Man dies after jumping off Lahore plaza to escape fire

A man, who had jumped off a plaza in Lahore in the wake of a fire, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Saturday.

The deceased, identified as Imran, breathed his last during treatment at the city's Services Hospital, the medical superintendent (MS) of the hospital confirmed.

The fire brigade personnel doused off a blaze erupted at the Ali Towers situated on Lahore's MM Alam road. 

At least two people jumped off from the building in a bid to escape the fire. Both the injured were shifted to the hospital for immediate treatment, one of whom succumbed to his injuries.

"Every single person was rescued from the building," the provincial information minister Fayaz ul Hasan Chohan said while speaking to the media.  

The local administration said that the fire has been extinguished at the basement of the plaza and the procedural cooling process has been completed.

"The plaza is owned by former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif's son-in-law. Investigations are underway on the cause of the fire," Chohan said while briefing the media over the incident. 

Seven fire tenders took part in extinguishing the fire, with the personnel entering the affected building through an adjacent building.  

Lahore Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Anwarul Haq said the fire brigade personnel immediately arrived after the blaze erupted at the building's basement. 

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed the authorities to investigate the fire incident and have summoned report from the Punjab Inspector General.

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Serena Williams loses to Naomi Osaka in US Open after 'umpire thief' fiasco

Serena Williams' bid for a 24th Grand Slam title imploded in a furious tirade against umpire Carlos Ramos, calling him a thief after he docked her a point for two code violations.

Osaka, 20, triumphed 6-2, 6-4 in the match marred by Williams's second set outburst, the American enraged by umpire Carlos Ramos's warning for receiving coaching from her box.

Her outburst then earned her a game penalty, prompting a further outburst to tournament officials and putting Osaka within one game of victory.

The altercation started when Williams smashed her racket to smithereens and Ramos gave her a code violation warning. Coupled with the prior coaching warning, this indicates she's given a point penalty.

Pausing the game, she went up to the umpire, telling him: "You owe me an apology."

"Every time I play here, I have problems. I did not have coaching, I don't cheat. You need to make an announcement. I have a daughter and I stand for what's right. You owe me an apology."

Ramos, however, remained poised but in a manner that showed his clear distaste towards Williams.

"For you to attack my character is wrong. You owe me an apology. You will never be on a court with me as long as you live. You are the liar. You owe me an apology. Say it. Say you're sorry.

"How dare you insinuate that I was cheating? You stole a point from me. You're a thief too.

"This is not right. It's because I'm a woman. This happens to me every time I play here. It's not right. It's not fair. I've worked so hard to be in this position."

Subsequently, Osaka got off a perfect start at 15-0 with only three points away from the title. Despite Williams levelling the game, her opponent managed to lead again with a service winner and following another one, secured her victory.

While Osaka was declared the 2018 US Open champion and Williams made a cursory embrace, the latter refused to shake Ramos' hand, telling him, again, he owed her "an apology".

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US to cut off aid to Palestinian hospitals in al-Quds

The United States has decided to cut off financial aid to Jerusalem al-Quds hospitals that provide cancer treatments and other critical care for Palestinians, amid warnings of the “collapse” of medical centers.

Alessia Dinkel, the US State Department spokeswoman, told the National Public Radio (NPR) on Friday  that the administration of President Donald Trump is cutting $25 million it had planned to give to the East Jerusalem al-Quds Hospital Network, a group of six hospitals, some church-run, which provide care primarily to Palestinians.

According to the World Health Organization, the medical centers provide healthcare for Palestinians to whom such medical assistance is unavailable in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip.

Adnan Husseini, Palestinian Authority minister for Jerusalem al-Quds affairs, said the latest cuts were “not surprising at all”, stressing that Palestinians would not surrender to pressure from Washington.

“Let America know that all these acts will not change our position toward our cause one bit. On the contrary, it consolidates our positions toward every issue, including Jerusalem [al-Quds]," Husseini told NPR.

Dave Harden, a former senior US official overseeing aid to the Palestinians under the Obama administration, said the cuts were “particularly vindictive”, warning that they could cause the “collapse” of two of the medical centers in the East Jerusalem al-Quds network.

Last Friday, the US announced it would end all funding to the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, and the previous week cut over $200 million in aid for the West Bank and Gaza.

The US-Palestine ties deteriorated last December, when Trump declared Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and announced plans to transfer the embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city.

The contentious move led Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to formally declare that the Palestinians would no longer accept the US as a mediator to resolve the conflict because Washington was “completely biased” towards Tel Aviv.

Experts in the US have warned over the Trump administration’s single-minded focus on satisfying the short-term goals of Israel and its supporters in the US, even at the cost of American interests.

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Egypt sentences 75 people to death over 2013 Cairo sit-in

An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 75 people for their participation in sit-in protests following the 2013 ouster of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi.

Among those sentenced to death by hanging Saturday at the Cairo Criminal Court were prominent Muslim Brotherhood members Essam al-Erian and Mohamed Beltagi and prominent Islamic preacher Safwat Higazi.

Of the 75 people, 44 are in jail and 31 are on the run.

Another 56 defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, including Mohamed Badie, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Prominent photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was handed a five-year sentence. He was detained in August 2013 while covering the killings in Cairo.

On August 14, 2013, police dispersed a mass sit-in protest in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya Square. The security forces killed over 800 people in a matter of hours, in what Human Rights Watch (HRW) concluded "likely amounted to crimes against humanity".

Rights groups have criticized the mass trial of more than 700 people in what has become known as the Rabaa case.

Government forces moved in with armored vehicles, bulldozers, and hundreds of security forces moving in the early hours.

According to HRW, nearly 85,000 protesters joined the sit-in, which extended for over 45 days and grew larger and more organized with time.

International rights groups have censured Egyptian authorities for failing to prosecute those members of the security forces who were involved in an August 2013 massacre of hundreds of protesters.

The protest was staged by supporters of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first elected president and Muslim Brotherhood leader, who was overthrown by the military a few weeks earlier.

Morsi was sentenced to death on charges of corruption, escaping from prison, and inciting violence before the Court of Cassation overturned that ruling in November last year and ordered a retrial.

Thousands were arrested on the day of the massacre and in the months following.

Since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in 2014, authorities have justified a crackdown on dissent and freedoms as being directed at saboteurs trying to undermine the state. Death sentences have been handed down to hundreds of his political opponents on charges such as belonging to an illegal organization or planning to carry out an attack.

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Israel imposes travel ban on Palestinian resistance icon Tamimi, family

Israeli authorities have banned Palestinian resistance icon Ahed al-Tamimi and her family from traveling abroad, nearly two months after she was released from Israeli prison after serving an eight-month sentence for slapping an Israeli soldier.

Her father Basim al-Tamimi told Turkey's official Anadolu news agency on Friday that the family had planned to travel to Europe via Jordan in order to participate in some events pertaining to the  the Palestinian protest movement, and the Palestinian prisoners' sufferings in Israeli detention centers.

They were, however, informed by Palestinian officials that Israel had banned them from traveling abroad without providing a reason.

He added that they had planned to leave on Friday morning.

