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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    A dozen candidates of Pakistani origin won their respective constituencies and are set to become members of the British Parliament. Of them, three belong to the Conservative Party while eight are from Labour.
    More than 40 candidates of Pakistani origin were in the run for the polls. Of the total, around 31 were from mainstream parties such as Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats while the rest were from smaller parties or contesting as independents.


    Labour's Naz Shah Naz Shah of Labour retained her hold on the Braford West constituency after defeating Conservative Party's George Grant.
    The Pakistani-origin Member of Parliament received 29,444 votes against her main opponent?s 7,542.
    The constituency has the most Muslim voters in any constituency in Britain ? with total registered voters at 40,290, of which 20,669 are Muslim.
    In the 2015 polls, Shah had defeated Respect Party?s George Galloway with a majority of over 11,000 votes.
    The turnout in the constituency stood at 67.4%.
    Labour's Rosena Allen-Khan Labour Party?s Rosena Allen-Khan retained her Tooting seat with 34,694 votes, against the Conservative Party?s Dan Watkins who secured only 19,236 votes.
    Rosena had won the seat earlier after Sadiq Khan resigned to become the London Mayor.
    The turnout in the constituency remained at 74.7%.
    In the 2015 polls, Sadiq had bagged the constituency with a small margin ? getting 25,263 votes against 22,421 votes for Watkins.
    Labour's Shahbana Mehmood  Labour?s Shahbana Mehmood contested for reelection from Birmingham Ladywood, winning the seat after attaining 34,166 votes against 5,452 for Andrew Browning of the Conservative Party.
    The turnout in the constituency was 59%.
    Mehmood was one of the first women elected to the UK Parliament. In the 2015 polls, she had got 26,444 votes against Isabel Sigmac of the Conservative Party who got 4,576.
    Labour's Afzal Khan Labour Party?s Afzal Khan bagged the Manchester Gorton constituency with 35,085 votes.
    According to the BBC, Khan, who becomes the city's first Muslim MP, said his election after the Manchester bombing sent a "powerful message to the terrorists and the racists".
    His chief opponent, Shaden Jaradat of the Conservative Party, bagged 3,355 votes.
    The turnout in the constituency was 61%.
    Interestingly, Afzal had contested the seat from the Conservative Party ticket in the 2015 polls, bagging 4,063 votes against 28,187 by the winning Labour candidate ? the late Gerald Kaufman.
    Conservative Party's Sajid Javid A total of 33,493 votes were cast for Sajid Javid, the Conservative Party candidate who won the Bromsgrove constituency. He defeated Labour?s Michael Thompson, who received 16,920 votes.
    The turnout in the constituency was 73%.
    Javid had also won the seat in the 2015 polls with a sizeable majority.
    Labour's Yasmin Qureshi Contesting for reelection from Bolton South East, Labour?s Yasmin Qureshi won after bagging 25,676 votes. She defeated the Conservative Party?s Sarah Pochin who got 12,550 votes.
    The turnout in the constituency was 61.4%.
    In the 2015 polls, Qureshi had received 20,555 votes, defeating the UKIP candidate who got 9,627 votes.
    Labour's Khalid Mahmood Labour?s Khalid Mahmood successfully defended his Birmingham Perry Bar seat for a record fifth time, bagging 30,109 votes against Conservative Party?s Charlotte Hodivala, who got 11,726 votes.
    The turnout in the constituency remained 63.1%.
    In the 2015 polls, Mahmood had won the seat after receiving around three times the number of votes compared to Hodivala.
    Labour's Imran Hussain Labour?s Imran Hussain also successfully defended his seat of Bradford East by bagging 29,831 votes against Conservative Party?s Mark Trafford, who got 9,291 votes.
    The turnout in the constituency was 64.8%.
    The constituency has the second most Muslim votes in any constituency in Britain. In total, there are 41,406 voters, of which 15,299 are Muslims.
    Hussain served as the Shadow International Development Minister in the last cabinet.
    Conservative Party's Rehman Chishti Conservative Party?s Rehman Chishti retained his grip on the Gillingham and Rainham constituency for the third time after getting 21,091 votes against Labour?s Andrew Stamp, who got 17,661 votes.
    Turnout stood at 66.9% in the constituency.
    Chishti holds the honour of being the youngest member of parliament of Pakistani decent when he was elected in 2010 at the age of 31.
    In 2015, he had won the constituency by nearly twice the number of votes from the Labour candidate.
    Labour's Mohammad Yasin In a tight race, Labour?s Mohammad Yasin managed to win the Bedford constituency by taking 22,712 votes against the Conservative Party?s Richard Fuller who bagged 21,923.
    Yasin, who has served as a councillor in Bedoford for 11 years and as cabinet member for two, contested for the parliament seat for the first time.
    Turnout in the constituency remained at 67.5%.
    Fuller had won the seat in 2015 with around a 1,000-lead vote from the Labour candidate.
    Conservative Party's Nus Ghani Conservative Party?s Nus Ghani secured her seat from Wealdon with 37,027 votes and defeated Labour?s Angela Smith, who got 13,399.
    The turnout in the constituency remained at 74.3%.
    In 2015, Ghani had bagged the seat with a huge margin as well. 
    Labour's Faisal Rashid  Labour?s Faisal Rashid won the Warrington South constituency after getting 29,994 votes against 27,445 votes received by the Conservative Party?s David Mowat.
    The turnout in the constituency stood at 72.4%.
    Mowat had won the constituency with an around 2,000-vote margin from the Labour candidate in 2015. 


  2. Waqas Dar
    HILLA: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a market in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, on Friday killing at least 20 people, medical and security sources said.
    "A suicide bomber blew himself up in Musayyib market, causing 20 civilian martyrs," an interior ministry spokesman said.
    At least 34 other people were wounded in the attack in the centre of Musayyib, a town that lies about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of the capital, a police officer and a medic at the local hospital said.
    There was no immediate claim for the attack, which struck at around 11:30 am (0830 GMT), but Daesh has claimed responsibility for most such bombings recently.
    *This is a developing story and will be updated as soon as more details are available. 


