PM Kakar urges India to keep politics away from sports
“We would have issued visas to Indians if the World Cup was held in Pakistan," premier says
October 9, 2023
Imran Khan protests ‘poor’ jail conditions during cipher case hearing
Special court announces to indict Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cipher case on Oct 17
Parliament passed law to regulate top judge powers with 'good intentions,' CJP Isa observes
Full court resumes hearing petitions challenging Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023
PM Kakar appoints PTI's former aide as special assistant on investment
Tahir Javed donated money to and campaigned for Imran Khan and PTI in US when party was in power
Ashrafi urges enhanced Pak-Afghan relations
PUC chairman says move important for maintaining peace in region
Forces gun down terrorist involved in targeting civilians, LEAs in North Waziristan: ISPR
ISPR says the militant was involved in terrorist activities targeting security forces and civilians
Political manipulation is now more pervasive than ever.
Scholar Prof Dr Hassan Askari says ‘maltreatment’ of PTI ‘surpassed all limits of past’
Pakistan provides assistance for Afghan earthquake survivors
Pakistani leadership expresses sorrow over loss of lives in Herat province
IHC issues notices to former generals Bajwa, Faiz over ‘misleading interviews’
Petitioner alleges that interviews tainted reputation of state institutions
PDM parties doing ‘drama’ over election date: Pervez Khattak
“What have these parties served the country in the last 35 years?" asks PTI-P top leader
October 8, 2023
Climate change ‘decreasing bird population at alarming rate’ in Pakistan
"One-eighth of species of birds have a high level of danger of extermination," says Dr Muhammad Azhar
IHC to consider Imran’s post-arrest plea today
Special court to hear cypher case against PTI chief, Qureshi as well
Pakistan calls for international intervention to protect Palestinians against Israeli oppression
FM Jalil Abbas Jilani stresses need for establishment of sovereign Palestinian state as per UN resolutions
JI urges Muslim countries to back Palestine
Siraj says US supported Israel and Muslim world remained silent spectator
No restrictions on PTI as political party: caretaker govt
Caretaker information minister says interim setup has nothing to do with Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan
The FSC Recognizes Women’s Right to Khula as Unconditional
Rules that a woman's right of khula cannot be denied by the court of law
Pakistan vows all-out support for Afghanistan earthquake victims
FO says govt in contact with Afghan authorities for a first-hand assessment of urgent needs
NIH Assesses Low Risk of Nipah Virus Outbreak
NIH expert terms awareness about mitigating measures key to reduce NiV transmission
Nimra Salim illuminates Pakistan's name globally
Nimra Salim says her childhood dream of venturing among the stars has come true
Pakistan to attend UNHCR conference today
Refugee agency’s meeting taking place in Geneva amid country's push for eviction of illegal immigrants
PTI leaders record video statements to avoid 'nefarious plan' against Imran Khan
PTI leaders were abducted and forced to record statements of abductors' choice under duress and coercion
CAA to Construct New Runways at Karachi Airport
Both the runways at the airport, 25 Right and 7 Left, will be reconstructed
Rupee to gain strength vs dollar with expected IMF tranche, trade surplus
Local currency continued to rise and reached 282.69 on Friday
Security forces eliminate militants in North Waziristan
Azeem Ullah remained involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of civilians, says ISPR
Fazl censures political parties for opportunism amid sinking economy
“The country’s overall administrative structure is on the decline," Maulana Fazl says
PBC’s JCP member’s stance on interviewing candidates
SBC representative writes to CJP that he backs idea
Two terrorists killed in Balochistan’s Kech: ISPR
“Terrorists had been actively involved in multiple terrorist activities against law enforcement agencies,” says ISPR
Man arrested for harassing female university students in Karachi
During body search, the police also recovered drugs from his possession, say officials
October 7, 2023
PPP welcomes Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan: Bilawal Bhutto
"It has been PPP's long-standing demand that Nawaz should return," ex-foreign minister says
'Free Rano': Activists stage art protest for release of captive bear in Karachi zoo
Bear suffers from zoochosis as she has been seen pacing relentlessly on same side of her cage for years: activist
Rejects protocol request for judge’s son
Senior additional LHC registrar sent a letter to the FO to provide protocol facilities to the son of a sitting judge
'Concerned' Pakistan calls for ending hostilities between Israel and Palestinians
Pakistan says it is concerned about the human cost of the escalating situation
Gwadar port will be functional soon: CM Domki
<p>GWADAR: The Gwadar port will be operational soon and its commissioning will give a fillip to business and trade activities, Balochistan’s caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki said on Tuesday.</p>n<p>Talking to journalists during his visit to Gwadar, he said the port was already being used for Afghan transit trade thanks to its strategic location.</p>n<p>The chief minister said a below-average rainfall this year had accentuated the problem of drinking water in Gwadar.</p>n<p>“The administration and the public are consuming drinking water with extreme care,” he said.</p>n<p>About power supply from Iran, Mr Domki said the arrangement malfunctions only for two months. “It works smoothly the rest of the year,” Mr Domki added.</p>n<p>The chief minister later chaired a meeting to review the pace of work on development projects. He visited the GDA hospital and the Fisheries Department.</p>n<p>Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Mr Domki said work was in full swing on all projects so that they could spur economic activities.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
September 27, 2023
Suspects behind substandard injections that led to patients&rsquo; loss of vision arrested
Model Town SP Ammara Sherazi says suspects manufactured substandard injections at a private hospital in Lahore
Police guarding house of Wana journalist: official
<p>DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Commissioner Zafarul Islam Khattak has said that police have been deployed to guard the house of journalist Miraj Khalid in Wana, South Waziristan tribal district, after his expulsion from the area by a local jirga.</p>n<p>Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, he claimed that administration provided complete security and cooperation to Miraj Khalid. He said assistant commissioner of Wana and police were sent immediately for the safety of Miraj Khalid after the jirga asked him to pay fine or leave the area.</p>n<p>The commissioner said that the administration sent a message to the journalist to avoid paying any fine to the jirga or vacating his house. However, he said that Miraj Khalid left for Islamabad although a message was sent to him to come to Dera Ismail Khan where two rooms were booked for his family at Circuit House so that they could stay there for two to three days and then return to Waziristan.</p>n<p>He said that administration in Wana was taking all possible measures to maintain the government’s writ and ensure the safety of the lives and property of the residents.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Miraj Khalid was expelled from Waziristan by a local jirga</p>n</blockquote>n<p>SEIZED: Police claimed to have seized non-custom paid (NCP) items worth more than Rs2.4 million during checking of several vehicles on bypass road.</p>n<p>They said that they recovered 92 sacks of plastic bags, 105 cartons of bubblegum, 145 cartons of milk cream and other items from different vehicles during checking. The estimated worth of the recovered goods was around Rs2,433,000.</p>n<p>ACCIDENT: Two men were killed when a car hit their motorcycle near Kulachi Morr on Daraban road here on Tuesday.</p>n<p>Haji Munawar Din Chughtai told Daraban police a car hit the motorcycle of his son Mohammad Huzaifa and his friend Shahid Khan near Kulachi Morr. As a result, Huzaifa died on the spot while Shahid received serious injuries. The body and injured were shifted to Mufti Mahmood Hospital where Shahid also succumbed to his injuries.</p>n<p>Meanwhile, police claimed to have arrested 286 drug peddlers and recovered more 141 kilograms of drugs, eight bottles of liquor and non-custom paid (NCP) items worth around Rs694.7 million during the last month.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Initial report on delimitation of constituencies issued as ECP inches towards elections
Voters can approach ECP if they have objections to delimitation of constituencies
Pakistan Army will continue to play role in ensuring peace, stability in KP: COAS
<p>Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on Wednesday said the Pakistan Army would continue to play its role in upholding peace and stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and facilitating a “secure environment for economic development”.</p>n<p>The army chief made this statement during his address at the provincial Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar.</p>n<p>His remarks come on the heels of an increase in terror attacks in KP. On September 6, four security personnel <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1774386">embraced</a> martyrdom and over 16 militants were killed in an operation to repulse militants from the Chitral district.</p>n<p>The pre-dawn attack had targeted check posts in Astui Pass and Jinjiret Koh situated in the south of Lower Chitral, bordering the Afghan province of Nuristan.</p>n<p>During the Apex Committee meeting today, the army chief was briefed about the overall security situation in the province, including initiatives against smuggling, hoarding and drug trafficking, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).</p>n<p>It said the participants of the meeting affirmed that state institutions and people were united for the protection of life and property of citizens.</p>n<p>The participants also paid rich tribute to the Shuhada and their families.</p>n<p>“We have to synergise our efforts for the peace and prosperity of our beloved country,” the ISPR statement quoted the army chief as saying.</p>n<p>He underlined that the Pakistan Army would continue to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in KP to provide a secure environment for economic development.</p>n<p>Earlier, Gen Munir also engaged in an interactive session with the women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the “KPK Women Symposium 2023”.</p>n<p>In his address to the symposium’s participants, the COAS emphasised the constructive and pivotal role women have played in Pakistan’s historical development.</p>n<p>He underscored that women’s contributions to the progress and advancement of Pakistan are of utmost significance.</p>n<p>The army chief acknowledged that the women of KP have confronted multifaceted challenges due to the enduring battle against terrorism, but he praised their resilience, dedication, and courage in the face of adversity.</p>n<h2><a id="terrorist-attacks" href="#terrorist-attacks" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Terrorist attacks</h2>n<p>Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1723647">ceasefire</a> with the government in November last year.</p>n<p>In July, as many as <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1764380">12 soldiers</a> of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan.</p>n<p>That was the military’s highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year. Before this, 10 personnel were martyred in a “fire raid” in Balochistan’s Kech district in February 2022.</p>n<p>Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1773696">data</a> compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said the number of militant attacks in August was the highest tally for monthly strikes in almost nine years.</p>n<p>There were 99 attacks across the country, the highest number in a single month since November 2014, the report had said.</p>
Over 500 tourism projects recorded in Asia-Pacific region between 2018-2022: report
