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Shibli Faraz lauds talks between Afghan govt, Taliban

ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said peace talks between Afghan government’s representatives and Taliban are historic and beginning of the new era.

Taking on micro-blogging website, Twitter, the minister said that commencement of peace talks is the success of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance about solution of Afghanistan conflict.

20 years ago Khan Sahab said that there is no military solution of the Afghan conflict, he stated and prayed for the prosperity and development of people of Afghanistan.

Historic peace talks opened between the Taliban and the Afghan government on Saturday, with the warring parties meeting face to face in Qatar even as violence continued on the ground in Afghanistan.

Abdullah Abdullah, the former chief executive for Afghanistan who is heading the peace process for Kabul, had called for an immediate ceasefire and highlighted the ongoing toll of the war, saying 12,000 civilians have been killed and another 15,000 wounded since the US and the Taliban signed a deal in February.

“We have to use this exceptional opportunity for peace,” Abdullah had said at the talks’ opening ceremony in Doha.

“We have to stop violence and agree on a ceasefire as soon as possible. We want a humanitarian ceasefire.”

Abdullah was joined at the opening ceremony by Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Hamza Shehbaz tests positive for coronavirus

LAHORE : Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, confirmed party leader Atta Tarar.

Tarar in his tweet said that Hamza has been tested positive for coronavirus and hoped that he would be shifted from Kot Lakhpat jail to hospital soon.

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb in her statement has stated that negligence in the treatment of Hamza Shehbaz could pose threats to his life.

She appealed the nation to pray for early recovery of the party leader and urged the government to immediately shift Hamza Shahbaz from the jail to hospital.

Yesterday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif met his son Hamza Shehbaz at the Kot Lakhpat jail.

According to the details, Shehbaz Sharif visited Kot Lakhpat jail to meet his incarcerated son. During the meeting, the PML-N president inquired about his health. The meeting continued for over one-and-a-half hours, said sources.

FUI Pakistan signs MoU with University Teknologi PETRONAS UTP

DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 12 – Foundation University Islamabad (FUI), Pakistan has signed an MoU with University Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia on September 2020 to enhance scientific, technical, and engineering competencies of students and faculty.

The agreement aims at academic and research collaboration covering Faculty, Staff and Students Exchange as well as Joint Research and Academic Advocacy. DNA

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Five SHOs, Six police officers reshuffled in Attock

ATTOCK, SEPT 12 (DNA) – The police department reshuffled as many as 11 police officers including five station house officers (SHOs) and investigation officers (IOs) of different police stations across the district.

District Police Officer (DPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani has transferred five SHOs of different police stations and six other officers in the district.

According to official sources, Inspector Arshad Mehmood transferred from police lines and posted as SHO Hassanabdal, Sub Inspector Safdar Khan has been posted from Hassanabdal to New Airport, Sub inspector Saqib Abbassi transferred from New Airport Police station to Rangoo Police station, Sub inspector Gulfaraz Ahmed posted from Police station Hazro to Pindigheb Police station while Aabid Hussain has been posted from Police lines to Hazro Police station.

Similarly, Sub Inspector Ghulam Hussain who was serving as SHO at Police station Rango has been transferred and directed to report to the police line. Sub Inspector Zubair Hayat who was serving as incharge heinous crimes investigation unit Hazro has been posted as incharge patrolling post Ghorghushti, Sub Inspector Asif Javaid who was incharge patrolling post Ghorghushti has been posted and appointed as incharge patrolling post Kalla Chitta, Sub Inspector Karam Dad who was serving as incharge patrolling post Pindsultani was posted to city Police station Attock while Assistant Sub Inspector Mehar Saleem has been posted from Police lines and appointed as incharge patrolling post Pindsultani. DNA

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Hindu fanaticism proved authenticity of two-nation theory: Masood

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 12 (DNA) – The AJK President Sardar Masood Khan has said that an economically and militarily strong and stable Pakistan was not only the dream of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah but it also guaranteed freedom of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir as well as protection of the Indian Muslims.

“The principles of faith, unity and discipline set by the great leader is prerequisite to turn Pakistan into an economic power and to make it invincible in terms of defense,” he declared.

While talking to delegations from different strata of life here, he said that faith, unity and discipline was not merely a political slogan of the great Quaid, but he had personally followed this principle in letter and spirit in his political struggle, and through the inception of Pakistan, he practically proved how much the faith, unity and discipline of the nation were imperative to achieve the goal.

The AJK president said that Quad-e-Azam was the well wisher and benefactor of the Kashmiri people in the real sense because he was firm to make Kashmir part of Pakistan, and to materialize the dream of granting democratic, constitutional economic rights to the people of the state. He had visited Kashmir in 1926, 1929, 1936 and 1944, closely watched the plight of the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, and raised his voice for their political, religious, and socio-economic rights, he added.

