PTI gets permission to hold public gathering in Islamabad on 2nd July

Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has given permission to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold public gathering at Parade Ground here for one day only (July 2nd 2022) subject to some conditions.

According to a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by ICT administration on Thursday the PTI President Central Secretariat Ali Nawaz Awan had submitted an undertaking with regard to the terms and condition to be followed by him as well as the organizers of the public gathering.

Awan had written a letter to Islamabad administration on June 29, 2022 seeking permission to hold public meeting in the Federal capital upon the required terms and conditions.

The NOC says "The gathering should not block the Islamabad Expressway at any cost owing to any reason whatsoever, since this is a main artery of the city including providing access to airport and north bound as well as west bound motorways" "The gathering shall end at 1200 midnight (night between 2nd & 3rd July 2022). It will be our (organizer s) duty to ensure the dispersal after the closing event." "No object of lethal or non-lethal force including batons of any size would be wielded by any participants of the gathering nor shall any participant indulge in violence or clashes.
 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114217-pti-gets-permission-hold-public-gathering-in-islamabad-on-2nd-july.html

Pakistan reports 694 covid cases in 24 hours

Pakistan has reported no death in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has risen to 1,536,479. The nationwide tally of fatalities stands at 30,395 on Friday.

According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 694 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has conducted 17,640 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 694 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 3.93 percent.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/health/item/114213-pakistan-reports-694-covid-cases-in-24-hours.html

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui calls on Farooq Sattar

Convener Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui called on head of MQM Rehabilitation Movement Dr Farooq Sattar at his residence in PIB Colony in Karachi on Thursday

According to sources, the two political leaders discussed in detail the strategy for the by-elections in NA-245, the upcoming local body elections and current political situation in the country.

Former CPLC (Citizens-Police Liaison Committee) chief Ahmed Chennai was also present on the occasion.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/114212-khalid-maqbool-siddiqui-calls-on-farooq-sattar.html

FIFA restores Pakistan's membership

Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has reinstated Pakistan’s membership.

FIFA announced that it would lift all restrictions imposed and restore the membership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

PFF Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik said that the hard work of the committee and the prayers of the football family has finally paid off.

“The Bureau of the FIFA Council decided on June 29, 2022 to lift the suspension that was imposed on the PFF in April 2021 due to undue third-party interference,” the statement issued by the association read.

It added that the decision was taken after FIFA received confirmation that the normalisation committee of the PFF had regained full control of the PFF’s premises and was in a position to manage its finances.

The PFF was also informed that any undue interference in its affairs or action that could hinder the fulfilment of the mandate of the normalisation committee might lead to the PFF being suspended again and/or the imposition of other sanctions provided for in the FIFA Statutes.

“As the deadline by which the normalisation committee was required to fulfil its mandate (June 30, 2022) is now no longer realistic, the Bureau has also decided to extend the committee‘s mandate until June 30, 2023, at the latest,” FIFA stated, adding that this will enable the latter to finally carry out the tasks assigned to it in full.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/114211-fifa-restores-pakistan-s-membership.html

Govt jacks up petrol price by nearly Rs15 per litre

The federal government, once again, jacked up the price of petroleum products on Thursday for the next fortnight, putting an additional burden of nearly Rs15-18 per litre on the masses.

The Finance Division, in its notification, said that in view of the fluctuations in petroleum prices in the international market and exchange rate variation, the government has decided to partially apply a petroleum levy, and revise the existing prices of petroleum products “as agreed with the development partners.”

The new prices will be effective from July 1, 2022.

With the fresh hike, the price of petrol will be Rs248.74/litre, diesel will be Rs276.54/litre, kerosene oil will be sold for Rs230.26/litre, and the price of light diesel oil will be Rs226.15/litre.

The coalition govt, since coming to power in April, has raised the price of petrol by Rs84. It had first raised the petrol price by Rs30 on May 26, followed by another increase of Rs30 on June 2. And on June 15, it hiked the price by another by Rs24 today.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/114210-govt-jacks-up-petrol-price-by-nearly-rs15-per-litre.html

Pakistan urges world to ease sanctions on Afghanistan

Minister of the State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar called for an easing of Western sanctions against Afghanistan under the Taliban government, saying the basic functioning of the Afghan economy must not be endangered.

The Taliban takeover last year prompted foreign governments, led by the United States, to cut development and security aid, and the strict enforcement of sanctions has debilitated the country's banking sector.

In an interview with Germany's Welt newspaper published on Thursday, Khar said isolating Afghanistan economically was pushing the country into economic collapse.

"If the country remains locked out of international banking and its foreign assets remain frozen, then that is what will happen. We must not promote famine," she added.

The minister said the Western troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, in which Germany was also involved, had serious repercussions because it was not preceded by a negotiated solution, calling on Germany to play an active political role in easing sanctions.

"In the current situation, it is not a good idea to continue to starve Afghanistan and risk an economic implosion in the country," she said, adding that economic support was necessary to help the Afghan people.

"How is it that we spent $3 trillion on the war, but today don't even have $10 billion on Afghan survival? I don't understand this behaviour," she added.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114196-pakistan-urges-world-to-ease-sanctions-on-afghanistan.html

Zil Hajj moon not sighted, Eid ul Adha on July 10

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced Wednesday that the Zil-Hajj moon has not been sighted in Pakistan, adding that Eid ul Adha in Pakistan will be observed on July 10 (Sunday).

Chairman Maulana Syed Abdul Khabir Azad announced the decision following a meeting of the committee, held in Karachi after Maghrib prayers to sight the crescent moon.

Addressing a press conference, Azad said no testimony of the moon being sighted was received from any part of the country.

The first day of Zil hajj would fall on July 1 (Friday), he added.

"May God grant the blessings of the upcoming days to the entire Islamic world and this beloved country of mine," he said.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114192-zil-hajj-moon-not-sighted-eid-ul-adha-on-july-10.html

Rupee continues to strengthen against Dollar

The US dollar was seen losing ground against the rupee in interbank trading on Wednesday morning as it fell by more than Re1, with analysts linking the development to optimism surrounding the expected release of loan tranches by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the greenback depreciated Rs1.45 against the previous day's close of Rs206 to reach Rs204.55 around 11am.

The FAP's closing rate of the last session shows a difference of 87 paisa from that of the State Bank of Pakistan, recorded at Rs206.87.

Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan General Secretary Zafar Paracha attributed the international currency's fall to the possibility of the IMF releasing two combined tranches of around $1.85 billion instead of the initially expected single tranche of around $1bn.

On Tuesday, Pakistan received the Memorandum of Economic and Fiscal Policies (MEFP) from the IMF for the combined seventh and eighth reviews of its $6 billion loan programme with Pakistan.

The MEFP contains certain prior actions that would be necessary for implementation before the IMF board takes up Pakistan’s case for approval and the subsequent disbursement funds.

According to the MEFP, Pakistan will have to take at least two more “prior actions” to secure the two combined tranches by the end of July or early August.

Under the MEFP, prior actions include the passage of the federal budget as agreed to with the IMF and presented in the National Assembly on June 24 and present a memorandum of understanding duly signed by the provincial governments to jointly provide about Rs750bn cash surplus to the centre.

