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Waqas Dar

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Blog Entries posted by Waqas Dar

  1. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/5d7a2721f23d9beeb23d64224bb39cf1.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni81LzIwMTcgOToyNzo1NSBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPWt0cG1YczhMRW1JU2R3NDRER2VJUHc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]
    The Arab world's strongest powers cut ties with Qatar on Monday over alleged support for extremists and Iran, re-opening a festering wound two weeks after US President Donald Trump's demand for Muslim states to fight terrorism.
    Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut relations with Qatar in a coordinated move. Yemen, Libya's eastern-based government and the Maldives joined in later.
    Iran?long at odds with Saudi Arabia?immediately blamed US President Donald Trump for setting the stage during his recent trip to Riyadh.
    Gulf Arab states and Egypt have already long resented Qatar's support for extremists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood which they regard as a dangerous political enemy.
    The coordinated move, with Yemen and Libya's eastern-based government joining in later, created a dramatic rift among the Arab nations, many of which are in OPEC.
    Announcing the closure of transport ties with Qatar, the three Gulf states gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave. Qatar was also expelled from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.
    Major airlines announce end to Qatar-bound flights
    Doha responds in kind by banning all flights to Saudi Arabia
    Oil giant Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups?some backed by regional arch-rival Iran?and broadcasting their ideology, an apparent reference to Qatar's influential state-owned satellite channel al Jazeera.
    "(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," Saudi state news agency SPA said.
    It accused Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi'ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.
    Iran saw America pulling the strings.

    "What is happening is the preliminary result of the sword dance," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted in a reference to Trump's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
    Trump and other US officials participated in a traditional sword dance during the trip in which he called on Muslim countries to stand united against religious extremists and singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups.
    Qatar Airways retaliate, suspend flights to Saudia Arabia
    Qatar denounces 'unjustified' cut of Gulf ties, read a statement
    US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters in Sydney on Monday that the spat would not affect the fight against religious militants and that Washington has encouraged its Gulf allies to resolve their differences.
    A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf states have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
    Fallout
    The economic fallout loomed immediately, as Abu Dhabi's state-owned Ethihad Airways, Dubai's Emirates Airline and budget carrier Flydubai said they would suspend all flights to and from Doha from Tuesday morning until further notice.
    Qatar Airways said on its official website it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia.
    Qatar's stock market index sank 7.5 percent with some of the market's top blue chips hardest hit.
    The measures are more severe than during a previous eight-month rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, again alleging Qatari support for militant groups. At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.
    The diplomatic broadside threatens the international prestige of Qatar, which hosts a large US military base and is set to host the 2022 World Cup. It has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes.
    Defeating terrorism our mutual goal, Trump says in Saudi summit
    The session was earlier addressed by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia
    'Lies, fabrications': Qatar 
    Qatar said on Monday it was facing a campaign of lies and fabrications aimed at putting the Gulf Arab state under guardianship, after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with it.
    "The campaign of incitement is based on lies that had reached the level of complete fabrications," the Qatari foreign ministry said.
    It added that, as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, it was committed to its charter, respected the sovereignty of other states and did not interfere in their affairs.

    Pakistan to stay away from conflict
    Pakistan has no immediate plans to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said on Monday.
    Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nafees Zakria The country "has no such plans," the spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, said, following the severing of ties with Qatar by Islamabad's key ally, Saudi Arabia, and three other Middle East nations.
    "At the moment there is nothing on Qatar issue, (we) will issue a statement if some development takes place," Zakaria said.
    Pakistan in recent years has been caught between the feud between its ally Saudi Arabia and neighbour Iran.
    FIFA World Cup 2022 in 'danger'
    The measures are more severe than during a previous eight-month rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, again alleging Qatari support for militant groups. At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.

    A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf states have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
    The diplomatic broadside threatens the international prestige of Qatar, which hosts a large US military base and is set to host the 2022 World Cup. It has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes.
    Warships of the US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, in May 2007. Photo: Reuters Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at the US-based Baker Institute, said if Qatar's land borders and air space were closed for any length of time "it would wreak havoc on the timeline and delivery" of the World Cup.
    Arab Spring
    Qatar has used its media and political clout to support long-repressed groups during the 2011 pro-democracy "Arab Spring" uprisings in several Arab countries.

    Muslim Brotherhood parties allied to Doha are now mostly on the backfoot in the region, especially after a 2013 military takeover in Egypt ousted the elected president.
    The former army chief and now president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along with the new government's allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, blacklist the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.
    Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, said on its state news agency that Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation."
    Oil prices rose after the moves against Qatar, which is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a major seller of condensate - a low-density liquid fuel and refining product derived from natural gas.
    Iran says decision not help resolve Middle East crisis
    A senior Iranian official said on Monday the decision by some Gulf Arab states and Egypt to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar would not help end the crisis in the Middle East.
    "The era of cutting diplomatic ties and closing borders ... is not a way to resolve crisis ... As I said before, aggression and occupation will have no result but instability," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted on Monday.


  2. Waqas Dar
    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/5d7a2721f23d9beeb23d64224bb39cf1.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni81LzIwMTcgOToyNzo1NSBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPWt0cG1YczhMRW1JU2R3NDRER2VJUHc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]
    Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism and opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.
    Iran?long at odds with Saudi Arabia?immediately blamed US President Donald Trump for setting the stage during his recent trip to Riyadh.
    Gulf Arab states and Egypt have already long resented Qatar's support for extremists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood which they regard as a dangerous political enemy.
    The coordinated move, with Yemen and Libya's eastern-based government joining in later, created a dramatic rift among the Arab nations, many of which are in OPEC.
    Announcing the closure of transport ties with Qatar, the three Gulf states gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave. Qatar was also expelled from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.
    Major airlines announce end to Qatar-bound flights
    Doha responds in kind by banning all flights to Saudi Arabia
    Oil giant Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups?some backed by regional arch-rival Iran?and broadcasting their ideology, an apparent reference to Qatar's influential state-owned satellite channel al Jazeera.
    "(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," Saudi state news agency SPA said.
    It accused Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi'ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.
    Iran saw America pulling the strings.

