pakistan

LHC judge gives law officer a piece of his mind over police failure to produce Fawad

Published

10 months ago

January 25, 2023

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LHC judge gives law officer a piece of his mind over police failure to produce Fawad

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday expressed concern over police failure to produce senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in court on a plea challenging his overnight arrest by the Islamabad police.

A petition was filed in the high court, challenging Fawad Chaudhry s arrest for “threatening” the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) members and their families. The petition was subsequently taken up by LHC’s Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh. During the hearing, the court instructed police to present Fawad in court by 1:30pm.

The PTI stalwart was taken into custody in the wee hours of Wednesday after he was booked under sections 153A, 506 and 124 A of the Pakistan Penal Code on a complaint lodged by Election Commission of Pakistan Secretary Umer Hameed.

The judge had earlier asked police to present Mr Chaudhry in court at half past one but police refused to comply without a written order. As the court took up the case, Justice Sheikh asked the law officer about the whereabouts of the PTI leader. As the additional advocate general told the court that police had already taken the petitioner to Islamabad, the judge expressed his annoyance and remarked that “the court knows how to have its orders implemented”.

The judge gave police time till 3pm to produce Fawad Chaudhry failing which, he said, he would take an action.

In a short media talk earlier, the PTI leader said security had been placed in a way as a “terrorist” was being brought to court, adding that he was unaware of the charges levelled against him. He also urged people to take to the street against the government. He said former South Africa president Nelson Mandela had also been booked in a sedition case.

The sudden arrest of Mr Chaudhry has angered the PTI leaders including Hammad Azhar and Farrukh Habib who warned of launching countrywide protests and moving court against it.

The FIR

The PTI leader, according to the First Information Report (FIR), has been booked under sections 153A, 506 and 124 A of the PPC for allegedly threatening the ECP and its members in a televised interview on Tuesday. The FIR carries the excerpt of the former MNA’s statement wherein he alleged that the election commission had become a “Munshi” as the election commissioner signed things like a clerk after they were sent to him by the government.

Mr Chaudhry said those who would be involved in injustice to the PTI would be pursued until they were punished. He said people should pursue the elements who were deceiving public, to their houses. Expressing reservations about the appointments of some officials in the ECP Punjab ahead of elections, he said if these appointments were not rolled back, “we warn that the election commission and its members will have to pay back”.

The complainant said Fawad Chaudhry had threatened the chief election commissioner, members of the ECP and their families in his speech which he described as an attempt to create hurdles in the electoral process.

“The speech has created a permanent threat for the ECP members and their families,” he said, adding that the PTI leader had attempted to create differences between the government and the ECP. “It is a serious crime to influence the electoral process by issuing threats to the constitutional institutions,” he said, adding that such statements could lead to chaos in the country.

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pakistan

Zardari promises PPP will empower people of Balochistan

Published

18 hours ago

November 30, 2023

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Zardari promises PPP will empower people of Balochistan

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari stated Thursday his party would empower the people of Balochistan as the true owners of their land.

Addressing a PPP Foundation Day ceremony in Quetta, the former president emphasised that his party possessed effective solutions for the issues facing the country.Zardari invited the Pakistani nation, especially the youth, to join him, Bilawal and Aseefa Bhutto, in a united effort to build and elevate Pakistan, positioning it prominently on the world stage.He expressed confidence that the world would recognise Pakistan as a great country.Zardari referred to Balochistan as the heart of Pakistan, expressing regret that Islamabad and other provinces failed to recognise this fact.He pledged that the PPP would empower the people of Balochistan as the true owners of their land.

Emphasising that his party possessed effective solutions for the country’s issues, the former president asserted that Pakistan could only become an exporting nation when Balochistan received adequate water.

Zardari affirmed that the PPP was committed to providing water to Balochistan, citing their formulated plans for achieving this.

Zardari also commended Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, highlighting his achievement as the youngest foreign minister to proudly raise the Pakistani flag.

He urged support for Bilawal Bhutto’s leadership, emphasising the need to cultivate him as a leader for the youth and the nation’s future.

Zardari also reiterated the PPP’s historical commitment to serving the farmers and labourers of Balochistan.

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pakistan

Admiral Ashraf confident in navy’s operational preparedness to meet maritime challenges

Published

18 hours ago

November 30, 2023

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Admiral Ashraf confident in navy's operational preparedness to meet maritime challenges

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf has emphasised maintaining perpetual combat readiness to effectively thwart any aggression against Pakistan.

According to a press release issued here, Admiral Naveed Ashraf was chairing the Command and Staff Conference of the Pakistan Navy which concluded in Islamabad on Thursday.

The naval chief lauded the initiatives undertaken towards capability development through acquisition of state-of-the-art platforms and emerging technologies.

He expressed confidence in the Pakistan Navy’s high state of operational preparedness to meet maritime challenges and safeguard maritime frontiers of the country.

The conference discussed matters related to national security, geo strategic affairs, combat readiness and training of troops. It also assessed the evolving maritime situation in the region due to the ongoing conflict in Middle East.

Under the prevailing maritime situation in the Middle East, the deployment of a Pakistan Navy ship for the protection of Pakistan’s merchant ships was also discussed.

Progress on Pakistan Navy’s projects, including future plans, was also reviewed and a way forward was deliberated.

The Command and Staff Conference is the apex decision making body of the Pakistan Navy in which the navy chief along with all principal staff officers and field commanders review the policies and plans of the Pakistan Navy.

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pakistan

President for enhanced partnership with WHO to overcome health challenges

Published

18 hours ago

November 30, 2023

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President for enhanced partnership with WHO to overcome health challenges

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday called for further enhancing the partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities in Pakistan to effectively overcome various health challenges being faced by the country.

The president, while talking to the outgoing WHO Country Director Dr Palitha Mahipala, who called on him, appreciated the role of the WHO in strengthening Pakistan’s primary healthcare system, besides providing support to various government initiatives.

During the meeting, Dr Mahipala highlighted the role of the WHO in improving Pakistan’s healthcare system and supporting efforts to revitalise healthcare facilities in the country, especially during last year’s floods.

He said the WHO would continue to support Pakistan for improving the health of its people.

President Alvi emphasised the need for creating awareness about the importance of mental health and early counselling at the household level.

He remarked that the availability of a mental health toolkit to deal with mental stress in the families needed to be ensured.

He maintained that establishing mental health support systems and enhancing people’s accessibility to quality mental health services in the country required the input of multiple stakeholders.

The president expressed satisfaction over the fact that Pakistan’s society had witnessed a positive change in its attitude towards the rights of persons with disabilities, adding that concerted efforts were needed to ensure their rights.

Dr Mahipala lauded the commendable role played by President Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi in raising awareness about various health issues, including breast cancer, mental health and the rights of persons with disabilities.

The president appreciated the role and commitment of Dr Mahipala for strengthening the health sector of Pakistan and wished him success for his future endeavours.

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