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Muslim victims of truck attack given farewell with coffins draped in Canadian flags

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The hour-long ceremony started after the four coffins draped in Canadian flags rolled into the compound of the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario, and ended with prayers and condolences offered by religious and community leaders.

The four victims, spanning three generations, were killed when Nathaniel Veltman, 20, ran into them while they were out for an evening walk near their home in London, Ontario. A fifth family member, a 9-year-old boy, is recovering from his injuries in the hospital.

Police have said the attack was premeditated and allege the family was targeted because of their Islamic faith.

The funeral procession later proceeded for a private burial.

“And the very fact their coffins are draped in the beautiful Canadian flag is an apt testimony of the fact that the entire Canadian nation stands with them,” Raza Bashir Tarar High Commissioner for Pakistan to Canada told the gathering.

The family moved to Canada from Pakistan some 14 years ago.

The attack sparked outrage across Canada, with politicians from all sides condemning the crime, spurring growing calls to take action to curb hate crime and Islamophobia. The city of London, 200 km (120 miles) southwest of Toronto, has seen an outpouring of support in the aftermath of the attack. read more

That has given some hope to the grieving community to look beyond the tragedy.

“Irrespective of colour and creed, the expressions of raw emotion, the prayers, the quiet tears, the messages of comfort from people we know and from people that are complete strangers, it has been the first step towards finding a way to heal,” Ali Islam, maternal uncle of Madiha Salman, one of the victims, told the gathering.

Veltman, who returns to court on Monday, faces four charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the killings a “terrorist attack” and vowed to clamp down on far-right groups and online hate.

“I think we’re emotionally exhausted,” Imam Aarij Anwer told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp before the ceremony. “We’re looking forward to having some closure on Saturday.”

No plans to handover airbases to US: FM Qureshi

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MULTAN: Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday reiterated that Pakistan will neither provide its military or air bases to the US nor permit it to conduct airstrikes within the country.

Talking to news men in Multan, Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, would never provide its bases to the US.

On the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, he held Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) responsible for the mishandling of the Indian spy case.

“India wants to take Jadhav’s case to ICJ again.” I hope the opposition will understand the Indian attempts in this context, he maintained.

Ruling out the impression of political victimization of opponents under the name of accountability, FM Qureshi said, the incumbent government wants transparent accountability system across the country.

He advised PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to clarify his position in the graft cases.

Responding to critics on the federal budget 2021-22, he asked the PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal to go through the budget document carefully, before commenting on anything.

Earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had also stated that there was no US military or air base in Pakistan and nor was any such proposal envisaged.

Responding to media queries, the foreign office spokesman had said that any speculation on this account was baseless and irresponsible and should be avoided.

Growth-oriented Budget 2021-22 aimed at uplifting poor segments of society: Tarin

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Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has said the budget 2021-22 focuses on uplift of the poor and sustainable economic growth through incentives for various sectors including agriculture, industry and housing.

Addressing a post budget news conference in Islamabad on Saturday along with Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiyar and Commerce Adviser Razaq Dawood, he said the main emphasis of the budget is to protect the vulnerable segments of the society.

He said four million poor households, to be accessed through the Ehsaas Survey, will be provided with interest free business and farming loans. He said these households will also be given loans to build their own houses. Besides, they will be given health cards and one member of each family will be imparted technical training.

The Finance Minister said incentives have been given to uplift both the agriculture and industries which will increase employability.  He said the incentives in the industries are not only textile specific but have been extended to different sectors. He said taxes have been abolished to facilitate the investment of Chinese friends in the Special Economic Zones being set up under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

The Finance Minister said the taxes on the IT have been rationalized in order to exploit its full potential. He said we want to substantially enhance this sector’s exports in the years to come.

Shaukat Tarin said duties have been abolished on almost all the raw materials, which he said, will strengthen the local industries and reduce our imports.

The Finance Minister was confident that the prices of cars up to 850 cc will come down following the tax relief given to the automobiles.  He said the incentives given to the SMEs will also help achieve higher growth in the industry.

The Finance Minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan has given special emphasis to the housing sector which will help strengthen the industries allied with it.

