DNA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has approached Twitter administration to immediately sensitize its moderation teams and ensure that the platform is not used as a propaganda tool for spreading fake information.

According to press release, in the wake of current smear campaign of spreading false and baseless information targeting Pakistan, PTA has stressed upon Twitter to effectively block handles involved in the campaign.

PTA asked Twitter to take immediate action against such accounts as per its guidelines and policies

is deplorable that universal ideals of UN Charter are continuously being violated and defied with impunity nowhere more egregiously than in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir 

Naveed Miraj

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the United Nations to exercise its legal and political authority to ensure full implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir.

He was addressing a ceremony in connection with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in Islamabad today (Friday).

The Foreign Minister said it is deplorable that universal ideals of UN Charter are continuously being violated and defied with impunity nowhere more egregiously than in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said led by ‘Hindutva’ ideology, the BJP-RSS regime in India is incessantly resorting to aggressive posturing against Pakistan and other neighbouring countries that seriously imperils regional peace and security.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the UN Day reminds us of our collective responsibility to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and lends an opportunity to renew our commitment to the noble ideals enshrined in it.

The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s firm and abiding commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations playing a central role.

He said Pakistan’s contribution to the UN Peacekeeping is one of the most visible manifestations of our commitment to multilateralism.

Pakistan is one of the longest-serving and largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping. Since 1960, we have contributed over 200,000 peacekeepers to 46 Peacekeeping Missions around the world.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan also continues to co-host one of the oldest Peacekeeping Missions – the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan.

He said Pakistan also continues to host 3 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees, which remains one of the most protracted refugee crises in the world.

The top court took notice of prolonged detentions and delays in the NAB’s cases during a hearing — presided over by a three-member bench led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial 

AGENCIES

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday termed the prolonged detention of the accused in cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as “unfair”, asking the anti-graft watchdog to explain why there were delays in such cases.

The top court took notice of prolonged detentions and delays in the NAB’s cases during a hearing — presided over by a three-member bench led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial — of a bail petition filed by Punjab Food Director Muhammad Ajmal.

The counsel for the accused, Advocate Abid Saqi, informed the court that his client had been kept in detention for the past 16 months but that the proceedings had not commenced. There was no progress during the coronavirus pandemic either, he added.

The NAB has acknowledged the sources of at least Rs70 million worth of assets out of a total of Rs110 million, Saqi stated.

In response, Justice Yahya Afridi remarked that accused cannot be detained in jail for so long on corruption charges. Properties may be frozen and the passport confiscated if an individual is accused of corruption, he added.

“Apprise the court as to why it is necessary to keep the accused in jail,” Justice Afridi remarked. “There are 80 cases before this one, so why keep this accused detained during this time?

“Yesterday, the chief justice had ordered that there should be no unnecessary adjournment in NAB cases,” the judge said, following which Justice Bandial read out the relevant order from the previous day.

A special prosecutor of the NAB responded, saying he assured the court that proceedings related to the witnesses would be completed in November.

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: A secret meeting of three senior PML-N leaders with Shahbaz Sharif on the “request” of a senior representative of the ‘establishment’ has “upset” former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The publication, citing informed sources, said Nawaz was unhappy when he was told that top party leaders Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Tanvir Hussain had met Shahbaz while he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the “request of a senior representative of the establishment”.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Advisor on Accountability and Interior Barrister Shahzad Akbar had also revealed in a recent press briefing that the PML-N president is holding ‘secret’ meetings in jail, but refused to divulge any details.

PML-N sources, however, said that their party delegation had met Shahbaz Sharif with a message for him.

“Before this contact, an effort was made to contact Nawaz Sharif but he refused to entertain those knocking at his door while carrying a message from the establishment,” the report said.

Abid Raza

LAHORE: PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said Friday Prime Minister Imran Khan “is just a pawn and not our target”, noting decisively that the incumbent, PTI-led government would be sent packing before the start of 2021.

Speaking to the media after meeting Baloch students staging a sit-in at Lahore’s Charing Cross, Maryam said students “are the future of Pakistan” but those from “Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, [erstwhile] FATA, and Balochistan” have to protest after 600 of their reserved seats were taken away.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 23 (DNA) – Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has been awarded a turnkey ICT contract to deploy state-of-the-art IT infrastructure for Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST) University, a leading center of excellence in higher education and research in Haripur. 

Zarrar Hasham Khan, Chief Business Services Officer, PTCL and Dr. Nasir Khan, Rector, PAF-IAST signed the contract at the university campus in Haripur. The signing ceremony was attended by Suleman Awan, General Manager, Digital Services, PTCL, Dr. Mohammad Mujahid, Advisor, PAF-IAST, Wasim Hashmi, Advisor PAF-IAST, along with senior other officials from both sides. Anwar Amjad, Advisor IT,

PAF-IAST, explained the significance of this project and university’s future plans with respect to IT and communication facilities.

