Polling under way in KP for first phase of local bodies election 2021

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is holding the first phase of the local government elections in its 17 districts today (Sunday). The polls will be held in the rest of KP next month.

Polling started at 8am and will continue till 5pm.

Strict security arrangements have been made, with a total of 79,479 police and other law enforcement agencies' personnel deployed in the districts where the ballot is taking place.

Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshehra, Mardan, and Peshawar are among the 17 districts. However, voting for the election of Dera Ismail Khan mayor city council was deferred after the death of ANP's candidate Mohammad Umar Khitab in an attack on Saturday.

Following the incident, the security in DIK and nearby districts was enhanced.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 12.66 million voter are registered across the 17 districts, with 7. 015 million male voters and 5.653 million female voters.

A total of 9,223 polling stations and 28,892 polling booths have been set up for today's elections.

Of these, 2,507 polling stations have been declared most sensitive, 4,188 sensitive, while 528 have been categorized as normal.

Meanwhile, 860 polling stations have been designated as sensitive, 165 as most sensitive, and 224 as normal in the provincial capital.

Around 11,000 policemen and personnel of other forces have been deployed for security during polls in Peshawar alone.

An official said that in addition to the police, Frontier Constabulary personnel would be deployed in over 200 most sensitive polling stations in the provincial capital. Deployment to all the polling stations has been completed.

Besides, the Ababeel squad, rapid response force and other forces will also remain alert to rush in case of any mishap in an area. The cops have been directed not to allow brandishing of weapons, aerial firing or creating any law and order.

Inspector-General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari chaired a meeting on the security arrangements for the polls on Saturday and directed the officers to ensure foolproof security.

For the first time, the cops from the erstwhile tribal areas have also been deployed in different districts of the province for election security duty.

This is for the first time that LG polls are being held in districts of erstwhile Fata.

As per the ECP, there are a total of 12.66 million registered voters, 7. 015 male and 5.653 females, in the 17 districts.

As many as 37,752 candidates are in the run for different categories in the first phase of the polls. Among these 689 are in the run to lead the city and tehsil councils while 19,285 candidates are in the run for the slot of general councilors, chairman in village and neighborhood councils.

Besides, 3,905 candidates are flexing their muscles for the seats for women councilors, 7513 for peasant councilors, 6081 for youth councilors and 282 for minority councilors.

As per reports, 876 women councilors have already been elected unopposed in different village and neighborhood councils across the province. A large number of minority councilors have been elected unopposed.

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Pakistan hosting OIC extraordinary session on Afghanistan today

The 17th extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers is being hosted by Pakistan today (Sunday) to focus on the current aggravating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

The session was convened at the insistence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the OIC Summit Chair. Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the special moot taking place at Parliament House today.

The conference will start with a statement of Pakistan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who will chair the session.

The chair of the OIC summit, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud, will then speak to the delegates. This will be followed by a statement from Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the OIC, statements on behalf of OIC Regional Groups (Asia, Africa, Arab) and a statement by President Islamic Development Bank Dr Muhammad Al-Jasser.

A delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia arrived late Saturday evening. The delegation was led by the Foreign Minister of KSA Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud. Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, SAPM on Interfaith Harmony Allama Tahir Ashrafi, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Maliki and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the guests.

Several delegations, including foreign ministers, deputy foreign ministers, foreign secretaries and other senior government officials, have arrived from several countries, including Turkey, Sierra Leone, Somalia, UAE, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Jordan and Palestine, in Islamabad.

Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is also in the federal capital to attend the special moot.

The government has completed all arrangements at Parliament house ahead of the OIC session as red carpets and floral arrangements have been laid out in the corridors to welcome the guests.

Besides foreign ministers and observers, the special invitees include participants from the United Nations, international financial institutions, and some non-member states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the EU.

PM Imran Khan welcomes delegations

Taking to his Twitter handle, PM Khan welcomed the delegation from the OIC member states for coming to Pakistan to attend the crucial OIC meeting. “I welcome delegations from OIC [member] states, observers, friends, partners [and] international organisations to Pakistan," he said on the microblogging website.

“The extraordinary session of OIC [Council of Foreign Ministers] is an expression of solidarity with the Afghan [people and] to focus our collective energies on addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.”

Qureshi hopes for consensus on Afghanistan aid

Earlier, speaking to the media at Parliament House after examining the arrangements, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan’s stance on the prevailing situation in Afghanistan is gaining recognition with the world joining its voice

The top Pakistan diplomat said he is confident that Pakistan, along with foreign ministers of the OIC states, will move a step forward in building that consensus.

Qureshi said from the very first day, Pakistan told the world about the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and that the situation could also lead to an economic collapse if the banking system remained dysfunctional for long.

He said the economic collapse of Afghanistan would not only impact the immediate neighbours or region but the world in the form of the exodus of refugees, as well as terrorism.

The minister reiterated that the objective behind hosting the moot was to attract the world's attention towards the food shortage, the plight of the children, and the financial difficulties in the war-torn country.

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Acting FM Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Pakistan to attend OIC meeting

Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Pakistan to attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting today, said Afghan media.

Muttaqi discussed the economic situation in his country with German Special Representative for Afghanistan Jasper Wieck.

According to Afghan media, the two officials discussed matters pertaining to humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.

Earlier, talking to journalists at Kabul's international airport, before leaving for Pakistan, Muttaqi said that the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Islamabad is very important for Afghanistan.

Pakistan hosts meeting

On the insistence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan had decided to host the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Islamabad.

The purpose of the OIC meeting was to address the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and turn the world's attention to the people of the war-ravaged country, who are at severe risk of starvation and disease.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the event. Islamabad is playing an instrumental role in gathering the world and the Taliban on the same platform in hopes to find a lasting solution to the crises faced by Afghanistan.

The Afghan delegation attending the moot is being led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Pakistan has time and again emphasised that the lack of prompt response would lead to food shortages for some 22.8 million people and affect about 3.2 million children with malnutrition.

"The OIC extraordinary session in Islamabad would prove to be a stepping stone in finding solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and this was also an opportunity for world capitals to know about ground realities from Taliban representatives," said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi earlier.

"In case of such a crisis, the country's neighbours, including Pakistan, and European Union states, would have to prepare for another influx of refugees. We are expecting some financial support from the OIC member states," he added.

 

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Karachi Blast: 12 killed and 12 others injured

At least 12 people were killed and 12 others injured in a blast near Paracha Chowk in Karachi's Shershah area on Saturday, according to a statement by the spokesperson for the Karachi police.

SHO said the explosion took place in a nullah (drain) located underneath a private bank, which had been served a notice to vacate the premises so the nullah could be cleaned up.
At least eight people were killed and five others injured in a blast near Paracha Chowk in Karachi's Shershah area on Saturday.

Additional Police Surgeon Dr Qarar Abbasi told Dawn.com that eight dead bodies have been brought to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) so far.

SHO Zafar Ali Shah said the explosion took place in a nullah (drain) located beneath a private bank in the area. The bank had been given notice to vacate the premises so the nullah could be cleaned, he added.

The bank's building, as well as a nearby petrol pump, was damaged in the explosion, Shah said.