Moreover, Paracha said, the signing of a $2.3bn deal between Pakistan and a Chinese consortium of banks had also led to the rupee gaining strength against the dollar.

Mettis Global Director Saad Bin Naseer outlined similar reasons for the dollar's fall.

"The government's revisions to the budget have increased the likelihood of the revival of the IMF programme. We expect $1.9bn inflows from the IMF by the end of next month," he told Dawn.com, adding that $2.3bn deposits by China had also contributed to the "rupee's recovery".

"And deposits from exporters have [also] improved the dollar's liquidity in the currency market," he said.

For these reasons, "we are seeing gradual stability in the exchange rate", Naseer added.

Similarly, head of Research at Tresmark Komal Mansoor also explained that the rupee was strengthening after inflows from China and with exporters "selling dollars in spot and forward aggressively".

"The CAD (current account deficit clocked in higher in May than expected, but with REER (real effective exchange rate) around 93, appreciation of the rupee will continue in the short term. We’re expecting the market to test 200 per dollar soon," she said.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/114184-rupee-continues-to-strengthen-against-dollar.html

NCOC fully revived as Covid-19 cases surge

The federal government Wednesday decided to "fully activate” the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in light of the rising coronavirus cases across the country.

A statement from PM Office said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an NCOC meeting, where he expressed concerns over the rising COVID-19 cases and issued directives to revive Pakistan’s coronavirus response forum.

The premier ordered district and provincial authorities to strictly implement protective measures and take other steps to keep the deadly virus at bay.

The NCOC stopped functioning at the end of March after running operations for two years and leading Pakistan's response to COVID-19, while all its roles were handed over to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

In a press conference after the decision, Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel said that the public will have to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) till the coronavirus is prevalent.

 “We are mulling over strategies for religious gatherings as the threat of coronavirus cases rising still persists,” he said. The health minister added that the government has also decided to increase COVID testing as till now only those who had symptoms were being tested.

He said that the government will soon begin vaccinating children under 12 years of age while the campaign for booster shots will be initiated again. “We will also have to ensure SOPs’ implementation at mandis (cattle market).”

The decision to revive NCOC comes as Pakistan's daily COVID-19 case count crossed the 500-mark for the first time in three months amid a constant rise in the recent countrywide spread of the disease, the NIH’s data showed Wednesday morning.

The country reported 541 new COVID-19 infections overnight, pushing Pakistan's positivity ratio above 3% again. The new infections were detected after countrywide diagnostic testing on 15,462 samples, as per the data.

The COVID-19 positivity dropped to 2.4% as per the statistics issued on Tuesday. However, after the recent rise in cases, the country's COVID-19 positivity rate swelled to 3.5% in a single day.

Meanwhile, the number of patients being treated in critical care units (CCUs) also surged to 100, while one person infected with COVID-19 died in the last 24 hours.

With the new additions, the total number of deaths rose to 30,392 and the number of active cases climbed to 5,269.

Established inside the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) Secretariat in Islamabad, NCOC was set up in March 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to collect, analyse and process information.

The NCOC is the entity in charge of Pakistan's COVID-19 efforts, policies and implementation and makes suggestions to the Prime Minister's National Coordination Committee for timely actions related to the national COVID-19 response, NHS official said, adding that it includes specialists from both the civil and military institutions.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114183-ncoc-fully-revived-as-covid-19-cases-surge.html

Amir Liaquat’s ex-wife says lawyer will address questions on Dania

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday extended the stay on a local court's orders to exhume deceased televangelist and PTI MNA Aamir Liaquat Hussain's body for an autopsy till July 19.

The SHC had suspended orders of the judicial magistrate (East), who approved a petition seeking the autopsy of the deceased anchorperson, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence earlier this month.

Hussain's former wife, Syeda Bushra Iqbal — who is on the frontline in pursuing her children's case against the exhumation — said while speaking to media on the occasion that she doesn't know who is behind the demand for exhumation.

"Humanity has faded away from us, unfortunately," Bushra said while telling journalists that her lawyer will address the questions on Hussain's third wife Dania Malik.

Hussain's sudden demise came weeks after some indecent videos of him had gone viral. It is being widely believed that Dania — who filed for nullification of marriage with Hussain in May — leaked the videos that are said to have made the televangelist go into "depression" and that depression is what caused his death.

Bushra further stated that the petitioner seeking Hussain's postmortem, Abdul Ahad was absent again in today's hearing. She regretted that the family of a person who has just passed away is being dragged to court.

"Those who are actively reporting [on the matter] on social media, why didn't they appear before the judge today?" she asked.

Earlier, Brigade Police Station SHO and East SSP submitted their response in court during the hearing of the petition seeking nullification of the local court's orders.

The reply stated that the police had filed a petition to a judicial magistrate, seeking orders for an inquiry to find out Hussain's cause of death.

However, Hussain's children, Ahmed Aamir and Dua Aamir, said they don't want an autopsy to be performed on their father, it added.

The police officials mentioned in their reply that an additional police surgeon conducted an external examination on Hussain's body on June 10, a day after Hussain's death. However, they quoted the additional police surgeon as saying that nothing can be said about the cause of death basing on the findings of external examination.

They stated that the East judicial magistrate later ordered to hand over Hussain's body to the family at their request.

The officials in the reply assured the court of following whatever orders it gives.

Meanwhile, police also submitted the reports linked to the case. The citizen seeking Hussain's autopsy — who is also a respondent in case against judicial magistrate's orders — didn't appear at the hearing.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/114182-amir-liaquat-s-ex-wife-says-lawyer-will-address-questions-on-dania.html

LHC likely to conclude Hamza's election case today

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday said it would look at the Punjab chief minister election and see if the Supreme Court's interpretation on Article 63-A could apply in the present circumstances as it resumed hearing the pleas of PTI, PML-Q and Punjab Asse­mbly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi against Hamza Shehbaz's elevation to the role.

A five-member bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan, Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry, Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh is hearing the case.

Hamza was elected as the Punjab CM on April 16, during a provincial assembly session that was marred by violence. He received a total of 197 votes — 11 more than the required 186 — including from 25 dissident PTI MPAs that were crucial for his victory. On May 20, those lawmakers were de-seated by the ECP for defecting.

Since then, a series of petitions have challenged Hamza's election as the chief minister. All of them were, however, clubbed together after the court observed that they were identical.

During the proceedings yesterday, the court had hinted at holding fresh elections for the post of Punjab’s chief minister under April 16 circumstances.

Justice Sadaqat, who heads the larger bench, had observed that the fresh polling would be conducted by the same presiding officer who held the previous poll, who in this case is Punjab Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

He also said that the Supreme Court had already declared that the votes of the defectors were not to be counted and “this court can issue an order for implementing the Supreme Court’s decision”.

Earlier, in the light of the top court's interpretation on Article 63-A — related to the disqualification of lawmakers over defection — the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had de-seated 25 Punjab Assembly MPAs of the PTI for voting Hamza, stating that they had defected from the party.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114181-lhc-likely-to-conclude-hamza-s-election-case-today.html

Pakistan stands for religious freedom, harmony: COAS

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa Tuesday said that the Kartarpur corridor was the practical manifestation of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to religious freedom and harmony.

