LAHORE: Former student Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, and Quaid e Azam University Islamabad, daughter of Director Public Relations Government of Punjab, Pakistan Hamid Javaid Awan, Dr. Naima Hamid had achieved Phd degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology (CIGIT), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS).
She had completed her research work under the supervision of subject specialist and renowned scientist, Director of Environment and Health department Professor Dr. Desheng Pei.
Her quality research and high impact publications had been approved by the examiners and environmental experts. The topic of research was based on the combined Toxicogenetic implications of plastics and emerging pollutants.
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad has on Tuesday fixed date for indictments of former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and Omni Group’s Abdul Ghani Majeed in the mega money laundering case.
According to details, AC Judge Muhammad Azam Khan conducted hearing of the case and summoned the suspects on September 9 for indictments.
The court approved Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur’s petitions seeking exemption from today’s hearing and adjourned the case till September 9.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar has said that under international law enforced disappearance was a crime against humanity and warned that one day the world might wake up and take notice of the impunity with which people continue to disappear in the country without a trace.
Like FATF and sheltering militant organizations it will be yet another albatross around the neck and the state must act before that happened, Baber said while addressing a protest demonstration in front of National Press Club in Islamabad on Monday evening organized by the Defence of Human Rights and civil society organizations to observe the international day of the disappeared.
Relatives of the victims of the disappeared narrated their woes at the gathering.
Farhatullah Babar said that the cancer spread fast after General Musharraf admitted in his memoirs that he had sent hundreds of people to the CIA and earned millions of dollars.
Since then the enforced disappearances has been institutionalized and neither the Parliament, nor the judiciary nor any civilian government was able to do anything about it.
He said that Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari had on this day two years ago promised to make legislation to criminalize disappearances but there has not been able to do anything.
The PPP Senator said, “I do not blame Shireen Mazari for this failure. Perhaps any Minister would have failed. I say this to emphasize that the perpetrators of enforced disappearances were more powerful than all state institutions.”
He said that the impunity of crime was frightening as not a single perpetrator had been held to account.
More than two thousand missing persons had been traced by the Commission on enforced Disappearance whose Chairman admitted before the Senate committee on Human Rights in August 208 that 153 state functionaries had been identified as involved in the crime.
The impunity with which the crime continues despite these facts is frightening, he said. Times and tides change and one day those responsible will have to account for their misdeeds, he warned.
ISLAMABAD: Operating three new routes from London Heathrow to Lahore, London Heathrow to Islamabad, as well as from Manchester to Islamabad; these direct flights and new services will go on sale in September 2020 subject to applicable regulatory approvals,
It will boast Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class, Premium and Economy Light, Classic and Delight offering.
Pakistan has the seventh largest diaspora in the world and the new services aim to respond to the large, fast-growing demand to visit friends and relatives (VFR) from customers in the UK and the US, as well as capturing demand for business travel to the region as global economies gradually recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adventurous travelers will enjoy the UNESCO sights of Lahore, as well as exploring the foothills of the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalayas mountain ranges outside Islamabad.
The services will offer seamless, speedy connections and a consistent long-haul onboard experience for customers travelling from destinations throughout North America, including New York JFK, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and San Francisco via London Heathrow on wards to Pakistan.
Connections from European destinations will also be available through code share and interline partners.
As well as flying customers, Virgin Atlantic will offer a fast, efficient cargo service presenting new opportunities for companies looking to export and import goods such as fresh produce and textiles between prime markets in the UK and US, and Pakistan.
Alison Blackburne, Acting Head of the British High Commission in Pakistan, said: “Virgin Atlantic starting flights to Pakistan is great news for the hundreds of thousands of people who regularly travel between our two nations, as well as a boost to UK-Pakistan trade links. We look forward to welcoming Virgin Atlantic to this fantastic country.”
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic commented: “With travel restrictions remaining in place for many destinations around the world, we’re continually evaluating our network, looking at customer demand and where there are opportunities to launch new services”.
“Pakistan is an extremely exciting opportunity for us – it boasts one of the largest foreign-born populations in both the UK and the US and, as people start to travel to visit loved ones, we’re anticipating the demand to visit friends and relatives will increase post COVID-19.
Both Lahore and Islamabad are popular year-round destinations and we look forward to welcoming travelers onboard as demand for leisure and business travel gradually increases to the region. “We also see a significant opportunity to increase competition in the US – Pakistan market.
Using the strength of our trans-Atlantic services we’re able to offer customers the shortest journey to and from destinations in the US such as New York, Los Angeles and Washington by connecting through London Heathrow”.
