Facebook is going to block in Pakistan.

Peshawar High Court has ordered the authorities to block blasphemous and objectionable content available on social media websites, especially the Facebook and other websites with-in three days.

Court directed interior ministry, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other departments to take stern action against these websites and submit a compliance report with-in 20 days. banfacebook Block Blasphemous Content from Facebook, Other Websites in Three Days: PHC

A Peshawar High Court bench, presided by Chief Justice Dost Muhammad issued the order in response to a petition filed by a lawyer named Arif Khan, pleading that authorities are unable to get blasphemous content blocked from social media websites.

Chief Justice said that such blasphemous content, availably freely on social media websites, incite the feelings of Muslims and result into chaos in the society.

While it is unclear that how these authorities are going to get the objectionable content blocked, it is feared that Peshawar High Court — if order is not implemented — might ban the social media websites in Pakistan.

It merits mentioning here that YouTube is blocked in the country for last eight months for similar reasons.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly commenced its first session on Wednesday where 122 newly elected members took oath, reported Express News.

The session was delayed by 30 minutes and began with an address by the speaker of the assembly, Kiramat Ullah Khan.

The oath was administered by the speaker of the assembly and read out in unison. Members could take the oath in either Urdu, English or Pashto.

After taking oath, members were required to sign official documents turn by turn.

The speaker expressed hope for the province under the newly elected members and prayed for the prosperity of Pakistan.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won the mandate in K-P in the elections and is set to form a government in an alliance with the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).

Background

LAHORE (Online - The incoming PML-N government is ready to hold the trial of former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf over charges of treason, a party leader said on Tuesday.

The caretaker government had refused to initiate proceedings against Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution for treason because of its limited mandate, but the PML-N has decided not to spare the former army chief who had overthrown the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1999.

"Yes we have decided to try Musharraf for treason in the Supreme Court. Musharraf had violated the Constitution and he should face the music," PML-N parliamentarian Tariq Azeem was quoted as saying by PTI.

Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif was very clear about trying Musharraf for violating the Constitution, he said.

"Sharif has made it clear that he has no personal issue with Musharraf but he should be tried for breaking the law and violating the Constitution," Azeem said.

The caretaker government recently informed the Supreme court of its inability to conduct the trial of Musharraf.

It told the apex court it could not take any controversial step that would be irreversible for the incoming elected government.

The PML-N won the general election and Sharif is set to become premier for a record third term.

Musharraf is currently being held at his farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad, which has been declared a "sub-jail".

He is facing charges over the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti in a 2006 military operation and the detention of dozens of judges during the 2007 emergency.

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N and PTI have, so far, not taken any measures to initiate peace negotiations with the TTP, according to leaders of both political parties.

Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), set aside the notion that the party had approached Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. According to him, it was Maulana Sami himself who took the initiative.

“An offer came from Maulana Sami indicating that he is willing to play the role of the go-between if PML-N decides to enter into dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” said Zafarul Haq.

Seemingly, Maulana Sami told PML-N that the TTP members consider him to be a godfather of sorts, as a number of them have studied at his madrassa, Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora, near Nowshera.



“He said he will be happy if PML-N assigns him the task of bringing the Taliban to the negotiation table,” said Zafarul Haq. “However, there is [currently] no progress on the matter as the PML-N has yet to form its government.”

In an interview, Maulana Sami claimed that he was approached by the PML-N last week, but set several preconditions to accepting the role of the go-between. Meanwhile, a senior spokesman of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Umer Cheema, also said holding peace talks with the Taliban was premature at the moment.

“It is a crucial issue that the PTI will take up after setting up its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Cheema. “The federal government, security forces, and PTI, are battling extremists in Fata and elsewhere. All stakeholders will have to decide on a unanimous course of action.” According to Cheema, the role of the mediator is up in the air right now. “It may be the wish of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), to play a role in negotiation with the TTP,” he said, when asked whether PTI will assign this responsibility to Rehman. “We will not ask him to arrange such talks with the Taliban.”

A JUI-F Spokesperson, Jan Muhammad Achakzai, confirmed that neither PML-N nor PTI have approached Rehman for this purpose as yet. However, JUI-F has, on its own accord, made an offer to PML-N to help with peace negotiations.

“We have an agreement with the PML-N that all parties will work together to achieve peace in the country,” said Achakzai, adding that the task could not be handled by an individual alone. “Peace can only be restored through the collective effort of all stakeholders. JUI-F has unveiled a road map towards peace, one that will engage the Taliban in dialogue. This proposal should be discussed among all political parties that want peace in the country.”

