Daily Archives: October 3, 2021

Islamabad

46 succumb to COVID-19, 1664 tested positive in 24 hours

ISLAMABAD: Covid-19 claimed 46 lives while 1664 people tested positive during 24 lives in a day across the country.

As per the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) data 51,796 tests were carried out of which 1664 returned positive. The positivity rate stands at 3.21 percent. Tally of infected persons has reached level of 1248202.

With the current deaths of 46, the tally of fatalities has surged to 27831.

2,847 people were recovered in a day taking the tally of recoveries to 1,173,437, The number of active cases stand at 46,934.

At least 82,830,350 doses of Corona virus have been administered so far in the country.

International

137 Kashmiris martyred by Indian troops so far this year

Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian troops in their continued acts of state terrorism have martyred 137 Kashmiris including 35 in custody and fake encounters in the territory this year so far.

According to the data issued by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, today, these killings have rendered 10 women widowed and 29 children orphaned.

Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir Chairman, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, died while he was in custody of Indian police in Udhampur jail whereas the Icon of Kashmir freedom movement, Syed Ali Gilani, died at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar where he had been kept under house arrest for over a decade.

At least 59 houses and structures have been destroyed by the troops by using chemical substance and mortar shells during 2007 cordon and search operations across the occupied territory. During the period 451 persons have sustained injuries due to the firing of bullets, pellets and teargas shells on protesters, processions and mourners by Indian forces’ personnel. As many as 901 people including Hurriyat leaders, activists, youth and women have been arrested and most of them booked under black laws Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Indian troops and police personnel have molested at least 13 women during the period in the territory.

International

Turkish Red Crescent sending aid to feed displaced Afghans

Ankara: The Turkish Red Crescent is sending aid to Afghanistan to feed internally displaced people in need amid turmoil following the Taliban’s takeover, the organisation’s head said on Friday.

Half a million people have been displaced in Afghanistan in recent months, according to U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, a number which would grow if health services, schools and the economy break down.

Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kinik said the shipment of food would be sent from Pakistan towards Kabul on Saturday and provide for 16,000 people for a month.

“There is a serious food crisis right now. Public order needs to be provided for local production,” he told Reuters by telephone, citing a halt in international trade, drought and a decline in international aid as reasons for the problem.

International

Umer Sharif passes away in Germany after prolonged illness

NUREMBERG: Pakistani veteran comedian Umer Sharif on Saturday has passed away at the age of 66 years after prolonged illness.

The artist was set to resume his journey today to United States (US) for medical treatment three days after his stay in Germany.

Umer Sharif was admitted to a hospital in Germany’s Nuremberg on September 29 as his health condition deteriorated during flight to the United States.

Earlier, the departure of renowned comedian for treatment abroad was postponed due to his critical health. His blood pressure dropped while he was undergoing a dialysis.

Regarded as one of greatest comedians in sub-continent

Born on April 19, 1955, Umer Sharif was a Pakistani actor, comedian, director, producer and television personality. He started started his career from Karachi as a stage performer at the age of 14 in 1974.

Some of his extremely popular comedy stage plays were 1989’s Bakra Qistoon Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Ha.

In October 2009, Umer Sharif started hosting late-night talk show, The Shareef Show on private television channel and interviewed many actors, entertainers, musicians, and politicians.

He also participated in Indian stand-up comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge as a guest judge.

Umer Sharif received national awards for Best Director and Best Actor in 1992 for Mr. 420. He also received ten Nigar Awards.

The artist was also honored with three Graduate Awards. He was also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.

Education

Educational institutions being upgraded in KP: Bangash

Peshawar: Special Assistant to CM KP for Information and Public Relations Kamran Bangash on Saturday said that facilities in all sectors including education, health and sanitation are being enhanced in KPK as well as schools, colleges and health centers are being brought in line with the requirements of modern times.

Earlier, Bangash inaugurated new building of Shaheed Haris Nawaz High School during ceremony at Peshawar.

Addressing the ceremony, he said that in order to improve the environment of Peshawar, his govt besides plantation drives and setting up additional parks, concrete steps are also being taken to enhance the beauty of the city, he added.

“The zealous citizens of Peshawar had played a key role in bringing the PTI government to power for the second time in the last general elections and they would also make the PTI successful in the local body elections with a landslide mandate” he said.

District

Indian terror network in Afghanistan has been broken: Fawad

JEHLUM: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday that it was the vision and policy of Prime Minister Imran Khan to give a chance to those who wanted to shun path of violence to return to the mainstream.

Talking to media in Pind Dadan Khan on Saturday, he said that over 7.5 million saplings have been planted in the district while the private sector was also planting saplings along with the government.

The minister said that Pakistan was lucky to have leader of the stature of Prime Minister Imran Khan whose voice was heard all over the world, adding that the international community was looking towards Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sagacity for resolution of regional problems.

Chaudhry said during past couple of weeks over a dozen world leaders telephoned Imran Khan for consultations on future of Afghanistan. Similarly counterparts from over 20 countries met Shah Mehmood Qureshi during his visit to UN recently. The minister said Pakistan’s positive role in Afghanistan was evident before the entire world and was being acknowledged.

He said Pakistan bore the brunt of Afghan’s war as martyrs of war against terrorism were buried in almost every graveyard in the country. He said only the other day a youth from Rawalpindi sacrificed his life in line of duty in an anti terrorism operation.

