ISLAMABAD, AUG 8 /DNA/ – Terrorists from inside Afgnaistan across the international border, opened fire on a Pakistan military post in Dewagar, North Waziristan District. Pakistan Army troops responded in a befitting manner. During exchange of fire, 1 soldier got injured.
Pakistan has consistently been requesting Afghanistan to ensure effective border management. Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan.
Karachi, /DNA/ – The Sindh Government has decided to resume the examination process of Intermediate students across the province from Tuesday, 10th August 2021. The respective educational boards will issue the exam timetables shortly.
This was decided by the meeting jointly chaired by the Minister for Education and Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah, and the Minister Universities and Boards Mr. Ismail Rahu here at the office of Minister Culture, Karachi.
The Chairmen of educational boards i.e. Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Sukkur, and Shaheed Benazirabad participated in the meeting while Secretary Home Kazi Shahid Parvez was on the video link. The Secretary Colleges Syed Khalid Hyder Shah and Secretary Universities Mr. Mansoor Rizvi were also present in the meeting.
The Chairmen of all the educational boards unanimously expressed their preparedness to resume the examination process from 10th Aug 2021. They told the meeting that hardly two to three papers were remaining of class XII, whereas the exam of class XI will be conducted after the 10th of Muharram and the supplementary exams will follow thereafter. They will circulate their respective exams schedules by the evening today.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Education said that the strict measure to be taken for the implementation of the Government SOPs against the spread of CoviD-19. All the examination centers would be ensured that the students are having face masks, and are using sanitizers frequently.
He further said that strict vigilance should be ensured against the issue of cheating during examinations, and whosoever is found in malpractice must be dealt with according to the department rules. He said that no student or the invigilator be allowed to carry mobile phones in the examination centers. The prohibition on the use of mobile phones strictly is followed.
The Minister for Universities and Board Mr. Ismail Rahu, while addressing the meeting, directed the Chairmen Boards that it should be ensured that no student is left un-examined, or grieved because of non-conduction of their exams. “The seats of students be placed keeping in view the SOPs and social distancing”, he said.
Both the Ministers, while addressing the media after the meeting, categorically said that section 144 of the PPC would be enforced in the vicinity of Examination centers and any person found involved in the cheating process would be dealt with iron hands.
Addressing a question from the media, the Minister Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah said that the CoviD-19 is on the rise in the city, and the situation after the 10th of Muharram would be decisive for the opening of the educational institutes in the province. He said that all educational institutions are closed till 19th August 2021, and afterward the the decision for their opening would be taken according to the guidelines from NCOC and the situation on-ground after the Aashura.
Replying to another question he said that he had tried to formulate a roadmap with the consultation of civil society, and now efforts would be taken to implement that road map for the improvement in the education of Sindh.
ISLAMABAD, AUG 8: Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on Sunday rejected reports published by Indian media which quoted an Indian official as saying that “terrorists are waiting at launch pads to infiltrate” into occupied Kashmir from Pakistan.
“We categorically reject the baseless allegations that Pakistan wanted to infiltrate so-called ‘terrorists’ via the Line of Control (LoC),” Chaudhri said in a statement.
In a report published earlier this week, Indian publication The Hindu quoted an unnamed security official as saying that “140 terrorists are waiting at launch pads to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir and the terror infrastructure across the LoC remains in place.
“The [Indian] army had been noticing the continued presence of around 140 terrorists at the launch pads across the LoC, likely waiting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, but the robust counter-infiltration grid had so far desisted them from making any such attempts,” the report said.
“They tried in the past, but had to return after alert jawans foiled their nefarious designs,” the official said, according to The Hindu.
In his statement today, Chaudhri said India’s “smear campaign against Pakistan is well-known and was fully exposed” by EU DisinfoLab last year in its investigation titled Indian Chronicles.