<p>ISLAMABAD: The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) of the United Nations has said 517 tourism foreign direct investment projects were recorded in the Asia-Pacific region between 2018 and 2022, representing $65.1 billion capital investment and creating more than 105,600 jobs.</p>n<p>The <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link–external" href="https://www.unwto.org/news/new-data-shows-investment-returning-to-global-tourism-sector">‘Tourism Investment 2023’ report</a> released to mark World Tourism Day being celebrated on Wednesday says following a decline in 2020 and 2021, the number of announced projects in the region increased marginally by 2.4pc to 42 projects in 2022.</p>n<p>Job creation in the region peaked in 2018, with more than 49,000 jobs created and fell to its lowest in 2021, when approximately 4,300 jobs were created through tourism FDI. The number of jobs created from tourism-related investments increased by 6pc from 2021 to 2022.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/UNWTO/status/1702262968388342260"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>China attracted the highest number of tourism FDI projects between 2018 and 2022, receiving 79 announced projects – 15pc of the total market share in the region. China peaked for tourism FDI in 2019, with 30 announced projects, yet inbound project numbers have steadily declined since then.</p>n<p>India attracted three times more tourism FDI projects in 2022 than it did in 2021, and ranked as the top destination country in the region last year.</p>n<p>Foreign investors announced a total of 2,415 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the tourism cluster between 2018 and 2022. These projects involved a total capital investment of $175.5 billion and created an estimated 388,000 jobs.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/UNWTO/status/1704420381900300725"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>While international travel continues to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, the number of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the tourism cluster started its tentative recovery in 2022 after posting declines in both 2020 and 2021.</p>n<p>FDI project numbers and job creation in the tourism cluster grew by 23pc from 286 investments in 2021 to 352 in 2022. Job creation in tourism FDI over the period also increased by 23pc to an estimated 36,400 in 2022.</p>n<p>As one of the areas of FDI most affected by the coronavirus pandemic, tourism has taken a long time to recover from the initial shock of 2020 – when the sector experienced a 59pc year-on-year decrease in the number of projects, dropping to 312. Capital investment in the sector also experienced a 70pc decrease, with estimated capital investment dropping from $60.9 billion to $18.2 billion.</p>n<p>The US was the largest recipient of tourism FDI between 2018 and 2022 with 198 projects, followed by the UK (160), Spain (133) and Germany (133). The top 10 countries for tourism FDI attraction accounted for nearly half (47pc) of all announced tourism projects globally between 2018 and 2022.</p>n<p>Capital investment in the sector totalled $175.5 billion between 2018 and 2022 with Spain being the leading recipient ($19.4 billion), followed by China ($11.5 billion) and the Philippines ($11.1 billion). Job creation in tourism FDI was highest in Mexico between 2018 and 2022 with an estimated 31,000 jobs created in the sector, followed by China (22,130) and Spain (20,590).</p>n<p>The hotel and tourism sector accounted for almost two-thirds of all projects in the tourism cluster between 2018 and 2022. Foreign direct investment (FDI) project numbers increased by 25pc from 2021 to 2022. However, capital investment in the hotel and tourism sector declined from $48.9 billion in 2018 to $7.8 billion in 2022.</p>n<p>Between 2018 and 2022, accommodation remained the largest sub-sector of tourism FDI globally, accounting for more than half (51pc) of all FDI projects. More than 70pc of capital investment ($126.8 billion) and job creation (270,000) in the tourism cluster was generated by the accommodation sub-sector during the same period.</p>n<p>Software and IT services were the second-largest sector for tourism FDI projects between 2018 and 2022. Its share of global FDI tourism projects grew from 10pc in 2018 to 16pc in 2020, 22pc in 2021 and 28pc in 2022, indicating the sector’s resilience and its ongoing shift towards digitisation.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Next year&rsquo;s Hajj operations to be &#039;fully digitised&#039;: IT minister
Dr Umar Saif says system will help pilgrims to give their feedback digitally regarding Hajj operations, facilities
ECP issues preliminary delimitation report in significant step towards polls
<p>In a significant step towards upcoming polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday published the lists of preliminary delimitation of constituencies.</p>n<p>Under the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1770761">original delimitation schedule</a> issued by the ECP on Aug 17 — ten days after the notification of census results — the initial delimitation exercise was to be completed on Oct 7 and preliminary proposals for delimitation along with the report were to be published on Oct 9.</p>n<p>However, on Sept 1, the ECP had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1773455">announced</a> squeezing timelines of the delimitation exercise by 14 days to complete the process on Nov 30, instead of the scheduled Dec 14.</p>n<p>The completion of the delimitation brings ECP closer to holding polls by the last week of January, as planned by the body. A specific date for the elections is yet to be announced.</p>n<p>In a press release issued today, the ECP said the report of preliminary delimitation, along with the lists (Form 5), has been uploaded on the commission’s website and can be accessed by the public. Maps of the initial delimitation are also available on the website.</p>n<p>“The publication of the preliminary constituencies will continue for 30 days from Sept 27 to Oct 26,” it said, highlighting that objections (representations) to the preliminary constituencies can be made by the voters of the concerned constituency.</p>n<p>The representations, the ECP stated, should be addressed to the commission’s secretary and be submitted to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad by Oct 27.</p>n<p>“The ECP will take decisions on these representations from Oct 28 to Nov 26 after hearing the positions of from the respective parties,” the press release said.</p>n<p>Listing the procedure of submitting the representations, the commission said it should be submitted by a voter of the concerned constituency in the form of a “memorandum” and entail the signatures of the voter. It said eight copies of the representations and constituency maps were required to be submitted.</p>n<p>It said the district maps can be obtained from the ECP for a “small fee”.</p>n<p>“Representations by courier, post and fax etc. will not be accepted,” the commission added.</p>n<h2><a id="preliminary-report-of-delimitation" href="#preliminary-report-of-delimitation" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Preliminary report of delimitation</h2>n<p>Based on the initial delimitation, the population distribution in the National Assembly constituencies is as follows: Balochistan has 930,900 voters, followed by 913,052 voters in Sindh, 907,913 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 905,595 in Punjab, and 787,954 in Islamabad.</p>n<p>The National Assembly consists of 266 general seats and 60 seats reservednfor women. Ten seats have also been reserved for non-Muslims. Punjab holds the majority of 141 seats in NA, followed by Sindh with 61, KP with 45, Balochistan with 16, and Islamabad with 3.</p>n<p>In the provincial assembly constituencies, the figures show Punjab leads with a total population of 429,929, followed by Sindh with 428,432, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 355,270, and Balochistan with 292,047.</p>n<p>As per the delimitation report, a copy of which is available with <em>Dawn.com</em>, the share of seats in the national and provincial assemblies have been worked out on the basis of the final results of the 2023 census.</p>n<p>“The population of the province/area has been divided by the total number of general seats and the average population or quota per National Assembly seat was obtained. Similarly, the population of a province was divided by the total number of general seats allocated to the provincial assembly to obtain a quota per seat.</p>n<p>“In calculating the total number of seats, a fraction of 0.5 and above was generally taken as one seat and a fraction below 0.5 was ignored. Due to the peculiar situation in Balochistan, more than one district has beennclubbed. Similarly, few clubbings have also been made in other provinces where necessary,” it said.</p>
CJP Isa seeks details of IIUI ahead of board meeting
<p>ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has sought details of various offices of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), apparently to keep himself updated about the affairs of the university ahead of a meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) expected to be held after a few months.</p>nn<p>The CJP by virtue of his position, is a member of the board. An official of the university said that the registrar of the Supreme Court, through an official letter asked the IIUI to provide details of various offices for information of the top judge. </p>nn<p>The letter dated September 22 asked the IIUI to provide details, such as when was the last meeting of the BoT held along with its minutes.</p>nn<p>Similarly, the registrar’s office also directed the IIUI to provide a “detailed chart”, including names, qualifications, date of appointment, and the tenure of IIUI vice presidents, director general, deans, chairperson of departments, directors, additional directors, deputy directors and assistant directors in administration.</p>nn<p>It further directed the IIUI to provide details of the budget for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24, details about students in the last five years, showing numbers of male and female students, including foreign students. </p>nn<p>The university was directed to submit details by today (September 27).</p>nn<p>An official of the IIUI told Dawn that the CJP was collecting the details of the varsity for his better understanding as he will attend the next meeting of the IIUI board as its member.</p>nn<p>Recently, the CJP attended a meeting of the Quaid-i-Azam University syndicate wherein he “surprised” the participants with his comprehensive knowledge about the varsity, particularly the agenda item of the syndicate.</p>nn<p>The board of trustees meeting of the IIUI is supposed to be held at least once a year, but since June 2020, the board has not convened. </p>nn<p>Sources in the IIUI said that the university was planning to convene a board meeting within a few months; however, there has been no official announcement in this regard.</p>nn<p>The IIUI Board of Trustees is headed by President Dr Arif Alvi and comprises at least 50 members hailing from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries. </p>nn<p>The university, which is being run primarily with public funding has more than 30,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the country. </p>nn<p>A faculty member of IIU said: “The CJP is also a member of the Board of Trustees, the apex body of IIUI which appoints the president of the university; hence, as a member of BoT, he has every right to know about the varsity affairs.”</p>nn<p>“Our BoT is an international body comprising members from many member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It is not like the syndicate of any university headed by the VC, as the IIUI board is chaired by the president of Pakistan as its chancellor,” he added. </p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Weather update: Last monsoon spell to hit country from tomorrow
Met office predicts significant drop in temperature after rain as monsoon withdraws from country
Senate panel summons foreign ministry, AGP to explain &lsquo;US objections&rsquo; to Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline
<p>The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has summoned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) to brief the panel on objections reportedly raised by the US on the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project.</p>n<p>Tehran has been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1768769">claiming</a> to have completed its side of the 1,150-kilometre pipeline for which a groundbreaking ceremony was jointly conducted by then presidents Asif Ali Zardari and Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the Iranian site of Gabd, near Chahbahar in March 2013 with an estimated cost of $7.5bn at the time.</p>n<p>Pakistan had committed to complete its side of the project by January 2015. However, in February 2014 then petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the parliament that the Iran-Pakistan project was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1089254">“off the table”</a> due to international sanctions.</p>n<p>Earlier this year, former petroleum minister Musadik Malik explained that despite being fully committed to its contractual obligations under the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA), the Government of Pakistan had been unable to start construction of the pipeline due to US sanctions on Iran.</p>n<p>Officials said Pakistan had requested Washington earlier this year for a solution for the project to help overcome energy shortages but had not yet received any response.</p>n<p>In August, Pakistan <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1768769">issued</a> a notice of ‘Force Majeure and Excusing Event’ to Iran to suspend its contractual obligation on completion of the gas pipeline. Simply put, Pakistan had expressed its inability to pursue the project as long as <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1733334">US sanctions on Iran</a> remain in place or Washington tacitly green lights Islamabad to go ahead with the project.</p>n<p>The matter came under discussion today during the Senate panel today.</p>n<p>Petroleum Additional Secretary Hassan Yousafzai briefed the committee that a deadline for 2024 had been given by Iran regarding the completion of the gas pipeline and failure to meet it would lead to fines.</p>n<p>“We are trying to renegotiate the matter with Iran,” he said, adding that efforts were being made to find out other ways of obtaining gas.</p>n<p>The secretary further expressed concerns that Pakistan could be subject to “liabilities of $20 billion”. The issue, he went on to say, was also raised with the US.</p>n<p>“Laying the gas pipeline till Gwadar will cost us $2bn,” he told the panel, adding that reneging on the deal with Iran could lead to a whopping $18bn penalty.</p>n<p>Commenting on the matter, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed called for summoning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “find out why can’t we purchase cheap gas from the neighbouring country”.</p>n<p>“We should know the reason behind the obstruction,” he said.</p>n<p>Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Senate committee, Sadia Abbasi, highlighted that India never faced such restrictions. “How was the agreement even signed amid these restrictions?” she asked.</p>n<p>Here, PPP Senator Waqar Mehdi said the agreement was signed under the government of ex-president Zardari.</p>n<p>The Iranian pipeline was aimed to supply 750 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas, although it was vehemently opposed publicly and diplomatically by the US authorities, particularly when Pakistan and Iran signed framework agreements and GSPA in 2009 and 2010 respectively.</p>n<p>Pakistan signed the pipeline agreement in 2014, which included a condition that Islamabad will pay billions of dollars in penalties if it abandons the project.</p>
Arrest warrants for Moonis Elahi in graft case
<p>LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former federal minister Moonis Elahi in a case pertaining to alleged corruption in different development projects.</p>nn<p>Moonis Elahi is facing allegations of billions of rupees of corruption in development projects.</p>nn<p>Accountability Court Judge Naseem Ahmad Virk hearing the case issued the arrest warrants which are valid till Oct 5.</p>nn<p>On July 22, 2023, the Lahore district court had declared Moonis Elahi, son of PTI President and former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi, an absconder for his continued absence in the money laundering case. Mr Moonis is currently living in Spain.</p>nn<p>The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also pleaded to declare Moonis an absconder for not appearing before it despite issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants against him.</p>nn<p>The court also started the process to freeze his assets, bank account and cancel his computerised national identity card (CNIC), passport, and bank accounts.</p>nn<p>The FIA had lodged a case against Parvez Elahi and his Moonis for money laundering in the Panama Scandal last month.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Faizabad sit-in: Pemra files plea to withdraw review petition after IB
SC has fixed September 28 for hearing of review petitions against Faizabad sit-in
ECP issues preliminary constituency delimitation list
Electoral watchdog says number of seats in the national and provincial assemblies will remain the same
&lsquo;90pc of beggars&rsquo; arrested abroad are of Pakistani origin, Senate body told
<p>The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was informed on Wednesday that a growing number of beggars from Pakistan were moving abroad, which has spurred “human trafficking”.</p>n<p>Overseas Ministry Secretary Zulfikar Haider made this disclosure during a discussion in the Senate panel on the issue of skilled and unskilled labour leaving the country.</p>n<p>In a startling revelation, Haider informed the committee that a staggering “90 per cent of beggars” arrested in foreign countries were of Pakistani origin.</p>n<p>He explained that many beggars exploited pilgrim visas to travel to Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq.</p>n<p>The official further revealed that a significant number of pickpockets apprehended in holy sites like Haram were also Pakistani nationals.</p>n<p>During the discussion, Haider also noted that Japan had emerged as a new destination for such visitors.</p>n<p>He emphasised Pakistan’s historical role in exporting skilled labour and expressed optimism that the country’s foreign remittances would increase when professionals went abroad. He added that Saudi Arabia now preferred skilled labour over untrained individuals.</p>n<p>Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hasan highlighted Japan’s demand for skilled workers from different countries, with India, Nepal, and Pakistan sending varying numbers of individuals.</p>n<p>Hasan also mentioned that as many as 50,000 engineers in Pakistan were unemployed.</p>n<p>“<em>India chand par pahonch gaya hai, aur hum rozana koi chaand charha dete hain</em> (India has reached the moon, while we stumble every day),” the senator added.</p>n<p>“Our people are now ready to work on wages lower than those of workers of Nepal and India.”</p>n<p>Regarding the Middle East, he mentioned that approximately three million people were in Saudi Arabia, 1.5m Pakistanis were in the UAE, while 0.2m were in Qatar.</p>n<p>Haider acknowledged that Bangladesh and India had surpassed Pakistan in this aspect, citing concerns about the skills and trustworthiness of Pakistani workers in the eyes of foreign employers.</p>n<p>On the other hand, Senator Sherry Rehman pointed out that Pakistan was witnessing an influx of skilled mountaineers from Nepal, emphasising that “Pakistan’s own people generally lacked the same level of expertise in mountain climbing.”</p>
Lesco to crack down on power theft in lawyers&rsquo; chambers
<p>LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) is set to investigate power theft on several court premises.</p>n<p>With 2,600 connections installed in lawyers’ chambers being flagged for inspection, Kasur leads among all districts served by Lesco, <em>Dawn</em> has learnt.</p>n<p>“While we have initiated inspections of lawyers’ chambers nearly every Sunday, formal operations are yet to commence,” Lesco Chief Executive Officer Shahid Haider told <em>Dawn</em>.</p>n<p>“Nevertheless, we have shared the lists with district administrations to secure their support in these operations. Our efforts will extend to all Kutcheries in Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Nankana Sahib and Shiekhupura.”</p>n<p>According to an internal report, Lesco’s northern circle has identified 34 chambers in Lahore and Ferozewala kutcheries where lawyers get power through direct lines, resulting in a monthly loss of Rs1.61 million.</p>n<p>The company’s central circle has identified 490 chambers in the kutcheries of high and supreme courts where power supply continues illegally through direct connections, estimating losses of up to Rs3.53 million per month.</p>n<p>Lesco’s south circle, which covers Model Town and Cantt kutcheries, has identified 203 chambers.</p>n<p>Teams report losses of up to Rs4.58 million. Okara Circle, which includes Renala Khurd, Okara and Depalpur kutcheries, has 410 chambers where power pilferage is underway by lawyers, leading to reported losses of Rs17.41 million.</p>n<p>Sheikhupura Circle has identified 140 chambers where electricity supply is being carried unlawfully, with an estimated monthly financial loss of Rs5.4 million at the Sheikhpura kutchery. Kasur Circle has four kutcheries: Kasur, Chunian, Pattoki and Kot Radha Kishan where 1,321 of 1,387 chambers are receiving electricity illegally, resulting in losses of up to Rs22.34 million.</p>n<p>Nankana Sahib Circle covers Nankana, Shahkot and Sangla Hill, with reported power theft worth Rs3.65 million. However, the report does not mention the number of chambers receiving power directly from the main lines.</p>n<p>Lahore Bar Association President Rana Intizar Hussain said he supported anti-power theft operations, saying that no one, including lawyers, should be allowed to steal electricity in any way.</p>n<p>“I believe that whoever is involved in power theft, whether lawyers or otherwise, must be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he added.</p>n<p>Also, the Lesco administration plans to intensify the anti-power theft campaign in hard areas, such as Sharaqpur, Ferozewala, Kala Khatai Road, Ali Park, Burj Attari, Bund Road, Mohallah Kakkayzai, Saggian, Niaz Beg, Dubanpura, Shahpur, Bagarian, Shadewal, Samsani, Sundar, Mohlanwal, Sattokatla, Kharak, Lakhudair, border areas (Burki, Hadiara, Ghurki, etc.), Sitara Colony, and Shah Di Khui, as well as various unelectrified housing societies.</p>n<p>Other areas targeted include Ravi Belt Area, Renala, Sher Garh, Hujra, Depalpur Road in the Okara circle, border areas of Narang, villages in the vicinity, and Khanqa Dogra in the Sheikhupura circle, Ravi belt area, Bucheki, and Syed Wala in the Nankana circle, and Pattoki, Chunian, Kanganpur, Phool Nagar, Kot Radha Kishan, border area, Lalyani in Kasur.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Punjab announces 4-day school holiday due to conjunctivitis outbreak
Decision comes after caretaker CM spots virus-affected children during a visit to government school
&lsquo;It&rsquo;s not a Cold War&rsquo;: PM calls out West&rsquo;s &lsquo;obsession&rsquo; to contain China
Pakistan has been treated unfairly by the West in the last 30 years, says Kakar
Met Office forecasts rain, snowfall in upper parts of country from tomorrow
<p>The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday announced the arrival of another rain spell, accompanied by snowfall, in upper parts of the country from Sept 28 to Sept 30 as the monsoon season withdraws.</p>n<p>In a forecast issued today, the PMD said a westerly wave was likely to enter the upper parts of the country on Thursday (evening or night) with rain-wind/thunderstorms (moderate to isolated heavy falls) expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur, Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar) from Thursday to Saturday.</p>n<p>It said rain-wind/thunderstorms with hailstorms at isolated places were also expected in Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Haripur, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur and Sheikhupura on Thursday night and Friday.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/pmdgov/status/1707016433664991719"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>Moreover, rain-dust/thunderstorms were expected in Zhob, Barkhan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar during the period.</p>n<p>The department said snowfall was expected over high mountains in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the period.</p>n<p>Regarding the rain’s impact, the PMD warned that wind thunderstorms may damage loose structures such as electric poles, solar panels, billboards etc.</p>n<p>“Temperatures are likely to drop significantly” during and after the rain spell, it said, adding that farmers were advised to manage their crop activities accordingly.</p>n<p>Tourists and travellers were also advised to remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the period.</p>n<p>“The general public is advised to stay at safe places during windstorms/lightning/moderate/heavy rains,” the PMD said.</p>n<p>It recommended all concerned authorities to remain vigilant during the forecast period.</p>
Demonstrators in Lakki Marwat seek internet restoration
