ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday served notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over newly appointed federal minister Ishaq Dar’s plea seeking the cancellation of his arrest warrants in the assets beyond means case.
On December 11, 2017, the accountability had declared the PML-N leader a proclaimed offender in a NAB reference due to his continued absence from the proceedings. The national anti-graft watchdog accused Dar of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The case was filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.
At the outset of the hearing today, Senator Ishaq Dar surrendered himself before the accountability court and submitted a petition pleading for nullification of his arrest warrants.
At this, the court issued notice to the NAB on Dar’s plea and ordered him to appear before the court on October 7.
“We will hear the application for cancellation of warrants along with assets’ reference,” the judge remarked and adjourned the hearing till October 7 (Friday).
ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist Ayaz Amir’s daughter-in-law has been murdered in the Chak Shahzad area of Islamabad on Friday.
According to the spokesperson of the Islamabad Police, Ayaz Amir’s son Shah Nawaz allegedly killed his wife Sara at home. Her body was found from a farmhouse.
The police spokesperson said that Ayaz Amir’s son has been detained.
According to the police spokesperson, senior officers of the Islamabad Police and forensic teams were present at the scene.
The police spokesman said that an investigation of the incident is ongoing and whatever facts are found will be shared.
The victim’s body has been shifted to PIMS Hospital Islamabad for a post-mortem.
Amir, speaking to the media, said such an incident should not happen to anyone and that no one should have to bear such a tragedy.
On being asked about reports that his son was intoxicated, the journalist responded: “What can I say about this? It is a legal matter”.
According to sources within the family, it had been just three months since Sara and Shah Nawaz had been married. They met online, the sources said, adding that Sara worked in Dubai and had reached Pakistan just a day back and purchased a car.
The couple reported got into an argument at night at the farmhouse where they were staying with Shah Nawaz’s mother. The sources said Shah Nawaz hit Sara with an iron object and she fainted. After this, he reportedly moved her to a bathtub and opened the water tap.
A forensic survey of the crime scene has been completed and the murder weapon and other evidence sent for analysis, the sources said, adding that Shah Nawaz’s mother witnessed everything and called the police.
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Aamir Farooq Tuesday remarked that the proceedings of the hearing on PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s appeal against the sentence in Avenfield Apartments reference “cannot move further on the basis of assumptions”.
“National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should prove through evidence that these properties were acquired by [former prime minister] Nawaz Sharif in 1990s,” he said during the hearing today.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Farooq and Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the appeals against the conviction of Maryam and Captain (retd) Safdar.
The bench inquired about the nexus between the two offshore companies and Nawaz, through documentary evidence, urging the NAB counsel to explain how Maryam “aided and abetted” her father in acquiring properties in London in 1993 or 2006 when the trust deed was signed.
To support his arguments, NAB special prosecutor Usman Cheema read the court’s decision declaring Nawaz an offender, and in response to that, Justice Farooq clarified that Nawaz’s appeal was dismissed because of his absenteeism and not on the basis of merit.
Justice Farooq also made it clear that any Supreme Court observation in the Panamagate judgment was not relevant to the decision regarding Maryam Nawaz’s appeal against her conviction.
He said that the NAB has to prove whether the prosecution proved the case against Maryam before the accountability court.
“We have to see how she helped acquire these properties,” Justice Farooq said, asking the NAB counsel how the apartments were acquired in 1993.
The prosecutor claimed that Maryam “aided, abetted and assisted” her father in acquiring the properties in 2006.
The judge asked: “You said that Nawaz bought the properties in 1993, then how did she assist him in 2006?”
Justice Kayani observed that Maryam has not said on any occassion that the property belonged to her, or that she owned it. “Minus the trust deed and Calibri font issue, and move on to the actual case regarding the properties acquired in 1993,” he added.
He said that it was “basic criminal law” that the prosecution must establish its case using evidence even if the accused has admitted to committing the crime.
The judge inquired what evidence the prosecution had to prove the case against Nawaz. “The prosecution has to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
“Who made the payment to acquire the properties in 1993?” the IHC judge asked, adding that “NAB has to prove that the payment to acquire these properties came from Nawaz.”