She was also planning a visit to Iran.

In an exclusive interview with Press TV, Ahed's father said Israel barred her daughter's trip for fear that she would foil the Israeli regime's "schemes for the disintegration of the region" by forging close relations with the enemies of Israel.

Israel prevented Ahed from travelling abroad, because she "has become a global ambassador for humanity," and "Israel is afraid of the sympathy and unity among its opponents," Ahed's father told Press TV.

On July 29, Tamimi, a resident of Nabi Saleh village that is located 20 kilometers northwest of Ramallah, and her mother, Nariman, were released from an Israeli prison after serving an eight-month sentence on assault and incitement charges and arrived home to a hero’s welcome.

The 17-year-old girl was detained by Israeli forces last December after a video of the curly-haired teen kicking and slapping two armed Israeli soldiers in protective gear went viral on Facebook. Israeli military forces had raided her home to arrest her brother.

In March, an Israeli court handed down an eight-month prison sentence to the Palestinian teenage protester for “attacking” Israeli forces. 

Israeli forces have on occasions arrested members of Tamimi’s family, including brothers and parents, for their opposition to Israel’s invasion of Palestinian lands. 

Israeli forces shot dead her uncle Rushdie al-Tamimi in Nabi Saleh village in 2012. 

Her aunt Bassima al-Tamimi was beaten to death by an Israeli policeman in 1993 while attending her son's trial session at the time.

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Trump’s former campaign aide sentenced to 14 days in prison

US President Donald Trump’s former aide, George Papadopoulos, has been sentenced to 14 days in prison.

Papadopoulos, a former aide to then-Republican candidate Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, was also sentenced on Friday to one year of supervised release and 200 hours of community service. He has to pay a fine of $9,500.

This came after he had pleaded guilty last year to lying to federal agents who were investigating whether campaign members coordinated with Russia before the election.

According to prosecutors for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Papadopoulos did not tell the truth when being interrogated by agents about his contacts with the Russians during the campaign.

He did so in order “to minimize both his own role as a witness and the extent of the campaign’s knowledge of his contacts,” read the government’s sentencing memorandum.

London-based professor Joseph Mifsud, was among those contacts, who told him the Russians allegedly had “dirt” on Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the form of “thousands of emails.”

“He didn’t come close to the standard of ‘substantial assistance,’” prosecutor Andrew Goldstein told the judge at the sentencing hearing Friday. “It was at best, begrudging efforts to cooperate.”

At the hearing, Papadopoulos told the judge that he hoped to “have a second chance to redeem myself,” adding, “I made a dreadful mistake but I am a good man.”

Trump and the key members of his team have been under investigation for allegedly "colluding" with Moscow during the 2016 campaign.

Russia has time and again denied the allegations on interfering in other countries’ democratic process, dismissing them as part of a “Russophobia” campaign run by the West.

“Everything about the so-called Russian dossier in the US is a manifestation of continuing domestic political struggle,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said last year.

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Boxer Amir Khan beats Samuel Vargas in unanimous points decision

British-Pakistan boxer emerged the victor against Samuel Vargas of Colombia, succeeding in his quest to win the welterweight world title.

Khan managed to overcome his opponent in all 12 rounds of the game, with the decision of his win being made based on points.

He returned to the ring after a blistering performance against Phil Lo Greco earlier this year, in April, that only lasted 39 seconds. It was his first fight in nearly two years since an injury.

Prior to the game, the 31-year-old said he was hoping a convincing display will get him a world title fight before the end of the year. "I’ve trained in LA for 10 weeks," he said, adding: "It was a tough schedule and did a lot of running, swimming, and boxing. Inshallah [God be willing], I will be ready.

"The fight against Vargas will be tough but I’ve prayers and support from everyone. I know I’ve trained very hard for this fight so nothing can go wrong and I really believe that I will win in style."

Khan, who became Britain's youngest Olympic medallist in 2004 at the age of 17, said: "My next fight after this will be for the world title; the fight against Vargas is an interim fight before that so basically this fight is the one before the world title fight."

"In my whole boxing career, I’ve won the world title three times. Winning one more will be amazing for my career," he added.

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Dr Arif Alvi to take oath as 13th president today

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Dr Arif Alvi, who was declared the 13th president of the country will take oath of office today (Sunday).

Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar will administer the oath to Alvi.

The ceremony will be attended by Mamnoon Hussain, the former president, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), members of the federal cabinet, judges and foreign ambassadors. 

He will take over the office from Mamnoon Hussain, the former president who completed his tenure on Saturday.

Alvi who was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of the PTI from Karachi’s NA-247 constituency during the July 25 polls, resigned from his seat earlier this week.

Arif Alvi — the newly elected President

Born in 1949 and a dentist by profession, Arif Alvi is among the founding members of the PTI.

Even during his student years, Arif ur Rehman Alvi had an inclination towards politics. While studying at the De'Montmorency College of Dentistry in Lahore, he was an active member of student unions protesting against the then-President Gen. Ayub Khan. Later, in 1979, he decided to run for office as a candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami, for a provincial constituency in Karachi, his hometown.

The dentist tried his luck in the political arena again in 1996. That year, he joined the lesser-known and fledgeling political party lead by the cricket star, Imran Khan.

Alvi ran for the seat of Provincial Assembly of Sindh as a candidate of PTI from constituency PS-114 (Karachi) in General Election 1997, however, he remained unsuccessful.

He ran for the seat of Provincial Assembly of Sindh in General Election 2002 as a candidate of PTI from constituency PS-90 (Karachi-II) but remained unsuccessful. He secured only 1,276 votes in the poll.

He served as the secretary general of PTI from 2006 to 2013.

Alvi was elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time in General Election 2013 on a PTI ticket from NA-250 constituency of Karachi.

Alvi was the only PTI member to win a National Assembly seat from Sindh in the 2013 elections.

In 2016, he was made the president of PTI Sindh chapter.

He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-247 (Karachi South-II) in General Election 2018.

On September 4, members of the national and provincial assemblies voted Alvi as the President of Pakistan.

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Pak-China ties based on convergence of views, mutual respect: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday said the relationship between Pakistan and China is based on convergence of views and mutual respect, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The statement was made at the Chinese foreign minister's meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Appreciating professionalism of Pakistan Army, the ISPR said, Yi said the world should acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts towards regional peace and stability.

He appreciated security provided to CPEC and said that China believes in inclusive prosperity.

On the occasion, General Bajwa thanked the Chinese foreign minister for his visit and continued Chinese support to Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan has suffered from global contestation, but it was poised to claim its rightful place in the comity of nations through commitment to peace and stability both within and without.

The Chinese foreign minister was accompanied by China's Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing and other delegates.

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Fawad Offers Formation of Commission To Probe Poll Rigging

The information minister Fawad Chaudhry once again offered setting up of the parliamentary commission to probe rigging in polls 2018 asked the opposition to appraise government what kind of rigging was done.

In his reaction through press conference over the N-League leaders’ presser in Islamabad, Fawad Chaudhry said that they had no objection to the formation of commission and were ready to investigate rigging allegations.