His comments came during a meeting with the British Sikh soldiers' delegation, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

During the meeting, General Bajwa said that Pakistan respects all religions and recognises the need for the promotion of religious tourism in the country.

The British Sikh soldiers' delegation lauded the Pakistan Army's efforts in bringing peace and normalcy to tribal districts.

The delegation — comprising 12 members who visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) — was headed by Deputy Commander Field Army UK Major General Celia J Harvey.

The delegation visited Lahore where it witnessed a flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border. It also visited Lahore Fort, Allama Iqbal Mausoleum, and the Badshahi Mosque.

During their stay, the British Sikh soldiers visited several religious sites in the country including Darbar Hazrat Mian Mir, Haveli Nau Nihal Singh, Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das, Samadhi Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Corridor, Nankana Sahib and Dera Panja Sahib.

The delegation also visited Orakzai District and witnessed Samana Fort, Lockhart Fort and Saragarhi Monument where it laid a wreath, the ISPR said.

This was the place where 21 Sikh soldiers laid their lives in 1897 as part of a British expedition and has much historical significance for Sikhs.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114180-pakistan-stands-for-religious-freedom-harmony-coas.html

JCP session postponed until readability on standards for appointments

The marathon session of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) postponed further deliberations with an understanding to reconvene after the commission’s rules committee comes out with a clear appointment criteria. The commission met on Tuesday to consider elevation of seven judges to the Sindh High Court.

The five-hour session, held in a conducive environment, was presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial through a video link from his residence. Senior puisine judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa participated from Spain.

Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf could not attend as he was reportedly unwell while Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was in attendance in his capacity as the provincial law minister.

The next JCP meeting is expected to be held in the first or second week of August since some commission members had to proceed for Haj and the rules committee would have met by then.

The candidates selected to be elevated as additional judges of the SHC were three district and sessions judges Amjad Ali Bohio, Mohammad Saeed Qureshi and Mohammad Abdur Rehman as well as advocates Khurram Rashid, Rashid Mustafa, Khadim Hussain Soomro and Arbar Ali Hakro.

The JCP met a day after Justice Isa’s three-page letter in which the senior puisine judge had taken exception to the calling of the meeting with a suggestion that it should be postponed until the scheduled vacations of the court were over.

Justice Isa had also emphasised that the Constitution placed a heavy responsibility on all members of the JCP to abide by their constitutional duty. But, they are not allowed to undertake their constitutional duties in a meaningful way, the judge had regretted, adding that people of this great nation deserved much better.

“Let us be allowed to do our constitutional duty properly and with due deliberation,” Justice Isa had observed.

On June 23, a JCP member from Sindh, Syed Haider Imam Rizvi, had written a letter to the CJP, highlighting the need for expediting rule-making and settling transparent, consistent, well-defined appointment criteria since the vague and overly-broad qualities such as competence, integrity, capacity and temperament were not sufficient.

Syed Rizvi had also reiterated that all JCP members should be allowed to propose nominees for elevation as judges of the high courts.

This will help prevent the possibility of a single individual making a mistake in the selection of candidates, Mr Rizvi said, regretting that despite last year’s hue and cry, no step was taken to amend JCP rules to make the nomination process more transparent and inclusive.

Another JCP member, Akhtar Hussain, had written a letter to the Supreme Court chief justice on May 20 in which he requested reconstitution of the meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) Rules Committee on urgent basis in order to formulate and finalise the criteria for appointment of superior court judges as soon as possible.

The member had also suggested that the rules committee meeting should be headed by senior puisine judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, adding that there appeared to be a consensus that some objective criteria for the appointment of judges in the superior courts should be laid out in which emphasis should be given on the seniority principle.

Last time the rules committee met was in March 9 during which the CJP had expressed the desire of maintaining objectivity in the process of appointing judges.

He had stressed the need for pursuing the task of setting out criteria, which should not be complicated rather simple and straightforward to make assessments, evaluations and selections of judges for appointment to the high courts and the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani, in a press statement on Tuesday, highlighted the need for revisiting the JCP rules and formulating seniority-cum-fitness criteria. Besides, multi-dimensional appointment criteria should be put in place so as to reflect the federal diversity, he added.

Mr Rabbani also suggested that the parliamentary committee — a bipartisan body which considers the recommendations of the JCP on the appointment of judges — should amend its rules to play an effective role in the appointment of judges.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114179-jcp-session-postponed-until-readability-on-standards-for-appointments.html

Imran khan will lead protest at Parade Ground on 2nd July

Exactly a month after abruptly ending the Azadi March with a six-day ‘ultimatum’ to the PML-N government for announcement of early elections, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday announced he would lead the July 2 protest at Islamabad’s Parade Ground against the “imported government imposed on Pakistan through a US regime change conspiracy”.

A meeting of the party’s political committee, held with Imran Khan in the chair, examined country’s overall political situation amid rising inflation and discussed a future course of action. PTI’s Central Secretary General Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak, Asad Qaiser and Aamir Mehmood Kiyani along with other central and regional leadership of the party attended the meeting.

They condemned lawlessness witnessed during the first phase of local government elections in Sindh and expressed deep concern over what they called the failure of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold fair, transparent and credible elections. However, they expressed ‘happiness’ and ‘satisfaction’ over the decisive victory of PTI in PK-7 Swat, wherein PTI inflicted punching defeat on ANP candidate backed by 13 political parties.

According to a PTI statement, the leaders expressed their reservations over rising complaints of pre-poll rigging by the coalition government in 20 Punjab constituencies where by-elections will be held on July 17.

Calling enthusiasm among the people regarding the by-elections ‘a ray of hope’, they said government’s days were numbered.

Also, a briefing on preparations for the Parade Ground protest was given at the meeting. Instructions were issued to the Rawalpindi and Islamabad chapters of the party to speed up their preparations and public mobilisation campaign to make the event historic.

They also reviewed government preparations for the budget approval and price hike.

While unveiling the protest plan, the PTI chairman said he would lead the July 2 protest rally, as a strong movement against the government was inevitable. He said people from all walks of life, especially the youth and women, were politically more mature than ever, which was also evident from their overwhelming reaction against his government’s ouster.

‘Local Mir Jafars’ were flouting the Constitution, law and democratic values more ruthlessly than dictators did, he alleged. In a separate development, ex-premier’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gill told a news conference that police claimed the staffer of Banigala, who he said had been hired years before being caught red-handed while planting a bugging device in Mr Khan’s bedroom on June 25, was not mentally well.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114158-imran-khan-will-lead-protest-at-parade-ground-on-2nd-july.html

Shehbaz Sharif summons federal cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned the federal cabinet meeting to be held today (Tuesday) in Islamabad to discuss economic and political situation in the country.

PM Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the federal cabinet meeting to be held at the Prime Minister’s office at 11:00am. The cabinet will discuss a five-point agenda during the meeting.

According to the five-point agenda of the cabinet meeting, the National Waste Management Policy 2022 will be presented in the cabinet while the issue of change in visa policy for different countries will also be discussed.