    "What is happening is the preliminary result of the sword dance," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted in a reference to Trump's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
    Trump and other US officials participated in a traditional sword dance during the trip in which he called on Muslim countries to stand united against religious extremists and singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups.
    Qatar Airways retaliate, suspend flights to Saudia Arabia
    Qatar denounces 'unjustified' cut of Gulf ties, read a statement
    US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters in Sydney on Monday that the spat would not affect the fight against religious militants and that Washington has encouraged its Gulf allies to resolve their differences.
    A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf states have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
    Fallout
    The economic fallout loomed immediately, as Abu Dhabi's state-owned Ethihad Airways, Dubai's Emirates Airline and budget carrier Flydubai said they would suspend all flights to and from Doha from Tuesday morning until further notice.
    Qatar Airways said on its official website it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia.
    Qatar's stock market index sank 7.5 percent with some of the market's top blue chips hardest hit.
    The measures are more severe than during a previous eight-month rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, again alleging Qatari support for militant groups. At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.
    The diplomatic broadside threatens the international prestige of Qatar, which hosts a large US military base and is set to host the 2022 World Cup. It has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes.
    Defeating terrorism our mutual goal, Trump says in Saudi summit
    The session was earlier addressed by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia
    'Lies, fabrications': Qatar 
    Qatar said on Monday it was facing a campaign of lies and fabrications aimed at putting the Gulf Arab state under guardianship, after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with it.
    "The campaign of incitement is based on lies that had reached the level of complete fabrications," the Qatari foreign ministry said.
    It added that, as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, it was committed to its charter, respected the sovereignty of other states and did not interfere in their affairs.

    Pakistan to stay away from conflict
    Pakistan has no immediate plans to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said on Monday.
    Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nafees Zakria The country "has no such plans," the spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, said, following the severing of ties with Qatar by Islamabad's key ally, Saudi Arabia, and three other Middle East nations.
    "At the moment there is nothing on Qatar issue, (we) will issue a statement if some development takes place," Zakaria said.
    Pakistan in recent years has been caught between the feud between its ally Saudi Arabia and neighbour Iran.
    FIFA World Cup 2022 in 'danger'
    The measures are more severe than during a previous eight-month rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, again alleging Qatari support for militant groups. At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.

    A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf states have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
    The diplomatic broadside threatens the international prestige of Qatar, which hosts a large US military base and is set to host the 2022 World Cup. It has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes.
    Warships of the US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, in May 2007. Photo: Reuters Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at the US-based Baker Institute, said if Qatar's land borders and air space were closed for any length of time "it would wreak havoc on the timeline and delivery" of the World Cup.
    Arab Spring
    Qatar has used its media and political clout to support long-repressed groups during the 2011 pro-democracy "Arab Spring" uprisings in several Arab countries.

    Muslim Brotherhood parties allied to Doha are now mostly on the backfoot in the region, especially after a 2013 military takeover in Egypt ousted the elected president.
    The former army chief and now president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along with the new government's allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, blacklist the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.
    Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, said on its state news agency that Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation."
    Oil prices rose after the moves against Qatar, which is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a major seller of condensate - a low-density liquid fuel and refining product derived from natural gas.
    Iran says decision not help resolve Middle East crisis
    A senior Iranian official said on Monday the decision by some Gulf Arab states and Egypt to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar would not help end the crisis in the Middle East.
    "The era of cutting diplomatic ties and closing borders ... is not a way to resolve crisis ... As I said before, aggression and occupation will have no result but instability," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted on Monday.


  3. Waqas Dar
    CM Murad presenting budget for fiscal 2017-18 in provincial assembly KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of the finance minister, today presented budget of Rs1.043 trillion for the fiscal year 2017-18 in the Sindh Assembly.
    Before the provincial assembly session the provincial cabinet met to accord approval to budgetary estimates of the upcoming financial year and revised budget for the outgoing fiscal 2016-17.
    ?The task before is ardous...[but] we are armed with the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto and BB,? he said prior to presenting figures, complaining that Sindh has been discriminated against by the federal government.
    For the upcoming fiscal year, the outlay represents an increase of 20% compared to previous fiscal year?s figure of 869.12 billion. 
    Opposition creates uproar during Punjab Assembly?s budget session
    Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghous?s budget speech was constantly marred by sloganeering from the opposition benches
    The budget deficit is expected at more than Rs14 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, Shah said. Total revenue is expected to see a 20.4% increase at 1.028.8 trillion from previous fiscal year.
    Amount allocated for the province under the Annual Development Plan is Rs244 billion, out of which Rs151.83bn has been allocated for 2,158 ongoing schemes. The chief minister said 816 new schemes are being introduced in the province, for which Rs92.163bn have been allocated.
    The Sindh government has also proposed a 10% increase in the salaries and pension of government employees, besides announcing creation of over 46,000 new jobs. This is expected to include 14,000 vacancies to regularise the services of lady health workers and 10,000 new jobs in the police force.
    The government has proposed a property tax for 120-yards houses and an entertainment tax on cinemas.
    An amount of Rs92 billion has been earmarked for security-related costs.
    The provincial budgetary estimates for non-development expenses are expected to be Rs 665 billion, while the overall development budget will be around Rs346 billion.
    As per its provincial share under the National Finance Commission Award, the government is likely to be allocated Rs 627 billion from the federal government, whereas it is likely to collect Rs200 billion under provincial taxes.
    A sum of over Rs 42 billion, collected with foreign assistance, will be reserved for ongoing development projects of the province.
    In the upcoming financial year, the Sindh government is to spend an amount of around Rs320 million on projects to be developed in the province with the centre?s assistance.
    The ongoing Karachi development package in the next financial year is likely to contain 14 new projects for which a sum of Rs10 billion is likely to be allocated.


