BAS BOHUT HO GYA

ISLAMABAD: Even four weeks before the expiration of the term of the present federal government, there has been no movement forward during different rounds of talks between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on selecting the caretaker premier.“No serious discussion has so far been held between the two constitutional consultees,” an informed source, who is privy to these deliberations, confided to The News. He said both sides are uniquely keeping their cards close to their chest, and it is the first time that none has mentioned its favourites publicly unlike the past.The source believed that every party perhaps wants the other to throw up its nominations. In any case, they are required to finalise the name in the next couple of weeks otherwise the matter will land in other forums for decision.A senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said on condition of anonymity that his party thought that it would agree ...

ISLAMABAD: In a shocking revelation, it has emerged that two books published by recently retired chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) and current candidate for reappointment have been plagiarised.Interestingly, checking plagiarism is one of the major jobs of the HEC. The HEC official anti-plagiarism software Turnitin confirmed 88 percent similarity index in Dr Mukhtar Ahmad’s book titled “Organisational Behaviour in Education” and 69 percent similarity index in his book titled “Leadership & Team Management”.The former chairman had claimed to have written, vetted, edited and published four books in his CV that he submitted to a search committee that is tasked with selecting the new chairman of Pakistan’s higher education’s top watchdog.The quantum of similarity shows major plagiarism in two of the four books of Dr Mukhtar Ahmed. It is important to highlight that only 19 percent similarity of content is allowed by the HEC.Dr Mukhtar has completed his four-year tenure as chairma...

LAHORE: Exactly six-and-a-half years after the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had staged a fantastic rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan on October 30, 2011, following years in the wilderness, this 22-year political party stunned its rivals Sunday evening by drawing a massive crowd at the 125-acre lush lawns of same venue, called the Greater Iqbal Park, formerly known as Minto Park.Although PTI Chief Imran Khan had reached the venue by 9pm Sunday evening, thousands of his followers were still stuck up in traffic muddles on roads around the Iqbal Park. If the scale of the October 30, 2011 PTI rally was described as a “tipping point” for Imran Khan and his political entity by eminent Western media outlets like “The Telegraph,” last evening’s public meeting will certainly go a long way in rejuvenating and revitalizing Imran Khan and his lieutenants ahead of the 2018 general elections.The Minto Park was named after Lord Minto Gilbert Elliot (1751-1814), the Ninth Indian Gover...

There have been a plethora of reports in the media about Pakistan's nuclear programme while mostly ignoring India's.Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told US lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on worldwide threats organised by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that Pakistan was developing new types of nuclear weapons, including short-range tactical ones, that bring more risks to the region. He claimed that "Pakistan continues to produce nuclear weapons and develop new types of nuclear weapons, including short-range tactical weapons, sea-based cruise missiles, air-launched cruise missiles, and longer-range ballistic missiles. These new types of nuclear weapons will introduce new risks for escalation of dynamics and security in the region."Another report by Kristensen and Robert Norris claimed that Pakistan has a rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal of 130-140 warheads and an increasing portfolio of delivery systems. It said Islamabad is quantitat...

Senior Indian official Lt Gen Bhatt has recently claimed that a large number of militants were waiting to infiltrate the held Valley. On the other hand, Indian Army chief later claimed the "Pakistan terrorists" were awaiting near the LoC in groups of 30-40 to be launched from Lepa valley to Mandal area, near 161 Indian Brigade (Rampur). The third report in Indian media states that as the season is changing and the hills warming up, it appears that the Doklam issue with the Chinese is once again on the simmer. "As was to be expected unofficial reports have now started circulating that the PLA has once again recommenced its road construction activity, albeit 5-6 kilometers to the east of the original site, though far deeper into Bhutanese held territory. Not unexpectedly, the Bhutanese government has desisted from raising a hue and cry over the illegal actions of the PLA, and has shown little interest in asking the Indian Army to assist in countering the incursion. This is...

PESHAWAR: Three ministers of the Jamat-e-Islami in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet are to resign from offices during the current week, forcing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to appoint one of its lawmaker as finance minister for presenting the next year's budget.The JI, which is the junior coalition partner in the KP government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has three ministers in the cabinet. Inayatullah Khan is senior minister for Local Government Muzaffar Said is the minister for Finance while Habibur Rahman is minister for Zakat, Ushr and Religious Affairs.Muzaffar Said was supposed to present the provincial budget for being finance minister. However, PTI will have to appoint another member of the KP Assembly to present the budget for 2018-19 as JI ministers are expect to quit the cabinet in a few days."Our ministers are waiting till a meeting of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) on May 2. However, this is for sure that our cabinet members, including Finance Minister ...

PESHAWAR: Adviser to the prime minister on aviation Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has said that Peshawar is the capital and heart of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and has an important destination due to its geographical location and its strategic importance in the region.In this regard, he added, it was very important to provide the best air transport facilities to passengers at the Peshawar airport and therefore the project of renovation and expansion of Bacha Khan International Airport is nearing completion at the cost of Rs3 billion.He expressed these views during his surprise visit to the airport on Sunday. Officials of the Aviation Division and Civil Aviation Authority were also present on the occasion. Sardar Mahtab inspected different sections of the airport and reviewed the ongoing renovation and expansion work.Director Planning CAA Nadir Shafi Dar and Manager Peshawar Airport Samar Rafique gave a detailed briefing to the adviser on the renovation and expansion work. He said that unde...