Caretaker govt decides to keep petroleum prices unchanged

Caretaker government on Tuesday decided to keep prices of petroleum products unchanged for the month on August.

A notification issued by the ministry of finance stated that the caretaker government does not support the recommendation of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the matter to increase prices of petroleum products will be decided by new government.

OGRA had forwarded a summary to the Finance Ministry recommending hike in prices of petrol and high speed diesel by Rs 2.45 and Rs 2.70 per litre respectively for approval. The price of price of kerosene oil had been recommended to be increased by Rs 3.25 per litre and price of light diesel by Rs 3.40 per litre.

SC directs to conduct election in NA-60 constituency

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday has directed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct polls in NA-60 constituency (Rawalpindi-IV).

Following the decision, Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rashid withdrew his petition against the delay in elections in the constituency.

Speaking to media, the AML leader said that the nation wants change which can only be delivered by Imran Khan.

“Khan’s victory is the win of the nation. Rashid Shafiq will contest election from our side in NA-60. One of my contenders was disqualified while the other withdrew in my support,” told Rashid.

On July 22, the ECP postponed polling in the NA-60 constituency due to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hanif Abbasi’s disqualification by the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Court of Rawalpindi a day earlier.

Rashid challenged the polls deferral in Lahore High Court and Supreme Court however; both his petitions were rejected, on the basis that it is practically impossible to hold elections in NA-60 on July 25.

According to the ECP, it would take a lot of time to print new ballot papers for the 700,000 voters residing in the constituency.

The chief justice had also advised Rashid to wait and contest a ‘fair’ election instead of winning on a walkover, "not for himself but for the sake of voters".

Schools re-open in Sindh, Balochistan and KP today

Schools across Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be re-opening from today.

In Sindh, schools re-opened after being off for nearly two and a half months. In June, the Sindh education department had recommended an extension in the summer break of schools, colleges and universities till July 27 in view of the forthcoming elections.

However, last month the caretaker Sindh government approved of a recommendation seeking an extension in the summer break till July 31.

In Balochistan, schools also re-opened after summer vacations. According to the Balochistan education department, the 17 districts that will have schools opening from today include Sibbi, Lasbela, Gawadar, Turbat, Jaffarabad, Naseerabad along with Jhal Magsi.

Schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also be reopening from today.

Turkey's Erdogan calls Imran Khan, offers 'hearty congratulations'

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday telephoned Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to congratulate him on his party's successful performance in the recently-held general elections, the PTI media cell said.

During the telephonic exchange, the two leaders exchanged the hope for the beginning of a positive chapter in the bilateral relations.

According to the PTI statement, Erdogan extended his "good wishes for Imran Khan and his future government", at which the PTI chief thanked the Turkish president.

Earlier on Monday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had telephoned Imran Khan, congratulating him over his party's victory in the general elections and conveying best wishes for Pakistan.

"We are ready to enter a new era of relations with Pakistan," Modi was quoted as saying by the PTI press release.

According to the statement, Modi said both the countries should adopt a joint strategy for progress in bilateral ties.

Moreover, a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs from New Delhi said Modi had spoken to Imran Khan and "congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections."

"Prime Minister [Modi] expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan," the statement quoted Modi as saying.

Modi also reiterated his "vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood" during his conversation with Imran Khan.

According to the PTI statement, the party chief thanked the Indian prime minister for his good wishes. "The solution to conflicts should be found through dialogue," he was quoted as telling Modi.

"Instead of answers to conflicts, wars and bloodbath give birth to tragedies," the PTI chief said, according to the press release.

Study reveals that spiders have a favourite colour

Spiders pay far more attention to colour than previously thought, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati.

Scientists investigated how wolf spiders reacted to videos of courting spiders when the background colour, contrast and intensity was manipulated.

They found that female spiders responded to videos of males which contrasted sharply from their background, and more strongly to the coloured versions.

In the wild, male spiders called "eavesdroppers" are known to lurk in the background and learn to mimic other male spiders' courting displays.

Biologist Professor George Uetz said: "The assumption was wolf spiders don't pay attention to colour. But we found that isn't really true."

Wolf spiders have become a popular avenue of study because of the work at Professor Uetz's laboratory into how their eight eyes function so differently to human eyes.

"We need to look more closely at the neurobiology of their eyes. We need to understand what their retinas do," said Professor Uetz.

Humans have trichromatic vision - meaning the light-detecting cone cells in their retinas can see in red, green, and blue.

Wolf spiders have dichromatic vision, however, seeing only in green and ultraviolet - and it seems that green is their favourite colour.

Professor Uetz said: "The assumption was wolf spiders don't pay attention to colour. But we found that isn't really true."

Wolf spiders are becoming a popular avenue of study because of the work at Professor Uetz' laboratory into how their eight eyes function so differently to human eyes.

"We need to look more closely at the neurobiology of their eyes. We need to understand what their retinas do," said Professor Uetz.

Having dichromatic vision "means they're basically colourblind. But they're sensitive to light in the green wavelength," Professor Uetz said.

"What we found is that for female spiders, intensity matters more than colour. But for male eavesdroppers, colour matters, too. That is the odd finding. We didn't expect that at all.

"That makes a lot of sense because when you go out in the early season when the spiders first come out, there are no leaves on the trees so there is broad spectrum light.

PTI confident of forming govt in Punjab

Political lobbying continues to form the governments in Punjab and the centre. The leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been busy holding meetings with the allied parties and independents in a bid to acquire the necessary numbers to form provincial and federal governments.

In Punjab, PTI leader Jahangir Tareen claimed that his party has the support of 18 independents, adding that four out of 30 independents had won on more than one provincial assembly seat. With the independents, its own MPA elects and seven from the PML-Q, the PTI’s total tally stands at 148 members.

However, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah, whose party gained 129 seats in the provincial assembly, says they have enough MPAs, including independents, to form a government and are not revealing their identities on purpose.

The PTI leadership has reportedly decided to bring Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader and former provincial chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

Sources said on Tuesday that the PTI leadership agreed to the suggestion as it wants to bring a strong candidate at the position since it leads against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with a slight margin in the provincial assembly.

According to sources, however, if the PML-Q leader agrees, he will have to give up his two National Assembly seats which will bring down the PTI's total count and dent its efforts to form a government in the centre

PML-Q stands with PTI

On Monday, a delegation of PML-Q met PTI chief Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence in the federal capital.

In the meeting, PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jahangir Tareen, Asad Umar, Naeem-ul-Haq and others were also present.

The PTI said that seven PML-Q members and one independent expressed support to the party in Punjab. According to a PTI press statement, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain ensured complete support to Imran.

The PML-Q has also rendered support to the PTI in the National Assembly.

Tallal Chaudry criticises PTI's decision

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tallal Chaudry critcised on Tuesday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) reported decision to bring PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi as its candidate for the slot of Punjab Assembly speaker.

He was addressing the media in Islamabad.

With regards to the PML-N’s claims of electoral rigging in the July 25 General Election, Chaudry said he only seeks CCTV footage of the office of the returning officer in his Faisalabad constituency of NA-102, which he lost to the PTI candidate.

