Pak, India agree on 8 visa categories

Two are in right direction: Krishna

Islamabad—Pakistan and India on Friday agreed on eight visa categories during the foreign secretary level talks here at the Foreign Office. The types include diplomatic, non-diplomatic, 36-hour transit visit, tourist visas, civil society, media and business visas. The tourist visa will be limited to five destinations and will be valid for a period of six months, while the diplomatic visa category will offer visas to the consular, the consular mission and their family members.

ANP minister resigns from Sindh Cabinet

Karachi/Islamabad—ANP lawmaker Amir Nawab, who is also a provincial minister, tendered his resignation from the Sindh government on Friday. Provincial Labour Minister Nawab submitted his resignation to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Nawab said he did not want to function as a “puppet minister” and that he had tendered the resignation on directives from the party’s central leadership. Nawab further said ,“the Pakistan People’s Party could keep such ministries to itself”. The resignation came in the wake of the ANP’s announcement that it would boycott all sessions of the Senate and the national and provincial assembles.

No sense of responsibility in Balochistan: SC

Quetta—The Supreme Court of Pakistan has said that there was no sense of responsibility prevailing among the responsible authorities to control the lawlessness in Balochistan. A three-member bench resumed hearing on law and order and missing persons’ case of Balochistan headed by Chief Justice Ifthikar Muhammad Chaudhary,Justice Kilji Arif Hussain and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja.

US blacklists Haqqani network

Washington—United States decided on Friday to designate the Haqqani network as a terrorist group. After intense pressure from US lawmakers, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton filed a report required by Congress to say that the Haqqani network — known for bloody attacks in Afghanistan — was a terrorist group, an official said. Clinton “signed a report to Congress this morning stating that the Haqqani Network meets the statutory criteria for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization”, the official told reporters travelling with her, on a tour that saw her leave Brunei on Friday to her next stop in Vladivostok, Russia.

President, FM, COAS to visit US

Washington—Pakistan president, the army chief and the foreign minister, will be visiting the United States this month amidst efforts to revive an important partnership in the war against terrorists, according to media report. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khbe will be on three-day visit to Washington beginning Sept. 18.

SP short dead in Quetta

Quetta—Superintendent Police Investigation Jamil Kakar was shot dead by unknown assailants. Airport Road Friday while he was on his way to appear before the Supreme Court. He was promoted to the rank of Superintendent Police on his brilliant performance when he took action against some members of the banned religious group as Deputy Superintendent. He was promoted out of turn for his brave action. Jamil Kakar was receiving threats form a militant group who warned him of revenge.

EC declares KP Sports Minister’s degree fake

Islamabad—The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday declared the bachelor’s degree of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah as fake, sending the case to the district and sessions judge for his trial. A two-member bench comprising of EC members Justice (retd) Riaz Kayani and Justice (Retd) Fazlur Rehman heard a case regarding Federal Minister for Postal Services Sardar Omar Gorgaij and the Awami National Party’s (ANP) provincial lawmaker Syed Aqil Shah’s degrees.