Category: Pakistan

Posted on

Motorway rape incident: Prime suspect flees again after dodging police

F.P. Report

NANKANA SAHIB: The prime suspect in Motorway rape incident Abid Ali once again managed to avoid being arrested and fled from the area after dodging police in Nankana Sahib on late Thursday night.

According to police sources, Abid Ali came to the house of his sister-in-law in Nankana Sahib in the afternoon. On getting information, police cordoned off the area but Abid Ali managed to escape.

It is pertinent to mention here that it was fourth occasion in the past 10 days when Abid, the prime suspect in Motorway rape incident, evaded police and managed to escape.

Earlier on Wednesday, Abid managed to avoid being arrested when a heavy contingent of police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a raid in Raja Jang area of Kasur.

According to sources, the police had received information about the arrival of Abid Malhi in Raja Jang area in Kasur. The accused came in the area but on suspicion of police presence fled into the fields.

A heavy contingent of police personnel conducted a search operation for five hours but the accused managed to escape from there. However, police had arrested five relatives of Abid from Kasur for interrogation.

Sources privy to the matter have informed that Abid Ali’s ID card has been blocked. The police have maintained that the step is taken in order to stop the accused from fleeing abroad.

On the other hand, statement of the affected woman has also not been recorded as yet and special team is formed in this regard which will contact the victim. The police have stated that the woman’s statement is legally very important in the case.

On September 9, 2020, a woman along with two children was reportedly travelling in a car from Lahore to Gujranwala when her car developed a fault on the motorway near Gujjarpura area of Lahore.

She was waiting for some help to arrive when two unidentified persons overpowered her. After raping and robbing the victim of valuables and cash (1 lakh), the suspects escaped from the scene.

Posted on

Coronavirus: 13 more educational institutes sealed for not SOPs

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Thirteen more educational institutes have been closed in 24 hours for not following standard operating procedures (SOPs) designated to curb coronavirus spread.

According to details, ten educational institutes have been closed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) while three were shut in Sindh.

Earlier, 22 educational institutions were closed across the country for violating SOPs.

In Karachi’s Korangi, two private schools were also sealed for commencing classes of primary sections. The concerned authorities said that an action will also be taken against the principals of the respective institutes.

Pakistan has reported nine deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 304,386. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 6,408.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), we have tested 752 persons positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.

Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Till now 133,125 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 98,142 in Punjab, 37,242 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13,991 in Balochistan, 16,033 in Islamabad, 3,381 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 2,472 in Azad Kashmir.

Pakistan has so far conducted 3,090,660 coronavirus tests and 33,865 in last 24 hours. 291,683 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 579 patients are in critical condition.

Educational institutions from grade nine to onwards reopen across Pakistan

On September 15, 2020, thousands of schools and colleges across Pakistan were reopened after remaining closed for more than six months (187 days) due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government, masks were mandatory for all teachers and students, while schools, colleges, and university administrations were directed to ensure availability of sensitizers at the entry gates.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood on September 07, while announcing the reopening of schools, colleges, and universities, had said all the educational institutions would be reopened in three phases to avoid another wave of the virus.

As per the decision taken by the government, educational institutions from grade nine to onwards were reopened on September 15 and if the pandemic situation remain controlled, then students in grade six to eight will return to school on September 23, while students in nursery to grade five will return to classes on September 30.

Religious seminaries across the country were also reopened. Similarly, the vocational and technical institutions started functioning as well.

Posted on

IHC reserves verdict in Tezgam Express inferno incident near Rahim Yar Khan

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday has reserved verdict in a case pertaining to October 31, 2019, Tezgam Express inferno incident that occurred near Rahim Yar Khan.

During the hearing, the plaintiff lawyer said that Pakistan Railways minister Sheikh Rashid should resign over misconduct of his department. The court remarked that if we seek resignations on misconduct then all the ministers will be sent back to their homes.

It is pertinent to mention here that at least 75 passengers had lost their lives and over 40 sustained critical burn wounds when three carriages of a Tezgam Express caught fire near Talwari Station in Liaquatpur area of Rahim Yar Khan. The train was bound from Karachi to Rawalpindi.

Television footage showed flames pouring out of the carriages as people could be heard crying in the incident. Many commuters died and several were injured when they jumped from the moving train to escape the flames.

A forensic report determining the cause of the Tezgam inferno confirmed “the gas leakage from cylinders in bogies no. 10 and 11” but declared that the fire had begun before presence of any flammable substance(s) in the bogies.

The two-page report issued by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency Lahore explained that no evidence of petrol, kerosene or any other liquid flammable material from the wreckage of the bogies was found.

The report stated that the presence of sulfur particles in the bogie no. 11 has confirmed the leakage of gas.

The claims of both Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed, who had stated that the fire broke out due to cylinder explosion, and Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Dost Leghari, who had claimed of short circuiting as the cause of the tragic incident, were been “suspicious” as evidence of ignition from spots other than the temporary kitchen between the two bogies was also unearthed.