“However, the opposition failed to indicate where rigging was done and what kind of investigation they wanted,” he said.Bureaucracy Reshuffle As Per Law Instead Favouritism: FawadResponding allegation of political revenge, PTI leader said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz sent to jail during the tenure of N-League government,

“Shehbaz allegation of revenge baseless as history is the witness of their corruption. They accumulated such huge wealth during their tenure never be done any other ruler,” he responds swiftly.

Responding q query over the rise in prices of gas, power, Fawad said that government has not increased prices of gas and fertilizer as the PML-N government has destroyed the agriculture but PTI government was trying to push the sinking boat of the economy to the shore.

He suggested to the opposition, “They should donate 1000 dollar each for the construction of dams rather criticizing government as I assure you your money will be only spent on dams.”

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HRCP Expresses Concern Over Atif Mian’s EAC Withdrawal

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concern over the government’s decision to withdraw its nomination of Dr. Atif Mian for the Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

In a statement issued today, HRCP has said: “There is overwhelming evidence to show that Dr. Mian was eminently qualified to serve on the EAC and that his contribution to economic policymaking in Pakistan would have been immensely valuable. ”

The government’s decision to withdraw this nomination on the grounds that it might prove divisive – merely because he happens to belong to the Ahmadiyya community contravenes Article 27(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which clearly states that ‘no citizen otherwise qualified for appointment in the service of Pakistan shall be discriminated against in respect of any such appointment on the ground only of race, religion, caste, sex, residence or place of birth.’

‘HRCP welcomes the government’s desire, as expressed earlier, to promote inclusivity by carrying with it all social groups. This sentiment, however, cannot be applied arbitrarily or selectively and certainly not at the expense of beleaguered religious communities that are entitled to the state’s protection and to civil society’s support.”

It said defending human rights is necessarily a question of moral courage and HRCP strongly urges the government to avoid any sort of precedent that allows a person’s faith to trump all other criteria for public service.

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Egypt Sentences 75 To Death Over Rabaa Protests

An Egyptian court has sentenced 75 people to death, including senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, over a 2013 sit-in protest in Cairo that ended with the killing of hundreds of protesters. Al Jazeera reported.

Senior Brotherhood leaders Essam el-Erian and Mohamed Beltagi were sentenced to death, while Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood’s spiritual leader, was handed a life sentence.Prominent photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was handed a five-year sentence but should walk free for time served. He was arrested in August 2013 while covering the killings in Cairo.

Lawyers for Shawkan said he would be out in a “few days”.

Those sentenced on Saturday are accused of security-related offenses, including incitement to violence and organizing illegal protests.The protest was staged by supporters of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first elected president and Muslim Brotherhood leader, who was overthrown by the military a few weeks earlier.

Thousands were arrested on the day of the massacre and in the months following.

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Karachi: Rangers Arrest 2 In Different Raids

Rangers have arrested 2 suspects and recovered illegal weapons and ammunition during action in the areas of Saeedabad and Baldia town.

The accused are recognized as Jahanzeb and Adnan.

Accused Jahanzeb was wanted in Lyari Grenade attacks, target killing, extra extortion money, and drugs smuggling while Adnan is wanted in Uzair Baloch Group clashes.

Police are investigating further.

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Saudi Information Minister Meets Army Chief Gen Bajwa

The Saudi information minister Dr Awwad Bin Saleh Al Awwad called on Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday.

Matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting, said a statement issued here by military media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The visiting dignitary lauded the strong and brotherly bilateral ties between the two countries.

He also reaffirmed Saudi governments’ full support to Pakistan in its efforts towards peace and stability.

Earlier, in his meeting with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, the Saudi minister said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed the strong fraternal relationship and now would work to enhance ties in the field of media.

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Saudi leadership wishes to work with new Pakistan govt: Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Saudi Information Minister Awwad Bin Saleh Al Awwad on Saturday called on Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and expressed the Saudi leadership's desire to work with the new Pakistani government.

The foreign minister welcomed the wishes of the Saudi leadership, stressing need for promoting economic cooperation between the two countries, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said.

The two figures agreed to enhance contacts between leaders of the two states. On the occasion, Qureshi also invited Saudi investors for investment in Pakistan.

The Saudi information minister later called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed matters of mutual interest with him, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The visiting dignitary lauded the strong and brotherly bilateral ties, the ISPR added, reaffirming Saudi Arabia's full support to Pakistan in its efforts towards peace and stability.

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Rasheed Claims to Bring Down Railway Deficit To Zero In A Year

Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad reaffirmed his commitment on Saturday to bring down a deficit of Railways to zero within one year and also announced the donation of Rs 100 million per annum for dams funds.

Chairing a meeting at Railway Headquarters in Lahore, he said it has been decided to remove ghost contractual employees in Pakistan Railways to lessen the financial burden.The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Railway Aftab Akbar and other officials.

He announced an additional tax on tickets and said that two rupees tax will be imposed on Rs 100 ticket of economy class while Rs 10 will be added as a tax on tickets of AC class.

He also announced that PM Imran Khan will inaugurate Margalla Express and Minawali Express. He also mentioned that another train Moenjo Daro Express and train for poor and labourers will also be inaugurated soon. Earlier, the minister announced to introduce a modern tracking system in his department that will help reduce journey between Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Speaking to media after inaugurating a plant nursery at Margalla Railway Station Islamabad, Rashid claimed to bring a definite change in the Railways department until December.

Railways will soon be developed as a modern technical organization offering facilities to everyone, he added.

The Minister asserted that passenger trains will be plied on branch lines of Railways as well.

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Fire erupts at Lahore plaza on MM Alam road

Fire erupted at Ali Towers situated on Lahore's MM Alam road on Saturday, rescue sources said.

Reports suggest that a men fell off the building in a bid to escape the fire.

The man sustained critical injuries and has been shifted to a nearby hospital by the local administration.

The rescue teams have reached the site of the incident and the fire brigade personnel are currently engaged in dousing off the fire.

The rescue authorities on the ground suspect that a number of people are stuck in the building.

The fire has been extinguished at the basement of the plaza and the procedural cooling process is underway.

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President Mamnoon receives farewell guard of honor

Outgoing President Mamnoon Hussain on Saturday was given a farewell guard of honor by a smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces.

Mamnoon Hussain completed his five year tenure as President of Pakistan on Saturday.

At a special ceremony, the outgoing president also inspected the guard of honor.

Earlier, President Mamnoon held a farewell meeting with the officers and the workers of the President House and thanked them for extending cooperation to him during his five-year term.

The president told the staffers that during his tenure, he always adhered to his constitutional limits and strived to fulfill his responsibilities.

He said some misunderstandings prevailed in the society regarding the responsibilities of the president because in the past, some presidents had pursued the policies of their liking and disliking instead of following the law and the constitution.

The president said after leaving the presidency, he would restart living the life of a common man.

He advised the President House’s staffers to enable their children meet the modern trends by learning modern skills because the education could guarantee the development of any society.

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Four more members to join PM Imran's federal cabinet

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday gave the go-ahead to include four more ministers in the federal cabinet, said his spokesperson.

