Judge’s wife booked for ‘torturing’ 14-year-old girl in Islamabad

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July 25, 2023

ISLAMABAD: A case has been registered against the wife of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez for allegedly subjecting a 14-year-old girl, employed as a domestic help at their house, to severe torture, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police said on Tuesday.

The harrowing case of the 14-year-old girl being brutally beaten up regularly came to light when the victim was shifted to a hospital in Lahore with serious injuries, with the family accusing Judge Asim Hafeez’s wife, Somia, of torturing the child.

The case was registered at Police Station Humak on behalf of the girl’s father, Manga Khan, under Section 506 (committing offence of criminal intimidation) and Section 342 (wrongfully confining a person) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

As per the text of the First Information Report (FIR), the complainant had sent his 14-year-old daughter to work as a domestic help on Rs10,000 monthly salary, with the reference of an acquaintance named Chaudhry Mukhtar, seven months ago.

The girl’s parents came to know about her being subjected to torture at the judge’s house on Monday (July 23) when they went to meet her.

It may be noted that the victim’s parents have said that they hadn’t met her during these seven months but talked to her on the phone sometimes.

“When we [complainant, his wife and her brother] entered the gate, we heard my daughter crying. Hearing that made me concerned so we went towards the room and found my daughter in wounded condition […],” the complainant stated in the FIR.

He alleged that his daughter was subjected to severe torture by the judge’s wife, and there were torture marks all over the child’s body.

Upon examining her condition, the parents found several injuries on the girl’s entire body, with serious wounds on the head, which were “infested with maggots”.

The major injuries described by the complainant include swelling on lips and eyes, broken teeth, and ribs and strangling marks on the neck.

As per the FIR, the complainant has accused Somia of torturing and keeping his daughter in illegal custody since the day she started working at the judge’s house and sought action on the matter.

Meanwhile, Islamabad police said that action is being taken for the arrest of the suspect.

They said that the case investigation would be done on merit and that all requirements of justice would be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Civil Judge Hafeez, when asked about the alleged torture, brushed aside the accusations, saying that the wounds on the girl’s body were a result of eating soil from the planters kept in his house.

“The girl was a house help at our home. She ate soil from the planters a month ago, which damaged her skin,” the judge said.

He said that he had got the diagnosis of the “skin condition” and treatment done from a doctor in Gujranwala, but the girl would pick and scratch her wounds after her skin started healing.

On the wound on her head, Hafeez claimed that when they told the girl they would be dropping off the child back to her home, she banged her head on a wall.

He also said that he didn’t know about the condition of the wounds on the girl’s head as she kept her head covered with a scarf.

“The girl used to tell us that if she went back, her mother would beat her so she did not want to go home but we left her there,” Hafeez added.

“I am against physical abuse and torture incidents never happened in front of me,” claimed the judge.

Hafeez said Somia had told him the girl didn’t work, so they left her with her parents in their house in Sargodha.

“My wife along with the driver dropped off the girl at her home in Sargodha,” said Hafeez claiming that the mother started beating the child in front of his wife as she dropped her off.

On the accusation of stealing jewelry, the judge contested that his wife complained to him about not finding her jewelry but “did not” accuse the child of stealing.

He said he was going to Lahore, where the girl was undergoing treatment, and he wanted her to get well soon.

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Two cops martyred as unidentified assailants attack Peshawar police

By

Irfanullah Khan

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July 20, 2023

PESHAWAR: In a tragic incident, two policemen were martyred, and two others sustained injuries after unidentified assailants opened fire at a police picket set up in Model Town area of Peshawar past midnight.

The casualties were immediately rushed to Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) for medical attention, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The deceased were identified as constable Wajid and driver Farman, as confirmed by the hospital spokesperson. Feroze and Sayar are undergoing treatment for their injuries.

The incident took place at a police picket in the area, and authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.

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19 perish in current monsoon spell across country; Twin cities receive heavy rainfall

By

Sara Maqsood

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July 20, 2023

ISLAMABAD: In a devastating turn of events, heavy rainfall during current monsoon spell in the twin cities led to the collapse of walls, resulting in the tragic loss of 13 lives while six people were electrocuted in Punjab taking the tally to 19.

The downpour unleashed chaos as the normally tranquil areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi experienced a series of unfortunate incidents.

One such incident occurred on Peshawar Road near Golra Mor in the federal capital.

When a wall of under-construction underpass, measuring approximately 100 feet in length and 11 feet in height, came crashing down, burying 11 labourers beneath its debris.

