Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar administered the oath to the new chief justice.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, members of the provincial cabinet and other dignitaries were also present at the oath-taking ceremony.
Justice Shamim is the 48th chief justice of the Lahore High Court.
Talking to Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem on telephone, he said Turkey wants to establish relations with Islamabad in the field of Law also.
He appreciated the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding control of Pak-Turk educational institutions in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem said the government has a clear and positive thoughts about relations between the two countries.
Fifty-seven of the victims were reported in the eastern region of Bicol, located south of the main island of Luzon, civil defence officials said on Monday. Eleven others died in the nearby region of Eastern Visayas.
Twelve people were also injured in various accidents in the two regions most affected by the rains even days before the tropical depression - known locally as Usman - made landfall in Eastern Samar province on Saturday.
"I am afraid this (death toll) will still go up because there are a lot of areas we still have to clear," said Claudio Yucot, Bicol civil defence director.
More than 22,000 people were displaced by the bad weather, which also knocked out electricity in many of the affected areas, regional civil defence officials said.
Search and rescue operations were ongoing for the missing, while emergency teams were also clearing some roads and bridges made impassable by landslides and floods.
Meanwhile, thousands of passengers were stranded at seaports, airports and bus terminals as dozens of inter-island trips were cancelled.
The tropical depression weakened into a low-pressure area, but was continuing to bring heavy rains over the eastern provinces, enhanced by a cold front and the northeast monsoon, the weather bureau said.
The bad weather would also affect the capital, Manila, and other parts of the country, which could dampen usually rowdy New Year's Eve celebrations.
Each year, the Philippines is struck by an average of 20 cyclones causing floods, landslides and other accidents.
One of the strongest in recent memory, Typhoon Haiyan, hit the country in November 2013, killing more than 6,300 people and displacing more four million others.
“Our New Year resolution is to wage jihad against the four ills of our country: poverty, illiteracy, injustice and corruption,” the premier tweeted.
“InshaAllah 2019 is the beginning of Pakistan's golden era.”
Our New Year resolution is to wage jihad against the 4 ills of our country: poverty, illiteracy, injustice and corruption. InshaAllah 2019 is the beginning of Pakistan's golden era.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 1, 2019
President Dr Arif Alvi sent wishes to the entire nation and said that he prays Pakistan keeps moving towards prosperity.
“I wish a Happy New Year to everyone and pray that Allah offers you and your family success and happiness.
I also pray that Pakistan keeps moving towards prosperity so that poverty and unemployment are eliminated from the country,” the president said
میں آپکو نئے سال کی مبارکباد پیش کرتا ہوں اس دعا کے ساتھ کہ اللہ آپکو اور آپکے گھر والوں کو کامیابیاں اور خوشیاں عنایت کرے ۔ میری یہ بھی دعا ہے کہ پاکستان ترقی کی راہ پر گامزن رہے تاکہ میرے ملک میں غربت مفلسی اور بے روزگاری کا خاتمہ ہو ۔ آمین
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) January 1, 2019
The federal minister was addressing a press conference, where he criticised the PPP chairman for claiming that if Zardari permitted then the party can overthrow the federal government.
“The foundation of the Sindh government is weak, it’s shaking, which is why they think we are bringing a change in the province… We don’t want to interfere at all,” said Chaudhry.
He said that Zardari and Nawaz Sharif want that the government changes the definition of corruption.
He claimed that Zardari had a network in Sindh and Nawaz in Punjab, adding that they had a Code of Conduct to save each other’s back.
Speaking to the press after expressing his condolence to the family of Late Syed Ali Raza Abidi, Bilawal said that it appears along with governance the PTI doesn’t even know simple math.
“I have got 99 seats in Sindh. They need 49 members to topple the Sindh government,” he remarked.
The PPP leader called the recently submitted Joint Investigative Report, ‘a pack of lies and fabrication’.
“The nexus between government and the JIT has been exposed now. We will challenge the JIT report before the court of law,” he said. “We will foil every conspiracy.”
The PPP leader said that those who want the mass issues to not be resolved desires to see Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah replaced.
“The people of Sindh won’t let the chief minster changed,” he said.
Meanwhile, PTI’s provincial lawmaker Khurrum Sher Zaman submitted an adjournment motion in the Sindh assembly, calling for a discussion on the findings of a Joint Investigation Team report in the money laundering and fake accounts case in the next session.
The adjournment motion presented in the assembly stated that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has misused his power by offering his assistance in serious criminal activities. The chief minister intentionally provided unlawful benefits to the Omni Group at the expense of the people of Sindh, the motion added.
“Our prime demand is to replace Murad Ali Shah," he said.
The PTI leader alleged that the Sindh chief minister even gave temples' estate to his aides as a gift.
"The province was given to the chief minister as a responsibility, he turned out to be a facilitator for the Omni Group,” he said.
Zaman said that he would want to see the next chief minister from the original PPP rather than from Zardari’s one, adding that the JIT report on Uzair Baloch and Nasir Morai should be public in the coming days.
As per details, people resorted to aerial firing to celebrate the new year in Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Lyari, Cantt Station, Old Sabzi Mandi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Garden, FB Area, Airport, North Karachi, Tariq Road and other areas of the city.
Police said a seven-year old girl and two women got injured owing to aerial firing in the Ayesha Manzil area.
Those injured in the aforesaid areas were shifted to various hospitals for medical attention.
The Sindh government had imposed a ban on aerial firing, firecrackers, and display of weapons to prevent any untoward incident in the city.
Officials in Burkina Faso announced Monday that President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is declaring a state of emergency in northern provinces following intensified attacks from terrorist groups in the area.
"The president has decided to declare a state of emergency in certain provinces of Burkina Faso," Communications Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou said after a special cabinet meeting. "He has also given instructions for specific security measures across the country."
