ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Judge of Islamabad has approved one-day physical remand of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cYpher misplacement case.
The court has also ordered the investigating officer to present the former foreign minister Qureshi again tomorrow on Monday.
The counsel for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said the FIR against Qureshi was registered under the recently promulgated Official Secrets Act.
At the request of the lawyer, the magistrate ordered everyone but the lawyers concerned to leave the courtroom. The magistrate then held an in-camera hearing of the case.
The FIA had sought 14-day physical remand of Qureshi, and the court had reserved its decision.
Earlier on reaching the court, Qureshi met with former PTI leader Shireen Mazari.
According to the FIR, the case was registered against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Qureshi on August 15 over the alleged misplacement of a diplomatic cable from the US under sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 read with Section 34 of the PPC.
The FIR was registered on the application of Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar.
According to the contents of the FIR, at the conclusion of an inquiry dated Oct 5, 2022, registered with the FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing in Islamabad, it transpired that Imran Khan, Qureshi and their associates were involved in communicating information contained in the cipher telegram received from Washington DC, USA on March 7, 2022 to unauthorized persons by “twisting facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the state security”.
It further stated that the suspects held a meeting at Bani Gala on March 28, 2022, to conspire to misuse the cypher to accomplish their nefarious designs.
The suspect Imran Khan, the FIR further states, malafidely directed his then principal secretary Azam Khan to prepare the minutes of that meeting by manipulating the contents of the cipher to “use it for his vested interests at the cost of national safety”.
Moreover, the numbered and accountable copy of the cypher telegram sent to the PM House was deliberately kept in his custody with “malafide intention”, and never returned to the Foreign Ministry.
It alleged that the cipher is still in the illegal possession of Imran Khan, adding that the unauthorised retention and misuse of the document by the suspects compromised the entire cyber security system of the state and secret communication method of Pakistan’s missions abroad.
The actions of the suspects directly/indirectly benefited the interests of foreign powers and caused a loss to the state.
The case against Imran Khan and Qureshi has been registered over wrongful use of official secret information and illegal retention of cipher telegram with malafide intention.
The FIR added that the role of Azam Khan, Asad Umar and other associates will be determined during the investigation.
ISLAMABAD: Another case of torture of a 13-year-old house maid Andaleeb Fatima surfaced in G-15 sector of the federal capital. The employer was arrested.
According to the Islamabad Police, a woman was arrested on the allegations of the mother of the housemaid. The accused, who is reportedly associated with an online business firm, was produced in the court of a magistrate and sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.
The Tarnol police have registered a case against the woman on charges of 328-A (cruelty to a child), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
According to the FIR, Andaleeb Fatima had been working as a housemaid for the last one month at the residence of the accused woman. On August 16, her mother Khalida came to Islamabad from Chiniot to see her after she did not answer her telephone calls.
Khalida saw torture marks on Andaleeb’s body. She told her that her employer used to beat her and torture her with a hot spoon.
The employer locked them in a room, compelling them not to speak against her. Later, she allowed them to leave the house without paying salary.
The girl has been shifted to the hospital for medical examination, the report of which is still awaited.
LAHORE: In a concerning development, the number of Hepatitis patients in Punjab has skyrocketed to over 3.9 million, underscoring a growing health crisis that demands immediate attention.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis.
Official documents have revealed that out of the 217 clinics across the province, only a mere 23 have access to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test facilities, a crucial tool for accurate hepatitis diagnosis, with less than 11 per cent of clinics equipped with this.
According to reports, more than 981,000 PCR tests for Hepatitis have been administered thus far.
Perhaps the most alarming discovery from the documents is that a significant 62 per cent of the disease’s transmission is attributed to the repeated use of syringes.
Among the most affected are patients grappling with Hepatitis C, with more than 76,000 reported cases in Punjab. Hepatitis C is notorious for its ability to evolve into a chronic condition, leading to severe liver damage if left untreated.
