pakistan

Mystery deepens over status of ‘blighted’ Pakistan-owned building in US

Published

1 year ago

May 8, 2023

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Confusion continues to prevail over the status of Pakistan embassy-owned building in a high-end area of Washington DC as an official notice declaring it blighted disappeared days after it was pasted on it.

The notice issued by the government of the District of Columbia last week downgraded the classification of the now crumbling property located at 2201 R Street and 2315 Massachusetts Avenue. It fell vacant in 2003 when the Pakistan embassy relocated to its present site in the US capital.

The notice, which was reportedly pasted on the building’s door on Friday, stated that the officials inspected the property and “deemed it to be blighted”.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials at the embassy say they are unaware of any such notice. The building has received offers after the federal cabinet gave a go-ahead for its sale in November last.

In December last, an American investor of Pakistan descent, Shahal Khan, had offered the bid of $6.8 million for the property.

Mr Khan runs Burkhan World Investments in the US capital. The firm introduced itself on its official website as investors of the projects “that it believes will have a positive impact on our society”.

Reports had said the second highest bid was made by a Jewish group which aims at establishing a synagogue at this site while the third highest bidder was another American investment firm.

In November 2022, Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb revealed that the federal cabinet had given a go-ahead for selling two buildings owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Washington in a transparent way. The buildings, located at 2201 R Street and 2315 Massachusetts Avenue, fell vacant in 2003 when the Pakistan embassy relocated to its present site in the US capital.

Ms Aurangzaib said the government had to pay $819,000 in tax to the US authorities after their diplomatic status was revoked. “If the property is not sold, we have to pay $1.3 million in tax,” the information minister told media.
In 2010, the then prime minister had given a go-ahead for renovation of the buildings but it could not be done despite a lapse of more than one decade.

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pakistan

Court reserves verdict on PTI founder’s bail plea in May 9 case

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Court reserves verdict on PTI founder's bail plea in May 9 case

The Islamabad district and sessions court has reserved verdict on the bail plea of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in the May 9 case.

Judicial Magistrate Omar Shabbir heard the case against the PTI leader registered in Shahzad Town police station.

Naeem Haider Panjhota, Sardar Masroof and Amina Ali appeared before the judge as counsel for the PTI leader.

The lawyers said the case against the PTI founder had not been pursued by an authorised officer. All cases against him had been instituted on the basis of politics and should, therefore, be quashed, they demanded.

The court after listening to the arguments reserved the verdict.

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pakistan

Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Rawalpindi court bins plea for initiating case against former commissioner Liaquat Chattha

The Rawalpindi Sessions Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a case against former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan issued a two-page written order on the petition.

In its order, the court observed that apart from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a departmental inquiry was also being conducted against the former commissioner.

If the allegations were proven in the ECP and departmental inquiries, a legal action was certain, the order stated, adding that in this situation, there was no justification for registering a separate case against the former Rawalpindi commissioner.

Two lawyers from Rawalpindi had filed the petition seeking the registration of a case against former commissioner.

In a Feb 18 presser, the former commissioner admitted that elections in his division were “rigged”.

The commissioner accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja of being complicit in the rigging and asserted that he, along with the CEC and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, deserved punishment, even the death penalty, for their injustice.

Chattha expressed remorse for forcing his subordinates to engage in wrongdoing and admitted that winning candidates were made to lose on 13 seats in the Rawalpindi division.

Later on Feb 23, Chattha retracted his earlier statement in a written statement submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

In the statement, Chattha confessed to having supported the narrative of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about rigging in the general elections and maligning state institutions in exchange for a lucrative position in the future.

He stated he had been made this offer by a Lahore-based PTI leader with whom he had developed a close friendship.

Chattha alleged that “this entire planning had been formulated after consultation and approval of the senior leadership of PTI”.

He stated that this proposal was made by the said [PTI] individual in consideration of the fact that he was about to retire from service after having remained a part of the services for 32 years and enjoyed all the perks and privileges.

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pakistan

IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Published

19 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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IHC orders Zartaj Gul to appear before court with record in ECL name removal case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought the record from Zartaj Gul’s counsel on a petition seeking the name removal of PTI leader and MNA Zartaj Gul from the Exit Control List (ECL).

IHC’s Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the case on Zartaj Gul’s name removal from ECL.

During the hearing, the state counsel stated that Zartaj Gul’s name has been included in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Upon inquiry from the court, the state counsel informed that Zartaj Gul’s name was included in PNIL on the order of Islamabad and Punjab police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was responsible for including the name in PNIL.

Also read: PTI’s Shibli Faraz, Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul secure bail in May 9 cases

State counsel added that five cases were registered against Zartaj Gul in Islamabad and Punjab.

The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usama, disclosed that Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in those cases. He reiterated that the name was being included in the PNIL list despite being on bail.

During the hearing, Justice Tariq Jahangiri inquired about how many cases Zartaj Gul has been granted bail in and ordered the petitioner to appear before the court in the next hearing.

Consequently, IHC has adjourned the case hearing until next week by directing Zartaj Gul’s counsel to appear before the court in the next hearing with records.

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