Names of the provinces where the state of emergency will go into effect will be named in a forthcoming presidential decree. The measure gives security forces extra powers to search homes and restrict freedom of movement.
Intensified militant attacks in Sahel states
Since 2015, the West African country has seen an increase in militant attacks on its northern border to Mali. Most recently, ten gendarmes were killed last week in a gunfire ambush in the Sourou province while responding to a school blaze. The al-Qaida linked umbrella militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
JNIM claimed responsibility for four other attacks that took place in 2018, including one in the capital Ouagadougou in March that killed 8 security officials and wounded scores more. JNIM, another militant group, are believed to be responsible for more than 255 deaths over the past three years.
"The diffuse, cross-border nature of the terrorist threat" poses a security threat to authorities in Burkina Faso, Dandjinou added.
Militant groups are attempting to increase their influence across the semi-arid Sahel region just south of the Sahara desert. The attacks and the reprisals by Burkinabe security forces have caused thousands to flee their homes, Human Rights Watch reported in May.
In 2013, France intervened militarily in Mali, Burkina Faso's neighbor, in an attempt to push back militants who had seized territory in the former French colony.
Last week Burkina Faso's security minister, Clement Sawadogo, had urged people to be cautious during New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31.
Well, today we have a story from India. And no, it's not a story about saints, wisdom, and yoga. It's the story of an ATM with an extraordinary guest: a rat.
This incident, according to Hindustan Times, took place in the town of Tinsukia, Assam, North-East India.
In a world where humans are at one another’s throats for money, a measly rat has managed to evade security, enter an ATM vestibule, invade the teller machine and chew up nearly $17k.
Really Size doesn’t matter!! What a rat this is! Rat-bitten bank notes worth Rs 12 lakh 38 thousand. Torn notes and dead rat found inside ATM in Tinsukia Assam. Rat found dead before little one could bite remaining Rs 17 lakh 10 thousand. pic.twitter.com/3Omns7gAZH
— Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi ?? (@NANDANPRATIM) June 18, 2018
As Reuters reported, the rat chewed up something approximately 12 lakh rupees causing the ATM to be out of order, baffling bank technicians and customers alike. The machine had been the subject of numerous technical complaints thanks to its not dispensing money for over 12 days.
The things with small Indian towns like Tinsukia is that despite the government’s attempts at digitizing money and transactions, cash still plays a significant role in the economy.
It was after the machine was opened up that people found the shredded confetti of notes.
The only adjective that brings justice to this scene is poetic, or fable-esque. Such a statement on the human condition, so full of greed and running after money in this proverbial rat-race called life.
A fable of Aesopian standards itself, it ended on a moral note too: the poor rat died inside the teller machine itself, after devouring a multitude of notes.
The corpse was already half-withered when taken out.
Truth Theory
US Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, a fierce critic of Donald Trump, took the first step towards running for the presidential office in 2020 by opening an exploratory committee on Monday.
Warren released a video on her Twitter account explaining her motivation to move towards a presidential candidacy. In it, she described her family history and her vision of equal opportunity for all Americans.
Every person in America should be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, & take care of themselves & the people they love. That’s what I’m fighting for, & that’s why I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. I need you with me: https://t.co/BNl2I1m8OX pic.twitter.com/uXXtp94EvY
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 31, 2018
"No matter where you live in American, and no matter where your family came from in the world, you deserve a path to opportunity," she said.
Warren, who has fought for consumer protection, describes herself as a defender of the ordinary American against the interests of the wealthy and powerful.
"America's middle class is under attack," she said the video. "How did we get here? Billionaires and big corporations decided they wanted more of the pie, and they enlisted politicians to cut them a fatter slice."
Exploratory committee explained
An exploratory committee is normally the first step that a person takes in deciding to run for elected office. It is seen as a way to "test the waters" as to whether an individual should campaign or not.
The exploratory committee will allow Warren, a liberal from the northeast state of Massachusetts, to begin fundraising for an eventual candidacy.
Exploratory money can be raised without requiring full disclosure of donors, as is required for a declared candidate. Donation limits sill apply, however, if a candidacy is later officially declared.
Contributions and expenditures undertaken during the exploratory phase must be reported. Donations or expenditures of more than $5,000 (€4,370) during an exploratory phase automatically trigger candidacy.
In an email to supporters, Warren said she'd more formally announce a campaign plan early in 2019, the AP news agency reported. She currently has $12.5 million left over from her 2018 re-election campaign that she could use in a run for president, AP said.
The Democratic field is expected to be well packed in the primary race for 2020 as party politicians attempt to unseat Trump. Julian Castro, a former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, who also served in the Obama administration, said earlier this month that he would also be launching an exploratory committee. Meanwhile, outgoing Maryland democratic representative John Delaney officially announced his campaign for president in 2017.
The Democratic and Republican primaries will be held in the first months of 2020 on different dates in different states, while the general election is scheduled for November 3.
Sharp critic of Trump
Warren has sparred with Trump over policy such as healthcare, as well as over more personal attacks.
Trump disparaged Warren's Native American heritage, which she can trace through DNA back six to ten generations, by calling her "Pocahontas." The name refers to the well-known daughter of a powerful regional chief who had close ties with colonial settlers during the 17th century. The release of her DNA report spurred broader controversy over her claim to ancestry.
Warren grew up in a working-class family. Prior to entering politics, she was a public school teacher and a lawyer.
“In our national pursuit for a peaceful, prosperous & vibrant Pakistan, 2019 is year of progress,” said the DG in a Twitter post on Monday evening.
In our national pursuit for a peaceful, prosperous & vibrant Pakistan, 2019 is year of progress. United we shall consolidate our successes,IA. May Allah continues His blessings upon us. Amen.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) December 31, 2018
Salute to resilient Pakistanis & Martyrs.
