Thursday 18 February 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Lahore: Light rain turns weather cold

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore and its adjacent area received light rain in the early hours of Friday which turned the weather cold, Dunya News reported. According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), a westerly wave is likely to affect central and eastern parts of the country on Friday and a scattered rain is expected in different parts of the country while dust storms are forecast for Sindh and Balochistan during next 24 hours.Rain and thundershower is also expected at scattered places of Bahawalpur, Sukkur, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Hazara division, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit- Baltistan during the next 24 hours.

Obama signs North Korea sanctions: White House

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama on Thursday signed off on new sanctions against North Korea to punish the reclusive Asian nation for its provocative recent nuclear test and rocket launch.The White House said Obama had signed measures passed by Congress, tightening sanctions on anyone importing goods or technology related to weapons of mass destruction into North Korea, or anyone who knowingly engaged in human rights abuses. The administration is deeply concerned about North Koreas actions and their recent provocations, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest before Obama signed the legislation.Earnest said the White House hoped the sanctions will serve to increase pressure on North Korea. That is a goal that Congress stated and its a goal that we share.The measure also heaps additional financial pressure on the already-sanctioned regime of leader Kim Jong-Un, by aiming at cutting down on money laundering and narcotics trafficking, two major illicit activities believed to be funneling millions of dollars into Kims inner circle.Pyongyang shocked the world last month and earned a global rebuke when it announced it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.On Sunday, it defiantly launched a satellite-bearing rocket, a move the West sees as a cover for a ballistic missile test in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.Under the bill, penalties for the sanctionable activities would include the seizure of assets, visa bans and denial of government contracts.And for the first time, it establishes a framework for sanctions in response to North Korean cyber threats, according to Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker.

Ban warns against military option for Syria

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging Syrias warring sides and the countries backing them to turn away from the bankrupt logic of a military victory and work to find a peace settlement, according to a report to the Security Council.Ban warned that the recent upsurge in fighting in northern Aleppo province risked derailing efforts by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura to convene a new round of peace talks on February 25.Rarely is the international community and this council presented with as stark a choice as the one it now has before it, Ban said in the report obtained by AFP on Thursday.On the one hand, world powers can press ahead with agreements on humanitarian aid, work to de-escalate violence, fight terrorism and resume negotiations, he said. On the other, the Syrian parties and their supporters can continue to pursue the bankrupt logic of a military victory, he added.That option has already led to the deaths of over 250,000 Syrians, the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time, and the creation of safe havens for terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front, said Ban.The warning came as Turkey pushed for a ground operation in Syria with its allies and Saudi Arabia said it was ready to send forces as part of the US-led coalition. The report was the first by the UN chief since the council adopted a resolution in December that laid out a roadmap to end the nearly five-year war in Syria.At their meeting in Munich last week, the 17-nation group backing Syrias peace process agreed to work for a ceasefire, the lifting of starvation sieges and the resumption of talks. Ban renewed his call to the council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court to ensure those responsible for appalling crimes face justice.The council is expected to hear a report from De Mistura on Wednesday.

18 dead in S.Sudan gun battles in UN base sheltering civilians

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JUBA (AFP) - Fighting at a UN peacekeeping base sheltering civilians in South Sudan has left at least 18 people dead, the medical charity MSF said on Thursday.Two of the fatalities were local staff members who were attacked in their own homes, it said.This attack on civilians is outrageous and we demand that armed groups stop these actions, Marcus Bachmann, coordinator of MSF projects in South Sudan, said in a statement.People came to the... site looking for protection and this should be a sanctuary respected by all parties.Earlier, the United Nations reported that violence between ethnic Dinka and Shilluk communities broke out overnight Wednesday at the base, located in the northeast town of Malakal, and continued into the day. It gave a toll of seven dead and 40 injured.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the fighting and expressed concerns about the rise of ethnic violence in the more than two-year conflict, according to a statement from his spokesman.Over 47,700 people live inside the Malakal base, many of whom came from areas where no aid or shelter had been available for months.It is one of eight UN bases providing a haven since a civil war began in late 2013. The bases, sheltered around 200,000 people, are protected by razor wire and no weapons are allowed in them.The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said violence involving the use of small arms, machetes and other weapons broke out.Peacekeepers fired tear gas to break up crowds, it said.MSF said an initial surge of violence lasted around three hours, forcing around 600 people, mostly women and children, to gather inside the organisations hospital.More casualties are currently arriving, it said.Resident Jack Nhial, speaking from inside the base, said the assailants used Kalashnikovs and machine guns... the situation is still tense.Peacekeepers were now patrolling the base in tanks, he said.The UN mission has more than 12,000 peacekeepers, with half of them deployed solely to protect the civilians in their bases.Malakal is in government control, but frontlines with rebel areas are close by.South Sudans civil war erupted in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken, landlocked country along ethnic lines.Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million forced from their homes, pushing the worlds youngest nation to the brink of famine.Over 2.8 million people -- almost a quarter of the population -- need aid, while in war zone northern areas 40,00 are being starved to death with aid blocked amid violence.Both the government and rebel sides have been accused of perpetrating ethnic massacres, recruiting and killing children and carrying out widespread rape, torture and forced displacement of populations to cleanse areas of their opponents.Earlier this month Kiir named exiled rebel chief Machar as vice-president, as part of a repeatedly broken August peace deal.Machar has yet to return to take up the post and fighting continues, with the conflict now involving multiple militia forces driven by local agendas or revenge, who pay little heed to paper peace deals.The UN has previously said attacks on its bases in South Sudan may constitute a war crime.In April 2014, gunmen killed at least 48 civilians when they opened fire on terrified civilians inside a UN base in the town of Bor. At least 10 attackers were also killed when UN troops fought back.

