News

RIYADH: Since assuming office as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques last year, King Salman’s leadership has seen deep political insight and dedicated efforts to serve the Kingdom and its citizens.

The LG elections were held last year, for the first time in the country under a democratic government. The basic purpose of the LG is devolving political, administrative and financial powers to the elected representatives at local level.

The Lebanese Forces has informed the March 14 alliance that the LF would back Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun for the presidency, An Nahar daily reported on Monday.

The newspaper said that LF lawmaker George Adwan made the announcement on his party's serious intention to back Aoun during a meeting that was held by the coalition’s leaders on Sunday night.

Adwan urged them “to deal with this option calmly,” it said.

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Coordination Council of Political and Jihadi parties on Sunday said the government should announce the schedule for parliamentary and district council elections before bringing electoral reforms.

Pir Syed Ahmad Gilani, the council spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News during an exclusive chat the announcement of dates for the elections was more important than changes to the election commissions.

Gilani favoured holding elections first calling it principle of democracy, saying reforms could be introduced in the next stage.

MINGORA: Tabassum Adnan was elected the first speaker and Ms Sajida deputy speaker of the first women assembly of Swat here on Thursday.

The election for speaker and deputy speaker of the assembly was held in pleasant environment in which members of women assembly used their right to vote.

The women assembly was formed under the Aurat Foundation’s voice and accountability programme, Awaz, with women’s representations from all 67 union councils of Swat district.

Turkish Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman said on Jan. 8 he would head the conciliation commission and send letters to party leaders, foreseeing that a new constitution would likely be issued.

“I will head the conciliation commission and the commission will determine its working principles itself. I think that a new constitution will be issued,” said Kahraman during a press conference, adding he would send letters to the leaders of all four parties in the Turkish parliament.

TOBA TEK SINGH: According to unofficial results of 147 polling stations, PML-N’s Pir Ali Baba won by-poll for PP-89 by a margin of 20825 votes.

He secured 55894 votes while independent candidate Sonia Ali Raza got 35,609 votes. The turnout was 56 per cent.

Mr Baba (whose actual name is Qutab Ali Shah), is the son of former MPA Pir Ibrar Husain and nephew of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Runner-up Ms Raza is daughter of late MPA Makhdoom Ali Raza and niece of former Punjab minister Makhdoom Mukhtar Hussain.

Tehran, Jan 6, IRNA – Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Wednesday that the procedures of screening of candidates was sound and the prospect of election in Iran is very promising.