??#YearOfProgress2019#ہمیں_آگے_ہی_جانا_ہے pic.twitter.com/RkcHvfwr9m
“United we shall consolidate our successes, IA,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said. “May Allah continue His blessings upon us. Amen. Salute to resilient Pakistanis & Martyrs.”
On December 22, Army chief General Qamar Javed Bawja advised future military leaders to be able to gauge the enemy’s latest moves and be ready to respond even when a ‘surgical strike’ exists only in the enemy’s imagination or when threats appear in cyberspace and not the traditional battlefield or threaten the “country’s ideological frontiers”.
He cautioned that the subversive phase of the unannounced war against Pakistan has been initiated by the country’s enemies even as efforts are made to tackle the terrorism and sabotage phase.
Reiterating the armed forces’ resolve to maintain peace in the country, the army chief regretted that the youth of the nation is being targetted by a hybrid campaign – at times by protagonists who are “our own people”.
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is set to fly past a mysterious object nicknamed Ultima Thule (TOO-lee) at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday. It will become the most distant world ever explored by humankind.
The flyby comes 3½ years after New Horizons swung past Pluto and yielded the first close-ups of the dwarf planet.
This time, the drama will unfold 4 billion miles (6.5 billion kilometers) from Earth, so far away it will be 10 hours before flight controllers in Laurel, Maryland, know whether the spacecraft survived the close encounter.
Lead scientist Alan Stern said Monday the team has worked years for this moment and now, “it’s happening!!”
16:00 Although the Lunar New Year is still king in China, revelers gathered in Hong Kong for a massive fireworks display marking the arrival of 2019. In Beijing, celebrities attended a VIP gala dedicated to the 2022 Winter Games. President Xi Jingping addressed the nation before the evening news, saying that his government "sent out China's voice" into the world.
The celebrations in China came an hour after Japan welcomed the 2019 with a bout between American boxer Floyd Mayweather and Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa. The 41-year-old American defeated the local champion in less than three minutes.
15:47 Berlin opened its party mile which starts at the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate and stretches some two kilometers (1.24 miles) west to the Victory Column. The party is set to start in a few short hours, with city officials promising "live bands, DJs and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight." British pop singer Bonnie Tyler is also set to perform.
14:00 Brisbane celebrated New Year's an hour later than Sydney — even though Brisbane is located 2 degrees longitude east of Sydney.
13:00 Tens of thousands have gathered in Sydney despite stormy conditions to witness the city's spectacular fireworks show for New Year's.
Organizers say it will be the most expensive celebration ever at 6 million Australian dollars ($4.2 million, €3.7 million). The 12-minute show was to feature 100,000 pyrotechnics and culminate at midnight with "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," a song made famous by the recently deceased Aretha Franklin.
12:00 Most of the remaining island Oceanic nations have now bid farewell to 2018.
11:00 Fiji, Tuvalu, and half of New Zealand have now joined in on the festivities. Fireworks were shot from the top of the Sky tower in downtown Auckland, New Zealand to ring in the new year.
#HNY from #Auckland #Newzealand @skytower pic.twitter.com/aF2MXRjJts
— VoyageToTheHeart (@UnifiedLove) December 31, 2018
Anadyr, the easternmost town in Russia, has also entered 2019.
10:00 Samoa has become the first full country to enter the new year. Fireworks exploded over the Samoan capital of Apia for locals and tourists who timed their visit to enter 2019 before anyone else.
The Pacific nation shifted to the zone west of the international date line eight years ago, jumping forward 24 hours and wiping out December 30, 2011.
The island of Kiritimati, part of the group of islands that makes up Kiribati, and Tokelau, an island territory belonging to New Zealand, were also among the first islands to enter the new year.
An American man suspected of espionage was arrested in Moscow on December 28, Russia's domestic security service (FSB) said in a statement on Monday.
The FSB said the man was caught "during an espionage operation" without giving further details. A criminal case has been opened against him under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, which allows for prison sentences of up to 20 years.
The state-run TASS news agency identified the man as Paul Whelan. The US Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment.
Russia has been entangled in multiple spy scandals in the West. Russian agents are suspected of poisoning former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. A Russian national, Maria Butina, was also convicted in the United States for acting as an illegal foreign agent.
Tensions between Moscow and Washington have intensified since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Since then, the US and other countries have imposed various sanctions against Russian officials, companies and banks. The US is also investigating whether Russia interfered in US elections in 2016.
According to notification issued on Monday, petrol price has been slashed by Rs4.86 per litre, whereas the price of High Speed Diesel has also been decreased by Rs 4.26 per litre.
The prices of kerosene oil and light diesel oil has also been reduced by Rs52 paisas and Rs2.16 respectively.
So the new price of HSD will be Rs106.68 per liter, SKO Rs82.98 per liter and LDO Rs75.28 per liter.
The new price of petrol will be Rs90.97 per liter.
On Friday, Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had submitted a summary to the petroleum division recommending that the petrol prices should be decreased by at least Rs9.50 per liter starting from January 1, 2019.
According to OGRA sources, the regulatory authority had forwarded a summary to the petroleum division suggesting a cut of at least Rs9.50 in the oil prices.
The summary had also referred to other petroleum products whose prices should be decreased under monthly readjustment formula.
It was recommended that the rate of high speed diesel be decreased by Rs15 per liter and kerosene oil Rs25 paisa per liter, while the rate of light diesel price proposed to be decreased by Rs2 per liter.
OGRA had submitted details of the proposed summary to the petroleum division and subsequently the decision over new prices will be taken after approval of the prime minister.
In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian forces as usual deliberately targeted civilian population, resultantly a woman was martyred and nine others including two women and three children sustained injuries.
Pakistan Army troops gave befitting response and targeted Indian army post that initiated fire on civil population.
