Thousands of people liked actor and director Tyler Perry’s tweet which he posted to wish his friend Meghan Markle on her 41st birthday.
The actor’s tweet received mixed reaction in the US and the United Kingdom.
While Meghan’s fans were happy to see her pal publicaly wishing her on her birthday, royal fans criticized the actor for calling the Duchess of Sussex a princess.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, Perry wrote, I’ve had a front row seat in your life for the past few years. I’ve watched you endure things that would have broken a lot of people. I’m so incredibly proud to see how happy you, your husband, and your kids are now. It fills me with joy to say Happy Birthday Princess Meghan.”
“I’ve had a front row seat in your life for the past few yrs. I’ve watched u endure things that would have broken a lot of people. I’m so incredibly proud to see how happy u, ur husband, & your kids are now. It fills me w/ joy to say Happy Birthday #PrincessMeghan.” – Tyler Perry
“I’ve had a front row seat in your life for the past few yrs. I’ve watched u endure things that would have broken a lot of people. I’m so incredibly proud to see how happy u, ur husband, & your kids are now. It fills me w/ joy to say Happy Birthday #PrincessMeghan.” – Tyler Perry
KARACHI: Syed Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh, has ordered the health department to reopen the Children Hospital North Karachi within 15 days and has stated his willingness to cover its debts. “The people of North Karachi cannot be denied access to their health facility due to disagreements between the government and the private partner; as a result, the hospital must be opened right away for the greater good of the region.”
This he said while presiding over a 37th meeting of PPP Policy Board at CM House. The meeting was attended by Minister healthDr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister LG Nasir Shah, Advisor law Murtaza Wahab, Special Assistant to CM Syed Qasim Naveed, MPA Ghualm Qadir Chandio, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, VC NED University, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, Aif Brohi, Secretary LG Najam Shah and others. Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho told the chief minister that the Health Department had executed a management contract with Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI) in Sep 2016 for a period of 10 years. But, the private partner closed the hospital in December 2021 and PEI filed a suit before Sindh High Court on September 22, 2020. Since, the hospital was unfunctional. Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput told the chief minister that he had held a meeting on the issues of the hospital in which Rs616 million liabilities were worked out. He added that Rs425 million were required to operationalize the hospital.
The chief minister stated that he was prepared to immediately release the funding, but the hospital needed to be operational within the following 15 days. He declared unequivocally that “it must be one of the greatest hospitals in the city.” Mr. Shah gave the health department instructions to make sure the hospital was audited as soon as it opened in 2016. The suggestion was accepted by the policy board. The PPP policy board was informed that the government has chosen to install two seawater desalination plants, each of which will have a capacity of 5 MGD, one at Ibrahim Hyderi and the other at Native Jetty or somewhere nearby Kemari, in order to meet water demand. Local govt Nasir Shah said that his department has hired a consultant to feasibility study and transaction advisory service. He added that the desalination technology has been selected for the plant. The meeting was told that each plant may cost over Rs 1billion. The chief minister directed Minister Local Government Nasir Shah to visit the Keamari area and select the site for the plant and also visit the KANUPP plant and report. The CM directed the local govt and Investment departments to launch pre-qualifications documents for 5 MGD Desalination Project under PPP Mode. He added that the project may be taken up on provincial government expenses.
The three-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finally released its decision in the PTI’s prohibited funding case, also known as the foreign funding case, after a nearly eight-year-long wait.
explicitly prohibited
The Imran Khan-led PTI did receive funding from foreign firms and individuals, which it hid, according to the commission’s 68-page order. For the time being, the ECP has given the party a show-cause notice asking it to provide justification for not seizing the illegal funds.prohibited
It is necessary for the government to submit a declaration to the court. After the Election Commission’s order, which very clearly stated that the PTI has been receiving foreign funds, the federal government is left with few options. It would be challenging for the government to refrain from declaring that the party [PTI] is currently receiving foreign assistance. The Supreme Court will then review the declaration after that.prohibited
The legal definition of “foreign aided” is very specific and covers funding from international sources. Whether or not this is fair is up for debate. But at the moment, that is the law.
prohibited
— Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, head of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency
“Court, not ECP, shall decide” The ECP has limited the scope of its decision to the confiscation of funds under Article 6 of the PPO and Rule 6(3) of the PPR; it has not held that the PTI is ineligible for funding under the definition of a “foreign-aided party,” which means it received such funds from a foreign government or political party.
The Supreme Court previously ruled in Hanif Abbasi v. Imran Khan that there is no difference between operating as a foreign-aided political party and receiving prohibited funds; however, this ruling only applies to confiscation and is still up for further review.
Regarding Khan, the Supreme Court established in recent jurisprudence that it is the intention of the legislator that is taken into account, and not just the fact of omission, before warranting a declaration of dishonesty or otherwise — that is another question that has not yet been resolved.
In any case, the ECP cannot make such a declaration; only a court of law may.
PTI cannot be in two places at once. Was it illegal for the PTI to receive funds from foreign sources, as the ECP was asked to determine? The PTI has made a lot of distinctions between instances of “foreign funding” and “prohibited funds.”
It was not the case that PTI received funding from a foreign government or political party. But regardless of how you want to describe it, the ECP has now discovered that the PTI received funding from foreign individuals and businesses.
These funds are also illegal according to the law. The ECP also discovered that Khan submitted “grossly inaccurate” forms in this area while serving as chairman.
prohibited
While Article 62(1)(f) has historically been used for less, it would be better for us to restrict its application rather than give it more authority. Legally speaking, the possibility of confiscating the funds exists.
However, this has broader implications morally. The PTI has a history of elevating itself above other political parties and portraying itself as pure.
Even now, in the wake of the ECP’s conclusions, it continues to use inquiries into other parties as a crutch. Similar to that, those issues ought to be resolved as soon as possible. But they don’t affect the findings against the PTI. PTI can’t have it both ways.
‘Dangerous phase’ survived The order establishing that the case relates to prohibited funding means that the PTI has survived the “dangerous phase” because it is not a case of foreign funding.
The problematic part is the false affidavit that party chairman Khan filed, claiming that, in light of the Hanif Abbasi ruling, 62(1)(f) — sadiq o ameen — proceedings can be started against him.
According to the three-member bench’s ruling, the court now has a clear view, which is necessary for 62(1)(f) proceedings.
There’s a catch, though. Various court orders have been issued, and there is disagreement among the courts as to whether the ECP is a court or not.
To begin proceedings under Section 62(1), the Supreme Court must have certain undisputed facts in order to disqualify someone (f).
The PTI has for the time being held on, and it will now challenge the verdict in court, changing the political landscape.
