The Daily Digestible News- October 12, 2017

Senate passes resolution against disqualified persons holding party office

Wednesday the Senate adopted a resolution, presented by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, stating that a person who cannot become a member of the parliament should not “become an office bearer of any political party”. Ahsan said that if an un-elected person can become the head of a party and take decisions then the parliament is “exposed to becoming hostage to a person who himself is barred from entering it”. Law Minister Zahid Hamid said that every person should have the right to choose whoever they want as their leader and opposed the resolution being put up for debate. Leader of the House, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, said it is inappropriate bringing a resolution regarding an issue on which a bill has already passed from the Senate. The resolution passed with 52 senators voting in its favour and 28 voting against it.

Government urged to expand tax base

Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, said that the country’s GDP tax ratio is abysmally low and needs to change “if we are to break the begging bowl” in a speech he delivered at the Seminar on Interplay of Economy and Security in Rawalpindi. He stated that the economy is showing mixed indicators as growth has picked up but debts are sky high. He shared that at National Security Council meetings economy remains a major concern. Focusing on the link between security and economy, Bajwa stated that,”We have to continuously ensure a viable balance between economy and security. Only then will we arrive at a future that ensures sustained peace and happiness for our people.” Read the full text of the speech here.

Sheikh Rashid warns against LNG import deal with Qatar

In a press conference held on Wednesday at the National Press Club in Islamabad, leader of the Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid said that a 15-year deal to import Liquefied Natural Gas from Qatar would have a devastating effect on Sui Southern Gas Company. Rashid also stated that,”We did not have the courage to utilise gas from Iran’s pipeline”. A deal was signed with Qatar by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in February 2016 while he was serving as the minister for petroleum and natural sources. Under the $1 billion annual LNG supply deal, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited is to sell LNG from 2016 to 2031 to Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

Pakistan beats Bangladesh 7-0 in the inaugural Hockey Asia Cup Match

Pakistan hockey team hammered Bangladesh in their first match of Hockey Asia Cup by defeating the hosts by 7 goals to nill at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday. Abu Bakar Mahmood led the team to victory with a hat-trick, while Ammad Shakeel Butt and Arsalan Qadir also contributed to Pakistan’s amazing win. Pakistan’s next match will be against Japan on October 13.

FIFA suspends Pakistan Football Federation’s membership

FIFA has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) membership citing “undue third-party interference” as the federation’s “offices and its accounts remain in control of a court-appointed administrator,” a press release from the association said on Wednesday. According to the Fifa council bureau, the decision was taken because control of the court-appointed administrator “constitutes a violation of the PFF obligations to manage its affairs independently and without influence from any third parties in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.” However, the suspension will be lifted once the PFF offices and access to the PFF accounts are returned to the PFF.

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