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Bilawal Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif express resolve to work together on national issues

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  • Bilawal Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif meet at PML-N London office.
  • Both leaders discuss Pakistan’s overall political situation.
  • Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar accompany Bilawal.
  • PML-N’s Ishaq Dar, Abid Sher Ali also attend meeting.

LONDON: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif Thursday expressed the resolve to work together on issues pertaining to politics and national interest.

PPP leaders Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, and Qamar Zaman Kaira were part of the meeting, while PML-N leaders Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, and Abid Sher Ali were also present.

In a statement issued following the meeting, the PPP said the meeting took place at the Stanhope House, where Bilawal congratulated Nawaz on the ouster of the “selected government” and Hamza Shahbaz’s election for the Punjab chief minister.

Both the leaders discussed Pakistan’s overall political situation while expressing their resolve to move forward on national issues in a cordial manner, the statement said.

‘Conspiracy hatched at the Bilawal House’

Speaking to journalists in London, Bilawal said the coalition government would try to once again work towards the restoration of democracy in the country.

“There was no foreign conspiracy against Imran Khan, it was a democratic conspiracy […] It was not White House, but a conspiracy hatched at the Bilawal House,” he said.

He claimed that Nawaz’s sacrifices for democracy were evident before everyone and noted that he came to meet the PML-N supremo today as once everyone is on the same page, only then can they resolve Pakistan’s issues.

“PML-N and PPP will solve Pakistan’s issues once they are on the same page,” he said, asking all the institutions to remain within their constitutional parameters.

Confirming Bilawal’s meeting earlier, PPP Secretary-General Farhatullah Babar had told The News that the PPP chairman is meeting Nawaz to congratulate him on the coalition government.

“The main purpose of meeting Nawaz Sharif is to congratulate him on the coalition government and discuss the current political situation,” he said.

Before the meeting, despite PPP leaders saying it was being held for congratulatory remarks from Bilawal to Nawaz, the source said there were issues.

Although there was an understanding between the PPP and the PML-N that Bilawal would take over as the foreign minister, he did not take oath despite attending the cabinet oath-taking ceremony as a guest a day earlier. This meant there was some issue in the coalition government, and he wanted to resolve it first, the publication reported.

Sources said Bilawal wanted to discuss major issues with Nawaz to chalk out an amicable solution. They said Bilawal also wanted to take up the non-inclusion of the ANP, BNP-Mengal, and Moshin Dawar in the cabinet with Nawaz.

“If all goes well in talks with Nawaz Sharif, it is expected that Bilawal may take oath as foreign minister on his return from London,” they said. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — who is also PML-N’s president — had earlier said that the federal cabinet was formed after consultations with Nawaz and the coalition partners.

Pakistan

Ramadan 2023: Sindh revises school, college timings

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The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department on Monday announced the revised timings for all the educational institutions in the province during the holy month of Ramadan

All the government and private schools in Sindh will now start at 7:30am and continue till 12pm (noon) from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, the school timings on Friday will be from 7:30am to 11am. 

Office timings

On Monday, the federal government also notified timings for public offices during the holy month.

In a notification, the Establishment Division said the public offices coming under the ambit of the federal government would operate from 7:30am to 1:30pm from Monday to Thursday.

Moreover, the public offices coming under the ambit of the federal government would operate from 7:30am to 12:00pm on Fridays.

First Ramadan expected on March 23

Meanwhile, The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast that there is a strong possibility that the crescent for Ramadan 2023 will be sighted on the evening of March 22 (Wednesday).

The update was shared by the Met department’s Climate Data Processing Centre. This means the first of Ramadan is likely to fall on Thursday, March 23 in Pakistan.

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Pakistan

Cleric shot dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar

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A cleric was shot dead in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Tuesday after morning prayers.

According to police, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Sufi, was going back home after Fajr prayers in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block-9 when assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire at him.

The police said that Maulana Abdul Qayyum Sufi was a member of the Pakistan Ulema Association and a prayer leader at Mohammadia Noorani Islamic Centre.

There were no further details available about the incident.

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Pakistan

Ramadan 2023: Minimum Nisab set at Rs103,159 for Zakat deduction

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The Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety has fixed the Nisab for Zakat deduction for the ongoing year. 

According to a notification issued by the ministry, Zakat will be deducted from saving accounts, profit and loss sharing accounts and other similar accounts having a minimum balance of Rs103,159 or above, on the first of Ramadan.

The Nisab was fixed at Rs88,927 in the previous year.

Under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance 1980, no Zakat would be deducted in case a bank account has a lesser amount than the value announced by the ministry, added the statement. 

“All the Zakat Collection Controlling Agencies (ZCCAs) are requested to deduct the Zakat accordingly,” it said. 

The first of Ramadan will likely fall on March 23, this year, subject to the appearance of the moon.

To be liable for Zakat — which is one of the five pillars of Islam — one’s wealth must amount to more than a threshold figure, termed the “Nisab”.

Those who do not want Zakat deduction from their accounts can submit a “Zakat exemption” form to their respective banks. 

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