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UN chief urges end to fresh Armenia-Azerbaijan fighting in disputed region

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UNITED NATIONS, SEPT 28 – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he is “extremely concerned” over renewed hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh disputed region that erupted on Sunday.

According to news reports, at least 18 people have been killed along the line of contact in the worst fighting between the two former Soviet Republics in four years.

“He condemns the use of force and regrets the loss of life and the toll on the civilian population”, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

This latest skirmish between the two countries, which fought a war in the 1990s as the Soviet Union was dissolving, has heightened fears of instability in the South Caucasus, a region that provides crucial transit routes for gas and oil to world markets.

Both States have declared martial law and Armenia ordered the total mobilization of its military, according to media reports.

“The Secretary-General strongly calls on the sides to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay”, Dujarric said, adding that the UN chief would be speaking to both the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Armenia accused Azerbaijan of carrying out early morning air and artillery attacks on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The two fought a six-year war over the region until a 1994 truce, but over the years, both countries have blamed the other for ceasefire violations in the enclave and along the border, including in July.

In recent months, more than a dozen soldiers and civilians have been killed in the struggle.

Dujarric , the UN spokesman, underscored that the Secretary-General reiterated his “full support” for the important role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs and urged the sides to “work closely with them for an urgent resumption of dialogue without preconditions”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has thrown its weight behind Azerbaijan following Armenia’s border violations and attacks in Upper Karabakh. “Pakistan stands with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and supports its right of self-defence,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We support Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in line with several unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolutions,” it added.

Shehbaz Sharif arrested in money laundering case after LHC rejects bail

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LAHORE, SEPT  –  PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday after the Lahore High Court rejected his bail plea in a money laundering case.

Shehbaz was taken into custody from the court’s premises, where a large number of PML-N workers and supporters had gathered ahead of the hearing.

Last week, the LHC had extended the pre-arrest bail of Shehbaz, while arguments of his counsel were in progress and had directed him to conclude his arguments in the next hearing.

During today’s proceedings, Shehbaz’s legal counsel Azam Nazir Tarar said that the PML-N president’s arrest at this stage of the case could not be justified and added: “NAB’s dishonesty is apparent everywhere.”

He said that Shehbaz was already facing two other references filed by NAB, arguing that the cases against the opposition leader were “fake”.

“Local bodies elections are coming up, the government wants Shehbaz Sharif to go to jail,” Tarar declared.

He further pointed out that though the copies of the reference had been provided, Shehbaz was yet to be indicted.

Tarar told the court that the former Punjab chief minister had done a net saving of Rs81 billion in the Orange Line Train Project and Rs400 million in the taxi project. Collectively, Tarar said, Shehbaz had saved Rs1 trillion in net savings.

In his arguments, Shehbaz’s lawyer said that the PML-N president had never received any ta-da or salary.

Reacting to Shehbaz’s arrest, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, said in a tweet: “If there were accountability and justice in this country, it would not have been Shehbaz Sharif who was arrested but Asim Bajwa and his family.”

PML-N information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb slammed the arrest, alleging it was political victimisation by the government.

“The entire nation has been handcuffed through Shehbaz’s arrest,” she said outside court, saying the arrest was a result of the “NAB-Niaz nexus”.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Shibli Faraz, while talking to a private news channel, said that the reference “should not be turned into a political case”. He added that the decision had been taken by a court and was a result of the opposition leader’s corruption.

Money laundering case

The reference mainly accuses Shehbaz of being beneficiary of assets held in the name of his family members and benamidars who had no sources to acquire such assets. It says the suspects committed offences of corruption and corrupt practices as envisaged under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and money laundering as delineated in the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010.

A total of 20 people had been nominated in the reference, including four approvers Yasir Mushtaq, Muhammad Mushtaq, Shahid Rafiq and Aftab Mahmood.

The main suspects are Shehbaz’s wife Nusrat, his sons Hamza (leader of opposition in Punjab) and Suleman (absconder), and his daughters Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali.

Pakistani rock/electronic band released debut single and video ‘Begin’

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DNA

ISLAMABAD,  –  Pakistani progressive rock/jazz/electronic band Wisdom Salad has released their debut single and video ‘Begin’: The video has been directed by Ali Ashraf and shot in Islamabad.

In the band’s own humorous words, “This video was born of absent mindedness and sleep deprivation, but now that we’ve seen the final product there are no regrets. It was time. And when the time came. We made a video. For the time was now. And now the video would be made. Yes. It’s about the cyclical nature of life. How we often get bogged down in the mire of daily life and it just seems like running down the same hallway forever but there is always respite. Somewhere. Hope you enjoy.”