Umar Ayub Khan, Ali Zaidi and Muhammad Mian Soomro will be inducted into the federal cabinet.

The spokesperson said that Umar Ayub Khan will be given the portfolio of Energy, Ali Zaidi will take the charge of Maritime Affairs, and former Senate Chairperson Muhammad Mian Soomro will be the Minister of Privatization while Murad Saeed's portfolio would be announced later.

Sources have said that Saeed would be given the state minister's portfolio.

The federal cabinet has now as many as 23-member cabinets with the recent inclusion of ministers.

PM Khan has not given the Ministry of Interior portfolio to any of his cabinet members and has taken the resignation of Advisor Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan due to his graft cases before the National Accountability Bureau.

PTI's Naeemul Haq and Iftikhar Durrani have been appointed as special assistant to the Prime Minister on political affairs and media affairs respectively.

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Operation launched in federal capital against illegal encroachments: Fawad

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that a massive operation has been launched in the federal capital against illegal encroachments.

Talking to media persons in Islamabad, he said that an area of two kilometers was cleared today from illegal occupation, which will benefit the masses. He said this is the first phase of operation, which has been started after due legal process.

The Information Minister said that the second phase of operation will be launched after Muharram-ul-Harram. He warned the encroachers to clear the land they have occupied illegally; otherwise, strict action will be taken against them.

Fawad Chaudhry said that the drive against encroachments would be expanded to other cities including Lahore.

Responding to a question, the Information Minister said that the prime minister will visit Karachi soon where the local government and the federal government will collectively launch a cleanliness drive. He said the people of Karachi have given us the mandate and we will live up to their expectations.

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Deputy Speaker NA donates one month salary to Dam fund

Deputy Speaker National Assembly Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri has donated his one month salary to the fund opened for construction of dams.

In a statement, he said the country is faced with serious water shortages and construction of dams is of paramount importance to cope with the situation.

The deputy speaker urged the people to contribute to the construction of dams.

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Fazal Warns Dire Consequences If Govt Intervenes in Madaris

The chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) warned on Saturday that if the government intervene in religious seminary it would have to face dire consequences.

“We know what are the objectives behind the formation of Economic Advisory Council (EAC), therefore any attempt to meddling in madaris system will face stiff resistance,” JUI-F chief said while addressing to a rally in Bannu.Raising the question over the transparency of election, MMA head said that the results of the election 2018 were against what the people hoped as the echo of rigging in polls being heard in the entire country.

“After rigging in polls the present majority of PTI, chief ministers and prime minister are all bogus and fake,” he said.Commenting over the PM Imran’s pledge to turn Pakistan into Madina like state he said that government has increased the prices of gas and other items in its initial phase and how one can hope Imran will create Madina like state.

He alleged that PTI pushing the youths towards the wrong way, however, JUI will bring back the youth to the piteous way.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan while rejecting the allegations of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman maintained that the General Elections 2018 were fair, transparent and impartial.ECP Rejects Fazl’s Accusations Regarding Rigged Polls“Accusations lacking evidence is deplorable and contrary to the facts. Not respecting the mandate of public without any justification is against the rules of democracy,” asserted then ECP spokesperson.

The commission stressed that the tradition of pressurizing national institutions should end. “ECP is an independent institution and will not tolerate any sort of pressure,” the spokesperson responded.On September 06, Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) leader Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman called the present government a fake and unconstitutional demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner over alleged rigging in polls.

Speaking to the media in Peshawar, the JUI-F leader said that all political parties had expressed their reservations over rigging in the election.

“Parties have not accepted the result of the polls. There is still time for the election commission to accept its failure and the chief election commissioner to tender his resignation,” said Rehman.

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US accused of blocking UN climate talks amid protests

The United States, despite withdrawing from a landmark accord aimed at curbing climate change, is stonewalling vital UN talks over how to fund poorer nations as they battle against global warming, sources told AFP Saturday.

US President Donald Trump caused global outrage by withdrawing from the Paris Accord last year but his country is still committed to the deal´s roadmap, giving Washington leverage over the Bangkok conference.

The issue of how funds are made available to developing nations has emerged as a key sticking point at the talks, which have made little headway since they opened on Tuesday.

The Paris deal — hailed as a game-changer when struck in 2015 — promised $100 billion annually from 2020 to poor nations already coping with floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change.

But it left room for debate over how that money should be provided, as well as how donor nations would source and report their contributions.

Washington has tabled a proposal with support from Japan and Australia that seeks to remove rules on how countries account for their climate action funding, multiple sources close to the negotiations told AFP.

This would mean that developed economies — responsible for the lion´s share of planet-warming-feeding carbon emissions — could still count commercial loans and pre-existing state funding as part of their finance obligations.

Observers in Bangkok said the US and some other developed economies were also refusing point blank to discuss the contentious issue of how rich nations inform other states of their future funding plans.

A State Department spokeswoman declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

The US position is starkly at odds with that of the developing nations, which insist that transparent and predictable finance is needed to effectively plan investment in new technologies and carbon reduction.

A senior climate negotiator told AFP that the US delegation in Bangkok was "poisoning" discussions aimed at creating a clear roadmap to implementing what nations agreed in the Paris deal.

"The US is no longer playing the game but it´s still setting the rules," said the negotiator, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Talks in danger?

Activists rounded on the US, accusing Washington of endangering hard-earned gains on a global initiative to stop runaway global warming.

"The role of the US negotiators at the talks is actively hindering progress at this critical stage," Harjeet Singh, the global lead on climate change for pressure group ActionAid, told AFP.

He also accused other negotiating blocs, including the European Union, of "standing on the sidewalk" by failing to stand up for developing countries.

The Paris agreement, struck in December 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius by 2100, shooting for no more than a 1.5C increase if at all possible.

Talks in Bangkok, which wrap up Sunday, aim to narrow down options to present to ministers and heads of state at the COP 24 climate summit in Poland in December.

Experts warn that the world is running out of time to prevent catastrophic temperature rises.

Protests were planned Saturday in cities across the world to call on leaders to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change.

In Bangkok, dozens of labourers and fisherman from the Gulf of Thailand whose livelihoods are threatened by rising sea levels joined demonstrators outside the UN.

While many observers assumed that the US would take a back seat in climate talks under the Trump administration, pressure groups said America was instead undermining the Paris process.

"In leading the charge to block practically every discussion on finance for the Paris guidelines, the US administration is threatening the future of the agreement and multilateralism itself," said Jesse Bragg, from the watchdog Corporate Accountability.

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Punjab cabinet members to donate one-month salary to dams fund

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced on Saturday, that members of the Punjab cabinet will contribute one month's salary to the fund for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.

Chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, the chief minister said, "Construction of dams is the need of the hour."

He added, "The Punjab cabinet fully supports Prime Minister Imran Khan’s step towards curbing the water crisis in the country."

A day earlier, the prime minister in his address to the nation, said he has been taking presentations since the last two week on the issues faced by the country.

"The largest problem is the water issue in the country," he said.

