NPT remembers Pak Movement vet
The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust (NPT) marked the 11th death anniversary of veteran of Pakistan Movement Mahmood Ali at Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan Thursday. The legend was the founding president of Tehreek-e-Takmeel-e-Pakistan and former federal minister. Speakers paid tribute to Mahmood and stressed the need for following in the footsteps of such veterans to make Pakistan prosperous. “He was a strong supporter of Two-Nation theory and termed it mandatory for the survival of Pakistan. He was one of those die-hard Pakistanis who never acknowledged the forced status of Bangladesh as an independent state. In his address, Vice Chairman NPT Dr Rafique Ahmed proposed exchange of students between Pakistan and Bangladesh to forge cordial relations between the two sides. Chief Justice (r) Mian Mahboob Ahmed termed Mahmood Ali as a true Pakistani who honestly played his role as a politician and struggled for the completion of Pakistan. Dr Fareed Ahmed Paracha said Mahmood Ali was an ideal man of Allama Iqbal and the young generation should be taught about his role as a politician. He said the movement of late Mahmood Ali is yet in progress and every Pakistani should contribute to it honestly. Mian Farooq Altaf, Absar Abdulali, Rana Tariq Mahmood and Secretary NPT Shahid Rasheed also paid tribute to late Mahmood Ali for his passion to serve Pakistan and his struggle for reunification Pakistan.–Staff Reporter
2,233 degrees given at UET convocation
More than 2,233 degree certificates were handed over to graduates at the convocation of University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Thursday. Out of total, 22 PhD, 557 MPhil and MSc, and 654 BSc degree certificates were awarded to successful students. Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was guest of honour while Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani was chief guest and UET VC, deans, faculty, students, their parents attended the event. Ahsan was also given an honorary degree of doctorate on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan counted his government feats in promoting education. “Government has initiated many projects to engage youth in different projects. Youth help is mandatory to cope with challenges confronting the country,” he said. He also mentioned CPEC saying that the corridor would create job opportunities. Congratulating the graduates and their parents, he praised UET administration for producing such a lot. UET Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid said that universities play its part in national development. He also briefed the audience about the university.–Staff Reporter
Call for minorities-specific legislation
Minorities-specific legislation is essential for social cohesion and interfaith harmony, Punjab Assembly members said at a meeting organised by the Pattan Development Organisation on Thursday. The meeting was arranged to assist parliamentarians to reform the legal framework to give rights to members of the minority community in areas of political participation, religious freedom and minority sensitive governance. Rabia Ghani from Pattan presented proposed legislative actions to be taken by Punjab parliamentarians. The members were concerned about political participation and representation of minorities, as their quota has decreased gradually. There are 98 National Assembly constituencies, which have a significant number of minority voters in Pakistan and minorities have a substantial margin of victory in 30 constituencies. The parliamentarians pledged to raise their voice in the House for census statistics with respect to minorities and delimitation. It was also highlighted that minorities-centric localities were divided into different constituencies in order to divide their vote. Lawmakers Shunila Ruth, Sadia Sohail, Shehzad Munshi, Rahila Khadim Hussain, Hussain Jahania Gardezi, Shazia Kamran, Fozia Ayoub, Khadija Umar, Iram Hassan and Nighat Sheikh were present on the occasion.–PR