Crown prince downplays Trump's statement on Saudi military

Saudi s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has brushed off comments from US President Donald Trump that Washington is "subsidising" the kingdom s military, Bloomberg reported Friday.

The crown prince insisted that the kingdom has always paid for armaments from the US.

"Ever since the relationship started between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, we ve bought everything with money," he told Bloomberg in an interview.

Last week Trump asked at a rally "when you have wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia, like Japan, like South Korea, why are we subsidising their military?"

"They ll pay us. The problem is nobody ever asks," he added.

Prince Mohammed downplayed any apparent rift with the US leader and said relations between the two allies remains strong.

"You have to accept that any friend will say good things and bad things. So you cannot have 100 percent friends saying good things about you," he said.

"You will have some misunderstandings. So we put that in that category."

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Interpol president is reported missing after a trip to China

A French judicial official says the president of Interpol has been reported missing after travelling to China.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for an ongoing investigation, said Meng Hongwei's wife reported him missing on Friday.

The official said the Interpol chief left France, where the international police organization is based, and arrived in China at the end of September. She said there had been no news of him since.

The 64-year-old Meng Hongwei was elected president of Interpol in November 2016. His term is due to run until 2020.

A vice minister of public security in China, he previously served as vice chairman of the national narcotics control commission and director of the National Counter-Terrorism Office for China.

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Missing Saudi journalist killed at consulate in Turkey: Sources

Authorities in Turkey have indicated that Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist known for his criticism of then kingdom, could have been killed at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul where he went missing in on Tuesday.

Two Turkish sources said on Saturday that they believed that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate. One source told the Reuters news agency that elements in the Saudi consulate had planned Khashoggi’s murder in the facility and when they killed the journalist, they moved the body outside.

“The initial assessment of the Turkish police is that Mr. Khashoggi has been killed at the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul. We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate,” said the source, without elaborating.

However, a source in at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul denied the Reuters report about the murder of Khashoggi at the diplomatic post.

The source said in a statement that the accusations made by the Turkish sources against the consulate were baseless.

The statement said Saudi investigators who had arrived as part of security team in Istanbul earlier in the day were contributing to Turkey’s investigation into the issue.

A Turkish security source also told Reuters on Saturday that a group of 15 Saudi nationals, including some officials, arrived in Turkey onboard two planes on the same day of Khashoggi’s disappearance.

The source said the team was at the consulate that same day and later left Turkey for Saudi Arabia.

Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency also said in a report that the 15 Saudi nationals had been at the consulate for a brief period last Tuesday.

Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi government, had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States since 2017, when Saudi authorities launched a massive crackdown on the dissent. He was seeking to secure documentation for his forthcoming marriage when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His fiancée waited outside the consulate for hours without hearing from him.

Saudi officials said hours after Khashoggi’s disappearance that he had left the diplomatic mission. Ankara says there has been no evidence to corroborate the claim.

However, there have been reports in the Arab media suggesting Khashoggi was abducted on the same day of his disappearance and evacuated from the other entrance of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper said that the journalist had been flown to Saudi Arabia with the apparent consent of the Turkish intelligence authorities.

The Washington Post newspaper, which featured articles from Khashoggi on its Global Opinions section, published blank pages on its print and website editions on Friday, demanding urgent information about the journalist whereabouts. Human rights campaigners have also demanded that the Saudi authorities clarify the issue.

A spokesman for Turkey’s ruling AK Party said Saturday that authorities would finally uncover Khashoggi’s whereabouts. That came after Turkish prosecutors launched an official investigation into the murky case.

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Punjab CM denies political involvement in Pakpattan DPO’s transfer

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has denied political involvement in the transfer of former Pakpattan DPO Rizwan Gondal.

In a response submitted to the Supreme Court, the chief minister stated he has never misused his authority and that he believes in the supremacy of the law.

It was further stated that the report submitted by National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) chief Maher Khaliq Dad Lak was based on assumptions and could not be relied on.

On October 3, an inquiry report was submitted in the Supreme Court stating that Gondal was transferred on the basis of political intervention.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a suo motu notice of the former DPO's transfer following an alleged altercation with Khawar Maneka — the former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife.

During the hearing, Khaliq Dad submitted an inquiry report which stated that the former Pakpattan DPO’s transfer was done on the basis of influence.

The report said that during the meeting at Buzdar's office, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar behaved in a humiliating manner and former IGP Kaleem Imam "played the role of a rubber stamp".

Following this, the chief justice remarked, "Gondal was transferred following the meeting at the Punjab CM House."

While clearing his position, Ahsan Jameel also submitted a report in the court stating that he was part of the meeting as a close friend of the Maneka family.

The report states that Ahsan Jameel tried to solve the matter with honesty and could not be tried for violating any code of conduct as he did not hold any public office.

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Hearing set on Abbasi's review petition seeking disqualification of Imran Khan

A hearing has been set by Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on review petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) Hanif Abbasi seeking disqualification of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan over non-disclosure of assets and ownership of offshore companies.

As per details garnered, a three-member bench will assume hearing on October 10.

The review petition states, “the facts relating to the Bani Gala land clearly show that the Respondent No. 1 was pursuing a deliberate plan to ensure that he could obtain the property as Benami and that there should be no public record of him acquiring the property directly in his own name in the revenue records”.

Back then in December 2017, then chief minister dismissed Abbasi’s petition stating that the petitioner was not directly affected in the foreign funding case. The judgment further stated that Imran wasn t bound to declare his offshore company.

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Six more die of malnutrition in Tharparkar

The death toll of children in the region is incessantly on the rise with six more reported dead due to malnutrition in two days.

According to the Sindh health department, three infants succumbed to malnutrition in Mithi's Civil Hospital amongst other deaths today.

As per reports, the total number of deaths in the region of children have reached seven in October with the entire year's figure being 483.

The health department further revealed that 1,500 children perish on an annual basis on the grounds of undernourishment, infections and a deprivation of appropriate medical amenities in the area.

The United Nation's Children Fund in a report released in April asserted that with as many as 22 infants dying before turning one month old, Pakistan stands with countries that presently have the highest rate of infant mortality.

“Pakistan is the riskiest place to be born as measured by its newborn mortality rate. A baby born in Pakistan is almost 50 times more likely to die during his or her first month than a baby born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore,” read the report.

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PIA to induct two new aircraft in its fleet

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to induct two new Airbus aircraft in its fleet.

The process of checking the A-320 planes is underway and they will be acquired on a dry lease under Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, the national flag carrier said in a statement.

The decision was taken during an executive meeting chaired by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIA, Muhammad Saqib Aziz.

During the meeting, PIA's performance over the past few months was also reviewed.

Attention was brought to the fact that expanding the fleet was necessary in order to fulfill market demand as it was becoming difficult to cater to the needs of passengers with the existing planes.

Aziz said that acquiring the two new planes will help PIA in expanding its operations and add to the number of passengers ferried by the airline.

The planes will be used mainly on domestic and regional routes, which include Gulf states and South East Asia.