The official said it was suspected that the accumulation of gases in the drain underneath the building caused the blast.

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Imran Khan thinks that everyone except him has come into power to commit corruption: Sherry Rehman

Pakistan peoples party senior leader Sherry Rehman on Saturday has advised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to stop blaming her party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for his failure.

While criticizing the premier, Sherry Rehman said Imran Khan thinks that everyone except him has come into power to commit corruption.

Majority of the people thinks that the level of corruption has increased in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s tenure, she went on to say.

The PPP leader said, “You (Imran Khan) cannot sit calmly by leveling allegations against others.”

The reaction came after Prime Minister Imran Khan while calling corruption a reason to destroy a country, said the factor behind the countries poverty was not the lack of resources but the corruption of their leadership.

"Corruption is something which destroys a country. The poor countries are poor not because of they lack resources but because their leadership is corrupt," the prime minister said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

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Pakistan records 57 coronavirus cases in 24 hours

Pakistan has reported 7 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,290,848. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,870 on Saturday.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 357 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Till now 13,057 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,649 in Sindh 5,907 in KP, 963 in Islamabad, 745 in Azad Kashmir, 363 in Balochistan, and 186 in GB.

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Pakistan will continue to play its positive role in Afghanistan: FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of the world, and vowed that Pakistan would continue to play its positive role in this regard.

In his statement in view of the upcoming meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC on Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, he said the situation could adversely affect neighbouring countries in the region.

He urged the international community to consider bringing improvement to the situation in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister said Pakistan is trying its best to fulfil its responsibility in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He mentioned that the NATO commanders, who served in Afghanistan, we are also expressing concern over the deteriorating situation of the country.

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Bhuttos, Sharifs responsible for Pakistan’s plight : PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan has lashed out at the Bhuttos and the Sharifs, blaming them for destroying the country and having a hand in the problems the country is facing today.

In an interview to Al Jazeera, he said Pakistan was rich in resources but the Bhutto and Sharif families used them unfairly.

He said his government wanted Pakistan to become a prosperous country and was fighting against the two super-rich families.

PM Imran Khan alleged that the two families were working to set up their dynasties in Pakistan and were responsible for the present mess the country is in.

“Corruption is something which destroys a country. The poor countries are poor not because they lack resources but because their leadership is corrupt," he told the anchorperson Ola Al-Fares.

"I will myself conduct transparent investigations against ministers If corruption allegations are levelled against them," he said, adding that the government sprung into action after a sugar inquiry report exposed the mafia.

PM Imran Khan said that during his long stay in the UK, he became well versed with the West’s political system and has always criticised the politics of western powers.

To a question, he said the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had transformed human beings and changed their characters, and made them leaders for all times to come.

“He was Rahamtullil Alamin (blessing for the whole world), not just the Muslims. Anyone who will follow his model will rise,” the prime minister remarked.

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‘My life is an open book’, PM Imran tells court via video link

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday appeared before a district and sessions court via video link from his office to record a statement in a defamation suit worth Rs10 billion filed against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif.

While appearing via video link before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Adnan, the premier submitted an affidavit against the PML-N leader for levelling allegations of non-transparency, money laundering and use of anonymous companies in the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust funds.

On August 1, 2012, PM Imran said: Asif first made the allegations that Imran “had indulged in money laundering or had caused money laundering to be done or has approved the commission of money laundering through SKMT” in his press conference held at the Punjab House and later on the same evening at a private TV programme he repeated the allegations.

PM Imran said that Asif also alleged that he was said to be a person who played satta [betting] with the charity money.

“My life from a very early age has been an open book,” PM Imran stated in the affidavit. “The people of Pakistan have loved and admired me as a human being and have believed in my financial integrity despite whatever personal vilification regarding my early life as an international sporting superstar I have faced.”

The prime minister informed the court that Asif’s statements were “false and were made and published to injure my reputation”, adding that the statements subjected him to unjust criticism.

Apart from the defamatory tone and tenor of the defendant, the premier said that the PML-N leader alleged that he being the chairman of the Board of SKMT was personally responsible for making investments out of Zakat funds in a non-transparent manner through Benami companies set up to enable the non-transparent investment.

In the affidavit, the premier said that Asif claimed that he [Imran] had acted in a manner worse than the notorious “Double Shah” who defrauded a large number of people.

PM Imran added that Double Shah was the alias of a notorious fraudster whose case came to light a few years earlier and who had deprived thousands of people of their hard-earned savings by extracting funds based on false representations.

“Comparing me to the said Double Shah is the worst form of defamation that has been caused to me by the defendant [Asif],” PM stated. He added that the allegations made against him were pertaining to two sets of transactions made by the Endowment Fund of SKMT which were disclosed in the financial report for the year 2010, and published on SKMT website.

The first set of transactions made into an issue by the defendant related to ABN-AMRO Bank Notes, the prime minister stated, saying Asif portrayed the deposit of funds by the Endowment Fund in various ABN-AMRO Bank Notes as a suspicious transaction. He added that the deposit of funds yielded a return that is duly reflected in the financial statement for the year ended 2010.

The second transaction pertained to the investment made out of the Endowment Fund of SKMT of a sum of $3 million in Cinnabar – a company involved in a housing development project in Oman, and details of which were disclosed in the financial statement of SKMT.

“The investment decision was made by the Investment Committee of the Board of SKMT of which I was not a member,” PM Imran informed the court.

He maintained that “no Zakat money was utilised in this transaction and neither was any Benami transaction entered into”. Referring to the 2010 financial statement, he said, “Out of Rs807,018,400 that were collected as Zakat in the year 2010, not one rupee of Zakat was transferred to the Endowment Fund.”

On conveying the impression that an offshore company was equivalent to a Benami company, the PM stated that “this is absolutely not the case”, adding an offshore company is simply a company registered outside the jurisdiction where it is conducting its primary business.

“I could only have laundered money if, as is falsely alleged by the defendant, the donations and Zakat given by the public of Pakistan to SKMT were the proceeds of crime and that I and SKMT knew that these were the proceeds of such crime,” PM argued over the allegations of money laundering.

“The statement of the defendant that money laundering took place was completely false,” he said adding the Asif made the allegations knowing fully well that damage to his standing and esteem would hurt SKMT.

“The Defendant is liable to make good all the losses caused to my reputation and pay damages commensurate with such losses,” PM Imran added. “I conservatively estimate such losses to be a sum of Rs.10,000,000,000/- (Rupees Ten Billion Only) as damages, which may kindly be granted to me.”

The statement issued from the PM Office stated that running e-courts was a welcoming step as it saves time and money of the court and swiftly helps deciding cases.

“The judiciary and government agencies deserve commendation for the successful introduction of e-courts,” the primer was quoted as saying. He along with his counsel, Senator Waleed Iqbal, participated in the court proceedings from the PM Office, it added.

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PSL 7: Franchises allowed to induct more players

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises to induct more players into the squad for the tournament's seventh edition.

The board has allowed the franchises to move the cap up from 18 to 20 players, while the two additions should either be domestic or a combination of domestic and foreign, sources said.

However, the franchises will not be allowed to induct two foreign players. The selection of the additional players will be done next month, just days before the league begins — on January 27. The PSL draft took place last week.

