Govt ignores TTP threat, to execute three militants

ISLAMABAD: Despite threats by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the government has decided to carry out the execution of condemned prisoners and the death penalty for the first batch of terrorists belonging to outlawed groups will be implemented next week.

While the TTP has issued a ‘warning’ to the government to refrain from implementing the death penalties of its members, the interior minister says the new government is determined to establish the writ of law.

Govt ignores TTP threat, to execute three militants

ISLAMABAD: Despite threats by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the government has decided to carry out the execution of condemned prisoners and the death penalty for the first batch of terrorists belonging to outlawed groups will be implemented next week.

While the TTP has issued a ‘warning’ to the government to refrain from implementing the death penalties of its members, the interior minister says the new government is determined to establish the writ of law.

Govt ignores TTP threat, to execute three militants

ISLAMABAD: Despite threats by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the government has decided to carry out the execution of condemned prisoners and the death penalty for the first batch of terrorists belonging to outlawed groups will be implemented next week.

While the TTP has issued a ‘warning’ to the government to refrain from implementing the death penalties of its members, the interior minister says the new government is determined to establish the writ of law.

Concerted efforts needed to fight terrorism: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said terrorism was not a problem restricted to particular regions of the country, adding that concerted efforts were required to combat the menace.

The premier made these remarks during a visit to the Interior Ministry where he also reviewed the prospects of the constitution of a new force to tackle terrorists, DawnNews reported.

Prime Minister Sharif said the state would ensure the security of the citizens and would employ all possible measures for the purpose.

Death toll rises to 84 in Pakistan floods

ISLAMABAD: Monsoon rains triggering floods have killed 84 people across Pakistan in the last week and affected more than 80,000 others, officials said Wednesday, warning of further downpours.

“At least 84 people were killed, 44 were wounded and 81,341 were affected by recent rain and flooding,” a senior official in the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told AFP.

Punjab govt to boost industrial activities

ISLAMABAD: Industries are being set up across Punjab and foreign investors would be provided investment opportunities in a bid to boost the economy.

This was stated by Chaudhry Mohammad Shafiq, Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment during a meeting with a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).

LoC attack: PM Nawaz summons emergency session

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has summoned an emergency meeting with the foreign ministry and other high-ranked security officials over the Indian attack on the Pakistani soldiers at the Line of Control (LoC) Thursday, Geo News reported.

According to the sources, the meeting will review the strained situation that has emerged between Pakistan and India along with the Indian allegations after the LoC attack.

Shah urges all ECP members to resign

ISLAMABAD: After the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC), the PPP wants all the four members of the commission to immediately quit their posts.

“I am thankful to Fakhru Bhai for listening to my voice and tendering his resignation while admitting his mistakes in the May 11 elections. He took the right step by resigning after the Supreme Court’s act of undoing his orders in the presidential elections,” Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said while talking to reporters here on Sunday.

Taliban plans to storm Musharraf's farmhouse: Report

Islamabad: After successfully pulling off a daring attack on a high-security prison in Northwest Pakistan, banned militant outfits have planned to attack former dictator Pervez Musharraf's farmhouse here, a media report on Wednesday said. Musharraf - who is an accused in multiple criminal cases - is being held at his Chak Shahzad farmhouse, which was declared a sub-jail on April 20.

ECC approves sugar export to Iran

ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday allowed sugar export to Iran against electricity import.It also allowed continued higher margins to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and petroleum dealers and put an immediate ban on import of gold and export of live animals.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that also decided to strictly go by the procurement rules in import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to ensure transparency instead of seeking exemptions.

JUI-F may get two ministries

ISLAMABAD: The JUI-F’s strategy to delay till last minute its decision to support PML-N’s nominee Mamnoon Hussain in the presidential election is going to pay it with two posts in the federal cabinet, Dawn has learnt.

Although the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F officially denies having any “underhand deal” with the ruling PML-N, sources in the two parties said the PML-N had agreed to offer two ministries to the religious party as a reward for its support.

Zardari, Nawaz felicitate president-elect

ISLAMABAD: Notwithstanding PPP’s boycott of the presidential election, President Asif Ali Zardari, who is co-chairman of the party, felicitated Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday on his election as the 12th president of the country.

“In his message of felicitation President Zardari wished the president-elect well in the discharge of his responsibilities as head of the federation,” president’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said.

John Kerry expected to visit Pakistan on July 31

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to arrive in Islamabad on July 31, sources told DawnNews on Monday.

Kerry had accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, extended to him by Adviser to Pakistan's Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 20th Ministerial Meeting of the Asean Regional Forum on July 2.

PPP announces boycott of presidential election

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday announced its decision to boycott the upcoming presidential election, DawnNews reported.

PPP's former Law Minister of Sindh, Ayaz Soomro, informed the Chief Election Commissioner in writing about the party's decision to boycott the presidential election.

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital city PPP's presidential candidate and senior leader Senator Raza Rabbani said that his party was left with no other option but to boycott the poll.

MQM, PTI brace for court battle

KARACHI / ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, claiming damages of Rs5 billion for allegedly defaming and maligning MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

The PTI announced that it also would file a defamation suit against the MQM and its leaders.

Pakistani authorities foil plot to target Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities claimed to have foiled a plot to target Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by busting a terror network planning to launch a suicide attack on his residence in Raiwind on the outskirts of Lahore.

The plot was unearthed by a Joint Investigation Team of police and intelligence officials probing into the abduction of Ali Haider Gilani, son of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was kidnapped during election campaign in May.

Mamnoon strongest PML-N candidate

ISLAMABAD: With two days remaining for submission of nomination papers for the presidential election, the PML-N is reported to have narrowed down the list to three candidates.

Senior PML-N leaders told Dawn that former governor of Sindh and party loyalist Mamnoon Hussain was the front-runner followed by PM’s adviser on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz and former chief justice of Pakistan Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui.

Pakistan condemns attacks on Holy sites in Syria

Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the deliberate and wanton attack on the holy sites including the recent attack on Sayyeda Bibi Zainab’s shrine in Damascus.

Foreign office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in a statement said the trend of desecration of the holy sites has hurt the sentiments of Muslims in Pakistan as indeed the world over. Such violations, which also fan sectarian strife, are most reprehensible.

Pakistan condemns attacks on Holy sites in Syria

Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the deliberate and wanton attack on the holy sites including the recent attack on Sayyeda Bibi Zainab’s shrine in Damascus.

Foreign office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in a statement said the trend of desecration of the holy sites has hurt the sentiments of Muslims in Pakistan as indeed the world over. Such violations, which also fan sectarian strife, are most reprehensible.

Protest rallies against attack on Hazrat Zainab’s (RA) shrine

Demonstrators on Sunday took to the streets in Karachi and twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi against a rocket attack on the shrine of Hazrat Zainab (A.S) in Syria.

In Islamabad, hundreds of people marched and presented a memorandum to officials of Foreign Office.

The rally, which was taken out from from Sector G-6/2 Imambargah to Radio Pakistan Intersection, was led by Aleema Amin Shaheedi, Deputy Secretary General of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).

“It was not attack on the shrine of Bibi Zainab, it was an assault on the unity of Islamic ummah,” one of the protesters remarked.