This is compounded by recent screening data, which has unveiled an unsettling 138,000 cases of Hepatitis B. This number is a startling contrast to the previously registered four lakh cases of hepatitis B and C.
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should conduct delimitation of constituencies in a transparent manner, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Tuesday.
“The Commission should conduct delimitation in a transparent way,” the top judge said while hearing petitions against delimitation of provincial constituencies PS 7, 8, and 9 Shikarpur. The delimitations were challenged in the apex court in 2018.
The CJP, during the hearing, further said if an official modified the circle even slightly, it could affect the votes of a candidate. He said delimitation of constituencies were a matter of public interest.
The top judge inquired when were the general elections being held. Director General (Law) Muhammad Arshad shrugged his shoulders while expressing his ignorance.
The chief justice then said as no date for the elections had been decided, the election commission should resolve all issues before the polls.
“This matter is more sensitive in Sindh. Grievances often come forth that delimitations in the province are not correct,” he added.
After hearing the arguments, the SC referred the matter back to the electoral watchdog.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Tuesday dismissed the contempt petitions against former federal minister Ahsan Iqbal and former Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Rizvi.
The case was heard by a 2-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
The Chief Justice stated that it is the court’s responsibility to determine if contempt of court has occurred, and in this case, there is no ground to pursue it further.
He emphasised that no one is above the law and that contempt proceedings are the authority of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The petitioner argued that no person or institution is above the constitution and the law, to which the Chief Justice responded that contempt of court should not be used casually and that serious matters would be considered accordingly. Later, the court dismissed the petition.
The court also dismissed a contempt petition against former Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Rizvi, as both the petitioner and Rizvi had passed away. The case was dismissed due to the death of the parties involved.
ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Islamabad has rejected the bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in three different cases impending in the court.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain pronounced a reserved verdict on the issues of three cases registered against the PTI chairman.
Out of the three cases against Imran Khan, two were registered in the Khanna police station and the third in Bhara Kahu police station.
The court dismissed the bails of Imran Khan due to his non-appearance.
On August 8, the Anti-Terrorism Court of Lahore had accepted PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s application for one-day exemption from appearance, and also extended his interim bail till August 11 in at least five cases of May 9 vandalism.
The court had announced a reserved verdict.
The application was filed on behalf of Imran Khan’s lawyer in the case of vandalism and arson at the Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9.
The petitioner’s lawyer pleaded that the PTI chief has been arrested.
Lawyer Salman Safdar hoped his client’s sentence would be suspended in a week.
LONDON: Additional District and Sessions Judge Islamabad, Humayun Dilawar who handed down a sentence to former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief on charges of concealing assets and corrupt practices, remains enrolled in the University of Hull’s programme, confirmed by university official.
Reports have been doing rounds on social media, suggesting that the Pakistani judge’s participation had been terminated due to an online campaign by the former ruling party.
However, as per the media reports, the university officials said that these claims were baseless and lacking evidence. The university clarified that Judge Dilawar is continuing his scheduled coursework and will remain at the university until the programme concludes.
Earlier, the university explained that it has been offering human rights and rule of law training for Pakistani judges since 2014. The participants are selected by their respective high courts in Pakistan.
Other judicial officers participating in or visiting the Hull University program include Zeba Chaudhry, Kamran Basharat, Shoaib Bilal, Abida Sajjad, Saima Iqbal, Ayesha Shabbir, Saqib Jawad, Rizwan Qureshi, and Sanam Bukhari.
“The current group of participants has been chosen by the Islamabad High Court, the Peshawar High Court, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The university has no involvement in the selection of judges,” the statement noted.
Judge Humayun Dilawar, who sentenced the PTI chairman to a three-year prison term in the Toshakhana case, traveled to London after delivering the verdict.
Following the verdict, the PTI supporters in the UK expressed their intent to confront Judge Dilawar.
