KARACHI : The Sindh High Court on Thursday declared a notification with regard to detention of four accused of Daniel Pearl murder case as void.

A bench of the high court on a petition, declared detention of four accused of the murder, British national Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh, co-accused Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil as unlawful and ordered their immediate release from the jail.The bench also ordered putting the names of accused Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh and others in the exit control list (ECL).

The court observed that the accused have been in jail for last 18 years and ordered the accused to appear as and when the court summon them.

Assistant Attorney General earlier informed the court that the provincial government have authority to keep an accused in detention.

Provincial home department had detained the accused under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) on September 28.

Four convicts of the murder case, Ahmed Omer Saeed, Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil had moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging their convictions handed down by the Hyderabad Anti-Terrorism Court in 2002, after finding them guilty of abducting and killing American Journalist Daniel Pearl.

The ATC had handed death sentence to main accused Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh and life sentence to other three accused.

The high court overturned the verdict of the ATC and acquitted the convicts on April 02 this year.

The Sindh Government and the family of Daniel Pearl have filed appeals against the high court verdict in Supreme Court and the case has been under hearing in the apex court.

The 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl, was researching a story on religious extremists, in January 2002 in Karachi, when he was abducted and slain.

DNA

Islamabad, DEC 23 – National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has termed relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan eternal and intertwined in the bonds of religion, history and culture. The Speaker said that connecting people, building peace and promoting cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan was in the best interest of both the countries. The Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said this while addressing the meeting of the 7th Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee in Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting of the Joint Committee is being attended by eminent personalities from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Wide range of issues including enhancing bilateral relations, connecting people, building peace and promoting cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan were discussed.

Speaker Asad Qaiser while addressing the meeting said that people of Pakistan regardless of ethnicities are bound together by everlasting cultural, religious and historic affinities. He said that a peaceful Afghanistan was in the larger interest of Pakistan. He commended the commitment of political leadership of both the countries for fostering parliamentary, economic and people to people relations. He said that Parliament feeling the need to bring both the countries more closer activated the Parliamentary Friendship Group comprising all the political parties in the parliament.
Apprising the meeting about his Parliamentary initiatives, the Speaker Asad Qaiser said that recommendations on removing impediments hindering the smooth trade and peoples’ movement across the border have been addressed and recommendation thereupon was forwarded to Executive.

He said that it was heartening to note that more than eighty per cent of the recommendations had been implemented whereas easing visas restrictions approved by the Federal Cabinet and implemented had largely eased the movement of Afghan Traders, students and patients to travel to Pakistan. He said that enhancing trade activities would boost the economies of both countries. He said that stuck up bilateral economic activity due to covid-19 especially the Afghan Transit Trade was eased down. He also informed that the proposal for allowing movement of vehicles from both the countries had been forwarded to the government.

Speaking about the significance of Afghanistan, the Speaker said that Afghanistan could serve as a gateway to Central Asia due to its geographical location. He said that the advent of CPEC had created immense economic opportunities in Pakistan thus extending the economic outreach to Central Asia would be beneficial for Pakistan as well as Afghanistan. He also suggested for establishment of border markets. He said that the establishment of such markets would generate employment opportunities and induce upwards momentum in trade activities.
Expressing his Optimism, the Speaker said that the peace process would lead to internal stability and economic prosperity in Afghanistan. He said that people of both countries would benefit from easing cross-border movement and providing economic opportunities to their citizens.
Referring to his recent interaction with Speaker of Afghan Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council of the Afghan National Reconciliation, Speaker Asad Qaiser said that they both had agreed to boost meaningful and comprehensive collaboration between both the countries. He said that interaction between legislative bodies would also further strengthen bilateral relations. He said that he had accepted the invitation of his Afghan counterpart and would visit Afghanistan.

KARACHI, DEC 23 (DNA) – Sindh recorded as many as 918 new cases of the coronavirus and 40 more fatalities overnight, taking the provincial tally of infections to 207,407 and deaths to 3,419.

According to a statement issued from the CM house, a total of 11,643 samples were tested, out of which 918 turned out to be positive. 807 patients recovered over the past 24 hours, taking the number of recoveries to 184,999 patients.