So far, the PML-N has not weighed in on which of the two leaders of the rival JUI factions will be asked to arrange the talks. According to Zafarul Haq, Maulana Sami and Rehman have influence within different factions of the Taliban.

“Nothing can be said about the issue,” Zafarul Haq concluded firmly. “It is not even on the initial stage yet.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2013.

At least four people were killed when a US drone fired two missiles in the volatile Pakistani region of North Waziristan, security officials said.

They said the missiles hit a house close to the town of Miranshah.

The strike comes a week after President Barack Obama issued new guidelines for tighter oversight of the drone programme and stricter targeting rules.

US drone strikes are a major point of contention in Pakistan, and represented key issue in its recent elections.

A Pakistani Foreign Ministry official condemned the strike as a breach of sovereignty, reported Reuters news agency.

"Any drone strike is against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and we condemn it," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

It was unclear whether those killed were the intended targets. Four people were also reported to be wounded.

The Afghan-Pakistan border region is home to a variety of local and Afghan militant groups including fighters linked to al-Qaeda.

Pakistan's security forces have been battling the Taliban in the mountains of North Waziristan for years.

More recently, US forces have used drone strikes in the region as part of their campaign against the Taliban across the border in Afghanistan.

LAHORE - On the eve of Youm-e-Takbeer, Punjab chief minister-designate Shahbaz Sharif said Monday that May 28 is a historic day for the Pakistani nation as defence of the country was made invincible.

“The Pakistani nation, under its prime minister Nawaz Sharif, defied international pressure and made a crucial decision on May 28, 1998, that made the country’s defence impregnable,” Shahbaz said. He said that the nation was lucky to have Nawaz Sharif as its leader once again who always kept the country’s sovereignty supreme.

“I am sure the way Nawaz Sharif made the defence of the country stronger by conducting six nuclear tests in response to India’s five, he would successfully steer Pakistan out of economic crisis through his prudent policies.”

Earlier, speaking to the media, he said that PML-N’s victory proves that people know the difference between the politics of mere slogans and that of delivery.

To a question, he said that government in Balochistan would be installed in consultation with the two allied parties of the PML-N. “Talks are under way with Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Hasil Bizenjo and Dr Abdul Maalik Baloch in this connection,” he added. “We want a government in Balochistan which not only represents all political parties but is also capable of utilising funds in a transparent manner and builds hospitals, colleges, schools and roads in the province.”

Separately, speaking to the newly elected MPs, Shahbaz said that during five years of its rule in Punjab, the PML-N government had set precedent of good governance in the province. He said that during his recent visit to Karachi, people from various walks of life met him and thanked Nawaz Sharif for announcing Metro Bus Service in the city.

PESHAWAR: Afghan Mohajirs’ voluntary return home under the supervision of Untied Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has kicked off on Tuesday here, Geo News reported.

Sources said that 600 persons of 85 families from Swabi Barkai Camp have left for Afghanistan in a convoy of 40 trucks under the supervision of UNHCR officials in Khayber Pukhtunistan.

UNHCR has provided $150 per person besides the transport facility to all those voluntarily returning to Afghanistan.

KARACHI (Dunya News) - The All Parties Conference held under the aegis of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold reelections, under army supervision, in the constituencies where there have been complaints of rigging.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi of PTI chaired the conference attended by leaders of PPP, PML-N, PML-Q JI, JUP, AML, MQM, Sunni Tehreek and Sindh United Party.

Leaders of all the political parties were of the view that worse kind of rigging took place in Karachi during the Elections 2013.

The political parties unanimously declared the performance of ECP as disappointing.

However, PPP leader Senator Taj Haidar opposed the holding of elections under the supervision of army.

ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry has released Rs 10 billion for procurement of oil in a bid to overcome crippling energy crisis gripping the country, Geo News reported Monday.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister House said that PM Mir Hazar Khan Khoso chaired a high level meeting to review power crisis. The PM was apprised that Rs 10 billion had been released on his directives.

The prime minister directed authorities to link 56.4 megawatt Wind Power Project to the national grid within 48 hours.

The HESCO chief told the prime minister that transmission lines had been laid to link the project to the national grid.

NA session on June 1, while prime minister will be elected on June 5

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's special representative S. K. Lamba met with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.