The decision of ECP may have “serious consequences.” The verdict might have negative effects on the PTI. Until the legal issues are resolved, neither the government nor the opposition can be stabilised.
Now is the right time for the nation’s political establishment to enact legal changes.
The “rule of law” The law ought to be the same for everyone in the nation and there ought to be a rule of law. Despite not receiving a salary from his son’s company, Nawaz Sharif was disqualified, while PTI has accepted funding from foreigners.
If the PTI does not comply with the ECP, its funds, which were obtained illegally, may be seized.
RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Army helicopter with six people on board, including Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, lost contact with the air traffic control in Balochistan’s Lasbela district, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Monday.
The helicopter was assisting flood operations in the province, a statement issued by the media affairs wing of the armed forces said.
“A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with ATC,” the ISPR tweeted.
A Pakistan Army aviation helicopter en route from Uthal, Balochistan to Karachi with important personalities aboard has gone missing on Monday.
the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a tweet.Taking to Twitter, the military’s media wing said that the aviation helicopter was on a flood relief operation in Lasbela, Balochistan when it lost contact with air traffic control (ATC).”
Six individuals were on board, including Commander 12 Corps who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan,” the tweet said, adding that a search operation is underway.
The ISPR said that more details will be shared later.
PESHAWAR: Dr. Shahzad Khan Bangash, Chief Secretary (CS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), expressed his displeasure for not meeting the Covid-19 vaccination target on Monday and ordered the pertinent authorities to ensure that 80 percent of the province’s population had received the vaccine in light of the recent spike in cases. He gave the order to speed up vaccination procedures at all Medical Teaching Institutes, district headquarters hospitals, and their catchment areas while presiding over a conference to discuss a special Covid-19 vaccination campaign here.
He said that a weekly review meeting would be convened for effective monitoring of the drive and achievement of targets. The CS termed current vaccination coverage in the province as unsatisfactory, saying that to bring it to a satisfactory level, it was imperative to vaccinate at least 80 percent of the citizens. Shahzad Bangash also gave orders to all the districts to finish the backlog as quickly as possible. Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and District Health Officers participated in the meeting via video link, along with the Secretary of Health, Director of PMRU, Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Center, and EPI Director. The EOC Coordinator informed the group that there is no shortage of vaccine and that stock is accessible. He added that, with the exception of district Charsadda, no district had met the weekly immunisation targets of more than 80%. Similarly, just four districts have given booster doses at a rate of 30% or higher.
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday announced financial assistance to help overcome the damages caused by flood to people’s properties and other belongings in south Punjab. Chairing a meeting to review the flood situation and relief activities in Rajanpur, DG Khan especially Taunsa and Muzaffargarh, here at his office, he added that owners of completely destroyed houses would be given Rs 600,000 each while the owners of partially destroyed houses would be provided Rs 400,000 each.
He also insisted that compensation will be made for any harm to the livestock. The chief minister instructed the corresponding deputy commissioners to finish the surveys, and it was requested that the process be kept straightforward and that local representatives be included. He added that no inconvenience of any kind should be caused to the flood victims during the survey process, and immediate financial assistance should be provided. The chief minister further instructed the relevant authorities to step up relief efforts and continue supplying dry food to the afflicted community.
He emphasised that connection roads in the affected areas should be maintained using the necessary equipment and resources, and that the water flow in rivers must be carefully monitored so that appropriate actions can be made to strengthen the rivers’ embankments. “Rehabilitation of flood affected people is my priority,” he vowed. “I will personally evaluate the situation tomorrow (Tuesday) in flood-hit villages of Rajanpur and DG Khan.
“MPAs Amina Jafar Leghari, Mohsin Leghari, Muhammad Saifuddin Khan Khosa, Muhammad Awais Dareshak, Farooq Amanullah Dareshak, Sardar Ahmad Ali Khan Dareshak, Muhammad Mohiuddin Khan Khosa, Abdul Hai Dasti, Javed Akhtar, Kh. Muhammad Daud Solemani, Muhammad Ashraf Khan Rind, Niaz Hussain Khan, Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi, Muhammad Aun Hameed, Muhammad Raza Hussain Bukhari, Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan and Nawabzada Mansoor Ahmad Khan, and Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Afzal, former P&D chairman Salman Ghani, former principal secretary to CM GM Sikandar, secretaries and senior officials were present, while Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), divisional commissioners, DG Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and deputy commissioners of Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and DG Khan participated through video link.
SUKKUR: Federal Minister for Water Resources and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah said on Sunday that a politician who lied was not a true politician. While addressing a ceremony at Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Sukkur, he pointed out: “One should die, but one should not tell lies. People are misled on social media.”
I spent two years in jail, he continued. Despite searching the entire globe, no evidence of my corruption was discovered. Shah added that he was doing everything in his power to assist the people of the nation and emphasised the necessity of improving merit in the Education Department.
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that security cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would further be enhanced.
Pak-Saudi security cooperation
According to a news statement, the minister shared these opinions with the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, during their meeting.
According to Sanaullah, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would work together to address all national and regional security issues.
He thanked Saudi Arabia for successfully organising the Road to Makkah project to assist Pakistani Hajj pilgrims and said Saudi always supported Pakistan at unexpected times.
He continued by saying that the brotherly, long-standing, and historical foundations of relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Two Holy Mosques and Saudi government
The minister congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Saudi government for making excellent arrangements for Hajj.
Pakistani people have special love and reverence to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, he added.
He also thanked the Saudi government and embassy for facilitating Pakistani Hujjaj and making special arrangements for them. The ambassador said that over 80,000 Pakistani took benefit from Road to Makkah project this year.
ISLAMABAD: The PTI government placed the country on the verge of default while placing a false emphasis on paying taxes in order to save the country, according to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, who has taken aim at former Prime Minister Imran Khan whom he holds accountable for the economic woes of the country.
Speaking to a press conference in Islamabad, Mr. Ismail sounded upbeat and expressed his optimism that the pressure on the rupee would ease over the next two weeks. pressure
According to him, the government took no actions that may have caused the rupee to lose value. On the other hand, he noted, the rupee’s value is strengthening as a result of a decrease in our import bill.
proclaims pressure
The government in May put a ban on the import of luxury items which has been lifted only yesterday. He stated that this month and the previous month, the government had to make payments worth billions which had caused the local currency to come under pressure. However, he added that the pressure on the rupee would end by next month, promising to rein in the current account deficit.
The minister said that he would endeavour to ensure that the dollars coming into the country on a daily basis would be more than those leaving. “But to be honest, no one knows the market. I can believe the fundamentals are in my favour but speculation, sentiments also play a role,” he added.