In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 330 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the martyrdom of 14 innocent civilians and injuries to 65 others.
This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations.
In August 2017, Myanmar's army torched Rohingya villages and killed hundreds of civilians as retribution for Muslim Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) rebel attacks on police and army posts.
According to the UN refugee aid organization UNHCR, some 700,000 Rohingya fled across the border into Bangladesh as a result. There they joined some 300,000 Rohingya that had fled to Bangladesh prior to that, some even decades before. The new arrivals spoke of atrocities: displacement, murder and rape. The UN called it "ethnic cleansing." Myanmar's government has denied the accusations to this day. An independent investigation of the area with all sides participating has yet to take place.
Ongoing emergency situation
Most refugees have been in the camps for at least a year and are trying their best to organize their lives. Jennifer Bose, whose aid organization Care International tends to some 11,000 refugees each day in the Kutupalong refugee camp, tells Deutsche Welle: "The situation is not quite as chaotic as it was in early 2018, but it's still catastrophic. The people still lack everything. It remains an emergency aid situation." Aid organizations supply the bare necessities: Food, shelter, basic medical and psychological care. More is just not possible, as Bose says: "The sheer number of people overwhelms the capacity of most aid organizations."
Almost everything that is done in the camps has the air of a temporary measure, Bose stresses: "We have a transitional situation in which no one knows what will happen to the refugees and where they will end up."
Intentional lack of integration
That uncertainty is no coincidence. Rather, it is a result of the political dynamics that Francis Wade described in his book "The Enemy Within," which documents the anti-Muslim unrest that gripped Myanmar in 2012. Wade tells DW that the Rohingya are a stateless people, therefore no government feels responsible for their welfare. Secondly, Wade says they have fled to an already densely-populated area marked by poverty and a lack of resources.
That is also why the government of Bangladesh has opted to house the Rohingya in camps, separated from the rest of the population. As Wade says, the provisional solution is being upheld because the government wants to avoid any integration: "Firstly, it wants to keep mass immigration from further inflaming already tense communal relations. Secondly, there is no data as to how quickly a million people can be integrated into society." Wade says the government is also justified in its fears of radicalization: "I can understand why the government is putting refugees in camps, but that isn't a long-term solution, because ultimately the people are imprisoned."
In this context one should mention ongoing talks of repatriation, even though no one with any understanding of the situation puts any faith in them. Many Rohingya refugees told DW they are in favor of returning, but only if granted citizenship and "if justice is served" — whatever that might mean. Still, Wade says the mood in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State is so toxic that a safe return is out of the question any time soon. "There have been no attempts by Myanmar's security services or any other political or religious authority to prevent future violence or deal with the underlying structural problems."
Last stop Bangladesh
Thus, as Wade sees it there is no alternative: "Most likely the Rohingya will stay in Bangladesh. It would be best if the government would continue to house them, with help from international aid organizations and the UN, until a better solution can be found. I can't say when that day will come, I don't think anyone can."
Jennifer Bose of Care International also assumes the Rohingya will be dependent upon outside help for some time to come, and they will need it in Bangladesh: "It is a macabre game of ping-pong between the governments, not just in Bangladesh and Myanmar, but throughout the whole region."
Bose also points out that the situation requires structures be created to ensure some sort of basic employment or education opportunities. Yet, that seems unlikely with things as they are now. Therefore, the provisional situation will remain in place. That also means: "Every day without a school is another lost day for children in the camp."
"All we demand is the resignation of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah," Chaudhry said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. "We never said that governor rule should be imposed in Sindh. Media did report it as such but then it has its own way of dealing with issues.
"We have decided [not to endorse] the impression that we are changing the government in Sindh. All we say is that Murad Ali Shah should be relieved of his post. Our two ministers had also tendered resignations when charges against them had materialized."
"The mandate for this change is with the Sindh Assembly representatives, and I am glad that they are amping up the pressure on the chief minister [to resign]."
The squash legend said lack of fitness was the main reason why Pakistani players could not make the most of the numerous international events at home by winning titles.
“Our players are skillful and there is a need to work on their fitness,” said Jansher.
“I have been witnessing Pakistani players don’t have the stamina and speed, essential for winning mega international events,” he said.
Jansher said more work should be put in players’ coaching and a higher number of qualified coaches should be involved in the game to groom players.
“If our players want to be champions, they have to focus on their fitness.
They have to give their full time to game,” he said.
Jansher said it was commendable for Pakistan to host several international events this year.
He said that current prime minister of the country, Imran Khan who himself has been a sportsman and the armed forces will keep on playing their respective roles for the betterment and excellence of squash.
He also hailed the special role played by Chief of Air Staff Mujahid Anwar Khan for his support in the restoration and revival of international squash by holding mega international tournaments of squash in Pakistan.
The championship is being organised by Higher Education Commission under the auspices of Pakistan Handball Federation.
The event which will be played at Agriculture University Faisalabad and Women University Faisalabad, will continue till 4th of next month.
IHC has reserved the verdict on maintainability of a plea against the appointment of Shehbaz Sharif as chairman of the Public Accountability Committee.
The verdict is likely to be announced today. The petitioner’s counsel contended that a big problem has emerged in the parliamentary history of the country.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that Shehbaz Sharif is innocent until the case is proved against him in the court. “It is an internal matter of the parliament. The constitution calls for assuring supremacy of the constitution,” he remarked.”
He asked the petitioner to approach the elected representative of his constitution for its resolution in the parliament. “It is a political matter. We cannot ignore Article 69 of the Constitution,” he remarked.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked that the speaker has the authority to call any assembly member.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed strategy for consultation with allies in Sindh.
On the occasion, PM Imran assured to resolve the issue of people living in the province.
It is to be mentioned here that Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit Karachi to initiate his ‘mission Sindh’ where he is expected to meet prominent politicians.
