19 June 2019 Shahzad Akbar has claimed that the United Kingdom has agreed to extradite former finance minister Ishaq Dar
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Akbar said that an agreement in this regard has been reached, but extradition documents for Dar have yet to be signed. He said that following the ratification of the document, Dar will be repatriated to Pakistan after being produced before a magistrate. Akbar said that the entire process will be completed soon. An overweight man was airlifted to Lahore to receive treatment on the Army chief’s orders
Noorul Hassan — a resident of Mohallah Islampura in Sadiqabad — had appealed to Gen Bajwa on social media to take notice of his predicament and assist him in seeking treatment. Sadiqabad Assistant Commissioner Kashif Dogar told the media that Hassan, 55, could not travel in an ambulance by road due to his weight. He said that Hassan is a poor taxi driver and resides in a small house. Rescue 1122 personnel broke the main door and wall of Hassan’s house to bring him out. Dogar said that the rescue team shifted Hassan onto a mini truck and transported him to a football ground in Sadiqabad where a helipad was fashioned for the air ambulance’s landing. The Islamabad High Court says that they have found no ulterior motives on NAB’s part and dismisses Zardari and Talpur’s bail applications
The order also stated that “no mala fide or ulterior motives” were found on NAB’s part “which is the core principle for grant or refusal of the bail before arrest”. Last week, the high court had dismissed the applications for a pre-arrest bail by Zardari and Talpur in the fake accounts reference. Following the dismissal, Zardari was arrested by a 15-member NAB team while his sister, Talpur, was taken into custody on June 14. Both PPP leaders are in NAB custody on remand. Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, who announced the verdict, in their written order issued on Tuesday said that white-collar crimes are “not easy to deduct and trace and cannot be equated with other general offences”. The Lahore High Court has rejected the bail applications filed by PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique
Both brothers are chief suspects in a corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) earlier this year. NAB has accused the Khawaja brothers of wrongfully gaining approximately Rs18.2 million from M/s Paragon City (pvt) Limited in their bank accounts and failing to account for the illegal gains. During today’s hearing, the NAB counsel told the court that the anti-corruption watchdog had initiated an inquiry against both brothers for allegedly owning assets beyond known means, but the inquiry had to be closed in 2007 after the two brothers both “won prize bonds”.
———————————————————————————————————————— 18 June 2019 Imran Khan has taken notice of the incident between journalist Sami Ibrahim and Minister Fawad Chaudhry
Last week, Sami Ibrahim had reportedly filed a complaint accusing Chaudhry of slapping him at a wedding. A copy of the complaint,which was circulating on social media, said that Chaudhry had slapped and cursed the journalist without any provocation. It also accused the Science and Technology minister of threatening Ibrahim. Subsequently, the Ministry of Science and Technology had issued a response, saying that the “incident” should not be treated as a “clash between two institutions but as a conflict between two individuals”. Two policemen were killed yesterday when four unidentified gunmen riding motorbikes opened fire at them in Orangi Town, Karachi
The policemen — Allah Datta and Rehmat Ali — were on their way to Mominabad Police Station when the incident happened. Unknown gunmen opened fire at them using 9mm pistols near Zainab School Noori Chowk. Both policemen were injured and passed away on the way to the hospital. Police investigation teams recovered four 9mm bullet shells. The bullet casings have been sent for forensic analysis. Police say that they have busted a gang of alleged drug dealer who have been supplying drugs to student in Clifton and Defence
Acting on a tip-off, the Clifton police arrested three suspects named Taj Husain, Sajjad and Saif Rehman. The officer identified Taj as a ringleader of the gang. He hailed from Peshawar. “This gang used to bring high quality drugs from Peshawar which was supplied to posh areas of the city owing to which the police were receiving complaints that even students of schools and colleges had become addicted.” The police seized 36 kilograms of hashish, a 9mm pistol and cash from the suspects. Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has stayed the execution of a mentally ill prisoner, Ghulam Abbas, who was to be hanged today
The news was confirmed by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), a non-governmental organisation working for Pakistani prisoners at home and abroad. The order was issued on an application filed by JPP after the Punjab Home Department withdrew permission to allow an independent psychiatrist and two government doctors to visit Adiala Jail and evaluate Abbas, a press release issued by the NGO stated. Imprisoned in 2004, Abbas was sentenced to death on May 31, 2006, by a district and sessions court for stabbing a neighbour.
