ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Pakistan late yesterday to press the government on eliminating Islamist militant safe-havens as US-led troops prepare to leave Afghanistan. He arrived in Islamabad shortly before 9pm for meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Ashfaq Kayani today.
Helipads likely on buildings
LAHORE: Multi-storey commercial buildings more than 60 feet high in Lahore are likely to be ordered by authorities to have a helipad on the rooftop for rescue work in case of emergency. Though the Building and Zoning Rules 2008 are silent on helipads and other safety measures, authorities are working to amend them after the Lahore High Court constituted a fire safety commission that seeks input from the government to stem tragic incidents like the May 9 fire at the LDA Plaza. “Had there been a helipad on the rooftop of the plaza, we would have rescued several people easily,” an official said.
Pakistan poll chief resigns
Islamabad: Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin Ebrahim quit yesterday, a week after the Supreme Court ordered the panel to hold presidential polls ahead of its original schedule. Ebrahim’s resignation comes after the commission and the court came under fire from lawmakers during a session of the National Assembly and Senate, with some demanding that the chief election commissioner resign. Presidential elections were scheduled by the commission for August 6, and panel had rejected a government request to change the date. However, the Supreme Court ordered the commission to hold elections on July 30 as sought by the federal government in a petition. Ebrahim was appointed in July 2012 after then ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and opposition PML-N agreed on his name as part of a constitutional obligation that the government and opposition should jointly nominate the election chief.
Two ministries for JUI-F
ISLAMABAD: The JUI-F’s strategy to delay until last minute its decision to support PML-N’s nominee Mamnoon Hussain in the presidential election is going to pay it with two posts in the federal cabinet, it was learnt yesterday. Although the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F denies having any “underhand deal” with PML-N, sources said PML-N had agreed to offer two ministries to the religious party as a reward for its support. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party had extended “unconditional support” to Hussain and the issue of cabinet positions had not been discussed.Agencies