  3. Waqas Dar
    CARDIFF: Bangladesh and New Zealand head into their final group match of this year´s Champions Trophy desperate for victory but knowing even a win in Cardiff on Friday may not take either of them into the semifinals.
    Both teams have a point apiece in the one-day international tournament after they were each well beaten by England, while their respective matches with Australia ended in rain-induced no results.
    England are already into the last four and Australia will join them there if they defeat the tournament hosts in the final Group A fixture at Edgbaston on Saturday.
    It all leaves Bangladesh and New Zealand needing to win in Wales and then hope England put one over their archrivals, assuming more bad weather does not disrupt those calculations.
    New Zealand should have the edge over Bangladesh when it comes to local knowledge given their 87-run defeat by England in Cardiff on Tuesday.
    "When it´s not seaming and it´s not swinging, obviously we need to look at different measures," New Zealand paceman Trent Boult told reporters at Cardiff on Thursday.
    "I think we all know the importance of getting wickets early in the innings and putting the team under pressure is where you can really set the game up.
    "That´s the challenge tomorrow. I´m sure we´d love to come hard at the top order, which has been playing very well."
    New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a brilliant hundred against Australia before following up with 87 against England -- a match where he was fined but not banned for a dreadfully slow over-rate.
    Bangladesh´s Tamim Iqbal also started the tournament with a century, against England, before making 95 against Australia.
    For both sides the innings has tended to fall away following the exit of their key batsman, with New Zealand losing their last eight wickets for 65 against England following Williamson´s dismissal.
    "Yes, he is in great form but we cannot focus only on Williamson," said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza at his pre-match press conference.
    "They have players like Martin Guptill who can change the game."
    Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza/Reuters  Bangladesh were just four overs away from all but certain defeat and tournament elimination when rain came to their rescue against Australia.
    Their most recent meeting with the Blackcaps saw Bangladesh beat New Zealand by five wickets in a warm-up match in Dublin.
    New Zealand, however, were without several key players in Guptill, Williamson, plus pacemen Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne.
    "We have beaten their strongest team at home (in Bangladesh) but maybe not so strong in Ireland," Tamim told reporters in Cardiff on Wednesday.
    "They have serious quality players. If we want to repeat the result again, we have to execute well," he added.
    It was at Cardiff, now a much-changed ground, where Bangladesh caused arguably the biggest of all ODI upsets by beating a powerful Australia side in 2005.
    Defeating New Zealand would not be such a shock, but it would be a huge boost to the current Bangladesh´s side standing in world cricket.
    "We knew before the tournament that we had to produce something special, otherwise it wouldn´t be easy to beat teams like England and Australia," said Mortaza.
    "But we are a team that wouldn´t let go of a chance, so if one is coming up tomorrow, we will have to make sure we don´t let it slip."
    Playing XI




  4. Waqas Dar
    The poster of director Imitiaz Ali?s upcoming movie, Jab Harry Met Sejal, was released recently and it seems all too familiar. 

    The movie, which stars Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, has been named after the Meg Ryan and Billy Crytal classic movie, When Harry met Sally. But the twist to the name, immediately reminds us of director?s hit movie, Jab We Met.
    The movie actors' shared the poster on their social media account. While Anushka wrote "what you seek...." 
    And Shah Rukh replying "..is seeking you". 
    However, the poster is also reminiscent of Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone-starrer Tamasha, which failed to make it mark at the box office.  

    The romantic drama, which has been predominantly shot in Prague, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Budapest, marks the third time that the two actors have been paired after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

    The movie is expected to be released on August 8 to avert box office clash with Akshay Kumar's Toilet: Ek Prem Katha.  



  5. Waqas Dar
    Imad Wasim reacts after getting AB de Villiers out on golden duck/Getty Images  All-rounder Imad Wasim has been making headlines for all the right reasons following Pakistan?s stunning win against South Africa. His wicket of Hashim Amla set the stage for the impending collapse. But that?s not all; he also became the first man to give Protean skipper AB de Villiers his first golden duck of the career.
    De Villiers, the world?s number one ODI batsman, had known only six ducks in his 211 innings ? none of them golden. But little did he know ahead of Wednesday?s fateful innings that a left-arm spinner whom he had never faced in his life would give him that unwanted record.
    ?Oh, it happens in cricket,? Imad Wasim laughed it off in an interview to the ICC. ?Sometimes you get hit, sometimes the other guy gets out. It?s just cricket. You should not be carried away or feel too low by this. He hit a shot and got out, so I think I?m really lucky.?
    Courtesy: ICC ?He is such a big player. I see it from the team?s point of view. If AB de Villiers gets out early, and you know what he can do if he stays for a long time, so we were just very happy that he got out. It didn?t matter that he got out on zero or one,? said Imad.
    The 28-year-old said Pakistan team is a different unit when the players play with the intensity observed in the match against South Africa.
    ?I?ve said this before also, we can do anything on any day,? Imad said. ?All we need to change is to put up this sort of performance every time. Whether we win or lose is separate. If we had played with such intensity against India, we could have won or lost, but you can see the difference. The way the boys bowled and fielded, it was fantastic to see our lads play like that. We are a different unit if we play with this intensity, if we don?t relax or don?t become lazy.?
    The all-rounder remarked that the win has given Pakistan renewed hopes of making it to the semifinals and that the team would bring on its best against Sri Lanka on Monday.
    ?When you win, the morale that is there is different. If we think too much about having beaten South Africa we might be flat again, but we are aware that it?s a do or die match for us. We?ll treat it like a knockout match and not worry about the result. Hopefully, Pakistan and the world will get to see a great performance.?
    Pakistan?s next match in Cardiff is all the more special for Imad, as the city is just 40 miles away from Swansea, his birthplace.
    ?Yes the next match is in Cardiff, so there is that,? he said. ?Last year when I played against England, the crowd was supporting me a lot. I?m very thankful to them and to the Pakistan fans who give me so much love. Today it felt like we were playing in a home ground. It was fantastic, it is great fun when our crowd turns up like this.?


  6. Waqas Dar
    Specialist police personnel are at the scene in Byker Photo: Newcastle Chronicle LONDON: A man armed with a knife has held hostage employees of a job centre in Newcastle in northeast England, police said Friday.
    "Officers have attended and found a man armed with a knife had entered the premises," Northumbria police said in a statement. "It is believed that several members of staff are being held there."
    The statement added that it is believed the man responsible is known to the job centre and this is being treated as an isolated incident at this stage.
    "Specialist negotiators are at the scene," the statement read, adding there were no reports of injuries.
    Police said student accommodation nearby had been evacuated and a metro station closed as a precaution.



    According to Daily Mail, the Type and Wear Metro has been suspended between Byker, the affected area, and St James while roads have been closed off around the building and the public had been told to avoid the area. Moreover, it stated five members of staff have are believed to have been released with one man being kept inside.
    Later, reports said all the hostages have been safely released and the attacker in custody. 
    With additional input from Daily Mail.


  7. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/8182fdf4472ab1ab6fa4d6947692bb1c.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni85LzIwMTcgOTowNzo0MiBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPUlGYjBXM1dqWHBUZXpIaVpRT0xYbGc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]
    ASTANA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it is a historic day today as Pakistan becomes a permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. 

    Addressing the SCO's heads of council meeting on Friday, he said "I am thankful to member countries for giving Pakistan permanent membership to the body." 
    ?Pakistan is determined to implement the SCO charter,? he assured the participants. 
    ?We [Pakistan] realise that we have a lot to learn from the wisdom of the founding members as we orient our foreign policy in a changing international environment,? said Sharif. 
    ?With SCO members, we share deep historical and cultural ties, as well as strong economic and strategic linkages. SCO?s goals resonate with Pakistan?s national ethos and so do the core values of the Shanghai spirit and SCO?s charter with our own pressed for a peaceful neighbourhood.?
    He said, ?In this context, I welcome the proposal on the need of good neighbourliness for the next five years among SCO members.?
    ?As leaders, we should leave a legacy of peace for our future generations not a toxic harvest of conflict and animosity. Instead of talking about counterweight and containment, let us create shared spaces for all. I also congratulate India for joining the SCO family.?
    Today, SCO has truly become transnational in coming decades it will serve as a strong link between Asia Pacific, East Asia, West Asia and the Atlantic region, he remarked.   
    "SCO is destined to become a cornerstone of global politics and economics. The SCO gives us a powerful platform for partnerships to promote peace, build trust, and spur economic development for shared prosperity."
    He further said, "Moreover, it helps us all combat terrorism, reduce arms race, eliminate poverty, fight epidemics, deal with natural disasters, tackle climate change and ensure water security."
    "We fully accept the resolve of SCO to fight the twin evil of terrorism and extremism. Pakistan fought its own war against terrorism and violent extremism and with the grace of God we have been able to turn around security and economic situation in our country." 
    ?We attend the conference with the confidence that we would be able to change the world for the better,? he said, adding that Pakistan is diligently implementing the China Pakistan Economic corridor, which will also benefit the SCO members. 