Fawad said after the recent change in Afghanistan, Indian terror network there has been broken. He said since 2005 Prime Minister Imran Khan was calling for political solution of Afghanistan problem but the world did not paid heed, adding, when Imran Khan assumed office in 2018 he asked the then president of United States Donald Trump to start dialogue for resolution of Afghan problem.

He said due to loot and plunder of former rulers belonging to Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan’s economy was not strong enough to bear the brunt of more Afghan refugees.

He said now time had come to shift focus towards security and stabilize the economy. He said now the issue of the neighbouring was settled, adding, Prime Minister Imran Khan had given a new agenda of reconciliation to bring those elements in national mainstream who, in the past, were detracked by inimical forces.

The information minister went on to say that more than 3000 disgruntled Baloch youth had surrendered arms and rejoined the national mainstream, adding that his step was vital to save the new generation from terrorism and violence and pave the way for stronger Pakistan.

He said top leadership of other political parties including PPP and PML-N was in the hands of political novices like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maryam Safdar who had no experience and could not understand complexities of global politics.

District

Muhammad Abdus Shakoor, Chairman Pakistan Orphan Care Forum

MURREE: The annual meeting of the Central Executive Council organized by the Pakistan Orphan Care Forum was held at Alkhidmat Aghosh College Murree under the chairmanship of Chairman Pakistan Orphan Care Forum Muhammad Abdus Shakoor.

Heads and officials of 20 major welfare organizations of the country participated. Mohammad Abdus Shakoor, Chairman Pakistan Orphan Care Forum while addressing the participants on the occasion said that Pakistan Orphan Care Forum is striving for the rights of orphans. Orphans are a valuable asset that we need to work together for. Last year’s meeting focused on the philanthropic work of a large number of orphaned children in the country and the celebration of World Orphans’ Day.

Efforts were made to review in detail and plan for the future, while the country made important decisions at the international level regarding legislation to protect orphans, financial assistance as well as their rights. After the meeting, all the participants were given a detailed tour of Alkhidmat Aghosh College Murree. All the participants appreciated the efforts of Alkhidmat and expressed their best wishes.

Court News

IHC to take up plea against Zardari’s acquittal in Nab Reference

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) plea against acquittal of former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zadari in Polo Ground Reference.

The anti-graft watchdog had challenged the accountability court’s verdict of acquitting the former president in the polo ground reference.

A four-member bench of the IHC will hear the case on Monday October 4.

In 2014, an accountability court had acquitted former president Asif Ali Zardari in the polo ground reference, but rejected his acquittal plea in two other corruption references, directing the prosecution to proceed further with these cases.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the polo-ground corruption reference in the Accountability Court in 2000, and implicated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and spouse Asif Ali Zardari along with two former CDA chairmen Shafi Sehwani and Saeed Mehdi. The former CDA chairmen were alleged to have constructed a polo ground in the Prime Minister House during Benazir Bhutto’s first term in office at the expense of public money.

The names of Benazir Bhutto and ex-chairman CDA Shafi Sahwani were dropped from the reference after their death.

It was alleged in the reference that the construction of the polo ground was executed on verbal orders from Zardari and Mehdi. The polo ground costed an estimated Rs52.29 million loss to the national exchequer.

Corruption

AG proposes to govt to shut the cases against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Government has expressed grave concern over non deciding the mega corruption cases despite lapse of three years.

Attorney General (AG) Khalid Javed Khan has proposed to close cases against two PML-N leaders including Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal.

Concern over non deciding the mega corruption cases was voiced in a high level meeting held here under Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan Saturday.

The meeting was attended by law minister Farogh Nasim, AG Khalid Javed Khan, SAPM for parliamentary affairs Babar Awan while SAPM for interior and accountability Shahzad Akbar attended the meeting through video link.

The meeting was aimed at reviewing the progress made since the three years to take the mega corruption cases to logical conclusion.

Sources said the meeting expressed dissatisfaction over overall performance of NAB.

AG Khalid Javed opined that the cases against which NAB could not provide evidence and relevant documents during three years should be abolished or be withdrawn.

AG held he had reviewed LNG case against PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Narowal Sports Complex case against Ahsan Iqbal and in his view NAB have no complete evidence in both of these cases. The documents are also not complete against these two PML-N leaders with reference to whatever proceedings have been carried out so far. Therefore, NAB should withdraw these two cases.

Shahzad Akbar said he would talk to Chairman NAB and the concerned authorities in this regard.

The participants had concurred NAB should place focus on those corruption cases against which complete evidence were available with NAB and these evidence can lead to conviction of the accused by the courts.

The appointment of chairman NAB and extension in the service of the incumbent NAB chairman also came under discussion in the meeting.

Sources said AG was of the view that ordinance be promulgated for extension in service tenure of sitting chairman NAB Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal. He held that PM should make consultations with the opposition leader at every cost in this matter.

On the other hand law minister Farogh Nasim is in favor of induction of new chairman NAB. However he is supporting the plea of making consultations with opposition leader to go ahead on this matter instead of promulgating ordinance.

PM has directed to initiate legal process soon with reference to extension in the service of the sitting chairman NAB or induction of new chairman.

PM directed they should present their recommendations in writing to him and inform him about the legal points and later he will give his final decision.