Tag: Political

KARACHI - Though the market got to the 12,000 mark, market experts believed that the assassination of the Punjab governor will engender instability in the political scenario and entail caution on the market as a result.
After yesterday's bearish spell the stock market was encouraged by reports that PML-N is likely to support the current government in its bid to remain in power. The KSE 100 index closed at 12110.26 with a gain of 260.80 points, while total volume stood at

ISLAMABAD - The current political crisis in the country following the departure of MQM from the ruling coalition has left American and other foreign diplomats based in Islamabad deeply concerned. They fear it would distract the PPP government from the ongoing anti-terrorism efforts and also diminish further the chances of a military operation in North Waziristan.
"The diplomatic missions in Islamabad, especially those from the western nations including the US, are not only

KARACHI - The KSE-100 index fell sharply by 173 points, recovering almost 90 points from intraday low. E and P and fertiliser stocks helped slight recovery towards the end as 91 million shares were traded.
The KSE 100 index closed at 11849.46 points, while the total volume stood at 73,741,529. The dubious political front triggered a negative start to the bourse. Almost all major oil, banking and fertiliser stocks bore the brunt of the selling pressure and sentiments ebbed, as

LAHORE - PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said his party would never support a corrupt government, warning that if the political mess persisted, the PML-N would launch another long march to free the country from the rule of illegal occupants and the establishment.
Addressing a workers' convention at the 104th foundation day of the Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz said it was ridiculous that those who enjoyed being partners with the corrupt government for three years were also

ISLAMABAD - Apart from the revelations by whistleblower website WikiLeaks and the bickering between coalition partners that shook the country's political arena in December, the country political landscape maintained its status quo during 2010.
The passage of the 18th Amendment by parliament in April was the major political development of the year, which not only appeased the enraged PML-N, as it removed the third-time bar on becoming prime minister, and also transferred a number

ISLAMABAD - Benazir Bhutto was martyred in Rawalpindi, the same garrison town where her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, another popular leader of Pakistan, was hanged well over three decades ago by military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.
Her murder deprived Pakistan of a great and visionary leader, whose absence is felt intensely given the grave problems confronting Pakistan these days. Bhutto, the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state, became the prime minister of Pakistan twice

LAHORE: A concerted effort on the government and political parties' part can bring Dr Aafia Siddiqui back, International Justice Network Executive Director Tina Foster, the attorney representing Aafia's family, said in a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday. She said US administration will have to listen since they had arrested her in Pakistan and had deported her illegally.
The US did not have the right to imprison her thousands of miles away from her family and

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday made phone calls to Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z) President Ijazul Haq and Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and discussed with them the current political situation with focus on the 'deepening cracks' in the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition government.
Altaf's phone conversations were part of a series of such contacts with important political personalities of the country, in

ISLAMABAD: The political situation on Thursday took another turn as the MQM leadership opened preliminary negotiations with various parties in view of the changing scenario to evaluate its options before taking a final decision on whether to continue its alliance with the PPP.
The initiative was taken by MQM chief Altaf Hussain who telephoned PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the likeminded group's leader, Khurshid Kasuri and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman.
MQM senator

KARACHI: PPP Sindh Media Cell In-charge Sharjeel Inam Memon's prompt move to back Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza following the MQM's 10-day notice to the PPP over the home minister's tirade against the party clearly suggests a shift in the PPP's political strategy in the province.
People closely watching the PPP's politics are of the view that due to the changing political situation in the country, the PPP would quickly distance itself from the MQM in the coming days in an

The decision by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to quit the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led fragile coalition has for the first time shaken the scandal-hit government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at a time when it needed the support of its allies more than ever.
Equally disturbing for the PPP is that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has already developed serious differences with the PPP and the Awami National party (ANP) over the situation in Karachi, is

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to formally take on board all political parties on the controversial reformed general sales tax (GST) before the start of the National Assembly session on December 20, and the Finance Ministry has been directed to prepare a detailed briefing to heads of all political parties on the proposed tax.
A source said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had taken notice of the statements of some opposition leaders after Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez

KARACHI: Anarchy prevailed at the University of Karachi (KU) on Friday after a lingering dispute between two student organisations over invigilation matters turned violent. Exasperated law enforcers moved from one point to another to arrest the student's involved, but failed to arrest a single student involved in the clash.
Among the many wounded, three students have been described as "critically injured" as the violence engulfed several departments in its wake. The KU

ISLAMABAD: The country's political parties, police, and parliament have emerged as the top three most corrupt institutions, with the judiciary showing improvement in curbing the menace of corruption, said the 2010 Global Corruption Barometer, a worldwide public opinion survey on corruption released on the International Anti-Corruption Day (Thursday) by Transparency International
The report said that 77 percent of the people believed that corruption in the country had increased

LAHORE: The role of Inter-Services Intelligence's (ISI) political wing is questionable but ISI's role in anti-terrorist activities has been found reliable, Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah said while responding to a 'Call Attention Notice' moved by Chaudhry Zaheer in relation to the suicide blast at the shrine of Baba Fareed in Pakpattan. Sanaullah categorically stated that Inter-Services Intelligence is the best intelligence agency of the country and

PARIS: FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke on Monday defended the world body's "political" decisions to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 event to Qatar.
"It's a political decision to open up onto the world. It was the same thing with (2010) hosts South Africa," said Valcke. "We have eight years till Russia hosts it with a huge commitment on the part of (Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin and 12 for Qatar, who have huge resources," said Valcke in response to questions

KARACHI: The growing political pressure has become a hurdle in appointment of faculty of Islamic learning dean at the University of Karachi despite passing nearly two years of Jalaluddin Noori's suspension as a dean, Pakistan Today learnt on Monday.
Faculty of Islamic Learning has been working without permanent dean for the last 21 months due to growing political pressure for reappointment of Jalaluddin Noori as dean. Noori was suspended by syndicate of the varsity when he was