Daily Archives: August 11, 2022

Peshawar

Concern raised over tax reduction on Tobacco

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control on Wednesday expressed concern and disappointment over KP government’s undermining of its own decision to curtail the use of tobacco and Naswar, as the KPK government submitted an amendment to the finance bill in the assembly to reduce tax on Virginia tobacco by Rs6, on white leaf and Rustica by Rs3 and Rs2.5 on Naswar.

The Alliance, established by an NGO, comprises diverse membership from civil society organizations including CSOs, NGOs, trade bodies, medical professionals, online social groups, tobacco control advocates, media representatives.

“Tobacco control should be a top priority in health issues as well as for the reduction of poverty. The Government of Pakistan is a signatory to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC),’’ Qamar Naseem, Program Manager of the NGO said in his statement.

“Tobacco use kills eight million people every year and is the leading cause of preventable deaths globally. Evidence shows that significantly increasing tobacco excise taxes and prices is the single most effective and cost-effective measure for reducing tobacco use.It is also a measure specifically called for in Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,” he said.

 

Islamabad

Will appear before Parliament when asked: Chairman NAB

ISLAMABAD: Newly appointed Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Aftab Sultan on Wednesday told the Senate’s Standing Committee on law and justice that he would appear before Parliament, whenever asked to do so.

In a historic first, Chairman NAB appeared before the Senate Committee on Wednesday, whose meeting was chaired by Barrister Ali Zafar.

During the meeting, Committee members welcomed Chairman NAB and appreciated his services for country. Chairman Aftab Sultan briefed committee about his achievements for country during his bureaucratic career.

He said immense work was done to counter terrorism when he was working as the Director General of Intelligence Bureau (IB). Quoting an example, Sultan said the IB had arrested culprits of Wagah Border terrorist attack within a few hours.

During the meeting, the members expressed concerns over evolving situation in Swat. Senator Shibli Faraz pointed out at recently increasing terrorist activities in Swat and other areas of KPK province.

 

Islamabad

Shehbaz, Zardari condemn campaign against army

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday agreed upon the fact that criticism against armed forces must be condemned by all means.

In a telephonic conversation on Wednesday, the two leaders asserted that whole nation was backing its armed forces. Prime Minister and the former President discussed overall political situation of country.

The two leaders also discussed country’s evolving situation after the PTI leader and former PM Imran Khan’s ‘Chief of Staff’ Shehbaz Gill was arrested Tuesday. Gill’s arrest comes after the PTI leader gave a controversial statement while talking to a private news channel.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on this occasion that strengthened state institutions were pivotal for national security. Lashing out at his predecessor, Shehbaz Sharif said Imran Khan’s ideology is to ‘politically exploit state institutions’.

International

Iran navy repels attack on ship in Red Sea

TEHRAN: An Iranian naval flotilla thwarted an overnight attack on an Iranian vessel in the Red Sea, a senior commander said Wednesday.

“The escort flotilla of the naval arm of Iran’s armed forces, headed by the destroyer Jamaran… promptly deployed to the scene last night after receiving a request for help from an Iranian ship in the Red Sea, and engaged with the attacking boats,” said the navy’s deputy head of operations, Rear Admiral Mustafa Tajeddini.

“Thanks to the effective (naval) presence and after heavy exchanges, the attacking boats made off,” he told state television.

Tajeddini did not give details of the ship which was targeted or of who was suspected of mounting the attack.

In November 2021, pirates attempted to seize an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, ISNA news agency said at the time.

Two weeks earlier, an Iranian warship repelled an attack by pirates against two oil tankers that it was escorting in the Gulf of Aden.

Like other countries dependent on the shipping lane through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Iran stepped up its naval presence in the Gulf of Aden after a wave of attacks by Somalia-based pirates between 2000 and 2011.

But the number of attacks has fallen sharply in recent years.

International

G7 calls on Russia to hand over Zaporozhye NPP to Ukraine

BERLIN: The G7 Foreign Ministers called on Russia to immediately transfer the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and all nuclear facilities in Ukraine to Kiev’s control, according to the joint statement issued on Wednesday by the German Foreign Ministry, which holds the G7 presidency.

“We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, reiterate our strongest condemnation of the ongoing unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine’s territory and sovereignty,” the document states.

“In that context, we demand that Russia immediately hand back full control to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine, of the Zaporizhzhya (Zaporozhye – TASS) Nuclear Power Plant as well as of all nuclear facilities within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders to ensure their safe and secure operations,” the ministers said. They believe that “Ukrainian staff operating the Zaporizhzhya (Zaporozhye – TASS) Nuclear Power Plant must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure.” “It is Russia’s continued control of the plant that endangers the region,” the G7 foreign ministers stressed.

The Ukrainian armed forces have repeatedly shelled the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Energodar’s military-civilian administration reported that shrapnel from a missile fired on the night of August 7 fell no further than 400 meters from the operating power unit. The day after the Ukrainian military shelled the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant area three times on August 5, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the region’s military-civilian administration, told TASS that the air defense team in the Zaporozhye Region would be strengthened.

With a capacity of around 6,000 megawatts, the six-unit Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is the biggest one in Europe. It used to generate a fourth of Ukraine’s electricity. Since 1996, it has been an isolated unit of Ukraine’s Energoatom national nuclear company. In March 2022, control of the power plant came over to Russian forces. Currently, it is operating at 70% of its overall capacity, since there is oversupply of electricity in the Zaporozhye region. It is planned to supply electricity from this power plant to Crimea.