The decision was taken after the PSL franchises had requested the PCB to increase the team players, given the uncertainty due to the current coronavirus situation, sources said.

PCB also aims to increase the importance of domestic players through the decision, sources added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies — scheduled from Dec 18-22 — was postponed after several Windies players tested positive for COVID-19 during the three-match T20 series.

After the announcement, PCB Chief Operating Office Salman Naseer said that although there was "no breach of the biosecure bubble at all," but the board had become extra cautious for PSL.

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Minister for Education Punjab announces winter vacations schedule for Punjab schools

Minister for Education Punjab Murad Raas on Friday announced that the winter vacations for schools — public and private — across the province would be observed from December 23 to January 6, 2022.

The education minister, while announcing the schedule, also advised the masses to get vaccinated and follow government-mandated standard operating procedures (SOPs), as the new coronavirus variant Omicron has also emerged in Pakistan.

Pakistan confirmed its first case of the new variant on Monday — in a patient who had no travel history.

Hours before Raas' announcement, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had finally decided January 3, 2022, as the date for the commencement of winter vacations of the educational institutions across the country.

The date was finalised Friday during a meeting of the NCOC, headed by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and NCOC chief Asad Umar, held to review the rescheduling of winter vacations.

Last week, the Government of Sindh had announced winter vacations for schools and colleges — public and private — across the province from December 20 till January 1, 2022.

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Saudi delegation arrives in Pakistan to attend OIC summit on Afghanistan

Saudi delegates reached Islamabad on Friday to attend an extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled to take place on December 19, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

The moot was proposed by Saudi Arabia last month, following which Pakistan had welcomed the move and offered to host the session.

A delegation comprising Saudi Arabia's Afghan affairs department head Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud al-Kabir and Prince Jiluwi bin Turki arrived in Islamabad on Friday morning. The delegates were received by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al Malki and senior officials from the Foreign Office (FO).

Later, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told media persons in Islamabad that 90 delegates invited to the summit had reached Islamabad and more were expected tomorrow.

Among those who had arrived in Islamabad was Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Dr Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Jasser, who was welcomed by the FO.

Upon reaching the capital, the IDB president commended Pakistan bringing OIC countries at one platform for stability in Afghanistan.

Speaking to state-run Radio Pakistan at Islamabad International Airport, he acknowledged Pakistan's efforts for extending "every possible assistance to Afghanistan".

All OIC countries held Pakistan's contribution in this regard in high esteem, Al Jasser said, adding that the participation of OIC ministers in the upcoming conference was an expression of their resolve for peace in Afghanistan.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha had also reached Islamabad on Thursday night to attend the summit. He was welcomed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib.

Taha had said on the occasion that the OIC session would provide an opportunity to Muslim countries to discuss ways to help Afghan people, who were facing a looming humanitarian crisis.

According to Radio Pakistan, he said it was high time that Muslim countries considered ways to help their Afghan brethren at this critical time.

He also appreciated Pakistan's role in facilitating the evacuation of foreigners from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul and expressed the hope that Islamabad would continue to play a positive role in helping the people of Afghanistan.

The OIC secretary general met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday, with the latter tweeting: "A pleasure to welcome OIC Secretary General H.E Hissein Brahim Taha to Pakistan. I look forward to working closely for the success of the 17th Extraordinary Session of the CFM on Afghanistan."

'World must not abandon Afghanistan'

Earlier in the day, the foreign minister also held a meeting with media persons to discuss the OIC summit.

He told media persons that the Afghan delegation attending the moot would be led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West would also attend the summit.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi interacts with media persons in Islamabad on Friday. — Photo by Naveed Siddiqui
The foreign minister said the world must not abandon Afghanistan, warning that if a humanitarian crisis was not averted in the war-torn country, its economy would collapse.

He further stated that in case of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the country's neighbours, including Pakistan, and European Union states would have to prepare for another influx of refugees.

Qureshi said Pakistan was playing its role in providing assistance to Afghanistan and urged other countries to do the same.

In this regard, he highlighted that 75 per cent of Afghanistan's budgetary requirements were met via external support and now that Afghan assets had been frozen, the world needed to revisit its approach.

"Why should Afghan women and children suffer?" he remarked.

He added that the Afghan government was ready to reopen schools in the country but lacked resources to pay salaries to its employees.

"We are expecting some financial support from OIC member states," he added.

Qureshi announced that a meeting of Troika Plus — comprising Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States — P5 countries and Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia would also be held in Islamabad to discuss the Afghan situation.

He added that Pakistan had also constituted a platform comprising six countries from the region, and its first virtual meeting would be held in Islamabad, second in Iran and third in Beijing.

The summit

A formal announcement for the OIC moot was made by Foreign Minister Qureshi on December 4, who had said that the purpose of the summit was to avert a humanitarian crisis rearing its head in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal.

Addressing a press conference, he had said the session would draw world leaders’ attention towards the fact that a lack of prompt response would lead to food shortages for some 22.8 million people and affect about 3.2m children with malnutrition in Afghanistan.

He had added that the conference would help mobilise resources to support Afghanistan.

The foreign minister had said the coming extraordinary session of the OIC was being held in Pakistan after a gap of 41 years, for which the special representatives of P5 countries, vice-president of European Union, and representatives of relevant UN agencies and the World Bank had also been invited.

“Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia have also been invited to help develop an international consensus on bringing Afghan­istan out of crisis,” he had said.

The foreign minister had further stated that Pa­k­istan would invite a high-level delegation from Afghan­istan so that they could engage and be engaged by the world leaders to know about ground realities.

Ahead of the foreign delegates' arrival, Qureshi said on Thursday that with members of the international community and the Taliban at the same platform, the coming meeting of the OIC in Islamabad would prove to be a stepping stone in finding solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister said by hosting the event, Pakistan was playing a positive role and bridging the communication gap between the world and the Taliban.

He confirmed that special representatives from the United States, Russia and China would attend the moot.

According to Radio Pakistan, the FO has finalised all arrangements for welcoming foreign delegates invited to attend the summit.

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Karachi reports second case of Omicron variant: sources

A second case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been reported from Karachi, sources within the Sindh Health Department said Friday.

Sources privy to the matter said that the 35-year-old infected individual travelled to Karachi from Britain and first tested positive for coronavirus in random checking.

The Omicron infection was confirmed in the affected person later through genome sequencing, the source said.

In a strange twist of events, however, the sources said that the infected person escaped from the quarantine centre after being shifted to a private hotel on Shahrae Faisal from the airport.

The home department, police and relevant deputy commissioner are responsible for providing security at the quarantine centres, the source said, adding that another 19 people are currently quarantined at the hotel, but the authorities concerned haven't provided security as yet.

They said that 38 people have managed to flee quarantine due to the absence of security. Five out of the 19 people have to undergo genome sequencing, they added.

Pakistan has restricted travel to and from countries falling under Category C and those affected by the Omicron outbreak. However, Britain doesn't fall under Category C.

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OIC Summit 2021: Three-day holiday in Islamabad with no suspension of mobile services

Mobile services will not be suspended during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, which will be held in Islamabad for three days from December 17–19, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed announced Friday.