61 killed as bus crashes into truck in Ghana

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ACCRA (AFP) - Sixty-one people died and 25 were critically injured when a passenger bus collided head-on with a truck carrying tomatoes on a highway in Ghana, police said on Thursday.It is one of the countrys deadliest ever road disasters.The latest and the final report is that 61 dead and then 25 are in critical condition, regional police spokesman Christopher Tawiah told journalists.It was very serious. Many of them were already dead, Tawiah said, describing the grisly crash scene where police and firemen were forced to cut through the wreckage to pull out survivors. We had to use chainsaws to cut through parts of the mangled bus to get bodies and survivors out, he said.Those injured have been taken to four different hospitals for attention, Tawiah said.Initial investigations suggested the accident on Wednesday evening was caused by speeding by the bus, he said.The bus was reduced to a twisted mess of metal and the road covered in a carpet of crushed red tomatoes after the crash between the truck and the government-operated bus, which had been heading to the northern town of Tamale.A witness said the bus was overtaking a vehicle at a sharp bend and collided with the truck, the police officer said.Ghana President John Mahama said the accident was very sad news and sent condolences to those whove lost loved ones in a series of remarks posted on Twitter.

Football: Man Utd defeated in Denmark, Spurs hold Fiorentina

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PARIS (AFP) - A miserable season for Louis van Gaal and Manchester United took a new turn for the worse on Thursday as they lost 2-1 away to Danish champions Midtjylland in the Europa League.Goals from the talented Pione Sisto and young Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu gave Midtjylland the victory in Herning after Memphis Depay had put a weakened United side ahead in the first leg of their last-32 tie.That away goal gives United every chance of turning things around in next Thursdays return at Old Trafford but the spectre of a humiliating exit hangs in the air at a time when Van Gaals side lag behind in their bid to finish in the top four of the Premier League.The Dutch manager has admitted winning the Europa League may now be his sides best chance of qualifying for next seasons Champions League and this latest setback will only increase the pressure on Van Gaal.He sent out a weakened side with Sergio Romero starting in goal, and the likes of Paddy McNair and Donald Love featuring from the start against opponents who eliminated Southampton earlier in the competition.Depay has been a disappointment since his big-money arrival from PSV Eindhoven but he put the visitors in front in the 37th minute, bundling the ball in at the second attempt following a Jesse Lingard cross.However, Midtjylland were back level a minute before the interval thanks to Sisto as the Ugandan-born Danish international smashed a shot past Romero in the United goal.Midtjylland were playing their first competitive game in more than two months due to the long Danish winter break but they appeared to want the win more and they got it thanks to Onuachu, whose low shot from just outside the area sneaked past Romero.Its just not good enough. Its not acceptable. Its got to be a lot better, admitted United midfielder Michael Carrick, speaking to BT Sport.We didnt really kick on after we scored. With a performance and a result like that we go home very disappointed.United face League One Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup next Monday before the return against Midtjylland next Thursday.Premier League title contenders Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, came away from their trip to Italy to face Fiorentina with an excellent 1-1 draw that puts them in a strong position ahead of next weeks return.Mauricio Pochettino sent out a strong side, albeit one missing first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and with Harry Kane on the bench.And Spurs went in front in the 37th minute when Nacer Chadli converted from the penalty spot after Ben Davies was brought down by Nenad Tomovic.However, Fiorentina, who sit third in Serie A, drew level just before the hour mark thanks to Federico Bernardeschi, whose long-range strike beat Michel Vorm with the aid of a deflection off Ryan Mason.In a strong Europa League line-up, Borussia Dortmind put themselves in a strong position against FC Porto as they beat the Portuguese giants 2-0 at the Signal Iduna Park thanks to a goal in each half from Lukasz Piszczek and Marco Reus.Holders Sevilla have one foot in the last 16 after beating Molde of Norway 3-0 at the Sanchez Pizjuan with Fernando Llorente netting twice before Kevin Gameiro wrapped up the win.Fellow Spaniards Villarreal beat Serie A visitors Napoli 1-0 via a late goal from Denis Suarez, while Anderlecht beat Olympiakos by the same score as Serigne Mbodji got the only goal of the game in Brussels.Basel, whose St-Jakob Park will host this seasons final, remain in contention after losing 3-2 to Saint-Etienne in France.Jean-Christophe Bahebeck, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, got the winner for the French side after Basel had earlier come from two goals down.Moustapha Sall and Kevin Monnet-Paquet scored to put Saint-Etienne 2-0 up before veteran Argentine defender Walter Samuel pulled one back and Marc Janko equalised with a penalty.Later games include Liverpool taking on Bundesliga side Augsburg as Jurgen Klopp goes back to his native Germany for the first time since becoming Reds manager earlier this season.