During the meeting‚ he conveyed a message of goodwill from the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh‚ which was reciprocated by Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz stressed upon the need to adopt the way of dialogue to settle all outstanding mutual issues between the two countries.

Karachi: Kidnapped 13-year-old boy rescued

KARACHI: Sindh Rangers have raided a house in Tariq Road area and recovered upto 80 kg of explosives.

Sources close to Sindh Rangers told CNBC Pakistan that on a tip off, they raided a place in PECHS and recovered 80 kg of explosives, and a few chemicals used to enhance the intensity of explosion.

They also recovered 10 sacks of Ammonium Nitrate, 3 Drums full of Hydrogen per oxide and two boxes of ceiling metal.

Shahbaz Sharif will be sworn in as Chief Minister on 6th June : Najam Sethi

PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Sunday issued a fresh threat to assassinate former president Pervez Musharraf, who is currently in police custody and facing a barrage of legal cases.

The former military ruler has been detained in his farmhouse in Islamabad. Before Musharraf’s arrival in the country in March, the outlawed group threatened to kill him for his alliance in the US-led “war on terror” and attempts to clamp down on militants.

TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan on Sunday issued a fresh warning in a video message posted on the Taliban website, Umar Media, saying “Soon we will punish this Satan (devil) to death for his wicked deed”.

“From Balochistan to Waziristan, Musharraf threw this country into blood and fire, he is the killer of hundreds of innocent students of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque),” Ehsan said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: The first session of the newly elected National Assembly will be held on June 1, where nine members will also take oaths as MNAs, reported Express News on Monday.

On June 3, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the house are expected to take their oaths.
On June 4, nominations for a new prime minister will be accepted by the assembly.
On June 5, the new prime minister will be elected and expected to take an oath accordingly.

Punjab Interim Chief Minister Najam Sethi has said that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahbaz Sharif will take oath as the new chief minister of Punjab on June 6.

PML-N decided on Sunday to nominate party chief, Nawaz Sharif for the position of prime minister of Pakistan. Nasir Mahmood Khosa has been nominated as the Principal Secretary for Nawaz Sharif. The PML-N’s nomination will now have to be approved by a parliamentary committee.

PML-N is all set to form its government after winning a majority of NA seats during the general elections on May 11, 2013.

According to the latest figures issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the PML-N has secured 144 out of 272 seats following the induction of 18 independent MNAs. Factoring in the 32 reserved seats for women and the five seats for minorities the party is likely to be allotted, the PML-N’s strength in the lower house of Parliament reaches 181 seats. And with the addition of its allies in the Centre, the PML-N government would have 192 seats in National Assembly.

Aside from PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also put forth its nomination for the position of prime minister. On Saturday, the party announced that it has nominated Makhdoom Javed Hashmi as its candidate for the slot.

LAHORE: US ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson Friday met prime minster-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif in Lahore and exchanged views over bilateral relations, SAMAA reported.

Sources said the US envoy congratulated Nawaz Sharif on the success of his party in May 11 general election and hoped it will help further strengthen democracy in the country, adding that Nawaz and Olson discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties.

The US envoy vowed that his country would continue to support Islamabad for continuity of democracy in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, German ambassador to Pakistan Cyrill Nunn met Shahbaz Sharif in Raiwind. Shahbaz, who is PML-N’s central leader, has been nominated for Chief Minister Punjab slot. -- SAMAA

LONDON: If my party workers fail to reform themselves, they will lose me as their leader forever, said Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said on Friday.

Altaf was speaking to members of the interim Rabita Committee and other party workers.

“I never taught MQM workers to take bribes, be corrupt or put undue pressure on people for favours,” he said.

Addressing the issue of his stay away from home, Altaf told his party members that his family members went abroad to save their lives.

He said his family worked hard while living in a foreign land.

Delving more into his family and political affairs, the MQM chief said he never favoured his family with gains from his political movement.

“I did not give party tickets to my relatives in elections,” he added.

LAHORE: US ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson Friday met chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan and enquired about his health two days after the PTI chief left hospital, CNBC Pakistan reported.

Khan was under treatment in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Lahore for over two weeks. He had sustained head and back injuries after falling from a lifter at a PTI rally earlier this month.

In his meeting with Khan, sources said, the US envoy congratulated Imran Khan for on his party’s victory in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in May 11 general elections.

“I’m here to enquire about Imran Khan’s health…Transparent elections are the victory of democracy in Pakistan,” said Olson who also met Nawaz Sharif on Friday.