  4. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first in a must-win clash against two-time Champions Trophy winners Australia at The Oval on Monday.
    Bangladesh lost to England in the tournament opener last week, while Australia shared points with New Zealand after their match was washed out by rain.
    The last completed ODI match between Australia and Bangladesh was held over six years ago, as their World Cup tie in 2015 was washed out.

    Squads
    Australia
    Bangladesh 




  5. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that conspiracies against his government have always been present and continue to do so, but they will not be able to impact the government?s agenda for development.

    The PM was addressing party workers in Lahore, where he said that the journey toward development would not stop.
    ?We are not afraid of accountability, have been held accountable in the past too and currently facing accountability as well,? he said.
    ?We don?t know about the agenda of the enemies,? he said.
    The economic indicators are going up, said the premier adding that work on Karachi and Gwadar port is going on.
    ?A lot of sessions have been held in closed rooms, now we are in front of the public,? said Sharif.
    Earlier, the Premier chaired a high-level session, which was attended by provincial ministers, officials, and Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif.


  6. Waqas Dar
    LONDON: Two-time Champions Trophy winners Australia face off against Bangladesh at The Oval on Monday, in what is a must-win clash for Mashrafe Mortaza?s men.
    Bangladesh lost to England in the tournament opener last week, while Australia shared points with New Zealand after their match was washed out by rain.
    The last completed ODI match between Australia and Bangladesh was held over six years ago, as their World Cup tie in 2015 was washed out.

    Squads
    Australia
    Bangladesh 




  7. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of the finance minister, is presenting budget of Rs1.043 trillion for the fiscal year 2017-18 in the Sindh Assembly.
    Before the provincial assembly session, which is reported to convene soon, the provincial cabinet met to accord approval to budgetary estimates of the upcoming financial year and revised budget for the outgoing fiscal 2016-17.
    The cabinet approved a budget of Rs1,043 billion, according to sources. 
    Opposition creates uproar during Punjab Assembly?s budget session
    Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghous?s budget speech was constantly marred by sloganeering from the opposition benches
    It is expected that the Sindh government would face a shortfall ranging between Rs12 billion to Rs16 billion in meeting its overall expenses in the upcoming financial year.
    The provincial budgetary estimates for non-development expenses are expected to be Rs 665 billion, while the overall development budget will be around Rs346 billion.

    Reports also stated that an amount of Rs82 billion has been earmarked for security-related costs.

    As per its provincial share under the National Finance Commission Award, the government is likely to be allocated Rs 627 billion from the federal government, whereas it is likely to collect Rs200 billion under provincial taxes.
    A sum of over Rs 42 billion, collected with foreign assistance, will be reserved for ongoing development projects of the province.
    How do Pakistanis see Budget 2017-18?
    We spoke to the common Pakistani and this is what they had to say
    In the upcoming financial year, the Sindh government is to spend an amount of around Rs320 million on projects to be developed in the province with the centre?s assistance.
    The district Annual Development Programme (ADP) is likely to stand at Rs30 billion, with an upward revision of Rs0.05 billion than the previous financial year.
    The provincial ADP would stand at approximately Rs245 billion, with an increase of around Rs45 billion compared to the passing year. The budget is also expected to include new expenditures worth around Rs20 billion.
    The government is likely to announce around 46,000 government job vacancies. This would include 14,000 vacancies to regularise the services of lady health workers and 10,000 new jobs in the police force.
    The ongoing Karachi development package in the next financial year is likely to contain 14 new projects for which a sum of Rs10 billion is likely to be allocated.


  8. Waqas Dar
    Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anil Kapoor are all ready to share screen space after 17 years.
    The stars, who have starred in Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai and Taal, are teaming up for for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra?s upcoming movie, Fanney Khan.
    Movie?s co-producer, Prernaa Arora, told Mumbai Mirror that ?We go on the floors by the year-end. It is a happy, slice-of-life film. We approached Aishwarya for the part and are glad she agreed to come on-board.?
    Fanney Khan is a comedy musical which was initially supposed to be an official remake of Everybody?s Famous!, which has been directed by Dominique Deruddere.
    However, it was learnt that producers are making some changes to the script.
    Anil Kapoor was last seen in Dil Dhadakne Do while Aishwarya?s depicted the role of a poetess in Karan Johar?s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. 


  9. Waqas Dar
    DOHA: In a tit-for-tat move Qatar Airways announced on Monday that it has suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia with immediate effect.
    "Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" until 11:59 GMT the same day, a statement from the Doha-based carrier said.
    A spokesperson added it was unclear if the suspension would be extended.
    Qatar slammed the decisions of three Gulf states to sever ties with it, saying they were "unjustified" and aimed to put Doha under political "guardianship".
    "The measures are unjustified and are based on false and baseless claims," the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to the unprecedented steps taken by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
    "The aim is clear, and it is to impose guardianship on the state. This by itself is a violation of [Qatar´s] sovereignty as a state," it added.
    The host of the football World Cup 2022 said it has been subjected to an "incitement campaign based on fabrications, which reflects an intention to harm Qatar".
    Diplomatic disorder: Saudi Arabia, other Arab states cut ties with Qatar
    Egypt, Bahrain, UAE all accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, extremism; Qatar denies charges
    Doha insisted the sanctions, which include the Gulf states severing air, land and sea links with Qatar, "will not affect the daily life of citizens and residents".
    "The Qatari government will take all measures necessary... to foil attempts to affect or harm Qatar´s society and economy," the statement said.
    Qatar has land borders with Saudi Arabia and is separated by Gulf waters from nearby Bahrain and the UAE. 