The OIC's Extraordinary Session of Foreign Ministers will start on December 17.

Meanwhile, the federal capital will also enjoy a three-day weekend from Saturday to Monday, the Islamabad deputy commissioner tweeted shortly after Rasheed presser.

In a statement to the media, the interior minister stated that the "historic" OIC summit on Afghanistan will be held in Parliament, and informed that security arrangements had been made with the assistance of the Pakistan Army and other security agencies.

However, he said that the interior ministry and chief commissioner of police have decided not to suspend mobile services in the city during the OIC Conference.

The interior minister expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to those entering and exiting the Red Zone as a result of the security arrangements.

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior, in a notification, said that mobile phone services will be blocked from the Islamabad Airport to the Red Zone. The ministry said it had sent a letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in this regard.

A conference after 41 years

Sheikh Rasheed said that the conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will convene for the first time in 41 years under Prime Minister Imran Khan's leadership.

In relation to Afghanistan, the interior minister stated that the crisis is posing a humanitarian catastrophe.

He remarked that the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference will play a meaningful role in resolving the crisis.

OIC and Afghanistan crisis

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced that Pakistan will host an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Addressing a press conference, the minister highlighted that the objective behind the extraordinary session is to highlight the need for urgent assistance and mobilisation of resources to avert a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in war-torn Afghanistan.

“If we don’t pay timely attention, half of Afghanistan’s population (22.8 million people) can face food shortage while 3.2 million children may face malnutrition," Qureshi said, adding that this is the magnitude which "we and the world should understand".

He said: "Considering the gravity of the situation, Pakistan has made an effort and moved ahead to host the international event realising that, if not addressed timely, the situation would have dire consequences for Afghanistan, its neighbours as well as the whole region."

'Pakistan is committed to resolve regional situation'

Pakistan is the founding member of the OIC, the OIC Assistant secretary-general said on Thursday, adding that the country played a very important role for the solidarity of the Muslim Ummah, and its offer to host this meeting was a clear testimony to its commitment to Islamic solidarity.

"Pakistan is also committed to regional security and international security," he added.

Inflation and unemployment have surged in Afghanistan, and international aid that made up 75% of the previous US-backed government's budget has completely dried up.

The Taliban seized power on August 15 after ousting the previous US-backed government, as Washington hurriedly withdrew its troops from the country after a 20-year war.

The Taliban's previous regime was toppled in a US-led invasion after the 9/11 attacks in the United States that were carried out by Al-Qaeda.

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US recognises Pakistan's efforts to counter terrorism in 2020

The annual US report on terrorism has recognised Pakistan’s efforts in 2020 to counter terror financing and restrain Indian-backed militant groups from conducting attacks in Pakistan.

In the report, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Pakistan has made some important contributions to the Afghan peace process, such as encouraging the Taliban to adopt peace and reduce violence and making more progress toward completing its Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan in 2020.

However, the report stated that Pakistan did not fulfil all of the Action Plan's elements and remained on the FATF's "grey list".

Despite acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism in the region, the report claimed that terrorist groups continued to conduct attacks against Pakistani military and civilian targets in 2020.

Although Pakistan’s national action plan calls for ensuring that no armed militias are allowed to function in the country, several UN- and U.S.-designated terrorist groups that focus on attacks outside the country continued to operate from Pakistani soil in 2020, the report claimed, adding that the government and military acted inconsistently with respect to terrorist safe havens throughout the country.

"Authorities did not take sufficient action to dismantle certain terrorist groups," it stated.

Appreciating Pakistan’s constructive and active role in the International Atomic Energy Agency-hosted meetings and in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the report noted: "Pakistan is committed to combating the trafficking of items that could contribute to the development of WMDs and their delivery systems."

In a chapter titled "Support for Pakistan," the report stated that the US urges Pakistan to dismantle terrorist groups within its territory while acknowledging Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan and broader regional security.

"The United States cooperates with Pakistan on counterterrorism operations, which has helped Pakistan reclaim parts of the country previously held by militant groups," it reported, while claiming that designated terrorist groups continue to conduct attacks against Pakistani military and civilian targets.

"While Pakistan has taken some action against these designated terrorist organisations, some externally focused terrorist groups continue to find safe haven in Pakistan," the report stated.

The chapter in the report further noted that the US has supported civilian law enforcement and the rule of law to help Pakistan disrupt transnational organised crime and terrorist networks and provide security and justice for Pakistani citizens.

The emphasis on sustainable development and capacity-building, and on leveraging trade and private sector investment where possible, encourages partnership and a long-term positive impact on the Pakistani people, the report stated. People-to-people exchanges, which largely shifted to virtual exchanges during COVID-19, helped promote mutual understanding and bilateral ties, it added.

In a section about USAID Basic Education in Muslim-majority countries, the reports revealed that $5.2 million was allocated to Pakistan.

"USAID activities expanded access to quality basic education for all, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable populations," it noted.

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Winter break to be hold from January 3

The National NCOC on Friday has decided to hold winter break in educational institutions from January 3.

In a post on social-networking website Twitter, the NCOC said that the decision has been taken to speed up the process of vaccination among the people.

“During today’s NCOC session, it is decided that winter vacations in education sector will start from January 3, 2022 apart from fog and smog hit districts of Pakistan,” the post stated.

The new variant of coronavirus ‘Omicron’ is rapidly spreading in the world, it further mentioned.

On the other hand, The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered closure of schools from December 23 to January 4, nullifying NCOC decision to hold winter vacations from last week of January 2022.

LHC announced the verdict during smog case hearing and stated that the decision of closure of schools has been taken while considering the hazardous effects of smog in the city.

The court further remarked that the decision will help in the reduction of the effects of smog.

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Shehbaz Sharif was found guilty of money laundering: Shahzad Akbar

Advisor to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Interior and Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Friday has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Shahbaz Sharif was found guilty of money laundering.

Addressing a press conference, the advisor said that corruption was carried out by using bank accounts of other people. As per British law, no visit visa will be given to any accused, he added.

Shahzad Akbar said that former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has not undergone any medical treatment in London.

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OIC meeting: local holidays will be observed on Saturday and Monday

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Friday has told that the government has decidedto not suspend mobile phone services in Islamabad on account of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers Conference.

In a statement, the minister said local holidays will be observed on Saturday and Monday. Delegations and ministers from 57 countries are visiting Pakistan for the conference, he added.

Sheikh Rashid further stated that the event will be held in the Parliament.

Earlier, the government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had agreed on suspending mobile phone services in the federal capital for three days.

Sources privy to the Interior Ministry said that the mobile phone service will be suspended across Islamabad from December 17 to December 19. The interior ministry has issued an order to PTA regarding suspension of mobile phone services.

On the other hand, all the arrangements to welcome the foreign delegates of OIC Foreign Ministers extraordinary conference in Islamabad have been finalized.

The Constitution Avenue and all the prominent places in the twin cities along the route of foreign dignitaries have been decorated. Special teams to receive the OIC foreign ministers and other dignitaries have also been formed.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the convener of the OIC Conference.

Meanwhile, India, which plays the role of spoiler in Afghanistan and is politicizing the miseries of Afghans, has been isolated on all major diplomatic developments on Afghanistan and the region.