Shaukat Tarin said the government has increased subsidies especially in the power sector. He said we will bring efficiency in the power sector. DISCOs will be operated through independent boards and they will be privatized. He said line losses will be reduced and recoveries will be enhanced.

The Finance Minister expressed the confidence that the revenue target of 4.7 trillion rupees set for the current fiscal year will be achieved. He said we have to enhance the tax to GDP ratio to twenty percent in a period of seven to eight years. He said our focus is to bring more people into the tax net instead of imposing more taxes on the people already paying taxes. He said the tax collection target of 5.8 trillion rupees has been set for the next fiscal year, which he said he will achieve through innovative approach including the use of latest technology.

He said the PSDP has been enhanced significantly to take the country towards sustainable growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Khusro Bakhtiyar said the government is incentivizing small and medium enterprises sector, especially automobile industry to increase job opportunities for the youth. He said an industrial zone is being established on 1500 acres of land in Karachi.

Abdul Razzak Dawood said massive relief measures have been taken for import of raw material to strengthen local industry and encourage “Made in Pakistan.”

Addressing the news conference Sania Nishtar said 260 billion rupees have been earmarked in the next budget for Ehsaas Programme.

She said six-month instalment of 12,000 rupees is being enhanced to 13,000 rupees under Ehsaas Kafalat Programme. She said Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme next phase will commence from the upcoming week, which will benefit over ten million people.

Sania Nishtar said scope of Ehsaas Waseela-e-Taleem Programme has been increased from primary to secondary and higher secondary level, and now children studying in these levels can also benefit from this initiative. She said 65,000 scholarships for under-graduates will be given during the next year.

Responding to a question, the Finance Minister said the federal cabinet did not approve the proposal to enhance charges of SMS, mobile phone calls and interest.

Answering another question, he hoped that inflation will remain below eight percent in the coming years. He also ruled out chances of bringing any mini-budget.

IHC dismisses bail plea of suspected spy

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ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad High Court has dismissed the post-arrest bail petition of a senior official working on deputation at the Chinese Desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a case pertaining to leaking sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies.

The officer, Syed Qalbe Abbas, a BS-18 official of the Ministry of Planning and Development, had been working as deputy director of the China Division on deputation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nearly three years.

According to an FIR registered against him with the Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW), he frequently met diplomats and officials of foreign intelligence agencies “to deliver secret information/documents prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state”.

The suspect had started his career as a research officer in now devolved ministry of food, agriculture and livestock in early 2000. He later became section officer and was associated with a section in the Economic Affairs Division that deals with the United Nations and foreign training. He became deputy director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2018.

Booked under Section 3 and 4 of the Official Secret Act, Abbas is facing charges of leaking sensitive information. According to an official privy to the development, the suspect was part of an organised network working for Russian intelligence and is being probed to ascertain the identity of his accomplices and how he retrieved such information and official documents.

Appearing before the IHC, his counsel, Shah Khawar, argued that the nature of job of his client required him to meet diplomats. He further argued that the petitioner had unblemished service record.

The defence counsel claimed that the FIR was based on fake and frivolous grounds. He said the case needed further inquiry and therefore, the petitioner was entitled to relief of bail. There was no possibility that he might abscond if released on bail, he added.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Khawar said the petitioner had been missing since November 2020 while the FIR was registered against him on Feb 15.

To corroborate his claim, he said, a habeas corpus petition had been filed before the IHC seeking his recovery but to no avail. Finally, he was roped into the FIR and was charged for breach of the Official Secret Act, the counsel said.

During the course of arguments, Additional Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Khokhar on behalf of the federal government said Abbas had been nominated in the FIR with a specific role having been attributed to him.

He argued that petitioner’s statement had been recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code and recovery had been made.

The additional attorney general insisted that the evidence clearly established that the petitioner was working for foreign intelligence officials.

He reminded the court that the offences invoked against the petitioner, if proved, might result in capital punishment or life imprisonment and therefore he was not entitled to relief of bail.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah after hearing the arguments of both sides observed that in addition to the violations of Official Secret Act, Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code had also been invoked against him for breach of public trust.