The hearing of the case has been adjourned until September 29.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will get a chance to interact with US President Joe Biden this week on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
The prime minister is among the world leaders attending the UN General Assembly session who has been invited by President Biden to a reception in New York, an official of the Foreign Office said.
The official said the prime minister, though will not have any bilateral meeting with Biden, will interact with the US president informally during the reception.
This will be the first interaction between the US president and the Pakistani prime minister. Since being elected as the US president, Biden has not spoken to either former Prime Minister Imran Khan or his successor Shehbaz Sharif.
But he will finally meet Shehbaz in New York this week.
The meeting despite being informal will be significant given the fact that the Biden administration during Imran’s government largely ignored Pakistan.
But since the change of government, there has been a flurry of engagements between the two countries. A senior adviser of the US Secretary of State recently visited Pakistan while the Biden administration also approved the $450 million sale of F-16 equipment to Pakistan.
After the UNGA session, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit Washington on an official visit and meet Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
This will be his second meeting with the Secretary of State in a few months as he earlier met him in New York at the sidelines of the Food security summit.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to meet the French President this week in New York, the first bilateral meeting between the Pakistani and French leaders in seven years.
Official sources said Shehbaz is scheduled to meet several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.
After attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London, Shehbaz is now traveling to New York.
The meeting with the French president would be significant given the fact ties between Islamabad and Paris had remained strained over the past few years.
After the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the French president wanted to speak to then prime minister Imran Khan to thank Pakistan for its help in evacuation efforts but the PTI chairman refused to give time for the call. Macron never approached Imran again.
France is an important country in the European Union and has close ties with India. One Pakistani diplomat who served in Paris told The Express Tribune that because of the country’s flawed approach, Pakistan had little or no penetration in the key western country.
The likely meeting between the prime minister and the French president may break the ice in the relationship.
France is not only an important member of the EU but also is a key player in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is set to decide Pakistan’s fate in October in Paris.
ISLAMABAD: Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Neil Hawkins has said although Pakistani institutions performed well in flood-affected areas, but even then they still needed a lot of help from the world to rehabilitate millions of people.
The Australian Envoy was of the view that when the reconstruction phase began, work should be done to avoid destruction caused by heavy floods in the future.
Hawkins has annumed the charge of Australian High Comissioner to Pakistan three months back. He previously served as Australia’s ambassador to Egypt. He has done Arabic and Islamic studies.
He said the government of Australia was saddened by the destruction in Pakistan due to climate change. “This is why Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wang announced $5 million for immediate relief work in the affected areas,” he said and pointed out that the money would be dispersed through the World Food Program.
“We realize that Pakistan needs help and the world is stepping up in this regard. Australia has a longstanding relationship with Pakistan, with Australian scientists working with Pakistani farmers in Punjab. We are working on several projects in Sindh and seeing how plants can survive in salt water. We are taking practical steps and all this is a manifestation of solidarity from Australia with the people of Pakistan,” he said.
Hawkins said Australia too was facing floods and famine. “In this time, we are showing practical brotherhood with Pakistanis. We can help Pakistan avoid such a disaster in the future, by having more experienced manpower to work on climate change, agriculture and food security. At present, 13,000 Pakistani students are studying in Australia and this is an important part of our cooperation,” he added.
The envoy said he was impressed by the Benazir Income Support Programme which transferred money to the needy in a short time. “I think it is an excellent example for the world. At the moment, the response of Pakistani institutions in the flood-affected areas is great, but they also need help.”
SEHWAN: Flood-affected families started returning to their homes after the water showed signs of receding, as the international aid continued to pour in, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for focusing on the plight of children in the relief effort.
Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro confirmed reports that the floodwater in Manchar lake receded further after its release into the Indus river continued at a faster pace. He added that the situation on the right bank of the Indus would normalise soon.
Manchar level had come down to 120 feet. The inflow at Kotri Barrage, the last barrage on the Indus river system, was 259,517 cusecs while the outflow was recorded at 229,722 cusecs.