    At the end of the summit, the member countries signed the charter whereby Pakistan and India were granted permanent membership status. 
    Prior to the summit, the premier breifly exchanged pleasantries with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while entering the venue. 
    The SCO summit is being held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. 
    With the inclusion of Pakistan and India, the SCO now has a total of eight states as permanent members ? after China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Other observer states and governments and international organisations are also part of the group.

    The group will then represent nearly half of the world?s population after the inclusion of the subcontinental neighbours.


  8. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/8182fdf4472ab1ab6fa4d6947692bb1c.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni85LzIwMTcgOTowNzo0MiBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPUlGYjBXM1dqWHBUZXpIaVpRT0xYbGc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]
    ASTANA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it is a historic day today as Pakistan becomes a permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. 

    Addressing the SCO's heads of council meeting on Friday, he said "I am thankful to member countries for giving Pakistan permanent membership to the body." 
    ?Pakistan is determined to implement the SCO charter,? he said, adding that economics plays a key role in connecting countries and bringing stability.
    ?We [Pakistan] realised that we have a lot to learn from the wisdom of the founding members as we orient our foreign policy in a changing international environment,? said Nawaz Sharif. 
    ?Mr President, with SCO members we share deep historical and cultural ties, as well as strong economic and strategic linkages. SCO?s goals resonate with Pakistan?s national ethos and so do the core values of the Shanghai spirit and SCO?s charter with our own pressed for a peaceful neighbourhood.?
    He said, ?In this context, I welcome proposal made by the president on the need of good neighbourliness for next five years among SCO members.?
    ?As leaders, we should leave a legacy of peace for our future generations not a toxic harvest of conflict and animousity. Instead of talking about counterweight and containment, let us create shared spaces for all. Mr President, I congratulate India for joining the SCO family.?
    Today, SCO has truly become transnational in coming decades it will serve as a strong link between Asia Pacific, East Asia, West Asia and the Atlantic region, he remarked.   
    "SCO is destined to become a cornerstone of global politics and economics. The SCO gives us a powerful platform for partnerships to promote peace, build trust, and spur economic development for shared prosperity."
    He further said, "Moreover, it helps us all combat terrorism, reduce arms race, eliminate poverty, fight epidemics, deal with natural disasters, tackle climate change and ensure water security."
    "Mr President, we fully accept the resolve of SCO to fight the twin evil of terrorism and extremism. Pakistan fought its own war against terrorism and violent extremism and with the grace of God we have been able to turn around security and economic situation in our country." 
    ?We attend the conference with the confidence that we would be able to change the world for the better,? he said, adding that Pakistan is diligently implementing China Pakistan Economic corridor, which the benefit the SCO. 

    Prior to the summit, the premier breifly exchanged pleasantries with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while entering the venue. 
    The SCO summit is being held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. 
    In the summit, Pakistan will become a permanent member of the six-member SCO, along with India. 
    With the inclusion of Pakistan and India, the SCO will have a total of eight states as permanent members ? after China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Other observer states and governments and international organisations are also part of the group.
    The group will then represent nearly half of the world?s population after the inclusion of the subcontinental neighbours.


  9. Waqas Dar
    ASTANA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it is a historic day today as he began his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Friday. 
    The SCO summit is being held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. 
    In the summit, Pakistan will become a permanent member of the six-member SCO, along with India. 
    With the inclusion of Pakistan and India, the SCO will have a total of eight states as permanent members ? after China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Other observer states and governments and international organisations are also part of the group.
    The group will then represent nearly half of the world?s population after the inclusion of the subcontinental neighbours.


  10. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom.
    May called the snap election in April in an attempt to extend her majority and strengthen her position, but her gamble backfired spectacularly after she failed to win enough seats to form a Conservative government.
    Sterling sank against the dollar and the euro as investors questioned who was now going to control the Brexit process.
    EU Economy Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said May had "lost her bet", while the timetable for Brexit talks, due to begin in 10 days time, has been thrown into disarray, raising suggestions that it could be extended.
    She also faced pressure to quit from inside and outside her party after a troubled campaign overshadowed by two terror attacks, although British media quoted party sources saying she had "no intention" of doing so.






    BRITISH-PAKISTANI WINNERS  



    geo_embedgallery
    JEREMY CORBYN CALLS FOR PM MAY TO QUIT 
    British Prime Minister Theresa May should step down after losses for her Conservative Party in the general election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Friday.

    May "has lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence. I would have thought that´s enough to go," Corbyn said after being re-elected in his Islington North constituency in central London.
    CONSERVATIVES WILL ENSURE 'STABILITY', PM MAY SAYS 
    Prime Minister Theresa May said her Conservatives would ensure much-needed "stability" for Britain as the party reeled from a string of losses from Thursday´s general election.

    "The country needs a period of stability and whatever the results are, the Conservative party will ensure that we can fulfil that duty to ensure that stability," May said after being re-elected to her seat in Maidenhead near London.
    LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SAY "VERY DIFFICULT TO JOIN COALITION 

    Britain's Liberal Democrat party would find it very difficult to join a coalition again after suffering severe damage from its deal with the Conservatives after the 2010 election, former leader Menzies Campbell said on Thursday.

    "(Party leader) Tim Farron made it very clear. He said no pact, no deal, no coalition. We´ve had our fingers burnt by coalition, I don´t need to tell you that. I find it very, very difficult to see how Tim Farron would be able to go back on what he previously said," Campbell told the BBC.

    geo_embedgallery
    REACTIONS 
    Reactions to the outcome on Friday have focused on whether May can stay in office after losing her bet for a stronger majority, and on the ramifications for Brexit:

    May "is in a very difficult place... she now has to obviously consider her position" -- MP and former minister Anna Soubry, a member of May´s Conservative party.

    May´s authority has "received a blow from which it is unlikely to recover." -- former Conservative MP Paul Goodman, editor of the influential website ConservativeHome.
    "It will be difficult to govern and it could mean another election later in the year." -- Wyn Grant, professor of politics at the University of Warwick.
    "Hard Brexit went in the rubbish bin tonight." -- former Conservative finance minister George Osborne
    "Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy." -- Paul Nuttall, head of the anti-EU UK Independence Party.
    "If we do get a Corbyn coalition, Brexit is in trouble." -- former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
    "I hope we never hold referendums on anything ever again." -- pro-EU former Conservative finance minister Ken Clarke.