———————————————————————————————————————— 16 June 2019 Pakistan is set to receive $3.4 billion in budgetary support from the Asian Development Bank
Director General (DG) Asian Development Bank (ADB), Werner Leipach and Country Director ADB, Xiaohong Yang, called on the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss financing options for Pakistan’s structural reform agenda. Last month, Pakistan reached an accord in principle with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a three-year, $6 billion bailout package aimed at shoring up its fragile public finances and strengthening a slowing economy.
Maryam Nawaz has invited Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for a meeting to be held today
According to PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, Bilawal has accepted the invitation and he will arrive at Raiwind tomorrow afternoon. It has further been confirmed that a few important leaders from both sides will attend the meeting as well. Maryam Nawaz, in response to a question regarding whether approval had been given by senior party leaders, tweeted: “This and all other decisions in the party are taken after the approval of MNS (Mian Nawaz Sharif) and MSS (Mian Shahbaz Sharif) and taking the senior leaders into confidence.” Ministry of Science and Technology responds to Sami Ibrahim’s allegations against Fawad Chaudhry
Ibrahim had reportedly filed a complaint at Mansoorabad police station in Faisalabad, accusing Chaudhry of slapping him at a wedding. A copy of the reported complaint, that is circulating on social media and was retweeted by Ibrahim, alleged that Chaudhry had slapped and cursed the journalist without any provocation. It also accused the Science and Technology minister of threatening Ibrahim. The statement issued by the ministry today said that Chaudhry had “reacted after another person tried to wound his self-esteem”. The response does not state the nature of the minister’s reaction. Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar was granted protective bail by the Islamabad District and Sessions Court
Prior to Khokhar’s appearance in court today, roads leading to the court were blocked by police who made every attempt to arrest him. Khokhar has been accused of creating obstacles in the way of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s arrest on June 10 in the fake accounts case. A first information report (FIR) was registered against Khokhar that day at the Margalla police station and was sealed. “A false and baseless FIR was registered at the behest of the government,” said Khokhar whilst speaking to the media after obtaining bail.
———————————————————————————————————————— 15 June 2019 Fawad Chaudhry said that the process for extradition of former finance minister Ishaq Dar, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz would be initiated soon
“Ishaq Dar is the linchpin in the whole episode; the people of Pakistan demand recovery of looted money and it will happen when Ishaq Dar is brought back as he knows about all the details of hidden money,” he said while talking to the media outside the Parliament House. The former information minister said that negotiations had been made with the home department of the UK in the past two weeks for extradition of Mr Dar and the two sons of Nawaz Sharif. He added that there was positive response from the UK government in this regard. Mystery surrounds Supreme Judicial Council hearing of references against judges
Mystery surrounds the proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) which held a closed-door session on Friday to commence a preliminary hearing of government-sponsored references against two superior court judges as no official handout was released about the proceedings. At the conclusion of the SJC session, despite facing a volley of questions by chasing journalists, Attorney General Anwar Mansoor remained tight-lipped and did not offer any comment. But to many, his body language indicated that everything had not gone off well during the proceedings. Bilawal Bhtto Zardari lashes out at NAB and the government over aunt’s arrest
Four days after the arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur was nabbed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) here on Friday in connection with a case pertaining to money laundering through fake bank accounts. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari termed the arrests of his father Asif Zardari and aunt Faryal Talpur ‘pre-planned’ to divert attention of the people from the recently announced federal budget for 2019-20 which he called an “economic terrorism”.
