RAWALPINDI, AUG 21 /DNA/ – A Pakistan army vehicle met an accident and fell into a Nullah in Shaujabad, Bagh early this morning while on routine military duty. Resultantly 9 soldiers embraced shahadat while 4 are injured. The injured have been evacuated to CMH Rawalpindi. Funeral prayers of all Shuhada were offered at Mangla garrison. Lt General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Corps Commander Rawalpindi, military officials attended Namaze Janaza . Jasde Khaki of Shuhada will be sent to their native towns and buried with full military honours.
Slain veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh honored with street naming and scholarships
Ramallah, AUG 21: More than 100 days after Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered in Jenin, hundreds of Palestinians and supporters gathered in Ramallah to unveil a street named after the Palestinian veteran journalist.
The street is on the way that Abu Akleh used to travel daily to get to work at the Al-Jazeera network office in Ramallah and where she was reporting live coverage of incidents in Palestine.
Ramallah City Municipal Council announced the new street in the presence of Abu Akleh’s family and supporters, along with a monument where she stood during her reports.
The memorial reflects the symbolism of Abu Akleh in the collective memory of Palestinians since they still consider her as their voice. Ramallah Municipal spokeswoman Maram Totah said the street names are a way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the Palestinian cause as city streets are always named after martyrs and fighters who carried their message in their lives and deaths.
“Shireen was an exceptional giver. She held the voice of the Palestinians and never stopped telling the world about the crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinian human being,” said Totah.
“She had a special, special place in the hearts of the city’s people. She was attending the social activities with them and this memorization of her in Ramallah is to honor her and all the martyrs of the Palestinian press,” Totah added.
In addition to Ramallah, many Palestinian cities have named streets and central squares after martyrs on the West Bank and Gaza strip.
Several universities have launched scholarships and prizes Abu Akleh’s name, including Birzeit University, Al-Quds University and the Arab American University in Jenin and Beirut.
Abu Akleh lived and worked in Ramallah.
Her photos and murals bearing her image are ubiquitous in the West Bank.
Families have also named their children in tribute to the veteran journalist and to express the endless effect and presence of her voice in their memories.
The Thabet family from Rafah in the southern Gaza strip named their twin daughters Shireen and Jenin, days after Abu Akleh’s assassination.
“We missed her voice during the last Israeli attacks against Gaza. She was our high voice and through her coverage, the world heard about our continuous suffering,” the girl’s father, Mohammad, told Anadolu Agency. “I honor her — her efforts during the hard nights in the streets and hospitals to make the pictures and news.”
Following the last Israeli attack on Gaza, Thabet’s house was slated for demolition and his 3-month-old daughters were injured.
“Despite this hard life under occupation, we are an endless nation. If the Israeli army killed Shireen, there are thousands of Shireen. I gave my daughter Shireen’s name because when you give your child a name of a martyr you ensure his upbringing,” added Thabet.
The family of Abu Akleh’s is still trying to get justice demanding a US investigation that they hope will lead to accountability.
The world marks Aug. 21 as International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
Despite global condemnation of terrorism, the victims of Israeli occupation in Palestine are in a continuous struggle to have their voices heard.
For them, Abu Akleh was their hope from being forgotten or neglected and she was killed while advocating for Palestinians.
The Israeli assaults against Palestinian journalists escalated during the last year.
The Palestinian Center for Freedoms and Development (MADA) documented 368 incidents against Palestinian journalists, with 155 direct violations that varied between injuries and murder.
Three journalists were killed during the last war against Gaza in August with 33 media headquarters attacked by airstrikes.
More than 100 assaults were documented against journalists since the beginning of 2022, with most in Jerusalem and Jenin in April.
Traders need to tap $3 trillion ASEAN market: RCCI
DNA
Rawalpindi: Thailand can play a significant role in providing economic and trade opportunities to Pakistan by connecting it with the ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations) market. The share of ASEAN countries in world trade is around twenty five percent, Pakistan’s trade volume with ASEAN countries is only around seven billion dollars which is very low in terms of potential.