Football: Klopp frustrated as Liverpool held by Augsburg

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BERLIN (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp had a frustrating return to Germany on Thursday as his Liverpool side were held to a goalless draw at Augsburg in their Europa League last 32, first-leg clash.Klopp says Liverpool have a good chance of winning what he described as the little Champions League, but the Reds attack failed to fire in southern Bavaria.Augsburg are just a point above the Bundesliga relegation places, but they gave Liverpool a mighty fright as South Koreas Ji Dong-Won hit the post in the final five minutes.Markus Weinzierls Augsburg have everything to play for in the return leg at Anfield on February 25 -- just three days before the Reds play Manchester City in the English League Cup final.However, Augsburg lost burly striker Raul Bobadilla to injury midway through the first half.In his absence, Brazilian substitute Caiuby saw plenty of the ball but failed to convert the chances which came his way.Liverpools Mamadou Sakho shut down many of Augsburgs attacks before they got going, but the Reds forwards had a frustrating night at the sold-out WWK Arena.Freshly back from injury, Daniel Sturridge started for Liverpool having opened the scoring in Sundays 6-0 drubbing of Aston Villa in the Premier League.But he wasted his best chance on 55 minutes when James Milners pass found him unmarked with the goal at his mercy, but he failed to connect.He made way for Belgiums Divock Origi for the final 20 minutes.There was a lively period after the break as Sturridge and then Philippe Coutinho went close after some good movement from Liverpool.At the other end, Markus Feulner blasted his shot just wide from distance for Augsburg, while Caiuby failed to stab home a golden chance for the hosts on 75 minutes.Ji came off the Augsburg bench for the final 10 minutes, but sank to the turf, head in hands, as his shot span off the post in the dying stages and Augsburgs best chance went begging.

Tennis: Nadal through to last eight in Rio

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Rafael Nadal won through to the quarter-finals of the clay-court event in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, beating compatriot Nicolas Almagro in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.The troubled Mallorcan is the top seed in what is his second tournament since being humbled in the first round of the Australian Open.Beaten in the semi-finals in Buenos Aires last weekend by Dominic Thiem, Nadal found world number 53 Almagro rather more accomodating, although he only advanced after one hour, 40 minutes on court.It was Nadals 14th victory in 15 meetings with Almagro and he will face Oleksandr Dolgopolov in the next round after the Ukrainian beat another Spaniard, Inigo Cervantes-Huegun, in three sets.The 14-time major winner, who won the title in the Olympic host city in 2014, is joined in the next round by compatriot David Ferrer.Seeded two, Ferrer overcame the loss of the opening set to beat fellow countryman Albert Ramos 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a meeting with Thiem -- the tournament winner in Buenos Aires last week -- in the last eight.