Wisdom Salad consists of:

– Shamsher Rana who makes the garnish of the Salad by adding color with his production, combining with Mustafa to add to the appeal in composition, and the flavor with his fastidious guitar playing. Shamsher has been involved in many projects across the industry, collaborating with Faris Shafi, VIP, Takatak as well as working on the score for Saqib Malik’s “Baaji” and Sarmad Khousat’s “Zindagi Tamasha”.

– Musti or Mustafa Tauseef aka Dr. Toffee, is the body of the Salad. The blend of his compositions and tasteful guitar playing give the Salad it’s true form. Having now officially become a Doctor, Mustafa is practicing along with working on various projects such as Sikandar Vincent Khan’s “Begunnah”.

– Daud Ramay aka Lord Sir Daud Ramses, is the base of the Salad, the bringer of faith and the light that shines upon the rest of the Salad. Daud is a gifted drummer. No stranger to the Pakistani music scene, Daud is involved with a number of bands including Takatak (with his brother and fellow Lord, Yusuf Ramay), Sikandar Ka Mandar, Keeray Makoray, Janoobi Khargosh and even playing for Poor Rich Boy.

– Asjad Ilahi Junaid is the croutons. The lettuce. The onions. The irreducible parts without which one cannot call something a salad. His dynamic voice tows the line between epic highs and sultry lows. Also he’s an ACE certified trainer.

Baber Nehal elected chairman APRA

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DNA

Karachi: Baber Nehal elected as Chairman of All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA) and Muhammad Ilyas elected as Senior Vice Chairman for the year 2020-21.

According to the APRA announcement, Abdul Qadir Mir was elected as Vice Chairman, said a press release on Monday.

The other members of executive committee are Masood Ahmed Kalia, Omer Habib, Mohsin and Sheikh Muhammad Tehseen.

In the General Body meeting, the annual accounts were approved and the new Office Bearers assumed their responsibilities.

‘Imran Khan declared better PM of Pakistan in last 15 years’

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DUBAI : An online survey conducted by Khaleej Magazine has revealed that Imran Khan is a better prime minister as compared to the previous premiers of Pakistan.

A poll conducted in this regard reveals Imran Khan is the number one choice of the people in Pakistan and has been declared as a better PM in the last 15 years.

According to results, more than 93% voted for PM Imran Khan, while former prime minister Nawaz Sharif secured 4.7% votes and Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf secured 0.8% votes.

Earlier this year, the business community in Pakistan had expressed its optimism for improvement in the country’s economic conditions in near future, according to the first edition of the Business Optimism Index released by Dun & Bradstreet, a global database and risk management company.

According to the index, the database company included 400 to 500 companies from the country during the global survey.

The global survey carried out for the index’ quarterly report include companies from all economic sectors of the country. “Around 75 of the companies that participated in the survey were foreign-based and they have appreciated the idea of bringing investment to Pakistan,” it had said

Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur indicted in mega money-laundering case

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ISLAMABAD : An accountability court on Monday indicted former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, in a mega money-laundering case, with the accused pleading not guilty.

Justice Azam Khan presided over the hearing in the Islamabad court where Zardari, accompanied by his daughter Asifa, and Talpur were presented. However, the PPP leader’s lawyer, Farooq H Naik, was not there reportedly due to his commitment at the Supreme Court.

The court also indicted Anwar Majeed, the head of the Omni Group and another accused in the case who appeared through a video link. Majeed, however, pleaded not guilty.

The court further indicted Majeed’s son, Abdul Ghani, who was present in the courtroom and also pleaded not guilty.

Lawyers of two others accused in the case, including former Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) chairperson Hussain Lawai and banker Taha Raza, were given a copy of the charge sheet after being indicted by the court.

It should be noted that at the last hearing, the court had dismissed Zardari’s pleas in the fake accounts cases, as well as three corruption references, and ordered he be indicted, noting that he could not be acquitted.

On the other hand, the PPP co-chairperson challenged the mega money-laundering and Park Lane reference trials in the Islamabad High Court, seeking acquittal in both.

Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes kill 23

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Twenty-three people have been killed during clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Nagorno-Karabakh region is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenians.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged support for Azerbaijan, urging the world community to stand with the country in its battle against invasion and cruelty.

Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia, has also offered to broker peace talks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also expressed his great concern over the clashes and called for both sides to stop fighting.

PCB announces criteria-based contracts for domestic players

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Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced 2020-21 contracts for 192 domestic players.

10 players have been awarded the A Plus category out of 192. The players comprise leading performers from the 2019-20 first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and players part of the national squad but without a central or emerging contract.

These players are Bilal Asif (Central Punjab), Fahim Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Imran Khan Snr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Kashif Bhatti (Balochistan), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sohail Khan (Sindh) and Zafar Gohar (Central Punjab).