The cabinet meeting will ratify the decisions of the Economic co-ordination committee meeting held on June 22 while the ratification of the decisions of the Legislative Committee held on June 23 will also be part of the agenda.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114157-shehbaz-sharif-summons-federal-cabinet-meeting.html

The COVID Positivity Ratio records 2.42 percent

Pakistan has reported two deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,534,603. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,392 on Tuesday.

According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 333 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has conducted 13,759 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 333 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 2.42 percent.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/health/item/114156-the-covid-positivity-ratio-records-2-42-percent.html

Unscheduled loadshedding in parts of Lahore

With a rise in the mercury level, several localities in Lahore witnessed worst kind of unscheduled loadshedding on Monday night and remained under darkness for many hours.

The areas which were affected by more than seven hours of power shutdown included Ichra, Canal Road, Amir Town, Fathegarh, Salamatpura and adjoining areas.

Angry residents staged protest in many localities and blocked roads. The protesters also chanted slogans against the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO). The protesters were of the view that continuous power shutdown is badly affecting business and daily life of the people.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/114155-unscheduled-loadshedding-in-parts-of-lahore.html

PM Shehbaz addressing members National Assembly

PM Shehbaz is addressing members National Assembly

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114154-pm-shehbaz-addressing-members-national-assembly.html

Ishaq Dar coming back to Pakistan July second week

PML-N senior leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar is expected to return to Pakistan any time next month in July.

According to the sources, Dar is likely to visit Pakistan in the second week of July.

They further stated that Dar will first take oath as a Senator after which he will take charge as the finance minister. The post is currently being held by Miftah Ismail.

In January, Dar was reinstated to the Senate by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

"In pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated December 21, 2021 in Civil Appeal No.352 of 2018 [...] the Election Commission of Pakistan hereby recalls the notification dated June 29, 2018 and the notification of even number dated March 9, 2018, to the extent of Mohammad Ishaq Dar, as returned candidate, is hereby restored," an official notification had read.

In 2018, the ECP withdrew a notification of former finance minister Ishaq Dar's election as a senator.

The notification was withdrawn in light of the SC from May 2018 of suspending Dar’s senatorship on a temporary basis.

The former finance minister has been out of the country since October 2017 on account of his medical treatment.

He has since been declared a proclaimed offender in a corruption case filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114140-ishaq-dar-coming-back-to-pakistan-july-second-week.html

Korean firm moves arbitration court against Pakistan

Following the failure of the PTI government to take the necessary action to resolve the issue of including escalated costs in true-up tariffs, Korean investors have filed a claim with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) against the government of Pakistan, seeking $94 million (Rs19.6 billion) in compensation.

The Korean investors claimed that the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) failed to evacuate electricity from the 147-megawatt Patrind Hydropower project for at least six months after the project's COD, as well as the cost of constructing a point from which the electricity was to be delivered to the national grid, according to a top official of the power division.

According to the official, the power division, under Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir, smelt a rate and decided to fix the racket of unscrupulous officials of NTDC, CPPA, and power division who were responsible for not evacuating electricity from the project on time and raising no objection to a Korean company that set up a delivery point that NTDC did not want because it wanted to evacuate electricity from another point.

However, the delivery point, which NTDC did not want, was built by a Korean company, Star Hydro Power Limited (SHPL), resulting in an increase in project costs that was not reflected in the true-up of the electricity generated by the Patrind Hydropower project.

According to the official, the investigation shows that NTDC did not object when the Korean company built the electricity delivery point that the state-owned entity did not want.

NTDC is currently dealing with transmission projects totaling Rs421 billion.

“We have removed a joint secretary who allegedly developed vested interests with NTDC for various projects,” the official said.

“There are reports the same racket will launch some officials who will represent NTDC in LCIA and will give technical input in the case not up to the mark ensuring the government of Pakistan loses the case and in return they will manage some “commission” in British pounds,” senior officials in the power division confided to The News. “We will keep a vigilant eye on the case proceedings,” they said.

They claimed that when Shehbaz Sharif became Prime Minister, this matter was brought before him. He formed a committee to investigate out-of-court settlement options, arguing that the government's track record shows that it is frequently defeated in arbitration.

This scribe wrote to NTDC and the PPIB (Private Power Infrastructure Board) asking why the Korean company that built the Patrind Hydropower Plant relocated LCIA and why NTDC failed to evacuate electricity on time. Both departments remained silent.

In response to a question, the official stated that SHPL is an Independent Power Producer (IPP). It has invested in and developed the 147MW run-of-river Patrind Hydropower project on the Kunhar River near the village of Patrind in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir district of Muzaffarabad (AJ&K).

The project generates power for Pakistan's national grid. The project was developed on a BOOT basis under the government's Policy for Power Generation Projects 2002, with a 30-year concession period. SHPL was formed as a public limited company in April 2006 to develop and implement the project. SHPL's sponsors are Korea Water Resource Corporation (K-water) and Daewoo Engineering & Construction Company, which have acquired a 100 percent stake in the company through the Singapore-based investment vehicle KDS Hydro.

The Patrind Hydro Power Project has been in operation since November 2017. Hydropower projects have a three-tier cost-plus tariff determination process under the 2002 policy read with Nepra's Mechanism for Determination of Tariff Hydropower Projects, namely the Feasibility Stage, EPC Stage, and COD Stage true-up.

The project company, through CPPA-G, filed a petition before Nepra's determination of COD stage tariff for $420.127 million. However, Nepra approved the COD stage tariff on July 29, 2020, at a cost of $ 326.261 million. On August 28, 2020, the company filed a review petition with Nepra, which is still pending.

Meanwhile, on November 30, 2011, the company served a notice of dispute on GOP through PPIB dated March 31, 2021 under Section 16.1 of the GOP IA.

The tariff determinations, according to the company, are discriminatory and violate Section 12.2 of the GOP IA. To proceed with the matter, a committee comprised of representatives from the Power Division, Law Division, IDU AG Office, MoF, MoFA, CPPAG, NTDC, and PPIB has been formed.

A future course of action is being finalised by the attorney-general's Office. Pakistan now prefers an out-of-court settlement because the authorities believe the NTDC and PPIB cases are weak.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114139-korean-firm-moves-arbitration-court-against-pakistan.html

Putin to leave on first foreign trip since invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin will visit two small former Soviet states in central Asia this week, Russian state television reported on Sunday, in what would be the Russian leader's first known trip abroad since ordering the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's February 24 invasion has killed thousands of people, displaced millions more and led to severe financial sanctions from the West, which Putin says are a reason to build stronger trade ties with other powers such as China, India, and Iran.

Pavel Zarubin, the Kremlin correspondent of the Rossiya 1 state television station, said Putin would visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and then meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks in Moscow.

In Dushanbe, Putin will meet Tajik President Imomali Rakhmon, a close Russian ally and the longest-serving ruler of a former Soviet state. In Ashgabat, he will attend a summit of Caspian nations including the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan, Zarubin said.

Putin also plans to visit the Belarus city of Grodno on June 30 and July 1 to take part in a forum with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, RIA news agency citedValentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia's upper chamber of parliament, as telling Belarus television on Sunday.