Nawaz shifted back to Adiala Jail from PIMS

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been shifted from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences to Adiala Jail.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo is currently serving his prison sentence after being convicted in a corruption case by the accountability court.

Nawaz is being shifted as per his own wish, sources said. Strict security was deployed to shift him.

Earlier in the day, the doctors at PIMS had said that Nawaz Sharif’s health is improving.

Last night, Nawaz’s sugar, blood pressure and ECG (electrocardiogram) were not normal after which all the tests were conducted again today, the doctors had said.

PIMS Head of Cardiology Dr Naeem Malik along with his three-member team had conducted Nawaz’s check-up today.

Nawaz was shifted from Adiala Jail to PIMS’ cardiac ward on the orders of the caretaker government on Sunday.

The former premier was admitted to PIMS' coronary care unit on doctors' advice, who examined him after he complained of chest pain. A notification issued later declared the medical facility's cardiac ward as a 'sub-jail'.

Nawaz was arrested upon his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport from London on July 13, wherefrom he was flown to Islamabad via a helicopter, and shifted to the prison. He is currently serving the sentence awarded to him in the Avenfield Properties case, alongside his daughter, Maryam, and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar.

'Maryam convinced Nawaz to be shifted to hospital'

A medical team which examined Nawaz on Sunday before he was shifted to the hospital, said that the former premier was adamant to stay in jail.

“Nawaz constantly refused to be shifted to a hospital and Maryam was specially called to convince him,” the doctors said during an informal talk with media men.

“Upon Maryam’s insistence, he agreed to be shifted to a hospital,” they added.

The doctors further said Nawaz’s condition “was not good at all” on Sunday.

“His ECG was not normal and a special heart test was conducted which was not normal either,” they added.

“There was a risk of heart attack as Nawaz’s cardiac enzymes were increased,” the doctors further said.

Stating that they were “extremely concerned” regarding his health, the medical team said, “We wanted to shift Nawaz to the hospital immediately.”

NAB Decides to Approach SC Against Langu, Raisani Bail

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided on Tuesday to approach Supreme Court against the granting bail to former finance secretary Mushtaq Raisani and ex-finance adviser to chief minister Khalid Langove in a mega corruption case.

The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Monday accepted the bail pleas of former finance secretary Mushtaq Raisani and ex-finance adviser to chief minister Khalid Langove in a mega corruption case.

The BHC’s divisional bench, comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Zaheeruddin Kakar, hearing the case set the bail at Rs5 million each.

On the other hand, the meeting of NAB executive board held with the chair of NAB chairman Justice retired Javed Iqbal and issue of arrest of alleged suspects in mega corruption cases came under discussion.

Addressing to officials, Chairman NAB vowed that NAB did not believe in biased action but follow the random action on the basis of concrete evidence and as per law as their arrest will be made accordingly.“NAB arrests the alleged accused after reviewing their involvement in serious crimes, their role, reasons of arrest, fear of accused escape to abroad and other legal aspects,” he clarified adding that on the basis of said points accountability court grant remand for further investigation.

He also mentioned that during the investigation against any accused he or she has been given full opportunity to defend against the allegations levelled on him or her.

“At the moment NAB using its all energies to investigate mega corruption cased rather waste time on small-scale corruption cases,” anti-graft watchdog head said.

Former head coach Waqar Younis meets Imran Khan in Bani Gala

Former right-arm-fast bowler Waqar Younis on Tuesday arrived at Bani Gala to call on PM-in-waiting and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

 Waqar Younis felicitated Imran Khan on landslide victory in General Elections 2018 and wished him luck in future.

BAP assures 'unconditional support' for Tehreek-e-Insaf

Winning candidates of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Tuesday announced their “unconditional support” for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

A BAP delegation, led by Jam Kamal Khan, reached Bani Gala in Islamabad where they met PTI Chairman Imran Khan to discuss matters pertaining to the formation of a coalition government in centre and Balochistan.

Zubaida Jalal, Khalid Magsi, Ishfaq Tareen, Ehsaan Ruki and Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar were part of the BAP delegation.

Addressing media after the meeting, Jam Kamal said his party would work with PTI for the development of Balochistan. “We’ll work as a team with the centre. This cooperation is for Pakistan,” he added.

Welcoming the development, PTI leader Jahangir Tareen said the parties had agreed on all points. “It is up to (BAP) to decide on the chief minister. PTI supports Jam Kamal as candidate for Balochistan CM slot,” he added.

BAP managed to secure four of the 272 seats in the National Assembly, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan, and emerged as the largest party in Balochistan with 15 provincial assembly seats.

Nawaz's medical report doesn't suggest treatment abroad: Punjab home minister

Punjab home minister Shaukat Javed said on Tuesday former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's medical report does not suggest treatment abroad.

Speaking to the media Javed said, Nawaz is being kept in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on doctors’ orders and he will be there till the doctors say otherwise.

He added Nawaz was hesitant to move to the hospital at first, however, hospitals here in Pakistan have all the facilities, especially treatment for the heart.

Earlier in the day, the doctors at PIMS had said the former premier’s health was improving.

Rejecting news reports that the former premier has been shifted from the hospital back to Adiala jail, where he is currently incarcerated for corruption, the doctors had said Nawaz’s blood tests will be conducted again today.

Last night, Nawaz’s sugar, blood pressure and ECG (electrocardiogram) were not normal which is why all tests will be conducted again today, the doctors had added.

Nawaz was shifted from Adiala Jail to PIMS cardiac ward on the orders of the caretaker government on Sunday.

The former premier was admitted to PIMS' coronary care unit on doctors' advice, who examined him after he complained of chest pain. A notification issued later declared the medical facility's cardiac ward as a 'sub-jail'.

Imran Khan to keep his hometown seat of Mianwali

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will keep his hometown seat of NA-95 Mianwali, sources informed.

Imran had promised the people of Mianwali that if successful he would keep this seat. The PTI chairman had won the seat with 162,499 votes with the PML-N’s Obaidullah Shadikhel coming in second.

Khan had made history when he bagged five National Assembly seats in the July 25 General Election. Apart from the Mianwali seat, Khan was successful on NA-53 Islamabad, NA-243 Karachi, NA-35 Bannu and NA-131 Lahore.

After Khan vacates these seats, the Election Commission of Pakistan will announce by-elections on them.

Following the election, PTI secured 116 seats in the National Assembly, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz with 64 and Pakistan Peoples Party with 43.

Brazilian armed forces chief calls on General Qamar Bajwa

Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Admiral Ademir Sobrinho called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at GHQ on Tuesday, the military’s media wing said in a statement.

Matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting, including bilateral military cooperation, measures to improve bilateral military engagements, and the regional security situation, the ISPR stated.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan Army’s professionalism and achievements in the war against terrorism, the statement added.

Earlier on his arrival at GHQ, the Chief of Staff also laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada where a guard of honour was presented to him, said the ISPR.

All parties provided level playing field: ECP

Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Babar Yaqoob reiterated on Tuesday that the July 25 polls were free and fair.

"We took measures to provide a level playing field to all parties," the ECP secretary said while addressing the media in Islamabad.