He said 18,989 patients are under treatment at present, 18,159 of whom are in home isolation, 13 at isolation centres and 817 at different hospitals. He added the condition of 722 patients is stated to be critical while 85 of them have been put on ventilators.

Out of 918 fresh cases, 635 were detected from Karachi, including 203 from District South, 270 District East, 92 Central District, 19 Korangi, 22 West and 29 Malir.

Hyderabad reported 80 new infections, Shaheed Benazirabad 52 infections, Kamber 20, Khairpur 10, Ghotki and Umerkot nine each, Badin and Larkana seven each, Sujawal and Thatta six each, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, Matiari and Tando Allahyar two each, and Sanghar and Sukkur one each. = DNA

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 23 (DNA) – The government is likely to increase the price of electricity by Rs 1.52, which will put an additional burden to the already suffering people.

The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has requested to increase the price of electricity by 57 paisa per unit for October and 95 paisa per unit for November under the fuel price adjustment.

In October, the production cost of electricity was Rs 4.11 per unit while the reference fuel cost was Rs 3.75 per unit, while in November, the production cost of electricity was Rs 3.42 per unit and the reference fuel cost was Rs 2.48 per unit.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) will hold a public hearing on December 30. = DNA

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 23 (DNA) – The Prime Minister’s Debt Inquiry Commission has shared details of “unnecessary” use of public funds by former rulers, including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, with NAB for further investigation.

Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed had last year in December provided the commission a set of documents titled “Detail/Information about unnecessary expenditure incurred from the public exchequer by the former heads of state/government.”

According to the ministry, billions of rupees from the national kitty were squandered on personal security, camp offices and foreign trips. It said the Jati Umrah residence of the Sharif family was declared as Chief Minister’s residence after the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, as a result of which over an amount of Rs176 million was spent on installation of security metal mesh fence, elevated security posts, CCTV cameras and floodlights.

Besides, public funds were used for the construction of a road leading to Jati Umrah. Unjustified expenditures were incurred on account of the security of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif even after they had left their respective public office.

The national exchequer foot the bill for foreign tours of Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, ex-PM Yousuf Raza Gillani, ex-president Mamnon Hussain, Shehbaz Sharif and ex-PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. On these private visits, millions were spent from state treasury on account of tips, gifts and entertainment.

They also had multiple camp offices as official documents show that at times even five houses in the same city were declared as camp offices causing undue burden on the national kitty.

Official helicopters and aircraft were used by family members of Nawaz Sharif who were not even officeholders. Shehbaz Sharif travelled on VVIP flights, purchased a new helicopter for Rs130 million in addition to using the Prime Minister’s aircraft resulting in unjustified expenditures= DNA

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 23 (DNA) – Christmas is the message of love, Christians are patriot Pakistanis, said the Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday.

He expressed this while addressing a special Cake cutting ceremony held in the connection of Christmas at the office of Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed congratulated the Christian community and directed the Chief Secretaries to ensure the security of churches. The Chief Secretaries of all the provinces should serve the churches. Christian community is loyal to Pakistan, he added.

He said that after getting the charge of the Ministry of Interior he wants to give the most important message to end the smuggling of petrol in the country with in the time period of 7 days. Substandard petrol is damaging the vehicles and the national exchequer is also facing the loss of 2 billion dollars every year.

FBR has taken a remarkable step by stopping the smuggling of mobile phones. The Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered to take strict action against the smuggling of petrol. The petrol pumps selling the smuggled petrol will be sealed, he added.

Chairman CDA, Aamir Ali Ahmed; Board members, Directors, and officers of CDA were also present at the occasion.

DNA

ISLAMABAD – With strict adherence to the standard operating procedures, the Young leaders Conference took an early start to their day. The fourth day was champed by a youth leader himself, Mr. Umair Jaliawala. Umair made sure to level up the participant’s day by inspiring, encouraging, and adding a breath to the participant’s life.

The day was sponsored by English Biscuit Manufacturers, EBM have been partners with the Young Leaders Conference for more than 18 years and have been successfully executing YLC as one. The day was all about LEVELING UP!