Putin's last known trip outside Russia was a visit to the Beijing in early February, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a "no limits" friendship treaty hours before both attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games.

Russia says it sent troops into Ukraine on February 24 to degrade its neighbour's military capabilities, keep it from being used by the West to threaten Russia, root out nationalists and defend Russian-speakers in eastern regions.

Ukraine calls the invasion an imperial-style land grab.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/114138-putin-to-leave-on-first-foreign-trip-since-invasion-of-ukraine.html

Already overburdened by inflation, NEPRA decides to increase the power tariff

Bad news for power consumers, an increase of Rs7.90 per unit was approved. The increase is in line with the May monthly fuel adjustment.

A public hearing was held at NEPRA headquarters regarding the May monthly fuel charges adjustment of Discus. The public hearing was presided over by NEPRA Chairman Mr. Engineer Tauseef H. Farooqi.

NEPRA members, Engineer Rafiq Ahmed Sheikh and Engineer Maqsood Anwar Khan were also present in the hearing.

According to the NEPRA statement, CPPAG had submitted an application for an increase of Rs. 7, 96 paise per unit in the case of FCA. CA customers were charged Rs 3.99 per unit for 1 month only.

Already overburdened by inflation, increased oil prices, food items, Pakistanis were in for a shock when the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Monday decided to increase the power tariff by Rs7.9 per unit.

According to the regulatory authority, the hike in tariff has been made under fuel adjustment for the month of May.

This decision has placed an additional burden of Rs113 billion on the power consumers. 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/114137-already-overburdened-by-inflation-nepra-decides-to-increase-the-power-tariff.html

Pakistan reports 382 covid19 cases in last 24 hours

Pakistan has reported two deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,534,270. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,390 on Monday.

According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 382 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has conducted 13,412 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 382 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 2.85 percent.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/health/item/114136-pakistan-reports-382-covid19-cases-in-last-24-days.html

CM takes notice on incident of wall collapse in lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has taken notice of the incident of wall collapse of a swimming pool in which three boys lost their lives in Badami Bagh area of Lahore on Sunday.

The CM sought a report from the Commissioner Lahore division and CCPO and ordered to investigate the incident.

He also directed to take indiscriminate legal action against those found guilty.

The chief minister expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of three boys in the incident and directed the administration to provide best treatment facilities to other injured boys.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/114135-cm-takes-notice-of-incident-of-wall-collapse-in-lahore.html

NAP has increased terrorism in the last four years, Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that the role of the provinces in the National Action Plan (NAP) will be restored, saying it didn’t exist in the last four years which he said led to increase in terrorism in the country.

The prime minister referred to the rise in terrorism-related incidents during the last four years against the backdrop of 56 per cent increase in the number of terror attacks in 2021. A report of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) had revealed that militants carried out 294 attacks, killing 388 people and wounding another 606 in 2021.

“The role of the provinces in the National Action Plan will be restored, which did not exist in the last four years,” the premier said after he chaired a meeting on law and order in Lahore, adding that ignoring provinces’ role in NAP has increased terrorism in the last four years – PTI government tenure.

After Army Public School attack on December 16, 2014, which resulted in killing of 149 people including at least 132 children, a national consensus was evolved to come down hard on the terrorists through a concerted national effort. A 20-point NAP for countering terrorism and extremism was chalked out by interior ministry in consultation with all stakeholders and approved on December 24, 2014, by the parliament.

NAP had spelled out the specifics for the counter-terrorism drive in the country involving provincial governments, which the premier noted on Sunday were allegedly ignored by the previous government.

In Sunday’s meeting, the premier was apprised of the latest law and order situation in the country. PM Shehbaz expressed concerns over the rise in street crime, saying public opinion about police and law enforcement agencies could only be changed by performance.

During the meeting, a briefing was given on the eradication of terrorism and the threats posed in this regard. Also, the measures to curb terror financing and enforcement of laws were reviewed. PM Shahbaz praised the law enforcement agencies for fulfilling the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) conditions, saying the whole nation was unanimously standing against terrorism and stands by its armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

Pakistan, which has been on FATF’s grey list for several years now, will be removed from the list if it successfully passes the onsite visit, FATF president Marcus Pleyer recently said. The purpose of the onsite visit, he said, is to verify the completion of reforms to check whether they are sustainable and irreversible.

“We will continue our struggle till the complete eradication of terrorism,” the PM said. “We will not compromise on Pakistan’s security and defence.” While directing the law enforcement agencies to ensure protection of lives and property of the people across the country, he said ensuring law and order was a key requirement for the recovery and development of Pakistan's economy.

The PICSS report had noted that the lethality of terror attacks rose by 46 per cent in 2021, with 388 total deaths of which 184 were civilians, stating the remaining 192 of those killed were security forces personnel – a 66 per cent increase in the casualties of Pakistani security forces from the year before.

It said that over 600 people were injured in the terror attacks of 2021, including 389 civilians and 217 security forces personnel. The report showed that the average number of militant attacks per month in Pakistan increased from 16 attacks per month in 2020 to 25 monthly attacks in 2021 -- the highest on record since 2017.

Balochistan was the most turbulent province in 2021 where 170 deaths were recorded in 103 militant attacks. PICSS noted that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa saw 162 attacks leaving 180 people killed. In Sindh, it said, 15 militant attacks left 23 dead while in Punjab 10 attacks left 10 people dead. Three militant attacks were reported in Islamabad, resulting in three deaths while a single attack was reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2021.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114134-nap-has-increased-terrorism-in-the-last-four-years-shehbaz-sharif.html

2 soldiers martyred, 7 terrorists killed in North Waziristan

Two soldiers were martyred while seven terrorists were gunned down in a “fire exchange” that took place between security forces and the terrorists on Sunday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the fire exchange took place in the general area of Ghulam Khan KaIle in North Waziristan District.

“Troops effectively engaged the terrorists and resultantly, seven of them were killed. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists who remained actively involved in several terrorist activities against security forces,” said the ISPR.

The military’s media wing identified the martyred troops as 44-year-old Subedar Munir Hussain, a resident of Parachinar, and 38-year-old Havildar Babu Khan, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan.

It added that an area clearance is underway to eliminate any other terrorists found in the vicinity.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114133-2-soldiers-martyred-7-terrorists-killed-in-north-waziristan.html

Saudi crown prince confers King Abdulaziz medal on COAS Bajwa for strengthening Pak-Saudi ties

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa was conferred with the King Abdulaziz Medal for making "significant contributions in defence cooperation" between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Sunday.

The army chief visited Saudi Arabia on an official tour, ISPR said. During the visit, Gen Bajwa called on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the kingdom's first deputy prime minister and defence minister and General Fayyadh Bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Saudi Armed Forces at Jeddah, today.

During the meetings, matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence and security cooperation and regional peace and stability were discussed.

The army chief said that Pakistan "values its historical and brotherly relations with the kingdom and acknowledges its unique place in the Islamic world".

Both sides agreed upon enhancing defence cooperation in the fields of joint training, air defence, counter-terrorism and communication and information domain.