Stating that acting upon Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) petition, the electoral body requested the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to not arrest political leaders till after the polls were over, Yaqoob said, "Elections were postponed in NA-60."

ECP decided to postpone polls in NA-60, Rawalpindi constituency following PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi's sentence to ensure that all parties have a level playing field, he noted.

Asserting that the polls were fair, Yaqoob reiterated that the ECP has rejected political parties' demand for the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC).

"The call for CEC's resignation by a number of political parties has been rejected," he maintained.

Further condemning the call for the CEC's resignation, Yaqoob said, "If any candidate has complains then they will be dealt with as per the law and complains should be filed in line with the Constitution."

"We expect all candidates whether they won or lost to respect people's mandate and not only accept the results but strengthen the democratic process," the ECP secretary said.

Yaqoob further said, "One can ascertain that the 2018 General Election was transparent by noting that polls were concluded on time in most parts of the country."

"The voter turnout stood at 52%," he said while adding that people freely exercised their right to elect their candidates.

Claiming that Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and EU missions declared the polls were free and fair, the ECP secretary said, "This is an honour for the country's democratic process."

The ECP secretary also noted, "For the first time in the country's history, a survey was conducted in 85,000 polling stations and provincial governments were asked to facilitate people."

He added, "This was the first election in which a large number of women participated."

Two Policemen Martyred In Shootout

Two policemen embraced martyrdom in firing on Tuesday.

According to the details, the fire took place in the area of Adda Khan Sharif in the jurisdiction of PS Parwa.

Two policemen embraced martyrdom in the incident.

Heavy contingent of the police reached the spot, investigation underway.

Earlier on July 26, five soldiers have been martyred in Battagram, while performing election duty, as their vehicle plunged into a cliff.

According to the military spokesperson, the soldiers’ vehicle fell 250 feet down a cliff after delivering election material at the returning officer’s office in NA-12, Battagram.

DG ISPR wrote in his tweet that five more sons of soil embraced martyrdom while serving the nation during election duty.

125th Birth Anniversary of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah

125th birth anniversary of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Mother of the Nation and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s sister, is being celebrated today.

Fatima Jinnah was born on July 30, 1893, the youngest of seven children. Of her siblings she was the closest to Muhammad Ali Jinnah who became her guardian upon the death of their father in 1901.

She joined the struggle for a separate Muslim homeland and was able to win respect for her determination and devotion to the aim within and outside All India Muslim League.

Fatima Jinnah is revered for her struggle in the Pakistan Movement, her devotion to her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation, and determined advocate for women’s rights.

She backed her brother through thick and thin when he decided to lead the Muslims of the subcontinent to achieve a Muslim country.

Fatima Jinnah had participated in the presidential election against military dictator Ayub Khan and was able to win two of Pakistan’s largest cities, Karachi and Dhaka despite political rigging.

She passed away at the age of 71 on July 9, 1967 due to a heart-attack and was buried beside her brother’s grave in his impressive mausoleum in Karachi.

Special programs were chalked out by various government and private organisations have to highlight the services rendered by Fatima Jinnah for creation of Pakistan.

Pakistan Army rescues Russian mountaineer from Karakoram peak

A Pakistan Army team on Tuesday rescued a Russian mountaineer stranded on the Latok 1 mountain peak which is a part of the Karakoram range.

According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Alexander Gukov had been trapped at a height of 20,650 feet for the past six days and was rescued today after an intense helicopter mission.

The statement further read Gukov ran out of food three days ago with bad weather preventing helicopters from reaching the spot, adding that the rescue mission started on July 26.

According to Anna Piunova, coordinator of the rescue team, Gukov is on his way to a hospital however, he is in a critical condition.

"He was rescued, they are flying to the hospital of city of Skardu," Piunova told a Russian news agency.

She added that the rescue operation involved two Pakistani military helicopters.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Army teams had rescued two British mountaineers stranded on Ultar Sar mountain located in Hunza Valley after an avalanche hit their tent.

 

OGRA recommends hike in petroleum prices

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has sent a summary to the Power Division suggesting yet another hike in prices of various petroleum products effective August 1.

The regulatory body has recommended an increase of Rs2.75 per litre in petrol prices, Rs3 per litre for diesel, and Rs4 per litre for kerosene oil, sources familiar with the matter said.

The caretaker government, however, may leave the decision for a revision in petroleum prices to the incoming government, the sources added.

Earlier on July 1, the interim government had hiked the price of petrol by Rs7.54 to Rs99.50 per litre, diesel by Rs14 to Rs119.3 per litre and kerosene oil by Rs3.36 to Rs87.7 per litre. It had also raised rates of other petroleum products.

However, a week later, the prices were reduced after the Supreme Court took notice of heavy taxes on the sale of petroleum products.

Major parties form grand opposition slamming 'unprecedented' rigging

Major parties in the opposition on Monday held a meeting and decided to form a grand opposition for formulating a strategy on alleged rigging in the July 25 General Election.

Addressing media, senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Awami National Party said there is no parallel of rigging on this scale in elections in the country, in which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Imran Khan claimed victory.

PPP's Yousaf Raza Gilani and MMA chief Fazlur Rehman also decried media censorship.

"The entire world, the nation and ECP [Election Commission of Pakistan] should note that there is no instance of all parties rejecting election results unanimously like this ever," said Fazl.

Those stealing the mandate of masses should be ashamed of themselves, he said.

Gilani said that an all parties conference would be held soon, and a strategy would be formulated to take up the issue of rigging.

The parties will play the role of a strong opposition inside and outside the Parliament, the former prime minister added.

The decision to form a grand alliance was taken during ongoing meetings of the parties at the residence of Ayaz Sadiq. The political parties also agreed to protest inside and outside the assemblies.

The grand opposition will issue a white paper over rigging during the elections and meet for an All Parties Conference in two days.

The strength of the grand opposition will stand at 120 in the National Assembly, compared to 116 seats for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

According to sources, political parties in Balochistan will also be taken into confidence over the grand opposition alliance. Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced that the MMA will not boycott proceedings of the parliament.

The PPP delegation was led by Khursheed Shah includes Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar and Qamar Zaman Kaira, and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif led his party’s delegation which includes Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Asif among others.

Haji Ghulam Bilour and Mian Iftikhar are representing the ANP, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Anas Noorani are representing the MMA.

It is expected that following the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif will meet his brother and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was shifted from Adiala prison to PIMS hospital in Islamabad on Sunday.

Over 35 constituencies' results manipulated for Imran's victory: Shah

PPP leader Khursheed Shah claimed over 35 constituencies were manipulated to pave way for Imran's victory.

Manipulation "was carried out in constituencies of Yousaf Raza Gilani, Rasool Bux Chandio, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Aijaz Jakhrani and Saad Rafique," he said.

Last day today to avail tax amnesty scheme

The tax amnesty scheme will not be extended beyond midnight tonight (Tuesday), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Tuesday.

The FBR has warned holders of undeclared local and foreign assets will face consequences if they do not declare assets after the expiry of the tax amnesty scheme.

According to Chairperson of the Federal Board of Revenue Rukhsana Yasmin, there is no possibility in further extension of the deadline.

