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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought a response from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on former prime minister Imran Khan’s petition seeking to set aside his conviction in the Toshakhana reference and the suspension of his disqualification. Arguing before the IHC division bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Mr Khan’s counsel Sardar Latif Khan Khosa said that following his hastily announced conviction, the ECP had also issued the order for his disqualification in haste. He pointed out that the trial court issued the verdict on Aug 5, while ECP disqualified Mr Khan on Aug 8 and barred him from holding public office for five years. The lawyer read out the order that disqualified Mr Khan and said that elections were going to be held on Feb 8, while the PTI has been directed to conduct intra-party elections within 20 days in a bid to “minus Mr Khan”. Contempt case against PTI chief may be tried ...

LAHORE: Jubilant PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with party leaders here in Model Town and celebrated his acquittal in the Avenfield corruption case. PML-N President Sheh­baz Sharif was also present in the meeting. He congratulated Mr Sharif for securing acquittal in the Avenfield case and expressed the hope that he would soon be acquitted in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case, too. Talking to reporters after the meeting, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah asked the judiciary to ensure justice to Mr Sharif at the earliest to enhance its honour. “The judiciary should abolish all cases against Nawaz as early as possible to enh­a­nce its respect,” he demanded. He said that the Sharif brothers also discussed upcoming polls and the party’s preparations. In reply to a question about ‘swift justice’ ensured to Mr Sharif, Mr Sanaullah said: “Nawaz got justice rather after six years. Nawaz got justice in Avenfield while Al-Azizia Mills corruption case is a f...

ECP says IT minister Saif possesses assets worth Rs280m http://dlvr.it/SzY7fV

LAHORE: Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the May 9 riots by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was a conspiracy to cause mutiny in the army. “When the conspiracy was hatched against this country and a sinister attempt was made to create a revolt in the military, all Pakistan condemned it,” Shehbaz asserted talking to the journalists outside an accountability court. He said the facilitation of perpetrators of the May 9 episode amounted to committing treason against the country. “It should be kept in mind that democracy does not tolerate treason,” he added. The former premier stated that they always respected the judiciary and considered their appearances before the courts a duty in the pursuit of justice. He said the hardships faced by Nawaz Sharif, his entire Sharif family and the leaders of the PML-N were part of the record. Shehbaz said Nawaz Sharif endured imprisonment, faced trials, saw his daughter arrested before him, opted for voluntary exile no...

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday sought the response of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to the pleas of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf against the alleged restrictions on its election campaign and for permission to hold the workers conventions in Peshawar and other cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed M. Attique Shah directed the ECP to inform it about the steps taken by it to hold polls in a fair manner and address the grievances of the PTI about discrimination against it over the holding of public meetings and conventions. It observed that it had to see why a political party was not permitted to hold public meetings, while the others were freely carrying out their political activities. “Apparently, the caretaker government has overstepped its constitutional mandate and now we have to ask the Election Commission of Pakistan about the steps it has taken for ensuring free and fair general elections in the ...

• Zardari, Bilawal arrive in Quetta to address public meeting today • Former CM Bizenjo decides to join PPP, another ex-MNA also likely to come on board • Shazia Marri says time to move away from politics of blame; Pakistan cannot tolerate another ‘project’ QUETTA: Some two weeks after the PML-N roped in at least two dozen prominent politicians from Baloch­istan ahead of the February elections, the PPP leadership on Wednesday descended on Quetta on the eve of the party’s 56th foundation day to improve its prospects in the province. The party already had some early success on Wednesday, with Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, a former Balochistan chief minister and president of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), deciding to join the PPP. He told the media that he would formally announce his joining soon along with other colleagues and supporters and would meet Mr Bilawal and Mr Zardari. Sources said former MNA Mir Yaqoob Khan Bizenjo was also likely to join PPP. In Quetta, al...

ISLAMABAD: Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday warned that a case could be registered against the caretaker prime minister and others if they fail to reunite the missing Baloch students with their families. During the hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that, out of 50 missing persons, 22 had been recovered, while the whereabouts of 28 others were still unknown. Justice Kayani expressed displeasure at the fact that 28 persons were still missing. One of the petitioners, Saira Baloch, told the court that her brother Asif Baloch, along with his cousin, was picked up from a picnic spot in April 2018. She claimed that some people allegedly released from the custody of the intelligence agency disclosed that her brother was also in their custody. She emphasised that her brother was a government servant working in the Police Academy. AGP tells court 22 people recovered, whereabouts of 28 un...