Shahbaz Sharif forwarded the names of proposed members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from Sindh and Balochistan without consultation with the prime minister
Mr Sharif has forwarded six names to the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan. The three names for an ECP member from Balochistan are Salahuddin Mengal, former provincial advocate general and senior advocate of the Supreme Court; Shah Mohammad Jatoi, advocate of the Supreme Court; and Mohammad Rauf Ata, former advocate general and senior advocate of the Supreme Court.
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14 June 2019
The Supreme Judicial Council will take up references against judges today
As all eyes are on the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) which will take up on Friday (today) the references against two superior court judges, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Amanullah Kanrarni renewed his commitment to burn copies of the references outside the Supreme Court and lawyers, barring a part of the legal fraternity, announced observing strike across the country on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). The five-member SJC comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh and Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth will commence hearing of the references at 2pm against Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court and Justice Karim Khan Agha of the SHC for allegedly possessing properties in the United Kingdom.
President Dr Arif Alvi directed the Capital Development Authority to cancel the construction of new bird cages for parrots at Presidency zoo
The president has ordered immediate withdrawal of the said tender notice and initiation of inquiry. The tender notice has been released without obtaining approval from the competent authority,” the spokesperson added. Two days after announcing an austerity-oriented budget, the capital’s civic authority had floated a Rs2 million tender for birdcages in the Presidency. CDA deputy director (civil) at Aiwan-i-Sadr Mohammad Farooq Azam floated the tender through advertisements in newspapers, and on the websites of the CDA and the Pakistan Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). The PTI says that the recent arrests have improved Pakistan’s image abroad
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has declared that recent arrests of opposition leaders have improved the country’s image abroad, stating that “those who have plundered the country and its resources will spend their lives in jails and for them doors to the power corridors have been shut forever”. In a statement, PTI’s Information Secretary Omar Sarfaraz Cheema stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan was recognised across the world “as a man of honour for his honesty and patriotism” and there was a paradigm shift in world’s perspective about Pakistan. Ministry of Finance estimates economic growth rate to further slow down to 2.4 per cent and inflation rate to rise up to 13pc
The NEC had approved a target of 4pc GDP growth rate for fiscal year 2019-20 in its meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 29. The meeting had also set a target of 8.5pc for inflation rate. “The GDP growth is targeted at 4pc with agriculture (3.5pc), industry (2.2pc) and services (4.8pc). Inflation is projected at 8.5pc for 2019-20 in view of the higher administrative prices and monetary overhand of the past,” reported the Annual Plan 2019-20 of the Planning Commission released with the budget documents on June 11.
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13 June 2019
Farmers protest against water crisis in Badin
A large number of farmers, traders and villagers staged one-kilometre march on foot from Malkani Sharif town to Khairpur Gumbo in scorching heat to record protest against nagging water crisis in Badin district for the past several months. After the protesters reached Khairpur Gumbo they also staged a demonstration on Pangrio-Jhuddo road for three hours and listened to speeches by their leaders. Sindh Abadgar Tanzeem (SAT) leaders Pir Fayaz Hussain Shah Rashidi, Tariq Mehmood Arain, Mohammad Ali Liskani and others lashed out at officials of the irrigation department for their callousness towards landowners’ plight in irrigation sub-division of Khairpur Gumbo. Altaf Hussain has been released on bail, but his investigation will continue
A day after his arrest in London, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain was released on Wednesday evening by the British authorities on bail without filing charges relating to a probe into his alleged hate speeches relayed from the United Kingdom to his followers in Pakistan. The Metropolitan Police of London had raided Mr Hussain’s residence on Tuesday morning, taken him into custody and shifted him to the Southwark police station, where he was questioned in the presence of his lawyers in connection with the probe that the police said was focused on a speech broadcast in August 2016 as well as other speeches. President Alvi has filed a reply on the plea against his candidacy
President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi through his lawyer submitted on Wednesday his reply in the Sindh High Court on a petition challenging his candidature for presidency. The petitioner, Azmat Rehan, who had lost the decades-long civil litigation regarding the ownership of a salt firm against Alvia Tabligh Trust, contended that Dr Alvi, a co-plaintiff in the suit, was not qualified to be elected president of Pakistan since he had allegedly filed fake and forged documents before the court in the 1977 civil case. Dr Alvi in his reply contented that the allegations levelled against him in the petition were baseless and unfounded, adding that the petition was based on incorrect, fabricated and false averments. He maintained that the petition was not maintainable and also time-barred and pleaded for its dismissal with exemplary costs. Arrangements to cope with the cyclone and heatwave are being reviewed in Sindh
The city administration on Wednesday reviewed at a meeting the arrangements for the implementation of contingency plans made to cope with the expected tropical cyclone and heatwave. The contingency plan was made jointly by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), district administrations, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, DMCs, Pakistan Navy, cantonment boards, and other relevant departments. Official sources said that a senior official of the Met department briefed the participants in a high-level meeting on the weather situation, telling them that the tropical cyclone Vayu was expected to hit Thatta and other parts of the province on June 16-17.