Sardar Masood Khan said that in turn, the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir also firmly believe in the political acumen of Quaid-e-Azam and love him.

Citing a message of Quaid-e-Azam to the Kashmiri leadership in 1946 that is one year ahead of the creation of Pakistan, the state president said that in his message, the great leader had called upon the Kashmiri leadership to make their people well disciplined in educational, socio-economic and political terms, and the struggle for their rights selflessly and firmly, and then no power on the world would be able to deny freedom and legitimate rights to them.

Describing Kashmir liberation struggle as continuation of two-nation theory, the AJK president said that the worst discriminatory treatment being meted to Kashmiri people and Indian Muslims under Hindutva agenda has once again proved the political sagacity and farsightedness of Quaid-e-Azam and his colleagues.

Now even pro-India political parties and leaders of occupied Kashmir are realizing authenticity of two-nation theory, he said and made it clear that two-nation theory does not mean denying rights of non-Muslims and minorities in Kashmir.

The AJK president said that in the history of the Jammu and Kashmir state, the Hindu pundits have always been living in peace with the Muslims, and they have not only been appointed on top government positions but discriminatory treatment has also been never extended to them on religious basis.

“It is high time that the whole nation follows political principles of Quaid-e-Azam,” he said adding that the liberation struggle of the Kashmiri people can never succeed nor a safe future of the Muslims of South Asia can be ensured without a strong Pakistan. DNA

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FM Qureshi participates in 27th ASEAN Regional Forum

DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 12 – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held online today. The meeting was chaired by Vietnam and attended by Foreign Ministers and senior government officials of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

In his video remarks, the Foreign Minister called for a concerted international effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop a vaccine that is accessible to all as a global public good. He also highlighted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for the developing countries to help create enhanced fiscal capacity to tackle the negative economic consequences of the pandemic.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also apprised the Forum about the progress made by Pakistan in the field of counter-terrorism. Furthermore, he urged the ASEAN Regional Forum members to raise voice against the rise of “Islamophobia” and extremist tendencies in the region and around the globe.

While emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to inter-faith harmony, the Foreign Minister informed that Pakistan took the milestone step of opening the “Kartarpur Corridor” last year to facilitate Sikh pilgrims from India and elsewhere.

The Foreign Minister condemned moves by states to alter the demographics of disputed territories under their illegal occupation and stressed the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes according to relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The Foreign Minister underscored that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was central to regional peace. Highlighting Pakistan’s positive contributions, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. Noting that the U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement of 29 February 2020 represented a significant step forward, the Foreign Minister underlined the importance of an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement through Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

On the issue of South China Sea, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the ongoing negotiations of Code of Conduct and underlined that the concerned parties may find solution through consensus.

The Foreign Minister also announced that Pakistan will be co-hosting the 24th ARF Heads of Defence Universities/Colleges/Institutions Meeting with Malaysia in 2021.

Ambassador of Japan welcomes Afghanistan peace negotiations

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 12 (DNA) – Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, welcomed the commencement of the Afghanistan peace negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban. The opening ceremony held in Doha, Qatar on September 12 was virtually attended by H.E. SUZUKI Keisuke, Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In his speech, State Minister SUZUKI said that Japan strongly hopes that the negotiations would make a steady progress to put an end to the prolonged conflict, fulfilling the aspiration of the people of Afghanistan.

Ambassador MATSUDA commended Pakistan’s contributions to the Afghan peace process including facilitating the U.S.-Taliban Agreement and reaffirmed that the Government of Japan strongly hopes that the above mentioned negotiations will make a steady and constructive progress in order to realize an Afghan-led durable and comprehensive peace in the region.

He reiterated that the Government of Japan will continue to actively contribute to the peace and stability of Afghanistan in collaboration with the international community and is looking forward to working closely with Pakistan. DNA

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Star-studded international cricketers shortlisted for Lanka Premier League 2020

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the list of 150 players for the draft of the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

The selection of the players for the tournament will take place on October 1, according to a statement by the SLC.

“The player auction of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held on 1st of October 2020,” the media release stated. “About 150 top-notch cricketers including Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Darren Bravo, Shahid Afridi, Shakib-Al-Hasan, Ravi Bopara, Colin Munro, Munaf Patel and Vernon Philander are in line to play in the inaugural edition of the LPL.”

According to the rules, each franchise is allowed to buy a maximum of six overseas players.

“A total of 30 international cricketers and 65 local cricketers are expected to make up the five teams.”