The present coalition administration saved Pakistan from bankruptcy, according to the finance minister, who said that Imran Khan had taken the nation dangerously close to default. He questioned why Imran had brought up the subject now. “You (Imran) are culpable,” he added, adding that the PTI administration’s poor policies contributed to the rise in our trade imbalance. Mr. Ismail asserted that the PTI administration brought in less money.
PML-N government’s tax-to-GDP ratio
“The PTI was unable to match the PML-N government’s tax-to-GDP ratio in four years. We left it at 11.1 percent, and the PTI reduced it to 9 percent. Khan Sahib used to promise to enhance tax [collection], but he consistently decreased it.When you are reducing tax collection every year and increasing your budget deficit, then you will be in debt, he pointed out.pressure
The minister said when Imran backed out on his promise with the IMF then our current account deficit was ballooned. We presented a difficult budget but it was not our fault as Imran had left the economy in tatters, the minister rued.
He also blamed the PTI government for the increase in circular debt, saying that it had gone from $1.1bn to $2.5bn during its tenure. The minister said that the PTI chief did not increase the power tariff for 1.5 years, which is why consumers were not receiving bills with fuel adjustment charges for April. “If electricity consumers have to pay the April fuel adjustment charges, then why we should be blamed for this,” Ismail wondered. He said the previous government increased circular debt by Rs1400 billion.
He held the previous government responsible for the downfall of every sector. He said Imran inflicted significant financial harm to the country by subsidising the price of gasoline and fuel. “Imran made the same terrible mistake as Sri Lanka by offering cheap gasoline. By offering us cheap gas and electricity, Imran tried to ensnare us, Ismail claimed. He criticised Imran for having a four-year period during which Pakistan’s debt increased by 80%. He claimed that the former prime minister granted amnesty to his friends before making a U-turn and giving subsidies to his own people.pressure
Everyone should pay taxes, according to the finance minister, in order to save this nation. He continued, “I have also imposed tax on the children of the prime minister and my own factories.” He announced a tax break for shop owners who use less than 150 units of power per month. According to him, small shopkeepers making Rs 1.2 million annually must pay Rs 36,000 in taxes each year. Inflation management was not Mr. Ismail’s top concern; instead, he intended to prevent the nation from going into default. pressure
He claimed to have provided money to utility stores so they could sell ghee for Rs. 300 per litre, sugar for Rs. 70 per kg, and flour for Rs. 40 per kg. “There is no doubt that inflation has increased in the country. But I cannot help it. We have to save country first. Soon pressure on rupee will ease and with this, prices of commodities will come down,” he expressed his optimism. The finance minister informed that this year we had wheat in abundance. He said that from next month, the government would try to increase its exports.
commodities will come down,” he expressed his optimism. The finance minister informed that this year we had wheat in abundance. He said that from next month, the government would try to increase its exports.
Manila: Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos, who oversaw a rare period of steady growth and peace that won him the reputation as one of the country’s most effective leaders ever, has died aged 94, his family said Sunday.
Known as “Steady Eddie” for his unflappable demeanour during the country’s regular moments of upheaval, he was frequently pictured chewing unlit cigars as he guided the Philippines with a sure hand from 1992-1998.
Former Philippine president
A career military man who never previously held elected office, his professorial conduct was unlike the bombastic image of many Filipino politicians.
He was also the first Protestant to win the top office in the overwhelmingly Catholic nation, despite opposition from some in the Church. He later made an aggressive push for family planning to rein in rapid population growth.
But like other top officials of his generation, Ramos played a role in the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, which saw thousands killed and thousands more arbitrarily imprisoned.
In a brief statement, the Ramos family said it was “profoundly saddened” to announce the patriarch’s death. The cause was not released.
Lawmakers, diplomats, ex-politicians and the new administration posted tributes to Ramos on social media.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos who passed away today having lived a full life as a military officer and public servant,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the late dictator, who took office last month.
“The legacy of his presidency will always be cherished and will be forever enshrined in the hearts of our grateful nation.”
The European Union delegation in the Philippines expressed its condolences, describing Ramos as a “dedicated statesman” and “pillar of democracy”.
A graduate of the prestigious West Point military academy in the United States, Ramos had a lengthy career in the armed forces, including combat against communist guerrillas, and was deployed in the Korean War as part of the Philippine contingent.
He was later commander of the paramilitary Philippine Constabulary — the key institution that enforced the brutal repression of dissent after Marcos declared martial law in 1972.
Ramos’s moment of truth came in February 1986, when popular outrage was hitting its peak over the murder of opposition leader Benigno Aquino and massive regime cheating in a snap election.
Sensing Marcos’s weakness, a group of young military officers and their leader, defence secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, plotted to seize power but were found out.
Ramos joined their rebellion, withdrawing his support from Marcos and inspiring many others to rise up as well.
Soon, millions were massing in the streets for the peaceful “People Power” revolt that sent the dictator into exile and ushered in Corazon Aquino as president.
Aquino promptly appointed Ramos as military chief and then defence secretary in gratitude.
When elections came in 1992, Aquino gave her endorsement to Ramos, which was crucial to him winning the presidency despite the opposition of influential Catholic Church figures.
As president, Ramos solved a crippling power crisis caused by years of under-investment in energy, and broke up cartels in telecommunications, aviation and shipping — boosting a moribund economy that reaped a period of renewed growth.
He also made peace overtures to communist guerrillas, Muslim separatists and military coup-plotters.
In the end, only the communists refused to sign agreements with his government.
Ramos was also a key, early supporter of Rodrigo Duterte as he waded into national politics with his run at the presidency in 2016. Post-election, Ramos served as the special envoy to Beijing to ease tensions over the disputed South China Sea.
But the relationship swiftly soured — he has publicly criticised Duterte’s expletive-laden speeches, his moves away from the US alliance and his anti-drug campaign that claimed thousands of lives.
Ramos was also aghast at Duterte’s decision to allow Marcos to be buried in the national Heroes’ Cemetery despite the damage his dictatorship caused to the Philippines’ economy and social order.
When a Marcos daughter tried to link Ramos to the abuses of her father’s rule, Ramos said he had already apologised and made amends for his role. “My atonement was leading the military and the police” in the revolt that toppled Marcos, he said.
London: Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, accepted a £1 million ($1.19 million, 1.21 million euro) donation to his charitable trust from the family of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, The Sunday Times reported.
Although there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the Saudi family members, the revelation increases scrutiny on the 73-year-old prince’s charity organisations, which have been rocked by allegations of criminal wrong doing.