"They also agreed to further enhance cordial relations and deep spirit of brotherhood into enduring strategic partnership, being vital players in the region with significant responsibility towards unity of Muslim Ummah," ISPR said.

Separately, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Prince Mohammed conferred Gen Bajwa with the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class for his "distinguished efforts in consolidating and strengthening bonds of friendship and joint cooperation and developing Saudi-Pakistani relations".

Gen Bajwa was received by Prince Mohammed, with whom a meeting was held on a host of issues, the SPA report said.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the military fields, and opportunities for developing them. The two sides also deliberated upon a number of issues of common interest.

"In implementation of the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, HRH the Crown Prince decorated the Commander of the Pakistani Army with King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class in recognition of his distinguished efforts in consolidating and strengthening bonds of friendship and joint cooperation and developing Saudi-Pakistani relations," the SPA said.

Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, and a number of senior officials from both sides were also present on the occasion.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114127-saudi-crown-prince-confers-king-abdulaziz-medal-on-coas-bajwa-for-strengthening-pak-saudi-ties.html

US president Biden signs new gun control bill into law

US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law his country’s first gun-control bill in decades that seeks to prevent people with criminal records and mental problems from acquiring firearms.

The bill — now known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act 2022 — passed the House of Representatives on Friday evening by 234 to 193 votes.

The US Senate passed the bill late Thursday by a 65-33-vote and sent it to the House. As promised by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the House acted swiftly and sent it to the president on Friday evening for signing it into law. President Biden also acted promptly and put his signature on the bill early Saturday morning before leaving on a week-long trip to Europe.

“God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives,” said the president after signing the bill. He recalled that the last time Congress passed meaningful gun safety laws was almost 30 years ago and he attended that event as well. He mentioned major school and public shootings that killed hundreds of Americans, mostly children.

For those “and for the shootings that happen every day in the streets … their message to us was: ‘Do something. How many times have we heard that? Just do something.’ For God’s sake, just do something,” he said.

The US media described the new law as “the most significant firearms legislation” in more than 30 years. It followed mass shootings last month at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and a primary school in Uvalde, Texas, that left 31 people dead.

The law requires tougher background checks for buyers younger than 21. It would provide $15bn in federal funding for mental health programmes and school security upgrades. The law provides funds to encourage states to implement “red flag” laws to remove firearms from people considered a threat. It also seeks to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole” by blocking gun sales to those convicted of abusing unmarried partners.

Conservative Republicans opp­ose the new law and have vowed to undo it if they capture Congress in the midterm elections.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/114122-us-president-biden-signs-new-gun-control-bill-into-law.html

First phase of LG polls: Voting underway in Sindh’s 14 districts

Voting is underway today (Sunday) for the first phase of local government elections in 14 districts from four divisions of Sindh.

The polling began at 8am and will continue until 5pm without any pause.

The 14 districts of Sindh include Larkana, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushehro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tharparkar.

Elections in the rest of the districts of Sindh will be held on July 24.

At least 21,298 candidates are in the field against 6,277 seats of 101 town committees, 23 municipal committees, 14 districts councils, four municipal corporations, eleven town municipal corporations and 887 union councils and union committees.

The election commission has established 9,023 polling stations, including 1,895 for women, to facilitate over 11 million registered voters.

According to a spokesperson of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja is monitoring the polling process in the province.

Meanwhile, monitoring cells have been established in Islamabad and at the office of the Sindh election commissioner to ensure transparent elections, the spokesperson added.

In addition to this, at least 1,985 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive and 3,448 sensitive. Paramilitary Rangers and police have been deployed at 2,980 highly sensitive polling stations across the province.

CCTV cameras have been installed at the most sensitive polling stations.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/114121-first-phase-of-lg-polls-voting-underway-in-sindh-s-14-districts.html

FO ordered to facilitate Afia Siddiqui’s family in securing US visa

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate Dr Afia Siddiqui’s family in securing a visa for the United States so they could visit the country and see her.

Dr Aafia, a Pakistani neuroscientist jailed in the US, was indicted by a New York federal district court in September 2008 on charges of attempted murder and assault, stemming from an incident during an interview with the US authorities in Ghazni, Afghanistan — charges that she denied.

After 18 months in detention, she was tried and convicted in early 2010 and sentenced to 86 years in prison. She has since been imprisoned in the US.

In today’s order, the IHC noted that the Foreign Office (FO) submitted a report to the court stating that the Pakistan Consul General visited the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) where Dr Afia is currently detained.

“…but it appears she now believes that her family is no longer alive, and the Warden of FMC states that Dr Afia could not be forced to make a phone call if she did not wish to,” the order read.

The order said that under the circumstances, the counsel for the petitioner urged that the Foreign Office should be directed to facilitate a visa for Dr Afia’s family to visit her in the United States.

The court said that a Foreign Office official told the IHC that the ministry would make its best efforts to facilitate the visa and the requisite permissions for the family to visit Dr Afia, but there can be no guarantees as the ultimate decision in this regard rests with the US government.

“In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directed to facilitate the visa for the family of Dr Afia Siddiqui to visit her in the US, with the assurance that the family’s liberty and safety will not be endangered by association with Dr Afia.”

The court also said that the Foreign Office officer present in the court will provide his contact details to the counsel for the petitioner for Dr Afia’s family to exchange the requisite information and for communication to be facilitated.

“The Foreign Office shall facilitate the visa application with appropriate support,” the court directed and asked the parties to reappear on August 8.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114116-fo-ordered-to-facilitate-afia-siddiqui-s-family-in-securing-us-visa.html

Karachi court orders further probe into Dua Zehra Case

A local court in the port city on Saturday directed the provincial health secretary to conduct Dua Zahra’s ossification test again as her case required further investigation.

It may be noted that an ossification test has already been carried out on Zahra as per SHC's order which revealed that the girl is between 16 to 17 years of age, with a confirmation by radiologist Dr Saba Jamil.

Zahra had made headlines across the country after she had mysteriously disappeared from Karachi in April but later declared that she had run away from her home to marry 21-year-old Zaheer Ahmed.

In today’s hearing, the police submitted a challan and requested the case be classified as “C Class” in light of no evidence being found.

Police typically request the court to have a first information report (FIR) listed as “C Class” in matters when a criminal case is filed due to a mistake of fact or if the offence complained about is civil in nature.

But the petitioner’s lawyer Jibran Nasir protested, saying the case needed more probing as the police had just relied on two things — the statement Zahra gave and her age being 17.

In light of the statements, the court accepted the argument that the case needed further investigation and asked the authorities to redo the ossification test to determine the actual age of the girl.

In a challan submitted to judicial magistrate East earlier this month, the police said no evidence of Dua Zahra's kidnapping was found and that the Karachi girl went to Punjab on her own and tied the knot.

However, her parents are adamant that the girl did not marry of her own free will and was forced into marriage.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/114115-karachi-court-orders-further-probe-into-dua-zehra-case.html

Sessions court grants interim bail to Mahmood Khan

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday granted interim bail to KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in different cases pertaining to vandalism during the party’s May 25 long march toward Islamabad

The KP chief minister approached the district and sessions court of judge Kamran Basharat Mufi through his counsel Intezar Panjotha.

