ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed a petition filed by US blogger Cynthia Ritchie against a judge’s verdict who had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to file a case against her.

Ritchie had challenged the order of the Additional Sessions Judge of Islamabad at the high court, saying that the FIA should not register a case against her as she had not committed any crime.

The court said that it could not interfere in the FIA’s investigations and ordered the agency to continue its probe into the US blogger according to law.

Earlier, the petition against the verdict was heard by the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in which lawyer Imran Feroze Malik appeared in the court on behalf of Ritchie.

During the hearing, lawyer Imran Feroze Malik had read out the decision of the session judge regarding the registration of the case, to which the Chief Justice asked how he was affected by the decision.

Petitioner’s counsel replied that there were other aspects to this decision.

Justice Minallah had remarked that this was not an order to register a case directly, adding that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been ordered to conduct an inquiry first.

Advocate Imran Feroze had said that we[petitioners] are not objecting to the inquiry, only to the registration of the case.

In this regard, Justice Minallah had said that the court will not go into the merits of this case.

After hearing the arguments, the chief justice reserved the verdict.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ASJ) Jahangir Awan had directed the FIA to register a case against Ritchie, who has levelled harassment allegations against the PPP leadership after a public spat with the party.

The petitioner, PPP Islamabad President Shakeel Abbasi on Saturday had filed a petition stating that Ritchie had made baseless allegations against ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto and a case should be registered against her.

In its two-page verdict, the court had said the US blogger had not denied that she created this tweet on social media.

‘Rehman Malik was the source of information about Benazir Bhutto’

Ritiche said that her earlier social media posts, which stirred a commotion in Pakistani politics, had no intentions to malign or defame anyone, instead, her tweets were taken out of context.

Talking to media outside the IHC, Ritchie maintained that she had informed the US Embassy about what had happened to her in 2011 and is still in touch with the American Citizen Services.

“The man who attacked me was a man of clout in the [Pakistan People’s Party]PPP [ruling] era, therefore, I could not understand the reason to inform Pakistani officials about the incident,” she said, adding that she was told things about former prime minister Benazir Bhutto by the interior minister of that time, Rehman Malik.

Ritchie accuses PPP leadership of ‘harassment’ and ‘manhandling’

In a video broadcast live on Facebook, Ritchie had alleged that one of the party’s senior members had raped her while two others had “manhandled” her at a separate occasion.

She had stated that the incidents occurred in 2011 when the PPP was in power, and when the individual she accused of rape had been a senior minister. Geo News has attempted to reach out to the accused for comment but received no response so far.

Ritchie had further alleged that two other senior party leaders — a federal minister and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani (who has publicly responded to the allegation) — had “physically manhandled” her when the latter “was staying the President House”.

In a subsequent textual post on Facebook, Ritchie had said that the alleged rape incident had occurred at the accused’s residence in Islamabad’s Minister’s Enclave in 2011, “around the [time of the] OBL (Osama Bin Laden) incident”.

“I thought it was a meeting about my visa but I was given flowers [and] a drugged drink,” she claimed, adding that she had “kept quiet” about the incident because “who in the [ruling government] would help me against the [accused minister]?”

However, she said she did tell someone about the incident at the US Embassy in 2011, but “due to ‘fluid’ situation and ‘complex’ relations” between Washington and Islamabad, she said the response “was less than adequate”.

PPP moves FIA against Ritchie over ‘slanderous’ remarks

Earlier, the PPP had requested the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber crime Wing to take immediate action and initiate proceedings against Cynthia D. Ritchie for “extremely derogatory and slanderous remarks” regarding Benazir Bhutto.

“Through this application, it is brought to your notice that a woman, who goes by the name of Cynthia D Ritchie on Twitter has passed extremely derogatory and slanderous remarks about Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, through her Twitter handle/account,” the letter dated May 28 read.

“Her remarks being false, untrue, defamating and slanderous as they are, have caused immense pain and agony to the millions across Pakistan who revere and hold Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in high esteem,” it said.

“Your office is requested to take immediate action and initiate proceedings against this woman as prescribed by the law and under your mandate. A photocopy of the tweet, a true portrayal of her sick and disgusting mind is attached with the application,” the letter added.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 22 / DNA / – Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Serena Hotels have pledged to continue providing high-quality meals to frontline medical professionals in the COVID-19 designated hospitals in seven cities nationwide where Serena Hotels are located.