In the midst of challenges, EBM with its brand choco allowed the participants to get rid of their inner fears that the year has brought upon them and instead will divert their minds towards being optimistic and positive.

Under strict precautionary measures and following the SOPs, the fourth day of the conference was all about ‘Levelling up’ – whether it’s your education, job, or a start-up. The day was meant to encourage and motivate young minds to go above and beyond; as the youth today radiates with optimism despite all hurdles they face, they have even found new means to stay connected in times that have hampered them from doing so. The keynote speakers from the day included Qaiser Abbas, S. Akbar Zaidi, Shabbar Zaidi, Ahmed Essa Rauf, Shahbaz Islam, Arif Pyar Ali, Junaid Ahsan, Dr. Sara Saeed, and others who conducted sessions on Economy, Education, Entrepreneurship, Tech, and Social Media.

The day began with the mandatory SOPs check that has been significant at this year’s YLC. The conference is being held under strict conditions – with careful observations of the venue, participants, and the SOPs. The event has been organized with thorough preparations on the part of the organizing committee, in light of the safety and health concerns of all present.

The event has been sponsored and partnered by YLC’s Founding Partner English Biscuit Manufacturers and Cause Partners FNF, as well as KIA Motors, British Council, Marie Stopes Society, KFC, Viper, Hubco, IBEX. The Jang Group is the official media partner, Suno FM 89.4, the Official Radio Partner for the conference, while Double Click Pvt Ltd. is serving as the PR partner.

DNA

SIALKOT, DEC 23 – Chairman Sialkot International Airport Limited Mian Naeem Javed has said that there are vast opportunities for growth in the aviation industry. Sialkot International Airport has become the center of attention of the world after the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan visit of.Sialkot  where international flights from different are under operation  and Gujranwala Division as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir  large numbers of people from other adjoining areas are availing domestic and international flights from Sialkot Airport.

This was stated by Chairman Sial Mian Naeem Javed during a briefing here today. He said that Sialkot International Airport like other airports of the country could play an important role in the promotion of tourism.  He said that possible facilities and incentives should be announced by the government so that the citizens could be attracted towards domestic and international travel.

He said that Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujarat are well-known industrial cities and flights from Sialkot International Airport to other countries are being operated on international routes which could be significantly increased.  Mian Naeem Javed said that for the development of aviation industry, it is necessary to implement tourism promotion programs which will bring multi-currency exchange to Pakistan and increase investment in aviation industry as well as innumerable jobs and businesses.  Opportunities will arise.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 23 (DNA) – Pakistan Railways has upgraded as many as 620 coaches from its own resources to increase revenue of the department and facilitate its passengers for comfortable travel during the last three years.

Giving the year wise breakup of the upgraded coaches, an official in the Ministry of Railways told that 168 coaches were upgraded in 2016-17, 192 in 2017-18 and 260 coaches in 2018-19. Regarding the availability of coaches, he said that at present around 472 coaches were out of service or non-functional, which needed heavy or light repair.

Giving details about the repair, the official said that 39 coaches of Pakistan Railways under survey of condemnations being over-aged and beyond economical repair. The official said that 205 coaches were available in workshops under periodical overhauling and repair. Around 228 coaches available in Lahore division and in Carriage Factory and C&W Shops held up since long for repairs.

He said Pakistan Railways was taking several steps to improve financial position of the organization included starting of new trains with the same rolling stock and human resources. The official said that introduction of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) locomotives and trains tracking system had contributed in reducing the fuel consumption by 2 million liters.

He said Pakistan Railways has earned Rs 0.841 million more during the current financial year 2019-20 as compared to last fiscal year 2018-19 by taking prudent measures to make the department a profitable entity. “In the financial year 2019-20, the revenue has increased to Rs 17.741 billion as compared to Rs16.9 billion of corresponding period of 2018-19 and the budget target of Rs16.5 billion,” he said.

He said the expenditures were Rs 32 billion (2019-2020) as compared to Rs27 billion (2018-19) and the increase was on account of increase in fuel prices and salaries of the employees. = DNA

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