ISLAMABAD: The government is likely to stop gas supply to CNG stations, industries and fertiliser and captive power plants (CPP) in Punjab for more than two months in the winter and also reduce the supply to these sectors in Sindh. A proposal for gas load management was finalised here on Wednesday at a meeting presided over by the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Formal approval of the revised plan will be given by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet at its next meeting.
Bangladesh top court orders senior Jamaat leader to hang
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced a senior Islamist leader to death for mass murder, toughening the sentence originally handed down by the country’s war crimes tribunal and sparking fresh violence. Abdul Quader Molla, 65, the fourth-highest leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, had been given a life sentence in February by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. The tribunal has since January convicted six Islamists of crimes related to the 1971 war, in which pro-independence fighters battled Pakistani forces which were helped by local Islamist leaders.
Australia wins ODI series against England
SOUTHAMPTON: Australia finished its troubled tour to England on a high by clinching the limited-overs series with a 49-run victory in the fifth and deciding match at The Rose Bowl on Monday. Shane Watson set up the win with a brutal 107-ball 143, containing 12 fours and six sixes, to help the Australians to 298 all out in the day-night match. England was always up against it after slumping to 68-4 in its reply, and a 92-run stand between Ravi Bopara (62) and Jos Buttler (42) for the sixth wicket only delayed the inevitable.
Zawahiri urges restraint in first ”guidelines for jihad”
LONDON: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has issued his first specific “guidelines for jihad”, urging restraint in attacking other Muslim sects and non-Muslims and in starting conflicts in countries where jihadis might find a safe base to promote their ideas. The document, published by the SITE monitoring service, provides a rare look at al Qaeda’s strategy 12 years after the Sept 11 attacks on the United States and the nature of its global ambitions from North Africa to the Caucasus to Kashmir. While al Qaeda’s military aim remained to weaken the United States and Israel, Zawahri stressed the importance of “dawa”, or missionary work, to spread its ideas.
UN fears ‘deteriorating’ human rights in Afghanistan
KABUL: The UN human rights chief on Tuesday expressed fears that progress made in Afghanistan since the fall of the hardline Taliban regime in 2001 was draining away as Nato-led troops withdraw. Navi Pillay said on a visit to Kabul that she had heard growing evidence of a sharp reversal in human rights, especially for women, despite more than a decade of international intervention and billions of dollars of aid.“I do have serious concerns that the human rights situation in the country is deteriorating,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights told reporters.
Karachi operation: 30 suspects apprehended
KARACHI: Rangers and policemen arrested 30 suspects and recovered weapons during various targeted operations conducted in Karachi, moreover two alleged dacoits were shot dead in a police encounter in Musharraf colony area of the city. A Rangers spokesperson said that 19 suspects were arrested during operations were conducted in Chanesar Goth, Shah Faisal, Green Town, Rasheedabad, Taiser town, North Karachi, Quaid-i-Azam colony and North Nazimabad areas of Karachi. Moreover a police party allegedly came under attack while conducting an operation in karachis Musharraf colony area.
Iran confirms exchange of letters with President Obama
DUBAI: Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that President Hassan Rouhani had exchanged letters with US President Barack Obama, confirming direct communication between the leaders of the two countries. The United States and Iran cut off formal diplomatic ties in 1980, shortly after students and Islamic militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took American diplomats hostage. But officials from both countries have said they are open to direct talks in order to find a diplomatic solution to a decade-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, over which the West has imposed economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Turkey will benefit from investing in Pakistan, says PM
ANKARA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Turkish investors would benefit from investing in Pakistan, DNA reported.
Mr Sharif said this during a three-day visit to Turkey on the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to promote trade and economic ties between the two countries.The prime minister said that Pakistan enjoyed brotherly relations with Turkey. He also expressed his desire to further economic relations with Turkey.
2013 – The year of Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan
By Waheed Hussain
October 9, 2013 is marked as a day of presidential elections in Azerbaijan. As per Constitution the electioneering starts 60 days before the election take place. Accordingly, the campaign of candidates starts 23 days and finishing 24 hours before elections.The Azerbaijani Government has taken series of initiatives that serve to ensure free, transparent and fair elections.
Chinese firms ready to invest in energy sector
ISLAMABAD – Many Chinese companies have shown interest to explore Pakistan’s energy sector for making investment in hydro, solar and wind energy projects and help it in overcoming its energy problems, said Luo Sang, Vice Secretary of Sichuan Chamber of International Commerce during a meeting with Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Zubair Ahmad Malik, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry was also present at the occasion.
