KU cancels two admissions for submitting counterfeit marksheet

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 7:57 PM

KARACHI, Jan 29 (APP):The University of Karachi on Monday canceled the admissions of two students from the morning program-2024 after the verification from the KU Examination Department and the Board of Intermediate Examination Karachi.

The in-charge KU Directorate of Admissions Dr Saima Akhtar mentioned that both admissions were canceled with immediate effect as their marksheets were forged.

According to details, Syed Muhammad Nasir son of Syed Jamal Nasir, having form number 676693 and marksheet seat number 109416 was enrolled in BS Third Year in the department of Karachi University Business School.

He had submitted a tempered marksheet while Muhammad Umer Ansari son of Abdul Waheed had submitted a forged marksheet to get admission in the BS First Year of the Department of English. His admission form number was 671275 and his marksheet seat number was 788787.

Role of mosques, vital for educating out-of-school children, preventing diseases: President

NNPS Desk

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 7:45 PM

KARACHI, Jan 29 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday said the mosques might play a vital role in the provision of education to out-of-school children along with imparting religious ethos for bring about socio-economic development of the country.

He said the mosques had a central place in Muslim society and could be utilized to educate people about important social issues.

The President expressed these views while chairing a meeting about the vital role of Masaajid and Madaris in promoting education and creating awareness about health issues.

The meeting was attended by the Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, Dr Aneeq Ahmed, and religious scholars from various schools of thought.

Addressing the meeting, the President said that educating 26 million out-of-school children was an uphill task in the wake of inadequate educational infrastructure. Building new schools would require tremendous resources as well as time, he added.

He said that utilizing almost 2.5 lacs mosques across the country could be a unique and cost-effective avenue to bring these children back to education.

The President said that mosques could be used as centres of education by incorporating the Government’s Accelerated Learning Programme. “Pakistan should have mosques at the centre of society, simultaneously imparting worldly and religious education to fight the challenges of society,” he added.

The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony apprised the meeting that Mosques could be used at the optimum level by enhancing the role of “Pesh Imam” who would ultimately supervise educational activities.

751 in the arena for 36 seats in 3 KP divisions

NNPS Desk

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 7:26 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP): About 751 candidates are in the arena for 36 constituencies, including 11 National Assembly and 25 Provincial Assembly, in 12 districts of Bannu, Dera Ismael Khan, and Kohat divisions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A total of 258 candidates are contesting for 11 National Assembly seats and 493 are for 25 seats of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, according to the data released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, former National Assembly deputy speakers Faisal Karim Kundi and Zahid Akram Durrani, and former ministers Shehryar Afridi and Ali Amin Gandapur are among the prominent contenders in the electoral race in the three divisions, with 5,375,189 registered voters.

In NA-35 Kohat with 666,239 registered votes, 18 candidates are in the run, while 16 contenders are in the race for PK-90, 13 for PK-91, and 11 for PK-92, Kohat.

Similarly, NA-36 Hangu Aurakzai witnesses a competition among 19 candidates, with a total of 556,060 registered voters, while 18 contenders are in the run for PK-93, and 26 for PK-94, Aurakzai.

Likewise, in NA-37 Kurram with 415,537 registered voters, 34 candidates are participating in the electoral process, while 35 candidates are in the field for PK-95 and 21 for PK-96 Kurram.

Similarly, 31 candidates are competing for success in NA-38 Karak with 486,754 voters, while 18 are in contention for PK-97 Karak and 19 for PK-98.

With 723,459 registered voters, 19 candidates are vying for NA-39 Bannu, while 26 candidates are in the run for success in PK-99, 16 in PK-100, 15 in PK-101 and 20 in PK-102 Bannu.

Similarly, in NA-40 North Waziristan, the total registered voters are 430,484, with 15 candidates participating in the electoral process, while 13 are contesting for PK-103 and 19 for PK-104 North Waziristan.

The total registered votes in NA-41 Lakki Marwat are 516,745, with 39 candidates competing for the seat. Some 24 contenders are in the race for PK-105, 23 for PK-106, 24 for PK-107, and 23 for PK-108 in Tank.

Similarly, in NA-42 South Waziristan, 29 aspirants are in the field while 22 are running for PK-109 and 30 for PK-110 South Waziristan.

In NA-43, there are 167,365 registered votes, with 22 candidates vying for success.

Notable political figures Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Faisal Karim Kundi and Ali Amin Gandapur along with 20 other contenders are in the race for NA-44 Dera Ismael Khan-1, with 391,882 registered voters.

In NA-45 D I Khan II, there are 320,473 registered votes, with 12 candidates in the run, while 18 contenders are vying for PK-111, 20 for PK-112, 30 for PK-113, and 19 for PK-114.

SC bars FIA from taking action against journalists

NNPS Desk

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 7:24 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP): The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday barred the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from taking action against specific journalists in an issue pertaining to the malicious campaign against the judiciary on social media.