Earlier, the Galle franchise had announced the signing of former Pakistan captain Afridi as its marquee player.

The 20-over competition will be contested from November 14 to December 6. The matches will be played in Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota.

Lahore motorway rape: Punjab Forensic Authority matches possible rapist’s DNA

Fifty-three DNA samples were taken after a woman was raped in front of her children on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway late Wednesday. One of the samples taken from the crime scene has matched with DNA already in the Punjab Forensic Authority’s database.

The woman was raped in front of her children by two unidentified men on the motorway. She was driving to Gujranwala when she ran out of fuel near Lahore’s Gujjarpura. The woman was sitting in her vehicle when two men walked towards her car, broke her window, and made her park on the roadside. They then took her and the children to a nearby forest and raped her.

The men fled after the rape, taking with them three ATM cards, 100,000 in cash and jewellery.

The police have collected 53 DNA samples from residents of nearby villages and sent them to the PFA for testing. They said it would take 10 days for the results but the Authority also ran the DNA samples found at the crime scene through its system and got a match.

The match is of a 25-year-old man who raped a mother and daughter in 2013, according to police sources. He is a resident of Bahawalnagar. He is DNA was at three spots at the crime scene– the victim’s clothes, the smashed car window and inside the car itself.

The Authority has sent his details to the Punjab Police.

The police currently has 15 people in custody. Another 25 suspects who already have records have locked their homes and fled.

CCPO’s controversial remarks

The remarks of Lahore CCPO Umar Sheikh about the woman’s decision to take the motorway with her children have been widely criticised by politicians and activists on social media.

Sheikh appeared on Dunya News after the rape was reported and commented on the survivor’s decision to take the motorway with her children at night.

“The story is that this woman, if it is in your knowledge, left Defence at 12:30am for Gujranwala,” said CCPO Sheikh while talking to the news channel. “First, I am surprised that she, a mother of three children, was the only driver.” She left Defence and should’ve taken GT Road, where there are shops and people nearby. “If you are taking the other way, then at least make sure your vehicle has fuel,” he remarked.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari criticised the Lahore CCPO for “blaming a woman” for being raped. “For an officer to effectively blame a woman for being gang-raped by saying she should have taken the GT Road or question as to why she went out in the night with her children is unacceptable,” said Mazari in a tweet. “Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape.”

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on the other hand, didn’t say anything about the CCPO at all.

In an interview with Kamran Khan for Dunya News, CM Buzdar kept repeating that an “impartial investigation” would be conducted into the matter. Khan repeatedly pressed the CM to comment on the CCPO’s statement and how it was a poor reflection of his government, but Buzdar ignored it and kept repeating that an investigation would be conducted.

Pakistan’s rape laws

Rape is a punishable offence in Pakistan. The definition and punishment for this crime is detailed under Sections 375 and 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the law, a man is said to commit rape when he has sexual intercourse with a woman under circumstances falling under any of the five following descriptions:

  • Against her will
  • Without her consent
  • With her consent, when the consent has been obtained by putting her in fear of death or of hurt
  • With her consent, when the man knows that he is not married to her and that the consent is given because she believes that the man is another person to whom she is or believes herself to be married; or
  • With or without her consent when she is under 16 years of age.

The convicted rapists will be sentenced to jail for no less than 10 years or more than 25 years, according to the law. A fine will also be imposed on them.

APRA seeks help PM to end monopoly of food delivery companies

DNA

Karachi: SEPT 12 –  All Pakistan Restaurant Association (APRA), has expressed grave concern over the monopoly of food delivery companies, saying that Food Panda has made it a routine to blackmail the restaurants for increasing the commission and requested to Prime Minister Imran Khan should take immediate notice of this and formulate a policy at the government level for food delivery companies so that any kind of monopoly in this sector can be ended.

In a statement issued on Friday, APRA drew the attention of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the important issue facing the restaurant industry, saying that the restaurant industry operates at a profit of 10 to 12 pc only and Food Panda is paid 18pc delivery commission. Despite this, Food Panda is increasing the pressure on restaurants to increase their commissions and have threatened if the delivery commission of 25% to 30% was not done, they will stop the delivery of food.

“Food delivery companies do not comply with any agreement made with restaurants and they force to the restaurants to fire their food riders so that only food companies’ riders can give the food delivery “, APRA opined.

In addition, food delivery companies take customer’s data also and then transfer the order to their favorite restaurants, which has made restaurant owners fed up and now they are thinking to don’t work with these companies like Food Panda.

APRA requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to issue directives for formulating policy for food delivery companies under which they can be bound by rules and regulations. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to work for the restaurant industry, which is already facing financial crunch due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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