Category: Pakistan

Lahore –  Dynamic Young Journalist Qasim Ali joined news update Times as web editor, He will
look after all the content of the web portal from now onwards and will also supervised audio,
visual stories, blogs, features etc.Qasim is a Result-driven & target achieving young man, having Masters degree in Communication Studies and more than a decade, extensive field experience as Reporter,Producer and freelance journalist with leading news channels of the Pakistan. He has worked in prestigious organizations like Express News, BOL News, and 92 News. He has expertise in all major mediums of journalism, such as Print, Electronic and social media.

Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued orders to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the Panama Papers evidence, and asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and sons Hassan and Hussain to appear before it.

The five-judge bench, featuring Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, considered the evidence presented by opposition parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Watan Party and the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).

In the 540-page verdict, the five-member bench, that was divided 3-2 over the decision, said that the NAB Chairman has failed to cooperate with the investigation, and the FIA has failed to curb white collar crimes, necessitating the formulation of the JIT.

The Supreme Court has asked the JIT to investigate the money trail issued by the Prime Minister. The team would include officials from the NAB, FIA, ISI, MI and the State Bank of Pakistan.

Justice Khosa announced the final verdict, which was written by Justice Ejaz, at SC’s Courtroom 1.

Two judges in the five-member bench had decided in favour of disqualifying the Prime Minister.

The case stems from documents leaked from the Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm appeared to show that Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and two sons owned offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands and used them to buy properties in London.

Premier Sharif has denied any wrongdoing, but the Supreme Court agreed to investigate his family’s offshore wealth late last year after opposition leader Imran Khan threatened street protests.

Lahore – Pakistan’s largest transport company, Daewoo Pakistan Express, started its new state-of-the-art bus terminal at Thokkar Niaz Baig, Lahore on Friday, March 31, 2017. In this regard, a formal inaugural ceremony was held at the new bus terminal, which was attended by Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, Governor Punjab as a chief guest. The governor cut the ribbon for the first bus departure from the terminal.  Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said that over the years, Daewoo had revolutionised the transport infrastructure and logistics by setting new standards and re-defining the concept of bus travel and cargo movement in the country. He further said that Daewoo had become a household name in Pakistan and was an integral part of the lives of millions of people who travel inter-city frequently or take the urban transport buses in Lahore and Multan.  Also speaking on the occasion, Daewoo Group President in Pakistan Faisal Siddiqui said that Daewoo’s commitment to invest further and expand business in Pakistan was best reflected in this most modern terminal complex which is capable of handling much increased passenger-count and bus arrival/departures.

President Daewoo Express Chang In Park said that the new terminal marked the beginning of a new era for Daewoo Express, “And we are very confident that shifting of the terminal will be mutually beneficial to the public, the government and also Daewoo.

Lahore – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his firm resolve to provide people an effective, efficient and public-friendly police force equipped with state-of-the-art technology to face modern day challenges.
He was addressing a ceremony here in connection with digitization of police stations on otherday. The Punjab governor, chief minister, Speaker National Assembly, IGP Punjab and other senior officers were also present.
Prime Minister said reforms are the key to better functioning of institutions and departments. He said that present government had inherited broken roads network, crippling load shedding durations, besides, institutions suffering from malice of inefficiency.
He said provision of justice to every citizens could be streamlined with improvements in the criminal justice system including the filing of First Investigation Report and investigation process.
Appreciating the digitization initiative of the Punjab government, the Prime Minister observed that modern technology had done wonders and like developed nations, all the stakeholders in the country should strive to achieve the set targets.
He noted that the front desks of all police stations would be linked with the centralized system for better functioning and proper monitoring.
He said provision of justice to every citizens was his government’s top priority which could be streamlined with improvements in the criminal justice system including the filing of First Investigation Report and investigation process.
The Prime Minister said commendable strides had been made by the Punjab Police as it now stood distant from its past functioning as a well-behaved and efficient force. The Prime Minister further observed that environment in police stations should be made conducive and friendly for the visitors and complainants as there was negative impression about it.
The Prime Minister stressed upon training of police force to improve their skills in investigation process and opined that young and well-educated lot should be inducted through service commission.
He said other provinces should emulate the improvements made by the Punjab Police as it was his government’s mission to develop all the federating units equally.
He credited Punjab Chief Minister, IGP Sukhera and other concerned for the implementation of digitization programme.
In a veiled reference to PTI chief Imran Khan, the Prime Minister said all the nation was on one side, whereas few elements were opposing the event.
He also paid tribute to the sacrifices of police personnel. The Prime Minister advised the chief minister and parliamentarians to keep themselves updated about the issues of families of Shaheed police personnel.
Meanwhile, addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that on the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government has announced a special package for taking care of families of martyrs of police.
Shahbaz said that wellbeing of families of the police martyrs is our responsibility, and this responsibility will be fulfilled at every cost.
Shahbaz said that quite a number of relatives, families and parents of police martyrs are present in the ceremony, and termed them as heroes of this dignified ceremony.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif ordered to set up anti-terrorism force before 2013 and the Punjab government immediately abided by it. Today, this force is fore fronting the anti-terrorism operations. This force has conducted successful operations against terrorism by itself, as well as in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, and has won laurels. The credit of establishing anti-terrorism force goes to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Similarly, dolphin force is active to eradicate street crimes in the Punjab. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended full support for the final match of PSL, and ordered me to hold this match. Similarly, I also talked to army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa who assured their full support. It is a result of collective efforts that final match conducted successfully and a new history has been written.