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Pak-US relations should not be viewed only through Afghan or Indian perspective

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday that the relations between the United States and Pakistan should not be seen only through the perspective of the Afghan issue or the ties with India.

Talking to media in Multan after returning from his 10-day visit to the US, Qureshi said he had tried to make his American counterparts realise that "it will not be appropriate to view our relations going as far back as seven decades from the Afghan perspective or the Indian lens".

He said regional situations evolve and requirements change, but Pakistan's contribution for peace and stability in the region should be acknowledged.

Qureshi, who met US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton in Washington on Tuesday, said it would be wrong to expect that all differences between the US and Pakistan could be resolved in one day.

He said while it was not possible to cover the entire journey in one sitting, the Foreign Office will continue its efforts to represent the country effectively on international fora.

He said foreign affairs is a component of government policy for which discussions should be held regardless of political differences, in the interest of the federation.

In response to a question regarding the arrest of PML-N president and opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif, Qureshi said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is an independent institution, which had taken the action after investigation.

He said it wasn't the PTI government that had instituted the case against Sharif, adding that "we have to respect the courts".

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PM appreciates contributions of security forces towards improving peace

Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and federal ministers visited Headquarters Southern Command at Quetta Cantt.

In a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa received the PM at Quetta Air Base.

During the visit, PM Imran Khan was given a detailed briefing on security situation, challenges and response of the province.

The prime minister was also briefed about socio-economic development based Khushal Balochistan program, security of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and progress of fencing along Pak-Afghan border.

The COAS said that having achieved stability in troubled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lately our focus has been on Balochistan which is economic future of Pakistan.

The premier also acknowledged and appreciated contributions of security forces towards improving peace, stability and socio-economic development of the province.

He said that through a comprehensive national effort, cooperation between federal and provincial governments and assistance of Army, we shall realize the true potentials of Balochistan.

Khan went on to say that only a cohesive national effort shall In Shaa Allah take provinces and the country to the rightful destination of peace, progress and prosperity.

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Motion submitted in Punjab Assembly Condemning Shehbaz Arrest

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday submitted a motion condemning the arrest of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in a corruption probe.

The PML-N president was arrested by NAB on Friday in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case and was produced before accountability court, Judge Najmul Hasan. The court granted a 10-day physical remand of Shehbaz to NAB.

 

The resolution stated that below-the-belt tactics are being used to save a failed government.

Protests will be carried out throughout the country if Shehbaz Sharif is not released before the by-polls, the resolution added.

The by-polls are scheduled to take place on October 14.

Earlier, an accountability court granted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a 10-day physical remand of former Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in the Ahsiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case.

Shehbaz was taken to NAB office in Thokar Niaz Baig after being remanded in the accountability bureau’s custody.

 

Earlier, the court had reserved its judgment on NAB’s plea to send the PML-N president on a 15-day physical remand.

The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, who was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case, was produced before accountability court Judge Najmul Hasan.

The former Punjab chief minister was represented by Azam Nazeer Tarar and Amjad Pervez.

Earlier, Shehbaz was brought to the accountability court in an armoured vehicle that was escorted by a fire brigade, an ambulance and police mobiles.

The PML-N president’s sons, Hamza and Salman Shehbaz are the only ones who have been allowed entry inside the court premises. Meanwhile, PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khurram Dastgir and Saira Afzal Tarrar are present outside the court as they were not granted entry.

Earlier, a medical examination of Shehbaz was conducted before taking him to the accountability court and he was declared fit.

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Supreme Court Orders AC To Hear Model Town Case on Daily Basis

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday directed an accountability court to hear a case pertaining to the Model Town incident on a daily basis.

According to the details, the Supreme Court’s (SC) Lahore registry on Saturday issued notices to the Punjab government, Punjab advocate general and the prosecution department to submit responses on whether it is legally permissible to form a new joint investigation team (JIT) when a previous one has already submitted its report in the Model Town case.

A two-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing an appeal filed by a teenaged girl, Bisma, whose mother had been killed in the Model Town incident.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Tahirul Qadri was also in court for the hearing and requested that the top court constitute an impartial joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the incident.

Justice Nisar informed the PAT chief that on his request he has ordered the ATC to hear the case on a daily basis.Qadri said that the report released by the earlier JIT which had been formed by the previous Punjab government could not be trusted as members of the former administration were suspects in the case.

He claimed that his party’s witnesses could not appear before the JIT due to government pressure, and alleged that the JIT had recorded one-sided witness accounts and could not be called neutral.

The CJP asked him if it was legally possible to form a JIT when a previous one had already submitted a report. The PAT chief said that there was precedent of a JIT being formed more than once.The PAT chief also told the court that the prosecution lawyer had withdrawn himself from the case due to daily hearings, which were being held on the SC’s orders. He requested the bench to hold trial twice a week instead of hearing the case on a daily basis. The plea was accepted.

Further, the chief justice told Qadri, “Since your appeal was rejected in the Lahore High Court, you can file it in the Supreme Court.”

Directing the ATC to hear the case on a daily basis, the bench issued notices to the Punjab government, police and prosecution department.

At least 14 people were killed and 100 others injured in police action against Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers in Lahore’s Model Town area during an ‘anti-encroachment operation’ on June 17, 2014.

Model Town incident report:
The Punjab government, at the behest of the Lahore High Court, had made the report of the Model Town incident public on December 5, 2017.

The inquiry report, prepared by Justice Baqir Najfi commission, said that police tried to cover up the facts regarding who gave orders to open fire on protesters.

It adds that no legal opinion was sought from the Punjab advocate general prior to the start of the operation.The commission, in its report, also stated that on the ground, the standoff continued the whole night, resulting in minor injuries to police constables as well as PAT workers.

The commission observed: “The level of cooperation in digging out the truth is that no police official from top to bottom, whether actively participated in the operation or not, did utter a single word about the person under whose command the police resorted to firing upon the PAT workers.”

Further, in its conclusion, the commission said, “It is shocking to note that everyone has deliberately but unsuccessfully tried to cover each other from possible adverse legal effects.”

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Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants against Ayyan Ali

A special customs court in Rawalpindi on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against model Ayyan Ali, who has been absconding from trial in a currency smuggling case after fleeing abroad under false pretenses.

The court ordered custom officials to arrest the accused and present her in court by Oct 22.

Customs prosecutor Amin Feroz noted that Ayyan Ali had not turned up in court since December 8, 2015.

During the hearing on Saturday, presided over by Customs Court Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta, the accused model’s lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa, was not present in court. Instead, a junior lawyer, Syed Iqbal Hussain, was sent in his stead.The junior lawyer said that Ayyan is unwell because of which she could not be present in court, and requested that she be granted temporary leave of absence. However, the court was incensed by the continuing excuses.

The court asked the lawyer whether he had any new medical certificates to show for his client, warning that exemptions on attendance could not be granted at every hearing to Ayyan on the basis of old medical reports.

The customs prosecutor opposed giving the model any exemptions on appearing before the court and noted that new excuses are made regarding her presence in every hearing.