  11. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom.
    May called the snap election in April in an attempt to extend her majority and strengthen her position, but her gamble backfired spectacularly after she failed to win enough seats to form a Conservative government.
    Sterling sank against the dollar and the euro as investors questioned who was now going to control the Brexit process.
    EU Economy Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said May had "lost her bet", while the timetable for Brexit talks, due to begin in 10 days time, has been thrown into disarray, raising suggestions that it could be extended.
    She also faced pressure to quit from inside and outside her party after a troubled campaign overshadowed by two terror attacks, although British media quoted party sources saying she had "no intention" of doing so.






    BRITISH-PAKISTANI WINNERS  



    geo_embedgallery
    JEREMY CORBYN CALLS FOR PM MAY TO QUIT 
    British Prime Minister Theresa May should step down after losses for her Conservative Party in the general election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Friday.

    May "has lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence. I would have thought that´s enough to go," Corbyn said after being re-elected in his Islington North constituency in central London.
    CONSERVATIVES WILL ENSURE 'STABILITY', PM MAY SAYS 
    Prime Minister Theresa May said her Conservatives would ensure much-needed "stability" for Britain as the party reeled from a string of losses from Thursday´s general election.

    "The country needs a period of stability and whatever the results are, the Conservative party will ensure that we can fulfil that duty to ensure that stability," May said after being re-elected to her seat in Maidenhead near London.
    LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SAY "VERY DIFFICULT TO JOIN COALITION 

    Britain's Liberal Democrat party would find it very difficult to join a coalition again after suffering severe damage from its deal with the Conservatives after the 2010 election, former leader Menzies Campbell said on Thursday.

    "(Party leader) Tim Farron made it very clear. He said no pact, no deal, no coalition. We´ve had our fingers burnt by coalition, I don´t need to tell you that. I find it very, very difficult to see how Tim Farron would be able to go back on what he previously said," Campbell told the BBC.

    geo_embedgallery
    REACTIONS 
    Reactions to the outcome on Friday have focused on whether May can stay in office after losing her bet for a stronger majority, and on the ramifications for Brexit:

    May "is in a very difficult place... she now has to obviously consider her position" -- MP and former minister Anna Soubry, a member of May´s Conservative party.

    May´s authority has "received a blow from which it is unlikely to recover." -- former Conservative MP Paul Goodman, editor of the influential website ConservativeHome.
    "It will be difficult to govern and it could mean another election later in the year." -- Wyn Grant, professor of politics at the University of Warwick.
    "Hard Brexit went in the rubbish bin tonight." -- former Conservative finance minister George Osborne
    "Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy." -- Paul Nuttall, head of the anti-EU UK Independence Party.
    "If we do get a Corbyn coalition, Brexit is in trouble." -- former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
    "I hope we never hold referendums on anything ever again." -- pro-EU former Conservative finance minister Ken Clarke.






  12. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom.
    May called the snap election in April in an attempt to extend her majority and strengthen her position, but her gamble backfired spectacularly after she failed to win enough seats to form a Conservative government.
    Sterling sank against the dollar and the euro as investors questioned who was now going to control the Brexit process.
    EU Economy Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said May had "lost her bet", while the timetable for Brexit talks, due to begin in 10 days time, has been thrown into disarray, raising suggestions that it could be extended.
    She also faced pressure to quit from inside and outside her party after a troubled campaign overshadowed by two terror attacks, although British media quoted party sources saying she had "no intention" of doing so.
    She is expected to give a speech at around 0900 GMT.





    BRITISH-PAKISTANI WINNERS  



    geo_embedgallery
    JEREMY CORBYN CALLS FOR PM MAY TO QUIT 
    British Prime Minister Theresa May should step down after losses for her Conservative Party in the general election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Friday.

    May "has lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence. I would have thought that´s enough to go," Corbyn said after being re-elected in his Islington North constituency in central London.
    CONSERVATIVES WILL ENSURE 'STABILITY', PM MAY SAYS 
    Prime Minister Theresa May said her Conservatives would ensure much-needed "stability" for Britain as the party reeled from a string of losses from Thursday´s general election.

    "The country needs a period of stability and whatever the results are, the Conservative party will ensure that we can fulfil that duty to ensure that stability," May said after being re-elected to her seat in Maidenhead near London.
    LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SAY "VERY DIFFICULT TO JOIN COALITION 

    Britain's Liberal Democrat party would find it very difficult to join a coalition again after suffering severe damage from its deal with the Conservatives after the 2010 election, former leader Menzies Campbell said on Thursday.

    "(Party leader) Tim Farron made it very clear. He said no pact, no deal, no coalition. We´ve had our fingers burnt by coalition, I don´t need to tell you that. I find it very, very difficult to see how Tim Farron would be able to go back on what he previously said," Campbell told the BBC.

    geo_embedgallery REACTIONS 
    Reactions to the outcome on Friday have focused on whether May can stay in office after losing her bet for a stronger majority, and on the ramifications for Brexit:

    May "is in a very difficult place... she now has to obviously consider her position" -- MP and former minister Anna Soubry, a member of May´s Conservative party.

    May´s authority has "received a blow from which it is unlikely to recover." -- former Conservative MP Paul Goodman, editor of the influential website ConservativeHome.
    "It will be difficult to govern and it could mean another election later in the year." -- Wyn Grant, professor of politics at the University of Warwick.
    "Hard Brexit went in the rubbish bin tonight." -- former Conservative finance minister George Osborne
    "Theresa May has put Brexit in jeopardy." -- Paul Nuttall, head of the anti-EU UK Independence Party.
    "If we do get a Corbyn coalition, Brexit is in trouble." -- former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
    "I hope we never hold referendums on anything ever again." -- pro-EU former Conservative finance minister Ken Clarke.






  13. Waqas Dar
    A one pound coin lies on a UnionFlag in this picture illustration shot on May 3, 2017. Photo: Reuters LONDON: Sterling tumbled as much as 2.5% on Friday, while the FTSE share index opened higher, after British voters denied any party a majority of seats in parliament, plunging the country into political chaos days before the start of Brexit talks.

