Briefs....

Asma to welcome SC commission on memo
ISLAMABAD: Asma Jahangir, the counsel for former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, said on Thursday the nation should build the country as a democratic state rather than a security state. “This is our country and we have to establish it according to the real spirit of democracy. Fortunately, we have now a democratic parliament, so it is our collective responsibility to turn the country into a democratic state rather than a security state,” she told reporters. She claimed that Husain Haqqani is innocent, but some people wanted to see him in lock-up. She said: “If the Supreme Court constitutes a commission to probe Memogate in a constitutional way, I would welcome it.”

‘Microsoft girl’ fighting for life
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Arfa Karim Randhawa, from Faisalabad, who became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in 2004 at the age of nine, is in a critical condition in the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) here. Doctors say that Arfa had a heart attack which affected her brain causing her to slip into a coma. Arfa, born in 1995, was also invited to the Microsoft Headquarters in the US by Bill Gates for being the world’s youngest MCP. Arfa’s father, Amjad Karim, a retired colonel, requested the people to pray for her recovery.

Suraiya Jatoi takes oath as MNA
ISLAMABAD: Suraiya Jatoi, a candidate nominated by People’s Party, took oath as Member of the National Assembly here on Thursday. Suraiya Jatoi has become member of the House against a seat reserved for women. This seat had fallen vacant after the resignation by former MNA, Sherry Rahman, who was appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to the USA. Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath to the new member.

Seminar on Sheikh Ayaz concludes
By our correspondents
SUKKUR: The two-day series of events marking the 14th death anniversary of renowned poet, philosopher

and writer Shaikh Ayaz came to a conclusion on Thursday at the Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur, with the last evening session of the Shaikh Ayaz Seminar, organised by the Shaikh Ayaz Chair at SALU, and the Department of Culture, Government of Sindh. In the session, renowned and noted scholars from across the province presented their research papers on the life and work of Shaikh Ayaz. Presenters included Prof Dr Dur Mohammad Pathan, Prof Dr Qazi Khadim, Prof Dr Noor Afroz Khuwaja, Dr Basheer Ahmed Shad, Dr Yousuf Khushk, Adil Abbasi, Sarwar Saif, Amar Iqbal, Ahsan Danish, Riazat Buriro, Hameeda Qazi, Syeda Haseen Mussarrat Shah, Dr Najma Noor Phulpoto and Mukhtiar Malik.

Toxic liquor claims four lives in Muzaffargarh
MUZAFFARGARH: Four youngsters died on Thursday in the Qasba Ruhilan Wala here after consuming toxic liquor. Reportedly, Tariq Ismail, Jaffer Bhutta, Mujahid Bhutta and Mazhar Hussain, all residents of the Qasba Ruhilan Wali, had drunk liquor on Wednesday night after which their condition got deteriorated and they were shifted to a nearby hospital. But, on Thursday all four expired. Police are investigating the matter.

Former PPP MPA joins PTI
By our correspondent
HYDERABAD: Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sindh, leader and former MPA, Usman Kennedy on Thursday announced to join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said he had trust in Imran Khan as he is an honest man.

Boy goes missing
By our correspondent
LARKANA: A sixteen-year-old boy went missing in the jurisdiction of Airport police station on Thursday. Reports reaching here said that Ghulam Ali Sario, resident of Village Bindi, went missing from his house. Police have launched a search for his recovery.

Kharal to join PTI
By our correspondent
TOBA TEK SINGH: Former federal information minister and PPP central leader Khalid Ahmad Kharal has said that he with his group will join the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf soon. Talking to journalists on Thursday, he said that he would announce joining the PTI after meeting party chief Imran Khan who will return to Lahore from Islamabad in a couple of days.

LHC dismisses review petition against Haqqani
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition against the court’s earlier order of setting aside a petition seeking directions to summon and use “lie detecting machine” on Pakistan’s former ambassador to America Hussain Haqqani to extract truth in the memo scandal. On Thursday, the court was told that it lacked jurisdiction as the Supreme Court was already hearing the memo scandal case. On it, Justice Umar Ata Bandial dismissed the petition. A week ago, the same court had dismissed the main petition moved by Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree who had then filed a review petition.

Two religious groups clash in Khairpur
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: A clash between two religious groups in Khairpur spread fear and panic as the police sealed off intercity roads and used tear gas to disperse the quarrelling activists of both groups. Police sources told this scribe that two religious groups fought over the display of an audio cassette. Later, the groups, reinforced with more number of activists, reached the A-section police station in Khairpur and fought in the premises of the police station as well. Sources said that shots were also fired during the clash, to which the Rangers and police responded by using tear gas shells to disperse them.

Elahi accuses Shahbaz of energy crisis
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Senior Federal Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday alleged that the Punjab chief minister, who had accepted low gas formula for the province, was responsible for the suffering of industries. According to a press statement on Thursday, he was talking to a delegation of industrialists of Faisalabad, who informed him about the problems faced by the industries and closure of factories. Pervaiz said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who had supported Right Eight Source formula in the 18th Amendment and the NFC aAard for division of gas to the provinces, was responsible for the problems being faced by the industry.

Saranjam not angry with
PML-N leadership, says Sabir Shah
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: Newly-elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial President Pir Sabir Shah said on Thursday that senior Leaguer Saranjam Khan had no differences with the central party leadership but had reservations over a candidate for the general secretary’s slot in the intra-party polls. Speaking at a news conference, he said minor differences did happen during the party elections as it was part of democratic process. “Saranjam Khan had some reservations about a candidate for the general secretary’s post and boycotted the provincial council meeting in protest when Shazia Aurangzeb announced withdrawal of her candidature,” he added.