ISLAMABAD : Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a message on International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, expressed solidarity with the victims of terrorism and their families.

He said the people of Pakistan have suffered the most from terrorism over the last two decades. “We have lost more than 70,000 lives and suffered an economic loss of over $120 Billion. Thousands of valiant soldiers and law enforcement officials have laid down their lives in defending the motherland.”

“I would like to thank and honour Pakistani citizens and families of martyrs of our law enforcement agencies and armed forces who have rendered immense sacrifices for the freedom, safety and security of Pakistan and its people,” FM Qureshi said, maintaining that the government and people of Pakistan will never forget their sacrifice.Despite these losses, he said, the country’s resolve to fight terrorism remains unwavering. “In the face of every tragedy, the resilient Pakistani nation has shown that the values of enlightenment, compassion and empathy that bind us together are much stronger than the forces of intolerance, hatred, and violence that aim to divide.”

“As we commemorate this day, we must also remember and venerate the victims of the worst form of state terrorism perpetrated by India against innocent people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” he said.

Since 1990, he added, India’s occupation army has martyred over 100,000 Kashmiris, widowed over 22,000 women, orphaned around 108,000 children and raped more than 11,000 women. “India’s state terrorism has intensified since 5 August 2019 military siege of 8 million Kashmiris in the Valley, with the imprisonment of political leaders; the abduction and torture of 13,000 Kashmiri youth; brutal force against peaceful protestors; collective punishments and extra-judicial killings.”

He called for the international community to prosecute Indian civil and military personnel involved in state terrorism and serious crimes against humanity.

Qureshi reiterated the country’s commitment to take joint actions to extend all support to those who have been the victims of terrorism. “Let us commit to showing them that they are not alone, and that the international community stands in solidarity with them, wherever they may be.”

The views were expressed by Pakistan and Uzbek experts in a webinar titled “Cooperation between South and Central Asia on Peaceful Settlement of Conflict in Afghanistan”. The webinar was jointly organized by Eurasian Century Institute (ECI), Islamabad and Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of Uzbekistan, Tashkent 

DNA

ISLAMABAD: “Regional countries particularly Pakistan and Uzbekistan and larger international community should make all-out efforts that intra-Afghan peace process gets under way at the earliest and becomes a success. Peace and stability in Afghanistan is essential not only for Afghans but for the entire region of South and Central Asia.”

These views were expressed by Pakistan and Uzbek experts in a webinar titled “Cooperation between South and Central Asia on Peaceful Settlement of Conflict in Afghanistan”. The webinar was jointly organized by Eurasian Century Institute (ECI), Islamabad and Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of Uzbekistan, Tashkent.

The speakers noted that Pakistan and Uzbekistan have been among the countries hardest hit by lingering conflict in Afghanistan. They also noted that both the countries have also played notable roles in bringing Afghan warring factions to the negating table.

Speakers from Uzbek side included: Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of ISRS, Manzura Khusnidnova from Analytical Center on International Relations, Akram Umarov, Lead Research Fellow at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and  Rustam Khurramove, also from ISRS. Pakistani speakers included Rana Athar Javed, Director General of Pakistan House, Brig. (r) Said Nazir, senior analyst, Tahir Khan, senior journalist and Irfan Shahzad Takalvi, Founding President of Eurasian Century Institute (ECI), Islamabad.

Participating academics noted that while peace process has been initiated, there are number of questions and obstacles in the way but the same can be countered with a positive regional approach and tackling the potential spoilers of peace. It was suggested that despite differences and divergences, common grounds and shared objectives should be focused first to move forward for desired goal of peace and stability in Afghanistan. The moot participants were unanimous that there must be no foreign interference in this process, from any county at all.

The webinar also noted with appreciation the efforts that Pakistan has made for deal between the US and Taliban as well for re-initiation of the intra-Afghan peace process. The event also highlighted specific initiatives of Uzbekistan for enhancing road and rail connectivity of Uzbekistan with the region, energy supplies as well as developmental and humanitarian assistance of Tashkent for Kabul. Uzbekistan was also noted as potential host of coming rounds of intra-Afghan talks. 