    With no clear winner emerging from Thursday's election, Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting to hold on to her job on Friday, having failed to win the stronger mandate she had sought to conduct exit talks with the rest of the European Union and instead weakening her party's grip on power.
    The surprise of a result that raised questions about how Britain will advance with its plan to leave the EU, and whether any party can form a stable government, sent the pound to eight-week lows against the dollar and its lowest levels in seven months versus the euro.
    After falling sharply on an exit poll released when polls closed at 2100 GMT, which indicated Britain was set for a hung parliament, the pound had steadied a little in Asian trading. But it fell sharply again as London traders arrived at their desks, as it became clear that no party had won a majority.
    "The failure to secure political stability ? and the outcome of a hung parliament ? was always going to be the pound?s nightmare scenario," said ING currency strategist Viraj Patel, in London. "Hopes that political uncertainty would decrease substantially under a more stable Conservative government...(have) been all but dashed."
    "With the two-year Article 50 clock ticking, the passage of time is sterling-negative," he added, referring to the formal Article 50 process by which Britain is set to leave the EU. "A working government is needed as soon as possible to avoid a further drop in the pound."
    FTSE gets a footing 
    Spreadbetters had earlier suggested that London's main FTSE 100 stock index could fall as much as one percent on the election result, but the index - which is composed of companies that largely earn in foreign currencies, and which therefore tends to climb when sterling falls - climbed one percent.
    The more domestically focused FTSE 250 index, however, fell 0.6%.
    British gilt yields were broadly flat, having earlier fallen as investors sought the security of government bonds in the face of the uncertainty.
    Sterling fell to as low as $1.2636 in London trading, its weakest since April 18.
    "This is not the kind of outcome which investors were looking for," said ThinkMarkets analyst Naeem Islam, in London. "Although Theresa May has won the election, in reality, it is Jeremy Corbyn who has made substantial progress. This clearly opens the way towards $1.22 in coming weeks."
    Against the euro, the pound fell to as far as 88.60 pence, its weakest since the USterling dives, FTSE thrives after UK election shockS election results on Nov. 9.
    Investors' traditional views of whether the Conservatives or the opposition Labour party would be good or bad for the pound have been muddied in this election, not least by the prospect of Brexit talks due to start on June 19.
    Some banks have said a high-spending Labour government could spur economic growth and cause the Bank of England to raise interest rates more quickly.
    Some also argue that any Labour-led coalition might aim for a softer deal on Britain's planned departure from the European Union than the "hard Brexit" markets have worried May would deliver.
    "While some have argued that a softer Brexit might ameliorate the downside, there is still the prospect of the contents of the Labour party manifesto," said Michael Hewson, chief analyst with CMC Markets in London.
    "This could well see the pound come under further pressure."


  14. Waqas Dar
    CARDIFF: Bangladesh and New Zealand head into their final group match of this year´s Champions Trophy desperate for victory but knowing even a win in Cardiff on Friday may not take either of them into the semifinals.
    Both teams have a point apiece in the one-day international tournament after they were each well beaten by England, while their respective matches with Australia ended in rain-induced no results.
    England are already into the last four and Australia will join them there if they defeat the tournament hosts in the final Group A fixture at Edgbaston on Saturday.
    It all leaves Bangladesh and New Zealand needing to win in Wales and then hope England put one over their archrivals, assuming more bad weather does not disrupt those calculations.
    New Zealand should have the edge over Bangladesh when it comes to local knowledge given their 87-run defeat by England in Cardiff on Tuesday.
    "When it´s not seaming and it´s not swinging, obviously we need to look at different measures," New Zealand paceman Trent Boult told reporters at Cardiff on Thursday.
    "I think we all know the importance of getting wickets early in the innings and putting the team under pressure is where you can really set the game up.
    "That´s the challenge tomorrow. I´m sure we´d love to come hard at the top order, which has been playing very well."
    New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a brilliant hundred against Australia before following up with 87 against England -- a match where he was fined but not banned for a dreadfully slow over-rate.
    Bangladesh´s Tamim Iqbal also started the tournament with a century, against England, before making 95 against Australia.
    For both sides the innings has tended to fall away following the exit of their key batsman, with New Zealand losing their last eight wickets for 65 against England following Williamson´s dismissal.
    "Yes, he is in great form but we cannot focus only on Williamson," said Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza at his pre-match press conference.
    "They have players like Martin Guptill who can change the game."
    Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza/Reuters  Bangladesh were just four overs away from all but certain defeat and tournament elimination when rain came to their rescue against Australia.
    Their most recent meeting with the Blackcaps saw Bangladesh beat New Zealand by five wickets in a warm-up match in Dublin.
    New Zealand, however, were without several key players in Guptill, Williamson, plus pacemen Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne.
    "We have beaten their strongest team at home (in Bangladesh) but maybe not so strong in Ireland," Tamim told reporters in Cardiff on Wednesday.
    "They have serious quality players. If we want to repeat the result again, we have to execute well," he added.
    It was at Cardiff, now a much-changed ground, where Bangladesh caused arguably the biggest of all ODI upsets by beating a powerful Australia side in 2005.
    Defeating New Zealand would not be such a shock, but it would be a huge boost to the current Bangladesh´s side standing in world cricket.
    "We knew before the tournament that we had to produce something special, otherwise it wouldn´t be easy to beat teams like England and Australia," said Mortaza.
    "But we are a team that wouldn´t let go of a chance, so if one is coming up tomorrow, we will have to make sure we don´t let it slip."


  15. Waqas Dar
    China said on Friday it is "gravely concerned" at reports that two of its nationals kidnapped in Quetta last month have been killed by their captors.
    The Chinese Foreign Ministry made the statement after reports surfaced that Daesh had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and killing of the Chinese nationals.
    Two foreign nationals kidnapped from Quetta
    The husband and wife were working at a Korean language centre since the last year
    However, the reports have not been confirmed by Pakistani officials in the provincial or the federal government.
    Armed men pretending to be policemen kidnapped two Chinese language teachers ? a man and a woman ? in Quetta?s Jinnah Town on May 24.
    Following the incident, a case was registered and a three-member investigation team headed by Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department DIG and including the SSP Investigation and SP Saddar was formed to probe the case.
    "We have been trying to rescue the two kidnapped hostages over the past days. The Chinese side is working to learn about and verify relevant information through various channels, including working with Pakistani authorities," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying in a short statement on June 9.
    "The Chinese side is firmly opposed to the acts of kidnapping civilians in any form, as well as terrorism and extreme violence in any form," it said further.
    On Thursday, the Pakistan Army said it had killed 12 terrorists working to establish contact with Daesh in an operation in Balochistan?s Mastung area on the weekend of June 2. 


  16. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Angelo Mathews says an inspirational session in the nets with Kumar Sangakkara laid the foundations for Sri Lanka´s stunning Champions Trophy victory against India.
    Sangakkara is retired from international duty, but the legendary Sri Lanka batsman is currently playing for Surrey and he took the opportunity to spend some time with his country´s emerging youngsters before Thursday´s crucial clash with India.
    Still in fine form with Surrey, Sangakkara opted against coming out of retirement for the Champions Trophy, but the 39-year-old clearly still has an influence off the field.
    Sri Lanka were thrashed by South Africa in their opening match last week but bounced back on Sangakkara´s temporary home ground, chasing down India´s total of 321 to win by seven wickets at The Oval.
    It was Sri Lanka´s joint highest ODI run chase and kept alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
    Danushka Gunathilaka, standing in for the injured Chamara Kapugedera, hit 76 off 72 balls while Kusal Mendis made 89 as the pair set in motion an unlikely victory.
    And Sri Lanka captain Mathews revealed some tips from Sangakkara this week helped turn the tide.
    "Kusal met Sanga to get some batting tips because he is the king," Mathews said.
    "We all look up to him and take advice from him, all the batters. He taught us good things about how to play on these tracks.
    "The guys met him, took a lot of advice and went out there and did it today."
    Kumar Sangakkara poses in front of his newly unveiled portrait in the Lord's Pavilion/MCC/CS Gunathilaka´s ODI career-best innings was especially impressive as he would have been watching in the stands if Kapugedera hadn´t been ruled out with a knee injury suffered in practice on Wednesday.
    Gunathilaka and Mendis put together a 159-run partnership before Mathews (52) and Asela Gunaratne (34) finished the job with eight balls to spare.
    In the midst of a major rebuilding project, Sri Lanka will clinch an unexpected place in the last four if they beat Pakistan on Monday.
    "For Danushka to walk into a game knowing he wasn´t even in the 15 until after Chamara got injured is impressive," Mathews said.
    "He had to step in against a very strong opposition and I was very impressed with how he batted.
    "He and Kusal played with a lot of freedom and that set us a platform and made it so much easier for myself and the middle order batters.
    "Asela´s little cameo as well really won us the game at the end so it was a fantastic batting effort."
    No guarantees
    India seemed to be in control after Shikhar Darwan scored 125, while Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni made 78 and 63 respectively.
    But the holders paid the price for not pushing closer to 350 and now find themselves in a scrap to progress from Group B, where all four teams have two points with one match left to play.
    "I personally thought we had enough on the board," India captain Virat Kohli said.
    "You have to give credit to the opposition as well. We are not invincible. We are playing against a champion side.
    "These are the top eight teams in the world so there are no guarantees.
    "We have to consolidate and then explode at the end, that´s how we play. We´re not a side that always plays explosive cricket for the 50 overs.
    "But if a team has that kind of mindset and executes their shots you have to take your hat off and sometimes say, ´well done´."
    India must beat South Africa on Sunday to avoid a humiliating exit.
    "Every game is a quarter-final now," Kohli said.
    "All teams are on two points and you have to win all your games to go through. We are very clear about the situation."