Virgin Atlantic restarted passenger flying on 20th July after a three month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently operating flights to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Barbados and Miami with further routes being added throughout September and October.
To ensure the health and safety of customers and crew, Virgin Atlantic is implementing additional measures to offer peace of mind in the airport and when taking to the skies.
These include enhanced and thorough cleaning practices at check in, boarding gates and onboard including the use of electrostatic spraying of high-grade disinfectant in all cabins and lavatories before every flight, ensuring no surface is left untouched.
Safe distancing will also be adhered to wherever possible, and mask wearing will be required throughout the journey. All customers will be provided with a personal Health Pack for their health and safety, which will contain three medical grade face masks to be worn onboard, surface wipes and hand gel.
The airline is offering a temporary simplified hot food service in all cabins and from October, will be reintroducing special meals catering for individual dietary requirements including Halal, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.
Meals have been redesigned to limit interaction, enclosed and controlled from preparation in a Covid-safe, monitored environment to the moment it is served.
Economy and Premium Economy customers will now enjoy a “Fly safe, eat well” meal box, which incorporates a choice of three hot meals, cheese and biscuits and a dessert pot washed down with a selection of beverages.
Upper Class customers will receive a choice of three hot meals, desserts, including cheese & biscuits and a ciabatta roll, all delivered to their seat on a tray. All customers will receive a second meal service which, on day flights from the UK, includes the delicious Mile High Tea in collaboration with celebrity pâtissier Eric Lanlard.
ISLAMABAD: Residents of Punjab and Islamabad, take out your umbrellas and rain coats–monsoon rains will hit the province starting Thursday.
Multiple cities such as Sialkot, Lahore, Multan, Jhelum, Chakwal, Narowal, Faisalabad and Gujranwala received rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday.
Murree witnessed a downpour for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Following the rains, the weather in the district turned pleasant and tourists came out o the streets to enjoy the rain and scenery.
The temperature in some areas dropped after the rain.
On the other hand, an emergency has been declared in Sialkot due to heavy rain in the city. Experts have warned of medium-level floods in nullahs and drains of the Chenab and Ravi rivers.
The outflow of water at the Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River on Wednesday night at was recorded at 92,000 cusecs while it was 145,000 cusecs at Marala on the Chenab River.
In Lahore, rain wrecked havoc. Four members of a family died in a roof collapse. In similar incidents, several people were stuck under the debris for hours until they were finally pulled out by rescue workers.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast more rain in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Thursday. An emergency has also been declared at all hospitals.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also hit by heavy rains. Rainwater accumulated on roads and in small villages and houses were destroyed, leaving residents stranded. Electricity supply in multiple areas was also suspended after feeders tripped and transformers were damaged.
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said that the international community doesn’t consider occupied Kashmir conflict as internal matter of India.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the foreign minister said that six political parties of occupied Kashmir had rejected the Indian government’s illegal step of ending special status of the valley by abrogating Article 370 and forged an alliance to wage a joint struggle aimed at reviving the old status of the territory.
This is not something ordinary but an important development as a joint statement issued by these parties bore the signatures of Farooq Abdullah and enjoyed the support of the Congress party, the main opposition party in India, Qureshi said.
He said it is a clear message to the Modi government that the Kashmiris have stood up against the illegal steps of August 5. India resorted to illegal steps to alter the demographic profile of the disputed territory, he lamented.
The economy of Kashmir has collapsed due to Indian action and increasing human rights violations
FM Qureshi further said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has raised Kashmir matter on every platform for the freedom of innocent people living in this valley.
Kashmiris are still fighting for their right of self-determination, he stated.
The Foreign Minister said Kashmiri people’s struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination has taken a new turn with an indigenous political resistance movement picking up in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
To a question, he clarified that Saudi Arabia’s stance on the Kashmir dispute remains unchanged. He expressed the optimism that the intra-Afghan dialogue will pave the way for peace in the neighbouring country.
ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Afghan Taliban’s led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will arrive in Islamabad tonight.
According to a statement issued by Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry said that the Afghan Taliban delegation is coming to Pakistan at the invitation of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The delegation will hold talks with the Pakistani leadership on the Afghan reconciliation process.
Taliban spokesman Sohail Shaheen took to the twitter to confirm the visit and said that Mullah Baradar would lead the delegation to Pakistan at the invitation of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.
He wrote in the tweet that the officials of the Islamic Emirate regularly visit other countries of the world as part of the political strategy of the organization to present their views on the peace process.