Feroz requested that the court issue non-bailable arrest warrants for the suspect instead.The customs prosecutor had also requested the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for the model in September, but the court had decided to issue bailable arrest warrants.

This time, the court accepted the customs prosecutor’s request and ordered the issuance of warrants against Ali.

Ayyan had been arrested by the Airport Security Force in March 2015 from Rawalpindi’s old Benazir International Airport. She was carrying $506,800 in currency that she was allegedly trying to smuggle to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

She was granted bail in July 2016 after spending around four months in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail and after her judicial remand was extended at least 16 times.

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Pompeo begins East Asia tour to arrange second Trump-Kim meeting

The US Secretary of State is under pressure to make progress on the North Korean nuclear program. There has been little movement on this front since a historic June meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

Pompeo arrived in Tokyo on Saturday on the first leg of his three-day tour of East Asia, which will also take him to Pyongyang and Seoul.

The US secretary of state was holding talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono, to discuss the Abe administration's North Korea policy before heading to Pyongyang on Sunday.

Last month, Abe hinted that he was prepared to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "to break the shell of mutual distrust."

The Japanese government wants Washington to safeguard its regional interests in North Korea peace negotiations.

North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens is an emotional issue for many in Japan. Scores of people were kidnapped from Japan and used to train North Korea's spies in Japanese culture and language.

But Pompeo will face his real diplomatic test in Pyongyang, which many analysts say is only buying time on its controversial nuclear program.

There has been little progress on the nuclear issue since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks in Singapore in June.

Read more: Donald Trump cancels Mike Pompeo's North Korea trip, citing lack of progress

Since the Kim-Trump summit, the North Korean regime has suspended nuclear and ballistic missile tests, freed three American prisoners and dismantled parts of tunnel entrances at a nuclear site. The US says it will not remove sanctions against North Korea until a complete denuclearization of the peninsula.

North Korea's foreign minister said last week that Pyongyang will not disarm without first receiving concessions from Washington.

Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Ri Yong Ho said North Korea had taken "significant goodwill measures" in the past year but had not seen "any corresponding response" from the United States.

Speaking to reporters on his plane on Friday, Pompeo said his mission was to "make sure that we understand what each side is truly trying to achieve … and how we can deliver against the commitments that we made" in Singapore.

Pompeo said Friday that he would at least try to develop options, the location and timing of a second meeting between Trump and Kim.

"I'm not sure of we are going to get a whole lot of progress other than details of the next Trump-Kim meeting," said Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst on Korea and now a senior fellow at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "I think the North Koreans will try and save the actual negotiations for when Kim meets with Trump."

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Oscars body launches new initiatives to support women filmmakers

The organisers of the Oscars announced a string of new initiatives on Thursday aimed at encouraging female filmmakers.

Called “Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative,” the program will include a one-year fellowship for women filmmakers and executives, a lunch that will bring together women across the industry, and a directory aimed at improving female networking and hiring opportunities.

The announcement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences follows pressure from women in the movie industry for stronger voices, better pay and more jobs behind and in front of the camera.

“As we continue to advocate for inclusion, we are honored to bring Academy members and the filmmaking community together to support women in all stages of their careers,” Academy Chief Executive Dawn Hudson said in a statement.

The Women of the Academy lunch will take place in London and Los Angeles later this month. The one-year fellowship will be awarded to an emerging woman filmmaker in the United States, and in Britain.

The Academy, whose 8,000 members vote on the annual Oscars, has made efforts in the past two years to diversify its mostly white, old, and male-dominated ranks by inviting hundreds of women and people of color to join its ranks.

In 2016, the Academy vowed to double its number of women and diverse members by 2020.

According to a June report by the Directors Guild of America, only 16 percent of the 651 movies released in the United States in 2017 were directed by women.

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May 12 carnage: Karachi Mayor indicted in one more case

A special anti-terrorism court on Saturday indicted Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar in a case related to violence on May 12, 2007.

The court heard four more cases related to the carnage, in which other accused were also indicted.

All accused, including Akhtar, denied the charges.

The court adjourned the hearing until October 27 and also ordered witnesses to appear before it.

Akhtar, in an informal media talk after the hearing outside the court, said those responsible for the May 12 violence should be identified.

Akhtar and others have also been indicted in another case and nine suspects have been declared absconders till yet by the court.

A committee had also been constituted by the Sindh High Court to investigate into the violence and is headed by AIG Karachi Amir Sheikh.

On May 12, a major portion of Karachi’s main artery, Shahra-e-Faisal, turned into a battlefield when rival political groups clashed with each other soon after the arrival of the then chief justice of Pakistan. Due to the clash, the former chief justice did not move ahead from the lounge of the airport and returned to Islamabad without addressing a lawyers’ convention at Sindh High Court.

The thoroughfare was to be used by the procession of the then chief justice, but was made completely inaccessible to commuters as all the intersections were blocked by large containers and trucks.

More than 50 people were killed and over 100 injured the the attacks on rallies by different political parties and lawyers who had attempted to receive the deposed chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi ahead of a lawyers’ gathering.

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PM Khan arrives in Quetta for maiden official tour

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday arrived in Quetta on a single-day visit — his first official tour of the city since assuming the top office.

After the PM landed in the provincial capital, he was received by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, according to Government of Pakistan's official Twitter account.

During his visit, the premier is scheduled to meet members of the Balochistan government's cabinet, and also chair a meeting on the development projects in the province.

Furthermore, PM Khan will meet Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa today at Headquarters Southern Command today, according to Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor

During their meeting, the PM will be "briefed on security situation of Baluchistan", the DG ISPR said.

COAS reached Quetta. Prime Minister will be Briefed today on security situation of Baluchistan at Headquarters Southern Command.

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) October 6, 2018

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Tokyo's famed Tsukiji fish market closes its doors

A final tuna auction has been held at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, before it moves to a new site. The 83-year-old market - the world's largest - has long been a drawcard for locals and tourists.

The Tsukiji fish market, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Japanese capital and the world's largest wholesale fish market, had its last day of operations on Saturday before it is relocated to a new site 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) away.

The move was prompted by growing concerns about the rundown market's resistance to earthquakes, sanitation and fire safety, as well as the asbestos used in parts of its structure.

Tsukiji, which also offers vegetables and fruit, has been the hub of Tokyo's food scene for decades and its many stalls and restaurants have made it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Its early morning tuna auctions, of which the last took place on Saturday, have also been a major draw for visitors from abroad.

The relocation of the market was postponed for almost two years because the new site in Toyosu, in the east of the city, showed some soil and groundwater contamination after being home to a gas production plant. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike gave assurances in September that the site was now safe, but some retailers remain worried.

Critics of the move also say that Toyosu is less central that Tsukiji, which is close to the fashionable Ginza area.

The old market, which covers an area of more than 230,000 square meters (57 acres), will be used as a transport depot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and possibly turned into a culinary theme park after that.

The reopening at the Toyosu site is scheduled for Thursday.

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Shehbaz Sharif says Ashiana case was politically motivated

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Shairf in his statement before the accountability court said the Ashiana case was politically motivated.

