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ISLAMABAD, NOV 30 – Justice (RETD) Javed Iqbal Chairman NAB chaired a meeting in wake of increasing number of COVID-19 cases in NAB to decide further course of action at NAB Headquarters.

The meeting was attended by Hussain Asghar, Deputy Chairman NAB, Syed Asghar Haider, Prosecutor General Accountability, Zahir Shah, Director General Operations, Husnain Ahmad, DG Headquarters NAB and other senior officers of NAB. During the meeting, it was directed by NAB’s all officers/officials of NAB to strictly follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) announced by the Government. The meeting further ordered issuance of following instructions for strict implementation and compliance in letter and spirit with immediate effect till further orders.

The meeting decided to observe working hours of NAB offices from 9am to 1:30pm (Monday to Thursday) and from 9am to 1:00pm on Fridays. The Region/Divisions/Wings/Cells may ensure the implementation of the precautionary measures strictly with respect to COVID-19 i.e. wearing masks, sanitizing hands etc. The Region/Divisions/Wings/Cells may ensure conduct of COVID-19 tests of Officers/Officials on a regular basis subject to the symptoms. The entry of visitors had been banned at NAB Headquarters and all Regional offices .Special checking of staff and others will be ensured at entry gate through thermal guns.

It was also decided that disinfection process to be initiated on a regular basis in general and on Saturdays and Sundays particularly without fail. NAB officers/officials should not go to public places without any official work and urgent need and maintain close contact with their Directors/DGs on telephone in order to dispose of official responsibilities without fail as per law.

The meeting decided to ensure strict implementation of comprehensive strategy regarding COVID-19 policy besides frequent hand washing, use of sanitizer, gloves and wearing of masks. The screening of accused in NAB custody will be ensured from qualified doctors besides providing those with best medical facilities and masks, gloves, sanitizers and other necessary equipment to be used to protect them from COVID-19. The meeting chaired by Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal Chairman NAB expressed its firm resolve that through strict adoption of precautionary measures, officers/officials could better sensitize and protect from COVID-19. The officers/officials should inform their relevant Directors/DGs if symptoms of corona virus appear so that immediate remedial measures should be taken on time for provision of medical facilities. Use of intercom should be enhanced in NAB offices in order to avoid frequent meetings besides maintaining social distancing, frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers, gloves and masks. Investigation officers and prosecutors have been directed to pursue their cases in relevant Honorable courts with complete preparation and no laxity will be tolerated in this regard. However, it was also decided that the Prosecution Division shall move applications of adjournment in Honorable Courts if any prosecutor of NAB is infected and declared positive from COVID-19.

ISLAMABAD : The Supreme Court on Monday acquitted a man accused of raping and murdering a ten-year-old boy after kidnapping him.

A five-member Shariat appellate bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, exonerated Khadim Hussain from all charges after 14 years. A trial court had handed three death sentences to the accused on the charges of abducting, sexually abusing and murdering the minor.The boy, named Muddasir, was found dead within the remits of Islamabad’s Golra Sharif police station.

When he appealed against his conviction, a Shariat court dismissed his appeal and upheld his sentence.

His lawyer Akram Gondal stated before the SC that his client was not named as accused in the FIR.

The SC acquitted the accused due to the absence of concrete evidence to back up the charges against him. “The prosecution failed to prove the case beyond shadow of doubt,” the bench observed.

NANKANA SAHIB: The festivities of the 551st birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak will come to its climax today, the last day of the celebrations.

Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India and other parts of the world attending the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

The main ceremony of the anniversary will begin today with the morning hymns followed by Kathas and Kirtan in the praise of the Guru. Later a special community lunch will be held followed by night prayer sessions at Gurdwara.
The stalls in Nankana Sahib keeping commemorative postal ticket released by Pakistan’s postal service and commemorative coin issued by the State Bank of Pakistan.

A group of over 600 Sikh pilgrims from India reached Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib on Saturday.

Sikh pilgrims in their pilgrimage in Pakistan, will attend religious rituals at six Gurdwaras in Punjab.

The main ceremony of the birth anniversary festivities of Baba Guru Nanak being held today at Gurdwara Janam Asthan.

The pilgrims will return back to India via the Wagah border crossing on Dec 1st at the end of their pilgrimage.

The celebrations will end after the Nagar Kirtan procession on Monday, followed by the Bhog ritual at night.

Every year, more than 2,000 Sikhs come to Pakistan to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.

However, the number has reduced this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan has rich Sikh heritage and culture with several holy places of the religion in the country.

KARACHI : An accountability court here on Monday adjourned a PSO case against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former petroleum secretary Arshad Mirza and others.

The court adjourned the hearing until December 21 after it was informed that a defence counsel has contracted the coronavirus, due to which he couldn’t appear before it today. The court was informed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor too didn’t appear due to the pandemic.Abbasi and other accused turned up before the court as it resumed hearing the case.

The anti-corruption watchdog had filed a reference against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and Arshad Mirza, accusing them of appointing Sheikh Imranul Haq as managing director and Yaqoob Sattar as deputy managing director (finance) of the PSO in violation of rules and regulations.

September 03, the Sindh High Court had confirmed the interim pre-arrest bail of the former, the former petroleum secretary and two others in the case. The two-judge bench headed by Justice K.K. Agha directed the interior ministry to put the names of all the petitioners on the exit control list.

On May 19, the SHC had granted interim pre-arrest bail to Abbasi and others against a surety bond of Rs500,000 each.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s loneliest elephant, Kaavan, departed for Cambodia in the wee hours of Monday on a special chartered cargo plane from Russia.

A ten-member team, comprising veterinarians and technicians, accompanied the 35-year-old bull elephant on a long journey from Pakistan to a Cambodian sanctuary. On Sunday morning, Kaavan was sedated before being shifted into a special cage in which it was transported to the Islamabad airport.

The plane with the pachyderm on board was to depart yesterday but its departure was delayed by about 10 hours due to India creating obstacles to the elephant’s smooth, non-stop transportation to Cambodia.
Adviser to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said India should desist from its policy of hatred in the matter involving an animal’s rescue. He demanded of the Indian authorities to allow the plane carrying Kaavan to use the country’s airspace without making any stopover.

He said a reception committee would be ready at the Cambodian airport to receive Kaavan. Initially, a 10-acre area would be given to the elephant where the animal could see other elephants.

It is worthwhile to mention here that renowned pop star and animal rights activist Cher visited Pakistan to see the elephant off.

Kaavan was brought in Pakistan back in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was one-year-old, whose inappropriate living conditions in Marghazar Zoo had irked onlookers as he remained chained and that, too, in a tiny enclosure.

Back in May this year, the Islamabad High Court decreed relocation of Kaavan since he was treated cruelly by the authorities concerned. Kaavan’s plight was given a boost over the years by American pop icon Cher, who publicly campaigned for the elephant’s relocation.