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Lahore sit-in called off after 7 days; Jalali to resign from Tehreek-i-Labbaik

December 2, 2017 News Desk

(Umar Farooq/Dawn) Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali-led faction of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY), which had been holding a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly for the past week, concluded their protest around midnight on Friday, December 1 after the government convinced them to withdraw their main demand — the resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah from his post. The Lahore sit-in had been launched by the Jalali-led faction of the political party following reports of a police operation against the participants of the Faizabad sit-in on the morning of November 25th. The…

The new era of Pakistan foreign diplomacy through social media

November 28, 2017November 28, 2017 News Desk

It is notorious that social media has been of good practice among developed countries, while the developing countries do struggle to adapt to innovation but they are slowly adhering to the social media platforms in diplomatic and cultural affairs in order to establish their presence to influence foreign public. The struggle to adopt contemporary practices is much challenging to the nations where bureaucracy has deep root into the system. It’s not the dilemma of developing countries only we can have the example of european countries such as Germany where people…

Instigating Political instability in Pakistan

November 28, 2017November 28, 2017 News Desk

Warsaw: Islamabad sit-In protest has finally come to an end after a week long fierce clashes and standoff between Pakistani ruling political party and followers of TLY (Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah). The govt. has finally accepted following demands in return to end Sit in: Remove Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid from his position immediately. “Tehreek-i-Labaik will issue no fatwa[religious decree] of any kind against him.” The report prepared by Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee will be made public within 30 days and whoever is named in the report for being responsible for…

DG Punjab Rangers distributes cash among protesters

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 News Desk

Major General Azhar Naveed | DG Punjab Rangers Distributes Cash Among Tehreek e Labaik Members

Pakistan Rangers Punjab DG Maj-Gen Azhar Naveed handed envelopes with a token Rs1000 as travel fare to members of a religious group Tehreek e Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, who were recently released from detention after the agreement held between Government and leadership of Tehreek e Labaik Ya Rasool Allah. “Aren’t we also with you?” says Maj-Gen Azhar Naveed when told by a Tehreek-e-Labbaik’s member that his party was with Pakistan Army.

Pakistani Comedian Khawaja Akmal Passed Away

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 News Desk

Famous Pakistani Comedian Khawaja Akmal, who was recently playing a role in a comedy drama Bulbulay, is died due to a heart attack. His death made a sorrowful situation in the showbiz industry of Pakistan. Akmal was in Quetta to attend a wedding where he had a heart attack. His funeral ceremony held in Karachi. “Akmal was a good friend and a brother. I will miss him”, says a close friend of Khawaja Akmal.

Islamabad High Court orders to form committee to probe Khatam e Nabuwat matter

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 News Desk

Islamabad (Bureau Report) Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal appeared in Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a case hearing of Faizabad protest by a religious group. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui asked Deputty Attorney General that where is Ahsan Iqbal, he replied that minister was awakened whole night to monitor the situation of sit-in. After reaching the court, Ahsan Iqbal told about the agreement signed with the leadership of Tehreek e Labaik Pakistan, over which Justice Shaukat remarked, “Court directed to you clear the area not to sign any agreement”. Chief Commissioner Islamabad,…

Law minister Zahid Hamid resigns as govt reaches agreement with agitating parties

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 News Desk

(Javed Hussain/Dawn) After the weeks-long protest that virtually paralyzed the capital and saw several people losing their lives, the government has finally given in to the demands of protesters camped out at Faizabad Interchange, with Zahid Hamid resigning as the Federal Law Minister. The minister’s resignation came in the aftermath of Saturday’s botched operation against protesters at Faizabad and successful negotiations with leaders of the demonstration, official sources and state broadcaster PTV say. The law minister’s resignation was the chief demand of the agitating parties, who have been staging a 19-day protest…

Social Media Restored in Pakistan

November 26, 2017November 26, 2017 News Desk

Yesterday Most of the Social Media sites including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were suspended to avoid live coverage of the Faizabad’s security operation against the protesters in the area between Islamabad, the capital city and Rawalpindi. Now all of these blocked sites are restored on the orders of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Top civil-mil officials agree on ‘political negotiations’ with Islamabad protesters, no use of force

