Kashmiri resistance leaders hold rare meeting.

NEW DELHI: Heads of rival factions of Kashmir’s All Parties Hurriyat Conference made a rare appearance together in Srinagar on Tuesday, discussing the 125-day-old standoff with the government, reports said.

They said the resistance leaders held a meeting in Srinagar with traders and other organisations to chalk out their future course of action.

Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat faction head Syed Ali Geelani were present at the meeting to which all the forums — including educationists, transporters, civil society members, religious, social and political organisations, and bar association — were called.

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Discuss future plans with traders, other stakeholders

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According to the reports, various issues regarding the ongoing uprising and other issues like education and conduct of examinations came up during the talks.

The meeting came after the government allowed the trio to meet on Sunday for the first time in the past four months since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8, which threw the entire held Valley into turmoil.

On November 2, the authorities did not allow a similar meeting, by barring the leaders from entering the residence of Mr Geelani.

National Assembly meaningless to people of Pakistan: Imran Khan.

Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been in the eye of almost every political storm to engulf the country in recent times. The Panama Papers, detailing offshore accounts and their beneficiaries, brought the party back onto the streets and in direct conflict with the ruling government in a dramatic – and anticlimactic – showdown. It is this state of constant agitation, among numerous other beguiling intricacies, that is forging a new identity for the PTI.

To find meaning in the ideology behind Khan’s enigmatic politics, the Heraldmet up with him at his residence in Bani Gala on a cool October day, as the PTI was preparing for its ‘lockdown’ of the federal capital — which later turned into a ‘celebration’. The following are excerpts from the conversation:

Herald. If seeking justice is the goal, why does the PTI still feel the need to bring its protest to the streets, when the Supreme Court has begun proceedings on the Panama leaks? Do you not think it will add to your image of having a lack of faith in the judiciary — or that of self-righteousness, where you speak highly of the courts if a decision is given in your favour and completely discredit it otherwise?

Imran Khan. Do people trust the democratic institutions in Pakistan? The answer is no. Nobody has faith in them. A recent survey at the World Economic Forum revealed that our state institutions have deteriorated further since the time of General Pervez Musharraf and, most alarmingly, that the independence of the judiciary has gone down. Imagine a military dictator having better functioning institutions than eight years of democracy under Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.

Will reveal reason of leaving ministry at some stage, says Pervaiz.

Will reveal reason of leaving ministry at some stage, says Pervaiz.

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LAHORE: Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that he would reveal the reason of leaving his ministry at the right time. He said that he’d never stay behind if the larger interest of Pakistan demanded sacrifice.

Talking to media after leaving his ministry, Pervaiz Rashid said that he was identified as not a minister, but as a political worker. “I was made minister by the leadership. It doesn’t make any difference if they took it back”, he said.

Rashid said that he felt proud over his commitment with democracy, leadership and the party and his loyalty could not be questioned. “I’ll continue working as an active worker of Muslim League”, he said.

“I have no regrets. Why I resigned from ministry, will be known to all at the appropriate time”, he said.

Khattak must not misguide masses, says Nisar.

Khattak must not misguide masses, says Nisar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has eulogized Islamabad Police and Law Enforcement Agencies for establishing writ of the sate during critical period in the Federal Capital.

Addressing Police Darbar in Islamabad today [Thursday], he said that government is well aware of the responsibility of police and Law Enforcement Agencies.

He said the government has increased salaries and facilities of Police and Enforcement Agencies which will further be enhanced in future.

The Interior Minister rejected KPK Chief Minister’s assertion and said that Frontier Constabulary and other Law Enforcement Agencies belong to Pakistan and not to a particular province which maintained law and order. He said these agencies should not be dragged in politics.

He said extra security and full protocol were given to Pervez Khattak as KPK Chief Minster and added that he is welcomed to Islamabad as Chief Minister. Chaudhry Nisar asked him not to misguide the public to achieve the motives.

Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said that government in order to maintain law and order barred those groups who are bent to spread violence in the Capital. He said a particular group is not allowed to paralyze the capital as Pakistan is a nuclear state.

The Interior Minister rejected propaganda about permission given to Difa-e-Pakistan Council to hold a public meeting in Islamabad despite imposition of Section-144.

He said the Council sought permission and accepted conditions proposed by the district administration for the purpose. He also reminded critics that DPC is not a outlawed organization as it includes parties like PML(Q), Jamat-e-Islami and JUI(Sami).

Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said salaries of FC personnel are being increased by fifty percent immediately and remaining fifty percent would be hiked in June next year. He said a new recruit would get about thirty thousand rupees a month as against about seventeen thousand at the moment. He said FC personnel would also get internal security allowance irrespective of where they are deployed.

The Minister said it would be his endeavour to have a major hospital, colleges and university for children and families of the FC personnel.

He announced award of Commendation Certificates and prize of fifty thousand rupee each for the ten thousand FC personnel who were deployed for security duties in Islamabad and Punjab during political tension.