New Delhi has been playing a deceitful role in Afghanistan and is not in favour of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

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SC dismisses review pleas in sacked govt employees case

The Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected on Friday the petitions against the dismissal of 16,000 government employees and ordered the reinstatement of the employees.

The appeals had sought to review the judgment striking down the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance Act, 2010.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial read the verdict on the review pleas filed by the government and sacked employees.

A detailed verdict will be issued later.

The verdict had been reserved in a hearing held on Thursday, The News reported.

During the Thursday hearing, the court observed that the instant matter would not be decided in light of the government’s proposal, but in accordance with the law and Constitution.

Justice Bandial remarked that though the instant matter related to the review, they were hearing it beyond the scope of review jurisdiction to ensure complete justice.

"The attorney general should establish that the accepted principles of Constitution and law would not be disturbed if the judgment was recalled," he remarked, adding that it also be ensured that recruitment for the government posts would not be made through back doors.

AG Khalid Javed maintained if the accepted principles of the Constitution and law were affected, the review petitions might be dismissed. He, however, pleaded that the matter related to relieving a class, hence the court partially restore the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance Act, 2010.

He said that if the proposals of the government were not acceptable to the counsel for the petitioners, the court should decide the matter.

Giving an explanation in the proposals, the AG contended that the proposals would not be applicable to those employees who were sacked on misconduct or for being absent from duty and it would be applicable to those who support it.

“But if the counsel for petitioners have objections, then we will take back the proposals,” he said. adding that if the court did not accept the review petitions, the proposals would remain intact.

“But still we request the court to accept the review petitions and announce the decision,” the AG pleaded.

“Mr Attorney General, keep in mind that the colour of the present case has changed and it has gone beyond the scope of review jurisdiction,” Justice Bandial remarked.

He said that though it was a review case, “we have started interpreting the law with new start”.

The judge further observed that lots of people have been affected in the employees’ case, but their obligation is to protect the law and Constitution, adding that there were some basic principles of recruitment for government posts and the government has to abide by these principles.

“Tests and interviews were mandatory for making the recruitments in transparent manner and court’s decisions were in field in this regard,” Justice Bandial told the AG, adding that the court had given several decisions regarding appointments on merit and in a transparent manner.

“We have sympathies for the sacked employees, but we have to go by law and constitution,” Justice Bandial remarked, adding that they had expected the AG for arguing on the Act on solid grounds.

“Today if you extensively argue on the Act on solid grounds and assist the court, then fine; otherwise, the court will announce its own decision and the decision will be in accordance with the law, Constitution and in the best interest of the public,” Justice Bandial told the AG.

The AG, however, submitted that the Parliament had debated the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Act 2010, hence the court should also look it with different viewpoint.

He submitted that nobody had challenged the recruitments made between 1993 and 1996 and it was not determined anywhere as to whether the recruitments were legal or illegal, adding that the employees were upgraded in the Reinstatement Act, hence the court while restoring the said Act should not give promotion to the employees in the next grade.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, however, observed that the organisations concerned could inform about the exact situation in this regard. The AG submitted that the Act was meant for relieving the employees as they were dismissed against the law.

Justice Bandial asked the AG if the employees were subjected to political victimisation, to which the AG read out the speech of Mian Raza Rabbani he had delivered on the floor of the Parliament, saying that the employees were sacked as they were appointed by Pakistan People’s Party.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked the AG about those employees whose seniority was affected through the law.

At this, Mian Raza Rabbani, through a video-link from Karachi Registry, informed the court that those employees later on got seniority.

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USF, Jazz ink deal to provide internet facility on motorway

Travellers at M3 — Lahore to Abdul Hakeem section — and M5 — Sukkur to Multan Motorway — will avail the high-speed mobile broadband and telecom services within a year, as a contract in this regard was signed.

The Rs300 million contract was awarded by the Universal Service Fund (USF) to Jazz for providing high-speed mobile broadband services at the 230km-long M3, from Lahore city to Abdul Hakeem interchange in Khanewal district, as well as the 392km-long Sukkur-Multan Motorway.

The contract was signed by Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO of the USF, and Mudassir Hussain, vice president of Jazz. Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque and Communications Minister Murad Saeed witnessed the contract signing ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Murad Saeed said that internet connectivity on motorways was not only a facility but it also provided rapid response in case of any emergency.

The M3 internet connectivity project will also provide high-speed mobile broadband access to 54.92km of unserved road segment that passes through Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal.

The M5 project will cover 78.85km of unserved road passing through Multan, Baha­walpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Kash­more, Ghotki and Sukkur.

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Will file defamation case against Wajihuddin for 'false claim' regarding PM Imran's expenses: Fawad

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said a defamation suit will be filed against retired Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed for alleging that the now-estranged PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen used to provide up to Rs5 million for now-Prime Minister Imran Khan's monthly household expenses.

The minister made the revelation three days after Ahmed, a former PTI member, made the claim, which was denied by Tareen a day ago. Chaudhry said notices will also be served to TV channels that ran the news without verification.

Ahmed, who had resigned from the PTI five years ago after developing serious differences with PTI chief Imran Khan, had claimed during a Bol News programme 'Tabdeeli' that Tareen used to foot the bill of PM Imran's household expenses, but offered no proof for the same.

"This belief is entirely false that Imran Khan is a [financially] honest man," Ahmed had said. "His condition is such that he hasn't been running his household himself for years."

Ahmed's statement was rejected by Tareen in a tweet, in which he wrote: "Regardless of the current status of my relationship with Imran khan, the truth must be told."

He said that while he had done "whatever was in my capacity to help PTI in the quest to build a new Pakistan", he "never gave a penny for the household expenses of Bani Gala" — a reference to the prime minister's palatial hilltop residence in Islamabad.

Chaudhry, at a presser today, acknowledged Tareen's timely clarification, which, he said, proved "he is a gentleman."

Using Ahmed's allegation as a reference point, the information minister said it was being felt that the media freedom was being used for specific campaigns to "weaken the system".

"The way prime minister was targeted is condemnable," Fawad said as he explained that making money had never been on the prime minister's agenda.

"Why our judicial system is failing to protect an individual's dignity, especially when the prime minister becomes a victim of propaganda," he asked.

He appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justices of all high courts to ensure that the respect of institutions must be upheld.

Chaudhry said that PM Imran never burdened the national exchequer, adding that his monthly income figures were also misreported by TV channels.

"We see that maligning anyone is not an issue anymore and the big reason for it is that defamation cases in courts are not being taken seriously," he explained.

He suggested that chief justices in provinces must form special division benches at district and high court levels to deal specifically with such cases.

Chaudhry accused broadcast media of running campaigns against army generals and judiciary representatives on a daily basis. "The same channels face fines abroad but in Pakistan, there is no law, let alone its implementation."

He said the government planned to have the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority bill approved from relevant bodies to streamline local media, which was being "used to run specific campaigns to target the system of the country".

"If we don't introduce tough laws then the system will keep on getting weakened due to fake news," the minister warned.

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Third T20I between Pakistan and West Indies will go ahead as planned

West Indies' Cricket Board (CWI) met with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday whether to call off the rest of the ongoing tour after four more members of the touring party, including three players, tested positive for Covid-19.