Shehbaz Sharif appeared in an accountability court on Saturday, a day after being arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Ashiana Housing Scheme case.

Sharif was placed in the custody of NAB on a ten-day physical remand.

In his statement, Sharif said he had not committed corruption of even a single penny. “I worked day and night to serve the people,” Sharif said.

Sharif further said that he had saved billions by personally intervening, adding he had saved the province Rs75 billion in the Orange Line Train project.

Sharif has been accused by NAB of misusing his powers while being the chief minister of Punjab in an inquiry pertaining to Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

The inquiry conducted states that Shehbaz Sharif as the chief minister of Punjab had unlawfully assumed powers of Board of Directors of Punjab Land and Development Company (PLDC), misused his authority and acted in connivance with Fawad Hassan Fawad who at the time was Secretary Implementation to CM Punjab and others. Contracts awarded to M/s Ch. A Latif and sons for the development and infrastructure of Ashiana Iqbal Housing Project were illegally cancelled.

As the chief minister, Shehbaz Sharif in a meeting on October 21, 2014 unlawfully directed PLDC to entrust the project of Ashiana Iqbal Punjab to LDA. This decision of Sharif was illegal and mala fide as PLDC was the company which was established for undertaking such housing projects. Shehbaz is accused of illegally transferring this project to LDA, which was headed by his close aide Ahad Khan Cheema.

Shehbaz is also accused of working in connivance with other accused in the case and directed LDA to undertake Ashiana Iqbal Project under Public Private Partnership mode. NAB states this was done in order to give “unlawful benefit to blue-eyed firm namely M/s Bismillah Engineering Service Company, which was a proxy firm to M/s Paragon City.”

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Saudi allies blame for deadlock in Yemen’s peace talks: Abdul-Malik al-Houthi

The leader of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement said Saudi allies and were to blame for a deadlock in Yemen’s peace talks.

Addressing his supporters via a televised speech broadcast live on Thursday evening, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi blamed the Saudi side for a stalemate in peace talks and a political resolution of the crisis in Yemen.

“The enemies have blocked all efforts to restore peace while the Sana’a negotiators had offered concessions,” he said.

Saudi allies, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan, launched a brutal war, code-named Operation Decisive Storm, against Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Yemen’s former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement, which plays a significant role in aiding the Yemeni army in defending the impoverished country against the invading coalition.

Houthi further said the Yemenis would never surrender as their faith, dignity, and identity would not allow them to.

“Remaining silent and giving in to the enemies’ demands amounts to shirking our responsibility at a time when they are trying to occupy our country,” he said.

The enemies are blatantly invading Yemen and that needs to be responded to, he said, adding that it is a humiliation and treason if the Yemenis do nothing in reaction to the aggression.

However, he said, the Yemeni nation would welcome a peace that ends the ongoing aggression and the occupation of Yemen.

A fresh round of UN-sponsored peace talks was supposed to be held on September 6 in Geneva, Switzerland, but the Houthi Ansarullah failed to attend the talks after Saudi allies refused to allow a delegation of the popular movement to fly to the Swiss city.

The former Yemeni government resigned in 2015 as the country was experiencing political turmoil. Shortly afterwards, Hadi fled to Riyadh, where he encouraged the Saudis to wage a war on Yemen in a bid to regain power.

The Houthi movement has been running state affairs in the absence of an effective administration since the onset of the war, which has so far killed some 15,000 people.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country’s infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. The United Nations has said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger.

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Tech breakthrough offers early warning system for heart attacks

A new method of analyzing images from CT scans can predict which patients are at risk of a heart attack years before it occurs, researchers say.

The technology, developed by teams at Oxford University and institutions in Germany and the United States, uses algorithms to examine the fat surrounding coronary arteries as it shows up on computed tomography (CT) heart scans.

That fat gets altered when an artery becomes inflamed, serving as an early warning system for what one of the researchers believes could be up 30 per cent of heart attacks.

“If you are able to identify inflammation in the arteries of the heart then you can say which arteries ... will cause heart attacks,” Oxford Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Charalambos Antoniades, told Reuters.

“With the new technology that we have we can achieve this by analyzing simple CT scans.”

Most heart attacks are caused by a build-up of plaque - a fatty deposit - inside the artery, which interrupts the flow of blood.

Currently, CT scans tell a doctor when an artery has already become narrowed by plaque.

With the new technology, for which the researchers hope to gain regulatory approval on both sides of the Atlantic within a year, doctors will be able to say which arteries are at risk of narrowing.

“(We) can say ...your arteries are inflamed and a narrowing will be developed five years down the line. So maybe you can start preventive measures to avoid this formation of the plaques,” Antoniades said.

Heart disease and stroke are the two biggest causes of death worldwide.

“Although we have not estimated the exact number of heart attacks that we can prevent, we could potentially identify at least 20 or 30 per cent of the people before they have (one),” Antoniades said.

An Oxford University spin-off company is now developing a service to analyze CT scans from across the globe in around 24 hours.

The research was published in late August in medical journal The Lancet.

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Aqsa preacher condemns Israel's ongoing attacks on Palestinians

Al-Aqsa Mosque's preacher Yousef Abu Sneineh on Friday condemned Israel's ongoing attacks on the Palestinian people.

During his Friday sermon at al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Abu Sneineh denounced Israel's constant targeting of Palestinians by demolishing their homes and banning them from entering al-Aqsa Mosque.

Abu Sneineh called on the Palestinians to defend al-Aqsa Mosque in all possible ways against the Zionist schemes targeting the holy site.

Al-Aqsa preacher strongly condemned Israel's plan to demolish Khan al-Ahmar village, east of Jerusalem, and called on Palestinian people to unite and end all internal divisions to be able to protect their lands against settlement.

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Sarfraz wants Yasir Shah to attack new-look Australia

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has warned that his ace leg-spinner Yasir Shah will attack a depleted and new-look Australia when they meet in the first of two Test matches starting in Dubai from Sunday.

Australia face a trial by spin as has so often been the case on their tours to Asia.

In the space of six years, they have lost 12 of their 15 Tests with only two wins and one draw on tours of India (twice), one each to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

They lost 2-0 to Pakistan in UAE in 2014, with Yasir taking 12 and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar 14 wickets. But Yasir will now be the lone experienced bowler after Babar faded last year.

Australia will also be under pressure to overcome the loss of their regular captain Steve Smith and dashing opener David Warner along with Cameron Bancroft after they were banned for up to a year for their part in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March.

Sarfraz said he will attack Australia in their first Test since the ball-tampering saga.

“When we played Australia in 2014 we played some attacking cricket,” said Sarfraz. “Yasir is our main bowler so we will want him to attack and get us wickets to win the series.

“But similarly we will not put extra pressure on him and will not want him to go in a defensive mode so other bowlers will have to support him.” Pakistan will also have 33-year-old off-spinner Bilal Asif who played three one-day internationals in 2015 but has yet to play a Test.

Another leg-spinner in the squad, Shadab Khan, is unlikely to feature in the eleven having not fully recovered from a groin injury, but recalled allrounder Mohammad Hafeez will turn his arm over as a back-up spinner.

