Masood Khan felicitates Pakistani woman picked to head body caring for Asian Americans

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:56 PM

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (APP): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, has congratulated Khydeeja Alam, a Pakistani-American, on her appointment as Executive Director of the California Commission Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, which deals with the needs, issues, and concerns of Asian American and Pacific Islander American communities.

“We look forward to working with you in building bridges between Pakistan and the United States”, he said during a virtual meeting with Ms. Alam. Ms Alam said, “This opportunity exemplifies and represents everything that I hold near and dear to my heart, I want to give back to my community.” Her family migrated to Hollister, California, from Pakistan in 1996 when she was 13.

“I plan to focus on anti-Asian hate, spearhead outreach efforts to address issues related to cultural language sensitivity with state agencies and prioritize uplifting communities across California.”: said Ms Alam. “I also want to include Islamophobia and antisemitism in that work,” she added.

While appreciating her dedication to public service, Ambassador Masood Khan invited Ms Alam to visit Pakistan along with entrepreneurs, tech experts, investors, and lawmakers from her constituency.

“Pakistan offers plenty of investment opportunities in IT, agriculture, mineral extraction, energy and tourism sector,” he said. “We would welcome strong business connections between investors in Pakistan and their counterparts in California”.

Mushaal deeply saddened over Yasin’s uncle demise

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NNPS Desk

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:52 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Human Rights and Women Empowerment Mushaal Hussein Mullick expressed her deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the maternal uncle of illegally incarcerated Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

Mushaal, who is also the wife of Yasin Malik, in her condolence message, said that Muhammad Shafi, maternal uncle of JKLF Chairman, breathed his last due to cardiac arrest.

She extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, praying that may Allah Almighty grant highest place to the departed soul in Jannah.

The SAPM offered prayers to give the bereaved family especially, to the mother of Yasin Malik, the courage to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.

ECP starts issuing postal ballot papers to eligible voters

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NNPS Desk

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:48 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started the process of providing postal ballot papers to eligible individuals for the upcoming general elections for both national and provincial assemblies.

The forthcoming general elections in the country are slated for February 8 next month and the preparations for the event are in their final stages, an official told APP here Saturday.

The election oversight watchdog has specified a deadline of January 22 for submitting postal ballot paper applications.

Eligible voters must download a postal ballot application form the electoral authority’s website. Upon receiving the postal ballot, voters should then send their votes to the relevant District Returning Officer (DRO) within the specified time, he said.

“The individuals receiving postal ballots will not have the privilege to cast their votes in person at the polling stations,” he said.

The application must be forwarded or endorsed by the voter’s office to prevent unauthorized individuals from applying for a postal ballot, as per the ECP. Once an application is received, the returning officer is obligated to send a ballot paper and envelope to the voter by post, in accordance with the Elections Act 2017.”

The envelope must display a certificate of posting on its face, with the posting date to be filled in by the relevant post office official when the voter sends it. Following the receipt of their postal ballot, the act states that a voter should record their vote as prescribed. Once recorded, the voter is required to post the ballot paper to the returning officer in the provided envelope, ensuring it arrives before the consolidation of results.

This provision of postal ballot is uniquely crafted to allow government officials, armed forces personnel, individuals in public offices, and their spouses and children residing away from their constituencies to cast their votes in advance of the official polling day.

The eligibility criteria also include individuals in detention and those with physical disabilities, given that they possess a computerized national identity card (CNIC) featuring a disability logo issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

The Election Commission has set January 22, 2024, as the deadline for receiving applications for postal ballot papers for the upcoming general elections to the national and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan,” the ECP official stated.

The official encouraged individuals appointed by Returning Officers, including police personnel and polling staff assigned to various polling stations, to submit their postal ballot applications within three days of their appointment.
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Models performing on stage during Bridal Show

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:42 PM

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APP11-200124 LAHORE: January 20 - Models performing on stage during Bridal Show. APP/AHF/FHA

The Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed addressing ‘Interfaith Harmony Conference’ organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony at St.Patrick’s Cathedral

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:41 PM

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APP09-200124 KARACHI: January 20 - The Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed addressing 'Interfaith Harmony Conference' organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony at St.Patrick's Cathedral. APP/SQD/FHA

APP10-200124
KARACHI: January 20 – The Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed in a group photo with Ullema, Bishops, Pandits, Sikh, Parsi and other Minority leaders during ‘Interfaith Harmony Conference’ organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony at St.Patrick’s Cathedral. APP/SQD/FHA

Farmers are busy crushing sugarcane to obtain juice for making (GUR) at Bosan Road

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Zia Ur Rehman

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:40 PM

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APP08-200124 MULTAN: January 20 - Farmers are busy crushing sugarcane to obtain juice for making (GUR) at Bosan Road. APP/SFD/FHA

CM Balochistan visits Sibi to review polls arrangements

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NNPS Desk

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Sat, 20 Jan 2024, 4:40 PM

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QUETTA, Jan 20 (APP): Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki on Saturday visited Sibi division to review the law and order situation and preparations for the upcoming polls 2024.

Caretaker provincial Home Minister Mir Zubair Khan Jamali, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Home Zahid Saleem, Additional IG Police Jawad Dogar, Commissioner Naseerabad Division, DIG Police and Deputy Commissioners of six districts participated in the review meeting held in this connection.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that funds for transportation would be released to the deputy commissioners by the provincial government in two days.

A comprehensive security plan has been created for peaceful elections, he said and directed that provision of drinking water, washrooms and basic facilities should be ensured at the polling stations in districts.

The CM emphasized that in all six districts of Naseerabad division, effective steps should be taken to maintain peace.

He noted that the Election Commission has kept the transport rate higher than other provinces in consideration of communication difficulties in Balochistan.

Earlier, the meeting was briefed that the agreement for installation of CCTV cameras at sensitive polling stations had been finalized and all the deputy commissioners have been asked to nominate a focal person for the operation of CCTV cameras in the next 24 hours.