The Brussels-based EU DisinfoLab had uncovered a vast network of 265 coordinated fake local media outlets in 65 countries serving Indian interests, as well as multiple dubious think tanks and NGOs. The network was active in Brussels and Geneva in producing and amplifying content designed to, primarily, undermine Pakistan.
“The Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is one of the most militarised zones in the world with over 900,000 Indian security personnel. India has erected multi-tiered fence, installed electronic surveillance equipment and set up multiple layers of security, making it impossible for anything to cross the LoC to enter IIOJK. Therefore, such allegations recycled from time to time have no basis to stand on,” Chaudhri pointed out.
On the other hand, India has been involved in state terrorism in occupied Kashmir against Pakistan and in other areas of the country, including the blast in Lahore’s Johar Town in June, he noted.
The FO spokesperson also recalled that Pakistan had, in 2020, presented a dossier on India’s “aiding, abetting and financing of state-sponsored terrorism against Pakistan” to the international community.
Referring to the agreement between Pakistan and India earlier this year, in which both countries had recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire arrangement at the Line of Control, Chaudhri said it was done “in the interest of regional peace and security and to save Kashmiri lives”.
“India must not use baseless and misleading allegations of so-called ‘infiltration’ attempts as a handy ploy to find excuses to scuttle the ceasefire understanding,” he added.
“India must also refrain from peddling falsehoods and creating pretexts for false flag operations. Such irresponsible conduct would only result in further undermining peace and security in the region,” the FO spokesperson said.
SIALKOT, Aug 08 :The district police registered cases against nine shopkeepers for selling food items at excessive rates.
According to a spokesperson, the district police conducted raids on the report of special magistrates and found 12 shopkeepers — Muhammad Akhtar, Azam Khan, Qasim Raza, Muhammad Jamil, Zulfiqar, Mansha, Aqib, Amaan and Karamat Ali — selling substandard meat, chicken, milk, yogurt and other food items at exorbitant rates.
The police registered cases against them.
ISLAMABAD, AUG 8 /DNA/ – The Building Control Authority Department of the Capital Development Authority has received 38 million 362 thousand and 612 rupees in July 2021 this year.
According to the details, the CDA’s Building Control Authority Department released 11 completion certificate to residential buildings in July after completion and thorough inspection in which 716,387 rupees was received, as well as two commercial buildings in 7230,790 rupees, for approval of eleven residential buildings in 150,150 rupees, in addition 29,274,925 rupees received for issuing NOC to 33 commercial buildings, In the matter of issuing NOC to residential buildings 990,360 rupees was received from the owners and developers. It should be clear that in the month of July 2021 CDA’s building control authority department Received 38 million 362 thousand and 612 rupees for issuing certificates and NOC’s to different owners and developers.
ISLAMABAD, AUG 8 /DNA/ – Allama Iqbal Open University is celebrating August as independence month and there would be an awareness walk, dialogues, national song and essay competitions, speeches, baitbazi, painting, tree planting, flag hoisting, cake cutting, and other events.
VC, AIOU, Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum said that a single day is not enough to celebrate independence, we will hold celebrations for a whole month, we will explain the meaning of freedom to the new generation.
According to Director Student Affairs, Rana Tariq Javed, a schedule of events for the entire month has been prepared and today Vice Chancellor, AIOU, Deans, Principal Officers, faculty, and students will participate in the awareness walk. On August 10, Prof. Dr. Aslam Syed will give a special lecture to encourage the new generation to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. There will be a national song competition on August 11 and students from AIOU and other institutions will participate in it.
There would be a tree plantation drive on August 12. As per government directives, the flag hoisting and cake cutting ceremony will be held on 14th August. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chawla will give a special lecture on “Independence Day” on August 16. There will be a speech competition for students of AIOU and other educational institutions of Islamabad / Rawalpindi. On August 19, there would be a Baitbazi competition among students on Tehreek-e-Pakistan organized by Urdu Department and Iqbaliyat Department. On August 26, there will be a painting competition.