HBL and Serena had launched the joint initiative “Jazba e Khidmat” in early April to pay tribute to the medical professionals including doctors, paramedics and nurses actively playing a role in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The meal boxes are delivered daily for lunch and dinner to almost 20 hospitals and health camps in the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Swat, Quetta, Gilgit and Khaplu. The extension of the initiative, which was decided upon in light of the continuation of the COVID-19 crisis, will lead to 80,000 meal boxes being delivered as a goodwill gesture to the frontliners till end of June.

The idea behind Jazba-e-Khidmat is to recognize and salute the services of medical staff who are battling to keep the society safe during the pandemic by serving them quality nutritious meal. Federal Health Minister Zafar Mirza, while announcing the initiative in April, stated that the Ministry appreciated “theis admirable thought by Serena Hotels and HBL for the medical workers”.

Being Pakistan’s largest bank and leading hotel chain respectively, HBL and Serena Hotels are playing their role as responsible corporate citizens, and have undertaken a range of positive initiatives in light of COVID-19 pandemic to support the Government and society.

KARACHI: JUNE 22 / DNA / = Tariq Huda, Member-Customs (Operations), FBR has agreed with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (FPCCI) proposal to minimize human interaction and make sure social distancing in the presence of COVID-19 pandemic, also appointed collector customs east Engineer Riaz Memon as focal person. In order to the save the human lives from coronavirus, contacts with banks, shipping companies, ports and other institutions can be organized online.

All these issues were agreed upon in a meeting between Member-Customs (Operations), FBR Syed Tariq Huda and FPCCI Vice President Khurram Ijaz, Chairman FPCCI Customs Standing Committee Shabbir Mansha Churra, Vice Chairman Faisal Mushtaq and member Arshad Khursheed.

Shabbir Mansha Churra, Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee gave important suggestions in view of the growing dangers of coronavirus and said that whether it is the export stage or the import stage, business community are at high risk, so use online technology to minimize human interaction and facilitate online transactions with banks, customs, ports and shipping companies. Member Customs appointed Collector East as the focal person for liaison between Customs and FPCCI for immediate implementation of this proposal.

“On the goods kept in the warehouse for more than 6 months should be waived the surcharge which the member customs agreed and issue directives for notification for implementation which is expected to issue very soon”, MR. Mansha opined.

He further said that due to limited working hours of the shipping companies and holiday on Saturday, the ports activities are delayed, therefore the offices of the shipping companies should be opened on Saturday and the daily working hours should also be increased.

In response, Member-Customs issued orders to open offices of shipping companies on Saturday so that import and export matters could be dealt with in a timely manner.

Islamabad , JUNE 22 / DNA / = :-  Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is expected to receive planning permission this week to build a 400-million-pound ($494.24-million) research and development centre in Britain’s Sawston village.The facility, 7 miles (11 km) from Cambridge, will be built for researching and developing chips for use in broadband.

The South Cambridgeshire District Council has been advised to approve the company’s application in full, the media reported.

The Chinese company wants to build the facility in the village of Sawston, seven miles from Cambridge. The area is frequently referred to as ‘Silicon Fen’ because of its cluster of high-tech firms. It hosts, among others, Japanese major ARM Holdings, and the new Huawei center is set to be located just 15 minutes from its headquarters.

According to the report, the local council has already been advised to approve Huawei’s application in full, and it is set to decide on the first phase as early as upcoming Thursday.

It is believed the center will become operational next year and employ 400 people, and will be used for researching and developing chips for use in broadband networks – the same technology which the US has been trying to block access to for the company.

Washington has been pressuring its allies, including the UK, to fully ban Huawei from the rollout of 5G networks, claiming that the Shenzhen-based firm represents a national security threat over its alleged links to the Chinese government. Huawei has denied the allegations. Earlier this year, Britain decided to allow the company to take part in its next-generation mobile networks.

Although London capped Huawei’s 5G involvement at a 35-percent market share and excluded it from supplying equipment to “sensitive parts” of the network, Washington was unhappy with the development.

In January, some US senators said the decision threatens to unsettle relations between the two nations. US President Donald Trump even considered restricting the UK’s access to intelligence shared between the ‘Five Eyes’ nations.

Though the Trump administration eventually backed away from that threat, it continued its pressure campaign against the Chinese vendor. In addition to blacklisting the company, the US tried to cut it off from global semiconductor supplies, which are necessary to manufacture 5G equipment and smartphones.

British security officials are studying the possible impact of the restrictions and have told operators to ensure they have enough Huawei equipment amid fears that the sanctions could disrupt the Chinese company’s ability to maintain supplies

Islamabad, June 22, / DNA / = : Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Monday announced that it will upload its ‘End-term assessment’ papers’ for Post-Graduate programs (semester autumn 2019) on June 27 as a part of its new exam policy in wake of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, ‘End term questions papers’ will also be sent to enrolled students by post at their given addresses.

