DPC says no to resumption of Nato supplies

Thousands of people from right-wing, religious and banned organisations demonstrated in Islamabad on Tuesday, calling on Pakistan not to reopen its Afghan border to Nato and US supplies. Hafiz Saeed, the head of banned charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa seen as a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks addressed the heavily guarded crowd, after being banned from a similar rally last month. The Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC) called the protest with parliament due to debate recommendations [...]

Bangladesh opposition holds mass rally in Dhaka

Thousands of Bangladeshi troops patrolled the streets of Dhaka on Monday as opposition parties prepared for a mass protest calling for the government to step down and hold elections. Schools and shops were closed and roads in the capital were empty ahead of the rally, which has been planned for months by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies. Media reports said thousands of opposition activists were detained ahead of the event, but police denied any organised crackdown. “These [...]

Oil-for-wheat deal with Iran under study

Iran has offered to provide 80,000 barrels of crude oil to Pakistan on three-month deferred payment. Prime Minister’s special assistant on petroleum Dr Asim Hussain told reporters after a meeting of the National Assembly’s standing committee on petroleum that he would visit Tehran in the second week of March to discuss the matter. He said the Iranian offer had been forwarded to the State Bank for advice and expert opinion. He said the payment for oil could also be adjusted [...]

Govt, PML-N agree to subsidise oil, raise CNG price

The government and the PML-N agreed on Tuesday to provide Rs15 billion subsidy on petroleum prices over the next three months. As a result, there may not be any increase in prices from March 1. In return, the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) will be increased by about Rs6 per kg to partially offset the impact of lower revenue on high speed diesel, petrol and kerosene oil and to maintain a CNG-petrol price parity of about 60 per cent, [...]

Secession to compound problem, says Raisani