ISLAMABAD: The President House remained open to general public from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday.
People from different segments of society visited the different sections of Aiwan-e-Sadr. They hailed the government’s decision to open the key state buildings for them.
Visitors were not allowed to carry along bags and mobile phones inside the presidency.
According to officials, visitors were allowed to enter the Aiwan-e-Sadar from the National Assembly gate after showing their National Identity Card at the entrance.
The doors of the President House in the federal capital were also opened for the general public for a day last year.
The incumbent government has opened key state-owned buildings, including the palatial Governor Houses of the provinces, to the public in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision and pre-election promise.
Prime Minister Khan had announced to allow public access to these precious government assets soon after coming to power.
It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister House is also being turned into a state-of-the-art educational institute.
Last year in December, a ceremony marking transformation of the PM House into “Islamabad National University” was also held in Islamabad. (With additional input from INP)
SRINAGAR: Kashmiris held forceful demonstrations across central, north and south Kashmir, today, to show their resentment against the Indian occupation.
According to Kashmir Media Service, as the ‘Jumma’ Friday congregational prayers culminated, people took to the streets in Srinagar, Badgam, Ganderbal, Islamabad, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara and other areas of the occupied territory.
The protesters shouted high-pitched pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Indian troops and police personnel used brute forces against the demonstrators at many places, injuring several of them. The occupation authorities did not allow Juma prayers at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid and other main mosques of the Kashmir Valley on 17th consecutive week since 5th August.
Meanwhile, routine life continued to remain badly affected in the Kashmir Valley and Muslim-majority areas of Jammu region due to severe military lockdown and internet blackout on 117th consecutive day, today. The continued gag on internet has wreaked havoc on the businesses and economy besides hampering education of students. Journalists too are finding it difficult to file stories. They have to travel long distance to the so-called Media Facilitation Centre in Srinagar where they have to wait for hours at a time to access the facility. The suspension of this modern tool of communication has effectively cut people off not only from their immediate surroundings but also from the world. The members of Kashmir Editor’s Guild at a meeting in Srinagar demanded an immediate end to the gag on internet services.
In Islamabad, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, today, held a protest demonstration outside the National Press Club against the continued lockdown in occupied Kashmir and illegal detention of Hurriyat leaders including party Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik. The speakers said that India had made a plan to eliminate Muhammad Yasin Malik, and other Hurriyat leaders.
On the other hand, the President of Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization, Azmi Abdul Hamid, in a statement in Kuala Lumpur condemned the remarks made by India’s Consul General in New York, Sandeep Chakravorty, in which he stated that the Indian government would adopt an Israeli model to settle Hindus in occupied Kashmir. Azmi urged the international community to take cognizance of the grave situation in occupied Kashmir and the provocative remarks of the Indian official that have serious consequences on the regional stability.
The President of Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi, addressing a party meeting in New Delhi said that democracy was again subverted when the special status of Kashmir was abrogated by Narendra Modi-led Indian government on 5th August. She also said that the ground realities were completely different from the “fictitious images” conjured up by the Modi government.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the notification confirming the extension of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa for another three years after his term expired this year.
During hearing on the withdrawal application of a petition challenging the extension in Gen Bajwa’s tenure, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that only the president of Pakistan can extend the tenure of the army chief.
The chief justice rejected the application and took up the petition in public interest under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, turning the petition into a suo moto notice.
The SC adjourned the further hearing of the case till Wednesday and served notices to the COAS, Defence Ministry and Attorney General of Pakistan.
“The prime minister does not have the power to extend the tenure of the army chief,” the chief justice remarked during the hearing.
To this, the attorney general told the court, “Army chief’s tenure was extended after the president’s approval.”
“If the president approved of the summary on August 19, then why did the prime minister gave the approval for the summary again on August 21,” CJP Khosa said.
To this, the attorney general told the court, “The prime minister signed the summary after the approval from the cabinet.”
“Did the president give approval again after the approval from the prime minister and cabinet,” CJP Khosa inquired. “The initial approval is supposed to be given by the president.”
“The approval given by the president before the cabinet might not be according to the law,” the chief justice said.
We can take the approval from the president again, the attorney general told the court.
“Only 11 members of the cabinet gave approval of the summary for the extension of army chief’s tenure. We cannot say the majority gave the approval,” the chief remarked.
