Iramb Zusha

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May says she sees no alternative to the Brexit deal she presented earlier this week, amid reports that some of her senior ministers want her to renegotiate the draft agreement before meeting EU leaders next weekend. “There is no alternative plan on the table. There is no different approach that we could agree with the EU,” May wrote in an article for the Sun on Sunday newspaper. “If MPs (legislators) reject the deal, they will simply take us back to square one. It would mean more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the vote of the British people,” she added. Just hours after announcing on Wednesday that her senior ministers had collectively backed her divorce deal, May was thrust into her premiership’s most perilous crisis when Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday to oppose the agreement. Other mutinous lawmakers in her party have openly spoken of ousting her and said the Brexit deal would not pass parliament. Brex...

KARACHI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday visited Pakistan Rangers’ Sindh headquarters in Karachi. Rangers Sindh Director General Major General Muhammad Saeed gave the army chief a detailed briefing about the security situation of the province, including law and order situation in the metropolis, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). The army chief appreciated efforts of the Rangers and all other law enforcement agencies for improved security environment. He said Karachi is an engine of the national economy and we shall further improve its security environment so that positive business trajectory is maintained. Commander Karachi Corps Lieutenant General Humayun Aziz accompanied the army chief during the visit.

ISLAMABAD: Police on Saturday approached the court seeking permission for exhumation of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam’s (JUI-S) Maulana Samiul Haq’s body and post-mortem to complete legal requirements, ARY News reported. On the other hand, heirs of Maulana Samiul Haq strictly refused to allow exhumation of his body terming it a useless exercise. Talking to ARY news, Hamidul Haq, son of Maulana Samiul Haq, said that they did not receive any court notice yet and added that their family will not allow to exhume his body at any cost. He further said that not a single suspect involved in assassination of any political leader has been arrested so far in the country. Whereas police special investigation team suggested Samiul Haq’s family to allow them to complete legal requirements. Two people came to meet Sami-ul-Haq prior to assassination: servants It is pertinent to mention here that servants of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S (JUI-S) Chief Samiul Haq, on November 4, had revealed that two people came to m...

LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Saturday said his ministry will seek help of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the matter of occupation over its [railways] lands. Briefing the media here in Lahore after chairing a meeting at Railways headquarters to review the progress of PR, he said his ministry is going to facilitate physically challenged people, in order to make their railway journey easier. The minister in yet another big announcement from Pakistan Railways said” there will be 50 percent discount for the students, in the wake of winter vacations (from December 25 to January 10) aimed at to attract them to utilize railway for their trips during vacations. Mr Rasheed said steps are being taken for the revival of the PR with the help its officers and labourers, adding recent induction of 10 new trains is the ministry’s fleet is its “proof.” Moving one step further for the revival, Sheikh Rasheed also announced to set-up a...

ISLAMABAD: Out of 895 Pakistani nationals who own properties in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 35 are politicians, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed the Supreme Court on Saturday. The FIA submitted a report to the apex court, stating that out of the total, 374 Pakistanis declared their UAE properties under an amnesty scheme. Whereas, 674 Pakistanis submitted affidavits to the FIA. Seven of those who have declared their assets in Dubai are facing NAB cases, according to the report. 69 Pakistanis declared the properties they owned in Dubai in their tax returns, while 72 others refused to admit to having assets in the UAE. The FIA stated that it was unable to ascertain the veracity of the details of those who availed the amnesty scheme, neither could the details be cross-checked with data available with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) owing to the law providing for secrecy in the matters. It said 150 people neither benefited from the amnesty scheme, nor disclosed any det...

GILGIT: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan on a five-day trip, where he will address a public meeting at ‘Polo ground’ tomorrow (Sunday).  ARY News reported. According to the details, Bilawal will hold meetings with local leaders of his party and will address different corner meetings during the visit. Talking to ARY News, Bilawal House spokesperson Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said,” PPP government gave constitutional rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan but later, the rights were denied.” He said PPP stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in their struggle for rights. Bilawal terms GB package as insulting, vows to restore legislation powers It is pertinent to mention here that PPP Chairman Bilawal, on May 27, had said that giving powers of legislation to the bureaucracy in Islamabad and brazenly denying the people their rights was an affront to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan that would have far...

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar on Saturday chaired a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council’s (EAC) Sub-Groups on National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) and Fiscal Sector in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by all major stakeholders and members of the sub-group from the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue and Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Tariq Bajwa presented a National Financial Inclusion Strategy to improve quality and increase access to financial services in Pakistan. He outlined targets and necessary policy actions to be taken at various levels in the coming years to achieve these targets. The discussion revolved around fast-tracking digitization of financial services to reach out larger number of consumers, small and medium business and newly emerging entrepreneurs throughout country. The minister appreciated the strategy and emphasized on diligently time-lining the goals, ta...

