LAHORE, Mar 01 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz
Sharif has strongly condemned unprovoked firing by the Indian
Army at the Line of Control (LoC).
The chief minister paid tributes to Sepoy Munir Chohan and
Sepoy Amir Hussain, who were martyred due to Indian firing and
extended heartfelt condolences to the heirs.
He said that growing violations of the Line of Control by India were
highly condemnable. The brave armed forces of Pakistan had the
fullest capability to give a befitting reply and the whole
Pakistani nation stood united with the country’s armed forces, he added.
Shehbaz Sharif condemns Indian firing at LoC
Nasser terms CPEC as key to regional prosperity
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua Thursday said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is key to regional prosperity and to sustainable peace in the region.
He was talking to Deputy General Secretary of the One Belt One Road Center, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Xu Wenhong, who called on him here.
Besides the prospects of One Belt One Road initiatives, the overall regional security situation came under discussion.
The NSA said Pakistan and China share very special and close relationship and Pakistan regards China as most reliable friend and a partner.
Xu Wenhong expressed his satisfaction over the growing mutual cooperation and said China is ever willing to move forward for mutual prosperity and bilateral cooperation.
Both sides discussed different aspects regarding CPEC.
The NSA said Pakistan believes that building of economic corridor is conducive for promoting connectivity and shared prosperity of the entire region.
The two sides expressed support for constructive efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. The NSA said Pakistan believes in cooperative relations with all its neighbours on the basis of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
Law minister optimistic of Dr Assad’s success
LAHORE, Mar 01 (APP):Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah
said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz backed candidate
would emerge victorious with heavy majority in the Senate’s
by-poll taking place on Thursday.
Speaking briefly to media after casting his first vote in
the Punjab Assembly building, he said PML-N backed candidate
was party member and would remain so after the by-poll.
However,he said those conspiring to make PML-N disappear
from politics would vanish themselves in due course of time.
He said that Dr Asad Ashraf,after his success in the
election,would re-announce his loyalty to the party.
ECP asks media to cover Senate election
ISLAMABAD, Mar 01 (APP):Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued directions
to allow media in the parliament house for Senate election coverage on March 3.
According to ECP, the commission has asked the media to go to
press gallery of the parliament house on senate election day as they use it on
routine basis.
In this regard, the Speaker National Assembly has made a contact
with the Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob. It added Chief Election Commissioner
Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza while taking notice of the matter immediately withdrawn
the restriction of media coverage of all four provincial assemblies and the parliament
house Islamabad.
Chinese envoy lauds Pak army for their sacrifices in war on terror
RAWALPINDI, Mar 1 (APP):Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing Thursday called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat here at the Joint Staff Headquarters.
During the meeting, matters related to changing geostrategic environment and further strengthening of security and defence cooperation between the two countries came under discussion, an Inter Service Public Relations press release said.
Both the sides reaffirmed the resolve for furtherance of deeper strategic ties.
The ambassador applauded the professionalism of Pakistan armed forces and acknowledged sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in war against terrorism.
Work on 38km Darra Adamkhel-Hayatabad gas pipeline to start this month
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) would start construction work on 38-kilometer Darra Adamkhel to Hayatabad pipeline during the current month to ensure smooth supply of gas to Industrial Estate Hayatabad, Peshawar.
“The company is trying its best to ensure supply of gas to all industries of the Estate for which it carried out necessary maintenance of gas pipeline network and all consumer meter stations to ensure uninterrupted supply of the commodity,” official sources told APP.
During the current fiscal year, they said ample gas had been supplied to all industries including Compressed Natural Gas stations, Captive power units and cement industries, which is evident from the fact that consumption of industrial consumers had increased by 904 million cubic feet (mmcf) during the first four months as compared to the corresponding period of previous year.
“Peshawar industries’ gas consumption stood at 4,899 mmcf during the period from July-October-2016, while in July-October-2017 at 5,804 mmcf, which shows an increase of 904 mmcf,” the sources said.
PML-N doesn’t believe in politics of blame game: Nawaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) does not believe in the politics of blame game.
Talking to private news channel Nawaz Sharif said he is reviewing the ongoing controversy regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence.
He will make a statement on the matter after reaching a conclusion on the subject, he added.
Nawaz said he has heard that the Supreme Court will take up the case at 1pm today, adding that he will see how the apex court proceeds on the matter.
To a question, he said that it was the beauty of democratic process that the elected government was bound to face opposition’ criticism patiently.
He said that PTI should do whatever they want but winning will be with PML-N in next general election 2018.
Peace in Afghanistan prerequisite for peace in region: Iranian air force commander
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):An Iranian delegation headed by Commander of Iran Air Force Brigadier General Hassan Shahsafi accompanied by Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Hoonardost Thursday called on National Security Adviser Lt General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua here and exchanged views on bilateral relations.
They discussed options for further improving the bilateral relations and matters pertaining to regional security.
The NSA said for Pakistan, Iran is an important country as Iran is not only a neighbour but also a brotherly country from historic, cultural and religious perspectives. “We believe that Pakistan and Iran share a common future and need to enhance their cooperation.”