Pakistan men’s team head coach and chief selector selected players for the A Plus category. “I want to congratulate the 10 players for securing the newly-introduced A Plus category contracts, which is a reward for their efforts and hard work in the 2019-20 season that either earned them recognition in domestic cricket or places in the Pakistan men’s national team,” he said.
“I accept there will be a few players who will feel hard done but we could only pick a maximum of 10 players in this category. I want to assure every high-performing player that he will remain available for selection in the side and depending on how he performs in the 2020-21 season, will be in line for an increment next year,” he added.

Category A comprises 38 players, including 10 best performers from the last season or the ones who have previously represented Pakistan at the international level.
Category B includes 47 players who have played T20Is, are amongst the top 10 performers of the National T20 Cup (First XI) 2019-20, had a good first-class season in 2019-20, or have represented Pakistan Shaheens/Emerging since 2019.

Category C includes 71 players who either featured in PSL 2019 and 2020, were amongst the performers of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (First and Second XI) 2019-20 performers, top 10 performers of the Pakistan Cup 2018-19, best batsman/bowler of Patron’s Trophy Grade-II 2018-19 or have represented Pakistan in age-group cricket.

Category D boasts all the other 26 players who are part of the six Cricket Association sides.

Director High Performance, Nadeem Khan said he has always believed and emphasized on criteria and performance-based contracts. He further explained the fragmentation of the categories.

“While setting up the criteria, we have also moved from a fixed slab retainer structure to a category-based retainer structure because I think it is fair on leading or experienced players to be treated and paid differently to a beginner or a starter. Furthermore, this is also consistent with how we offer central contracts to our elite cricketers.

“Through this model, we have also ensured we retain and protect our age-group cricketers, who in the past have dropped out either due to non-selection or non-recognition. These eight U19 cricketers who played in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020 and 11 Emerging/Shaheen players will now remain part of the system and will get their opportunities to improve and move in an upward direction.

2020-21 domestic player contract categories with monthly retainers and selection criteria:

A+ Category (10, monthly retainer PKR150,000)

Bilal Asif (Central Punjab), Fahim Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Imran Khan Snr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Kashif Bhatti (Balochistan), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sohail Khan (Sindh), Zafar Gohar (Central Punjab)

A Category (38, monthly retainer PKR85,000)

Adnan Akmal (Balochistan), Ahmed Shehzad (Central Punjab), Amir Yamin (Southern Punjab), Anwar Ali (Sindh), Ashfaq Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asif Ali (Northern), Bilawal Bhatti (Southern Punjab), Ehsan Adil (Central Punjab), Faizan Riaz (Northern), Hammad Azam (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Hussain Talat (Southern Punjab), Imran Farhat (Balochistan), Junaid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Kamran Akmal (Central Punjab), Khurram Manzoor (Sindh), Mir Hamza (Sindh), Mohammad Asghar (Sindh), Mohammad Irfan (SLA) (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Talha (Balochistan), Musa Khan (Northern), Rahat Ali (Southern Punjab), Raza Hasan (Northern), Saad Ali (Sindh), Saad Nasim (Central Punjab), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Butt (Central Punjab), Sami Aslam (Balochistan), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh), Sohaib Maqsood (Southern Punjab), Sohail Tanvir (Northern), Tabish Khan (Sindh), Umar Amin (Northern), Umar Gul (Balochistan), Usman Salahuddin (Central Punjab), Waqas Ahmed (Northern) and Zeeshan Malik (Northern)

B Category (47, monthly retainer PKR75,000)

Abdul Rehman Muzammil (Balochistan), Adeel Malik (Sindh), Adil Amin (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ahmed Jamal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ahsan Ali (Sindh), Akbar-ur-Rehman (Balochistan), Akif Javed (Balochistan), Ali Sarfaraz (Northern), Amad Butt (Balochistan), Awais Zia (Balochistan), Azeem Ghumman (Balochistan), Bismillah Khan (Balochistan), Fahad Iqbal (Sindh), Gulraiz Sadaf (Balochistan), Hasan Mohsin (Sindh), Imran Rafiq (Southern Punjab), Israrullah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Jalat Khan (Balochistan), Jamal Anwar (Northern), Khalid Usman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Asad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Mohsin (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Saad (Central Punjab), Mukhtar Ahmed (Southern Punjab), Nauman Anwar (Central Punjab), Naved Malik (Northern), Naved Yasin (Southern Punjab), Omair Bin Yousaf (Sindh), Rameez Alam (Southern Punjab), Rameez Aziz (Sindh), Rohail Nazir (Northern), Sahibzada Farhan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saif Badar (Southern Punjab), Sameen Gul (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shoaib Ahmed Minhas (Northern), Taimur Ali (Balochistan), Taj Wali (Balochistan), Umaid Asif (Balochistan), Umar Khan (Southern Punjab), Umar Siddiq (Southern Punjab), Umar Waheed (Northern), Usman Qadir (Central Punjab), Waqas Maqsood (Central Punjab), Zahid Mehmood (Southern Punjab), Zain Abbas (Southern Punjab) and Zohaib Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