Subsequently, the Islamabad court granted pre-arrest to Mahmood Khan in three FIRs till July 7 and also directed him to submit surety bonds worth Rs5,000 each.

It is to be noted that several PTI leaders including former prime minister Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry and others had been booked by police in various FIRs related to Azadi March.

Earlier, the district and sessions court in Islamabad granted Friday pre-arrest bail to former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in 15 cases related to vandalism during long march.

PTI Chairman appeared before the district and sessions court of judge Kamran Basharat Mufi.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/kp-fata/item/114114-sessions-court-grants-interim-bail-to-mahmood-khan.html

PTI lawmakers requested to take in eviction from lodges with NA speaker

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday asked PTI lawmakers to approach National Assembly (NA) speaker against their eviction from parliament lodges.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) on June 2 and June 3 served notices on Shaukat Ali Bhatti and Amir Sultan asking them to vacate the Parliament Lodges.

However, the PTI MNAs approached IHC seeking restoration of their allotments.

After the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan through vote of no confidence, PTI members resigned in protest.

Though PTI members submitted their resignations to the NA speaker, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not de-notified as yet which kept their status as MNA intact.

PTI MNAs Amir Sultan and Shaukat Ali Bhatti belong to Jhang and Hafizabad and were residing in Parliament Lodges as members of National Assembly.

The petitioners have accused CDA’s employees of forcibly evicting them and throwing out their households and taken over possession forcefully from the accommodation.

The petitioners have argued in the petition “Such cancellation of government accommodation is amounts to deprive the petitioners from participating the function and procedure of national assembly”.

The petition said the “official accommodation is fundamental right of every MNA who belongs to far flung area of Punjab and had no other accommodation in Islamabad.”

During the hearing IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that the court is restraining itself from interfering in the matters related to the parliament.

Justice Minallah inquired from the petitioners whether they have resigned?. To which the petitioner’s counsel replied that they have not resigned as yet.

IHC Chief Justice observed that the court respects the parliament and the matter should be placed before the speaker NA and then disposed of the petition.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114106-pti-lawmakers-requested-to-take-in-eviction-from-lodges-with-na-speaker.html

Shehbaz Sharif attendes Pakistan Navy passing out parade at Karachi

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday attended Pakistan Navy passing out parade at the Naval Academy in Karachi.

According to details, PM Shehbaz inspected the guard of honor and addressed the passing out parade at the naval academy.

Earlier, the prime minister landed in the port city Saturday morning where Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah welcomed him at the airport.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the nation is proud of its armed forces for making the country’s defence impregnable and playing a key role in the fight against terrorism.

He was addressing the passing out parade of 117th Midshipman and 25th Short Service Commission course at Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan Navy has even more important role to play in the present age of ever growing blue economy, marine security and strategic defence.

He said arming Pakistan Navy with latest technology for safeguarding maritime borders of the country is a priority of the government.

Shehbaz Sharif said we believe in peace and peaceful coexistence, but this must not be taken as our weakness. He said Pakistan Armed Forces are fully capable to take on any challenge.

The Prime Minister was of the view that it is only with prevailing peace that we can move forward on the path of development and prosperity.

Earlier, the Prime Minister reviewed the Guard of Honor and distributed prizes among the passing out cadets for their distinctive performance.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114104-shehbaz-sharif-attendes-pakistan-navy-passing-out-parade-at-karachi.html

Pakistan reported one death inlast 24 hours due to coronavirus

Pakistan has reported one death in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,533,482. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,386 on Saturday.

According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 435 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in the past 24 hours.

Pakistan has conducted 13,644 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 435 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 3.19 percent.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/health/item/114103-pakistan-reported-one-death-inlast-24-hours-due-to-coronavirus.html

Two terrorists killed in gun battle with security forces in DI Khan: ISPR

Two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces in Kulachi area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Friday.

"During exchange of fire, two terrorists [were] killed. Weapons and ammunition [were] also recovered from the killed terrorists," the military's media affairs wing said.

It added that the militants were "actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces".

Five days ago, security forces had killed six terrorists belonging to the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) during a search operation in Paroom area in Balochistan's Panjgur district. Security forces had conducted an operation on a tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists in Zamran Range near Paroom.

The ISPR said the slain terrorists were involved in attacks on checkposts as well as IED attacks on security convoys in Paroom and surrounding areas of Panjgur.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/kp-fata/item/114102-two-terrorists-killed-in-gun-battle-with-security-forces-in-di-khan-ispr.html

PM Shehbaz announces 10% super tax on large-scale industries

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Friday that the coalition government plans to impose a 10% super tax on large-scale industries, and that “tough decisions” have been taken to protect the economy on budget 2022-23.

Addressing the nation, after a meeting with his economic team, the premier said that the coalition government has taken some “tough decisions” regarding the federal budget for the next fiscal year 2022-23. “I want to brief the people about those decisions and the actual [economic] situation of the country,” he said, highlighting the two major reasons behind these decisions.

“Our first motive is to provide relief to the masses and to reduce the burden of inflation on the people and facilitate them,” he elaborated.

“Our second motive is to protect the country from going bankrupt," he said, adding that it has been devastated due to the "incompetency and corruption" of the previous Imran Khan-led government.

The decisions taken now will save the country from bankruptcy, he vowed.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz further added that other motives included stabilisation of the economy and prosperity of the county. “These aren’t just words, this is the voice of my heart and InshaAllah we will be able to achieve all these targets,” he maintained.

Regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, he said: “If the IMF doesn’t put forward any other conditions, I am hopeful that we will be able to reach a staff-level agreement with them soon.”

He further added that the coalition government has taken some “daring” decisions after mutual consultations to provide relief to the people; however, the premier admitted the nation will witness difficulties in the short-run.

“We will steer out of the economic crisis because of these decisions and step onto the path envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam,” he said, adding that after coming into power, the coalition government had two options; to call elections afresh or to protect the “devastating economy” of the country by taking some tough decisions.

“The first way out was easy; however, our [coalition government] conscience did not allow us to do something which would impact the country as the time was to protect the state and not politics,” he stated.

The prime minister urged the affluent sections of society to come forward and share the burden.

He said that this is the first budget in the history of Pakistan in which the government has provided an “economic vision”.

Announcing the imposition of a 10% super tax on cement, steel, sugar, oil and gas, fertiliser, banking, textile, chemical, beverage, and automobile industries, he said it has been done to save the common man from taxes.

“A 1% tax has been imposed on people earning over Rs150 million, 2% on those earning over Rs200 million, 3% on those earning over Rs250 million and 4% on those earning over Rs300 million,” he announced.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114096-pm-shehbaz-announces-10-super-tax-on-large-scale-industries.html

Pakistan Stock Exchange after PM announced super tax on industries

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crashed on Friday minutes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a 10 per cent tax on large-scale industries.

The bourse stayed flat until two hours after the opening bell. However, at 11:40am, the market witnessed a steep dip with the KSE-100 losing 1,598 points and sinking to 41,100. At 12pm, the benchmark KSE-100 index was down 2,053 points or 4.8pc.