Lahore – Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday may have won the Pakistan Super League but the real victory was that of the country, which after years of terrorism and turmoil was able to stage a landmark international event in Lahore.
Gaddafi Stadium, filled from one corner to the other with cricket fanatics, sent the message of peace and impending prosperity when international cricketers from West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe and England appeared in the stadium representing the two finalist teams.
At the conclusion of the event, the world saw what Pakistan, a nation which has been fighting terrorism for the last decade, could do when they are united for a single cause — to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and more importantly to send out a message that we are a peaceful nation who wants to be known for our hospitality.

WEB DESK – LAHORE/Rawalpindi – The Jamaat-ud-Dawa has launched a countrywide campaign against the detention of its chief, saying it will continue till the release of Hafiz Saeed.

As a part of its two-pronged policy to mount pressure on the government to review its decision, the party is also holding consultation with lawyers to challenge the house-arrest order in a court of law.

According to an office-bearer of JuD, a petition is expected to be moved in the Lahore High Court either today or tomorrow (Thursday).

“We are holding consultations with lawyers and hopefully challenge the detention of Hafiz Sahib in the court today or tomorrow,” a JuD leader told The Nation. He said the Dawa leadership had also discussed the matter with leading religious and political parties who backed the decision.

The JuD chief is under house-arrest in his Johar Town (Lahore) residence where a heavy contingent of police has been deployed to control any untoward situation as protests by his followers were started soon after his detention and continued in different cities on Tuesday. He was taken into custody from JuD head quarters, Jamia Qaadsia on Monday midnight and shifted him to his house in Johar Town. Hafiz Saeed’s personal guards were also present at both the places (Johar Town house and Jamia Qadsia), making first layer of his security.

A statement issued by JuD headquarters said the protests were held against detention of Hafiz Saeed in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and other cities, which were attended by thousands of people from different walks of life.

In Lahore, hundreds of JuD workers, led by Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki (a central leader of the party) held a protest in front of the Punjab Assembly. Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans “Hafiz Saaed’s destination – freedom of Kashmir and destruction of India” and “The fear of Hafiz Saaed prevails on Indian Premier Modi,” the protestors chanted full throat slogans against the government decision and India. The protesters warned to bring more intensity in agitation if the government did not withdraw its decision.

Addressing the protesters, Makki said Hafiz Saeed was detained on India’s pressure which is bent upon crushing the freedom movement in Occupied Kashmir. He demanded immediate release of the JuD chief, which, he said, was the voice of the nation.

Some members of the Punjab Assembly, led by Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab chapter chief Dr Waseem Akhtar, also held a symbolic walkout from the house proceedings in protest against Hafiz Saeed’s detention. Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Dr Waseem demanded immediate release of the JuD chief, saying the government’s decision was unjustified and illegal.

Opposition leader in the assembly, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, also walked out of the assembly with Dr Waseem.

JuD’s central spokesperson, Yahya Mujahid, in a separate statement, condemned detention and linked it to India’s pressure. He said there was no case against Hafiz Saeed and the move reflected the government’s helplessness before India and America’s pressure.

“The government put the ban on Hafiz Saeed’s movement just to please India, but our support for Kashmiri brothers will continue,” he said.

As February 5 is being marked as Kashmir Solidarity Day in Pakistan, Yahya said JuD would hold countrywide protest on the day to express solidarity with the people of occupied valley. He said different programmes and rallies had already been planned by the party in connection with the event. Similarly, he said, Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (JuD’s charity organisation) would also continue its welfare projects across the country.

Leaders of religious parties, except Prof Sajid Mir led-Markazi Jamiat-e- Ahle Hadith, Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led JUI-F and religious parties of Shia school of thought, issued separate statements condemning the arrest of Hafiz Saeed. JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Liaqat Baloch, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan head Pir Ijaz Hashmi, Jamiat Ahle Hadith chief Hafiz Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer, Milli Yakjehti Council head Sahibzada Adulkhair and others also demanded immediate release of Hafiz Saeed.

In Rawalpindi, JuD registered its strong protest against the government. The protesters demanded immediate release of Hafiz Saeed.