<p>LAKKI MARWAT: A group of youths demonstrated for the restoration of the internet service in Titterkhel town here on Tuesday.</p>nn<p>The rally was staged along the Bannu-Dera Ismail Khan section of the Indus Highway with participants carrying placards and shouting slogans.</p>nn<p>Local body members also joined them. The speakers said the suspension of the internet service had caused problems for residents, especially youth and businessmen.</p>nn<p>“The internet shutdown has affected both regular and online business, while the students can’t apply online for admissions to educational institutions,” a protester said. </p>nn<p>Meanwhile, the UK-based charity Ansar Foundation distributed food items to more than 100 families in Serai Gamila town here on Tuesday.</p>nn<p>Naurang tehsil council chairman Haji Azizullah Khan gave away “ration packages” to poor and deserving families.</p>nn<p>Country director of the foundation Kifayatullah, former chairman of the district zakat committee Maulana Asadullah and Al-Khidmat Foundation district president Irfanullah were also present on the occasion.</p>nn<p>Mr Kifayatullah said thousands of families had been provided with food items in the southern district. </p>nn<p>He said the foundation had also launched 25 water schemes in the area besides the construction of mosques and houses for widows.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Imran Khan surpasses political rivals in popularity survey: Miftah
Former finance minister says he along with Abbasi, Khokhar mulling launching a new political party
After IB, PEMRA withdraws plea against Faizabad sit-in case judgement
Civil review petition by PEMRA was scheduled for a hearing on September 28
Over half of all polling stations deemed &lsquo;sensitive&rsquo;
<p>ISLAMABAD: Around 55 per cent of the polling stations to be established for the upcoming general polls, planned to be conducted in the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1777085">last week of January</a> next year, have been identified as ‘sensitive’, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Omar Hamid Khan told a Senate panel on Tuesday.</p>n<p>Moreover, the ECP secretary said the preliminary delimitation would be published on Sept 27. However, a period of approximately 60 days would be required for filing and disposal of representations.</p>n<p>Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the ECP secretary said that some 91,809 polling stations are to be established out of which 49,919 have been designated as ‘sensitive’ or ‘highly sensitive’.</p>n<p>He said 17,411 of these have been categorised as highly sensitive and another 32,508 as sensitive while 41,809 (around 45pc) are designated as ‘normal’.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Election commission to publish preliminary delimitation today; secretary says no ban on uplift schemes approved before Aug 15</p>n</blockquote>n<p>The meeting of the standing committee was held with Senator Taj Haider in the chair and was briefed on the preparations for the upcoming general elections.</p>n<p>ECP Secretary Khan told the panel that the general elections would have 266 National Assembly constituencies and 593 provincial assemblies. The meeting was informed that around one million polling staff would be required for the upcoming general elections.</p>n<p>The committee inquired about the methods for the consolidation of results in the upcoming general elections.</p>n<p>Mr Khan said that electronic devices carrying the software developed by ECP would be used to send snapshots of Form-45s to the returning officers, and the software was also equipped to keep track of time and place of snapshots in order to ensure the legitimacy of elections.</p>n<p>The Senate committee recommended that the time period for filing of representations should be curtailed from 30 days to seven days in order to ensure that the general elections were held without delay.</p>n<p>The committee also drew attention of the ECP towards the constitutional obligation to conduct general elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the national assembly. It however, recommended the ECP to announce the election schedule at the earliest to remove any uncertainty regarding the conduct of elections in the country.</p>n<p>While discussing the funds of development schemes, Senator Taj Haider emphasised that the funds should be allocated to approved schemes.</p>n<p>The ECP secretary said that there was no ban on development schemes approved prior to August 15.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
PHC reserves judgement on petition against police seniority list
<p>PESHAWAR: A bench consisting of Justice Abdul Shakoor and Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard arguments of the counsel for petitioners – seven police officers – as well as the representatives of the federal and provincial governments.</p>nn<p>The petition was jointly filed by superintendent of police (security) Salahuddin Khan and six other police officers seeking the court to declare the impugned seniority list issued on June 28, 2022, by the police’s additional inspector general (establishment) unconstitutional and against Articles 142, 240 and 260 of the Constitution.</p>nn<p>The petitioners also challenged the “intended” promotions through the provincial selection board of officers of BPS-17 and above, questioning whether the provincial government was competent to promote such officers or it was the domain of the federal government.</p>nn<p>They requested the court to direct the respondents, including the provincial government and provincial police officer, to restore an earlier seniority list of DSPs (BPS-17) issued on Feb 21, 2022, insisting it was based on the relevant laws and rules.</p>nn<blockquote>n <p>Officers insist dept revised list in violation of law and rules</p>n</blockquote>nn<p>The petitioners’ counsel, Anwarul Haq, highlighted the Police Service of Pakistan (Composition, Cadre and Seniority) Rules, 1985, and said those rules declare that promotions to BPS-18 should be made on the basis of 40 per cent quota reserved for the provincial police cadre.</p>nn<p>He requested the court to direct respondents to prepare a joint seniority list of senior officers in BPS-17, including ASPs and DSPs, in light of those rules before making promotion to BPS-18 on the basis of a 40 per cent quota of provincial police officers.</p>nn<p>The lawyer said his clients served as senior police officers (BPS-17) in the police department.</p>nn<p>He added that the petitioners, who were promoted as DSPs, had successfully undertaken various obligations and missions.</p>nn<p>Mr Anwar said a seniority list meant for DSPs was issued on Feb 21, 2022, but the AIG (establishment), violating different procedures and rules, revised it and issued the impugned list in June 2022 without citing any cogent reason.</p>nn<p>He said under Police Service of Pakistan (Composition, Cadre and Seniority) Rules, 1985, 40 per cent quota was reserved for promotion and ‘encadrement’ for officers of the police cadre of the province for which joint seniority list had to be prepared.</p>nn<p>The lawyer added that the respondents had never followed the criteria and rules.</p>nn<p>He argued that the petitioners were entitled to promotion since 2015 and they had performed in exemplary manner during the war against militancy.</p>nn<p>Mr Anwar said an identical claim of promotion and ‘encadrement’ was raised before the Sindh High Court, which decided the same in favour of petitioners in 2014 and that judgement was later upheld by the Supreme Court.</p>nn<p>Deputy attorney general Altaf Khan and lawyerSangeen Khan appeared for the federal government.</p>nn<p>The DAG contended that the petitioners were provincial cadre officers and it was the domain of the provincial government to give them seniority.</p>nn<p>The bench wondered when the relevant rules were related to the federal government, then whether the federal or provincial government was empowered to issue the seniority list for police officers.</p>nn<p>The DAG said he would submit some relevant documents to “clarify” the situation.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Five children among 8 killed in rocket launcher shell explosion in Sindh&#039;s Kandhkot
Interim CM Maqbool Baqar takes notice of incident, seeking detailed report from IG
SC moved to determine army chief&rsquo;s role in affairs of state
Senior lawyer Raja Irshad files petition in apex court under Article 184 (3) of Constitution
Punjab govt announces 4-day school closure over eye virus outbreak
<p>The Punjab government on Wednesday announced that all public and private schools in the province will remain closed from September 28 to October 1 due to the outbreak of conjunctivitis (pinkeye).</p>n<p>Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball. The disease <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1777879/experts-call-for-preventive-measures-against-rising-eye-infection-cases">continues to infect</a> and has hit Punjab hard, with state-run hospitals across the province reporting 500-600 patients.</p>n<p>The highest number of infections in the province was reported in Lahore. The alarming surge in cases has had a noticeable impact, as evidenced by emerging reports indicating that the infection is affecting people of all age groups.</p>n<p>A large number of school-going children have been complaining of eye infections, primarily because they are not adhering to precautions at school. There have also been reports that school administrations are allowing students to stay home as soon as they contract the virus and are advising parents to take special care of their children.</p>n<p>Medical experts say pinkeye is spreading rapidly in densely populated cities where people are exposed to unfriendly environments, such as factories, bazaars, markets, and shopping plazas.</p>n<p>In light of the rise in cases, the Punjab School Education Department issued a notification today announcing four-day holidays.</p>n<p>It said all schools would reopen from Monday (Oct 2) and would observe the standard operating procedures issued by the department to curb the disease’s spread.</p>n<p>It directed all chief executive officers in the province to ensure compliance with the order.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/cmopunjabpk/status/1706967677313679649"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>Separately, in a video message issued today, interim Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the holidays were announced to curb the average spread of the disease, estimating that the move would lead to a 50 per cent reduction in cases.</p>n<p>He said there would be eye inspections for students at educational institutions across the province when they reopened.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/GovtofPunjabPK/status/1706974508538876080?s=20"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>Meanwhile, caretaker Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir said eye surgeons in government hospitals across the province were directed to stay alert throughout the day.</p>n<p>He said an ample supply of eye drops was provided to hospitals, adding that special arrangements were made to treat conjunctivitis patients at Rawalpindi’s Holy Family Hospital, Lahore’s Mayo Hospital and Multan’s Nishtar Hospital.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/PTVNewsOfficial/status/1707001243435249750"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>
&lsquo;Haj policy 2024 to be presented in 10 days&rsquo;
<p>ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister of Religious Affairs Aniq Ahmed has announced that Haj Policy 2024 has been prepared and will be presented to the federal cabinet within 10 days. </p>nn<p>Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Mr Ahmed acknowledged that numerous challenges had arisen as a result of delay in the Haj policy last year. </p>nn<p>He added that the policy would include 40-day Haj, as well as a short-term pilgrimage options. </p>nn<p>“Haj pilgrims will be given two suitcases of specific colour and design with a QR code on them so that they are not lost,” Mr Ahmed said, adding that the name, passport number, residence, school number and other information will be fed into the suitcases. </p>nn<blockquote>n <p>Pilgrims will be given suitcases of specific colour and design with a QR code on them</p>n</blockquote>nn<p>Mr Ahmed further mentioned that, for the first time, Haj pilgrims will receive a special mobile package. </p>nn<p>The caretaker minister of religious affairs confirmed that a contract has been formally concluded with a mobile phone company in Saudi Arabia, allowing Pakistani pilgrims to utilise mobile phones for audio and video calls without incurring roaming fees. </p>nn<p>He specified that an extra fee of Rs4,000 would be applied for the mobile package. </p>nn<p>“Haj pilgrims will now be able to stay in touch with their families in Pakistan at all times,” he added.</p>nn<p>“The overall cost of the Haj package will be decided later,” he concluded.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
What will happen when Nawaz Sharif lands in Pakistan?
