NAB arrests three more in mines case after PTI minister Sibtain Khan
LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday arrested three more accused in Chiniot mines and minerals case. On Friday, NAB arrested Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf (PTI) member provincial assembly and Minister of Punjab for Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Mohammad Sibtain Khan in the same case. The allegation being probed by NAB is about awarding illegal contracts amounting to billions of rupees in Chiniot in 2007 when Sibtain was the provincial minister of Punjab for mines and minerals. The arrested suspects include secretary mines and minerals Imtiaz Ahmed, former GM Aslam and chief inspector mines Punjab Abdul Sattar. He served a Provincial Minister of Punjab for Prison from 1990 to 1993.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 17:15 UTC
Moot stresses women’s role in freedom of religion
During the roundtable, the speakers shared their valuable insight while pointing out challenges and constraints hindering equal rights of women in freedom of religion. During the discussion, the speakers highlighted that how efforts towards gender mainstreaming were affected by rigid context and misconceptions regarding women’s role in the freedom of religion. They also discussed role of main stakeholders who can play vital role in fostering women’s role and participation in the freedom of religion. In addition, they discussed role of the civil society, academicians and religious leaders in improving and streamlining women’s participation and the gender mainstreaming in the religious freedom. They also emphasized the key role of the government and its institutions in terms of improving women’s participation in the freedom of faith.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 16:18 UTC
CPEC to turn AJK into Pakistan’s ‘economic engine’: Masood
AJK president urges academia, media to effectively counter-negate campaign against the CPEC initiativeMUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has stressed upon the need to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to turn the liberated territory into ‘economic engine’ of Pakistan through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related projects. The conference was also addressed by AJK University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Kalim Abbasi and Director (Strategy) Special Economic Zones Hassan N Ansari among others. Sardar Masood Khan said that feasibility study including environmental study, topographic survey and other technical formalities for the Mirpur special economic zone have already been completed and handed over to the Chinese officials. Special incentives have been offered by the AJK government for investment in Mirpur economic zone, he added. He said that the government was trying to ensure speedy development works in special economic zones, resolve environmental issues on priority basis, and to take on board the local industrialists and small business.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 18, 2019 16:18 UTC
Morgan sets new sixes record as England run riot against Afghanistan
LONDON: England captain Eoin Morgan set a new world record for most sixes in a one-day international innings as the World Cup hosts piled up 397 for six against Afghanistan on Tuesday. Morgan hit 17 sixes in his career-best 148 at Old Trafford, with England’s total of 25 sixes also a new world record. Morgan’s tally surpassed the record of 16 sixes in an ODI innings previously shared by India’s Rohit Sharma, South Africa’s AB de Villiers and West Indies’ Chris Gayle. A visibly annoyed Bairstow walked off having been in command during a 99-ball innings that featured eight fours and three sixes. But the sixes kept coming, with Moeen Ali setting a new team record when he launched the penultimate delivery of the innings, from Zadran, over long-on.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 16:07 UTC
Secy Pompeo blocks inclusion of Saudis on US child soldiers list: sources
The Saudi government, Saudi embassy in Washington and Saudi-led coalition did not respond to requests for comment. The coalition has previously said it was upholding international human rights standards and denied the use of child soldiers. The office has a key role in investigating the use of child soldiers worldwide.”The United States condemns the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers. The child soldiers list will be part of the State Department’s annual global Trafficking in Persons report, which the sources said is expected to be released as early as Thursday. Almost from the start, accusations of the use of child soldiers have dogged the parties to the bloody conflict.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 16:07 UTC
Bureaucratic privileges during an austerity drive
How bureaucrats retain their privilegesThe province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since long remained the stage for international conspiracies, politics and natural calamities. Such an emergency like situation has resulted in a deterioration in the quality of governance, weakened public service delivery and resultantly, the life of ordinary citizens became more difficult. This approach towards development is a clear violation of the austerity measures scheme of the Prime Minister. The concept of public service delivery would remain a myth until we change this sort of attitude. Executive Allowance: Recently the bueaucrats in the province were given executive allowance, due to which their salaries were more than doubled.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:56 UTC
Reality check on state of economy
Remedying the errors of the pastFor sustained economic growth it is imperative for any economy to achieve macroeconomic stability. Unfortunately that element has been missing all along in Pakistan, with the result that the economy experienced frequent phases of boom and economic melt-down. The 4.7 percent growth was surely an improvement on the 3 percent GDP growth rate on which the economy was stagnating by the end of 2013. Consequently when the present government came into power it inherited an economy which faced large fiscal and current account deficits and unmanageable debt liabilities. The ideal situation is when the country relies solely on indigenous resources to achieve proper economic growth.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:56 UTC
Social costs of PTI’s vindictiveness