The information minister will attempt to persuade Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leaders and put forth the government’s point of view.
Furthermore, he will also conduct meetings with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Ghaus Baksh Mahar, Ameer Baksh Bhutto, Ayaz Lateef Palijo and many other politicians.
He will return to Islamabad on Wednesday.
The prime minister who was accompanied by Minister for Health Amir Mehmod Kiani and Special Assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani, asked from the hospital administration regarding the provision of medicines to the patients and other facilities.
He also inquired after the health of the patients under treatment at the hospital.
He took a round of various sections of the hospital and got briefing from the administration about the facility.
The prime minister lauded the performance of the hospital for efficient arrangements and provision of medical facilities to the people. He directed the administration to keep up providing quality medical care to the people.
While taking notice of the aged building of the hospital, the prime minister directed for its facelift and improvement of the infrastructure.
Similarly, on Thursday, the prime minister had also visited PIMS Hospital to examine the facilities for the patients.
During the meeting matters of mutual interest, regional security and enhanced bilateral defence cooperation came under discussion.
Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party meeting in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish forces have successfully carried out two counter-terrorist operations in Syria۔
Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.
Rangers Spokesman said snap checking and mobile patrolling have been increased in Karachi and interior Sindh.
There will be complete ban on aerial firing and display of any kind of weapon on the occasion.
During the hearing of money laundering case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar asked why the federal government has included names of 172 accused in ECL.
Name of second biggest province’s chief minister was also placed on the list, he added.
The top judge said that this step is against the individual freedom that is the right of every citizen.
The court has also summoned Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman in personal capacity.
Meanwhile, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) lawyer Faisal Siddiqui told that the team has suggested to file National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference against the accused. JIT neither proved anyone guilty nor declared anyone innocent, he added.
Earlier, JIT report revealed that Omni group established 11 fake companies to operate 16 accounts in Summit Bank, eight in Sindh Bank and five in UBL.
The report further exposed that the fake entities used Park Lane Company, which is owned by former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as their business addresses in their account opening forms.
According to the facts mentioned in the report, Rs8 billion transaction had been made in the bank account of Asif Zardari’s close aide Mushtaq Ahmad.
He visited 80 countries along with the PPP co-chairman and has been living abroad.
The former president had presented Mushtaq as his physiotherapist, the report revealed.
The report further revealed that super model Aayan Ali transferred billions of rupees in her more than 80 visits to overseas countries.
Zardari paid Rs14 billion tax from the account of deceased Idrees, while Idrees’s fake account was operated even after death.
Five fake bank accounts had been opened in the name of Omni group employee Ashraf, while Lucky International’s account was opened under the name of Adnan Computer Hardware and the account of Royal Traders was opened under the name of Ahmad Anoosh.
Dream Trading’s account was opened under the name of Rasheed Rickshawwala.
According to JIT report, four fake bank accounts were opened in the name of Iqbal Arain, who had died May 9, 2014.
As many as 10 fake accounts worth Rs9 billion had been opened in the name of Omni Group employee Umair.
The report revealed that Asif Zardari along with 60 others used Omni Group’s helicopter.
He said the government is neither going to impose Governor rule in Sindh nor abolish 18th amendment.
The Information Minister said Pakistan People’s Party should replace someone else with Murad Ali Shah as Chief Minister of the province because his name has appeared in the JIT report on fake bank accounts case.
He said all allegations against Asif Ali Zardari are documented, urging PPP and PML-N to support transparent investigation in this regard.
Addressing a public meeting in Rawalpindi, he said the government is taking revolutionary steps for promotion of health sector in the country.
He said five new state-of-the-art hospitals would be built in the twin cities to lessen the patients’ load on existing hospitals.
The polling started at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break.
There are 57,675 registered voters in the constituency who will exercise their right of vote today.
The seat fell vacant after the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Ahmed Ali Kohzad, who had won general elections on July 25, was disqualified by Election Commission of Pakistan for being an Afghan national.
According to an election commission spokesperson, 49 polling stations have been set up, of which 28 are for men, 19 for women and two are for both.
All polling stations have been declared ‘sensitive’.
Strict security measures will be in place during the by-poll.
At least 1,443 police officials along with FC personnel will be deployed to maintain peace during the by-poll.
He was talking to Finance Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taimur Khan Jhagra, who called on him in Islamabad.
Taimur Khan briefed the Prime Minister on the steps taken by the provincial government to improve economic condition of the province.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Health Minister Aamir Kiani paid a surprise visit to Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad and inquired about the facilities for patients.
He also inquired about health of under treatment patients in the hospital.
The Prime Minister lauded performance of the hospital for efficient arrangements and provision of medical facilities to the people and directed the administration to keep up providing quality medical care.
A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has summoned replies from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, party president Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and other high-profile individuals named in the JIT report.
The JIT in its report had recommended NAB cases and freezing of assets of the Zardari Group and its front companies.
The report had also suggested that all the persons involved in money laundering be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
In view of the JIT findings, the federal government on Friday released a list of 172 suspects whose names were placed on the no-fly list.
The list included Bilawal, Zardari, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presidents of a number of local banks, and other former ministers and bureaucrats.
In its interim order on December 29, the Supreme Court directed the concerned authorities to seize all records pertaining to fake bank accounts and present them before the court.
It also issued orders to freeze all fake bank accounts identified in the JIT report.
The same day, Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed and his son, Abdul Ghani Majeed, submitted a reply in the apex court declaring themselves innocent and requested it to dismiss the JIT report.
The case
The Federal Investigation Agency is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur.
Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
PM Imran Khan on Friday had said that “since yesterday have been hearing hue and cry from Sindh,” in an apparent jibe aimed at the PPP whose leaders are facing an inquiry in relation to fake accounts.