Several of his advisers urged Charles not to take the donation from family patriarch Bakr bin Laden and his brother Shafiq — half-brothers of terror leader Osama — according to sources cited by the paper.Bin Laden
Bin Laden family
Charles, 73, agreed to the donation to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF) when he met with Bakr, 76, at Clarence House in London in 2013, despite objections of advisers from the trust and his office, the paper reported.
Ian Cheshire, chairman of PWCF, said the donation was agreed by the five trustees at the time.
British police in February launched an investigation into another of Charles’s charitable foundations over claims of a cash-for-honours scandal involving a Saudi businessman.
The head of The Prince’s Foundation resigned last year after an internal investigation into the allegations.
Michael Fawcett, chief executive of the foundation, had initially agreed to suspend his duties following newspaper revelations about his links to a Saudi national.
The man, tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, had donated large sums to restoration projects of particular interest to Charles.
Fawcett, a former valet to the Prince of Wales who has been close to Queen Elizabeth II’s heir for decades, is alleged to have coordinated efforts to grant a royal honour and even UK citizenship to Mahfouz.
Mahfouz reportedly denies any wrongdoing.
The Charities Commission, which registers and oversees charities in England and Wales, said in November it had opened a formal probe into donations received by Mahfouz’s charitable trust which were intended for the prince’s foundation.
The Prince’s Foundation, set up in 1986, is not regulated by the Charities Commission but is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator. The Scottish body in September launched its own probe into reports that the foundation accepted cash from a Russian banker previously convicted of money laundering
Doha: Qatar seeks to hold a ministerial summit in early August to seal an accord between Chad’s military government and opposition rebels on a national peace dialogue, negotiators said Sunday.
The Gulf emirate’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani spoke with the Central African nation’s military leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, on Saturday, officials said.
The Gulf state’s mediators will meet with rebel negotiators this week in a bid to sway holdout groups.
“Qatar would like to get an accord settled this week so they can hold an international meeting soon,” said one negotiator.
Deby took power in April last year after his father, longtime leader Idriss Deby Itno, was killed in a battle with rebels. The son promised to hold elections within 18 months, with a prevision for extending that timetable.
Chad peace plan
Dozens of Chadian opposition and government officials have been in Doha since March to set the conditions for starting a national dialogue which would pave the way for a presidential election.
The dialogue has been postponed several times, most recently on July 16 when a host of rebel and political groups withdrew, accusing the government of seeking to destabilise peace efforts.
About a week later those groups said they were rejoining the process.
Diplomats monitoring the talks say there has been progress and a majority of groups have agreed to sign an accord so that talks can start in Ndjamena on August 20.
Those groups, however, are not the most powerful.
The current document, seen by AFP, proposes a general ceasefire and gives security guarantees to rebel leaders who return for the N’Djamena talks. A special non-Chadian force would take care of security.
“The negotiations with all opposition groups are still ongoing, and while we are still working with the parties to reach an agreement over the next steps, we hope to resume the next round at the beginning of August,” a Qatari government official told AFP.
Qatari mediators are still trying to persuade the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), one of the main rebel groups, to sign on and give the national dialogue a greater chance of success.
FACT leader Mahamat Mahdi Ali has described the current draft document as “a good start” but his negotiators have called for more government concessions.
Idriss Deby Itno died after suffering mortal wounds fighting the FACT, a large armed group with a rear base in Libya.
Qatar wants to quickly hold a formal signing ceremony in Doha with Deby and foreign ministers from key countries, including France, present. The international community wants to avoid any further delay in the national dialogue, and a resulting threat to the landmark election, which could lead to Deby extending his transitional rule.
A Chinese booster rocket made an uncontrolled return to Earth on Saturday, leading US officials to chide Beijing for not sharing information about the potentially hazardous object’s descent.
US Space Command “can confirm the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Long March 5B (CZ-5B) re-entered over the Indian Ocean at approx 10:45 am MDT on 7/30,” the US military unit said on Twitter.
“We refer you to the #PRC for further details on the reentry’s technical aspects such as potential debris dispersal+ impact location,” it said.
In a statement posted to its official WeChat profile, the China Manned Space Agency later gave coordinates for an impact area in the Sulu Sea, about 35 miles (57 kilometers) off the east coast of the Philippines’ Palawan Island.
“Most of its devices were ablated and destroyed during re-entry,” the agency said of the booster rocket, which was used last Sunday to launch the second of three modules China needed to complete its new Tiangong space station.
Malaysia’s space agency said it detected rocket debris burning up on re-entry before falling in the Sulu Sea northeast of the island of Borneo.
“The debris of the rocket caught fire while entering the Earth’s airspace and the movement of the burning debris also crossed Malaysian airspace and could be detected in several areas including crossing the airspace around the state of Sarawak,” it said.
NASA criticism
NASA administrator Bill Nelson criticized Beijing on Twitter, saying the failure to share details of the rocket’s descent was irresponsible and risky.
“All spacefaring nations should follow established best practices, and do their part to share this type of information in advance,” Nelson wrote, “to allow reliable predictions of potential debris impact risk, especially for heavy-lift vehicles, like the Long March 5B, which carry a significant risk of loss of life and property.”
He added: “Doing so is critical to the responsible use of space and to ensure the safety of people here on Earth”.
The Tiangong space station is one of the crown jewels of Beijing’s ambitious space program, which has landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon, and made China only the third nation to put humans in orbit.
The new module, propelled by the Long March 5B, successfully docked with Tiangong’s core module on Monday and the three astronauts who had been living in the main compartment since June successfully entered the new lab.
When China launched its first Tiangong module in April 2021, there was a similar frenzy around the possibility of damage caused by an unpredictable booster reentry.
Objects generate immense amounts of heat and friction when they enter the atmosphere, which can cause them to burn up and disintegrate. But larger ones such as the Long March-5B may not be destroyed entirely.
In 2020, debris from another Chinese rocket fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths. China has poured billions of dollars into space flight and exploration as it seeks to build a program that reflects its stature as a rising global power
Bakhmut: Four-year-old Tanya started in her mother’s arms, eyes wide open, as the boom of artillery fire echoed around the battered frontline Ukrainian town of Bakhmut.
Olena has been inventive so far to try to hide the truth of what is happening from her curly-haired daughter, but her creativity is running dry.
“Sometimes I just turn the volume on the TV louder… If I constantly tell the child that this is war I will disturb her mind. But I think she understands,” she told AFP.
“During recent shelling there was (a) blast of shrapnel. Later I was talking with my husband about going to get humanitarian aid and the child asked if there will be shrapnel there,” Olena added.
