ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s parliament yesterday made history by becoming the first national assembly in the country to complete a full term, dissolving in a low-key session to pave the way for elections. “The session that started on February 18, 2008 has prorogued on completion of business,” Yasmeen Rehman, MP from the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, said, reading out a letter from President Asif Ali Zardari. She stood in for the speaker, who was not present. Very few MPs attended the last session of the 12th assembly, consisting mostly of farewell speeches. Pakistan is due to go to the polls to elect a new parliament in May but a date has yet to be set. Ruling and opposition politicians are negotiating a caretaker administration.
Three names for caretaker PM
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani premier has nominated three names for a caretaker prime minister. Raja Pervez Ashraf proposed the names of former finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, former director of the State Bank of Pakistan Dr Ishrat Hussain and former chief justice of the Baluchistan High Court, Mir Hazar Khan Khoso for the post of the caretaker premier, the state-run news agency APP said yesterday.
Taliban commander killed in encounter
ISLAMABAD: A commander of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Qari Bilal, was killed in a shootout with forces yesterday in Karachi’s Manghopir area, police said. He was involved in the murder of Parveen Rehman, a social worker who was gunned down in Larachi on Wednesday. An operation led by Rangers took place in Karachi’s Korangi industrial area’s Mehran Town locality, during which 26 suspected militants, including three activists of banned outfits. were held. Rangers sieged Mehran Town at 4am and blocked its entry and exit points. They refused to let people enter the area and imposed restrictions on anyone leaving.
Agencies
