DNA

OTTAWA, NOV 12: Pakistan High Commissioner to Canada Zaheer A. Janjua has hailed the conferral of Canada’s annual Gairdner International Award on eminent Pakistani healthcare professional Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta for his development and evaluation of evidence-based interventions in child and maternal health for marginalised populations.

Dr. Bhutta was presented the award in Toronto by Canada’s Gairdner Foundation. High Commissioner Zaheer Janjua also attended the ceremony and presented the prestigious 2022 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award to Dr. Bhutta on behalf of the Gairdner Foundation. John Dirks, Gairdner President Emeritus, Heather Munroe-Blum, Chair of Gairdner’s Board of Directors, and Sommer Wedlock, Gairdner EVP were also around them.

In a statement, Zaheer Janjua congratulated Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta for winning the award, calling it an “exceptional achievement” and a testament to “dedication, devotion and hard work” put by Dr. Bhutta and his team for many years in the field of health. 

Dr. Bhutta has won global recognition for developing a unique collaboration between centres in Pakistan, United Kingdom and Canada and mobilizing cluster randomized effectiveness trials (cRCTs) to gather data used to shape and improve intervention packages for community based maternal and newborn care, nutrition, and early childhood development.

Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta is currently Professor Department of Pediatrics at Nutritional Sciences, and Public Health, University of Toronto. He also holds the Robert Harding Chair in Global Child Health besides being Co-Director at SickKids Centre for Global Child Health and Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Bhutta has been the Founding Director of Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health and Institute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University South-Central Asia, East Africa, United Kingdom.

DNA

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif consults Nawaz Sharif in London

News Desk

LONDON: Following his crucial meetings with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and other party leaders in London, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday maintained that the army chief’s appointment will be constitutionally decided. The prime minister is expected to reach Pakistan today from London. The process of the appointment of new army chief shall start upon his return, sources say.

“Army chief’s appointment is a constitutional matter. It will be decided according to the constitution,” PM Shehbaz said.On November 2, the premier departed for London after wrapping up his two-day visit to Egypt to attend the COP27 summit.

The premier — after his fourth meeting during which he also met with Vice President Maryam Nawaz for over two hours — is on his way to return to Pakistan.

In London, the prime minister and the PML-N chief have taken important decisions which also include deliberation over the next army chief’s appointment.

Two rounds of the meetings were also attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Punjab PML-N leader Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan.The Sharif brothers will also take the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) leadership into confidence on the matter. The prime minister’s visit to London came two weeks before the end of Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure, who will retire on November 29.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan says absconder Nawaz making country’s biggest decisions from London

 Gulzar Noshi

GUJRAT, NOV 11 (DNA) — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the absence of rule of law is the main root cause of all problems being faced by Pakistan.

Addressing PTI long march rallies in Gujrat and Kamalia through video link, he said the appointment of the next chief of army staff (COAS) must be made according to merit.

However, he said that those in power had not done anything on merit and questioned if they would rightfully select the army chief on merit. “They want their own army chief because they want to steal.”

PTI Chairman Imran Khan lashed out at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and premier Shehbaz Sharif. “The one [Nawaz] who looted country for the 30 years will make decisions about army chief’s appointment, elections date and caretaker setup,” he said.

“No one can even imagine that this can happen in a civilised society because rule of law prevails there.” “Shehbaz Sharif had met his older brother “lying absconder” Nawaz Sharif in London to discuss the appointment of the next army chief.

 Will a man wanted by the Pakistani courts and a prime minister who is involved in a money laundering case be allowed to select a general for the country, he said? He feared that Mian Nawaz Sharif would suggest a person who would later help him in settling his cases.

He added that PM Shehbaz was brought into power through a conspiracy.  He added that Nawaz Sharif has never made any appointment on merit. The ECP Chief is their servant, they do whatever they want using him, he added.

PTI chief Imran Khan also called on the nation to participate in the party’s long march for future generations. He said that nations seldom had the chance to change their fate but said that now was the time for Pakistan.

Imran Khan alleged that the “thieves” had come into power because of their “handlers”. “There is murder of morality in this country,” he said, adding that such things don’t occur in civilized countries.

“These thieves have only one other achievement apart from their corruption, they managed to slowly finish their cases,” he said, adding that they had wreaked havoc in the country. He went on to say that a country is unable to prosper when it forgets its morals.

