ISLAMABAD, May 3: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has offered four Associate Degree programs of Bachelor-level to the overseas Pakistanis, particularly those living in Middle East.

These programs are Associate degree in General Group, Commerce Group, Mass Communication and Library Information Sciences.

According to Overseas section, Directorate of Regional Services, interested people could take admission in these programs by June 5.

The programs have been offered for Spring 2020 semester. Admission forms and prospectus have been made available on the University website (aiou.edu.pk/overseasdel.asp).

Those holding FA/FSc or equivalent degrees are eligible to enroll themselves in these programs, which are of four-year duration. Exams of these programs will be conducted through Pakistan Foreign Missions abroad.

Over the years a number of overseas Pakistanis, mainly from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman have been benefiting from the AIOU, that is only institution in the country that facilitate them in upgrading their education through distance learning system.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum assured them that the University being a public sector institution will facilitate them in their academic pursuits to maximum extent. They, he added are actively engaged in improving quality of education and its contents’ delivery system through online mode of education.

He hoped that the eligible people would take advantage of the proposed programs, that have been developed according to the contemporary needs.

Pakistan has always categorically rejected the baseless Indian allegations of so-called “infiltration attempts” and preposterous claims of targeting of fictional “launch pads.” The Indian propaganda on this account, however, remains incessant.

As Pakistan has consistently pointed out, regurgitation of these allegations and spurious claims by India is aimed at diverting the world’s attention from India’s state-terrorism and grave human rights violations in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). India also seeks to use these allegations as a pretext for launching “false flag” operation and deliberately targeting of innocent civilians along the Line of Control (LoC).

To expose the Indian falsehoods to the world, Pakistan has taken neutral observers, journalists, human rights organizations and Islamabad based diplomats to the LoC on several occasions in the past.

In October 2019, following the Indian Army Chief’s unfounded allegations and claims, Indian diplomats were also invited to accompany other diplomats to the site of the so-called “launch pads” targeted by Indian artillery. Pakistan also asked the Indian Government to provide coordinates of the allegedly engaged targets. However, while the Indian diplomats failed to turn up for the site visit, the Indian Government failed to provide any coordinates.

While India has restricted the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) from visiting IOJ&K and the LoC, there are no such restrictions on UNMOGIP in Pakistan or AJK.

Pakistan’s policy and approach is clear as it does not allow use of its soil for any activity against anyone. In this backdrop, Pakistan formally offers the United Nations to approach India for obtaining information of alleged “launch pads” and share the same with UNMOGIP who will be welcomed to move into any area without sharing specifics with the Pakistan government to validate Indian claims.

Meanwhile, as the world grapples with the global pandemic, we hope India would act responsibly, cut down on its belligerent rhetoric and aggressive measures on the ground, stop its ceasefire violations and deliberate targeting of civilian population, and enable the UNMOGIP to play its mandated role effectively. This is imperative for peace and stability in South Asia.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 02 (DNA) – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Saturday jumped to 18,114, media  reported. According to National Command and Operation Center, record 1,297 cases were reported across the country in last 24 hours, taking the tally to 18,114.

These include 6733 cases in Punjab, 6675 in Sindh, 2799 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1136 in Balochistan, 340 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 365 in Islamabad Capital Territory and 66 in Azad Kashmir.

With 32 coronavirus deaths in last 24 hours in the country, the total number of deaths has crossed 400 mark and now recorded at 417. According to the NCOC, 4,715 patients have so far recovered while 12,982 patients are still under treatment at the various hospitals.

The country has conducted 1,93,859 coronavirus tests thus so far. Nearly 3.3 million people worldwide – including more than 1 million people in the United States – have been infected with the coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise.

The global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 230,000 yesterday. A total of 230,309 deaths have been registered from 3,218,415 cases, the tally showed. Europe is the worst hit continent with 137,714 deaths, while the United States has registered the most for one country with 61,717.

Almost 90%of the fatalities from a pandemic which first appeared in China in December have occurred in Europe and the United States. =DNA

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Sindh thrusting incompetence upon FG, says information minister Faraz

DNA

Parliamentarians and civil society show their concern in an online discussion

Islamabad – Participants of an online discussion on the emerging controversy on the 18^th Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan termed the statements of some politicians and ministers as undue fiddling with the unanimous national consensus. It would be like opening up the Pandora’s Box again just to undermine the provincial autonomy. Government or some state institutions, whoever is behind the lobbying campaign against the 18^th Amendment, should not insult the collective national agreement of all the political, religious and nationalists parties that were present than in the parliament. However, change may be made to develop and improve the mechanisms of deliverance of social services and resources to the grassroots level and to strengthen the system of local governments.

Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) organized its weekly online discussion on Saturday. Some prominent politicians and civil society representatives including Mehrun Nisa, Tahir Hanfi, Hanif Sabir, Haares Munir and Umme Nasim expressed their opinion on the consequences of fiddling with the 18^th Amendment.

Introducing the topic, Director Devcom-Pakistan Munir Ahmed said the 18^th Amendment in the Constitution was a historic decision of all the parties present in both houses of the parliament in April 2010. It was second historic consensus after the unanimous decision of all parties to adopt the 1973 Constitution. The 18^th Amendment not only gave autonomy to the provinces but also wiped off the dictatorial changes. We need to respect the decision of elected parliament that represents 220 million people rather than going for the whims and wishes of some influential. There is a dire need to promote federalism by strengthening the federating units to reach out to the grassroots.

Former Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said: Some non-political elements are intentionally trying to develop a chaotic move through the government that would flair up divide between the Centre and provinces. The state is not interested in the actual provincial autonomy given in the 18th Amendment. It is not the government behind the emerging move because it lacks political vision and brain on the essence of the 18^th amendment. However, some pro-state elements are more interested to repeal or just rollback it to curb provincial autonomy; particularly they want to change the composition of National Finance Commission (NFC) award by cutting the share of the provinces. The consequences of fiddling with the most important part of the constitution would be disastrous for the national integrity.

Rabbani believed that the state wants its complete authority and command over the federating units with strong Centre having dictatorial command over all the resources and Units than strengthening the federation. The same approach had already separated major part of the country – the East Pakistan in 1971.

He said Pakistan was facing several dissenting elements and separation movements when a fair National Finance Commission award was constituted under the 18th Amendment by taking on board all the nationalists and dissenting elements too. The federalism won on the table resulting more tranquility and harmony for political cohesiveness as 102 clauses of the constitution were amended including 58 (2-B) – the President of Pakistan’s prerogative to dissolve elected assemblies at his own will. Over the last ten years, we have seen decline in the dissenting elements and the nationalists are taking part of the mainstream politics; democracy is taking its roots in the public, a democratic system is evolving, and some tolerance is emerging in the citizens.

Apparently some elements are pointing their fingers on the deliverance of education and health that could be improved by pushing the Inter-provincial Coordination Committee. The government should convene regular meetings of the Committee and the meetings of Council of Common Interests (CCI) that shall actually take place after every 90 days to review the progress on the common agenda of the Centre and provinces.

Mian Raza Rabbani believes that the defined mechanisms should be implemented in letter and spirit and if there are some lacunas in the implementation, the opposition would cooperate in the best interest of democracy and citizens. No move against the 18th amendment would be tolerated rather resented strongly. The state should realize that strong provinces would not only wipe off the deprivations of the citizens but also turned to be a strong backbone of the Centre.

Senator Sitara Ayaz said nothing could be said until the government brings anything in black and white in the parliament. The proponents of change in the said amendment have no idea what exactly they want. Seemingly they are trying to drive out the attention of the masses from the present crises that government has failed to cope with. The Centre has also failed to comply with its own obligations under the 18^th Amendment. NFC award is the bone of contention while payments of royalties to the provinces are yet not on the agenda of the Islamabad. Some practical changes can be made in the amendment but cannot be reversed at all.

Senator Lt General (Retd) Abdul Qayyum said parliamentarians have a strong relation with the constitution. They can change any amendment any time but with rationale, consensus and an overwhelming majority of two-third. Constitution is a living document and we all shall be open to good suggestions to make the constitution more productive. If there are some problems with the deliverance of the provinces, the lacunas should be identified and remedial shall be done instead of talking or talking any step against the historic effort that regained the 1973 constitution close to its original.

He said that he has suggested some amendments in the process of appointment of members in the Election Commission of Pakistan to avoid delays and to improve the efficiency of the process. They are with the relevant committee for consideration.    —

DNA

A senior Indian diplomat was summoned to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Hajipir and Sankh Sectors, on 1^st May 2020, resulting in serious injuries to an innocent civilian.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces, a 30 years old innocent woman, Nasreen Akhtar w/o Rafique, r/o village Khwaja Bandi, sustained serious injuries.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. In 2020, India has so far committed 940 ceasefire violations.

Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security. It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).        

Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB. The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.