PM Imran said that it was crucial for Pakistan to build dams as failure to do so could be detrimental to its future generations.

He lauded Chief Justice Saqib Nisar for taking initiative for construction of dams which was primary responsibility of the politicians, saying: “Experts say if we do not make dams we will face a drought in seven years. We have to start making dams from today.”

The top judge, who announced the fund in July this year, had himself donated Rs1 million to the account created solely for the purpose of raising money for the construction of the dams.

Justice Nisar's donation was the first contribution to the said account, said a statement on the Supreme Court’s website dated July 5, 2018.

PM Imran said the prime minister and chief justice's fund for the construction of dams would be combined.

He had urged, Pakistanis in Europe and the US to contribute at least $1000.

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By-polls to be held on one NA, nine provincial assembly seats in KP

 The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released on Saturday the schedule for by-polls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

According to ECP, by-polls will be held on one National Assembly and nine provincial assembly seats. 

By-polls will be held on NA-35 Bannu, PK-3 Swat, PK-7 Swat, PK-44 Swabi, PK-53 Mardan, PK-61 Nowshera, PK-78 Peshawar, PK-97 Dera Ismail Khan and PK-99 Dera Ismail Khan.

The number of registered users in KP according to the ECP are:

NA-35 Bannu has 582,785 registered voters

PK-3 Swat has 146,180 registered voters

PK-7 Swat has 155,719 registered voters

PK-44 Swabi has 202,601 registered voters

PK-53 Mardan has 153,352 registered voters

PK-61 Nowshera has 139,517 registered voters

PK-64 Nowshera has 160,728 registered voters

PK-78 Peshawar has 175,379 registered voters

PK-97 Dera Ismail Khan has 155,032 registered voters

PK-99 Dera Ismail Khan has 158,670 registered voters

By-elections on national and provincial assembly seats will be held countrywide on October 14.

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Pakistan Army sees Russia as strategic partners: RUSI

A leading British security think has assessed that for the first time in 200 years, Pakistan Army has abandoned the British Raj policy of confronting Russia for control over Central Asia – and now Pakistan’s Army sees the Russians as their strategic partners.

In a detailed analysis published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), it has been argued that Pakistan’s Army, emboldened by Operations Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul Fasaad, has taken concrete steps of reforms and relationship which demonstrate that Pakistan doesn’t see Russia as a threat anymore and closer defence relationship between the former hostile powers is visible.

Kamal Alam, RUSI’s Fellow on defence and author of the report, wrote that Pakistan Army has pushed militants out of FATA and cleared the area of those groups fighting the Pakistani state, have announced an end to the British-era policy of the Frontier Crimes Regulation which residents of the FATA are denied basic legal rights.

“This would mean the fabled ‘buffer zone’ of Curzon and British India would be no more, once the incoming Parliament passes it in law in the coming year. This means that for the first time there is no need to have a tribal area. FATA will be abolished, and the areas on the Afghan border will be brought in line with the laws of the Pakistani state. In effect, the Russian threat is over. Pakistan’s Army and Russia are sealing an ever-closer defence relationship which will have a strategic impact on the world stage for years to come. Pakistan’s Army has also won over Moscow and Tehran to their side of the Afghan issue after decades of mistrust.

The RUSI report noted that the current Pakistani military leadership under Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is set to reverse the Great Game and thereby end almost 200 years of “looking over their shoulder” and fearing the Russian threat.

It said: “Pakistan’s Army is frantically mending its historically weak ties with the Russian army and making progress through defence diplomacy at a dizzying pace by making a pivot to Russia instead of its traditionally close military ties with the US. There are multiple military deals, intelligence cooperation and joint training exercises that are redefining the region. As the US led by President Donald Trump further isolates Pakistan, the army under Bajwa is shoring up its Western flank with the help of its erstwhile enemy, the Russian military.”

The report analysed that Pakistan Army has felt that the policy of having a buffer zone with Afghanistan is no longer required as the Russians are no longer a threat to Afghanistan - and by default Pakistan.

It said that while Pakistan has always been a willing partner of America and firmly on side of the west, Donald Trump’s administration has forced Pakistan into policy re-think because “the Trump doctrine is now maturing into a permanent aggressive foreign policy against Pakistan in the shape of blocking military aid and putting pressure on the IMF not to grant the country more bailouts”.

It noted that the aggressive behaviour was shown when in the first week of August, the Americans cancelled military training for the Pakistani military. “It was no coincidence that as the Americans announced this, the Russians, for the first time in history, announced the start of military training for Pakistani military officers.”

“That Pakistan’s Army sees Russia as an ally in Afghanistan and Central Asia is a complete turnaround from 200 years of fearing and indeed fighting the ‘bear’ from across the River Oxus. Just 20 or even 10 years ago it was unthinkable that both Russia and Iran would support the Afghan Taliban. This was previously the preserve of just the Pakistani Army and its powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Taliban had always been anti-Russian because of Russia’s support for the Taliban’s erstwhile enemies, the Northern Alliance, and they had also killed nine Iranian diplomats. Now, however, it is a widely accepted fact in most American military circles that both the Russians and the Iranians are following the Pakistani policy of supporting the Afghan Taliban,” said the report.

The report mentioned how relations between the two started becoming normal starting from 2002 but then picked up significantly over the issue of Afghanistan.

“Both countries now feel that the US-led war in Afghanistan is a threat to their security. Although Bajwa has carried out the policy of rapprochement to the Russians, there has been a slow drift away from the US by his predecessors, with the full support of the Corps Commanders, the executive arm of the military leadership which decides strategic decisions as a group. As the frenzy of American criticism on the Pakistani military rises, senior Russian defence officials have been publicly praising the Pakistani military’s efforts against terrorism on the Afghan borders.”

The report said that whilst all the talk during the Cold War was of a Russian threat to Pakistan and of it reaching the warm waters of the Arabian Sea, the Russians are now on board with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

It added: “Moscow’s approach to participating in the development of Gwadar Port in Pakistan, seen as Pakistan’s economic future, is considered a game-changer in Pakistan. The Chinese have welcomed this participation and see it as a balancer against India’s insecurities about the project.”

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Shahid Afridi responds to viral 'naswar' video

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has responded to allegations that he chewed naswar during the Defence and Martyr’s Day celebration at General Headquarters.

On September 6, Afridi attended the ceremony and a video of him at the event went viral.

In the video, Afridi could be seen sitting in the audience and covertly tucking what was said to be naswar under his top lip.

However, the all-rounder put the rumours to rest on Saturday.

During a media interaction, Afridi was asked if he was, in fact, chewing 'nawar' during the ceremony.

The cricketer responded saying he was eating fennel seeds and clove.

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Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar's govt car stolen at gun-point

Mayor Waseem Akhtar's government car was stolen at gun-point on Saturday.

Assailants stole the Karachi mayor's car at gun-point from Karachi's Khayaban-e-Bokhari area.

Akhtar's driver was the only one present in the car at the time.

The Karachi mayor confirmed the incident and said he has requested that a first investigation report (FIR) be registered.

Further, DIG South has suspended SHO Darakshan Police Station following the incident.