  10. Waqas Dar
    Indian federal investigators launched a fraud probe on Monday into the founders of news channel NDTV, in a step the channel denounced as an attempt to muzzle free speech in the world's largest democracy.
    Two senior officials at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it had registered a case against NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and his wife, Radhika Roy, for causing an alleged loss of INR 480 million ($7.45 million) to a bank.
    The company refuted the allegations and accused the CBI of "concerted harassment of NDTV and its promoters based on the same old endless false accusations".
    "NDTV and its promoters will fight tirelessly against this witch-hunt by multiple agencies. We will not succumb to these attempts to blatantly undermine democracy and free speech in India," NDTV said in a statement.
    The investigation comes at a time of often heated, polarising debate in India's fiercely competitive TV news industry, where channels sometimes test the boundaries of responsible journalism and prime-time talk shows are often rowdy and contentious.
    Police conducted raids at Roy's residence in New Delhi and at two vacation homes.
    Neither of the couple were available for comment but NDTV presenter Srinivasan Jain said the "message is clear".
    "Any independent voices in media will be bullied and shut down. Black day," tweeted Jain.
    The CBI said the investigation had no link to the editorial line of NDTV, India's oldest English-language all-news channel.
    "We have nothing against NDTV's news coverage ... they are accused of a financial fraud and its our duty to investigate," a senior CBI official said.
    India slipped by three places to 136th in this year's World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, which highlighted concerns that Hindu nationalists were "trying to purge all manifestations of anti-national thought".
    Senior officials in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office and members of his nationalist BJP have told Reuters they consider NDTV to be the least-government friendly channel.
    In a heated exchange last Thursday, an NDTV moderator demanded that a spokesman of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) either apologise or leave their live debate after he accused the channel of pursuing an anti-government agenda.


  11. Waqas Dar
    Hamad International Airport in Doha. Photo: Reuters/File Dubai-based carrier Emirates said it will suspend all flights to and from Doha from Tuesday morning until further notice, joining UAE-based Etihad Airways in a similar move amid a diplomatic spat between Qatar and some of its Gulf neighbors.

    The move came after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism, opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.
    Emirates said the last flight from Dubai to Doha will depart at 2:30 am on Tuesday, while the last flight from Doha to Dubai will depart at 3:50 am.
    "All customers booked on Emirates' flights to and from Doha will be provided with alternative options, including full refunds on unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternate Emirates destinations," the airline said in an email.
    Dubai-based budget carrier flydubai said on Monday it would suspend flights to and from Doha from Tuesday after the United Arab Emirates severed ties with Qatar.
    "From Tuesday 06 June 2017 all flydubai flights between Dubai and Doha will be suspended," the statement on Monday said.
    Air Arabia also said it had suspended flights between Sharjah and Doha effective Tuesday until further notice.
    The airline's last outbound flight from Sharjah to Doha will depart at 18:30 local time on Monday, while the last inbound flight from Doha to Sharjah will depart on Monday at 19:25 local time.
    Passengers who hold existing reservations on Air Arabia flights to Doha after June 5 will be provided with the option of a full refund or booked to other destinations, it said.
    Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has also suspended all flights to Qatar, it said on its official Twitter account on Monday, without providing further details.

    Meanwhile, in a tit-for-tat move, Qatar Airways said on its official website on Monday that it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia.


  12. Waqas Dar
    COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa (R) and Japanese ambassador Takashi Kurai (L) discussed matters of mutual interest with focus on regional security. Photo: ISPR RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Ambassador of Japan Takashi Kurai on Monday, according to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
    The meeting was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi.
    Matters of mutual interest with focus on regional security were discussed during the meeting, the ISPR said.

    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/6ccc4e91855b1f0ea642d4fe2ebe013d.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni81LzIwMTcgOTo1NzoyNSBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPVM1WjV2ZVEvcjhsTlY0UmJrNDl1Rnc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center] The Japanese ambassador appreciated the efforts and sacrifices of Pakistani people and army against terrorism. He also expressed his government?s desire to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in all fields.

    The COAS thanked the ambassador and expressed hope that Japan will continue to play a positive role towards peace and stability in the region. 


  13. Waqas Dar
    COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa (R) and Japanese ambassador Takashi Kurai (L) discussed matters of mutual interest with focus on regional security. Photo: ISPR RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Takashi Kurai on Monday, according to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
    The meeting was held at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi.
    Matters of mutual interest with focus on regional security were discussed during the meeting.
    The Japanese ambassador appreciated efforts and sacrifices of Pakistani people and Army against terrorism. He also expressed his hovernment?s desire to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in all fields.
    COAS thanked the ambassador and expressed hope that Japan will continue to play a positive role towards peace and stability in the region. 


  14. Waqas Dar
    A spokesperson of the Interior Ministry has said that a particular political party's claim that the ministry is behind the leaking of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz's interrogation picture is nothing but a baseless assertion. 
    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
    A leaked picture of the premier's son waiting inside an interrogation room in what seems to be the headquarters of the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on May 28 went viral on Sunday. 
    In a statement, the spokesperson said the capital police ? which fall under the ministry ? are only responsible to providing security outside the Federal Judicial Academy, declared the JIT headquarters. 
    Interior minister, IB involved in leaking Hussain Nawaz's picture: Fawad Chaudhry
    PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry rubbishes the PTI spokesperson's allegations
    The spokesperson clarified that the neither the police nor the ministry has any internal involvement inside the academy.
    He added that no department of the ministry is connected with any JIT member, not with its workings and recording of CCTV footage.
    To play politics on such sensitive issues is uncalled for, the spokesperson stressed.  

    Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry claimed the Interior Ministry was behind the leaking of Hussain's picture. 
    Hussain has appeared four times before the JIT, which is probing the global financial dealings of the prime minister's family in light of the April 20 Supreme Court judgment in the Panama Papers case. 


  15. Waqas Dar
    Soldiers stand guard in Mapandi village on June 2, 2017. Photo: Reuters Islamist militants holed up in a southern Philippines town stocked weapons and food in mosques, tunnels and basements to prepare for a long siege, officials said on Monday as the battle for control of Marawi City came to the end of its second week.

    Their comments underlined the level of organisation among fighters linked to the Islamic State group, whose ranks of several hundred included foreigners from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Saudi Arabia, Chechnya and Morocco.
    The battle for Marawi City has raised concerns that the ultra-radical Islamic State is building a Southeast Asia base on the island of Mindanao at the southern end of the Philippines.
    Parrying questions on why the fighters had been able to resist an onslaught from the Philippines army for so long, senior officers said the main problem was that 500-600 civilians were still trapped in the urban heart of the town.
    Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that Marawi City would be fully liberated within three days, but on Monday officials were more circumspect on the timing and gave conflicting estimates of how many combatants were holding out.
    Major General Carlito Galvez, head of the military command in Western Mindanao region, said as many as 200 fighters from the Maute militant group and others were still inside the town, and had made preparations in advance for a drawn-out standoff.
    "In houses we take over, we see .50 caliber, .30 caliber, and the ammunitions are huge. And the Maute, even if they fight two months they will not starve here," he told a news conference about one kilometre from the fighting.
    "If you look at it, there are underground tunnels and basements that even a 500-pounder cannot destroy."
    He said that days before seizing Marawi City the militants placed supplies in mosques and madrasas, the religious schools of a town whose population of over 200,000 is overwhelmingly Muslim in a country where the majority of people are Christians.
    Trapped civilians low on supplies
    The area of the town occupied by the militants had shrunk to less than 10 percent, military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla told a news conference, adding that the army was pressing on to meet Duterte's deadline but it was not easy.
    "Complications have been coming out: the continued use of civilians, potential hostages that may still be in their hands, the use of places of worship ... and other factors that complicates the battle because of its urban terrain," he said.
    Military choppers made combat sorties and machinegun fire rattled and smoke billowed in a neighborhood of the town on Monday, Reuters correspondents said.
    A four-hour ceasefire to evacuate residents was marred by gunfire on Sunday, leaving hundreds of civilians who had hoped to flee the fighting stuck in their homes.
    Padilla said that 1,467 civilians had been rescued so far, and the 500-600 still trapped were low on food and water.
    "There are places which we use as passageways to enemy territory - when we reach those areas, sometimes we see old people who are weak, cannot move on their own, because of lack of food," he said.
    A presidential spokesman said 120 militants have died in the battle, along with 38 government forces. The authorities have put the civilian death toll at between 20 and 38.
    President Duterte, who launched a ruthless 'war on drugs' after he came to power a year ago, has said that the Marawi fighters were financed by druglords in Mindanao, which has been roiled by banditry and separatist insurgencies for decades.
    After the Marawi siege began Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, an island the size of South Korea with a population of 22 million. Six opposition lawmakers on Monday challenged the imposition of martial law in a petition to the Supreme Court, but his allies in Congress have supported the move.


  16. Waqas Dar
    The two Bollywood stars will share screen space after a really long time. Photo: Tubelight screenshot  Bollywood?s King Khan Shah Rukh Khan will be making an appearance in Salman Khan?s new movie Tubelight and the fans can?t wait.
    The duo, which has worked together in movies such as Karan Arjun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dushman Duniya Ka, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam and Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, will be seen on the screen after a really long time.
    Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan confirmed to star in Tubelight
    The Bollywood titans are coming together in Tubelight
    Speaking about King Khan?s entry in the film, Salman said, ?Shah Rukh has done a day's work. His character comes at a very crucial time.? When asked if he is the one who has given him the ?yakeen? he is looking for in the film, Salman laughed saying ?now I am going to give it back to him.?

    Tubelight is set against the backdrop of Indo-China war and will hit the theatres on June 23. 


