NA to elect PM today

PPP’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf leading candidate

Fazl, Mehtab Abbasi also in race , Zardari’s 1st PM choice fizzles out

Islamabad—National Assembly will elect the 20th Prime Minister of the country today (Friday) in its session summoned by President at 5.30 PM. There were reports that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had decided that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will be the party’s leading candidate for Prime Minister. The PPP will make a formal announcement at a Press conference at 11:00 am today. The allies also agreed to the name of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf at a meeting held Thursday night.

Nawaz questions role of next Prime Minister

Islamabad—The main opposition party in the National Assembly, PML-N has devised a strategy for today’s NA session and will offer strong resistance to the PPP in smooth sailing of its nominee for the office of the Prime Minister. President of the PML-N Mian Nawaz Sharif while briefing the media after a meeting with the parliamentarians of his party Thursday said he would not leave the ground open to the PPP. “I urge all the conscientious MNAs to think beyond the party affiliations and decide for the larger interest of the country,” he said. He, however, dispelled the impression his party was indulging in some “horse trading” or any shady deals.

PA turns into battlefield

Lahore—The Punjab Assembly turned into a battlefield Thursday when its members hurled chairs on each other while Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal suspended the membership of Sheikh Allauddin and See-mal Kamran until the current session of assembly concludes. PML-Q MPA Seemal Kamran fell unconscious while protesting outside the Punjab Assembly as she was barred from entering the assembly.

4 killed, 35 injured in Peshawar, Quetta blasts

Peshawar/Quetta—Four people were killed and 35 others injured in separate blasts in Peshawar and Quetta Thursday. At least three people including a child were killed and 21 others injured in the blast that occurred in Hazar Khwani area. According to rescues sources, dead bodies and injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital. The condition of four injured was said to be serious. Police and LEAs have been cordoned off the area. According t security sources, the explosive material was planted in a donkey-cart outside the shrine.

Dual nationality case Prevention must to stop imported PM: CJ

Islamabad—Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry Thursday remarked if Parliamentarian are not prevented from holding dual nationality then the influx of imported premiers would continue. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice heard the proceedings of the dual nationality case. No one appeared before the court on behalf of Member National Assembly Farhat Mehmood, or Members Provincial Assembly Nadia Gabol and Dr. Ashraf. Anwar Mansoor, who is counsel of Rehman Malik, told SC that they could not present nationality renouncement form because the British lawyer is on leave to Spain.

US dodging queries on drone use: UN

Geneva—A U.N. human rights expert accused the U.S. government of sidestepping his questions on its use of armed drones to carry out targeted killings overseas. Christof Heyns, the U.N.’s independent investigator on extrajudicial killings, had asked the United States to lay out the legal basis and accountability procedures for the use of armed drones. He also wanted the U.S. to publish figures on the number of civilians killed in drone strikes against suspected terror leaders in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere. After a two-day “interactive dialogue” with U.S. officials at the United Nations in Geneva, Heyns said he was still waiting for a satisfactory reply.

Netherlands to cut uplift operations in Pakistan

Islamabad—Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan Gajus Scheltema said that Netherlands is cutting short its development operations in Pakistan due to the continuous hostility, uncertainty and financial constraints. After addressing an alumni gathering of participants from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan he said Netherlands is taking difficult economic decisions mainly because of the Greek crisis and recession in Europe that forced to cut the development aid and to adopt targeted funding. This is because it has become impossible for Dutch government to continue operations in Pakistan, he added.