Hafeez's action was cleared as legal in May this year and could prove dangerous for Australian left-handers.

Sarfraz admitted Pakistan's batsmen will also face a challenge against Australia's veteran spinner Nathan Lyon who took 8-103 in the drawn tour game in Dubai earlier this week.

“We attacked him four years ago and at that time we had great batsmen in Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq,” said Sarfraz of the 2014 series when Lyon got only three wickets in two Tests.

“Four years on he is a better bowler so he will be their main bowler and a challenge for us,” said Sarfraz of Lyon, who grabbed 41 wickets in six matches in India and Bangladesh last year.

Without Younis and Misbah — both retired last year — Pakistan may succumb to their own medicine, as they did in their 2-0 defeat against Sri Lanka last year — their first series defeat in UAE since making it their neutral venue in 2009.

Sarfraz said Australia's challenge would to improve their performance in Asia.

“Australia want to focus on an improved performance in Asia, so that's their challenge while our focus and challenge is to play good cricket and win the series,” said Sarfraz, whose team drew their last series in England 1-1 in June this year.

Austlian captain Tim Paine admitted Yasir will pose challenge for his team.

“Yasir is clearly a world-class bowler who's got a phenomenal record at this ground in Dubai. We're going to have to take everything we've been working on,” said Paine.

“We've faced a hell of a lot spin, there's no doubt about that and Australian touring sides always do,” said Paine.

Sriram brought two Indian wrist spinners, Pardeep Sahu and left-arm wrist spinner KK Jiyas, to UAE for net practice ahead of the Tests.

Pakistan did not include any spinner in the warmup game allowing Mitchell Marsh to score a brilliant 162 while Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Travis Head all scored 90s to tune up for the Test.

Finch, Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser are all likely to make Test debuts in Dubai. The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 16.

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First SpaceX mission with astronauts set for June 2019: NASA

NASA has announced the first crewed flight by a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to take place in June 2019.

It will be the first manned US launch to the orbiting research laboratory since the space shuttle program was retired in 2011, forcing US astronauts to hitch costly rides aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

A flight on Boeing spacecraft is set to follow in August 2019.

The timetable for both launches has already been postponed several times, but NASA said Thursday it would now be providing monthly updates on deadlines.

"This new process for reporting our schedule is better; nevertheless, launch dates will still have some uncertainty, and we anticipate they may change as we get closer to launch," said Phil McAlister, director of Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters.

"These are new spacecraft, and the engineering teams have a lot of work to do before the systems will be ready to fly."

Both missions are considered tests: the two astronauts transported in each flight will spend two weeks aboard the orbiting ISS before returning to Earth.

In the long term, NASA will use SpaceX and Boeing to take astronauts to the ISS for regular missions, which last about six months.

SpaceX will carry out an uncrewed test in January 2019, and Boeing in March 2019.

SpaceX will use its Falcon 9 rocket for its launch with a Crew Dragon capsule attached on top.

Boeing s Starliner ship will be propelled into space by an Atlas V rocket made by the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture with Lockheed Martin.

NASA is depending on the success of both missions as its contract with the Russian space agency expires in November 2019.

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ICC World Cup Trophy put on display in twin cities

The 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Trophy was put on display in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday as a part of its worldwide trophy tour.

The trophy had arrived in the Capital on late Thursday. The trophy was put on display for fans at two places – Beacon House Campus at Sector H-8 Islamabad and Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi.

Former leg-spin wizard Abdul Qadir and wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal, who were present at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium lifted the trophy.

Talking to media Abdul Qadir expressed the optimism that Pakistan would win the world cup. He said Imran Khan was a great captain under whom Pakistan won the 1992 world cup. “Now he is Prime Minister of Pakistan and I hope that he will take decisions for the betterment of cricket in the country”, he added.

Kamran Akmal said that he was thrilled to lift the trophy. “I wish my country to win the world cup. However for winning the mega event Pakistan’s preparations should start right now”, he added.

The trophy will be put on display for fans at various places in the Capital on Saturday including Faisal Mosque and Daman-e-Koh. The final stop of the trophy in Pakistan will be Karachi. It will be put on display at the National Stadium Karachi on Sunday. It will be taken to Mohatta Palace and Frere Hall as well.

The trophy journey had kicked off in Dubai from ICC headquarters on August 27. “Travelling across five continents, 21 countries and over 60 cities the ‘most connected Trophy Tour ever’ will allow fans around the world to get up close to the coveted prize that will be lifted at Lord’s Cricket Ground on 14 July, 2019,” said the ICC in a statement.

The cricket World Cup will kick off on May 30, 2019.

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Child among 3 Palestinians killed in Gaza protests

Three Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured on Friday when the Israeli occupation forces heavily opened fire at the Great March of Return protesters east of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli warplanes further launched two airstrikes on northern Gaza. Eyewitnesses told Quds Press that two Palestinian resistance posts were bombed with no injuries reported.

According to Gaza Ministry of Health, the martyrs are Fares al-Sirsawi, 12, Akram Abu Sam'an, 24, and Husein al-Raqeb, 20, and nearly 376 Palestinians were injured.

The PIC reporter said that thousands of Palestinian citizens rallied along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories to take part in the protests of the 28th Friday of the Great March of Return.

Palestinian youths flew fire balloons over the border fence and burned dozens of car tires to block the view of Israeli snipers.

The Israeli occupation army earlier on Friday summoned reinforcements and redeployed more Iron Dome missile defense systems at the border in anticipation of any response by the Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 30 March have been protesting along Gaza border to mainly call for lifting Gaza siege and allowing Palestinian refugees to return to their lands from which they were expelled in 1948.

So far 208 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army and over 22,000 injured, 400 of whom are in critical condition.

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Massive crackdown launched in South Kashmir ahead of sham polls

In occupied Kashmir, the authorities have launched a massive crackdown in South Kashmir ahead of the so-called Municipal and Panchayat elections, arresting dozens of people in Pulwama district.

The personnel of Indian police and its Special Operations Group (SOG) raided several villages of the district including Kalampora, Qasba Yar, Drubgam, Bellow, Murran, Rohmoo and Nowpora over the past couple of days and detained scores of people.

The phase-wise Municipal elections are set to begin from Monday (October 8) in occupied Kashmir. The Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has called for complete shutdown in the territory on the day to register protest against the holding of the polls.

Meanwhile, the occupation authorities have established dozens of check-posts in different areas of Srinagar including Dalgate, Maulana Azad Road, Residency Road, Amira Kadal, Budshah Bridge, Jahangir Chowk and Batamaloo, causing huge inconvenience to the people particularly commuters.

In downtown areas, police and paramilitary personnel are checking vehicles, particularly bikers, demanding identity cards and other documents and frisking passengers thoroughly. The commuters said that Indian police and troops had established check-points at almost all major intersections. They said that all entry and exit points of the city are sealed by the forces’ personnel at dusk.

