Tree plantation drive kicks off in Islamabad

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August 21, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal along with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Farzana Altaf Shah visited Islamabad’s posh commercial centre, F-6 Markaz, and launched a tree plantation drive from markets by planting a sapling in the supermarket.

F-6 Markaz Traders Welfare Association President Shahzad Shabbir Abbasi, Secretary General Aqib Abbasi, Khalid Chaudhry, Saifur Rahman Khan, Akhtar Abbasi, Malik Shabbir Awan, Imtiaz Abbasi and others were also present on the occasion.

The CDA chairman took a round of the market along with Chamber President Bakhtawari, EPA DG Farzana and representatives of the traders association and reviewed the ongoing development works.

He issued instructions to the CDA officials to speed up the ongoing works and to advance other works as well. Speaking on the occasion, he said the development work will be reviewed by visiting other markets soon.

He also announced on the occasion that the Zero Point Bridge would be handed over to ICCI for its decoration and beautification. He directed the CDA’s director environment to carry out the plantation drive in the markets in collaboration with ICCI while he would visit the markets.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Bakhtawari said the chamber had earlier planted thousands of saplings in Islamabad in collaboration with CDA and this year too, the ICCI in cooperation with CDA and concerned market associations, would carry out the plantation drive in the markets to make Islamabad greener and promote a healthy environment.

He said along with planting new trees, a strategy should be made for proper maintenance of old trees so that they can be kept safe. He said to determine the age of old trees in Islamabad, tags should be placed on them and special arrangements should be made for their proper maintenance so that they can be preserved for a long time.

He said only 10 to 15 per cent of the saplings survive while the rest are lost, so special attention should be paid to the care of the saplings. He urged the representatives of the market associations to fully cooperate with CDA in the plantation drive to make Islamabad more beautiful.

The EPA DG said there is a need to plant more trees to protect the cities from the harmful effects of climate change and it is commendable that the ICCI is promoting the tree plantation drive in the markets in collaboration with CDA and trade associations, which will make the environment of Islamabad healthier.

The Supermarket Association president assured of full cooperation to make the plantation drive successful.

He stressed that there is a need to replace the old sewage lines in the markets as the old lines are no longer able to bear the load due to the increase in population and often get blocked.

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India, Pakistan nominate charge d’affaires in Islamabad, New Delhi

By

Nuzhat Aftab

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August 21, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have nominated their new charge d’affaires in Islamabad as well as in New Delhi, media reports said.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has nominated Saad Waraich as charge d’affaires for New Delhi

India Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has nominated Gitika Srivastava as Indian charge d’affaires in Islamabad.

Saad Warraich is currently the Director General of Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey at the Foreign Office (FO).

Geetika Srivastava is the Joint Secretary for the Indo-Pacific Region in the Indian MEA.

It is pertinent to note that Aizaz Khan and Dr Suresh Kumar have completed their tenures as charge d’affaires.

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Cypher case: Qureshi’s one-day physical remand approved by district court

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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August 20, 2023

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.

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Another woman arrested for torturing housemaid in Islamabad

By

Sara Maqsood

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August 17, 2023

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.

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Hepatitis cases soar to 3.9m in Punjab; 62% spread by repeated use of syringes

By

Asifa Farhat

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August 17, 2023

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.

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Delimitation should be conducted in transparent manner: CJP Bandial

By

Sara Maqsood

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August 15, 2023

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.

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SCP dismisses contempt proceedings against Ahsan Iqbal, Khadim Rizvi

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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August 15, 2023

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.

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Islamabad ATC rejects Imran Khan’s bail in three cases

By

Sara Maqsood

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August 15, 2023

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.

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Humayun Dilawar not expelled from University of Hull

By

TNT Monitoring Desk

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August 9, 2023

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.

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Allies throw their weight behind PM over nomination of caretaker setup

By

Palwasha Mustafa

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August 4, 2023

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.

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