ISLAMABAD: The nomination papers of foreign minister Ishaq Dar were submitted to contest the technocrat seat reserved for Islamabad.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Hanif Abbasi submitted nomination papers for former finance minister Ishaq Dar as proposers.
Read more: IMF sets tough conditions for new loan program; urges sweeping reforms
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started busy and round the clock schedule for beautification of the capital city of Islamabad.
The civic body is providing the best facilities to the citizens and is taking concrete and effective measures regarding the physical health and fitness of the staff working in the field.
In this regard, on the instructions of the Chairman CDA, the Director General Civic Management distributed protective and safety clothes among the sanitary workers who are working in the field.
Special face masks and splash face shields to protect the nose and mouth from human waste and sewage water were also distributed among the sanitary workers on the instructions of Chairman CDA.
Moreover, in order to avoid human waste and other toxic elements in the field works, special cover-like clothes were also distributed which are light in weight and do not have any harmful effects on the human body.
Similarly, protective gloves and shoes were also distributed among the sanitary workers to protect their hands and feet from toxic elements.
Read more: SHC presses for rationale behind internet shutdown
RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, alleging a failure to conduct elections in a manner that is free, fair, and transparent.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Khan stated, “Following our meeting with the PTI founder today, PTI demands the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. He has forfeited his right to hold office even for a day.”
Barrister Gohar Khan criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan for what he described as a lapse in fulfilling its duties at every stage of the electoral process.
He emphasised that the responsibility for Form 45s lay with the ECP, and returning officers were obligated to declare results based on these documents. “However, this has not been the case under the current chief election commissioner,” he added.
He further called for impartial inquiries into any discrepancies in the polls, stressing the importance of aligning election outcomes with the public mandate.
Warning of potential damage to the International Monetary Fund program if the election results do not align with Form 45s, Barrister Gohar urged for the prevention of further political upheaval through the announcement of transparent election results.
Additionally, Barrister Gohar labelled former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha as a “whistleblower” for disclosing details regarding alleged poll rigging. He demanded assurance of Chattha’s safety and that of his family to facilitate his participation in any inquiry.
The accusations made by Chattha against the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa were denied by both the electoral watchdog and the top judge.
Read more: IHC orders Islamabad DC’s name to be placed on ECL in contempt case
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the authorities to place Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon’s name on the no-fly list for skipping proceedings of a contempt case over the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehryar Afridi’s detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.
The ordinance provides the government with vast powers of detention and has been used by authorities to round up and detain PTI leaders following the May 9 riots.
Justice Babar Sattar was hearing the case against Islamabad DC and Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Malik Jamil Zafar for exceeding their authority by issuing orders under Section 3 of the MPO.
During the hearing, SSP Operations Zafar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Farooq Buttar appeared upon being summoned by the court. At the same time, the lawyer representing Islamabad DC submitted a plea for Memon’s exemption from the court.
“My client is currently in Khairpur as he has to go to perform Umrah,” the lawyer informed the court. At this, Justice Sattar remarked that the court hadn’t accepted the plea for exemption.
“Let the Ministry of Interior and DG Passports also ensure that the name of Irfan Nawaz Memon is placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) so that he is unable to leave the territorial jurisdiction of Pakistan,” a short order released by the court stated.
It also directed the inspector generals of police (IGPs) of all four provinces and the federal capital to “arrest” Islamabad DC and present him before the court tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9am.
Afridi was detained by the police in connection with the May 9 violence, under 3MPO on May 16, 2023. He was released on May 30, 2023, but only to be arrested again outside the prison.
However, the PTI leader acquired bail from the Lahore High Court on July 31, 2023, but was retaken into custody a few days later by the Rawalpindi police soon after his release from Adiala jail.
He then approached the IHC via his lawyer seeking his release and for the MPO order to be set aside.
It may be noted that the court has indicted Memon and three others including, SSP Zafar, SP Buttar, and an SHO, in the case.
At an earlier hearing, the high court ruled that the federal capital’s deputy commissioner, who also acts as the district magistrate, does not have the authority to issue detention orders under 3MPO.