The court also sought a report from the federal government within two weeks regarding complaints of some journalists. The top court directed the Director General FIA to hold a meeting with journalists concerned and adjourned the case till Tuesday.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard the suo-motu case about the FIA notices to journalists.

In its order, the court said it had been informed that the FIA had issued notices to some journalists for criticism over the judiciary. It said it was a right of every citizen and journalist to have criticism, adding actions shouldn’t be taken against them just for criticism.

It said that the Attorney General of Pakistan on behalf to government, has also assured that no action would be taken on the basis of criticism.

The court said that it has stopped the FIA to take actions against journalists to whom notices were served. It also directed the DG FIA to hold a meeting with the concern media men. The court inquired from the FIA officials that why the journalists has been summoned.

As per the order, the court sought report from federal government regarding incidents of torture against journalists within two weeks.

The further hearing of the case was adjourned till tomorrow. It may be mentioned here that representatives of journalists’ organizations also appeared before the court during the hearing.

‘Future List’ secures membership on Saudi Journalists Association Board: Al-Ahmari

Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 7:05 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP):The ‘Future List’ has secured membership on the Board of Directors of the Saudi Journalists Association for the next four years, along with two additional members.

As per the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Ahmari, the editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia, was elected as the Chairman of the Authority in recent elections held at the Authority’s headquarters in Riyadh.

The new Board of Directors comprises Bushra Al-Rabiah from the Al-Tawasul Centre, Hamid Al-Shehri, editor-in-chief of the Saudipedia platform, Dhikra Al-Atiwi from the Radio and Television Corporation, Zaid Bin Kami, deputy editor-in-chief of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, along with two other members, Al-Ahmari and Ali Al-Hazmi, editor-in-chief of Sabq, and Fatima Al-Awfi from the Media Department.

At the Ministry of Sports, Faisal Abbas serves as the editor-in-chief of Arab News, Lama Al-Shathri as the editor-in-chief of Sayidaty, Muhammad Al-Bishi as the editor-in-chief of Al-Eqtisadiah, Mamdouh Al-Muhaini as the general director of Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath, Mai Al-Sharif as the assistant editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia, and Nour Nuqli as the deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News.

Pak-Iran collaborative approaches imperative to confront terrorism: FM Jilani

Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 6:50 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP):Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday underlined the imperative for collective and collaborative approaches to confront terrorism that posed a common challenge to both Pakistan and Iran.

During a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who is on an official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of FM Jilani, he stressed that robust institutional mechanisms between the two countries on security cooperation should be fully leveraged, a Foreign Office statement said.

The senior officials from both sides were present at the meeting.

Underscoring the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, FM Jilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepen and broaden the existing wide-ranging cooperation with Iran.

The two foreign ministers agreed to immediately appoint liaison officers in Turbat and Zahidan to further strengthen ongoing security and intelligence cooperation.

Noting that security and development are intrinsically interlinked, they also agreed to expand initiatives for economic and development cooperation, including through early operationalization of the joint border markets to uplift the socio-economic status of the people of both countries, especially those residing in the border regions.

The two sides also decided to establish a Joint Coordination Mechanism at the level of foreign ministers to oversee and steer progress on a common agenda for the prosperity and development of the two peoples.

Regular high-level engagements provide a leadership-driven impetus to the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran. In this backdrop, the foreign minister renewed the invitation to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to undertake a visit to Pakistan.

ECP successfully trains 970,000 polling staff

NNPS Desk

Mon, 29 Jan 2024, 6:48 PM

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed the training of 96% of the polling staff, which includes 970,000 out of a total of 976,000 staff members.

An ECP spokesperson said in a statement that the training for the remaining 6,000 polling staff would conclude within the next four days.

He said the preparations of February 8 general elections were being completed swiftly.

The ballot paper printing, conducted in three government press offices, is proceeding well.

Initiated on January 16 after the assignment of election symbols by the RO, this task is set to conclude by February 2 in the next four days.

According to an ECP spokesman, the ballot paper printing, carried out in three government press offices, is progressing smoothly.

Commenced on January 16 after the election symbols were assigned by the Returning Officer (RO), this task is expected to be completed by February 2 in the next four days.

The spokesman stated that, in collaboration with security agencies and the District Administration, the process of delivering ballot papers to all four provinces has commenced.

This delivery is being conducted using both road transportation and air transportation.

Moreover, starting January 29, 2024, the public can avail themselves of the 8300 SMS service to obtain information about their polling station and other details.

The 8300 SMS service, introduced from January 29, 2024, allows the public to access information about their polling station and other details.

To obtain their vote information, voters are required to send their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to 8300.

All voters are urged to promptly check the vote details for themselves and their family members to avoid any issues at the polling station.

The Election Commission has initiated an inquiry into the clashes and shootings between two political parties in Karachi, as well as the snatching of postal ballots in Swabi district. Reports have been sought from the Chief Secretary and IG for possible actions against those involved under election laws.