PPP assures MQM-P of ‘accepting demands’ to seek support for no-trust move

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has assured the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MQM-P of accepting its “demands” in return for support in the opposition’s no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The development came after a delegation of the MQM-P, which is an ally of the ruling PTI, met the PPP leadership including its chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari at a luncheon hosted by the latter in Islamabad on Thursday.

The MQM-P delegation included convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Aamir Khan, Aminul Haq, Wasim Akhtar and Javed Hanif.

Both the parties discussed the prevailing political situation in the country, a statement issued by the PPP said.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other PPP ministers and office-bearers including Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Murtaza Wahab and Rukhsana Bangash were also present at the occasion.

The meeting took place in a “very pleasant” atmosphere and both the parties agreed to form a joint committee for the implementation of the MQM-P’s demands, the insiders said.

“Members of both the parties will sit down and work out a roadmap for progress and action on the MQM-P's points,” they added.

On the other hand, the sources also said that the MQM-P has not given any assurance to the PPP so far regarding the support in the no-trust move and will take its final decision after consultation.

In a statement, MQM-P senior leader Aamir Khan said that the consultation was underway and no decision has been taken thus far regarding parting ways with the PTI-led coalition government.

He said all decisions will be taken keeping in view the interests of Karachi and its people and added that they would announce their decision before voting on no-confidence motion.

Earlier this month, both the parties agreed to form a long-term working relationship in the “wider interest of the nation” in a meeting held to discuss the political situation arising out of the no-trust motion tabled against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In a statement, the PPP said that the leadership of the two parties discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and that both the sides “agreed on a long-term working relationship in the wider interest of the nation”. “The PPP also agreed with all the points of the MQM-P.”

The MQM-P sources, while sharing details of the meeting, said that the PPP offered governorship of Sindh to the MQM-P among other things. However, they added that consensus on having a working relationship was a positive step but the PPP needed to practically prove a few things before the voting on the no-trust motion.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/Iqvw0Vt

Russia to expel US diplomats in tit-for-tat move

Russia on Wednesday said it was expelling US diplomats in retaliation for Washington s step to remove 12 of Moscow s representatives to the UN based in New York.

"On March 23, a note with the list of the American diplomats declared persona non grata was handed to the head of the American diplomatic mission who was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the ministry said in a statement.

Read more: After two years, Aitekaf to resume at Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia

The decision was taken in response to the expulsion by Washington of Russian diplomats at the UN in New York, the source said.

"The US side has been given firm notice that any hostile action by the United States against Russia will be met with a resolute and appropriate response," the statement added.

A US State Department spokesperson confirmed it had received the list from Moscow.

"This is Russia s latest unhelpful and unproductive step in our bilateral relationship. We call on the Russia government to end its unjustified expulsions of US diplomats and staff," this official said.

"Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments."

Read more: Fortress Kyiv Holds Breath Ahead Of Feared Russian Assault

The United States expelled 12 members of the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN in early March amid an open crisis with Russia over Ukraine on charges of espionage.

"The US has informed the Russian Mission that we are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the US by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security," the spokeswoman for the US mission to the UN, Olivia Dalton, announced in a statement.

The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoli Antonov, denounced it as a "hostile move" by the United States, stressing that the actions were a cause of "deep disappointment and absolute rejection" in Moscow.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/RAQ87jI

Thailand to ban use of digital assets as payments from April - SEC

Thailand has issued rules to ban digital assets from being used to pay for goods and services from April 1, the market regulator said on Wednesday.

The move was in line with earlier discussions between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) on a need to regulate such activity by digital asset business operators as it could impact the country’s financial stability and overall economy, the SEC said in a statement.

Read more: Dancing Elon Musk hands drivers first Teslas from Germany’s new gigafactory

Digital asset business operators that provide such services must comply with the new rules within 30 days from the effective date, it said.

The BOT has said repeatedly that it does not support cryptocurrencies as payments. It will hold a briefing on regulatory guidelines for banks’ digital asset business later on Wednesday.

In January, the regulator in Indonesia also warned financial firms not to offer and facilitate crypto sales, amid a boom in its usage.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/rHNtCzG

About current political situation talks between PPP, MQM-P to be held today

The decisive round of talks between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) will be held in Islamabad today.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah along with his cabinet members will meet the MQM-P leadership in continuation of the series of political meetings between the two parties to review the current political situation, including the no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Read more: Nadra: unclear about potential taxpayers’ data status

According to sources, progress is likely to be made on the proposed agreement between the PPP and the MQM-P during the meeting. The ongoing talks between the joint opposition and the MQM-P have also raised some new demands and today’s talks would be fruitful.