"An appeal is pending before a court and Nawaz Sharif will pursue it upon return," Khurram Dastagir says
After IB, Pemra approaches SC to withdraw review plea against Faizabad judgement
<p>The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Wednesday filed an application in the Supreme Court to withdraw its review petition against the court’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1462170">verdict</a> on the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1373274">2017 sit-in</a> by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad in Islamabad.</p>n<p>The media watchdog’s decision comes just a day after the Intelligence Bureau also <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1778112">filed an application</a> in the apex court to withdraw its petition against the verdict.</p>n<p>Authored by Justice Qazi Faez Isa years before he took oath as the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), the searing judgement had instructed the defence ministry and the tri-services chiefs to penalise personnel under their command who were found to have violated their oath.</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1462177"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>It had also directed the federal government to monitor those advocating hate, extremism and terrorism and prosecute them in accordance with the law.</p>n<p>Adverse observations were also made against several government departments for <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1372392">causing inconvenience</a> to the public as the 20-day sit-in paralysed life in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi.</p>n<p>Pleas were subsequently <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1476828">moved against the verdict</a> by the Ministry of Defence, the IB, the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1476504">PTI</a>, the Pemra, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Ejazul Haq.</p>n<p>Headed by CJP Isa, a three-judge bench, which includes Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah, will take up the review petitions tomorrow (Thursday).</p>n<p>However, the Pemra filed an application today in the apex court, saying that the body’s chairman, via a letter dated September 26, had desired that the review petition be withdrawn and that the authority did not wish to pursue the matter further.</p>n<p>The application requested that the petitioner may be allowed to withdraw the review petition.</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1372805"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>While the IB had sought to withdraw its review petition, Rasheed, via Advocate Mehr Khan Malik, had also yesterday <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1778112/intelligence-bureau-has-second-thoughts-on-faizabad-case-review">requested</a> the Supreme Court to adjourn tomorrow’s hearing.</p>n<p>The plea stated that since the AML chief’s counsel, Amanullah Kanrani, had taken over the charge of the law minister for Balochistan, he was not in a position to appear before the apex court.</p>n<p>The Lahore High Court, after being told that Rashid was not in police custody while his counsel claimed he was arrested, has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1778098/lhc-directs-authorities-to-provide-better-facilities-to-parvez-elahi-in-jail">ordered</a> the police to make an all-out effort for his recovery.</p>n<h2><a id="the-pleas" href="#the-pleas" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>The pleas</h2>n<p>The IB’s review petition had urged the court to set aside the adverse observations made against the department, adding that it was a premier civilian intelligence agency which was responsible for state security.</p>n<p>It had contended that the impugned order created “bad impression” on the public that the IB was involved in unlawful activities and politics, after transgressing constitutional boundaries.</p>n<p>It had said the observations made in the verdict were based on “vague facts” and that during the sit-in, the department was in close contact with the federal and Punjab governments and forewarned them about the plans and intentions of the TLP, with a view to foiling their attempt to storm/lockdown Islamabad.</p>n<p>Meanwhile, In response, the defence ministry had requested the court to set aside the explicit or implicit observations about the armed forces and/or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).</p>n<p>The ministry’s petition had said that a host of factors may affect morale. However, it said, what was fatal was the belief amongst the rank and file that their officers while acting like “self-proclaimed saviours” were violating the fundamental rights of citizens and instead of serving “Pakistan and thus all its citizens”, supporting a “particular political party, faction or politician”.</p>n<p>“…When the source of such remarks is the highest court in the land, it can promote fissiparous tendencies and has the capacity to destroy the ability of the armed forces to act as a cohesive fighting force,” the review petition had argued.</p>n<p>It had further said there was no evidence before the court to suggest that the armed forces or ISI were, in any manner, involved with either the sit-in or a particular outcome of the general elections of 2018 or the abridgment of free speech or intimidation or censorship of the press.</p>n<p>In its petition, the ECP had contended that it had comprehensively applied and enforced the Constitution, law and the code of conduct by issuing a letter to the TLP on Aug 16, 2017, asking the party to provide details of its bank account and even had issued notices to it with a warning to cancel its registration.</p>n<p>Meanwhile, the PTI had questioned the mention in the verdict of the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1129984">2014 joint sit-in</a> organised by it and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek in Islamabad, and had said the impression one gets from it was that the party conducted an illegal protest for publicity and deliberately made wrong allegations.</p>n<p>The petition contended that the party had nothing to do with the TLP Faizabad sit-in and therefore the remarks should be expunged.</p>
Three women injured in gas leak fire in Attock
<p>TAXILA: Three women received serious burn injuries in fire caused by gas leak in village Bahadur Khan in the limits of Hazro Police station in Attock on Tuesday, police and hospital sources said.</p>n<p>According to sources, due to gas load-shedding in the area, the gas stove remained open in the kitchen and when the gas returned it filled the house.</p>n<p>As soon as the wife of Khan Nawaz tried to light the stove, the fire engulfed the house inflicting burn injuries to three women. All the injured were rushed to the district headquarters hospital Attock, from where one of them was shifted to Holy Family Hospital due to her critical injuries.</p>n<p>In a separate incident, a motorcyclist was crushed to death on GT Road near Asifabad in the limits of Wah Saddar Police Station on Tuesday.</p>n<p>Police sources said that 35-year-old Farhan Latif, an employee of a sensitive organisation, was going on his motorcycle when a speedy dumper bumped into him, resulting in his death on the spot.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Abbasi disapproves of Sanaullah&rsquo;s &lsquo;warning&rsquo; to interior minister over Nawaz&rsquo;s arrest remarks
Senior PML-N leader also opposes caretaker PM ‘s minus-Imran Khan fair elections statement
Govt to offer interest-free loans for establishing 5,000 E-Working Centers: IT minister
Government plans to aid freelancers with interest-free loans for E-Working Centers, bolstering IT sector's potential
Death toll rises to 9 after &lsquo;rocket launcher&rsquo; ordnance explodes in Sindh&rsquo;s Kandhkot tehsil
<p>Nine people, including four children, lost their lives while a woman was injured on Wednesday when a “rocket launcher’s” ordnance exploded in a house in Mehwal Shah area of Kashmore district’s Kandhkot tehsil, police said.</p>n<p>Kashmore-Kandhkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohail Khoso confirmed the casualties to <em>Dawn.com</em>, specifying that the deceased included five children, two women and two men.</p>n<p>He further said that the injured woman was referred to a Larkana hospital from Kandhkot, while the bodies of the deceased had been brought to the Kandhkot Civil Hospital.</p>n<p>The official said that the house — located in the limits of Goghat police station — belonged to Ali Nawaz Sabzoi, and that all the deceased and injured belonged to the same family.</p>n<p>SSP Khoso stated that the police had arrived at the site of the incident and had surrounded the area.</p>n<p>According to him, children found a rocket while playing and brought it home where it exploded, due to which eight people were killed. The SSP said further investigation was under way and an emergency had been declared at the Kandhkot Civil Hospital.</p>n<p>In a statement, Sindh Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar took notice of the incident and sought a report from the provincial inspector general on “how a rocket launcher reached the Zangi Subzwai Goth”.</p>n<p>“Was any stock of weapons being smuggled to the <em>kutcha</em> (riverine) areas? Are there enablers of the dacoits present in the goth (village)?”, the statement quoted him asking.</p>n<p>He wondered how the rocket launcher shell exploded, leading to a “loss of lives to this extent”.</p>n<p>Expressing his grief on the incident, he directed the IG, “A detailed report shall be submitted to me.”</p>n<p>Last week, the Sindh Apex Committee — a forum of civil and military officials — reviewed the law and order situation in the riverine areas of the province, and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1777409">approved and finalised</a> details of a massive operation to be launched by police and Rangers against dacoit gangs in affected districts of upper Sindh.</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1776661"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>The SAC was told that Rangers had been deployed along with police in upper Sindh districts and a crackdown on organised weapon smuggling had resulted in the seizure of the first cache of military-grade weapons in Ghotki.</p>n<p>The approval of an operation has been given multiple times. First, the then Murad Ali Shah-led cabinet had in March <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1741351">approved a grand operation</a> clean-up in riverine areas.</p>n<p>Later, the caretaker cabinet took up the matter in its meeting on September 14 and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1776661">decided</a> to launch a massive operation in the riverine area and shut down the internet services.</p>n<h2><a id="previous-similar-incidents" href="#previous-similar-incidents" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Previous similar incidents</h2>n<p>Incidents where people were said to be “playing with” similar dangerous objects have also occurred in the past.</p>n<p>In April this year, a shepherd was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1748615">killed</a> in a grenade blast on the outskirts of Chaman when he found the hand grenade and started playing with it.</p>n<p>Two days prior to that, three children were killed in an explosion in an abandoned compound in the same region while playing with an object they had found inside the compound.</p>n<p>In January last year, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1670100">two children were killed</a> and another was critically wounded in an explosion when the grenade they were playing with went off.</p>n<p>In June 2021, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1627327">three teenage boys died</a> and two others suffered injuries in a hand grenade explosion in Quetta. The children were playing with the hand grenade “after mistaking it for a toy” when it exploded.</p>n<p>In January of the same year, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1600120">three brothers were killed</a> and two others injured when a grenade that they found in the fields and were playing with went off in Peshawar.</p>n<p>In a similar incident in January 2019, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1455454">three children were killed</a> and another sustained injuries in Balochistan’s Washuk district after they had found an unexploded grenade and were playing with it when it exploded.</p>n<p>In April 2013, a toy bomb exploded in Buner District, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/803702/toy-bomb-kills-two-children-woman-in-buner">killing two children and a woman</a> after the rocket-like shell they were playing with exploded.</p>n<p>The same month, at least <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/803665/rockets-attack-at-political-rally-in-waziristan-injures-two">two people were injured</a> when a rocket landed from an unknown direction at a political gathering in South Waziristan’s Wana area.</p>n<p>Local political admin sources had said that children had found a toy-looking explosive device which exploded after they had brought it home and were busy playing with it.</p>
Four women among PTI activists sent to jail in arson attack case