These views were expressed by the speakers on the occasion of the 34th Achievement Awards ceremony and conference organized by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The aim of the awards and business conference was to increase trade relations between the ASEAN countries and to bring the business community and private sector of Pakistan and Thailand closer.
Ms Arada Fuangtong, representative from the Prime Minister office and Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand (DITP) who was the chief guest on the occasion lauded RCCI’s efforts for promoting trade ties between the two countries. She also agreed and appreciated the recommendations and suggestions including opening a DITP office in Pakistan.
RCCI president Nadeem Rauf in his keynote address said that the ASEAN region with its significant economic power, vast natural resources, and dynamic workforce, has a huge development potential which needs exploration in the better interest of all member nations.
There are vast opportunities for mutual trade in many sectors, including marble, medicine, automobile, construction, seafood, tourism and clothing, he added.
Group leader Sohail Altaf, Vice President Talat Awan, Chairman Usman Shaukat, former presidents, executive members, Thai Officials and trade delegations and representatives of prominent business personalities and organizations in various fields were also present on the occasion.
Chamber President Nadeem Rauf has said that about one and a half hundred businessmen, institutions and government representatives from Thailand including Pakistan participated in the Awards and Business Opportunities Conference. He said that there are fraternal relations between Pakistan and Thailand, tourism, especially the tourism of religious places, is very important, many signs and relics of Buddhism are still present in Pakistan. The two countries also share a deep connection with each other under the Gandhara civilization, he added.
He urged Thai investors to look into the opportunities concerning construction and real estate, tourism and hotel industry as Pakistan is a huge market in terms of Electronics and Automobiles. Pakistan’s exports also include Seafood, Cotton cloth, fabrics, Plastic materials, Granite, Marble and spices, Fruits, frozen juices, he said.
Renowned singer Nayyara Noor passes away aged 72
KARACHI- Renowned artist and playback singer Nayyara Noor also known as ‘Bulbul-e-Pakistan has passed away in Karachi after protracted illness. She was 72.
She was born in Assam India in 1950 and migrated to Paksitan in 1957.
Nayyara Noor sang many film songs, ghazals and milli naghmas.
She was awarded presidential pride of performance award in 2005.
Her famous songs were watan ki matti gawah rehna, ‘Jalay tau jalao gori’ and Kabhi Hum Bhi Khoobssorat Thay.
Nayyar Noor funeral prayer will be offered in Karachi on Sunday afternoon.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the death of legendary singer Nayyara Noor.
In a tweet today, he said death of famous singer Nayyara Noor is an irreparable loss to the music world.
The Prime Minister said Nayyara Noor was especially known for melody in her voice.
Praising her singing, Shehbaz Sharif said Nayyara Noor sang songs and ghazals perfectly. He said void created after her death in the field of music will never be filled. He also prayed for her higher place in heaven.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the great singer.
In a tweet, she said Nayyara Noor’s melodious voice, unique style of singing and choice of lyrics is unforgettable. She said with Nayyara Noor’s death an era of music has ended.
The Minister said Nayyara Noor was the star of Pakistan showbiz industry’s horizon. She said Nayyara Noor’s melodious song “Wattan Ki Mitti Gawah Rehna” is still remembered. She said Nayyara Noor sang numerous songs on Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television.
Team save dreams carries out tree plantation drive
“He who plants a tree, plants a hope” – Lucy Larcom
Hayah Bahroni
ISLAMABAD: Nature is God’s most beautiful creation. It facilitates the growth, development and nourishment of all its creatures. In order to pay tribute to our country on the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan, Team Save Dreamshosted a plantation drive on 13 August, 2022in collaboration with Environment Wing of Capital Development Authority and Team Wefixers under the banner “Muhm Shajr-e-Sayadar”.
Considering the manifold benefits of trees, including that they provide us with oxygen, have given rise to sustenance, absorb unpleasant odors as well as harmful gases from the air and filter it, protect us from dangerous ultra-violet rays, provide us with food, give shelter to various species of animals; and the pivotal role played by trees in preventing soil erosion, maintaining ecological balance and most importantly in reducing the effects of global warmingand environmental changes, made us realize that it was about time that we initiate a project preserving the beauty of our capital city, Islamabad.