She urged the public to avail this last and final chance to get their undeclared assets declared since today is the last day today to avail tax amnesty scheme

The tax amnesty scheme was announced by the PML-N government earlier this year, came into effect on April 10, 2018 and was to end on June 30, 2018.

The scheme had been cited as an opportunity for people to file their local and foreign assets without facing any consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dollar Depreciates By Rs.2 in Inter Bank Market

Price of dollar has recorded small decrease of Rs.2 in inter bank trading.

According to details, selling price of dollar has reached to Rs. 123 during trading in inter bank market, while purchase price is Rs.122.80.

Pompeo warns against IMF bailout for Pakistan that aids China

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Monday that any potential International Monetary Fund bailout for Pakistan’s new government should not provide funds to pay off Chinese lenders.

In an interview with CNBC television, Pompeo said the United States looked forward to engagement with the government of Pakistan’s expected new prime minister, Imran Khan, but said there was “no rationale” for a bailout that pays off Chinese loans to Pakistan.

“Make no mistake. We will be watching what the IMF does,” Pompeo said. “There’s no rationale for IMF tax dollars, and associated with that American dollars that are part of the IMF funding, for those to go to bail out Chinese bondholders or China itself,” Pompeo said.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that senior Pakistani finance officials were drawing up options for Khan to seek an IMF bailout of up to $12 billion.

An IMF spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we have so far not received a request for a Fund arrangement from Pakistan and that we have not had discussions with the authorities about any possible intentions.”

Pakistan is struggling to avert a currency crisis that has presented the new government with its biggest challenge. Many analysts and business leaders expect that another IMF bailout, the second in five years, will be needed to plug an external financing gap.

Pakistan, which already has around $5 billion in loans from China and its banks to fund major infrastructure projects, had sought another $1 billion in loans to stabilize its plummeting foreign currency reserves.

Officials in the Trump administration, including US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have criticized China’s infrastructure lending to developing countries, arguing that this has saddled them with unsustainable debt.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a series of port and rail improvements associated with China’s One Belt One Road infrastructure push, has led to massive imports of Chinese equipment and materials, swelling Pakistan’s current account deficit.

Pakistan has had 14 IMF financing programs since 1980, according to fund data, including a $6.7 billion three-year loan program in 2013.

 

Long queues as Zimbabwe votes in first post-Mugabe election

Zimbabweans lined up on Monday to vote in the country’s first election since Robert Mugabe was ousted, with the opposition vowing to defy alleged ballot fraud and deliver an electoral upset.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s former right-hand man in the ruling ZANU-PF party, faces opposition leader Nelson Chamisa of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) in a historic vote for the southern African nation.

Officials overseeing the polls, in which a record number of candidates are standing, said early signs including long queues at some polling stations suggested a high turnout nationwide. “I just have to do this. I have to see a better Zimbabwe for my kids. Things have been tough,” Tawanda Petru, 28, an unemployed man voting in Mbare, a low-income district of the capital Harare, said.

“I’m going to vote for Chamisa, for change. I am not afraid.” Mugabe, 94, who was ousted by the military in November, voted at his customary polling station in Harare alongside his wife Grace after a surprise two-hour press conference at his home on Sunday during which he called for voters to reject ZANU-PF.

Mugabe, wearing a dark suit and red tie, was greeted with cheersat the polling station but did not answer journalists’ questions about who he voted for.

Mnangagwa, voting in his Kwekwe constituency in central Zimbabwe, said Mugabe had the right to express himself in the country’s new “democratic space”.

“I am very happy that the process for campaigning was peaceful (and) voting today is peaceful,” he added.

Mnangagwa, 75, has has promised change and is the clear front-runner benefitting from tacit military support, loyal state media and ruling party controls of government resources.

The party controls the lower house of parliament, which is also up for election. But Chamisa, a 40-year-old lawyer and pastor who has performed strongly on the campaign trail, hopes to tap into the youth vote.

“By the end of the day today we should be very clear as to an emphatic voice for change, the new, and the young — I represent that,” Chamisa said as he voted in Harare, supported by vocal supporters. He again raised fraud allegations saying his victory would be assured if rigged ballots were excluded.

On Twitter, he alleged there was a “deliberate attempt to suppress” voting in urban areas — MDC strongholds.

Zimbabwe’s generals shocked the world last year when they seized control and ushered in Mnangagwa after Mugabe allegedly groomed Grace succeed him.

The election is Zimbabwe’s first without Mugabe, who led ZANU-PF to power on independence from Britain in 1980 and clung to power for 37 years.

Anti-Muslim legislation: India effectively strips four million of citizenship in Assam

India on Monday effectively stripped four million people in Assam of citizenship, sparking fears of mass deportations of Muslims from the northeastern state.

The draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), published on Monday, includes only those able to prove they were in Assam before 1971, when millions fled Bangladesh's war of independence into the state.

Critics say it is the latest move by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advance the rights of India's Hindu majority at the expense of its many minorities.

More than 30 million people had applied to be included on the list, of whom just over four million were excluded from the draft published on Monday, said Shailesh, the registrar general of India, who uses one name.

“No genuine Indian citizens need to worry as there will be ample opportunities given to them to enlist their names in the final NRC,” he told a news conference in Assam's biggest city Guwahati.

He said those wishing to appeal could do so under “well-laid-down procedures” starting August 30. The definitive NRC is due to be finalised in December.

“We are going to provide assistance to anyone whose names are not included in the document and whoever wishes to file a claim and objection in this regard,” Shailesh added.

Hindu nationalists

Modi's Hindu nationalist government — under whom extremist violence against Muslims has increased — has said the list must be revised to root out illegal migrants.

Hundreds of thousands fled to India from Bangladesh during its 1971 war. Most settled in Assam, which shares a long border with Bangladesh.

Rights groups have criticised the government's latest move, saying the deletion of people from citizenship rolls was similar to Myanmar's removal of rights and protections for its Rohingya community in 1982.

Avaaz, a US-based rights group, said there was no effective appeal body and those left out would not have enough time to present their case.

“It's just Muslims who will likely have to go through a complicated, unfair appeal with no right to counsel, ending in no hope of staying if they lose,” Ricken Patel, the executive director of Avaaz, said in a statement.

Assam, a state of 33 million people known for its lush tea estates, has for decades been racked by violence between indigenous tribes and settlers.

In one of the worst massacres, around 2,000 suspected migrants were butchered in a single day in Nellie in 1983. Nearly all were Muslim, and many were children.

In New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also sought to allay fears about Assam.

“No coercive action will be taken against anyone. Hence there is no need to panic,” Singh said in the upper house of parliament.

Satyen Garg, a home ministry official who was present at the Guwahati press conference, said there “was no question of sending anyone to detention camps based on the draft list”.

Trump ready to meet Rouhani at 'any time' and with ‘no precondition’

US President Donald Trump says he is ready to meet his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, “any time they want to.”

Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday, Trump asserted that he would “certainly meet” with Iranians with “no preconditions.”

“It’s good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I’ll meet,” said the US president.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared on CNBC hours later to set some conditions.

"We've said this before," said the former CIA chief. “If the Iranians demonstrate a commitment to make fundamental changes in how they treat their own people, reduce their malign behavior, can agree that it's worthwhile to enter into a nuclear agreement that actually prevents proliferation, then the president said he's prepared to sit down and have the conversation with them.”