<p>LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday sent eight Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) social media activists, including Sanam Javed, to jail on a six-day judicial remand while allowing investigating officer’s request for their identification parade in an arson attack case.</p>n<p>The suspects, including Sanam Javed, Afshan Tariq, Asheema Shuja, Shah Bano Gurchani, Mohammad Qasim, Ali Hassan, Mohammad Mubin Qadri and Syed Faisal Akhtar, were presented before the court on charges of attacking police near Rahat Bakery Chowk and setting fire to a police vehicle on May 9.</p>n<p>The PTI women activists, including Sanam Javed and Shahbano Gurchani, were rearrested by the investigation police on Monday night, shortly after they had been <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1777487">released</a> from the Kot Lakhpat jail on court order in Jinnah House attack case.</p>n<p>Investigating Officer Naveed Anjum Awan requested for judicial remand to facilitate their identification in connection with the police vehicle arson case.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>ATC allows IO’s request for identification parade</p>n</blockquote>n<p>Judge Abher Gul Khan, who was presiding over the proceedings, approved the six-day judicial remand of all the suspects and subsequently sent them to jail.</p>n<p>Earlier on Saturday, another anti-terrorism court had ordered the release of nine PTI members, including its women activists, in connection with the Jinnah House attack case. Besides Sanam Javed and Shahbano Gurchani, Robina Jameel, Afshan Tariq, Ashma Shuja, Faisal Akhtar, Qasim, Ali Hasan and Hussain Qadri had secured bail against surety bonds worth Rs100,000 each, paving the way for their release.</p>n<p>While talking to <em>Dawn</em>, a police official claimed the police re-arrested Sanam Javed, Shahbano, Afshan Tariq and Ashma Shuja from outside Kot Lakhpat jail soon after their release.</p>n<p>He explained that the women were arrested in another case pertaining to May 9 violent attacks, which was registered with the Sarwar Road police station.</p>n<p>The PTI activists were rearrested and shifted from the jail to the police station for further investigations, the official confirmed.</p>n<p><strong>PTI for contempt proceedings against police</strong></p>n<p>A PTI spokesperson on Tuesday also decried the re-arrest of party activists and workers and demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa initiate contempt proceedings against the officials involved in making “mockery of the law” of the land.</p>n<p>In a statement in reaction to the re-arrest of PTI male and female workers soon after being released from prison on court order, a PTI spokesman termed the practice of repeated arrests of the party workers and leaders despite clear court orders as “a slap in the face of the justice system”.</p>n<p>He said the arrests of activists after being released on bail by court was a ‘sheer fascism’ and oppression, adding that all limits of cruelties and barbarities were crossed to subject PTI’s affiliated male and female citizens to ‘vindictive’ political retribution.</p>n<p>The spokesperson went on to say that innocent mothers, sisters, daughters were being subjected to oppression and fascism in total disregard of Islamic values and law of the land.</p>n<p>“Chief Justice of Pakistan should take immediate notice of the brutality of the state machinery in the country and ensure protection of the basic constitutional rights of the citizens, especially of PTI workers, leaders and their families,” the statement added.</p>n<p><strong>Spokespersons nominated</strong></p>n<p>Also on Tuesday, PTI nominated the party’s official spokespersons who will give the official version on legal and political issues relating to PTI as well as party chairman and former prime minister Khan.</p>n<p>PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan notified PTI senior leaders including Farrukh Habib, Shoaib Shaheen, Raoof Hasan, Ali Mohammad Khan and Barrister Gohar Khan as the party’s official spokespersons.</p>n<p>“The designated official spokespersons will give the official version on legal and political issues relating to PTI and former prime minister and chairman [of] PTI,” the notification stated.</p>n<p><em>Syed Irfan Raza in Islamabad also contributed to this report</em></p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Senate committee recommends ECP hold polls within 90 days
ECP official explains panel about need for approximately 60 days for filing and disposal of representations
Assets reference against Ishaq Dar revived
<p>ISLAMABAD: The assets-beyond-means reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar has been revived and an accountability court on Tuesday summoned him for October 10.</p>n<p>Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir will take up the case.</p>n<p>The same court had on Nov 22 last year <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1722463">closed the proceedings</a> on the reference and returned the case file to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).</p>n<p>The accountability court also revived the references against former National Bank of Pakistan president Saeed Ahmed, Naeem Mehmood and Mansoor Raza Rizvi.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Accountability court summons ex-finance minister on Oct 10</p>n</blockquote>n<p>The references against the accused were closed pursuant to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1711341">amendments</a> to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) introduced earlier last year.</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1712534"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>The court had on Dec 11, 2017 <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1376074/court-declares-dar-proclaimed-offender?fromNewsdog=1&utm_source=NewsDog&utm_medium=referral">declared</a> Ishaq Dar a proclaimed offender and attached his movable and immovable properties. It had also cancelled his perpetual arrest warrant upon his surrender on October 10.</p>n<p>A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had on July 28, 2017, while taking up petitions filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, disqualified then prime minister Nawaz Sharif for not disclosing his salary that he did not draw from his son’s company, and constituted a joint investigation team (JIT), headed by then additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency Wajid Zia, to probe the assets of the Sharif family and Ishaq Dar.</p>n<p>The JIT prepared four references — three against the Sharif family and one against Mr Dar — and filed them in the accountability court that year.</p>n<p>As per the prosecution, Mr Dar’s assets had grown manifold from Rs9.1 million in 1982-83 to Rs831.6m in 2008.</p>n<p>An SC bench, headed by former chief justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, had on Sept 15 <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1776008/sc-orders-restoration-of-corruption-cases-against-public-office-holders">declared</a> the amendments to the NAO void ab initio, paving the way for revival of dozens of references closed in pursuant to the amendments.</p>n<p>The Supreme Court directed NAB to revive the closed cases in seven days.</p>n<p>NAB sources said the cases disposed of under the amended law have been returned to the accountability courts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Quetta.</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1776174"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>In addition to the reference against Ishaq Dar, the cases transmitted to the accountability courts included the Park Lane case against former president Asif Ali Zardari, the Universal Services Funds case in which former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and others were the accused, the case of rental power projects against ex-PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and against former chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme Farzana Raja.</p>n<p>The reference against former PM Shaukat Aziz and fake accounts case against Mr Zardari and Omni Group’s directors have also been revived.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
PML-N &lsquo;backtracks&rsquo; on call for generals&rsquo; accountability
<p>LAHORE: With the PML-N seemingly undecided what its narrative would be in the upcoming elections, a close aide of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has claimed the party was not “demanding accountability of former army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI head Gen Faiz Hamid.”</p>n<p>His statement coincided with reports from London that Mr Nawaz was having second thoughts to his stated position on his <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1776664">demand</a> for accountability of ex-generals and judges.</p>n<p>Addressing a press conference at the party’s office in Model Town on Tuesday, Javed Latif said, “We [PML-N] do not demand accountability of Gen Bajwa and Gen Hamid but only those characters and facilitators involved in May 9 events and mutiny against the head of the institution.” He was referring to attacks on military installations in the wake of PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/pmlndigitalpk/status/1706607785767760299"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>Mr Latif’s remarks have raised more questions over the party’s narrative as he is considered close to the elder Sharif and had been quite vocal in his demand to make former generals and judges an example for “conspiring against the ex-PM’s Sharif government” in 2017.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Javed Latif says party seeking action against May 9 perpetrators; leaders see statement as ‘signal of new plan’</p>n</blockquote>n<p>“Although 90 per cent in the PML-N think that Gen Bajwa and Faiz Hamid were responsible [for Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification], we are not demanding any action whatsoever against them.”</p>n<p>Referring to those who attacked military installations on May 9 as “terrorists”, Mr Latif said they should not be allowed to take part in politics.</p>n<p>The PML-N leader added that Mr Sharif has advised against any grand reception upon his return on Oct 21 “because of the problems faced by the nation”.</p>n<p>Mr Sharif will give a plan to make Pakistan economically strong in his address at Minar-i-Pakistan, he added.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed '>n <div class='media__item media__item–youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/H38zICrBMOk?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p><strong>‘Changed line’</strong></p>n<p>Mr Latif’s “softer stance” on the issue is being interpreted as a ‘clear signal’ of the party leadership’s thinking about a new strategy after the ex-PM’s onslaught on former generals and judges.</p>n<p>PML-N senior leader Khurram Dastgir also indirectly confirmed the party was looking to eschew the “accountability narrative”.</p>n<p>“We had tried [former] general Musharraf under Article 6, but what happened afterwards is before everyone,” Mr Dastagir told a private TV channel on Tuesday. “I believe we should not repeat this episode.”</p>n<p>Similarly, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, who of late called the ex-generals “national criminals” and demanded action against them, also appeared cautious in targeting them further.</p>n<p>Commenting on the situation, a senior PML-N leader from Punjab told <em>Dawn</em> Mr Latif’s remarks were a “clear hint” that the party’s supreme leader has accepted the request of his younger brother and others to “not declare war on the former generals”.</p>n<p>On Sept 18, the elder Sharif went on a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1776664">tirade</a> against the former general and chief justices — Asif Khosa and Saqib Nisar — while addressing the party’s ticket holders.</p>n<p>His demand for strict accountability left many in the party in a precarious position as the leaders became wary of a possible backlash if the elder Sharif continued with such statements.</p>n<p>This prompted his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, to skedaddle back to London within 48 hours of his return.</p>n<p>He tried to convince his elder brother to “tone down” his stance, saying that this narrative might draw the ire of the powers that be, who have otherwise been quite friendly to the party during the previous government’s tenure.</p>n<p>Reports suggested that some members of his family were trying to prevail upon Mr Nawaz to revisit his strong position on the accountability of former generals and judges.</p>n<p>Asked about such reports, Mr Latif said Shehbaz Sharif could “only give suggestions” to his brother, but once the latter took a decision, “everyone in the party had to follow it”.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Moonis Elahi in graft case
NAB urges accountability court to declare PTI leader a “proclaimed offender”
Perpetual arrest warrants issued for PTI leader Azam Swati in offensive social media posts case
<p>The Special Judge Central — FIA’s special court — in Islamabad issued perpetual arrest warrants on Wednesday for PTI leader Azam Khan Swati over his controversial posts on social media platform X (then known as Twitter) about senior military officers including the then-army chief in October last year.</p>n<p>Swati was arrested twice last year — in <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1714819">October</a> and in the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1723554/swati-held-by-fia-for-defamation-imran-terms-move-fascism">following month</a> — after the FIA booked him in Islamabad for posts that were allegedly against state institutions.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/AzamKhanSwatiPk/status/1580196735288107010"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>His arrest on November 27, 2022, and subsequent detention stretched for over a month. He was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1729731">released</a> from an Islamabad sub-jail in January this year after he secured post-arrest bail from the Islamabad High Court. In his petition for bail, he had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1728095">denied making</a> the offending posts.</p>n<p>There were three previous hearings of this case, in April, May and June, all of which Swati skipped. In the May hearing, non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against him, and in the June hearing, he was declared a proclaimed offender.</p>n<p>Today, Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand issued a perpetual arrest warrant for the PTI leader over Swati’s repeated failure to attend hearings.</p>n<p>Judge Arjumand ordered the FIA to arrest him on sight and present him before the court.</p>n<p>It should be noted that Swati was implicated in the May 9 violence in the law enforcement crackdown against the party and was among the party leaders declared <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1775650">proclaimed offenders</a>.</p>n<h2><a id="arrests-over-posts" href="#arrests-over-posts" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Arrests over posts</h2>n<p>Swati was first arrested by the FIA on charges of posting controversial postsnabout the armed forces in October and was later released on bail.</p>n<p>The senator had alleged that he was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1717339">tortured in custody</a> and demanded the removal of two military officials, one of whom he used foul language against in his tweet on November 26.</p>n<p>On November 27, the FIA arrested Swati for the second time over a “highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets […] against state institutions”.</p>n<p>The arrest came after an FIR was registered by the FIA on the complaint of the state through Islamabad Cyber Crime Reporting Centre Technical Assistant Aneesur Rehman.</p>n<p>The complaint was registered under Section 20 of Peca as well as Sections 131 (abetting mutiny or attempting to seduce a soldier from his duty), 500 (punishment for defamation), 501 (defamation and printing of content deemed defamatory), Section 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) and 109 (abetment) of the PPC.</p>n<p>Following his arrest in November, the Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority prohibited Swati’s media coverage on all satellite TV channels.</p>