The drive “Muhm Shajr-e-Sayadar” was inaugurated in the presence of Miss Javeria Maqbool, Deputy Director Environment Wing, CDA. A total of 150 trees, including Lagerstroemia Indica, PongamiaPinnatacommonly known as SukhChayn, Bauhinia Variegata and Cassia Fitsula, were planted by the 15 enthusiasts of two teams at the event site; the grounds of Convention Center, Islamabad. 50 of these were provided to us by Team WeFixers and 100were provided by CDA Environment Team, who not only allotted us the site to carry out the event smoothly, but also provided us with their team of professional gardeners.
A Letter of Gratitude was also presented by our team to Miss Javeria Maqbool who in return honoured our team members namely; Hayah Bahroni, Rafia Ali, Ayesha Siddique, Noor-ul-Huda, Omama Basit, Mohammad Ibrahim, Abdullah Siddique, Humayal Ahmed and QasimWaqar; withLettersof Appreciation acknowledging our hard work towards this noble cause.
Ecological disruptions or imbalances can lead to droughts, flooding and numerous other calamities and natural disasters that can cause immense harm and destruction to life and property alike, which is why it is imperative that we save trees and conserve them, so as to be able to maintain a balance in the ecosystem and ensure overall health and harmony. To make that happen, we must plant more and more trees to neutralize the damage already done. It’s about time that we all break the mold and start planting because the solution to saving Mother Earth; which is being destroyed at the hands of its own children by deforestation, littering and spilling oils & fuels into its once clear rivers and oceans; is to grow trees. Today, let us all make a pledge that we will actively contribute in giving rise to a healthy, green, clean, prosperous and self-dependent Pakistan, and that we will take at least one small step to protect our environment by PLANTING TREES. Let’s all Save Trees and Save Dreams.
Political climate turning rough in Pakistan!!
Pakistan is still looking for a true leader who could steer this country out of crises. From the available lot of politicians, there seems nobody who could take on this challenge head-on
Comment
Ansar M Bhatti
The PTI Chairman Imran Khan while addressing a media seminar last week and then a public rally on August 20, 2022 at the F 9 Park went a step ahead by replacing the word Neutrals with the Establishment in his criticism of those who, according to him, got him out of power. The former prime minister came down heavily on the Establishment for what he called ‘its collusion with his opponents’ to get him out of the government. Imran continued spilling the beans when he said the Establishment people and the Intelligence agencies used to come to him and show him files of corruption of PML N and PPP leaders. It was after that evidence that he built all his narrative against these parties. But when he came to power, he was surprised that despite having so much solid evidence against these people why they could not be apprehended. He then alleged that it was revealed upon him that these people remained untouchables because of support from some big-wig from the Establishment.
Imran Khan’s new posture vis-a-viz the Establishment, on one hand, speaks volumes for his frustration emanating from the fact that the noose is being tightened around him in order to get him disqualified and on another the way his confidante Shahbaz Gill is being treated in the police custody. To begin with, the PTI chief chose to distance himself from Gill statement but as things transpired, he and the PTI deemed it in the fittest of things to stop trolling Gill and instead decided to stand behind him with full force, simply because the PTI leaders have realized that the buck would not stop to Shahbaz Gill only. In the due course other PTI die-hard workers may also be picked up and meted out similar treatment.
PTI-Establishment face-off is ostensibly a dangerous trend for both stakeholders and the country as well. As we all know, the armed forces of Pakistan are rightly believed to be the only organized and disciplined intuition of the country. The forces used to be the pride of all Pakistanis and they still are. PTI- Establishment tussle unfortunately may not serve anybody’s purpose.