CWI members and the PCB officials met hours before the toss for the third and final T20I was scheduled. According to reports, the West Indies players were hesitant to play but PCB had a lengthy discussion after which the final T20I will go ahead as planned today.

West Indies are also scheduled to play three one-day international matches in Pakistan. However, there is no final confirmation regarding the ODI series.

Wicketkeeper Shai Hope, spinner Akeal Hosein and all-rounder Justin Greaves, along with assistant coach Roddy Estwick and physician Akshai Mansingh, were found to be positive after Wednesday's tests.

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Verstappen feels like the F1 ‘world champion’

Max Verstappen said on Wednesday he felt like the Formula One world champion and any move by Mercedes to try and take away the title in court would not change that.

The 24-year-old Red Bull driver denied Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton an eighth crown in a controversial decider in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after a sudden change of the safety car procedure played into the Dutch youngster's hands on the last lap.

Mercedes had until Thursday to appeal after post-race protests were dismissed.

"I do feel like the world champion," the Dutch driver told reporters in a video call after a factory homecoming when asked about the risk of lawyers getting involved.

"It doesn't matter what they try to do. We won it on track, when there was a green light and we passed them on the track. And they will never be able to take that away from me anyway. About the possible appeal, I'm not busy with that."

Team boss Christian Horner said it was time to move on.

The immediate indications, however, were that Mercedes -- whose bosses have said nothing since Sunday -- were still seething at what they consider a manipulated result that robbed Hamilton of a record title.

Hamilton, who led the race until that last lap, collected his knighthood at Windsor Castle on Wednesday and said nothing to media.

"We've welcomed Max home to the team today as the world champion," said Horner. "We're looking forward to seeing him pick up the trophy tomorrow evening as the world champion."

Asked whether Red Bull might pull out of the sport if Mercedes were to win an appeal, Horner chose his words carefully. "If the unthinkable were to happen, we would challenge that in the appropriate manner," he said.

The Briton added that he had sought out Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff after the race but the Austrian was unavailable. Ola Kaellenius, head of Mercedes-Benz, did offer his congratulations, however.

Wolff sent a text later in the evening, as he did also to Verstappen, congratulating Red Bull on the drivers' championship. "I congratulated him on winning the constructors' world championship and reminded him that's where the money's paid, not the drivers'. I haven't spoken with him since," added Horner.

Mercedes won the team title for the eighth year in a row. Horner said Mercedes' dispute was with the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and race director Michael Masi and not Red Bull, who did nothing wrong but were an interested party.

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Xi supports Putin’s pursuit of guarantees from West

Chinese President Xi Jinping supported Russian President Vladimir Putin in his push to get Western security guarantees precluding Nato’s eastward expansion, the Kremlin said on Wednesday after the two leaders held a virtual summit.

Putin and Xi spoke as Moscow faces heightened tensions with the West over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine’s border. In recent weeks, Western nations engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent a possible invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied harboring plans to storm its neighbour.

Putin, meanwhile, demanded guarantees that Nato will not expand to Ukraine or deploy troops and weapons there.

He told Xi on Wednesday about mounting threats to Russia’s national interests from the US and the Nato bloc, which consistently move their military infrastructure close to the Russian borders, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said.

The Russian leader stressed the need to hold talks with Nato and the US on legally binding security guarantees, according to Ushakov. Xi responded by saying he understands Russia’s concerns and fully supports our initiative to work out these security guarantees for Russia, Ushakov said.

He said Moscow’s proposals have been passed on to US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, who visited Moscow on Wednesday and met with Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov.

In recent years, China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to counter US domination of the international economic and political order.

Both have faced sanctions China over abuses against minorities, especially Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, and for its crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, and Russia for annexing Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and over the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Beijing and Washington also remain at odds over trade, technology and China’s military intimidation of Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory.

Russia’s relations with the US sank to post-Cold War lows after it annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in Ukraine’s east. Tensions reignited in recent weeks after Moscow massed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine’s border, a move Ukraine and the West feared may indicate plans for a new invasion.

Moscow has denied that it plans to attack Ukraine and in turn blamed Ukraine for its own military buildup in the country’s war-torn east. Russian officials alleged that Kiev might try to reclaim the areas controlled by the rebels by force.

It is within that context that Putin has pressed the West for guarantees that Nato will not expand to Ukraine or deploy its forces there.

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Former generals, envoys want US to rebuild Afghan banking system

Twelve former US generals and ambassadors have urged the Biden administration to help rebuild a banking system in Afghanistan to prevent a total collapse of the Afghan state.

“In addition to food and medicine, Afghanistan needs a stable medium of exchange and a functioning banking system to avoid experiencing widespread economic and governance failure,” they said in a joint message released by a US think-tank, the Atlantic Council.

Three of the signatories — Generals John Campbell, John Nicholson and David Petraeus — have commanded US and Nato forces in Afghanistan while two — Ryan Crocker and Richard Olson — have served as US ambassadors to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“We believe the United States has a reputational interest and a moral obligation in vigorously joining efforts to help the Afghan people preserve at least some of the social and economic gains made over the last twenty years,” they wrote.

“We believe that ways to do so can be found, while erecting barriers to assistance being diverted to purposes other than those for which it is intended.”

The signatories reminded the Biden administration that even under the Taliban control the “Afghan civil society continues to exist, and it is important that the United States and other international donors continue to work with it.”

The United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other donors have also issued appeals, warning of the humanitarian catastrophe emerging with the imminent collapse of the Afghan economy.

Soon after Aug 15, when the Taliban seized Kabul, the United States, and its key allies, cutoff external assistance to Kabul and froze Afghanistan’s monetary reserves under their control. This eliminated 40 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 75 percent of the government’s budget.

The former US generals and diplomats warned that Afghanistan’s banking system was on the verge of collapse and the currency was losing value rapidly, adding that prolonged drought, a raging Covid-19 pandemic, and the disintegration of government services had worsened the situation.

They also quoted from recent UN reports, warning that “Afghanistan teeters on the brink of universal poverty, with as much as 97 percent of the population in danger of falling below the poverty line by mid-2022.”

Their appeal also includes the World Food Programme’s estimates that “only 5 percent of Afghan households have sufficient food to eat each day.” WFP predicts that Afghanistan “is poised to become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.”

The UN’s humanitarian chief laments that “Afghanistan’s economy is unraveling before our eyes.”

US generals and diplomats reminded Washington that Afghan health professionals, teachers, and other essential workers must be paid if the most basic functions of the state are to be maintained. “Ordinary Afghans deserve access to their own funds, now frozen in banks wary of US and international sanctions and the potential collapse of the Afghan financial system,” they wrote.

Stressing the need to revive the Afghan banking system, they pointed out that Afghans abroad also needed the financial mechanisms to send remittances to their relatives, some of whom were left behind by cumbersome US rules on who qualifies for refugee and immigrant status.

The Biden administration, however, remains reluctant to do anything that helps the Taliban regime, but media reports indicate that US policy makers were considering various options to stabilise the Afghan currency and avert the collapse of the banking system.