“When I leave for home after closing my shop in the evening, the presence of troops on roads is much more. They keep checking vehicles and documents. I prefer to leave early these days,” said Rayees Ahmed, who runs a shop at Lal Chowk.

Many private-sector employees who work late in their offices said that although these measures looked routine during the day, it was really frightful when masked troops stopped their vehicles late in the evening.

“I live in downtown and come late from my office. Every day I am stopped at check-posts on the way home. I feel frightened at times when troops surround my vehicle,” said a downtown youth.

On the other hand, unidentified persons set ablaze paddy crop belonging to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for upcoming Municipal elections in Dooru-Verinag area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

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Shehbaz Sharif to be presented before accountability court shortly

Former Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif will be presented before an accountability court today (Saturday).

The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, who was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday in the Ashiana Iqbal housing scheme case, will be produced before accountability court Judge Najmul Hasan.

Shehbaz will be represented by Azam Nazeer Tarar and Amjad Pervez.

The PML-N president's sons, Hamza and Salman Shehbaz, have reached the court.

Contingents of police, including anti-riot force, have been deployed around the accountability court ahead of Shehbaz’s appearance and roads leading to it have also been blocked.

According to sources, the entry of unrelated persons and media coverage have been barred inside the accountability court.

Several PML-N workers have gathered outside the accountability court and have been chanting slogans in favour of the party president.

Shehbaz was arrested when he appeared before NAB to record his statement in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company case on October 5.

“The National Accountability Bureau Lahore has arrested former Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana housing scheme case. NAB will produce Shehbaz Sharif in an accountability court tomorrow [Saturday],” a press statement issued by the anti-graft body said.

According to sources, Shehbaz was arrested after Fawad Hasan Fawad, the then implementation secretary, told NAB that he carried out corrupt activities in projects in Punjab on orders from Shehbaz, who was the chief minister then. NAB had also received information from Fawad Hasan’s laptop, from which data was retrieved after his arrest.

In the investigation that followed, Fawad and Shehbaz appeared together, during which the latter said he would bring proof. Subsequently, NAB granted time to Shehbaz to gather proof, but he could not produce anything. Therefore, the anti-graft body summoned him today in the Saaf Pani Company case, which is one of the 56 companies being investigated.

However, Shehbaz was arrested for alleged corruption in Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case, in which former Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique are also involved and have been summoned on October 16.

Sources said the arrest of Rafique and his brother have also been summoned in the case.

Speaking to the media outside the accountability court, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said Shehbaz’s arrest is the worst form of political victimisation.

"He was asked to appear before NAB and record his statement in the Saaf Pani Company case but was arrested in Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case," she added.

"Not even corruption of Rs1 could be proved against the PML-N president," she added.

Stating that PTI is resorting to such tactics as they could not "defeat PML-N in the political arena", Aurangzeb said, "We will not accept revenge in the name of accountability."

The NAB accused Shehbaz of misusing his powers while being the chief minister of Punjab in an inquiry pertaining to Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

The inquiry conducted so far reveals sufficient evidence to prove the involvement of former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif "in the commission of offences as defined under section 9(a) and Schedule of the National Accountability Bureau 1999.

The inquiry conducted states that Shehbaz Sharif as the chief minister of Punjab had unlawfully assumed powers of Board of Directors of Punjab Land and Development Company (PLDC), misused his authority and acted in connivance with Fawad Hassan Fawad who at the time was Secretary Implementation to CM Punjab and others. Contracts awarded to M/s Ch. A Latif and sons for the development and infrastructure of Ashiana Iqbal Housing Project were illegally cancelled.

As the chief minister, Shehbaz Sharif in a meeting on October 21, 2014 unlawfully directed PLDC to entrust the project of Ashiana Iqbal Punjab to LDA. This decision of Sharif was illegal and mala fide as PLDC was the company which was established for undertaking such housing projects. Shehbaz is accused of illegally transferring this project to LDA, which was headed by his close aide Ahad Khan Cheema.

Shehbaz is also accused of working in connivance with other accused in the case and directed LDA to undertake Ashiana Iqbal Project under Public Private Partnership mode. NAB states this was done in order to give “unlawful benefit to blue-eyed firm namely M/s Bismillah Engineering Service Company, which was a proxy firm to M/s Paragon City.”

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NAB accuses Shehbaz of misusing powers as Punjab chief minister

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif of misusing his powers while being the chief minister of Punjab in a inquiry pertaining to Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

The inquiry conducted so far reveals sufficient evidence to prove involvement of former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif "in the commission of offences as defined under section 9(a) and Schedule of the National Accountability Bureau 1999.

It said that Shehbaz, being the chief minister, unlawfully assumed the powers of PLDC board of directors, misused his authority and acted in connivance of then secretary to CM Punjab Fawad Hassan Fawad and others, and illegally got cancelled the contract awarded to M/s Ch. A Latif & Sons for infrastructure development of Ashiana Iqbal Housing Project.

"The said award of contract was declared as lawful and as per PPRA rules by a high power committee so there was no justification to cancel it," the report read.

"However, it was done to give illegal favour to favourite contactor, who had paid illegal gratification for the same."

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PCB imposes 4-month ban on Ahmad Shahzad for doping

Ahmad Shahzad has been banned for four months for violating the Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-doping rules, a press release said on Friday.

The ban will be effective from July 10, 2018.The PCB states that Shahzad was charged with two anti-doping violations for the presence of a prohibited substance in his sample.

“Ahmad accepts that he has committed the violations of the PCB Rules, but had no intent to cheat or enhance his performance. Pursuant to a request from Ahmad, agreed Sanctions under Article 8.6 of the PCB Rules have been reached,” said the press release.

Apart from the ban, Shahzad will also deliver lectures on anti-doping as part of his rehabilitation.

Chairman PCB, Ehsan Mani, emphasized that “PCB has a zero tolerance policy towards doping in cricket and hopes that in future cricketers will exercise utmost care to ensure that no Prohibited Substances enter their system”.

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Shehbaz's arrest is worst victimization: Nawaz

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Friday reacted to the arrest of his brother Shehbaz Sharif, terming it "worst victimization" and holding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government responsible for it.

The former premier, in his statement, said that not only the arrest was regretful, but it was ridiculous as well.

Former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Ashiana Iqbal housing scheme case on Friday, after he appeared before the anti-graft body in Saaf Pani Company case.

"Shehbaz, being the chief minister of Punjab, set an example of public service with honesty," Nawaz said, noting, "His services were acknowledged by the people, foreign governments and international organisations."

He said that "everyone knows the PTI government is responsible for this worst vicitimisation."

The former premier said the government should be prepared to face the same treatment in future what it is meting out to opponents today.

"Because, this is how the nature works," he added.

Nawaz further asked the government not to cover up its incompetence through such acts.

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Pakistan Women Clinch T20 Series Against Bangladesh

Nashra Sandhu and Nida Dar led Pakistan to a series-clinching seven-wicket win in Cox’s Bazar. The spin duo proved too much for Bangladesh, sharing four wickets while giving away just 32 runs in their combined eight overs.