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development amidst heightened political tensions, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and its allied parties have granted the right to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the nomination of caretaker setup.
This crucial decision was made during a video conference coalition partners meeting, convened to deliberate on the caretaker setup.
Sources privy to the matter said several prominent candidates were considered for the position of caretaker prime minister.
Among the strong contenders are Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a seasoned politician known for his previous role as prime minister, and Hafeez Sheikh, a respected economist with vast experience in economic affairs. Aslam Bhutani, an esteemed civil servant, and Fawad Hasan Fawad, a prominent bureaucrat, were also among the names discussed during the virtual meeting.
Notably, the name of Zulfikar Magsi, a seasoned politician with a reputation for maintaining political balance, was also brought up during the deliberations.
All the names for the caretaker prime minister have now been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who will consult with the opposition leader, Raja Riaz, to finalise the selection.
Prominent political figures, including PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and heads of other allied parties, participated in the virtual meeting.
The discussions took place just a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hinted at the possibility of dissolving the National Assembly on August 9.
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing a speech at the dinner in honor of the lawmakers of parliament and said that efforts underway for such a caretaker setup that would be ‘acceptable to all’.
PM Shehbaz said that when PDM government took over the government in difficult times and ‘there were dangers everywhere’.
“The country was close to bankruptcy,” the prime minister said.
“In spite of all the criticism in 15 months, we saved the state and our conscience is satisfied that the country was saved from crisis by sacrificing politics,” Prime Minister said.
ISLAMABAD: In line with a short order issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), a district and sessions court in the federal capital resumed hearing the Toshakhana case filed against former prime minister Imran Khan.
Earlier today, the IHC overturned the trial court’s ruling declaring the Toshakhana case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman maintainable. In his short order, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq instructed the local court to decide the matter again after hearing the case.
At the outset of today’s hearing, the local court’s judge Humayun Dilawar asked Barrister Gohar Ali — Imran Khan’s counsel — about updates on the case in the high court.
“After approving the plea relating to the maintainability matter, the high court again sent the case to the sessions court,” replied the lawyer.
He pleaded with the court to grant an exemption to his client from personnel appearance.
Meanwhile, Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Amjad Parvez said that the trial court had issued notices to the relevant parties in the reference filed by the election watchdog for the trail of the deposed prime minister — who was removed from the office via a no-confidence motion in April last year — next week, adding that the IHC did not issue stay order over the matter.
“The PTI chairman’s requests for transfer of case has also been rejected,” Parvez added. In addition to this, directions have been given to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the fake Facebook posts, he said.
“And what about those who have floated fake Facebook posts?” the judge asked.
“You fall in love with those who wave Facebook posts,” the ECP counsel quipped, leaving the court filled with laughter.
The ECP’s counsel has completed its arguments, the judge observed and directed Khan’s lawyer to give his arguments at 8:30am tomorrow (Friday).
Meanwhile, the court summoned the PTI chairman in his personal capacity tomorrow and adjourned the hearing. The court will reserve its verdict in the case if the defendant’s counsel does not join the hearing tomorrow, warned the judge.
IHC voids sessions court’s verdict
Earlier today, the IHC declared the sessions court’s maintainability verdict in the Toshakhana case “void”.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq gave the court’s ruling on eight petitions of the PTI chairman after arguments by both parties — which were completed yesterday while the judgment was reserved.
The court, however, rejected the PTI chairman’s request to transfer the case to another court and said that Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar would hear the case.
The IHC today also issued a notice against the court’s decision to reject the list of witnesses.
Regarding the district and session judge’s alleged Facebook post, the court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe into the issue.
On October 21, 2022, the ECP maintained that the former prime minister made “false statements and incorrect declarations” about the gifts and disqualified him under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
Subsequently, the election watchdog moved the sessions court to the federal capital. It sought criminal proceedings against the PTI chief for allegedly misleading the ECP regarding gifts received from foreign dignitaries while he was in office.
