering questions in a news briefing about allegations levelled by a New York Times report against Axact, Khalilullah maintained that no foreign country, including the US, has raised any concern over the issue. He said Pakistani agencies were investigating the accusations against Axact upon directions of the Interior Ministry. “Investigations are underway and we have to wait for their completion,” theRead More
LHC gives clean chit to Shoaib Akhtar
ISLAMABAD: In its detailed order over fine of Rs7 million and ban of five years on Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Lahore High Court (LHC) set aside the punishment and declared it to be without lawful authority and of no legal effect. The detailed order was issued on May 6 from the court of Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the LHC and stated that the case of Shoaib was not governed by any validly promulgated rules and regulations by the PCB and therefore theRead More
PM Nawaz departs for Kyrgyzstan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday departed for Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, after concluding a two-day visit to Turkmenistan. Upon his arrival, the prime minister will hold talks with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev. During the delegation level talks, the two sides will discuss issues of mutual cooperation in various fields. Several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed between the two countries. Federal Ministers Khurram Dastgir Khan, Khawaja Asif, State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal, Special Assistant to Prime Minister TariqRead More
Cabinet passes bill on violence against women
LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the bill for protecting women victims of violence, e-stamp paper plan besides deciding to introduce laws for banning even one dish at marriage ceremonies and setting up vigilance committees to monitor implementation of the steps proposed under the National Action Plan (NAP). Under the Punjab Protection of Women Victims against Violence Bill 2015, special centres will be set up for the victims where they will not only be provided residence but all the facilities, from investigation to forensic test toRead More
UN to hold talks on Yemen, govt demands pullback of rebels
SANAA: The United Nations announced on Wednesday a date for its conference on Yemen, where Saudi-led warplanes have intensified raids against rebels in a conflict that has displaced half a million people. But Yemen’s government-in-exile swiftly demanded a pullback of the Houthi rebels from seized territory as a precondition to joining the talks set for May 28 in Geneva. A Saudi-led coalition has waged an air campaign against the Houthi rebels since March 26 in an effort to restore the authority of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has fledRead More