Bilawal, taking to Twitter, said that indeed Sindh is raising the hue and cry but that these complains are a result of gas loadshedding in Sindh, which “produces the most gas”, as well as blocking of water to the province.
“Sindh is complaining because agriculture and industries are being destroyed,” he said.
He then went on to threaten the PTI that these complaints are quickly snowballing into a “huge roar” which would eventually topple the government.
The two parties came face to face after the PTI started hinting at a leadership change in the provincial government following Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari’s inclusion in the Exit Control List on Friday. The PPP slammed the ECL move and has warned against toppling its government in Sindh.
Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik signed the 80-page verdict in the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) corruption reference.
In the verdict, Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik said that the NAB could not establish former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s relationship with 16 companies in the corruption reference.
However, announcing the verdict in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment (HME) case, the judge convicted Nawaz Sharif and awarded him seven years’ imprisonment and fined him as well.
The defence counsel may apply for an attested copy of the judgment on Monday.
On December 24, Nawaz Sharif had given seven years of jail time in Al-Azizia Reference Case. Although, Accountability Court has acquitted Nawaz Sharif in Flagship Investment Reference.
According to details, Nawaz Sharif has been jailed for seven years by the Accountability Court and also fined Rs. 1.5 Billion in Al-Azizia Steel Mills Case.
During his first visit to Istantul after taking office, the prime minister will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and over all security situation of the region with Turkish leadership.
He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood.
Imran Khan will also address a business forum, and hold several meetings with Turkish businessmen and potential investors during his stay at Ankara.
The premier’s visit will reinforce the historic ties between the governments and the people of the two brotherly countries. The visit will also help to explore new vistas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the area of economic, trade and commercial relations.
According to PTI’s spokesperson PM Imran telephoned him and expressed concerns over the uncertain political scenario in Sindh and accepted Mahar’s invitation to visit Ghotki.
Moreover, the PM is expected to hold key meetings with influential politicians in Sindh.On the other hand, special assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said that a change of leadership in Sindh was inevitable, stressing the need for ‘a new chief minister’ who was not under investigation.
“The provincial government of Sindh was used to launder money, and Murad Ali Shah acted as the facilitator to money launderers and the Zardari Group while he was the chief minister and finance minister,” he remarked.
In a reply to a question, he asserted that the accountability process was a part of democratic norms, and everybody was bound to accept the apex court’s judgement following submission of the report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on money laundering of multi-billion rupees.
The minister said Murad Ali Shah will remain the chief minister of Sindh and the news of a forward bloc are baseless.
He said people are not happy with the PTI government and wanted to get rid of. We can make a big upset in the province if our leadership allowed us, he added.
Shah said the chief minister is enjoying 100 percent confidence of his leadership, adding that we will submit our reply to the court of law and prove the JIT report wrong.
The minister said putting the name of PPP’s leadership on the ECL will be meant to block the development and progress of Sindh province.
According to sources, the meeting is deemed to discuss over the JIT Report and inclusion of names of prominent PPP Leaders in the Exit Control List (ECL).
The meeting is scheduled to commence in the evening at Bilawal House Karachi today. Sources stated that PPP Leaders will prepare certain strategies to counter the issues that may arise after prominent party leaders were made part of ECL.
Also, they’ll prepare a reply to the JIT report submitted in Supreme Court regarding the infamous Mega Money Laundering Scam.
PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari himself will be chairing the session where central and provincial leaders will be taking part in the session.
Legal experts have also been summoned in the special meeting held today at Bilawal House Karachi. Big decisions are expected to be made in today’s meeting of Pakistan People’s Party.
Earlier on December 28, the federal government released a list of 172 suspects whose names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The PTI led Government put the names of all 172 accused in multi-billion rupee fake accounts scam on the exit control list. The list includes Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, Bilawal Bhutto, CM Murad Ali Shah and several Sindh ministers.
Speaking to media in Islamabad, Shah said Prime Minister Imran Khan is creating uncertainty and a crisis situation in the country. “He [Imran Khan] has done nothing except arrest politicians. He is being asked to do things which no other politician would do.”
Responding to a question regarding Bilawal’s arrest, Shah said that a lot of courage is needed to arrest him. “It is not possible to arrest him but nothing certain can be said about this government.”
"There is no need for in-house change in Sindh because the cases have been made on the bases of assumptions and it is not possible to impose governor’s rule in the province,” the senior PPP leader said. “There is no place for it in the constitution. Governor rule can only be imposed through martial law.”
The former opposition leader in National Assembly added that enforcing governor's rule will not be any better for the country. The constitution provides a guarantee of a strong federation and the country's security would be in jeopardy if the constitution is altered, he pointed out.
Shah further said that efforts are being made to bring a one-party system in the country. “It feels like the country is moving towards the imposition of civilian martial law. The way politics is being done nowadays it seems like one party is being strengthened while others are being weakened,” he added.
The PPP leader claimed that Imran Khan did not come into power through the public's mandate but was brought into power and that everyone is aware of how he came into power.
“Imran Khan is trying to hide his incompetence through frivolous activities. He [Imran] does not want anyone to question him about the promises he made."
Speaking to different delegations at his office, Khan said that the people who looted Sindh will have to be accountable and the PPP president Asif Ali Zardari will fail in his attempt to play the 'Sindh card'.
The PTI leader said that those who had the penchant to level accusations against others have been exposed in front of the people of Pakistan.
"Rather than giving answers on the JIT findings they are hiding away," he said.
Khan sarcastically remarked that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif should be happy that his 'Ali baba and forty thieves' are being taken into account. The Sharif family should prepare a barrack for Zardari now, he added.
The PTI minister’s remarks came a day before Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit Karachi to meet the party leaders amid reports of the governor's rule in the province.
The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.
The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August.
Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
The mobile application will provide services like complaint handling, track and trace, e-commerce, delivery, parcel collect, complaints, tariff, post office locations, postcodes and all relevant information about postal services.
Highlighting accessibility of Pakistan Post with its staff strength, footprints and over a century old legacy and credibility, the federal minister said, “Our postmen visit almost every household of the country, including areas beyond anyone's reach.”
Saeed announced that a pilot project for microfinance loan disbursement will be launched through Pakistan Post.
The department also intends to enter the e-commerce business, he added.
“Pakistan Post has the capacity and commitment to deliver for online vendors for their cash on delivery products with proof of delivery and prompt reconciliation of their payments. Many international web portal operators have shown their interest to enter into the Pakistani market with Pakistan Post as their delivery partner,” Saeed said.
The minister said Pakistan Post was also targeting the parcel export market worth $4 billion, which was currently catered to by the local and international private couriers at exorbitant rates.
The department has made necessary arrangements to target the market with a commitment to deliver internationally in 72 hours and the project would be formally inaugurated by January 15, Saeed added.
Pakistan Post, he said, was also entering into the country's logistics market, which at present was worth $34.2 billion and was growing at a rate of more than 18% per annum.
He said Pakistan Post was expecting up to $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on public-private partnership model for its capacity building in the logistics sector.
“We have almost finalised the details of the agreement with Saudi Arabia at the technical level,” the source said, adding that the remaining issues will be sorted out by the second week of January.
Once the draft has been agreed at the technical level, it will be signed by the ministers of both countries.
The first meeting on the deal at the technical level was held in Islamabad in October.
As per proposed agreement, Pakistan will receive up to $3 billion worth of oil with payment deferred for 365 days in the first year of the agreement in 2018.
The Saudi Fund for Development will act as a third party in the agreement.
How the deal works
Pakistan based refineries will place orders with Saudi Aramco, government owned company for supplying crude oil.
Pakistan has a long term contract with Aramco for supplying 110,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Of these, Pak Arab Refinery Ltd (Parco) has a quota of 60,000bpd while the remaining quota of 50,000bpd is allocated to National Refinery Limited (NRL).
Both Parco and NRL will place orders for import with Aramco.
The Saudi Development Fund will pay in dollars to Aramco.
However, these refineries will deposit an equivalent amount in Pak rupee with State Bank (SBP) here in Pakistan.
The SBP will begin repayments to the Saudi Development Fund 12 months later, with monthly payments.
For example, the January 2019 payment will be made in January 2020.
This arrangement will be in place for a period of three years, with oil imports worth $9bn.
Saudi Arabia had earlier extended a similar special package to Pakistan soon after the nuclear tests of 1998, following which the country faced international sanctions.
Between 1998 and 2002, Pakistan received $3.5bn (Rs190bn at the exchange rate at that time) worth of oil from Saudi Arabia on deferred payment, a major part of which was converted into grant and never repaid.
Deferred oil facility with UAE
According to the source, talks with UAE government are in an advanced stage for a similar agreement of up to $3bn. The conditions attached to deal will be similar to those agreed with Saudi Arabia.
Currently, Pakistan based refineries are importing crude and petroleum products from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) under a long-term contract.
The quantum of imports stands at 75,000bpd.
However, in case of extra demand, Pakistan can also import oil through open tender from UAE.
As per the agreed contract, Parco imports 39,000bpd crude oil, followed by 29,000bpd by Pakistan Refinery Ltd and 6,500bpd by NRL.
According to the source, the UAE government has not yet nominated a third party for the payment to Adnoc.
However, it is expected to finalise such an arrangement next month, according to the finance ministry official.
At the moment, no formal agreement on deferred oil facility with UAE has yet been exchanged.
In the year 2017-18, Pakistan’s fuel imports both oil and LNG reached to $16bn despite fall in oil prices owing to rising consumption in the transport sector.
The overall, liquid foreign currency reserves held by the country, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, stood at $14,017.8 million.
Net reserves held by banks amounted to $6,560.5m.
Reportedly, he spoke to the media during his visit to Layari area of Karachi.
“Those who are talking about making a forward bloc in the Sindh Assembly should be reminded that their government has a lead of only four votes in the parliament,” he said.
He termed the results of 2018 General Elections as false and ‘stolen’, and claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government could not resolve core issues of the general public in the first five months of its tenure, rather it has triggered ‘tsunami’ in the country.
“How can you change chief minister of Sindh?” he asked, adding that inquiries were also being conducted against Prime Minister Imran Khan and KP’s chief minister, so they should have also been ousted from power.
“PPP has already faced such cases in the past,” he said, adding that the party was not afraid of these tactics.
He further lamented the federal government, and asserted that the PTI could not form government in Sindh through democratic norms.
"Why is India stealing our water?" the Justice Nisar enquired, asserting, "We will not let India steal Pakistan's water."
He added that the court would "not allow water to be stolen from poor farmers from the Abasia Link Canal."
He explained that stealing water from them was "synonymous to sucking their blood".
The chief justice asked if the Punjab government was aware of whether India was stealing water from the Ravi river, and if so, what steps had been taken to remedy the situation.
The secretary, Murtaza, replied that water was not being stolen by India, to which the chief justice ordered that an operation be conducted by the Irrigation Department and police against those who steal water.
"We will not let anyone be exploited. Cases should be registered against those who steal water in Pakistan," Justice Nisar thundered, adding that Murtaza should tell those in power that this was the top judge's warning.
The FBR in its supplementary bill draft has recommended an increase in the tax duty on imported luxury cars, and uniformity on General Sales Tax on all items.
The department has also recommended an increase in sales tax from 5 percent to 22 percent.
The FBR has suggested a decrease in the customs duty on the raw materials to be used in the export-oriented industries.
Finance Minister Asad Umar, earlier, presented the supplementary finance bill in the National Assembly in September, announcing cuts in planned development spending and a tax increase for higher earners.
