Pak PM lauded for building up consensus

NSC meeting expresses complete satisfaction over operational preparedness of armed forces

LAHORE Oct 4 (APP): People from various walks of life such as politicians, businessmen and social activists have lauded the holding of parliamentary heads meeting, saying it was need of the hour in the wake of India’s nefarious designs and threats to Pakistan.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has done a commendable job by calling the political leadership to the table for building a consensus on Kashmir, the core issue,” they added.
PML-N Lahore President Pervaiz Malik MNA termed the meeting of parliamentary parties heads on Kashmir issue a “great success” and said a clear message was given to the enemy that Kashmiris were not alone.
They could not be deprived of their right of plebiscite and the occupied forces must quit held valley without any delay.
He called for early resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with aspirations of Kashmiris and United Nations resolutions.
Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Rana Muhammad Arshad said holding of successful parliamentary parties meeting was another milestone achievement of PML-N government.
He said entire Pakistani nation stands with the Pak armed forces in their defence for the motherland.
Lawmakers – Bao Akhtar and Azma Bukhari said it was good omen that heads of all notable political parties despite differences sat together and showed a spirit of unity for Pakistan. They said now India would not dare to attack Pakistan.
Naeem Mir, a traders’ leader said the Prime Minister had given a strong message to the entire world that Pakistani nation was united and ready to face any onslaught.
“Our army is the best in the world while soldiers of Indian army lack passion to give sacrifices for their country,” he observed.
Human rights activist Mushtaq Ahmed urged the international community to take stock of India’s increasing brutalities toward innocent Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir and press New Delhi to stop the such aggression.
Labour leader Khurshid Ahmed said every Pakistani was standing with the armed forces in their complete support.
He, on behalf of working community, vowed to support government’s every effort to thwart Indian aggression.

Pakistan’s Ambassador Jilani hands over dossier on Indian brutalities to US State Dept

Pakistan’s Ambassador Jilani hands over dossier on Indian brutalities to US State Dept

WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (APP): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday met with Ambassador Richard Olson, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the State Department and handed over a dossier containing information on the gross human rights violations by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.

Ambassador Jilani emphasized that the international community, and especially the United States should take note of the inhuman and degrading treatment being meted out to the innocent Kashmiris, including women and children.

He said the US being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, should impress upon India to immediately end the state sponsored terrorism against innocent civilians who have been indiscriminately targeted by Indian forces.

It was also emphasized that the right to self-determination was granted to the people of Kashmir by the United Nations which could not be unilaterally denied by India.

Ambassador Jilani further underscored that the international community must ensure that India as a member of the United Nations, should allow access to international human rights and humanitarian organizations to assess the factual situation in the held valley.

Recalling Prime Minister of Pakistan’s recent statement that Kashmiris and Pakistanis were inseparable, Ambassador Jilani reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend all possible moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu & Kashmir for realization of their legally promised right to self-determination.

Politicians’ united stance on Kashmir has sent a ‘strong message’ to India: Analysts

ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 (APP): The unanimous stance of Pakistani politicians on Kashmir issue has sent a loud and clear message to India that its aggressive designs would be be thrashed by a united nation, diplomatic and political analysts said on Tuesday.

Former ambassador Akram Zaki told APP that it was encouraging that the government and opposition were united on an issue of national interest.

He said the meeting of parliamentary party leaders that gathered government and opposition at one platform, was “a good initiative by the Prime Minister and a good response by the parties”.

However, he regretted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief
Imran Khan disassociated himself from national cause and instead sent his representatives to attend the meeting.

Zaki, also the former Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said being nuclear powers, war was not an option for both Pakistan and India to get their issues settled.

He called for more initiatives by Pakistan to highlight the Kashmir issue, particularly a sustained and active diplomacy.

Rasool Bux Raees, an expert on political science said despite their differences, the politicians at the parliamentary party’s meeting openly supported the government on Kashmir issue, which was appreciable.

“The meeting showed that political forces stand with the armed forces in supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination,” Raees told APP.

Raees termed the holding of such meeting by the Prime Minister a “positive trend” to evolve political consensus on important national issues.

