Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, a key PDM ally has outright rejected any negotiations with the Imran Khan

Ansar M Bhatti

ISLAMABAD: Efforts have been intensified to convene the All Parties Conference (APC) to evolve a consensus on the general elections. Sources say the PTI Chairman Imran Khan shall also be invited to the APC, which among others, shall also be attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif.

There is a strong view among all stakeholders that elections for the provincial and national assemblies shall take place on the same day. Previously the PTI was not ready to talk to the government but now after constant canvassing it has agreed to sit with the PDM parties provided there is only one point agenda i.e holding of general elections.

Interestingly now the PDM parties do not seem willing to engage with the PTI simply because at the time of the regime change they were told that they would continue to hold office till 2024 without elections. But it seems as if the guarantors are finding it difficult to live up to the PDM expectations because of public pressure channelized by Imran Khan and his party.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, for the past few days, has been very active in helping the politicians reach a consensus on elections. In fact, the idea of the APC was put forth by the Jamaat leadership during its meetings with the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

The JI plans to convene this APC after Eid if all parties agree to these proposals. Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, a key PDM ally, has outright rejected any negotiations with Imran Khan, however PPP, another important partner in the alliance, has already shown flexibility when it comes to political engagement. Ultimately it is the PPP and PML N that would decide about any negotiations or taking part in the APC.

ISLAMABAD, APR 16: A first information report (FIR) has been registered in Islamabad against five suspects involved in the road accident that claimed the life of Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor last night, it emerged on Sunday.

The federal minister and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader had died in a road accident in the capital’s Red Zone area on Saturday evening.

According to the police, the minister, 55, was heading towards Secretariat Chowk on Constitution Avenue when his car was hit by a Hilux vehicle with five passengers on board.

The minister was immediately shifted to the Polyclinic Hospital in a critical condition, but he couldn’t be resuscitated. At the time, police said all the five occupants of the other vehicle had been arrested and shifted to a nearby police station for investigation.

The FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, was filed late on Saturday night at Islamabad’s Secretariat police station on the complaint of Haji Qudratullah under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

In the FIR, Qudratullah said that the minister was visiting his house for Iftar yesterday. He said Mufti Shakoor had left for Parliament Lodges at 8:22pm.

However, the complainant said his cook received a call from Mufti Shakoor’s driver at 10pm regarding the minister’s death. The complainant said that the driver told his cook that the minister was driving his government car, a Toyota Corolla, when a Hilux crashed into it due to the other driver’s “inattentiveness and carelessness”.

Qudratullah noted that as the matter was of a “highly sensitive degree”, “justice should be served” to the victim by “considering every aspect” and taking action against those present in the Hilux.

Late last night, Islamabad police had shared pictures of Islamabad Inspector General Akbar Nasir Khan and Chief Commissioner Muhammad Usman Younus visiting the area where the accident took place.

The minister’s ravaged black Corolla could be seen in the background as police and government officials inspected the scene.

Hailing from Lakki Marwat, Mufti Shakoor was a vocal JUI-F leader and was known for his fiery speeches against his political rivals, especially the PTI. He had won the National Assembly seat of NA-51 in the 2018 general elections from the platform of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

DNA

Islamabad, Apr 16: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has clarified that disbursement of funds to the universities has been made in a transparent manner in accordance with the guidelines issued from time to time by Finance Division and Planning Commission of Pakistan for distribution of funds for development projects. Monitoring of these projects is a regular feature to ensure proper utilization of funds and successful project completion.

A news item that appeared in a section of the press on Friday gave the impression as if HEC does not adhere to the set procedure and has setup a parallel system for distribution of funds for development projects. Contrary to the impression, each development project of universities and HEC is currently being operated through separate Assignment Account.

Since the development budget of HEC was initially (until FY 2019-20) reflected in the Pink Book of the Finance Ministry as one liner budget, therefore HEC was allowed to open one Assignment Account for all the projects of HEC/Universities. During these years, funds were released to HEC/Universities for their development projects in single Assignment Account No 2167 with the approval of Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Finance Secretary.

However, HEC further disbursed the funds to universities’ projects in their NBP accounts with approval of the Ministry of Finance and the Controller General of Accounts. Furthermore, the Monitoring Division of HEC and Projects Wing of Planning Commission have been monitoring the projects and ensuring the implementation of the projects while adhering to the PC-Is and other government rules and guidelines. The Planning Commission also conducts quarterly and full year review meetings of the development projects and only after satisfactory utilizations further funds are released.

After enactment of the Public Finance Management Act in FY 2019-20, Principal Accounting Officer was allowed and allocated a separate Demand for Grant (Demand No.) both for development and non-development grants. The development budget was allocated to each project under separate ID/Cost Centre in the jurisdiction/accounting circle of main AGPR Islamabad.

The procedure for disbursement of funds to projects of universities was continued. However, after issuance of the new procedure of ASAN Assignment Account in FY 2020-21, HEC started the process of its implementation/compliance and instructed all universities for enforcement. During FY 2021-22, HEC, in consultation and prior approval of Ministry of Finance, implemented the Assignment Account procedure in a phased manner.