The prize distribution ceremony of the essay writing competition will be held on August 30. It is pertinent to mention here that in each competition, 5,000 cash prizes will be given to the first place winner, 3,000 to the second place and 2,000 to the third place.
In addition, to keep alive the memory of the unparalleled sacrifices made for the sake of Pakistan, to make the beloved homeland a truly Islamic and welfare state and to inspire the new generation to follow in the footsteps of their elders for the development of the country.
Allama Iqbal Open University is also organizing nationwide celebrations on the occasion of the 71st Independence Day of its beloved homeland through its regional offices in various important cities of the country.=DNA
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Islamabad /DNA/ – Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi’s mega-hit drama serial, KhudaAurMohabbat,has made history as it becomes the first Pakistani drama to surpass 1 Billion + views on YouTube in a short time. The serial has been making waves in the industry ever since its first episode went on-air.
This engrossing serial, brought to our screens by 7th Sky Entertainment, has broken all records in the history of Pakistani dramas. With its total number of episodes 1 to 26 reaching 868 Million +views, its OST surpassing 124 Million + views, and the teasers crossing 222.8 Million + views, the drama has now set a benchmark in the Pakistani entertainment industry.
Starring Feroze Khan as Farhad and Iqra Aziz as Mahi, this intriguing tale about spirituality and unrequited love has won the hearts of the audiences.
Tune into Geo Entertainment every Friday at 8 pm to watch a new episode of KhudaAurMohabbat!
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan and ASEAN enjoy excellent relations and hoped these relations shall further be strengthened in the days to come.
The foreign minister expressed these views in his message on the ASEAN DAY.
He further said, on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan, as well as on my own behalf, he was pleased to congratulate the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States on the 54th ASEAN Day.
8th august marks the historic day in 1967 when five South East Asian nations forged a common platform premised on the basic principles of cooperation, amity and non-interference.
Over the past 54 years, the ten-member ASEAN has emerged as a platform for advancement of long-term collective goals. It has transformed into a vibrant and integrated economic community.
The minster added, ASEAN is a fine example of ‘open regionalism’ worthy of emulation. ASEAN’s effective measures to combat COVID-19 are commendable. Pakistan’s closeness with ASEAN is exemplified by its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia and robust engagement with ASEAN led regional mechanisms.
Pakistan established Sectoral Dialogue partnership with ASEAN in 1993 and became a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 2004. The way ASEAN’s far-sighted leadership has forged dialogue and cooperation across the region and beyond, while also retaining ASEAN’s centrality, is truly remarkable.
In line with its ‘Vision East Asia’ policy, Pakistan places high priority on strengthening and diversifying its engagement with ASEAN, inter alia through better connectivity and people-to-people contacts, Minister Qureshi added.
News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested nine persons including a retired Lt. Col on spying charges. These persons were allegedly sharing secret and sensitive information with the foreign agents. The accused were produced before the court.
According to reports, a spying network working for a foreign intelligence agency was traced and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA arrested nine suspects from the network, of whom two are seeking post-arrest bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The matter came to light when Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC heard the case and adjourned the hearing until Aug 10. According to the court’s documents, the accused were involved “in spying activities in the Ministry of Defence Production”.
In a similar case, the IHC had in June dismissed the post-arrest bail petition of a senior official working on the Chinese desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was “spying for Russian intelligence”. Syed Qalb-e-Abbas a BS-18 official of the Ministry of Planning and Development who was posted in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on deputation, was arrested on spying charges.
The court had dismissed his bail petition because he was facing charges of leaking sensitive information and had been booked under sections 3 and 4 of the Official Secrets Act. The accused in the present case have been charged under the same sections of the Official Secrets Act, besides sections 34, 109 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The court record and some media reports show that the accused were serving and retired officials of the Ministry of Defence Production, or private contractors dealing with defence-related purchases, and were involved in stealing secret information and sharing it with the agent of a foreign intelligence agency.