“’Yes’ is written in front of only 11 ministers out of 25. In a democracy, the decisions are made with the opinion of the majority. Those members who did not give an answer, we should wait for their answer. These members did not say ‘no’ either. Did the government assume that the answer of those who did not give an answer translate into ‘yes’?” the chief justice inquired.
“The prime minister was told he did not have the power. Then it was found out that both the prime minister and the president did not have the power and the final decision rests with the cabinet and on August 21, the matter was sent to the cabinet,” CJP Khosa said.
The CJ also wondered why the notification referred to the extension as a re-appointment.
“The entire process was upside down. First the cabinet should have given the approval, then the prime minister and president should have been advised,” he said.
The court then suspended the notification of the army chief’s extension and adjourned the hearing till the next day.
On August 19, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved the extension of COAS Bajwa as the Chief of Army Staff.
“General Qamar Javed Bajwa is appointed Chief of Army Staff for another term of three years from the date of completion of current tenure,” said a notification from the office of Prime Minister Imran Khan back in August.
“The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment,” the notification had added.
ISLAMABAD: A medical board on Tuesday examined former president Asif Ali Zardari at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) here.
According to sources, the blood pressure and sugar level of the People’s Party leader are fluctuating repeatedly and the doctors have decided to enhance the insulin dose suggested to him to control his sugar level.
The doctors were also considering to change the medicines suggested for cardiac treatment of Asif Ali Zardari, sources said.
The former president still feeling persistent pain in lower back and neck, according to the hospital sources.
“His heart beat gradually returning towards normal, while the problem of dizziness also goes down considerably.”
The doctors have advised him to continue the tranquilizers, while also directed him to start walking in the hospital room.
He is undergoing a session of physiotherapy on daily basis, the sources added.
Asif Ali Zardari had been complaining of lower back pain, weakness and anxiety due to which he was shifted to PIMS from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Oct 22 where a number of medical tests were carried out.
His platelet count was also showed 120,000, which is low but according to doctors it wasn’t unusual as the former president was taking a number of medicines.
Asif Ali Zardari facing a number of accountability references against him and the cases against him were transferred to Rawalpindi from Karachi.(Additional Input From INP)
Queen Máxima was addressing Pakistan Innovative Finance Forum in the federal capital.
Monarch of Netherlands, who is also UN Secretary Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development Queen Maxima, said on Tuesday the financial inclusion will also create more opportunities for the people of Pakistan. “Situation of ease of doing business in Pakistan has improved a great deal.”
Madam Máxima was appreciative of the government’s revised financial inclusion strategy targeting sixty-five million active digital accounts by 2023 including twenty million to be held by women.
The Netherlands’ queen has been the UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for Inclusive Finance for Development since 2009.
On Monday, Queen Maxima had chaired a meeting on financial inclusion in Islamabad.
Speaking on the occasion, she had said Pakistan has made advancement towards the financial inclusion but still more needs to be done.
She stressed the need for use of technology to bring improvement in financial inclusion.
Netherlands Monarch along with six-member delegation landed at the Islamabad airport via flight TK-711 earlier in the day.
She was accorded warm welcome by the officials of the Foreign Office and Dutch embassy
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s revised Master Plan would provide more facilities to the business community and citizens living in capital, said Amer Ali Ahmed, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA). on Monday.
He was talking to a high level delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) that visited CDA Headquarters led by President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed. Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President, Saif ur Rahman Khan Vice President ICCI, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi Vice President FPCCI, Tariq Sadiq, Mian Shaukat Masud, Ch. Waheed ud Din, Nasir Qureshi and representatives of market associations were in the delegation. Humayun Akhtar Member Engineering, Faisal Naeem Director BCS and Sheikh Ejaz Director Planning CDA were also present at the occasion.
Amer Ali Ahmed said that government had formed a commission to revise the Islamabad Master Plan and its recommendations have been approved by the Federal Cabinet that were yet to be notified. He said that before implementation, conducting survey was necessary for which a consultant would be appointed. He said that all CDA laws would be compiled in the form of a book and thereafter obtaining their approval from CDA Board would not be necessary that would also reduce the powers of CDA officers. He said that no change in zoning was made while in future high rise buildings in Islamabad would be preferred. He said that survey of sewerage and other issues would be conducted. He said that provision of a new industrial estate was made in the revised master plan while lease renewal process would also be streamlined under Islamabad’s revised Master Plan.
Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry showed reservations on Islamabad’s revised Master Plan and urged that ICCI should be given permanent representation in CDA administrative setup that would help in resolving key issues of business community. He said that CDA should meet the demand of new industrial estate in Islamabad and make lease renewal of industrial and commercial plots easier. He said that CDA should ensure clean drinking water in Islamabad and take measures to resolve other major issues of business community.
Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Vice President, FPCCI said that role of CDA was vital for facilitating the growth of business activities, but for the last four years, no development work was done in market that was also affecting the development of city. He urged that CDA laws should be amended in commensurate with the current day needs of trade and industry.
Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President and Saif ur Rahman Vice President ICCI said that about four years ago, CDA Board had approved amendments in building byelaws for industry but the same were not notified as yet and urged that CDA should notify the approved byelaws. They said that CDA Board had also approved automatic extension of 33 years lease up to 99 years, but CDA officers have not implemented the decision and emphasized that approved decision should be enforced. The representatives of markets also highlighted various issues of their markets and stressed for their early solution.
ISLAMABAD: Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a three-day visit in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for Inclusive Finance for Development.
The Dutch queen was received by senior officials of the foreign ministry and representatives of the Embassy of Netherlands at Nur Khan Air Base.
Last week, the Foreign Office (FO) announced Queen Maxima’s visit.
In a press release, the FO said that the Dutch queen will call on President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan during her visit, in addition to her engagements with stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
Queen Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti will also attend the launch of the ‘Micro Payment Gateway’, which the FO described as “an initiative of the State Bank of Pakistan aimed at reducing the costs of small payments and boosting digital transactions to benefit people and promote financial inclusion”.
The statement had added that inclusive finance for development is one of the “key priorities” of the government and the country has taken a number of steps in recent years to promote financial inclusion.
Queen Maxima had visited Pakistan in February 2016 as well. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl) has summoned a conference of all opposition parties in Islamabad on November 26, said a spokesman of the party.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman invited heads of the Pakistan Peoples Parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Awami National Party and Qaumi Watan Party to attend the conference.
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, National Party, Jamiat Ulema Pakistan and Jamiat Ahle Hadees have also been invited for the conference.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif named on Sunday members of his party who would attend the Nov 26 conference. Raja Zafarul Haq would lead the PML-N delegation to the conference.
Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq and Ameer Muqam would also be part of the party delegation.
The JUI-F previously staged a protest sit-in in Islamabad against the government for nearly two weeks. Along with other opposition parties, it sought Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation and a snap election in the country.
Jamiat Ulema e Islam -Fazal ended its sit-in and went on to block highways in the country in a bid to mount pressure on the government. However, neither of its two plans could achieve the desired result.
Opposition parties would now mull their next strategy against the government at the conference.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has formed a national body called National Strategic Advisory Group on Polio Eradication and Immunisation to materialise the dream of polio-free Pakistan.
The body constituted in consultation with Prime Minister Imran Khan will be led by his Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and include former PM’s focal persons on polio eradication Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq besides former Pakistan Permanent Representative at the UN Zamir Akram.
Other key members include Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health Khalid Magsi and Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr. Nosheen Hamid and member of the Sindh Assembly Dr. Sanjay Gangwani.
“We have constituted this National Strategic Advisory Group to eradicate polio from Pakistan and effectively protect children from other vaccine preventable diseases through a truly national effort”, Dr. Zafar Mirza said.
He said this decision has been taken in consultation with the PM in the wake of a spike in polio cases in the country this year.
So far 91 Wild Polio Virus (WPV1) cases along with the recent emergence of circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus Type 2 (cVDPV-2) in northern Pakistan have been surfaced, he said, adding the high burden of vaccine preventable diseases in Pakistan has been a daunting challenge over years.
Moreover, the special assistant said the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination was particularly concerned over the steep polio upsurge that affected all provinces touching alarming proportions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (With additional input from INP)
ISLAMABAD: A special anti-terrorism court on Tuesday reserved its verdict over an acquittal plea filed by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Pakistan Television (PTV) and Parliament attack case. The verdict will be announced on Dec 5.
Earlier, Khan’s defence counsel Babar Awan completed his arguments in the courtroom and maintained that anti-terrorism provisions could not be imposed in violation of Section 144 and speeches during sit-ins.
The government prosecutor, instead of opposing the acquittal plea of PM Khan, said that the prosecution has no objection to his acquittal.
“These cases are filed on political grounds […] these doesn’t have any outcome, only court’s time is being wasted,” the government prosecutor said. (With additional input from INP)