Trump’s latest stance towards Tehran runs counter to his recent threats against the nation as well as pulling Washington out of the Iran nuclear deal despite having the support of almost all US allies.

“I do believe that they will probably end up wanting to meet,” he claimed. “And I’m ready to meet any time they want to. And I don’t do that from strength or from weakness. I think it’s an appropriate thing to do.”

President Rouhani has not yet responded to Trump's latest comments but his adviser said on Twitter that the US should return to the nuclear deal.

"Respecting the Iranian nation's rights, reducing hostilities and returning to the nuclear deal are steps that can be taken to pave the bumpy road of talks between Iran and America," said Hamid Aboutalebi‏ (pictured above).

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi suggested earlier in the day that engaging in negotiations with the "current America" is next to impossible.

He further asserted that a military confrontation between Iran and the United States is out of the question, yet the Islamic Republic is ready for such scenario.

 Known for his anti-Iran sentiments from the campaign days, Trump ultimately pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in May.

According to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Trump “should learn well that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace and war with Iran is the mother of all wars.”

Greece fire death toll at 91, 25 people remain missing

Fire officials in Greece have raised the death toll from a wildfire that raged through a coastal area east of Athens to 91 and reported that 25 people are missing six days after blaze.

Before the national fire service updated the official number of fatalities Sunday night, it had stood at 86. Greek officials previously had not provided a tally of the people reported missing.

The fire sped flames through the village without warning on July 23. A database maintained by the Centre for the Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters in Brussels shows it as the deadliest wildfire in Europe since 1900.

The vast majority of victims died in the fire itself, though a number drowned in the sea while fleeing the flames.

Dozens of volunteer divers, some of them retired Navy Seals, kept searching the sea on Sunday looking for the bodies of more possible victims.

Pakistani ambassador meets US secretary of defence in Washington

Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Ali Jahangir Siddiqui met with the US Secretary of Defence General James Mattis on Monday.

The meeting took place on Pakistan’s request. The two sides have had strong military relations.

The Pakistani ambassador visited Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, where he discussed ties between the two countries.

Among other things discussed in the meeting were the ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the regional security situation.

Pakistan’s Defence and Army Attaché Brigadier Kamal Anwar Chaudhry accompanied Tareen on his visit to the Pentagon.

Tareen invites MQM-P to join federal government

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Tuesday announced that Rabita Committee will make the final decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's invitation to join the federal government.

A PTI delegation led by Jahangir Tareen met with the leadership of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Monday night to seek their support for government formation in the centre.

The meeting held at MQM-Pakistan’s Bahadrabad office was also attended by PTI leaders Firdaus Shamim Naqvi, Imran Ismail and Haleem Adil Siddiqui.

In a press conference held after the meeting, Tareen said that he had a positive meeting with the MQM leadership and has invited the party to join federal government, adding that the people of Karachi gave a joint mandate to the PTI and Siddiqui's party.

"To move forward we have to think of the masses. Its in the manifesto of PTI to resolve basic issues of the metropolis," he said. "We will resolve water, transport, infrastructural issues of the city."

Siddiqui said that the party found similar views on many of the issues with the PTI leader.

"Its a pleasant surprise for us that we have commonalities. We have an agreement over strong and independent local bodies system," he said. Siddiqui said that both the parties will help each other to address the reservations over the election results.

"We spoke on re-counting and census in our meeting. Imran Khan has already said that he would address the reservations of people on election results."

Siddiqui said that the bitter past between the two parties can change into co-operation in future.

During the meeting, MQM-P put forward its demands before the PTI leaders to get its six-member support in the lower house.

The MQM-P demands include Karachi Package, constitutional amendment for empowered local bodies, administrative units for the urban Sindh, community police and mass transit in Karachi, sources said.

The MQM-P has conditioned its support on the acceptance of their demands.

Mohammad Zubair meets MQM-P leaders

Earlier on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair met with the leadership of MQM-Pakistan at its Bahadurabad.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Zubair remarked that the two parties will continue to stay in the touch in the coming few weeks, adding that MQM-Pakistan also has reservations regarding the way elections were conducted.

Regarding the meeting, he shared that the representatives of the two parties discussed the conditions in Sindh especially Karachi alongside the political situation which has emerged following the General Election 2018.

Moreover, MQM-Pakistan leader Faisal Sabzwari alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan was involved in the rigging the elections for the first time. "The failure of the result transmission system shows that ECP was unsuccessful in its task."

The returning officers must recount votes as per the law, he claimed.

"People whose own party wouldn’t vote for them won. How is this possible," Sabzwari asked.

With regards to Form 45, he questioned where was it filled? "Who knows where it was filled as the polling agents weren’t present at the time votes were being counted."

Form 45 was supposed to be submitted on the day of the election rather than being uploaded on the website after a week, he said.

When asked about the Karachi operation, Zubair clarified that it was held to bring peace to the city. "Karachi operation was not against MQM," he said.

Chinese envoy calls on Imran Khan in Bani Gala

Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Yao Jing Monday called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to congratulate the latter on election victory.

The Chinese envoy, while presenting felicitations on behalf of his government to the prime minister-in waiting, reiterated Beijing’s desire to strengthen cooperation with Islamabad in all sectors.

"Yao highly appreciates Imran Khan s positive remarks on China Pakistan relations and is willing to work together with the new government to push China Pakistan relations to a new level," read a statement issued by the Chinese emabassy.

Modi telephones Imran Khan, felicitates on election victory

Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Monday telephoned PM-in-waiting Imran Khan and felicitated latter on landslide victory in General Elections 2018.

Modi also extended extended warm and cordial wishes to Imran Khan.

Both leaders agreed to overcome the past and to lay a new foundation for a prosperous political, social and economic future.

Modi told Khan that India is ready for a new era of ties with Pakistan and called for crafting collective strategy for combating regional challenges.

Khan also stressed on resuming talks while adding that issues can’t be solved through wars.

Khan stressed on initiating collective efforts for uprooting poverty from the region.

Biggest fossil of dinosaur discovered in Argentina

Archaeological department of Argentina discovered biggest fossil of dinosaur.

The fossil was found in the northwest of Argentina during a field trip.

The scientists found four skeletons in all, one of a new species and three of related dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs were the biggest animals to have walked the earth, with some weighing as much as a space shutt

Climate change driven by humans made heatwave 'twice as likely'

Scientists have found that Climate change resulting from human activities made the current Europe-wide heatwave more than twice as likely to occur.

Researchers compared the current high temperatures with historical records from seven weather stations, in different parts of Europe.

They also say the scale of the heatwave in the Arctic is unprecedented.

Researchers looked at data from seven weather stations, in Finland, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Climate change driven by humans made heatwave 'twice as likely'

Scientists have found that Climate change resulting from human activities made the current Europe-wide heatwave more than twice as likely to occur.

Researchers compared the current high temperatures with historical records from seven weather stations, in different parts of Europe.

They also say the scale of the heatwave in the Arctic is unprecedented.