Read more: CJP Faez Isa sees Bhutto reference as opportunity for judiciary, army to restore reputation
ISLAMABAD: Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s low-cost carrier, celebrated the inaugural flight of its first international route from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Sharjah, UAE with a dual ceremony at Islamabad International Airport before departure and at Sharjah International Airport, where the aircraft received a warm welcome upon arrival.
The inaugural flight carried onboard Fly Jinnah’s senior leadership along with a group of travel agents, media, and social media personalities among others said a news release.
The inaugural ceremony at Sharjah International Airport was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute and followed by a welcome ceremony at Sharjah Airport attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador in the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, in addition to senior management representing Sharjah International Airport and Air Arabia.
Commenting on the occasion, Fly Jinnah’s spokesperson said: “Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Fly Jinnah as we inaugurated our first international flight after a successful year of domestic operations. Sharjah’s location serves as a perfect gateway to the United Arab Emirates with its proximity to the rest of the country.
This step also reflects our unwavering commitment to providing our passengers with more travel options as we look forward to expanding our network to more exciting destinations”. Fly Jinnah remains steadfast in offering convenient and affordable service to its passengers.
With its modern fleet of five Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline currently connects five major cities in Pakistan, namely Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta, in addition to the newly launched international destination to Sharjah in the UAE.
In addition to the extra comfort provided by the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin, the carrier offers affordable and value-driven travel experiences through “SkyCafe” onboard menu where passengers can enjoy a wide variety of delicacies between snacks, sandwiches, and meals at affordable prices.
The aircraft is also equipped with “SkyTime”, a free in-flight streaming service that allows passengers to stream a wide selection of entertainment directly to their devices.
Customers can now book their flights by visiting Fly Jinnah’s website (www.flyjinnah.com), by calling the call centre (111-000-035) or through travel agencies.
Read more: PTI Leadership divided over possible alliance with PTI-P
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are expected to firm up their power-sharing proposals for the next coalition government on Saturday (today) for formal approval by the top leaderships of the two parties.
The committees formed by both the parties to prepare the recommendations for their alliance at the Centre, are meeting on Saturday (today) for the third round of talks. The talks were originally scheduled for Friday, but had to be cancelled because their other engagements.
The PPP said on Tuesday it would support the PML-N to form a minority government at the Centre, ending a stalemate after inconclusive elections. A PML-N spokesperson later said that the party had nominated Shehbaz Sharif for the post of prime minister.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also laid conditions on backing the Shehbaz-led coalition, saying they would support them in electing the prime minister but would not join the government. However, he indicated the party would seek some constitutional posts in return.
Later, both sides formed their Contact and Coordination Committees (CCCs) to discuss and formalize recommendations for the coalition. PPP sources said that the PML-N had been informed about the party’s position, while talks would continue on amendments on privatization and government affairs.
The sources also said that two parties would hold talks with other smaller parties. They added that there was a strong possibility that both the parties would Jamait Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday.
Read more: PML-N leaders against forming federal govt as Saad Rafique suggests PTI-PPP coalition
LAHORE: Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday asked the PTI-backed independents and the PPP to jointly form a government in Centre, as the fractured mandate continues fuelling and sustaining political uncertainty in Pakistan.
“No one has absolute majority in the present National Assembly,” said Saad Rafique in a post shared on X – the popular social media platform which was previously known as X.
Countering the narrative spread by political pundits who have been singling out the Nawaz Sharif’s party for leading the country’s affairs after the February 8 elections, he said the formation of the federal government was a joint responsibility of all the parties in the parliament, not the PML-N.
“Independent members supported by PTI should take the initiative, form a joint central government with the PPP. We will congratulate you,” he said, adding that the PML N had no desire to wear “this crown of thorns”.
Earlier on Friday, it was reported that most of the party leaders during a meeting chaired by three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif suggested that the PML-N should not form the federal government and only focus on Punjab where they had secured a majority after the induction of independents.
However, some of them argued otherwise, saying Pakistan was facing serious economic crisis and there was a need to rescue the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N must not accept any unprincipled demand forwarded by allied parties just for the sake of coming into power in Centre.
It isn’t Saad Rafique, as Rana Sanaullah, who is a close aide of Nawaz Sharif and heads the Punjab chapter of PML-N, told a private TV channel that the PML-N should not form the federal government and sit on the opposition benches.