  17. Waqas Dar
    For decades Bill Cosby was "America's Dad," loved by millions for his role as an affable doctor and benevolent father on long-running hit TV sitcom "The Cosby Show." On Monday the disgraced 79-year-old goes on trial for aggravated indecent assault, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a former university basketball director at his home in Philadelphia 13 years ago. PHOTO: AFP1 NORRISTOWN: Bill Cosby goes on trial Monday (today), accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his Philadelphia mansion 13 years ago, with the megastar turned pariah facing prison if convicted.
    For decades, he was "America´s Dad," loved by millions for his role as an affable obstetrician and benevolent father on "The Cosby Show," one of the most popular series in the history of US television.
    On Monday, the disgraced 79-year-old will walk into Montgomery County Courthouse to face three counts of aggravated indecent assault, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.
    Around 60 women have publicly accused the pioneering black comedian of being a serial sexual predator for decades, shredding his reputation, ending his career and leaving him isolated by friends and celebrities.
    But the trial concerns the allegations of just one woman, a former Temple University employee. It is the only criminal case as the vast majority of alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute.
    In the imposing court in Norristown, just outside Philadelphia, a 12-person jury, two of whom are African Americans, will determine Cosby´s guilt or innocence in a trial expected to last two weeks.
    It will be one of America´s biggest celebrity trials in years.
    Several of Cosby´s co-stars from 1984-1992 sitcom "The Cosby Show" are reported to attend. More than 100 journalists are expected to attend the trial, with dozens of broadcasters and photographers expected to camp outside.
    If convicted, he risks spending the rest of his days behind bars. If acquitted, and claiming to be legally blind as a result of glaucoma, Cosby´s career is unlikely to recover.
    Her word against his
    His accuser is Andrea Constand, 44, who at the time was director of basketball operations at Temple University, where Cosby served on the Board of Trustees until his resignation in a blaze of scandal in 2014.
    Constand says Cosby, whom she considered a mentor, plied her with pills and wine, before sexually assaulting her on his couch in 2004 after seeking his advice on moving to Canada and switching careers.
    Cosby says he gave her Benadryl to relieve stress, insists their sexual relations were consensual and accuses her of lying.
    Constand, who is gay and lives in Canada, waited a year to report the incident and initially settled the case with a civil suit in 2006.
    The case was re-opened in 2015 by Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele, who claimed new evidence had come to light. The actor was arraigned in December 2015 and released on a $1 million bail.
    But securing a conviction or an acquittal will be fraught with difficulties -- and ultimately comes down to her word against his.
    The prosecution asked for 13 other Cosby accusers to testify, but Judge Steven O´Neill has permitted only one in addition to Constand.
    They will likely introduce a 2005 court deposition, in which Cosby admitted obtaining sedatives with a view to having ***.
    Sequestered jury
    The defense will seek to undermine Constand´s credibility by highlighting her delay in coming forward and apparent willingness to continue to meet Cosby after the incident.
    The jury was selected in Pittsburgh because the defense argued it would have been impossible to get a fair panel locally because of the publicity. They will be sequestered for the trial.
    While Cosby has said he does not expect to testify, his lawyers have not ruled out the possibility entirely.
    In her original deposition in January 2005, Constand said the actor handed her three pills and urged her to sip wine. Within minutes, she claimed to have "blurred vision" and no strength in her legs.
    "They felt rubbery and like jelly," she alleged.
    Cosby then laid her down on a couch and allegedly fondled her breasts, put his fingers in her vagina and put her hand on his erect *****.
    The comedian, actor, author and philanthropist attained his greatest fame for his role as Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," jettisoning a man raised by a maid and a US Navy cook into a life of fame and wealth.
    His wife of 53 years, Camille, has stood by his side, but it remains unclear if she will attend the trial in person.


  18. Waqas Dar
    Facebook said it wanted to make its social media platform a "hostile environment" for terrorists in a statement issued after attackers killed seven people in London and prompted Prime Minister Theresa May to demand action from internet firms.
    Three attackers rammed a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed others nearby on Saturday night in Britain's third major militant attack in recent months.
    May responded to the attack by calling for an overhaul of the strategy used to combat extremism, including a demand for greater international regulation of the internet, saying big internet companies were partly responsible for providing extreme ideology the space to develop.
    Facebook on Sunday said it condemned the London attacks.
    "We want Facebook to be a hostile environment for terrorists," said Simon Milner, Director of Policy at Facebook in an emailed statement.
    "Using a combination of technology and human review, we work aggressively to remove terrorist content from our platform as soon as we become aware of it ? and if we become aware of an emergency involving imminent harm to someone's safety, we notify law enforcement."
    May has previously put pressure on internet firms to take more responsibility for content posted on their services. Last month she pledged, if she wins an upcoming election, to create the power to make firms pay towards the cost of policing the internet with an industry-wide levy.
    Twitter also said it was working to tackle the spread of militant propaganda on its website.
    "Terrorist content has no place on Twitter," Nick Pickles, UK head of public policy at Twitter, said in a statement, adding that in the second half of 2016 it had suspended nearly 400,000 accounts.
    "We continue to expand the use of technology as part of a systematic approach to removing this type of content."


  19. Waqas Dar
    KARACHI: The police arrested two suspected target killers in a raid conducted in Karachi?s Orangi Town on Monday.
    The arrested suspects confessed to killing 16 people, SP Orangi Town Abid Ali said. ?The suspects belong to Muttahida Qaumi Movement ?London.
    Suspects also confessed to firing at and injuring a Rangers officer, according to the police.
    In a separate operation conducted in near Paposh?s Khilafat Chowk, the authorities apprehended three suspects, including a drug peddler and fugitive.
    A wanted criminal was arrested from Mominabad and weapons were recovered, the police said.
    The police also raided a gambling den in Orangi town?s Pakistan Bazaar.
    ?11 gamblers were detained; mobile phones and cash were recovered from arrested suspects,? SP Orangi Town said. 


  20. Waqas Dar
    Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (c) walks with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during a welcoming ceremony upon Hamad al-Thani's arrival to attend a summit in Riyadh on Nov 10, 2015. Photo: Reuters Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism, opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.
    The coordinated move dramatically escalates a dispute over Qatar's support of the Muslim Brotherhood, the world's oldest Islamist movement, and adds accusations that Doha even backs the agenda of regional arch-rival Iran. 
    Announcing the closure of transport ties with Qatar, the three Gulf states gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their countries. Qatar was also expelled from a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.
    Economic disturbances loomed immediately, as Abu Dhabi's state-owned Ethihad Airways said it would suspend all flights to and from Doha from Tuesday morning until further notice.
    Amid regional strains, Qatar says hackers post fake comments by Emir
    The 'fake' report cited Sheikh Tamim as being critical of renewed tensions with Gulf Arab adversary Iran
    Oil giant Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups and broadcasting their ideology, in an apparent reference to Qatar's influential state-owned satellite channel al Jazeera.
    "(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," the Saudi state news agency SPA said.
    The statement accused Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi'ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.
    Defeating terrorism our mutual goal, Trump says in Saudi summit
    The session was earlier addressed by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia
    'Lies, fabrications': Qatar 
    Qatar said on Monday it was facing a campaign of lies and fabrications aimed at putting the Gulf Arab state under guardianship, after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with it.
    "The campaign of incitement is based on lies that had reached the level of complete fabrications," the Qatari foreign ministry said.
    It added that, as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, it was committed to its charter, respected the sovereignty of other states and did not interfere in their affairs.