CM Baqar suspends director general of colleges, two others over negligence
<p>KARACHI: Caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar on Tuesday suspended the director general (DG) of colleges, and the principal and vice principal of a girls’ college in district Central for their alleged negligence, lack of interest and failure to promote educational activities.</p>n<p>The action was taken following a surprise visit to the Government Girls Degree College, Al-Noor, where the CM found empty classes with desks, laboratory and washrooms in a dilapidated condition.</p>n<p>He also found that not a single lab in the college was functional.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhCMHouse/status/1706755720111439977"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>Justice Baqar asked DG-Colleges Shadab Hussain if he had ever visited the said college. Upon which Mr Hussain replied in the negative.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Decision taken after CM found staff absent, lack of facilities at Govt Girls College Al-Noor</p>n</blockquote>n<p>The CM asked him as to how students would come to a college where washrooms lacked doors and running water.</p>n<p>College principal Zahida Begum informed the CM that 300 students were enrolled in the college, but record showed that the number of students was 390.</p>n<p>The principal also had no knowledge of the sanctioned strength of the teaching staff and when the vice principal was called she also expressed ignorance about the total number of the staff.</p>n<p>While most of the staff members were found absent, the chief minister was told that a teacher of Islamic Studies, Ishratul Ain, had not come to work for the past one year.</p>n<p>The CM went from class to class and found that out of the 390 students, only 40 or 50 were present. Only an English teacher was seen taking a class. The CM appreciated and lauded her method of teaching.</p>n<p>He came to know that it was a degree college, but education was imparted up to the intermediate level.</p>n<p>Later, the chief minister ordered the suspension of the services of the DG-Colleges, principal and vice-principal.</p>n<p>He also suspended the services of the Islamic Studies lecturer who was absent from duty for the past one year.</p>n<p><strong>Inaugurates education facility</strong></p>n<p>The chief minister inaugurated House of Education School established for free education of children by the JDC Foundation.</p>n<p>Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, he said that JDC and its head Zafar Abbas had valuable services in the field of education. “JDC is equipping children with the jewel of education through free IT course,” he said, adding that he was happy to learn that absolutely free education was being imparted here.</p>n<p>Also on Tuesday, the CM visited two parks — Bagh-i-Saman and Noorani Park — in district Centra and directed the authorities to develop and open the facilities for public at the earliest.</p>n<p>Meanwhile, on way back to CM House, the chief minister visited the Sindh Govt Hospital Liaquatabad where he found comparatively better hygienic conditions.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhCMHouse/status/1706754146198864004"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>The CM took round of the old Covid-19 wards and directed the hospital officials to utilise the wards for other patients.</p>n<p>He went to the kitchen where food was prepared for 100 patients twice a day. He directed the administration to renovate it and keep it clean properly.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
NAB &#039;reopens&#039; assets beyond means case against Ishaq Dar
Move comes after SC declared NAB laws amendments null and void and ordered restoring all graft cases worth less than Rs500 million against the political leaders
No institution will favour one group or other in polls: PM Kakar
<p>LONDON / ISLAMABAD: There would not be any organisational or institutional involvement, either in favour of one political group or the other in the upcoming elections, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has said, as his remarks regarding the possibility of elections without PTI chief Imran Khan drew widespread criticism.</p>n<p>On Tuesday, the prime minister was in the UK, where he <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link–external" href="https://radio.gov.pk/26-09-2023/anwaar-ul-haq-kakar-interacts-with-students-at-oxford-union">addressed</a> the Oxford Union and held a presser at the Pakistan High Commission where he fielded several questions from journalists; key amongst which were queries about the treatment of the PTI chief, whether he will be allowed to participate in elections, and whether his transfer from Attock Jail to Adiala has any deeper meaning.</p>n<p>He said his words about Imran Khan’s prospects of contesting the next election were being twisted, and that the law will decide whether he will contest or not.</p>n<p>“What people aren’t understanding is that it is not political. Whatever happens will be under law and due process. I cannot change it even if I wanted to.”</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Caretaker PM says PTI not playing ‘parliamentary politics’, those who didn’t participate in May 9 violence free to take part in elections</p>n</blockquote>n<p>Earlier, in an <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link–external" href="https://www.trtworld.com/video/tv-shows/exclusive-interview-with-pakistans-caretaker-pm-anwaar-ul-haq-kakar-on-pakistans-turbulent-journey-15123259">interview</a> with <em>TRT World</em>, when the caretaker PM was asked what would happen if PTI supporters did not accept that Imran Khan is not on the ballot and took to the streets to protest, he said: “As far as the protest is concerned, if [it] remains peaceful, it is their basic and democratic right. The government will try to protect the democratic right of any political party… but any kind of vandalism in the name of protest would not be allowed.”</p>n<p>Later, at the press conference, he said: “It is part of our political culture that various parties cry foul, but if international indicators and observers say it is a free and fair election, then it is.”</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1777956"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>Speaking to <em>TRT</em>, he said the ouster of Imran Khan was “lawful” as it was carried out constitutionally and without a military coup.</p>n<p>Asked about the alleged involvement of the United States in the ouster of Imran Khan, he called it a conspiracy theory that was used for public consumption.</p>n<p><strong>Oxford Union</strong></p>n<p>At the Oxford Union, PM Kakar was asked by members about Mr Khan’s incarceration, the cases against PTI workers, as well as the military’s overbearing presence in Pakistan.</p>n<p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media–stretch media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–twitter '><span>n <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">n <a href="https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/1706714219176247534"></a>n </blockquote>n</span></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>In response, he said that people were in prison over different charges, ranging from vandalism, arson, destruction of public property, and that they would face such charges in any civilised society.</p>n<p>“Why should an exclusive approach be applied to Imran Khan,” he asked.</p>n<p>He said the government commits to a fair election that includes giving PTI space. “PTI is not playing parliamentary politics… if they were… Imran Khan would be the current opposition leader.”</p>n<p>When asked about the army intervening in politics, Mr Kakar said, “There is some civil and military imbalance. But the larger criticism of the Pakistan army is not valid and is out of proportion. A lot of critics rely on hearsay these days.”</p>n<p>Regarding the upcoming elections, Kakar said whatever support is required will be provided by the caretaker set-up, be it “military or paramilitary”.</p>n<p><strong>Out of context</strong></p>n<p>Separately, the caretaker government <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1777996/pm-kakar-irked-at-media-misquoting-statement-on-elections-minus-imran">said</a> that PM Kakar’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1777637/fair-elections-can-take-place-without-imran-jailed-pti-leaders-pm-kakar">remarks</a> during a recent interview to the <em>Associated Press</em> had been “misunderstood and misreported”.</p>n<p>Issuing the original text of the <em>AP</em> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link–external" href="https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-elections-sharif-khan-kashmir-afghanistan-a81c125c0abe3bc963294733a15ef7b0">interview</a>, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reproduced the premier’s statement thus: “Kakar said fair elections can take place without Khan or hundreds of members of his party who are jailed because they engaged in unlawful activities including vandalism and arson, a reference to the violence that rocked the country following Khan’s initial arrest in May.”</p>n<p>“We are not pursuing anyone on a personal vendetta. But yes, we will ensure that the law is appropriate. Anyone, be it Imran Khan or any other politician who violates, in terms of their political behavior, the laws of the country, then the restoration of the law has to be ensured. We cannot equate that with … political discrimination.”</p>n<p>The caretaker prime minister said thousands of people in Mr Khan’s party who didn’t engage in unlawful activities “will be running the political process, they will be participating in the elections.”</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Armed citizens gun down three &lsquo;muggers&rsquo; in city
<p>KARACHI: Three alleged robbers were shot dead while two others were wounded by citizens in the Korangi and New Karachi areas on Tuesday, police and rescuers said. </p>nn<p>In Korangi, two suspects were gunned down by a robbery victim. </p>nn<p>According to Korangi SSP Hassan Sardar, the robbers had snatched valuables from a citizen within the remit of the Zaman Town police station. When they were fleeing, a citizen, who happened to be carrying his licensed pistol, chased them, upon which an exchange of gunfire took place, in which both the suspects were gunned down. </p>nn<p>The bodies were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre to fulfil medico-legal formalities. </p>nn<p>The police claimed to have recovered arms, cash, mobile phone and motorbike from them. </p>nn<p>In another incident, one suspect was gunned down while two others were wounded by a citizen in New Karachi. </p>nn<p>Police said four suspects riding two motorbikes arrived at Azam Bakery with the intention of committing a robbery. </p>nn<p>They snatched valuables from youths sitting there. In the meantime, an armed citizen, identified as Faizan, opened fire on them from his licensed pistol, killing one suspect on the spot and wounding two others.</p>nn<p>The deceased was identified as Yaseen and the injured as Kashif Ramazan. </p>nn<p>One injured suspect fled with their fourth accomplice. </p>nn<p>Later on, the police arrested the escaped injured suspect, identified as Ali Raza. </p>nn<p>The dead and injured suspects were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
No exclusive treatment to be given to Imran Khan, PTI on May 9 cases: PM Kakar
'We commit to fair election that includes giving PTI space in those polls on an equal basis,' says premier
LHC directs authorities to provide better facilities to Parvez Elahi in jail
<p>RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC), Rawalpindi bench, on Tuesday disposed of the petition of PTI president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, with the direction to the Punjab home secretary to redress the grievances of the former chief minister of Punjab.</p>n<p>Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan was hearing the petition of Mr Elahi seeking better facilities for himself as per his entitlement.</p>n<p>During the hearing of the case, the counsel for Mr Elahi, Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan, argued that the petitioner was not only a former chief minister and also previously held the portfolio of deputy prime minister. He apprised the court that the jail administration had constructed a wall along the window of his client’s barrack, allegedly to suffocate the environment.</p>n<p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media–right media–embed media–uneven'>n <div class='media__item media__item–newskitlink '> <iframen class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"n width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"n src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1778101"n sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>n n </figure></p>n<p>He said the PTI leader also complained that a stranger had been deployed outside his cell to breach his privacy.</p>n<p>The court directed the home department to provide the facilities Mr Elahi was entitled to under the Prison Rules and sought a compliance report within a fortnight.</p>n<p><strong>Sheikh Rashid not in police custody</strong></p>n<p>Meanwhile, the same bench directed the police to find the whereabouts of former minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.</p>n<p>The counsel for Mr Rashid, Sardar Abdul Raziq Khan, argued before the court that his client was arrested by Rawalpindi police.</p>n<p>However, when the police denied that the former federal minister was in their custody, Justice Khan asked the law enforcement agency to make all-out effort for the recovery of the politician.</p>n<p>Further proceedings were later adjourned till Oct 2.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Dog culling by CBC draws Karachi DHA residents, animal lovers&rsquo; ire
