Govt to defer response in NRO implementation case

Islamabad—Government decided on Wednesday to delay the submission of response to the Supreme Court pertaining to the NRO implementation case. The response would be submitted to the apex court after the approval from the federal cabinet. Replying to questions of media representatives during a press briefing held after the cabinet meeting here, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had already sacrificed one prime minister. Now the cabinet’s approval would be sought before taking future decisions.

FC must produce missing persons: CJ

Quetta—Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary has asked lawyer of Frontier Corps in Balochistan unrest case to present the missing persons, failing which FC commandants will have to be brought before the court. While hearing Balochistan unrest case in Quetta registry, on Wednesday, the chief justice said to the lawyer of FC, Raja Irshad, to opt between either of the two choices, adding that Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Levis force have no knowledge about the actions taken by FC.

US senators push for payment of $1.1b to Pakistan

Washington—Pakistan should get $1.1 billion in US funds that have been held up for months now that Islamabad has reopened crucial Nato supply lines to Afghanistan, top senators said. A major obstacle to releasing the money was removed last week when Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton apologised to Pakistan for the killing of 24 Pakistani troops last fall and Pakistan, in return, agreed to reopen the overland supply lines to US-led coalition forces.

India to make drone: Report

India’s first ever advanced unmanned combat drone will be ready for Air Force operations by the end of the decade, a feature on The India Today reports. On May 31, the chief of India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Vijay Saraswat was guest of honour at a little-known aerospace seminar in Linkoping, Sweden, the Indian magazine says. The missile scientist took a spin in a Swedish Saab Gripen fighter jet, giving local journalists a fun photo-opportunity. But nestled in an elaborate presentation Saraswat later made at the seminar was something that had never been seen before.

Contempt of Court Bill sails thru Senate

Islamabad—The Senate approved the Contempt of Court Bill, 2012 on Wednesday and will require a formal presidential assent to become law, which will repeal the existing contempt law. The bill was presented by Law Minister Farooq H. Naek. The Contempt of Court Bill, 2012 had already been approved by the National Assembly and excuses holders of public office from contempt proceedings. PML-N senators in protest to the bill staged a walkout. Earlier during the Senate session, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar said his party strongly opposed the bill calling it a “slap on our faces.”

Cabinet decides uniform loadshedding across country

Islamabad—The federal Cabinet has decided to implement a uniform loadshedding schedule across country and uninterrupted supply of electricity during Iftar, Sehar, and Taraveeh. The Cabinet has decided to increase the allocation of seats for representation of minorities in the national and provincial assemblies proportion to their population.

Nato routes reopening for regional peace: PM

Islamabad—Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan took the decision of reopening Ground Lines of Communication (GLOCs) for NATO supplies in the interest of regional peace and stability in accord with national interests. He said that Pakistan is ready to facilitate the transition process in Afghanistan as responsible member of the international community and a neighbour who stands to directly benefit depending upon how situation unfolds in that country.