Bakhmut — one of the few remaining cities under Ukrainian control in the Donetsk region — is now at the centre of Russia’s brutal offensive in the east of the country.
Taking it would give Russia control of a strategic highway and supply route, opening the road towards regional hub Kramatorsk.
Olena’s family is one of the few to have stayed together with their children in Bakhmut, now only around six kilometres (four miles) from Russian positions.
The streets are now all but deserted, with daily life in what was once a small, leafy town shattered by tanks rolling down the street and the constant roar of artillery exchanges.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday urged all of the remaining 200,000 civilians still living in Ukrainian-controlled areas of the battleground region to get out as soon as they can.
“The more people who leave Donetsk region now, the fewer people the Russian army will kill,” he said.
Kyiv has announced a mandatory order to evacuate and say they aim to ferry people out ahead of the winter as gas pipes for heating have been cut due to the fighting.
But most of those refusing to leave Bakhmut share a common story: too poor, too sick, too old to start over in a new place.
“My husband’s mother is bedridden for five years already and we can’t leave her,” explained Olena.
Ekaterina and her three children, aged eight, six and two, waited for a bus at an evacuation point in Bakhmut.
Teary-eyed, they were saying farewell to their husband and father Artiom, who will remain in Bakhmut “because somebody has to”.
A bandage covered part of Ekaterina’s cheek, while her back was dotted with bruises and scratches, all from shrapnel.
“We expected everything to be alright and that’s why we waited for so long. But it’s not. I still see a future for my children here because one day the situation will be stable again,” Artiom said.
In the town centre, Olena, her husband and their daughter hop on the small red scooter they all share to move around, with small Tanya first in row.
“There is nothing more to capture here. When (the Russians) will come to take it everything will be destroyed,” she said.
“Who will rebuild it? How many years will be necessary for our children to rebuild everything?”
Rabat: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI used an address on Saturday to “once again” reiterate his openness to restoring ties with Algeria, which broke off diplomatic relations with Rabat last year.
“We aspire to work with the Algerian presidency so that Morocco and Algeria can work hand in hand to establish normal relations between two brotherly peoples,” Mohammed said during the traditional speech marking the anniversary of his accession to the throne.
“I stress once again that the borders that separate the Moroccan and Algerian brothers will never be barriers preventing their interaction and understanding.”
He urged Moroccans to “preserve the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and good neighbourliness towards our Algerian brothers”.
Morocco and Algeria have long been at odds over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where the Algiers-backed Polisario Front is seeking independence from Rabat’s rule.
Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021, accusing Rabat of “hostile acts”.
The decision was “completely unjustified,” Rabat said.
The disputed status of Western Sahara — a former Spanish colony considered a “non-autonomous territory” by the United Nations — has pitted Morocco against the Polisario Front since the 1970s.
Rabat, which controls nearly 80 percent of the territory, is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty.
The Polisario Front, however, wants a UN-sponsored referendum on self-determination.
Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory was backed by Washington in a 2020 deal that also saw Rabat normalise ties with Israel.
Algeria, which supports the Palestinian cause in addition to the Front, has taken the opportunity to criticise Morocco’s growing military cooperation with Israel, which it refers to as the “Zionist entity”.
Referring to “allegations that Moroccans insult Algeria and Algerians”, Mohammed said they were the work of “irresponsible individuals who are trying to sow discord”.
“This gossip about Moroccan-Algerian relations is totally senseless and frankly appalling,” he added.
The king also used Saturday’s speech to pledge reform of the family code in favour of women’s rights, social protections and price controls at a time of rising inflation.
He also pledged to redouble vaccination efforts to fight Covid-19. The reformist king, 58, has ruled Morocco since July 1999, when he succeeded his father, Hassan II.
Beirut: US envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut Sunday to push talks to resolve a bitter maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel over Mediterranean waters with offshore gas fields.
“Reaching a resolution is both necessary and possible, but can only be done through negotiations and diplomacy,” the US State Department said in a statement ahead of Hochstein’s visit.
Washington’s envoy for global infrastructure and investment is “facilitating negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on the maritime boundary”, the statement added.
Hochstein met with Lebanon’s Energy Minister Walid Fayad on Sunday, and was scheduled to meet with President Michel Aoun and prime minister Najib Mikati the following day.
The maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel escalated in early June, after Israel moved a production vessel to the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.
The move prompted Beirut to call for the resumption of US-mediated negotiations on the demarcation dispute.
Lebanon and Israel have no diplomatic relations and are separated by a UN-patrolled border.
They had resumed maritime border negotiations in 2020 but the process was stalled by Beirut’s claim that the map used by the United Nations in the talks needed modifying.
Lebanon initially demanded 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of territory in the disputed maritime area but then asked for an additional 1,430 square kilometres, including part of the Karish field.
Israel claims that the field lies in its waters and is not part of the disputed area subject to ongoing negotiations.
On July 2, Israel said it had downed three drones launched by Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah that were headed towards the gas field.
The powerful Shiite Muslim movement on Sunday released a short video it said showed surveillance of several Israeli-chartered energy infrastructure ships, including the production vessel sent to Karish which is operated by London-listed firm Energean.
Iran-backed Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah earlier this month warned that if Lebanon was prevented from extracting oil and gas from its waters, “nobody” would be able to do so, adding that Israeli offshore fields were “under threat” from the group’s missiles. Israel and Hezbollah last fought a devastating war in 2006
ISLAMABAD: According to a police public relations officer, the capital police of Islamabad have prepared complex security measures for Muharram-ul-Haram. He added that the security measures were addressed in a meeting presided over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Sohail Zafar Chatha, who stated that around 10,000 people will be doing security responsibilities. Senior Superintendents of Police (Operations), Senior Superintendents of Police (Investigation), all Zonal Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional police officers, and SHOs were among those present at the meeting.
Islamabad capital police have planned elaborate measures during Muharram-ul-Haram, a police public relations officer said. He said that about 10,000 personnel will perform security duties adding that the security arrangements were discussed in a meeting presided over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Sohail Zafar Chatha. The meeting was attended among others by Senior Superintendents of Police (Operations), SSP (Investigation) and all Zonal Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional police officers and SHOs.
All police officers were instructed by the DIG (Operations) to ensure thorough security plans and personally oversee all security measures. According to him, increased deployment should be made to ensure that the city’s traffic flows smoothly while specialised squads should be formed for stringent patrolling. Additionally, he gave orders to all police officers to keep in constant contact with the peace committees, procession organisers, and Majalis organisers during Muharram-ul-Haram. He gave the order to give special identification cards to police officers assigned to the Imambargahs and religious gatherings protection.