It is the myth of the Establishment that has served as a unifying factor in this country therefore this myth should not be broken. It is quite a serious matter when we see a leading political party and its leader challenging this myth, even if he may have some genuine grounds to do that. At the same time this is also true that Imran Khan is not the only one who is doing this, even those who are in power these days, too spared no efforts in discrediting the Establishment, whenever they got a chance. Imran’s case is nevertheless different. He is not only a popular leader but is considered as a clean man as well as compared with the leaders of the other political parties. And when somebody standing on a pedestal, passes comments against an individual or for that matter an institution, his comments carry immense weight and credence. People usually tend to believe such persons even if they are not telling the whole truth. The emerging situation thus requires immediate and earnest efforts on the part of the stakeholders in order to address the fault lines before they grow deeper and jolt the entire system.
Pakistan celebrated its 75th independence day a few days ago with pump and show and great enthusiasm. The government, on the occasion, arranged a musical-cum-cultural show attended by the leading dignitaries. Reports suggest a huge sum of money was spent on that show, which according to many, had nothing to do with the independence of Pakistan and thus a great sum was squandered, especially when the country was already undergoing financial upheavals. It is quite disappointing that we would like to celebrate all such occasions with huge fan-fare but never like to follow what our forefathers had said to make this country a welfare and modern state. Countries that got independence with us or even after us have gone far ahead in terms of socio-economic and human development while we are still groping in the dark. And why is it so? Only because we have never tried to break the shackles of feudalism; imperialists mindset and dictatorial approach. Why our arch rival India stands out prominently in the comity of nations viz-a-viz Pakistan? Only because from the very beginning it did not allow these absurdities to make inroads into the Indian polity.
Pakistan is still looking for a true leader who could steer this country out of crises. From the available lot of politicians, there seems nobody who could take on this challenge head-on. Imran Khan, after his disappointing 4-year term in office, is trying again to grab the highest office. For many, he still may be the better choice provided he makes some earnest efforts to learn from his past mistakes. He needs to bridge the gap between his words and deeds. Problem with our political leaders is that when they are in the opposition they present themselves as great reformers and democrats but as soon as they enter the power corridors, they immediately forget everything and start behaving like dictators and autocrats. This trend has to be reversed. Only then the country can start its march towards true democracy, welfare and an all inclusive state.
Rising budget deficit: PIAF for managing govt expenses, debt servicing
DNA
LAHORE: The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) has called for keeping check on government expenditure and high cost of debt servicing to contain budget deficit, which has jumped to 7.9 percent of the GDP during the outgoing fiscal year.
Expressing serious concern over the high jump in country’s budget deficit – the gap between federal government income and its expenditures, PIAF Chairman Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said the deficit has been recorded as Rs5.3 trillion during the year 2021-22, though the government had set the budget deficit target at Rs3.4 trillion for the current fiscal year.
The PIAF Chairman Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, in a joint statement along with senior vice chairman Haroon Shafiq Chaudhary and vice chairman Raja Adeel Ashfaq, maintained that the failure to reform the tax system and increase revenue collection is a major factor behind heavy domestic and foreign borrowings by the government.
Quoting the figures, the PIAF Chairman said that Pakistan’s overall expenditures were recorded at Rs13.295 trillion in the last fiscal year as against the revenues of Rs8.035 trillion leaving deficit at Rs5.3 trillion. The Finance Minister soon after assuming charge in April this year had announced that budget deficit is expected to touch Rs5600 billion as against projected Rs4000 billion during the previous fiscal year.
He said that the primary balance, which is the difference between government’s revenue and its non-interest expenditure, recorded a deficit of over Rs2 trillion. Primary balance was in surplus of almost Rs82 billion, in first six months. However, the previous government had increased its expenditures, which pushed the country’s budget deficit to 7.9 percent of the GDP, which was also resulted in suspension of International Monetary Fund’s program but it has also widened the budget deficit to higher side. Budget deficit has increased despite massive growth in tax collection and provincial governments’ surplus of Rs350 billion in the year 2021-22. The Federal Board of Revenue has surpassed its annual tax collection target and fetched around Rs6,125 billion for the outgoing fiscal year 2021-22 ending on June 30, 2022.