Meanwhile, some internally-displaced persons (IDPs) were also seen moving back to their villages since Sunday evening. “A few families have left for their homes,” a volunteer at a girls’ college in Hyderabad’s Qasimabad locality said.
“Others feel they can go back very soon, but I don’t know how and when,” he added. However, roads in several areas remain inundated, with families using boats to return to their homes, especially in areas near Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah in the Dadu district.
The unprecedented climate-induced floods in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, have left families separated and distressed. Thousands of people from the Dadu district were forced to leave their homes.
Several friendly countries and international organisations mobilised their resources to help the 3.3 million affected people up and down the country. The arrival of international aid continued on Monday.
The United States, which had pledged more than $50 million in aid, announced an additional $2 million for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its flood response efforts in Pakistan.
“We are pleased to announce $2 million in humanitarian assistance to support UNHCR’s flood response, providing lifesaving items to flood-affected Pakistanis and Afghan refugees in three provinces and helping to rebuild communities,” US Ambassador Donald Blome said.
The additional funding comes on top of the existing US contribution of $33 million for UNHCR’s planned programmes in 2022, aimed at strengthening livelihoods, boosting the capacity of national education and health facilities in refugee-hosting communities.
ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday announced that it was working “quickly” to provide a “significant” relief and rehabilitation package following catastrophic floods in the country.
In a statement, the ADB said that the package is designed to “support people, livelihoods, and infrastructure immediately and in the long-term”.
For the short and medium-term, the bank said it would use ongoing projects to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads and irrigation infrastructure, and to support the development and financial stability of the agriculture sector to boost food security.
“We’re also processing countercyclical support to help the poor and vulnerable, especially women and children, weather the impacts of food prices and other external shocks,” the ADB said.
Long-term, we’ll prioritise projects that support post-flood reconstruction and strengthen climate and disaster resilience, it added.
“We will provide more details of our new assistance package when it is finalised. We will work closely with the government and other international agencies to help rebuild the lives and livelihoods of the more than 33 million people affected by the disaster,” the ADB concluded, adding that it stood with the people of the country.
The announcement came as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached New York to participate in the 77th Session of United Nations General Assembly where he is expected to highlight Pakistan’s climate catastrophe.
“Reached NY a few hours ago to tell Pakistan’s story to the world, a story of deep anguish and pain arising out of a massive human tragedy caused by floods. In my address at UNGA and bilateral meetings, I will present Pakistan’s case on issues that call for world’s immediate attention,” he said.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) latest report, the total number of deaths has risen to 1,559, with 15 reported during the last 24 hours.
However, the National Flood Response and Coordination Centre’s (NFRCC) dashboard showed the number to be 16.
Further, the total number of injured has risen to 12,850, the NDMA report showed.
Meanwhile, around 70,000 patients were treated in medical camps set up in flood-hit Sindh during the last 24 hours. A report by the Sindh Directorate General Health Services showed that 2.7 million patients have been treated since July 1.
The report also showed that 14,460 patients were treated for diarrhoea, 13,669 were treated for skin-related diseases, 475 have malaria and 20 have dengue.
WASHINGTON: After the groundbreaking success of a historic trip by Pakistani Americans to Israel and the United Arab Emirates in May 2022, another group of prominent Pakistanis left for Israel for a peacemaking trip.
This group includes prominent Muslim-Americans and South-Asian Americans, American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) and SHARAKA, AMMWEC said in a press statement.
“The goal of this delegation is to continue the peacemaking efforts started by the delegation of interfaith leaders led by Pakistani American president of AMMWEC and Sharaka Board Member, Anila Ali, and to build positive understanding and to help encourage Pakistan-Israel relations and Pakistan’s connection to the Abraham Accords”, the statement reads.
The group consists of prominent Pakistani American leaders, including Dr. Nassim Ashraf, and a number of leading Pakistani journalists and religious figures.
