PPP ready to go into polls: PM

Backdoor entry seekers won’t succeed

Islamabad—Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday said that anyone intending to clinch power through backdoor channel will not succeed in their desire and that the PPP leader-ship was determined to hold free, fair and transparent elections so the people could choose their next government. Addressing workers of the Pakistan People’s Party from (PPP) Gujar Khan here at the Prime Minister House, the Prime Minister said that the people would get an opportunity to decide who would run the government in future.

Malik offers olive branch to estranged Baloch youth

Islamabad—Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday extended an olive branch to the estranged Baloch youth, pledging that the government would bring them in the mainstream and provide them jobs. Welcoming a statement of Brahamdagh Bugti, the minister told a press conference that the junior Bugti had said that his party had no militant wing and rather it was a political party.

How could Chitralis join Afghan Army

The reports of some unemployed Chitrali youths joining the Afghan Army have raised many a eyebrows; particularly the political circles of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa apprehend that the news circulated in this regard might be an attempt to create unrest in the country aimed at achieving ulterior goals. On the other hand, the patriotic Chitralis have also taken serious notice of the same saying no Chitrali can even think of joining the Afghan Army. The Home Department of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, it may be recalled, had on Thursday issued a statement about the reported joining of the Afghan Army by a few Chitrali youths saying the government had taken serious notice of the issue and also directed commissioner Malakand to look into the issue and report immediately.

Israel’s global support declining: British envoy

London—British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould has said that the international support for the Jewish state among those in the political mainstream is declining, with a “growing concern” in the UK over lack of progress towards peace with the Palestinians. Gould believes that Israelis “might wake up in 10 years’ time and find out that the level of understanding in the international community has suddenly changed, and that patience for continuing the status quo has reduced”.

Couple forced to parade naked

Gambat—Police in the interior Sindh town of Gambat have arrested a man and two women and have charged them with “intentions of adultery,” BBC Urdu reported on Saturday. Curiously, the law-enforcers took it upon themselves to register a police case and also decided to act as witnesses to the said “crime.” Reportedly, a video clip is doing the rounds among locals, where the man and one of the women charged by police are shown being paraded naked and are trying to put their clothes back on but are forced against it by police officials. In a recent development, a local journalist Shafiq Khoro informed that the man arrested by police, Mumtaz, had been warned by locals over his antics, where he had been found drunk and involved in unethical activities by his neighbours.

‘Shujaat needs century to learn politics’

Islamabad—Senior leader of (PML) Likeminded and Member National Assembly Humayun Saifullah Khan have said on Saturday that when Ch. Shujaat needs a century to learn politics. He has said that if Ch. Shujaat wants to know about politics, he should spare some time and come with me to teach him politics.

US stays deportation of 800,000 illegal immigrants

Washington—Young illegal immigrants - many of whom have spent much of their lives attending schools in the United States - will be able to begin emerging from their uncertain status on Aug. 15 when the Obama administration begins letting them apply to stay temporarily. An estimated 800,000 young undocumented residents could qualify for the program that would grant deportation deferrals of at least two years for those who are approved.Two months after President Barack Obama surprised the Hispanic community with a move to suspend deportations for some young illegal immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security will begin accepting applications that also would grant them work permits.