PTCL will deploy state-of-the-art IT infrastructure for campus networking & Wi-Fi, surveillance, Virtual Desktop Infrastructures (VDIs), Data Center and information security across university campus. The solution will facilitate the students and faculty to use best-in-class technologies equipped with latest ICT services. Being one of its kind, Wi-Fi 6 and VDI is being implemented in an education institution in Pakistan for the first time.

Speaking on the occasion, Zarrar Hasham Khan, Chief Business Services Officer, PTCL, said, “We are glad to partner with PAF-IAST through this unique collaboration whereby enabling smart campuses equipped with latest IT solutions, hi-speed internet and seamless network. PTCL is committed to play its due role to strengthen education sector in Pakistan. Being a national carrier and backbone of connectivity in the country, we support digital transformation through provision of modern IT infrastructure and Cloud hosting services in Pakistan.” 

Speaking on the signing ceremony, Dr. Nasir Khan, Rector, PAF-IAST, said, “We are excited to take PTCL on board to deploy latest technology that is in line with the university’s long-term plans for strategic research and self-reliance. We are confident that our partnership with PTCL will prove to be a landmark achievement in providing enhanced and one of its kind solutions that will help students and faculty to realize their true potential.” 

Being a national company, PTCL continues to focus on education sector as it is a key pillar and is necessary to achieve the vision of a Digital Pakistan.=DNA

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BEIJING, OCT 23 – The Inauguration Ceremony of the International Research Centers for a Community with Shared Future & the International Academic Network for a Community with Shared Future was held at Beijing.

The ceremony was also conducted virtually for the participation of member countries including Pakistan.

Research and Academic Centers of seven countries are brought together under this partnership including, Germany, South Korea, Malaysia, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Pakistan. Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad has been selected from Pakistan to be the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future to promote theoretical innovation to build a communication platform that enables societies to address global crises and seek apt solutions to bring sustainable development and prosperity.

The ceremony was commenced by the remarks of Mr. Liao Xiangzhong, President of the Communication University of China, Beijing who extended his congratulations to the member countries of the International Research Center for a community with a shared future. He mentioned the importance of such Institutions for the exchange of research and to encourage academic collaborations and multi-disciplinary research.

Representing Pakistan, Mr. Ahmed Farooq, Minister, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of China stated that Pakistan & China are Iron Brothers, we have a glorious past and we envision a bright future under this partnership. He praised CGSS as the participating think tank from Pakistan & expressed his full support for a community with Shared Future.

Lt Col Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd), Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future shared his thoughts at the Inauguration ceremony and highlighted the significance of the subject initiative. Stressing upon the importance of Collaboration, Cooperation, and Interconnection in the academic domain, he mentioned that, it is necessary to take such initiatives through which the culture of joint research is promoted. He further discussed that he looks forward to strengthening the academic relations between Pakistan, China, and the rest of the world, he aims to establish a network of academic collaborations. Hence, working collectively towards making the world a progressive and prosperous place.

Major General Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery, HI(M), (Retd) President, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad stated that, collaborations have the potential to contribute continuously to academic progress. Through the creation of this Network of Research Centers, the expertise from seven different countries are brought together providing them a single platform where they can perform collaborative research and map out the causes for various global issues and may suggest solutions for the future.

The ceremony was also addressed by the heads of all the partner international institutions including,

1. Jean-Christophe Bas, CEO of Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, Germany
2. Koh King Kee, President of Centre For New Inclusive Asia,
3. Costa Rick Mahalu, Vice Chancellor of St. Augustine University of Tanzania
4. Getachew Dinku Godana, General Director of Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority
5. Kim Hyoung-Tae, Chief Affairs Officer of Korea Radio Broadcasting Association
6. Ahn Chiyoung, Dean of Academy of Chinese Studies, National Incheon University of South Korea

The Ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries including the Directors and Head of Institutions of the seven institutions from the partner countries.

DNA

ISLAMABAD – Former President ICCI Shahid Rasheed Butt on Friday lauded the decision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to boost trade and ties with African nations by opening new diplomatic missions in twenty countries.

The business community fully back the government’s decision, as it will boost exports while these countries can start investing in Pakistan, he said.

Shahid Rasheed Butt who is also honorary Consul General of Ghana said that the decision is well in time as the implementation stage of the African Continental Free Trade Area is due to begin in a few months.

Many African nations are also interested in CPEC and opening embassies there will result in enhanced economic cooperation, he observed.

He said that the government has planned to discover new markets to improve exports to Africa, the second largest continent in the world with 54 sovereign states, almost 1.5 billion of population and a collective GDP of $2.6 trillion.

The business community has been demanding for linkages to Africa but the former governments relied on promises while the current government has moved in this direction which is laudable.

He said that all embassies should establish display centres for exportable products and the private sector should also play their role to get into these new markets.