In expenditures, interest payment has once again increased massively, as it cost Rs3.182 trillion. The government has paid interest worth of Rs2.828 trillion on domestic loans and Rs353.8 billion on foreign loans. Meanwhile, defence spending has remained at Rs1.4 trillion. The spending on development expenditures including federal as well as provincial remained at Rs1.6 trillion in the year 2021-22. In other expenditures, the government has paid Rs541.9 billion as pension payment, Rs546.7 billion on running of civil government expenditures, Rs1.5 trillion as subsidy and Rs1.14 trillion as grants to others.
PIAF Chairman stated that Pakistan’s fiscal policy continued to focus primarily on macroeconomic stabilization, in response to the financial crisis, instead of putting more emphasis on reforms to foster long-term growth through industrialization by adopting advanced technology.
He claimed that the total government expenditure has increased massively during this period mainly due to high cost of debt servicing, which has jumped by more than 18 percent. The budget deficit is going up despite the government claim of tight control over expenditures, while the only main head of expenditure that remains out of control is the debt servicing cost that jumped by 18 percent to nearly Rs1.5 trillion, he said.
India’s ‘Partition Within’: Plight of Indian Muslims
Irfan Shahzad Takalvi
As India and Pakistan complete 75 years of partition and independence from the British, a ‘partition within’ is clearly visible in India of today, between the Hindu majority and the Muslim minority. While one Pakistan got separated, several others have been created within India that was left behind.
Release of 11 convicts of Bilkis Bano case, hateful remarks by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her shameless defense by her party as well as destruction of homes and properties of protesting Muslims are only some of the recent most examples.
Muslims of India have always been treated as second class citizens by majority Hindus, over past seven and a half decades of partition of the sub-continent. However, the suppression of Indian Muslims has increased manifold since Bhartia Janta Party (BJP) took power in 2014, and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.
In this eight years’ period, Muslims have been forced to convert, attacked for keeping cows and eating beef – even lynched and killed for this ‘crime’ as BJP has banned consumption of beef in several states of India. However, even if the links to beef are not established, Muslim are routinely pressurized to convert (in the name of retuning to ‘original’ religion Hinduisms); Muslims girls are forcibly married; Muslims’ businesses and employments are targeted; and even on small personal or village / street level crimes the whole localities of Muslims are torched. Muslims have been lynched to death, and a huge number of them have been put behind bars in false cases.
Hard-liner Hindu have also been accusing Muslims of following ‘love Jehad’ that means marrying Hindu girls after trapping them in love; they have been accused of extremism and harboring / supporting terrorists as well as having sympathies for Pakistan – and simply, by blaming them for having ill-feeling, hate, or contempt towards Hindu religion or their thousands of gods and goddesses. In this way, actually, the Hindu majority and particularly the BJP – which is the political offshoot of the extremist Rashtriya Swaimsevek Sangh (RSS) – have been venting their own hatred and anger against the Muslims.
RSS and majority of BJP cadres are actually following declared policy of Hindutva, or Hindu-ness – under which they target that every citizen living in India – Hindustan or Maha Bharat the Greater India)] should 1) be ethnically Indian; 2) be religiously Hindu, and 3) speak Hindi / Sanskrit. Hindu extremist groups have over past few years made it clear that they can accept those living in India only if they adhere to the above three conditions of Hindutva.
Under the Citizenship Law passed on December 11, 2019, Muslims living n India for hundreds of years and for decades after independence from Britain in 1947 are now being asked to prove the grounds – through documents – that they have a right to live in India as citizens. This is impacting tens of millions of Indian Muslims. When Muslims took to streets to protest this draconian law, the protestors were tortured, killed, their houses burnt and properties looted – rapes and sexual molestations committed against Muslim women and girls – in the period of December 2019 and January 2020. Most of such atrocities took place in Delhi neighborhoods with police shielding the Hindu mobs – even participating in torture and killing of Muslims.
International independent media have recorded several proofs of this. International rights groups, as well as US’ and European government bodies have expressed concerns over this and the US Congressional Commission on religious freedom has even recommended putting India on blacklist for subjugation of freedom of religion.
