Day by Day Current Affairs (June 01, 2018) | MCQs for CSS, PMS, NTS

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 June 1, 2018

1. Punjab’s first-ever IT policy launched

• The PML-N government has launched Punjab’s first-ever Information technology policy on five pillars – support to the industry, bridging the digital divide, e-governance, citizen centric services and entrepreneurship.
• The Information Technology Policy 2018, approved by the Punjab Cabinet in its farewell meeting on May 30, 2018, would focus on bridging the digital divide across gender, region and economic classes and to position Punjab as the IT research and development and innovation hub of Pakistan.
• Information Technology University’s first vice chancellor and Punjab Information Technology Board chairman Dr Umar Saif told the provincial government had proved its commitment to use the information and communication technology as an enabling tools for improving governance, efficiency, transparency and accountability. The policy document had consolidated all initiatives taken in the sector and set a future roadmap that would take the province to its ultimate destination of being hub of information technology.

2. Sindh`s former chief secretary Fazal-ur-Rahman to be interim CM

• Former chief secretary of Sindh Fazal-ur-Rahman, whose name was proposed by the opposition in the provincial assembly, was appointed caretaker chief minister of the province on May 30, 2018.
• Mr Rahman, who served as chief secretary from 2007 to 2010, was among three other candidates proposed by the opposition former home adviser Aftab Ahmed Sheikh (MQM), retired Justice Syed Ghous Ali Shah and retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim.
• The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party had proposed the names of another ex-chief secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha, Engineer Hameer Soomro, orthopedic surgeon Younus Soomro, retired Justice Ghulam Sarwar Korai and Dr Qayyum Soomro.
• The name of the caretaker chief minister was announced by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at a press conference with Leader of the Opposition Khwaja IzharulHassan at the CM House.

3. Government unveils National Internal Security Policy 2018-23

• The PML-N government on the last day of its term on May 31, 2018 unveiled a new national internal security policy proposing reconciliation with individuals and groups willing to shun violence.
• The key priority areas of the policy have to be the worst affected areas due to insecurity and terrorism. In this regard, Fata, Balochistan, and areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi have to be paid particular attention.
• Efforts will be made to build consensus on offering incentives for militants under clear and transparent terms to shun violence. A mechanism will be developed to review cases of militants who agree to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies. Deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes will be used to enable former militants to join the mainstream. Professionals and moderate scholars will be engaged for the said purpose.
• Alternative livelihoods either by providing jobs, vocational trainings or other means will be offered to former militants once they are certified not being a security risk, while their children under custody will be taken care of.

4. President approves Fata-KP merger bill

• President Mamnoon Hussain on May 31, 2018 gave his formal assent to the recently-passed 25th Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for the much-delayed merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
• The bill, already approved by both houses of Parliament as well as the KP Assembly with rare political consensus, was signed by the president at a special ceremony attended by KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, head of Fata Reforms Committee Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Law Barrister Zafarullah Khan and National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua.
• The bill, which has now become an act of parliament, was forwarded to the Presidency by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani after receiving it from the Ministry of Law and Justice after its passage by the KP Assembly on May 28.

5. Third National Assembly in a row completes its five-year term

• For the first time in the country`s chequered parliamentary history, the third National Assembly in a row managed to complete its five-year constitutional term on May 31, 2018 midnight though it was not a smooth sailing.
• However, it is only the second National Assembly under the civilian rule which is completing its tenure as the assembly which came into existence in 2002 continued to function under the Gen Pervez Musharraf.
• The three National Assemblies, however, elected seven prime ministers over the last 16 years, clearly underlying the weakness of democratic institutions and political parties in the country.
• The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs issued a notification on May 31, 2018 afternoon `in pursuance of Article 52` of the Constitution announcing the dissolution of the 14th National Assembly at midnight on May 31, 2018, on completion of its five-year term.
• The Presidency has already issued invitations for the oath-taking ceremony of caretaker prime minister retired Justice Nasirul Mulk to be held on June 1, 2018.

6. ECC approves tax relief for former Fata, Pata

• The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on May 31, 2018 approved tax exemptions and other incentives for the next five years for the people of erstwhile FATA and PATA after the landmark 31st Constitutional Amendment.
• Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting of the ECC at PM Office.
• The ECC has approved tax exemption for erstwhile FATA and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA), which have become part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after President Mamnoon Hussain signed the 31st Constitutional Amendment.
• The ECC approved following tax exemptions and other incentives for the next five years for the people of erstwhile FATA and PATA including exempting of income tax on profits and gains of existing businesses conducted by individuals for a period of five years. These businesses however need to be registered with FBR by 30th September 2018.

7. Denmark bans full-face veil in public spaces

• Denmark on May 31, 2018 became the latest European country to ban the Islamic full-face veil in public spaces in a move slammed by human rights campaigners as `a violation of women`s rights`
• `Anyone who wears a garment that hides the face in public will be punished with a fine,` says the law, which was passed by 75 votes to 30 in the Danish parliament.
• Presented by the government, the legislation was also backed by the Social Democrats and the far-right Danish People`s Party. The new rule will take effect on August 1.
• Wearing a burqa, which covers a person`s entire face, or the niqab, which only shows the eyes, in public will lead to a fine of 1,000 kroner ($156, 134 euros).
• The ban also targets other accessories that hide the face such as balaclavas and false beards. Repeated violations will be fined up to 10,000 kroner. It is not known how many women wear the niqab and burqa in Denmark.

8. Lithuania, Romania complicit in secret CIA prisons: European court

• The European Court of Human Rights ruled on May 31, 2018 that Lithuania and Romania were complicit in a controversial CIA programme to hold suspects caught after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in secret detention centres on their territories.
• Two suspects now being detained at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay lodged the case with the court in 2011 and 2012, alleging they were illegally held and tortured at CIA `black sites` in Romania and Lithuania from 2004 to 2006.
• The court said Romanian authorities knew that Saudi national Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri would risk torture and the death penalty when it allowed the CIA to hold him at an undisclosed facility in their country from April 2004 to November 2005.
• Nashiri is accused of orchestrating maritime terror attacks including the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen that left 17 dead.
• The former Soviet republic of Lithuania was found complicit in hosting a secret prison from February 2005 to March 2006, when CIA operatives held Abu Zubaydah, considered a top Palestinian operative for Al Qaeda.

9. Spanish PM faces defeat in no-confidence motion

• Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is poised to be ousted from office after a Basque party on May 30, 2018 gave its decisive support to a no-confidence motion over a corruption case, making it all but certain to succeed.
• The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) said its five lawmakers would vote against Rajoy. This gives the main opposition Socialist party, which filed the motion, the absolute majority of 176 votes needed for it to pass in a vote scheduled May 31, 2018.
• The Socialists filed the motion last week after a court said it had uncovered a vast system of bribes given to former officials of Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP) in exchange for lucrative public contracts between 1999 and 2005.
• The National Court, which deals with major criminal cases, sentenced 29 people with links to the PP, including a former treasurer, to jail. It also ordered the party to pay back 245,000 euros ($290,000) received from the scheme to help finance election campaigns.

10. Uganda imposes social media gossip tax

• Uganda’s parliament has passed a law to impose a controversial tax on people using social media platforms.
• It imposes a 200 shilling [$0.05, £0.04] daily levy on people using internet messaging platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber and Twitter.
• President Yoweri Museveni had pushed for the changes, arguing that social media encouraged gossip.
• The law should come into effect on 1 July but there remain doubts about how it will be implemented.