MQM prioritise health, education in manifesto

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has vowed to uplift the standards of health and education, by enforcing local government system in the country.
While addressing a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday, MQM deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar has said that wind energy would be used in order to overcome energy crisis.

He also pledged that the standard of public schools and teachers would be made better.

“Circular debt would be ended by halting welfare projects in the country. New agricultural tax would be imposed on farmers in order to give relaxation to the common man”, said Dr Farooq.

He also advocated that performance of institutions would be enhanced by good performance and revolutionary steps would be taken if the MQM was given an opportunity to come to power.

He said that community services would be made common for all and sundry.

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Punjab caretaker cabinet sworn in

A four-member caretaker cabinet of Punjab took oath on Monday at the Governor House in Lahore.
Governor Punjab, Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood administered the oath.

Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Najam Sethi, was also present on the occasion.

According to sources, former Inspector General Police Tariq Pervaiz will be given the portfolio of Home Ministry, Arif Ejaz Planning and Commerce, Saleema Hashmi Education and Health while the Chief Minister will be responsible for the portfolios of Information and Finance.

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Jamshed Dasti indicted in fake degree case

MUZAFFARGARH: The court has formally charged Jamshed Dasti in bogus degree case Monday, Geo News reported.
The District and Session Court of Judge Abdul Rehman Khan Niazi indicted Jamshed Dasti on the request of regional election commissioner of Multan.
The petitioner was of the view that the accused contested in 2008 elections on a fake degree and he should be tried on the charges of forgery.
On Sunday, Dasti came on a donkey cart to submit his nomination papers in Muzaffargarh.
Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Muzaffargarh Jamshed Dasti, on March 15, had announced his departure from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He said that he would contest in general elections as independent candidate from NA 177 and 178.
Dasti further said that Hina Rabbani Khar and her father opposed him in by-polls that took place in 2010, adding that he had told the party leadership that he would contest elections against Khar.

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SC orders 189 ex-MPs to get degrees verified in 3 days

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered 189 former parliamentarians to get their degrees verified within three days.
The Chief Justice directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct merciless scrutiny of nomination papers, adding that strict action should be taken against lawmakers who fail to get their degrees verified within the given period.

A three-member bench of apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case pertaining to 54 lawmakers holding fake degrees and 189 others who did not provide their certificate to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the Higher Education Commission (HEC) despite several reminders on Monday.

During the course of proceedings, the chief justice remarked that lawmakers holding fake degrees are ineligible to contest elections.

The ECP secretary and HEC chairman were also present in the proceeding.

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YouTube announces shutdown: April Fool’s prank

WASHINGTON: In an elaborate April Fool’s prank, YouTube announced on Sunday that it was going dark for a decade, and that the site was merely an eight-year contest to find the best video.
“It’s finally time to pick the winner,” YouTube representatives announced in a 3:32 minute video posted on its homepage.
The message was simple: the world’s most popular video-sharing website would close at the end of the day to review all the video submissions it has received over the years, and would announce the best one in 2023.
“We are so close to the end. Tonight at midnight, youtube.com will no longer be accepting entries. After eight amazing years, it is finally time to review everything that has been uploaded to our site and begin the process of selecting a winner,” said Tim Liston, named as “competition director.” YouTube CEO Salar Kamangar said that “we started YouTube in 2005 as a contest with a simple goal: to find the best video in the world.” Users have uploaded more than 70 videos every minute to the site, YouTube estimated.
“I encourage everybody to watch as many videos as possible before YouTube deletes everything tonight,” said Antoine Dodson, who became an Internet sensation when a musical version of his 2010 TV interview about a house intrusion was posted on YouTube.
“Distinguished” film critics, YouTube celebrities and some of the site’s “most prolific” commentators are on the judges’ panel, according to Liston.
The Google-owned online video sharing venue said less than two weeks ago that more than a billion people now use YouTube each month, with viewing on smartphones helping drive growth.
The YouTube team noted that nearly one out of every two people on the Internet visits the website, which has grown into a global hit since its launch.
Google bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion and has yet to disclose whether the service has turned a profit.
YouTube has gradually added professional content, such as full-length television shows and movies to its vast trove of amateur video offerings in a bid to attract advertisers.

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Controversial queen Veena Malik ties knot

The controversial starlet Veena Malik has tied the knot on March 30, Saturday, in a secret ceremony with family and friends.
The drama queen chose the social media to make the big announcement. However, she kept her hubby's name secret.

Her tweet on March 31 at 6:17 PM said, "Im happy to announce that i got married last evening in a private ceremony with family n friends...details would be given to press soon!!!"

Meanwhile, most of her followers have termed her tweet as an April fool’s gimmick. 

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Power supply to 16 districts of Balochistan suspended

- Power supply to 16 districts of Balochistan was suspended on Saturday night due to a technical fault at the transmission line from Guddu Thermal Plant.