    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/175298e69690fc2741ef7111baa20eac.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni81LzIwMTcgNToyOToyNSBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPWdMRHlwbi9tRHVDU0d0WFB4QVhkYmc9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center]


    Pakistan to stay away from conflict
    Pakistan has no immediate plans to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said on Monday.
    Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nafees Zakria The country "has no such plans," the spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, said, following the severing of ties with Qatar by Islamabad's key ally, Saudi Arabia, and three other Middle East nations.
    "At the moment there is nothing on Qatar issue, (we) will issue a statement if some development takes place," Zakaria said.
    Pakistan, which has a significant Shi'ite Muslim population, has in recent years been caught between the feud between its Sunni ally, Saudi Arabia, and Shi'ite-majority neighbour Iran.
    FIFA World Cup 2022 in 'danger'
    The measures are more severe than during a previous eight-month rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, again alleging Qatari support for militant groups. At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.

    A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf states have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
    The diplomatic broadside threatens the international prestige of Qatar, which hosts a large US military base and is set to host the 2022 World Cup. It has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes.
    Warships of the US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, in May 2007. Photo: Reuters Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at the US-based Baker Institute, said if Qatar's land borders and air space were closed for any length of time "it would wreak havoc on the timeline and delivery" of the World Cup.
    Arab Spring
    Qatar has used its media and political clout to support long-repressed Islamists during the 2011 pro-democracy "Arab Spring" uprisings in several Arab countries.

    Muslim Brotherhood parties allied to Doha are now mostly on the backfoot in the region, especially after a 2013 military takeover in Egypt ousted the elected Islamist president.
    The former army chief and now president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along with the new government's allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, blacklist the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.
    Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, said on its state news agency that Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation."
    Oil prices rose after the moves against Qatar, which is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a major seller of condensate - a low-density liquid fuel and refining product derived from natural gas.
    Iran says decision not help resolve Middle East crisis
    A senior Iranian official said on Monday the decision by some Gulf Arab states and Egypt to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar would not help end the crisis in the Middle East.
    "The era of cutting diplomatic ties and closing borders ... is not a way to resolve crisis ... As I said before, aggression and occupation will have no result but instability," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted on Monday.


  21. Waqas Dar
    Surveys show that the gap between the two main political parties is narrowing but Theresa May's position as prime minister seems secure. Photo: INPHO  LONDON: With just a few days to go until Britain´s general election, opinion polls reveal the outcome could be a lot tighter than had been predicted when Prime Minister Theresa May announced the vote six weeks ago.
    Although surveys show the gap between the main two political parties narrowing, May´s position as prime minister seems secure.
    What the polls say
    May surprised the country in April by calling for the snap election, seeking to increase her majority before Britain enters into two years of gruelling negotiations over its departure from the European Union.
    Polls initially supported her gamble, giving her Conservative Party a double-digit lead over its nearest rival, the main opposition Labour Party.
    However, the Conservatives´ advantage has eroded over the campaign, with pollster Survation giving the ruling party just a one point lead over Labour on June 4.
    Another poll, released a few days earlier by YouGov, even suggested the Conservatives could fall short of a majority, meaning they would need the support of another party to govern.
    Can the polls be trusted?
    Pollsters got the outcome of the last general election, held just two years ago, very wrong.
    In the months leading up to the May 2015 ballot, polls consistently put the Conservatives and Labour neck-and-neck, suggesting neither party would be able to form a government alone.
    But the Conservatives, who had been in a coalition government with the smaller Liberal Democrat Party, secured a majority in the 650-seat House of Commons.
    A year later, polls also failed to correctly predict the outcome of the Brexit referendum, expecting the "In" vote to win.
    "One of the things that happened in 2015 is that the polls underestimated the age difference in turnout," John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told AFP.
    That underestimated Conservative support among older voters.
    Pollsters have therefore adjusted their methodologies by widening their pools of respondents, asking them more questions and weighing the result with high-quality academic research done since the last election, explained Curtice.
    Why are predictions so tough?
    Part of the reason is Britain´s electoral system.
    "There is no automatic relationship between votes cast at the national level and seats won," because of the first-past-the-post constituency system, Curtice said.
    The system makes it especially difficult for smaller parties with support evenly spread nationally to increase their share of seats in parliament.
    But smaller parties whose support is concentrated in key constituencies -- such as the Scottish Nationalist Party -- can do very well.
    What will new government look like?
    According to Curtice, "there doesn´t seem to be any prospect of the Labour Party winning this election".
    But the Conservative government could end up looking very different with pollsters predicting that the party could gain anything between one and 80 seats.
    "That´s the difference between a prime minister returning with more latitude to achieve her objectives and a prime minister returning a wounded animal," said Curtice. 


  22. Waqas Dar
    British police detained a number of people during early morning raids in east London on Monday as part of an investigation into an attack that killed seven people and injured around 50 on Saturday night.
    In the third major militant assault to hit Britain in less than three months, attackers rammed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing revellers in nearby bars.
    Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the government's emergency response committee on Monday to discuss the response to the attack which comes ahead of a national election on Thursday.
    Police had already arrested 12 people in the Barking district of east London over the weekend and they said on Monday they had entered two premises in Newham and Barking at 0315 GMT and detained "a number of people". They said searches were ongoing at both addresses.