Researchers looked at data from seven weather stations, in Finland, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

PSF to establish science laboratories for students in each district

Pakistan Science Foundation is considering to establish new science laboratories in at least one school of each district in far flung areas for the students of grade ninth and tenth.

Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation, Major (Retd) Qaiser Majeed Malik said that they have initiated a project Science Talent Farming Scheme and hoping that encouragement of such bright students would give long term results soon.

PSF to establish science laboratories for students in each district

Pakistan Science Foundation is considering to establish new science laboratories in at least one school of each district in far flung areas for the students of grade ninth and tenth.

Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation, Major (Retd) Qaiser Majeed Malik said that they have initiated a project Science Talent Farming Scheme and hoping that encouragement of such bright students would give long term results soon.

Asian Games: Pakistan hockey team announces to sit out in pay protest

The Pakistan hockey team has announced to not participate in the forthcoming Asian games in protest over the non-issuance of their due daily allowance.

"The players have not yet received the daily allowance for the training camp held for Champions Trophy," said national side's skipper Rizwan Senior.

"We won't participate in the Asian Games if we aren't given our due daily allowance."

The national side's training camp was scheduled in Holland for the Champions Trophy.

"It's not a revolt we are asking for our due right," Rizwan added.

Senior player Imran Butt said that the team has conveyed their decision to the team management.

Pakistan Hockey Federation President Khalid Sajjad Khokar, in his reaction on the developments, said that there is a conspiracy underway against the national hockey team.

Khokar requested the players to not give any statement to the media regarding the pay issue.

"We will clear all dues before going to Asian Games. Unfortunately, our grant was stopped due to certain unknown reason," he said.

"If we don't get money from the money I will pay the players through my own means."

He urged the players to focus on their training.

Scientists confirmed Einstein's supermassive black hole theory

A team of international scientists observing a star in the Milky Way have for the first time confirmed Einstein’s predictions of what happens to the motion of a star passing close to a supermassive black hole.

Einstein’s 100-year-old general theory of relativity predicted that light from stars would be stretched to longer wavelengths by the extreme gravitational field of a black hole, and the star would appear redder, an effect known as gravitational red shift.

“This was the first time we could test directly Einstein’s theory of general relativity near a supermassive black hole,” Frank Eisenhauer, senior astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, told journalists.

“At the time of Einstein, he could not think or dream of what we are showing today,” he said.

A team of scientists at the European Southern Observatory started monitoring the central area of the Milky Way using its Very Large Telescope to observe the motion of stars near the supermassive black hole 26 years ago.

The black hole is 26,000 light years away from Earth and has a mass 4 million times that of the Sun.

The scientists selected one star, S2, to follow. With an orbit of 16 years, they knew it would return close to the black hole in 2018.

Over 20 years, the accuracy of their instruments has improved and so in May 2018, they were able to take extremely precise measurements in conjunction with scientists from around the world.

This showed the star’s orbital velocity increasing to more than 25 million kph (15.5 million mph) as it approached the black hole.

The star’s wavelength stretched as it sought to escape the gravitational pull of the supermassive black hole, shifting its appearance from blue to red, Odele Straub from the Paris Observatory said.

The scientists now hope to observe other theories of black hole physics, she said.

“This is the first step on a long road that the team has done over many years and which we hope to continue in the next years,” MPE’s Reinhard Genzel, who led the international team, said.

 

Strong quake kills 14, injures hundreds, on Indonesia holiday island

A powerful earthquake on the Indonesian tourist island of Lombok killed at least 14 people, injured hundreds and damaged thousands of homes on Sunday, officials said.

The shallow 6.4-magnitude quake jolted the island in the early morning, sending people running outside in panic and triggering landslides on popular mountain hiking routes.

Scores of aftershocks sparked fear among survivors. More than 120 were recorded, the biggest with a magnitude of 5.7, Indonesia’s meteorology agency said.

Local officials have declared a three day state emergency, according to multiple television reports.

"Thirteen people have died, hundreds of people were injured and thousands of homes were damaged in the earthquake in East Lombok. We are still collecting data," Indonesian disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement.

One Malaysian was killed and six injured, the Malaysian foreign ministry said.

"All of them were at the foot of Mount Rinjani when the incident happened," it said.

The constant aftershocks sparked terrified shouts among scores of people made homeless in the eastern village of Sembalun, an AFP reporter said.

Some 200 people from 35 families whose house were damaged or destroyed had pitched tents there.

"People are traumatised and too scared to return home for fear the aftershocks could destroy their homes completely," the reporter said.

"Everytime there is an aftershock they cry out in fear and tremors can still be felt constantly."

Evacuees told AFP they badly needed blankets and instant food because there was no time to bring anything when they fled their homes.

Popular trekking trails on Mount Rinjani were closed because of landslides, according to the disaster agency.

One local trek organiser described how rocks rained down on two Spanish hikers and their guide as they were caught on a mountain trail.

"My trekking guide who was accompanying two tourists from Spain suffered from minor injuries during the jolt. They were hiking from Segara Anak Lake to Plawangan and rocks were falling on them during the quake," said Karyadi, the owner of a guesthouse near Rinjani where the pair were staying.

The two Spaniards were also slightly hurt.

"Our guests were in shock because of the incident," said Karyadi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

The epicentre of the earthquake struck 50 km (30 miles) northeast of Lombok’s main city Mataram, the United States Geological Survey said, far from the main tourist spots on the south and west of the island.

USGS said two of the aftershocks measured more than 5-magnitude.

The jolt was felt some 100 km (60 miles) away in the bustling holiday island of Bali, although there were no immediate reports of damage there.

"The earthquake was very strong... and everybody in my house panicked, we all ran outside," said Zulkifli, a resident of North Lombok near the epicentre.

JI chief rejects Rehman’s suggestion against taking oath in parliament

Muttahida Malis-e-Amal's (MMA) deputy president Siraj-ul-Haq on Monday rejected president Fazal-ur-Rehman's suggestion to boycott taking oath in the parliament.

MMA, a political alliance consisting of conservative, religious, and far-right parties of Pakistan, has protested against the poll results. It includes Jamaat-e-Islami, Rehman's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) among other political parties.

During a press conference held at Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) head office in Mansoorah, Haq said he did not believe in responding to disagreement with hostility.

"We will sit in the opposition with complete dignity and play our part," he said.

The JI chief and deputy president of MMA further noted that a responsible leadership was put in charge of the electoral process, however, excessive intervention of institutions had affected the public opinion.

"All efforts were made to remove the national and political leadership from the picture," Haq said. "From Karachi to Dir and Chitral, poll results were not released in a timely manner. The election process was made suspicious and it is regrettable that polling agents were sent out while the votes were being counted."

The MMA deputy president further stated that an effort had been made to target democracy, however, despite serious reservations his party was ready to give a chance to the new government to prove itself. "We will wait for Imran Khan to fulfill his promise to make Pakistan a welfare state like Madina," he said.

Furthermore, Haq stated that MMA would play its part in making democracy stable — both from within and outside the parliament.

According to information received from sources, MMA has called an emergency meeting in the federal capital later today. Members will attempt to convince the MMA chief to let the alliance join the opposition. They will also discuss the suggestion to not take oath in the parliament.