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid had voiced his support for judicial inquiry into the Tezgam tragedy and said that railways need a new system to punish corrupt employees.

He said that anyone involved in the Tezgam tragedy will be punished. However, he emphasized that completion of ML-I project will put an end to such incidents.

The railways ministry had constituted an inquiry committee to reinvestigate the tragic Oct. 31 Tezgam fire incident near Rahim Yar Khan, according to a notification.

The legal status of the federal government inspector of railways (FGIR) was termed suspicious as the appointment was made by railways secretary instead of the federal government.

Posted on

Pakistan summons Indian diplomat to register protest over ceasefire violations

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: A senior Indian diplomat was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to register Pakistan’s strong protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 17th September 2020, resulting in serious injuries to three innocent civilians.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Hotspring and Jandrot Sectors of the LoC, 15 year old Irum Riaz s/o Muhammad Riaz; 26 year old Nusrat Kausar w/o Abdul Rauf; and 16 year old Mukheel s/o Muhammad Hussain, residents of Andrala Nar Village, sustained serious injuries.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons.

This year, India has committed 2280 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 18 shahadats and serious injuries to 183 innocent civilians.

Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security.

It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB.

The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.

Posted on

Pakistan and US provide fortified food to malnourished children

.P. Report

ISLAMABAD:  Together, the government of Pakistan and the United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), are delivering 340 metric tons of vitamin and mineral-enriched food for Pakistani children who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

According to the National Nutrition Survey jointly published by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2018, more than 40 percent of Pakistani children under the age of five suffer long-term health problems because of severe malnutrition.  Most of these malnourished children live in Pakistan’s rural areas.

“We commend the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to include improved nutrition at the core of its development agenda,” said USAID/Pakistan Mission Director Julie Koenen.  “We are proud to contribute to maintaining the availably of nutritious food to Pakistani children in need despite the operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Good nutrition is key to the health and development of young Pakistanis, and a healthy population is critical to Pakistan’s overall economic growth.”

This collaboration also helps support Pakistan’s national nutrition policy framework and increases the capacity of the health system and civil society to ensure treatment of more than 24,500 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

The fortified food project is being implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Government of Pakistan’s nutrition and health departments and civil society organizations.

As part of its long-standing partnership with

Pakistan, the United States Government is committed to improving food and nutrition security for Pakistanis.  Since 2009, USAID has contributed more than $800 million to Pakistan’s food and nutrition efforts.

Posted on

TCP asked to start importing wheat

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Econ-omic Coordination Commi-ttee (ECC) of the Cabinet here Thursday decided that the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP )will start importing wheat in the required quantities through small tenders from time to time to maintain the wheat supply at a reasonable price and for keeping additional strategic reserves.

The ECC meeting was chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, said a press statement issued by the ministry.

ECC discussed in detail the need to import wheat in the country through the government and private sector.

The Chair directed that the availability of wheat was an important issue and there is a need to maintain sufficient stock of wheat in the country which could be made available at a reasonable price.

Posted on

Pakistan Army to participate in Turkey defense event

ANKARA (AA): Seeking to give the Turkish defense industry a stronger presence in world markets plus access to new opportunities, the sixth Defense Port Turkey expo is set for Oct. 26-28 under the name Defense Port Turkey-South Asia.

This year’s expo will be held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, said Hakan Kurt, the CEO of Capital Exhibition.

The event is expected to bring together more than 80 military delegations from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, Kurt said.

Noting that the recent development of the Turkish defense industry has been reflected in its export performance, Kurt said:

“Our goal is to hit $5 billion of defense industry exports to those three countries over the next decade.”

Posted on

Vawda granted time

ISLAMABAD (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday granted time to Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda to submit his comments in a case challenging his qualification as member Parliament.

Justice Aamer Farooq of IHC conducted hearing on a petition filed through Barrister Jahangir Jadoon regarding the eligibility of Vawda.

The petition had stated that the federal minister had hid information regarding his dual nationality in his nomination papers submitted to ECP.

It prayed the court to declare Vawda as disqualify on hiding the information. The court granted time to Vawda to submit his comments and adjourned hearing of the case till October 14.

Posted on

Real face of India needs to be exposed: President

ISLAMABAD (TLTP): President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the real face of India needs to be exposed as it has unleashed a reign of terror against the innocent population of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and other minority groups.

The President made these remarks during meetings with Pakistan’s ambassadors-designate to Austria and Sweden, who separately called on him here on Thursday.

The President asked Ambassadors-designate of Pakistan to Austria and Sweden to highlight atrocities and human rights violations by the Indian security forces in IIOJ&K at various fora during their interactions with various dignitaries.

While talking to Ambassador-designate to Austria, Aftab Ahmed Khokhar, the President said that Pakistan highly values its ties with Austria which are based on commonality of views and mutual respect.

He asked the ambassador to make endeavours to promote high level contacts and increase volume of bilateral trade between the two countries.