“The floodgates are wide open; the initial shock has turned into a realization that Muslims and Jews are both the children of Prophet Ibrahim PBUH. Therefore, we must continue our work to build peace on a people-to-people connection to promote the Abraham Accords in Muslim countries. If we are to build a better future for our children, we must let go of the grievances of the past,” explained Anila Ali.
SHARAKA is a non-governmental, region-wide project that brings together Arabs and Israelis to build mutual understanding and promote peace in the Middle East through people-to-people engagement and citizen diplomacy.
It has branches in the Arab Gulf, Israel and Morocco, and members from around the region, as well as the US, Europe, and Pakistan.
The aim of the trip is to allow the participants to see and explore Israel for themselves, and to transmit what they learn and experience to audiences in Pakistan to help provide information for the important debate underway on whether Pakistan should join the Abraham Accords. Moreover, due to the tragic flooding in Pakistan, much of the visit will focus on life-saving technologies developed in Israel relating to water and food security and to mitigating climate and environmental disasters.
The trip includes a meeting with the President of Israel, senior foreign policy figures, and well-known intellectual, cultural, religious, and political figures. The trip will have a special focus on the Israeli hi-tech ecosystem and will feature meetings with leading innovators in the water, agro and climate tech spaces, as well as Israel’s world-leading water management systems.
They will also meet an internationally recognized expert on crisis preparedness. The team will also pay a visit to the holy sites that are sacred to Abrahamic faiths along with a visit to the Holocaust Museum.
The delegation consists of high profile Pakistani Americans, interfaith leaders, and media giants.
One of the leading members of the delegation is the renowned Pakistani American, Dr. Nasim Ashraf.
“I am delighted and honored to be invited by AMMWEC and SHARAKA to be part of the delegation to visit Israel to promote peace and interfaith dialogue. Such people-to-people contacts are very important to develop understanding and harmony between Abrahamic Faiths to which we belong, Dr. Nasim Ashraf.
Sharaka co-founder Amit Deri. “We are thrilled to be welcoming this delegation to Israel as a part of our efforts to expand the peace camp. This is truly historic, and we hope can lead to additional countries, like Pakistan, joining the peace camp. Only by working together and building roads of dialogue can we work to solve our differences and take on common challenges and threats – from climate and water related challenges to extremists in the region who only want to promote hatred.
American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, AMMWEC is a non-profit organization built to provide the diverse Muslim American women the tools and opportunities to lead and to empower them to live a better life.
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in New York, US, on Tuesday to represent Pakistan and highlight the plight of the flood victims in the country at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The premier announced his arrival in the US on his official Twitter handle and said that he will tell Pakistan’s story “of deep anguish & pain arising out of a massive human tragedy caused by floods,” during his UNGA address on September 23.
“In my address at UNGA & bilateral meetings, I will present Pakistan’s case on issues that call for [the] world’s immediate attention,” he added.
The premier will attend the reception of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today and will also meet French President Emmanuel Macron.
Besides meetings with the Austrian chancellor and Spanish president, he will also hold a meeting with European Union President Council Charles Michael and will participate in the Global Food Security Summit.
On Wednesday, the premier will meet International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Mills.
Apart from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, PM Shehbaz will also hold a bilateral meeting with Iran’s President Seyed Ibrahim Raisi. He will host a luncheon in honour of President Erdogan and his wife tomorrow.
Other engagements of the premier include meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaaqob, UNGA president, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the UN secretary-general as well as Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.
The premier will also hold meetings with prime ministers of China, Japan and Luxembourg.
During his stay in the United States, PM Shehbaz will also give interviews to various renowned US media outlets.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas for sending the response and rescue team for the flood-affected people in Pakistan.
The prime minister in a tweet said he was moved by the gesture of the people of Palestine.
“Deeply touched by Palestinians’ gesture of sending their Rapid Response and Rescue team to help flood victims in Pakistan,” he said.
PM Sharif termed it as a representation of the brotherhood between the people of Pakistan and Palestine.
“It is a reflection of a strong bond of love and brotherhood we have for each other,” he said. “We will never forget this gesture.”