November 26, 2017November 26, 2017 News Desk

Police Shelling during Faizabad Operation

(Dawn News) Top civil and military officials on Sunday decided against the use of force to disperse protesters in Islamabad, opting instead to engage in political negotiations with agitators in the capital, a highly-placed source told DawnNews. There has been no official confirmation of the development. Chief of Army Staff Qamar Jawed Bajwa, who flew in from the United Arab Emirates, attended the over two-hour-long meeting headed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, along with Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence Naveed Mukhtar. The officials decided to engage…

PML-N top brass mulls Hamid’s resignation

November 26, 2017 News Desk

Zahid Hamid | NA passes Elections (Amendment) Bill 2017 to 'strengthen' Khatm-i-Nabuwwat clauses

(Zulqarnain Haider/Dawn) LAHORE: Top leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including its chief Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, sat down on Saturday to weigh all options in dealing with the demands put forward by the protesting Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) party, even the possibility of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid’s resignation. Mr Sharif presided over a meeting called at his Jati Umra residence here in Raiwind, which was attended by Mr Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senator…

Government in Pakistan calls military in Islamabad

November 25, 2017November 25, 2017 News Desk

Islamabad (Bureau Report) The government of Pakistan has formally called the military to protect the capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi. The capital’s administration has penned the letter to summon Pakistan Army as situation keeps on worsening in twin cities amid crackdown against sit-in’s protestors. The decision was taken to fortify security arrangements of sensitive buildings. The letter states that enraged protesters can inflict loss on sensitive public and private buildings situated in twin cities. Also Read:Pakistan: Social Media suspended and Electronic media prevented from live coverage It is…

Islamabad operation ‘suspended’ as thousands of violent protesters take over streets

November 25, 2017November 25, 2017 News Desk

(DAWN) A crackdown against religious protesters camped out at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange was ‘suspended’ on Saturday evening as thousands of protesters took over the streets in the federal capital. The Islamabad police, with the help of Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel and other law enforcement agencies, launched the operation against protesters earlier today after the last of a long series of deadlines lapsed this morning without response from the agitating parties. The protesters have been camped out at the Faizabad Interchange since November 8. Roughly 8,500 elite police and paramilitary troops in…

Pakistan: Social Media suspended and Electronic media prevented from live coverage

November 25, 2017November 26, 2017 News Desk

Syed Mujtaba Haider, Islamabad: Most of the social media sites including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have been suspended and electronic media has been directed to avoid live coverage of the Faizabad’s security operation against the protesters in the area between Islamabad, the capital city and Rawalpindi. Also Read:Operation started at Faizabad to Disperse Protesters According to the reports, immediately after the direction, the most of the channels have gone off air their live coverage from operation site in Islamabad and elsewhere. Also Read:Political motives behind sit-in, ISI tells Supreme Court A…

New SC bench appointed to hear Hudaibiya Paper Mills case on Nov 28

November 25, 2017November 25, 2017 News Desk

(Haseeb Bhatti/Dawn) The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday ordered the constitution of a three-member special bench to hear a petition pertaining to the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case on November 28. In an appeal, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked the apex court “in the interest of justice, fair play and equity” to set aside a 2014 judgement from the Lahore High Court (LHC) to shut the case. Justice Musheer Alam will head the bench that will review the case’s merits. He will be joined by Justice Qazi Fa’iz Essa…

Political motives behind sit-in, ISI tells Supreme Court

November 25, 2017November 25, 2017 News Desk

(Nasir Iqbal/Dawn) ISLAMABAD: The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in its report submitted to the Supreme Court, has stated that the protesters blocking the Faizabad interchange have a political agenda to fulfill. “The Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah is determined to exploit the situation and gain political mileage to gain support for the next general elections,” said a six-page order issued by a two-judge bench consisting of Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The bench had taken suo motu notice of the disturbance to public life due to the ongoing…