Transfer of FIA officers probing cases of Shahbaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen has been annulled

The transfer of five FIA officers probing the cases of Shehbaz Sharif, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, and PTI leader Jahangir Tareen has been annulled.

According to sources, the FIA ​​director has issued a notification cancelling the transfer of officers.

The officers whose transfers have been cancelled include assistant directors Ali Mardan Shah, Arshad Butt, Zawar Ahmed, Shiraz Umar and Rana Faisal Munir.

It may be recalled that the officers in charge of the investigations into the cases of Shehbaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen were recently transferred.

Earlier, advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Barrister Shahzad Akbar said that PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif is the "ring leader of a money-laundering gang".

Shahbaz and his son, Hamza Shahbaz, are involved in corruption and laundering Rs16 billion in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case, he had said while addressing a press conference in December last year.

The challan submitted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the two members of the Sharif family — Shahbaz and Hamza — in the Ramzan Sugar Mills money-laundering case consisted of more than 4,000 documents and 100 witnesses, he said.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also found Shahbaz involved in money-laundering, and according to the FIA charge-sheet, he was the "mastermind of the money-laundering group", Akbar said.

The PTI leader Jahangir Tareen and his son were charged with alleged fraud and money laundering, Geo News had reported in March 2021.

A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore investigation team registered a case of alleged fraud of Rs3.14 billion on March 22 against them.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/111235-transfer-of-fia-officers-probing-cases-of-shahbaz-sharif-and-jahangir-tareen-has-been-annulled.html

Justice Umar Ata Bandial takes oath as 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan

One of the senior-most judges of Pakistan, Justice Umar Ata Bandial was sworn in as the 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan in an oath-taking ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Islamabad on Wednesday.

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath to Justice Bandial in the presence of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Senior army officials, judges, lawyers and federal ministers also attended the ceremony.

Earlier, Justice Bandial in his address to the full court, said that judges correct their own errors, which is why the minority changed into majority in Justice Faez Isa's case.

"A social media campaign was launched against judicial orders," he said.

The top judge said that personal attacks are being made against judges on social media, urging the Bar to play its role against criticism before the apex court takes notice.

Justice Bandial has replaced Justice Gulzar Ahmed, who has served as the top judge of Pakistan from December 2019 till February 1, 2022.

The change has taken place on the principle of seniority in which the puisne judge becomes the chief justice.

'Burden of pending cases needs to be lightened': CJP

Later, at his first appearance in a courtroom as the CJP, Justice Bandial interacted with lawyers.

"We need to lighten the burden of pending cases. Lawyers should come prepared and avoid seeking extensions," he said.

The lawyers welcomed and congratulated the newly appointed top judge.

At this, Justice Bandial thanked them and said it was a pleasure for him to be with them.

On the occasion, senior lawyer Naeem Bukhari said that he would await Justice Bandial's retirement so that he can meet him again. This was responded to in a pleasant way by the CJP.

Justice Bandial will continue as the chief justice till his retirement on September 18, 2023, and will hold the position for some 19 months.

The top court judges, including the chief justice, retire once they are 65, while high court justices superannuate on reaching 62 years of age under the constitution.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/111234-justice-umar-ata-bandial-takes-oath-as-28th-chief-justice-of-pakistan.html

Veteran PPP leader Rehman Malik put on ventilator after Covid-related complications

PPP leader and former senator Rehman Malik was put on a ventilator after his coronavirus tested postive, his spokesperson Riaz Ahmad Turi confirmed on Wednesday.The senior PPP leader had tested positive for coronavirus around two weeks ago.

According to Turi, the former senator was initially shifted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Islamabad after his condition deteriorated. However, his condition continued to worsen and doctors put him on a ventilator on Tuesday, he added.

Malik had not been feeling well for the last 15 days. The virus affected his lungs, Turi said.
The spokesperson said the PPP leader had also been complaining of breathing problems after contracting Covid.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/111233-veteran-ppp-leader-rehman-malik-put-on-ventilator-after-covid-related-complications.html

PML-N, PTI and PPP had all apparently invited him to join party: Dr. Farooq Sattar

MQM Rehabilitation Committee Chairman Dr Farooq Sattar revealed that the PML-N, PTI and PPP had all apparently invited him to join the party, but that he apologised to them.

Former MQM-P convener Farooq Sattar said he supported the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) seventh edition.