Justice Minallah pointed out that the trial had already commenced, therefore, the defence counsel could take appropriate steps to conclude the trial as soon as possible. The court was of the opinion that the suspect could not be released on bail at this stage and subsequently dismissed his post-arrest bail petition.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2021

Pakistan consistently raising voice against increasing trend of Islamophobia: FM

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Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says the Canadian Foreign Minister has intended to raise voice against rising tendency of Islamophobia jointly with Pakistan.

In his telephonic conversation with the members of Pakistani-origin Canadian family, he expressed condolence with them on behalf of the Prime Minister, the entire political leadership and the Pakistani nation.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan has been consistently raising voice against increasing trend of Islamophobia and drawing the world’s attention to curb it.

On this occasion, the Foreign Minister also assured every possible assistance from the government to the bereaved family.

G7 to launch new global infrastructure plan to help developing nations

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Leaders of the world’s largest economies Group of seven have agreed to launch a new global infrastructure plan Build Back Better World to help developing nations.

The White House said the project would mobilise private sector capital in a “transparent infrastructure partnership” to meet the shortfall in the developing world that had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting the three-day gathering of the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy at the seaside resort of Carbis Bay.

Pakistan attains economic growth whereas world impacted negatively by Coronavirus: Fawad

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Islamabad : Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has said that Pakistan attained economic growth despite the fact that the entire world is negatively impacted with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Talking to the media after attending the Pakistan International Film Festival in Karachi, he said for the first time the Federal budget was warmly welcomed because it was pro-poor and growth-oriented.

Fawad Chaudhary expressed the hope that the Sindh government would spend the funds provided by the Federation in the next year budget for the welfare of people.

He said it is not clear where the funds allocated by the Centre in the past were used as nothing on the ground in this regard is witnessed.

The Information Minister said the people of urban areas of Sindh, particularly Karachi, have been complaining of non-resolution of their grievances as the provincial government is not fulfilling its responsibility.

COVID-19 claims 56 more lives in Pakistan: NCOC

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ISLAMABAD : The Covid-19 has claimed 56 more lives in Pakistan during the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll to 21,689.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, the country’s caseload climbed to 941,170 after 1,239 more people tested positive for the deadly virus during this period.

The 1,239 new infections emerged when 36,368 tests were conducted with positivity rate recorded at 3.40 per cent, the NCOC said.

On Saturday, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government relaxed lockdown restrictions as new and active COVID-19 continue to decline.

According to a notification, the AJK government has ended the ban on inter-district public transport and allowed the resumption of transport in the districts with 50percent capacity.

The ban on indoor gatherings and congregations and marriage halls was not lifted and restaurants and hotels were directed to work as takeaways, instead of serving food on their premises.

Some facts about Pakistan’s defence budget

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Islamabad/DNA : Myth number 1*: Pakistan’s defence budget takes away a major chunk of the total budgetary resources. *Not true*. In Budget 2021-22, ‘Defence Services’ has been allocated Rs1,370 billion out of total budgetary resources of Rs8,487 billion – and that is a mere *16 percent of the total budgetary resources*. In effect, *16 percent for defence and 84 percent for non-defence related expenses*. For the record, in Budget 2020-21, defence-related expenses comprised 17.67 percent of the total expenses. In effect, the defence budget as a percentage of the total outlay has gone down from 17.67 percent last year to 16 percent.

*Myth number* 2: Over the years, our defence budget has been rising at an accelerated pace. *Not true*. Here’s the fact: in the 1970s the allocation for defence amounted to 6.50 percent of our GDP. In 2001-02, the allocation for defence stood at 4.6 percent of GDP. In Budget 2021-22, an allocation of Rs1,370 for defence is 2.8 percent of GDP. Last year, we spent 2.86 percent of GDP on defence. In effect, over the past fifty years, the defence budget as a percentage of GDP has gone down – rather drastically – from 6.50 percent of GDP in the 1970s to 2.8 percent this year. The US, for instance, spends 3.4 percent of GDP on defence while India is at 2.4 percent.