The commander reciprocated the same sentiments and agreed that Pakistan and Iran need to come much close as possible.
He stressed on the importance of identifying and removing all the impediments affecting bilateral relations.
The NSA elaborated on the challenges faced by both the countries at regional and international levels and said solution lies in the cooperative framework.
Discussing the prospects of peace and stability in Afghanistan, the commander said Iran shares Pakistan’s views and believes that peace in Afghanistan is prerequisite for peace in the region.
He stressed on the need of unity in the Muslim World which is suffering the most these days.
The NSA acknowledged the concerns of the commander and highlighted the role of Pakistan in the region and in the Muslim world.
He reiterated that Pakistan has played a positive and balanced role in the region and in Muslim world. Both Pakistan and Iran required deliberation and strategic patience to overcome the prevailing difficulties and to strengthen their bilateral relations and to move ahead together towards a brighter future.
Both sides agreed to increase engagements at all levels in multiple areas including political, defence trade and economics.
Is kite flying a necessary evil ?
ISLAMABAD, Mar 1 (APP):Despite over the years debate and uncertain action against lethal recreational activity, the authorities concerned are at their wits end and seem to have accepted kite flying as a necessary evil.
Senator Taj Haider of Pakistan People’s Party, while talking to APP stressed legislators, educationists and rational segment of civil society to launch a comprehensive campaign against kite flying, terming it “the only way forward to deal with it.”
He however said it was responsibility of state to protect public lives by completely banning such a death-dealing activity.”Only legislation may not help unless people are not sensitized about their obligation on the issue,” he suggested.
A Supreme Court Lawyer and member of Pakistan Bar Council, Maqsood Buttar, said that Homicide chapter of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) must be used against manufacturers of kite and fatal string. “There was no alternate for a human life and anti-kite flying laws should be implemented in letter and spirit”.
“Had there been a forceful ban years back after strict legislation and its implementation the activity may have vanished up till now,” he noted.
Mian Muhammad Tariq Mehmood MNA, however had his own view regarding “Basant”, he said banning a recreational activity is not a solution to the issue. “The incidents of deaths/injuries can be curtailed by taking some certain pre-emptive measures.
“Some spots must be designated far away from the populous areas but this festivity must be allowed as a day of enjoyment for people”, he added.
“The “Basant” a controversial kite flying festival was being celebrated over the years across the country. The majority of the enthusiasts of this festivity belongs to the Punjab province. The deadly chemical coated string, ariel-firing and on road traffic accidents of youngsters catching the kites has made it a murderous and controversial activity”, he deplored.
Kite flying goes on everywhere and neither it is completely banned nor fully authorised due to a mixed public reaction over the activity. However it was imperative to form a result-oriented strategy by the authorities concerned to get an out of the box solution to the issue
More permanent seats will not enhance UNSC’s effectiveness: Pakistan
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 1 (APP):A top Pakistani diplomat has blamed the lack of any progress in the long-running negotiations to restructure the UN Security Council on a group of countries — obviously meaning India, Brazil, Germany and Japan — who, she said, have remained “inflexible” in their push for permanent seats on the 15-member body.
“Responsibility for this deadlock for over 10 years lies with those who have not budged from their inflexible positions,” Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi. permanent representative of Pakistan to the U.N., said on the second day of the interactive session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) aimed at making the Security Council more effective, representative and transparent.
Despite a general agreement on enlarging the Council, as part of the UN reform process, member states remain sharply divided over the details.
Known as the “Group of Four” — India, Brazil, Germany and Japan — have shown no flexibility in their campaign for expanding the Security Council by 10 seats, with 6 additional permanent and four non-permanent members.
On the other hand, Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group opposes any additional permanent members.
As a compromise, UfC has proposed a new category of members — not permanent members — with longer duration in terms and a possibility to get re-elected once.
The Security Council is currently composed of five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — and 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five to two-year terms.
“The UfC has always been willing to look for common ground, revise our original proposal and to show flexibility,” Ambassador Lodhi said in a debate convened to break the impasse in the reform process.
“None of this can be said of those delegations who have adopted a take-it-or-leave-it position,” she said.
Dealing with the Group of Four proposal for additional permanent members, the Pakistan envoy wondered how would it enhance the Security Council’s accountability.
“If the Council needs to adapt to changing realities, how can a so-called solution, fixed in time, such as permanent seats, account for this transient global reality; and, if the Council remains paralyzed to accommodate the interests of five permanent members, how will an enlarged Security Council with more permanent member, calibrate the interests of all these permanent members and yet, operate at an optimal level, to address the increasingly fraught and complex global peace and security landscape,” she asked.
In the circumstances, Ambassador Lodhi urged the co-chairs of the Inter-governmental Negotiations — Kaha Imnadze of Georgia and Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates — to help build on and enlarge the range of convergences of the conflicting positions taken by different groups.
Full-scale negotiations to reform the Security Council began in the General Assembly in February 2009 on five key areas — the categories of membership, the question of veto, regional representation, size of an enlarged Council, and working methods of the council and its relationship with the 193-member Assembly.