Pakistani society in a pressure cookerThe unending vitriol and fury on the part of the PM has infected the entire PTI leadership. Earlier, everyone who thought differently from the party was labeled as a lackey of the PML-N or PPP. Journalists who dissent from the official narrative are feeling the brunt of the well organised social media trolls who heap insults and hurl threats on those who dare to differ with the government policies. Cases are being instituted against independent judges while social media trolls freely spread defamatory content about them. Once the thinking takes roots among the ruling party, stormtroopers kicking down doors are not far away.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:56 UTC
Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner remembered for his academic contributions
LAHORE: Speakers at a seminar at the Government College University Lahore have paid glowing tributes to the great educationist, Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner Ph.D., L.L.D., D.O.L. “It’s very unfortunate that our youth knows not much about this great man who founded premier educational institutions such as Government College Lahore, Oriental College, Law College, Punjab University, etc. Dr. Ikram Chughtai said, Dr. Leitner had great convincing power and could speak and wrote more than 25 languages and dialects, and could recite the Holy Quran by memory. GCU Dean Prof Dr. Sultan Shah shed light on Dr. Lietner’s knowledge and love for Islam. These documents also included the appointment letter of Dr. Leitner as the Principal of Government College Lahore.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:33 UTC
China’s military commander calls on PM
by Staff Report , (Last Updated 3 hours ago)ISLAMABAD: Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force of China General Han Weiguo called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Prime Minister Office on Tuesday, local media reported. In the high-profile meeting, matters related to enhancing collaboration between the military of Pakistan and China came under discussion. Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood and high-ups of Pakistan army were present during the meeting. Later, president Dr. Arif Alvi conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon General Han Weiguo in a special ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:33 UTC
NAB deputy chief Hussain Asghar to head loan corruption probe
This was stated by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shehzad Akbar while addressing a joint press conference with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan after the federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The special assistant said that the commission would also find out whether public office-holders and their dependents were the beneficiaries of the massive debt. Firdous said the media did not accurately report the amount allocated for Prime Minister House in the new budget. She said that the previous budget allocated to Prime Minister House was Rs1.10 billion. “The prime minister took the cabinet into confidence regarding the upcoming visit of Qatar’s emir to Pakistan.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:22 UTC
COMSATS University to remain closed till Friday due to faculty’s boycott
They complained that the administration issued show cause notices to senior faculty members and had also suspended some faculty members in the past. In the first circular, it was stated that the academic activity at COMSATs Islamabad shall remain suspended for June 18, 2019. However later in another circular, it was stated Comsats university Islamabad Campus shall remain closed from June 19 to 21, 2019 (Wednesday to Friday); however, CUI, Principal Seat shall remain open. Rector CUI, Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar said that some faculty members closed down COMSATS University for seeking job confirmation. He said that the university administration exercised restraint with the hope to improve the situation while the disgruntled faculty members chanted slogans and damaged university property.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:11 UTC
PM Imran likely to visit US in couple of months, says Naeemul Haque
LAHORE: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Naeemul Haque on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to pay a visit to the United States in “one to two months”. Addressing a press conference, Naeemul Haque said that PM Imran has decided to stay at the ambassador’s home during his US visit in order to set an example of austerity for avoiding hefty expenditures while staying at hotels there. The special assistant also confirmed that Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is visiting Pakistan next week and he will announce $20 billion investment during his upcoming visit. “They [opposition leaders] have made a decision for barricading the federal government to move ahead. If you are serious for the empowerment of democracy, then an agreement on a code of conduct should be signed for the continuation of NA session,” he said
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:00 UTC
Fake accounts can’t be opened without help from bank officials, says CJP
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa on Tuesday said that opening of fake accounts is not possible without the involvement of bank officials. The CJP passed the statement while hearing a case related to opening of fake accounts. During the hearing, the CJP said that carrying out transactions through fake accounts is a huge crime. The lawyer of the accused said that his client had opened accounts in different branches of the same bank. CJP Khosa said that the suspect’s signatures were present in all the opening forms and he was involved in all the transactions.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 15:00 UTC
Ruckus mars NA budget session yet again
Speaking on the floor of the House before the session was postponed, Shehbaz said that the PML-N had significantly improved the national economy during its five-year tenure. The deputy speaker adjourned the session for 20 minutes and told the lawmakers to resolve their issues before the session resumed. It is worth mentioning here that this was the fourth sitting of the ongoing session which was adjourned without any meaningful discussion on the budget. “Under the rules of this House, speaker cannot refuse to issue the production orders for arrested MNAs during a budget session,” the former premier added. “The rules of production order did not even exist back then.”Asif also decried that non-issuing of the production order is against the supremacy of democracy and disrespect of Parliament.
Source:Pakistan Today
June 18, 2019 14:51 UTC