The victims, who were trapped under the weight of the fallen structure, succumbed to their injuries before rescue personnel from the renowned Rescue 1122 could reach the scene.

Promptly responding to the distress call, Rescue 1122 team sprang into action, employing heavy machinery to commence rescue operations.

Amid the perilous situation, four workers were successfully extracted from the rubble.

Five people including two children were electrocuted in metropolis Lahore.

The kids were identified as 10-year-old Saifullah and 12-year-old Zubair Rafaqat, who were electrocuted in rain water in Defence-A area.

A 20-year-old youth named Jawad also lost his life after being electrocuted in Qalandarpura.

A 35-year-old person Ejaz son of Suleiman lost his life when he was electrocuted from a switch board in Harbanspura. While, another person electrocuted in Thokar Niaz Baig area.

In a separate incident, tragedy struck the Muhammad Town area of Khanna police station as an 11-year-old girl lost her life when another wall collapsed amidst the rainfall.

An 18-year-old youth named Hammad was also electrocuted in Pasrur tehsil of city of Sialkot. Locals said that the victim was watering his rice field when he was electrocuted.

In response to the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding in certain areas of Rawalpindi, Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, has issued immediate directives to concerned authorities for the urgent drainage of water.

Taking cognizance of the gravity of the situation, Naqvi emphasized the need for swift action to alleviate the hardships faced by affected residents.

Stressing the importance of efficient resource utilization, the Chief Minister instructed the administration and related institutions, including Rescue 1122 and PDMA, to employ all available means to facilitate the drainage process in the flooded areas.

The deployment of personnel and equipment is expected to expedite the relief efforts and minimize the impact of the heavy rain.

Naqvi further emphasized that the drainage of rainwater should be prioritized on an emergency basis. With teams from the administration and relevant institutions working tirelessly on the ground, their presence will ensure the timely completion of the drainage operations.

In light of the potential threat of river flooding, the Chief Minister urged all precautionary measures to be taken to mitigate the risk. Continuous monitoring of the Nala Lai, a major water channel in the region, was also emphasized to prevent any further complications.

The twin cities were engulfed in a deluge as a relentless spell of monsoon rain caused widespread flooding in various localities.

The rainfall, which commenced last night, shows no signs of abating, further exacerbating the already dire situation. Notably, the Shamsabad area of Rawalpindi bore the brunt of the downpour, recording a staggering 188 mm of rain.

According to the Meteorological Department, other regions experienced substantial rainfall as well. Chaklala received 110 mm of rainfall, while Kachhari recorded 79 mm.

In Islamabad, Bokra witnessed 138 mm of rain, with Golra receiving 102 mm. Additionally, Zero Point saw 98 mm of rainfall, whereas Syedpur recorded 44 mm.

Meanwhile, monsoon downpours are intermittently lashing Islamabad, Rawalpindi and different parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Punjab.

According to the Met Office, the highest rainfall of 191 millimeters was recorded in Rawalpindi. In Rawalpindi, water level has increased in Nullah Leh due to heavy rains.

According to rescue officials, the nullah at Katarian and Gawalmandi is flowing at 16 feet and 17 feet, respectively.

Rescue 1122 and local administration are on alert to deal with any situation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the 12 people in Golra in Islamabad.

Condoling with the bereaved family, the prime minister prayed for the departed souls.

The PM has directed the administration to stay alert in view of the heavy rains.

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Rupee gains Rs1.98 against dollar after IMF approves $3bn deal

By

Sameena Umar

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July 13, 2023

KARACHI: The Pakistani Rupee grew stronger Thursday against the US dollar during early trading on the back of approval given by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the stand-by arrangement (SBA).

Soon after the interbank trading started at 9:30am, the local currency gained Rs2.50 against the greenback but later settled to a Rs1.98 increase by the time this report was filed at 10:15am.

Thus, the US dollar was available for Rs275.50 against the Wednesday’s closing value of Rs277.48 as the previous session too had witnessed the local currency going up by 91 paisa.

The gains made by the Pakistani rupee come as a bruised dollar was nudged lower still in Asia on Thursday after traders took surprisingly slow US inflation as a signal US interest rate rises will be all but finished by month’s end.

The dollar had its worst session in five months overnight, falling more than 1 per cent against the euro to its lowest in more than a year and notching even larger losses elsewhere.

The euro hit a fresh 15-month high of $1.1141 in early Asia trade and the yen, up 0.3pc at 138.16 per dollar, was its strongest since mid-May while the US dollar index fell marginally to 100.47, its lowest since April 2022.