One must recall that Nawaz Sharif has already refused to lead the next government and nominated his younger brother Shehhaz Sharif as the prime minister candidate as he didn’t want a split mandate and was aiming at a simple majority.
In this this connection, Maryam Nawaz – the PML-N chief organizer – too had earlier explained the reasons behind Nawaz Sharif not leading the government this time round which would have given him the unmatched distinction of serving Pakistan for fourth time.
Maryam Nawaz said the people had given a clear majority to Nawaz Sharif for his previous three stints as prime minister. “He has made it clear in his speeches during election campaign that he would not become part of any coalition government,” she added.
Read more: Pir Pagara alleges pre-poll rigging, delays in result during Election 2024
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad capital police extended Red Zone Ataturk Avenue to Faisal Avenue in order to stop violation of Section 144, informed a police spokesman.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan made a request to the local administration to extend the Red Zone from Ataturk Avenue to Faisal Avenue upto Zero Point in a move to formalise a decision which the government had already taken in the wake of the PTI proposed rallies and protest likely to be held today (Saturday).
Meanwhile, he informed that the police had not yet received any application from PTI seeking permission for holding protest or rallies in Islamabad.
He said that since Section 144 has been imposed in federal capital; therefore, no political party is allowed for taking out rally or staging protest in Islamabad.
“We had demanded extra force in order to tackle the expected rally of PTI,” he said adding that strict action would be taken against those found involved in blocking roads or creating hurdles in movement of traffic or ordinary citizens.
He said that police have also beefed up security of Islamabad besides placing special pickets on all the exit and entry points of capital city.
He advised the citizens to keep their CNICs/ other documents with them in order to avoid any inconvenience at police pickets.
He also advised the citizens including women, children and old age people to not visit F-9 Park. The citizens are also asked by the police to alert the law enforcers on ICT 15 Pukar in case of presence of any suspecious element around them
Read more: Rain likely in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, parts of Pakistan during weekend
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted rains, isolated hailstorm with snowfall over mountains for Islamabad and parts of Pakistan on Saturday and Sunday.
According to the synoptic situation, continental air prevails over most parts of Pakistan. A westerly wave will likely enter western parts of the country on Saturday night. It may grip most upper parts of the country on Sunday.
Under these conditions, cloudy weather with light rain/light snowfall is likely at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and surrounding areas on Friday night.
On Saturday and Sunday, partly cloudy/cloudy weather with rain-wind/thunderstorm/snowfall is likely in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and adjoining hilly areas. Isolated hailstorms are also likely during the period.
Islamabad’s minimum temperatures will likely remain between 04-06 degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday.
Rawalpindi’s minimum temperatures will likely remain between 08-10 C on Saturday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, cold and dry weather prevailed in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and most parts of Pakistan during the last 24 hours. Freezing weather prevailed in the northern parts of the country.
Leh remained the coldest place in the country where the temperature dropped 09 C below freezing.
In Islamabad, minimum temperature was recorded at 04 C. Relative humidity during the morning was recorded at 86 per cent.
In Rawalpindi, minimum temperature was recorded at 08 C. Relative humidity during the morning was recorded at 58 per cent.
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s young tennis player from Karachi, Zainab Ali Naqvi, passed away in Islamabad, during the ongoing ITF Juniors Tournaments.
As confirmed by the Pakistan Tennis Federation in an official statement, Karachi-born Zainab Ali Naqvi, 17, who was in the capital for the ITF Juniors Tournaments, died, following the practice match in the evening.
Reportedly, Naqvi went to take a bath after getting back from the practice when she was found dead in the restroom, of suspected heart failure.
“Zainab Ali Naqvi, a young tennis player who had come to Islamabad from Karachi to participate in the ITF Juniors Tournaments, passed away last night on 12th February 2024 in Islamabad,” PTF said in a statement.
“Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President-PTF, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Ex-President-PTF, PTF Council members and the tennis fraternity at large offer their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” the statement read further. “May Allah bless the departed soul with eternal peace in heaven.”
Notably, the scheduled matches of the tournament, on Tuesday, were postponed in memory of the young sportsperson, while a joint prayer was also offered by all the foreign and Pakistani players, parents, coaches and the PTF Officials and staff.
Read more: PTI’s Challenges: Stolen & Reserved Seats, and Shifting Loyalties
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