Commenting on the Supreme Court's (SC) decision on a petition filed by the MQM-P, in which the court directed the Sindh government to devolve powers to the local government in the province, Sattar said that it is a historic decision and now we will have to see how the Sindh government will implement the verdict.

Sattar further said that when allied parties stop supporting it, the incumbent government will know its worth.

Talking about his conflict with MQM-P, Sattar said that he was trying to have everyone on board and that it could be his fault.

A day earlier, the SC directed the Sindh government to devolve powers to the local government in the province as per the constitutional laws while giving its verdict on a petition filed by the MQM-P.

MQM-P had moved the court seeking transfer of power to the local bodies in Sindh, through a plea filed in 2013.

Giving the verdict on the plea, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed stated that it was the local governments' prerogative to make and implement master plans and the provincial government cannot start a project which is under the local government's jurisdiction.

"The Sindh government is bound to create autonomous local bodies under Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan," the CJP remarked, directing it to ensure the transfer of financial, administrative and political powers to the local government.

Moreover, the court also annulled Sections 74 and 75 of the Sindh Local Government Act (SLGA) 2013 [pertaining to the transfer of functions from councils to government and commercial schemes] and ordered the provincial government to make amendments to all laws.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/111232-pml-n-pti-and-ppp-had-all-apparently-invited-him-to-join-party-dr-farooq-sattar.html

Strong gusts of wind will start blowing in Karachi

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has advised the citizens of Karachi to take precautions, forecasting a change in weather as strong gusts of wind will start blowing in the city at a speed up to 55 kilometres per hour today.

The winds could turn the weather dusty and colder, as per the Met department.

"High winds may sweep through Karachi from Wednesday noon till Thursday morning, a result of a pressure gradient due to a westerly system that is going to grip the central and northern Pakistan," Chief Meteorological Officer Sardar Sarfaraz said.

The Met department's alert stated that strong winds of 20-25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots are expected to hit West/South Balochistan and Karachi from February 2 afternoon until Thursday afternoon and may damage weak structures.

Owing to the weather alert, fishermen have been directed to be cautious when fishing as the sea level is expected to rise, per the Met office.

Sarfaraz said that the velocity of winds is not expected to be as high as that of the winds storm that swept through Karachi some days ago when it gusted at a speed of 80kmph. However, he directed the authorities concerned to stay vigilant and make arrangements to avoid any damages.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/111231-strong-gusts-of-wind-will-start-blowing-in-karachi.html

Pakistan reports 6,047 fesh corona cases in a day

Pakistan has reported 29 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,436,413. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 29,330 on Wednesday.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 6,047 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Province-wise Details

Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 13,185 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,840 in Sindh 6,009 in KP, 982 in Islamabad, 758 in Azad Kashmir, 368 in Balochistan, and 188 in GB.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/111229-pakistan-reports-6-047-fesh-corona-cases-in-a-day.html

Afghan Taliban to reopen public universities, no word on female students

Afghanistan's public universities, closed since the Taliban seized power in August, will reopen in February, the Taliban acting higher education minister said on Sunday, without specifying whether female students would be able to return.

Universities in warmer provinces will reopen from Feb 2, while those in colder areas would reopen on Feb 26, the minister, Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani, told a news conference in Kabul.

He did not say what arrangements if any would be made for female students. In the past, Taliban officials have suggested that women could be taught in separate classes.

So far, the Taliban government has reopened high schools for boys only in most parts of the country. Some private universities have reopened, but in many cases, female students have not been able to return to class.

On January 15, Zabihullah Mujahid, who is also the Taliban’s deputy minister of culture and information, had said their education departments were looking to open classrooms for all girls and women following the Afghan New Year, which starts on March 21.

“We are not against education,” Mujahid had stressed, speaking at a Kabul office building in an interview with The Associated Press.

However, a day later Taliban forces had fired pepper spray at a group of women protesters in Afghanistan's capital demanding rights to work and education. Around 20 women had gathered in front of Kabul University, chanting “equality and justice” and carrying banners that read “Women's rights, human rights”, an AFP correspondent had reported.

Western governments have made education for female students a part of their demands as the Taliban seek more foreign aid and the unfreezing of overseas assets.

The hardline group took over the country on August 15 as foreign forces withdrew.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/111188-afghan-taliban-to-reopen-public-universities-no-word-on-female-students.html