On the other hand, the New Zealand dollar reached a two-month high of $0.6309 and the Aussie a three-week peak of $0.6796.

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Bailable warrants issued for Imran Khan in three terror case

By

Mehtab Cheema

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July 13, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday issued bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and other party leaders in three separate cases pertaining to vandalism outside the judicial complex during Imran Khan’s court appearance.

ATC Judge Abul Hasnat heard the cases, while PTI Chairman’s council appeared before the court.

At the outset of the hearing, the lawyer filed an exemption plea, citing his necessary appearance in the Lahore High Court.

However, Judge ATC Abul Hasnat remarked that the PTI Chairman would be required to appear before the court, underscoring the importance of his presence in the ongoing proceedings.

Subsequently, the court issued bailable warrants for Imran Khan while also issued for prominent PTI leaders Farrukh Habib, Shibli Faraz, and Hassan Niazi, in connection with the judicial complex attack case.

The court ordered all the accused, including Chairman Imran Khan, to personally appear on July 19 to address the charges leveled against them, and adjourned the hearing of the case until July 19.

It is pertinent to mention that two cases were registered at Ramna Police Station and one in Golra Police Station against the deposed premier and other stalwarts stating that they were leading mobs who incited people to harm and vandalise public property inside Judicial Complex.

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Supreme Court of Pakistan resumes hearing pleas against civilians’ trial in military courts

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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June 23, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Friday resumed the hearing on the constitutional pleas challenging the government decision to try civilians in military courts for their alleged involvement in the May 9 violent protests.

A seven-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial is hearing the case. Justice Ejazul Ahsan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik are the members of the bench.

The PDM government had decided to try civilians in military courts after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers vandalised army installations following the arrest of their party chief.

The petitions, filed by the PTI chairman, former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja, senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) Executive Director Karamat Ali, have requested the apex court to declare the trial of civilians in military courts unconstitutional.

A nine-member larger bench had taken up the pleas on Thursday. However, the bench was dissolved after Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Tariq Masood object to it.

Justice Isa objected that he “did not consider the bench a bench until the Supreme Court first issue a verdict on the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, 2023.” And Justice Masood backed him.

CJP Bandial had said as the two senior judges had raised questions over the bench, the stay order on the law might be lifted.

The CJP then constituted a seven-member bench which started hearing the pleas.

CJP Bandial observed that the court would “quickly” wrap up the case and asked the government to provide complete details of the arrests made after the May 9 incidents.

“It is not right to issue stay orders on everything,” the CJP said when Latif Khosa pleaded for it.

Earlier, Khosa was asked to inform the court about the law on the basis of which punishments were being awarded, and the basis on which civilian cases in the anti-terrorism courts were being transferred to military courts.

Khosa submitted that the Pakistan Army Act does not mention civilians. On it, Justice Shah said he believed that civil laws have stricter punishments than military ones.

The CJP also said that private conversations were recorded and privacy was breached.

The court was also informed that the “military trials of the civilians are underway”.

Today, Advocate Faisal Siddiqui will argue the case.

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CDA approves building more water filtration plants in Islamabad

By

Sara Maqsood

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June 23, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has nodded the establishment of more filtration plants in various business centers of the federal capital and the civic body will construct these filtration plants while the maintenance of these filtration plants will be done by the business community.

This decision was made in an important meeting of the Governing Boards of the CDA held with Chairman CDA Captain Noor ul Amin Mengal in which all the board members participated.

In the meeting approval of the proceedings of the previous session was also given while the meeting also decided to establish CDA Capital Medical College in Islamabad. In this regard, Chairman CDA has also issued Member Planning and Member State’s Directive for Allocation of Venue for Medical College.

Similarly, the approval of the allocation of space in the Kahota Triangle for the Fire Brigade and Dispensary was also given in the CDA board meeting while the dispensary and Fire Brigade Station, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association will be constructed in place of the CDA.

In addition, permission to give land for the FBR Academy was also given in the meeting. The layout plan of Sector C-13 was also approved in the CDA Board meeting.

Similarly, a committee has also been formed to look into matters of residential and commercial buildings located on the boundaries of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This committee includes RDA, CDA, and Cantonment Board officers.

Later the meeting also decided to create new posts of three directors in the CDA Planning Wing and the approval of the Archery Club in Islamabad to stay in F-9 Park was also given in the Board Meeting of Capital Development Authority.