Tennis: Czech Strycova knocks Ivanovic out of Dubai

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DUBAI (AFP) - The depleted Dubai Tennis Championships lost another popular drawcard on Thursday as Czech Barbora Strycova defeated former number one Ana Ivanovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.The quarter-final exit of the Serb drove another nail into the only WTA tournament in history to lose all eight seeds as none won a single match to exit in the first or second rounds.The unfortunate turn of events, combined with the injury pullouts of the worlds top two players in Serena Williams and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, have hit the tournament hard.In addition, Caroline Wozniacki withdrew citing injury but was in attendance this week at the Sports Illustrated awards in New York.Reports indicate that the WTA will be looking into the pullouts from a tournament which also serves as a major sponsor of the Tour itself.After her opponent won the hour-long first set with a comeback in the tiebreaker, Ivanovic came up short in a run of three breaks in the second set.The 2008 French Open winner found herself trailing 3-5, with a return wide on the first of three Strycova match points marking the end a game later.Strycova will Friday face Caroline Garcia for a place in the final after the 38th-ranked Frenchwoman beat Germanys Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-4.It feels great, Im happy about it. Im happy the way I played, the Czech said. Im playing Caroline tomorrow. Shes a young gun, Im looking forward for that.I believed myself today, and I changed some things before I went on court. I lost my previous matches against Ana, so I had to change a little bit the return.I was trying to be aggressive because the conditions on this court are really fast.Garcia won after suffering two previous losses to Petkovic.You always have to fight and work hard against Andrea, she is big fighter, always trying to come back, Garcia said.Sara Errani struggled through a match littered with 39 break point chances to post a difficult 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Madison Brengle.The Italian, who played the 2013 final in Dubai against Petra Kvitova, will next play against Ukraines Elina Svitolina who beat American Coco Vandeweghe 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.Errani converted on ten of 22 break points while American Brengle converted seven of 17.It was difficult for me to play the ball, I could have lost easily, I just kept fighting.Just to be in the semi-final for me is an amazing result. Ill try to play the next match, doing my best.

Golf: McIlroy opens with 67 at Riviera golf

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PACIFIC PALISADES (AFP) - Rory McIlroys first taste of the historic Riviera Country Club course went off without a hitch Thursday as the world number three opened with a four-under-par 67 at the Northern Trust Open.The 26-year-old Northern Irishman is switching up his pre-Masters schedule and that is why he decided to enter this weeks $6.8 million USPGA Tour event.Thursdays was the first time in his seven seasons that he has played a round on the US Tours west coast swing. It is always nice to come to a historic golf course, McIlroy said. I just wanted to get a good start, I didnt want to put myself behind the eight ball early.McIlroy was one shot behind the early clubhouse leaders, Bubba Watson and Chez Reavie who both shot five-under-par 66s.South Africans Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel and Argentinas Angel Cabrera also got off to strong starts and were part of a large group that shot three-under-par 68s.Jordan Spieth, who had an afternoon tee-off time, is hoping to improve on his fourth place finish at Riviera last year.McIlroy finished with five birdies, one bogey and 12 pars on the 7,349 yard, par-71 layout. One of his best holes of the day was the par-four seventh where he stuck his approach shot from 143 yards to three feet from the hole, setting up birdie.McIlroy said overnight rains in the Los Angeles region helped make the course easier to play on Thursday.I put myself out of position sometimes but with the way the golf course was playing it didnt punish you much, he said.It happens a handful of times a year that we get to play a historic course like this. You got Augusta and we had it last year with Royal County Downs in Ireland and you got this course.McIlroy dropped to number three in the world this week losing ground to Aussie Jason Day.American Spieth and McIlroy have met just twice since Spieth won the Tour Championship in October. Spieth finished seventh and McIlroy 11th in China and McIlroy was third and Spieth fifth in Abu Dhabi.

Saudi will not cut oil production: FM

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RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi Arabia is not prepared to cut oil production, its foreign minister said on Thursday, after the top exporter agreed with Russia to freeze output if major rivals follow.If other producers want to limit or agree to a freeze in terms of additional production that may have an impact on the market but Saudi Arabia is not prepared to cut production, Adel al-Jubeir told AFP.The oil issue will be determined by supply and demand and by market forces. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia will protect its market share and we have said so, he said in an interview.Saudi Arabia and other OPEC producers have refused to reduce output in an attempt to drive less competitive players, in particular US shale oil producers, out of the market.But in the first sign of OPEC and non-cartel producers cooperating after prices fell around 70 percent since mid-2014, Saudi Arabia and Russia said Tuesday they would freeze output if other major producers do the same.Venezuela, Qatar and Kuwait also agreed on the planned freeze following talks in Doha.Saudi Arabias regional rival Iran surprised markets by saying that it too supported the move, sending prices soaring.Although Tehran has not committed to any output curbs, its comments were seen as significant as it returns to world markets following the lifting of international sanctions.