He stressed the need for Pakistan to continue lobbying for Kashmir issue and highlight gross human rights violation in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

“The world cannot give us a packaged solution on Kashmir. We have to find it ourselves,” he said, adding that Kashmiri diaspora could play a significant role in calling the world’s attention to the dispute.

On Indian prime minister’s threat of isolating Pakistan at diplomatic level, the analyst said India could not succeed in such attempts.

However, he said terrorism on Pakistani soil sponsored by India was the real threat, adding that it could be overcome by internal stability and peace.

Sacrifices of security forces; resolve of nation has improved security situation: PM

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  Sacrifices of security forces; resolve of nation has improved security situation: PM

  ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said that unwavering resolve of the nation and countless and continued sacrifices by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies have resulted in significant and visible improvement in security situation across country.

  He was chairing a meeting on the National Action Plan that agreed on making collective efforts aimed at the national level and “specific efforts” at the provincial level to consolidate gains made to rid the country of threat of extremism and terrorism.

  The meeting held here at the PM House also agreed to move ahead in certain areas where progress has been unsatisfactory.

  “It was stressed by the NSA that role of Provincial Governments in implementation of NAP was crucial and it was imperative for all of us work with missionary zeal,” a statement issued by the PM House at the end of the meeting said.

  The meeting agreed on the future course of action in terms of milestones and timelines for different components of NAP.

  The meeting acknowledged and praised the continued sacrifices by the security forces, personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies and Civilian Armed Forces.

  Lt Gen Nasir Khan Janjua, NSA and Convener of Implementation Committee of NAP briefed the meeting on the implementation status of NAP and the challenges faced at this stage of implementation.

  The participants of the meeting lauded the work of federal and provincial intelligence agencies which have enabled the Security forces and Law Enforcement Agencies to foil many attempts of terrorists and vowed to provide them an enabling atmosphere to work within the ambit of law.

  Secretary to the Prime Minister also made a presentation on some aspects of reform in Criminal Justice System.

  Proposals for reform in laws dealing with investigation, prosecution and judicial apparatus dealing with Terrorism cases were presented to the participants for evolving consensus on future course of action.

  The meeting agreed on the need of seamless coordination between Federal and Provincial Governments as well as all LEAs for achieving desired results.

  It was also agreed to further improve the collection, collation, analysis and use of intelligence input for defeating the designs of enemies.

  The meeting was attended by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra; Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif; CM Sindh, Syed Murad
  Ali Shah; CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak; CM Balochistan, Mir Sana Ullah Khan Zehri; CM Gilgit Baltistan, Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman.

  It was also attended by Minister for Finance, Muhammad Ishaq Dar; Minister for Interior, Ch Nisar Ali Khan; Minister for Information, Pervaiz Rashid; Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif; SAPM, Tariq Fatemi; NSA, Lt Gen ® Nasser Khan Janjua; DG ISI, Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar; Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Ahmad Ch; DG IB, Aftab Sultan; SPM, Fawad Hasan Fawad; DG MO, Maj. Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza and DG MI, Maj Gen Nadeem Zaki Manj.

  The National Action Plan is an outcome of the broad based
  consensus among all stakeholders which was fighting the war on terrorism and violent extremism as a national policy imperative. The nation expects from the NAP to rid the society of these evils for all times.

Indo-Pak tensions reach White House as counter petitions filed

Washington, Oct 4 (PTI) The current tensions between India and Pakistan have reached the White House cyberspace, with two petitions being filed against both the countries and seeking response from the Obama Administration.

The White House has stopped accepting signatures for one of the petitions that sought to designate Pakistan as a 'state sponsor of terrorism', days after it gained a record half a million signatures which is five times the number needed to get a response from the Obama Administration.

Another petition claiming that India is "involved in spreading terrorism in its adjoining countries" has been submitted on the White House website.

The petition, filed against Pakistan, has been archived as it did not meet the "signature requirements", the White House said yesterday.

"Closed petition," said the petition page.

"This petition has been archived because it did not meet the signature requirements. It can no longer be signed," the White House said.

No further explanation has been given by the White House on closing the petition for signature.

Normally, it is open for a month for the people to sign.