  17. Waqas Dar
    Prosecutions have continued under Thailand's new king Maha Vajiralongkorn, who took the throne in late 2016 after the death of his deeply revered father.  BANGKOK: A Thai man was jailed for 35 years on Friday for Facebook posts deemed insulting to the royal family, a watchdog said, in one of the harshest sentences handed down for a crime that insulates Thailand´s ultra-rich monarchy from criticism.
    A Bangkok military court convicted the 34-year-old on ten counts of lese majeste for posting photos and videos of the royal family on a Facebook account that purported to belong to a different user.
    Wichai, whose last name was withheld to protect his relatives from ostracisation, was accused of using the account to slander a former friend, said iLaw, a group that tracks royal defamation cases.
    "The court punished him with seven years per count. Altogether he was given 70 years, but it was reduced in half because he confessed," said Yingcheep Atchanont from iLaw.
    Lese majeste cases are routinely shrouded in secrecy, with media forced to heavily self-censor the details to avoid violating the broadly-interpreted law.
    Reporters were barred from entering the military court where Wichai´s verdict was read.
    Later on Friday a criminal court sentenced another lese majeste suspect to 2.5 years in jail for uploading an audio clip from an underground political radio show that was deemed insulting to the monarchy.
    Use of the draconian law has surged under a royalist junta that grabbed power in 2014, with more than 100 people charged since the coup.
    Prosecutions have continued under Thailand´s new king Maha Vajiralongkorn, who took the throne in late 2016 after the death of his deeply revered father.
    Observers have been closely watching how the new king approaches the controversial law, which effectively blocks scrutiny of Thailand´s opaque and powerful monarchy.
    According to iLaw, Wichai initially denied the charges but later confessed after waiting for more than a year in jail for the court proceedings to begin.
    Lese majeste suspects are rarely acquitted or granted bail.
    The United Nations´ rights body has warned that Thailand´s widespread use of the law "may constitute crimes against humanity".


  18. Waqas Dar
    Two musicians perform in front of Palestinian schoolchildren during a festival organized by Palestinian musician Ramzi Aburedwan in East Jerusalem. Photo: AFP  JERUSALEM: As a boy, Ramzi Aburedwan found himself caught up in the first Palestinian uprising, a well-known photo at the time showing him holding stones to throw at Israeli soldiers.

    He has since become a respected musician and composer, who gives back to children from Palestinian refugee camps, like himself.
    Today, he provides musical training to around 2,000 of them through his project called Al-Kamandjati, or The Violinist, in Arabic.
    Aburedwan, now 38 and who grew up in Al-Amari camp in the occupied West Bank´s Ramallah area, says he hopes to create a "strong future generation capable of expressing itself" through such projects.
    He launched Al-Kamandjati in 2002, wanting to offer youngsters from the camps and other poor children access to expensive musical instruments and music theory classes.
    The violinist, who studied music in Angers in western France, began by collecting instruments donated by various institutions across Europe.
    On his return to Ramallah, he extended the project in 2008 to Beirut´s Shatila refugee camp as well as the Bourj el-Barajneh camp in Lebanon.
    Aburedwan´s project now counts eight music schools and more than 2,000 students aged between five and 18. In March, Palestinian officials named him cultural figure of the year.
    The composer, with a neatly trimmed beard, thinks back with pride to the old photo of himself as a child in a red jacket with stones in hand, taken in 1988.
    At the time, "we had to protect our camp from the soldiers", he said of Al-Amari, one of the refugee camps set up to house Palestinians displaced by the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
    With another mass exodus caused by the Six-Day War of 1967, almost eight million Palestinians are considered refugees, with most of them living in camps across the Middle East.
    Luck and hard work
    The future is bleak for many who grow up in poverty, and that could have been the case for Aburedwan had fortune not smiled upon him.
    As a teenager, he worked odd jobs to earn money where he could, hawking newspapers and doing gardening work for families in Ramallah.
    One of the women who hired him "heard something about a scholarship to learn music in France", he said.
    "She proposed my name and I landed in France, where I learned music before starting Al-Kamandjati," said Aburedwan.
    Recently, a group of music students from the Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, were training along with musicians teaching violin and cello as part of Aburedwan´s programme.
    "I started to learn music in the Qalandia camp with the Kamandjati group when I was seven," said Tayib al-Hamouz, 16.
    Teacher Montasser Jibreen, 25, started to learn music in 2005 with Kamandjati.
    "I played clarinet and after I finished school I got a grant for music at Angers University and was the conductor in the orchestra," he said.
    Beyond teaching music, Aburedwan decided to spend this year inviting musicians from abroad to perform for Palestinians.
    Performances have been planned for camps, auditoriums, the ruins of ancient palaces in the West Bank, the blockaded Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.
    Dozens of performances were held over 18 days at the ruins of Hisham´s Palace in the West Bank city of Jericho, including Rajasthan gypsy dancers with their colourful dresses.
    At the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem holy site that includes the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and the Dome of the Rock, whirling dervish dancers performed.
    However, Sufi music and dance did not please everyone: Aburedwan and other artists were escorted away from the site by offended worshippers.
    But it takes more than that to discourage the kid from the refugee camp.
    A few hours later, dozens of people applauded the Turkish dancers at another location on the outskirts of Jerusalem´s Old City.


  19. Waqas Dar
    An Indian policeman fires a teargas shell towards demonstrators during a protest against the recent killings in Kashmir, in Srinagar. Photo: REUTERS/file SRINAGAR: A curfew has been imposed in Indian-occupied Kashmir following a protest call by Kashmiri leaders on Friday.

    Moreover, restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were imposed in different districts of Kashmir Valley including Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Baramulla, Badgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora and Kupwara.
    The protest leaders were staging a demonstration against the killing of a young man, identified as Adil Farooq Magrey, who was martyred during a clash between security officials and protesters on Tuesday.
    In response, the authorities have also closed down all educational institutions across the Kashmir Valley to prevent more student protests. The examinations have also been postponed.
    Indian forces launch massive operation in Occupied Kashmir
    More than 3,000 personnel cordon off over 20 villages in Shopian district of Indian occupied Kashmir
    The Kashmir war goes viral











    As a result, the internet service in the valley has been suspended.

    Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest and another leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was also placed under house arrest on Friday. 


  20. Waqas Dar
    MUZAFFARGARH: Member of National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti and Meharpur Union Council (UC) Chairman Malik Ajmal were presented in the duty magistrate?s court late Friday night.
    Dasti and Ajmal were arrested earlier in the day by the Punjab Police for forcibly opening a canal in Muzaffargarh on May 28, following which the irrigation department lodged a case against the MNA.
    Jamshed Dasti forcibly opens a canal in Muzaffargarh on May 28.  The two men were transferred to Central Jail Multan on judicial remand.
    Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken notice of the incident and instructed authorities to take stern action against Dasti. 


  21. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/265a3307379ff4a1966b342a7bef4d1b.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni85LzIwMTcgNTo1MToxMCBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPWpmanprWUhZWHRyUjdpNVZtb0ZxM1E9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]
    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif?s son, Hussain Nawaz, reached the Federal Judicial Academy on Friday to appear for questioning before the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

    This is the premier?s elder son?s fifth appearance before the high profile probe team in less than two weeks.
    Strict security measures are in place at the academy, declared as the secretariat of the JIT. 
    Hassan Nawaz appears before JIT for the second time
    Premier?s younger son had earlier appeared before the probe team on June 2
    On Thursday, Hussain?s younger brother, Hassan, made his second appearance before the JIT; which questioned him for around five hours.
    Accompanying Hassan, the premier?s special secretary Asif Kirmani lashed out at the ?character assassination? of the prime minister?s family while talking to the media.
    The JIT is probing the international financial dealings of the Sharif family in light of the April 20 Supreme Court judgment in the Panama case. 
    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court special bench overseeing the JIT?s probe had expressed satisfaction with the progress of the investigation after the JIT submitted its mid-term report.
    Panama case: Supreme Court satisfied with JIT's second interim report
    High-profile probe team has spent 30 days investigating the premier's family's global money trail
    The JIT, formed on May 6, has 60 days to complete its probe and submit its final report to the Supreme Court. 
    Controversies
    The high-profile probe has been marred by several controversies recently.
    A news report published in The News revealed that a person claiming to be the Supreme Court registrar had surreptitiously contacted the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and asked for specific persons to be included in the list of potential JIT members. The prime minister?s son, Hussain, had raised questions of bias against one of the SECP officials who made it to the probe team. However, those objections were not entertained by the court.
    Tale of Whatsapp caller and the Panama JIT
    ISLAMABAD: Using Whatsapp, a caller introduced himself as the Registrar Supreme Court and told the top bosses of the State Bank of Pakistan and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to...
    Moreover, a picture of Hussain during his first visit to the JIT on May 28 was leaked to the media recently, raising questions on the credibility of the JIT?s work. In the picture, Hussain can be seen inside a room with no other pieces of furniture except for the chair he is sitting on and a table beside it. Opposition parties claimed the government itself leaked the picture to gain sympathy, however the Interior Ministry denied those claims.

    Picture of Hussain Nawaz waiting before JIT session goes viral
    PML-N workers question who leaked the photo taken from a CCTV in Federal Judicial Academy
    The most recent controversy surrounding the JIT stemmed from former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nehal Hashmi's recent threats against the ?those investigating the prime minister?s family?.
    Senator Hashmi, who was the PML-N?s Sindh general secretary when he made the comments late May, is facing contempt charges in the Supreme Court for ?threatening the families of judges? after the court took a suo motu notice of his remarks.
    The JIT
    The six-member JIT comprises its head, Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Wajid Zia, Amer Aziz of the State Bank of Pakistan, SECP?s Executive Director Communication Bilal Rasool, Irfan Naeem Mangi of National Accountability Bureau, Brigadier Nauman Saeed of the Inter-Services Intelligence and Brigadier Kamran Khurshid from the Military Intelligence.


  22. Waqas Dar
    A traditional wooden fishing Dhow is seen in port near modern glass and steel buildings on the Doha skyline, Qatar February 9, 2010. Photo: Reuters 1 Qatar dismissed allegations of support for militancy on Friday after four Arab states, which cut ties with Qatar earlier this week, put the emirate on a "terror finance watch list".
    "The recent joint statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE regarding a 'terror finance watch list' once again reinforces baseless allegations that hold no foundation in fact," a Qatari government statement said.
    "Our position on countering terrorism is stronger than many of the signatories of the joint statement - a fact that has been conveniently ignored by the authors."


  23. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif?s son, Hussain Nawaz, is expected to appear before the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) today.

    This will be the premier?s elder son?s fifth appearance before the high profile probe team in less than two weeks.
    Hassan Nawaz appears before JIT for the second time
    Premier?s younger son had earlier appeared before the probe team on June 2
    On Thursday, Hussain?s younger brother, Hassan, made his second appearance before the JIT; which questioned him for around five hours.
    Accompanying Hassan, the premier?s special secretary Asif Kirmani lashed out at the ?character assassination? of the prime minister?s family while talking to the media.
    The JIT is probing the international financial dealings of the Sharif family in light of the April 20 Supreme Court judgment in the Panama case. 
    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court special bench overseeing the JIT?s probe had expressed satisfaction with the progress of the investigation after the JIT submitted its mid-term report.
    Panama case: Supreme Court satisfied with JIT's second interim report
    High-profile probe team has spent 30 days investigating the premier's family's global money trail
    The JIT, formed on May 6, has 60 days to complete its probe and submit its final report to the Supreme Court. 
    Controversies
    The high-profile probe has been marred by several controversies recently.
    A news report published in The News revealed that a person claiming to be the Supreme Court registrar had surreptitiously contacted the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and asked for specific persons to be included in the list of potential JIT members. The prime minister?s son, Hussain, had raised questions of bias against one of the SECP officials who made it to the probe team. However, those objections were not entertained by the court.
    Tale of Whatsapp caller and the Panama JIT
    ISLAMABAD: Using Whatsapp, a caller introduced himself as the Registrar Supreme Court and told the top bosses of the State Bank of Pakistan and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to...
    Moreover, a picture of Hussain during his first visit to the JIT on May 28 was leaked to the media recently, raising questions on the credibility of the JIT?s work. In the picture, Hussain can be seen inside a room with no other pieces of furniture except for the chair he is sitting on and a table beside it. Opposition parties claimed the government itself leaked the picture to gain sympathy, however the Interior Ministry denied those claims.

    Picture of Hussain Nawaz waiting before JIT session goes viral
    PML-N workers question who leaked the photo taken from a CCTV in Federal Judicial Academy
    The most recent controversy surrounding the JIT stemmed from former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nehal Hashmi's recent threats against the ?those investigating the prime minister?s family?.
    Senator Hashmi, who was the PML-N?s Sindh general secretary when he made the comments late May, is facing contempt charges in the Supreme Court for ?threatening the families of judges? after the court took a suo motu notice of his remarks.
    The JIT
    The six-member JIT comprises its head, Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Wajid Zia, Amer Aziz of the State Bank of Pakistan, SECP?s Executive Director Communication Bilal Rasool, Irfan Naeem Mangi of National Accountability Bureau, Brigadier Nauman Saeed of the Inter-Services Intelligence and Brigadier Kamran Khurshid from the Military Intelligence.
    The Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad has been declared as the secretariat of the JIT.