Nashra removed Fargana Hoque and Nigar Sultana before Nida took the wickets of Sanjida Islam and Fahima Khatun as Bangladesh could make only 81 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs. There were two run-outs as well, and a wicket each for Aiman Anwer and Anam Amin. For the home side, Nigar top-scored with 19 off 29 balls.
Pakistan banked on two of their top three batsmen to reach their target in 18.1 overs.

Nahida Khan made 33 off 40 balls with three fours while captain Javeria Khan finished unbeaten on 31 off 37 balls. Leg-spinners Rumana Ahmed and Fahima took a wicket each for Bangladesh.

The fourth T20I will be held at the same venue on October 6, before the solitary ODI on October 8.

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Shehbaz Arrest is An Effort to Steal By-polls: Hamza

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz on Friday condemned the arrest of Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Hamza alleged the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government orchestrated Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest.

“They want to secure their victory in the upcoming by-elections. They are well aware of the PML-N’s chances….. and are engaged in revenge tactics,” he said.

Hamza also criticised the PTI government for allegedly shielding and patronising land mafias and said the PML-N will fight its case in parliament and on roads.

“Not even a single penny was taken from the national exchequer in Ashiana Housing Scheme. These corruption allegations, they are all hoaxes to influence the by-elections.

“This is political victimisation at its worst. First they ousted Nawaz Sharif and now they are after Shehbaz Sharif…. Imran Khan cannot accept criticism, he can’t even face prison for two days,” he added.

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Defence Prod Minister emphasizes to extend cooperation with Czech Republic

Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal has emphasized on the need to extend the cooperation in the fields of defence production with Czech Republic.

Talking to ambassador of Czech Republic Jan Fury in Islamabad today (Friday), she said there is need to identify new areas of collaboration in defence industry between the two countries.

Zubaida Jalal expressed gratitude to the ambassador for his efforts about portraying the positive image of Pakistan in the comity of nations.

The Czech Republic ambassador congratulated Minister on assuming new responsibilities and apprised her about the ongoing defence cooperation between Pakistan and Czech Republic.

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Neither minus-one could take place, nor the PML-N could be split: Maryam Aurangzeb

In her reaction to the arrest of the party president, Marriyum Aurangzeb said Shehbaz Sharif was summoned in connection with Punjab Saaf Pani Company case, but then NAB arrested him in Ashiana case.

She noted that the former government of Punjab led by the then Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had itself pointed out corruption in the Ashiana case.
Arresting the PML-N president only 10 days ahead of by-elections in the country is an effort to influence the polls,” the party leader said while speaking to media.

She maintained that her party was being victimised on the pretext of accountability.

“Neither a minus-one could take place, nor the PML-N could be split, which is why these steps are being taken,” Marriyum contended.

She further said the party leaders were gathering in Lahore to finalise a future strategy.

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Newly Inducted Ministers Awarded Portfolios

Newly inducted ministers in the federal cabinet have been given portfolios as a notification issued in this connection.

According to notification, Faisal Vawda has been given the portfolio of Ministry of Water Resources, Azam Swati Ministry of Science and Technology, Mohammad Mian Soomro Minister of Privatisation, Ali Amin Gandapur to look after the Ministry of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, Zartaj Gul became the minister of state for climate change, while Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan handed over the affairs of the ministry of Food Protection.

Earlier, Six new ministers on Friday sworn into the federal cabinet.

President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath to the newly-appointed ministers at Presidency.

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Shehbaz Sharif's arrest seems to be pre-poll rigging: Khursheed Shah

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah on Friday said authorities should have had approached National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser before arresting Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

“It is the first time since 1985 that an opposition leader has been arrested. And the arrest ahead of by-elections is a hint towards pre-poll rigging,” he added.

The former opposition leader said his party would come up with a strategy after consultations, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was engaged in revenge tactics.

Shehbaz Sharif was arrested after appearing for a routine hearing of Saaf Pani Company scam at the NAB’s Lahore office. Sources told that three files were tabled before him.

The former Punjab chief minister is accused of awarding illegal contracts to his favourite firm.

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa govt decides to draft new health policy

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to draft a new health policy to provide better health services to people of the province.

A spokesman of the Provincial Health Department told our Peshawar correspondent that the policy will be prepared by next month in collaboration with UN agencies.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has also decided to extend the Sehat Sahulat Programme to seven tribal districts.

At present, more than fourteen point five million people are availing free health facilities under Sehat Sahulat Card Programme in the province.

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Govt has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption: Fawad Ch

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday hinted that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest is the first in a series of detentions that are to follow.

Commenting on Shehbaz’s arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Ashiana Company case, Chaudhry said, “This is the first arrest of several prominent arrests."

"Major arrests are about to be made,” he added.

The information minister further said, “The process of accountability will continue and the government has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption.”

Further, Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said, “The services of the former provincial chief minister are bearing fruit now.”

“All members of the former government involved in corruption will soon be behind bars,” he added.

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Accountability Bureau detains PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday detained Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

The PML-N president has been detained by NAB Lahore in connection to the Saaf Pani Case.

The accountability watchdog had alleged that Shehbaz Sharif had misused his authority during his tenure as Punjab chief minister and was involved in corruption.

Sources said that NAB had summoned Shehbaz to appear before it at 11am today and was detained upon failure to do so.

Further, NAB sources said that the PML-N president has not been arrested as yet and that a decision in this regard will be taken after the accountability bureau seeks permission to do so from the National Assembly speaker.

On June 26, NAB arrested Engineer Qamarul Islam Raja – former chairman of Saaf Pani Company and PML-N’s ticket holder from NA-59 Rawalpindi-III – for his alleged role in awarding contracts to ‘favourites.

NAB officials also apprehended former CEO of the company, Wasim Ajmal, who is accused of making changes to the company's documents after project bidding in violation of the rules.

The Punjab government had established Saaf Pani Company to conceive, plan, design, execute and manage projects for the provision of safe drinking water, in terms of both access and quality, to the communities living in unserved and underserved areas i.e. rural and peri-urban areas of the province.

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Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad

The Nobel Committee received more than 300 nominations for this year's Peace Prize. The award, worth more than a million dollars, has been given to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad.

At a ceremony in the Nobel Institute on Friday, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad were named the Nobel Peace Prize laureates for 2018 for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.

Congolese Doctor Denis Mukwege is a gynecologist who founded the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, where he specializes in the treatment of women who have been gang-raped by rebel forces.

Nadia Murad Basee Taha is a Yazidi Kurdish human rights activist from Iraq. Since September 2016 she has been the first UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking. The 25-year-old Murad is the second-youngest laureate ever. Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai was 17 when she was named laureate in 2014 with Kailash Satyarthi.

The Nobel committee received nominations for 216 individuals and 115 organizations for this year's peace prize, one of five Nobel Prizes established through the will of Swedish industrialist and arms manufacturer Alfred Nobel in 1895.

The 2018 prize is worth 9 million Swedish kronor (€880,000 or $1.01 million).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated both "splendid prize-winners," with her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, saying that Mukwege and Murad stood for a "cry for humanity." He said the German government had the greatest respect for the work of the two laureates.