The Pubic Account Committee discussed the audit observation about earlier procedure adopted prior to enactment of the Public Finance Management Act in FY 2019-20, which was clarified by HEC. Accordingly, in the current financial year 2022-23, new procedure is 100% implemented and each development project of universities and HEC is being operated through separate Assignment Account.

ARIFWALA / STAFF REPORT

Today, a spring tree planting ceremony was held in Government Elementary School 71 EB Arifwala under the chairmanship of Headmaster Mr. Umar Hayat Chaudhary, in which parents and other local dignitaries participated. Addressing to the ceremony, Dr. Muhammad Akram Zaheer said Today marks an important milestone in our journey towards a greener and cleaner country. As we gather here today to plant trees, we must remind ourselves of the significance of this act and its impact on our environment.

Trees are the lungs of our planet, and we need them now more than ever. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and help regulate the temperature and climate. They also prevent soil erosion, provide habitat for wildlife, and contribute to the overall beauty of our surroundings. By planting trees, we are not only benefiting ourselves but also ensuring a better future for generations to come.

He emphasized that it is our responsibility to take care of our country village and school and do our part to protect and beautify them. We must recognize the importance of trees and make it a habit to plant them whenever and wherever we can. It is not only a way to give back to the environment, but also a way to connect with nature and appreciate its beauty.

Today, we are not just planting trees, but we are also sowing the seeds of hope, inspiration, and change. We are making a commitment to the environment and to ourselves to be more mindful of our actions and their impact on our planet. Let us take this opportunity to pledge our support to this cause and promise to make it a priority in our lives.

He furthermore stated that planting trees in our schools can also be an opportunity for community engagement. Students, teachers, parents, and community members can come together to plant trees, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and commitment to our environment. This can also serve as a way to teach our students the value of teamwork and community involvement.

Planting trees in our schools is a vital step towards creating a sustainable environment and promoting the well-being of our students. It provides an opportunity to teach our students about the importance of being environmentally responsible, as well as creating a peaceful and healthy environment for them to learn in. He invited to participants, let us all work together to make our schools villages and the country greener, more sustainable a better place for all living beings.

In the last, Dr. Muhammad Akram Zaheer also appreciated to school administration and staff that they organized a wonderful and meaningful activity.

Scope of safe city to be extended from Srinagar Highway to airport

ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP): Islamabad Safe City project has got approval for the installation of 185 surveillance cameras which would help to extend its scope from Srinagar Highway to the Airport.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad has approved 185 new cameras to further improve the surveillance and monitoring of the federal capital Islamabad. With the installation of new cameras, the number of cameras in the scope of Islamabad Safe City will exceed up to 2700, a police source told APP on Sunday.

Due to the special interest of Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan, 1100 cameras have increased in the Safe City Project during the last 11 months while the capacity and scope of Safe City Islamabad are being extended from Srinagar Highway to Airport as per Interior Minister’s directions.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan has said that the installation of cameras would also be helpful in the security of the New Zealand cricket team’s visit to Pakistan. The IGP said that process of installing new cameras will be completed soon and it would increase the monitoring and surveillance of the city.

He said that Islamabad police are committed to eradicating crime and no element will be allowed to disturb the peace as the protection of the life and property of citizens is among the top priorities of Islamabad Capital Police.

RAWALPINDI, APR 16: The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), London, will be holding its prestigious Refraction Certificate and Ophthalmology Oral examinations at Al-Shifa Trust for the first time in Pakistan.

In this regard, the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has announced its partnership with the RCOphth, UK which promotes and supports the ophthalmic profession in the UK and overseas and influences policies for the benefit of patients and the profession of ophthalmology.

This is a significant milestone that will provide ophthalmologists in Pakistan with the opportunity to obtain globally recognised credentials, enhance their skills and knowledge in the field, and ultimately improve eye care for patients across the country, said Maj. Gen. (Retd) Rehmat Khan, President of Al-Shifa Eye Trust.

Sharing the enthralling information with media persons, he said that this is for the first time that a globally reputed college will be holding internationally recognised exams for eye specialists in Pakistan.

He said that it is a great honour for the country, and its credit goes to the dedication of doctors and paramedics for providing high-quality eye treatment to a large number of patients with the help of state-of-the-art equipment at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.

On this occasion, Dr. Muhammad Amjad, the focal person and an expert on the retina, told the media that the team of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists visited Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital and found the latest facilities that they deemed fit for conducting the exams.

The visiting team was also satisfied with the number and diversity of patients. They also examined the equipment and security and safety arrangements, which were of international standards.

The team from the Royal College admired the whole atmosphere, Dr Amjad said that the academic wing of Al-Shifa Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology (PIO) has nine ophthalmologists under training, and they will also appear in these fellowship exams. The overall number of doctors is expected to be 20 in the first year.

These fellowship exams will enhance the ethical knowledge and communication skills of doctors and enable them to meet international requirements for quality eye care, he added.

This will impart the latest knowledge in seven categories of eye diseases, and after completing these prestigious exams, Pakistani ophthalmologists will be able to serve eye patients in an improved way, and they will also be able to get jobs as consultants in the Middle East, England, Australia, and other countries.

According to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the exams will be held in February 2024 in Pakistan.