Former Pakistani foreign minister Khawaja Asif will be allowed to contest the July 25 general election after the Supreme Court on Friday overturned his disqualification from politics, in a boost to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.
Mr Asif, a staunch ally of disqualified prime minister and PML-N founder Nawaz Sharif, was removed from parliament by a lower court in April as he was deemed not "honest" under a constitutional provision also used to oust Mr Sharif.
Mr Asif was disqualified for not declaring his employment and a source income from a UAE company, but the top court overturned the earlier ruling, which carried a lifetime ban from politics.
"God has granted mercy on a sinner like me, there is no count of God’s blessings. I am thankful to the judiciary," Khawaja Asif tweeted shortly after the verdict was announced.
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Munir Malik, a senior member of Mr Asif's counsel, told the English-language Dawn newspaper that his client could contest the upcoming election after the ruling.
Mr Asif, one of Pakistan's most prominent politicians, is part of Mr Sharif's inner circle and one of the most senior figures in the ruling party.
He earlier headed the defence and power ministries and was foreign minister until the court disqualified him.
The Supreme Court's decision will have come as a surprise to many PML-N figures who have criticised the judiciary for bringing about a slew of cases against party officials and allege bias from judges.
The judiciary and in particular the chief justice, Saqib Nisar, who has embraced an activist role in politics and the running of government, deny favouring any party.
The Supreme Court's decision came as a former chief justice was sworn in as caretaker prime minister for an interim period of two months, hours after Pakistan's president dissolved the powerful lower house of parliament.
Nasir ul Mulk, who has a reputation as a defender of democratic institutions, will run the government pending results of July 25 elections.
President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath of office at a ceremony attended by the political and military leadership.
Incumbent prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi resigned at midnight on Thursday, ending a brief but turbulent tenure since July 2017 when he replaced Mr Sharif. It was only the third time in Pakistan's history that the National Assembly finished its five-year term.
Both the PML-N and the opposition had agreed on Mr Mulk, who served as Pakistan's chief justice from 2014 to 2015, as interim premier. Pakistan's constitution mandates new elections to be held within 60 days.
Mr Mulk's main job will be to supervise the July elections. On Sunday, candidates will begin submitting their nominations for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies. They have until June 6 to register.
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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