Islamabad

Musk sells Tesla shares worth $6.9 billion, cites chance of forced Twitter deal

ISLAMABAD: Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk sold $6.9 billion worth of shares in the electric vehicle maker, saying the funds could be used to finance a potential Twitter deal if he loses a legal battle with the social media platform.

“In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners don’t come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock,” he said in a tweet late on Tuesday.

Musk in early July tore up his April 25 agreement to buy Twitter for $44 billion. Twitter has sued Musk to force him to complete the transaction, dismissing his claim that he was misled about the number of spam accounts on the social media platform as buyer’s remorse in the wake of a plunge in technology stocks. The two sides head to trial on Oct. 17.

“Street will read through this poker move that chances of Twitter deal more likely now,” Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, tweeted.

In other comments on Twitter on Tuesday, Musk said “yes” when asked if he was done selling Tesla stock, and also said he would buy Tesla stock again if the Twitter deal does not close.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Musk, the world’s richest person, sold $8.5 billion worth of Tesla shares in April and had said at the time there were no further sales planned. But since then, legal experts had suggested that if Musk is forced to complete the acquisition or settle the dispute with a stiff penalty, he was likely to sell more Tesla shares.

Islamabad

PM directs to submit inquiry report on amount received as fuel price adjustment in electricity bills

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to complete comprehensive planning for the completion of all low-cost solar power projects on priority basis.

Chairing a high level meeting on solar initiatives across the country in Islamabad on Wednesday, he directed to submit inquiry report on amount received as fuel price adjustment in electricity bills and delay in the completion of power projects during the last four years.

The Prime Minister said special priority will be given to Balochistan while providing solar system alternate of electricity.

He lamented that the Alternative Energy Policy given two years ago in 2020 not only failed, but after that, no foreign investment was made in this sector.

The meeting was briefed in detail on low-cost solar power projects as an alternative to expensive imported fuel.

The meeting was told that solarization projects of 14000 MW will be launched in the next few months out of which projects of 9000 MW will be completed on priority basis. Under these projects, solar systems will not only be given at discounted prices, but tax incentives will also be given on these projects.

Lahore

new constitution will have to be written to knock out Imran Khan: Adad Umar

LAHORE: PTI leader Asad Umar has said new constitution will have to be written to knock out Imran Khan.

?fforts are underway to create a gulf between PTI and army. You will have to write a new constitution to knock out Imran Khan, he said this while addressing a press conference here Wednesday.

He went on to say National Security Committee (NSC) has already said that a clear external interference was seen. Imran Khan stood against closed door conspiracy. People too came out of their homes. The people of Punjab rejected imported system in July 17 election and people snatched the power from them despite external help .

He held the government ruling alliance was holding press conferences from dawn to dusk about foreign funding. Now this government is feeling itself eroded from within. Now we are seeing last fluttering.

He pointed out the efforts are underway to register case that PTI is a threat for Pakistan. Imran Khan has stood against traditional political system at present. Imran Khan has called meeting. The future strategy will be announced in the meeting.

He stated there can be differences from what Shahzad Gill has said. Register case against him and ask questions from him. But here panes were broke and he was hit with rifle buts. Government is bewildered.. Therefore, it is taking such decisions.

People have made it clear openly that election commission has levied false allegations, he underlined. It is mentioned very clearly that receiving money is prohibited from whom . False narrative is being made and PTI is being defamed in foreign funding.

There are four flaws in election commission report, he indicated. The facts are false and law has been misinterpreted. The powers which don? rest with the election commission have been misused. Partiality can be seen very clearly from this report.

The statements given by donors have proved that election commission report is fake, he underlined.

There is hue and cry over Imran Khan affidavit despite it is a report, he observed. Imran Khan has filed certificate and not given affidavit. Apparently the partiality is being seen here.

Plan was devised in closed door, he claimed. The consciences were purchased with ill- gotten money, he alleged. This time Imran Khan stood against this conspiracy.

This is test case going on. Turns of all will come later.

The bid to create schism between PTI and army will fail, he said.

Seethe statements of Fazlur Rehman, Khawaja Asif, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Asif Zardari. What they have been saying about army.

He said that Shahbaz Gill arrest is illegal. Some warrant is issued before arrest. Case is being crafted that PTI is threat for country.

District

Mardan Police register case against an allegedly fake journalist

MARDAN: Mardan police have registered a case against an allegedly fake journalist and his two other fellows for entering without permission and using a drone camera in the Youm-e-Ashur procession, sources said. Sources added that the district administration has issued permission cards to journalists for media coverage of Youm-e-Ashur procession. Sources added that a person named Aman Khan son of Ibrahim Khan resident of Eidgah Shamshi road along with his two other fellows identified as Rifaq son of Farid Khan resident of Khaksar and Haris resident of Katlang entered the Youm-e-Ashur procession and started coverage and started using drone camera. Sources added that when the police officer asked for identification, they said that they are journalists. Sources added that however they have no identity
card of any newspaper and channel. Sources added that the police had not even issued them a permission card for Youm-e-Ashur procession coverage. However later on they escaped from the spot. Later on on the complaint of ASI Farman Khan PRO district police officer, City police station registered cases against the mentioned person under section 419 and 420 and arrested one accused identified as Aman Khan. Meanwhile Aurangzeb Kashmiri, central general secretary of All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca) in a press statement said that these kinds of fake journalists are called for interviews by DPO, DIG, SHOs, DC, ACs and other administration officers. They blackmail simple people by taking pictures with the officers. He added that the mentioned person is sitting in the front seat in the big programs of the administration. He added that because of these fake people journalism is disgraceful in the district. Aurangzeb argued that it is need of time that district administration and Mardan press club should prepare a TOR to stop the way of such type of people who used the name of journalism.