  24. Waqas Dar
    Rain with gusty winds is expected at isolated places in the country today. Photo: Reuters/file  Rain, thunderstorm with gusty winds are expected at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore , Faisalabad, Multan divisions, FATA, Islamabad, and Kashmir, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasted on Friday.

    Hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country in the next twenty-four hours.
    A westerly wave is continues to affect upper and central parts of the country and is likely to persist during the next three days, the MET said.
    Past weather:
    Dust, thunderstorm, and rain with gusty winds occurred at isolated places in Bahawalpur, Sukkur, Hazara, Sibbi, Kalat, Quetta divisions, FATA, and Kashmir.
    The weather remained hot and dry in other parts of the country.
    Rainfall in the last 24 Hours (mm):

    Balochistan: Sibbi 42, Khuzdar 25, Barkhan 01, Punjab: Bahawalpur (AP 27, City 05), Kashmir: Muzaffarabad 17, Rawalakot 01, KP: Parachinar 09, Balakot 03, Sindh: Jacobabad 06.
    Yesterday's highest maximum temperatures:
    Dadu, Padidan, Dalbandin 43°C, Sh. Benazirabad , Turbat, Larkana, Moenjodaro 41°C.
    Data courtesy: Pakistan Meteorological Department


  25. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Results have started coming in for Britain?s snap election with Prime Minister Theresa May poised for victory but losing her parliamentary majority.

    The exit poll showed May's Conservatives on course to fall from 330 to 314 seats, short of an overall majority in the 650-seat House of Commons, after a troubled campaign overshadowed by two deadly terror attacks.
    The main opposition Labour party, led by leftist Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile is projected to increase its number of seats from 229 to 266, according to the joint exit poll by Sky, the BBC and ITV news.
    The pound immediately tumbled after the poll.
    The election came at a pivotal time in British history as it negotiates a complicated exit from the European Union, the first country to leave the six-decade-old bloc.


    The pro-European Liberal Democrats, who have campaigned for a second referendum that could keep Britain in the EU, were forecast to increase their seats from nine to 14.


    In Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for independence to avoid a "hard Brexit", her Scottish National Party was tipped to lose seats but still dominate.


    All parties urged caution at the shock poll, with the final results not likely until early on Friday morning.
    An exit poll gives an indication of the outcome, although final results will not emerge until early Friday.

    In 2005 and 2010, the exit poll accurately forecast the number of seats won by the largest party. In 2015, it slightly underestimated the number of seats won by the victorious Conservatives but got the order of the parties right.

    The forecast Conservative victory is far smaller than suggested by opinion polls when she called the snap election at a time when her popularity was running high.

    Analysts had blamed the decline on May´s botched announcement of a reform in funding for elderly care, a strong grassroots campaign by Corbyn and the terror attacks, which have led to scrutiny of her time as interior minister before becoming prime minister.
    Security for voting day was reviewed following the recent London attack, which left at least eight dead, with the city's Metropolitan Police force implementing a "specialist and highly flexible operation" which it said could be deployed as needed.



    BRITISH-PAKISTANI WINNERS  


    geo_embedgallery
    JEREMY CORBYN CALLS FOR PM MAY TO QUIT 
    British Prime Minister Theresa May should step down after losses for her Conservative Party in the general election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Friday.

    May "has lost Conservative seats, lost votes, lost support and lost confidence. I would have thought that´s enough to go," Corbyn said after being re-elected in his Islington North constituency in central London.
    CONSERVATIVES WILL ENSURE 'STABILITY', PM MAY SAYS 
    Prime Minister Theresa May said her Conservatives would ensure much-needed "stability" for Britain as the party reeled from a string of losses from Thursday´s general election.

    "The country needs a period of stability and whatever the results are, the Conservative party will ensure that we can fulfil that duty to ensure that stability," May said after being re-elected to her seat in Maidenhead near London.
    LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SAY "VERY DIFFICULT TO JOIN COALITION 

    Britain's Liberal Democrat party would find it very difficult to join a coalition again after suffering severe damage from its deal with the Conservatives after the 2010 election, former leader Menzies Campbell said on Thursday.

    "(Party leader) Tim Farron made it very clear. He said no pact, no deal, no coalition. We´ve had our fingers burnt by coalition, I don´t need to tell you that. I find it very, very difficult to see how Tim Farron would be able to go back on what he previously said," Campbell told the BBC.
    Exit polls suggest the Liberal Democrats will increase their number of seats in Britain´s 650-member parliament to 14. The results of the exit poll show that Prime Minister Theresa May´s Conservative Party looks short of an outright majority.

    geo_embedgallery
    Prime Minister Theresa May, who came into power without a national vote last year after David Cameron´s resignation following the Brexit vote, called for a three-year-early election for June 8, saying she needed to strengthen her hand in divorce talks with the European Union by bolstering support for her Brexit plan.
    If May does not handsomely beat the 12-seat majority her predecessor Cameron won in 2015, her electoral gamble will have failed. When she called the election, polls showed she was as much as 23 percentage points ahead. However, the lead has shrunk substantially since then. 
    CORBYN SAYS HIS CAMPAIGN 'CHANGED POLITICS'

    The head of Britain´s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, on Friday said the country´s political landscape had been upended in a general election forecast to result in a hung parliament.
    "Whatever the final result, our positive campaign has changed politics for the better," Corbyn said in a tweet. An exit poll predicted unexpected gains for Labour in Thursday´s vote, causing Prime Minister Theresa May to lose her overall majority.
    MAY, CORBYN CAST VOTES
    Earlier today, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn cast his vote at the Pakeman primary school in Holloway, North London.
    The politician appeared to be in an amiable mood as he smiled and waved to the media.
    Corbyn waved, smiled and posed for the media as he came to cast his vote. Photo: AP Speaking to the press, he said ?Thank you very much, all of you, for coming here today. It?s a day of our democracy. I?ve just voted. I?m very proud of our campaign. Thank you very much.?
    On the other hand, clad in white-and-black May also cast her vote at a polling station in Sonning, Berkshire.
    According to media reports, she just greeted the media with a simple ?hello? unlike her opponent.
    Theresa May cast her vote at a polling station in Sonning, Berkshire. Photo: Reuters  She was also holding a polling card in her hand even though voters didn?t need to show up with one to vote.  
    'LITTLE CONFIDENCE'
    It is the third time Britain has gone to the polls in two years, twice for a general election and once for the EU referendum, and voter fatigue appeared to be an issue among the early voters.
    "I don´t think it has really been a campaign, we don´t know anything about what they are going to do about Brexit, it´s been pointless really," said Joe Kerney, 53, at a polling station in Hackney, east London.
    "I have little confidence in anybody," added voter Simon Bolton, 41. "I think we lack quality in terms of who we can choose, it is very limited."
    The election was May's first since taking office after Britons voted by 52 percent to leave the European Union.


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