10 July 2019 Bol News anchorperson Mureed Abbas was killed in Karachi

Police officials said, citing initial details, that he was killed during a fight over a personal dispute in Khayaban-e-Bukhari area. South DIG Sharjeel Kharal said that friends of the deceased informed the police that he had a monetary dispute with someone whose identity police had withheld. He added that a friend of the anchorperson, Khizar Hayat, also received two bullets in the same incident. Hayat was shifted to a private hospital but he succumbed to his wounds, he added. The officer said that a police party raided the residence of the suspected killer and caught him attempting suicide. “The suspect shot himself in the chest,” he said, adding that the suspect was shifted to a local hospital in critical condition. An accountability court summoned Maryam Nawaz, over the use of a bogus trust deed in the Avenfield properties case

NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Khan Abbasi filed the application, seeking action against Maryam Nawaz for producing a bogus trust deed before the accountability court in order to conceal the London properties. Maryam Nawaz has been summoned to the hearing on July 19. NAB application read, “The above conclusion [that the document used was bogus] by this court was reached after evaluating the entire evidence; hence, it is apparent that the respondent has maliciously fabricated and tendered false evidence/information with the intention to mislead the due process of law and trial and hamper the administration of justice.” Imran Khan said that the former government functionaries enjoyed luxurious foreign visits on taxpayers money

The premier issued the comments during the cabinet meeting. The ministers were briefed on the expenses incurred during the foreign trips. It was told that during the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government as much as Rs .84 billion was spent on foreign state tours, while Rs1.42 billion was spent on former president Asif Ali Zardari’s tours. The premier after the briefing said that despite such massive spending what good nation got? “I will question them for every spent penny” he said. Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood said over Rs 24,000 billion loans were taken from the foreign countries, which spoke volumes about their opulence.The minister said it was also revealed during the cabinet meeting that Asif Zardari had spent 257 days abroad during his trips while he was also accompanied by some 3,227 persons. According to the IMF, Pakistan has agreed to further increase the electricity tariff by the end of the next month

They said, “an adequate pricing structure reflective of costs is essential to eliminate the accumulation of circular debt as new capacity comes into the system and to make the sector a more attractive investment opportunity.” It is likely that the increase will be of Rs2.5 per unit from the next month. “Currently, households consuming 300 units or below (about 70 per cent of all household consumers) are insulated from annual tariff increases. The authorities will continue with this practice and will moreover allocate for this year a new subsidy equivalent to 0.1–0.2 per cent of GDP to insulate those same consumers from the impact of the recently introduced quarterly tariff adjustment,” the report said. The IMF in its report stated, “Eliminating power sector losses on a sustainable basis will require both new pricing policies and improvements in governance and infrastructure. There are three main sources of arrears in the power sector: effective tariffs below the required levels and only approved with significant delays; implicit subsidies provided by the government that have long remained unbudgeted; and technical and distribution losses. The authorities aim to address the first two sources in the near term while preparing a plan to tackle the third source of arrears over the course of the program.”
———————————————————————————————————————— 9 July 2019 Four cases of polio were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, taking the total number of cases this year to 41

According to the KP Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), two new cases of polio were found in Bannu district; the crippling disease was confirmed in a 12-month-old girl in Jani Khel area and in a 30-month-old boy in Fatah Khel area. Bannu has been declared a “highly sensitive” area with regards to the prevalence of polio, the KP EOC said in a statement. With the latest addition, the number of polio cases detected in Bannu this year has risen to 16. In Balochistan, the first two polio cases of the year were reported from Jaffarabad and Qilla Abdullah Districts. NAB is investigating former provincial minister Sharjeel Inam Memon over allegations of corruption and money laundering

Memon is accused of owning assets beyond known sources of income and will be probed under Section 9(v) of the NAB Ordinance. Section 9(v) of the NAB Ordinance says: “If [a public office holder] or any of his dependents or benamidars owns, possesses, or has any right or title in any movable or immovable property or pecuniary resources disproportionate to his known sources of income, which he cannot reasonably account for.” According to the press release, Memon, his dependents or benamidars own the following assets, sources of which are not known.
- 270 acres of agricultural land worth more than Rs300 million in the name of Memon and his mother
- Rawal Farm House that is worth more than Rs1 billion
- Cotton factory in Hyderabad district
- Three plots DHA in Memon’s mother’s name
- Flats and villas in Memon and his wife’s name
- Six plots in Karachi’s Site area in the name of Memon’s personal secretary Izhar Hussain, driver Subhan and property agent Agha Ahsan.
Asif Ali Zardari claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government will end in coming four to five months

