PTI leader Raoof Hasan injured in Islamabad attack

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May 21, 2024

ISLAMABAD: A group of around four people, apparently transgender persons, attacked and injured Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan in Islamabad on Tuesday, drawing strong condemnation from his party.

“Extremely shameful and deplorable,” PTI said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, adding: “Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan attacked by unknown persons outside the office of a private channel.”

It is, however, unclear why did the persons attack the politician.

In the video shared along with the statement, Hasan could be heard asking people to call the doctor, with injuries and blood seen on his face as he walked into a building.

PTI, in another statement, said if the spokesperson of the “largest party” can be attacked in the federal capital in broad daylight, then “what can we make of the safety of others”.

According to the CCTV footage of the incident obtained by Geo News, Hasan can be seen being attacked by a group of apparent transgender persons, who used a sharp object as well.

The footage shows Hasan was interrupted by an apparent transgender person while he was walking on the side of a road, subsequently, the attacker engaged in conversation with the PTI leader for a few seconds.

After a brief conversation, the PTI chief spokesperson tried to take a few steps back, seemingly sensing danger.

However, the attacker grabbed the PTI leader from his collar and along with three other apparently transgender persons began thrashing him. The attackers were only dispersed after the intervention of a passerby.

The footage also shows a person filming the entire incident. It is not clear whether the attackers were really transgender persons or they were guised as transgender persons.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the attack and called for a detailed investigation into the incident.

Prior to the party’s walkout, Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, during the session, condemned the attack with PTI lawmakers resorting to sloganeering against the government.

In response, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the incident will be treated in line with the law. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that citizens are treated in line with the law.”

He asked the PTI leaders to register a case and assured that action would be taken in line with the law. Senator Sherry Rehman, who was presiding over the session, asked the law minister to present a report before the house.

Senator Faisal Vawda, while speaking on the floor of the Upper House of the Parliament, condemned the attack.

When the party’s lawmakers rejoined the session, Faraz said the attack on Hasan was not a “common incident” and called on his colleagues of the treasury benches to raise their voice as if they did not, “then this house would lose its stature”.

At this, Rehman informed Faraz that a senator had condemned the attack. The PTI leader then apologised to his colleagues and welcomed their condemnation.

“If a government exists, whether it be a Form-47 government, then we need an explanation within 24 hours and a report should be presented in the Senate,” Shibli added.

In a statement, the Islamabad police said according to eyewitnesses, transgender persons attacked Hassan in his face using a blade. They said the police were present on the site of the incident and are collecting evidence.

“Strict action will be taken against transgender persons involved in attacking [the PTI leader],” the police statement added.

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Flour price decreases by Rs10-20 in Islamabad

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Sara Maqsood

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May 3, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The fruits of the reduction in the price of flour have started reaching the people, as flour has become cheaper by Rs10-20 per kilogram in Islamabad.

According to market sources, the price of a 10kg bag of flour had been reduced from Rs1,470 to Rs1,200, bringing the price down by Rs270.

A bag of 15kg flour has become cheaper by Rs600, and is available at Rs1,650 as compared to the previous rate of Rs2,250. In the market, a bag of 20kg flour has become cheaper by Rs630, from Rs2,880 to Rs2,250.

On the other hand, the price of small and big bread has also decreased by up to Rs20. A small loaf of bread is available now at Rs120, down from Rs120, while the price of big bread has come down from Rs240 to Rs230 and Rs220, as per market sources.

Furthermore, the price of first-grade chakki flour has decreased from Rs170 to Rs160 per kg, second-grade flour from Rs160 to Rs150 per kg, while in the suburbs of Islamabad, the rate of chakki flour has dropped from Rs150 to Rs140 per kg.

Earlier, a bag of 20 kg flour in Lahore had been reduced by Rs.800 per kg in a few days. In Lahore, the price of a 20 kg flour bag had come down from Rs.2800 to Rs.2000.

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Defence minister hopeful of thaw in Islamabad-New Delhi ties after Indian elections

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Sara Maqsood

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April 2, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif expressed hopes for betterment in bilateral ties with India after the neighbor comes out of its election phase commencing from April 19 and ending in June.

Regional arch-rivals — Islamabad and New Delhi — have a long history of strained relations, primarily due to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) dispute which led to several wars while tensions usually rise on the occasions of countrywide elections in India.