Earlier on July 27, the All Parties Conference — convened by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and MMA — had rejected the results of the July 25 general election result.

Speaking to the media after presiding over the APC meeting, Rehman said people had been robbed of their mandate. He had rejected the 'claims of those claiming victory in the elections.' Rehman had also said that the APC will organise demonstrations in different parts of the country till elections were held again.

It is pertinent to note that significant political parties such as Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan did not attend the APC.

 

 

 

Accountability court adjourns hearing of Nawaz's corruption cases till August 1

Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir resumed hearing the Al Azizia and Flagship corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday.

As the hearing went under way, the court inquired into the presence of Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Haris. His colleague then informed the court that the counsel is on his way.

When the judge asked when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up the Sharif family's pleas against the Avenfield verdict, the secondary counsel replied that their appeals will be heard tomorrow.

The judge then decided to briefly adjourn today's hearing to allow Nawaz's counsel to appear in court before he takes matters forward.

After the recess, Judge Bashir observed that he would wait for the IHC's instructions tomorrow.

The hearing was then adjourned till August 1.

Haris seeks transfer of cases to another judge

At the last hearing on July 18, Haris had reiterated his objection to the proceedings being heard by the same judge who has already ruled in one of the three corruption cases against his client.

The judge remarked that he has written about the matter to the IHC, adding that transferring the case to another court does not come under his jurisdiction.

NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi argued that the IHC had not issued any stay order on the trial proceedings and called for continuation of the cases.

He added that it would be appropriate if the same judge who has overseen the case since day one presides over the trial in its concluding phase.

Haris also stated that they would not become part of the proceedings until the IHC rules on their plea to transfer the case to another trial court.

The hearing was then adjourned until July 30.

Sharif family appeals Avenfield verdict in IHC

A day earlier, on July 17, the IHC took up the Sharif family's appeals and issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and adjourned the matter until the last week of July.

The court issued separate notices to NAB on Nawaz's plea to transfer the remaining corruption cases against him to another judge as well as on the family's appeals against the Avenfield verdict.

However, the court dismissed their requests to stay the corruption trial of the remaining references, as well as the Avenfield verdict, till their appeals are decided by the IHC.

Nawaz and family were thus confined to jail until the July 25 election, which saw the previously ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz being defeated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

IHC Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb had conducted the proceedings.

A number of appeals have been filed by Nawaz, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar regarding the Avenfield case verdict.

At present, Nawaz has been shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad from Rawalpindi's Adiala prison after his medical condition deteriorated.

The cardiac ward of the hospital has been declared a sub-jail for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Maryam and Safdar are serving their sentence at the Adiala prison.

The trial

The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017 after NAB filed the Avenfield, Al Azizia and Flagship references.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference.

Nawaz was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison and slapped a £8 million fine (Rs1.3 billion) while Maryam was sentenced to eight years with a £2 million fine (Rs335 million). Moreover, Maryam's husband, Capt (retd) Safdar, was sentenced to one year in prison.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

 

 

Nawaz shifted from Adiala Jail to PIMS hospital, cardiac ward declared sub-jail

Former premier Nawaz Sharif was shifted from Adiala Jail to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital's cardiac ward Sunday night on the orders of the caretaker government, citing sources.

Upon the ex-prime minister's complaint of chest pain, doctors carried out a check-up and advised that he be shifted to a coronary care unit (CCU) immediately, sources said, following which the jail superintendent contacted the additional chief secretary.

"In light of the additional chief secretary's report, the caretaker government has decided to shift Nawaz [Sharif] to PIMS," sources in the Interior Ministry said.

His "ECG (electrocardiogram) was conducted and showed changes as per the medical report," sources said.

Sources disclosed that he was subsequently moved to the CCU.

PIMS' cardiac ward declared sub-jail: notification

According to a notification issued after Sharif's transfer to the PIMS hospital around 8PM last night, the medical facility's cardiac ward has been declared a sub-jail.

Sharif, who was transported under strict security, was received by PIMS' executive director, who, upon the former's arrival, offered a wheelchair. The former-PM, however, refused to use it and said he would rather walk into the hospital by himself, sources said.

Thereafter, the hospital's cardiac ward was closed to other patients as well as the public.

Once inside, Dr Naeem Malik, the PIMS cardiology department head, and his team carried out a check-up of Sharif and conducted blood and sugar tests.

Tightened security

Shortly after reports of Sharif's transfer spread, workers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reached the medical facility and started chanting slogans in favour of and against the former premier, respectively.

Soon afterwards, however, police was forced to intervene, break up the group of allies and protesters, and kicked out workers of both parties off of the hospital's premises.

Further, the security inside and outside the PIMS hospital was tightened and 10 police officers, under the leadership of superintendent of police (SP) for prison department, were stationed to stay with Sharif.

On the other hand, the PTI, in an announcement, said party chief Imran Khan has prayed for Sharif's quick and complete recovery.

Medical board and its report

According to the findings of the medical board, which was formed on the request of the Adiala Jail superintendent, the ex-prime minister is experiencing pain in his elbows, feet, and shoulders, and there was noticeable swelling in those parts as well.

Sharif also suffers from constipation.

While further tests are advised and yet to be conducted, doctors recommended that the former premier be kept in a "stress-free environment" and under constant supervision.

The report had also noted that Sharif immediately be moved to the nearest hospital should he experience cardiac pain, whereafter he was transferred to the PIMS hospital.

Earlier, on July 24, a medical board formed to ascertain his health said the former premier was in need of constant medical care and attention.

A five-member medical board formed by PIMS had conducted a medical check-up of Sharif at Adiala Jail, formally known as the Central Jail Rawalpindi, on Monday, where the PML-N supremo is serving his sentence for corruption.

Sharif was arrested upon his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport from London on July 13, wherefrom he was flown to Islamabad via a helicopter, and shifted to the prison. He is currently serving the sentence awarded to him in the Avenfield Properties case, alongside his daughter, Maryam, and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar.

 

 

Saturn and Mars Team Up to Make Their Closest Approaches to Earth in 2018

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has photographed Saturn and Mars near their closest approaches to Earth in June and July 2018. It’s now summertime in Saturn’s northern hemisphere and springtime in Mars’ southern hemisphere. The Hubble images show that Earth isn’t the only planet where intense spring and summer storms wreak havoc.

The increase in sunlight in Saturn’s northern hemisphere has heated the atmosphere to trigger a large storm that is now disintegrating in Saturn’s polar region.

On Mars, a dust storm erupted in the southern hemisphere and ballooned into a global dust storm enshrouding the entire planet.

The planets were photographed near opposition, when the Sun, Earth and an outer planet are lined up, with Earth sitting in between the Sun and the outer planet. Around the time of opposition, a planet is at its closest distance to Earth for a given year. Because of the close proximity, the planet also appears brightest in the sky.

Hubble viewed Saturn on June 6, when the ringed world was approximately 1.36 billion miles from Earth, as it approached a June 27 opposition. Mars was captured on July 18, at just 36.9 million miles from Earth, near its July 27 opposition. This close distance puts Mars at its brightest appearance in the night sky since the 2003 opposition.