The accused who have been arrested so far are Safdar Rehman, Tafzeelur Rehman, Mohammad Waqar, Mohammad Ashfaq, Mohammad Tahir, Mujtaba Hussain, Mohammad Ashraf, retired Lt Col Irfan Hameed Kiani and Ahmed Kiani.
As per the court’s documents, after getting a tip off from intelligence agencies, FIA arrested an ex-employee of the Directorate General of Defence Purchase, Ministry of Defence Production, who was planning a meeting with “a diplomat/foreign intelligence agent with the intent to communicate and deliver secret information/documents prejudicial to the safety and interest of the country”.
It was revealed that the accused were in the business of selling information to a foreign spying agency. FIA also recovered cash and mobile phones from the accused. Initially an FIR was lodged against three persons, namely Safdar, Tafzeel and Ashfaq. However, following disclosures made by them the other accused were also arrested, including military contractors Lt Col Irfan Kiani and Ahmed Kiani, the owner of Core Corporation (Pvt) Limited.
The Core Group, which deals in military and defence projects in the energy sector, claims having collaboration with various manufacturers in Asia, Europe and the Americas in brands, commodities, technology and infrastructure. As per the allegations, Lt Col Kiani and his son Ahmed have been receiving secret/confidential documents from one of the accused, Safdar, so that the same could be provided to a foreign agent. FIA recovered confidential documents related to defence purchases and defence production from their custody.
Some electronic devices/gadgets were also recovered that have been sent for forensic analysis, say the court papers. Lt Col Kiani and Ahmed, who have both been confined to the Adiala Jail, filed the post-arrest bail petition in the IHC.
Appearing on behalf of the federal government, Additional Attorney General Qasim Wadud filed an application that stated the government intends to place some highly sensitive information on judicial record. He requested for an in-camera hearing so that the government could easily present its stance in the case.
It may be mentioned here that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was recently briefed about such network during his visit to the ISI headquarters. The prime minister upon receiving the briefing asked the agency to launch a relentless crackdown again all those who have been involved in selling secrets to enemies.
It was after the directions of the prime minister that action against all such elements has been intensified. Reports suggest, the foreign agents who were found involved in the business have been called back as their indemnity stood compromised. Further action in this regard continues and it is expected that more arrest shall be made in the coming days.
News Desk
KABUL: At least four provincial capitals have reportedly been captured by the Taliban during the past 72 hours as the Taliban intensify their offensive that was launched in May as foreign forces began the final stages of their withdrawal.
The northern Afghan city of Sar-e-Pul has reportedly fallen to the Taliban, just hours after the Taliban claimed to have captured another provincial capital, Kunduz. “The Taliban have surrounded an army battalion on the outskirts of the city. All other parts of the city are under Taliban control,” Mohammad Hussein Mujahidzada, a member of the Sar-e-Pul provincial council said on Sunday.
On Friday the Taliban seized their first provincial capital, Zaranj in southwestern Nimroz, and followed it up a day later by taking Sheberghan in Jawzjan the following day. Fighting was also reported on the outskirts of Herat, in the west, and Lashkar Gah and Kandahar in the south.
Afghan government forces have largely abandoned the countryside to the militants, but are now scrambling to defend a string of cities across the country. Of all the provincial capitals that the Taliban have captured since Friday, Kunduz – in the far north – is the most significant to fall .
It has been a perennial target for the Taliban, who briefly overran the city in 2015 and again in 2016 but never managed to hold it for long.The ministry of defence said government forces were fighting to retake key installations.”The commando forces have launched a clearing operation. Some areas, including the national radio and TV buildings, have been cleared of the terrorist Taliban,” it said in a statement. Kabul’s inability to hold the north may prove crucial to the government’s long-term survival.
The Taliban claimed in a Twitter post that it had seized a large number of armored vehicles, vehicles, weapons and military equipment. The ministry of defense said government forces were fighting to retake these key sites.