The former US officials argued that the Taliban takeover had also disappointed them, but they believed that the US had “a reputational interest and a moral obligation” in helping the Afghan people preserve at least some of the social and economic gains made over the last twenty years.”

“We therefore recommend that the Biden administration, … in close coordination with key allies, come forward with tangible proposals to help stabilize the Afghan economy,” they wrote. “Delay will only fuel more death and suffering.”

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Pakistan has successfully defeated terrorism: PM Imran

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday has said that the sacrifices of Army Public Scholl (APS) attack martyrs will not go in vain.

In a post on social-networking website in connection with APS attack anniversary, the premier said that on December 16, 2014, terrorists attacked and martyred over 140 people including 132 children in APS, Peshawar.”
Pakistan has successfully defeated terrorism. I reiterate we will never let down the survivors and parents of our martyred children. There is zero tolerance for violence and those using it as a tool,” he clarified.

On the other hand, the nation is observing 7th anniversary of a deadly school attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar that claimed the lives of over 140 people, mostly schoolchildren.

On Dec 16, 2014, six terrorists affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had stormed the School and martyred one hundred and forty-seven students and teachers.

The deadliest attack in Pakistan’s history, the carnage prompted the government to declare an all-out war against terrorist outfits. In the wake of the attack, military courts were set up for trying terrorists under amendments made to the Constitution and the Army Act.

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Dec 16 will remain a painful day for nation: Shehbaz sharif

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday has said that December 16 will always remain a painful day for the nation, one whose memory bleeds our hearts.

In a post on social-networking website, the PML-N leader said, “Have we learned any lessons and corrected our course? When will we sincerely put our heads together for better future of our children? There are too many questions but too few answers.”

Meanwhile, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that as the nation mourns the martyrs of APS, what we really need is collective introspection.

She said, “There’s a lot more that we need to do as a state and as citizens to ensure that tragedy like this is never repeated.”

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Pakistani stars Asif Hazara, Usman Wazeer clinch international boxing titles

Pakistan's rising boxing star, Asif Hazara has lifted the country's profile by clinching the Asian Boxing Federation title after defeating his opponent.

Hazara, the former captain of the Pakistan Boxing Federation, was playing against Ugandan fighter Ben Nsubuga to earn the ABF title in Dubai on December 15.
On the other hand, Usman Wazeer of Gilgit-Baltistan became the World Boxing Council Middle East Champion.

Wazeer, the Asian boxing champion, will defend his WBC Middle East championship against Tanzanian boxer Rosta.

Taking to Twitter, Usman said that he would like to dedicate his WBC Boxing Middle East title win to Pakistan. He thanked fans for their love and support.

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Skardu International Airport will enhance tourism in GB, Imran Khan

SKARDU: Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Skardu International Airport and the strategic Jaglot-Skardu road Thursday, highlighting how the airport will promote and enhance international tourism in the region.

The prime minister was addressing a large gathering of PTI supporters and locals at the Municipal Stadium in Skardu.

Sharing his vision with the masses, the prime minister said his government was focused on developing Gilgit-Baltistan like other remote areas of the country.

"No country in the world can progress without developing its remote areas," said PM Imran Khan, lamenting how Pakistan had not developed its rural and remote areas over the course of seven decades.

He spoke about the importance of an international airport in Skardu, adding that it would ensure tourists from all parts of the world flock to the region.

"I cannot tell you how your lives are about to change with the help of this Skardu. You cannot picture it right now, but I can," he told the audience.

PM Imran Khan told the audience how he had travelled far and wide around the world. He said from Australia, Switzerland to the Safari Parks of Africa, he had seen it all.

"However, I am not saying this to you because I am standing here. But when we talk of mountainous regions, no place in the world is as beautiful as Gilgit-Baltistan," he added.

"We have not even begun to tap the potential of the blessings that the Almighty has blessed us with," he said, adding that locals of the area will no longer have to travel to other places to seek employment as tourism will increase employment in the area.

He assured locals that the PTI-led government will ensure connectivity of Skardu to other parts of the country so that the potential of local tourism can also be exploited fully.

The prime minister said that overseas Pakistanis will now be able to fly to Skardu for tourism as well.

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State terrorism Indian troops martyr two more Kashmiri's

In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred two more Kashmiri youth in Kulgam district.

The youth were martyred during a violent cordon and search operation launched by the troops, in Redwani Bala area of the district. The troops sealed all the entry and exit points of the area.

The occupation authorities suspended mobile internet service while the media is not being allowed to come close to the site of the military operation. The operation continued till the last reports came in.

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Pakistan report 6 more deaths in 24 hours

Pakistan has reported 6 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,290,215. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,849 on Thursday.

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 302 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has conducted 42,895 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 302 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 0.70 percent.

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Europe sees spike in omicron cases, weighs new restrictions

With more cases of the omicron coronavirus variant are being reported across Europe, countries are bracing for a new wave and weighing additional measures.

“There is a tidal wave of omicron coming,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday warned, urging citizens to receive COVID-19 booster shots.

Only a day after this warning, Johnson confirmed the first death in the UK due to the omicron variant.

“Sadly, yes, omicron is producing hospitalizations, and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with omicron,” Johnson said Monday, speaking at a vaccine center in Paddington, west London.

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, Health Minister Robin Swann said they expect “significantly increased” levels of infection, encouraging booster vaccines.

The UK Monday reported 54,661 more coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, with 38 deaths, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid said omicron now makes up 20% of cases in the country.

Since it was first reported to the WHO from southern Africa on Nov. 24, the new omicron variant has been spreading around the world, causing a rise in the number of coronavirus cases on the European continent, with some of the countries imposing restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

Omicron is the fifth SARS-CoV-2 variant designated as a “variant of concern” by WHO, following the alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 6,430 omicron cases were reported by 70 countries globally, with 1,686 of them in the EU.

Norway

According to the ECDC, Norway tops the list across the EU in the number of omicron cases, with 958 confirmed infections as of Dec. 13, causing tightening of restrictions.

The country announced new curbs as Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store warned Monday during a news conference that omicron and delta variants together would create "a total saturation of the health system."

Norway encourages the speeding of the vaccination campaign, reducing the gap between the second and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to four-and-a-half months for people aged over 45 and health workers, offering booster shots by mid-January.

The serving of alcohol in bars and restaurants will also be banned in addition to stricter rules for swimming pools and gyms.

The country of 5.4 million has reported over 319,000 COVID-19 cases with 1,136 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Denmark

As of Dec. 13, Denmark reported 195 omicron cases confirmed through whole-genome sequencing, according to the ECDC, and 2,276 infections were registered nationwide through a variant-specific PCR.

The Nordic country reported 7,799 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours on Monday, its highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic, while currently 480 people are hospitalized, according to official data.

Danish health authorities decided to push the third dose of COVID-19 jab for everyone aged 40 and above, reducing the gap between the second and third doses to four-and-a-half months.

Since the start of the pandemic, Denmark reported over 562,000 cases of coronavirus, with over 3,000 people losing their lives, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Germany

German authorities have so far confirmed 28 cases of the omicron variant.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported further 36 suspected cases of omicron and said further tests were underway to determine the variant type.