US firearms industry marketing to children: report

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The American firearms industry is targeting children as young as six with brightly colored guns and encouraging parents to let children take up shooting at an early age, according to a report released Thursday.The Violence Policy Center, which aims to stop gun violence, said in its report that gun manufacturers are marketing to the youngest consumers because their primary market -- white men -- is aging.The firearms industry has set its sights on Americas children. Much like the tobacco industrys search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement shooters, the group said in a statement.Along with the hope of increased gun sales, a corollary goal of this effort is the creation of the next generation of pro-gun advocates for future political battles.Examples of aggressive efforts to market to children include rifles made with plastic parts so they are easier to handle, with less weight and recoil, the report said. Some manufacturers sell firearms in a variety of kid-friendly bright colors, including pink for girls.The report also pointed out that the firearms industry and its lobby want parents to let their children access guns at the earliest possible age.The National Rifle Association, the main gun lobby in the US, previously had a website for its junior members, divided into Under 8 and 8 and Up, the Violence Policy Center said.Now called NRA Family, the websites content includes a 2014 article reviewing the Thompson/Center HotShot youth rifle, calling it a tiny gun intended for the very youngest shooters -- the ultimate first gun.The article cited the manufacturer as saying the rifle is targeted to kids aged six to 12.Gun violence is rife in the US, where a third of children live in a household with at least one weapon, according to the group Everytown for Gun Safety. Its statistics show that seven children and teens are killed with guns in the US on an average day.The National Rifle Association did not immediately respond to an after-hours call seeking comment Thursday evening.

Major catastrophe at hand if Karachi operation discontinued: AIG Sindh

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Additional Inspector General (AIG) Mushtaq Mehar Sindh on Wednesday stated that a major catastrophe will be at hand if the ongoing operation in Karachi against terrorists and criminals was discontinued. He stated that there was no way back for the state’s institutions in this operation.Speaking during a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he stated that crime had reduced by 30% in the city but there were still 30-35% areas in the Provincial capital which have increased rate of crime. He stated that the police was fulfilling its duty for the protection of the citizens.Mehar further stated that there had been 4 bank robberies in Karachi since the start of this year out of which 3 of the culprits had been apprehended. He added that the operation in the city will be continued up until complete peace in Karachi.Speaking on the occasion, Karachi’s Chamber of Commerce President stated that complete peace could not be achieved as long as there were recruitments in police for political purposes. He added that there had been significant reduction in crime in the city due to the efforts of police and the Rangers however.

Pattinson in for Siddle in second Test

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CHRISTCHURCH (AFP) - James Pattinson was on Friday called up by Australia as they look to clean sweep their series against New Zealand in the second Test in Christchurch.Captain Steve Smith said Pattinson, who missed the first Test because of injury, will replace Peter Siddle who suffered a back strain in the series opener won by Australia by an innings and 52 runs.After Australias last practice ahead of the Saturday start, Smith said Pattinson had gone through considerable work in the nets this week and were all confident hell get through this next Test match and hopefully he can have a big impact for us.He had three or four sessions and bowled with good pace. Pattinson joins Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird in a three-pronged pace attack on another green wicket, similar to the first Test in Wellington where New Zealand were all out for 183 inside two sessions on the first day.Im not sure how it goes here whether it dries out quite quickly or not, well wait and see in the morning. But at the moment its quite green and wet, said Smith.It looks pretty similar to the last wicket the day before the game.If Australia win the Test they will overtake India at the top of the world rankings.For me, its satisfying to get that ranking, that would be really good for us as a group. When youre number one you want to stretch that as a group. Thats really important for us.New Zealand have their last practice session later Friday.Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.

Govt. sources deny any discussion on formation of NAB commission

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – The conflict between the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the government remains the topic of discussion as government sources during Dunya News program ‘Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath’ denied that there was any discussion going on at the Federal government level regarding the possibility of formation of an independent commission over NAB. The sources however revealed that Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s warning to the Bureau was an ultimatum for NAB to bring about improvements and rectify the mistakes in the system.NAB’s former prosecutor General Irfan Qadir stated that the current tense atmosphere was created by politicians. Qadir stated that even though NAB should not have political goals but the points raised by the PM were not correct however. He stated that the PM’s charge sheet was an unusual step.Meanwhile NAB sources have stated that reforms will be initiated in the Bureau.Earlier there had been talks that the Federal government had started discussing limiting National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) powers as the Bureau started tightening its noose on corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. It is being said that the government’s legal team has advised the Federation on formation of a NAB Commission in order to restrict the authority of the Bureau’s Chairman.Sources had stated that the votes of both the officials and NAB’s Chairman will carry equal weightage after which the Bureau’s overall powers will be restricted as the final decision on in any case will not be made by the Chairman but the Commission.Further reading:Govt discusses limiting NABs powers
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