He stated that this scenario could never occur in any civilized country as rule of law prevails. He lamented that the corrupt were not facing the consequences as there was no rule of law in Pakistan.

“I can’t get a first information report registered as an ex-prime minister because a powerful person is in it,” he said.  He added that he strived for two years for EVMs, which could eradicate 90% of rigging in polls but they ended the project because they want to rig elections.

The former PM while raising question on presence of pictures of slain journalist Arshad Sharif said that his mother is not being provided the postmortem report despite repeated demands.

“I knew the plan. The plot was prepared in September,” Khan told his supporters, without presenting any evidence for his claims. “The march will just get strengthened after this incident.”

Khan has described the shooting as an “assassination attempt” and blamed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for being behind the attack.

Khan was ousted in April in a no-confidence vote in Parliament, but he says his removal was unlawful and a conspiracy by his political opponents orchestrated by the United States, a charge denied by both Washington and Sharif.

Khan’s protest convoy started from Lahore two weeks ago with Khan and thousands of his supporters – in trucks, cars or on foot – marching toward Islamabad for what was to be an open-ended rally until his demands were met.

Mariyam Aurangzeb says PM has won case; claims the newspaper adopting delaying tactics

News Desk

LONDON, NOV 11 (DNA) — The British court on Friday quashed the stay order of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Daily Mail defamation case. The Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb however said that the prime minister had won the case and daily Mail was now adopting delaying tactics.

The lawyers of the Prime Minister asked the court to give him [Shehbaz] more time to respond, but the court refused to give the premier more time. The court said, “Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law Ali Imran have yet to respond to the Daily Mail’s defence in court.

 They will also be responsible for the Daily Mail’s legal costs if they fail to react to the court notification”. The lawyers said, “Because Pakistan’s premier is busy, more time should be given to respond, to which Justice Matthew Niklin responded that the Prime Minister and the common man are equal in court”.

The federal minister terms Sharif’s murder as “target killing” and says that this was not the case of “mistaken identity”

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday alleged that the Ahmad brothers — Khurram and Waqar — killed senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif with Kenyan police.

Speaking during a TV PROGRAM”, the federal minister termed Sharif’s murder as “target killing” and said that this was not the case of “mistaken identity”. Sanaullah said that the Ahmad brothers killed Sharif with the Kenyan police and tried to paint another picture. “Both the brothers are not even providing access to their mobile phone’s data,” he said. The interior minister said that Sharif went to Kenya from Dubai on Waqar’s sponsorship and he was staying in his flat.

“This is a joint conspiracy of Waqar, Khurram and five Kenyan police officers,” said Sanaullah, adding that there were torture marks on Sharif’s body. He continued to say that those who fired at the journalist knew who they were shooting at. They knew which side Sharif was sitting, he said.

“We have the evidence against those who forced Sharif to leave the country. Some people called him and told him to leave while some say that Sharif left due to the situation in the country. However, Arshad Sharif did not want to leave the country,” he added. Sanaullah also said that a threat alert was issued to scare the slain journalist. He also revealed that there is evidence of how Sharif was made to sit in the plane from Peshawar. He also said that the person who helped Sharif get an online visa was Waqar, adding that the latter did not know the former before.

“We have the record of everything including why Sharif went to Waqar’s house and stayed as a guest,” said the minister, adding that Waqar is not being named in the case because the commission has yet to go and look into these matters. The interior minister said that he will request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to talk to the Kenyan president again because the Kenyan police are not cooperating.

Earlier today, the chairperson of Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said that Sharif’s murder at the hands of Kenya’s police is being fully investigated to establish the facts surrounding the shooting.

IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori said the independent body has started a “full and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting” of Arshad Sharif on the night of October 23 by Kenya’s General Services Unit (GSU) officers.The IPOA chairperson also addressed the reports claiming that Sharif was brutally tortured before being killed.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 11 (DNA) — Three newly-appointed judges of the Supreme Court were sworn in on Friday by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, taking the total strength of the apex court judges to 15.

The three judges who were elevated to the Supreme Court were Justice Athar Minallah (Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court), Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi (Judge of Sindh High Court) and Justice Shahid Waheed (Judge of Lahore High Court).

The oath-taking ceremony of the newly-appointed judges was held at the Ceremonial Hall, Supreme Court of Pakistan, in Islamabad. Two seats of the Supreme Court judges, however, are still lying vacant.