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has asked the provincial governments and relevant federal authorities to consider amending Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Police rules for ensuring video recordings and photographs as evidence while capturing, preserving, and using narcotic substance for trials. It is time that all institutions act professionally and use all available lawful means to obtain evidence since a credible prosecution and adjudication process improves public perception, said a Supreme Court judgement handed down by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa while heading a three-judge bench. Poor investigation, not supported by evidence, adversely affected prosecution cases leaving courts to be burdened with bail applications because the commencement and conclusion of such trials were delayed, the CJP regretted. The SC had taken up an appeal moved by Zahid Sarfraz Gill against the rejection of his bail plea by the Islamabad High Court on Sept 20. Mr Gill was falsely...

PESHAWAR: In an unprecedented move, the caretaker government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday decided to involve the National Accountability Bureau in the “conception, planning and execution” of development projects in the province. Chief Minister retired Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah directed authorities to send a formal letter to the NAB’s top management “Not only will this whole exercise ensure transparency in the development works, it will also give confidence to working officers, who won’t feel hesitation and fear regarding the implementation of projects,” the chief minister told a meeting of the KP Urban Mobility Authority’s board of directors at the Chief Minister’s House here. Provincial minister for science, technology and information technology Dr Najeebullah, administrative secretaries of the relevant government departments, deputy inspector-general of police (traffic), managing director of the KPUMA, chief executive officer of the Trans Peshawar ...

PESHAWAR: Provincial Management Service Association (PMSA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has demanded a high-level inquiry into mismanagement of finance department, saying the province has been facing financial crises for the last one and half years and is unable to pay even salaries to employees. The association, which represents more than 600 officers of provincial management service cadre, made the demand during a token protest outside the office of chief secretary on the lawns of the Civil Secretariat. A statement issued here on Tuesday said that the gathering was held on the lawns of Civil Secretariat as a gesture of symbolic protest against the sluggish pace of progress on the pending issues being faced by PMS officers of the province. It said that more than 200 officers attended the gathering. Noman Wazir, the joint secretary of PMSA, addressed the gathering and said that Constitution ensured provincial autonomy. He said that posting of federal officers on schedule posts was ...

Caretaker Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, assures support for fair and transparent elections by the ECP http://dlvr.it/SzS3Sb

Investment worth $10b on the cards; premier to ink several MoUs during visit http://dlvr.it/SzS3HJ

Court hands over Arsala to police on seven-day physical remand; three accomplices also apprehended http://dlvr.it/SzS377

A preliminary report prepared by the Fire Brigade Department has stated that there was “no kind of public safety system” in place at the commercial high-rise building in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area which caught on fire over the weekend, it emerged on Tuesday. At least 11 people died while five others were injured after a blaze erupted inside the R.J. Shopping Mall at 6:20am on Saturday because of a suspected short circuit. The fire erupted on the fourth floor before spreading to other parts of the building. According to officials, the deaths occurred because the building had no ventilation. A police team was subsequently formed to investigate the fire. On Sunday, police had registered a first information report (FIR) of the fire at the Sharea Faisal police station. The case was registered on behalf of the state but no one was nominated in the FIR. Instead, the FIR stated that the “connivance” of K-Electric (KE) and other institutions — which gave approval for the building...

Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who is hearing the cipher case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, ruled on Tuesday that the trial proceedings would continue at the Adiala jail but in an open court. Citing “serious security risks”, Adiala jail authorities failed to present the former premier today before the special court at Islamabad’s Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) as per the orders of the same court’s judge. Last week, Judge Zulqarnain had issued directives that the PTI chief and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi be presented at the FJC. The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister. The former premier and his aide Qureshi, who is also behind bars, were indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both have pleaded not guilty. The trial was being...

Judge Humayun Dilawar appointed as Special Court judge in Islamabad for three years on deputation basis http://dlvr.it/SzPT9S

PTI initiates preparations for intra-party elections to comply with the ECP's directive http://dlvr.it/SzPSyL

Saifullah says the majestic creature circled the boat to express thanks http://dlvr.it/SzPSlz

PESHAWAR: Provincial Inspection Team (PIT), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has detected drastic ‘illegalities’ in the execution of Rs1 billion project meant for providing early childhood education material and furniture to government primary schools. PIT has recommended necessary action against the senior officials at directorate of elementary and secondary education department for committing illegalities in awarding contract and release of the whole payment to the contractors prior to completion of the project. The illegalities declared in the inquiry report include ‘issuance of illegal early childhood education (ECE) completion certificates to the contractors and releasing full payment in advance ie before June 30 2022’. PIT has also recommended necessary action against the members of procurement committee for committing several illegalities including approval of the contractors, who were not fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria. The report of inspection team said that one of th...