Here are some of the countries that spend more of their GDP on defence than does Pakistan: Oman spends 12 percent of its GDP on defence, Afghanistan 10.6 percent, Lebanon 10.5 percent, Saudi Arabia 8 percent, Kuwait 7.1 percent, Algeria 6.7 percent, Iraq 5.8 percent, UAE 5.6 percent, Azerbaijan 4 percent, Morocco 5.3 percent, Israel 5.2 percent, Jordan 4.9 percent, Armenia 4.8 percent, Mali 4.5 percent, Qatar 4.4 percent, Russia 3.9 percent, US 3.4 percent and South Sudan 3.4 percent (source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database and ‘The Military Balance’ from the International Institute for Strategic Studies).

*Myth number 3*: Pakistan Army takes away a major chunk of the entire defence budget. *Not true*. Of the Rs1,370 allocation for defence, Pakistan Army gets Rs594 billion or 44 percent. In effect, *Pakistan Army gets a paltry 7 percent of the total budgetary resources*.

Fact: The world spends $1.98 trillion on defence. Of the total global defence spending, the US constitutes 39 percent, China 13 percent, India 3.7 percent, Russia 3 percent and Pakistan 0.44 percent (along with others). Yes, India at $73 billion is now ahead of Russia. Pakistan spends around $8.7 billion.

Fact: *Pakistan’s defence budget on a per capita basis is one of the lowest in the world*. Pakistan spends $40 on a per capita basis while Israel spends $2,200 on a per capita basis. According to Global Firepower, Pakistan’s armed forces are “ranked as the 10th most powerful military in the world.”

Fact: *On the basis of ‘expenses per soldier’, Pakistan’s armed forces come out as the most efficient on the face of the planet*. The US spends $392,000 on a per soldier basis, Saudi Arabia $371,000, India $42,000, Iran $23,000 .

Entire Pakistani nation stands “shoulder to shoulder” with victims of London tragedy, says Raza Bashir Tarar

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Pakistan High Commissioner to Canada Raza Bashir Tarar on Saturday attended the funeral prayers for four members of the London Ontario-based Afzaal family killed last Sunday, saying all of Pakistan stood with the family “shoulder to shoulder” in its grief and suffering over the tragedy.

“Our hearts are bleeding because of the atrocity that has befallen this wonderful, marvellous family,” he said as he conveyed to the family the “deepest condolences and prayers” from Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the entire Pakistani nation.

The High Commissioner also used the occasion to thank the Canadian leadership and the people for standing with the family of the victims in these difficult times, and also standing up to Islamophobia by condemning all forms and expressions of Muslim-hate in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

Earlier, dead bodies of Salman Afzaal 46, wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and Salman’s 74-year-old mother Talat Afzaal were brought to the Islamic Centre prayer ground, draped in the Canadian flags, for the funeral prayers which were attended by hundreds of people observing Corona related SOPs. “And the very fact their coffins are draped in the beautiful Canadian flag is an apt testimony of the fact that the entire Canadian nation stands with them,” Raza Bashir Tarar said.

Meanwhile, a series of prayer sessions and vigils were held in different cities of Canada by various Canadian Pakistani associations and groups to express solidarity for the victims of the Sunday killings.

Pakistan Canada Association of Edmonton arranged a talk on the cause of hate and racist incidents happening in Alberta, challenge of Islamophobia and how community leaders from diverse backgrounds could come together for an open conversation on these subjects. The discussion was also attended and addressed by Consul General of Pakistan Vancouver Janbaz Khan.

A number of federal and provincial parliaments members, government functionaries, and political parties’ representatives attended a gathering in Montreal to express solidarity with the brutally murdered Muslim family in London-Ontario.

Speaking at the occasion, Ishtiak Ahmed Akil, Acting Consul General of Pakistan Montreal, highlighted the statements and speeches of Prime Minister Imran Khan made at various international forums including the UN General Assembly and called for the international community’s attention towards taking concrete actions against a rising tendency of Islamophobia all over the world.

A prayers meeting was arranged in a local mosque in Toronto and attended by Consul General of Pakistan Toronto Abdul Hameed among others. A similar prayer session and vigil was also held in Ottawa and represented from The Pakistan High Commission by Counsellor Press Hamid Raza Khan.

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