Mr. Sohail Zafar Chatha directed for strict security arrangements on gatherings and special checking of participants. Strict vigilance should be maintained through safe city cameras and entrance of all types of vehicles in the surroundings of Imambargahs to be prohibited. He asked to place barbed wires near venues of gatherings and jawans of police should be deployed at rooftops of buildings on the way of routes. He said that it should be ensured to make arrangements for checking of participants of Majalis and processions through metal detectors. Strict vigilance should be maintained to ensure that security measures are in place by the police, the DIG (Operations) maintained.
He gave the order to maintain close communication between all divisions of the Islamabad police and employees. According to the DIG (Operations), walk-through gates must be built at all points of entry and exit for Majalis and processions, and they must be guarded by a sizable number of police officers. He claimed that protecting the citizens’ lives and property was their main priority and that any carelessness in this area would be punished.
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has urged the Punjab government to drop all charges brought against party leaders during the Azadi March on May 25 toward Islamabad and to punish the officers responsible for torturing the protesters. Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Raja Basharat, and other members of the anti-victimization committee, which Imran Khan founded, attended a meeting today that was presided over by Shafqat Mahmood.
The meeting reviewed the cases formed with regard to incidents on May 25 and decided to collect data of policemen and officials who were posted on the day. It was decided to take action against cops who acted beyond their duty. It also asked the Punjab government to withdraw cases lodged to victimize party leaders besides also withdrawing orders to arrest the PTI leaders.
Shafqat Mahmood later stated in a television interview that PTI activists demand quick punishment taken against police officers who went above and beyond the call of duty. We have all of the documentation, and a meeting will be convened on Tuesday to continue reviewing the situation, the man added. He added that it was against the law for a government official to act illegally, and that anyone who pushed PTI activist Faisal off a bridge had clearly broken the law and would be held accountable.
KARACHI: The name of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan should be added on the Exit Control List, according to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon (ECL). On Friday, he addressed the media. Memon was responding to a Financial Time article that was published on Friday and alleged that Arif Naqvi of the Abraaj Group had organised a charity match through which Imran Khan’s PTI had received millions of dollars from businesses and foreigners.
He claimed that following the Financial Times article, the federal government could detain Imran Khan if it so desired. To prevent Imran from leaving the nation, the minister promised to ask the federal government to add his name to the Exit Control List (ECL). Memon said that the report proves that Imran Khan is the biggest dacoit, adding that names of PTI chief’s disciples should also be put on the ECL.
The minister challenged PTI chief to take Financial Times to the court if he has any courage. These funds were used for running Imran Khan’s kitchen, PTI’s election campaigns, buying properties for Imran and his family members, as well as running paid campaigns on social media, said Sharjeel Memon. Memon also demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan should announce the verdict reserved in the prohibited funding case.
LAHORE: Governor of Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman officially opened the Akhuwat College University Kasur reading room today. Dr. Amjad Saqib, the executive director of Akhuwat, Dr. Sohail Chaghtai, and members of the board of directors of Akhuwat were also present on this occasion. Governor Punjab spoke to the students while touring various Akhuwat University College Kasur buildings.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman stated that the Akuwat model is a fantastic example of social activity during his speech on this occasion. According to him, it is laudable to establish a school where disadvantaged students are not only exempt from paying tuition but also receive free housing. He claimed that this university has students from every province in the nation, which is a positive development. He asserted that in today’s contemporary education, digital literacy is crucial. He claimed that books are now accessible on computers in digital form thanks to technology.
On this occasion, the Governor of Punjab was pleased to see the online books available in the library. He further said that the society in which people cooperate with each other in the welfare work always flourishes.
Addressing the students, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said that the purpose of education is to develop high moral values in your character. While addressing the students, he said that you should distinguish between right and wrong in life. Governor Punjab said that the path of truth and righteousness is difficult but there is eternal truth in it.
LAHORE: Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and former governor of Punjab Umer Sarfaraz Cheema attended the joint provincial parliamentary party meeting of the PTI and PMLQ today, which was presided over by Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. MPAs from PTI and PMLQ participated in the meeting actively and enthusiastically. In the Provincial Parliamentary party meeting, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi received praise for serving as Punjab’s chief minister. The attendees of the Parliamentary Party conference promised to work to elect Muhammad Sabtain Khan as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.
A plan was also developed to ensure Muhammad Sabtain Khan’s victory in his bid to become Speaker of the Punjab Assembly. During the discussion, a final plan was developed to ensure the success of the no-confidence move against the Deputy Speaker. The CM thanked Allah Almighty during his speech and predicted that Sabtain Khan would win the election for Speaker of the Punjab Assembly despite facing many obstacles. According to CM, Allah the Almighty appreciates humility and has previously and will continue to reward victory. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a former foreign minister, praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Dost Mazari’s illegal ruling and called it historic.
False allegations are being made that Governor Raj will be imposed on the province, and Sabtain Khan’s victory will be sealed by the election of the Punjab Assembly Speaker, according to Shah Mahmood. Sabtain Khan stated that the upcoming election is not for Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, but rather is a struggle between PTI and PDM, and he promised to run in the election to win. The requirements and operating procedures of the election were explained by Raja Basharat to the members of the legislative party. Later, a banquet in appreciation of the Assembly Members was thrown by Muhammad Sabtain Khan.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the federal minister of foreign affairs, emphasised the significance of energy and road connectivity for regional prosperity between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Bilawal emphasised the significance of the CASA-1000 power transmission project’s completion in this context during a bilateral meeting with the Tajik foreign minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting.
The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering regional connectivity, growing bilateral trade, and fostering people-to-people ties.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Bilawal emphasised the importance of reviving bilateral economic ties by increasing trade and investment through collaboration in numerous fields and regular business delegation exchanges.
The two countries’ close cooperation at multilateral fora, such as the SCO, was also praised by the foreign minister, who also discussed the Afghan situation.
He emphasised the need for immediate international humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people while also highlighting Pakistan’s efforts to promote humanitarian efforts, long-lasting peace, and stability in Afghanistan. The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for an Afghanistan that is peaceful, united, stable, and prosperous.
Both parties agreed to keep in touch going forward.
RAWALPINDI: Sheikh Rasheed, a former interior minister, declared on Friday that there has been a “agreement” and that the general elections will be held in October.
The AML leader stated in a series of tweets that general elections would be held in place of by-elections, and the nation would be informed about the constitutions of a new election commission and a caretaker government.
Since the PTI’s victory in Punjab, where it defeated the PML-N in by-elections and also installed its chief minister, there have been rumours that the federal government may fall. However, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has dispelled any rumours by announcing that elections will be held on schedule.