Sources also informed that the senior PPP leaders and legal experts have objected to some of the provisions of the proposed agreement between the PPP and the MQM-P.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/zq0vfP3

Nadra: unclear about potential taxpayers’ data status

The plan to broaden the tax base is facing delays as the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) is unclear about the status of data of potential taxpayers.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Nadra had signed an agreement to come up with data of potential taxpayers for uploading on the FBR web portal for the voluntarily filing of tax returns. As part of the agreement, the FBR has already shared its data with Nadra for verification.

Read more: UK inflation hits 30-year high of 6.2pc as minister readies response

Earlier, the government has claimed to have collected data of over 43 million people to identify potential taxpayers for bringing them under the tax net. The campaign on the voluntary filing of tax returns on the basis of this data was to be launched in December 2021 and then in January, but missed in both cases by the FBR.

Nadra will scrutinise and filter the data sent by the FBR to identify the potential taxpayers while using a scoring system. Similarly, it will also process the data to compare it with certain indicators through Artificial Intelligence to identify non-filers and then share the data with the FBR within a period of 40 days for uploading on its specific web portal.

Last week, a high-level meeting was also convened in the FBR to review the status of the data. The meeting was also attended by senior Nadra officials, the source said, adding Nadra wants FBR to take ownership of the status of data after uploading it on its website.

Another source claimed that Nadra has no confidence in the data mainly because of the mechanism used for evolving it. “Nadra is not satisfied with the data,” the source said, adding Nadra wanted FBR to take responsibility if any issue arises after uploading on the website.

According to the source, the FBR has conveyed to Nadra that the tax machinery has no mechanism to check or verify the data. The only system is to issue a notice to a person and then follow the procedures laid down in the Income Tax Ordinance.

In the first phase, Nadra has provided data of 100 people, which according to the source was returned back on the plea of deficiencies. As a result, the sharing of data would now be further delayed.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/OsuyINm

Nation celebrating Pakistan Day with patriotic zeal and zest

The nation is celebrating the 82nd Pakistan Day with zeal and fervor today (March 23), with the joint armed forces parade going on in full swing in the federal capital to exhibit the country’s military prowess and cultural diversities.

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Naval Chief Admiral Ajmal Khan Niazi, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak are at the venue attending the parade.

Read more: Change of guards ceremony held at Allama Iqbal's mausoleum

The parade includes contingents of the tri-services, paramilitary forces and civil armed forces.

One of the important highlights of the parade is the fly-past of the newly inducted J-10C fighter jets. The J-10C aircrafts, equipped with cutting-edge technology, were inducted into the Pakistan Air Force’s squadron earlier this month.

The dignitaries participating in the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are also witnessing the Pakistan Day Parade as Guests of Honor.

Pakistan Day holds a significant place in the history of the country. Pakistan Day is celebrated each year on March 23 to mark the passage of the Lahore Resolution that led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia in 1947. The historic resolution, known as the Pakistan Resolution, was approved on March 23, 1940.

Read more: Islamabad: Pakistan Day parade continues

Special dua ceremonies were held at the mosques after Fajr prayers for eradication of coronavirus from the country and also seeking solidarity, integrity and prosperity of the country. The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/mFlvqyh

Change of guards ceremony held at Allama Iqbal's mausoleum

A prestigious change of guards ceremony was held Wednesday at the mausoleum of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal. A smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force assumed ceremonial guard duties with traditional spirit and enthusiasm.

Air Vice Marshal Zubair Hassan was chief guest on the occasion. He laid a floral wreath at the grave of Dr Iqbal, and prayed for progress and prosperity of the country on the occasion. He also penned down his impressions in the Visitors’ book.

Read more: Islamabad: Pakistan Day parade continues

The nation is celebrating Pakistan Day with a commitment to ensure progress, prosperity and a strong defense of the country.

Pakistan Day holds a significant place in the history of the country. Pakistan Day is celebrated each year on March 23 to mark the passage of the Lahore Resolution that led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia in 1947. The historic resolution, known as the Pakistan Resolution, was approved on March 23, 1940.

Special dua ceremonies were held at the mosques after Fajr prayers for eradication of coronavirus from the country and also seeking solidarity, integrity and prosperity of the country. The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in the provincial capitals.

The National flag has been hoisted at all major government buildings.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/8HyZP2g