As per the PSX Rulebook, if the index goes five per cent above or below its last close and stays there for five minutes, trading in all securities is halted for a specified period.

Intermarket Securities' head of equities Raza Jafri cited "massive taxes" as the reason behind the plunge. "The market has reacted very negatively because it will severely hurt corporate profitability," he told Dawn.com.

Ahsan Mehanti of the Arif Habib Corporation concurred. "PSX witnessed massive pressure across the board after PM announced 10pc super tax on industrials for one year to bridge the gap in the fiscal deficit," he said.

Meamwhile, Khurram Shehzad, CEO of Alpha Beta Core, said that after the government's latest measures, the corporate income tax and investor tax will now exceed 50pc and 55pc, respectively.

"This is the highest not only in this region, but in the history of Pakistan. In fact, it is one of the highest tax rates in the world," he pointed out.

PM announces 'super tax'
Earlier today, the prime minister took the nation into confidence over the budget decisions and announced a "super tax" on large-scale industries including cement, steel, sugar, oil and gas, fertilisers, LNG terminals, textile, banking, automobile, chemicals, beverages and cigarettes.

High net worth individuals will also be subject to a "poverty alleviation tax". Those whose annual income exceeds Rs150 million will be subject to 1pc tax; for Rs200 million, 2pc; Rs250 million, 3pc; and Rs300 million will be taxed 4pc of their income.

The premier said the decision was taken to protect the poor segments of the country from rising inflation. "Today, it is time for the affluent citizens to do their part. It is their turn to show selflessness. And I am confident that they will contribute fully to play their part."

He said the institutions whose job to collect tax should take from the rich and give to the poor. However, he lamented that the "big ones" evade paying tax.

PM Shehbaz stressed that it was the collective responsibility of the state — including the PM — that tax money went to the national treasury. "We have been unsuccessful in this so far," he added.

He said: "It is never too late. Right after the budget [is passed], teams have been formed to go all out to collect taxes. Assistance will be sought from all constitutional institutions and we will employ modern technology and digital tools [for the purpose].

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/114095-pakistan-stock-exchange-after-pm-announced-super-tax-on-industries.html

Afghanistan seeks for help for earthquake survivals

Afghanistan does not have enough medical supplies to treat the injured from an earthquake that killed 1,000 people this week, a senior official said, as an aftershock on Friday killed five more people.

Authorities earlier ended the search in remote southeastern mountains for survivors from the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck early on Wednesday, about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Kabul, near the Pakistani border.

The US Geological Survey said the Friday earthquake, in almost exactly the same place, was magnitude 4.3.

About 2,000 people were injured and 10,000 houses were partially or completely destroyed in the Wednesday earthquake, Mohammad Nassim Haqqani, a spokesperson for the disaster ministry, told Reuters.
The health ministry does not have enough drugs, we need medical aid and other necessities because it's a big disaster," he said.

The epicentre of the Wednesday earthquake was in a region of arid mountains dotted with small settlements that was often the scene of clashes during Afghanistan's decades of war.

A health ministry official said the aftershock killed five people but there was no immediate word on the extent of new damage and injuries.

Poor communications and only very basic roads have hampered relief efforts in a country grappling with a humanitarian crisis that deteriorated sharply after the Taliban took over last August as U.S.-led international forces withdrew.

The disaster is a major test for the hard-line Islamists, who have been largely isolated; shunned by many because of worries about human rights and cut off from much direct international assistance because of sanctions.

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates all said on Thursday they planned to send aid. Supplies from Pakistan have already crossed the border.

India, which has a strained relationship with the Taliban, said it had sent 27 tonnes of supplies on two flights to be handed over to international aid agencies.

Haqqani, speaking before the aftershock, said the search for survivors had been called off, some 48 hours after the disaster struck.

"The search operation has finished," he said.

He did not elaborate on why. People have been pulled alive from the rubble of other earthquakes after considerably more time.

Large parts of South Asia are seismically active because a tectonic plate known as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate.

In 2015, an earthquake struck the remote Afghan northeast, killing several hundred people in Afghanistan and nearby northern Pakistan.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/114094-afghanistan-seeks-for-help-for-earthquake-survivals.html

We have saved the country from defaulting, Miftah Ismail

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail addressed a National Assembly (NA) session convened to wind up the budget debate on Friday and said the country was no longer on the way to default as it was on the path to progress.

During his address, the minister accused the PTI government of bringing the country to the verge of default and said "we have saved the country from defaulting".

"I want to give this good news to the nation today that the country [...] it is no longer on the way to default but on the path to progress," he said.

'Farmer-friendly budget'
Miftah had presented the budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 with an outlay of Rs 9.5 trillion on June 10.

As debate on the budget commenced in the NA today, Ismail said most of the recommendations made by lawmakers in the Senate and NA during preceding sittings had been incorporated into the budget.

He announced that the sales tax on cotton cakes (khal) had been removed and termed the budget "farmer-friendly".

"I don't think a more farmer-friendly budget has been presented in the past 10 to 20 years," he said, adding that this reflected the values of the incumbent coalition government.

The minister said as a result of this "farmer-friendly" budget the country would become self-reliant in the production of edible oil, wheat and other commodities. "These will be long-term benefits," he added.

Ismail said funds for farmers in the budget were not to be considered as subsidies but an investment. "We believe that if we will invest in farmers, they will give us the best returns."

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114093-we-have-saved-the-country-from-defaulting-miftah-ismail.html

Azam Nazeer Tarar hints withdrawing ‘curative review petition’

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday hinted at withdrawing the infamous ‘curative review petition’, which his predecessor had moved before the Supreme Court against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a sitting judge of the apex court.

The law minister also assured the bar representatives that he would personally talk to the PM for taking back the curative review by placing the matter on the agenda of the cabinet during the next meeting.

The law minister come to the Supreme Court building to inaugurate the Directorate of Legal Education at the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) office in line with an earlier directive in an SC judgment highlighting the need for improving the standard and quality of legal education in the country.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the law ministry and the PBC in this regard and Usama Malik and Saqib Faraz were appointed director and deputy director, respectively, of the directorate.

During the inauguration of the directorate, SCBA president Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon and PBC vice chairman Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry had asked the law minister to withdraw the curative review petition to ensure independence of the judiciary, and also take measures for early fixing of an appeal challenging the LHC’s Jan 13, 2020 order that declared as illegal a special court’s Dec 17, 2019 verdict awarding capital punishment to former president Pervez Musharraf for committing high treason.

The law minister said the present government wanted to facilitate the return of ailing Pervez Musharraf to the country, adding that the former president should come to Pakistan and face courts.

Referring to the curative review petition, the law minister said he would raise the issue during the next cabinet meeting so that it could be withdrawn from the Supreme Court. He said he would also highlight the issue of appointment of a permanent secretary law.

Through the unheard of legal remedy, the previous PTI government had pleaded before the Supreme Court that its April 26, 2021 majority judgement in the Justice Faez Isa review case should not be left in the field for being manifestly and patently unjust, against the public interest and public good which defeats the judicial accountability

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/114092-azam-nazeer-tarar-hints-withdrawing-curative-review-petition.html