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PM Imran came into power through rigging not votes: Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Prime Minister Imran Khan did not come into power through votes.

"PM Imran was not elected but came into power through rigging," the PML-N president said while addressing a press conference alongside former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Shehbaz recalled that on the day of the election for the prime minister, PM Imran assured him that a parliamentary commission will be formed to probe into opposition's rigging allegations.

"However, three weeks have passed and a parliamentary commission has still not been formed," Shehbaz lamented.

"We will ensure that a commission is made at any cost," he added.

Further, the PML-N president urged, "PM Imran should fulfill his promises."

The PML-N president further regretted, "The PTI-led government increased gas, electricity and fertiliser prices just 20 days after assuming office."

Upholding that such a "massive increase in prices has never been announced before at once", Shehbaz said, "We will become the voice of the farmers and the common man."

Speaking about Prime Minister Imran Khan's presser a day earlier calling for the construction of dams, the PML-N president said, "We spent Rs122 billion for the construction of Basha Dam."

"You do not need to collect funds for Diamer-Basha Dam but should attract investors," he further said.

"There should be no delay in power production through Basha Dam," he asserted.

Shehbaz further said that PML-N's performance regarding power generation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa "is in front of the nation".

The PML-N president also criticised the new federal government's decision to end the ex-premier's laptop scheme.

"Laptops were not given to politicians but to students who achieved top scores," he said.

This is the age of information and technology and you are depriving the poor of the facility to access information through laptops, he added.

Regarding PM Imran's decision to auction PM House's luxury cars, Shehbaz said, "We held an auction of cars at Qaddafi Stadium."

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Will guard dam after retirement: CJP Nisar

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday has said that he will guard dam after getting retired.

The CJP lauded statement of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan regarding water crisis in the country and said that Supreme Court (SC) will soon conduct international conference on water.

Earlier, PM said that the country is facing severe water crisis as the Pakistan’s biggest issue is water scarcity.

In his video statement to the nation, PM Imran said that he had been taking presentations on natinal issues, adding that there is no doubt today that we are at a crisis situation.

He said that the country’s debt has soard to Rs30,000 billion but one of our biggest issues to date is the water issue. “When Pakistan was made, every pakistani had 5600 cubic metres of water but today that stands at only 1000 cubic metres,” he added.

Khan went on to say that we have storage capacity of only 30 days for water; whereas the safe period for water storage is 120 days, adding that India has capacity of 90 days. This is why making the dam for us is so important.

He appealed all Pakistanis, including the overseas ones, to financially contribute for construction of dams in Pakistan, that are vital for country s future generations.

The prime minister also asked overseas Pakistanis, especially those living in European countries and the United States to contribute at least one thousand dollars in the fund created by Chief Justice of Pakistan.

He said: “Pakistanis working in the Middle East and other countries can also contribute according to their capacity, adding prime minister s fund for dam would be now part of Chief Justice s fund and both will be merged.

 

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Another economist resigns from EAC after Atif Mian asked to step down

A second economist resigned from Prime Minister Imran Khan's Economic Advisory Council (EAC) in protest over Dr Atif Mian being asked to step down from the body.

University College London (UCL) Professor Imran Rasul on Saturday in a series of tweets announced that he had resigned from the EAC.

"With a heavy heart, I have resigned from the EAC this morning. The circumstances in which Atif was asked to step down are ones I profoundly disagree with. Basing decisions on religious affiliation goes against my principles, or the values I am trying to teach my children," Rasul tweeted.

With a heavy heart, I have resigned from the EAC this morning. The circumstances in which Atif was asked to step down are ones I profoundly disagree with. Basing decisions on religious affiliation goes against my principles, or the values I am trying to teach my children. (1/5)

— Imran Rasul (@ImranRasul3) September 8, 2018

"I wish the government and EAC luck in their future work, and remain willing to offer non-partisan, evidence based advice that can help improve economic policy making in the country," he added.

His resignation comes a day after two prominent Pakistani economists resigned from the EAC after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government asked one of them to step down.

Dr Atif R Mian, a professor at Princeton University and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy, had said he was resigning because the government was facing pressure regarding his appointment.

In the evening, the same day, Dr Asim ljaz Khwaja, a professor of International Finance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School and a leading international economist of Pakistani origin, also stepped down from the EAC in protest after the news of Mian's resignation.

"Have resigned from EAC. Painful, deeply sad decision," Dr Asim said in a message on Twitter, adding that "ever ready to help" Pakistan.

On Friday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had taken to Twitter, saying: "The government has decided to withdraw Dr Mian's EAC appointment."

"The government wants to move forward taking along ulema and all segments of the society, and if a different perception develops through a nomination, it is not right," Chaudhry had added.

PTI Senator Faisal Javed in a tweet had said Dr Mian has agreed to step down. "Atif Mian was asked to step down from the Advisory Council and he has agreed. A replacement would be announced later."

Mian's appointment to the EAC had led to severe criticism of the government.

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CJP to examine, determine Supreme Court's jurisdiction

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has announced that he will examine and determine the scope and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the chief justice had taken up a case relating to the scope of the article Article 184(3) that allows the court to intervene in order to enforce fundamental rights and to initiate suo motu proceedings on violations of law.

During the hearing, the chief justice said to the attorney general, “The court wants to know if it is exceeding or crossing jurisdiction with respect to Article 184(3) or not.”

Justice Nisar said, “We want that authority under Article 184(3) is not un-guided and want to ensure that we are not making any mistakes in its use.”

“Judges and courts are not void of making mistakes,” he remarked.

Stating that the scope and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution should be regulated, Justice Nisar said that two senior lawyers will be appointed to assist the court.

The top court issued notices to the attorney general, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.

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PM Khan's sons Sulaiman Isa, Qasim reach Islamabad

Prime Minister Imran Khan's sons reached Islamabad on Saturday morning.

PM Khan's two sons, Sulaiman Isa Khan and Qasim Khan, have come from London — where they reside with their mother, the premier's former wife Jemima Goldsmith — and will stay in Pakistan for four days.

According to sources, Sulaiman and Qasim will stay at Imran's Bani Gala residence.

It is their first visit after their father took oath as the country's premier.

The two boys did not attend their father's oath-taking ceremony as the prime minister of Pakistan over his direction.

On August 18, before the cricketer-turned-politician assumed office, Goldsmith had said: "The boys are very sad not to be there but IK was adamant that they should not come."

In response to criticism that the two junior Khans were vacationing in Scotland instead of attending the oath-taking ceremony, the premier's ex-spouse clarified: "They wanted to be there. Their father asked them not to come."

"May the sons be proud of their father's work as the prime minister of a country that needs lots of dedication and work", she had added.

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Pakistan, China agree to strengthen strategic cooperation

China and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to strengthen the strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan, met Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

The two counterparts held a one-on-one meeting at the Foreign Office.

Delegation-level talks between the two delegations led by the two foreign ministers were also held, according to FO spokeperson Dr Muhammad Faisal.

"Chinese State Councillor Yi underscored Beijing’s firm support to Pakistan’s socioeconomic progress and development," the FO spokesperson said.

