Welcome to ZoneAsia-Pk

MQM announces protests in wake of Imran’s statements

Monday, 20 May 2013 15:54 Salman Azeem

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced a series of peaceful protests across the country and abroad against PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statement holding Altaf Hussain ‘directly responsible’ for Saturday’s murder of senior PTI leader Zahra Shahid Hussain.

Security reasons behind disenfranchising Dir women

Monday, 20 May 2013 15:36 Azam Khan

Restoring peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will be a major challenge for the incoming provincial government, says Sirajul Haq, the finance minister-designate in the provincial cabinet.

“But it [the provincial government] will have little say on the issue,” adds Haq, who was elected to the K-P Assembly from PK-95 (Lower Dir-II) on a Jamaat-e-Islami ticket.

More power cuts likely: Petroleum Ministry

Monday, 20 May 2013 15:13 Zafar Bhutta

As Pakistan perseveres through one of the worst energy crises in its history, the Ministry of Petroleum has warned that power shortages may worsen in the summer season, troubling those who wish for some respite in the near future. The ministry cites a severe shortage of fuel oil for the impending shortfall, as suppliers move to cut off provisions due to the nonpayment of past dues.

Due to failures in effectively managing energy supply and demand, Pakistanis currently face 12-18 hours of load-shedding on a daily basis in most parts of the country.

A Triumph of Democracy

Monday, 20 May 2013 14:56 Dr Haider Mehdi

Throughout the entire human civilisation, it is the victors who write history. Any yet, in retrospect, the historical authenticity of the events and the accuracy of the victors’ claims have always been challenged with the discovery of remarkable evidence contrary to what was perceived as ground realities at the time.

The end of an era

Monday, 20 May 2013 14:39 Shahzad Raza

The May 2013 general elections saw the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s federal credentials being blasted to bits – the results were disastrous for the former ruling party, which found itself limited to Sindh.

The PPP which had grabbed more than 50 general seats of the National Assembly from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan faced a virtual wipe-out in the three provinces in 2013.

As a result, senior leadership of the party was compelled to realise that looking beyond “Bhutto-ism” was necessary if they want to resurrect the PPP as a national party.

Ballooning fiscal deficit

Monday, 20 May 2013 15:23 Shahbaz Rana

ISLAMABAD: The federal budget deficit has swelled to Rs1.286 trillion, or 5.6% of national output, in 10 months (July-April) of the current fiscal year 2012-13, making it increasingly difficult for the incoming Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government to do away with the expansionary fiscal policy in its first year in power, finance ministry sources say.

Speedy escape in best interests

Monday, 20 May 2013 14:58 Jawad R Awan

Former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf should leave the country before the elected government takes charge from the caretakers, PML-N has stressed the army chief,

Sources privy to the details of the meeting between General Kayani and Nawaz Sharif claimed the party-in-waiting to lead the government at Centre, Punjab and Balochistan told the army chief that Pervez Musharraf should leave the country before they were sworn in.

Giving terrorism a hard time

Monday, 20 May 2013 14:44 Imran Malik

Indeed, the tide is turning. In one multidimensional election season, the Pakistani nation has matured beyond belief. Undeterred by the threats spewed forth by the Taliban, it voted in droves as never before. And in doing so, it crossed a very important psychological Rubicon.

Election Statistics

Monday, 20 May 2013 14:20 Zafar Ahmad

The PML-N domination of the Pakistan’s electoral scene is visible every which way. The national level division of votes and shares puts the party way above all else, thanks to its sweep of the Punjab.

But once again, the comparison of the seats and votes percentages reveals that the PML-N remains adept at managing a high number of seats out of a comparatively lower percentage of votes. In fact, apart from the MQM it is the only party to win more seats than votes – percentage wise.