Anti-Islam film

Nationwide security alert to forestall violence today

Security around Foreign missions including US Embassy beefed up, Anti-Islam movie has sparked protests against US throughout Muslim world

Islamabad—A nation-wise security alert has been issued to forestall violence feared to be erupted after Juma prayers today against an anti-Islam film shooted in the United States. The film has been directed by the name Sam Bacile and is said to be Israeli-American. The low budget film has been promoted by US pastor Terry Jones, who is already involved in burning the holy Quran and opposing the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York. All federal and provincial security agencies have been put on high alert and security has been beefed up around foreign missions, specially the US embassy and its consulates in provincial headquarters.

Bleeding power sector to face over Rs 600b deficit

Islamabad—The bleeding public sector power system is feared to brave the colossal deficit of over Rs 600 billion in the ongoing financial year 2012-13, this has been revealed in the business plan for 2012-13 that is being scrutinized in the Financed Ministry and Planning Commission. In the last 7 months of the current financial year, Pakistan Electric Power Company has project the deficit of Rs 400 billion. The government is estimated to provide Rs 228.8 billion as tariff differential subsidy.

PML-N suggests seven nominees for caretaker PM

Islamabad—Leader of the opposition, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has said he has sent seven names to the opposition parties to consider them for the post of caretaker prime minister. According to Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, the list of nominees for caretaker prime minister includes two former judges, four politicians and a lawyer. Talking to media personnel outside the Parliament House on Thursday, he said the opposition would finally propose two names for the post of caretaker prime minister. If the government does not agree upon any of the two names, the Election Commission will be given the prerogative to nominate the caretaker prime minister, he added.

NA condemns blasphemous film

Islamabad—The National Assembly Thursday strongly condemned the airing of a defamatory video clip to malign the personality of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the members demanding of the government to convey their sentiments to the United Nations for necessary action against perpetrators. The resolution adopted by the House unanimously was tabled by Minister for Law Farooq H. Naek. In the resolution, the House believed that such actions, synchronized with commemoration of atrocious event like 9/11, provoke hatred, discord and enmity within societies and between the people of various faiths.

Murder case registered against Karachi factory owners

Karachi—Police in Karachi have registered a murder case against the owners of a garment factory where a fire killed at least 258 people in the country’s worst ever industrial disaster, officers said on Thursday. The government has ordered an inquiry and a senior official already told media that the two brothers who owned the factory have been barred from leaving the country.

Fire incidents big tragedies: Nawaz

Lahore—Terming the terrible fire incidents at Karachi and Lahore as ‘big tragedies,’ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that laws exist in the country but they are not being implemented which resulted in happening of such type of fire incidents. Talking to reporters after visiting the burnt factory located on Band Road here on Thursday, Nawaz said that he will be visiting Karachi on Friday to condole with the deceased families who lost their near and dear ones in terrible fire incident in Karachi.

SC directs AG to present 3-year Info Ministry record

Islamabad—The Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the Auditor General of Pakistan to present a three-year record of the Information Ministry, while hearing the media accountability petition on Thursday. The petition was filed by filed by TV anchors Hamid Mir and Absar Alam.

The court also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to present the record of advertising agency Midas. Speaking to the media after the hearing, Mir said that the petitioners have presented figures to the court which revealed that Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira’s lawyer Abid Sakhi had misguided the court.