Ahead of the announcement

Ahead of the announcement at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, bookmakers had the leaders of North and South Korea as odd-on favorites for the prize after their three summits aiming to improve relations between the two states, still officially at war.

UK betting company Ladbrokes put US President Donald Trump second in the betting with former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont in third.

"After historic talks the Korean leaders are the overwhelming favorites to be announced as the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winners, although Donald Trump is also fancied by some punters to land the accolade for his role in bringing the two together," Ladbrokes Jessica Bridge said on the company's website.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was joint-fifth in the betting at 16/1 — the same odds as Pope Francis.

Last year's winner was the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

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South Korea's ex-President Lee Myung-bak jailed for 15 years on corruption charges

Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has been given a 15-year jail sentence and a fine over a series of corruption charges, including bribery. He is the fourth ex-South Korean president to land in prison.

A South Korean court on Friday convicted former President Lee Myung-bak, 76, of bribery, embezzlement and other charges and sentenced him to 15 years in jail.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of 13 billion won (€10 million; $1.5 million).

Lee, who served as president from 2008-2013, has denied any wrongdoing and says the investigation was politically motivated. He has one week to appeal.

He is the fourth former South Korean president to be imprisoned. His successor, Park Geun-hye, is also serving a 33-year prison term over a separate corruption scandal.

Slew of charges

Among other things, Lee was found guilty of accepting bribes totalling some 6 billion won from Samsung Electronics in exchange for a pardon for the company's chairman Lee Kun-hee, who had been jailed for financial wrongdoing and tax evasion. Both Samsung and Lee Myung-bak have denied the charges.

The court also convicted Lee of embezzling 24.6 billion won from a company he owned, of receiving various other bribes and other wrongdoing before and during his presidency.

Lee had "bitterly disappointed not only citizens who trusted and supported him but also our entire country," the court said during the televised verdict.

Lee did not attend while the verdict was being announced, citing illness.

Beacon of economic hope

Before his election as president in 2007 by the widest margin in South Korean history, Lee had achieved considerable fame as a successful businessman, leading to hopes that he could bring new momentum to a faltering economy.

However, his five-year term was overshadowed by the global financial meltdown and growing military tensions with North Korea.

All four former South Korean presidents who are still living have now been found guilty of criminal offenses. Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who were presidents through the 1980s to the early 1990s, both received jail sentences after leaving office for corruption and treason. They were pardoned after serving some two years of their sentences.

Another former leader, Roh Moo-hyun, jumped to his death in 2009after a corruption probe was launched against him.

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Minister’s son accused of kidnap, torture of cops

A provincial minister on Thursday found himself at the centre of a controversy after his son along with his friends allegedly kidnapped three policemen, snatched their weapons, tortured them and hurled threats.

Police said late on Oct 1 near the LDA Park in the Ghalib Market area policemen allegedly caught a youth and a girl in a car. As the couple was being taken to the police station, the youth called Mian Hasan, son of Punjab Minister for Housing Mahmoodur Rasheed, who immediately arrived there along with his three friends in two cars.

Police said the suspects snatched guns from the policemen, bundled them into their cars and drove away. They later dropped the kidnapped policemen at different places and fled away.

The police claimed they kept looking for the suspects and traced one of the cars finally on Thursday through a CCTV camera footage that was registered in the name of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central leader and provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed.

The minister, while talking to the media, though admitted his son went to “rescue” his friends, he denied the charges of torturing and kidnapping the policemen.

He said his son reached the spot when his friend told him on phone that he had an argument with some policemen.

Sources said the police lodged a “weak case” against the suspects who were mentioned as “unidentified persons” in the FIR, without properly investigating the matter involving kidnap of policemen.

The FIR was lodged on charges of kidnapping, threatening and torturing the policemen under sections 382, 365, 353, 186 and 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Talking to Dawn, Lahore Operations DIG said the minister’s son Mian Hassan was involved in the entire episode.

“They (suspects) kept driving the cars on various roads of the city for two hours, slapping the kidnapped policemen and also filmed the torture with their mobile phone cameras”, the DIG said.

The police traced out the suspects with the help of CCTV cameras of the Safe City Project which also showed them dropping the policemen one by one on different roads, he said.

He said the statements of the victims (policemen) had also been recorded.

The DIG said the investigations had been initiated and the offenders would be brought to task.

“We are collecting evidences through geo tagging and using all other available options to lay a firm hand on the culprits,” DIG Mr Shahzad said.

To a question about the case lodged against the suspects, he said there was a zero tolerance for such offenders and they would be proceeded against without any leniency.

Meanwhile, Mahmoodur Rasheed said the couple caught by policemen on Oct 1 night was just going to the market to have coffee. He alleged the policemen on bikes without number plates tried to blackmail the couple and demanded Rs50,000 as bribe from his son’s friend which prompted Mian Hasan to reach the scene to help him.

He said that he himself directed his son to visit the police station and join the investigation to show that he respected the law.

“I’ll quit my office if the allegations leveled against my son proved true,” the minister said while answering queries of the media persons.

Mr Rasheed lamented that he and his family suffered a setback when a section of the media ran false news that his son was caught with a girl.

“It is my earnest request that please let the investigation take its course to bring facts to the public rather than defaming my son before the completion of the inquiries,” the minister said.

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Court issue arrest warrant of former ambassador Hussain Haqqani

A local court in Islamabad on Friday has issued permanent arrest warrant of former ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani.

During the hearing of Memogate case headed by special judge Irum Niazi, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented its report, alleging Haqqani of embezzlement of Rs2 million dollars.

Earlier on 30 August, the Apex Court tasked NAB to bring back Hussain Haqqani, former ambassador to US to Pakistan, who is accused in the Memogate scandal.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nasir heard the case.

 

According to amicus curiae (friend of the court) Ahmer Bilal Soofi, NAB can bring Haqqani back to Pakistan, the CJP said.

During the hearing, Justice Nisar remarked that NAB has agreements with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) pertaining to the return of suspects.

 

“NAB chairman can issue warrants for the former ambassador’s return,” Justice Nisar added and tasked the accountability bureau to bring him back.

The bench observed that there are difficulties owing to a lack of repatriation agreements between Pakistan and other countries.

The top court recommended that laws be drafted for bringing back suspects to the country and directed the Parliament to make legislation on repatriation agreements with other countries within a month.

Earlier on August 07, the special assistant to Supreme Court in Memogate Case Ahmer Bilal presented the legal draft to bring back Hussain Haqqani saying he could not be repatriated through Interpol.

During the hearing of the case by a three-member bench headed by CJ Saqib Nisar, an international law expert and former federal law minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the Memogate case has presented the legal draft. He informed the court that Haqqani could not be brought back to Pakistan through Interpol Red Warrant as there was no agreement between Pakistan and US over the exchange of criminals.

On which CJP asked can it not possible to bring back on SC request, Bilal told the court it was not possible and foreign office has already informed the situation.

He informed the court that the case of embezzlement in Pakistan foreign office can the alone reason for bringing him back, however, there is a need for legislation in this connection.

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