However, it looks like that some of the signatures might not have met the terms of participation for these petitions.

As a result, it is very well possible that some of these signatures could be removed if there is evidence of fraud.

But the White House is expected to have an official response to the petition within the 60 days' deadline.

The petition was created on September 21 by a person who identified himself by initials RG and the petition needed 1,00,000 signatures in 30 days to get a response from the White House.

The benchmark was reached in less than a week, and in less than two weeks, the petition crossed half a million signatures.

The petition comes after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced H R 6069, the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act in the House of Representatives.

Pakistani-Americans are now campaigning for a signature campaign to support the anti-India petition on the White House website.

"India is involved in spreading terrorism and in bloody proxy wars against its adjoining countries, particularly Islamic Republic of Pakistan," the petition alleged.

The petition, which was created in September by an individual who identified himself with initials SS, has received nearly 64,000 signatures. It needs another 36,000 signatures to become eligible for getting a response from the Obama Administration.

Surgical strikes: Raha says situation 'live', ready for any challenge

New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) The situation is "live" in the wake of the surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC and the armed forces are ready to deal with any challenge, IAF Chief Marshal Arup Raha said today.

He also said it was just a "coincidence" that Pakistan's air force's "High Mark" exercise took place at a time when tension between India and Pakistan was high.

Even as he refused to take questions on the surgical strikes by the Army last week during his customary annual press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8, Raha said the force has the power to punish its enemy, but a decision on using it in an offensive role will have to be taken by the government.

"Air Force, Army and Navy are always ready," Raha, who is also the Chairman, Chief of Staff Committee (COSC), said.

When told would it not be a let down if he did not comment on the surgical strikes, Raha candidly said he was in "half a mind" to call off the media interaction because he knew everybody is charged up and he will be asked questions on the issue.

"I think I should not say anything because it is very sensitive and things are still live," the Air Chief Marshal said.

He asserted that the IAF is capable of taking on any contingency that one can think of.

Raha is the first chief among the three Services to face the media after the surgical strikes.

Officials have remained tight-lipped about the operation except for a short and crisp statement by Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh. .

भारत-पाकिस्तान तनाव का आर्थिक प्रभाव काफी मामूली: जेटली

टोरोंटो, चार अक्तूबर :भाषा: वित्त मंत्री अरूण जेटली ने भरोसा जताया है कि पाकिस्तान के साथ हाल के तनाव और भारत के विशेष बल के लक्षित हमले जैसी घटनाओं का अगर कोई आर्थिक प्रभाव होता है तो वह बहुत मामूली होगा।

टोरोंटो विश्वविद्यालय के रोटमैन स्कूल आफ मैनेजमेंट में लोगों को संबोधित करते हुए जेटली ने कहा कि बाजार और रपये पर जो प्रभाव दिखे, वे अस्थायी थे और भारत में प्रत्यक्ष विदेशी निवेश निरंतर बढ़ रहा है।

उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘जहां तक बाजार का संबंध है, हाल में जब यह खबर आयी कि भारत ने उन स्थानों पर लक्षित हमले किये हैं जहां से आतंकवादी भारतीय सीमा में प्रवेश करते थे, तो इसे लेकर निश्चित रूप से कुछ आशंकाएं थीं..।’’ जेटली ने कहा कि हाल के तनाव से जो आर्थिक प्रभाव होंगे, वह ‘अत्यंत मामूली’ होंगे।

उल्लेखनीय है कि पिछले सप्ताह भारतीय सेना के पाकिस्तान के कब्जे वाले कश्मीर में आतंकवादियों के ठिकानों पर किये गये लक्षित हमले के बाद भारत और पाकिस्तान बीच तनाव काफी बढ़ गया है। इस हमले में भारत में प्रवेश करने की तैयारी में बैठे भारी संख्या में आतंकवादी मारे गये।

कश्मीर में उरी स्थित सैन्य शिविर पर आतंकवादियों के हमले के बाद लक्षित हमले किये गये। आतंकवादी हमले में सेना के 19 जवान शहीद हो गये।

हालांकि पाकिस्तान ने भारत के लक्षित हमले के दावे को खारिज किया है और इसे ‘‘सीमा पार से’’ गोलीबारी बताया है।

Claims on West’s role in regional security big lie: official

Claims on West’s role in regional security big lie: official 
A senior Iranian official has dismissed as a “big lie” claims that the West is playing a role in keeping the Middle East region secure.

