Mumtaz Bhutto’s SNF merges into PML-N

Nawaz pledges peace for Sindh

Karachi—Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that once elected to form a government, his party would restore peace in the troubled parts of Sindh. Moreover, on the occasion, chief of the Sindh National Front (SNF) Mumtaz Ali Bhutto announced that he and his party would now operate under the PML-N flag. Speaking at a public meeting in Sindh’s Ratodero city, Sharif said a government existed in the province, however, it “remained missing in action”.

Attends state opening of Parliament by Queen

London—Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that he knew that the detailed verdict of the court would come at the time of his foreign visit and thus he was not surprised by it. Talking to media in London the prime minister said that those interested in becoming PM should first get themselves elected a member of national assembly. My London visit is going well so I have extended it for another day, he added.

US lawmakers propose Pak aid prohibition

Washington—A US Congressional committee in its budgetary proposals for the year 2013 has prohibited economic and security assistance to Pakistan till it co-operates with the US in the fight against terrorism and takes action against groups like Haqqani network, Taliban, al-Qaida, LeT and JeM. “The legislation prohibits economic and security assistance unless the government of Pakistan is cooperating with the US on counterterrorism efforts and other issues,” the House Appropriations committee said in a statement as it released the 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

Would-be Al Qaeda bomber was CIA informant

Washington—The would-be bomber in the airline plot was actually working as a U.S. intelligence informant, but the CIA had Al Qaeda fooled from the start. According to Fox News, a government source familiar with intelligence confirmed that an international sting operation infiltrated the Al Qaeda cell. The informant was apparently one and the same as the bomber got the device out.

Beg holds Durrani responsible

Islamabad—Ex army chief Mirza Aslam Beg has blamed former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Asad Durrani for distributing money among politicians in his reply submitted to the Supreme Court Wednesday. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is seized with a petition filed by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan some 16 years ago against the distribution of millions of rupees by the ISI among anti-PPP politicians to manipulate the 1990 elections.

Resolution on new provinces sails thru Punjab Assembly

Lahore—Punjab Assembly (PA) has passed two separate resolutions for the division of Punjab and creation Bahawalpur and South Punjab provinces here on Wednesday. These resolutions also demanded the federal government for establishing a national commission in this regard. These two resolutions were presented by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan, while the house passed the both resolutions unanimously. According to details, the Punjab Assembly meeting started at 12.20 pm, while Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal chairs the meeting. After recitation of Holy Quran the two newly elected members Shumaila Rana of PML-N and Muhammad Usman Bhatti of PPP from Multan took oath. During the oath taking PPP members raised the slogans against PML-N member Shumaila Rana.

Kayani to accompany President

Islamabad—Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parez Kayani will accompany President Asif Ali Zardari to Chicago, US, to attend the NATO leadership conference starting from May 20. Reliable and well-informed military sources informed Online that General Kayani would attend the leadership conference in Chicago regarding Afghanistan’s future. Sources also added that the decision to include General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was made during last week’s troika’s meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.