ISLAMABAD: In a rare show of rapprochement, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will receive rival Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan today when he makes his maiden appearance in the National Assembly to take the oath. Imran couldn’t take the oath on the first day of the session due to back injury after falling off a forklift truck during his election campaign in Lahore. He was elected from three constituencies and lost the Lahore seat to assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who will administer the oath to him.
Fund set up for journalists
KARACHI: Before the end of his tenure as chief executive of the country earlier this month, Pakistan’s interim prime minister Hazar Khoso approved the establishment of a welfare fund for journalists in conflict zones. Seed money of Rs10 million for the fund will be provided by the information ministry through the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. The government will seek contributions from media houses and organisations.
198 measles cases in Punjab
Islamabad: A total of 198 new measles cases were reported in Punjab province in the past 24 hours, sources said yesterday. In Lahour city, 28 cases were reported. Two children died in Hafizabad district. Officials said the toll had reached 144 in the province, including 80 in Lahore since January. Low measles vaccination coverage continues to threaten the lives of thousands in Pakistan, especially in Punjab and Sindh provinces.
Meeting on detainees
Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai met visiting British Defence Minister Philip Hammond and discussed transfer of Afghan detainees to the government. According to a statement by the presidential palace media office, Karzai again insisted on freedom of Afghans in the custody of British forces. Hammond said that the UK respected the Afghan stance and remained committed to transferring detainees once the legal issues had been resolved. Agencies