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12 June 2019
After his government revealed their first federal budget, Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to go after the thieves who put country badly in debt
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday night addressed the nation and vowed to go after the “thieves who left the country badly in debt”. The address followed a noisy budget session in the National Assembly and two major arrests — Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and MQM founder Altaf Hussain by London police — earlier in the day. On Monday, former president Asif Ali Zardari was also arrested by NAB. The premier announced that after putting to rest the initial focus of the government to stabilise the economy, his attention would be more targeted towards bringing the ones to task who had caused the country to fall into such dire straits. The Supreme Court is losing Rs10 million a day of the Rs10.6bn collected for dams
The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that it was losing approximately Rs10 million a day as interest by not timely investing over Rs10.6 billion funds collected so far from donations for Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams. “This is all because of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP),” regretted Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed while heading a five-judge SC bench. The implementation bench of the Supreme Court which had taken up the Diamer-Bhasha-Mohmand Dams Fund also hinted that it might not waste further time and rather determine how to invest the available funds on short-term instruments in the interregnum period for two, three or seven days or three months till a proper investment mode is determined. An Alarming rise in HIV/AIDS cases in five districts of Punjab has been noticed
Faisalabad, Chiniot, Sahiwal, Jhang and Nankana — and currently more than 2,800 such patients from these areas are registered with the Punjab AIDS Control Programme (PACP) for free medicines. They say that most of these patients come to know about their condition through screening tests conducted before donating blood, travelling abroad or undergoing a surgery. It is worrying that in spite of such a high incidence of HIV-positive persons in these areas, neither the provincial government, nor the district administrations so far organised any screening camps to know the reasons for such a high number of HIV patients. The PML-N held demonstrations at several places in Lahore to protest against the arrest Hamza Shahbaz
The National Accountability Bureau, Lahore, arrested Hamza in money laundering, income beyond means and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases. The PML-N workers held demonstrations at some 18 points including The Mall, Ferozpur Road, Chungi Amer Sidhu, Multan Road, Manawan, Mughalpura, Garhi Shahu and Ichhra. They burnt tyres and chanted slogans against Prime Minister Imran Khan and NAB. Traffic remained suspended and motorists faced inconvenience for several hours because of the protest. The participants termed Hamza’s arrest a political victimisation by Imran Niazi and said the PML-N couldn’t be cowed down by such tactics.
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11 June 2019
The PPP has decided to call a country-wide protests after the arrest of co-chairman and ex-president Asif Zardari
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a press conference following the meeting said he would “make the government an offer”.. “But you will bring a budget that is an enemy of the people (awam dushman budget),” he continued. “You are threatening my workers, my family, you arrested my father. If you bring such a budget, I will show you what a protest is,” he said. Bilawal also promised that his party would bring judicial reform and raise issues of human rights at every forum. “We are ready to take any step,” he said. The sources said that the party would protest the government’s “revenge tactics”, the budget, and the rising cost of living. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey, the economy grew at an average rate of 3.29% in fiscal year 2018-19, missing the target of 6.2pc set in last year’s budget
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