KARACHI: The establishment’s supremacy has overshadowed civilian structure, to the point that questions are being raised on its entire existence, said former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani. Speaking at a book launch on the concluding day of the two-day Adab Festival at Habitt City here on Sunday, the veteran PPP politician said that while the military establishment was also part of the political scene back in the 80s and 90s, its presence wasn’t as ‘open’ as it is today. Seasoned journalist Zahid Hussain’s book Face To Face With Benazir Bhutto, which is a compilation of her interviews, was launched at one of the sessions, where the author and senior PPP leaders Raza Rabbani and Sherry Rehman participated in a panel discussion that was moderated by journalist Ghazi Salahuddin. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rabbani recalled that during the 80s and 90s, Ms Bhutto struggled for democracy and did politics on the basis of principles and ideology. “Over time, politics in Pakistan has pa...

MANSEHRA: A young girl has been killed allegedly on the orders of a local jirga in Kohistan, a local police officer confirmed on Sunday, in an incident that brings back painful memories of the deaths of around five girls from the same part of the country in 2011. The victim was one of two girls who could be seen dancing with local boys in a video that went viral on social media platforms, said Masood Khan, the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Kolai-Palas, some 150km northwest of Mansehra. The DSP said the victim’s body had been moved from the crime scene to a nearby health facility for autopsy. A second girl, he said, was rescued by the pol­ice due to expected threats to her life, but a senior civil judge sent her home with her father after she ruled out any danger to her life. The boys who appeared in the videos have gone into hiding, fearing reprisals. The videos and photos, which were apparently edited, went viral on social media three to four days ago, DSP Kh...

PESHAWAR: Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Parliamentarian (PTI-P) Pervez Khattak has said that negotiations regarding seat adjustments with other political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are underway for the upcoming general elections. In a chat with the media persons, Mr Khattak said that he was not a candidate for prime minister, rather a candidate for the chief minister to be installed after the general elections. Talks are ongoing with various political parties across the province for seat adjustments, and a final decision in this regard will be made soon. On the occasion, deputy emir of Jamaat-i-Islami Nowshera Muhammad Basheer Khan joined the PTI Parliamentarian. PTI-P provincial spokesperson Ziaullah Bangash and other leaders were also present. Mr Khattak emphasised that the installation of a competent and effective prime minister was the need of the hour to steer the country out of the multiple crises. “We should think upon that who is responsible for taking ...

• Claims ‘Karachi-Quetta-Kabul nexus’ funding militant groups • Moeed Yusuf says ‘politicisation, polarisation’ taking focus away from actual issues KARACHI: The narrative of Taliban 2.0, being put forward by many in Pakistan – that the new Taliban regime is better than the previous one — has totally collapsed, security and policy analyst Huma Baqai said on Sunday. Speaking at the launch of her book, Collected Works on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the Adab Festival, she called for attention to the condition of women and their rights, girls’ education and Afghan soil being used against the state of Pakistan to substantiate her argument. Ms Baqai noted there had been a significant rise in attacks in Pakistan by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) through the Afghan border ever since the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Speaking about Pakistan’s Afghan policy, she said there was no continuity and consistency in it, something the country needs to focus on. ...

اگر یہ پوچھا جائے کہ دنیا میں سب سے زیادہ مشکل کام کیا ہے تو یہ کہا جائے گا کہ نفس کی دیونما قوت کو مفتوح اور مہذب بنا کر اسے آللہ اور اس کے رسول کی اطاعت میں دینا،یہ مزید پڑھیں The post ”مسائل نہیں ان کے حل کی بات کرو” appeared first on Mashriq TV. http://dlvr.it/SzLSVK

نگران وزیر داخلہ کی زیر صدارت نیشنل ایکشن پلان کوآرڈینیشن کمیٹی کے اجلاس میں کم و بیش وہی باتیں دہرائی گئی ہیں جو قبل ازیں اس طرح کے. اجلاسوں میں ہوتی رہی ہیں. اصولی طور پر دیکھا جائے تو نیشنل مزید پڑھیں The post وہی مرغی کی ایک ٹانگ appeared first on Mashriq TV. http://dlvr.it/SzLSLX