According to Quetta Electricity Supply Company (QESCO) sources, power supply to 16 districts, including Khuzdar, Kallat, Mastung, Pashin, Chaman, Qilla Abdullah and Makran, has been suspended. Power supply to Quetta was also disrupted, however, power supply to the provincial capital was restored through alternative sources.

The QESCO officials informed that the work to remove the technical fault is in progress and electricity to all affected areas will be restored soon.

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Blast at Zamzama gas pipeline disrupts supply

A gas pipeline exploded in Jafferdabad district of Balochistan province, causing shortfall of 190 million cubic feet in the system
After the incident, gas supply to industries in Faisalabad Zone II will remain suspended today.

CNG would not be available to Multan, Jhang, Bahawalpur and various other areas while gas supply to textile sector and other industries would also be suspended.

The teams have been called in to repair the pipeline and the repair work will be complete within a day or two, an official said.

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ECP to begin scrutiny of nomination papers today

The deadline for the submission of nomination papers for upcoming elections has ended on Sunday night. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will start scrutiny of nomination papers from today.

According to details, nomination papers for 20 National Assembly and 42 Sindh Assembly seats from Karachi were filed candidates of several political parties, including MQM, PPP, PML-N, JUI-F, JI, PML-Q, APML and Sunni Tehreek. Ghanwa Bhutto has filed nomination papers from NA-248, NA-257 and PS-108 while Muhajir Qaumi Movement chairman Afaq Ahmad has filed nomination papers from NA-251 and NA-255. A eunuch named Bindia Rana has also filed nomination paper from PS-114.

At least 150 candidates have filed nomination papers for two constituencies of Islamabad, i.e. NA-48 and NA-49 including PML-N’s Aqeel Anjum and APML chief Pervez Musharraf.

More than 500 candidates have filed nomination papers for 15 National assembly and Punjab Assembly seats from Rawalpindi. Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Imran Khan, Hanif Abbasi, Bisharat Raja and Ali Ahmad Kurd are among the candidates who filed nomination papers from Rawalpindi.

Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, has filed nomination papers from NA 151 and PP-200. Sheikh Waqas Akran of PML-N and Muttahida Dini Mahaz’s Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludianvi have filed nomination papers from NA 89-Jhang.

More than 50 candidates have filed papers for 3 National and 6 Punjab Assembly seats from Rahim Yar Khan.

In Peshawar, 263 candidates have filed nomination papers for 4 National and 11 Provincial Assembly seats. Those who filed nomination papers to contest election from Peshawar included former federal minister Arbab Alamgir, Asma Alamgir and PTI’s Shah Farman. For the first time in the history of Bajaur Agency, a female candidate Badam Zari has filed nomination papers from NA-44 as an independent candidate.

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Scrutiny of nomination papers begins, Sharifs, Imran summoned

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started the scrutiny of nomination papers on Monday while PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif has been summoned along with PTI chief Imran Khan in this regard.
The commission had received more than seven thousand nomination papers from across the country. The process of scrutiny will continue till April 7.

The returning officers summoned Nawaz Sharif on April 3 and 4 for the scrutiny of papers for National Assembly’s constituencies of 119 and 120. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif has been called on April 3 and 4 for NA-129, PP-159 and PP-161 while Imran Khan will visit ECP on April 5 for NA-122 and 126.

The deadline for the submission of nomination papers ended last night.

According to details, nomination papers for 20 National Assembly and 42 Sindh Assembly seats from Karachi were filed candidates of several political parties, including MQM, PPP, PML-N, JUI-F, JI, PML-Q, APML and Sunni Tehreek. Ghanwa Bhutto has filed nomination papers from NA-248, NA-257 and PS-108 while Muhajir Qaumi Movement chairman Afaq Ahmad has filed nomination papers from NA-251 and NA-255. A eunuch named Bindia Rana has also filed nomination paper from PS-114.

At least 150 candidates have filed nomination papers for two constituencies of Islamabad, i.e. NA-48 and NA-49 including PML-N’s Aqeel Anjum and APML chief Pervez Musharraf.

More than 500 candidates have filed nomination papers for 15 National assembly and Punjab Assembly seats from Rawalpindi. Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Imran Khan, Hanif Abbasi, Bisharat Raja and Ali Ahmad Kurd are among the candidates who filed nomination papers from Rawalpindi.

Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, has filed nomination papers from NA 151 and PP-200. Sheikh Waqas Akran of PML-N and Muttahida Dini Mahaz’s Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludianvi have filed nomination papers from NA 89-Jhang.

More than 50 candidates have filed papers for 3 National and 6 Punjab Assembly seats from Rahim Yar Khan.

In Peshawar, 263 candidates have filed nomination papers for 4 National and 11 Provincial Assembly seats. Those who filed nomination papers to contest election from Peshawar included former federal minister Arbab Alamgir, Asma Alamgir and PTI’s Shah Farman. For the first time in the history of Bajaur Agency, a female candidate Badam Zari has filed nomination papers from NA-44 as an independent candidate.

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