It will be mandatory for the students to send back the solved papers of their relevant courses to their concerned regional office by July 20, said Controller Exams Dr. Malik Tauqir Ahmad khan.

The Post-Graduate programs include courses relating to B.Ed (New), BS, M.A, MSc and M.Com.

As per the policy formulated keeping in view the current crisis, COVID-19, the exam for the semester is taking place in form of ‘End Term Assessment’.

The students will solve questions through their own hand-writing from their home. Their own handwriting will be verified by matching it with their previous assignments or papers.

If copying or plagiarism was found in thir contents, the students will liable to face an Unfair means case (UMC).

The students will be required to send solved copy of the questions in an envelope to their respective regional office, through registered post or courier service.

Answer copy, if received after the expiry date will not be accepted. By hand delivery is also not allowed.

For further information to this regard, the students could approach their concerned regional office or visit the University’s website, the announcement added.

On Pakistan’s call, an Emergency virtual meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir is being held at the Ministerial level, today, to take up the worsening situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

While the meeting will be chaired by OIC Secretary General, Dr. Yousaf Al-Othaimeen, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi will apprise the participants of the prevailing situation in IOJ&K and brief on various aspects of the issue.

The Foreign Ministers of other Contact Group member countries, i.e. Azerbaijan, Niger, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and the representatives of the OIC-Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) are expected to attend. The AJK President and True Representatives of the Kashmiri People will also participate in the virtual meeting.

The OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir was formed in 1994 to voice OIC’s point of view and coordinate joint Islamic action on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. This is the third meeting of the Contact Group since India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 in IOJ&K.

The OIC has steadfastly supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination. In addition to the meetings of the Contact Group, the OIC and its human rights body, IPHRC, have consistently pronounced themselves on the issue — condemning and rejecting India’s illegal and unilateral actions while reiterating support to the beleaguered people of IOJ&K.

The OIC Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir, Ambassador Yousef Al-Dobeay, visited Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in March 2020 to reaffirm OIC’s support and solidarity with the Kashmiri people and acquire first-hand information on the situation along the Line of Control.

CHANGSHA , JUNE 22 (DNA) – China’s overall response to COVID-19 pandemic was extraordinary and he felt secured and protected during the crisis period in Changsha, Hunan Province,” said Muhammad Usman Janjua, a Pakistani doctor who works at Changsha Medical University (CSMU).

“My life is now back to normal, except for wearing mask,”  Usman told Gwadar Pro that as China and Pakistan are Iron-brothers, Pakistanis like China and Chinese people. China is a safe country, and it is a significant relief for my parents.

“After I came here, I fell in love with this place. That is why I came back here in 2016 to continue studies. Now I am working here,” said Dr. Usman.

Like many people, Usman’s life was changed by the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020.

He recalled that at the beginning of January, everyone was happy as after the exams they would go back home to celebrate the Spring Festival with their families.

He said, “I know every year it is a time of excitement and joy. Nevertheless, under the lockdown, it was such empty outsides. It made me sad. Every day there was news that more and more people were infected with this mysterious virus and deaths were increasing, for which I was heart-broken.”

Usman said, “At that time, I wanted to help. My heart beats with my Chinese brothers. If I can offer my services in Wuhan in this difficult hour, it would be a moment of pride for me and my country – Pakistan.”

Usman told Gwadar Pro that during the years in China, whenever he faced even a minor problem, Chinese friends and colleagues helped him. Chinese people have always splendidly treated him. He has never felt like a foreigner here.

“I am prepared to serve the country which has given me so much respect and love …,” wrote Usman in the application letter as a volunteer in Wuhan, then epicenter of the pandemic to the Foreign Experts Service Office of Science and Technology Department of Hunan Province.

After this, many Chinese people expressed their thanks to him, which moved Usman.

As a doctor, Usman feels that the Chinese government has taken “adequate and powerful” measures at the right time to tackle the virus.

Chinese authorities took early decisions to impose lockdown on affected cities and the Chinese government set-up quarantine centers. Temporary hospitals were established on an urgent basis to treat the patients.

The Chinese people must be appreciated as they followed the rules strictly. Healthcare staff have been working around the clock to help the patients without caring for their safety in this dangerous situation.

Another thing is, at that time when transportation was less, the Chinese government was still able to provide enough food and items of daily usage to the public.

So, overall the response of China to this pandemic was extraordinary and other countries should adopt the same model, twenty-nine year-old Usman who had obtained bachelor’s degree (2007-2012) and master’s degree (2016-2019) added.