"The country stands at the same place where it was after five years," the finance minister had lamented, adding that the fiscal deficit might reach to 7.2 per cent [2,900 billion rupees] in FY19.
Umar had also recalled that the current account deficit increased from 2.5 billion dollars in 2012-13 to 18 billion dollars in FY18.
"In the five-year term of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government, foreign debt increased by 34 billion dollars, while foreign exchange reserves continued to decline speedily," Umar said.
Hasina's main rival is former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), deemed ineligible by a court from running for office because she is in prison for corruption.
The two women have been in and out of power and prison for decades.
In Zia's absence, opposition parties have formed a coalition led by Kamal Hossain, an 82-year-old Oxford-educated lawyer and former member of Hasina's Awami League party.
The election campaign has been marred by allegations from the opposition of arrests and jailing of thousands of Hasina opponents.
At least a dozen people were killed in campaign-related clashes.
Both sides are hoping to avoid a repeat of 2014, when Zia and the BNP boycotted elections and voter turnout in the South Asian nation of 160 million people was only 22 per cent.
More than half of the 300 parliamentary seats were uncontested.
The Awami League's landslide victory was met by violence that left at least 22 people dead.
This time, some 106 million people are eligible to vote, including many young, first-time voters.
While rights groups sound the alarms about the erosion of Bangladesh's democracy, Hasina has promoted a different narrative, highlighting an ambitious economic agenda that has propelled Bangladesh past larger neighbours Pakistan and India by some development measures.
According to PTI’s spokesperson, the PM expressed concerns over the uncertain political scenario in Sindh and accepted Mahar’s invitation to visit Ghotki.
Moreover, the PM is expected to hold key meetings with influential politicians in Sindh.
On the other hand, special assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said that a change of leadership in Sindh was inevitable, stressing the need for ‘a new chief minister’ who was not under investigation.
“The provincial government of Sindh was used to launder money, and Murad Ali Shah acted as the facilitator to money launderers and the Zardari Group while he was the chief minister and finance minister,” he remarked.
In a reply to a question, he asserted that the accountability process was a part of democratic norms, and everybody was bound to accept the apex court’s judgement following submission of the report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on money laundering of multi-billion rupees.
He further revealed that the JIT report has been concluded with substantial evidences, particularly concerning the chief minister facilitating the Omni Group.
At the airport, he was received by high officials of the Qatri Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Pakistan Embassy in Doha.
During his a day long visit, Qureshi is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud and other top Qatari leadership.
The foreign minister is expected to discuss the Afghan peace process, bilateral relations and other important regional and global issues.
Speaking to media before departing for Qatar, Qureshi said that "Pakistan enjoys close relations with Qatar and it is an important country in the Middle-East."
He added that there is a large Pakistani community in Qatar and there are many investment opportunities in the country.
"We will further build on our previously held talks," the foreign minister said.
On December 23, Qureshi embarked on a whirlwind four-nation tour.
During the first leg of his trip, he visited Kabul where he met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.
After Afghanistan, Qureshi visited Tehran where he met his counterpart Javed Zarif and other top officials of the Iranian Foreign Ministry and discussed strengthening cooperation and bilateral relations.
In the third leg of this tour, Qureshi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
He then held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on his trip to Moscow, his last stop on the tour.
The measure is effective immediately, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said on Saturday.
“The decision has been taken to prevent rumors and propaganda surrounding the vote,” Zakir Hussain Khan said.
The bombing is the first deadly attack against foreign tourists in Egypt for over a year and comes as the tourism sector, a vital source of foreign currency revenue, recovers from a sharp drop in visitor numbers since the country’s 2011 uprising.
No immediate claim of responsibility was reported. Militants, including those linked to Daesh, are active in Egypt and have targeted foreign visitors in the past.
At least nine Vietnamese tourists were injured, as well as the Egyptian driver, according to official statements.
The tourists were heading to a sound and light show at the pyramids, which they had visited earlier in the day, said Lan Le, 41, who was also aboard the bus but unhurt.
“We were going to the sound and light show and then suddenly we heard a bomb. It was terrible, people screaming,” she told Reuters, speaking at Al Haram hospital, where the injured were taken. “I don’t remember anything after.”
Egypt’s interior ministry said the bus was hit by an explosion from an improvised device hidden near a wall at around 1815 local time (1615 GMT).
About two hours later the vehicle could be seen behind a police cordon with one of its sides badly damaged and the windows blown out, a Reuters reporter said.
Dozens of police, military and firefighters were at the site, on a narrow sidestreet close to the ring road, where traffic was moving normally.
Shortly afterward, workers brought a pick-up truck to tow the bus away.
An investigator at the scene said the device had likely been planted near the wall.
The interior ministry confirmed the death of two of the tourists, and the state prosecutor’s office later said a third had died. In total, 14 Vietnamese tourists had been traveling on the bus, it said.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told local TV from Al Haram hospital that the guide had died from his injuries. “The bus deviated from the route secured by the security forces,” Madbouly told Extra News channel, an assertion also made by the owner of the company that organised the bus tour.
“We have been in contact with the embassy of Vietnam to contain the impact of the incident, and what is important now is to take care of the injured,” the prime minister said.
The bus driver later told local media he had not deviated from the route.
Egypt’s army and police launched a major campaign against militant groups in February, targeting the Sinai Peninsula as well as southern areas and the border with Libya.
The government says fighting militants is a priority as it works to restore stability after the years of turmoil that followed the “Arab Spring” protests of 2011.
Those events and the bombing of a Russian airliner shortly after it took off from Sharm el Sheikh in 2015 caused tourist numbers to plunge.
The last deadly attack on foreign tourists in Egypt was in July 2017, when two Germans were stabbed to death in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