 “The claim about the West’s contribution to the establishment of regional security is a big lie and its bloody and costly results can be seen in many countries in the region,” Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with the head of Iraqi National Intelligence Service, Mustafa Kadhimi, in Tehran on Sunday.

According to Press TV he added that the Iraqi army, backed by popular forces, have managed to make continued achievements in the fight against Takfiri terrorism and the elimination of Daesh terrorists from many areas in the country.

The SNSC secretary expressed Iran’s readiness to transfer its intelligence and security experience to Iraq in the campaign against terrorism, noting that “establishment of sustainable security in Iraq is among the unchangeable priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The Iraqi official, for his part, praised Iran’s influential role in fighting terrorism and boosting regional security and stability, saying that the Islamic Republic’s success in the campaign against terrorism and the establishment of security inside the country and at its border areas showed the unparalleled success of Iran's security example.

Presidential race tightens in Florida, Ohio, Arizona

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By Chris Kahn | NEW YORK

The U.S. presidential race tightened in a number of traditional battleground states, though Democrat Hillary Clinton remained the favorite to win the White House, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project poll released on Monday.

The project, which uses a national online opinion poll of more than 15,000 people, showed that, as of Thursday, Clinton and Republican rival Donald Trump were running nearly even in support in Florida and Ohio: states where she had held an advantage. Arizona, where Trump had held an advantage, was also considered a toss-up.

Meanwhile, Maine, Oregon and Pennsylvania were considered states that Clinton would likely win. They had previously been considered toss-ups.

Overall, the project showed that Clinton continued to hold the advantage over Trump in the Electoral College, the body that ultimately picks the president.

If the U.S. presidential election were held today, Clinton would lead Trump 246 to 180 in the Electoral College, and had an 88 percent chance of gaining the 270 electoral votes needed to become the U.S. chief executive.

A separate Reuters/Ipsos online poll showed that a majority of Americans felt that Clinton won last week’s presidential debate. Over the past several weeks, the Democrat had maintained a lead of 4 to 5 percentage points in support over Trump among likely voters.

(Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

At least 13 killed after blast in wedding hall in Syria's Hasaka city

A suicide bomber killed at least 13 people when an explosive device was detonated inside a Kurdish wedding hall in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka, state media and a monitor said on Monday.

State television, quoting a police source in the city, said the initial toll also included 55 injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 14 were killed in the blast, adding the number was expected to rise with many of the wounded in critical condition.

The city is mainly in the hands of the Kurdish YPG militia after it evicted the Syrian army last August and leaving them with a symbolic foothold in a security zone in the center of the city.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Catherine Evans)

नया शराबबंदी कानून: विज्ञापन पर भी कडी सजा का प्रावधान

पटना, 3 अक्तूबर :भाषा: बिहार में लागू नए शराबबंदी कानून में शराब अथवा मादक द्रव्य के प्रयोग को लेकर विज्ञापन देने और उसे प्रकाशित करने पर भी कडी सजा का प्रावधान किया गया है।

नए शराबबंदी कानून की धारा 40 के तहत किसी भी तरह से प्रत्यक्ष अथवा अप्रत्यक्ष किसी शराब अथवा मादक द्रव्य के प्रयोग की याचना करने वाला कोई विज्ञापन देता है तो वह कम से कम तीन से पांच वर्ष के कारावास और दस लाख रूपये के जुर्माने से दंडित किया जा सकता है। नए शराबबंदी कानून की धारा 44 के तहत अवैध शराब व्यापार में अवयस्क अथवा महिलाओं को नियोजित करने पर कम से कम दस वषरें के कारावास जिसे बढाकर आजीवन कारावास किया जा सकता है तथा एक से दस लाख रूपये तक जुर्माना अथवा दोनों हो सकते है।

Russia welcomes surgical strike by India in PoK

New Delhi, Oct 3 (PTI) Days after it asked lslamabad to take "effective" steps to stop the activities of terrorist groups on its territory, Russia today said it "welcomes" the surgical strike by India as every country has a right to defend itself.