The AML director made fun of PPP Co-Chair Asif Ali Zardari, who is quarantined after contracting COVID-19, by claiming that those in isolation have also consented to hold elections.
He implied that the coalition partners have agreed to hold snap elections and that the only member of the alliance’s leadership who is opposed is “[JUI-F chief] Fazlur Rehman.”
Rasheed criticised the ruling parties, saying they had lost all political legitimacy and couldn’t run away, go to the people, or bring their people back to the nation — a dig at PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.
“People will now make the decision. The assembly and democracy have been made fun of by them [the government]. Pakistan is now experiencing the crisis instead of Sri Lanka “Added he.
The PDM leaders decided to finish their term at their meeting on Thursday in Islamabad and rejected the PTI’s demand to dissolve the legislature and hold early elections.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Punjab chief minister’s election case, the PDM leaders discussed the nation’s current political climate.
They adopted a resolution declaring that the SC’s interpretation in its most recent decision has caused unrest, confusion, chaos, and political crisis in the nation, which has led to an economic crisis.
The coalition government’s term would end, and the general elections would take place on schedule, according to the PDM meeting.
The resolution stated that “the wrongdoings of the Imran Khan government cannot be undone in a year; consequently, elections will be held on schedule and the messes left behind by the prior administration will be cleaned up in the next five years.”
Sources claim that as the political crisis worsens, the establishment is thinking about making a “soft intervention”. The current state of affairs has increased the likelihood that the upcoming general elections will occur soon; sources place the date in October.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a senior member of the PTI, claimed that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s approval of the resignations of 11 PTI members of the National Assembly had no legal significance because the deputy speaker had already accepted the resignations when they were tendered.
Following the April no-confidence vote that led to Imran Khan’s government being overthrown, the PTI lawmakers collectively tendered their resignations. Later, the resignations were accepted and a notification was made in this regard by the then-deputy speaker Qasim Suri.
The announcement was made in response to a notification that the PTI MNAs’ resignations had been accepted.
As the nation gets closer to new general elections, Fawad claimed on Twitter that it is a misconception that the federal government will be able to hold by-elections on the vacant seats.
He continued by saying that the federal government was powerless to halt the general elections.
With all of its might, PML-N will run candidates in by-elections for vacant seats: Sanaullah Rana The vacated seats, according to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, are essentially PTI’s, but if by-elections are held in the corresponding constituencies, PML-N will take part in them with all of its might.
Sanaullah claimed that only MNAs whose resignations had been acknowledged in some way had their resignations been accepted.
Sanaullah stated that there is a danger that the general elections will be contentious unless all parties, including the ECP, consult, hold elections in all of the provincial assemblies simultaneously, and settle the constituency issues.
The interior minister stated in response to a query regarding Imran Khan that “this fitna must be suppressed.”
There is no question, according to him, that the PTI chairman has misled the country.
“Imran is attempting to split the country and deceive the youth. If the country doesn’t identify him, he’ll bring the country bad luck “said Sanaullah.
NA Speaker accepts 11 PTI members’ resignations Raja Pervez Ashraf, speaker of the National Assembly, accepted 11 PTI members’ resignations on Thursday in accordance with Article 64(1) of the Pakistani Constitution.
A notification has also been made in this regard, according to a NA spokesperson. The National Assembly’s official Twitter account posted the announcement.
The NA speaker has reportedly accepted the resignations of the following PTI members:
Ali Muhammad Khan, NA-11; Fazal Muhammad Khan, NA-24; Charsadda, II; Fakhar Zaman Khan, NA-45; Farrukh Habib, NA-108; Ijaz Ahmad Shah, NA-118; Nankana Sahib, II; Jamil Ahmed Khan, NA-237; Muhammad Akram Cheema, NA-239; Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, NA-256; Reserved Seat for Women; Mardan, III; Abdul (Punjab) Shandana Gulzar Khan — Women’s Reserved Seat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
The PTI acknowledged receiving money from the Cayman Islands-incorporated Wootton Cricket Ltd of Pakistani businessman Arif Naqvi on Friday after a foreign publication claimed that the donations were from abroad.
Farrukh Habib, the PTI Central Deputy Secretary Information, stated at a press conference that “all the records [related to those transactions] are available,” following a Financial Times report that claimed Naqvi “transferred three instalments directly to the PTI in 2013 adding up to a total of $2.12m,” which were of foreign origin.
The PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, received £20 million from the businessman in “bribes,” according to the PTI leader, who also claimed that there was no case brought against Naqvi or his Abraaj Group in 2012.
He commanded, “They ought to respond to these allegations as well. Naqvi also hosted a dinner for Nawaz.”
Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of PTI, filed a lawsuit alleging foreign funding of the party in 2014. Later in 2022, a scrutiny committee for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) discovered that the PTI had concealed funds worth millions of rupees from the ECP. The PTI, however, denies these accusations.
In his press conference today, Habib claimed that the party occasionally faces a “media trial” because of foreign funding.
Foreign funds are typically used to work against an incumbent government; this is not the case, he claimed. “The case against PTI is not related to foreign funding, rather it is of prohibited funding,” he said.
Habib claimed that his party established Pakistan’s funding infrastructure. He continued by saying that Pakistanis living abroad give the PTI money and send $32 billion back to their home nation every year.
He demanded that the ECP act responsibly and reaffirmed his demand that the judgments in the foreign funding cases involving PTI, PPP, and PML-N be handed down on the same day.
The PML-N and PPP, according to the PTI leader, concealed 112 accounts from the election commission and Rs3.6 million in records from the ECP, respectively.
Prior to Habib, Fawad Chaudhry, senior vice president of the PTI, defended Naqvi, who is charged with corruption in the US.
The senior vice president of the PTI urged local media not to portray “our people as villains,” as the “Israeli lobby” does not appreciate Pakistani Muslims whose influence exceeds a certain threshold.
“The Abraaj Group of Arif Naqvi grew to a $14 billion business. The Israeli lobby does not appreciate any Muslim, particularly a Pakistani Muslim, when their influence exceeds a certain threshold “.
“Why should we join a propaganda effort when we know Israel is funding it?”
Fawad stated in a separate statement that the PTI requests that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announce the decision in the funding case for the PTI, PML-N, and PPP at the same time.
\ “More than 40,000 donors’ details have been provided by the PTI to the ECP. Similar to how they support Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis also back PTI “said he.
Abbasi criticises Khan and demands transactional information. Senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was speaking to the media outside the ECP office in Islamabad when he said that the government has asked the election commission to disclose the specifics of the funding that Khan’s party received so that people can see it for themselves.
“Yesterday, Arif Naqvi played a match in London, according to a reputable publication like the Financial Times. The participants were informed by Arif Naqvi that their entry fees would be donated to a good cause.”
The FT reported that the guests — who participated in Naqvi’s “Wootton T20 Cup” — were asked to pay between £2,000 and £2,500
The previous prime minister claimed Naqvi gave Rs. 55 million to PTI’s bank accounts. “However, PTI offered no evidence of those transactions.”
He also claimed that Khan’s party had received funding from American businesses with roots in Texas and California. “Khan should provide details [of transactions] going back to day one if his hands are clean.”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari’s ruling on the election of Punjab chief minister, paving the way for PTI’s Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to ascend to the throne in the country’s political heartland.
In the conclusion to a hearing that has gripped the country for the past four days, a three-member bench, comprising of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, declared PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz’s election null and void. By virtue of the order, Shehbaz lost his status of the “trustee” chief minister. All the advisers and assistants appointed by Shehbaz were also ordered to be relieved of their duties.
Now, celebrities are expressing their joy over the much-awaited declaration. While some joined in the meme-fest to take a jibe at Shehbaz, others put up congratulatory messages for Elahi and Pakistanis who had been rallying behind him and the ousted PM Imran Khan.
Actor Osman Khalid Butt shared snippets of the song Elahi from Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani to partake in the celebration.
Chupke Chupke actor and comedian Arsalan Naseer had a suggestion for Shehbaz. “Hamza bhai, tension ki koi baat nae hai. Office ko andar se kundi lagaden. (No need to fret, brother. Just lock the office doors from the inside). In another rather hilarious tweet he asked, “Hamza Shehbaz bro, since you don’t need the sherwani anymore, can I have it? Might need it to a valima function.” Teefa in Trouble star Maya Ali declared in an Insta Story that the “wait was worth it.” She added, “This is a great decision for Pakistan. [I] couldn’t be [happier].”
ISLAMABAD: The next 24 hours are likely to bring further rain, wind, and thundershowers to Sindh, Balochistan, upper and central Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In Kashmir, higher Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and north-eastern Baluchistan, isolated heavy falls are expected.
Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning: Islamabad and Muzaffarabad twenty-four degree centigrade, Lahore and Karachi twenty-seven, Peshawar twenty-nine, Quetta twenty-one, Gilgit twenty-three, and Murree seventeen degree centigrade.
According to Met Office forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, cloudy weather with chances of rain with wind and thundershower is expected in Srinagar, Pulwama and Shopian and partly cloudy with chances of rain with wind and thundershower in Jammu, Anantnag and Baramulla while partly cloudy in Leh.
Temperature recorded this morning: Srinagar, Pulwama and Baramulla nineteen degree centigrade, Jammu twenty, Leh twelve and Anantnag and Shopian eighteen degree centigrade.
KARACHI: Haleem Adil Sheikh, the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly and a member of the PTI, was detained by a team from the anti-corruption establishment (ACE) in Jamshoro. Details indicate that Haleem Adil Sheikh went to a Jamshoro anti-corruption court to appear before it, but the ACE squad detained him outside the building.
An associate of the PTI leader who was with him during his detention claimed that he had gone to the court to submit his reply on the case. He claimed, “We went to join the investigation, but they arrested him in another case recorded against him. He continued by saying that Haleem Adil is currently being held at a police station and that the police have shown them a letter from East Karachi’s anti-corruption organisation, on the basis of which the arrest was made. Sheikh had already been detained, and most recently, on July 6, he was taken into custody in the early hours while in Lahore.
According to Raja Azhar, persons in civilian clothes from a nearby hotel in Lahore were responsible for Haleem Adil Sheikh’s arrest while the Dolphin police team was present. He claimed, “We kept asking them where they were taking him, but they wouldn’t answer. He revealed that the opposition leader’s home in Karachi had been searched by the police three days earlier. He claimed that the PPP was upset with the opposition leader and sought to have him arrested on fabricated accusations. However, he was ultimately freed after the Lahore High Court mandated that he be promptly released from police custody.
LAHORE: Sibtain Khan, an MPA and the opposition leader in the Punjab Legislature, has been chosen by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to succeed Parvez Elahi as speaker of the assembly. The decision was made, according Pakistani sources, by PTI Chairman Imran Khan and was also communicated to freshly elected CM of Punjab Parvez Elahi, who remained the assembly’s final speaker. They claimed that during their meeting at Bani Gala today, the two discussed several names and settled on Sibtain Khan.
Additionally, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to file a no-trust motion against Dost Muhammad Mazari, the deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly. According to sources, Wasiq Qayyum and Malik Taimur are candidates for the job of deputy speaker of the PA. It was also claimed that a number of candidates, including Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Aslam Iqbal, Zain Qureshi, and Usman Buzdar, were being considered for the role of Punjab Assembly speaker.
It should be remembered that a three-member Supreme Court bench today ruled that Pervez Elahi will replace Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari as the new chief minister of the province and deemed Mazari’s decision in the Punjab Chief Minister election to be “illegal.” After the governor of Punjab declined to swear him in, he later accepted the oath of office from President Arif Alvi.
PESHAWAR: The KP Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Faisal Amin Gandapur has said that Supreme Court has saved the mandate of the people of Punjab from usurpation after the historic verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan on voting in the Punjab Assembly and proved to the nation that there’ll be supremacy of justice in Pakistan. He was talking to PTI workers, elite from different walks of life, Insaf Lawyers Forum and like-minded lawyers who came to congratulate him at his Hujra in Dera Ismail Khan.
The provincial minister said that Imran Khan deserved to be all congratulated for awakening the political consciousness of the people and creating an atmosphere of freedom from slavery of alien agents. He said that N-League always came to power through backdoors and then sacrificed public interest for personal gains. “In the name of inflation, it formed the government of corrupt group of 14 parties and replaced Imran Khan’s welfare government with a criminal’s regime but in three months it sank the economy and instead gave waiver to their corruption cases worth billions of rupees.
The Minister said that this imported government of political criminals tried to repeat the same process in the Punjab Assembly and if the Supreme Court did not stop them from bleeding public mandate and aspirations, it would then had to face public anger. Faisal Amin Gandapur said that these political robbers, who stole the mandate of the people by dint of conspiracies and money, could not stand long before the tsunami of the people and will soon be forced to hold general elections. He said that Imran Khan has created the awareness of freedom from these political robbers and foreign slaves in the nation, so the people will soon get rid of them, he concluded.