By burning tyres and chanting slogans against PM, Punjab CM, IG Punjab and interior minister, the protesters also blocked Murree Road for vehicular movement posing hardships for commuters and pedestrians.

A large number of JuD activists, led by Rawalpindi chief Abdul Rehman, gathered at Liaquat Bagh outside Rescue 15 office and demonstrated against the government for putting Hafiz Saeed, JuD chief, under house arrest in Lahore. Besides chanting slogans, the protesters also burnt tyres in the middle of the road and blocked the vehicular movement.

Addressing the protesters, Hafiz Abdul Rehman, the JuD Pindi chief said the confinement of Saeed was tantamount to take U-turn on core issue of Kashmir. He said the government was dancing on the tunes of Trump and other enemies of Pakistan and had confined Saeed.

He asked the government to release Dawa chief or else they would expand the protest. During the entire episode, traffic remained blocked on Murree Road and its linking roads.

LAHORE – WEB DESK – Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was taken into custody from the Jamia Al-Qaadsia mosque shortly after Monday midnight.

The police action comes just a day after his organisations, JuD and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, were put on the terror watch-list by the interior ministry.

Defying the detention orders, Saeed talked to media outside the mosque and told reporters he had received the confinement orders – calling it an international conspiracy. He alleged the Pakistan government was doing the bidding of India at the behest of the US to stifle Kashmir freedom movement.

In yet another act of defiance, he asked JuD activists to gather in large numbers in streets on February 5, to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day.

“I have received the (detention) orders of the government of Pakistan. I believe this is not against me but is an attempt to sabotage the freedom movement of Kashmir. This (action) is part of the international conspiracy. The government is helpless before the pressure of Trump and Modi,” Saeed said while referring to US president and Indian prime minister. “(It’s on) Modi’s insistence and Trump’s instigation.”

The provincial government yesterday declared the Johar Town residence of Hafiz Saeed as sub-jail where he would remain confined at least for six months.

The house arrest comes as US warned Pakistan to act against Saeed or face sanctions.

Hundreds of JuD workers gathered at the JuD secretariat as police contingents arrived to detain their leader. They were seen in trouble as they were strolling on the bumpy roads outside the JuD offices near Chauburgi.

Earlier, Punjab government issued a notification, under Section 3 of the Prisons Act 1894, declaring “House No 116 E, Johar Town, Lahore, a sub-jail for the confinement of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed… with immediate effect”.

A notification issued by federal interior ministry showed that he has been detained under Section 11-EEE(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977.

Another four JuD leaders – Prof Zafar Iqbal, Abdullah Ubaid, Abdul Rahman, and Qazi kashif Niaz – were also placed under preventive detention.

Hundreds of Saeed’s foot-soldiers chanted full throat slogans as he appeared from the mosque complex along with police officers to talk to media crews. Later, he was shifted to his house on four-wheel-drives with heavy police contingents escorting his convoy of land cruisers.

At the press talk, the JuD chief regretted his arrest and said that it was “trial” for his followers and the organisation.

“If they think that by putting restrictions on us they can put the Kashmir issue on backburner, (they are wrong as) this is impossible.”

Saeed said he and his origination were not causing any trouble inside Pakistan.

“Respectable interior minister (Nisar Ali Khan), I challenge you to show us if there is even a single FIR registered against us anywhere in Pakistan. Our only crime is that we support Kashmir freedom struggle.

“Modi, we will not leave you. This movement (of Kashmir) will continue till the independence of Kashmir,” the JuD chief said.

Though he asked his workers to gather on streets on February 5, he urged them to stay cool and calm. “This is once again our trial. Soon we will be cleared with honour. This is not happening for the first time,” he said.

Hafiz Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack but was released about six month later in June 2009.

His followers were chanting full throat slogans when Saeed was escorted to a land cruiser after concluding the press talk, to be taken to his Johar Town residence. Several other JuD leaders were also part of the convoy.

The activists were chanting, “Allah is Great. Hafiz tera ek Ishara, hazir hazir Laho hamara (Hafiz we will shed our blood even at your single gesture). Look Modi, who has come? Lion has come, lion has come!”

Hafiz Saeed was present at the al-Qaadsia Mosque located near Chauburji Chowk of Lahore when police contingents and other law-enforcing agencies reached there and surrounded the premises.

Media crews were seen impatiently waiting for the Jud leader outside the mosque complex. The JuD workers allowed entry to the reporters inside the headquarters after proper body search. On this occasion, hundreds of bearded youth were seen roaming around the premises.

When asked if it is legal to hold a press talk after someone had received detention orders, a police officer requesting anonymity said it was totally illegal and the JuD should not have been allowed to speak to press.

