MOSCOW: Russia seized the diplomatic initiative on Monday with a plan for Syria to head off the threat of US military strikes by putting its chemical weapons under international control. The move by Moscow, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s most powerful international ally, threatened to overshadow US President Barack Obama’s push to win support for punitive action. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem in Moscow and urged Damascus to “place the chemical weapons under international control and then have them destroyed”.
Pakistan stocks end higher, rupee firm, o/n rate flat
KARACHI: Pakistan’s main stock exchange closed higher on Monday, with the benchmark 100-share index of the Karachi Stock Exchange rising 0.32 per cent, or 72.97 points, to 22,838.84. The market continued its positive trend which was mainly led by Engro Foods Ltd and Lucky Cement Ltd. An upward trend in Asian markets also helped boost the sentiment while receipt of the first tranche from the International Monetary Fund helped build confidence, said Samar Iqbal at Topline Securities.
Three ‘peace committee’ activists beheaded
LANDI KOTAL: Militants beheaded three activists of a peace committee and kidnapped four others during an attack on a house in Bara early on Monday, sources said. A gang of armed men resorted to heavy firing before storming the house in Qambarabad area of Shalobar. Jahangir Khan, a member of the Shalobar peace committee, told Dawn that they had found headless bodies of three of their colleagues, adding that four others had been taken away by the attackers.The committee members tried to take the bodies to Peshawar and hold a protest demonstration on the Ring Road, but were stopped by security forces.
CJ calls for witness protection programme
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has emphasised the need for a witness protection programme, especially for heinous cases like sectarian killings and terrorism. Addressing the opening ceremony of the new judicial year (2013-14) at the Supreme Court on Monday, he bemoaned the dearth of qualified and competent investigation officers (IO) of the police force and said negligence on part of the investigating agency was affecting the prosecution’s cases.The chief justice highlighted the need of improving the quality of investigation by educating investigators about the current laws but regretted that heavy workload on each IO was one of the causes of deterioration in the standard of investigation.
Senate panel asks govt to undo KESC sale
ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Water and Power has asked the federal government to take over the management of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and register cases against officials responsible for causing losses of over Rs110 billion to the exchequer through ‘illegal’ agreements signed with the private owners of the company. The KESC denies the allegations. The committee recommended a judicial commission be set up to probe violations of the agreements, reinstatement of 7000 KESC employees sacked by the private owners and payment of their dues since their removal from service. The committee came up with the recommendations at a meeting on Monday which adopted a report of its sub-committee, headed by Senator Shahi Syed and comprising Nisar Mohammad Khan and Humayun Khan Mandokhel. The meeting was presided over by the committee’s chairman, Senator Zahid Khan.
65 Years of Brazil-Pakistan Relations – a little bit of history
Pak-Brazil ties
In 2013, Brazil and Pakistan celebrate 65 years of friendly diplomatic relations. The establishment of diplomatic relations happened on the immediate aftermath of the Pakistani independence, in 1948. That was first diplomatic connection between the new South Asian state and Latin America. Brazilian and Pakistani ties were strengthened shortly after that, with Pakistan opening its first Embassy in Latin America in Rio de Janeiro, in 1951, and Brazil being the first Latin American country to establish an Embassy in Karachi, the following year.
Pakistan, Thailand vow To enhance economic partnership
DNA
Pakistan and Thailand Tuesday expressed the resolve to build a strong economic partnership, double their trade figures to US two billion dollars in next five years and eventually enter into a Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Pakistan addressing a joint press stake out after a round of bilateral talks also expressed their commitment to collaborate in the field of trade, culture, infrastructure development, science and technology, defence, education and tourism. Prime Minister Sharif said the two sides held a “comprehensive discussion” on wide range of issues and noted the convergence of views on important bilateral and international issues. The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Women Who Has Made A Difference
By Farhat Noor
Throughout times and history there have been women in the world who didn’t take things quietly, who took action to make their world a better place, and who took initiative to make a way for others. From politics to humanitarianism to culture, these women plays a pivotal role in the world in which we live.The Azerbaijani Lady, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, member of Parliament, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva is one of those who can influence society and change it to better, who is capable to capture the hearts and minds of people.
PML (N) not to disappoint masses: Sheikh Aftab:SHAIKAH AFTAB
Waheed Hussain
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Chief Whip of PML (N) Shaikh Aftab in an exclusive interview with the Centerline and DNA passionately spoke out his government top most priorities to address challenges currently being faced by the nation. In a Q & A session Sheikh Aftab candidly highlighted the government’s plans to find out solutions to problems such as terrorism, energy crises, restructuring and privatization of the financially bleeding national institutions, economy, social sector, and evolving national cohesion between center and the various federating units. Here are excerpts from his interview.