Ironically, in past couple of years, the outbreak of CoronaVirus gave extremist Hindus a new pretext to target, oppress and subjugate Muslims, all across India. It all started when in March 2019, several members of Tableeghi Jamaat (TJ) that gathered in a mosque in New Delhi, contracted virus and it further spread through their onward interactions.
It was a natural phenomenon of how a pandemic takes shape. However, extremist Hindus – including those in power at central and state level – used this opportunity to further increase ill-founded and baseless anger and hatred against Muslims. They forwarded this conspiracy theory that Muslims have willfully spread the virus to infect and kill Hindus. They also accused Muslims of willfully infecting food, water, and other items so that Hindus can be infected – terming this as ‘corona Jehad’ being followed by Muslims. Hindu political and social leadership – including sitting legislators from ruling BJP in states as well as in central legislatures – called upon their Hindu followers to boycott Muslims businesses and works.
In many cases, Muslims were violently attacked under suspicions of spreading virus – beaten, lynched, and even killed in some instances that were reported widely in Indian and international media. Police and law enforcing agencies joined the Hindu mobs and enforced strict blockades in Muslims localities, properties, households, and workplaces as well as mosques and shrines – where Muslims have been subjected to torture and severe punishment in the name of lockdowns and isolations. Muslim leadership made it clear that Hindus used this opportunity to drive Muslims out of certain localities and businesses. A large segment of Indian media also shamelessly engaged in support of Hindu majority in this drive. Even some hospitals blatantly refused to admit Muslim patients of corona-virus; only on nationwide protests they allowed Muslims to be admitted; yet, in separate wards.
The inherent hatred against Muslims in India has manifested itself time and again. It would not be wrong to say that several ‘mini Pakistans’ have been created within India of today due to continuous inhuman treatment inflicted upon the Muslim Indians. Authorities in India must ensure that Indian Muslims are treated, not only in letter but also in practice and spirit, as equal citizens. That is must for social cohesion of a country as big as India.
The author is Founding President of the Eurasian Century Institute, Islamabad-Pakistan and may be accessed at [email protected]
Women, Men hockey trials under Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt on Aug 23
DNA
PESHAWAR, Women and Men Hockey trials under Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Program kicking off from August 23 at the Austro-Turf of the Islamia College Ground for Men and Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda for Women.
Director General Sports University of Peshawar and former international gold medalist athlete Bahre Karam and Deputy Director Sports and national athlete Maria Samin Jan have been nominated as head of the trials committee by the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad.
Both Bahre Karam and Maria Samin Jan paid a visit to the venues Islamia College Peshawar and Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda on Sunday to check the overall preparations for the Men and Women Hockey trials under the Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Program.
Talking to APP, Maria Samin Jan said that both Men and Women players in the age of 15-year to 25-year of age would be eligible to participate. The hockey aspirants, both male and female, players have been advised to bring their form-B/CNIC, two passport size photos, last certificate of the education qualification, if any, to ascertain their age well before the trials.
A trials committee would look into the trials separately for Men and Women at two different venues – Islamia College Peshawar and Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda wherein players from Peshawar Region would take part, Maria Samin said.
Maria Samin, Deputy Director Sports Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University was nominated by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) as head of the Women Hockey trials under Prime Minister Youth Talent Hunt Program for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She disclosed that soon after the trials Prime Minister Youth Hockey League would also be conducted first at the provincial level wherein all the selected players from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would participate and later on at national level wherein a team of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would take part in the National Hockey League.
She said the trials would be held in different dates like Peshawar on August 23-24, 2022 at Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda, Mardan on August 27, 28, 2022 at Astro Turf of the Mardan Sports Complex, Swat on August 31 and September 1, 2022 at Makan Bagh, Mingora Hockey Ground, Hazara on Sunday and Monday on September 4-5, 2022 at Abbottabad Police Hockey Ground, and Bannu on Thursday and Friday (September 8-9, 2022) at Qazi Mohib Hockey Complex. It is open for all age between 15-year-old to 25-year-old.