Experts said the actual number of omicron cases in Germany could be much higher, as samples are not sequenced for every confirmed COVID-19 case.

Germany recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus cases earlier this month with nearly 75,000 new infections and more than 500 deaths in a single day.

Hungary

Hungary on Monday reported its first cases of the new omicron coronavirus variant.

Speaking to Hungary's M1 TV channel, the Central European country's national chief medical officer, Cecilia Muller, said the strain was detected in two people.

While one patient was experiencing mild symptoms, the other was receiving hospital treatment, Muller said.

Hungarian Health Ministry recorded a total of 16,017 coronavirus infections over the last three days.

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US says it is ready to move forward with fighter jet sale to UAE

The United States said on Wednesday it was ready to move forward with the sale of F-35 fighter jets and drones to the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi told Washington it would suspend talks on the $23-billion deal that also includes munitions.

The deal was signed under then-President Donald Trump after the UAE forged ties with Israel last year but progress on the sale had slowed amid concerns in Washington, including over the Gulf Arab state's ties with China, a main trade partner.

"The UAE has informed the US that it will suspend discussions to acquire the F-35," a UAE official told Reuters on Tuesday, citing "technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis".

The official said talks may be re-opened in the future and that there were discussions to "address mutual defense security conditions for the acquisition".

In Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was prepared to move forward with the sale.

"We've wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge is assured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE," Blinken said.

The UAE had signed a deal to purchase 50 F-35 stealthy jets made by Lockheed Martin, up to 18 MQ-9B drones and advanced munitions, sources told Reuters in January.

The UAE hosted Israel's prime minister this week. Asked if the F-35 deal and Israeli qualitative military edge had come up, his spokeswoman said only that Israel had received no requests from Abu Dhabi on these matters.

A person briefed on the negotiations said sticking points between the United States and the UAE revolved around how the jets can be deployed and how much of the sophisticated F-35 technology the Emiratis will be allowed to take advantage of.

"The Americans want to sell the Emiratis the planes but they want to tie their hands," another person, a Gulf source, said following the talks.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said defence deals include requirements for purchasing nations, but that the restrictions in this deal made it unfeasible.

In 1998, the UAE selected Lockheed's F-16 Block 60 fighter jet but the deal dragged over access to software source codes and other technology release issues until the sale went through in 2000.

Earlier this month, the Gulf state ordered 80 French-made Rafale warplanes after on-off negotiations for more than a decade. A UAE defence official had said the Rafale deal was complementary to, and not a substitute, for the F-35s.

The Emirati official said the United States, on whose security umbrella Gulf Arab states rely heavily, "remains the UAE's preferred provider for advanced defense requirements".

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has said Washington is committed to working with Abu Dhabi to address its questions, anticipating the weapons sale would come up at a meeting of US and UAE officials at the Pentagon this week.

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Disengaging with Afghanistan would be disadvantageous for the world: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday warned the international community that repeating the mistake of isolating Afghanistan would be disadvantageous for the world.

The prime minister made the comments as he chaired the second meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan, with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Planning Minister Asad Umer, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, and senior civil and military officers, a statement by the Prime Minister's Office said.

The prime minister urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that Pakistan would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, the statement said.

The Ashraf Ghani-led government in Afghanistan was overthrown in mid-August, and since then, the country is facing a severe financial crunch, with their foreign assets frozen.

According to the statement, the premier highlighted that Pakistan has already committed to immediate relief of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion, which comprises food commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters, and other supplies.

He also said that humanitarian organisations wishing to work from Pakistan to support efforts in Afghanistan should be facilitated and that Islamabad had already committed to being the air and land bridge for humanitarian support to Kabul.

The Apex Committee was briefed that as per directions of the prime minister, the facility of a free COVID-19 vaccination for all Afghans entering Pakistan from land borders is being continued.

Moreover, the process of obtaining a Pakistani visa has been simplified for Afghans.

"Participants of the Apex Committee again expressed concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasised that Pakistan will not abandon Afghans in their time of need," the statement said.

It is pertinent to mention here that on Sunday, December 19, Pakistan is hosting an extraordinary session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers in Islamabad to highlight the plight of vulnerable Afghan people in these testing times and to discuss ways for helping them.

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Govt slashes petrol price by Rs5 per litre

The government on Wednesday decided to decrease the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs5 per litre from December 16 to provide relief to people.

According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the new price of petrol will be Rs140.82 per litre against the previous price of Rs145.82 per litre.

The new price of HSD, which is majorly used by the agriculture and transport sectors, will be Rs137.62 per litre as against Rs142.62 per litre.

Kerosene will be sold at Rs109.53 per litre as against Rs116.53, while the new price of light diesel oil is fixed at Rs107.06 per litre against Rs114.07 per litre.

The rates have been reduced amid fluctuations in the prices of petroleum products in the international market.

According to the notification, the new prices will be effective from December 16.

The government had last jacked up the price of petrol in Pakistan by Rs8.03 per litre on November 5.

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Babar loses top spot in T20Is, Shaheen moves to No.3 in Test Rankings,

In the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, Dawid Malan is back to number one among batters with Pakistan captain Babar Azam unable to hold on to the top spot after two matches of their series against the West Indies.

Australia batters Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head have gained from their fine performances in Brisbane, attaining career-best positions in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, as has Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi after the Dhaka Test.

Labuschagne’s first innings 74 in the first Test against England has lifted him two slots to a career-best second position while Player of the Match Travis Head’s pacy 152 has helped him gallop 16 places to 10th in the list. Labuschagne’s previous best ranking was third while Head’s best was 17th.

Other batters to move up after the first Ashes Test, which Australia won by nine wickets, include Australia opener David Warner (up three places to sixth) and England’s Dawid Malan (up 18 places to 77th) while the bowlers’ rankings see England’s Ollie Robinson (up four places to 31st) and Mark Wood (up two places to 50th) progress in the list led by Australia captain Pat Cummins.

Shaheen headlines the bowling rankings in the latest weekly update for men that is carried out on Wednesdays and includes the second Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan, which Pakistan won by an innings and eight runs to clinch full ICC World Test Championship points from the series.

Shaheen has continued his ascent with three wickets in the match while off-spinner Sajid Khan has zoomed up 52 places to 49th after a 12-wicket haul that won him the Player of the Match award. Mohammad Rizwan (up five places to 18th) and Fawad Alam (up seven places to 20th) have moved up in the batters’ list after their useful half-centuries.

For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan scored 33 and 63, advancing eight places to 35th. He has also gained one slot to reach fourth place among all-rounders, overtaking Ben Stokes along with India’s Ravindra Jadeja, who is now third in the list.

In the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, Dawid Malan is back to number one among batters with Pakistan captain Babar Azam unable to hold on to the top spot after two matches of their series against the West Indies. He moves to No.3 while Mohammad Rizwan has retained his fourth spot.

Pakistan’s Haider Ali has gained 86 slots to reach 98th position after scores of 68 and 31 while the rankings for bowlers see spinner Shadab Khan back in the top 10, moving up five slots to ninth position.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf is up three places to 19th while Mohammad Nawaz has gained 29 slots to reach 54th position. For the West Indies, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosen has gained 73 slots and is now 68th among bowlers.

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