ISLAMABAD: The Sup­reme Court will decide on Dec 1 on the maintainability of a petition seeking restraining orders against the caretaker government’s decision to deport illegal Afghan nationals. Headed by Justice Sar­dar Tariq Masood, the bench, comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ayesha Malik, will take up the petition moved by former PPP senator Farha­t­ullah Babar through his counsel Umer Ijaz Gilani. On Nov 20, Justice Yahya Afridi, during a chamber hearing, ordered to fix the appeal against the court registrar’s refusal to entertain the petition. The registrar’s office returned the petition on the grounds that it had failed to point out what questions of public importance in the present case were involved with reference to the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The petition was jointly moved on behalf of Farhatullah Babar, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, Amina Masood Janjua, Mohsin Dawar, Mohammad Jibran Nasir, Syed Muaz ...

ISLAMABAD: The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has shown its commitment to support polio workers across Pakistan who were impacted by the floods and the climate change, and distributed cheques worth Rs216 million to 10,500 polio workers. While no amount of money can offset the loss and havoc from these devastating floods, the GPEI worked to support the workforce as much as possible, the GPEI said in a statement. Still, the initiative quickly secured funds to compensate those workers who suffered full or partial damage to their homes, it said. As of April 2023, cheques worth Rs216m had been distributed to 10,500 polio workers. The GPEI also committed to supporting more than 12,500 polio workers across the country who were impacted by the floods, it says. Working hand-in-hand with communities and local authorities, the polio programme was able to adapt its operations to ensure progress against the disease in Pakistan was not lost and the polio workforce and aff...

KARACHI: Bracelets, rings, bangles, necklaces and other ornaments meant for children are heavily contaminated with toxic metals, particularly those made for Indepe­ndence Day celebrations, a study has found. The analysed jewellery samples contained elevated levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium and zinc. The findings are particularly concerning given the World Health Organisation’s estimation that environmental hazards contribute to 26 per cent of all deaths in children under five globally, amounting to nearly 1.5 million fatalities every year. The research, titled ‘Metals as Toxicants in Event-Based Expedited Production of Children’s Jewellery’, involved a thorough examination of jewellery items available both in physical markets and online across Pakistan from July to August in both 2021 and 2022. The surveyed items, whose prices ranged from Rs50 to Rs1,000, encompassed a wide range of children’s accessories, including bracelets, rings, bangles, necklaces, facemasks, ...

KARACHI: A patient, who was admitted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) two days back, tested positive for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) on Friday, officials said. They said that the 52-year-old patient, a resident of Ittehad Town, worked at a tyre shop. “His condition is relatively better. He reported to us on Wednesday with fever, nosebleed and low platelet level,” said Dr Yahya Tunio, the deputy executive director of the JPMC. The patient had been rearing a goat for a month, he added. His family said that the patient developed high-grade fever over a week ago and initially received treatment for malaria. “Seeing no improvement in his condition, we took him to another doctor who had him tested for dengue and the results came positive,” shared Ajmal, the patient’s son. “Two days later when his nose started to bleed, we took him to a hospital which referred the case to JPMC.” Earlier this month, 16 patients — most of them healthcare providers —...

RAWALPINDI: Police have decided to approach court with a request not to extend the interim bail of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in a May 9 violence case, which expires on Saturday (today). Sheikh Rashid was nominated in the case registered with the R.A. Bazaar police on September 30 under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Official Secrets Act for allegedly setting on fire sensitive installations. He has been on an interim bail till November 25. The case was registered against 300 people, including PTI’s former provincial law minister Raja Mohammad Basharat and Khalid Jadoon. More than 70 leaders and activists of PTI, including former state minister Shahryar Afridi, were arrested in the case. Some of them have been discharged after their identification parade and some have obtained bail. However, most of the nominated persons are languishing in jail. Raja Basharat, who had reportedly led the protesters, has gone underground since then. Sources said the police had...

QUETTA: Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan via the Chaman border crossing remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, as the participants of a sit-in being held against the strict visa regime continued to block the highway leading to Kandahar. Thousands of traders, workers of different political parties and members of civil society have been staging the sit-in on the Quetta-Chaman highway for over a month against the government’s decision to regularise the crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan through a one-document regime. This decision was taken by the National Apex Committee last month. Pakistan enforced the new border crossing policy on Nov 1. The border authorities at Chaman refused to allow anyone to cross the Pak-Afghan border without a passport and valid visa from both sides. The traders’ alliance has asked the federal government to withdraw its one-document regime policy and allow the people of Chaman and Afghan district Spin-Boldak to continu...