Pakistan

PTI’s long march not to enter Islamabad at any cost, vows Rana Sanaullah

Published

6 months ago

Farwa

The government has planned a comprehensive strategy to counter the PTI’s long march.
Rana Sanaullah approved the strategy.
Rana Sanaullah says the PTI’s long march will not be allowed to enter Islamabad at any cost.

ISLAMABAD: The PTI’s long march will not be allowed to enter the federal capital under any circumstances and the federal government has devised a comprehensive strategy in this regard.

Chairing an in-camera meeting, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan approved the strategy.

On October 4, Imran Khan asked his party leaders and workers to take an oath that they will participate in the long march terming it a jihad for the country. However, he did not specify any date for the march.

Interior Secretary Yusuf Naseem Khokhar, Frontier Constabulary Commandant Salahuddin Mehsud, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Usman Yunus, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir and other officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed that around 20,000 people were expected to participate in the long march. The huddle decided to engage the Sindh Police, Rangers and FC to ensure law and order in the federal capital during the long march.

It was decided that the Pakistan Army, under Article 245 of the Constitution, will secure public buildings and the Diplomatic Enclave in the Red Zone.

Sanaullah said the long march would not be allowed to enter the federal capital at any cost. He also authorised relevant departments to take action against individuals and organisations providing logistical and financial support to the PTI for the march.

The meeting also decided to impose a complete ban on carrying weapons during the meeting. It was also decided that action would be taken against the federal employees who planned to support the PTI’s long march.

Directives were also issued to ensure freedom of movement and the functioning of educational institutions during the long march.

Pakistan

Ramadan 2023: Sindh revises school, college timings

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

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.

Pakistan

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

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

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.

Pakistan

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

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

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.

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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.