Earlier in February, the United States of America and the Afghan Taliban signed the peace deal in Qatar – the capital city of Doha after a long spell of negotiations,
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on Thursday has said that relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are unique, strong, and deep rooted in religion, culture and social ties.
During a weekly news briefing in Islamabad, the spokesperson said that Prime Minister Imran (PM) Imran Khan’s remarks on the subject in his recent media engagement and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s just concluded visit to Saudi Arabia testify to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two brotherly countries.
Pakistan values Saudi Arabia’s important role in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Zahid Hafeez said that OIC Contact Group has held four meetings on the Kashmir issue since India’s unilateral and illegal actions on August 5 last year.
OIC has been condemning the Indian human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and also calling for resolution of the dispute under the UN resolutions, he went on to say.
Answering a question about the agreement between the UAE and Israel for normalization of relations, the spokesperson said there is no change in Pakistan’s principled position on Palestine.
He said Pakistan has consistently supported a two state solution in accordance with UNSC and OIC resolutions as well as international law with pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine.
Pakistan’s approach will be guided by our evaluation of how Palestinians’ rights and aspirations are upheld and how regional, peace and security and stability are preserved, he stated.
LAHORE: Heavy monsoon rain has turned the road and streets of the provincial metropolis into streams while people are facing hardships due to water that lashed Lahore. Other parts of the province as well as country witnessed the heavy spell of monsoon but the weather turned pleasant.
Heavy downpour in different areas inundated roads and streets in the provincial capital and commuters faced immense difficulties while trying to carry on with their routines.
Several Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) feeders tripped due heavy rain in Lahore, which started on Wednesday night, plunging half of the city into darkness.
Rain was also reported in other parts of the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Joharabad, Khushab, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Kasur, Jhang, Bhakkar, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Chiniot and other cities . Meanwhile, Met Office has predicted more rain during next 24 hours.
According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, strong monsoon currents are penetrating Pakistan that will produce widespread rains during next three to four days in the country.
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court has selected September 9 framing charges against former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Toshakhana reference.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari appeared before the accountability court Monday to attend a hearing in the reference.
The PPP leader arrived in Islamabad from Karachi on Sunday evening with his son and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the party leadership had advised workers not to attend his hearing.
As soon as the former president arrived in the courtroom, Bilawal called upon all party workers to leave the premises. He urged even the attorneys’ assistants to leave the courtroom due to the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic.
Zardari’s lawyer Farooq H Naek complained to the court that he was not allowed inside the courtroom despite being a senior lawyer. “This is neither a military court not an in-camera trial,” he said. “I am a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and police pushed me away with their shields,” he added.
Naek pointed out that former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani contracted COVID-19 after appearing before the court. He wondered who will be held responsible if the same happened to Zardari.
Abdul Ghani Majeed’s lawyer requested the court to allow the suspect to be presented before the court.
The accountability court judge said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s matter before the court will be heard on August 25
The accountability court judge said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s matter before the court will be heard on August 25. “By that time, the IHC’s verdict will also be released,” he said.
The court refused to proceed further against Nawaz till the verdict of the IHC was released. Responding to complaints of the lawyers regarding the police, the judge said that even he encountered difficulties when reaching the court premises.
“I was also stopped at the police checkpost and had to take a u-turn to arrive at the court from another road,” said the judge, adding that he would take up the matter with the administration so that such disturbance doesn’t take place in the future.
The judge then proceeded to say that September 9 has been fixed as the date when charges against Zardari will be framed. Gillan and Abdul Ghani Majeed have also been summoned to court on the same day.
The NAB reference filed against Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif accuses them of obtaining the cars from Toshakhana (gift depository) by paying 15% of the price of the cars.
Zardari also received cars as gifts from Libya and the UAE when he was president and used them for his personal use instead of depositing them in the treasury, the anti-graft body had alleged
Former premier Yousuf Raza Gillani has been accused of facilitating Zardari and Nawaz in this matter. The anti-graft body has accused Gillani of relaxing the procedure for acceptance and disposal of gifts.
Khawaja Anwar Majeed and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, owners of the Omni Group, are also nominated as accused in the reference.
According to reports, Nawaz was not holding any public office in 2008 but was given a vehicle without any justification. NAB says the leaders have been charged with corruption under sub-sections 2, 4, 7 and 12 of Section 9 (A) of the NAB Ordinance.
The Toshakhana (gift depository) gift from any country to the head of the state remains the property of the government unless sold at an open auction. Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a market value of less than Rs10,000 without paying anything.