Earlier, some police officers held a series of negotiations with the JuD leader and asked him to cooperate with them. The JuD chief asked the officers to show him the warrants first. At least two hours later, a senior police officer reached there and handed over the government’s orders to Saeed.

The JuD activists asked media persons to come inside apparently after Hafiz Saeed agreed to accept the official orders on the condition that he will be allowed to talk to the media.

Many supporters of Saeed were seen shaken and disappointed over the development.

“We are saddened over this. Hafiz Sahib is detained on the orders of US and India. We shall resist the action and will continue what we have been doing in the past,” said 35-year-old Omar Asghar, who has been working in the JuD for last 20 years.

A teenage foot-soldier, Zeeshan said this was totally wrong to detain their leader. “Hafiz Sahib is patriotic Pakistani. If this is being done in the national interest, we offer our lives. But if it is being done to please the US and India, we will resist,” he said in an emotional tone.

“We are not worried. This is not for the first time. We have experienced many such trials in the past,” another worker Riaz said. “We will continue our struggle till the freedom of Kashmir,” he said. “This government’s action cannot stop our movement.”

 

LAHORE –  The Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit in collaboration with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority and the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) will launch the Women Safety Smart Phone Application otherday.

The smartphone application developed by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority includes a special button for women’s safety that provides access to the PCSW helpline (1043), SMU’s Women-on-Wheels campaign, and the Police, and allows users to avail an option to mark unsafe spaces. The launch will be attended by government officials and members of civil society.

In regards to the launch of the app, Law and Order Special Monitoring Unit Head Salman Sufi said that the Punjab Government is keen to launch the Women’s Safety app to ensure that women have an effective platform to report incidents of harassment.

The Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Fauzia Viqar added that the application includes a button connecting the application with the Punjab Women’s Helpline that provides information on available laws and services for women and to address complaints of inaction or discrimination by other government institutions.

PSCA Chief Operating Officer Akbar Nasir Khan stated that the application would make it easier for women to report harassment any time and will also be available offline.

The application will allow women to notify the Police Integrated Command Control and Communication (PPIC3) officials regarding the kind of harassment they are subjected to along with their exact geographic location.

The law enforcement agencies would dispatch a team of first responders to immediately tackle the situation upon receiving the notification.

The app has been designed to allow women to report any experiences that render the public space unsafe.

WEB DESK-General Qamar Javed Bajwa assumed command as the 16th Chief of Army Staff at an impressive change of command ceremony at General Headquarters on Tuesday- the ceremony largely attended by civil and military officials, cabinet members and par-liamentarians and retired military officials including the former services chiefs.
Outgoing Army Chief Raheel Sharif handed over the traditional Malacca Cane to General Qamar Javed Bajwa symbolizing the change of command.
Speaking on the occa-sion, General Raheel Sharif said his every decision was motivated by national interests and priorities.
He said he believed in stability and supremacy of institutions. It was his effort that all institutions work together for security and prosperity of the country. He thanked the entire nation, Federal and Provincial Governments, armed forces, Pakistan Rangers, Levies, security agencies, police and me-dia for fully backing and supporting the mission to defend and secure the motherland.
General Raheel Sharif said challenges of the country have not ended as the security situation of the region remains com-plicated. He said there was need to remember sacrifices of our martyrs to stabilize the successes of the recent years.
He said it is need of the hour for the nation and the institutions to work in harmony to wards off external threats. For this purpose, internal weak-nesses including criminality, extremism and corruption will have to be eradicated.
Raheel Sharif said im-plementation of the National Action Plan would continue till realization of the goal of complete peace.
Raheel said India’s ag-gressive posture is a serious threat to the regional peace and security. He warned that it would be dangerous to construe Pakistan’s policy of restraint as its weakness.
He said there can’t be durable peace and progress in South Asia without resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said this requires special attention of the international community.
Referring to Pakistan’s sincere desire to see durable peace in neighbouring Afghanistan, General Raheel Sharif called for regional role and political reconciliation for resolution of the issue.
He said Pakistan Army fought successful war against terror giving a new hope for peace to people of Pakistan and the region. He said fruits of success are visible be it Balochistan, Karachi, op-eration Zarb-e-Azb or China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said CPEC would benefit not only Pakistan and China but countries of the entire re-gion. He said departure of the first trade caravan from Gwadar is testimony to the fact that this journey cannot stop now. He hoped that the enemies of the project would shun negative attitude towards CPEC and instead join in sharing its fruits.
General Raheel Sharif said the new Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is a competent and strong-willed professional.
In an informal chat with the media persons, the new Army Chief said, “the situation at the Line of Control will be alright.”
COAS General Bajwa called on the media for their support, asking them to play their part in keeping the morale of the troops. Gen Bajwa would be holding a meeting with representatives of the media soon.
The Army Chief added that he had a heavy re-sponsibility on his shoulder.