Yi also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan to be the guest of honour at the International Import Expo in China.

"China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), economic cooperation, cultural and educational exchanges and regional situation were discussed during the meeting," the spokesperson further said.

The Chinese foreign minister arrived in Pakistan on Friday.

He will also call on the president, the prime minister, National Assembly speaker and the chief of army staff (COAS).

Chinese FM arrives in Pakistan on three-day visit

This is the first official visit by a Chinese dignitary since the new government was formed in Pakistan.

The Chinese state councilor is visiting Pakistan upon the invitation of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Thursday.

Chunying said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners, adding that the two countries are "good neighbours, good friends, and good brothers".

Moreover, she said China-Pakistan relations have maintained a good momentum of development. “The two sides have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in various fields has progressed smoothly,” she added.

She further said the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has achieved fruitful results.

She added, Pakistan successfully held General Election and elected a new president, adding, the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have sent congratulatory messages to President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, respectively.

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Malala, Trudeau discuss women's education, G7 GEAC work

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday met Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, he said on his official Twitter account.

"Great to catch up with @malala today in Ottawa," he wrote, alongside a picture of the two conversing during their meeting.

Great to catch up with @Malala today in Ottawa. We talked about the important work of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council and our commitment to making sure more women & girls around the world get to go to school. pic.twitter.com/GU2GzdFNSc

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 7, 2018

Trudeau and Yousafzai "talked about the important work of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council and our commitment to making sure more women & girls around the world get to go to school".

In response, the Pakistani rights activist thanked the Canadian premier "for your time and your commitment to education for every child".

So happy to be back in Canada today! ?? Thank you, Prime Minister, for your time and your commitment to education for every child. https://t.co/xOELHsXMu8

— Malala (@Malala) September 8, 2018

She added: "So happy to be back in Canada today!"

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President Mamnoon holds farewell meeting with Presidency's staffers

President Mamnoon Hussain Friday held a farewell meeting with the officers and the workers of the President House and thanked them for extending cooperation to him during his five-year term.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Dr Arif Alvi, who was declared the 13th president of the country on Tuesday, will take over the office of the country's president on September 9.

Speaking at his farewell meeting with officers and staff of the President House, Mamnoon said, the country's development and prosperity lie in rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution.

President Mamnoon said he is leaving the presidency after completing his term with "full satisfaction".

"I left no stone unturned in fulfilling the responsibilities given to me by the people of Pakistan," he added.

The president further added, "During my tenure, I strictly remained within the constitutional limits and powers."

He also thanked his staff for their cooperation in enabling him to fulfill his official duties in an amicable manner.

Moreover, he advised his staff to pay special attention towards the education and training of their children for Pakistan's better future and development of the society.

Mamnoon Hussain’s profile

Originally a businessman, Mamnoon started his career in politics as a Muslim Leaguer in 1969.

At the time, he was made joint secretary of the Karachi chapter of the League when former minister of state for foreign affairs Zain Noorani was its president.

He did his MBA from the prestigious Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi as well as Darse Nizami course. Mamnoon originally hails from Agra (India).

Mamnoon has his textile business and office in Allahwali Market Karachi.

He was seen actively involved in the Pakistan Mulsim League (PML-N) since 1993 when Nawaz Sharif was in the opposition.

Before Mamnoon was appointed governor of Sindh by then prime minister Nawaz in 1999 to serve in this position for less than six months, he worked as adviser to the provincial chief minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi for an insignificant portfolio.

After the promulgation of military rule in October 1999, Mamnoon firmly stood with Nawaz when multitudes of PML-N leaders simply abandoned their party.

During the period starting in 1993, Mamnoon held different positions in the Sindh branch of the party.

Chronological list of Pakistan's heads of state:

1. Iskander Mirza (March 23, 1956, to October 27, 1958)

2. Ayub Khan (October 27, 1958, to March 25, 1969) (two terms)

3. Yahya Khan (March 25, 1969, to December 20, 1971)

4. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (December 20, 1971, to August 13, 1973)

5. Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry (August 14, 1973, to September 16, 1978)

6. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (September 16, 1978, to August 17, 1988)

7. Ghulam Ishaq Khan (August 17, 1988, to July 18, 1993)

8. Farooq Leghari (November 14, 1993, to December 2, 1997)

9. Muhammad Rafiq Tarar (January 1, 1998, to June 20, 2001)

10. Pervez Musharraf (June 20, 2001, to August 18, 2008) (two terms)

11. Asif Ali Zardari (September 9, 2008, to September 8, 2013)

12. Mamnoon Hussain (September 8 2013) (Incumbent) 

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My child won't be Pakistani or Indian national: Shoaib Malik

All-rounder Shoaib Malik has said his child will neither have Pakistani nor Indian nationality but of some other country.

He said his wife Sania was pregnant and expecting a baby soon. “I have taken permission from the team management to remain with my wife at the time of birth,” he told media at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Malik said it was going to be a memorable moment of his life to become a father. He appealed to his fans to pray for his wife and baby at the special moment.

He also urged the national team to bring their ODI performance at par with the Test cricket’s in the United Arab Emirates, when it open its campaign in the Asia Cup on Sept 15.

“It is on record that our team performs well in the test format in the UAE whereas its performance in the one day cricket is not of that level, and there is dire need to bring improvement in its 50-over game for achieving our set target in the Cup,” he said.

The stylish all-rounder once again made it clear that the World Cup in 2019 (ODI) and World Cup T20 will be his last cricket assignments, but gave an indication to quit the game earlier from these two mega events.

“It all depends on my fitness and performance and if in between a player better than me gets into the team, I will call it a day,” he said.

“Nowadays, one day cricket has become more or less T20 thrilling format of the game, as the first three batsmen with their solid innings or a specific bowler with two or three wickets breakthrough adds to the performance of their team and can turn the fate of the match,” he asserted.

The veteran all-rounder was of the view that Pakistan team should not take extra pressure while playing India in the Asia Cup match on September 19 and take it as a routine and normal game.

“Without any doubt, Pak-India matches have the status of nerve-wrecking encounters as they are being watched around the globe by millions of diehard lovers of the game.

“And in such circumstances if a player takes extra pressure regarding the match, it is obvious that he may not be able to perform up to a certain level,” he said.

He urged fellow players to take the match easy with a mindset of a performing in a routine game and exhibit their natural game.

“It is a hard fact that Pak-India matches take place after a long gap, which makes such ties very important and the match winning team’s top performer gains the status of a hero,” he said.

“If both the countries play cricket on frequently, these matches will not be considered of high importance,” he added.
Shoaib Malik said bilateral cricket series between Pakistan and India not only promotes cricket but also helps bring closer the peoples of the two countries.

He called for having cricket events on regular basis between Pakistan and India.

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PCB dismisses three advisers to ex-chairman Najam Sethi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday sacked three advisers to former chairman Najam Sethi, according to a notification.

The dismissed advisers included Salahauddin Sallu, Shakeel Sheikh and Izad Syed. Sallu had been posted in Karachi for the past 5 years.