The PTI chairman was indicted in the case on May 10, while his petition to declare the case inadmissible was rejected by the court.
On July 4, the IHC overturned the same ruling and directed the sessions court to hear the petitioner and decide the matter within seven days.
On July 8, ADSJ Humayun Dilawar declared the Toshakhana case against Khan as maintainable, which was again challenged in the IHC.
Meanwhile, the trial continued at the court and was about to conclude soon.
During the proceedings, Khan’s lawyers also accused the presiding judge of bias on the basis of his Facebook posts and sought the transfer of the case.
On August 2, the trial court also rejected the PTI chairman’s witnesses, stating that he failed to prove their “relevance” in the criminal proceedings against him. It was also challenged in the high court.
Explanation for rehearing
Citing the repeated adjournments sought by Khan during the duration of the trial, the bench ruled that there was while the case should be reheard, there was no need for the case to be transferred to a different court.
“The order […] shows that a number of opportunities were provided to the petitioner to address arguments but adjournments were sought, hence the matter was decided in the absence of learned counsel for the petitioner.”
“…so the learned counsel for the petitioner is correct in saying that he has been condemned unheard and it would be only appropriate to remand the matter back to the Trial Court for decision afresh,” the order mentioned.
The order mentioned that it is not essential that the matter be sent to a different judge, emphasising that remitting the matter to a different jurist can be regarded as a matter of propriety and not a principle of law.
“However, in the instant case even remanding the matter to a different court is not mandated.”
The Supreme Court had earlier in the day dismissed the ex-prime minister’s petition against trial proceedings pertaining to the Toshakhana case following his withdrawal of the said plea.
The three-member bench hearing the case, led by Justice Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Musarat Hilali, heard Khan’s petition against the Toshakhana case.
“The trial court cannot decide on the Toshakhana case until the final decision of the High Court,” the bench ruled.
Earlier this week, the apex court had turned away Khan, asking him to await a verdict from the IHC.
“We believe that the high court can issue a better order than us. It is possible that it will give the order to stop the trial tomorrow,” he had said on Wednesday.
Under the rules governing Toshakhana — a Persian word meaning “treasure house” — government officials can keep gifts if they have a low worth, while they must pay a dramatically reduced fee to the government for extravagant items.
The Toshakhana has been under a microscope ever since the emergence of the allegations that Khan purchased the gifts he received as prime minister at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits.
The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was accused of misusing his 2018 to 2022 premiership to buy and sell gifts in state possession that were received during visits abroad and worth more than Rs140 million ($635,000).
The gifts included watches given by a royal family, according to government officials, who have alleged previously that Khan’s aides sold them in Dubai.
The gifts included seven wristwatches, six made by watchmaker Rolex, and the most expensive a “Master Graff limited edition” valued at 85 million Pakistani rupees ($385,000).
The election commission’s order had said Imran stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.
ISLAMABAD: Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan, arrived in Islamabad to take up her new posting at British High Commission Islamabad.
Jane arrives at an important time for UK-Pakistan relations, with a significant uplift in UK aid spending in Pakistan that focused on strengthening climate resilience and reducing humanitarian risks.
Last month, the UK also launched the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which will help Pakistan to boost exports by reducing tariffs and simplifying trade terms.
On arrival in Islamabad, she said, “I am delighted to be here in Pakistan, a country that deeply matters to, and has a long-standing relationship with, the UK. With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the UK making up every part of British society, we have a special and ever-growing special bonds.
“Our friendship stems from our shared history and values, deep people-to-people ties, growing trade links and a renewed development partnership. I will be working hard to continue to expand these.
“With the climate emergency a growing threat to health and livelihoods across the world, I have a particular interest in ensuring the bilateral relationship between our countries is a green, sustainable one, she added.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Jane joined the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2001. She was previously posted as British High Commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023, and has served as British Ambassador to Yemen. She has also been posted to the USA, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan as well as heading the UK’s Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit.