C Category (71, monthly retainer PKR65,000)

Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (Balochistan), Abdullah Shafiq (Central Punjab), Ahmed Bashir (Central Punjab), Ahmed Safi Abdullah (Central Punjab), Akhtar Shah (Balochistan), Ali Imran (Northern), Ali Shafiq (Southern Punjab), Ali Zaryab (Central Punjab), Ammad Alam (Sindh), Anas Mehmood (Central Punjab), Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asad Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ashiq Ali (Sindh), Asif Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Azam Khan (Sindh), Bilawal Iqbal (Central Punjab), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Dilbar Hussain (Southern Punjab), Farhan Khan (Central Punjab), Ghulam Mudassar (Sindh), Gohar Faiz (Balochistan), Hayatullah (Balochistan), Imran Dogar (Central Punjab), Irfan Khan Niazi (Central Punjab), Irfanullah Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Jahid Ali (Sindh), Kamran Ghulam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Khurram Shehzad (Balochistan), Maqbool Ahmed (Southern Punjab), Mehran Ibrahim (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Amir Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Basit (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Haris (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasan (Sindh), Mohammad Huraira (Northern), Mohammad Ilyas (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Irfan Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Junaid (Balochistan), Mohammad Mohsin Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Naeem Snr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Taha (Sindh), Mohammad Umair (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Muhammad Akhlaq (Central Punjab), Muhammad Imran (Southern Punjab), Munir Riaz (Northern), Musadiq Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Nabi Gul (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Nasir Nawaz (Northern), Qasim Akram (Central Punjab), Rehan Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Rizwan Hussain (Central Punjab), Saad Khan (Sindh), Saifullah Bangash (Sindh), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Salman Irshad (Northern), Sarmad Bhatti (Northern), Shehzad Tareen (Balochistan), Shehzar Mohammad (Sindh), Shiraz Khan (Northern), Sohail Akhtar (Northern), Suleman Shafqat (Central Punjab), Taimur Khan (Balochistan), Tayyab Tahir (Southern Punjab), Umair Masood (Northern), Usama Mir (Balochistan), Waleed Ahmed (Sindh), Zaid Alam (Northern), Zeeshan Ashraf (Southern Punjab) and Zia-ul-Haq (Southern Punjab)

D Category (26, monthly retainer PKR40,000)

Ahsan Baig (Southern Punjab), Ali Usman (Southern Punjab), Anas Mustafa (Southern Punjab), Athar Mehmood (Northern), Atizaz Habib Khan (Central Punjab), Fahad Usman (Central Punjab), Hidayatullah (Balochistan), Ismail Khan (Northern), Mohammad Ali (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rameez Jnr (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Suleman (Sindh), Mohammad Tariq Khan (Sindh), Mohammad Umar (Sindh), Najeebullah Achakzai (Balochistan), Nihal Mansoor (Northern), Nisar Ahmed (Central Punjab), Rameez Raja Jnr (Quetta, Balochistan), Samiullah Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saqib Jamil (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shadab Majeed (Northern), Shahid Nawaz (Central Punjab), Shahnawaz (Sindh), Shehbaz Khan (Balochistan), Waqar Hussain (Southern Punjab) and Ziad Khan (Northern).

FM Qureshi, Afghanistan’s reconciliation leader Abdullah discuss Afghan peace process

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Islamabad : Talks between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah are underway at the foreign office in Islamabad.

They are discussing the Afghan peace process and matters of mutual interests.

Earlier on arrival at the foreign office, the visiting dignitary also planted a sapling.

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Afghanistan reconciliation council chief Abdullah Abdullah arrives in Islamabad

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Islamabad : Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a three-day visit to Pakistan.

Adviser on Commerce Razak Dawood and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq received him at Nur Khan Airbase.

Abdullah Abdullah is accompanied by a high-level delegation including prominent members of the High Council for National Reconciliation.

During the visit, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will call on the Prime Minister and President and will also meet with Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Foreign Minister and other dignitaries.

He will deliver a key-note address at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and also have interaction with the media.

This is Dr. Abdullah Abdullah’s first visit to Pakistan in his capacity as Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation.

The visit will provide an opportunity for wide-ranging exchange of views on the Afghan peace process and strengthening of Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations and people-to-people interaction.

The visit of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will contribute to further strengthening amity, brotherhood and close cooperation between the two countries.

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