<p>KARACHI: Concerned residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA), who care for animals, have reported that the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) has started culling stray dogs in their area.</p>n<p>Many of the dogs that have vanished were being fed and cared for by the residents, who also claim that the poor animals were also guarding their neighbourhoods against burglars.</p>n<p>“They are no particular breed, just stray animals but they remained alert at night, which gave us a lot of peace of mind,” a resident of DHA Phase VIII told <em>Dawn</em>.</p>n<p>“In return for their loyalty and love we would offer them some leftovers. Everything was fine until the CBC decided to catch them and kill them,” the resident added with a lump in his throat.</p>n<p>So many areas of DHA have been cleared of stray dogs, who were quite friendly. “Many of them were spayed, neutered and vaccinated too,” said another concerned resident and animal rights activist Haniyeh Shaikh.</p>n<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">n<p>Cantonment board says it has invited concerned residents and members of animal rights organisations for a meeting tomorrow</p>n</blockquote>n<p>“My own pet dog Crystal was taken away by the CBC. When I found out and located her, they took Rs6,000 from me for releasing her. My dog was even wearing a collar,” Haniyeh informed.</p>n<p>“So many of these dogs that they are taking away are old and quite helpless. The poor creatures are very friendly, too. The animals are not wild but the CBC staff responsible for all this are quite wild. They are inhumane. A few days ago when they were taking away little puppies from the Creek Vista Apartments area, they were stopped by a housewife but instead of listening to her reasoning they pushed and beat her up for coming in their way,” said Haniyeh.</p>n<p>“Last Friday, many of us residents visited the CBC office to speak to them. We were very polite and civil towards them but they sounded so rude and angry. They told us that they were going to wipe out the population of dogs from DHA. Then when some residents also looked unhappy they told us that they were not culling the dogs but relocating them, which is a bunch of lies. We don’t believe that because there is no place for relocating the dogs here,” she said.</p>n<p>Jude Allen — who started ‘I am Noor Jehan Movement’ after watching the zoo elephant suffer so badly due to sheer incompetence and lack of empathy by the government — was also at the CBC office with the others on Friday with a plea to not hurt the stray dogs.</p>n<p>“We went there in a group. We met several high-ups there, who didn’t look impressed at all,” he said.</p>n<p>“At first they denied everything. But we had photographic and video evidence of their activities. Even the person in those videos we saw at the CBC office. So they had to admit. After much effort to make them understand that the dogs were harmless, they told us to keep them in our houses. But we already have made many of them our pets and are taking care of them. We can’t possibly keep them all,” he said.</p>n<p>“Then we were told by a Mr Najeeb there that if we are serious about this issue, we should work on a trap, neuter, spay and release roadmap. We have called a meeting at Aunty Park on Tuesday to discuss this with all those who care about these poor dogs because our next meeting with CBC is to take place on Thursday [tomorrow],” he added.</p>n<p>Jude said that the movement he had started itself is to raise awareness about how governments exploit animals for money. “The movement also covers senseless killings of innocent street animals by the CBC and KMC, who have absolutely no shame or fear of God for their actions,” he said.</p>n<p>Mahera Omar, the co-founder of the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (Paws), was also very sad about what has been going on. “Albert Einstein once defined insanity as ‘doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.’ Such is the case with municipal authorities in Karachi, who continue to mercilessly kill dogs in an attempt to eradicate them from the city,” she said.</p>n<p>“What the authorities should have been implementing by now is a humane citywide mass vaccination drive to control rabies in street dogs. With the disease in check in the animal reservoir, chances of transmission to humans decreases considerably. And if they engage with local communities to educate them on dog behaviour and bite prevention, it can reduce the incidences of dog bites across the city.</p>n<p>“Cleaning up the mounds of garbage in our neighbourhoods will also eventually see an overall decline in the street dog population. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, and dealing with the situation requires political will and a sustained multi-pronged approach,” she explained.</p>n<p>“Shooting and poisoning dogs is not only cruel and barbaric, but it does not decrease their population as dogs from other areas move in to fill the void. Killing dogs also does not prevent the spread of rabies. When dogs are removed, their population is continuously changing. They may be unstable or aggressive and multiply at a high rate while carrying rabies,” she said.</p>n<p>On being approached by <em>Dawn</em>, a CBC spokesperson acknowledged that they have been receiving lots of complaints about stray dogs and also accusations about culling dogs.</p>n<p>“Therefore, we have invited all the animal rights organisations and concerned residents to the CBC office on Thursday [tomorrow] to further discuss the matter and chart out a way forward,” the spokesperson said.</p>n<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
After much drama, Imran Khan finally moved to Adiala jail
Development comes a day after Islamabad High Court ordered to shift PTI chief from Attock to Adiala jail
Karachi &lsquo;most polluted city&rsquo; for second day
<p>KARACHI: The metropolitan city of Karachi made a shocking distinction by becoming the most polluted city in the world for two successive days, Monday and Tuesday, in terms of air quality, followed by New Delhi, on the Air Quality Index (AQI), according to the Swiss company IQAir that monitors air quality. </p>nn<p>The concentration of PM2.5 (particulate matter) in Karachi exceeded the WHO’s annual air quality guideline value by a staggering 20.3 times. </p>nn<p>The concentration of pollutants in Karachi was recorded at 175 AQI on Tuesday evening. </p>nn<p>It’s worth noting that an AQI reading in the range of 151-200 is considered unhealthy, while an AQI reading between 201 and 300 is even more detrimental to health. </p>nn<p>Karachi’s air quality continued to remain in an unhealthy state on second consecutive day as indicated by the air quality index. </p>nn<p>The city earned the shocking distinction of being the most polluted city globally. </p>nn<p>Over the past few years, according to the yearly report issued by IQAir, it is evident that pollution levels in Karachi have not improved but have, in fact, worsened.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2023</em></p>
Law clipping CJP&#039;s powers curtails judicial independence unconstitutionally: SCBA
Top lawyers body says parliament by enacting law violated principle of access to justice as a fundamental right
September 26, 2023
PTI free to take part in polls, clarifies minister after PM Kakar&rsquo;s &lsquo;minus Imran Khan&rsquo; remarks
Murtaza Solangi says though all parties are free to participate in elections, punishment for crimes remains legal
Pakistan to take up issue of Afghan nationals&#039; involvement in extortion
CTD arrests two TTP militants involved in extorting politicians; says they have 10 extortion-related WhatsApp groups
IHC to hold open court hearing on Imran Khan&#039;s bail plea in cipher case
Court instructs FIA prosecutors to submit a separate petition for in-camera proceedings in next hearing
Intelligence Bureau moves SC to withdraw Faizabad sit-in review plea
CJP Isa-led bench to hear petitions contesting SC judgment on Faizabad sit-in case
Poliovirus found in Karachi, Hangu sewage samples
Pakistan has reported two cases, 27 positive environmental samples so far
QR-coded suitcases to ensure pilgrims&rsquo; safety
2024 Hajj policy envisages roaming-free calls via special mobile package
Farrukh appointed as PTI&rsquo;s spokesperson
Party condemns re-arrests of party workers
NORI Cancer Hospital gets IAEA &#039;Anchor Centre&#039; status
PAEC Hospital NORI is designated as IAEA 'Anchor Centre' to enhance member state’s capabilities in cancer research
Petroleum crisis looms as prices soar globally
90% petroleum products imported, with only 10% production taking place domestically
COAS commends Christian community&#039;s contribution to national development
Gen Asim Munir lauded the efforts of Christian community in strengthening defence of the country, says ISPR
September 25, 2023
UK investors show keen interest in Pakistan
Interim PM Kakar apprises them of FDI potential in key sectors
New Hajj policy to offer shorter stays in holy land
Minister tells Senate panel Karachi will be added to Road to Makkah project next year
IHC CJ to hear Imran Khan bail plea in cipher case on Monday
PTI chief has filed post-arrest bail application after special court rejected plea
September 23, 2023
NAB approaches courts for reopening 115 references
<p>LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approached the accountability courts of Lahore for reopening of as many as 115 references, including those against former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza, former federal minister Khwaja Saad Rafiq and his brother Salman and Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan. </p>nn<p>The courts had returned these references to the NAB chairman in the light of now defunct amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 for sending them to the courts of relevant jurisdiction. </p>nn<p>The scrapped amendments had clipped the jurisdiction of the bureau to take cognisance of any alleged financial corruption involving money less than Rs500 million. Whereas the NAB in the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference against Shehbaz and his son made a case of alleged corruption of Rs213 million.</p>nn<p>In the mills reference, the NAB had arrested Shehbaz on Oct 5, 2018, and the Lahore High Court had released him on bail on Feb 14, 2019.</p>nn<p>The LHC in its bail granting order observed that prima facie, allegations about gratification, corrupt practice, abuse of authority, kickbacks and commission required further probe during trial as at this stage cogent evidence was not available.</p>nn<p>The NAB alleged that Shehbaz being chief minister and his son Hamza with the abetment and connivance of each other caused a loss to national exchequer of Rs213 million by committing the offence of misuse of authority.</p>nn<p>It said Shehbaz had issued a directive for the construction of a drain in Chiniot district primarily for the use of Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by his sons — Hamza and Suleman.</p>nn<p>The NAB is also likely to approach the accountability court for the reopening of Paragon reference against former federal minister for railways Khwaja Saad Rafiq, his brother Khwaja Salman Rafiq and others.The court on March 29, 2023, returned the Paragon reference to the NAB chairman against Saad, Salman and others.</p>nn<p>Another accountability court on Oct 6, 2022, returned to the NAB a reference of corruption in Chiniot minerals contracts against PA Speaker Sibtain Khan and others.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2023</em></p>
400,000 dementia patients in Pakistan
<p>LAHORE: Punjab observed the World Alzheimer’s Day to increase public awareness about the disease and its consequences.</p>nn<p>Dr Hussain Jafri, secretary-general of Alzheimer’s Pakistan, said currently an estimated 55m people worldwide were living with this neurological condition.</p>nn<p>He said according to estimates, there are over 400,000 people with dementia in Pakistan. Research indicates that people can develop dementia for decades before symptoms become apparent. However, reducing exposure to risk factors, both before and after diagnosis, can delay, slow progression, or even prevent projected dementia cases.</p>nn<p>Dr Jafri said the importance of clear and understandable information and advice, as well as making lifestyle changes accessible and affordable for everyone.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 23th, 2023</em></p>
Not accountable to any govt Kakar on alleged human rights violations in Pakistan
"Country's laws are impartial, not favouring any gender, and apply to all citizens equally," says PM at UN presser
95m Pakistanis live in poverty: World Bank
Urges govt to tax agriculture, real estate, cut wasteful expenditure
26 teams formed to enforce 10pm shop closure in Lahore
<p>LAHORE: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider has taken action to ensure shops in the city close at 10pm by forming 26 teams.</p>nn<p>Teams sealed 72 shops across various markets in the city and imposed a Rs160,000 fine on shops that violated the closure orders.</p>nn<p>These teams will inspect different markets throughout the city to enforce the shop closure orders.</p>nn<p>Additional Deputy Commissioner General Zeeshan Nasrullah Ranjha oversaw the market situation in Raiwind, while the Model Town assistant commissioner (AC) sealed 28 shops. The Cantonment AC sealed 23 shops in DHA phase-III and VI, as well as Bedian Road. Warnings were issued to shopkeepers in DHA-B, III, and X.</p>nn<p>The City AC visited The Mall and imposed fines on shopkeepers found in violation of the closure time.Three weeks ago, the Lahore High Court also expressed its disappointment over the failure of the DC to ensure the market’s closure at 10pm.</p>nn<p>The environment department officials and members of the Environmental Commission submitted a report on the implementation of the court’s previous orders.</p>nn<p>The commission’s members pointed out that the markets were not being closed on time despite notifications from the DC’s office.</p>nn<p><em>Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2023</em></p>