Speaking in the parliament house, the Pakistan Peoples Party chief said that political forces will replace the PTI government. “Imran’s government will not be dismissed by pushing a button. It will go after a political struggle and opposition is doing it. It will end before November.” Zardari said that the future belongs to Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.”Maryam is like our daughter. We will keep giving her our suggestions,” he said. The former president said that the PML-N holds the majority in the Senate hence it’s quite possible that the new chairman will come from the party. The PPP chairman admitted that his party also committed mistakes but added that the political forces will be cautious to not repeat them. “Imran Khan is a reward of our political mistakes,” he sarcastically remarked. Maryam Nawaz warned that she would go on a hunger strike if the government doesn’t allow her father homemade meals
عدالت سے بھی مدد نا ملی تو میں کوٹلکھپت جیل کے باہر جا کر بیٹھوں گی۔ بھوک ہڑتال بھی کرنا پڑی تو کروں گی۔ ان ظالموں پر مجھے بھروسہ نہیں ہے۔ یہ میاں صاحب کے کھانے میں کچھ بھی ملا سکتے ہیں۔ اس بات کو دھمکی نا سمجھا جائے کیونکہ میں یہ کر گزروں گی۔ https://t.co/it4AIFvuM7
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 8, 2019
“The fake government has imposed restrictions on homemade meals for Nawaz Sharif. The staff who took his food has been waiting outside the jail for the last five hours,” she said. “Mian sahab has refused to eat prison food. If they [the government] do not take back this restriction in the next 24 hours, then I will contact the court.” “If I don’t get help from the court, then I will sit outside Kot Lakhpat jail. Even if I have to go on a hunger strike, I will do it,” she warned in another tweet. “I don’t trust these oppressors; they can mix anything in Mian sahab’sfood,” she said, adding her warning should not be considered a mere threat and that she would go through with it. Later in the day, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also took to Twitter to condemn the restriction on homemade food for Nawaz Sharif. He said Mian Nawaz Sharif is a heart patient and depriving him of homemade food is a grave oppression. He demanded the government to immediately ensure the provision of home-cooked meals to Nawaz. Nawaz Sharif is currently serving seven-year imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case in Kot Lakhpat jail.Last week, Punjab chief minister’s spokesperson Shahbaz Gill had said: “No meal restrictions have been placed on Nawaz Sharif as reported by a section of the media. Even today [July 2], his meal came from his home.” ———————————————————————————————————————— 8 July 2019 Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the ‘selected’ prime minister ‘dances to umpire’s tunes’

Speaking in a public gathering, the PPP leader said that a selected government is imposed on the people of Pakistan. “People from every sector are now screaming but Imran doesn’t care,” he said. Bilawal said that with questions on the transparency of the last polls and no political freedom in the country, there is a huge question over the presence of democracy in the country. “Imran questioned four constituencies in the 2013 polls. In the last elections form 45 were missing in all constituencies in the 2018 elections,” he said. “The people of erstwhile tribal areas fought against terrorists now they should fight against the puppets and riggers. We all have to come out and fight against the selected government.” Bilawal said that PM Imran sold the country before the IMF and his government’s recent budget has all for the rich and nothing for the poor, adding that all his promises were false. A women in Quetta threw acid on her co-worker over an ordinary dispute

According to police, the two “friends” worked at a local non-governmental organisation (NGO). Following an argument, one of the two women went to the other’s house where she attacked her with acid. The survivor of the acid attack, severely burnt, was immediately shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for medical attention. Officers at the Gawalmandi police station said they have taken the woman who threw acid on her peer into custody and would conduct an investigation. Shehbaz Sharif hoped the country’s sovereign authorities would help his brother get justice now that the “evidence” was out

