ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman has resigned following the landmark election won by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Rehman , 52, was appointed in 2011 following a scandal which saw her predecessor Hussain Haqqani resign over an alleged memo seeking US help in preventing a coup following the killing of Osama Bin Laden. She is a prominent figure in the Pakistan People’s Party, which led the outgoing government but saw its support collapse at the polls on Saturday. Meanwhile, former ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, cast doubt on Sharif’s overtures to the US and India, saying he had a poor record on opposing extremists. He said Sharif may not back up his statements with substance and faulted Sharif for the creation of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a virulently anti-Indian movement, and said he was premier during the Kargil war with India in divided Kashmir in 1999.
Islamabad plans five top projects
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority of Islamabad has prepared five mega development projects it would present to the new government. Incoming Premier Nawaz Sharif had said during his election victory speech on May 11 in Lahore that his party would come up with a development package for people and “will address their issues within 100 days.” The projects include residential sectors C-14 and C-15, Bus Rapid Transport Service, meeting the revenue target of Rs20bn by implementing bylaws on 33 housing societies in the city, launching of sector I-12 (Islamabad Saddar), and CDA Medical College.
Schoolgirls hit by gas leak
Kabul: Around 150 schoolgirls were hit by poisonous gases in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Afghanistan’s northern province of Balkh, yesterday. Col. Abdul Razzaq Qadiri, provincial police chief, said the incident took place at the Khurasan Girls’ High School. The students were taken to hospital and police were investigating. Education Director Qais Mohraeen said the girls were hit by gas from a septic well close to the school. But a teacher, who did not want to be named, said there was no septic well around the school and they never felt such a poisonous odour before.
Kabul summons Iran envoy
Kabul: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Iranian Ambassador in protest over the nine Afghan travellers killed by Iranian border police. A ministry spokesperson said the government expressed concern and asked the ambassador to provide information. The ministry is pursuing the issue with the Iranian embassy and the Iranian consulate in Herat, the spokesman added.
Agencies
Turkish trader kidnapped
Kabul: Turkish businessman Sami Yavuz, 41, was kidnapped by gunmen in Afghanistan, the Turkish Anadolu Agency said yesterday. The head of Afghanistan Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association was kidnapped late on Sunday.
The gunmen forced him into a car in Kabul and drove away. Yavuz has been living in Kabul with his family for more than 10 years.
Agencies