Islamabad – Citizens of the federal capital has urged the Mayor to take necessary action to urgently restore the routine water supply to the sectors where it is disrupted for weeks now. Public is in sheer distress and blind on what the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) is doing to do the needful. On the other hand, the water tanker mafia in connivance with the MCI staff is fleecing public and minting money.

Islamabad Green Citizens Front (IGCF), a member of the Pakistan Civil Society Network, wrote a letter to the Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz on Thursday highlighting the water shortage in many of the residential sectors of the federal capital. Water scarcity has peaked in the recent days in the absence of the routine water supply as the MCI could not repair the Sangjani turbines and some other pipes supplying water to Islamabad.

In the letter, the IGCF convener Munir Ahmed wrote on behalf of the citizens that MCI water tanker facility is being misused by the water tanker mafia in connivance with the MCI staff deputed there. He said the MCI staff ask the citizens starved for water to buy private water tanker while the MCI tankers remained under-used.

He said this is ironic that MCI sells 2000 gallons of water from their G-10/4 and I-10 facilities at Rs.300 to a private water tanker that is supplied to a needy citizen in Islamabad from Rs.3000 to Rs.4500.

He said he himself had witnessed that private water tankers were queued up at the facility while the private tankers were getting filled up with water. This sheer violence of the mandate of the MCI concerned section and its staff. The pathetic situation shows the sorry state of affairs which should immediately be checked, and the miscreant should be taken to task who don’t run their own facility to the maximum of capacity.

The IGCF members, however, has requested the Mayor for immediate suspension of the shift in-charges of the water tanker facilities to conduct an impartial inquiry against them on supporting the private water tankers and negligence in providing relief to the citizens. Some honest and steadfast staff should be appointed to replace the suspended staff.

The IGCF has asked the Mayor to immediate stop irrational facilitation to the private tankers mafia and the MCI staff unduly facilitating them should be taken to task. Efficiency of the MCI water tanker facility shall be improved, and MCI should issue a proper receipt of whatever meagre amount it receives from the citizens on account of charges for the water tanker.

The IGCF has suggested the Mayor to immediately start water metering system in its jurisdiction besides launching monitoring teams including civil society volunteers to curb the misuse of water to wash cars and porches all around the city.

Some information is in the air that some influential institutions have illegally interrupted the water supply by inducting their pipes and sucking the water 24/7 that should be taken up with them and pointed out the spots in the media to highlight the injustice done by the state institutions against the public interest.

Most importantly, the urgent measures shall be taken to restore the regular water supply, and meanwhile the public shall be taken into confidence with public interaction and through media to tell the actualities of the water shortage.

LAHORE : An accountability court on Thursday admitted for hearing a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and members of his family over their alleged involvement in money laundering and accumulation of assets beyond known means of assets.

Accountability Judge Jawadul Hassan has summoned the investigation officer of the case to appear on Friday (Tomorrow).

After a preliminary hearing, the court will issue notices to all accused for further proceedings in the case.

On Aug 17, the national graft buster filed Rs7 billion money laundering and assets beyond means reference against the Shehbaz family, including his sons, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz and Suleman Shehbaz, wife Nusrat Shehbaz and others.

Suleman is a proclaimed offender in the case. The other accused named in the reference include Nisar Ahmed, Syed Muhammad Tahir Naqvi, Ali Muhammad Khan, Qasim Qayyum, Rashid Karamat, Masroor Anwar.

The bureau approved requests by Muhammad Mushtaq alias Mushtaq Cheeni, his son Yasir Mushtaq, Shahid Rafique, and Aftab to turn approvers against Shehbaz family in the case.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday denied reports of a rift between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, saying that Islamabad and Riyadh enjoy unique relations, deep-rooted in religion, culture and social ties.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia attest to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two countries,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said during his weekly press briefing.