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday came to the rescue of the Pakistani passengers left stranded at Kuwait International Airport after Lahore-bound flights were cancelled owing to unstable weather conditions. Spokesperson for the Foreign Office Dr Muhammad Faisal said some of the stranded Pakistanis have been issued boarding passes for a Lahore-bound flight set to depart tonight, while the rest would be accommodated tomorrow. He tweeted: “Due to heavy rains Kuwait declared emergency for three days and its airport suspended operations for few hours on Thursday. Some Pakistani passengers transiting through Kuwait were stranded due to cancellation of Kuwait airlines flights to Lahore.”  He said, “On receipt of information, Embassy team was sent to the Airport to get in touch with Pakistanis and provide immediate assistance. Ambassador spoke to the head of kuwait airlines Operations and pressed for accommodating women/children in today’s flight.” “As a result some pa...

ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui’s wife on Saturday narrowly escaped when unidentified gunmen opened fire at her vehicle in Rawalpindi, ARY News reported. According to the details, former CJP Saeeduz Zaman’s wife was travelling in her vehicle when unidentified armed men ambushed at her in Rawalpindi. No causality was reported in the firing incident. Police confirmed ARY News, that the former CJP’s wife escaped in a gun attack, which took place in judicial colony. Whereas, Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui’s son submitted a written application in police station Murree Chock Trait about the incident. He said in the application that the accused also held her mother among three in illegal confinement. The police gathered bullet casings and other evidences from the spot and launched investigations into the incident. Civil judge survives murder attempt in Rawalpindi It is pertinent to mention here that police, on Saturday, arrested three accused a...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the “farcical” Indian charge sheet against Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi. Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal in a twitter statement said continuing Indian attempts to label the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for self determination as terrorism have failed miserably. He said continuing Indian incarceration of Kashmiri leaders on baseless charges violated the human rights charter & made a mockery of Indian claims of being a “democracy” as Asiya Andrabi is incarcerated while Syed Geelani was released from house arrest after 8 years. “India needs to accept the reality of its failure to try to label every Kashmiri, from women to old men and children, as a “militant/terrorist”. We call upon the Int. Comm to expedite establishment of COI as recommended in OHCHR and #APPKG reports,” he said.

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday once again clarified that the government is not considering any proposal to accept Israel.  He met a delegation of ulema from different schools of thoughts at the Governor House Lahore. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar was also present during the meeting. President Alvi stressed the need to highlight true essence of Islam while projecting Islam’s inherited positive, polite and peaceful aspects. He reiterated the government’s resolve to protect Namoos e Risalat. He said the government will consult ulema to play their effective role so that Tahafuz e Namoos e Risalat and Blasphemy Laws are not misused. Ulemas should fully cooperate with the government to ensure that sacred notions are not misused to create conflicts, aggression and destruction of peace in the country, he added. The president said the government is not considering any change in the Blasphemy Law (clause 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code). Alama Ayub Safdar assured o...

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to immediately revive the Karachi Circular Railway.  The direction came during a meeting chaired by Justice Gulzar Ahmed at the apex court’s Karachi registry. He directed the civic authorities to clear all railway tracks across the city of encroachments. The Deputy Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways informed that railway tracks in various areas of the city have been encroached upon. The top court judge directed the deputy commissioners to remove encroachments from the railway tracks. Meanwhile, the court also ordered the revival of a tram service in the city. A tram service be launched on the route between the old city areas and Saddar to promote tourism, said Justice Gulzar. According to sources, the municipal authorities in coordination with railway officers would determine a route for the Karachi Circular Railway. The apex court directed the authorities to pull down shops built under the FTC flyover a...

PESHAWAR: Two women legislators of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly were fined for traffic violation in Peshawar on Saturday.    According to the details, traffic police ticketed MPA Falik Naz and her friend, when they were travelling in a car without wearing seat belts on Ring Road. Despite showing their identity, the dutiful police officer issued challan worth Rs200 to them. The car was being driven by one of the MPAs husband and he also did not wear the seat belt at that time. Police have challaned at least 50  parliamentarians on Ring Road so far, said an official. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique had been fined, on August 19, for over-speeding on the motorway. The former federal minister for railways was stopped by the Motorway Police at the Rawal Toll Plaza near Lahore. The PML-N leader was driving at a speed of 145km/h while the prescribed speed limit is 120km/h on motorway. Rafique was en route to the...

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari alias Zulfi Bukhari on Saturday announced to increase the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) pensions by Rs1250. He said the EOBI pensioners who have been receiving a minimum pension of Rs5250 will now get Rs6,500. He vowed to increase the minimum EOBI pension up to Rs10,000. Mr Bukhari said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision is to turn Pakistan into a welfare state, adding that the portfolio he holds was a “kitchen” in the past where people would come, eat and go home. He said the state institutions are working despite rampant corruption in the country. Mr Bukhari said he would turn the EOBI into a profitable organization with his experience. A day ealier, the Supreme Court sought a detailed report from the government on Zulfi Bukhari’s appointment as the prime minister’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development....