The sentence handed to the ex-premier by the trial court was the “worst of injustices”, Sharif, the former chief minister of Punjab, said, adding: “Undeniable proofs of the trial court’s injustice have been revealed. “I hope the Supreme Court and the sovereign authorities will help us get justice now that the evidence is out,” he said. Earlier today, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had released a video clip purportedly showing Arshad Malik, an accountability court judge, allegedly admitting to a lack of evidence against former PM Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills reference. It purportedly shows Malik speaking to a PML-N worker, named Nasir Butt, and claiming that he was coerced to hand down the prison sentence against Nawaz Sharif despite there being no proof of corruption against the deposed premier. Major General Asif Ghafoor cautioned against making “sweeping targeted statements or trends” against any individual, profession or institution
Irresponsible biased use of social media & vested negative trends can lead to misunderstandings / spats. Sweeping targeted statements or trends against any individual / profession/ institution are unethical. One such example is sweeping trend against journalists.#StayResponsible
— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) July 6, 2019
“Irresponsible biased use of social media and vested negative trends can lead to misunderstandings/spats,” said the director general (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), army’s media wing. “Sweeping targeted statements or trends against any individual/profession/institution are unethical. One such example is sweeping trend against journalists,” he said, ending it with the hashtag #StayResponsible. His tweet, however, did not specify if he was addressing anyone in particular. The alarming hashtag #ArrestAntiPakjournalists was used or forwarded more than 28,000 times on Thursday. Many users accompanied it with a composite photograph of prominent journalists and TV anchors, some of whom regularly criticise the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the powerful military establishment.
———————————————————————————————————————— 5 July 2019 Five suspected terrorists were arrested by the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a failed bid to carry out a bomb attack on a train

A bomb disposal squad (BDS) had earlier in the day expertly defused explosives affixed to railway tracks. According to BDS official Ghulam Abbas, “the bomb weighed 5kg and was attached to the railway tracks along with a remote-controlled device.” The target appeared to be the Karachi-bound Khushal Khan Khattak Express, which had left from Peshawar and was due to pass by in a few hours. It was temporarily halted at the DG Khan station after police sealed off the area and began a search operation. State Minister for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi said that Rana Sanaullah’s car was monitored for three weeks

“Thrice Sanullah was with his female family members so we did not stop him. We have pictures and video records,” the minister said in a press conference with ANF Director General Major General Arif Malik. Minister Afridi said that the raid was carried out on a tip-off from an accused arrested from Faisalabad, adding that he won’t give further details of the case as the other individuals linked with the case will run away. The minister said that a massive international and local drug racket is involved in the country. “No one is above law. Narcotics are destroying the country, we will make an example of those people who are dishonest with the country,” he added Three suspects, including a neighbour, were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 16-year-old girl in Mirpurkhas

According to police, the FIR was filed in Satellite Town station on behalf of the survivor’s father. It read that the girl stepped out the night before to buy groceries but, on the way, the three alleged predators kidnapped and took her to a deserted area where they sexually assaulted her. The alleged three gang-rapists filmed the entire ordeal and threatened the survivor to make the video viral if she dared to tell anyone about the sexual assault. A medical check-up carried out on the survivor at Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas confirmed that the alleged gang rape indeed occurred, according to the initial report. A 15-year-old survivor from the city’s Gulistan-e-Johar area said that her mother had shared a fake video of sexual assault and had a man rape her for money

U*, the minor, made further, disturbing claims in a first information report (FIR) police registered on her behalf against her mother. It is noteworthy that a few months ago, the girl’s mother had an FIR filed against a man named Raza Bugti. In the latest FIR, U claimed that her mother, Samreen, had published a fake video of sexual assault on U on social media. The girl alleged that her mother was “a woman of bad character” and that eight months ago, her mother told her to get into a relationship with a man named Javed. When U, however, refused to comply, her mother beat her up. The minor told police that her mother had Javed rape her over and over for many months and, in return, U’s mother took money from the alleged rapist.
———————————————————————————————————————— 4 July 2019 The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) has approved a three-year, $6 billion loan “to support Pakistan’s economic plan