Saturn has seasonal changes caused by the planet’s 27-degree axial tilt. With summer in the northern hemisphere, the atmosphere is now more active. This may be responsible for a string of bright clouds visible near the northern polar region that are the remnants of a disintegrating storm. Small, mid-latitude puffs of clouds are also visible.

Hubble’s view also resolves a hexagonal pattern around Saturn’s north pole, a stable and persistent wind feature discovered during the Voyager flyby in 1981. The planet’s magnificent ring system is also on full display and near its maximum tilt toward Earth, which was in 2017.

Mars also has seasons, due in part to its 25-degree axial tilt, which is similar to Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt. Unlike Earth, Mars’ more elliptical orbit has a greater influence on its seasonal changes. Its closest and most distant points from the Sun vary by 19 percent (as opposed to 3 percent for Earth).

Each Martian year, moderately large dust storms cover continent-sized areas and last for weeks at a time. Global dust storms — lasting for weeks or months — tend to happen during the spring and summer in the southern hemisphere, when Mars is closest to the Sun and heating is at a maximum to generate winds.

While spacecraft now orbiting Mars are studying the storm’s behavior at lower altitudes, other Hubble observations will allow astronomers to study changes in the higher atmosphere. The combined observations will aid planetary scientists in building a better understanding of how global storms arise on the Red Planet.

Saturn’s portrait is the first image of the planet taken as part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) project. OPAL is helping scientists understand the atmospheric dynamics and evolution of our solar system’s gas giant planets.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, in Washington, D.C.

 

In a first in four years, dollar falls by Rs5.36 in interbank market

In a first in four years, the US dollar shed Rs5.36 against the rupee on Monday in the inter-bank market, falling to Rs122.5.

As the markets opened, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a positive trend. The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 314 points to reach 43,100 points.

The positive economic indicators are considered to be largely driven by what investors consider the return of political stability following the July 25 polls.

The national debt will decline by Rs450 billion as the rupee consolidates gains against the greenback.

In a comment to media, market analyst Samiullah Tariq said, "News of inflows from multiple channels including the credit line from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has created a positive sentiment about the balance of payments. This has resulted in a drop in dollar price in the interbank market against the rupee."

As the future outlook becomes clear and investors gain confidence about the outcome of their future investments, the market will continue to incorporate the positive sentiment in trading activities, Tariq said.

On Saturday, the US dollar had depreciated by Rs4 in the open market. The positive development was attributed to the end of political uncertainty following elections.

In the past week, the greenback's price had soared as high as Rs130 as Pakistan moved to its second democratic shift of power amid security threats and terrorist attacks in different parts of the country.

Pakistan's economic fundamentals had deteriorated ahead of the July 25 general election. Since December, the rupee had cumulatively shed over 21% of its value after the State Bank of Pakistan reportedly abstained from intervening in response to the pressure exerted by a widening current account deficit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PML-N's Rana Sanaullah in Jhang to woo MPA-elect Maulana Muavia Azam

A senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) arrived here in the city to meet an independent MPA-elect to convince the latter to join his party.

Rana Sanaullah, the PML-N leader, met with Maulana Muavia Azam, an independent member of the provincial assembly, while independent candidate Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi was also present.

Afterwards, while speaking to the media, Sanaullah said his party needs 18 members to form the government in Punjab.

"We shall secure the support of the desired number of members in a few days," he noted, before adding: "Unlike the PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf], we will not be bringing in one or two members every day."

"We are only ramping up our efforts because the PTI seems to be in a hurry."

The PML-N leader further went on to say that the PTI's "Jehangir Tareen has money and an aeroplane but we don't.

"PTI is engaging in horse-trading. There are reports of offers being made of Rs 100 million and 50 million for the centre and province, respectively."

On the other hand, Maulana Muavia Azam commented that he has official had talks with representatives of both the parties and, therefore, will announce his decision in a couple of days after discussing the matter with his team.

Sanaullah also travelled to Chiniot to talk another independent MPA into joining his side.

Palestinian teen Tamimi released from Israeli jail after 8 months

Ahed Tamimi, a Palestinian teenage girl who gained international fame for slapping Israeli soldiers, has been released from prison after serving an eight-month sentence.

Tamimi, 17, was arrested last December after a video went viral showing her slapping and shoving two Israeli soldiers during a raid on the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, northwest of the city of Ramallah.

She was charged with a total of 12 counts, including assault, incitement and obstructing Israeli soldiers as well as stone-throwing.

In March, she reached a plea bargain with Israeli military prosecution, according to which she was sentenced to eight months in prison and fined $1,500.

Tamimi’s mother, Nariman, who had also been arrested over the same incident, was similarly sentenced to eight months in jail.

Arriving at Nabi Saleh village, Tamimi made brief remarks to well-wishers outside the home of a villager killed by Israeli forces. 

"From this martyr's house, I say: resistance is continuing until the occupation is removed," she said, wearing her trademark black-and-white chequered Arab scarf. 

"All the female prisoners in jail are strong, and I thank everyone who stood by me while I was in prison," she added. 

The teenage protest icon was expected to address a news conference at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT). 

Tamimi has been hailed as a heroine by many Palestinians for bravely standing up to the Israeli military aggression and recognized as a symbol of the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation.

"Tamimi's long detention stemmed from political motives rather than from legal reasons," Tamimi's lawyer Gaby Lasky said on Thursday.

"Legal proceedings are not intended to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and instead of sending minors to prison for resisting the occupation, the time has come for a courageous leadership to free us all from the chains of the occupation."

According to latest figures provided by the Palestinian prisoners’ rights group Addameer, some 5,900 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli jails, many of them in administrative detention.

The detention is a form of imprisonment without charge or trial that allows the regime to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months – and subject to indefinite extensions.

7-year-old girl raped, strangled to death while playing near home

The minor was strangulated to death after being raped as injury marks were found on her neck.

Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot alleged rape cases were rising in the state amid a "poor" law and order situation under the BJP government.

He condemned the alleged rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, whose body was found on Saturday in a field not very far away from her home in Jhalawar district's Mogiyabhiya village.

The police suspect the minor, who went missing last evening, was strangulated to death after being raped as injury marks were found on her neck.

According to sources, the girl went missing on Friday when she was playing outside her home. When she didn't return home, her parents approached the police the next morning and registered a complaint. After a search, by Saturday evening, the police found her body some 200 metres away from her home.

"She had a roti at around 6 in the evening and stepped out to play. My elder daughter went back inside. Later, when she went out, she couldn't find her (the 7-year-old)," the girl's father was quoted by NDTV as saying.

This is the second rape case being reported in Jhalawar in the last five months, the report added.

Pilot accused the Vasundhra Raje-led government of not being serious towards such cases.

"Cases of rape are on the rise due to negligence of the government. Criminals are getting a conducive environment in the state due to the poor law and order situation," he said in a statement.

Pilot said though the name of Raje's pre-poll yatra had been changed from 'Suraj Gaurav Yatra' to 'Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra', people want to know how and when the state's 'gaurav' or pride grew under the BJP rule.

Raje's 40-day yatra to seek the people's mandate in the upcoming assembly elections will be flagged off by BJP president Amit Shah from Charbhuja Nath temple in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district on August 4.