TAUNSA: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, during maiden visit to his home district since assuming the office, announced scores of development projects worth billions of rupees for Taunsa and adjacent areas on Saturday. According to a statement released form his office, CM Usman Buzdar inaugurated dialysis unit at THQ Taunsa and the Urban Bus Service. He laid foundation stone of Boys Degree College Shadan Lund, two-way Indus Highway, a police station and the buildings of Tehsil Complex. Addressing to members of national and provincial assemblies at Taunsa, the chief minister said, “Change has come and all poor areas including Taunsa Sharif are transforming into developed cities.” He announced four years BS degree program at boys and girl colleges of Taunsa, giving status of government technical institute to vocational centre, four primary schools for girls, new public Park and the construction of playgrounds in 10 schools, reads the statement. The chief minister said the Indus ...

LAHORE: Ameer Tableeghi Jamaat, Haji Abdul Wahab, passed away on Sunday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 95. Haji Abdul Wahab was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Lahore. He was admitted to the hospital five days ago after his health deteriorated and doctors had declared his condition very critical. The funeral prayers of the deceased religious leader will be offered after Zuhr prayers at Tableeghi Markat, Raiwind. Haji Abdul Wahab was the third emir of the Tableeghi Jamaat. He was born in New Delhi in 1923. Before the partition, he worked as Tehsildar (tax officer) in his birth city. After migrating to Pakistan, Haji Wahab graduated from Islamic College, Lahore. Later he left his job and joined the Tableeghi Jamaat.

KARACHI: Adviser to chief minister Sindh on Information and Law, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, on Saturday night visited the family of children who lost their lives after consuming poisonous food at a restaurant in Karachi’s posh area a week ago and offered his condolences, ARY News reported. Speaking to media after meeting the grieved family, Mr Wahab said necessary action would be taken against persons responsible after inquiry report was finalized. The family of the children will be informed about the investigation report, he added. The CM’s adviser said Sindh Food Authority had been made functional and soon it would launch more raids to ensure sell of quality food across the province. We will try to make sure that no such incident occurs in future, added Murtaza Wahab. Two kids accompanying their family came for a dinner on Nov 11 at a known restaurant at Zamzama, DHA, however, after having food their health deteriorated. The kids were immediately rushed to hospital where they died shor...

PESHAWAR: At least 156 people were arrested in difference areas of Peshawar on charges of electricity theft, ARY News reported. The city administration also disconnected 944 illegal connections and issued notices to some people involved in the wrongdoing. According to officials, the administration recovered Rs 30 million from defaulters. While more than 40 transformers were removed from areas where residents had not paid dues. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had established a Reporting Centre at the Energy and Power Department for effective supervision and monitoring of the nationwide campaign against power theft in the province. “We have set up a Reporting Centre equipped with all latest facilities at Energy and Power Department in Civil Secretariat in Peshawar to monitor and supervise the ongoing crackdown against power theft in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” according to officials. On October 22, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed for immediate steps to curtail electricity prices and re...

KARACHI: A blaze erupted at a towel factory in city’s Gabol Town on late Saturday night and it engulfed most parts of the building, ARY News reported. At least 10 fire fighting vehicles were engaged in the operation to douse the flames. The cause of the fire couldn’t be determined as yet. Chief Fire Officer Imtiaz Afzal said that 85 percent of the flames had been doused. He told that his department was informed about the fire at around 3.45am and by the time the blaze had already spread to most areas of the factory. Two fire fighters were also injured when a decrepit wall of the building fell on them during the operation. They were moved to hospital and their condition was stated out of danger. Our correspondent reported that flames could not be completely extinguished. A snorkel was called by the fire fighters to contain fire in areas that were inaccessible to fire fighters. A similar fire had erupted on the fourth floor of a multi-storey building, Techno City, located at I.I. Chandri...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has left for the United Arab Emirates on a day-long visit today (Sunday), ARY News reported. According to a state-run television, Mr Khan is accompanied by several ministers; and he is visiting the UAE on the invitation of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Matters of bilateral, regional and global interest will be discussed during their meeting. It is PM Khan’s second visit to the UAE. He first visited the country as the prime minister on September 19. Imran Khan will hold a meeting with the Crown Prince and other top officials of the UAE government. Sources said the key agenda of the prime minister’s meetings will be to discuss an economic package with the UAE government. Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who has been presently in the UAE, held a meeting with his UAE counterpart, Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayad Alnahiyan in Abu Dhabi. The meeting on the sidelines of Si...