Chaudhri added Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have strong economic, political, security and military cooperation at all levels.

Citing the example of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit last year to Islamabad and PM Imran’s visit to Saudi Arabia, he said that they cemented relations between the two countries and provided new opportunities of cooperation in trade, investment and other fields.

The spokesperson added that Pakistan appreciates the Kingdom’s role in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

‘No change in Pakistan’s stance on Palestine-Israel issue’

Responding to a question about the normalization of relations between UAE and Israel, the spokesperson said there was no change in Pakistan’s position on the Palestine-Israel issue.

“Pakistan stands by the commitment realizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination for a just, comprehensive and long-lasting peace,” he noted.

He continued, “Pakistan has consistently supported a two-state solution per UNSC and OIC resolutions as well as international law with pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine.”

Speaking about recent developments and how Pakistan plans to tackle it, Chaudhri said Pakistan’s approach would be guided by “our evaluation of how Palestinians’ rights and aspirations are upheld and how regional, peace and security and stability are preserved.”

LAHORE : A civil court on Thursday directed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif and vice-president Maryam Nawaz to submit their reply in a case against them for allegedly encroaching upon 4,000 acres of land in Jati Umra.

Senior Civil Judge Fozia Saira was hearing a lawsuit filed by Punjab University Professor Dr Abdul Rauf.

The counsel for the Sharif family members appeared in court and sought time to submit their response. Granting his request, the court gave the lawyer until September 12 to file comments.The litigant alleged that the Sharif family had encroached upon his forefathers’ thousands of acres of land in Jati Umra which they had purchased from the then government from 1911 to 1912. The actual owner of the land in question, Pir Buksh, is still alive, he said.

Abdul Rauf claimed that he had documentary evidence that can be made part of the court’s proceedings and pleaded with the judge to issue directives for removal of encroachment from the land.

He further demanded that the Sharif family pay a sum of Rs50 billion as financial damages he suffered because of the illegal occupation of the land.

ISLAMABAD : Advisor to PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan on Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here in Islamabad.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed matters pertaining to Constitutional, political and legal affairs were discussed. Babar Awan presented the annual calendar of parliament sessions to PM Khan.

The prime minister approved a new parliamentary year and expressed hope that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s third parliamentary year will be the year of development and bring more prosperity in the country.On the occasion, PM’s advisor Babar Awan said that National Assembly (NA) will meet every month according to a new scheduled prepared by the incumbent for the lower house of parliament. “Parliament will work 133 days in the next parliamentary year,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned a joint session of the parliament today [Thursday] to formally start the third parliamentary year of the National Assembly.

The president has summoned the joint sitting under Article 54(1) and 56(3) of the Constitution. According to the notification, the president will address the joint sitting to mark the start of third parliamentary year of the incumbent government.

Parliamentary sources said that the president in his address will throw light on government’s two years performance. He will also make Pakistan’s renewed pledge for support of Kashmir cause.

LAHORE : The Punjab Police has written a letter to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Momin Agha seeking deployment of military troops in the province for maintaining law and order situation during Muharram-ul-Haram.

According to a letter, a requisition was forwarded to Home Department of Punjab government for the provision of 63 companies of the army and 43 companies of Rangers to assist the police in the maintenance of security, especially during 9th and 10th of Muharram.

Three companies of Pak Army and Rangers will be deployed in Lahore during Muharram-ul-Haram, the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the government has finalized all security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram in order to maintain peace in the province.
The Punjab Home Department yesterday had recommended suspending cellular phone services in the province on 9th and 10th of Muharram as part of security measures.

The Punjab Home Department had recommended for suspension of mobile service on selective areas, especially along the routes of mourning processions.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) will meet today (Thursday) for Muharram-ul-Haram moon sighting.

Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman would hold the meeting in Karachi after Asr prayers.

The meeting of zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees will also be held for collecting evidence in respect of sighting of the Muharram moon.