A large number of guests including judges of Supreme Court, Attorney General for Pakistan, secretaries of Ministry of Law and Justice, officials of Federal Judicial Academy, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Bar Council, National Accountability Court, Supreme Court Bar Association, senior advocates, advocates-on-record and officers and staff of the apex court.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, being the chairman of the commission, had approved the elevation of three judges of high courts to the Supreme Court.

After the commission recommended the elevation of these three judges, their names were referred to the parliamentary committee on the appointment of judges in superior courts. The parliamentary committee had also approved the elevation of these judges to the Supreme Court and, thereafter, the president of Pakistan had also approved their elevation to the apex court.

The senior-most judge of the Islamabad high Court (IHC), Justice Aamer Farooq, was also administered the oath of office by President Arif Alvi. His oath-taking ceremony was held at the President House in Islamabad and was attended by senior judges and government officials.

Justice Aamer Farooq, the senior-most judge of IHC, is the sixth chief justice of Islamabad High Court. Later, new IHC CJ Justice Aamer Farooq took charge of his office formally and started hearing the cases.

The proceedings formally started in IHC’s courtroom No 1 with the recitation of the Holy Quran. A number of lawyers also extended congratulations to the new CJ. Earlier on his arrival at the IHC, Justice Aamer Farooq was presented a guard of honour. =DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 11 (DNA) — Pakistan on Friday appointed Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, as Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Office said. A Pakistani career diplomat Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch is currently serving as Additional Secretary Asia & Pacific.

She has previously served as Ambassador of Pakistan to the Republic of Korea (2020-2021), Minister/Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing (2015-2020), Counselor for Political Affairs at the Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC (2006-2011) and as Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, Geneva (1999- 2002).

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs she has served as Director (America), Director (Security Council and Human Rights) and Director (Strategic Planning) in the Office of the Foreign Secretary. During 2014-2015, she served as Director

(Academic Programme) and later as Director General of the Foreign Service Academy Islamabad.

Ms. Baloch holds Masters degree in Physics from the Punjab University, Lahore, a Masters in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA and a degree from the prestigious Ecole Nationale d’ Administration, France. =DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 11: Pakistan Institute of Management (Pims) director Dr Khalid Masood said on Friday that only a forensic report could confirm if journalist Arshad Sharif was tortured before being shot dead.

Sharif was shot dead in Kenya on the night of October 23 allegedly by the local police. Initially, the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

While investigations are under way to probe Sharif’s death, several TV channels claimed on Wednesday that Sharif was tortured and shot at close range after he was asked to step out of his car.

News broadcasts showed images that allegedly showed bullet marks and signs of torture on the body, claiming that the postmortem report mentioned signs of torture.

Masood said that it could neither be “confirmed nor denied” that the journalist was tortured. However, he confirmed that Sharif’s nails were “removed” and his body was bruised.

“We still haven’t received the post-mortem report from Kenya […] so we can’t say if the nails were removed for forensics purposes or if it was torture,” the doctor said, stating that only forensics report could confirm if Sharif was tortured.

“Only the medicolegal team can give an expert opinion about the nails being removed,” Masood added.

He also said that the hospital had sent photographs of the bruises on Sharif’s body for forensics as well.

journalist Shahzeb Khanzada last night, Masood gave further details on the matter, saying that the medical team that conducted Sharif’s post-mortem in Pakistan found 12 bruises on his body. “For example, his right wrist has bruise marks […] for example four nails from his right hand are missing […] there is a bruise on the left hand’s index finger.

“So, it [the medical team] has identified 12 spots […] all these things have been sent for forensics […] only the forensics [report] will be able to tell if torture took place or not,” he said, cautioning that Sharif’s case was very sensitive and all the things needed to be proven technically.

In response to a question, Masood reiterated that the board had not yet received a post-mortem report from Kenya. “If we get a post-mortem report from Kenya officially […] that what have they taken from which body part […] whether they have taken the nails […] this is also possible.”

The doctor also said that a preliminary medical report had been provided to the “concerned quarters” — SHO of the Ramna police station. “Neither Sharif’s mother nor his wife came to us […] his wife first submitted an application for a postmortem but she never reached out to us after that […].

“It is their right. If they come to us […] this is their right and we will give it to them,” Masood added.