The development comes days after former International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Ehsan Mani was elected as the new PCB chairman.

Mani replaced Sethi who resigned from his post as PCB chairman on August 20.

On Thursday, former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had tendered his resignation as adviser to the former PCB chairman.

The former star cricketer was appointed as the adviser to former PCB chairman Najam Sethi in February this year.

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PSX Closes Week On A Negative Note

The KSE-100 Index closed on Friday at 40854.77 points as compared to 41266.39 points on the last working day with a negative change of 411.62 points.

The total turnover was 120,864,360 as compared to 159,678,610 on the last working day with Fauji Cement having the highest turnover of 13,943,000.

Total 378 companies’ transacted shares in the Stock Market on Friday, out of which 80 recorded gains and 283 sustained losses whereas the share price of 15 companies remained unchanged.

Philip Morris Pakistan recorded the maximum increase in its share price, which was 118.00 rupees while Colgate PalmoliveXDXB recorded maximum decrease that was 89.00 rupees.

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Pillion Riding Banned In Sindh Sighting Muharram Security

Pillion riding will be banned in Sindh for three days as part of the security plan for the upcoming Muharram processions.

As per the notification issued by the provincial home department, the ban will last for three days from the eighth of Muharram-ul-Haram to the 10th across the province.

Apart from that, the use of loudspeakers and the public display of weapons is also prohibited without permission.

Furthermore, the notice also directed that hate speech, as well as offensive wall chalking, will also be barred under Section 144.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the first month in the Islamic calendar, Muharram-ul-Haram is expected to commence on September 12th, while the 10th of the month will fall on September 22nd.

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Petition Filed In IHC To Stop Govt Vehicles Auction

A petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking a ban on the sale of vehicles of the Prime Minister House.

Sources said that the petition was filed by the Pakistan Awami League (PAL) chairman Chaudhry Nasir in which he stated that most the cars listed in the advertisement by the Prime Minister House to auction vehicles include were to be used by the foreign dignitaries.

The petition further stated that the people have the right to know the Rs80 million spent on advertisement to auction vehicles.

The petitioner said that following the auction of vehicles, cars would be rented out for the transportation of foreign dignitaries, while the masses would have to bear the burden of rented cars.

Chaudhry Nasir prayed the court to ban the auction of vehicles till the judgment on the plea. Prime Minister Imran Khan was made a party in the petition.
It is pertinent here to mention that as many as 102 luxury cars will be up for auction on September 17 at the Prime Minister’s Office under the austerity campaign of the PTI government.

According to the advertisement, the fleet for auction includes 27 bullet-proof vehicles, several latest models of non-protected cars as well as vintage models. Potential buyers can inspect the vehicles on September 13-14 at the Prime Minister’s House during office hours, according to the advertisement.

Imran Khan in his maiden address to the nation after assuming office had announced plans to sell a fleet of bullet-proof vehicles to help treasury shortfalls.

 “I want to tell my people, I will live a simple life, I will save your money,” he said.

“We will auction the vehicles. Businessmen will be invited to purchase these expensive vehicles. The money will be deposited in the national exchequer.”

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Jemima Criticizes PTI Govt For Mian Atif’s Withdrawal

Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has termed withdrawal of Atif Mian as a member of the Economic Advisory Council(EAC) as ‘Indefensible and very disappointing.”

In a tweet after Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry confirmed the government has withdrawn the nomination of Atif Mian as a member of Economic Advisory Council(EAC), Jemima said, “New Pak govt asks renowned and Prof of economics to stand down because of his faith.

The founder of Pakistan, “Quaid-I-Azam” appointed an Ahmadi as his Foreign Minister.”

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UN urges member states to support CTBT

UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Miroslav Lajcak said that besides human suffering and planet contamination, nuclear tests also pose political threat as they do not build trust.

"The last century has seen massive advancement in nuclear science and technology. And this has led to many benefits. But, also, indescribable pain," Lajcak said in his opening remarks at a high-level meeting to commemorate the International Day against Nuclear Tests that falls on Aug. 29.

Since nuclear weapons testing began in 1945, nearly 2,000 have taken place. "Some of which, unfortunately, happened not that long ago," he said.

"These tests do not build trust. Instead, they escalate tensions. They create openings for political miscalculations, and they bring us closer to the brink," he warned.

The UNGA chief said the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which was adopted in 1996 and has since been open for signature, "offers us our best shot at making nuclear tests a thing of the past," urging member states' support for entering the treaty into force.

Turning to the developments on the Korean Peninsula, Lajcak commended the past year's progress towards denuclearization.

"This time last year, things looked bleak... Now, we can see the opportunity," he said, noting "positive steps have been taken by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- including the suspension of nuclear tests and launches of inter-continental ballistic missiles, as well as the closure of a nuclear test site."

At the same time, he urged more tangible action on the Korean Peninsula, stressing "verification is crucial for progress."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke after Lajcak at the high-level meeting.

He recalled his visit in July to Japan's Nagasaki where he met with survivors of the atomic bomb attack.

"Through the testimony of the survivors, the Hibakusha, we are reminded of the need to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again," he stressed.

The UN chief also noted the victims of the disastrous era of widespread nuclear testing, saying "the catastrophic impact of nuclear testing has had profound effects on the environment, human health, food security and economic development."

On Dec. 2, 2009, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to declare Aug. 29 the International Day against Nuclear Tests.

The resolution was initiated with a view to commemorating the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan on Aug. 29, 1991.

The Day is meant to galvanize the UN, member states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, youth networks and the media to inform, educate and advocate the necessity of banning nuclear weapon tests as a valuable step towards achieving a safer world.

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Presidents of Iran, Russia & Turkey meet in Tehran to discuss Syria's situation

The presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey meet in Tehran today to discuss situation in Syria's Idlib province.

The summit comes amid fears of a humanitarian disaster in Syria's last major rebel bastion.

Hundreds of civilians fled the northwestern province yesterday as government forces and their allies readied for what could be the last major battle of Syria's devastating seven-year civil war.

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Avenfield Ref: IHC Constitutes New Bench To Hear Sharif’s Pleas

The Islamabad High Court has constituted new bench to hear appeals filed by Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and retired Captain Muhammad Safdar against their conviction in Avenfield reference.

The division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb will hear the appeals from 10, Monday.
The convicts had appealed to the court for setting aside their sentence, suspending their sentence and granting them bail, and transferring Al-Azizia and Flagship references against them to a different trial court.

Earlier on 17th of this month, Islamabad High Court’s division bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani and Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb adjourned hearing into the appeals till last week of this month.
On August 11, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench formed to hear bail petitions of Sharif family in Avenfield reference was dissolved once again. The development came as Justice Aamir Farooq went abroad on leave in summer vacations. Previously, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani also went on summer vacations.

IHC registrar office sent the matter pertaining to the formation of the new bench in the case to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). The new bench will conduct hearing into the petitions of former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (R) Safdar. The earlier three-member full bench dissolved after Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza recused himself from hearing the petitions due to personal reason.
On July 6, Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir announced the verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), handing the ousted prime minister 10 years’ jail term and seven years to his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

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