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IMF, Government lock horns as budget ‘disappoints’ international money lender

By

Nuzhat Aftab

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June 14, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The deadlock remains in the negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monitory Fund (IMF) as Executive Board meeting agenda of the international lender does not include Pakistan as agenda items.

The names of other countries including Uganda and Iceland have been included for approval in the IMF Executive Board meeting.

Finance Ministry officials and IMF officials will hold virtual meet ups in the coming days, the Ministry officials said.

A special meeting of the IMF Executive Board might be convened in case of Staff Level Agreement.

Finance Ministry officials said that $6.5 billion IMF loan program is ending on June 30

As per the finance ministry data, Pakistan has received only 3.9 billion dollars so far.

It is relevant to mention here that About $2.5 billion dollars are pending from the IMF.

Pakistan has to satisfy the IMF on three counts, starting with a budget due on Friday, before its board reviews whether to release at least some of the $2.5 billion still pending under a lending programme expiring this month, an IMF official said.

Esther Perez Ruiz, the International Monetary Fund’s resident representative for Pakistan, said that there was only time for one last IMF board review before the end of the $6.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) at the end of June.

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Premier Shehbaz to depart for Baku as Islamabad eyes LNG cargoes

By

Palwasha Mustafa

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June 14, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, invited by President Ilham Aliyev, will travel to Azerbaijan today (Wednesday) as Islamabad aims to obtain spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries from Baku.

In a recent development, Pakistan released two tenders for spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments after nearly a year, coinciding with the announcement of a monthly LNG cargo agreement with Azerbaijan.

Pakistan has encountered difficulties in procuring spot cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to its dependence on gas for power generation and limited foreign exchange reserves, aggravated by the spike in global prices resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, on Tuesday, announced that Azerbaijan had agreed to provide Pakistan with a monthly LNG cargo at a more affordable price. Although specific details of the supply agreement were not disclosed, Malik confirmed that a contract had been signed with Azerbaijan and that the deliveries would commence in the near future.

This situation resulted in widespread power outages. However, Asian spot LNG prices have significantly declined this year, dropping from the record highs of $70/mmBtu in August to below $10.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s entourage would also include ministers representing the priority areas of cooperation with Azerbaijan.

During his visit, the premier will hold wide-ranging talks with the Azerbaijani president on key areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, and energy.

Meanwhile, regional and global issues of mutual concern and cooperation in multilateral forums will also be discussed.

“Pakistan-Azerbaijan relationship is embedded in commonalities of faith, culture and history, and strengthened by mutual trust and convergence of views on regional and global matters,” the FO statement read.

The minister added that the frequent leadership-level exchanges highlight the bonds of friendship between the two countries and contribute to closer multifaceted cooperation for the mutual benefit of the people of Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

On the other hand, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) will meet today (Wednesday) with Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar to take up the issue of approval for the import of distressed LNG for the third time from an Azerbaijan firm SOCAR, based in the UK.

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Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates various development projects in Islamabad

By

Sara Maqsood

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June 14, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Avenue formerly known as IJP Road and Seventh Avenue Overhead Bridge on Srinagar Highway besides performing ground breaking of Eleventh Avenue in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Addressing a ceremony in connection with the inauguration of these projects, the Prime Minister regretted that the poor performance of previous government delayed execution of important development projects. He however said that we have accelerated work on them and work on the ongoing projects in the federal capital will be completed by next month.

He announced an electric bus service will also be launched in the capital city, for which the buses will reach by 15th of next month.

The Prime Minister said a solid waste management system is also being introduced in Islamabad on the pattern of Lahore.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the IJP road has been named after Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed to recognize the services and sacrifices rendered by the martyrs for the nation. He said only those nations remain successful which remember the sacrifices of their martyrs.

The Prime Minister said that May 9 acts not only aggrieved the entire nation but also bowed our heads down in embarrassment. He said today the propaganda of a political party regarding regime change stands fully exposed.

The Prime Minister said relief has been given to the people in the budget. Referring to the increase in the salaries and pensions of employees, he said the budget envisages several initiatives for the youth. He said laptop scheme for the youth will be launched next month. This year one hundred thousand laptops will be distributed amongst the youth.

He said we are importing oil on discounted rates from Russia. He was also confident of a deal with the IMF saying Pakistan has fulfilled all the conditions.

He expressed the commitment to steer the country collectively out of difficult situation. He however stressed that political stability is a must for economic stability.

Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said we will continue the journey of serving the country.

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