Director General Sports University of Peshawar Bahre Karam when contacted termed the trials very vital for the promotion of hockey in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular and in the country in general. He said without promotion of hockey at the grassroots level, Pakistan could not achieve its lost glory in the world of hockey.
PTI’s Gill ‘torture drama’ concocted: Rana Sanaullah
Shujaat Hamza
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan on Sunday rejected allegations of torture on PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in police custody and made it clear that the coalition government did not believe on any kind of torture.
Addressing a press conference here, Rana Sanaullah Khan said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan had started propaganda that police tortured his chief of staff Dr Shahbez Gill during the custody.
He said that PTI on the behest of Imran Niazi launched condemnable campaign over the Lasbella incident by leveling heinous allegations on the families and martyrs of the Pak Army.
He said that PTI leveled such allegations against the state which even were not leveled by enemy state Afghanistan.
On August 8, Dr Shahbaz Gill, in continuation of previous allegations, appeared on a television with a fixed plan and aired comments against the Pakistan Army on Imran Khan’s agenda. Shahbaz Gill had everything planned with the private television channel, from when they will call him, to how long the conversation will run.
According to details, on August 9, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Shahbaz Gill over his remarks and Islamabad police arrested him over instigating Army Officers to not obey the orders of the high command.
He said that politicians at many times had talked about the intervention of the establishment in the politics but not a single person had ever stated that army officers should not obey the orders of the high command. He said that any state or institution could never allow anyone to spread such kind of allegations.
He said that Shahbaz Gill was produced before the judicial magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest and he (Shahbaz) did not utter any word regarding torture and misbehave before the Magistrate and media.
On August 11, a medical board examined the health of Dr Shahbaz Gill and declared him normal and fit and not mentioned any sign of torture while Shahbaz Gill also did not lodge any complaint about torture before the medical board. On August 12, Shahbaz Gill was sent to jail on judicial remand.
“I can confirm as the interior minister that no torture was carried out against Gill during the police custody,” he said and added the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as party always opposed and condemned any kind of torture as it was clear violation of the constitution. The whole leadership of the PML-N was put behind bars during the tenure of Imran Khan. He said that Imran Khan should sought apology from the nation over his acts during his tenure.
He said that Shahbaz Gill remained in Adiyala Jail from August 12 to 17 and Shahbaz Gill never stated that he was tortured.
Terming the PTI’s narrative as drama, he said that the victim (Shahbaz Gill) had never stated that he was tortured or sexually abused.
He said that the whole nation condemned the anti-state propaganda of Imran Khan about the martyrs and due to this campaign PTI was severely damaged.
He said that PTI did not own the statement of Shahbaz Gill and diverting the issue started new drama of torture on Shahbaz Gill.
Referring to yesterday speech of Imran Khan where he attacked Islamabad’s Inspector General (IG), deputy inspector general (DIG) and Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, Rana Sana said that a case should be registered against Imran Khan for inciting the public against state officials who were only fulfilling their duties, per the law.
He clarified that police interrogated Shahbaz Gill over his remarks but there was no torture during ingestions. The whole drama was launched to divert the attention of the nation from the controversial statements made by Gill as well as the hateful social media campaign against the Lasbela copter crash martyrs.
He said that Shahbaz Gill did not file any application before any institution, authority or court regarding torture or sexually abuse.
He said that the interior ministry had prepared a report on Imran Khan’s speech and sought an opinion from the Law Ministry, Attorney General for Pakistan and the Advocate General Islamabad whether a separate case should be registered or clubbed it with the ongoing case registered against Shahbaz Gill.
He made it clear that the government would not allow Imran Khan to divert nation’s attention with the false propaganda. He also claimed the comments made by Gill on a private TV were pre-planned and he was speaking the words of Imran, adding that the entire story created by PTI was nothing but foreign propaganda.The minister said that many politicians had “spoken in the past about the interference of the establishment, but no one ever provoked anyone to stop obeying the orders of the command”. “Such a heinous conspiracy will neither be tolerated by the state, nor forgiven,” he said.