“Our relations with India could be improved after elections there,” the defence minister expressed his views while speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, adding that Pakistan and India ties have its “own background”.

As the country which borders with China, India, Afghanistan, and Iran witnessed tensions with other neighbors, except for China, following cross-border attacks from Iran and Afghanistan, Asif is hopeful for a turn of event in terms of improvement of bilateral ties with New Delhi after the neighbour completes its upcoming election phase.

It is noteworthy to mention here that India will begin voting in phases starting April 19 to elect a new parliament, the world’s largest election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to cast ballots, Reuters reported.

The election pits two-term strongman Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his regional allies against a bickering alliance of two dozen opposition parties, with surveys suggesting a comfortable win for Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Epicentre of recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan is Afghanistan until the neighbouring country takes decisive action against the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens there.

The defence minister said that he, along with a high-level delegation, visited Afghanistan to request the Taliban government there to take effective steps to stop terrorism. However, the solution proposed by Kabul was not practically possible, he added.

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Islamabad Police gets new inspector general

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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March 30, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police has got new chief as in a recent reshuffle, the federal government has replaced Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, with Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, a BS-20 officer currently posted in Punjab.

A notifications issued by the Establishment Division, Dr Akbar Nasir Khan was posted to the Establishment Division “with immediate effect and until further orders”.

Khan had been serving in Islamabad since May 2022. He was appointed IG Islamabad soon after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) assumed power.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had asked the Establishment Division a number of times to replace Dr Akbar Nasir Khan before the February 8 polls, but to no avail.

The notification issued by the Establishment Division stated: “Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, a BS-20 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan, presently serving under the Government of Punjab, is transferred as Inspector General, Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT), under the Interior Division, under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, with immediate effect and until further orders.”

Moreover, the Establishment Division also posted retired Capt Khurram Agha as interior secretary while Additional Interior Secretary Khushal Khan has been posted to the Power Division.

Interestingly, Interior Secretary Khurram Agha was serving in the Prime Minister Secretariat and was posted as commerce secretary on March 3. This is his second posting in less than three weeks.

According to another notification, Khushal Khan, a BS-21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, has been posted from the interior ministry to the Power Division.

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Federal ministers, SCBA leaders hold meeting on Park Road housing scheme progress

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Our Correspondent

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March 20, 2024

Housing Ministry Meeting The News Today TNT

Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, chaired a meeting concerning the Park Road Housing Scheme in Islamabad, a collaborative effort between the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Director-General of FGEHA, provided updates on the infrastructural development of the project. Both sides engaged in constructive discussions regarding the project’s progress, addressing pertinent matters and concerns.

The gathering included Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Interior, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Shahzad Shaukat, Secretary SCBA, Syed Ali Imran, and Ahsan Bhoon, alongside senior officials of the SCBA.

Azam Nazeer Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon conveyed the concerns of the lawyer’s community and SCBA regarding the project’s pace of work, urging for expedited efforts.

Minister of Interior, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, pledged full support regarding security matters within the project area and stressed the importance of timely completion. Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal Minister for Housing and Works, assured all participants of his commitment to accelerating the pace of work and ensuring timely completion. He recognized the crucial role played by lawyers and reiterated his dedication to safeguarding their rights.

Dr. Shahzad Khan Bangash, Secretary of Housing and Works, along with other senior officers of the ministry and FGEHA, were also present during the productive meeting. The gathering underscored the collaborative efforts between government entities and the legal community towards advancing the Park Road Housing Scheme, reflecting a commitment to meet the housing needs of Federal Government employees and members of the legal fraternity in Islamabad.

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Dar to contest technocrat seat reserved for Islamabad

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Our Correspondent

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March 16, 2024

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.

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CDA continues beautification of federal capital; facilitates field staff

By

Sara Maqsood

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February 22, 2024

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.

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PTI demands CEC Raja to step down over ‘rigging’ in Feb 8 polls

By

Sara Maqsood

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February 20, 2024

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.

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IHC orders Islamabad DC’s name to be placed on ECL in contempt case

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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February 20, 2024

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.

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Fly Jinnah inaugurates first international flight from Islamabad to Sharjah

By

Sara Maqsood

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February 19, 2024

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.

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