The aims to return sustainable growth to the country’s economy and improve the standards of living,” spokesperson Gerry Rice tweeted. According to AFP, the IMF board has released $1bn to Pakistan immediately. The fund will review Pakistan’s performance quarterly over 39 months, phasing release of the additional aid over time. Islamabad will receive $2bn annually under an extended fund facility (EFF). According to the IMF, “The EFF provides assistance in support of comprehensive programmes that include policies of the scope and character required to correct structural imbalances over an extended period.” An IMF mission led by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo had visited Islamabad from April 29 to May 11 to discuss a bailout package. Imran Khan says If Sharifs and Zardaris bring half their looted wealth back, rupee will soar

The prime minister made the remark while recalling that he had promised the people that he will get answers from those who have run the country to the ground and left it so enormously indebted. His was speaking in Rawalpindi after the launch of the Sir Syed Express train. “Do whatever you want. It won’t make a difference to me. I won’t give you (amnesty under) an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance). No matter whom you grovel to or whosoever intercedes on your behalf,” he vowed, directly addressing the PPP and PML-N leadership. 12 missing persons have returned to their homes in various areas of Balochistan during the last one week

The 12 missing persons returned at a time when the federal government’s commission on missing persons headed by retired Justice Fazalur Rehman Bazai was hearing cases in Quetta. During the nine consecutive hearings in Quetta, starting June 24, the commission took up 122 cases. According to sources in the provincial home department, nine missing persons — whose cases were being heard by the commission — reached home during the last nine days. The missing persons belong to Chaghi, Khuzdar, Pishin and other parts of the province, sources said. Firdous Ashiq Awan says Zardari interview pulled off air as it violated NAB and parliamentary rules

The government’s spokesperson provided the explanation in response to a question from Senator Ghous Mohammad Khan Niazi in a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. She said that though the issue was not a part of the meeting’s agenda, she could explain it in detail. Awan said that the interview was pulled under Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) rules for three reasons. “[Firstly], an under-trial suspect who is in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) can not appear in an interview before cameras in the parliament,” she explained. “[Secondly] the permission of the National Assembly speaker is a prerequisite for bringing in cameras into the parliament,” she said, adding that “[Finally], there is a designated spot outside the parliament for media talks [where such interviews should be held].” “The interview was [therefore] conducted in violation of the rules of parliament,” she concluded, adding that Pemra rules too do not allow the broadcasting of an interview of an accused who is under investigation and on remand.
———————————————————————————————————————— 3 July 2019 The ECP says that there are National Assembly has 10 declared billionaires

As many as 10 out of the total 342 members of the National Assembly have declared that they own assets worth over a billion rupees, according to a statement of assets held by MNAs for year 2008 released by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday. They include four members from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), two from its ally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid — both sons of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat — two from the PML-N and one each from Pakistan Peoples Party and Awami National Party. According to the statement of assets and liabilities of the MNAs, Ihsan Bajwa, PML-N MNA from Bahawalnagar, is the richest among the lawmakers having total assets worth more than Rs3 billion, excluding liabilities of Rs1.18bn in the UAE. He has huge business capital of Rs56.4 million dirhams, nine houses and one building in the UAE. The value of his agricultural property in Pakistan comes to Rs249.5m. He also owns commercial and residential properties valuing Rs92.5m. The US State Department said it was classifying the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a global terrorist group

The banned BLA “is an armed group that targets security forces and civilians, mainly in Baloch areas of Pakistan,” the State Department said in its designation. The security forces have been fighting terrorists in Balochistan since 2004, with the militants recently finding a new focus in rallying against China’s investment that is part of its major Belt and Road initiative. The BLA has targeted Chinese nationals in Pakistan multiple times, including a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi that killed four people in November 2018. In May, five people including a soldier were killed after gunmen stormed the only five-star hotel in Gwadar, the port city which Islamabad is hoping to develop into a major commercial hub. France handed over nearly 450 ancient relics, some dating as far back as 4,000 BC, back to Pakistan

Customs agents at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport in 2006 intercepted a parcel from Pakistan containing 17 terracotta pots addressed to a museum in the city, claiming they were more than 100 years old. But an expert who examined them concluded they were artefacts dating back to the second or third millennium BC which had likely been stolen from burial sites in Balochistan. Following an extensive investigation which lasted almost a year and involved a raid on the Paris gallery, investigators found a total of 445 items, some dating as far back as 4,000 BC, with an estimated value of 139,000 euros [$157,000]. The government will return Rs5 billion to Haj pilgrims saved in the acquisition of residences for Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia
