ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has called for further enhancing the quality and outreach of Open Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad and using blended learning tools to increase the enrolment of students in different academic disciplines. He said that educating and imparting skills to students according to the market dynamics would help ensure their early employment besides helping in their career progression.

President Dr. Arif Alvi expressed these views during a follow-up briefing on AIOU, Islamabad, at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday. VC AIOU, Professor Dr. Zia ul Qayyum, Dean AIOU, Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood, senior officials of AIOU, representatives of HEC and Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, President Dr. Arif Alvi emphasized the need to invest in the formal and ODL modes of education which were the most important platforms for providing education to the masses. He said that ODL and hybrid modes of education could be extended to the Primary and Middle school levels after coordination with the relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors. This, he said, would help in educating the Out-of-School-Children (OOSC), who could not attend regular schools due to financial or other constraints. He said that Malaysia was far ahead in all forms of education than Pakistan due to heavy investment in this sector although Pakistan had helped Malaysia in setting up its institutes of higher learning.

During the meeting, the President proposed that the mosques, which normally remain vacant from Fajr to Zohr, could be used as schools and “Pesh Imams” could be trained as teachers to provide free of cost education to OOSC of the under-served areas. He also called upon the Ministry of Education and Professional training to play a leading role in bringing all stakeholders from the public and private sectors on one platform to devise a vision and strategy for extending educational services to hitherto neglected areas of the country by pooling their resources.

President Dr. Arif Alvi appreciated the performance of AIOU in providing quality education to those who could not afford expensive private schools or full-time schooling. He further advised the University to establish its own marketing and public relations department headed by a qualified professional to market its products not only in Pakistan but to the rest of the world. He also urged the need to double up efforts to market and highlight the 24,000 licenses available under the Digital Learning and Skills Enrich Initiatives of HEC and COURSERA to maximize the use of this important educational resource which provided over 1000 ready-made courses in various disciplines.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that Pakistan was willing to extend ODL and virtual education facilities to the people of Afghanistan through AIOU and the Virtual University of Pakistan (VUP) whose education materials could be utilized by Afghan students, both male and female, through its television network and online means, wherever available.

VC AIOU, Professor Dr. Zia-ul-Qayyum, briefed the President that as per President’s directions during the previous meetings, AIOU was planning to launch a Life Long Learning Centre besides working on designing Pakistan EdTech, establishing collaboration with the Universities of Turkiye and Leicester University and establishing a Centre of Excellence in Open Distance Learning.

He further highlighted that as per a survey conducted by AIOU, almost 70% of students enrolled in post-graduate programs were already employed and were studying to further improve their qualifications. He stated that as per the survey, 40.4% of the students enrolled in the undergraduate programs were able to get part-time jobs due to enhanced qualifications.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan had strongly denounced the BJP government’s mischievous move of observing ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ on 14 August. True to its characteristic revisionist agenda, the BJP-RSS led dispensation has again sought to hypocritically and one-sidedly invoke the tragic events and mass migration that occurred in the wake of Independence in 1947.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, it is deplorable that the BJP government, as part of its divisive political agenda, is wantonly attempting to play with the sentiments of the people through distorted interpretation of history.

He said that if the Indian leaders genuinely care about agony, suffering and pain, they must work to improve the conditions of the Muslims and other minorities in India.

FO spokesperson said that the last seven decades have been replete with undeniable proof that India’s espousal of secularism was a sham. The fact is that today’s India is an undeclared ‘Hindu Rashtra’ that has no place or tolerance for other religious minorities, especially Muslims who are faced with discrimination, persecution and political and socio-economic exclusion.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that the Government of India is advised to desist from politicizing the events related to Independence and instead sincerely honour the memories of all those who sacrificed for a better future for all.

 

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar received the outgoing Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan Wouter Plomp for a farewell call on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during the meeting Hina Rabbani Khar MOS noted the positive trajectory in Pakistan Netherlands relations.

She appreciated Ambassador’s valuable contributions and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening bilateral ties in diverse fields for mutual benefit.

Meanwhile Wouter Plomp in a statement issued on twitter said that excellent conversation with Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to further strengthen Pakistan and Netherlands relations, we share rich history of strong economic cooperation, horticulture and even better future. Next year we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations at the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that federal government has arrested Dr. Shahbaz Gill after lodging the first information report (FIR) against him.

He said this during an interview with a private TV channel here on Wednesday. “Imran Khan should tell us that which of the undemocratic act has been committed in this matter” Rana Sanaullah commented.

He said that neither Shahbaz Gill was tortured nor his driver, adding that it will not happen. He said that media and other people should also listen to the conversation of Shahbaz Gill, and continued if there were any lance naik, havaldar, colonels and brigadiers in the bureaucracy then that FIR was baseless and needs to be quashed forthwith.

The interior minister said if the proofs were found even against Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, he will also be arrested, adding all those people who were part of meeting, their names will also be included.

“Why Imran Khan is saying with stubbornness that in democracy at first there is given an opportunity to the accused to defend himself and then he is arrested. Someone should ask him whether you gave me an opportunity to defend myself when you arrested me of having 15kg of heroin. Our bails used to be granted even in the period of six months to 1.5 and two years while PTI leaders’ bails are being granted in less time,” Rana Sanaullah clarified.

He said that no lengthy interrogation is required in case of Shahbaz Gill as simply he gave a statement on ARY TV channel which in the first glance shows that he named the ranks of an institution and then said, “You are not slave, you are not animals. If you are given such orders you should refuse to obey them.”

Meanwhile, during a presser on Tuesday, Rana Sanaullah Khan said that Gill’s comments were part of planned conspiracy to create division within military. He said that comments were according to the script prepared under the supervision of Chairman PTI Imran Khan which was carried forward by Fawad Chaudhry and Gill.

Rana Sanaullah stated that Gill has been arrested by the Islamabad Police in accordance with the law on charges of sedition and inciting the public against the state institutions which has been registered in Kohsar Police Station.

The interior minister stated that FIR has been registered on behalf of the state. “Khan is working on a narrative after realising that he had been trapped in the foreign funding and Toshakhana reference,” he said, adding that this conspiracy was plotted to divert public attention from their wrongdoings.

Referring to Imrna Khan’s statement regarding this being abduction, Rana Sanaullah said that a case has been registered against Gill “how can this be abduction?”

“I assure Khan and [Fawad] Chaudhry that all action against them will be taken according to the law,” he said, adding that a “fair and transparent investigation” will be conducted and a team had been formed.

He went on to say that “hateful and seditious” remarks made by Gill were in line with the conspiracy in which a private news channel was also involved.

“Inquiry will be held regarding who are people behind Gill and the private channel as no further investigation is needed on Gill’s statement,” he said, adding that those involved from the private TV channel will eventually come to the limelight.

“The sentences that were said are such that I think it is not in the national interest to repeat them,” he said, claiming that the PTI leader went to the extent of leading people towards rebellion and inciting mutiny and sedition within the institution.

He further said that the incident proves that the PTI was responsible for running a negative social media campaign on the tragic incident of an army helicopter crash amid a flood relief operation in Balochistan.

Rana Sanaullah said that the talks with banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will be held as per Constitution of the country. He clarified that Pakistan did not play role in killing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who was recently killed by US drone strike in Kabul. The minister also stressed that Pakistan Army is fully capable to deal with the Taliban but said that the government is ready to hold talks if these elements are ready to lay down their arms.

ISLAMABAD: ” Sheikh Abdul Aziz shaheed, a determined, confident, steadfast and dedicated leader of Kashmir’s resistance movement will continue to inspire the people of Jammu and Kashmir during their struggle for the freedom of motherland, says Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir People’s Freedom League and former Convener All Parties Hurriyat Conference in his message on the eve of renowned Kashmiri leader’s martyrdom anniversary.

In his statement, while paying glowing tributes to the distinguished leader’s patriotic struggle, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani stated that a nation is fortunate, when such leader’s are born, when they struggle for a noble cause and when such a leader gives his life for his belief in patriotism”. He said that the martyred leader faced bullets of the enemy because he was leading a huge mammoth procession of history by the Jhelum Valley Road towards Muzaffarabad in the name Freedom, indivisibility and united Jammu and Kashmir state and had the peaceful procession of history not been disturbed by Indian bullets and killings, the history would turned a leaf and the divided people would have united and resolved the longstanding problem of Jammu and Kashmir.

Muhammad Farooq Rehmani emphasised notwithstanding the dangerous network created and spread by India in the IIOJ&K and along the LoC, the people of the State would continue their peaceful resistance movement and accomplish the mission for which thousands of people sacrificed their lives . He urged upon the UN to fulfill its mission of holding a statewide plebiscite to ascertain wishes of the State people in a free, fair and impartial manner.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Aamer Farooq on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) plea seeking immediate suspension of by-elections’ schedule announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan on 9 vacant National Assembly seats.

The PTI had moved the IHC asking the court to suspend the election schedule on nine NA seats.

Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case and asked if there’s any legal ground for suspending the election schedule. The commission was told that the seats have fallen vacant so they have issued a schedule, it said.

The lawyer representing the PTI Faisal Fareed Chaudhry said that we have been asking for by-elections since day 1. But we want by-elections to be held on all 123 seats that the party MNAs have resigned from, he said.

The court, however, rejected the PTI’s request to immediately suspend the schedule for by-elections and issued notice to the ECP. It adjourned the hearing till August 16 and asked the election commission to submit a reply by then.

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted police two-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr. Shahbaz Gill, a day after he was arrested by police on charges of sedition and inciting the public against the state institutions.

Police were also directed to produce Shahbaz Gill before the court on August 12 (Friday), while the investigating officer was told to get the PTI leader medically examined.

Shahbaz Gill, who is PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s chief of staff, was arrested from Banigala Chowk on Tuesday — an act that the PTI has termed as an “abduction”.

The arrest came in the wake of the Pakistan Electronic and Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issuing a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing controversial remarks by Gill, which the authority described as “highly hateful and seditious” and tantamount to inciting the “armed forces towards revolt”.

On Wednesday, Shahbaz Gill was presented before Duty Magistrate Umar Shabbir by Kohsar police, which submitted an application to the court for his physical remand.

Before the hearing began, police barred journalists from entering the courtroom, saying that it was the judge’s instructions.

According to the court order, the investigating officer sought Gill’s physical remand for 14 days for further investigation “in respect of other persons allegedly involved in the commission of the offence”.

The order said Gill’s remand was also sought for the recovery of the “mobile phone allegedly used for the commission of the offence” for the purpose of voice matching through forensics, and to verify that “the interview given by the accused from the head office of the media house which is situated in Karachi”.

Moreover, the order stated that the remand was sought for the “verification of the video from the media house”.

Gill’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, argued that there were no grounds for his client’s physical remand as he had been in police custody for approximately 24 hours. He also told the court that his client had been tortured and requested a medical examination for Gill.

The court initially reserved its judgment on the police’s application but later granted them two-day physical remand of the PTI leader.

Speaking to the media outside the courtroom, Shahbaz Gill said that there was nothing in his controversial remarks that caused embarrassment, adding that he was a patriot. He also asserted that he did not try to instigate anyone. “Officers within the bureaucracy, who are saying the wrong thing, I talked about them,” he said.

Meanwhile, his lawyer said that Gill’s clothes were stained with blood and questioned where the PTI leader had been detained prior to being presented before the court.

After Gill was remanded, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry expressed hope that “misunderstandings” pertaining to Gill’s case would be soon resolved.

“Shahbaz Gill’s words may be inappropriate, but words don’t make [any person] a traitor,” he tweeted in a response to journalist Ansar Abbasi asking whether any PTI leader had condemned Gill’s remarks that “encouraged rebellion in the army” yet.

Fawad Chaudhry added that people like Gill were an “asset” to Pakistan and the army, adding that he was a “patriot”.

In a subsequent tweet, he reiterated the hope of misunderstandings being resolved soon, saying that differences between the “country’s largest political party and the institution that ensures national security were disastrous” for Pakistan.

“All-out efforts are being made for resolving misunderstandings,” he said, adding that “political parties, too, should not go too far against each other.

“As a result of recent events, democracy has weakened in the country and human rights have been violated.”

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan on Tuesday had confirmed that Gill was arrested by Islamabad police “in accordance with the law” on charges of sedition and inciting the public against the state institutions.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that a first information report (FIR) had been registered against the PTI leader on behalf of the state.

Rana Sanaullah said that the case was registered on the complaint of Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio under Sections 34 (common intention), 109 (abetment), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 121 (waging war against state), 124-A (sedition), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempt to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), 153 (provoking to cause riot), 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The interior minister claimed that PTI Chief Imran Khan had been working on a “narrative” to “create divisions in the military” after realising that he had been “trapped” in the foreign funding case and Toshakhana Reference.

“To remove the public’s attention from this, a narrative was formed in a meeting with Imran,” he said. “[During the meeting] Fawad Chaudhry and Shahbaz Gill were given the responsibility of spreading this narrative.

“A private news channel was also involved in this conspiracy,” the minister said, referring to ARY News. Later, he tweeted that the “script” was prepared under Imran’s supervision and propagated by Gill on ARY News.

Rana Sanaullah also alleged that Gill’s comments had proven that the PTI was responsible for running a negative social media campaign on the recent army helicopter crash in Balochistan.

“Their [the PTI’s] social media was behind it […] and now people, who have been caught, are spilling everything.”

He said that the matter was “grave”, warning that whoever was found guilty would be arrested, irrespective of their position.

A day ago, PEMRA had issued a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing comments from Gill, that it said were “highly hateful and seditious” remarks tantamount to “incite armed forces towards revolt”.

The notice went on to say that Gill was invited via a telephonic call for his comments and during his talk with the channel, Gill had alleged that the government was trying to provoke the lower and middle tier of the army against the PTI, saying the families of such “rank and file” support Imran Khan and his party “which is fuelling rage within the government”.

He had also alleged that the “strategic media cell” of the ruling PML-N was spreading false information and fake news to create divisions between PTI chief Imran Khan and the armed forces.

Gill had said the government leaders, including Javed Latif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq, had lambasted the army in the past “and they were at the government positions now”.

“The statement made by the guest on ARY News is a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution as well as PEMRA laws. Airing of such content on your news channel shows either weak editorial control on the content or the licensee is intentionally indulged in providing its platform to such individuals who intend to spread malice and hatred against state institutions for their vested interests,” the watchdog stated.

“Dr Gill tried to malign the federal government, claiming the government functionaries are spearheading a campaign through social media cell for propagating anti-army narrative.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that Shahbaz Gill must be given right to defend himself.

In his reaction to the arrest of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill on Tuesday, Imran Khan said that if Shahbaz Gill has committed any crime or violated any law then it is his fundamental right to defend himself and clarify his position.

The former prime minister slammed the arrest, asking “can such shameful acts take place in any democracy?” “This is an abduction not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks,” Imran Khan tweeted.

Imran Khan said that the government had come down to fascism and undemocratic moves are being taken against political workers.

He said that the fascist behaviour of the government will not be tolerated in any way. “The power of the people is with us… We have to fear no one as the days of imported government are numbered.”

Pakistan is living under a fascist imported government, who doesn’t care about the human rights of the people of Pakistan. We strongly demand the immediate release of Dr Gill,” Imran Khan’s PTI tweeted.

Separately, in an interview to a private, the ex-premier said that what happened with Gill does not even happen in a “banana republic”.

Imran Khan said that Shahbaz Gill was arrested without any arrest warrant, his driver was tortured and his vehicle was also damaged. If he has violated any law, then they should send him to jail. Gill was not arrested but abducted.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders exchanged views on matters of common interest. Reaffirming the close fraternal ties between the two countries, they agreed to work closely to further enhance bilateral cooperation in different fields.

The Prime Minister offered his condolences on the damage caused by the recent floods in the Emirates, resulting in the loss of precious lives including Pakistani nationals. He also expressed his deepest sympathies with the Emirati brethren.

The UAE President also extended heartfelt commiserations on the loss of precious lives in floods in Pakistan as well as on the sad demise of army personnel in the recent helicopter crash.

Recalling the decisions taken during the visit of the Prime Minister to the UAE in April 2022, the two leaders reviewed the progress and resolved to further strengthen trade and economic ties, with particular focus on accelerating cooperation and building partnerships in areas comprising investments, energy, and infrastructure.

Highlighting the generous support extended by the UAE to Pakistan over the years, the Prime Minister welcomed the recent announcement by the UAE to invest US$ 1 billion in various economic and investment sectors in Pakistan.

Pakistan and the UAE enjoy close fraternal ties which are rooted firmly in common belief and shared values and culture. The UAE is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major source of investments, and hosts more than 1.6 million Pakistanis.