DNA 

ATTOCK: A 75-Year-Old man died from Covid-19 in Attock and 22 more people were diagnosed with the disease, district health authorities have confirmed. 

There have now been 415 cases of Covid-19 in Attock district and 28 deaths. 

According to spokesperson of district Emergency service said that the deceased was a 75-Year-Old man from samaa village of district attock. He was admitted in CMH hospital. Where he tested positive for COVID-19. 

Rescue Officer said that he was buried according to the COVID-19 protocol. 

According to the district focal person for COVID-19 Dr Asif Arbab Niazi said that 22 new cases were reported in the district raising tally to 415. 
There has been an alarming spike in the district, with the highest single day rise in COVID-19 cases. One positive patient also succumbed to novel coronavirus in Attock raising death toll to 28. 
Dr. Niazi said that so far safe burial of as many as 42 patients was carried out in different parts of the district. 

According to District Attock focal person for Covid-19, Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, among 22 new cases, 13 belongs to Attock, 04 are from Hazro tehsil, 01 from Fatehjang, 03 from Pindi Gheb and 01 from Jand and on While giving details about the active patients in various tehsils of the district, he informed that there are 90 in Attock City, 33 in Hazro, 15 in Hassanabdal, 01 in Fateh Jang, 11 in Jand and 10 in Pindi Gheb. 
He said as many as 06 patients were under-treatment at various hospitals of the district in which Four are Stable and Two are critical while other 158 positive patients are under home isolation. 
Dr. Niazi added that the number of suspected cases also rose in the district to 3399 while screening of as many as 6980 persons hadbeen carried out so far. He said that result of as many as 375 suspects of the area is awaited so far. He said that 199 patients have recovered from this deadly virus in Attock so far. DNA==============================

An accountability court in Islamabad has decided to indict former president Asif Ali Zardari via video link on July 6 in the Park Lane reference. It is a part of the fake accounts cases against the PPP leader.

The court had initially decided to indict him on June 26 but the date was deferred as the PPP co-chairperson could not appear in court on Friday.

Zardari filed for an exemption from appearance. His lawyer, Farooq H Naek, said that it is difficult for him to travel from Karachi to Islamabad. He is old and vulnerable to the coronavirus, he argued.

“But you Mr Naek, have come to court too,” remarked Judge Azam Khan. “Do you not fear for your life? If you are coming then you bring Zardari too.” He then asked if Zardari was admitted in a hospital.

Zardari is at his home in Karachi, the judge was told. His doctors have advised him to not travel. He is also afraid of travelling by PIA now. The report on PK-8303 crash is out and you should look at the condition of the airline, said Naek, adding that international flights have stopped coming to Pakistan now.

The court asked if they can indict Zardari via video link. Judge Khan remarked that if Zardari can’t appear in person then he should appoint a person to appear for his indictment on his behalf.

Naek, however, said that they aren’t afraid of the trial but don’t want the investigation to be done in haste.

“There is no haste in this. This case has been ongoing for a long time now,” said Judge Khan.

The court ordered Zardari’s indictment via video link. Naek was directed to ensure that Zardari is there at the Registrar Office in Karachi to which, the lawyer said the government has advised people above 60 years to stay at home.

“Then make sure Zardari marks his appearance via video link from his house,” the judge said.

Naek submitted a petition seeking to defer the indictment till the country comes out of the coronavirus pandemic. The judge dismissed his petition and said that the case has been already been delayed.

Khawaja Anwar Majeed, on the other hand, marked his presence via video link. He is currently at a hospital in Karachi. He said his condition has improved, adding that he would have come to Islamabad if he could.

The Park Lane Estate company is a Karachi-based real estate firm. The anti-graft watchdog had initiated an inquiry against Zardari and his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on charges that they illegally transferred forest land to the firm in collusion with some government officials. Bilawal was given a clean chit in the case on June 12.

Other people named in the reference include Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed, his son Abdul Ghani Majeed, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairperson Hussain Lawai, Iqbal Noori, Iqbal Memon, Younis Kudvawi, Mohammad Noori, Sher Ali Uzair Naeem and Muhammad Saleem. Three companies, Tracom, Park Lane and Parthenon, have been named too.

The National Accountability Bureau has summoned PML-N leader Khawaja Asif on July 3 after he failed to appear before the bureau in the Sialkot housing society case on Friday.

He has been directed to bring relevant documents to NAB’s Lahore office.

Asif told the bureau and he can’t appear on Friday because he has to attend a post-budget session in the National Assembly.

NAB has accused Asif of illegally building a private housing project, Kent View Housing Society, in Sialkot. He has been asked to submit details of the funds invested in the project by his family members along with a money trail.

The bureau claimed that the society did not stick to its original layout of 137 kanals and spread over to state land. The plots on public land have been sold to people.

Asif’s wife, Musarrat Ali, and son, Asad Asif, are also being investigated in the case.

The federal government says it had initially expected the coronavirus cases in the country to rise to the 300,000-mark by the end of June, but around 100,000 less infections are now likely to be reported.

On Thursday, Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar said the government’s decision to seal certain cities has resulted in lower infections.

“Instead of 300,000 cases, we are expecting 200,000 cases to be reported till June 30,” he told reporters.

As of June 26 Friday, 197,000 people in Pakistan have tested positive for COVID-19. The National Command and Operation Centre has identified and sealed around 90 localities in 20 cities. These neighbourhoods cover 40% of all active cases.

Umar said imposing a strict lockdown in these areas has slowed the virus’ spread in this week. However, it isn’t time to celebrate just yet.

“People have also begun adopting the SOPs. Now the cases are not spiking as rapidly as they were earlier, but this doesn’t mean that we stop adopting precautionary measures and feel as if the outbreak has finished,”
he warned.

“In a week, we’ll show the numbers that will reveal the difference that sealing the virus hot spots has made. Our healthcare sector will now be able to sustain this situation.”