  23. Waqas Dar
    Election Commission of Pakistan. Photo: File ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned the the hearing of pleas seeking disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jehangir Tareen for an indefinite period on Monday.
    The five-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, ordered that the case will be heard after the Supreme Court gives its verdict in a similar case.
    During the hearing, PTI?s legal counsel Naeem Bukhari had argued that a similar case is being heard by the Supreme Court, saying the ECP should take its decision once the SC verdict is out.

    [embed_video1 url=http://stream.jeem.tv/vod/ca6bbd3b1be2d3b9e9247d571c11a9e0.mp4/playlist.m3u8?wmsAuthSign=c2VydmVyX3RpbWU9Ni81LzIwMTcgNzozOToyOCBBTSZoYXNoX3ZhbHVlPXBoL1QwbVpUNWlUdi9WYjNWNVdrTlE9PSZ2YWxpZG1pbnV0ZXM9NjAmaWQ9MQ== style=center] On May 9, the ECP had restored the petition of Hashim Ali Bhutta seeking the disqualification of Imran Khan.

    ECP restores petition seeking disqualification of Imran Khan
    ECP resumed the hearing of the case on Tuesday
    The petitioner, Bhutta, had said in his plea that Imran Khan did not mention his Bani Gala residence and London flats in his assets declaration before the ECP. The petition had also stated that the PTI chief failed to abide by articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
    The ECP had earlier dismissed the petition because the petitioner had failed to appear at the hearing.


  24. Waqas Dar
    ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned the the hearing of requests seeking disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jehangir Tareen till indefinite period on Monday.
    The five-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, ordered that the case will be heard after the Supreme Court?s gives its verdict on a similar case.
    During the case hearing, PTI?s legal counsel Naeem Bukhari had argued that a similar case is being heard by the Supreme Court. He argued that the ECP should take its decision once the SC?s verdict is out.
    On May 9, ECP had restored the petition of Hashim Ali Bhutta seeking disqualification of Imran Khan.
    ECP restores petition seeking disqualification of Imran Khan
    ECP resumed the hearing of the case on Tuesday
    The petitioner Hashim Ali Bhutta, in his plea, had said that Imran Khan did not mention his Bani Gala residence and London flats in his asset declaration. The petition had also stated that the PTI chief failed to abide by articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
    The ECP had earlier dismissed the petition because the petitioner had failed to appear at the hearing.


  25. Waqas Dar
    After a militant attack on a nightlife district of London this weekend, British Prime Minister Theresa May will resume campaigning on Monday just three days before a national election which polls show is much tighter than previously predicted.
    May said Britain must be tougher in stamping out Islamist extremism after three knife-wielding assailants rammed a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed others nearby, killing seven people and injuring 48.
    After the third militant attack in Britain in less than three months, May said Thursday's election would go ahead. But she said Britain had been far too tolerant of extremism.
    "Violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process," May said outside her Downing Street office, where British flags flew at half-staff.
    Daesh on Sunday night claimed responsibility for the attack via the militant group's agency Amaq.
    "A detachment of Daesh fighters executed yesterday's London attack," a statement posted on Amaq's media page, monitored in Cairo, said.
    London police arrested 12 people in the Barking district of east London in connection with the attack and raids were continuing there, the force said. Police have not released the names of the attackers.
    It was not immediately clear how the attack would impact the election. The campaign was suspended for several days last month when a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert by Ariana Grande in Manchester.
    Grande gave an emotional performance on Sunday at a benefit gig in the city for the victims of the attack, singing with a choir of local schoolchildren, including some who had been at her show.
    Before the London Bridge attack, May's gamble on a June 8 snap election had been thrust into doubt after polls showed her Conservative Party's lead had collapsed in recent weeks.
    Shadow of attacks
    While British pollsters all predict May will win the most seats in Thursday's election, they have given an array of different numbers for how big her win will be, ranging from a landslide victory to a much more slender win without a majority.
    Some polls indicate the election could be close, possibly throwing Britain into political deadlock just days before formal Brexit talks with the European Union are due to begin on June 19.
    In a sign of how much her campaign has soured just five days before voting begins, May's personal rating turned negative for the first time in one of ComRes's polls since she won the top job in the turmoil following the June 23 Brexit referendum.
    May called the snap election in a bid to strengthen her hand in negotiations on Britain's exit from the European Union, to win more time to deal with the impact of the divorce and to strengthen her grip on the Conservative Party.
    If she fails to beat handsomely the 12-seat majority her predecessor David Cameron won in 2015, her electoral gamble will have failed and her authority will be undermined both inside the Conservative Party and at talks with 27 other EU leaders.
    May said the series of attacks were not connected in terms of planning and execution but were inspired by what she called a "single, evil ideology of Islamist extremism" that represented a perversion of Islam and of the truth.
    Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised May, who was an interior minister from 2010 to 2016, for cutting police numbers during her tenure in charge of the interior ministry.
    "The mass murderers who brought terror to our streets in London and Manchester want our election to be halted. They want democracy halted," Corbyn said in Carlisle, northern England.
    "They want their violence to overwhelm our right to vote in a fair and peaceful election and to go about our lives freely."
    "That is why it would be completely wrong to postpone next Thursday's vote or to suspend our campaigning any longer."
    When May stunned political opponents and financial markets by calling the snap election, her poll ratings indicated she could be on course to win a landslide majority on a par with the 1983 majority of 144 won by Margaret Thatcher.
    But since then, May's lead has been eroded, meaning she might no longer score the thumping victory over socialist Corbyn she had hoped for ahead of Brexit negotiations.


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