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Digital Journalist/Columnist/Blogger & Social activist. --------------------------------------------- Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tauqeerriaz On FB:www.facebook.com/tauqeerkhanutmanzai.
WORLD

Delhi entrepreneur launches app to unite Pakistan and India

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In a bid to limit the rivalry between India and Pakistan to sports grounds, a Delhi-based entrepreneur earlier this month launched a new app to improve relations between the two South Asian rivals.

54f065520089c‘India or Pakistan’ is an innovative application, available on Google Play store, that questions the reader, after showing pictures of the two nations. The idea is to make people focus on what unites them by making them guess whether the photographs were taken in India or Pakistan.

In light of recent events, it is a welcoming gesture that is part of the wider movement called ‘India Loves Pakistan’ that was launched in 2013. The Delhi-based social movement aims to ‘add .. human element to the India-Pakistan relationship.’

The initiative operates primarily on Twitter through #DearNeighbour and #IndiaWithPakistan.

Where the former was launched as a generic hashtag to initiate dialogue across the border, the latter was trending post-Peshawar massacre in Pakistan, with thousands of Indians expressing solidarity with Pakistanis after the terrorist attack.

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ISLAMABAD, LATEST, PAKISTAN

PM fails to gather consensus for amendment over Senate polls

ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to pave the way for government`s plan to pass a constitutional amendment for an open ballot in the upcoming Senate elections, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday failed to convince the leadership of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F).

54f070162bf85A senior member of the ruling PML-N told Dawn.com that representatives of the MQM, PTI, JI, and Fata welcomed the government’s move, but the leadership of the PPP and JUI-F expressed concern regarding the govt’s move to bring a 22nd constitutional amendment in the upcoming session of Parliament.

The PML-N member said senior PPP and the JUI-F leaders asked the ruling party to activate the electoral reforms committee for comprehensive electoral reforms, instead of changes in the Constitution for the Senate elections.

The ruling party member said the PM has asked PPP and JUI-F parliamentary leaders to rethink about the amendment until tomorrow, as it was necessary to stop horse-trading in the upcoming polls.

It is important to mention here that the PML-N requires the unconditional support of the PPP for a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate as the party holds a majority in the Upper House.

The prime minister will also meet parliamentary leaders on Saturday to discuss the constitutional amendment for an open ballot.

Speaking to the media after meeting with the premier, former PM Raja Pervez Ashraf said his party leadership believes that the govt should take all the political leadership on board before any constitutional amendment.

“We are against any kind of rigging and horse-trading in the elections, but it is important for the government to build a consensus before introducing any constitutional amendment in Parliament,” Ashraf said.

He also stated that the PPP leadership demands electoral reforms for transparent elections in future.

Meanwhile, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman said political parties should take action against members who cast their votes for other parties in the Senate elections, and that the constitutional amendment would make the loyalty of party members doubtful.

On the other hand, MQM leader Dr. Farooq Sattar said that his party will favour the amendment, while PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi said party chairman Imran Khan had already welcomed the govt’s move.

JI Parliamentary Leader Sahibzada Tariqullah and Federal Minister for Textile, Abbas Khan Afridi said that they will support the govt’s move in this regard.

The govt has drafted an amendment bill to bring crucial to the Constitution in a bid to hold the upcoming elections to 52 Senate seats in a manner that will end the ‘undemocratic practice of horse-trading’.

Three new amendments are being considered to allow changes in existing procedures and rules for conducting election for senate seats. The proposed act will be called the Constitution (22nd Amendment) Act, 2015.

The draft suggests that elections to the Senate will be held through open voting instead of the secret ballot that is currently in vogue.

PAKISTAN, WORLD

Modi meets Mufti Mohammad Sayeed after deal

National News Portal.

SRINAGAR: Narendra Modi and India-held Kashmir’s incoming chief minister put the finishing touches Friday on a deal that will see the premier’s Hindu nationalists enter government in India’s only Muslim-majority state for the first time.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — AP/File Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — AP/File

Modi and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed held around 90 minutes’ of talks to discuss the programme and make-up of their parties’ coalition ahead of its expected swearing-in on Sunday.

“This is a historic opportunity to unite hearts and minds of the people in the state,” Sayeed, expected to be the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, told reporters after meeting the prime minister in New Delhi.

Read: BJP to form coalition government in Kashmir

Both men are expected to attend Sunday’s inauguration in Jammu, the Himalayan region’s winter capital, which is taking place some two months after the inconclusive results from elections to…

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ENTERTAINMENT, ISLAMABAD, LATEST, PAKISTAN

Fawad Khan may replace Saif Ali Khan and portray a womanizer

Seems like Pakistani actor Fawad Khan will be heading over to Bollywood once again, as rumour has it that the heartthrob has signed on to do Reema Kagti’s Mr.Chaloo next,according to Times of India.

54f05a2b518f8After Saif Ali Khan had to leave the project due to remuneration issues, the filmmakers started to search for a suitable boy to play the role of a scheming and manipulative womaniser. Initially, they had approached Shahid Kapoor but as he was tied up with Abhishek Chaubey’s drug drama, Udta Punjab, he could not get involved with the project either.

Now, the rumor mill is buzzing as reports seem to suggest that the makers have finally chosen Khoobsurat actor, Fawad Khan for the part.

Mumbai Mirror reports that a source close to the development shared that the deal with Fawad was finalized when he had been in Indian for the Filmfare Awards, where he picked up the accolade for Best Debut.Reema, along with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, are convinced that Fawad will do a good job fulfilling the character of a smooth ladies man who cons women out of money using his charm.

For him too, it’ll be a welcome change from the quintessential stiff upper-lip royal that he essayed in his first film,” the source added.Previously, Queen actress, Kangana Ranaut, had been roped in to play the female lead but she has also left the project to pair up with Saif in Sujoy Ghosh’s adaptation of the Japanese novel, ‘The Devotion of Suspect X.’

The source also said: “After Kangana’s exit, Reema has substantially changed the script. The film has strong roles for both protagonists and a leading lady is likely to be finalised in a week’s time.”

Mr. Chaloo goes on the floors in August. The film also stars Richa Chadda and Pooja Bhatt in significant roles.