Russia's Ambassador to New Delhi Alexander M Kadakin also said his country had always been with India in fighting cross-border terrorism.

"Greatest human rights violations take place when terrorists attack military installations and attack peaceful civilians in India. We welcome the surgical strike. Every country has right to defend itself," Russian embassy quoted Kadakin as having told a news channel.

He also assured India that it does not need to worry about Russia-Pakistan joint military exercise, saying it did not take place in "Pakistan-Occupied Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir".

Last week, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement had said Russia stands for "decisive struggle" against terrorism in all its manifestations.

"We are concerned with the aggravation lately of the situation along the line of control between India and Pakistan.

"We are calling on the parties not to allow any escalation of tension and to settle the existing problems by political and diplomatic means through negotiations. We stand for decisive struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations.

"We expect that the Government of Pakistan should take effective steps in order to stop the activities of terrorist groups in the territory of the country," the statement said.

Archive PAP/EPA

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Poland's Radwanska returns to world number 3 in WTA ranking

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska has moved up from fourth place back to world number three in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking.

The ranking is led by Germany's Angelique Kerber, who is followed by Serena Williams of the United States. (PAP

Belarus Parliament approves 2017 budget bill in first reading

 MINSK, 3 October (BelTA) - Members of the House of Representatives approved the national budget 2017 bill in the first reading, BelTA has learned. In 2017 the budget will retain its social focus. The priority areas for financing are healthcare and education. The draft budget provides for the family capital in the amount of Br457.8 million. A significant portion of the budget will be spent to finance wages, pensions, scholarships, grants, other payments. The budget surplus is projected at Br1,496.2 million. The revenues of the draft budget 2017 are forecast at Br18,235.2 million, or up by 6.1% from 2016. The main sources of tax revenue are the value added tax (31.5%), excises (7.6%), tax revenues from foreign economic activity (10.5%). Finance Minister Vladimir Amarin explained that the flow of tax revenues from foreign economic activity is projected to decrease as compared to 2016. This is due to lower revenues from export duties on oil and oil products, taking into account the projected oil price and the final stage of the tax maneuver in Russia. “The revenue base of the budget is very sensitive to the changes in prices and volumes of exports of potash fertilizers and oil products, the exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble,” the minister said. The budget expenditures are forecast at Br6,739.1 million in 2017, or 98.9% of the 2016 budget expenditures. The key objectives in 2017 will be to recover the economic growth, enhance the competitiveness of the economy and create the conditions for achieving the goals set out in Belarus' social and economic development program 2016-2020.
Read full text at: http://eng.belta.by/economics/view/belarus-parliament-approves-2017-budget-bill-in-first-reading-95037-2016/

IMF publishes memorandum of cooperation with Ukraine

The International Monetary Fund has published a memorandum of cooperation with Ukraine.

The document is available on the IMF website.

The memorandum includes a Letter of Intent of the government of Ukraine, which describes the policies that Ukraine intends to implement in the context of its request for financial support from the IMF. The document was signed by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Head of the NBU Valeria Gontareva and Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk.

The text of the memorandum stipulates that Ukraine is committed to raise the retirement age and allow the sale of land by November, as well as to complete the verification of recipients of pensions and social payments by the end of December of this year.

As knows, in September, the IMF Executive Board adopted a positive decision to extend the program of cooperation with Ukraine and to allocate the financial assistance to the country.

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Ambassador Deshchytsia tells ‘recipe’ to cut queues on Ukrainian-Polish border

03.10.2016 17:42129

Improving infrastructure, increasing the number of border checkpoints and regulating small border traffic are the steps allowing us to resolve the issue of long queues on the border, Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andrii Deshchytsia has stated in an interview with Ukrinform.

“First of all, border infrastructure should be improved. For this purpose, there are funds from the Polish loan, which should be used effectively,” Deshchytsia said, adding that certain changes should be made to the budget to use the loan worth EUR 100 million.

            According to Deshchytsia, relevant proposals have already been submitted to Parliament and are expected to be approved soon.

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